We're officially listed!

So, one reason I've been so completely absent recently is because we have just listed our house for sale! We have been spending every free moment trying to get the house picture perfect and we are finally done - now we just have to keep it that way until it sells!

This was not an easy decision for us to make. We absolutely LOVE our little bungalow! It is in the perfect location, great back yard, great neighbors and we have really done so much to make it our own. BUT, it's also only 1,500sf and only has 1 bathroom... not easy when we love having visitors! We knew we couldn't live here forever so we finally decided to bite the bullet and put it on the market. We just hope another bachelor or newlyweds find it as charming as we do!

Here is the listing

Wish us luck!

Year One

A year ago today I was walking into the doors of Colonial Life for the first time (as an employee). After only working at one other company since college, I was completely terrified of starting a new job with new people and all new responsibilities. I remember saying to myself over and over, "I just can't wait until I've been here a year and actually feel comfortable with my surroundings." Well, a year has actually passed and I have survived!

I couldn't be more happy with where I ended up. I have found a company that really understands the work/life balance that I oh so needed. I work with wonderful, caring people. I have met some great friends. I get to work on completely new and different projects than my past. All of this and hardly any stress! Now, do I go to work every day 100% passionate about what I do? Heck no! It's work! But, I am so very fortunate to have found such a wonderful company to work for and am truly blessed to be here!

(Brett would insert in here, "Here's to many, many, many more years!" - I will just leave it at, "Here's to a few more good years!" haha)

2 Men and a Truck

No, not the moving company... well, I guess in a way it is the moving company.

See this map?? Yep - this is what my husband and father are driving this weekend. Repeat... DRIVING.

My brother has lived in Denver for the last 3 years but his time there is coming to a close and he has to move back. His job moves most of his stuff for him but there are things he doesn't want them to move (ie: my grandfather's shotguns, his guitar collection, his Harley and of course, his beer collection - all the important things). He of course has other work commitments so he can't be the one to drive it all back - enter my dad and husband.

Today they are flying out to Denver. Tomorrow they are spending the day fly fishing together. And Sunday they are packing up a van and hitting the road back to South Carolina. It will take them around 24 hours in the car so they are splitting it up and doing half on Sunday and half on Monday. Bless their hearts. I am so lucky to have a father and husband that get along so well and have such a great relationship. But let's get real for a second.... 24 hours in a car with anybody would be rough. Anybody who knows Brett knows he is a big talker but even he said he will probably run out of things to say after awhile. But they've got their arsenal of books, sports radio and magazines to get them through. And I have no doubt they will... and will probably have a blast doing it.

I do send out prayers for them during the drive though. It looks like the weather in the mid-west is going to be pretty horrible this weekend with tornadoes and massive hail hitting Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I pray they get through Kansas and Missouri before these storms hit or get through them safely! I will definitely be glad to have them home on Monday night!

Progress

The road to a new yard has begun and so far so good. Slow, but good. We didn't think the landscapers were starting for another week but came home from dinner on Friday night to a huge surprise! They had come and completed cut back all the bushes and removed A TON of overgrown stuff on the side of our house and the back of the house. I wish I had good "before" pictures but just take my word for it... it was a jungle. Then on Saturday he was back over there laying out the path for the new sidewalk to the road. We have to wait a week or so for the pinestraw to come in (all 150 bails of it) and then they will put that out with some sod and plant a few more beds. We are also getting a new fence put in and they should be doing that this week!

We still have a LONG way to go but progress is good. Now we are just kicking ourselves for not doing this a long time ago!

Slow progress being made.

New walkway to road. Will need to move mailbox now too.

This was part of "the jungle"

The Friday Five: 5/10/13

1. This weekend is going to be the best! Why? Because we have hardly any plans. After roughly 7 weekends in a row that we've been on the go or had people in town, we are so looking forward to a few days of down time!

2. Remember this post awhile back where I discussed why we can't wear jeans to work? Well, my dream came true! While we still can't wear jeans 4 days out of the week, our company has finally implemented "Casual Fridays" where we can wear jeans. Hallelujah!

3. Can't do a post without recognizing Mother's Day this Sunday. I am so blessed to have such an incredible mother! Love you Mom and thank you for all you do for us!!

4. We've got some big, exciting things happening in the homefront that may even include a "For Sale Sign" in our near future. But first we have to do something about our front yard. We got a quote from a guy last weekend and hope he can get started next week. More to come I'm sure!

The official "BEFORE" picture.

5. Related to the home news, I've been dying to work on our laundry room (I use this word loosely as it's more of a closet off our kitchen) and with some free weekends coming up I may give myself the kick in the butt I need to get it done. I have high hopes for it including new flooring, painting, a new light fixture and some new shelving. This requires us to somehow move the washer/dryer out of said closet first though so we've really been putting it off.

So how about that for a random post??? TGIF!!

We survived!

Well, our house survived! This weekend our 1,500sf, 1 bathroom bungalow was packed with 10 people... and it couldn't have been a more fun weekend!!

My good friend from high school got married to a girl from Irmo so we were lucky enough to have the wedding in Columbia and all our friends come and stay with us for the weekend! It was like an adult slumber party all weekend and we were so thankful to have all our friends in town to stay with us!

And of course to celebrate the sweetest couple, Nick and Sallie! We are so happy for them and had the best time celebrating their new life together! I can't think of a more deserving couple for each other and i've never seen 2 happier people! Congrats to the new Smiths!!

Best Friends!

Had to grab one with Coopie!

With the bride and groom!!

Sunday morning... do you spy a black, furry dog?? We realized Brinkley really loved having air mattresses all over the floor.