Homeownership - Week 1

Wow - I can't believe its only been a WEEK since we moved!
Really?  Wow!  Well, here is an updated picture of the bathroom - we totally rocked it:

It looks Ah-Mazing and we love it!
Lenny is having a hard time adjusting.  He got into the fridge - twice, and after I put baby locks on it, and then he got into the freezer.  I don't have time to run to Target, so here is hoping that packing tape holds!

Lenny also needs a major attitude adjustment - he hasn't been nice to people in the past, and I really hope he's nice when people come by tomorrow!  Bill and I disagree on all of this, of course, but I really think he needs to be on anti-anxiety meds....yes, for my dog.

We Bought a HOUSE!!!

Yes, its true!  Our (expensive) dreams are coming true!  We finally bought a house - which is something we have always wanted.
We closed on Friday, and started installing floors and painting right away.  YEA!

I'm so sad to say farewell and so long to my lovely Ukrainian Village and my wonderful friends and neighbors.  No one will be luckier then Bill and I to have had such wonderful friends and neighbors who were always there in our times of need, or a beer, or a party, or just to have a conversation with. I will always covet our friends and the times we have had.

Now we move onto Logan Square, with a yard, garage, 2 decks and a TON of work that needs to be done.....here we open the next chapter our our book.

Can we just have this house already?

Well, summer came and went.  No family trip to Milwaukee, no Julie & Bill trip anywhere, nothing.
I guess its fine - we have both been working super hard, and we are waiting - 10 more days to go - until we know if our house is 100% ours.

 The Bathroom will be the first big remodeling project when we have the money - its pretty lame.  I hate that tile! However I do like that little bench thing in the shower - but there is no storage at all in the bathroom, so the linen closet will temporarily be housed in the pantry in the kitchen.

 Master bedroom - converted from an attic.  It has a neat deck off the back which is a perfect extension of the bedroom, but the FIRST project is tearing up the carpet.  We STILL don't know what is underneath, but we will find out!  Also building a closet!  Its neat though, I really like having it as a private space.

 My favorite - I LOVE the kitchen!  I love the simple dark marble countertop and we will paint this coral color Turquoise!  I can't wait!!!  And Vasso's butcher block table will be perfect in here as an island.

Bedroom off the kitchen, AKA PANTRY.  This will be a great pantry - It will be awesome and BRIGHT!

Am I really an adult?

Sometimes I feel like that I may not "really" be an adult.  My perception of an adult as a child was many things involving suits, knowing how to go to places, making home improvements, married with kids.

Well, I have one of those things.  We have a higher majority of friend that rent vs friends that own.

Home ownership is terrifying.  So scary.  But in the same way, its always been something I have wanted.  I hate paying rent.  Our landlords pop by whenever, we always have to worry if they come by and the gates are open and the dogs can escape; or worse - dare they just walk in.
Our deck is in total code violation - I guarantee more then 10 people would collapse that thing.

I have an obsessive addiction of looking at houses - online, I probably get emails from at least 4 different companies a day - Truilia, Redfin, etc.  Because I really want to own.  Come April 2012, we will have paid over 40K in rent where we currently are.

But there is the freedom in renting - being able to move to a different hood, not being responsible, etc.  But with the responsibility of 2 dogs  - its not that easy.  Only one is "medium size".

Anyway, on our homeowner ship quest, we found the house in the post previous to this.  Is it perfect?  HELL NO.  Is the yard the size of a shoebox?  HELL YES.  But is there potential?  Can we move in and be comfy until the kitchen makes me crazy (minimum of 2 weeks), but can we?  Yes we can.  I think.

These big decisions in life terrify me.  As they would with normal people.  After renting for 13 years, owning is totally different.  But a lot of people do it.  Its how I look at having children - lots of people do it.  So there has to be a learning curve I have to learn, right?

The dude accepted our offer - 50K less then what he was asking + a 13 month home warranty, meaning if the furnace blows or the roof implodes, we're ok...at least I think?

My biggest fear is leaving my neighborhood.  I was thinking Forest Park because there is so much more bang for your buck, and talk about YARDS!  But then, I think that maybe I'm not ready.  When kids come, it will definitely be my #1.  But for now - lets see?

I have lived in Ukrainian Village for 13 years!  Well, my first place was Goose Island, but I don't count that, really  My living, growing, turning into the person I am, meeting Bill was in UV.  It's a lot.  UV is so freaking pretty, and nice, and safe, and convenient,  and what I'm used to.  Logan Square is all diagonal streets and I'm easily confused.  I can figure it out, right?  Its so much more populated over there it seems, right next to the blue line.... as I ramble on and on.

Here it is on the map! 2711 Julia Ct.  I do kind of love I would be Julie on Julia...not going to lie.
Stay tuned.....

The House we want to buy

Here we go again!  Our building is in foreclosure, and Bill and I have had enough!  We found a house that we both really, really, really like.  Here are some photos!

Hello August!

Yipee!  Bill got a job back at Nordstrom!  We won't be homeless after all!  We've still been looking at houses, but we keep seeing amazing ones that are mindblowing, but they are SO FAR.  Like this far:

One hour without traffic via public transportation to my work.  EVERY DAY.  TWICE A DAY.  Ugh I don't know if I can handle it.  But a 4 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, 2 car garage, full finished basement, giant backyard on an over-sized lot. Sigh.  Amazing.

I really hope that this month is great.  This is the last month of summer before the students come back.  My boss is leaving, our office manager is leaving, and I'll be sitting in my office with two dudes.  Ugh the male/female ratio at work kind of sucks.  And then entering the Creative Industry Liaison world alone!  Without Caroline (my boss) and making it my own.  I hope its a GREAT YEAR.  I pray its a GREAT YEAR. I'm really nervous.

About everything.
Oh, and my latest addiction is "Words with Friends" on Android, Angry Birds Rio and Spotify. 

Screw you, July!

Ok, I'm TOTALLY OVER THIS FREAKING MONTH.  I understand that life has bumps in the road, but this is RIDICULOUS!
1st - they're selling our building.  Then they're not selling our building.  Now its "temporarily off the market".  So ARE Bill and I going to have to move?  30 days?  60 days?   If we didn't have two dogs this situation would have been so much less stressful, but the selling agent is just not a cool person.  And we don't have money to move!
 - Then -
We thought we killed Olive!  Not like that, but it was totally OUR fault we left the Advil on the counter and she got it, ate about 25-30 pills, was in the hospital was 3 days, 2 nights, and oh boy nightmare after nightmare with that.  Thank the Lord she is ok!
-Now-
Bill was asked to "step down".  What does that mean?  Do you know what that means, non-existent readers? He seems to think he's still employed by his store, but isn't working yet needs to get a job within another department.  And why?  Why would them ask him to step down?  He works harder then anyone I know.  Bill needs to work.  Bill wants to work.  But I want him to be HAPPY.  That's all.  Another pothole in the road.  I keep telling myself this is a blessing in disguise, but I have no idea.  I need to stay positive.  #1 and #2 turned out ok (especially #2) so I really, really need #3 to be a great situation.  A better situation. 

And since I'm on a tangent,  I would LOVE to leave Chicago this summer, if only for a night.  We need a vacation.  Sniff, sniff......

This house!

Ok - this is it: I really, really want this and we can afford it! Maybe!

I Want!

554 N ARTESIAN Ave, CHICAGO, IL 60622 | MLS# 07383804

I have always wanted this house. It's so cute and tiny and great.

Chicago, IL 60622 $118,750 Bedrooms: 3 Full Bath: 2 Partial Bath: 1

Chicago, IL 60622 $118,750 Bedrooms: 3 Full Bath: 2 Partial Bath: 1

I want this!