Shopping Weekend

Cam and I decided to go to outlet shopping on Saturday to take advantage of the Memorial Day sales and I picked up quite a few gifts for upcoming weddings/showers.  For those who haven't been, the outlets north of Atlanta in Dawsonville are amazing: they have Restoration Hardware, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Kate Spade, Saks, Burberry, etc.  We also went to Lenox Mall and found some awesome deals at Bloomingdale's.  I knocked a few things on my dream list for myself, including: 

Burberry Trench

Tori Burch Flats

Restoration Hardware Vintage Wash Egyptian Sheets

Kate Spade Hot Pink Shoes

We tried to pick up patio furniture and a chair from Restoration Hardware, but apparently their last set of both sold right as we were in line to check out--how frustrating! Clearly, it wasn't meant to be. 

My mom and stepdad came in town Monday to help us finish packing up the nonessential items and Cam's mom came over today to help me pack up the framed art.  Luckily, we've gotten the house pretty much packed and ready for our move in 3 weeks.  I've been stressed about getting it done because Barbri (the course to prepare me for the bar exam) begins Thursday and is six days a week.  I'm just ready for it to be August so the bar and the move will be over!

One of the Cutest Marriage Proposals

Welcome to our *Almost* Home

We have a verbal agreement on the new home now and should have the signed contract sometime this morning.  Assuming all goes well with the inspections on both homes, we should be moving by July. 

I know it sounds cheesy, but this house reconfirms that God has a wonderful plan for us all--even if its not our original plan.  Cam and I had picked out two houses we loved. As pathetic as this sounds, I've prayed often over the past few months for our house to sell so we could buy one of these houses.  Dear Lord, please let our house sell so we can get this specific house(s). Over the past few months, it seemed to go nowhere.  Cam and I think we have a beautiful home, so we never imagined our house would sit on the market (along with every other house in the neighborhood though).  

Well, I was talking to my mom Monday night and she said, "Pray for the family whom God will guide to buy your house--that they be happy in your house and it be perfect for them.  Then pray that you all find the perfect house."  It's embarrassing to admit that it was a rather novel concept--I had basically been offering up desperate pleas and sometimes my frustration, especially when both of the houses we wanted sold on the same day. 

Well, these people had come to look at our house Monday morning but said that while they loved the home, there was another in the neighborhood they liked better. Clearly, I wasn't getting my hopes up. Monday evening after talking to Mom, I prayed for the future buyers--that they may enjoy our home and find as much happiness as we have here (we actually got engaged in the dining room, so this house will always be special and filled with wonderful memories). I then prayed that we would find the house meant for us.

Interestingly the next day, the Monday people called again and apparently had not liked the other house in our neighborhood once they saw it in person.  They wanted to come back to see ours as soon as possible.  As I had some time to kill, I decided to pray the rosary that God's will be done.  A few hours later, we had an offer and negotiated the sale.  

Of course, we googled the people and what do I find? The wife's blog.  They are an adorable, sweet family that are moving to Lexington. And they are very strong Christians that pray often about their move and future house.  Call me crazy, but I know God sent this family to our home. Sidenote: as tempting as it was, no I did not leave a comment on her blog.  I don't want to admit my stalking ways, except on my own blog, haha!


We then began the hunt for a new home.  We had our eye on one that we liked--one that we both agreed we could live in.  But when the time came to make the offer, we decided we wanted to look at a long list of homes in our price range again.  On Wednesday, we went to seven new houses and two we knew we liked.   We walked into one, and knew it was our home.  We adore everything about it--the location, the gardens, the layout, the charm.  We loved it so much we knew we couldn't make an offer on the first house--it would be selling ourselves short.  We even like it more than the original houses we thought we wanted. 

The house reminds us of one of our favorite places: Charleston.  The side of the house faces the street, it is old and beautiful, and it has the most unbelievable gardens.  The funny thing is this house just came on the market last week.  If we had sold our house even a week earlier, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to even see our dream home.  I'm now so thankful that it  seems to be working out perfectly.  We are so incredibly blessed.  So, without further adieu, here are a few pictures  of our *almost* home:

A peek inside the front garden.

I'm thinking a Kentucky state flag is in order...

We negotiated the vintage church pew and potted inpatients on the porch..isn't it just charming?

Other side of the porch...I'm thinking a large rocker but Cam wants a cafe table..

View of walkway around back that leads to...

...this brick courtyard.  This is seriously my new oasis...

There's even a koi pond and fountain.

I don't want to do too many inside pictures because it has their stuff in it, but here's a picture of the foyer. I'm leaving this wallpaper I think as it is neutral.

The entire house will be hopefully be painted, but isn't this great room amazing and full of potential?! (don't worry, the kitchen cabinets will be refinished...)

Fingers crossed and lots of prayers that all goes well with inspections and such so this beautiful home will be ours by July.

 

HOORAY Thanks St. Joseph :)

I know I never do two posts in one day--but this is too big not to share :)  We accepted an offer on our house today. I'm so excited and we are set to close in a month, so I'm gonna be busy packing before the bar studying gets too crazy.

Both houses we liked sold two weeks ago (actually on the same day), so we have spent the evening picking out houses we want to go see.  We are looking at 9 houses tomorrow and hope to have an offer in place by Friday.   I'll definitely share the details as they come.

Here's to Saint Joseph (and Mary because you know my Catholic butt clearly said a full rosary today when they were looking at the house...).  

Why I Am Broke...

Here are just some of the reasons: 

1. This one was a necessity...

If only wearing the jacket made moi look so cool. But, I am loving the side pony so I can't say too much...

So, Cam is taking me to ALASKA after the Bar as a surprise graduation gift.  Our trip to South America was my graduation gift--so I was really surprised and  super excited since we have been talking about going for years. Clearly, the trip means we need new raincoats/windbreakers because mine got stolen from school (lesson: never leave your jacket on the back of your chair during a rainy day and then get up to use the bathroom). Cam and I went to the Northface outlet in Cincy and got new jackets this past weekend.

2. I'm a ridiculous animal lover who buys overpriced pet items...

 My cat has food issues.  As a teeny one pound kitten, she was left to fend for herself against 50 adult cats for food.  Because of this, she was constantly in starvation mode when we got her.  Seriously, she puts Garfield to shame.  She began to realize that the food came from us, and she would bite us wake us up in the middle of the night to be fed.  Our vet recommended we buy an automated feeder so she would quit associating us with food.  This worked, until she managed to break the internal part of the feeder so that it would always dispense food.  Our tiny cat has become obese, so it was time to buy a new feeder. This one was marketed as "pet proof", so I'm hoping this feeder outlasts her...

3. I'm in love with Household Items

I stocked up at the Pomegranate Warehouse sale a few weeks ago. Their sale prices were still somewhat pricey, but who can resist these Lexington napkins/placemats?! Clearly I can't...

4.Two words:

Antoni Melani. It has been fabulous for my work wardrobe when I learned of this brand, but it is now disastrous for my wallet.  My mom spoils me and has bought me several pieces (including my graduation suit), but I broke down and finally bought myself this dress during their recent sale. Buying things on sale is just saving money, right? And, I don't have to get the pieces altered, so that's even more money saved.  Sometimes, I'm too logical for my own good. 

5. Filling Up

I drive a prius and even my gas prices are ridiculous.  It really makes me want to live closer to downtown so I'd cut down my daily commute and expenses.

Me, J.D.

It's official--I've graduated! I have a ridiculous number of back-posting to do, but this one is clearly the most important (in my defense, blogger kept saying it was down whenever I tried to create a post the entire last week--anyone else have problems?). 

I am blessed (and spoiled!!) with the best friends and family ever; I couldn't have dreamed of more perfect graduation celebrations. We celebrated with my family graduation night and my sorority sisters threw me a party last night--too fun!

 And no, it doesn't feel real yet...

 

Almost....

My last final EVER is this afternoon :) Wish me luck--Lord knows I'll need it badly! Here are a few final funny test answers as a little Wednesday pick me up:

 

Completely unrelated, I'm going tomorrow to get my hair done for graduation.  I'm thinking about cutting it off--it's gotten so long now--and I'm ready for something more professional, maybe?  I'm generally Sampson-like with my hair.  I almost never cut it short and just get a trim, but I think I need a change.  I feel like my hair is getting super heavy. 

Any thoughts on these haircuts (I know, they aren't short-short, but still, that's about 6-8 inches shorter than what I have now):