Stressed

So, I wrote this a month ago, but never posted because the version of internet explorer I have apparently is no longer compatible with blogger, further adding to my stress. Posting now even though a lot has happened...and I guess a lot is still the same...since. Enjoy.


I'm feeling stressed. I'm feeling anxious. And, well, it kinda sucks! This whole selling a house thing in the traditional way is hard. We were so lucky when we left CO as our house went under contract before even listing it. My brother is a realtor and one of his coworkers had buyers, they looked at it and that was that. It was SO easy!

Our current house has been on the market a little over three weeks now and nothing. Lots of positive feedback about the décor which at first, I have to admit, flattered me. Now, not so much. Décor doesn't come with the house, people!!!  I'm not confident in our choice of realtor either. Actually just got done sending the oh-so-uncomfortable email which outlined our concerns about her ability to get our house sold. Never fun.

It's also sinking in that the neighborhood we'd like to buy is so competitive that sellers laugh at offers with contingencies. Which is fine, I don't want to get into the situation where we'd be carrying two mortgages anyway. But, this increases the urgency to get this place SOLD! Not to mention, keeping the house clean with two small children is next to impossible. I take that back, it's totally possible, we're doing it, but not without some tantrums and meltdowns along the way (and I'm not just talking the kids here!). I feel like Annette Benning in American Beauty when she was manically vacuuming before the open house.

To add insult to injury our pipes backed up the other day and the downstairs bathroom flooded. Why do those things only happen after hours???!!! It didn't end up being that big of a deal. I definitely got some grays and Will has less hair than before but we were cleaned up for showings the next day.

Have I ever told you about the artichoke hearts I LOVE from Costco? They're in this oily, seasoned marinade that is SO good. I know, doesn't seem relevant, but stick with me. I was taking the girls to the park after school yesterday and for the first time in a long time, dared to make food in my own house. If you've had a home on the market I know you can identify with this...do I mess up the kitchen and save the $20 to go out to lunch or just go out?? Anyway, I'm grabbing the bread from the fridge and in the process knocked the jar of artichokes out which then shattered on the floor below. Out came the oily goodness all over the fridge, all over the floor and all over my feet. Awesome. I didn't have plans for the next 30 minutes, but I'd rather have done nothing than clean that mess up. Still finding glass shards everywhere.

I guess the moral of this story is that I'm stressed. I just wish our house would sell and sell FAST. So, please, send me some selling vibes! We need it.

Moving. Again.

Pool

All the pictures are hung, furniture arranged and we are officially settled. It's taken nine months, but man, this feels like home. So why not put the house on the market?!!!?? Crazy, I know, but that's what we're doing. Trust me, I don't fully understand why we're doing this either. I love our house, it really is beautiful, but it's come to our attention that there are some issues.

Biggest problem is that we don't have a yard. I thought this would be a compromise we could make given the swimming pool. That was BEFORE I learned it's way too cold to swim in the winter. Thank you, Mr. Realtor, for telling us that when we went back and forth a thousand times and ultimately decided, eh, no big deal, we'll just swim year round.

This has proven to be a problem for the dog too. Actually, not the dog, but rather the dog's mom who is SO SICK of taking said dog on walks when she needs to do her thang! I just need a fenced yard so that I can throw both my kids and dog outside. I think we may be going from one extreme to the other on this one, because now I want a REALLY big yard. Like a half acre. Picture me on one of those riding lawn mowers...that would be awesome!



Kitchen-a bit more stark than normal for showings.

Financially this sounds crazy, but after running the numbers we're not making a bad decision here. First, there's been a little bit of appreciation in our area over the last year which will contribute to paying the realtors' commissions. Plus, I'm looking at it as though we moved to FL and rented for a year to figure out the lay of the land. Rent is expensive and offers no tax benefits what-so-ever so I don't regret having bought right out of the gate. The only thing I'm out is my time, which was A LOT, given my love for interior design. But that's fun for me so I'm not worried about it one bit.

Fingers crossed we sell our home quickly because this whole having the house ready for showings with two small kids and a dog sucks! Bye bye, Stone Cross Cir. Thanks for treating us so well. Hope you all like this little photo gallery of the house. I'm really proud of it. Enjoy!



Stairs near front entry

Front Hall/Entry

Family Room

Girls' Playroom



Master Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

Girls' Bedroom

Dear Body

This was written by a friend and SO worth the repost. It's wisdom I wish I'd had much earlier in my life. Happy to have it now though. Thank you, Mariah, for letting me share.

Dear Body,

Thank you for being so good to me. For taking care of me, and helping me to function and being strong when I need it most. We've been through a lot together so far; pain, doubt, surprises, and unexpected changes. But all the while, you've been everything I've ever asked of you. You are beautiful. Not because you are the way the world wants you to be, but because you are unique to me and nothing less. You carry scars of battle, motherhood, time, and my occasional lag in upkeep. You've been so patient and steadfast, and unwaveringly loyal, and I love you. I love you so much. Thank you.

-Mariah Secrest Thomas

Here's the Truth (with Pictures to Prove it)!

I just got off the phone with my dear friend who is losing her mind.  Not because she is mentally unstable, quite the opposite really, her head is screwed on tightly to those shoulders. But because she has three kids, works (a lot) and is battling with the fact that in order to keep all the balls from dropping, somthing's gotta give. I so get this, I am right there with ya!

So, here's the truth: SOMETHING DOES HAVE TO GIVE. And for me, in this moment, that something is my house. It is trashed, you guys. Like morning after a rager, trashed. But instead of beer bottles and solo cups, it's littered with toys, dishes and dirty clothes. For whatever reason, I'm feeling especially strong today and not worrying about what "they" might think. Who are "they" anyway? So, without further ado, the proof:

That's my kitchen. Yup.

Those, there, dirty dishes...and LOTS of them.

Oh, yeah, that's my living room. Kinda regretting my pillow obsession right about now, as pillows in my house seem to prefer the floor to the couch.

 

Now that is my suitcase. Still nicely PACKED from our trip to Mexico. We've been back for five days.

 

And, finally, the piece de resistance: the girls' room. No explanation necessary.

 

 

I'm not doing this to air my "dirty laundry" so to speak, but rather to shatter the impression that all things must be perfect. Balls drop. Today, I'm embracing the drop and in so doing, hopefully, some of you moms out there can do the same. Enjoy!

Blog On...This One's for you, Kelly!

I'm laid back. I live life a little bit slower than some. Could be why I don't write as much as I should. I swear I'm busy. Though, my busy is looking a lot different than it did before kids. For example, today I was busy. 9:45: met tenant in Boulder (sans babies), did walk through of condo. 10:30: Target, desperately needed pacifiers and sippy cups. Home by 11:00 to relieve babysitter. 3:00: met friend (with babies this time) in Longmont for walk. 5:00: picked up Efrain's for dinner, Will's favorite!

Sure there was a lot going on between these tasks: 12 diaper changes, seven feedings, play time, nap time, break downs, laundry, dishes, etc., but when did all of this become my life? I suppose the answer to this question is obvious, but it's only just now becoming evident to me how different my life actually is now that I have kids. Why now? Perhaps because I'm finally coming up for air, perhaps because I'm bored, perhaps because I'm surrounded by people who in my opinion are doing so much "more" than me. I'm not entirely sure why, but I do know that I want "more" for myself too. I'm feeling inadequate, not because of the comparisons I make of myself to others, well maybe a little, but mostly because I'm not feeling fulfilled.

I'm stuck though, a crossroads I guess. What's next? I have NO idea! School? Back to work? Something new, something old? Again, I have NO idea! Sometimes I wish someone would just tell me what to do. It seems like that would be so much easier. Until then, it's time for me to find purpose again. I just hope that I figure it out soon because today's busy just isn't busy enough.

Step 1

In effort to "find myself" I enrolled in some continuing ed. classes at the junior college near my house. My first class was last night, Interior Design 1: Lighting. My husband got home from work early and I was off. Quick detour to the Wendy's drive thru...I NEVER ate fast food before I had kids...and off to school I went. I was giddy walking from my car to class. I couldn't contain my smile as I passed the other students in the hall, in fact, I was actually laughing.

Unfortunately, my class ended up only being so-so. I was expecting my teacher to be young, and well dressed with amazing accessories. She was more like Rose from the "Golden Girls". Old, awful suit, and the icing on the cake, she walked with a cane. Though very charming, she wasn't exactly what I had in mind. She spent far too much time on definitions and far too little time on, "a floor lamp would look really cute here..." I did learn that manufacturers now make CFL light bulbs that put out better light than the incandescents I have throughout my house. That will surely help my $250 Xcel bill, but won't do much for the overall look of my home. Oh well. Next week: Art and Accessories.