So, we decided last night to head out to the mattress store and check out some mattresses. We have some LR, DR and a bed that we like from Room Store, but we need to buy a mattress to go with that bed. Well, after laying on lots of beds and going back and forth several times, we finally decided on the bed we just both love. Of course....it is one of the most expensive in the store. I guess we have high standards for beds. But, we do spend 1/3 of our lives in bed, so it might as well be a good one, that will last for years.
Well, turns out we liked one of the bed frames at the store too. It was discontinued but the floor model was in good shape, so we decided to get it. After all said and done, lots of discounts later (they were in the middle of a big sale) we got the bed for free. NICE!
So, now all we have to do is get the LR and DR and we are set with some basic furniture. I will try to post some pics of our choices as soon as I can.
Oh, and we get the bed on Thursday. Yeah. See, while I was on contract, my company was providing rented furniture for us. Well, I am done with that contract, so they come to get our furniture. We opted to stay at the apt for one month until we close on our house, but we decided we didn't need furniture. Now, we don't have to stay on an air mattress until we move, we get our bed sooner. Yeah!!
I can't wait, I am dreaming of better nights sleep already....zzzz! You can only imagine how good our rented bed's mattress was. Yeah, exactly!

Countdown

33 days to go!!

36 Days To Go

I bet you are thinking Christmas is only 33 days away. But, this countdown is for closing day for our new home.

We close December 28th.

I will be home for Christmas Dec 11-27th, with Shaun with me the 20th-27th. Then we close. Yeah. We plan to move that weekend. It won't be too difficult. We only have a few things here. TV stand/TV, and a small bookshelf. Everything else is rented or goes in boxes.

EASY!!!

So, we are super excited. I can't wait till it gets closer. I have never owned a house before, and this is so exciting.

Here are a few pics of our new place. We took pics while we were there for the home inspection. Of course all the stuff inside is the current owner's, but you get the idea.



This is from the Master Bedroom. Door to the left goes through closet into Master Bath.


View into Living Room from main entry Hall.


Sunroom


View from back yard. Lots of trails and green grass for Sadie to play in.


Kitchen. Also have a nice desk on the wall you can't see. It is very useful to have.


Another view of LR looking into hall. Room at end of hall is 2nd Bedroom. Master bedroom to the right at end of hall.


Dining Room, with solid Oak breakfast bar as well.

What do you think??

Wow!

I have been so busy lately. I can't believe we are just 45 days till Christmas. I can't wait. I get to go home and see my family Dec 11. I am so excited to go see my babies. I miss them SO much.

So, here are a couple things that have happened:

1) We have decided that we want to buy. We know we will be around Baltimore for a few years, since Shaun is in the ARMY. So, we started by looking on the internet. We met with a Long & Foster real estate broker. Then we started actually checking out these homes that we had researched onine. On our second outing with Pam (the real estate broker), we found the home that we want to buy. Most of the places were really nice and we thought would be great. But, once we stepped foot into this particular home, we knew it was the right home. I knew immediately, but Shaun had only looked at a couple other places, so he needed to see a few more to know for sure. It didn't take long.

So, we went home that night, looked over the numbers, and decided we wanted to put an offer down, we didn't want to let this place go. Sunday we placed an offer. One of the most nail-biting situations ever. Crazy. Well turns out another couple had placed an offer two days ago, and they were in the middle of negotiating, luckily we got in when we did. She asked us for our best offer, and it turns out it was worth it. Of course, we had a very stressful, anxious day of waiting, but we ended up getting the house.

It is a 1400 sq ft condo. Terrace level. Open floor plan, very laid out. 2 BR, 2 bath. nice sunroom, and grass out back. (see #2 for the reason the grass is good) Big kitchen, Big LR. Big rooms, with walk-in closets. 2nd bathroom open to 2nd BR and hall. Laminate flooring thorughout ecxept bedrooms. All appliances included. We are so excited. We have home inspection on Saturday, so we will have photos to post then.



#2) We got a puppy!! Her name is Sadie. We had been talking about wanting a dog for a LONG time, but since we live in an apt it just made more sense to wait. Well, we couldn't wait any longer!! For some unknown reason, I started glancing at dogs online. I bought Charlie for $350 and I thought that was alot, but here the price of Dachshunds are $500-$1000. Plain rediculous. Well, I found a site online that sells dogs, and is a site that verify's the sellers identity through a credit check. Sadie was listed as $495, but I talked the seller down. So, the price was right and the dog was cute...we couldn't stop ourselves.

We talked with the owner on Sunday and she went to the vet on Monday, and she flew out to us on Tuesday. Basically the owner sent her in a crate with food/water, blanket and toy. We just had to go pick her up when the flight arrived. She seemed to take to us really easily. Ate/drank right away. The owner had even started crate/paper training, and she is doing really well with it. She is so little. Her parents were only 6 and 7 pounds. Right now, she is about 1-2 lbs (I put her on my scale at home) See pics below.

So much has happened.

Some photos of good times...

Me in San Fransisco with Mara. It was such a beautiful day. Although we had prepared for a colder day, we were pleased to have the sun.

Per 39. Lots of shopping, food and CHOCOLATE!!

Me and Mara, right before we board the ferry to Alcatraz island. That was the most amazing place. I loved it!!

This is me on the ferry, with San Fran behind me.

This is a typical cell at Alcatraz Island. Of course it is no longer a working jail, they had a few rooms made up like a typical cell in 1963, when it closed. Thye were so small. Inmates had to be in them for 16-23 hours per day. Everything they did there was a priviledge, and it had to be earned. I can't imagine.


Shaun and I in NYC. We had so much fun. My parents came to visit for 6 days, so we took them to all the toursity (is that a word?) spots.

Me and My Dad in DC

Me an Mom in front of the White house. (Actually, I think this is the back)

Me and my parents at a small bar/cafe for lunch in NY

I love M&M's, enough said...

Tagged!!!

I got tagged by Mara. Mostly because I haven't been posting, but I am sure partly because I am so cool. So, here it Mara...
10 useless facts about me, and 5 people to tag to do it too!!

#1: I sing along to just about every song, even if I have never heard it before. Oh, and I suck at singing. I might literally be the world's worst singer, but I don't care. I love to do it!!

#2: I am a chocaholic. Although many might know that, it seems to take control of my life. I get headaches ( I think anyhow) if I don't eat chocolate. Dark chocolate Dove promises are my FAVORITE!!

#3: I collect pigs. I have since I was in the 6th grade. However, I had to throw some out (even after just receiving them) because I had way too many. I don't collect as much anymore, but I still love pig things!!

#4: I love the CW. I watch almost all their shows. However, getting frustrated because they keep cancelling all the shows I love to watch. Currently watching Smallville as we speak!

#5: I go to the Wal-mart at least 4-5 times per week. Seems there is always something there that I need/want. For a while, we couldn't walk in the store without spending at least $25. I swear, I am responsible for most of their revenue. Hehe :)

#6: I have been so busy lately, I haven't been able to post. I swear, it wasn't because I was just lazy. I have been working a lot. Mostly so I could go to California to visit Mara, and then because my parents came to visit me for a week. I will highlight those stories soon.

#7: I check my email about 10 times per day. Is that too much?

#8: I am sitting here in my underwear. That is the glory of the internet. I can surf the web, buy things, and chat with people, all in my pj's or underwear. How cool is that?

#9: I am NOT a morning person. I hate getting up. It doesn't matter is it's at 5 am or 11 am, getting up just stinks. Of course, once I am up, I am fine. If I could go from completely asleep to awake for two hours, and skip the in between, life would be good...I think. Letely I have been getting up at 7 or 8 am, but morning routine is usually lazy time. Get up, go to couch, watch tv, take nap. That is, if I am not working. Grrr, work.

#10: I love what I do, I am a nurse...BUT....I hate working. I am sure most are that way. I work 12 hour shifts, and I hate it. By the time I leave to the time I get home, I am usually gone for close to 14 hours. That makes for a LONG day.

Okay, so not as good as I had hoped, but I hope you have enjoyed the weird, random facts.
5 people to tag...
Brandi, Natalie, Becky, Rachel, and Zoe

Have fun ladies. I would have picked Jeffrey too, but Mara already tagged him.