The Search is On!

Ryan and I often use the term “one day” to describe things we want in life. For example, “When we can finally afford to get married…one day!” Or, “One day, when we have kids…” Ryan’s favorite, “That’s what truck I want…one day maybe I can get it.”

Well, one of our “one days” has finally come around to present day. We are starting the search for our first house! Scratch the word house…we’re looking for a HOME!

We moved out of his parents’ house early last October, after staying there longer than we anticipated. No ill feelings. In fact, we could’ve stayed as long as we wanted, but it was just our time. We were thrilled to find an apartment that met all of our needs, including a double vanity in the master bath! We spent a whole week painting every room (and hallway) of the apartment because we couldn’t live in a sea of white walls. We purchased furniture, and have spent time decorating and adding our own touch. It’s a cozy little place that we enjoy, but it’s lacking one big thing… it’s an apartment, not a HOME, and we can’t call it our own.

After several weeks of talking through things (over and over again) and crunching the numbers, we’ve decided that we’re ready to take on this journey, and start a new chapter of our life…home ownership!  We’ve recently been preapproved to purchase a home, so with that letter in hand, we’re ready to start looking…and the overwhelming feeling of anxiety sets in…

I’ve been looking, searching, and scouring websites for houses that fall within our budget and comfort level. It’s not the easiest task considering we’re looking to remain in Alpharetta, one of the more expensive suburbs of Atlanta. In fact, it’s quite a chore. Location is the most important factor in our search (and a double vanity), so we’re not willing to sacrifice that. Time isn’t necessarily on our side either, considering our lease is up at the end of June. Four months. Time flies these days, and it certainly won’t slow down for Liz and Ryan to find their dream home. We’ve got our work cut out for us the next few months, but it’s a buyer’s market right now (plus we have an agent), so things will work out just like they’re supposed to.

If any of you want to keep an eye out for us, here is a list of our must haves:

·         Double vanity!

·         Big, level backyard for our kids (aka dogs)

·         3 BR, 2 BA (minimum)

·         Decent kitchen and bathrooms that don't need much work

·         Two car garage

There are a lot of other wants, but the wants are all negotiable. J

For now, the search is on!... I will certainly be keeping everyone posted on the progress!

Oh, and I know some people will read this and wonder when we're ever going to get married. The question arises, "If they're buying a house, does that mean they're putting off the wedding even longer?" My answer... ONE DAY, people! I'm sure that topic will be addressed in a future post.

Cardstock Photo Images

I'm known by most of my friends as the one you can count on to always have a camera. From middle school, to high school, and throughout college, I captured just about every moment possible in photographs. I still enjoy photography, but I have let myself get pretty lazy these days. I blame it on one thing, no two things... the invention of the digital camera and lack of time.

In middle school and high school I used a camera that was probably my parents. I don't recall having my own camera, so it had to be my parents Cannon that I took everywhere. I always carried a spare roll or two of film, just in case, and I snapped pictures everywhere I went. Disposable cameras became big at that time, so I'm sure I used those quite frequently, as well. Either way, I was taking pictures on rolls of FILM, which meant I had to have them developed in order to see the goods. My mom wouldn't let me do the one hour developing because it was too expensive, so I always had to drop it off and hope it would be ready in 3 or 4 days. To say I was anxious to pick them up is probably an understantement. I have boxes of pictures from middle school and high school, organized by date and event. I may not look at them now, but I think it will be pretty neat to look at them 10 or 20 years from now.

My first year of college, I remember scanning pictures into my computer in order to put them on my Facebook page. What a time consuming, pain in the rear! It didn't take long for me to break down and splurge on a digital camera... a whopping 4 megapixels back then! My photo world was forever changed after that purchase. All of a sudden, I could see copies of the pictures, delete them, retake them... there is less of a need to have them printed when you've already seen them. That was the beginning of forever looking at empty frames. Not really empty frames, but frames with cardstock images of friendly looking people- happy couples, perfect families, laughing girlfriends, etc.

In college, I did an okay job of taking the time to print pictures. I was able to fill some frames, make some scrap books, and give copies of pictures to friends and family. There are certain events that I slacked more than others on. More particularly, my study abroad trip to Poland in which I took almost 2,000 pictures in 4 weeks... I have printed a small handful of pictures from that trip, but nothing like I had planned (and bought frames for).

Now that I've graduated from college, and the "real world" has taken over my life, I find it even harder to take pictures, let alone print them! So many great photo opportunities have been overlooked due to the fact that I've just become lazy with it. I also partially blame my oh-so-cooperative fiance, who just loves taking pictures. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. In the beginning of our relationship, he seemed to love taking pictures, but I've discovered that was all an act. He was willing to do whatever it took to make me happy in the beginning. Now that I have a ring on my finger, pictures of the two of us are few and far between.

We moved into an apartment back in late September. I couldn't wait to start decorating and make it our own. We painted all the walls, bought fabulous furniture, and things really started to come together. When it came time to unpack the box labeled "Picture Frames," I suddenly felt overwhelmed. I unpacked the frames that already had pictures in them, and placed them throughout the apartment...that was the easy part. The overwhelming part? I have several empty frames. Very nice, ornate frames, all filled with black and white cardstock images. I placed all the "empty" frames around the apartment in the locations I think they look best. That was 5 months ago... they're all (still) placed nicely, (still) displaying images of people I don't know.

One day, sooner than later, I am hoping to have some of my digital pictures printed, so the cardstock photo images can be replaced with familiar faces that will ignite a memory when I look at them...

I am considering purchasing an old camera that will force me to get the film developed. I am also working on making more time in my life to both take and (print out) or develop pictures!

Follow the Leader

I never imagined myself setting aside the time to create and keep up with a blog. Considering that this is my first post (and could be my last), I guess I am mistaken to say "keep up with" since I have yet to do so. Regardless, the reason I have taken this on is because I have a few fabulous girlfriends who have amazing blogs, each of which has inspired me to step out, and follow their lead into the blogging world!

Please note that this whole blog of mine is still under construction, as I am trying to figure the whole template/format issue out. That is not, however, why my blog title starts with "Under Contruction." For those of you who know me, you know I am not your normal girl. Who is, right? I have a degree in Construction Management, and work for a commercial general contractor. I am currently an Estimator, but spent the first 18 months in the field. The picture is just for laughs because I know most of you seem to get a kick out of it.

Ryan, my wodnerful fiance, is also an Estimator. He works for a commercial paint subcontractor. My company, as a general contractor, hires Ryan's company, as a subcontractor, to do just about all of the painting on our jobs. We don't directly work together, but we do use each other (quite often) as resources when we have questions. It's kind of nice coming home and being able to talk about work, and really understand what one another is talking about! Since we both work in the Construction industry, it was only fitting to title my (our) blog accordingly.

We have a lot of exciting things going on in our life right now, so what better way to keep track of it all. Since our lives are constantly under construction, this blog will serve as the building blocks (memories, thoughts, feelings, reflections, etc.) toward our future together!

Caution: You're Entering a Construction Site. Hard Hats Required...at times anyway ;)