Melissa = Homeowner (YAY!)

We closed on our house at the end of last week and now we are "homeowners." It took us three years to get into the position to buy a home, but we got here and are very happy with our purchase. And, honestly, to be able to buy a house on Long Island is a pretty big feat in itself.

The house is a good size for us. It has three bedrooms, one bathroom, a large kitchen, a garage and a 3/4 of an acre of property. There's always the option to expand, up or out...ya know, if we ever have those kids that people have been asking me about for the past three years.

Since we got the keys, we have been working on getting it where we want it. It may not seem like a lot, but we have rooms to paint, a back-splash to install, a fence to put up and TVs to hang. It may seem like only a few things but it is already exhausting and expensive, and I have only been moving things in and painting so far. However, I am fully aware that this is a long and arduous process that will afford me both pleasure and pain.

There was a point a few years ago that I thought it would never happen, just because I was being a pessimist. But, it was time to get out of that apartment and be a big girl and a big boy. So, we did. However, I am not becoming a stuffy, serious adult just because I own a house now. I am still going to be a silly, obnoxious, pain in the butt; I'll just be one that infects an entire house with her ridiculousness. Be prepared, oh and maybe take a pop by. Mi casa es su casa, but clean up after yourself.

Trying to Buy My Piece of This Earth

After a long time preparing, TK and I are finally ready to buy a house. A few weeks ago, we went to look at three houses and we found one that we liked. I know what you are thinking, "Only three?" We know that people usually look at dozens of houses before they finally choose one that they like, but that wasn't the case with us. We are the kind of people that go to a car dealership and leave with a car, well TK is at least. The first house we looked at was "the one" so we wasted no time before putting in an offer and showing it to our family.

This house is only a few blocks away from where we are now and everything in it is brand new. It is a flipped property that the seller took great time and devotion to renovate. It has a great kitchen, which I really like and a huge yard, which TK really loves. Currently, we are knee-deep in the home-buying process, but nothing is set in stone yet and we are trying not to get our hopes up, but it is hard not to.

This is a pretty big deal for us and I am pretty nervous about it because I want it to happen and I don't have the best luck. The last big thing we bought was our car and that was last year and less than a tenth of the price. Anything can still happen to make the deal fall through and I am just hoping that nothing does.

One small bonus of buying a house is that I get to finally use the gifts that all my family and friends bought us for my bridal shower and our engagement. All I keep thinking about is my Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer that is still in its box and how I would like to be able to conquer any of Ina Garten's recipes because they all require a stand mixer. However, I will have to replace all of the spices in my spice rack because they have all since expired.

So now I watch HGTV and actually scan Lowe's circulars with my fingers crossed and butterflies in my stomach. And, I am not sure if I should be praying to God or St. Joseph, the supposed patron saint of house-hunting...but, I may do both.

Keep your fingers crossed!