Been Around the World Na-Na-Na

Today, it seems, has been dedicated to wall art. I was in Target earlier and saw some stretched textiles... about a quarter of the size of what I showed you and twice the price. No thank you, I'll make my own that is even more awesome and one-of-a-kind. So there. 

Now, the project I am proposing today is not exactly as original, but something I think is fun for every home. Not to sound like a complete tool, but in today's ever-more mobile society, travel has become something to be enjoyed by the masses, not just an elite few. With the emphasis of study abroad programs (or "study away" as my alma mater now names them... weirdos), more students are experiencing life outside the United States and even more families are choosing exotic locales a little bit further from home. 

Now, if you have seen the film The Prince and Me, you will recognize this as well... and yes I have seen that Julia Stiles classic. Did you know they made a sequel? Rubbish.

Anyway, all you need for this project is a map... and preferably not the ridiculously-colored ones that look like they belong in a second grade classroom. The one pictured can be found online for less than $5.00. Slap it in a frame if you want and grab some thumbtacks from Staples (hooray for the Easy Button! I need one... just kidding) and away we go.

Color code however you want... places you have been, places you want to go, places you've lived, etc. I have also seen this turned into an adorable wedding present (and cheap!), where you combine like where the husband and wife have been together and stuff.

A pretty sweet done in a day project for anyone, but especially those of us with a desire to see the world. Pin it up and show it off! Bonus points if you find aged postcards to put around it...

New York, New York

Another random simple art idea for your weekend... hooray! OK I know using reproductions is sometimes considered unethical, but I figure for private home use, it is OK, right? One of my favorite magazines, mainly for the cover art, is The New Yorker. While the new art is wonderful as well, nothing can beat a good vintage magazine cover when it comes to displaying them in your home. As an added bonus, sophisticated magazine covers are a notch above vintage liquor advertisements... beautiful in their designs as well, but a bit over used by twenty-something girls filling the walls of their first apartment.

The key to displaying covers like these is volume. It is much better to do a series of six small covers than two big ones. First of all, your print quality is going to be undoubtedly better. Secondly, you are going to have more visual interest.

So go on Google images and grab a few (I recommend six) large format images and edit them in a photo program. Choose any magazine that has been around a while... obvious choices include Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Cosmopolitan, though those are a bit more common to see in large poster format at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. See if you can find some beautiful covers from National Geographic or Life. You can crop and edit the photos to any size in a photo computer program (I used Adobe Photoshop, but iPhoto works just as well). Now the printing is tricky... color laser printers usually will be sufficient for display behind glass, but not everyone has one. Whatever you do for printing, do NOT go glossy... bad idea. I chose to print a 5x7"... easy to find frames and good quality!

Frames you can find anywhere. Keep it simple... white mat, neutral frame. Let the artwork show itself off. Hang in a grid or a line and enjoy. Done and done. Beautiful, reasonable wall art. Loves it.

Stuff I Like This Week 8/29/09

Although I have been super busy the past few days with my house and everything else going on, there are a few things that have been helping me get through. Enjoy!

1. Patio Furniture Sales. The end of summer marks the end of grilling out and relaxing on the porch with a glass of sangria. Oh but wait, not really. We still have all of September and most of October to enjoy some beautiful outdoor weather (though you might have to trade your margarita for a glass of cider). But shh... don't tell retailers. They are currently pushing all outdoor furniture by discounting it heavily. Target is practically giving things away and even Pottery Barn is drastically reducing their prices on outdoor furniture. While PB is still a little pricey for me (I am borderline house poor, let's be honest), Target has always impressed me with their reasonable quality for an even more reasonable price, so if you are in the market for some outdoor furniture, check it out. I am personally looking for my reclaimed-brick patio... can you tell I'm excited much?

2. Melatonin. A special shout out to my friend Elizabeth for this suggestion. After hearing me bitch about my chronic insomnia, she suggested I try this natural supplement to help me get to sleep. I am only using it like one night a week (when I know I can be lazy the next day... I am always scared stuff like this will make me too groggy to function), but it is a miracle. Melatonin is the hormone that your body releases when it is time to sleep... something to do with your circadian rhythm and all that jazz. It seems safe enough used in moderation and I am enjoying it as such. Blah blah blah talk to your doctor before you use it blah blah blah. But try the magicalness.

3. Richard Misrach, On the Beach. A few weeks ago, when I was in Atlanta on business, I took an afternoon to visit the High Museum. After regaining appreciation for Monet's Water Lilies (there is a reason he is so widely beloved), I stopped by the other visiting exhibition... and was blown away. Richard Misrach's series On the Beach features large format photographs taken from his high-rise condo in Hawaii. Though the subject is tropical, the photographs have definite melancholy undertones... Misrach eliminated the shoreline in most of them, which removes any point of reference for the viewer. People seem to be floating alone in an endless ocean or lying entwined with a lover on a deserted beach. Beautifully sad and amazing at the same time. Grab an image from google and make it your computer background. And then have your sister make fun of your having two people making out on your desktop.

4. External Hard Drives. These magical devices are somewhat expensive, but totally worth it. As a photographer, I needed somewhere to back up all my digital images. I have found even more use for it now that so many important documents are kept on the computer. Everything for my loan and my home is now backed up to be saved forever. Amazing. If you don't have one, get one. They hold more information than a flash drive, and please imagine if you one day lost all your pictures and music. Devastating, right? Nope. Suck it up. Do it. Now. Right now.

5. Grosgrain Ribbon. This stuff is everywhere right now, and on sale. Besides being ridiculously cute, I keep finding cheap and easy crafts that utilize it. I will eventually post some of them on here, but for now, mosey on down to Michael's (not Hobby Lobby because I am boycotting them right now) and pick some up. Seriously. I am going to teach you how to make an adorable cup and maybe even a pillow if you are lucky. Rock on, ribbon.

And there you have it... stuff I like this week. Now I am off to make myself cross eyed at work with spreadsheets... be jealous!

All About the Benjamins

Disclaimer: I am not a banker, an economist, or even really smart when it comes to numbers. Therefore, the following is simply my pedestrian interpretation of mortgages as I understand them. Ask a professional if you have questions, and good lord, do not take actual financial advice from me.

As I am sitting here with Hoot, the boy I nanny during the year (and yes that is just a nickname, creepy internet stalker people), I figure writing a blog is a better use of my time than counting down to the start of the new Wizards of Waverly Place movie. Obviously.

Yesterday, I spent about two hours chatting with my new personal banker. Who am I? Anyway, although I don't want to share a lot of personal financial information, I did want to give an account about the whole mortgage process.

Now, my understanding of the so-called "mortgage crisis" is very limited, but apparently things are very different now that the banks are recovering from giving out a bunch of sub-prime mortgages. Basically, banks started giving loans to people who weren't necessarily able to pay the monthly payments... thus people falling behind and all the foreclosures we are hearing about.

The result? It makes it even harder for people to get a secondary market mortgage now. There are about fifty requirements, and if you don't meet all of them, you don't qualify. Everything from your credit score to your employment history and even the fiscal responsibility of your new neighbors comes into play. Seriously... if you are buying a condo and your neighbors in the building are behind on their homeowners' association fees, you are out of luck. Additionally, parents are no longer allowed to cosign for a child as they were in the past. Hardly seems fair, but banks are concerned about the bottom line now, no matter its disappointing ramifications for the soon-to-be-homeowner.

Guess who doesn't qualify? Me! I understand, considering my lack of full-time employment within the last year. It doesn't matter that I am making enough money now, it matters that I wasn't last September. So am I shit out of luck, as the saying goes? Luckily, no. Apparently, these days, you just have to be creative as far as securing the funds for your new home.

After talking to a banker, we figured out a way for me to secure a traditional loan (as opposed to a mortgage) with the same payments as a mortgage for the next five years. After five years (or sooner, if my personal financial situation becomes more secure in the next few years), we look into 'refinancing' and making a new advantageous solution. I had to settle for a slightly higher interest rate, but it does not make a huge addition to my monthly payments.

So don't be discouraged, soon-to-be homeowners! It might be a little more difficult and you may need to jump through a few more hoops, but securing financing for your new home is not impossible.

My biggest piece of advice is to keep meticulous records... recent pay stubs, records of cash income, and tax returns. Boring, but necessary!

IT IS OFFICIAL!

Today, at 5:57 PM, my realtor informed me that the sellers have agreed to pay our requested amount ($3200... so not just pocket change) for repairs to the house, which means... all systems are a go!

I am so relieved! This whole time, I have been holding back my excitement, convinced something was going to go wrong. I wasn't trying to be negative, I just didn't want to be let down or to make a bunch of plans just to have something fall through at the last minute.

So now, the work begins. I get possession of the house on September 21 and starting then, we will have contractors and painting and decorating and everything that you can follow along. I am working on my list of things I want to do, and while I want to do most of it myself, I am not exactly a roof repairman or a certified electrician. I will need to hire a contractor to complete the big projects.

I am off to get a good night's sleep as a soon-to-be home owner. There won't be much time to sleep once I start working on making my new house a home!

Talk Dirty to Me

In my opinion, no two words are more terrifying to a home-buyer. The mere mention of these repugnant invaders will send a chill down your spine and bring drops of sweat to a savvy spender's brow. The first is merely a nuisance when it crops up on spoiled food. The second is a product that used to be considered a miracle... until scientists discovered that it gets into your lungs and kills you. Awesome. Our culprits?

MOLD and ASBESTOS

I never thought I would one day need to know what either of these things are, but guess what? They are part of the bargain when buying a home, especially one built over sixty years ago.

Today, we went back for a second round of inspections, mainly to check on things that the first inspection brought to our attention. It is always a good idea to get a specialist to come and have a closer look at any potential problems and he or she can also give you an educated estimate in case you are negotiating with the seller. Most of these guys will come at no charge in hopes of winning your business should you decide to continue with the purchase and fix the problem. Win win win.

So we had a chimney specialist come check things out and got the necessary information about the cost of fixing the chimney and the surrounding roof. We also had an HVAC (which stands for "Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning" in case you were wondering) specialist come check out the 40 year old furnace. The bad news? The furnace is almost twice as old as I am. The good news? It can be replaced pretty easily for a good price thanks to some tax incentives with energy-efficient machines (more to come on that later).

Nice Mr. Zipper (the HVAC specialist) poked around and then almost nonchalantly waved his flashlight around and asked if I knew about the moldy asbestos tape on the ductwork. Ummm excuse me??? The what???

My heart sank. My stomach flipped. My vision went fuzzy and my head pounded as my dreams of home-ownership plummeted around me. Mold and asbestos? Nothing could be worse, right?

Wrong. Turns out, small amounts of mold (unlike that seen in the picture) are not the end of the world. It is not good, but it happens. Now, if you have mold inside the walls and there are mushrooms growing in between your sheets of drywall... yes that is a problem. In general, however, keeping the area clean and dry is enough.

As far as asbestos, this material was once used in everything from battleships to hot plates. Mmmm let's cook with a material that has glass-like fibers that adhere to your lungs and kill you! In homes, you might find asbestos floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and even in duct tape. Is that ideal? No. But it can be easily fixed.

First, you can cover the asbestos tape with a layer of aluminum tape (stronger than plain ol' duct tape). The use a sealant primer paint (word on the street is that Kilz is the best) to cover the whole yucky moldy asbestosy mess. It seems overly simple, but apparently it is a legitimate fix for minor mold and/or asbestos infestation. Lesson learned: don't freak out prematurely. While you might hear things about bad bad bad stuff in your house, it is not always the end of the world. Almost everything can be fixed, and sometimes for as cheap as a can of paint and a roll of tape.

Special Note: Our friendly neighborhood home inspector Mr. B did NOT miss the mold or the asbestos tape. Turns out, an inspector can not tell a buyer that there is mold unless he is 100% sure that it what it is... and you can't know for sure without a $1200 test. If an inspector "scares off" a buyer by telling them that there is mold, he or she can be held liable for the sale. So open your eyes!

Deal-Breakers

So after touring no fewer than sixty-two houses around the Louisville area, I got pretty good at recognizing things that can be fixed and things that just aren't worth the time and money. For instance, one home I looked at was amazing... three bed, three bath, completely remodeled inside, well-cared-for, beautiful, finished basement and garage. It was priced for that too. Now, normally it would be totally worth paying the big bucks for something turn-key (that is realtor-speak for you can move right in, for those not obsessed with HGTV). However, if you look a little closer, there are some things that will end up costing big bucks... which you have to take into account in addition to the asking price of a home. This particular home needed a new roof (around $10,000) AND a new air conditioner (around $1500 plus installation and possible rezoning costs)... DEAL-BREAKER. Just goes to show that even if a house looks perfect, there is a lot to consider before buying.

Not to say that some things aren't worth adding or repairing. My cute little house only has ONE bathroom... pretty typical of post-WWII homes, but not ideal for everyday living OR resale. So before putting in an offer, I researched the average cost of adding a *small* bathroom to a home... around $15,000. While that is a lot of money, putting in $15,000 now will not only increase my enjoyment of the home, but will provide almost a 100% return on my investment when I go to sell in a few years. Additionally, my house was priced low enough because it has only one bathroom, that I can afford to take the money I have saved and complete the renovation.

So when buying a home, take into consideration the average cost of additions and repairs and decide whether or not an old roof or a lack of back deck is really and truly a deal-breaker. To help you out, here are some of the average costs of additions/renovations:

Kitchen remodel: $20,000.00

Bathroom remodel: $8000.00

Deck addition: $5000.00

Window replacement: $8000.00

Family room addition: $25,000.00

PS... thanks to CNNmoney for help with estimates!

Now, most of these prices are quoted based on doing things on the cheap (coughSWEATEQUITYcough), but not completely by yourself. Obviously, these estimates will vary based on your location and the quality of materials, in addition to how much you do yourself or contract out. But say you find a great house in a great location for a great price, it just doesn't have a family room... will paying an additional $20,000 be worth your time, effort, and investment in the long run? Make sure to check comparable homes in your neighborhood to see how much they go for with your proposed addition.

Hope this helps for those of you thinking about setting out into the world of home-ownership... and hold onto your hats, because me renovating a bathroom is going to be a wild ride!

Stuff I Like This Week 8/22/09

While sitting here at work on a rainy Saturday, I decided to start sharing a list of things I like this week. I am a big fan of the following items, and I think you should be too!

1. Dick Blick Art Materials. I giggle at the name every single time without fail, but this retailer is well-loved by all art students. While it can be a pain to pay for shipping sometimes, Dick Blick is the most comprehensive online art supply retailer that I know. When I set off this week to find enamel paint, Dick Blick came through for me with a large selection of colors and styles despite the obscurity of the item. Additionally, they were able to take 15% off the list price... just because they are awesome. So next time you are looking for some art supplies and can wait a few days to receive them, try Dick Blick... you won't be sorry!

2. Arnold Select Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins. Like most people these days, I pack my lunch before I go to work so that I can save a few pennies. After about two days of that, I got sick of sandwiches. Not anymore! These delicious sandwich thins are multi-grain, but not completely saturated in whole oats. They are also the perfect sandwich size. Since getting them, I have tried them in numerous roles-- including just as bread for a good ol' classic turkey sandwich. They are also great to toast and cut up for dipping in hummus or with a black bean cake. Basically, for 100 calories a pair (as opposed to 120 calories per piece of yucky bland overly processed white bread), these sandwich thins are the bomb diggity. Yup, I said it.

3. Sharpie Pens. Really, I promise: they do not bleed through paper. I am addicted to Sharpies (call Betty Ford!), but fortunately not in that I like to sniff them. At any given time, you can ask and I most likely have a Sharpie on my person. I don't know what it is... something about the combination of felt tip construction, permanence, and the challenge of not getting a little bulb at the end of every line gets me every time. However, I hate having to waste paper when it bleeds through on the next page. So, ta-da! Sharpie pens that do not bleed through paper. Perfect for someone starting school in a few days.

4. Julia Child. I feel like she is everyone's favorite person right now following the release of Julie and Julia, and I'll admit that the movie motivated me to read the book. After slugging through My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell (remind me that blogs are blogs for a reason and not to try to publish the drivel I post here), I found myself wanting to know more about Julia Child (Julie Powell was OK too, I guess, but she wouldn't be anything without Julia). I turned to her memoir, My Life in France, and found a charming recollection of life abroad as lived by two amazing individuals lucky enough to be madly yet comfortably in love. While the time line was a bit confusing at times, the book itself was adorable, inspiring, and a new favorite. Julia had an amazing life that she lived by following her own beat and even if you are not a chef, you can learn something from the story of her life. Off to debone a duck now...

5. The Kentucky State Fair. For ten days in August, the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center is taken over and people flock to Louisville from all over the state to experience the Kentucky State Fair... a marvelous experience in culinary wonders (mmm fried Snickers bars!), agricultural phenomena, and sketchy-looking carnival rides. Yes please! OK so actually, the fair is not my favorite thing, but the flea market at the fair? BINGO! Admittedly, a lot of the stuff there is junk, but you never know what you might find that is super cheap and ready to be transformed into something wonderful for your home. I know that not everyone lives in Kentucky, but your state fair is probably coming up soon, so make sure to check it out!

So there's the first installment of "Stuff I Like This Week." Hopefully, I'll like enough stuff to keep this going past today...

Freedom!!!

In the words of Mel Gibson/William Wallace, 'they make take our lives, but they can never take our FREEDOM!' Well today, I finally declared my emancipation from my job slingin' wings. For the past seven months, I have been picking up some extra cash working as a waitress in a buffalo wings sports bar. As fun as it was getting hit on by drunk men despite my heinous uniform, I finally decided that it was time to throw in the towel.

It doesn't seem to make sense to quit a job right before I make one of the biggest purchases of my life, but I needed to make some changes in my schedule and not only was my schedule at the sports bar inconsistent, I was getting paid much less than I do for my work at the interior design firm, babysitting, or doing contract design/photography work. So while I am nervous about missing out on that income, I really do think it was a good decision. Anyone interested in some non-slip black Sketchers? They are pretty sexy.

Another reason I quit was because of my new endeavor this fall... SCHOOL! I will be taking an interior architecture class at the University of Louisville this fall. I am so excited to learn more about my new field and hopefully share some things I learn with you on here!

It was impossible to actually take this class though! Apparently, the concept of a post-baccalaureate non-degree seeking student is totally beyond the powers that be. Not only did I have to jump through hoops to get a parking permit, the art department actually contested my eligibility because they 'could not account for the rigor of the foundation classes at [my] previous institution.' I can understand that if I hadn't gone on to complete three more years of education in the arts. I mean, seriously? Considering the fact that I graduated, I think I might have figured out the color wheel and other important fundamentals of art.

As fun as it is to babysit on yet another Friday night, I am looking forward to having a break tomorrow night and Sunday before I start school again on Monday!

I'm gonna mitigate your radon...

Oh but wait... no I'm not! Got the radon test results back today and we got a 1.5! I don't know what 1.5 means, but I know we had to have under 4.0. Seriously, no idea what units or whatever those are in, but I am just thrilled that there is not one more thing to do before I can close on the house and move in.

The realtors spoke today and, apparently, the sellers don't want to be responsible for any repairs before closing because they say they are too busy. That is fine, as long as they don't fight me on how much different things are going to cost. We are busy now getting estimates on the major repairs, which we will then report to the sellers' agent. Riveting stuff, I know. I just want to get all these small details out of the way so I can dream about paint colors and crown molding without feeling super guilty.

In other news, the season premiere of Project Runway is tonight and while it is no longer on Bravo, I am not thinking it will be ridiculously different on Lifetime. You'll know where to find me at 10:00 tonight...

I'll get you next time, Gadget!

Dum da dum da dum... Inspection day! I have been itching to get back to my computer all day. At noon, the general inspector (we'll call him Mr. B) and the termite inspector met me at my (hopefully) future residence. The termite inspection was quick and painless... no termites in the house, though there was evidence of past termite treatments in the detached garage. While the latter fact is not ideal, it is not uncommon in older homes (mine was built in the years following WWII). Check plus there!

Mr. B took about two hours to go through everything in the property, from climbing on the roof to flushing the toilet fifteen times in a row. He was able to check everything except for the crawl space because the sellers were kind enough to leave their monstrous entertainment center blocking the entrance (no worries, they'll have to move that and have Mr. B come back soon). 

The good news? The house isn't crumbling down around us! Mr. B found three things, however, that will be somewhat costly to fix and therefore must be negotiated with the seller.

1. The chimney. The chimney lacks a chimney cap and has suffered decades of water damage. Huge problem? Not now, if we fix it. We will have to cap the chimney and repair damaged bricks on the outside. Cost? Around $1500.

2. Shingles. Louisville, Kentucky has incurred the wrath of God in the past year with Hurricane Ike, a devastating ice storm, and, most recently, a flash flood. The result is tons of roof damage all around... including on my cute little house. Fifteen damaged shingles doesn't sound like a lot, but apparently it is. Cost? Around $400.

3. Electrical panel. Some genius one day decided to run two circuits into the same circuit breaker. I don't really understand that, but apparently it is bad. Cost? Unknown.

After Mr. B sat me down and explained his report, I had to take it to Joanne (my realtor) and decide what to ask the seller to fix. In a word: EVERYTHING. They either need to agree to fix the noted problems before we close, or they need to knock some money off the purchase price so that I can afford to make the necessary repairs myself. I would prefer the latter so I can make sure everything is done right!

Lesson learned: inspection inspection inspection! Never skip it because I would have no idea about chimney or roof damage if Mr. B hadn't gone climbing around on the roof. So now... more waiting. The sellers have three days to reply to my request. I just want us to finally get to a settled agreement so I can stop holding my excitement in check! 

One promising sign... the huge SOLD sign in the front yard!

Show Down at High Noon

I am sitting here in my spotless decluttered room having a minor panic attack. Tomorrow, at noon, I have my home inspection. General, radon, and termites. Obviously, this is something you absolutely have to do, but my stomach is in knots. I expect there to be some things in the house that need to be fixed, but I am terrified there will be a huge problem that will be too expensive to fix. If the seller and I cannot reach an agreement about price and who pays for what repairs, I may have to walk away from the deal altogether.

Not only would this suck because I would have wasted the money the inspection costs, I will also be so heartbroken. Unfortunately, I have let myself become attached to this home and I have spent hours dreaming about renovations and paint colors. I know that I will make the decision that is best for me, but I am going to have to watch myself to make sure I don't just try to take this house at any cost. 

So now I am off to try to sleep without tossing and turning too much. Because at HIGH NOON tomorrow, it is the showdown of the inspectors. And while part of me wants them to find nothing wrong with the home, I also want them to do a thorough check and find any little thing that could possibly need to be fixed. I will be ready for them with my spiral notebook and open ears.

Sugar and Fire in Our Blood

For some reason, the topic of the Kentucky Derby has come up in conversation several times in the past few days. Being a Louisville native, I have grown up under the assumption that the first Saturday in May is a national holiday. We even got off school the day before for the Oaks race. Imagine my surprise when I went to school in South Carolina and the most magical day in Kentucky was virtually ignored... not cool. For future reference: the first Saturday in May demands reverence and you should celebrate accordingly by gambling and drinking and being Southern.

Arguably, the best part of the Derby is sitting in a box under a huge beautiful hat in an adorable sundress, enjoying a refreshing mint julep. Created with sugar, water, Kentucky Colonel mint, and bourbon (Woodford Reserve, if you want a true-to-form Churchill Downs julep... I prefer a lighter bourbon and this is by far the best), mint juleps can be an acquired taste, but have the effect of utter refreshment on a warm Kentucky Saturday in May. Throw on your seersucker suit and try it out sometime. 

So it might just be because I grew up here, but no matter the reason, I own what seems like a thousand julep cups. Some are simple, some have monograms or engraving, and some have beautiful small detailing. Whatever the individual characteristics, julep cups have a beautifully simple uniform shape that lends itself to a variety of uses.

As seen in the picture, julep cups are my default choice for a vase, especially for large blooms such as peonies and hydrangeas. In addition, from where I am sitting right now, I can see three julep cups employed in various uses in my bedroom: one on my desk holds pens and pencils, another on my dresser holds loose change, and a third sits on my bookshelf with a pink peony (faux) acting as a bookend. Simple, classic, Southern, and beautiful. The julep cup is by far one of my favorite tools in decorating. And for those of you unlucky enough to grow up outside of this great state, silver-plated julep cups can be had for as little at $15.95 apiece. So next time you see one for sale, think of this suggestion and remember that you are not only investing in a piece of classic Kentucky, you are also getting a multi-purpose decorating tool you can enjoy for year and years.

Um, excuse me?

I was just watching one of my favorite HGTV shows, Property Virgins. GREAT show, all about the surprises in store for first time home buyers. At first, host Sandra Rinomato kind of annoyed me, but once I watched a few episodes, I realized that, like my dad says, 'she really knows her stuff.' She does a great job of taking first time home buyers and explaining the nuances of purchasing a home. Most importantly, she is very up front and blunt on matters such as budget and renovation benefits. I wouldn't mind having her to hold my hand through this whole process!

So there I was, lounging around, trying to decide on a topic for tonight's blog, and... I heard my name... and my age... Sandra was introducing first time home buyer, twenty-four year old Caroline. Um what? That's me!

It wasn't actually me, but it certainly got my attention. It was nice seeing someone very similar to myself going through the same process. I know other friends who have bought homes (many emailed/facebooked me to let me know about it after seeing the blog on facebook!) but I have never really been privy to the process for someone in my age range or my social demographic. Hopefully, some of my experiences will help others who are planning on buying in the near future.

Things didn't work out too well for the other 24 year old Caroline... she ended up deciding she couldn't afford a house right now. It is a little late for me to make that call, so I'll keep forging on... wish me luck!

Catch the next episode of Property Virgins with Sandra Rinomato Wednesday at 8:30pm eastern on HGTV. 

Something to chew on...

I heard an interesting fact today and felt the need to share it. Did you know that in 2008, 25% of first time home buyers were single women? Girl power!

I think it is so interesting how the shift in America's social climate is reflected in home-buying trends. Fifty years ago, women were expected to graduate, get married, and buy a house with their husbands. Now, not only are women waiting longer to get married, they are experiencing more financial freedom and the possibility to invest how they choose.

More and more women are realizing the benefit of buying. While renting has its perks (most notably the minimal upkeep), home owning is a wise investment, especially in this market. While small, starter homes are more in demand, they are still ubiquitous. In addition, first-time home buyers are usually eligible for the $8000 tax credit... never a bad thing.

I am definitely not a radical feminist, but I support women getting out there and being independent. So girls, get out there and own a home... it is more within reach than you may think.

Eight Dollar Art

OK first, let me rant a little about Hobby Lobby. Why on earth would you be closed on a Sunday? When else are normal people going to have time to complete projects? It is like Chik-fil-a... when is a better time to enjoy a chik'n mini and a large ice-cold Diet Dr. Pepper than when you are hung over on a Sunday morning? I get the whole 'and on the seventh day God rested,' but that doesn't mean humans have to as well. Resting on a Wednesday is just as rad... trust me.

That being said, after driving 20 minutes to the nearest Michael's, I retrieved the few and super-cheap materials necessary to complete my Sunday project, lovingly entitled Eight Dollar Art. And best of all, you can do it too! This project requires approximately zero artistic talent and very few materials. The only tool you might not have laying around your house is a staple gun, and you should have one. So mosey on down to Target (or UGH Wal-Mart, where I fought off the dregs of humanity in the name of proximity to Michael's), and invest in a nifty staple gun for $8.88 plus tax.

As I mentioned previously, I have acquired numerous fabric samples from my office. These are usually upholstery fabrics or curtain samples that have been discontinued and are, therefore, no longer usable for clients. You might argue that not everyone has access to materials like that, but here's the secret: you do. We have several people who come in every few weeks and sort through our discontinued samples. One woman comes in who makes them into purses, another makes pillows. They have no association with our business, they just asked. So try it... think of stores in your area that might have excess fabric and check it out. You've got nothing to lose, right?

So, with that, I took a beautiful coarse linen and made it into a cheap and chic piece of art. I like to think of it as a little bit retro, and a LOT of awesome. 

First, measure the fabric and determine the size stretcher bars necessary by giving yourself 1.5-2" around the edge. For example, my fabric was 34" x 25", so I bought two 30" bars and two 20" bars for $1.89 plus tax each. Look for them in the canvas section of your local crafts store. Added bonus? Feel like a superior artist amongst the scrapbooking moms by giving off the appearance of a 'real' artist who stretches and gessoes her own canvas.

Now, iron and lay your fabric face down on a carpeted surface. Starting in the middle of each bar, use your handy-dandy staple gun to pull the fabric tight. The best comparison I can make is to wrapping a present. Wrap your corners just like you would fold paper around a box. Stretch and staple all the way around. Flip over and hang on the wall. Instant awesome art.

Be careful when you are stretching not to pull too hard, ESPECIALLY if you are using a fabric with any sort of stretch to it (anything with spandex... beware!). Just be extra careful when you are stapling not to make any noticeable pulls in the fabric.

With a project of the day under my belt, I am off to take a shower and hit the hay... or maybe watch Mad Men. Decisions, decisions.

Clutter.

Grab a trash bag and pump up some Miley jams, because it is time to get rid of clutter. Which, just so you know, is one of those words that sounds REALLY weird after you stare at it for too long.

It is official: I have not fully unpacked my life since 2007. Seriously. When I moved out of my apartment after graduation, I loaded my stuff into my Volvo and a storage unit, lived in the home a professor for whom a friend was housesitting for two weeks, and then moved into my awesome loft apartment in Greenville. But I wasn't sure how long I was going to be there (I didn't have a full time job yet and wasn't sure I would be able to find one), so I kept some stuff in boxes in my spare closet. I don't even know what stuff. Books? Clothes? DVDs? I suppose you could argue that it is obviously stuff I don't actually need, but I beg to differ. It is going to be like Christmas morning when I finally get this stuff out! 

As of today, I have been living with my parents for a year. I feel like I am going to need years of therapy just to deal with that fact. As I have mentioned before, it is not all bad, but it sucks a lot sometimes too. Anyway, I have unpacked some stuff, but I keep thinking that my next impending move is closer than it actually is, so I rationalize living with boxes. That is all well and good, except now I am going to be moving into my own place and have to make sure my life is somewhat together. Ha!

So after I finish sittin' on babies tonight, my goal is to declutter my room here. File away papers (VERY important), put things where they are supposed to go, and maybe even start boxing some random things up for the move. Also, I am a total night owl, so starting this project at 11:30 sounds like a great plan. We'll see how far I get.

Note: 'declutter' and 'unclutter' are not words. Thoughts on that matter?

 

Lions and Tigers and BEHR... oh my!

As I am hanging out bored on a Friday night (sittin' on babies... not just a huge loser), the craziness of this day is hitting me. I mean, theoretically, I bought a HOUSE today. Like a real house that you live in. As in I am going to be living there for years of my life. Obviously, I have been searching for about three months, so I know this is the right choice. Joanne (realtor) called to counsel me today-- she said that, undoubtedly, I will begin to freak out in the next day or two. Amazingly, I am not so much freaking out about the price. Obviously, it is a lot of money, but I think it is a good investment. I am more freaking out about the permanence.

I moved back to Louisville a year ago (to the day as of tomorrow!) for a plethora of reasons. I was living in South Carolina and had quit my job with a non-profit arts organization. I gave myself until the end of the summer to find something else in Greenville; obviously, I did not. In addition, my dad has been going through treatments for colon cancer. Basically, it just seems like a good time to be near my family here in Louisville, Kentucky. But that doesn't stop me from somewhat freaking out about being 'tied down' to a property. I've never thought of myself as a 'rolling stone' but maybe I am?

How am I talking myself off the ledge? Oh, I don't know, maybe... PAINT COLORS? Yes please!

Everyone knows that paint is the easiest and cheapest way update a home. I have seen so many heinous paint colors in houses, and sometimes it is difficult to see past lime green or periwinkle. But once you do... holy crap. Slap up some pale sage green or maybe a warm terracotta or a golden yellow, and there you go. I painted my first apartment my senior year of college, and while I wouldn't choose 'cheery pink' for a bathroom ever again, it did make my cookie cutter apartment feel a little more individual. 

As far as choosing paint colors, I have no higher recommendation than Behr Paints' website. I used Behr paint when I painted before (it worked well for me, but I only lived with it for a year and don't really know much about what makes a paint 'good'), and spent hourssssss playing with their website. Not only can you carefully tweak the color you are choosing by going lighter, darker, or more saturated, you can then coordinate your colors and then preview them in the room of your choice. Supposedly, you can upload a photo of your own room, but I haven't tried that yet.

So basically, I put the kids to bed and have now been camped out watching HGTV and deciding if I really want a lilac bedroom... decisions decisions.

It feels good to be accepted...

FINALLY. Finally, finally, finally.

I have an accepted offer on the cute little fixer-upper! I am not even really sure how to express my feelings about this right now; I am so relieved and happy but still a little apprehensive. The house still needs to pass multiple inspections in the next few days, and then we have to negotiate with the sellers if there is anything disputable as far as radon mitigation and chimney stability. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Right now I have been on the phone with my mortgage broker trying to get the papers that say I can actually afford the house. HA. Actually, it just says that the bank thinks I can afford to go thousands of dollars into debt. Minor difference, right?

Counter Counter Counter

Did I mention that searching for a home is frustratingly trying? I don't think I have stressed the point nearly enough... I actually think my blood pressure is rising and Lord knows I missed sleep last night.

First of all, just the idea of having a mortgage. What a scary word! As I told Rogers earlier today, I believe it is derived from the French morte for "death." Because this monthly payment very well may be the death of me. Granted, it will actually most likely be less than what rent would be at any apartment, but something about the concept seems incredibly grown up and foreboding. 

Secondly, the process of offering and countering. This morning, I put in an offer on the cute little fixer-upper for approximately $17,000 under the asking price. Not necessarily a low ball offer, just starting out low, expecting them to counter. They did, for $8,000 under the asking price.

Which has led to the biggest headache of the night. Do I counter for another $2000 lower? That is what my parents suggested, but when you consider the amount of $2000 *relative* to the amount you are paying for a house, is it really that big a deal? Key word: RELATIVE. Two thousand dollars is a lot of money. I could buy a new computer and Adobe CS4 with that. But, when considering it in terms of a 30-year mortgage at today's rate (5.49%, in case you were curious), that $2000 turns into $10 a month. If I have to sacrifice getting take-out once a month or seven and a half songs on iTunes every month, I think I will choose paying an extra $10 on my mortgage while eating spaghetti and listening to imeem. Done and done.

I just never thought that buying a house would include seemingly meaningless squabbles about satellite dishes and window treatments. Apparently, it does.

So I am agreeing to the price they suggested and adding in some minor tweaks (about days for inspections and satellite dishes). Here's to hoping all works out for the best!

PS... if you are interested in playing with the day's mortgage rates and figuring out what kind of house you can afford, go to BankRate.com. Definitely the most up-to-date and comprehensive mortgage calculator out there.

Etsy Obsession

The Etsy phenomenon is far from new, but I just had to write a quick something about my obsession with its awesomeness. Because not only is it a cool place to browse for (typically) well-priced jewelry, art, and hand-made crafts, but it is one of my favorite go-to sites for artistic inspiration. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, am I right? By no means do I condone copying someone's art, and I am definitely not suggesting you do that. But if you needs some ideas for general projects, especially those utilizing recycled materials and found objects, check out what other people are doing. It can't hurt.

Online window shopping is one of my favorite pastimes (as demonstrated by my rave about Target's non-committal list feature), and Etsy is the single most comprehensive place to find cool stuff. I mean, that is really the only word for it. Cool. My favorite realized purchase? A large gold necklace with a copy of the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustration. Where would you find that in real life? (Side note: I have a major obsession with Alice; she is basically my idol and I think the nonsense genre of literature is amazing. I would also like to point out that my obsession began WAY before Tim Burton and Johnny Depp made that ridiculous and awesome and ridiculously awesome book popular.)

In the end, my point is that sometimes we all need a little inspiration. For instance, I get free discontinued fabric samples from my job in the interior design showroom. I have stacks of fabric books and shopping bags full of small squares. Now, until I learn to sew, I am at a loss of what to do with all these, but I know that they are just too reusable to dispose of. So, off I go to Etsy to search for textile art.

BAM. Awesome framed textiles. Who would have thought? Granted, the example is sewn, but nothing is stopping me from cutting out fun designs and putting them behind glass. I feel an adventure in patterns and texture coming on... stay tuned.

You're on my list!

Because it is ridiculously awesome, Target has found a way to include all of us in a buying frenzy. I don't know about you, but I have always been jealous seeing people going through stores completing their registries for weddings or babies. How amazing and official is it to go through a store, simply pointing one of those cool barcode-scanners at whatever you want, and then magically receive it? YES PLEASE.

It is like that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie gets her friend Kyra to buy her a new pair of Manolos because she argued that she had already bought Kyra at least $2300 worth of wedding and baby gifts. 

The fact is, sometimes it is hard to walk in a single woman's shoes; that's why we need really special ones now and then-- to make the walk a little more fun.

OK I am not really complaining about not getting presents (because, hopefully, one day I will) but I am RAVING about Target's quasi-new "Lists" feature.

Target Lists (and gift registries... whatever)

Now, I am not quite ready to go pointing a barcode-scanner gun around my local Target (seriously, do those things have a real name?), but I will take advantage of the organizational aspect of the feature online. Instead of just throwing things in my magical shopping cart and saving them for later (and let's face it: somehow, the items always disappear), I can simply add an item to a pre-made list. Not only can I access this list online at any time, I can print it at the store. I know, this is crazy magical stuff we are dealing with.

Joke on me if you must, but consider my situation. I am (hopefully) purchasing a house in the next few days/weeks/months/years. Once I own this home, I will have to furnish it, as well as buy all the little things you need when you are setting up housekeeping from scratch (I won't even tell you how long it took me to remember to buy dish soap when I moved into my last apartment). And yes, I know you could just write down a list and check it off. But this is so. much. better. I can go through online, pick out everything from furniture to dish towels, save it until I can afford it, and then order it online. Usually with free shipping. And 15% off orders over $125. Beat that, old-fashioned handwritten list-makers.

The pursuit is half the fun?

I have been searching for a house for the past three months. I have seriously seen sixty-seven homes as of this evening (no, really, seriously, ask Joanne, my realtor). It is easily the most frustrating, exhausting, and stressful experience I have had in my young adult life. Yes, even more stressful than being unemployed... at least then you are not potentially going hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt.

Now, my situation is not dire by any means. Well, I guess that depends on your definition of dire. I am living - wait for it - in my parents' basement. Because really, when I was considering moving this time last year, I thought, 'how can I be the biggest possible cliche AND lose my social life and relative freedom?' 

Now, living rent-free is not all that bad, obviously. My mom buys groceries and sometimes even cooks for me. I definitely will not have my own 60" tv when I get my own place (let's face it, I'll be lucky if I'm able to afford cable). But for any self-respecting, wanna-be independent 24 year old single gal, the basement is just not going to cut it. I won't even go into what dating has been like the past year since I have moved in here. 

And, if you have been paying attention at all to the news, it makes so much sense to buy as opposed to renting right now. Not only do you get some great tax credits, but you are paying about the same for your mortgage as you would for rent and you are building EQUITY! Amazing! So if you have some pennies saved up that you can put towards a down payment, BUY BUY BUY!

So I *think* I am putting in an offer in the home pictured tomorrow. It is small (around 1500 square feet), three beds and (gasp) one bath. BUT the price is right, and there is room to add on. After all my looking, this house has stood out among the rest for it's affordability, character, and POTENTIAL. It is definitely not perfect, but there is so much I can see that can be done! Hopefully, this will be my canvas upon which I can build my own space and style. Fingers crossed!