THIS OLD HOUSE

When Jose and I chose to buy a historic home we wanted it to be a place we could spend our immediate time enjoying, but also have some projects we can tackle thoughout the years. Our 1949 Roma gem is just that. We can spend our mornings working on the landscaping and jumping in the pool to cool down before our afternoon activities. Over the passed weekend we got dirty in the yard preparing for some big plans! 

Summer in AZ in not the ideal time to plant plants or regrow grass but when we get a warning letter from the city about our Palm fronds we spend at lease 1 day of the weekend keeping up neighborhood appearances. The city monitors our front yard, but Jose and I are keeping an eye one the back yard everyday. 

I read somewhere that letting your palm tree overgrow not only keeps it cool but it also protects native wildlife. Take that City of Phoenix.  

As much as we envision going in, it all has to start from a clean slate. We had to say good bye to an oleander, a sage and a eucalyptus this week to clear our yard for grass to grow. With the monsoon season so rough this year, we also had to troubleshoot a green pool. After shocking and vacuuming it, we started to see crystal blue water again. 

The eyesore of the chainlink fence is what bothers me the most. Our biggest priority but also a financial responsibility is changing our chain link fence to a block-wall. It is not something I can youtube (I can, but Im not qualified to perform the duties.) Two hundred and fity linear feet need to be converted into a pool height friendly block wall and as much as I want it to happen overnight, it will take time. 

While we continue to gather quotes and cushion our block wall fund we enjoy approaching the homeownership life and all the obstacles it throws at us. And believe us its a daily chore. 

Amazing photos by @amaesphotography

THRIFTING

Stop what you're doing right now and mark Saturday April 21 in your calendar. Then mark every other Saturday after that. For this glorious day is Goodwill 50% off day and every store in the Valley of the Sun discounts everything in the store half off. (Except Christmas, Rugs, and Mattresses and snacks.)

This ritual was first for filling my closet with the most unique pieces to complement my Dead Lady Collection aka DLC. Next it was feeding my obsessive compulsive disorder to collect maps/globes and Monet prints. Now that I have have been blessed with a four bedroom house to fill this Saturday was nothing short of habit. 

By 9 am I was at my FIRST Goodwill of the day, Tempe (Rural and Guadalupe). Great for books. I bought a corner desk but after spending 20 minutes not being able to fit it in my car it was dead to me. Our next store was closer to home, Phoenix (7th Ave and Camelback). This is a newer location and I was in furniture heaven. We immediately found a vintage army green file cabinet and said sold. Then I saw out of the corner of my eye an old record table with cabinet. 

After pinning re purposed cat litter boxes (see example here), I had imagined an antique record player that I could gut and make the most elegant poop box. Now my dream was coming to life. We loaded in each piece of furntature along with some nick nacks and headed home. 

You never know the treasure you find from one man's trash. After exploring the weird section of Craig's List aka the Free Section we received a flat screen tv and entertainment console. It took a bit of gas and elbow grease but well worth it. What we have been discovering lately are estate sales and as the Finding AZ Engagement turns into a Royal Wedding we hope to find unique treasure to share. 

TRADING SPACES

My favorite show from 20 years ago finally is back on the air! Trading Spaces! I remember running home from school because the episode was on at 3pm and I had a date with my mom to watch it. Climbing into her big water, I would lay next to my mom and we would comment about the crazy decor Hildi was putting in or the amazing ideas Genevieve comes up with. Even at 8 years old I was motivated to decorate. From copying an exact IKEA showroom for my childhood bedroom to redesigning the bathroom on my Spring Break, I have always been practicing for my forever home. 

After we bought our house in Phoenix we told ourselves to take it slow and only make purchase on things we need! So needless to say it took 15 days before an IKEA trip was needed. Over this past weekend we wanted to tackle 2 rooms and with all the materials in our hands all we needed was the motivation. That is what we have each other for!

We stuck together from the first coat of paint to the last throw pillow in place. No arguing, no half ass work, no unexpected purchases. Thankful for an Ace Hardware .5 miles down the road we got to work on our sanctuary room and the podcast studio! 

I came across an amazing article that the small world of Phoenix revealed to me was photographed here locally. The Mind Body Green Article you can read here focuses on the interior design of creating a peaceful space and that exactly what I wanted our den to feel. Grounding, gratitude, energy, motivation and joy are the 5 areas of focus. 

From our rainbowed bookshelves to our record player there is a wealth of knowledge to motivate and inspire. The yoga mats and floor pillow suggest connecting with yourself and the earth. We also call this space the cartography room and you can feel the joy that surround the travel memories. 

After the Saturday project we decided to double down and work on the Podcast Studio. This was a priority because after a guest and a few intros we needed more soundproofing and aesthetics for photos. We found a gallon of paint called "Silvery Moon" and took a dare. Ask me it looks blue ask Joe it looks grey, but either way its gorgeous. After loading in art piece by art piece for the gram all our local artist's work we were ready to shut the light off on this project too! 

Now, its time to catch up on another episode of the All New Trading Spaces and envision the next room! 

MOVE IN DAY

The alarm went off at 5 am on a Friday morning and I joked with Jose, "Should we just sleep in." He laughed. It was signing day and after a long learning experience we were ready to move on to the next chapter into our forever home. 

After meeting our team at the title agency and signing our life away we proceeded to a champagne toast at 7:30 am. I'm not sure if it was the bubbly or the experience but I was feeling great! 

The moment came: keys in hand, Jose swept me off my feet and carried me into our new home. It was a perfect moment that I will remember forever. (Watch it on the gram here) Once we were in it was time to clear it out! The previous owners had history in the home that we were aware of and wanted to clean the energy in the space. New beginnings, new juju. 

T.S.P. for the walls. Fabulosa for the Floors. Every fan blade, air vent, electrical outlet and cabinet was cleaned, fixed, replaced. Sage Smudging began at 11pm on that first move in day and we new everyday after this one was ours to create in our forever home.  

Saturday was moving day with both sides of the family on deck! We had our apartment cleared out in a matter of a few hours. By lunch time we were having Subway sammys at our kitchen table in our new home. 

After lunch it was time to put on the homeownership hats and learn about the electrical system in our house. Does your home have 2 prong outlets? Need to ground them? Were qualified now! After tackling the electricity side we learned about pool maintenance and HVAC. Many trips to Ace, Loews, HomeDepot and Costco (for more vodka) in 72 hours. Many phone calls to electrician friends. Late nights turned into early mornings and after day 5 it was time to say goodbye to the Fam from San Diego and spend our first night alone in our new home.  

The buying and moving process couldn't be talked about without saying THANK YOU to everyone who had a hand in it. Whether you made us smile, offered assistance or just send your good spirits our way we appreciate you and understand the importance of people helping people. Cheers to more of that and the pool parties to celebrate it! 

HOUSE HUNTERS

He's a landscape architect by trade and podcast host. She's a small business entrepreneur emphasizing in marketing, sales and management. Their budget is 260k. 

On this episode of House Hunters, newly engaged couple Britt and Jose look to find their forever home in historical Phoenix. With 6 months left on their rental agreement they begin the process of home ownership. 

After feeling like we were drowning in terminology we finally found some footing and got excited about the prospects. 3 months of Trulia, MLS data bases,  and 17 houses later I walked into what I had manifested. 

I saw this house online, fell in love. I showed the listing to my mom, business parter and close friends. We had our realtor preview it a day we could not get out of appointments and meetings and fell in love. The morning of me stepping inside the Roma House I attended a Tranq yoga flow and mainfested it. 

I imagined how it feels pulling up in my driveway, walking up the path to the door to the right while smelling blooming garden roses. I enter the through the classic original wood door right into the great room. From the living room I can see the kitchen to the left and feel the sunlight from the open windows. Leading to the pool in the back an open kitchen and den give me a hug. The bedrooms are off to the right and each one has its own floor plan, design, and character. 

But the backyard, the backyard is where I will say "I do," to the man of my dreams. I can see us walking down the isle, then chasing our new puppy up and down the yard and putting up the approved fence around the pool for the future little ones.  

Everything I had imagined feeling was felt. After physically being in the home and introducing myself as the new neighbor and sharing some "homemade" cookies  we asked everyone to send good JuJu to the universe to lock down this property.

Twelve hours from putting in an offer for full asking price on this mid century historic neighborhood home it was accepted. We were driving to Marry Mart and got a call from our realtor. Josh calls and begins with small talk and I all can think is SPIT IT OUT! It still feels like a dream and my cheeks hurt from smiling.

How cute is this photo by Jen Jinkens taken after the offer was put in and before it was accepted.