Let's All Sing the Driveway Song!

If I actually knew a driveway song, trust me, I would be singing it right now. They've just started digging out for our driveway including our expansion and additional side pad! After going the last few weeks with only gravel and dirt, we are very excited about having a solid concrete surface!

In anticipation of this day, we actually submitted plans to our HOA to expand our driveway and add a parking pad. Hopefully expanding the driveway will allow us to get out of a car parked in the driveway in the winter without having to step in the snow. Adding a parking pad just gives us a little more flexibility in parking since we weren't able to add the three-car garage option.

Here are our plans that were approved:

Driveway Expansion

Added Parking Pad

We Chose Tuft & Needle

New mattress shopping sucks. Based on the variations in models, it is almost impossible to comparison shop for mattress with any degree of reliability. And they are all ridiculously expensive. Our last mattress was a super deep, super expensive, pillow top mattress that we thought we'd love after spending a few nights sleeping on one while at relatives. 

Short story - we don't love it it. Not at all. Granted we've had it about 6-7 years, but in that short time (I was expecting at least 10 years out of the mattress, so short isn't quite accurate) we now have ruts in our mattress that make it impossible to sleep anywhere else. As a result, a new mattress has been a frequent topic of discussion - it's just that building a new house meant that our priorities kept shifting.

Then I came across a Facebook ad for Tuft & Needle. Yes, I know - I'm guilty of encouraging invasive advertising. I'm not happy about it either, but it happened. I read all - and I do mean ALL - of the posts and comments, questions and answers...and then I started really digging. I looked for reviews, I watched video clips on YouTube. I kept digging for the deep dark secret that would make me forget all about a new, comfortable mattress for less than $1,000.

I didn't find it. 

So with some subtle persuasion, I convinced my co-sleeper to buy a mattress that neither one of had ever slept on, laid on or even touched. I have to admit - I was a little scared and even concocted a backup plan to buy another mattress in the event it was unsleepable. Now, we are the proud owners (and very, very happy sleepers) of a king size Tuft & Needle foam mattress. 

It came in a box.Really, it did.

And despite be a little on the heavy side, it was still easy for one person (me) to carry upstairs to our bedroom - unlike any other king size mattress I've ever bought. There are some great YouTube videos that show new owners unpacking their mattress and the expansion that happens when you open the vacuum-sealed back the mattress is shipped in - go watch them, you'll be amazed. The truth is, that's really what happens. It's pretty neat to watch - but even better when you lay down on it.

Mattresses are highly individualized - just because we like ours, doesn't mean that you'll like yours. But we really, really, really do like ours. It has only been a month, but we couldn't be happier with our choice. And the mattress. I cannot vouch for how well it will withstand the test of time, but if we get to the point where it starts letting us down (literally and figuratively), we'll be sure to let you know.

Until then, I encourage you to check out Tuft & Needle for yourself!

We're So Happy!

Most expensive key fob we've ever owned.

A Peek Inside Before We Move In

I have to admit, I was afraid to post pictures from our pre-settlement walk through on Tuesday - I didn't want to jinx the closing! Crazy, eh? That's why home buying does to me - it clearly pushes me beyond the bounds of all sanity!

Now that we've closed (can I get a WAHOO?) I have no more fears so here's the pics we took of the inside - before we start moving in and mess it all up. :)

First Floor

Here's the look around the first floor:

The kitchen

More kitchen (we now realize that we need 50, count'em 50, pulls/knobs for our kitchen cabinet doors and drawers - pretty sure we went a little overboard on the cabinets)

The pantry (it's huge!!!!)

The study (my new office!)

Stairs, study doors and front door

Second Floor

Now poking around the second floor:

Top of the stairs

Landing at the top of the stairs

Bathroom

Laundry room (on the second floor!)

Master bedroom

Master bath

Basement

Bathroom

Bathroom selfie :)

And that's about it!

We Closed!

Closing Week!

It's like Shark Week, but only better - at least in our eyes! We're closing this week and will be finally getting to post some complete interior pictures of all of the finished work!

The bad part about closing in January is that they won't be able to do the final grade and pour the driveway until the ground thaws. The mud from the yard and the base for the temporary driveway are two ingredients for a disaster inside our new house! Hopefully we'll be able to mitigate the damage until spring, but it's going to be a challenge!

Stay tuned for some more updates - really, we will post more, I promise! Our adventure is really just beginning - as is evidenced by our ever-growing Google Keep lists of things to do, things to get and everything else that is goes into moving into a new house!

Inside in January!

Ugh! Not spending any time at all inside of the house has really crimped our ability to post updates! We simply don't have much to say (as crazy as that sounds)! We've mostly been spending our time working on updates to our existing house to (hopefully) help it sell! There's nothing more annoying than updating your old house while your new house is being built!

The good news is that our PM has been diligently sending us updates which we look forward to like kids at Christmas! I don't think I ever posted these interior shots from either late December or early January - so here's what's been going on inside - cabinets!

I'll admit I fudged the date of this post a bit, but I wasn't sure of the exact date - so I may come back and correct  it later! Or not....