Good morning and happy Wednesday friends! Finn is always with his dad on Wednesdays so it’s a day that I try to hunker down and get a lot of work done as well as schedule appointments and other things. I’m knocking out some computer work this morning to be followed by class planning and filming for some new online classes! 🙂
To begin this post, I wanted to share an update on where I am with the new house.
(photos Deeana Kortney Photography)
It’s been a little over a month since I closed and we moved in. Things have been slow going when it comes to making forward progress on getting settled. I seem to be skilled at making things even more of a mess and a project than they were to start with. Example, I decided to rip out the carpet in the only room that had it because there were original hardwoods underneath and I don’t love carpet with a toddler and two big dogs. But now I’m in the process of having the floors refinished to match the rest of the downstairs so things are a bit of a mess in the den right now.
It’s also been sloooooowww going to pick out furniture. It took me weeks to choose a couch for the den but I ended up ordering the Peyton sofa from Crate + Barrel during their annual upholstery sale. I’ve also picked the table style that I want and Jarman Woodcraft is getting started on bringing my dining table to life! It’s going to be walnut with a live edge and a matching bench on one side. I cannot wait to see it!
I need furniture for my office but I’ve realized that it’s hard to come by right now given how many people are working from home and how many kids are doing virtual learning. Many things are out of stock or on long backorders.
There are about 100 more things on my house list from changing ceiling fans to selecting patio furniture to installing closet organizing systems to swapping window coverings. As much as I’d like for it all to be done yesterday, the best I can do from a time and budget standpoint is to take it one thing at a time.
Despite the settling and to-dos that need to happen, I mostly want to share that this move has been exactly what I needed. I experienced a huge energetic shift when I went under contract and every day has felt more and more in flow. This all feels like forward progress, new beginnings and freedom. While there are stressful moments and a lot of balls in the air, I mostly feel really happy and more like myself than I have in a very long time. Literally changing my physical space has created so much momentum in a positive direction. I think it’s pretty amazing.
A quick update on Finn. He is L-O-V-I-N-G his new nanny and I am too. Yesterday she sent me pictures from the putt putt course and they also had a Chick-Fil-A picnic at the park. We are so, so lucky to have her working for both families and Finn is thriving with the consistency.
My little guy is also starting to speak in complete sentences and has a lot of opinions on a lot of things, haha. 🙂 We had a great long Labor Day Weekend together. I think the highlight for Finn was a trip to Home Depot and getting to “drive.”
As for the dogs, they’re doing well. Benji is struggling a bit with the transition to the new house but I have been in communication with his trainer on how to help him manage his anxiety in the best way so that he feels safe and secure.
I’m looking forward to getting back into a more regular walking groove again now that we’re through the move and the weather is starting to cool off a bit. I took this snapshot on Monday morning. Finn wanted to hold Zoey’s leash the entire time we were walking. That little hand is so sweet.
My final piece of exciting news is that our governor moved us into phase 2.5 last week so the studios that I work for are now open for classes with reduced class capacity. After six months of teaching on Zoom, if feels SO good to be back in the studio. Both studios (VIBE5 and Charlotte Yoga) that I teach for are offering students the choice to take class in-person or on Zoom, and Charlotte Yoga is also offering an outdoors option. So when I go to teach class, I teach in the studio and bring my laptop and AirPods to stream my class on Zoom and then wear a headset mic to broadcast my class to the patio. These times sure have made us more flexible in many ways, huh?
Okay, that felt like a solid update on the state of things and this feels like a good place to wrap it up. I would love to hear how you guys are doing/feeling right now. <3
Sending big air hugs. xx Jen
I am happy to hear you all are adjusting! Hopefully your pup feels more at ease soon. The pictures are so sweet. Finn just keeps getting bigger and bigger!
-Kate
https://daysofkate.com/
I’m so, so happy that the change of physical space has made such a difference for you. It seems like everything is moving in such a great, forward motion. Don’t worry about the time it takes to get your house the way you want it. I find that all of those things you mention do take so much time (so much more than I ever think), but if you’re happy with the overall space, you’re good. 🙂
You look so happy in the photos, and Finn is so handsome. He really has seemed to have turned into a little man overnight.
I remember when I bought my house a couple of years ago, there was so much I thought needed to be done right away. I had an electrician over for something, and I was listing off all the work (I think part of me thought that other people were judging me??) and he was like “You don’t need to do it all at once.” Even now, I remember that when I get overwhelmed with projects. I now keep a master list on a giant post it on the inside of the basement door and when a project comes to mind, I add it to the list. That way, it’s out of my brain, and then when it’s completed, I can cross it off. Some will probably be there for a few years or more.
Anyway, I love reading about people’s new houses, and when you sounded a little bit like I felt when I first moved, I figured I’d share what that wise electrician said to me. (Incidentally I didn’t have him do the work that seemed so urgent back then, and now I can’t even remember what it was…)
I’m right there with you on house stuff! It’s a constant effort to not be like gaaaahhhh I want all the things NOW. This year was gutters, some stonework and a new fence in the back. I’d LOVE to get in window treatments but think that’ll have to be next year. $$$$
We bought our first home in mid-March right before Portland shut down. We have barely done anything! We have our old furniture from the condo we were renting and the rest of our house is basically a giant playroom for our one-year-old son (also a Finn! Short for Finnigan). We finally just got a dining table and are deciding on some chairs. When we first moved in I also had a giant list of things that HAD to be done right away. In reality I realized that things will get done eventually and me stressing about it wasn’t going to help. It’s a bit tricky for us because we are 95% sure that we want to move in 4-5 years so knowing what to invest in/ purchase for the home is a bit questionable. I recommend living in the house for awhile and feel it out. I really like the idea of building a homey space over time and fine tuning it to what works for your family!
First, thank you for continuing to share your life here. I truly love seeing your updates, and your pictures always make me smile.
And, I’m SO glad that your move has been such a positive thing for you and Finn. How wonderful it must be to feel more like yourself, and to know that you (literally) made the right move for you and your family. Feeling more settled makes everything else better.
Finally – I second (or third, not sure which by now!) living with a house for a while before making ALL the changes. Some of the ones I thought were SUPER important in past houses / apartments were… not as important a few months later. 🙂 You’ll know what needs to come next!
Take care.
we redid our floors too….woah, what a project!!! I’m so glad we did it, but it’s quite a process!! So glad the new space is bringing you positive energy! xoxo