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Yes, there is a pontoon boat parked in our drive. No, it's not ours. It's Aaron's dad's, and Aaron is fixing it. |
Year one involved a new roof (thanks to a hail storm!), painting our smallest bedroom, buying a new couch, re-staining the deck and replacing some boards, and fixing up one side of our fence. Not to mention just nesting and figuring out decor in general, while staying on a budget.
Year two has been a fun year that has allowed us to focus on some more cosmetic upgrades...as well as the oh so fun replacement of the compressor for our air conditioning. (It's just money...right??) But really, home ownership is wonderful overall, and we love it. Here are a few glimpses of what we've been up to this year!
OUTDOOR LANDSCAPING and DECOR
We had an amazing time putting some little touches in our backyard that made a huge difference: think globe lights, hanging baskets, and some fun light fixtures. Oh, and I may have gotten serious poison ivy three times, but it was worth it for our great new rosebushes and hydrangea (and a few questionably successful strawberry plants). See more about how we did it in this post.
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Got this cute thing at Kohl's for free on Clearance with Kohl's cash and a coupon. Winning! |
THE GUEST ROOM
Over Christmas break 2014, I decided that the half blue/half dark brown with a stripe through the middle paint job wasn't really something I was feeling for our guests. We used a coupon and got a half price gallon of paint in "Hops" that made this sweet room much more cozy. I moved over the bedspread and $10 curtains from our bedroom, and we bought the side table on clearance from Nebraska Furniture Mart. I repainted an old bookshelf of my Grandpa's, and we found a great set of lamps on sale. I grabbed two old window frames at First Fridays to make this room complete on a budget. In just the last month, we have had 12 guests stay through our Airbnb listing, and we already have 7 more booked for this month!
THE SHED

THE BASEMENT
This year we did a few (once again, cheap) decorative updates to our basement. If we're going to spend the majority of our time lounging down here, I wanted to like it! I painted the area above the mantle white so it would tie in with our "door" coffee table that Aaron made (which I also painted white). Aaron's grandma gave us some creamy white curtains of hers that were't being used. I found some throw pillows that I loved at Marshall's and IKEA, and we put the other lamp from Nebraska Furniture mart on the side table that Aaron built. Proof that a room can be comfy and cozy without haven't to buy very much at all! We love this space.
THE FRONT ROOM

THE DINING ROOM (A Work in Progress)
I hit some major sales at Kohl's and scored these two curtain panels for $0.25 total. Seriously, friends. They are a nice, neutral, more peaceful set than the ones that were up when we moved in. I'm planning to paint the top half of our dining room a peaceful pale green instead of the goldish color that it currently is. Excited to have it feel a little more homey and a little more "us". I haven't done anything in the dining room until now, and I'm feeling good about the change!
I am so thankful for our sweet first home. It is a place we love, especially when it's filled with those we love. Home ownership has taught us so much about patience, going with the flow, budgeting, hospitality, hard work, and learning to be thankful for everything you're given. Year two is in the books folks. (Shout out to our friend Michelle for taking our year one and year two pics!) Excited to see what year three will bring! From our home to yours, happy fall!
Currently,
Kelsie
I'm linking up with AKA Weekend Link Up, The Modest Mom Blog, Dwellings, The Painted Teacup, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Elizabeth and Co Vintage, The Quintessential Mommy, Life as Mum, Cupcakes and Crinoline, Twinkly Tuesday, Too Cute Tuesdays, A Stroll Thru Life, Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Sweet Little Ones, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Hope Studios, and A Fresh Start on a Budget.
Congrats on being in your home 2 years! We've been in our new home about a year and a half and also ended up replacing our roof due to a hail storm.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Julie! We were seriously doing our happy dance when it started hailing...a blessing for sure! Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteWhat a cool post Kelsie and thanks for the visit! As someone that has lived in apartments for most of my adult life, I'm definitely inspired to find my own home someday!(Lord willing) It is amazing to see all the projects you have done so efficiently and beautifully too. I really love the basement! They do not have that many here in Texas but I loved the one we had back in Iowa! I pray that God continues to give you many more years in your beautiful home! God bless you and yours:)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Horace! Apartments and homes definitely each have their pluses and minuses, but we really do love living in our home. Thank you for the compliment- the basement is definitely one of our very favorite spaces. It's so funny to me that some people don't have basements- I have always grown up with them. Again, thanks for your kind words and prayers! May God bless you as well :)
DeleteI love this mini home tour and I LOVE how budget-friendly all your decorating has been. Can't wait to see the dining room!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Abby! Budget-friendly is definitely my style..and I just wait and wait on things until I find something that's a good deal and that I like. Excited to share how it ends up! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteCongrats on your second year! My husband and I have been in our home a little under a year, and I love decorating on a budget too. Your deal on the dining room curtains was crazy good! I grew up in Iowa and Nebraska, so it was fun to read that you shopped at Nebraska Furniture Mart. I currently live in FL. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Emily! Decorating on a budget is seriously the best...for your wallet too :) I LOVE Nebraska Furniture Mart! We got our comfy sectional couch there, as well as the lamps and side table for our guest room. We will probably bite the bullet and buy a king bed soon...so I'm sure we will be back there again!
DeleteCongrats girl!! Looks like you and your man are really making a house a home!!! Adorable, just like the two of you!! Can't wait for more pics!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Andrea! We have really had a lot of fun with it. You're too sweet :) Excited to hopefully have more to share in the near future!
DeleteHi Kelsie, Visiting from Tuesday Talk (co-host) and do you know why I enjoyed reading this post. Because it is so real and a look at what hard-working, grateful and not afraid of a little elbow work people do to take care of something they love. You both remind me of my husband and I when we were first starting out with homeownership. I will be featuring this post on my anniversary issue of Tuesday Talk next week. Please stop by Grammie Time and see. Lovely home, great work you all are doing.
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle! WOW! Thanks you so very much! I am so excited and honored! I will definitely stop by and see. You are so right, a little hard work is so worth it to take care of our home. Thanks again for stopping by!
DeleteYou have been busy but it looks all so lovely! Thanks for linking up to #jystanotherlinky xx
ReplyDeleteYou are so right- busy but very worth it. Thanks so much for having me :)
DeleteAah it's such a lovely home too :) The 'to-do' list when you own your own home is never ending isn't it? There's never enough time — or money — to finish it all!! ;) Thanks so much for linking up with us — hope to see you next time :) #TwinklyTuesday
ReplyDeleteCaro | www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
Well thanks so much, Caro! You are so right- the to-do list truly is never-ending. But it's fun. Thanks so much for hosting, I'm looking forward to linking up again soon!
DeleteYour home has come together so very lovely. I especially love the basement area! What a blessing :) Thank you for sharing with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jes! The basement is one of our very favorite areas as well. Thanks so much for having me- I enjoyed it!
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