Eleven

Kinda crazy to think that I'm not celebrating an "anniversary" for my house this year {but in case you're counting, tomorrow would've been 11 years!}.  This time of year was always about beautiful fall colors in the yard, decorating for Halloween, and snuggling up on the couch with lots of soups and red wine, and while I am so grateful for the home we have now {and most importantly, who I get to share it with}, I can't help feeling nostalgic {especially this time of year} for how much has happened since I bought that place 11 years ago.  She was a good little home to me with all of her quirks and oddities {the leaning towards one corner, the mudroom door that wouldn't open all the way, the random light switches that were hooked up to nothing, the chimney with no fire place} and I once again am so grateful for the time I had in that place {and the decision I made to let it go}.  Cheers to you, little cottage - I hope someone is treating you well!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Goodbye House

One of the crazy things that happened over the past few weeks that kind of got lost in the shuffle of the rest of the craziness that has been 2024 is that I SOLD MY HOUSE.  It feels surreal even to type that out.  I had known this day was coming for awhile - the landlord life was not for me, and it felt like enough time had passed from living in that little house that I could say goodbye to it and not have a total breakdown.  The stars aligned and I received an off-market offer {hours before plans were to be put in motion to get her ready for the market} that I just could not say no to.  Who knows if I could've made a few thousand more dollars having put it on the market, but with the stress of having to put a lot of money and effort into making it sellable vs. selling it as is for a really decent price, I knew in my gut that this was the way to go.  The sale went through so quickly and I was lucky enough to have help in the form of Mom, Dad, and Christian to help me get the remaining items out of my shed {and to steal a plant or two from that beautiful garden}.  A few hours before the sale closed, C and I headed over one last time to drop off the keys and say goodbye to the house that meant so much to me over the past 10+ years. People keep asking how I feel about selling my first home and it's hard to put into words.  I am beyond grateful that I was able to call the little yellow cottage home for so long - she and I went through a lot over the years - but I also feel really happy with the decision and relieved that I have one less anxiety hovering in my thoughts every day.  I'm excited to one day put that money into a home that Christian and I can build together, and in the meantime I'm grateful that I have a warm, cozy, loving place that I can call home and the most wonderful family that helped make the yellow house a home for so long and helped give her a proper goodbye.  I'm incredibly lucky :)  

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Ten

It feels crazy not to mention that today marks TEN years of homeownership at that little yellow cottage in Magnolia.  This year feels so different from the last in that I wised up and hired yard service so that I wasn't spending my weekends taking care of a lawn where I didn't live.  I haven't been to the house in so long and even though it's "mine", I'm learning that at the end of the day, a house is just a house, and a home is really where your heart and loved ones are. I'll never forget the memories I made in that house - the laughs, the tears, the dinner parties, the pests, the dog sitting, the Christmas trees, the yardwork, the sleepovers, the kitchen dance parties, the crazy neighbors, the stifling summers and the cozy winters, and so much more - but I'm so happy to be making new memories in a new-ish to me house with my new husband and that is really what makes a house a home.  We'll see what the future holds for this little cottage, but in the meantime, cheers to a decade of homeownership at the cutest yellow house I ever did see :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{friday night takeout}

{a rainy walk around green lake}

{lunch at valhalla}

{the bad lieutenant - so good}

{sunday pancakes}

{a temporary fix to a falling down fence}

{dinner}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy {Pretty Yard} Friday!

Happy Friday!  There's been a lot going on around here but I'm excited for a quiet weekend with not a lot of plans - probably about time to get on that wedding planning!  One thing that's been keeping me busy is getting the house ready to rent out again, and I couldn't have done it without the help of my parents and Christian.  Dad came down yesterday to help me put the final touches on the yard - new mulch in all the flower beds - and after several hours of manual labor I think it's safe to say that I have the best dad ever, my yard looks awesome, and I may need to rethink that career change to landscaper :). Thanks again Dad - you are the absolute best!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{greek salads}

{a trip to the fish market}

{a 6 mile walk fueled by beer & tacos}

{a gorgeous blue sky weekend}

{salmon dinner}

{picking up treats for my "workers"}

{pancakes}

{feeding vivian}

{i have the absolute best family}

{back patio lookin' sharp}

{the smallest thank you for a lot of yard work}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Nine

I cannot believe it has been NINE whole years since I received the keys to my cutest little yellow cottage in Magnolia.  A lot has happened this last year - I no longer live there and have been having a lot of thoughts lately on what to do with the place, but purchasing that home will forever be one of the best decisions I ever made.  Not only did it give me a roof over my head for 8+ years, it nurtured me, protected me, and watched me grow up in just 800 square feet of {slightly tilted} space.  I don't know yet what the future will bring for this cozy little home, but as I spend more time away from it I feel so very thankful that I was able to make so many wonderful memories there that I know will stay with me for a lifetime.  So cheers to you, little cottage - I'll be raising a glass to nine eventful, happy, sometimes stressful but overall wonderful years.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

pic from february 2022 - the day before the new tenant moved in

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{a very closeup facetime friday}

{friday night dinner}

{painting & cleaning}

{a well earned dinner with mom & christian}

{a toast to 15 years (!) of living in seattle}

{i'm going to miss my winter daphne}

{treating myself}

{finding pockets of sunshine to work in the yard for as long as i can}

{the best soup after a very cold day}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{my newest facetime friday snuggle bug}

{heated outdoor patios are the best thing to come out of the pandemic}

{fancy avocado toast}

{piles and piles and piles}

{lunch break with mom}

{more winter sunsets}

{breakfast}

xoxo,

stephanie marie