Further Investigation

"Well, if I wasn't already suspicious you were seriously considering buying a house, I am now CERTAIN you are considering it."

That's what my significant other had to say when I told him I went and scoped out the house I showed him online this weekend.

What I found, during my investigation, is that the house would need an incredible amount of love and care. The front is beautiful, the lot has a wonderful feel to it, and there are homes right up and down the street that have already been restored and remodeled.

My immediate concerns:

1. It is a raised foundation. I know very little about them, and it frightens me a bit that there is such an easy-access home for critters under the house.
2. The side of the house facing the open lot next door, needs a complete overhaul. There is a random door that leads nowhere and aesthetically it is completely no bueno.
3. It is very obvious the roof is in disrepair and all the windows need to be replaced. The attic window is flat out missing.

My immediate loves:
1. The front porch is perfect and there are brick planters built out to the sidewalk entrance. Even the sidewalk tiles are octagonal and speak to a different time. I love them.
2. The back yard area has an unreal amount of potential to be an incredible outdoor space.
3. The bones of the house seem to be begging for love and care.

I'm in a pickle.

Investment Property?

I go to this particular coffee shop in this run-down but slowly up-and-coming historic neighborhood right off downtown Jacksonville.

Whenever I make the strange and harried drive back to this caffeine-provider, I find myself staring at the houses just waiting to be honed into quirky, perfect works of art.

I made the enormous mistake of doing a quick, seemingly harmless search for homes in "THE" neighborhood.

Anddd I found this house... it has my hardwood floors, my doorways, my molding, my back porch, TWO fireplaces and... wait for it... my claw foot tub. Take a look.











It's understandable if the pictures above don't excite you... but they send me over the edge.

This house is $27,900. It would be a $125 a month mortgage. I live in a house that doesn't have rent or utilities. Does anyone else out there understand why I can't stop thinking about buying that house and refinishing that tub while interest rates are bottom of the barrel low?

Someone... please. Tell me to stop obsessing over this house. Tell me this is not what they mean by investment property.

Around the house...

The ongoing saga of getting-the-house-painted continues.

The house that we live in is owned by the University where Luke works which comes with some wonderful perks. We are not responsible for anything. That's the biggest one.

They even paint the whole house for you... when they feel like it.

We are two months in and no paint. However - my wonderful man assures me it is in process.

Once the walls are painted and the chartreuse guest room and sunflower yellow kitchen/dining room are no more, we can attend to some long anticipated projects.

#1 prepping the guest room for  beloved guests. A recycled window and shutters are going up on the wall opposite the bed, and an arrangement of funky vintage prints to the side. The window is similar to the one below.



#2 Getting our giant world map up on the wall in our bedroom and hanging our pallet art. What we are building is something we found in West Elm, somewhat similar to the pallet shelving pictured below.



Updates as our tortoise-like house progress continues.

And we're back...

I feel like the title of this post is influenced by my obsession with the new HBO show Newsroom.

If you haven't seen it, steal the closest persons HBO-Go password and watch the first season.

Smart, funny and overall driven by lovable characters.

In other news...

The past 2 + months have been somewhat indescribable. I have moved in with my man, settled in Jacksonville, started a new job, gone to South America, vacationed in Savannah and tried to make friends.

Below - are some instagram highlights.


 Bella bug on our roadtrip from Fort Worth to Jacksonville. 


The new house in Jacksonville, yet to be painted inside... slowly but surely I will manage to make this place home.

 
Beach times with the man. Couldn't ask for a more wonderful place to relax just 10 minutes from home.

 
Street art in Montevideo, Uruguay. One stop of three on my first international work-trip. Argentina and Paraguay were also visit sites.

 
The Savannah weekend in heaven - at our new favorite get-away "Richard's Carriage house". Thanks airbnb.com.

 
Me trying to re-learn to ride a bike in Savannah. Yes, you really can forget how... luckily I remembered before we hit the busy streets.

And that's a decent summary of my transition to life in Jacksonville, FL. There are more adventures to come, and the international travel component of this new gig should make for fun blog posts.

Thanks for reading. I'm Alexis Branaman, stay classy blog-city.

New home

Sooooo.... this is our new house in Florida. Yes, OUR. Moving in with my dreamy significant other.

The man is already there and getting the walls repainted in our colors and getting the backyard landscaped as best he can. Could I be more excited? Not likely.

New life - here I come!

First, off to run a half marathon in Alaska.

Pinspiration

Last night my significant other and I took domestic to a new level.

We decided to pinterest for inspiration for his new house. 

Here are some of our agreed upon favorites:

Realization: Eclectic and vintage is required for our agreed upon style. 

How lovely.

Dog Park Entertainment

My roommate and I went to the dogpark yesterday and found that being the voices for each dog at the park was endless entertainment. 

Imagining a dog's voice, and what they would say to humans and other dogs, makes an hour fly by. 

Our favorites yesterday:

The Bull Dog: "Stop calling me pig dog. I'm beautiful." Voice of a Russian Gangster.

Non-descript bird dog: "Where'd you put the ball? I'll get it. I love it. I love you. Man I'm thirsty."

Voice of an over-caffeinated LA housewife.

Boxer: "I playyyyyy I play I play I play!!! Bird! Squirrel! Dog! Human!" Voice of a 5 year old.

Hounddog: "Arrooooooooooooooooooooo - do you hear me? Arrr arr arroooooooooooo!" Voice of Goofy. 

Boston Terrier: "You are bigger than me. But you kill my father, prepare to die." Voice of Inigo Montoya.