For the last few years, we've been living in the most ideal situation that could exist--my parents have lived next door. And before you secretly go whisper-ask Chris if he felt the same way, he really does. We're incredibly close to both of our parents. My mom is our nanny during the days so that's been amazing, but also having them over for dinner almost daily, our girls walking over to see their grandparents whenever they want. It's something that we never took for granted. But now my parents have decided to move--downsize--and it has us weighing our options...again. We toyed with the idea previously and obviously everything has been up in the air since the fire at our cabin. Ultimately, we thought it was best not to make any huge life decisions while emotions were so high.
Insurance still has not been able to investigate the cause of the fire at the cabin since it is still (!!) covered in snow, but after a warm week, we're hopeful that will start soon so we can feel some closure with that situation. In the meantime, we have started casually house-hunting and making a short list of things we'd need to do to our home to get it ready to sell (let me know if you're interested, for real!)--mainly, finish trimming out the stairwell and touch up some paint. Also, after looking at hundreds of houses listed online, do you know which ones always catch my eye? The ones I ALWAYS click on?! The exteriors photographed with glowy lights on inside taken while it's almost dusk (like the beautiful cottage above by Rachel Deeks Design.) It's so incredibly inviting, I'm taking notes for our future listing.
Other fun things this week!
• For mom
• The Instagram Aesthetic is Over (?!)
• We took advantage of World Market's big 20% off all outdoor sale and ordered this dining table and matching benches for the deck and they are beautiful and substantial and fit so many people! Highly recommend. Also, this $24 coral ceramic vase is insanely good. (Snapped the below photo yesterday morning after a rainfall. Idaho summer mornings are magical.) Ps--I got these faux ferns to green up our deck for a shoot before our trees come in and they. are. awesome! And huge! 1 stem will fill a huge planter!
• This Potato Airbnb is the most Idaho thing I've ever seen.
• My favorite SimpleHuman mirror is on sale today! (It's a life changer and has really helped me take better care of my skin--seeing how dry and damaged it looked so clearly for the first time will do that. Haha)
• Last week, we launched a don't wait shirt through Propertee (it's embroidered and the best fit! TTS) and it has been so inspiring and moving to read all of your reasons to not wait to be happy, to apologize, to live. So many great comments in the Instagram post linked below.
• On Decluttering Friendships: how to know when it's time to breakup...with a friend.
• I've been wearing this white short-sleeved courier shirt for two years now once Spring rolls around, and every time I put it on, I get asked about it. It's just one of those classic staples that every closet needs. Even my mom wants one!
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Loved this post on so many levels. We moved from Williamsburg, Va to coastal SC to be closer to both our kids and grands but did not want to be in their "backyard". So, we're where we love to live, near the water and warmer, but only 2.5 hrs from six grands (and son/d-i-l) and 6 hrs from one grand (a baby) of our daughter and s--i-l. We've gone just for the day to spend time with our son's family!
We all get together frequently and they love coming here to enjoy all that is in the Low Country. If we get infirm as we age, we'll probably move near our daughter in Fl but, for now and God willing, we're enjoying our late sixties here. We didn't know a soul when we moved here three years ago but have found friends, plus we can go see our friends in other places often. Your parents will enjoy the space as well as the "specialness" of your visits to them wherever they go. It is not all "downside" as some would think. Enjoy! Love your blog and your attitude about so many things.
May I ask whose backyard this is? That view is a dream! I just saw it here and on IG and was curious if it was your house or a different one! It's so beautiful!
It's ours! :)
Hello! I saw this house on Pinterest and fell in love. I was trying to find a link for floor plans, more pictures or something. Is it your house? If so, do you have this posted somewhere? Thanks!
So your parents are thinking of moving? And as a result, you two are thinking of moving? I'm just asking because I think that is what I'm reading here. If it were me, I'd love to be next door to grandparents so I'd try to keep them there-- see if you can turn part of their home into the office you're wanting thus, they have less space to manage and clean-- or turn part of their home into airbnb accommodations with privacy locks through garage door and an interior door to the airbnb space- help them make this happen if possible with the house plans & plumbing by adding a mini kitchenette and 3pc bath- if it can happen then they get passive income. Airbnb or grad student quarters, it would be passive income. Another thought is to follow them- keep that close connection of grandparents and grandchildren and keep your home as an airbnb and come back during the pleasant Summers to enjoy your home.... especially if your folks wish to move south to Gilbert, AZ. Just ideas, I'm sure y'all will do what's best for y'all.
My parents ARE moving (their house has sold and they bought a new house) and we ARE moving as well. Although we don't know where quite yet!
Hi!
Are you staying in Idaho?
We live in Eagle and its fabulous!
How much will you list your home for?
We are staying in Idaho--close! Just looking for slightly larger house that has more space for an office. We'll definitely share the listing when it's up!
Do you have a link for the rug pictured on your deck? The “shop our house” link is for a different rug. I love the blue and white stripe. Thanks.
This was such a good one! Lots to comment on!
1) Would you move to the same city where your parents are moving?
2) I’m a realtor and I’m personally not as attracted to dusk photos as I am to light and airy with a perfect blue sky on the back. Most people like houses that get a lot of light in, so that gives them that feeling right away.
3) That article about decluttering friends was the bomb! I feel Like that’s what I’ve been doing this past year. Since I got sick, I feel like I’ve been wanting to use my time to cultivate the good friendships I have around, and don’t waste anymore time going out for tea or lunch w people they didn’t really added anything to my life. Mainly, because they didn’t want to. They just wanted to keep things casual, and nobody has time for casual. Better to invest time in a good friendship fund ????
If we lived next door to grandparents, I would not want to give that up! Our parents all live several hours away. We do have amazing next door neighbors. They are in their eighties, so more like substitute great grandparents, but they love spending time with our boys. They are a major reason that we have decided not to move.
Maybe you can house hunt together, or find a home with a guest house on site? Have you considered building a new house from scratch?
Julia, you are a beautiful person inside and out! My very favorite part about living in Rexburg was being so close to my in-laws. We miss having family just down the street from us! Good luck on your house hunt. I’m excited to see how beautiful you make it.
That Idaho potato Airbnb is the strangest but neat place to stay!?! I was telling my husband about it & he says," I bet they let you get smashed there" He is a goober.
Is that a picture of your parents home at the beginning of this post? If so it is sooo pretty. If not, its still pretty. Lol
Have a great night!
We live next door to my parents and it is so lovely - we’ve got two little kids (1.5 years and 1 month!) and it has made our transition into being parents so smooth, they are incredibly supportive. Our house isn’t my dream home but we are living a dream scenario - if they weren’t so close I think we would also move. Plus it would be so strange to see a new family move into their home. I can certainly relate!
It's actually proven that homes that have listing pictures in that lighting sell faster! A lot of successful realtors do "twilight" showings and take photos at this time. It's very appealing.....I'm a sucker for those kind of photos as well! Something about that time of day really allows one to see how their family would live in the home. Maybe it's because it tends to be the time a family is home all together?
Aww, that's so true!
I lived right next door to my grandparents for several years in middle & high school and it was a wonderful thing to have had.
Just last week I noticed that thing about the dusky glowy windows being inviting when I was scanning a real estate listings mailer! Agree that it would make me click too.
And yay to hear that there will be a new home sometime soonish for C&J to put their touch on! I'm curious what level of fixer upper you're planning to go for because you'd said recently that you would not have bought your current house in its condition if you were doing it now, being older and tireder and having more kids! Living through major renos is NO JOKE, it's true. Serious stress and minor irritations on a daily basis. It's not so homey to live like that for long!
That's such a good question and one that has been weighing on our minds heavily as we found a couple homes we could see ourselves living in but don't need a ton of work and one that we could see ourselves living in that needs A LOT of work--like, we probably couldn't live in it initially. That's definitely something we need to list the pros and cons of. I realized that I don't necessarily need to bring a home back to life to put our own spin on it, and with three young, but growing, children, perhaps a total gut renovation to live through wouldn't be ideal.
I love the outdoor table and benches! I’ve looking for a set like that for a while! But did you read the reviews online? The reviews for the greywash color are awful, do you think it will hold up outside?
Don't wait until your size is ideal.... just mask over the side of your shirt in photoshop to make your size LOOK ideal!
If your goal is to be authentic, then be authentic in both action and word. Perhaps consider living to the standard of your own preaching.
Hi, actually the photo wasn't masked or photoshopped (I think you're looking at the couch in the background?) but thanks for looking so intently.
What a nice compliment that wasn't meant to be one. You look so good that WWP thought it was too good to be true. :)
Also, are you going to release the don't wait tees in a unisex or men's fit?
Julia you are a class act. Kudos and thanks for consistently showing the world classy, appropriate, and kind behavior!
what a jerk thing to say! maybe if you want to be rude, don't hide under the guise of a pseudonym.
Don't wait...to be a Debbie Downer troll to someone you've never met. Keep being a keyboard warrior! LOL :)
So some thoughts,
1. Insta-aethetic over? Praise. God.
2. Love the Don't Wait tee. We aren't guaranteed forever and we're better off when we wrap our head around it. Awesome.