Inside Our House | The Third Floor

I intended to show you from the ground up, but this is the only floor with photos so far, so this is where I'll start. :)

The 3rd level of our home is our kitchen, dining, and living room plus the theater room, a bathroom, a 3 seasons porch, and a deck.  Here a few photos to show you the space.  We don't really plan to change anything except the kitchen.  In the next few years we would like to remodel this kitchen and take some of the current cabinets downstairs to the garage for a little kitchen/bar area.  Other than that, in my 10 year dreams I would like to get a new vanity for the bathroom, but that's about it.  Maybe add a dining set to the porch if we find the right one. 

The natural light is one of the main reasons we bought this house.  The views of the lake in the winter are breathtaking and I can't wait to watch fall through these windows! :)  

Also wanting to change out this chair.  I have looked and looked but apparently what I want isn't being made -- haha!  

We have big curtains that still need hung on each side of the screen to make it feel more 'movie theaterish'.  We also need a stand to put our popcorn machine on.

Laundry Room @ The Condo

I've shown you many spaces in our condo, but one place I've never revealed is our laundry room space.  Mainly because it's such a small/hidden area that I've never done anything with it.  I can't believe I didn't take before photos, but trust me, it wasn't anything fun!  Think 'Builder Beige' with several blackscuffs.

A couple of months ago, Mandy & Dustin from Havens Place on Etsy & FB agreed to deck out our space with the adorable, distressed handmade signs!  They gifted me with these three signs, and I purchased the coordinating iron hanger!  Their products are adorable & their customer service is great {we had a bit of a snafu with the USPS--imagine that!}

The mustard 'Lost & Found' sign is definitely my favorite.  Finally a spot for all of the 'extras' you find laying around!

Since the lighting is embarassingly terrible, I feel I should mention it's more of a gray/tan in person, not pinkish/creamy.  The color is Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter

Walking into the main bathroom.  A room I've shown you before...

To the immediate right is a set of double doors...

everyone's iron board has a few burn marks, right?! ;)

the top shelf usually houses a stock pile of toilet tissue, papertowels, etc. beside the wrapping paper tote, but we're currently in need of another Costo run, so it's a bit bare.  ;)

It's so important to have functional items when you live in a condo or small living space.  By hanging these sign, I freed up space in the utility closet around the corner.  We also added the extra {higher} metal shelf, to help utilize some of the 10 ft. high ceilings.  I was shocked how painless it was to paint around all the wire shelving {yes dad, I kept it hung & didn't tape it} In person, the color is perfect and the decor makes this space feel so much more comfortable & cute! :)

Thanks again Haven's Place!

Find Your Spot

I was reading comments on another blog the other day and someone mentioned www.FindYourSpot.com. You answer a bunch of questions about preferences {rolling hills, mountains, or beaches or I must have a grocery store in town, it would be nice, or I grow my own food, etc.} and tells you which cites best 'fit' you based on your selections.  Obviously we haven't left Iowa yet {which probably means we never will} but I can pray that we will someday!  So here were my top 25 locations... {and honestly?  I think it's pretty accurate!  Either way, it's fun to look at and dream about}  If you do this, tell me where it says you should be! :)

Augusta, GA Georgia’s Garden City
The Masters golf tournament is held in this Georgia town each year...

Population: 557,000 | Average Home Price: 85,600 | Precipitation: 44" | Snow: 1"

Charlotte, NC The Queen City
Home to First Union and Bank of America, this spot is renowned as a financial center...

Population: 1,532,000 | Average Home Price: 164,000 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 6"

Chesapeake-Virginia Beach, VA The Southern Tidewater Region
This Virginia beach town's annual Neptune Festival features sports competitions, an arts and crafts show, and a Grand Ball...

Population: 438,000 | Average Home Price: 234,000 | Precipitation: 44" | Snow: 1"

Hampton, VA City on the Chesapeake
The new Virginia Air and Space Center is located in this city, home of the first training facility for American astronauts...

Population: 137,400 | Average Home Price: 150,000 | Precipitation: 44" | Snow: 9"

Norfolk, VA Heart of the Hampton Roads
This spot was the only American city completely destroyed and rebuilt in the Revolutionary War; a British cannonball in St. Paul's Church wall is a reminder...

Population: 1,671,700 | Average Home Price: 184,000 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 8"

Richmond, VA Rising Star of the South
Patrick Henry made his famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech at Saint John's Episcopal Church in this city in 1775...

Population: 204,200 | Average Home Price: 198,000 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 14"

Tuscaloosa, AL The Big Apple of the South 
This important city on Alabama's Black Warrior river is home to Stillman College and the University of Alabama...

Population: 90,500 | Average Home Price: 153,300 | Precipitation: 50" | Snow: 1"

Gainesville, FL The Heart of Florida 
Consistently ranked as one of America's best spots, this city is surrounding by undeveloped forests, lakes, and wetlands...

Population: 124,350 | Average Home Price: 134,000 | Precipitation: 51" | Snow: 0"

Orlando, FL Florida’s Entertainment Capital 
In this entertainment mecca, you can wrestle alligators at Gatorland or have lunch with Mickey Mouse...

Population: 2,171,300 | Average Home Price: 116,000 | Precipitation: 51" | Snow: 0"

Charleston, SC Cosmopolitan Southern City 
Fort Sumter, the scene of the first shots of the Civil War, overlooks this city's harbor...

Population: 603,180 | Average Home Price: 245,000 | Precipitation: 52" | Snow: 0"

Greenville, SC The Rising Star of the South 
The Peace Center for the Performing Arts presents theater and concerts in this South Carolina city's rejuvenated downtown...

Population: 58,400 | Average Home Price: 145,000 | Precipitation: 49" | Snow: 5"

Kent, WA The Heart of Puget Sound 
This family-friendly town is centrally located in the heart of the Puget Sound region...

Population: 92,400 | Average Home Price: 215,000 | Precipitation: 38" | Snow: 5"

Clearwater, FL City of Gold Medal Beaches 
Once you're done playing in the sun and sand, you can ride the world's largest speedboat in this unique city...

Population: 108,700 | Average Home Price: 137,000 | Precipitation: 53" | Snow: 0"

Daytona Beach, FL The World’s Most Famous Beach 
This traditional spring break location is also a popular destination for nesting sea turtles...

Population: 61,000 | Average Home Price: 80,000 | Precipitation: 51" | Snow: 0"

Overland Park, KS Where Families Flourish 
This family-friendly suburb was once the home of one of the founders of the Pony Express...

Population: 176,185 | Average Home Price: 297,655 | Precipitation: 38" | Snow: 19"

Raleigh, NC City of Oaks 
This technologically savvy state capital is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the country...

Population: 317,000 | Average Home Price: 195,000 | Precipitation: 42" | Snow: 7"

Nashville, TN Music City, U.S.A. 
Though best known for its music, this spot also boasts the Hermitage, home to Andrew Jackson, Americas first president from the wild "West"...

Population: 601,200 | Average Home Price: 161,500 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 10"

Bradenton, FL The Culture Coast 
Known far and wide as the home of Tropicana Orange Juice, visitors to this spot can tour a working Orange Grove...

Population: 50,200 | Average Home Price: 189,630 | Precipitation: 54" | Snow: 0"

Louisville, KY Home of the Kentucky Derby 
This beautiful river city was home to Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken...

Population: 597,400 | Average Home Price: 130,000 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 16"

Asheville, NC Land of the Sky 
This Blue Ridge town's annual "Shindig on the Green" is an evening of informal, impromptu bluegrass jam sessions...

Population: 83,400 | Average Home Price: 183,300 | Precipitation: 38" | Snow: 15"

Tulsa, OK A Blend of the Best 
This technologically important Oklahoma city hosts a low-tech Blue Grass and Chili Festival each year...

Population: 937,500 | Average Home Price: 131,000 | Precipitation: 38" | Snow: 9"

Chattanooga, TN City of Vision 
The beautiful former depot of this town's famous Choo-Choo is now a unique vacation complex...

Population: 167,675 | Average Home Price: 120,000 | Precipitation: 54" | Snow: 4"

Clarksville, TN The New South 
This Tennessee city calls itself the "Gateway to the New South"...

Population: 133,000 | Average Home Price: 145,000 | Precipitation: 47" | Snow: 10"

Tacoma, WA Port City of the Cascades 
This city's name comes from the Native American name for Mt. Rainier, "Tacobet," meaning Mother of the Waters...

Population: 198,400 | Average Home Price: 166,000 | Precipitation: 39" | Snow: 10"