Our First Five Years

I can’t believe we have lived in our home for five years. It’s been an amazing (and sometimes stressful) journey.

Five Years Ago

When we first started the house-hunting process (which, by the way, sucks), we couldn’t find what we wanted. Eventually, we decided to build.

We both learned a lot during the home-building process. Some parts were very useful, while other parts still keep me up at night.

It’s easy to dwell on the negative things about our home, but this post is all about the positive. In keeping with the “five” theme, here are my five favourite things about our home.

5) Location, location, location

This spot is sweet:

• 7.5 acres of mostly woods
• On a lake
• 15 minutes from the city
• No visible neighbours

We’re incredibly lucky with this location. We have tonnes of space, lots of privacy, and more firewood than we know what to do with. Plus, all those bloody rocks we find everywhere come in handy for decoration.

4) The roomy interior

There are 3 levels in our home, which means we aren’t constantly tripping over each other. I have my office space, and my gentleman friend has almost the whole basement, so we co-exist quite nicely. Plus, we have 3 bathrooms. That alone is the key to a happy home.

3) Working with a blank slate

Because we built new, we didn’t inherit someone else’s questionable design choices. Our home has what we want: our tile, our hardwood, our paint colours. Our neutral palate matches everything: blues, greens, reds, yellows (just not all in the same room; see: aforementioned questionable choices). I try to incorporate turquoise (my favourite) as much as possible, and it works because we planned it that way. #thinking

2) The feeling I get when I walk through the front door

In a word: comfort. This is something I strive for in so many aspects of my life, and it’s here in our home. As soon as I cross the threshold, a weight is lifted from my shoulders. That happy feeling increases when the work clothes are swapped out for the comfy clothes. Throw in a fuzzy blanket and a hot chocolate and I’m set for the night. It’s a peaceful feeling to have a place where I can relax and unwind.

1) Sharing this home with my gentleman friend

Last, but most important, is the person I share this home with. I can’t imagine taking this journey with anyone else. He is supportive, loving, thoughtful, caring, and so much more. He keeps me grounded when my overactive imagination and hair-trigger temper kick in. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m not complaining or taking it for granted. He makes every day special, and I am so thankful that he picked me. 🙂

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