House Hunting (Pt. 1)

California, Dreams, Family, Goals, House Hunting, Life, Southern California
sweetsandlifehouses

A glimpse at the houses I’ve toured.

We officially began house hunting on February 7th of this year and since then I have toured over 80 houses. This whole process has not been easy at all.  If you guys keep up with the news you probably know that interest rates are at a all time low. Oh boy, did we pick a right and wrong time to begin looking for a house. Houses are selling at a ridiculous rate and prices are high due to the demand. Since we began our search we have officially put in 6 offers yet we don’t have a house. I say officially because there has been several times were we begin to summit an offer and then we are told that they already accepted another one.  We are currently looking for a house in the middle of Los Angeles and Orange County which has not been an easy task.  In fact my cousins in Kansas are trying to convince us to move out there because we haven’t had any success getting a house here.

What we are looking for in a house:

  • 3 bedrooms
  • 1 bathroom
  • Nice size backyard
  • Not a busy street
  • Safe neighborhood
  • Within our budget
  • Good school district

See we are not being too picky about what we want. We are even flexible when it comes to move in ready or a fixer upper. Anyways, I just wanted to share with you guys a tad about what’s going on with our house search.  Please send us lots of prayers and/or positive thoughts so that we get a house soon.

Hopeful 2015

Family, Life

Sweetsandlife: Sun and Clouds

Like I previously mentioned HERE 2014 was not very good to us. Besides our little setbacks one of our close friend’s was diagnosed with cancer, my best friend’s boy friend was killed, and countless other things happened along the way. Needless to say our close group of friends has begun the year full of hope. The first good thing that happened this year has been the birth of baby William. Secondly, the Hubby got a mini promotion and he continues to work for the company he loves. Thirdly, we began our house hunting journey. My friend who has cancer has only a couple of chemotherapy sessions left and we are hopeful he will kick butt. My other friend’s heart is slowly healing and she’s now dating a very nice guy.

Here’s to accomplishing more things this year that scare us and for finding happiness in the little things that matter. So far 2015 has been kinder to us than the previous year. I’m hoping your year is as good or better than the last.

2014’s Broken Resolutions

Dreams, Family, Goals, House Hunting, Life, Moving, Planning, Savings, Uncategorized

Hesperia

Now that we are in 2015 I feel that I should probably explain all the cryptic tweets I kept making last year about our New Years resolution. I should begin by saying that the Hubby and I are planners and for the most part every big decision we have made has been carefully thought out. (Well most of them except this one.)

Last year before the ball dropped in NYC the Hubby and I began to reminisce about the year. We talked about all that we did and all that we wanted to do this year. One thing that came up was that we both felt it was the right time to start thinking about purchasing a house. We began to day dream about what kind of place we might get and what we were going to do to attain it. While all our family and friends were out partying the night away we sat on our couch watching our little Buttercup playing as we thought about what the new year would bring. We decided that our New Years Resolutions would be to buy a house. At that point we did not know exactly what we were going to do about it we just sat there day dreaming and enjoying the moment.  Fast to a few weeks later when we devised a plan that I like to refer to as my crazy idea.  The Hubby came home from work one day and suggested that we have my parents move into our apartment to help us save more money for a downpayment. I thought that he went nuts when he suggested that. I mean I moved out when I was 18 years old I was used to being on my own. Why on earthy would I want my parent living with us in a two bedroom apartment. I called his bluff and suggested an even crazier idea. Whenever I try to explain it to people I get a weird look from them so here goes nothing. Try to keep up and don’t get lost. I’ll try to simplify it as much as possible.

My idea involved asking for help from both sets of parents which we would normally not do. We don’t like asking for help and usually we don’t share information with anyone until the plan is complete. The first part of my idea was to get my in-laws to agree to let us borrow their house for a year. You see my in-laws had purchased a house last year and nobody was using it. They bought it as a retirement house the house was just sitting there empty. Part 2 was to get my in-laws to agree to let my husband stay with them at their one bedroom apartment during the week. Part 3 involved my parents. I had to get them to agree to move in with me and our little Buttercup for a year.  They had to leave the comfort of their small town in order to help us out. I have never asked my parents for help and have always done things on my own so I felt odd even asking. With both parents aligned and the details worked out we set a date to move.  We decided that it would be best to move when our lease was up from our apartment.

Although we’ve been here for almost 10 months now it doesn’t get easier saying bye to my husband every Sunday night. Nothing about this whole process has been easy and we’ve all made sacrifices. In early October we had an appointment to get pre-approved but for some reason we couldn’t make it that day. A week later the Hubby was notified that he was being laid-off from the job that he LOVED. About 300 employees were affected in all. We were crushed by the news! All the sacrifices we had done meant nothing. Everything went numb for us and I know that it might not seem like a big deal but it was to us. We went through all the stages of grief and decided that 2014 couldn’t be over soon enough.

…To be continued…

Life: Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture

101 in 10001, Day Zero Project, Family, Fun, Life, Living, Photography, Photos, Summer, Travels, Vacation

Last month I was fortunate enough to finally be able to cross number 90 off my Day Zero Project. The Hubby, my little Buttercup and I got a private tour of Taliesin West, the Frank Lloyd Wright’s, School of Architecture.  I’ve been wanting to go to Taliesin West since my cousin began attending school there. I was upset that I was unable to attend his graduation because I was too far along with my pregnancy.  We had a few other opportunities to go to events there but due to different circumstances we didn’t go.  The stars finally aligned and my cousin was able to give us a private tour of his alma mater.  I didn’t know much about Frank Lloyd Wright before my cousin started attending the school there but now I’m fascinated by him.  If you have ever been remotely interested in Frank Lloyd Wright and find yourself near Scottsdale, Arizona I suggest you take a tour.  They offer different types of tours depending on what you want to see and learn.  The shelter’s the students use as dorms are extremely fascinating and so is the walk into the desert.  I can’t believe that students actually get used to sleeping out there.  One day I hope to visit Taliesin Wisconsin where they spend the second half of their year at.  Until you are able to attend a tour for yourself please enjoy some of the photos I took while we were on tour.

sweetsandlifetaliesinwesttour

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Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West TourThis is the studio where the students spend most of their time at.

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West TourThese are the “dorms” the students actually use. My cousin confessed to us that the first week of school he actually slept in his car.

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

Sweets and Life: Taliesin West Tour

The school itself is beautiful and the students are amazing.  The are a small amount of students that are accepted into this school every year that get to experience something that they would not be able to do so on other campus. Unfortunately this school might lose its accreditation and it might not be around for future architects to enjoy. Please take the time to watch this video and help SAVE TALIESIN. My cousin’s friend, Pablo created it in an effort to inform the public of what’s actually going on there in regards to their accreditation.

If you want to help out by donating to this cause please click HERE!

Life: My cousin is married!!

DIY, Family, Photographers, Photography, Photos, Wedding

Remember how excited I was when I found out that my little cousin was engaged?  Their wedding has come and gone and I’m barely getting around to posting about it.  I was so giddy to see all the DIY projects that they had been working on throughout the year finally being put together.  My cousin’s wedding can only be described as beautiful and I’m sad to say that we didn’t stay to see everything lit up at night.  The wedding took place in June when my little Buttercup was about 5 months old and she was absolutely miserable.  She cried in the mass as soon as the mariachi began playing and she was bawling so much during the reception that we decided to leave early.  We missed EVERYTHING!  I know what you’re thinking first world problems but please keep in mind that my cousin is more like a brother to me and I was devastated.  We missed the first dance, the bouquet toss, the money dance, and all the fun things that come with the wedding.  With that being said I now leave you with a ton of photos I took before we left the wedding.

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)

(sweets and life)
Did you guys catch all those DIY elements?  My cousin, his wife, and a lot of family members out did themselves with all the DIY details.  Everything that is wood is DIY from the cake stand to the centerpiece holders.  My little cousin did the leather initials in the favors and my aunts sent cookies from Mexico.  I didn’t take a photo of the invitation but they too were handmade by my twin cousins.  The veil was handmade by one of my cousin’s aunt and her friend.  If you want to see the rest of my cousin’s wedding please check out their amazing photographer Valentina Glidden.  Seriously go check out Valentina’s beautiful work.  I’m totally smitten with the photos she took of my cousin and his new wife.

Venue: Heritage Museum of Orange County

Photographer: Valentina Glidden

Dress: Mon Amie Bridal Salon

On this Memorial Day…!!

Family, memorial day, Wedding

Today brought to mind one of the reasons we chose our wedding date. My cousin is currently serving along with the 148th TC (HET) in Kuwait. We chose our date pending on their arrival back home. He is a huge part of my life and I felt that it was crucial for me to have him there with me at my wedding.


Here are a few pictures of him and his troops:


Do you have anyone in your life who is special enough for you to be willing to schedule your wedding date around them?