House Hunting

It's interesting to me that we use the word "hunting" when we talk about searching for the right home. I don't know that I can really compare the process to hunting, but I am sure learning a lot! Brian and I went up to Worthington this weekend to begin our process of finding the right home for us. Here are a few things I learned:

1) Looking at houses is emotionally exhausting! We looked at 10 houses in one day! Wow!
2) If you're not sure of your exact cut-off, look a little higher and a little lower than you think you might want to spend. This gives you a better idea of what you're getting for your money.
3) You get a lot more bang for your buck by heading out of town! I'm not sure this is true everywhere, but it was here!
4) "Location, location, location!" It's true. If you're not okay with the location of a house, don't even look. You'll just fall in love and get your heart broken!
5) My mind changes from day to day, and even hour to hour! While there are lots of things to weigh and consider, there is also something about a house just feeling right!
6) There are certain things you just can't budge on. For us, one of those was outdoor space! I need a yard!
7) This is not a quick process...

We will be back to look at houses at least one more time, probably 2! That's not at easy task when you have to drive and spend the weekend, but it will be worth it! If you have any house-hunting tips for us, feel free to share in the comments!

Our Next Big Adventure

Well, the news is out! Brian has officially passed his boards and accepted a job at the Veterinary Medical Center in Worthington, MN for after graduation in May! It is overwhelming and a little bitter-sweet, of course, but we are very excited for this next big step in life. Getting this news has meant making many other decisions and plans, which have been keeping us busy. Here are a couple of updates:

- In a couple of weekends, we will be heading up to Worthington to look at some houses! We are planning to buy a starter home in town and it looks like there are some pretty good options available.

- I have also been working on a lot of business research and even some online classes as I prepare for starting my own private practice in music therapy. I am learning a lot about small business from a variety of sources. I am amazed by all of the amazing (free!) resources that are out there.

- We are also planning a trip for between graduation and our big move, hopefully hitting 3 National Parks on a 12-day trip! We are planning on going to Mammoth Cave, Great Smoky Mountains, and Congaree. If you've been to any of these parks, please let us know your tips for must-see areas or must-do activities!

Looking forward to all of this excitement is getting us through this cold - I'm ready for spring! Stay warm, everyone!