There's No Place Like Home

A certain someone has recently inquired about what our new place looks like (which really just means she should come visit...). I had originally planned to post photos for you all as soon as we moved in,  BUT (*enter excuses) we took our time filling it with new furniture in the bedroom, living, and dining rooms, and I really wanted to decorate before allowing you in.  However, I've been even slower at doing that, so I figured I'd let you see it bare, then you'll be super impressed when I decorate! (Right?)

So.... Welcome to our home:

(Our living room even has a fireplace. How romantic, right? Correction: how about a little scary - everyone else in the apartment complex has a wood-burning fireplace too. Not the best of ideas.)

(We have been into a neighbors home and they have a mantle over their fireplace and fabulous decor - I need to work on that. :)

Our newest addition to our home is this "dining" set.  We opted for a patio set so that we could use the other two chairs, well, on our patio.  We will even bring them in for you to dine with us while you're here!

(Everyone please note the aquarium.  Jesse spends most of his time in front on it.)

And here is our lovely kitchen!  It has a fair amount of cabinet space (which we've filled and overflowed to the "pantry" - aka the closet nearest the kitchen).  It's pretty much like what you see above.  What's on your left is one your left, what's on the right is on your right.  I wasn't too keen on the "hallway" style kitchen as we looked for apartments, but this one did have an opening to the living area, which makes a huge difference (to me)!  The laundry "room" is straight ahead in those little alcoves beyond the kitchen.  I like that more than I thought in the beginning (after we hung some shelving to organizes detergents, etc.).

This is the additional bedroom/study/what do we do with this stuff? room. :)  But there is enough space to blow up the air mattress to provide you with a comfortable stay!

Another requirement we I had while apartment hunting was long countertops in the bathrooms!  Harder to come across than you'd think.

And the grand finale!!!!  The "master" bedroom:

(*Squeals of excitement for our bedroom furniture!)

This bedroom suite is all about storage. The bed itself has overhead storage and underbed storage!

Hey there, Maggie!  This has become her place of resting.  We bought her a new bed too when we moved in and had to place it here so she would sleep in it. Silly dog.

You can slide those square panels over to open up solid cubes of storage as well.  I need to find some cute knick-knacks for these cubbies.

Hubby's favorite part:  there is a charging station on each side in the bottom row of cubes - he was sold on that.

What sold me, you might ask?

This:

It's like the James Bond of all dressers!  "Secret" jewelry storage!  What woman wouldn't want that?!

I think you need a close up:

This post is by no means meant to show off what we've got, but to include you in what our home has become after we've settled in.  We hope that many of you will come visit us (hint, hint: before I start back to school - I'm making no promises to be a good host after that!).  A longer drive back home means less time to visit all the people we'd like to while we're there, so if you're passing through or would like to stay with us, just let us know.  We'd love to have you!

Update:  I just realized that I posted this right after posting about the visitors we have had.  It looks like I'm begging you to all come see us! Hahaha.