What We Didn't Know About Buying a House

- The banks are super nosey during the pre-approval process - expect to have to give them lots of old bank statements and to be able to defend and show proof of where withdraws or deposits went/came from
- Give yourself plenty of time if you're buying in a new city!!! (the earliest we could close was 60 days from date of loan approval)
- Unless you HAVE to...don't have your closing date over a month before you can even move. We were told it would better our chances of have the offer accepted, which could be true because the seller is paying everything until it's sold, but it sucked having to take over all the bills and not be able to live in our new home because we were still living and paying rent somewhere else.
- We used to think that in the negotiating phase if we said "throw in a fridge" it meant they just included a fridge... not so. If you say add a fridge, expect the price of the house to increase $1500 or so -- do the same for anything you want "thrown in" (like sprinklers) and then you have a new price you're negotiating to lower.
- Even if the seller "pays closing costs" ..that doesn't mean you won't pay any as well...and they are not cheap
- Property taxes can be OUTRAGEOUS
- House insurance in just confusing and annoying
- DO NOT close on a house while you're on vacation -- or if you're out of town for any reason
- You need a notary...and unless you know one (we didn't in California)...it's about $10-$15 per signature...and there are about 50
- You know what you're signing....but you don't know what you're signing...don't be shy to ask questions as you speed through and sign all 1000 pages

I'll update this as things come to mind!

The Spanish Way...

At the end of October/beginning of November I spent a week in Valencia, Spain for work - flight paid for, nice hotel covered, food reimbursed - sounds glamorous, right?

It started out with lost luggage. No toiletries, clothes, essentials. Luckily my co-workers had enough to get me by until the next afternoon. Note to self -- pack a change of clothes AND underwear in your carryon.

My typical breakfast every day...I do miss those little queso pastries. I LOVED that they had hot milk available for hot chocolate.

Most of our days consisted of 12-14 hours of work at the conference and social events but we did have a little time to explore historic down town...

Torres de Serranos - built in the 14th century, 1392. It was the main entrance of the city. Thanks Wikipedia!

 

So many gelato flavors...

welcome reception, cheese please!

Paella for the conference banquet dinner

Sometimes flamenco dancers call you up to look a fool in front of 700 people...

part of the Conf Cats team!

The work days were long and the flights were exhausting but I can honestly say I LOVE my job!!! (even the parts that don't involve traveling the world ;)  The only thing that could make it dreamier is if the doc could travel with me. Nevertheless, it's pretty fantastic and such a blessing!

I Just Blinked...

...and suddenly it's the end of October!

I feel like lately all I do on here is try to catch up...our picture taking was slacking, to say the least, for the past two months which also means my memory of what happened is also slacking.

The only evidence that we existed during the month of September is the following three pictures:

I try not to cut off the top of his head...I really do

We made Granny Gill's famous blueberry doobies...oh my heck. 

The doc getting some time on the organ

OCTOBER has been a most memorable month, for many reasons. It always starts out with my birthday...

please excuse my hair, attire, and overall general appearance, we had just gone for a long walk in the heat. 

Our annual tradition is to make each other's birthday cakes. Ricky went with open face this year ;)

He likes to taunt me but placing my present somewhere out in the open (as soon as it's ready) and forbidding me to touch it

Every year on the weekend of my birthday I get this great gift called General Conference! It does not disappoint...here are some of my favorite quotes from this October...it was difficult to narrow it down. 

 

 

truth!

My first photo as a year older...

If you know us, you know we love free stuff (especially food). Birthday month = freebies galore! 

Married = share your birthday freebies ;) just kidding, I love sharing it all!

Here is a list of all the birthday freebies I got: 

No purchase necessary: ​

Krispy Kreme (free donut & small fountain drink or coffee)

First Watch (free breakfast)

Buffalo Wild Wings (free snack size wings)

Starbucks free any drink any size (must sign up at least 30 days prior to bday)

Texas Roadhouse (free appetizer or sidekick of ribs)

Baskin Robbins (one free scoop or soft serve swirl)

Marble Slab (free ice cream cone)

Red Robbin (free burger and fries)

ULTA (rewards member - this year got free full size calvin klein mascara)

Sephora (Make Up Forever mini lipstick and mini mascara)

Panera (rewards card - free pastry)

Tijuana Flats (free churros)

Planet Smoothie (free small smoothie)

Zaxby's (free meal deal postcard for signing up, free birthday nibblers postcard -- they come in the mail)

With Purchase: 

Ted's Montana Grill (free dessert)

Silk milk ($1 coupon)

Moes (Free entrée with drink purchase)

Orange Julius (BOGO)

DSW ($5 off)

Dairy Queen (BOGO blizzard)

Mellow Mushroom ($5 off dine in only)

TCBY ($3 off your purchase)

Jason's Deli ($5 off)

Longhorn (free dessert with entrée purchase)

World Market (last year I got $10 gift card, this year was 15% off)

We decided to check out the local Octoberfest block party and were reminded of why we are such home bodies. Here is a glimpse of what it's like when we try to take a selfie: 

and finally, we just ask somebody else to take it.

Eventually we ditched the block party for some dessert...

...and then we walked by a burger place and decided we needed something salty...

On the topic of food, I got a call at work one day being notified that I had won lunch for my office from a contest I entered! That was fun. We feasted.

A spontaneous trip to Universal. The Harry Potter train ride was the best.

 

followed by a near and dear favorite of ours...

One of my sweet best friends sent me my first edible arrangement. It was delicious and made me smile.

Game night with the Hydes (I was the first one out so I sat out and watched with the candy cauldron...pretty sure that means I was the real winner).

& even though October isn't over YET, we finished off the month celebrating our friend's one year old's birthday. I made her smash cake:

 

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Vague life lesson of the month, because for personal reasons this post would be incomplete without this: Sometimes things that you never even imagined happening will happen. It's incredible what a difference an amazing support system makes in those moments when life throws you a curveball and gives you a black eye. I am blessed with an incredible, sensitive, loving husband; supportive and kind families; and sweet, listening friends.