home sweet home.

Yesterday, we bought a house. I wrote a check for nearly $6,000 and committed to paying many times that amount over the next 30 years. After 45 minutes of legal jargon and signing my name until my signature started to look weird, our realtor handed over a single gold key hanging on a gold ribbon. We are homeowners.

It's taken awhile to get here. We started looking almost a year ago. We fell in love with several places, and made offers on three of them. One owner raised the price after we made our offer (it's still sitting vacant), the other was snatched up by an evil cash buyer, and the other we discovered under a few feet of water after a heavy rain.

And then we found this house. When we first looked at it, it was more than $30K out of our price range so we decided to forget about it. When we got word that the owner was willing to be very flexible, we made an offer and it was accepted.

We moved in most of our things last night. We set up our bedroom but everything else is a mess. Still, it was the most incredible feeling to wake up in a house that feels more like home than anywhere I've lived in years. I sat on the couch in my PJs for the longest time just looking around and feeling happy.

So basically I'm obsessed with my new house, I have so many plans for it, and you'll be seeing a lot more home-related posts. Get ready for it.

fish.

Fish is one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston. And yes, I have a lot of favorite restaurants here, but Fish is where we held our wedding reception last fall, and every time I go in there I feel a little special knowing that.

What I love most about it is its versatility. It's a great spot for an affordable happy hour, with $1 dim sum and creative cocktails — try the Black Thai lemonade with Gentleman Jack, lemongrass simple syrup, lemon, and Blenheim hot ginger. At night, chef Nico Romo cooks up a menu of seasonal, Asian-inspired food — I recently had a perfect summer meal of scallops with avocado jasmine rice, roasted mushrooms, peas, and grilled watermelon. Then late-night on the weekends, a DJ comes in and the place turns into a raging dance party.

weekend.

 

***

I'll likely be doing none of this this weekend (partying or socializing), but I hope that you are. I really just wanted to show you this picture because it's inspiring — any space can be made into something comfortable, pretty, and welcoming. I love their raised beds and lanterns. And the dalmation. I'm off to be productive. Do you have anything fun planned?

white washed.

all.

I'm currently floundering in home-buying purgatory, waiting for a closing date that keeps getting pushed back. It's been a frustrating process, but the end seems to be in sight. All I really want to do is hibernate until I have those keys in my hand.

On another note, I really love white kitchens. Like, really love them. I wasn't even aware of this obsession until looking at my Pinterest Kitchens board. Good thing my new house has white cabinets, white subway tiles, and crisp white beadboard ceilings. I'll show you a picture, just as soon as I get those keys.

inked.

***

I've been thinking about getting inked lately. I've always toyed with the idea of getting a tattoo but never could decide on something special enough. I've been seeing so many cool tats lately, though, it feels almost hard to choose. That said, I'll probably never make the leap. But it's fun to think about.

Do you have any tattoos? Ever wanted to get one?

fourth.

***

I hope you all have a lovely Fourth of July weekend. Do you have any big plans? 

On my to-do list: Finish my book, finish my article on biscuits, a bit of packing, a couple of parties, baking something sweet for one of said parties, and staying as close to the water as possible.

laundry room moment.

 

I'm experiencing laundry room envy. How nerdy is that?

all images via Pinterest.