Yes — it’s true. We’re moving before Christmas! It sounds wild, but there’s a reason, and I want to share the whole story.
To be clear, we’re not leaving Alabama or the little community we love. In fact, we’re staying in the same neighborhood. We found a house just around the corner, so our routines won’t change: same jobs, same schools, the same pool and HOA. Our trash pickup day didn’t even change. It’s an easy move — one turn and we’ll be home — but it’s a big change for our family life and for this blog.
The House That Built This Blog: Some Backstory
If you’re new here, a little background will help. The house we’re leaving is the reason I started this blog. About seven and a half years ago (early 2012), the housing market was still rebounding from the Great Recession. We had a one-year-old and were trying to plan for the future — we wanted a better neighborhood with good public schools, but our budget limited what we could buy.
I kept seeing one house lower its price week after week by $10,000. Curious, I went to look — it was a foreclosure that had been cleaned up with fresh paint and carpet, the typical “builder beige.” It wasn’t perfect, but it was larger than our previous home and, more importantly, it was in one of the neighborhoods we’d hoped to move into. We bought it before selling our old house, which I don’t recommend because of the stress involved, but everything worked out and we sold at the right time.
I started this blog the week we closed on that house to document the updates we planned for the “builder beige” foreclosure. I had no idea back then that blogging would become my job, or that sharing our renovations, decor projects, and family life would become one of the greatest unexpected blessings of my life.
This house has served our family well for more than seven years. We’ve loved the lot, the neighbors, the views, and the high ceilings. The neighborhood amenities — the pool, gym and excellent schools — have been a perfect fit for our kids. Compared with our previous home, this place gave us two extra bedrooms, a proper dining room, and a real laundry room, which felt like a major upgrade.
Still, I never chose the house because it was my dream home. I chose it as a way into our dream neighborhood and then used the house itself as a platform for content on this blog. Over time we transformed rooms, tried new decor ideas, and shared projects that resonated with readers. That experience shaped both our home and my career.
My Dreams for Something More
As our family grew and my business expanded, I started craving more functional space: a bonus room for play, a dedicated office that could be closed off, and a reliable guest room. I’ve never been satisfied with the guest-bedroom/office combo because my work requires multiple decor setups and storage. Lately the fourth bedroom has been my full-time office, so we haven’t had a true guest room at all. When friends or family visit, we shuffle the girls’ rooms to make space — it works, but it isn’t ideal.
We also wanted an additional bathroom or a powder room for guests. At the moment, our main guest bathroom serves the girls, which means toothpaste splatters and toothbrushes are a constant reality in a space we’d rather keep tidy for visitors.
I’ve been watching the market for years — does anyone else find themselves doing that? We were committed to staying in the same neighborhood so the girls could stay in their schools, we could keep summer pool routines, and my husband could maintain a short commute.
When We Knew It Was Time to Move
A few months ago a house came on the market that checked nearly every box on our list. It felt like the perfect fit. My husband was hesitant — he’s the type who would stay in one house forever if he could — but I convinced him to tour it. The house had almost everything I wanted: more flexible living spaces, a layout that would give me a proper office and a guest room, and the neighborhood perks we love. The only compromise was a smaller backyard, but the large front yard and cul-de-sac location were compelling.
We put in an offer and, sadly, were outbid. While that was disappointing, going through the process helped us understand what our house was worth and how to prepare it for sale. In today’s market, homes like ours can sell in 24–48 hours. We were surprised by how much equity we had and by the interest rate environment, which made it realistic that our house could sell quickly.
I’ll pause here for now and share the next chapter soon — there’s more to this story, including how we prepared to list and what happened next. Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll detail the staging, timing, and the emotional side of selling a home that’s been such a big part of our life.
Continue to Part 2…
More posts you may enjoy:
- Our Current House
- Introducing: Our New Home!
- Two Years: Before & After Home Tour