paying off debt

we've got a lot of debt. after a few years of living off of a single income, we've learned how to make it work--but that doesn't mean we didn't lean on a few credit cards (and mom and dad! love you!) to get us through some tough[er] times.

so, lately we've been super diligent in playing off debt. my new favorite hobby is looking at/updating a spreadsheet i created to see what debt is left and what our smartest next steps are. it's fun (i'm weird) seeing the utilizations, payment dates, interest rates(!), etc side-by-side.

and my second favorite hobby is clicking the little bubble next to "Balance" on payments. that's a new one for me. i'm very accustomed to auto-pay taking out the minimum payment every month. i know, i know, yikes.

today i paid off the balance of my (our?) target card. can't say he had a hand in that one. double yikes.

guys, this one was in the quadruple digits! not proud.

but anyway! we are seeing our debt-to-income ratio dwindling before our eyes. and that. is. fun.
we've vowed to pay off our credit card debt + my car before we move. we've got a pretty sweet setup where we are--we love our house and the mortgage payment is next to nothing. it'll be hard to say goodbye to that, knowing our next house will be bigger and in a nicer area aka more expensive.

dream laundry/mudroom mood board

okay, i had way too much fun with this one! after seeing brick pavers in a mudroom on pinterest, i'm sold. and how cute is that laundromat-style cart? i want a farmhouse sink like in the kitchen, and a frosted door that says LAUNDRY. wasn't sure if subway tile backsplash was too much with the flooring, so white beadboard is an option. not sure on countertops, but it will be the same in the kitchen and bathrooms ;)

dream living room mood board

i decided to put together a little mood board to show the vibe i'm feeling for a light, airy living room. (what i'm picturing for our future forever home.

what i see: dark wood floors, a staircase with white risers (with built-in storage underneath) a big, cozy couch with bright pillows, grownup seating, bright & airy white curtains with bamboo blinds, a neutral rug like this one, brick fireplace & hearth with white planking to the ceiling. i can't decide if having a tv mounted over a fireplace makes the tv too high. still contemplating. a pretty table like this with blanket baskets underneath would do nicely if i decide against a fireplace-mount. 

dream house exterior: mood board

can you believe it? another mood board. i've definitely been having fun dreaming up what i want our forever house to look like. in detail. i'm decorating a fake house in my head when i can't fall asleep at night.
anyway! i have always loved the look of cedar shingles on the eaves of houses (and have even contemplated adding it to our current house for curb appeal), and am definitely feeling them for this craftsman-esque image i have in my mind. sherwin williams' naval blue is pretty perfect. my dream door is pictured--craftsman style with dentil molding. stained beadboard ceilings, wooden railing, beefed up pillars and nice, cozy outdoor furniture on the deck. boom.

dream kitchen mood board

went ahead and made a kitchen mood board for the dream house. go ahead and ready yourself for mood board city. side note: in the dream, this kitchen is open to the previously mentioned living room.

what i'm picturing: real, handscraped wood floors, exposed beams, farmhouse sink, a mix of natural woods (table, light fixtures, cutting boards on display, floors, etc), cup pulls on the cabinets, a round table with a settee in an eat-in kitchen nook, flat island with bar stools centering the room. is this asking too much?

also, question: do light fixtures have to match door hardware and faucets? in my head they do, but pictures of kitchens i like say otherwise..

new house dreamin'

the long list (who would've guessed?) of "wants" for the dream house. i've been scouring pinterest and forums for things people wish they would've done when building 
{in pink are "musts"}

KITCHEN:
garbage disposal on both sides of sink 
cabinets on both sides of peninsula/island
gas range + griddle (no stainless 'backsplash') with drawers underneath
double ovens
drawer dishwasher (?)
subway tile 
outlet for "coffee station"
microwave in lower cabinets 
cabinets to ceiling
under-cabinet lighting
farmhouse sink
quartz countertops
cabinet-covered fridge (?)
pot-filler above range
vent oven to outside
flooring running under cabinets
kickplate drawers
sylight
recessed fridge
waterfall countertop (?)
copper tubing for ice maker
breakfast area 
room for upholstered sofa/bench under windows in eat-in area with sconces on each side

DINING:
separate dining room
board and batten/wainscoting 

LIVING: 
9' (minimum) ceilings on lower level
small room with french doors (play area for computer//kids in the future)
plank wood + brick fireplace
hearth
floor outlet (for floating furniture)

LAUNDRY: 
recessed dryer vent
mudroom cubbies
laundry shoot (?)
frosted "Laundry" pocket door
whirlpool sink for delicates (?)

brick paver flooring (?)

MASTER: 
door to backyard (?)
window seat (?)
4 outlets on each side of bed
on first level 

BATHROOMS: 
no builder grade mirrors
cable/outlet in master bathroom
tub sprayer in master 
large tile
no tub/shower inserts
outlet behind toilet in master water closet 7 powered room (for lamps)
leaded glass shower door in master
heated floors (?)
cast iron pipes from upper bathroom (noise reduction)
stone in master shower floor

PANTRY: 
outlet 
motion-sensor light (if not pocket door)
microwave in pantry (?)
frosted pocket door

CLOSETS:
window in master closet (?)
closets painted room color (cheaper and better looking, anyway)
heat/air vent in master closet

BEDROOMS: 
built in fire escape ladders (?)
dutch door in "nursery"
two bedrooms upstairs

OUTDOORS:
keypad front door handle
outlets in eaves (for christmas lights)
cable/outlet 
gutters
outlets! (both sides of front door?)
gasline on patio
fenced backyard

GARAGE:
attic light switch downstairs

WHOLE HOUSE:
smooth walls
wired for sound throughout (including exterior)
recessed outlets
nest thermostat (upstairs & downstairs?)
crown molding
upgrade insulation
soundproofing
wood flooring throughout
white risers on staircase
paint color (interior-grey/taupe + ceiling same) (exterior-white/grey/navy + cedar shakes)
doggy door
extra wide, flat, craftsman baseboards
frame braces for ceiling fans (living, master, bedrooms)
3-way light switches (walk through and get a feel for the layout)
extra board bracing where drapes or heavy items will hang (studs)
storm door on front
dimmers!

USB outlets

✩TIPS✩
-buy our own faucets, shower heads, light fixtures/ceiling fans, appliances, toilet paper holders
-plan where vents will go related to furniture placement (walkthrough--think furniture, curtains, etc)
-take pictures of plumbing/electrical before drywall for future reference
-get a light fixture "allowance" instead of builder bundle