I hate you craigslist

It all started yesterday when Husband went into his office and started working. I had nothing to do and thought I'd see if there were any good finds on Craigslist, you know to help me decorate our new home. I never know what to expect when I check craigslist and part of me wonders why I still look. I guess the stories of those people who find a 50 inch brand new TV for $200, or the very vintage and adorable couch for $50 make me stubborn and persistent. I want to find my special find.

I'd seen Matt work his magic on Craigslist multiple times and thought it looked easy enough. What's to it, right? Wrong. As I went through the listings I got as far back as the beginning of May, my first problem. Matt later told me if the add is that old and still hasn't sold...that tells you something. I wish I would have known (or thought of) that before. Because there among all the shabby wreathes, picture frames, and toilets (yeah, weird right? SO many toilets being sold in Santa Barbara) but there it was. This large and very gorgeous basket that looked exactly like the $98 dollar one I wanted from Pottery Barn:

but for only $10 dollars! I thought this was my great find! Maybe not as grand but I was thrilled.

So I started the process. When I called her to make the arrangements she sounded so nice...like a grandma or something. This eased my nerves a little, but let's be honest, I was still nervous! As we pulled up to her house I held the cash in my hand and for a split second thought, "you should give the money to Matt." Awe, if only I'd listened. So there we were standing on this cluttered porch waiting.

And then...

The next thing I knew this lady, who very much did not look like a grandma, answered the door, my hand was outstretched with the money and my other hand was taking the basket out of hers. She'd only gotten out, "Here's the..." and we were already turned around on our way back to the car.

I was shocked...and panicked. I was shocked and panicked!!

It wasn't until Matt and I both sat in the car that we looked at the basket, then each other, and then back at the basket. I seriously wish I had saved the picture she posted of the basket...so you guys could see what I saw!..and compare it with what I got. Matt thought it was hilarious and just laughed and laughed. But none of that matters now. What matters is the embarrassment and shame I feel every time I replay it in my head, over and over.

I know it was only $10 dollars and I shouldn't let it bother me so much, but it's the principle of the thing. This basket. This very crummy tiny basket isn't worth $10 dollars, it's not even worth $5! I maybe would have paid $2 bucks for this thing. Maybe.

So for the time being, pretty sure my Craigslist days are over. I'm going to leave it to the pros to find their amazingly wonderful TV's and couches and cute vintage things (can you tell I'm bitter? Haha) and I'll watch and drool, sitting safely on the side lines at Pier 1 and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Beach bums

Matt and I have been in our new home for approximately 2 weeks and 2 days. We finally have everything in place and it's really starting to feel like home. (Sorry, no pictures due to the fact that I lost my cameras memory card after uploading pictures last time *frowny face* but I'll keep looking.) It's still surreal to be living anywhere but Utah. And it's really hit me that this is my life, this is mine and Matt's life, and if we want something bad enough...nothing can stop us. It's both scary and empowering - and if you've never typed empowering, you should, because it's very fun. The "w. e. r." just roll off each other.

Anyway...here are some

highlights of our adventure so far:

Watching Sawyer chase bugs (snails are his specialty) and humming birds around the back patio.

Walking with the husband and soybean along the beach every morning

And laughing after Sawyer went poopy on those walks and we found ourselves without a way to clean up. So Matt, very creatively, used palm tree bark and a Sears catalog. Then as we walked away a bum says, "I've seen a lot of things...but I've never seen that before!"

Night walks and hearing the hundreds of frogs that live in the river/stream that almost surrounds our complex.

Smelling licorice every time we walk to the beach.

Our neighbor Jim bringing us cookies because we gave him flowers for helping us when we thought we lost Sawyer but really he was just trapped in the guest bathroom - Yeah, that was traumatic.

Going to a ward your husband grew up in. I never get tired of hearing about the amazing man I married and the legend he was and still is.

Sawyer slowly stalking the seagulls and then watching him pounce when they start to fly away.

(Surprisingly, he wasn't afraid of them like we thought he'd be.)

The victory of finally finding a shelf that was both strong and sturdy to go over our fireplace (I have a fireplace!!!!) It doesn't sound like a victory but when you have zero studs in the wall and you've already made a huge mess with anchors and it still wasn't sturdy...this is a big deal.

The excitement of meeting a young couple, with a puppy Sawyers same age named Mr. Mayhem (of course they got along), that are super nice and friendly.

Basically, waking up every morning and experiencing something new.

the new chapter begins

Sometimes you take all your stuff and put it in boxes, and then put those boxes in a truck, and then drive that truck to an empty house and take all the boxes back out of the truck, and then take all your stuff out of the boxes.

This last Thursday we spent the entire day moving our entire apartment (minus the walls, and the floor and ceiling...and pipes and plumbing) into a truck. It was intense, especially since Matt, Zack and Chad were the only movers for all the big stuff. I was in charge of all the other smaller stuff...because I'm weak. Ha. But later in the day some more of my family came and helped with what was left, but for the majority of the time...it was us.

And we were tired.

And sweaty.

And sore.

And now, covered in bruises....and I am saying "and" way too much!

But it was a success!! And we couldn't have done it without them.

...Seriously. Like it would not have happened.

(yes that blue thing is a diaper..for accidents, which he didn't have any of, thank goodness!)

I think these pictures sum it up.

p.s.

This was the first place Sawyer ever went poopy outside!

We were so excited and decided to throw away his litter box. So now he is officially and 100% a big dog that goes poop and pee outside!

Another proud moment in the Bartlett home.