Making a House Our Home

When Brad and I moved to Pittsburgh and decided to buy a house we knew that it was going to be an interesting journey. For those who have never been to Pittsburgh or are unfamiliar with the housing market here there are a few things to note when you are planning to purchase a home:

1) If you want a new house (ie: 1970 or newer) expect to pay a lot more and live at least 30 minutes (before traffic) outside of the city of Pittsburgh limits

2) If you want to get the most house for your mortgage places areas like the Northside are definitely worth a look

3) If you're looking for new developments with larger square footage expect to pay at least $50,000 more and live at least 45 minutes outside of the city of Pittsburgh

4) In Pittsburgh badly maintained can often trump badly made

5) Yinzers love traditional victorians, tudors, and walk ups. Just look around they're everywhere!

6) Want a garage? Good luck. Street parking is king here. 

7) Pittsburgh among world's best long-term real estate investments- meaning homes stay in families for year. For example, our neighbor is in her 70s and still lives in the house she grew up in which belonged to her great grandparents. 

After seeing 6 houses and with the help of our amazing realtor we found our new home. Luckily I married a very resourceful man because it is definitely a fixer upper. To date we (mostly Brad) have: waterproofed the porch, fixed some direly needed venting, painted 80% of the house on the inside, replaced over 4 incredibly outdated fixtures (including a glass bathroom door), and probably a ton of things that I'm forgetting. Slowly but surely our house is changing from a place we live to a place to live, love, and call our own. 

Here are a few before and after pictures:

Before

After

Manny of course fell asleep on the job but we're just glad that our new furniture is Manny tested Manny approved

So as you can see we're definitely making progress. I'm looking forward to the countless years we will spend together in our home and hopefully soon we will be able to start our family and bring even more happiness and love into our little piece of heaven in the Burgh.  

Ode to Baby Blue

Last weekend we made the difficult but necessary decision to go furniture shopping. A few hours later we left with a new couch, ottoman, table, and accent chair, the couch and chair were definitely in the plan, the others...not so much but we figured go big or go home. Plus you know that I can't say no to a good sale. With the purchase of our new couch it was time to say goodbye to our current one, my beloved baby blue. You may think I'm crazy dedicating an entire blog post to a couch however, I promise that there is a method to this bit of madness.

My relationship with Baby Blue began in the summer of 2007 when I moved from Kansas to Florida for my job with then Webster College now Rasmussen. My grandparents and parents graciously offered to help me furnish my apartment with new furniture. My mom and I found her at Rooms to Go and we both instantly fell in love. Ironically enough my parents have a couch similar in their house which always made me feel a connection to my Texas roots while I was away. 

 While living in Tampa Baby Blue and I entertained friends and family from near and far, She comforted me when boys were mean and I just wanted to cry it out, supported me on lazy weekends when I wanted to watch tv or movies, and brightened up my living room wherever I moved. When the opportunity presented itself to move back to Texas I had decided that I had moving down to a science. A great crew of professional movers carried her off and we'd reunite in College Station.

In College Station my job duties shifted significantly and I worked a lot of late nights programming for both Hillel and after changing jobs, Texas A&M where I worked for the Memorial Student Center. In my rare free time my apartment was filled with students whom became friends as well as friends and family now that we were geographically closer. Baby Blue "supported" me throughout the remainder of my arduous Masters program and was my comfort zone when I wanted a relaxing moment to myself. Although Blue had moved with me what felt like thousands of miles she was still in one piece and I worked hard to protect her from harm, namely, liquids, food, etc. After I met Brad and our relationship became serious and committed we moved Blue as well as his sofas across the complex to our two bedroom apartment in the same complex. This is where Blue would meet a very special little "boy."

Boy/Puppy Meets Couch

In August of 2011 Brad and I adopted our now 4 1/2 year old pup Manolo Martinez Esquenazi Weiser Krugel, Manny for short. Manny came into our world like a whirlwind and we've loved him every since. He has also loved his couches whether they were Brad's purple couches or Blue he always found his place, usually on top so he could have the best view or sleeping soundly on the cushions. This love affair and admiration began with Baby Blue when he was a baby. 

As he got older he would move around but when we got home after work he was usually in the same spot, snoozing in between the pillows waiting for us to get home. 

When we moved into our house in College Station we had the perfect set and finally were able to combine all of Brad's and my furniture in one place. Our friends would come visit as would my students so needless to say our couches were well loved. Our families would also come visit as well and I have some wonderful memories specifically of Alle and Abuelo. I'll never forget when abuelo came to visit College Station for the last time he and Alle fell asleep on Baby Blue which always warms my heart when I think about it. I think this specific memory stands out because my parents and my couch share similar moments where I'd often find the two Manolos asleep together.

Alle and Manny also spent some quality time together as well. 

After our move to our house I started to notice that Baby Blue was starting to fade but I wasn't quite ready to move on yet. This couch was more than a couch. When I lost Abuelo and became emotional I always found myself gravitating to my couch. This couch, this object made of wood and cloth, was not just a couch but instead a vessel full of years of love and it was something that was given to me by my abuelo. It was a touchstone and something that comforted me and connected us. So I refused to let her go when we moved. Baby Blue semi survived the move to Pittsburgh. Our movers were not the most gentle and the creaks when you sat began to grow louder and more prominent but there she sat in our living room to continue to support and love us in our new home. 

In Pittsburgh Manny's bond with Baby Blue grew. Here he assumed his position of neighborhood watch and protector of his people and home. 

Over the past year the 9 1/2 years have begun to show and the creaks and groans when you sit have become more prominent so I prepared myself of the inevitability of saying goodbye. As hard of a decision as it it was I know that Abuelo would not want me to hold onto a slowly breaking couch. He would want us to find something new to bring us joy, comfort, and furniture that will support our hopefully soon growing family for years to come. When we made the decision to buy new furniture I knew that I couldn't bear leaving her on the sidewalk.  Luckily we found some graduate students in need so Baby Blue could go to a good home. 

In reflecting on our almost 10 years together I've found that this couch embodies my relationship with my grandparents in so many ways. Both were always there for me, they comforted and supported me, they were with me in times of joy and sadness, they shared the weight of many decisions that I made in my life, and always made me feel like I was home wherever they were. And I am so incredibly greatful to them and how they have changed my life. Home is where your heart, and my case, your couch, is.

Just call me Heinz, It's time to do some major catch up...

So my last blog post was dated 2013 and needless to say a lot has changed since then. Here's a quick list of the highlights:

In 2013 we bid adieu to 2013 and the events that continue to help shape the person that I'm becoming. To name a few, Brad and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary, Manny turned 2 years old, celebrated my 31st birthday with two of my best friends, left a job that afforded me the opportunity to work with students that have now become my extended family, started a new job where I got to work with the most supportive and goofy people on the planet, and lost my abuelo. 

My abuelo was my best friend, my confidant, my cheerleader, my partner in crime, my security blanket, my hero, and more than words can describe. We had to say goodbye to him in November and I miss him everyday.

Yes, 2013 we had our ups and downs but I am so thankful for those moments because they are helping me to become better, stronger, more grateful, and are part of my life's journey. 

In 2014, Brad received a phone call that would provide us an opportunity to move on to bigger and better things together. That phone call came from Carnegie Mellon University with an incredible job offer. Our house sold in less than 24 hours and I'm just played the waiting game with my job search. I moved Brad up to Pittsburgh in May and I stayed in College Station until the end of June after we sold our house. We're so grateful to A&M for the wonderful opportunities we had been given and all of the friends we've made there. 

Throughout the summer of 2014 I explored the city and applied to, I'm not exaggerating, over 100 jobs and after 10 plus jobs I was offered a position with the Katz Graduate School of Business as their Assistant Director of Student Recruitment. Let me tell you that as frustrated and impatient I was starting to become this job was worth every minute I had to wait. I love my job and I look forward to hopefully being here for a long time. 

 

During this time I was able to do a lot of long overdue self care, healing, and I discovered my love, and a new hobby, for making jewelry. I even started my own Etsy shop. 

In September we were fortunate enough to purchase our second home. This time we opted for a beautiful victorian built in 1900 which came with wonderful neighbors and beautiful views of the city. 

That December we had our first out of town visitors! My mom and brother David joined us in Pittsburgh for the christmas break. It was cold but we had a great time showing them some Burgh hospitality. 

In 2015 we continued welcoming visitors to the Burgh with Brad's family for Passover and a summer filled with awesome reunions with our now neighbor, Becky in Baltimore, Gordon, and my best friend Rosie. We were also lucky enough to see two of our favorite people tie the knot this past summer in Atlanta. 

The summer also kicked off to insane travel season where I got to visit Boston, DC, Chicago (twice), Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Houston, and Lansing/Farmington Hills. One of the highlights was being able to visit Michigan with Brad and see where he grew up as well as his old stomping grounds from when he was in Law School. 

In August we celebrate all that is Manny and his 4th birthday!! Time truly flies. 

In October we hosted our first ever Diversity Student Weekend which I planned and executed with the help of our amazing students and staff. Later on in the month my mom, Alle, and Mica also came to visit followed by my former students, Chris and Andrea. 

A few weeks later we drove down to Texas for Thanksgiving. Needless to say we were not driving anywhere longer than 3 hours again for awhile.

Professionally and personally I'm happy to say that I am the proud founder of the first ever Hispanic Latino Professional Association at the University of Pittsburgh. I've definitely got my work cut out for me but we're moving forward. Sigue Pa'lante no Detras!

I also made my web debut via my wonderful friend Tara's blog, Cafe Con Leche 

http://www.cafeconlechepgh.com/azucar/2015/6/10/a-perspective

Cafe con Leche uses a creative approach, infusing art and culture to engage Latinos and build brand relationships. We are the recognized expert in providing insights and reaching the Latino segment in the Pittsburgh region. Using a creative approach, we identify influencers and connect the dots that others do not see. Cafe Con Leche is the authentic way to reach Latinos in the Pittsburgh region. 

Definitely check out their page and the amazing work that they are doing here in LatinoBurgh. 

Now 2016 is here and I am incredibly excited to see what this year will bring. 

Until next time.