Checking In (Newlywed & Homeowner Life Update)

Hi there! As you can imagine, life has been a little hectic these days… I guess you can say that for the past 6+ months, we’ve been adulting pretty damn hard! It’s funny how your priorities quickly change once you take on more responsibilities than you’re used to.

Life Update

Ever since we got the keys into our new house, we’ve been working hard on making this place a home. While exciting, let me tell you – it’s quite an overwhelming process! Of course we are extremely proud to be homeowners in our early 30s, but this new move didn’t come without any worries. I mean, there’s so much more to think about once you make a change from renting to paying mortgage!

Since this is our very first place that not only we own but also don’t have to share with any roommates, we are so happy to finally be able to make it our very own oasis. In the past 6 months, we painted many walls, purchased a lot of furniture and decor and yes, bickered a bit about each other’s buying choices. 😉 What couple doesn’t?!

photography by Mariana Calderon

You see, when Rapha and I got married, we committed to be a team in every little way. While we truly enjoy spending time with each other, we also respect each other’s individuality. A great example: I’m a serious homebody and he’s a social butterfly. How do we manage when we both have different needs? We let each other be! I’m not going to say that we mastered the communication in our relationship but I can sure as hell say that we’re trying! Communicating your needs and wants in a clear way is probably the best thing you can do for your partner, so don’t be afraid to share your feelings – the good, the bad and the ugly.

That’s my newlywed life update for you. As far as our homeowner life is going, lots of new projects are currently in the works. We’re almost done with our gallery wall in the dining/living room that I just can’t wait to share (it was actually Rapha’s idea and it’s so fun). We are also partnering with a local Napa Valley interior designer to completely makeover our bedroom so that’s coming soon. Another big projects that we would like to accomplish this year are: updating all of our three bathrooms, finishing up the guest room, and getting the outdoor space ready for entertaining.

Ah, I almost forgot about another life update! We have a dog! Since we finally have our own home, we were able to have Charlie live with us full- time. Before, he was living at my mother-in-laws. He’s an 8 year-old Australian Shepherd, handsome, well-behaved and slowly becoming an Instagram sensation! Ha, just kidding but he’s definitely loved by many.

How are we adjusting? Well, for someone who never grew up with a dog, I have to say – I’m loving it! The fact I work from home worked out perfectly because now I have someone to hang out with all.day.long. Of course, it’s such a lifestyle change but totally for the better. I feel like we’re both getting a lot more exercise now too! 😉

That’s all for now! For more regular life updates, make sure to follow me on Instagram. I love connecting with you and discussing all things home and life!

Let me finish this post up with some of our favorite (so far) purchases for the home. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about each one of these items so make sure to click through them all to find your favorites!