First, your comments yesterday—> ALL OF THE GOOSEBUMPS. Feeling the connection to you through reading about your experiences, your beliefs and seeing how similar we all really are in our quest for LOVE… it was everything. Thank you thank you thank you. Being vulnerable is hard to do but brings the best rewards.
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I’ll start things with a few updates before jumping into the house pictures!
Why not carve pumpkins right before school? I walked in from my run and the kids got to work decorating their pumpkins before getting ready for school. We remembered late Sunday night that we didn’t have Knox again until after Halloween and he really wanted to carve pumpkins with Andrew so we made it happen.
Also, I brought back the power bun (tutorial here) for my run yesterday… not to channel extra speed but because it’s my way to cheer on Allie Kieffer this weekend;) 6.41 miles @ 8:08 average with many hills. PS it was 60 degrees for my morning run which in my Utah experience means it is going to snow soon. It always warms up like this right before snow (or really cold temperatures).
PS Andrew went into Knox’s room to check on him Sunday night and the lights were off and Knox was wearing this… his brain makes me very happy.
We got them ready for school really fast and then they were off (Knox asked for a picture with Skye before he left:)!
Skye absolutely loves crawling back and forth on the window seat. She thinks she is such a big deal whenever she is doing it.
I don’t have a caption for this picture besides I love it.
And a hello from Brooke:
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I’ve been excited to share these house pictures with you!
Like I said before, we weren’t really planning on moving. We knew we wanted to eventually get away from the huge high school that was built across the street and move closer to family but we didn’t know when that would happen. When we walked into the open house of our house now, I had this really strong feeling that this is where I would be raising my babies… it was a strong feeling too (believe me, I had to convince Andrew ha but he fell in love with it too, it just took a little bit of time and a powerpoint presentation that I made ((I kid;).
Six offers were put in on the house and we found out that we didn’t get it. I cried when I found out (ehhh a few times) because I thought it was perfect for our family and loved everything about it. Fast forward two weeks later and we got a phone call that the first people backed out and we could put in another offer. It was all a whirlwind and I’m so happy to be here. PS I have actually become really good friends with the girl that we bought the house from (they moved close) and we meet up to go walking together now.
I’ll show you the other parts of the house once we get everything put together but for now, I’ll show you the area that made me fall in love with this house so much. A huge room where we can all be together (and have our families over often… 30 people will be coming for Thanksgiving this year) as much as possible. The kitchen, eating area, office/homework area, couch/living/tv area!
The lighting, openness and those window seats stole my heart fast. It was love at first sight.
I spend a lot of time on this seat reading with the kids or watching them play outside.
This is where I work now! I am 9 steps from snacks, the kids can play right by me if I am working while they are around and Andrew does school right next to me on his laptop. I love it. In the last house I would work downstairs and it was a hard area for the kids to play near me while I worked so this is definitely an upgrade for me!
A few more shots from different angles!
We love all of the counter space! We have 8 stools and I love seeing their little faces at the counter while doing dishes or making dinner.
Another reason I fell fast for this house… the pantry with the butcher block. I can store so much in here!
I love the laundry room and bathroom right off of the main room!
We searched for a new couch for almost a year. It’s a good thing it took us forever. We probably would have needed a different one for this house anyways. We went to a place called Sofa Mart (in Draper) and found this one and the thing that sold us—> the part in the picture below where Brooke and I are lying down is pulled out. Basically, you can turn your sectional into a huge bed for when you are watching movies. We love it. There is also storage under the cushions on the left side of the couch and we put all of Skye’s toys in there when people come over.
Other items at our house:
Rug- HERE (<—affiliate link)
Pillows, desk chairs and clock on the wall are from Four Chairs Furniture
Knick knacks around the area- Sundance, Home Goods, Target and also Four Chairs Furniture.
Stools- I bought them from the previous owners:)
Kitchen table/chairs- we bought that from RC Willey a few years ago
TV stand and greenish hutch on the wall- RC Willey
We are almost done with the other living room area and I’ll share that with you soon!
Also, you can’t see our grass anymore haha. Who wants to come and rake with us? I do love the huge trees in our yard but we’ve got some work to do now;) Good thing that work is a fabulous activity for kiddos because we will be doing a lot of yard work together!
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What is your favorite part of where you live now?! Is there anything you wish you could add to where you live?
Where do you like to buy furniture or decorating items?!
Yard work—> Love it or hate it or avoid it?
Who do you think will win NYCM this weekend?
137 comments
Wendy
We have a huge pond in our yard which is my favorite thing ever! But several acres of trees-I was leaf blowing for 5 hours yesterday and still not done. Silver lining-getting like 15,000 steps in before even working out. LOVE your new home-it is so beautiful! May you create many happy memories with your sweet kiddos there!
The Hungry Runner Girl
A pond in your yard and leaf blowing for 5 hours… that is AMAZING Wendy! Sounds like an incredible piece of land that you live on (Brooke would be so jealous because she wants horses so badly)! Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Christina
I love your new house for your growing family!! Isn’t it wonderful when you just know God is directing steps and carrying out a great plan for you/your life. You all seem to be doing well – glad Knox could get pumpkin carving in. Have a great day!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
It really is amazing to see His plan and directing in our lives! Thank you and I hope you are having a great day so far!
alisha
Holy moly that house is GORGEOUS! And all your furniture is gorgeous in it! So aesthetically pleasing!! I love the color scheme (and those floors!!! great color wood). Just looks so modern, clean, cozy, and perfect for cultivating family time. Wow, I cannot get over how gorgeous it all is!!! So happy for yall!
alisha
And I would have put in an offer based solely on the window seat area for sure. That seals the deal. Perfection.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you thank you thank you Alisha! Glad to hear I’m not the only one that wanted to buy a house based on window seats haha! I hope your day is a great one:)
Jen W
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new place—it seems large and roomy —perfect for your family to have room to play and to grow. I’m a big reader, so I’m a sucker for a window seat, and you have the window seat of all window seats—that baby is LONG! I love it. So pretty!!!!!! All of that natural light is awesome, too.
My favorite part of my house………..hmmmmm………probably my living room. It’s just cozy and decorated kind of in a autumnal theme. Our house backs up to total farmland, too, even though we’re in a development. I grew up on a farm, so this kind of still gives me that same feeling. I really do love looking out and seeing a tractor out in the field. :)
Yard work?! Ew. No. ha ha We are NOT of the “My yard MUST be perfect” variety here. ha ha We have some neighbors who are OBSESSED though. I can’t judge though b/c they probably think I”m a crazy runner!!!!
I HAVE to root for Des this weekend; she has ALWAYS been my favorite ever since I found out that she had been a member of the femoral stress fracture club, too. We’re kind of a special group, right?! ha ha
I’m 11 days out from my marathon, and everything hurts, I’m paranoid, and I’m dying. Completely normal, right?! ;)
Natalie
You are going to be SO ready for that marathon, Jen!! The aches and pains you’re feeling now will fade by race day, and you are going to go out there and OWN that course and be so thankful for the tough journey it took to get there and know that it was worth it!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh Jen, I love that you fields behind your house… that must feel so nice and open! Hahaha I didn’t know we had a club! Glad to know Des is with us too:) YES YES YES completely normal. Leading up to St. George I felt like I forgot how to run. Everything hurt and I kept shortening my runs etc. YOU CAN AND YOU WILL. You’ve done the training. Less is more now so relax as much as possible, smile when you think about the race and know that you are capable of SO MUCH!!
Megan
Your house is gorgeous!! I love the big, open area that you can all be in. My husband and I just signed contracts to build a house. I didn’t want to at first but when I saw the lot and plans I knew my family would love the house and grow up there. It’s an amazing feeling!!
I love your work space. It’s really beautiful and so tidy! I need lessons from you. My work from home space is so cluttered. Good thing my employer only lets me do that once in a while, it’s a mess.
The Hungry Runner Girl
AHHHHH Megan, that is so so exciting! Will you email me pictures once it is all done, I’d love to see it! All I need is a computer so that’s why it is tidy ha… your job probably requires a lot! Have a wonderful day!
Natalie
Oh, Janae, your new home is so beautiful! I’m so incredibly happy for y’all!! And that couch looks unbelievably cozy and makes me want to take a nap right now–ha! I love how life doesn’t always go as we expect it to, and it often ends up WAY better than we ever could have predicted. :)
Enjoy your day, my sweet friend!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahaha it is so tempting to go and nap on it all of the time. Thank you so much and have a great day!
Jessica
Your house is so beautiful! Makes me want to buy a new one just like it :-)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Do it:) I’m a bad influence haha. Thank you Jessica and I hope you are having a great day!
Carrie
We live in a neighborhood with tons of trees and that means tons of leaves. Advice on that, get a good back pack blower and if you can find one that is also a vacuum it is a bonus. Mulching the leaves by mowing over them a few times is also a good way to control them. My husband does that on our lawn and then we use the blower for the rest. Get the leaves off of the curb edge in front of your house if that is a problem. When it snows, they get muddy and disgusting and the snow plow piles it all in one clump…. my husband disagrees with that issue, but I am the one that usually deals with it!! Every stinking time it snows he tends to be on a business trip!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh these are great tips Carrie… THANK YOU. You win. Have a wonderful day and I sure hope this winter he is home whenever it snows:)
Kimberly
Your new house is absolutely stunning! So happy for you.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you Kimberly! I hope your week has been great so far!
Kate
New house looks fabulous! I especially love the marble counter tops in the kitchen and the window seat overlooking the backyard. Looks like a great play area for the kids with steps and rocks and lots of space! My husband and I had looked at alot of houses before we found “the perfect” house. That’s what I told my husband at the time. “It’s perfect, we don’t have to do a thing”. Since then, we have remodeled almost every part of the house and added on. He still laughs at what I said all those years ago. Yours looks perfect for your family!
I used to really like doing yard work. Now, not so much. I enjoy gardening, but really I just like the pretty stuff, not the work. Ha!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so much Kate! Hahaha!! That is awesome! I want to see pictures of everything you have done:) And can you teach me how to garden? I now have an area to garden and I really want to learn how to do it well! Have a great day:)
Mel_OutRunCF
Wow! It was so worth moving in on marathon week lol So spacious ans gorgeous… and this couch!!! Love it! I love that our house, like yours, is an open concept. It makes it so much easier with little kids! Our son was only 2 when we moved here and I loved that I could watch him playing in the living room while cooking dinner, washing the dishes, etc…
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahah yes, it really was worth it. Thank you so much Mel. LOVE the open feel and I totally know what you mean:) Have a wonderful day!
Wendy
Oh my gosh…. That great room is so perfect!!! The windows are amazing! And, that countertop!! I totally understand how you feel in love with this house!
I’m so excited for the NYC marathon! Desi, Shalane, Alli…it will be so fun to watch!
I really enjoy yard work, or I as I often refer to it, cross train day ?. It definitely works different muscles!
Home Goods is one of my go to’s for home decor. I love that their inventory changes every so often.
Congratulations again on the new house! Can’t wait to see more!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so much Wendy! It really is going to be amazing to watch:) Come on over and do yard work with us haha! Thanks so much and have a really great day.
Hayley
Hooowwww do I buy that couch?! It’s perfect :). Is there a make and model? Maybe other places carry it?
The Hungry Runner Girl
HEY HAYLEY!! I just called and it is called the Caruso! I can’t find it online (it is new they said) but they said that they can get it shipped to pretty much any other sofa mart in the country and you could pick it up there! Here is their phone number: (801) 307-2299
Caruso 3 piece sectional
It was $1700 which we thought was a really awesome deal for such an awesome sectional!
Have a wonderful day!
Hayley
Oh my gosh, THANK YOU!! I never expect a response from bloggers. This is so so helpful. Wow, thank you so much!!
Cheryl
What a beautiful home!! Congratulations & God bless! Thank you for sharing :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much Cheryl. Have a great Tuesday!
Tabaitha
I love your house and see why you instantly fell in love with it! From the open space, the wood floors, large windows with tons of natural light and that pantry! Also, your kitchen and office nook are perfect! It was definitely meant to be your home!
We have six over sized large windows that span across our living room and kitchen and dining area. I love it! I prefer the open concept too as it has plenty of space for gatherings and to see everyone. We live in Waco and I love our city! We have hills, amazing sunsets, a lake, and two rivers that flow through the city. More and more people love Waco too since Fixer Upper. It is a mix of small town feel, college town, and surburb life all in one.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much Tabaitha! Oh those windows sound amazing! I really want to visit Waco (and one of my best friends just moved nearby and so she wants me to come visit) so we will have to meet-up someday! It sounds perfect in Waco!
Alex
Not trying to be a creeper but what the heck are those stairs in the backyard in the window seat pic? If I was one of your kids, that would be my favorite thing to play on and explore. Looks neat!
My daughter has a window seat in her room and I love seeing her read on it or see one of the cats chilling out with her when the sun hits that window
The Hungry Runner Girl
YES… the backyard is full of terraces and stairs and fruit trees! It is magical for a kid to run around. Our kids spend hours out there when it is warm. I’ll have to share more pictures. Oh I love that your daughter has a window seat, they are just so picturesque! Have a wonderful day:)
Sloan
This is beautiful Janae! I am about to start a house search so this made me even more excited. I may need you to come be my personal decorator :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh you are so so nice! Decorating hurts my brain but I would love to help:) Will you keep me updated with how your house search goes… I want to see what you end up getting. Good luck!
Tonya Hancock
That is awesome Janae! We had a great room in our last house where we lived close to my parents, sister/family, and grandmother, so it was perfect for all of those family gatherings. And your hard wood floors are to die for!!!
My favorite part of where we live now is the history/uniqueness. We live in a log cabin circa 1792 and it just feels like home – like all the happiness from everyone that has ever lived here hugs us when we walk inside. And nothing is perfect about it – ax marks in the logs and all that – which I adore!
I like to buy furniture off of Craigslist or at Antique stores.
I love yard work once I start, but I avoid it as the ultimate procrastinator.
Shalane-Desi-Allie podium for the win!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh Tonya, I LOVE homes that have history in them and things you will find nowhere else. Your log cabin sounds amazing! So many memories. Come hang out and do yard work with us:) Have a wonderful day!
Joy
I can see why this room made you want the house so badly! I dream of an open space like that, for the same reasons. It’s a beautiful space and I wish you many, many good memories in the house.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so so much Joy. I’m sure excited to have our first holiday season in this home too. Have a wonderful day!
AmandaM
Janae!!! Your house is absolutely gorgeous. I know that feeling of realizing where you are supposed to live and it is wonderful.
Also – Brooke’s and Skye’s coordinating shirts, the navy blue polka dot onesie, and your picture with no caption and the bit of drool -all amazing :)
Enjoy all the happiness! Hee. So fun.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you os much Amanda! I agree.. that picture of Skye with the little drool:) She melts me. Thank you Amanda, have a wonderful day!
Corey
Love, love, love that open living area in your house! That would have sold me, too :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you Corey! I hope your Tuesday is going great so far!
elizabeth
Janae!!! Your new house is beautiful and so perfect! And that couch…BRILLIANT! I had no idea you could buy a couch like that. I’m so excited for you!
At my old house (we are about to move), my favorite things are the trees in my front yard and the gas heaters in the bathrooms. At the new house we have about 20 trees so I’m pretty happy about that. I think my favorite thing will end up being my new kitchen and the pool and patio. I think we are about to start making some progress at the new place. I will send you pics as soon as there is something to see.
I will be reading all the suggestions for furniture and decorating because I have no idea where to start.
I’m not sure about yard work yet. I’m guessing I will have quite a bit in the near future, but it is very satisfying to see the results of hard work. Maybe I will turn into a good gardener haha
No idea who will win NYC but I’m so excited to watch. I’m really rooting for Allie and Stephanie Bruce and of course Desi, Molly & Shalane…anything can happen!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Congrats on your new house and 20 trees… I love it! A pool sounds perfect too:) I cannot wait for the pictures! Let’s turn into good gardeners together please… I can’t wait to learn. Have a wonderful day and I can’t wait to watch!
Rhiannon
Oh Janae, your house is beautiful! Congratulations on finding the best place for you and your family!
I have to say, I love living in the Midwest. Iowa really gets to experience the full spectrum of all the seasons. Sometimes when it’s freezing cold with an ice storm, or 100+ degrees with high humidity, I don’t always enjoy every aspect, but in the grand scheme of things, I do appreciate witnessing all the seasons. I think I need to come see Utah though, because your pictures give me some scenery envy for real!
I live in city of somewhere around 25k people – we are right between two big city areas , which is great, but unfortunately, it means we don’t have a lot of options in our town for shopping. I would love a Target. Seems so silly but honestly… a Target would be wonderful. And a Trader Joe’s!
I am obsessed with Home Goods and At Home. Going to those places is DANGEROUS for my wallet!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much Rhiannon! I totally agree with you, I do love experiencing all four seasons each year! Maybe someday you will get a Target and Trader Joe’s… we didn’t used to have either!! Hahah seriously… decorating is $$$$. Have a wonderful day!
Sarah
Janae!!!!! Your home is STUNNING!!! You and your family so deserve a beautiful happy space close to your family members to call Home! You’ve worked so hard over the years and endured trials, your hard work continues to pay off!
We moved last November when I was 8 mos pregnant with #3. We put a lot of work into our new place initially and have slowed down a bit with house projects since having Addison in February. Like yours , my kitchen is lots of white, pretty subway tiles, and it’s the fan favorite spot in my home!! My house is 4 homes away from my parents house (the house I grew up in). I love that!! We also have a playground in the back part of our yard which is another favorite of mine! I shop at home goods, pottery barn, and find lots of cute home decor on Etsy and marshals!
Congratulations again!!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Sarah! Thank you so much for your sweet comment… life has sure changed over the years! YOU MOVED WHEN YOU WERE 8 MONTHS PREGNANT with #3! Okay, you deserve an award! Your kitchen sounds beautiful and being so close to your parents… that made me smile so big. Sounds like a perfect set-up and I love the name Addison!
Amanda S.
Will you just go ahead and trade houses with me?!? Your home is GORGEOUS!!! So happy for you and your family! ?
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahaha just come move in:) Thank you so much Amanda!
Peggi Konvicka
WOW! The new house is gorgeous. That huge open kitchen/family room/eating area is fantastic. The office/work space is great as well and will be handy as the kids get older too. The laundry and bathroom areas are so nice as well. The window seat would sell me too. Absolutely beautiful Janae! Can’t wait to see more!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so much Peggi! Yes, I will definitely show more! I hope you are having a beautiful day!
Chelsea
I LOVE the new house!! You guys have already done such a great job with it! It’s beautiful.
Also, I am totally drooling over your couch. WOW. I don’t think I’d ever get up from that…
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so much Chelsea! This couch really does tempt me all day long…hahah. Have a great Tuesday!
Ashlea
I love your home..it is beautiful!!!! I like the modern farmhouse look with the ship lap and the rustic tv stand. Is your backyard open with a brick wall and stairs? It looks incredible!! I can see why you cried after they didn’t accept your first offer hah
The Hungry Runner Girl
Okay, good to know I am not crazy… I was so upset when I thought we lost it! The backyard has a bunch of terraces and stairs and it is all fenced in (although, we need to fix a few spots because Beretta escaped the other day:). Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Laura
I can see why you fell in love with it! Those huge windows and the window seat….I would love to have that!! It’s gorgeous! Congrats!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much Laura! Come over and read on the window seat. Have a wonderful day!
Amanda H
Love your house! I, like you, immediately had a feeling of “this is where we’re supposed to be” the first time I walked in the house we now own. It was a long time coming too…we had moved from our first house to this big house I thought I wanted (also while I was pregnant), and it turns out it wasn’t the place for us at all. Long story, but I went into a depression over the situation, it was honestly the worst time of my life – so we moved back into our little house (it was still on the market) and sold the big house. Then, we found our current house and I have never felt more at home. Isn’t it so good to be HOME? :D
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh Amanda, I am SO happy that you found your perfect home… I’m sorry you had to go through so much to get there but it probably makes you love your home now even more. It really is… I never ever want to move now. Have a great day!
Karen
That large room is so beautiful! I just love all the light – it might be worth it to get a monthly housekeeper just for those windows though! :D
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahah SO true. I did teach the kids how to clean them last Saturday (and move all of the pillows and cushioning to do so) so hopefully that can just be there job because a lot of fingerprints collect on them. Thank you so much!
Jessie
Congratulations on your new home! We are actually moving in the next few weeks- only a mile away from where we are now! We were able to buy a house that has been in our family for 70 years- and it is much bigger than our current house, but in the neighborhood we love. So exciting- but so much work with a toddler!
The Hungry Runner Girl
GOOD LUCK with your move and how cool that the home has been in your family for SEVENTY YEARS! It sounds perfect! Good luck and keep me updated with how it all goes!
Molly S
I love your house!
Top three finishers:
Steph Bruce
Molly Huddle
Allie Kieffer
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you! I love seeing your prediction! Have a wonderful day Molly!
Jenny|Running On Life
I love it. It really has to be their perfect set up. I have a window seat too, but yours is in a much more convenient part of the house haha. I can’t see anything but the back yard and my kitchen sink from mine. But I still love it.
I dream of a big back yard to plant a garden and let the kids play in. Someday!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
There is just something so wonderful about a window seat! I hope your having an amazing day so far Jenny!
Annie
Oh my gosh, Janae, I’m so in love with your house. It’s SO PERFECT AND BEAUTIFUL. I LOOOOOOOVE the window seat and would love to see a pic of that backyard! We moved into our house back in 2016 and while I love it (it’s also only 5 years old), we’re in a pretty new neighborhood so all our trees are babies still. I so badly miss giant trees in the yard (and the crunch of leaves underfoot while running)
I’m so excited for you and your fam and only a little jealous! ;)
Also totally hear you on the Utah weather. Yesterday morning was 53 in Denver and today was 39 degrees! I’m not gonna lie, I love running in cold weather—it’s my unpopular opinion. I just love running in tights and long sleeves!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so much! I will share more about the backyard too! I hope your trees grow fast and bring you all of the leaves:)
That is so us… I bet we have pretty similar weather year round. I love the cooler running temps too except for when my face or fingers are frozen:) Have a wonderful day!
Erica
Love it.
We have bought our most recent stuff from Room and Board. (Just re-did our master bedroom)
I want your couch.
Yard work, I will pay anyone to do it.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahah I think like you with yard work! I need to check out Room and Board! Send me your master bedroom pics! Have a beautiful day!
Laura
Wow! What a beautiful home! I can certainly see why you fell in love with it. I’ve always wanted a window seat like that!! Also, that couch is amazing and I was going to comment on an earlier post that I loved your rug. I so need one! So thanks for sharing :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Of course! Thank you so much Laura. Have a wonderful day!
Marissa
Wow, what a dream house. I love it! Congrats on finding something so great for your family. I’m in love with your couch too! Any chance you can share the brand and name of the couch?
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you Marissa! YES: I called and they told me that it is called the Caruso! I can’t find it online (it is new they said) but they said that they can get it shipped to pretty much any other sofa mart in the country and you could pick it up there! Here is their phone number: (801) 307-2299
Caruso 3 piece sectional
It was $1700 which we thought was a really awesome deal for such an awesome sectional!
Stephanie
AHH! If I lived in that gorgeous home I would curl up with books in the early morning and in the twilight hours in that AMAZING window seat (I have a deep, distinct love of windows that pretty much cover a wall…and comfy seats by them) and in the middle of the day in that corner between the two ‘arms’ of your sectional sofa. I love it. That’s so cool.
I also love that you described your desk–before any other description–as being 9 steps away from snacks. Can you send me a care package of snacks? I need some!!! My at-home desk space is too many steps from where snacks could possibly be (and my current favorite snack is the multigrain tortilla chips by Late July–Tom and I get them in enormous bags from costco. You seriously need to try them. They’re thick enough to hold up to thinner, heated saucy dips and to scoop up chunky salsa, guacamole, and pimento cheese spread without breaking into fifty thousand tortilla-crumbs in the middle of the dip…)
My favorite parts of our little apartment: the bedroom, simply because I love our bed, but really the office space Tom and I share. It’s really a walled-in portion of a back deck/balcony that my apartment complex turned into an all-weather room. About 2/3 of the wall is windows, and it looks out onto trees instead of onto the apartment parking lot. Tom and I have matching black desks from ikea that are literally set up side to side, and my desk chair looks like a miniature (or, rather, Stephanie-sized) version of the massive office chair he has (also from Ikea), and it’s actually comfortable. When I get to work from home I love doing work and gazing out into the trees and looking at the birds, and my cats can easily be occupied for hours on end looking outside at ‘cat TV.’
Because we have cats, and cats have claws (and I think it is absolutely inhumane to de-claw cats…), AND because apartment life and feeling like we are in VERY temporary situations means we anticipate moving around a bit before we settle (and moving means things can easily get banged up…), no furniture in our home can be of a quality either Tom or I would consider ‘precious.’ So we get inexpensive stuff from ikea that at least looks nice enough. We know that once I am in a great-for-me tenure-track job that has a lot of good promise of being long-term and Tom is in a professional situation he can also hang with or envision part of his longer-term future we will start looking seriously at building some roots and getting our own permanent home. And we are CERTAIN that this home must have spaces that we can have closed doors and behind there will be our “good furniture” because the cats can’t get there. To me, that means some space with hardwood floors for unrolling an exercise mat as well as a comfortable office space for me with bright windows that look out onto trees or something pleasant, room for all of my bookshelves, and room for either a small fluffy sofa or a really enormous fluffy chair for me to curl up and read. And then–I might have to actually think about ‘adult furniture’ and research what stores that kind of stuff comes from!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Come read on our window seat! Those are Andrew’s absolute favorite chips too… they are so good! I love that you and Tom have your desks together and the windows! Ikea has amazing stuff! I loved reading about what you will have in your future home too! Sounds perfect. Have an amazing day Stephanie!
Kathy McElhaney
I love all the open space! Our kitchen/dining room/living room is similar… but I’m jealous of your pantry! We’ve been in our dream house for almost 18 years. In addition to the open space, we have lots of big windows for natural light. The master bedroom suite is perfect (separate sinks/vanities, huge double walk-in closet.) We also have a hill directly behind our house so it feels like we have a lot more land than we really do. We’ve seen everything from bunnies and deer to coyotes and bobcats.
And, I loved your post yesterday. It is definitely scary when we share our faith/beliefs, and I’m glad you received so much positive feedback! Have a great day, Janae!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh I love that you have been there for 18 years! Your home sounds incredible and I love that it is your dream house… mine is too! Thank you so much Kathy for the encouragement and I hope you have a great day too!
Garou
Gorgeous house Janae. Wish you and your family have the best time in it
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you thank you thank you! I hope you have a great day Garou!
Eula
Love,Love,Love your new house. It just screams warm, cozy and super inviting! Enjoy it!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you Eula!! I hope your Tuesday is a great one!
Sarah
LOVE THE HOUSE!! Can’t wait to see a few more pictures! See.. it was just meant to be since there was an opportunity to put in another offer. Congratulations!
Obviously, would love to see an all American top 3 at NYCM this weekend! To see Des win the same year she won Boston would be incredible, but being a UNC alumni, I always pull for Shalane :) Allie is a favorite too, of course and wouldn’t it be great to see Sarah Sellers have an outstanding performance after her Boston 2nd?!?! Amazing field of women in which to cheer. Looking forward to it!
Enjoy your day and thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us!
The Hungry Runner Girl
It really was… it’s so crazy! Oh I loved reading your thoughts on who will win… I’d love to see all of those women win! Thank you so much Sarah for your sweet comment and I hope your day is wonderful:)
Tracy
Holy Cow, magnificent house! The great room is perfect for family! So smart to grab that opportunity when you could, congratulations!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so so much Tracy! I hope your week is going great so far!
Laura F
I absolutely love that huge window seat and large living area! 30 people will fit perfectly in there for Thanksgiving!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so so much Laura! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Michelle
I would have been right there with you at love at first sight for this house! My favorite parts of my house are the big windows and skylights that look out at the mountains, trees and stars; the butcher block island that everyone tends to gather round, and our wood stove (we researched a lot of Scandanavian companies because our house is small and they are great with small spaces) that I spend hours next to in the winter. Our house has a woodsy/modern Scandanavian feel so we got most of our furniture & decor from Ikea, CB2 and Room & Board.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Michelle, your house sounds DREAMY!! I loved reading about it (and I could picture it in my mind)! I hope you are having a beautiful day and enjoy that view of the mountains…. the best!
Megan
OH MY *insert heart eyes emoji*
That open living room/kitchen/dining area combo is what my house dreams are made of :) Love it!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh thank you so so much Megan! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Melissa
Can you find out the brand and style of that couch? We have been looking for one like that forever!
The Hungry Runner Girl
HELLO!! Okay, I just called and it is called the Caruso! I can’t find it online (it is new they said) but they said that they can get it shipped to pretty much any other sofa mart in the country and you could pick it up there! Here is their phone number: (801) 307-2299
Caruso 3 piece sectional
It was $1700 which we thought was a really awesome deal for such an awesome sectional!
I hope you get it Melissa!
Emily
I love the new house! It’s so bright and open. What a wonderful place to raise kids and have family over. Thank you for sharing! Also, I want to thank you for your positivity. You said on a recent podcast that people sometimes get on to you because you don’t post negativity about parenting. There’s enough negativity in the world, so I really appreciate you positive outlook. It’s refreshing and you always come across as someone I’d love to be friends with in my day-to-day life. Happy Tuesday!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Wow, Emily. That means a lot to me. Thank you for taking the time to write this comment to me. It really helps! Happy Tuesday to you too! If you are in Utah, let’s be real-life friends (or just come visit Utah if you aren’t here)!
Marissa
Your house is gorgeous and your window seat is definitely a selling point!
My favorite part about our house is the open concept living/kitchen and my bathtub with a 2 sided fireplace going into my bedroom! I don’t think there’s anything about my house that I would change, except to maybe have my mom closer.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much Marissa! A bathtub with a 2 sided fireplace–> that sounds dreamy! I love it! I hope someday that your mom is able to move closer:) Have a wonderful day!
Michelle P.
Gorgeous home, Janae! And already decorated too? Y’all are on top of it! (I’d still be unpacking, haha!)
The home we’re in now we bought for one purpose only and it’s my favorite feature of the house. My son has muscular dystrophy and we needed an elevator. We always expected to have to build, but the same thing that happened to you happened to us. My husband found the listing, the house as a whole was already fairly handicap accessible (handle doorknobs, rocker panel light switches, very open/wide doors and floorplan) and we walked in and just knew. I can’t tell you how much it means to us that our son can go anywhere in the house without depending on us to carry him up and down stairs. So, yeah, the elevator *sounds* like a luxury, I know, but for him it is absolute FREEDOM. Plus, as a bonus for us, we ended up with some pretty amazing neighbors and friends too!
I love that you all found a “just right” place. And truly, when it happens, you have to jump (we moved a good 1.5-2 years sooner than we planned ?). I hope you create wonderful memories inside your home! ❤️
The Hungry Runner Girl
Michelle, your story gave me the goosebumps. Thank you so much for sharing with me. I am so thrilled that your son is able to have pure freedom in your home. This is beautiful.
pd
That couch is everything.
The Hungry Runner Girl
I agree!! It was worth the year search for it ha. Have a great day!
Mary
Oooooh I love your house and want it myself!! Love the open floor plan for kitchen dining and living area. We don’t have that but if we were to ever move I’d want that. And your stools stood out to me as awesome!! Glad you were able to get those from previous owner. Also, please tell me you picked up to take those pictures or is your house always neat and clutter free? Fun to see new houses! Thanks for sharing.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahah we definitely picked up but clutter drives me crazy so there isn’t too much clutter around but the rooms are another story:) Thank you so much and have a wonderful day!
Nichole
This is not related to your blog post topic…so sorry for the randomness. But, I’ve been meaning to ask if you’ve ever worn orthotics before and what your opinion on them was. I’ve been told I should wear them due to overpronation before but looking for more opinions from actual runners:) Thanks in advance!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hey Nichole! I have not ever worn orthotics! I could ask your question in tomorrow’s blog post and I bet you would get some great comments from others about this. Would you like that?
Jojo
Your house is beautiful!! I especially love your couch!! We are in the market for a new one. Do you know what company makes it? :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so so much! I called Sofa Mart and it is called the Caruso! I can’t find it online (it is new they said) but they said that they can get it shipped to pretty much any other sofa mart in the country and you could pick it up there! Here is their phone number: (801) 307-2299
Caruso 3 piece sectional
It was $1700 which we thought was a really awesome deal for such an awesome sectional!
Kristine Chew
Hmm I have a friend running NYC – but she is not in it to win haha. I think maybe Desi?
Your house is beautiful! we live in an apartment/condo – house prices are insane in Vancouver – I think a house in the our city would cost close to a million or more – gulp. We would have to move for sure if we ever wanted a house haha. I love our neighborhood – walking distance to everything and easy access to transit. And I fell in love with the space the first time saw it. ‘
We like picking up old pieces – craigslist, garage sales, bazaars. Also my partner is a cabinet maker so he made our tables. for decorating items home sense or winners.
Have a fantastic day!
The Hungry Runner Girl
I’ve heard that house prices are crazy there! We are lucky that in Utah they are on the average/lower side compared to many places! I am SO happy that you love your neighborhood… that makes the biggest difference. MADE YOUR TABLES… that is awesome! You too!
Clark
Lovely home.
I entered NYC this year but didn’t win a lottery ticket. Just as well since I have been dealing with a foot problem all year. Maybe I’ll try again next year, but this year would have been so perfect. This weekend I will be 50 miles north of NYC at a college reunion (leaving tomorrow). Came this close – II – to going down to watch the race, but have to get home instead. Fingers crossed for Des Linden.
Not a fan of yard work but it has to be done.
Christina
6 offers?! I can see why and wow it was SO meant to be yours if that fell through. Gorgeous Windows and seat!!! Ahh love all the colors and light!
I’m learning to be content with our house when I see what others have sometimes I’m like oh I want BUT we have a 2500 sq ft house in CA and live near a park for kids to play and soccer practice and have the best neighborhood for kids to play with others. And we have a decent backyard. Learning to live with contentment is key. The one thing I wish we had a common area swimming pool. But we live 20 min from the beach lol uh yeah I can’t complain.
I need a gratitude journal. Writing it out makes me feel so grateful.
Lisa
Wow! That house is AMAZING! I absolutely love the floors! You have great decorating style.
I love my little house right now. When I divorced, I had to move from a nice, big house with a pool that was the center of all family get-togethers. Now, I live in a much smaller house but I absolutely love it. It’s perfect for me and much easier to clean and manage. I really HATE moving so I hope to be here a long time! I am not great at decorating so I usually have a friend help me out. I’m loving Great American Furniture. Huge store with a big selection and good prices.
I love watching the NYCM! It will be interesting to see who wins it!
Alyssa
Janae!! I’m obsessed with your house! It’s gorgeous. I would have fallen in love with it instantly too. I’m so happy for you guys!
Also, your post yesterday was amazing. So proud to know you.
Erika
Wowwww, that house looks amazing! I love it! The couch would be perfect for my reading and tv watching!
Hannah
Love love love your new house! What a blessing it is and what an encouraging story of how God orchestrated something so perfectly during such a chaotic time. May God bless you and your family inside those sweet walls.
Kelsey
Your house is GORGEOUS!!! So much fun!
Kristin
Love the house (and the yellow stools), but look at Skye’s beautiful smile!!!
Barbara
Congratulations so happy for the wonderful blessings you’ve had in your life the last few years. Complete turnaround. God Is good.
Shannon
Had to share this with you. In yesterday’s post you mentioned a low time when you prayed to feel loved and it was answered promptly & perfectly. I had a tough day yesterday and during my run this morning, I remembered what you had written and tried that same prayer for myself. Well. Less than 30 minutes later a friend checked in with me. A couple hours after that, another friend offered to babysit tonight so hubby and I could have a date night. And a few hours after THAT, a neighbor stopped to chat while me & baby were out walking. My point in all this is, YES, prayer works, and thank you so much for the indirect suggestion. ?
The Hungry Runner Girl
This makes me so happy!! Yes, prayer does work. I am so glad so many people helped you out yesterday! Date night is the best too! I am so glad that things worked out. Thank you for sharing that with all of us!!
Jarrelle
Your house is AMAZING!! We were so blessed to be fortunate enough to build last year. God opened every door and in the end it actually was cheaper for us to build:-) I would say the open kitchen and living room is my favorite. We love to entertain so its perfect! One of my MUSTS in our home was to have a mudroom, pantry, hardwood floors and ONE big sink in the kitchen!! And I got all of them! The only thing I would love to have now is some type of enclosed patio! We have a great patio but would love to enclose it one day!
So happy for your growing family!! Thanks for sharing:-)
Kate
What a beautiful home for your family to grown in. The window seats are just amazing! I would spend so much time sitting there. It’s spring time where I live (Australia) but seeing the beautiful leaves makes me wish for Autumn.
Debbie @ Deb Runs
Congratulations! Your new home is beautiful and I love the huge island!
Teresa
My favorite room in My house is my huge walk in pantry.
If I could make changes it would be to add many more windows, They are lacking in this house.
I also love the close mountain view from our back yard, makes it feel less like living in the desert of phoenix.
Your house is beautiful congratulations and have fun decorating .
In would love to see A lie pull through a big win, but I love all of our girls so will be happy to see any of them win.
I love yard work when it is not 110 outside.
Laura
I am sooooo jealous. I’ve been dying for a house with a window seat and they don’t seem to exist around here, or maybe just not in my price range. Yours is beautiful! So’s the furniture and all that, but I only have eyes for the window seat. ;)
Michele at Everyday Snapshot
I love every single thing about your new house !! Oh how I totally see how you fell instantly in love with it. I really really love it !! For many of the same reason you mentioned why you loved it. That kitchen, the big open area, work station right there, and have mercy on that pantry !!! The floors, the bathroom and laundry….I love it !!!
Alicia @Bridges Through Life
I love that open area and the window seat. Also the pantry!! I wish I had a pantry. I just bought my first house with my fiancé this spring. It’s definitely smaller than I would like, but a good starter home for us. I’m thinking we will move in 3 years or so anyway. For now it’s nice to have the house as an investment and do a few upgrades. The last owners upgraded the kitchen and bathroom which was great for us.
Kelsey Cansler
I know you said you got it at Sofa Mart, but do you happen to know the brand and/or model number of your sofa?? It is EXACTLY what we are looking for since it pulls out!! I showed my sweet husband pictures last night and he agrees that we definitely *need* the same exact couch.
The Hungry Runner Girl
YES… it’s the best. It’s called the Caruso 3 piece sectional! DO IT! My friend went to get it today and they said they are now backordered until February but I hope you get it!
Whitney
It looks amazing! That couch is ?
Jaclyn
What is the brand/model of your sectional? We just moved as well and I’ve also been looking for a new sectional just like this… would love the deets! Thank you so much! :)