House Hunting

 This past week has been a big one for me! I got pre-approved for a mortgage AND met with a real estate broker! I feel so grown up, buying my first home, except that I AM grown up! I'm both excited and nervous, which I hear is natural. I hope to find a home that I can retire in, though I'm still about 10 years away from retirement. 

I've been looking on realtor.com mostly so far, and a house came on the market a couple of days ago that I really like. It's an older house (built in 1958) that's had some good cosmetic upgrades, but my brother-in-law suggests I find out more about the pipes and the wiring, if this house continues to stay atop the list (and doesn't get snatched up too soon!).

What Feels Like Home to You?

Relaxation Feels Like Home to You

You believe that your home should be your sanctuary. Life is stressful enough in the outside world.
You take it easy when you're at home. It's the place where you feel like you can truly be yourself.

You are the type of person who has deep hobbies and interests. You treasure your alone time.
You could spend all day at home if you had to. You always can find plenty to do around the house.

( I took another Blogthings quiz, and this sums it up most days for me during the pandemic, definitely after work and on the weekends. Of course, with the pandemic in place, I'm spending a lot of time at home, and I can't wait to travel again!)

The Power of a Book (and Girl Scouts)

 

Yesterday I finished the book Troop 6000, The Girls Scout Troop that Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World. I borrowed this book from the library via OverDrive, because I enjoyed Girl Scouts as a kid, and continued to be interested in the organization. 

This book turned out to be about homelessness too, and that was a strong and stirring message. Families in this book (like thousands of other homeless people) really struggled, despite working hard and asking their families and friends for support. I thought this book was going to be a lighthearted book about Girl Scouting, but it turned out to be a lot more (and eye-opening) for me.

I've done some research on homelessness in my area, and there are some ways to donate and volunteer. Meanwhile, I've bought/donated cookies from Troop 6000.

New Year's Resolutions: Weight Loss

I've decided to work on my weight in the New Year, and I'm sure I'm in good company! This is a recurring goal every year, but it feels more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic! In an effort to keep things fresh, I've signed up for premiums features of Fitbit, LoseIt, and MyFitnessPal.I'm trying all three out, but I don't know if that's sustainable. We'll see which one I like best over time.