Love, Lauren Michelle: Home is Where the Heart is: 1 Year of Homeownership

Hey friends, Happy Labor Day! So thankful that Labor Day is late this year because I really can't process the fact that it's now September. Seriously, where has this year gone?! As much as I love summer, I also love all that fall has to offer - crisp air, pretty leaves, and cute booties / sweaters!

Not to mention, September was a pretty big month for me in 2019 as I moved into my newly purchased apartment and started a new job. Since it's my one year anniversary of being homeowner, I thought I would share a full look at my apartment now that I am finallyyyy done decorating! The plan was to link up everything for you in this post but since all my furniture is from Bobs, I can't link most of it. Going to link as much of my decor as I can below but if there is something you can't find, just leave a comment below or DM me on IG!

As a homeowner, I face new challenges almost daily - so let's not pretend I know anything LOL - but still looking back on the last year I have learned a few things that I thought I'd share:

1. Expect the unexpected. Financially, I mean. You definitely need some extra cash in your first few months as you will be anxious to buy new things/fix up the place. Aside from that, there might be more urgent needs that you weren't planning on - like needing a new water heater (or something else that's random and unanticipated!)

2. Expect closing date to get pushed out. Just trust me, it will. I don't care how certain you think the date is - it. will. get. pushed. out.

3. Stay organized. Moving and buying a home can be super hectic so it's important to try and stay organized. You need a ton of paperwork so be sure to keep it organized and easy to access during the move! I remember carrying a stack of papers in my purse for like a week straight!

4. Remember to enjoy the moment. The entire process is very overwhelming so it's easy to get caught up and stress over little things. But try to enjoy the moment! This is a hugeee purchase that you're probably only going to do a few times in your life! Not to mention it's a big accomplishment - celebrate it!

5. Learn how to plunge a toilet. Do I really need to say more? LOL maybe this is common knowledge, but it wasn't for me! Grateful for YouTube.

Not groundbreaking tips but just a few things I wish someone had told me!