Good morning! 
Sorry that I didn’t fit in an afternoon post yesterday. Mal and I have been up to our eyeballs with house hunting stuff. We’ve decided to dive right into it, so we can take advantage of the government’s $8k credit. Plus, it’s just a good time to buy!
So, last night, we met with our realtor to check out a few houses. We saw a lot of houses that we liked, but nothing that we fell in love with. We’re seeing a few more homes on Wednesday, so maybe we’ll find our “dream house” then! Wouldn’t that be nice?!
After house hunting, Mal and I chatted over reheated leftovers from our Family Dinner and then stayed up late to get pre-approved for a mortgage (eek!) and talk with a loan officer. Sometime being a “grown-up” is hard work (and stressful)!
The scene from last night…
Breakfast
I ate pumpkin oats for breakfast again this morning. This batch was particularly creamy.
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 2 tbsp wheat bran
- 3/4 cup vanilla hemp milk
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
I topped my oats with raisins, Honey Roasted Almond Accents, and Barney Butter (not pictured).
Of course, oats with iced coffee…
Question of the Day
At what point in your life did you realize that you were a “grown-up”?
{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }
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Oooh – that question is an easy one for me today! I realized I was grown up the day I brought my baby home from the hospital!
I’m still fighting it. I keep growing older but not up
even with two kids i still don’t feel grown up but i agree with Emily, driving away from the hospital with our babies was pretty crazy….then driving away with a 22 month old and a newborn was even crazier! the house buying didn’t bother me at all. Sometimes when I have to make medical decisions for my children I feel grown up as well.
That’s a good question, I think last week.
I’m 28 and do not feel like a grown up at all. I still feel like I am 20 years old!
I got married last summer like you, and, I have to say the last year of home ownership has made me feel like an adult. It’s been great, but there’s a lot to it, especially for newbies like my husband and I!
Grown up? HAHA! I’m 26 years old and am still living with my parents. While I’m pretty independent, the fact that I’m still living at home makes me feel like a child… But things as small as going away for a vacation without my parents makes me feel grown up(as corny as that may sound…)
Hey Tina! Home buying is so stressful! I hope you guys find a place you really love! Hmmm I think I realized I was a grown up when I got married and then again when I made my first mortgage payment!
we are house hunting too!! its a long process!! blah!! not fun!
Last year – 2008 – when I graduated from college, started my job, bought a house, and got married – all within 5 months. Now I live for the times when I can briefly revert back to being not so grown-up
Although the home buying process is stressful, it’s totally worth every minute because the first day you come home from work to YOUR house, it is such a great feeling to know that this is now HOME. Good Luck!!!
Good luck! Buying our house was fun (well, the looking was) but very stressful too!
when my kids at school called me Mrs.McCormick! Congrats on the house hunting its so fun!
Great Q!
I’m not sure!
It could have been when I moved away, to different countries away from my parents…
or it could be this summer when I am getting married..
but no matter what I always need my parents so maybe i’ll never be officially grown up in my eyes!
It still hasn’t hit me yet… maybe I should work on that one.
House hunting can be stressful…but worth it at the end!
I think I realized I was a grown up when 1st moved into a place all by myself a few years ago. But I’m still mostly a kid at heart
I probably felt the most grown up when my husband and I bought our first house…although, moving in I kind of felt like I was still a little girl getting a house and it was very odd!
When I graduated from grad school and got a job, and began paying a ridiculous amount of money for a studio apartment in Manhattan! haha
I felt even more like an adult two years later, when my boyfriend and I got a bigger apartment together. Being “grown up” can feel very odd, but it also has many advantages!
I’m in the same boat as you- my bf and I are starting the buying process- we’re looking at a condo in D.C. or in Arlington- and the thought is scary/exciting!
Hmm. . . so far we’ve been married, bought a house, had real jobs, traveled the world alone, and most of the time I still feel like a kid! I still refer to other people as adults sometimes. . .
I’m 29 and still don’t feel like an official grown up. Maybe next year when I turn 30…
you mean to tell me those bright bright pictures were taken without a flash??? insanity! your brekkie looks awesome even though I don’t like pumpkin oats!
Congrats on house hunting! My unsolicited tip: when you do find the one you want, don’t get too emotional about it and counteroffer too high. When I found my condo I was obsessed with it and wanted it so badly that I kept counteroffering until I was all the way to the end of my limit- NOT the way to go! Should have followed my head and offered ONLY what I thought it was worth! The appraisal is now 25% less than what I paid for it. Ick!
In other news, I realized I was a grown up when I was living in my condo and had to start paying bills/keeping my home clean ALL BY MYSELF!
I still struggle with remembering I’m a “grown up”. I bought a house when I was 26, three and a half years ago, and that certainly helped, but I think it’s now that my friends are all having kids I’m starting to realize I’m not as young as I used to be! Turning 30 this year definitely reminds me of that, too!
I remember I’m a grownup every month when I spend an hour online paying bills
OH man…this is all too familiar haha, from someone who litterally JUST got through the process, let me know if you have any questions!
There were two moments that I really felt like a grownup. The first is when my younger sister had her first baby and the second is when I woke up in my house that I had bought and realized that I had to fix the front door that was starting to come off..lol. Finding out that I couldn’t just call the super to fix something and I actually had to fix it myself was huge!
But I think there are still moments when I will think man when did I become an adult!
Good luck with the house hunting!! I’ve got my fingers crossed for you guys
I still don’t really feel grown up, we’re starting to plan our wedding and at times that feels grown up but for the most part I’m still a big kid.
After I was married, moved 3 1/2 hours away from my family and gave birth to our 1st (out of now 2) son. Wow, now I feel old.
Good luck house hunting! We got married last June and bought a house in August, talk about a crazy summer, but a good one! We are so glad we have our own place. It is so much fun!! And you are right, it is a great time to buy!! My fingers are crossed for you!
When I had to get my own medical insurance… That was a special day…
that’s so exciting! I hope you guys find something you love, and if not, maybe it’s not the perfect time right now! I hope you do, though. I love having a house that is “ours”.
I realized I was an adult after we got married, had to find somewhat “real” jobs, get insurance, pay bills! other than gas…it’s hard to find out how much other responsibility you get after being done with school and getting of your parents insurance, etc.
I realized I was a grown-up when I wrote my first rent check. It was the largest check I had ever written!
I am still denying the whole grown-up thing. Although I’ve been out of school for a year now and I pay all of my bills, I still rent my apartment and am pretty much only responsible for myself!
For me it happened in one year – I got married, my husband and I bought a house, and my parents sold my childhood home. All of a sudden I realized “home” was something I OWNED with my HUSBAND and I couldn’t go back to being a kid at my parent’s house. Very surreal, but very awesome. Good luck in your house search!
Great question. I loved reading everybodies answers.
When I first moved out on my own (and into residence at University) I felt like I was grown up and knew all the answers. 5 years later I feel like I don’t really know anything and I’m too young to be making decisions that will affect the rest of my life. I think I did it a little bit backwards….I’m still waiting to feel like I know what’s going on but I’m beginning to think that feeling will never arrive
Every time I sit down and pay a bill I “remember” that I am a grown up
No one else is going to do it if I don’t!
Good luck with the house hunt…I found it to be incredibly exciting, but at the same time nerve-wracking. But now I have a home that I love and pretty much every day I look at my surroundings and say, “WOW, I actually own part of this!” It’s a great feeling!
Good luck with the house purchasing! I am not quite sure I’ve had that realization yet, but it was quite shocking when my little brother got married!
I feel like a grown-up more this year since getting married, becoming a homeowner, and now trying to grow our family. But it’s fun when I can forget it sometimes like when I’m at my parents’ house and my mom makes me dinner.
i’m still fighting it but i think it’s when i was living in a studio apartment by myself senior year of college (i’d always had roommates) and got the first set of bills with my name on it.
good luck with the home purchasing! we’re going to buy one this year for the tax credit, too
have a great day!
Good luck with the house hunting, it can be stressful at times but it is so worth it to own your own place!
When did I feel grown-up? The first day I taught class at the University. I walked in and realized that all of these folks were actually paying to hear what I had to say. It was freaky. I still don’t dye my hair because the little bit of gray I do have lends to my credibility.
Coming home from a long day at work and having to make dinner and do laundry makes me feel like a grown up. I think I’ll really feel like an adult when I have my own children. When my mom was my age (24), she already had a husband, house, and toddler. I’m definitely not ready for that yet!!
Good luck to you and Mal. This year is certainly the time! If Bill weren’t a student, I would consider the same, but I can’t swing it on my own.
This is a great question, Tina! Honestly, some sort of realization came over me this past weekend at Bonnaroo. I kept looking around at all the crazy and very ridiculous people and thinking… wow. I am so old. While everyone around me was clearly intoxicated, I had no desire to do anything but enjoy the music. I think it finally hit me that I’m definitely getting older. My body can’t handle as much, and routine fits me like a glove these days. I think finally – after two years of being out of school – I am OK with that.
Hi Tina!
I’m new to your blog but love it so you know I will get all caught up! Happy early birthday and good luck house hunting!
When I bought my own house. I was only 24! It was a great investment.
Congrats on deciding to buy a home, I must have missed that post! Good luck with finding your dream house
I just graduated but I think I’ll consider myself a “grown-up” either when I get a real job or move out of my parents house.
I still haven’t!
Buying in Massachusetts is hard, it is an expensive place to live! Don’t get discouraged and know your “right” house is out there, don’t settle until you have the feeling!
@Kerry: Yes, it is! Sort of depressing too!
Congrats on house hunting! I’m a Real Estate Agent and I’m so happy when I hear of people taking advantage of that tax credit! You lucky duck! It’s stressful (even for a pro like me!) but so rewarding at the end
Despite the fact that we had been married for a couple years and owned our house for longer, I felt like an adult when my hubby and I got life insurance. It was surreal.
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