This morning when I was looking in the pantry for breakfast ideas, I saw a box of macaroni and cheese and immediately wanted to break into the box.
Mac and cheese before 7 a.m.? You guys would think I’m off my rocker.
I reeled in my cheesy craving, but knew I wouldn’t last too long before I cooked up a batch of the pasta.
I ate the mac and cheese for lunch today and doctored it up a bit with some sliced ham and steamed broccoli and cauliflower.
I loved the bug-shaped pasta. It took me back to my childhood when I would get so excited about Kraft macaroni and cheese in the shape of the characters from Rugrats.
Chuckie was my favorite Rugrat and macaroni noodle. His crazy hair soaked up the most cheese sauce.
After lunch, I ran out to look at a rental house in the area.
Ryan and I are considering moving closer to the “hub” of Ocala when our lease is up. We love our house, but we’re a little wishy-washy on whether or not we want to remain there for another year.
The house, yard and pool are all wonderful, but the location is a little too removed from things for us. It takes me nearly 30 minutes to get to the nearest Target and the main shopping area in Ocala. The 15 minute drive to the gym actually hasn’t been too bad because its become habit, but there’s basically no “running out really quick” when you live 20 to 30 minutes away from everything other than a Dairy Queen.
If I was a betting woman, I’d say we’ll probably end up sucking it up and staying in our house because moving is horrendous (and Sadie is no help).
We’ve been browsing craigslist and HotPads and doing so reminded us just how hard it is to find a house to rent in Ocala. I think we got spoiled when we lived in Orlando because there always seemed to be a plethora of places for rent. The good places close to downtown got snatched up quickly, but there was always something available to see. Not the case in Ocala! At least we have a home we like right now, but if we can find a nice, affordable place in a better location, we’re all for it. We shall see!
Question of the Afternoon
- What are your “must haves” when you’re looking for a place to rent or buy?
Since we’re just renting right now, our main requirements are a stand alone home with a yard for Sadie, a safe location, lots of windows and a place with no mice. We’ve learned how important some of those things are the hard way. I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about the mouse house!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I swear, mac and cheese in the fun shapes just taste better than the regular noodles 🙂
Safety is #1 when I’m looking for a place. That and a big closet!
OH girl this hits home for me! My husband and I JUST relocated to Omaha, NE from Pullman, WA. We are living with my parents till we buy. He wants an open floor plan since he loves to entertain and we need a fenced in yard for Cooper!
Cooper made the trek from WA to NE in our U-haul…all 80 lbs of him!
I definitely look for a safe neighborhood, walking distance to a grocery store, and close to public transportation. However, my last 2 apartments have been walking distance to work as well, which is amazing…my boyfriend and I save a TON by not having to take public transit or cabs every single day. Lower on my list of priorities is a washer/dryer and dishwasher. So far, we’ve been lucky to have them, but I *think* we could survive without them.
Ughhh I hate moving so much! I need some place that has a washer and dryer, dishwasher, and lots of storage space. We have a pretty big apartment right now so I hope we never have to move into a smaller place. That might be a problem 😉
I did a little house hunting before we moved to NYC and jumped back into the renting game, but one of the big things we were considering were: distance to work, room to grow (family) and a nice yard!
PS Sadie is seriously the cutest thing ever.
I’m sorry, does that box of mac & cheese say it’s only $1?! I don’t think I could buy a rock that cheap here in NY!!
My main concern is location where as my husbands is house. It is very hard for us to find a house that he loves in the locations that I love.
I always look for closet space, green space for milo, and location — most important things to me! (also important, view, big kitchen, balcony <– apartment related)
I definitely devoured some boxes of Rug Rats mac and cheese growing up… good memories 🙂
My must-haves with apartments/houses is the kitchen set-up. So many apartments make the kitchens into this narrow cave in the wall where you get claustraphobic if more than one person is in there… and it is impossible to open a cupboard and cook at the same time. SO, I like spacious kitchens! I spend so much time in there, I might as well have it be a main part of the house 😉
Shapes Mac & Cheese are my favorite! They strangely always taste so much better than regular mac & cheese 😉
Mac and Cheese! I literally never have it but I finally broke down and bought a box of Annie’s because everyone has been talking about it! What is your favorite brand?
As for the house- must have good lighting, a decent kitchen, and NO MICE!!! I learned that the hard way like you did! When I was in college- gross!!
My boyfriend and I have been talking about our must haves recently when we graduate in a year and move in together. We both want a really nice kitchen, closet space and to have it be in a safe area. Those are really the only things we really need to have, but when you start talking wants our list goes out the door. ;p
My must-haves are: indoor parking, central air, and in-unit laundry!
When we were house buying, our must haves list was: more than one bathroom, little to no yard (indoor cats!), close to a parade (it is New Orleans!) and walkability to lots of restaurants.
Oh, I LOVED the Rugrats! (Showing my age. LOL) And you’ve turned me back on to mac ‘n cheese. I’m loving Annie’s ever since you made a post about it… I like to add lots of veggies, spinach, and chicken breast.
And moving is a — sorry! — BITCH. I hate it. Luckily we’re pretty settled in our home for a while, but I tend to look at the kitchens and bathrooms before I make a decision. 🙂
Rugrats was my absolute favorite show growing up! I loved Phil and Lil. My roommates and I are also shopping around for a new apartment when our lease is up August 1st. We want to live in the same neighborhood we’re in, we need a backyard for the puppy, and would prefer a nice kitchen!
To me location is one of the most important things about the house. I would hate having to spend a lot of time during day in a car. Right now I live in the place that’s in a center of almost everything but unfortunately we have to find new place because there’s no space for our dogs 🙁
Also I pay a lot of attention if the place is dog friendly 🙂
Padmapper.com is an awesome site, I’d recommend checking it out!
Sucking it up and having to live with a pool a whole extra year huh? Its a rough choice 😉
No, in all seriousness I totally get what you are saying – Nick and I are in the same boat. Our lease is up at the end of August and though we live in paradise (its actually a town called Eden) and we have a pool, hottub and amazing views of the mountains and a lake all right there – we can’t help but wish that our neighbors weren’t a bunch of cows and antelope.
After an unfortunate food poisoning incident 2 months after we were married in which both the hubby and I had all sorts of bodily function mishaps with only 1 bathroom my requirement from that point forward was to never live in another place with only 1 bathroom!! That and after living without a washer/dryer for the first 5 years of our marriage W/D hookups are a must.