I’m assuming that by the title of this post you can guess how our house hunting adventure went today.
After looking at a handful of houses and driving around with a realtor from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., we came up empty handed.
The theme of the day? The beautiful homes are in the middle of nowhere and the heinous-anus homes are in the middle of everything.
The first house we saw was our favorite of the day.
Isn’t it sch-weet!?
It was light and bright (this is a HUGE deal to me!), had a lovely open floor plan, a pool and was located on three acres of land.
Unfortunately it is located about 20 minutes from everything. From the gym. From the grocery store. Everything.
Even though our current place is less than stellar, we’re so spoiled with its convenient location. We walk to our gym. The grocery store is half a mile away. Target, the closest mall and delicious restaurants are within five minutes.
Ryan and I struggle with the thought of driving 20 minutes to and from the gym. That adds 40 minutes onto any workout time which is simply too much for both of us to wrap our heads around.
So, temporary housing it is!
We’re going to move all of our stuff into a storage unit while we rent a fully-furnished apartment until we can find a house we both love in an ideal area. I’m hoping to follow up with the dream house we saw last Monday to see if maybe that one can work now that we don’t need a place by August 1. That would be amazing.
Lunch + Dinner
Our day included a pit stop for lunch with our realtor at Scrambles, a local Ocala restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch.
I ordered a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with a side of fresh fruit and was really impressed!
The turkey slices were thick and flavorful and the bread was full of seeds and grains.
After lunch, we spent a few more hours exploring the area and viewing houses before heading home to Orlando.
We drove home feeling a little bummed, but also happy that we at least have a plan to look into temporary housing… Even if the plan is less than ideal. It’s better than being in limbo!
Our drive took about an hour and we arrived home ready for dinner.
On the menu for tonight was one of my all-time favorite crock pot meals: BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.
Served with roasted Brussels sprouts, this meal was the kind of comforting meal both Ryan and I needed this evening.
As I was typing up this post, Ryan said he had an awesome idea for a dinnertime blog post for me. His dad just sent us a care package of goodies that included a can of pepper spray for me. Ryan’s blog post idea: Shoot him in the face with the pepper spray. What???
Yeah, that’s about how we feel right about now. 
Clearly our minds are a bit numb after all of this house hunting today. I think Ryan is delirious. And this means he’ll probably make it through an entire episode of The Bachelorette with me tonight… Which probably also means that I’ll get to hear about how Ashley is “the worst bachelorette of all time.”
Let’s just say Ryan isn’t a fan of her overwhelming insecurities. Of course Ryan hears me complain about my insecurities from time to time, but I’ll never forget one time when I was complaining about my knees to him. (They’re really weird.) He just looked at me with a dumbfounded look in his eyes and said, “Your knees? Are you serious? Please don’t be one of those girls.”
And he was so right.
Sure I think my knees are funky and weird, but 99 percent of people wouldn’t even give my knees or legs a second thought. I can’t change them, so why moan and complain? Now I just say to myself, “They’re just knees. Who cares?” I mean really. Knees!?
Okay, time to watch Ashley complain about how she’s not Emily! And time for me to possibly fall more in love with Ben F. My affinity for JP is wavering and Ben F. is making a run for my heart.
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I’m sorry your house hunting didn’t go as well as you had hoped today! But, I think things will end up working out for you guys :). I’m watching the Bachelorette right now too! And my bro got really pissed off about it bc he claims that he never gets to use the tv at night….please, he’s in here all the freaking time haha
Booo! Sorry the house hunt didn’t work out for you guys. You know in the long run everything will work itself out!! Temporary housing will be fun — like a long vacation where Ryan goes to work 🙂 That sounds like a blast, right?
Good luck with house hunting! I just moved into my first home last week and it took me quite awhile to find the place I loved. I’m sorry, that sounded discouraging! It’s just that I held out and would not settle. Stick with what you really want in a place and you will find it! It might even just fall into your lap, well, that’s what happened in my situation. Hang in there!
P.S. I just LOVE your blog!!! It’s really inspiring!
I’m so sorry how your house hunting went! They DO say everything happens for a reason, though, and I firmly believe in that saying.
Aww, it’s too bad! That house is gorgeous!
Im sorry about the house situation, but at least you and Ryan always make the best out of things, thats how I live life!
And my knees are so bony and I have to say they are not a favorite part of me, lol! I embrace them though ; )
Darn it!….Take it from a girl who has lived in the middle of nowhere (farm, closest shopping 90 minutes one way) to the middle of everywhere (NYC!)…. You adapt.
Think about the first place if it is in your price range. You’ll adapt! Space is priceless, this is why I moved back to the middle of nowhere.
Julie – You have amazing legs. Your workouts inspire me. In fact, your blog inspired me to start my own “healthy lifestyle” blog just today 🙂 . I’m hoping to go to the Urban Running Summit in LV so I can get more tips from you, Skinny Runner and the rest!
P.S. Just got my first BIC band today and I love it.
Ashley IS the worst bachelorette. My boyfriend keeps saying he misses Ali haha. I’m with you on the wavering love for JP. HIS insecurities are getting annoying too. We all just need some confidence!!
Maybe the ‘temporary housing’ thing will work out in a great way! So glad you guys found a solution to the problem!
I have been in your shoes before and have lived in all 3 situations—-proximity to businesses is a MUST so my advice is to deal with the temp housing until you find your dream locale within walking distance to the gym, etc.
Also, I know you are so upset by the gym/b-pump situation. I would be, too! I am a b-pump instructor and addict!! Gyms have to buy the Les Mills program in order to have any of the body classes (pump, step, attack, etc). Once y’all have decided upon a gym I suggest you present the program info to them–maybe you will get the program started!! :))
hahahaha Julie I always say The Bachelorette needs to be a drinking game. Whenever she says the “insecurities” you take a drink!!!
The house looks wonderful! And those brussel sprouts look pretty!
I work in temp housing! Just placed someone near Ocala, such a small world!! My husband hates Ashley too! Ha, I can’t get him to watch unless drinking is involved. We played a drinking game with the word “Bentley” a couple weeks ago. Now that was a fun night!
Ok girl to girl…I hate my knees as well…it’s actually one of my least favorite things…they are just so…well…weird and always puffy and fat looking! Haha. Even at my thinnest my knees still looked bad so I have learned to embrace them and just say, “Forget it! Spray him with pepper spray!” Haha hope I could make you laugh after a long day!
Just one question: Do you need the gym that much? Couldn’t you invest in some weights? Run outside? Play in that amazing pool?
Constantine totally stole my heart tonight!
Ben F. = love. And he makes wine so he wins:) Sorry the house hunting didnt go well but you’ll be much happier in the end if you don’t just settle for something else! Have a good night!
I have critiqued my knees, too! I actually confessed one time that if I ever got plastic surgery, I’d get knee implants.Crazy, huh?!
OK, I just added “heinous-anus” to my ‘must-use’ vocabulary list!
sorry about the house thing… no fun at all. you’ll find the perfect one in the right time!!
So funny that Ryan doesnt like Ashley, lol! She is totally insecure though! I totally have a complex about my feet and my husband thinks I’m so weird!! I try not to complain about it, because it really is SO trivial!!
Ben f. Is growing on me to, especially because he is from the same county as me!! But I still love JP!
A few notes here– (a) how’d you make that amaze balls looking pulled pork? Was it cooking all day while you were away? My boy looooves pulled pork and I’d love the details!!!
(b) What about a town like dade city or Gainesville? They aren’t far and likely have more housing options…. Just a thought…
(c) you’re lucky Ryan will watch- my boy can’t even stand ashley’s voice & hates how all the guys look the same. Tonight he came into the room for Ames’ date and was so shocked by his appearance that he had to continue on… 🙂 ohhh. Ashley…. How the F did you get to be the bachelorette?! (said lovingly so she won’t get additional complexes :))
Oh honey! I hope that the house stuff works out well for you both- temporary housing is just that, TEMPORARY! The upside is that you will have all of the incentive you need to continue the search for the perfect home.
In Bachelorette news: I also think that Ashley is the most insecure woman “the Bachelorette” has ever had! I am also pulling pretty hard for Ben F. and was a JP girl too until last week when HE turned into the most insecure and WHINY potential suitor that has ever been on the show :o(
Good luck with resting up tonight and continuing the search for the perfect house!
Good Luck with the housing!
I agree 100% that Ashley is terrible… so does the rest of America… ratings are down 10%!!
How do you feel about Ames?!
Dang it! I was hoping for good house hunting luck for you guys.
If it’s any consolation, I can attest that you do get used to living far away from things. I’ve never lived closer than 50 miles to my dentist, Target, or a mall but I don’t feel deprived. It’s kind of fun to go away for a day and do all the shopping that you don’t normally have access to.
I heard once on HGTV that between location, features, and price you can have any two, but not all three with real estate. Which is sooo frustrating, but so true.
Good luck with the housing situation! At least you have a solid plan now!
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of my calves…but have learned to accept them!
sorry the houses didn’t work out! there’s nothing worse than home hunting. you will find the perfect home soon! don’t settle for anything less than your dream.
That house is amazing! It´s a pity you have to let her go, but 20 minutes from everything is too much…
Too bad that house is too far away because it looked awesome! The pool and everything! Don’t worry I’m sure you’ll find something nice eventually, sometimes you have to wait for the perfect offer.
hahah i think the same thing about ONE of my knees! i was staring at it in the mirror at yoga yesterday just thinking how ugly it looked… but yes.. it’s just a knee 😉
I’m glad you found a Solution…temporary housing is better than just settling!
Ashley is seriously the worst bachelorette so far!! I don’t know why I’m still wasting my Mondays watching (probably also for Ben and Constantine!)
It sounds like you’ve made up your minds but coming from someone who grew up in a place where there was no Target for a while and when there was it was “all the way in town” life with a little inconvenience isn’t such a bad thing. We are actually moving back there for a little while, and are of course nervous as crap about not having the convenience we have now, but the rewards of having a true home and a little but if of isolation from it all can be such a blessing and refreshing way of life.
That house is beautiful – but 20 minutes out of the way would definitely get old!
That first house does look really nice, but it would stink to be so far away from everything!
I hope the temporary housing option works out for you both for now!
I live in Ocala and it really is a wonderful town and community. I’m sure it will take time to adjust but hopefully you’ll grow to love this community. We have fantastic schools! We also have really cool places to explore like kayaking on the rainbow river, exploring the springs, boppin’ around the square, etc. Some great places to eat are Latinos y Mas, Kotabuki, Loritos, Stellas, Tommy’s BBQ and Fat Boys BBQ…my favs anyway. Ocala is very spread out, but hopefully you’ll adjust. I love our community and it is a fantastic place to raise a family.
Soooo my friend saw me reading your blog just now, and she had a suggestion… it may not be ideal, but if you look in Gainesville, the commute is appx 35 minutes from Gainesville to Ocala. There are probably more housing options (within a nice range from the gym/grocery/shopping) there, even though gainesville isn’t that great in and of itself. Maybe something to look into?
Being 20 minutes away from everything would definitely be hard. Sorry Julie!
I like Ben and JP… but I think it’s going to be JP. 🙂 And my husband doesn’t like Ashley, either. I think she just seems really young… I don’t know how ready she is for marriage.
And when my insecurities come up, Brandon (my husband) will put his finger to my forehead and say, “What is going ON in there??” He’s baffled by what would make me insecure. And that is why I love him. 😉
Good luck with finding a place. I know how stressful it can be. You will find something! Keep thinking positive! 🙂 You don’t want to settle because then you won’t be happy.
I am still rooting for JP! I love him! 🙂 Oh, and my fiance makes fun of my knees because he thinks they are weird, although I think he has weird knees too!
Hi! So I’ve been reading for awhile now but I never comment because I’m lame like that….
I just had to say: storage and living in a furnished apartment isn’t THAT bad and also totally worth it to get a place you really love. My boyfriend and I just did the equivalent for 3 weeks (only lived with his dad, an hour and a half commute for me to work) and 1) it wasn’t nearly as awful as I expected and 2) it was beyond worth it to not settle for something we didn’t love. And now we are so happy we made the decision because our new home was well worth the inconvenience! Good luck!!
Love the house! Maybe you can workout at home?
omg. Be careful with the pepper spray. I have a bottle that I take with me whenever I go for walks at night. Well, one night I was goofing around and whipping it out and pretending to shoot someone. I didn’t actually press the button, but I did put my finger on it. At some point during my walk I scratched my nose and 30 seconds later my whole face was on fire. IT SUCKED. Moral of the story: wash your hands after handling the bottle. That stuff is no joke!
Ugh, that sucks that you have to do the temporary housing thing. Just keep in mind that everything will work out the way it’s meant to! 🙂
Hang in there! house hunting can be stressful but trust me, a fabulous place will come up right before your eyes and if you are quick about grabbing it, you’ll have the place of your dreams! We were in a limbo phase a few months ago, moved in with my In-Laws while looking for a place and i was getting so discouraged because it seemed nothing was available. (We live in Barrington, IL by the way!! ) One day I went on Craigslist, a new place was JUST posted, we swooped it up and have been so happy ever since. You’ll get there, just have to be patient.
My favorite is Ben too!! It used to be JP but I didn’t care for all his boohoo whining last week.
Awwww, sorry the hunt didn’t go well today! I’m sure you two will find something soon though!
“heinous-anus”…I’m totally stealing that.
and this is why i will always love your blog.
OoO i LOVE the house! That kitchen is so great and the entire place is so open! That stinks its so far from everything. I’m sure you’d get used to it though. At least you have a solid plan now- good luck!