Hello, lake life!

Most real estate purchases are based on practicality- utility and how it will effectively serve your current household needs. Others are of the heart, part of a vision and manifestation of what you want in your life.

It only took a global pandemic and an empty nest for us to finally pull the trigger on the little weekend escape that we have tossed around for 4 years...

We contended with 74 other showings in the 1st 24 hours and 13 other contracts, but I somehow knew this quirky little gem was ours from the second I laid eyes on the rickety pontoon that conveyed with the property- hysterically christened “The Looney Pontooney”.

The hope for this baby cottage, with a porch view of the lake and backed by hundreds of acres of wooded trails, is that it serves as a quiet respite, a place to eventually share and gather with friends/family, and radiates a strong gravitational pull to the boys (and those important in their lives) as they begin to establish themselves outside of Casa de Nenonen.

My job is to help people make big moves and this one closed escrow today. Here goes nothing... all aboard the Looney Pontooney, Nenonens!

My nest is officially empty! Yikes.

I just left my heart in Des Moines, friends... 

Brutal. This never gets easier. With teary eyes yet pure excitement, our boy is officially a Drake University Bulldog and we are empty nesters. 

A teeny peek at his dorm room, which or course is styling because well, hello... that is my Reed.

Sparkle and shine, Reed❤️

Nenonen Project Time: Geometric Accent Wall

We have always allowed our boys creative-control of their own bedrooms, and our youngest has been busy this week. 

Give a teenage boy quarantine orders, creative freedom, and three weeks to kill before he leaves for college and what do you get? 

A fun bedroom makeover! I love the funky freestyle geometric wall design that Reed created. He was going for visually-interesting without being too loud.  I think he nailed it and managed powerful visual impact without the commitment of wallpaper or bold colors.  Now on to final touch-ups, new baseboards, area rug, and furnishings✨

Base Color:  "Simply White" (OC- 117) by Benjamin Moore
Top Color:    "On The Rocks" (SW-7671) by Sherwin Williams

While the bulk of our ongoing home projects can be found on my Instagram (in stories and highlights), see a few of our other Casa de Nenonen projects HERE.

Under Contract and Goodbye High School!

Nothing says "Happy Friday" in Nenonen Quarantine like this...

and this...

An accepted contract on gorgeous Spyglass and my baby completed his last day of high school!  Whew, what a week!  I think it is safe to say that Spring 2020 has been an emotional rollercoaster for all, but in the wild ride, today was a definite peak!  As Reed is my real estate baby, it is all too appropriate?!  Ha ha.

A warm congratulations and thank you to the fabulous N duo for their friendship, business, and trust.  I look forward to your closing in a few short weeks.  Per my baby, my Reed, I am so proud of you.  While COVID-19 has robbed you of the typical graduation experience, it doesn't take from your incredible accomplishments.

I have been doing Back to School updates here on the blog for years.  I look forward to my post next August, as you venture off to Drake in Des Moines, Iowa!

Full heart, a terrific day.💓

Iowa College tours, historic estates!

College Tour Summer 2019 continues in Casa de Nenonen as our youngest nears closer to his Senior year.  Back to school in 2 weeks!

I have mentioned numerous times here on the blog over the years that I earned my real estate license while my youngest was in utero.  The older he gets?  There is no doubt that the love for historic architecture is in his blood! Hence, the perfect finale to his Iowa college tours? A tour of the lovely Salisbury Estate in Des Moines...

Built in 1923 by Carl Weeks, the inventor of foundation makeup, the estate was modeled after this beauty...

The handsome 14th century King's House in Salisbury, England. 

The original projected budget for the Week estate started at $150,000... but ended with the final cost of a whopping 3 million. It is a spectacular blend of architectural styles and interesting salvaged architectural goodies from all over the world.  I highly recommend a visit to the museum if ever in the Des Moines area.❤️

A teeny peek at our tour...

Learn more about the history of the estate here...

As far as my boy goes...

While it has been fun times exploring the country with him this summer in pursuit of his dream college, now the choice is up to him!  We shall see.

NITTY GRITTY:

Salisbury House and Gardens
4025 Tonawanda Drive
Des Moines, IA 50312
Phone:(515) 274-1777

Web: https://salisburyhouse.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salisburyhousedsm 

The Chicago Skyline by boat...

Excuse me while my Realtor heart pitter-patters❤️...

After a day of touring Loyola University and DePaul University with our youngest, we took a spectacular sunset architectural boat tour of Chicago. The only thing better than the cityscape by foot, is by water!

If in Chicago, I HIGHLY recommend an evening tour of the city with Seadog Cruises.  It was not only informative, but a lovely ride on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River!

On a personal note, I feel like we just finished this emotional process with my oldest.  I can't believe that my baby's turn is up...

Sigh. 

Here he is. 17, at the fabulous Chicago Shedd Aquarium, 6 weeks from his Senior year.

A Realtor's perspective on college tours...

Our baby will be a Senior this coming school year, so we are in the midst of crazy "College Tour Summer".  Today we toured the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.  Gotta love the dichotomy of the professor curb appeal, versus the student...

Oh dear.  College.

😳🙄🤣

Just For Fun: College Lease Funnyism

When your mom is a Realtor and asks to review the very 1st lease that you are about the sign... 

It is pretty safe to say that I don’t see THIS clause every day in my normal daily St. Louis real estate adventures?! 😳 It gave me a chuckle, I had to share.  Oh to be 20 again...

Geometric Accent Walls and Washi Tape

Geometric accent touches are in BIG time in 2017...

...though the expense and permanency or wallpaper is not.  Enter Washi Tape!  Creatives have taken to Pinterest in DROVES to show off their handiwork with this semi-transparent Japanese masking tape. It is inexpensive, easily removable, and comes in a vast array of colors, patterns, and textures...  

This would be a fun solution for bare dorms walls, as well!  Wouldn't it? 

Back to School and Farewell, Summer!

Last week, we recreated the morning of oldest's first day of Kindergarten as the boys ventured off to their first day of Senior and Freshman year.  *sigh*  I look back at posts like this, and can't believe that we are now here...

I know that I say this every year, but even though nothing beats the excitement of Spring Market in residential real estate, my summer hiatus from the blog felt too long. It is so nice to be back!  Each year when the boys head back to school (and the bulk of my Spring transactions have successfully drawn to a close), I like to personally reflect on the Summer that has just passed, above and beyond my work fun.

While our family enjoyed our typical summer fun-in-the-sun adventures,  if you follow me on Instagram, you saw a whole lot of this...

...intermingled with my typical summer posts, like this...

I never thought that the time would come, but my oldest has entered his Senior year which means a good percentage of our energy has shifted to pondering and exploring "What is next".  The process, without doubt, leaves Steve and I with mixed emotions.  Regardless, seven universities were visited, he has chosen his favorites, and now applications follow.

The tides seemed to have changed in Casa de Nenonen over Summer 2016.  As we venture into an exciting year of transition for our family, I hold one of my favorite quotes close to my heart...

M-I-Z comes to the S-T-L...

If you have spent any time in Columbia, Missouri whatsoever... you have been to Shakespeare's Pizza.

Period.

Known for the delicious hand-tossed dough (if you visit with your kids, just ask and they will toss a free ball of dough over the window to play with), cool and eclectic style, and the awesome 9th Street location just steps from the Quad... Shakes is a classic Columbia/Mizzou experience and a student/local favorite.

My point? Word on the street is that frozen Shakespeare's will soon be available at local Straub's stores.

Though it can and will NOT replace the taste and experience of the real thing... if feeling nostalgic for your college days or in need of a "fix" to tide you over until your next Alum visit, it's there! =)