This is the fun part?

Surely the process of selling your home and searching for a new place to call your own can come with its ups and downs.  Who would guess that selling our home would have been the easy part of this process?  Everyone said now that you've sold your house, the fun part will be looking seriously for your new home.  It was fun at first, but I am emotionally spent.

A few weeks ago, we thought we had found the perfect home.  It was an adorable cottage style home, in town, huge corner lot, it had its quirks, but that's what gave it character.  Sure it needed some TLC and some updating, but we could see past all that.  Long story short, it needed way more TLC than we could muster.  This poor house had been neglected for far too long for us to move in with our family and make it livable in a short amount of time.  I'll spare you the dirty details, but if this is any indication, the inspection report was 22 pages long!

So after a week agonizing about what to do...we decided to walk on the deal.  We are looking for a home we can upgrade with some minor remodeling and by adding our own finishing touches.  Not a complete rehab.

Disappointed doesn't describe the loss I felt.

All I want is something my family will fit in that I can make look like this:

Is that too much to ask?

I don't want to infringe on anyone's copyright for any of these photos and want to make it clear that I did not take any of these photos.  These are just some of the images I have come across in my search for home decor inspirations...you should see the pile of all the cut-outs I have from magazines!


**Edited to add:  Since I have been getting such an overwhelming response from this post, I am sharing my usual sources of inspiration with you.  Hope this is helpful!
Blogs I read:

http://tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com/

http://urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com/

http://betterafter.blogspot.com/

http://www.heatherbullard.typepad.com/

These blogs always lead me to other blogs and before I know it, I have spent an hour reading these things.  SO addictive!

Magazines I love:

Flea Market Style

Coastal Living

Big Style for Small Rooms

Renovation Style

Cottage Style

Better Homes & Gardens

Decor

Country French**

Luckily, we love the house we are renting, so we are very comfortable here (until this place sells).  No panic buttons are being hit just yet.

In the meantime, I am still testing my skills in the kitchen.  I want to say a huge thank you to two of my most fabulous brides & grooms, Denise & Jeff, who sent me this adorable apron as a house warming gift.  Rest assured, it is getting good use :)  Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.

Some more happy news, I got my Kenny Chesney concert tickets yesterday :D  That will keep me happy for a while and give me something to look forward to.

Have a great Wednesday!