We’re Home Owners in Southern California

Posted on July 5, 2015 by lesleycarter

I remember watching the tv show OC a few years ago and imagining what life would be like in southern California. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be lucky enough to visit. I was still a poor university student at the time and my idea of the good life was eating at T.G.I. Fridays at the casino in downtown Halifax. Even that was way out of my price range but we made an exception every couple of months. When I met Darren, my entire concept of reality went out the window. I was always an unrealistic dreamer and attempted the impossible, but within 6 months of meeting my now husband, we had quit our jobs in eastern Canada, sold everything we owned and moved to southern California. I was actually here. Our first stop when we arrived, before even finding a place to rent, was Newport Beach. Regardless of what happened from that moment, I at least set foot on Newport Beach. I never thought we would be able to afford to own a home here so renting was the next best thing. We even moved back east for a year because the thought of buying a house in SoCal seemed so out of our reach. But as I type this post, I am sitting in my own home in Orange County, California. Yep, the same OC I never thought I would visit I can now call my home.

We moved in on July 1st. From the first moment I walked into the house, I knew I could call it home. It’s small with a tiny backyard, but it is in the heart of Aliso Viejo and close to our dear friends. The neighborhood is full of children playing in the community and the corner lot gives us lots of light and air. When I look out the window in the living room and see the palm trees, it makes me smile and sometimes laugh because I am so giddy.

The house was turn-key so it doesn’t require any maintenance or fixing but we’re excited to make furniture and other DIY projects. I chose colors for the living room today and already bought paint to change the coffee table. I look forward to making a rug for the front door as well. Darren’s first project will be a tv stand and then a dining room table. He will come up with the plans and do all the building and I will do all the painting and finishing touches. Our likes compliment each other perfectly.

Everyone has a different version of complete happiness. Maybe you prefer the seasons of north eastern US. Maybe you prefer the skiing in western Canada. This is our happy place. We consciously thought about every possible option for living in the world and chose southern California, but I’m still in shock that this is my reality. I will continue to travel and explore the world but it is like I’m on constant vacation when I can call this home.

51 thoughts on “We’re Home Owners in Southern California”

ibdesignsusa on July 5, 2015 at 11:00 pm said:

Oh Lesley, I am so happy for you. Love the picture and glad that you and Darren and Athena were able to get it. All the best my friend ❤

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Levi de Mar on July 6, 2015 at 12:08 am said:

Welcome to Southern Cali! It’s a pretty good place, I’m glad you like it. Look up Holy Jim Falls Trail, it’s one of my favorites in Orange County.

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Moke on July 6, 2015 at 12:39 am said:

Lovely to read of someone following their dream and succeeding. Your new home looks super. Moke x

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Grace @ Cultural Life on July 6, 2015 at 12:54 am said:

Congratulations on your new home! 🙂

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Lisa on July 6, 2015 at 1:08 am said:

Lesley congratulations on your new home! It looks beautiful!! Show us your home made furniture when you get it done!mthat is so cool you guys know how to do that! Makes it more personal and awesome! Hugz Lisa and Bear

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mfryan on July 6, 2015 at 1:33 am said:

So glad you guys found your happy place…congratulations to you…

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Little Miss Muffet on July 6, 2015 at 1:40 am said:

congrats.

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Ami (Yearful of Sundays) on July 6, 2015 at 2:56 am said:

Congratulations! Southern California is a fantastic place to own a house. Wish you many, many happy days in this ‘happy place’ of yours. 🙂

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Allan G. Smorra on July 6, 2015 at 3:05 am said:

Congratulations, Lesley. You dreamed big and achieved it!

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Noel Williams ...www.klassicportraits.com...www.photopincher.com on July 6, 2015 at 3:22 am said:

Nice! I hope you guys get much needed rain. God bless.

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bethbyrnes on July 6, 2015 at 5:10 am said:

Lesley, congratulations. It looks beautiful! I can’t wait to see what you do to decorate it. I am a New Yorker, but my husband is a Southern Californian and I have come to appreciate it. Our house was a reach, but I consider it my vacation, every single day and it has been totally worth it. You picked a great location. Have a ball!

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LavendarLadi on July 6, 2015 at 5:42 am said:

I can hear your happiness bubbling through your words!

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smiller257 on July 6, 2015 at 6:00 am said:

Congratulations!

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stitchinggrandma on July 6, 2015 at 6:03 am said:

After the struggle to buy the home, I can appreciate how you are so happy to be moved in. I hope you will be blessed with a happy home life and that Athena makes lots of neighborhood friends. Enjoy putting down roots again.

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Marisa LaValette on July 6, 2015 at 6:50 am said:

Your excitement comes through the writing. So happy for you; real estate in Cali is a nightmare, but you’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel! What a gorgeous patio by the way! Congratulations!

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endocrineinformation on July 6, 2015 at 7:15 am said:

Congrats!

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thewizardessofoz on July 6, 2015 at 7:23 am said:

Welcome to Orange County! I’m originally from Laguna Niguel, right around the corner. I’m so lucky to be able to call such a beautiful place home, and now you can too! Congratulations!

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chirose on July 6, 2015 at 8:16 am said:

Congratulations Lesley.!!

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2015chronicles on July 6, 2015 at 9:30 am said:

Congratulations on your new home. It looks lovely.
Shine On

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Journey Travel on July 6, 2015 at 9:59 am said:

Congrats! It looks beautiful.

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Karen Stephen on July 6, 2015 at 10:00 am said:

Having grown up in Southern California in a place, La Jolla, even more beautiful the Newport Beach, I can understand your enthusiasm. Be sure that you explore not only La Jolla but come up north where I live now in the San Francisco Bay area and you will see even more of the beauty of California. I am going to move in three weeks in the Oakland hills that has a gorgeous view of the entire SF bay. And congratulations on your marriage.

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Ki'ihele on July 6, 2015 at 11:30 am said:

I found my “happy place” about 53 years ago and when I wake in the morning I still feel blessed. When you find that location where you feel you belong, well, you belong! Congratulations to your family for fulfilling a dream.

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Trixie's Tales on July 6, 2015 at 1:04 pm said:

Congratulations! 🙂

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Garlie on July 6, 2015 at 2:32 pm said:

Congrats Lesley n Darren , your place is just beautiful , I’m going to have to actual come n visit instead of just saying I will ,, loves yas n can’t wait to see you all xoxo

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JohnRH on July 6, 2015 at 3:26 pm said:

Oooh! I like the wine cooler!!

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dwdirwin on July 6, 2015 at 4:37 pm said:

Congratulations!

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crystalstravels on July 6, 2015 at 4:51 pm said:

I so happy for you. I know this means a lot to you. We are currently working things to try to move to the beach. It’s been my dream since I was 14. The prices are scary though! But anything is possible! Dream big, right? 🙂 I hope you love your new home and live a long happy life there!

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dragonflyzia on July 6, 2015 at 6:10 pm said:

Congrats and I wish you many years of happiness in your new home. There is nothing more satisfying than watching someone fulfill a dream! 🙂

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ndgorchardgirl on July 6, 2015 at 6:57 pm said:

Congratulations on your new home!

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quirkywritingcorner on July 6, 2015 at 7:24 pm said:

It looks beautiful. Congratulations! Now you’ll have to find new adventures.

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edithlevyphotography on July 6, 2015 at 9:00 pm said:

That’s fantastic. Congratulations!

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nachmeinemeinung on July 6, 2015 at 9:12 pm said:

Lesley, congrats. It looks great and yes, you are right. When you have a place you can call ‘home, you are always on vacation.

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cricketmuse on July 7, 2015 at 5:20 am said:

What will happen to your traveling bug if you become so content with home?😉

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- lesleycarter on July 7, 2015 at 7:54 am said:
  
  Travel will always be a major part of my life. I already have 5 trips lined up for this year. It’s just an extension of the experience when I can come home to SoCal 🙂
  
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  - cricketmuse on July 7, 2015 at 12:36 pm said:
    
    There’s no place like home, especially when it’s your own.
    
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thecaptainnemo on July 7, 2015 at 11:29 am said:

Congratulations, I was rather pleased with myself for buying a small(and rather run down, kept me busy fixing it up for a couple months) mobile home, Your new place looks great. I hope to move north again when I finish school but for now Southern California’s alright 🙂 (last week was too hot here though)

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Mary on July 7, 2015 at 1:07 pm said:

Congratulations, Lesley! What an amazing accomplishment and milestone. I’m happy you were able to move back to California and fulfill this dream! 🙂 Enjoy soaking up the sun and making your new house a home.

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JudyinFrance on July 7, 2015 at 5:41 pm said:

Lesley, Congratulations on your new home in Southern California. Dreams do come true!!
Judy

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Dawn Quyle Landau on July 7, 2015 at 6:54 pm said:

Mazel!

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learnnlibraries on July 8, 2015 at 6:24 am said:

So happy for you guys…dream do come true!

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babyjill7...Marilyn Griffin on July 8, 2015 at 8:38 am said:

dreams coming true!…isn’t that the best!

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chinuephillips58 on July 8, 2015 at 10:09 am said:

Very nice, love the kitchen area because I love to cook.

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Ana Perry on July 8, 2015 at 5:50 pm said:

Now that’s my idea of a back yard…now mowing and little maintenance. Congrats on your home, it’s quite an accomplishment.

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Tapestry Treasures on July 8, 2015 at 8:38 pm said:

Wonderful! Enjoy every day under your palm tree and every night under your stars! Blessings ~Zoey

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Stella on July 9, 2015 at 8:39 pm said:

Congrats on you ally new home! It’s beautiful! Your post is filled with hope. Love that!!! I know yall are gonna enjoy each moment!! So happy for you!

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letsgosomewhereblog on July 11, 2015 at 5:33 am said:

I also lived in Orange County (for 6 months), and feel the same love for it ❤ SoCal is an unforgettable place to live.

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elizabeththomasphotographyofcapecod on July 14, 2015 at 7:45 am said:

I like you had always wanted to live on Cape Cod. I lived in many locations including in and around Toronto for 7 years. But by bit I moved closer to Cape Cod and now we have been homeowners here for 25 years. Anything is possible if you want it enough!

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Holistic Wayfarer on July 27, 2015 at 9:07 pm said:

We are not that far. =) After homebirthing my boy in our Irvine apt, I moved a bit inland. I still drive down to Laguna Niguel sometimes to see my acupuncturist: he is worth the drive. Glad you’re enjoying your new home. No place like SoCal!

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hoping4astory on July 29, 2015 at 9:13 am said:

Good for you!

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mommermom on August 2, 2015 at 7:40 am said:

Welcome to Southern California! It is also my home! On our recent road trip, I saw some beautiful places and while I was visiting thought how wonderful it would be to live here or here or here….. Now as we venture home I feel blessed to live in such an amazing place as Southern California. So much to offer. Home sweet home. ♡

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After The Party on August 18, 2015 at 5:36 pm said:

Sweet! You have an amazing life, and every time I read your blog, I am inspired to do more. I was just looking over my “forty at forty” list, and was shocked to see how much I have already gotten done since May. I think writing things down really does make a difference. I am so happy for you. I hope you are enjoying southern California. 🙂

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