Moving cross country from Madison to Tucson has had it's highs and lows. From the questionable hotel we stayed at along the drive in Wichita (not a reflection on Wichita but what's with the "No Guns" sign on the hotel doors?) to the amazing resort we stayed at in Tucson (same price, go figure), it's been quite an adventure.Our furnishings arrived at the new house last Friday and we have spent every day unpacking, organizing (this task tends to be a bit obsessive on my part) and zipping to Walmart and Ace Hardware for things we didn't bring (like glasses, pillows, grill). The house is pulling together and my goal is to get things in their perfect spots (including art hung) by the end of next week.
So on to the zone . . . many of you have expressed interest in how I was going to resolve leaving my beloved Stampin' Pretty Zone at the previous Madison home. The picture above shows you what the new zone (a loft) looked like immediately after the move. A tad daunting at the time. It's much further along now (I actually stamped today) and I'll be sharing the final results very soon 🙂
Here are a few other highlights of the move. I don't have pictures to share of my daughter (she was taking all of the photos) or Isabel (our pug). I'll be sure they get their virtual time in the future.
Caroline (my 15 year old) took this black and white of the mountain view from my new zone.
With my husband, Scott. Exhausted but excited.
Mary,
I can’t wait to see your new Stamping zone! I’m finishing a room right now myself and it will be complete in a few weeks, cabinets and all. You’ve been a great inspiration as far as creating goes for me, I can’t wait for you to inspire me with your new space!!
Glad to see you made your move safely. Moving is such a chore. I read your blog all the time. I really love your style. Arizona can get really hot but I’m sure you’ll get used to it fast. I live in Sacramento, Calif. and we get 100+ temps in the summer too. Enjoy your new home and I can’t wait to see your new stampin space.
I look at your blog often but I rarely comment (sorry for that), but I just wanted to say how great you look in that picture. Wowzers! Many greetings from Germany
Mary,
Welcome to Arizona! We live up here in the White Mountains. I hope you enjoy the beauty of Arizona.
I always enjoy looking at your blog. Thanks for sharing with us.
Summer
Thanks for sharing! You’ll love living in the southwest.
What a beautiful new landscape! I can’t wait to see what you do with your Stampin Zone Loft!! Enjoy your new place! Amy
Glad you made it safe & sound! My son & family live in a suburb of Tucson … Vail. Are you close to there? Can’t wait to see your finished sanctuary!!
Loved the pics, Mary!! Looks like you’ll have a wonderful place to live with great views! I’m obsessive too with getting everything put away and organized so I feel for you! It will be worth it once you’re all settled in. Can’t wait to see the finished Stampin Pretty Zone. Looks like Mozart managed the trip alright, so cute!!! Well, good luck and happy stamping!! Hugs, Monica
Such a pretty couple! And what an adventure! (No guns allowed?! Yikes!)
I hope the move is still going well and that you have settled nicely in your new home. If you are already back to stamping, I guess it is a good sign!
Cindy 🙂
Wow, what a view! Be happy in your new home.
Clare x
Thank you for sharing the move with us. The views are spectacular. I hope you get your stamping zone finished soon and I can’t wait to see it. Best wishes with everything!
Can you bottle your energy and send some to me? I can’t imagine moving, unpacking, and posting then looking so happy! Best of luck as you continue on your endevor! Mary Jo
Enjoy your new home and I can’t wait to see what you did with your new zone! What lovely views you will have for inspiration!
congrats on your new adventure! Can’t wait to see what you’re going to whip up in your new space, I’m sure it’ll be FAB! 🙂
I cannot wait to see your stamp room/loft area! It looks amazing the hopefully you will get some great natural light up there! I am so jealous! Maybe one day we will be neighbors! LOL
Moving always has its good and bad points…getting rid of the excess and/or the unwanted and the chance to better reorganize. Best of luck to you and your family in your new home..quite the change in geography…a chance to learn of new places and what is “cool”…and what is not!!! (like the summer weather, ha ha) Thanks for sharing amongst the turmoil and I look forward to seeing the new Stampin’ Pretty spot when you are able to share (guilty pleasure of seeing fab craft rooms, as I expect it will be!). 😉
Mary – You are amazing, moving and keeping up with the posts! I send you all my good vibe; I’m sure you will be done in no time. I love the photos…. thanks for sharing. 🙂
Veronica
Oh Mary, so happy for you & your family! Your daughter takes good pic’s! The hubby nor you look a bit frazzled!! Mozart “rocks”;)
Happy organizing….
Yikes, Mary! Glad to see you’ve landed in your new home…I picture you running for city council next week after whipping your house into shape, lol…you seem like a force of nature in your drive and determination! Congrats…have fun! ~Betsy
Mary, you both look sooo happy. Imagine how happy you will look when you are all settled. I am sure you will be very happy in Arizona. So very happy for you and yours!
Wow Mary! You are already there. Now take a deep breath and take it one box at a time ;D Believe me in 19 years I have moved 11 times and #12 is coming next summer, everytime time it gets harder…military life big adventure. I love the pic of you and hubby you guys look great.
I’m anxious to see your new “zone” too. I loved seeing the pictures of Tucson. I had the opportunity to visit there a few years ago and loved it. Your pictures made me a little nostalgic!
Your pictures made me miss home!! My husband and I moved from Tucson to CA and we miss the monsoons and the beautiful mountains! If you ever want to know anything about AZ, just send me and email. I’m so jealous that you’re in the best place for Mexican food in the whole country!!
Great photos, Mary! My back yard view is flat, flat, flat Indiana! Wonderful photo of Scott and you, especially.
How do you do it Mary? Wow moving and still posting to this Blog you are Super Woman!
~Jeanette
Hi Mary! My blog candy arrived yesterday, thanks again! I make cards for the charity Still Someone and those supplies are going to help a lot! Also, we just moved to KS and I’ve noticed the “No Gun” signs everywhere, I’m not sure what’s up with that either! Best of luck unpacking!
M-So glad the move is going well. I totally understand the obsessive thing. Can’t wait to see the zone!
CAN’T WAIT to see the new ZONE it looks like it will be beautiful creative space!!
Hi M!
Glad you made it ‘safe-n-sound’ and are settling in. I completely understand the OCD with unpacking–I tend to be a bit ‘nuts’ until everything is in it’s place 🙂 I can not wait to see the new ‘Zone’–it’s sure to be FAB!!
Hugs from Utah (with pretty mountain views, too 🙂
Colleen
Can’t wait for the new Loft Zone. Your view is amazing!
Mary,
Thanks for the update. Have been wondering how things were “moving along” for you. Your new zone looks awesome. Can’t wait to see what your plans are. Best wishes as you continue with the unpacking and “where should this go?” Love and God Bless to all ..
Congratulations, Mary! I know you will make it feel as though you’ve lived here for years and, of course, your home will be as beautiful as you are. Can’t wait to see more pics! Thanks so much for sharing these. You’re in my thoughts always!
Hi Mary,
I am glad to see you have arrived. I cannot imagine moving (we’ve been here for 30yrs.) Can’t wait to see your new zone. Stay cool.
Good for you Mary!! I know you must be excited about the move. Love the pictures and I can’t wait to see what you do with the zone.. The view is amazing. I love the mountains too. Here in Colorado we have some amazing views. Enjoy. Look forward to seeing move. Good luck!!!:)
Hi Mary, Best wishes to you and your family as you settle into your new house. I hope it feels like “home” soon! Your new zone looks fabulous! A wide open space with that lovely view of the mountains, great for inspiration! Good luck getting everything organized! 🙂
If you ever pine for cold and snow, remember our guest house! Your views are gorgeous and will undoubtedly give you loads of inspiration! Love the photo of Mozart, he looks like he found his favorite spot already!
Do you miss the green yet?
Thanks for sharing all of this. I really enjoyed it. I always wondered what your husband looked like. Nice! Be sure to show your daughter and pug soon. I admire your courage and energy required to move. Keep up the good work!
Welcome to your new home! You are a girl after my own heart. When we moved from West Allis, WI to our new home, I was unpacked and pretty much settled in less than two weeks. The kitchen was intact within 36 hours! Are we obsessive-compulsive? Hope you enjoy your new home and looking forward to the pictures of your new stamping digs. Have you hubby take a picture of you Stamping A-Loft! 🙂
*no guns* on the hotel doors??? aaaaaargh. it does make one wonder. and … LOVED the cat in the sink. the perfect spot. congrats on making the move, i can tell it was a TON of effort. will be looking forward to your getting your life back to normal!
blessings, jo ann.
*no guns* on the hotel doors??? aaaaaargh. it does make one wonder. and … LOVED the cat in the sink. the perfect spot. congrats on making the move, i can tell it was a TON of effort. will be looking forward to your getting your life back to normal!
blessings, jo ann.
Congratulations on your new home!! 🙂
Mary, what a beautiful view, and Mozart is no fool…..found a nice out of the way place.
You diffently have your work cut out for you.
You are such a tiny thing……or your husband is very very tall…….such a cute couple………good luck with all….patm
Mozart looks like he knows how to live in Arizona! Sounds like things are moving along for you – glad things are starting to come together for you. Can’t wait to see the new “zone”. Thanks for the tips on where we might want to drive through on our relocation out to Arizona (soon).
Well Mozart looks like he’s comfy in his new home. What a view! I’m so jealous. I know you will be all settled by next month. I noticed Scott even has on his Arizona Tee.
Good luck in your new home.
Glad you are not sitting in hotel parking lots late at night for internet service anymore! You were able to stamp? Good for you! Umm, Wichita? Sorry about that. Wish you could have traveld a couple more hours and stayed in Topeka…there are some nice places to stay here. (My home comes to mind!) Keep the ac cranked!
Oh, my goodness . . . what an amazing transition you are going through! I wish you all the best in your new home and I know you will be stamping and sharing and inspiring us all soon!
Kay
Your loft shows promising signs of being even better than your other “zone”. Can’t wait to see the results of all those boxes being emptied and your stamping supplies placed. You are one creative person and I am sure it will be beautiful. Your mountain views are terrific and I know you will enjoy your new home. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
Moving is soooo tiring! I wish you all the energy you need to accomplish your goals! {SMILES}
Mary,
The best of luck to you!! I am sure your new place with be “home” by the end of the week… with you doing the directing I doubt anything less than that. The view is spectaculor. I admire your energy. I can’t wait to see the new Zone. My best, Wendy
Mary..I love reading your story….Wow! The view alone is worth the move. I wish I could get my husband to move. I’d go in a flash. Your new ZONE looks awesome. Cannot wait to see what you do with it. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on your move. I’m sure you’ll settle in just fine. I love all the wood in your loft…can’t wait to see the finished space!
Wow! It was worth the hassle for the backyard view. And, you should have called ahead and let that hotel know you were packing heat. They would have taken down the sign!
Welcome to the Southwest… the climate is a bit drier than what you’ve been used to.. Connie in New Mexico (an eastern transplant of 40+yrs) …what brought you out to our part of the country??
Mary:
I just experienced the same excting yet tramatizing move. Leaving beloved customers and friends behind and moving only 2 hours away to Daytona Beach from Tampa, fl. But none the less still a big change for us.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and I know you will have your zone up and going in no time. For the love of stamping we can move mountains!! Wishing you much luck!!
Whitney
I am glad that your move was successful. Really great pictures of your back yard. Love the view of the Mountain. Unpacking is always a challenge. Will be looking forward to see your new Stampin Pretty Zone. Lots of luck in your new place.
I loved reading your story – I hope you will be very happy in your new home and location – best wishes – Lesley
Congrats on a successful move! As an Army wife of 20 years, we’ve had our share!
Can’t wait to see the pictures of the Zone when it’s finished!
I’m so excited, mary! I can’t wait to finally see your new “zone.” I couldn’t believe you were leaving your old place, and those lovely northern winters! You won’t know what to do in the dry heat of the desert! 🙂 I’m sure you’ll figure all that out in your stamping loft. ;p ENJOY and be blessed, barb