MAKING A HOME

I thought that it was appropriate that my first post of the year be about our home. We bought our house 8 years ago, we were so young (22& 26years old) and very excited about owning a house. I mean that's the first big step into adulthood, being married and then owning a house. We really couldn't believe how lucky we were.
Our little house of course needed some love and some fixing up but we were game for all that. So far we have tackled quite a bit of work on the house and did it ourselves mostly and learnt so many things. It's been a journey of hard work, sweat and love and there might have been a cry or two from me from sheer frustration. We finally only have to tackle the basement and we are done!
Somehow between all this renovation, I keep forgetting that it is first and foremost our home! What I mean by that is, I keep wanting things to be just perfect and magazine worthy all the time. There is nothing wrong with making a space pretty you might say and I agree. Unfortunately I've realised that I forgot to make it a home for us, to really live in, to make memories and perhaps grow old in.
We keep saying that we will wait to have parties and dinners until this is done or that is done. I don't want to do that anymore. I don't thrive for perfection anymore, good enough is just as fine for me!
 I want family and friends to be able to come in and feel welcome and relaxed and enjoyed themselves. I want the feeling, the warmth that this little house of ours has to come through. The nester said it right:

PS: I think turning 30 just hit me and I am more than ok with that!  ;)