MOVING IN WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND BEFORE MARRIAGE...THOUGHTS?!

Well you guys....! The time has finally come. 

I'm getting my very first place with just myself...and my cooler half!

I. AM. STOKED. 

Turns out that we are signing the lease on Valentine's Day (which I thought was super cute...I'm already planning the whole night! Sign the lease, grab some blankets, some wine, some snacks, games and the iPad and have a full blown slumber party in there with no furniture.) Ha! 

Ever since I moved out of my parents house in SD when I was 21 I have lived in LA with two of my best friends from High School. 

We went from The Valley in LA, to the Marina where we stayed for 2 years then back to the Valley where we've been for the past 12 months. 

What's kind of funny though is that my boyfriend (Esteban) and I discussed moving in together LAST time my lease was up.

He was SUPER cute about it. He took me out to dinner with a view (my fav) and pretty much laid it all out and asked if I was ready to move in with him.

Then there's me...miss indecisive. I said yes at dinner and then thought about it for a few more days and decided that I actually DIDN'T feel ready. 

I felt like I was still having a lot of fun living with my roommates and I know he's the one I want to be with so I figured we have a lot of time to live together so I didn't want to rush into it. (I'm SUUUUUUPER slow in relationships).

I'd say it wasn't until the last 6 months that something clicked and I was DYING for us to have our own place.

I FELT READY. 

As I started talking about it to people though I was getting mixed feedback. 

I'd say mostly everyone was really excited for us and already told me what they're getting us as a house warming gift.

But then...there waaas I'd say, a handful of people that we're a little more hesitant. 

They we're either asking me if I was sure I didn't want to wait to be married first or they were telling me their nightmarish stories of back in the dayyyy when they lived with a boyfriend and they broke up and it was the worst break up ever because you still have a leaseee and what do you do with the furniture and blah blah blah. 

Which I totally get BUT. 

What do you guys think?

I feel like for me PERSONALLY, I want to take things slow.

And moving in together is FAR LESS of a commitment than getting married so I feel like it makes sense to do that first. (even though I definitely plan on marrying him ;) )

I want to experience us having our own space together and letting our styles intertwine and just enjoy the journey. 

I'm not really very interested... in fact I'm bored at the thought of doing 'what people usually do" or " doing things in the right order".

I think you should do things in an order that makes sense to you and the person you're choosing to spend your time with. 

So with that said. I'm pretty effing excited. 

If you think about it, this is going to be my FIRST PLACE EVER that I don't have to hoard everything I own into my bedroom.

So obviously I've been SUCH a Pinterest slut lately. 

I'm already planning the house warming party and picturing my mornings at the new place plus getting hard over the fact that Trader Joe's is like 5 minutes away! UGH. WHAT IS LIFE!

I can't wait to bring you guys along on the move and show you the new spot. We're both veryyy laid back, minimalist to an extent (or trying to be) and into some artistic ish so I'm picturing plants, pink walls, comfort and LOTS of blank space. 

EEEEEK. Wish us luck! 

And leave any comments below if you have been or are in a similar situation !

XX