It’s Lunar New Year which means... Monkeyshine season is upon us in Tacoma! If you haven’t heard about it before, it’s an annual guerrilla art hunt where local artists hide a couple thousand glass orbs and medallions stamped with the Chinese Zodiac around the city.

Originally, it was started by someone known as “Ms. Monkey” and a friend who wanted to create joy and excitement for residents during our long grey winters. While deciding what they were going to create and hide, they were inspired by Ms. Monkey’s friend’s brass stamp he had created with a monkey on it. With access to a hot shop and donated glass, they decided stamping glass balls was the perfect creation. Plus, it would also pay homage to the city’s glass roots. From there, they created 200 creations and with a cohort of volunteers they hid them around the city. Here’s a peek at what some of them look like!

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Their idea was a hit right from the bat, even with some initial confusion. Apparently the finds were being confiscated at first because they thought they had been stolen from the glass museum! After a very buzzworthy first year, Ms. Monkey’s crew decided to commit to hiding what would be known as “monkeyshines” each year for 12 years to complete a cycle (and later another cycle). How fun right?! You can learn even more about the back story of the tradition in this great article from Joanna Kresge of South Sound Magazine including an interview with Ms. Monkey herself.

Since then, the event has continued to evolve and others have decided to join in the fun including, now infamous, Marble Man who leaves marbles and others who leave their own gifts of charms, bracelets, and painted rocks to name a few. Adding even more treasures to be found! There aren’t any formal rules, but you can find monkeyshines in public places around the city and be sure to keep the honor system of 1 per person (that is if you’re lucky enough to even find one!)

Last year was my first year of hunting for monkeyshines and while we didn’t find anything, it was a really fun day of exploring the city — especially because we’d just moved. You could say we fully embraced the original mission of the event! That was also the day we ended up discovering my favorite brewery, 7 Seas Brewing (where I just celebrated my 30th Birthday party at)!

This year, I was lucky enough to (unsuspectingly) come across a red envelope with a pig charm inside too! I also walked by a guy who found a really gorgeous glass ball in Wright Park! So there are definitely treasures to be found out there! I’ve been keeping up with the hashtag on Instagram of finds too! No matter if you find something or not though, remember to enjoy the hunt and this great city because that’s where the real fun is!

Most people have legit hobbies (and I do too) but one of my favorite things to do over the last.. oh.. most of the last 10 years… has been looking at real estate. In part, I blame my parents for taking us on drives just to go look at different neighborhoods or drive by houses they admired. Which is kind of funny considering we really only lived in one house pretty much my whole childhood. And even though I thought my mom was a total weirdo for looking in the windows of new developments or houses for sale (vacant only — she’s not thattt creepy) somewhere along the line I got bit with the bug too. By the time I moved to NYC that “bug” turned into a full-blown hobby and once I discovered HGTV it was alllllll over. True story, for a long time it was my goal to be able to figure out which part of the country they were in on House Hunters before they said just by the style of homes/price ranges. 🙈I told you, this is more than just casually checking here or there.

Once I moved back to Washington, the dream of being able to own a place actually started to feel a little more attainable and it’s been 2 solid years of busting our booties to continue growing our business and bulking up those savings! Being self-employed, getting financing can be a little tricky and it’s definitely a time game. Typically you need at least 2 years of solid tax returns to qualify and the way things are calculated is a little different than if you have a 9-to-5. My business partner actually has a really awesome post on that if you’re interested in the process too. My original plan was to start looking for places in 2020, but my mom revved this real estate monster up this fall and helped me jump into this chapter earlier. She always joked she’d help me buy a condo if I moved back west and she was the one who helped me seal the deal on my loan.

So now that we closed on a place YAY! I thought it would be fun to give you a look at my experience and some of the listings I saw. So let’s get down to the fun and do a little House Hunters Anna buys a house in Tacoma edition!

Hillside Townhouse

Listed: $295,000 | Townhouse | 1,276 sq ft | Central Tacoma | 2 Bedroom + Office | 2.5 baths | Tandem garage

Insert the Hillside Townhouse. It was this street of townhouses that got me to pull the trigger on looking into getting preapproved. We had actually gone to an open house for a townhouse down the street just for fun and then this one popped up as we were filling out our paperwork. Within 24 hours, I found the listing, scheduled a showing, got preapproved, signed my agent Melo Hogan (she ROCKS) and put in an offer. Say whattt?! I told you things got serious fast.

My agent explained that this listing was going to go fast and that they had priced it under market value to entice over list offers. So we went in over ask and then they sat on our offer for 4 grueling days until their offer review date, only to find out there were multiple offers on the table. So we did a little more strategizing and went back with our highest and best offer (now at 10k total over ask 😱). Plus I wrote a personal letter where I even dropped a Grey’s Anatomy OG reference, I meannn at least my offer was going to stand out right?!

It would have been pretty dang awesome if I got the first place I put an offer in on, but you kind of already know I didn’t get it since this is only the first house in this post. Unfortunately, we ended up getting outbid by a “significantly higher” offer and I’m not going to lie, there were a lot of tears. That was just the first go around too before things got a little weird… I’ll spare you the nitty gritty but, their deal ended up falling through and then came back to us another 2 rounds. We put a total of 4 offers in and went through 2 bidding wars but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Fav Things

• Rooftop, ROOFTOP, ROOFTOP!!!

• 2 decent sized bedrooms

• Nice kitchen and finishes

• Office + area for a man cave next to the garage

• Parking spots in front in addition to garage

• Close to downtown, freeways, our garden and 5 mins from our current neighborhood

Not Fav Things

• Still a developing neighborhood

• They disclosed the roof had leaked and would need repaired prior to closing

• House next door were bought by developers and would be doing construction in future

• Would have to remove hot tub off roof

This was just the beginning of the journey though! Things may not have worked out on this one but we were officially preapproved and it was all systems go on the house hunt. After things calmed down it also let me take a few steps back and chat with Melo about what was reallyyyy important to me, since we did things a little backward the first time around. Here’s what I came up with…

• Areas: Townhouse land (Hillside/Hilltop), North Tacoma, and West End

• Types: Townhouse, Condo, or House

• Budget: Max $330k

• Bedrooms/Sq Ft: 2-3 bedroom 900-1500 sq ft.

• Parking Sit: Garage (ideally), driveway or accessible parking so that my car isn't getting beat to crap

• Has to have: Some sort of outdoor space.. either private rooftop, balcony or shared rooftop and good lighting for my plant babies

Once we had the dream list in check, Melo got down to business right away and started sending me some really awesome options.

Narrows Condo

Listed: $295,000 | Condo | 1,006 sq ft | West End | 2 Bedroom | 1 bath | 2 parking spots

Fav Things

• The neighborhood was great and it was private off of the main road

• 24/7 Security gate

• Adorable balcony with peek-a-boo water view

• Vaulted ceilings

• Nice finishes throughout

• Great closet space/storage

Not Fav Things

• It was on the 3rd floor which wouldn’t have been ideal for Scoots

• The bedrooms weren’t very big

• The Living room wasn’t huge either

• HOA fees were on higher end — great features (pool, hot tub, sauna, etc.) but might not be things I would use regularly

Next up was the Narrows condo. I was really interested in this one because I liked the location on the West End. It’s close to Point Defiance, which I spend a lot of time at year-round and it’s also close to our garden and other places I run my errands. The community was awesome too because it had a full on security guard and the grounds were beautiful. One of my hang-ups on condo complexes is I didn’t want it to feel like an apartment complex and this one definitely didn’t have those vibes. The condo was super nice and had some great bonus features, but ultimately it felt a little cramped for the square footage. Plus it had a higher HOA than some other listings (although still very moderate for the area) so even though it had a lower price point the payment was still higher. During this process, I learned a lot about how much the HOA and taxes can impact your monthly payment!

West End Rambler

Listed: $325,000 | House | 1,008 sq ft | West End | 3 Bedroom | 1 bath | garage

Fav Things

• Great neighborhood

• Some updates throughout including kitchen

• Had a wood burning fireplace

• Great backyard with potential and had fruit trees

• She Shed potential!

Not Fav Things

• Would need some updates eventually and was a little scared of what would be in the walls

• Baseboard heating

• The ceilings were kind of low

• The garage was a little scary

Next up was the West End Rambler! This one was also located on the West End just a little more north and it was the first actual house I looked at. I had always saw myself buying a townhouse or a condo so a house wasn’t really on my radar. After realizing you could up the budget quite a bit and still have about the same payment as a townhouse or condo though because they don’t have HOAs I decided it might be worth looking into. This house was located in a cute older neighborhood in a safe part of the city and it had a lot of curb appeal. I liked it because it had some upgrades and then it also had a backyard with a ton of potential and a She Shed! I’ve always had dreams of having a she shed so that def drew me in! While it was definitely move-in ready, there were some updates I’d want to make sooner rather than later so I didn’t feel like it was the one. But, it definitely opened me up to the idea of a house which was a big deal!

Fircrest Townhouse

Listed: $329,000 | Townhouse | 1,541 sq ft | Fircrest | 2 Bedroom + Den | 3 bath | Tandem garage

Fav Things

• Really nice area and neighborhood

• Such cute curb appeal

• Really great layout and detail throughout

• Double master suites with huge bedrooms and walk-in closets

• Colorful throughout — love color of outside plus painted throughout

• Balcony + backyard space

• Huge garage that fits 2 cars

• Right by Lowe’s, Home Depot, Home goods, Trader Joes, and parks and beaches I go to on the reg

Not Fav Things

• Little further from downtown and old neighborhood

• At top of budget

• Not much street parking in neighborhood

• HOA but way lower than downtown options

And then there was the ONE! The Fircrest townhouse. Funny enough, I drove through the neighborhood the day before because there was another listing that was a little above my budget. Where that one was located, the streets were a little narrow and I joked to Scoots (because obvi my pup was doing drive-bys with me) that I wish one of the townhouses near the front of the neighborhood were for sale. Then BOOM, the next afternoon this listing popped up right at the entrance of the neighborhood. Within two hours of being listed, Melo had scheduled us a viewing and it was love at first sight. Truly. The second I walked in I was like OMG….. 😍😍😍 It was everything and MORE I could have ever dreamt of. The bedrooms were massive, it had a big office space, open kitchen, a balcony and backyard, a huge garage and it’s in an awesome neighborhood.

After running through all the rooms and doing a happy dance in the living room, I looked at Melo and said, ok… real talk, what is it going to take to get this place?! I was still a little burned by the first townhouse offer saga and knew I wanted to give it my all to get this place! The other thing was at the top of my budget and I didn’t know if I could go much higher with financing…. NERVESSSS! I regrouped with my Mom, Melo and our financing team and we went in with a full-price offer. By the next afternoon, we were notified that the other there was another offer submitted too. Truthfully, my heart sank. I knew this was the one and the thought that I might lose out on another listing had me stressed to the max. Everyone talks about how hot the market is right now… but it really is HOT!

We put together a strategy and I talked to financing and we were actually able to go higher than we thought. So after some research and strategizing we went 11k over ask with inspection and appraisal contingencies. My mom thought I was insane, but with most of the listings I had looked at going on avg 10k over ask… and the chance that the other offer was already over the listing price, I just didn’t want to risk it. Plus, in terms of the monthly payment, it hardly made a difference.

The next 24 hours felt like an eternity… but the next day we found out we GOT it!!! HGTV makes it look like once your offer is accepted you’re good to go, but we still had some hoops to get through. Luckily, this WAS meant to be so everything worked out perfectly thanks to my amazing team and now I’m the proud new owner of the cutest townhouse ever! Eeeekkk! And now I may live here forever because holy moly I’m too much of a stress ball for the process!

I cannot say thanks enough to my dream team that made this happen! Plus, in the scheme of things… my process went SO fast. We went from casually going to open houses here or there to getting serious about things the second weekend of September and then getting our townhouse offer accepted on October 12th. Which looking back blows my mind that that whole process was a few days short of a month because I know people look for months… even up to a year to find THE one! Getting really serious about my must-haves and having a wonderful agent who sent great listings and got us showing in record-time really was the game-changing combo. So I hope you enjoyed looking through my listings and now that we’re moved in, I cannot wait to share more DIY and home decor posts!! 🙌🏻

The holiday season is officially upon us (still can’t believe this) and this year I want to celebrate the real stars IMO, small businesses! Sure, the big guys are great and you can support them too, but don’t forget about the small businesses not only today on #SmallBusinessSaturday but year-round! 

The ones who pour their hearts into each and every product they make or curate. The ones who often started by making products in their kitchens or who stayed up late packing orders. The ones who saved up to lease a storefront and have been willing to put it all on the line to chase their dreams. These are the true rockstars in my eyes and I can tell you firsthand that when you shop small you're truly supporting someone else's dream and that's pretty dang awesome.

So today on the blog I’m highlighting some of my personal fav small businesses + a few amazing clients we’ve also gotten the chance to support over the years at Bold & Pop! And spoiler, they have some amazing gift options for everyone on your shopping list so be sure to check them out and get your shop on!

Photo Courtesy of: @PinkLoverShop Instagram

Pink Lover

Kicking things off with a goodddd one, Pink Lover! If you know me, this one shouldn’t surprise you for a minute because I truly live by the motto everything is better when it’s pink! Katie, the founder truly embraces this motto too, so much so she decided to launch a shop dedicated to everything pink — tees, tanks, sweaters, mugs and much much more! And it is pink-mazing! P.S. if anyone needs a gift idea for yours truly I’ll take one of everything they offer 💖😉

Photo Courtesy of: @CompassRoseShop Instagram

Compass Rose

I stumbled upon Compass Rose this summer during a street fair in the Proctor District in Tacoma and it’s been one of my go-to places for gifts ever since! They have two locations, one here in Tacoma and then their original location in downtown Olympia and guys, if you’re local you HAVE to check them out. I’d describe them as a combo of Paper Source, Anthropologie, a little Williams and Sonoma and then an amazing collection of local PNW inspired or created flair. This store literally has something for everyone on your list in just about every price point. Plus they really take being a local business to heart by giving back 10% of their earnings to organizations focused on improving the community as well as some international organizations.

Photo Courtesy of: @SurpriseGiftCo Instagram

Surprise Gift Co.

I have lovedddd this company ever since being introduced to them when we worked together on their website design a few years ago. Lisa and Shannon, the Co-founders are the BOMB! They offer curated gift sets (plus some singles) for everyone in your life and make the whole process easy peasey. You can just feel the amount of thought and love that has been poured into all of these sets too! You pick the box, single or custom box and then they put it together and can send them directly to those on your list if you want. Which is perfectttt for clients, fam or friends that don’t live near. Of course, you can have everything sent to you too if you want but it’s awesome having options.

Photo Courtesy of: @HartsandPearls Instagram

Harts & Pearls

I discovered Harts & Pearls on Instagram and instantly fell in love with their account! They offer fashion forward accessories for women, children and babies and guys… they’re SO cute! I already have my eye on a few of their turban headwraps for a few people on my gift list this year. I also love that the company was founded by a single mom in the PNW too. Which on the note of being based in Washington, I should also mention they have some adorable Seahawks headbands too! Go Hawks! 💙💚

Photo Courtesy of: @KoketBoutiqueNC Instagram

Koket Boutique

Another one I’m SO excited about is Koket Boutique! We were lucky enough to work with Alexandra as well and I’m so excited to share that she recently expanded to her own location in addition to her online shop in Raleigh, NC! So def add this one to your list if you’re local to Raleigh too. What I love about her shop is she has suchhh a good mix of cute women’s clothing and accessories and they also won’t break the bank. Double score! Truly, I’d like my closet to just be filled with her inventory!

Photo Courtesy of: @Pacific_Knotwest Instagram

Pacific Knotwest

Pacific Knotwest is another business I learned about on Instagram (hey, it’s a good place to explore!) and I’m totally digging their style. Macrame is making waves again in home decor trends and I’m totally obsessed with the designs Pacific Knotwest has created. Everything from large wall hangings, to macrame mirrors, hanging nightstands, and ornaments. Seriously, go check out her shop rightttt now! The craftsmanship is incredible.

Photo Courtesy of: @BeanGoods Instagram

Beans Goods

WEENIE DOG everythingggg! Need I say more? Being a weenie dog fur mama myself, I understand how funny these little dogs are and I love what Bean Goods has done to showcase that. They offer hilarious and incredibly cleverly designed apparel for both humans and pups and if you have anyone on your gift list that is a weenie dog fan or has one, you need to pick them up something from this shop! I actually bought myself one of the “Crazy Wiener Dog Lady” shirts last year and it’s one of my favs! 🐶

Photo Courtesy of: @TaylorLeePaints Instagram

Taylor Lee Paints

If you’re looking for some beautiful artwork this holiday season then you HAVE to check out Taylor Lee. Taylor is another bold boss we had the chance to work with and not only is her work absolutely incredible, but she’s also doing her part to help us change the way we look at mental illness. Instead of shying away from the topic, Taylor has been very transparent about her bipolar disorder on her Instagram account. How it has affected her life and how she in turn uses it as her superpower when it comes to her artwork. Her bravery is truly blazing the trail for all of us which is something I totally admire, plus her talent is just beyond! I have one of her pieces in my office that she so kindly gifted us when we worked together and it’s one of my absolutely favorites.

Photo Courtesy of: @Little_Bipsy Instagram

Little Bipsy Collection

Inching up to my 30’s, tis the season for babies! Personally, I’m sticking with my fur baby, but my friends are starting to pop out babies on the regular and I’ve been on the hunt for some goods to spoil them and their new boo boos with! That’s where Little Bipsy comes in because they have goodies for both! They offer suchhh a great variety of clothes for babies including baby flannels and boss babe sweatshirts for the littles which I’m obsessed with. The future is female everyone! Plus they have some really fun (and funny) apparel for all of the mamas that I also can’t get enough of.

Photo Courtesy of: @RGBSoda Instagram

Rachel’s Ginger Beer

I went to an amazing networking event this month in Seattle where the founder Rachel spoke on a panel and I left just feeling so inspired. Rachel truly embodies the heart and soul of an entrepreneur doing everything it takes to bring their dream to life and I could not wait to actually try her products after. Spoiler, the ginger beer is a-freaking-mazing! Everything is handcrafted and you know they worked their booties off crafting each of the recipes until they were perfect. If you’re local to the PNW, they have locations around Seattle and Portland and then they also offer nationwide shipping. Perfect for those who just enjoy a solid ginger beer or for the cocktail master in your life! I love gifts like this for people who are tough to shop for too. You cannot go wrong with amazing foods or drink options IMO!

Photo Courtesy of: @WithWildHearts_Co Instagram

With Wild Hearts Co.

I’m rounding out the list with another PNW business, artist Amanda Meyer of With Wild Hearts Co.! It’s no secret that since I moved back to Washington, nature and all of our incredible views out here have captured me. Which is why I loveee Amanda’s work because her artwork is inspired by just that — the views in the PNW! Her paintings are not only gorgeous, but she also offers her artwork painted on wood, vinyls and even denim jackets. So gorgeous!

Well that’s a wrap for this edition. I hope you guys enjoyed my picks and cheers to shopping small this season!