The Big Move Part 2

I have been devoting every spare hour in my days to decorating my apartment.  It is finally beginning to feel like a home as opposed to a storage shelter.  For my birthday, my grandmother refurbished a chair that she found in the attic of my aunt's bridal shop.  What is even more special, Grammie modeled the chair off of a similar chair I blogged about months ago.  With the exception of the fabric, Grammie's present to me is an exact replica of Graham & Greene's chair.  It is now a fixture in my bedroom and I absolutely LOVE it!  Do I have the world's best grandmother or what?!

Speaking of chairs, Will snagged this piece below from his Grandfather's Estate sale.  It needs some work but it is still a beautiful chair.  It was hand crafted and even has bits of mother-of-pearl embedded in the framework.  With a little bit of TLC, I can hopefully get this antique looking good as new.

My favorite purchase for my new apartment is my patio furniture.  TJ Maxx has an amazing home goods section.  Case and point, the Kelly green wooden table and chair set we found on clearance.   In front of the table, I have a mini-herb garden consisting of a rosemary, thyme and basil plant.  Time will tell if I have a green thumb.  I hope I do because I had some fresh basil on my Caprese salad last night and it was delicious!

Next came the difficult task of hanging curtains.  My handyman status is definitely lacking so I was glad Will was in town to teach me the importance of measuring tape and a level.  I also learned that a "stud finder" is not a tool used to search for cute guys.  I feel so enlightened!

Step 1

Step 2

Finished!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been hunting for campaign furniture, in particular, a dresser.  A few weeks ago while on Craig's List, I found a mid-century chest of drawers that looked promising.  The piece was in Virginia so, after whittling the price down in a series of emails, I was able to claim my prize.    The handles need a good polish and I intend to add some hardware to replicate the campaign style. Other than that, the dresser is in great shape and it looks great in my bedroom.

 My living/dining area is coming together slowly but surely.  There is much more open space than I anticipated so I am trying to find ways to fill the room.  A circular drop-leaf bistro table was another Craig's List find.  I love that I can push the table against the wall or open it up to fill more space.  My hutch is on one wall and is now serving as an entertainment center.  Mom and I found a large mirror that is now hanging behind the couch which adds a lot of depth to the room.

There is still a lot of work to be done but thanks to the help of Will and my family, a lot of progress has been made.  The biggest (or smallest in this case) challenge will be making over my kitchen.  I'm not exactly sure how to spiff up the tiny area but I am open to suggestions if any of my readers have some ideas!

.....Must Have.....

As I continue to search for ways to brighten my small apartment, I have been frequenting etsy.com for inspiration.  Etsy has an array of brightly colored throw pillows in all shapes, sizes and patterns.  Shams are one of those small items that come with a not so small price.  You'll save so much money by ordering from Etsy, you might even keep these pillows on your bed at night.  What a novel idea, a decorative and purposeful pillow.

KainKain

DecidedlyChic

PersnickityHome

CastleCreekDesigns

.....Must Hear.....

"To Build A Home" The Cinematic Orchestra

The Big Move

Well, I am finally in my new place! Mom, George and my uncle all came into town to assist in the move.  Last week I boxed everything up so that Friday night we could fill our fleet of cars with my clothes, furniture, etc.   This is the first I will be living alone and I am a little nervous. More than anything however, I am thrilled to be living in a place I can call my own.  I am excited to add my own touch to the rooms.  I am excited to wake up early and go to bed late without worrying I am disturbing my other housemates.  But most importantly, I am excited to be in control of the thermostat! Now no one can call me crazy for keeping the apartment a comfortable 76 degrees year-round. 

Five hours, 3 trips between apartments, and 1 flat tire later, we had everything moved to my new place.  I will be spending the next week hanging pictures, painting furniture and buying odds and ends.  Decorating my first place will definitely be an ongoing process but I am so happy to have an endless supply of projects ahead of me.   Here's to making this house a home!

Bedroom

Dressing Room/ Bathroom

Living Room

My HUGE kitchen...5' X 8'

Front Porch

24 Years Young

Thanks to the help of Jessica, Will and I flew to Washington D.C. this weekend to celebrate my 24th birthday.  I was completely out of the loop as to our Friday night plans and was thrilled when we walked into a dueling piano bar.  The icing on the cake (pun intended) was Will and Jessica's musical surprise in honor of my Dad.  They knew Dad used to play "Walking in Memphis", so when the pianos began playing the familiar tune, I was speechless.  It was my first birthday without Dad, so their heartfelt request was a way of incorporating him into my special day.    

On Saturday we spent the day in Alexandria's historic Old Town.  I loved the outdoor cafes, the shaded walkways and the antique brick architecture. As Jess aptly noted, "Old Town is such a Concetta place."  She knows me too well!  We finished the day off with a trip to Whole Foods.  But not just any Whole Foods...I needed a map to navigate my way through this maze of magnificence.  My favorite feature was the in-store wine loft.  A wine bar...in a grocery store...Yes, please!

.....Must Have.....

Have you ever been on the phone at work and reached for a pen and paper but can only manage to find a stack of mini-Post-Its and a dull pencil.   How about when reaching for said pencil, your telephone cord brushes the pound of reports you just printed sending them cascading off the desk and onto the floor.  In a matter of seconds, this simple act of jotting-down a callback number has turned into a minor headache. Well, there is a simple (and cute!) solution to these omnipresent office uh-oh's.  From bronzed tape dispensers to personalized paperweights, Iomoi offers all the essentials to keep your workplace organized.  Iomoi's playful designs supply color for your desk and a solution for your mess.

     

.....Must Hear.....

"Sweet Serendipity" Lee DeWyze

Birthday Fit For a Princess

So yes, I did wake up at 5:30 this morning to watch the royal wedding along with 75% of the US. However, April 29th signifies another important event, my 24th BIRTHDAY!

My co-workers pulled out all the stops to ensure my birthday was not overshadowed by the royal wedding.  Tonight, I am flying to DC to continue the birthday celebration with Jess, Jon and Will. More exciting news to come!

Happily Ever After

With April 29th upon us, I find myself looking forward to watching Will and Kate's highly anticipated wedding!  While the world waits to see this royal spectacle, I know two more duos who are planning spectacles of their own.  Two of my favorite couples announced their engagements this month!  


Two weeks ago, my dear friend Anna came home from work to find her boyfriend Chett waiting in a candlelit backyard.  Chett thoughtfully chose a passage in the Bible for them both to read.  When he asked Anna to close the Bible, their married name was engraved in the corner.  If that isn't enough to make your heart melt, Chett bought the ring a year and a half ago and has been waiting for the perfect time to pop the question.  I guess it's true what they say, "When you know, you know".  Their relationship is based on a strong friendship, as well as shared beliefs and values.  They are two of the most caring people I know and, I wish them all the best!  You can read more about the proposal on Anna's blog.

One week later and two states away, another proposal took place.  Brad is one of my boyfriend's closest friends from law school.  I met Brad a year ago in Miami the same night I met Will.  I remember how fondly Brad would speak of his girlfriend.  One month later, I met "the girlfriend" and instantly knew why Brad spoke so highly of her.  She is beautiful, optimistic, and full of life.  They have a genuine adoration and respect for one another that is impossible to ignore.  Last week, Brad dropped to one knee after taking Abby on a re-creation of their first date.  How's that for dessert?!

While we're on the topic of weddings and happily ever after stories, my newlywed friend Katharine had some exciting news to share with me.  After eight months of hard work, Southern Weddings Magazine released a detailed account of Katharine and Kyle's wedding that I was lucky enough to be a part of in September.  Being the magazine's Managing Editor, Katharine's wedding was nothing short of spectacular.  I have included some of my favorite shots from the wedding, but for a more detailed account of their nuptials, visit SW Mag's blog. 

  

 

Sole Food

This weekend I was at home visiting Mom for Easter. We decided to pamper ourselves with a pedicure.  Not just any pedicure though...a fish pedicure at All About the Sole.  Yes, I said fish pedicure.  For those of you who have never heard of this bizarre procedure, I have decided to provide a video rather than try to explain. 

These toothless freshwater fish are native to Western Asia so, unless you're planning a trip to the Fertile Crescent, swim away.  This exfoliation technique was introduced in Turkey where the Garra Rufa fish serve as doctors to patients with skin ailments.  Hence the name "Dr. Fish Treatment".  In Turkey, patients and spa enthusiasts actually dip their entire bodies in fish infested pools.  Talk about braving the waters!

Can't say I would enjoy this...

Unlike traditional pedicures where a razor is implemented to slough away dead skin as well as healthy skin, the fish only remove the the bad skin. The first 5 minutes of our 15 minute dip, Mom and I squirmed in our chairs and tried to get acclimated to the ticklish sensation.  The tingling soon subsided and, before we knew it, our aquatic adventure was over.

Mom went first

EEEEEk

Most people probably find this outlandish activity risky and unsanitary.  That is probably why it is banned in 14 states...  However, since this rare spa ritual has been introduced to the US, there has been no reported cases of harm done to the fish or the patrons.  It's a symbiotic relationship that leaves both parties satisfied.  The fish get full meals and I get soft heels!

The Campaign Trail

Now that I have an apartment, I had better begin looking for furniture.  In a serendipitous twist of fate, one of my managers was selling a couch on Craigslist and asked if any employees were interested.  I immediately responded to the email and secured the sofa.  The remaining item I need is a dresser.  Believe it or not, I have NEVER owned a dresser.  I somehow have lived 23 years hanging all of my clothes or piling them into storage bins or closet shelves.  My friend Molly wrote about her campaign furniture find, and I am so excited to see the rehab she does on these hard-to-find treasures.

I am now on my own "campaign trail" if you will.  I am a huge advocate of Craigslist, but, every time I visit the site I spend at least an hour clicking, scrolling and minimizing.  Before I know it, I have exhausted my eyes and my computer's battery. 


Well, for those of you who have not heard of Craigseasy, behold!  Simply click on this link and follow the simple instructions and Voila!  No more clicking and guessing, squinting and zooming, hoping and wishing.  So to my fellow Craigslisters, here's to happy (and easy) hunting!

.....Must Have.....

Catherine Fitzsimmons, founder of Rikshaw Design and a native Virginian (woohoo!), gathered inspiration for her line while traveling across the globe.  Her trip to India, however, made the greatest impact on her present collection.  Fitzsimmons' bohemian style is reflected in her ever-present use of vibrant colors and block-prints.  From bedding to bibs and beyond, Fitzsimmons has something for everyone.  Here are some of my favorite Rikshaw pieces:

.....Must Hear.....

"Nolita Fairytale" Vanessa Carlton