(My New) Home For The Holidays ….A First Look At My New Apartment

I’ve been in my new apartment for a full month now, and I’m finally through unpacking all of the tuppers full of junk and sorting my life into a habitable, somewhat photographable habitat.  I am in love with my new space.  While of course, I didn’t expect to be celebrating the holidays this year as a bachelorette, my life has become much like my new nest- full of light, quirks and personality.

I am loving my new neighborhood, and I’m happy to say I assembled all of the IKEA furniture myself. (Without stripping a single screw this time, huzzah!)  I still don’t have anything nailed to the walls, I’ve rearranged the furniture several times since moving in- I’m hoping that will be the next phase of the nesting stage in quite literally, nailing things down.

My couch is from IKEA, and probably the most comfortable one I found.  After agonizing over a few and sending text to various friends in a dazed panic, I finally settled on this one.  The low arms aren’t as pretty to me, but they are perfect for reading, laptops or napping.  Plus, Matilda enjoys perching herself on the arms like a little puggly gargoyle.

I didn’t purchase any end tables- my first trip to IKEA meant that I needed so much, that after 3 hours of searching, I ran out of steam and no longer could remember what my apartment looked like.  I liken it to perfume shopping- eventually your nose stops working.  I figured that I could always come back to pick out end tables, a rug and some more accent pieces and lighting- my first trip to IKEA cost me about $1200 since I needed literally everything to start a home- a couch, dining room table, dresser, storage, additional seating and some kitchen accessories.

That being said, this end table was found last year in a Chicago alleyway. It serves as an excellent laptop charging station and best of all- it has a vintage aesthetic (vintage is another word for “charmingly beat up”) and was free.  Really, the best part was that it was free!

I think it’s about time I made a confession- I am a total feminist.  Yes, that is probably the only thing Beyonce and I have in common.  I’m sort of middle of the aisle when it comes to politics, but I have a ardent admiration of all of America’s First Ladies.  It doesn’t matter to me what party is in office, I have nothing but respect for the First Lady and pretty much absorb any book, Netflix documentary or article on them.

It’s my dream to be followed by the FLOTUS on Twitter and I’m pretty sure my dream job would be to run the First Lady’s Twitter and Instagram accounts.  White House, if you’re hiring, I don’t care what party is in office, please let me tweet for the FLOTUS. I promise I will be excellent.

Also, before you think my bookshelf is raunchy, Sex At Dawn, while seemingly sexy, is a book about evolutionary biology, Darwinism and the reproductive progression of primates….so sorry to disappoint you, but it is not very 50-Shades-esque.  I just find science to be so, so sexy.

“The word on the slopes was, she was fast!” I love you Anne Taintor.  I have a collection of her snarky takes on vintage ads in postcard form, I love swapping them out based on the season.  She is known for her giggle inducing gems like “She liked imaginary men best of all,” and “The the misteltoe wasn’t the only thing that was going to get hammered.” (seen here which I wish I had to frame, ha!).

I didn’t have a lot of Christmas decorations to work with this year- most of it is still packed away in a storage unit, waiting to be sorted.  I seem to have gravitated to a theme of bright white and glitter this season.  This season, to me, is all about letting as much light into my life as possible- otherwise, it’d be a dark winter.  Let the light shine in!

Alright, my favorite part about my decorations is the collection of toys I have waiting to be donated.  Last year, I got most of these on clearance from Target- but I was able to score this adorable Frozen Dress and Snow White Fischer Price toys at 40-50% off using the Cartwheel App.  I was hesitant to buy clothes for a toy drive (sizing is always a problem), but the deal was so good to pass up and I know this Elsa dress makes girls go gaga, so let’s hope it makes a little one happy this year!

Every year, I celebrate by going toy shopping.  I’m really excited about this year’s haul since everything I got was 40-70% off!  So, for now, the toys will serve as a good decoration until they’re ready for Santa’s sleigh.

After much shifting, sorting, dusting and organizing, it was time to celebrate a little.  Someday, when I get champagne flutes I love as much of this wine glass (purchased in New Orleans, but you can find it online), I will start drinking my champagne in modestly sized portions.  Until then, I think this photo pretty much sums up my attitude lately- celebrate in big gulps and don’t wait for anyone’s permission to find your bliss.  If a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one. Cheers to that!

I hope to have more pictures up when I get the bedroom finished and I’m brave enough to put nails in the wall.  Until then, I wish you all a happy holiday season that is frugal, beautiful and filled with light and love.

Happy holidays & lots of love!