high ceilings and bare walls, what to do?

we're hoping to move into our new apartment on march 26th. too early to start shopping? absolutely not. i started with some basic kitchenware items from broadway pandhandler and fishs eddy. i wasn't with drew, but i've been itching to start shopping and so i let it be. the real issue isn't the little, but plentiful, things needed for the kitchen, but rather what to do with all the space we have in the rest of the apartment. pictures to follow (think i'll do video next time):

kitchen


bedroom:



bathroom:



living room:

first purchase: couch (preferably brown)
the rest to follow, maybe curtains next. actually, lamps for the living room so we can see! on a positive note, drew and i tend to have the same tastes, so we'll come up with a place we both love.

i've been warned no girly decorations and i can live with that. what do i look like? the girl that painted her bedroom two shades of purple? .........

for the walls: ive reached out to one of my friends helen, a great young artist, to paint something for us. i also encouraged drew to reach out to some of his friends who have made some pieces we like.

the key is to not spend too much money, which if you know me...is hard for me to do. here are some other decorating ideas i've found interesting and will hopefully try:

1. canvas decorated with paper patterns for the walls (in different colors)

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/budget-decorating/cheap/low-cost-home-decorating-with-paper/;jsessionid=PFJDUEKZQXKB2CQCEASCBHQ?page=2

2. clear trays -- i'm a big fan of trays, clear ones with decorated paper look fun (different color scheme of course....drew, lol)

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/budget-decorating/cheap/low-cost-home-decorating-with-paper/;jsessionid=ELWEHXJOM11YGCQCEASCBHQ?page=3

after we move and get started i'll let you know how my projects go and update with pictures.....more ideas to come!

new beginnings

1. i quit my job 2. i'm getting a new apartment with my amazing boyfriend
j-o-b ---- i did it. i cut the cord that binds me to inside edition. now I can freely talk of my time there as being completely miserable, and changing me as a person...for the worse. now, i feel rejuvenated after taking an offer to work at scholastic, inc. (you know harry potter, babysitter's club, goose bumps, etc.) as a marketing assistant. now, my life will significantly improve, and i'll be helping to improve the lives of children by promoting literacy. my new life begins march 29th.

in other news, and the new direction i'll be taking on this blog for awhile- home new home and the decorating process. my boyfriend and i currently live together with another couple in dobbs ferry, ny. aside from the one bathroom, its a dream situation. house. cheap rent. privacy. washer/dryer in basement. space. no lease. cheap rent. wait, no cheap rent with utilities included. it's great. however, our landlord informed us he is selling the house, so we need to find new digs by may 1st. we had two months. no need to hurry. so we thought.

our roommates, newly engaged, determined they would find a new place by april 1st, and thus if we waited, we would be left paying for everything on our own in april. well shit, that changes things. and so, the hunt began with my turning to my good friend craigslist. but there were rules: i wasn't allowed to look in yonkers or irvington, but i could look in scarsdale, but a river town would be better like dobbs or tarrytown, the new place would, most importantly, have to be within walking distance of the train station, and ideally have parking for drew's car, and a washer/dryer, oh, and it would be nice to have the luxury of a dishwasher.

after looking at several places, some nice and suitable, one a mess, and stepping into what was surely our new apartment, we were sold. we decided on a 1 bedroom in tarrytown, best known for its village sleepy hollow, and about 10 minutes north of dobbs ferry. we actually found our new place before our roommates, who ultimately decided they'd settle in irvington, just on the border of tarrytown.

our new place doesn't disappoint on the criteria aforementioned and it definitely has some charm to it, which is why we fell in love. the building is old, as is the town. it's an old river town right on the hudson river. the train station is a 7 minute walk. we're a block from main st, which has a ton of little shops-- sweet shops, bars, restaurants, antique shops, liquor store....everything is walkable, which is great because i don't have a car, or a bike for that matter. the town seems pretty busy, much busier than dobbs. the realtor said the age range of residents is younger than dobbs as well. we love dobbs, and we'll definitely be making trips back there for the sushi (sushi mikes = arguably the best sushi i've ever had. there's a coin operated washer and dryer in the building and a parking spot included. no dishwasher, but i think we can live without.

the only drawback i see: my monthly train ticket will increase by $33, and with the impending pay cut i'm getting (yes, i took a pay cut to significantly alter my life for the better) ...it could be seen by some as a problem, but i'm not worried.

all i can do is smile at the changes to come, and im so happy to be sharing it with my boyfriend. next up: high ceilings and bare walls, what to do?

Drew

I love my Valentine.... Drew + Candy :)

Kina Grannis - "Valentine"

strut

with the death of alexander mcqueen comes the start of fashion week. now for me, this usually includes RSVPing and requesting invitations for producers that AREN'T me, however this time I got the surprise of actually going to a show. this never happens. i am a slave. this required me to sit for two hours blocking out our space on the media risers while sweaty photographers stared me down wondering when i was going to give up and move. "you did a great job!" -- when my crew finally arrived. I was later rewarded with seeing my first fashion show (i know, this is sad) with gorgeous women (heidi klum flawless in person!) strut the runway for heart truth's red dress collection. no, i didn't get a gift bag this year.

rip mcqueen
Alexander McQueen, A True Master - Fashion and Design News and Trends - WWD.com

circa 1985

i'm inspired

i'll write soon.

first winter break post college aka torture

i recieved a call from my mother the other day asking, "you've never been so cold in your life have you?" ...though the question was likely rhetorical, i feel the need to answer... and a bit bitterly i might add. so no mom, i havent.

though i love, yes love to forget about him, i'm reminded now of a conversation i had with my ex-boyfriend prior to moving here. he was listing off the many reasons why i shouldn't move to new york. one of the more lamer comments was a note about the frigid weather.

yes, awful ex-boyfriend, yes, marylanders, i admit--- it's fucking cold. the wind here is awful, the buildings provide a perfect tunnel for the blasts of terror whipping through the streets. the sky? it's usually gray, threatening yet another day of miserable weather.

since the arrival of the cold weather, i've had difficulty getting to work on time. my alarm goes off about an hour before i actually get up. i look out of the window dreading the walk to the subway. and we all know i hate to dress warmly, so its a shocker i haven't been treated for pneumonia.

today's post is to free my urge to whine all the time. below the jump find out why its ok to throw a tantrum. and by the way, moving to new york is still the best decision i've ever made. and besides, i have a great boyfriend and he has great fleece sheets to keep me warm. oh, and a new coat my mom bought me.

Feeling stressed? You ought to throw a tantrum.

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:24 AM on 05th January 2009

The end of the holidays, cold weather and economic gloom will make today one of the most stressful days of the year for returning to work.

But experts have come up with an unlikely remedy - throwing a tantrum.

'Releasing tension through shouting and screaming is a really beneficial way to expel the negative energies caused by stress,' said body language expert Judi James, the Big Brother psychologist.

Experts say throwing a tantrum can help people deal with stress

'When stress threatens to overwhelm you, try a short sustained burst of shouting, or alternatively, go somewhere quiet, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to help calm you down.'

The advice comes as a survey reveals that people are most likely to be irritated by colleagues eating noisily (28 per cent), sniffing (26 per cent), talking too loudly on the phone (21 per cent) and even singing (5 per cent).

Researchers found only one in ten prefer to sit quietly to combat tension, while more than a third admitted to having tantrums.

The Sound Or Silence Poll from the RNLI was released in the run-up to the lifeboat charity's fundraising SOS Day 2009 on January 30.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1105266/Feeling-stressed-You-ought-tantrum.html