Home sweet future home

I had a very productive weekend scoping out our future home. With my mother as my partner-in-crime, we toured 13 apartments in 24 hours. I video taped everything with JJ's flipvideo and made detailed notes to share with the Mr. last night when I got home.

While all of the units had its own benefits and weaknesses, I think we've narrowed it down to two. I wish I had better pictures to share, but I can't figure out how to freeze-frame the flip video.

Choice 1:
1100 square feet, 2 bedrooms+small bonus room, 2 bathrooms, 8th floor of a downtown high-rise with amazing city views, updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, three closets, washer and dryer, includes 2 uncovered reserved parking spots.

Choice 2:
1100 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large closets and lots of storage, wonderful neighborhood where you can walk to all amenities, brand new unit with no previous occupants, big jacuzzi tub, washer and dryer, includes one covered parking spot.

Choice one is $200 less per month than Choice 2 and includes parking for both of us. Choice 2 is in a better neighborhood than Choice 1 and has more storage space. Choice 1 has to pay monthly HOA fees and is run by a Board of Directors. Both options are less than 5 minutes from JJ's office.


I'm having trouble deciding.



And to "treat" myself for all of my hard work, I bought this precious candle I'd been wanting.

via

Happy Halloween!

image via Kate Spade

Have a happy Halloween! The Mr. and I are staying in watching scary movies and passing out candy to little kids....if I don't eat it all first!

Do you have a favorite halloween costume? A few years my sister and I dressed up as a Christmas tree and a gift. And one year I was Madonna. Most of my other costumes were kind of lame.

Face Lift

The blog got a face lift today. What do you think of the cool new header my friend whipped up for me? It's  nice (convenient?) to have friends who are fancy graphic designers in NYC. Thanks, Mags!

Here she is exactly two years ago being artistic and making me a haunted gingerbread house. 

What do you think of our electronic plastic surgery?

No longer a camping store

When did L.L. Bean become hip? I have a memory from childhood of attending a friend's birthday party where we went "camping" with our American Girl Dolls and my Mom ordered us camping stuff from L.L. Bean. If I was to list 100 places that I would order a purse from, L.L. Bean would never register on my radar.

But I guess I was wrong.....

L.L. Bean's new Signature Line is pretty great. I'll think I'll take this perfect-for-fall outfit too.

And I must add, Samantha and I really didn't like camping.



Map Map Map Map

I saw these typographic maps on another blog today and flipped over them. The entire maps accurately depict neighborhoods, parks, streets, rivers- with only type! All words were manually placed and it took hundreds of hours to make each map.

Right now they have Chicago and Boston. I'm sure Columbia, Missouri will be next.

These definately made me think of my friend who is obsessed with typography.

Roadtrip

I'm wanting to take a vacation and these are the places I have in mind:

Atlanta
Chicago

Burbank

Frisco

Long Island
Houston
Portland
Seattle

Philadelphia
Tempe
Minneapolis
Baltimore
Woodridge

What do all of these cities have in common? They have an Ikea!

Chicago is the closest but Minneapolis has the added benefit of an adorable friend. Now I just need to start working on getting my husband to take a road trip with me. And learn how to drive a U-Haul. And win the lottery. Piece of cake!

51 days until my entire apartment is packed in moving boxes. That only leaves 50 days for a road trip to buy more stuff to pack and move! I'm going to try to bribe husband with the sweedish food in the Ikea food court. What up, meatballs!

Decisions, Decisions

The chair we have in our living room right now is a hot mess. It was (very kindly!) handed down to us from a friend who was moving to LA to be a hip photographer. It has an extremely broken frame and ottoman from years of "love" and the once-white color is now "freckled" and "sunkissed." Like my use of adjectives?

So, I've been searching around for a new one that is similar in size since my husband is freakishly tall. I also think I want a white chair with a slip cover that I can throw it in the wash. And, it must have an ottoman because tall husband and I are lazy and like to lounge.

Here's what I have in mind.

I know it's kind of boring but it is very practical for the price: $199!

Assuming I order a matching white ottoman to go with this chair, I'd like to order a patterned ottoman to put in front of the couch to double as a coffee table. I'm hoping this will discourage tall husband from eating so much food on the coffee table. I'd love your opinion on which you like better!

OR

They are the same price, give or take $30. Thoughts?

At least all my silverware has a place...

I feel like a stupid wife.

Tonight I tried to pull our kitchen drawer out so I could move it out to the living room to organize it while I watched Pretty Woman. JJ kept telling me this was a terrible idea but I had to see for myself - by messing up the hinges. I have a feeling this is how the rest of our lives will be: JJ telling me when I'm making stupid choices and me ignoring him.

Now I have a very organized drawer and a very annoyed husband. Win-win?

Un-Spirited

I don't know why I can't seem to get into the Halloween spirit this year. Bah-humbug.

I intend to wear something fleece-y and warm and pass out candy to all of the cute neighbor kids. Perhaps I'll add a clown nose.

These are so much cuter than I could ever be....

1/2/3/4/5

I'm leaving you with these five reminders for the end of the week.

 

ESPN Gameday in the Hood

I think it is important for everyone to know that the University of Missouri (my alma mater!) founded Homecoming. This weekend will be its 100th anniversary of Homecoming and guess who's going to be in the hood? ESPN Gameday!

I couldn't resist this picture. It looks like the players are going to break out some Rockettes choreography or something equally as beautiful.

JJ takes his first part of the CPA exam that day so I'll be cheering on the Tigers from home. I mean, I'll be dancing along with the Tigers from home.

1/2

Fall Themed

I love everything about the fall. I love festive flavored food (hello pumpkin spice latte!) and decorations and traditions. How cool would it be to have the creativity for this kind of fall decorations in your house....

via Country Living

Instead, we have THIS bad boy on our porch! Jealous?

I was going to try to be festive and bake something fall-ish this week but then I will undoubtedly eat it entirely by myself so I'm trying to resist.

Counting my Chickens

Since hubby is studying his fine butt off, I am working tirelessly at finding somewhere for us to live in 59 days when we make our big move to a new city. I've come up with a list of {unrealistic} requirements for our new diggs:
     Safe/Available Parking for TWO cars
     Washer and Dryer in the unit
     Enough kitchen cabinets that I don't have to store bakeware under my living room chair like I do now
     Atleast two closets
     More than 900 square feet
     In a location with young people who are looking for new friends


I've found some amazing places (which I've been informed by Realtors there is no chance they'll still be available when I want them...). Instead of figuring out how I will pay a deposit, I'm figuring out what cool furniture I will fill them with.

Remember when I was obsessed with this chair? Well I found something even better!

Now I can have the print without having to get new chairs. Now if only I had an extra $300 laying around...


This ottoman is the classic example of "don't count your chickens before they hatch." Elise, don't decorate your apartment before you sign a lease.

Painting Ponies- My dream come true!

There is a magical place in Pennsylvania where ponies paint pictures. An art student taught her pony how to paint and the rest was history. The art is sold on their website and 10% of sales on all canvas paintings are donated to the Chincoteague Pony Association to help feed and care for the wild ponies of Assateague Island.

I wish I had taught my horse Piper how to paint so he could be as adorable as these ponies. I think $100 is a little steep or I would have one of these paintings in the mail to my apartment faster than you can say Chincoteague.

Check out the Painting Ponies Etsy shop to see all of the art for sale. 

Photos from Young House Love

It is a very good thing I'm already married!

It is a very good thing I am already married because there has been a lot of buzz lately about Anthropologie's new bridal line (which will launch in Spring 2011). I'm pretty positive that if I had been aware Anthro would be carrying bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses I would have stalled the wedding until next Spring. This would have probably used up ALL of my wedding budget.

When my beautiful sister gets engaged I am going to force her to go here with me. Actually, maybe I'll just schedule an appointment to walk around and drool over the beauty.

While not a part of this new line, I was IN LOVE with my dress for my wedding. It was the Grecia gown from the spanish designer Pronovias.

It was a big step for me but this morning I removed a bunch of wedding blogs from my google reader.

Ice Cream Cake on the Brain

It's Friday and I'm having a very difficult time getting my mind to concentrate on anything other than the ice cream cake in my freezer at home.

A few of my friends are coming to town this weekend to celebrate my {flu free!} birthday. The agenda includes pumpkin carving, the ever festive corn maze, outlet shopping, sushi and karoke in the back room of our favorite restaurant, and a few martinis. Oh happiness!


(photo)

Home-made Art

Inspired by this post, I got a little crafty and created some home-made art on a budget for our living room.

I love anything with a monogram. The best part about this project is that it cost me less than $5.00 so if I hate it in 20 minutes I won't feel guilty.

What up, 24

Yesterday was my birthday and JJ tried the best he knew how to make it wonderful. He made me breakfast, took me out to a nice dinner, bought home a yummy ice cream cake and gave me something that sparkles. But because I am a mean person I am going to tease him a little bit:

Here is the "Happy Birthday" sign he made which is hanging from the ceiling fan with painters tape...

...and the home-made "tissue paper" (hint: it's my pillow!!)

Cheers to this new year and all of the joy and challenges it will bring!

Professional Wedding Pictures

As promised, here are some of my favorites from our professional wedding pictures. I think Steve Williams did an excellent job!