My new apartment- the after edition...

The living room- notice the wall hanging covers over the scary bars. The two paintings are Earl Thollander's (my great Uncle).

Other side of the living room. The red sunflower cross is one of the products we make at work.

Dining room. The Austin poster was a gift from Maggie & Dave (Thank you!!) and then I found a Virginia print done in a similar style online to go with it!

Bookshelf dividing the dining room and kitchen

Kitchen

View from kitchen into dining room

One corner of my room. My desk was the table that was left in the dining room when I moved in.

Other corner- I found the bookshelf (as well as my dining room table and desk chair) at an awesome little used furniture shop in Austin run by an older gentlemen who cracks jokes and insists on carrying everything for you. My sister in law and I have affectionally deemed him "Felix"

My bed (which is currently a futon from Ikea- it will become a futon in the living room when I get an actual bed)

Last corner of the room looking into the bathroom.

Bathroom area

Shower curtain (which I love)

Closet side one- which my sister in law helped me organize- and she did an amazing job!

Closet side two!

That's all- I got lots of space and am ready for visitors!!! :)

Project #2

I've been wanting to make one of those jewelry hanger-frame things, and for a few weeks have been stopping at every Goodwill I see (which there are A LOT here) in order to find the perfect frame. Last week, I found one, and so today I set out to finally put it together!

My ingredients: frame, fabric, wire mesh, and foam board (so I could push my studs into it).

I cut the foam board to fit in the frame using a dull steak knife and cutting board- it did the trick!

I first tried to cut the mesh wire with pliers- a no go. My scissors actually worked much better! That may however be the last thing they ever cut...

Next I stapled the fabric around my foam board and then just bent the mesh wire around that. I'm not sure how you're actually supposed to make one of these cause I just went for it, but it is seeming to work out

Finally, I fitted my board into the frame- and here it is!

I put nails on the bottom row to hang necklaces from and then just hooked or pushed in all the earrings- here is the finished product!

The outside + project #1

My apartment from the outside- Mine is the one on the top right corner (front window- bedroom, side window, kitchen)

My first project- making this free couch livable.... (couch you are so ugly you should be ashamed of yourself)

I had this awesome sheet (well duvet cover) that one of my previous roommates left behind and I inherited in the move. First I tried to put it all around the couch... An (unsuccessful) task that would probably have been quite amusing to watch.

Then I just cut open the cover so it would fit better. This took me much longer that it probably should have taken any human, but I had great difficulty figuring out which seems to cut. Thankfully I think I made the right choices.

Here it is all tucked in nicely in the couch! And it stays pretty well overall, although I still do plan to safety pin it in the back for extra security.

And with pillows!

Task #1...check.

My new apartment! The before edition...

These were all from the day I moved in...

Kitchen and dining area (chair and table left from previous tenants- chair is now gone, table is now my desk...but I won't ruin any more surprises)

Living room (couch and table also left- couch kept but modified, table gone)

Kitchen

View into sink area/bathroom (which is in the bedroom)

View of other side of previous area into closet (which is bigger than some rooms I've lived in- no great pic here sadly- but it was just bare in there)

Bedroom looking back to window

Other side of bedroom looking out to living room/kitchen/dining area

I'm hanging things tomorrow so then it will be time for more pics!

Livin the dream

 Two weeks from yesterday (so August 14) I will be leaving the great state of Virginia to move to Austin, Texas. See Texas themed gifts:

Because of this, I quit my job as of July 12 and have been livin' the dream since then! The time off started with a bang with my trip to Philly, and since then I have quite enjoyed relaxing, reading, hanging out with people, and traveling some. Here are some pics from an impromptu trip to Williamsburg a few weeks ago. This place will always be magical to me-

Saw some familiar faces :)

And brought a Cville friend along too (this is my friend Becca)

And here's one more random picture from a drive in movie I went to recently. I love going to drive ins (well the two I have been to...) except it was a double feature which means I fell asleep for most of the second. Still great.

I've been working on ticking things off my Charlottesville bucket list- and I'm well on my way to completing it! I'll post further on that as I get closer...

And finally- today I officially accepted and signed my new position! I'll start my new job August 21. I have really enjoyed having this time off, but am excited to begin the new chapter- only a few more weeks- hard to believe!

Philadelphia!

Last weekend I went up to Philadelphia to visit Maggie & Dave! Since Maggie is an official Philadelphia tour guide- it was literally like having my very own personal guide all through the city, and one that I love hanging out with! It was incredible. We saw pretty much all the iconic Philly spots on Saturday, and some lesser known ones along the way too. Here are some of the highlights-

Love Park

Me and Maggie the best tour guide ever in front of Independence Hall

Liberty Bell!

The Reading Terminal Market

Home of the Best Sandwich in America

Elfreth's Alley- the Nation's oldest Residential Street

Walk along the river

The United States Mint (where we also met up with Karen who had driven up with me to visit a friend)

A Bastille Day celebration at Eastern State Penitentiary- where we watched a cabaret parody of the French Revolution which culminated in 3000 Tasty Kakes (which I learned are from Philly) being launched into the crowd from the prison walls. It was amazing. And terrifying. And delicious.

Afterwards we got to take an evening tour of the prison. Which was pretty cool, and eerie!


Later that night we met up with Dave back in Narberth and went to their favorite local pub, where I ordered Jennie's new favorite sandwich in America- The Johnny. or maybe the Tommy. Whatever it was it was delicious. And enough to feed 8 people. And yes that's cranberry sauce

And all of that was Saturday! The following day Dave made us waffles in the morning (which were amazing) and then we explored Narberth and surrounding areas, relaxed some, made dinner, and watched a movie.

All in all it was a fantastic weekend! Thanks Maggie & Dave for hosting me! Your tour guide tip is in the mail...

Texas family

My family from Texas has been out visiting this past week and it's been a blast! Here we are all out to dinner for Joel and Louisa's 17 wedding anniversary- I can't believe it's been that long!

And tomorrow I move out of my house and into a friend's house for the next 7 weeks. It's been a busy time!

Blackfriars Playhouse

I got my Mom tickets to Twelfth Night at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton for Mother's Day. It's the only replica in the world of the Globe Theater in London, and they do plays in the style of original Shakespeare with the lights on and everything (except they have female actors too). I've always wanted to go there- but it was way better than I even imagined! The play was incredible and it was just a really fun setting. I definitely recommend it if you ever have the chance!! We couldn't take any pictures inside, but here we are in front. (My Dad came too)