New Apartment Pics!

Hello Everyone!!

So this week I have spent a lot of time unpacking and just getting used to the new place, and FINALLY I have deemed it respectable enough to show you all some pictures!!

The bed with the chandelier wall decal and yellow toile duvet dover!

This is the lounging area, with the Etsy.com pillows and a Chinese screen on the wall!

The breakfast nook

My entryway table, with the Etsy.com table, adorable mirror, Chinese oat scoop, and my lamp (my first purchase for the apt right after I signed my lease!)

My Great Grandmothers red wood vanity in the apartments old murphy-bed nook (I will post a later blog about the angel on the right)

So there are just a few pics of the new place!! I can't wait to get all the pictures and everything up all over the walls, but I can say that it really is starting to feel like home!

Especially with my new companion Spencer. He has already ben such a lovebug, I am thrilled I got him!! Pics to follow soon!

Blog Award!!!

Hey all!! I am so sorry I have not posted in a while, but I am mid-moving and PROMISE to post pics as soon as it all begins to not look like a huge mess! I am so excited to share it all with you all!!

On another note, the AMAZING Sarah from VilliagePalm gave me this award!! Thank you so much!! We were recently matched up for a Pink Swap and I am so happy we were, I adore her blog! Check it out asap, she has incredible taste!!

So here are the rules for this award!


1. Accept the award and post it on your blog. (Be sure and thank the person you receive this award from!)

2. Pass the award on to bloggers that you have discovered and think are wonderful.

3. Be sure to let them know you tagged them.

I am tagging:

Running In High Heels 

Southern Living: Preppy Style

Less Than A Week!!

So the big moving day is this coming Wednesday, although I work all week, so most of the moving will actually take place next Saturday. I thought about taking pictures about the current state of my room, but that would just be embarrassing as it looks like I don't even have a floor!

To step away from the apartment talk temporarily, I need help finding the PERFECT new purse. I know soon I will need to pay bills and rent, etc. so I think now may be the only time I can afford to splurge on a new bag!! Below are a few I like, so please tell me if you like any of them at all, and if you have any links to other bags you may suggest!

This is the Marche bag from JCrew.

This is the Campo back from JCrew.

This is the Saddle bag by Cole Haan.

Thoughts?? Suggestions?? What bags do you all carry for everyday?

THANK YOU!!

I want to say a HUGE thank you to Holly Sails for giving me the "Happy 101- Sweet Friends"award! This my first award, so it means a lot!! I have been reading everyone else's blogs as well and I have seen these awards, and have pretty much been hoping I would get one some day!

So thank you again Holly, you made my day!!

And now to carry on the award:

Here are the unofficial rules of this award:
1) List 10 things that make you happy
2) Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day
3) If you are one of the 10 bloggers awarded, link back to my blog and continue brightening people's days!

So, ten things that make me happy:

1. Being with my family

2. Sleeping in

3. Having a good skin and hair day (shallow? yes. true? you know it!)

4. My best friends

5. Feeling like I have actually accomplished something at the end of the day

6. Spaghetti

7. Lots of fluff in my down comforter

8. Watching my favorite shoes (L and O, Glee, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, the list goes on...)

9. Reading a really great book (currently reading "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult")

10. Knowing that in the end, everything is going to be ok :)

I am passing this onto:

The Engineer in Heels and Pearls 

Monograms and Manicures

Running in High Heels

Through Rose Colored Glasse

Tale of a GRITS

Polka Dots and Protein Bars

Dreaming in Pink and Green

Maryland Pink and Green

Tales of a Short Southern Momma

Grace in Her Step

These are of my FAVORITE things!

Well, favorite beauty products anyway! I figured I would take a little break from talking about my apartment, and talk about more important things, like products. Because who doesn't love good beauty suggestions!? Only the foolish, thats who!

Ok, so the not great pic above is just a few of my favorites and daily essentials. Ill start off first with hair stuff!

Hair:

1. Sedu Ionic Ceramic Pro Flat Iron- this bad boy is the best straightener I have ever had. I have pretty curly hair naturally, and since I cut it all off, I basically have to straighten it everyday. This does the trick in as little as 5 to 10 minutes (granted i blast my hair dry first, and its very fine hair...)

2. Kiehl's Heat-Protective Silk Straightening Cream- I just started using this after I got it for Christmas, but its incredible! It makes my hair so soft and seriously cut my iron time in half!

3. Frederic Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Spray- excellent de-frizzer as the final touch!

Nails:

1. Essie Nail Polish in 'Sexy Divide'- A very dark shimmery purple that mother thinks looks "gothic" but that I adore (and am currently wearing)

2. EssieNail Polish in 'Fiji'- The PERFECT pink. Its not sheer, and only takes 2 coats!

Skin:

1. Lilly Pulitzer Lotion in 'Wink'- I don't ever have to explain this. Smells. So. Good.

2. Fresh Umbrian Clay Foundation- Soaks up the oil, yet has great natural coverage!

3. Hoola Bronzer by Benefit- An oldie but a goodie! I have used this for years, and although I have tried other bronzers for my naturally alabaster skin, this one looks the most natural, I love it!
4. Rosebud Salve (not pictured) and Minted Rose Lip Balm- hands down the best lip balms I have ever used. A must have.

One day I will post more favorites, but I thought these are some great basics that almost anyone could love!

Recent Apartment Purchases!

Because this is my first apartment since graduating college, I basically have to buy everything. I mean furniture, electronics, kitchen stuff, decorations, etc. It has been much more difficult that I thought it would be to find things that go together, but that aren't too matchy-matchy! So I thought I would list a few little decorative things I have purchased off of Etsy for the apartment. I love this site because all the things are listed by people who make them, and it isn't just one big store. The things are so unique and cute! If you have any questions about where on the site I found them, please do not hesitate to ask!

1. Couch Pillows:     These two colors work perfectly with my color scheme, are handmade, and just so adorable! They will be put on a black couch.

2. Wall Decal: I got this in black like it is pictured, and will either go over my bed (bedding shown in an older post), or above the black couch. I LOVE these, and I think it will add some dimension to the room!

3. A little hall table: I have ordered this in antique black, and will be putting this gorgeous red poppy lamp (picture to come later) on it, as well as a few pictures!

4. Breathe: This, in grey, will go above, as a little zen moment before I leave :)

So those are just a few little things I have purchased, and I can't wait for them to come in so I can start decorating!!

Adventure is about to begin!!

So today I was able to get into my new apartment to do some measuring, and basically just see it again since I had only seen it once about a month ago. Good news, I still adore it. Kind of scary news, I only have 3 weeks until the big move!!!!!

I am unbelievably excited but also very nervous. This will be my first time living alone (first big girl apartment...)! In an older post I showed you my bedding, and have basically built my itty bitty studio apartment around that. The color scheme is white and black with touches of red and yellow (what up Chi O, although embarrassingly not on purpose...). I think it will turn out really well, and of course will post pictures once I start moving in.

On another note, the season of holiday's off work is over, and that makes me very sad. I looooved having those short weeks, but hopefully this new move will keep me excited and get me through it!