Home Sweet Blog

Pictures, Pictures Everywhere

2009-09-19T20:16:00.015-06:00

I'm finally getting some decoration on my walls! A few months ago I hung a picture that my sister got me for Christmas on the wall in my living room. And this afternoon I finally hung a print that my aunt gave me in my bedroom. I really like having pictures on the walls. I've never been in an apartment before were I was allowed to, so I'm having fun with it now.

In the living room is "Porcupine" by photographer Sharon Montrose. Yes, it's just a picture of a porcupine. And I don't know why, but it totally works for my apartment. It's really simple and
unique, and look at him. He's so cute!

In my bedroom is "Hypnocat" by Jon Carling. A little stranger even than the porcupine, but I'm obsessed with this picture. I'm glad that I hung it by my bed so that I can look at it while lying in bed and try to figure out what it means.

Here's another picture that I want to hang, "The Garden's Secret" by Karla Morreira (the center is a print, but the matting is original by the artist). But I have two problems. First, I have no idea where to put it. I wish I had more wall space in my bathroom, if I did I would put it there.

Second, it's a little heavy and I'm kind of nervous about hanging a bigger picture. What kind of nails do I need? Do I have to find a stud? I'm need to find the answers to these questions because it's been sitting on the floor in my bedroom since I moved in. Not good.

Finally, there's one more piece I want to hang on my walls. This will also go out in my living room. The Azores are known for their tiles and when I was there this summer I picked up a quite a few.

Including this great six-piece tile picture I bought at a ceramics shop near my mom's house called Ceramica de Praia. It depicts the Império de São Bartolomeu (São Bartolomeu Divine Holy Spirit House) which is located on the island my mom lives on. I took this picture right after they pulled it out of the kilns at Ceramica de Praia.

It's beautiful and I can't wait to hang it up and show it off. But for now it's still in six pieces and wrapped up in bubble wrap. Those tiles aren't exactly light, so I think I'm going to leave the setting and framing to a professional.

International Cosmo-Blogging Volume II: O Fim

2009-07-18T23:19:00.021-06:00

I've been back in Denver for a week now, and while I still haven't unpacked my suitcase, I thought I would post the last of my pictures from my fabulous trip to the Azores two weeks ago. Although the weather was less than perfect for most of time I was there, we did manage to make it to the beach in Praia da Vitoria for a few hours on Thursday, where I picked up a rockin' sunburn.

The water was a little cold....
....but it was beautiful and a lot of fun. I hadn't been to the beach in a long, long time.

One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was going to a street bull fight later that night. My mom's landlord's family had a piece of property on the street where it was being held. We were seated up in kind of roof garden, so we were able to have a great, but completely safe, place to watch from.

Basically, they take some rowdy bulls, about six guys try to hold on to it with a rope and they let it go in the street. Then all the macho (and usually a little drunk) guys run up and taunt it, to try to get it to chase them. There were four different bulls used, and the whole thing took a couple hours.

While I'm sure PETA isn't a fan of these events, it's not like the Spanish-style arena bull fights where the bull is killed. With an Azorean street bull fight, you go hoping to see some guys get their asses kicked and everyone is rooting for the bulls. Someone actually did get trampled, and while I think he may have been milking it a little bit, an ambulence came and took him away. But I guess that's what you get when you run up to an angry bull and poke it with an umbrella!

And that's about it! Thanks for the wonderful trip, Mommy - you're the best! I'm already hoping can make it a twice-in-a-lifetime experience and come back next year....

Biscoitos! Sunshine!

2009-07-08T13:50:00.031-06:00

We finally got some sun! Instead of hanging around Fonte do Bastardo and Praia da Vitoria on the south-eastern side of the island, which was still pretty overcast, we headed north. In fact we drove around the entire coast of the island today.

One of the highlights was stopping in a town on the northern coast called Biscoitos (pronounced besh-goyts). We finally got to catch some sun. There were these volcanic rock formations on the coast line that have been turned into cement beaches. The water was still a little too cold for swimming (although the Portuguese locals didn't seem to mind), but hopefully I was able to get a little bit of a tan!

On our way around the western coast of the island, we ran across an old nature preserve/park. There was a very cool fountain there, it didn't have a date but looked to be very old. Oh yeah, there was a see-saw there too. And yes, it was fun.

We also stopped for a late lunch of salmon and cod in Biscoitis, visited the "basket man" (he will create out of or wrap up in pretty much anything with reeds), and hit up another tile and ceramic shop, this one in a town called Cinco Ribeiras (I bought a great mixing bowl).

All-in-all it was a great day. And although we were disappointed to find out that our off-shore fishing trip for tomorrow has been cancelled due to an impending storm, we are planning to see a street bull fight tomorrow night and that sounds very exciting!

Shopping in Angra

2009-07-07T17:29:00.020-06:00

The weather was still not cooperating today! So instead of going to the beach, we decided to go shopping. First, we went this very cool ceramic tile shop near where my mom lives (I can't remember the name of it right now....) Some of you who are reading this will probably be getting painted tiles from there as souvenirs. They have hundreds of variations of tiles there. Some are screen prints and some are custom hand-painted. But all are fired in their own shop. Later in the week I am going to go back and order a six-tile mosaic painting. Hopefully I can get an example picture to share.

Later in the day we went to a town called Angra, which is located on the southern coast of the island. It's much bigger than both Praia and Fonte do Bastardo. There were lots of shops, and although we weren't looking for anything in particular, we spent the afternoon just walking around and poking our heads into many of them.

Looking for Dolphins

2009-07-06T10:58:00.029-06:00

I've been in the Azores for two days and I finally have some pictures to share. I wish I could say that the weather has been better, but it has been absolutely pouring rain today. But hopefully it will just be for today, since our tour guide (my mom) had to go into the office today anyway. So here is what we have been up to.

We spent Saturday afternoon walking around Praia da Vitoria, a town just next door to the town where my mom lives, Fonte do Bastardo (translation: "fountain of the bastard).....

And we spent Sunday morning taking a dolphin hunting boat trip. Wait - that's dolphin watching. Unfortunately, the dolphins were feeling a little shy that day. We didn't see any, so we took a scenic tour around "Split Rock" (you'll see in the pictures) and the around the south-eastern coast of the island instead. Still fun!

International Cosmo-Blogging Volume II: Greetings from the Azores!

2009-07-04T04:01:00.006-06:00

Welcome to the second annual edition of "International Cosmo-Blogging," coming to you this year from the Azores!

Well, we're finally here! After months and months of anticipation and waiting, my sister Kaitlin and I are officially on a fabulous vacation in the Azores! As you can see from the map above, it was a pretty long trip. But there weren't any crying babies on our planes, we had plenty of time to make all of our connecting flights, and we even got bumped up to business class on the flight from London to Lisbon.

We just got in last night and I've already taken a few pictures that I wish I could share - but my suitcase didn't make it any farther than London. Kind of a bummer since all my clothes, shoes, swimsuits, makeup, contacts, and my camera's USB cord are in that bag. Hopefully I will be getting it back tonight and I can get on with my vacation in style.

Anyway, it is very beautiful here and I can't wait to get out and start seeing things. It's so nice to see my mom and Topaz (it's been almost a year!), and meet the new member of the family, a little black kitty named Lilly. Since today is the Fourth of July, I believe we are going to a barbeque at my mom's work tonight, so I can meet all of her coworkers and hopefully catch some fireworks.

Now, if you'll excuse me I've got some vacationing to do!

Oh My God

2009-03-22T01:17:00.009-06:00

I have been so busy! (And a little bit lazy.) Let's see, what have I been up to so far in 2009?

Well, I went to the University of Michigan looking for new blood for DISH Network. I'd recommend staying away from Ann Arbor during January.

I got my world rocked by The Killers.

Oh yeah....I got a tat! What can I say, sometimes you have to drive up to Wyoming on a Saturday afternoon and get a tattoo with your sister. (Despite how sick I look in that picture, I neither cried nor barfed, thank you very much.)

But I haven't been completely neglecting my apartment. I got a really cool print for Christmas and I finally worked up the courage to hang it on my wall! Yes, nail met plaster.

Plus, my friend Kristen moved to Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago. She's currently staying with my dad but she hopes to find a place of her own soon, so I can't wait to showcase her new fabulous apartment!

More to come later....

The Bookshelf

2008-12-26T21:22:00.014-07:00

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I did - and I got some great gifts for my apartment! Hopefully I'll get to all of them, but I'm going to start with the present from my dad and stepmom, since it's been consuming most of my night.

I have been coveting a particular bookshelf at Pier 1 for months, and now that it's sitting in my living room I'm so happy. Thanks Dad and Nicole!

Okay, let's preface the story with this. Me, little 5-foot-tall Meghan, dragged this box....

....up these stairs....

....all by myself. For a little context, that box was a good 4 inches taller than me. Luckily, I remembered to lift with my back, with a jerking, twisting motion.

I've never put a real piece of furniture together before, so I was little nervous. But I was so excited about the bookshelf that I decided to go for it anyway.

I wasn't sure what any of these were for, so I just threw them away.

It was pretty easy and straight forward up until this point. When I had to put the other side on is where I ran into trouble.

Both of those triangular shelves had three little dowels on each side that had to fit into the sides of the bookshelf. It took me about 45 minutes to get them all in. Either one fit in and the other five didn't, or five fit in and one didn't. But I eventually figured it out.

Voilà!

And then the best part - putting stuff all over it! The style is called "bookseller" because those triangular shelves are obviously meant to hold books. I think it's really unique and pretty, but I need to get some more books now that I have two bookshelves to fill!

So far I'm really happy with it. I think it looks so nice and really goes well with the rest of my furniture. I felt like my living room was missing just one more piece, this makes it feels complete.

Now, who the hell is going to clean up this mess??

Tão Ciumento!

2008-12-13T22:18:00.015-07:00

That's how you say "so jealous" in Portuguese. I am so jealous of my mother because in August, she moved to the Azores. For those of you not in the know, the Azores is an archipelago of 9 islands about 900 miles off the coast of Portugal.

My mom lives on the island Terciera. She has a villa right near the beach, is enjoying 60-degree weather in December, and has been doing all sorts of fun things like going to bull runs.

While she still needs to send me some pictures of her fabulous villa furnished (since I took most of her furniture....), here are some pictures she sent of me of her new place and the neighborhood. Needless to say, I'm already planning my vacay.

And here's our dog Topaz, being very pouty at the airport. Poor Toto, I'm sure the 5-hour flight was not fun for her. But I hear she's having a blast and making lots of new friends in her new island paradise home!

Fa La La La La

2008-12-06T23:04:00.013-07:00

Day....

and night.

I am really happy with the way my icicle lights look on my balcony. I decided not to do a tree this year, so it's nice to have a little something luminescent. Though I do have those nice big living room windows, so if I decide to do a tree next year, I'm sure it will look really pretty.

With my lights finally up, I'm starting feel a little more in the Christmas spirit. So I thought I would share my holiday/winter playlist. I think it's rockin this year!

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Bebo Norman

"Mushaboom" Feist

"Changes" Seu Jorge

"Amazing Grace" Sufjan Stevens

"It Was a Strange Time in My Life" Jens Lekman

"It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)" Mindy Smith

"You Really Got a Hold on Me" She & Him

"Love Came Down at Christmas" Jars of Clay

"You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie" The Submarines

"Carol of the Bells" The Bird and The Bee

"That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" Sufjan Stevens

"Winter Song" Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

"King of Carrot Flowers Part 2 & 3" Neutral Milk Hotel

"Winter '05" Ra Ra Riot

"You Could Be Happy" Snow Patrol

"Tidal Wave" The Killers

"No Christmas While I'm Talking" The Walkmen

I have two songs from Sufjan Steven's 2006 Christmas album (Sufjan Stevens: Songs for Christmas) in there. Buy it - it's gorgeous.

It's ALIVE!!!!

2008-11-30T21:18:00.004-07:00

I am happy to report that neither I nor my cat are dead. For myself, there is no excuse for neglecting my blog for almost 3 months, other than I've been oh so busy and stressed out with work and such, and for a while my apartment was looking slightly worse than a city dump.

As for Mollie, I was genuinely worried that after I arrived home on Saturday from my three-day Thanksgiving vacation at the Harper-family celebration in Ohio that Mollie would not be alright. She was acting very strange in the days before I left and I was afraid that at 12 and a half years old, it might just be her time. But when I opened my door she ran out of my bedroom and proceeded to chastise me very loudly for the next few hours. So I think she's fine.

Anyway, now that Christmas is coming, I'm back to blogging! I'm planning on hanging some icicle lights from my balcony in the next few days, so I'm sure that will be a terrifying disaster I'll just have to write about.

1,693 Page Views and Counting

2008-09-11T19:26:00.005-06:00

Mollie says, "Happy One-Year Anniversary Home Sweet Blog!"

Well, she's actually saying, "Meghan, I want a drink out of the faucet!", but the picture was so cute I had to use it. I can't believe I've kept this up for a whole year. Thanks to everyone for reading!

Très chic!

2008-09-09T19:17:00.006-06:00

Oh my god! Is that Mia Farrow circa 1968? No, it's my sister Kaitlin and this is an update on her apartment. The last time we saw it, she had just barely moved in. But during my visit to Laramie a few weekends ago, it was clear she has been busy.

I like what she's done with the place. It's kind of a bohemian/"lived in" look and I think it really fits well with the space (and the new hair).

Well done!

Busy as a Little Bee

2008-09-06T01:18:00.014-06:00

Okay, just because I haven't had time for blogging lately doesn't mean that I haven't been doing anything with my apartment. I've actually gotten a lot done in the last two weeks! Where to start?

Oh, yes. I got a great frame for my "Starfish" picture. After a diasterous attempt to hang it on my dorm room wall junior year of college, the previous frame was literally in pieces. I took the picture when I was 14 on a class trip to look at the tide pools in Homer, Alaska. I would like to try hanging it on the wall in my bedroom, but I'm kind of nervous. That misadventure will probably merit a blog post all its own.

Here are some pictures I did manage to hang. I was having a hard time figuring out what to do with this bizarre corner in my kitchen, it's kind of dead space. I was also having a hard time deciding where to put my "Virginia" pictures. And what do you know - the two problems came to together to form a solution! I think they look really cool above my sink. And because I just used matting, not frames, I was able to hang them with just wall stickies.

I also finally re-covered my bulletin board for my work desk. I decided to go with the green fabric, but I might try out the brown later too. Instead of trying to take the frame off the board to wrap the fabric around the cork, I took the lazy way out and just superglued it down. Unfortunately, (as I knew it would) this left some superglue seep-through on parts of the fabric. To cover this up, I bought some fake flowers and put them in clusters in places where the glue stains were particularly noticeable. Overall, I think it looks really cute and definitely matches better than the Paris pictures. Please also note the Crate & Barrel soap dish that I am using to hold my paper clips.

Believe it or not, I've done more, but I think I'll have to talk about it later. Oh, one more thing. I had to attend a tech trade show Friday morning for work. (Does CEDIA mean anything to anyone? No? Okay.) Instead of trying to fight rush hour traffic and then trying find a parking spot downtown, I decided the sensible thing to do would be to ride the Lightrail. For someone who gets lost as often as I do, the thought of taking a 45-minute train ride to downtown Denver and back all by myself was terrifying. But I loved it! As I sat there enjoying the ride and catching up on Project Rungay on my Crackberry, I felt very much the sophisticated city gal. I'm not sure a sophisticated city gal would take a picture of waiting at the station, but give me a break - this is all new and exciting!

Ready to Roll!

2008-08-22T18:42:00.013-06:00

The DNC is coming to town next week and although I didn't get a ticket, I've still got to represent! I guess I'm not too disappointed that I don't get to go, considering I already got a front row, press box seat to Obama's campaign rally in Laramie a few months ago (Oh, Bama!).

In case you haven't guessed already, this is a tree-huggin', queer-lovin', Iraq War-hatin', Pro Choice-votin', bleeding heart kind of home. And proud of it. I can't wait to vote in my second presidential election! You're all registered to vote, right?

My amazing bumper sticker came in the mail today. I've never had a bumper sticker on my car before, so I'm kind of excited. For your very own "Sorry W" sticker, visit the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Web site.

Democratic National Convention
The Democratic Party

It's in the details, darling

2008-08-12T20:29:00.012-06:00

On Sunday I got totally, completely unpacked and it feels so good! Now that it's done, I am appalled it took me as long as it did. It's nice because now I get to focus on the little things that make it feel like I actually live here. I'm exciting start doing more, but I can't rush things (like that would be a problem anyway....). So here are some little things I took care of this weekend.

I finally got a bedskirt. You know, like an adult.

I love this little telephone stand. I need to get a longer phone cord so that it doesn't have to be stretched across the wall like it is now, and I want to get some fake plants to put in the vases.

My blue telephone pole insulators look really pretty when the sun shines through them. I want to find some more in different shades.

And now, the pièce de résistance - the closet. I think this was the part I was putting off for so long because it was such a complete disaster for so long. But now it is all organized and it is huge! And check out the built in shoe rack. Green much?

Birthday Presents in Action

2008-08-02T15:10:00.011-06:00

I know I mentioned some of the great things for my apartment that I got for my birthday--and here they are!

The stone and wire cricket found a home in my living room. He may later move to my office, but I like him here for now.

I bought this little ceramic owl today with some of the money my dad gave me. He will definitely be going to the office on Monday. The Buddha for luck and the owl for wisdom. I'll be unstoppable!

And finally, the barstools that I am still so excited about. The style is called "Durango," which I guess is my homage to Wyoming. They are really comfortable and I think they look so nice with my other furniture. My mom also got me a table-height chair in the same style that I use for my desk chair.

I wonder if I can get some more good stuff for Christmas....

Work it!

2008-07-31T19:26:00.014-06:00

Since I spend more waking hours at my desk than I do at home, I thought I would do a post on how I've been "decorating" my little cubicle. For some reason that wasn't intentional, I have gone with an Asian theme, but I like it and I'm going to run with it. Maybe it will help calm me when I get frazzled.

Let me start by saying that the building where I work is awesome. The whole ceiling is a skylight, there is a water fixture with a waterfall in the lobby, and it has a very open-air layout.

So here is my desk area. Keep in mind, it is a work in progress, but I like what I have so far. One of my favorite things is the name tag I made for my cubicle. Everyone gets to make their own. Recognize the flower?

I think my next task for making my desk more beautiful will be changing my bulletin board. It's still decorated from freshman year of college when my dorm room theme was black and white Paris. I want to get some pretty Asian-print fabric to cover it with. I would also like to get something to cover the walls of the cubicle with. That blue is not a great color.

So there it is! Hopefully my lucky bamboo and little resin Buddha will bring me luck in my new job. By the way, I took all these pictures on my Crackberry. Not a bad little camera on there!

UPDATE: On Saturday, I went to a fabric store and picked out some cloth to cover my bulletin board with. But I can't decide between the green and the brown! I'll bring my bulletin board home on Monday and see which looks better.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2008-07-30T23:00:00.006-06:00

This has nothing to do with my apartment, but today I turned 22 and I got the cutest birthday cake.

Adorable, right? Those are real flowers on top and a ribbon around the bottom. It almost hurt to cut it! So thank you to Kaitlin, Kim, Dylan, Skyler, and John for a lovely cake. I can't wait to eat the rest of it!

But I also got some cute things for my apartment for my birthday. I got some fab barstools from my mom, a gift certificate to Pier 1 from my dad, a really cool ornamental wire and stone cricket from Kristen, and a card from Kaitlin that I'm going to make a great magnent out of. Lucky me that I have friends and family with such great taste!

Evolution....

2008-07-27T19:43:00.003-06:00

Things are finally coming together! Details coming soon....

So, so close

2008-07-13T15:57:00.005-06:00

As I type this, my mother is driving across the country bringing me my furniture. She should be here tomorrow afternoon. I am SO excited! I really can't wait to see what my apartment is going to look like with some furniture in it. Goodbye squalor, hello style!

Hallelujah

2008-06-27T19:57:00.002-06:00

Alright, I finally got my satellite! Sixteen dark days after moving I have television again. When I think about all the "Project Runway" marathons, "Judge Judy" reruns, and "Living Lohan" I've missed it makes me sick. Just sick.

Passing the time

2008-06-20T19:48:00.011-06:00

Things at my apartment have reached a disasterous stand-still. Unpacking has all but ended because I simply have no place to put anything. Plus, it's too damn hot to do much anyway. So what's a girl to do to fill the hours? I have been exploring my new neighborhood, seeing what's out there. I've been to a farmer's market, went to some garage sales, visited the nearby mall, etc.

I've also been to my local library almost everyday. That's because since I still haven't had my cable installed yet (a long, frustrating story....) I have been checking out lots of movies. Thankfully, this library has a pretty decent selection. And since I have nothing to say about the state of my apartment because things really haven't progressed since I moved in, I thought that I would offer some quick thoughts on the ones I've watched so far. In no particular order:

Slither (2006)
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks
A really good B-movie, low-budget horror-comedy. Not very scary, but pretty gross. Who doesn't like some gratuitous blood and guts every now and then? YYY

Thumbsucker (2005)
Starring: Lou Pucci, Tilda Swinton
I'm all for too-cool-for-school indie dramedies, but this one was a little "Look at how quirky I am" for my taste. YY

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Just as good as everyone said it would be. Beautiful, dark, sad, and just a little scary. I can't believe it took me so long to see it. YYYY

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Starring: Ryan Gosling
So much better than I thought it was going to be. Watch it when you're feeling low, it's definitely a feel-good movie. There are literally no mean people in it. YYYY

Sicko (2007)
Like Michael Moore has made a movie I haven't liked, and this one is no different. Really disturbing. Maybe I should have looked for an apartment in Canada. YYY

The Simpsons Movie (2007)
I have to say, I was expecting something a little more grand. Plotwise, the movie was basically just a really long, normal episode. But the animation is quite impressive, and of course it is funny. YYY

The Orphanage (2007)
I loved this one because my favorite kind of movie is a really good horror story. If you liked "The Others," you'll probably like this too. But remember, you'll have to do some reading! YYYY

Grindhouse (2007)
Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Kurt Russell
I actually liked "Planet Terror" more than "Death Proof," which seems to be the opposite of everyone else. Though very different, they are both grisly, bloody, over-the-top, and really cool. YYY

November (2005)
Starring: Courtney Cox-Arquette, James LeGros
Almost unwatchable, and I was trying to be a good sport. Think "Memento" meets "Donnie Darko" meets indie crap. Y

Waitress (2007)
Starring: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion
Kind of in the same boat as "Lars and the Real Girl." It's adorable. YYY

The Matador (2005)
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear
Not at all what I thought it was going to be. It's different, funny, has a twisty-turvy (in a good way) ending, and part of it is set in Denver. Sweet. YYY

So that's it so far. And I've still got "The Constant Gardener," "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," "28 Weeks Later," "Friends with Money," "21 Grams," and "The Cooler" to go through. How many days until my furniture gets here?

It's a tickity-tack hot tranny mess in here

2008-06-13T22:12:00.007-06:00

I'm finally all moved! On Tuesday afternoon, I packed up everything in my Laramie apartment and hauled it the two and a half hours down to Denver. I can't believe that I'm finally in my apartment. It's really exciting but also feels kind of weird.

And I got my Internet hooked up this afternoon so I can finally blog about my moving pains. Actually, the move wasn't that bad. I got a lot of help from my sister and also my aunt and cousin once I got down here. Plus, it didn't hurt that I really don't have that much stuff. My entire life fit into an Explorer and a Civic.

So here are some pictures of what my fab apartment looks like right now. Sad, isn't it? The kitchen looks nice, but the living room is a nightmare and there's nothing to do about the bedroom. But it's hard to even start unpacking some things when you don't have anything to store them in (i.e. furniture). A lot of it is just laziness too, I have a lot of time to kill so I'm trying to pace myself.

I think my next big unpacking project is going to be my closet. It is so huge! I am going to have to get some more clothes and shoes to fill it up with. Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow.

Well, I look forward to blogging more about this apartment's transformation from a glorified storage unit to a sophisticated urban dwelling!

PS Talk about moving pains--I think I broke my arm!

Aw, she's all grown up!

2008-06-07T19:28:00.002-06:00

Even though I've been very busy and excited getting ready for my own new apartment, I had to take the time out to showcase my sister Kaitlin's amazing new apartment. After two years of living in the dorms, she's finally moved into her own place, and it's super cute. It seems like the perfect college apartment. I almost wish I were sticking around longer so that I could come over and visit.

I hope to do more posts once she gets it decorated, but here are some of the details. It's a surprisingly spacious studio apartment with lots of windows and closets. It also has an adorable kitchen nook, exposed brick walls and "vintage" appliances. Very bohemian bourgeoisie. Congrats!

How much more fab can it get?

2008-06-01T22:37:00.001-06:00

When I first picked out my new, fabulous apartment in Denver, I was stressed about furniture. Both paying for it and picking it out. Probably even more picking it out than paying for it. That's because I know what I like, but I was pretty sure I would have a hard time finding stuff that I liked that I could afford. I did know that I would probably want to get some furniture that was similar to the pieces in my mother's house. That sounds kind of lame, but my mom is actually a pretty good decorator and we have similar tastes.

Well, my prayers were answered. My mom is moving to the Azores in August, so she is letting me take her furniture! I won't be able to take a lot of it because I have considerably less space, but I am very excited about what I am taking. Some of the pieces, like the antiques, I'll just be holding until she moves back to the States, but that's okay. I'll certainly enjoy it for the time I have it. The furniture includes:

Loveseat
Leather chairs
TV and stand
Wine rack
Antique hutch with mirror on back
Antique spinning wheel
Living room end-table
Bookshelf
Telephone stand
Butterfly chair and footstool

I wish that I had a better picture of my mom's house, but this was the only one I had on my camera (I took it over holiday break of the beautiful Christmas tree I personally decorated). I probably won't be taking any of the furniture in the picture, but gives you an idea of the theme of the decorating. Sadly, I have to wait until the middle of July to get it (....and I'm moving in next week). So it's probably going to look like a crack-head lives there for a month or so. The fabulousness of my apartment is going to take a hit when the only furniture in it is an Aero bed and an old futon. But it's a small price to pay for getting great furniture for free. Thanks Mommy!

T-Minus 15 Days

2008-05-25T21:20:00.000-06:00

I have just about two weeks until I leave Laramie forever and move into my grown-up apartment in Denver. As the date gets closer and closer, I’m realizing just how much I need to do to get ready to move. More than just packing up my stuff, it’s wrapping up my life here and preparing for my life down in Denver.

Now, I’m a big fan of procrastination, but I think in this case I’m going to start preparing early. I’ve moved four times in the past four years and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that things always take longer than you think they will. So here are some of the basics:

1. Pack, pack, pack
Starting next weekend, I’m going to start packing up things that I know I won’t need in my last week here, like my extra dishes, winter clothes, and everything on my dressers and bookcases. If I haven’t used it in the past month, it’s probably going into a box. Then, in the three days before I move out, I’ll do my serious packing. I am always amazed by the sheer volume of items that I manage to fit into my tiny living quarters and I doubt that I’ll be able to get it all done in one day. Tip: Instead of buying cardboard boxes from a store (where the cheapest you’ll probably be able to find them is $1-$3 a box—crazy!), hit up the recycling bins behind stores. The boxes may be a little banged up and used, but they’re free!

2. Clean my apartment
Considering that this apartment was a dump when I moved in (and I mean disgusting, filthy), I am positive that even if I did no cleaning, I would still be leaving this place in better condition than when I moved in. But it’s still your responsibility as a renter to clean up the place before you leave: vacuum the carpet, mop the floors, clean the surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, defrost the freezer, etc. That’s going to be a long, dirty day. Tip: I didn’t take as detailed photos as I should have when I moved in, a mistake I won’t be repeating when I move in to my new apartment. Be sure to take photos of everything when you move in—the floors, the walls, the cabinets, the appliances—to make sure that there’s no funny business when it’s time to get your security deposit back.

3. Cancel my utilities here, set them up there
Kind of a pain, but something that I can’t forget to do. I also need to set up my forwarding address with the post office and change my address with all of my bills and magazines. Tip: If you are leaving your residence before your cable contract is up, contact your cable company about transferring your service to your new address. Since I’m moving out of Bresnan’s service area, I am going to transfer my service to my sister’s new apartment. That way I don’t have to pay an early cancellation fee or pay for three months of service I’m not using.

So I think those are the big tasks. Then comes everyone's favorite activity: unpacking. But since I'll have about a month of time to kill until my new job starts, at least it will give me something to do!

Brand New Blog

2008-05-20T19:23:00.000-06:00

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I have a new blog. It's called Man Bites Blog and it's about issues in the news. I just started it this morning, so there's only one post, but I hope to be adding more soon. Check it out!

J'adore Insulators!

2008-05-14T22:18:00.000-06:00

Goodness it's been a long time since I've blogged! But I just graduated college and frankly my apartment and the things in it have been the last things on my mind. But I'm back because I received a fabulous graduation gift this evening that I can't wait to put on display in my new apartment.

I'm a big fan of antique telephone pole insulators. They are really interesting and pretty knick-knacks to put on bookshelves, in windows, or of course, in fishbowls (Whatever Fish You Wish). Up until tonight, I had only seen small ones, which range from about 4 to 5 inches high and are about 3 inches across.

But my friend Kristen gave me a giant telephone pole insulator! She said she bought it at an antique store in Sheridan, Wyoming. It is about 7 inches tall and 10 inches across. Instead of being made of colored glass, it is a beautiful dark blue, glazed ceramic.

I'm not sure how old it is or where it's from. It has a mark on the top: a "W" with a line underneath it, inside a circle. There is another mark on the bottom: "1 13" followed by another number I can't make out. I'm going to try to find out what they mean.

I think it would look really great in a garden, but I'm going to be moving into a second story apartment, so that's not really an option. Instead, since it weighs about 5 pounds, I think I might use it for a doorstop. It's definitely not something you see everyday, and I think the colors will match really nicely with my furniture, artwork, etc.

Maybe this is the beginning of a fun collection!

Taking the Plunge

2008-04-20T00:52:00.001-06:00

Since I recently did some apartment shopping, I thought I would share some tips I picked up along the way. Before finally finding my dream apartment (see previous post), I visited three other apartment complexes and had different experiences at all of them. Here are some preparation steps you may want to take and some questions you may want to ask when looking for your own place.

1. Do your research
I spent hours online looking at dozens of apartments before deciding on a few to visit. Rental Web sites are great resources that can save you a lot of time. Sites like Rent.com and Apartments.com offer really helpful information like floor plans, photos, maps, amenity lists, pricing, rental policies and more. They also allow you to keep favorites lists and do very specific searching by neighborhood. In my experience, Rent.com often provided more information than the apartment’s own Web site.

2. Ask lots of questions
When you do decide to visit an apartment, be sure to ask questions, don’t just walk around and look at stuff. I found that once I got up to the apartments, my mind would go blank and I couldn’t think of anything to ask, so I started writing my questions down. Here are some that I found the most helpful.

- What kinds of people live here? Families? Young, single people?
- What are the utilities like in the summer and winter? Can they show you an example bill?
- What are the most common maintenance requests?
- How old is the building?
- What fees are associated with the monthly rent (garbage, parking, etc.)?
- Is the apartment pre-wired for high-speed Internet and cable? Do they allow satellite dishes?
- Do they offer preferred employer pricing? (I got 2% knocked off my rent for working at Dish Network.)

3. Pay attention to how you are treated
When you go to look at an apartment, since staff should be working to sell it to you, they should be on their best behavior. So if you are treated poorly, you know there is something really wrong. At one apartment I wanted to look at, they scheduled me to come in on a day when the rental office was closed and then didn’t return any of my calls. No matter how much I liked the apartment, those aren’t the kind of people I wanted to be relying on when my hot water isn’t working or my garbage disposal is clogged. At another complex, the staff members who accompanied me to look at the apartment seemed to know very little about the unit or the complex and couldn’t answer many of my questions. A disinterested and uninvolved staff could spell trouble for you as a tenant.

4. Trust your gut
For me, making the decision and signing the rental application was a huge and very scary step. What if I chose the wrong place? What if I didn’t like it when I moved in? What if one of the first big decisions of my adult life turned out to be completely wrong?! The truth is, the apartment I finally went with was very similar to another I looked at (in fact, I found out later they are managed by the same company). But the one I chose just felt right. Once you have all the facts and have looked at enough apartments to have an idea of what is out there, don’t be afraid to trust your instincts when it comes to finally settling with one. I don’t know if I am going to love or hate this apartment when my year-long lease is up, but I feel confident that I made the best decision I could based on the information I had.

So go forth and be smart about finding your new, fabulous apartment. I’m sure I’ll have many more residences over the years and still have a lot to learn about shopping for a place, but I feel like for a first-timer I did pretty well!

2008-04-12T21:57:00.000-06:00

When I finally get my own place
It will do its best to please me
When I finally get my own place
It will have windows I will need
A garden I will weed
Fish I will feed
–Aqualung

I can't believe it, but this afternoon I submitted an application for my first, real, grown-up apartment. I'm still waiting to sign the lease, but I've paid my deposit and I'm already starting to decorate it in my mind. It's a one bedroom, about 700 square feet, located in a really nice neighborhood in South Denver. I toured one of their models today and instantly fell in love with it. Here are some pictures of the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and floorplan. (Sorry about the blurriness--I didn't realize my camera was on the wrong setting!)

These are pictures of the furnished model apartment I looked at, so I will have to get my own furniture. I'm not really sure what kind of style I want to go for. My decorating will be mostly guided by my tight budget, especially in the beginning, so I will be trying to get decent furniture for the lowest price possible. I hope I will be able to find some interesting pieces at garage sales or flea markets, but we'll see.

I am very excited to be moving into this apartment. It is really everything I ever wanted in my first apartment, and at a price I can afford! Some features that I didn't post pictures of include: a nice-sized balcony, an oval tub, a giant walk-in closet, crown molding, and a built-in computer desk. Although the rent is a little more than I intially wanted to spend, I think the price is worth the safe neighborhood, close proximity to my office, buildings that are only 5 years old, and great complex amenities, like a lap pool, home theater, billiard room, office center, and exercise room.

I'm really looking forward to blogging about how I attempt to fill up this apartment on a pretty meager budget. I'm not moving in until early June, so I have lots of time to brainstorm ideas, scout for bargains, and daydream about my new life in my fabulous apartment. I can't wait to get started!

The Office

2008-04-03T22:02:00.000-06:00

Today I went to visit my future workplace. While doing marketing for Dish Network in Denver, I will be working in the above buildings in my very own, lovely cubicle. Since I will be spending 8 hours a day, 5 days a week in that tiny box, I am determined to make it a pleasant place to be in. This is my first job out of college and I’ve never had an office or even a cubicle, so I’m not exactly sure what I want—or will be able—to do with my little home-away-from-home, but I am starting to get some ideas.

First, I want to bring in some warm light with a little desk lamp. I think that sitting underneath those fluorescent lights all day would drive anyone crazy. Do I want to go traditional or modern? I really like this banker’s lamp, but I also like this adjustable arm one.

Next, I think I might try to cover portions of the bland gray walls of the cubicle with some kind of fabric. Creating a bulletin board area using a cute tweed fabric would help break up the monotony of those 3 ½ walls.

Lastly, I definitely want to try to coordinate all of my office supplies—garbage can, stapler, paper organizer, pencil cup, etc. Right now, I’m thinking metallic, but something in wood might look nice as well.

Needless to say, I am actually getting excited about what I’m going to be able to do with my little workspace. But I have between now and July to think about it!

For Those Other 364 Days

2008-03-30T23:00:00.000-06:00

I was planning on writing on this subject anyway, but tonight seems particularly appropriate since we are experiencing a white-out blizzard here in Laramie and it feels more like the middle of December than nearly April.

Looking around my apartment recently, I realized that I have several Christmas decorations out to use year-round. I have four tree ornaments hanging on my kitchen cabinent handles, an angel cookie stamp on my back-splash, and Christmas bells on my bedroom door. And really, why not?

I had been using these items out of season inadvertently, I kept them out because I like them and I thought they looked nice in my kitchen. Especially with tree ornaments, relatively neutral shapes such as stars can make cute adornments even in the summer. So instead of tossing all of your "Christmas stuff" back in the closet as soon as the holidays are over, see if you can get more than two weeks worth of use out of some of your decorations.

Whatever Fish You Wish

2008-03-23T17:57:00.000-06:00

I love my hurricane vase. Every home should have one. I fill it with lemons, oranges, squashes, garland--whatever the season or my mood calls for, creating an easy and elegant centerpiece. Recently, I was thinking about what I would fill it with next when I realized that it might make an interesting fishbowl. And now that I am back from Spring Break, I am the proud owner of a calico-colored Shubunkin goldfish. Her name is Lola, which means "sorrow" in Spanish but she's brightening up my living room already. I will assume the fish is a she because I like the name and the calico coloring is so pretty, but it may be a Luke. Oh well.

I wanted the fishbowl to be interesting for me to look at and nice for Lola to live in. I started by filling the bottom with decorative natural-colored rocks and pebbles. These can be found in the home decorating section of stores like Target, Walmart and Pier One, usually priced between $5-$10.

Then instead of a tacky plastic castle or treasure chest, I put in two antique glass insultors. I used to use them for decoration on my bookshelf, but they look great in the water too. These now-collectable knick-knacks were onced used on the tops of telephone and electric poles in the late 19th to early 20th century. Even though mine are nearly 100 years old, they cost less than $5 at my local flea market. I think they are an unexpected, fun twist on fishbowl decoration.

For now, I bought a cheap plastic plant to give Lola a plant to swim around and through, but I hope to find a more interesting twist on the fishbowl plant too. I'm not sure what could substitute, but I will be keeping my eyes open.

Although I'm still working on it, I really like my hurricane vase turned Lola's new home. It turns out it's pretty easy to turn an ordinary fishbowl into a chic decorative piece.

International Cosmo-Blogging Part II: Unser Heime im Berlin

2008-03-21T14:41:00.000-06:00

My dad and I just got back from three days in Berlin, so I thought I would share a little about our home away from home in Berlin. We stayed for two nights at the NH AlexanderPlatz Hotel, located in the eastern section downtown Berlin. I really loved the styling of this hotel. It was very modern and clean. Something I'd love to do with my place if I were fabulously wealthy.

So, Berlin--was amazing. We left Wiesbaden on Wednesday morning and traveled by train for about 5 hours to get to Berlin. We rode in a first-class cabin and it was actually a very comfortable and relaxing trip.

After we checked into the hotel, we headed down to Museum Island, an area in Berlin packed with museums. First we went to the Pergamon Museum, where we saw the Ishtar Gate from ancient Babylon and an amazing frieze from a temple in Greece. We then headed to the Berliner Dom, a Lutheran cathedral with the largest crypt in Germany in its basement.

The next day, we took a great 4-hour walking tour around the city and visited the Altes Museum, where we saw many ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the famous Nefertiti bust.

On the last day, we went up in the Fernsehterum, a 203 meter high TV tower. The views of the city were incredible. Then we took the train back again. I think we did a good job of getting a lot of sight-seeing into just a few days.

And tomorrow, it's back to Wyoming. Back to my apartment and enough blogging about my travels. I'm sad to see my vacation end!

International Cosmo-Blogging Part I: Guten tag aus Deutschland

2008-03-18T03:58:00.000-06:00

I've been on Spring Break vacation in Germany for 4 days now and I'm having a great time. I am staying at my dad's place in Wiesbaden and since my blog is all about the living space, I thought I would talk a little about his apartment. It is in a very cool, old neighborhood about 5 minutes from downtown Wiesbaden, a city of about 300,000. The interior is beautiful, with hardwood floors and crown molding. And it is so nice having a house to come back to instead of a hotel while on vacation.

A little update on the vacation: so far, we have been very busy. On Saturday, my sister and her boyfriend came to visit while they were on vacation in Brussels and they joined me, my dad and stepmom when we went to visit the Denkmal statue memorial, looked at a bunch of castles along the Rhine River, and stopped at a cafe in the town Bacarus. Then, on Sunday we went to the Dom in Cologne, a giant 13th century church in which we had to climb 509 steps to get to the top! We then drove my sister and her boyfriend all the way back to Brussels. Yesterday, we took it a little easier. When my dad went into work, my stepmom and I walked into downtown Wiesbaden and did a little shopping. Here are some pictures I've taken:

The vineyards and the Rhine River by the Denkmal. We rode in gondolas to get the top of the hill where the statue was.

Kaitlin, my dad, and me in Bacarus.

The Dom church in Cologne. Yes, I hiked to the top of that thing! But the view from the top was definitely worth it.

So much driving around on the Autobahn!

Today, my dad and I are planning on going to Mainz to try to teach me how to drive a stick-shift. We'll see how that goes. And then on Wednesday, it's off to Berlin! More pictures to come.

Auf Wiedersehen!

2008-03-12T18:03:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow I will be leaving Laramie to go to Germany for my final Spring Break. Although I will only be gone nine days, there are still some small preparations for my apartment that I’m going to make. I've collected these tips from years of traveling, so if you are leaving town, you may want to try them as well.

1. Unplug everything
This may be three years of dorm living talking, but whenever I leave my house for more than a weekend, I always unplug all of my electronics. Not only does this protect against accidentally leaving your alarm clock on while you are gone, but it is also an easy precaution to take against power surges or electrical problems that could possibly spark a fire. Yes, the likelihood is very small, but when everything is unplugged, it’s something you never have to think about.

2. Tell your neighbors you are leaving
Don’t announce it to the whole neighborhood, but make sure that someone you trust who lives close, such as a neighbor or landlord, knows when you are leaving and when you will be back. Also make sure that person knows how to get a hold of you, so when they see a moving van in your driveway and strange men moving out all of your furniture, they can alert you—after they call the police, that is.

3. Where are my keys?
Unless you are going to be driving your car, it’s rarely a good idea to take your keys with along with you on your trip. You don’t need them and you run the risk of losing them permanently. Save yourself a headache when you get home and leave them with a reliable friend or family member.

4. Don’t forget about your plants
If you are only leaving for about a week, your plants will probably be fine, but any longer and they may start to get thirsty. If you don’t want to make arrangements for someone to come in a water your plants while you are gone, but you think they’ll probably dry up before you get back, consider putting them in your sink, or if you have a lot, in the bathtub. Fill the sink with a few inches of water and simply put your plants in (of course this only works for potters with drain holes).

Now you can save your worrying for things like passports, airport security and jet lag. Bon voyage!

Oh, Bama!

2008-03-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

Alright, this has nothing to do with my apartment but it's just so exciting that I have to share it with everyone. Last night Sen. Barack Obama held a campaign rally at the University of Wyoming, where I am a senior journalism student. I really wanted to go, but I was exhausted after spending the last two days in Denver and upon seeing the line to get into the Arena Auditorium that was literally hundreds of people long, I decided I just wasn’t up for it.

But thanks to my connections from my former internship with the UW Media Relations Office and the fabulous Kristen, who is currently an intern there, I was able to get in without waiting in line at all. And not into the stands, but into the media area, complete with my own press pass. It's moments like these that remind a girl why she got into journalism: for the awesome hook-ups and free food!

There is no word to describe the experience other than “thrilling.” It was so exciting to know that I was seated a mere 50 feet away from the man who might (I hope) be the next president. Going to a political rally seems like such a seminal college experience, I’m so glad that I got to participate in something like that. And although Obama didn’t say anything I hadn’t heard before from him, he is an amazing orator and I felt very inspired.

Here are some more pictures I took last night:

There was a ton of national media there. It was weird seeing people from places like NBC, CNN and AP in little, ol' Laramie.

Kristen and me in the press box. Note the unwashed masses above us.

There were about 5,000 people there. Not as many as I expected, but it was still a big crowd. Especially for Republican Wyoming.

Yes, that is Ok Go! They were standing about 5 feet in front of me, but I was too chicken to ask for a picture. They are crazy for Obama!

One of Kristen's photos. She got really close! Check out her blog for her take on the event. She touched his hand, folks!

http://www.barackobama.com/

http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/barack-obama-wins-wyoming-caucuses/20080307232409990001

The Art of Simplicity is a Puzzle of Complexity

2008-03-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

This next idea isn’t actually something I’ve done in my home. It comes courtesy of my friend Kristen, who has done some amazingly cute things with her studio apartment. One day I noticed a lovely new piece of art on her kitchen wall. When she told me the print I was admiring was actually a puzzle, I couldn’t believe what a great idea that was. Not only is it a very cool idea to hang a puzzle on your wall, but from a distance, you can hardly tell. So here is how to create your own:

Just like working with tapestries over slip-covers gives you a lot more range in playing with patterns, using puzzles as wall art opens up a whole new world of choices. Try what Kristen did, and choose a puzzle that is based on a piece of art or a vintage poster. A good backing to use is foam board. It is cheap and can easily be cut with a craft knife to the exact size of the puzzle.

Once the puzzle is assembled, use puzzle glue (about $3 for a bottle) to adhere the puzzle pieces together. Coat the front, and once it has dried, flip the puzzle over and coat the back. Repeat the process. Then use craft glue to mount the puzzle onto the foam board.

Once the glue is dry and you are satisfied that the puzzle is secure on the board, you can mount it on your wall. For a no-fuss and temporary wall mount, try removable wall tabs, which can be purchased for under $5.

And that's it, your very own puzzle art! Puzzles are a great way to spend quiet time with a friend or someone you love. Now instead of throwing the finished project back in the box, you can have it to keep and enjoy for years.

I'm Ashamed of My Furniture

2008-03-01T03:12:00.000-07:00

Finding a furnished apartment is great. That is until you realize that you don’t actually want to touch any of the furniture, particularly the upholstered parts. Who knows who’s been sitting in that chair or what’s been spilled on that couch. Plus, you may have scored an apartment like mine, with furniture that looks like it was lifted from the Murderville Motel.

For simple shapes, like an armless dining-set chair, a slip-cover can be a stylish and inexpensive solution. At stores like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, nice slipcovers can be picked up for under $30. But things get more complicated with more complex shaped or larger furniture. Finding an affordable cover for an armed chair or sofa can be difficult.

So instead of wasting hours trying to find a moderately priced slip-cover, only to bring it home and find that it doesn’t fit, consider using tapestries and even blankets to cover your unsightly furniture. It may sound kind of low-rent, but it actually gives you a lot of freedom to experiment with colors and patterns. Even better, if you shop around at small, local stores or vendors, they are generally going to be cheaper than any slip-cover.

And don’t stop with just your chairs. Consider using tapestries to cover ottomans, cheap plastic organizers, or even the tops of bureaus that are stained or scratched. Have fun, get creative and save some money!

For some fun ideas, check out these sites:
http://www.target.com/
http://www.simply70s.com/

Picture This

2007-11-09T12:46:00.001-07:00

I may not be the most talented at them, but I love do-it-yourself projects. And if they are really easy like this one, you don’t have to be talented! This is an idea I got from Real Simple magazine. The article in the magazine was on interesting and inventive ways to use pictures frames. One of my favorite ideas from that article was using picture frames as refrigerator magnets. I’ve made several since, and I’m going to share with you some tips that I’ve learned.

The basic idea is that you take a small or medium sized frame, put a picture in it and glue a few magnets on the back to make a cute refrigerator decoration. You can use any frame you like, but unless you want about 15 magnets on glued on the back of it, lighter is definitely better. Medium-sized (about 5”x7”) wooden frames or smaller (3”x5”) metal frames seem to be about the right weight.

To get the magnets on the frame, you will have to remove the stand on the back. Since most are made of cardboard, it is pretty easy. Once the cardboard part of the stand has been ripped off, you will be left with the metal hinge. The best way to get this off is to use a paper clip or needle to force out the pin that holds the hinge together. Once the pin is out, the main part of the hinge will come off and the back of the frame will be almost flat.

Placing one small magnet on each corner of the frame is usually enough. You can buy plain round magnets and superglue them on, or you can also find magnets that have a peel-off adhesive on one side. Once you think you have enough magnets on, stick the frame on the refrigerator and make sure it sticks. Give the frame a wiggle and if it feels a little loose, even if it doesn’t slide down, add a few more magnets.

The fun part is deciding what picture to put in. Postcards, greeting cards, CD sleeves, your own art, photographs—you can put anything in. Try going to a thrift store or flea market and looking through their collection of old postcards. Three of the magnets on my fridge have vintage 1950s postcards in them that I picked up at a local flea market.

This project makes a quick, fun Saturday afternoon project. And remember, the holidays are upon us. Because they are cheap to put together and you can make them unique as the person receiving them, these magnets make great gifts!

Reed It and Weep

2007-10-23T17:06:00.000-06:00

If you live in an old apartment building or house like me, you might not be able to use candles. I love candles, not only for decoration but also for--of course--the scent. Unfortunately, they aren’t allowed. But there is an alternative that functions both as decoration and aroma: reed diffusers. They are great because unlike candles which have to be lit, they release scent constantly and last for months. I have compiled a review of a few different kinds of reed diffusers and my personal favorite:

Best decoration: Pier 1 Imports

This one gets my vote for best design. The tear drop shaped glass vase with a long, slender neck is the perfect compliment to the striking twisted reeds that reach a height of 17 inches. It comes in most of the classic Pier 1 scents like Asian Spice, Buttercream Vanilla, and Island Orchard. While the design is beautiful, these reed diffusers are better suited to smaller rooms because the scent isn’t as strong as other brands. At $23, they are a little more expensive than others, but the unique curled reeds make it worth the price.

Best scent: Beauty Bureau Stick Scents

For only $12, this diffuser puts out a powerful aroma. Scents like Morning Dew, Sea Petals, Orange Blossom, and Fresh Air are light, but definitely noticeable. And at only 11 inches tall, it is small enough to fit on some bookshelves. But given the cheap price you don’t get as much oil, only four ounces, so it will probably only last a couple months.

Best overall: Henri Bendel Fragranced Reeds

These diffusers make the grade on both design and scent. The shallow, frosted vase is a contrast to the clear, tall cylinders that are used for most reed diffusers. Scents like Firewood and Lemon Verbena offer complex aroma combinations that are lovely. You get the least oil for your money, $28 for 3.5 ounces, but the unique fragrances and beautiful, understated vases set these diffusers apart.

To check out these diffusers and others visit these sites:
http://www.pier1.com/
http://www.target.com/
http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/

Where did you get that fountain? I made it!

2007-10-08T22:56:00.000-06:00

Having moving water to your home can be very beneficial, and I don’t mean the kitchen sink or the toilet. In fact, feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of achieving harmony through the manipulation of objects and energy in your environment, is translated as “wind-water.” Followers of feng shui believe that having a moving-water element in your home can increase the flow of positive energy, especially in the areas of wealth and career.

A good way to add a moving-water element to your home is by having a fountain. There are plenty of fountains, both outdoor and indoor, out there, ranging from the low $20s to $200 or more. But if you can’t find one that exactly fits your tastes—try making your own.

It is very easy, and pretty cheap to make your own fountain. First start with a bowl, preferably copper or ceramic, and definitely not porous. It can be as big or small as you want, but not so shallow that a two or three inch tall pump will stick out over the edge.

Next, choose something to fill the bowl with. Putting in small stones or marbles will make the trickling water sound more interesting and will also help hide the motor. Choose something that complements the color and style of your bowl.

Then you need a pump. Small fountain pumps can be bought at most stores that have home and garden sections for usually less than $20. You will also need to get a small amount of clear plastic tubing to fit around the opening of the pump so that you can control and direct the water flow.

Now you are ready to assemble. Put the pump in the bowl first and cover the opening with about an inch of the tubing. You can adjust the length of the tubing until the water flows as high or low as you want it to. Then pour in your rocks or marbles around the pump, covering it the best you can. If you are having trouble hiding the very top of the pump, consider using a small decorative incense holder in the shape of a leaf or shell to sit on top of it.

Then fill the bowl with water. Too little water will strain and possibly damage the pump, but too much water will make your fountain very splashy. Ideally, the motor of the pump should be completely submerged and there should be at least ½ inch between the water level and the edge of the bowl. But experiment until you find the perfect depth.

And there you have it: your own home-made fountain, easily assembled for under $50. Enjoy the peaceful trickling water sound and hopefully wealth and luck will flow into your life!

For more information, see these Web sites:
http://paradise1987.blogspot.com/2007/09/feng-shui-tips-for-your-home.html
http://traditionalfengshui.wordpress.com/2007/09/29/the-power-of-water/

Go Green!

2007-10-01T15:47:00.000-06:00

If you are living in a small space, such as a one bedroom apartment or a studio, sometimes it can start to feel a little stuffy. During the cold winter months when everything outside is dying, you might start to feel a little low. Then you should consider the advantages of keeping plants in your home.

One of the most basic benefits of plants is that they are natural air purifiers. Instead of filling up your air with “deodorizers” or “purifiers” that are really just adding more chemicals and buildup to your air, try keeping a few plants around. Actually, plants are capable of absorbing some pretty nasty stuff, such as trichloroethleyne, a chemical found in lacquers, varnishes and adhesives—and a known carcinogenic. This isn’t saying that your recently refinished armoire is going to give you cancer, but why have those potentially dangerous chemicals floating around the air if you don’t have to? Plants can also help with the build-up of naturally occurring irritants such as molds and bacteria. Of course, some plants are better purifiers than others. A few that are particularly good are spider plants, chrysanthemums and ficuses.

Going back to elementary school science, plants also give off oxygen. The addition of plants can help you feel more energized and add a spark of life to your home, especially during the long winter months.

If you have no plants, a spider plant may be a good place to start. They are very easy to maintain, and grow incredibly fast, allowing you to start enjoying their benefits sooner. They also do very well as hanging plants, good if you are working with limited table or counter space. And they don’t need to be watered everyday. Plus, they’re fun to watch grow! They grow upward and outward, and well, look like spiders. Personally, I am also a fan of bamboo plants; they are exotic looking, low-maintenance and are supposedly lucky.

So if you don’t have any plants, try one! Not only will your air quality improve, but living things can brighten up and add a more positive energy to any living space. And if you take good care of them, they could last years. I have had one my bamboos for more than four years, and I plan on having it around for many years more.

For more information about the benefits of plants, try these sites:
http://www.groupgp.com/plantscape/benefits.htm
http://www.cityandsuburbs.com.au/benefits/

Getting Started

2007-09-11T12:37:00.000-06:00

This is my first post, so I will just talk a little about what this blog is going to be about. I moved into a new apartment this semester, and let's just say it is a little run down. There are good elements: hard-wood floors, plenty of light, lots of electrical outlets, now I just need to make it my own. I love do-it-yourself projects, finding solutions that are both cheap and unique.

In addition to offering some suggestions about fun do-it-yourself decorating, I'll also be discussing things that everyone can do to make their living space a little bit nicer, from the benefits of plants, to feng shui, to saving money on your utilities.