Spring Cleaning...in February

The last few weeks, and this entire winter, have been brutal in the northeast. I love opening up windows and getting fresh air in my apartment, but the last few months have been all about cranking up the heat and watching movies under piles of blankets. So when I woke up yesterday to sunny skies and 50+ degree temps, I opened the windows, cleaned and tackled items on my to-do list (thanks to a quick trip to Ikea). 

1. Hang something above my desk. I love this Norman Parkinson print of a mod hitchhiker from 1960. I love it even more that Ikea had a new 1960's matted fashion photography selection for $15. It looks great in its new spot.

2. Hang my hats. These hats have been in a box in my closet since May. Even when I want to wear them, I don't because I don't feel like digging them out of my closet. Mission accomplished! 

3. Spice up my kitchen window with plants. I actually have a green thumb, but living in the city hasn't exactly given me the opportunity to do much in the way of gardening in recent years. I love these two succulents that I found at Ikea for $2.99! 

4. Warm up my living room with a blanket. Everything in my living room is black or white, and I use pops of color to compliment the space. I love it - it's easy, clean and clutter free. This winter has driven me crazy, because I didn't have a blanket in my living room. When I wanted to get warm, I had to drag blankets out from my bedroom. Not a big deal, but it bugged me. This black and white striped blanket from Ikea works perfectly in my space. 

A perfect weekend to air out the apartment and start the week reorganized and feeling refreshed! Hope wherever you are the weather was as perfect as it was here! 

Moving Woes, Part II

When I leased my apartment, I was excited about two things: 1. my bedroom is gigantic 2. I have a deck (key to city living). After getting the initial move out of the way, it became obvious that I needed a desk for my bedroom (as piles on my floor are unacceptable). Quite easily, I found and purchased a used Ikea desk for $10 off of Craigslist. With the purchase of the desk, I needed to secure the perfect desk chair for my bedroom. Immediately, I pulled up Craigslist, typed in "Eames," and prayed that something halfway decent would turn up in the results. Luck was on my side, as a beautiful Eames Molded Plywood Lounge replica came up in the results - a bargain at $75. My obsession with Charles and Ray Eames began in 1997 when I took a college elective on design and architecture in the US. When we started to learn about mid-century modern, small town me suddenly understood why I never "got" the country decor that my mom prefers. I always had a sense of style, but I never had seen furniture design that "matched" my personality and taste. Ever since that class, I have been hooked, so when I found the Eames replica chair for $75 (others on Craigslist had the same chair listed for $195), I jumped at the listing. The chair is gorgeous and nicely dresses up my simple desk. I am thrilled with it! 

Next up, the deck. For nearly two months, my deck sat empty. Why? Finding simple and inexpensive deck chairs (that don't look like they were designed specifically for NASCAR viewing parties) is impossible. I had found a chair that I liked at Ikea, but at $30 a pop, buying two was pushing the high end of my budget. Miraculously, I found a girl selling a set of those chairs on Craigslist for $50. I successfully haggled her down to $40 and saved myself $20 off of the original Ikea price (they are in great condition, but do have a few marks). 

Tonight, I gave my new deck chairs a trial run and enjoyed the first non-rainy night we've had in days! My pug and I sat outside and enjoyed the breeze - it was amazing! Chairs=deck success! 

The nearly empty apartment that could is coming together nicely, and, not to brag, I'm getting scary good at finding amazing deals on Craigslist. Next up, my DIY curtain project that may prove to be either brilliant or disastrous. Stay tuned!