Bedroom Makeover

I moved into my apartment September of 2013.  By October of 2013 I basically stopped decorating my apartment.  I had done a lot, got burned out, and ran out of money.  What I had decorated was great, but I have always wanted to do more.
Fast forward to a year later and while I had decorated and changed up my living room, I had yet to decorate my bedroom.  Honestly no one but me goes in there, clothes are always all over the place, and what I have wanted to do was going to cost money.  But I finally bit the bullet and got my bedroom decorated...at least a little bit!
The Before: Sorry for the unmade bed:)

I liked my cream colored curtains because they made the room light.  But they were terrible about blocking out light.  And the apartment complex decided a couple weeks ago to replace our street light bulbs with the brightest ones they could find.  There just so happens to be a street light right outside my apartment.  So darker curtains were needed.
That little space with the printer?  I have wanted to add a table and decorate the wall for all my jewelry.  I shopped around and found the table below from Walmart.  Assemble was weird, but it works.  And it was cost efficient.

I feel like I still need to add to the wall behind my bed.  But I am not sure what else I want to put with my monogram.  Suggestions anyone?  I am open to just about anything!

Please excuse the chair full of clothes.  At least I made the bed?  Also still looking/saving for a real desk chair.  The current one is from my dining room.

One of my friends from college, Becky, made the earring holder.  I love it!  I have found that when I display all of my jewelry, the more likely I am to wear it.  Also I had forgotten how many earrings I have.  It had all been hidden away for the last year because I did not have a place for my jewelry.

The table was the perfect addition I needed.  I love the color and height and that my printer can fit underneath it.  I wish the printer was more hidden, but hey it's a give and take when you are decorating on a budget!
I am in love with my new additions!  Plus I am pretty proud of myself for finally getting around to decorating my room.  Also sorry for the crappy iphone pictures.  It was quicker and easier than pulling out the big camera!

Wanna Be Better Than The Best

We all strive to be the best at something in our lives.  We may even try to portray ourselves as being the best of the best. But if we are being honest, there are many things in life we could be better at.  I know I have quite a few things that could fit this category!
I wanna be better at decorating.   I always thought that I knew how to decorate.  And I would say I do as long as I am not the one who has to buy everything to decorate with.  Most things in the store seem so much better than when I get them back home.  Currently my apartment is only half way decorated...and while I have ideas on what I want to do, I know they won't be happening anytime soon!

The only half of the space above my cabinets with decorations.  Except Brutus ate that plant.

I wanna be better at cooking Honestly I am not that bad of a cook.  In fact I even love cooking.  But cooking for one and cooking healthy I seem to struggle a lot with.  I never have the desire to cook just for myself anymore.  It's no fun and no one is there to appreciate it.
I wanna be better at not procrastinating I am HORRIBLE about putting everything off until the last minute.  Homework, cleaning, cooking, running errands.  They are all done at the last minute.  Instead I tend to sit on my couch and read or watch tv.  I wish I was more likely to do everything else first, and then watch the tv.  
I wanna be better at spending time with people It's not that I am too busy or don't want.  I just never seem to remember to spend time with people I love.  One of my first friends here in Florida is about to move away and now I feel myself cramming in time to spend with her.  I hope to get better at taking the time to spend with friends and not taking as much "Mosby" time.

I wanna be better at saving I have never been known to be the saver in the family.  I get money, I spend money.  When I was working more jobs that actually paid last year, I was able to save quite a bit of money.  Since I do not have to most steady income saving is hard for me.  My desire is to get better at this when I know I have that steady income.
What do you want to be better at?  Maybe we can team up and help each other strengthen our weaknesses!

Refresh and Renew

The other day I got the big urge to rearrange my living room.  I have been wanting to do it for a while and since I have had some time, I did it. Sine it has been a year that I moved in, I figured it was about time to make some changes. Refresh and Renew for this new year!
Previously this is how my living room looked

Over the course of the year I have added to and rearrange to make it now look like this

Brutus of course had to make and appearance!

A little messier and more lived in.  Also please excuse the iPhone pictures.  I was too lazy to get out the big girl camera!

Since I was rearranging my living room, I decided it was also time to update my gallery wall.  I don't think I am very good at this, but I try.  And I mostly like then end result.  Theory is always better than reality with me!

I had two new prints from 34 Magnolia Street Shop and wanted to personalize it with some family and friend pictures.  
I am loving the rearrangement of my furniture.  I feel like it opens up the space and makes it feel bigger than it really is.  When moving everything around I was reminded of being in college when we would rearrange our rooms all the time.  It always made life feel new and I feel the same now!

Having My Own Place: What I Have Learned

Having been on my own for almost a year, I have learned so much about having your own place. One you pay for and have to keep nice and clean. One where mom doesn't come over and take care of everything. One where you are the boss and are responsible for what happens in that lace. One where you can decorate in whatever way you want! I have LOVED having my own place, but I have also had some revelations about it.

1. Paying for electricity

This has got to be the biggest one for me. Before I rented and had to pay the electric bill I didn't care about leaving the lights on at all time or the t.v.  Now? My apartment stays dark a lot. I use to leave a light on for when I came home at night. But that costs money and figured I could do without that. I am also very careful about turning lights off when I don't need them on. I have even started opening the shades for some natural light which I love!

2. Your responsible for clogs

In college anytime we had any problems with any plumbing we called maintenance and they took care of it. At home I told mom and she took care of it. Now? I take care of it. I am now a plumber. I fix toilets and clogged showers. 

3. Locking your door is necessary

In college I NEVER locked the door to my room. Sometimes my roommates would and of course I wouldn't have my keys and I would get locked out. But there was a lot of safety on that campus and I didn't ever worry about locking the door. Being in my own place my door is always locked. My place now is not as safe and protected as a college dorm and I do NOT want anyone in there. Fortunately for me, my apartment is on the front side of the apartment where someone would see if someone tried to break in. 

4. Neighbors? What are those?

I do not know a single neighbor of mine. Ok I take that back. One guy at the gym told me he lives above me. But it's not like we talk. I never see my neighbors. I try to smile and say hi when I do see them. But I seriously do not know any of them at all. And it kinda makes me sad :( I use to know all of my neighbors in college and back home. Now no one. People are just so much more private and quiet these days. 

5. Your break it. You pay for it. 

Mom and Dad you might want to read past this one... But there is this little thing in my contract for my apartment which says I have to pay for things if I break them or if Brutus ruins them. So far I won't be getting my deposit back on that kid. You see he use to like chewing on the blinds. And he found a string in my carpet and just kept pulling and scratching. He also knocked over a vase that fell and chipped my counter.  I will own up to all of these. And then I will pay for all of them. 

As I said, I love love love having my own place. I was given the choice of staying home while in school or to move out. After living in Tennessee by myself for 4 years, I knew living at home would not be the best for me and my sanity. I am thankful it was something I was able to do NAND was supported by my family to do. I look forward to the many other apartments and homes I will probably have over the years and the lessons I will learn from those places!

The Newest Home Decoration

You know how one of my goals this year is to finish decorating my apartment? Well this month I really wanted to feel as though I started working more towards this.  And I did...just not exactly in the way I had planned or expected to decorate my home.
You see about three weeks ago, Brutus discovered that he could climb onto my counter tops.  And then he discovered the top of the fridge.  And from there found the top of my cabinets.  In fact this is where I found him one night last week.

Needless to say I am not exactly the biggest fan of him doing this!  Mostly because you see that vase on the far left? He knocked it down and broke it.  Along with a couple of glasses and mason jars.  The kid just has no clue what he is doing!
So I needed to find a way for him to have fun and climb...just not on my counters.  And this is what I got.

Do you see it? Do you see my new decoration? It would be the cat tree in the corner.  Brutus got a cat tree.  And he better like it! I took him to it right after I put it together.  I made him climb on it.  And see the mouse he now has to play with.  Doesn't he just looked thrilled?

 I mean wouldn't you be excited if this was the mouse you got to play with?!

Originally the plans were for me to get a bookshelf and put it in this corner.  But that went out the door when the little bugger decided to climb.  I really am hoping this will curve some of his counter climbing!

Big Home, Little Home

this was written about a week ago

Last Thursday my parents headed out for one of their many amazing trips. This time to Barcelona and Italy. And now that I live in town...this means I get to watch the house and the animals. Yay me. So I packed Brutus and I up and moved back into the house I grew up in.

And let's just say it's a big adjustment to me. 20 of my apartment could fit into their house (ok maybe only 10). But for reals it's a whole lot bigger. And a whole lot more work. And at night a whole lot creepier. 

My little home is just perfect for me. I like that it is small. It is the perfect size for one person. Everything is quickly accessible. It's warm and cozy and it has my bed. 

My parents house is just big. I grew up here, but I almost feel like a visitor. It's just not home home to me anymore. I mean yes it's home. But it's not where I live? I really don't know how to say that. It's just that I have created my own home for myself and Brutus. 

This past week has been an adventure to say the least. I wake up at 5:30 and feed the dog and cats. Then back to bed. Then up again to begin my day. I have to plan my day around taking the dog out. And just in general taking care of a much larger home. 

Needless to say I have come to appreciate my small little home. I love the size of it, big enough to have space but small enough to be cozy. I love that none of my furniture is new and that I redid most of it myself. I love that it is mine. All mine. 

It has always been in the back of my head when I might move out and have a larger place. And after being back at my parents for a week, I don't think I will be moving anytime soon. I have learned to love and appreciate my place and where I am at now. 

It always the little things that remind me what I need to be thankful for :)

Reasons I Love Having My Own Place

Ever since I moved home I knew I wanted my own place. I love my parents and I love my past roommates, but the only roommate I want for long time is Brutus. There are many many reasons for this. And I figured you would all want to know:)

1. No one to clean up after

I always hated doing someone else's dishes. Like seriously you can't take two second to wash your bowl?! I know I was  guilty of leaving dishes out as well, so I really shouldn't complain. But now I clean up after me and Brutus. And if Brutus could clean up after himself I so would make him!

2. No one to leave the toilet unflushed 

This has got to be one of my BIGGEST pet peeves ever. I find peeing in an already peed in toilet beyond disgusting. Why would you just leave your pee sitting there?! My roommates last year and my sister were all so guilty of this. All because "the toilet makes too much noise at night". Not a good excuse. 

3. I always have alone time

I am the type of person who needs a lot of alone time. It's the way I feel refreshed. I don't like always having someone around. I get annoyed. Having a roommate this was always the hardest part. Now if I want my roommate to leave me alone I put him in the floor or table or lock him in the bathroom where all his stuff is. 

4. I can leave my stuff wherever I want

When I lived at home my mom was always telling me to get my things off the counter and to clean my room. And rightfully so since it was her house. And in the dorm I didn't want to leave things out because it wasn't just my space. Now I can leave my shoes everywhere and not have anyone come and complain to me. Brutus loves it when I leave them out, they are toys to him. 

5. I can be as loud as I want
In the dorms the walls were so thin that everyone could hear your whole conversation in the next room even if you weren't being loud.  I remember numerous conversations being had whispering so that someone would not over here us.  Now I can watch tv as loud as I want, talk as loud as I want, and play music as loud as I want.

Oh there are more reasons why I love having my own place, but we will just leave it at this! 

If You Walked Into My Apartment

If you walked into my apartment you would see...

Dishes on the counter. Some may be clean and drying, others dirty.

To the right a cute little table to place my keys.

My table covered in papers from wokring on a project for school.

Shoes all over the place.  They never make it to the closet.

My purse sitting in a chair where I can easily grab it and go.

A pillow and blanket on my couch.  It's the best place for a nap.

Lamps on only.  I hate harsh lighting.  Also trying to save that money.

My Bible, devotional, and journal on the table next to my oversized chair.  No pens.  They have to go on the counter so that Brustus doesn't steal them.

Bedroom door shut.  Bathroom door open. And an unmade bed behind that closed door.

My clothes hamper with clean clothes in it.  I hate folding and hanging clothes.

Brutus playing in the blinds. Or laying splat on my table.

If you walked into my apartment you would smell...

Cinnamon.  My most favorite scent ever.  I currently have a Pumpkin Cinnamon candle thanks to my Aunt Beth currently burning.

Peanut Butter cookies.  I love to bake and just made some yummies.

A cat.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get the cat smell out of my apartment.  

My Apartment: The After

Three weeks after moving in and sharing with you all the before pictures of my apartment, I am FINALLY ready to show you all the after pictures.  Now please keep in mind that it's always going to be a work in progress.  But here is what I have for now and I am very happy with it:)
Why don't we start with the kitchen.  I still love the size of my kitchen.  I just feel like it still needs some color in it.  Compared to my living and dining rooms it is REALLY white.

And then we have my dining room.  Yes I am missing a chair for my table.  It is in my bedroom being used as a desk chair currently.  I am looking to add a bookshelf in the corner near the window.  Other than that I love this room!

The living room is by far my most favorite room in the whole place.  I look at it now that it is more put together and I just fall in love.  I want to sit in there all day every day. PS mad props to my mom for recovering all of my couch cushions!

Also the wall with quotes on it is going to grow.  I just have to find some more prints that I am in love with.  For now this whole wall is done in thanks to Lauren.  All printables were made by her:) 

Here is a good view of the openness of the place.  I love how open everything is and how I can watch tv while I cook.  Oh and please excuse the trash by the door.  I was cleaning and getting everything put together yesterday when I took these pictures.

And then we have the bathroom aka Brutus's room.  He stays in here at night and when I am not home.  So you will find his food, bed, and litter box in here.  This is the one room I am not crazy about.  I just don't know what I want to do to change it.

My bedroom/office.  Again this room is not completely done.  I feel like it is a little bear and I need to add to it.  But I want to love it before I put it in there.  And your not seeing my amazingly huge closet because it is amazingly messy.  

Oh and excuse this mess at the desk.  I am in the process of writing a lovely paper.  

Well there she is friends.  I love it and cannot wait to keep making it my own place and a home.  

My Apartment: The Before Pictures

Last Thursday I moved into my first ever apartment!!! I have been waiting for this day for what seems like forever.  And from the moment I stepped into the place, I knew I was going to just love it!
I really wanted to take some good before pictures of the place without any furniture in it.  Unfortunately my moving guy had other plans.  So here are some not so great iPhone pictures of my new place!!
When you walk in you walk right into my kitchen. As in there is just enough room for the door to open without hitting my counter.  A little cramped, but honestly this is the only cramped space in the place!
My lovely kitchen has a dishwasher (a must have for me) and all nice new appliances!  And lots of cabinet space.  Not pictured is a closet to the left of my stove that will be used as a pantry.

As you make your way through the kitchen you find my laundry room.  The place came with the washer and dryer!

Off the kitchen is my dining and living room.  The dining room is where you see that oversized chair sitting.  I have sliding glass doors off the living room leading to a patio.  I love how open the space is.

You can enter the bathroom either from the living room or my bedroom.  The space is huge even if you cant really tell with the pictures!

And then you have my bedroom.  And my ginormous closet.  That would be my dresser in the back of my closet.  And that dresser is actually kinda really big. 

So there you have friends! My first ever place to call my own.  The more and more I get done decorating and setting it up the more I love it.  I cannot wait to show you all what I have done to the place! But that could be a while.  So I might show you some progression pictures as I finish things up!