The List

It was just too overwhelming at first to make a list for the new apartment, and I also wouldn't let myself think too much about setting things up here until I was absolutely undeniably finished with things at the old place. Luckily after the walk-thru on Monday (not a one issue, either! hooray for getting back our entire security deposit!), I breathed a great sigh of relief and have mentally begun my list. And now with a three day weekend looming and precious few outside obligations, I am ready to begin. First stop, those 17 or so boxes left to unpack and deal with.

1. Boxes. Unpack, store, trash, goodwill, get rid of empties - to be completed ASAP.
2. Paint colors to choose. Pretty much every room is going to get painted at some point, and all of the trim as well. Everything white trim-wise. It will take some time but I'd like to get colors chosen (esp. for trim since it will just be one color) and decide on the bathroom and bedroom colors.
3. Research easy paint stripping. Some of the trim/doors are painted so thick with that awful beige that they are peeling. We might leave some doors unpainted so I need to figure out how to get the wood back without too much aggravation and toxic fumes.
4. Clean. We cleaned for two days when we moved it but things are needing a touch up again. Bathroom needs a deep cleaning.
5. Grocery shop. Finally have a list for a BIG trip.
6. Plan window treatments and work out a budget. No clue what I want to do, but some of the junky mini blinds that were up are broken and some are just dirty.
7. Remove and boil hardware to strip paint. Some genius painted right over the awesome mid-century brass hardware on all the doors and built ins. It's really easy to boil off in a junky pot w/ baking soda but the paint needs to be sliced away with an exacto knife so we can actually remove this stuff. I can't wait to see the "after"!
8. Take before pictures. I need to borrow a camera...still haven't replaced the one I broke over a year ago. Sigh.

That's gonna do it for now. Quite the workload, eh? Here's to a productive labor day weekend!

So far....

I got the keys to the new place today. So far, well, let's just say I'm really super pleased that the central air seems to be working just fine. If it wasn't for that, I'd have to be a bit discouraged. I've been cleaning over 5 hours now and it's only about 1/2 way finished. Soooooo much cat hair, dirt, grime, paint chips, etc. My allergies love it. The bathroom was pretty frightening, with a shower head that looked straight out of Cold War Russia and the most mildewed tiles you can imagine. There is absolutely no chance of hanging a full sized hanger in the bedroom closet. Baby hangers, perhaps, but unfortunately my clothes are all adult sized. The washer/dryer that is supposed to be in the basement is mysteriously absent (there are three sets, but 4 apts...each is hooked up to that unit's utilities). It took me about 15 minutes just to clean the toilet.

Sigh.

I think if I left my apartment in the state in which I've found the new one, I'd have to kiss a huge chunk of my security deposit goodbye. And I'm having a hard time even thinking about going through all this top-to-bottom scrub-a-dub rigmarole again when I finally get moved out of the old place. Finally being the operative word. I just have no clue when it will be finished.

But that central air. Oh yes, central air. It's marvelous. A saving grace for the slow transition. I know once I get my stuff settled in and we can arrange rooms and hang artwork and tweak a few things and paint a room or two things will be just fine. There is some fantastic natural light. It's so cheery. The floors are in decent shape, and I imagine will look even better once mopped (no hot water till Tuesday, the earliest Laclede Gas can be there). I'm up to the challenge. And excited to try some new ideas. To cook in a kitchen actually big enough for two people. To do laundry without a stop off at the car wash for some quarters. All in good time.

Until then, I'll just bring up my yoga mat and practice the handstands we learned today in class against the empty walls. :)

Got what I wished for!

Well it seems as though I got what I wished for though of course when it rains, it pours! This next week is sure to bring many awesome changes and experiences that I hope I can roll with it all without too much craziness.

I found a cool place in a great neighborhood and I'm looking forward to picking up the keys next Saturday. Can't believe after a looong month of filling out paperwork, writing check after check, and collecting piles of boxes that moving day is almost here. It's got central air, it's own washer/dryer in the basement (no more quarter hoarding!), more room, an actual dining room, space in the kitchen for two people, and a great landlord. I don't know much more though because we looked at it while the previous tenant was still there, while he was in the apt., and I didn't feel comfortable being so nosy. So most of the details will just be a surprise!

I'm really incredibly ready to be settled in to the new place though. I hate living in a state of flux and with most of my stuff packed, other things definitely NOT packed, and lots of cleaning to do (luckily I do have until the end of the month to finish moving/cleaning), I've definitely begun to feel a tiny bit overwhelmed and certainly not the least bit calm.

Also, I'm going to become an aunt any day now!!!! That is the biggest family news and I pretty much stop to think about it, oh, every 15 minutes of so! I can't believe the big day is almost here and my brother, my big but by just under a year brother, is going to be a Dad! It's amazing. They are both going to be great parents, you can tell already. I can't wait to meet my sweet little niece and smother her with all kinds of love. She'll be spoiled in no time ;)

I could have picked a better week to turn my own life upside down I guess but that's just how things work out. To top it all off, I've got a couple East coast visitors headed to STL in the next week as well, and I can't wait to see them and hang out and catch up. Who knows when I'll fit it all in, but I know it will happen. And that the next month or so is just going to be one exciting, happy, crazy blur...I can't wait!

Feeling a Smidge Restless...

Lately I've just been jonesing for a change. Or several.

Things at work have been, well, let's just say a bit far from engaging. I am stuck in a rut of the same old same old and don't see much light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

I've got no vacation on the horizon either and as much as I love St. Louis I really would like to get away. Fox 2 even told me the other day that vacations were medically necessary. Don't have to tell me twice! Now who would like to give me $500 so I can escape for a week (cheap!)? Crickets...that's all I hear. I know I'm not alone at least.

And finally, I'm definitely starting to feel cooped up at my apartment. Yes, the one where I have spent countless hours arranging, rearranging, de-cluttering, scrubbing top to bottom and back again. After just over 5 years I'm itching to shake things up. Try a new neighborhood. Enjoy modern conveniences such as central air (I hear it's just phenomenal). I looked at an apartment today that popped up on Craigslist just as I started yet another search - it was in my ideal neighborhood (Lafayette Square) and boasted not just central air but a real live dishwasher! Alas, it was not meant to be. The "600 square feet" the agent quoted made my 575 square foot apartment look like a mansion. And unfortunately, the boy and I prefer to eat dinner at an actual dining room table instead of the coffee table, two feet in front of the TV.

I finished the first draft of my grad school application essay tonight, and I'll edit it tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll potentially be able to start MPPA classes at UMSL in the Fall. I think that would be a good change - one that DOES give me a light at the end of my current career path's tunnel, and also a welcome distraction from this amazing pity party. Oh, and a student loan deferrment for the next 3+ years and nobody can complain about that.

You Know Those Days...

When you just don't feel like doing, oh, anything?

Today is absolutely gorgeous, and after getting up (after a mighty fine BBQ we hosted last night), hitting yoga class, and potting a beautiful plant my best friend visiting from DC brought me, I stopped doing much of anything productive.

I've eaten a few too many of the leftover bits of junk food, so perhaps that's why I feel extra sluggish. Mostly though I think it's just such a nice, peaceful day that I wouldn't want to waste it rushing around on errands or doing chores.

It's hard though, not to feel guilty knowing that you've got a never-ending to-do list in the back of your mind but instead of being productive you are going to laze away the day w/ a book, mint and lemon ice water, probably a few too many minutes spent online, and otherwise just taking it easy.

I suppose that's what summertime is for though! Cheers to a "daycation" then ;)

5 Things

So I sort of trailed off on finishing the official cure, for a few reasons. #1 was lack of time, #2 was lack of money, and #3 was that I didn't have too much to do. However, for several weeks I've had random piles and boxes in my living room and I finally got around to my basement storage area today. Yikes. Lesson to be learned - don't take "free crap" from people, as nice and well-meaning as they may be. You don't need something unless you'd actually spend the money on something yourself. You just don't.

So anyway, I love the feeling of letting go of clutter. It's so freeing. Even if you don't feel like devoting 8 weeks to a major household overhaul, you can easily let things go. Choose 5 things from each room (it's easier than it sounds), and let them go - donate, trash, recycle, set by the dumpster - whatever. You won't regret it and the feeling of a weight off will last!

Sunday Update

My biggest accomplishment of this weekend was to start AND finish recovering the dining room chairs. I just finished the last one and I am so happy! They look much cuter than the old, stained covers, I wish I had a camera to take a picture. But just trust me on this - the Amy Butler lotus pattern fabric was just perfect. I gave the chairs a good scrub down too, which they really needed. Hooray!

I also did 4 loads of laundry AND put it all away.

Now off to pack for a night in Chicago tomorrow. My room smells like honeysuckle because the windows are wide open and the breezes are strong. It's pretty great to finally have Spring!