Author: Staci

Staci blogs about travel at TheVoyageer.com.

Floor Plan

Here’s a quick little map of our floor plan that I took from the apartment’s website and modified in MS Paint. Yep, nothing but the best for you guys on this Monday morning.

As you might be able to tell, We didn’t really follow the preconceived notion of where the living area and dining area should go. Creativity! I hope this gives you an idea of what we’re doin’ here! Posts forthcoming with actual photos (gasp, what a concept) so you can see our progress! I know I keep promising them but they really will be on their way.

How is your Monday going? Oh, I turned 25 this weekend. Does that mean I’m a grown-up now?

Loss Prevention

Our new apartment (a few more “in progress” shots coming soon) is on the third floor! This is great for getting rid of the extra pounds I put on over the last year, but not so good when it comes to my nerves about little Mosey squeezing out under the railing on our small balcony. If he can fit under the bed (his new trick, now that our bed is no longer on the floor), he can squeeze out under the rail. I mean, he could if he really wanted to.

Here’s a quick little project Doug took care of as soon as we moved in–while I arranged stuff in our closet and worked on some kitchen organization, he finished this up in an evening. The rails are too narrow for little Moze to squeeze out of, but the section underneath made me a little paranoid–he’s probably smart enough not to squeeze out and fall to his doom, but he might get his head stuck or something.

My dad had some extra chicken wire left over from a pigeon-prevention project he undertook at their home a number of years ago, so the cost of this project was only about four bucks for the zip ties. Doug simply cut the chicken wire into four long strips using wire cutters (included in this basic tool kit I snagged at IKEA a number of years ago) and attached the strips to the bottom of the fence using small 4-inch zip ties. It took about twenty zip ties so now we have 80 for other projects… yeah.

This simple task has helped set my mind at ease, because we love sitting out on our patio and Mosey loves watching the kids play in the pool and barking at other dogs. Not to mention, if he plays with toys out here, there’s less of a chance of them falling and getting lost.

And, unless you’re really looking for it, you can’t really see the chicken wire from a distance.

Ever taken any safety measures simply for paranoia’s sake? I don’t think that there was a real risk here but now I really won’t have to worry!!

Moving in.

Oh man. Here it is Thursday, and I’m getting out my first post of the week! Is it really Thursday? I don’t even know what day of the week it is. I know you guys will go easy on me, though, because other things have been more pressing… you know, like moving in, job interviews, grocery shopping, etc. I hope you really enjoyed the guest posts last week! If you ever make it out to CA, I hope you look us up or at least take some of their tips under consideration!

We should have wi-fi at our place early next week because it makes more sense to get signed up now (even though we remain jobless) than pay the same price in 3G overages on our iPhones. Yikes. The thought of it gives me cold sweats.

The drive was long and boring as I knew it would be, since I was alone (well, with Mosey) in the small car while Doug and his dad tag-teamed the big moving truck and trailer operation. Due to the trailer we made the whole trip (approx. 1500 miles) under 65 mph. That added on some time but I admit it helped my peace of mind knowing that our earthly belongings weren’t careening around the country at break neck speed–also we totally killed it on MPG. Here’s my protip for the day–if you really, really wanna save money on a cross-country trip, drive 60pm the whole time.

Here, some first glimpses of our apartment:

20120919-090338.jpg

Yes! It is seriously basic! Light brown carpet and white walls. All 824 sq feet of it. You know what? I am seeing this as a real opportunity to be taken. Let’s be honest: not a lot of design blogs have to deal with apartment-complex imposed restrictions. They either own their place and can do whatever they want, or have a really laissez-faire landlord (like I used to, especially when we lived in our loft) and pretty much get free reign.

I’m going to embrace these limitations! White walls and light brown carpet? Bring it on! Know what? The vast majority of people like me (early twenties, living in larger apt. complexes) have the same parameters we have now. And as my tagline says, I want to prove that any home can be made fabulous.

Here’s to the new phase!