Say Hello to my New Address

Welcome back, everyone!  I've been on hiatus for a pretty good reason, but I'm back now, with pictures galore.  Last weekend I moved out of my parents house and into a perfect-for-me-sized one bedroom apartment!!

Here's my front door.  I was delighted to find out that my apartment is on the second floor near the front of the complex.

This is the view from my balcony door.  The church next door has a pumpkin patch!

I spent most of Friday taking a few loads of boxes and smaller furniture over in my car.  Mom met up with me for the last load, and it went much quicker!  After organizing and planning where some of the big furniture was going to go, we had beers on the veranda.

I'm so glad to be on the backside of the building, facing the church instead of another apartment building.  It's so peaceful and relaxing, and I get morning light instead of squinty sunset light.  After that I locked the door for the night and we went home to get dinner and wait for Andrew to get home from Nashville.  He decided moving weekend would be a good one to come home, and I sure was appreciative.  I'll also take this time to give a shout-out to my Starbucks co-workers who helped me cover my Saturday and Sunday shifts!

Andrew got home around nine or ten and we stayed up late talking about movies and stuff.  The next morning we all went to Kaldi's for much-needed coffees before loading up the cars.  Dad was able to get a bigger van since ours was laid to rest a few months ago (remember the crazy hit-and-run?!), so he and Mom left to go pick up the couch I had bought a few days earlier at a thrift store.  Andrew, Taylor, and I loaded up three cars-worth of stuff and caravanned down Lindbergh to meet them there.

Dad left shortly after to go get the bed while we unloaded the three auxiliary cars.  When he got back we set up the bed and decided to go to Amigo's for a late lunch and margaritas!  We got a spot on the back porch because the weather was so lovely.

After that we split ways for the afternoon.  I stopped at Target for those last minute move-in necessities like trashcans, a shower curtain rod, silverware, a starter set of dishes, and other such items.  I also found a throw blanket on sale to cover the couch!  By the time I got everything taken in and unpacked, it was time to go home and get ready for dinner.  

Dad was playing music so we ended up just going down to PJ's, our standby bar-food place.  We went home and hung out for a bit before going to bed.  We all slept in until about ten the next morning and hung out for a couple hours before Andrew got on the road.  It was really fun having him home, and I'm glad he got to see my new space.  He and Juliana will be back for the holidays so they'll get to see it all set up too!

Taylor came over on Sunday to help hang the curtains in my bedroom.  It was difficult because the plastic shade apparatus above the glass door was so big, and the studs weren't so easy to find, but we figured it out. That was my first night staying over, and I slept really well!  And over the last week I've slowly been getting things more organized and unpacked.  Between work and trying to keep up with homework I can only do a little here and a little there, but it's starting to come together.

I have really great closet space, which I am taking full advantage of.  This one is in the hall and is a walk-in with hanging bars on both sides!  And I have another double-sliding-door closet in the bedroom.  So far I have most of my clothes in this closet but kept my work clothes separate in the other one.

Here is my make-up area in the bedroom.  I decided not to bring a dresser and try this square shelf thing I got for my downstairs summer room at home.  So far it's working pretty well.

This bookshelf and stool were thrifted.  Don't they look great next to the Middle Earth map?

And it wouldn't really be my apartment without lots and lots of little Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling.  

I found this really awesome table at a thrift store but the top looked like it belonged to an artistic fairy because it was covered with little stains and splotches of glitter.  Andrew sanded down the top so Dad could stain it a nice new color.  I can't wait until it's ready!

The other day I went to an antique mall and found two french-looking velvet chairs: this dusty pink one and the blue-green one in the bottom picture.  And of course I hung lights in the living room too!

So far I am absolutely loving the apartment life.  I can't wait until everything is unpacked and set up so then I can start having people come visit.  I'm planning a holiday party or two.  Ooh!  That's another thing that will be fun; Christmas decorating!  I hope you all had a nice last few weeks, and that the shifting weather isn't making you sick.  The guy from Charter is supposed to be out on Wednesday to set up my internet, so hopefully there won't be such a long delay before the next post!

(photos by e.hunt, r.hunt, and g.hunt)

We Lived in the Gaps Between the Stories

It rained most of the day today.  I really don't like rain but it made it a little cooler outside so today it was okay.  I went to Target on a mission to find a shower curtain and one of those accordion folder organizer things.  I have a big stack of old bills and paystubs and things like that all stuffed in a drawer that needed organizing so I thought that would be perfect.  It will probably end up back in a drawer at my new apartment, but at least they will be in order.  The shower curtain search was a success as well!  And I got two compliments on my rainy day jacket!

(photo by e.hunt)

To Make Clear at a Glance

Happy Monday!  I hope you all have had adequate time to recover from the debate last night.  I for one, cannot believe that there are still people who are defending Donny T's ridiculousness, absurdity, and stupidity.  Oh well, we have another week and a half or so until it will be time for more outrage at the next debate.  I had a lovely weekend.  On Friday we went down to Amigo's for some delicious Mexican dishes with our old family friends, the Stew's.  Afterwards they came back to our house for a rousing round of the Drawing Game!

Saturday was a stressful day at work.  Three people called in sick and we were busy my entire eight-hour shift.  I was very glad to not be the shift manager that day!  After work I came home to the immaculate smell of chili on the stove and an ice cold Octoberfest beer, so all was well.  The next night we had more good food down at Dewey's!

My apartment collection is growing.  The rugs I ordered came in last week and they will be perfect over the cream-colored carpet, Mom got me a nice pillow and a weird plant, and I found a great deal on a new quilt for my bed.  I've been wanting a grey one for a long time so I decided, why not start off my new apartment with some new bedding?!  The only other thing I'll need right away is curtains.  Eleven days until move-in!!

(photos by e.hunt)

Time is not a Thing That Passes, It's a Sea on which You Float

Here we are at another Friday.  Between work and school, this was a busy week for me.  I did make time to go get a pedicure though.  I picked out a nice, fall-leaves red color, and it was every bit as relaxing as I hoped it would be.

Taylor and I went to Kaldi's on Monday.  I got their Pumpkin Maple latte to try for a second time and it was still pretty good.  The Pumpkin Spice at Starbucks is a little overwhelmingly sweet for me but Kaldi's' version holds up pretty well.

Trip, the triple-ear bunny, made an appearance in our back yard again.  We were worried that he succumbed to the fox genocide that happened a month or so ago, but he survived!  And the rest of the bunny population is starting to come back up as well so we have little friends joining us in the yard during dinner again.

Do you all have any fun plans for the weekend?  I am working eight-hours both days, and Mom's sister Jenny is in town so I imagine we'll go to Dewey's one night for delicious pizza.  Other than that I don't think I'll be doing anything exciting besides packing.  Oh!  I got my official move-in date!!  October 21st, a week earlier than I thought, so now I really need to start packing!  Good thing I have Fall Break this upcoming week.  Have a lovely Fall weekend, everyone!

(photos by e.hunt)

Through Shadows to the Edge of Night, Until the Stars Are All Alight

Last Saturday after I got home from Springfield, I took a quick shower and we were out again.  Dad was playing music with Jay at the opening weekend of this new venue down in The Delmar Loop called The Delmar Hall.  We went early to grab some pizza across the street and get some good seats. We didn't have to worry though; there was a special VIP section for friends of the band.  After a while  Dad's two brothers, my aunt, cousin, and a few of their friends joined us.

It was a great show.  I don't listen to Jay's music all that much in my free time but it's always a treat to see them live.  You can tell the music is complicated and it is amazing to see them play and hear the songs.  We eventually moved down to the standing section for a better view, and better pictures!

The venue had this weird thing going on with the lighting.  It seemed like they bought all this expensive lighting, different colors and patterns, and felt like they had to use it even though it didn't really work with Jay's vibe at all.  It made for some cool picture effects though.

It's always fun to go see Dad play music.  We get to hear him playing all the time at home but it's not the same as when he's on the stage with hundreds of people cheering and singing along.  What a great night.

(photos by e.hunt)

Scotch, Rum, and Dancing the Night Away

It was another successful Springfield trip.  The drive was peaceful and because it was overcast, I had awesome views like this the whole way down!

I got in around dinner time and went to Bread Co for a salad and worked on a few things before meeting up with friends for the night.  Hannah and I met up downtown at this place called Scotch and Soda.  We went for a while last time I was in town and I thought it'd be fun to go back.  It's has kindof an old-time English vibe, and they don't blare pop music so we could talk and catch up.  I got a Tom Collins and it was quite delicious.

Then we headed over to this new place on the square called The Golden Girl Rum Club.  I think it's my new favorite.  It had a Hawaiian theme and was bright and happy.  We got two spots at the bar and ordered daiquiris.  I thought a festive frozen delight would be fun but when they came up they weren't frozen at all!  Oh well, they were still very good.

After that we met up with some of Hannah's friends and went to a club for some late night dancing.  The group made a little circle to keep the creepers away and it was quite fun.  I haven't been out dancing in a long time so it was a nice change of pace.  After a while I was ready to leave and meet up with an old friend who is a fraternity house father.  It's kindof weird going back to the Quad now that I'm so much older, but it's worth it to catch up with old friends.

(photos by e.hunt)