It’s embarrassing to admit but I’ve been to Ikea three times in the past week. I now possess two 2010 Ikea catalogues. I’ve been having lighting issues and finding the perfect light for an awkward and dimly-lit space has been challenging. The problem is this: when I come home, it’s dark in my suite. The closest light is too far away, so I need something that is wall mount, but plugs into an outlet. I’ve purchased and return 3 lights total but I think I may have finally found the one. And amazingly enough it matches my other Ikea lights. It’s one of the Orgel series but it’s not on their website. I thought it would require wiring, but on closer examination (and after spending over an hour in the lighting section) I realized it was an outlet type! So that lighting woe has been settled.
Unfortunately, I’m still trying to find some kind of lighting for my dining area. It’s dim as well and even with the addition of three mirrors, it’s still too dark for my liking. I can do pendant lights but they must also be outlet-powered. I looked at Ikea but I didn’t like any of theirs. But they do have cord sets for only $5 and I had the brilliant idea of rigging my own lamp shades. I’m going to visit Michaels to see what kind of supplies I may be able to purchase there. I may also just buy a plain one and put my own fabric on it. Apartment Therapy, the blog where I get my daily inspiration, has so many interesting ideas that I feel confident I can pull this off. I think I might make that my Labour Day long weekend project…
So my new favourite thing is wall decals…Ikea also has a few but frankly they’re boring and uninspired. But if you search “wall decals” on Etsy, you find hundreds of pages of unique wall decals for really great prices. I think my new favourite website for one-of-a-kind housewares is definitely Etsy. Check it out if you haven’t before!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Unpacking and nesting joys...
As I’ve mentioned to friends, my favourite part of moving is the “nesting” phase. Which I’m currently in and loving!
So I mentioned all my special plans for my house in the last post…well last night I went shopping! I completely struck out at Zeller’s and Home Outfitters, but had some good luck at Ikea. I finally got a good shelf for my bathroom (the Lerberg, and only $20!) and another Billy bookcase (I have so many books and not enough space for them!). However, I’m still chasing some elusive finds. I though I’d solved my lighting issues, for over the dining room table and by the front door, but when I got them home, it just wasn’t going to work.
One of my new favourite things to do though, is taking out closet doors! As I previously said, one of the first things I changed in my new place was the dark closet door in the bedroom. The other closet is over in my office area. It was already lacking doors, which was fine for me. So I bought another tension rod last night and put up my navy drapes. And instead of just putting the drapes in the frame of the closet, I went from the outside wall-to-wall. And I pushed the rod right to the ceiling. So they are floor to ceiling and look mysterious. I was giggling that they look like they could lead to some mystical world because you have no idea what’s behind them!
My second favourite thing to do is use mirrors. Especially in small places. I think the only time they’re being used incorrectly is when they’re over a bed, lol! Every girl should have at least one floor-length mirror, to see her whole ensemble, head to toe (or hair to heels), before she leaves the house. I usually put the tall mirror either by my closet or by my front door. I also have a collection of 3 mirrors from Ikea (they were only $8 each) that do a great job of opening up spaces. When I have a laser thing, I will be hanging them near my dining room table. That corner is by far the darkest, and needs the most brightening. Hopefully I will find a good light for it this weekend; it will make it less cave-like.
As I totally bombed at Zellers and Home Outfitters, I will next tackle Canadian Tire (yay Debbie Travis collection), Wal-Mart, and HomeSense. I will share my success or failure tomorrow!
So I mentioned all my special plans for my house in the last post…well last night I went shopping! I completely struck out at Zeller’s and Home Outfitters, but had some good luck at Ikea. I finally got a good shelf for my bathroom (the Lerberg, and only $20!) and another Billy bookcase (I have so many books and not enough space for them!). However, I’m still chasing some elusive finds. I though I’d solved my lighting issues, for over the dining room table and by the front door, but when I got them home, it just wasn’t going to work.
One of my new favourite things to do though, is taking out closet doors! As I previously said, one of the first things I changed in my new place was the dark closet door in the bedroom. The other closet is over in my office area. It was already lacking doors, which was fine for me. So I bought another tension rod last night and put up my navy drapes. And instead of just putting the drapes in the frame of the closet, I went from the outside wall-to-wall. And I pushed the rod right to the ceiling. So they are floor to ceiling and look mysterious. I was giggling that they look like they could lead to some mystical world because you have no idea what’s behind them!
My second favourite thing to do is use mirrors. Especially in small places. I think the only time they’re being used incorrectly is when they’re over a bed, lol! Every girl should have at least one floor-length mirror, to see her whole ensemble, head to toe (or hair to heels), before she leaves the house. I usually put the tall mirror either by my closet or by my front door. I also have a collection of 3 mirrors from Ikea (they were only $8 each) that do a great job of opening up spaces. When I have a laser thing, I will be hanging them near my dining room table. That corner is by far the darkest, and needs the most brightening. Hopefully I will find a good light for it this weekend; it will make it less cave-like.
As I totally bombed at Zellers and Home Outfitters, I will next tackle Canadian Tire (yay Debbie Travis collection), Wal-Mart, and HomeSense. I will share my success or failure tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Settling into the new place…
This past weekend I moved into my new place. It’s a one bedroom basement suite, well actually more like a one bedroom plus den. There was great space, high ceilings (for a basement), and big windows. I saw the potential in it, which is why I took the place. I got in on the 14th in the early afternoon, so with the help of my dad and brother, we moved all my small stuff that day. The big stuff came the next morning. It was nice to have it split in two days, especially because I had to clean the old place too.
Without tooting my own horn, I have a good eye for improving houses. I don’t have to do anything to the kitchen, which is terribly small but brand new at least. The living room is also good, with me just needing to put up better drapes. There is no overhead lighting in the dining room area, so I will be visiting Ikea for that. The office/den area is good too, with great lighting. My biggest two projects, that had to be dealt with as soon as possible, were the bedroom and the bathroom.
The bedroom was improved by day 2. The previous tenant had painted the walls a beautiful dark blue-grey, but it needed some “lightening” to counteract the cave feeling. The baseboards and closet doors were dark cherry wood, so the first thing I popped off (seriously, I don’t think I unpacked anything before I did this!) was the dark closet door. I have a tension shower-curtain rod, so I put that up with my pale beige drapes. Instantly, the room felt lighter and bigger. My dresser and side tables are all a light maple, so that really added a brightness to the room. My bedside table lights are a nice soft cream, and my duvet is white. Lastly, I am adding white drapes (floor to ceiling to add height) to add more to the brightness. For some drama and interest, I used a giant black and white picture of Paris (from Ikea & only $60) as a headboard and it looks gorgeous!
The next day, I tackled the bathroom. It had terrible yellow lighting, a 1’ by 2’ mirror (like that’s good enough for a girl), some weird totally ineffective towel hanging thing, awkward shelving (square when it should have been rectangular, so I moved it to my storage closet instead), and a basic showerhead. Everything I’m putting in can be taken down and brought to a new place (or left in and I can be credited with making it better!). So with the help of my parents, we put in a light that had three adjustable spot lights, so I could direct some light into the corners by the shower and toilet. I got a pretty oval mirror with a frosted edge, and some simple brushed nickel towel racks (hand and body towels). Today I’m venturing to Ikea (at the very least to get the new catalogue!) to get a better shelf thing for my bathroom stuff.
I actually really enjoy the challenge of working with small spaces. If I have the money to pay for the solutions, that is. It’s been an expensive month, but it will be worth it! I'll try to post some pictures soon...
Without tooting my own horn, I have a good eye for improving houses. I don’t have to do anything to the kitchen, which is terribly small but brand new at least. The living room is also good, with me just needing to put up better drapes. There is no overhead lighting in the dining room area, so I will be visiting Ikea for that. The office/den area is good too, with great lighting. My biggest two projects, that had to be dealt with as soon as possible, were the bedroom and the bathroom.
The bedroom was improved by day 2. The previous tenant had painted the walls a beautiful dark blue-grey, but it needed some “lightening” to counteract the cave feeling. The baseboards and closet doors were dark cherry wood, so the first thing I popped off (seriously, I don’t think I unpacked anything before I did this!) was the dark closet door. I have a tension shower-curtain rod, so I put that up with my pale beige drapes. Instantly, the room felt lighter and bigger. My dresser and side tables are all a light maple, so that really added a brightness to the room. My bedside table lights are a nice soft cream, and my duvet is white. Lastly, I am adding white drapes (floor to ceiling to add height) to add more to the brightness. For some drama and interest, I used a giant black and white picture of Paris (from Ikea & only $60) as a headboard and it looks gorgeous!
The next day, I tackled the bathroom. It had terrible yellow lighting, a 1’ by 2’ mirror (like that’s good enough for a girl), some weird totally ineffective towel hanging thing, awkward shelving (square when it should have been rectangular, so I moved it to my storage closet instead), and a basic showerhead. Everything I’m putting in can be taken down and brought to a new place (or left in and I can be credited with making it better!). So with the help of my parents, we put in a light that had three adjustable spot lights, so I could direct some light into the corners by the shower and toilet. I got a pretty oval mirror with a frosted edge, and some simple brushed nickel towel racks (hand and body towels). Today I’m venturing to Ikea (at the very least to get the new catalogue!) to get a better shelf thing for my bathroom stuff.
I actually really enjoy the challenge of working with small spaces. If I have the money to pay for the solutions, that is. It’s been an expensive month, but it will be worth it! I'll try to post some pictures soon...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Dieting In Two Ways Now...
As a recent college grad living on a small income, I knew I needed a budget. In January of this year, I got tough. I listed all my monthly bills and my income. I knew that to improve credit, I’d need to start paying attention to due dates on my bills. I knew that I had to pay off my student-incurred debts. I knew that I had to increase my savings. But I knew that I also had to survive!
So I spent almost an entire work day (yes, I know that was bad but when I’m on a mission I can’t help where or when it happens) creating this perfect money document, which I called “Money, Money, Money” (and it always gets the ABBA song stuck in my head when I open it!). But I realized something as I created my budget. My workouts were sort of like a budget. I had to be just a disciplined with my work outs as I am with my money. I had to be careful not to overeat or eat junk, which was the money equivalent to cutting out my shopping sprees. Just as my budget lay out incoming and outgoing money, my diet lay out the plan for incoming and outgoing calories. I had to be watch what was incoming into my body (my food) and I had to step up my outgoing calories (my workouts).
With the times we’re living in, and the recession being the forefront of pretty much every media, I think that drawing on the parallels of my money and food diet, helps me to stay even more focused. And really, a lifestyle change for both will benefit me in the long term. And as I’m seeing success in the bank accounts, I’m also seeing success in the “body account” and I’m feeling more and more satisfied with the progress in both!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Unsure and Tired Of It...
So my current big issue, the one I alluded to in my last post, concerns my relationship with PL.
My problem is a daily struggle with my brain and my heart. Some days, I can see my future with him so clearly. And some days, I see us ending.
My history with PL is this: We started dating when I was 18 and he was 21. He was my first everything: boyfriend, kiss, and…well, you know. We’ve had rough spots and been able to go through some of them, and twice we’ve broken up. We’ve been together for more than 5 years now, if you don’t subtract the few weeks of being broken up.
My problem with PL is this: When PL and I first kissed, I felt nothing. At the time, I honestly thought that was no big deal. But as I got older and “matured”, I came to realize that I was supposed to be feeling something. But by this point, I feel that I’ve connected with PL on such a deep level in other ways.
My giant dilemma is this: Do I sacrifice my relationship with PL because of the lack of physical reaction? Or do I stay in the relationship that satisfies me emotionally and not physically?
Overall, I’m starting to feel like I’ve met my #2 soul mate and that there is a #1 out there, but I don’t know if it’s worth it to leave my #2 for the possibility of a #1.
Does any of this make sense?
Am I just crazy or stupid for staying in the relationship this long?
This daily struggle of "should I-shouldn't I" is exhausting...
My problem is a daily struggle with my brain and my heart. Some days, I can see my future with him so clearly. And some days, I see us ending.
My history with PL is this: We started dating when I was 18 and he was 21. He was my first everything: boyfriend, kiss, and…well, you know. We’ve had rough spots and been able to go through some of them, and twice we’ve broken up. We’ve been together for more than 5 years now, if you don’t subtract the few weeks of being broken up.
My problem with PL is this: When PL and I first kissed, I felt nothing. At the time, I honestly thought that was no big deal. But as I got older and “matured”, I came to realize that I was supposed to be feeling something. But by this point, I feel that I’ve connected with PL on such a deep level in other ways.
My giant dilemma is this: Do I sacrifice my relationship with PL because of the lack of physical reaction? Or do I stay in the relationship that satisfies me emotionally and not physically?
Overall, I’m starting to feel like I’ve met my #2 soul mate and that there is a #1 out there, but I don’t know if it’s worth it to leave my #2 for the possibility of a #1.
Does any of this make sense?
Am I just crazy or stupid for staying in the relationship this long?
This daily struggle of "should I-shouldn't I" is exhausting...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Something's Building...
Something's building up inside of me right now and it's only a matter of time before it comes out. I'm not even ready to say it out loud yet but I'm getting closer. I feel like just saying that something's coming is the first step.
In positive news...I found out that my boss is currently creating a permanent position for me to apply for within a month or so. She actually told me we're going to have to have a meeting to discuss what my skills are so she can tailor the job description so that I'll be a perfect fit. That makes two times that a position has been created for me. I guess my practicum position boss was just too busy and too crazy to notice that I'm a keeper!
And because you're my only reader....where are you Air? You and I seem to have fallen off the blog-posting train! What's new in your world?
In positive news...I found out that my boss is currently creating a permanent position for me to apply for within a month or so. She actually told me we're going to have to have a meeting to discuss what my skills are so she can tailor the job description so that I'll be a perfect fit. That makes two times that a position has been created for me. I guess my practicum position boss was just too busy and too crazy to notice that I'm a keeper!
And because you're my only reader....where are you Air? You and I seem to have fallen off the blog-posting train! What's new in your world?
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
So it's been a month since I last wrote and I don't even have much time to do it!
I did pass my road test and have been happily driving solo ever since. I'll tell you more about my adventures after Christmas.
So on that note, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Talk to you soon, after the holidays!
I did pass my road test and have been happily driving solo ever since. I'll tell you more about my adventures after Christmas.
So on that note, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Talk to you soon, after the holidays!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
