Our Apartment

I probably should've shared this back in January, but I figured I'd wait until now. Just because. Here's what our apartment looked like. Granted, it seems a bit bigger than most NYC apartments. But since we were living in Queens, rather than Manhattan, housing was a bit cheaper. Also, please note the size of that kitchen. 

This was the view out of our living room window. I took this back in Januaury, at the height of the polar vortex. It was terribly cold. 

Our tiny bathroom. At least we had a full sized shower. 

The living room/dining room/office {desk on the right}. Yes, we used the couch in it's "futon" position. Otherwise, it was way too narrow to sit on comfortably.

Facing back the other way. You can see the kitchen off on the left. 

Our bedroom. We had two beds, a queen and a double. So we slept in one, and used the other {smaller} one as a dresser. We lived out of our suitcases the entire time. 

Kitchen, part one. Despite it's small size, it was hard to get the whole thing in one shot. Note how much counter space we had. 

Kitchen, part 2. Little stove, little fridge, both very blurry. Sorry. 

Change

School has started. But not for me. I still feel the winds of change, though. There's just something in the air. And I can feel it. 

Yesterday I was reading through my church notebook. A few months ago, I'd written about moving. How I was nervous to pack everything and start somewhere new. I'd also listed all the good things about moving - how we'd be closer to school and friends, and have more space, and a washing machine...

Reading back over what I'd written, I was struck with a new appreciation for our place. Sure, it's a bit dark and basement-y. But it's bigger, and in a nice part of town. And close to the library. I really stopped and thought about the great things that I have. 

In turn, this new way of thinking has branched over into the way I think about a lot of things. I feel more energized, more willing to be the person I used to be. More excited about things. More drive. For the first time in a while, I feel motivated. 

So, thanks, past self for your motivating words. When you wrote them, you probably didn't think you'd be reading them again. But you did. And it's stretching you into a better person. 

A Moving Post, Day 293745

Okay, I admit, it hasn't been that many days. But I feel like has. I am worn out, tired, and frustrated.  Last Saturday, we went and got the keys to the new apartment, and brought over two loads {even though we weren't technically supposed to move in until Sunday, so said the previous rentors, even though we had discussed moving in earlier, such as Wednesday}.  Luke's parents came down with their truck, to bring us some furniture, as well as move our bigger things. Having them come and help took a load off my mind. 


So on Sunday, with our helpful friends, we moved the rest of our things. I'm pretty sure we had about 6 carloads of stuff. Where did all this stuff come from? I am so confused. We had a small apartment, and not a lot of places to put things. But as we were packing, there just kept being more and more stuff. 


Once things were moved out {mostly}, I left Luke to be in charge of the moving shenanigans, and turned my attention to cleaning. Perhaps it's because I've been dealing with BYU cleaning checks for the last 6 years, but MAN, did I leave that house in good condition. Sink scrubbed out, oven cleaned, shower wiped down. I even did the baseboards!   And by me, I mean me, with a little LOT of help from K. and M. I couldn't have done it without them. 


At this point, things are moved out, and things are mostly clean. So I head over to the "new" apartment. Let me paint a picture for you. 


It's muggy and hot, because the carpets were cleaned the day before, and hadn't dried yet, plus the air conditioner wasn't on. There are boxes everywhere. One corner of the living room has been stripped down to drywall, and there's a large hole, exposing the brick wall that this room was built around. Why? Because there's a leak, and the best way to find a leak is to put a hole in the wall. {UPDATE: we think it's because the sprinkler system is leaking. There's only water in our house when the sprinklers are going} . Besides all that, the people who moved out didn't clean a blessed thing. Nope. Goo on the front of the stove. Stuff still in the garburator. The bathroom sink crusted over with ... I don't even know. 


There are plus sides to living here, I promise. We are close to campus, downtown, friends, and the library. There are about 10 restaurants within walking distance. It's much larger than our previous place, for the same rent. And I'll find more positives. For now, when things are in boxes, and I'm cleaning other people's mess, I'm gonna be a little frustrated. 


The point of this post was to let you know that we're here in the new house, we have unpacked our dishes, and hung things up in the closet. We're here to stay. For a little while longer, at least. 

A Moving Post, Day 2

Sometimes, dealing with other people is really, really hard. 


Like, when they tell you that you can move in on one day, and then suddenly, they tell you that you can't move on that day. 


And when they tell you that you will have fancy brand new carpet when you move in. And then they tell you that the carpet is all torn out, but no new carpet is in sight. 


I would be much more eager to move, despite these setbacks, if the new place looked anything like this: 

Unfortunately, it does not. Not even a little bit. 

P.S. I would give credit for the picture, but for some reason, the internets tell me that the original page no longer exists. 

A Moving Post

We are moving on Saturday. 


So far, we packed up all our books, blankets, and everything in our huge dresser. Seriously, huge. It stores a lot of stuff. It took a while to get it empty. 


Today, I changed all of our addresses. Except on Amazon. Shoot. 


But I'm getting stuff done. And feeling pretty good about myself.  


Next up: non-essential bathroom stuff. 

Sunday Night Random Stuff

* I should've written earlier, when I had more things on my mind. I do my creative thinking during the day, and my moody, worrisome thinking at night. 


* So I've been watching Grey's Anatomy. I was liking it; it was dramatic and tense and there seemed to be interesting character development. Suddenly today there was a whole other set with a bunch of characters, and hardly any time spent on the original cast. I do NOT like that. 


* Most days I can't wait to be in our new apartment. I actually daydream about having a washer/dryer and doing the laundry. Of course, since it's a basement apartment, I also daydream about finding giant spiders everywhere. 


* I really don't like other people's kids. 


* I've started a weight loss program type situation. I don't think I really want to write much about it here, since I'm kind of private and weight and body issues seem like one of those private things. But I am saying it here, so I have a modicum of accountability. I am working out and eating less and knocking myself out to get back in my skinny jeans. 


* I'm really looking forward to not living in a studio apartment any more. I'll probably write more about this as we get closer to moving, and then actually live there a while. 


* I haven't slept during normal hours in a looooong time. I just can't break the late night-late morning sleep schedule. I'm rather unhealthy. 

Moving Past

For the past....too long to count, I've felt like I'm just flailing around. I've had no purpose, no drive, nothing to work towards.  Sure, from time to time I'll make a little progress; I'll decide to take up running, or start a project that I really enjoy. But those things aren't helping me move forward with my life. Sure, it may stretch me in some small new way, but really, it's not helping me move on. 


Yesterday, I think things might have changed a little. 


We signed a contract for a new house. It's a step up, for sure. Not that we're living in squalor, but it's a small studio apartment, far from campus and our friends. Now, though, we'll be able to walk to campus, to some of our favourite restaurants, to see our friends, even to the grocery store. We will be back in a neighbourhood with people similar in age and our stage in life. Plus, this place has a dishwasher, a laundry system, multiple rooms, and lots of storage options. 


And then, we got tickets for the Vans Warped Tour. It kicks off in SLC in June, and we're going! I've wanted to go for years. It's a huge step out of my comfort zone, but it feels like the right step.  As a bonus, my favourite band is headlining the show {I don't know if bands really 'headline' at Warped, but that's what I'm telling myself}. 


I'm feeling much better about my life. I'm moving forward, I have things to look forward to, things to plan for. I won't be stuck here forever. Things may not be perfect, but they're moving in the way I want them to. I can't really ask for more than that. 

Extreme Makeover: Desk Edition

Here I am, organizing my desk. A task that should have been done when Luke and I first moved in. Alas, I put things on shelves and called it good. Since I'd actually like to use the desk, I figured it's time to get things together. 


Perhaps I should explain how I organize. First, I sit around all day and eat all my leftover Christmas treats. Then, I browse through Pinterest, looking for "inspiration".  When the guilt gets to be too much, I get up and decide to actually do some organizing. 


So I turned on the Russian State Symphony Orchestra. They have amazing versions The Beatle's hit songs (which was like, all of them. Which means that I have like, 53 songs). 


Then I look at all the pictures I gathered online, so I can perhaps shape my stuff into some kind of order. Here's what I'm kind of going for: 

I don't mind if my space has lots of things. I just want the little things put a way and a designated shelf space for everything. Because right now, it looks like this: 

And I promise I'll post pictures once it's  done. 

The Move, Part I

As much as I love Luke, and as I'm so excited for our place that can't be mandated by BYU, I really hate moving. I'm not very good at packing. And leaving always makes me sad. 


I started already. My walls are looking barer. My shelves are halfway emptied. I really liked this room. It was small, and usually too full of my things. But it's been nice. I'll be sad to see it go.


Is it weird that I wish I'd taken more pictures of it before I started taking it apart?

Housing, Act I

Applying for housing makes me nervous. Have I ever shared that with you? It's first come, first serve, and I never get there first. I get so nervous that I'll click on the wrong one. Or that someone will beat me to it. Which is probably what will happen. Today there's only one new listing, and either no one will want it, so I'll get it (yay!), or everyone is going to pounce on it. I'd like to think that I'll be the one to pounce first. I'd say something to the negative, but I don't want to jinx myself. 


UPDATE: I tried, and failed. The page reloaded very slowly, and the flat I wanted wasn't available. The anxiety really got to me, and now I'm all adrenaline'd. It really is the WORST way to deal with housing. I feel all jittery now, as if I'd had an espresso. 


And some pictures, because I can. 

Where we're trying to live 

How I feel now

The espresso it feels like I just drank

Happiness Abounds

Today, I am happy. 


I've been thinking a lot about my Someday House (something I've always thought about, but have written seldom about. Thanks to a good traveling companion for bringing it up in her blog). I've gone so far as to look at real estate websites and find elements of houses that I like. So far, I haven't been able to pick something certain that I like, but I do have some favourites. So far, these are winning: 

(this is my most favourite)

Change is Good, But I Can't Let Go

This is it. My last night in Reynold's 202. Strange to think I've lived in the same place for an entire year. Usually college students don't have this kind of stability. But tomorrow, I'm off to a new place, where I will stay for only a matter of months before moving again. And I have SO MUCH stuff to move! I'm just one person! How did one person manage to collect so much?! I can't imagine what it would be like to be married and have stuff to move around. Actually, I have a hard time imagining being married at all, or even seriously committed to someone (alas, another blog for another time). Back to the original topic.


This is the last night I'll lie here and swear silently at the crickets outside my window. The last time I'll have a decent view out my bedroom window (new place=basement apartment=view of an alley). The last time I'll look at these four walls in the dark. Okay, now I sound like an emo kid who's being sent to sleep-a-way camp for the summer. In any case, things will never be like they are now, or as they have been. Change is the way of the future. But right now, all I want to do is a little wallowing.


Disclaimer: I'm not usually all moody like these last few posts have been. I've just had a lot of change and a lot of thoughts in a very small amount of time. I'm sorting through, and I'll be fine. Please bear with me.

Indulge Me

I'm in a melancholy mood today. I have to leave my wonderful apartment in a matter of days, and I'm trying not to think about it. It's such a nice apartment, compared to where I've been and where I'm going. Since living here, I've met some amazing people who I hope stay in my life, I've strengthened already amazing friendships, and I know I have people in my life for the rest of eternity. Some of my favourite memories in this ol' house are:


-having "hot mailbox boy" turn into a really good friend.
-late night chats with Steven about everything, but mostly dating and marriage.
-Monday Night Hills Night!
-Thursday night Office parties.
-eating whatever Tanner makes.
-finding Fort BALL
-too many excellent inside quotes and jokes (which I will blog at a later time)
- the Disney wall
- sleeping with Breanne
- eating with Breanne
- driving with Breanne
- lounging around with Lauren
- eating with Lauren
- swimming with Lauren
- dance parties with Lizzard
- sneaking around with Lizzard
- running up and down the path with Lizzard
- driving with Steven
- late night discussions with Steven
- late night driving while having discussions with Steven
- riding in shopping carts
- lunch at the CANC
- and a million more little memories, that added up into one of the most incredible years of my life.

Homeless no Longer!

I have an apartment!!! Now, it's not as new as where I'm at now, and the curtains aren't any good. But I've got a place, so I won't be homeless in three weeks. It's only a few blocks from campus, it's cheaper than where I live now, and it's still a private room. The only downside is that it doesn't have it's own washer and dryer. I've come to really love that. But I'll figure something out. I'm just so excited to have a place! Did I mention that the bedroom is larger there than it is here? Cause it is.


In other news, life is complicated, and sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball and I could see the future. That is all.

Life and Love

I woke up this morning, and realized that I've fallen deeply in love with my life. Yesterday I found out that I've been accepted into BYU's Media Arts major!!! I'm way excited! This is what I want to be doing with my life, and I cannot wait to get started. Plus, the weather has finally started to co-operate, and it's been gorgeous the last few days.


On top of that, I've had my apartment to myself (mostly) for the last two days. Of course, I'm sad to see my friends leave. But it's been kind of fun to live on my own. This is the closest I'll get to having a studio apartment until I graduate. Darn the BYU Housing Code.