Uncategorized – Page 10 – Eliza Grey in Love

Thin mountain air sounds like heaven…

June 16, 2011Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

So, Leo and I booked a vacation!!! We are off to Denver and then onto Pueblo, Colorado in July. Not that I’m trying to fall in love with Colorado, but I have a feeling its going to happen…

I miss my parents A TON, but the last time we traveled together, we went to visit my family in Georgia for the holidays. This time, we are visiting our good friend Tom in Denver and then staying with Leo’s family in Pueblo. We’ve wanted to take this trip for a while, but we finally have the ability to do it with our schedules coordinating. Pretty nervous about meeting the extended family, but it is one more thing to cross of my quarter century bucket list. Wait – partial cross-off, I said go to Colorado to snowboard and visit the b/f’s family, this totally counts! Hoping I’ll get to see some mountains, rumor has they are big?

Any must see things in Denver? What about restaurants? We are looking for recos!

I’m on a budget, so I blog.

June 16, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’ve been plotting a few more purchases in addition to all the apartment purchases. Hunter boots, a Tory Burch clutch and a yellow bike. The bike will happen, the Hunters might happen, the clutch will not. I need none of these things, but a girl on a budget can dream!

If you are on Pinterest, none of these are a surprise.. but here goes! Maybe blogging about these things will further reiterate that I don’t need them?

Hunter Boots – I live in Chicago, these are a justifiable purchase for about 10 months out of the year. Just need to pick a color! Orange is my go-to on these types of things, but deep purple, navy, black or dark green might be smarter.

Tory Burch Clutch – Annie, who I went to Vegas with had this, and I’ve been lusting after it since. I purchased a nice little envelope clutch on my trip, but I want a more permanent clutch stable.

And then there’s this. A bike, a fun-loving minor investment. Bikes get stolen in Chicago, especially people that are new to biking! So I figure an obnoxious, inexpensive yellow one is a smart choice for cruising around town. What do you think about this one?

First dinner … epic win fail?

June 15, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in Uncategorized2 Comments

Looked like hell, maybe worse. I made stir fry – gave it the good college try! Tasted good, but not the best proportions of rice to meat to veggies. Maybe I should follow a recipe more closely? HUH? What a concept. Next time! I will be damnsure to include more rice, its the best part of a good stir fry. So, I win because it tasted alright for my first try, and that is all that matters.

Best part of dinner? Leo does dishes and cleans up the kitchen after dinner. Total keeper. Now I need to convince him to let me do this to a bathroom. What do you think?

From HGTV Design Blog via We Heart It via Dedicated to Make you Smile.

Wait, you went to Vegas?

June 15, 2011Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

Yep, I did. It was amazing! We went for one of my dearest friends 25th birthday. Along with girl friends Annie, Ashley and Jessica, we made sure Jessica celebrated her birthday in style. We stayed at the Mirage, were totally wowed by a pretty pool, nice looking bars and fantastic penny slots (I won $47 at one time). Essentially the whole weekend was spent eating and sunning. We went to a show – The Beatles LOVE, and had drinks at the top of Mandalay Bay. Take a look at the pics snapped on my mobile. Maybe in six months I’ll upload my photos from my camera? No. Probably not.

Meet the bathroom, Part 2

June 14, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged apartment, design, diy, masonjarsLeave a comment

Accessories are so fun! There is only one big purchase that I’m considering for the bathroom which I talked about the other day – a cabinet. Now for the fun stuff, accessories to make this room pretty.

I’m obsessed with glass jars, vases, anything. I Pin them whenever I see them! Look through my style pinboard and you’ll see lots of mason jars. As I begin to make my new apartment home, there’s some glass I’d like to purchase and most of it will work as organization. Check out these ideas – and the links to the DIY or purchasing place.

Chez Beeper Bebe: How to Make Mason Jar Lantern

Thrifty and Chic: Hanging Mason Jars

Hanging Canning Jar Storage Solution – might not need this if I have the canisters below, but it is an expensive storage solution.

Love these from Crate and Barrel but I will have to find a less expensive solution. Stay tuned…

Lastly, I want to hang this close to the mirror because it is so important to remember this every day. Sold out, but it was from Etsy designer Nickagin, and I’m sure I’ll be able to find another one, or contact the designer.

When you first move in, do you start designing the big rooms, or the small ones?

Meet the Bathroom, Part 1

June 13, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged apartment, cohabitation, designLeave a comment

Oh bathrooms – how I love to dream about what you could look like! But with only a day and a strict budget, I had to improvise. My mom had been holding on to some bathroom stuff for me, and she was my lifesaver! Essentially, she sent me a bathroom-in-a-box for lack of a better term. She’s a total champ. So, here is where the bathroom stands:

Note that nice rosy glow behind the shower curtain? I forgot to get a liner, but Leo bought a bright shower curtain to get by for a few days. Put the bright red and orange together behind a soft white linen shower curtain? Just like a mullet, business in the front, party in the back. So, here we have a white and blue bathroom, but we need more – storage, style and something on those big white walls. There are lots of things I’m thinking about purchasing in the near future. I wish I could build some cabinets in myself, but living in an apartment means nothing can be permanent. Oh well!

The bathroom has pretty tall ceilings, but everything is very grounded and white. I don’t love unfinished wood around the door that is peaking out in that top photo, but I’m going to ask the landlord if I can paint them. Just need to pick a color! Secondly, I’d like to purchase an above the toilet space saver – because under the vanity is best for cleaning supplies, not cotton that will touch my precious face. Kidding? No.

White Bathroom Space Saver, $107 – pretty, but a bit too country.

Fairview Space Saver, $250 – pretty, but way too expensive.

Greek Key Space Saver Cabinet, $100 – pretty and perfect! Just so happens to be the best price, love it when that happens!

I’m leaning towards the Greek Key pattern, love that pattern and thinking I could bring it in even more with some art on the wall.

Do you like above the toilet cabinets? Which one do you like best?

Old Town, art and good friends

June 13, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

Love the city in the summer, tons of festivals and porches with good people. We went to the Old Town art festival and fell in love with some awesome pictures and paintings. Thinking a big purchase could happen soon… But for now, the skyline is my art. Just wish this view was mine! Ha, a girl can pretend.

Sent from my mobile

First Saturday in Sin

June 11, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

Had to make a good breakfast for my first relaxing Saturday at our new apartment! We don’t have nearly all the stuff we need in our apartment, but we’ve managed to make do with meals since moving in. Anyways, no syrup yet, but I had stale bread from the bakery that Leo’s dad bought last week when they were in town. Stale bread = perfect reason to eat french toast. But without syrup? Peanut butter and fresh bananas did the trick!

After a whirlwind week of moving, hosting Leo’s family for a day and vacationing in Las Vegas, I am so happy sitting on the couch! I love living with Leo, so fun! My favorite part of cohabiting so far? All the stuff you learn about someone when you live with them. We’ve been together for three years, I had no idea I was going to learn even more about him after moving in!

Off to experience summer in the city, not sure if I’ll end up at Ribfest or Bluesfest, but its sure to be a good day!

I’m leaving on a jetplane…

June 3, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

In case you were wondering if it’s a good idea to go on vacation 36 hours after moving into a new apartment..let me help you out. Nope, not smart. No idea what I packed besides four bathing suits and a few dresses. Guess I don’t actually need anything else, right?

Breakfast eaten and coffee soaking in, I’m off to Las Vegas with my best friend from childhood (see below)! We have a full day of laying out with fruity cocktails at the pool before the other two girls arrive tonight. Then off to dinner!

Sent from my mobile

Moving on up and moving on

May 31, 2011April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged cohabitationLeave a comment

So, remember a couple months back I shared some big, exciting life news? It is finally almost June 1st! After a weekend spent packing, realizing I have too much stuff, so unpacking and purging (donating) everything that I don’t love or haven’t used in the past 6 months, and then finally finishing packing, the day is here! I move out of my two bedroom shared with my wonderful roommate of two years into my first beautiful apartment with Leo.

Things I’ll miss: Closet size – monstrous and all to myself, brand spanking new rehabbed bathroom, living less than a block from the el in to downtown. And, in retrospect, I had a huge room which was pretty nice, but totally unnecessary.

Things I will miss only a little: one hour commute to work each morning (I loved it for a while because of the reading/relaxing time, but it got to be troublesome if I ever wanted to do something fun after work), and packing. I won’t miss that at all! I’ve said it before, I have too much stuff, and I still do! I got rid of a lot, but my goal for the next chunk of life is to bring in more quality items versus quantity. I’m a sucker for a sale, but jeeeeze do I need to cool it on the clothes shopping.

Anyways, moving on to a new place, can’t wait to share pictures. Probably from my mobile cuz you know that’s what I do.

Can you tell I’m excited?!