Palace de la Midge

People have asked, and so Im delivering. Here are some pictures of my apartment. Its 850 sq feet of my own space. Its pretty much my favorite place to be. I love it. Hope you do too.

This is what you see when you first walk in. Love the counter height table! And I put them together all by myself. Ok, maybe with alittle help from the dudes at the shop.

My kitchen! It has so much space. And I love my valet trash service. Heaven.

My living room. Im still wanting a coffee table, but Im alittle particular with which one I want. All in due time.

Another angle of my living room. Some people much recognize that leather chair. Its been with me since my first apartment in Boston. It might be missing a few bolts, but I just cant part with it yet.

Ahh. My room. And I don't have to put all my personal belongings in it. Between there just being breathing room and my most comfy bed, its my slice of heaven.

Bathroom. Love the shower curtain.

If any of you saw my closet in Manhattan, you would understand how much this is such an upgrade for me. Its a walk in and a door. Amazing. And it fits ALL my clothes. Seriously, Amazing.

I didn't add a picture, but another fabulous amenity of my apartment is that there is laundry! I haven't had an apartment with laundry in so long. Its worth every extra penny I pay for that.

After my interview back in Nov, I went and looked at about 6 apartments that I found online. They were all further away from work than I was looking for, and none of them felt like my place. Moving from Manhattan where things like dishwashers and garbage disposals were not a standard, and where my particular apartment was a basement apartment without windows. (Haha, and one entrance! Yes, death trap if there was a fire!) Pretty much anything was a step up. And I really have been so happy with this place. There is gym that I have been frequenting weekly, which has been an awesome change for me. And there is a pool. A couple even.

I might not be in the city where the lights inspire you, or where the streets will make you feel brand new. But this apartment has helped to make the transition a little bit easier.

Joy in the Journey

This was the theme of one of my EFY years. Maybe I should have learned more about it then!

I have recently been told that I need to learn to realize the joys in the everyday life, whatever that might be. Granted, this discuss came in regards to dating, and about how I hate the game and just want to get through it. So, in light of the reality that that end is still far away, I need to really take stock on what a dear friend kindly reminded me of.

But come on. Not everything is about dating, even though it might seem like that when we are single. Pres Monson said back in 2008 to "not let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do." Ahh. Very wise. And relate-able all stages of life.

I might or might not have the Mormon Bachelor website on my Google Reader! :) They are up to the 3rd contestant. And as I watched her little bio video, she sad something that struck me. Ok maybe a few things. 1) Honoring the Ordinary. Enjoy the little things in life, and relish in it. The day to day things are just as important as the large milestones. 2) Its ok to say that you like to just simply be with people. I remember a few different times that I have been asked what my hobbies are and not really knowing how to answer. I seem to fill up days with stuff that seem productive at the time, but looking back it was just simply spending time with a friend doing what ever that person wanted or needed to do. And that is just find.

The last week or so, I havent been as happy as I might have been in the months prior. And I think its because Im already looking ahead, and not looking at the now. Time to reevaluate and to just enjoy. Stop and smell the flowers. Stop and enjoy relish in my quieter evenings. Stop and spend more time doing the things that make me happy, each and every day. ... Joy in the Journey.

Love me some Peonies!

Delight

My life is infinitely better. . . . . I can buy these in my city! Oh how I have missed them. And if only I could get Fanta Exotic and I would never feel the need to travel to Europe. Oh wait! That will never happen.

According to S Korea:

The following was found on an ad in the subway in S. Korea by a fellow NYC friend. After spending this past weekend in NYC, It feels appropriate to post.

New York is always with you

New York has only best hair designers

New York pursues the best of beauty

New York can make you special