Tired from the drive, sore from the lifting, but excited and refreshed by the beautiful mountain views, we set off to use all the gift cards I'd received (you're all the best!!) to buy the things I needed for my apartment. We filled 2 carts at Target (can't even describe my elation), hit up Best Buy, and then struggled to the grocery store just so we'd have some food to eat the next morning (we ordered pizza that night, and I think the sight of the delivery guy pulling up was the sweetest sight Sylvia had ever seen).
We worked late into the night building chairs, arranging rooms, hanging clothes, putting up shower curtains, organizing kitchen cabinets, setting up electronics, and planning our moves for the next day. Finally we collapsed on the couch and relaxed with some pizza and Avatar. We struggled to muster up the energy to make the couch into a bed for Sylvia, and then finally got to sleep. It was a majorly productive day, and I can only say if Sylvia hadn't been there to keep me focused and on task I probably would have sat around all day staring at the boxes and feeling completely overwhelmed.
The next day was more of the first, though a little more surreal in that as we built shelves and tables we watched it snow outside my living room window. Snow. On May 2nd. Awesome. Nothing could bother me that day though, because the apartment was organized enough that I could start to decorate it, and I love to decorate! As the shelves were finished we dragged them here and there to see where they looked best. Sylvia was a great sport and a huge help. Whenever I tried to hold things up the wall and ask here what she thought, she'd just bat my hands out of the way and say "Let ME hold it, and YOU look at it and see if you like it." Again, she's super. And a professional center and level finder, also. By the end of the day she'd slap something up on the wall and it would be perfect. So she's a good hire if you're redecorating. :)
I did continue to apologize to my neighbors all day long, much to Sylvia's amusement. After pounding in nails to hang a shelving unit up, Sylvia commented that my neighbors may not be so happy with me right then. I snorted and replied: "What? It's not like it's early. What is it, 11? 12?" I then proceeded to turn around and see that the clock in my kitchen read 9:34am. On a Sunday.
Sorry, neighbors.
That became my mantra every time I placed a nail or a screw in a wall that day, but hopefully they understand that it's a one time thing. I am setting up a new apartment after all.
Well we managed it in just under 2 days. I filled up the dumpster outside my building, but my apartment was set up, clean, and ready for living! It really is quite nice if I do say so myself. The picture tour is compliments of Sylvia who documented our progress. It's nearly finished, only a few finishing touches remain, but I'm quite happy with it.
The next two days of her visit were all reserved for play! Those stories coming up next!
Finishing putting the last of the shelves into the wall. Sorry neighbors!
Now that the shelves are up, what to put on them? Hmmm....
This is the view from the font door. My TV/entertainment center.
My kitchen and table.
The lovely IKEA couch and my fireplace!
Bedroom wall decorations (from Target of course).
Vanity and bathroom. The Hawaiian curtain was free from my sister. I bought bright orange and pink towels to match. :)
The view from the kitchen: My living room and into my bedroom. That large opening is not a mirror, but a half wall that has vertical blinds across it to further darken my room if I close them.
Done! And modeling how I shall relax on my lovely new couch.
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