Trying to Get Settled

I am drowning in boxes...
I am pretty sure I could tackle the cardboard mountains around me if I had more furniture, but we are trying to build our love nest carefully and deliberately. So, as far as furniture goes, we currently have a couch, two rugs, a bed, a nightstand, and a desk that has not yet been assembled. I really cannot complain because I am in love with all that we currently have, especially my nightstand! My mom and I went thrift store shopping recently, and I was riding high on a wave of thrifty success. I purchased the most beautiful nightstand I have ever seen. It' solid wood with a greeny/blue background and hand-painted, flowers, birds, and trees on four sides. (Two ladies stopped me on the way to the register to congratulate me on my find, and to express their jealousy. Truth.) The pièce de résistance being that it was only twenty dollars! Who priced it? Were they blind?  But, I shouldn't mock because I am entirely grateful. Thank you Thrift Center, you have improved my quality of life.

New Apartment

We have officially signed the lease on a new place, and I love it. The perks, oh there are so many. But, first a brief description. It is a duplex, and our door is the one with the tree in front of it. Actually, duplex isn't even the word, it's a 1920s bungalow, which means it is small. Small being relative though, as its about the same size as the old apartment in Paris. Unlike Paris, we have a yard! With a fence, and vines, and birdies that take dust baths mere feet from the back door. *Happy sigh* However, there are still many similarities to Paris. We have a gas stove, wood floors, and copious amount of crown molding. There is a corner store on our block where we can buy pastries (albeit Mexican pastries). We are within walking distance from the library, downtown, and the train station. By car, we have easy access to a veritable plethora of freeways. So even though we only have one car, if he takes it to work, I am not stranded. (We also have a covered parking space so we don't have to fight for street parking!) I am so happy to be done with generic corporate housing and all the scary Stepford Wives that inhabit our complex. It's really eerie to have 3,000 neighbors, and to never meet them. I've seen them from afar, but they are careful not to make eye contact. The boyfriend is bemused by my commentary on the complex, but he is not here during the weekdays...

Paris in Pictures: Graffitti

 

 

Paris in Pictures: Hôtel National des Invalides

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris in Pictures: Le Petit Palais et Le Grand Palais

 

 

 

 

Paris in Pictures: Place de la Concorde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris in Pictures: Jardin des Tuileries

 

 

 

 

 

Paris in Pictures: The Seine