Give me an "L"!

Give me an "I"! Give me an "A"!

What does that spell?

LIA!

...as in Lia Sophia (I figured I would spare you and not spell out the whole thing).  I know I've mentioned before, on top of my 9to5 and moving and generally going crazy, I have a part-time business selling jewelry at home parties.  Yesterday I had my first party in MONTHS.  oops.  With the whole move, I've gotten so unorganized mentally and need to get back on my game.  Yesterdays party helped me to realize 2 things- 1. I need to get my act together and start actually doing something with my business- I have a LARGE to do list that I've been ignoring/hiding in the closet.  If I can't see it, it doesn't exist, right?  and 2. I have no excuse for being unsettled in the house!  My jewelry hostess yesterday had moved into her apartment the same day as I moved into the house.  She had pictures hanging and looked settled.  I haven't hung a single thing (except curtains in the living room that are temporary).  That needs to change STAT!  Its not like hanging a picture takes much time or energy (although figuring out a Master Plan for the house does..).

Per my usual, I decided with my abundance of free time (can you see the sarcasm dripping off those words) Saturday that I would try and accomplish something toward the house in the form of shopping and looking for inspiration.  It all started with Pier 1.  I had fallen in love with a clock online.  And then fell promptly out of love with it in person.  More shabby than chic.  poo.  Then off to my first trip to an actual West Elm store a few blocks from Pier 1.  I had gone by the store many times in Boston and drooled over the catalog for years, so a store trip was overdue.  I was drawn in by a quilt, but it wasn't as thick and cozy I was hoping, so strike 2.  No clock, no comforter.  I did leave West Elm having adopted this adorable owl so it wasn't all for naught.

To boost my morale, I decided an IKEA trip was in order, so off I went, getting frustrated with Boston drivers I usually try to avoid and getting a bit sidetracked by not listening to Eva the GPS (name was inspired by WALL-E and his pronunciation of EVE).  IKEA didn't boost my morale as much as hoped at first.  I couldn't figure out a plan for the atypical length I need for the desired office desks and corresponding storage.  Finally I got the adrenaline rush I needed when I saw this 4x6+ rug for just $20!!

Add that to the Target pillow I purchased a week ago...

And we've got the beginning of a bedroom scheme!  Huzzah!

Let's just hope I can figure out how to keep Charlie from scratching the rug, otherwise it may have to go back. *pout*

Settlement

We've been living in our new house for 8 weeks.  At this point in all of my previous residences, I have had things mostly set up the way I wanted.  With this house- SO not the case.  There's not a single decorative item hanging on a wall.  As far as window treatments are concerned, I've gotten as far as washing what I have in preparation for reuse or storage.  It's driving me bonkers!!!  I know its unrealistic to expect the house to be all settled, but well, I expect it!  As a creature of habit and routine, having the house unresolved is very unsettling. This weekend I took one baby step toward settlement.  We purchased our first item of furniture for the house: a new TV stand!  This is also our first TV stand together- all others were his or hers prior to cohabitation.

Since I haven't shown you any pictures of the house since we moved our stuff into it, here is what the living room looked like Saturday (and mostly still looks like).

Sorry, I couldn't resist using the pictures that included the furry models.

And for the OLD TV stand.  Its quite out of proportion with the TV.  In fact, its technically a coffee table- the equivalent actual TV stand is buried in the basement (both remnants of my 'bachelorette' pad).

Now for the NEW TV stand!  (Have I mentioned my love for HomeGoods lately?)

No, I didn't repaint the walls between pictures- the color just changes drastically with the changing light outside.  A bit more proportionate, right?  The TV and sound bar may get mounted on the wall... once I figure out a plan for the wall.  I am very pleased with the piece and I adore being able to hide the Xbox, cable box, and dvd player!

Bringing in the new TV stand just highlighted (to me at least) the other changes that need to be made in the room.

1st and foremost: the coffee table.  It takes up half the living room!  Ideally, I'd love to have 2 small upholstered, tufted benches, but Hubby doesn't like that idea.  Potentially 2 un-upholstered benches that would serve as extra seating when we need it...  Either way, we need something smaller than that monster in this space (although I still love that monster, its not in the right house :(  ).

2nd: CURTAINS!  I think for now I'll put up the brown grommet-top ones that we had in the apartment living room, but eventually this room needs something visually lighter.

3rd: end table.  The one between the couch and chair is fine- its the other that is an issue.  With the size of the chair and couch, the end table gets pushed past the doorway moulding (as you can see in the 1st image).  Something smaller and more stylized is in store.

Everything (except the new TV stand of course) in this space is subject to replacement if we find the perfect items.

The Buddha's Back in Town

*sung to the tune of 'The Boys are Back in Town'* I think most people have some type of collection, whether they realize it or not. Somewhere over time, Hubby and I started collecting Buddhas. We each had a couple before moving in together and have acquired a couple more since: an unintentional collection was born.

Neither of us are Buddhist, although I can certainly identify with some of their principles.  My only tattoo (so far) is of a stylized yin yang and reminds me about the necessity for balance in everything.  But enough philosophizing, I simply find Buddha statues pretty.

A few days ago, I found and unpacked our box o' Buddhas.  In the apartment, all the Buddhas hung out together on one shelf, but I had a different plan for the house.  The Buddhas are now dispersed in various rooms and their mere presence makes me feel more at home.

Next? It's time to start getting some curtains up so the house feels even more like home.

Stay tuned for my next post featuring my first (hopefully)successful Craigslist scavenge!