Spare Room to Guest Bedroom

For the last month or so I have been slowly transforming the 2nd bedroom (which was used to store my junk and clothes dryer) into a guest bedroom. My dad provided me with my childhood bed, which thank you very much I assembled all myself. I had been storing an extra dresser in there and the closet was used mostly for storage. There were two main issues with the room, 1 it is small, it is hardly fair to call it a second bedroom although that doesn't stop my landlord. 2 it is the only place where a dryer hookup existed. Automatically the room is decorated with my clothes dryer. Tonight I think it is fair to say it is really starting to look like a guest bedroom. Naturally forgot to take any before pictures but here are some after shots of the room!

Productive Day

I got up today and decided not to lazy and lay around my apartment- although that was secretly what I really wanted to do. Instead I showered and headed off to Des Moines, I had a Barnes & Noble gift card burning a hole in my pocket and a return to take there. It was a pretty worthwhile day, although I didn't find what I really wanted at the bookstore I always seem to walk out with plenty to read! I also headed to Kohl's and picked up some picture frames, one for a photo I purchased in Seattle and another for a photo I finally got around to printing off. Next I headed to the Mall, all I really wanted was a burrito from Chitpole but the line was long and there was no where to sit so I decided to head into the mall and look around. I snagged a pair of jeans from Maurices and finally picked up my Burrito! It completely hit the spot I was revitalized and decided to take one last trip to Target. At Target I found two shirts on clearance, and Christmas wrapping paper 75% off (you all will see it next year). But best of all I found Grey's Anatomy Season 4 on sale for 19.99 and Bones Season 3 on sale for 19.99- Both were on my Christmas list but up until now had been pretty pricey- Grey's had been like 59.99 bucks for several months- for a strike shortened season that seemed excessive. I was completely happy to see them both for so cheap. All and all I had a pretty awesome shopping excursion. Tonight I have been trying some techniques at cleaning the camel back trunk I got from my grandpa's. It is going to take some elbow grease but I think it will turn out pretty snazzy- at the very least a lot cleaner! Sadly some dishes and the vacuum is calling my name- so I am off to get some more cleaning done!

Babysitting Emily

I had the privledge of watching Emily on and off during Christmas Celebrations this year. She was adorable and we had tons of fun! Here are some shots...

Christmas Gift Countdown!

I am finally all done with Christmas. Everyone was very generous and I snagged some awesome gifts! Everything was really great but some items have gotten immediate use. Naturally I loved the Office day by day calendar I received, I think it would definitely top my list as the favorite but I cannot use it until the 1st, I have already read an entire book that I got from a gift card to Barnes and noble, I have repeatedly used the I-pod speaker dock I received, moving it to various locations around the house (soon I think it will live at the office so I need to enjoy at home while it is here!), Last night when I got home I immediately opened and set up the cosmetic mirror I got- realized how large my pores were and made up a facial.- It is exactly what I wanted but part of me was happier when I wasn't aware of all the junk on my face! I don't have to return to work until the 5th so I am going to start concentrating on my apt. Maybe I will rearrange!

Steal of the day...

I have been lately experiencing a problem every time I am out shopping.... I am supposed to be shopping for others for Christmas and I am stumbling across all these great deals for me. Today I was at Theisins and looking for some gifts for others and I find this great Columbia coat. It isn't quite warm enough for winter but is warmer than fleece and waterproof. It is perfect for work. Down in the logistics side of things it is getting pretty cold I have been trying to get by with just fleece sweatshirts but it is still too cold. This zip up coat is perfect, no hood and warm. Originally $100.00, it was already discounted 25% but to make things better there was an unadvertised sale of an additional 30% off! What a steal at only 52.60! But that is not all.... Yes it gets better- My work throws in $50.00 every year for winter weather clothing. So awesome. So after taxes and the refund from work I snagged an originally 100.00 coat for $6.80. Obliviously I couldn't pass that deal up. It wouldn't have been my first choice of colors but for a work coat that I am only investing $6.80 into beggars cannot be choosers!

Amazon has heard my calls

So yesterday after my blog when I complained about my package being stuck in Des Moines- it magically showed up on my steps! This is what I have learned. Amazon's estimated delivery dates are meaningless... and the UPS guy really really hates walking up my steps and so ditches everything down by the mailboxes. The next door neighbors (which is technically only an office) aren't showing up much because they have had a package down their from Lands End for a week.

Christmas!

Here is a picture of my Christmas tree right after I put it up. I don't think it looks quite as polished as last year- I got pretty frustrated and ready to stop after the light phase. As you can tell I have a lot more on top of the lights! I have added a couple of new ornaments this year, I got into the dutch mode and now have a Sinkerclaus (that spelling may be entirely off) and a dutch star with a windmill on it. Luckily the traditional blue colors fit right in with the loose theme I was working with. In addition I had the pleasure of shopping locally- these little old ladies running the stores during the day love me! In other holiday news, I am starting to feel the crunch when it comes to Christmas shopping. I have all but a couple figured out- but my first family Christmas is Saturday! So definitely need to get more dedicated. UPS is kind of bumming me out- I have had a package that has been in Des Moines since Sunday- last time I checked that was only 40 miles away, clearly they are too busy to be getting me my packages! I picked up a couple of more gifts this morning so the wrapping paper is calling my name!