I've been bad at keeping up with this new blog... but I was moving!! And I went home to Virginia for Thanksgiving which was wonderful. It had been 5 months since I'd be home, I think that's a new record for me! Am I the only one who feels like it shouldn't already be December?!? The holidays seriously creeped up on me! Where did the year go?? When I look back a lot has happened this year and a lot of changes. New city, new coast and a new career. I feel so lucky to be where I am.
As some of you may know, the place I rented when I moved out here was owned by an individual owner - who got foreclosed on! So, in the matter of a little over a month I had to find a new place and move. What a hassle. But, the silver lining - being the optimist I am :) - is that I knew San Diego better and got to take a little more time exploring where I wanted to live. I chose a great condo in Little Italy, a neighborhood of downtown. It's close to the harbor, and has tons of awesome restaurants, cool architecture, quaint coffee shops, art galleries and boutique shops. All my favorite things! Maybe it's my love for Italian food, or affinity for city living, but I'm in love with the neighborhood! The pictures in the blog are from my phone, so they're not the best quality, but enjoy!
Last Saturday was the big moving day, so my weekend was consumed by packing/unpacking. But almost a week later and the condo is feeling like home :) I've had a good time decorating and trying to give my place a different feel than my last apartments... on a budget. I find it fun to use things I already have in ways that I haven't before and seeing how it gives a room a totally different look and feel. The biggest decorating changes I made were my bedroom. Since my freshman year in college I've had a pink and green color scheme for my room. I love pink and green! But 9 years later (whoa, that's hard to believe!) I feel like I've outgrown it. So, I'm completely redoing my room in a black, white and lime green theme - with a hint of pink so I that I don't have to totally grow up :) I also have recently become a little obsessed with birds for decorating. It's become so popular and I think they're so elegant and pretty! I got these cute little lanterns that look like bird cages (they're everywhere right now!) from
Z Gallerie awhile back and the theme for the room has grown from there.
My sweet Mom sent me an early Christmas present for my new place, a new bed spread! I think it's much more grown up looking than my Lilly Pulitzer pink and green bedding I've had. But it still has some lime green in it which I love!
I went into West Elm the other day, another one of my fav. home decor stores, and they have a collection by the fabulous party planner
David Stark. Most of the stuff is made from recycled pages from garden books. I found this precious little bird for only $10 and had to get it!
I think Max likes the new place too. The noise and bustle of living downtown is a lot different than La Jolla, so he barks a lot at firetrucks, people walking outside, etc. Hopefully he'll calm down soon and get used to it all :) He's had to sport a sweater around because all his hair got shaved off last weekend since his long fur got to matted. He looks pitiful. But it will grow back soon!
Once the place is completely done, I'll post pictures. Tomorrow I'm hosting a Christmas/Housewarming party, which has seriously motivated my usually slow to unpack self. I'm mostly done but will definitely be scrambling to be ready for tomorrow night. I love to entertain and am excited to have my friends over. I'm making candy cane martinis! I'll let you know how they turn out.
