Nikki's Birthday Outing!

The end of the year is almost here and that means Nikki, Derek and I will all be turning 24... Lynn came out with us to help celebrate Nikki's Birthday!



So happy she's back and so sad she's leaving again in January...



Derek is home from California for good and it is so great having him around when I go home for a weekend! I missed him!!

My new best friend!

I have been kinda lonely lately the last couple months so I am borrowing one of mom's foster kitty's for a little bit to see if I like having her around! I love it when I have come home the last 2 days cause she gets so excited that I am home and just wants to be as close as possible to me. Usually i put her put on my shoulders so I can put my stuff away... In the mean time she rubs her face all over mine and purrs very loudly to tell me how happy she is that I am home!



Emma and I had the day off today (Monday) and was stayed in bed most of the day and recovered from the weekend... she laid on or near me almost all day! Nice to have someone or something I guess in her case around now!

Living Room rearrange...

After being at work for over a month now with Christmas stuff it makes me want to get my stuff out even sooner! I took the first step and cleaned my house and moved my living room around... this is a picture of it before...



And A picture of it afterwords... The tree will go in the corner where the DVD case is I think...



A picture from the view from the front door.. I really don't like the big blank wall but am not sure I even like my living room like this...

Some old friends

Matthew and I during the Iowa vs. Iowa State football weekend. I think this was Friday night before Iowa State got crushed after we ate dinner at my favorite place downtown at Atlas. This was right after the band had come into the bar to play for everyone! It was awesome!!


Me and Ben Crockett(went to elementary school with him) hanging out the night before the Iowa vs. Iowa State game. Tailgated and watched the game with him. This was the night that he informed me he was scared to talk to girls till 10th grade... It was a funny conversation but was pretty much true!

New Stuff around the Apartment...

My new TV stand... awaiting a new TV that will come very soon!! But I am very much enjoying it, especially the no glass doors on the front, but am on the look out for new knobs for it to match the ones on my coffee table a little better!


I have had this piece but have never taken a picture of it... But it is a console table that I put in my hallway since my hallway is pretty wide. It matches my nightstands in my room so it could eventually go in my bedroom if I wanted. For now it is a great catch all spot, especially for my purse!


I have had this as well but again haven't taken a picture of it, but it is my new wine rack. It has a black granite top and I love my new wine glasses I got with it as well. Just feels nice to finally have nice things that I can enjoy and already have put those to good use!!


My latest project around the house... have finally started a puzzle but I sure choose a hard one! I want to get the sky done first on it but it is all the same color! But it sure is nice having a huge table to work on it at!! Love my new table!!

My new apartment!

Finally moved into a new place in Cedar Rapids... still unsure about living in Cedar Rapids but I keep telling myself it is not permanent, it's just a stepping stone. Moved to the North side of town (which I truly believe is the much better and safer part of town) and not have a huge apartment (gained almost 300 sq. feet) and a garage for only $65 more dollars a month than what I paid in Iowa City! So here are some before and after pictures of my new place... (minus pictures of the laundry room cause I do not get my new washer and dryer till June 2nd.

Before picture of my living room from the front door... (which I also love that I have a screen door on the front door) The living room had one wall that was painted an accent color.

After picture of the living room when all my stuff was moved in. It all fit perfectly so I was very happy that it worked out so well! Down the road eventually I will get a new love-seat since I am still using the one that Sarah and I used in college as well as a new TV and TV stand. Other than that I am set in the living room!

Before picture of my dining room...

After picture of the dining room with my brand new kitchen table!! YAY!! Finally don't have to eat on the couch!! Now all I need is to have people over to sit around my table for dinner! I also love my amber mosaic mirror on the wall behind the table... it's just gorgeous!

View from front door looking toward dining room and kitchen...

Kitchen and Laundry room before...

Right side of the kitchen before...

Right side of kitchen after... I must say I am shockingly surprised how quickly the cupboards filled up! Thought I would have so much more room but found that loosing the pantry that I had at the old place was equivalent to the new cupboards that I got so I don't think I really gained that much space...

Left side of kitchen before...

Left side of kitchen afterward... My oven seems ancient but I haven't used it yet so I can't say if it is or not..

Bathroom before...
Bathroom afterward...
Bedroom before...

Bedroom afterward... Still love my bed!!


This piece matches my coffee table in my living room but it works great for now in my bedroom for books and my TV until I get a house where I can have it in my living room.