Moving Day

Today is the day! Goodness. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time! This morning I woke up in my old apartment for the last time, and tonight I will sleep in the new one for the first time. It is so surreal - I half expect to just go home and find everything the way I left it yesterday. But it is not going to be the same. I already miss my old apartment! It was good to Ian and I; a perfect little first apartment. In honor of it, I am posting pictures of how it looked before I packed everything up.

Goodbye apartment! I have loved you! You will always have a special place in my memories!

One nice thing is that I am working today, so I am not helping with the hauling of heavy boxes. I am also excited because my Dad flew in from Washington to help Ian and I move. Thanks, Dad! :) Moving all the boxes is up to Ian, my Dad, and a group of young strapping men that Ian asked to help move. Tonight when I get off work, all I have to do is go over to the new apartment and start unpacking. I am sort of just watching it all happen around me.

The apartment is mostly painted, and fixed...so I will post more pictures when I can. Unfortunately, the apartment does not have internet yet, so I will have to wait either until we get internet, or until I can bring my laptop to somewhere that does. Of course, I will take any excuse to visit the Tea Garden. :)

Enjoy your Saturday!

Love,
Miranda

Ideal Inspiration

I love the design in these photos from Small/Cool 2011. Stacey did a great job collecting and co-coordinating the space to look eclectic and not cluttered. I would love to use these photos as inspiration!

Aren't they lovely? Yes. I agree. :)

Love,
Miranda

The First Glimpse

Finally...the tenant in our new apartment moved out. I was able to go today and start cleaning it for the BIG move on Saturday. The apartment needs a lot of work, along with the whole church - Ian and I are excited to move there are start making a difference!

Sorry that the pictures are a little blurry - I took them on my phone. I forgot to bring my camera. 

The Living Room (Taken From the Dining Room)

The Kitchen

The fixture in the Bathroom (I really like it!)

Our Bedroom

Alicia cleaning the blinds. Haha.

I want to say a HUGE thank you to my friend Alicia, who came out and helped scrub with me! I was thankful for the company, and the help. She is so great!

There is also the Dining Room, the Guest Bedroom. There are a million closets! The apartment needs a lot of work, but it is such a blessing to us. It is getting painted, the carpet cleaned, the roof fixed, and general other things fixed this week before we move in. The next pictures I post of it will be so much cuter! :) Stay tuned!

Love,
Miranda

Minnesota Dew

Today is the day that I have been hoping for all week. The skies have openned up...and it is so lovely! It sounds so wonderful outside my window.

And guess what!?!? My class was canceled this morning. So here I am, sitting here, watching the Cosby Show and listening to the rain, and sipping tea. Beautiful.

Speaking of Beautiful - that's what these are...beautiful. If only I had a million dollars!

 The top four are from Modcloth, and the bottom four are from TopShop. Two of my favorite sites to brouse online...especially on rainy mornings like this!

I hope your day is rainy and splendid too!

Love,
Miranda

With A Smile and A Song

I think I have an idea of what I want to do with one of the rooms in our new apartment. I have been thinking about it all day! Here are some inspiration photos; can you guess what movie I am using as inspiration?

Red and Yellow Poppies

Oh Joy

Design Seeds

Max Formal

And if you couldn't guess from the photos or the title, I am inspired to allude slightly to Disney's Snow White!

Disney Wiki

But definitley not blatantly. Just a touch of red, a touch of blue or yellow, maybe some fresh flowers. Nothing cartoon-ish, and no pictures of Snow White. Just enough to feel pretty and tasteful. :)

Love,
Miranda

Drip Drip Drop

It is sort of rainy today. Yesterday there was a Thunderstorm, and it was lovely. It shook the whole building! I wish today would make up it's mind and rain all the way. I want to look out my window and see nothing but rivlets on the window, to go with this darkish mood that I am in. Not a bad mood - just a...rainy mood. I am in the mood to get drenched.

I am also in the mood to turn on Bambi and sit back with a rather large cup of tea. Mmmm.

Love,
Miranda

Picture found here: http://www.cornel1801.com/video/AN05BA01/mo02.html

Heavenly Scent

I was able to see our new apartment the other day, for the second time. It makes me a little nervous that we are moving in so soon (in about a week! Eeek!), and the tenant who has been living there is not out yet. It has also not been under the best care, and smells a little. :( To fix this problem, I plan on spending a lot of hours scrubbing EVERYTHING! After this process is done, I am going to burn candles.

I was at the mall yesterday for an interview (I will let you know more about that, and if I get the job later!) and I had some extra time after my interview, so I stopped by Bath and Body Works.  They had their new fragrance sets, and a great deal on their large candles: 2 for $30. I couldn't help myself! They smell so heavenly! I got Flower Shop and Lilac. Both smell great, but my favorite is Flower Shop. I have never smelled something so close to the real thing in my whole life! I cannot wait to burn it!

Love,
Miranda

Clouds of White Curtains

So...funny story. Until last night, it somehow slipped my mind that I had two papers due this morning. So at ten thirty, I started a six page paper, and another four page paper. Three LARGE cups of coffee later, here I sit. WIDE AWAKE. I finished both my papers at 6:30 this morning, and decided that sleeping for half an hour would only make me more tired. So I took a nice long shower, got ready, walked with Ian to the coffee shop for my third cup, barely made it through my 8:00 class (which doesn't allow computers), and am now in my second class (which does allow computers, Praise the Lord). I have things to do until 2:00...and then I can take a three hour nap. I am very much looking forward to that time. I haven't stayed up this long since Jr. High. I can see my heartbeat in my eyes. I'M GOING NUTS!!!

Ok. Freak out moment over. :)

I am thinking about white (or another really light color) curtains for the bedrooms in the new apartment. I feel like they would bring a brightness to the room that lights could not. Here are some inspiration photos.

Decor Pad

Genuine Style

Under Paper Moon - Blogspot

Blog Catalog.com

Style Up Life - Blogspot

Don't these rooms look inviting? Mmmm...I can't wait....

I'm drifting off....into....clouds of white curtains.....Ok. I've definitely lost it. :)

Love,
Miranda

Here Comes The Sun

Digs Frocks and Books - Blogspot

I am very much looking forward to the summer sun - and sun dresses! I love 1950-1960 style sun dresses, and I most definately plan to sew a few this summer. Here are some beautiful ones that I found while looking for inspiration!

Posh Girl Vintage

Rainbow Valley Vintage

We Heart It

Style Hive

Sweetie Pie Vintage

Style Hive

Pinapple Mint - Blog

Pinapple Mint - Blog

The Shrimpton Collection

Love,
Miranda

Hyacinth and Basil

Today has been a stressful day so far, but this afternoon is cheering up. A week ago, Ian and I went on an excursion, and came home with a hyacinth that had not yet bloomed. Yesterday, I was a the grocery store yesterday and they had a special on potted herbs...so I indulged myself, and got basil, parsley, and oregano. I potted them today at lunch. So now, the two have come together to make my afternoon lovely.

Every time I walk past the beautiful bloomed hyacinth, I get this wisp of fresh spring flower scent...and I think about homemade pizza with fresh basil when I see the pot of herbs.

So yes, my day is looking up!

Love,
Miranda

Thought of You

I wish you a happy Saturday! I just found this video - and I think it is beautiful. I also love the Weepies. So, enjoy!

On another note - I found another project I want to do! A decoupaged lamp. Here is where I got the idea - Poopscape. (I know...interesting name. Haha). I am going to steal the idea and cut out pictures of flowers, instead of film negatives (which I also think is a great idea)!

Here is to hoping that I get to find time to craft - and breathe again!

Love,
Miranda

Finally, a Quiet Moment

This morning, I had a panic attack. I was up until four thirty last night, and when I woke up this morning, I glanced at the clock to see what time it was...and it was blinking 2:00. Apparently, the power went out right after I went to bed. I freaked out, not knowing what time it was. I was saved by my thoughtful husband, who left his phone (with the alarm set to go off it about three minutes) right next to me while he got ready. It was so thoughtful of him to make sure that I could get up! He is so sweet.

Well, this afternoon - I finally have time to breathe. Unfortunately, this breathing must be intermingled with cleaning, packing, and homework.

I'll be making a big batch of coffee...and once the apartment is clean, I'll be curling up with my homework. Hopefully I can get enough done that I don't have to worry about homework until next Thursday - if I can stay awake.

Maybe a small nap would not be a bad idea.

Love,
Miranda

Beautiful Dreamer

It is one in the morning, and I am less than half way through a paper that is due at eight. I also have another project to get going on. I believe that I am going to be up until I go to class. So instead of crawling into my comforting...inviting...wonderfully warm bed with Ian tonight, and I am posting this picture of a beautiful bed.

Sigh.

I brought this upon myself - I always vow that I will do homework, and then I end up sitting up at one...two...three (probably later than that) watching 10 million episodes of The Cosby Show and working on my Developmental Psychology papers. I should learn better...but what is fun in that?

Well...here is to wishing sweet dreams upon all of you who are sleeping right now. You have no idea how much I envy you!

Love,
Miranda

*click on photo to go to Flickr

"Home" Work

It has recently been decided that my sister in law, Keeley, will be spending a large chunk of the summer with us! (Double Yay!) In honor of her - and anyone else who is going to stay with us, no matter how long, I am posting my favorite inspirational photos of home offices/guest rooms.

I am really loving the soft palates of these rooms. So relaxing and tranquil - perfect for a sleeping guest or a day working on a sewing a dress!

Love,
Miranda

* All photos found either at Google Images or Apartment Therapy