short buss, the hero!

thank you sara bussman. i think the before and after pics here speak for themselves!

checks and balances

i would love to admit that in the last 2 months i haven't made any purchases, but i think we all know that's not the case! i've been keeping tabs on everything that is coming in and going out, so here's a recap and an update to the "slush fund"

SOLD! kitchen table for $80 (already been added to the slush fund total)

SOLD! north face jacket on ebay for $65

SOLD! set of 4 kitchen barstools on craigslist for $30

bought: lululemon jacket using gift card - remaining balance was $3.47

bought: a few things at urban outfitters using gift card - remaining balance was $33.68

bought: a great new shirt by velvet at a local BK store - shopping locally is good, right? - $84.92

RETURNED: anthropologie dress that is now on sale for 1/2 off! + $182.91

new slush fund balance: 260.84!

before the move i also dropped off 4 large bags of stuff at beacon's closet in brooklyn. i need to go back and see how much my stuff sold for. they give you 35% in cash or 55% in store credit. typically i take the credit and look around for fun "new" stuff, but i think i'm going to take the money and run this time. i don't need more stuff!

february 23: what a mess!

well, i'm all moved! as you can see, it's not pretty! the one success that i've had: putting together my ikea bed! i'm pretty damn good at putting this stuff together, if i must say so..

i'll share after photos once everything is nicely put away and organized, which, knowing me, won't be for another month or so! :)

80 bones richer, one table lighter!

part of moving means getting rid of some of the big stuff that won't fit in my new place, including my kitchen table and chairs. as luck would have it, two great friends are moving in together and needed a table! voi-la! sold, to the cute couple moving in down the street (literally, just down the street!)

so, i'm officially adding $80 to the slush fund and moving the table out this weekend. it feel really good to be downsizing!

february 9: OMG i made it a month?

a bit late, but i'm now into february which is month 2 of this 12 month challenge. i made it a month and didn't cry, whine, complain or implode....for the most part! i've honestly actually realized that i do have well beyond everything that i need, but that doesn't mean i don't like to look at all the pretty things.

to recap: i made one purchase at the ragnar relay race that i did in key west florida, and that amount came out of my slush fund. i also just made a 2nd purchase in iceland (yes the country, shown below). it was a nikita hoodie that says "reykjavik" - which was something purchased to remember the trip and purchased from the flagship store (nikita is an icelandic brand!) since it was so incredibly cold, i ended up wearing the sweatshirt for most of the remainder of the trip too. good purchase.

anyway, that's where i stand (and here i stand in the icelandic countryside). and i feel pretty good about it.

pack it up, pack it in, where to begin?

yup, i'm moving! big surprise, right? if you know me, you know that i've lived in 5 different apartments since moving to brooklyn in 2004. soon to be 6!

my current apartment is great, it's absolutely beautiful. i have my own studio in prospect heights, brooklyn but unfortunately my landlords are planning to sell. it also happens to be pretty pricey - and while i've been able to afford my place, i could be living elsewhere and saving a LOT of money!

a few weeks ago i took a stab at craigslist and found an apartment that sounded perfect. it's a 2 bedroom that i'll be sharing with a roommate. she seems nice and the apartment had a few great selling points:

• i'll be back in park slope!
• unfurnished living room which means i can bring my furniture!! i can't part with my leather arm chair
• large bedroom AND FINALLY.....
• a HUGE closet!! probably the largest one that i will have since moving to brooklyn!
• oh, and yeah, GREAT rent!

i'm really excited to be moving, but NOT excited to be packing! i've just started (and i move in 2 weeks) and am taking this opportunity to really purge. in the 5 moves that i've had, i do a really good job of just boxing up crap and moving it to the new place. this time, i'm not just going to box it all up.

i just posted 4 items on ebay, including this north face jacket. any takers?

old and new and dressed in blue.

it has been so cold. so cold, and snowy, and gross that i have no motivation to wear anything besides jeans, cords, my snow boots and heavy sweaters. but i was motivated yesterday to put on a skirt and nice top, and gosh darnit - i felt good!

i paired an old blouse from urban outfitters with a newer skirt, also from uo. i wasn't sure if i was going to like the navy on navy combo, but i think it worked. i also wore my thicker-than-normal tights to keep me warm!