Clean House Introductions

I've just spent three days scrubbing our new rental from top to bottom in between appointments for service providers, dropping off rental cars, doing a bit of real work and while managing a head cold.

Yes you can hire people to do this for you, but I feel like it's been a great intro to your new home. I've laid eyes and hands on pretty much every nook and cranny. I know the cute quirk and where the dust bunnies hide. I know I'll learn more about this place in upcoming weeks but cleaning from top to bottom was a great introduction.

Empty Room

Sitting now in my mostly emptied apartment. There is definitely something to the Japanese style of living.

Last year we visited the Imperial Palaces in Kyoto and Toyko. It was kind of the opposite of what you and I would normally consider royal grounds-no gaudy furniture, no over the top decor. We laughed a bit because the rooms are basically just empty. Now they do have really nice floor coverings and painted walls. But it is definitely much more simple than most "Royal" palaces.  

Imperial Palace Kyoto: Image from Wikipedia

Yet now sitting here, I can see the piece in that kind of space. Not a lot to visually occupy your mind, but what you do have is spectacular. Definitely something can be said for that.  

Moving...

When I was younger, I used to adore moving. I loved the opportunity for a fresh start in a new place where you could reinvent yourself if you wanted. I was always excited about the newest adventure and new chapter.

This is the first time that I have moved with great sadness. I adore my coworkers. I love this city. I loved pretty much everything about this experience. I am excited about better weather, hopefully a better lifestyle, closer to family, smaller town which will make my husband happy but I'm still a little sad about this transition.

Today's Obsession: Closets!

I've spent practically the whole day in my current closet packing and trying to stay warm. (Yep, our heat is out again, and my closet is practically the only enclosed room in the place where the space heater actually made a difference.) I have also been thinking hard about what to do with the closet in my next space. This was like a dream closet. It's large and walk in. I was able to organize everything with the existing rods and the addition of a shoe rack.  My next space.... not so much. So I'm thinking about turning this bedroom into a closet:

It's of course bare so I have to put in everything to make it a useable space. We also still want to encourage guests, so I have to make sure that it's presentable enough for someone to sleep in when they visit. So I have a lot left to do here. But my mind is already leaning towards the future.

Weather fails!

Here in Chicago the true winter has settled in. When the cold is blasting us from all sides, all I want to do is snuggle under a down blanket and wait for it to pass. Over the past couple of winters, I've learned to bundle up, learned to soldier on, and learned to just make it happen. The climate is so inhospitable here. I have to let go!

Packing...

We are the move again from our fantastic loft apartment in the City to a retro bungalow by the bay. As much as I am excited about the lifestyle change it has definitely put my home and my professional life in disarray.

I can't wait to have a stable place again!

Powerball!

So I didn't win the powerball last night. Everyone has been talking about what they would do with the money if they won all week. At the last minute, I bought 5 tickets with my husband and of course we didn't win.

What would I have done with my share of the billions?

1. Make a family trust to provide income for my family members, but not allow any one person to waste it all. (1/4)

2. Start a foundation to investigate social and economic issues I'm interested in and invest in them. (1/2)

3. Mad money to do something fun with over the next few decades. (1/4)

No crazy big house or super car for me, but a great location and some long term travel sounds nice. Oh and I would definitely get a private language tutor so I could finally speak French well!

New Year, New Adventures

So I haven't been blogging very regularly. I'm going to make it my mission to add to this blog a little every night.

Right now I'm obsessed with light fixtures. We've got a new rental coming up in a few days and I detest the current fixture.

I am looking for something beachy but inexpensive.

If price were no object I might go with something like from Kathy Kuo home:

Suggestions in the under $100 range?