Tag Archives: home

Moving On Up: What Else Do I Need?!

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Moving On Up: What Else Do I Need?!

Hello, hello! All of you have been following my process of getting ready for my move into apartment life and I thank you for it. I am so excited and, honestly, I wish I could move in right now! But, my move in date of April 20th will be here before I know it and I’m happy to say that pretty much all of my preparations for it have been made. Of course, there are things I still need, like home decor – but I’d rather get all of that once all of my furniture is moved in because then I’ll have a better understanding of how I want to decorate.

During moving prep, my shopping hauls definitely helped me feel more excited rather than stressed out and my bedroom has officially been overtaken with all of my purchases:

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^^^ So. Much. STUFF!!!

While I am feeling good about everything I have, I just know that I am forgetting some things and that is where all of you come in. Has anything been missing from my apartment hauls? What are some apartment necessities that I will need? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Abbey Ann’s Haul

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Moving On Up: Abbey Ann’s Haul

Hiii everyone! In my neck of the woods in Ohio, there are several thrift stores called Abbey Ann’s. Rather than clothes, though, they sell furniture and unique knick knacks for your home. Going to Abbey Ann’s wasn’t even on my radar until my client’s mom suggested it and I am so glad she did, because I got all of the furniture I needed for my apartment for a whopping four hundred and thirty dollars. This includes the following:

 

  • Loveseat
  • Chair and footstool
  • Vanity and stool
  • Full length mirror
  • Coffee table
  • Two end tables

Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of the goods right now, because they are all covered up in my garage. But, I will definitely take pictures once they are all set up in my apartment. What I will say for now is, that I was a friggen fool for even considering purchasing all new furniture for my apartment when I got SEVEN things for less than what one new item would probably cost.

People tend to turn their nose up when it comes to thrift and consignment shopping and, I have to admit, I can be one of those people. But, I know a well taken care of item when I see it and all of the pieces that I picked out were of such high quality that I couldn’t pass any of it up. Not only that, but the owner of the Abbey Ann’s that I shopped at cleans all of the furniture up and sands or polishes them to make them look like new. In fact, he had just steam cleaned the loveseat that I bought two days before.

I’m really proud of myself, because after furniture shopping I pretty much have all of the big necessities that I need and I got it all for a price that was a steal. Now, all I have to do is pick up a few more random needs and I will be all set for moving day. That wasn’t so hard, after all! 🙂

Do you have a store similar to Abbey Ann’s in your area? What is the best deal you’ve ever scored at a thrift or consignment shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Target Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: Target Haul Edition

Hello! During my shopping for my move, Target has been especially kind to me. I have gotten the most useful things from there, including pots and pans, Tupperware, a trash can for my kitchen and a bunch of other odds and ends to help fill up my apartment. And, I got all of the goods below for prices that I was comfortable paying, which made me happy. Moving has proven to be expensive (Surprise, surprise lol) so balling on a budget has been a necessity. So, thank you to Target for helping me get the following:

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It’s hard to pick what I am most excited about from my Target haul, but I’d probably have to go with the box set of The Hunger Games, haha. I love those damn movies and books so much so when I found the set for TEN DOLLARS, I couldn’t pass it up! Plus, until I decide what entertainment subscription I want to get, I just plan on watching a movie when I have some time to sit and relax. So, this purchase will definitely help fill a random few hours or maybe even a whole day on the weekend for a marathon…and wine.

My other bigger buys include a folding shelving unit for my office, potentially, and a floor lamp, which will look really nice beside my TV set. As I mentioned in other haul posts, the lighting in my apartment sucks so finding floor and table lamps has been a major priority. I hate dull lighting so brightening things up is an absolute must.

And, finally, I love the armed pillow I got for when I’m reading and I also grabbed some bathroom supplies including three sets of a bath towel, hand towel, and wash cloth as well as a new scruffy and some Jergens. A more odds and ends purchase but they definitely needed to happen!

Which entertainment package are you subscribed to? How do you create good lighting in your home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Keurig Edition

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Moving On Up: Keurig Edition

Hi! I, admittedly, am not the biggest coffee drinker in the world now post surgery. I am much more of a tea type of gal. But, a Keurig was definitely an apartment necessity for when I’m extra tired in the morning or am entertaining guests. I planned on ordering one for myself off of Amazon, but my parents beat me to it and got me a little red Keurig. Check it out:

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I am really happy to have a compact Keurig that won’t take up a lot of room in my kitchen, because I don’t have a lot of counter space. This design is just what I need and having it in red was an obvious must! Of course, a Keurig isn’t complete without k-cups, which I purchased at Target.

I got a deal on the Archer Farms brand which made each pack of k-cups seven dollars if you buy two or more so I picked out three delicious sounding flavors in Buttery Caramel, Caramel Macchiato, and Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. These will be tasty hot or cold and I can’t wait to serve a cup to my guests!

How do you drink your coffee? What is your favorite k-cup flavor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Bed Bath And Beyond Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: Bed Bath And Beyond Haul Edition

Hi! Preparing for my move has been a very positive experience for me. In fact, I just hired movers yesterday to help me out during the big day. Thank you, Two Men And A Truck! 😀 I am feeling good, because I pretty much have gotten all of the big stuff that I need to take care of out of the way. Including setting up my internet, electric, the movers, and getting all of the furniture I need. Now, it’s all about the little odds and ends, like some of the following that I picked up from Bed Bath And Beyond:

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I got my dad a salt lamp for Christmas this past year and I liked it so much that I had to get one for the apartment. The lighting in my place isn’t the best, so I’ve been on the hunt for floor and table lamps to help brighten things up. I think that my new salt lamp will look perfect on the vanity I got for my bedroom and will be a great night light, too.

I also picked up some supplies for my bathroom, a toothbrush holder and a value pack of toothbrushes to go with it. I didn’t even know Bed Bath And Beyond sold toothbrushes but they don’t call it Bed Bath And Beyond for NOTHIN! And, finally, my drinking buddies! I bought this pack of drink markers from TJMaxx for my cousin, Laura, who microblades my eyebrows and we both loved them. So, I was insanely happy to have found a pack for myself at BB&B. These cute pool boys will help keep me company in my apartment and will be very handy during my housewarming party. Nobody better pocket theirs, though! 😡

With every shopping trip, I feel more and more prepared for my own place. My credit card is on FIRE but, at least it’s racking up points on Amazon so I can get more stuff! 😀

Which stores offer the best credit card or rewards program? Do you have any silly drink markers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Mall Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: Mall Haul Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the next haul in my Moving On Up series. Shopping for my new apartment has been an absolute blast. So much so that any type of stress that I have been feeling about the move has literally melted away. Talk about retail therapy, amiright?! In this haul, I picked up some random essentials at a few different stores in the mall including Bath & Body Works, Party City, and Spencer’s. Take a look:

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I love, love, love the foaming hand soaps from B&BW and I knew that I wanted to have those in my place for the kitchen and bathroom. I took advantage of the five for twenty-three dollar sale and picked out some real winners. The lemon scent will be perfect for the kitchen, but I am most looking forward to using the Peach Bellini and Blueberry Crumble, which both smell insanely delicious.

I also found the darling “Welcome” sign from Party City, which I am really happy with. I spent ten bucks on it and I feel like I got it for a steal! I love the colors, the flowers, and the cursive print and it will look so charming with the hard wood in my apartment. And, finally, no twenty-something’s pad would be complete without shot glasses from Spencer’s! Peep those Step Brothers ones! 😀 #turndownforwhat

I enjoyed this shopping trip to the mall a lot, because it was fun stuff that I picked out. Shopping for the bigger, more expensive things can be kind of a lot so it was nice to purchase all of the little items that felt like treats and will be well loved at chez moi.

What is the decor like at your home? What is your favorite hand soap scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: Five Below Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: Five Below Haul Edition

Hello everyone! With my big move getting closer and closer with every passing day, the major hauling continues. We all know that I love to shop more than I love myself sometimes. And, I really think that because of this passion, the initial stressors of moving have faded away and it’s becoming more fun than anything. However, I am really trying to stick to my ballin on a budget lifestyle by choosing bargain and secondhand stores and being mindful of the best deals when shopping at Target or TJs.

So, it’s no surprise that I ended up at Five Below during my shopping extravaganza. And, I’m glad that I did, because I got all of the goodies seen below for under forty dollars! Check it out:

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An apartment wouldn’t be an apartment without two huge wine glasses that hold an entire bottle of wine in it! Lol, those were definitely a must. And, I loved the gallon glass dispenser so that I can make a big pitcher of cold tea or sangria during the summer months. I also chose two mini water fountains, one for my office and another to put on my TV stand for the ultimate relaxation experience… maybe while sipping from my holds one bottle of wine glass? 😀

While shopping, I also picked up the beautiful book “I Love You, Mommy” for my sister to read to my sweet niece, Valerie. I read it in the store and seriously almost cried seven times. The words are so touching and the pictures are gorgeous and I just know that Kristen is going to get a good cry out of it. In fact, I read some of the passages to my mom and cried so I highly recommend this one to literally anyone. It’s awesome!

And, finally, I grabbed some cute new ribbon hair ties to wear to the skating rink as well as my little sloth pal. One of my clients helped me pick him out to match the one that she got, so he will have a very special place in my apartment. ❤

Overall, this haul was really successful. I got some fun miscellaneous items that will make a big impact in my space and thirty-nine bucks for all of it was definitely the right price!

Where is your favorite bargain store to shop at? What other stores should I go apartment shopping at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving On Up: TJMaxx Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: TJMaxx Haul Edition

Hi! As you all know, Lil Red is Moving On Up! So, this means that some shopping has been in order for my new apartment. Over the weekend, I visited TJMaxx and Target to begin the task of gathering my home essentials. I have been having a blast picking out new furnishings and knick knacks but I’d be a liar if I said it wasn’t a little stressful. But, hauls full of new stuff makes it a bit more tolerable! Like the following:

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*Not pictured: A full length mirror because it’s impossible to take a good picture of a full length mirror!*

Grand Total: $95

At TJs, I picked up quite a few kitchen utensils as well as an adorable and appropriate little red toaster. I also grabbed a suction cupped caddy for my shower, which is a must to hold my charcoal face bar, scruffy, and smell goods. To continue on with keeping things clean, I chose a new hamper for twenty bucks that I love because it has a lid on it so that I can keep all of my dirty laundry in there. And, to top it off, I got myself a full length mirror to help style my OOTDs in my bedroom.

I felt like I got a solid amount of stuff for what I paid for in this haul and it took care of a lot of essentials that I will need in my apartment. Granted, I still need a ton of bigger items to furnish my place with but the little things are important, too, and I’m glad to be taking care of it! 😀

What are some apartment essentials that I am going to need? Where is your favorite place to shop for home goods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Makes One Want To Live Abroad?

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What Makes One Want To Live Abroad?

The prospect of living abroad can be daunting, especially if you believe that there is no sweeter place than home. But, we all come across the story of a friend, a distant relative, or even the friend of a friend who has decided to move away from the motherland to explore what the world has to offer. It can be difficult to understand how they can live a happy life while being so far away from their loved ones.

But, as many will tell you, it’s not a matter of what you lose. It’s all about what you gain. This lifestyle provides a new angle in the exploration of self. Most people who call home a distant location, far away from the place where they grew up, have found something that their old country couldn’t give them. They tap into undiscovered traits, strengths, and emotions that they never experienced in the homeland. Indeed, you don’t live abroad to move away. You live abroad to move closer to your true self or maybe for some of the following reasons:

You fell in love during a vacation:

Falling in love can take you by surprise. A lot of expats agree that they were not ready to fall head over heels for a country, its people, culture, and language. They had planned for a long trip and found themselves not wanting to come back. Thankfully, a long-term adventure had the advantage of preparing you to sort out your affairs. Your home and income are covered for the time being so that you can take the time you need to decide whether you want to stay or come back home. And, if you do choose to stay, things can be easily sorted out with removal experts such as https://www.chessmoving.com.au/, for instance.

For many expats, the decision to let the long adventure continue was easy to take as, in consideration, they had already prepared for a temporary life abroad. They found their people, their favorite local hangouts like delicious restaurants, coffee shops, or a cool cocktail lounge in Mayfair, and might have even applied for a handful of different jobs. If you are traveling and find yourself wanting to stay, fully immerse yourself in the country and make long term plans to start your next adventure on the right foot.

You studied or applied for a job abroad:

Moving overseas during your study is not only a creative way to explore a new culture, but it also ensures that your skills are relevant to the local market. If you’re still going to college, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of study abroad programs that let you travel to Europe, Asia, or South America for one or two semesters. As a result, many students start to work at the end of their studies and realize that they don’t want to leave.

You’ve got itchy feet:

Last, but not least, nomadic professionals are independent millennials who want to make the most of the resources available. They use their skills to build a unique career that supports their travel needs. Whether they choose to develop their career through digital tech or whether they live their passion in the wild – as you can see on https://www.professionalnomads.org –, the new generation in the workforce combines travel and work successfully. They live in many countries and every bed they sleep in is home.

Ultimately, the question is not how to become an expat. But it’s all about understanding the triggers and aspirations that drive people to leave their comfort zone and build a home abroad.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Refresh The Parts Of Your Home That Fade First

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Refresh The Parts Of Your Home That Fade First

It’s a sad feeling when the home you once loved and cherished is fading away, but it will no doubt get to the point sooner or later. New home or not, the general wear and tear that it faces will lead you to want something more. You might even consider moving homes to something a bit more modern but, even then, the cracks will begin to show eventually, and it could be one of the biggest regrets of your life. Because we know how easy it is to think that a new home will be one without problems but, in fact, they can sometimes have more!

So, when you do feel like your home is beginning to fade, you need to think about how you can perk it back up again and make it look like a million dollars. It’s easy enough to bring an aging home back to life, you just have to think about the parts of your home that are fading first and what you’re going to be able to do about it. Luckily for you, we’re on hand to help and we think these top tips will bring a fading home back to life.

The Windows & Doors:

If you think about how often you mess with all of the windows and doors in your home, it should come as no surprise to you that they’re going to be one of the first things that fades away. It’s so easy for them to become chipped or damaged, especially the fragile paint that you’ll usually find surrounding your windows. Vinyl windows are the best thing that you can bring into your home and they’re going to look so good compared to your old ones if you feel like they’re wasting away. Plus, having new windows and frames installed is only going to improve the green side of your home, meaning you might just notice those bills dropping a bit more than you thought!

The Interior Decor:

The interior decor is going to be something you hold very close to your heart. You have your own style and we’re not about to try and change that. But, we do think that it’s so important that you take some time to update it yearly. Wallpaper may last two years or so, but after that it just becomes outdated. And if you inspect it closely enough, you will notice the wear and tear. So keeping it fresh every single year is a must and you have to admit that redecorating isn’t that expensive and is so fun once you get into it. You’ll often find that fresh decor is all you’re going to need to spruce your home up.

The Vibe:

The vibe of your home was probably something electric when you first started out. You had so much going on, so much happiness, and there just would have been a buzz about it. But, now, things can easily change when you realize how hard owning a home is and how the novelty wears off after a few months. But, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t host monthly gatherings to keep a good vibe going in your home. As long as you surround it with fun, you will feel great!

With spring just around the corner, give your home a little makeover and watch it come back to life in full bloom.

Featured Image By: Pixabay