New Home.

We moved into our new apartment just days before we left for Maine.  It was a whirlwind of insanity. When you move you realize just how much stuff you have.  Yikes.  It was so terrifying just seeing everything half in and half out of boxes stacked up the walls.  Luckily, unpacking takes half the amount of time as packing does (we were packing through the entire month of August!  Something I've learned since having a baby: things now take three times as long as they used to pre-baby), and we're finally settled in to this lovely little apartment.  Everything has it's proper place and apartment living is back to normal.  The only thing we haven't done yet is put the art up on the walls...someone needs to come and give us a third opinion.

Evangeline gives it her stamp of approval.

I really do love our new place.  It's delightfully cozy, without feeling cramped.  Bright, freshly painted walls and white trim really make it seem very airy and a lot more spacious.  I'm very surprised that all our furniture fits, given that our new home is probably half, maybe two-thirds, the size of our old one.  But I suppose we never really had an inordinate much furniture anyways (we still are the proud owners of only two chairs).  The only troublesome aspect of the move was a brief, sweaty struggle with our box spring.  It wouldn't fit up the front stairwell.  It wouldn't fit up the back stairwell.  One beaten up box spring. One distressed and frustrated wife at the thought of sleeping on a mattress on the floor.  Luckily, I have an incredible, intelligent, stubborn husband.  If it won't fit up the stairwell, by golly it'll come in through the window.  And it did.  Somehow.  Note: we live on the third floor.  I'll never forget Al half leaning out of the third story window pulling our queen size box frame inside.  Terrifying.  But problem solved. 

Though the overall apartment size is smaller, we got an upgrade on kitchen counter space!  I'm so especially grateful for this aspect!  It really is a lifesaver.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures of the place all set up sometime soon. 

I'm have grand plans of getting a rug, some more chairs, a small kitchen table for casual breakfasts, and a smaller, round dining room table (the one we have doesn't really fit--that weird oblong shape).

I love these Industrial French cafe chairs.  Kitchen?

Love this rug. via French Connection

Luckily, getting a cheaper place we didn't have to sacrifice on location.  I love the neighborhood that we live in now.  Just a 5-10 minute walk west from our apartment is the most charming little area, with a stone piazza and fountain and plenty of wonderful shops and restaurants (including a bookstore that serves wine...what?!).  It's always full of families ("fleets of strollers" as my friend Mary says) and has such a fun, European vibe.  Big fan.