The State of Things

the day after.

Well, here we are, a week later. I must report, we are as happy as clams.

Moving day was about as easy as can be, what with all of the pre-packed boxes, no furniture and a little extra woman power (thanks for bringing the big guns, Nomes). I got to the new apartment early to meet up with our mattress delivery. The rest of the morning/early afternoon was spent with my friend Naomi visiting from Seattle and her mama. Since Naomi had enlisted my help in her move (remember?) she was obliged (persuaded) to help us with ours. Nathan picked up a Uhaul van that fit all our possessions and we swiftly made it to the new house where friend Jason also helped us unload. Whilst Naomi and I fulfilled the requisite relocation Target trip, our friend/Jason's wife Erin arrived. We all later celebrated the new house with Chinese for dinner.



Since then, we've been unpacking what we can bit by bit and trying to settle in. It already feels like home, but there is much to do. It's funny to open boxes to rediscover all the little things that made up our home in Washington. It wasn't so long ago that we switched coasts, but it feels like that time is gone. Where will they go in the new house? Do they make sense here?

here, my brother's 15+ year old nfl comforter acts as privacy curtain.

Our to-do and to-buy lists are ever growing. Thus far the work commute has been fine, but we are getting Zipcar for special trips like Ikea and Home Depot and fun excursions. As you can see above and below, next on our list are a bed frame and dining table...the sag in that box tells me we better hop to it. :)

Moving Day

{happy jumping Audrey seemed appropriate}

We're moving today!
I am so excited. More on this later.

Playing House

When my friends and I used to play house as a kid, we never did boring adult things like go mattress shopping (we did much more exciting things like host imaginary dinner parties and deal with family dramas). However, Thursday night, that's exactly what Nathan and I did! We purchased a most awesome mattress and are terribly excited about having it delivered to our new apartment on Friday. Before falling asleep we've been saying..."Oh, we're going to sleep so well next Friday." :) It feels like the first grown-up piece of furnishing we own. It's a queen. What fun.

The next step is finding a platform bed frame, as we opted not for a boxspring, and perhaps some very cuddly sheets. We really like sleeping. If you were buying more luxurious sheets, would you stick to white (like good hotel sheets) or a fun pattern? My thought is white will always be worth the investment. But I do like these....

I can't wait to sleep some more.

Done Apartment Hunting

July is dashing by, and while summer in the city is fun, I'm not too sad...in fact, if it looks to be this hot and sticky until September, August can dash on by as well! Teasing aside, I am enjoying myself, and seeing the clock run just means we've kept ourselves busy. It's a comfort that we have been able to get right to work, meet new friends, and continue making progress nestling in. We are both digging in at work and trying to be productive. I am feeling fairly at ease with my coworkers despite knowing them only 1.5 months. It's been easier than the first (second?) time around, that's for sure.

That said, can you believe that in just over a week we will have been here 2 months already? Wowie zowie! In an exciting culmination to those first 2 months, we will be moving into our new apartment next Friday. After a month of searching and all it entails, including some disappointments and realizations, it feels like a loooong time coming. {sigh}

We contemplated and stewed and compared/contrasted, and I think we have found a good spot for us. It's not right in Boston or even Cambridge, but next door in a small town called Belmont. After Kirkland, I was itching to get out of suburbia, but Belmont doesn't feel so much like that...just quieter, cuter, and out of the way. We were sold on the distance, the price tag, the details and the living situation (ie, nice landlord). The next week may feel pretty sloooow waiting anxiously to move in! Take a look below, you'll see what I mean.

The whole first floor. You read that right. We asked for space, and we got it! The little porch you see to the left? That's ours! :)

Hello, original fireplace and built-in cabinet. Hello, french door to sunny nook. Nathan wants to hang a sword over the mantle, and with all I want to do with the apartment, I think this is fair. Now, who has an old sword for him? :P

Oh, hardwood floors, I've waited patiently for you. A dining room...no more eating in the kitchen/living room. And...there's another built in opposite the window. joy.

One of the two bedrooms...perhaps the master? I'm imagining His and Hers closets. I like the dark wood contrast to the painted white wood trim. Did you see the glass door knobs? :) Oh, and there's another french door....to a sun porch! no kidding.

Sweet, little tiled bath...penny tiles and subway tiles, happy callie. spoiled callie.

I. am. so excited!
I think it goes to show that good bones in a space make all the difference. Well kept woodwork, keen planning and a dose of charm can make a space. And they'll have to, because we may not have furniture for a while! Ha!

So, what do you think we should do with the space? Colors? Furnishings?
I've started collecting Home Inspirations, room by room, at Pintrest, a fun site for web image collections. Check out my pins and if you like, make your own--I have 4 more Pintrest invitations to share! I'd love to see your opinions and favorite spaces.
xo

Celebrating Grandpop

memory board by my sister Stacia

My thanks and appreciation to all who shared time with us this past weekend, honoring my Grandpop. It was a time to recognize his service, love, and passion for life, and to come together to celebrate our family. It was wonderful to have community show their support and let us know how Jordan affected their lives. I was glad that amidst the sorrow, we were able to also celebrate my sisters' birthdays and share some laughs.

Miles Jordan Evans

10.18.1916-07.11.2010

My grandfather left this past Sunday. He gave it his all. He lived for 94 years.
Thanks to my brother for finding this dapper old photo from his Navy days.
I will be happy to be home with my family this weekend.

This Day in July

I've been a poor blogger lately. There's been so much to share over the past few weeks that I've neglected to post. There will be more to come, I promise. But for now, here is just a taste of our Saturday evening here in Cambridge.

Nathan and I enjoyed a mostly lazy Saturday (we both have 3-day weekends!) though we did visit an apartment. That's right, we are on the hunt for our next home...more on that another time. After the sun went down and it cooled off a bit, we went to nearby Cafe Pamplona to sit outside and have a treat. We shared a cannoli with our iced latte and thai iced tea. This particular cafe with its bunker-like interior and yellow umbrellas remind me of my brief time in Europe 4 years ago to this day. This particular corner with its curved street, brick paved walk, tall old church....had our fellow coffee sippers been speaking with a foreign tongue, I would have thought I was back in France.* It was nice to be able to say to Nathan, this is what it was like.

*However, I cannot fail to forget or mention that beverages do not come iced in France. This is a stark difference. An iced beverage on a hot day in July is a haven, and a beverage un-iced is a cruelty...I guess Europe is too good for ice. In this regard, I'm truly an American.

And on the way home, we came across this:

How exciting to be living in 'the cradle of liberty' this July 4th.

Happy Independence Day!