#BATHROOM SELFIE

A few months ago I spent the day with my mother and grandmother shopping and antiquing.  The location: Middle-of-Nowhere Kansas (to name a few towns...possibly unincorporated ones-- Belleville, Scandia, Cuba.  These places were landmines for treasures of years past. And me?  A kid in a candy store.  But one of the most interesting spots we "hit up" was a place called the Feathered Nest. A skeptic, per usual, I questioned my mom's constant RAVING about it.  But for once in my life, she was right and I was wrong (lol luv u mom).  We spent damn near 2 hours there and I could have stayed longer.  The ladies who owned it were lovely and boy did they have a knack for interior design.  Upon my mom's raving, she said, "Alex, you have to check out the bathroom!!1!"  and in the span of our 2+ hour stay, I did.  I walked in, greeted by a large painting of a german shepherd (my weakness<3) and then the sink caught my attention. I know, a sink? catching attention?  It was a circular basin sink and inside the bowl they had placed large polished stones.

So. being a creep. I took pix in the bathroom.

And then as soon as I got back that weekend I went and bought some rocks.

So here's my sink `*1!!1~~!_@``~**

Not nearly as fancy of a basin sink as they had had, but mine is a simple pedestal type..so I don't think it looks too outta whack.

There are a few things, if you want to do this with your own sink to remember though:

1. You are going to have to (and I mean HAVE TO) clean your sink at leeeast once a week.  You don't want scummy rocks.  I'm a clean freak, especially since I started living solo, so it's nothing unordinary to me.

2.  MAKE SURE your rocks don't have jagged edges or are too rough that they'll damage your sink.  I rent a place and I'm not down to buy a new sink come the end of my lease.

3.  This may be something for you that's more practical in a guest room/bath type of situation.  They will be like "hey that's cool" and you will feel successful @ life and also won't have to clean it nearly as often

And lastly, a tip on cleaning sinks: use a tiny spray of pledge and a soft, dry rag to shine the stainless steel/faucet.  You'll be amazed by the reflection you see of yourself :P

XOXO

WHITE WALLS ( and a little black )

As blank as I love keeping my walls to use for plain backdrops in photos...I had to jazz mine up a little because it looked like no one actually lived in the apartment.

The jazz cost about $2.  Making it even more jazzy.

 Taking washi tape (a tape very similar to masking tape, but with less sticky residue and a more paper-like feel)  I created a faux headboard with three quick strips!  I measured up with a tape measure from each side of the bed and marked a few spots in the middle, kept the tape taught when applying, and magically got a much more straight line that I could have ever imagined.

I've had multiple people over, and all be very surprised to find out it wasn't a headboard...it has a very deceiving 3D effect apparently!

And the only other thing on my walls, you ask? 

                           

Clear clipboards used sort of like you would a picture frame.  The "art"?  Cut out pieces from paper sacks I used as a drop cloth when painting my trunk.  I'm such a punk.

Welcome to my home! I hope you like it!

<3

Alex

p.s.-- I'm not sure why blogspot demands to make my photos look like a lumpy pile of grossness...they are originally much more crisp and white </3  if you are blogspotter and have any tips on exporting files or on the upload to blogspot, I'd much appreciate the aid

BEDSIDE: THE EASIEST DIY NIGHTSTAND

As I've posted a bit about it before,  I've recently moved into my own studio apartment.  It's my first time living alone...(with my pet rat, of course) and it's been really lovely!  It's amazing what a mess I can create within minutes of sifting through my closet!  And the kitchen?!  I'm incredible at dirtying ALL of my dishes in one quick session.  But knowing you're the sole creator of the mess....makes you a bit of a clean freak, so thankfully if you come on a good day, it's pretty tidy.

Since this is my first time living sans-roommates, I had a weird amalgamation of items in my possession...and did not have a single pot or pan...man, was I a shitty roommate?  Nonetheless, I've been trying to slowwwlyy add to my collection of crap, in a thoughtful and more minimal manner this time around.

So when I realized I had no furniture and that I was going to still be picky about it...I lived in a very empty apartment for the first month.  Only now is it looking a bit more liveable.  My newest acquisition(s) are what I'm going to show you today!

One thing that is nice to have are side tables.  One thing that is expensive when you go looking for them is...side tables.  I'm not loaded here, and hey, I already had to splurge on some pots and pans recently!

THE SOLUTION:

A T.V. TRAY + A TRAY

FOR WHAT? $8-10 for a tv tray? SOLD

IT WAS SO EASY. I don't even need to explain.

The tray is nice to add because all your little odds and ends (DEAR LAWD the amount of bobby pins lurking in my apartment) are contained.  I was so lucky to stumble upon this tray too...it's heavy and ceramic and was on sale <3___<3

The maybe even greater thing about doing this is that you can use the tray for BREAKFAST IN BED

And you can not feel like a piece of scum for eating in bed, but instead, feel really cool...cuz yr cool

So...with that...who wants to come make me breakfast?  I'll be in bed.

<3

Alex

THE PERSONALITY OF AN OUTFIT (IN TIME & SPACE)

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Greetings! Today's post, (like many others) serves no rhyme or reason, but I hope you enjoy it all the same.  I was recently at a senior show for the KU graphic design kids (that is their official title).  Those dudes and dudettes blow my mind...and I know how fast they can crank out stuff...I can do a mediocre job on designing stuff but it takes me centuries compared to their mere minutes behind a computer.  Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a few familiar faces..ones I hadn't seen in much too long!  I stopped and chatted with a boy I'd had a technical drawing class with (he, M U C H better than I).  We flipped through his portfolio, something I didn't get to do with any of the other designers but by this point it was nearing the end of the night.  He showed me a project he did featuring objects of peoples rooms and then the rooms themselves.  It's always an interesting subject, and one that is often visited.  I liked his approach though, and he had told me he'd recently taken a pyschology course focusing on the study of personalities (a course I took my first year in school!).   It was nice that he also didn't include the people themselves in the images or design...but you know I can't resist including my stupid face on here :P

So, all this thinking (you know...~*being artsy*~) and then a few days pasted and I forgot.  And then I was like "Alex, you need to blog today" and in reply I told myself "Yeah maybe that skirt you've NEVER worn"

So in my own battle of multiple personalities, I bring you this outfit.  I didn't know what I was going to write to you about it, but upon seeing the images, I knew I must come back to this idea of the items we have and the spaces we occupy and how they more often than not reflect one another.  I think it goes without explaining...all black...all white...every...thing makes me happy

And hey, a note to myself...you should probably wear this skirt more often u dummy :)

One last thing!

If you didn't catch my last post on Sunday...I am doing a giveaway!!!!!  Click through the image below or here to get entered (it's very easy, I promise, and you might get a free t-shirt & we can be twins)

<3

BEFORE & AFTER: BLK ON BLK

Today's post is the first real post introducing you into the decorating of my new apartment!  

It is a bit of a DIY post...

 

Until about three years ago, this trunk had been out in the same outbuilding on my family's property...storing old knick-knacks of my dad's from his "younger days."  When I was finally released into the world as a sophomore in college, out of the dorm life and in a REAL HOUSE, I needed some furniture...some places to keep my ridiculous amount of clothes, if we're being honest here.

So upon a questionable level of trust in me not "ruining things",  my dad let me drag it around with me.  It made it all the way to Chicago this past year.  It's not too big for a trunk and I love that!  And you know what's also super rad about a trunk?  YOU CAN ALSO USE IT LIKE A TABLE i.e. PUT MORE OF YOUR CRAP ON TOP OF IT!

So this is what I was dragging around.  I will say my favorite color has been yellow for a while now until gray took it's place (because apparently I'm into sad things now).  A little rough on the edges and with the weirdest color scheme including brown, I once again cautiously asked my dad if I could paint it.  Now three years after my initial request, he must just be used to my crazy ideas, and hey, he didn't even hate the idea of painting it at all.

^^^SO THIS IS WHAT I DID ^^^

The trunk is a weird combination of metal and wood elements.  I sanded the roughest of parts with a medium-fine grit sandpaper.  Then painted the whole trunk a matte black and added a glossy layer to the details- like the hinges and handles.

Overall, I'm more than happy with the result!  For my boring desire for an all black & white apartment I am closer to my goals, and I think this piece is interesting with the different paint textures...black isn't too boring!  I will be using this more like a coffee table (and of course, all while storing my bulky sweaters inside!)

<3 Best,

Alex