My First Place

I am so EXCITED! I just got the keys to my first real apartment.  "Real" meaning it's all mine, I'm paying for it, and I don't have to share it with anyone else--- which means I get to decorate it just the way I want!

I've been obsessing over design ideas for a while now. I want my place to be a reflection of me and the things I love, while being comfy-cozy, too. I like playing with color, and my apartment is going to be simple, girly and full of whimsy! :)

Here's my inspiration board for the living room. I've already purchased a few pieces, and I'm working on the rest!

Clockwise from Left:

1. Damask Furniture Throw from Anna’s Linens 2.  Suzani Print Curtain Panel from World Market 3.Throw Pillows from World Market and Pier 1 Imports 4. Wooden Trunk from Pier 1 Imports  5. Cute Little Bird Woodburned Wall Art Panel - cherry red by Cabin at Etsy.com 6. Steel Wire Heart by Charest Studios @ Etsy.com 7.Library Stroll Print by memoir @Etsy.com 8. Express Yourself by GabrielleKai @Etsy.com 9.Collage of frames photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy.com Home Tours 10. Tiny Scallop Clock in Poppy by Uncommon @ Etsy.com  11. Table and bookshelf- Big Lots 12. Lovebirds by onceuponapaper @ Etsy.com

I've fallen in love with Etsy.com (in case you couldn't tell). It is a community of artists and artisans who sell mostly handmade, vintage pieces. I love to have things for my place that are original and quirky.  They make for great conversation pieces.

What do you think?  What are your design inspirations? Do you have a story about your first place?

America, Rated E for...[almost] everyone?

The monday morning office coffee gathering.  It's 7:50 and we open for business in ten minutes. We sit in near darkness to ensure that our customers are aware it's not quite time to rush the doors.  We sip coffee and chat. Let's be real.  It's usually more like griping.

As we run through our post-weekend updates and monday complaints, my colleague rifles through her handbag and pulls out a note written on letterhead.  "Read this, and tell me what you think. I was outraged, to say the least."

The letter was from her daughter's high school principal.  It stated that the President of the United States of America was giving a speech to the nation's school children via television broadcast that week; attached to the form was a permission slip.  All children were required to submit a slip, stating whether or not their parents had given them approval to watch the address. 

Needless to say, a few moral and political issues were raised.

Don't high school students have enough autonomy that they can process incoming messages and make their own decisions? We are teaching them critical thinking and decision-making, right?

Are we really so afraid that the leader of our own country might say something that would be damaging to our children-- that might raise concern with parents?

Have public school systems always required permission slips to show the President on television?

Or is this a matter of protecting the values of conservatism?

Dare we raise the race card, or stamp this as intolerance?

If high school students can watch PG-13 films in class without parental consent, shouldn't a presidential address be rated E...for everyone?

What do you think? As Americans-- Democrat or Republican-- should we take offense to this, or bypass this as a  CYOA strategy on the districts' part?

Image courtesy of allthingsd.com