a temporary home to love

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Hi guys, I hope you had a nice weekend! We spent ours doing a major Fall Cleaning in preparation for the move today. It went well - a little off schedule but everything is ready to go until we meet again.

But before we gave away the plants, removed art from the walls, and sorted everything for the movers to pack into boxes, I made sure to take a few snaps of the living area that we made home for one and a half years. Do you remember this post when we just moved in and this one with our decor plan? I hate to say it - because it's an annoying cliche - but it feels just like yesterday. I can still remember Joe saying "let's get stuff up on the walls, it won't feel like home until we do" and little by little we did. Little by little we filled our home with pieces that made us smile and gave us comfort. You really can create a home that you love wherever you are.

With just some light cleaning and the final walk-through to do tomorrow, we're almost home-free! Not homeless though as we're staying at a hotel in the city until we depart on Wednesday. It's already proving to be a great idea, having a 'break' from moving before the long flights home. A big pat on the back for that one ;)

Okay KL, last few nights -  let's make them ones to remember!

show & tell (japan part III)

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Just as we prepare for movers to pack everything on Monday morning, I'm admiring all of the new pieces we've added to our home. Japan turned out to be quite the haul of goodies even though we knew we'd be boxing it all up for at least two months. It was so hard to say no!

Looking at each piece I realize why we couldn't help ourselves ... they're all made out of natural materials. Paper, wood, ceramic, glass, enameled cast iron, cotton, and wool - the type of goods that when held feel familiar, comforting, genuine, and that much more special.

I've added descriptions to the caption 'dots' on each image so make sure to check those out. I also searched for websites to share in case you were interested in doing some shopping of your own but the only product I could find sites for was the Noda Horo Tea Kettle. And wow, what a price difference between buying it from Japan and from the US! Luckily there are plenty of Japanese-made treasures worth browsing through this weekend, too. Here are my fave sites to find them:

Analogue Life

Claska

Plam

Fog Linen

Okay it's time to pack these babies up! Have a great weekend!

 

show & tell: souvenirs from colombia

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What's a trip without bringing home a few souvenirs?

These treasures from Colombia - a beautiful representation of the weaving done by indigenous women of the country - are adding so much life to our home ... and my wardrobe.

The blue cross-body bag's leather was stitched in Bogota but the colorful strap was woven by the Wayuu women who are known for their large bucket-style purses and skillful hamacas. The home accessories were made by women of the Waounan tribe in the department of Choco. The palm fibers used to create these beauties are woven so tightly that the vase piece we bought could hold water without leaking! Amazing.

The one store we loved unfortunately doesn't have a website. Such a shame since their products were all so modern leaning and tastefully done and displayed. But, if you find yourself in Cartagena, their address and phone is below. If you'd like to shop for a vase of your own online, here are some shops that carry an assortment: one, two, three.

Colombia Artesanal Centro, Callejon De Los Estribos No. 2-40, Cartagena 301-788-8108

words worth repeating / 29

quote 29 Hello! I hope you've had a good start to the week. I spent mine traveling across too many timezones and it is so nice to finally be home. I already miss my family and friends but there's nothing like the butterflies I felt last night when Joe got home from work. All I could think was "reunited and it feels so goooood"…. those hugs will go down in history fo sho.

Today is back to reality with unpacking and re-settling in. I realized that I have a laundry list of projects to catch up with (and kick start) so I'm going to take this week off from the blog.  The plan is to be back on Monday feeling fully refreshed because really, there's only so much a girl can do while jet lagged ;)

See ya next week, have a good one!

 

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making a home

home Thank you so much for the comments on yesterday's post - it feels great to feel fully settled in. I hope I haven't been too much of a debbie downer the past three months but I have, thanks for sticking by my side.

Moving ain't easy so what do you do when you have to start from scratch or with only a few pieces in tow? With two international moves under our belt I want to share some things I've learned that might help anyone who is moving to a new city or country for school, work, family, or in my case: amor ;)

It's tempting to think that you'll need everything but if you stay true to practicality and enjoyment then you will be okay. In other words, follow Mr. Morris's words and "... have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful".

Keeping that in mind, we moved to London with four duffel bags stuffed with linens and clothing, and shipped three medium size boxes full of kitchen utensils, office supplies, and a few art pieces and knick knacks that were personal to us. Just having a framed picture and a memento from the past offered an instant feeling of "home" ... even if said picture frame was displayed on the cardboard box it came in for nearly three months.

Here are some tips to consider for creating instant comfort and avoiding unnecessary expenses and wasted energy:

• Bring your own bed linens, towels, and pillows. Even if only one set of each to start out with - you'll need them immediately.

• Basic kitchen utensils plus a pot and pan for cooking a simple meal. I always feel more settled if I can scramble my own eggs and not have leave home to feed my morning hunger. These individual items can also add up to a large expense if bought new.

• Personal photos, art, and any tchotskes that are small but meaningful to you. Something that you can place on a counter or lean against a wall and smile at until you find a more permanent space for it.

• Office supplies - it's amazing how necessary a stapler or paper clips can be. Especially if you'll be filling out paper work for new local accounts and such. Having these along with pens, paper, envelopes, etc., saves so much time in having to locate the nearest stationary shop. Of course, you'll eventually find one (and other stores for other things) but the point is to make starting out as easy as possible.

• Movies and favorite TV shows downloaded to your computer while you arrange your internet and TV services. This is extremely helpful for morale on those nights when you're sitting in an empty room eating off of paper plates.

And most important, don't forget to pack your sense of adventure and sense of humor. It's a big test for what you can and can't live without but the good thing is that it's temporary and as long as there's a roof over your head and a pillow to rest on, all is truly well.

As you can tell by the photo above we've moved to KL with a few more items. It was easier to do that this time around since we knew what our apartment looked like and could justify the freight shipping based on what it would cost to buy them all over again. We lived somewhat sparingly in London but now we're ready to go the distance, even if we have to pack it all up again (or leave it) in a year or two. We've gotta love it and enjoy it right now - home sweet home.

Do you have any items that instantly make you feel at home whether moving across town or across the globe?

weekend we

  weekend weekend weekend weekend

Hi how was your weekend? I learned how to properly plant succulents, caught up with some reading, and mostly lounged and took it easy. It was definitely one of those "let's not even bother making the bed" type of weekends.

Joe had my laptop in iPhoto intensive care the entire time so I was left to watch crap TV like my first episodes of Extreme Couponers. That show is insane, and kinda sad. I couldn't help but think that they might be hurting their families more than helping with all of the processed and unhealthy "free" things they score. I was literally screaming at the TV when a mom of two claimed victory with loads of candies, microwave dinners, and sugar waters - seriously, lady?!? I don't get it. I just don't get it.

Glad my laptop is back, TV can be so bad.

 

like a pro

design-plan After nearly two months at sea, the three pieces of furniture that we shipped from London have arrived: our duck egg blue sofa, antique wood table, and bed frame + mattress (not pictured). They are home and we are now living more comfortably (yahooo!)

As soon as the movers left we began arranging, and then re-arranging, all of the pieces to see what worked best for our needs. If it weren't for the items that came with the apartment (dining table, chairs, white storage units, TV, table lamp, and lounge chair) then we'd be seriously furniture-poor in this space. And while the provided pieces wouldn't have been our first picks, they're at least simple and modern enough that they blend in nicely with our personal touches.

All that's left to buy are a few furnishings and accessories to make the living room really come together. I've been watching old episodes of the interior design show Candice Tells All on syndication and I love how she goes around with her drawing tablet, whipping up solutions to everyday design problems. Well, I have a drawing tablet, too, so I put that baby to work! We had written a list of what we'd like to buy but drawing everything onto the space was a really fun way to bring it all to life - I highly recommend it!

On our list:

• large area rug
• round coffee table to soften the straight edges of other items in the room
• tall plant next to the TV so that it's not the first thing we see when we walk through the
door
• canopy floor lamp for the corner reading/lounging nook with a round shade, again, to soften the hard edges already existing in the room
• cotton throw pillow covers. the ones from London are wool and don't work here for obvious reasons
• dining placemats - can't say that i love the sound of metal and ceramic hitting glass
• large canvas art - this might be the hardest part
• floor plant for the desk area
fun graphic print above the desk
and last but not least, a comfortable desk chair so that I can work and blog all the better :)

Now, if only Craigslist were popular here. That was the thing to do in LA...buried treasures I'll tell ya...

Either way, I can't wait to start shopping around!

Do you have any methods you use for organizing your home-decor plan of action? Or do you just go for it as you come across pieces?

simple pleasures

Maybe its the colder weather but I've been all about nesting lately. I recently bought some flowers to brighten up our rooms and I've realized that I'm much more of a single stem (or bunches of three) kind of gal. It's a great way to indulge in pretty petals more often :)

color me carpet

When you can't put colorful art on your walls to brighten up your home, colorful carpets can do the trick. We picked up the first one at Camden Market, second one in Little Arabia, and the third at Fair Share in Soho (made by Asha Handicrafts). They aren't the most amazing quality but when you're only going to use them for two years, they do the trick. Besides, we're saving up for when we go to Turkey - their carpets make my heart sing.

home sweet home...for two more months

I can't wait to move into a new flat that we can really make our own for the next year and a half. I've been calling and emailing letting/renting agents all morning and it made me realize that I haven't really posted updated photos of our current place (see move-in photos here).

Not much has changed as we are still living like college students with scarce furnishings (remember when we couldn't get the sofa we bought into our unit?). But, with a little help from IKEA, colorful rugs, and vintage accessories, we've made this crash pad feel more like home despite its inherent negatives.

Recognize the vintage finds from here, here, and here? And the five minute wall decor DIY?

happy friday!

This little but grand succulent that graces our bathroom is a perfect reminder to take it easy this weekend. Though it has grown at a fairly quick pace, it's the ease and nature of its bloom that is inspiring. So seemingly effortless and peaceful, it's simply fulfilling its purpose to create, nurture, and live. Aren't plants awesome?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

xoxo

Bird print was purchased from an artist at Unique LA in 2009. I couldn't resist bringing it with me.