Day 1025

Chandeliers? Check.





Fabulous Zebra print rug found on major sale? Check.



So no mirrored console table, but hey, a girl's got to stick to a bit of a budget, right? Two out of three ain't too bad.

A visit by my mom and sister to Cynthia East Fabrics back in LR has made us rethink some of my color choices, particularly for the kitchen and the living room/dining room, but I'll leave that a surprise until we get everything finished next week. So I'm feeling pretty good about getting in there and started next week. I still need to pick up a few small items, but that will wait until we get painted and moved in. I need to get accurate measurements before I go too crazy with my Visa.

Tomorrow I'm off to Charlotte to visit a good friend I haven't seen in some time. And bonus, I get to love on her sweet little dumpling, 8-month old baby girl all weekend long! So excited! Fingers crossed that Hurricane Danny doesn't make my weekend drive too unpleasant...he's supposed to hit the Carolina Coast sometime this weekend. Oh well, it should be a fun, relaxing weekend either way.

Day 1023

Must be the looming end of summer, the sad absence of any sort of tan on my shoulders, or the itching desire for a bit of travel, adventure and the mischief that comes with, but I've spent the past few days daydreaming of exotic locals.

I'd rather be here:





Or perhaps a quick trip to Napa:



Or a long European vacation:









Anywhere but here:

Day 1019, "Before"

Want a sneak peak at my new home? Thought I'd do a "Before" post now and then an "After" post once I am all moved in and have made it my own. I'll try my best to describe the look I'm going for here, and I'm sure you all will think I'm crazy, but TRUST ME...it's going to look fantastic when my mom and I get through with it!

Kitchen:



It's so teeny tiny, I know, but it's mine! If I live here long enough, I'll be updating this for sure, but for now just a few things to rehab this room.

1) Switching the dishwasher panel and spray painting the refrigerator white to match the oven
2) Painting the cabinets white and the walls a lush pink (don't freak, it will look fabulous)
3) Installing open shelves between the end of the counter top and the floor length cabinet for cookbooks and other knickknacks
4) Take down wine rack on wall
5) If budget allows, replacing counter tops with a brighter white or black and replacing floors with a black and white checkered tile

Imagine something like this, but in a much, much smaller space:



Bedroom:



Don't worry, the green carpet is only an area rug. Thank God. This room is a really good size, with two big closet (one is a walk-in) and a large window. My bedroom furniture is all chocolate brown, plus a white vanity and all white linens, so I'm thinking of going with a very muted grey-blue on the walls. Add white drapes, a large grey-blue oriental rug, lots of art and mirrors, and a crystal chandelier, and this room will be relaxing and romantic--the perfect place to rest my head!

Maybe a bit like this:



Bathroom:



Once again, teeny tiny, so I don't have much room to work with here. Sadly, I don't think much will change. The tile is a seafoam green, so I think I am just keeping the walls a shade of white. Then I'll add my chocolate brown shower curtain, a white bath mat and possibly a satin skirt around the sink, and presto, a new and improved bathroom.

Living Room/Dining Room:



When you walk in the front door, immediately to your left is this alcove where a desk currently is. I think that I'll go ahead and keep a desk here (but a much smaller one) and possibly place a bookcase and lots of wall art as well.



You walk right into my living room as you enter the condo and the room "L's" to the right, making space for the dining area. And there's my fabulous realtor Kira! If you're looking, I highly recommend her.



The walls will be painted a muted grey and a fresh white ceiling. This large area rug is going to be left here for now...co-op rules state that each unit must have 80% of the hardwoods covered, and since this isn't too terrible ugly, it will remain...one less thing to buy.



I think I'm changing up the layout a bit. The couch will be placed with the back facing the dining room wall and the living room wall will have the TV and possibly more bookshelves on it. Nerds like me need lots of book storage. One side of the couch will have a chair and ottoman and the side closest to the window will have two smaller side chairs (covering up the ugly AC unit). I'm thinking that a large plant needs to go where the TV currently is.



The color is off in this picture, but it shows the great windows I have! I'll get some great floor-to-ceiling drapes to decorate them, but haven't decided a color just yet.



My white tulip table with silver bamboo chairs will go in the dining area, and I'd like to place a console table to serve as a cocktail table either under the window or along the back wall. I'm going to go with a neutral seagrass rug underneath the table, hopefully with a great zebra print rug on top, and then complete the room with a great crystal chandelier.



I almost forgot, the color scheme for the main living/dining area is grey, black and white with splashes of various jewel tones everywhere. May sound a bit dull, but once it all gets put together, I think it will look really amazing. Here's a bit of inspiration I've found to complement my design ideas:











So there it is. I have a lot of work to do to get it to where I'd like to be, but with the help of my mom (who's done all the real labor here), I think it will turn out just fabulous!

Day 1019

August recess...the time of year we get to sit back, take a breathe and if we're lucky, really reflect and admire the amazing opportunities we have as Congressional staffers. We are witnesses to history, working (and sometimes living) in the building where our Nation's leaders have worked for a better America and, at times, changed the course of history.

This morning I got to work a bit early, so walked across the Capitol to the House side to get breakfast. This is what I saw:





Not a soul in sight, just me and these amazing rooms in the United States Capitol where so much of our history is made. Everyday, hundreds, maybe thousands of tourists make their way through these two halls. They glance at the portraits, marvel at the Rotunda Dome, and shuffle there way from one chamber to the other. But I wonder if they really get to take in the beauty and history, as I did this morning. Just me and the walls talking. What stories they can tell. I am incredibly lucky to have such an experience.

Day 1017

Since the Senate is in August recess, I have a lot of downtime at work. My typical day includes reading two to three newspapers and completing each sudoku and crossword puzzles within, upkeeping the blog (three days in a row, high five to me), tracking my Weight Watchers points (must get disciplined again), making "to do" lists and scratching off items, searching online for one billion things I really don't need, and answering approximately three phone calls per day, all of which are wrong numbers.

I know, I know, what a tough job I have come August. The good news is, I am about to move into my new home, and with that comes new furniture! Well, at least a few new pieces to add to my collection. Yesterday was spent going over my budget, drawing various room layouts to ponder and spending hours upon hours digging through design blogs for ideas.

Now that is completed, here comes the hard part: finding affordable options for what my heart desires most. What might that be? Read on, and please let me know if you have any insight on the following.

1) Mirrored console table



Love, love, love everything about this room, but I am DYING for the mirrored console table most of all. I have searched EVERYWHERE for this fabulous piece, but alas, all I seem to find is mirrored end tables or billion dollar dressers. This one is at the top of my buying list.

2) Crystal chandeliers





Love both the clear and black crystals! I actually want two, one for above the dining room table and another for my bedroom. I have been browsing greatchandeliers.com and they seem to have pretty good deals, but need to know if anyone out there has actually purchased from them and are pleased with their products. The lighting fixtures in my place are pretty terrible and have to go, and I think this will add that touch of drama and romance a single girl like me must have in her first place.

3) Faux zebra rug



When I was growing up, I had a similar rug to this in my bedroom, except instead of zebra, it was cow print. Since my hardwood floors have to be 80% covered with rugs or carpeting (co-op rules), I am thinking about putting down large seagrass rugs (economically chic) and then this down on top to add some pizazz.

For now, these are the top three items on my "must have" list, so any direction in where to find these fabulous items is much appreciated.

And the search continues...

Day 1016

I should probably start a quote book from all those darn-funny things Jack comes up with. Like on Sunday, right after the fam picked me up from the airport, Joyce said to me, "You know what I need to do real quick? Go get my tires checked." Without skipping a beat, Jack says, "You know what you need to do Shawna? Get married."

Funny kid, huh? But wait, there's more.

Last night, out of the blue, Jack starts singing, "All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. Shawna this is you. Put your hands up, oh oh oh oh oh."

Geez Jack, way to rub it in there. Can't wait to hear how he'll remind me of my single status again tomorrow.

Day 1015

This morning as I was getting ready for work, Jack came into the bathroom and said, "You know what? Today's going to be a good day. I can just feel it."

You know what? He was right.

First of all, he triggered one of my all-time favorite songs to get stuck in my head, "Today is a Good Day" by Ice Cube. Yes, I love Gangster Rap, what of it?

What's better than singing that over and over again? My morning walk/run? That was nice...not too hot, not too much wheezing. The absense of the phone ringing at work? Also nice, but not as exciting as this: I am now officially a homeowner!

I'm pretty sure I have already told everyone I know, but I'm really so excited that feel the news is due for a repeat here. Now I'm just ready to get in there, start painting, moved in and decorating. That will have to wait a few weeks though...I don't get the keys until September.

I think tonight I'll celebrate with sashimi and a glass of bubbly. Just one though...I need tomorrow morning to be just as good as today, and that starts with no morning headache.

Day 1012

So a lot has been going on in the three weeks since I've posted. Judge Sotomayor was confirmed by the Senate as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. In that work period, the Senate also passed a number of bills that were tough to get through--meaning many long nights for myself and my coworkers.

I also caught up with old friends, and celebrated the last weekend of a very dear friend who moved from Washington to Arkansas. Two friends moved away this summer...seems like a chapter has closed.

But a new one is beginning. All week I've been in Little Rock, and after a quick trip to the lake for a wedding, have been catching up with all my very best of friends in Arkansas. I've met new babies, toasted future ones and mourned the loss of one whom I still can't believe isn't with us. The morning I spent at my dear friend's house was so nice, so peaceful and gave me so much hope and strength, set by her example, that trusting in God is the only way. The time I spent with all my friends this week has made me see just how special each and everyone in my life is, and how truly blessed we all are, no matter what the circumstances.

On top of that I have been finalizing paperwork and getting everything ready to close on my condo on Monday. I can't even believe that in just 3 days, I will own a home of my own. Mom, Marissa and I have also been running around looking for last minute ideas on color, furniture, rugs, fabric, etc. I must say, I think when we finally get this all fixed up and moved in, it is going to look fabulous.

So with all the running around and work load and stress about getting to closing, I have come down with some sort of ugly, energy-draining sickness. Again. Tomorrow I'm going to get a massage...hopefully that will help some...but I really feel like I have mono all over again. I can't move, I'm so tired and my throat couldn't hurt more. Why oh why does this always sneak up on me at the worst times? My body is obviously telling me to figure out my stress. Guess I should start listening. At least I have a few more weeks of August recess to do just that.