SMS: Super Mom Syndrome

I recently signed up for Apartment Therapy's January Cure putting rather high expectations on myself.    We definitely have been putting our fair share into organizing our tiny abode in preparation for baby (Holy Heck!  Am I 35 weeks already!?), but by no means am I following the guidelines or email notifications that Apartment Therapy has been sending me (in which I signed up for).  On the other hand, I think that you should!  It's really a great tool, but there are WAY too many distractions and baby preparations going down in this apartment to seriously follow the this year's January Cure.  Being a perfectionist, I can't help but be a bit disappointed that I was not able to meet this expectation.  News Flash to Self:  I am not a Super Mom nor Super Woman for that matter. 

Now let's all take a moment to breathe, shall we?

If you follow my Facebook page, you will recognize this cute lil' cloud (available here).  This is one of the inspiration pieces I have found while designing our Sunshine themed nursery.  You can read more about our nursery inspiration here.  

This weekend we managed to attend a pregnancy preparation course... WOWZA!  The videos I watched.  Nuff said.  Thank God I now have this glider to come home to... in which I will be sure to practice my pelvic tilt rocking and breathing exercises.  

And here's where it gets real, Y'all!  This was and practically still is our current state of the room we refer to as "the nursery."  Oh, yes.  As hard as it is to tell, it's coming along!  Jason, the hubs / soon to be new dad, has been doing a great job applying layers of perfection into this massive piece of furniture.  

It's hard to tell now, but we are using Behr's Nocturnal Sea.  

Also, if you look really hard, you may even spy a crib.  More on that later.  5 WEEKS (at least I hope)!!!

My Little Sunshine...

This weekend was supposed to be full-on baby preparation.  Meaning, get the crap out of the nursery and organize or else TRASH (I would donate it... don't hate) everything!!  How in the world did we accumulate so much anyways?  Prior to our big move, we donated many items for the sake of not having to haul our junk across the eastern coastline.  Somehow it seems like we have more stuff!  I miss our basement.  At least we could hide our mess.  This is forcing me to become a minimalist. Something I aspire to be, but my parents could potentially be on Hoarders!  Just kidding, Mom.  Well, maybe.  

I decided that the best way to spend this Saturday was to organize the nursery in my head rather than  physically removing our crap from the nursery only to stuff it in some closet somewhere in which would more than likely be moved 15 more times in efforts to "organize."  Sorry for the massive run-on.  

I'm a visual learner.  Just looking at a mess gives me anxiety.  Where to even begin!?  Do you feel me?  For me organizing my ideas on paper, or in this case by creating a mood board, helps me know what steps to take.  Starting with the end in mind really is motivating!  Here's the direction I plan to take: 

Click on the image above for a better view.

Resources: 

Window Treatments - Santa Maria Desert Flower by Waverly

Vintage Lucite Lamps - Thrift store find

Vintage cocktail table - Philly curb alert

Vintage Faux Bamboo chest (not this exact one) - Atlanta Craigslist find

Lambskin rug - Atlanta Craigslist find

"Bee Happy" print - Spread the Love (Etsy store now closed)

Crib sheet - Rosenberry Rooms Petite Dots in Navy

Crib - Jenny Lind DaVinci Crib

Smile pillow - Pillow Talk

Crib skirt - Doodle Stripe Lime / Pure Organic Bright Pink by P. Kaufmann

Unclutter: Organizing Your Closet

We can't all have a Carrie Bradshaw closet,

...but a girl can dream, right!?

This weekend for me was all about order.  It's amazing how much one can accumulate after three years!  Prior to moving to Philadelphia, Jason and I had an enormous yard sale selling nearly everything we owned. We've probably accumulated three times what we started with.  What gives!?  How does this happen?

Having order is a daily task, or if you choose not to make it one, you're summoned to be a hoarder. 
Therefore, I am forbidding myself to buying anymore flea market finds, must have dresses, and that extra pair of shoes that I just can't live without!  Simply stepping foot into Target is dangerous!

Before I buy, I must unclutter!

On a recent trip to NYC to see Jason's family, I learned of a book to help with all this clutter, Unclutter Your Life in One Week.  Whoa, a miracle all in one tiny package.  Jason's cousins, like us, live in a tiny one bedroom apartment, but in Brooklyn... with a BABY!!  How do people do it!?

Living in a small space has definitely challenged my thinking as to what is a necessity verses a really strong desire.  I really don't need those shoes.  So this weekend, it began....

All contents from within my closet were ripped out an thrown onto the bed into a giant organized mess!  Damn, where did all these clothes come from?

Separating the haves from the have-nots.

What is to be consigned and what is to be dumped (or donated, if you're like me and can't bare the thought of some perfectly (although used) item going to the landfill to waste away.

The last thing I want to do is bore you with a generic "How to organize your closet" post, but I will tell you some things that I found most beneficial:

1.) Think quick!  Have I worn this in the last year?  If not, donate.

2.) Don't hold on to something for too long.  You will grow an emotional attachment to it. 

3.) Order people, we need order.  Organize by item, then by color.  Dresses go with dresses.

4.) Use the same hangers.  It saves space and looks neater.  Wire hangers must die!  Get rid of them now!

5.) Use what you have! Like a bookshelf for a shoe rack!  Perfect. 

And Tada!

I'm no Carrie Bradshaw, but for a married couple in one tiny space I feel pretty proud!  And check out my shoes!  Before they were all thrown together in a hamper (shoe blasphemy)!  Not ideal at all!  I would have to dump the hamper out every morning in order to find a match.  Now they have their very own happy space.

For more tips on how to become an unclutterer visit this cool site.  My favorite section is Weekend Projects.

Tiny Apartment Party Planning

It's Friday!  Do the Friday Dance!  The blogging hiatus is over my friends.  

Let me tell you, birthday planning... it ain't easy.  But daaang, Gina!  I pulled it off. 

In actuality, I owe it all to this girl, Aisha.  This woman is a goddess!  I cannot thank her enough!  The star of the show and not to be mistaken by the curly head brunette on the left... that would be my husband.  

CONFESSION: I was more concerned with the decor of my apartment than the birthday party. 

Note: white shelf, portrait paintings, large coral frame, small yellow frame, white bamboo frame, and hanging basket.  One hour prior to the party there stood one boring blank wall and a tiny black shelf.  

Yes, I am crazy, but the wall had to have some attention (for the sake of the party of course).  And now, without further adieu, my highly sought after tiny apartment party planning secrets.  

Party Planning Secrets: 

1.) Seating: Bring in the extra chairs.  That beach chair stuffed in the closet deserves some company and storage bench serves a second purpose.

2.) Stations: Setting up stations and letting guest serve themselves will ease your duty as host.  Set-up a drink station with ice, cups, lemons, limes, and a variety of beverages.  Food is not meant just for the kitchen.  Hors d'oeuvres should be available wherever guest tend to mingle.

3.) Become a Wholesale Club Member: Trust me on this one!  BJ's, Sam's Club, Costco.  It doesn't matter.  Often these types of clubs offer trial memberships.  Take advantage of it!  My free 60 day trial membership was well worth hauling the restaurant size quantities up the stairs.  Not to mention the discounts!!  BJ's offers a one day pass.

4.) Humor: What's a party without a little quirkiness?  For Jason's party we used our chalkboard wall to write special, funny, and even a bit unusual birthday messages.  The guest loved it, and it allowed me to meet and greet while guest got their draw on.

Enough, about Jason... it's now my birthday month!

Happy Party Planning!!!

How Bout that Bookspace?

I once read to treat each shelf as its on individual display unit.  I find this to be true, however, this can be a design crisis when you (ehmm...your husband) have soo many books you're unwilling to part with.  Leaves little or no space for accessories.  How fortunate for you if you are one a the rare ones who's able to achieve this look with your current collection.

Photo via Shopstopstore

I {heart} this eclectic look of designer Michelle McCormick's book nook.  Such a rich and cozy atmosphere. I could definitely down some coffee in this corner.

Photo: Inspiration Resource via Graindit

Take note: when organizing a bookshelf keep in mind that books don't all have to be in the same direction.  Add some character and mix things up.  Try hanging art on the outside of shelves.

Photo: Trendey

And for all of those who aren't afraid of color, paint the inside of the shelves a contrasting color from the walls to make the shelves pop!  I loooove this room!!

Photo: House and Home via BlyDesign

For a really dramatic look, go for a floor to ceiling curtain.  This allows for you to close off or show off the space when desired.  Take advantage of limited space by building up the wall with large units.

Photo: Stagetecture

Since here at The Tiny Abode we are all about apartment style and tiny abode living, while being sure to incorporate functionality (when necessary), we chose bookshelves that suited smaller homes too. 

Finding spaces to store books can be challenging in apartments (that's an understatement).  I love how these books are stored in the kitchen cabinets and organized by color to create a visually pleasing statement.

Photo: Elle Decor via Chic Geek Design

Finally, we are ALL about multi-purpose / multi-functional rooms.  Here the dining space also serves as an office / library.  Perfect for a one bedroom apartment dweller.

 Photo: Adam Friedberg via Arch Inspire

Here again the room serves as an office / library / living space.  Like the photo below, we also used our bookshelf as a room divider.  You can read about it in our Creating Spaces post.  It does wonders for our living / dining / office... whateve space.

Photo: Domino via Dept.of the Interior

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I {heart}Design!
XoXO