The marathon shopping trip is finally done!
I have shopped myself ragged this week, and didn’t really have the perfect car for it. We jammed in as much as we could, and I actually did end up with my knees against the dash and lampshades in my lap at one point!
On that trip from Marshall’s, we bought so much for the apartment, that we broke a table leg trying to get it all in the car.
Oh well, at least it feels less "new" now!
All this newness is hard for me. I love the aged patinas and well worn edges of the treasures I find at 2nd hand places and flea markets.
See what I mean?? It doesn’t look like me at all. If we hadn’t brought these lamps from home, this room would have no personality at all.
We also have Sugarwing’s photos everywhere. I found inexpensive frames at Michaels and IKEA for the 8x10s of the baby to cheer up the bare white walls.
And of course, we have pictures of Ry, Adam and the cute little hippy chick around the room too.
My husband didn’t want any clutter, stuff, or knicky knacky fun things around. And since we’ll have this place temporarily, and we are doing it on a budget, I had to agree–no matter how much it hurt– to not fill up the rooms with pretties!!
Like I said, the lamps my friend, Shanna created sure do save the room from total boringness!! One sits on a cute little $12 table from Marshall’s, the other is on a $7 wooden TV tray from Wal-Mart. The TV tray is behind the couch, so doesn’t even show. I certainly didn’t want to spend much on a table that no one saw.
Rich brought one of my paintings, this was done from the balcony of our hotel room during a vacation to Destin, Florida a few years ago. Hanging it is a reminder of a romantic and lovely week we spent together.
I thought it was touching that he packed it.
Another homey touch, is this photo I found at Homegoods for $18. It reminds me of the time we spend on the lake back in Kansas.
I found a serene, blue curtain on clearance there for $9 and a matching runner for $14. The rug is chenille, and very fluffy, a touch of luxury in the plain bathroom.
One totally unnecessary, but fun thing I bought for the bath was this sparkly soap dish.
This is the guest bath, and I will probably use it when I come to stay, so I had to have ONE girly thing in the apartment!!
I saw this large picture, done totally in Glitter! I wanted it, for the sheer gaudiness of it, but knew it wouldn’t be a good idea. Isn’t it fun, though? I wish I could have done the apartment in funky fun things and make it a great get away place for us.
Instead, I was a good girl and decorated the place all neutral, comfy and BLAH.
Actually, it isn’t bad and I shouldn’t complain. You’ve seen my house and know that my poor husband has to live knee deep in roses. I can stand macho decor when I come to stay in the apartment with him, I can be brave and make it through one week a month with out my pretties around me!!
Especially if I have plenty of photos of my fairy grand baby to stare at! She is prettier than any rose.
We bought a couple of lamps on clearance from Marshall’s for around $60 for the two. And this frame was only $6.
The one on my side of the bed has beads, so that makes me happy! This little table was another Marshall’s purchase for $11.
I bought the sheets, fleecy, soft blanket and quilted cover there too. The cover is a neutral tan, all the rest are calm white.
Its almost like a hotel room.
Rich picked out the furniture for the bedroom himself. He spent a bit more than I would have, and got the wrong size bed frame, but it really is a nice set. He has good taste. And I think the room could actually be nice if I could paint the walls a deep rich color to compliment it all. 
We brought this from home too- a welcome mat that makes us feel right at home. A Kansas University Jayhawk will greet us everytime we walk in the door.
The main furniture we bought last month, and had delivered this week. We’ve spent a lot of time waiting for cable and delivery guys. The rest of the time was shopping-shopping-shopping. It takes a lot to fill up an empty apartment!!!!! I’ve been to Wal-mart 4 times, Target 3, Best Buy 3 Marshall’s twice , Home Goods, KMart twice, furniture stores, mattress stores, grocery stores, not to mention buying a new wardrobe at Macy’s for my husband to start his new job! (he runs golf courses and all of his shirts had logos of the old company, not the country clubs from this one)
I’ve managed to do it all on about $6,000 so far. That includes stocking the cabinets, buying shampoo, nail clippers, coffee maker, trash cans, new clothes, shower curtains, every little detail of starting a new place. Whew.
I drove from place to place looking for sales and comparing prices. My husband says I might have spent more on gas than stuff.
I didn’t include meals out in this. We ate dinner out every night, and that has been wonderful. Some was on an expense account, but not all. This mural is from a Texas Road House we ate at tonight, I loved seeing the founding fathers BBQ ing!
I can’t believe we are done. There are two more deliveries next week, but I am going home tomorrow and Rich will handle the rest. I am worn out and slept for about 12 hours last night, did I mention I have had a sinus infection for a few weeks now and haven’t had time to go to the doctor about it?
I look forward to getting home and seeing my Sugarwings and Dorkies and pretties that I like to keep all around me. I hate leaving Rich behind here, but have tried to make it as homey as possible for him and I’ll come back to visit a lot and he’ll be in Kansas a lot too. The next year won’t be easy, but I am lucky to have a wonderful man that works so hard and puts his family first and has landed this dream job that he deserves so much.
And of course, I am lucky to have my blog friends who put up with my running on and on about everything I do and keep me company while Rich is away!
I’ll draw for my December giveaway winner as soon as I get home, and will be working on some projects, so will actually have something pretty to show you instead of ugly, over stuffed recliners and macho stuff! Thanks for your patience and for being there for me!
Wow Karla, you have been busy.
At least the appartment will be easy for Rich to keep clean and I guess it is all modern and macho. He has lots of lovely photos and your painting to remind him of family and home.
You will love getting home to your pretties.
Alison
your special TOUCHES make it home…i can FEEL the soul in it!
hugz
Love that you ‘accidentally’ ‘distressed’ the table leg, lol! Glad to see you back in Blogland!
Whew – I’m tired just from reading about all you did! Kind of gave me flashbacks of moving my firstborn to Illinois a couple of years ago. We went with a small uhaul trailer, bought everything else he needed when we got there (first apartment) and drove back all in a week. (850 miles each way) Now, 3 years later all that shopping is in my garage – the boy moved back home last January!
Love the close-up pic of your fairy grandbaby (on the bedside table I think) Know you will be excited to see her – and she will be excited to see you too!
Oh my gosh, you’ve worn me out just by reading about all your shopping. If it had been me, I know I would have had a chain store melt down and probably would have running screaming from Walmart “Don’t make me push another cart”!
That was a lot of work done.
I hope you can get to feeling better soon. I had sinus surgery years ago due to infection that wouldn’t go away for about a year, so take care.
My husband won’t let me have lots of roses and pink around and he would love your apartment there. Maybe it’s the golf course thing. My husband worked on golf courses for years and was even a superintendent for a small one here for a while. His body got pretty beat up…but he loved those mowers and equipment.
Anyway,
Be well and take care,
Mahala
What fun Karla! Take it easy on the furniture tho 😉
xo
Mary
The macho stuff looks really good…and, if nothing else, it’s much less dusting. I love the accent tables from Marshall’s. I think I need to go there. This is going to be an exciting year for you.
Wow, you’ve been on a shopping marathon! I’m glad you’re settling in even though it’s not quite home yet. I’m guessing we’ll see a few more “Karla touches” around the place before too long. 🙂
Ok not your style but you have made it look nice with the lamps and family photo’s.
Will be a different year for sure.
Take Care
Rachael:)
so- the adventure begins… Feel better soon- GO to the doctor!
Karla, you have done a great job. I look forward to your return and seeing more of your pretties.
Hugs karen
Wow! You have done a fabulous job Karla! It’s so hard to start from scratch. I take it that you have found your way around with no problems! Good for you to find all the bargain places!
You did a great job for him, and what a reasonable budget! Love the little touches of home, afterall that’s what you both will like the best 🙂
I think the apartment looks great! Green is my favorite color (next to pink) and I love the couches and the sparkly green picture you didn’t buy! Also laughed at the picture of George Washington wearing a “Kiss the cook” apron from your evening out. Love the lamps your friend made, too. I really do love stained glass and I have several pieces myself.
Oh Karla,
What a huge undertaking and all on the heels of the holidays! You’ve done an amazing job 🙂
Hugs,
Dena
You did a great job. I actually like the furniture. The family pictures make a huge difference.
~elaine~
You did a great job on the apt and my DH would so love a job like that! Golf…omg!
He would absolutely move to the ends of the earth for that job!
Have a sfe trip home…
Priscilla
Rich will be very cozy in the apartment and with all the family pictures and reminders it will be comforting to him after a long day at work & travel. The recliner isn’t actually that bad & he did a great job picking out the bedroom furniture. I wish you both many Blessings and much love in your temporary home over the next year.
I think it all looks wonderful and you did such a great job…or, should I say, you BOTH did a great job!
He will do just fine I know.
You have been so busy and worked so hard! Fighting a sinus infection too! You must be exhausted! Get some rest. You have so earned it!
Happy New year dear Karla!
Hugs,
Sue
I hope you get to sit and relax soon !
You have worked so hard, didnt know shopping could take so much out of a person !
You did a wonderful job, maybe I’ll call you when I redecorate!
Take Care,
Stephanie
Wonderful pictures, I’m a “semi-professional” shopper (for my gift store)too. I can shop in Madison, Wi at the Mart for 2 days and then hit every little out of the way place all the way home (about 4 hours if I just drove down the highway like a normal person without stopping around every curve.). I don’t get tired of it…EVER:) There are very few people that I enjoy shopping with, and I only enjoy those few because they like to take off by themselves and leave me alone. I hate someone tapping their toes waiting for me. The Atlanta Mart was fabulous! Even if the parking attendant tried to rip off $50 in change. We just let go of our Dodge Caravan for a VW Jetta. BIG mistake. No room for stuff. This car has to go SOON. Ugh!
Savannah Georgia is my all time favorite place in the world, (bring a pocket full of quarters for parking). Lots of hand-made and junque stores. I love Fancy Junque’!
Just like Priscilla said, my husband would love to work at a golf course too! He was a Print Shop owner, then Hardware Store manager and also part-time Firefighter who contracted a rare lung disease that Firefighters get. He was blessed with a lung transplant 2 years ago. It’s hard but God is good.
Enjoy every moment 🙂
Pam
That looks great and I LOVE the lamps. I am so drawn to anything Tiffany style. I wish we had a Marshall’s. I do a lot of my thrifting at Ross, which may be close to the same. Good job! Nice to see your picture too.
Everything looks great.
Karla, it’s looking great!
I love your blog and Im new to blogging myself, Ive been tagged so Im tagging you! List 7 weird/random facts about yourself, see my blog for details!! xx
I think you did a great job with what you had and found! The apartment does have a homey feel to it with those gorgeous lamps.
Karla
What a great job you did! At least it will be fun being the girlfriend come to visit the bachelor pad! Good luck!
We should all take bets on how long it takes you to fu-fu up the place. LOL What and adventure you’re having.
Life is not easy or cheap. All that sacrifice of you will be a great contribution to the family.
Karla, You did a wonderful job! It’s so sweet how sprited you’ve been through it all, what a great and giving wife! Take care and get some rest so you don’t get any sicker! Love, Lori
Karla, What a nice comfy “home” away from “home” you created for your husband. Whenever your in town and have time to play while hubby is at work, shot me an email. I know we don’t know each other, but I live 4o minutes south of Balitmore and I could show you all the fun Antique shops in the area. Shopping always makes things better 😉 Theresa, Clarksburg, Md
I’m worn out merely reading your post! Truly your temporary abode is more homey and comfy looking than many permanent homes I’ve seen.
Isn’t it kind of fun though when you’ve shopped to the point that you’re driving with stuff piled up all around you? A little thrill?
Looks perfect Karla! You know how to shop girl!
Carol
I have a feeling some of your pretties will end up coming out with you eventually!! If you ever feel lonely, I am always here to cheer you up!!! 🙂