Pet Perks: Meet Sophie

                Sophie is my little bundle of joy, my cat. She is six years old. I am an avid cat lover. I always joke that if I didn’t have my boyfriend I would be a crazy cat lady. I got Sophie pretty much as soon as I graduated from college and moved back home. I wanted a cat in college but couldn’t have one because I lived in the dorms in college. So I ended up waiting until I graduated college and then I was given a cat from my best friend’s boyfriend (now husband).

Sophie was living as an outdoor cat but I quickly changed that. I was living at my parents house for about 6 months and my parents had several cats. Sophie can often have trouble with other pets. To that end I have only had one pet during my 6 years on my own. However, I may consider getting a dog someday. 

                Sophie has been a joy to have in my life. It has been so nice to see her sitting in the window to greet me at the end of a long day, or to see her cuddle up at the end of the bed with me on the weekends. She loves to play and like most cats, will play with items that I don’t spend money on, rather than on toys that I purchase. I do not purchase toys for her anymore. She loves the sun and I often call her my sunflower. . She also likes to cuddle up with me in bed at the end of a long day.

                One of my biggest worries was that Sophie would not like my boyfriend. Unlike most cats, you can’t pet her. She will try and claw or bite you if she doesn’t know you. I don’t pet her unless she wants me to and comes up to me. I was worried my boyfriend wouldn’t adjust to her, but I have him feed her once a day and also take care of her. She truly does love him as much as she loves me.

                They really say that animals make you feel so much better. I always think that if I didn’t have my cat, I don’t think I would have been able to live on my own. When I lived alone it was nice to have her greet me when I got home. They say that having animals makes you live longer and this could not be truer. When I am having a bad day all I have to do is take some time to cuddle with my little monster. She makes it all better. Do you have a pet that you love? How do they make you feel better when your upset? 

A Heavenly Home: My Relaxing Nook

          I am a true introvert and a homebody. If someone asked me what my perfect day would entail, it would include a cup of tea, a book, some fuzzy PJ's, and the kitty nearby. I decided to make a little tiny space for myself to relax on the weekends or at the end of a long day. I decided to purchase a chair that I placed in our bedroom by the window. I enjoy this spot because when it rains, I can hear the rain in my cozy little corner. I will often bring a cup of tea over and my phone and relax for a little bit. I like to journal about my day in my little chair. I feel safe and at home in this little spot. 

My cat is currently residing in my little relaxing nook. This little area reminds me of OrganizedJen’s loftice, or office in a loft. Because I share an office with my boyfriend, I wanted to create a small corner of our bedroom that I could feel relaxed and comfortable. Originally, my boyfriend’s nightstand was over next to the chair, but I asked him if we would mind if we switched sides so that I could have access to my lotions, potions, and balms when I am sitting in my little chair. Do you have a little space that you call your own? How do you use it?

A Heavenly Home: What’s in My Nightstand?

                A home should make you feel safe and comfortable. When you crawl into bed at the end of a long day, you should be ready to relax for a bit before falling asleep. I put a lot of items in my nightstand that I use frequently before bed or when I wake up in the morning. All of these things help me feel comfortable and feel as if I have everything I need. 

                First, and most importantly, I have a lamp on top of my nightstand. I have the sleep Lavender Vanilla Lotion and Pillow Mist sitting on top of my nightstand. I like to keep the rest of my nightstand pretty clear because I like to only see “pretty” things. 

                 In my nightstand I have a variety of products. My most used item is my Kindle Fire (stay tuned for a later review post) and my lip balms. I get very chapped lips so I have a variety of lip products.  I have Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter from Lush and I have a few other lotions. I also have some pens and notepads and post-its. I like to make notes before I go to bed. I also have a journal (which I hope to get back into writing in before bed). I have remotes, a flashlight and a coaster.  I frequently will have a drink of water in a sealed container on my nightstand so that my cat and I do not knock it over and spill it. 

                I will admit that my nightstand can often get cluttered. I am NOT a fan of drawers; while I find they are a necessity, I often end up piling items on top of each other and forget they are there.

                Lastly, my nightstand has a variety of books that I enjoy reading or haven’t yet read. For example I have Bobbi Brown’s Makeup Manual, Lauren Conrad’s Beauty Book, and a variety of magazines and books that I like to read. My physical magazine collection is slowly dwindling due to my Kindle Fire, which helps eliminate clutter. I often fall asleep with a variety of things on the nightstand but put them all away before heading out for the day.

                When putting things in your nightstand, think about what you really need. I try very hard to NOT use my nightstand as a junk drawer and remove items that I no longer need. I believe that your surroundings should make you feel comfortable and relaxed. What do you put in your nightstand? How do you keep it organized? I am always looking for new tips to organize my small spaces. 

A Heavenly Home: Decorating for a Couple

                I have lived on my own for almost 10 years. From experiences in dorms, to a basement, to a one bedroom apartment and beyond, I have had many opportunities to decorate my home.  As a homebody, I have enjoyed the process of decorating my new place and making it my home.

 As I grew, I began to be obsessed with everything purple. I had that purple v-tech phone. You remember that popular gel one? I loved it! I loved decorating my homes and making them mine, comfortable and pretty. I spent a lot of time making my room look more pretty than functional (stay tuned for a later post on functional versus pretty decorating).

                A few months ago, I came up with an interior design dilemma, I moved in with a man. I had to change my way of thinking when it came to interior design. I had to get rid of all the purple in my house and make it comfortable and gender neutral for both of us. My boyfriend is not very picky regarding to how our house is decorated as long as he has access to technology and his needs.

                When I first rented my studio, I purchased basic pieces.  To be honest, I would have loved to have a purple high heel chair, but I had to think seriously about it.  I wanted to get classic pieces that would last for a long time. I decided to purchase girly items that can be easily changed: pillows, artwork, sheets, comforters etc. I have to admit it was a bit sad to say goodbye to some of those pieces when I moved in with my boyfriend, but I often remind myself that we change and grow in life and sometimes our needs change. I didn’t get rid of all my purple and girly items. Some are in my bathroom; some are in my closet for guests (such as my blanket from my college dorm) and others were donated to a thrift store.

                The hardest part of living with someone else is the art of compromise. I believe men are taught at a young age to go with the flow when it comes to designing a house. Or they must just not really care as long as they have a comfortable place to put up their feet at the end of a long day. We worked as a team to purchase red pillows and very generic pieces that we both like. Our apartment is not done yet, but it looks more like us rather than like a girly girl lives there.  My boyfriend is very patient with me as I move around decorations on our coffee table and puts up with my OCD tendencies such as putting away remotes when not in use.  

Living Room for Two                  Living Room for One 

Bed Linens for Two                      Bed Linens for One

 If you are just beginning to move out on your own, consider purchasing neutral pieces so that you can take them with you as your life changes and you grow. Also, enjoy this time to make it YOUR home. It won’t be long before you live with a roommate or a boyfriend or spouse.  If you’re just beginning to move in with someone, remember to compromise. Do everything you can to make it a home that you both want to live in. Pick out pillows, art and linens together.  Take your time and enjoy the process of finding new pieces that fit both your personalities. Remember it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

Have you ever had trouble decorating for two? What did you do? Enjoy decorating your home!