Archive for the 'Apartment' Category

A BIG thanks to everyone who went to Apartment Therapy and voted for our apartment! I was completely surprised last week when I got the email that said we made it to the semi-finals! Our apt. is very “cozy and functional” compared to some of the very, very modern entries this year…but your votes did it! This time around, there are judges who determine the winners, but they are taking all of the comments into account for their final decision.

If you have time, I’d be honored if you would jump on over to AT and leave a little comment telling what you like about our apartment. They will announce the winners on Thursday. Thanks for playing!

I adore Apartment Therapy and have always wanted to enter one of their contests. So, with this last apartment, I finally did! Our apartment was listed today…in the running for the “Coolest Smallest Apartment” for 2007. Click here to check it out and vote! Pretty please? Can I bribe you with promises of posting more often? tee hee!

Thanks everyone!

“Whenever I go on a trip, I think about all the homes I’ve had & I remember how little has changed about what comforts me.”

-Brian Andreas (Story People)

Glowing, cozy rooms. Comfortable couches. Hot tea and cookies. Thai food. My Bible. Curling up with a good book or magazine. Great fellowship with friends. These are just a few of the things that “comfort” me…and like the quote says, those things have never changed. No matter how many times we move and how much “stuff” I get rid of, as long as I have a few wonderful things, I am comforted.We are now settled in our new apartment and whenever we are there, I am comfortable and content. A calmness comes over me when I sit in our living room and drink it all in. Here are more photos…come take the tour!

However, none of these good feelings can compare to the comfort and peace I receive from Jesus Christ. But so often, I look to the “created comforts” of this world to bring me those feelings…my home, my rituals, my friends and family, my hobbies. While I adore living in a space that I love and in a town that I love…would I still be contented and praise Him in different circumstances? I’ve been pondering that lately. I have a feeling that this is why my emotions start to go crazy when my house is a mess and things are in disarray. A clean house is always nice, but I tend to let it affect me deeper than it should. Can I be full of joy even as I clean up the mess?

True joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness can come and go with circumstances and moods…but joy comes from Christ. Knowing that ultimately, no matter what happens in my life, I will spend eternity with Him. Paul had this mastered…here is what he wrote as he was sitting in jail.

“I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

Philippians 4:12 (The Message)

I am so encouraged by this verse…and I like this particular paraphrase a lot. I cannot say that I have conquered the “wants” in my life. I have found that when I am not spending time meditating on God’s word…those wants seem to multiply out of control. When I am disciplined and reading daily, I am better able to demonstrate self-control (or Jesus-control!) over my desires and wants…especially for material things.

Knowing that we can have joy despite what is going on around us is transforming. It frees me from the worry, wanting, and fear that come with daily life. I am enjoying the amazing blessings that God has given us…but I know that I can’t place my hope or confidence in my apartment, relationships, or my things. My comfort and hope comes from Him.

The stats:

From 1667 square feet TO 478 square feet
From 3 bedrooms TO 1 bedroom.
From a table that could seat 8 TO a table that seats 3.
From a 2-story house TO a 3rd floor walk-up.
From 5 closets TO 2 closets.
From $230 a month utility bill to $21 a month.
From a large, adorable, high mortgage house TO a little, adorable, cheap apartment.

We are blissfully happy in our new apartment. The smallness. The ease. The togetherness. We love it. We have gotten rid of so much WEIGHT this last year. Debt, belongings, household responsibilites. Every time I walk up 3 flights of stairs, I am reminded of our choices and how happy I am about it. Even with a 27 lb. toddler on my back. Now that’s happy. Another great thing is that Matt is completely on the same page and loves it as much as I do.

Things I LOVE about living smaller:
*Everything has a place.
*It forces me to be creative with our use of space.
*I donate things regularly to clear more space.
*I don’t have to wonder where Bella is.
*I don’t have to yell downstairs to Matt.
*I only have things that I love around me.
*I feel light and free.
*I am not overwhelmed with housework.
*I have a smaller ecological footprint.

Things I LOVE about our apartment:
*The sound of the wind through the trees outside our windows.
*The feel of community. I have great neighbors.
*Old brick building = great sound barrier.
*Brand new laundry machines in a bright basement.
*Everything is bright.
*We are so close to everything.
*It’s a beautiful historic neighborhood…great for going on walks.
*It’s so fast to the freeway.
*It takes less time to get to my parent’s house on the other side of town.

Ok, c’mon Sara…you can’t love EVERYTHING! Fine…you’re right, there are a few things that I wish were different.
*I can’t paint the walls.
*Sometimes if people are smoking outside, you can smell it upstairs.
*My shower needs more water pressure.
*There isn’t an easy recycling option.

That’s it. I pretty much love it. I even love the on street parking. Don’t mind it a bit. It’s fun…and I never have to park more than a 1/2 block away.

I’ve created a little photo tour for you. There are lots of notes on the photos. you just have to “mouse over” the image to get them to appear. You can also leave comments (hint hint…I love comments). SO…come on up to the third floor and have a cup of tea with me!

I came across this fabulous apartment…and I just had to share it. It’s such a happy place…I could just move right in. I love the style, the colors, the light. Gorgeous.

I found it while I was browsing around Apartment Therapy. This site is a great resource for those who are renting…or those who just want some fun ideas.