Talk about a multi-purpose kitchen

Believe it or not, this is my refrigerator.  On the right is a series of "humorous" postcards from the CFA institute that are supposed to help keep a light perspective about the amount of time you must commit to studying.

A New York City map (House Number and Transit Guide) of Manhattan circa 1942.

My house is covered in post-it labels.  At the bottom are the days of the week.

For those wondering, we are in the "kitchen" and now I know how to count to 10.

Yummy.

That'll wake you up

I had enough "sprit points" a few years to get a Senseo coffee maker.  It is super easy to use and clean, makes a cup of coffee in about 90 seconds and makes both coffee and expresso.  Plus, perfect for a single gal like me, my Senseo makes individual cups of coffee.

The single drawback is that it requires pods.  Good news is that I found cases online.  I ordered both the medium roast and the dark roast, which works out to 216 cups of coffee for just under $0.26 a cup.  

That is 216 mornings of alertness for less change than lives under my couch cushions.

Blue Willow

I found this set of China in an antique store in Madison, CT for a ridiculous price.  So pretty.  It has 6 complete settings and a serving platter, except there are only 4 berry bowls.  

I love them and use them every day.  Big fan of blue and white porcelain.    

Kitchen conundrum

I couldn't wash the dishes until the dishwasher was emptied, and darn it anyway, the thing wasn't unloading itself.

Nothing seems to motivate like an "after" photo though

Like sand through the hour glass...

This June I'll be taking level I of the CFA exam, which stands for Chartered Financial Analyst.  The CFA institute recommends a minimum of 250 study hours, which I meticulously log in hour and 1/2 hour increments on an ever-increasing list of pages taped to the inside of my study folder.  

I thought what could be more fun than logging hours and hours studying for part 1 of a 3-level exam, sacrificing the absolute non-essential remnants of any social life, also when you're a 20-something living in New York City?

The answer, my friends, is your very own hourglass to track all those hours.  Somehow cramming your brain full of portfolio optimization techniques, thoughts of diminishing marginal utility or the causes of a mispricing anomaly all become so much better when you can take a break just as soon as the green sand flows through.  

The small guy, 15 minutes, lives on my piano.  

To all, I highly recommend an hourglass (you can get them at CB2).  They'll make your studying life complete.  And if you're not studying for anything, you can act out scenes from the Wizard of Oz. (Ha ha ha, my pretty!).  

How great is living on the 25th floor?

I read a statistic that more binoculars and periscopes are sold in New York City than any other urban area in the country.  

Figures.

Books are nice to look at... and read too

One of my apartment fantasies is floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with a rolling ladder.  Clearly, I would open my door, piroette-into-an-arabesque and leap onto the ladder and then burst into song as I'd glide across the floor.  

But in the meantime, I got a new bookshelf.  I love it.  And books.  And reading books.

 

I have a sluggish C# key

One of my piano keys is sticking.  The technical term, according to a google search for the appropriate remedy, is that the key is either "sluggish" or "swollen".

I propose we stop beating around the bush and just admit that the lazy little bugger is likely suffering from apartment humidifier-induced "exhaustion."

 On that note, (Ha!! No pun intended!!!) my sister (the band teacher named Mrs. Horn) told me a great joke: So, a C, an E flat, and a G walks into a bar.  The bartender looks them over and says, "Sorry fellas, but we don't serve minors here."  The E flat leaves and C & G split a fifth.

Piano!

Yes, it is a toy... nobody actually "needs" a piano.  But if it makes you happy, life is too short to not have one.  Cheaper than Rolex and makes me much happier.   I honestly believe my neighbors are okay with it too.

Absolutely Loving Cooking in my New Kitchen...and Looking Stylish!

In honor of finally having a gorgeous kitchen in which to cook (not to mention a fabulous sunset views while cooking), I bought myself an apron at Anthropologie over the weekend. Did not realize it was actually a kid's apron... I picked it because it inspires me to cook delicious creations!

"Baker's Delight Kid's Apron"

www.anthropologie.com

The couch & media stand

Loop Media Center

Style: Cameron Queen Sleeper

Color: Chocolate sable

The paint colors so far...

Main living room wall:

Benjamin More Barely Beige

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_2&contentrenderer_1_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_2WT.svl=2&contentrenderer_1_2currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F5610&contentrenderer_1_2NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F284002&_pageLabel=fh_explorecolor

Main bedroom wall: Airway
Accent wall: Harlequin Blue

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_2&contentrenderer_1_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_2WT.svl=2&contentrenderer_1_2currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F5610&contentrenderer_1_2NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F284002&_pageLabel=fh_explorecolor

Bathroom: Nob hill sage
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=contentrenderer_1_2&contentrenderer_1_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&contentrenderer_1_2WT.svl=2&contentrenderer_1_2currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F5610&contentrenderer_1_2NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F284002&_pageLabel=fh_explorecolor

Closing at last!

February 28th!

The TCO is in hand... at last.

This means:

a) I can move on Feb 29th, be out of my apartment by March 1 and avoid paying an additional month's rent (all thanks to Leap Year)

b) I'll now have a $189.90 credit at Crate and Barrel for my couch storage fes this month (they felt bad for me)

c) Also have time to sell my old furniture. The Pier 1 wicker is no longer sold in stores... which means it is harder to buy. I still think it is charming & beautiful, surely I can't be the ONLY one who still thinks so. Perhaps it is worth breaking into that whole realm of craigslist/eBay and trying to sell the desk/chair set, as well as breakfast cart, and interior entry shelf with baskets.