Monday's Mood

It's Monday...blah!  I have started to spring clean a little early this year, ok a lot early.  One of my New Years resolution was to get a jump start on organizing and de-cluttering.  I am sitting here wondering how we have accumulated so much stuff.  We literally have no where to put anything in this tiny little flat but, somehow we have managed to.  I am trying to sort through everything to figure out what we need keep vs. give away and I started to think about re-decorating.   Of course..haha!  I am always so practical.

First on the list is this couch...with a little twerp running around we will need a darker color couch

via

Second is I want to paint a navy accent wall 

via

The third and final idea is painting the inside of the front door black, although I realize if I go too far with my re-decorating my husband may exercise his veto rights.  Hoping to avoid that! 

via

Last year...

We were moving into our flat.  That day was filled with laughs, tears and few %*@# what did we do?!  To think this is what our place looked like last year.  I am still saying %*@# how did this all fit in here?!  Yes I like to curse, especially in stressful situations ;)

Sorry for the blurry iphone pics.  I wasn't about to try and find my camera during this. 

a little ray of hope shining through..ha

Just half my wardrobe- the movers were unpacking and laughing in the bedroom.  

I was crying

Looks like the kitchen is coming along pretty good.  So we thought!  Later that night we found out the dishes were bigger than the cabinets.  Try and guess which cabinet is the fridge.

Matt putting away his clothes.  Nice calves dude!  

We can admire my shoes instead of watching tv...

Another shot of my clothes.  

To see what it looks like now and read what we learned click here.  We did end up giving a lot of things away that day.  I would say most of this furniture will be staying here when we move back to the States because I am not sure they will be able to get it out.  

The Flat

We get asked questions all the time on our flat and living in London.  How big is it? What is the rent compared to Chicago?  Did our furniture fit?  Do you like London? Do you live in Central London?  
So I thought I would answer a couple of them.

Space wise, on a good day, 430 square feet.  Rent compared to Chicago- we had 1000 square feet, storage unit, garage parking and balcony for half the price.

Our furniture barely fit- the couch alone took about an hour to get in.  I am still shocked they got it to fit.

Things I would have done different - never would have brought furniture-most flats in London are furnished and bringing my entire wardrobe wasn't the brightest - not sure 10 swimsuits are needed here.

I have learned less is more especially when you don't have any closets, American furniture is huge, I can live without a dishwasher, microwave and a dryer, I like not having a car and cleaning is easier.

What I miss the most - a bigger fridge, a balcony, CLOSETS, double pain windows, summer weather, my soap opera Young and the Restless and of course my family and friends.

Things I have embraced about London - tea, actually saying EBT (English Breakfast Tea), brill, cheers, and cheeky, UK fashion, Pimms, being able to stand outside of a pub drinking, a good cup of coffee, two reality shows - The only way is Essex and Made in Chelsea and traveling.

I love our neighborhood and have come to love our flat.  We live in a very trendy London borough which is why we live in 430 square feet.  My husbands commute to work is less than 20 minutes (10 of it is walking to and from the tube, 5-10 minutes on the tube).  My commute however is 2 hours but I work from home about 3 of the 5 days.  4 hour commutes a day = not fun!

Living in London is easier than I thought.  Yes there is a lot of people, they don't have the best weather, and well the food is pretty bland but you get use to all the people, you enjoy the nice days and you learn where to get a good meal.  It is a very international city with a ton of culture and character.  It keeps you busy!

Happy Monday!

Buy of the week

My buy of the week - these  Old Navy Flats are too cute and the price is way too good to pass up!  

$22.94 - steal