Author Archives: Kaitlyn White

Current Inspirations: New Apartment Decor

24th January 2013

I still haven’t quite actually moved into my new home sweet home, but that doesn’t mean a girl can’t dream, right? In preparation for a clean new palate, there are a few things I already have in mind:

1. Our new kitchen nook is a little smaller than our current area (I’m still on the hunt for a Craigslist table) but in brightening up the space, I’d love to get my hands on this Pinterest-inspired project made of stained paint sticks over a lamp shade.

2. I’ve had the couches in our living room since college and although they were an awesome investment at the time, I don’t have quite the same amount of love for them today. A new sofa is definitely out of the budget, so I’m looking forward to adding some color to the room with some new pillows. While looking across the web for fabric, I came across fabric.com (seriously? I didn’t think to just try that URL?) and the options are endless. I’ve filled up a whole board with some of my favorites.

{Keep an eye out for a full details post as I just learned how to use my sewing machine (that I’ve had for 10+ years) this week and I can’t wait to break it in.}

3. Hardwood floors call for a big rug. I’m pushing the purchase button on this guy as soon as it’s back on sale. I stumbled across Rugs USA after reading a post from a coworker’s blog, Buckhead Betty on a Budget, about her recent living room redesign and had to check it out. The prices and selection are unbeatable.

4. I’m in LOVE with these mercury glass lamps from Pottery Barn. Unfortunately they are another piece my bank account might not love. I’m looking forward to doing some DIY with a lamp I have that is looking for a re-do and some Kyrlon Looking Glass spray paint.

What are your move-in-ready decor musts?

Today was a big day

22nd January 2013

Today was a big day. I left the office at 6:15, and there was a pink color to the sky. Translation: it was 6:15 and still light outside. As a runner, today was a big day for me. Today marks the loosening of the grip of winter on our dark, gloomy nights (even if it was still 30 degrees outside). I wish I could say I’m a treadmill runner, but I’m not, and I have some serious admiration for those of you who are.

I’m a big believer that night time running is simply not a smart decision under most circumstances (more on that below). I’m also an outside runner and unfortunately in the winter months, this places a rather tight grip on my training schedule. Although accidents are far and few in-between, they do happen, and although not always at night, taking it upon ourselves to eliminate as many factors as possible is crucial to safety.

Part One: Taking Precautions

About a year ago, I was running trails at a local mountain when I tripped over a root and did some pretty decent damage to my ankle. At the time, I was running without anything on me – no phone, no GPS, no ID card. As it was a rather well trafficked six mile loop, I assumed whatever would happen, someone would be nearby. I fell conveniently just past mile marker three. Meaning, I got to hobble my way back three miles. The result was a rather swollen ankle and a near month recovery.

Solution: Invest in a Pack

Learn from my lesson, you don’t want to walk three miles on a mountain trail feeling your ankle balloon. After the incident, I invested in a Nathan Running Pack, basically a very attractive little fanny pack. I typically don’t run far enough to need water, so this pack is perfect for my daily treks. It holds my phone, keys and even has a pull out ID card for emergency contact information and allergies.

My super sexy Nathan Running Pack

If a grown up fanny pack isn’t quite your style, a phone armband and a Road ID bracelet will do the trick. My roommate recently purchased this little guy which clips right on to your shoe and keeps all of your information handy. Trust me, both solutions are worth every penny of the $20 spent.

Road ID Bracelet

Part Two: Find the Right Route

I live in the heart of the city and although many of our roads are well lit, that doesn’t always translate to safe. Running along Peachtree Road at rush hour is like playing a game of Frogger, in my opinion. Rather than spend time waiting at each and every light (even when they are green) to look both ways, I’ve found running a combination of urban trails (don’t even get me started on my love for this guy) and neighborhood streets keeps me away from the traffic and texting drivers.

Safety Tip: Running in Busy Areas

Lose the headphones. I know music gets you through those tough runs, and it does for me too. However, whenever I do run anywhere busier or during a time that I know there might be less people out and about (like around sunset or on a gloomy day), leaving the headphones at home allows me to focus on the sights and sounds all around me.

Part Three: Ignoring All of the Above

I get it, sometimes you just need a good run, it’s dark outside, you forgot your phone, etc. It happens to everyone. But, in the case that you simply can’t resist, all hope is not lost.

Run with a friend

It’s safer this way, plus you’ll have someone to pass the time, keep you entertained and you can push each other to improve. If you don’t have a running buddy, check out some of your local run clubs. Here in Atlanta, West Stride has a fantastic running club series, many of which are free.

Lighten Up

You might look like a bit of a nerd, but reflective gear or a headlamp could save your life. Looking silly is absolutely worth the safety and besides, if you are looking cute while outside sweating and working your heart out, you aren’t trying hard enough.

What are your running safety tips I may have missed?

I’m Movin’ Out (best read in your Billy Joel voice)

20th January 2013

After two years in our first post-grad apartment, my roommate are on to bigger and better things. We wrestled with the idea of moving last year around this time, but oh the boxes, the cold, the reconfiguring. Nope. Not happening. We stayed put. However, the time has come to bid our current pad adieu and make a change.

When we first decided to make the leap from our cozy, suburb, rent-free places of residence a little over two years ago, making a decision was simple. We worked with a local rental source (Promove) who basically did all of the work for us, with flexible move-in dates. It was fantastic. And easy. Seriously, if you are looking to make a move in Atlanta, go visit the guys at Promove.

However, this time around, no one gave us a heads up that switching apartments in grown up world and in a big city isn’t quite like moving in college where everyone operates on the same schedule and has visited every location in town.

Our apartment “must haves”:

Less than $50 – $75 increase in current rent (though ideally less)

Nearby running trails

Safety – some form of gate / alarm

Two bathrooms

Large closets (seriously, this is Atlanta, not New York – we can afford not to budge on that one)

A view – maybe. A girl can dream, right?

Since I’m certain I’m not the only twenty something figuring all of this out for the first time, here are the top four things we have learned in the last few months.

Don’t begin seriously looking more than 60 days out, in our case, we really didn’t even start to see things opening up until less than 30 days from move out date.
Craigslist is not entirely sketchy. We found more leads here than anywhere else, but always, always use your best judgement and take a friend when viewing a place. Also, check out PadMapper.com. This site basically takes posts from Craigslist and other similar sites and maps them for you.
Use your mobile device to your advantage. We ended up finding our new place through an ad on Trulia. Trulia and Zillow are excellent sources for storing your favorite spots and seeing places on the go.
Ask all of the right questions. We knew we didn’t want to be in a typical complex, which often means less rules and less tenants managed. Be sure to ask about deposits, potential move-in dates, pets, etc. as the management, building or owner views may vary.

Most important of all, have fun! Yes, it’s stressful. Of course with a month to go I wanted to know where I would be living next month. But…by taking the due diligence and patience route, it paid off. My roommate and I found a place that fits every requirement on our list (and then some) and even came in under budget. While I can’t wait to own a home to call my own, I cannot wait to jump ship and get to re-decorating, Pinteresting and making our new apartment, home.

What tips do you have from moving experiences? How did you find your current dream place?