Movin' On Up!

Yes, we have arrived in Chicago, and are kinda-sorta-not-really settled in to our new apartment. We left Georgia in a whirlwind during the last week of July, and I arrived to Chicago just in time for one of my good friend B's bachleorette parties.

Me and the beautiful bride-to-be.

The whole gang!

After the festivities of the weekend, it was time to get settled in. We were incredibly lucky to have one of my brothers, my parents, M's brother and M's good friend help us move our boxes. It was funny because a task that took us two more than 24 hours to complete took our whole "moving crew" less than two hours.

One thing we didn't realize was how much downsizing this move would entail. Our loft space in Georgia was incredible: soaring 17-foot ceilings, endless storage space in the basement, drawers and cabinets in every nook and cranny and a spacious closet and bathroom for EACH of us.

Just in case you need a reminder:

Open space galore!

The kitchen and dining area

Us at our dining room table on Christmas Eve in Georgia, toasting with Pointsettas!

We spent HOURS in this kitchen together, making every sort of recipe you could imagine. And it was plenty big enough to strike a pose ;)

M monitoring his first-ever turkey, in our stove that was brand new when we moved in.

MY (yes, I didn't share) walk-in closet

Spare office

Our bedroom, connected with M's bathroom

So, M and I have had it pretty good for the last two years in terms of living space. And when we made the move to our new place, we kind of underestimated the amount of storage space we would need. Not the end of the world by any means, but it has required us to reshuffle the way we used to store our things and has made us very appreciative of the space we do have. (M said many of the places he checked out didn't even have half the space we have here.)

Now, on to the (first round of) pictures.

My favorite part of the house - the front room with stained-glass windows. We have ordered a swivel chair to sit in the front window so I can read and use our laptop while gazing out into the street!

M using his makeshift desk, composed of two camping chairs and a tupperware storage container! Now if our dang couch would just be delivered, you can see the walls and the rest of the room is ready for them.

Our kitchen - by far the most spacious room of the house. You can see the right-hand door that leads out into the backyard and the door on the left that goes into my office. No microwave. And the stove? Let's not get me started.

Table for two! We didn't have enough room to bring along our glass dining room table so we had to downgrade. Are you loving our Christmas snowflake wall art or what?

A picture of the Newberry Library, where we were married those nine short months ago! :)

My office, which is the perfect size for me. I love having my own enclave where I can let all my papers spill everywhere, and I enjoy gazing into the backyard and at a church steeple viewable from my window.


Pretty. Still haven't figured out the name of the church, though.

This room isn't even close to being finished, but will eventually serve as the game room with pinball, board games and darts! Right now it would be more accurately described as "The Craigslist Room" because almost everything in there is waiting to be sold or given away.

All in all our new place is ... cozy. We really feel like newlyweds in this place, not only because of our apartment but because of the fun neighborhood as well! We have been taking walks every day around lunch time (always in non-work clothes) and are pretty certain that we have become that couple who people pass and say, "How does this couple just have time to walk around together during the middle of the day?"

Hi, I'm "Works From Home," and here is my husband, "Unemployed." :)

In all seriousness, we are so happy with this new chapter in our lives ... it's different for sure, but being surrounded by so many of our close friends and family in a great neighborhood makes it all the better.

Next time: All the details about our new neighborhood!