Updates, Gifts and Apartment, Oh My!

Okay, here's the big unveiling of my new apartment! I know these pictures were a long time coming but I'm about as good at getting pictures uploaded as I am at blogging ;). Before the pics below, a quick update.

I had a fabulous Christmas! I was off the whole week because of some comp time from my conferences and I spent tons of time with the family. It was great to go home and have a delicious home cooked meal every night! We also were rich with tradition such as watching the Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve. I even spent the night on Christmas Eve just to stick with the tradition on waking up Christmas morning and opening presents right away (this was a little silly because I live 7 minutes away!). My favorite present I received was my "travel package" from my parents. My mom is big into themes for our big gift and I travel a lot for work and fun so this was great! In my present I got a new Dell Inspiron Mini (its screen is 8.9 inches and weighs 2 pounds!), a Chi flat iron and blow dryer travel set (they're so cute and little without losing any heat or power), and an Anne Taintor luggage tag and medicine case/change purse. My favorite present I gave was tickets to Legally Blonde the Musical to my sister. We had been hooked on the stupid reality show on MTV over the summer where they were looking to recast the role of Elle. Through the show we got to see bits and pieces of the musical and wanted to go see it. Well I happened to find out that they were on tour and that they were coming to DC, unbeknownst to her, so I bought tickets (we went today, it was great!) and put them in a box under some tissue paper. On top of the tissue paper I had a digital voice recorder where I had rewritten a verse of one of the songs in the show telling her that we were going to see it. I sang her present, is that love or what? She was so shocked and excited and even said I sounded really good so it was a major win on the gift giving front.

The other fun news I have is that I bought a plane ticket to see Jess G and family in February! I went last year around that time and had so much fun that I really wanted to go back. So I decided I only live once, just find the money and do it, so I did! Thanks for letting me come Jess, I can't wait!

Okay now for the pics!

This is my living room decorated for Christmas, real tree and all!

Another living room shot (I made the decorations on the mantle)

Living Room again (the frames say J,O,Y I made that too)

My dining area, to the left is a built in desk and to the right is the kitchen pass through.

My bedroom, I just love all of its girly goodness, I like to call it "Antique Chic"

A closer up version, you can see my steamer trunk better and the details in the chair and headboard.