A place to call my home

It's official: I signed the lease to my new apartment this afternoon! I'm beyond excited to have a place to call my own again, as well as the freedom to do whatever I want living alone again. I went to IKEA with my mom and my Aunt Su (who was in town visiting us for the weekend) after I signed the lease. I saw SO much stuff I wanted to get, but I also had a budget to consider and decided it would be best not to get overzealous with domestic purchases. That and the fact that I'm not good when it comes to putting things together. If it requires minimal steps and minimal tools, I can do it....but if there's any kind of map with numbers on the put-it-together process....forget it, I'll be lost!

I bought lots of little things: a toothbrush holder, a small garbage can, scissors, silverware, a plastic tray for the silverware, a small lamp and energy efficient light bulbs, a wide glass bowl to put some stones and/or tealight candles in, tealight candle holders, small pot set of 3, and a combination set of plastic containers (for food). I didn't think I bought that much and yet I still managed to spend about $60! Shopping for domestic items sure does add up! I'm having fun with this new home project though. I'm going to buy some curtains for my two windows once I'm able to move in and get measurements.

My goal is to eventually find 2 comfortable bar stools for the bar counter area near the kitchen, as well as a bookcase, a tv/dvd table (or whatever it's called), and a nice comfortable chair or small couch.

My aunt gave me a great idea as far as pictures for the walls too, something I probably wouldn't have considered. I was telling her and my mom how I don't think I want to keep my framed artsy type pictures. I have had the 2 Renaissance framed paintings and the 1 framed Paris photo since I was in college. I don't feel like it fits who I am now, like it's not an accurate reflection of "Katie." Su suggested I take some photographs of mine, blow them up and frame them on my walls. What a great idea!!!

I'm already thinking about which photos I might want to enlarge and frame. One definitely has to be of Chicago, I know that much. Hopefully I will have the original image sizes of whatever pictures I decide I want to enlarge, which reminds me readers.....are there any particular photos of mine that you really like and think would like great on the walls of my new home? Put them below in the 'suggestion box' (aka, leave me a comment here). :)