Friday's five things: Back to school edition.

I started my fall classes on Wednesday. I have class on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. I am so close to being done! After my two classes this semester, I only have my capstone [!] left. I can't believe it! I am 9 months away from having my Master's!

[Iced coffee + whole wheat everything bagel with light lox spread... so I can pretend it's healthy]

I got home early, early Tuesday morning and have been exhausted all week, but somehow managed to drag myself out of bed this morning to stop by H&H Midtown Bagels, a guaranteed good start to my day.

[Bracelets by Jessica Simpson, Betsey Johnson, and Fossil, all from Macy's. Watch by Michael Kors]

My mom bought me these three bracelets this past weekend. I'm finally taking part in the stacking bracelets trend... I loved wearing them to work/class this week because I seriously jingle the whole day with the Betsey Johnson charms. It reminds me of how much fun I had this weekend! And how much I love it when my mom buys me nice little treats...

[Hammie loves helping with my photos]

The kitties were happy to see me after the long weekend. I'm looking forward to spending some time with them tomorrow and Sunday. I need some down time, and they need some Mommy time.

[My new desk]

This was actually my cheap desk from Amazon, but my wonderful Martha Stewart of an Aunt Diane took it home, sanded, and stained it for me. She dropped it off in my apartment while I was gone, so I came home to find this beautiful surprise waiting for me. Now this weekend I need to reorganize all the junk that goes in/on my desk...

Finally, this one is self-explanatory. After hurricanes and storms, then crappy weather all this week, it is finally nice out. And I'm going out tonight in this lovely nice weather!

TGIF, everyone! Enjoy this beautiful evening!

Collecting.

Can't wait for this goody to arrive via UPS.

{Bedford 3-Drawer File Cabinet from Pottery Barn}

My very first piece of Pottery Barn furniture, compliments of Mom & Dad.

I've been looking for a file cabinet that is pretty enough to serve as a bedside-table. Since in my tiny NYC 1-BR, every single thing in my apartment has to serve double-duty. The foot stool that hides my free weights and exercise bands. The dresser that has a secret compartment/jewelry tray. The foot-stool as desk chair.

You know, one day I hope to have a full house full of {single-duty} Pottery Barn and West Elm classics and quirky {read: frivolous} Anthropologie settees and rugs... but until then, I will cherish my file cabinet.

Keep calm.

Check out this lovely that will soon be gracing my kitchen.

{From KeepCalmCollection on Etsy}

While I think the ascendant popularity of these British-inspired Keep Calm prints has made them slightly cheesy, I can't resist the internet design blog peer pressure... and the kitsch. I want one. I {will shortly} have one!

My oldest friend (we've known each other since kindergarten!), Krista, is coming to visit this weekend. I am trying to figure out what all we are going to do, looking for the perfect balance of touristy stuff, hanging out, good food, and beating the 98 degree high that is supposed to hit NYC on Friday and Saturday. I am so excited to see her and have a fantastic weekend, but I am dreading the heat. We may have to spend more time inside at extremely air-conditioned theaters and museums than I originally planned!

I'll have to take a break from my internet shopping to scour the internet for some indoor activities and make a plan for this weekend :-)

Home over-haul.

I am re-decorating my apartment. Mostly because half the things in my apartment just relocated with me from college, and I don't particularly like them any more/think I can do better.

My mom and aunt (who is practically a pro decorator) are coming to help me paint in three weeks. I have been busy ordering accessories like pillows and art and other such things for the rest of the re-design. Mostly, I want to re-do the walls. I have art and pictures of friends/family on the wall that have not been swapped out since I was a junior in college. Yeah... I don't even look like that any more...

I am planning on framing all the art and arranging that first, then filling in any remaining holes with a few pics of friends/family/possibly kitties.

However, I am most excited about my first Etsy purchase:

{Chevron Pillow Squares from HoneyPieDesign on Etsy. SOLD! To me!}

I am anxiously awaiting my two Chevron pillows in white and gold from HoneyPieDesign. Check out her shop. Lots of cute pillows!

I'll share part of my process with you all as I pick out paint samples this week, have all of my random online purchases delivered to work (since I don't have a doorman), and in three weeks, attempt to rent a ladder from the hardware store and paint my first wall ever... under the careful guidance of my aunt.

I finally ordered two prints from Paris vs. New York.

And those Ork Poster Minneapolis and Manhattan maps.