More goodies.

I have an online shopping problem. When I don't leave my desk for lunch, I end up opening all those SALE ALERT! emails and buying things like these:

[Cole Haan Josephine Pump in Ironstone Suede, $119. I got it on sale earlier this week for $89... because I'm awesome]

[Cope Haan Tantivy Double Wrap Bracelet in Chestnut, $39.95. Again, I got it for $27 because I am so good at reading those sale emails]

[Michael Kors Double Breasted Hooded Trench Coat in black, $115 on sale at Lord & Taylor. The sale is still going on. 50% off rain coats! Go now!]

To be fair, I'm not just randomly buying things. I've been looking for a leather bracelet all summer, and I've been looking for a hooded trench coat for about 18 months... I even tried on this exact one from Michael Kors before, but decided to wait for it to go on sale!

And although gray pumps are a recent addition to my shopping list, I've definitely had my eye out for them lately. I have a pair of gray trousers for this fall and thought it would be fantastic to wear them with matching gray heels.

And yes, yes I am justifying my shopping habit here...

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.