Beauty all around you

I've just moved in, so I'm living in a sea of boxes. I've also promised myself to take my time this time around. That's one of the reasons I take time to notice the morning light or how some small things among your possessions look so lovely placed just so. For this reason, I took time out from setting everything up proper to make sure I set up some things just because they are pretty, even if they may not be there permanently.

These are small spaces in my new little house that I feel I got right. Most of these things moved with me, but I am finding I've got to add some new things to the household: mainly storage and shelving, since there are few closets in the house. 

I will say I never met a thrift store find I didn't like. Or a bargain store or bin, either. Some great finds include the premium sheets I had packed, washed, and ready for a new queen-sized bed when I bought it, having the mattress and box spring delivered the day I moved in, right before a big snow here.

Some of the items I moved, which cost approximately $6k in the end, most people would not consider worthy of moving. But I kept thinking, it is the stuff I have. And am I going to throw away this 'stuff' and buy new stuff when I get there? Budget does trump everything, it has to, so in the end I elected to paint, redo and go ahead and move what I already had.

So that's an old chair I pulled out of a dumpster. Perfectly good, if a little outdated, with an oak finish. I painted it an antiqued black. The white basket planter for my big pencil cactus is from a thrift store. It also had an outdated look, so I did an antique white for it, kind of off the cuff with some acrylic gesso paint.

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I've so far to go! And I promised myself I won't hurry it, because one of the things I've decided for this new place is that since I bought it straight up with cash and it really, actually is mine, and everything in it is mine (a unique feeling), it will be organized. I'm trying to lean into the fact that I have the time to do this and that no lender or owner is looking over my shoulder, so to speak.

Harder to do than one would imagine, if you've lived with rent or mortgages all your life. But it is a good feeling, too, if a little new.