moving?!

yep, moving. in fact, already moved is more like it! why? i've gotten that question a lot. well, i've always wanted a roof deck. so now i have one! and a lot brighter place with all the windows that i don't have to close the blinds on b/c there is no one to stare at me! mom put the idea in my head after the move to ca was obviously not going to work out and i'd accepted my new job. so i happened to find a great location with a roof deck and saw there was an open house and i went. that's where i met my realtor.

i ended up not liking the place, but started looking around with him at potential places. i was quite specific (must be close to el, roofdeck, easy walking, same neighborhood area, better than my current place) and wasn't even sure i would find anything to meet those criteria. we spent about 3 weekends looking at various places and found two that i really liked. the first one had been on the market for a very long time and the realtor let us see it without telling us he had a renter lined up - of course i loved it and was ready to put in an offer - the views! - but the owner went through with the renter. the next weekend, i found a fabulous place - but then the bombshell - there was no roofdeck. wait, what?! that's the only reason we were looking at it! the brochure said roof rights... apparently that means i could petition the board, figure out if it was even feasible, and build the roofdeck myself. are you kidding?! i thought about it for about 5 minutes before realizing that it would be the biggest p.i.t.a and no thanks. so the search continued. more houses seen. none were right. and then... literally the last place on the list of potentials and it was this place! i was ready to wait for more properties fitting my criteria were available... but then i walked in here and just knew... it was home. and that's how it all happened!

if you google directions from the old place to the new one, i'm literally around the corner and from garage to garage my odometer says .4 miles. yep, i went far! but, it puts me closer to the gym (sure, i've been there since the move), across the street from core power yoga, some good bars, and restaurants. i even have a nice starbucks just down the street. and yes, i am quite close to two different el stops. while it is just around the corner, it puts me in a different "close" walking range which is fun! and i no longer have to walk down a partially darkened street or the alley!



the outside of the building - i'm the very top on the right!


my kitchen - i love the island! the granite slab is so pretty and the background tiles are even almost scrippsie green! i have very pretty appliances too... my stove has red knobs... maybe some day i'll learn how to use it!


see? pretty red knobs and scrippsie green tiles!


my big bedroom with a deck off of it - this is the old owner's stuff in all these pics.


my new bathroom. it has a sink on the other side too and a potty closet!


up on the rooftop, i have lots of pretty plants and a very big expansive view. it's amazing!


i put it in the contract that they had to leave all the patio furniture, built in speakers, tvs, and window treatments (blinds/curtains)!!


otis looooooooves the fresh air!


just checkin' out the plants!


i have a laundry room and full size washer and dryer with so many buttons! and there's room to make it otis' potty room too!


and i have a pantry! i can store stuff!


and here's the balcony off the living room. it's a great spot for breakfast! (that's their kitty, not a new friend for otis)

otis and i made the move on oct 1st and we are still getting settled. we have tons and tons of work to do. ok, maybe it's more like i have tons of stuff to do still. but it feels like home and i am in love with it (which is definitely a good thing since it's all mine!!).

otis loves being able to go outside on the balcony and roof. he loves all the fresh air and the stairs. there is a super long hallway and he loves to gallop up and down it. he's funny. he's currently snoozing right next to me...

so who would like to reserve a room at chez harper?! i've had my mom and dad with my aunt here last weekend and the sunday after i moved in my friend, anne, crashed here before an appt in the city. so the hotel is open, come on over!!

**more pics coming soon with my stuff in them not their stuff**