Apartment Therapy's 2012 Small/Cool Contest is Back

Interior design lovers rejoice... ApartmentTherapy.com's 2012 Small/Cool contest is back! I'm so excited to log into the site every day and OD on the creative ways everyday people put unique spins on their small spaces. So far I have seen a few that have caught my eye, but I wanted to share my favorite - - Samantha's Organic Love Nest! The 420 sq ft NYC studio is leading the pack in the Tiny division, showcasing the advantages of a square space with good light... and a handy husband.

Name:

Samantha

Location:

New York, NY

Square Feet:

420

Division:

Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home

Once I realized a one bedroom in the West Village was more restrictive because they are often smaller than a queen bed, I knew I had to find a box shaped studio. After viewing over 55 apartments with often angled floor plans, I finally found my blank canvas studio with oversized windows and eastern light. I love my home because I had a vision of an organic, global, Scandinavian love nest. For me that meant designing 6 custom built "stations" which include an eat in kitchen, 2 desk work areas, one of which has a closet built in, a living area, a bedroom and a standard size closet. What I truly love is my husband built much of the furniture, and the result is a beautiful mixture of materials and style, such as recycled flooring as a desk unit and high gloss furniture. It gives me a feeling as if I'm a guest in my own home. I feel like I live in a boutique hotel and truly love it.

Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space

The biggest challenge was editing out our items from a 3000 square foot loft and downsizing into a 420 square foot pre-war studio. We knew every piece of furniture had to multitask in terms of storage. For example, we built a desk which serves as a base for a closet attached, and we have a dresser we picked up in Palm Beach for $50 and created a built in Flat screen Display Wall on one side and a full size closet on the other. The entire unit also serves as a room divider, and we dropped the height of the unit to create an airy feel to the small studio. The result is we are rarely in each other's way. It's truly magical.

Fashion Fix via @Gabifresh

Source

One of my favorite fashion bloggers, @Gabifresh, recently featured an amazeballs ASOS dress on her site that I had to have. After a few days of stalking the ASOS site, the previously sold out dress was finally available in my size!!! Score. I can't wait to have this be a part of my life and put some mileage on it this Spring.

Lately I've become obsessed with prints, usually opting for anything black/white or ethnic inspired. Chicago has been experiencing weather in the 70s and 80s (not typical for March) and I'm soaking it up! I think I'm just about ready to fold up all of my sweaters and bid adieu to the uber mild winter we had. Time to ditch the tights and showcase these legs - - Let's usher in the spring :)

What are your favorite pieces for Spring?

Hoe into a Housewife?

Yesterday I posted about Karrine Steffans' twitter rant re: her husband, marriage, and overall feeling of frustration with his lack of, well... everything. It sparked an interesting conversation with one of my male friends who was shocked I could find anything entertainment, enjoyable, or redeeming in Steffans.

From his standpoint,  "You don't put your husband out there like that. Period. You don't allow the whole industry to run through you and be filmed and then try to get married to someone you know is not you. It's some hoe shit and all I'm seeing is 'I'm used to being a hoe and you no longer do it for me'." 


While I did agree that it was quite sloppy to air one's dirty laundry in such a public way, I have to say that everything she said was quite relatable for most women. Women have the innate ability to bite our tongues while giving someone a verbal lashing like none other.

On another note, I think her twitter rant was actually related to her latest book she's about to release, and NOT spazzing out on her husband.

@KarrineandCo - - every woman's hero....

Everyone knows her better as Super Head, but let's be real - - Karrine Steffans has far surpassed her original come up into the game. She's a NY Times best selling author and someone whose blatant honesty and candor I've always enjoyed. Love her or hate her, she's interesting and I'm all about interesting people.

Today (read: moments ago) I stumbled across the NecoleBitchie post showing Karrine's late night twitter rant against her husband. All I can say is wow!!! Every woman has felt the way she's felt as one time or another... and if you haven't? Consider it in your future. Seriously. I don't necessarily agree with airing dirty laundry (I'm more the type to throw it in the wash at my own place lol...), but I can appreciate the trainwreck that is her marriage and the self-esteem her husband is sure to be scraping off the floor. Does this woman know how to reduce a man to nothingness or what! Not sure if it's a quality skill to have, but the shit is hilarious!!

Karrine's Twitter Rant:

Sometimes, in relationships, the pleasure is all theirs. Alone, I am a superhero. With you, I am a mere mortal. You deplete me. I’m tired of being your upgrade. We are not equally yoked. You really deserve someone more basic. I’m tired of pretending your mediocracy is okay with me. I’m tired of pretending I don’t miss G650′s. I’m tied of pretending you’re not a burden.I’m tired of pretending I don’t deserve a f-cking BOSS! I’m tired of you driving my car. Stop telling me you love me as if you’re doing me some sort of favor. I don’t need you to love me. I love me. I’m tired of pretending like you shouldn’t be intimidated by the other men in my life. Cuz you should. I’m tired of pretending as if I support your bullshit dreams. I’m tired of pretending your d-ck isn’t the smallest d-ck I’ve ever seen in my life. Cuz it is. I’m tired of pretending your favorite rapper didn’t just beat it up on Friday. I’m tired of paying for everything.

I’m tired of you taking all this sh-t for granted as if you ever deserved any of it. Give me my Mac back. For real tho. I’m tired of washing your wack ass clothes. I hate your whole face. I’m tired of acting like the sex is good.I hate when you roll all the way over onto my side of the bed to hold me. I’m over here for a reason. Did I mention I’m tired of paying for everything? Okay.I’m tired of giving you the game.I’m tired of pretending you’re anything more than a bum. I should’ve just hired you as a cook and kept it moving. I’m tired of congratulating you for accomplishing minuscule sh-t. I’m tired of you begging.

I’m tired of moaning when I can’t feel anything!I’m tired of having to think about someone else to get off. I’m tired of having to lock my phone when you’re around.I’m tired of taking showers with you. Can I get a moment! Damn! Yes. He’s better than you. Next question. All night. ‘Til 6 in the morning. Next question.Yes. And I didn’t have to pay for none of it. Next question. Presidential suite. Next question. About 10 inches. Next question.69. Next question. Like a boss. Next question. Balls deep. Next question. I’m tired of having to pretend you’re not the 3rd worst decision I’ve ever made.You should really be with that one chick who bagged our groceries this weekend. That’s more your speed.

So, why do I call her every woman's hero? Well, I can personally attest to having felt some of the same feelings and wishing I had the balls to put someone on blast. I'm not that messy... but don't we all wish we had a messy friend whose ratchet ways and loose lips we could vicariously live through? Come to think of it, I'm sure I fill that spot for a few of my friends lol... but when you're that friend who do you look to? Look no further than Karrine!

The last time I put a relationship on blast was back in 2009 when my then boyfriend had failed to ever get the electricity at our condo put into his name. Very mild in comparison, but I received an earful for those posts.

So, blogging family - - when is the last time you put someone on relationship front street?

Single + Kids = Damaged Goods?

Growing up I always had 3 deal breakers for a man and potential relationship: Smokers, Kids, and Rappers. Why, you may ask? First I loathe cigarette smoke and could never love someone that's smoking squares all day. Hell no. Kids? I always had a dream of meeting someone, falling in love, and having kids together for the first time. I convinced myself that if I was with a man who previously had kids from another relationship somehow our children would be "less special" since it wasn't the first time, not to mention the potential of "baby mama drama"... and Rappers? Well, I'm definitely the chick that will push my man to reach for his dreams, but I can't do the struggling rapper thing. I will not peddle your mix tape. I don't want to drag my friends to your concerts.. I just don't want to listen to you spit "hot fiyah" on the 1s and 2s.

Last night I came across a video by one of my favorite YouTubers, Taren916, and she was speaking about a forum topic that hit close to home for her: Are single mothers damaged goods? My first reaction to this was "of course not," but it made me think back to how I used to hold onto the idea that men with multiple kids were, in a way, damaged goods to me.

Oftentimes we accept the fact that men can have multiple children by multiple women and this is okay. They're just "being men"... leaving women in the same position being deemed ratchet and a slew of other terms that flex that annoying double standard muscle. In fact, the older I get the more I realize that life really "does happen" and people find themselves in various situations. I don't think anyone ever intends to be a baby mama or baby daddy. Most people don't want to bring children into the world in an unstable environment, nor do people want to tackle parenting alone... but if you find yourself in that situation it doesn't make you less than or damaged goods.

So, my question to the blogosphere: Do you feel single parents (men and women) with multiple children are damaged goods? Would you date someone that had children? Should a divorced person with children be held in a higher standing than someone that was never married, yet has multiple children?

Natural Hair: Grecian Goddess Bun

I don't know if it's the term "protective styling" or the concept of wearing my hair tucked away... but it evokes images of boring twists/braids and makes my life force shed a few tears. Still, I know if nice to give my hair a break from the daily styling every once in a while and tuck my ends away.

While browsing YouTube I came across a great video on how to spice up "protective styling" with a Grecian Goddess Bun!! Many thanks to vlogger Fusion of Cultures for her great video. I can't wait to give this style a try.