Etsy Shop of the Week: PopWall

My belated Etsy Shop of the Week goes to decal genious PopWall.  I'm all about wall decor.  As a renter, anything you can do to jazz up those boring white walls is great.  Which is one reason why I like decals.  Most decals are removable so you can slap 'em on when you move in and pull 'em off when you move out. 

The best thing about working with PopWall is that they'll help you customize your decal before you make your purchase. Send them a picture of your room and they'll photoshop the decal of your choice into the picture so you can see what it looks like. You can also pick from a variety of color options and adjust the size if you need a larger/smaller decal. If you don't see a decal that you like, convo PopWall and they'll make a custom decal for you.  Who says you can't get good help nowadays!

Easy DIY: Wrap-around Mailing Labels

It's almost party time!  Since we had a small wedding last summer (27 people) and weren't able to celebrate with all our friends and family, our parents are giving us two wedding parties this year. The first one's in Boston next weekend with his friends/family and the next one's in Ohio Memorial Day weekend with my gang.  For the Boston party, my mom and sisters are coming up to stay with us.  I'm so excited!!  Of course that means I've had a lot of prep work to do getting things ready.  By ready, I mean finally taking care of all those little things I said I'd do but never did...it really adds up when you save it all for one week!  Add to that the stress of buying a car and the fact that I've been incommunicado because I dropped my phone in the sink.  It's been crazy!

Thinking about the upcoming wedding party got me looking back at all the sites I bookmarked when we were planning our own wedding.  One the ideas I loved were these wrap-around mailing labels from A Very Chocolate Life (via Craftzine).  Not only are they super cute but you can print them off for FREE!!  Since our wedding was small, we skipped the invitations and just told people to come, so I didn't get to use the labels then.  But my goal this year is to write more letters which means I'll have plenty of uses for pretty labels!

If you need stationery to help you pen a few letters, check out the Apt528 Store.

On the Dial: My Spektor Perspektive

Regina Spektor - Far

By Mr. Design Girl

This week I'm giving you my "perspektive" on Ms. Spektor's latest effort, Far, released late last June. Before this album I hadn't heard any of her songs on mainstream radio. Now when I tune into 101.7 WFNX I'm almost guaranteed to hear a song by her, making Far Spektor's most commercially acceptable album so far (no pun intended. Or was it).

*email readers, go to the blog to hear songs from the album

It's funny the way that happens, Regina Spektor has released several albums before Far with little commercial appeal. Years later she's being played on a loop at radio stations. The funny part is, this album (although it is good) is not her best work in my opinion.

Now, don't get me wrong... I love this album, it just isn't her best (try Soviet Kitsch). I don't know why, Far just didn't strike me the way her other albums have. There are plenty of great moments on this CD though. One of my favorite tracks is "Genius Next Door", a classic Spektor diatribe. The lyrics are moody and full of imagery and her piano work is elegant throughout the song. Another good cut, and one that's seen a lot of radio play, is "Eet" (eat). She reprises the lyrics from the opening in the third or fourth verse and changes her inflection, adding emphasis and emotion on the words; it's really something special.

The only part of this album where I really stepped back and said "I don't like this at all" was during the dolphin sounds she makes on "Folding Chair". She's quoted in Spin Magazine saying, "I could have just sampled a dolphin but barking like one is so much more fun to do." That I can totally respect, but do I like it? No.

**Design Girl here.  I don't usually weigh in on the music posts, but I'm a Regina lover so I had to put in my two cents.  While I agree that Far isn't as amazingly amazing as Spektor's older albums, I loved the songs "Machine" and "Dance Anthem of the 80's"...they'll definitely add some quirky fun to your day.  In a mellow mood? Try "Laughing With," and "Human of the Year."  This album isn't as raw as her other albums which is probably why it's gone so commercial and has less appeal to her old fans; this album has a studio feel to it.  Still, it's decent and definitely worth your money.

Also Try:
  Fiona Apple

  Bjork

  Ella Fitzgerald
  Corinne Bailey Rae
  Ben Folds

I got a car!

Sorry I've been gone the past few days.  The guy and I have been busy buying a new car.  Originally, I wanted a Scion xB.  I'm super picky about cars and don't like anything with curves.  I basically like boxes on wheels.  That's exactly what the Scion is, a box on wheels!  I needed a car that I could use for all my Home Depot runs and craigslist furniture pickups.  The xB is deceivingly spacious with a super roomy backseat that folds down for carrying things in the back.  Plus, it's small size makes it easy to park in the city.

Scion xB - the car I originally wanted

Unfortunately, there are only a handful of used xB's in the whole state of Massachusetts that are both original models (I STRONGLY dislike the newer, curvy models) AND in our price range.  According to all the dealerships we went to, the trade-in rate for Scion's is low...once people buy them, they don't want to let them go!  Not good news for us.  After searching for what seemed like an eternity, we ended up empty handed.

With the Scion out of reach, we switched gears and started looking at the Nissan Xterra.  I loved them when they came out back in high school.  I always wanted one in yellow, till my physics teacher got one!  Thankfully, our Xterra search was much easier than the Scion search...we found one on the first day! 

Nissan Xterra - MY CAR!!!!!

We're picking it up tonight - my silver Nissan Xterra.  I'm soooo excited!  I've never had my own car before.  I have all sorts of trips to Home Depot and Walmart planned this week so if I don't write, you'll know why!

In the meantime, head over to the Apt528 Facebook page and tell us all about your craigslist horror stories on the discussion page!

Used Friday: Buy This Now

Love.  This.

If you're anywhere near Arkansas, get it now.  Unfortunately, the posting isn't for the exact couch in the picture but for a black, 2-seater version.  Either way, you're getting an AMAZING deal at $40.  Get it NOW!!

Oh, and make sure to check out this cute little shop, Brick House Vintage.  I wonder if they'd let me live in their store...

On the Dial: Dropkick Murphy's - Live on Landsdowne

The Dropkick Murphys - Live on Landsdowne
By Mr. Design Girl

*sorry but we're having technical difficulties here at Apt528 so no music player today :(

The legendary local heroes from Quincy, representing both Boston and Irishmen everywhere, are dropping a special St. Patty's Day album (with bonus DVD) that any self-respecting Bostonian should own. 

This festive record was put together using songs from several Dropkick Murphy shows all around Beantown during the 2009 St. Patrick's Day season. All your classic sing-a-long and drink-a-long tunes are present  and accounted for (except, much to my chagrin, "Barroom Hero") on this epic, 20-track, live album.

Despite a couple of missing classics, the Dropkicks deliver with their usual high energy live performances and great versions of "The State of Massachusetts", "Flanigan's Ball", and "Tessie".

The creamy head on this pint of Guinness is the closing track, "I'm Shipping Up To Boston", the classic soundtrack cut from "The Departed". The special surprise of the song: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones! That's right Dicky Barrett and the rest of the Mighty Mighties show up, and the crowd shows its appreciation big time by erupting at their emergence on stage.

So...wear some green, grab a pint, and listen to some Dropkick Murphy's because it's St. Patrick's Day and today everyone is Irish!

Etsy Shop of the Week: Kellie Huie Photography

I know nothing about photography (you've seen the pictures I take!) but there's something about Kellie Huie's Photography that I just love.  Perhaps it's the "vintage-style" photo editing or the awesome glasses in her "Do You See What I See?" print.  Either way, I'm in love!  You'll definitely need a bigger apartment to hold all of Kellie's prints!

The Weekender: Easy Roller Blind DIY

Window coverings are often the hardest part of designing a room, especially if you're a renter and don't want to invest in pricey curtains that you may not be able to use in your next rental.  So I figured this Ikea Hack by Michael would be the perfect Saturday project for those who are looking for an easy alternative.  According to the instructions on Michael's website, you don't need to do much sewing or use messy spray adhesive, plus it's not expensive.  Didn't I tell you it would be perfect!

Now grab your supplies, turn up the music, and get to work!

Teal Madness

First off, thanks to Courtney Hollands at the Boston Globe for including our Antler Picture Frame in today's G section!  My favorite part: "Something tells us that Jonathan Adler would covet this."  Just the thought of Jonathan Adler loving a product from the Apartment 528 Store is enough to make us quiver...I think I'd faint if he verified the statement as true!

Grab an Antler Frame of your own or check out one of the other products from the Apt528 Store. 

I was going to post pics of my fave black and grey rooms today...we're moving this summer and I'm planning on going back to black and grey in the new place.  After looking around, I realized that EVERYONE'S doing black and grey right now so you've probably seen more than enough dark rooms.  Instead, I figured I'd share my love of teal. 

Yes, I know teal is an "in" color nowadays, but I've been doing teal for years and plan to keep it in our decor for years to come.  To me, teal's a timeless color that has so much depth and feeling.  My dining room is and every time I walk by I just feel happy.  You can dress it up or down, go dark or light.  No matter what you choose, teal is gorgeous!

via Clapboard Cottage

via Elle Decor

via Decor Pad

via Alan Wales

via Manolo for the Home

via Decor Pad

On the Dial: Muse - The Resistance

Muse – The Resistance

By Mr. Design Girl

The British rock trio Muse is at it again with their third album, The Resistance.  While a large portion of bands tend to fail after their sophmore slump, Muse just gets better and more ambitious with every track they record.

Matthew Bellamy, lead singer and guitarist, is a huge fan of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and it shows throughout this album with his falsetto crooning and the deep, artsy imagery his lyrics evoke.  I can't get over the bass and drums throughout the album. ”Hysteria” and “Knights of Cydonia”, tracks from their past albums had beautiful, technical bass lines and drum arrangements, but this album has Muse at the top of their “low-end” game. Listen to the bass lines on any song at any point on the album and see what I mean.

The same could be said for the guitar work and singing. Bellamy is a seasoned song-writer whose epic and crunchy guitar work compliments the melodic bass and aggressive drumming.

My favorite song on the album is the title track “Resistance”. It's untouchable on the bass guitar, has unbelievable drums, and the vocals and lyrics are superb yet again. If you're not into Muse, listen to "Resistance" and and your mind will be changed in no time.  Better yet, try “Exogenesis: Symphony”, a three track symphony done by a rock band. ‘Nuff said!

Other Bands That Rock Like Muse:
  Radiohead
  The Who
  The Killers
  Coldplay
  Led Zepplin

Etsy Shop of the Week: Elisa Lou Designs

There's nothing worse than lugging around all the bulky modern-day electronics we just can't live without.  While you may not be able to throw away your laptop and your kid may have a fit if you get rid of their Nintendo DS, at least you'll be able to carry them around in style with a pouch from Elisa Lou Designs.  Elisa's pouches are custom made to fit all your electronics including your cell, eReader, laptop, and handheld games.  She also makes purses and totes that are big enough to store everything you need to get through your day. 

If you like the fabrics you see and want to create a piece of your own, head over to Elisa Lou's Fabric Shop where you can buy all the fabrics she uses in her designs.

Totes from Bonjour Mon Coussin!

Not only do the wonderfully inventive folks at Bonjour Mon Coussin have new pillows, but now they make totes as well! My love of Bonjour continues...

 

On the Dial: The Flaming Lips

You probably noticed I've been adding music to some of the blog posts lately.  That's because I'm a HUGE music fan.  So is my husband.  In fact, I'm pretty sure it's our love of music and burgers that keeps our marriage together!

That's why the hubby and I are teaming up to bring you a new weekly feature called "On the Dial".  Each Wednesday, my husband, a.k.a. Mr. Design Girl, will share with you the latest and greatest tunes from our diverse music library.

So kick back, crank up the volume, and enjoy!

On the Dial: Dark Side of the Moon by The Flaming Lips
By: Mr. Design Girl

The Flaming Lips are a psychedelic rock band that’s been doing their thing since 1983. They recently recorded a cover version of the album “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd. I’m a huge fan of both bands so I had to hear this.

I re-listened to the album this week and was quite impressed. Pink Floyd isn’t an easy band to cover and ”Dark Side of the Moon” is one of the more familiar rock albums around. But, the Flaming Lips really stepped up to the plate, so to speak, with this endeavor. Granted there are moments where the band falters, but there are many shining points throughout the album that even the harshest of critics would enjoy.

“On the Run” is one of those shining points and although I say shining it is more dark and sinister, the feeling of this track is captured nicely and the title says it all when it comes to what that feeling is. You literally have a sense of running away from something, and the constant bobbing and running sensation is excellently done. “Us and Them” is my favorite song by Pink Floyd, so it wasn’t a surprise to me that The Flaming Lips didn’t deliver on this one.  Despite doing well, it just didn’t get the job done for me.

I could say the same for “The Great Gig in the Sky”.  It’s one of the best tracks from the original album but it seems a bit watered down when redone here and at times far too distorted and over done with effects. Again, a good job but when compared to what it is paying tribute to, it just can’t stand up.

The best track on the album is the last track: “Eclipse”. It has such a great energy to it and seeing the band perform this song live at the end of the show would be a moving experience. The flipside of that would be “Money”…it just doesn’t work for them and for me, it’s one of those songs on the “Do Not Cover” list.

Overall, the album was okay.  If you're a fan of either band it's worth a listen.

Give It a Try If You Like:

 Radiohead

 Modest Mouse

 Sonic Youth

 The Arcade Fire

 Beck

My Office Redo!

We're only planning on living in this apartment for a few more months, but I really wanted to paint my workroom anyway.  I wrestled with whether I should or not for a couple of months...we made an agreement with our landlord that we'd repaint any non-neutral colors when we move out and I didn't want to add another room to that list.

BEFORE:

The office before we moved in.  Nice and clean (but a boring color)!

But the other day I was sitting here dreaming about all the colors the room could be when a sudden impulse came over me and I decided I couldn't work in a drab, boring room for one more second.  I told myself that if I could find a neutral color already in my paint arsenal I'd go for it.  Sure enough, I had a gallon of grey paint leftover from another project.  I got a brush, and started painting. 

After we moved in.  Messy!  As you see I couldn't decide which color to paint the bookcase wall!

Granted, it's not your typical office space.  After all, how many people have a miter box screwed into their desk?  Still, I love my workroom!  The best part of this project was that I was able to use paint leftover from previous projects so I didn't have to worry about spending money. The only thing I had to buy was a gallon of white paint which I already needed for touchups around the house. The grey and white brighten the room and the brightly painted furniture and accents add life and color. I like that this room is different from the 1970's color pallet I have throughout the rest of the house. It's such a fun place to work now!

AFTER:

White won for the accent wall! I used Ikea curtain fabric to hide my messy bookcase storage.

A new bright green shelf.

To add extra color, I painted the inset of the built-in bookcase pink...I can quickly paint it white when it's time to leave.

BEFORE:

This is the side of the room where I do all my work and store my tools and wood scraps so it's a little messy.

AFTER:

Still cluttered with my tools and whatnot but it's a little more organized and definitely prettier when painted bright colors!

Another easy color addition: painting the edge of the worktable yellow.

All the memorbelia I've collected over the years is now on the beam above my desk to make things even more fun.  I painted the beam and added cork to make it functional.

I decided to switch to a real mouse, but now I can't find my mouse pad so my Ikea catalog's doing double duty.

The trap door in the middle of the floor that leads to the backyard.  It makes arranging furniture difficult.