We officially are reserved for our "new" apartment, and the move is on!

The current plan is for B. and I to get our keys to our new apartment this coming weekend (eek!) and gradually move (we need to be out of our current place by the end of the month.) I thought it would be a good idea to start packing now, so today I'm working on books, DVDs, and fragile items. I'm in a wedding on the 18th, but on the 19th we'll probably start moving small things over - a few loads of boxes in our cars, things like my books and out-of-season shoes, that I won't need for the next couple weeks.

Later in August, we'll be doing our BIG move with help from our pals. Fortunately we have a few friends who are thrilled that we're finally moving to our neck of the woods, and have offered to help in getting us there. And then, there's the immense amount of cleaning to do...

*sigh* The packing and moving out process is my LEAST favorite part of moving. It always makes me want to be ruthlessly minimalist and get rid of everything = which I don't, though I do try to weed out what I'm no longer using. I'm sure there's a lesson in this somewhere - I do save a lot of things that I don't need, though I'm far less of a packrat than previous generations in my family.

I love moving IN, though. Furniture arrangements, getting art hung on the walls, setting up books and teacups and candles on shelves... that part is fun. I'm really looking forward to setting up our new place - we'll have a decent amount of living space, and less awkward/wasted angles in our living room and second bedroom than what we have now. B. is excited to get a TV and cable (we've lived without both for a couple years.) For the first time in my apartment-living life, we have the option to paint walls if we choose to, which is VERY appealing.

To celebrate and unwind a little, B. and I met up with some of our friends this weekend to camp nearby. We were camping off what is more a forest service road than a proper campground, but were allowed to have a fire. Best of all, we were very far away from other campers, so didn't have to worry about keeping others awake (which was especially handy when someone set up a karaoke machine on a laptop, complete with speakers and sound system!) I sang a little (rocking out to Fiona Apple), but mostly just enjoyed looking up at the meteor shower in the clear sky, playing with our friends' dogs, and having a chance to laugh and relax.

A couple outfits that I missed earlier:
#1-2: Blue/green patterned fit and flare poly/spandex dress that I got from a YLF clothing swap; teal earring used as a pendant necklace on a silver chain; bone patent low wedge sandals; mustard handbag.
I wore this last weekend; some of my cousins were visiting from all of town, so all of us local 20-something cousins decided to beat the (90+ degree) heat by meeting at a local air-conditioned brewery. It was the PERFECT way to cool down!

#3-4: A work day when it wasn't quite so hot. BR blue patterned knit wrap dress; hummingbird brooch from Toronto; blue Second Base demi-camisole; low leopard print pumps.