Apartment 601

Designer. Toronto. Just a blog & my ramblings 

[apartment601]

March Read: Karamo

I am a big fan of the show Queer Eye. I read Tan France's book last year, and I have Antony's cookbook. I think it's such a positive, uplifting show that always makes me feel good when I need that pick me up. Very interested in learning more about Karamo since he is one of my favorite people on the show. Also, it's nice to use my kobo glo instead of a big book! While I have a nice little bookshelf (filled with books) I try to get digital copies when I can because I don't want clutter.

I will be one of those people who go through older books I have and be like "Do I still want to hold on to this? Will I ever read it again?" If not I will donate it to goodwill or a bookstore. Perhaps Bobby Berk would be proud.

If Bobby or JVN have books I need to read those as well!

[apartment601]

Still stuck on side tables

I finally got my side table, after a while of searching! For those of you interested I got it from wayfair. It's on sale right now! However, putting it together was literally horrible because of these little plastic pegs that you just had to "click" together and it was really tough and the top got damaged so I reached out to them for a replacement top.

The good thing about wayfair is that the customer service is great! I have had no issues ordering a replacement piece whatsoever.

This table literally fits right beside the sofa so nicely and now the fold up outdoor table will be ready to go outdoors whenever!

Now for my next project.. another side table *shocked*. I have another fold-up outdoor table that is inside and when the weather gets nice and sunny that bad boy is going outside with the rest of the outdoor furniture. So I need a table to put the plant and wi-fi router on.

I was on pinterest the other day and saw these tables and the legs are coat hangers! How awesome is that?! So that's my next project. I am thinking of doing a combo of the first photo and the second because I love the extra storage. I like the natural wood legs but I want the shelf part to be a colour I am just not sure what yet.

[apartment601]

Coin Collection

I had this idea to frame all the neat coins I had found from different countries (even if I have traveled to them or not). My mom & my papa had a bunch as well they were willing to give me (which was super nice of them and it makes this more special to me)🥺 🧡 . I am thinking of painting the frame black to match my other frames. For those wondering the frame is from Dollarama and I stuck the coins on with double-sided tape.

I tried to sort them by country so let's see if I can list them all out in order.. 🤔

🌎 Canada, México, United States, Great Britain, Italy, Greece, France, Switzerland, Russia, Germany, Austria, Israel, Netherlands, Finland, Turkey, Sweden, Netherlands, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, British Caribbean Territories, Cuba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, last but not least Venezuela.

[apartment601]

Side Table Sadness

I want a better side table. I bought a sofa that was a futon (like every other person who just moved out for the first time) with the thought that “Yeah that way when a friend needs to stay over, or my brother comes over they have a place to crash!”. Also my current roommate didn’t help to buy a sofa and I got frustrated because whenever I asked her what her thoughts were or what kind of sofa she wanted she said “whatever I don’t care”. Enter the 2020 pandemic. When you can’t have anyone over to hangout and crash and want a super comfortable sofa with the armrests but are stuck with the futon.

Which is cool we are going to keep it and it works, and it will one day go into the basement or my future office (and be the dogs future bed).

But I want a better side table in the mean time, the ones I bought I believe are outdoor tables, I was using then as “plant tables” until I got proper plant stands.

I want something a little more sturdy with some storage underneath (https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GT4SC9T/?coliid=I1B84I3JR1XRFV&colid=3N2KO810LVDW9&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1) like his for example.

This one from Wayfair looks so similar but is a little more expensive.. but the reviews look better. https://www.wayfair.ca/furniture/pdp/george-oliver-warriner-end-table-golv3196.html?piid=25229367

I have to wait until March for this one which will give me time to save up some extra cash. When I want something I tend fo be impatient and that's something I have to work on.

[apartment601]

COVID-19 Third Booster Shot

We ended up going to shoppers drug mart and getting our third shot yesterday. No real side effects which is great, my arm just really, really, hurts so it was tough to sleep.

Not sure how many more booster shots we will need. Maybe 2-3 more? Then one every year? More and more businesses will be asking for updated shots and when we go to the gym (gyms closed for two weeks here in Toronto) I know they will want us to be on top of it.

I am thankful that we are safe, and family is safe and we are able to get access to a vaccine.

[apartment601]

February Read: Ear Hustle

That's right, starting my February Read early 😏 finished my January read (Work From Home Hacks) and learned a few tricks, tips, and new software to help me focus and look better on zoom calls. 😂

I went to the book store yesterday after doing groceries with my partner, and he was actually the one looking for a book. We were in the science and nature section and the shelf behind us was the community and culture section. I turned around to see what books were behind us and I saw this one and gasped. I used to listen to this podcast all the time when I worked at Cineplex. When my job consisted mostly of design work and I didn’t have to focus that much. https://www.earhustlesq.com/ and now to find out they have a book! It was a no-brainer that this would be my next read.

[apartment601]

Virtual Board Games

Last night I played an online game called Table Top Simulator with my brother (who lives at home) and two of his friends. It was very cool playing "board games" but in a virtual way. Since board games and games, in general, is something my family enjoys doing a lot.

My brother and I don't connect very often, he ignores my texts sometimes or gives me one-word responses so it's nice that we were able to spend a few hours together playing a game, chatting, and laughing together. Maybe they just wanted a fourth person, I don't know but I am happy to be included.

We played a game called Betrayal at House on the Hill, which was pretty spooky and a lot of fun. The premise was you are exploring a haunted house and then soon enough the "haunt" begins and there are around 50 different things that could potentially happen depending on how the haunt happens. For example, someone could betray you, zombies could come, a werewolf, etc.

His birthday is in March and I know exactly what I will get him so we can play this game in person.

[apartment601]

January read: Work from Home Hacks

I'm not ashamed to say that in 2021 I also had this goal and I read 6 books. I was still proud of that because it's 6 more books than I read the previous year. However this year I am going to do it and finish a book a month.

Now you might be like "I finish a book in a week" well I'm a slow reader. I tend to get distracted easily and then have to re-read what I read.

So I am kicking off 2022 with a book I found at HomeSense. Called work from home hacks! Since I still work at home I am constantly figuring out routines and how I can change them and adapt and try to focus better on my work. Staying focused is really hard for me.

Hopefully, this book will give me some good tips 😉

[apartment601]

Happy New Year. Hello, 2022.

It has been a crazy year, filled with laughs, tears, and memories good and bad. We connected with friends and lost some family but we grew together.

Big highlights from 2021:

- Got a new job that pays more

- Finished 6 books this year

- Got permanent residency

- Squatted 30pounds (plus the bar)

- Finally plucked up the courage to get a tutor for Spanish lessons

I hope 2022 brings good and healthy change. I hope it means accomplishing the goals we set out to do and lots of moving forward. I hope it means safety to travel and see family more often.

Cheers 🥂 2021, Hello 2022.

[apartment601]

Goodbye 2021

Another year has gone by.

2020 has changed things the way I work, how I live, my relationship status. ( I moved out of my parent's house, found myself in a long-term relationship, started working remotely). A lot of things changed!

2021, made me feel more comfortable in the new world I was living in, and by comfortable I mean a bit lazy. Felt too comfortable at home didn't get out to the gym as much as 2020.

I have a lot of goals, I have a lot of thoughts and I just want a place to write them. I had Tumblr for like 10+ years I started back in like 2008. While that blog remains active (find it I dare you) I am not the same person I was back then.

2022 I hope will be a lot of big things to come. I turn 30 this year, I want to travel again (safely) to visit my future in-laws in Mexico. My partner got his permanent residency, I want to get a house this year, I want to be better at the gym, I want to read at least 12 books this year, I want to get better at Spanish (for the in-laws). I'm sure there's probably more but I can't really think of it now.

I'm excited about what is to come.