I know, I know. I’ve been absent. I wish I could say I’ve been spending my time driving Cameron’s dad’s Ferrari and singing “Danke Schoen” to downtown Chicago but the truth is I just dropped the blog ball!

A few months after I moved, full of fiery determination and bubbling over with inspiration, I had high hopes of turning my first apartment into a home.

Then I made a big mistake. I looked at my bank account. And as soon as they came the plans to make my Upper East Side studio into a palace left. I timidly and shamefully took a step back from what I wanted out of fear. What if I only live here for a year? What if my rent jumps and I’m forced out? Is it wise to pour all my time and energy into a house that’s not my own? Will I ever get the money back that I’m putting in?

Then I had a thought: FUCK IT. You only live once, right, and if I am only here for a year or the rent increases and forces me out or a rat king rises up from the sewer and carries me on their throne of knotted tails back to their den then at least I would’ve made the most of my time. And if I’m careful with my budget and implement cunningly crafty ideas I can have the home of my dreams regardless of how much that dumb Bank of America ATM says I have to spend. I just have to be smart and stay resourceful.

And so it resumes. Operation: No Fear is in full swing and there are some very exciting changes happening!

EDITOR’S NOTE: To anyone reading this and scratching their head over the disparity in time stamps on this blog and the content in each post, well, you caught me! I’ve transferred the blog to a different platform and the only sensible thing my small, pea brain could handle is cutting and pasting each post from one to the other. At the time it seemed like the easiest way to archive it all, but now I just feel all gross and dirty.

Phew, it feels good to get that off my chest. I hate lying to you.