On Saturday, Drew and I will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by since we got married — especially since I only recently ordered wedding photos — but I guess it has. To mark the occasion, we're taking our first ever road trip together, because, I guess neither of us is interested in making it to our second anniversary. As I've mentioned before, and you might remember, we aren't drivers. That's to say, Drew doesn't even have a license and I don't particularly like driving and haven't done it since I moved to New York three years ago. So, I guess we're sort of asking for trouble, but I love a good road trip and we're both willing to risk the possibility of it not going swimmingly. Though, I do hope we at least both live to tell the tale if that's the case.
Anyway, our journey starts in Memphis, which we'll be flying to, fortunately. We'll hang out there for a couple days — see Graceland and all the other things people have recommended we check out. Then we'll rent a car and head to Missouri where I'll show Drew my old college town and we'll make our way to St. Louis, where my parents are spending the summer. My sister, Allison, will also be in town for a conference, and I'll get to see my grandparents and hopefully the rest of my extended family there, too, as well as celebrate my dad's 64th birthday.
Since no one in the family has seen our new place yet, of course, I took a few photos to show them. We still have lots of work to do, but the place is slowly coming together, and I thought I'd share a few photos with you too. You've already seen a sneak peek of the place, but here's a closer look:
Over the weekend, we finally settled on a color for the office — a light buttery yellow — and Drew, at least, seems pretty pleased ... although that smile might still be a result of the joy we both felt when our first ever washer and dryer was delivered a week earlier. Here's a glimpse on the right, behold:
I've done a couple loads of laundry now (full disclosure: Drew is typically the laundry guy in the family and I take care of the dishes, but I just had to try out our new purchases), and each time I instinctively dug in my pockets for quarters to feed the machines first. After 16 years of paying-as-I-wash, I guess it's just a habit that will take awhile to break. Not that I'm complaining!
This, of course, is our kitchen, which has roughly 800,000 times more counter space than the kitchen in our last place. It also has a freezer that makes ice! I don't know how it happens, but there's this little ice dish in there and every time we need ice, there's plenty. We could empty the entire ice dish and go back an hour later and it would be full again. Is there a little ice fairy in our freezer? I don't know, but it's awesome, and it's one of my favorite little things about the apartment. And if I could somehow get the ice fairy to actually mix up my cocktails, things would be fucking perfect.
Most of our guests will be happy to see we kept our diner booth. How could we not? We always feel like we're dining out when we sit to eat a meal, and who doesn't love that? Drew got the booth years ago at some restaurant supply store on the lower east side. I was worried it wouldn't go with the new place — that it would be too casual or something — but I might actually like it better here than at the old place. Although it sure did look good against the exposed brick there...
This is another favorite spot of mine in the apartment. The china cabinet belonged to my great-grandmother and I just love it. The inside still smells like my grandparents' old basement, where it spent the last, I don't know, several decades before I took it. You can hardly see them, but on top of the cabinet are two little wooden figurines of a Korean man and a woman carrying a baby on her back. Those belonged to my grandparents, too. My parents bought them as gifts when we lived in Korea the first time — about 28 years ago or so. When my grandparents downsized from their house to an apartment a few years back, these were among the items they passed down to me.
This lamp was another purchase my parents made — this time for my other set of grandparents (RIP). I think they got it in Okinawa, where I was born. I remember it sitting in my grandparents' living room through my whole childhood and looking at it reminds me of them. It originally had a white shade, but when I moved to New York, I got a black shade for it, which I think gives it an updated, modern look. The framed photo is one of my all-time favorites, snapped by my sister at my wedding. And the bobble head is actually Drew as a Yankee. His brother had it custom made for Drew's 40th birthday and it really looks just like him!
One of the things that's been a challenge moving into a gut-rehabbed building where we're the first occupants, is giving the space some character and a sense of history. It helps having so many objects that have been passed down or given to us by family members. Especially being so far away from mine, it's nice having things around me that remind me of them. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing them in person again in just a few days. If you don't hear from me before, I'll see you on the flip flop. Unless we die in a car crash. Which I hope doesn't happen. But if it does, I want my sister to get the ice fairy.
i love your new digs! so glad you posted some pics! and i remember that dinerbooth from a pic from your old place (and the exposed brick, sigh). your place looks fabulous! congrats!
good luck on the road trip! :)
Posted by: megabrooke | July 21, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Wow, so pretty! I can't wait to come and visit! Have a great road trip and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, my friend! xoxo
Posted by: Account Deleted | July 21, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Thanks, you guys!
Emily, September is a lovely time to visit NYC (hint-hint). Plus, I'l actually have a couch by then! Hopefully.
Posted by: citywendy | July 21, 2010 at 03:44 PM
Wow, Wendy what a beautiful apartment, I love the hardwood floors and how light and spacious it feels in these photos. I'm totally jealous of your ice fairy too as our ancient freezer takes forever to freeze ice cubes which slows down my drinking time considerably!
Happy Anniversary to you guys, hope you have a fun roadtrip and there are no carcrashes en route!
Posted by: Vicki | July 22, 2010 at 05:07 AM
I love your apartment! I'm so jealous - looks like such great space and lighting. Enjoy the new place, and good luck with your trip. Travel safe!
Posted by: abby | July 22, 2010 at 08:39 AM
Oh my gosh! Your apartment is gorgeous! I love it and how you guys have decorated it. I've actually always wanted a diner booth for my kitchen so maybe someday I'll have to copy you and Drew and track one down. Have a great time on your road trip. You should check out the Road Eats column on the Splendid Table's website for some fun dives and local spots to hit up along the way!
Posted by: Kathleen | July 22, 2010 at 03:43 PM
I think I called it the wrong thing but here is the link. Enjoy!
http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/whereweeat/
Posted by: Kathleen | July 22, 2010 at 03:59 PM
Your apartment is awesome!! Can you come over to my dumpy little place in Manhattan, that's still crammed full of Ikea furniture, and give me an apartment makeover?
Posted by: teahouseblossom | July 30, 2010 at 08:22 PM
Wow, the apartment looks great! I love the Kitchen and the Diner booth!
Posted by: Carla | August 02, 2010 at 08:43 AM