'Ze-bra'nd New Additions

Lately, I've been attracted to all things zebra.

Zebra accessories.

Zebra electronics.

Zebra interiors.

So when I found this little beauty of a chest hiding around a corner at my internship, I knew that it must soon be mine.

So I set it in the living room for all to admire and filled it with blankets. Talk about awesome AND functional.

Then I realized something: my zebra chest was all alone in a big-wide apartment of mainly traditional accessories. He'd stick out like a sore thumb in there all by himself!

So I made him some zebra pillow brethren.
Quadruplets to be exact.

Who cares that my living room is now a mixture of traditional colors, contemporary patterns and a splash of St. Patty's Day green? Look how happy they all look together.

Consistency is for old people!
Or at least people with money and know-how.

Plus, if there's anything I've learned during the past four months of endless interior decoration, it is that there are no rules. Just call it 'transitional' and no one will ever know you're full of bologna.

And now for a moment of apology.

I am sorry, dear readers, for not posting for (dare I say it) an entire month.

But you see, my days have gone something like this:
6:00AM - Wake up (or begin what will become the first of seven snooze button delays).
8:00AM - Be to work, ideally. Tardiness, however, may be overlooked should freshly baked goods be involved.
11:00AM - Spend an eternity looking for a parking spot. Trudge to campus. Die in class.
1:00PM - Grab a quick lunch. Drive to internship. Commence slave labors.
7:00PM - Drive home. Collapse on couch. Beg Gem to make food.
8:00PM - Play volleyball. Go country dancing. Swim. Light things on fire. General college life merry-making. Etc.
12:00AM - Contemplate going to bed. Decide to watch 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' instead. Regret it all the next morning.

Rinse, Lather, REPEAT.

And so, can you blame me? I've really had the best of intentions.

But what would you do if you had the choice between sitting behind a computer another minute or running down and jumping into this:

Uh huh.

That's what I thought.

Curl Up & Die

At my internship, there's a secret room.
A secret room of wonder.

My first day on the job, I was told to deliver a few pillows to the 'bedding closet'. I shuffled around, opening random doors with a puzzled look on my face until I found a certain secluded corner with a spattering of pillows.

Thinking no more of it, I went about my merry way, happily conducting my daily slave labors.

But upon recently returning to said bedding closet, I found that the pillows had somehow multiplied.

Like rabbits.

What had started out as four or five lumpy rejects had turned into an entire room of perfectly-stuffed, gleaming white pillows.

I had to lean against the door with all my weight just to get a peek.
 
"This just will not do.", my tidy-self stated.

So I began to organize.
Wafting through a pool of down, I sorted pillows according to size and color, making stacks as I went. It was a happy business, my own little world of softness around me.

That was, until I realized I had completely blocked the only entrance to the small enclosure and the now nine-foot pillow piles were starting to teeter.

"Help...", I gulped weakly from the darkness.

Pulling myself together, I quickly steadied the stacks, breathing a quick sigh of relief.

But this didn't stop me from contemplating whether or not such a death would be so terrible? Which of course led me to one of my favorite pastimes: imagining the perfect obituary.

I've spoken of this before. Remember?


And thus, it was born.

Yah. That just happened.

Seventy Times Seven.

I love the number seven. It is the perfect number.

How do I know?
Well, first off, I was born on July 7th.

That's 7/7, to dispel any confusion.

And then, if that weren't fan-freaking-tastic enough, just think of this. I... had a birthday... in 200... 7.

07/07/07. Hoo-SHA!

In case you were wondering, Wikipedia informs us that '7 is the natural number following 6 and proceeding 8'.

We are an edjukated nation, people.

Know what else?

There are seven girls in my family. (Mom included.)
Snow White had seven dwarfs.
There are seven days of the week.
Seven wonders of the ancient world.
Seven brides for seven brothers.
Sailors sail the seven seas. (Say that ten times fast.)
Seven deadly sins.
Seven days of creation.
7-Eleven.
7UP.

Freak. I even stop the microwave at seven seconds.

Don't judge.

More?

The number of servings I had of my smothered burritos with Mexican rice. Or at least wish I had.

The number of times a day I admire my new shoes.

The number of times Davey-baby and Candy laughed when they saw their handmade wedding present from yours truly.

 

The number of times 'Da Twinneh' complained that I didn't have enough pictures of her in my room. -AND- The number of times a day 'Da Twinneh' proclaims how much she hates the pictures I chose.

How many times I doubted whether the ratty DI decoration 'Da Twinneh' scavenged would amount to anything adorable. It did.

The  number of years it took to convince my roommate that SPAM is second only to bacon.

And lastly, the number of milliseconds it took to realize Gem would absolutely capital L-O-V-E this pillow.

So when my nieces woke up at 7:00AM by screaming loudly seventy times, demanding seven different breakfast cereals and asking to swim AGAIN 7,000 times, did I forgive them?

Of course. Seventy times seven.

Me Design Your House?

Wanna guess what amazing feats and masterful skills I performed at my internship today?

Anyone? Anyone?

Well, let me tell ya.

I utilized my amazing design capabilities while vacuuming the lighting center. But did I stop there? Oh no. I vacuumed every stinkin' area rug on the showroom floor.

"Impossible!", you say.

Let's face it, I'm a skilled woman.

And then, oh then, do you know what I did.

I SWEPT.

The entire store.

The last dustpan-ful included my arms. 

So yah.

Notice how I spelt 'yah'. Not to be confused with 'yea' (also commonly spelt 'yay').

This discrepancy is highly irritating to me. I find people, far too often, replace 'yea' for 'yah'.

For instance:

Do I want to learn more about interiors at my internship? 'Yah.'

Do I like decorating the show floor? 'Yah.'

Should you learn the difference between these words? 'Yah.'

Just imagine if I had responded 'yea' to all of these questions. I would have sounded like a completely insane person who is way too excitable. (Do you ever stop saying 'yea'? "YEA!")

The point is: I am an amazing intern, gosh darn it! And I want to do some DESIGNING!

I can do it! I can. I completed this project last semester in my 'Design in the Home' course and received entirely positive feedback about my interior choices.

First, I designed my floor plan layout and completed a rough sketch. Next, I decided on a warm color scheme with amber, bronze, goldenrod, etc. Then I found materials that would fit the desired 'feel' of my rooms and finalized the floor plan rendering.

I decided on a deep chocolate brown wood for the cabinets with almost no visible grain. This would be contrasted by a highly reflective copper counter top and tile mosaic back splash.

The entire apartment would have cork (no, really) cork flooring with various chocolate speckled area rugs for comfort in the bedroom, etc. It's different, I know, but I love how unique it is. Not just the same ole', same ole'.


My instructor insisted that these choices lean towards a '50s retro theme. I, however, beg to differ. The cork might lean towards that, but in MY design, is a whole lot more stylish. The picture I included shows what I mean. The fabrics are satin-y, the surfaces glow and the lighting is romantical. Posh, eh?

For textiles, I chose a woven fabric with stylized circles and a warm brown leather. Paint swatches included a soft yellow and a slightly darker variation for contrast.
 Notice how the tile pulls out the chocolate brown from the cupboards, the copper from the counter tops and introduces a sheek granite grey.

So, whaddya say?
Don't you think Osmond Designs should hire me on full-time?
Me too.

But... it may not happen in the near future.
After all, I am one-heck-of-a vacuum slave.

More of Ze Grande Tour.

How's about I squoinch a few more photos of my apartment on here ta'day?

How's that for a word: 'squoinch'. I'm not exactly sure how I came up with that one? Perhaps a mixture of squish, oink and pinch?... You figure out how that works.

All I know is that it has so many perfect uses in so many, many circumstances...

Here's da bathroom. For kind of a tight fit, I feel like I've got a pretty good balance goin' on in here. I found the candle sconces at D.I. for a buck a piece, the black shelf at D.I. for a dolla, stole the candles from my mom, the three glass jars to hold Q-tips/cotton balls/cotton pads at The Dollar Store, the purple berry wreath out of a junk pile for free, the frog hand soap dispenser as a birthday gift, the toothbrush holder from The Dollar Store, the jewelry containers as gifts, the hair accessory tower from D.I. for (you guessed it) one buckaroo, the basket on the tank of the toilet from Da Twinneh and *phew* the towels as gifts.

Therefore, according to my calculations, this room cost me a whopping: $10.

And now for ze bedroom.

First off, I can't be held accountable for the lack of frames/photos on that wall.

However, I will take credit for it's future glory. That, my friends, I purchased (almost entirely honestly) from the D.I. for $2. The frames were also thrift finds and rest assured, I have two additional frames and five adorable 5x7s to fill them as soon as I move back after the break. If you're good, I'll show you the finished product.

But the breakdown: the paper lanterns were $.75 each at the D.I., the reversible comforter was a gift (pardon the messy bed... that's twice now! I'm going to hell...), the sheet set was purchased for a ridiculously good price from JC Penney online and the pillows were all stolen from my parent's house. Well... almost all.

I cry to think of the number of pillows they've had to purchase to make up for my fetish. Okay. Not really cry, per say.

I may be laughing on the outside but on the inside, I'm crying.

My brother and sister-in-law gave me the TV out of pity (I love pity gifts!), the wall sconce and candle were from the D.I., the reversible word wood blocks I featured HERE, the cutest-flower-lamp-in-existence my sister bought for me at IKEA, the bead curtains I got for $2 at DEB and the other knick-knacks I probably either got as gifts, from The Dollar Store or (you know it) the D.I.

Are we sensing a pattern here?...

The butterfly chair was a spur-of-the-moment purchase at Walmart for $20 and the clock $5. Ah, to be young and impulsive again. Wait...

You can't really see it so well here, but there's a little green wooden sign over my closet that says 'WHATEVER'. It's pretty much my pride and joy.

I'm tellin' ya people. EVERYTHING is at the D.I.

So long as you're brave enough to sift through the crap.

So... that's about it. I've 'squoinched' (eh?... eh?... :D) in everything I can think of. What do you think of my humble abode?

Semi-Grand Tour

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present... *drumroll please*

My Apartment!
Well. The kitchen, at least.

I can't help but be proud of it. After all, it has been pieced together over the course of four years during various scrounging missions to the D.I. and dollar store. Not to mention all of the free junk I've been given. 'Junk' meant with all the love possible.

Our first exhibit: The Infamous Bakers Rack.

Bakers Rack: $35.00- found on KSL.
Plant: $10.00 for the red pot- grown from a clipping at my office.
Cookbooks & recipe magazines: free/forcibly given (in some instances).
Candles w/stands: $5.00- mismatched from D.I. and dollar store.
Photo carousel: $3.00- at D.I.
Cookie Jar: $1.00- at D.I., lid stolen from my mom &  repainted
Magnet recipe board: $2.00- at D.I.
Picnic basket: free, abandoned in one of the Wymount basements
Fall decorations: $10.00- at Dollar Tree

Stop two: Kitchen Table and Black Picture Frame Wall.

Table: (gratefully) not mine

Chairs: $10.00 a piece at D.I.- reimbursed by landlord

Placemats: free- stolen from home

Pampered Chef treat tote: free, stolen from home

(are we noticing a trend?...)

Variety of black frames: $15.00 collectively

Glass cube flower arrangement: free (in manner of speaking)- made during this week's floral design lab.

On a sidenote:

You'll be happy to know that I gave my creation to a 'supposedly' sick invalid as an expression of goodwill. 'Da Twinneh' was grateful for the gesture but didn't appear especially ill. Faker? Perhaps.

That girl will do anything for free egg drop soup, cream cheese wontons and flowers.

Around the corner you'll find the: Window Seat.

My pride and joy.
You can't really tell from this picture, but the base has three compartments, yet to be filled with an assortment of items in need of storage.

And for a closer look:

Now, for the break down.

Three throw pillows: $6.33 at Kohl's- call me the world's best coupon clipper

Bench: free minus a few bucks for the paint- my Dad helped me make it over the weekend

Cushions & fulcrums (of sorts): free- salvaged/created from some old camper cushions and drapes that used to hang in my sister's house

Various doo-dads: mostly free, a couple bucks for the frame

I never cease to amaze myself.

Which leads us to the main event: The Kitchen.

Boy Howdy, I wish I could add a splash of color on the walls. Someday.

A description of expenses in this room would take ten-gazillion years so, suffice it to say:

I found the rug stuffed in the bushes at a prior apartment.

The wrought iron wall art used to be wall sconces that were accidentally broken in the process of being hung. I suppose it's apropos that I like them better this way?...

Pretty much everything else has come to me free of charge but let's face it.

That's just how I like it.

We're coming to our last stop: The Sad & Lonely Refrigerator

I take that back. I guess he has the garbage can for company.

Some consolation that is...

The main purpose of this view is to show of our adorable aprons, all sewn by muah. We're so crafty.

All this tourin' is making me tired. Which reminds me...

I didn't even make my bed.

I know what you're thinking: Who hacked Corinner-Elly's account and is spreading such malicious falsehoods?!

But tis' true. Tis' true.

I'm morphing into a normal person who doesn't ceremoniously make her bed every morning.

I sense some disbelief.

Put a Fork in Me, I'm Done.

Guess what I just realized?
This is my last semester taking a full load of credit hours at BYU! WOOP! (Yah... It's like 'WOOT' but better.)

Where has the time gone, people? Where has the time gone.

Isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard??
Next semester, I'm gonna be all fun and fancy free, takin' like six credit hours and livin' it up at my new internship. That's right. You heard me. INTERNSHIP.

I'm gonna be spending my time in Lehi at Osmond Designs, helping in their design center and office. It's gonna be brilliant. Because they're awesome.

Wanna know why? I'll tell you why.

Not only do they specialize in Interior Design, their website has a quiz. A 'Find Your Style' quiz. And everyone knows how exciting those are! (Not the evil 'pop' quizzes teachers spring on you in college, dummy. The pointless 'How Many Kid's Will You Have', etc. quizzes on Facebook!)

I know how much you're dying to know what my results were. Really. I do. So, without further ado... Corinner-Elly's style is:

... wait for it ...

Casual/Traditional
And now for a blurb about what that means! (I may or may not post this on my wall later to annoy all my 'friends' and turn into the world's greatest nuisance.)

"Your responses place you within the Casual / Traditional design category. Interior styles suited to your tastes might include the casual country styles of American Country, Cottage, French Provincial and English Country. Americana styles might also be suited to your tastes in the variations of Arts & Crafts / Mission Style, Shaker and Southwestern / Lodge / High Country. Coastal Atlantic Seaboard and California Coastal styles are other alternatives for a breezy variation of casual traditional style."

Why do I feel as though I'm being given the virtual stink eye?

*sigh*

I see that the only person who will actually be able to respond/relate to this is Katerina Cupcake. I expect to see a comment from you, little Missy. Tell them I'm not crazy.

And now that you've all gone and crushed my spirits, I don't even feel like tellin' you about my latest projects.

PFFT. Who'm I kiddin'?

Look what I made! Okay, okay. I didn't really make it, per say. But I did find it at DI and spray paint it. It was an assignment commissioned by my mom and, by golly, I think I get an 'A+'.
(P.S. It's a shoe basket, in case you were confused on that subject.)

And looky, looky! I started my Floral Design class and in the first lab we learned how to design/wrap bouquets. I chose a monochromatic color scheme. (Green doesn't necessarily count as a 'color' in the flower world. Strange, eh?)

I gave it to Lera for her birthday. She loved it! (More than the one her boyfriend gave her, truth be told. But that's a secret for me to know and him to never find out.)

And now, to finish off what might otherwise be termed a 'non-reaction worthy' post, I'll entertain you with this:

Corinner-Elly's All Time Favorite Phrases:

• You have the brain capacity of a mentally impaired goldfish.
• That was slower than a herd of turtles tramping through peanut-butter.
• Quicker than crap from a goose!
• Well, Poop.

Hehe. :D Good, right? Am I right?

What do you mean they aren't entertaining!?? You've gotta be kiddin' me. Everybody likes my 'All Time Favorite Phrases'!

You know what else everybody likes? My blog. Have you ever met a person, you say, "Let's go read Corinner-Elly," they say, "Heck no, I don't like no Corinner-Elly"?

Corinner-Elly is awesome.

No?...

Well. How wude.

'Sofa', So Good.

Today is a good day.
Today is a GREAT day.

Before today, I lamented the ugly, hand-me-down, A-typical college student apartment couches that polluted my past.

Before today, I covered my eyes when walking past the living room in my soon-to-be-once-more apartment and cursed its sagging, hated frame every time I whacked my head on its retro wooden armrests.

Before today, I browsed sofa slipcovers in my spare time.

But Today. Oh, today.
I have a new couch.

FOR FREE.

It's so FLUFFY!!! I'm gonna die!

*new couch dance*
It's amazingly similar to the yard sale dance. 'Da twinneh' can teach you. (Results may vary.)

Isn't it fan-FREAKING-tastic!?!

It's so beautiful and cushy and... my new best friend!
I can't believe my luck.

I mean... little ole' me was just sitting at my desk, mindin' my own business when all of a sudden, presto chango, someone comes in with a flyer that needs to be approved.

"FREE!", it read.

'Twas love at first sight, I tell ya.

And thus, magic.
I convinced the warehouse boys ('men', to be politically correct) to pick it up from the lady's apartment and bring it back to be stored at the office for the time being. I'm sure they would have helped me out anyways but, for their generosity, I offered to make any dessert they so desire.

The consensus? Reese's cheesecake with an Oreo crust.
Doable. Oh-so-doable.

Pictures to come.

But back to the miracle at hand.
Remember these little grossies, described in all their disgustingness above?

The bad news is: they're not going anywheres.
Especially to the dump. Where they belong.

and don't even mention the DI.
Even homeless, blind people have higher standards.

The good news is: I purchased two new gorgeous chocolate suede slipcovers in an oh-so-hasty, spur of the moment, drastically life changing purchase!

*sniff*
Candy, Gem n' Lera.
You just better appreciate me.
We are gonna have such a sweet set-up in the Fall.

Which reminds me...
I have a roommate agreement to draw up. (Details to come.)

Better get crackin'.