After college, I moved back home to pay off some bills and to attempt to deal with my millions thousands of dollars in student loans.

Some people can’t believe that I’m 26 and still living with my parents, but it really hasn’t been that bad. I have a great relationship with my parents, I live here rent-free (I pay a couple of household bills and help clean around the house) and I have the entire second floor to myself. Plus, I work 2nd shift, my parents both work 1st, which means we really only see each other on the weekends. I don’t have a curfew, I get to be with my adorable doggies and I really don’t have it that rough.

That said, I’m moving out. Finally.

My younger sister and I will be moving into an adorable lower flat next month in Milwaukee’s lower east side. I cannot wait.

Did I mention I’m moving out?

The house has beautiful archways and hard wood floors. We will have plenty of space, plus a backyard (where our new landlord has already planted some veggies for us!) There is also a HUGE kitchen, which I am just itching to decorate.

Emily and I decided to split up the decorating – she gets the living room (black and white with red accents), I get the kitchen (vintage/retro/diner) and the bathroom will be rubber ducky-themed since she already has all that stuff. Our dining room will become a fabulous office/art studio/crafty space and our extra bedroom is going to be an oversized, walk-in closet. There are only 3 small closets in the entire apartment, so we figured the extra bedroom could be converted into one.

I will be so sad to leave my doggies at home (my parents won’t let me take them and the landlord doesn’t allow doggies), but I know I’ll be at the house often to visit them my parents.

I found an awesome, vintage 50s-style chrome table on craigslist for the kitchen, and found this fabulous retro spice rack on ebay!