Welcome!

Come one in, have a seat, and let me tell you about what I'm trying to do here.  I'll try to keep it brief, I promise.


Basically, the idea here is that I'm living in Fargo and I'm trying to recreate my amazing urban lifestyle from NYC.  Fargo is such a suburban city, all big-box retailers and SUVs from identical vinyl-sided tract housing.  Fortunately the downtown area is blossoming with independent boutiques, unique restaurants and bars, and quite the emerging art scene.  This is the part of Fargo that I want to immerse myself in.


This idea has shifted into top gear this week, since I just found out that my application was accepted on an amazing apartment in the perfect location downtown.  One block from work, half a block from NDSU's Architecture School where I have studio.  It's on the third floor of a commercial building that houses a frame shop and an espresso parlor.  The building was built in 1905 as a blacksmith shop and the apartments upstairs all have 10+ foot ceilings, hardwood floors, and lots of character.  They were recently renovated and my unit has new appliances and cabinets.  I can paint too.  No more rental-white walls!  Yeah, it's all pretty incredible.  


Now that I will have this apartment (June 1st) I can finally start realizing my plans.  Of course, being a poor college student with only a part-time job, my champagne tastes come with a beer budget.  I don't think this means that I need to sacrifice any of the style or excitement, just that I need to be creative about how I do it.  Here's how:


#1:  Furniture
Currently I'm obsessed with furnishing my apartment.  For cheap.  Real cheap.  BUT it has to look very expensive.  I've been trolling the area antique shops and thrift stores, picking up pieces here and there.  Nearly all of them need to be redone, but they are sturdy pieces with good bones.  I can work with the cosmetics.  There are very, very big plans here.  More to follow.  (Inspirational photos, etc.)


#2:  Social Life
I miss the busy social schedule I had in NYC and before I left Fargo.  It seems that I find myself in the sunset of my early twenties and most of my friends are less interested in going out three nights a week.  As unacceptable as I find this to be, it is something that I'll need to work around.  Since the scene seems to be slowing down, I have to take it upon myself to get things going.  Once I have my smart, swanky pad downtown I plan to have friends over all the time.  Not just for dinner (provided I learn how to cook without poisoning anyone), but also for drinks and hors d'oeuvres before we head out downtown... conveniently located outside my front door.  Wine and cheese anyone?


#3:  The Apartment
As soon as I get the keys to this new apartment everything will be better.  Located right where I need it, this is going to be a whole shift in lifestyle.  It's going to be just like New York:  I can exit my front door and find myself in the best part of the city where I can walk less than three blocks to the best restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops, not to mention of my job and school.  I have a nice bike, and I'll probably hardly ever use my car unless I'm getting groceries or something.  The kicker?  I can get onto the roof of this apartment!  I used to sit up on the roof of my apartment building in NYC all the time and I can finally do that again.  I love to be up high like that.


So, I'm in just the right place right now to develop the chic, stylish, and exciting urban lifestyle that I want.