Dear Universe...

 First and foremost: a well-paying, secure, full-time job in Social Services w/ health benefits that has an element of variety day-to-day as well as movement (i.e. not just sitting at a computer).

I will work hard and stay committed.

Secondly: A warm, well-lit, private, affordable place to live. It need not be large, but it Must have a bathtub, consistent heating, and security, i.e. people can't knock on my windows or gain access to my unit door from outside.

So with basic needs of Employment and Shelter out of the way, the remainder of this post is me attempting to admit things that I want without feeling guilty or that I "don't really need it." I want to get in touch with, and comfortable with, the things that I desire and Asking for them with a positive feeling. I deserve to have things I LOVE and get things that I Desire!

1. 20" tape-in black hair extensions

2. Tattoo removal at Vanish Clinic

3. Pale cowhide rug, preferably gray and white speckled

from: Cowhidescanada.com

from: Rug Addiction on Amazon

Aren't they so gorgeous?!

Imagine them on a pale wood floor or a whitewashed floor?

I used to have a black cowhide rug that looked great w/ a black leather sofa and chrome accents.

4. Dyed Sheepskins

Great to use at little rugs in front of a mirror, on benches, or on the arms or backs of chairs

Lilac by Lambland Store on Amazon

5. Spotty Area rugs

Wade Logan "Harrisonburg Shag" rugs on Wayfair in many colours

Aren't these freakin adorable?!! The above one reminds me of cake.

Only $214 CAD for a 6'7"x9' 

TIP: Never buy a rug for a normal-sized room that is smaller than this!

The rug should look almost flush to the walls.

6. A "casual" Canopy Bed

Pottery Barn Teen - Costa Canopy Bed

Crafted from solid spruce wood, spruce veneers and MDF.

Linen Canopy bed curtains by LinenHueStudio on Etsy

7. A muted-tone Chandelier

Kelly Clarkson Home - Waverly 18-Light Dimmable Traditional Chandelier

*Whoever is designing for her home decor company has Exactly my taste*

Or a wooden on for in a walk-in closet or maybe in a cozy dinette:

Bed Bath and Beyond. - White Antique Wood Chandelier

$197.99 USD

8. A Light Therapy kit

NuDerma Clinical Skin Therapy Wand - Portable Skin Therapy Machine

+ the neck band one

"energizing and oxygenating skin at the cellular level. Balances the skin ensure a smoother-looking complexion up to 90% faster. You’ll see a difference after just a single session."

9. All of the supplements I need to detoxify from the vaccine for 6 months-a year:

- Nattokinase 

Natto, a soybean product fermented by B. subtilis (natto) and rich in NK, has been served as a traditional food in Asia for hundreds of years.

A natural blood thinner, it breaks down microclotting due to Long Covid & PCVS (“post-COVIDvac-syndrome.")  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8883497/

"Various animal and human trials have demonstrated that NK improves blood circulation and helps decrease the risk of a variety of cardiovascular diseases without producing any adverse side effects" - FDA

- Yellow dock

- Hawthorne berries

- Raspberry leaves

- Gingko

- Evening Primrose oil

10. A Powder Blue sofa

Sixpenny - Amelia sofa

*I love the dining chairs in this series as well, shown below. So tired of uncomfortable dining chairs in my life!*

In lighter shade below

11. Fur Bikini

ZOSCGJMY Women's Faux Fur Halter String Triangle Bikini on Amazon

12. Beautiful and cute Lighter Sleeves

Room One - 'Ponyboy' Lighter Case

This item is handmade.

Material: 100% stainless steel

$102.00 CAD

fainz® stainless steel liquid lighter case on a chain

€5.08 = $ 7.60 CAD

Confused by the similarity to the ones above...Maybe it is a pattern that comes with a 3D printer mould?

Legier - Mother of Pearl lighter sleeve

Brass and Mother of Pearl

handmade in Los Angeles.

$675 USD

PuffPalaceTM - Harajuku Ice Lighter Shell on Etsy

CA$38.39

13. YSL - i wanna do bad things with you totebag  CAD$ 120

14. Plush Bag Charms

Urban Outfitters - Okitoki Blushing Bunny Pearl Plushie Keychain

Urban Outfitters - Bunny Plushie Keychain

FINIE!

Imagining / Foreshadowing my Next Apartment

 Perusing real apartment listing photos to envision the architectural details I want for my next home...

So the listings may be in different cities etc. 

This is just an exercise in being able to Picture IRL the environment I want to live in next!

Try it!

Stevens Community Apartments

128 E 18th St, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Early 1900's three and a half story brick buildings 

surrounded by landscaped gardens just blocks from downtown Minneapolis. 

Monthly Rent if you were interested: 

$700 - $1,500 USD / $1,014 - $2,175 CAD

Best Apartments

2006-2008 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Monthly Rent: $835 - $1,040 USD / $1,200 - $1,500 CAD

I am very particular about bathrooms. I want an original, in good condition bathroom with a deep tub, window over the tub, high ceilings, radiators, with the Sink beside the tub, not the toilet.

A partially original bathroom from Loring Grove Apartments

125 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, MN

Another example at: Stoneleigh Apts, 2226 Garfield Ave S, Minneapolis:

& at 2222 Harriet Ave S, below, built in the 1920s.

I love original medicine cabinets !!

And at: 2610-2618 Fremont Ave S, Minneapolis:

The Fremont apt also has this Amazing original kitchen sink:

Studios here are: $875 USD / $1,270 CAD / month

This photo from a unit at 1929 Fremont Ave S, Minneapolis

gives me a good feeling fsr:

So do these also from the Stoneleigh Apts on Garfield Ave S, Minneapolis:

I'm a sucker for archways and windows in kitchens.

Apts here at $900-$950 US / $1,305 - $1,375 CAD

Original built-ins at 3220 Girard Ave S, Minneapolis:

The building looks like a converted highschool:

and has very unusual rental terms:

Lease Terms

Short-term lease fees: 6 months: $50 additional per month, 9 months: $25 additional per month ?

Monthly Pet Rent: $25 per cat  LOL

                                                    Moving on to Detroit, Michigan! 

The units in the Manchester Apartments building at

 2016 E Jefferson Ave in Detroit, MI are Beautiful. 

The layout of the rooms & the window placement is perfect.

That's the building there in the centre, with the Detroit River 4 blocks behind it by a little marina, amphitheatre, and waterfront park.

My dream bathroom original tile, wall and floor:

And of Course I'm manifesting another Walk-in closet at my next apartment, so have to include it here:

Monthly Rent is: $895 - $1,395 USD / $1,300 - $2,020 CAD

More gorgeousness at Heather Hall, 3444 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI!

Beautiful layout as well. Floorplan at end of pics!

Monthly Rent: $745 - $1,375 USD / $1,080 - $1,993 CAD

Floorplan of the one pictured, which is $1,530 CAD:

Here is one in Buffalo, NY!

The Ambassador building at

175 North St, Buffalo, NY 14201

Too bad about the ugly kitchen details but I like the layout, archways, windows and floors.

Monthly Rent: $950 - $1,395 USD / $1,376 - $1,876 CAD

Unique Features: Free Wi-fi In Unit !?

Heading south to Memphis, TN:

Park Terrace

1899 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN

Loveliest built-ins you every did see...

Other than this place I couldn't find anything else I liked in Memphis rn!

I've never put a bedroom behind french doors before...

Obviously you would put shoji paper (traslucent decorative paper) over the panes.

Monthly Rent: $850 - $1,299 USD / $1,232 - $ 1,832 CAD

Lastly, I checked out Philadelphia, PA!

I LOOOVE these two rooms at The Drake

1512 Spruce St, Philadelphia

I think I am drawn to cozy, well-lit rooms rather than spacious spaces.

I was just going to say it looks like a nice hotel, and then I read:

"Constructed in 1929 as a luxury hotel, the Drake was later converted into a luxury apartment building in 2000"

The building is quite impressive from afar

Monthly Rent: $1,233 USD / $1,786 CAD start for a Studio

The layout below, a Junior 1 Bedroom, similar to the photos, is 

$1,302 USD / $1,887 CAD on the 9th floor

What I have learned about my living preferences:

- small is ok

- dark is not

- historic details over modern, but not in poor condition

- height is good, i.e. a high-rise might be doable for me at this stage of my life

- I prefer archways to many doors / division without being fully separated

- I dislike excessive natural wood, especially high-gloss

- Stainless appliances are ugly

- Galley kitchen preferred over a kitchen island

- permanent A/C units ruin the vibe

- try not to judge a unit by its blinds. Imagine w/ curtains.

- I don't mind a view of a brick wall as long as the room is bright

-Freestanding appliances (fridges & stoves) with nothing on either side of them are off-putting

Other things to look for:

- If the enamel on the tub is worn, as for it to be recoated before moving in

- Always paint, if you are going to paint, Before your stuff is moved in

- Sweep & mop Before moving day

- Lightbulbs matter. I never use White lightbulbs, except maybe over a Vanity mirror for makeup

- Forced air heating makes skin miserable

Remember:

- Dimmers are a gift from God

- A fireplace mantle w/ candles in it feels Just as good as the real thing. Even better sometimes because you can move it around when you change your room layout.

- Large area rugs change Everything. If you love a room but hate the flooring, cover it completely in rugs.

- Plain curtains improve any room and make it cozy and stylish. Especially Matte materials like linen or plain cotton.

- Small sofas usually look like shit

- Large Art / framed photos make a huge difference

- Never settle for plastic bathroom organizers / shelves

- Get a Nice shower curtain!!

- Hide your shoes behind closed doors: whether in a closet or a piece of furniture. Even a dresser works. (You can disinfect it after if you decide to use it for other things in the future)

- Manmade Kitchen counters can be painted

- Yellowed fridges can be painted