five senses friday #6.

Five Senses Friday is were I reflect on the last week through the senses.  So many fun things transpired this week.  I actually had to narrow down the awesomeness.  Imagine that!
So, here we go!

Tasting::

(recipesweet.net)

My new Chicken Taco Melt recipe.  I was throwin' down in the kitchen, thanks to the mighty Pinterest.  The new recipe needs a little tweaking for added flavor, but they were still yummy!

Feeling::

Excited that the house shopping has finally begun!  The mister and I went to look at a couple of houses this week.  I can't wait to find THE one and start moving in!
Amused by the mister's dorkiness.  Somehow my phone was out of my hand long enough for me to forget it at home one day.  This is what I found when he brought it to me at work:

Please humor him and take notice of his illustrious "winter man-beard."

 

Seeing::

 

So many people and so many cool things at the Canton Trades Days!  My little sis and I had a great time people-watching and spending our money.

I honestly considered buying this VW trunk to hang on the wall.

 

Cool stuff...but not sure how many waves one can catch in East Texas.

I LOVED these guys!

JACKPOT!  I'm always down to add another vintage camera to my collection.

Super awesome vintage metal lunchboxes are ALWAYS tempting!!!

Hearing::

That FACE, though!

Doggy snores from Mr. Jax.  I promise, this guy can snore with his eyes open.  I can't imagine how bad this will be when he's 80 or 90 pounds!  Oy!

Smelling:: 

Finally getting to wear my favorite purple scarf!

Cold air & firewood burning.  The cool weather has finally come to Texas and I get to wear boots and scarves!  Hooray! All is right in the world.


What were some of your experiences this week?  Feel free to play along in the comments, find me online or post your own blog!

 

the great house hunt.

The mister and I are currently on the quest to purchase our first house together.  As I look at all these dreamy houses, I reflect on my time as a renter.  Especially as a renter in an apartment.
 
I'm going to write a book.

After my time in living in an apartment building in California, I feel that others need to be informed of what I like to call "the apartment code."

After leaving the wonder & peacefulness of living in the country here in Texas, I was thrust into apartment life in California. Oh, what a change. I was accustomed to my nearest neighbor being a half mile away. Suddenly, they were a half foot away.

Now, you may be thinking that apartment life is great and I was being a wimp. Let me take you through a normal day in MY building.

First of all, I had a studio apartment. There are no "rooms." The bedroom was in the living room, which was in the office, which was in the kitchen, which was right next to the bathroom door. My neighbor, of course, had the same set up. However, with the help of his "drink of choice," he was constantly falling into everything making the loudest possible noises as things fell off shelves and onto the floor. His lack of balance did not stay in his apartment.  Oh, no!  He also enjoyed evenings of sitting out on the community balcony down the hall while enjoying his beverage. When he decided it was time for bed, he stumbled down the hall alternately bouncing off each wall. How do I know? I watched through my peephole. This came back to bite me the night he bounced off the walls and ran face first into MY door. I held back a startled sound and watched him fall to the ground, moaning, with his beverage in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

In addition to my next door neighbor, I had my beloved neighbor above me on the third floor. He enjoyed nightly runs...on his treadmill. I pictured him smiling as he ran. Stanford t-shirt. Reebok sneakers. His iPod earbuds in listening to ZZ Top. I, on the other hand, was sitting on my couch with all of my breakables and waiting for the "earthquake" to end.

Just to add to all of the fun, over half of the people there smoked a combination of things. This made for interesting smells in the hallway. To entertain myself, I started a game to see if I could guess each element that makes up each day's "mystery aroma."  They mainly consisted of 1) cigarettes & bologna, 2) old sausage biscuits & laundry detergent, & 3) bologna & sunshine. Have I mentioned that these wonderful odors loved to find their way through the crack under my door and into my apartment? Febreeze was my very best friend.

These experiences gave me the desire to write "the apartment code." It is something everyone should know AND practice. At least if I am living in their apartment building.

I know I'm not the only one to experience horrors as an apartment dweller.  Leave a comment and let me know what humorous things you have encountered as a renter!