Making Moves

The past week has been chaotic, packing and unpacking our lives for the move across town. The old house is an empty shell full of memories and the new house is ready to be lived in. Some tips for moving-- 


First, keep the essentials in the old house until the last possible moment. Essentials include basic shower supplies, easy-to-make food, beds and anything you'll need to use during the process of moving. This may seem basic, but my brother packed away his Speedo, which he needs for water polo tryouts this week. We kept laundry detergent handy so we could throw in some loads in the dust-free old house. Second, enlist the help of family and friends with pizza and beer (or soda) as a reward. My aunt, uncle and cousin came down from Sacramento for the day and we were all able to catch up on life while doing the miscellaneous tasks around the new house. Third, drink plenty of water! It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the move. Remember that you will probably be working harder than you usually do, and you don't want to burn yourself out on the first day.

For the college student--I moved into my semi-permanent house for the first time this spring. The dorms provided me with uniformed students to push huge baskets filled to the brim with things I thought I would use (microwave, throw pillows, instant water heater), and the sorority gave me handsome fraternity brothers who efficiently brought my possessions into Delta Gamma. When I moved in this spring, I was lucky to have three friends, a borrowed car and just a bed in my new, yellow room. With a week before work started, leading a joke life to say the least, I browsed Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and founds some great deals. A flat screen for $20, a DVD player for $20, all of my bedding from Overstock.com for $70 and a desk and shelves someone was giving away for free! By being creative and resourceful, the only thing I really splurged on was the Ikea dresser, which I purchased for $70. The bedroom basics cost less than the text books for a psychology class!

The dreaded Van that haunted my childhood turned out to be key in moving smaller items

Any and all help will help

Find the treasures--I love the details on the steps that lead to the dining room

Beaches and Cream

Summer time is the perfect excuse to hit the beach. My Costa Rican grandparents love showing us the small surf towns of the Caribbean as well as the luxurious resorts of the Pacific. These excursions would not be complete without the sound of the ocean to lull us to sleep at the end of a long day. 

We bring the beach vibe our home with a few simple pieces. Whether you seek to capture a relaxed hammock environment or a glamours dream vacation scene, you can never go wrong with sea shells. Not only are they affordable--we found a huge bag for five dollars at a thrift store--you can also collect them yourself. In the case of the latter, these decorations will have a personal story behind the shell itself. 

Fill a simple glass jar with shells for a clean look

We painted these branches white and sprinkled glitter on the wet paint for a hint of glamour

A large conch shell acts as a finish touch for this table arrangement in the living room 

This shell is a statement piece for the entryway

Shells within shells--you can never have too many shells!

A Designer's Dream, a Student's Scheme

So what is a wish in a bottle? 

As an interior designer, many people have asked my mom keep a blog of her latest creations. She has been featured on HGTV a number of times, starring in the pilot episode of Sensible Chic. Over the past few years, mom put her design business on hold to focus on family and a housing development project in Panama. We just purchased a home across town, in an area I am not too familiar with. Back in the day, this house was an obvious gem, the home of a producer of Western Films in the 1930's. Years of wear, tear and neglect has left this place in a state that would scare many potential buyers. Luckily, my stepfather's background in construction and mom's design eye makes this house a future dream home! As summer comes to an end, and the move to the new house commences, we will be documenting the process. The transformation over the next few months will be incredible, and on a reasonable budget!

Meanwhile, I will be heading back to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to start my junior year of college. Living in a house of twelve girls will allow for the crafty, creative juices to flow. I will regularly update Wish in a Bottle with college-budget-friendly ideas and projects. 

A sneak peak of my room in Ann Arbor

Our new home!

We want to show how anyone can enhance all aspects of home and life on any budget. All it takes is a bit of creativity and maybe a DIY wish in a bottle... See our next post to make your own!