I made this layout the other day:

(click here for full credits)

I just sat down without any idea of what kind of layout I wanted to make and this is where my creative subconscious led me. I guess I’ve been feeling kinda happy lately. So as I pondered this I realized I do in fact have lots to be happy about:

1) My designing venture is going relatively well. I’m making enough to make it worth it to continue. But more importantly, I am having SO MUCH FUN doing it!

2) My new creative team is more than I could have ever asked for (seriously, have you seen this gallery?)and I’m having a ball getting to know these girls!

3) Remember that job I was nervous about not getting? The one I had to interview for? Well, I GOT IT! There’s nothing like a little job security to take the weight of the world off your shoulders!

4) I got my income tax return cheque last week. I was already getting a butt load of money because I still had some tuition/school related things I was able to claim on there. Then I opened my envelope and saw that they made adjustments and I ended up getting $500 more than I was expecting!

5) May is one of those rare months where we get 3 pay cheques so that means MORE money in the near future :)

 and last but not least,

6) Sanjaya FINALLY got kicked off American Idol last week! 

Yep. Lots to be happy about. So what does a girl do to celebrate such happiness? Why, she goes on a $1000 shopping spree that’s what!

I’m still a bit in shock myself but yes, I did indeed blow a thousand dollars in 2 days! LOL! But I promise it was all practical stuff! Not frivolous wasting!

I figured since I’m spending so much time in my home ”office” now it was about time I make it liveable. I moved into this apartment last October but up until this weekend it still looked like it did the day I moved in! Partly due to sheer laziness, but also due to the fact that I had to save up my money for fear of losing my job (which is no longer a concern as mentioned above.) The temporary paper blinds that went up that day were still hanging there and all kinds of crap was still sitting on the floor for lack of furniture to put it on. So I bought curtains for ALL the windows in the apartment and some furniture for my office. See, practical right?

Next on the list was a new desk chair. My old one was so uncomfortable my back was breaking and wrists constantly on fire from bad computer posture. Surely that was a necessity too

And finally, the most important purchase of all. Since I started spending my evenings designing, I’ve found it difficult to keep up with my fave tv shows. I hate that I have to leave whatever creative train of thought I’m running on to go to the living room to catch my shows. So as you can see, it was an absolute practical necessity for me to buy a 20″ LCD flat screen tv and DVD player for my office :)

Wanna see some pictures? Here is your behind the scenes virtual tour of my Creative Studio

Now let’s zoom in for a closer look and I’ll point out all the new stuff:

Yes, I have two computer monitors. If you have not tried this, you MUST! You will never be able to go back to one! It is the coolest, handiest thing in the world!

And notice the colour of my curtains!

I chose the tackiest ones I could find in the store! They are the gaudiest coral pink you’ve ever seen and are the curtain equivalent of shag carpet in terms of texture and the whole room has a hazy pink glow now and I LOVE them

And for the furniture:

(the pink glow from the curtains is really noticeable in that photo above LOL!)

You will notice all the walls are still bare. That’s my next priority. Rather than buy stuff I plan to print and mount my own artwork. Like on these cool canvases from Shutterfly for example.

So there you have it. The real world Studio Michelle and the fruits of this weekend’s labour (yes, there was lots of labour involved because I bought Ikea furniture!) I must admit the tv raised a few eyebrows amongst family and friends . . . but nonetheless, I think I spent my money wisely

 Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to turn on American Idol and watch that while I finish up my next kit and bask in the garish glow of my new window treatment

Cheers!