Is that the West Elm zebra rug? Pottery Barn? I've been scooping out zebra rugs and like this one. TIA.

We have the paint for the kitchen- it's called birds nest from Valspar (lowes) and I am trying to fix the walls of the kitchen that I am painting- 2 walls need to have beadboard installed first- and that won't happen until next week when my husband gets back from his business trip. I have to decide between now and then if I want the beadboard to be the same color as the walls- or a different accent color. I did buy a new roman blind for the kitchen side window, and new shelf liner for the cabinets. Now, I just need a few uninterupted hours to get stuff done!

wow. it is kinda scary to see my apartment up there, but it makes me excited and shored up to fight the my nemesis, the paper tiger. just a few months ago i was living in a beige box. beige carpet, beige couch, cinder block walls. now i'm living in a place (new orleans) and a space that really nourishes my spirit. i can't believe that we are already on week 5. i know that i wouldn't have done this without apartment therapy.

babymomma: i am working on an impossibly tiny budget so those rugs were way out of my price range. the rug is from urban outfitters for $68. it is a thin cotton, so i am going to spring for a rug pad.

Thanks for the comments, all. Urbanconjure, we couldn't do this without all the people participating in the Fall Cure. I know I keep saying this, but I'm repetitive because I really mean it. A big thank-you to all of you who keep uploading your pics, helping one another out, and posting your progress.

well, all this cleaning has been the death of my Hoover windtunnel. I thought maybe it was just the belt, but no, it's the motor. Anyone have rec's? (and not a dyson- I would love one- not in my price range right now) Thanks all!

lorijo- of the last three vacuum cleaners I bought two died a premature death, this one is also ready to expire and I'm just hoping to have saved enough for a miele by the time it is dead. (just as expensive as the dyson, though)
The last medium price I had that did well was a canister from jcpenney.
I tackled my recipes filesthe other night, and actually I feel that I have them under control now.
I'm glaring at my cordoctopus, but it has not disappeared yet on its own. I guess this weekend...

I'm enjoying the process of getting my office in shape -- it's my favorite room in the entire apartment. When I think about it, that's kind of interesting, because I've had two apartments that had second bedrooms that I tried to make into office spaces, and I felt isolated when I was in the office, and I didn't like them much at all. Now, after nearly 8 years of having my office in the living room of my previous apartment, I'm enjoying sooo much having a separate room! Perhaps it's because I'm spending more time on the computer interacting with people on blogs, and thus less time watching people on TV, so I don't need to be near the TV? Perhaps it's because in this office, my desk faces the door instead of the wall, so I don't feel cut off from the rest of the apartment (and I don't feel vulnerable because my back isn't to the door?) Anyway, I love this office.

I have the bookshelves tidied, the curtains up (well, they were up a couple of weeks ago -- they were much easier than the living room ones that I've postponed), the closet is tidied and I'm really pleased with the way it looks now, the files are done, and I'm working on the desk drawers.

Pictures will be posted Saturday, all being well.

Hope everyone else is having a good time this week!

(By the way, my cordtopus became much less visible when I switched to a black power bar that matches all the black cords, from the putty-color power bar I had before. Funny how much difference it made... at least to my eye.)

I just have to vent and I hope you guys don't mind! It's office week so this seems relevant. I am so frustrated. I bought a Mikael drawer unit from IKEA over a month ago that cannot be assembled because it is missing holes and other important parts. I rely on others to get me there, and I have been waiting so long to go and exchange it that I'm afraid it's just not going to happen. It's nobody's fault; it's just what happens when you live in the city without a car. But I got rid of my old filing cabinet when I moved and I have nowhere to put my papers. I am working on several projects right now and they are just in piles all over my apartment. Not to mention the office supplies in my closet without a home. I am going crazy and I just want to file things and I can't! Should I wait to get a filing cabinet (it *may* happen this weekend or the next) or go to the store and pick up some filing boxes? It seems stupid to spend money on a temporary fix but I'm kind of at my wits end. What do you think?

Mavieenrose -- if you're pretty sure you'll be getting a new filing cabinet either this weekend or the next, my thinking is "hang in there" -- but if there's a reasonable doubt, definitely find something inexpensive that can make you feel better in the meantime! I got some fairly cheap things at Staples that don't look horrible, and do the job -- this isn't quite it, and mine were less expensive (and look better, I think) but it'll give you the idea...
http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&prodCatType=0&catalogId=10051&productId=13601&cmArea=SEARCH

Mavieenrose- I feel your pain- once I bought a chair from IKEA and it came with 2 left arms. I lived 3 hours away from the store. ARG!

I think if you have a chance in the next week or 10 days to get back to the store just tough it out- if not then at the very least pick up some inexpensive boxes to hold your files in.

Yeah, I'd recommend picking up some banker's boxes at any office store. You can file everything in there and then just transfer everything to the file cabinet when you get it. Bonus: the boxes will probably be smaller than the cabinet, so you are guaranteed growing room! (I have trouble keeping my file cabinets only, say, 2/3 full).