I'm so excited to show you these photos and give you a little tour of our new place...and even more excited to show you it as we begin to get our hands on some paint, brushes and I did just buy a new ceiling rosette for the living room (this apartment bought to you by Pinterest...seriously).

Welcome! Front door into the entry way.

Opens up into the living room - those double doors lead to my office/studio.

My office/studio - going to be perfect with my desk overlooking the street and enough room for a chair, some equipment, even my one light setup for home shoots.

The office/studio is right off the living room and has double doors that lead into the guestroom/den (or Andrew's mancave).

This room is enormous...and in the shape of the state of Utah, except backwards. It'll be perfect for entertaining, maxing and relaxing, or a place for you to come visit for the weekend!

When you come out of the top of the Utah shaped bedroom, you're back at the beginning by the front door.

And the door on the right is going to (hopefully!) be our bedroom (if our bed fits).

It gets lots and lots of sunshine and looks over the Harriet Beatrice Stowe & Mark Twain Historical Homes across the street!

View from the bedroom back into the hallway, second doorway on the right is this nice bathroom. Definitely needs some sprucing (thinking about Martha Stewart's Bakery Box White, little hints of blue and white, to liven the place up!), but I am loving the floor tile pattern...just needs a good scrubbing.

Further down the hall is our dining room, which is much much larger than our dining room now, and includes a beautiful built in. And we got a new dining room table from Craigslist that has a leaf that can seat 10 people...can't wait to see faces of people I love around it for dinner! Also, check out those ceilings!

Walk in pantry off the dining room - say no more. Sold. A little creepy looking, but it's a walk in pantry.Big kitchen (well bigger than the two galley kitchen's I've had in Chicago and our current place).Window opens up to the large sunroom off the backdoor...perfect for early morning reading, a cup of coffee, cozy blanket, and Andrew is putting up bike racks for our new wheels to scoot around town on!

I think this is going to be a good place.

I have been reading the Young House Love & Alaina Kaczmarski's "Live Creating Yourself" blogs to gain home improvement/beautifying tips  - I love that they each show a before and after, and that they also are kind enough to give specific paint colors, tools, and furniture links that I have been using as inspiration. Do you have a favorite home improvement blog?

Can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving?! (sorry to ensue any panic!)We originally were planning on driving to my parents house. To Upper Michigan. And yes, it's 20 hours one way. After about a minute of looking at the map online I was immediately panicking. So I quickly did some scurrying around online looking for flights (I know I know - THE WEEK BEFORE!). I thankfully - as it always seems to go - was able to figure out some kind of great deal for flights and are flying out next Saturday using all our points, flying out of Newark, AND a bonus - we have a layover in Minneapolis and get to see my in-laws (happy dance!).I say all that to say this - I know that travel is a huge reality for a lot of people around the holidays - and it's most likely the time that everyone is actually together and the last thing everyone is wanting to do is get all ready to take a holiday photo. I understand, we live 1000+ miles away from our families so this is my reality! We typically don't even send out holiday cards until later on because after we get everyone together, take the picture, choose the photo, order the cards - it's usually around new years when they arrive and I'm thinking "what's the point?" And by then I've also received everyone elses wonderfully done cards - Pressure! Does anyone else feel this way?!If so, read on! (I know you're already feeling your blood pressure going up and are frantically Googling "Walgreens Holiday Cards" in a separate tab from this window.)Being inspired by my own holiday card dilemmas, I decided to do something special - Home for the Holidays. This holiday package bundles a 30 minute photo session in your home or location of your choice (I'll even come on Christmas Eve!) and 100 premium holiday cards to choose from 6 exclusive designs below - delivered to your house with the envelopes all set to stuff and mail off to your closest 100 friends - for $200!Since I'll be in Escanaba next week (I'm sure you're thinking "What's that?" It's my hometown!) I will take bookings from November 19-23 - and locally in Connecticut through December 31st. Space is limited - so let's chat!I've always dreamed of designing a line of holiday cards - and here they are! Let me tell you about them (because I am just so excited!).Each 5"x7" card is printed on premium matte stock and features a unique matching design on the backside. They come with beautiful matching envelopes and the corners of each card can be cut rounded as well (if that's you're thing!). Once you choose the design, I will ensure that while taking your pictures that we can choose a photo that perfectly lines up with the design of your card so no-one is cut out, or blocked by any elements.Beyond the Home for the Holidays packages - you can purchase these designs from my Etsy shop beginning Saturday, November 17th or just book a Holiday Photoshoot for $99 (same timelines apply for Michigan & East Coast through Dec 31, 2012). So - take a peek below, choose a card and email me to set up a time at hello@aliciasturdy.com. I'm so excited to work with you and help bring joy to your holiday season!Email me at hello@aliciasturdy.com! 'Like' me on Facebook and check out my website!