The number one question I get from people is, "Have you found an apartment???" If you read my earlier blog about the search, you will know that so far it has felt a bit sketchy (or at least my own personal fears tell me so) I am thrilled, however, to write a quick update to let you all know we have secured a lease! 

Working through a broker at Paris Attitude we have secured a small apartment in the Latin Quarter for five months. If you are unfamiliar with this area - it is right next to Notre Dame and gained its name for it's long standing history of being home to students, who spoke latin (Get it?!). The landlord seems really nice, and I am feeling much better overall about having a starter home when we arrive. We have a little bit of separation between the "bedroom" and the living area, hopefully making it feel like a one bedroom. We have a double bed, and a twin pullout in the sofa (for those of you begging to visit in the first five months). Like many places in the area, it is a very old building and we are on the 5th floor...with no elevator. On the bright side, I have a sneaking suspicion it will help me burn off all those croissants I plan on eating every day. While we are in a more touristy part of town, it is incredibly central and I think will allow us to get some footing in the city before we decide what apartment to lease next. I am also excited for Joey to start his Paris adventure here, as the energy is pretty magical. Any recommendations on things he has to see in his first couple weeks?

Another question I have been getting a lot is, how much are you paying in rent? Being a student again, I am having to embrace the full "bohemian" lifestyle and put myself on a tight (and I mean tight) budget. We set a budget for $1,500 USD. With this size budget, we had to pick between space and location. As you may have guessed, we picked location.

It is only 39 square meters (419 square feet), so my thoughts are now turning to plotting how I can bring what I need, and still stay hyper organized (which is not a natural strength of mine when it comes to my clothes - just ask anyone who has lived with me). My friend Jasmine, who just moved to Dublin, is also a professional organizer. Her company recently posted a photo of her closet in Dublin, and it is awe-inspiring. I immediately texted her to know her tricks, and I am feeling truly motivated to downsize my wardrobe as we will only have one small wardrobe too. What are your pro-tips for living in a small space? 

If you are interested in working with a great organizer, be sure to check out Jasmine's website: https://www.adroitinteriorsca.com/