LIVING SOLO ON A BUDGET

After spending about a year home hunting for a condo in downtown Seattle, I threw in the towel and decided to rent a 475 square foot apartment in the city to test the waters. Living alone in downtown Seattle has been such a dream. Sometimes lonely. Scary. But magical and has allowed so much growth. This was also my first time living alone and I thought I would share some tips and tricks on how to do it on a budget and also share about some of my favorite apartment pieces!

THRIFT LIKE IT’S YOUR JOB

Thrifting became my favorite hobby when I first moved into my apartment. I thrifted so much it started to feel like a job. I figured the things I wanted to save money on were things that you couldn’t see, IE: akeware, drawer organizers, shelf risers, over the door hooks, and lazy susans. However, my favorite things to thrift for were furniture, antiques, and decor. It’s such a fun way to make your space look one of a kind while still saving a ton of money. I went to chains such as Goodwill and Value Village, but I also went to flea markets, the Fremont farmers market, and utilizing online secondhand resources such as Craigslist, Let Go, OfferUp, Buy Nothing, and Facebook Market.

INVEST ON ESSENTIALS TO LAST

There are some items worth investing in to prevent repurchasing in the near future. For me, these were my bed frame, mattress, and television. These were my essential items I absolutely knew that I was going to reuse for years no matter where I end up living. It helps to make a list of things you need a circling these key items, then doing research on what websites have the best deals while keeping your max budget for each item in mind.

SAVE ON TRENDY PIECES

I think it’s so important to honor your taste and style in the moment, even if that means donating or selling the trendier pieces upon moving out. However, budget on these items!! They may not be your forever pieces, so I just feel like pinching pennies makes sense here. Trendy pieces I saved on: my velvet chaise lounge I got on Amazon versus Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie, my tiny home media console I got on Amazon versus West Elm, my bar stools I got on sale at Target versus everywhere else because bar stools are EXPENSIVE.

LIVEN IT UP WITH PLANTS!

Living alone can be isolating and feel extremely lonely. One easy way to liven your space (along with keeping a rolling queue of podcasts playing) is with plants. It’s nice to have something to take care of and it honestly just changes the energy of your home. Plants are also relatively affordable. One of my favorite places to get them is Trader Joe’s. I also enjoy supporting local nurseries, but try to avoid the trendier ones because I find it can get pricey pretty quick.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED

I know this may seem like weird advice, but think of ALL THE THINGS you have in storage or just in the corner of your room collecting dust because you don’t remember the last time you used it. And by no means am I telling you to go around asking all your friends for a TV, but I don’t think it would hurt to mention that you are in search of one. I mentioned that I was looking for a shoe rack to a friend and she just happened to have one that she wasn’t using! Never hurts to mention or ask!

UPCYCLE WHEN YOU CAN

I mean, there’s a reason why there are so many wedding and home decor DIYs on Pinterest, right? It saves you SO MUCH MONEY. One of my favorite DIYs for my apartment was upcycling old jars of all shapes and sizes (nut butters, marinara sauce, etc.) and turning them into pantry staple containers. Containers from The Container Store, Amazon, and even TJ Maxx really adds up. I ordered a label maker off of Amazon and turned it into a really cute and fun project! Upcycling jars and containers is a great way to prevent waste too!

HAVE PATIENCE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SALES

This is kind of a no brainer but I can’t stress this enough. WAIT FOR SALES. I saved so much money on some of my favorite pieces that I couldn’t say no to, but couldn’t justify paying full price for, IE: my rug from Urban Outfitters, my bar stools from Target, my television from Amazon, my Stasher bags, and my decorative pillows from Urban Outfitters. Turn on your e-mail alerts especially when you know your favorite shops always have sales.

I hope this helps! If you have any other questions or want to know more about my experience living alone or in the city, let me know! Until next time. All the love. <3

MY APARTMENT ESSENTIALS

As promised, I am sharing my apartment essentials with links to where to purchase! I apologize in advance if I can’t find the exact product but I will definitely link the closest thing I can find at the same price point.

LIVING ROOM

VINTAGE PENDANT LIGHT KIT // AMAZON

TASSELS PARTY BANNER // TARGET

PLANT STAND // AMAZON

RUBY TUFTED RUG // URBAN OUTFITTERS

NATHAN JAMES MEDIA CONSOLE // AMAZON

TOSHIBA FIRE TV // AMAZON

MOROCCAN POUF // AMAZON

KNIT FLOOR PILLOW // URBAN OUTFITTERS

IVORY THROW WITH TASSELS // NORDSTROM RACK

IKEA POÄNG ARMCHAIR // THRIFTED FOR $8, LINKING FROM IKEA

VELVET CHAISE LOUNGE // AMAZON, LINKING SIMILAR

PET FRIENDLY SOFA COVER // AMAZON

KNITTED THROW // TARGET

ACCENT TABLE // TARGET

SLEEP SPACE

BED FRAME // AMAZON

MATTRESS // TUFT & NEEDLE

WAKE UP LIGHT THERAPY ALARM CLOCK // AMAZON

MACRAME // AMAZON

THROW PILLOWS // URBAN OUTFITTERS, NORDSTROM RACK, AND TARGET

SILK PILLOW CASE // BROOKLINEN

KITCHEN

SHELF RAISERS // THRIFTED FOR ~$3 EACH, LINKING SIMILAR

STASHER BAGS // STASHERBAG

BEESWAX WRAPS // BEESWRAP – USE CODE ‘ROSIE20’ FOR 20% OFF

CORNER COUNTERTOP ORGANIZER // THRIFTED FOR $5, LINKING SIMILAR

LAZY SUSAN // THRIFTED FOR ~$3, LINKING SIMILAR

FRIDGE ORGANIZER CONTAINERS // THRIFTED FOR ~$3 EACH, LINKING SIMILAR

BRIM POUR OVER COFFEEMAKER // CRATE & BARREL

BRIM ESPRESSO MACHINE // WILLIAMS SONOMA

ELECTRIC KETTLE // AMAZON

SMEG TOASTER // WILLIAMS SONOMA

ALMOND COW MILK MACHINE // ALMOND COW

AIR FRYER // BELLA

VITAMIX // AMAZON – SNAGGED ON SALE ON AMAZON DAY

DISH SCRUB // AMAZON

KITCHEN MAT // WORLD MARKET

BATHROOM

AMBER GLASS JAR // TARGET

EVERYTHING SOAP // FOLLAIN

SHOWER CURTAIN // TJ MAXX, LINKING SIMILAR

TASSLE BATH RUG // WORLD MARKET, LINKING SIMILAR

REED DIFFUSER IN SANDALWOOD ROSE // NORDSTROM

JEWELRY BOX // NORDSTROM, LINKING SIMILAR

CERAMIC JEWELRY DISHES // THRIFTED FOR $1 EACH, LINKING SIMILAR

OVER THE CABINET TOWEL BAR // THRIFTED FOR $3, LINKING SIMILAR

OVER THE CABINET APPLIANCE ORGANIZER // THRIFTED FOR $5, LINKING SIMILAR

OVER THE DOOR HOOKS // THRIFTED FOR $7, LINKING SIMILAR

MISC.

LABEL MAKER // AMAZON

SHOE RACK // IKEA

FULL LENGTH MIRROR // IKEA

LUGGAGE STAND // THRIFTED FOR $3, LINKING SIMILAR

DRESSER // AMAZON

FURBO DOG CAMERA // AMAZON

RECYCLE BIN // TARGET

PANTRY CARTS // IKEA

ORGANIZING BINS // THRIFTED FOR ~$2 EACH, LINKING SIMILAR

VINTAGE PAN AM PRINT // AMAZON

WOODEN PRINT HANGER // URBAN OUTFITTERS

BAR STOOLS // TARGET

WOOD LETTER BOARD // TARGET

VASE // IKEA

CLEANING SUPPLIES // BRANCH BASICS

COOK BOOKS // HALF PRICED BOOKS, AMAZON, LOCAL SHOPS

CRYSTALS // MOSTLY FROM MOORE THAN ROCKS IN KENT, WA

CANDLES // MOSTLY ANTHROPOLOGIE AND TRADER JOE’S

All of these products brought my little 465 square foot studio apartment to life! I recorded and shared an apartment tour on YouTube, which you can watch here. Hope this helps and gives you some space saving and budgeting ideas for your big or little space! All the love.

TOP 5 OF SEATTLE (FOOD EDITION)

Buddha Bowl at Heartbeet Organic Superfoods Cafe

THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! I have been dying to put together a Seattle guide for a long freaking time. The issue is, I get overwhelmed when I look at city guides and in the end, resort to Yelp. So I decided to put together a different take on a city guide. Here are my top 5s of my hometown, Seattle.

TOP 5 FAST CASUAL EATS

  • Homegrown – Farm to table style soups, salads, and sandwiches. // Sprinkled all around the city, Bellevue, and Mercer Island
  • Café Yumm – A tastier Chipotle (in my opinion) with plant based options. // 7th & Pine
  • Bounty Kitchen – Local, organic, and lots of variety! // Queen Anne and Denny Triangle
  • Vinason Pho & Grill – Vietnamese food made locally and sustainably. Vegetarian/vegan and keto options available! // South Lake Union
  • Eltana – If you need a bagel spot in Seattle, this is it. // Capitol Hill and Seattle Center

TOP 5 PLANT BASED EATS

  • Heartbeet Organic Superfoods Cafe – Amazing salads, warm bowls, juices, and tasty raw vegan treats. // Queen Anne
  • Plum Bistro – Three words. MAC AND YEEZY. The tastiest vegan comfort food in the city. // Capitol Hill
  • Cafe Flora – Amazing brunch. Best cinnamon roll ever and if you can’t get enough, they have a location in the airport in between the A & B gates. // Madison Valley
  • Juicebox Cafe – Unique flavors and twists on simple eats. Try their savory oats! // Capitol Hill
  • Harvest Beat – Definitely a splurge but such an amazing experience of local and eco-friendly eats in the art of a 5 course meal. // Wallingford

TOP 5 BRUNCH EATS

  • Super Six – Hawaiian fusion with the best morning adult bevvies. // Columbia City
  • Cafe Opla – Vietnamese fusion, banh mi in a skillet. Unique and amazing. // On the Pier
  • Oddfellows Cafe – Simple menu, great ambience. // Capitol Hill
  • Mr. West Cafe & Bar – They have charcuterie boards. I REPEAT. They have charcuterie boards!! // Westlake
  • The Fat Hen // If you enjoy eggs and a simple menu, check this spot out. Fair warning, the space is small so there will most likely be a wait. But worth it! // Ballard

TOP 5 SWEET EATS

  • Frankie and Jo’s – The best ice cream in the city. All vegan and fun flavors. // Ballard and Capitol Hill.
  • Ellenos Yogurt – The most amazing Greek yogurt ever, tastes like melted cheesecake. Local. // Pike Place Market and Georgetown
  • The Flying Apron – A vegan and gluten free bakery! AMAZING. // West Seattle and Fremont
  • Mighty-O Donuts – The yummiest doughnuts that just HAPPEN to be vegan. // Capitol Hill, Greenlake, Ballard, and Denny Triangle
  • Hot Cakes – Homemade molten cakes. Unreal. // Ballard and Capitol Hill

TOP 5 COFFEESHOPS

  • Cafe An’Clair – A French inspired cafe with amazing pastries, naturally. // South Lake Union
  • Retreat – Wellness latte galore! They also have lots of amazing food options and turns into a bar later in the day. // Greenlake
  • Stone Way Cafe – Amazing coffee, great food, and live music in the evening! // Fremont
  • Storyville Coffee – Great local coffee and ambience for work space. // Downtown, Capitol Hill, and Pike Place
  • Atulea – For you non-coffee drinkers, my favorite matcha shop makes amazing matcha lattes and bubble tea! Super cute and makes me feel like I’m in California. // Capitol Hill

TOP 5 HAPPY HOUR

  • Toulouse Petit – The tastiest creole food made affordable with their incredible happy hour menu. Incredible first date-y ambience. // Queen Anne
  • Pablo y Pablo – Great happy hour menu with lots of food and drink options. Vegetarian/vegan options available! GET THE SPICY MARGS. // Wallingford
  • M Bar – Rooftop bar with a unique menu. Worth it for the view alone. // South Lake Union
  • Lunchbox Laboratory – Not the healthiest, but definitely one of the most delicious. I dream of their totchos. // South Lake Union and Greenlake
  • Japonessa – Seattle’s best sushi happy hour, hands down. The hours alone are amazing but the menu actually has a great selection and the drinks are amazing too. // Downtown

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2018

Let’s just jump right in, shall we?


  1. Homesick Candle / price varies. Send your loved one off with a little piece of home! There are a ton of different scents that will make them feel at home.
  2. Amazon Fire Stick / $25. Nothing like Netflix and chill in the hotel room to make ’em feel right at home. I love how compact it is too!
  3. Manduka Travel Yoga Mat / $32. A travel yoga mat is everything your traveler never knew they needed for that morning flow! No one wants to go down to the dodgy hotel gym at 6am to grab a mat.
  4. Hot Logic Food Warmer / $45. This is especially convenient for those who like to pack their own food while on the go, IE: flight attendants and frequent flyers!
  5. Saje Travel Cloud Oil Diffuser / $70. Give the gift of zen with this portable essential oil diffuser! Love that it comes with a convenient travel case too.
  1. Blanquil Weighted Blanket / $169. Weighted blankets are all the rage right now and you can use code “NYC20” for a nice little discount!
  2. Cozy Mock Neck Sweater / $40. Nothing is cozier than a chunky mock neck sweater! My favorite one is from Nordstrom Rack (they have so many in stock right now) by a brand called John & Jenn.
  3. Kikki. K 365 Journal / $43. My absolute favorite journal. It puts me in a super snuggly mood, grabbing this journal with a cup of tea before bed.
  4. Kirkland Slippers / $20. I got one word for ya: DEALZ. I got these slippers for a few of my favorite people (and for myself) this year!
  5. Ceremonial Matcha Bowl Set / $35. My matcha enthusiasts know that making a morning matcha is a peaceful art. It’s more than just tea – it’s a calming and mindful ritual.
  1. Rose Quartz Gua Sha + Lapis Oil Mini / $18 + $24. I started incorporating Gua Sha into my morning routine and I absolutely love it. I apply Herbivore’s Lapis oil prior to using the teardrop tool. My face is so much brighter and smoother afterwards!
  2. Sun Potion Ashwagandha / $43. Ashwagandha is my secret weapon to dealing with life’s daily stressors. I swear by it.
  3. Tru Wild Motion Pre-Workout / $38. This is my favorite all natural pre-workout. The ingredients are amazing and it gives me just the right amount of energy for a killer workout! Use code “KALEWILD15” for a discount!
  4. Mantra Band Grateful Ring / $22. I’m not a bracelet person, so when I saw that Mantra Band started making rings, I was ALL ABOUT IT. This GRATEFUL ring is the perfect reminder to make anyone smile.
  5. Vital Proteins Holiday Sampler Box / $16. Collagen is my favorite holiday gift especially for those who are curious about it but won’t bite the bullet to get it. It has enhanced my skincare, gut health, digestion, and bone and joint health immensely!
  1. Thrive Market Membership / $60. Honestly, I never knew what I was missing out until I signed up for Thrive. Your fellow foodie will save SO much money versus dangerous trips to Whole Foods.
  2. Avocado Necklace / $35. HOW FREAKING CUTE, RIGHT?! Or get them a necklace of their favorite food!
  3. Marble Pastry Board / $22. These boards are gorgeous to photograph with and they also make really nice charcuterie boards!
  4. Instant Pot / $70. My life was forever changed after using my Instant Pot for the first time. Go on and change someone’s life.
  5. Microgreens Starter Kit / $25. These kits are so fun and are incredibly affordable too!
  1. Pasta, Pretty Please Cook Book / $19. Seattle-based Chef Linda Nicholson‘s cook book is everything your fellow foodie needs. Her gorgeous colorful pasta creations are mind blowing and can now be in the kitchen, even if it’s in paper form!
  2. The Dank Crystal / $14. Not only do these candles smell amazing, but they’re named after some special spots in the Seattle area, AND there’s a crystal inside the candle! win/win/win.
  3. Girlfriend Collective Activewear / price varies. This activewear line uses recycled materials to create their clothing. Nothing is more badass than that.
  4. Frankie & Jo’s Ice Cream / $52. If you know, YOU KNOW. And if you don’t, get it for a pal and ask them to share.
  5. Bulletproof Coffee Starter Kit / $35. The perfect gift for your keto (or keto-curious) friend! There’s a kit that comes with their ghee too, which you can find here

I genuinely love this time of year. I love gift giving and I LIVE to watch reactions of my loved ones whilst opening their “I-thought-of-you-and-had-to” gifts. But what’s more important than that is the time spent together. The slowness of the holidays, hot chocolate, cheesy Christmas movie marathons, the extra long and tight embraces, making new memories and laughing about old ones. Those are the true gifts. All the love, jingles, and cookies for Santa!