New way of life

***Life, love and furniture is a blog about two 20-something Lewistown newcomers who will explore what it is like to leave home and college, and begin a new life in a different town that has a church on every block, tons of antique and thrift shops, and a horse and buggy or two on the same roads on which the women travel.***

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I'm Marjorie Stromberg, business and health reporter at The Lewistown Sentinel. My job is important to me because not only do I have a duty to give the community its news, I am able to tell people's stories. I once heard somewhere that journalists give a voice to those who wouldn't otherwise have one. I believe this is true, and that's why I take my job very seriously and consider myself very lucky to be doing exactly what I want to be doing.
I've always had a love for writing, and for me, the best part about writing is learning to improve. Besides writing, my passions include family and friends, nature,and the ever-changing, exciting world of party planning. I think (and my family tells me this all the time, too) that I have a natural knack for getting people together and having a good time.
So how did I end up here? Those who don't know me very well always are asking me this question. To answer, first I have to explain where I am from, which is Northern Virginia, or as I say, "Northern Virginia, outside of D.C.", so people are aware I am from the crowded, expensive, traffic-stuffed area of Virginia, filled with Starbucks and expensive ethnic eateries. My hometown of Reston, which some may find too crowded and expensive, is a place that feels natural to me, fits my lifestyle and taste, and is somewhere I always will love and cherish.
Then, to continue answering the question about how I got to Lewistown, I explain I just graduated from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.V.a., and I recently got a job in Lewistown at The Sentinel. And here I am. That answer usually satisfies people.
Usually, after I tell people that part of my story, the next question they ask is if I have family or friends in Lewistown. Then I respond by saying no, and watch the person's jaw drop or their face go into a temporary state of shock.    
I think of this time in my life as a new chapter, not to sound too cliche. But it is; I just graduated college and moved to a new state and new town where I knew nobody. That being said, I had to begin to make a new life for myself.
    One of my favorite parts of adapting to a new place, besides making friends and finding the best restaurants and shopping in the area, is decorating my new apartment.
    Before I had my own place, I spent my extra money on clothing and accessories. Although I still love those things, lately I find myself browsing online for wall decor and color combinations for my living room, instead of a new dress and matching heels.
    Is that a sign that I'm growing up? Maybe. But I think itás really me just embracing my independence and individuality; I am able to decorate and furnish my apartment exactly how I want to do so.    
    I have always loved color, so I think one of the main features of my apartment is going to be lots of color. I think color complements my personality, and I want my apartment to represent who I am. When people come over, I want them to think, "Wow, she must be a really happy person." I plan on achieving this goal by decorating with bright-colored throw pillows and lamps. Also, I have begun to line the wall between my kitchen and living room with vases so that flowers can continuously add color to the apartment. Flowers not only are colorful and beautiful, but they also are fun and fresh, and bring nature into a home.
    The millions of picture frames full of friends and family I have also add a lot of color to my apartment, as well as represent who I am. Two of my friends recently got me a wall clock for my graduation. Instead of numbers on the clock, they put in little pictures of all of us. I think that will really add a nice touch when I hang it up in my living room, and it will definitely put some more personality into the apartment.
    Through splashes of color and picture frames, I hope my apartment will start to represent who I am. This is only the beginning of the decorating process, however, just as this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life.
To top off this not-so-brief introduction, Iáll end with a lesson Iáve learned since my move to Lewistown: Decorating and furnishing an apartment from scratch is just like moving into a new place where everything is unfamiliar. You have to adapt and make it your own.
    The apartment starts out empty and bare, but as you add pieces of furniture and decorations, it becomes more familiar. And, moving into a new town, everything seems empty at first, but over time you begin to find people and places that you love, and then you add them to your life.