As the ability to follow "Quiet-Hour" rules dwindles and the need to permanently sever all interaction with cafeteria food increases, there comes a time in every college student's life to finally move into a new place of your own. Well, that is... a place of your own with several housemates and very little space. Despite the stress of finding that somehow spacious and equally affordable place, there is something liberating and exciting about finally moving into your first apartment. From all the recipes you can't wait to try (and probably fail at if you're like me) to the millions of decor possibilities your scrolling through online, the experience of building a little home on your own feels like an important milestone in growing up. While this process can be as enjoyable as it is painful, it's also an unforgettable baby-step towards the total independence we all dream about finding after college. In telling the stories of moving into my first apartment in San Francisco, I thought it was only right to share these experiences through the queen of city-life, the one and only Carrie Bradshaw.

1. As you begin your search, you're wide-eyed and hopeful, imagining all the beautiful apartments you'll get to choose from.

2. The hunting ensues, and you quickly let those dreams go as you become realistic about the places you'll get in your price-range.

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3. Nevertheless, it really doesn't matter what the place looks like because you are ready and excited to decorate it from top to bottom.

4. However, the reality of a budget kicks in again and you soon realize that the necessities (pots, pans, toilet paper, food, etc) come before decorative pillows and framed artwork.

5. Either way, you've happily signed a lease and moving-weekend inevitably comes. Your first thought upon bringing in your first round of things is the frightening conclusion that maybe the excessive amounts of stuff you've collected won't actually fit the way you imagined...

6. The next two days are somewhat of a blur. You spend anywhere from 24-42 hours moving, unpacking, shopping, eating and sleeping. By the end, your new apartment is complete chaos, exhaustion kicks in, and your suddenly wondering if you should have opted for the fully furnished pad.

7. After one long and well needed rest on what is hopefully a new bed or at least a mattress on the floor, you've forgotten the pains of moving and feel a little more settled in your new home.

8. You consume some form of caffeine, hanker down, and find a way to fit all your things into your room while organizing them in a somewhat acceptable manner. Most importantly, you get shockingly good at triple-hanging shirts and you find a way to get all your clothes into the closet, and it's remarkably satisfying.

9. It's a few days in, and everything has found it's place. However, your housemates may find those few extra items you tried to sneakily store elsewhere around the apartment.

10. You may also start to realize those little things around the apartment that your landlord conveniently forgot to mention, like a faulty window, or even a non-existent garbage disposal.

11. Next comes the moment to cook yourself your first meal, and you're excited to try out some Tastemade recipe you've had saved for months. However, soon after opening the fridge, you realize this adult-stuff is a marathon not a sprint and go for frozen pizza.

12. About a week or so in, your shiny new apartment suddenly looks much less clean, and you know it's time to hold your first family meeting with your housemates for the dreaded chore-conversation.

13. Things hopefully go better than expected, and after creating a fully functional chore-chart, you and your housemates are feeling more organized and more like responsible young adults than ever before.

14. As time continues, you quickly learn that it's impossible to hide anything from the people you live with, so you might as well just share everything and try not to judge.

15. If you've chosen to live with your closest friends, you will probably try diving into the whole "adult-responsibility" thing together. This includes going to work on time, eating healthier, remembering your keys, and staying active. Even if your just barely managing to do one of these things, at least your not trying alone.

16. When it's all said and done, the apartment may still be a disaster, and settling in may feel like it takes ages. Yet through it all, you learn that it's all about finding humor amidst the chaos, and you soon realize how fun it can be to finally get to live with some of your favorite people.

17. Lastly and most importantly, even if the living room is still a mess and you're still short a sofa and a TV, you and your housemates will still find a way to sit and watch the Bachelorette (or whatever show) together come Monday night. Even if you have to eat on the floor and watch on a tiny screen, there's nothing more bonding than a night of food and "reality" TV.