the arkansas traveler's Profile

I hear you! My husband and I have two jobs, two kids (and another one on the way), and we are happy renters--the only renters among our cohort. I'm sure our friends wonder at the fact that we are still renting, although they, at least, have been very polite never to hint at it. But my husband and I just don't feel buying would be a good option for our family at this time--even if everyone else is doing it.

The market where we live is over-priced and due for a correction. The housing stock in our town is poor. And we just don't have enough money at this point to buy the kind of house we want.

But, you know what? We can definitely *rent* the kind of house we want, and not lose sleep worrying about the leaky basement, the state of the market, or if we can afford a hefty mortgage. We also want the freedom to shift careers or change cities if we choose. So, for us, renting = freedom.

We've bought two different baby baths for our two boys, but we never use them. It's just too easy to bathe with them.

Wow! Thanks for the helpful suggestions--especially Pyewacket. That was exactly the type of info I was looking for.
-Sarah

but where did the mushrooms come from?

Our favourite is "The Rabbit Problem" by Emily Gravit. It's based on Fibbinocci's Sequence and absolutely hilarous.

Actually, my son uses he silver baby cup every day (he's now 2 1/2) and he loves it. He loved his sterling silver spoon, too, until he lost it (I think he actually "hide" it in the kitchen trashcan).

I don't believe in having things around that house that aren't used. So I put the silver and the Bunnykins baby china that we received as gifts to use!

That said, what I asked for--and most enjoyed receiving--was books! Classic hardcover children's books. They are so expensive, but so useful, and, so long as you buy hardcover, they last forever.

That is brilliant! I am so tired of stepping on all those little matchbox cars!

Restoration Hardware's silver sage is my absolute favourite colour. I never thought about it for a little girl's room but this is great. Amy Butler and the Nova Natural's kitchen are also among my favourites. Now, if I only had a little girl...

These videos are so cute--and inspiring. I love the newsprint/window-washing idea. I will definitely be giving that a try.

So this really get's my goat:

Brookline, Mass: Gorgeous 1-bedroom (800 sq/ft) with fireplace right on the subway: $1,600/month

Edmonton, Alberta: a 3-bedroom (1,00 sq/ft) in a nice area (still I had to buy a car): $1,900/month

It's nice to have the extra space (all 200 feet of it) and a yard and a dog, but in general it is sooo not worth it.