Anne Ferris's Profile

know that washing blacks alone makes the blacks look better longer, towels need a vinegar rinse in our hard water and dishtowels and rags need a hot water wash or ... yuck. Now that my kids know how to sort the laundry I just do it when the baskets are full.

My daughter does her own hand laundry, especially now that she is so picky about clothes. We hang everything up a bit damp to dry, iron some things and use the steam setting on anything that needs a little help.

Bedding is done once a week, we all have two sets of sheets and just switch them out.

But even though laundry doesn't bother me, I LOVE the idea of a fluff-n-fold service. If there was one in our area I would probably consider it...

Moonrise Kingdom! The sets are practically another character in the story.

@ Eve - those chairs are a version of the Emeco Navy chairs. Or maybe a knockoff...

I would center the fabulous desk and (sorry!) get rid of the file cabinet. I would also hang a magnet/cork board cut to fit the width of the desk, although admttedly I am the type who is strict about keeping those things looking tidy. My daughter has railroad-board painted with magnetic paint that she keeps tacked with cool illustrations she clips from magazines. It looks great and was super-cheap.

Another cheap fast fix would be to paper-tape your power strip to the bottom of the desk, looks less cluttery and costs next to nothing.

I would spend my money on a mid-century-ish swing arm desk lamp in a nice bright color.

If the frame you used for day 6 wasn't too pricey you could do a set of two or four. That could also happen over time. Some brightly colored cups or jars or boxes would look great with those desk dividers. And of course you should definitely hit the thrift stores. Somebody's outboxed items could be exactly what you need!

I have probably the oddest reason here to keep most of my books. My house is SO LOUD that I use my book-lined shelves as acoustic paneling. We have stored almost all of our glass-framed art because it makes the echoing even worse, now it's all canvases and rows and rows of hardback books.

Of course, I can probably find a few airplane paperbacks to outbox. There's always something, right?

The technical difficulties always get me, too. My project (the kids' bathroom) would be chock-full of those, but since I will need some drywall repair I am going to have a handyman here anyway...

I ordered the glass screen for the shower! So, so happy to get rid of the always clammy shower curtain. Now that I know I don't have to install the screen all by myself I am able to relax and get on with the fun stuff - towel hooks, drawer organizers and a seat cushion for me to sit on while the little guy plays shark attack in the bath. I'm finally at that point where I think it really will all come together by the end of the month!

Mmm! Polenta looks good, might have to nab that one for tomorrow...

I am all over this kitchen thing. I am so grateful to have a housekeeper every week (job + teenager + toddler + overseas husband = housekeeper) but it's just a fact that if you are not doing your own cleaning things will fall through the cracks. Not that she isn't wonderful, but cleaning is not the same thing as weeding out and re-organizing and taking inventory of needed repairs.

I just went through the utility drawer (don't call it a junk drawer! it will only accumulate junk!) and wiped all the dividers out and got rid of all the detritus. Of course, it's only a matter of time before it accumulates more broken keychains and unused chopsticks, but for now it looks great.

I did the take-the-drawer-with-you to the Container Store and it was so worth it. For my 9" deep drawers I got some 4" deep acrylic bathroom caddy things that are meant for the countertop but work really well for keeping things upright in a taller drawer.

Am going back with another batch of drawers soon!

I have had luck selling nicer furniture on CL with really beautiful photos staged editorially. You have to price fairly, but for something that looks almost brand new and is 50% of the original price there is usually a lot of interest. I have often had multiple offers within the first day of posting. If there is any wear or damage you have to be upfront about it and price accordingly.

We have a very small Christmas, the big morning surprise is that Santa brings a stack of books for each kid. Then we do stockings and a few gifts from relatives. My feeling is that if a kid needs a new bike (we are big bike riders) then waiting until Christmas doesn't do anything except promote a sense of entitlement around the holidays. We buy what they need when they need it and treat Christmas as a big baking-entertaining-decorating-charitable work event.

This has worked for us mostly because the extended family is on board, too. One year my daughter did ask Santa for a microscope and we all chipped in for one because it was such a great request and could be used by so many of the other kids. Usually they don't even ask for anything because that's just not how it works for us. My oldest daughter is 14 and it has never been a problem.

Also - the best way to make gifts magical for a kid is to be truly thoughtful in choosing them. That way quantity isn't an issue, just a few things that are really spot-on. I think it's a losing battle to force a kid to be grateful for getting a gift they just aren't excited about. Better to just say thank you and be happy to pass it on to someone who might enjoy it more.