c in westchester's Profile

Radio is my background noise in the evenings. I have a wireless speaker (Sonos - love it!) and I tune into either music or NPR stations. I work from home - during the day, I usually have silence because I'm on and off the phone.

Invest in an industrial grade window fan that has an intake/exhaust switch. It will take up one whole window - something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Air-King-9155-Window-16-Inch/dp/B002AGZUMA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1363178068&sr=8-9&keywords=window+exhaust+fan

I lived in an apartment like yours and this really helped to clear the hot air out during the night. I would turn it on exhaust and open up all of the windows. The exhaust action of the fan pulled cool outside air in through the rest of the windows. It's the same concept as an attic fan. They are loud, but powerful and really help.

@ALynn - you can buy a Roku for $50 and just stream the movies directly through your TV. No monthly fee and no need to drag your computer into the living room.

Parnassus, I agree - re-reading them as an adult puts a whole new spin on the series. I still think they are worth reading to your kids, but man, Pa was really a piece of work...

My party tip is not to have a 15 kid toddler party. ;)

We just do extended family in our house - birthday kid, 5 cousins (ages 3 - 18) and parents. Pizza, presents, running around and cake More than enough party to make any toddler thrilled.

I was just thinking about adding some pink to my living room the other day. Inspired by the pink balloons I had bought for my daughter's birthday. The thing is, I have orange accents already (with grey/taupe walls/rug - kind of like the first picture with the pink bedside table), so I'm not sure how pink will work with it - but the post has inspired me to make a good faith effort...

My phone is on my nightstand when I'm in bed, but I don't charge it there. I incorporated it into my landing pad. I added an outlet high up in my hall closet so you can't see it, hung one of those picture frame ledges with a lip along the inside wall and snaked the power source down next to that behind the door frame. When I come home I plug in my phone and leave it on the ledge with my keys. I have a work and a personal cell, so that's where they both live when I'm home.

what brand did you buy?

Try an Ikea shoe cabinet that attaches to the wall. I have a very narrow hall, so I got this one which is only 7" deep: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50178171/
It fits on the wall behind where my door opens. I use it for my daughter's shoes and winter things. There's a taller, narrower version, as well as other styles.

Ikea has similar slim shoe cabinets that attach to the walls.