Oldhousejunkie's Profile

Congratulations Alysha. I'm 31 and my husband are just now starting to explore the notion of having a child. We're probably still a couple of years out, but I'm a planner. My best advice to you...do what is best for yourself, your husband, and your son. Too many people out there want to give advice or basically judge you and your decisions for your baby. Stand strong and know that whatever you do is the right thing.

As for the other commenters--points to mschatelaine. I totally agree with you.

I will definitely read "Bringing up Bebe" because I believe that Americans are creating a crazy species of children that hold way too much power in their little fists. Boundaries, people, boundaries.

On breastfeeding, I have no desire to do it and refuse to be demonized by my decision. Will I try to pump? Sure. It's cheaper than formula. But if I have to result to formula, I have no qualms. I was formula fed and I'm a perfectly healthy, very smart (IMHO and if my full ride to college counts for anything), fairly normal human being. Who just so happens to be best friends with my mother. So I guess all that research is...well you make the decision. Why can't we all just be supportive of each other's decisions? What's best for one person isn't best for the next.

The wall tile in the kitchen is a-mah-zing. Don't ever, ever, change it.

Loved this tour. Vintage eclectic chic. Brilliant.

I'm never renting another apartment without a dishwasher. My hubby is not inclined to help beyond getting his dirty dishes to the sink and I just plain hate it. We have an old fashioned farmhouse sink so we can fill it up and then it take half and hour to wash everything. Ugh.

I'm already planning on it. I want a wake with plenty of liquor, a brief service the next day, and then plunk me in the ground. No embalming or anything.

Provided that I don't become a famous author and can afford to have my own burial ground, I've asked to be buried in a local nature preserve. They don't allow tombstones (just plant markers) and ask that you be buried either in a pine or biodegradable box. They also have a groovy historic church that they moved to the property for small services.

My husband is horrified that I don't want the pomp and circumstnace, but I hate the culture of open coffins and other nonsense.

I think I remember there being periodic posts about incorporating Downton style into your home here on AT back in January during the Season Two run.

I, for one, ADORE this show though I did think Season Two was struck by the sophmore slump. I just wish I had the money to fly to England to watch the first run. What use are English relatives if you can't stay with them for Downton Abbey premieres? :-)

And on the subject of reading vs TV... I read plenty and I'm an author. I watch period dramas for inspiration since I write historical fiction. But even if I didn't write, I still think Downton is hella better than most of the fly-by-night, vulgar sitcoms that get rolled out every year.

As odd as it may sound, clear packing tape is your friend. I bought a loveseat used from a friend of a friend and it only took a few days for my Siamese to go to town on it. So I put the clear packing tape over the spots where he liked to scratch. Stopped it right away because he didn't like the "slick" feeling. Now he has started on the top back of the sofa (behind the cushions) and I keep meaning to put tape over that as well. But for the most part, he's starting focusing on my burlap covered dining room chairs, which oddly enough, are holding up great!

Overwise my MO is cats = cheap sofas. Sad but true. I really want a Chesterfield style sofa or something great and vintage looking from PB or Ballard Designs, but it's not worth paying the money for it with the cats. Right now, I'm looking at a sofa at World Market because it's the style I want and a price that won't make me want to scream bloody murder if/when the cat decides to christen it.

I do believe people get married for the wrong reasons. As a nation, we are inherently selfish and when marriage turns out to harder than we expected or we don't "find" ourselves in our spouse, divorce ensues. There also seems to be rising rate of infidelity as the contributing factor in divorces.

I chose to get married because I'm religious. My husband and I abstained from sex and did not live together while dating. Therein lies the issue. Our society says its OK to do the things married people do without having to be married. That may be fine for some but that wasn't fine for us.

I won't lie. Marriage is damn hard. I knew it would be hard but it has been a bajillion times harder. The whole concept of "leaving and cleaving" is the hardest. There have been times when we have both wanted to leave, but we've hashed it out and stayed because we don't believe in divorce (except for in cases of abuse or infidelity). Marriage is a sacrifice and so many people are just not prepared to make it.

Very neat! Thanks for sharing. I'm looking at a house of this approximate age and style so it's cool to see another similar dwelling. The one I'm looking at has been owned by the same family since 1938. If only it came with such interesting documentation!

Definitely splurge and take the Heathrow Express trains back and forth. It sounds like you really should factor in about 3 hours for travel time to and fro and getting back through security. I've only been through security at Heathrow for 8:00am flight (to Dublin, ironically) and it was a nightmare! All the business folks flying over for meetings, etc.

With roughly four hours in the city, I would go to the London Eye. By the fall, you shouldn't have too much of a wait. Plus it's by Big Ben and Westminister, so you're knocking out several icons all at once. Take the Circle Line from Paddington to Westminster. If time allows, buy tickets to the hop on/hop off double decker tour bus. It will give you a good overview of the city. I usually ignore such touristy things but in this case, you will get to see all the sites. I don't think it's worth all the tube hopping to do it on your own. But if you're adventurous, most of the good sites (Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden, etc.) on the Piccadilly Line. Good luck and have fun!

I've been contemplating a sectional for awhile since we have only 80 inches of wall to sit a sofa against. I have worried that it might be over powering since the wall sits between the stairway and the living room closet. But now I may reconsider...