Maveness's Profile

My biggest problem is blocking light for when I need to sleep during the day versus cats that hate having window access impeded. Or access to me impeded. My black out curtains do a decent job, but they don't close completely. Even if they did, I still have to leave the blinds up slightly so the cats can see out or they'll shred the blinds. I had to put a black out curtain over my bedroom door as well, since I can't close the bedroom (codependent cat destroyed the carpet the one time I tried that - why do I have clingy cats?). I found decent ones that look good and I've made them look stylish when tied back, but it still doesn't block enough light to let me sleep decently.

I actually volunteer with wildlife rehabilitation, so I like the wildlife themes. I just bought a cute rug with owls on it. But I had to really, really like the owls in question - there's still personal style to consider. And owls are my achilles' heel when it comes to dealing with wildlife - I have respect for them, but I'm a little scared of them.

I purchased two fan/light combos for my apartment and begged my dad to help me install them (having done nothing electrical before, I was a bit leery of electrocuting myself). Dad showed me how to do the first one and I took the lead on the second. It was wonderfully simple. I'm sure there are tutorials on YouTube for anyone without a Mr. or Ms. Fix It to rely on for help.

Artwork. Let me say it again. ARTWORK. Accessorizing the room will go really far toward breaking up the monotony of the wood. My grandmother has an upstairs that is this exact same wood paneling and it is gorgeous. But that's because she accessorized (over a long, long time) and used differing wood tones to add depth and texture.

I'm from North Carolina, have no one of any Asian descent in my family, and I am happily turning into a rice snob. The first time I tried rice from a rice cooker (not the instant variety), I fell in love. I don't cook rice very often (but I don't cook very often anyway, something I'm working to change), but there's something so amazing about freshly cooked rice to complete most meals. And jasmine rice makes me want to just stand there and smell it for hours.

Speaking from experience, if the landlord/property manager is pressuring you to "sign now before this property gets snatched up!", it's a sign to run. My first apartment was hell (when it didn't have to be) because of the landlord. I was pressured into the place by my mother (who really wanted me to move out on my own). The landlord 1) didn't clean the apartment before my move in date, 2) didn't fix any of the things he said he would fix, including a window that had to be jammed shut with cardboard, and 3) spent the next 8 months dodging all my attempts to get him to fix things. On the plus side, I documented every time I asked him to fix the same things (I sent him a list every time I sent him a rent check, while also mailing myself a copy of the list photocopied with the rent check, which stayed closed). When I went to move out and he tried to keep the security deposit (for things such as "failing to rake the leaves" when the yard was surrounded by oak trees and I moved out at the end of October - also known as, I raked, but that's when they fall, or "too many nail holes in the wall" when we had to pull out rusted nails upon moving in and that was on the repair list), I nailed him with the fact that he had failed to do the things he'd promised, I had documentation, and if he wanted to fight it, I could take it to the attorney general's office. (Plus he lied about the power bill for that apartment - something we should have verified ahead of time, but since we had that in writing, it gave independent proof that he was a liar.) After being confronted with his lies, he chose to cut ties, give me my money, and avoid dealing with me. I at least got out okay, but he taught me a lot about what to look for.