Qzie's Profile

I had to read back through to make sure I MYSELF had not posted this. Well, other than the fact that below us is not the basement. And though our neighbour complains regularly, it is not daily.
Some may not see how this is "your problem", but I feel for you 100%. Having two toddlers doesn't make it easy to do as you have and stop all movement in our place, but we remove shoes, tip toe, reprimand playing off the mats and jolly skipping down the hallway... she has gone so far as to tell my husband his good-morning-whistling drives her up the wall, on several occasions. If you feel as I do, and by reading your post I believe you do, we have somehow become more concerned about pleasing our unreasonable neighbours than maintaining healthy, happy relationships within our own families!
The fact of the matter is, at least in my case, that most of the "noise" arises from none other than joyful situations - the skipping, whistling, laughing, heaven forbid dancing at 2 o'clock in the afternoon... and for a while I would snap at the one who had forgotten to be happy in PERFECT SILENCE. Then I realized how ridiculous that was.
Now, I let my family live. Within a reasonable decibel limit and at reasonable hours, we do as we please. I have even been known to let my 18 month of drag a little basket on wheel down the hallway without interfering and carrying it to the nearest rug.

They chose to live on the lower level, they knew there would be someone upstairs. There is only so much they can ask, and so much you can do. Do not let them ruin your enjoying your own home.

Your kitchen is gleaming!! How do you do that? We're looking for art to fill up empty walls in our new place, and have been hoping to fall in love with a piece some time soon. As a Canadian living in Europe, I am very interested in these "mid-career Canadian artists" you mention. Could you perhaps give me a few names?

This is so cute, and so easy!

Love the lamp. Absolutely love the lamp.

I just spent 10 minutes surfing around trying to find somewhere to BUY Dululu products... anyone?

#2 have serious potential! But #5 really aren't doing it for me...

I personally went through this thought process about a year ago, and changed my way of doing things.

For the longest time, "half dressed running around in a t-shirt and underwear" would have fit my home style, make-up if I thought I would be going out in the hour, and a lint-balled wreck of a sweater if there was a bit of a chill in the air.

Then I made some new friends, the kind who ring your doorbell without calling first, the best kind! And I wanted to look cute, fresh and put together, so now I do (or hope I do). I do my hair after I shower, slap on a bit of eye shadow and mascara, and wear clothes that make me feel good about the way I look! Funny thing is, I think I have better home posture and am more productive NOW than I was THEN.

I'm with @lepidoptry for the clamp-on idea! There are some fabulous designs out there that occupy much less space than a desk lamp!

Adore the bike-wheel clock, chuckled at the grocery cart chair, but really just not feeling the chikita banana chandelier. Enjoyable post :)

I like the idea of putting a coffee table and a couple chairs in each room. Is there room for a bar and a couple stools in the kitchen, even if it's a tiny one in front of the window?