3Kids,4dogs's Profile

Your combining of thrift store and "craft store," items creates a seamless impression of "Old Money!" You really have the gift for this! I look at apartment therapy every day, and I do like a lot of the beautiful and creative ideas. Your room truly looks like the nursery of a pampered little 1940's scion! Not too much, nothing overdone, but very loving! What fun!

These are ALL adorable! Doesn't plastic or metal need to be repurposed? And can't it be used in a make-believe tiny garden, perhaps if we do not call it a "fairy garden," since this term seems to have a history of "natural materials only?" Perhaps less hip families can make miniature pretend gardens, and not be judged so very severely.

I get vintage '40s suitcases for never more than $15.00 at flea markets. They must smell like my grandmother's perfume, not a hint of musty or mildew. I only buy brown leather colors I like or red. I store off season sweaters or summer clothing in them on the upper shelves of my closet. They seal tightly, keeping out moths or moisture. If I can get a really cute matching set for less than $10.00 which happens to smell musty, I tear out the lining, scrub the inside and outside with a vinegar/water/baking soda mix, and after drying them in the sun, I fill them about 1/4 each with the best quality kitty litter for about 2 weeks and close them. That kills the musty smell. Then I just glue on cute doggy or children's fabric, and make dog beds or toy storage boxes. Sometimes I think there are some big spenders and some real thrifters on this site. There's always a way to find great things cheap.

I LOVE it! Cheerful and bright, and he can add and subtract his own details as his interests change! Beautiful!

WOW! Elegant, creative, and for once, a "budget," that the rest of us can agree is a budget! You really did create a lovely, finished look using your eye for quality, some work, and patience; not furniture that is lovely, but bought at prices most of us simply cannot or will not pay! It is perfect, and you will enjoy the dresser and end table, chandelier, and rocker long after Rory is grown! I would love to see the other rooms in your home. What an inspiration!

I see you would like to use it as design, but as both a design-lover and a former teacher, and a mother of a child who underwent 6 long years of speech therapy, I know the agree with our friends re: the value of flexible and multi-functioning learning toys. Why don't you enjoy displaying them on a shelf a bit higher than your child can reach; perhaps a box shaped shelf in a color that sets off the block's colors? Then allow your child to play with the blocks in the many ways she can as time passes? You will both have fun!

An architecture degree from any college or university is 4 to 5 years, with a test similar to the medical boards exam at the end. A masters is more. A 3 year "degree," in "architecture school," will be a tremendous waste of anyone's money.

That isn't ivy. It may be a type of squash. I have a plant which spread like wildfire and it has "pods," that look that way, but become huge white flowers. Yours could even be full of seeds for more of the same, which is why your yard is full. Wait and see what they become by October, or have someone from a local nursery come over- or cut a branch with the leaves and a pod, and go to the nursery, and they can identify it. You'd be surprised how helpful small family owned nurseries will be. If you don't like them, pull them out by the roots.

magpiec, I have had similarly horrible experiences with my in-laws. Trouble is, my husband did not stand up to them, and it caused terrible friction in our marriage. Finally, I decided that if they visit, he can stay and host them, and I will go stay at a hotel, ( a lovely, gracious family therapist suggested this,) OR, he could say, "Great, I will give you a list of hotels in the area." If a big deal was made, he would have to tell them why. This has worked for us, even though it has angered and caused tremendous self-pity for the in-laws in question. Crazy people are crazy. It actually affected my physical health knowing they were coming, dealing with their oppressive behavior, and recovering for a month or so, with head and stomach pain. I would question myself, my selfishness, over-sensitivity...finally I stepped back and saw that their behavior was narcissistic and really unhealthy. The truth hurts. You have to decide what hurts more.

We leave the house spic-n-span before a trip, so that coming home feels good. I also spend time every morning in silent prayer and meditation, which changes everything. You did, however, give me a Life-Changing Idea! We have several dogs. Only the chihuahua sheds, and she cries if not allowed on the furniture. I'm a push-over. The chihuahua in your photo wears a fitted t-shirt! This will substantially limit her spiky little hairs all over the house! It will save one of our lives!