Stiletto's Profile

Not only are bamboo textiles technically rayon...please be aware that they are subject to a lot of greenwashing.

Think about it - how does a plant tough enough to use for flooring, furniture, and kitchenware become soft enough to make clothing, linens, and rugs? They're not just pulped - softening bamboo requires the use of chemicals, and bamboo textile manufacturers aren't required to disclose, let alone prove, whether they reuse the chemicals or simply dump them. (Don't get me started on the water usage involved, either!)

FYI: getting mad at the salesperson or store manager because of a sold-out item is pointless and childish. (Yes, people do this. The worst ones tried to attack me.) You waited too long; try to be more responsible next year.

By the way...

Big chain stores negotiate rent, services (i.e courier shipping), and wholesale prices in bulk - they can successfully demand lower rates for pretty much everything (and many of them, i.e. IKEA, don't even pay taxes). Mom-and-pop stores don't have the power to do this, and generally pay proportionately higher amounts for their expenses and merchandise (and have to fight tooth and nail to get their service providers to fix problems at all, let alone quickly). Chain Store X can afford to give hefty discounts - they pay less in the first place, and have much higher sales volume. Asking very small stores for a discount is rude and selfish - for a struggling retailer, it can mean the difference between being able to pay the phone bill or not (trust me on this, I worked in a tiny store - and the owner couldn't afford ANYTHING other than the rent on a very small apartment, minimally-used utilities, and food from bulk bins). Truly supporting indie retailers means buying things that AREN'T marked down to cost.

Not to quibble, but "Elegance is refusal" was actually from Coco Chanel.

My favorite: "Why don't you...if you have a dark dining-room in a city apartment, stop trying to brighten it and paint it dark grape red and drape the windows in festoons of real Scotch tartan?"

How I wish I could have met her.

FYI about the USPS' change of address form: if you check the little box marked "permanent", your new address will be sold to various junk mailers and bombarded with unsolicited mail. If you love getting coupons, go ahead and check that box. I prefer not to receive such mail, so I notify the post office that I do not want mail forwarded, then notify the bank, DMV, etc. of my new address.

Hardwood floors - heck, even tile would be nice (I wish landlords understood that it's not fair to foist carpet on wheezy asthmatic/allergic tenants who don't wear shoes at home...).
Efficient work triangle in the kitchen.
Old bones - especially antique fireplace mantels (ugly brick fireplaces don't count).
A closet that isn't the size of a postage stamp.
And as long as I'm dreaming, I'll take an oceanfront location and neighbors who aren't insane.

There is an incredibly simple fix for making sure granite countertops are clean:

Wipe down your counter, like usual. Then, bend at the knees until your eyes are level with your countertop. Any missed specks of food will stand out, since they won't be level with the counter. Yes, it even works if you have a matching granite backsplash. (I used to have very painful knee problems, so for some time I did this seated on an adjustable, wheeled office chair!)

I've done this for years and always have clean counters, although I realize it may not work so well for people with vision challenges or who are very tall.

Definitely buy one piece at a time - and if you have any siblings, see if they want to go in on the gift with you. My brother and I jointly purchase gifts for Mom or Dad all the time.

Storing some items outside the kitchen solved my tiny-kitchen problem. I used to keep my microwave and garbage bin a few steps away in the adjoining laundry room, and stashed infrequently-used appliances in an entryway credenza.

As a former apartment manager, I have one thing to say:

ALWAYS ask the manager or landlord WHY the apartment is vacant. (Put a positive spin on it - "This is such a nice space - why did the last tenant move out?")

If they won't tell you: ask the neighbors, check your state's sex offender registry, check the local police blotter, and proceed with caution.

I always ask. Current home is owned by a couple working in another state for the next few years (they plan to retire here). Last home was vacated when the grad student living there got her degree and moved back to her home country. First apartment I didn't manage was vacated when the couple living there broke up. All normal occurrences - no crime, noise, or structural issues.

An elaborately painted 18th century sedan chair (yes, really).

I had nowhere to put it and sure didn't have the $14,000 (!!!) that it cost, but it still haunts me.