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I have one fluffy down blanket. More blankets than that and my boyfriend winds up stealing some and I get stuck with the leftovers, and I'm never warm enough, and I wake up in the middle of the night and want to remake the bed so there's equal blanket dispersal (my bf loves when that happens). With one blanket, we tend to share better.

I like one fluffy pillow and one buckwheat pillow on my side of the bed, though I can handle only having one pillow.

I love it! I didn't even notice the two televisions until I read the comments, so I don't think it matters too much. And yes, clearly for video games.

I like the dark grout-- it gives it a bit of Moorish stonework feel.

I think they look great! I bet any noise issues could be alleviated with some thin camera felt along the edges. And I like the gray, especially with that light above it.

Gee, kimg924, a splash of pizzazz never hurt no one.

Great selection of pictures, and a fantastic idea for a post.

Yes, dearly is exactly right. A maid is worth every single penny. Having been a maid, I will also add that there is a learning curve: watching someone else clean, or taking note of which chores make the biggest impact, can help you clean more efficiently. Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint what makes a house look cluttery or dingy. You get a pro in, and you'll be able to make better use of your own cleaning time. And some people just don't have a "knack" for cleaning, no matter how much they try. It takes a certain eye for both details and the overall picture.

Now that my boyfriend and I are both poor grad students, we save up all semester for a helping hand during finals week. Sometimes, there really just isn't time to clean. If you have to have it clean, hiring it out is more economical than having a nervous breakdown or lessening your productivity. For me, it's a habit like coffee or anything else-- once you live clutter-free, it's hard to be comfortable otherwise.

I think if you go matchy-matchy with the rug and curtains, you can afford to get a bright color-- that mustard or red. Sure, it might be "dull" as the polish chick claims, but it will read as pulled together and traditional, so it's not as color daring as it at first seems.

I love those curtains too, btw!

I don't know Sugarbakers, it looks remarkably similar to the split-level as illustrated by the expert on American architecture, Hasbro's Game of Life. That's what I would go with.

I'm shocked at how belligerent everyone got about JuliaL's comment. Why do you assume she's the owner?

My mother worked for decades in the restaurant industry-- and often not by "choice." People "choose" to get low paying waiting jobs often because that's the only option available in a particular economic climate with a non-educational background.

If the restaurant was open for the holidays, working was usually non-optional. Waitstaff had to choose to work either Thanksgiving or Christmas or they lost the job altogether.

And, for the record, waitstaff typically make a non-tip wage of less than $3 with few or no benefits. Time-and-a-half doesn't come close to balancing out the lost family memories.

So anyway, I don't mean to rant or dissuade people from eating out on TDay, but please do show some respect for the people whose "choice" to work on the holidays is severely limited. And, if you do eat out, at least tip well.

Being forced to be an extrovert at a party is one of my least favorite things. A few tips from the other side:

-Don't mention that a guest isn't talking. This seems so obviously rude to me, but it happens all the time! If someone is sitting off in the corner, not talking, don't call everyone's attention to it: "What's up Debbie Downer? Why so quiet over there?" doesn't do anything for party energy.

-Make them a private ally. If you're sitting next to someone who's clearly shy, talk to them privately-- make a connection with them that doesn't include the group. For example, lean in and ask them, "How do you like the chicken?" or make them feel like an accomplice: "Is my mascara on ok?" etc. Eventually, this comfort will translate into more talkativeness.

For a new family member, this is especially important: invite them gift shopping for another family member, or ask their advice on something genuinely important.

-Give them a task, like ScienceGeek says.

-Good ol' fashioned ice breakers, either the structured kind (games, etc.) or just off-the-cuff, everyone-answer-this-question.

Shouldn't it be the "Rapunzel" chandelier?