Loora's Profile

I'm so imagining this in a gorgeous room... totally my cup of tea ! The handles are an amazing touch that really finishes the piece off !

I wished corporate advertisers would do much, much more of that sort of shows.

We have a very popular show here in France, where families send applications explaining why they can't remodel a house that absolutely doesn't suit them (or is in terrible shape). The production chooses the most desperate or touching cases and spend a week remodeling the house to suit the need of their owners. I remember an episode where they built a tiny house in the backyard for the grandmother who had been trying to find a place she could afford in the neighborhood. While definitely filmed to make it as sensational as possible, I find that show touching because whatever the editors may be twisting, they end up helping people who need it.

Great tips !

I'll have to add: teach them very young about the burners. I have induction burners, but the pots still get very hot. My 2-years old son knows it's very hot (I'm French, and I taught him two word for "hot" and "dangerously hot" very, very early on), and while I'd never ever let him alone, I feel comfortable fetching a veggie on the other side of the kitchen for ten seconds. He says "very hot" while pointing at the pots, and asks for something else.

Also, I learned from experience not to say "danger" all the time. While exploding butter in the mixer isn't much fun to clean, it's not dangerous per se. Toying with ceramic knifes is. It's ok to have tomatoes everywhere, nobody will get hurt. I had to watch myself to make a difference between the really dangerous parts (playing with knifes, burners, some mixer attachments), and the annoying parts (splashing oil everywhere wasn't fun). I keep telling myself that the experience he gains and the fun we have together is much more valuable than the few minutes I'll loose cleaning the mess. And I LOVE licking cookie batter off my fingers.

My list:

- freestanding house (can't take neighbors anymore, even though ours are very nice people, I hear them going up and down the stairs, and their front door wakes up my son in the morning)
- with large enough room, not necessarily many of them, but all decent sized. I'm tired of hearing walk-in closets called spare bedrooms when you can't even fit more than a crib in.
- with amazing heat insulation. It's very cold right now in the north of France, and my veranda isn't a bit insulated (we just bought the house and mean to change that, but it takes time), so I begin to value heat. Preferably eco-friendly, like the linen insulation we used for walls.
- with lots and lots of natural lights and huge windows.
- not too low ceiling: I have high ceilings now and I love the airiness it gives to the rooms
- last but not least: Though I have a driving license, I don't have a car (husband is using it during the week), so I'd have to be near school, stores or near a public transportation that works well. Right now, I'm 15 minutes away from the historic center of my city by subway, versus 30 minutes by car, and I couldn't live without that.

For crystal or fragile glasses, I always store them face-up. It seems like the small vibrations create tiny cracks in the rims of glasses that are stored upside down. I noticed small cracks in glasses coming from a grand-mother who stored them like that, and none in the glasses from another grand-mother who stored them face up. But it's just my experience.

For everyday glasses, I don't think dust is a real problem, since I use all my stock. I don't think the way I store them will change anything.

Did anyone mention how agreeable and fun to read both your articles were ? I enjoyed them because they don't shy from the real issues and don't make everything sound easy, because it isn't. But it's worth it in the end, the end being that point where our houses serve as great supports for being together, and not fighting issues.

Having no universal wisdom to share (I shared my experience on your last post, and that's the only thing I can do), I wait impatiently for you Americans to wake up and comment !

I'm not sure spring mattresses should be turned either... but I sure turn my old Ikea foam mattress, while laying some money on the side to buy a good bed this time (hopefully in march).

@Annamaria

Yes, the joint account issue is interesting. I have no idea as to the right/wrong solution. I still think a joint account is practical for buying groceries and such things that are divided between partners. Really, I don't have the energy to keep track of what I bought and what he bought and make monthly calculations.
Maybe it's a good idea for personal spendings ? We only use a joint account, but I know that I have a certain amount per month to use on clothes and such. Maybe separate accounts would be better.

Looking up for the follow-ups on this post !

I'm really enjoying this thread. Yes, it hits very close to home for a lot of us !

Seems like women fight on two fronts: habits from their parents (if your parents are anything like mine, your father couldn't boil an egg or make laundry to save his life), and the habits we took ourselves. I remember when my son was younger, I used to watch over my husband's shoulder to see if he was doing everything right. Then I realized that right = my way, and that wasn't good, because I ended up getting remarks like "if you don't like the way I do it, just do it yourself !". I did, was quickly overloaded by the amount of work and melted down.

While sharing housework isn't an issue in my home anymore, I have to constantly remind myself that getting my husband involved means accepting the way he does things, even if I don't like it, because otherwise I should do it myself, and I don't want that. That my personal battle. I'm so lucky he involves himself spontaneously, it seems stupid and absurd that I should try to prevent him to invade what I felt was my territory. Yeah, inconsciously, I feel like my territory is the laundry room and the kitchen, and I have to fight my control freak habits everyday.

As for being happy that your fiancé enjoys coming home after work: that's why we do chores, isn't it ? To make ourselves and the rest of our household, however large (and I include pets in this) happy to be together ? Sure, cleanliness, hygiene, clutter... but bottom line is, if the housework is going smoothly, you get more time to enjoy your family, and that's what it's about, isn't it ?

Cecilymaeh, your cards are amazing !! I don't Iive in the states, so I won't order my Valentines cards from oversees, but if I did live there, I'd buy yours in a heartbeat !! The decoupage one may be my favorite, although the veggies are super cute too.