Please. For the love of God, someone explain the telephone-by-the-toilet thing, or at least provide one example of one telephone call that was that freaking bloody important. read more…

I think the Snack Trap is a great invention for snacking on the go, but I’ve just discovered another product that does a similar thing but in a totally different crazy space age way. read more…

As anyone with half a brain (and I do mean half) would know, it’s a good idea to have spare keys. Keys to the house, keys to your parents’ house, key to your car. Especially keys to your car, since you don’t even need to be within touching distance of the… how you say… little place in the car door where you put your key if your remote key isn’t working? That thing. read more…

This used to be my shower. Even with leaks and cracks, I loved the thing. It took care of me. It was safe. read more…

Okay, maybe death is a bit melodramatic. But I can’t be alone in feeling a tad, well, daunted in the face of a fully wood-floored home, right? And then there’s all the conflicting (mis)information flying around out there — helpful tips offered by well-meaning friends, family, and so-called experts — on how to best care for hardwood floors. It’s enough to make a gal wanna look into some low-maintenence high-pile or shag. (Okay, maybe not shag. Let’s not lose our heads or anything.) read more…

The magazine (or Flickr!) ideal of my home as a restful retreat from a chaotic world feels like a ridiculous fantasy. You wouldn’t necessarily know it if you dropped by — it’s not as if we live in a pit or anything — our house actually looks quite neat and livable. But, somehow, it doesn’t feel that way to me. read more…

Maps tell us more than just where to go from point A to point B. Maps can be a beautiful visual display of the world — a way for us to dream about distant lands we want to travel to, or memories of a place we’ve been. read more…

I have been trying, on a very tight budget, to decorate our house, so here are a couple of things I’ve done with Emily’s room which have cost me well under $50 (total), and have added some sparkle to her plain-Jane room (which is not as pink as it looks in these pictures). read more…