As mentioned previously by other smart members here: Get a good book and/or magazine then shop your house top to bottom and corner to corner. Think about ways that you can repurpose what you have then go outside and see what is there. If you lik ethe painted FC look check out the mismixed section at the paint stores or buy a Color To Go jug from Sherwins Williams. Add trim to curtains and/or lampshades. If there isn't a local discount fabric store in your area go on-line. Amazing what an inexpensive yard of trim can do for something. Now I'm more of the modern/ rustic country style and yesterdy I did an engagement party for someone who was into that style. Aside from renting 4 tables and chairs the only decorating expense was $52 for 12 giant white hydrangea stems. The rest came from my attic, basement and garden. Brown and green ribbon from my ever growing collection (one should always have ribbon on hand!). Mason jars used for vases and tea lights. Candelabras w/ hydrangea tied in them. Large manilla package tags stamped w/ a stamp tied onto each candelabra and a few mason jars. Old wooden boxes that we laid white cloth napkins in and put plasticware, paper plates, napkins and cups. We tied more hydrangea onto the handles of some of the boxes. I got a differnt perspective on how to incoporate some of those ideas in my day to day living.

There were so many books from my childhood, that I can't remember all the titles. Rosefolly mentioned the Children's Hour series, which I devoured. I was so pleased the day I came across a whole set (in excellent condition) in a yard sale; I bought it immediately. I remember reading the Honey Bunch series. Our local library was very small, but they had most of the HB books as well as the Maida books. I think I went through their children's section very quickly. Fortunately, our parents loved to read too, so we had a houseful of books to read once we'd exhausted the library selection. I read the Nancy Drew and Dana sisters books too. Like Rosefolly and friedag I preferred the Judy Bolton books, primarily because she seemed more real (as they mentioned, she grew up). Rosefolly, do you remember Dad reading The Swiss Family Robinson to us before he took us to see the movie. We lived in Foxburg then. All I really remember from that is the part where the poor donkey goes into the swamp where the enormous serpent is lurking...with terrible consequences. I must have been about 5 at the time and as you can tell, it made enough of an impact on me that I remember it still! I remember when I first realized I could read, I tried to read some of my older siblings' books. I think the first one I tried was At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It really was too difficult for me, but I was excited and wanted to show everyone that I really did know how to read.

Perhaps their was a communication breakdown. Try giving them a call and ask to speak to the manager.

Congratulations! I endorse an IKEA crib. We had a pricey crib for ds, purchased by my parents. Then the safety standards changed (no more drop sides) and I couldn't bring myself to re-use his crib knowing there had been safety issues. So we bought an IKEA crib. Best decision ever. Inexpensive, worked perfectly. We also bought one of the pricier IKEA mattresses (still cheap compared to others) and felt like it was a very good choice as well. I actually also bought some IKEA crib sheets as back ups and they were nicer than I expected. I also endorse a dresser instead of a changing table. My oldest was over a year when we adopted him and I never once changed him anywhere but the floor or ground--he was way too wiggly and strong. Then we adopted dd as a newborn, but she rolled over at 4 weeks 4 days. So again, super wiggly baby that I always changed on the floor or ground. Definitely anchor furniture. You never know what they will do. It's worth a little time and money for the extra safety. I had a neighbor who traded babysitting with me and her first was very calm, walked late, followed rules, etc. WHen she was pregnant with her second, she said, if my next one is like your dd I'm going to have to actually baby proof, aren't I? I laughed and said YES! Not about the nursery, but my advice on baby gear is to put some thought and money into carriers and strollers. I had a freehand mei tai, a pikkolo carrier and an ergo with dd. They all got a ton of use and made my life so much better. And I had a series of high quality strollers, which again got a ton of use and made my life so much better. The Bob stroller we had with ds got over 10,000 miles of use as I walked miles with it daily. Worth every penny! For baby gear advice in general, the forums at the baby bargains book website were invaluable to me.