Lynn, I've never dreamed about decorating. I very seldom dream. After saying my prayers each night, I tend to think about what needs done at the office the next day. Or what I forgot to do! I would of never guessed that so many dislike clowns. I've always enjoyed good jugglers at the circus. The rodeo clowns have always impressed me with their courage. I made 30-50 clowns years ago that you could pose to sit, lay down, etc. They sold like crazy for $30. They were pretty ones with cute faces, hats and different colored hair. I have some I've painted and they are so cute that I just never gave them a negative thought. Geez, I learned something new here.LOL Punk

"Not an issue for me because we have had separate bedrooms for the last 20 years - love it (my parents always did too). He snores and goes to bed at 9, I go to bed at 11ish and read a book or dec mag till 2 or 3. He likes the room cold and I like it slightly toasty, well, you get the picture." This made me laugh--and I resemble that remark! My poor husband slept on my left for years, until our kids got to be teenagers. In all that time neither of us slept all that well; as with Lynne he is on farmer time, going to bed by 9 and up by 5:30 am while I go to bed later and wake up later. We are comfortable at different temperatures. I need ABSOLUTE quiet to get to sleep so even his breathing kept me up. He goes to sleep easily but any little noise-like my breathing-woke him. And so on. The last straw was the kids turning into vampires as they became teens. They not only stay up till all hours, they are up and down the hall, on their phones, using their computers and tvs...and in our ranch house the bedrooms are separated by literally a couple of feet. A year or so ago he decamped to the day bed in our florida room which is at the farthest and most quiet end of the house. It has been bliss for all. He goes to sleep early, the kids do their thing and I've been able to discover the joy of reading in bed in the evening. We both sleep so much better and at the risk of TMI...now that our kids are old enough and independent enough to be out most weekend evenings, our private life together is better than ever :). Ahem. A long winded answer and a detour but truly, living like royalty with separate bedchambers has been nothing but good in our house! Ann

Earlier this week I went to the supermarket and bought all the chocolate goodies .... 3 boxes of chocolates, 5 boxes of scorched almonds, 3 bags of choc coins and one box of After Eight mints. I hid them in a big box (crockpot size) on a low shelf in the pantry ... bad move! DH came home Tues night and found gold foil from the bags of coins all over the floor! I put a heavy weight on top of the box and felt secure in the knowlegde that she couldn't possibly move the weight, lift the box lid and cause any more havoc ... wrong move! While we were at work yesterday she had herself another little party! DS got home first and text me to say there was scorched almonds, after dinner mints and a huge amount of confetti sized cardboard packaging all over the kitchen floor!!!! I don't think she's actually consumed alot of the chocolate (luckily!) but she's torn alot of the packaging - two of her favourite passtimes has always been shredding cardboard and dis-embowling soft toys! Now that box is up on the HIGHEST shelf in the pantry with what remains of the goodies! And I have to brave the supermarket again to replace what's gone .... GRRRR!

I try to avoid buying upholstery online-it's wise to try it first. I also tend to buy vintage, either in my area, so then I can see it, or from allover, if it's something smaller and shipping costs are not prohibitive. It's usually cheaper, well made, and just plainly more interesting, on many levels-as an experience, since every purchase becomes a small story of its own, and for the collected unique look, that reflects how life usually is, and thus is more authentic I'd say. I did use several internet sites though for smaller furniture when trying it out was less important, thus less chance of having to return it.. Except for a folding bed-chair..Overstock, glowing reviews, great service-was pleased with it. Was used by many guests for sleepovers. Did use Wayfair but not for furniture..great service, usually good return policy(was able to return a mirror after a year (was beautiful; but our remodel took too long, and things changed in the middle). The rules change though -the return policy and shipping costs will depend on a product. Did use OneKingsLane for a side table and (recently) an ottoman. Did use West Elm for a daybed(frame only)-but waited for months for it to go on huge sale to pay only third of the initial price(and right I was lol) Did use Ballard Designs for an etagere, recently. Did use Anthropologie for cheaper nightstands and a chest(usually their prices are too steep for me) . Did use Palecek for an ottoman. Did use Etsy (vintage and handmade) for couple ottomans and lots of lighting. Did use eBay for lighting. I was mostly pleased with the service of all these stores. I do read reviews very attentively, if there are any. I'd also try to go to estate sales in your area, check Craigslist..check online estate sales site Everything But The House that covers more and more areas and is a source of great finds..check Chairish ( new and vintage by individual sellers)-you can limit the results to your area, plus-minus. Don't be in a hurry, and start with a great mattress that you've tried first..unless you have it already:)