For me it is simple, while I appreciate many granites and some ss appliances, they are not for everyone. I also find many granites to be downright ugly and many ss appliances to be boring looking (hard to distinguish from all the others I have seen that day). I think the best plan is to figure out what you like by having an open mind. Shopping out your options and getting what works for your home, family and budget. What I have heard repeatedly on this thread that just because the masses think that granite and ss are "musts" that one should follow their own instincts and not worry that you are not part of the trend. We got 3 ss elements in our kitchen (hood, wall oven and micro shelf), 4 in white (fridge, freezer, micro and range) and a black dw. No one can accuse us of following the herd. Each one was chosen on its merits. If we had found a perfect granite, we might have gotten that, but over time, I think we came to the conclusion that it would not work with the vintage homey vibe we were shooting for. It was not for lack of trying though. We met with fabricators and walked miles in granite yards trying to pick one if it hit us right AND worked in our space. We saw many that were lovely but were not the right color scheme or look for this particular kitchen. I think if people don't consider their options, then they will have a limited kitchen (and life). We ended up with Corian counters which I would have bet heavily against going into the project. An open mind and patience led us to our right choices. Others will find their own answers, but hopefully not look down on kitchens that don't have ss or granite. Luckily, we have GW where we can read about others' experiences, see their choices and learn about more options. I'd know so much less if I had not practically lived here for a few years, lol!

Thank you, all! I'm loving these purchases more and more each day. And the tan check is growing on me. I may just make some different pillows. I know the ones on it look like they match the green armoire paint but they are actually more aqua blue. I need to take pics at night. Or learn to use this new camera. I am lazy - I just want to click and shoot. Wishful, the chair is actually upholstered and yes, I did it. I found the fabric at the discount store I mentioned and couldn't resist it. I always wanted a big, overstuffed floral chair. I couldn't find what I wanted so I created it. I'm a bit of a floral-fabricaholic. Georgie, sending tylenol and tissues your way. : ) Harvest Gold, eh? I think quite a few of us had one of those kitchens, or avocado green or coppertone. EEEWWW - what were we thinking (or smoking?). ; ) Marilyn, I was thinking the same thing when I bought it. I think it may end up next to the fireplace this winter. And the first thing that sink will likely hold is a mixing bowl scraped almost clean of something chocolate in, your honor. : ) I did find a beautiful green fabric today that matches the green in the floral chair. I have it draped over the settee. I will stare at it for a day or two and then decide what to do. One thing nice, we have similar colors throughout our home so I can use the fabric elsewhere. And it was only $3 a/yd., marked down from $19.99. I have another chair to recover that will probably go in my sewing room. It would look nice on it, too. Again, thanks for taking a look. I hope more of you share your bargain finds and decorating plans. Diana

Oh Dotmom, don't get me started on tapes! And I know you will feel my pain on this one. Back when I first got a VCR I started taping the Justin Wilson cooking shows. I had virtually every one of them taped for his Cookin' Cajun series and the Outdoor series. Loaned them out. Never to be seen again. And it's not on the air anymore. I've only found a couple episodes on the internet. Don't know whether to cry, spit nails or throw a puppy through a fan but I know I'll never loan an original again. Tough, tough way to learn a lesson. Had they not lived so far away I would only have loaned some of them at a time but I shudda gone with my gut! OTOH, I borrowed a tape from a friend one time and the remote on the VCR was acting up. I went to press rewind and it triggered record so it taped over about 10 seconds of the opening credits. I felt awful. But I owned up to it and told him about it. Rightly so he was beside himself upset and I asked what I can do to make it right. Well I just had to live with being reminded of it for a week or so. No bad. I got off easy. I guess I don't understand why people won't just admit when they goof up? Take your licks, make it right if you can. I just don't understand it. And then when people have borrowed CDs and they come back scratched all to... If they come back. That's why whenever I set up rules at companies, one of the first is no originals leave the secured area. Copies only or it's installed there. Every time that rule was violated, there were lost CDs.

Different people use the word "friend" differently, so a lot of this is semantics. I tend to extend "friend" much more broadly than my husband, who has zero people he considers friends. But the lesson is what is necessary to be successful in group situations--manners and civility, which seem to be on the wane in today's society, but I don't think that is a good thing or something I would want my kid to emulate. I have this argument with my husband all the time, knowing what is and is not appropriate to say in group settings. I grew up in a small town, I learned early on to avoid gossip and trash talking anyone, ever. You never know you might be speaking to their cousin or brother-in-law!! :) My grandmother survived in her tiny village in Poland during World War I because she could get along with all sides in the conflict and smuggle resources into her town to keep people alive . . .Hence I grew up with an emphasis of not making enemies although also was taught to have principles and to stand up for them . . . just do so in a way as to not alienate those around me . . . easier said than done . . . Look at all the people who are suffering because of snarky things they have said publicly. I am in the camp that says best to err on the side of civility which is not the same thing as agreeing or supporting things that clash with your values. It's just a matter of knowing how to chose your battles. A good life would not be a constant battle ground, but it is for some people. I would definitely want my child to learn to find some ways to develop inner strength/peace/serenity or whatever the right word is. It's a life long struggle. My Mom's mantra was the "Serenity Prayer." But of course no matter how many times we discussed this concept, it never totally went away because that's life. However, my mother was quite successful professionally because she learned to overlook certain things and just keep moving forward, not get bogged down by drama. As a teacher and person who gives public program and raises money, I had to learn to never, ever speak ill of anyone, it just isn't worth it, life is long, people and circumstances change, one never knows. On the one hand. But on the other hand, if the hitting bothered your daughter and she asked her friend to stop and she didn't, they you daughter has every right to distance herself from that behavior. I would just advise your daughter not to rush to put people in the "friend/not friend" category. Just treat all people with dignity but also you can detach from the drama that troubled people might bring into your life. This is not the strong suit of a teenager, but a good skill to develop. Otherwise, your life could be much more stressful if you don't learn techniques for tamping down interpersonal drama in your life. One has to be able to do what my Mom advised, not make other people's problems your own. You have to be able to be in this world, experience the drama, but not get pulled into it. A good technique is to focus on projects and actions, not personalities. A tough balancing act, one that teenagers have to learn to navigate and it can be tough even for adults. Trust is tricky. There's a whole other dynamic too, being liked vs being a doormat vs being mean and unlike-able. It's just a balancing act we all have to perform . . . Detachment has not been my strong suit, and I've often wondered if it is possible to develop more of it or if it is just in your genes . . . vs passion . . . and then when to hold it and when to play it ???