My parents are visiting me in San Francisco for the first time, which means seeing my apartment for the first time. It is with great relief that I can say that they love it, although part of that might be due to lowered expectations. They knew it was 400 square feet, but as my dad said, "We thought it would be half this size, just a bed and a fridge!"

I’m delightful at parties, I give great relationship advice, and I can go to a lunch like it’s my job, but in my sea of acquaintances, sometimes it seems like I could die of thirst before I make a new friend.   

As I chatted with a group of parents at a 4-year-old’s birthday party recently, the talk over frosting-smudged paper plates inevitably turned to schools, mortgages, and condos. As I tried to slip another cupcake onto my plate, one of the moms turned to me and asked if we were going to sell our place any time soon. Not thinking anything of it, I said that we rent, and man did the needle come flying off the record player. I felt a few more eyes on me, and I had the weird feeling that I was suddenly the “renter” in a room of “home owners”.  

We all have harmless little household tasks that infuriate us for no reason. Nobody likes big or messy jobs like taking out the garbage or unclogging drains, but what about changing light bulbs or replacing the toilet paper on its holder? When living with another person it's important to figure out what everyone’s pet peeves are so one person doesn’t wind up with all the tasks he or she hates the most. 

Don't know where to start with that pile of stuff in your bedroom? Fay Wolf is here to help you get started with today's One Minute Tip. More

I've been looking into ways to get myself and my stuff across the country, and the two big moving truck rental companies both estimate my rental cost at $1,400, plus approximately $1,000 in gas. I am fairly certain that the value of all my worldly possessions does not equal $2,400...

As most of you probably know, co-habitating often calls for compromise.  For months I’ve been living with a huge, mass-produced canvas decorating my living room, silently wondering why my style-savvy boyfriend would hang such a thing. Well, I finally brought it up, and I’ve completely changed my mind.  What caused my 180? 

Name: Chika Eustace & Jared Randall + 8 month old Lisle Randall
Location: Ballard, Seattle, Washington
Size: 850 square feet (living) + 500 square feet (basement studio) 
Years lived in: 5 years; owned (co-owned)

On the left side of a cozy little duplex in Ballard (the tour of the other half is coming up next week), Chika Eustace and her husband Jared Randall live with their son Lisle in a colorful and creative space. The duplex (sweetly referred to as "The Dupe") is co-owned by Chika and Jared, along with Chika's business partner Jean and her fiance, Dylan. Chika and Jean own R&L Goods, a textiles and accessories company, and the two couples have found a serene and productive way to combine work and life.

As I've been sorting through my storage bins and attempting to pack a box a day in anticipation of my move, I've been weeding out a lot of stuff — but what to do with all the things that no longer fit or suit me? Do I sell them to help fund my move, or donate them for the greater good?

Last week I posted about a site which simulated the ambient sounds of working from a coffee shop. But maybe a coffee shop isn't your cup of beans? How about the relaxing lull of the San Diego shoreline, the spray of a park fountain, the pitter-pat of rain, or even the gleeful sounds of children playing?