To the anonymous cowards:

Next time sign your real name and leave a URL or e-mail address when you decide to pass judgement in the comments section of someone's blog. Then, let us take a peek into your own life through your blog or an e-mail so we can do the same thing to you. If you wanna dish it out, you'd better be willing to take it.

Carrie, it must be truly heartbreaking to have to find Chili a home and I bet this situation has been very stressful. I've had my own dog with me for the past eleven years (when it came time to move I brought her overseas with me) and I can't imagine not having her here. Knowing how much you love your dogs and knowing how you brought Chili in out of the kindness of your heart in the first place must make it so hard to do this. The best to all of you and may Chili find a good home soon!

Oh no! That is so sad... I will keep my eye out for people looking for doggies.

Hugs!

Hey Carrie - I just wandered onto your site through a google search on the Lace Leaf Pullover (just took up knitting a few months ago and was looking for results with different yarns) and then I realized I KNOW YOU!!! This is the most surreal internet moment I've had in a long while. What a small world.

I'm Tiffany Satterfield from way back in college--remember the good ol' times in the English department?? I am so happy to see you're doing so well!!!

The weirdest thing is that I live in San Francisco now (just moved back after three years in London) and I was just back in Athens in October for the first time in yearsandyears. I totally could have looked you up if only I'd found the site earlier!

Well, I love your site and love the internet for just this--random reconnections and a shrinking of the huge modern world when you least expect it.

Oh, and on the furniture front, Ikea is great for some stuff (hard pieces, the less particleboard the better, since the veneers chip and it ages quickly, and the upholstered stuff from there looks like crap after about a year in my experience) but don't overdo it or it just ends up looking bland and cheap. We just moved into a new place (when we relocated back from London) and had to face the whole "I need lots of new furniture OMIGOD WHERE DO I START" dilemma and found this book (http://www.amazon.com/Apartment-Therapy-Eight-Step-Home-Cure/dp/0553383124/sr=8-1/qid=1163797463/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3560062-2131841?ie=UTF8&s=books), which has been invaluable. Our place is starting to look more fabulous than I ever could have expected, and I must give the credit, in large part, to the book.

There's also a great website with cool ideas on affordable furniture/decorating/design solutions: www.apartmenttherapy.com.

How sad for you! I know you will find a great fit for your schmoo with another doggie loving home. It's so hard, but you're doing

Mean People Suck

What snippy comments from people who (I started to say only know you from your blog) DON'T KNOW YOU AT ALL - I even wonder how they lucked out and wandered into Carrieokeland - they don't deserve to comment at ALL. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a home for Chili because Chili is I'm sure as awesome as Bella. My Lucy's mom, Sugar, and my Sadie can't stand to be on the same acre anymore (must be postpartum somethin') so when Cheryl brings's Sugar over we keep them separated - that's not so easy to do when two are living in the same home. I would let my three girls come stay with you anytime AND that's strictly from what I know of you from this blog ' cause I READ it - obviously Margaret and Smith didn't/haven't/don't deserve to!!

Little owly is just too precious - your sister did a great job.

On furniture - road trip - a "whole bunch" of the furniture made in the USA is made in furniture mills in North Carolina - I've heard you can get really good deals at the furniture markets there and I'm thinkin' that's not too far from you.

I agree with all of the Ikea/don't-buy-the-cheapest-thing comments. We've had bad luck putting things together that are complex (the doors on our TV cabinet don't hang perfectly). If you're looking for a tiny step up, I suggest Dania. We just bought a leather couch (with reclining end seats) for $1000. It's much nicer than the couches at Ikea, and they can run up to that amount as well. They have cheaper couches too (non-leather, and non-reclining to fit your taste), and they come put together! Good luck furnishing your new place!

Sorry about people’s messages, probably they just don’t know how much you do love your babies. Please don’t think much about them, you have enough to worry and get stressed about: the move I mean. This is rather surreal but it seems like most of the knitters, whose blog I read are on the move. Strange isn’t it?

When Steph mentioned what happened on your blog I was stunned. So sorry to hear about all the negativity. I understand why the comments would have gotten to you, I think most people would feel the same way. Good luck finding a wonderful new home for Chili. And good luck with the rest of the moving in.

I'm sorry that people left you mean messages. Please note, however, that they are both anonymous comments. People like that generally don't have the courage to say these things while showing their faces. Boo for them being wimpy people. If that's truly how they feel they should stand from the roof-top and SHOUT it. Wanna know I feel? YOU PEOPLE SUCK! Everyone does the best they can with what they can. You don't know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. SO DON'T JUDGE. Oh yeah, and SHOVE OFF stupid commenters!

Good luck with Chili.

I have no advice on where to buy furniture. Get what you can get when you can get it. Build it gradually. :-)

Oh, Carrie, I got behind on my blog-reading this week, and I'm so sorry, both about the Chili-Bella situation, and the mean nasties who would ever say anything negative to you about it!!! People talk out of their arses sometimes, and it is really inexcusable.
It sucks so bad to have a dog that you adore with behavioral problems. Our pit, Peru, hates other dogs and wants to attack them, and I feel like people are always judging me for it, like I'm a bad owner, but she just has issues and we all do the best we can to take care of these sweet dogs that we love and make their lives as happy as we can. I hope you find the best situation possible for your schmoo.
And much congrats on the new house!

Hi Carrie,

I've been a reader of your blog for a while, but haven't commented before. I'm very sorry to hear about your doggie situation.

I'm in Canada, so don't know what furniture stores you have... but I can comment on Ikea stuff. I have several pieces from the GRANÅS line, including the dining table, shelving unit and coffee table, as well as the chairs. I really like this line. It looks modern, it's really inexpensive, and it seems to be really durable (5 years!). Two problems I will point out - the coffee table is a glass top and doesn't have an edge to hold the glass in place. I find the glass slides a bit when people use the table as a foot rest(!!). The second issue is with the chairs - the seats are woven flax straw and sometimes pieces of straw will stick out at the edges. I just check the edges every once in a while, and tuck any loose pieces back in.

Good luck and congrats on the new house!

people who post anonymous negative comments are those certain kinds of people who have nothing better to do with themselves and nothing good in their lives that they feel the need to hide behind anonymous internet comments and attack other people about situations they have no understanding of. those people are sad, small, pathetic losers. i hope you don't let it get to you for too long, because it sounds like you are trying to find the appropriate answer to a very difficult situation. if i could provide a home for chilli i would. i will keep my eyes and ears open for someone looking for that very special puppy to love. *HUGS!*

Most of my furniture is IKEA or thrift store. The bed is great! I also like the Poang chair quite a bit. The bookshelves look nice, but they can be a bit flimsy, especially if you have to move them. But overall, you can't beat the prices or the shopping experience. Have fun!

Very sorry about the dog situation, but it definitely sounds like finding a new family for Chili is the right thing to do. Hard, but right.

Ikea is good, but do put it together well the first time. I've moved three times with four large bookcases, and because I took a few shortcuts putting them together they're a bit shaky now and there's no way to go back and tighten those crazy Swedish bolts or whatever they are. Try to find solid wood there, too, as others have said.

Also, if you ever find yourself out Hwy 72 again on a weekend, you might check out Funky Junction, a fairly good vintage store in Comer. Call ahead, though, to make sure they're open.

Are there estate sales and auctions around here? That's where my folks used to get all their furniture, and they're not the types to spend a lot of money on it.

Congrats on becoming a homeowner! I'm sure I speak for others here in saying we want pictures, please!

I've had pretty good luck with Ikea furniture, but I think it's better to stick with things that are simple. I helped put together a chest of drawers for my sister and it was very complicated and we had to go back for missing pieces.

Sorry about Chili. It's too bad the schmoos aren't getting along. I hope you find a good home for her.

I just bought a couch at Lazy Boy after looking at about a million places. It is very comfortable and very well made. Not too pricey. A bit more than Ikea, but much higher quality.

My parents dogs are aggressive to each other, to the point where you have to separate them or they will hurt each other. My mom had to go to the ER to have stitches from inadvertently being bitten while separating them. If it happens again, they will have to put one to sleep because it is mandatorily reported. You are doing the right thing. The dogs definitely deserve to each be in a place where they are safe.

Mean people suck! You are so sweet and shouldn't let people who don't know even know you make you question your decisions.
Congratulations on all the great things that are happenning in your life.

I've been lurking for years, but had to comment on this one...I'm sorry to hear about your tough decision for Chili! It's never easy to make those kinds of decisions, and it's clearly about loving both of your dogs enough to take action despite the fact that it's hard! I'm thinking of you during that difficult process...In terms of cheap furniture, I almost always turn to IKEA because it is affordable, it is relatively sturdy, and it makes sense when you have pets (cats in my case) not to spend too much on furniture that could be ruined by the little guys...Take care and enjoy the new house!

everybody (at least everybody who pays attention) knows how much you guys love both your dogs.

anyway, good luck managing everything and remember those of us readers who really do support you guys.

I've been reading your blog for a while now, so I know you are an animal lover and don't take this situation lightly. One of my friend's dogs started acting aggressive toward another of her dogs out of the blue and ended up killing her. It was a bizzare situation - not a mauling, but one good bite. They were going to get rid of her because they were afraid she would attack the other dog in the house as well, but they tried working with a behavioral trainer first and it helped ... meanwhile, her F-head husband started banging someone at work and left my friend. SO the dogs ended up getting split up anyway. You are in Georgia, right? Asking because my friend lives there - if you want the company she used let me know. Either way good luck with the situation and congratulations on your new home!

Thanks for the shout-out! Down with meanies. Can't wait to see your Forecast.

Oh Carrie, so sorry to hear about the doggie-unhappiness in your house. Hopefully Chili will find an awesome home and you can rest at ease.

As far as moving & stress! ack! Yes! But now you're in YOUR house and you can enjoy that fact and love it and knit in your OWN living room with a light plugged into your OWN socket and everything else that comes with it.

:) Good luck with the cleaning & unpacking!!!

As the owner of an aggressive dog I feel your pain! Many days I want to give Kodi away but that doesn't mean I don't love him. I just know there is a better place for him than cooped up in our apartment.

I commend you for the heartwrenching decision to find a better home for Chili. It in no way reflects your love for animals poorly!

Screw the haters!!!

Carrie, So sorry about the Bella/Chili situation. You are right that you cannot allow them to stay together in an environment where they could injure one another. Forgive me if I'm suggesting something you've probably already thought of, but have you had a vet check them both to see if there is a physical reason that the behavior has changed? (One of my boys got a little weird for a while and he was prescribed "kitty Prozac" and it did the trick.) I'm sure you've thought of everything and you are making the best decision that you can in this heartbreaking situation. Try to forget about those who criticized you without knowing the full story. They are narrow-minded in their thinking and made a rush to judgement that they now (hopefully) regret making in light of your expanded explaination. Hang in there.

Oh yeah, try craigslist, if there's one in your area. Or consignment shops - you'll tend to get solid wood and good pieces as opposed to the fiber board type stuff at Ikea and Target (though I do love both of them too!)

I totally understand the dog fighting stress. You can't relax in your own house because you're so worried about them fighting. We had a 10 year old male 30lb mix who was VERY aggressive and he started initiating fights with our female 5 yr old border collie/pit bull mix. She didnt fight back at first, but as time went on, it got BAD. Sad to say that my parents ended up putting him to sleep. It was sad, but he was a bad bad dog and we didnt want the female to become aggressive. Kudos to you for tolerating it, I know how hard it is.

I'm sorry about the bad comments you got about looking for a new home for Chili, that sucks. It's so obvious that you're in love with your dogs, very sweet. Try not to let it get to you.

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. I hope you find her a good hope where she is the queen!

As for Ikea, their stuff is great. If it can stand the test of time in my house full of boys, I recommend it to anyone! Also, we just moved and our Ikea stuff made it through, which is more than I can say for some of our other stuff :/

Your nephew is giving off some serious cuteness. What a little cutie!

You are the best mom ever, and you're making the right decision, and giving happy lives to all involved.

And those people who left comments -- we know why they lurk like that, don't we? They are ugly-hearted NON-KNITTERS (because knitters are good, and they are obviously bad) who are jealous that you are the cutest thing they've ever seen. Really. You are. MWAH!

Aw poor doggies - you obviously adore them, ignore the stupid people. Your nephew is also adoreable!

You do not need the stress from these people who have nothing better to do than try to spread their poo around. Honestly. Those people need a hobby - maybe knitting? I hope (and have confidence that) the Chili situation will have a happy ending. Schmoos.

Ikea = Good Times. But I second what a few other people have said. Some stuff is a great buy - other stuff, not so much. But it's pretty easy to tell in person which category things belong in. If it looks cheesy/busted/crappy in their showroom, it will look cheesy/busted/crappy in your house. You really can't go wrong with the accessories (fabric, lamps, "driddle," etc.). I love Ikea!

Good luck with the moving/cleaning/furnishing/studying/staying sane. Hugs from South Dakota!

Glad to hear the move is almost over! The cleaning of the old place is the part I like the LEAST about moving.

And I am sorry to hear about Chili. I'm sure you will find a wonderful home for her. Hopefully one where you can visit! If I were rich I would pay for the Dog Whisperer to fly out to GA and make Chili and Bella friends again so that you don't have to make this decision.

I'll be thinking of you guys...

i would recommend ikea because their furniture is affordable and can last a long time.

not all of their stuff is super high quality (particle board and cardboard backing on some bookshelves and stuff), but just so you get an idea, i've had the same bedroom furniture since i was in 7th grade (that was 14 years ago). i have a double bed, armoire, desk, desk chair, dresser, and two nightstands. it's all solid pine and in fantastic condition!

Yay for your new house. Moving totally sucks! Wedding planning is fun though. Although I kept waiting for when I would get to try all the different wedding cakes like on TV and in the movies and it never happened! WTf?

your love for your dogs is unquestionable. i can't believe someone would doubt that. for heaven's sake, your "verify you are a person" word is schmoo!

good luck with the move. can't wait to see more of the new place!

Honey, don't let the meanies affect you. If I were in the position, I'd ask to be considered to be Chili's new person. You're a good-hearted doggy-mommy, as anyone who reads your blog even semi-regularly would know. Good luck!

Hey Carrie! You have so much love for both doggie girls, and I know you and Jacob will do what's best. Don't let the uninformed random internet people get you down.

You can get some good deals on furniture at the Pottery Barn Outlet (there is one just off I-85, Gaffney SC) I don't know if there is one closer to you or not. They have stuff that comes in weekly.

jj

I'm another Ikea fan. And here's how to get the best out of Ikea:

1) don't buy their cheapest version of something. go up in price -- which is still dirt cheap compared to other places. Going up in price at ikea usually gets you solid wood, or a stronger plywood -- which makes it well worth the price difference.

2) take the time to put the furniture together well. (or if you're not so inclined, find a friend who is!) In my experience (and we have a *lot* of ikea furniture), all of it is designed to be solid when assembled carefully. Don't judge by their samples -- at least at my local stores, they do a crappy job assembling stuff. (I know this because there's some of their stuff we've had, and used hard for 4+ years, and their sample is wobbly as heck.)

Oh sweetie. Don't let haters get to you when they're too cowardly to sign their name to what they write and have no idea of the history of the Chili/Bella situation and how kindly and lovingly you've been dealing with that situation for so many years. You are doing the right thing for the right reason, because you love both Chili and
Bella and want them both to be happy and healthy.

Try not to let them get to you. Like you said, we all know that you would never do anything bad to a schmoo. Hope things get a little less crazy soon. Seems like everything always happens at once.

LOVE your owl :)

Uh, mean people suck.

I can't even fathom what these icky people said to you and worse, why they felt they had a right to do so. I am sure Chili will end up in a wonderful home with people who can give all the love you've been able to provide. Poor Miss Bella. Kisses to her.

As for little owl man, TOO CUTE. What a darling little guy.

Good luck with the house and congratulations again.

Hi Carrie;

I'm so sorry to hear about Chili having to go - as someone who has adopted multiple rescue dogs over the years, sometimes into a "I already have a dog" home, I know that it can be tough with dominant dogs. Particularly female dominant dogs. I agree that the responsible thing is finding a better home for her - why people can't see that is beyond me.

As far as IKEA goes, it's downright PREVALENT in Canada, and it's decent in terms of quality and price, and a lot of the furniture is modern-looking too, if you're into that. I've purchased multiple items at IKEA, including dressers, tables (you can see one I stained, varathaned, and assembled on my blog), accessories, chairs, and all sorts of other things.

Good luck furniture hunting, and unpacking, and remember to keep your chin up. Don't let a few angry apples ruin your whole pie.

So sorry to hear about that Carrie. I can never understand why people who disagree with something on a blog (for whatever reason) cannot just stop reading that blog. Why people feel the need to insult and degrade others, particularily when they do not have the facts, is completely beyond me.

If Toronto was any closer to Atlanta I would take her in a heart beat!

Carrie I'm so sorry you have to give up one of your schmoos. My dog needs to be an only dog too, and we went through a similar situation when we were trying to take in a pup of a friend who had started to attack their toddler.

As for furniture, I've had very good luck with IKEA. My advice is not to be cheap at IKEA. Their more expensive stuff, which is still pretty cheap, lasts much longer than their cheaper stuff.

It's hard when you have problems with multiple dogs. Over the years that we've had 3 or 4 dogs, we've spent quite a bit of $$ on vet bills to repair dogs after fights. Luckily, everyone seems to be getting along now. (So far, so good.)
It's better to find a new home for a pet than for that pet to seriously injure another pet.
Just cuz I have to ask: have you tried medicating one or the other of the dogs, or tried an animal behaviorist? There should be lots of resources at the vet school there.
Be safe and do what you can -- that's all anyone can ask.
And good wishes for a happy life in the new house!

i'm so sorry to hear about the tough decision that you've had to make and sorry that there are people out in the blogging world who just aren't nice and feel the need to make everyone around them as miserable as they are. don't feel the need to explain yourself as those of us who know you through your blog know what an awesome person you are with only the best intentions. good luck finding a great home for chili and w/ all the busy-stressies going on right now!

Carrie! I am so sorry that a few bad apples have tried to make you feel bad when you are doing what is best for both of your dogs! Sometimes you have to give one of them a new and better for them home in order to do what is best for them. Don't let them get your down! I do hope that you are able to find Chili a new home or that Bella and Chili decide that they want to be friends again :)

Congrats on the new house!

Overstock.com. Serioulsy. Lots of good stuff for the whole house. Some of it is lame, but there are always some really good buys. Plus it is only $2.95 shipping for everything. Even couches! You will end up paying the same (or less) than Ikea, and get much better quality.

Good luck with Chili. Props to you for making a hard decision because it's the right one.

Furniture: Totally second the recommendation for World Market. Sign up for their email list--they send 40% off coupons every so often. We've gotten good inexpensive accent tables at homedecorators.com. And don't be afraid to google pieces you want and see where it takes you -- we found our bed that way (googling "sleek dark sleigh bed). Found the bed of our dreams, found it at four different sites, haggled for the best price and best delivery. Thank heavens.

Loving animals is a wondeful thing, it comes from a good place. So why take that goodness and turn it sour by judging someone who is trying to do the right thing for their pet.

You're not abandoning your Chili girl out in the country, you're trying to find a wonderful home that will allow her to live her doggy life to the fullest, while reducing the danger to your other pet, who is also important here.

Let's try some perspective, Judgy McJudgers, and not be hurtful to someone who's trying to do the right thing.

Sheesh!

Holy crap. Anyone who ever actually reads your blog should know how much you love your schmoos. To give you shyte about having to give one up...unacceptable.

So, many hugs and happy new home hunt thoughts for Chili from me...

Margaret and Smith can suck it. A blog is just a public face, the side of a person that they decide to show. No one can really know the reasons why or why not you have to take a difficult action, so it's totally unfair to criticize. Shame on them.

I wish you strength to get through the move, it's never easy. At least you have lots of rooms that you now own to fill up.

If you're looking for modern style furniture, you might want to try CB2.com. I don't know aobut their quality, but they're a cheaper version of Crate and Barrel. Worth checking out.

I'm sorry people were nasty to you about the dog sitch. I know how heartbreaking it is to make that decision.
I'm sure you'll find a great home-- have you tried any rescue organizations?
xo

Carrie - so sorry about your puppy troubles! We're trying to find a home for our sweet beagle, so I know what you're going through. Thanks for not putting Chili in a shelter (ick).

And count my vote for Ikea too. I'll be making the trip to Atlanta for some new stuff soon. But also check Walmart, Kmart and Target, especially during the holidays!

I can't believe some people would post negative comments when it's so obvious that it's breaking your heart to find Chili a new home. :(
You already have enough stress to deal with right now! Good luck with the move. Think of all of us in NYC with teeny tiny apartments. Now think of you and J, in a huuuge house. That you own. Does that cheer you up?

I also agree about the IKEA reviews here - love the bed and dresser we got from there...not so thrilled with the desks and shelves we have gotten there. I have pretty good luck at Cost Plus World Market. I don't know if you have those, but they put their furniture on 20% off sales and such sometimes, and their wood furniture is real solid wood. We got an entertainment center there and our side tables. I wish I could have Chili but that wouldn't be good for her either. I know how hard this is because I've had to do it also, but will be keeping my fingers crossed for a good home to come along!

Carrie, so sorry to hear about Chili. Smith and Marg can bite my dog-loving ass. (In the politest terms.) Anyway, that being said, I experienced a similar thing, and discovered that it was really only when my girls were under great stress that they fought. You may find that once things settle in the new house, they may be friends again (always with supervision, of course). After a while, ours settled down so they coexisted nicely while we were present, and they were kept separate when we were not there.
If that turns out not to be the case, find a home for Chili and know that you are doing what is best for your babies, however that sucks to think about. I hope it works out, and I hope dogs pee on Smith's and Margarets sandals.

Man, sometimes people can be jerks and think they know you and can judge you just because they read your blog. Sorry for the mean comments about your dog. I really hope all turns out well for you and him.

Also, I just finsihed Forecast. It is an awesome knit! I can't wait to see yours finished.

My house looks like an IKEA showroom (seriously - every room) and I have no complaints. One shelf broke on a TV console, but that was totally our fault when moving it. I love the Ektorp sofa - and we're couch potatoes, so it's gotten a lot of use in 3+ years and it still looks/feels great! I agree with the earlier commenters about checking the quality of their stuff, but so far I haven't been sorry. And you become a whiz at allen wrenches :)

And sorry about Chilli - I know it must have been a very hard decision for you guys, but it's also probably the right one (as hard as that may be for other people to understand, apparently). It's very mature of you to realize that you're not giving her what she needs and she might do better in a different environment, and super brave of you to post it. Good luck finding her a new home.

Ikea worked well as temporary furniture for us for a few years. We've now gotten rid of ALL of it. The table lasted well; the wardrobe drawers fell apart soon after we bought them. As long as you don't expect it to last more than, say, 5 years, it's okay.

I'm so sorry Chili has to find a new home! But I don't know anyone who can take him. Good luck.

Moving is HORRIBLE. I hope you get through it without too much trauma. Remember, this too shall pass.

That nephew is a cutie!

Ikea is really a mixed bag. I bought a desk there that we owned for 13 years, before passing it on to someone else, but we also bought a dresser that fell apart within a couple of years. the bottoms of the drawers couldn't support the weight of the clothes!
Sorry about the dog (as well as some of the responses). I'm sure you will find him a great home.

we have been slowly acquiring more and more ikea goods and have not had any problems. in fact, we just got an ektorp couch and two poang chairs delivered today! we have an ikea tv stand that is fabulous, ikea stuff in the kitchen, an ikea bed frame, and i have a cheapo ikea garmet closet that has been going strong for 3+ years holding probably more clothes than it should! i agree with the others, check out the quality and materials, but i'd definitely give ikea two thumbs up!!

Yay for your new house! And yay for the owl schmoo! Chili is a great dog and you will find her a good home. Only you guys know all of the details of your situation and I know that you guys are doing the right thing for her.

And don't worry! Things will eventually be less stressful...Thanksgiving is soon and you will have a break.

P.S. All the haters need to lay off the mean comments. Carrie and Jacob are really torn up about this, and you're making it worse. (Protective twin sister gene kicking in)

All of you people who have said negative things about Carrie giving away Chili should be ashamed of yourselves.

None of you have any idea how hard this is for she and Jacob. It's been terrible. They truly are doing the best thing for Chili. It's terrible to give up a pet, but sometimes it is the right thing to do. What she needs is support. It's very brave of her to post this and to do the right thing for Chili.

I'm really disappointed in you people.

If you want to go with quality furniture, pick it out a local high-end furniture store and order from Rose Furniture in NC at a much discounted price. We (and several family members) have ordered from them on more than one occassion and could not be happier with our purchases. My favorite purchase was a bedroom suite by Thomasville, ordered from Rose Furn -- couple of thousand $$ less than on-sale price at local manufacturers showroom. if interested, email me and i'll give you our sales person's name.

wow. what makes a person decide to purchase a house (material item) that doesn't facilitate a dependent animals life?

shameful. so so sad and shameful.

how would we all like it when someone pawned us off on others because their new house didn't have enough "room" for them anymore?

So sorry about your pooch. Its evident that you love your schmoo and are trying to do the responsible thing. I have had decent luck with Target furniture (we have their dining chairs, coffee tables and a shelf). I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the only thing I've ever bought from IKEA and that is our dining room table. My biggest tip is to know what quality is because even the most expensive places have varying levels of quality (you're just guaranteed to pay more). My IKEA table is solid hardwood and has metal on metal hardware. No veneers, no plastic. Pay attention to detail and you'll be happy.

I have had good luck with IKEA furniture so far (knock wood), but I also live in a pretty "low impact" house (one lazy cat, one lazy husband), so I dunno how their stuff holds up to dogschmoos and kidschmoos and stuff like that.

Hope you find a great home for Chili -- she's adorable!

I think the higher-end IKEA is quite good, actually, and I love my Poang chair to death. Congrats on the new house!

yikes smith, could you be a little more heartless?! jeez.

i'm sure you'll find a good home for chili. sometimes a small house and more than one dog just don't go well together. you've taken great care of her and kept her clean and happy so she'll be very desirable for other people looking for a dog like her. if i lived in georgia i would take her immediately! too bad that NYC is so far away and my apartment is so small.

as for furniture, i've had OK luck at ikea but most of my stuff is hand-me-downs from family or crate & barrel or flea market. i would definitely suggest checking local flea markets or second-hand shops.

I've had decent luck with Target furniture such as console table, bookshelves, etc. I also recommend checking out any furniture company's outlet store... I've seen amazing deals at the Pottery Barn outlets. Also, just walk yourself into any old furniture store and don't be afraid to ask "Is this your best price for this?" Often times they are able to shave off something.

I would advise against IKEA for big things like couches or dining tables, but they are great for shelves, storage units, etc. Like others have said, it's a bit of a crap shoot on quality ... a lot of their stuff is good for a while, but then doesn't hold up. Depending on your tastes and amount of time, you may get some really good stuff at estate sales or otherwise second hand. Also, check freecycle.org or craigslist.org if they have one for your area...

It's really disappointing when people just become TOO BUSY to care for their pets. Maybe you should have been responsible and not gotten a dog in the first place. I work for a veterinarian and we see this all too often. Poor Chili.

I have to say, I have not been overwhelmed by the quality of Ikea furniture. I am a big fan of retro stuff from Agora and yard sales, mixed in with really nice pieces from places like Pier one or whatnot (they are crazy expensive though -- I get employee discount b/c my friend works there). You might want to go with Ikea for upholstered stuff - the Ektorp sofa seems popular. It's hard to find good upholstered stuff that isn't gross at yard sales. Good luck!!!

Oh, Chili schmoo. I know you will find her a good home.

Your nephew is CUTE. Cuter than cute. I want to hug him.

And YAY for moving into your OWN HOUSE!

You posted on my birthday! That makes me happy.. :)

You'll have to change your 100 things once Chili is gone... X)

I've never bought furniture, nor bought a house, nor had my own living space, but I hear that the catch for buying cheap, trendy IKEA stuff is that it isn't as durable as one might want it to be.
I can't wait to see how Central Park turns out. Methinks it's good that you're still knitting, despite all the busybusyness. I know from experience that sometimes when I'm so tired that I feel I'll fall asleep in my books, I knit.
Then I don't feel tired ANY MORE! Than I get tired again.. kinda.. just enough to have an excuse to knitknitknit. :)
High school teachers have stress? How 'bout a High School Student Council officer taking a full AP course load while trying to get recs and college apps done. Too-SHAY!

i've bought lots of good quality furniture from JCPenney. (and not as expensive as pottery barn or wherever else.) my couch from there is the most comfortable couch on earth.

I would try daniafurniture.com. It's not super-cheap, but it's better then Ikea quality.

Also, Chilli is an adorable dog. I wish I didn't live in Washington State or I would take her.

I bought most of my furniture from Ikea when I moved. I've had mixed results - I don't like their tables/coffee tables much, but the bed frame and seat were good. I'd suggest sort of 'testing' the demos and see how they hold up (esp. the tables - mine usually rock a little) Target also sometimes has decent furniture, my bookshelves have lasted over 4 years. The TV stand may not :) Besides those 2, thrift stores might be another source of furniture. Good luck, and congratulations on the new house!