I've never really understood why people hate on renting so much. Sure, paying rent may be the same as throwing money down the drain, but you know what? When a pipe bursts, all I have to do is make a simple call to my landlord. Yard work, what's that?

There are tons of advantages of renting over owning a home:

What a dreamy child's room! I mean it. Am I dreaming? It's far too beautiful to be real. And see that kid there? I am jealous of him. Even if he's just a prop, I am jealous (Wall mural by haciendo el indio).

Kids these days... they get all the cool spaces. Currently my boys' bedroom is the most stylish in our house. It makes me jealous every time I walk by.

Here are a few other kids rooms making me INSANELY ENVIOUS right now.

I realize that having cat doesn't consist of saving for a college tuition, spending thousands of dollars on clothes/toys/crap, or having to have the patience capacity that is worthy of sainthood.

But, without ruffling the fur, let me pinpoint some items that felines and children do have in common. (Jeanne, I know you're going to want to pee in my litter box).

The dishwasher. Boon of lazy bones everywhere. Bane of lazy bones' marriages everywhere.

At least a few times a month, I start to fill the top rack of my dishwasher ... only to realize some of the dishes in there are still CLEAN.

Only now they've had dirty water dripped on them, and they have to be run again.

Ours is not the only household war being waged over a kitchen appliance. My friend and her husband fight over why one will walk by a full dishwasher five, six, seven times in one day and leave it that way.

Allow me to save your marriage:

I'm not sure if I really want a bicycle or if all I really want are all the beautiful bike accessories they're making these days. I may really just want to doll up a bike and then stand by it like I'm a real rider. Is that so wrong?

I live in a bike-heavy neighborhood, and not a day goes by that I don't find myself having cute bike stuff envy. Here are six of my favorite bike accessories.

Several times every year designers of all kinds wait with baited breath for the release of … no, not some awesome new polymer that changes everything, but Pantone’s declaration of the “in” colors for that season. You know, the popular kids. The ones popping bubblegum, driving mom’s C-class, the ones everyone wants to be -- those colors.

Pantone comes out with a new slate of colors every year, which influence trends in industry and design, from cars to furniture. Check out the colors -- for once, I’m actually excited about them. Instead of weird ochres and ridiculous chartreuse, this year Pantone has picked colors that I think are a bit more user-friendly -- especially in and around the home.

While you may see lots of ads for Lipstick Red wall paint, or “accent” walls -- don’t feel that you need to go that far just to incorporate fall’s hottest colors.

"Parrot Cay brings my favorite things in the world together," fashion designer Donna Karan told Travel & Leisure magazine in October 2007. "It's East meets West. It's everything and nothing, if I can describe it that way. It's a hidden treasure: —the turquoise water, the white, white sand...And it feels completely effortless, but, oh my God, the amount of effort that goes into it behind the scenes."

Few have been invited to take in the breathtaking 360-degree views, the infinity pool lined with black volcanic stone or the personal collection of African and Asian art that adorns the white walls. Until now.

Click through to take a peek inside Donna Karan's private estate.

There's nothing like winning a huge prize at a convention . . . only to find out it doesn't work at your house.

So why am I celebrating?

Because the DVD with Flo TV subscription sounds great on paper -- and we'll be using the DVD portion on car trips regularly -- but I'm just not ready for TV in the car, streaming on the computer, the iPhone and the iPad everywhere you can carry them.

You don't need to catch up on True Blood in the work bathroom. Or get your Mad Men fix in traffic.

Or, frankly, put one of the old stand-by versions in any of these places where people still seem to spend the cash:

Lindsay Lohan walking Samantha Ronson's little killer last year.Samantha Ronson, celebrity DJ and former girlfriend to Lindsay Lohan, is super sorry that her bulldog Cadillac "ate" her neighbor's little Maltese.

"There is absolutely nothing I can say that will alter one minute of today, nothing," Samantha tweeted.

"I feel incredibly sad and wish I could offer more than condolences, unfortunately there are no words to describe how sorry I am."

So what now? What happens to the vicious little Cadillac now?

Apparently, he gets a vacation.