This is the inevitable result of extending permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to China back in the late 1990s, combined with generations of continuing de-regulation in our own country. 40,000 pets were poisoned with melamine by an estimate of a California veterinarian. I have not fed commercial petfood to my pets since April of 2008, and never will again as long as components of every brand on the market are made in China. (US law does not require that countries of origin for wheat gluten and other such composite ingredients be disclosed on labels.) The scarey part is that many more birdfeeders, kids toys and other items probably contain lead and other toxins. Good for your state for their stringent disclosure law, but a pity they allow these products to be sold. My state (Vermont) has cracked down on some products from China with lead, but I'm sure many more products have escaped their oversight. I worry about the plastic hummingbird feeders and petfood bowls (to say nothing of dishware for human use) that I am using, but not sure what I could replace them with that might be safer.

What is it with charger cords? I have my laptop plugged in all the time and I think Bessie is focusing on it because I'm at my laptop and it's part of her seeking attention. Ever since switching the cats from dry to wet food a couple of weeks ago, they are super food-motivated. Less calories, who knew? So dry food in a ball sounds like it might work, but is it a little mean, since the food is there, just beyond their reach? Or do they eventually work it loose?

Then all the toys stay in the playroom there is no reason to have them anywhere else except maybe one tou at a time where you happen to be. IMO your DR is not a play space ever.Then move the buffet where you have the cubes and get a nice colored piece of art above it . The dog cage belongs anywhere but there the tall piece needs to go . A piece of art where the clock is put the clock in the play room to teach her how to tell time. If you are having a dinner and there is another child bring the table and chairs out for that dinner and then back to the playroom Put drapes on the patio doors to the playroom so they can be closed when you have guests and there should be no toy storage in the DR so just move what you have into the playroom. Also a great idea to once a year get rid of toys no longer played with and we used to only release 1/2 the toys from BDs and Christmas so 1/2 way through the year we would exchange the 1 st 1/2 for the next 1/2 You will find kids play with the same toys for a certain length of time and then they are done. Add some nice drapes to the windows and keep this a nice adult dining space.

Thanks Jenni K and Freedomplace1. Other colors i was thinking of were a light gray seen in dining room below chair rail or a lighter color...also posted here. I have a new couch coming and i have storage for toys in the corners but it only stays there for a little while esp w a two year old as well. Thoughts on these two colors since i use it in other areas of house and i do like the floor length curtain idea - these were cheap to put something up when we moved in until i could figure it out. What contrasting color? Would a dark gray or teal work For curtains?