Mars and Venus

Our home gained/acquired two new pieces recently, one distinctly female in nature, and the other decidedly male. I think it will not be difficult to determine which is which. I have been looking for a map of the United States for our house for a few years. I knew I didn't want one too topographical or otherwise technical, and I was sure I didn't want one that looked like we had purchased it at a truck stop. So I finally found some on a website and for the last year have been trying to get up the nerve to spend over $100 on an online purchase. Imagine my extreme relief and elation when I was browsing Target on a freezing Wisconsin Saturday afternoon and stumbled across this map. For the first time in my life I didn't hesitate for one second. I practically threw the thing in the cart, right on top of Daisy, who is still a little leery of it. I love this piece so much that I convinced Kelly to hang it in our kitchen. Already it has been a resource for homework questions ("Which state is the biggest?" Well, if you look closely, it is clearly Texas), dinner discussions ("Who is that little man in the corner?" and "Why is Texas bigger than Alaska?"), and vacation plans ("Here is Wisconsin. Anywhere SOUTH of here qualifies as a vacation"). I could go on and on, but it is enough to say that Target saved the day once again!
And this is the other recent purchase. Imagine my shock (which, in this context, is another word for horror) when Kelly brought this thing home the other day.
Me: Oh, did we want a LoveSac?
Kelly: Well, you said you wanted to get a bean bag chair for Anna.
Me: Is this for Anna?
Kelly: [pausing]Maybe. Here, help me fluff it up.
Me: You mean it gets bigger?
This is the final result. Yes, it got bigger. And yes, Anna has replaced the couch with the LoveSac as a gymnastics mat. Lizzie mastered her back handspring on it (it's that big), and I caught Anna doing back flips from the couch armrest onto it, and Daisy can do front flips from the fireplace. Apparently, the thing is indestructible...a good thing for our couch, which is not. I, too, have been seen enjoying the LoveSac; not for doing flips, but for watching TV and relaxing. But I don't admit that too freely.