Here it is about two weeks later from our "D Day" (Departure Day from Texas) and we are still surrounded by dozens of boxes. And the funny thing is--I don't really care anymore. I've since decided that if you can't beat'em, join'em. I've christened our new apartment's decor "An Ode to Corrugated Cardboard" and have since discovered secrets of interior decorating that would turn Martha Stewart greener than a '70's avocado-colored kitchen appliance with envy.

Let me pass along some of my helpful hints to all of you out there in cyberland who are also living "cardboard challenged" lives at this point in time.

DON'T HIDE THEM--USE THEM

This first decorating hint is simplicity itself: Why hide something just because it's ugly? Maybe you can actually use said ugly cartons in a functional, yet artistic manner?

We ran out of room in the small storage bin off our balcony on the first day since the biggest of all boxes--our ice box--is stored out there. But my husband is a collector of computer parts, big heavy computer parts like monitors, cases and circuit boards. Where could we store these big boxes of bulky items? They sat scattered through out our small living room area for days, too heavy for me to lift or even to budge with a swift kick in the pants. I finally told hubby on Super Bowl Sunday to lift these giant building blocks and stack them into a pile over by the balcony door. Presto-chango! A cubist's delight--a plant stand of epic proportions was born. Now the plants enjoy a sunny view on their terraced high rise of cardboard.

THE GREAT WALL OF BARBIE

Take two school-aged girls with a talent for Barbie doll (and their related junk) collecting. Move two girls from two separate bedrooms and closets into one apartment-sized bedroom. Fill up every nook and cranny and find yourself with at least twenty good sized boxes left over. Listen to girls whine and moan about sharing such a small space with her hated sibling.

Ta-da! Build a "Great Wall" between the warring factions with the leftover cartons. The ups and downs caused by differing sizes of packages give Barbie and her friends a whole new playground to explore, while giving each girl her own separate living space. And since it's so difficult to negotiate a safe passage around the cardboard edifice, there's no fear of the Mongols ever invading...

WHO NEEDS END TABLES?

Who needs end tables--or bedside tables or coffee tables for that matter--when you have a surplus of cardboard? Throw an old towel or a table cloth over a collection of cartons and there you have it--instant table. You can adjust the height and the width of said table by simply rearranging the basic building boxes. Use other recyclable items such as pop bottles for candlestick holders for an even more chic look. The buyers at Pier One Imports are anxious to patent my idea at this very moment...

There are many joys in life, but nothing can be more satisfying than knowing that you've created a masterpiece in interior design. So if you have "champagne taste" but are on a very strict "beer budget", go the recyclable route in home decor like we have.

Martha Stewart may never feature your abode a photo spread in her magazine, but U-Haul most certainly will in theirs.