A cord locking apparatus is described that includes an anchoring portion operative to be secured to a surface; and a cord lock portion having: a bottom coupled to the anchoring portion, and a top, a front, a first side, a second side, and a central axis defined between the top and the bottom; a channel extending from the front to one of the first side or second side along the bottom in a channel orientation direction, the channel operative to receive a cord therethrough; and a lock slot on the front side comprising a channel end at a bottom of the slot and a lock end at the top of the slot, and operative to receive and hold the cord in a tension lock direction at an angle to the channel orientation direction.