An ever growing curated list, by no means comprehensive of Antique stores, Mid-Mod resale shops, vintage furniture stores, consignment shops. You get the idea. As I visit them, the text will become a link to my rambling thoughts and semi professional pics.
It’s a new year, and after I nurse this hangover from my birthday and NYE party, I’m going to get started on my goals.
There’s an old custom, that says you should do what every you want for the new year, you should be doing on the first day of the year. Let me just say that that Advil and hydration doesn’t count.
Some like to go for a walk on the beach or in the mountains. Others start a new diet or buy a gym membership. Still others start by watching parades and bowl games on the TV. This happens to far too many of my neighbors here in Texas.
In fact, if the Longhorns made it to the post season, you can bet that over half the people on my street will be firmly planted on their couch, beer in hand (can we say hair of the dog), yelling at their flat screen for the next 4 hours.
It’s nothing new that I didn’t grow up in Texas. I didn’t experience Friday night lights the same way as many of my friends. We did watch football at our house though, but it was a different. Growing up in Northern California in the 80’s we watched Joe Montana throw completion after completion to Jerry Rice while drinking Riesling and nibbling on warm gourmet cheese puff pastries.
But I digress.
Today is the first day of my 47th year on this planet, and it is also the first day of 2018. I’m gonna do what I want, to start the new year off right. By puttering around the house, and blogging my goals for the year.
I’ll admit I’m not in the traditional demographic for house blogging. I’m not female. I’m not a Millennial. I’m barely a Gen X’er. I grew up talking on a wall mounted phone, watching a small color TV. Video games weren’t invented until I was in High School. I got my first email after college. I’m older than the Internet, and that makes me REALLY old.
But I look forward and backward at the same time. We have a wonderful 6 year old son, and I think about all the opportunities I still have. I don’t see my life as anywhere near over. Sure, I’m just about middle aged (grandma lived to 103), and I see myself has having half my life left.
OK, I’m not as active as I used to be. My knees don’t bend like they used to. I can’t carry 2 bags of concrete up the side of a hill to make a staircase like I did when i was 19. I don’t like working in the heat – which is also bad because we routinely get 3 months of 100+ days in the summer here.
On the flip side, I have lots more wisdom, patience, and most importantly money.
To help myself look forward, I look backward in the context of our son. He is 5, turning 6 this year. When I was that age, my parents started a new life. They moved half way across California to pursue a new opportunity of owning a hardware store. Ultimately that business failed, and my folks re-started their careers again when I was 10. There’s no shame in that. We do what we have to to provide!
What I see is that it is OK to take chances, it is OK to fail. It’s good to have goals and milestones, and dreams. And it’s OK if you don’t hit them. But the fun is in trying! So here we go!
Big Project Goals for 2018
I love seeing everybody’s holiday posts this time of year. So many homes beautifully decorated for Christmas. But since I was raised Jewish, we celebrate Hanukkah and have our own traditions that I want to share with you this year.
I’ve never gone overboard decorating for Hanukkah, just a few simple items here and there. Every year, just like you I bring out the family heirlooms, and carefully place them out. Of course there always seems to be some new item that I incorporate into the mix, but we still try to keep is simple and modest as much as possible.
The main item on display, which goes on our dining room table is the Menorah. It’s actually called a chanukiah, but that’s another blog post. I have quite a few that I’ve collected over the years, but I only put out 2, a modern silver one, and my grandmother’s brass antique menorah that has so many memories attached to it.
Fried foods are the most traditional meals during Hanukkah. Usually I make latkes (fried potato pancakes) but this year since I’m trying to loose a few pounds we kept it simple and had some spiralized baked potatoes for the first of the 8 nights.
Also the first night we played the traditional game of dreidl – it’s a simple game, but can go on for hours if you aren’t careful. To keep that from happening, every few minutes we double the ante. Try it. makes it way more fun and competitive.
We did make one after dinner trip to Krispy Creme this year for some jelly donuts, and drove around the neighborhood eating them, and looking at all the beautiful displays of Christmas lights. I never knew why people decorate their homes for Christmas with lights. After all Hanukkah is also called the festival of lights.
Everyone is talking about home automation. You know, stuff like turning your lights on and off from your phone and stuff like that. I’ve put together a starter home automation gift guide with 4 items that will work seamlessly together and get you started quickly and easily!
What I like most about home automation stuff, it that when done properly it works effortlessly, behind the scenes. You don’t need to see fancy control panels, or wires everywhere, or anything. All these products work with Amazon Alexa, as well as Apple Home Kit, so you have full control by voice, phone, and even Apple Watch!
Thermostat – Ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat. First of all let me say that I love the look of Nest products, especially their thermostat. But for everything to work well together, the need to speak the same language, and Nest speaks a different computer language than most products). So I’ve selected the Ecobee 3 Thermostat. It has a great modern design, and has tons of features that will save you energy as well as keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Lock – the August Smart Lock is different than most smart locks – not only do you get control from your phone, but because of the way it is installed (from the inside), people coming to your door won’t know you have a digital look because they can’t see it. You can provided timed access such as making sure your door locks every night at 8:00 before bed, or provide a PIN number to your parents that are coming to visit so they can come and go as they need.
Lights – If you are like me, you are at IKEA almost as much as you go to Home Depot or Lowes. That’s why I’m selecting the Ikea’s TRÅDFRI lights. For less than $80 you get 2 LED light bulbs, a controller, and a remote switch. They can be controlled from Alexa, as well as Apple Home Kit. Another feature I really like is that you can dim them so they aren’t so bright. Finally you have the ability to select from 3 color temperatures: 2200 Kelvin (warm glow), 2700 Kelvin (warm white) and 4000 Kelvin (cool white), depending on your style and taste.
Alexa – In order to be able to control these items by voice – you need something that responds to voice commands – I’ve selected the Amazon Echo Dot. For $30 you get full Alexa Control. Just say “Alexa – lock the front door” and watch the deadbolt turn.
The first time I went to Disneyland I was 7 years old. I had to wait another 35 years to return. I didn’t know what I was missing. There is a magical culture to Disney that I discovered. It permeates everything! Our house has been filling with Disney stuff ever since. My wife loves Disney, my kid loves Disney, but I won’t admit that I love Disney, but I do like a lot of their stuff.
OK, now that that’s out of the way let’s talk about a different room in our house. The Ball Room. The Ball Room is the 3rd bedroom in our 2000 square foot ranch, and is devoted to, and mostly decorated by my wife. Because of this fact, and the fact that she loves Disney, she has a small collection of custom Mouse ears.
These aren’t your typical Disney Mouse ears. These are custom, one-of-a-kind works of art. The detail on these is simply incredible, I’m surprised they don’t work for Disney! Some of her favorite artists on are:
Please visit each of these creators on their Instagram page. Some even have Etsy shops. Their work is simply amazing.
My wife has been collecting these for a while now, and until recently hasn’t had a way to display them. That was until her dad, my father in law, said that he could come up with a way. And that it wouldn’t be hard at all. He talked about an idea for a shadow box type of thing, using materials you can get from Home Depot for only a few dollars.
We told him that we wanted something that would show off the artistry of the ears, something that would enhance their artistic value, and group the collection in a way that was unique and classy. It is after all a collection, and they are one of a kind. We wanted something nice.
He said, no problem. And a few days later we didn’t just have one display box for the magic mouse ears, we had FIVE! Plus they looked so good.
He made 2 different sizes, 3 smaller ones and two big ones. The smaller sizes hold 2 custom made mouse ears, and the larger shadow boxes hold 4. They are made with 1/2 inch pine boards of different lengths. The backs of the boxes are made from 1/2 plywood for stability and rigidity. Everything was sanded and painted. The outsides of the boxes are black, and the insides were white.
Smaller boxes:
Width 13 inches
Thickness 3 inches
Length 24 Inches
Larger boxes:
Width 13 inches
Thickness 3 inches
Length 36 Inches
All the wood was 1/2 inch thick pine cut to the lengths above. The backs were made from 1/2 plywood and cut to fit inside each box after they were made.
First he cut 2 sides (24 inches for the shorter boxes, and 36 inches for the longer ones) on his chop saw. Then he cut a top and bottom 13 inches long the same way. Then he simply butted the joints together with some glue and a few brad nails from his nail gun. I don’t have any photos of him making them, but if he makes any more I will bring my camera along to show the process.
Once the box was made, he measured the Outside dimensions and cut the plywood back to fit. He used some more wood glue and brad nails to affix the back to the sides and this made the box super rigid.
Finally he sanded each with some 120 grit sandpaper, and painted the outside black, and the insides an off white muslin. I think they came out perfect, and it was so easy to do!
To hang them on the wall he used some picture framing hooks, and toggle bolts through the drywall to make them rock solid.
To attach the ears to the box, we use simple clear push pins. Putting the boxes on the ground, my wife played with the arrangement of the ears until she found the perfect order to display them. She carefully lined them up and then using the push pins she carefully pushed them into the back of the box, and set the mouse ears on them. There are no holes in the ears, and if we want to change anything it is very easy to mix and match any way we want.
We think they came out great, and Each box was only a few dollars in materials.
Every so often, like twice a year or so, I like to clean my dishwasher. Not only does this help make the machine last longer, but it also helps to clean the dishes better. This is my simple, non-toxic method for how to clean a dishwasher with products you probably already have at home right now.
How to clean your dishwasher with two items you have at home right now.
Time needed: 5 Minutes
Materials:
Category: Kitchen
Frequency: Quarterly or whenever inside looks dirty
Follow the 6 steps above to make the inside of your dishwasher sparkle like new. Using the gentle cleaners like vinegar and baking soda, won’t hurt your seals or deteriorate the inner machinery of the Dishwasher. Plus they are more natural and better for the environment.
Cleaning the Outside of your dishwasher is also easy. There are two different ways to clean it, depending on it’s surface. Generally I just wipe it down with a damp cloth. If there is a tough stain, like some dried on food or dirt, I spray some Mrs. Myers cleaner on the surface, and let it sit for 30 seconds, then wipe it with the damp washcloth.
However, lots of newer appliances are made out of Stainless Steel. In that case I use some Weiman stainless steel cleaner and wipe with a clean, dry towel to get a like new shine.
Be sure to sign up for my weekly emails where I send you tips like these to keep your house in tip top shape!
[convertkit form=5100305]
OK. I’m impressed. Let me tell you why.
There is this blogger, lets call her Linda (because that’s her real name), and she has this blog named Calling it Home. And she has this contest called the One Room Challenge. Its where 20 or so design and DIY bloggers have 6 weeks to transform a room.
Sounds easy, right?
I learned about this little challenge during week 2. Every 7 days the house bloggers need to provide an update as to how the project is progressing. So, in addition to demolition, painting, DIY-ing, and decorating, they have to blog about it. And most of them also put it up on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
That’s pretty much 2 jobs. And most of these folks have a regular day job too.
Scroll down to see the final reveal photo from each of the bloggers. I’ve linked to their websites so you can also see the before and during pics, too. Most of them even link to all their sources so if you love the look, you can learn where they got it.
Next year, I hope Linda will consider me for one of the slots. I already have an idea for which room I would do!
If you see anything you like, be sure to leave them a comment. I’m sure they would appreciate it!
Lately all I’ve been hearing about are smart things. You know those little gadgets that turn lights on and off, or announce the temperature at the beginning of the day. So I decided to jump in and write a little guide about getting started with home automation. I’m no expert on this stuff, just somebody who is extremely interested because some of this home tech is just so cool. I plan on updating this post as I learn more, and add items to my house.
All this stuff can be super confusing. It’s like learning a whole new language – smart hubs, z-wave, homekit, hub, zigbee, bluetooth, Alexa, IoT, there are dozens if not hundreds of terms to learn. I know I’m going just a bit crazy trying to keep up on this stuff. Hopefully I’ll be able to simplify it for you.
As of right now, I only have two items in my that makes my house a smart house. The Nest Protect Smoke Detectors and an Echo Dot. As for the smoke detectors, I bought them first because I liked the Nest brand, and I had plans to add their thermostat and cameras later.
But as I began to learn more I discovered that the language Nest uses to talk to each other, called Thread isn’t the most popular for home automation and control.
Z-Wave is becoming the industry leader and pretty much every other company uses it. So if you want to add deadbolts, or lights, or other controls, you probably want to go with the most popular protocol, go with Z-Wave.
Basically Nest products only talk to Nest. Yes, there is a way to extend the functionality, but I’m all about simple, and from what I read it isn’t simple to do that yet.
I also have an Echo Dot. You know the kind where you say “Hey Alexa – what time is it?”
Right now there are a few things I do with Alexa – mostly they are pretty simple. Play 20 questions, ask what the weather is like and try to make sure I don’t order anything expensive on Amazon.
Most recently I connected Alexa to Pandora, so now I can play pretty much any music I want by simply saying “Alexa play Everything is Awesome”
But the Nest protect and Alexa don’t “talk” to each other. That’s sad. It’s because they don’t speak the same “language” The Nest is Thread, and Alexa uses Z-wave.
Since I have plans on automating all these things I want a system that uses the same language. For me that will be w-wave.
As for now I’m doing a lot of research, and learning exactly what is needed to do each of the above.
Is any part of your home a smart home? What have you done? I’d love to know in the comments below.
I love starting a new project! Why? Because of Demolition! By far, tearing stuff apart is the most fun, and the biggest stress reliever. Over the years, I’ve done a ton of demo, both at my house, as well as at friends, and I have a go to bag of tools that are perfect for taking any room apart. From simple stuff to down to the studs.
Since Christmas is right around the corner, I thought a little roundup of the best tools for demolition would be fun, so here they are, my top 10 Demo tools. Prices range from a few dollars to over a hundred for the reciprocating saw. Most are under $20.
I’ve included links to Amazon.com for all of these items. Of course you can also find these at the local hardware store or big box center. For bigger items, if needed, I rent them from my local rental house – this includes things like scaffolding, come-alongs, and power tile scrapers.
I keep these tools separate from my regular tools in a special toolbag. That way, whenever I have a demolition project, I can simply grab this one bag and go – knowing that everything I will need is in one place.
As a DIYer, and handy-person, I hear all kinds of stories about problems with houses. One of the worst is when I hear that a washing machine hose has burst, and flooded the entire house. I didn’t realize that washing machine hoses are under high pressure – pretty much the same pressure as the hoses outside your house that you use to water your garden. That much!
If they burst – you home can pretty much immediately flood, and the water won’t stop until you turn it off. That could be a real disaster!
Checking your hoses for your washer takes about 30 seconds.
How to inspect your washing machine hoses.
Typically Washing machine hoses last about 5 years. I know mine are much older than that.
Look at the wall for your washer hot and cold hookups. Typically the Hot is on the left, and is red, and cold is on the right, and is blue. Frequently there is a 3rd connection, that is the drain line. The hot and cold hoses screw onto the machine, and also into the bibs on the wall. the drain is simply placed
Help! My washing machine hose connection is leaking slowly. If this is the case, determine where the leak is. Completely dry off the area, and look for the leak. Is it on the hose? Then shut off the water and replace the hose. If the leak is at the valve, call a plumber and get it taken care of quickly so it doesn’t become a bigger problem. I wouldn’t use my washer until it was fixed.
My regular readers know that I love Lego. I have nearly a million bricks in the Snoring Room Closet, and I even carry around a Lego Wallet everyday. It’s a vintage style velcro wallet. A yellow nylon with a lego print on the fabric, and it folds in thirds and then closes with a velcro strip. It was cool in the 1980’s and now as a Dad, it is SUPER cool. I got it as a father’s day gift from my kiddo, and I treasure it.
Obviously I keep my money and ID in it. Some cash, a few credit cards, and some other essential items. I take it with me everywhere I go. One other unusual I item I keep in it is a Tile I got from a colleague about a year ago. This isn’t a decorator tile, or ceramic tile, but a little piece of technology that kept me from loosing my wallet at the Happiest Place on Earth.
A few months ago, right before school started, we took a family trip to Disneyland for a long weekend, and to end our summer vacation. We had a blast! We rode all the rides (Pirates of the Caribbean is my favorite), saw all the shows – Fantasmic was awesome, and ate all the food. It was a blast, and is something we will probably do again next year.
We happened to find ourselves in Frontierland around dinnertime, and since we were on vacation, decided to eat at the Golden Horseshoe Resort. It’s a family friendly place with Chicken nuggets for the kid, a salad for me, and a kids meal power pack for my wife. They all sat at a table listening to the live Dixieland music while I stood in line and ordered at the counter.
I took out my wallet, paid for the meal, and the food came literally instantly. I picked up the tray, and took it to the table my family had saved for me. What I didn’t take was my wallet, which I left on the counter by the register with all my money, cards, and everything else. Totally didn’t realize it was gone.
When I did realize it was gone we had left the restaurant, and were heading up to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The kiddo wanted something else to drink, and I reached in my pocket and had that sinking feeling in my stomach when I knew that my wallet wasn’t there.
I literally freaked out.
Right there in Frontierland.
Then I remembered that I had a Tile in the wallet.
The Tile is a little sensor (I’m not sure how to describe it). It’s white, and about 1 inch square, and pretty thin.
What is so cool about it is if it is within 100 feet of my iPhone, I can use a special App to make the Tile make a loud sound. If it is farther away than 100 feet then there is a little map that displays the last place the phone and tile were together.
I pulled out my iPhone and launched the app. Immediately it came up with a screen showing the last place the Wallet Tile was seen (I’ve since added another Tile to my Car Keys). The map showed that my wallet wasn’t within 100 feet, but was nearby.
So using my phone, we began to walk towards the blue dot. As we got closer and closer I realized my wallet was still inside the restaurant.
I’m sure you can feel my sense of relief when I walked into the restaurant, used the feature to ring the Tile, and faintly heard the sound coming from behind the counter near the cash registers. One of the cast members saw it sitting there, and put it in a safe place, hoping I would come back for it, before turning it in to lost and found. I went up to the counter and had to ask if anyone had seen my wallet. They asked if I could describe it, and I did. It is very distinctive, and you know.
Everything was still in there – Driver’s license, Credit cards, and even all the cash. I offered some to the worker for keeping my wallet safe but they politely declined.
Anyway, without the Tile, I know my wallet would have been gone forever. Our trip to Disneyland wouldn’t have been as fun, that’s for sure. Now because of Tile, it is a great story, and something that I hope I never have to use again, but know I can if I need to.
How to Clean your Garbage Disposal
Materials needed:
The last words I want to hear right before Thanksgiving dinner is “My Garbage Disposal Stinks” There could be lots of reasons for a smell to come from your disposal, but I have an easy and simple trick that keeps your in-sink-erator smelling clean and fresh. This simple 3-step trick is sure to eliminate any odors coming from the bottom of your sink, and creates a fresh pleasing scent.
How to clean your garbage disposal
Do these 4 simple steps and your garbage disposal will be deodorized, and ready for use. As always, never put your hand or anything into the disposal. Safety First!
I don’t like putting any chemicals into my garbage disposal. This includes bleach or ammonia. Even though most garbage disposal units are sealed, I never want to risk ruining any of the rubber seals or gaskets down there, as that can cause a leak, and be an expensive repair
There are lots of reasons your sink smells bad. The most common reason is because food particles are stuck down there, not fully ground up, and they begin to decay and stink.