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How to Teach Your Houseplants to Call You on the Phone
January 20, 2013
When your houseplants are in need of attention, who are they gonna call?
This Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor tells you what your plants need via your computer or smartphone. All images in this post: Koubachi AG
Healthy houseplants need care: good food, temperate surroundings, and just the right amount of water. But if your houseplants are starving and dehydrated, how are they going to let you know?
They’ll call you up. On the phone.
Okay, they can’t really talk. But they can communicate via the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor, a sleek bubble-headed wand you stick in the soil next to one of your houseplants.
The sensor reads temperature, moisture levels, and light intensity to calculate the immediate needs of your plant, and the info is wirelessly piped to your computer and mobile devices. Now, you can keep an eye on Philly the Philodendron, whenever and wherever.
The battery-powered Wi-Fi Plant Sensor becomes “smarter” as time goes on (we should all be so lucky) as it learns the conditions inside your house, and it’ll automatically fine-tune its readings.
The splash-proof indoor model is $120, plus $48 shipping (from England). The waterproof outdoor version is $161, plus shipping. One Wi-Fi Plant Sensor can monitor room conditions and make recommendations for nearby plants (it’s a conference call!), so you don’t need a sensor for each pot.
I haven’t tried the Wi-Fi Plant Sensor, but I know a bunch of indoor plants that are dying for me to get one. Then I’ll be telling people, “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to excuse me — I’ve got to take this call from an anemic spider plant …”
‘Zombie Titles’ Plague Home Owners
January 15, 2013
DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013
Some refer to “zombie titles” as a little-known horror in the fallout of the foreclosure crisis. Thousands of home owners are discovering they may be legally liable for a home they thought they no longer owned.
In some of these cases, home owners receive a notice of a foreclosure sale and move out to give the home to the bank. But then the bank never completes the foreclosure.
“The banks are just deciding not to foreclose, even though the home owners never caught up with their payments,” Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac, told Reuters.
According to housing experts, the problem of “zombie titles” is worsening, although no national databases track such titles.
“There are thousands of foreclosures in limbo, just hanging out there, just sitting, with nothing being done,” says Raymond Pianka, a Cleveland Housing Court. He says the problem is due to home owners who leave the home before an imminent foreclosure sale. Later, the home owners discover they’re legally responsible for the home. By that time, the house may have greatly deteriorated. And some home owners don’t even discover it until years later, such as when a municipality finally fines them for failing to keep the property.
Source: “‘Zombie Titles’ Haunt Victims of Foreclosure,” Reuters (January 2013)
The moral of this story is despite how difficult it is emotionally to face a foreclosure don’t just walk away! In the history of problem solving, ignoring a problem has never been a successful solution. There are options for dealing with the foreclosure that include short sale (many banks are offering incentives to do this and there are new short sale programs in place from Fannie Mae that include reduced paperwork, faster turn times and relocation funds for the seller) or deed-in-lieu. Foreclosure is not a fun time but make sure it stays where it belongs – in the past – so that you can move forward to brighter days.
The Biggest Air Leak in Your House You Don’t Know About
January 9, 2013
There’s a gap in your home that’s wasting precious energy and inviting cold air inside — do you know where it is?
Have you caulked windows and replaced weather stripping on your doors? Good for you. But if you think you’ve sealed up air leaks, you’re in for a shock.
The biggest air leak in your home is right under your nose.
Or, underfoot, more accurately.
It’s the hole that a plumber cuts in the subfloor to make room for the drain assembly at the bottom of a bathtub. Because the drain assembly is big, plumbers make way for it by cutting a generous-size hole that gives them some “wiggle room” when connecting plumbing pipes. This big hole often is left open to the space below.
If you have a first-floor bathroom over a crawl space or unheated basement, you likely have one of these giant energy wasters in your home“Having that big hole for the bathtub drain can waste about as much energy as leaving one of your windows open a few inches, all day, every day,” says Allison Bailes III, president of energy consultant firm Energy Vanguard. “The main difference is that you can easily close the window, but most people don’t even know about this other open window.”
And BTW, that hole also is big enough for good-size critters to crawl inside your home!
Plumbers may plug this hole with a wad of loose insulation, but that’s an imperfect solution — fiberglass insulation can sag over time, especially if it gets damp. The preferred method is to insert foam board that’s cut to fit around the pipes, then seal the board in place with spray foam insulation.
You won’t know if you have a problem unless you crawl under your bathroom and take a look at the tub drain assembly from underneath. Patch the hole with pieces of foam board screwed in place, then seal any gaps with spray foam insulation ($8/can).
A plumber will do the job, too, but that’ll set you back $100-$150. Probably worth it when you think about energy savings, comfort, and keeping mice and camel crickets out of your house!
Coolest Kitchen Sinks on the Planet
January 8, 2013
— 1 Comment
Everything but the kitchen sink? No wonder — it gets so much use, that’s the last thing you’d ever toss!
The Transformer of Sinks
This multi-faceted model is a kitchen wizard. Optional strainers, colanders, cutting boards, and drain racks let you reconfigure and adapt this stainless steel sink to whatever task is at hand.
Type: Self-rimming drop-in
Material: 16-gauge stainless steel
Cost: $1,900 to $3,800, depending on accessories
Credit: Elkay
Sweet-Lookin’ Tough Guy
Big, deep soapstone sinks that harken to the days of Frank Lloyd Wright are making a comeback. Nearly impervious to stains and heat, soapstone requires only an occasional swipe of mineral oil to retain its beauty. It’s so dense that it won’t harbor bacteria, either, making it easy to clean. Save money and buy a used one where salvaged building materials are sold.
Type: Extra-deep (16 inches) apron-front
Material: Soapstone
Cost: $1,500 to $3,000
Credit: JAS Design Build / Vista Estate Imaging
Environmentally-Friendly SinkThis rustic double-bowl sink is made from molded magnesium oxide, a type of ceramic cement. Eco-wise, it trumps regular Portland cement with low embodied energy (it requires less energy to manufacture) and its ability to absorb carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming. A good choice for green kitchen remodeling.
Type: Integral (formed seamlessly into the countertop)
Material: Magnesium oxide
Cost: $125 per sq. ft. for the countertop, add $2,500 for the sink
Credit: Lithistone Double Integral Kitchen Sink/Brett Fitzgerald, photo
Statement in StoneLooking for a signature showpiece for your kitchen but don’t want to spend a ton? Vessel-type sinks carved from a single block of stone have beautiful natural swirls and patterns, and are great focal points. You’ll find them in granite, soapstone, travertine, and onyx. The one shown here is marble. For full viewing (and ease of use), set your vessel sink on a lowered portion of countertop.
Type: Vessel
Material: Carved marble
Cost: $250 to $900
Credit: Vangelis Paterakis
Cast ConcreteConcrete can be made into virtually any shape, including the one-piece drop-front sink shown here. Special molds are used to create the decorative designs. Concrete sinks can be ordered in many colors and finishes, and each piece usually has unique distinguishing patterns and textures. Concrete sinks must be sealed periodically with a concrete sealer; wipe up spills immediately to prevent stains.
Type: Apron-front
Material: Cast concrete
Cost: $1,000 to $3,000
Credit: Trueform Concrete, LLC
Timeless ClassicThe single-bowl, enameled cast-iron sink (in basic white, please) is one of the all-time most-popular kitchen helpmates. It’s inexpensive, tough, and a good match for any design scheme. This one was placed in a corner, which helps solve the problem of what to do with that wasted space at the back of corner cabinets.
Type: Self-rimming drop-in
Material: Enameled cast-iron
Cost: $150 to $1,000
Credit: Old Town Home blog
Sleek and SassyStainless steel sinks are especially at home with contemporary surroundings. This undermount type attaches under the countertop and makes cleanup a snap. Stainless steel sinks come in several gauges (the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel), but thickness is less important than sound-deadening material — look for sound-absorbing pads attached to the outside of the sink.
Type: Undermount
Material: Stainless steel
Cost: $150 to $4,000
Credit: Nicole White Designs Inc.
The Art of the SinkTough yet malleable, copper is a statement metal that readily accepts hand-tooled finishes and embossed designs. It develops a rich, dark patina with age, but you’ll need to avoid acidic liquids and harsh cleaners to prevent stains. Use homemade green cleaners to keep your copper sink looking great.
Type: Undermount
Material: 14-gauge copper
Price: $1,600
Credit: Rachiele
Say It with ColorIf color speaks volumes, why not let your kitchen sinks do a little fancy talking? Colorful kitchens are increasingly popular, and enameled cast-iron sinks offer deep, rich colors that grab the eye. “Every room should have surprises and punctuation marks,” says designer Jonathan Adler. “There’s nothing better than a colored sink to bring a kitchen to life.”
Type: Apron front
Material: Enameled cast-iron
Cost: $1,400 to $1,700
Credit: Kohler
The Gold StandardResistant to stains, scratches, and thermal shock, solid glass sinks can be molded to any shape and texture. These examples, as you might have noticed, are not your regular glass sinks — they’re infused with 24-carat gold for that “no-ordinary-kitchen” touch of precious metal that your culinary workspace so richly deserves.
Type: Self-rimming drop-in
Material: Borosilicate glass
Cost: $2,656
Credit: JSG Oceana Decorative Glass
What’s your favorite?
Home owners win two important tax benefits in the fiscal cliff deal
January 5, 2013
The fiscal cliff deal Congress passed this week lets home owners keep the tax deduction for private mortgage insurance payments. It also says troubled home owners won’t owe income tax on amounts forgiven during a mortgage workout or foreclosure.
PMI is what you pay your lender each month if you put down less than 20% on a home, which protects the lender if you default on the home loan.
Without mortgage cancellation relief, home owners who have a portion of their mortgage forgiven as part of a workout plan, short sale, or foreclosure would have to pay income tax on the forgiven amount. This will keep the market moving forward!
In addition, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 lets home owners continue to keep up to $500,000 ($250,000 for individuals) in home sale profits tax-free. Only home sellers whose income is $450,000 or above (or singles earning $400,000 or more) and who net more $500,000 on the sale of their home would pay taxes on the excess capital gains. For the vast majority of home sellers, there’s no change.
For those earning above the $400,000-$450,000 threshold, the cap gains rate would rise to 20% from 15%.
Congress extended the tax deductions for all mortgage insurance premiums and for state and local property taxes, which, along with the mortgage interest deduction, are important tax considerations for home owners and buyers.
be HAPPIER in your HOME
January 2, 2013
Found this list on apartmenttherapy.com and was inspired! Hopefully it will inspire you t00!
1. Make your bed.
The book The Happiness Project, explains that this three minute task is one of the simplest habits you can adopt to positively impact your happiness.
2. Bring every room back to “ready.”
I learned this trick from Marilyn Paul’s clever book, It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys. It’s a known fact: Clutter causes stress; order creates a haven from it. This mood-boosting routine is simple: Take about three minutes to bring each room back to “ready” before you depart it. (Unless you have a toddler, or a partner who likes to simulate earthquakes, three minutes should be sufficient.)
3. Display sentimental items around your home.
One reason that experiences (and memories of those experiences) make us happier than material things is due to the entire cycle of enjoyment that experiences provide: planning the experience, looking forward to the experience, enjoying the experience, and then remembering the experience. Make your home a gallery of positive memories.
4. Start a one-line-a-day gratitude journal.
Before bed, simply jot down one happy memory from that day. (If you have kids, you can ask them, “What was the best part of today?”) Reflection is an important part of happiness, and pausing to reflect on a positive event from each day cultivates gratitude. (An added bonus: Later, when your memory is defunct, you will already have all of your meaningful adventures recorded!) If you have trouble getting started with journaling, consider buying a book to guide you. Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, is a great one.
5. If you can’t get out of it, get into it.
This tip comes from The Happiness Project. I love the message: The dishes are not going to clean themselves, so you will do it, and you will like it! (Unless, of course, you can outsource this job, in which case I say: Nice work!) Otherwise, get into doing the dishes. Feel the soothing warm water on your hands. Enjoy the tickle of the tiny bubbles. Crank your favorite album at an unusually loud volume, do a couple fist-pumps while shouting “Can I get a hell yeah for the dishes? Hell! Yeah!” and pretend you love it.
6. Before you get up each morning, set an intent for the day.
In The Art of Happiness, the Dali Lama says “”Every day, think as you wake up: today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” Wow. What a wise man. I tend to wake up with a strong visceral reaction that says, “Attention human beings: Be afraid of me before coffee. Be very afraid!” Setting a daily intent makes a huge difference. Your daily intent could be something like “be productive” or “enjoy today’s delicious moments” or it could be something more specific like “say thank you to my loved ones today.” But it should not be another “to do” item on your list.
7. Do small favors for your housemates, expecting nothing in return (not even a thank you!).
(That’s right, I said it: nothing!) Mow the lawn for your husband, but don’t expect him to pat you on the back. Make the bed for your wife, but don’t try to get bonus points for it. Take the trash out for your roommate, just because. The ability to cultivate strong, healthy relationships is one of the biggest contributors to health and happiness, but when you start to keep score, the benefit is lost. (No! It’s YOUR turn to clean up the dog poop!) It’s a well-known fact: When you do good, you feel good.
8. Call at least one friend or family member a day.
You can do this while you clean, while you make the bed, or while you walk the dog. Texts and emails do not count! Make an actual phone call to a loved one, just to chat and catch up. We humans are social beings and studies show that even when we don’t feel like it, even if we are naturally introverted, socializing with our loved ones makes us feel better.
9. Spend money on things that cultivate experiences at home.
Save money for a new grill for parties or a new DVD for family movie night — something that will encourage you to have people over and entertain. Plan a summer barbeque, invite your closest friends, kick back and relax. (And don’t forget to print out the pictures to remember the good times.)
10. Spend a few minutes each day connecting with something greater than yourself.
Whatever your spiritual beliefs — or non-beliefs — may be, studies show that connecting to a high power is correlated with happiness. Just stepping back to realize that we are part of an enormous universe can put some perspective on your annoyance with the those-are-definitely-not-mine-and-they-are-abso-fricking-lutely-repulsive socks under the coffee table. Before bed, spend just a few minutes contemplating something larger than yourself. Take a walk in nature. Write in a journal. Create a sacred space in your home. (Or if spirituality is really not your thing, create a home spa: light some candles, soak in a hot bath, delve into a good book… are you feeling better yet?)
7 Ways to Repurpose Old Electronics
December 27, 2012
Here are 7 crafty and innovative projects that keep unloved and outdated electronics from cluttering up our landfills. A little crafty thinking can give obsolete electronics and appliances a new lease on life instead of death in a landfill. If you’re a resourceful DIYer or an eco-minded shopper, check out these ingenious ideas that transform outdated objects into fresh new items.
A second life for appliances
1. Did you know the European Union has made it against the law to put working (or easily repaired) appliances and electronics in the trash? Instead they’re cleaned up, repaired, and sold as affordable second-hand goods.
But they haven’t given up on gadgets and appliances that appear beyond repair, either.
To learn more, check out this video that details how old electronics are resold in the U.K., plus a proposal from product designer Gaspard Tiné-Berès on how to repurpose badly broken e-waste.
Short-Circuit from gaspard tiné-berès on Vimeo.
If the video left you feeling inspired, check out these two DIY ideas that give new life to stuff you might have.
2. You can turn a broken coffee pot into a funky fishbowl.
Credit: Mosby Building Arts
3. Or if you’re stuck with an old blender, consider turning it into a tabletop lamp.
Credit: John Ownby
Pet projects
If you’re looking for a few creature comforts, check out these two designs.
4. The Mac cat bed by AtomicAttic upcycles original iMacs into cozy kitty beds. Each cat crash pad comes with a fluffy cushion that includes a removable washable slipcover.
Credit: AtomicAttic
5. For pet parents who forget to feed Fido or Mittens on time, see the top of this post for an automatic kibble dispenser made from an old VCR.
You’ll need a little electronics know-how to execute this project. Peruse the instructions at MakeProjects.com.
Gaming consoles get a grown-up makeover
GreenCub gives old gaming equipment the adult treatment by repurposing them into geeky desk caddies.
6. Shown here is an organizer made from an old GameCube controller. It can store pens and paper clips, plus it includes a 3-ft. extension cable for your computing convenience.
Credit: GreenCub
If Playstation or Xbox is more your thing, check out this Etsy page.
An idea that might be music to your ears
So what can you do with an abundance of vintage vacuums, mixers, and washers? Turn them all into your own personal orchestra.
7. The Blödes Orchester, which means “stupid orchestra,” is an electronic band consisting of ancient appliances created by Michael Petermann, a German conductor and composer. You can decide whether this carefully choreographed spectacle is music or noise.
Blödes Orchester from white tube on Vimeo.
A full, comprehensive Condo Management Tool in Excel
December 22, 2012
Condo Management Template spreadsheetzone.com
This template is a professionally designed with powerful and extensive functionalities. The template includes all of the information for all of the residents. Also all kind of transactions such as gas, power, other utilities etc.
Very easy to use and FREE! Great way to track your investment.
Got a gift card you don’t want…trade it!
December 19, 2012
Happy holidays! Seasons greetings! Merry merry merry!
Here are some great sites to add to you bookmarks…
http://www.cardpool.com: Buy and sell gift cards! If you received a gift card that you’re not going to use – don’t waste it! Sell it on cardpool.com and buy one that you will use!
www.airbnb.com: Traveling for the holidays? Your favorite hotel booked up? Use this site to rent a home in the area you want to stay in. Pictures, contact information and rates included. Listings in 192 countries and 33,382 cities! It’s easy to find a great place to stay at a great rate!
http://www.barterquest.com: This is like trading your lunch in school but a great place to turn an unwanted Christmas sweater into a new set of ear buds! Don’t let your gift giver’s money to go waste and trade up for something that you really wanted.
