Every day, the first thing I look at when I log on to my computer is my home page. I have been using iGoogle for a really long time. It was so simple because I could add apps to the page that had all my blog feeds, bookmarks, entertainment news, regular news and even quick reference stories. It’s my lifeline.
Last year, Google announced that iGoogle would be going away on November 1, 2013. That seemed like forever so I didn’t think much about it. My response is typically “I’ll get to it after this…”.
Well, this Friday is November 1, 2013. Turns out, forever eventually gets here.
Naturally, I’m figuring something out very last minute. True to form, I finally try something that has been talked about for a while now, it’s easy to set up and I stay up late customizing it. That’s how I roll. The thing that has been talked about is called NetVibes.
Pre-planning just isn’t my thing. There’s no adrenaline or stress. That’s no fun.
I have just finished adding my favorite feeds (and, eh hem, entertainment news sites) to my home page.
It’s All Customizable
You can choose all your apps (feeds, information, to do lists, etc), the color of your background, the color of your header, the theme, the setup and the color of each of your app title bars. You can ALSO change the layout and it’s all drag and drop. So. Easy.
Take a Peek at My Apps
Choosing what works best for you is essential. I wouldn’t typically share what I have on my page because it doesn’t really benefit you. However, being a very visual person and someone who needs to see the “big picture” before doing anything, I thought I’d share a little peek at my home page so you can determine whether or not this is a good fit for you.
I have now set my personal NetVibes account to be my home page (see instructions below if you don’t know how to do this). Once I get used to having it, I’ll probably move things around and either add or delete apps. I can already think of things I’ll need like recipes and beauty tips. Hey, don’t judge. I am a total know-it-all. I don’t like being left out of the loop.
It’s Free
No explanation needed. Sign up for the personal account…unless you’d like to do more.
What are you using that makes online life easier?
Instructions on how to set any website as your home page:
Go to the website of your choice. May I recommend organizedCHAOSonline or our feed on Bloglovin? Oh, look at that…I just did.
Once you are currently on the site you’d like to have pop up every time you open your browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari), go to the tab at the top of your page. It’s typically on the top left. You’ll see a drop down menu. Here’s what you do next:
- Click OPTIONS
- You’ll see another OPTIONS. Click that.
- You have now clicked OPTIONS and then OPTIONS
- Under the GENERAL tab, you’ll see a section labeled STARTUP
- Just look for “Set my home page as” and a place to enter the web address (URL)
- Enter the web address and click SAVE
- Just like that, you did it.
This is what it looks like in Firefox
As always, if you have any questions, just comment below and we’ll do our best to help you. Being confused is the worst! No question is a dumb question. At least that’s what we tell ourselves because we’re the ones usually asking those questions. Also we are strongly recommend one of the our parner from India, they supply medical products to USA at low prices, there is website BuyMD.org
Our house is built on a slope which gives us a front entrance at street level, but a totally daylight lower level. We spend most of our time on our upper deck, but occasionally entertain on the patio below. When we do spend time on the patio, we have the houses across the street looking down on us from their decks. I feel so exposed! Even though we don’t spend a lot of time on the downstairs patio, when we do, I want privacy!
I’ve seen several DIY projects for privacy fences, but I didn’t want to spend a lot of money or put a ton of effort into this project. Paul (the hubs), was going to be doing most of the work, and I would be the job foreman. I’m happy to report that we’re still married, considering our…”lively” discussion during which he informed me he couldn’t make my champagne vision work on my beer budget. Why can’t we have full growth ivy winding it’s way through the lattice panels, while we sit in cushy new patio chairs sipping Mojitos listening to the gentle gurgle of a three-tier water feature? Asshole!
He patiently waited while I threw a small fit and allowed a sufficient amount of time for pouting before we got to work. The week before, we had picked up three lattice panels at an estate sale for like $5 total. Cheeeaap! I wanted to keep the lattice it’s natural wood color, but I wanted to paint the frame white. We had some 1×3 boards left over from a previous project, and a half can of white paint in the basement, so all we needed to buy was a bit of hardware and we were good to go.
Our lattice panels measured about 32 x 48, so Paul cut enough 1 x 3’s to create frames for each. Instead of mitering the corners, we decided to straight cut the boards and just butt the corners together.
Paul took a break while I painted all the boards with a couple coats of white exterior paint. I made sure to paint the ends of the boards since some of the ends would be exposed. I wanted to sandwich the lattice between two frames, but we were out of lumber, so I agreed to seeing how it looked with the frame on just one side. If it looked tacky like that, we’d add a frame to the back.
When the boards were dry, we laid them out, squared the corners, and glued the frame corners with wood glue.
We did a final check to make sure everything was square, then air stapled the end of each lattice slat to the frame. It turned out a lot sturdier than I thought it would be. We quickly finished the other two panels, and the construction phase was done. (At this point we had begun speaking again).
Next, we hauled the panels to the patio (notice that I said we?), and drilled starter holes in the center of both end boards on each panel.
We then screwed eyescrews into the starter holes. These suckers were ready to hang!
I wanted the panels to be placed at a height that provided privacy both when we were sitting or standing. Paul held up a panel while I eyeballed the height (very high-tech precise measuring system, yes?). Then we measured and marked to be sure the three panels were evenly spaced across. Starting at one end, Paul slipped the drill bit through the chain , attached a screw to the drill bit (I love that they’re magnetic), and drilled the screw at his first mark. We used 10 lb capacity chain (that I was certain wasn’t strong enough to hold the panels).
He measured the chain from the drilled screw to the length we needed to attach it to the panel for the height we had decided on. Using two needle-nosed pliers, he opened the last link on the chain and slipped off the excess chain. He then attached an S-hook into the bottom link, and squeezed the link back together with his pliers.
Finally, we hooked the S-hooks that were attached to the end of the chains, into the eyescrews on the top of the frames, and hung the panels. We stood back to take a look, and I’ll be damned! After only a little bit of adjusting, which we did by moving the screws holding the chains a hair up or down, the panels were level and evenly spaced. Not bad for a couple hours work!
Turns out, all my kicking and screaming was a waste of energy, because the end result looked almost exactly what I had envisioned (minus the furniture and waterfall). I had originally wanted the bottom of the panels to be anchored, but was talked out of it. I ended up loving the airy feeling it has by just letting them hang free. I had also originally wanted to use heavier chain, but by using the lighter-weight, the chain is barely visible and gives the panels the appearance of being suspended in mid-air. I really need to work on this control issue a teeny bit, and put a little more faith in my man. Obvs he knows what he’s doing.
So, by using a lot of materials we already had, and scoring a great find at an estate sale, I’m able to enjoy my private little patio for under $30. And I LOVE IT! (Thank you honey).
Doing laundry isn’t the problem. It’s folding it and putting it away.
I wish little elves would pop up out of nowhere and take the laundry out of the dryer right after the cycle is over (not a day later when a 10 minute fluff is in order), start folding and distributing the clothing, towels and bedding to their proper place. If anyone is thinking of starting a business, let me tell you – this is it! Elves aren’t a requirement.
Since that little fantasy isn’t happening anytime soon, it’s time to take the bull by the horns and figure out a way.
We don’t have time to sit around and fold. It needs to be quick and it needs to be simple. Oh, and it also has to look good.
Is that too much to ask?
Nope!
FOLDING SHIRTS
Click out the image tutorial (below) or watch the video. I guarantee your mind will be BLOWN! Mine was.
Source: Mr Porter
Click for tutorial
Or…if you want to go with more of a traditional fold like the department stores and such, check this out:
Source: Starfold
Click for PDF instructions
Starfold (website that above tutorial is from) has a free downloadable PDF that outlines how to fold everything from shirts to pants to sheets. Click the image to be led to their website.
You can also stick around to see what else we have to share.
FOLDING COATS
You can hang them in a closet year-round, you can pack them in a space bag and suck all the air out of them or you can fold your coats and hoodies during the off-season. Also use this tip when packing for a trip.
Source: Cat Morley
Click for more tutorials
FOLDING PANTS
When I was 16, I worked at JC Penney and I was taught the “Levi fold”. Working in the Young Mens department and folding eleventy billion jeans, I mastered the fold. I’ve never forgotten it and I still fold all my pants that way. Quick instructions:
- Fold your jeans in half the long way with the back pockets facing out (in school, we called it the “hotdog length”)
- Flip the legs of your pants up to where the bottom of your jean leg just touches the middle of your back pocket emblem
- Your jeans will be folded almost in half (in school, we called it the “hamburger length”)
- Flip the remainder of your jeans up toward the waistband.
- Your jeans will be folded in half and looking dang fine.
A more visual way to do it is below.
Source: Cat Morley
Click for even more instructinos
FOLDING SHEETS
There’s a little magic involved in folding sheets. I’m not talking about flat sheets. That’s easy peasy. Just fold in half, in half and then in thirds.
Fitted sheets, however, requires patience and even, sometimes, a lot of wine. My mom can fold a fitted sheet like nobody’s business. Sober. She’s magic. While this isn’t mom, I’ve found another fitted sheet magician.
Source: Aulit Fine Linens
Click for tutorial and video
FOLDING TOWELS
In order to make your linen closet look great and stay organized, folding towels the “correct” way is essential. Don’t just throw them in there. They should look like a flat cinnamon roll and be all cozy and ready to use when you need them.
Source: Jen from the Block
Click for full tutorial
These tips will never replace that fantasy of someone else doing the laundry but it will definitely save a ton of time and make your closets look good in the process.
Whether you’re organized or not, you can certainly fake it ’til you make it.
Guest Blogger: Marie Blackburn, Interior Frugalista
Meet Marie. She is a consummate DIYer who loves the challenge of decorating on a budget. With an eye for seeing the potential in otherwise tired, dated, or discarded furnishings, she breaths new life into them, and loves transforming rooms by using what is already in the home. Marie says, “Our home is my art canvas, and like pages in a book, every room tells a story.”
We loved the water fountain she created using plant pots that had been laying around her house for years, and she was kind enough to share the project with us…
How To Create an Outdoor Water Fountain
I wanted to have a unique water fountain on our deck. There were many stunning ones that struck my fancy, but being a Frugalista, I wasn’t willing to pay the price. Now I could have waited until mid-August when they typically go on sale, but that would require P A T I E N C E. What the heck is that?
So, we’ve had these three flower pots kicking around, like forever. Inspired by some of the DIY fountains I’ve seen on Pinterest and Hometalk, we decided to give this a whirl.
I cannot tell a lie, we had several frustrating botched attempts with this project. Rocks that were too small and kept plugging the pump… A spray nozzle that overflowed onto the deck… Painting a large bowl to catch the overflow but the paint peeled despite several coats of a protective finish… A chunk breaking off one of the pots when using a hammer to make a hole in the bottom to accommodate the pump….. Oh well, like they say, live and learn. At least by following this tutorial you won’t make the same mistakes. You’re welcome!
Here are the materials we used. (Notice the holes in the center of the terracotta lids? In our final attempt, we used a drill with a ceramic bit, and this time no pots were harmed in the making of this fountain!)
Step 1: We sealed the hole that was made when we had previously attempted using a large bowl for the base. Grrrrrr, hate when that happens! We epoxied a small porcelain tile to the bottom of the pot and let it cure for over 24 hours.
Step 2: We put the pump on a strong sturdy base in the center of the pot at a level where the top will be at the height you want. We used what we had on hand by cutting a strong plastic container to fit.
Step 3: Notch out a groove in the plastic pipe to accommodate the pump’s electrical cord.
Step 4: Set the plastic pipe over the plastic container so it rests on the bottom of the pot. This becomes your base for the next step. TIP: Make sure you cut the plastic tubing nice and straight!
Step 5: Place the pump sprayer through the terracotta saucer and let it rest on top of the plastic pipe. NOTE: After we took the picture, we discovered it’s better to place the terracotta saucer upside down to help conceal the lip.
Step 6: Place the pump sprayer through the next size pot and let it rest on the terracotta saucer. Add the next plastic pipe. NOTE: Be sure to pre-measure the plastic pipes to accommodate the pot heights before cutting them.
Step 7: Place the pump spray through the next size terracotta saucer (again, unlike the picture, turn the saucer upside down). This now becomes the base for the top pot.
Step 8: Add the final pot, inserting the nozzle head onto the pump sprayer.
Step 9: Add river rock onto each saucer until the terracotta is completely concealed. Make sure you use a combination of large and small rocks. You want the large rocks to fill in the void between the saucer and the pot. The small rocks will help to conceal the saucer. Fill the bottom pot with water and plug it in.
Ta Da! There you have it, an inexpensive DIY water fountain for a deck, patio, or apartment balcony!
To see more of Marie’s great DIY projects, hop on over to The Interior Frugalista. Thanks for sharing, Marie!
If you’d like to be a guest blogger on Organized CHAOS Online, just send us an email describing your project, and if it’s something we think our readers will enjoy, we’ll feature you!
Source: Baked Bree
I keep seeing this tip on how to bake a flat-top cake and am now starting to feel pressure to bake.
TIP: For a cake with a flat top, wrap the pan with a wet towel.
Yes, that’s all you do.
Source: Be Sweet
For detailed descriptions on how to bake these gorgeous cakes, click on either of the images below.
