Just Do It - Yourself

 Hi All,

I just heard about yet another 'Do It Yourself' website called 'Do It Yourself.com'. Click here for the link.  So what makes this site different than other sites?  Well, its easily navigated, quick to load and has loads of tutorials.

How To articles are well written and organized in many cases organized in a 'step-by-step' basis.

How To's explanations are organized by topic. 
Topics include:
- Design Center
- Cars/Trucks/Boats
- Decorating/Painting
- Electrical/Electronics
- Exterior Home Improvement
- From Our Workshop
- Games/Rec Room
- Green Home/Green Living
- Hardware/Tools/Woodworking
- Household/Cleaning
- Interior Home Improvement
- Lifestyle/Crafts/Recreation,
- Personal Finance/Legal Matters
- Plumbing/HVAC
- Real Estate.

Whew - that's quite a list!

There is also a list of Your Projects on the top ribbon on the homepage. 
Projects include:
- Automotive Projects
- Bathroom Projects
- Bedroom Projects
- Decorating Projects
- Dining Room Projects,
- Electrical and Electronic Projects
- Exterior Projects
- Game Room /Rec Projects
- Garage Projects,
- Green Projects
- Holiday Decoration Projects
- Home Office Projects
- Kitchen Projects
- Landscaping Projects
- Living Room Projects
- Patio/Deck Projects
- Room Addition Projects
- Work Projects and other projects.

Furthermore, each category has more sub-categories once you click a link.  For example, the Your Project tab for Decorating/Painting has further links to Designing With Color, Decorating For Kids, Design By Room, Designers & Ideas, Exterior Painting, Furnishings and much more.

The site also has a forums - click here for the links to them - which are heavily used by readers. 
Use this link if you would like to sign up for any of the Do-It-Yourself newsletters.

Clicking on the search box at the upper right side of the page for the term 'replacing an outlet' gave these results.

From the results given, I would suspect that this is one of the better answers.
This article has a list of 'what tools you'll need to complete the projects', a step-by-step written narrative of how to complete the project, and links at the bottom of the page to other similar, but different projects.

All in all this is a helpful, comprehensive, user friendly 'how-to fix things' website.

Enjoy the projects and the links above!

Regards,

Stu
 

Floral Decorating - Who Would Have Thought?

Hi All,

Who would have thought it? I'm writing about floral decorating and various and sundry topics that are associated with it!

Well, first...what exactly is floral decorating? From Wikipedia, comes this extensive and comprehensive definition of floral decorating.  Evidently floral decorating has a long and established history throughout the world. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romand and Chinese all practiced floral decorating.  See the Wikipedia entry for more information.

For an alternative definition and description of floral decoration, readers can click on this link from Encyclopedia Britannica!

And...readers can see this link - under Floristry - to learn more about floral decorating.

The internet is a wonderful place to meet people who share the same hobbies that you do.  In addition, there is a vast trove of 'how to' information on virtually any hobby you can think of.  Click on this link from MarthaStewart.com for an article entitled, '30 Floral Decorating Ideas'.  And, of course, it comes from the doyenne of domesticity - Martha Stewart. So it has to be good.

Another excellent resource is Better Homes and Gardens - this link is titled, '10 Flower Arranging Tips' and is very nicely organized.  And, too boot, the pictures are very nice!

Finally, this next link comes from a magazine called Real Simple - and it bills itself as 'Making Life Easier'.   The title of this entry is 'Decorating With Florals'.  The real takeway from this entry is the 1-5 list of decorating with florals. For example, item 3 is 'Florals can go anywhere'; item 4 is 'Mixing florals creates energy'...you get the idea - the entry is a quick look at how readers can user florals in a modern setting.

And finally, now that I've whetted your floral appetite, blog readers might want to attend the floral decorating class at Farmingdale Public Library on Thursday, June 19th at 7pm. The class is being led by Scott Lucas, Greenhouse Supervisor at Old Westbury Gardens and will be one hour long.  Attendeeds will be introduced to the craft of floral design using materials readily available fro myour garden or garden center.  Sounds like fun!  Don't miss it!

Regards,
Stu

Do It Yourself - DIY

Hi All,

Lots of folks own homes and condos or co-ops.  Other folks rent the apartment they live in.

And there is quite a bit of difference from renting an apartment or owning a condo/co-op vs. owning your own home.

One of the major differences is that with a condo/co-op/apartment, a representative of the organization will do the maintenance of the property (fix leaks, paint, install new carpet, etc.)

But with a house the homeowner is the one who makes the repairs or does the fixes...either that or the homeowner pays a contractor to perform the work instead.

So...with that all said, today's blog entry is all about DIY - aka, 'Do-It-Yourself' projects for the home.  Simply put there are many, many DIY websites on the internet.  Today, I'm going to discuss one of the better ones - DIY Network - which can be found by clicking on this link: DIYNetwork.

DIYNetwork is from the makers of HGTV and Food Network.  DIY Network is available nationwide via DirecTV, DISH network and various local cable tv providers.  The site is authoritative, advertisement-free and easily navigable.  With all that out of the way, we can talk about the specifics of the site. 

At the top of the page is a ribbon that  has many of the DIY Networks' best features.  The ribbon has links to topics related to Painting, Windows and Doors, Floors. Decorating, Remodeling, Electrical, Plumbing, Bath, Kitchen, Outdoors and Rooms. Above this ribbon are further links to TV Shows, Experts & Hosts, Blog Cabin, Watch DIY Network and the Video Library.

One of the best aspects of the site are the drop down boxes that appear when users click on one of the topics in the ribbon.  The drop down menu for "Windows and Doors" (for example) is extensive - with sections on "Inside Windows, Walls, and Doors", "Shows", and "Best of Windows and Doors".  Even better is that the first section "Inside Windows, Walls, and Doors" has further categories like 'Floor Tile', 'Windows', 'Concrete Doors' and more.

Along with these links to repairs are sections that explain - for example - how to 'Repair Your Drywall', 'Wall-Covering Trends'.  Each category has different DIY projects that is related to that particular category. 

Users can also use the search box at the top of the page to enter some key words related to the project that they are working on - or need to find assistance with.

Examples of Electrical issues addressed by DIY Network include: Lighting, Appliances, Heating & Cooling, Ceiling Fans, Home Theater and Wiring. Click on any of these links to find out more.

Some of the specific projects that DIY Network discusses include 'Accent Lighting', 'How to Add Outlets', 'Tips For Air Conditioner Maintenance', '10 Things You Must Know About Home Security Maintenance Systems' and 'Family Friendly Home Theaters'.

Finally, users can look at videos or view photo galleries of various projects that they are interested in completing.  There is also a very complete list of topics on the site which is very, very helpful for finding projects!!!!

Just remember...this is just one of the many categories that DIY Network covers so there is a LOT of information on the site!  And, as you can see, DIY Network is comprehensive, well organized and easy-to-use...homeowners or amateur diy'ers would serve themselves well by visiting the site and utilizing its many DIY features.

Enjoy the site - hope all your home repair projects turn out to be easier and less expensive than you expect!

Regards,
Stu

Room Remodeling - Really!

Hi All,

So...you've worked on the outside of your house over the summer with all the landscaping, gardening, cleaning gutters and cars, painting the deck furniture and doing other 'summery outdoorsy stuff'. Well folks, now it is winter and the outside living isn't so wonderful. It is cold, rainy and windy outside - how is a family supposed to do any gardening or whatnot?

Indeed...you aren't. Thats why we can do some interior work in the house at this time of year.

So...without further ado...a list of 3 websites on how to remodel a bedroom.

Better Homes and Gardens - Home Decorating and Interior Design Ideas - colors, windows, furniture, design plans and create-a-room all available on this site. Plus it is from Better Homes and Gardens!

From Martha Stewart comes Decorating Room by Room. Its Martha - what's not to love!

From Room Decorating.net comes this site which has an extensive list of rooms to decorate. Users can click on links related to bathroom decorating, bedroom, decorating, decorating styles, dining room decorating and dorm room decorating.

That should keep ya busy for the weekend!

Regards,
Stu

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