Condo Blues: June 2016

Sunday, June 26, 2016

How to Keep Your Dog From Being Scared of Fireworks

Fireworks are fun for the family to watch but are torture for your dog.

Big bangs, sizzles, and firecracker pops in Dog World mean “Panic! Run away from the noise! It is something that will hurt you! Run!”

In Human World, we stand there and stare at gunpowder exploding over our heads and say, “So pretty!” Which probably isn't very smart Human World.

How to Desensitize Your Dog to Fireworks

 Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to keep your dog from crying, whining, barking, and freaking out during a fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

How to Install a New Doorbell Chime and Button

Normally I’m a fix it instead of replace it kind of gal but neither Husband nor I have any great love for our builder basic doorbell. When our doorbell wouldn’t chime even after I replaced the transformer, we took the opportunity to upgrade it to a door chime we can actually hear from upstairs as well as down.

I wanted a pretty doorbell button to replace the plastic builder grade monstrosity we had. Husband thought the door chimes that played different music and tones are more fun than the faint, “ding dong!” that bit the dust.

How to Install a New Doorbell Chime and Button
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So of course we acted like two dorks testing all of the doorbell chimes in Lowes multiple times to find one we liked.

Sorry Lowes fellow shoppers.

Sometimes we are 12.

We bought the Utilitech Wireless Doorbell and Utilitech Antique Brass Doorbell Button (affiliate links for your convenience) to coordinate with the front doorknob and lock. This particular doorbell comes with a bunch of chimes (we are currently using the Westminster chimes setting.)

I got the opportunity to pick out a prettier doorbell button. Most importantly this doorbell lets us hardwire it to our current doorbell wiring although you can also install it as a wireless doorbell if you like.

We wanted to stay with a hardwired doorbell so we didn’t have to play Where are the rest of the rechargeable batteries? Did you recharge them? game on a regular basis but that’s just us.


How to Replace a Hard Wired Doorbell

Monday, June 20, 2016

Summer $150 IKEA Gift Card Giveaway!

Many, many, many people take on decorating and DIY projects during the summer because you can work in a big outside space of your yard with wild abandon. Let's hear it for spray paint weather! Woo hoo!

Of course, if you want to decorate with, paint, or hack a piece of furniture or five you need a place to start and everyone knows IKEA is the just the place for that.

Besides supplies, time, and warm weather to work outside, you do know what else helps when you want to start a DIY or decorating project?

MONEY.

And I hope to give it TO YOU!
  
I figure why not spread some summer sunshine you by getting together with a group of fabulous bloggers and give away to one lucky reader a $150 IKEA gift card so you can shop your little heart for something to hack, decorate, or DIY for your most fabulous abode!



Wednesday, June 15, 2016

How to Make an Iron Throne from a Lawn Chair

Everyone and I mean EVERYONE wants to sit upon the Iron Throne.

If you watch Game of Thrones you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you don't I'll give you a quick rundown:

  • There is a very uncomfortable chair they say is made from 1,000 enemy swords but it is really more like 200 forged by some guy named Shemp. Instead, they say it was forged by a Dragon because that sounds more majestic than A Guy Named Shemp and His Anvil. 

  • If you sit on the pointy sword chair you can brag you rule all of the Seven Kingdoms in this made up Dungeons and Dragons kind of world called Westros where everybody hates everybody - eventually.

  • Each Kingdom has their own ruler who has a Special Chair or Bench which is more comfortable than the Iron Throne. 

  • All of the Comfy Chair Rulers (or their conniving relatives) want the Uncomfortable Sword Chair and will do anything to get it. This usually involves killing people at weddings. So mean!

  • No one is smart enough to upholster the Iron Throne so the swords won't cut the person who plops their tush on it.

And I want one.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

How to Make a Power Tool Battery Charging Station

It’s funny how one little project like hanging a DIY chalkboard above my workbench quickly turned into a reorganize the workshop project. Well, actually, it was more like an ACK! I can’t find the bench top and the mountain of STUFF is driving me crazy project but why quibble over details?

I made an easy sandpaper organizer and a quick woodworking clamp rack. My latest project – a power tool battery charging station and organizer is the last workshop organizer I need to keep my bench top clean and my power tool batteries charged and organized. Woo hoo!

how to build pallet wood garage organizers

I built the workbench from reclaimed materials too.

How to Build a Hanging Power Tool Battery Charger and Organizer

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Father's Day Gift Ideas to Buy or DIY

 Father's Day is just around the corner. Do you know what gift you will give Dad this year?

Me neither.

We better get to it then!


 I put together a Father's Day gift guide of Father's Day gift ideas while scouring the Web for something fun and unusual to give the DIY Dads (my Dad and Father-in-law) for Father's Day. Some you can buy (time crunch, yo) others you can DIY. All are awesome!!

 Scoot on over to my food blog, Lazy Budget Chef to read:

 18 Unusual Father's Day Gift Ideas Dad Will Love!

 
 Dad will be glad you did!


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Monday, June 6, 2016

How to Install a Delta In2ition Showerhead with H2Okinetic Technology

Replacing the current showerhead with a hand shower shower head in the guest bathroom was always in the plan.   I like how the hand shower in our Delta Faucet Company In2ition showerhead makes it easy to clean the Master Bathroom the soap out of Lacey’s fur.

Being kind of a geek about showerhead and faucets, I wanted to know what the difference is between the Delta In2ition showerhead I have and like and the new Delta In2ition Showerhead with H2Okinetic Technology provided by Delta Faucet Company to facilitate this test and tutorial.

 
 Keep reading for a chance to win a Delta In2Ition Shower with H20kinetic Technology Showerhead sponsored by Delta Faucet Company!

 Each type of Delta In2ition showerhead is supposed to give you a different shower experience while saving enough water to earn the Watersense label -  using less than 2.0 gallons of water per minute (gpm.) Although truthfully after using both of these showerheads, you would never guess less water is coming out of either one. It feels like I'm taking a shower with more water not less!