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Archives for August 2012

How to Replace Window Trim

August 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

WindowTrimFor finishing new windows or freshening the old, window trim gives a polished look with less effort than you may think

Whether I’m flipping through a magazine or watching the latest home show on TV, I’m always drawn to a house’s trim. I love how the use of different architectural trim elements can completely change the feel of the entire house. Sometimes that can be good, and sometimes it can be utterly awful.

When we replaced our outdated and wallet-busting single-pane aluminum windows with energy-efficient double-pane vinyl windows in our kitchen nook, I began dreaming of adorning the windows with beautiful trim. I was excited for the end result, but since I’m always so focused on trim in other people’s homes, I was completely terrified about actually choosing the trim and putting it in place in my own home.

Filed Under: Blog, Home Care, Home Remodel Tagged With: ,

Music Review: Dig That Crazy Christmas: The Brian Setzer Orchestra

August 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

dig-that-crazy-christmasChristmas music in August?! I know it is summer, but I’ve been listening to Christmas music since April, in preparation for this year’s Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree. “Dig That Crazy Christmas” by The Brian Setzer Orchestra, was one of the many albums (why do we still call them that?) that I listened to in selecting music for this year’s show. Setzer and his ruckus band, roar and swing through 11 holiday classics, along with two originals; the horn-driven stomper "Hey Santa!", spiced with some sizzling vocal and instrumental interchange, and a roaring blues mélange: "Santa’s Got a Hot Rod", complete with blaring horns and a fine, growling vocal from Setzer, describing the wonders of Santa’s new souped-up ride, which has replaced a "rusty old sleigh."

"White Christmas" gets a gently rocking arrangement, graced by honking sax and robust guitar punctuations, while a mid-tempo instrumental version of "My Favorite Things" provides Setzer with a showcase for his serious guitar chops. There are plenty of jazz-tinged solos, ahead of fanciful flights of brass and woodwinds. For comic relief, Setzer brings his mock spooked-out vocal on "’Zat You Santa?", and his generous serving of ham on "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," to which he adds a reverberant top-strings solo that pays homage to "The Munsters" theme song.

“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!” drives just like you may expect a big band ought to do. Towards the end, it takes a turn with a short bass trombone solo catching you off guard. One of the most ambitious charts is, "Angels We Have Heard On High”. Setzer puts everyone out there at breakneck speed. Starting with the orchestra, trumpets at terminal velocity, then and a full-bodied church choir, with enough room for a burst of blaring horns and trebly rock guitar solos. Setzer ties up this holiday gift with a lush, dreamy rendition of "What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”, which, like the rest of the disc, rings true both in content and spirit.

Though it was released several years ago, the music is anything but dated. Each tune is sure to put a smile on your face. If you’re up for a holiday sound amidst the sun, pop this in a let the grinning begin.

Speaking of “Crazy Santa Claus”, take a look at this promo video for the Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree

skydiving_santas

Filed Under: Blog, Music Tagged With: , , ,

The Current State Of Social Networks 2012 [INFOGRAPHIC]

August 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

social-media-planet-2012

Did you know that Twitter is the social network with the strongest growth rate in 2012, ahead of LinkedIn, Pinterest and Reddit?

Facebook? That didn’t even make the cut. Still, when you’re closing in fast on one billion users, your annual growth rate does tend to slow down a smidgen. Still, don’t shed a tear for Mark Zuckerberg – save those for the owners of Digg, Bebo, Friendster and, of course, MySpace, who are the four social networks most in decline, reminding us that success in this space can be both dramatic and fleeting.

This data comes courtesy of Ignite Social Media, who have compiled the infographic of infographics about the state of social media, worldwide, in 2012. Ignite’s research revealed that while social media as a whole continues to plateau – we haven’t seen any real growth, planet-wide, since 2009 – there are many success stories to be found. Pinterest has quickly established itself as the de facto social network for women, and Plaxo (who knew that was still going?) is incredibly popular with senior citizens.

Check out all this, and more, in the visualization below.

state-social-networks-2012

[VIA]

Filed Under: Blog, marketing, New Media, Technology Tagged With:

8 Quotes We Owe to William Shakespeare [infographic]

August 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

william-shakespeareWilliam Shakespeare. Just seeing that name takes me to a place where coffee flows, procrastination runs rampant, and book reports come back marked down for tardiness. Unless you reside under a rock or still working your way through high-school, you’ve heard of Mr. Shakespeare. Today’s infographic speaks on Shakespeare’s significance in regards to the English language, but not in the typical way.

Down below are eight quotes, phrases, and saying that can be credited to William Shakespeare. I’m sure you’ve heard at least one of them used in your lifetime. My intrigue with this infographic lies in the notion that Shakespeare has so many quotes and writings that are held in high regard by scholars worldwide, yet these get left out. I’m not saying that quotes such as “Et tu, Brute?” and “the world is my oyster” should be studied interchangeably. I’m just taking note of the vast influence Shakespeare had over language.

Share your favorite Shakespeare quotes in the comment box and have an awesome day!eightphrasesweowetowilliamshakespeare

Filed Under: Blog, Random Thoughts Tagged With:

How to Pick a Patio Umbrella That Performs

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

patio-umbrellaLooking for just the right amount of shade, sturdiness and weather resistance? We’ve got you covered

When midsummer heat waves hit, even some sun worshippers begin begging for shade. Instead of forcing family dinners and lazy afternoons indoors, outfit your garden, deck or patio with an umbrella. This everyday item can make all the difference when it comes to a comfortable outdoor space.
With these professional tips on choosing an outdoor umbrella, relief from the heat is on the way!

Filed Under: Blog, Furniture, Home Care

Feast your eyes on the Dark Knight home theater

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

batman-theaterRecent events may leave you a bit hesitant about joining the crowds at the multiplex, and while some of us will just sit and wait for films to be available via Redbox or Netflix, others will be building their own Dark Knight theater.

This $2 million home theater is set to be completed by November of this year, so there won’t be any first runs of the final Dark Knight movie happening here, but every other new release enjoyed in this awe-inspiring home renovation project will definitely be an adventure.

batman-theater2

According to Nandini Maheshwari at BornRich:

The highlights include 180” film screen with Batsuits on each side, besides the backlit life-size Batsuit standing across the room. There are a total of six Batsuits placed throughout the room. The other details include winged gargoyles, private cylindrical stainless steel elevator with glowing bat symbol, mock secret tunnel exit, bat computers, and race-car inspired home theater chairs to be in tune with the luxurious Batmobile vehicles. The Exit gate is designed to look like a secret tunnel approximately 30 feet long.

Did the real Batcave even cost that much?

For that kind of dough, we’d want Robin thrown in with the theater to bring us popcorn refills during the good parts.

Full story at Elite Home Theater Seating via BornRich.

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Technology Tagged With: , ,

10 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Resale Value

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

remodelFigure out which renovations will pay off, and you’ll have more money in your pocket when that ‘Sold’ sign is hung

With real estate prices not what they once were, to put it mildly, it’s only natural for homeowners preparing to sell to be thinking of ways to up their home’s value. But it simply doesn’t make sense to throw money into a big remodeling project that won’t end up netting a higher sale price in the end. What’s a homeowner to do?

Learn what buyers want, then start early (so you can enjoy your hard work before you sell) and small (to avoid excessive spending) for the best possible results. These 10 home improvement projects make smart use of your time and resources.

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Home Care, Home Remodel

Suburban planning [comic]

August 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

There’s much to be said for the suburbs, but for all their good points, there’s plenty of snark to be thrown into the conversation as well (especially from recent escapees or those longing for bright lights or wide open spaces).

Cartoonist Grant Snider takes an amusing look at his own environs and sees what the planners likely didn’t intend.

Full story at Incidental Comics.

Filed Under: Blog

What Would You Do With an Extra Room?

August 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

home_theaterLet’s pretend for a minute. Say you have an extra room in your house and you can do anything with it. Pretend you don’t need the space for that extra kid or that collection of merry-go-round horses. It’s just extra and you can do anything with it.

It could be your salsa dancing room or your indoor basketball court. Maybe it’s a meditation room, a home gym or a family room.

The truth is, we could all use an extra room. Once we’re all housed and the kitchen, bathrooms and common rooms are taken care of, there seems to always be a need for just a little extra space. A fantasy room.

I’m trying to chose between a cozy, comfy library and a playroom for the kids. Not that there’s any hurry for my decision.

Filed Under: Appliances, Architecture, Blog, Furniture, Home Remodel, Technology
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