Pillowcase Problems

Remember how my West Elm bedding took FOREVER to be shipped (as in, I ordered it in November and got it end of February).  Well, as I eluded to, there was another hiccup.  When I received the bedding (see it in my spruced up bedroom here), there were some pink stains - we think from where the fabric was marked for the hand sewn square tucks.  Here's a few shots after a number of washes:

Not the best photo - look at the middle of the pic . . .

West Elm has awesome customer service and offered a replacement, except the cases are still back ordered and I'd be at the end of the waiting list (again) plus I had to arrange my own shipping.  I decided just to let sleeping dogs lie - once the squares "puffed" up in the dryer and I threw on the silk pillows, no one is the wiser. 

Plus, as my mom aptly pointed out, anyone staring that close to the bedding is going to get a boot to the rear anyway. 

Just wanted to share one of my (many, many) decorating hiccups.  Kinda awesome, though, to have such insignificant problems be the worst of my problems, right?  What have some of your decorating hiccups entailed?

Finally - Fridge Photos!

Finally: photos of the new fridge.   And, here is the whole story (click here for the first half - you'll note some overlap.  It isn't that gripping a story so without overlap there would be a need for filler).  

Our fridge just up & died (after painfully griping for more than a year - does your fridge heave and groan?)  I phoned around for service calls but learned this tidbit: Kenmore didn't actually produce appliances, they slapped their name on other brands.  So, various companies in town needed to know the model number in order to determine if they could even help (as many only serviced some of the fridges Kenmore re-branded).  I couldn't FIND the model number - I looked high & low.  In the end, I had to pay a Sears rep to come out.  Although the most expensive ($99 inspection), I had no choice.  What if I had just accidentally knocked something lose?  (Hubby was out of town).

Well, I paid $99 for the Sears rep to tell me the fridge compressor was dunzo. 

Our old, uninspiring fridge that possibly lead a longer life than us!

Lesson Learned: the model number was under the kick plate - never would have looked there on my own!

After searching high and low, I found a fridge I loved.  It is practical, pretty & affordable.  Plus, I shopped local and scored a deal hundreds of dollars sweeter than at the Home Depot.  The actual fridge was cheaper at a local store, plus Home Depot charges extra for delivery & removal - not the case where I purchased the fridge.  Yay!

So, here it is:

Kinda modern retro, right?

It is so pretty, we busted out the magnetic poetry kit!  (Didn't want to draw attention to the old one).  Plus, the living room view is sweeter too:



Another Lesson Learned: fridges are deeper now (as opposed to the 80s when our old fridge was born).  But although the depths are "standard," bring a measuring tape to the store.  This one is half an inch shallower than the rest, plus it doesn't have a handle - although it was labelled "standard depth".  These little differences mean we can actually open the door.  Yay!  Had I not been so careful, getting a snack from the fridge might have become much less fun.  Although - if I was willing to splurge on a high end appliance, I could find shallower fridges. 

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We Can Buy Food Again

Say "hello" to our new fridge.  The LG LTN19315SW. 

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I bought it in the white, but its easier to see in the black:

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It is goin' in here:

See more pictures here

Gosh - if you ever shop for a fridge, don't wait until your current fridge dies.  Surprisingly, a fridge is not typically something you can bring home the same day. 

Here's what I learned:

• Super hard to find a modern looking fridge with a freezer on top (they are "out")
• The fridge has to suit your purposes, not what is trendy
• Shop around!  Prices really vary store to store
• Big box stores sometimes have the "lowest" price because they don't include delivery or disposal of an old fridge
• When Home Depot tells you it can't be done, tell them they are wrong

I will save you the boring details of fridge shopping.  Found lots I wanted and couldn't afford, found lots I could afford but didn't want.  Found one I liked and we could afford.  I love the way the interior is laid out, it looks nice, the quality is good, and the price was right.  Home Depot told me I'd have to wait until March 21st and that every vendor would say the same.  I phoned every appliance store in town and the delivery times varied from next day to a month. 

In the end, I went to Corbeil Appliances where the fridge I wanted was $200 cheaper than Home Depot, plus delivery & removal of the dead fridge was free!  So, in the end I saved about $300.  Shocker, right?  And, I am getting the fridge delivered today (it is 1:00am - this counts as Friday).  Here's hoping the delivery is problem-free.  Seems too good to be true . . .

I promise some new pics of the kitchen when the fridge is set up.     

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I've Got Chills . . .

. . . plus a fever.  I caught a cold.  Blargh.  I usually rely on my jumbo bottle of Coldfx from Costco to keep me cold-free, but I thought my sniffles yesterday were allergy related so I didn't take any!  Must remember to take one a day, like the bottle says!  I read, but I don't heed.  So, today's plan:

1.  
Use all the Kleenex in the house.  Including those from my fancy new brushed silver Kleenex box:

You already saw it here, in my "evolution of a power room" post

2.  
Eat the entire banana bread I baked last night (when I wasn't so foggy headed.  Today I wouldn't trust myself not to forget the bananas):

 

I baked because a friend was coming over, but I told her to stay away . . .

My Banana Bread Tip:
I'm sure everyone has a well-loved banana recipe, but here's a neat tip.  If you're ever short a banana (my recipe calls for two, but sometimes I only have one neglected banana) throw in some shredded apple.  I dice mine in my mini-food processor and toss it in with the banana.  Makes the bread a touch softer!  Yum.  Snack time.  Then nap time.

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Fire Safety Week Wrap Up - What Did I Do?

This week was fire-focused, on account of the fire across the street.  I blogged about go-bags, escape routes, & smoke detectors, plus how to prevent fire in the first place.  Definitely not an exhaustive account, but a good start. 

So the question is: did I take action to be more firesafe (& fire prepared) this week?  Well, between listening to She & Him repeatedly . . .

. . . continuing to admire the green chair . . .

. . . working on my exams, of course . . .

. . . and also deciding if I want to keep these washcloths I bought at Winner's . . .

9 for $8.00?  Yes please.
P.S. The blue is more teal in the real world

. . . I did start my go bag!  Well, I started a pile of stuff that will go in it.  Man, if I ever need this bag, I will be the shabbiest looking person around (I packed sweats and sweatshirts that are warm but ugly).  Bonus points for starting to put out some stuff for hubby's go bag too!

Laying out stuff for the go-bag

And I also:

• Started photocopying important docs and identification (using my super giant ugly printer/copier in one)
• Set off the smoke detectors accidentally (again) so I know they work!
• Started an inventory of the home contents

I need to:

• Finish the go bag
• Finish inventory
• Have a chat with our insurance company
• Stop leaving the dishwasher running at night or when I'm not home
• Start making lint elephants

How about you?

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Fire Safety Week: Protecting Your Assets

A fire escape route, smoke detector, and even a "go bag" can help save your life in the event of a fire.  But what about your stuff?  The furniture you saved up for?  The heirloom jewellery you inherited?  Here are some things your insurance company will really want you to do:

1. Take photos of your rooms and store the photos elsewhere (a safety deposit box, friend's house)
2. Inventory your goods (try sorting by categories: furniture, clothing, tech stuff, etc.)
3. Record the value of as many items as you can - especially big ticket items
4. Bonus points if you attach copies of receipts & record serial numbers
5. Make a note of when you bought things and highlight newer items as insurance companies sometimes take depreciation into account
6. Have your extra valuable valuables appraised
7. Don't forget to keep all of this additional data somewhere off the property also

Here are some other things you can do:

1. Store photocopies of your passports/house deeds/insurance papers in your go bag and also somewhere safe, off the property (maybe where you store your inventory photos)
2. Consider a safety deposit box for irreplaceable items
3. Don't skimp on your insurance policy - really figure out how much you would need to rebuild your home (have you seen the price of sofas recently?)
4. Keep back ups of family photos online or at someone else's house
5. Invest in a fire-proof safe (there is no guarantee you'll be able to retrieve it, but if the fire isn't all consuming, you might be able to save some jewellery or other items)

Tips for photographs:

• Take wide angle shots with good lighting
• State Farm recommends taking a photo with you in it, to establish ownership
• Don't forget stuff in drawers, closets, tool boxes
• Take close up shots of valuables, with any markings or stamps visible (like 925 for sterling silver)

Ah ha, proof we own our kitchen. 
And that bottle of vinegar we were using for cleaning

Not as good a photo for insurance purposes . . .

Much better for insurance

A blog is certainly a good start (I sure have tons of online pics of our place), but I need to get serious about taking an inventory.  I found a good checklist that will help (see here).  Do you have a checklist created already?  Any other tips for protecting your assets?

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Smoke Detectors: A Gal (or Guy's) Best Friend

Who tells you when you've over cooked the turkey?  The smoke detector.
Who alerts you to a flame so you can get your loved ones out in the event of a fire?  You guessed it.
And for those who live alone, who alerts you to flame so it can be put out before your shoes are injured?  The trusty smoke detector once again. 

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I've been thinking about them since the fire, but also because the shower steam set ours off the other night.  Haven't heard that sound since I made dinner for a visiting relative (No joke.  In the process of opening doors and windows to release the smoke, I set the house alarm off too.  I am the host with the most).

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So, now that you respect your smoke detector a bit more here's what you need to know:

1. Make sure you've got one outside of sleeping areas & on every level
2. Follow manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance
3. Test periodically (by following directions on package-not by lighting a flame or burning a turkey)
4. Vacuum/dust occasionally to keep the vents clear of debris
5. Choose batteries with a long life
6. Replace ones older than 10 years

Did you know there are two kinds?  I did not.  Courtesy of Health Canada, I learned this info:

Two types of technology are used in smoke detectors and each is better at detecting a certain kind of fire.

The ionization type of smoke detector is generally better at detecting fast, flaming fires that burn combustible materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources could include paper burning in a waste basket or a grease fire in the kitchen. These kinds of fires account for 70% of home fires.

The photoelectric type of smoke detector is generally better suited for detecting slow-burning fires. These fires may smoulder for hours before they burst into flames and are caused by such things as cigarettes burning in couches or bedding. These kinds of fires make up 30% of home fires.

You may want to consider installing both types of smoke detectors, or models that incorporate both types of technology. This would ensure that you are alerted as early as possible to any kind of fire in your home.

Hmmm.  Good to know.

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Fire Safety Week: Escape Plans

Fire Safety Week continues.  (See here for my post on Go Bags, here for tips on Fire Prevention (with pretty pics), and here for why this week is Fire Safety Week dans le townhouse). 

Every dweller should have an emergency escape plan.  Take a look around your home and map out:

1. What is the main exit from your house?
2. What are secondary exits?
3. Can you get out of your home on every level?
4. If you're in an apartment - what paths can you take to get out of the building?

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It sounds silly but practise your various routes out of the house or apartment, especially tricky ones like shimmying out of a basement window.  Pretend the fire has started in different places to make sure you're covered for multiple scenarios.  You want to make sure your routes are realistic and practising is especially key for the little ones who might also dwell in your abode.  Try to keep your go bag near the main or secondary exits.  The handier it is, the more chance you have of being able to grab it as you dash.

Okay, you're out.  Now what?  In case your family is separated (or will be evacuating from different places), plan some places to meet:

1. Somewhere close, like a neighbour's house across the street
2. Somewhere farther in case there is an evacuation, like an Aunt's house in another city or town

Update your plan as required and try to go over it every few months so it is fresh in your mind. 

P.S. I make sure I'm fully dressed at all times.  There was a mild earthquake here in the summer so we all dashed from our homes and my neighbors got a good long look at my super skimpy lace tank top and yoga pants so tight, I'd previously split a seam.  All because I hadn't gotten around to finishing the process of donning clothes that day.  Nice.  Now I make sure that even if I'm wearing comfy clothes at home (as I always do!), I'm not wearing anything I wouldn't want my neighbors to see.

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Fire Safety Week Continues: Go Bags

What is a "Go Bag," you ask?  Have you seen the film Salt?  Remember when the CIA suspects Salt of being a Russian Spy and she runs to her apartment and grabs a pack sack with clothes, money, etc., and she's ready to dash in a flash?  What she grabbed was her "Go Bag".

Via

Basically you need to have a pack sack, or some kind of bag, packed that you could grab it in an instant.  Whether it is a house fire (like my neighbors just experienced) or an emergency evacuation, having a bag prepared can help save your life or, at the very least, prevent a major hassle once the commotion dies down.  A typical "Go Bag" (it never stops sounding cool to me) includes:

• Photocopy of your passport or other government issued identification
• Photocopy of the deed to your house
• Photocopy of your home and vehicle insurance policy
• Photocopy of health insurance documents
• Photos of family (for identification purposes)
• Local map
• Local emergency contact info (ex. shelters)
• Emergency cash
• Change of clothes (something warm)
• Good, sturdy shoes + socks
• Toothbrush + toothpaste
• Soap & other necessary toiletries
• Spare pair of prescription eyeglasses
• Radio (crank style is best)
• Flashlights (again, crank style is best or pack spare batteries)
• Whistle
• Pocket knife (such as a Swiss Army Knife)
• Water bottles + food (something easy to open & non-perishable is ideal)
• First aid kit
• Spare house keys
• Special needs items (such as an inhaler)

You might need to make a special one for babies (gosh they need so much stuff, right?) and/or pets as well.  Each family member (even kids) should have their own.

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This bag shouldn't be too heavy and shouldn't carry superfluous items (unpack that hair straightener right now).  It is an action movie/minutes to leave kind of bag.  I'm working on mine right now, and I'm taking a bit of space for a small photo album of truly special photos.  I'm petrified of losing my photographs.  So much so that I leave discs with copies of my photos in another city!  But the rest will be all serious stuff.  Promise.

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Fire Prevention (with Pretty Pictures)

Since the fire, I've been researching fire prevention (see here, here, here & here for my better sources - the last link is the best of the best) & I've noticed some definite themes.  Here is my condensed list of tips for fire prevention (with pictures!):

Threats & Solutions:

1.   Cooking

Solutions

- Don’t leave your stovetop or oven unattended

- Keep a grease fire extinguisher nearby (or lots of baking soda)

- In the event of a grease fire, do not use water - put on the pot lid or cover with lots of baking soda or use the grease fire extinguisher, but if you cannot control it right away - evacuate

Tanya Tip:  I use a timer to remind me that things are cooking, because I don't trust myself not to wander off and forget.  Especially with things that need to simmer.

 

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Try making a cute reminder for beside the stove.

2.   Heating (esp. space heaters)

Solutions

- Don’t leave space heaters unattended

- Keep space heaters away from curtains and furniture

- Have your heating system & fireplace inspected – it is worth the coin & hassle (Some companies will send you a reminder notice)

- For other wood burning fireplace folks, I found a great article describing how and when your chimney needs to be cleaned.  Check it out here.



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Tanya Tip:  I bought a great space heater at Costco.  It makes a horrible, un-ignorable sound if tipped over while on.

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My "Presto Heat Dish" - although mine is black.

3.   Smoking

Solutions

- Quit! (And have more money for décor)

- Or, smoke outside and make sure cigarettes are safely disposed

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4.   Electrical/Wiring

Solutions

- Have your wiring checked and don’t do bad DIY electrical work (I know you’re so tempted)

- Don’t overload a circuit by plugging in too many items

- Use the correct wattage in light fixtures, especially ceiling fixtures

Tanya Tip:  Be extra careful with vintage lamps.  Check the condition of the wiring carefully & when in doubt pick up a DIY re-wiring kit, or ask a pro to do it for you.

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Check the wires on vintage lamps!

5.   Candles

Solutions

 - Don’t leave candles unattended (I sense a theme - attend to everything!)

Tanya Tip:  My grandmother once used a wooden candle holder and, no surprise, it caught on fire.  Be careful about the candle holder you choose - try to pick something that keeps the candle contained, like the DIY candle holder below:

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Find instructions here

6.   Dryer Lint

Solutions

- It can be hard to remember, but clean it out (make a pretty reminder sign, if needed)

- The more you rely on line-drying (I have one in my basement & in our previous apartment, I used a collapsible drying rack) the less of a concern dryers become

Tanya Tip:  Need incentive? Dryer lint can be added to homemade paper.  Seriously. I’ve tried it and it works super well, especially if you put lots of reds into the dryer.  Or, make a sculpture (see below). 

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Make a lint sculpture - learn how here

Did you pick up any new tips here?  What are some tips of your own?

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Impromptu Fire Safety Week Dans le Townhouse

Last night (around dinnertime) we saw a horrifying view from our townhouse: about a half dozen firetrucks and dozens of firemen (and women?) putting out a fire across the street.  Unnervingly, the homes across the way are also townhomes and thus many, many people were evacuated from their homes in freezing temperatures.  It was colder than minus 30 (Celsius), plus a windchill warning was in effect for the region.  Happily, no one was seriously injured and the flames were quickly contained to one room. 

Watching the smoke billow from the burning house made us realize how ill-prepared we are.  We've been meaning to take inventory for insurance purposes for ages and our "go-bags" are only half packed.  So, this week's theme will be fire focused as Hubby & I research and implement fire preparation tactics.  I'm going to figure out:

1. How I can help prevent this from happening to us
2. What a "go-bag" should contain
3. How to best inventory a home (including some neat tips)
4. Whatever else I need to learn to be "fire safe" & cover our butts if this happens to us

This is especially important for other townhouse (or apartment) dwellers because no matter how careful you are, if your neighbour is careless or simply unfortunate enough to have a house fire, you could be much more affected than if your homes were detached.  Although we all know this can happen to anyone.

Yep-that is SMOKE, billowing from a neighbour's window!

The pics are a touch blurry because a) it was really flippin' cold out so we snapped 'em from inside & b) we didn't want to be those people-the ones who cause car accidents by rubber necking to see an accident.  So we peeped from our window.  But, we didn't get a super good view because our backyard has a few nice trees:

Our backyard

Feel free to contribute your own tips, concerns, etc this week.  And don't worry, I won't be all doom & gloom.  I'll still be posting fun stuff too.  Fire safety week won't interrupt the regularly scheduled programming!

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In Lieu of New Upholstery

File this under 'band-aid solutions" & "lesson learned".  Months ago, I briefly complained about our sofa.  And now it is worse:

Can't tell you how thrilled I am that our couch is disintegrating.  Sigh.  I contacted The Brick, where we purchased it from, and learned that even though we bought the extended warranty, it won't cover this because the top part of our leather sofa is vinyl and vinyl isn't covered.  We did not know it was vinyl.  It was, apparently, our responsibility to ask whether any part of our "leather" sofa is vinyl.  Now I have been eyeing the rest of it suspiciously.

But, silver lining: aiming to cover it up while we figure out what to do, I found this fabulous throw (in houndstooth, yay!).  By Liteksas & Calw, it is lambswool and silk, plus it is made in Lithuania (where my hubby's grandmother emigrated from).  I might not have even looked for throws had the sofa not started looking horrible, so . . . bright side, right?  Plus I like how it breaks up all the dark brown.  And, even though patterns scare me, it is yet another patterned element I've introduced, so yay me. 

 

But, If I had a time machine:
I would save our pennies a bit longer, and buy better quality.  I also would have asked tons more questions and not assumed anything based on the store's description. 

But, alas, we did not do the above because this sofa met our four requirements at the time:

1. Brown leather (we like to eat messy things in there and nothing cleans better)
2. Sofa bed (at the time we didn't have a guest room)
3. Clean lines
4. Under a grand

Now we're in limbo.  Buy a new sofa? Take The Brick to small claims court? Just leave the throw and party hearty, not having to worry about wrecking the darned thing?  Setting it on fire was brought up, but dismissed. 

Have you made any big purchases you regret?  What would you do in our shoes?
P.S. Click here for more living room pics.

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Going to Have to Shelve this Idea

Months ago I found an amazing pair of mid-century teak display units on kijiji.  Much like the ones below, but glass fronted.  The pair (!) was $100 but I played hardball, and lost.  I hate haggling.  Someone more clever than this kitty scooped them up.  Now I am taunted by them everywhere I look.  How cute is the shelving in the kitchens below?  My house is too dusty to use them for dishes, but for display? Super cute.  Anyone else miss out on something fab in the competitive world of online classifieds?  

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Another shot of the same kitchen, just 'cuz its so pretty.

Photo source

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Art Attack: Shane Norrie

Even though I have subscriptions to both Style at Home and Canadian House & Home, the name "Shane Norrie" didn't ring a bell, even though his pottery has been featured numerous times in both magazines.  But I went to Chenier Fine Arts today and saw Norrie's pottery in real life and am totally smitten with a number of gorgeous, turquoise pieces (which are suprisingly affordable).  Check out his website to see if his work is displayed in a gallery near you.

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Hot tip (Courtesy of Chenier Fine Arts):  if you love displaying pottery as much as your cats love knocking it over, try using some sticky tack to keep your piece stable.  I don't even have cats and I've knocked over a piece or two. 

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