Serramar-Ft. Lauderdale| 1 2 Bedroom | Pet Friendly

A Dental Treatment AND Massage in Ft. Lauderdale? Yup.

Jamie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:28:07 +0000

Massage? Yes, please

How’s this for a news story, Serramar? A Fort Lauderdale dentist has extended services for patients, and no I don’t mean an alternative to teeth whitening or a new X-ray machine. When you enter Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique, you may see more than you ever expected.

The boutique boasts a professional called the “Director of Client Happiness” concierge, who will tend to your needs while you are in the office. This includes a complimentary glass of wine or champagne, an iPad to fill out your personal information and more. These are some of the additional perks of visiting Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique (located on US 1):

Facial rejuvenation, botox treatments and digital smile makeovers
Massages
Facial peels
Waxing
Eyelash and permanent makeup treatments
Front-office concierge to book limo transportation, lunch and dinner reservations

Of course, all of the typical dental services – like oral cancer screenings, fillings, teeth cleanings and implants – are available as well. While I’ve never been to Dr. Patty’s, after reading the article linked above, I have to admit that I’m a little curious…

Have any of you Serramar residents ever been to Dr. Patty’s?

Photo credit: funny

Drive-in Movie Theater Listings Near Serramar

Jamie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:24:33 +0000

If you’re planning on being out and about this weekend but really don’t want to do anything too strenuous or that takes too much effort on your part, how about catching a movie near Serramar? Movies are a great way to escape the real world for awhile and, if the one you see is particularly disturbing, you can leave feeling better about your wonderful life! Here’s what’s playing at the drive-in theater near Serramar now:

Swap Shop Drive-In

3291 W. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Search other theaters

Which film have you been waiting anxiously to see?

Popular Flower Shops That Will Help Brighten Mom’s Day Without Going Far

Jamie — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:06:48 +0000

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to find the best florists in the Fort Lauderdale area so that you Serramar residents can get a jump on things and start looking around for the place that gives you the best flowers for great prices. What did I find? Check out the listing below, courtesy of Yelp, that features reviews from current and past customers. When you find a good place, let us know and take pictures of your chosen arrangement so you can post them on Serramar’s Facebook page!

Source: Yelp
Name: Flowers From the Rainflorist
Location: 3801 N University Dr – Ste 202 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351
Reviews: 7

Link: Read the Yelp.com Review

More Reviews
Terrific service! Placed my order from the West Coast 3 hours late because of the time change and the delivery person had already left and was on the final…Read More…

We wanted to have a plant delivered out of state, so I took to Yelp to find a local florist to help us out. Flowers from the Rainforest had the most…Read More…

Amazingly quick timing, great prices and beautiful designs. Ordered online by 10am was delivered by 1pm same day. I have to thank the amazingly friendly…Read More…

Flowers From the Rainflorist

Source: Yelp
Name: Doris the Florist
Location: 1107 NE 34th Ct Oakland Park, FL 33334
Reviews: 1

Link: Read the Yelp.com Review

More Reviews
Ahhh the florist. As a guy I would never think to review a florist but now that I understand the inner-workings and details of the floral world I can…Read More…

Doris the Florist

Source: Yelp
Name: Hoorays From Hollywood
Location: 2420 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, FL 33020
Reviews: 1

Link: Read the Yelp.com Review

More Reviews
Hey Hollywood, where have all your Florists gone? There used to be a couple on US1 north of Young Circle, but they have closed down. So I needed a nearby…Read More…

Hoorays From Hollywood

Source: Yelp
Name: Renas Flowers of Merritt
Location: 375 N University Dr Plantation, FL 33324
Reviews: 1

Link: Read the Yelp.com Review

More Reviews
i hate going through ftd or teleflora because so much of the money you spend goes to the affiliation fees, service fees, etc. that the money left over for…Read More…

Renas Flowers of Merritt

Source: Yelp
Name: Flowers Galore
Location: 4900 N Dixie Hwy – Ste 4 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Reviews: 2

Link: Read the Yelp.com Review

More Reviews
My wife loved their long-stem roses. Quick delivery and was a lot less expensive than the other sites I looked at.Read More…

Great deals! I was in a rush and googled florist in fort lauderdale. I needed a dozen red roses. The first 3 calls were ouch $50 and up !
I tried one…Read More…

Flowers Galore

JS 4/23/12

Hack into the Vault of Technology Tips at Lifehacker

Jamie — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:05:58 +0000

Technology has become a huge part of our lives, not only here at Serramar Apartments, but around the world, and it is rare that you see someone who doesn’t have a cell phone, iPod, television or computer. With so many options out there, we all need someone to come in and break things down for us from time to time. That’s where Lifehacker comes in. Have a read, Serramar residents, and see if there is anything you could contribute to the conversation:

Some Terms May Not Apply: Learn to Skim a Terms of Service Contract, Pay Less for Apps, and Work Better with White Noise [Video]

Restore Ugly, Faded Plastic to Its Former Shine Using Vaseline [Clever Uses]

If you have some old, faded electronics or other plastic gadgets in your house, you can make them look great again with just a dab of Vaseline. More »

This Portable Surge Protector Is the Only Gadget Charger You’ll Need on Your Geek Travel Checklist [Stuff We Like]

We’ve long been users of the Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB as it’s a great option for travel, but because it isn’t flush with the wall it’s dangerous to put pressure on it when plugging something in to one of its outlets. Belkin solved that problem with its 6-outlet USB surge protector. It’s flat and isn’t much larger, so you can still take it with you when traveling. More »

The Starcraft Home Screen [Featured Home Screen]

Reader adriansolca put together this simple, dockless, great-looking home screen with a few minor tweaks and a Starcraft-inspired theme. More »

Save Money on Those Pricey Pet Expenses Here at Serramar

Jamie — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:02:17 +0000

Owning a dog can be expensive, but there are ways to lessen the financial burden

Just because you spent good money buying a pet doesn’t mean that having it should drain your bank account long-term. Pets can be expensive to keep healthy, groomed, etc., but there are definitely some ways you can cut prices so you can still give Fido everything he needs without breaking the bank.

Serramar is a pet-friendly community, so you’ve automatically got a chance for companionship, but if you don’t already have one, consider adopting from a shelter. At an adoption fee that doesn’t typically go above $150 (including vaccines, microchipping and spaying/neutering), it’s well worth the price for a new cuddly friend.

Besides buying a shelter pet, think about doing your own grooming to save money on going to a professional. Shampooing and grooming yourself is a cheap alternative and also gives you extra time to bond with your pet! You can also work on training your little one yourself instead of spending hundreds on obedience classes and potty training. Just pick up a training guide and you’re all set.

If you are still looking for more ideas, visit Wisebread.com. Any new tips to add that you think will help other Serramar residents?

Photo credit: NYOBE

Fort Lauderdale Strikers Season Begins!

Jamie — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:23:15 +0000

How will the Strikers do this season on the soccer field?

It’s time for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to hit the field again! They just had their first game of the regular season on April 7th and it was a win! Not a bad way to start the season, eh Serramar? Here’s hoping it’s just the beginning of a long winning streak. Coming off a tremendous pre-season, it seems very likely that the boys will show the other teams how it’s done.

The next Strikers game will take place this Saturday, April 14th, at Lockhart Stadium, our home turf. So where can you find the team the rest of this month? Check out the list below:

Saturday, April 14th: Strikers vs. Minnesota Stars FC (home – 7:30 pm EDT)

Saturday, April 21st: Strikers @ San Antonio Scorpions (Heroes Stadium – 8:30 pm EDT)

Wednesday, April 25th: Strikers vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (home – 7:30 pm EDT)

Saturday, April 28th: Strikers @ Tampa Bay Rowdies (Al Lang Stadium – 7:30 pm EDT)

What is the next game you will be attending, Serramar residents? Click above for a full schedule, Strikers news and more.

Photo credit: fangol

Browse Through the Little Green Notebook and Redecorate Your Apartment

Jamie — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:54:51 +0000

If you’re looking to refresh your space here at the lovely Serramar, look no further than Little Green Notebook. Take a cue from the blog owner and fellow readers and try doing an apartment reboot. It’s half as big of a task than it sounds because there are plenty of professionals and “average Joes” to show you how things can turn out. Why not take a look at some images from others’ homes and see if you can incorporate some of what they’ve done in your own home? Try it, Serramar residents; it could change your life.

I changed my mind

So remember when I bought this mirror? And had plans to turn it into a chalkboard?

Well, I totally didn’t get around to it and I’m so glad! I moved the coral/black bookshelf to the back of our apartment and scooted the skirted console over to that wall. Once the sconces were over in the gallery wall, the old mirror felt really small. On a whim I pulled out this mirror that was intended to be a chalkboard, and it was true love. The mirror fits the wall perfectly and looks great in the space!

So the moral of the story is sometimes procrastination pays off.

Room Tours: Callie’s Home

Are you ready for photo overload? Callie emailed me a couple weeks ago and I saw a little peek of her house. I practically begged her to show me more! And I’m so glad she agreed to do a full tour here. I think her home is the *perfect* way to do neutrals. I’m always harping on the finding balance with warm and cool tones in a room. That’s true for neutral rooms too! This means you should mix your black and brown tones, your creams and grays. And if you want to throw in a random splash of color by way of a vase or small piece of art – well that’s all the better!

I hope you enjoy Callie’s house tour as much as I did. Here she is sharing some of her approach to decorating her lovely home (with a list of sources at the very bottom):

We built our home about a year ago, and I really took a lot of time to think beforehand about the look I wanted, both in the design of our home and in decorating it. Looking at images on blogs really is what gave me inspiration for my home, and I spent A LOT of time doing it. Images that I kept on coming back to were rooms by Ryan Korban and Mary McDonald. I really didn’t want an overload of anything TOO bloggy or trendy though, because I knew I would get tired of looking at it!

-I signed up for emails from a bunch of sites… then I waited for the sales to happen. Because I live in an area where there aren’t a ton of different stores, I bought a lot of items online. And because I was (mostly!) patient, nearly everything I ordered online I either got on sale (sometimes MAJOR sale!) or free shipping. Even the items I picked up at local stores were mostly on sale.

As much as I love the look designers create, I LOVE getting good deals! Nothing is better than telling someone, “Originally that was $XXX and I got it for $XX!” I’ve tried to see decorating my house as a marathon, not a sprint.

-I really only tried to purchase something that I could see in a specific spot in my home– what I found was that when I didn’t have a particular place in mind, I ended up not really liking what I picked up and felt like I wasted my money.

-Antique stores! And antique stores! And antique stores! I typically found a similar look to what I had seen online by going to a ton of antique stores… sometimes it took a little digging and patience, but I usually found what I was looking for at a fraction of the price I would have spent online (and usually even cheaper than on etsy, eBay, or One Kings Lane, although I have found some awesome deals there). AND I love the fun little things I came across as I was looking for something specific! That is where I got my instant gratification as a reward for all that waiting I’d done for online purchases.

-Where I really saved– accessories (by doing what I typed above), artwork (Hobby Lobby does custom cut mats for really cheap and I did most of the artwork by myself… and I am NOT an artist by any means!!), drapes (discount fabric sewn by my mom), and dressers/consoles (again, mostly all from antique stores and painted by my me or my dad).

I splurged on both of my sofas and on my coffee table– I saw the Hutton sofa from Room & Board and immediately knew it was the one because of its look and length (even though I looked for a cheaper version for about five months), and my husband sat on the leather sofa from Restoration Hardware and there was no changing his mind. I’m still a little uneasy about those splurges though!

ENTRY
navy dresser- antique store (paint is Benjamin Moore, pulls from House of Antique Hardware)
gold mirror- craigslist
W mirror- Pottery Barn Kids
black lamps- Target
white shades- Target
greek key trim- Walmart
gold Asian bust- antique store
zebra wood frame- Pottery Barn
blue bowl- World Market
silver plated bowl- One Kings Lane
navy rug- One Kings Lane (Thom Filicia)
drum shade- Andrews Lighting in OKC
bird box- Anthropologie

LIVING ROOM
media console- antique store (painted by my Dad with black automotive paint)
gold lamp- Horchow
blue vases- antique store
antler- my parents’ barn
pink orchid- TJ Maxx
small sunburst mirror- Hobby Lobby

coffee table- Horchow
burl wood tray- ebay (Williams Sonoma Home)
horns- Jayson Home and Garden
silver lacquer box- One Kings Lane (can buy at Plantation Home)
foo dog- etsy
blue vase- Goodwill
gold bamboo frame- One Kings Lane (Lunares)
floral notebooks- Anthropologie
lucite nesting tables- CB2
foo dog lamp- Tuesday Morning
wood root- antique store
horse statue- etsy
burl wood box- Teavana
Chiang Mai print tray- Furbish Studio

gold vintage chair- antique store
mink fur pillow- Restoration Hardware
leopard pillows- made by my Mom from fabric from Interior Fabrics in OKC

cream nailhead chairs- Gilt and Overstock (Safavieh)
blue handblocked pillows- West Elm
greek key side table- One Kings Lane (Worlds Away)
grey ginger jar- Williams Sonoma Home
Asian gold horse- antique store
zebra wood box- ebay (Williams Sonoma Home)
white vase- Mockingbird Manor in OKC
leather tray- World Market
white coral- Pottery Barn
blue vase- antique store

velvet sofa- Room and Board
pink Insignia pillows- Furbish Studio (Windsor Smith fabric)
wool and coral cotton pillows- Anthropologie

large gold sunburst mirror- Williams Sonoma Home
black jars- Pottery Barn
coral ginger jars- Williams Sonoma Home

silver task lamp- Williams Sonoma Home
brown rug- Wisteria
cream drapes- my Mom made from fabric from Interior Fabrics in OKC
curtain rods- Target
black frames and grey mats- Hobby Lobby

DINING/KITCHEN
dining table- Williams Sonoma Home
chairs- Horchow
silver ginger jar- One Kings Lane
graphic rug- Williams Sonoma Home
cream pendant- Horchow
black frames- Target

black bamboo dresser- craigslist (paint is Rustoleum, pulls from Lee Valley)
cream porcelain lamps- Williams Sonoma Home
Asian ladies- antique stores
gold box- antique store
green vase- Pottery Barn
gold bamboo frame- antique store
white vase- Pier 1
lines paintings- me, frames from Garden Ridge, black mats from Hobby Lobby
eagle mirror- antique store

lucite counter stools- CB2
blue vases- Wisteria
silver rim utensil holder- Pottery Barn
circles painting- me, frame from antique store
coral butter dish- Anthropologie
blue pot- TJ Maxx
Silver bamboo frame- TJ Maxx
Cream frames- Target
fuschia orchid- TJ Maxx
copper greek bust- etsy
white pineapple- White Barn
ikat bowls- Anthropologie
various white, glass, and metal serving pieces- Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Target, and antique stores
black and gold mums paper- Paper Mojo
silver sphere pendant- Horchow (Solaris pendant from Crystorama)

MAN ROOM
leather sofa- Restoration Hardware
red plaid pillows- Ralph Lauren
wheat rug- Pottery Barn

round coffee table- Pottery Barn
brown leather tray- Pottery Barn
decanters and glasses- Pottery Barn, antique stores
vintage National Geographics- antique store
patch- Rugby by Ralph Lauren

wood side table- made by my brother-in-law Roger
silver lamp- picked up by my husband Russ somewhere before we met!
marquetry frame- Williams Sonoma Home
metal R on wood stand- Anthropologie
silver microphone- from my Dad
small white H letterman’s patch- antique store

duke painting- antique store
vintage baseball print- antique store
large red H letterman’s patch- antique store
fox hunt print- etsy
black mirror- Target
small black and white print- picked up by my husband Russ somewhere before we met!
metal W- Anthropologie

NYC Census Bureau map- One Kings Lane (Barbara Cosgrove)
subway sign- Pottery Barn
curtain rod- Target
cream drapes- my Mom made from fabric from Interior Fabrics in OKC
all books are from random places

Jazzing Up Cheap Chairs

I am not a fan of cheap upholstery. My philosophy is buy the best upholstery your budget can afford and then DIY/rework/save up for the other items in a room. If you know how to upholster, vintage furniture is a great route. They just don’t make things like they used to, so nowadays you really get what you pay for when it comes to new upholstery.

I don’t know what I was thinking then a while back when I ordered some cheap chairs on a whim. I had been shopping for a new pair of chairs for a long time, but everything I liked was at least $1500 per chair with my discount (like the Odette chairs below from MGBW). We’re thinking of moving in September so it just didn’t make sense to shell out thousands for chairs right now. Plus, I didn’t want to wait two months to get them.

Then last month we hosted five dinner parties and I was desperate for chairs. I looked on Overstock and Wayfair when I was up against a wall and saw these chairs. They were on sale for $275 each and I had a 25% coupon code and there was free shipping, so I went ahead and just bought them. I liked the shape of the arms (they sort of reminded me a little bit of the Odette chairs) and I liked the nail head trim. And they came in just two days.

When they arrived I was a bit disappointed. They weren’t as nice and crisp looking as the photos and they just felt blah. Rather than deal with returning them (and since we *really* needed extra seating), I decided to jazz the chairs up.

I went to my local fabric store (JEM) and bought six yards of black twill tape that was about the same width of the upholstery nail.

I used these handy staple removers to take out all the old upholstery nails

I actually thought the brushed nickel was pretty and would have looked great with the black twill tape, but I have some polished nickel lighting nearby and it was all looking a little matchy-matchy. So I bought some brass nails and brass caster cups for the front feet.

To get started with the new trim job, I just rolled the end of the twill tape under:

And used the old nail hole to make things really easy.

The only real trick to keep in mind is to pull the ribbon tight so there is no gaping between the nails. I also went back and tapped everything in with an upholstery hammer.

To keep the corners smooth, I just folded the ribbon in under itself and put the nail into the folds.

I added brass caster cups from Lee Valley but the legs ended up being a little wider than I expected so I had to cut away some of the wood so the casters would fit right. It was a pain! Totally recommend double checking your dimensions before adding casters!

Here’s the front view of the finished chairs. It’s not a drastic change, but I think the trim and casters help the chairs look a little less cheap.

I like them from the side best.

Here’s a wider shot of the space. In case you need a refresher here’s a link to our floor plan.

They’ve grown on me. I like the shape of the arms a lot and I think the new contrasting trim highlights the shape. So even though I broke my own rule about not wasting money on cheap upholstery, I think I’m pretty happy with these chairs for now and they fit in well with the mix of furniture styles I have in the space.

Room Tours: Jenna’s Rental Bedroom Redo

Jenna from JWK Style submitted today’s room tour. I LOVE her idea of over-dyeing toile prints with a bright color! Such an expensive look for not a lot of money! Thanks for joining us today, Jenna!
******

When we moved into our rent house, the master bedroom was incredibly dark and depressing. After we painted I wanted to keep it as bright and fresh as possible. I was hoping for a completely different look than our previous bedroom, but I couldn’t justify buying all new curtain fabric and bedding.

I love the bold toiles by Manuel Canovas so I attempted a similar look with teal RIT dye using our traditional blue and white toile. I played around with scraps to find the right shade and used about 1 bottle of dye per curtain panel in the washing machine. Luckily there was enough fabric leftover to sew a bedskirt, so I was able to pull off a whole new color scheme for our bedroom for next to nothing!

This was our bedroom before we moved in. We replaced the mini-blinds with inexpensive roman shades from the hardware store and hung our own curtain rods. I couldn’t find curtain hardware I liked so I bought the ‘antique brass’ finish and spray painted the rods, clips, and rings with metallic gold Valspar. To prevent scratching, I used 2 coats of Polyurethane Gloss. So far so good!

Above the bed I hung an oil painting I found at Salvation Army a few years ago. Since there was so much color on the walls I decided on all-white bedding. I made the throw pillow out of silk ikat and the white duvet cover is an inexpensive one from Bed Bath & Beyond. I replaced the basic pillow cases with monogrammed shams from Pottery Barn and the ones behind them are from Target.

Most of our bedroom furniture was (very graciously) handed down to us but it was a mismatched mess. I wanted everything to coordinate so I painted everything myself to save money. The wicker chest (that doubles as my accessory closet) was a traditional white one that I spray painted. I replaced the wicker knobs with beaded ones from Anthropologie but eventually all the embellished parts popped off.

The gold backs stayed on the dresser and I reused the beaded pieces as lamp finials for our bedside lamps. (They remind me of the ones by Hillary Thomas Designs.)

The antique ginger jar lamps are from one of my favorite stores in San Antonio, Pagoda. The other bedside table used to be dark mahogany and I just painted around the existing handles.

Since our bathroom doesn’t have any counter space or wall outlets, I made a ‘vanity’ for myself between the windows. A mirror, desk, and chair is really all you need!

(Before)

The desk came from a hotel salvage store and I repainted it to match the bedside tables. Soon after, I came across a similar desk so I added detailing with gold leaf paint. The antique chair was a hand-me-down that I also painted and recovered.

For jewelry storage I used my pineapple sconces for bangles and brooches and a few vintage bowls on my desk to hold necklaces. The pink and gold sugar dish is from a vintage serving set and it’s the perfect size for earrings.

My makeup is scattered on a tray where I can easily find it since I’m usually running out the door! I keep a notepad on my desk to jot down sewing ideas and notes.

I love this tiny milk glass lamp that was my grandparents. I keep my favorite L’Objet candle and perfume beside it.

I made the lips print on a whim while I was trying to find the perfect shade of red lipstick. It reminded me of Andy Warhol’s Lips Print so I blotted, outlined, and framed it!

Our dresser across from the bed was my first piece of furniture to paint. It was a typical French Provincial piece that was light brown with dark brass handles. Whenever they start looking dingy I take them off and glob on some Brasso to keep them shiny.

Since I’m especially prone to making piles, I like to have bowls around to conceal them. Dry cleaning tags and safety pins live in this one.

Trays are also ideal for easy cleaning and containing clutter. The one on my bedside table forces me to keep it tidy. Otherwise I’d have months of magazines piled up!!

Sources:
Paint color: Benjamin Moore Mayonnaise
Toile fabric: (hand-me-down) Waverly “Country Life”
Roman Shades: Lowe’s
Headboard: Pottery Barn
Throw pillow fabric: Bermingham & Co. thru Brunschwig & Fils
Sheets and duvet: Bed Bath & Beyond
Ginger jar lamps: Pagoda
Vintage tin: The Guild Shop
Mirrored tray: Target
Embroidered coasters: market in San Miguel
Clock: Pottery Barn
Pineapple sconces: Two’s Company
Mini ginger jar: Etsy
Pink dish: Anthropologie
Vintage dishes: The Guild Shop
Rug: Round Top
Coral candle: L’Objet
White porcelain tray: Target
Mirror: hand me down from my mother-in-law
Market tote: flea market in Deauville
Chair fabric: Celerie Kemble for Schumacher
NYC Print: framed Cavallini wrapping paper
Gold framed art: Christmas present
Antique tray: Etsy
Calendar: Jack & Lulu

Fourth Annual Golf for Art Comes to Hollywood, FL

Jamie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:04:11 +0000

Take a swing at the Golf for Art event in Hollywood

Any golfers out there, Serramar residents? If so, I’ve got an event to tell you about. On Saturday, April 14th, you can golf ‘fore’ a great cause. The Fourth Annual Golf for Art fundraiser is coming to the Hollywood Beach Golf Resort and will raise money for the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood. While it’s not right around the corner, Hollywood is definitely the place to be on the 14th and the 17-mile drive is so worth it.

The day begins with a continental breakfast and complimentary bloody marys during registration. The free drinks and grub will include fresh fruit, beer, soda and water. Then it’s off to the course!

As the name suggests, there will be a golf game for prizes like a trip to Paris for 2, a 2-year lease on a Mercedes Benz, new LCD TV and a $500 Visa gift card. Get a hole-in-one at the five par 3 holes and see what you can take home.

Registration begins at 7 am with a shotgun start at 8 am. Lunch, the awards ceremony and prize distribution will start at noon. If you would like to register, click the link above. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it, Serramar?

Photo credit: Fevi Yu

Lifehacker Tips on Technology and Living Smart

Jamie — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:20:40 +0000

Serramar residents, if you are feeling a little lost with technology, I understand. I felt a little old when I needed my nephew to help me use an iTouch the other day. I’m usually pretty good with things like that, but for some reason I must have missed out on that trend while I was out doing…well, nothing. No excuses. Lifehacker is a great site to rely on for technology tips interspersed with other general advice. Take a look at the posts below for information on everything from new technology to allergies.

How to Keep Your Sneezing to a Minimum This Allergy Season [Health]

Spring is on its way, and due to an unusually warm winter, allergy season is coming early this year. In fact, for some of you, it may have already started. Here are a few things you can do around the house to keep them from driving you crazy. More »

Read more…

Around Sound for Android Stops the Music When Someone Needs Your Attention [Android Downloads]

Android: If you’re stuck in an office where you have to sit with your back to a walkway or the entrance to your cubicle, you know how startling it can be when you’re listening to music and someone walks up behind you and taps you on the shoulder. Around Sound for Android makes sure that never happens again—the app uses the microphone on your headset or your phone as an extended ear, and if a loud noise is detected, the app will pause your music so you can pay attention. More »

Read more…

Tweak Your Environment to Optimize Your Productivity [Productivity]

A large part of how quickly you get into the zone and how much work you get done when you’re there has to do with your surroundings—physical aspects like the level of ambient noise around you all the way to psychological distractions, like the ones we’ve mentioned before. Don’t underestimate the importance of making sure your physical surroundings match up with your work however, from having everything you need within reach to making sure the environment is quiet enough to focus. More »

Callnote Records Skype Calls and Saves the Audio to Evernote Automatically [Downloads]

Win/Mac: We’ve discussed a few ways to record Skype calls in the past, but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. As long as the audio is the only part you’re worried about, CallNote can record your calls and then save the audio file to your Evernote account immediately as soon as it’s finished recording. More »

Hack a Power Strip Into a USB to Keep Accessories from Draining Electricity [DIY]

One of the problems with having a lot of accessories plugged in around your computer is that even after you turn everything off they’re still draining power. Instructables user schubertj wanted a way to automate the powering off of his speakers, monitors, and printer, so he hacked a USB into a power strip so it’s powered by the computer itself. More »

Fresh Ideas to Give Your Apartment at Serramar a New Look

Jamie — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:46:51 +0000

Are any of you Serramar residents interested in how you can give your apartment a reboot? If so, you’re probably surfing the web like I am, trying to find the hottest new trends and how to use them to put together your home. Either that or you’re going to leave it to the professionals, in which case you’ll still want to know what’s out there so you know what you want when you see it. If any of you are looking for ideas to get you started, here they are! Have fun, Serramar!

Unexpected Places to Fit a Home Office

A workspace to call your own at home is a luxury that many of us wish we had the space for. Sometimes we just have to get creative in where we tuck a home office, such as under the stairs, in a loft, or any random space we can find. Here, we explore even more ideas for fitting a workspace into your home, in places that otherwise might have been overlooked. More

Low Cost Guest Room Daybed or Futon? Good Questions

Q: My boyfriend and I are moving into a new apartment and we’re looking at furnishing our spare room to accommodate our hobbies (sewing and painting) but also guests from out of town. He is from overseas so family and friends come to visit about 6-8 times a year: More

Plans Announced for Grand Central Station’s Centennial Design News 03.21.12

February 1, 2013 is the 100th birthday of Grand Central Station, and the MTA has grand plans. In addition a facelift for the 42nd Street entrance foyer, Vanderbuilt Hall will get a new restaurant and the New York Transit Museum will curate 5 exhibits throughout the year.

In other news, Airbnb buys Crashpadder and SFMade is bringing manufacturing back. Check out the headlines after the jump. More

DIY Wooden Baby Gym Seedpod Craft

While perusing an old Good Question on sources for wooden baby gyms, we came across a reader comment that escaped our notice the first time around. Instead of offering up advice on where to purchase one, one of our readers posted a link to one she had made herself. It was simple, inexpensive and looked great. We think it deserves a bit of the spotlight… More