The Weekender: Halfway There

So I have a million and one projects going on at the moment.  I'm still working on my entertainment center redo, I just switched my home office and guest room so both rooms are now a mess, and my basement living room still has boxes we haven't unpacked since we moved here in September!  When will it ever end?

The good thing is I'm almost done with my entertainment center.  It started out as a dresser and is now on its way to becoming the perfect tv stand.

Back when it was a dresser.  I got it off craigslist for $30.  I chose it because of the detail on the side drawers.

I chose to paint the dresser the same shade of white (Silver Leaf by Behr) that I used to paint the wall opposite of the charcoal grey wall.  I NEVER paint things white, I'm all about color, so we'll see how long I last with the white walls and entertainment center :)

Painting the handles proved to be the difficult part.  Normally spray paint would be the best option but I wanted the handles to match the dresser exactly.  Since I don't have a paint sprayer I had to paint them with a foam roller.  The handle on the bottom was sanded before painting.

After the first coat of primer. 

One handle was sanded and primed, the second was only primed, and the other was painted, no priming.  You can't tell the difference though I do think you should at least prime first so that the paint adhere's better.

The finished handle.  Again, wish I could have sprayed them instead of using the roller but they still turned out well.

The semi-finished entertainment center.

I'm still not done yet.  I'm adding panels to the sides of the middle shelf area that will make the exposed area smaller and allow me to hide the cords.

After going through the trouble of hand-painting the handles, I came across the Preval Spray Gun at Home Depot.  It's a mini sprayer that doesn't need a compressor and only costs $5.  I'm going to use it to paint handles for another project this weekend and give you a complete review.  We'll see how it goes!

What are your projects this weekend?

Tanker Love

Things are still a bit crazy over here.  My new office is setup for the most part though I still don't have a ways to go.  I'll be more settled once I finally get a desk.  I'm on the prowl for a vintage tanker desk.  Every time I see one I think of old movies and rooms full of secretaries clicking away on typewriters!  I've always been in love with tankers and now that I finally have the room for one, I won't rest until I have the desk of my dreams!

The bad part is, these desk are made of steel which makes them EXTREMELY HEAVY.  Plus restoring them is a very time consuming process. The good part is, because they're so heavy, you can find tons of people selling them for cheap or giving them away for free on craigslist to the first person who can move it out of their house.  Major score!  Hopefully in just a few short weeks I'll have a new, brightly colored tanker desk.  I haven't decided what color I want.  I've considered kelly green, bright yellow, orange, and deep pink.  I've also thought about restoring it to its original grey.  What do you think?

The easiest way to restore a steel desk is to have it sand blasted and powder-coated at an auto body shop.  The bad part is that this can cost a few hundred bucks which is why I'll be doing my paint job on my own.

(pic via Rehab Vintage)

(via Rehab Vintage)

(via Apartment Therapy LA) 

(via Style De Vie)

Etsy Roundup: Blue Collar

I moved my home workshop to a new room on Friday and spent the weekend sawing, painting, and drilling  to get it finished.  Instead of using my noisy power saw to cut the wood I needed, I chose my new handsaw.  It was awesome feeling the wood cut right under your hands.  The dead battery on my drill forced me to once again forgo the power tools and use my screwdrivers and wrench...it definitely got the arm muscles going!  

My weekend of power-free tool use gave me a greater appreciation for the workers who built our country using nothing but brute strength and ingenuity.  That's why today's treasury, Blue Collar, is a selection of my favorite vintage industrial finds.  To view the full treasury, head over to Etsy.

Enjoy!

Keep Warm, Save Bucks

Two months ago I started a thread on our Facebook page asking for suggestions on keeping your apartment warm in the winter while reducing energy bills.  One of our readers, Arlinda, wrote in suggesting Frost King's window insulation kit (starts at $4.98 at Home Depot)  It's a clear film that you apply to your window frame with double-sided tape.  Frost King blocks drafts and the cold from the window glass by trapping it in the pocket between the window and the film.

At first, I had reservations about putting an ugly plastic film around my windows.  How tacky!  But with drafts coming in through the large windows right above our living room couch, I had to do something before I froze to death watching TV!  So I bought the kit, then kept it unopened in my office for over a month.  I'm lazy like that.

So far, I love Frost King.  It's clear enough, you really can't tell it's there.  Plus it was easy to install.  You just attach the included double-sided tape to your window frame, apply the film, and use a blow dryer to remove any wrinkles.  So far the only issue I have is covering the sides where the tape may show.  Window blinds or curtains should do the trick.We no longer feel any drafts and you can now sit and watch TV without freezing.  I can't speak for the energy bill savings yet since it's only been a few days but our upstairs neighbor uses it on most of his windows and said his bill dropped $100/month for a 1-bedroom apartment.  Great return for an easy to use product that only costs $7!  If you go to Amazon, you'll see lots of negative reviews complaining about the tape's tendancy to peel off the window frame.  Everyone seemed to suggest using 3M's mounting tape instead.  Again, I've only had my tape up for a few days so I can't speak to it's strength yet but it might be smart to grab a role of 3M just in case.  You can also try the 3M complete window insulation kit which got good reviews.



Another thing to remember is caulk.  If you have drafts coming in around the actual window, apply the caulk BEFORE the window film.  If you have drafts between the trim and the wall like we do, apply the caulk there.  We used DAP Dynaflex 230 ($3.74 at Home Depot).  It's another easy to use product....just squeeze it out of the tube and run it along the crack.  It's also paintable so once you're done you can go over the visible part with a brush so it blends in with the wall.  Make sure to buy the smaller 5.5oz so you don't have to use a caulk gun.  It should be big enough to do all your doors/windows.

To stop drafts at your doors, try a double draft dodger.  It slides under your door and blocks drafts from coming in.  We had them back in Boston and they worked well on our interior doors that led to the common stairs and the laundry room.  We bought one again for this apartment and found that it keeps getting caught on the metal bottom plate.  I'd suggest this only for interior doors leading to garages, unheated rooms, etc. since it's not a super efficient solution. You can also buy them/cut them to fit windows, however when we tried this it didn't work.  There wasn't enough slack between the tubes to go underneath our window.  Again, I'd recommend caulk and window film as a more efficient solution.


Before we go, don't forget to take a look at our roundup of space heaters under $100.  What are your tips and tricks for keeping warm in winter?

Etsy Roundup: Fade to Black

Click here to go to the Etsy treasury page.

The Weekender: Hidden Recycling Center

My project this week is transforming a dresser I bought for $30 on craigslist into an entertainment center for our living room.  So far I've painted it a soft white and removed the legs. Today I'll be doing a little detail painting, sealing the top, and adding shelves to the inside for the cable box, xbox, etc.  Pics to come next week!

The dresser.  The drawers are perfect for a little detailed paint job.  By the way, we ditched the ugly mauve wall that used to be down here and went for a charcoal grey.  What do you think?

Speaking of repurposed furniture, check out this great hack from Ikea Hackers.  What an awesome job!  You'd never know this stylin' recycling center started off as simple pine shelves! 

Hidden recycling.  Such a great idea!  Click here for instruction and pics of Christin's DIY.

What about you?  What projects are you working on this weekend?

New Vintage

New vintage in the shop.  Visit the Apt528 Store for these items and more!

Etsy Roundup: "It's Gonna Be a Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day"

In the past, I've posted a new Etsy Shop of the Week every Monday.  While I love showing love to my favorite shops, I've discovered there are just too many talented designers to feature!  So instead, I'm diving into the world of Etsy treasuries.  Each Monday I'll post an Etsy Roundup showcasing my favorite handmade and vintage items.

Go to Etsy to view my first treasury, "It's Gonna Be a Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day"
Happy Monday!

Keep Your Computer Protected Part 2: Secure Your Data

I'm back with a few more tips for securing your computer in case of theft.  When my laptop was stolen, the robbers were able to login to my Amazon account and use my stored credit cards to buy all sorts of stuff.  Thankfully I'm broke so only a few of the $300,000 worth of items they ordered actually went through.  Still, I definitely learned my lesson...never again will I use my browser's built-in auto-complete to store passwords or credit card info.

Custom Built Computer - Woodguy32

Password Security
After doing a little research, I found Last Pass which seems to be the favorite of techies.  Last Pass is a free, secure plug-in that stores your passwords, form fill data (name, address, etc.), and credit card info.  All the info you entrust to Last Pass is encrypted locally on your computer so even the folks over at LP can't access your stuff.  You can use Last Pass to sync your auto-fill data across browsers and computers.  Once you have Last Pass installed, you setup a master password that unlocks your info.  You can go to the settings menu and change it so that you have to enter your master password each time you go to a website, after a certain time interval, or after your browser/computer's been logged off. 

For extra security, you can setup one-time passwords for times when you're using an unsecure, public wi-fi like at Starbucks.   Instead of logging into Last Pass with your REAL master password making it vulnerable to would-be hackers trolling around the public networks, you can use a one-time password that you've setup beforehand.  Once used, the password will be deleted so that no one can ever use it....take that hackers! I just wish I'd known about this sooner...I could have protected my passwords and credit card info from those no-good robbers.

Anti-theft Protection
If you're someone who uses your computer in public areas, I'd highly recommend not only buying a laptop lock to secure your laptop to a table, but also downloading Laptop Alarm.  Once active, you can set Laptop Alarm to sound an alarm if someone tries to turn off or unplug your computer.  While not leaving your laptop unattended is always the best anti-theft measure, now you'll at least be able to go grab a napkin with relative protection.

Encryption
Unless you've got armed guards surrounding your laptop at all times, there's always going to be a chance that your computer can be stolen.  Hopefully you took my previous advice and backed up your hard drive so you at least have a copy of your files somewhere.  Now it's time to protect the files on your computer, in case it falls into the wrong hands.  Apparently LaptopLock can help with that.  Once you create an account, you're pretty much done.  In the event someone steals your computer, login to the LaptopLock website and report it stolen.  You can then choose to either remotely wipe your files from your computer or to simply encrypt them so that they can't be accessed.  If you frequently work in public areas or live in a neighborhood with a high level of break-ins, you should also check out LoJack which offers even more security options and will also work with police to recover your laptop.  Once again, I wish I'd known about this BEFORE my computer was stolen!

Keep safe!

In the Kitchen: Cauliflower Gratin

In December, my in-laws came from Boston to visit us and help us celebrate our first Christmas in Chicago.  We laughed, played Catchphrase about a hundred times (us girls kept winning!), and ate a delicious Christmas dinner courtesy of Katie, my brother-in-law's lovely lady.  She made a spiral ham, yams with a hint of orange, and green beans, but my favorite part of the meal was the cauliflower.  It was AMAZING!  So amazing, in fact, that I actually went to Katie's recipe blog, The Gypsy Kitchen, and MADE the cauliflower gratin myself.  If you know me, you know I hate cooking so the fact that I even looked at the recipe is a miracle in and of itself.

both Katie and I forgot to take pics so this one is from another food blog

Cauliflower is a great substitute for mashed potatoes and can be spiced up a variety of ways.  Though I've had mashed cauliflower before, cauliflower gratin is definitely my fave.  Check out Katie's recipe below (see my notes in red) or head over to The Gypsy Kitchen to see more jaw-dropping recipes.


Cauliflower Gratin 
*serves 6

Whatcha Need:

• 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into large florets
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 cup shredded white cheddar *we used colby jack and yellow cheddar since that's what we had in the fridge. tasted the same
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs

How to Make it Happen:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 6 minutes and drain. Cauliflower should still be firm. 

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Pour the milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. (it took about 10 minutes for mine to boil.  don't know if I was doing it wrong or if this is normal) Boil, whisking constantly, for about 1 minute, or until thickened. Turn off the heat and add add salt, pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the cheddar, and all of the Parmesan.

Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.