PopSugar

How-To: Repair a Hole in the Wall

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:45:32 -0700

Like us, our homes are living, breathing creatures that need a little TLC every now and then. Just as we might stub our toes or nick ourselves shaving, our homes suffer some occasional battle wounds. But recovery calls for little more than a band-aid of sorts. If you're rearranging furniture or hanging artwork, you might wind up with a small hole in your drywall, but no worries, treatment is simple with a little first aid. To fix the hole, all you'll need is a putty knife, some sandpaper, an adhesive repair patch with a reinforced metal center, paint, tack cloth, and spackle. To be home schooled in how to repair a hole, read more.

Here's how, from Barbara K!:

First off remove any loose or rough plaster with the sandpaper or putty knife.
Then, generously coat the hole with spackle, and let dry.
Apply another layer of spackle.
Once it has completely dried, smooth down the surface with your sandpaper.
Cut your adhesive repair patch to fit over the hole.
Then smooth spackle over the patch and hole using the putty knife, and let dry.
Then, smooth the area down again with sandpaper, until the surface is flat.
If there is any residue, wipe it off with your tack cloth.
Then, touch up the wall with a little paint. Fini!

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Fab Lip Repair Care

FabSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:31:22 -0800

There are so many products that concentrate on caring for the delicate skin on your face, eyes, body and hands, but what about your lips? It's one thing to remedy dry or parched lips with lip balm, but how do you cure peeling and cracking severely damaged smackers?

With winter upon us, the cold weather demands that you turn on your heat. Heaters, especially when you are sleeping near them, tend to dry out your skin, throat, etc. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and if possible use a humidifier. You can also apply these intense and extremely concentrated treatments to your lips before you go to bed and let them work their magic as you sleep. Talk about a dream come true!

Elemis Lip Rescue, $23, is a petroleum-free lip balm that will help nourish and soften your dry lips. Made from vitamins, natural plant collagen, white bees wax, Mediterranean olive oil wax, peppermint, wild mint, calendula and cocoa butter, this rich formula will soothe even the sorest of lips instantly. Apply in the evening and periodically throughout the day.

For two more lip repair treatments, read more

SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair, $30, contains vitamin E and silymarin. These are both antioxidants that are known to help prevent aging and restore moisture in your lips. It will also exfoliate, hydrate and heal while accelerating cell renewal.

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Lip Service, $25, was designed to hydrate, repair and protect your lips from further environmental damage. It also contains vitamin E to help moisturize and combat dryness. The menthol in the formula cools and refreshes your lips and lets you know that it's working. Use day and night.

How-To: Make Home Repairs in Your Living Room

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:00:58 -0700

During home schooling month, I've brought you a number of how-to posts. Many of these were courtesy of Barbara K, a home repair and carpentry expert who wanted to inspire women to become more self-reliant when it came to the world of tools and home repairs. Here, she shows you how to make home repairs in your living room.

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By142 Scar Repair

FabSugar — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:50:56 -0700

By142 is a unisex luxury skincare line that promotes healing. It was created by a former beauty buyer who felt that, though there were lots of anti-aging and complexion-correcting products on the market, there were no products available to help reduce scars and heal damaged facial tissue.

Not surprisingly, By142 Scar Repair is the company's best-selling product. It's a medically advanced cream intended to heal and rejuvenate damaged and scarred skin. The key ingredient is Rejuvenox, which had previously only been used in military and medical applications and helps heal wounds by infusing oxygen into the skin for cellular tissue repair. Scar Repair is safe for use on new or old scars, insect bites, acne, and eczema, as well as for healing after surgical and dermatological treatments. Buy it here for $50.

Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair Zippered Gloves: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:30:08 -0800

Leather and zippers usually go together like peanut butter and jelly but there's something to be said about these >Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair Zippered Gloves ($215). Is it just me or do they remind you of dish-washing gloves? This is a classic case of good intention, bad execution. What do you think?

Take all of my Love It or Hate It Polls here! To post your selections go to the Love It or Hate It? group. And if you want to learn how to do a blog post, click here.

Stork Craft Recalls 2.1 Million Cribs in Largest Crib Recall Ever

babysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:37:40 -0800

A couple of years ago, it seemed like toy recalls were being announced daily for choking or lead poisoning hazards. This holiday season, parents are being hit with major baby gear recalls. First Maclaren issued a voluntary notification that its hinges could hurt small fingers if a child's hands were holding on to the sides of a stroller during the opening or closing of it. Today, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is issuing another statement regarding faulty baby equipment.

Canadian crib maker Stork Craft is set to recall more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs. If the drop-side becomes broken or detaches, it can cause children to fall out of the crib or suffocate. In a statement issued by CPSC and Health Canada:

The CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.

Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

For more information on the recall, visit the CPSC site.

Get Ashley Greene's New Moon Premiere Hairstyle!

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:51 -0800

In the run-up to last night's New Moon premiere, I spoke with Ashley Greene's stylist, Ted Gibson, about how he creates her hairstyles. "It takes over an hour to create her sexy, voluminous hair," he dished. Want to find out more about how he created her look, what it's like working with her extensions, and what he does to keep her hair healthy? Then just read on.

Are You Ignoring the Maclaren Recall?

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:31 -0800

Recall? Who cares?! When recalls are announced, some people run back to the store to get their money back, but others keep on keeping on with their less than perfect goods. Such is the case with many a Maclaren pushing mommies. As I strolled about town yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the dominance of the British buggies rolling around in San Francisco - yours truly included. All different models with varying ages of children made their way through small spaces and tight sidewalks. While some mothers might have stopped using their recalled models, some clearly have no problem pushing the popular, if hazardous, strollers. When asked about their continued use, some declared they were more cautious when folding and collapsing it because of the hinge issue. Others said they called for the hinge repair kit while others threw caution to the wind saying there are probably dangers with every pushchair on the market... touché.

Are you taking the recall to heart or just using your stroller with caution?

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Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.

Casa Quickie: Waterproof Your Roof

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:30:23 -0700

One of the big house-related tasks you should accomplish this Spring is assessing the state of your roof. In good weather, you - or a reliable, steady-footed helper - should check the roof for missing or damaged roofing tiles or shingles. If you're not confident doing so, hire a contractor or repairer to check out the possible damage. Repairing roof problems now will ensure that your Fall and Winter will be much cozier.

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