Kathy Helbig, Author at Shakadoo

When It Comes To Remodeling, Outside Counts

In the midst of the real estate slowdown, more and more home owners are deciding to stay in their homes and remodel rather than trying to sell in a challenging market. The 2007 Remodeling
Cost vs. Value Report has recently stated that three of the four projects with the highest
national percentage of costs recouped this year

were exterior upgrades.

The most profitable project on the national level was upscale siding
replacement, recouping 88 percent of costs upon resale.

Our friends over at CALFINDER agree. They say in their post Fiber Cement Siding: Why It Stands Up to Wood and Vinyl that

"home improvement projects are not all created equal. Some garner a
higher return on your investment. Installing fiber cement siding is one
such project. According to Remodeling Magazine, an average of 88.1% of the cost of installing fiber cement siding can be recouped after resale. The magazine’s 2007 Cost Vs. Value Report
identifies fiber cement siding replacements as the consistently highest
paying midrange and upscale remodeling investment in several U.S.
regions. In addition, Industry News reports that fiber cement siding demand will rise at an above average rate through 2010".

Read more about Fiber Cement Siding and request Free General Remodeling Estimates here.

The other two exterior remodels that rated high for cost recovery were wood deck
additions
and wood window replacements also returning more than 80
percent of costs.

Moving inside the home, according to the same report, remodeling trends tend to be the most costly upscale remodeling projects consisting of master suite
additions and major kitchen remodels. Those projects can reach costs well into six
digits. As it turns out, these major projects are also among the most
popular.

Find Kitchen Remodeling Contractors for Design and Renovation and receive free estimates through our friends at CALFINDER

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Designer Plates

by Kathy Helbig Leave a Comment

Check out these eclectic plates that Give Simple is featuring! They were hailed in Daily Candy this year and after taking a closer look I can see why!

Made of melamine, these plates are shatterproof,
dishwasher safe and kid-friendly. This material offers the versatility we adore, without sacrificing the ultra-stylish look and feel. Give Simple says,

"Everything about these bold,
colorful plates is unique. The Wrought Irony dinner plates and Royal
Farce side plates are perfect to mix and match for fun, eclectic dining
(outdoor or indoor). They work especially well for entertaining."

These works of art are truly just that; a product of student artist at the Savannah College of Art and Design. So enjoy your beautiful dinner table and support the arts at the same time!

Shop for Melamine Dinnerware
starting at just $6.00!

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New Use For Stainless Steel

by Kathy Helbig Leave a Comment

Unless you have been living under a rock, it is pretty apparent that stainless steel has made a real come back over the last few years. From kitchen appliances, back splashes and floor accents, to counter tops, bathroom sinks and tiles, stainless steel is still a popular design element used in today’s decor.

The bloggers over at Luxury Housing Trends found these Modern Stainless Steel Coasters that are a certain
must have for those who love a simple sleek look.

"These stainless steel coasters by Prodyne Metalla Design offer a simple
and clean look. Now, stainless steel isn’t going to be extremely
absorbent, but that might be okay if you’re not serving a lot of
perspiring beverages. Besides, I always wonder about things growing in
cork or knitted coasters after repeated exposures to damp drinks."

You can buy this set pictured at Amazon for only $16.95

Stainless Steel Coaster Set

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Build Your Own Dang Wii Zapper

by Kathy Helbig 4 Comments

Angry parents have been in an uproar about the new Wii Zapper, which is shaped like a gun. Of course, when I banned toy guns from my house, my kid bit his toast into gun shapes. I gave up and started allowing water pistols, and I would allow the Wii Zapper in my house.

Well, I would except my kids could build their own Wii Zapper for a fraction of the cost (free, since my house is Lego Heaven).

I still haven’t actually bought a Wii yet, though. Still checking every day for a Wii, but I hear Target’s going to have one in their ad either next week or the 16th, so it looks like I’ll get my chance to stand out in the cold waiting for a Wii. Fun for all, right?

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PC Vs. Mac: What's The Difference?

by Kathy Helbig 5 Comments

I often feel like I’m violating the Church of Geek by using a PC. I have a friend who has a MacBook, and while it seems really cool, I’m not really sure why so many Mac enthusiasts hold the level of vitriol they do for PC users.

Any time anyone I know posts that they are having trouble with their PC, the Mac users come in and say, “Next time, buy a Mac!” Oy. Because nobody ever has trouble with any Mac products, right? Nobody had any problems with Leopard? Heh.

So, seriously, in trying to understand this, tell me why are Macs so much better than PCs?

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For The Geek Who Has Everything

by Kathy Helbig 3 Comments

I really wish this was within my budget to give my dad. He loves neat stuff like this. What is it, anyway?

It’s the Aquapict LED Jellyfish Aquarium, but I just call it cool. From the description:

Made with highly-realistic silicone, the Aquapict jellyfish swim and
change color subtly with the five-color LED lighting system (red,
yellow, green, blue, and purple). They move by a slow current created
in the tank that does not have an obvious flow or bubbles that make it
look fake. It looks unbelievably real and beautiful!

Seriously, seriously neat. It’s $169 at Japan Trend Shop.

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Are Tech Toys A Waste Of Money?

by Kathy Helbig 1 Comment

Linsey’s post at Wise Bread is some good stuff to think about:

Tech toys are a trap. So you get a great deal on the toy. Your little one will be ecstatic, right? Wrong. Assuming
the toy comes with everything needed to get started (games or
cartridges or cords or whatever), how long will that last? The toy will need power (batteries, chargers, or plugs), and old games will need to be replaced with newer ones.

It depends, I think. My kids got leap pads a few years ago and managed to lose the cartridges and books in no time. However, my daughter keeps her Nintendo DS in pristine condition- it was me that lost her stylus, not her. I think age has some to do with it and the toy itself has the rest to do with it. Linsey makes a good point her post about the VideoNow and JuiceBox system. They just may not be fully supported in time, so it’s best to go with things that will be, even if they are more expensive. It’s better to spend a little more now in order to have something your kids will be playing with years from now.

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Animal Crossing For Wii: When Will It Get Here?

by Kathy Helbig 3 Comments

Animal Crossing, the wildly popular game that is available on GameCube and DS (Animal Crossing: Wild World), is to be on the Wii as well. When that will happen, nobody knows. IGN has rumors that it will be a MMO, but there’s no release date in sight.

Animal Crossing has so much awesome Wii potential, I just hope they are taking their time to really get the game right, but I’m so afraid it’s somewhere on some back burner. Animal Crossing lovers: What do you think? Taking their time to get it right or stashed on a back burner?

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The Wii Search Continues

by Kathy Helbig Leave a Comment

When last we parted, I was planning to stand out all night waiting to buy a Wii on Thanksgiving morning. Alas, how my plans changed. I decided to try to get to Kmart by 4 AM, since my area was being racked by thunderstorms and then a cold front. I awoke at 3 AM, not to my alarm, but to a pain racking my stomach. On Thanksgiving- how cruel is that?

I weighed out my options and decided to do the Black Friday thing instead of waiting for a Wii on Thanksgiving. But alas again, that didn’t work out either, since my stomach was still hurting and the nausea that plagued me all day on Thanksgiving- Thanks-freaking-giving, people!- was not only not better, but worse. A trip to the ER, $300 and 8 billion hours later, it was determined that I have an ulcer. All my friends’ reactions to this?

“Gee, Ivy, how surprising.” (note the dripping sarcasm)

As if my schedule wasn’t busy enough, I need to find time for things that relax me. And quit drinking caffeine and alcohol. But they said to relax! Oy.

But no worries, I still feel like I will find a Wii. I talked to some people at WalMart today that said to come by between 9 and 10 AM to see if they will have Wiis to sell that day. Every day between Monday and Friday. Again, not like I had anything else better to do. Same with GameStop, who told me they get deliveries randomly in the morning, to check by about 10 AM. We’ll see how my amazing time traveling skills work, since I have to be in all these places at once.

I’m waving a very, ahem, friendly finger at the awesome people at Best Buy who said, “We have no idea when Wiis are coming in, I don’t know what time you should check, don’t bother, okay?” Thanks, Best Buy. I’ll be sure not to bother at all when I go to buy all my kids’ Christmas gifts, which are very heavily centered on electronic items. I’m sure there are plenty of other places that would love my business.

Ya know, I know they get tired of the same questions over and over, but is there any need to be rude when asked a polite question?

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On The Hunt For A Wii

by Kathy Helbig 2 Comments

Kathylynn and I are in the same boat, on the hunt for a Wii for our kids for Christmas. Kathylynn might not be willing to stand out on a curb all night for one, but that’s exactly what I am going to do tonight.

Now, I’m signed up for the Amazon.com Customers Vote thing, and my mom is going to be online at 12:01 tonight to try to buy one from Best Buy. My mom bought a Wii this summer, so we already know the absolute joy that is playing Wii. So it’s extra serious now that I have to get one.

So when you’re in your warm, cozy bed tonight, think of me standing outside in the cold rain. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

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