CasaSugar

How-To: Beat the Heat the Eco-Friendly Way

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:36 -0700

San Francisco is in the midst of heat wave, and as much as I love putting on my Summer dresses, I'm not a fan of looking like a stick of melted butter. If the temperature in your 'hood hasn't risen yet, trust me, it will. So, I have a few tips for conquering the heat when it does. Not so fast, they have nothing to do with blasting the a/c: you know that's not eco friendly. To hear my tips, read more.

Prevent phantom loads and the idle emission of heat by plugging your electronic appliances into a power strip, which you can switch on and off when not in use. Use one in your office for gadgets, one in your kitchen, and in any other place your appliances are piling up.
If you haven't already, switch to CFL bulbs, which give off less heat than regular bulbs and use about 70-75 percent less energy.
Ovens give off much more heat than microwaves, so zap your meals instead whenever possible. If you must use your oven, cook consciously by turning off the oven five minutes before the scheduled end time and allow food to finish cooking as the oven slowly cools, and avoiding opening the oven to check on food while it's cooking, which lets heat escape.
Use organic bedding made from breathable fabrics, which will draw the moisture away from your body during those hot Spring and Summer nights.
Plant trees and bushes in front of your windows to block the sun.
Close your blinds or shades on windows that don't face north during the day, to keep out the sun's heat.
Keep your windows closed to keep the daytime heat out.
If you need fresh air, open two windows across from each other to allow a breeze, or even put a fan in each window.

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Casa Quickie: When to Weed

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:00:13 -0700

Weeding is one of the greatest pleasures of Spring - not! I hate weeding with a passion, so I try to do it in the most-efficient way possible. That is, unless I can pass the duty off onto someone else! One of the keys to weeding is to do it when the soil is moist, since dry, compact soil is hard work. So, if you can get yourself out of bed, it's a good idea to tackle your weeds in the early morning when the soil is damp with dew. Another great time to do it is after a rain shower. But, of course, be smart; don't attempt this dreaded Spring task during any lightning storms or floods!
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Guess What This Product Is?

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:00:51 -0700

This product is meant to enhance your outdoor living space and is often covered with trained climbing or trailing plants. Can you tell me what it is called?

Show Me Your Casa!

CasaSugar — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:30:34 -0700

Has your home seen any Spring changes yet? Purchased any outdoor furnishings? Whatever you're doing, I want to see it! For instance, I recently hung this MIO for Target hammock on my rooftop.

Show off all of your home views, both interior and exterior, in my group on TeamSugar called Su Casa, where readers can share snapshots and stories related to their homes.
A Su Casa post could be anything from a photo of a loved one's home to a tiny nook you're tickled by. Think of it as a Look Book for home style. If I see something I like in Su Casa, I might feature it on CasaSugar, so don't be surprised if you get an email from me!

To learn how to join and post in the group, read more.

To join the Su Casa group, just follow this link and click "subscribe" beneath the photo on the left-hand side of the page. Once you're subscribed, click Share in the upper left-hand menu of any TeamSugar page and choose what type of post you want to create. If you have just one photo and some text, create a blog; if you have a gallery you want to share, select "photos."

TeamSugar has a great primer on how to create a blog post, so check that out if you've never posted one before. Here's a rundown of the basic process:

Add a Title and the Body (content for your post). Don't forget to click the Check Spelling link and Upload an Image to make your post stand out!
Post this to a group? Click on the dropdown menu and select the Su Casa group. You will only be able to see groups you're subscribed to, so if you haven't joined Su Casa yet, you will need to.
Click on the dropdown menu and choose the Home and Garden Channel and add some keywords (use a comma, if needed!) in the Tags text box. Then click "I'm done" to view your post!

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:00:35 -0700

The name of this flower is Latin for "little frog." I recently made a Spring change by transplanting them into pots in my home. Can you name it?

How-To: Refresh Tired Drawers and Dressers

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00:22 -0700

With the approach of Spring, I'm rethinking ways to add some fresh accents to my home without spending a lot of money. One project that I've been interested in tackling is refreshing my dresser. I also have some old drawers left over from a trashed dresser that wasn't worth saving, and I need something to do with them as well. Are you in a similar situation? Check out the slideshow for ways to add Spring style to your old dresser
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Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:00:27 -0700

This flower, also known as a jonquil, is March's official flower. Can you name it?

Casa Quickie: Mirror, Mirror

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:30:33 -0700

For the easiest and cheapest way to get your mirror clean, dilute white distilled vinegar with water, and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spritz your mirror and wipe it off with a newspaper. When you're done, the paper can go straight into your compost, so this method's not only cheap, it's eco as well. If you're not big on cleaning with newspaper, you can also try using microfiber cloths.

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Before and After: Simple Spring Changes

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:35 -0700

Last year, I decided to install a "window box" on the inside of my bedroom window. In part, I did it because the outside view is completely saturated in plant life, and wrestling exterior window space away from the bougainvillea is a thorny proposition. I also like to take risks with some quirky interior accents, especially if they can be changed out fairly easily. For the past year, these Aucuba plants enjoyed the sunny window spot. I decided that I wanted to make a Spring change, though.

To see my change, read more.

I transplanted the Aucubas to some larger containers (they needed it!) and replaced them with these cheerful ranunculus flowers. I don't plan on leaving the flowers there for much longer than a month, since I'll soon put them in a pot in my garden. For now though, they should do well. If you want to try some ranunculus flowers inside, keep in mind that they prefer nighttime temperatures in the 40s and 50s, and daytime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees. They need bright light, but hot, direct sun should be avoided. Good luck!

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:00:19 -0700

This beautiful flower is dropping its petals all over my neighborhood. I'm a big fan of the double-blooming variety. (Hint: It's not a rose.)