Category Archives for Appliances, Tools & Gadgets
Shindaiwa Makes Great Hedge Trimmer
Great Hedge Trimmer!
Shindaiwa makes trimming hedges easier.
A while back, I made a video showing how I turned my yard from basic to professionally landscaped on a budget. Basically, I hired a landscape architect to draw a landscape plan, then I found a wholesale nursery and put the yard in myself by following the plan. A key part of the landscape plan were the hollies and hedgerows that added structure to the yard. Today, I want to talk about the great hedge trimmer I’ve found to shape those hollies and keep the hedgerows looking their best.
How to Install a Retractable Extension Cord in Your Garage Ceiling
A Safer and More Convenient Electrical Cord
Like a lot of people, I do woodworking projects in my garage. For my miter saw, table saw, and other power tools, I had always used a regular old electrical cord (a "drop cord"). It worked, but it always ended up tangled on the floor and in my way. So, recently I started looking for a retractable extension cord reel that I could mount to my garage ceiling. The one I found has worked out really well. It's even portable! Thinking it might help other garage woodworkers, I made a video showing how to install the retractable extension cord reel I went with. You can see it and some photos from the installation below.
In Love with my iRobot Braava Jet Robot Mop!
iRobot Braava Jet — Review of the "Robot Mop"
I recently bought an iRobot Braava Jet "Robot Mop" and I love it. It was actually my 3 year old who started calling it "Robot Mop". I decided to review it here for myHomeUpgrades.com.
Why a Robot Mop?
We already had a Roomba vacuum, and it does a great job picking up dirt and dust. But we've got a ceramic tile kitchen floor and hardwood floors everywhere else. We've also got a toddler and a newborn. And I was getting tired of mopping the kitchen floor and cleaning the hardwoods with my Shark steam mop. I still use the steam mop for spot cleaning. But for routine floor cleaning, the Robot Mop does a better job!
iGrill 2 – Best Probe Thermometer for Grilling or the Oven
Weber iGrill2 is the Best Probe Thermometer I've Used
It was a long time ago, way before the Weber iGrill2 came along, when I first heard about probe thermometers. It was on Alton Brown's cooking show, "Good Eats", when he recommended probe thermometers. I've been using them ever since, and I've been through lots of them, expensive ones, cheap ones, and even remote control ones. But the best one I've had so far has been and continues to be the iGrill2. I've been personally using it for over a year. It's a great Bluetooth probe thermometer for grilling, smoking, or even roasting or baking in your oven. I use it all the time, and I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Everybody Loves to Roomba
I hate vacuuming. So, a couple years ago, I bought a Roomba vacuum cleaner from Costco as a Christmas present to myself. This robot vacuum has been a huge upgrade for our home.