IMBY ONLINE ESTIMATING TOOL

IMBY (in my back yard) is a tool that can calculate how much electricity you can create through solar or wind power. The online tool was created by The National Renewable Energy Lab and is really easy to use.

First you input your address, then you indicate whether you want solar or wind power. You then draw the area on the map of your house were you want the system and then it calculates based on the area you selected what type of system you need etc. Below is the info the tool gave for my mother's house is Irvine, CA assuming a solar system. This is a really neat idea that allows you to determine what you may need without having to sign a contract. I suggest you take it for a test spin. It's free! (you can click on the image to get a closer view)

WINE CORKS

We all have some or know someone that does. This year I propose taking the wine corks and re-purposing them. Which is my newest mission for the holidays. A fun and perfect way to get crafty just in time for Christmas. Below are some ideas on what you can do with the wine corks.

Take the wine corks and make a little bird house. You might even line the inside of one of the walls with some fabric for a bit of extra warmth.

Having a party? Then these are perfect for your outdoor entertaining. You could even add some paint for a bit of color. Reuse them year after year, party after party.









Stay tuned for my wine cork crafting mission update.

KENETIC ENERGY POWERS MUSIC PLAYER

No more forgetting to charge your music player just when you get the urge to workout. Now you can burn calories, charge the music player, have an awesome workout breathing in the fresh air and all you have to do is go running. Created by Inesa Malafej and Arunas Sukarevicius from Lithuania these Dance Pants literally power the music player. As long as you keep running or dancing your favorite music will play. When you stop the music stops. This is a great motivator for those that don't like to workout without music.

"It is a 100% interactive way to feel the value of energy on your own . During the movement of feet, kinetic energy is collected to play music. The inverse dynamism of "Dancepants" motivates you to move your feet in order to hear your beloved music. And as long as you keep running or dancing you can be sure you won’t run out of battery." Say's the designers.

I am not sure when this technology will come out but when it does I will surely buy one.

LIVING WALLS AND ROOF TOP GARDENS

Someday I will get the chance to design a garden that allows me to go up the walls and the roof. It'll be the ultimate living wall or roof top garden. But what exactly are they and how is it beneficial? Living walls essentially means that you plant on a vertical structure while in roof top gardens you plant literally on the rooftop. It is a perfect concept for those that do not have any actual land to garden in. You could even use the Wooly Pockets to create living walls. Whether you plant a vine on the wall or something more unique it is often best to do your homework and actually have a drawing so that you know what will and will not work for the space that you have allotted. The same could be said about roof top gardens. You should also keep in mind that you might have regulatory restrictions. Hopefully you won't.


What if the roof top garden became an edible garden while the living wall was just merely decorative? Your options are endless. Imagine the possibilities. I surely will try the living wall concept in my condo but the roof top garden may not sit well with my hoa.

RE-PURPOSING - CRAFTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

re-purposing is the art of taking something old and making it new again. Whether you refinish the object or take it apart and give it a new life. It's always fun to not buy new and simply re-purpose. Below are some re-purposed items.
A small town in England turned their old phone booth into a mobile 24/7 library. You could even take a bunch of old water bottles and create neat things like this bus stop. However if these are out of your league and too big for you then enjoy these much simpler things that you can make in your own back yard.

Take those old shoes that you just don't want anymore and use them as planters. For an even more creative idea cover the shoes with buttons or beads for a bit of extra bizzazz.
This is where I really wish I had kept all the old floppy disks. Totally could have re-purposed them. Maybe it's time for you to rummage through the attic.

This holiday season consider that the state of the economy may not leave you with much of a shopping budget, but that should not stop you from giving the neatest gift. Try getting a little crafty. From re-purposing items to making your own holiday cards these ideas will not only save you money but the fact that you took time to make it, ads a special touch that something store bought can't do.