u/DogwoodWand

Hors d'oeuvres? Appetizers? Snacks?

I'm probably doing a cheese ball, crudites, and cranberry brie bites. What are you serving or what would you like to see?

Just bought the most wonderful new condo! Our couch fits perfectly under the front window and I've backed it up against the window so that our 10lb dog can sit there and enjoy the sunshine. Right now there's just 2" blinds, which I keep open enough for the dog to fit.

What kind of window treatments would work best? I really want to stay away from the valance/blinds combo. The obvious choice is shorter curtains that just brush the top of the couch, which will create a weird line on either side of the couch.

Any ideas other ideas, or thoughts on how to make short curtains work better?

Just bought the most wonderful new condo! Our couch fits perfectly under the front window and I've backed it up against the window so that our 10lb dog can sit there and enjoy the sunshine. Right now there's just 2" blinds, which I keep open enough for the dog to fit.

What kind of window treatments would work best? I really want to stay away from the valance/blinds combo. The obvious choice is shorter curtains that just brush the top of the couch, which will create a weird line on either side of the couch.

Any ideas other ideas, or thoughts on how to make short curtains work better?

I was renting in the same spot for 8 years. My husband got me an Alexa and I started getting smart plugs and installing smart switches. I started getting dots for around the house. Put in a doorbell. Installed a smart thermostat. Got cameras to watch the animals inside and provide security outside.

We just bought a place! First thing I did was install smart locks. The smart plugs are making a easy transition. The switches are a little harder, but it will happen. The thermostat is a full no go. Because of a wiring issue I'll need all new hardware.

At what point can I say, "This is a Smart House"? Is it normal that I think the house will wind up killing my husband within 6 weeks of my own death?

I bought this almost two years ago and after a somewhat traumatic time putting it together (I had to get out my Dremel and grind down piece to get it to fit) it's worked perfectly. It wasn't until today that I've ever had to reset it.

That's where it begins. It stopped working and, because I'd never dealt with it before, I had to Google how to troubleshoot. During that search I discovered Fezibo now sells desktops that are one piece! The crack where the two pieces adjoin is the only thing I ever disliked.

Anyone had experience with these new desktops? Is the $100 price tag appropriate?

I just got a smart lock. I'm super excited but I now don't want a lock on the knob. I think it's just asking to lock yourself out.

Can I use any pass knob or does it need to be specially made for the exterior to handle the weather?

Closing on a new condo next week and, since I have to re-key anyway I'm thinking a smart lock would be great. I use Alexa currently for my lights, thermostat and doorbell cam. (Also, to find out the height of various celebrities.)

Any personal suggestions? I'd like a keypad and my husband will likely never give up his key. Also, I'd like brass hardware on the door but that's not as important.

Buying a condo and since we have to re-key anyway I'm thinking smart locks would be great.

Obviously, I want something Alexa compatible. I'd also like a keypad. There's a lot of options that I don't know how useful they would be in real life.

Anyone have any suggestions?

We just bought our first home, a condo. It's a huge step up from our apartment of 8 years. Lot's of amenities we've never had as a couple before. Among them is a dog park.

We've already taken our girl over there to get the general feel for it. It seems to be well maintained, in a shady area, and empty most of the time.

We're thinking that we're likely to sit with a cup of coffee in the morning and a cold drink in the afternoon each day for about 20 minutes per visit.

I'm already thinking about putting together a small tote bag to grab on our way out the door. Essentials like bug spray, since we live near the marshlands, and a water bottle and bowl for our girl.

Anyone else live with a situation like this have any general advice or just suggestions on things we may want?

Note: Holly is only about 10lbs and has always gotten along with other dogs. As she's gotten older she enjoys sniffing around more than she enjoys running with a pack.

Found a nice condo in West Ashley that was where and (almost) what we wanted. We need relatively little done, but still a little.

Really normal stuff. Taking out carpet and putting in LVP, adding a water spigot and outdoor electrical outlet on the patio, an (this is the toughy) taking out what I can only describe as a low rent cobblestone patio and putting in a concrete pad.

The flooring feels relatively easy. There are a few locally owned places I can get quote from.

Even plumbing and electrical is something that will be easy to call around and get quoted out.

It's the patio. It's a little difficult. I am responsible for it. It's fully fenced in and I need a couple of names, preferably in West Ashley to call and get estimates from. I don't even know where to start, as we've always rented.

Any recommendations?

I'm making an appointment with my primary today to get a real diagnosis, but I think my shoulder is freezing.

A couple of weeks ago I woke up with a sore shoulder. I chalked it up to sleeping on it funny but it hasn't gone away.

I've been tracking some general health and fitness issues with Google Health and after a poor night's sleep the AI asked what was keeping me up and I told it shoulder pain.

Short Rant:

I'm not a big fan of AI on a philosophical level, but this has been really positive. Google Health asked me some questions about what the pain was like and where it originated to eliminate a cardiac emergency then suggested it might be one of a couple things but with my age and hyperglycemia it might be frozen shoulder and that I needed to get it checked out right away. This is how I want AI to work. It's doing a job I was never going to pay someone for and told me to prioritize a health issue I probably would have back burnered for months.

Anyway, it's probably going to be a week or two before I can get that appointment. Advil hasn't been great, so I'm going to try Alieve. Any suggestions for a topical? I'm thinking a CBD cream or Biofreeze, but I'm open to ideas.

Townhouse style with private patio, swimming pool, playground and dog park. It's a big step up from our current place where we don't even have a slot for outgoing mail.

Any advise you'd like to give someone before they get in? Things that you didn't realize until you had already moved in.

We're mostly looking at townhouses that were built in the 70s and 80s. Probably wall-to-wall carpeting throughout when they were built but now they are mostly LVP on the first floor, carpeting on the stairs and second floor.

I'd like to get rid of carpeting on the stairs and second floor. For cost reasons I probably would leave the first floor as-is for at least a few years. However, when we get that done it's on a slab foundation so I'd be looking for a "softer" floor. Like engineered hardwood? Maybe.

I'm worried about choosing something that I won't be able to match later. Or taking advise that will save money upstairs but be uncomfortable downstairs. Any suggestions?

Sort of the What to Expect When You're Expecting of perimenopause and menopause?

There are a ton of books, but I'm looking for something similar to that style. ("Lots of people experience A. You may not. Here are some suggestions on dealing with A.") Something largely backed in science and study with a little old wives tale weaved in.

I need someone to either cheer me on or talk me down off this ledge.

I live in an older townhouse with the crappiest old metal, single pain windows that have cost me a small fortune in wasted energy. I'm thinking about DIYing some storm windows out of wood, an indoor window insulation kit and some weather stripping.

Thoughts? Concerns? Outsized opinions on the number of extraneous characters in House of the Dragon?

My husband's colonoscopy went really well! A massive polyp was removed and it's already had a positive effect. ("Do you think I should thank the doctor with a bottle of wine?")

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I handed him a sleeve of saltine crackers in the car. When we got home and he had an applesauce cup while I made 3 scrambled eggs. After about an hour he started on the probiotic reset.

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I would 100% recommend that. I also recommend recording a video of them while the drugs are wearing off! It's so funny and he was just the sweetest.

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I told my husband that we could get whatever he wanted for dinner. We wound up at a local spot with some spicy nachos that he enjoyed right up until this morning. He now has some regrets.

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Getting everything together and while there's plenty of advice on prep I don't find much advice on aftercare.

Any advices on what I should have on hand? Food, drink, pillows? I know it's not a long recovery, but I'd like to make it an easy one.

Using the old measuring cap I filled to the 2nd line with Diet Ginger Ale, the finished filling to the third line with Torani Galaxy.

I'm also making dupes of Sonic Ocean Water and Cherry Limade, but this little drink is the winner.