If you’re tired of basing your holiday decorations around the locations of electrical outlets, you’ll understand the appeal of the Novolink 100-Light LED Battery Operated Decorative String Light. These lights have a battery pack at the end of the strand, allowing you to place them just about anywhere without worrying about whether there’s a plug nearby. However, we wanted to see if these battery-powered lights were worth the money, so we used them as part of our Christmas decorations for more than a month....

This is accomplished using gravity. The grow tray is placed at an angle to allow the water to flow down toward the drainpipe, and a new solution is constantly being pumped into the high end of the tube. NFT is an active system, meaning that it relies on moving parts to work. Passive systems such as Wick Systems have no moving parts. The nutrient solution flows in a thin film over the roots, ensuring that they are watered and fed but not completely soaked....

On average, finishing a basement costs one-third to one-half of the cost of adding a comparable amount of square footage through a large-scale structural room addition. So, for many homeowners, the motivation to finish and build out the basement is high. Monetary Rewards of a Finished Basement A finished basement is one of the few major home improvement projects that returns a large amount of equity to the value of your home....

Light The philodendron micans enjoys bright to medium indirect light. Avoid prolonged periods of direct sunlight as it can burn the delicate leaves, causing discoloration and crispy edges. The amount of light that your philodendron micans is exposed to will ultimately influence the color of the leaves. Increased light will cause the leaves to stay red/maroon, while lower light will result in leaves that are a deeper green color. Soil This tropical aroid requires an airy, moist, well-draining soil mixture that is rich in organic matter....

Where Is the Catalytic Converter? The catalytic converter is between the engine and the exhaust system, usually underneath your car. They’re generally closer to the engine. Depending on the manufacturer, they can look different, but they can appear beaded, honeycomb-shaped, cylindrical, or oblong, similar to a muffler. The part is coated in a metal catalyst, usually platinum, rhodium, and palladium. The Appeal of Catalytic Converters Catalytic converters have expensive metals—platinum, rhodium, and palladium....

Focus on YOUR Faves This is an absolute must when planning a get together, Chicago-based event planner Christine Janda says. “Do you love a great signature cocktail or is creating a design forward tablescape more your jam? Focus your time and energy on what you love at an event and dial back on everything else,” she encourages. Not much of a chef? Go ahead and order food from a restaurant you absolutely love and allow your fabulous decorating skills to take center stage....

To prevent the shelves from sagging under the weight, you need to know the relative span limitations of different shelving materials. “Span” in this instance means the distance between supports for the shelf. Span limits are based on the strength of the material—the stronger the material, the more space you can put between wall supports. You may still be able to store fairly heavy objects on shelving materials with a short span limit, but you will need to support the shelf with support brackets that are spaced closer together....

Identification Characteristics At first glance, the American crow and the common raven might seem identical. But looking closely at different body marks and behaviors can help birders differentiate between these species. Look for these characteristics to properly identify the bird: Size: One of the easiest differences to see between these two birds is the overall size. American crows are smaller, at roughly 19 inches long, just larger than a rock pigeon....

Consider Whether You Crave Change Often “Tree preference is a very personal decision and there is no ‘right’ solution, each option offers different benefits and drawbacks,” notes Lauren Grumbles of Lauren Grumbles Interior Design. That said, Grumbles notes that real trees can be enjoyable as “you can change the size and species of your tree from year to year as your preferences change.” On the other hand, if you enjoy trimming your tree in the exact same manner year after year, perhaps a fake tree is best for you....

Two of the most common problems with a sprinkler valve are a failed solenoid (valve won’t turn on) and debris in the valve or damage to the valve diaphragm (valve won’t turn off). Valve Not Turning On When a sprinkler valve is not turning on, it can be due to an electrical problem, a water supply issue, or a failed solenoid. A good place to start is by ruling out a water supply problem....

Dowel Rods A dowel rod is a round stick that fits into the track of a sliding glass door or window to prevent the glass pane from sliding across the track. If a thief disengages the latch on your sliding glass door, the thief still can’t get the door open with the dowel rod holding it shut on the other side. The key to using a dowel rod effectively is measuring the track to ensure the dowel rod is only a half-inch shorter than the track....

Problems With Motion Detection First, let’s consider regular motion sensors. Yes, they detect motion and turn on lights. And you can adjust the sensitivity so little things don’t set them off. The problem I see with them is that things like tree limbs, tall grasses, heavy snow or rain, and perhaps most commonly, cats and raccoons, keep setting them off in the middle of the night. Wouldn’t it be great if the lights could distinguish between those kinds of “disturbances” and humans approaching?...

Best planted in early spring, shagbark hickory trees are slow growers if left to their own devices, so you will need to “cheat” if you wish to plant one and harvest home-grown nuts from it anytime soon. Nurseries that sell commercial cultivars do the cheating for you by employing grafting techniques that produce superior specimens, which can yield a harvest in as little as two to three years. Shagbark hickory trees are easy to care for, though they can take years to become established as shade trees in your landscape....

Where Do Carpet Remnants Come From? Many people are under the impression that remnants are left-over pieces of broadloom from an installation. This is not usually the case, however. In a store that carries large rolls of carpet in stock, the remnants are usually the ends of those rolls. Once a roll has only a few feet left on it (usually around 20 feet or less, but that can vary) the store staff will roll up what is left and mark it for sale as a remnant....

Houses are the same. After many years of window repairs, siding fixes, and flooring replacements, it just might be time to completely rebuild the house or do a major, whole-house remodel. This is a big decision that requires careful consideration. To make the right choice for your budget and needs, start with a few questions, then take a hard look at what you hope to achieve, the condition of your existing house, and local laws that may affect the project....

They’re also very pretty to look at! They start off tiny and have a cluster of green/gray leaves that form in a round shape. As they become more established, the thin and long foliage stretches, the colors deepen, and they take on a more wavy form. Tillandsia ionantha only blooms once, right before it dies. This can happen at any time, year-round. The small, beautiful yellow or white flowers appear at the top of striking purple-toned shoots....

Freestanding ranges are by far the most popular style with consumers for several reasons, but for those who prefer a custom kitchen look, a slide-in range or drop-in model is a nice alternative. Either of these two styles will give the kitchen a more streamlined look since the range blends fairly seamlessly with the base cabinets. They also both allow you to show off your backsplash because they don’t have panels at the back of the oven for control knobs....

With a name like Smart Ass, you have to wonder if this trivia-based board game lives up to its implied challenge. In order to see if it was strictly for know-it-alls or whether it could keep a diverse group of people entertained at our next game night, we put it to the test. Read on for what we found in terms of design, entertainment, and educational value. Design: Easy setup and fun to play Smart Ass’ instructions are very easy to follow....