My computer's hotness level!

So, I have a hot computer. Yes, it's a real looker in brown plaid with a touch panel on the top of the keyboard to adjust the volume. But my computer's hotness was temperature related. (sigh)

See, isn't the volume slider cool!

I've been diligently typing, adjusting, grammar checking and looking for images for my final paper to complete my Master of Arts in Interior Design. All of this has caused my computer to break into a sweat! And frankly, I do not need hot air blowing on me in the summer. So how do I fix this problem on grad student funds! After quite a bit of Internet research, which contributed to the problem. I came up with two solutions, one was inspired by a techie pages on the web, and one from my problem solver-ness.

Here's the techie plan-

This is not my laptop, but it is similar.

1. First find a screwdriver small enough to fit the screws on the back of your computer.
2. Turn off the laptop and unplug it (safety first!)
3. Pop out the battery with the mystery slider on the bottom of the computer and remove all panels you can with out taking the actually back off (no need to be extreme, now.)
4. Place the little doors on the other side of the room so there is no chance of vacuuming the screws up.
5. Get your strongest vacuum, or your only vacuum. (Not the one for the computer, the one for the floors.)
6. Then, suck out all the open compartments, even if they look clean.
7. Next suck out the fan vent section- a lot... like until you are deafened from the vacuum noise.
8. Put all the little doors back on the laptop back and the battery back in place.
9. Plug in turn on and continue working. Be amazed at how quiet your computer fan is!

Step two- my problem solving plan!Because I do not use a computer desk, but a vintage desk, it is a bit high for laptop use. So, adding the special fan base to cool my laptop really made typing for a long period of time uncomfortable.
I needed the vent-ability of the cooling fan mat without the bulk.
Then it hit me.
Clothes pins!
Yes, clothes pins!


These are some of my clothespins on etsy!

I have placed two wooden clothes pins under the back of my computer to tilt it up. They allow air to flow underneath my computer without altering the height of the keyboard... much.







Please know that I am not a computer person. And this is only my experience with my computer. Use my advise at your our risk. By keeping your laptop clean and cool you will extend the life of it and in the long run prevent excess electrical appliances out of landfills. Always recycle computers when the time comes!

Work room re-do

I have been working on reworking my work space... which is a lot of work! Once you realize that you use the dining room a hand full of times a year for dining, but daily as a work space, you know it is time to quite dancing around all those chairs and get some storage in there! Here are a few inspiring work spaces for you!

I would love to go to work in a space like this one to the left that I found on pinterest! Organized, pretty, vintage-y, and with a large window.  I need a window in every space I work in because I need the view, I like the air flow and I think hearing the birds twitter calms the mind!














Fantastic sewing/crafting room. Black white and some color!

What makes this space work is the amount of white, which allows the eyes to rest from the pattern and color. Another great part about this space is the photographs of plants at eye level. Attention restoration theory teaches us that allowing a view of nature, even it is a photograph can rewire the brain to refocus on the task at hand faster then looking at something not from nature. This fabulous image came from the blog HouseofTurquoise.com.

Smart use of space with many recycled items!

Organization is the key to keeping your craft room as a space you will want to work in. Since I run my online business from a craft room, I have to remember to keep it neat, otherwise I will only go in to fulfill and order and stop designing new item! I like this space because it look like a building on a campgrounds. By reusing furniture pieces, you not only cut down on the cost of outfitting your space, you are doing a service to the environment by avoiding cheaply made "craft room" furniture and plastic products. Storing items in plastic is great for many reasons, buy using them judiciously and thoughtfully, is the best use of that resource.



The first yard bouquet

Every year I get excited about the first yard bouquet for my desk. Being in Alabama, it will usually include hydrangeas and gardenias. Though my hydrangeas bloom first, it seems it is never worthy enough to create a bouquet until you have something that is scented. Once the gardenias bloom, the bouquets are ON!

One of the thing I love about hydrangeas is the  bigger they grow and the deeper the roots spread in the soil, the more contact they have with minerals that can change their color. Each year you can have a variety of color and they can change from year to year. Adding soil amendments can change the color, but I like the surprise of finding out what I will be getting each year.
Growing flowers for cutting gardens are beneficial on many ways. They provide you with an opportunity of enhance or alter your indoor environment with the addition of color. Additionally, the flower provide food for bees, hummingbirds and if they make berries, food for birds in the winter. Cutting gardens are a win/win for the indoor and outdoor environment!


"Yard" bouquests in your work space, like this one on my desk, provides for a place
for you eyes to rest when thinking. Allowing your eyes to rest on something from
nature "resets" you brain faster than resting on something man-made!