As many readers are aware, our Guest Author Program kicked off in late 2008, with the hope that we could dig up a few like minded people, to help everyone get just a bit more experience, on their own DIY Projects. We are thrilled to announce the participation of a very well known Do it Yourself Expert, Lou Manfredini, the Ace Helpful Hardware Man!
Who is Lou Manfredini?
After more than 10 successful years in construction, Manfredini had gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on homes that he began to consider ways to more broadly share his expertise with others. He believed that a house “was more like a living entity than an inanimate collection of lumber, wiring and plumbing.” By showing people how various systems and components in a house rely on each other and instilling a greater understanding of a house as a “whole,” Manfredini thought everyone could have greater success in their home improvement and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.
Lou will be providing several tips and resources for readers, based off the topics that are currently on the minds of everyone! To see a sample of the quality advice from Lou, visit the Helpful Hardware Man Projects page.
Armed with his expertise and enthusiasm, Manfredini began his media career when WGN Radio in Chicago launched his idea for a home improvement call-in radio show. The show quickly caught on: today, The Mr. Fix-It Show is the number one Saturday morning radio program in Chicago.
Not long thereafter, Manfredini branched into television and print media. Currently, he is the official home improvement expert for NBC’s Today Show and a frequent guest on numerous network television stations across the United States as well as programming for CNN, HGTV, Discovery, and the History Channel. Most recently, Manfredini is the host of his own television show, HouseSmarts, which airs on the NBC affiliate in Chicago.
Reaching millions of DIYers every month with his friendly persona and down-to-earth project advice, Manfredini also has authored these successful DIY books: Lou Manfredini’s Bath Smarts (2004), Kitchen Smarts (2004), Room Smarts (2004) and House Smarts (2002); Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home (2002); and Mr. Fix-It: 101 Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Repairing Your Home (2000). These books have been featured in national magazines such as People and Newsweek, as well as major-market newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.
Manfredini is a nationally recognized DIY expert, sought after both for his expertise and his energetic, entertaining style. In an extension of his ongoing effort to help people maximize the value and enjoyment of their homes, he is also Ace Hardware’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and editorial media spokesperson. Along with his wife and four children, Manfredini lives in Chicago, where they also own and operate a neighborhood Ace Hardware store.
Finding the Perfect Gift for the Do it Yourself Person in your life can be a challenge at best! The list below is a compilation of some of the Best DIY Gifts you can get for that special someone, guaranteed to make their eyes pop wide open with joy when they unwrap it on Christmas or ANY day!! …Read more about Top 10 DIY Gifts for Do it Yourself Projects
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and many people have started to realize the greatest way to cook a turkey, is to Deep Fry a Turkey! Surprisingly, and beyond the normal beliefs, Deep Fried Turkey contains almost no grease and oils that you normally associate with deep fried food.
Combine a naturally low fat food like Turkey, with a method that instantly sears the juices inside the bird itself, and you end up with the most popular trends in food preparation for the Thanksgiving Holiday Feast!
One thing for sure, frying your first turkey is not cheap, due to the initial cost of the right equipment. After you have it and you eat your first fried turkey though, you will find a reason to cook one every month! …Read more about How to Deep Fry a Turkey Instructions
Saving Energy inside your home is one of the cheapest and easiest ways you can start going Green, and also increase the amount of money in your savings account every month! Most of the figures below represent utility and resource use for a family of four …Read more about 10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Energy and Resource Costs!
Top 10 Halloween Party Drinks you can Make Yourself!
Halloween Party Drinks can give you that extra kick that leaves everyone talking, for weeks after your next big bash! The list below is a great start for anyone looking to spice up their adult party! For an extra kick, head over to the Top 10 DIY Halloween Costumes also!
1 – Flaming Pumpkin Pie Drink Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1.0 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1.0 Part Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
- 1.0 Part Bailey’s Irish Cream
- 1.0 Splash Peppermint Schnapps
How to Make this Drink: Pour in the Kahlua liqueur and then top with Baileys! After that, splash the peppermint schnapps on top. Light it up and shake cinnamon over the top. To drink it… blow out the flame and turn it up!
2 – Salem Witch Drink Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1.0 fill Club Soda
- 1.0 splash Grenadine
- 1.0 splash Lime juice
- 0.5 oz Melon liqueur
- 0.5 fill Sweet and Sour mix
- 0.5 oz Vodka
- 0.5 oz Raspberry Schnapps
How to Make this Drink: This one is easy… just mix it all together over some crushed ice!
3 – The Green Ghost
- 1.0 oz Blue Curacao
- 1.0 shot Citrus Gin
- 3.0 oz Orange juice
- 1.0 oz Peach Schnapps
- 2.0 shot Vodka
How to Make this Halloween Drink: The Gin MUST be citrus flavored to taste the way it is intended. Pour your OJ over a few cubes of ice and mix in the listed amounts of alcohol! If you want to get a little extra kick out of it, include a shot of the Peach Schnapps with each mixer!
4 – Bloody Brain
- 1/2 oz. Irish Cream (Bailey’s is great)
- 1 1/2 oz. strawberry schnapps
- 1 tbsp. Grenadine
How to Make it: Shake the Grenadine and Schnapps in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
After 15-20 seconds, strain it into your favorite cocktail glass.
VERY Carefully and slowly add the Bailey’s into the very middle of the glass.
If you take your time and do it right, the Baileys will form into a blob on the bottom! Gross!
5 – Screaming Banana Banshee
- 1/2 oz. Creme de Cacao, white
- 1/2 oz. Liqueur, banana
- 1/2 oz. Vodka
- 1 1/2 oz. Cream
- 1 whole Cherries/Maraschinos
How to Mix this Halloween Drink: Combine all listed amounts, except the cherry, into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 15-20 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Pop the cherry on top and you are ready to drink!
6 – Bloody Eyeball Martini
- 2 oz gin or vodka
- 1/2 oz dry vermouth
- 1 olive eyeball
- per eyeball:
- 1 radish
- 1 pimiento stuffed green olive
The Eyeballs for this mixer should be made at least 1 day before your plan on using them.
How to mix it up:
- Peel radishes, leaving thin streaks of red skin on to represent blood vessels.
- Using the tip of the vegetable peeler or a small, knife, carefully scoop out a small hole in each radish, roughly the size of an olive.
- Stuff a green olive, pimiento side out, in each hole.
- Place 1 radish eyeball in each section of an empty ice cube tray. Pare the radishes down a bit to fit, if necessary. Fill the tray with water and freeze overnight.
7 -Vampire Juice Recipe
- 1 ounce coconut flavor rum
- 1 ounce blue curacao
- 1 ounce bacardi limon rum
- 8 ounces orange juice
- 3 crushed ice cubes
How to mix it: Combine the coconut rum, curacao, and limon rum into a shaker with the ice and OJ. Shake it up to chill and strain into a tall glass.
8 – The Headless Barman
- 1 oz. Sour Raspberry Pucker
- 1 1/2 oz. Vodka, lemon
- Fill with, 1/2 Energy Drink
- Fill with, 1/2 Mountain Dew
- 2 oz. Pineapple Juice
Preparing this Halloween Party Drink: Add the Pucker, 1.5 oz Vodka, and Chilled Pineapple juice to a Half-Full glass of ice. Stir it slowly and top it up with a Red Bull energy drink and Mountain Dew.
9 – Transylvania Ice Tea
- 1/2 oz. Gin
- 1/2 oz. Liqueur, raspberry (Razzmatazz)
- 1/2 oz. Rum, light
- 1/2 oz. Tequila, white
- 1/2 oz. Vodka
- Mason Jars
Make this one: Fill your mason jars with ice first, then mix in 1/4 Cranberry Juice and 1/4 Sour Mix and start adding the alcohol!
10 – Writhing Maggot Shots
- 1/3 shot Irish Cream (Bailey’s)
- 1/3 shot Mandarin Napoleon
- 1/3 shot Vermouth, sweet
Build this SLOWLY into a shot glass… and shoot it up! It turns into a disgusting congealed mess that is sure to run a few stomachs!
This is just a small list of drinks for your next Halloween party – Do you have any that you pull out every year? Drop down to the comments and tell us about your Halloween Party Drinks!
For more great drink ideas – Check out these other sites:
Face it, Halloween Costumes are fun! We get the chance to show a hidden side of our personalities and get dressed up in something we would not normally wear in public! The bad part, is when the phone rings 2 days before Halloween or even on the day itself, and you get the invite to a party… with no idea what to wear!
Top 10 Do it Yourself Halloween Costumes!
The list below represents the quickest and easiest ways to get yourself ready for the big party, with little to short notice! Just about all of them work for a man or woman, so open your imagination and get started! If you prefer to buy a costume, click here and get free shipping today!
1 – Spam Man Costume!
This one is easy… but you have to be willing to bother the hell out of people all night long! Dress fairly nicely in a suit or khakis and a blazer, print off about 100 pieces of junk mail and tape them all over yourself! All night long, just keep on walking up to people and hand them one of the mail pieces and start talking about it!
2 – Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson has had so many looks, regardless of who you are… you can pull it off! Grease your hair down with Gel, or heck, load it up and curl it out! He’s done both… Take some white makeup and make your face completely white. Top it off with just a little red lipstick and put on all black clothing! Make sure you have 1 white glove to complete the look and you have it made!
If you really want to get risky and get some great laughs, find a way to incorporate some kids gimmick into it, playing off his neverland ranch problems. Give away lollipops, candy etc.
3 – Rapper Costume
What can you say… get some baggy clothes, an oversize shirt, and grab the bling from all over your house! I did this myself 2-3 years ago… I took the knocker off the front door of the house and hung it around my neck with a dog chain! A little tin foil for a grill… and i was all set! Top it off with a ballcap turned to the side and you are out the door in 10 minutes!
4 – The Unknown Comic
Possibly the easiest of all Do it yourself costumes! Get yourself a brown paperbag, cut out a couple eyeholes and a small hole for you breath through, put on a suit or a blazer! You are done!
For those of you who don’t know, the Unknown Comic was a feature of the Gong Show back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. His jokes were some of the stupidest out there, so gather up some dumb jokes and head out for the night!
5 - Roman Costume
Another one of those last minute costumes you can throw together in 5 minutes and be out the door! All you need is a white sheet to make into a toga and a small branch off a tree in your yard! Wrap the toga around you and make sure you wear some interesting boxers or panties underneath, people will be looking all night! Take the branch and form it into a circular crown for your head… Quick, easy and Done!
6 - Mammagram Machine
Probably one of the funnest Halloween costumes for a man or a risque woman! Get yourself a small cardboard box and cut the bottom so it rests perfectly onto your shoulders with your head on the inside!
Wrap the inside and out with tin foil to make it nice and shiny and look somewhat like a piece of medical equipment. Write FREE Mammograms in big bold letters on the top front and something like “No Insurance Required” on the bottom. Top it off with a pair of rubber gloves on your hands and get ready for a fun night!
7 - Homeless Person
Run over to your local best buy superstore or large hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot and grab one of the recently delivered washing machine or refrigerator boxes. Cut off enough so that you can still read the name on it and just write the word “Condo” behind it… “GE Condos” Layer as many old torn up clothes as you can handle and run out the door. Make sure you carry a change cup and ask people for change all night long!
8 - Paris Hilton Party Girl
Everyone likes a party girl right? Chances are good all of us has seen the party girl outfit at a Halloween party at least once in our lives! If you are a man and try this… you may get attention you didn’t want, but women on the other hand… can pull this off with little effort! Wide variety of Sexy costumes at discounted prices – Shop Costume Discounter today!
Grab your shortest miniskirt, your tightest top and deck yourself out! Find the oldest stockings or hose you have and just tear a few holes in them to make it all the more tempting. Don’t leave out your heels… If you have a dog collar, put it around your neck and attach a short leash to it… invite the cute guys to carry your chain all night long!
9 – A Dirty Male Flasher
This costume can be fun as hell, but make sure you only wear it at adult parties! Grab a long trenchcoat, a pair of old dress pants and 1 leg of an old pair of stockings! Cut the pant legs from the knee down and tape them to your legs so they look like a full pair of pants when you have the trenchcoat on. Stuff the leg of the stocking with old socks and shape it like… well, you know! Attach it to a pair of boxers and just let it hang down!
Every time you walk up on someone… swing that coat open for instant laughs!
10 – Sarah Palin Costume!
Since we are in the midst of an election year, why not dress up like Sarah Palin for Halloween! You can go in all different directions for this one… a Dirty Sarah Palin, with a twist on #8 above by wearing a short and tight business suit, or a Hunter Sarah Palin… where you don camouflage gear and a fake rifle!
All you really need to make this work are the Sarah Palin glasses and some bright red lipstick! You Will be the hit of the party!
Do you have some other DIY Halloween Costumes you want to add to the list? Leave a comment below…
Mark
Lets Install a Ceiling Fan Today!
Installing a ceiling fan is a relatively easy job. If there is nothing above the ceiling fan in the attic, it is very easy, but even if not it is an easy job to get done.
The purpose of a ceiling fan is particularly to cool off a room during a hot summer day. They reduce the amount of energy you are using to cool off the room by creating a cool breeze. They are also used in the winter on a lighter level to pull heat away from the ceiling where it tends to group up. Ceiling fans are functional and used for decoration. They usually have light fixtures built in, and when replaced the reason is usually due to replacement of the light fixtures. If the light fixture is the reason for replacement, this does not mean you need an electrician to replace the light fixture as well.
Can I Replace Do it Myself?
The electrical aspect is what scares most homeowners into paying somebody else to do the work for them. If handled improperly this can be a huge problem resulting in electrocution and fires, but if you follow a few simple rules you should have no problem installing a ceiling fan with light fixtures.
What Tools Will I need?
Some tools and accessories you will need to install a ceiling fan include a ceiling fan kit, and outlet box, wire nuts, wire cutters, goggles, pliers, adjustable wrench, electric tester, electrical tape, and a screw driver. These are all small tools that will not run you up a lot of money.
When picking out your ceiling fan, you will need to make sure you have the right size to properly fit your room. When your room is 12 feet in diameter or less, you will use a 36” diameter ceiling fan; in a room 12’ to 15’ you will want to use a 42” diameter ceiling fan; for a room 15’ to 18’, the size of the ceiling fan you will want to use is a 52” diameter ceiling fan. Fan blades must be placed seven feet about the floor at least.
Remember when working with electricity for the light fixtures, you need to start by turning off the power. This will reduce any risk of getting electrocuted. Once you have turned off the power, it is always smart to check the wires and make sure the power is off. Make sure to have your worked checked by inspectors and local authorities to make sure it is done correctly.
