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A first look at Tomorrow’s 4DTV

December 8, 2012 by 1 Comment

No sooner are we reeling from the shock of 3D films that let us believe we are really part of the action than something bigger and better comes along.

With 3D technology having only just made it onto a platform that is accessible for the private user, now cinemas are edging towards what is being billed as 4D. The premise behind 4D is full immersion viewing experience.

Sights and sounds are all present and correct as usual, 3D images jump out at you so long as you are wearing your special glasses, but on top of this there are smells, seat movements and other added extras such as jets of water, air or bubbles.

Suddenly that bargain Sony TV from Appliances Direct doesn’t seem quite so cool after all!

At present 4D cinema experiences are limited. In Korea, China and Japan they are beginning to gain in popularity, but in most of the west they are still mostly a futuristic dream. The London Eye is pioneering the technology with an exclusive 4D experience available only to those going on the Eye.

Tourists are seated in a cinema-like area and given special 3D glasses to wear. A short film about the various attractions of the capital is played.

In true 3D cinema style there are pigeons that seem to flap right by our faces and other images that jump out. On top of this there are aromas of cut flowers pumped into the room when a vision of the London parks is being shown, water sprayed at the audience when shown an image of a fountain and bubbles scattered when we are supposed to feel as if it is snowing.

Although this is a rudimentary experience of the 4D technology, it still gives a good idea of what could be to come.

So far the market for 3D televisions in the home has been getting off to a slow art.

Although people are prepared to pay for a smart 3D TV found at Appliances Direct, they are less willing to fork out for something that means they can only watch it when wearing special glasses.

On top of that there are a limited number of programs made for 3D at present, and until there is more choice, many consumers are simply not prepared to hand over their hard earned cash for something they will only use some of the time.

What do you think? Have you bought a 3D TV, and would you want theaters to start spraying water at you to give you a “4D” experience?

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Setting Up Your House For Musical Children

November 7, 2012 by 5 Comments
matthew plays guitar

matthew plays guitar (Photo credit: emdot)

For parents with musically inclined children, noise levels around the house are a prime concern. The moment your child brings companions and drums, along with other items like guitars, an acoustic guitar tuner, amplifiers and the like, you’re probably scurrying for cover.

The good news is, solutions do exist for these noise problems, and they happen to be surprisingly low-cost. In fact, you might actually find the two needed items lying around the house. This saves you from having to make a trip to the store, unless the items are truly nonexistent. It’s safe to say that such a situation won’t be the case, so you’re covered.

Having said that, let’s not waste any more time. You’re looking for a solution, so here’s two immediate ways to maintain the auditory peace. Not only will you keep noise levels manageable, but also, your neighbors just might thank you for your consideration.

1. Use a curtain.

As mentioned, you can find this around the house. It’s highly unlikely that you don’t have at least one extra set of curtains, so there’s no need to purchase anything. As this article points out, a floor-to-ceiling curtain is best, and the thicker the better.

The good thing about a curtain is that you can manipulate the item to change how the sound reverberates. Feel free to speak with your child about this opened-or-closed setting, and try to reach a compromise about their music and your auditory peace.

2. Use blankets to muffle extraneous sound.

It’s highly likely that the band members will already do this for themselves. Muffling extraneous sound is a common part of preparation, so it probably won’t be your job to do. However, just in case it is, go ahead and muffle the sounds using blankets or other such items.

Just like curtains, thicker blankets are better for trapping sound, and your child might just thank you for saving him or her the trouble of having to do things singlehandedly.

3. Have them go to a recording studio.

Worst comes to worst, the best way to eliminate sound is to eliminate the source. It makes sense that professional recording studios are infinitely better, in terms of both sound quality and the ability to manage the intensity of the sound itself. There may be a bit of a price, but then you have to decide what matters most. Just find an acceptable compromise.

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Sleep Number m7 Memory Foam Queen-Size Bed Review

September 14, 2012 by 13 Comments

When Sleep Number offered to send us a Sleep Number m7 Memory Foam Bed to review, I was beyond thrilled. Chris and I had been sleeping on the mattress and box spring we got for a wedding present from my parents, and we had been sleeping badly. Tossing, turning, constantly trying to find a comfortable position. The Sleep Number m7 Memory Foam Bed saved our sleep!

It started with two very nice deliverymen coming to the house to set the bed up. I snapped a photo with my phone – it’s a little blurry, but you can see our wooden bed frame on the bottom, and then the Sleep Number foundation going on top of that:

Sleep Number Bed Install

I was impressed by the delivery and set up. The installers were friendly yet quick, it was less than a half hour total.  Once the bed was assembled, Chris and I got a quick tutorial in how to adjust the air chambers with the included remote. The highest setting is 100. Each side of the bed is controlled separately, and it’s so quiet. I can adjust my side while Chris is asleep, the only sound is a faint hum. Chris’ sleep number is 75, mine is 50:

Sleep Number m7 Memory Foam Bed Review Table for Five

I wasn’t able to do this, but if you visit a Sleep Number store, they will use 3D imaging to show you where your pressure points are when you lay down, and how the Sleep Number mattress adjusts until those points are supported. When you find the right number, you’ll almost feel like you are floating!

When chatting with friends about the Sleep Number bed, I get asked two questions – 1. is it really comfortable? and 2. is it worth the money?  My answers to both are YES.  Insomnia has been a part of my life for years. Laying in bed not able to fall asleep, trying different positions and pillow arrangements.

I have not had a SINGLE NIGHT of insomnia since getting the Sleep Number Bed and spending a few nights right at the beginning finding the perfect setting.  SERIOUSLY people, this is HUGE.  I lay down and am asleep within minutes on most nights.  I used to wake up and climb out of bed stiff and achy, now I just…wake up.  I know the m7 Memory Foam bed is pricy, but please don’t let that stop you from checking out all the beds that are available. 36 month financing may be available to you, there’s a 20 year limited warranty, and beds start at just  $699. You can even try one out in your home for 30 days!

What makes the m7 Memory Foam bed special is the Memory Foam itself. If you’ve ever tried sleeping on a memory foam mattress, you know that one of the drawbacks is that it holds in body heat. The m7 Memory Foam is different! It has 3-inches of CoolFit™ foam with gel technology for a cool, soothing sleeping surface.  Night sweats are part of my life as I am in perimenopause, but with the CoolFit foam, I’m waking up much less sweaty. That is MUCH appreciated by both me and my husband :)

I can’t thank Sleep Number enough for this amazing opportunity! The Sleep Number m7 Memory Foam Queen Size Bed has completely changed how I feel when I wake up in the morning, and that’s just priceless. I’ll be telling everyone I know that they need to get down to the Sleep Number store at the mall and see for themselves how much better they can be sleeping!

Connect with Sleep Number on their Facebook page – facebook.com/sleepnumber

 

disclosure: I received a free Sleep Number® m7 Memory Foam bed to review from Select Comfort / Sleep Number for this post.

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National Clean Out Your Garage Day is Today!

September 8, 2012 by 8 Comments

That’s right, National Clean Out Your Garage Day is today, September 8, 2012.  For us, cleaning out our garage always starts with one huge job – the recycling. I get packages delivered every week, in cardboard boxes of all sizes, and they get tossed into the garage.  When the pile gets too big, Chris and I and whatever kids are around break the boxes down, stack them up in the back of our van, and drive them to the Granger recycling center.

While we’re at it, we also bag up plastic laundry detergent bottles, pizza boxes, kitty litter boxes, glass jars, newspapers, and magazines. All of which have been hanging out in our one-car garage that we never park a car in :)    After we run all of that over to Granger, we do a second run to the grocery store with all of our pop bottles and cans – Michigan has a bottle deposit law, so we pay an extra 10 cents per bottle but get it back when we return them.  So that, for us, is the first step in cleaning out our garage.

obviously not my garage – the floor of mine hasn’t been that clean since we moved in :)

For National Clean Out Your Garage Day, I’m working with Crawford, ACE, and Quickie to encourage all of you to REALLY clean out your garages!  They sent me these great products:

  • Crawford 16″ Adjustable Storage Organizer – great for hanging up brooms, rakes and other supplies with long handles
  • Crawford Sliding Spring Grip Organizer – Grips slide into position anywhere along the bar and are guaranteed to never lose tension
  • Quickie 2-in-1 Squeegee Pushbroom – Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the broom sweeps away dirt and debris, and the squeegee takes care of water (I think that means I have to actually HOSE DOWN my garage floor!)
  • ACE Multi-surface Pushbroom – Sweeps away heavy debris including caked-on dirt, gravel and construction materials (ahem, like the sawdust Chris never cleans up after he builds something lol)
  • Lysol Sponges: Super absorbent and safe on most surfaces

So now all I need is my helpers, for it not to rain, and a couple of hours, and I should have a clean garage floor!

How often do you clean your garage? Share any cleaning tips in the comments!

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Rugs to Brighten Up Your Floor

July 19, 2012 by 12 Comments

One of the biggest decisions you could possibly make about your home’s décor is to choose a rug that’s the right color. By looking to someone like modernrugs.co.uk, you’ll find that they come in many different colors, but knowing which one is right for your home is tough.

Following trends can be difficult, but choosing something that’s only briefly trendy isn’t right. At the moment, cool gold and green, silvers, mauves and greys are out of fashion, while earthy shades like light blue, khaki, suede and warm green are currently in. While beige is seen as dull, it’s a color which works because of its utilitarian qualities.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing a rug color. The massive choice confronting consumers is enough to make your head spin, but you’ll want to choose one that fits in with your home. Here are some useful tips:

• If the rug is going to be walked on regularly, spills, dirt and stains could happen regularly. While lighter carpets can be treated to resist stains, darker rugs tend to cope better.
• Rugs can be used to either lighten up or tone down a room. For darker rooms, red is ideal, while lighter colors such as sky blue could be just the thing for lighter rooms.
• If the rug’s color matches your personality, that could be useful. If you’re a casual, relaxed sort of person, then warm colors might work, while those who like detail will go for blue, black, gray and white tones.
• You could have a rug which fits in with your existing décor or have it as a room’s focal point. You won’t want it to clash with all the other furniture, as it could ruin your whole interior.
• If you’re confused, then choose beige. It’s safe, goes with just about every design and the best beige rugs are durable and can cope with just about any daily wear.
Whether or not you have a color in mind, by going to Modern Rugs, you could find the inspiration you’re looking for, with rugs of all shades in stock.

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