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Want Some Egg-blog?

Posted on June 04, 2013

The Chick and The Tick

We all get a little creeped out about bed bugs, right and with good reason. They are nasty little critters. But this past week, I had another kind of unwanted guests in my bed - TICKS. Ticks love the wet humid weather we've been having.  As a gardener and dog owner, I know I put myself at risk for more tick exposure but never expected the creepy critters to end up in my bed.  So lying in bed watching TV, I had  an itch on my neck.  The itch was actually a tick… crawling slowly up my neck.  Gross!

Posted on May 03, 2013

HIP Chicks Online Repair Course - Your Home Repair Rescue

HIP Chicks Online Video Home Repair Course

 

Be the woman who handles clogs, plugs, disposers and more.
Be the woman who tackles home issues, not waiting on men to get around to it.
Be the woman who is a smart, capable and confident homeowner.
Be a Wonder Woman. 
Be a HIP Chick.
 
Stop waiting for contractors to call back or not show at all. Stop nagging a man. Learn DIY basics and get it done girls.
Save money on big ticket repairs that have simple solutions. Hey We've got a special deal for newsletter subscribers. Here's a sneak peek...

Click here to preview

Package includes:

50+ minute HD video with Step-by-Step instructions for the DIY beginner
Printable TIP sheets
Lifetime unlimited access to watch when you need help
No video to download - streams from our site
Exclusive Monthly DIY Tele-Seminar

 

Posted on April 25, 2013

HIP Chicks Tips are a Real Eye Opener

So thrilled to be a regular feature on PHL 17. Tune in Monday mornings for Eye Opener from 6-8am. 

The HIP Chicks' feature airs just about 6:45, so set your DVR if you are not an early bird! 

Here is a clip of a recent segment on easy, must do paint tips! 

This is not like most morning newscasts. It is fun and quirky, like HIP Chicks.

Let us know what DIY home tips you want to learn more about. Write us using the contact page. 

Posted on February 24, 2013

It's Hot N It's Cold - My Refrigerator's Old

Nothing is pleasant about walking into your kitchen at 6:30 am to find your stocking feet in a puddle of water.  My refrigerator had stopped working and the entire ice cube pan had begun to defrost and spill onto the floor.  Fortunately, the food items were still frozen and/or cold enough to be safe, so I moved them to our second fridge.  Now to diagnose the prob

Posted on January 28, 2013

New Year, New Project List - How to get started

It's been a busy month here at HIP Chicks.  I hope you have had a great start to 2013.  I am feeling really blessed as some great new opportunities are developing.  It's hard to believe it has been 18 months since it all started.  HIP Chicks will be headed on down to the Philly Home Show for a spot on the Xfinity stage.  I'll be there on Wednesday Feb 6th at 12, 3 and 7pm, tackling chair re-upholstery, tile backsplashes and a vanity facelift.  Hope you can come by for some inspiration and hands-on DIY direction!  On stage volunteers needed

Posted on December 20, 2012

'Twas a DIY Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a tool was a-working, not even the Mouse.
The wrenches were hung by the workbench with care,
In hopes that the HIP Chick soon would be there.
The drill bits were nestled all snug in their bin
While visions of lumber made their tips spin.
And Pappa with his tool belt, and I in my cap
Had just woken up from a homeowner’s nap,
When out on the driveway there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the garage I flew like a flash,
Tore open the door and heard a big crash.

Posted on December 17, 2012

Deck the Halls and Spruce up!

Tis the season… for holiday guests!  That can be a good thing or a bad thing.  With your holiday to-do list filled with shopping, cooking, cleaning and errands, you may find yourself overwhelmed to see things around the house needing attention before guests arrive.  So, if the expectation of overnight guests has you screaming “Bah Hum Bug”, try these fast, cheap and easy DIY tricks to impress your guests and have your home relative-ready!

*Carpet stains – Of course, you would love to call one of those 2 day carpet install services, but right now your money is going under the tree. To tackle nasty stains try DIY carpet cleaning.  Rent a cleaning machine for about $30. Don’t use soap, only hot water.  Soap residue attracts more dirt. Pre-treat areas with a product called Capture – the most recommended carpet cleaner by flooring pros.  If you just cannot get that stain out, cover it up with a pretty area rug that compliments your room. No one will ever have to know!

*End table water rings – Could your coffee table sing about its “5 Gold Rings”?  Maybe your family left one too many glasses on the table and wore away your table’s finish.  Don’t sweat it. You can rub out those rings with a paste made of water and non-gel toothpaste or water and fireplace ash. Rub the paste into the ring, let dry and polish as usual.  Dab on a little wood stain if you have a matching one. Lemon oil will provide a natural clear shine.

*Slow moving drains – Don’t let your guests’ little piggy toes sit in stagnant shower water.  Clear your drains quickly and without chemicals using the Zip-It Stick. This $4 plastic tool from the Home Depot will pull hairy clogs from your sinks, tubs and showers. Your guests will be squeaky clean from head to toe.

*Stained Sofa Seats – Don’t flip out; just flip them over for more even wear.  Are your seats worn on both sides? Use a 20% off coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond for easy, practical slip covers. In a real pinch, tuck a pretty throw blanket along the seat, fluff some pillows and forget about it!

*Oh Holey Wall – Did you find a hole left in the wall from kids, pets or from Uncle Lou’s elbow after having too much eggnog?  If you have a day or two before guests arrive, you have time to patch, spackle and paint.  Be sure to sand and let spackle dry between coats. Apply primer over spackle before the touch up of color for more even finish.  When time is running out, shop Home Goods for a piece of art and deal with the hole in the New Year.  It’s our little secret.

*Locks don’t fail me now- Do you have a bathroom or bedroom door that just won’t latch or lock?  It can be a challenge to suddenly share your space with the out of towners.  To ensure everyone gets a little moment of privacy, try to tweak your door latches. Oftentimes, the strike plate (metal plate of door jamb) has to be unscrewed, and realigned.  If you cannot get things lined up easily, consider adding an eye hook on the inside of the room. For under $3, you provide privacy while only making a small hole that you can patch later.


The holidays are supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy your loved ones.  So don’t make yourselves too crazy. No home is perfect. Making memories matters most.  But it is understood that we all want our homes to look and function at their best for our guests.  With a little time and some creativity, your place can be as pretty as a gingerbread house.

 

Photo from deborahvogts.blogspot.com

Posted on December 15, 2012

All Fired Up over How I was Wired Up

Last week, I was getting ready for bed and noticed lights flickering.  I brushed it off; maybe it was the sump pump or the water softener running through a cycle.  After a few minutes of the disco lights, I just had to investigate it. Lights in my room and my son’s room were blinking more now and then suddenly shut off. I headed to the circuit breaker box and found that no circuits had been tripped. That was odd. Years ago, I had taken time to map my home’s electrical pathways, so I was able to trace the other switches and outlets on the same circuit. I found two of the outlets still worked while 6 others were dead.  My gut told me this was not a good situation.  So, before heading to bed, I made a very wise decision to shut off the affected circuit breaker. 

 

In the daylight of a new day, I started tracing the pathway of the circuit to troubleshoot.  There must have been a faulty switch or outlet that stopped the flow of power.  With the breaker in the off position, I opened up several switches and outlets. I found a melted outlet in my son’s room.  This outlet had burned wires and a melted plastic casing.  I was horrified to find such a fire hazard in my kid’s wall. I removed the outlet and headed to the Home Depot. The pros in the electrical department told me what happened.  The outlet was arcing. This is when the flow of electricity moves through the air from one conductor to another. Arcing can produce flashes and flames. The wire entering the back of the outlet “arced” with the wire on the side until melting of wires and plastic caused the flow of power to stop.  The outlet had been wired within building codes regulations but not by the most recommended electrical standards. Had I left the circuit live when I went to bed, the outlet may have continued to arc, creating a growing a fire hazard.  It has since been replaced and juices are flowing again.

 

I find myself not feeling very comfortable with the potential for this to happen in my home again. I think we will be having more outlets checked and replaced in the near future!  I want to pass on some simple tips to keep the electricity safely flowing at your house:

*Take time to map out the electrical circuits in your home. Use a working boom box or a portable lamp to see if the power turns off to each outlet as you turn off circuit breakers. Draw a map of each room and number the outlets, switches and built-in fixtures that are on each breaker.  Circuits may be wired to various rooms so don’t be surprised by the crazy paths the wires take! Store the map in a plastic Ziploc bag on the breaker box cover so it is handy.

*Buy a simple circuit tester that you can use to check outlet voltages.

*If you experience blinking, flickering, sparks, random dimming and other disruptions in electrical flow, do not ignore it. Shut off the circuit breaker and unplug affected items.  Call a pro.

*If circuits often trip (shut off automatically), they are probably overloaded and need a pro to redistribute the power or add a new circuit.

*Never cut off grounding plugs from the three prong cords.  Be mindful of extension cords and surge protectors. Do not overload or run cords under carpets and other flammables, especially with holiday  season upon us!

*Do not attempt to troubleshoot or repair electrical issues unless you are highly experienced and qualified to do so.  Your safety is the priority.

 

If you have concern over electrical issues at your home, be sure to hire a licensed, insured and reputable serviceman.  When I am in over my head and need a pro, I call Thome Electric in Horsham.  As a homeowner, it is vital that you understand how your home works, what issues needs a little DIY attention and which issues are a red flag to seek a professional’s help.  Do it for your family’s safety. Do it for peace of mind!
 

Posted on November 21, 2012

Do You Fear the Peel? Practical Tips to Keep Your Garbage Disposer Running

One of the most dreaded home appliance malfunctions is the garbage disposer. It seems to always break when company is en route and you are elbow deep in potato peels. At some point though, you may have had the little garbage pail beside the sink to collect the food waste, so the trash can did not grow too fragrant.

Today, most of us rely on the hidden ‘In-Sinkerator.” This hard-working device pulverizes waste for us, but too often it is an appliance that we use and abuse. I have heard crazy tales of things homeowners have tried to pass through its steel blades. The garbage disposal is a pretty tough machine but deserves some respect to keep it working and you safe.

 

Here are some tips and sticks to keep that disposer working hard and your drains flowing.

• Run tap water before and after turning on and off the disposal.

• Cold water is better than hot – seems odd right? You may think hot water melts the grease but hot water makes the grease coat the pipe walls. Cold congeals the greasy goo, pushing it along.

• Don't over-stuff the disposal, blades need room to rotate.                                         

• Toss handful of ice cubes in every few weeks to sharpen blades.

• Drop in lemon sections to deodorize (cut off rinds first).

• Avoid string fruit and veggies like bananas and celery

• Avoid raw meats.

• Never use liquid drain cleaners in garbage disposer – they can ruin motor parts and become a splash danger to you or your repair man.

• If jammed, never put your hand into disposer; use long spoon handle or pliers to grab debris.

• If jammed, use a disposer wrench to loosen blades from underneath the motor casing.

 

Simple maintenance and proper use can keep your disposer running smoothly. If you need a new one, invest in a good quality unit with enough horsepower to meet your family’s needs. Also, make sure the contractor who installs it gives you the warranty information and that you store the disposer wrench in an easy to find spot!

Posted on November 16, 2012

Up on the Roof Top, Is One HIP Chick

Hurricane Sandy kinda blew me away, well really, just the shingles on my shed roof.  We were fortunate. That old roof was pretty worn so it was not much of a surprise that a number of shingles blew off.  However, the missing shingles revealed a bigger issue; a large hole from wood rot left a large corner of the shed open to the elements. I had hoped to put this on the “Chickie-Do list” in the spring, but Sandy had other plans for my weekend.

I shall not bore you with the basics of shingling a roof.  I want to encourage and inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and try a Do-It-Yourself project of your own.  Maybe there is a project you need to do or want to do, but something is holding you back.  Here’s a little secret: I had never touched a shingle until this past weekend.  And you, too, are capable of more than you think!
Now, let me be crystal clear, if this roof rehab had been on the main roof of my home, I would have called my insurance agent, public adjuster and contractor.  I would have not tackled this nor suggest you tackle large roofing repairs on your own.  Leave that to the pros.  It can just be too dangerous for homeowners to act all “weekend warrior” like and then suffer real harm or death from a fall.  My project only involved a 10 ft x 12 ft shed that sat 8 feet off the ground.  But again, the point is that I had never done a roof. How did I know what to do? How did I know what to buy? What made me think I could do this?

Three things: knowledge, skill, and guts.

Knowledge: the know-how; the familiarity with a subject.  Before I started, I knew shingles were floppy, gritty and needed to be nailed. I understood the simple concept of layering them but had no knowledge of how to start a row, how to cut, how to adhere.  I had to seek others to help me grasp what was missing.  You Tube to the rescue.  Multiple videos reviewed the supply list, the techniques, the pitfalls and the pro tips for a nicely finished product.  I watched several videos, took tips from them all and made a plan.  I took my shopping list to Home Depot and chatted with a pro in building supply and he confirmed my approach. I was armed with knowledge and supplies.  But did I have the skill set?
Skill: competence in performance.  Skill comes over time with practice.  I needed some pretty basic skills for this roof project: ladder safety, use of a hammer and utility knife and good balance!  If you are new to DIY projects start small, grow your skill set and be forgiving if it isn’t just perfect.  Practice on extra materials before you tackle the real thing. The first two shingles I cut were terribly crooked and I even sliced through my wheelbarrow with the circular saw. Stuff happens!
 
Guts: courage; nerve; determination.  The most challenging part of taking on something new, around the house or in life is having confidence to try. Yes, I knew I had the skills to shingle the roof, I sought the knowledge that I lacked. I did have the confidence to climb up there with tools in tow.  Confidence comes from accomplishing the small stuff along the way.  Remember being gutsy never means ignoring safety and common sense!

As I say in my workshops, if you can finish college, survive a divorce, or raise a teenager, you can handle a broken toilet or a floppy shingle.  Plus the pros are out there if you need to throw up your white flag of DIY surrender.  At the beginning of my DIY journey, I started small, too.  Today, I am fearless and smart and as I stood upon my finished roof, I felt like queen of the world, well at least queen of my own back yard!
 

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What Our Clients Say

My kids are to the stage where they are thinking of hiding my ladders and the chain saw from me!

Thanks for your encouragement and your can-do attitude!
MJ

Thanks to HIP Chicks -The DIY Resource for Women, I now know how to unclog a sink, fix a leaky pipe, change a faucet, install a new toilet, or wire an outlet. Man, I'm awesome!
Melissa