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Leslie on the Today Show
Every so often I get the opportunity to do a segment on the Today Show, now I am a total Today Show junkie so these rare opportunities are just thrilling for me. Here are two previous days that I got to do home improvement segments for The Today Show each filled with good tips and tricks for your home. I immediately felt at home with Lester Holt since Lester was the nickname my sisters gave me as a kid. Take a look; even though the segments were short we got a lot of information out there. You can even find out how to make a shower curtain out of a bed sheet, a pretty fabric organizer, how to stop drafty windows, and even a faucet recommendation. The Today Show - December 31, 2005 Quick Fix It Tips For Home Improvement and Decorating 
Weather Strip Outlets The outlets on exterior walls of your home or apartment are a major source of energy leaks and drafts in your home. With sky high energy costs this winter season every cent counts. A quick fix to stop the air leaks are to remove the outlet plates from the wall and use a thin weather stripping along the edge on the back side around all four edges. Make sure the weather stripping sits right inside the back side edge on all four edges and does not over lap. When the cover plate is replaced you have an airtight fixture. Caulking Drafty Windows Shut 
Windows that are not properly insulated because they are single pane glass or have a wood or aluminum frame can add unnecessary spending to the costs of heating a home, while replacing them is the best option there is an inexpensive fix. Windows that are really drafty can be sealed shut with removable caulk. The caulk is placed around the window itself so the window is no longer operable, eliminating a huge amount of drafts and heat leakage. The caulk is then removable at the end of the cold season. Be sure that you are leaving a window open and accessible in the event of an emergency, while the caulk is quickly and easily removable you do not want add precious time if there is need to use the window as an egress.
Bed Sheet Shower Curtain If you want an easy fix up to liven up your bathroom space then change that shower curtain, but purchasing a high quality fabric shower curtain can be very costly and doesn't leave much room to have a unique look. A full flat 
sheet can be purchased at any budget level and sales abound this time of year making it a great time to tackle this easy project. The bed sheet is already finished on all four sides so there is zero need for sewing and bedding is available in just about any color, print, style, some even have added embellishments of embroidery to give it that lush hotel look. Fold the top edge over 3" all along the width of the sheet and press with steam to secure and fold another 3" and press and steam again, we are not sewing so the grommets will hold this hem in place. By simply adding grommets along the top edge at every 6" on center and 2" from the top edge you can create a shower curtain of your own. Use any style of shower hook you like to hang your simple creation but remember to use a plastic liner curtain so you don't have any water splashing all around your stylish new bath.
Kitchen and Bath Cabinet Fix Up Such a simple idea but sometimes those are the best, adding hardware or just updating the look of existing cabinet hardware can bring a space a whole new look. New pulls are so easy to install especially when using a mounting guide to ensure proper knob and pull placement. This finishing touch is the final little detail that completes the design and style of your kitchen or bath. Recaulking Your Bath Stop! Before you go any further is your tub filled with water? No, well fill it up. Why? While caulk is flexible, if you caulk the bath without water in it, when it dries and you get ready to take that bath the weight of the water will cause the caulk to pull away from where the tub and wall meet allowing water to get behind the caulk and cause mold growth and it will also shorten the life of the caulk because it will not be able to expand to its full capacity when the tub is full. If you fill the tub with water before you caulk, the weight is not an issue, let the caulk dry and drain the tub. The caulk will have good seal and you can be confident that nothing is getting behind it. Let's even take this one step further and use a caulk that is antimicrobial which means it will never grow mold and not be that cleaning nightmare you face every time you clean that bath. 
Hand Crafted Organizer
This is a great way to use that left over holiday ribbon that you just adore or a fun way to showcase that beautiful piece of fabric that you just do not know where to put. Start with apiece of homasote, a paper board, cut to the size of organizer you would like, an 18" x 24" is a good size organizer, cut your fabric to 22" x 28" and secure the fabric to the back side using a staple gun. It is important to remember when securing the fabric to start at the center of two opposing sides to secure the fabric tightly and then work your way outward to the corners. Next lay out your ribbons in a grid or crisscross pattern and secure those to the back side by using a staple gun as well. You can now secure your important items by clipping them to the ribbon, hanging cards over the ribbon, tucking items in areas where the ribbon overlaps, or just simply with thumbtacks to hold the item into the homasote. Attach a picture hanger the back or lean against your desk or work surface and start the New Year off on an organized foot. | |||
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Email leslie@lesliesegrete.com
Copyright 2007 Leslie Segrete Web design by John Hawkins Gordon |