The Raging Tech

May Flowers Bring Sneezing Showers? Go Silk!

Put Your Ugly Mug on Anything

That’s right. You can put your ugly mug on anything, even an ugly mug! Or a t-shirt, or a mouse pad [Note: despite popular opinion, mouse pads are not feminine protection for mice], or a calendar, or just about anything else that can be printed on.

What’s even better is you don’t have to sacrifice quality to get them cheap! The last two or three times I’ve needed business cards for several enterprising ventures of mine, I’ve had them printed up with VistaPrint. If you’re a first time customer, they can give you some basic cards for free (you just pay shipping). You can also get other free stuff as a way to try out their services.

If you’re a regular customer, they send you e-mails with huge discounts on stationary, calendars, business cards, and other cool print items and personalized office accessories. If you haven’t heard of them before, be sure and check them out for just about any of your print needs. You can even order checks with your design on it! Shipping is fast and inexpensive, and their packaging is unique! My cards always come in a white box that can be easily folded back and used as a display holder for my desk. I’ve also purchased a cool metal business card holder, so my cards don’t get all bended in my wallet or pocket.

Keep It Green: Light Your Yard with Solar Power

Yes, I am aware that during the daylight hours, everyone’s yard is lit by solar power. Unless you live in one of those parts of the planet where it’s night for months at a time. But what I’m talking about is enviro-friendly landscape lighting for your yard or property at night. I’ve written previously of the obvious energy efficiency benefits of using LED lighting.

Now, with LED lighting becoming more and more popular, the price has finally come to a point that makes solar landscape lighting for your yard at home or your business landscape an affordable reality. It also means that you’re doing your part to reduce the amount of energy you use and lightening your impact on the environment.

If you don’t already have outdoor lighting, try adding in a decorative tree, or lighting your walk way, or just place lights further out into your yard to increase safety and usability of your yard after dark.

Plan Your Wedding Online

So you proposed or were proposed to a few months back, and you’re probably planning a spring wedding, right? Maybe not this year, maybe next year, or maybe you’re just sitting around daydreaming and want to see what options you might want for your own wedding?

There are quite a few sites out there for planning your wedding, most notably The Knot, where you can track all the main details and let people know about your wedding. However, if you’re a net-savvy shopper like I’ve tried to teach you to be, you want to find all the wedding resources online you can and comparison shop and read articles, etc.

Check out 1WeddingSource.com, and you can find all the information you need to plan that perfect Houston Wedding, or Hawaii, or Paris, or the beach, or wherever your dream wedding may take place. Nowadays you can find the perfect dress, the right decorations, a chapel, a chaplain, a limo, and even plan the honeymoon online and save some money in the process.

So stop dreaming - go take a look and do some research, and have the best wedding you possibly can on your particular budget. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my friends who have gotten married recently, it’s that weddings aren’t cheap and it’s your special day - so make it good.

Things From TV: Extreme Makeover Window Coverings

Now, I haven’t really watched too many of these home makeover shows - I think the last one I really watched much at all was “Trading Spaces” on TLC where the couples redecorated or renovated their neighbor’s or friend’s houses.

However, these types of shows are always a blast. Just yesterday I kept thinking that one day when I am able to own my own home, I’d love to do cool projects to it or design it from scratch. I really dig modern architecture, home fixtures, and cool furniture.

I found the company that provides the show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” with window coverings online. It’s a company called Select Blinds, and they have some really nice window treatments.

It’s also really nice that they’re able to help those families that get selected on the show. They have all styles of blinds (my favorite so far are the wooden blinds) and shades, at really decent prices. I really like the wooden shades, so be sure and check those out if you’re looking to give your house an “extreme makeover.”