Friday's Click Picks

• The 50 Best Inventions of 2009, everything from the Aids Vaccine to the $10 Million Dollar Lightbulb (Time Magazine, thanks Robyn for the link!)
•  All about Google Wave (which I have yet to be invited to... sadly)(Google)
• How to make 90-second waffle cookies! (Curbly)
  

Design Quick-Fix: Protecting Your Floors with Felt

My new apartment has hard wood-esque laminate flooring. Hoorah, no more wall-to-wall carpet! However, this meant that I had to prepare my wood furniture for the floor so I wouldn't scratch it to death from day one.


My only option for this according to Bed, Bath & Beyond are overpriced felt furniture pads - such as these.

But here's what they don't want you to know... are you ready for the quickfix bombshell? Michael's and other stores sell entire 8.5x11" sheets of adhesive backed felt that work just as good if not better than these specific furniture pads!

 
I'd argue that they're even better because you can get whatever color you want, they're only about $1.25 each, and you can cut them to whatever size you need.


So next time you are hardwood floor-proofing your furniture pieces, head right for the craft store and save yourself some moola.

Thursday's Click-Picks

• For the first time since the award was created, the Oscars will nominate 5 films for Best Animated Feature (not just three)(Slashfilm)
•  Toilet Paper Wall Art - A DIY Tutorial (Design Sponge)
•  16 Ways to survive a Stephen King story (AV Club)
  

Chalkboards: They're Not Just for School Anymore

An old mirror gets new life as a gorgeous chalkboard at FullHouse

Recently, a friend of mine was surprised to find out that chalkboard paint is readily available and used often now in home decorating. As a fan of house blogs for a year now, I've noticed tons of great uses for chalkboard paint that result in practical and surprisingly chic results in the home.


It's readily available at most stores and Lowe's even carries chalkboard spray paint to make your DIY even easier.


If you'd like to make your own chalkboard paint from any shade - here are instructions from Martha Stewart Living:


Start with flat-finish latex paint in any shade. For small areas, such as a door panel, mix 1 cup at a time.

1. Pour 1 cup of paint into a container. Add 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Mix with a paint stirrer, carefully breaking up clumps.
2. Apply paint with a roller or a sponge paintbrush to a primed or painted surface. Work in small sections, going over the same spot several times to ensure full, even coverage. Let dry.
3. Smooth area with 150-grit sandpaper, and wipe off dust.
4. To condition: Rub the side of a piece of chalk over entire surface. Wipe away residue with a barely damp sponge.

And to get you inspired, here's a bunch more ways to utilize chalkboards for something more amazing than homework assignments...

Message Center

A favorite of mine - the Chalkboard fridge!

Children's Bathroom

Magnetic Chalkboard (created with a coat of magnetic paint, then a coat of chalkboard paint)

Last but not least, the most amazing use I've seen, the Chalkboard Paint Dining Room table! Check it out here at Design*Sponge.

Wednesday's Click Picks

• How Movies with Ambiguous Endings Really End - College Humor's proposed endings to Lost in Translation, The Sopranos, and more (Via Slashfilm)
• 23 Product Designs inspired by "Qwerty" Keyboards (Listsgalore)
• The Evolution of the Cell Phone, Russian Doll style (via Curbly)

Disney's Halloween Costume Contest

Obviously, I was in very good company with my Up! costume.

To my right, Michael won 2nd place in the Disney category. His Russell Costume was too perfect.

For more about my costume and how to make your own, please click here and here.

Also, in case you missed it, Up! just came out on DVD and Blu-ray yesterday.

Tuesday's Click Picks

• 17 Things You Can Put in your Dishwasher (like Baseball caps and potatoes!) (via Apartment Therapy)
• 7 Muppets Kicked Off Sesame Street (Mental Floss)
• Window Shopping: It's Target Time - Sherry and John's great showcase of the latest Target home products (Young House Love)