Showing posts with label All Home. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Christian Hommel: Interior Architect

Christian Hommel and I met through an exchange program. He came and visited America from Germany well over a decade ago as an exchange student. He didn't live with my family, although we did host multiple exchange students, but we became long time friends. We where much closer pen pals in my early pre-teens and some what lost touch in my college years but Facebook recently reconnected us. He and I have traveled similar paths in life over vast distances and I think his amazing young career deserves checking out!

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Home Automation Product Review: First Alert PIR725 Motion Sensing Light Socket

First Alert PIR725

Motion Sensing Light Socket

This is one of the first light switch or bulb products I purchased to help automate my home's lighting. Like my previous review of the Ivation Night Light, I would recommend you set up a home automation system for around $300 instead of buying this product. It works well enough and allows you to use cheap light bulbs instead of the expensive home automation bulbs, but home automation bulbs last forever and if you move you could just replace them with cheap bulbs.

The First Alert Motion Sensing Light Socket just screws into your light socket, the same way you screw in a bulb. Before you put the socket in, I prefer to screw the bulb into First Alert but the choice is yours. Either way make sure you turn the light switch off prior to screwing in your bulb or First Alert Motion Sensor.

The PIR725 and most First Alert products are not Z-wave or Zigbee compatible. So if you have a home automation system and purchase this product, you will not be able to control your lights with your remotes, phone, or computer. This also means if you have a home automation system you will not be able to see when your lights are on or track electricity usage. The upside of this product is that it stands alone and is cheaper than an automation system. Anytime you walk past it your lights will turn on, so it uses a small amount of electricity at all times because the light switch is always on. I have two of these sensors. They cost about $39.99 + shipping (if you are not an Amazon Prime member). I would happily sell the first person to comment on this blog post my two sensors for $70 with free shipping. You can also contact me on Twitter @DesaraeV.

Please note: At the time of this review, First Alert has never sent me free products, discounts, or money to write a review. I do receive a few pennies anytime you click on one of my pictures or links and purchase products on Amazon, but if you like my blog consider it a small contribution to help me continue my writing habits. If you are interested in purchases this product on Amazon, Click here.

Home Automation Product Review: Ivation 6 LED Automatic Motion-sensing Night Light

Ivation 6 LED Automatic Motion-sensing Night Light

Battery Powered Hallway Light with a Built in Motion and Light Sensor and adjustable light timer

I bought this light when I first bought my house, sometime in early 2014. At the time, I wanted a way to light up the basement when I did laundry or got home from work. The light switch for my basement is not directly next to the door and there are multiple lights and switches. I hate basements and poor lighting so this was kind of a double whammy for me.

Before I knew about home automation, I discovered the Ivation 6. It works well enough and the batteries in it are still going strong but it works like a night light and is not incredibly bright. The motion sensors work very very well considering how small the product is and how far away I was when needing it to sense me. I'm writing this review nearly a year after I purchased the product (guessing $15?), so I do not remember how much it originally cost me but I'd happily send someone mine for $3+ shipping.

My recommendation is to pay the $300 to setup a DIY home automation system. Use Philips Hues, Levitron, or Wink to automate all your lights. If you need a stand alone bathroom light or kids room night light, this is probably great for that. If you want to buy this on Amazon, click here.

Please note, I was not paid to write this review. Ivation is not one of my blog sponsors. However, the links to Amazon do give me a few pennies, but only if you make a purchase.

Review: Home Automation Wish List

Smart Home Automation

Overview
Some of the following wish list items already exist, in one form or another. Most items on this wish list currently require some additional level of work to integrate into home automation or do not exist in the United States and/or may not easily purchased from a trusted source like SmartThings, Home Depot, or Amazon. For items that do not exist, a use case has been provided.

This list & the case study is not complete, more updates will be made later. Just got tired of writing. Stay tuned.

Download or View Google Doc with Home Automation Case Study

Wish List

1. Outdoor Home Automation Products

Solar Powered
Outdoor lights
Watering system for garden
Parrot integration
Fence monitoring (motion, laser)
Driveway monitoring (motion, underground car detection)

Business Review: Capos Italian speakeasy in Las Vegas being Serenaded & Vegas Tips @desaraev #travel

Capos Italian Speakeasy

I highly recommend visiting this lovely steakhouse if you are in Vegas. It is off the beaten path and a reservation is recommended but not required. The setup is just like an old fashioned speakeasy and the door requires buzzing (yes they are open even if you can't figure out the door). Once inside the lighting is extremely dark and they give you keychain lights to read the menu. The food is amazing. If you want a rare steak, make sure to say you want it extra bloody. The food is filling and comes in very large portions. Check it out, you will not regret it. From food to music this place is a hit.

Business Tips: Tips for setting up a new website

Have you looked up which words would get you the best ranking? SEOmoz is a great tool but I would also recommend trying Google Adwords. Yes, that is the tool for paid ranking but you can also use it to cross reference your target audience to determine what keywords people are searching for. You do not have to pay for an add to use their keyword tool.

JOURNAL (DIARY) ENTRY: Personal lives on a shelf #tbt

Blogging your personal life is basically like putting your personal life on a public shelf and waiting to be scrutinized. I started this new blog on the 17th. So I've been writing and publishing entries for about a week.

JOURNAL (DIARY) ENTRY: Just one more day

It's hard for me to keep a diary. Some days are exciting and full of adventure, but those are also the days I feel like I don't have enough time. Certainly not enough time to reflect on life or to write a blog. Today is just one more day. It's one of the average days. Nothing extraordinary happened to me today.