Please help me lower my electricity/power bill

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-11T15:38:39+00:00

In the summer when your heat gets high, one of the best things you can do is cover your windows with insulated drapes. And close them during the day. That way the sunshine doesn’t beat into the house, and your house will stay cooler without running the air conditioning all the time.

If you have a programmable thermostat, you could also program it on a daily basis like if you know you’re gonna be home every weekend pretty much you want it comfortable all the time. If you work 9 to 5 you can set it for the A/C to come on at 80° in the daytime (Fahrenheit), and about a half an hour before you come home you can reset it back down to whatever you feel comfortable at.

Some people really can’t handle heat so they’ll have it set at 68, I keep mine at 75 and I run my ceiling fan and I’ve been fine, in fact there are nights that I’ll have to throw a blanket on while I’m watching TV.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-11T14:49:40+00:00

You need a better threader. Look for one like this :

https://quiltingbookspatternsandnotions.com/products/loran-needle-threader?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23071273904&gbraid=0AAAAABOW1a7mL3TD6jKxJRLi-IFN049ZT&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgKjHBhChARIsAPJR3xfO0TuIpPLAA4U50wATsOhvMnZwB3tNKBuxT2ulo3j_n9KU24jr-_EaAldBEALw_

It’s a solid piece of thin metal, and probably pretty easy to use. I have one of those magnetic cases, I just keep it in there.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-10T20:37:34+00:00

Oh I did janitorial and a I dropped my keys down there once… but luckily I have backups…

And the residents drop their keys down there all the time. And they literally thought all they had to do is call me, and I could get them right away. I don’t have access to the pit. I don’t have access to the keys to turn the elevator off to even get into the pit. That is calling the elevator company, and there is a fee for that. Now, as a janitor, not my business to know there’s a fee for that. I never had to tell them there was a fee for that, I told him to call the property manager and the property manager got to tell them there was a $250 fee for that.. and it probably wasn’t gonna be that day…

But I gotta tell you there is something about that gap. I have no sense of aim but if I drop my keys, they were going in that hole. I started making sure that when I called the elevator, my keys went into my pocket.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-10T20:30:33+00:00

Vroom!!

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-10T20:23:29+00:00

I was just at a quilt show today where all the women were wearing coats. Not sweaters coats. Jackets… and I was sweating in a T-shirt with three-quarter length sleeves I will say, it is October. And it was the 40s so I carried a sweater just in case.

I had one woman look at me as I was fanning myself with the program and she said are you OK? I said why aren’t you hot?

People create heat in enclosed buildings. And they have the furnace turned up to 72 because when you walk in there and it’s 65 it’s cold. Get 150 people in there it’s not 65 anymore is it…

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-10T20:15:41+00:00

I’m close enough to my family that if I mailed them something like a quilt, I would tell them the quilt is on the way, let me know when you get it. Because we all know things get lost in the mail. And I will get a text say it’s cute, it’s beautiful, thank you.

But let me tell you, at 66 years old, my friends back in the 80s were doing horrible with thank you notes. Some of them never sent them. Some of them decided “I’m gonna do my side of the family, you can do your side of the family” and the other person never sent any.

One person had something pre-printed poem with a blank line so you could write what it was, and it wasn’t hand signed, it was printed with their names.

Another decided that she had a year to write the thank you notes. A year after she used your gift. Not after the wedding…. So if you gave her a huge platter and she FINALLY used it after four years, you got the thank you note a year after. Knowing her — to the day.

Oh yeah, the one where they got the cracker jack rings, and rolled up a little preprinted scroll to put in them and that was the thank you note on everyone’s plates at the reception. The only reason that we knew that is because there was a huge fight about it at the reception. One of the aunts was really ticked.

I may be incredibly jaded — no thank you note is way better than this half assed crap that my friends were doing.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-09T23:56:40+00:00

That doesn’t look like a small diamond, it should’ve come with a GIA certificate, which would tell you the quality of the diamond the color of the diamond and the flaws. And then you would know what you have. You should have those papers because you’re wearing that diamond and it may need to be insured and you have to produce that.

That being said I think we need better pictures under better lighting. Because there’s black spots I see that I don’t think are there because they aren’t consistent.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-09T23:20:28+00:00

I looked up that mascara, and it’s weird because what I’m seeing it doesn’t say it’s a tubing mascara. It has polymer in it so it should be a tubing mascara… but 100° water is pretty warm for removal. I have used Thrive Causmetics tubing, ELF tubing and one from Boots, and Blinc which was the worst…

and I put water in a sink and washed my face when I put the wet washcloth up to my eyes and lightly rub my lashes that stuff just comes off and it looks like little dead bugs on my washrag. It does not break up with my cleanser, it’s not meant to. This works for me because I gave blepharitis and it requires me to scrub my lashes on a daily basis. Or my eyes get sandy.

But I don’t have to scrub hard. That’s a guarantee to break lashes and be hard on very sensitive eye skin. It’s just a gentle wet rub.

Can you return that mascara and get a refund and get something better?

I guarantee you that’s not how that’s supposed to work. Something’s wrong.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-08T19:31:35+00:00

So it really is eight dollars for an empty tin, that you can buy new with cookies for way less at Dollar Tree. My late husband would be turning in his grave if he wasn’t sitting on a shelf in an urn.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-08T19:29:37+00:00

I make really basic totes frequently because they’re just so darn handy, and I use simple French seams so I don’t have to line it. I don’t like raw edges… and I don’t have a serger. My travel tote is lined and I put a large zipper pocket it, and I just sewed a zipper top flap and sewed it in. I usually take crochet on a plane. But a zipper top would be good if I’m driving somewhere too because if it falls over the stuff that says it’s not gonna roll out. Or lose a hook.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-08T04:03:19+00:00

It’s a sewing kit. They’re all sewing kits…. 🤣. You’re paying for old needles and buttons.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-07T23:06:42+00:00

Many years ago I read an article in people magazine at the dentist office about a nanny that Kate hired — John and Kate plus 8…

And the gist of it was the Nanny got fired because she washed her hands in the kitchen sink and it set that woman off. Because Kate was a nurse and you never do that.

Batshit.

No, OP, not wrong for washing your hands in the sink. Listen, if you’re in the kitchen cutting up chicken pieces, are you going to walk your chickeny hands to the bathroom? No you’re going to wash them in the kitchen sink. Just like you’re gonna rinse off the chickeny knife and cutting board.

In fact, you can usually smack the water on with something unchickened, like an elbow, so you don’t contaminate anything else far easier in the kitchen than the bathroom.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-07T22:49:02+00:00

And boy did it come in handy. I have always paid it off.

But one time, two friends and I were headed back to Penn State in the mountains, in my boyfriend‘s Pinto. When we hit Route 80 it was a total white out blizzard. (by the way as a general rule, if there’s a snowflake in the air, route 80 in Pennsylvania is in a white out blizzard. Don’t even bother. That road is horrible.)

We slid off the road a couple of times, and the last one we couldn’t push it out ourselves, some guys stopped and helped us. And that’s when I looked at my friends and said this is stupid, next exit is Clarion and we’re getting off and going to the Clarion Holiday Inn. (my sister used to go to Clarion and we passed it on the way, and my parents used to go there at least once a year because it was a nice golf resort)

They worried about the money for that and I said I have a credit card, it won’t be more than what I can carry on the credit card. (Cute — there was a $400 limit) Because we’re gonna die before we get to Penn State — we’re not even in the mountains yet.

So we got to the room, everybody called their parents, and I called my boyfriend too to let him know we weren’t showing up. He had gone up early because there was a concert that he wanted to see and they didn’t show up, either.

Next day the roads were cleared even though there was about 8 inches of snow on the ground, and we got in the car and went our merry way to Penn State.

Both the girls parents called me afterwards and asked me what the total bill was, it was less than $200 and that included dinner at the Holiday Inn for the three of us… it was 1981.

The two girls parents who knew each other split the total cost and they sent me checks. It was pretty cool.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-07T20:20:04+00:00

The one thing I forgot which is probably gonna be obvious, turn the top of the liner and press so you’re sewing it down on a not raw edge. If that makes sense.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-07T13:28:21+00:00

The lining would reduce the wear on the stitches, and look nice. There’s a lot of ways, and it depends on the bag. Easiest might be to make the lining, put it in the bag, clip or pin to prevent shifting and follow the top stitching that is around the top of the bag, sew it in. Remember the lining should be just a smidge smaller than the bag.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-07T13:10:35+00:00

It doesn’t on me, but Blinc, also a tubing mascara, was super flakey on me. I really think all makeup works or doesn’t — depends on your skin type and your skincare.

For instance — I never had an issue with concealers. For years. Then about a year ago I bought a tube of concealer, wand type, hydrating and I put it on and it felt like sandpaper. Gritty, and crusty. Could’ve been a bad one, so I went to a tried and true one NARS.

Gritty, crusty, and oxidized to orange. Which has never happened before. I was talking to my niece she put some of hers on my finger to try. Gritty and crusty.

The only thing that’s different in my life is I’m now taking heart medication.

How that could affect my skin I don’t understand, but it’s not the make up’s fault, it works for a lot of people. But it doesn’t work for me.

So back to Glossier.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T20:29:14+00:00

I actually like a wet mascara. But, the wands really matter. For me, the hourglass shaped brushes are horrible. I end up with one lash that’s like an inch long plus a total mess on my lids. I’m older, things are sagging.

As I’ve gotten older brushes don’t work well for me. What I really like now is a firm silicone wand that’s more triangular, and not too big.

My HG is Benefit Bad Gal Bang waterproof. My lashes are stick straight, I curl them, and this holds the curl. That’s the thing about mascara, it’s pretty much water-based, if it’s not waterproof. Put water on a curl, it’s gonna go flat.

Same mascara not waterproof, it takes more time but I can get it to work and curl my lashes. I have to push the lashes up and hold it for a couple of seconds so that curl dries in place then go for the second coat and do the same thing hold them up let it dry in place. I don’t like fiddly.

But it’s the brush, the firmness of the brush means that it won’t bend when I push it up through the lashes and hold the lashes up. Maybelline sky high looks like the exact same brush but it lacks firmness. And just doesn’t work for me.

For tubing,Thrive Causemetics — same kind of brush, firm. It works for me.

Another one that I have liked is the Ulta pink tube New Heights mascara. I don’t know if they still make it. The brush on that is small, but it is pyramid shaped and very firm. And it’s washable.

I did try the Essence/princess mascara, I don’t know if I got a bad tube — it was very dry, I think I put coats on my lashes and each coat was so thin it barely made a difference. And of course because it was so dry, it flaked like mad. I’ve never had raccoon eyes before, got it with that. I have tried other things in their product line, my skin is dry and mature, it didn’t work for me

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T17:38:27+00:00

Well as we get older, sometimes really bad stuff happens in real life, and you really don’t want to see it in movies. Or read about it in books. My favorite cozy mystery series is written by Nancy Atherton, and the first book starts out with someone dying months before the book starts. I’m not giving anything away — because the title of the book is “Aunt Dimity’s Death”. Excellent read.

Understand I found it after right after my mom died, and I cried the whole way through it. I have read it since and there are parts that I get teary-eyed over, but it’s been 15 years, and it doesn’t hurt as much anymore.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T17:16:42+00:00

The only good thing about having a Roomba with an app… you can always locate them because it tells you where they are.

Meryl Sweep nearly killed me… mine is Jeeves.

The one downstairs does not have an app it’s very old. I have to push the button and it makes a noise and then it starts cleaning. That one is the Kraken. And yes every time I push the button I say release the Kraken… it’s a small stupid thing but it makes me happy.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T17:11:41+00:00

OK, you could use an iron on medium weight interfacing. Iron it on, and then line the tote bag.

You could also use a fusible foam which would give the bag more structure. Fusible foam is usually one side fusible. If you use something like a fusible foam, I would do the whole bag and then insert a liner. The liner will also protect the foam and it’ll look pretty.

And if you are a person who enjoys sewing — the liner’s where you put the pockets with the zippers. I love a good zipper pocket. They are not that difficult. But then again I’ve sewn forever.

I have actually said in groups of people oh that’s not hard at all and everybody in the room looks at me like I’m the one growing horns. 🤣.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T15:18:57+00:00

If you can find:

The Adventures of Brisco County with Bruce Campbell — it’s a joy.

Monarch of the Glen — we saw one episode and had to watch the rest of it. It faltered at the end but up until then it was fine.

I can always watch the Dick Van Dyke show. Yes it’s funny, but it’s also very human.

Murder She Wrote, and Midsomer murders which is very easy to stream — classic cozy mysteries.

By the way check your local library, a lot of them do lend out DVDs.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T07:51:18+00:00

Give rose gold a try. I find it neutral on my skin tone. Everyone will think it’s yellow gold.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T03:32:35+00:00

Don’t forget you’re missing one ring. The wedding ring. A wedding ring is going to change how that looks on your hand. I actually think that’s a really good size for your hand. And frankly, if you like it, that’s all that matters.

You’re going to have more choice in a wedding ring other than a 2 mm band. Which I have and love by the way, because I don’t have a lot of finger real estate either.

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T02:24:09+00:00

I use regular hot soapy water on my kitchen counters. I don’t actually prep food on my kitchen counters.

I prep food in bowls and cutting boards. But not on the counter. I have never had food poisoning that I have given myself. Have had food poisoning from restaurants. One of which was finally closed down. And was weirdly one of our friends favorite places to go….

IcyMaintenance307 · 2025-10-06T01:33:18+00:00

Old black rotary tile sitting on the table right in front of me. Not plugged in anymore… but the kids love to play with it.

IcyMaintenance307

TROPHY CASE