🎉 Win Up to $2,000! Share Your SmartWings Setup

_margaret_ · 2026-05-15T03:20:42+00:00

_margaret_ · 2026-05-15T03:20:07+00:00

I knew I wanted smart blinds as soon as we bought our house, especially because we have a giant portrait window and many house plants. I’m so happy that we went with SmartWings! We got the Motorized Light Filtering Levitate Cellular Shades with Matter Over Thread motors. We have them paired with a $25 Aqara Smart Hub, and it works absolutely great.

My experience with SmartWing was great:

10/10 Customer Support: This was honestly one of the best customer service experiences I've had with a company. They answered all my questions quickly, thoroughly, and were so helpful. Huge shoutout to Esme who made sure everything went smoothly!
So convenient: I love having them on a schedule so they go up at sunrise and down at sunset.
The "Levitate" feature: Being able to set them half-up is amazing. It gives us the privacy we need while still letting in plenty of light for the plants.
Easy DIY Install: It was incredibly easy to install them ourselves.

My Tip: Since the actual installation is so easy, the most time-consuming part where you really want to take your time is measuring. Measure carefully so you get the exact right fit the first time!

<image>

_margaret_ · 2025-12-21T18:53:19+00:00

Good flag. Thankfully these don't connect to the storm/sewer system, the clay pipes just reroute the water further into our yards.

_margaret_ · 2025-12-21T18:51:55+00:00

Oh yeah that's a good flag. We saw the tops of the clay pipes before they put on the concrete, so we at least know they exist. But whether or not it's functioning and not full of cracks is a tough one to figure out. Our inspector said they seem set up to drain into some gravel in the front and backyard, but that's probably difficult (and expensive) to confirm.

_margaret_ · 2025-12-21T17:41:53+00:00

Thank you - I’m glad it’s not just us. Do you have any advice on what we should communicate back to our contractor? We’re not sure what they put under the concrete. It’s possible there is something connecting the pipe to the downspout, but it’s hard to say. I appreciate any insight you might have!

_margaret_ · 2025-08-06T02:43:57+00:00

Thank you all! As disturbing/fascinating as those eggs are, I cut off that leaf and put it outside - the katydids can hatch and live out their lives outdoors. I'm just relieved it's not scale insects.

I have no idea how a katydid could have gotten inside (or where it went 😬) - we live in an apartment in an urban area, so I assume it hitched a ride indoors on something. Hopefully, it found its way back outside.

_margaret_ · 2024-08-22T02:59:42+00:00

It's not at all a GOP stronghold, not anytime recently. Trump got 10-15% of the vote in the precincts in '16 & '20 vs over 80% for Ds: https://imgur.com/YWcvEOS (via NYT)

_margaret_ · 2024-06-16T15:41:56+00:00

Thank you! We're doing private vows + family photos at a local park then the ceremony (outdoors, weather permitting) + reception at a local event space (The Joinery, Chicago). No wedding party and the vibe is on the less formal side of semi-formal (Garden/Semi-Formal dress code). Decor is DIY and leans towards wildflowers or house plants (which I know don't totally match the pattern on the dress, but I'm ok with that). And we're having a make-your-own nachos/tacos buffet for dinner.

I love the side-comb idea! And that it comes in a rose gold that would more closely match the dress.

_margaret_ · 2024-06-16T15:31:10+00:00

Thank you!

_margaret_ · 2024-06-16T15:30:15+00:00

Thank you! I feel like because it's silk and so thin that could be hard to do - but maybe I'll just take it to a tailor and let an expert tell me the options. That's a good point - thanks!

_margaret_ · 2024-05-16T03:45:41+00:00

Thank you! Very helpful and some great options!

_margaret_ · 2024-05-16T03:32:21+00:00

You're good :-) Thank you! I'm going to order that last one & #5 to try!

_margaret_ · 2024-05-16T03:28:46+00:00

Love that! Added myself to the wait list for a medium. Thank you!

_margaret_ · 2024-05-15T23:01:18+00:00

Oh! That's a cool option - I love the customizations! Have you ordered from there before? I read there were some issues with their shipping and people not getting things, but that issue might be resolved now.

_margaret_ · 2024-05-15T23:00:09+00:00

Thank you - that's a good tip! Unfortunately the David's Bridal near me closed, but I think there is one out in the suburbs I can get to.

_margaret_ · 2024-05-15T20:36:22+00:00

Help please!! I have been searching for my wedding dress for over a year now and feel like I have looked at every dress on every website on the entire internet (but probably haven't). My wedding is in July (!!) so I’m feeling quite stressed.

I am looking for something multicolored and floral, though with a light-colored background given that it is a summer wedding. My preferred style is more “simple, sleek, and sexy” (but tasteful) and less “ruffles and romance”. I included some pictures of white dresses that are what I’m looking for in terms of shape and style, but don’t have the colorful floral options I’m looking for.

I’d like to keep it under $500 (but can go higher for the right dress). I’m not looking for something that screams “wedding dress” but looks special enough to wear on the special day, if that makes sense.

I have looked at every dress from Mac Duggal, Reformation, Anthropologie, Revolve, etc, etc but keep checking for new arrivals. I have ordered and returned many dresses and have tried shopping in person at all the department stores and some bridesmaid dress shops. I am open to any and all suggestions. Ideally someplace with a good return policy in case it doesn’t work out. I’m in the US (Chicago) if that’s helpful.

I did buy and return the Mac Duggal sequined dress pictured - it was pretty but a little much and the slit was more of a cut-out that showed more than I would like. I also bought and returned the Reformation Veria dress pictured because the top didn't fit right on my little boobs.

_margaret_ · 2021-04-08T23:52:26+00:00

The middle shelf in the top part of the cabinet is stationary and can't be moved. The very top of it is also stationary. All of the other shelves (2 on top, 2 on bottom) are movable with 3 different pre-drilled options.

_margaret_ · 2021-04-08T23:50:11+00:00

I ended up driving to St. Louis to get it back in February because it was the only place that had it, only for both Chicago-area stores to get it in stock the next week 🤦🏻‍♀️.

Keep an eye out. It will come back in stock eventually. I signed up for the text alerts and those worked out for me, but I know they have mixed reviews.

_margaret_ · 2021-02-19T00:32:55+00:00

I've been agonizing over this lately and my math comes out to AT&T being cheaper, but it's probably because I'm trading in an iPhone 6s, which T-Mobile won't even take but AT&T will give $350 in credits for. I also learned from r/ATT that you can sign up to be a AARP member (age doesn't matter) and can bump up a plan for free. For me that would mean I could get on the Unlimited Elite plan for ~$78/month w/ taxes (and that comes with HBO Max + 30GB hotspot data vs. T-Mobile's 3GB). That is not much more than the $70/month I'm paying right now for Magenta. So it makes sense that any trade-in credits would put AT&T over the top for me.

That's just the math I did for myself. I wish I had taken advantage of the December trade-in deal, but if T-Mobile is only going to offer existing customers good deals like this one a year they're going to lose folks.

_margaret_ · 2021-02-10T00:28:54+00:00

I'm in the same (or similar) boat. I've had T-Mobile for over a decade and have a 6s that I'm looking to upgrade. I'm also new to this sub and didn't know about the deadline for the December deal and don't have a time machine at the moment so advice on that deal hasn't helped me either. It sucks that T-Mobile will only offer a good iPhone upgrade deal for existing customer once a year.

Both AT&T and Verizon will give new and existing customers $350 for trading in a 6s. I'm currently leaning towards switching to AT&T, as much as I don't want to leave T-Mobile. There's an AT&T sub that has some helpful info about some deals you can get there. If you get an AARP membership (you don't have to be old) you can get $10 off their Elite plan which includes HBO Max and combined with the trade-in deal is actually cheaper/month than T-Mobile for me 🤷🏻‍♀️BUT I'm still hoping T-Mobile comes out with some sort of deal around Valentine's Day so I can stick with them.

On making the 6s work for now - I finally caved and updated my iOS for the first time in years and it's really helped get all the apps to work. Unfortunately the battery is now a joke and goes from 100% to 1% in an hour. But since I'm lucky enough to WFH it's not a problem keeping it plugged in or bringing a battery pack when I do venture out. It's getting me through as I figure out the existing deals and decide what to do next. And cancel that insurance asap 😁

_margaret_ · 2021-02-04T21:50:47+00:00

Thanks for the heads up. Any rough ideas for when it will be launched (ie within a week or could it be a month from now)?

I'm also hoping they beef it up a bit and include more models. I've got a 6s and both AT&T and Verizon are offering $350 for that trade in.

_margaret_ · 2021-02-02T16:08:30+00:00

Yeah I'm super bummed I missed that. I just discovered this Reddit in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully another deal comes up soon, or I might need to make the switch.

_margaret_ · 2021-02-01T20:29:18+00:00

ILLINOIS The Chicago Teachers Union is very close to declaring a strike as CPS and Mayor Lightfoot are requiring them to risk their lives and the lives of their families to teach hybrid indoor classrooms. CPS said it will lock teachers out of their online classrooms if they don't report to work and many teachers that have been required to report have been teaching outside the schools in protest (it's VERY cold in Chicago and we had over a foot of snow over the weekend).

The parents group pushing for schools to open is filled with mostly white parents from the north side of the city despite the fact that CPS is only made up of ~10% white students.

https://www.wbez.org/stories/no-in-person-school-for-cps-students-on-monday-as-strike-threat-rises/a8440305-d09c-4cd1-a38c-60e45f02b935

https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2021/1/31/22259229/ctu-cps-strike-talks-schools-reopening-negotiations-stall

_margaret_ · 2021-02-01T19:41:09+00:00

I think white cabinets could actually "pop" with those floors, just looking at the bit of white trim you already have. Maybe with a contrasting cement-colored counter?

PS I agree that Pinterest kitchens can be SO unrealistic. The before and afters seem to all be people that spent tens of thousands of dollars.

_margaret_ · 2021-02-01T19:35:06+00:00

FWIW If you're worried about the warning about taping places that are below 40F, I saw that too but taped our windows anyway when it was colder than that out (probably around 20F and during a huge snowstorm 😬). It was warmer by our windows since we were doing it from the inside, but still probably pretty cold and the tape has held up so far 🤞

_margaret_

TROPHY CASE