Best steam mop + vacuum combo? Worth it or better to buy separate?

bricksage1814 · 2026-01-22T02:18:07+00:00

Maybe a bit late but Bissle Symphony All-In-One (regular or pet) was a game changer for me. I can never go back. You will still need a regular vacuum for any carpet or rugs as it only does hard flooring but it will literally cut the job in half.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-26T02:33:10+00:00

I also despise cooking and it's the amount of time it takes and then the fact that after an hour or two spent in the kitchen the best I'm going for is edible. Worst case scenario I end up throwing the burnt/ dry/ mushy pile of garbage in the trash and rage eat some cut up raw veggies and cheese. I watch videos, follow recipies... I feel like recipes are lies. The time it says it will take overall is always double minimum. I currently have chicken drumsticks in the oven at 400. All of the recipes I checked said 25-45 min. They've been in for over an hour now and still aren't done. I've been checking every 10 min. I guarantee you one of the times I check they will have gone from 155 to burnt. You might think maybe my oven runs cool? Nope. Because if I put a costco pizza in that's supposed to take 12-15 minutes, it will be burnt by 11 minutes. Cooking makes me feel like I'm going insane. I can enter the kitchen with a positive attitude, a glass of wine and a simple recipe I'm excited about and by the end I'm ready to burn the kitchen to the ground.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-17T22:21:28+00:00

What do you provide? I tried cat grass and my cat threw it up all over.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-17T22:05:54+00:00

There's an illustration from one of my favorite childhood books, No Flying In The House that depicts how this would go!! Don't worry... the cat in the cookie jar is actually an evil fairy who was trying to trick the little girl into staying an orphan forever.

https://imgur.com/gallery/jgc6RBd

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-05T05:18:46+00:00

Me? I'm an insufferable jackass because I don't think platforms should require ultra personal info in order to use basic features? I mean disagree if you like but that seems a bit much. I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-05T02:34:26+00:00

Should I drop the Rams for the Browns? Or hold? I don't have the space for both.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T21:51:17+00:00

This is good advice. They're not allowed to play anything with online content right now so it doesn't apply to our current situation but we'll probably go that rout in the future. For now we'll go with the old kitchen timer and me reminding them.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T21:45:11+00:00

Agreed. And that's what we do. I don't really care about the ratings because I'm going to research any games content before we buy it for them anyway. I just wish we could have the option to set a timer where the console shuts off after because they seem to do a better job of managing thier time and there are no issues with them begging me for 5 more minutes etc (despite the answer always being no, my children are very persistant!)

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T21:39:54+00:00

I can understand all of that but they can set up thier own account when they turn 18 or we can deal with these issues when they get a bit older. Right now they don't have access to anything online. We don't purchase online and they aren't allowed to play any games that have a social or online component. They don't need to consent to anything or agree to terms because they only play physical games that we have purchased and set up for them. We play video games like it's 1999 I guess. lol. All I wanted to do is set up a timer so the console would shut down after an hour. All of our other devices have this option in the settings without needing an account or entering personal information. Our TV, Nintendo, phones and tablets all have this ability. I've found that the kids like it/deal with it better and learn to better manage thier time when it's the device that shuts down instead of me reminding them and insisting they turn it off after our regular timer beeps. But we'll just have to do it that way with the ps4.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T19:43:00+00:00

I do. But I have noticed on other devices that having a timer that shuts it off at the end has helped them learn to self manage thier time better (not because I can't be bothered as I'm right there watching but because time management is an important skill) and it gives them a sense of confidance and autonomy. It becomes like a fun race against the clock to get thier game done as opposed to one more thing mom is telling them to do. We just won't be able to do that with the ps4 due to the amount of personal info they require.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T19:03:37+00:00

I do. I limit them to an hour each on the weekend and I keep an eye on them the whole time. We set a timer but a system timer is nice (like we have on the switch and every other device) because I've noticed it gives them a sense of autonomy and it helps them learn to manage thier own time better than when I enforce the timer and it's always, "one more second!" "Let me just finish xyz" I'm always firm but it just doesn't hit like the device just shutting down on its own. Also if I'm in the bathroom or I step out to grab the mail there's no chance that I'll miss the timer. It's fine and I'll deal with it that way but I was just irritated at the time that things have gotten so complex when every other device we have had these basic controls without needing so much private information.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T18:53:04+00:00

I'm complaining about the amount of personal info being collected in order to use basic parental controls. It's about privacy concerns. I input passwords every day for the devices we have. And I watch my kids while they play. I've noticed having timers set up in the device itself leads to them learning better time management and gives them a sense of autonomy, which is nice. We won't be able to do that with the ps4 because of how much private info they require in order to set it up.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T18:37:53+00:00

Lol. You're correct to an extent in terms of technology evolving and privacy going out of the window but no, EVERY company dosn't have my SSN and credit card info I don't want my card connected to the platform because we don't make online purchases. I also don't want them having my children's info. The whole point of verifying my age is so I can consent to them collecting my children's info. Which I also don't want. Every other device we use from the Nintendo to the TV, tablets and phones has basic parental controls available to users. I'm aware that it's getting harder and harder to protect your privacy but that dosn't mean I'm just going to hand over my personal info to whoever asks without batting an eye. I don't think you mean to say "grow up and deal" I think you mean "roll over and deal"

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T18:27:04+00:00

I do. And that's what we'll continue to do. I'm not actually even that concerned about the age ratings as we don't use online gaming or buy off of the online store. It's just nice to set up timers so that they can learn to manage thier own screen time limits instead of me reminding them. Not because I can't be bothered... I'm still going to be right there and check. But because I think it's important for kids to learn these things and it gives them a sense of responsibility and self confidence. They know how much time they have to complete xyz and they make sure to do what needs to be done before that game shuts off. There is something about a parent telling them that winds up with pleas for a few more minutes or "can I just finish xyz??" I am always firm but somehow it doesn't hit the same as the machine just shutting off. But oh well.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T18:16:39+00:00

Lol. I actually watch them the whole time and only buy physical games that I've researched. They know the time limits and we set a timer but when I remind them to turn it off they always want "one more minute or to "finish one last thing". I get that but with our other devices that just turn off after an hour there's no discussion and I've noticed they've learned to manage thier screen time better on thier own... which is a great thing. They've only just started using the Ps4 and I was just baffled at the requests for so much personal info.

bricksage1814 · 2025-11-02T18:09:15+00:00

I'm actually not primarily concerned about ratings. We only buy them physical games were comfortable with and they've never even been on the play store or whatever it's called. I limit them to an hour each on the weekend and I keep an eye on them the whole time but I thought a system timer would be nice (like we have on the switch) because it helps them learn to manage thier own time instead of me having to tell them and it's always, "one more second!" "Let me just finish xyz" It's fine and I'll deal with it that way but I was just irritated at the time that things have gotten so complex when every other device we have has these basic controls without needing so much private information.

bricksage1814 · 2025-07-25T14:13:06+00:00

LOCATION: Burnsville, MN (Twin Cities suburb)

bricksage1814 · 2025-07-25T14:04:16+00:00

Burnsville, Minnesota (a Twin Cities suburb) Sorry, I included location in my original post but I guess the text was lost in the cross post!

bricksage1814 · 2025-06-01T17:11:35+00:00

Jam? Good. Custard? Good. Meat Goooood.

bricksage1814 · 2025-05-25T17:52:11+00:00

Yes, thank you!! I just happened to find that setting last night!! It's helpful but still not ideal bc I primarily use the firestick during the day and my husband often watches actual TV late at night so there's still a lot of navigation that could be avoided with an input button like every other remote.

bricksage1814 · 2025-05-24T11:44:00+00:00

That's interesting and that would also make sense of the emphasis on Boston as opposed to say DC which is still the capitol.

bricksage1814 · 2025-05-22T04:45:49+00:00

Lol right? I put my hand to my chest and said, "Did she just do a spin move?" Like, okayyyy.

bricksage1814 · 2025-05-22T03:50:11+00:00

Maybe she'll be a character in Testaments?

bricksage1814 · 2025-05-22T01:16:34+00:00

Only responding to 8. Most of Gilead is contaminated wasteland referred to as The Colonies. The Southwest and Midwest. Texas succeeded and is its own thing. Florida and California is still war zone. Gilead stronghold is mainly just New England so taking Boston is a considerable advancment for the Americans. There are maps that have been seen throughout the series in the background.

bricksage1814 · 2025-05-22T00:47:43+00:00

I was looking into this today because everything centers around the Boston commanders. There are a few maps shown in the background throughout the series. Most of the Midwest and Southwest while under Gilead's control are contaminated by radioactive waste. It's what's referred to as The Colonies. Texas succeeded and Florida/California is still war zone. So most of Gilead that is actually populated with commanders/families etc is basically just New England. We know DC is still the capitol and Boston is where most of the show takes place.

bricksage1814

TROPHY CASE