This week we help a listener whose home flooded after Hurricane Harvey by offering practical advice on finding the right professionals to restore her kitchen. We also share a new “smart” platform we’re enjoying for buying and selling secondhand items, celebrate some recent faux-plant wins, and John introduces a free tool that’s finally helping him stop one of his worst habits.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio – or listen using the embedded player below. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos referenced in the episode. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- That unexpected stream of water shooting from the middle of the yard was a major surprise. In contrast, a normal sprinkler spray is much more contained — see our post about installing an irrigation system for a clearer comparison and details about why this might not be a DIY project for everyone.
- The leak was caused by a nicked pipe: an aerator ran across a low spot in the lawn created by a mole tunnel right next to the line. It was an unfortunate chain of small events that led to a big problem — something we’ll likely laugh about someday.
- We’ve been trying out Facebook Marketplace for local finds. Sherry uses the app frequently, which helps the feed learn her preferences and surface items she’s likely to want. My less-active account shows a more random assortment of listings.
- Because Sherry uses Marketplace more, her feed showed a marble-topped dresser we were able to score for the beach house. The listing photos show it currently staged among other furniture and accessories we’ll be moving to the beach house soon.
What’s Not
- For guidance on guestroom essentials, check out Curbly’s infographic on the 15 items every guest room should have.
Listener Question
- If you’d like to donate to help people recover after Hurricane Harvey, there are reputable charity round-ups available to guide you to trustworthy organizations.
- We also discuss a negative contractor experience in Episode #29, “An Unexpected Con To Calling In A Pro,” which provides context relevant to the listener’s question about hiring help after storm damage.
We’re Digging
- Here are some of the faux plants Sherry has been loving:
- Gingko leaf branches in the foyer and kitchen
- Evergreen shrubs on the front porch
- Magnolia garland purchased alongside the ginkgo branches, which will be great for holiday decor
- Faux fiddle leaf figs we’ve used in the past (the exact ones are no longer available, but there are other well-reviewed options)
- Eucalyptus branches that other bloggers recommend
- A potted faux succulent perfect for tabletops or bookcases
- Another highly praised faux fiddle leaf fig alternative
- Paper flowers made locally by a friend — they come in lovely colors and are addictive to collect
- Below are screenshots showing iPhone users where to enable the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature, with an official Apple guide available for details on what it does.
If you’re trying to track down something we mentioned in a previous episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging from past episodes to make it easy to find.
Thanks to Cardboard Safari for sponsoring this episode. They provided a special offer for listeners: 20% off your first order with the code YHL20 at their site. We also referenced a Portlandia clip that features a memorable cardboard-deer-bashing moment.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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