The Fixie Chick blog

Brenna Hartmann is the co-founder of Fixin'Chix Inc., a do-it-yourself enterprise that includes a comprehensive home improvement website; how-to workshops, seminars and publications; and a product line. Brenna is dedicated to empowering women "do-it herselfers" (DIHers) who have the passion and desire to improve their homes. Brenna writes the popular Fixie Chick home improvement column found in Home & Yard Handbook, and is the co-host of "Home & Yard Radio with the Fixie Chick" on 950 ESPN. Brenna lives in Webster with her husband and two children.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Monday, October 29, 2007

Pot Rack Pitfalls

Pot Rack Pitfalls:
Don't hang cookware that's unsightly (obviously)
Don't hang cookware that you don't use often (dust & dirt builds up)
Don't hang it over the cooking area (grease & grime builds up)
Don't block light
Don't hang it too high
Don't hit your head

Check out my new pot rack. Look to the November issue of Home&Yard Handbook for more information on kitchen trends and where to get some of the hottest pot racks on the market!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Saving Energy Saves You Money

As the colder months draw near (and energy costs sky-rocket) I start to think about ways I can keep my home warm without having to consider a part-time job to pay the utility bill. Pretty much everyone I know is interested in how to conserve energy – some for financial reasons and others for the "green" factor. No matter what your motivation, you can get some great information tomorrow at the Monroe County Energy Expo being held at the Greece Community Center from 10 am to 3 pm. It's free to the public. There will be specialists and companies there who can give you information on home energy audits; free weatherization programs for income qualified applicants and loans and grants for energy-related repairs for your home if you qualify. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is supposed to be there, as are many companies who specialize in energy saving products for your home. If your home is energy efficient, it not only saves you money, it can keep you safe from things like carbon monoxide and other health hazards you may not even know about. You may wnat to check it our.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Bonding Through Building TM

Bonding Through Building TM, a Fixie Chix Trademark, is part of our DIT (Do It Together)TM Series of seminars we hold throughout the year.
The goal is to encourage parents and children, neighbors and strangers, to help one another by working together.
I am a personal witness to the power of this concept. It had been a while since my 12 year old daughter and I had really connected through conversation before the day we spent hanging a chandelier together. It was a nice change from the standard chat, "How was your day honey?". Reply :"Fine". As she bolts up the stairs to crank her ipod in her room.
This coming weekend, my mother-in-law will be visiting from PA. I plan to experiment this concept with her.
Our Project: Hanging a Pot Rack together.
Check back to this blog on Monday. I hope to share my B&A (before and after) pictures with you along with my attempt to Bond Through Building with my mother-in-law.
Wish me luck:)
-The Fixie Chick

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I missed a blog this week, but I had the exciting opportunity to fly to New York City for a fund raising with Martha Stewart and a few other folks. I visited her offices in the beautiful Starrett-Lehigh Building where all of the production happens for her magazine and where The Apprentice was filmed. It was interesting to go behind the scenes where all the action takes place. I also had the opportunity to meet the Zagats... if any of you are familiar with their famous NYC restaurant guide...I know where to eat when I'm in the city now, that's for sure. I had a great getaway...took a bike tour around Manhattan, went to afternooon Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral, shopped 'till I dropped and had great conversations with many inspiring people.

Look for me next week, when I'll be back on board with my regular collumn.

-The Fixie Chick

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Counter Top Composting

Counter Top Composting is one more lite way we can green our lives. Instead of trashing food scraps, get yourself a kitchen compost crock and some bio-bags. These compost pail liners make composting so much easier. No more scrubbing, no more odor, no need to carry the pail out to the compost pile. And best of all, these bags are made of 100% biodegradable cornstarch, so you can toss the whole thing into your compost pile!
I learn something new everday!
-The Fixie Chick

Monday, October 08, 2007

Construction Industry Opportuniteis for Women

Construction Industry Opportunities for women are on the rise. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), recently joined forces and renewed their commitment to working together to create opportunities and business for women-owned construction firms. Their goal is to work together to prevent discriminatory practices, encourage mutual training and develop mentoring relationships.
Partnerships such as these are increasingly important as the number of women working in the construction industry continues to grow, Now more that ever, educational courses like environmental health and safety training are readily available through these organizations. If you are a woman considering a career in a construction related filed, check out www.nawiceducation.org. Many of the programs are available as online courses too.
-The Fixie Chick

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Re-Thinging

Re-Thinging...
It's happening already! The catalogs are coming and I want all this stuff that I don't really need. I refuse to re-thing! I will recycle those catalogs without a purchase!
But, before I do, I will call and remove myself from the mailing lists. Actually, I think I will start collecting all my junk mail before I recycle it and see how many I can call to get off of the list.
Think about it, the more of us who get less catalogs, the less catalogs we need to recycle. We'd be greening our planet and potentially saving some green:)
Join me.
-The Fixie Chick

Monday, October 01, 2007

De-Thinging

De-Thinging, as my good friend Ruth calls it, is her process of parting with "things" she doesn't need and probably would not miss if she never saw them again.
Ruth says, "It's a great stress reliever. A table with no papers. A shelf with no 'decorative item I keep because someone gave it to me, even though I don't like it'. A counter with no appliances I never use. A coat hook with only one coat I actually wear."
I agree, I spent my Sunday morning in the basement, digging through piles of boxes in search of my fall decorative "things". I found summer "things" I never brought out this year, (I guess I forgot I had them, so I bought more summer "things"). I found broken things, I found the turkey platter I lost after my first Thanksgiving in my home. I now have two turkey platters! I found my pizza stone, ( I knew I had one of those!) stuck to the bottom of a basket I never use. And then it hit me, today is the day to start de-thinging!
Sunday morning turned into afternoon, and by lunchtime I had found all of my fall "things" and grouped them together. I found all of my winter, spring and summer "things" and gave them each their own home. And many other "things" will soon have a new home - not mine!
Happy De-Thinging,
-The Fixie Chick

Things to do