In this segment, we will review how to set up video motion detection (VMD) with our newly installed Vivint cameras. This works for both the fixed-lens cameras and the pan and tilt cameras. One very important caveat to mention for the pan-and-tilt cameras: VMD/recording will only work in the “home” position. See my previous post on defining multiple positions, including the home position for the pan and tilt camera.

Enough chit chat. Let’s break this down into some straightforward steps.

Login

• Log in to account center at http://account.vivint.com
• Click the Go!Control Web Access Button
• Click the Video tab
• Select the GEAR icon on the camera you will be working with (For me, this will be our front porch. I know, I know, outdoor cameras, but I’ll cover it in my next post, promise.)

• Select Video Motion Detection from the menu.

• Your screen should look similar to this (obviously with a different video feed). If you get a black screen, or no picture is showing, contact Vivint Technical support. You can also go back to my previous post and review the steps for setting up the camera to make sure all is well.

Define your “hot spot” for motion detection.

• Now, I would encourage you not to select the entire window as a hot spot. While this is possible and everything should function just fine, the detection will be much more likely to have inaccurate results. For example, in my feed above I have positioned the camera to be able to see the driveway and also the street. If I selected the entire screen as a hot spot, every time someone drove past our home the hot spot would be activated.

• To define a hot spot, simply click the screen and drag a square around the area of the video you want to detect motion.
• Next you want to adjust the sensitivity. It will take a little trial and error to get it dialed in just right, but this is one of the most important elements of motion detection. It uses a principal called “pixel shifting.” Basically the video looks for changes in the pixels at a certain sensitivity and then triggers the desired action based on those settings. Notice that on my selection I basically want to detect whenever someone approaches the front door (e.g., UPS delivery). Also notice that a small portion of the wall next to the porch is part of the selection. When I started my settings at sensitivity 8, I would receive notifications at night when someone would drive by and the headlights would reflect on the wall. By changing the sensitivity to a 4 or 6, I now only receive notifications for the movement that I want to detect.

• If you want, you can click on Adjust Target Size to adjust how much of the selected window should change or “shift” before your motion detector sends a notification. For example, do you want to detect a human, or a pet, or a change in lighting?

• Your sensitivity settings, target size, and position of your VMD window are quite important for accurate alerts. So take a few extra minutes to dance in front of the camera and make adjustments to the setting that is most beneficial for you.

• You can create up to three VMD windows on a single camera. To set up additional VMD windows, save your current settings and then select numbers 2 and 3 to set up additional detection windows. Unique alerts can be fired for each of the different windows (see step 3 below).

Time for notifications, hallelujah.

• This is the fun part. What good is defining all of these Video Motion Detection windows and not doing anything cool with the video? Enter notifications.

Be sure to check back next week for my post on how to set notifications.

While I’m pretty sure gravity is still in effect, the bit about the doorway is actually false. Unless you are in a load-bearing doorframe, you are actually putting yourself in more danger by standing there during an earthquake. Who knew, right?

So here are some dos and don’ts of earthquake safety.

Preparation Dos

• DO follow all basic emergency prep. You can check out my post about tornado safety for some tips.
• DO anchor heavy furniture (like armoires—thank you, Modern Family) to the wall
• DO place heavier items (like cans) on lower shelves
• DO install flexible pipe fittings to water and gas connections
• DO store flammable liquids in a cabinet that locks
• DO secure your water heater and appliances to wall studs

Preparation Don’ts

• DON’T hang heavy items (like mirrors or large portraits) above places where people sit or sleep
• DON’T store breakable items in shelves that don’t latch or lock

Actual Event Dos

• DO drop to the ground and take cover under something sturdy if indoors
• DO stay away from windows, glass, and outside doors and walls
• DO be prepared for the fire alarms and sprinkler systems to go off

Actual Event Don’ts

• DON’T stay in a doorway unless you KNOW it is load bearing
• DON’T move from your safe place until the shaking has stopped
• DON’T stop your vehicle (if you are driving) near buildings, trees, underpasses, or power lines
• DON’T drive on bridges, roads, or ramps that could have been damaged by the quake
• DON’T yell if you are trapped under debris. Tap on a nearby pipe/wall or whistle.

For more great info on what to do before, during, and after an earthquake, visit FEMA’s cite.

• Bags—In case you weren’t aware, duct tape comes in all kinds of snazzy colors, so when I say “make a bag out of duct tape,” it most definitely does not need to look like a bag made out of tape. Take a look at this beach bag and this duct tape purse and you’ll see what I mean. And here’s a really great idea for a lunch box.
• Luggage labels—Why wait until you’re at the airport to label your stuff? And with those flimsy paper tags of all things too! Use duct tape to make a luggage tag and write your important information on it before you leave. And frankly, duct tape makes a great label for anything. Use it to organize your moving boxes and your storage bins too.
• Medical help—Duct tape can help out with all kinds of first aid: holding bandages in place, making your own bandage with a towel or toilet paper, creating a brace for twisted ankles and knees, preventing blisters, removing warts . . . The possibilities are endless. Check out this website for even more ideas.
• Fly paper—Pretty simple, right? Leave out strips of duct tape hanging from your ceiling, and the pests don’t stand a chance.
• Holiday celebration—Duct tape can make the Christmas season brighter by helping you put up holiday lights, and come Halloween time it can provide some really swag costumes. Here’s just two examples of a fried egg costume and a slice of watermelon. Yes. Really.
• Wire organization—Get all those crazy wires under your desk and behind the TV sorted permanently and taped together to keep things organized.
• A mouse pad—Why waste money on a regular mouse pad when you can put down some tape and call it good? If you’re worried about aesthetics, go with black or make your own cool design. Nobody said it has to be a silver square on your desk.
• Storage tools—There are all kinds of duct tape storage ideas. Make a folder, a hanging shelf in your closet, or even a laptop sleeve! Probably my favorite idea I stumbled across was making a hidden storage pocket out of duct tape. Stick your valuables and spare cash in it and tape it to the bottom of your bed or your desk where no one will find it.
• Fashion—The duct tape fashion industry is endless, and I’m sure you’ve all heard of the famous duct tape prom apparel that’s been around for years. Truly you can make just about anything wearable out of this stuff. Here was one idea I particularly liked: duct tape flip flops.
• Pet hair remover—A strip of duct tape can become a very cheap and easy version of a lint roller. Wrap the strip around your fingers—sticky side out—and pat yourself down to remove lingering fuzzies.
• Home improvement—We all know that duct tape is the magic answer to most home repairs (if not the most aesthetically pleasing one), and I’m sure many of us have used duct tape to hold batteries into our old remote control and hold plastic over a busted car window. Have any of you used duct tape to repair a leaky pipe? Or used tape to insulate the edges of a drafty window during the winter? I’ve also heard that a strip of duct tape can be a lifesaver when cleaning up broken glass. Anyone else have miraculous home repair ideas?
• Pencil slingshot—This one just looks fun. Behold: the pencil slingshot for your study breaks.
• A boat?—Yes, it has been done. The Mythbusters team built this boat out of duct tape and successfully sailed two passengers across the San Francisco Bay. Pretty cool—but we at Vivint are not suggesting that you try this one at home.

• The big screen: Let’s face it; the iPad screen is beautiful and offers a lot of room to have multiple controls and notifications on one screen. Now you can navigate your system remotely without having to tap through multiple screens, which makes the experience a bit faster and more fluid.  The app also works seamlessly in landscape and portrait mode.
• Multiple video feeds: Now you can view all your video feeds simultaneously and enjoy much easier access to pan and tilt controls and recordings. You can quickly open, delete, or protect triggered video clips—all on the same screen.
• Centralized access: Along with multiple video clips, the iPad also allows you to control everything in your home all at once. You can check the status of your locks, thermostat, lights, and appliances and change their status quickly, each  on their own screen. You can also see all of your lights and Z-Wave appliances with limited scrolling.
• System history: As you click around on the app, it will show you the history of related items and help you remember where you’ve been and what you’ve changed. The app also allows you to sort your saved video clips with event and video filters.  The system history will automatically adjust and scroll to show the history events related to the screen you are currently viewing.

Let’s be honest; a picture is worth a 1,000 words when it comes to seeing the value this app will bring to your home control. Check out the photos of the app below. Let me know if I can answer any questions about the app or Vivint!

On your device now? Download the app here.

Until then, be excellent.

Iranian culture—Every year on the spring equinox, or March 21, Iranians celebrate Now Rouz or the new year. A two-week long festival, it includes a variety of celebrations. Every year before it begins, Iranians participate in khaneh takani (literally “shaking the house”) or what we would call spring cleaning. However, it’s not just a casual wipe-down of the kitchen counter tops. They believe everything must be made as good as new essentially to begin the new year in the right way. (Source: Iran Press Service)

Jewish culture—Another possible origin for the spring cleaning is Passover. Every March/April, the Jewish people celebrate their departure from Egypt. During this celebration, they are required to remove all leavened products from their homes. Some historians believe they would clean their homes from top to bottom before Passover (and therefore during the spring) to ensure that nothing leavened remain, no matter how small. (Source: The History Channel)

Chinese culture—Finally, we can take a look at the Chinese. Before the Chinese New Year (usually in late January or early February), the Chinese clean their homes to sweep out the bad luck and usher in the good. (Source: The New York Times)

While there are some fairly historical sources claim that spring cleaning came from one or all of these cultures, it could also be simply biological: we’re less tired in the spring. Because there is less sun in the winter, we produce more sleep hormones, which naturally make us more tired. As the sun returns, so does our energy.

What do you do for spring cleaning? Do you have your own traditions? For tips about how you can make spring cleaning easier, check out the posts found here, here, here, and here.

• Ecofriendly flowers—Nothing says “thank you for everything” like a dozen roses. Do some research to track down some locally grown blooms or go online to OrganicBouquet.com and pick out some organic flowers.

• A window planter—If mom isn’t into flowers that live for only a week, maybe she’d like an Eggling planter for her kitchen. These mini planters are made of unglazed ceramic and terracotta and come with seeds to grow your choice of basil, red pepper, mint, lavender, strawberry, and more for your windowsill.

• Dishes—Get your mom some sustainable dinnerware made with recycled glass and natural materials. Here are some cool and attractive options from bambeco.com and thenaturalabode.com.

• Green spas—Check out the Green Spa Network to find a sustainable spa near you that mom can escape to. These soothing destinations seek to enhance personal health while using organic products and less water. Or if you’re on a tight budget this Mother’s Day, try giving your mom some organic bath and body products like the ones on organicbathbody.com.

• Chocolate—If your mom has a sweet tooth, try giving her some delectable raw chocolate. This green treat is both delicious and 100% organic—no sugar, dairy, or additives in sight. Visit Fine & Raw Chocolate or Taza Chocolate to buy a sweet package online.

• Something homemade—Present your mom with a lovely homemade gift courtesy of yours truly: a nice organic dinner, icy smoothies made with farmer’s market fruit and freshly squeezed juice, a scarf made from a skirt you were about to give away . . . The options really are endless, so get creative and choose something special that your mom in particular will appreciate.

• Quality time—It’s easily the cheapest and most meaningful sustainable gift you could give your mom. For Mother’s Day this year, why not work out with your mom, pop in a movie that you both love, or go for a scenic walk and just catch up? It would be the best gift you could give her, hands down.

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!

So what can we do? There is always medication (which don’t get me wrong, is sometimes a wonderful solution), but there are some natural ways to manage those symptoms.

Prevention

The best way manage most problems is to stop them before they starts. Allergies are one of those problems.

Limiting exposure to indoor allergens:

1. Manage the source: That means covering any soft furniture that you can’t throw in the wash (think mattresses, couches, pillows, etc.) with allergen-proof covers that will keep the dust mites from settling in to stay. It also might mean getting rid of Fido. But if you can’t bring yourself to such measures, try confining him to certain areas of the home (away from the bedroom) or to the yard.
2.  Ventilate the area often: Indoor air can sit around in your house for longer than you think collecting little bits of this and that, so open up a window and let some new air in. But a note of warning: if you have severe outdoor allergies, this is not an option.
3. Clean the air: change the filters on the air conditioner and the heater often and make sure to manage humidity in the air using a dehumidifier. Check out this post for more tips on how to clean indoor air.

Limiting exposure to outdoor allergens:

1. Limit time outside when allergen counts are high: Try moving outdoor activities inside or reschedule them for when the counts are lower.
2. Change your clothing when you come inside after long periods of time outside: The pollen and mold that is making you miserable has probably taken residence in your clothing, so it will continue to torture you until you remove the source from your environment.

Treatment

Some allergies are just unavoidable. You still have to go places and sometimes parting with Fido just isn’t an option, so here are some ways to manage the symptoms naturally.

1. The Neti Pot: The neti pot looks like a mix between Aladdin’s Lamp and a watering can. It’s a fairly simple principle that dates back to ancient India. You fill it with a warm salt water solution, put it up to your nose (with your head slightly tilted) and pour. The water comes out the other nostril. And then repeat the other direction. The solution helps flush the nasal passages and clear them of allergens. I’ve never used a neti pot, but Natalie, my fellow blogger, swears by them. She uses it twice a day, and gets year-round relief.
2. Locally produced honey: The theory is that eating the honey (made from your local pollen) can help your body slowly become immune to that pollen. So come allergy season, your body thinks all those little bits of flower that enter your nose are old hat that it doesn’t need to worry about. The theory isn’t proven scientifically, but if you aren’t allergic or under the age of one, why not try it? You can get more info here.
3. Spicy Food: Spicy food can provide temporary relief of allergy symptoms by helping clear out the nasal passage of all those invaders. Try food containing chili peppers, horseradish, or curry.

How do you cope with allergies?

Photo by outscribe

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to get vomit stains out of car upholstery or carpet, but I will tell you that it was a nightmare. But the worst part was the smell. It was the middle of the summer, and even though I left my windows open 24×7, it still reeked. I tried shampooing, steam cleaning, scrubbing with cleaners, and what felt like everything in between. But in the process I did gather some valuable information about deodorizing a car, which I will now share with you.

Steam cleaning: Steam cleaning can work wonders. If you don’t have a steamer at home (I don’t), you can rent one from a local hardware or grocery store. Just follow the instructions for your particular machine and it should remove most, if not all, of the smell.

Baking soda: Baking soda is a jack of all trades substance. It can be used in everything from baking to science experiments. But it also makes a great deodorizer. There are a few ways you can use it. For more localized problems (like vomit), clean and wipe up the excess . . . stuff. Then simply sprinkle baking soda on the afflicted area. Let it sit for a few hours and then vacuum it up. For more universal smells (like cigarette smoke), put some baking soda in an empty yogurt cup or Tupperware container. Poke holes in the lid and set it underneath a seat or anywhere it won’t be seen. Then just leave it. It will act as a natural air purifier. For more on baking soda and baking powder, check out this blog post.

Vinegar: Vinegar works much like the baking soda. However, it’s better at getting strong smells out. For example, if you put white vinegar in a bowl or cup, you can set it next to the source (like an ashtray) and leave it overnight. In the morning, remove the cup and the stink should go with it.

On the off chance that the smell has seeped into your windows (I know, unlikely …), you can mix water, vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap together and wipe them down. It makes your car smell fresh and leaves your windows streak-free.

Charcoal and coffee grounds: It sounds weird, but both charcoal and coffee grounds absorb smells. With charcoal, just leave the bag open in your car overnight. The best part of the charcoal is that you can still use it in your grill afterward. The coffee grounds use the same method. A quick word to the wise: your car will most likely end up smelling like coffee instead of whatever spilled, so if you’re not a coffee-smell lover, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

AC filters: Many times smells stick around because there’s improper circulation in your vehicle. Keeping your windows open will help with this, but to truly make a difference, change the filter for your AC unit. It will not only prevent musty, moldy smells that can emanate from the filter itself, but it will improve circulation and clear out nasty smells faster.

Air fresheners: My one word of advice on air fresheners is to be cautious. They do not actually remove smells; they simply mask them. Try to get all the smell out of your car first before moving on to the air freshening scent of your choice. If you don’t, you could end up with a mix of air freshener and vomit funk. It’s bad. I promise.

What do you do to deodorize your car? For other great tips on cleaning and sanitizing, check out this blog on vinegar and this one on purifying the air in your home.

Photo by: [F]oxymoron

1. Read a book—Search your shelves for those old books you haven’t read in years or that new book that you haven’t had a chance to start. It may be cliché, but reading on a rainy day is done for a reason: you’re never too old or too young to do it. Curl up by yourself in a quiet corner or read some of your all-time favorites aloud to your kids.
2. Make some play dough—Mix 1 ½ cups of flour, ¼ cup of water (add slowly), ½ cup salt, ¼ cup vegetable oil (add slowly), and your choice of food coloring to make some basic play dough for your kids. Or just for you if you’re in the mood for some sculpting.
3. Do yoga—It’s a simple and calming way to get moving indoors. Find some basic yoga videos online, turn out the lights, and get in touch with your inner chi.
4. Spring clean—Take the afternoon to clean that bathtub you’ve been meaning to get around to or to organize your Tupperware drawer. Go through your wardrobe and pull together anything you’d like to donate; if you can’t remember the last time you wore it, into the pile it goes.
5. Make collages—Get a glue stick, scissors, your old magazines, old wrapping paper, and cardboard boxes from the recycling bin to make some killer collages. The sides of large boxes make excellent canvases for a collage, and what better way to distract your kids than letting them cut and glue to their hearts’ content? It will pass the time and reuse old materials around the house.
6. Dress up—Get your kids to use their imaginations and pull together the best pirate, princess, and explorer costumes they can find around the house. This is also a great opportunity to try on spring hand-me-downs and figure out which items in your kids’ wardrobe are worn out or too small. If you’re brave enough, let the kids into your closet to try on some of your stuff too.
7. Take a bath—If the kids all have cabin fever, it’s probably time to pull out the toys and bubble bath for some tub time. If you’re spending your rainy afternoon alone, why not take your own bath and try out a home spa treatment? Check out this article and this one for all-natural ideas.
8. Start a project—Have a list of ideas that you’ve always wanted to try but have never gotten around to? This might be the perfect opportunity to try out that trendy do-it-yourself project that you saw on Pinterest the other day.
9. Bake organic—There are lots of simple organic recipes that could spice up your rainy afternoon. Check out Organic Authority for some ideas or visit Fresh Organic Recipes. Pick a recipe that uses stuff you already have to keep it as simple as possible.
10. Just embrace the rain—People go outside to play in the snow, so why not the rain? Bundle up in waterproof attire and go for a rainy walk to splash in some puddles.

Photo by J. Ronald Lee

And that’s how your insurance rate—auto, medical, life, home—is determined. Various characteristics have certain point values and some incredibly smart person plugs all that into a formula and tells the company what you will probably cost them. So if you want to lower your insurance rate, make yourself less of a risk to your insurance company.

Here are some ways to do that:

Auto:

• Get a car with fewer bells and whistles
• Install an alarm system
• Use a steering wheel anti-theft device
• Raise your credit score

Home:

• Get an alarm system (like Vivint!) and mail in the certificate of system installation form
• Install deadbolt locks
• Upgrade your sprinkler system
• Modernize your heating, cooling, and water systems
• Install disaster proof items like storm shutters
• Ask about discounts if you are a retired senior who is often home
• Raise your credit score

Life:

• Get healthy (i.e., stop smoking, lose weight, lower your cholesterol or blood pressure)
• Look at what you and your family really need and only get that much coverage

Some general tips:

• Shop around
• Bundle your insurance
• Stay with the same insurer for a while
• Shop as a group (through your employer) if possible

Insurance can be a complicated thing and may always be, but by following some tips, we can all get the best prices possible.