School is out in just 8 more days. This means my time will be freed up a bit more so I can really do some in depth writing. Awesome. So I must ask you readers, what would you like to see me write about?

Do you have a website that you'd like to see featured? Would you like to do an email or in-person interview? (In person if you live within about 150 miles of Nashville, TN. Unless you want to pay my travel expenses. In that case, have laptop, will travel.) Do you have an issue you'd like to see brought to light? I'm all about it.

Simply leave a comment or email me at badbadivy {at} gmail.com and let me know what you'd like to see!

I noticed yesterday that one of the gutters on my house was leaking. Oh, noes! How should I fix it? YouTube to the rescue:

The article I read doesn't have a picture, so enjoy this lolcat in the meantime.

Now, back to the actual subject at hand- a two billion dollar, 27 story, 4 million square foot home in Mumbai, India. Seriously- what? And I thought McMansions were too big. Check this out:

"At the request of Nita Ambani, say the designers, if a metal, wood or crystal is part of the ninth-floor design, it shouldn't be used on the eleventh floor, for example. The idea is to blend styles and architectural elements so spaces give the feel of consistency, but without repetition," it said. "Atop six stories of parking lots, Antilla's living quarters begin at a lobby with nine elevators, as well as several storage rooms and lounges. Down dual stairways with silver-covered railings is a large ballroom with 80 per cent of its ceiling covered in crystal chandeliers."

The report said that Ambanis plan to use the residence occasionally for corporate entertainment also and they want its interiors to have a "distinctly Indian" look and feel. "The top floors of entertaining space, where Ambani plans to host business guests (or just relax) offer panoramic views of the Arabian Sea... For more temperate days, the family will enjoy a four-story open garden," it noted.

Wow. Just wow. At least they're building up and not out? I've got nothing.

Need seating for two with a fresh style? Look no further. Freshome has the scoop.

I'm doing fun polls all over Shakadoo today- check the other Shaks out and let your voice be heard!

What could be cooler than a wall painted as a homage to Mondrian? Step by step photos on how to do it yourself.

I believe I've mentioned here a few times how badly I need a tiki bar. Now I can make my own, thanks to this post over at The Fun Times Guide To Living Green- 6 easy DIY projects with bamboo. But what if you don't need a tiki bar like I do?

There's also projects for sprucing up your patio, building a water feature, building a bike (!!), making a ladder, and making a trellis. Neat stuff!

My house has settled quite a bit in the nearly 4 years I have lived here. Needless to say, I have a whole lotta nail pops that need to be dealt with. Luckily, I found this video on how to repair nail pops:

Vodka is filtered and pure, so if you don't have rubbing alcohol, you can use vodka for many of the same things you can use rubbing alcohol for. And, here's a bunch of other things vodka can be used for:

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves adhesive
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.
3. Clean jewelry. Soak the jewelry in vodka for five minutes, then rinse, and dry.
4. Clean lipstick from clothing. Rub the stain with vodka, then throw into your regular wash.
5. Remove the glue left behind by a bumper sticker. Rub the glue with a soft, clean cloth soaked with vodka
6. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
7. Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, then blot dry.
8. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
9. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
10. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle and spray bees or wasps to kill them.
11. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water in a Ziplock freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refreshable ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.
12. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.
13. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.
14. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.
15. Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.
16. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the oil from your skin.
17. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.
18. Soothe a sore throat. Add a tablespoon of vodka to glass of warm water and gargle. The alcohol helps numb the sore throat.
19. Eliminate swimmer's ear. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, fill an eardropper with vodka, and squeeze it into the affected ear, then let it drain out

I can personally vouch for the sore throat and the toothache ones!

We're about to buy a new ceiling fan for my living room (nobody tell Mr. Ivy, ok? It's a surprise.), so I thought this video was interesting and informative: