Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with foundation

Does this makeup make my face look big?

santojulieta — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:06:23 -0800

What kind of foundation should I use for my greasy forehead that doesn't = breakouts? I have mediocre skin that's pretty dry on my cheeks and pretty greasy on my forehead. I've been using Bare Escentuals mineral makeup as my foundation for a while, but it just doesn't last. And my forehead still looks shiny.

What kind of foundation can I use that will be nice and even, de-shine my forehead, and won't make me break out?

this will end well

ddaavviidd — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:58:38 -0800

[Renovation DIY filter] I need to install window wells for my basement windows. Is a drain really necessary or can I get away just by filling it with gravel? Few more details. This is in Qc, Canada, so lots of snow in the winter. The window sills are pretty much at ground level (perhaps 2-3" above). We have a french drain around the foundation, leading to a sump pump. I'd like to get away without drains going away from foundations because they would have to be quite long to end up in a lower terrain (about 50'), thus requiring machinery and huge trenches...

Can I put a vertical drain going all the way to the french drain? Is this a recommended method, or should I just dig a hole and fill it with gravel? How would I "cap" this drain?

Finding the national artistic news spotlight?

lifeofthunder — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:12:15 -0800

Our non-profit arts organization has just earned the support (in the form of a very big grant) from an internationally renowned foundation. We've got a good system of press releases that we send out to local and regional contacts, but we're idealistically looking to see some national artistic attention as the result of getting this grant. Where/who should we attempt contact to really get noticed? For the record, we're not in one of the top fifteen major US cities that you would expect to see produce the kind of arts organization that we have, so perhaps the story is that we're coming from a location that isn't exactly known for eccentric arts practices?

Need a foundation that won't turn orange

IndigoRain — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:10:50 -0800

Recommendations for not-too-expensive foundation that won't turn orange on my very pale ivory skin? I am pale enough that I can usually buy foundation in one of the two lightest shades in any given line. My two most recent failures were Mary Kay's both full and medium coverage foundations. Both turn orange on me, no matter how lightly I try to apply them. Previously I'd been using CoverGirl something or other, with the same problem.

I do use concealer but I have severely dark blue/purple undereye circles, reddish old acne scars, and the occasional red pimple, so I have a lot of skin tone variation. I don't know if all these powdered "Bare Minerals" knockoffs (for example, L'Oreal's Bare Naturale) can handle that much coverage, and they seem to be messy (as in, you get powder everywhere).

I need something affordable too, so preferably something I can pick up in a drugstore or Wal-Mart, not something Sephora-exclusive. What doesn't turn orange on you?

Am I alone here?

holdenjordahl — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:28:58 -0800

Anyone know of a way to quantify (by region, nationally; individually, collectively; percentages, ballparks numbers, quotes, et cetera) how non-profit theatres are faring, say, from the past year year or two to now, in the pursuit of foundation money? Assiduous though my efforts have been, I need to put my to-date dismal efforts into perspective for myself and soon, methinks, for others. Thanks.

Will our drained pool survive a NE winter?

thankyoumuchly — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:45:40 -0800

Will an empty in-ground plaster pool survive a winter in the North East US or does it need to be filled/winterized/etc.? We drained our 30,000 gallon, in-ground plaster pool this summer to paint it and ended up never painting or refilling it with water because of money issues. The pool is about 30 years old.

To provide a little history (and the source of our concern due to this being the first year we are not following this pattern), every winter in the past, the pool has been filled about 75% of the way with water (to ensure the water level was below the pool filter jet/pipes), and winterized using chemicals from a pool store, then covered with a non-water tight cover (it's basically a tarp weighed down on the sides with sand bags). This worked fine in the past and the pool has been in good shape the following summers.

Now that the North Eastern US winter is arriving (sub-freezing temperatures at night, a few feet of snow expected over the coming months, etc.) we are worried that the lack of water in the pool might hurt it (cracking, the pool itself "rising" due to the lack of water in it weighing it down? (if this is even possible)).

This year we have blown out the pool filter jet/pipes to ensure no water remained in them and prevent a freezeing/cracking problem. We also removed the pool pump (normal procedure) and blew any remaining water out of those pipes as well.

Our Ask For You: Now our concern is the pool itself. Does anyone out there in the MeFi hive mind know if the pool will survive the winter without any water in it?

Please be blunt, we would much rather spend the money to fill the pool and winterize it with chemicals than loose the pool due to a crack (which would cost more to repair than filling it).

Thank you muchly!

OH HAI WE UP IN YUR FOUNDASHUN BRAKIN YUR HUOSE

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:22:32 -0800

A company did additional work they were not authorized by us to do to our house, and now our house is broken. We had a company come out to do some work on the foundation (pier-and-beam). They were supposed to simply replace some sub-par materials that had been noted in the inspection. However, they leveled the foundation several inches without asking our permission to do the work, and now the house has multiple issues, some only superficial, but others are very major repairs that must be done by professionals.

The company came out to inspect the foundation before we bought the house and did not find that such extensive work would need to be done.

A licensed home inspector also inspected the house, and found only one area that might be questionable, but even that was within the acceptable range for deflection.

The company owner is now claiming that he saved us a great deal of money by doing this work, which would have had to be done eventually anyway, and this may in fact be true, but we are not financially prepared to pay for immediate repairs made necessary by the unauthorized work.

What do we do? Who, if anyone, should cover this? What is the next step?

We bought the house less than one month ago and we live in Texas.

Should I water my house foundation to keep it from cracking, and if so, what is the science behind how that helps?

worstkidever — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:12:36 -0800

Should I water my house foundation to keep it from cracking, and if so, what is the science behind how that helps? About a year ago, I bought a 55 year old house in Austin, TX. The soil below it is clay, and during this summer's drought, what were hairline in the masonry have become wide enough to stick a penny in. Additionally, the brand new hardwood floor has developed a gap that runs down the center of the house. After freaking the hell out, I did some research, and repeatedly came across the assertion that a homeowner is downright negligent if they don't install a drip system around their house which will run pretty much 24/7.

1) Is this actually going to do anything but be exceptionally wasteful and run up my water bill?

2) Why would this help or not help?

I understand that fluctuations in moisture cause expansions and contractions, and that the idea behind watering around the foundation is to maintain consistent moisture under the slab. BUT, my whole neighborhood is a sea of expanding/contracting soil, is watering really going to keep my slab afloat on some life raft of stability? Isn't there still going to a big difference between the moisture at the perimeter of the slab and the interior, creating an even bigger problem if there are weaknesses running through the middle? Are there any studies that prove or disprove this?

BTW- I am going to consult a structural engineer as well.

Education giving in Miami?

ejvalentine — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:47:04 -0800

My organization is searching for foundations or individual donors in the Miami area who fund education related projects in Miami-Dade. Do you know of any? We have applied at about 5 foundations in the city for grants, but have had little luck so far, mostly because we can't seem to locate that many. I don't want to name them here, but am looking for ideas on ones we may have overlooked.

Does anyone know of foundations or individual donors that make grants in Miami-Dade, especially for education? Any and all names would be appreciated.

We're a 501(c)3.

How to fix a leaky basement

Badmichelle — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:18:12 -0800

Should I fix my leaky basement from the inside or the outside? My basement: it leaks. What follows is plenty of detail, since I now know more about basements than I ever wanted to.

I've now had three contractors come to view it, and they're giving me contradictory advice: two say fix it from the outside, that works best, one says inside is the way to go. All three say I need weeping tiles. Two say they will put them on the outside of the wall, and apply a membrane, one says they should go inside.

The details: We live in a pretty old house (80+ years, as far as I know) with what looks like a stone rubble foundation. The parging is coming off the walls on the outside, and I can see that the foundation is damp. Inside, there's actually not much water, but the walls are damp and there is some water on the floor. Not much, but this hasn't happened before, and I suspect it will only get worse: we've have spectacular amounts of rain in Toronto season, and I believe there's more to come. One window frame has rotted wood, and needs to be replaced.

The complications: The basement is finished. Fixing it from the inside means we'll have to remove the drywall and part of the floor. If we go from the ouside, we have to dig up a concrete walkway and then replace it (it's a shared walkway and our neighbors will not look upon us favourably if we don't replace it).

I'm still struggling to understand what will work best/longest/be best for the house. If we fix it from the inside--isn't the water still penetrating the foundation? Isn't that bad? If we fix it from the outside, are we risking damaging the foundation in some way? (I've read that you should leave a stone-rubble foundation alone).

Do you have any experience with this? Any advice? Fixing this is going to be really expensive either way we go -- we can only afford to do it ONCE.

Please help me find a charity I heard about a few years ago.

rollbiz — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:49:55 -0800

I've decided to give away my economic stimulus check to a variety of charities and foundations. I'm trying to locate a particular charity which provided financial support to blues musicians in need of assistance with food, medical bills, home repairs, burial expenses, etc. I've located the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and it seems wonderful, but I do not think this is the organization I am looking for. I don't know much more except that I believe the org I am looking for was founded by one person and more recently than the R&B Foundation. I have lots of ideas for general donations but I'm looking to do something in this niche, so suggestions of any groups providing assistance to out of luck musicians would be great as well...

Is a life without makeup in my future?

notjustfoxybrown — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:49:49 -0800

Foundationfilter: Ladies, have any of you had success clearing your skin for good by foregoing foundation of any type? After three months, my nightly use of Retin-a is showing good results. My skin's smoother, pores tighter and breakouts have been reduced. However, I'm still getting pesky little blackhead breakouts on my forehead and cheeks but notice them only in the evening, after a full day with makeup on. I'm thinking of going without foundation for a few days to determine if that might be the cause of the problem. (Right now, I'm using StudioTech, the only one of the MAC foundations that comes in a shade I can wear ... but I have tried them all.)
This is huge for me. I'm one of those women who doesn't go to the mailbox without at least some lipgloss.
I know that many people claim that an oil-free makeup won't cause acne but I just can't believe this is completely true. Mineral makeup is not an option for my dark skin and I still think it's another marketing gimmick.
So, questions are:
1) Did going sans makeup help your skin?
2) What are some other tricks I might try to fake the even-toned skin look without foundation? How do I keep the oilies at bay? (I've heard many makeup artists recommend a bronzer to help evening tone.)
For the record, I wash my foundation brushes and buy multiple powder sponges and change them fairly regularly.

Not all it's cracked up to be.

batcrazy — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:52:15 -0800

What is the best way to repair a home's foundation? (posting for a friend, so ask if I've left out any relevant details)

Friend signed a contract on a home in Michigan pending inspection. The inspection revealed that the "north, south, and west basement walls are bowing inward and the walls are cracking at the corners. The structural integrity of these walls have been compromised."

Initial estimates from the inspector put this at a $20k problem. Friend informs sellers that they aren't going to purchase home unless the problem is fixed or money taken off the purchase price in the amount to fix the problem.

Seller counters with an offer to fix the foundation with 'grip tite' wall anchors, which anchor the wall to something and homeowners crank every once in a while to ensure basement walls stay plumb. (I am not a structural engineer, but this sounds a lot like wearing head gear from my orthodontic days.)

Friends are concerned that this wall anchoring system is not a long-term solution and maybe even building quackery. They like the home (and location), but are willing to either counter the counteroffer to require seller to fix the foundation correctly or walk away and find another home.

There doesn't seem to be much information online about wall anchoring as a valid structural repair option for homes vs. other structural repair systems.

Mefites, please advise. Should friend:
1) Walk away?
2) Counteroffer with another structural repair option? (Which option, and why is it better?)
3) Be content with the wall anchor system?

Friends are interested in staying in this home potentially 'forever,' so long term solutions are important here.

Thanks!

basement cracks

Salvatorparadise — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:29:22 -0800

anyone have experience dealing with basement cracks? I have some cracks on the wall of my basement, just on one side. The wall has been painted over with sealer many times over the years. It is a block wall. The one main crack was there when i bought the place, the inspector said it was ok, and that as long as the wall didn't bow out over an inch or so, i'd be OK. I think it bows maybe 1/4-1/2" now at the worst, where the big crack is. that crack is maybe 5 mm wide. I get no water in my basement, except a bit coming up from the floor when it rains for like a month straight.

Anyway, there are some other hairline cracks, which really seem to be cracks in the thick layer of sealer. I can't tell if they're new or not, but i think they are. I was just wondering how concerned i might be about the cracking down there...There are hairline stair steps, and horizontal, then of course the big one. I suppose the big issue is whether the wall is moving right (or how much it is moving)? If it is stable then I don't want to screw with it. I only paid $50k for the house, and it has been great so far, had it 14 mos. No problems. So, i don't want to put much money into serious and expensive foundation repairs! Planning on selling the place in a few years or renting it out. Anyway, what should i look for? Are these cracks a big problem? I put some sealer in the cracks, or over them, and that should help me see if they're opening up more over time....

Pics here, here here here here here

Benefits of Recording Academy membership

allterrainbrain — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:06:16 -0800

If you are or were a member of the Recording Academy (Grammy Fdn), would you recommend I join? Has it had any notable benefits or negatives that weren't clear to you before you joined, and has it been worth the annual fee? I'm mainly asking if there's anything you would've advised yourself before you joined the Academy (especially if it was "don't bother") or any further research I should do.

(Feel free to send me a private message if you'd rather.)

I qualify to join as a voting member, but I want to do research before I join since there's the $100/yr fee. I do live in a city with a local chapter that has regular events, but A) it's not stated on the website whether those events also cost a lot or are free for members; and B) realistically, I probably wouldn't make time for most of them.

The site is not at all clear about member benefits; it just gives a list of businesses and publications (which I'm assuming offer small discounts to members, same as you'd get as a member of any other professional org like ascap).

It seems like the main benefit is the voting itself, including the ability to nominate albums for the initial voting. Is that right or am I missing something?

Keeping the peaches in the cream

Jess the Mess — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:21:31 -0800

Does a foundation exist that won't cover up your natural coloring? I'm looking for a foundation that will cover up the flaws without washing out the natural pinkness in my complexion.

I'm currently using Neutrogena Healthy Skin make-up in the lightest color available and I find that while it evens out the overall tone of my face, it wipes the natural color out of my cheeks, resulting in a kind of dull look I have to fix with blush.

Bonus points for something I can get at a drugstore as I'm definitely on a budget here.

contact

sgt.serenity — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:12:05 -0800

Anyone know the contact details for the wiesfeld foundation ?

Starting a Foundation or Fund

divabat — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:29:21 -0800

How do I start a fund or foundation? I would like to start up a fund or foundation to give grants to projects by young people back home (Malaysia), an area currently in need but not served very well. Being a young person myself with plenty of enthusiasm but not enough knowledge, I'm not sure where to begin.

I understand that a lot of information will be location-specific (laws, regulations, etc), but what else do I need to take note of when starting a fund?

How do I get the money? (I can't just use my life savings...)
What sort of bank account would be best?
How do I get people to be interested in the fund, to support it and apply for grants?
How do I choose who do I give grants to, and what do I do with them afterwards?
How do I build credibility? (A big problem back home is that youth projects tend to start up with plenty of hype, then disappear soon after. I don't want that to happen.)
How do I find people to help me? What sort of people should I be after for this - businesses? Community people? Other youth?
What existing models can I follow or use as reference? I've seen the YouthBank UK website and it looks interesting, and I would like more examples.
What is the difference between a foundation and a fund? Will I have to redefine this project if I decide to do more than just give money?
What else am I missing?

Any and all help appreciated. Assume I know nothing. Thank you!

Foundations without water or electricity? Am I dreaming?

Kickstart70 — Thu, 24 May 2007 18:51:08 -0800

I need to create a foundation for building a shed, with specific parameters, but I have minimal/difficult on-site water and no electricity. Impossible, you may say! But I'd still like to do it. Please help me come up with the best plan to proceed. I will shortly be building a shed on my bare land, to store things especially in preparation for eventually building a house. It will be 10x10 or possibly 12x12 (the maximum I can build here without getting a permit).

It's going to be built with a post-and-beam frame and cordwood masonry, which ultimately will match our house. As such, I believe the easiest way is to have a floating slab so that the 1' thick wall will sit on it and I have a nice surface to store things on.

I have minimal (muddy) groundwater on the property and no electricity (eventually, this shed will be the first place to have electricity on the property, to build the house with). I could try and get cement trucked in, but that seems like an awful lot of work and expense for a little shed. Or maybe I could use a bunch of railway ties bound together somehow? Or bricks mortared together with the little water I have or can bring in? Or something else entirely?

Or maybe it's easier and not that expensive compared to doing it myself. I don't know, and that's why I am asking you. Got any thoughts?

In an application for a private foundation grant, how do I decide a specific request amount?

sparrows — Tue, 08 May 2007 05:47:22 -0800

In an application for a private foundation grant, how do I decide a specific request amount (given that I know only their TOTAL annual giving, not their AVERAGE giving per funded project)? My group (in the U.S.) submitted an inquiry letter to a private charitable foundation (also in the U.S.). The person who evaluates inquiry letters says it definitely fits their mission, but before she can pass it on to the board she needs us to name a specific dollar request. She herself doesn't make any recommendations re. the request amounts.

From their public tax records, I found out the total amount that was awarded by the foundation last year (but not the number of awardees -- in other words, I don't know the average grant amount). I Googled to see if any groups mention specific amounts they got from this foundation -- no luck.

I wish I could provide more details but I don't know if it's appropriate. Therefore I'm looking for recommendations re. the general issue of how to strategize requests, and/or specifically how I might find out their average award amount. I will say our project right now is semi-funded, to the extent that we will just break even if all the teaching labor is volunteer -- so although the teachers are okay with volunteering, and are committed to the project regardless of funding, we are now seeking to pay them. Also, due to the timing, this is the final foundation we're applying to for this year (this will be an annual project, so we get much more planning time next year).

Thanks so much for any advice...

Foundation Repairs in Austin?

kiita — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:31:11 -0800

What's a good foundation repair contractor in Austin, TX? We're about to take the plunge on repairing the foundation of our house. We have one contractor lined up, but we've heard mixed results about them. We're two women, so we know we're vulnerable to contractor scams, and we want to avoid this at all costs. I've already researched various contractors, and it all seems a wash. We'd really appreciate recommendations as well as "absolutely avoid"s. Any general advice would also be appreicated. Thanks.

Is it okay to mix foundation with your sunscreen?

thehmsbeagle — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:06:55 -0800

Is it okay to mix a dab of foundation with your sunscreen to make an ersatz "tinted moisturizer"? Or will it create a rip in the very fabric of space and time? I wear sunscreen (Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, SPF45, if it matters) every day on my face and any other exposed skin. I don't normally like to wear a full coat of foundation, but I do sometimes wish for a sheer tint to even out my skintone without feeling like I'm covered in spackle.

I've recently been mixing a dab of foundation into my sunscreen before applying it, as you might do to sheerly tint your moisturizer. Is there any reason I *shouldn't* do this? I'm not a chemistry whiz, so my feeling that this is probably okay is largely groundless, and my googling was inconclusive.

Also-- I know there are SPF-rated foundations, but I only like *very* sheer coverage, so I don't think I'd be able to get enough sun protection from them.

I love love love my sunblock and don't want to try other products or, obviously, stop using it-- if adding the foundation is doing something evil to it, I'll just knock it off and be mildly blotchy.

Thanks, everyone!

Make my sister's face pretty.

joegester — Sun, 21 May 2006 18:06:36 -0800

What's the best foundation you can get for less than $20? My sister is looking for good foundation that isn't super expensive but it's hard to find information that isn't sponsored by a cosmetics company. Women's magazines suck.

How do I ease dad's worries about his recently sold house?

Alpenglow — Fri, 05 May 2006 06:39:38 -0800

Help me put my father's mind at ease, please. He retired & sold his house & relocated out of state. He is losing sleep at night, worrying that he will be sued by the buyers of his house. The house - a brick structure - was built in the 20's. He has taken great care of it, but he thinks the brick foundation started to crumble. This is not why he moved. It was a bigger house than he needed & he wanted warmer weather. Anyway, he got an agent, put the house on the market, it sold within 2 weeks. They buyer had an agent & the home was inspected. He still thinks that if the new people find the foundation not perfect, they will come back and try to sue my dad. He never tried to hide the foundation problems. He doesn't have a lot of experience with real estate, this was the first house he ever bought & he lived there for 40 years. The whole buying/selling process is a bit much for him to grasp all at once. I've told him that the new owners had it inspected (although not by a structural engineer), and that people sell homes that aren't perfect all the time and don't get sued. It's not like the house is going to fall down anytime soon! I can't really find any information online to prove to him that he needs to quit the worrying, and I'm a bit clueless about liability and rights of sellers/buyers as well. But hopefully - he doesn't have to worry too much, right?

To raise or not to raise

_sirmissalot_ — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 15:06:04 -0800

How much would it cost to raise a 900-square foot house a few feet & give it a new foundation? Looking at 1912 Craftsman in Seattle that is a good deal but would only work if we could add some space, and the attic doesn't seem tall enough to add dormers. Just looking for a rough idea of what to expect. The basement (which is really only a 1/2 basement) is just tall enough to walk around, not tall enough to finish off. Ideally, we would dig out the other half of the basement. I have no experience with home improvement.

Additionally, I'd like to rip out the oil heater (which feeds radiators) and put in a gas furnace.

Anybody have experience doing this?