You know what they say, there's no mess that a little ambient lighting can't fix. It's no secret how a top down white fluorescent light can make little dirts and bits too in-your-face. For someone like me who doesn't like to clean as much, I really needed to take the extra mile somewhere else to make the room more presentable (or at least buy me some time).
I loved my little lamp, but since I was hoping to get a new dimmer one anyways, I wanted to search around for alternatives. I figured that the chain lights (a.k.a Christmas Lights) concept you'd usually find in Pinterest sounds like an interesting idea so I picked up a set of chain lights, and carpe-ed the hell out of the diem.

Materials:
1 x IKEA SÄRDAL chain lights (24 bulbs)
1 x pack of Command(TM) Decorating Clips


 Since the clips are clear, it also comes with clear strips (which is relatively new, I remember having clear clips with white adhesives. Glad they figured out how it did not make sense before.)


I put 1 clip each corner and 2 in the middle part equally apart. You don't really have to measure. I just followed my gut placing one on each side. Then, I just let the ends of the chain down freely.

Aaand here's how the chain light looks in action. Sweeeet!

The IKEA SÄRDAL chain lights are sold at S$19.90 (IKEA) and the Command(TM) decorating clips about S$5 a pack. You can find them in in Cold Storage, Stationery Superstore and Fairprice.

 

So I got my earphone jack port cover replacement parts from Ebay.
(Will talk more if you need this explained)

I recently posted a problem with my Xperia Z where the earphone port cover keeps popping out by itself.

For some people who has the same issue, here's how I fixed it.
(If you are looking for a quick fix, I'm afraid this isn't for you. The steps below involve getting replacement parts.)

Part 1
First things first!
Before ordering anything from anyone, you would want to try first if you can remove the port covers MacGyver-style.
I wanted to make a video but I'm kind-of in panic to get this over with to setup a video shoot! Don't worry I promise to make it as visual as possible.

Step A.
Gather your tools.
What I used:
- twist ties
- tweezers

[caption id="attachment_203" align="alignnone" width="300"] Twist ties (those little pieces of twisty things that puts your cable together when you buy them)[/caption]

Step B.
Peel off the plastic casing of the twist ties.
I left the other half on just so I have something to hold on to.


Step C.
Bend the bare half of the twist ties all the way down.

[caption id="attachment_205" align="alignnone" width="300"] With the round-ish tip. NOT pointed.[/caption]

Try not to make the bent area too flat or pointed. You would need that later. Make it flat enough sideways by putting and pulling it between the tweezers this way.


Step D.
Open the earphone port but keep the plastic strip half-way in.


Step E.
Insert the bare part of the twist ties inside the hole of the plastic strip on the shorter side of the cover. Take note this plastic strip has a hook-like tip on the other side.
Insert the twist ties on the opposite side of the earphone jack and push it far down as you can. Just don't push it too hard so you don't bend it instead of getting it inside.



Here's how it should look like when it's inside, maybe this will give you a better picture.


Step F.
This is the part where it gets tricky. When the twist tie is further down as possible, pull the cover as high up as you can. Then pull the twist tie trying to scoop out the "hook" plastic tip of the cover. This took me several tries before actually making it work--tip: When they're both as nearly getting out of the hole, just pull them together and pull with pressure, it isn't likely to tear apart that way.

After several tries and a lot of patience, the cover should be out. Putting it back in is a lot easier.
Since the hook tip already flattened a bit, I just pushed it back my hands, no tools or what.

Part 2

Step 1:
Hop on over to Ebay.com and get yourself a new set of port cover replacement parts.
Now you know it's possible for you to possible for you to replace it yourself, get the replacement parts. Some have suggested they are available on Rounded.com which is good if you're in the UK. But if want it shipped in South-east Asia (like here in Manila), Ebay stores from Hongkong sellers sounds good enough (and they're cheaper). I even got mine with Free Postage.

[caption id="attachment_208" align="alignnone" width="844"] I really recommend this seller since I got my order pretty fast.
Seller: gsm4world[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_209" align="alignnone" width="167"] Xperia Z port cover replacement parts (Set of 4)[/caption]

Step 2:
Once you get your hands on the replacement parts, pull out the faulty one just like how you did it in Part 1.
This should be fairly easy now 'cause you've done it already a little loose.

Step 3:
Insert the new port cover.
This was harder than putting back the old one since it's new and stiff (or at least that's what I got). I had to push the hook part with the end of a twist tie (not bent) to get it in.

And that's it!
While getting an Xperia Z1 to get rid of the earphone port cover sounds like a great idea, maybe you should think twice because Z1 still has other port covers around it, too!

Hope this helps. If you have any questions, just leave a message/comment!

So I've been actively watching this series and I do this on my way home everyday. Having an Xperia Z, I had to open the port covers to access, well of course, ports like the earphone jack, every time I needed to listen to anything on earphones.

After a couple of days, I often find the port open when I take the phone out of my bag. At first I thought it was just me for keeping a jungle inside my bag, but I, with my nitpicking eyes, kept it out, and observed it for a few minutes. Turns out, son of a gun, it pops out by itself.

Similar to what happens in this video of someone else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HH4ROZCAFM

It was driving me crazy because Xperia Z's waterproofing is useless with the port covers coming off.

My phone being 3 months old, doesn't deserve to have it's waterproof-ness taken away. (Maybe not now. Not ever)
Things that came to my mind is 1) I need a bluetooth headset; and 2) I need to fix this cover--and fast.

The internet suggests I bring it to a Sony Service Center to have it replaced, they might charge me for only a little, thing is, they will take your phone apart just to replace that tiny piece. And I am not very comfortable getting my phone taken apart for a small issue.
It's not an iPhone.There's no way I can get replacement parts here in Manila. So I hopped on over to Ebay (get the Ebay app on PlayStore). I've had a few international Ebay transactions before, so this isn't new stuff (will talk more about this some other time).

And yey! I was able to pull it out.

Good thing the replacement parts were easy to find, they come in sets of 4 (one for each port--USB, microSD, earphone jack, sim card) for $7.99 (around P370 when converted by PayPal) and it's with Free Postage.

Note: I took the cover out just to try it before I made the purchase. I didn't want to wait for item to come only to find out I can't take it out at all.

Will let you know how I did it in another post-a technical one this time.

References:
Ebay product -
OEM Black Audio Jack Micro SD USB Sim Card Slot Port Cover For Xperia Z L36H
Seller: gsm4world