This year the pandemic continues to ruin our plans. I always look forward to the Southern Idaho Home and Garden Show happening in late February and early March. I usually walk away with some ideas of what I want to do, or wish I could do, to my house in the upcoming year. This year we are stuck coming up with ideas all by ourselves as the show has been cancelled. Stupid pandemic. Luckily we have information from previous years for ideas, products, and the people around town to make them a reality. Last year, I noticed that more of the booths had products for home automation and smart home upgrades. I fought the smart home idea for a long time but I have recently become a fan of smart bulbs, switches, speakers, and security cameras. The cool thing about these new smart home products is that they can often be done without the help of a professional. Not everyone can do the wiring of a smart light switch or outdoor camera, and you really should call a professional if you plan on modifying your electrical. Yet pretty much anyone can change a light bulb to a smart bulb or set up a smart speaker and hub to help control all the new smart electronics available.