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Window Safety Checklist - Homeowners Must Read

2009-10-05T07:23:00.001-07:00

Broken glass is definitely a health hazard, for anyone who is near it, when the glass is actually broken. After the glass is broken and is laying on the ground in pieces, people can still get hurt. Here's a basic window safety checklist for homeowners that everyone must read. It will provide you with some simple tips that could prevent a loved one from getting seriously injured in the future.

1. Contact your local building department or fire department, to get the basic requirements for using your window as a fire escape. Your windows can be used to jump out of, if there is a fire inside your home.

2. Make sure that young children avoid playing around windows. You should always teach your children, never to throw large objects or balls in the house.

3. You might think about installing a window ladder, if you live in a two-story home, which could be made of rope or chain. These latter's can be thrown out of the window, while latching onto the window sill, in case there's a fire. It would provide you with an alternative from jumping out of the window. Don't under estimate these fire ladders, they can be extremely difficult to climb down.

4. If you leave large sliding glass doors open on a regular basis and clean them spontaneously, others might not realize they're closed, because they're so clean. Simply put a piece of tape on the window to prevent other people from thinking there open. You would be surprised how many accidents happen, from clean windows.

5. Last but not least, one of the most important problems with windows. Think security, if you leave your windows open and leave the house, someone now as easy access. There are plenty of ways to make your windows secure, using locks that clamp on to the side of the window. This will allow you to leave the windows open about 4 inches, leaving you the desired ventilation and preventing burglars from entering your domain.

If a window is cracked, or broken it should be replaced as soon as possible. Try to avoid fixing broken glass your self if you don't have any experience. Plenty of people get hurt every year, simply underestimating how sharp broken glass can actually be.

Home Window Ideas

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

2009-10-05T02:54:00.001-07:00

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

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10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

2009-10-04T22:30:00.001-07:00

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

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Home Purchasing Checklists Provide Protection

2009-10-04T18:00:00.001-07:00

Home purchasing checklists provide protection for consumers with useful information for future home repairs or current home repairs that will need to be done before the home is sold. Home inspectors often use checklists like these, while they're inspecting the home.

If more home shoppers used home inspection checklist while shopping for houses, we would probably have more satisfied homebuyers than dissatisfied ones. Recently just purchasing a home, we had our real estate professional, the previous homeowner's real estate professional and a mortgage lender, involved in the purchase of the property.

There was a home inspection report from the current homeowners, available for us to look at. It provided us with the damaged parts of the home that were repaired or replaced. Some of these repairs were from termite damage and it was stated so on the report. This was helpful information for us as we walked around the home inspecting it for damage.

The work that was repaired to look satisfactory and the rest of the home had minor damage. Listening to one of the real estate sales people that were involved in the transaction, you would've thought we would get in the deal of a lifetime and they had nothing but good news to say about the product they were representing. I easily understood that, this person could have influenced some one into believing that the home was in great shape, if they didn't have a home inspection checklist with them.

The home had been re-carpeted, painted and was in generally good shape. The problems with the home, were the old windows that were hard to open, the heating unit leaked gas, the tile flooring that ran through the kitchen and a large room addition looked great, except for one thing, they installed the tile over linoleum.

This eventually will have to be replaced as the tile starts to separate from the linoleum. While I'm writing this article, there's about 40 square feet of tile that needs to be replaced, because it's popping up and cracking.

A home purchasing checklist does not guarantee that you will find everything but can't eliminate some of the things that homeowners have the biggest problems with. If you could just eliminate one of these problems, the small price of purchasing, one of these checklists would be worth it.

Home purchasing checklists provide protection for the shopper and I would recommend, never shopping for a home without one.

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By Greg Vandenberge

Attic Handrail Safety - Do it Yourself Home Repair

2009-10-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

Some stairways that lead up to your attic will have a safety or guardrail to prevent people from falling down the stairs or off of them. Attic handrail safety can provide homeowners with a little peace of mind if they just follow the few simple steps. Make sure that the handrail is at least 42 inches in height. 42 inches is the minimum height for guard rails and can be found in the uniform building code.

The uniform building code is the Bible to the building industry and sets the standard for new construction and remodeling.

The 42 inches will be measured from the floor to the top of the handrail. Some older homes will have handrails that are 36 inches and some of them will be even 30 inches in height. A 30 inch handrail provides limited protection for anyone who is over five foot tall. 30 inches becomes the center point for any one over 60 inches and these people could easily fall over the short handrail.

Now for the homes that don't have any attic handrail safety systems. Some homes that were built before the 1960s won't have a handrail system at all in the stairway. Keep something in mind here, when these people were building these houses, some of them were trying to save money, some of them figured that it wasn't going to be a big deal and other builders simply forgot to install them.

It's not hard to install a working attic handrail for safety but keep in mind, that if the handrail isn't the right height, it will provide you with limited protection. Attic handrails that are lower than 30 inches can provide young children or others who are shorter than five feet with very little protection but can be a safety hazard to anyone over 5 feet tall.

If your attic doesn't have a safety handrail, use caution and be careful in these areas of your home. It wouldn't be a bad idea to install a locking doorknob if your attic access has a door that can be secured to prevent small children or other people from entering these unsafe areas.

Home Attic Repairs

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How Many Bathrooms Do You Really Need? Building New Homes

2009-10-04T09:03:00.001-07:00

When my dad was a kid, they lived in a two bedroom house with one bathroom and the family consisted of him, his two brothers and his mother and father. When I grew up, we have it a little bit better. We had the same sized family as my father did, but we lived in a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms.

How many bathrooms do you really need? Think about it. Here's what I would like to suggest, if you have more money than you know what to do with and would love to help the economy, then you should put as many bathrooms as you need in your home.

If you really need to tell your friends, that you have a 250 bedroom house with 275 bathrooms, and you have the money to pay for it, do it and knock yourself out. However, if you are building a new home, I would like you to consider, this question. How many bathrooms do you really need?

If you want each one of your children to have their own bathroom, then go for it. It will require more cleaning, more money to build these bathrooms and is it really necessary.

Here's what I would suggest as a guideline for deciding, how many bathrooms you really need. One bathroom for two or less people, two bathrooms for five or less people and three bathrooms for eight or less people. You could actually add one bathroom for every three people as a general rule of thumb.

Don't get carried away and start installing bathrooms all over your house, it doesn't make sense. Bathrooms are expensive and I have been in the homes, where I was the only person that used at bathroom. Some bathrooms might not ever be used.

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Pest Droppings in the Attic - Pest Problems

2009-10-04T04:37:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I wonder how these large animals can get through such small holes in our homes and into our attics and crawlspace's. A few years ago, I was working on a home that had water damage to the siding that needed to be fixed. The homeowner of course didn't want anymore water damage and this required repairing roof, the original cause for the siding damage.

When I bid the job, I had no idea what I was about to run into. The first day on the job, went smoothly as I repaired some damage fascia board, but the next day I was in for a surprise, as I removed the damaged siding, I found what looked like dog poop in the attic.

I was looking around in the attic and trying to figure out how a dog could of got up there. I know that I shouldn't have, but I walked around the home inspecting it for a large hole, any holes, something that a small dog could have wiggled his way into. I got my latter off of the truck and then went on the roof, trying to find a place where a dog could have got into the attic.

I couldn't find any holes and after wasting about an hour, I decided it was time to get back to work and since the homeowner wasn't there, I couldn't show him my new findings or ask him any questions. I cleaned up the mess and repaired the water damaged siding, but in the back of my head I kept thinking about how in the heck a dog got up in the attic.

To make a short story even shorter, when the homeowner arrived home that day, I showed him my findings and he informed me that he didn't have a dog. He did however inform me that he has been hearing something walking around in his attic for about a year now. He had a pretty good idea that they were raccoons.

I told him, that I had inspected his home and only found one small hole on top of his roof underneath the roof eave, but there's no way that a small raccoon could fit through that hole. He told me that you would be surprised, what these animals were capable of squeezing into and out of.

Well that's about it, the mystery was solved, I repaired the small hole in the attic and have never heard from the homeowner again. Hopefully that meant I did my job well and not that he was embarrassed about the poop in the attic.

Pest Control Ideas, House Pest Pictures

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

2009-10-04T00:08:00.001-07:00

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

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Subfloor Damage From Poor Bathtub Installation - Read Bath Tub Fixture Manuals

2009-10-03T19:43:00.001-07:00

You should never under estimate the amount of damage that water can do to your wood subfloor. Especially if this wood is underneath your bathtub. If the bathtub is not installed properly, you could find yourself replacing the wood underneath, within a short period of time. This repair is not uncommon and as more homeowners and handyman seemed to be doing projects like these, without the proper experience, it's becoming even more common.

I wish I had a solution to the problem, however, I don't. The best advice I could give anyone who is going to be involved in any home remodeling project, would be to get some books on what ever task you are about to undertake and read all of the information that you possibly can about the products you are going to be installing. This is extremely helpful for anyone who has never installed a bathtub or any bathtub fixtures.

If the product fails and was installed properly, the manufacturer should be responsible for the water damage. I have been reading the manufacturer's installation manuals for quite some time now and every once in a while, I find something that is of great value to me and I get to pass it on to my readers. That's what I'm doing right now.

Whether you want to remodel your bathroom to save money or you want to accomplish a task that you haven't done yet. I would recommend, taking the time to understand, exactly how the water flows off of and on to another section of the bath tub or shower on its way to the drain. Understanding the basics of bathroom remodeling can save you big money in the future.

Save yourself some money and make sure that you install your bathtubs properly. Taking a little time before you start to read the bath tub fixture manuals, can save you some money and grief in the future.

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Don't Let This Happen to You - Home Computer Electrical Damage

2009-10-03T15:14:00.001-07:00

If you've read any of my other articles, you know that I am always coming up with great ideas, tips and even a couple of stories that can save homeowners lots of money. Here's another one of those stories, that involves a friend of mine who asked me if I could fix his outdoor electrical outlet.

I was over at his house one day, and told him that I could probably fix the electrical outlet and if we needed any parts, we could run down to the lumber yard and pick them up and his problem would be solved within a few hours. This two hour repair was about to cost him the hard drive on his computer, but neither one of us had any idea what was about to happen.

We each agreed to give it a shot, I told him to go over to the electrical panel and turn off the breaker that went to his outdoor shed. He proceeded to turn off the breaker and yelled out," It's off, try it." I plugged in an electric drill and it was still working, as he was walking around the corner, towards me, I showed him that the drill was still on and he hadn't turned off the right electrical breaker.

He went back and turned off a couple of more electrical breakers and the drill was still running. Now he frantically started to turn off one electrical breaker at a time, until I yelled out," It's off, the electrical power is, off you can stop."

I repaired the electrical outlet and he went back to turn every electrical breaker back on that he had turned off. We were proud of ourselves and he now had electrical power, back to his shed and he was happy.

Now for the bad news, his computer was running and when he turned the electricity off and on, it must've done something to his computer hard drive and it now needed to be replaced.

The moral to the story, isn't that you shouldn't help your friends. It's that you should, make sure that your computers are safely off, before you attempt to do any electrical work to your home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, to have a battery backup, for your computer, if you use it often, just in case there is an electrical failure or something happens like the story above.

If your really interested in saving money on your home electrical bills - Energy Saving Books

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Important Do-It-Yourself Home Remodeling Advice

2009-10-03T10:50:00.001-07:00

Often I'm asked by homeowners, if they think that they can build something on their own. Often I end up explaining the process to them and it's pretty confusing. I would like to give some homeowners and construction handyman some do-it-yourself home remodeling advice, about projects that I think they should avoid and the reason why.

1. Working on Electrical Service Boxes

I really don't recommend, anyone who lacks experience working with electrical, to be working on it at all. When it comes to the electrical service box repairs, if you don't have any experience working in this specific area, I am suggesting this to all homeowners and do-it-yourselfers, stay away from electrical service power boxes. Electricity can be extremely hazardous to your health, so take my advice, this is coming from an expert on the subject.

2. Plumbing Water Supply Lines

I don't recommend, anyone who doesn't have any experience working with plumbing water supply lines, because if they break, or if your repair, doesn't hold properly, you could destroy a large portion of your home. Picture this, you just got through putting a new faucet in, everything looks great, but it's time for you to go to your baseball game. You come home about four hours later and the entire house is flooded with water.

This kind of stuff does happen and you need to take the advice of an expert here. It has even happened to me and I understand the process, pretty good. If you plan on fixing any plumbing water supply lines, make sure that you can spend the time, keeping an eye on your new home repair. If you're going to have any problems with them, they will usually happen within the first few hours of use.

I hope this helps, sometimes it's better to pay a professional, but I can understand, every intelligent person, is interested in saving a few dollars and learning new skills.

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Do-It-Yourself Concrete Room Addition Foundation

2009-10-03T06:22:00.001-07:00

This information can also be very important to do-it-yourselfers that will be building other projects, for future home improvements. How can a do-it-yourselfer learn to build a concrete room addition foundation? Let's get started.

The first thing that you're going to need is a set of plans or building blueprints and they should have been approved by your local building department and planning department. There should be specific architectural details, that you will need to examine carefully, to build your new concrete room addition foundation correctly.

Let's get started with the digging. You're building plans, should give you the width and depth and the exact location, of the building footings that will need to be dug. Grab your shovels and get started. Make sure that all of the dirt is removed properly, before you start to form the room addition foundation footings.

Next you will need to form the foundation. This can be done using 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 form boards. You can easily apply these form boards, in the exact location, that the building plans are suggesting. You can use 1 x 3 wood or metal stakes that can be purchased at any home improvement or lumber yard, to hold up your form boards in the correct position.

The sole purpose of the form boards, will be to hold the concrete in, once it is poured. Next you will need to install all of the rebar and building hardware, that will also be required on your building blueprints. Make sure that you examine these building plans to find the exact location, for all of your anchor bolts, hold down bolts and all of your structural rebar.

Once this is done, you're ready to pour your concrete, but don't pour your concrete, until you have contacted your local building inspector to examine your new room addition building foundation.

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How to Find a Excellent New Home Builder

2009-10-03T01:52:00.001-07:00

Looking for a good home builder or contractor, isn't an exact science, but hopefully, by the time you're done reading this article, you will at least have a better idea, what you will be looking for. Let's get started.

As a general contractor, the most important thing that I would be looking for any new home builder, would be experience. You can't sacrifice price for experience. If you're looking for the cheapest contractor, there's a good chance that this person will be lacking experience in home building knowledge.

How long has this person been in business? Just because you're new home builder has only been in business for five years, doesn't mean that he isn't capable of building your home. The same holds true for someone who has been in business for 30 years. Just make sure that these people have actually built homes in the past.

What is their attitude like? This is the second most important thing and I tend to focus on this more than experience, sometimes. If you don't get along with the person, you're not going to have a pleasant home building experience. If you think that there lying to you, scammers or generally don't feel comfortable with them, but they seem to have the most experience and build more homes in your area than anyone else. I wouldn't think twice about getting rid of them and finding someone else.

Last but not least, you should contact some of the people that they have worked for in the past. Talking to past clients, is going to play an important role in making your final decision. You need to find out, if these home builders, treated their clients fairly and were they generally happy with the overall outcome and performance, not only of the homebuilder, but each one of his subcontractors.

I would recommend writing out a list of questions and offering your new home builders past clients a free meal. Offer to take them out to dinner, lunch or breakfast, this way you will have their undivided attention and get the low down on your potential future home builder, it could be the best money that you ever spent.

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

How Wide Should I Make My Carport? Planning Your Next Project

2009-10-02T21:24:00.001-07:00

Whether you live in a home with or without a garage, you might be thinking about building a new carport. You've came to the right place and by the time you're done reading this article, you should have acquired a little more valuable information for your next home remodeling project.

Some homeowners install carports in front of their garage, on the side of their homes or even in their driveway. Car ports can be built anywhere on your property, as long as you have enough room and access to these areas for a car to be parked safely.

The most important thing to remember, when building a carports, is the width that will be required to park your vehicle underneath it. You will need to allow plenty of room, so that you will be able to access your vehicle comfortably.

There are plenty of carports, all over the country that are built right next to something, like a retaining wall, the side of your home or even another garage. I myself have parked in carports that were too small and over a period of time became an annoying inconvenience.

The minimum width that I would build any carport would be 10 foot wide, if you're going to build your carport next to a building, I would suggest that you park your car, open your door and measure the width of your car, with your door open.

This will give you a comfortable width for building your new carport. This is the best advice I could give anyone, who is planning on building a carport.

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Basic Home Electrical Wiring - For the Do it Yourself Home Electrician

2009-10-02T16:54:00.001-07:00

The Green Bay Packers were one of the most successful football teams and Vince Lombardi said something to them that I will never forget," This is a football." All the football players laughed and he said that we're going to start with the basics and that's what I'm going to do, with this article.

Let's start with our electrical wire, the two most common electrical wire sizes, that will be used in most homes, will be 14 and 12 gauge electrical wire. Let's clear something up, right off the bat, the smaller the number, the larger the wire. In other words a 12 gauge electrical wire is a little bit larger and will carry more electricity, for longer distances than a 14 gauge wire.

What about electrical outlet plugs? These plugs are usually the same, except for the fact that they come in different colors. When I said that most electrical plugs are the same, I'm talking about your standard wall outlet plug. There are different electrical plugs that will be used for air conditioners and some kitchen appliances like 220 Volt electric stoves and ovens.

What about your home's light switches? Your standard two way light switch will usually turn a one light on or a group of lights on, from one location. A three way light switch will usually turn one light on or a group of lights on from two different locations. A four way light switch, will usually turn one light or a group of lights on from three different locations.

It doesn't get any more basic than that. I hope this gives you a better understanding about your home's electrical system.

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Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

2009-10-02T12:23:00.001-07:00

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

2009-10-02T07:55:00.001-07:00

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link House Basement Repair Ideas. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

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Reflexology - Holistic Therapy

2009-10-02T06:46:00.001-07:00

Reflexology is a modality in treatment used to enhance circulation, relaxation and improve ones overall health and well being. By formal definition, it is: "A focused pressure technique directed at the feet or hands." "It is based on the premise that there are zones and reflexes on different parts of the body which correspond to and are relative to all parts, glands and organs of the entire body".

Reflexology is not a "new age" treatment, but has in fact been around for thousands of years. There is documented evidence of this therapy dating back as far as 2,500 BC. It can benefit those as young as new born up to the elderly.

Reflexology, in simpler terms, works to stimulate the body's natural electrical energy to help increase the body's circulation. This is done through manipulation, pressure enhanced massage and focusing on various pressure points of the foot or hand. By increasing circulation, one will feel the instant benefits of reduced stress and enhanced relaxation. For those on medication, with medical conditions or enhanced side effects due to treatment; reflexology can improve feelings of overall well being and help to decrease pain or unpleasant side effects from modern medicine. For those practising other treatments in achieving good physical and emotional health, this is a perfect treatment to compliment other modalities as well.

A treatment session will usually last 45-60 minutes where the client will be fully clothed and draped with a sheet for comfort and warmth. It can be administered lying down or sitting up, which ever the client is most comfortable with. The treatment room will be clean, the atmosphere will be calm and usually with soft calming music playing in the background. The benefit of Reflexology over other treatments is that the results of a reflexology session can last up 5 days or more and treatment can be determined by the client on a as per need basis.

For those that have never experienced this type of therapy, it is well worth trying. To find a reputable and highly trained reflexologist, you can start by choosing a reflexologist that has been Certified by the College of Reflexology which practises strict standards and ensures a quality professional.

Don't settle for anything less.

2007 Silvana Rosati-Capizzano

Silvana is a well respected Interior Decorator, International Feng Shui Expert and the Principal of the Award Winning Home & Life Design Firm: Blue Avalon. Along with her years of study in Home Decor and Feng Shui, she has the unique ability of being able create luxurious interiors with balance and optimum energy flow thus creating a beautiful environment of positive energy, balance and harmony.

Silvana also devotes her time to her Holistic Practise at the Dove Spa, Canada. She is a well respected Reiki Master and Certified in Reflexology. Her passion for positive energy and it's effects on our surroundings as well as personally are encompassed in her practise of Feng Shui and Holistic Therapies. She offers Reiki, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Coning.

Blue Avalon specializes in Interior Decorating, Feng Shui and Abundant Living. Blue Avalon is the publisher of The Blue Avalon Journal; a monthly e-zine packed with ideas, tips and insider secrets! To subscribe, log onto our website today at http://www.blueavalon.com and you will receive a bonus book, The Number One Feng Shui Secret That Will Transform Your Life!

Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home...Balance for your life http://www.blueavalon.com.

Raising Your Grandchildren - Tips For Finding Help

2009-10-02T02:12:00.001-07:00

Your grandchildren are living in your home. Now what? Raising your grandchildren is not an easy task and there are legal questions to be answered.

You are to be commended for taking on the task of raising a second family. I know you didn't ask for the job, but now it is yours.

Have you checked with a lawyer?

You may not feel you need one, but if it comes down to you having legal custody of your grandchildren you cannot afford to walk into court unprepared. Grandparents do have some legal rights now, but nothing is set in stone.

How are you doing financially?

Some of you may still be working and are able to absorb the extra expense of your new family. While, some may already be on a fixed income, used to be called retirement, and may be struggling to make ends meet.

How's your relationship with the parent of the grandchild?

That parent is still your child. Sometimes they are just in need of a little help until they can get life together. Sometimes they have gotten themselves into a mess and need some serious help. Help you may not be qualified to give.

Are there other grandparents involved?

You may desire to have your grandkids with you, but they may have been given to the other grandparents. That's the problem with this situation, you have some many people and personalities to deal with and that can be a big problem.

What about the home life the child or children came out from?

Sometimes this can be a real problem. There can be abuse, drugs, alcohol, pornography and who knows what else. The society your grandchildren live in today is much different from the one in which you grew-up.

Here's a few tips for overcoming these problems.

1. You really need a lawyer, even if you do not plan to get legal custody of the children. You need to know your rights and things do change.

2. Seek out financial advice. Proper financial planning is crucial if you are short on cash. You may want to investigate additional sources of income. If you have legal custody you may qualify for financial aid.

3. Check out various support groups. Some online forums offer limited legal advice and you can find others in the same position as you and can be a big moral booster.

4. There are several good books available. Check Amazon and others for suggestions.

The information in the raising grandchildren is limited right now, but I am sure that will change soon, as there are 4.5 million kids living with their grandparents in the United States. This is a huge market and I am sure there will be more help soon.

Click Here to find the information you need. I know how tough it is my two grandkids have lived with me for three years. Get the help you need at http://www.squidoo.com/grandparents-rights-1

Feng Shui Kua Numbers and Lucky Directions For Success

2009-10-01T21:46:00.001-07:00

The best way to get into the world of Feng Shui is to determine your personal Kua Number, find out if you are an East or West Group person and your lucky directions.

Supposing you are born in the year 1871:

Step 1: Add the last two digits of your year of birth which in this example would be 7+1 = 8.

Step 2:
If you are a male:
Deduct the number that you derived from (Step 1) from 10. So in our example it will be 10-8 = 2. Your Kua Number is 2.
If you are a female:
Add the number that you derived from (Step 1) to 5. So in our example it will be 8+5=13 and then 1+3=4. Your Kua Number is 4.

Armed with the knowledge about your Kua Number:

Step 3: Find out if you are an East or a West group person:
Kua Numbers 1,3,4,9: EAST Group
Kua Numbers 2,5,6,7,8: WEST Group

Step 4: Find out your lucky directions:
Kua Number 1:
Success Direction: South-East
Health Direction: East
Romance Direction: South
Personal Development Direction: North

Kua Number 2:
Success Direction: North East
Health Direction: West
Romance Direction: North West
Personal Development Direction: South West

Kua Number 3:
Success Direction: South
Health Direction: North
Romance Direction: South East
Personal Development Direction: East

Kua Number 4:
Success Direction: North
Health Direction: South
Romance Direction: East
Personal Development Direction: South East

Kua Number 5:
For Males:
Success Direction: North East
Health Direction: West
Romance Direction: North West
Personal Development Direction: South West

For Females:
Success Direction: South West
Health Direction: North West
Romance Direction: West
Personal Development Direction: North East

Kua Number 6:
Success Direction: West
Health Direction: North East
Romance Direction: South West
Personal Development Direction: North West

Kua Number 7:
Success Direction: North West
Health Direction: South West
Romance Direction: North East
Personal Development Direction: West

Kua Number 8:
Success Direction: South West
Health Direction: North West
Romance Direction: West
Personal Development Direction: North East

Kua Number 9:
Success Direction: East
Health Direction: South East
Romance Direction: North
Personal Development Direction: South

By orienting yourself to face your lucky directions you are tapping into the goodness this will bring in all your activities thereby enabling you to succeed. Try to face your lucky direction as directly as possible. Where it is out your control (such the office space configuration is such that it is not going to be possible for you to sit facing your success direction) opt for the next best direction in the list pertaining to your Kua Number.

Veda Singam offers quality articles, short snippets on Feng Shui and Astrology. Moreover she also offers astrology horoscope content. Her work is published in Astrojasta.com a free online resource for astrology horoscopes. Visit the Zodiac Zone of that website for free monthly and daily horoscopes, astrology, numerology, feng shui and kua number resources.

The Three Sage Kings and the Five Legendary Emperors

2009-10-01T17:16:00.001-07:00

Suiren, Fuxi and Shennong are regarded as the Three Sage Kings of ancient China who made personal sacrifices to improve the lives of the people. They are known for one or more unique contributions to mankind.

Suiren who reputedly lived 18,000 years ago discovered how to make fire by drilling wood. This discovering enabled mankind to eat cooked food and use fire to keep warm and ward off wild animals.

Fuxi taught people how to domesticate animals. He also taught them to make nets to catch fish, birds and wild animals and in the process ensure the supply of food all year round. He was also responsible for creating the institution of marriage and the for a 35 string musical instrument. His most important contribution however was the Bagua or Eight Trigram that formed the basis for the all important I Ching or Book of changes.

Shennong, also known as Yandi, invented the ancient rake, spade, plough and sickle and taught people to grow five types of cereals, rice, two types of millet, wheat and beans. He also invented barter trade and further modified Fuxi's 35 strings musical instrument into a 5 strings one.

However he was best remembered for tasting hundreds of wild herbs to find remedies to treat illnesses. In the process he suffered continually from poisoning and eventually die from eating one too many.

The emperors after Shennong were Huangdi, Zhuanxu, Diku, Yao and Shun and they are collectively known as the Five Legendary Rulers.

Huangdi have many achievements attributed to him. He had good management skills and knows how to use men of ability to help him rule the country and come out with innovations.

He commissioned his subject to develop a written language which contributed to the growth of Chinese Culture. With another he studied the art of healing and compiled "The Yellow Emperor's Medicine Classic". Yet with another he developed the 60 year cycle "Jia Zi" calendar that aided in farming.

Huangdi advocated peace and avoided war. During his reign, the people enjoyed peace and prosperity and it ushered in the age of civilization for the Chinese people.

Zhuanxu who succeeded Huangdi was not his son. He was chosen over Huangdi's many sons because of his outstanding ability. Zhuanxu greatest contribution was to bring law and order to the people plus consolidating the power of the central authority.

After Zhuanxu comes Diku who was a great grandson of Huangdi. Diku was a benevolent king who placed the people's welfare above self. He created new official posts and ministries with clearly demarcated duties such as the Ministry of Land, Forestry, Water, Metal Ores and Fire. And he personally conducted inspections frequently to ensure that the country was well run. He also further improved the calendar which contributed to farming.

Yao was Diku's son. He was industrious and benevolent like his father. He further developed the calendar and modified the timing of planting that resulting in bumper harvests.

Shun was Yao's son in law. Although his mother died when he was very young, and his step mother and father ill-treated him, he remained filial to them. His great virtue helped him to gain fame and he was summoned to King Yao's service at 30. He eventually married King Yao's daughter.

Shun drafted the five rules of etiquette and others rules and regulations which the dukes and princes had to observed. He also divided the country into 12 states with each having its own administrator. He continued to implement changes at the administrative level and set up the department of rites, music, farming, mulberry planting, works, water and land.

Shun was succeeded by Yu who founded the Xia Dynasty. Yu was famed for his ability to control flooding but that is another story for another time.

Henry Fong

Feng Shui Consultant.

Feng Shui Absolutely

Facts About Banana Potassium

2009-10-01T12:49:00.001-07:00

For a healthy, happy life and a great source of energy, banana potassium is very important. Bananas are great tropical fruit that has a great source of minerals, vitamin, and protein. It has the capacity of preventing and healing various infections and diseases. It can act as a great diet food due to the calorie content. It can also satisfy people who love sweet products due to the glucose contents.

It is very essential to have a banana as a daily fruit in your diet. Among many fruits, banana is also important as it has a lot of potassium. Potassium is an element which is essential for keeping the blood pressure normal. It also helps in proper functioning of the heart.

Research has found an average banana has an amount of potassium varying from 450 milligrams to 467 milligrams. It has only one milligram of sodium. Apart from bananas, potassium is also present in milk, meats, vegetables and fruits. If you have one banana per day, then you are preventing yourself from atherosclerosis and also from high blood pressure.

A research done on more than 40,000 American men for more than four years showed how a proper diet affects blood pressure. It was found that people who had diet of foods that were high in cereal fiber, magnesium, and rich in potassium had a much less chance of stroke.

The 'Archives of Internal Medicine' has points to prove that people who eat foods high in potassium and fiber like bananas, have a much less risk in developing any heart disease. The potassium-enriched fruit of banana also have the capacity of providing cardiovascular benefits.

Potassium can also increase the health of bones. Banana potassium has the capacity of counteracting the increasing loss of urinary calcium. Such loss is caused by the diets high in salt. This can lead to thinning of the bones at a very fast rate.

Visit the Banana Facts website to learn about how to ripen bananas and banana potassium.

Calories in a Banana

2009-10-01T08:21:00.001-07:00

It is important for everybody to know the amount of calories in a banana. Bananas are the immense foundation of dietary importance. They have been looked upon as nature's most beautiful gift.

The carbohydrate constitution of calories in a banana depends on the ripening of the fruit. The sugar level and starch level depends on how ripe it is as well. As the banana ripen, the level of starch falls and the level of sugar rises.

It can be said that bananas become easy to digest if it ripens and the color becomes more yellow. In comparison, the 'protein calories' are only of one percent of the aggregate calorie content. However, one half percent are 'fat calories'.

The amount of calories in a banana varies from medium quantity to low quantity. The source of the amount of calories in a banana is mostly carbohydrates.

Bananas that are peeled and weigh 1 pound will typically have 260 calories.

If you count the amount of calories in a banana which is peeled and small in size, you can find the calories to be around 80.

A banana of standard size can be full of roughly speaking 115 calories.

A small plantain banana, also every so often called as "red bananas", have approximately 115 calories. A pound of red plantain bananas consist of about 400 calories.

Bananas supply a great source of energy when eaten around half an hour prior to any exercise. This is mainly because bananas get digested in a slow manner and a stable continual energy source is achieved and supplied to the body.

Some people suggest avoiding banana when watching your weight. This is because of the heavy calorie composition. For a dieter, the amount of calories in a banana he can have is an 80-calorie banana in his diet chart.

Find tips about growing bananas and how to ripen bananas at the Banana Facts website.

How to Test For Pure Honey

2009-09-08T06:53:00.001-07:00

The term "adulterated honey" implies that the honey has been added glucose, dextrose, molasses, corn syrup, sugar syrup, invert sugar, flour, starch, or any other similar product, other than the floral nectar gathered, processed, and stored in the comb by honey bees. Legal standards and requirements for foods, including honey quality, and tests for honey adulteration vary widely amongst countries and some may not meet the wish of every consumer around the world.

Personally, when selecting honey in the shop, I think it's almost impossible to tell the bad from the good by just looking at the honey content through the bottle or studying its food and nutrition labels. My take is always -- go for the trusted or more known brands. We all know that a "pure honey" label doesn't guarantee at all that it is not diluted with water and further sweetened with corn syrup; it just promises that there is real pure honey inside, with no suggestion of its amount.

The law does not require a "pure honey" label to say how much pure honey is in the bottle. Some honey brands you get from the supermarkets don't carry any ingredients list and this is enough to make me feel suspicious of the quality. Also, prices are not always a good indication of quality honey. In food fraud cases, manufacturers can mix different honey floral blends and sell it as more expensive varieties such as Manuka honey. And so-called "local honey" may not be locally produced and processed local honey but cheap, low quality honey imported from other countries but bottled and distributed locally.

A common misconception is that granulated or crystallized honey is proof of adulteration with sugar water. The truth is honey is a supersaturated sugar solution and can granulate whether or not it has been adulterated, so crystallization is normal, especially in temperate climates. Furthermore, some honey from certain floral sources is especially prone to crystallization. Buying honey in the comb is one way to assure ourselves of a quality product. Comb honey is sealed in the hive by the bees; therefore consumers can be confident that the honey has not been adulterated with sugar water. However, to boost honey production, some irresponsible beekeepers feed their bees with sugar syrup so that the bees can convert the syrup to "honey". What these bees produced is honey that is adulterated, very clear and runny, just like syrup.

Some websites teaches that ants don't fancy pure honey and will not hover around it. I don't quite understand or believe this, there's no reason why ants would favour processed sugar over honey. Also, I was wondering how to invite the ants for a honey assessment (does "no ants" mean pure honey?). The reason why a sweet liquid is more attractive than another for the ants could also be due to the liquid density and we know that honey viscosity varies depending on its floral type. Another test that is commonly discussed over the internet is the flame test which involves lighting up a cotton bud dipped into the honey with a match-stick flame. It's believed that the honey will burn if it's pure. I have tried this method many times using different types of honey, some of which I was very sure they're pure honey (e.g honeycomb honey), but the result I got was never consistent, and it seemed to depend very much on how much honey was dipped and how long the honey was exposed to the flame.

There's another simple way which I have tried to verify the purity of honey: Observe how liquid honey comes down into a glass of water. Pure honey does not immediately dissolve in water; you will notice that it takes a bit of effort to stir it in the water to dissolve the lumpy bits, whereas sugar tends to dissolve easily in a jiggery as you drop them into the water. However, test result is sometimes not that clear because different honey varieties have different viscosity, some are denser and thicker than others, and obviously honey in cream form, even if it's adulterated with other substance, will not dissolve as easy as liquid honey in water.

It is suggested that people who are used to tasting honey may be easier to detect any added sugar. But frankly, because there are just too many floral varieties and blends, and the amount of adulteration may not be sufficient to affect the taste and aroma of the honey, even though I frequently take honey, I am still not 100% certain about my suspicion sometimes.

Hence, it's hard to be really absolutely sure about honey authenticity, unless from home you can perform scientific laboratory test like spectroscopy, a method that uses the principle of interaction of light with mater to differentiate substances or conduct carbon isotope ratios analysis to determine if sugars were added to the honey (don't bother if these jargons sound totally bizarre; as a consumer, I am not familiar with them either). Nevertheless, from all the verification ways that are discussed above (labels, pouring, dissolving honey, etc) if you have reasons to suspect that the honey is diluted and corn syrup has been added, my stance is - stay away from those brands. Better to err on the side of caution than to be sorry...well, you most probably won't fall sick by taking the adulterated honey, but you know adulteration with cheaper sugars brings down the natural value of the honey and this doesn't help in justifying for the amount of money you pay.

Source: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/pure-honey.html

Ruth Tan runs the popular website Benefits of Honey which is an immensely rich, quality resource on honey and its benefits, and a plethora of health-related issues. Discover the amazing health benefits and all the positive spin-offs super-food honey can bring to your life and the lives of your loved ones at http://www.benefits-of-honey.com

Mexican Food Varieties

2009-09-08T02:58:00.001-07:00

Are you interested about Mexican Food and its sumptuous variety? The country of Mexico is renowned throughout the world for its incredible menu of delicious cuisines. The different states of Mexico delineates a mouthwatering a-la-carte which redefines authentic taste to the core. But the origin of food habits and culinary items in the country considerably depends on its ethnic variety and climatic patterns.

So here are some mouthwatering varieties of Mexican Food :

If you venture out to the northern part of Mexico, you will surely come across a delectable variety of meat and beef items. On the contrary, the south -eastern section of the country welcomes you with a range of vegetarian delicacies.

Mexican food is savoured and appreciated by a large number of people on a global basis. The secret of cooking up a storm with Mexican delicacies is to make slight transformation in the blend of ingredients and also meticulously work on methods of preparation from time to time. The legacy of the Mexican food goes back to an ancient time and according to the opinion of culinary experts from round the world, it has a major health benefit. Some of the healthy inputs of Mexican food can be found in the corn, bean, lean meat and also other fresh vegetables.

The Hispanics or the Aztec people were one of the first sources who brought in the entire practice of Mexican food and the culinary art associated with it. The Caribbean and the French people also delved into the various styles of Mexican food from an early age. The spicy feel, wonderful decoration and entire presentation surrounding the Mexican delicacies stands out as an exemplary art in its own way. Some of the important vegetarian items of Mexican dishes can be made by cauliflower, radish and broccoli to name a few. If you do not like the vegetarian cuisines, you can obviously select the beef, chicken and pork items.

One of the most popular and enticing Mexican delicacies, which has impressed with its fascinating taste is the Enchiladas. But if you are quite health conscious, this particular delicacy can be avoided by you, as it consists of a heavy quantity of fat. The spicy and oily element brings along the marvelous flavour of the dish. To mitigate the high constituent of calorie, you can avoid dipping the corn tortillas in the hot oil. You can also make it a little softer by mixing it with tomato.

The Arroz Con Pollo is another scrumptious Mexican delicacy, which has managed to win accolades for its unique authenticity. The main constituents of the dish are rice and chicken which when cooked together provides an unforgettable taste. The sofrito ingredient of the dish makes it all the more exclusive.

If you want to check out another variety of traditional Mexican dish, the Taco can feature as one of your best choices. The perfect combination of maize tortilla and meat feelings provides it with an amazing flavour. You can also make it spicier with an input of chilli salsa and cropped onion.

You can also make your gourmet journey of Mexican food all the more exciting, by sipping the Aquas frescas beverage. It is a delicate mixture of cereals, sugar, fruits and water.

So just enjoy the above-mentioned variety of Mexican Food with a brief insight on them.

Shuvojit Dasgupta is a contributed writer for Batchmates.com the largest Alumni portal in India. With his research work and articles he has added an additional edge to the entertainment e-magazine BM Times. His articles reach to millions of readers every day which are varied in subjects.

Five Reasons Why Solar Power is Right For Your Water Fountain

2009-09-07T23:05:00.001-07:00

A solar water fountain could become the highlight of your entire landscape. Some people plant bedding flowers and flowering shrubs and perennials to beautify their gardens. A solar fountain will make an interesting feature to your garden or patio dcor simply, easily and inexpensively.

If you have hesitated about buying a garden water fountain before, the benefits of solar power will quickly change your mind.

There are no running costs - No mains electricity or batteries to buy
No installation costs - Are easy to install for all skill levels
Eco-friendly - do not use non-renewable fossil fuels
Can be placed anywhere - user-friendly and easy to set up
Inexpensive and last for years

When you purchase your solar water fountain, it will be a self-contained unit. You may buy a direct power kit but you will probably want to go with the power pack. The power pack has the advantage of absorbing the suns rays then storing that energy for continued usage, day or night. You can take advantage of the fountain even when the sun goes down for those evening garden parties or poolside parties.

Because you are not using mains power, you are not contributing to the depletion of the Earth's resources. There are no holes to dig, no electric cables to install and no dry cell batteries to buy. You do not have to worry about hooking them up to a power source to make them run. Solar fountains and solar water pumps require no power source and so can be installed anywhere. Find a nice spot in your garden where your fountain will have maximum impact

Setting up a solar water fountain is an easy project even for the most novice DIY person and you will have your fountain up and running in no time. Just add water.

Solar powered water fountains are comparatively inexpensive and will last for years. Even when you redesign your landscape, the fountain can be incorporated in a different area of the garden and continue to run effortlessly.

Solar water fountains will enhance the beauty of your garden or patio.

Solar fountains run off the energy of the sun and are quickly becoming very popular.

Solar fountains are extremely friendly to the environment. They don't require any external power source so they don't increase the demand for electricity from polluting coal or natural gas electric plants. Solar fountains are the organic way to enhance the ambience of your garden. Few sounds are as pleasing as the slow murmur of cascading water.

Outdoor water fountains come in all sorts of designs, from those with cascading waterfalls to those that include a birdbath pool, to those that spout jets of water into the air, to decorative wall fountains. serenityhealth.com has a great selection of solar water fountains available in many different styles for use landscapes and in ponds.

There is a large range to choose from, depending on the style you're after for your garden's new image. Make the solar fountain the centerpiece of your garden or simply use them as accents, to increase your gardens overall beauty.

Solar fountains are a great addition to a water feature. Take advantage of their benefits.

Now emerging from the mist of a colorful and varied career, Ian Patterson was born early in is life somewhere in a long forgotten postal code. The mantra that he learned from his parents, while growing up on their farm was "if you want it done right, then do it yourself".

That's just what he did.

Ian Patterson is someone who's been there, done that, printed the T shirt and wrote the book. A firefighter, soldier, yachtsman, skier, climber, mechanic, plumber, electrician, data technician, business continuity planner, and web writer are just some of the things he's been.

He was a pescaterian before it was fashionable and is an avid animal lover and a longtime dog handler. He has traveled to most countries around the world. Set up home in three of them and learned their language and culture.

Now he is the founder and CEO of Write Research Office since 2004.

Vegan Options at Some Common Restaurant Chains

2009-09-07T19:13:00.001-07:00

Finding vegan options when eating out isn't as difficult as it used to be. Many restaurants have recognized the market for vegan food and have added products to their menus to attract this traditionally underserved customer base. If you've had difficulty finding vegan food when you eat out, that's about to change. In this tough economy, restaurants are eager to bring new customers to their establishments, and vegans are high on their radars! Here's where you can find yummy vegan food at the restaurants you know best!

Burger King--The BK Veggie--This vegetarian burger is available at nearly every Burger King. Order it without mayo to make it completely vegan.

McDonalds--TheMcVeggie. This is only available at a select few stores right now, but if you ask your local McDonalds to serve it, chances are they will seriously consider it. Get a bunch of your friends to request it, and it's a virtual shoo-in for the menu!

Denny's--Substitute a vegan Boca burger on any burger dish on the menu.

Subway--Order a veggie sub with no mayo or cheese and get it on whole wheat bread. Be aware, though, that if you're avoiding honey, Subway DOES put honey in their bread dough.

Quiznos--Order a veggie sub without the cheese.

Cheesecake factory-- Order angel hair pasta with garlic and marinara sauce, the eggplant sandwich or the portabello burger. You can also ask for other menu items without cheese to make them vegan.

PF Changs--Order the seasoned tofu lettuce wraps, spring rolls (ask for them without eggs, if possible), coconut curry vegetable plate, as well as any other purely vegetable-based dishes you see on the menu. PF Changs usually has quite a few vegan options for its customers, as do most other Asian restaurants.

For great vegan breakfast recipes that are easy to make and unbelievably delicious, go to the Vegan Breakfast Recipe blog at http://www.veganbreakfastrecipes.com.

Mexican Food - Brief Introduction to Mexican Food

2009-09-07T15:16:00.001-07:00

Mexican Food is one of the most sought after cuisines and around the globe. Everywhere you go, you are bound to find Mexican food as the gastronomic demand for this cuisine is increasing. Mexican food is famous for its flavours, exciting flavours and its enticing spicy taste.

Mexican food goes way back to the pre-Hispanic era. The Aztecs and the Spanish colonists contributed to the evolution of this type of food. Among the non-vegetarian ingredients used in Mexican cuisine are Pork, Beef and Chicken. As for the vegetarian ingredients, broccoli, cauliflower, radish and pepper are used in abundance. It has also been stated that the Caribbean and French were also responsible for the evolution of Mexican cuisine.

Every region in Mexico has its own unique taste, style and variety. Different climate conditions and various ethnic groups contribute to the impact on Mexican gastronomy. The South-Eastern part of Mexico is famous for its chicken and spicy vegetables. Whereas in the Northern region, you will find more beef and meat used in the dishes. If you are fortunate enough to travel the whole of Mexico, you can easily distinguish the dishes between the regions.

"Arroz con Pollo" is a well known Mexican delicacy that has the capability to tickle your taste buds. It is made up of rice and chicken and is considered to be a traditional delicacy. The dish gets is very colourful as it is made up of a mixture of vegetables, fresh herbs and saffron.

"Barbacoa" is similar to your barbecue and since it dates back to historical times, barbecue is said to have been originated from "Barbacoa". Similar to how we do a barbecue, meat is slowly cooked over an open fire in this type of dish. "Barcacoa de cabeza" is a North Mexican favourite where the cow head is cooked slowly over open fire.

"Pico de gallo" means rooster's beak in Spanish and it is a fruit salad with limejuice spread all over. Before serving, salty white chilli powder is sprinkled on the dish to add some more spiciness to the dish.

If you are a food person, you would have heard of the word "Taco". It is a Mexican platter made up of rolled maize tortilla with meat fillings. The fillings can be made from grilled beef, pork, fish, picadillo or chicken. "Taco" is best eaten together with chopped chilli, salsa, onion and other garnishes to bring out the flavours of the dish. "Taco" is served flat on a tortilla that is warmed up on a comal. As tortilla is soft, it can be folded into a U-shape which makes it easier to eat. Taco is a mouth watering dish and can be easily prepared suitable for a quick and healthy meal anytime of the day.

In the beverage category, "Aquas Frescas" is a refreshing beverage made from fruits, seeds, sugar, cereals and water. This beverage is not only popular in Mexico but also in Central America and the Carribean. Tamarind is added to create a variety called "Aqua de tamarindo" which is highly sought after. "Aqua de horchata" includes rice while Roselle is added to make "Aqua de jamaica". These drinks are easy available from street vendors and very affordable.

Mexican food has a very wide variety and is very rich in taste. This type of food not only tastes good but also provides you with essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and fibre. As the vegetables used are not overcooked and most raw, they contain a much higher nutritional value as compared to cooked ones. To those who are not used to spicy food, you should stay away from Mexican cuisine as lots of chillies and peppers are used.

Find out more on Mexican Food by visiting http://fooduniverse.info --a popular food website that specializes in offering free food information on cuisines, diet, exotic dishes and of course Mexican Cuisine

Why Learn History of Feng Shui - Part I

2009-09-07T11:25:00.001-07:00

In my previous article about the psychological explanation of human resistance to change, I talked about how people are mentally conditioned against changes and usually back themselves up by falling back on precedent cases.A more extreme form of precedent cases are historical ones.Ask ourselves, do the past always oppose to changes in the future?Without change, how can improvements come about?

Ask yourself whether a man living in contemporary society like you will like a dish that was cooked exactly the same way 1000 years ago? With technological advancements we have high pressure cookers, deep fryers and plenty of other cooking equipments.Why should we still think that a dish that was cooked using wood and the pathetic stove of few hundred years ago is still the best way to process it? Such an insistence to adhere to historical practice betrayed one's reluctance to innovate and follow up with times.

In fact a Feng Shui practitioner oughtto be lauded for his ability to modify and adapt Feng Shui advices to the modern and local context.Why is this so?The logic is that Feng Shui method evolved from a context was set few hundred years ago in China andhouses and social practices have changed significantly since then.Even if Feng Shui methods were only developed in recent years in China, its geo-political and cultural differences with other countries meant that modification and adaptation of the methods must still be made for Feng Shui advice in another country.

For example, few hundred years ago in China, toilets were never housed within the same roof as the living quarters. But in modern society, toilets are under the same roof as the living quarters are the norm now and differences like this inevitably means that a Feng Shui practitioner that continues to copy methods listed in Feng Shui classics blindly run a great risk of messing up his client's environment.Feng Shui practitioners should not be mistaken to think that they can continue to practice Feng Shui by following ancient Feng Shui classics to a T.

I am a Feng Shui Enthusiast in private practice and I specialise in Ba Zi or 4 Pillars, Zi Wei Dou Shu or ZWDS, Feng Shui, I-Ching, Qi Men Dun Jia or QMDJ, Chinese Name Analysis and other tools. My blog site is at: http://fengshuiforward.com and http://fengshuiforward.com/forum

Chinese Vases Fengshui and Why You Should Own a Wealth Pot

2009-09-07T07:32:00.001-07:00

Feng Shui is one of the best ways to bring goodness into your life, though it only works if you believe in it with your heart. There are many symbols and many traditional Chinese items which are used in Feng Shui. Chinese vases Feng Shui are one of them.

These Chinese Feng Shui vases come in many shapes and sizes and in many colors which are important in Feng Shui. They are most beneficial in enhancement of money luck. They attract prosperity and help in maintaining it in the house. It's very important that you follow the various rules and guidelines in Feng Shui to get the best results.

Materials For Vases
The material of the vase should be in balance with all the elements of the area where the vase is supposed to be placed. For different directions, there are different materials to be used like for southwest or northeast you should use crystal and for west or northwest go for metal as it brings in the best of luck in wealth.

You can place Chinese coins and crystals and some jewelry and gold ingots or maybe some precious or semi-precious stones in it. It will help if you cover these vases with blue, green, red, yellow and white cloth and never open it again as it will help to retain the vases power. Besides keeping it covered, do hide it from the eyes of others.

Types of Feng Shui Vases

Porcelain Feng Shui vases symbolize perpetual harmony. They come in many colors such as blue. Blue is a magnificent Feng Shui color. It is connected to the healing and refreshing water and with the clear skies. The shades of blue can vary from a gentle aqua blue to the bluish green of the sea. There are also shades of blue that go into the deep indigo blue.

One of most magnificent vases is the large Ram vase with ancient Chinese characters inscribed on the face. The handles of the vase look like the horns of a Ram which happens to be one of the Chinese zodiac animals. Then there's a white and orange mother and child Chinese Feng Shui vase. You can energize your family area with this and it's very good for expecting mothers.

The triangle shaped vase with mountain and moon design with flying birds has special significance in Feng Shui. All these Chinese Feng Shui vases bring the money luck closer to you and keep them in your houses.

Similarly there are Feng Shui wealth pots that symbolize never ending good fortune and are symbols of prosperity. The Feng Shui wealth pot, as the name suggests, invites spiritual and materialistic good luck into your lives and it maintains it as well. It works as a wealth energizer and pulls lots of wealth in your house. There is an ancient practice of keeping wealth pots in homes practiced in china for several years by many rich people. It brings in lots of good fortune and loads of wealth too.

Now the question is why you should own a wealth pot? Isn't the answer obvious? Who wouldn't want wealth in their lives and would want to maintain it too? These wealth pots bring lots of good fortune in your lives so that's brings happiness too.

What's important is that you must follow all the guidelines and never open these wealth pots. They should be cleaned only on the day of the Chinese year and kept back again. So lets' bring in all the luck and let the magic begin with Chinese Feng Shui.vases

Click Here to get Free Tips on how to improve your life with Feng Shui. Lynn Lee is a celebrated authority on the traditional Chinese art of Feng Shui, providing valuable advice on Feng Shui Decorating.

The Brilliance of the Bagua

2009-09-07T03:38:00.001-07:00

Today, people are folding more and more Feng Shui practices into their lives. Restaurants, malls, shops and even public places have realized the remarkable usefulness of Feng Shui and its many facets. One of the most important aspects of Feng Shui is the Bagua. The Bagua is an octagonal mapping system that is designed to help you understand how to maximize your energy. The Bagua is a great tool to bring all the elements of Feng Shui into perfect synchronization.

The nine aspects of the Bagua, and thus Feng Shui, correspond to integral parts of our life and must be harmonized for optimal results. It's an accepted fact that

subtle vibrations play a very important role in our lives. The right vibrations can help is achieving prosperity while the wrong ones can create problems in our lives. According to the Bagua, there are nine areas of our lives, namely: family, health, relationships and love, prosperity, fame and reputation, creativity and children, skills and knowledge, helpful people and travel, and career.

Feng Shui and the Bagua suggest people with money problems concentrate on prosperity. The associated elements are water, wood, and the color purple. When you want your fame to grow, then the area of fame and reputation is to be concentrated upon in Bagua. This aspect is governed by the elements of fire and wood. The color of this aspect is red. If you want to enhance or initiate a new relationship, then you need to concentrate on the area of relationship and love in Bagua. The color of this aspect is pink and it's ruled by the elements of earth and fire.

These days there are a lot of divorces happening across the world. If you have a family issue that needs to be sorted out then you need to concentrate on the family area of Bagua. This aspect has the main element as water. The colors associated with this aspect are green, black and blue. If you are suffering due to your health, then you can harmonize the health aspect of Bagua. The colors related to this area are yellow, brown and orange. Health is governed by the components of fire and earth.

Children tend to have a number of developmental adjustments to deal with as they grow. Feng Shui and the Bagua has an answer to a number of age-old problems. The Bagua is designed to help children by optimizing their space and their environment. Child development is governed by the color yellow and earth tones. Life skills and knowledge and prosperity can all be enhanced by the use of this powerful design mechanism.

H. Reich

http://www.sheffield.edu/

What is Your GQ? - Grandparent Quotient

2009-09-06T23:47:00.001-07:00

No matter when we senior citizens finally achieve being a grandparent, there are some tests to help identify our capability and capacity for being a good one. My experience is certainly limited in the role and I have never taken courses in retirement to boost my GQ. Basic intuition and sensitivity contribute about as much to ability and smarts as most anything else.

First, a grandparent is not a replacement for the parent. Of course, this assumes all are available to fulfill their roles and to understand the limits of each. If circumstances have created a situation in which the roles are different, that has to be worked out accordingly.

Complexities introduced before and continuing in the 21^st century contribute to keeping abreast of inter family dynamics. It ain't what it used to be, if it ever were that way.

If there still is a "nuclear" family, the dynamics aren't necessarily simplified. Families who have meals together at home, without interference by television, etc., is an increasingly unusual phenomenon. Perhaps one of the roles grandparents can fulfill is offering an occasional get together around the table for a meal. Assuming this won't be a forced occasion, but one which can contribute to frivolity and good times, such an opportunity can create fond memories.

Finding something in common with grandchildren, such as activities you enjoy together, (no matter their age) remains a challenge. It is, however, a challenge worth pursuing. Genuine companionship between generations offers a wealth of recollections worthy of posterity.

Adolescence offers its own challenges. When grandparents find ways to contend with that hurdle, then a true, lifelong affection will surely be shared. I think we are there with our grandchildren, although times together are predictably less frequent.

Finding gifts that respect the grandchild and are age appropriate will also offer memories, for the item will likely be one that the grandchild chooses to keep.

Communicating with some frequency becomes more and more a challenge. However, with email, text messaging, cell phones, etc. available some contact can be established and maintained. It is an easy exercise to overlook, but one that needs nurture for the benefit of both parties.

Identifying and reserving some special alone times is also important and necessary. Before long, graduation and off to college, distance and demands will consume more and more of what had been time a grandparent could claim. Try to hang on to some of what soon will be absorbed by the claims of normal growing up and going away.

Check out your GQ once in a while with other senior citizens learn from them, both what to do and what not to do. Thank your grandchildren for the wonderful contributions they make to your life. Let them know often, with genuine sincerity, how special they are.

Article provided by Dr. Jerry D. Elrod. For information on retirement, Baby Boomers and everything related to Seniors, please visit my blog at http://seniorcitizenjournal.blogspot.com

Tips For Getting Fresh Lobster Shipped to Your Door

2009-09-06T19:53:00.001-07:00

Many people do not realize how easy and inexpensive it is to get fresh lobster shipped right to your door. While you do need to exercise caution when dealing with live lobster, follow these simple tips and your seafood will arrive in great shape, ready for that gourmet meal.

Clearly understand the shipping conditions

Many online merchants and retailers will explain they can have fresh lobster shipped to you within one day. While this is likely true, many companies will freeze dry the lobster and will not ship live lobster to you. Even frozen lobster can lose quality quickly. Make sure your company of choice offers live shipping and that the process is detailed on their page. If you have any doubts, give them a call.

Understand the return policy

While getting fresh lobster shipped to you is relatively easy, you do need to understand the return policy of the company. Some companies do not offer a guarantee of the lobster arriving alive, and will not refund if your catch is DOA. Read the fine print, and understand the proper procedure should you need to return the shellfish for any reason. However, it should be noted that I have been getting this tasty crustacean shipped to me for years, and have never had an issue.

Check for Specials

Most companies will offer great specials on whole lobster plus sides or other great items, normally at a nice discount. I have seen packages many times before that include 4 live lobsters of 1.5 pounds each, 4 filets (for the classic surf and turf), and even side dishes, for less than $130 and complimentary shipping. Pricing that kind of meal at a restaurant and you are looking at well over $200 for that kind of meal.

Getting fresh lobster shipped to your home is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or to enjoy using in great soups and other dishes. I have used these companies to send lobster for everything from birthdays to Valentines day.

My wife and I have enjoyed fresh lobster shipped to our door on many occasions. There are so many unique recipes and options available that it never gets boring coming home to find a beautiful box of lobster waiting for you. We have even created a site to share some recipes and resources regarding fresh lobster and other great seafood, including our favorite online merchant for fresh lobster. Visit our site here: fresh lobster shipped.

It is the Thought That Matters

2009-09-06T15:59:00.001-07:00

To be more precise, it is rather the after-action that arises from your thought that really does matter.

Well, what is the definition of thought? A thought is the act or process of thinking; a concept or idea; a hope or intention of achieving something. In short, it is just a thinking which has yet to be actualized. So here, when nothing has actually been done, it would simply mean nothing.

Yes, nobody is able to read what is on your mind. At the end of the day, it is your action; the end result that they are going to see. It is through true action and not thoughts that is going to bring about the actual happening of things; to making a difference in life.

To be having positive thinking is definitely to be encouraged. But still, you have to understand that thought is after all just the very initial stage of the process and to complete this process of the want of achieving something, it would still very much require that physical action of yours. So to be saying, even if you are someone with strong determination, that is only just the beginning. No matter how much you keep telling yourself; despite waking up every morning to tell yourself that you are going to be successful in life, you just will not be if you have done nothing at all. The great power of thought no matter how strong it is will just yields zero result if there were to be zero action taken.

Give you an example. Just picture the hundreds of passenger in the plane; altogether, each and every of the passengers hymning the thought that the plane is going to crash. Now, isn't this going to bring about an extremely strong power of negative thought? But still, the plane is not going to crash isn't it? And why is this so? It is because action overwrites the power of thoughts. Before even actually taking off, strict maintenance and check had been performed on the plane; proper planning that includes route of the flight and contingency plan had all been pre-made. And the technicians and pilots to handle the job are not any Tom, Dick or Harry. They have been all strictly and professionally trained. Well, they are not paid so much for nothing?

Now, by telling you all these is not to discourage you but rather to remind you of what you might have missed to realize. Give it some thoughts, have you unknowingly forgotten all those dreams and aspiration that you used to have?

Well, this is after all one very bad habit of ours - to find excuses for ourselves to not be facing the harsh reality. Human are very good at this. We never fail to come out with thousands and thousands of excuses to avoid the confrontation of our fear and the unpleasantness; very proficient in our thinking and complaining but when it comes to taking real action, we instead hesitate and find excuses to telling ourselves that we will do it tomorrow. And did that tomorrow come? Most of the time, that never happens and we soon forgotten and loses all those great dreams and aspiration that we used to have. And in the blink of an eye, we are left with only thought of regrets and disappointment.

Regrets and disappointment, are these going to be the thought that matters for you?

Now that you still have the chance, recall all those dreams and aspiration of yours. I am sure you have had before the thoughts of achieving something great for yourself?

And since you have already taken that first step to think and dream big, why not just make the other step toward it, to making your dream come true? Well, whether or not are they going to be achieved, that we wouldn't know. But one thing for sure, if you not going to make that move, nothing will ever happen. This is one very basic principle of life; Newton first law of motion - An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force.

The same principle applies here. If you are going to sit around and do nothing, nothing is going to ever happen. What are dreams and aspiration then? Just images of fantasy and delusion in your sleep?

Well, you can choose to dream on or move on, which say you? Ready for some real action?

Derrick Sim

Staff Writer

http://www.thesecretlifecode.com The Secret Code to Life and Destiny

http://www.art-of-fengshui.com Art Of Feng Shui Consultancy, Traditional Classical Feng Shui

Consultation and Life Destiny Analysis

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Learn How to Create Harmony & Tranquility in Your Home & Office - Feng Shui Can Transform Your Life

2009-09-06T12:02:00.001-07:00

3 Steps of Feng Shui:

Feng Shui is the Chinese art of detecting Chi, the energy in and around our physical world that affects our well being, sense of comfort and peace of mind. The spaces you live and work in are powerful forces in your life. Home is where you physically manifest your beliefs about the world, and it affects you just as you affect it. You can shift its energy to restore balance and encourage growth by integrating feng shui into your design choices on many different levels, depending on what resonates with you. Each design choice has a physical aspect, a psychological/emotional aspect, and a cultural aspect.

Step 1: Ready your space by clearing it of negative energy. Most experts agree space clearing will improve the quality of our lives more effectively than any other feng shui technique.

- Thoroughly clean and organize the space as much as possible.
- Focus your mind on your intention to clear and energize your space.
- Light a sage wand or incense and walk through the entire space, saturating the atmosphere with the cleansing smoke.
- Ring bells at a slow steady rhythm while moving around the space.
- Refocus your attention to what your intention is for that space.

Step 2: Consider how Chi flows. Some physical aspects should be considered at the outset.

- Doorways and windows that are directly across from one another allow Chi to flow straight through the space. Redirect the energy back into the room with screens, plants, crystals, etc.
- Long hallways that dead end may block the flow of Chi. Move the energy back out of an enclosed space through mirrors, chimes, and/or crystals.
- Rearrange the placement of furniture that blocks walking through a space.
- Arrange rugs to direct movement through the space.
- Soften sharp corners with plants, crystals, chimes.
- If there are any unused doors, place a folding screen in front of it.

Step 3: Locate the areas in your space that relate to the areas of your life you wish to enhance. Begin with laying out the space in relationship to the Baqua Map.

- Sketch a floor plan of your space
- Sketch the areas of the Bagua Map over the plan
- Place the main entrance to your space in line with the bottom of the map.
- Small sections may extend beyond or intrude into the map
- Determine what specific life aspect(s) you wish to enhance.
- Place objects that have meaning and reflect those aspects so your intention for enhancing that area of your life is personally significant

An important note: Only use those feng shui adjustments that make sense to you and reflect your intentions. Placing something in your home that you don't like just because it is "good feng shui" will not enhance your home or support your personal growth.

Owner : EnerChi Living Spaces & Gallery. We are a unique Home & Garden decor store. Specializing in Feng Shui design and consultation. We offer one-of-a-kind gifts and personalized ideas for decorating your home, garden and office. We offer workshops in Feng Shui decorating, meditation, journal writting, and manifesting your dreams. We support our local artists and musicians with shows and vignettes. Our merchandise is selected from all over the world with an emphasis on Asian Western design. The store exhibits a unique blend of products in a tranquil peaceful setting. We have just launched a home staging service for our local market. We have just completed an expansion to over 2,000 square ft. and our new website is under construction. http://www.enerchilivingspaces.com

Chinese Astrology Compatibility

2009-09-06T08:12:00.001-07:00

There is a belief amongst the Chinese community that those who are born four years apart are more compatible than those who are born six year apart. And those that are born 6 years apart are likely to be less compatible. Do you know why?

In the 12 Animals Zodiac system of astrology, our character is influenced by our year of birth. For example those born in the year of the rat are intelligent and suspicious while those born in the year of the horse are generous and loves freedom. Based on our year of birth we are imbued with certain characteristics that make us more of less compatible with each other.

According to the ancient Chinese, the Monkey, Rat and Dragon form a compatible set. They have characteristics that make them more compatible with each other. The other compatible sets are the Snake, Rooster and Ox; the Pig, Rabbit and Goat and the Tiger, Horse and Dog. If you check the year of birth you notice that they are four years apart. For example those born in 1964 are Rats, 1968 are Dragons and 1972 are Monkeys!

The Rat on the other hand is supposedly less compatible than the Horse. They form an incompatible set. The other incompatible sets are between Ox and Goat, Tiger and Monkey, Rabbit and Rooster, Dragon and Dog and between the Snake and Pig. If you check the year of birth you will notice that they are six year apart!

The Chinese astrology compatibility tools that you find on the Internet are largely based on the above mentioned principles of combination and clash. Most will also include more combinations and clashes that I have not mentioned above but I hope you get the idea.

What if you and your spouse form an incompatible set? Do not panic. Did you notice that I used the word supposedly many times? In practice our character is also heavily influenced by the month, day and hour of birth which is not taken into consideration in the above examples. Therefore it is entirely possible for a Rat person to display characteristics of other animals (influences from the month, day and hour of birth)!

In my practice, I have seen many supposedly incompatible sets of husbands and wives. They are still together after many years of marriage and some of them quite happily! Perhaps love plays a part too.

Henry Fong
Feng Shui Absolutely

Choose to Thrive Not Nosedive in 2009

2009-09-06T04:18:00.001-07:00

Even though the 6:00 news preaches doom and gloom daily, you don't have to buy into it. There are millions of people in our country that get up and go to work, find new jobs, buy homes, start a family or start new relationships every day of the week. They do not succumb to the prevailing negative attitude espoused by those who would have you believe only they can make it better.

Yes, you may have to work a lot harder to find a new or better job. Yes, you may have to change your appearance and thinking to begin a new relationship or fit into a new employment situation or to deal with all of the changes and challenges facing you. But you can do it by taking control first of your thinking, then your actions and surroundings so you can create the future you want in 2009.

Change Your Thinking

Because we live in extraordinary times, ordinary thinking no longer works. Shift your thoughts to the unusual, unexpected and uncommon. If you are looking for a job and your usual process is to email your resume and it's not working, call the firm or deliver it in person. You might land a brief in-person interview. Post your profile information on free networking sites for the business community like Linkedin.com where recruiters regularly look to find qualified people.

If you are seeking a new relationship or a better relationship with your spouse, evaluate carefully what is important in a relationship. Perhaps it is your outlook and expectations that need to change first before you can focus energy on your desires.

It's important to remember that what you focus energy on is what you will get. Everything you currently have in your life is the direct result of the seeds you've planted over the last several years of your life. If you plant the seeds of doom and gloom in your life that is what you will reap. If you plant the seeds of a good job, more income and better relationships that is what you will reap. If you change your thinking you will change your results.

Take Action

It's one thing to think about creating a better tomorrow but for many it's another thing to do something about it. Nothing will change from the way it is today if you don't act upon your new thoughts. Once you've decided exactly what you want to create in 2009, focus all of your energy on it and make it happen. Engage all of your senses into creating a plan and then act upon your plan to create your future. This puts you in control of tomorrow not the 6:00 predictors of doom and gloom.

It is important to engage your feelings as well as your senses in this process to assist you in creating your objective. Feel the emotions of accomplishment now to help you reach your goal. Visualize it, hear it, smell it. Get a very clear picture of the end result and your subconscious mind will get to work with your conscious mind to help you create it.

Then take action. If it means making 20 phone calls per day then do it. If it means joining some social organization to meet new people, stop talking about it, do it. If it means getting a job through a temp agency so you can find a new job, do it. No idea whether large or small is of any value unless acted upon.

Create Supportive Surroundings

Surround yourself with nurturing and encouraging energy especially when times are financially stressful. There are a number of ways which can help you get through the difficult times while uplifting your spirits to carry on. Follow the Feng Shui principles below to help you take control of your future.

Paint the walls in your home warmer colors in the earth tones family - get rid of the high energy unfriendly cold whites. Peach and salmon are coming back because they nurture relationships, family life and security. Aqua is also coming back because it provides the feeling of a day at the beach with no worries. If you cannot paint the walls or are on a limited budget, use a few accents in these colors such as throws, pillows and pictures to shift your energy.

Use candles abundantly in safe containers throughout your home. They provide soft lighting more reminiscent of calmer and safer times. Even articles from your childhood or that of your parents can be placed with the candles to add warmth and the feeling of safety or comfort. Forget the binge eating of comfort foods - candles work great to provide you nurturing energy.

Create an intentions board out of a simple bulletin board with push pins. Stick onto it pictures, symbols or words of everything you want to create in 2009. If you want to buy a house, stick a picture of a house on it. If you need income, put a $ sign up, maybe even the amount you want to receive. If you want a new or improved relationship, place something there that represents what you want in your future. Hang this board where you will see it morning, noon and night to remind you to stay focused on your objectives and to provide you supportive energy.

By choosing to thrive and not take a nosedive in 2009 you have already placed into action the thought process of taking control of and creating your future. Change your thinking as necessary; don't get locked into the old ways of doing things. Make a plan then take action. Finally protect yourself by creating supportive nurturing energy in your surrounding.

You will be in control of your future, create what you want so you can thrive in 2009, not succumb to the doom and gloom of the news cycles.

Pat Heydlauff, president of Energy Design, uses Feng Shui design principles to eliminate chaos and stress at home and within oneself. More than a Feng Shui expert, Pat is a consultant and speaker who helps remove clutter and negativity while encouraging personal growth, improved relationships and prosperity. Her forthcoming book, "Feng Shui: So Easy a Child Can Do It" shows how small changes can lead to a big improvement in one's personal and professional success. For information on her consulting, speaking and artwork, visit: http://www.Energy-by-Design.com

Park Your Car in the Garage? What a Novel Idea!

2009-09-06T00:23:00.001-07:00

Do you hate running out in the rain to your car? Do you look forward to scraping your windshield in the frost of the morning? Wouldn't it be great to park your car in the safety and warmth of your garage? We organizers always think it's interesting on how a valuable investment, such as a car, sits on the street, vulnerable to theft and wear, while the garage interior houses all sorts of things that are worth - not that much...

Now is the time to take advantage of the last few days of clear skies. If you jump on this opportunity you can prep yourself for a stress free winter.

Here's how:

Pick a day for a family garage-a-palooza. Invite an organizer, friends and/or family to help. Schedule a pick up or drop off with a friendly donation organization. When the day arrives, eat a hardy breakfast, get dressed up in your grubbiest clothes and grab the tools -- empty boxes, garbage bags, tape and markers for labeling. Take a quick stretch to get warmed up for the big job ahead.

Ok! Ready, set and go! Set aside staging areas for trash, donate and keep. Labeling them with duct tape on the ground helps keep you focused. Begin at one corner of the garage. Ask yourself questions like "Do I need this", "Do I LOVE this", and "Do I use this". Keep in mind the last time you used a particular object - if it was more than a year ago it is probably safe to say goodbye. Remember, your reward will be huge! Consider this; how long has "clean up the garage" on your "to do" list?

Once you have cleared, sorted and had your donations and trash items picked up, it is time to put the "keep" items back. When it comes to garage - think vertical. Tall shelving units like post industrial shelving will allow you to take advantage of the ALL the wall space. Clear bins for storage will save your stuff from the mold and dampness of many garages as well as giving you a visual reminder of its contents. And don't forget to label, label, label. There are also many storage solutions for tools and bikes available at home improvement stores and organizing stores.

Sweep the garage down, hang some hooks for extra winter coat storage, check that all the lights are as bright as they can be and congratulate yourself! Whew, what a great feeling - no more freezing fingers and late mornings this winter! And your vehicle has a clean, safe home, perhaps for the first time!

Interested in more ways to clear clutter and gain control of your environment? Get our free eBook: The Getting Started Workbook: Overcoming Fear, Procrastination and Overwhelm When Starting An Organizing Project at http://www.emptyyournest.com

Types of Vegetarians

2009-09-05T20:28:00.001-07:00

Omnivores or those just starting out in this life style get confused about the different types of vegetarians. We are categorized and labeled by our food choices. Sometimes our choices are grouped under the title "veg*n" which is a shorter way to type "vegetarian and/or vegan". That seems to throw people off too. It's just a short cut, nothing censored. To help clear things up, I'll give you the run down from "light" to "hard core" types of vegetarians out there.

Flexitarian ~ This group are people that choose to eat vegetarian most of the time but still have no issues eating meat when options are limited. I find that most of this group do it for health or monetary reasons rather then ethical. Or they are easing their way into the vegetarian life style.

Pescetarians ~ A pescetarian eats fish and other sea food, but no other meat product. Again, usually motivated by health reasons rather then ethical. These also usually fit into the next group...

Lacto-Ovo vegetarians ~ Vegetarians that consume diary products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc) and eggs. This is the most common vegetarian group and what most people consider when they encounter a vegetarian. On the same note there are just lacto vegetarians or ovo vegetarians. Usually ovo vegetarians are lactose intolerant.

There is debate on whether one can eat eggs and still be considered a true vegetarian. It really depends on how you think of it. Some consider eggs a diary type product, other's consider it meat. In a sense, when you eat an egg you are eating a chicken's ovulation.

Small science lesson: Like a human woman, a hen will ovulate. Unlike the human woman, that egg will not be absorbed by her body when not fertilized. An egg will be laid whether it's fertilized or not. So while the egg is technically a meat product, an unfertilized egg (like the ones in your grocery store) would not be capable of life even if they were left alone. It is a mass of useless tissue. It's that reason that many vegetarians will still eat eggs.

Vegan ~ Vegans will not consume any animal product, whether is it a part of the animal itself or something it produced. No meat, diary, eggs, honey. If it came from an animal or it is made with something that came from an animal. it is a no go.

There are also vegans that take it further and refuse to own, use or wear animal products, like leather, fur, snake skin or feathers and as well as anything that uses animal products, for example milk or honey in facial masks and other beauty products. Some even refuse to spend money where animals are used as entertainment, like zoos and the circus.

Raw vegans ~ The hard core group. They are similar to plain vegans but their diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 F (46 C). They believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body.

Tammi Cornett is a self proclaimed domestic eco-goddess. She is dangerously optimistic and loves her life with her wonderful husband and three young boys. Wisdom of a Goddess

20 Facts You May Not Know About Frangipanis (Plumeria)

2009-09-05T16:37:00.001-07:00

According to Mexican myth the gods were born from Frangipani flowers.
Frangipani (Plumeria) is very rare in China, and even more precious than orchids. So, when a person gives frangipani flowers to a sweetheart, it is the closest thing to saying you're special, I love you in a culture where expression of personal feelings is frowned upon.
The colorful caterpillar of Pseudosphinx tetrio feeds predominantly on the leaves of Plumeria rubra (frangipani).
"Warming" oils -- such as those from frangipani are said to have a calming influence on those suffering from fear, anxiety, insomnia or tremors, according to the principles of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old Indian holistic science that seeks to balance mind, body and spirit.
Frangipanis are good hosts for dendrobium orchids.
According to Vietnamese myth, ghosts live in trees with white and fragrant flowers including the frangipani. In Vietnam and China the colour white is associated with death and funerals.
In Hindu culture, the flower means loyalty. Hindu women put a flower in their hair on their wedding days to show their loyalty to their husbands.
There is a theory that Catholic missionary priests spread frangipanis around the world as they travelled. This may explain why the frangipani is so popular and common in the Philippines and Thailand but very rare in China and Vietnam. Thailand and the Philippines welcomed the Christian missionaries while, in China and Vietnam, they were persecuted until around the 1850s.
The frangipani is regarded as a sacred tree in Laos and every Buddhist temple in that country has them planted in their courtyards.
Frangipanis won't burn except in extreme temperatures (over 500 degrees).
In Caribbean cultures the leaves are used as poultices (a healing wrap) for bruises and ulcers and the latex (sap) is used as a liniment for rheumatism.
The frangipani is also associated with love in feng shui.
In India the frangipani is a symbol of immortality because of its ability to produce leaves and flowers even after it has been lifted out of the soil. It is often planted near temples and graveyards, where the fresh flowers fall daily upon the tombs.
In Vietnam the frangipani is used for its healing qualities: the bark, mashed in alcohol, prevents skin inflammation. It is also used to treat indigestion and high blood pressure, while the roots have purgative effects on animals and the milk-like sap serves as a balm for skin diseases. The white flowers are used in traditional medicine to cure high blood pressure, haemophilia, cough, dysentery and fever.
In Malay folklore the scent of the frangipani is associated with a vampire, the pontianak.
In modern Polynesian culture, the frangipani can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status - over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.
Frangipani trees were once considered taboo in Thai homes because of superstitious associations with the plant's Thai name, lantom, which is similar to ratom, the Thai word for sorrow. As a result, frangipanis were thought to bring unhappiness. Today, however, the blossoms are presented as fragrant offerings to Buddha and Thai people wear them on special festival days like Songkran (Thai New Year).
The frangipani is the national flower of Nicaragua and it features on some of their bank notes.
The name, frangipani, comes from the Italian nobleman, Marquis Frangipani, who created a perfume used to scent gloves in the 16th century. When the frangipani flower was discovered its natural perfume reminded people of the scented gloves, and so the flower was called frangipani. Another version has it that the name, frangipani, is from the French frangipanier which is a type of coagulated milk that the Plumeria milk resembles.
The name, Plumeria, is attributed to Charles Plumier, a 17th Century French botanist who travelled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species, although according to author Peter Loewer (The Evening Garden: Flowers and Fragrance from Dusk Till Dawn; Timber Press, 2002) Plumier was not the first to describe Plumeria. That honour goes to Francisco de Mendoza, a Spanish priest who did so in 1522.

Diane Ellis is co-owner of the site http://www.AllThingsFrangipani.com where you'll find information about frangipanis (plumeria) including growing tips, propagation, and frangipani pests and diseases.

You can also buy beautiful frangipani gifts such as jewellery, UV resistant outdoor stickers, toiletries, gift packs, and hand crafted bags.

Grandparent Rights - Standing Up For a Child

2009-09-05T12:44:00.001-07:00

It is referred to as grandparent rights, but in reality it is the rights of children to remain connected with grandparents. The grandparent visitation movement is directed toward protecting and preserving that part of a child's extended family. The grandparents' rights movement is an ongoing struggle of individuals promoting the preservation of the family unit by influencing legislation and the public.

Advocates include organizations, legal and therapeutic professionals, and concerned citizens. Grandparent rights give grandparents standing in a court of law, which means they may petition the court for visitation with visitation issues. Most often the problem arises when the strained relationship with one or both parents escalates and after exhausting all efforts to rectify the denied visitation issue, grandparents resort to litigation.

The idea of seeking litigation as a means to visit a grandchild is indeed a strange phenomenon, yet a fact of life as it is today. Family values have changed: the Baby Boomer Generation, now grandparents, find that their children, as parents, often have a different set of family values.

These children, who are now parents, so hastily dispose of the grandparents, seemingly whenever the mood strikes them.

Communication efforts become broken, and there is little if any dialog or consideration toward mediation, consequently the consensus of the parent[s] is to get rid of the person rather than the problem.

When grandparents lose contact with grandchildren, they lose a large part of their future. The child not only loses a piece of their future, but the connection to their past.

The grandparents play a significant role in the lives of children, it is a unique and separate relationship therefore, what is going on with the family should not determine the outcome of the relationship or pose a threat to the bond that has developed.

Susan Hoffman is the author of the book, GRAND WISHES: Advocating To Preserve The Grandparent Grandchild Bond, isbn: 978-0-9799168-0-9. The purpose of the book is to raise awareness about the growing social problem of denied grandparent grandchild access as well as a resource for disenfranchised grandparents. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the non profit organization, Advocates For Grandparent Grandchild Connection, of which Susan Hoffman is the creator and director. http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org

Feng Shui - Property, Home, Land and Office Shapes

2009-09-05T08:52:00.001-07:00

It can be said that the most important factor cited in opening up a restaurant or eatery is "Location, Location and Location". So is the concept of "Shape" when it comes to Feng Shui. In dealing with the advanced concepts of Feng Shui "shape" is not one small factor.
Rather shape is everything.

The shape of your block. Your house, your rooms and even your furniture play a most important component and together play a more than important part in the Feng Shui of your home, your abode or your working areas. Generally it can be stated that symmetrical shapes are considered most ideal. If on the other tack or side one considers the "L-shape" of a room - then the basis of the "L-Shape" can, will and does poses problems because at its very core the "L-shape" is unbalanced and incomplete. If and when you have not primary, basic, balanced shapes, you will need to look, think and ponder at how to balance these shapes. It's all at the beginning and basis of Feng Shui and the practice of Feng Shui.

In dealing with the shape of your land or property, wider on the northern and southern ends is considered to be best. If your block is not a true triangle then try to choose or even arrange your property lines so that the back is wider than the front or the converse that the front is narrower than the back end. What to do is this is not the case? First you might want to place a live plant or even a lamp in the very opposite corner if there is a corner portion that juts into your land. If there is planting space or soil around the offending corner then planting a hedge, hedges or even creeper plants up the walls to counter any of the sha qi offending energies that these corners might be emitting or generating. Lastly if your property of plot of land is based on a triangular shape then in order to fill out these corner areas in order that qi does not get trapped there.

When it comes to the shape or shapes of your home or office building then the wisest choice of all is basic rectangular shape. With simple rectangular shapes you can be assured that all rooms and their corner areas will be covered and not left exposed outside the basic areas of the flow of vital "qi". If you not fortunate enough and your home, abode or office structure does have "L shapes" then these missing corners again can again be covered with the use of trees or plants being planted in critical areas. A spotlight, lamp or even a skylight on the roof can be utilized. Alternatively mirrors can fill the void, or as an alternate the beautiful sound of wind chimes a be used to fill the voids.

In a similar manner rooms with L-shapes can be trouble. These can be enclosed with partitions, standing bookshelves or if necessary furniture itself or plants can be used to close the loop to shield and keep out negative sha qi.

If there is one word when it comes to shapes apparent in your rooms and their arrangement it is the word "symmetry". Symmetry means a whole by itself, and balance. Each room, each piece of furnishing, each accessory should call out by itself "symmetry".

The whole can never be greater than its parts. Work to choose furniture and accessories that are symmetrical in their own right. This way these components can both stand alone, build and contribute to the peace, serenity and arrangement of the rooms of your home, office or abode that you occupy. Feng Shui.

Morris E. Brown Winnipeg Wedding Catering King Cole Catering

Winnipeg South Hotel

Cold Appetizers

2009-09-05T04:57:00.001-07:00

Cold appetizer recipes are methods of preparing starter dishes that are taken cold. They are easily edible and enable you to wait for the main dish. They require the correct preservation techniques and freezing temperature if the correct flavor is to be achieved and maintained.

Cold appetizers recipes are commonly used in restaurants, bars, and even in our very own homes. They are classified in to various categories. There is the Blue Cheese-Pistachio Grape recipe. This is a five star cold recipe. It is a combination of cheese and fruits. it is a form of wrapper made using seedless grapes that are either red or green.

The traditional salsa with baked chips is also another recipe. This is made of onions, tomatoes, pepper and cilantro lime juice. It can be made at home. There is the Blue cheese and Sun Dried Tomato Dressing. It is prepared using rich blue cheese and dried tomatoes. It is taken with a mixture of spinach salad and croutons made of garlic.

Cold appetizers recipes are available in various magazines, cook books, cooking demos and the Internet. They are a convenience as they enable you to make starter dishes in advance for use at a later time. You will be able to save on time and organize well hence avoid last minute rushes and unwanted mistakes. This will ensure that you have perfect meals every time you use this kind of recipe. You will be confident every time you invite guest over for a meal.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Appetizers. For More Information on cold appetizer recipes, Visit His Site at COLD APPETIZER RECIPES. You Can Also Add Your Views About cold appetizer recipes At My Blog here COLD APPETIZER RECIPES

How You Can Use Feng Shui in Your Office

2009-09-05T01:03:00.001-07:00

These days work can be extremely stressful. More and more people are working longer hours and that is leaving them feeling incredibly worn out. Trying to balance work with family life as well as fitting in time for you can be a struggle. However, there are ways in which you can make life a little more relaxed and less stressful.

One way is to apply Feng Shui to your working environment. Since it would enable you to relax while you are working, using Feng Shui in your office could be the best thing you ever did.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui goes by the theory that everything in life has an energy source or Ch'i. Controlling the positive energy sources allows us to benefit and live a more positive life. Feng Shui teaches us how to feed that positive energy and using it to improve our lives.

Feng Shui in the office will consist of re-arranging the furniture if needed, as well as adding different objects or colors representing the elements of nature. We will be following what is called the "Ba Gua".

A Ba Gua is a tool used to help determine the best locations in your home or office for certain functions, such as wealth, career, health, fame, love, travel and more. The ba gua is a map of the energetic qualities of your space. It is usually shown as an octagon with eight sections surrounding a central area, the tai chi. For practical use, the corners of the ba gua are extended to form a square, and then divide it into nine equal sections. The ba gua divides any space into nine areas. Each area corresponds to a different aspect of your life. Whether there's good or bad energy in that part of your space will affect the related aspect of your life. You will use this "map" to arrange your office.

Using Ba Gua within the Office

When you are ready to begin, make a rough blueprint of your office space and use the ba gua map to split the area in 9 sections. Then check the map and see which elements you need to incorporate into the office. Aim to keep a good balance between each area so that every aspect of your life benefits from the layout. A good balance is achieved by not having too much of one element and lacking another. Your space has to have a balance of the five elements of Feng Shui: Water, Wood, Metal, Earth, Fire.

One rule of Feng Shui that you should pay attention to in the office, is that the desk should be facing the doorway. This will not only help in a Feng Shui aspect but it will also help you to greet any incoming guests and you'll never be caught by surprise. When a person enters the room, the first thing that they will see is you at your desk. This gives you an air of importance and helps you look more professional.

Also make sure your back is against a wall, not a window. You need something solid supporting you. If you don't have another option, try to put a heavy piece of furniture like a bookcase or console between your chair and the window.

If you are interested in increasing your wealth (who isn't!), then you may want to place a picture of a waterfall on one of the walls related to your Wealth Area. Water is the element responsible for drawing wealth into your life, so items such as a fountain or an aquarium will help too. Plants also brighten up your space and help move the good energy around you. So why not place a plant on your Health and Family Area?

Follow your heart. You'll feel different about every change you make, so just keep what makes you feel more comfortable. Enjoy!

If you want to read more about Feng Shui and find very useful information, please visit me at http://www.lifewithfengshui.com.

How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom

2009-09-04T21:09:00.001-07:00

How do you Feng Shui a bedroom? Generally speaking, we spend the majority of our time in our bedroom, either sleeping or being passionate with others. This is why it is so important to have a Feng Shui bedroom where the energy flows in harmony. Implying basic and simple Feng Shui tools will help you successfully achieve the sensual and calming bedroom you want.

One of the first and most basic things you should do is be sure your windows are crystal clear. You can do this by simply cleaning them. Also, opening the windows often creates good energy. The next order of business would be your bedroom's lighting. If it is too bright, it can cause discomfort. However, it may be practical for you to have a bright light, so choose a few alternatives to your overhead light. Candles and low wattage lamps will give you a few different options.

Distracting and bulky elements such as computers, televisions, and treadmills should be removed from the bedroom. Also, surround yourself with pictures and paintings of how you want to feel, not necessarily what you want to see. Because pictures carry strong Feng Shui energy, it is important to have them reflect what you want.

When painting you room, choose neutral colors. You can use taupes, browns, and other flesh tones to achieve the best Feng Shui energy. It is also important that your bed be balanced on both sides with end tables. To keep stress at bay, do not line your bed up with your door. The energy from doorways is very strong and can cause you to feel negative energy such as stress and fatigue.

There are many Feng Shui products that can help you achieve all of the Feng Shui elements you would like in your bedroom. By applying Feng Shui to your bedroom you can be happier and healthier. When your bedroom is finished with its transformation, calming and passionate energies will be abundant. Sleep well!

To learn more about Feng Shui in the bedroom and Feng Shui products, visit FindFengShui.com.

Annual Forecast & Feng Shui Remedies for 2007 : Yin Red Fire Pig Year - Tiger Sign (Chinese Zodiac)

2009-09-04T17:17:00.001-07:00

The Chinese Zodiac Astrology is ancient, interesting, accurate and loved by millions across the world. The Chinese Zodiac is based on cyclic concept of time : a cycle of 12 years, repeated again and again. The 12 Years are associated with 12 Celestial Animals : Rat (or Mouse on Mongoose), Ox (or Buffalo or Bull or Cow), Tiger, Rabbit (or Hare or Cat), Dragon, Snake (or Serpent), Horse, Goat (or Sheep or Ram), Monkey, Rooster (or Hen or Cock or Chicken or Phoenix), Dog and Pig (or Boar or Hog). The animal names occasionally differ with the Oriental Country they originate. The Chinese Yearly Horoscopes are basically built around these 12 Animal Signs.

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is directly based on the Chinese Lunar Year of Birth that you were born. The Chinese New Year is mobile and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year. If your Date of Birth falls into any of the following Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Tiger, you are symbolically identified by your Celestial Animal, the "Tiger" :

From 08 Feb 1902 to 28 Jan 1903

From 26 Jan 1914 to 13 Feb 1915

From 13 Feb 1926 to 01 Feb 1927

From 31 Jan 1938 to 18 Feb 1939

From 17 Feb 1950 to 05 Feb 1951

From 05 Feb 1962 to 24 Jan 1963

From 23 Jan 1974 to 10 Feb 1975

From 09 Feb 1986 to 28 Jan 1987

From 28 Jan 1998 to 15 Feb 1999

In Chinese Hsia Calender, 2007 is the 4704th year and significantly, is also the fourth year of the New Feng Shui Land Luck Cyclic Period 8. The forthcoming new Chinese Lunar Year is from 18th February 2007 to 6th February 2008. The next Chinese New Year, the Yang Earth Rat will begin on 7th February 2008.

Enjoy the Annual Forecasts and learn about the suggested Feng Shui & Crystal Remedies that you may need for the coming "New Lunar Year 2007 : Ding Hai, the Year of the Yin Red Fire Pig" :

CAREER A good year where opportunities can be turned into excellent success with hard work. Enough chances around for demonstrating your personal strengths and special skills. You are fairly well placed for receiving advancements, promotions and monetary increments in your profession. Time for you to set targets and reach them too. But do not stretch your luck too much - be realistic lest you burn out yourself. Over-confidence will only over turn you. At the same time, complacency or insensitivity for others will break many good relationships and make new enemies in your working environment. Getting back-stabbed is a reality. Continue to maintain your lively, active social network and you will greatly benefit from it. But learn to distinguish between friends and foes. New found friends should be kept at arms length until they have proven their worth. Do not rely on your clouded judgements, seek the advice of your parents or mentors when you sense trouble. If you have a female boss or a female business partner, you will do exceptionally well this year. The glamour of success will also bring gossip and jealousy. Just keep your emotions balanced. Many of you will keep losing your personal belongings like mobile phone, wallet, key rings, etc. this year. To derive the maximum benefits, to avoid disruptions in interpersonal equations and for protection, display the figurine or photo of Kuan Kung in your North West. You will do better if you are a trader, actor, speaker, poet, music composer, singer, teacher, preacher, lawyer, astrologer-diviner, dentist, beautician or philosopher. All this said, it should be highlighted that you are in damage-formation with the Year TaiSui, this year. This means you are disturbing a war-like energy formation called Annual TaiSui (or Grand Duke Jupiter) and because of this you will be having some serious property loss, get into litigation, attract discords and draw blood. So, whether you are self-employed or a salaried worker, you are in dire need of the blessings of the TaiSui this year. Display the genuine, energised photographs of "Feng Ji, the 2007 TaiSui" and the "TaiSui Protection Talisman for 2007" in the North West and carry their miniature versions in your pocket or purse, for minimising the severe negative impacts that you are likely to suffer this year. Do not attend burial ceremonies or cremation rituals this year.

MONEY Money flow will be quite handsome and well in proportion to your efforts. Some of you may even receive surprising doses of bonus income. Investment opportunities will be plenty but be choosy and do it wisely. Make efficient use of tips on share movements, but allow yourself be influenced only by the merits of the case and not by anything else. Exercise extra precautions when signing contracts or agreements. Otherwise, you might get into legal disputes or serious economic loss. All money matters should be accounted for clearly and dealt with in a cold, detached, business-like manner in order to have a satisfactory outcome for you. Do not lend money, especially to the opposite sex - if you have to, give it with the knowledge and generosity that it will not be returned. An excellent year for you to buy new properties. Warning : do not indulge in spur-of-the-moment purchases but have a reality check on your expenses. Manage your finances carefully and wisely to save extra cash for next year. Sudden travel plans at the end of the year might consume quite a lot of money. Keep three powerful "Four Heavenly Kings Coins" at home or office, to prevent money erosion.

HEALTH Average health. Keep away from sharp metallic objects. If you were born in 1998, you will be accident prone this year. Some of you might experience problems in eyes, skin, appendicitis, liver and urinary tract. Pay good attention to what you eat to avoid food poisoning. Stay away from physical clashes. Wear a Malachite Crystal Pendant, energised and programmed for you, exclusively. There could be additions or deductions or both in the family, this year.

LOVE The year generally favours marriage, child-bearing and rebuilding bridges of relationships. Singles should make use of this opportunity and build stable equations for marriage. Avoid procrastination and stick with your decision. However clash with Peach Blossom luck will also trigger frustration and anger. Success in career might kindle your ego too. All these could lead to disharmony, if you are not attentive, open and communicative with your spouse. Open admiration from colleagues of opposite sex or frequent meetings with working partner or team associate of opposite sex will invite serious gossips. Unless you balance your feelings and stabilise, you might be trapped into a situation of losing all that you have gained at home. Remember to separate your work karma from your family karma. Display a pair of Pink Mandarin Ducks in the South West of your bedroom.

STUDIES Excellent academic results. Many will shine in extra curricular activities also. Some of you will enjoy sponsored study trips abroad. However over-confidence and self-conceitedness might bring down your ranks heavily. Accept parental supervising and benefit from it. If you are a female born in 1986, you should resist seductions and concentrate fully on studies only. If you are a female born in 1998, avoid going to lonely places on your own or walking all alone in the night. Wearing a Black Tourmalene Crystal Pendant programmed for only you, is recommended.

Birthstone : Ruby Good Relationships with : Horse, Dog & Dragon, for 2007 Conflicts with : Snake, Ox, Monkey and Rabbit, in 2007 Polarity Force : More Yang Lucky Numbers : 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 34, 44, 45 and 54 Zodiac Protector : XuKong Zang or Akasa Garbha (Sanskrit)

A NOTE ABOUT REMEDIES :

The above analysis has suggested some remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and has recommended certain enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy of the year. For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location, to derive the maximum benefit. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the forthcoming new years, but they may have to be repositioned according to the specific new year.

Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Kabbalah Energy Numerologist, Crystal Master & Clairvoyant Karma Reader. His speciality is permanent Karma Energy Correction through custom-built Crystal Energy Fields. His E-Mail : crystalvaastu@yahoo.com. His website :http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm & http://www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com

Cool Benefits of Raw Foods

2009-09-04T13:26:00.001-07:00

What is the deal with raw food? Is it just hype? Is it just for crazy hippies who boycott razors and deodorant? Is it just about nibbling on lettuce and celery?

Well, there is a lot of hype out there on this subject - but my approach is much more common sense. I also enjoy various hair removal techniques and almost never nibble on lettuce and celery.

The latest diet concept sweeping the planet is actually the oldest diet in the book - eating foods just as they were created. The "Raw Food Diet" is predominantly based on plant foods that have not been altered by heat. The words "raw food" sound less than appealing and conjure up images of deprivation, but nothing could be farther from the truth. The cuisine possibilities with fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds and sprouted grains are limitless...and surprising.

A plant is born with a certain nutritional profile and packaged with all the enzymatic components necessary to digest its contents. Heat alters and depletes the nutritional profile and neutralizes the enzymatic components - decreasing the nutrients available while increasing the digestive load on the body. With the majority of your daily energy (about 60%) going to the digestion and assimilation of your foods - your food choices can really make or break your energy levels.

The closer we eat to our natural diet - the more effortless it becomes for our bodies to take on their natural form and function. Some of the main benefits seen by those adopting more raw foods are effortless weight loss, increased energy, improved mental clarity and better concentration. People also notice that those little health issues that we come to expect as part of life just disappear - acne, sinus infections, yeast infections, headaches, aches and pains, old injuries, digestive upsets and that general feeling of lack luster.

There are all sorts of claims and controversy surrounding raw foods. The bottom line is that eating a diet high in raw foods maximizes nutrients by minimizing processing. Also eating foods in the state that they were born in ensures that you are avoiding all the pitfalls of commercially processed foods (additives, preservatives, mystery ingredients). AND it's the most delicious and satisfying food you'll ever taste.

The one consistent message running through the never-ending nutrition controversy is to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. And now, thanks to the wonders of Mother Nature and the imagination and skills of raw food chefs, we can eat our fruits and veggies AND satisfy our taste buds. Banana cream pies, thick and creamy chocolate shakes, pizza, corn chips with salsa and guacamole....not a carrot stick in sight! And when you know that all the ingredients are good for you - you can ditch the food guilt once and for all.

Although, adding more fresh, whole food to your diet can really only be a good thing - you still need to have some know-how under your belt to avoid the common pitfalls associated with raw food nutrition. It's a completely different nutritional ball game than our current thinking and guidelines.

Regardless of your current health situation or goals, you can experience the benefits of raw foods by just adding more. Even if you are veggie phobic - start with raw foods that you already know and love and you'll be surprised at how soon you start to eye that weird leafy green stuff at the grocery store.

Lisa Lavoie BSc., ND is the founder of Vitasential. This article was featured in her bi-weekly eZine A Vitasential Life. Please visit http://www.vitasential.ca for more practical information, inspiration and resources to create a life you love from the inside-out and have a lot of fun doing so.

Feng Shui - Some Useful Points

2009-09-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

Humans are a part of the environment and everything affects us; the directions, the elements and even the placement of objects have a lot of significance in our lives. If we understand the energies that surround us and how best to harmonize our homes and offices with them, there can be a marked difference in our lives.

Feng Shui is a science of living in harmony with the environment so that the energies do not get disrupted. Healthy exchange of energies is vital for our physical and mental well being.

The scientific research has revealed that everything is energy. The smallest of the elements and matter can be broken down quarks which are nothing but energy. Einstein's equation also reveals that matter and energy are interconvertible. Hence the principles of Feng Shui are actually quiet scientific. Fen Shui believes that everything has energy which is known as "chi". The uninterrupted or the disrupted flow of this energy creates all the harmony or the problems in our lives. Hence the placement of objects, furniture, windows and doors needs to be in harmony with the environment. This harmony then permeates into the life of the person and brings prosperity.

There are many principles of Feng Shui which are simple and easy to follow, so here are some tips:

The entrance door or the main door of the house should be devoid of any clutter and dirt. Dirty smells or dirt should be kept away from the entrance since chi travels with the air and can bring dirty smells which can cause problems.
Mirrors facing your bed or on the side are strictly prohibited in Feng Shui since this can lead to a third person meddling into your relationship and cause fights.
The fashionable bunk beds are not allowed in Feng Shui since chi needs to circulate around and under the bed. Hence, the person sleeping in the lower bunk bed may have problems associated with health.
Many people like to decorate their homes with ornamental knives and swords. This is alright but you need to take care that the tips of these weapons should point in the direction of the doors and windows and not inside the house.
Clutter can really create havoc in your life since it blocks chi. Hence you need to keep your office space or worktable clean and clear so that positive energy abounds.

These are some general tips to enhance your life with Feng Shui. These days there are many divorces and break ups taking place. Here are some Feng Shui tips to enhance your relationship with Feng Shui:

If you are in a new relationship, then you need to let go of the past. Throw away everything which has a connection to a past relationship, old photographs and keep sakes need to go so that new ones can come in.
People often have computers and televisions in their bedroom. However, we need to remember that bedrooms are basically meant for tranquility, romance and relaxation. Hence, find a different place for these equipments as their energies are in conflict with the bedroom. Television and other equipments have a yang energy which interferes with your sleep and relaxation and also does not let you concentrate on your partner.

These tips will help you in understanding and enhancing your relationships to bring peace and prosperity in your life.

Keith Ward is the Founder and Director of the Circle of Professional Clairvoyants, which offers Psychic Readings with fully qualified Psychics and Senior UK Clairvoyants.

Gong Xi Fa Cai - Finding the Perfect Chinese New Year Cards

2009-09-04T05:40:00.001-07:00

In its way, Chinese New Year is no different from the New Year celebrated on January 1 by so much of the rest of the world. It is time of well wishes and love. People hope for good fortune, happiness, health, and wealth for the coming year. A lot of people offer these good wishes by sending their loved ones Chinese New Year cards.

This is a common practice no matter what your culture is or when your new year celebration takes place. You want the people you love to know you are thinking of them. You want them to know that you are wishing them well.

When choosing a card to send someone for the Chinese New Year you have a veritable wealth of fantastic cards from which to choose. It all depends on your relationship to the recipient. Sending New Years cards to friends and loved ones is a time honored tradition.

The same is true for those who celebrate Chinese New Year. Of course, with the advent of ecards and holiday greetings sent through the Internet, they are becoming immeasurably more possible. The only real difference here is the style and sentiment of the cards in question.

Many cards celebrating the Chinese New Year are decorated with the things you see during the two week celebrations associated with the holiday. For example, both paper cards and electronic cards often incorporate fireworks displays. These are common practice during Chinese New Year, which is why such cards are so popular.

Dragons, Chinese characters, and the symbolic foods popular during Chinese New Year also make for great greeting card designs. Basically, any type of design which is special to you and/or your family will provide just the right sentiment.

If all else fails, you should always feel free to design a card of your own. You can even include your own hand written fortunes and well wishes, which provide an extra, personal touch to the whole affair. This can be ideal, and it certainly presents you with a way to show your loved ones exactly how you feel.

Henry Fong

Feng Shui Consultant.

Feng Shui Absolutely

Sandstone Beverage Coasters - Utility With Problems

2009-09-04T01:47:00.001-07:00

Sandstone drink coasters are beautiful pieces of the natural world, endowed with all of the majesty of a towering mountain range, and all of the uniqueness of nature itself. However there are a few considerations that you need to take into account when choosing sandstone drink coasters, as they are not as impervious as some other stones.

First the good. Sandstone coasters absorb moisture. That means they can suck the sweat from a cold glass on a muggy summer day right off of the cup, and then, the coaster will hold it in its belly, until the liquid has a chance to evaporate away. This is an amazing thing, and it all happens naturally, just because sandstone has those big wonderful pores.

The problem is when you add a staining liquid to the mix. Then suddenly the moisture seeping into the pores of the stone isn't water from the air, clear and pure, but red, and juicy, and ready to stain your lovely drink coaster from the inside.

What do you do? Well first of all, you try to keep these coasters away from juice and other staining agents. That much is obvious though. If you do spill some fruit juice on the piece however, the first thing you should do is take the coaster, and immerse it in hot water. The sooner you do this, the greater the chance that you will be able to remove the stain from the inside.

Another option is to just choose drink coasters that have a naturally multicolored face. In this way, the stains won't really matter, because they will be hidden in the natural colors that occur along the surface of the stone. This may sound nasty, but as long as you sue disinfectant and hot water to remove any germs, it is the same as using a dye or some sort of coloring agent to purposely stain the stone. In this way, you don't have to worry about stains.

Coasters.PebbleZ.com offers absorbent sandstone coasters, as well as less absorbent but still functional slate and limestone drink coasters, and non absorbent marble drink coasters. They even carry beautiful gemstone drink coasters.

The Risks Of Caffeine

2009-09-03T21:52:00.001-07:00

Millions of people drink soda each day- diet or not. Those who drink non-diet sodas could be at risk- but exactly how unhealthy can caffeine become for ones health?

Caffeine is both artificially and naturally produced. It is a stimulant, so it has seen many uses in areas of work or study. While most of it is consumed in soda, you can find it in chocolate and pain relievers.

At this point I can honestly say that I have found caffeine to be neither a stimulant nor addictive. I have been consuming it for many years in pretty large quantities. I can take it or leave it and, yes, I can sleep for hours after consuming it. It seems to make no difference.

It should be noted, however, that caffeine is, in fact, addictive- and you can feel the effects of it for up to 6 hours (or so they say). This can include insomnia, a rather large drawback to the drug found in sodas. It not only dehydrates the body, but removes calcium from bones- a vital nutrient in child development.

The maximum amount of caffeine you should consume a day should be no more than 100 milligrams- about two Mountain Dew sodas. It is recommended that if you drink more than this, you try to cut back. If you are sincerely addicted to caffeine-related products- it is recommended you take vitamins to help regain the nutrients you lose.

Caffeine is, and will continue, to be legal. It is strongly recommended intake of it should be limited to help fight obesity, high blood pressure, and other health related problems that come with the addiction- your health could depend on it.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on food and drink and visit our associated site articles for free.

Landscape Gardening - Feng Shui With Foliage

2009-09-03T17:59:00.001-07:00

Landscaping your garden can make a vast difference not only to its appearance but also to the value of your property if you are putting it on the market.

There are some very gifted gardeners out there but generally landscaping work would need to be carried out by specialist contractors. Not only do they bring their years of experience to the project but perhaps even more importantly all their expensive equipment, not to mention their discounts at all the local gardening retailers.

What features might you include in your newly fashioned garden?

Water landscaping or water features are very popular, whether it is a pond, fountain or something else of that ilk. Obviously with ponds and other such water features a degree of excavation work is normally involved and this is best handled by expert professionals.

Gates, trellises and arches are also amongst some of the more popular features in a well landscaped garden. Even fencing may be found under this category. Design is important to make your garden look balanced and beautiful. Why not discuss your own design ideas with a landscaping professional to see just what is possible and perhaps discover what unseen potential your garden may have.

Every garden is different but especially here in the United Kingdom, usually the predominant colour is green. Trees, shrubs and lawns for that matter form such a large part in British gardens and the planting and arranging of these trees and shrubs is yet another vital ingredient in the landscaper's arsenal.

Perhaps you will have concrete patios or block paving in amongst the lawns and foliage or pathways winding through some trees or leading to a garden pond teeming with wildlife.

The experts will be able to tell you which trees will suit your particular garden and whether your ground is suitable for certain species of shrubs and trees. Knowing how quickly the plants and trees grow, which nutrients they need and how much light they need are all considerations that the landscaping experts will be able to advise you with.

Quality landscaping professionals should be able to show you examples or a portfolio of their work to date. Where do you get your own ideas from? Well unless you have your plans already, magazines, books and even online searches can assist you in making your choices for that dream garden.

It is only when you have your ideas and plans in place and have discussed them with your chosen landscaping company that you can assess the cost and most efficient ways of achieving your gardening goals.

Producing a beautiful garden involves hard work and planning, landscaping experts can offer a wealth of information and guidance. Jules researches and writes for website SEO company sigma web.

Can Feng Shui Help My Karma?

2009-09-03T14:05:00.001-07:00

Feng Shui is about the balance, harmony and attracting specific energies to create positive results.This method of attracting specific energies has been around for what is believed to go as far back as 3500 years.The Chinese believe that first comes destiny, secondly luck, then Feng Shui.So, if first comes destiny then we would be wise to use Feng Shui to help change our luck.When we make changes in our lives, it also changes the Karma that follows.

Karma, can be linked through our family generations, our past lives and how we lived this life in our earlier years.How we change our karma is directly linked to how we live or change our lives now, how open we are to love and how we intentionally create goodness within our lives.The goodness we put out is the goodness we attract through intentional change within us, as well as within our environment.

Heart felt and meaningful intention to bring on positive results that is not selfish or harmful to others, brings on good Karma, thus changing the negativity that has been created in our past.It is not something that can be changed over night, but over a period of time. Changes need time to be lived, to be committed to, to be felt and to be believed by the person wishing to make the changes.Once we change our lives for the better, our fate or Karma also changes for the better.

The longer we strive for goodness, kindness and balance, the more that will come back to us through the cosmic pull of our intention and balance in our lives and environment.

For example, if it is romantic love we wish to attract, then we need to open our hearts to love.

In the southwest sector of our environment, Feng Shui teaches us to work on this sector of our home to attract this energy.Also, the southwest sector of ones bedroom would also be suggested.Along with that, we include items in those sectors that are suggestive or symbolic of true romantic love between two people, pairs of decorative and symbolic items along with hints of red for passion.

To receive love, one needs to give love.We also need to love and accept ourselves before we can expect someone else to love us.We need to consciously live our lives with love.Make the choice to look for opportunities where you can begin to change your karma with simple acts of kindness, stay committed to change and watch the karmic effect this will have on your life!

You will be amazed at the goodness that will begin to follow you.

"Karma is a wonderful teacher when we have the courage to look close enough to learn the lesson."

2007 Silvana Rosati-Capizzano

She also dedicates her time to her Holistic Practise at the Dove Spa providing healing therapies as Reiki, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Coning. She is well respected in this field and certified in Reflexology and a Reiki Master.

Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home...Balance for your life http://www.blueavalon.com

Feng Shui and Symbols - What You Have in Your House Says a Lot About You

2009-09-03T10:11:00.001-07:00

What does a broken statue of a rooster have to do with Feng Shui? Feng Shui teaches us that everything in our house is a reflection of what is in our mind. Symbolically speaking, your house and the things in it reflects your thoughts, feelings, and spirit.

So let's get back to that rooster. One of my clients had recently separated from her husband. I noticed that a statue of a large bird was directly facing her bed, so it was probably the first thing she saw when getting up in the morning. Upon closer examination, I noticed two things; first, one of the legs had previously been broken and was wrapped in what appeared to be a cast. Second, I realized that it was not a chicken; it was a rooster. Unfortunately, the coxcomb on the top of the head had broken off, probably in the same fall that broke the leg of the statue.

I examined this unfortunate art piece for a moment and then said to my client, "Do you realize that the first thing you see in the morning is a broken cock?"

After I picked her up from the floor (she was laughing so much she just collapsed), she gasped out, "You have no idea of how perfect that observation is." Not wanting to really know much more, I suggested we send out the broken rooster for repair. We then talked about what she really wanted to see first thing in the morning; it was her flute and music and a picture of her daughter.

Another client was having a hard time keeping relationships with men going. Visiting her apartment was like seeing a shrine to her daughter. Everywhere was a mother/daughter photograph. It felt like she was already in a relationship and there was no room for any other one to grow.

Everything that you choose to surround yourself with has symbolic meaning and reflects something about your life. Whether intentional or not, all those objects, pictures, photographs, and pieces of furniture resonate with information about you. Take a look around at your house. What is the first thing you see when you enter your home? When you get up in the morning? When you sit down to eat? Do those objects support you in living your best life? Observe what you have around you and then experiment. See how you feel swapping out the images that surround you for other ones that are a better reflection of who you are and where you want to go. I've seen this simple action do amazing things to improve people's lives.

Interested in learning more about Feng Shui and ways to improve the energy in your home or office? Get great tips and motivating messages by subscribing to the Empty Your Nest newsletter at http://www.emptyyournest.com

Catering Events

2009-09-03T06:17:00.001-07:00

There are a number of events and celebrations that require the help of a caterer. They include weddings, victory parties, birthday parties, campaign fundraisers, corporate events and other get-togethers. Each occasion or event requires different preparations, different types of food and different types of decorations. A good caterer can help you with all the preparation, plus guarantee you a delicious menu that your guests will not soon forget.

Planning and hosting any major event is not a simple task because there are number of things that need to be considered to make the event run smoothly. One of the first things to consider is the type of food service that will be provided. For example, do you want a sit down meal or is a buffet more appropriate. If you opt for a sit down meal, there are appetizers, salads, entres, and desserts to think about. A buffet can offer a variety of choices arranged on long tables, or you can choose to go with stations where some of the food is prepared as a guest waits (spaghetti dishes are a good example). Each has its advantages and disadvantages and the host should be able to determine which one is the most appropriate to use.

Any caterer that you hire will need a lot of space to work in, so make sure that the food preparation area is large enough to accommodate the caterer and the staff. Also, make sure that the banquet area is large enough to accommodate the number of guests who will be attending the event. There is nothing worse than a crowded room, with tables that are too close and too many guests at each table.

Always sample a caterer's menu and make sure that you get quotes based on the number of people who are attending your event. This should include items like alcohol. Determine ahead of time if the bar will be "open" (free drinks) and whether or not there will be wine bottles on each table. Keeping all these details straight with the caterer will afford him or her the opportunity to realize your expectations, as well as prevent any conflicts in the final bill.

Catering provides detailed information on Catering, Catering Services, Catering Trucks, Catering Supplies and more. Catering is affiliated with New York City Restaurants.

Energy Renovation For Your Home - What To Do When Feng Shui Fails

2009-09-03T02:26:00.001-07:00

Does your home feel like a harmonious sanctuary? Do you feel relaxed at home? This is what your home has the potential of offering you. If your home does not feel relaxing, you may think that the obvious contributing factors are things like clutter, the dcor being contrary to your personal tastes, or the home being in various stages of disrepair. This is often not the case. If you have tried changing the overall appearance of your home, but still did not get the result you wanted, there may be more in the energy field that you do not know about.

Vibrational Residue

Emotions from the builder and/or past residents are recorded in the building materials. Much like music vibration that was recorded on vinyl LPs, the emotions of people as expressed in daily events are also recorded into the solid matter such as building materials, furniture, and books. Some people are more sensitive to these vibrations than others. If you are sensitive, these emotional residues can be a source of lingering distress for you.

Traumatic events that happened at any point in time can have a significant influence on the energy of the space as well. If there has been a death, robbery, violence or trauma of any kind, the energy of the space will most definitely include these vibrations until they are intentionally removed.

Ways to Remove Emotional Residue

Traditional shamanic practice uses burning sage to cleanse the energy of a space. You may find sage at Whole Foods or most metaphysical bookstores. Use a small bowl or shell to catch any embers. When you light the sage, let the flame burn for a few seconds, then gently blow it out. The leaves will continue to glow red and release smoke. As you walk around the area, wave the sage along the walls and corners. Intend to cleanse and release emotional residue and bring forth a loving and soothing energy. Coming from the heart, say any prayer of healing or protection that feels most appropriate. The most important part of the process is the intention. You can follow with opening a window to let fresh air circulate throughout.

You may also use a combination of Epsom salts and 90% rubbing alcohol. Pour the salt into a fireproof flat bottomed container at least 8"x 8" and about inch deep. Use just enough alcohol to dampen the salt. Caution! The container will get hot. Keep hair and clothing out of the way. Be sure to place the container on a heat resistant surface like a stove and away from all flammable materials. Set the salt/alcohol on fire. Allow the flame to continue burning until it goes out by itself. As the fire burns, visualize an intense purifying white/violet light going out in all directions. Repeat the process as needed.

It may be necessary to hire a professional intuitive that can pinpoint the event and the vibration to remove it. Other energy interferences may include the following:

Underground elements include boulders, mineral mines, rivers, lakes, and emotional residue of historical events such as plagues, natural disasters, or burial grounds.
Energy vortexes on ground level or in mid-air, whether it be outside or inside your home, very often create energy imbalances.
Neighboring structural beam lines or those in your own house can project a laser like energy that disturbs your peace. In the city or within suburban subdivisions where houses are located very close to one another, beam line influences can be a problem.
High tension power lines or transformers carry a very strong resonance. It has been documented to influence human health.
Traffic movement adjacent to the property can have a significant impact, particularly when the traffic is directed towards the property.
Energy portals are hotspots that are accessible from multiple dimensions. They are commonly used for inter-dimensional travel by beings of other realms or by humans who have capability for mind/astral travel.
Spirits (non-physical beings) in other dimensions can co-occupy the same space with us. Depending on the kinds of beings, some may appear hostile if treated harshly, while some are actually beneficial for our well-being.

These are influences that traditional Feng Shui practices will not be able to resolve. It is very important to consult an experienced, intuitive Energy Renovation Professional for effective solutions. Doing so can bring peace and tranquility to your life, while putting a smile on your face!

About the Author:

Sunny Wang, BA, MATT, RTSM is trained in kinesiology and is a life long energy sensitive and intuitive. She has talked to "dead people" since she was very young. She also makes personalized energy jewelry. Her specialty, similar to Feng Shui, is the energetic restructuring of homes, offices, and land. Her websites are http://www.EstateOfHarmony.com and http://www.InsightfulSpirit.com

Natural Crystals and Stones - Their Metaphysical Qualities and Uses

2009-09-02T22:33:00.001-07:00

Over the centuries, people from all over the world have been intrigued by the metaphysical qualities of stones, or more appropriately called minerals. It has been recognized that all that exists is in a constant state of vibration, and crystalline structures have a particularly stable vibration which resists the influence of other vibration frequencies.

Minerals, particularly in their crystalline form, stimulate healing based upon the property of sympathetic vibration or resonance. They have very specific points of resonance with one of our seven major energy centers (chakras). The colours of the stones seem to have a bearing on the qualities of the vibrations. This is more or less similar to the colours represented by the seven charkas which also coincide with the seven colours of the rainbow. (Crown chakra - violet, Blow chakra - indigo, Throat chakra-blue, Heart chakra - green, Solar Plexus chakra - yellow), Sacral chakra - orange, and Base chakra red). These resonant frequencies set up an electromagnetic field.

If we believe that all human beings have interweaving energy bodies (human aura) beyond their physical shell, and they are being electromagnetic in nature, it naturally follows that they can be influenced by the electromagnetic resonance of minerals and crystals.

Diseases and illnesses have been attributed to disharmony in thought patterns, causing irregular energy flow within subtle (non-physical), the etheric and physical bodies; therefore, prolonged exposure to the positive vibration of stones may have a healing effect. Other than their healing effects, minerals also offer protection against negativities and in a way bring good luck to us.

Amulets and Talisman to ward away ghosts.

Certain stones, especially those of celestial origins appear to have the power to drive away unwanted or negative energy. These are stones like those from the meteorite family - tektite, moldavites, iron or nickel meteorites - can actually ward off evil spirits. When carved with images of Buddha or deities, or when they are specifically enchanted by advanced practitioners, they can be used as very powerful talismans or amulets.

So, it is also believed that the wearing of certain amulets or talismans would protect you against ghosts. Also, some also feels that certain stones, especially the quartz family, (White Quartz, Amethyst, Ametrine, Citrine and Smoky Quartz) can offer the same protection. Other protective stones include, diamond, pyrite, hematite, obsidian, black star sapphire, black diopside, and jet. Personally, I understand that stones have a varying degree of electro-magnetic radiation. When they are worn on our body, they serve to strengthen our body energy vibration, sort of casting a protective shield over us.

One very powerful talisman I have is the image of the Earth Store (Dichang) Bodhisattva made of tektite. I also have a bracelet made of pyrite and amber, and I use to have it with me whenever I traveled overseas. In my arsenal, I also have bracelets and pendants made of iron meteorite, and they are also very potent in warding off negativities. It is also believed those moonstones are good protective stones for overseas traveling especially crossing waters. I always keep a few pieces of tumbled moonstones in my luggage.

For those who are frightened of ghosts when traveling overseas and staying in hotel rooms , they can try arranging their shoes in the Ying Yang manner - one with the sole facing up while the other in the normal position - at the foot of their beds.

Amulets and talismans are similarly charged with strong vibrations by their makers - monks and priests alike, and they serve the same purpose as the stones. At my level, I am able to magnetize stones and any objects to confer upon them stronger radiation by using my energisation method or by chanting of mantras.

Spirits In Stones

There are belief that some stones contain memories of the past while some become dwelling place for some life forms, just like the hermit crabs that inhabit the shell after the shellfish have died. My spiritual friend Stella has the ability to communicate with stones and she claimed she often saw impish looking creatures residing in some stones. Once I was meditating with one Labradorite ball (a kind of felspar stone which is opaque with luminous blue against grey background) and spotted images of a woman clad in Greek-like gown amidst some Roman like pillars inside the stone. She had almond shape eyes and shape features and appeared annoyed by my unwelcome intrusion. There was another stone, a piece of Rhodonite - a pink colour stone with black Manganese steaks, that I could see images of dome shapes structure. I also recalled another instance when an old lady handed me a piece of jade which she retrieved from the exhumed grave of her mother died long ago, and asked me whether it was alright for her daughter-in-law to wear it. The moment I picked up the jewelry I could feel a painful sensation in my stomach. I asked her whether she could recall whether her mother suffered some sort of ailment of the stomach, and she confirmed it. I cleansed the stone for her but she told me she had changed her mind about giving it to her daughter-in-law and instead chose to keep it in the jewelry box. Jade is said to have the unusual quality of protecting its owner. It would break into pieces whenever the wearer encounter dangerous situations; the folklore has it that it blocks off the dangers on behalf of its owner.

Stones For Attracting Fortune

Chinese believes that wearing of certain stones would bring them good fortune. Jade is the most favoured stone adorn not only to bring good luck to the wearer but it also offers protection as well. For those gamblers who are ever hopeful windfall, they may wear yellow gemstones - yellow sapphire, topaz, or citrine. Some may even carry a pyrite doughnut together with a dollar coin in their wallet. Green stones are for attracting wealth generated from career, and they include not only jade but also emerald, peridot, quartz with chloride inclusions, aventurine, malachite, and amazonite. Besides wearing them as semi-precious stones set in rings and pendants, some of the tumbled stones (aventurine, malachite, and amazonite) can be placed in cash registers to help enhance daily takings from retailed businesses.

Stones and Feng-shui

Feng-Shui, or Geomancy, is in a manner of speaking also about energy - Energy caused by the landscape, magnetic forces and flows, seasonal fluctuations in energy flows, celestial and planetary influences, and positioning of static objects in the environment, and how your own body energy copes with and resonates with all these causes of energy. The western application of Feng-Shui is to bring an array of scientific equipment into a location and test out the various forms of energy in the area. If you are sensitive to energy, you can actually feel the influence of "Feng-Shui" - the good and bad "Chi" - rather than relying entirely on the Feng Shui principles practiced by the masters. Since stones have positive vibrational energy, they can be deployed to improve the Feng-shui of the building if placed at the correct position. For example, the left hand corner of the main hall of the house diagonally opposite the entrance is considered the wealth position; to enhance positive energy in this corner one could emplace amethyst geode. This is a better substitute for putting round leaf plants there, as traditionally recommended by Feng-shui masters. Other than putting up mirrors or wind chimes at our windows to block off negative energy from some ill-formed structures or landscape facing our house, we could hang faceted cut crystal balls. Against the sunlight, these faceted balls could reflect specks of rainbow lights into the house and create a wonderful sight as they are seen as if dancing on the walls.

Anthony Leong

The Miracle of Design

2009-09-02T18:38:00.001-07:00

DECORATING WITH SYMBOLS

Throughout history faith, religious beliefs and spiritual concepts have been mistrusted. In many groups, religions and sectors around the world people where unable to profess their faith openly and therefore used symbols in statues, artwork and the likes to serve as a visual reminder of their faith.

Symbols can be used today much in the same way. While beliefs are in the most part no longer persecuted, beliefs can be strengthened through intention. Intention of mind and thoughts. So what does this have to do with miracles? In order to allow the beauty of miracles to surround us we must ensure we keep an open heart, mind and spirit. We must allow ourselves to accept that we are worthy of those miracles and they are within our reach every minute of every day. Symbols can be used to strengthen your resolve and your faith. Symbols can remind you of how blessed you already are and of how deserving you are to be surrounded by miracles.

In Feng Shui symbols are used to strengthen intention and positive energies in areas that have been identified as important sectors for personal growth and the balancing of the energetic rhythms that surround your home.

So where and what type of symbols will help you live in a miraculous state? The answer is different for each and every one of us. Some of us love the beauty and consistency of ancient religious symbols:

The Cross in Christianity, The Menorah in Judaism, The Dharma Wheel in Buddhism, The OM in Hinduism, The Palm in Jainism, The Khanda in Sikh, or the Nine Pointed Star in Baha"i.

For some symbols of angels, fairies and sparkle dust or fat happy Buddha conjures up the miraculous, while for others portraits of their families are the only reminder they need of the miracles in their lives.

Whatever the symbol, place them around your home or office so that each time you look at them they bring joy, bathe you in light and happiness and strengthen your intention to believe in the miraculous that surrounds you!

2008 Fay Chapple

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fay Chapple is an International Feng Shui Expert, award winning Interior Decorator and Life Coach, and is Principal of the award winning Home & Life Design Firm Blue Avalon.

Blue Avalon specializes in Interior Decorating, Feng Shui and Abundant Living. Blue Avalon is the publisher of The Blue Avalon Journal, a monthly e-zine packed with ideas, tips and insider secrets! To subscribe log on to our site at http://www.blueavalon.com and you'll receive a bonus book, The Number One Feng Shui Secret That Will Transform Your Life!

Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home... Balance for your life!" http://www.blueavalon.com

Creating a Protective Embrace for Your Home

2009-09-02T14:48:00.001-07:00

One of the guiding principles of feng shui is that you need to not only create a positive energy flow from the elements located within your living space (both inside and outside your home), but also to create a layer of protection for the occupants of your home from the negative energy that comes from nearby sources - power lines, busy highways, dead-end streets, difficult neighbors, etc.

Thus, it is important to create an "embrace" for your home. In the principles of feng shui, your house needs to have an embrace in order to properly be protected from negative energy. This will allow you to retain the positive, inspiring energy that you have created for your home, rather than lose it to external forces that may be beyond your direct control.

So how do you create an embrace for your home? Well, simply put, you need to place energy-producing and energy-retaining objects around the sides and back of your home, to help shield it from negative energy. It helps to envision your yard as a large armchair, and your home as the seat of that armchair. By looking at it this way, you can see the sides and back of the chair wrapping around your home in a big protective embrace.

There are a number of ways to build this sort of energy-deflecting embrace for your home. The first is through using various trees to flank the sides and rear of your house. Trees are great items to use in an embrace formation, because not only do they help repel negative energy, they also provide a great amount of living energy for your home on their own. Think about it - trees bring a strong, stabilizing wood element into your home space, they provide shade (yin) against the harsh sunlight (yang) that shines down on your home, and they also provide living flowers and fruit for your olfactory and culinary enjoyment, respectively.

A second way to create a protective embrace for you home is to use objects such as fences or trellises to create a barrier against negative influences outside of your living space. You can not only use fences to block negative energy, but you can also use the material (wood, metal) and the color (white, red, blue, yellow) to bring in symbols of the five elements - fire, water, wood, metal, earth - to help create an energy balance around your home.

A third way to construct an embrace is to use flowers around the perimeter of your home. Flowers that have a soothing fragrance (lavender, honeysuckle) or that evoke the fire element (red, burgundy, or pink-colored flowers) are good for protecting your home from negative energy.

Protecting your home with feng shui is easier than you may have thought, especially if you have not studied the energy-producing powers of trees and plants. With a little practice, you will be able to create an embrace around your home that dispels all negativity and bad energy, making your house a healing sanctuary for you and your housemates.

Linda Binns shows you how to be more successful in all areas of your life by working with your environment. Get FREE Feng Shui Success Secrets. These powerful and practical secrets can help you transform your life - go to http://www.fengshuiexplained.com now.

Linda Binns is author of Feng Shui for Your Relationships: Changing Your Environment to Create Better Relationships. She has been a Feng Shui Practitioner, Author, Speaker and teacher for over 10 years. She has appeared internationally on television and radio and in local publications. Linda is also the founder of The Feng Shui Success Institute - which teaches in-depth Feng Shui training and practitioner certification.

Grandparents Getting Custody of Their Grandchildren Becoming More Frequent

2009-09-02T10:55:00.001-07:00

Do you have an unmarried teen daughter who is pregnant and intends to keep the child? Chances are she may also believe that her teenage boyfriend is going to marry her and they will live happily ever after like in the movies. The unfortunate reality is that grandparents getting custody of the child will more likely be the outcome. That means you will be parenting your child and grandchild at the same time.

Unwanted teen pregnancies cause tremendous life changes for the teen mother and her parents as well. Regardless of what the teen thinks, the reality of raising a baby is profoundly difficult in the best of circumstances. The teen mother usually has to forgo her education causing her to take menial jobs to support her child. Often a teen mother will become rebellious and not tend to her parental duties at all.

Grandparents getting custody of the grandchild may be the only way that the baby has a chance to survive without social services stepping in and moving the child to foster care. As a grandparent you may feel that you have failed in your parenting of your child and have a tremendous amount of guilt as a result. Try not to be too hard on yourselves because unintended teen pregnancies happen all the time.

The best thing you can do if you have to parent your child and grandchild at the same time is to say to yourself that as your child matures she will probably realize that her motherly duties will become a priority in her life. At sixteen or seventeen all she wants to do is hang out with her other teen peers. When she starts to become an adult her priorities will also change.

To find more information on grandparent child custody issues with a teen daughter visit Grandparents Getting Custody or GrandparentsCustodyRights.com.

Thai Dinner For Two

2009-09-02T07:02:00.001-07:00

Do you have an anniversary, birthday, or other special day with your significant other coming up? Try a romantic Thai dinner, either dining out or cooking and dining in. There are many delicious and interesting meals to enjoy! Sometimes it is quite a challenge to come up with great menu selections. One might spend lots of time looking up or researching all the Thai dishes. There are really more than enough to choose from, and many great combinations, so don't beat yourself up trying to plan. This article outlines some choices for each part of the dinner.

Appetizers

Choosing a start up dish sometimes can be challenging. Try to choose a dish that is not too heavy. Choose a light dish but yet one that teases you to want more. My first choice would be "Kra Thong Thong", golden pastry cups with minced chicken and chopped vegetables. This appetizer is a cute little cup that will definitely impress him or her. The next choice is "Miang Kam", leaf-wrapped tidbits. This can be a fun thing to do and create nice start up conversations. It involves wrapping several kinds of little tiny items in a leaf, along with a sweet-and-salty sauce. The items include shredded roasted coconut, peanuts, diced lime, diced ginger, diced shallots and chilies. Third choice is "Po Pia Tod", deep-fried spring rolls.

Main course

Whether you are vegetarian or a seafood or chicken lover, don't worry, there is always plenty to choose from. Let's start with how many dishes to order or make. For 2 people, I would say 2-4 dishes. If you are dining out, two dishes are enough for two but might not have variety. Three to four dishes will definitely leave some leftovers for later days. However, if you are planning to cook them yourself, you can make a smaller amount of each dish. This way you can have more dishes for variety. Here are some different combinations of dishes.

Combination 1: for those who like things just a little bit spicy
- Khao Ob Subparod: fried rice with meat, pineapple, onions and cashew nuts, baked in a pineapple
- Kaeng Kiaw Waan: a slightly sweet green curry with meat and vegetables
- Gai Pad Med Ma Muang Him Ma Paan: stir-fried chicken and cashew nuts
- Chu Chi: stir-fried fish (or shrimp) with kaffir lime leaves, Thai sweet basil (Bai Ho Ra Pha) and chu chi chili paste

Combination 2: for those who like medium spicy food
- Khao Pad Poo: fried rice with crab meat, eggs, tomatoes, onion and cilantro
- Phanaeng: Thai southern style dry curry with meat, kaffir lime leaves and coconut milk
- Gai Ho Bai Toey: fried chicken wrapped in pandanus leaf
- Ho Mok Ta Le: steamed seafood custard
Combination 3: for those who love spicy food
- Tom Yum Moo Pa: hot and sour soup with wild boar, mushrooms, cilantro, lemongrass, nam prik pao paste and chilies
- Kaeng Leung: a hot yellow curry, most common meat used is fish. Other ingredients are winter melon, chilies, garlic, turmeric, lemon grass, shallots and shrimp paste
- Poo Jaa: steamed crab with pork
- Pad Ped Tua Fak Yao Moo: stir-fried long beans and pork with red curry paste
Combination 4: for seafood lovers
- Goong Pad Yod Ma Proaw: stir-fried prawns with heart of palm
- Poo Kan Chiang Nueng: steamed crab sculls
- Hoi Lai Pad Ped: stir-fried clams with Thai sweet basil (Bai Ho Ra Pha) and roasted chili paste
- Hoi Nang Rom Sod: fresh oysters with chilies and garlic dipping sauce

Desserts

To end your meal, it is great to aim for the right dessert that will perfect the dinner. After a non-spicy or spicy main course, something light is always a good choice. Some may already have an idea for dessert, Khao Niaw Ma Muang (mango with sticky rice). For a romantic dinner, I personally would choose something else. This is because sticky rice can be a bit too heavy as a dessert choice. You can be too full to eat but feel you should eat. So I would go with something nice and cold like Thai coconut Ice cream with ground peanuts sprinkled on top. Just a scoop or two would be enough. My second choice would be "Nam Kang Sai." This dessert is a combination of 2-3 items of assorted fruits, beans or sticky rice with shaved ice on top.

As you choose your dishes, consider how the taste, color and presentation go together. In doing so, you might find ways to improve the combinations. For example, to get you started, it is generally better not to choose food all of one color, or all chicken dishes or all spicy dishes. Try to balance one dish with another and create a harmony of dishes. This can help give you different tastes of sweet, salty, sour, bitter or spicy, and make the experience all the more enjoyable. Take these recommendations and run with them! The best part comes from your familiarity with what you and your significant other like, so have fun customizing. Bon appetit and have a nice dinner!

Napatr Lindsley

Get authentic Thai recipes at http://thaicookinghouse.com/

Ideas to Improve and Enliven Your Interior Design

2009-09-02T03:06:00.001-07:00

The old saying is "Your home is your castle." It is where you come home from work and relax. It is where you live out the majority of your life. Obviously, it's a very important place, and for it to be as relaxing and as comforting as it should be, the interior design of your home needs to match up to your own tastes, yet be functional as well. Here are some interior design ideas to help your home be more inviting for you.

Many newer homes are using wallpaper on "feature walls" to add some real creativity to the interior design of a home. At one time, feature walls were mostly used in commercial settings to designate certain areas. That same need is not often needed in most homes, but the fact that wallpaper has been added to those feature walls to add more color, textures, and patterns to those structures can allow homeowners to distinguish a certain area of their home without it just being a plain old wall or divider, thereby making it more appealing and practical for homeowners to use feature walls in their homes.

Another interior design idea that more and more people are using is designing your home to allow the most "Chi," or life force, to flow through your home. This interior design idea is known as "Feng Shui" and comes from Chinese culture. It usually involves the specific placement of objects in your home so that they are in harmony with the environment, and supposedly, will help you to achieve more harmony and peace in your life. Someone who is versed in Feng Shui principles can assist you in arranging your interior design to match those principles.

Incorporating color and texture into your interior design is very important in presenting a pleasing and comfortable environment in your home. A good way to get creative ideas is to observe nature carefully and see how certain elements bring out the color or texture of a surface.

For instance, emphasizing one color by putting a lighter color next to it to bring out the contrast between the two colors is one interior design strategy to consider when trying to bring more color and contrast into your rooms. By putting similar items that have different textures near each other in the same room, you can incorporate a subtle design that blends into the room and gives it a different look, feel, and mood.

The lighting in your home is another important aspect of your interior design. Some types of light provide better light for safety and working, other types provide subdued lighting to provide atmosphere and intimacy, while other types provide lighting that is designed to highlight a certain area of your room.

For instance, tungsten bulbs emit a yellowish-white color that tend to brighten warm colors and mute cool colors. These work well in bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas because they provide atmosphere and coziness.

Conversely, tungsten-halogen bulbs are particularly suited for accent lighting, which is why traffic lights use these type of bulbs - to emphasize the colors red, yellow, and green so you know for sure what you are supposed to do at an intersection. These types of bulbs can provide a nice contrast in warm, ambient settings where tungsten bulbs are often used.

To determine what type of lighting will work best for a room, analyze and determine what the room's purpose will be and what elements are already in it (windows, a fireplace, etc.) By doing this, you can save on time and cost in utilizing the best lighting for your room the first time you install or put in lighting.

Your home can provide great comfort and relaxation to you, but you need to take into account several interior design aspects to get the most enjoyment and function out of your home. These aspects include the placement of objects, feature walls, color and texture and how they compare and contrast with other objects and elements in the room, and the lighting of the room. By taking into consideration these elements, you can create a home that will allow you to unwind and enjoy your home that much more.

Discover Decorating Simple, simple decorating on a budget at DecoratingSimple.com

Applying Feng Shui Principles to Your Car

2009-09-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

Feng shui may be an ancient practice but it doesn't mean you can't use its core principles and apply them to your favorite set of wheels. And come to think of it, it does make perfect sense to optimize the positive energy inside something you spend some time in everyday. Here's a brief rundown of some simple things you can do:

The Way of the Water. Water is pure and free-flowing. Adapt these qualities by keeping a bottle of water inside your car. Plus, you'll never go thirsty!

Tidy Up! Get rid of all the unwanted stuff - candy wrappers, cigarette cases, old receipts, empty bottles, etc - and make your car spic-and-span! Doing so will give you more freedom of movement and more space.

Purge Negativity! Of course, you can always start by thinking positively. Then you can make use of certain time-tested agents and tokens of positivity like sweet grass, seasalt or you could hang a crystal on a blue ribbon on your rearview mirror.

Heaven Scent! Keep the air inside your car fresh and clean. Lemon is a good choice, so is rosemary. Always go for organic instead of artificial.

Get by with a little help from your animal friends. Dragons are supposed to be good protectors against evil elements. Of course, finding a real dragon may not be that easy, you can choose to put a cute dragon stuffed toy on the dashboard instead.

Affirm! Never underestimate the power of affirmation. Scribble an affirmation phrase on a piece of paper, e.g. "I got the coolest ride in town!", and put it in your glove compartment or better yet, glue it on your steering wheel. And before you know it, you already have the coolest car in town!

Know your color! Go red if you're ambitious. Pick silver or gold if you hunger for adventure. If you're constantly afflicted with wanderlust, paint your car violet or green. If you're the type who likes to get down to business all the time, then blue or black is the color for you.

For some of us, the car is like a second home. And what better way to have it "cleansed" of unwanted elements than to have it feng shui'd? Besides, it won't cost you that much.

Guile Canencia is a writer and researcher for the IBC Japan Team. He is an avid blogger and likes to play soccer on weekends. IBC Japan specializes in exporting used cars from Japan with regional distribution centers worldwide.

Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind!

2009-09-01T19:20:00.001-07:00

Organization is something we all struggle with. It seems that no matter how hard we try, disorganization creeps back again and again. So, why do we even bother getting organized in the first place?

According to Feng Shui principles, clutter in any area of your life is a sign of stuck, stagnant energy. The more clutter you have, the more sluggish the energy becomes. If you have ever walked into a cluttered room, you have probably felt your energy drop dramatically. So much so that you may even avoid that room altogether and close the door so you don't have to look at it!

Coping with clutter is rarely easy and staying focused and motivated to get the job done can be one of the biggest challenges. Here are a few tips to help get you started and stay motivated when it all seems like too much!

Set Achievable Goals. Pick one area to tackle at a time - this could be a shelf, a drawer, a counter top. Picking one task and completing it is much more rewarding than trying to tackle an entire room or office all at once. When you don't finish something it makes it much harder to get started again the next time.

Start with messes and clutter you see every day. Assign every item (or group of items) a home. It dramatically cuts down on the clutter of items left out "for now" or "until I find a place for it".

Use the One-In-One-Out Rule. Make it a general policy to get rid of one old thing for every new purchase.

Work With Your Natural Tendencies. Observe what things pile up in your home or office and where they cluster then come up with a place nearby that becomes the official home where those things reside. It is easier to make the area look better with a basket or bin than to try and change a habit!

Pick Favorites. If you have a favorite brand or item that you use frequently but four partially used items of another brand that just did not measure up are sitting in your cupboard - give them away!

Only keep things you Use or Love.

Maintain your organized lifestyle with 30 minutes of upkeep each day.

Getting and staying organized is a lifestyle, not a crash diet. Start by making small changes and you will quickly see an improvement in your home or office space which directly affects how you feel about your life!

Linda Andersson, Organizing Help

Seven Steps to a Powerful Office With Feng Shui

2009-09-01T15:27:00.001-07:00

You started your business for a reason - tomake money certainly, but what else? What is your vision? You want to make a difference for your clients and for the world. Whether you provide accounting services or coaching services or sell skin care products, you want to support the health and happiness of others.

One of the foundations that helps support your business is your office. When I mention the word office or home office to people, they look at me with big eyes and say, "It's terrible, you wouldn't want to go into my office."

So if I wouldn't want to go in there, why do you?

I firmly believe that the success of your business can be supported or undermined by the energy, balance and organization of your office. This is not to say that your office will always be neat and ready for a photo shoot. Typically your office will have some amount of creative chaos. What we want to distinguish is if the chaos in your office is supporting you and ultimately your clients or if it detracts from your mission and supporting your clients.

Hereare seven stepsto ensure that your office is in alignment with your mission and vision.

1.) Think about the mission of your company and your vision for the world. What will you and your business bring to the world to make a difference?

2.) Think about what kind of feeling you want people to have after using your product or service. This feeling should be present in your office. If you don't have something, you can't give it away (or sell it).

3.) Eliminate anything in your office that is not directly supporting your business processes, your clients or the feeling you are creating in the world.

This may take some time and consideration. You will want to balance inspirational vs. business related items and you want to balance open space vs. used space. An office with no open space will feel cluttered no matter how many inspiring items are in it.

Eliminate anything that was business related, but is not relevant to your current business. Do not become a museum or archive of your past success (or failure). Be diligent about what you allow into your office. It's not a dumping ground for things-I'm-not-sure-what-to-do-with. Anything that does not support your mission or your vision is not allowed to enter. Surround yourself with items that support you and do not distract you.

4.) Arranged your furniture so that you can see the door from where you sit. If you are not facing the door now, this change alone will make a powerful shift in your ability to manifest your vision in the world. If you are unable to move your desk, get a mirror and place it so you can see the door behind you.

5.) Create a space that is balanced using colors and materials that are pleasing to you. A lively color like yellow is great for an office since it offers some stimulation but is calm enough not to cause agitation. Stay away from too much grey, white and black. Blue is a calming color if you are in a high stress environment. Add lots of plants, flowers and even a water fountain if you are willing to maintain it.

6.) Enjoy this space that supports you, your mission and your vision.

7.) Repeat. As you and your business grow and change you will continue to revise your space to support your new possibilities.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Feng Shui Practitioner Ann Kucera, "The Feng Shui Coach", publishes the ezine; 'Creating Healing Spaces: Your Guide to a Space that Promotes Health, Abundance and Harmony'. Get more great articles on feng shui and healthy homes at http://www.The-Feng-Shui-Coach.com

Ann Kucera is passionate about helping people initiate change and transformation through the use of feng shui. She offers home and office feng shui consultations and is also available for custom designed classes and speaking engagements. Her mission is to transform buildings into spaces where people thrive. Ann began her feng shui studies in 2001 with Terah Kathryn Collins at the Western School of Feng Shui in San Diego. In addition she has a Masters in Library Science and over 15 years of experience organizing people, events, data systems, books and homes. She is the Chapter Director of the International Feng Shui Guild - Michigan.

"A Dash of This" and a "Pinch of That" - Traditional Terms Used in Southern Cooking

2009-09-01T11:34:00.001-07:00

Southern cooking is totally about how you add spices and seasonings to your food. When I say spices, I don't mean hot and spicy, I simply mean how you use cooking spices to bring out the traditional flavors in your dishes. This method of southern cooking really started when the African American slaves prepared their food many years ago. They used terms such as "a dash of this" and "a punch of that" in referring to cooking spices and seasonings for their food.

Why were these terms used?

These terms were used because back then there were no measuring devices, cookbooks, or cooking classes to learn from; they had to second guess their measurements and they only had each other to rely on to remember main ingredients. So they created terms that were easy for them to season their food. They also developed ways to know when their baked food was done by saying " bake until golden brown." Today, this method of cooking is still popular in many southern kitchens.

Sometimes adding "a dash of this" and "a pinch of that" may not be enough spice for your dish, just always remember to add spices according to your taste and what compliments the dish you're preparing.

Any one who makes southern and soul food know that recipes are only a base for you to start with. The amount of seasonings and cooking spices a recipe call for, may be more or less to your taste. What's important about this method is that you control the amount of spice that you use. Only you can determine the amount of seasonings to add for a particular recipe.

Because the base of southern cooking is spices, you will find cooking terms, "a dash of this" and "a pinch of that" throughout my new cookbook, Soul Food Lovers' . The recipes in the cookbook also allow you to use your judgment when adding spices to your food.

Today, many southerners still cook without a recipe, just by remembering main ingredients and adding seasonings to their taste. So, go ahead, add "a dash of this" and "a pinch of that" to bring out the true flavors of your southern recipes.

For more information on cooking spices and to get a better understanding on using them , check out these resources:

Resources:

http://www.soul-food-advisor.com/cooking-spices.html

Cassandra Harrell is an avid soul food lover and author of Soul Food Lovers' Cookbook. The book includes her grandmother's recipe collection along with other family treasures. Her website Soul Food Advisor is among the 5 Top Soul Food Recipe Websites according to Associated Content.

The Principles of Feng Shui

2009-09-01T07:42:00.001-07:00

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of telling your destiny. The five elements of Feng Shui are Wood, Fire, Water, Earth and Metal. The elements are presided over by either the productive or destructive cycle. When the elements are productive, Water produces Wood which in turn produces Fire and the cycle carries on to generate Earth and then Metal, follow by Water and it replicates itself all over again.

When the elements are destructive, Wood will break up Earth, which goes on to soak up Water, douse Fire and goes on to dissolve Metal. The destructive cycle is the process of decay but it can be rejuvenated to make room for growth.

In addition to, you have the eight directions and how the elements are represented by various colors.

The color scheme of the five elements is as follow:

Wood = Green

Fire = Red

Water = Black or blue

Earth = Brown or Yellow

Metal = White, Gold, or Silver.

The significance of Feng Shui is harmony, which is to achieve Yin and Yang balance. Ying and Yang denote the negative and positive energy that exist in our atmosphere. The principles of Feng Shui can be applicable to the planning of our home, the workplace and every aspects of our life including your internet business.

Fundamentally, you will need the expertise of the Feng Shui practitioner to assist you to achieve harmony with the environment. Feng Shui has been known to perk up your health, love life or finances and if apply rightly, can lead to good health, flourishing love life and excellent financial health. To achieve the desired harmony, the elements and colors must match as in the practice of Feng Shui, it is essential that harmony and balance remain so as to enable the chi to be positive. The dominance of one element or color over another will lead to adversity.

Water corresponds to prosperity and wealth so it is crucial to enhance it in the region of your workplace or home. The Wood element represents all living plants and trees, so wealth and prosperity will thrive in the home if they are found ideally placed. On the other hand, the Earth energy is warm and comforting by inducing closeness and togetherness. In the case of Yang element, it is symbolizes by Metal.

Incorporating the principles of Feng Shui can lead to harmonious relationship with nature, people around you and other features of your life. Feng Shui is essentially a principle to accomplish balance and harmony with our surroundings.

Jason is a creator of several websites and he loves the study of Feng Shui as well as incorporates elements of Feng Shui principles in his life. You can access the website at http://www.applyingfengshui.com

The Biological Cycle of Your First Fish Tank

2009-09-01T03:48:00.001-07:00

One important thing when setting up an aquarium is patience. Nature's biological process takes from 4 to 6 weeks.

Let me explain the Biological Process...

The biological cycle happens when beneficial bacteria breaks down toxic organic compounds into less toxic compounds. Then we can manage these less toxic compounds through weekly water changes. The beneficial bacteria that we need to culture in the aquarium are called Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria. Nitrosomonas bacteria break down deadly ammonia to less toxic nitrite. Nitrobacter bacteria then convert nitrite to an even less toxic nitrate. These chemicals can only be detected with test kits. Algae blooms sometimes indicate excessive nitrates. The biological cycle starts when you put 2 or 3 very hardy fish into your new tank. These fish have small amounts of the bacteria in their digestive tract which they will release into the aquarium. Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria live in the substrate of your tank. They need oxygen to live. That's why it's important to keep your power heads or air pumps working at all times. They pull air from the water through the gravel giving the bacteria a continuous supply of oxygen.

You can speed up the biological process by adding gravel from an established tank to the new aquarium. I've done this many times with no problems. The bacteria will spread from the old cultured gravel to the new gravel. There are products that can also speed up the biological cycle, like Stress Zyme, which you add to the aquarium water when you introduce your first fish. Stress Zymecontains over 300 million beneficial bacteria per teaspoon. To know if your biological cycle is complete, you have to test the water. Get a water test kit that tests for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. The first thing that you'll see in a new aquarium is a spike in Ammonia levels a few days after you've added your 2 or 3 hardy fish. Keep testing the water every couple of days and eventually you'll see the Ammonia level drop and the Nitrite level go up. This is a good indication that the biological process is starting.

Test every couple of days and eventually you'll see the Nitrite level drop and the Nitrate level rise. Nitrate is easily managed by changing 10% to 20% of your aquarium water every week. Ammonia starts the whole process. Ammonia comes from fish respiration, and decomposing organic wastes such as fish feces and left over food.

You want to add your fish now?

6 or 8 weeks later it's safe to add more fish to the tank. Keep testing your water. Add one or two fish every two weeks until you have the number of fish appropriate to you tank.

If you want to read more on how to set up a fish tank or aquarium, visit me at: http://www.thefishtankplace.com

Feng Shui Tips For Renovating Your Home - Part 2

2009-08-31T23:56:00.001-07:00

Light plays a very important role in creating good feng shui. Dark corners in homes attract a lot of negative energy that can be harmful for the family. A brighter home is always more auspicious than a dark and gloomy one. If you were planning to renovate your house, the addition and widening of windows to let in more natural light would be a great idea. Sunlight rejuvenates the energy of a room. As much as possible, all rooms in the house should have window, especially the bedrooms. Although bedrooms are predominantly Yin areas of the home, it is inauspicious for the bedroom to be too Yin (passive and dark), as it would resemble a tomb. Having a window allows the bedroom's energy to a renewed everyday by letting in fresh air and sunlight.

On the other hand, it is also a bad idea to have too much light in the house. Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors tend to let in too much light. A room with too much Yang energy is also a bad idea, as it may cause restlessness and petty irritations.

A fresh coat of paint would also do wonders to the room. The walls and furniture is should be painted or cleansed regularly to get rid of accumulated negative Chi. This is the quickest and easiest way to renew the Chi of the home.

As much as possible, important areas of the home such as your bedroom should not be located next to toilets and the kitchen. If this is inevitable, at the very least, make sure your bed or work desk does not share a wall with the toilet or the stove (with the toilet and the stove on the other side of the wall).

For more practical feng shui tips visit - http://www.fengshuitipstoday.com/

Chinese Vases Fengshui and Why You Should Own a Wealth Pot

2009-08-31T20:04:00.001-07:00

Types of Feng Shui Vases

Grandparents Claim Custody of Grandchildren

2009-08-31T16:09:00.001-07:00

Daily we read and hear something which we know already or something which is more likely linked with our lives. Yes something such I happen to see in today's newspaper. It was a report about the "Grandparents claiming the custody of their grandchildren".

These days we have forgotten our values and traditions of how our parents bought up by giving their age to make us happy. But still we're stressed and tensed about something or the other. We complain in short. Now our parents are fighting for our kids. It's because of us. When they had already gone through so much pain and struggle to raise us from kids to adults and still going, they are even trying to claim the custody of our kids. Why is this happening? Are we not responsible for our kids like our parents? Have a thought. Think and comprehend.

More and more grandparents are coming forward to claim the custody of their grandchildren just to save them from their squabbling parents. It is because that they love their grand children and wish well and good of them and so about their children who has been neglecting their children for the sake of their own lives. Children are supposed to be raised in good environment where parents and family make bliss and enjoy the babyhood with the growing years. But that is we find very rarely these days.

There has been an increase in the number of elderly people who are legally trying to win rights to take care of their grandchildren. The courts are also awarding custody of grandchildren to grandparents if they are able to successfully prove that they are in a position to take care of the children.

Many cases are in rise where the grandparents are filing petition for the custody of their grand son and daughter because of the divorce of their son or daughter. When asked about the opinion of the children as with whom they are willing to stay the answer is grand mother and grand father as they feel more loved and cared by them.

In my view there is nothing wrong in claiming the custody of grandchildren by their grand parents. If they are well and good to heed the children, the custody should be given to them as they children are more attached to the grandparents than working single mothers or divorced spouses who cannot be held for the entire responsibility of the small children with stressed work and tensed life.

Samiya Anwar

House Feng Shui - Feng Shui Rules For a Paradise House

2009-08-31T12:15:00.001-07:00

In life, it is important to have a clear path to your front house as highlighted in Feng Shui rules. What this means is that your walkway should be clean, your flowers well kept, your bushes trimmed, your lawn mowed, your doorbell functional and your front door in good condition. Also, at night, make sure the pathway is lit so when you have guests the way into your home is clear. Making sure of this will allow positive chi flow into your home, that is to say you will be allowing good energy into your home.

In house Feng Shui, the better the energy you let into your home, the easier it will be to create wealth, more money, better physical and mental health, better relationships, more opportunities with others and for yourself, and a happier mood in life.

In your house Feng Shui, you should be free of clutter. If you have clutter and are disorganized, clean it up.

You will feel so good as you are ridding yourself of old stuff or just organizing your clutter. It is actually a great experience you could look forward to. Ya right, you're thinking. Well, it's true! You get to go through all your stuff and feel the energy it holds (certain memories that are attached to it) and you can decide if you want those memories in your home attached to an actual physical object (like a book or a lamp), or if you think it won't serve you in your home and you'd rather keep the memory in your heart then toss it out or recycle it! It is fun because you can organize the stuff you are keeping (and create space for new stuff). Ahh can't you just feel that breath of fresh air?

Then you will know where everything is in your home and you will feel more at ease and comfortable. Subconsciously, your mind will be clearer because your environment is in order.

If you ever need more Feng Shui Rules for your House Feng Shui, Come to this Lens

Clearing the clutter in your home is important for many reasons. Some people don't know how to take that initiative. This can help those people: Home Paradise Feng Shui ...so turn your house into the paradise it should be!

Why Feng Shui Can't Be Considered a Science

2009-08-31T08:21:00.001-07:00

When I first started speaking publicly about feng shui in 1992, I was very enthusiastic about promoting it as a natural science, mostly because I believed it to be so. I was also reacting to the mounting trendiness of feng shui, as it was being marketed by people who referred to it as "magic" or a spiritual practice linked to Tantric Buddhism. I could not stand these comparisons because I knew they were not true and I also felt they tarnished the integrity of feng shui. I did not want to turn off potential clients who could accept feng shui as real, but with a clear conscience that it is grounded in laws of nature and a time-tested methodology transcending Chinese culture. I wanted to educate the public that feng shui theories and principles would not be in conflict with anyones' spiritual or formal religious beliefs and is as relevant, or more relevant today, than its discovery thousands of years ago. That part I still do believe. Feng Shui is no more in conflict with any organized religion than say, the laws of gravity. Feng Shui is a natural phenomenon on this planet. But is it a science?

A friend with an impressive scientific background gently told me years ago that it cannot be considered a science because the circumstances which we evaluate and interpret cannot be guaranteed to repeat or be identical all of the time. Like a science experiment where a set group of compounds are combined with a repeatable and identical outcome, feng shui includes too many variables which cannot be repeated or guaranteed.

For example, I can say with confidence that a house which was built in the 1970's and which faces South is one where there is a strong tendency for a couple to divorce in. And yet, I cannot guarantee that outcome 100% of the time or say exactly with 100% accuracy when the separation will occur, even when factoring in annual cycles. With two houses that were built the same year, same orientation, and same floor plan, we still cannot guarantee the two houses would be decorated the same way or used the same way. One family might use the Northwest bedroom as an office and another might use the Northwest bedroom as a sleeping room. That alone will change the influence of the houses on the two families. Nor can we repeat the exact same exterior environment. One house might have a park across the street and another house a hill. These outside features would affect the same floor plan differently. And finally, with all of us having some measure of free will or destiny, we cannot place the identical occupants in two separate but equal living spaces. Perhaps the closest we could get would be occupants for each house with the same birth dates.

And yet, feng shui gets pretty darn close. I call it a "predictive art," like astrology, because there are tendencies, strong ones, when certain circumstances are similar or when enough variables are identical.

My books cover many case studies of certain house types that I have evaluated, documented and have seen with great amazement that their "personalities" are well defined. There are house types that can undermine fertility, house types that seem to attract legal problems to their occupants and house types that can suggest infidelity, just to name a few examples.

There are 144 different house types based on the 20 year era that they have been built in and their magnetic compass alignment. For instance, a house built in 1985 facing east is different in its influence than a house built in 2004 facing the same direction. Or a house facing West at 260 degrees is different than a house facing west at 265 degrees.

Within these 144 house types, there could be hundreds, maybe thousands, of different basic floor plans. This is why every house is truly unique. As well, houses change their influence on occupants over long periods of time. A house built in 1903, without any remodeling or decor changes, will affect people differently in 2009. Houses go through their own "maturation" process and the the biggest cycle repeats every 180 years.

Even though feng shui is not an absolute science, I have been impressed at how close it gets, with clients confirming the influence of their home or business based on the traditional calculations of time and space. When I ask the occupants if they are experiencing certain health issues indicated by their environment, the affirmative response is about 90%. When people experience a certain event, like a robbery or fire, the timing of these events can be corroborated with almost as much accuracy. In the same way that our weatherman can predict a 70% chance of rain or a pollster can predict the likely outcome of an election, feng shui can be considered a "predictive art" without diminishing its authenticity, usefulness, and relevancy in our modern world.

Kartar Diamond is a classically trained Feng Shui consultant, author and senior Instructor at the American Feng Shui Institute. Her website showcases all the types of services she offers, locally, nationally, and internationally. http://www.fengshuisolutions.net

Five Reasons Why Solar Power is Right For Your Water Fountain

2009-08-31T04:29:00.001-07:00

If you have hesitated about buying a garden water fountain before, the benefits of solar power will quickly change your mind.

There are no running costs - No mains electricity or batteries to buy
No installation costs - Are easy to install for all skill levels
Eco-friendly - do not use non-renewable fossil fuels
Can be placed anywhere - user-friendly and easy to set up
Inexpensive and last for years

Setting up a solar water fountain is an easy project even for the most novice DIY person and you will have your fountain up and running in no time. Just add water.

Solar water fountains will enhance the beauty of your garden or patio.

Solar fountains run off the energy of the sun and are quickly becoming very popular.

Solar fountains are a great addition to a water feature. Take advantage of their benefits.

That's just what he did.

Now he is the founder and CEO of Write Research Office since 2004.

Chinese New Year - Get Chinese New Year Eve Celebration Around the World

2009-08-31T00:36:00.001-07:00

The Chinese New Year is a fifteen day celebration that falls on a different date each year as it is a combination of lunar and solar movements. It usually falls in the month of January or February. This year marks the 'Year of the Horse'.

The Chinese New Year's date varies every year and falls on second new moon after the winter solstice. The date for the occasion is decided according to the calendar which is a combination of the solar and the lunar calendar. Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, cat, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and boar are the animals that are considered to be auspicious. Each person as is believed in the Chinese calendar resembles an animal and this reflects their traits.

The Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival as it is also known is the most revered holiday of the year. This is the time when family and friends gather and offer prayers to their ancestors and deities followed by a lavish dinner to usher in the New Year. During this time, families clean their homes while feng shui believers decorate their homes accordingly. On Chinese New Year Eve, members of a family stay up late as legend goes that long ago; the gods in heaven would give gold to each family so they would keep awake, active and ready to accept the gold gift.

Families decorate their homes with pretty vases and colorful flowers symbolizing that nature has reawakened. Oranges and tangerines are placed in the house as a sign of happiness and prosperity. A tray of candies made of eight different types of candies are placed along with these. The candies are made of lotus seeds, longan, peanuts, coconut, cumquat, red melon seeds, candied melon, etc.

The traditional food that is a significant part of the Chinese New Year party includes Jai, Fish and chicken, noodles and desserts. The dinner has a symbolic meaning in which the Chinese dumplings imply wealth as they are in the shape of ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots. Jiu is the traditional hard liquor in China symbolizes longevity as also Daikon, a white radish. Red chilies symbolize good luck while rice ensures harmony.

Chinese people are usually out on the roads, especially kids who wear Chinese dragon masks and go for the Chinese New Year Dragon parade. Dragon dances are a vital part of the Chinese New Year. One man who has a 'Pearl Of Wisdom' on a pole entices the dragon to follow him to the drum beats as though searching for wisdom and knowledge. The lion dance is an equally important ritual in the consecration of any auspicious time in China. The Lantern Festival is an amazing visual display of multicolored paper lanterns created by craftsmen in designs of butterflies, dragons, birds, dragonflies and other insects or animals. The Dragon Boat Festival marks the day of a certain Chinese scholar who threw himself into the river over a political protest.

Chinese New Year is not just a festival of fun and part, but also a time to welcome the new season, pray for prosperity and well being and cleanse away the any thing evil.

Kundan writes many Chinese new year related articles. 123chinesenewyear.com provide ideas about Chinese new year eve, Chinese New Year animal, and Chinese New Year 2009 activity.

American Dessert Banana Ice Cream

2009-08-30T20:39:00.001-07:00

Ice cream is often called The Great American Dessert. Find out the history behind ice cream - sundaes and cones. Ice cream structure is both fascinating and confusing. The way we perceive the texture of ice cream when we consume it (smooth, coarse, etc.) is based on its structure, and thus structure is probably one of its most important attributes.

Fried Banana ice cream has been so hot recently that my thoughts have turned to ice cream. Ice cream is about the simplest recipe I know for a cool desert. Smooth, creamy cherry ice cream with heart-shaped chocolate covered cherry candies and a thick chocolate sundae sauce swirl. I have served baked bananas as dessert many times. Slit bananas sprinkled with brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon, baked till soft, served with or without ice cream. That sugary lemony sauce looks and tastes divine, full of the ripeness of bananas. But banana in ice cream sounded intriguing.

The banana ice cream really should be unsweetened. Find high quality chocolate if possible. The result was an ice cream we all allowed ourselves to like. The taste of bananas in ice cream was new to us all, and the garden lemon added an interesting and fragrantly refreshing note. It was concluded a winner!

The banana Ice creams are very taste, however, was quite good. A cheap and easy ice cream recipe without cream: just evaporated milk, skim milk and sugar. I flavored the basic ice cream recipe with vanilla and banana puree to get rid of the evaporated milk taste but feel free to improvise! The pure banana ice creams in a blender or food processor with the lemon juice and the sugar. Please purchase online www.indomunch.com in NewYork city.

Representing the website http://www.indomunch.com

Feng Shui Rules - Cracking the Code to Universal Abundance

2009-08-30T16:45:00.001-07:00

A Story That Puts Feng Shui Rules into the Context of Your Life

We are members of this vast and expansive organism that we call the Universe. I believe that as sentient beings, our lives were originally designed to be infinitely more abundant, in every aspect, than they are right now. To create the best possible life and world, we must live in accordance with Universal Principles.

You might be thinking: "Philosophy is nice but...what the heck do you mean?"
Good question!

Here's a metaphor I like that helps people get the picture:
Imagine grocery stores didn't exist and you only had 1 neighbor. Now... you need to eat, and the only food you could ever eat is what you grow in your back yard. You are given a beautiful piece of land with rich soil, an infinite supply of fresh water, and hundreds of absolutely magnificent seeds... to grow countless numbers of vegetables and fruit trees. Are you with me so far? Good. Simple, right?

You are given simple instructions: Plant the seeds in the soil, water them, nurture them, appreciate them... and let them grow.

THAT IS a "Universal Law" A.K.A a Law of Nature: Growth! Understand? Good.

Now...because you are curious and you just feel like it...you decide to ignore the instructions and try growing the seeds your own way... by drowning them in water. Nothing grows, so no food.
You try planting them in the grass and choose not to nurture them, still no luck.. You even try injecting the seed with steroids and sprinkling them with some soil, still nothing grows.

Now your neighbor... who has been following the simple growth principle... sees that you are starving and offers you some food and maybe some advice on how to grow your seeds, seeing that you must have obviously forgotten the SIMPLE instructions for Abundance and Success!! HIS land is RICH with a BEAUTIFUL garden... Growing fruits and vegetables fit for a king AND his court! The environment.. is just so full of life that now many beautiful animals live there! There is so much abundance that he is now living with a lover and they are going to have lots of kids and raise a BIG, Happy family! If heaven exists on this earth, then your neighbor has it!!!

Being so hungry...you can't think straight... and you have become quite BITTER and for some reason are in this "competitive" mind set. Like an idiot, you refuse because you are determined to show him you could do it too. You now have something to prove...The thing is, he doesn't care about that...he's just happy and wants you to be happy, too!

After such a long time of trial and error of your own ideas... you are a wreck. Your environment is dreadful, there is nothing of life...no plants, no trees, no animals, no food, no nothing! For this reason, you are always angry and in a state of lacking, and to survive you steal food from your neighbor. Shame on you...all you're doing is perpetuating your crappy way of life.

Are you seeing the Problem? You live in a world, and you try to go against it's natural order, so how could you reap all it's benefits? Whatever intelligence has designed the world surely can see things from a much bigger picture and so in a sense the natural flow of things is a more ultimate state of being. Just look at your neighbor!

The Solution? Get in harmony!

Why? So you can reap all the benefits (there are so many you can't even imagine from where you are now) that Life really has to offer!

Now of course, I'm not talking about you literally! Just trying to get you in character to hold your attention...

So what does this story have to do with Feng Shui Rules? Think of Feng Shui Rules as "the simple instructions" you were given in the beginning of the story. Remain in Harmony with the Universal Laws and Natural Order of things, and enjoy the best possible life you can!

Wait are you waiting for? Come and change your life, using Feng Shui at This Feng Shui Rules Lens

Enter Feng Shui Paradise

All About Alaska King Crab Fishing

2009-08-30T12:49:00.001-07:00

Most people who enjoy a good crab know that Alaskan king crab is synonymous with flavor. Until recently though, most people did not know that Alaskan king crab fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Why is that? Because "crabbing," as it is called, requires the fishermen to sail out to the deep sea in the heart of winter, which as you can imagine, is also the season of treacherous storms. The season is short and sleep is limited. Compared to the average worker, the fatality rate among the fishermen is about 90 times higher. But to read accounts of crab fishermen is to know that there is an allure to the lifestyle, a connection to the sea that keeps them returning to the icy waters to make their potentially deadly catch.

Though crabs are caught in Russia and in international waters, the most prominent (and sustainable) of king crab fishing occurs off the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. In 1980 the crab fishing industry with at a peak, presenting a catch of over 200 million pounds of crab; however, due to many factors, catches decreased after this year and thus the season was shortened to accommodate regeneration. The harvest now is performed in a very short amount of time and then the catch is shipped worldwide. Recent Alaskan king crab fishing seasons have been as short as 4 days, and can range from one to two weeks.

There are more or less three varieties of king crab that are commercially viable: In Alaska, three species of king crab are caught commercially: the red king crab, the blue king crab, and the golden king crab. Baited with cut fish, steel traps or pots are pushed over the side of a large boat. Each pot is marked with a buoy, which also signifies its owner. Pots are hauled in, at the right time, usually based on gut instinct and years of experience more than an actual science. When full the pots that must be dragged up can weigh well over a ton, presenting a serious risk to the fishermen and their boat. Pots are quickly emptied into the hold of the boat, rebaited, and returned to the ocean floor.

Alaskan king crab fishing is without a doubt a dangerous job, but the fruits of the labor are a delicious treat for the public at large.

Alaska is home to an abundant variety of seafood, and offers some of the purest marine, freshwater, and upland habitats on the planet.

From the clear crystal waters comes seafood that is delicious and healthy. Alaskan seafood is low in fat but big on flavor and Omega-3 oils. You can study thousands of pages of nutritional research. Or, simply observe the amazing health and longevity of people in countries where seafood is the most important part of their diet. Either way, Alaska seafood is as healthy as it is delicious.

Are you are looking for a meal that is low in saturated fat, filled with nutrients and packed with good heart healthy Omega-3s oils? Then you should start with Alaska Seafood.

http://www.alaskaseafood.org

Feng Shui Color Tips

2009-08-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

It's very important in Feng Shui to have painted color on your walls in your home and office. Even if you're renting you might be able to make a deal with your landlord that you'll paint the walls back to white when you leave.

Feng Shui is about bringing aspects of nature into your living and working environments. I'm sure you can't disagree that our world is a colorful place. Just think of green grass, blue-green oceans, colorful flowers, the vibrant yellow sun and so on.

It's great to bring these amazing colors of nature indoors and paint them on your walls. Color has been known to improve our moods, stimulate our minds, increase our productivity at work, and even create better physical and mental health. Since color is connected to our energy (chi), the application of color is one of the important adjustments used in Feng Shui.

If you're afraid of painting colors on your walls, start slowly. Add an accent wall to a room and then gradually add more and more color to each room of your home or workspace. Adding color to your environment will give you a colorful life!

Here are 6 color tips.

1. Red stimulates the senses and is associated with strength, joy, motivation and love. This is an exciting and spirited decorating color. It's used to improve blood circulation, the nervous system, to treat anemia and paralysis. Red is a good color to help you feel grounded and secure. Reds must also be used carefully. It can generate anger and may be disturbing to those with mental health problems.

2. Yellow can stimulate joy & wisdom, and is a color that encourages flexibility and adaptability. It can lift your mood, inspire you, and improve your sense of well-being. Yellow has a positive effect on the stomach, intestines, liver, gall bladder, adrenal glands and middle back. This color is also great for helping with releasing fears and anger. Yellow is also the Feng Shui health color.

3. Orange is a happy, social color that inspires creativity, ambition, and energetic activity. If you want to perk up your love life, paint your bedroom a shade of orange. Orange is used to treat a range of problems including lower intestines, kidneys, ovaries, and lower back. This color also helps with creating clear personal boundaries and aids in releasing childhood issues and trauma.

4. Green reminds us of nature and can be both restful and energizing. It's closely linked to healing, and color therapists use it to soothe pain. It can detoxify the body and bring balance to negative and positive energies. It also balances the body, mind and spirit. Green relieves tension in the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. It oversees the upper back, chest, shoulders, arms, hands and lungs. Green is the color to heal all physical and emotional issues related to the heart.

5. Blue symbolizes inspiration, peace, and tranquility. The color blue is used to treat tension, fear and insomnia. Blue will reduce inflammation. Sky blue is the color associated with throat chakra. It's frequently used for problems occurring in the laryngitis, sore throat, tonsillitis, toothaches, etc. Blues also stimulate communication and spiritual understanding. Research also suggests it may be effective in guided imagery therapies to reduce pain levels. Blue has been used successfully in mental institutions to calm patients.

6. Purple/Violet is associated with connecting us to our higher self. Purples are calming and soothing so this color can create the right atmosphere for meditation. It's a color that oversees the brain, skull, and pituitary functioning. Violet is a beneficial color for psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and manic depression. It also helps sciatica and the spleen. Purple is a royal color and is associated with wisdom and dignity. Purple is also the Feng Shui color for wealth and prosperity.

If you enjoyed this article, you'll love "Feng Shui Made Simple: Room By Room" ebook. Since your home mirrors your life it's important to create an environment that supports your goals and dreams. You have the power to create your best life yet and this book will give you the tools. Click this link to read more about this book: http://tinyurl.com/98rtkb

Have Fun With Your Grandchildren Without Breaking Your Back

2009-08-30T04:58:00.001-07:00

In previous decades, the bond between grandparents and grandkids was strong. It was not surprising to see little kids flock around their grampas or grammas and listen to interesting stories about the war or about fairies, heroes, legends and almost everything under the sun. But along with the popularity of the television, Internet and video consoles, the generation gap between grandparents and grandkids had started to become wider.

However, despite the seeming impossibility of bridging the generation divide between kids and their grandparents, there are actually a lot of things you can do about it. The first thing grand dads and moms need to do is to be more aware of the latest technological advancements enjoyed by the youth of today. Knowledge about what children are interested nowadays would help seniors break the ice with the little ones.

Creative ideas and fun activities are always the best when grampas or grammas want to lure the kids into spending fun moments with them. In order to achieve this, however, seniors need to maintain their imagination and continue to become physically active.

If you want to be a cool grandparent and would want your grandkids to have fantastic time with you every time you are together, you might want to consider the following activities:

Collect Things Together

Since it may be difficult to play hoops with your very active grandkids, you can share their love for sports by being a treasure throve of information or trivia about their favorite sport or athletes. Watching a live baseball game with them or attending their school games would really help you score big points with your grandkids.

If your little ones are interested more on trivia and not in playing games, you can probably bond with them by collecting basketball caps, jersey, and trading cards, among other things. By bringing them to book signing sessions and to libraries or museums that cater to their interests, you would be building a stronger bond with them without breaking your back or dislocating your shoulders.

Have A Hobby Or Craft

Woodworks, insect and rock collecting, science experiments are some of the hobbies and crafts that you may want to have with your male grandchildren. For the little girls, you can probably teach them to sew, create a scrapbook of your family, or make fancy jewelries and other girly stuff. Photography, painting, pottery and bird watching are also hobbies that would interest your grand kids, both boys and girls alike.

Try To Play With Them

Do not ever think that playing puzzles, toy cars, role playing and assembling Legos are juvenile activities that you would not enjoy with the kids. If you really want to have an idea on what interests your grandchildren, as well as on how to guide them in making the right choices, you need to get involved with them without getting too smothering.

Venture Outdoors

Going for a hike, playing in the park, visiting zoos, taking picnics and having nature trips are outdoor activities that you and your grandchildren will definitely enjoy. Planting trees and tending to your garden are some other activities you could share with the little ones outdoors.

Since kids nowadays are always cooped indoors with their video consoles, DVD, television and computer, inviting them to bask under the sun during spring and summer can really be good for their health too. However, before you take them to such activities, you have to make sure that you are physically fit and strong enough to be responsible for their safety while they are with you.

Arthritis and joint pains should not hinder you from having fun with your adorable grandkids. There are many natural supplements, including Flexcerin, that are safer and effective not only in easing pain but also in improving the health of your joints.

To know more about Flexcerin, simply go to http://www.flexcerin.com/

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

How Hemorrhoids Can Be Treated Easily at Home

2009-08-30T01:05:00.001-07:00

There are many ways on how to treat hemorrhoids, but more often than not, people will choose the easiest solution. In this case, that solution happens to be a home-based treatment that many will enjoy. Believe it or not, one way to get rid of them involves materials that are extremely easy to acquire.

The process is simple. First of all, one must fill up a bathtub, or a relatively large container, with lukewarm water. This will need to be done over and over, so it is best to have a large water supply on hand. Secondly, the person with hemorrhoids will have to put aside some time each day to soak in that water for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. Yes, it is as relaxing as it sounds!

It has been proven that this method is effective, although it will take a few days before the pain vanishes completely. Some doctors even recommend adding a bit of iodine to the water to make the healing process faster. The water will help one relax in all sorts of ways, loosening the muscles and therefore reducing strain on the anus. Soon, the irritation and itching will disappear.

The best part about that method it is an easy way out on how to treat hemorrhoids. One need not spend a lot on a surgery or on medicine, for that will do the trick. It will also help a person relax and enjoy resting, while having a soothing, long-lasting bath. Who could say no to such a satisfying way on how to treat hemorrhoids?

Spending why too much on water and want to know How To Treat Hemorrhoids then Click Here Now!

Knowing the Lucky House Numbers in Feng Shui For Luck

2009-08-29T21:10:00.001-07:00

House numbers in feng shui have been one of the most revered and sacred information from this famed and authentic Chinese tradition. Such is the power and forcefulness of these house numbers in the art of feng shui that even real estate and property selling is influenced by the house numbers in Chinese based localities and in areas where the art of feng shui is looked up to as an idealistic and impressive art form.

According to the art of feng shui, a house number may not only affect your life, but also of every person's life you come in contact with. Inauspicious numbers are harbingers of bad luck, while auspicious numbers are a sign of happiness and joy to come into your life. The interpretations of feng shui as to which numbers are auspicious and which house numbers are inauspicious are calculated by several methods. It includes the equations and calculations involving the five feng shui elements and the ever charismatic elements of yin and yang.

The five elements of feng shui includes the Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal and Water elements that help you recognize and channelize the natural forces of energy. The yin-yang is the balancing force of the universe according to feng shui theory. Yin is the feminine symbol while yang is masculine. Feng shui maintains that both should be equally present in the house to attain eternal energy. In the case of house numbers in feng shui, both of the above discussed entities of feng shui contribute.

Even in the business of real estate and property sales in China, Hong Kong and other Chinese populated states, feng shui house selling is dominant. A house or property with an auspicious house number according to feng shui will conventionally and regularly beat a house with an inauspicious number in selling prices. This happens even though the latter may be ten times better than the former as far as area, space or luxuries are concerned.

The auspicious or unlucky quality of a house number in feng shui is not equal to the world's viewpoint on lucky and unlucky numbers. To the western world number '13' is unlucky but its lucky as per feng shui is concerned. This is because the number 13 sounds like 'sure live' implying long life! Similarly number 4 is unlucky according to feng shui as it sounds like 'dead'!

Therefore, even though house numbers in feng shui influence people in choosing their residential accommodation, it actually has more to do with the psychology of people than the ancient Chinese tradition.

Vincent Yim is the founder of http://TropicalHomeImprovementIdeas.com he created this home improvement blog is aimed to provide a FREE guide or tips to homeowners to convert the house into a unique home. Just follow his weblog regularly, you can save yourself from making the usual mistakes that others often do.

Porcupine Tree

2009-08-29T17:15:00.001-07:00

Every time you hear a name, some notion, significance or even idea goes through your mind. So what goes through yours when you hear the name Porcupine Tree? Rock, metal, psychedelia and influences from other trends-like Pink Floyd-are the genres associated with this British band that was formed in the late 80's. Well equipped and financially able, Steve Wilson, the founder of the band, started this venture as a hobby and released his first album, The Seaweed Farm. This album laid a stepping stone for the band, propelling them to fame and leading to the release of more successful albums.

The group's combination of different music styles in their albums saw their popularity grow by leaps and bounds such that demand for 'On The Sunday Of Life', an album they had promoted as a limited edition, was overwhelming. Pressure from growing demand by ardent fans, saw them go back to the studio and reproduce it in CD version. This was a step in the right direction by the mere fact that they had sold more than 20,000 copies by the year 2000.

Porcupine Tree, with the skills they had perfected over the years by experimenting with different music styles, ventured into a new phase that gave their fans series of live performances. They started with concerts around Europe and later made appearances in other parts of the world.

To date, the Porcupine Tree band continues to bask in the limelight of fame and continue to grace major music festivals and events organized for rock fans. While 'piano Lessons', 'Pure Narcotic', and 'Stranger by The Minute', were singles that added on to their fame and finances, 2007 saw them release two more albums and perform at many events.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Trees. For More Information on Porcupine Tree, Visit His Site at PORCUPINE TREE You Can Also Add Your Views About Porcupine Tree On My Blog Here PORCUPINE TREE

Pure Distilled Water

2009-08-29T13:20:00.001-07:00

Pure distilled water is generally free from all impurities and all sorts of toxics that can be found in the taps of your home. It is use in many different ways in our everyday life. It is not only use for drinking but also it can also be use in various chemical and biological experiments in the lab. It is highly recommend to every individuals to drink as it is totally purified from any contaminants even chlorine. This is why it is great for the skin as it is free from any contaminants which would block the microscopic pores of skin.

It is being use on large scale of consumption as it has been purified from all the virtually solid impurities as well as any other liquid contaminants mixed with the water that might cause certain illnesses or create harmful effect in the human body.

Pure distilled water is also primarily marketed for drinking purposes. Besides drinking, there are also other uses of distilled water in and out from the house which you may be interested in. Recommended by some experts, it is usually use in making baby food, food for pets, plant and as well as aquariums. Pure distilled water is being used in these areas because it is generally free from any harmful elements. This type is highly recommenced in making baby food because babies are very sensitive to water borne diseases. Hence to prevent it, pure distilled water is being use. Same goes with giving pets and plants to consume. The usage of pure distilled water is recommended in aquariums as well as watering the plants if you want your fish to live longer and have healthy looking plants. This is because pure distilled water is free of any contaminants.

It is also use in made in storage of contact lenses and for washing of wounds during surgery. Our body's internal organ are being exposed to air when the skin is being cut in a surgery, therefore it is necessary to keep it clean so that nothing unwanted penetrates inside. Since pure distilled water is free from all this unwanted contaminants, it is the best choice in this situation.

We use more than we realise it in our everyday life. The benefits is not only something that human can enjoy but also it is diversify to other users such as domestic usage as well as non-domestic usage.

Drink distilled water today! Find out more about distilled waters and the health benefits it brings by visiting our website for more information ==> http://www.distilled-waters.com

Feng Shui Your Life For a Happy Year

2009-08-29T09:25:00.001-07:00

Whether you're ready or not a new year has arrived. With all it's promise and hope, we have begun a new calendar year.

This is the perfect time to clear the clutter from your home and your life to make sure that 2009 flows the way you want it to.

Living in one place for a long time we tend to gather lots of things that eventually get stuck in drawers and the back of closets, taking up space and filling our homes with "clutter energy".

Clutter Energy is that feeling of unease that seems to be saying, "do something, anything, just DO Something"!

Starting off the new year by clearing out this energy opens the door for a more positive flow of feelings, thoughts and new things to move in.

Start of by committing to release at least 50 things in a 24 hour period.

I know that sounds like a lot, but once you get going you'll discover that it's quick and easy.

Get two boxes or garbage bags, fill one with items that you can donate if you like and the other is just trash.

Start in the "junk drawer" in the kitchen. How much stuff have you crammed there thinking you would eventually use it and never have? Release it and enjoy the feeling that comes with letting go.

Move on to other drawers in the kitchen. Release old butter tubs that you just have too many of.

Got more coffee cups than the cabinets can hold? Let these go as well.

Go through the rest of the house letting go of magazines, stashes of papers and the like.

Next get into your room. Do you have clothes that don't fit, you don't like and haven't worn in over a year? Let em go.

Dig through the closet and the drawers. All socks with holes go into the bag. Undies that ride or scratch, into the bag.

Let go of shoes too. We tend to hold onto things because, "I paid good money for those", or "someone gave these to me".

Let yourself breathe.

As you do the clearing out of physical things from your space be aware of thoughts and habits that you have that don't serve you as well. Are you still holding onto grudges and old hurts and insults? Let these go as you move through the house releasing stuff.

When you have your fifty items in 24 hours and are still on a roll, commit to another fifty. Take on the garage, holiday decorations, etc. Move through the yard and release anything that's just taking up space and not giving you that feel good feeling it did when you first placed it there.

By doing this exercise you are not only creating a better look and feel to your home, you are opening your life to release old emotions, pain and stinking thinking.

When you combine the physical exercise of clearing out stuff with the spiritual aspect of clearing out thinking and feelings, you will restore balance and harmony in your life.

By instilling this process into your thinking for the new year, you will be less likely to hold onto excess stuff and hurtful feelings, letting go much easier and cluttering up your energy much less.

Happy New Year.. create each day with joy!

Donna DeVane is a certified spiritual healer, life coach, author and teacher. Her passion is helping others live empowered lives through her books, classes and one on one sessions.

Her website brings you Reiki healing energy stones, crystals and jewelry. http://www.healing-with-stones-crystals.com

http://www.DonnaDeVane.com You may contact Donna through her websites for further information on life coaching/healing sessions and for teleseminars.

Mold in Your Home - What to Do?

2009-08-29T05:32:00.001-07:00

Oh, Poor Moldy Me! Or The Canary in the Coal Mine Speaks

No need to hire a mold inspector. Just send me, Amy Gray, into any area you suspect of having mold, and I'll come back with an instant report. As in the form of a splitting headache.

I don't get headaches that often. So if one quick trip into a damp, moldy, basement turns me into a migraine case, imagine what it is doing to your health on a day to day basis.

Let's backtrack just a wee bit. What is mold? Why is it in my house? And how the heck do I get rid of it?

Mold is everywhere. Just like dust mites. Outdoors, molds play an important role in breaking down dead organic material such as leaves. Indoors, mold can cause allergic reactions, asthma, eye irritation and as mentioned above, headaches. Continuous exposure to mold can create serious health problems.

Since mold spores are airborne and can be carried by house dust, the question then becomes: how do I make my house unfriendly to mold?

Answer: Control Indoor Moisture.

If you have mold growing on firewood, furniture, walls, refrigerators, in the heating or ventilation system or anywhere else, it is very important to act fast. The longer mold grows on something, the more damage it can cause to that item. And if it's in your heating or air system, it's flying all over your house on a regular basis.

I remember a client telling me he was setting aside some upholstered furniture to be used later inside his house. I asked to see where the furniture was stored. As we opened the leaky garden shed, the blast of mold breath was overwhelming. Inside, a version of mold Woodstock was taking place on formerly nice couches and chairs. Now they were bedecked with interesting patterns of white, black and orange mold designs.

Places that have water in them on a regular basis - such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and basements - are a good first place to look for signs of mold. Walls that show water stains can be an accurate indicator that there is a leak somewhere and mold is most probably present.

For a very helpful site on mold, visit http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html.
Our local American Lung Association has a program called the Master Health Environmentalist where you can sign up for a free home inspection to see if your home has airborne irritants, including mold, that may impact your health.

As the weather turns wet, keep your eyes open for mold. Or just call me in. But please have some aspirin handy.

Interested in more ways to clear clutter and gain control of your environment? Get great tips and motivating messages by subscribing to the Empty Your Nest newsletter at http://www.emptyyournest.com You can also download our free EBook: The Getting Started Workbook: Overcoming Fear, Procrastination and Overwhelm When Starting an Organizing Project. Just follow the link on the home page at http://www.emptyyournest.com

The Chinese Dragon Tortoise

2009-08-29T01:38:00.001-07:00

Dragons and tortoises are two of the most powerful symbols in Chinese mythology. The Dragon itself stands for many things. Wealth, fertility, positive energy and immortality are but a few of the symbolic meanings. The Dragon is a positive influence, most often a benevolent creature in Chinese mythology, unlike the fire-breathing evil dragons as portrayed in Western mythology.

The tortoise represents longevity, of steadfast effort, of deliberate action that inevitably leads to success. The combination of the Dragon and Tortoise combines the qualities of both animals into a potent symbol of success and longevity.

The Dragon tortoise is portrayed with the head of a dragon and the body of a tortoise. There is usually a small turtle on the back of the tortoise shell, and the dragon tortoise is standing on a pile of coins and precious metal ingots. There is very often a coin in the dragon's mouth.

This symbol is used in Feng Shui for decorating homes and offices. Because of the incredible energy this symbol represents, it is recommended that it not be placed in any room of rest, such as a bedroom. Have the painting or figurine of the dragon tortoise hanging on or near the east wall of the room it is used in. Any area that is used as an office is a good place for a dragon tortoise. Also any area that creative work or research is done is a good place for one.

Whether represented in a painting, or a figurine of wood, metal, crystal or stone, the Dragon Tortoise symbolizes good fortune and longevity.

Alan Beggerow is a free lance writer. Visit his writing services website, Ghostwriter, at http://www.ghostwriterboo.blogspot.com

Creating Optimal Health

2009-08-28T21:48:00.001-07:00

In order to create optimal health one must choose optimal healthy foods. Makes sense right? A side note: I didn't know for the first thirty (30) years of my life. So, what are optimal healthy foods?

Optimal healthy foods from my thirty (30) study of macrobiotics are plant foods that have sustained the continued evolution of animals for over 3.2 billion years culminating in grain. As one of the lines in my limerick says, "Use your brain eat grain."

Order and structure over billions of years, selecting and eating biologically correct foods have given modern man (an animal) a fantastic, wonderful body and mind. We have to understand this in order to comprehend just what foods are necessary for the continued survival of this beautiful creature we call man and/or woman. The answer is quite simple. GRAIN. Currently grain is the primary food of mankind on this planet and is the food for re-structuring our body and mind. Of course, I'm assuming here that most of us (myself include) have lost our way and cannot understand how our bodies and mind have gone off the track with processed foods, especially white sugar and white flour and white creamy foods like ice cream and dairy and cheese. I'm so grateful for Michio Kushi for bringing this teaching to the United States.

In my way of thinking from the evolution of plant and animals I have discovered that eating everyday a recapitulation of the 3.2 billion year evolution of plants is the food for optimal health. It's the food mother nature has provided for us. It is very orderly and well structured as one can obviously see in the farmer's fields: grain, vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts, giving humanity endless sources of food! Contrast that to any man made manufactured or processed food and see chaos and ill-defined structure. Think a twink: lifeless, soft and mushy.

It is well worth repeating: You will achieve optimal health when you learn how to select or choose the foods you need for optimal health. To find out more go to any macrobiotic book, lecture, cooking class or dinner. And one more thing.....HAVE FUN...enjoy the trip to optimal health.

David Snieckus
99 Crescent Street
Newton, MA 02466
617-964-2951
http://www.davidsnieckus.com

Feng Shui Colors For Rooms

2009-08-28T17:57:00.001-07:00

Feng shui embodies the artistic creation of staging our surroundings in order to correspond to the current of naturally occurring energy coming from the universe. Clutter, darkness, unconventional use of colours, and other emotional factors that direct a negative subject matter and a lot pf additional elements contribute to breaking this energetic balance or the chi. This is among the reasons for which feng shui enthusiasts will emphasise so a great deal of the importance of feng shui colors for rooms whether at home or at the office. Even when feng shui principles are soundly abided by the one and only matter that remains to be acted upon is to implement these principles in accordance with the disposition of the household dwellers.

Therefore, the correct feng shui colours for rooms depend upon the purpose of that specific division of the home. Bedrooms for example function better in pale, more relaxing colours like blues, greens, lavender, pink and any shades more or less the colour of the skin from white to cocoa brown. Brilliant colours will never work in a resting place. One inevitably needs to go for the vibrant touch in the feng shui colours for rooms while decorating the work niche which could be the study, the sitting room and even the kitchen. Deciding on combinations of energizing colours wherever you find the need for inspiration will give you the energy you need and still have a calming effect.

Therefore, orangish and yellowish colours are the feng shui colours for rooms wherever concentration and activity call for an encouraging boost. For the extremely personal room, pink found in the class of deep fuchsia is fantastic since it indicates attachment and heightens romantic intuitive feelings and passions. Keeping in mind the reality that every colour creates a statement and although some give the impulse to boldness and love, others lead to serenity and peace of mind. The chi flowing in one's home is the final result not entirely of the deliberate choice of feng shui colours for rooms but also the combined essence of furnishings, pieces of furniture, designing lines and particularly the personality of the household dwellers ultimately.

The feng shui colours for rooms could be combined according to the Ba-Gua, the eight-grid chart that takes into consideration the central points, the five components and their corresponding colors. For each division of a room, a certain colour establishes dominance and intensifies a positive chi flow. Be sure to take a look at such a feng shui colour graph in order to better ascertain the interior design. Acknowledgment must be made that it is a lot easier to establish the combinations when decorating or re-decorating than afterwards. The contours and shapes of the objects and the manner in which the light falls on certain corners likewise affects the positive or negative chi flow; so be sure to touch on these aspects as well for the most beneficial of outcomes.

Feng Shui Colors For Rooms will help give you an understanding of how better to use colors and design to help achieve an emotional balance in your everyday decor.
This will lead to enhanced creativity and productivity in all areas of your life.

Kimberly Aita

http://fengshui-fengshui-now.info

http://fengshui-fengshui-now.com

Learn More about FengShui just visit my website at the above link

How to Take Care of Yourself Too!

2009-08-28T14:03:00.001-07:00

First thing I have to say is that everything anyone has ever said about grandparenting, is true! You really get to do all the fun things you did with your kids as they discovered the world around them, only it's in a never ending state of "now". Otherwise known as timelessness. All the challenges of being a parent, are so joyously absent in being a grandparent. It's just pure Joy.

As a retired nurse (after thirty plus years) I have to say that some of my greatest lessons in life have been learned since becoming a grandmother. I've learned that spending time with my little grandbaby is like making time stand still. I've learned that when I'm being "silly grammy" in whatever way that I can, just so I can see and hear her little belly-laugh, ... that it's so infectious, I laugh just as hard .... and that makes her laugh even harder! Watching her discover something for the first time, or finally mastering something she's been working so hard to learn, is truly an event! An event worthy of a "standing ovation" every time. :) It's such a privilege to be involved in your grandchildren's lives. And so good for grandchildren to have their grandparents close by.

Yes, It's our time and our love that is everything to our grandkids, but I also want to be here with them on this planet, in the very best health and shape I can be. In the end, I want to have been a good example of how to caretake a body, mind, and spirit, at any age! Now there is where a little extra income will come in handy. So I'm getting an education on how to go about taking good care of me financially too!

I'm a senior and I don't mind saying, that I don't always learn things as quickly as I used to, so it was very important to me that it should be a program showing me exactly what to do and where, "step by step".

If you feel the same as I do, then go to: http://DirectionsToMoney.com and get educated too! The time couldn't be better, to bring in an extra income with minimal expenditure of time on your part, because time is very precious for us grandparents!

Sincerely,

"Grammy G"

Is Ketchup Really a Vegetable?

2009-08-28T10:10:00.001-07:00

Dean of American storytellers and host of National Public Radio's Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor frequently refers to an imaginary sponsor of his radio program, The Ketchup Advisory Board. Every story line for The Ketchup Advisory Board features a dialogue between husband and wife Jim and Barb in which they discuss the emptiness of their successful lives. In every vignette the key to spiritual satisfaction is found in ketchup, as in the following approximation of the original dialog:

Jim: All you really need is ketchup. Ketchup fills that emptiness between the burger of our heart and the spiritual bun. It has natural mellowing agents that make you realize that, for people in our situation, we're doing pretty well. This is as good as it gets.
Barb: Oh, Jim!
Singer offstage: These are the good years so let us all give thanks.
We have a roof above our head, even though it is the bank's.
Life is flowing like ketchup on your franks.
Announcer: Ketchup. For the good times.
Singer: Ketchup! Ketchup!

After I had listened to Prairie Home Companion for many years, one day it occurred to me to research the question of whether ketchup really contains "natural mellowing agents" as Keillor's comedy troupe alludes on their show.

I was shocked to learn that it does. In 2001, scientists at the Institut fr Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie in Wrzburg, Germany published a report on "carbohydrate-derived beta-carbolines in food." Beta-carbolines increase the flow of tryptophan into the brain. The brain uses tryptophan to make serotonin, a mood chemical that relieves depression, energizing the brain to enable sensible choices in life. Beta-carbolines do not, however, cause the brain to make so much serotonin that mania results. The German scientists, perhaps following the lead of Garrison Keillor, found that highest concentrations of beta-carbolines are provided by ketchup, soy sauce, and fermented fish.

Read about Appetite, Aroma & Sex Robert Rister is the author or co-author of nine books on natural health including the critically acclaimed Complete German Commission E Monographs and Healing without Medication.

Chi Spot Feng Shui Tips

2009-08-28T06:16:00.001-07:00

Knock, Knock. Do You Know Where Your Front Door Is?

When I am contacted to conduct a Feng Shui consultation, looking at front entrances to the property is a main focus. Often what shows up as the familys favorite entrance are garages, hidden entrances and doors placed in what has become an inconvenient location over the years as practicality carved out a shorter path. In these situations, the front door is seldom used.

Feng Shui encourages regular use of the front door, known as the mouth of chi. The front door represents your public face and is believed to provide the path for abundance, prosperity and well-being to enter.

A clean, well-lit front entrance provides a beneficial welcome to anyone who enters. It lifts the chi as well as ones mood and sets the tone for all things good inside.

You may find it more convenient to enter your home through a garage or utility room instead of the front door. Certainly, there are benefits to entering your home where you are protected from the elements, can easily access the kitchen and kick off your shoes.

Should your home be one where the public entrance is not visible, ask yourself what is being hidden? Perhaps the front door entrance trails along the wooden footpath and dodges to the left into a dark, yin area. This entrance type is not conducive to a vibrant flow of life force.

Feng Shui adjustments to ensure proper chi flow into your home include regular use of the front door, well-groomed shrubs and clear footing. Above all, if you desire to use an alternative entrance be certain to enhance its beauty. Be mindful to have these spaces cheerful, clean and not utilized as a chaotic collection of cast-offs.

YARROW
102 Roosevelt Court, Annapolis MD 2403
410.626.1316
yarrow@FengShuiAtTheBay.com
http://www.FengShuiAtTheBay.com

Yarrow maintains that it is all about energy. She began exploring energy in the 70's utilizing at-hand knowledge of Native American traditions, awareness of life experiences, holding the question of what is really going on & applying this knowledge to her own life. Her curiosity of energy evolved into the study & practice of Feng Shui in 2001. Yarrow is a contributing author to the womens anthology: The Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs Real-life Stories of Determination, Growth & Prosperity. She is available for public speaking engagements.

Yarrow is a freelance writer & a graduate of a three-year PsychoSynthesis course out of Berkeley, California. She writes for Taste of the Bay Magazine, Lilipoh Magazine (global distribution) & other periodicals. She has studied with Australian Author Eric Dowsett, Rev. Lin Yun, Karen Kingston, Steven Post & other leaders. Additionally, she studied with Canadian Author Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

Stay Home and Prepare a Sexy Valentine's Meal For Your Beloved

2009-08-28T02:23:00.001-07:00

My mother told me a story last Valentine's Day about how when they were young, my father, looking to impress his young wife, took her to a fancy Beverly Hills restaurant on Valentine's Day.

"It was crowded, noisy and the waiters were stressed and over worked" she said.

And I bet it cost my father a pretty penny, too!

Food can be one of life's most sensuous delights. In addition, many foods, like asparagus, seafood, saffron, vanilla and chocolate, are traditionally believed to have aphrodisiacal qualities. So instead of busting your budget to spend the evening in an overbooked restaurant this Valentine's Day, why not have fun creating a tasty meal of luxurious treats for you and your beloved to enjoy at home.

Take in all the sensory pleasures food has to offer- not only taste, but the visual beauty of juicy red strawberries, the snap of a crispy bread stick as you bite into it. Explore the textures, mouth feel, and smells. Include lots of little nibbles that you can eat with your fingers and feed to one another. Include foods that are touted for their aphrodisiac qualities-a variety of seafood (one of the front runners in that category) like shrimp and baby lobster tails dipped in unctuous drawn butter, asparagus with saffron aioli, and for dessert, deep dark chocolate for dipping those strawberries and rich, creamy truffles.

Fill the room with candlelight, soft music, and crack open a bottle of champagne- a must! You could be really adventurous and blindfold each other as you pop treats into one another's mouths.

Keep it light, though, so you'll be ready for any other of the evening's activities that may come up.

Gisele Perez is the owner of small pleasures catering in Los Angeles, CA where she specializes in creating wonderful feasts to help her clients celebrate the special days in their lives. She also occasionally blogs as the LA to LA Chef on New Orleans, Los Angeles, food and other related topics that strike her fancy. Please visit her at either http://www.smallpleasurescatering.com or at painperdu@blogstream.com

Windex and Food: Imperfect Together!

2009-08-27T22:29:00.001-07:00

As tempting as it may be to use, Windex or any similar type product can be a hazard to use in the vicinity of food products, particularly cutting boards. If you do not have the proper sanitizer available, a certain secret common household item will suffice. Please read on to find out how you can keep your guests safe!

Our web community for business flight attendants can be frequently found discussing proper food handling and food safety tips. One lively discussion a few years back surrounded the proper way of cleaning a cutting board. Might I add that the food preparing area of the typical business jet galley is about the size of a two-by-four? Thus, food can easily get into contact with the wrong products if extra care is not taken.

In the conversation, one of our members remarked that she had cleaned her cutting board with Windex. Well, the ensuing responses to her comment nearly caused an online riot as many of our veteran fliers responded by emphatically stating that products such 409, Fantastik, and Windex can all be harmful if ingested. These and similar products contain high levels of white spirits or similar type toxins, something you never want your guests to come in contact with. These products typically carry warning labels that say something like the following, Do not ingest even in small quantities. Non-food safe.

Our beloved and uniformed newbie member was aghast, not at the replies, but at realizing that she had cleaned her cutting boards not once, not twice, but at the very least four or five times using Windex! Although no illnesses were reported because of her error, she quickly amended her cleaning methods from that point forward to use a special sanitizer designed for the safe cleaning of her cutting board. Naturally, all of our members were thankful that she was no longer a potential poisoner of the jet set crowd.

So, just what is that little secret common household item that can be used when the proper cleaning agent is no longer available? Actually, there are two: diluted white wine vinegar or . . . vodka! Yes, vodka can be used, but it does have the tendency of altering the taste of subsequent dishes . . . not necessarily a bad thing, but it does leave a residue. The recommendation, of course, is to have white wine vinegar on hand if a sanitizer is not readily available.

Please, please use the previously recommended cleaning agents only on surfaces that do not come into contact with food. You may not kill your guests, but you can certainly make them very ill by using the inappropriate products.

Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.

Creating Online Marketing Strategies in Plain English

2009-08-25T08:03:00.001-07:00

As the economic crisis continues to affect small to medium sized businesses, the marketing focus has turned to cost effective strategies that provide ROI to meet specific organizational objectives/goals or KPIs. Each organisation has its own specific and unique objectives ranging from lead generation to revenue growth, improvements to market share or simply higher online/offline visibility (top-of-mind awareness).

Undoubtedly, the most visible and cost effective marketing tool that you possess is your business website. The main URL address, the links, content, functionality etc.. all have a specific 24/7 objectives to match your organizational goals.

A well constructed website with high ranking key terms in the natural search engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN), appropriate content, linkages and suitable levels of online advertising can and will provide you with quality leads and higher levels of customer acquisition and conversions (sales, downloads, e-commerce).

Creating an online Marketing Strategy

1. The first thing you need to do is develop a strategic plan specific to YOUR business. This means you need to define your goals and tailor a strategy specific to each of your target markets.

2. Each target audience will also require a dedicated communication strategy to ensure online conversion. This may require you to test the usability of your website in various versions and continuing to make changes to your online presence based on these results. Google offer a wonderful array of lab tools to assist you. It is worth register your business with Google Adwords and Yahoo just to gain access to the tool!

3. Ensuring that your website is found requires a combination of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), integrated online & offline marketing (such as advertising, Pay Per Click, Adwords etc), effective use of your customer database or purchase of appropriate databases, online newsletters, email campaigns and sms/s to your customer databases, affiliate marketing opportunities (including shared links with suitable partners), knowing who your competitors are, what they do differently, how they transact online and benchmarking various aspects of your online business against theirs. There is a complete myriad of cost-effective online marketing strategies that are available to you, all of which aim to achieve goal objectives and communicate the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) that makes your business the primary customer target. YOU NEED TO BECOME ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SEO AND SEM!

4. Reducing the bounce rate of your website will increase the chances that customers will visit each of your online pages and result in a higher probability that conversion will take place. It is all very well having a great looking website, but if takes too long to download or it is uninteresting, does not answer the question or solve a customer need, it is all to no avail. So, you need to ensure that the content of your website offers a benefit. It may be as simple as testing a variety of online banners that each show a various offer or a link to anther page that will convince the customer to click through and ultimately convert to a sale or download or whatever your specific goal may be.

5. When you visit your local department store, you walk through the isles. Here you will notice that products are placed at specific heights, in specific locations at specific price points. It is all about the EXPERIENCE. Similarly, people who visit online websites are a fairly savvy crowd. Stop thinking they are not! They want an experience. They want to learn. They want a great deal. They want to EXPLORE. Your website can have the greatest offers, but if it is not believable, if it is just full of hot air or it does not deliver (the fulfillment factor), has too much fine print or it does not deliver a result in a suitable timeframe, then everything you do and the money you spend is just wasted! So take your time, think about the placement and value of your content, the architecture of your website and its primary purpose. Have empathy with the customer and watch our sales and leads grow exponentially!

6. Do something different. Do not just do what your competitors are doing. Stop doing the same old tried and tested marketing campaigns. People get bored with that! Create a point of difference for your business or a compelling offer. Use your online market to create organic growth for your business and reap the rewards of an effective online marketing campaign.

For more information on online marketing and how we can help you to achieve RESULTS visit our main website for contact details. Comments and queries are welcome.

Marketing World Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia
http://www.marketingworld.com.au
http://www.marketingworld.com.au/blog/

Rights For Grandparents - Custody, Access and Your Rights As Grandparents

2009-08-17T01:06:00.001-07:00

Obtaining the correct information about rights for grandparents is the first step in the sometimes murky waters of child custody when grandparents feel they do not have a voice concerning their grandchildren. Having the knowledge of the current situation in family and custody laws will reduce the amount of emotional stress so often associated with grandparents rights cases. In many cases of divorce or the fracture of relationships between a mothers and fathers, grandparents and their relationships with the grandchildren are the last to be considered and are very often ignored completely.

Fortunately, in all fifty states, grandparents are considered by the family courts to be an important part of a child's immediate family and current laws reflect that the courts have changed how they view the importance of grandparents and their relationships with grandchildren. In divorce as is often the case, one parent is awarded custody with the custodial parent very often removing all access for the parents of the non-custodial parent. Or in some cases, a child may be in a unsafe environment with grandparents greatly distressed about the safety of their grandchildren.

Although the courts are favorable toward grandparents seeking to maintain a relationship or gain custody of their grandchildren, it is very important that a history of involvement be established that can be documented. Divorce and the disintegration of the family is very difficult for all parties involved with grandparents usually receiving the least amount of consideration. Knowing your rights as grandparents and exercising these rights can have a positive impact and reduce the amount of emotional damage very often associated with children of divorce or the loss of one or more parents.

Because the courts now consider grandparents to be an important part of a child's family structure, grandparents now have more access and more importantly, a voice in the welfare of their grandchildren. There is no need to feel helpless or bullied when at no other time have grandparents had a stronger voice within the legal system.

Knowing and understanding how the current legal system works in child custody is very important, especially to grandparents who feel they are being denied access to their grandchildren. You can learn more by visiting http://www.grandparents-rights.info and find out what you need to know about rights for grandparents.

Minimum Access In Crawlspace

The Power of the Feng Shui Colors

2009-08-16T04:39:00.001-07:00

Feng shui is basically the art of incorporating happiness and prosperity in a home by making some changes in the house of office. And according to feng shui, one thing that has lots of influence in your day to day luck is the color around you. With the right knowledge of colors, you will be able to incorporate harmony in your house and working space. Basically, feng shui colors are based on the five elements, water, fire, wood, earth and metal.

Water is represented by the colors black and blue, and all its shades. So if you want more of water in your room, you can do so by adding as much of these colors in the room as possible. Wood is an element that is represented by all the shades of green. So if you want more of wood in your home, it can be achieved by either painting the room green or by adding as many green objects to the room as possible. Fire is the element that is represented by red, maroon and pink. So the more objects or paint of this color there is in the room, the more of fire that is incorporated in the room.

Now, here are some more tips of incorporating luck and prosperity in life with the help of feng shui and the colors associated with the remaining two elements. According to feng shui, the colors associated with the element earth are orange, brown and yellow. The colors representing the element metal are silver, gold, white and gray. So if you want more of metal in your home, instead of painting things these colors, you could consider placing statues of these colors or perhaps gold or silver paintings.

It is left to you to decide what changes you intend to make in the colors of your home to get more of the respective elements. Besides the things placed and found inside your home, feng shui states that the house position also determines the colors that have to be used in its exterior. Houses facing south should be painted gray, blue or white while those houses facing SW should be painted either red or earth shades. The houses facing west have to be painted blue or green while houses facing north have to have green or red shades incorporated in them. In case your home faces NE, then paint it earth shades or red and if it faces east or SE, make sure that it is painted in metal or earth shades. By following these color tips in feng shui in your home for better prosperity, you will soon find luck favoring you.

http://thefengshuitips.com

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Feng Shui and Your Homes

2009-08-15T07:54:00.001-07:00

Everybody in the world wants to achieve harmony in the home or in anyplace they are staying. Harmony is achieved when the right energy flow is done. Feng shui as the principle that shows you this achievement of harmony will also bring a positive energy flow in the environment. The arrangement of things in your home can bring negative energy, so that's why feng shui is here to help. The placement of things that gives positive energy is the goal. Don't confuse yourself as it is for decorating purposes only.

Feng shui in translation means wind and water. Wind in the ancient time is said to carry energy consequently changing and transforming nature. Water is said to trap energy thus it represents constancy. There must be a balance between this two to attain harmony and rhythm in the home.

It's living with nature and not opposing to it. We know very well that we can greatly benefit out of nature. Our environment is helping us to live, so there must be harmony in all aspects. Physical and emotional characteristics affect our lives and how we live in our home. Beauty is what we need in our surroundings and we should not damage the balance in our homes through things that brings misfortune.

Some people may think that this is just a waste of time, but there's no harm in trying. Either way, if it proves to be true then it's a gain for you. Feng shui only teaches the homeowners how to put things in perspective, making it possible for positive energy to stay in the home. There are different unbalanced situations in the home. One of which is how to arrange everything in the bedroom so problems may possibly not occur. If there's trouble between lovers in the bedroom, few things might be move so as to keep the bedroom energy flowing. Yes, there is positive energy in the bedroom. There is energy everywhere in the home.

They say that we have to associate feng shui with architectural planning before making an establishment. Some architects doesn't support this they say that the law of physics is still important for them and not metaphysical principles.

We always wonder and hope for balance and harmony to flow in our homes. It is essential to keep the family in tact after all the years together. Living a harmonious life can lead to vast experiences of luck and prosperous future. The blessings we long for and the chance to provide ourselves a flourishing life is made possible through feng shui. Feng shui is ideal for using the environment or nature, working together with you.

Feng shui is not telling you to trust them but it is enticing you to try. Have the confidence and comfort that you know there is positive energy around you. This energy and the principle of feng shui might give you that luck you deserve. Feng shui is attracting you to try their method and maybe it will provide solution for the problem at your home.

Tischenko Irina is one of the top rated Copywriter and SEO on most of outsourcing portals. She is ready to write for you on any topics under this holy sun. If you are happy with what you read and want to read more articles on similar topic, you can enjoy her interesting articles spread on all major businesses.

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Banana - The Food of Life

2009-08-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

Banana is a fruit that grows in clusters on Banana trees. These trees are cultivated for the production of their fruit. The Banana tree grows to a height of four to eight (5-8) feet with leaves of up to seven (7) feet in length, each tree, when in the productive stage has young suckers that gradually mature as the main tree produces a bunch of green bananas. These trees are related to the Plantains and Figs.

Bananas grow on a hanging bunch with as many as sixteen (16) fruits to the hand and twelve to sixteen (12-16) hands to the bunch. When mature, they are reaped, the tree is cut down allowing new shoot to mature.

Banana is one of the most fresh fruits we can get today, it is high in Iron and low in salt; It is a good source of Potassium, high in fiber,and B vitamins.The fruit is in a generous supply all year, they are inexpensive and a reliable source of Carbohydrates.

Bananas may also be cut green in its unripe stage and use for a variety of dishes; when cooked for example, we make banana casserole, banana Coo-coo, banana pickled with Salt fish and many more. When dried, it can be eaten as chips and ground into Flour.

When ripe the fruit is picked green and exported to various Countries, where the valuable commodity is sold in Supermarkets, fruit and vegetable outlets alike.The Fruit is also used in Hospitals around the world. It is versatile and can be eaten out of your hand, slice and serve in fruit cups; They are also good for making fruit baskets, baking banana bread, cakes, pastries, banana split and the famous banana punch.

However, Bananas are used as a stable Food in many tropical and nontropical countries alike around the world and provides a lifeline for communities. In some parts of the World like Asia Africa, Latin America and the West Indies where we do Exports and Imports of the commodities which gives a balance diet to millions of people.

I am an outdoor person who loves nature,its beautiful scenery throughout our Island gives us landmarks endowed with natural beauty with lust tropical settings and clear beaches. We have a variety of adorable fruit trees with its fruits,The Mango,Papaya, Oranges,Bananas of every type etc. and I love them all.

This web site is being done to encourage all my readers into using more fruits. It's not intended to discourage you in any way.

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Firewood Tips: Seasoned Firewood and Proper Storage Log Rack

2009-08-13T14:27:00.001-07:00

Typically any piece of firewood over 8 inches in diameter should be split. Firewood should be split as soon as possible after it is cut. It is much easier to split green wood than seasoned wood. It is best to select a good hard wood verses a soft wood like pine to burn.

Place your firewood rack 20 to 25 feet from your home or any building if possible. Firewood attracts many insects such as ants and termites. Keeping a proper distance from any structures will keep the insects from entering your home. A log rack should be designed to
keep your firewood off the ground. When firewood sits on the ground it takes longer to season and it tends to attract mice and snakes looking for a home. Stack your firewood allowing air to circulate around the logs but most of the moisture will be drawn from the cut ends verses the split sides. It is not recommended to cover your firewood during the seasoning, this can trap moisture in and will delay the drying time and could cause mold and fungus to grow. Once your firewood is seasoned cover the top layers during fall rains and winter snow. This will allow you to grab dry wood from the top while air circulates through the rest of your firewood

Seasoned firewood will have checks and cracks and weigh much less than fresh cut firewood. Over 50% of the weight in fresh cut wood is moisture. Seasoning of firewood is important for several reasons. When firewood is burned any excess moisture has to be "cooked" out of
the wood. This excess moisture escapes as smoke. If your fireplace doesn't draft very well the smoke could come back into your room. Burning firewood that isn't seasoned uses all the heat from the fire to "cook" out the excess moisture and doesn't produce heat for your
home. Seasoned wood will ignite and burn much easier and cause fewer problems with condensation and creosote. Continue Article

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