Top 7 Things You Should Know About Credit Card Balance Transfer

Credit card balance transfer is a great way of consolidating your credit card debt, and also finding a way of avoiding the terrible burden that debt can bring. Transfer offers are in high demand and many credit card issuers highlight their balance transfer features up front as part of their overall advertising package. These days the credit card companies are in heavy competition with each other to get your business.

But have you ever considered the dream ticket of always having an interest free credit card at all times, no matter what the circumstances? Well here is a check list of seven things you must do in order to get the best out of it.

1. Always make sure that your credit card balance transfers are carried out on time and with no overlap periods from one card to the next, which will cost you money in nasty interest charges. Make allowances for delays in the post when notifying banks and credit card companies by mail, and also note that different banks will move at different speeds when responding to requests.

2. Make sure that 0 balance transfer credit card offers are always current and available at the time you apply. There's no point in making a mental note of an offer and then applying for it after it has expired.

3. Interest free balance transfer credit cards must be exactly that; be careful and look out for any hidden charges in the small print. A 0 APR credit card should be exactly what it says it is.

4. The type of card to transfer balances from is crucial. Store cards tend to have a higher rate of APR than normal credit cards, so consider transferring all these balances on one or more low interest card. You can end up saving a substantial amount of money. Proper use of the credit card balance transfer feature can be useful and convenient, and a vital way of avoiding credit card debt.

5. Trust your source. A low interest credit card or 0 interest credit card should be easy to identify, preferably from a source where you are able to make comparisons between different types of card. Ideally you should deal with a source which is impartial and which does not promote one credit card or bank over another. Also, your source should provide easy to read and understand comparative charts to help you make such decisions swiftly, without undue pressure, and without any fear of being misled.

6. Keep a note of the exact date of when your 0 interest period finishes, and apply for your new credit card balance transfer at least two weeks before that date.

7. Try and ensure that your interest free credit card balance transfer facility is flexible and quick. At present it is the norm to put details of your credit balance transfers in writing at the time of application. Bear in mind that both parties need to know what is going on at the same time. Make it easy for everyone, including yourself.

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Choose Your Own Headboard Designs

Everyone has different stylistic ideas and desires, and these come out most easily in bedroom designs. One way that a number of people choose to express themselves is through the choice of headboards that make the focal point on the beds. Some people choose to keep the design minimalistic and simple, while others opt for extravagant pieces that stand out regardless of the additional décor in the room. Unfortunately, some people don't realize that there is a style of headboard out there for them and forego this huge element in their bedroom, leaving it with an empty or unfinished appearance.

Rest assured, there is a headboard out there for any bedroom. If you can't find the perfect design style immediately, there are always other options. You may want to start by looking at something basic and versatile, like wrought iron headboards, that fit into any basic theme you may create in your bedroom space. These can be left blank to hold their own focus, or you can dress them up with additional fabrics and décor to weave them into the design of the room more wholly.

Leather headboards can create a sophisticated look for your bedroom area, making it look expensive and tasteful. They really draw attention to themselves as the center focus of the room, so other elements don't need to be as strong as with some other styles. Many of these headboards are large and imposing, though, so if you are a minimalist, this type of headboard is probably not the number one option for you. You might want to consider something smaller and less dominating of the space.

If you are really having trouble finding your style, consider purchasing a blank slate. If you take a simple wooden or particleboard headboard and purchase the material of your choice along with some cotton batting, you can create upholstered headboards that are customized to your liking. That way, you can match it perfectly to the rest of the room, and you can rest assured that you will really like the design. Also, if you ever tire of the look, you can remove the current upholstery and recover the headboard to match your new style. It's a simple process that doesn't take long and only requires a good staple gun and a pair of scissors to remove excess cloth.

If all else fails, you can work with something function, like bookcase headboards. These will surround the bed and give you quite a bit of storage space for anything from books and magazines to a telephone and photo frames that are to be displayed in your bedroom. The only real downside to this kind of headboard is the need to dust it frequently, since the shelving is exposed. However, if you just brush over it daily with a duster, it will not become a painful chore. Best of all, you not only have a headboard that is a great focal point but also lots of space for other things that you keep in your bedroom.

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Simple Autumn Room Decorating Tips

When we think of autumn, a small palette of colors springs to mind. Colors like pumpkin, deep gold, and rust. The colors we associate with this season come straight from the harvest. Why not jazz up your traditional fall displays with something unexpected? A deep pumpkin color looks dramatic with an infusion of eggplant or a fresh apple green. Apple red along with the warm gold adds fun to your tabletop display, centerpiece, or porch vignette.

For the dining room table or sideboard, think outside the box. We tend to create and choose table decorations and vignettes that conform to a square or circle shape. Some of the most dramatic tabletop decorating travels down an imaginary center line of the table, and leads your eye to the other end. Tabletop candleholders are popular right now in long horizontal shapes. A simple holder in a dark finish of wood or metal would look wonderful with assorted Autumn-hued silk foliage running casually alongside it. If you love the look of hurricane lamps, use three or four, instead of one, then add your autumn foliage at the bases, for a casual "I just carried this in from the outdoors" look.

Don't stop yourself after simply decorating a dining room table for the season. Look around your house for other opportunities to celebrate the harvest season. Fall colors can be added with guest towels, kitchen towels, or a bowl of seasonal fruit on your kitchen counter. Guest soaps, lotions, and candles, can be purchased in the delicious scents of autumn. A trio of pumpkins in various sizes, set on your fireplace hearth, gives a cozy feeling. A great visual trick of decorating is to display items in odd numbers, and to vary the size as much as possible. Also, choosing a few larger accessories or decorations, rather than several small ones, makes a stronger statement and gives you less clutter. If you already have a collection of small autumn decorations, display them as a set with one large anchor piece, instead of spreading them around the room, for maximum impact!

Autumn is a wonderful time for decorating your porch. Wonderfully large mums in containers are available at a variety of garden stores and farm stands right now. Don't be content with a few beautiful plants. Create a vignette. Along with your fall plants, add a ceramic container in a complimentary color (remember those lively greens or a deep eggplant!). An autumn-hued door garland and wreath say, "Welcome." My favorite fall wreaths have unexpected touches of color, a variety of materials, and sometimes a hint of shimmer. A gorgeous fall wreath with puffs of dried hydrangea, or faux pomegranates stand out on any door. A variety of seasonal doormats are available, as well, to complete the look. If you have been thinking of painting your front door, now is a great time to do it! Choose a color that gives your entry character, and makes a great backdrop for your seasonal decorations. Your front entry should make you smile every time you walk up to your door. Decorating for the seasons is a wonderful tradition that celebrates the change of seasons, and the cycle of life.

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Time Need To Build A New House

It is really hard to put a certain time on when your project will be finished. There are so many different factors that can extend or shorten the process by months. However, there should always be a period of six months that can go either way from unexpected delays or events. While building you could run across a huge road bump that you didn't plan, you need to be aware of this and know its part of building a home. What if some of your supplies don't arrive on time, or maybe your workers didn't show up for work. This things happen all the time and will slow down your building speed.

When building your new home the best thing to do is be patient and flexible. If you become short tempered and frustrated with other people it will not make for a good working environment. As a result, this can actually lengthen the project time because you will have angry contract workers who won't want to do any work. Remember this is the home you want to stay in and enjoy for your retirement. Try to take that relaxed mindset into the building process, keep everything cool even when unexpected plans happen. If everything is rushed and not properly thought out you will run into problems with your home later on. Poor and half effort work results in a badly built home.

With that being said it is still fine to get an estimated time frame for your project. Here are some things you need to consider to decide an get an educated guess on how long it will take you to make your home:


---Finding your property. The time for you to get your land will all depend on how fast you find something you like and the property owner. Some times it may take years before you find that perfect piece of land you were always looking for. Often once the land has been purchased, you may not have permission to built for months. This process can take anywhere from months to years.


---Designing your home. As you can imagine there is no set time for your designing decisions. You could pick something really fast or you could take months to really find the perfect style you want your home to look like. Most designs must be spent in for approval before you can even start so keep that in mind.


---Building. Once you have everything set up and planned out you need to start the building process. This period will all depend on how many people who you have working on the home and what the size of the home will be. It makes sense that the more people you have working on the home the faster it will be done.


---Moving in. This time period is entirely up to you.

So the exact time period is very hard to set. The best way to complete your project as fast as possible is to have everything planned out before. This lowers the risk of mistakes and setbacks.

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How To Pay Off Student Loan Debt In An Easy Way

Most students take out student loans to cover the various expenses associated with a university or college education. However, the real problem starts once the student leaves college and starts working. The student loans that helped the student financially during his college days end up feeling like a burden that never eases.

A college graduate who has managed to secure a high paying job will be the only one who will be able to repay the loans without any problems. Others would face difficulty. However, you do not need to be in this situation. If you plan now, you can shoulder the burden of repaying the loans once you graduate. Here are some simple ways to pay off your student loan debt without causing yourself any stress.

? While most college freshmen do not think about the future, it is necessary to take steps from the very first year. Think about opting for a part time job and instead of spending all the money on enjoying yourself, save a portion each month. This saved money could be more than enough to pay off the loan once you leave college.

? Make sure you conduct a thorough research before taking out a student loan. This way you will have greater understanding of the payment plan, what your options are as a borrower and what are your rights. You may be required to contact the lender to discuss deferment options but make sure that you do not default on the repayments as it will adversely affect your credit rating.

? Make sure you have working knowledge of financial aid. This will enable you to apply for scholarships. Check out the financial aid office in your college and see whether you can get a scholarship. Also, apply for as many federal grants as possible as so that your dependence on private student loans becomes less. The federal government allows deferred loan repayment and if you can get a subsidized federal loan, nothing like it.

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4 Things You Should Know About Bank Repossessed Cars

The reason why the number of people looking for bank repossessed cars is really unknown, but the place where people can find them is something that people can learn more on.


First,Most of the time, these bank repossessed cars are sold during auctions - whether it be a public or a dealer's auction. If it is your first time joining in auctions like these, you can get to know about the schedules on local newspapers. Conveniently, you can also find out about these auctions through actual banks. You can inquire by calling them and asking about the necessary details. This is probably the most convenient method because you can do it even when you are just in the confines of your own home.


Second,Another convenient method that one can use to find out about the auctions selling these mentioned cars. Even though most online sites require a specific membership fee, you are guaranteed to hear the latest information about the auctions available.

The third thing that people should know when buying bank repossessed cars is that they are not buying brand new cars. Given this fact, they should be careful in choosing the car that they are going to buy. They must first research about the history of the car; how the previous owner took care and maintained the car that you are interested in. A vehicle history report comes in handy during times like this because you will know the damages and repairs done to the car when it still belonged to its previous owner. This is a very convenient way to make sure that your money will not be put to waste by buying the care that you are interested in.

Forth,It is also safe to set a specific budget so that you can weigh your options properly when you are already there in the auction. Taking into consideration all the accessories and features included with the car is also a good move because this way, you will be able to truly gauge your budget fairly.

Even though many people feel that these kinds of cars are not a good buy, you can still make the most out of them. These bank repossessed cars become very handy and convenient when you are conscious about the amount of money that you are going to spend for it and when you are fully aware of the important information you need when buying one.

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Quickly Guides To Make Your Kitchen Green

If you’re building a new home or updating an older one and want to go green wherever you can, you’ve got more options than ever in eco-chic materials for countertops, flooring and cabinets. Here’s a quick guide to eco-friendly kitchen materials — including five favorites of eco-design experts, plus top materials to avoid.

Thumbs Up: 5 Eco-Optimal Options

1.Recycled glass: “Recycled glass is one of my favorite things to use for countertops,” says environmental design consultant Michelle Bexelius. “It’s so beautiful and comes in so many colors.” Look for glass tile that is 100 percent recycled, either from post-industrial or post-consumer sources.

2.PaperStone: It’s a pretty cool concept — paper that’s pressed into a stonelike material. It’s strong and workable like stone, but made from recycled paper. PaperStone comes in various colors and uses no petroleum products. “I really love this stuff,” Bexelius says. It’s ideal for countertops — or anywhere else you would use stone. Find a dealer through Paperstoneproducts.net

3.Bamboo: Don’t be fooled by bamboo’s stick-like appearance in the forest — it’s an extremely hard and durable material that's ideal for countertops, cabinets or flooring. Bamboo's eco-friendly status comes from the fact that it’s a completely renewable resource — it grows amazingly fast. Also check out other sustainably harvested wood flooring options, such as cork oak.

4.Marmoleum: This natural flooring material is made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, jute and limestone. “It’s a great alternative to traditional linoleum flooring,” says Bexelius.

5.Natural plaster: Skip the dry-wall mud and the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) found in conventional paints. This fume-free wall finishing alternative, also known as earth plaster, is made from natural clay and pigments in a range of earthy colors. It goes directly on almost any material including dry wall, wood, adobe, straw bale or masonry. You can texture it as you like or leave it smooth. Either way you get an organic-looking finished effect that's far more interesting than the homogeneous wall mud sold at home improvement stores.



Thumbs Down: 4 Materials to Avoid

1.Particleboard: “Do not use particleboard for cabinets,” cautions Debra Lynn Dadd, author of "Home Safe Home: Creating a Healthy Home Environment by Reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products." “It emits formaldehyde, which can make your eyes water and cause rashes.” It’s also a suspected human carcinogen. Cabinet-grade plywood is a better alternative, and custom-made solid wood cabinets (preferably reclaimed wood) are the best option, Dadd says.

2.Imported Materials: “Try to source materials as locally as possible,” Dadd says. The material itself isn’t usually the problem; after all, products like marble and granite are natural stone — usually a good choice. “But it’s all about how you get it here,” she says. Shipping granite from Italy, for example, uses a tremendous amount of fuel and other resources. Check with local kitchen remodeling stores and services to see if they have some decent-sized hunks of scrap stone that can work for your project.

3.Toxic glues, grouts and stains: Even the most eco-friendly product gets tainted if high-VOC products are used to adhere or finish it. Follow the process through and make sure you specify low-VOC products. Ask your builder or your local hardware store about the most environmentally friendly options, such as nontoxic glues, low-VOC tile adhesive and polymer-free grout. Using polymers does help prevent mold, so be sure to use an eco-friendly sealant in their place. And use natural materials — like beeswax to seal bamboo — whenever possible, Bexelius says.

4.Wood from non-sustainable forests: Hardwood is a wonderful natural material, but deforestation concerns make it important to do your homework. Contact the lumberyard, the manufacturer or your contractor and start asking questions. “Be your own reporter; find out if the wood is coming from a sustainably managed forest,” Bexelius says. “Are the trees being replanted? If not, don’t buy it.”

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5 Tips To Choose Right Bathroom Sink

Bathroom sink is used for bunch of activities throughout the day like washing hands, brushing teeth in the morning and night, grooming, shaving etc. Aside from this, it can amazingly change the whole look of your bathroom.

Bathroom sink comes in very wide variety of shapes, designs, colors and price range. It could be daunting task to buy one if you have not prepared yourself in advance. Here are some tips to prepare you in choosing the appropriate sink for your bathroom.

1- The very first thing you need to do is to decide your limitations. To decide your limitations, you need to set budget. Like I said before, sinks comes in every price range depending on the quality and design. Deciding budget helps you in choosing the appropriate sink that matches the theme of your bathroom within your limit.

2- Decide which type of sink you want to buy. There are so many different type of sinks available like Pedestal sink, console sink, wall mounted sink, basin sink, vessel sink and utility sink. Each sink has his own characteristics and benefits. Choose one which can be easily installed in your bathroom.

3- Bathroom sinks comes in a very wide variety of materials. There are glass sinks which are being made with glass. Then there are stainless steel sinks, ceramic based material sinks, enameled cast iron sinks and solid surface material sinks. Decide which material sink works best in your bathroom.

4- Some commonly used bathroom cleaners may not be compatible with all sink materials. Don't just assume that the sink material you have chosen can be cleaned by any sort of chemical cleaner. Glass sinks are high maintenance sinks whereas wood sinks can be cleaned easily. Get detailed knowledge about care requirement of particular sink before buying.

5- Consult with a professional about which sink you should buy. A professional bathroom designer has so many years of experience. He can give you detailed information about the pros and cons of each type of bathroom sink. He can give you valuable suggestions on choosing the right bathroom sink within your budget.

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12 Tips For You To Keep Your House Clean All The Time

Have you ever thrown your hands up in the air and cried out, “When is there ever time to get this house clean?” Work, kids, grocery shopping, and other obligations tend to take center stage to keeping your house clean; it’s a never ending process. If you’re married and both you and your spouse work, you are both tired at the end of the day and then you have to fix dinner, help the kids with homework, wash the dishes; it’s a vicious cycle and although you do your best, your house cleaning never seems to get the full attention you need to give to it.

If you want to get this burden off your shoulders you have to start somewhere. The first thing you do is make a list of everything you want done. If you have a list, it’s hard to ignore it. After you have made your endless list prioritize the list; what needs to be done first and what are the most important things you need to do.

Now you have your list; this is what you do to get your house clean and keep it clean.

•1 Dedicate two full days that you are off of work and start working through your list. Granted, you will have a lot of work to do, but if you have a spouse or children old enough, give them an item or two from your list to complete. Unless your house is a complete disaster, two days should be sufficient time to get through your list; especially if you have help. That was the hard part; the next steps are how you can keep your house clean.

•2 Don’t procrastinate. If you have laundry to do, just do it. Wash the clothes, dry the clothes, fold them, and then put them away. I suggest you do at least one load a day. Again, if you have a spouse and children to help you, teach them how to do the laundry and make it their daily chore to do so.

•3 Get rid of unneeded items. If you are a pack-rat and keep every single thing you’ve ever gotten, you need a 12 step program to help you detach. This goes for every room in the house. If you have clothes hanging in your closet that you haven’t worn in over a year, get rid of them. If you have cookware, silver wear, dishes, and utensils you never or seldom use, get rid of them. If you have a junk drawer go through it; if you haven’t used something from that drawer in at least three months, get rid of it. Clutter is you number one enemy. Having too much stuff makes your house feel cluttered and when your house feels cluttered it doesn’t feel clean. Get rid of anything that you don’t need or use.

•4 Invest in the swifter products; these are one of the best inventions of recent times. If you have hard wood floors, run the dust mop every other day. If you have carpet, run the vacuum at least twice a week if not more. Get in a routine that you dust one day and vacuum the next.

•5 Don’t allow soap scum build up on your bathtub or sinks; wipe them clean every day and keep a bottle of tub and shower cleaner in the bathroom, preferably on the side of the tub. After you shower or bathe, spray the tub and wipe it down. Once you have done your initial big cleaning, taking a few minutes a day to wipe down your bath tub and sinks will be a breeze. Clean the toilet bowl every day. I suggest you use one of those foaming products that you pour into the toilet bowl which then foams up. I always do this before I go to bed and when I get up in the morning I just use the toilet scrubber and it’s clean. Make sure you wipe down the outside of the bowl as well; germs are everywhere.

•6 Make it a habit to take your shoes off at the front door when you come home. Have a pair of slippers there to put on. Doing this will keep you from tracking in dirt onto your floors or carpet.

•7 If you are noticing a lot of dust on your furniture, you may want to check your air filters; they may need replacing.

•8 If you have dishwasher unload the clean dishes in the morning and make it a rule that if somebody uses a dish they are to load it into the dishwasher. While you are cooking, clean as you cook. Don’t let dishes pile up; it is discouraging to see that mess after dinner and if you rinse your pots and pans and put them in the dishwasher as you are finished using them, this will make your evening chores so much easier. When the dishwasher is full run it.

•9 Take out the trash every day; there is nothing worse than smelly garbage.

•10 Make your bed as soon as you get up. Change the sheets once a week. I like storing my sheets in an air tight bag and placing fabric softener sheets in with them; that way your sheets always smell fresh and clean when you put a new set on your bed.

•11 Get organized. Have a place for everything and avoid piling things up on top of each other. You may want to invest in plastic storage containers and label them as you put items into the store containers.

•12 Clean up all spills immediately. That means on counter tops, on the stove, and on the floor. Keep on top of the problems and you won’t have problems keeping your house clean.

It is a tough job, especially if you are working long hours and have small children to tend to. The most important thing to do is make your list, do your initial big clean, and then stay on top of your housework chores. Make sure that everybody in the household has at least one chore to do a day and you will find that it will be much easier to keep your house clean without having to spend another two full days doing a major cleaning project.

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Good Tips To Control Weeds In Your Garden

Your Zen-inspired garden is peaceful. A bubbling pond provides soothing sounds and smooth river-polished stones present a sculptural background for graceful plants and grasses. Wind chimes play in the breeze. But wait! Where did those weeds come from? How did they burst through several inches of rock? Weeds are tenacious, and if you're concerned about waging war against weeds with clouds of chemicals, using landscape cloth may be the answer for controlling weeds in your garden.

A Little Work Now Can Prevent Weeds Later
Landscape cloth is widely available at lawn and garden centers, home and garden shows and home improvement retailers. It is a tightly woven fabric that permits water drainage, but prevents weeds from sprouting through it. Here are some tips for installing landscape cloth:


--Prepare the soil in the area you're landscaping: Rototilling, leveling, add soil amendments as necessary.

--Place the landscaping cloth over the soil. Even out wrinkles and trim if necessary. Secure the landscape cloth with the stakes supplied for this purpose.

--For planting, cut an "x" shape just large enough to accommodate each plant. Try to avoid any gaps or large openings in the landscape cloth. Drip lines can be installed on top of the landscape cloth.

--When your plantings are in place, you can cover the landscape cloth with mulch, stones, or gravel. Water well, and enjoy your new garden.


Landscape cloth is made to enhance your lawn and gardens in various ways. It can also be used to secure soil and plantings on slopes. Consult your local nursery or landscape specialist for advice on using landscape cloth for challenging locations.

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7 Guides to Protect Trees During Rebuilding

Planning is essential when doing construction near mature trees because any change in environment causes stress on trees. While keeping the trunk and branches of the trees safe from harm is obvious, the most significant damage can be to the tree's roots. Roots provide the nutrients a tree needs and anchors the tree in the ground. Here's some ways to protect trees during construction.

Step 1 Prune dead limbs and broken branches to maintain tree health during construction. Water the entire root zone and use a good fertilizer to sustain the tree's strength.

Step 2 Place a root protection zone border around each tree. The width of the zone depends on the size of the tree. A good rule of thumb is 2 or 3 feet beyond the drip zone, the point where water drips from the tree's branches. Use caution tape, wooden stakes or other barriers to mark the border and post "protected tree" signs.

Step 3 Limit access to the trees to avoid dirt compacting around the roots. Find alternate routing for heavy equipment or build bridges over the tree root zone for trucks and other traffic near the trees.

Step 4 Move fill-dirt around carefully. Adding just 2 to 6 inches of soil can cause serious damage. Extra soil adds weight which smothers roots. Additional soil also changes the drainage around the tree.

Step 5 Tunnel under roots or use an auger instead of digging trenches for utilities. Use hand tools if you must to dig in the tree's root system. If is necessary to dig through roots, avoid cutting those over 1 inch in diameter and immediately cover exposed roots.

Step 6 Remove as few trees as possible. Remaining trees are exposed to elements they have not encountered before. Increased exposure to sun, wind and snow will affect the trunk and crown of a tree.

Step 7 Leave the natural contour and shape of the land near a tree as undisturbed as possible. Grade changes can affect how the tree functions and may lead to root destabilization.

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Clean a Fabric Lampshade With These 10 Easy Tips

Lampshades can get quite dirty and dusty and eventually they become a bit of an eye-sore if you don't dust them regularly. Eventually it's a case of get them clean (and save money) or replace them.

The process below works best for silk, rayon or nylon shades. Linen, cotton and any hand painted shades don't take well to being dipped in water - but then what have you got to lose if your lamp shades are now past their best? You may as well give it a try before you give up and buy new.

If you have an antique or valuable lampshade however then don't try to clean it yourself - you need a specialist cleaner for this. Some dry cleaners may be able to assist you though I must admit my local dry cleaner is reluctant to take anything without a care label so you may have to search for a real expert.

To clean a fabric lampshade yourself:

1. Remove the shade from the lamp then use a dry cloth or vacuum brush to clean the surface of the lamp shade inside and out of any dust.

2. Remove the trim from the lampshade if this is not be washable or if the color may run into the shade itself and wash separately (if it is washable).

3. Fill a sink or bathtub with warm water deep enough to submerge the lamp shade completely. Add some mild detergent - the kind used to hand wash delicate silk and woolen garments is best.

4. Submerge the lampshade in the warm soapy water and use a soft cloth or brush and some extra soap to gently run any particularly dirty areas or dirt spots.

5. Gently swish the lampshade up and down through the soapy water

6. Empty out the soapy water and refill the basin with clean warm water. Rinse the shade

7. If the shade is particularly dirty repeat steps 4 and 5

8. Leave the shade to dry naturally where air can circulate to prevent rusting of the frame. Although the fabric may appear to stretch when wet it will usually tighten up and return to its original state (though cleaner!) as it dries.

9. Reattach the old trim with a few stitches around the lamp or by gluing in place with non-flammable glue. If the old trim is detracting from the splendor of your now-clean lamp shade think about re-trimming your lamp with ribbon, braid, beads or fringing.

10. I have seen a household tip once where someone cleaned a lampshade with a piece of soft white bread - rolling the bread into a doughy ball and then running it over the surface of the shade. I haven't tried this myself so though I can imagine it being reasonably effective you may want to try it on a lamp shade that doesn't matter to you. Or if the dirt is not too ingrained try a lint roller which is great on dust.

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25 Guides To Make Your Moving Easily and Organized

Worried because you're moving soon? This really doesn't have to be a stressful, chaotic time. Here are some tips to help you achieve a successful, organized move.

1. USE A MOVING CHECKLIST.

Make yourself a moving checklist outlining everything that needs to be done before, and after, your move.

2. LEAVE IT BEHIND.

Avoid moving anything you don't really need. It is expensive, time-consuming, and physically unnecessary to move things you won't be using. If you don't use it now, you most likely won't use it later.

3. GET RID OF CLUTTER.

Dispose of broken tools, old toys, old clothing and other items that you no longer need, before you move. Give usable items to charity or hold a garage sale.

4. DON'T SKIMP ON YOUR MOVING SERVICE.

Choose an experienced moving firm with an established reputation for good service and reliability. Choosing someone that is unreliable or inexperienced will waste more time and money than you can imagine.

5. ENLIST ANY HELP YOU CAN GET.

You will get a lot more done, with some family members and friends helping you pack and/or unpack. If your children are old enough, they should be helping too.

6. BOX IT.

Get boxes in assorted sizes. Be sure they're clean, in good condition and have covers so they can be closed and sealed with tape. Start collecting them from your local merchants, or purchase them from your moving company. Liquor boxes are excellent. They are sturdy and contain dividers making them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases, etc.--but make sure these boxes have lids. By the way, an easy way to store boxes so they do not take up storage space is to open both ends and flatten them out. Cartons can be resealed with tape as you use them.

7. USE THE A-B-C SYSTEM.

Everything you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY A. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY B. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won't need right away, mark the box PRIORITY C. Then, unpack in A, B, C order.

8. WRAP IT.

You will need plenty of wrapping paper and heavy- duty tape. Anything wrapped in newsprint will most likely be soiled from the ink and will require cleaning after unpacking. Movers use unprinted newsprint. For items you prefer to keep clean, you can purchase this packing paper from your mover. Kraft paper, tissue paper and shock- resistant corrugated paper make excellent wrapping materials and may be purchased at most major department stores, craft stores or your mover. These papers also make excellent cushioning and lining material.

9. MARK IT.

Felt pens are ideal for marking boxes with information such as its contents, destination room, fragile or this side up.

10. LABEL IT.

As you're packing, place removable, colored, circle stickers on your boxes to easily distinguish kitchen items, from bedroom items, from bathroom items, etc. Use a different color for each room. If necessary, make a master list so you'll know what is in each box. If you can go to your new home ahead of time, you may wish to stick a corresponding colored sticker on the door, or door frame, of the room that the box will be delivered to.

11. LIGHTEN UP.

Cartons can be handled easier if they do not exceed 50 lbs., fully packed. Keep this in mind when you're packing.

12. ROOM BY ROOM.

Pack on a room-by-room basis, keeping the contents of each room in separate boxes. This will eliminate confusion and save time when you're unpacking.

13. PACK EARLY.

Even if you only pack two boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes. Start in areas where the goods are not in frequent use such as the cellar, attic, garage, etc.

14. ORDER ADDRESS LABELS.

Order address labels before you move into your new home. They will be great to have on hand when you need to indicate a change of address on anything. Leave a few behind with the people who move into your old home or apartment so they can forward anything that gets delivered to them for you. Give them a few bucks to cover any postage costs.

15. MAKE A SURVIVAL KIT.

Make a survival kit for your first night in your new home. This should include items that will get you through the night if it's too late to unpack or the movers didn't show up. Helpful items to include might be: non-perishable food, can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils, bottled water, a flashlight, a few towels, sheets, toiletries, a blanket, toilet paper, pen/paper, a few small games or magazines and a change of clothes for everyone.

16. HAVE SOMEONE WATCH THE KIDS.

If you have children, especially young children, it might be a good idea to have someone babysit them while you are doing anything that involves your move, such as packing, unpacking, etc. Your kids won't be interrupting your progress and you'll accomplish more.

17. USE THE ONE ROOM RULE.

Set up ONE room in your new home as quickly as possible. This way, you'll have a quiet retreat, free of boxes. You and your family will then have a place to go when you need a break from all of the unpacking activities.

18. MAKE IT PET SAFE.

If you have pets, be sure you have a plan for when the movers arrive. Perhaps keep your cats in the bathroom with the litter box, or put your dogs in a fenced in yard. Also, take care to do what you can so your pets feel comfortable in your new home. Bring their favorite toys, give them attention, and don't leave them alone for long periods of time for the first few days.

19. MAKE THE FIRST NIGHT SPECIAL.

Make the first night in your new home as special as possible. It can be take-out Chinese food, or pizza, but you may sweeten the evening with flowers, candles and music. It will really make a big difference and will help you to unwind and de-stress.

20. DEVISE A PLAN.

Before you begin unpacking randomly, sit down with your family. Discuss a plan, including where things will go, who is responsible for what, etc. It will help things run smoothly.

21. HAVE A TOOL KIT ON HAND.

One of the most important things to have on hand when you're setting up your new home is a basic toolbox that includes basic tools and hardware, such as a hammer, screwdrivers, nails, hooks, etc.

22. FUNCTION BEFORE FORM.

It is best to first arrange your furniture, and then unpack accessories and personal items.

23. GET READY FOR BED.

As soon as the bedroom furniture is delivered, set it up and put the sheets on the bed. You'll be grateful that everything is ready for sleeping later on tonight when you're really tired.

24. LET EVERYONE KNOW.

Inform everyone that you've moved with simple postcards, or e-mail for those family members who can receive it.

25. GET ACQUAINTED.

Once you arrive at your new home, schedule some get acquainted days on your calendar. This is a great time to figure out where the supermarket, bank, post office, etc. are and will give you a chance to get familiar with your area. If there is a tourist bureau in town, stop by and see what events and opportunities your town will be offering. Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now!

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Decorate Your Bathroom With A Right Mirror

Choosing bathroom accessories such as knobs and robe hooks is not easy. You have a selection from Dove, Musa, Antique, Aranjeuz, Austin, Barcelona, Cabin, Belvedere, Cameo, Channel, Cannes, Catalina, Chenille and more to select. City Temple, Contessa, Cosmopolitan, Dominic, Designer, Drop and Elizabeth created a nice line of knobs and robe hooks as well.

When choosing knobs and hooks your best bet is to reduce your options. For instance, do you like gold? Do you like gold combined with chrome? Would your prefer decorative styles? Do like the mirror look? Considering your taste, style etc can help you narrow down your choice.

In addition, you want to consider your bathroom. Do you have a country setting? Do you have a regal bath? Is your bath Victorian Style? Are you purchasing knobs and hooks for a kid bathroom? What colors and patterns are in your bathroom?

If you have regal or master bathroom you may like the gold knobs and hooks. Jas has a nice line of knobs and hooks. Jas made the creative gold robe hooks, which go well with a variety of colors. You might have a wall mirror, glass cub, hooks, shelves, and racks in the background of your bath area. In this instance, I would reconsider the gold, unless you have gold trimmings around your bathroom accessories.

If you have gold trimmings, the gold will look great. If you do not have gold trimmings, you may want to add a few other bathroom items. For instance, you can purchase gold bath bars, gold-trimmed holders made of glass, gold and glass soap dish, bath tissue holders, vanity glass shelves trimmed in gold and so on. Toss in a gold towel ring and you are off to a good start.

How do I choose knobs and hooks for antique bathrooms?
If you have an antique environment, you may like Pacific"??s line of bathroom accessories. Antique shades, tones, etc could benefit from the oil rub bronze hooks. Satin nickel will also go well in antique bathrooms. Toss in a Bronze Oil Rub ring, antique white soap dish and toothbrush holder, and perhaps a vanity glass mirror and there you have it.

The rustic gold are nice items that go well in antique environments. The Antique Bronze Burn shades are nice as well. Toss in a rustic, bronze, or antique vanity glass shelf and your patterns will blend well. In addition, you can add a bath tissue holder; towel ring/bar and you are off to enhance your antique bathroom.

Aranjeuz makes a nice line of products, which you could blend in antique regions. It depends on your style, yet you could blend the gold trim with chrome polish hooks to set off an antique atmosphere. The brush nickel mixed with gold is nice as well.

How do I choose modern patterns and colors?
Dominic collections have a nice selection of hooks. You may like the chrome polished items designed by German crafters. Wind has a nice selection of modern designs as well.

How do I choose bathroom accessories for Victorian baths?

Victorian style baths often benefit from Satin Nickel shades, brass and chrome polish, and so on. Victorian style is designed to bring home legends of the past. Victorian also honors the traditional patterns. Most Victorian bathrooms can benefit from the shades listed, as well as other items that offset porcelain. If you have Victorian bath, likely you have porcelain tubs and sinks, which you want to match the colors when searching for bathroom accessories. Presently, Victorian collections have a sale, offering you up to 27% discount.

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20 Interesting Facts About Mosquitoes

1 The world’s largest statue of a mosquito is a roadside attraction in Komarno, Manitoba, the Mosquito Capital of Canada. (“Komarno” is Ukrainian for “mosquito.” What’s up with that?) Sculpted in 1984, it is made of steel and has a wingspan of 15 feet. It’s also a weathervane, swiveling in the wind.

2 There are more than 2,500 varieties of mosquito (some entomologists claim 3,000) whining from the Arctic tundra to the tropical rain forests. Most are active at dawn and dusk, while others enjoy midday feeding. Protein is where you find it.

3 In 1998, researchers found a new mosquito species in the London Underground, descended from ancestors that flew in when the tunnels were dug 100 years ago. Once bird-feeders, they now feast on a menu of rats, mice, and people.

4 They rarely interbreed with their aboveground colleagues. Their DNA actually varies from one subway line to another.

5 Mosquitoes do not bite, they suck.

6 It would take 1,200,000 mosquitoes, each sucking once, to completely drain the average human of blood.

7 Which seems unlikely, but then again in the Arctic, Canadian researchers who bared their arms, legs, and torsos reported as many as 9,000 bites per minute from swarming, newly hatched mosquitoes. At that rate, an individual could lose half his blood in two hours.

8 Once a feeding mosquito is full, a chemical signal shuts down the intake. When that signal is disabled in the lab, mosquitoes suck until they explode.

9 It is hard to get upset about that.

10 According to a University of Bristol study, male mosquito “ears” are packed with about as many sensory cells as human ears, helping amorous mosquito males identify and pursue passing females.

11 When a mosquito detects the whine of the opposite sex, it begins to synchronize its own pitch to match that of the potential mate. Randy males can “relate” to girl frequencies in a second or two. Females take several times longer to synchronize. This is the same with humans in a bar.

12 Mosquitoes can mate in midair, often in as little as 15 seconds from approach to fare-thee-well. There are no known instances of prior cocktails and dinner.


13 Male mosquitoes are actually sensitive vegetarians, living on nectar and plant juices. Only females drink blood, for protein to make eggs.

14 Millions of years ago, mosquitoes were three times as large as they are today.

15 Eyes occupy most of the surface of a mosquito’s head. Not eyes into which one might wish lovingly to peer, these compound-lensed organs deliver infrared images of heat patterns emanating from a body. Like the alien in Predator.

16 Mosquitoes also use your exhaled breath to track you down, especially when you sleep or have been exercising. Fortunately, they clock out at only 1.5 mph—so you can’t hide, but you can run. Unless you’re on a treadmill. Then they’ll get you.

17 Central America’s so-called Mosquito Coast (a thin strip of land along the Caribbean in Honduras and Nicaragua) is not named for the insect, but after a mispronunciation of the indigenous Miskito Indians.

18 Abuja, Nigeria, is home to the world’s biggest mosquito net, unveiled in 2000 as part of a national campaign against malaria and other insect-borne diseases. Two hundred children fit under it.

19 Millions of people alive today will die of a mosquito-transmitted disease. Malaria alone claims some 1,000,000 lives a year in Africa. Other top killers include dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile virus.

20 But they won’t die of AIDS. HIV-infected humans actually have very few virus particles in their bloodstream, and should a mosquito suck one up, it gets killed by the mosquito’s digestive system.

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Save Marriage After Your Wife Has An Affair

The percentage of wives who cheat on their husbands is on the rise – and in fact, some stats report than one in every three married women has had at least one extramarital affair within the first ten years of marriage. Can a marriage be saved after a wife’s infidelity? That isn’t a question that can be answered simply. It depends on the marriage. It depends on the bond between husband and wife. It depends on the effort that a couple is willing to re-invest in their relationship. And more than anything, it depends on the couple’s desire to make it work. If a husband and wife truly love each other, and they are able to see that love through the haze of hurt and betrayal, then there is a chance – a glimmer of hope – that the marriage can be saved.


Men are often raised to believe that their ego and pride are very important, and therefore, men often have an even harder time forgiving their wives for having affairs than wives have forgiving their husbands for having affairs. Women are, in general, more in touch with their emotions and more comfortable sharing their feelings than men are. Men are more disassociated from their feelings, and so they can virtually turn off their emotions of love and admiration for their wife instantly when they find out that she has been unfaithful. Men feel very disrespected and emasculated when they discover that their mate has cheated. They question their manliness and virility. They quickly project the blame inward on themselves, although outwardly, they will blame their wives. However, men who have been cheated on, just like women who have been cheated on, need to understand that they are not to blame for the infidelity.



Regardless of what marital problems may have led up to a wife’s indiscretion, the affair was her choice, and not her husband’s choice – and moreover, it was the wrong choice. Having an extramarital affair is immoral and immature. A woman who engages in an affair knows that what she is doing is wrong, but she ignores her conscience and does it anyway. Certainly, a painful and unhealthy marriage can lead a wife to contemplate leaving the marriage, but cheating is the wrong reaction to those feelings and concerns. There is not a person in the world that has an affair and thinks what they are doing is the right thing, and so it is only fair and just that a wife who cheats owns up to her mistakes and accepts responsibility and accountability for her actions.


Since men often have a hard time coping with their anger and rage when they discover infidelity, it is often helpful for couples to go to a marriage counselor right away. It is not advisable to try to diffuse the situation without professional help. Even though there are a lot of men who are uneasy and embarrassed about talking to a counselor or “shrink,” these mediators are great at helping couples to identify and work out their primary issues and conflicts. The reality of the matter is that not all men will be able to forgive their wives and save their marriages after an affair. However, if a couple feels strongly that there is something between them that is worth fighting for, they owe it to themselves and their marriage to give counseling a try.

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Save Marriage After Your Husband Has An Affair

It has been estimated that more than half of all husbands in the United States have had at least one extramarital affair. This is a grim statistic, and it’s a scary reality that, obviously, more than half of all wives in the United States will have to face during their marriages. Why do men cheat? There are so many reasons, and none of them are as simple as men just having higher sex drives than women or men’s mind’s being controlled by their genitals. Let’s not give those excuses any credence. Men who cheat are doing the wrong thing. Men who cheat know what they’re doing, and for some reason they go ahead and do it anyway. A man who cheats knows full well that he is putting his marriage on the line, and he accepts that possibility when he begins an affair or has a “discrete sexual encounter.”


Forgiveness is a hard concept for so many people to master in their own lives. We hold grudges and we burn bridges, just like our favorite television stars and movie heroes and heroines do. In our society, revenge is often given far more respect than forgiveness. However, a marriage is a partnership that is supposed to be based on trust and unconditional love. So if the trust is broken, does that mean that the unconditional love should go by the wayside as well? Not all marriages end as the result of infidelity. While it will certainly be a hard and bumpy road, if a husband and wife are committed to saving their marriage after an affair, it can be done.



First and foremost, the cheating husband has to take responsibility for his despicable and disrespectful actions. Regardless of whatever other marital problems a couple has, cheating was not the answer to any of them. While infidelity is often a symptom of underlying marital problems, the underlying problems do not – and will never – be an acceptable excuse for the affair. A cheating husband who tries to blame his wife for his affair is not a man who truly values his wife or wants to save his marriage. Husbands who cheat have to be accountable for their indiscretion. They have to understand that they have betrayed their vows and caused severe damage to their marital union.


Couples who want to survive an affair should not attempt getting past the event through denial. Denying that the affair happened will not work for the short term or for the long haul. You have to face the issue head-on as a couple in order to come to some sort of a resolution so that you can get your marriage back on track. Some cheating husbands attempt to woo their wives back with expensive gifts and jewelry or romantic vacations, but these are also futile techniques that are denial-based. It may be very hard to accept, but the affair happened – and you can’t turn back the clocks and go on living as if the sanctity of your marriage hasn’t been trampled on by infidelity. So many wives are so desperate to forgive their husbands and have “their life back” that they will attempt to just “get over it” without really dealing with it. This won’t help – it will only make their anger and hurt fester and grow until they explode.


Marriage counseling is very important for couples who are interested in saving their marriage after a husband’s infidelity. It helps to have an uninvolved, unbiased third party to mediate a married couple through the trials and tribulations of getting back on track after infidelity. Marriage counselors can help couples to identify the core issues in their relationship that are holding them back. If a husband is unwilling to go to a marriage counselor after having an affair, he doesn’t have the emotional maturity to deserve to be taken back.

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New Home Loans

With a sluggish economy, falling interest rates on mortgages, and projections for dropping home prices, it could be an excellent time to look into a home loan in 2007. According to an April report by Interest.com, fixed-rate mortgages saw a drop on 15 and 30-year interest, and so did 30-year jumbo home loans. Adjustable-rate mortgages rose slightly, but homeowners are finding refinancing rates to be comparable to last-year's interest levels.


Before taking any step to secure a home loan, it's critical to evaluate your ability to make payments. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that California foreclosures are up 802 percent, setting a ten-year high. Rising adjustable mortgage interest rates are a main cause of mortgage default when homeowners fail to plan for possible rate hikes, the Chronicle reported. That's why a mortgage calculator can be a valuable tool for anyone looking into a new home loan or mortgage refinancing.


Calculating Your Mortgage Payments
When looking into a refinancing or new home loan, you'll need to consider how confident you are in terms of future income, interest rate changes, and your ability to pay. A mortgage calculator provides a rough estimate, but you'll need to work with prospective lenders toward securing a loan that makes sense for you.

Variables in any comprehensive mortgage calculation include knowing about the community where you intend to buy or refinance an existing mortgage. You'll need to assess your outstanding debt, your gross monthly income, your future earnings, the loan amount, annual taxes and insurance, the principle balance, interest rates (if fixed) or initial rate (if adjustable), and mortgage length or loan term.


Dropping Home Prices Stimulate New Loans
Interest.com reports that housing prices are expected to decline for the second straight year -- the first time this has happened since 1968. There are predicted 2 and 3 percent drops this year, and the trend is expected to continue for at least one to three more years.

The recent collapse of high-cost subprime mortgages may mean that housing demands will drop, making new purchases affordable. As for average interest rates reported for April 2007, the fixed-rate 30-year mortgage loan was at 6.27%, down from 6.64% last year. The fixed-rate 15-year mortgage loan averaged 5.99%, compared to last year's 6.27%.

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Home Design Tips In Fall

An amazing ritual is once again underway. The days are getting shorter; leaves are turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red; and flocks of birds are making their way south. Inspired by the changes brought on by Mother Nature, people across the country are initiating changes of their own, giving their home décor a new lease on life.

According to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), fall is one of the busiest times of year for people who work in the home decorating business. “The calls just pour in from people who want to spiff things up before the holidays,” says B.J. Peterson of the Peterson-Arce Design Group in Los Angeles. “They’re getting in the mood for entertaining, or have people coming in from out of town and want to make an impression.”


Fall isn’t only a busy time of year for interior decorators, but for arts and crafts stores as well. Do-it-yourselfers flock to stores like Michaels, the nation's largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts, not only for materials but for ideas. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an experienced crafter. Home decorating is so easy, anyone can do it, and you can find everything you need to complete a project at one of our stores,” says Laura Byrne, Director of Marketing at Michaels Arts & Crafts stores. Among the most popular do-it-yourself projects in the fall: wreaths, candlescaping, seasonal decorating and decorative painting.

Wreaths and Floral Arrangements

Creating a wreath is one of the more popular and easy crafting projects you can do this time of year. Wreaths can be round, square, or any shape you desire to complement your style. Hung from a door or a wall or placed on a tabletop, wreaths are a wonderful way to add the elements of the season to your home. Items that can be used to decorate a wreath are as limitless as your imagination. They include silk or dried flowers, fruits, vegetables, berries, ribbons, and bows. You can find everything you need to create a wreath at your local arts and crafts stores, which have a wide selection of decorative tools and embellishments. For novice wreath makers, many websites now provide step by step instructions to help you create your very own wreath. One of the newest additions to Michaels.com even includes interactive visuals to guide you through the wreath making process: www.michaels.com/easywreaths.

B.J. Peterson says one of the easiest ways to set a mood in a room is with a floral arrangement. “You can really let your imagination run wild when you create one of these,” she says. “For fall, you can use pinecones, seasonal fruit, evergreen branches, dried flowers, or even reeds to fill a vase, decorate a table or fill a corner of the room. The idea is to bring a piece of the outdoors inside.”

Candlescaping

Another popular and easy way to bring the look of fall inside is through candlescaping. At its most basic, multiple candles can be displayed on a large platter. Taken to the extreme, it can be an entire room filled with decorative candles of varying heights, sizes and shapes, filling the space with soft, warm light, creating a cozy environment for your family.

“Candlescaping is more than just scattering a few pillars around; it's creating a mood or telling a story using texture, scent, color and light. The candle aisles of your local Michaels store are filled with beautiful pillars, tapers and tea lights in every imaginable size, shape, color and scent, allowing you to develop a look that fits your own personal style,” says Byrne.

To create a more unique look with candles, some people use stencils and paint to decorate the candles with seasonal motifs. Fall leaves, English ivy and pumpkins make great accents this time of year.

Dimensional Paint Decorating

An easy way to add accents to candles, and many other surfaces, including walls, vases, fabrics, and more, is with the use of Texture Magic, a pre-colored dimensional paint packaged in an easy-to-use tube.

If you have ever frosted a cake, you are already an expert at applying Texture Magic. Spread the paint on the surface you want to decorate then add your accents, such as glass beads, metal pieces or ceramic tile, and press objects in the wet paint. This process allows you to capture the look of high-end mosaics at a great price
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You can also use the paint to create an impression. Simply spread a thick layer of Texture Magic on the surface you want to decorate, let it set a bit, then press the object -- a foam stamp, leaf, or flower petal -- into the wet paint. Remove immediately, leaving the image pressed into the surface. Arts and crafts stores offer all the tools you will need for a home décor project as well as larger sizes of paint.

Carvable Pumpkins

And what crafter’s fall décor wouldn’t be complete without a bunch of pumpkins on the front doorstep. You can find realistic carvable foam pumpkins in all shapes and sizes at craft stores along with all the tools you need to bring them to life. These pumpkins add a seasonal touch for fall that can last on your porch or table the entire season. Use them traditionally or get imaginative creating topiaries or carving whimsical characters and seasonal images. If you’ve struggled with carving the real things before, you’ll be amazed how easy it is to accomplish results with carvable pumpkins.

Fall home decorating is easy, simple and inexpensive to do yourself. So go ahead and try it, you’re bound to create beautiful home décor accents that will be both eye-pleasing and unique.

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Guides For Your Indoor Water Garden

Information on gardening can never be complete without the mention of water garden. You can add individuality to your already decided gardening project by taking up water gardening. Water garden can be grown in both the ways indoor and outdoor. Indoor water garden has less-maintenance hassles compared to the outdoor one.

Indoor Pond Culture
No one can imagine to shrinking a pond that too in a pot. But it is really possible and it will give a vibrant colored look to your room. The only care these colorful aqua plants need is fresh water. This small water garden is quite flexible enough to be decked anywhere ranging form indoor to outdoor. Not only it appeals soothing to your eyes but also it offers refuge to birds, butterflies, dragonflies and even small fish. Here are few tips of constructing a pond in a pot.

Selecting pot
There is a wide range of pots beginning from ceramic, plastic, sealed cement, porcelain or metal. You can use your creativity and choose washtubs, crocks etc. If using wooden pots wrap with thick plastic bag though it is advisable not to use it because of bacterial damage. There is no formula about the standard size of pot. According to your artistry you can sow the plants. It can be a single one or more than that to you choice.

List of aqua plants

Floaters
To keep your garden healthy the prevention of algae is must. Water lettuce or water hyacinth is the best option. They grow rapidly so often you need to take them out but don't throw them on the pond.

Oxygenating grasses
They maintain the pH balance of water. They move on the top or sit at the floor of the pot. Examples: anacharis (Egeria densa), fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), feather grass and blood grass.

Bog plants
The bog plants are kept on top of rocks and the water should only cover the soil of the plant. They grow in shallow water.
Deep-water plants
Plants like water-lilies needs large space like bathtub or whisky barrel. Water lilies specially needs one-foot of water so that the water stays above their roots. Also they need some space to spread. The advantages of this plant are it prevents growth of algae and keeps the water cool.

Gurgling fountains
These fountains can make your aqua-art more enthralling. The process of installation is very easy and the sound of water makes it heavenly.

Tips for healthy growth

--Be careful about the lighting conditions. Lights of the early morning or mild light all over the day are the best ones. Scorching heat of the afternoon can burn and also kill fish.

--Don't overload the pond-pot with many plants. Keep it simple with few plants

--In a pot make an intelligent blend of horizontal and vertical plants. It makes the view more interesting.
Shelter it form the extreme cold.
Use fertilizer rarely as it gets the major ones form water and soil where they sit. Be sure that the fertilser is quite friendly to the fish if they are there. The fertilizer comes in tablet form and it can be half-buried in the soil. The quantity is specified in the package.

--Scrub the pot whenever necessary, You can check it out by putting your hand on the bottom and see if any matter is gathered in the bottom. You can also scrub it by brush.

--It is a retreat for birds, fish and mosquitoes. You can float the doughnuts of Bacillus thuringiensis to prevent the multiplication of mosquitoes. One doughnut is prescribed for every 1/100 square foot of water. It is totally harmless for children and wildlife. As a precautionary measure you can keep a bubbler so that the water doesn't stand still.

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10 Ways To Find Your Hidden Storage

Are you living in an apartment that does not have adequate storage space? Do you want to clear the clutter in your home? If yes, then opt for the storage systems that can make your home look bigger than usual. Today, the market is virtually flooded with furniture and storage systems that can help you make the most of your space, available at home, for storage and work. You can also maximize the storage space by finding the hidden storage areas of your home. Here we are to help you with some tips and ideas on maximizing the storage of your home.

Hidden Storage Ideas

1.The first step is to get rid of all the clutter. Collect the old and unwanted stuff that have been occupying a whole lot of space in your drawers, cupboards and closets in your home, and dispose them off. That way, you will ensure that all the storage areas are occupied by only the useful stuff.

2.Furniture is some of the most visible, but 'hidden' storage spaces. For instance, a bed frame with a small shelf can be a nice storage options, which could store small pieces of clothing like undergarments, socks and toys of your kids. You may also purchase boxed bed, which can be used to store heavy blankets and other stuff.

3.Apart from books, you may store your office files and stationery items in your bookshelf.

4.Make use of shelves and vanity cabinet for storing bathroom essentials and grooming products in the bathroom.

5.Instead of heavy, bulky chairs, you may use ottomans with storage area underneath them. Another nice option is a bar stool set, which can be stacked in the corner when not in use.

6.Dressing table is a hidden storage space. You may include slide-in drawers or shelves in the dressing table, to give more space for the cosmetics and your accessories. If there is any space left, you can also store old magazines in them.

7.To maximize storage in bathroom and kitchen, make the best use of under-sink areas in the rooms.

8.Talking about kitchen, the place can look cramped by the wrong use of storage space. Use vertical slide-in shelves in the kitchen to hang pots and pans.

9.Large, sealable plastic vacuum bags are the best options for storing clothing and bedding. They are versatile storage systems, because the air inside the bags can be sucked out using a vacuum, in order to make them smaller and easy to fit into places. You may store them under your bed.

10.Multi-function furniture can be the best bet to store electronics, without creating a clutter. Make use of such a furniture to store your television, music system and DVD player. You may get a furniture that has storage space for the electronics as well as some areas designated for storing small items like CDs.

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Things You Should Know When Growing Plants in Alkaline Soil

Usually in places where the climate is dry, the soil is alkaline. This means that the soil contains more lime or calcium carbonate. The problem with alkaline soil is that certain nutrients that plants require to grow like iron and zinc become unavailable.

If the soil is mildly alkaline, you have nothing to worry. However, it is when the soil is highly alkaline that poses a major problem.

pH is measured on a scale ranging from 1 to 14, where 7 is considered neutral. Anything higher than 7 is alkaline and lower is acidic. Most plants can grow in mildly alkaline or acidic soils without any problems. Even if the pH of the soil goes up to 8, you can still grow a number of plants. However, a point five increase in the pH makes it very difficult for plants to grow.

You can test the pH of your garden with an easy home testing kit. However, if you want more accurate results, you should send the soil for testing to a laboratory. If the soil is mildly alkaline, you can add well rotted compost to bring down the alkalinity so that plants can grow without any problems. In case the alkalinity is high, in the range of 8.2, it is necessary to add sulfur-based soil amendment.

When the soil has a pH of around 8.5, it means that there is a high percentage of sodium in the soil. This affects the structure of the soil and its ability to retain oxygen. You would have to take drastic measures to repair the soil or else, you will not be able to grow anything. Here you would have to flood your garden with gypsum, also known as calcium sulfate, to leach all the excess salts present in the soil. However, do not try to do this on your own. It is best to hire the services of a soil expert.

Remember you can grow vegetables in alkaline soil provided you take steps to correct the alkalinity and these measures should be taken for a long term basis. In addition, use well rotted compost instead of chemical fertilizers and flood the garden periodically with water to leach excess salts. Other than a few plants that require acidic soil, you should be able to grow any and everything.

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9 Useful Home Cleaning Tip

Here are some wonderful home cleaning tips and solutions from grandma's times when all these cleaning products were not so readily available. They are inexpensive, easy to prepare and more environment-friendly than many of the products in the superstores. Exercise a little caution while using them.

*Clean the stubborn stains in your bathtub by applying a paste of hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar on them using a toothbrush and then rinse them thoroughly.

*Club soda is known for removing spots and stains instantly. Pour little of it on the spot and after one or two seconds blot the area with a damp sponge.

*Mix one tablespoon of household bleach in a spray bottle full of water and use it as a spray disinfectant in the kitchen, around the sink and counters, especially after you have cooked meat.
Mix together 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 4 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 quart of warm water and apply it on all kinds of woodwork to clean them and make them shine using a soft cloth. Dry the item with a separate and clean cloth.

*Pencil eraser is great to clean black scuffmarks on the floors made by heels of the shoes.

*To remove stains from carpets, try a mixture of ½ cup of mild dishwashing liquid and 2 cups of boiling water. Use a damp sponge to apply the mixture to the carpet and clean it.

*To unclog a drainpipe, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda down it and then pour lots of boiling water down it to dissolve the grease and clear it.

*Use a clean rag moistened with club soda or white vinegar to bring the shine back to stainless steel.

*Water can leave spots and rings on wooden furniture that can be cleaned using a damp cloth and a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda.

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White Home Decorate Tips

White is the most versatile color and the most popular one too, for home décor. It reflects light beautifully, giving home a fresh clean airy feeling and make it look like a blank canvas that can become alive with the judicious use of colors. White has different meanings in different cultures. Westerners often associate it with purity and chastity while many Eastern cultures associate it with mourning. Thus, people belonging from different cultures may be affected differently by white home décor. While Westerners find it heavenly and paradisiacal, Easterners may find it peaceful, restful and even sorrowful. Here are some tips to use white in home décor:

*Accessories such as bowl full of water with gray-green stones, throw pillows on a white sofa and a goldfish bowl, all seem to have a special place in the all-white room.

*Bittersweet chocolate walls need white furnishings and furniture to balance the look of the room.

*Black and white color scheme has a clean and classy feel when used on floors, walls and furniture, in stripes or checks.

*Blue and white room reminds us of sky and water bodies and are quite serene to look at.

*Colorful table linens, food, flower and napkin arrangements, all seem to get more attention when the dishes, plates and cups are white.

*Green and white remind us of gardens and wilderness. Bluish green may add a touch of undersea environ while lime green instantly makes the room look cool and funky.

*Lighter tan hue or pale sandy tone for the walls look even better with white moldings.

*Orange citrus hue with white in a room looks quite tempting while kids love combinations of purple and white.

*Pastels such as light pink, yellow, pale green, baby blue and aqua with white moldings and trim look absolutely lovely.

*Red and white theme décor featuring strawberries or touches of dramatic blacks, aquas or hot pinks, is just perfect for holiday decor.

*Today, white has gained a new status and popularity in the hands of creative interior designers who break the clinical dull monotony of hospital-like white room with astounding use of colorful furnishings and accessories such as fresh flower arrangements and patterned bedsheets, pillows and coverlets. Add colors to the room daily that seem to stand out against the white background.

*White is considered the most popular neutral color and was almost a default color for walls, ceilings and bed sheets in older times.

*You may replace the harsh blinding white with softer ivory, beige and cream tones for the perfect look.

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Sex Myths You Should See Through Now

For a gender that claims to rely on logic and facts, men sure buy into a lot of lies when it comes to sex. Hard to blame them, though, when these "facts" have been around for so long that we've accepted them as gospel.

Ready to separate truth from fiction?

Man Myth #7: Men are more visually stimulated than women.

Even the experts get this one wrong all the time. A Washington University study measuring the brain waves of women watching erotic images found that the ladies' brainwave activity reacted just as strongly as men's.

Man Myth #6: Only women can have multiple Os.

It is easier for women? Probably, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. Men, too, can experience multiples (without the, uh, explosive finale) if he's strengthened his pelvic floor muscles for greater control and has learned to back off from "the point of no return."

Man Myth #5: You can get addicted to porn.

Well, okay, porn addiction is a real thing. But it's very rare. Only one percent of all people who look at the naughty stuff on the 'net will become addicted. So you can surf and click without caution.

Man Myth #4: You shouldn't have sex before the big game.

Sports stars often claim to hold off on pre-game sexual action to avoid ruining their performance. But Swiss researchers, who performed stress tests on people two and ten hours after the subjects had sex, found that after ten hours, the participants were "fully recovered." There was only a small dip in performance after two hours.

Man Myth #3: You reached your sexual peak as a teen.

True, your supply of testosterone peaked in your late teens (and woman's estrogen hits a high point in her mid to late 20s), but that has exactly nothing to do with how often or how much you enjoy sex. While you do experience physical changes as you grow older, those changes are more than made up for by greater confidence and experience.

Man Myth #2: You've always got it on the brain.

It feels like we hear the line "men think about sex every seven seconds," about, well, every seven seconds or so. Reality is that only about 20 percent of men claim to fantasize frequently. So, don't worry if it's not taking up your every thought. You have to give some consideration to work, beer, and sports, right?

Man Myth #1: You don't size up.

Despite the number of spam emails telling you otherwise, you're probably just fine. According to Men's Health magazine, in a recent study 63 percent of men complained of having inferior hardware - but not one of them was smaller than normal.

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These 5 Tips Teach You How To Become More Romantic

Who has time for romance, we wonder, as we rush from work to errands to bed with nary a free minute to light the requisite candles or whip up a fancy dinner.

While occasionally having the trappings of time-intensive romance never hurt, there are plenty of other things you easily fit in your too-busy schedule that will keep you and your honey close.


1--Focus Your Attention

Romance is no time for multi-tasking. When you want to make time for your partner, really make time for your partner. Even if you're only taking a minute to kiss your sweetie good-bye, make that minute count by giving them your full attention, direct eye contact, and a full 60 second of smoochin'. Remember the phrase "I love you" can be said in less than five seconds, and paired with a longing gaze, is impossible to resist.


2--Snare a Surprise

Gifts don't have to be grand gestures to be romantic (though, "honey, I bought you a new car" does have a nice ring to it). Little things like picking up her favorite flavor of ice cream, or taping his favorite television show when he's working late are the real stuff of romance.


3--Get Touchy

Physical contact is an immediate reminder of our love for someone. Though you might not have time for long hours of lovemaking, you can still have a little pre-breakfast groping, mid-afternoon hand holding, or evening backrubs. When you pass your partner - even when it's just to reach past him or her for the car keys - reach out and grant a friendly rub.


4--Pump Up Pride

Who doesn't love feeling valued and appreciated? In long term relationships in particularly, it's easy to tell our partners what drives us crazy and often harder to remember to praise them for the things we love.


5--Grant Sex Object Status

She sees him clipping his toenails. He's seen her with mustache bleach on. The closeness many long-term couples share is not the stuff romance is made of. Remember when you used to lust after this person? Now, do you remember why? Break out those rusty flirting skills you employed to win this person over, and treat them like the lust object they really are.

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Simple Steps to Organize Your Kitchen

You've got three half-full bottles of vinegar in your cupboard and your utensil drawer is a minefield of knife tips and mangled wire whisks. Time to get organized!

Step 1 Go through your kitchen and discard anything you don't use, along with any food, spices or medicines that are beyond their expiration dates.

Step 2 Take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, and wash the insides with warm soapy water. Rinse, let dry and replace cupboard and drawer liners.

Step 3 Store pots, pans and cooking utensils near the stove, nesting the pots and pans together to conserve space.

Step 4 Store dishes and silverware near your eating area and/or dishwasher. Use racks and silverware holders to maximize use of space.

Step 5 Be sure that children are able to reach items they use. Put things they should not use - such as sharp tools, alcohol and cleaning chemicals - well out of reach.

Step 6 Alphabetize your spices and keep them near the stove on a spice rack or in a nearby cupboard on a revolving rack.

Step 7 Remove large and seldom-used items from countertops and store them in a cupboard. For appliances that you use often, consider adding an 'appliance barn,' which can store toasters, blenders, juicers and other appliances on the countertop without clutter.

Step 8 Store food items that you use on a daily basis in accessible spots, and store all like food items together - for example, tea and sugar.

Step 9 Put food that may become infested with insects into sturdy plastic containers and seal them.

Step 10 Use drawer dividers to organize utensils.

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6 Tips to Help You To Get a Loan Modification Approval

There is a process that can help you get approval for a loan modification. If the steps are followed, you will have a better chance of that approval. One very important factor is how you write your loan modification hardship letter. The layout and what you include in your letter can make a big difference in the approval process.

1. Explain that your letter is to formally request a loan modification. Make sure you comment on this being a follow up to your application.
2. Include the reasons for your financial difficulty. Do not go into exact detail. Just give the main facts.
3. Include the rate range that you are comfortable with and that you are sure you will be able to agree to for the long haul.
4. Give detailed information that will get the financial institution to have faith in your ability to keep up with your new payment plan.
5. Include any information regarding pay raises or pay cuts that could change your current situation in the future. Pay raises will help your cause.
6. Be totally honest! Stretching the truth will not get you anywhere. Financial institutions do not like to be deceived and is the quickest way to be denied.

Make sure to stick to the basic facts in your letter. Whining, complaining, or trying for sympathy will not help your cause as the financial institution is a business. They need cold hard facts to back up your reasons.
They need to be reassured that you will not default on your new modified loan and that you are serious in wanting to keep your home.

Remember! Include the interest rate that you feel is acceptable for you to agree to. Make a budget and stick to it. Do not agree to a higher interest rate even if it is lower than what you are paying now. You could wind up in the same boat down the road without being able to try to rectify the situation.

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Increase Your Home's Value

Increasing your home's value is a good idea whether or not you are planning to sell in the near future. Even if you are going to remain in your home for awhile, you will enjoy your home more with some carefully planned upgrades. Adding value to your home is also a good financial decision. Begin by touring your neighborhood.

Look at your neighbor's homes and see how they have kept their home's up. If people in your neighborhood have added a bathroom, then you may need to add a bathroom to bring your home up to par. Although you don't want to necessarily get into a competition with your neighbors, you do want to take steps to add value to your home. The amount of money that you spend on renovations does not mean you will add that same amount of money to the value of your home. In many cases, smaller projects can end up adding more value than larger ones. The best projects are ones that will add to your live while adding to your home's value at the same time.

Putting in nice appliances is a great way to accomplish this. A kitchen is always a remodeling project that pays off. Old tiles, beat-up appliances and damaged counters are big turn-offs to buyers. Pick improvements that will make you enjoy the home more as well. Good choices include adding more counter space, a bigger breakfast nook or replacing an old window with a big bay window in the dining room. Another popular option is put gourmet style appliances into a home kitchen. If the kitchen seems like too involved of a project, then a bathroom is always a good choice as well. As a homeowner, you will love a walk-in closet or a brand-new looking bathroom. A great option in the bathroom is to upgrade the bathtub to a Jacuzzi tub. Many homeowners design their bathrooms to feel like they are in a resort. Buyers will also appreciate this feel. Do your own research before you make a purchase. Do not buy things on impulse, but instead shop around and find out your own information. Decorating books and magazines are a great resource for ideas. If you have friends or neighbors that are going through a renovation project, they can serve as a wealth of information. You will also have to make sure that you have all the permits you need for your project before you get started.

Some improvements that can add value do not cost very much at all. Painting the inside and outside of the home will make a big difference. Pick colors that will go with the design of your home. On the inside of the home, use neutral colors so that buyers can see themselves in your home. Don't underestimate the value of a landscaped yard, either. As you pick what projects to take on to add value to your home, remember that the key is to pick things that you will enjoy as well!

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Know More About Housing Market In 2009

In the face of an intractable credit crisis and a recession that could be the deepest since World War II, economists are expecting another downcast year for housing in 2009. Mission Residential Chief Economist Richard Moody, for example, projects home prices to continue along their downward slope for the entire year before hitting bottom in early 2010. But while there's no shortage of gloomy data—rising unemployment, higher mortgage delinquencies, increasing foreclosures—glass half-fullers do have a number of hopes to cling to. And while these more optimistic factors might not be enough to spring housing back to life in 2009, they could—with a few lucky breaks—prevent the market from declining as sharply as it otherwise might.

Here are the five best reasons to be hopeful about housing in 2009:

1. Cheap mortgage rates: With inflationary pressures easing and economic concerns mounting, shell-shocked investors are seeking the protection of government securities, such as 10-year treasury notes, driving down yields. The lower yields, coupled with the Fed's recently announced plans to buy up debt and mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have dragged mortgage rates to multi-year lows. Thirty-year, fixed mortgage rates hit an average of 5.47 percent last week, the lowest they've been since 2004, according to Freddie Mac.

To be sure, not everyone will be able to take advantage of these attractive rates: Tougher lending standards will prevent many would-be buyers from getting into the market, while homeowners whose houses are now worth less than what they owe on their mortgage won't be able to refinance. Still, the rates present a welcome incentive for qualified borrowers to step up to the plate. "Lower mortgage rates mean more people with those credentials will be able to qualify," says Patrick Newport, a U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight. While that might not make a dramatic impact on the market, it could be enough to keep home sales from declining as much as they otherwise would, Newport says.

2. Lower prices: Home prices at the national level have already fallen 21 percent from their 2006 peaks. And in certain bubble markets, the crash has been even steeper—prices have fallen more than 30 percent in Phoenix and Las Vegas over the past year alone. Although that's a big blow to homeowners—the housing bust is expected to wipe out more than $2 trillion in home values in 2008—lower prices do help stimulate buyer demand, which is badly needed to mop up the excess housing inventory. And while home prices are expected to drop further in 2009, values in certain markets are already at levels low enough to tempt bargain hunters. "Falling home prices aren't part of the problem, they are part of the solution," says Mike Larson, a real estate analyst at Weiss Research.

3. Fewer housing starts: In the face of dwindling demand, home builders have been forced to sharply pull back on new construction. The government reported Tuesday that November housing starts dropped to their lowest level since 1959, when officials started keeping the statistics. While that's bad news for the economy—because it means fewer jobs for builders and others—it's an important step in bringing housing supply back in line with demand. The cutback will limit the supply of new homes coming into the market, which helps to reduce the glut of unsold homes that is putting such downward pressure on housing prices. "In order to get rid of the inventory, builders have to cut back even further and prices have to drop," Newport says. "It's very painful, but there is no way to get around the fact that that's what you need to do to equilibrate the market."

4. Obama stimulus: In an attempt to hoist the economy out of its rut, President-elect Barack Obama has announced plans for a massive federal spending program. The initiative is expected to put between $500 billion and $1 trillion into infrastructure repair and other projects in an effort to keep Americans working. Should this program succeed in preventing unemployment from skyrocketing and keeping the economic contraction from hitting the dourest projections, certain housing markets may firm up quicker than expected, says Susan Wachter, a professor of real estate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. In the best-case scenario, "the housing market declines become contained to those markets where house price declines are significant," Wachter says.


5. Credit programs: It will be tough for the housing market to come back to life until the credit markets—which have been log-jammed by fear for more than a year—begin to unlock. Like the fight to limit unemployment, reviving the credit markets is a daunting challenge. But remember, the federal government has already taken a number of steps designed to do just that. The Federal Reserve has slashed its benchmark interest rate to between 0 and 0.25 percent and committed nearly $2 trillion to new lending programs, bailouts, and additional measures designed to bolster the financial markets. Meanwhile, Congress passed a $700 billion bailout and the Treasury has already injected a chunk of that money into banks of all sorts. While these efforts haven't been enough to restore the credit markets to health, they have produced results. Interbank lending, for example, has eased. And should this modest victory lead to a broader recovery in the credit markets, the economy—and the housing demand that comes with growth—could turn around quicker than expected. "Right now, panic is driving the credit markets," says Moody of Mission Residential. "If, for whatever reason, confidence were to resume and people's appetite for risk was starting to increase, then you could start all of a sudden seeing credit flowing much more freely, which obviously supports spending in both business and households."

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Best Places to Live All Over The World

Finding the best places to live takes a little research. Many companies and organizations have done a lot of the legwork for you, having compiled data and conducted surveys to find where in the world are the best places to live.


----World's Best Places to Live
The London-based Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Liveability Ranking, conducted a worldwide search for the best places to live and visit. Looking at 40 different indicators arranged in five separate categories, including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure, EIU published some interesting findings. With three cities in the top ten, Canada came out on top due to its low crime, little threat from terrorism and a highly developed infrastructure. The best ranked US cities were Cleveland and Pittsburgh, both ranking 26th in the World.


*Vancouver, Canada
*Melbourne, Australia
*Vienna, Austria
*Toronto, Canada
*Calgary, Canada


----Safest Places to Live
With the recent natural disasters that have devastated so many communities throughout the world, when you are considering your next move, you may be wondering if there is anywhere left that is safe to live.

The answer is, no. Every area in the world has either suffered from, or will suffer from, a natural disaster. Whether it is a drought and tornadoes in the Midwest, flooding and ice storms in the Northeast or earthquakes and mudslides along the west coast, Mother Nature has the upper hand.

Forbes recently partnered with Sperling's Best Places to uncover the 10 safest places to live. Here are the top 5:


*Honolulu, Hawaii
*Bosie, Idaho
*Sante Fe, New Mexico
*Yakima, Washington
*Spokane, Washington


----Best Places for Singles
So you're tired of combing the streets and bars of your city in an attempt to find that special someone, or maybe you've had enough bad first dates to keep you in on a Saturday night. Don't despair. Sperling's Best Places has done it again. They have compile stats on percentage of singles, single venues and population density to come up with a list of the top ten dating cities.


*Austin, Texas
*Colorado Springs, Colorado
*San Diego, California
*Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
*Seattle, Washington


----Best Places for Families
Child magazine conducted an extensive search of 100 cities throughout the US to find the best place to raise a family. Factors ranged from pediatric healthcare, schools, housing costs and air quality. Their research also points to highlights in each city, special qualities that exist no where else.


*Denver, Colorado
*Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News, Virginia
*Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota
*Miami, Florida
*Orlando, Florida


----Best Places to Reinvent Yourself
For those of you who are beginning the next stage in life, whether you've retired or if you simply want to start over now that the kids are grown and the nest is empty, AARP magazine conducted a survey to find the best places in the US to reinvent yourself.

Considering many baby boomers will work past their 65th birthday, AARP took job availability into account when ranking a locale. Other factors included cost of living, affordable housing, culture and entertainment, access to outdoor recreation, universities and colleges, personal safety, sense of community, health care facilities and transportation.


*Loveland/Fort Collins, Colorado
*Bellingham, Washington
*Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*Sarasota, Florida
*Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Feng Shui Tips to Help You Deal with The Clutter

The feng shui effect of clutter on your health, your energy levels and the overall quality of your life is obvious - clutter drains your energy and dampens your very best intentions.

Even though we all agree about the feng shui effects of clutter, starting to clear your clutter is never easy. One look at the stuffed bedroom closets or the piled up bookcases in your home office is enough to make you urgently find something very important to do.

There is a way out, though, and feng shui, as an energy tool, can help you clear your clutter in the most efficient, easy and, yes, even enjoyable way! The way to make it work is to keep in mind two important feng shui guidelines:
Bring higher feng shui energy to support you in your clutter clearing efforts. For example, having great music, fresh air, a sense of beauty in the space will start diminishing the low effects of clutter, as in the world of energy everything is in constant motion. Be aware how much easier it is to deal with the low energy of your clutter when you are surrounded by higher energy.


Plan to "underachieve" instead of "overachieve." Start small and time your efforts. For example, give yourself 15 min for a specific area, and when the time is up, just leave it. You've done great. Now plan for the next session and make it a bit longer (20-25 min.)
By mentally changing your approach and having realistic goals you can actually start living clutter free quite soon. It is important to give yourself time, though. Just like with losing the extra weight with feng shui, you will achieve the best results with a consistent system, complimented by new habits.

A very helpful tool in clearing clutter is using the ancient principle of space clearing. There are many ways to do space clearing, and from my experience, ancient cultures around the world have various forms of clearing the stagnant energy. Explore the topic of space clearing with feng shui, as it can be of great help in your feng shui clutter clearing efforts.

From Karen Kingston's Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui (compare prices) and Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui (compare prices) to Denise Linn's Sacred Space: Clearing and Enhancing the Energy of Your Home (compare prices) there are many resources to help you understand how to shift the energy in your space and make your feng shui efforts really pay off.

To deal with the unseen causes of clutter, such as emotional issues, Christan Hummel, the author of Do It Yourself Space Clearing Kit (compare prices) suggests to "go around the house to places where there have been past traumas or difficulties. Do a cleansing ceremony (sage, or candles work well) and intend for the blockages to be cleared from that space. Intentionally bring in items that represent a more flowing energy, such as a feng shui fountain, chimes, or living things like plants, to attract life energy back into that area."

No matter which way of space clearing you choose, once you realize that the unseen Chi, or energy around you is shifting all the time, you can easily transform it for the better. You might not see it, but you can certainly feel it. Feng Shui is here to guide you through all the steps of creating better energy in your home.

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