How to have a successful garage sale

Garage sales represent different things to different people. The bargain hunter, screeching to a halt at the first sign of a garage sale, is looking for a good deal on a useful item. Dedicated garage-salers, armed with maps of advertised garage sales and steaming cups of coffee, set out early in the morning to scour the sales for the best merchandise and earliest deals. Others wander by and see a gorgeous potted plant that they simply must have, while some drivers circle the block slowly, scouting the sale for potentially “stoppable” items.


So how can you turn your garage sale into a “stoppable” sale? By using the combined assets of preparation, presentation and completion.



1. Prepare well. A week or so before your sale date, gather all of the items to be sold. Make sure they’re in good condition – cleaned, washed and polished. Stuff shoes with newspaper to “plump” them up. Wash glassware and knick-knacks in the dishwasher. Clean and press clothing. People are more likely to purchase something in clean, good condition than the same item in it’s unwashed state.


2. Prepare your home – the outside, anyway. Make sure your lawn is mowed, your sidewalks swept, your garage clean. Many garage sale holders use large curtains or sheets hung from the ceiling to keep buyers out of certain areas and to place “sold” items out of the way. This also works if some parts of your garage are messy or contain valuable items, such as tools.


3. Don’t forget supplies! A week or two before your sale, stock up on supplies. Have at least $20 in change and a small cash box. Other supplies include posterboard and markers (for making signs), ribbons and/or balloons (to use as directional markers), price tags or color dots, extra coat-hangers and/or rods for hanging clothes, tables for displaying items, boxes for books, etc.


4. Organize your merchandise. Ever go into a store and find books next to towels next to shoes? Use a logical setup when arranging your garage sale so visitors can find what they want and hopefully see something as well. Keep shoes, belts, purses and other items near the clothing. Display books near craft supplies and office machines. Holiday merchandise should be grouped together and next to the most appropriate section – Christmas merchandise, for example, can go almost anywhere, while Halloween merchandise might best be arranged near the toys and gifts.


Divide and hang clothes on rods or racks with marker signs, such as women’s clothing, girls, men’s, etc. Use some of the better clothes as “displays”, outside of the rack to show what kind of merchandise you offer. On tables, neatly fold and group clothing according to sex and style (i.e., women’s shirts).


5. Throwing a bunch of anything into a box will only attract die-hard bargain hunters. Instead, display items on a table or arrange them in a basket. Spread a large blanket or play mat on the ground and display toys where adults will see them most – at ground level. If you’re using boxes to display books, make sure they’re spine-side up so buyers can read the titles, and that prices for books are clearly displayed.


6. Don’t start too early, but don’t start too late, either. Most garage sales begin at about 8:00 AM; you can be on-hand a bit earlier or, like some hosts, specify no earlybirds in your advertisement. (If you don’t mind earlybirds, be prepared: some ardent garage sale shoppers can come as early as 7AM.) Garage saling peaks at about noon; if you’re not planning to continue the garage sale the next day, mark your merchandise down and start accepting low offers.


7. Be a hospitable host. Keep lemonade or water on hand for hot days with small disposable paper cups. Greet buyers and then busy yourself re-arranging, cleaning, doodling on a pad… whatever it takes to keep you from bugging the buyers. Let them browse the merchandise and be available when they’re ready to buy or ask questions. If you need to use the restroom, have your spouse or someone else on hand to keep an eye out (but hurry back, as husbands are notorious for taking the first bid on an item).


8. Don’t overprice. If you haven’t sold most of your merchandise by noon, chances are the $10 Baby Gap clothes and $150 coffee table have scared off potential buyers. If you’re not sure of the going rate for your items, check out the local Goodwill, thrift store or children’s resale shop for an idea.


9. When your garage sale is finished, remember to remove all of the signs and other directional markers you posted, including ribbons, balloons and arrows. Nothing makes a garage-saler more angry than following a maze of signs only to discover a quiet lawn and closed garage door. Garage-salers have long memories and you may find your next garage sale the subject of a boycott by some of your potentially best customers.


If you find yourself with a few leftover items that you don’t want but not enough to hold another sale, consider donating them to your favorite charity. They will give you a receipt so you can take a tax deduction on the items. Another option, which typically works best for higher-value items, is a consignment shop. Consignment shops will sell the item for you (usually clothing) and take a “cut”, or percentage, of the sale price. This is especially useful if you don’t need that expensive business suit or your children have outgrown their spendy winter coats.


Above all, remember that garage-salers are your customers. Treat them the way you would want to be treated – with fairness and courtesy – and you’ll have a successful garage sale every time.

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How to flirt modestly

Single people of all ages often find themselves interested in those of the opposite sex. That is the natural order of things to help humans find appropriate mates to marry for life and reproduce to continue the species. Flirting is a social behavior that allows someone to express an attraction to another.

Outrageous flirting is unsuitable for most public occasions. Casual flirtations may occur between couples of all ages. Modest flirting is a good idea for young people who are still learning about other people and themselves. So what is modest flirting and how is it done?



We've all heard stories of the unspoken love that lasts half a century or longer, unrequited, because it remained a secret. Then there are love stories where the couple became aware of a mutual attraction. For a host of reasons, sometimes they act on their attraction; sometimes they don't. It is this second type of situation that frequently engages modest flirting, the kind that takes place in Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte romances.


Modest flirting is the art of subtly letting someone know you are mildly interested. In fact, the implied interest is so artful that it may be construed as curiosity rather than attraction. Either way, the other person realizes that someone is taking note of his features, speech, or appearance. Since observation is highly flattering, he automatically turns his attention on the observer, who now begins to flirt in earnest.


Yet she must be cautious. As he turns a glance her way, she allows her eyes to meet his only for a fraction of a second before dropping them. Perhaps her face colors slightly. She may even turn away as though slightly flustered or embarrassed. The object of her study is now piqued and he in turn observes his subject as she pretends not to notice.


In the meantime the pair may be exchanging greetings with other acquaintances who pass by or stop to chat. After a few moments the woman allows herself to send an inquisitive glance at the object of her admiration as she senses his look in her direction through her peripheral vision. Turning her head slightly to let her eyes meet his, she again drops her eyes in confusion and turns the other way with no seeming effort.


Now the man knows she is interested and he is hot on her trail. He may stare after her or continue glancing at her back periodically in the moments that follow. If he is bold, he may make his way to somewhere nearby, feeling the air between them for vibrations that tell him she is worth pursuing. She also feels the tension and turns once more in his direction; their eyes brush and lock briefly, no more than a second. She colors as he bows his head or turns to speak to someone.


If her chosen suitor is bold, a moment later he is at her side with a question or comment of polite conversation. She stares straight ahead or looks down, eluding his efforts to capture and hold her glance. She allows a small smile to perk her lips momentarily, and as their eyes meet once more, he may press a more pointed question:


"Would you like to dance?"


"Do you come here often?"


If he is less bold, the fleeting seconds remind both that their time is past. The woman crosses the room to catch up to a friend while her admired admirer looks after before turning away to do some catching up of his own.


Their eyes will continue to catch for the rest of the evening, but less urgently now. As the evening draws to an end, the pair realizes either that they must see one another again or else that it is not meant to be. Only time will tell.


Without a word, love is born, stretches briefly, and then flies off into oblivion. Such is the nature of modest flirtation.

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Dating an ex-girlfriend

Sometimes an ex-girlfriend will saunter back into your life and you may be tempted to rekindle the relationship. Here are some points to ponder that may help you avoid additional heartache with your ex.

Regardless of who broke up with whom, there are many reasons an ex may suddenly reappear on your radar screen. Jealousy, depression and pregnancy lead the list of reasons reconciliation may be considered. These aren’t exactly the healthiest scenarios to resume your relationship. There must be a more compelling reason than these to pursue a relationship with your ex.



Before you wave the white flag, examine why you want to get back together. Think about the reasons your relationship faltered. Was she dishonest or cheating on you? If the answer is yes, ask yourself why you would want to settle for someone who had an affair. Aside from always having to keep your guard up, you are putting yourself at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Many people who have affairs don’t stop having them – they are simply better at concealing them over time. If you are ready to forgive and forget her behavior, wait at least six months before jumping back into the relationship. It will give her an opportunity to think about the consequences for cheating and may help you see the relationship more objectively. It may reduce the likelihood she repeats this behavior on your watch. Of course, you first may need to pry her from the arms of her current boyfriend to get her attention.


On the other hand, maybe you were the transgressor in your relationship and have seen the errors of your ways. If you cheated on your ex and would like to reconcile, think about the reasons you strayed. You are going to need to prove to her you have addressed whatever problem you had that made you seek comfort outside of your relationship. Be honest. It is unfair to both of you if you are disingenuous about your intention to be faithful in the future. Time is the only way to regain trust. Rather than asking her to resume your relationship, start rebuilding your credibility with her. If you make a lunch date, show up on time. When she is sick, send her a get-well card. These small steps prove you are a man she can count on. Once she seems to have warmed up to you, ask her what doubts she has about you. Ask her what you can do to help eradicate any leftover malevolent feelings. Take your direction from her.


Sometimes there aren’t any hard feelings at all – you simply grew apart. These relationships tend to not be as emotionally charged as those where someone has had an affair. Ask yourself why the relationship fizzled out. Maybe you were pursuing separate interests or your schedules didn’t afford you much time together. Perhaps there wasn’t much chemistry. The former problems are much easier to fix than the latter. If you find yourself missing your ex-girlfriend’s companionship and you had reasonable chemistry, start making time for her. Adjust your schedule. Suggest events that cater to her interests or a favorite hobby. Even if you don’t enjoy the activity, remember it is your ticket to reconnecting with her and you won’t have to do this regularly.


Steer clear of your ex-girlfriend if she is expressing an interest in you after learning you are seeing someone new. These histrionics will not allow you to settle in and have a healthy, comfortable relationship. Conversely don’t pursue your ex-girlfriend solely because you can’t stand to see her with someone else. Resist the urge to ask her out again if your true motivation is to keep her from another man.


Pregnancy is a sticky situation. Unfortunately some women invent a pregnancy to weasel their way back into a relationship that would otherwise be over. There are two separate issues here you need to address: is she truly pregnant and is the baby yours? A home pregnancy test is not always reliable. If she is professing her pregnancy and naming you as the father, don’t voice any doubts. Make an appointment and meet her at her doctor’s office for a blood serum test. If you suspect she would make up a phantom pregnancy in an effort to win you back, don’t risk your personal safety by driving her to the appointment alone. Meet her there or bring another (preferably male) friend along.


If she isn’t pregnant avoid any contact with her. Consider a restraining order if she persists after you have cut off all contact with her. A positive pregnancy test is another matter. Honestly assess the likelihood of another man fathering her baby. Even if you doubt she was with anyone else, insist on a paternity test. You can do this without making any waves if you are on the baby’s birth certificate. The sooner you challenge the baby’s paternity, the less likely you are to be stuck paying for the child’s needs for the next 20 years.


You will evaluate your personal values for guiding your decision to resume a relationship with your ex-girlfriend on account of her pregnancy. Do you feel morally obligated to marry her for the sake of the baby? Will you be comfortable with the possibility another man may be raising your child? The answers to these questions lie within you and no one else can answer them for you.


Don’t ever resume a relationship – for any reason – if she is physically or verbally abusive. These traits tend to worsen over time and seldom improve. Oftentimes there is an underlying problem of alcohol or drug addiction or mental illness. Wait until she has undergone treatment for her problems before considering inviting her back into your life. Keep in mind it takes at least two years without incident before you can consider her tendencies managed.


Dating an ex-girlfriend can be an affirmation of the wonderful things that made your relationship work the first time around. Maybe some time apart can enable you to appreciate even her quirks. Good luck!

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The Hot 2009 Trend in Sunglasses

No outfit is complete without the perfect selection of accessories. Sunglasses are now as important an accessory as handbags. The 80s retro and classic styles are the trend for 2009. Bold colors are especially popular. Since today's styles are so fun, everyone is able to show off their unique personality. The following styles are the current "must haves":

Wayfarers:

Ray Ban designed and manufactured the Wayfarer in 1952. This design introduced the plastic to sunglasses. Although marketed to men and pilots, Hollywood starlets such as Audrey Hepburn popularized the wayfarer. The height of its popularity was in mid 1980s. Ray-Ban's 1982 product placement deal and Tom Cruise wearing the Wayfarer in Risky Business boosted sales tremendously. Through out the years the design of the wayfarer has changed. In the mid 2000's Hollywood Starlets brought back the original wayfarer. Ray-Ban noticed that the original wayfarer was commanding high prices on eBay. They were being worn by the elite Hollywood. Ray-Ban was very smart in 2007 to re-introduce the original wayfarer.

Aviators:

Ray Ban developed the original aviator in 1937. They sold these to the Army and Navy in 1941. Naval aviators were the first to wear these sunglasses. Hollywood celebrities popularized the aviator in the 1960s. However, the aviators hit their all time peak of popularity in 1980s following the movie, "Top Gun". Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer wore these shades beautifully. The aviator is now seen on many current celebrities such as Kayne West, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan and Rachel Bilson.

Lolita Heart Sunglasses:

Celebrities, such as Nicole Richie, love to wear the Lolita heart sunglasses. These fun and flirty sunglasses were first worn in the 1962 movie, "Lolita". You can find these fun sunglasses in every color.

Oversized:

Oversized styles are still very popular.

Millionaires:

Louis Vuittun's popularized the millionaire style sunglasses. Celebrities such as Kayne West, Rihanna and Paris Hilton love this style. This trend is still going strong for 2009.

Devo:

Not only is Devo back on tour, the Devo sunglasses are also a popular fashion statement!

Shutter Shades:

In 2007, Shutter Shade inc. brought back a style originally introduced in the 1980s . . . The Shutter Shade. Instead of lenses these sunglasses have plastic horizontal strips (similar to a "shutter" window covering). Kayne West popularized the current style in his "Stronger" video. Since then they have been worn by several celebrities. In the 1980s, a similar style nicknamed "Venetian Blinders" was popularized by the group Simple Minds in their "Glittering Prize" video.

John Lennon Round Sunglasses:

A very strong trend in Women's sunglasses is the round "John Lennon" frame.

New Wave Futuristic Asymmetric Square:

The new wave unique asymmetric square sunglasses are a celebrity hit.

Clear Lens Wayfarers:

It is no secret the days of hiding your eyeglasses is over. The sales of clear lens eyeglasses have skyrocketed. The new sexy is clear lens wayfarers. As worn by Johnny Depp and many other celebrities, these eyeglasses are the new "must have" accessory.

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5 Tips for Safe and Healthy Exercise

Warm up, cool down, and make sure they're playing it safe.

Exercising is a wonderful way for kids (and adults) to enhance their health and to improve their physical abilities. But exercise always comes with the risk of injury or harmful stress on the body. Here are a few tips to help your child exercise safely:

1. Dress in the proper clothing. If your child is participating in outdoor activities, he should dress for the temperature and humidity. In cold weather, dress your child in layers, so that as his body temperature rises, he can take off one layer at a time. In hot weather, he should wear thin, light-colored clothing. In all weather conditions, don't forget to apply sunscreen. Socks and shoes are important as well. Make sure that your child's shoes are appropriate for his activity, since different shoes serve different purposes. For example, a running shoe absorbs shock differently than a tennis shoe. Your child's socks should be able to absorb moisture from his feet and provide good cushioning.

2. Wear protective gear. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, more than 3 million children experience sports- and recreation-related injuries in the United States each year. Many of these injuries can be prevented with the use of proper equipment. Make sure that your child is wearing all the recommended forms of protective gear for her activity. This may include a helmet, goggles, shin guards, a chest protector, or knee and elbow pads. If you are unsure of what equipment is recommended, ask your pediatrician.

3. Drink fluids. Children should drink a glass of water about 15 minutes before they start exercising. If they're exercising in a warm environment, they should drink a large, lukewarm glass of water every 20 minutes during the activity. Lack of water can cause dehydration. Possible signs of dehydration include nausea and lethargy. If you ignore these signs, the body may go into heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

4. Warm up. Warming up prepares the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and the heart for the exercise that will follow. Children can generally warm up more quickly than adults, simply by running in place and breathing deeply for a few minutes. They should then slowly and gently rehearse the motions of the exercise for a few minutes, gradually building up speed, force, and intensity.

5. Cool down. Cooling down properly is just as important as warming up. Give your child a few minutes to slow down her motions and lessen her intensity before stopping the exercise altogether. Wait until her skin is dry and cool to the touch before taking her into a cold, air-conditioned room, giving her ice-cold drinks, or getting her in the shower.

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Five Best ‘Bang For Your Buck’ Places To Buy A Vacation Home.

Although we are just starting to look for our first home, and I think buying a vacation is kind of waste of money unless you use it 50% of the year, Smart Money has come up with a list of places to buy a vacation home. So if you and yours are thinking about buying in this buyer’s market, here are 5 places they think you should check out:

1) Panama City Beach, Florida

2) Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

3) The Crystal Coast, North Carolina

4) Lake Tahoe, California - This is the only place I would consider it out of these 5. Lake Tahoe is amazing!

5) Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

So, if you could buy a vacation home, where would you start looking? Personally I would prefer to take vacations in different places each year, but some people like familiarity. What are your thoughts on this?

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Swap Your Home And Take A Vacation For Free.

How cool would it be to take a vacation overseas (or just across the country) for nothing more than the cost of getting there? That would surely save a ton on hotel costs, especially in Europe with the value of the American dollar so low! There are tons of people taking these types of vacations right now, by swapping their house with someone looking to vacation in their hometown. Live in Los Angeles but always wanted to visit Paris? Just find someone in Paris looking to vacation in Los Angeles and trade places - voila, a free stay for your vacation!

I would imagine that this type of swapping would not be for everyone, as I am sure there are plenty of people who don’t want complete strangers staying in their home without them being there. But luckily there are services that exist that prescreen and rate potential swappers and can set you up with a perfect match for your needs and wants. I guess I could trust a family to stay in my house if they were allowing me to stay in their home at the same time. Besides, the money savings alone would probably be worth it! A few of the sites I found that facilitate house swaps charge an annual fee, but that seems like a small price to pay for free lodging on vacation, no?

While I cannot vouch for any of these organizations, as I have never done any house swapping, here are a few names that popped a couple of times in my searches:

Home Exchange
Intervac US Home Exchange
Homelink USA
Digsville
I suppose the key to participating in a home swap is being comfortable with both living in someone else’s home while allowing someone else to stay in yours. Supposedly problems are few and far between, and I can imagine that would be true. After all, you are being trusted while trusting someone else! I think I will keep this in mind for the future should we ever want to vacation overseas somewhere. Have you ever had any experience with home swapping? If so, how was it? If not, would you ever consider it?

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How to handle the bugs who love cucumbers

Q: Each year I plant cucumbers, both plants and from seeds. The plants grow fine until I pick the first cucumbers. Soon after I pick, the plants start to wilt and die. This starts at the bottom of the plant, and in a matter of weeks the plants are dead. I have tried planting in different spots of my yard. I have tried planting in five-gallon pots with soil that I got from a nursery. The same problem occurs. I have planted string beans in the same spots and they were just fine yielding plenty of beans. Any thoughts you have will be greatly appreciated.

James Marouchoc,

Allentown

A: Cucumbers are members of the cucurbit family (muskmelon, cantaloupe, watermelon, squash and pumpkin as well). While they are susceptible to mildews, wilts and other fungal diseases, the most common problems come from insects. The likely suspects are the cucumber beetle and squash vine borer. Both can produce the symptoms that James has experienced in his garden.

Cucumber Beetles: Cucumber beetles, both striped and spotted, are common pests and important for the diseases they carry as well as the actual damage the insects do to the plant. The beetles are yellow-green with three black stripes or 12 black spots; the grubs are white. These beetles often carry mosaic virus and bacterial wilt. Adults winter over in garden plant debris or weeds. Emerging in early spring, the beetles feed on young plants, attacking the leaves and stems. The females lay orange-yellow eggs at the base of the stem or on the soil near the plant. The grubs emerge and eat the plants, particularly the roots below the soil line. Vines become stunted, wilt and often die.

The first defense is row covers. These lightweight fabric barriers must be secured and exclude the beetles. The covers should be installed immediately after transplanting or as soon as seedlings emerge. However, unless you plant a self-pollinating variety, the cover must be removed when the vines flower to allow insects to pollinate the flowers.

Hand picking the first arrivals is another option. Look for the adult beetles in the flowers. They are easiest to hand pick in the heat of the day by netting them as they fly above the plants. Check regularly for clusters of eggs on either side of the leaf as well as at the base of the stem. Destroy eggs by crushing.

Insecticides are available that target the cucumber beetle. If necessary, use as instructed only after you have properly identified the insect.

Squash vine borers: Though the name says squash, these borers are a frequent problem in cucumbers as well. Identification and control of this pest was covered in detail a few weeks ago (March 6).

Identify the most damaging life stage of the pest by looking at the base of the vine for a small entry hole and sometimes some material resembling sawdust on the ground. Slitting the vine will usually reveal more crumbly material and a fat white grub with a brown head. Remove the grub, carefully close the slit and cover the damaged area of the vine with soil.

The eggs are small clusters of flat brown dots about the size of a pencil point and are located at the base of the plant. Remove and destroy eggs regularly throughout the season. Insecticidal soaps also can help control eggs.

Adults resemble wasps with green metallic front wings and transparent wings with black or brown veins and margins on the rear wings. The body is orange and black, often in a ringed pattern. Some gardeners suggest row covers to keep out adults. This has two drawbacks: soils infested with pupas will allow adults to emerge inside the row cover and row covers must be removed to allow insect pollination.

Control by clearing beds of infested plants and all plant debris at the end of the growing season. Pupas are black and in the soil. Stirring up the soil in the fall and spring can expose pupas to the elements and hungry birds.

Other options: If gardeners have problems with cucumbers despite following good preventive practices, they should consider seeking out resistant varieties. Select plant varieties that specify resistance to mosaic resistance, powdery mildew and other problems.

In the garden

The first package of plants arrived this week -- a box of Aquilegia 'Barlow Mix' ordered last year. My sister Peg and I planted a lot last fall and I've still got a stockpile of plants still in pots, so I've controlled my spring orders. As I'm finally getting over the flu, I'm looking forward to getting out in the garden soon.

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How to Know If a Girl is Ready to Be Kissed?

If you have been dating a particular girl for some time now, and have not passed the stage of just holding hands and an occasional hug, it could be that you are ready to move on to the next stage! If you are not sure as to whether your girl is ready to be kissed, the following tips should help you!

Never assume that your girl is ready for a deeper, closer contact with you. Read the signs and body language. Whether she is aware of it or not, she is sending you signals that you have to learn to read correctly. Watch her posture, facial expressions and her gestures.

If your girl leans towards you while talking, it may mean that she is ready to have bodily contact. Assuming that she is now comfortable in your company, and trusts you, it should not be surprising that she is willing to graduate to the "kissing" stage.

If your girl is always touching you, holding you, sitting close to you or even on your lap, hugs you intimately, and even gives you a peck on the cheek, all these are indications that she wants to go further. Try holding her close and kissing her back, and if she does not protest or tries to break away from your embrace, then of course she is ready!

Set the stage for your girl. It is obvious that you should not even try to kiss her in a place that will make her embarrassed and angry with you. Instead take her to a spot - a beautiful spot near the lake, or where the ambience will put her in the mood! Women like being taken to romantic spots and being wooed.

More often than not, women love men to disclose their feelings and fantasies. It makes them feel sexy and desirable. If you talk to her and let her know that you dream about those luscious lips, she'll pucker up for you!

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Make a Man Want You - What it Takes to Get Him to Commit!

Can you make a man really want you and chase after you with everything that he has? Is it true that you have to have a knockout body to make a man really want you? What if there was something which you could do immediately to learn to attract men like crazy? If you are ready to find out what it is then you will be happy to learn how you also can make a man want you and to commit to you only...

First, you must understand that making a man really want you is not supposed to be hard. If it is, then it is time to reset. Most people who are frustrated that they are doing all the work are making it way to hard on themselves. If you are afraid that you backing off will cause you to lose him than you may as well get it over with.

Once you realize this, it is time to focus on what will naturally make a man want you. As you may have guessed this is going to begin with turning his head. While it is true that attraction is the least important part of a relationship you do have to be able to get in the front door with him. Stand in front of a mirror and pick out your most attractive feature. Then, find out what you can do to really make it stand out.

Nice legs? How about a skirt and high heels? Attractive neck? Try something which will draw his attention there. No, this does not mean that you have to dress like a tramp. Just focus on your strong points instead of wasting your energy on masking our weaknesses. Once you have his attention then you can turn on your charm.

This means knowing how say without words: "I am interested in you." When it comes to this the more subtle and mysterious you can be the better. A light touch on the hand, a wink, or a slight sideways glance which seems to have no purpose at all are going to light up his imagination. If nothing else, the sheer thrill of the chase will have him wanting to know more.

Once you have him in pursuit you can focus on the most important thing: Friendship. Right. Take the pressure off of you both and he will be wondering where you have been all of his dating life. Dating has enough pressure on its own. Why add to it? Approach your bonding with him as a friend and let nature take its course.

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Build Your People Skills

How would you like to get along even better with others in your personal relationships and in the workplace? Getting along well with people sounds kind of general and is difficult to do much about, so let's break it down into some manageable and specific skills. By building the following skills, you will get along well with others:

1. Build others' self-esteem.

2. Show empathy for others.

3. Encourage people to cooperate with each other.

4. Communicate assertively.

5. Ask productive questions and demonstrate listening skills.

6. Respond productively to emotional statements.

People skills (which are also known as emotional intelligence) can be thought of as six specific skills. Let's take a brief look at each one.

1. Build others' self-esteem. When you are in a situation where you are made to feel good about yourself, you feel good. You can do the same with others by doing the following kinds of things:

a. Make eye contact with others.

b. Call others by their names.

c. Ask others their opinions.

d. Compliment others' work.

e. Tell people how much you appreciate them.

f. Write notes of thanks when someone does something worthwhile.

g. Make people feel welcome when they come to your home or workplace.

h. Pay attention to what is going on in people's lives. Acknowledge milestones and express concern about difficult life situations such as illness, deaths, and accidents.

i. Introduce your family members to acquaintances when you meet them in public.

j. Encourage your loved ones to explore their talents and interests.

k. Share people's excitement when they accomplish something.

l. Honor people's needs and wants.

m. Take responsibility for your choices and actions, and expect others to do the same.

n. Take responsibility for the quality of your communications.

2. Show empathy for others. Empathy means recognizing emotions in others. It is the capacity to put yourself in another person's shoes and understand how they view their reality and how they feel about things.

Being aware of our emotions and how they affect our actions is a fundamental ability in today's people-intense workplaces. People who are cut off from their emotions are unable to connect with people. It's like they are emotionally tone-deaf.

No one wants to work with such people because they have no idea how they affect others. You have probably met a few people who fit this description.

3. Encourage people to cooperate with each other. Whether you are managing a family or a work group, there are some specific things you can do to create an environment where others work together well:

a. Don't play favorites. Treat everyone the same. Otherwise, some people will not trust you.

b. Don't talk about people behind their backs.

c. Ask for others' ideas. Participation increases commitment.

d. Follow up on suggestions, requests, and comments, even if you are unable to carry out a request.

e. Check for understanding when you make a statement or announcement. Don't assume everyone is with you.

f. Make sure people have clear instructions for tasks to be completed. Ask people to describe what they plan to do.

g. Reinforce cooperative behavior. Don't take it for granted.

4. Communicate assertively. Assertive communication is a constructive way of expressing feelings and opinions. People are not born assertive; their behavior is a combination of learned skills. Assertive behavior enables you to:

a. Act in your own best interests.

b. Stand up for yourself without becoming anxious.

c. Express your honest feelings.

d. Assert your personal rights without denying the rights of others.

Assertive behavior is different from passive or aggressive behavior in that it is:

a. Self-expressive

b. Honest

c. Direct

d. Self-enhancing

e. Constructive, not destructive

Assertive behavior includes both what you say and how you say it.

5. Ask productive questions and demonstrate listening skills. Listening skills help you show that you are hearing and understanding another person and are interested in what he or she has to say.

6. Respond productively to emotional statements. A communication skill called active listening is especially useful in emotional situations because it enables you to demonstrate that you understand what the other person is saying and how he or she is feeling about it. Active listening means restating, in your own words, what the other person has said. It's a check of whether your understanding is correct. This demonstrates that you are listening and that you are interested and concerned.

Active listening responses have two components:

a. Naming the feeling that the other person is conveying

b. Stating the reason for the feeling

Here are some examples of active listening statements:

"Sounds like you're upset about what happened at work."

"You're annoyed by my lateness, aren't you?"

"You sound really stumped about how to solve this problem."

"It makes you angry when you find errors on Joe's paperwork."

"Sounds like you're really worried about Wendy."

"I get the feeling you're awfully busy right now."

Actively listening is not the same as agreement. It is a way of demonstrating that you intend to hear and understand another's point of view.

The ability to get along well with people in your personal relationships and in the workplace is a set of learned skills. No one is born knowing how to build others' self-esteem, show empathy, encourage cooperation, communicate assertively, ask productive questions, or respond productively to emotional statements. These skills can be learned and developed with some practice. By taking the time to develop these skills, you will be able to build better relationships at home and at work.

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Should You Stay Or Go? 3 Signs it Might Be Time to Let Go of a Relationship

Most people go into relationships hoping for a union that will be mutually loving, caring, and fulfilling. For two emotionally balanced people who have respect, commitment, and communication with one another, this is a reasonable result. However, there are situations where one or both parties have personal issues or problems that cause destruction in the relationship, and cause it to become toxic. Here are 3 signs that the problems run so deep it may be time to consider ending the relationship:

1. Your partner is abusive toward you in any way. This includes physical abuse, which is very dangerous. If this is occurring, get help from a domestic violence shelter or counselor who specializes in this kind of issue. Leaving can be a dangerous time and professional guidance is must. If you are experiencing emotional abuse, which is criticism and controlling behavior that causes feelings of worthlessness, inferiority, and even worries about mental sanity, this is damaging as well. Over time it can lead to lowered self esteem and depression.

2. Your partner has an addiction that he or she in unwilling to deal with or get treatment for. It is very difficult to manage in this situation. You are likely to be tempted to try to help or rescue your partner from the consequences of his or her using of substances, but this only reinforces the disfunction. Your partner will not take responsibility if you are doing it for him or her. Unfortunately, your partner is likely to be focused on the next high rather than in being fully present in your relationship. In addition, you face possible consequences such as legal or financial issues as result of DUI's or accidents while using.

3. Your partner persists in a pattern of affairs and infidelity. An affair doesn't have to mean the end, but both partners need to recommit and improve communication and accountability to repair the relationship. If the infidelity continues or proves to be a pattern, there is no foundation to build any trust or honest relationship upon.

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10 Dumb Things People Do in Relationships

Looking for inspiration for this article, I asked my wife, Christy, to help me identify one dumb thing I do in our relationship. I should have known better. "Only one?" she asked innocently. Apart from the occasional Saint among us, the rest of us are pretty human and do our own dumb things in relationships from time to time. In my opinion, it is OK to make mistakes as long as we learn something as we go. A friend of mine says that if you learn from your mistakes, she is one of the smartest people around! Here is my top 10 list of the dumb things we can all do from time to time, if we are not careful.

Number one on my list is reading another person's behaviour in an unnecessarily negative light, not finding a better way to see the situation, if that is possible. When we mis-read their behaviour and don't cut them any slack, we tend to respond in very human ways.

The second dumb thing we can all do is not thinking before we speak or act. When we do this, often what we have to say comes out badly, at the wrong time, or we don't talk at all. When we don't think, we are tempted to do the same thing that helped create the problem in the first place.

Number three on my list is simply never finding a good time to talk due to concern about restarting an argument or unproductive conversation. The trouble with this approach is that many matters remain unresolved and the same issues come up again and again.

The fourth dumb thing we do is focusing solely on what the other person is doing wrong, trying to change their behaviour, rather than simply keeping the focus on what we are doing. When we do this, we are effectively trying to control what is out of our control rather than looking at any contribution we may be making.

Number five is insisting we be heard first rather than giving genuine understanding to how the other person is seeing things and how strongly they are feeling. If ever you watch a couple of people arguing, you will see them effectively saying, "Shut up and listen to me!"

The sixth dumb thing to do is to pretend you don't have any personal flaws. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst personal flaws you can have, making it hard for you to give genuine apologies, make amends, or learn from your mistakes. It is also very, very annoying for other people to be constantly blamed for interactions in which they feel you have also made a contribution.

Number seven is not taking other people's sensitivities into account. This makes it easy to offend or hurt them even when this has not been our intention. Rather than treading carefully around issues that have been hurtful to them, we tell them they are over-reacting, to get over it, or to sort themselves out in therapy.

The eighth dumb thing we can all do is to think that our way of seeing things is the only way. When we believe this, we tend to try to pressure the other person to come around to our perspective.

Number nine is to think that other people are wired the same as you. People are different in what helps them to feel happy and have different ways of doing things. But it is the way we deal with differences that is important. By accepting that people operate differently or see things differently, it becomes easier to accept difference or negotiate a common understanding for the future.

The tenth dumb thing we can do is to make choices to meet our needs, but in ways not respectful of other people's needs. For example, we throw ourselves into our work instead of giving priority to the needs of our family. Or we have an affair, drink heavily, or spend too much time on the computer, all of which are not respectful of our partner's needs. When you don't take other people's needs into account, or incorrectly target your efforts, they will not feel inspired to show consideration to you.

You might be tempted now to show your partner or a co-worker this article, circling the parts that apply to them. I suggest instead you might be better to say that there are things you can both do to help, keeping the focus on your own behaviour. Although my wife will remind me that when it comes to doing dumb things in relationships, men tend to excel in this regard. Fortunately, she also catches me doing a number of things right.

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The Major Shocking Reason Why Women Love Bad Boys! Every Guy Should Know This

It does not seem possible, but women do love the bad boy attitude that seems to make the guy sexier and more attractive. What is it about having this attitude that makes the woman drool and pant after you? Read the following and find out why bad guys seem to win in this dating world!

Girls seem to hate wimps and "momma's boys". The more you prove that you can't stand up for yourself, the more they will begin to hate the sight of you. These kinds of boys are usually "yes" men who don't seem to have a mind of their own. Girls like boys to be decisive and even assertive to a point.

The "bad" boy usually is not really bad inside, and the girls somehow sense that. They just seem bad because of the "rebellious look" they sport. Girls love it when they go out with a "bad" guy and feel that it proves that they are brave and daring to go out with them.

Bad guys have a distinctive style of dress that appeals to the girls. They are so obviously different from the usual guys they hang out with that they stand out and seem more attractive. The girls feel singled out and special if they are asked out by a bad boy. They feel that the bad boy attitude that is so 'naughty" is revolutionary and exciting.

Bad boys are not followers but leaders in a way and this excites the girls. The "don't care attitude" is appealing to them as opposed to the straight boring guy who is so predictable!

As mentioned before, the bad guy does not really have to be 'bad', because no sooner than the first attraction dies, the girls are going to be put off if you really have traits of dishonesty and selfishness lurking underneath. No leather jacket or Harley Davidson can actually hide your personality - let her find out that her "bad" boy is really a "good" one!

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Weed Control - The Best Garden Plants Can Be The Worst Weeds!

When people hear the word "weed" they usually think of some nasty, ugly herbaceous plant ruining their flowerbed, such as bindweed or Mallow. Weeds are most commonly unwanted plants because they are deemed "ugly". Actually any plant, wild or cultivated, is a weed if it is growing where it is unwanted. The worse types are those that are difficult to control. The very worst, are those that are virtually uncontrollable and as a result do tremendous damage not only to parks and gardens, but to the local environment as well.

In this latter category are many ornamental garden plants, from herbaceous perennials, to trees and shrubs. The problem is that they propagate themselves so vigorously, usually by prolific seed production and germination rates, that they not only sprout up everywhere within the garden, but are liable to escape into the surrounding countryside. Those species that establish themselves and start to spread are called invasive alien species. The affect on a local eco-system is liable to be catastrophic. Why is this so?

Non-native plants that are able to survive in the wild are likely to have a number of crucial advantages over native species. Over the millennia, complex associations develop between the mass of organisms, which control and regulate populations; predation and parasitism being an integral part of the eco-system. It often happens though, that alien species have no natural predators, or diseases and pests that keep their numbers down. Consequently, they start taking over a particular area, reducing and even eliminating the native species in the process. The once richly, varied habitat becomes the domain of a very limited number of plant species, which in turn devastates the fauna that had developed in association with the flora.

In Israel where I come from, a number of introduced plants have wreaked havoc with local habitats. Species of Acacia from Australia have taken over much of the Mediterranean coastline; Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) from China, is wiping out the native oak-pistachio communities in hilly country, while the decorative shrub, Lantana camara from America, is a major pest in gardens and beyond.

Similar problems are occurring all over the world. Apparently, California has also been "taken over" by the Tree of Heaven, while in many habitats in Australia, ornamental varieties of Melaleuca (splendid bushes!) are pushing out the native species of the same genus. Virtually all the culprits are escapees from agriculture or gardening.

The question is what can we, professional and home gardeners alike do about it? It is a question that we have to ask ourselves because unhappily, we are partly responsible for the problem. Modest steps in the right direction can be taken by refusing to plant those species that are suspected of being invasive. Make contact with local environmental groups for advice. We should also be reducing our appetite for new, exotic plants, because it can take years before the invasive properties of a particular plant become apparent.

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10 Household Tips

10 Handy Household Tips
1) To minimise strong odours in the fridge, place a small container of baking or bicarbonate soda on a shelf in the fridge. The baking soda will absorb the odours.This also applies to any unwanted smells on carpets, upholstery or bedding.
2) When mopping ceramic tiles, add about 1/2 cup of vinegar to the bucket of rinse water (little less than half full) this is an easy way to shine those tiles. Use same measurements of liquids for cleaning glass and windows with ordinary day newspaper. Dampen one piece of newspaper in solution to clean glass and a dry piece of newspaper for drying.
3) Ever noticed how hard it is to clean a cheese grater with a sponge? Try using a toothbrush with a flexible head For inside and outside grater, also great to clean those hard-to-reach corners. There are many uses around the house, RV and car for the discarded toothbrush. Try cleaning the grouting in tiles or around window frames were condensation can turn black. A toothbrush is also very useful for getting small stones and grit out of the soles of trainers to lessen floor damage. I have a friend who keeps all of her old toothbrushes for applying dye or bleach when doing her own or her daughters roots.
4) Don’t ever let the humble household bleach become redundant. Bleach is a great, cheap and quick solution to kitchen and household bacteria. Once a week pour diluted bleach down the sink to kills germs that breed naturally there. Wipe kitchen surfaces from time to time with diluted bleach before going to bed. This will not only give a fresh clean smell in the morning but will get rid of smoking and animal odours etc and kill germs overnight.
5) A freezer runs more economically if it is full instead of half empty. Fill discarded plastic juice bottle and put them in the freezer (remember to leave room for expansion as water freezers) this will help to slow it down and work more efficiently.
6) Warning about plastic or foam-backed tablecloths. Using a plain plastic or foam-backed plastic tablecloth directly on a wood table with a polished finish can ruin the table. The plastic or foam can stick to the table, pulling up a plastic tablecloth that has been there for some time can leave patches on the polished surface. In this case, the remedy is to have the table re-polished. Only use plastic cloths with fabric or felt backing on wooden tables, or put a sheet or cloth over the table first.
7) Unclog a sink or shower drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar - Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water. To clean a toilet, drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean china and leaves it with a shine, difficult stains might need to be done twice.
8) To remove dried on food from inside your microwave, boil some water in a bowl for a couple of minutes. The steam loosens the dried on food.
9) Cut off the tops of cotton socks, fold over once to create a "cuff." Put on your wrists when washing & rinsing your face, or other similar activities to keep water from running down your arms leaving your sleeves all wet.. Also useful tips/idea when dying or bleaching roots or hair, bathing dog etc.
10) Did your puppy have an accident? Good tip.Sponge the area with a solution of half white vinegar and half warm water. You may need to repeat the process.

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How to clean really dirty shower doors?

Glass shower doors
When I worked for a maid service while going through college, there were a lot of things that were a pain. There may have been nothing more daunting that glass shower doors though, as they just never seemed to come clean. We usually could clean a rather large sized how in under an hour, but if confronted with especially dirty shower doors we would end up being there a lot longer. Though many of them were hard to clean because of neglect or hard water, most of them would come out sparkling clean.
Can't leave anything on the door
We only had so many options when cleaning shower doors like that. We only had so many cleaning products, and we couldn’t use anything else unless specifically instructed to do so by the homeowner. Many times I would have to soak down the shower doors and go do something else for a while. When I came back some of the tough stuff would come off, but they would never be entirely cleaned to my liking. When cleaning a shower like this, you really can’t leave anything there. You also have to worry about the trim and the insides of the slide rail if there is one. You have to take care of the faucet as well.
Comet scrubbing
That’s when I would have to break out the Comet to clean the shower doors. I never liked to do it because my hands would be red and sore at the end of the day. However, I had to do my job, and if I had to get it out, I would do it. I would have to make a water and Comet paste to apply to the shower doors. In about ten minutes I could start the hard part. The scrubbing was brutal, but necessary.
Only the first time
Once the Comet has set the scrubbing was rather easy, but I would still have to scrub every inch of the shower doors to make sure they came clean. After that was over and they were wiped down, I would use a spritz of glass cleaner to make sure all of the Comet was off of the shower doors, and to give it a shine. Usually a shower only needed that type of treatment the first time we cleaned a house, but someone with hard water might need that every few months. If you are having problems with your doors, you may want to try the Comet.

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How to Organize Pet Supplies

Pets come with almost as much stuff as people do. From cans andbags of food and treats, to crates, leashes, toys, medications and kittylitter, there's plenty to keep track of when the animal kingdom takesup residence in your home.

Step1Pour dry food into an air-tight aluminum, glass or heavy-duty plastic container with a close-fitting lid. Choose one large enough to hold the contents of the size food bag you typically buy. Keep the container close to food dishes. Save time with the automatic feeders (for animals who actually have portion control).
Step 2Stack cans of food on a lazy Susan or shelf. You'll be able to spin and find Fluffy's favorite flavor.
Step 3Place leashes and extra collars on hooks located near the mostused door or on the inside wall of an entry-area closet. Keep travel gear--Frisbees, collapsible water bowls and old towels-- here as well. Keep a plastic bag tied around the leash so you'll never forget one when you go on walks. See 47 Prepare Grab 'n' Go Activity Bags.
Step 4Stow pet-care products, such as grooming supplies, medications and ointments in a bucket. Hang from the same hook you've got the leash on.
Step 5Corral toys and bones in a basket near the pet's bed or crate.

Tips & Warnings

• See 269 Prepare for a New Cat or Dog.If you have to search for the packet of heartworm pills each time a dose is due, keep them in a pet file.
• Put the dosage dates in your calendar.Dry pet food will say fresh for six to nine months when stored in a cool, dry place.
• Soft, moist food will stay fresh for three to six months if kept in its original package with the top rolled tightly closed. Cover opened cans and refrigerate.

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Do Bad Guys Always Get the Girl?

If we are to believe the movies, the ruthless tough guy always gets the girl. And didn't it seem that the bad boys at school always had the hottest babes? The best looking girls always seem to love the bad guys. Maybe because the best looking guys always became the bad guys? Everywhere we tend to see bad guys and nice girls. We see fools and meatheads with the girls of our fantasies. In the mall we see our flaxen haired goddesses with America's Most Wanted. Is it nature at work, is it us, what has gone awry?
Men are confused. We like to refer to stereotypes and work from them. Men are told that we need to be a hero and a tough guy. But then we are told we need to be in touch with our sensitive sides. Meanwhile the man down the street who treats his girlfriends like crap, never calls, is rude and disrespect appears to have a fan club developing. Life, my friends, can seem unfair. But let's look at what is going on with this scenario.
Interest. Bad guys are interesting, they do interesting things. They have strayed from the straight-and-narrow and have developed their own code of conduct. They do what they want. They go where they want. They answer to no one. They are, in other words, fascinating. Tow the line, do as you are told and inevitably you will be become dull. Mavericks are interesting, straight guys are not.
Bad guys are confident and self assured. They know what they're about and don't really care what others think. They are their own men and don't need others to prop them up. Bad guys don't have to be in shape, just look at James Galdofini from The Sopranos, who is immensely attractive despite his rotund appearance. Some can become almost caricaturesof themselves, but that doesn't make them any less attractive.
Plus bad guys are a challenge. We all love a challenge, and women may love a challenge even more than the boys. If something is a challenge, the end results must surely be worthwhile, right? The girls who go after bad guys want to find the pot of gold at the end of crazy rainbow. They will go to great lengths to solve their mysteries. And once they have them, once they've conquered the challenge, they don't want to let go. Plus it makes for an exciting rollercoaster ride because the bad guy could walk away at any moment. The greater the danger of loosing a bad guy, the greater the effort they'll put forth to keep them. And there may be a lesson there.
What do we have if we combine these facets? Power, strength of character, confidence, a maverick nature and an immensely interesting personality equals sexiness. That is exactly what the bad boy is, so it's no surprise that this type of guy often get the gal. It doesn't mean to say that we like them, and it doesn't mean it is fair or even a good thing, but raw attraction can be nature's way.
I am not in any way suggesting that we should all be Mr. Bad Guy. Not at all. What I am saying is that there are lessons to be learned here. What is attractive can be modified and added to our arsenal of dating weaponry. How you perceive yourself that matters the most. If you can increase your confidence levels, get your career on the right tracks, excel in what you do and be your own man within the confines of your working life, then you'll get that bad boy confidence. And that attitude will boost your attractiveness. You don't need to go around being bad, but you can be a bit more deliberate in your actions, a little less available and a little more enigmatic. This will boost your interest factor and again help in your attractiveness.
The modern dating game is highly complex and courting rituals can be a minefield. Go back to basics, analyze what is it that you think potential partners would like and think about how can you match of yourself to those qualities. Changing just a few small things could make the world of difference.

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Metal Roofing Materials - A Variety of Options

When you tell people you are considering a metal roof, many people get the mental image of the farm house with an unsightly tin roof hovering over its barn. In the past years, metal roofing materials have made incredible forward progress to combine their extraordinary benefits as a building material with the eye catching appeal the standard homeowner is after. No longer just a solution for industrial buildings and barns, metal roofs can be found in a variety of styles and colors.
Believe it or not, metal roofing materials are now available that replicate many of the traditional styles we've grown familiar with. Metal roofing can be purchased that duplicates the appearance of a slate or shingle roof. Some manufacturers have even gone as far as to embed their metal "shingles" with sand and stone, lending them to the most authentic look possible.
There are metal shakes that replicate the wooden shake roofs from the olden days and even clay tile to give an authentic Mediterranean or Spanish image. There are other designs available as well that can only be achieved with a metal roof, such as a standing seam metal roof that is popular with many architects due to its contemporary design characteristics.
It's not simply about the image they produce, though. Metal roofing materials are now actually available that are energy star rated. Products in this category are in line with the Department of Energy's movement to promote energy efficient products. These products take the natural reflective properties of metal one step further to increase its reflectivity of the sun's rays. This helps lower the roof's surface temperature and, in turn, the amount of energy it requires to cool your house.
It also acts to reduce the amount of energy lost in the winter months when you are trying to keep warm, reflecting heat back inside the home where it belongs. In the end, it is better for the environment, your home, and best yet, your pocket book.
Metal roofing materials are no longer just about functionality. Over the past 20 years or so, a huge movement has skyrocketed metal roofing to new heights and made it appealing to homeowners everywhere. They are now being manufactured to duplicate the traditional looks we enjoy and bring new life to those with a more stylistic approach. From efficiency to durability, there's no better choice than a metal roof for your needs.

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Roof Repair - Why Repair Your Roof After a Long Winter?

Every winter, your roof gets bombarded with wind, snow, ice and continual thaw-freeze conditions. This can result in severe and often hidden damage to the roof. Your roof can then leak during spring months when the heavy rains begin. Without a roof repair check-up and required repairs to your roof, a flood of water can cause thousands in damages - damages that could have easily been prevented.
Older roofs are especially vulnerable. Why? Because the shingles are already broken down from years of abuse from Mother Nature, and even if your roof has 5 or 10 more years of warranty life ahead, repairs to your roof are sometimes a must to get the most from your roof. Roof repairs are often mandatory.
Some of the areas your roof may require repairs are the loose or missing shingle that were damaged from hard winter winds. Shingles are extremely brittle in cold temperatures, and hard driven cold winds can easily break shingles. Flashing repairs are also important to repair because exposed nails and sealants such as caulking often dry out and fall apart. This creates open gaps for water to easily cause an enormous leak. The worst danger areas are around chimneys, skylights, and anywhere shingles butt up against a wall. These are all very crucial roof repair areas during the new raining spring months.
Most spring roof repairs, check ups (or tune ups) cost from $200-$500. $400 is a good price. It is always a good idea to hire a respectable roof repair company that can supply good repair references. Always check these repair references and make damn sure they are recent. A good roofing repair company will also deduct the cost of the roof check up from any additional roof repair costs. For example, if your roof requires $1500 of repair, the cost of the initial roof check-up will be deducted. Be sure to ask ahead of time to be sure this deductible is a part of the roof repair process.
Always be sure that a roofing company performing the roof repair check up looks in your home's attic. The underside of your roof deck tells a huge, accurate story of everything that is happening on your roof. Stains, rust where the nails are poking through the wood roof deck, water marks on the insulation, wet insulation, everything shows in the attic. Repairs are accurate using this method.
Your eave troughs also play an important role in any good spring roof repair tune up. Water can collect in the eaves due to plugged drainage. When water freezes it expands and bends eave troughs out of shape and out of position. Ice dams can also form playing real havoc to wood and shingles. A good roof repair tune up will check for and solve the damage before it is too late.
Spring is here. Now is the time to do repair to your roof. Roof repairs during the early months of spring after a hard blistery winter can literally save you thousands of dollars of damage and can keep your roof in tip top shape.

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Wood Storage Shed Plans - Information You Need Before Building a Wood Storage Shed

Using wood storage shed plans to build a unit you can use is not too difficult if you know what to look for. Not all plans come with enough detail to allow people to build a wood storage shed on their own. Here are some tips and advice as to what to look for when researching your plans.

• Are the plans simply drawings, or are there detail blueprints also included? Many wood storage shed plans are really nothing more than a drawing with limited dimensional information. What good is a drawing if you can not decipher what it is trying to tell you? Make sure your plans include detail schematics and blueprints so you can clearly see the dimensions of the structure
• Is a list of building materials required included? Nothing can be more frustrating than getting a set of prints, and then not clearly knowing what materials are needed to complete the job. Is the roof made of wood, or aluminum? Should the sides be made of different lumber than the support structure? These questions should be clearly answered with a list of building materials that you can take to your local hardware store to gather. Without this information, you may find yourself completely confused with your wood storage shed plans.
• What about tools needed to complete a unit using your wood storage shed plans? A set of plans is really nothing more than a tease if you have to rent special equipment or buy special tools to complete your building. The biggest draw to these do it yourself storage unit projects is to save considerable cost over hiring a contractor or buying pre built sheds.
  Using wood storage shed plans to complete your project is most certainly the right way to go. Just ensure that the plans you use are clear and complete to avoid frustration after you have started your project.

Done correctly, you can easily build and enjoy these sheds for years to come.

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Top 10 Reasons To Rent

Rent rather than own? On purpose? According to common wisdom, that's lunacy. But once you steer your way through some myths and misunderstanding, renting often emerges as the preferable option.

Save money
Common wisdom says renting equals throwing your money away. The truth is, unless you're planning on staying in a house for more than five years, you run the risk of losing money if you buy a home. Mortgages are amortized so you're paying mostly interest in the first few years. Add in property tax, insurance, maintenance costs and the fees associated with selling the house and five years of renting can be significantly cheaper than owning.
Movin' on up
Speculators are driving real estate prices up--bad for buyers but great for renters. The current real estate bubble has resulted in a large supply of reasonably-priced homes and apartments on the market right now, so renters can live in neighborhoods they couldn't afford to buy in.
Be choosy
If you're new to an area, renting is a smart way to get the lay of the land. It can take several months to get to know a new city or neighborhood. Renting gives you the freedom to browse, to learn the quirks and nuances of various areas and figure out which one is your perfect match.
Peace of mindHeater broken? Roof leaking? When you're a renter, that's someone else's headache.
Easy on the pocketbook
Once you've shelled out the first month's rent and the deposit, your monthly outlay remains the same. Rents rise between two and four percent per year. But variable interest mortgages and sudden jumps in property tax can be much steeper, with more potential to wreak havoc on a rigid budget.
Footloose
On your way up the career ladder? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you'll change jobs an average of nine times before you turn 35. Renting leaves you nimble--just 30 days notice and you're out of there.
Short attention span
As a renter, you can sample life in a mid-century modern glass house, switch to an inner-city Victorian, then head for the hills in a rural corner of town.
Baby on board
Customize your city to fit your parenting needs. Choose your house or apartment based on the park, school, library, or health care services that are best-suited for your particular needs.
Less risk
In a volatile real estate market, renting carries no risk. It frees up your money for other investments--school, vacation, a small business, or stocks and bonds.
Free time
Would you rather go to the movies than grout the kitchen tile? Does testing for mold or radon gas sound like fun? Renting means not having to say you're sorry that these and a myriad of other home-related chores and disasters are someone else's problem.

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Trends in Window Treatments For 2009

With a new year, new trends and "fashions" in home decor will move to the forefront. Windows are one of the more common elements in a room that people use to show their style preferences and should not be over looked. Not only will a good window treatment add appeal to the overall look of the room, but they can also help address common concerns like energy efficiency, fading, and privacy.
Most everyone in today's society is concerned about their environmental impact and all big trends in the marketplace are moving with a "green" push. In window treatments, woven wood shades are becoming more and more popular because of their ability to add texture to the room. They're also made from natural, renewable materials and are available in colors and styles that will fit in all kinds of interiors.
If you're looking for a luxurious look, fabrics like silk, velvet, suede, and wool are sure to be big this year. The old days of complicated drapery designs appear to be over for the time being, but a designer look can still be had by using any of these materials. Trims, beads, and shiny hardware add to the appeal of these fabrics and can be adjusted for every style preference and room.
Linen and silk will continue to be popular choices due to their simplicity, but 2009 should see some shifts in patterns and colors that are new and refreshing. Pantone designated the yellowish "mimosa" hue as the "color of the year." Mimosa is a great choice for textiles this year as it has the ability to match with almost any other colors while providing a sunny colored frame for your windows. If you're looking to set the tone of the room with your window treatments, expect to see an uprising of large scale floral prints. Sound like too much? Patterns that are too overwhelming can be brought down a few notches by hiding them in pleats while still getting the statement that you desire.
If privacy and light control are you two main criteria, you can't go wrong with sheer window treatments. Today's sheers are a big step up from the ones you may be used to and are available in a number of textures and colors with varying degrees of shimmer. Sheers offer a great option for those looking for a simple, almost minimalist, chic effect.
And what would an article about 2009's trends in window treatments be without mentioning all the great new technology that is becoming more available and, more importantly, more affordable. Hunter Douglas is leading the industry in motorizing nearly all styles of window shades on the market. Remote controls, light switches, and even the Internet can now be used to open or close blinds and shades. Imagine being able to close the blinds in your bedroom with your Blackberry while you're hundreds of miles away!

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The Worst Home Selling Mistake

There's a great saying in the real estate business.
To succeed in life, you want to be:
•The First Child
•The Second Spouse
•The Third Realtor
And like with most sayings, there is some truth in that statement, as agents who pick up listings after sellers have made major mistakes will attest.

But We Want More Money
When the average seller sits down to interview real estate agents, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement over choosing a sales price. More money means more financial opportunities for the homeowner. Perhaps it means the seller can afford to buy a more expensive home, help pay for her child's college education or take that greatly overdue vacation. Unfortunately, uninformed sellers often choose the listing agent who suggests the highest list price, which is the worst mistake a seller can make.

Establishing Value
The truth is it doesn't really matter how much money you think your home is worth. Nor does it matter what your agent thinks or ten other agents just like her. The person whose opinion matters is the buyer who makes an offer. Pricing homes is part art and part science. It involves comparing similar properties, making adjustments for the differences among them, tracking market movements and taking stock of present inventory, all in an attempt to come up with a range of value, an educated opinion. This method is the same way an appraiser evaluates a home. And no two appraisals are ever exactly the same; however, they are generally close to each other. In other words, there is no hard and fast price tag to slap on your home. It's only an educated guess and the market will dictate the price.

Is it Too Low?
Homes sell at a price a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept. If a home is priced too low, priced under the competition, the seller should receive multiple offers to drive up the price to market value. So there is little danger in pricing a home too low. The danger lies in pricing it too high and selecting your agent solely on opinion of value.

How It Starts To Go Wrong
The seller of the Spanish home pictured on this page didn't even interview her real estate agents. She plucked the first one off the Internet because, "He looked like such a nice guy." He priced her home at $1.3 million. This agent never heard the local agents chuckling behind his back because he worked in a different city. After 90 days, the listing expired.

Continues To Go Wrong
The next agent, also from another town, listed the home at $1.1 million. Months passed. Eventually the price dropped to just under $900,000. Still no takers. A few lookie-loos, but no serious buyers.

More Than a Year Later
By the time the last agent was hired to list this home, the seller had grown weary and exhausted. It was now 12 months later. Together, the seller and her agent priced the home at $695,000. It immediately sold for all cash. The sad part is the comparable sales in the neighborhood fully justified a price of $835,000, but the home had been on the market for too long at the wrong price, and now the market had softened.

Agents Specialize in Expired Listings
There is an agent in my office whose basic real estate practice is comprised of calling sellers of expired listings and relisting them at market value. He sits in a small room with a phone, desk and chair, dialing number after number. Last year he sold more than 34 homes valued at more than $13,600,000, and he has 18 active listings right now. He makes a pretty good living repackaging overpriced homes.

Protect Yourself
The question is how much money have those expired listings cost the sellers? The financial loss often exceeds the extra mortgage payments paid and goes beyond the uncompensated hassle factor of trying to keep a home spotless during showings. It affects the value that a buyer ultimately chooses to pay because it's not a fresh listing anymore. It's now stale, dated, a market-worn home that was overpriced for too long. Don't let it happen to you. Don't be that seller of an expired listing.

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How to Find a Good Roommate

The best way to avoid roommate conflicts is to pick the right roommate in the first place. It can be tempting to select a roommate on the basis of how friendly they are, but you're better off judging them on the basis of day-to-day living compatibility.

Steps
1.Decide whether you want to share a bedroom and bathroom or not.
--Don't share a bedroom unless you have to; the potential conflicts are multiplied with a shared bedroom and consequent loss of privacy.
--Sharing a bathroom is usually easier with a same-sex roommate.
2.Decide whether you want to live with just one roommate or several.
--With a big group, there will be more noise and mess.
--With just one roommate, it is very easy for you and your roommate to become annoyed with each other.
3.Locate a potential roommate (by craigslist.org, local newapaper ad, by asking your friends for a referral, etc).
4.Once you have found a potential roommate, meet with them, preferably at a coffeehouse or similar public place, and compare their living preferences and daily habits to yours. Suggested questions:
--Are they early risers or night owls? Light sleeper or good sleeper?
--What is their typical work or school schedule? (Will it conflict with yours?)
--What do they need to feel secure (locking windows, etc)?
--What temperature do they think is comfortable?
--Are they neat or "relaxed?? Get clarification as this means different things to different people (and no one admits to being a slob).
--What are their favorite/least favorite chores? How to do they like to divide up household work (chore list, just do it when they feel like it, etc.).
--When should the roommate worry if they are not home at a certain time? Do you wait until morning to make phone calls or do you send for a search team if they're 15 minutes late from work or school?
--Are they extra-sensitive to fragrances and/or odors? This may affect what you choose as cleaning products and you may have to hide your running shoes after going to the gym.
--Are they allergic to anything? (Examples: peanuts, perfume, milk, flowers, mold, smoke).
--Do they smoke, drink, or do any other kinds of recreational drugs?
--Do they enjoy talking or do they prefer to be quiet all the time? Do they talk about feelings or keep to themselves?
--Do they enjoy decorating, or do they not care about decorating? What decorating style do they have?
--What kind of music do they listen to and, more importantly, do they particularly enjoy listening to it when it's loud?
--How much TV do they watch?
--Do they like to share some items like pots and dishes or do they prefer to have separate everything?
--How often do they invite friends and romantic interests over? (Are you comfortable with the crowd they hang out with?)
5.Find out what your potential roommate expects to get out of their roommate (you!) and see how their expectations compare with yours. Some people want a roommate just as a way to cut the rent cost, with minimal interaction; some want people they can hang out with. Make sure expectations match. Be honest about your difficult qualities when answering your potential roomie's questions about you.
6.Look out for signs of whether the person is honest and safe. If you get any uneasy feelings, politely say that you don't think they would be compatible with you and end the interview.

Tips
You are more likely to find the perfect roommate if you advertise and let applicants come to you (versus responding to an ad yourself for a vacant room).


Warnings
Don't give out personal information to potential roommates before you have met them. It's safest to meet in a public place first, not at your home, and show them your home only after you have talked to them long enough to get a sense of their character.

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Top 10: Summer Date Ideas

Summer is around the corner, which means it's time to update your repertoire with some new date ideas.

Unofficially, summer is dating season and your chances of scoring a phone number rises with the mercury. April showers pass, and with them, our tolerance for the indoors. At work, an eagerness to break out of the office sweeps through every cubicle. Neighborhood jogs replace the dull agony of the treadmill. To preserve the feeling of being outside, even the time it takes to do yard work and landscaping extends a bit longer than necessary. Women can’t seem to get enough sunshine and will have a hard time saying no to the right outdoorsy offer. In short, Mother Nature is handing you a three-month romantic advantage on a silver platter with plenty of summer date ideas to choose from.
This means it’s time to ask out that girl you want to have in your life -- and not to the dark recesses of windowless bar. Let the improved weather guide your plans. The possibilities are endless, but here are 10 summer date ideas ranked from most unconventional to most traditional that are sure to make her melt.

---- Wash her car
This summer date idea gets both of you into a bathing suit and comes across as a generous act of service on your part. Remember, it’s only a chore if you make it into one, so have fun. After you’ve sprayed the car and soaped it down, rinse it until your “pathetic” aim makes her glisten like a Hawaiian Tropic model. She’ll know a water fight was pretty much inevitable and, honestly, she’ll think it’s flirty. Don’t go overboard though, and grant her plea for mercy. Otherwise, the fulfillment of this sexual fantasy will draw to an early and perhaps violent close.

---- Garage sale hop
In the same way that you would hop from bar to bar, spend a morning with your girl visiting the garage sales and flea markets in your area (consult your local newspaper and signs around town for time and location). The eclectic items at each colorful scene lend themselves to lively conversation, humor and affordable entertainment. Don’t be afraid to poke around either. Try on garments, hand her things you think she’ll like and ask the vendors questions. As you do, you’ll definitely make a few tickling discoveries about each other, and with so many bargains, one of you will undoubtedly come away with a sweet deal.

---- Fly a kite
This date sounds like it’s for kids, and that’s precisely what she’ll love about it. Invest in a decent kite, one you can count on to soar reliably without snapping or nosediving. Then, on a breezy day, find a large open field and prepare for liftoff. Successful launch and steady flight require communication, coordination and collaboration. Essentially, it takes teamwork, which is the groundwork for a good relationship. Once the kite is airborne, you and your date have the freedom to relax, take turns as pilot and roll in the grass.

----Play in the water
Depending on the weather and water temperature, strip down or suit up for maritime activities like windsurfing and boogie boarding. Or, if you have access to a boat, request your girl’s company for a day on the water. Don’t forget the fact that water sports like wakeboarding really get the adrenaline pumping, which is a bonus for flirting and sexual innuendo. Some girls prefer man power to motors, in which case kayaking and canoeing can be a quiet, intimate alternative. Since your extremities remain safely in the boat, risk of shark attack (or any other oceanic dangers) plummets. Whichever you decide, equipment is fairly easy to rent and reasonably priced.

---- Go to a drive-in movie
Drive-ins aren’t as common as they once were, but they're as fun as ever. A classic summertime favorite, this amped-up approach to the typical, yet unoriginal, theater outing prevents her from asking herself, “Is he boring?” The privacy of your vehicle creates wonderful opportunities as well: You can bring your own candy and popcorn, no one will shush you as you giggle and banter aloud, and PDA becomes a non-issue should the mood strike.

---- Go for a stroll
Exploring your town or city together gives fresh perspective to the old experience of “been there, done that.” Start by taking each other to your personal points of interest -- favorite coffee shops, secret hangouts, dream houses, and so on. Along the way, dive into summer’s natural beauty by admiring the flora and fauna. If your girl has a dog, bring it -- pet owners love to talk about their animals and showing “Rover” some affection with a game of fetch demonstrates your respect for the things that are important to her. Finish up with a visit to an ice-cream parlor, where you can taste samples, recommend flavors and trade licks.

---- Take a drive
There’s no need to steal a Ferrari, but get your hands on a decent set of wheels and invite your date for a ride. Be sure you have fuel in the tank and a scenic route selected before you pick her up. With babe on board, roll down the windows, pop open the sunroof or drop the top if you have a convertible to let her catch some rays and feel the breeze in her hair. Conversation will emerge from your choice of destination, the road trip playlist and fond highway memories. Pull over at the rest stops that only RVs bother with so that you can snap a few pictures of the vistas.

---- See an outdoor concert
Some of the best music venues keep their doors shut until summertime when a captive audience can enjoy songs in the warmth of a pleasant evening. Find out when a rockin’ band will be playing and grab tickets. You and your date can dance, mingle with those around you, sing along, peruse the merch, and wrap yourselves in the same blanket as the night cools off.

---- Go to an amusement park
It’s all in the name. Few dates wring out more raw, undiluted fun than a trip to Six Flags, Disneyland or one of their rollercoaster-loving competitors. The walks between rides and (hopefully brief) waits in line allow for plenty of get-to-know-you time. Before hopping on any ride with a flip or corkscrew, tease her about the outrageous height, number of Gs pulled or questionable safety. Instilling a little fear will have her reaching for your hand on every descent, mild or wild. Win her an over-size teddy bear (or her sympathies for trying) and there may be a kiss waiting for you at the top of the Ferris wheel.

---- Take her on a picnic
Tried and true, here’s a summer date idea that can’t miss. If you’re a competent chef, prepare a sensuous and simple meal with in-season ingredients. On the other hand, if you’re a liability in the kitchen, the supermarket deli section will be your new best friend. Either way, go the extra mile by using real utensils, dishes, napkins, and glasses as opposed to the cheap paper and plastic. Top off the setup with a nice bottle of wine and a clean blanket to rest on, but leave the book of sonnets at home.

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Things To Say No To During The Recession

Trillion-dollar government bail outs; huge stimulus packages for taxpayers; the recent economic environment has shown us a slew of firsts in terms of dealing with economic turmoil. However, such radical thinking is not limited strictly to President Obama’s recovery plan -- you, as an individual, can be just as effective at bucking the trend to survive and thrive during these trying economic times. We are certainly in a recession, and with everyone hurting, there may be some opportunity to buy some big-ticket items on the cheap, and do away with some extraneous fees and spending at the same time. So, on that notem, we present to you things to say no to during the recession.

Paying retail on big ticket items
We've all heard the phrase that everything is negotiable. This seems to be true for big purchases, but when it comes to shopping for items like appliances or electronics at our favorite retailers, it has been assumed that the price tag you see is final. Retailers are pulling out all the stops in an effort to move inventory and keep business flowing -- and that includes being more flexible with the final price tag on nearly any item. Even the largest chains are feeling the pressure and the corporate offices have given each store more flexibility on a local level if it moves inventory. If you see a big screen TV you like, ask the manager if you can pay the clearance price that is listed for similar, refurbished models. Ask if an item you are really looking for can be placed on the sale rack. Accept the store’s invitation to apply for their credit card to get the first-time purchase discount -- even if you're application is declined, push to get the discount anyway. Local store managers have been given a tremendous amount of leeway to override prices or offer special rates on products and services. You may be surprised to find that if you have merchandise and cash in hand, the stores would rather take what they can get rather than lose the sale entirely.

High credit card interest rates
All creditors undoubtedly enjoy high interest rates, but with everyone’s wallets seemingly shrinking, those higher rates are turning into risks for credit card issuers and are one of the things to say no to during the recession. Creditors know that delinquent accounts and charge offs are on the rise -- and inflated interest charges are not helping the cause. If you're paying astronomically high interest rates, now is a perfect time to ask for interest-rate reductions. If the polite approach doesn't work, threats to move your account elsewhere or even to simply stop paying it can go a long way. Most creditors would prefer to keep a paying customer and sacrifice some profit rather than end up with a big goose egg in the end. Some issuers have actually taken steps to help the consumer. Citi, for instance, just launched a credit card saying it will reduce your rate periodically for paying on time and staying under your limit. If you have solid credit, you may be able to transfer balances to lower-rate credit cards if your primary creditor is not budging on your rate reduction requests. Credit counseling (not debt consolidation) may also be an option, if you don't mind making some sacrifices (i.e., having your accounts closed). Many of these groups are able to get your high rates down to more manageable levels (6%-9%) and facilitate paying your creditors, often for a nominal fee or even no fee at all.

Administrative fees
When things are going great, it's easy to overlook the plethora of fees that show up on your bank statements, credit card statements and even on lease applications. Now with the economy the way it is, every dollar counts, and those fees can add up and are things to say no to during the recession. Take some time to call your bank or creditor to ask them to reverse fees, even if they are technically your fault. For instance, if you are making payments on a credit card and the interest charges put you over the limit, call the issuer, explain that you are trying to pay the balance down and that these over-limit fees are not helping. More often than not, you will be met with a favorable response. If you are applying for financing, transferring a balance, moving into a new apartment, or entering into any form of agreement, note the fee structure -- there are often small, hidden fees all over the place. In today’s market, many merchants are willing to forgo up front fees or basic fees to ensure they get your business. There is no 100% guarantee that any fees will be reversed, but it doesn't hurt to take some time to ask -- the worst you can be told is no. Even if you cannot get the fee waived, you will find that banks, cell providers and others may be able to suggest to you a better plan or service to prevent these fees from being accrued.

Over-tipping
As bad as things are, most of us probably have not fully cut out heading out to the bar for drinks or out to dinner on the weekends. When the bill comes, take a closer look at the amount and maybe reduce your tip amount just a tad, especially if you have a tendency to be extra generous. 15%-20% of the subtotal (not the total and tax) is standard for tipping -- with 20% being reserved for the best service only. You may feel a twinge of guilt for getting cheap on your bartender, but now is the time to have more of a siege mentality. You may have a fear of getting a lower quality of service, but remember that your waitress or bartender probably needs the job now more than ever. They should also be feeling the pressure to provide an elevated level of service to maximize their chances for tips and even to keep their jobs. Want to avoid tipping altogether or feel better about leaving a smaller tip? Pick up your drinks at a local liquor establishment or opt to pick up your food rather than dine in.

penny-pinching pro
Initially, you may feel some level of discomfort about getting labeled as a cheapskate or engaging in a confrontation/negotiation with various parties over fees and pricing, but once you see some savings pile up, you will likely feel better. Adjustments never come easy, and in most cases require us to change how we normally operate. With things the way they are and how they have impacting our lives and our world, we can all agree that we just cannot keep doing things the way we have. There is no need to become a hermit or cancel your cell phone, but stepping outside of our comfort zone when it comes to financial management will go a long way in padding your bank account and giving you the fulfilling feeling of knowing that when the chips were down, you did what you could to make the best of trying times.

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Now, a pill to make you fall in love

For people who thought love was miles away from their lives, take heart, for scientists are on the way to develop a potion which could be slipped into a sweetheart's drink to trigger everlasting love.
Yes, you heard it right, scientists believe that one day the feelings of love can be induced by popping a pill or smelling perfume, reports the Telegraph .
Researchers are developing drugs that can boost that most human of emotions.
The research team is studying the brain chemistry held responsible for the complex feelings that draw people to a particular member of the opposite sex.
Animal testing is beginning to shed light on the complex neural and genetic components of love in the same way they have led to pharmaceutical therapies for anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders.
The behavioural scientist Professor Larry Young, of Emory University, Georgia, writing in the journal Nature, said: "For one thing, drugs that manipulate brain systems at whim to enhance or diminish our love for another may not be far away."

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