Home design tips

Home design is not only a big business; it can be very enjoyable for you the homeowner. When you’re building your home, or just giving your present home a makeover, taking the lead role in your home design can be a very rewarding experience. Doing your own home design allows you to express yourself in a way that no one else can do for you. Choices not only become easier when you do your own home design, but you’ll find that you have more of them than if you’d hired a professional to do it for you.

One of the first things you should consider in your home design project is the function of the room you’re working on. Function is a key home design factor. It will dictate the majority of what items will go into the room. Two major points in function to consider is the intended use of the room and who will be using it. Naturally, a room which will receive high traffic would need more resilient flooring and furniture than a room which would not get as much traffic. Knowing what the room is going to be used for and by whom is the first step in home design.

Style is another key factor in home design. After the function of the room is determined, you’ll need to decide the style of dйcor you’ll be incorporating in your home design. Certainly a family game room would have a more modern style with clean lines, while a country kitchen may have more of a cottage style or rustic home design. Fabrics like furniture, drapes, throws and pillows would play a major role in the feel of the room. Colors used properly in home design can alter a person’s mood upon entering the room. Earthy tones and light blues have a calming effect, while bright reds and contrasting colors can create a sense of excitement. Style when used properly can make any room a success story.

The placement of items and objects in a room will always alter the flow of movement to both the body and the eye. Flow is yet another key factor in home design. The flow of the room is crucial, as you don’t want the room to be awkward to navigate. This not only applies to the person moving across the room, but also the eye of the person moving from one part of the room to another. Of course the physical flow in home design is achieved by the placement of furniture such as sofas, chairs and tables. The eye flow of the room can be controlled by the decorative items placed in the room, as well as how the room is painted. Colors which flow easily into each other create a nice even sense of movement to the eye from one area to another.

Home design should never be a daunting challenge, but rather an enjoyable experience to those who wish to do their own home design. By following the three major factors of function, style and flow, every home design project you complete will be a successful one.

Fantasy income

As Einstein said, everything in life is relative, and one’s income is no exception. While the vast majority of the world lives with an income that is below poverty level (eating only one small meal a day), there are others who make up the jet set and fly first class across the planet to share dinner with a friend. Who is happiest? Hard to say, for income ultimately has little to do with happiness. It’s all relative.

The income of many corporate executives boggles the mind. Newspapers refer to these salaries as ‘breathtaking,” “mind-numbing,” “eye-popping,” and “scandalous.” While it takes courage and dedication to be the top person in today’s major corporations, shareholders still have a hard time grasping that the CEO is worth $10 million a year before benefits. No one really knows if these corporate officers are really happy or not.

School teachers have dreams of sharing and shaping the future of the young generations. They put in as many hours as the CEO’s, and in today’s world struggle along with kids against drug and alcohol use, the violence and abnormal sex presented by TV, disintegrated family lives, a multitude of languages, and poverty life-styles. The daunting challenge of a teacher’s work environment would destroy anyone not truly dedicated to teaching. Income counts to a teacher, but it does not control the final choice to teach. Almost every-body agrees that teachers are way underpaid. Their satisfaction comes from nurturing the future the best they can under the circumstances, not from their income. Doctors and dentists have the amazing distinction of not blinking an eye at charging a poor person an entire year’s income for healing or ‘fixing’ them. True, the doctors do have medical school bills and technical equipment to pay for. However, the poor person can experience more pain from the dentist describing the new yacht he bought then he does from having his tooth drilled. When they go home at night, who is happiest? There’s no way to tell. Money doesn’t buy happiness, it’s only a tool.

Although the grass on the other side of the fence always looks greener, following one’s own dreams of creativity and service, and loving your fellow humans just the way they are, remains the most exciting, happiest way to live one’s life. Making decisions based on income alone leads down a pathway of defeat. Loving the income you have right now magnetically can attract more, and the loving adds the happiness.

Miracles what the bible has to say about them

It was a miracle! How many times have you heard someone say that? Probably hundreds of times. But they don't really mean that it was a miracle – what they really mean is that the event they witnessed was amazing, improbable, or inexplicable.

But are there real miracles? Have there been times that the natural laws of the universe, such as gravity, or even death, have been stopped, changed, or reversed? To find the answer to this question, we must turn to the Bible.

Fact #1: Jesus performed many miracles

In the four gospels, we find many instances were Jesus performed miracles, such as “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.” (Matthew 12:22) Perhaps one of the most famous of Jesus' miracles was the raising of Lazarus from the dead, which we read about in John 11: “Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days...Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out.”

Fact #2: Jesus performed these miracles to prove that he was God

In the book of Acts, Peter says that “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”

Fact #3: Jesus gave authority to his disciples to perform miracles

In Matthew 10:1, we're told that Jesus “called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”

Fact #4: God has given authority to his servants at various times to perform miracles

The Bible has many stories of miracles performed by God's servants – Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and others. The question is – does God still empower his followers to work miracles in his name? That is a tough question. The answer is beyond the scope of this article, but I hope that you will think and study the Bible to find the answer!

A growing link exchange program

Anyone that deals with marketing and advertising on the Internet knows that link popularity is one of the main causes for high rankings. And as we all know, high rankings lead to more traffic, which in turn leads to higher sales. The biggest problem with doing link exchanges and using programs that automate the process is that you run the risk of gaining bad links on your site. Bad links lead to reduced link popularity and in turn can eventually lead to being banned on search engines. Everyone can agree that if you are banned from a large search engine like Google or Yahoo, then your website is in trouble. I have come across a few places that allow you to grad good reciprocal links from ranking sites. You want to do more reciprocal linking because it provides an incentive for both sites to keep the links up.

If you already have a large link directory on your site, you might want to think about using the program Arelis. This gives you the power to control all your links and make sure they are still linking back to you. It also gives you the control to find more targeted links for your website. If you want to find more links for your website, then you should check out Link2me. com. This site allows you to search for websites and then the company gets in touch with that website asking for a link exchange with you. It is very easy and hassle free, which I know will help everyone that is spending 60+ hours on Internet marketing. Any little bit helps. This link exchange program is growing and with the more websites that sign up, which is free, the more potential links for the members. Check it out and increase your link popularity the ethical way!

Rock speakers and planters

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I think today wherever there's a human being, there's a pair of speakers. Perhaps you can't imagine your living without your home theater system. In the bedroom, you still want to listen to your favorite Cd's. The shortest car ride is unbearable without a decent stereo and a pair of speakers. Newly, this goes for boat rides, too. The more recent wireless technology allows you to have speakers in the garden, in the garage or wherever you have things to do.

But loudspeaker manufacturers don't settle for this, when it comes to outdoor use. They want speakers that black out and melt into the environment. They want 100% weatherproof. They want naturalistic design. And the answer to all their wishes has materialized itself into the planter and rock speakers.

The biggest rocks in this field are Stereostone, Rockustics and SpeakerCraft. When it comes to rocking and rolling stones they can make all your wishes come true. Just try them by sending over a piece of rock from your garden. They'll send back the design of a prototype speaker that looks exactly like your rock.

How to recognize a rock speaker

If you are in a friend's garden, music is all around but you don't know where it comes from, be sure that the speakers are hiding in the form of some rocks or flower pots. These speakers are especially designed for outdoor use, which means that they are 100% weatherproof. They are completely sealed, using insulating materials that are made to hold up in extreme weather conditions.

In aspect, both Rockustics and Stereostone speakers got inspired from mother nature. They have that grainy look, irregular shape of natural rocks, heavy appearance heavy, but are entirely made of light, synthetic, materials. Most buying guides recommend looking for speakers that are made of good weatherproof materials like: coated aluminum, stainless steel, polypropylene.

Do rock speakers really rock?

They sure do! What we like most about these speakers is how you can use them to impress your kids. Flower pots that sing and rocks that tell stories, this is as close as technology can get to a fairy tale.

If you have doubts about their performance level, don't. Of course, they can't compete by far with the audio quality of a high performing audio system or to the home theater experience. But they sound pretty well. Rock speakers and planters are meant to please the ear while they don't bug the eye. The major advantage is they come close to you, and you don't have to play them that loud. This way you won't keep the neighbors up at night just because you are giving a back yard party.

The major drawback? Though they are designed mostly for outdoor use, they're all wired. But this inconvenient can be solved through a few placement tricks.

Placement tips

Unless you plan to use your rock speakers as wasp nests or rain gauges, you should use a few tricks when mounting them:

• Choose a drier place to place them.
• Don't point the port upward.
• Place the speaker near the place you are to sit more often; In open air, there's less reflection and speakers may sound weaker.
• Measure the area you want the speakers to cover, preferable before you buy them. A pair usually covers 200 to 400 sq. ft.
• Usually, 16- or 18-gauge wire is good; for runs over 80 feet, choose 14-gauge wire.
• No matter the brand, use direct-burial cable to connect the speakers, because it resists the underground moisture and oxidation.

Planter and rock speaker manufacturers

Planter and rock speakers definitely can bring a dose of exoticism in your backyard. Here are some brands worth your consideration:

Rockustics

These are the guys that make your garden rock. Their garden series includes both rock and planter speakers. The Rocky III speaker looks like a stone on the back but like a Flintstones tool on the front. The sound quality and the bass response are good, even when compared with normal speakers. If you are willing to give away a larger sum, in order to enjoy a real bass experience, also buy one of the subwoofer models. Their base can be buried in the ground and a smaller part remains visible.

All Rockustics products have a lifetime warranty (their lifetime, not yours). All the speakers are designed for outdoor use. As previously mentioned, Rockustics can create custom colored-speakers, available by special request.

Stereostone

A Stereostone unit is a complete speaker on its own. Stereostone also offers models of aboveground subwoofers. The Gibraltar Rock is probably the most impressive rock speaker from Stereostone, both in size and performance. With an 8-inch woofer, its bass is quite pleasing. It can be of use in your personal garden, but also in theme parks or other public spaces.

SpeakerCraft

It's probably even more difficult to tell which ones are rocks and which ones are speakers if you go for the Rox speakers from SpeakerCraft. The grille texture that hides the speaker is so fine that you almost don't notice the difference. To build the speaker enclosure, the company developed a special blend of weatherproof resins. No matter how astonishing this stone similarity is, you may want to look for a little diversity in the garden patio. Webster the Frog is waiting for you. It is not a real frog, but a speaker in disguise from Bahama Sounds, a SpeakerCraft division located in Riverside, California.

Give your child life skills for a lifetime

Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on the fast track to success, and one such solution is not usually far from home. It is your local martial arts school.

How will martial arts change your child's life? The difference could be, as simple as, keeping your child away from peer pressure that leads to drug abuse. Although, the answer is much deeper, martial arts will give any child the tools necessary to become a success in life.

Goal setting skills (a major component in martial arts training) make a huge difference in anyone's life. By making accomplishments, your child develops a positive self-image. This "positive self visualization" develops academic and athletic success.

Children want structure, and they crave discipline. This makes them feel secure in family, school, and public settings. Within their martial arts training, they find structure, discipline, and the ability to discipline themselves.

Social skills, (like good manners), eye contact, and public speaking, are developed in each lesson. As your child advances through the ranks, there may be more opportunities with the "Leadership Team" or the "Demonstration Team." Some martial arts schools have these “elite teams” for children to develop leadership, and inner confidence, skills.

Leadership Team members learn how to develop the skills necessary to lead a group. Demonstration Team members learn about showmanship, humility, and the courage to perform in a variety of public settings. These elite teams prepare children for life's pressures, and give them experience, at learning valuable skills.

Let's face it - we live in a time of video games, Internet, cable TV, and fast food that tastes good. Globally, Type II Diabetes is on the rise in children due to inactivity, high calorie diet, lifestyles, physical education cut backs, and lack of time.

Martial arts gives children a positive way to burn calories, and socialize with quality friends, in a safe setting. It also keeps them away from the television.

Find a martial arts center that prides itself on the positive development of its clients. We have many success stories - from academic achievements, to losing pounds of unwanted fat. If you want to make a positive change in your life, or that of a loved one, your local martial arts studio is always there to help.

Top ten list of what to do and what not to do in relationships

Most of us who have been intimately involved with someone beyond the infatuation stage know that relationships are like a rollercoaster ride. When things are good, they are very, very good. When things are bad, they are very, very bad. As a relationship coach, I have developed Top 10 Lists---one for men and one for women on 10 things to do and not to do in relationships.

MEN

DO

1. Just listen to your partner without offering advice.

2. Trust and respect her.

3. Treat her as an equal partner in your relationship.

4. Stay and support her when she gets emotional. She is looking for understanding, not solutions.

5. Continue your courtship even after she’s committed to you. Continue to create romance in your relationship.

6. Do little things on a regular basis. A woman doesn’t care if you call her at work to say, “I love you” or if you buy a new TV for the living room. The small things are worth just as much as the big ones.

7. Honor any agreements you have made with her.

8. Encourage her goals and direction.

9. Find out what your partner would like to do and then do it with her.

10. Say, “I’m sorry” when you’ve done something you regret or that was hurtful to your partner, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

DON’T

1. Go to bed angry with your partner.

2. Try to offer advice or solutions when your partner just needs you to listen to her without comment.

3. Pretend to listen to her when you really aren’t.

4. Shut your partner out when you need to sort things out in your head. Just explain you need space, you aren’t angry with your partner and that you’ll be back.

5. Criticize your partner, especially her appearance.

6. Yell at your partner as if you were her father.

7. Take every word she says literally. Women, when upset, tend to speak in absolutes, such as “You NEVER listen to me;” when what she really means is that you aren’t listening to her at that time.

8. Allow jealousy to erode the trust, love and respect of your relationship.

9. Violate her privacy.

10. Forget special occasions.

Men and women have different communication styles, different needs and desires, and different relationship challenges. Learning these differences can assist us in strengthening the relationships we have now and in the future. John Gray began this revolutionary discovery in his book, Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus. The Women’s List follows:

WOMEN

DO

1. When you want more quality time with your man, make the time you do have as positive as possible.

2. Trust and respect him.

3. Stop nagging.

4. Allow your partner time away from you without giving him the third degree.

5. Appreciate the little things he does for you and tell him so.

6. Make love creatively and often. Don’t be afraid to initiate lovemaking.

7. Honor any agreements you have made with him.

8. Support his goals and direction.

9. Ask for what you want! (Believe it or not, no matter how much he loves you, he really can’t read your mind.)

10. Accept his “No” gracefully, trusting that he would if he could.

DON’T

1. Go to bed angry with your partner.

2. Insist he always share his feelings with you. Talking about feelings is more what women need.

3. Attempt to converse with your partner during a good movie or sporting event.

4. Continue to “give” in what you perceive is a lopsided relationship when you are at a point of resentment.

5. Criticize him or put him down, especially the things he does.

6. Scold your partner as if he were a child.

7. Use sex as a prize for good behavior or the withholding of sex as punishment for “bad” behavior.

8. Compare him to a fictional character in a book, movie or soap drama and find him lacking.

9. Violate his privacy.

10. Try to change him. Appreciate the man he is right now.

There is so much to learn about satisfying relationships that your parents never showed you. Please don’t become one of the statistics of divorce or perhaps worse, stay in a miserable relationship to honor your marriage vows while having so many regrets about your life as the time ticks away.