Cool Off Your Attic with Radiant Barrier

It is starting to get cooler outside, so now is the perfect time to talk about making your attic cooler all year long. How would you like to lower your attic temperature by 20 degrees in the summertime? This could be 30 degrees in the southern U.S.

Whether youre building a new home or have an existing home, Im going to tell you the benefits of an attic radiant barrier.

Let me ask you three questions.

1. In the summer, what is the hottest part of your house?

2. Where is your ductwork located? Attic or crawlspace?

3. Why would you put it in the attic?? (For 90% of you its in the attic, right?)

When consulting on new home construction we advise people not to put the ductwork in the attic. You can lower your cooling loads by as much as 20% just by getting the ductwork out of the attic. Now I know that isnt always possible so we recommend placing the ductwork directly on the ceiling joists and covering it with cellulose insulation. This along with an attic radiant barrier makes for a pretty efficient heating and cooling system.

For existing home construction we advise using an attic radiant barrier that either staples to the bottom of rafters or covers your attic insulation like a blanket.

Using attic radiant barriers is not a new concept. It has been around since 1960. In 1999 Doug Rye decided to use TechShield radiant barrier roof decking on a model home. The builder has his doubts but Doug insisted on using TechShield. After it was installed, the builder was sold on it. It was summertime and he found that it was much cooler working inside the unfinished house once the radiant barrier was installed than it was outside.

Since then we have heard story after story of how radiant barrier lowers the temperature of a house during construction. Weve heard stories from framers where they would rather eat lunch inside the house because its cooler than outside. Even the framers working next door eat lunch with them because its cooler.

The radiant barrier roof decking product is made using a process that laminates a thin, yet durable, sheet of aluminum foil to the surface of OSB board. When the sun strikes a roof, the radiant energy from the sun heats the roof and that heat radiates into the attic.

50%-75% - Radiant Heat Loss

Radiant barrier prevents up to 97 percent of that radiant heat in the roof from radiating in to the attic. As a result, it can lower the attic temperature by 30 degrees. And in the southern U.S. where temperatures easily reach 95 degrees and above, thats a huge difference!

For years, weve been telling homeowners not to put the ductwork in the attic and thats still good advice. But if your ductwork is in the attic, I recommend installing an attic radiant barrier which is available at most home centers.

By reducing temperatures in the attic, you are taking a lot of heat off the ductwork, which means your air conditioner wont have to work as hard and youll save money on your electric bill. And, of course, you also need plenty of cellulose insulation in the attic to keep the heat from radiating into the living areas of the home. Ill cover cellulose insulation in a future issue.

The most common concern people have regarding attic radiant barrier has to do with the temperature of the shingles of the roof. They want to know if it will damage the roof shingles by allowing them to get too hot. Well, the answer is no.

Attic radiant barrier won't melt the shingles. A study in Florida measured the temperatures of roof shingles above radiant barriers and found that the peak temperatures are only 2 to 5 degrees higher than the temperature of shingles on roofs without radiant barriers.

For existing home construction a thin, light weight radiant barrier can be installed. This radiant barrier is either stapled to the underside of the rafters or is laid over the ceiling insulation. This radiant barrier is clean, easy to handle, and requires no special tools or clothing.

A radiant barrier is available at most home improvement centers for around 60 cents per square foot.

Until next month, be safe and God Bless!

Phillip Rye www.philliprye.com

Doug Rye is a nationally recognized energy consultant and licensed architect. Doug also host the "Home Remedies" radio talk show that is broadcast in 15 states.

Phillip Rye is a licensed engineer and has spent the past 15 years studying energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Discover how you can have lower utility bills guaranteed! Visit http://www.dougrye.com

Foundation Repair Contractors

If your house or any part of your property experiences foundation failure, it is not a job you want to correct yourself. In order to do this properly you would have to be extensively trained and have a fast knowledge on the subject. This is not your everyday fixer upper project. Chances are to get the job done right; you are going to need to hire a professional. If you are like some people, this might make you a little uneasy. After all, how many times have you heard about contractors taking advantage of their customers? Some not so ethical contractors will charge you more than the job is worth. If you are a little uneasy calling in a professional, here are some basic guidelines for what to expect from a good foundation repair contractor.

The first thing any foundation repair contractor should do is an initial investigation and then a foundation failure report to some extent. Report will explain how severe the problem is and list the proposed repairs needed. If they are going to have to pier, they much included pier spacing and foundation lines in the reports. This takes some time. It might not be a one visit evaluation. A foundation repair contractor may have to come out, do an investigation and then present you with a formal report at a later time that will detail all the work. If you find a contractor who quotes you a price right then and there, chances are they are not a good one. Also do not be surprised if you are charged a fee for the inspection and the report. Most fees range from a few hundred to almost $1000 dollars. Make sure you ask if that fee will be deducted from the final price of the job once ordered. A qualified and ethical contractor will tell you yes. If they say no...stay away from them

Once the investigation is done and a report is ready, a reliable foundation repair contractor will go through it with you and give you the quoted price. They will also explain that quote and answer any questions you may have. If you are getting quotes by a few foundation repair contractors, bear in mind that the prices should not vary much if they are all doing the same work. This is because the materials should pretty much be the same price for all foundation repairmen. One of the possible reasons for the difference of prices between contractors is the amount of experience they have. A knowledgeable, skillful and experienced contractor might cost a little more money than one who has less experience. Keep this in mind when considering the cheapest contractor. Ask questions about their experience to help ensure you are making the best decision for you, your house and your budget.

Once all the work has been done, you should be given a report that contains all the hydraulic measurements and depths regarding the piers. This report should be saved as it will come in handy if you ever decided to sell you house.

Having foundation failure fixed is a costly project, but by following these guidelines, you will be able to find a foundation repair contractor that you are confident with. Make sure they are one who take pride in their work and are not looking for the quick buck.

For the best network of Foundation Repair Specialists check out http://www.Foundation-Repair.us

Installing Vinyl Flooring

Some people think it is just fine to tile over their vinyl floors, but this is not a good idea. It may save time in the beginning in the installation process, but it will cause a lot of problems later that will take up more time in the long run.

The first problem is that the new tiles will not stick well5B4 over the vinyl. Vinyl has a top layer of plastic which, since it is a slick surface, will not give the porousness necessary for the tiles to stick well, not matter what kind of glue you use. Some people think they will get around this by roughing up and sanding the surface to make it adhere better, but this will not make a big difference. Since the tiles are not going to stick to the underfloor, they will eventually lift, and you will have to replace parts or maybe even the entire floor. No time saved there.

The second problem is that you will not have a level surface. To make sure your floor is completely level is hard enough when you are working with a new sub floor, but if you have vinyl with varying heights of adhesive under it, it is next to impossible.

The third problem is the surface under the floor may not be the right kind for tiles. Vinyl can be installed over 1/4" plywood or particle board, but these are not approved surfaces for tile. If you put the tiles over the vinyl on these surfaces, you will end up with a floor that moves and can therefore crack and lift easily. If you get this kind of lift or flex, you will have to replace the floor since replacing one tile is very difficult. First of all, lifting it out without damage to the other tiles is not easy, and after your tiles have been down a while, you will not be able to match them perfectly.

If you insist on leaving the vinyl down, you have to do a co5B0mpletely different kind of preparation for the floor. You have to screw down the vinyl and cover it with a mortar base using mesh and concrete. If you don't want to deal with concrete, you will have to put a new sub floor down over the vinyl. Some new products are out now that will help avoid cracks in tiles that are laid on wooden sub floors. But all of these work seems harder than just lifting the vinyl, so why not just do that? In addition, the problems of lifting and unevenness will not only be unattractive, they may also be dangerous.

If you absolutely have to leave the vinyl down, you should have a professional tile installer look over the job. They will discuss your all of you options and help you decide. Moreover, a professional will also advise you about the best brand of the tile to buy and may be even suggest dealers from where you can get discount laminate flooring.

The collaborator Ray Walberg is very excited about themes associated to discount floors. You can find his observations on discount laminate flooring at http://www.insidewoodworking.com24C and many different sources for discount laminate flooring news.

Self Development And Growth

When starting out the the area of self development and growth, one of the most important anAA8d basic skills to learn is the skill to deal with issues in your life.

Many sources often overlook the process of how to change. The process is long and hard, and often you will lose motivation and forget your goals for self improvement. While you may yearn for instant gratification and instant change, the reality is that it just wont happen overnight. Habits take a long time to form and break; deeper psychological issues that a long time to resolve.

Often when people deal with their issues, they're dealing with it in a LOGICAL manner. This doesn't motivate you because motivation is EMOTIONAL. When you feel emotionally affected towards the issue, you will have the drive to resolve the emotions. This is the basis for my model of dealing with issues.

Without further ado, here it is: Dealing with issues, the 4 steps.

1. Figure out what the issue is.

This first point is ridiculously obvious, but incredibly important and oftentimes looked over. In many instances, we believe that we're dealing with one problem when in reality we're actually facing problems with a deeper inner issue.

For example, in the world of dating and relationships, the actual act of meeting members of the opposite sex can be quite daunting. The possibility of rejection, the fear that they will dislike you is present. No one likes to think that they are incompetent with the opposite sex, and this is the issue that may arise and challenge them if they approach and get rejected. So they sit at the back of the bar with their friends talking about how they're 'pimps' and 'could pick up anyone in this bar' but 'they don't want to' because 'no one here is worth it'.

What is happening here is an avoidance of the real issue: they depend on other's approval and reactions to feel good about themselves. An issue of low self esteem and low self confidence.

This issue would not be realised without some serious hard thinking and the ability to see things for what they really are. Your mind and ego will throw up a million different cognitions to throw you off the real issue because the truth hurts your sense of self.

This first point is ridiculously simple yet hard to realize.

2. Experience the issue.

This is different. I swear by this technique 100%.

When you figure out what the issue is, it's going to try and hide. It's going to throw up excuses as to why you have those cognitions. You're going to want to avoid the issue. Yeah that's right, you know what I'm talking about. This is the nerd realising that they suck with women but rationalising it as due to their studies or the fact that they "don't have time", then using that as a constanB07t excuse not to GO OUT and MEET women. Or the woman who has emotional issues that affect her relationships but blames her relationship problems on her looks.

By experience the issue I mean to feel it fully. You KNOW it's there, you aren't going to avoid it. You just broke up with your partner? It feels crap. Don't avoid having the feelings. You're scared of chatting up that cutie? Don't avoid the issue. Immerse yourself in the experience of feeling like that.

Only then do you have a solid base for your motivation to get the problem fixed.

3. Act on resolving the issue

After experiencing the feelings that you don't want to feel, make a decision to ACT upon the issues. After all, just pointlessly making yourself feel bad is... pointless. So what did you do? Make a commitment to take steps forward in solve the issue. If you're afraid that people will 'reject' you then approach people until you emotionally realise that 'rejection' by a stranger means nothing more than the fact that you approached them in the wrong way. If you're avoiding exercise because of an underlying issue of laziness, get out there and exercise! Do you actually WANT to be unhealthy? How does being unhealthy feel?

Experiencing the issue should give you the MOTIVATION to ACT on the issue. If you don't act, you'll just stay the same. Do you really want to feel the way you felt when you were experiencing the issue? I doubt it.

4. Figure out your other issues

In self improvement, it is critical to remember that your problems will NEVER end and you will ALWAYS have issues to deal with. Reality is harsh.

If you're serious about improving yourself, keeping this in mind will help you a lot. You will always have something to fix. Take a break once in a while, moderate how much you work on yourself, but never forget that you always have something to improve. Read "The way of the superior man" by David Deida. It gives a good description of this point.

I'd dare say your not as good with women as you wish you were, your looking for something that can take you above and beyond 99% of men for free, it's here, you just have to reach out and grab it.

Have fun,

-- Solace

Japanese Bathtubs - A Tradition For The Future

A Japanese bathtub, sometimes called an Ofuro, is usually around twice the size of a standard American style bathtub. It is deeper and often rounder, to allow the bather to sit comfortably with their knees bent. The water, which is kept at a high temperature, is up to the bather's chest. This position is said to aid relaxation and meditation, which makes for a very therapeutic bathing experience.

The Japanese bathtub is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the world. As people become more interested in personal wellbeing and healthy living through homeopathy and natural remedies, the Japanese style of bathing compliments these ideas perfectly. The hot water is said to stimulate blood circulation and have positive effects on the overall health of body and mind.

Another benefit of these unique bath tubs is that they are generally much more compact - deeper, but more upright - and therefore suitable for smaller spaces than the standard size tubs. They can also easily be adapted to become walk-in style tubs for the elderly or infirm.

The original style of Japanese bathtub was always made of wood. The natural wood was said to add to the therapeutic powers of the bath and was particularly favored in hot spring facilities and spas. Nowadays ceramics, porcelain, fiberglass and even stainless steel models are available to suit a range of pockets.

Bathtubs from Japan are traditionally for soaking rather then washing. In fact, actually washing in your tub would be seriously scorned by most Japanese people. Washing, scrubbing and hair washing will take place before entering the bath and soaking for up to one hour in hot water. The body should be clean and pure before bathing as any residual soap or grime will contaminate the waters.

In a Japanese public bathhouse - which are still very popular and well worth a visit if you ever have the opportunity - ritual and tradition can be rather tricky. Do a bit of research before you go and follow the lead of the locals. The overall experience is sure to be blissfully relaxing.

The basic things to remember are that no soap is to be used in the tubs. No outside or 'toilet shoes' (these are for use strictly in the toilet areas, and changed as soon as you depart the area) are to be worn in the bathhouse. Bare feet are not really acceptable as your feet should be clean to bathe. Nudity is expected, and since male and female segregation is the norm this is not an issue for most. Lastly, the water is very hot - enter the waters slowly and be careful.

Japanese bathtubs are noth the only accessory that can go into your bathroom. Visit us today to learn more about how to install a bath tub and why a corner bathroom vanity is something you should check out.

Asking For Help

Asking for help is not something we do naturally. We often find it painfully difficult to do because it makes us feel vulnerable, weak or ashamed; and so our fears of rejection and embarrassment get in the way.

In reality, the only real weakness is NOT asking for help. The smartest people I know understand that they do not know everything, and seek to fill those gaps in their knowledge or ability with people who do.

Life is about learning and growth and in the process, we all need help from time to time along the tricky patches. Beyond each challenge awaits an opportunity for growth; and by asking for help when we need it, we discover solutions, gain new insights, and ultimately empower ourselves.

Why It Is Smart To Ask For Help

If you reach out and ask, you will find that help does arrive and your needs are met, often exceeding your highest hopes! Just take a look at some of the reasons why it is smart to ask for help when you feel stuck:

The help you need is more likely to B68arrive if you ask for it! Keeping your problems under wraps does nothing to resolve them, so why not do something positive about it?

Asking for help lets you manage your energy more effectively. Life balance is all about managing your energy. When you ask for help with a difficulty, it frees up more energy for other areas of your life.

It opens opportunities to connect to others in new ways. Asking for help makes others aware of how they can support us and strengthens interpersonal ties.

When we ask for help, we open the door to learning. By opening up to input from others, we expand our own growth and awareness.

By breaking through fear and facing the challenge of asking, we reclaim our power! Our greatest gifts lie just beyond the things we fear the most so ask for help even when you fear the repercussions and you will reclaim your power!

How To Ask For Help

Another important aspect of finding help lies in knowing how to ask for it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you need help:

Ask for help as soon as you realize you need it. Ignored problems often escalate and become huge issues that drain energy and resources.

Recognize that everyone (including you!) deserves a helping hand, for it is in supporting one another that we all benefit and grow.

Accept that you have nothing to lose except your fear. If the person you approach can help, youll learn from the experience. If they turn you down, you can approach another.

Go to someone you trust. If they dont have the answer, theyll likely know someone who does.

Be clear on what you need. The proven words are, I need your help. Simple and to the point!

Give the person as much detail as possible. Even if you dont understand what the exact problem is, document what you know about the circumstances as well as what you need.

Get a commitment. Ask if they are able to support you and in what capacity. Getting a commitment will set your mind at ease and alleviate a lot of stress. Even if they cannot help you themselves, they may offer valuable suggestions or refer you to someone who can help. Either way, youll benefit!

When you find the solution to your problem, document it for future reference. You might run into that problem again someday when no-one is around to help, or you might pass along the information to someone else in need.

Next time you feel exhausted and overwhelmed, ask for the help you need and deserve. Ask despite your fears and with a focus on the rewards. Doing so can provide you with much more than just the help you needed.

Copyright 2006 Ada Porat

Ada Porat facilitates personal development through the integrati3D6on of body, mind and spirit. She enjoys international recognition as an inspirational speaker, teacher, author and practitioner at the leading edge of personal growth and well-being. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit http://www.AdaPorat.com

Building With People Tip

From my earliest days in Sunday school, I have remembered the words that a wise man builds his house upon the rock and the foolish man builds upon the sand. For 50 years, I thought this probably sound advice for someone about to build a house. It never dawned on me that it might have some other application until I heard the following quote from Peter Drucker. The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths in ways that make weaknesses irrelevant.

That statement unlocked doors in my mind and with it came the realization that success really does come from building on strengths. All too often we focus on problems (weaknesses = sand) and struggle to overcome them when in fact, we would be much better off focusing on what is working (strengths = rock) and building on them.

Over the course of my career, I have had a variety of bosses. Most tried to fix me. I did have one boss who stood up before the whole sales organization and told them he had complete faith in me. I didnt realize it at the time, but my boss motivated me in a way that I would have walked through fire for him.

In fact, I didnt really understand what he had done and how it affected me until I became soccer coach and tried a positive approach to leadership. By praising the desired actions of players, I was encouraging the other players to perform in a similar fashion. You get what you praise and reward (a lesson some organizations including our government should learn). In reality, I was building on strengths (the rock) just as my boss had done.

What about your organization? Are you still playing in the sand or are you building on rock?

 Copyright Bob Cannon/The Cannon Advantage, 2007. All rights reserved.

Byline Bob Cannon helps visionary leaders enhance performance and profitability in their organizations. Check out other interesting articles available in the Taking Aim newsletter available at http://www.cannonadvantage.com . Bob can be reached at (216) 408-9495 or mailto: aim@cannonadvantage.com

This article courtesy of http://www.decision-makingtoday.com . You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

Building Science: The Next Generation Of Home Improvement And New Construction

In a landmark survey by Cahners Residential Group in 2004, ninety-one percent of homebuyers said that energy-efficient features in a home were extremely or very important to them. The demand for old and new homes that use less energy continues to grow from a niche market into an emerging segment of the mainstream residential building and remodeling industry.

Now traditional contractors and builders can apply scientific techniques to create more energy efficient homes that provide greater comfort, durability, health and safety. Best of all, they can do it in a practical and affordable way using building performance technologies and techniques. This means looking at how all the components of the house work together including the thermal shell, heating and cooling equipment, ventilation, windows and doors, and appliances.

For those contractors who have already embraced the building science philosophy, there's always more to learn. The industry is constantly evolving with more technologies and best practices shared among building science professionals. Thanks to ACI's national and regional conferences and an expanding range of training and education initiatives, contractors and builders across the country are being trained to employ a "whole-house" systems approach to new construction and home improvement. That means more customers are getting a better overall home environment when builders and contractors incorporate comprehensive measures to address comfort, health and safety, durability, and energy efficiency.

Improving the performance of existing homes

Contractors nationwide are being trained and accredited in building performance, the systematic approach to improving the indoor environment by applying improvements to the whole house, not just a part of it. These contractors use performance diagnostics to evaluate the condition of a home and verify the impact of improvements. Blower door tests for building shell leakage, combustion safety tests, duct leakage diagnostics, and infrared thermal imaging are examples of diagnostic tests provided by building performance contractors to help ensure the health, safety, comfort, and durability of a home before and after improvements. Once the initial assessment is complete, the contractor will recommend how to remedy any problems they found, and can complete the recommended work for the homeowner. The end result for customers is lower energy bills and improved comfort and safety.

Building performance techniques benefit contractors as well by differentiating themselves in the marketplace. Contractors who use these comprehensive testing and installation techniques to treat the house as a system can distinguish their businesses from traditional contractors by providing their customers better, more informed solutions to common house problems, including high energy costs, uneven temperatures from room to room, moisture and air quality issues, as well as maintenance and durability. Some contractors may have access to energy efficiency programs, including Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes sponsored by local utilities and state agencies that offer technical training, certification assistance, marketing support and even financial incentives including low-interest financing, cash back, and tax credits for customers investing in recommended, eligible energy efficiency improvements.

Exceeding minimum building standards

For new construction, builders can achieve substantial energy savings through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and ENERGY STAR Qualified Home standards.

The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

Newly built homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high performance windows and doors, well-sealed and insulated duct systems, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances. These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.

In addition to offering a high quality product to consumers, builders of energy efficient homes are eligible for a $2,000 federal tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. A new energy efficient home must achieve 50 percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). At least one-fifth of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements.

A bright future

As the demand for high quality, efficient homes gains momentum, more contractors and builders will look to building performance to add value to conventional homes, setting a new standard in the residential new construction and home improvement industries and empowering their customers to make better choices for themselves, the economy and the environment.

Visit www.affordablecomfort.org or call 1-800-344-4866 x 26 to register for an upcoming webcast series or conference:

"Duct Camp" Webcast - September 12-December 19, 2006

ACI New England - Westford, MA - October 4-5, 2006

New Jersey Home Performance Conference - Atlantic City, NJ - January 24-25, 2007

ACI Northwest - Portland, OR - February 21-22, 2007

ACI Home Performance Conference 2007 - Cleveland, OH - April 23-27, 2007

ACI, a nonprofit organization supported by utility companies, state agencies and building science leaders and trade organizations, has 20 years experience elevating the building science industry, to affect change and building practices to address and improve performance issues of comfort, efficiency, and affordability in new and existing housing.

Helen Perrine is the executive director of ACI, Inc. and has worked in the field of energy and environmental education since 1978.

Should You Build A Conservatory Sunroom

It is impossible to enjoy your new addition in the winter, which is the most common complaints about a conservatory sunroom, not any more. New technological advanceB68s along with the millions spent by manufacturers will eliminate that complaint finally. With these new advances not only, will a conservatory make an elegant addition to your home? It will be one that you can use all year round. When you start viewing possible conservatory sunroom to purchase, keep in mind the design of your existing home, that may limit some of the options you may be wanting when you purchase your new sunroom.

Another frequent complaint about these types of conservatories is the glass ceilings, as well as the glass walls. which in turn brings us back to the original most commonly heard complaint, it is just too cold in the winter. A general rule of thumb is that most conservatory sunrooms are sold as a 3-season sunroom; this type of sunroom is only used during the warmer months. If you are like many others and want to use your conservatory year round, make sure you purchase one that is specifically designed for all season use.

The Possibilities are endless when you chose to add a conservatory sunroom or patio room to your existing home. There are also several reasons for this as well, adding a sunroom or patio room adds elegance to your home, it also add an enjoyment for all the seasons, winter, summer, spring, and fall, the biggest thing is that it is an investment into your home, adding value into your home should you decide to sell in the future, which could in turn help you sell your home it allows the potential buyer to see the elegance and relaxation factor you have added to your home and may help persuade their decision to make an offer on your home. That is why it is essential to do your research before you purchase your new sunroom, below you will find information on the all season conservatory just as mentioned above.

The all season Conservatory

Only the latest materials will be used in building this type of conservatory sunroom, enabling you to enjoy this new room all year round, no matter the season. Then comes the next question that is commonly asked, How will I afford to heat this room in the winter months without having a huge energy bill? Insulation is the key, local building codes in your area will tell you what the minimum requirement is, but if you want a comfortable room all year long, a good suggestion is to exceed that requirement. When insulating make sure you insulate the floor, the walls, the frame work, and the ceiling, pack these areas with insulation above the standard minimums to ensure proper heat storage during those winter months, this will help reduce some of your energy costs as well, another way to reduce on out-of-pocket energy costs are windows. Window selection is very important in your new conservatory sunroom, the concept of a window is easy enough, they allow sunlight to enter and protect you against the harmful UV rays that the sun generates, and they provide insulation5B2 for your home as well.

You need to look for the window frame and glass together, and good quality ones at that. You do not want a leaky window especially around the frame, because you do not want to feel a draft, or hear noises from a poorly crafted window and its frame, you would like to keep those elements out of your new conservatory sunroom. Another question that arises, What about security, all my walls are made of glass? This will depend on you and the quality of window and the design you chose, of course, a higher quality window and a higher quality design will provide you with better security to protect you and your conservatory. As with any project, you need to do your homework, chose the design, and style that fits you and your home.

The Possibilities are endless when adding a sunroom or patio room to your existing home. There are also several reasons for this. Adding a sunroom or patio room adds elegance to your home. It also add an enjoyment for all the seasons, winter, summer, spring, and fall. The biggest thing is that it is an investment into your home. Adding value into your home should you decide to sell in the future, which could in turn help you sell your home allows the potential buyer to see the elegance and relaxation factor you have added to your home and may help persuade their decision to make an offer on your home.3BA

You can also find more info on seasons sunroom and decorating sunroom. Sunroomkitsreview.com is a comprehensive resource to improve your home environment.

Foam Insulation Is Green Insulation

These days, everybody's building green. There are lots of ways to build that are both friendly to the environment, and more energy efficient than traditional building techniques. These not only do right by planet earth; they also save you money.

Insulation is a major concern in house building. Using green materials to insulate your house is more efficient and healthier than using potentially toxic materials. Green is the way to go!

Done With That Newspaper?

If you want to insulate your house with green materials, there are several green products available. One of the most common is fiber insulB40ation, which is s recycled paper that is used as to insulate your home. This is not fiberglass, which some studies have shown to be bad for your lungs.

Most of the paper for fiber insulation comes from newspapers, but cardboard and other paper materials are used as well. This material is just as effective, if not better, than traditional materials.

Fiber insulation is often referred to as "loose fill." Bags of loose fill, or recycled paper, are blown into the spaces between walls and compacted until it is solid. This technique is always being improved, and in the future it may be an even more efficient means of keeping your house insulated. It's also a good way to re-use those Sunday papers.

Good Old Fashioned Cotton

What happens to all those clothes that you can't hand-me-down anymore? Some of it is used to insulate houses. Recycled cotton, a material that has been used for centuries to keep warm, is a great way of insulating your house.

Recycled cotton is very energy efficient. The process of getting the cotton ready for insulation takes less energy than most other recycling processes. It is blown into the area between the walls and packed there. This is a particularly good choice for those who live in colder climates.

Expanding Spray Foam

By far, the best and most efficient green product is polyurethane spray foam insulation. This is a vegetable oil based substance that is sprayed in, and then expands and hardens. It is the most efficient way of insulating a house because, as it expands, it fills all the cracks and holes completely.

In addition to providing excellent insulation, it is the only way to keep water and moisture completely out of your home. It is effective at keeping out pests as well, and is naturally fire resistant unlike other kinds of insulation.

Spray foam is environmentally friendly and saves homeowners anywhere from 20% to 40% of their utility bill every month, depending on where they live. This saves you money, and it also helps save the planet.

You might also be surprised to know that using green products are almost always cheaper than installing insulation the old fashioned way. And of course, it saves you money in the long run by providing superior energy efficiency.

Look into green insulation products today, whether you are building a home or thinking about remodeling and going green.

Spray foam insulation is the choice of experts for an energy efficient and environmentally friendly insulation product. Apex Foam offers several varieties that can meet your insulating needs. http://www.apexfoam.com

10 Tips To Help Live With ME

I know a young lady who has ME, Myalgic Encephalopathy. She has had it for many years but is now living a full, wonderful and enjoyable life. Through coaching, we came up with the following 10 tips to help people with M.E.

1. Imagine a life with energy and health

2. Make friends with your ME, accept it and ask yourself how you can move on with it

3. Ask what ME has given you and what have you learnt from having it.

4. Recognise the 'stopping' steps. That is when it is time to recoup the energy by relaxing and be happy that it can be recognised. When it is recognised, remember to accept it and embrace the relaxation and know that this relaxation is 'recharging your batteries'.

5. What strategies can you put in place that will enable you to do more or recharge your battery of life and happiness?

6. Remember one person's ME is not the same as another

7. Be prepared for the journey, there is no quick fix just small stepping stones which are giant achievements

8. Be happy with small journey goals - they will get better, remember from small acorns big trees grow.

9. Find someone who will support you but challenge you.

10. Listen to your body - be mindful of it and respect it.

These are just a few tips to help you or someone you care about with ME. Perhaps if you have any further tips, you can let me know by contacting me personally.

"The most important thing when ill, is to never lose heart".

Denise Vogel is a Life Coach based in Essex. Denise wants people to get the most out of their lives and live life to the full.

There are some resources on my website for you to begin this journey, a look denisevogel-lifecoach and see how together we can change your life.

Commitment - The Self Help Secret To Self Improvement, Motivation, And Life Success

Your success and self improvement requires self motivation to leave your comfort zone, walk through fear, walk in faith, learn how to deal with adversity and stress, overcome self-limiting beliefs, be focused, develop new skills, and on and on

In light of all it takes to reach your highest level of self improvement and success, it wont happen if you dont have a commitment in place at the beginning of your journey, and at each step along the way.

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to successfully climb Mount Everest, said, Commitment is the first step, and all else lines up. Lets take a look at what he meant, and how that relates to your motivation, success, and self improvement.

Imagine you and I take a walk every morning along the banks of a river. Each day, we enjoy the beauty and the serenity of the flowing water and cool breeze as we crunch through the leaves that fell the season before.

Weeks pass and one day, you and I make a commitment to cros2235s the river. We walk along the same path weve taken for months. As we walk, the beauty and serenity are all present, but suddenly our entire experience has changed because of our commitment. Our conversation is unlike any weve had before.

You point out a rock in the river and say, Bill, maybe we can wade out to that rock and then climb up and over that fallen tree. Then I say, Yes, and from there we can get to that flat rock, swim to that overhanging branch, and use it to pull ourselves toward the far shore

Then you suddenly say, But wait. Look down there. See where the river narrows downstream? Maybe that would provide an easier way

Were noticing aspects of the river we never noticed before. For months, we didnt care how close any rock might be to a fallen tree, but today that information means everything. The fallen trees and rocks have suddenly become stepping stones for crossing the river! Isnt this interesting? The river hasnt changed one iota. You and I havent changed either. The trees and rocks are the same, but our entire experience of walking along the river has been transformed.

The only difference between our walk today and our previous walks is that we decided we wanted to end up in a different place on this day and then made a commitment to get there.

Our commitment to cross the river has transformed our experience into a venture for success and self improvement. Our commitment gives us motivation, focus, and the ability to notice and act on pertinent information to accomplish our objective.

Just as your relationship with the river is transformed with your commitment, your relationship with achieving anything can be transformed when you do the same thing.

School never taught us the importance or power of making commitments with ourselves to stand for things in a way that produces new energy and new possibilities. Life would be a lot different if the only things in the middle of the road were a yellow line and a dead possum. The magic of success, self improvement, and motivation happens when you stand for something. Extraordinary accomplishments happen when you make a stand by making a commitment.

My favorite definition of commitment is - Doing what you said you would do, long after the moment in which you said it, has passed.

Being committed to something or simply being involved in it are two very different ways to bring yourself to the life you lead, and the outcomes of each are also significantly different. When you consider how different a relationship will turn out, depending on whether you are involved with someone or committed to them, you begin to understand the significant advantage a commitment gives you for having success. Commitment creates motivation for success and self improvement, long after the moment you were first inspired to be, do, have, and experience more.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln: Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.

When you make a commitment, you make such a resolution with yourself. What are you aching to accomplish or achieve, but motivation and progress toward success and self improvement seem to elude you? Deepen your commitmentand watch what happens.

Copyright 2007

This article content is from Bill Dyer's Award-Winning Book,
How To Bounce Back And Be Happy When Life Blows You Down.
The award-winning book is available at: http://www.bouncebackandbehappy.com

FREE info on "257 Ways To Appreciate This Moment And Create A Life You Love", is also available at the above website by scrolling down to the Time-Out box.

Bill Dyer
Professional Speaker/Award-Winning Author
http://www.billdyer.com
336-379-0777

Get The Most For Your Money With Home Remodeling

Every homeowner has a laundry list of improvements they'd like to make on their home. The problem most homeowners run into is that they aren't thinking ahead to the improvements that will provide the best return on their investment. Whether you plan to stay in your home a few short years or you're in it for the long haul, it's still a good idea to recognize the issues - positive or negative - that affect your home's resale value. A recent "Cost vs. Value Report" completed by Remodeling Online divides homes into two major categories (mid-range and upscale) to help homeowners determine where best to spend their money. This article focuses on those mid-range improvements that will bring you the best return on investment (ROI) in the Rolla/St. James, Missouri area.

Replace your Siding

With an 80.9% average rate of return, a phenomenal return for the Midwest, siding replacement was the overall winner for this region. This should be your first indication that buyers really do focus on curb appeal. As with any business, first impressions in real estate are important. You'd be surprised how many people rule out a home just by driving by. I have been on my way to show countless homes, only to find that once the buyer sees the outside of the home, they don't even bother looking inside. They may never see the remodeled bathrooms or new carpet you just invested all your time and energy in, so be sure that your first impression is positive and sticks with them.

Add a Deck

Wooden deck additions came in a close second with a 78.4% ROI. The great rate of return on decks stems in part from the fact that a wooden deck addition is extremely cost-effective. If your home is lacking a deck or similar outdoor space, consider adding a simple wooden deck to spice up the entertaining aspect of your back yard.

Replace Outdate or Inefficient Windows

Exhibiting a 73.7% ROI, vinyl window replacement came in strong as well, with wooden windows not far behind at 70.2%ROI. Window replacement continues to support the importance of curb appeal, and it also shows that bD58uyers are interested in lower energy bills. So, not only do windows increase a home's external appearance, they also help cut down on rising energy costs.

Spruce up the Kitchen & Bath

Any Realtor will tell you that new updates in the kitchen and bath sell a home extremely quickly. Kitchen remodels were categorized as major or minor, with minor remodels edging out major remodels 71.5% to 70.9%. Close behind were bathroom remodels with 68.8%, and bathroom additions came in at 61.8% ROI. Overall, these numbers are fairly strong, which proves that there is truth to the idea that buyers will walk away from a potential home that is lacking a quality kitchen and/or baths.

The Bottom of the Barrel

Roof replacement and office remodels finished at the bottom of the pack. Roof replacements are something that people address when they need to, but not usually because they want to, which brought this remodel in with 59.3% ROI. Few buyers are likely to replace a functional roof for aesthetic reasons, which factors in to its low ROI. However, the office remodel finished even lower, with 53% ROI, probably because most people don't view a home office space as necessary. Buyers are more likely to value rooms important in their everyday living, like kitchens, bathrooms, and family rooms, and see an office space as more of a bonus than a necessity.

This list is by no means a cut-and-dry order of areas you should remodel, but it does give you a general guideline of the remodels that might have greater benefit when it comes time to sell your home. Remember, though, that the location of your home, construction costs, and time frame are constantly changing and uncontrollable variables that can greatly affect these percentages.

Special thanks to: 2007 Hanley Wood, LLC for most of the statistics. Reproduced by permission. Complete city data from Remodeling Online 2007. Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at www.costvsvalue.com.

Justin Renaud is a REALTOR working in the Rolla Missouri Real Estate market. He has been working with buyers and sellers full-time for the last three years. His website http://www.justinrenaud.com is a resource for buyers, sellers, and homeowners to find helpful advice as well as resources discussing the areas of Rolla, MO and St. James, MO.

The information for this article uses statistics for the St. Louis, MO region according to http://www.costvsvalue.com

Self-esteem and Self-worth

These concepts derive from each other and can be interchanged. Self-worth refers to man's value, whereas his self-esteem is the expression of this value towards the external world.

What is a person's self-esteem?

Self-esteem is a form of spiritual state, a spiritual infrastructure, on which a person's spiritual forces develop. It is also an attribute, an urge and a unique creative energy, which may be either negative or positive. Positive energy ra5B4ises self-esteem, thereby encouraging positive development. Negative energy, in contrast, lowers self-esteem and in so doing, inhibits or arrests this positive development and encourages a negative one. It will be easier to better understand the meaning of self-esteem if we view it from our own perspective and from God's.

From our perspective, it is the level of self-esteem we perceive ourselves to have, by which we appreciate and present ourselves to the outside world, and by which we also act and react. This is also the level at which we appreciate the other. As this level tends to shift, it should be seen as subjective.

From God's perspective, this is a person's true self-esteem and its level is steady. This level follows from Gods declaration that man was created in His image. It is this level which the Divine attempts to persuade us to accept as proper and to act in accordance with. Our divine purpose, as well as His expectations for its realization and implementation, is also based on this level. This level is always higher, sometimes far higher than our subjective self-esteem. In other words: Our perceived self-worth is significantly lower than the true one.

Abraham Adar, the author of the book "Man and the realization of his purpose", which guides man to realize his purpose through decipheri381ng the Pentateuch's divine wisdom. Some material from the book as well as additional information is presented in his website.

http://www.adar-publishing.com

7 Tips on Painting Kitchen Cabinets

"Any idea about faux painting for kitchen cabinets?" asked my friend, while summing up my cooking talents in the rather stolid environs of my kitchen. Quite honestly, it sounded like some cryptic terminology on a TV show that invariably bounces off the viewer's consciousness. Be it faux painting or even painting fake wood kitchen cabinets, I didn't have the faintest clue. For someone who faced a complete drought of ideas while painting kitchen cabinets during the kitchen remodeling project, it was not a wee bit surprising that I suggested that painting kitchen cabinets white would create a stunning impact. If you belong to the class of embarrassing ignoramuses like me, it's high time you understand the concept of painting kitchen cabinets in the right perspective.

Paint your way to happiness

There are no binary perceptions about the fact that painting kitchen cabinets is the perfect way to breathe life into them, considering that both replacement and even refacing worn out kitchen cabinets burn a hole in your pockets. A paltry sum of a little over $1000 and an indomitable will is all that is needed to make your kitchen cabinets look simply stunning. Here are a few tips before you embark on your colorful project:

* Prior to beginning the painting job, make sure the kitchen cabinets are devoid of all nails and screws. All the hardware must be stored in a secure place for future use.

* Wipe off every speck of dust, dirt and grime off the surface of the kitchen cabinets. The surface must be squeaky clean and absolutely dry before painting.

* Don't forget to use a primer sealer on the surface.

* If a fabulous finish is high on your priority list, then it makes sense to invest in a good quality paint brush.

* Wood cabinets are sure to come alive with just a few coats of enamel based oil paint. Hi-gloss or even semi-gloss paints are no less.

* Painting kitchen cabinets is not something that can be done in a tearing hurry. Make sure this is a weekend project and devote ample time to it. You'll need at least 2-3 coats of paint for that stunning finish.

* Glazing is another popularly used technique to bring to the fore the apparent magnificence of wood kitchen cabinets.

Ideas that last a lifetime

If you find it hard to get those creative juices flowing, there's no reason to eschew your plans of painting kitchen cabinets. In fact, there are scores of sites on the Internet that are flooded with innovative ideas of painting kitchen cabinets. Be it wood, metal or laminate kitchen cabinets, painting them was never so much fun.

If you want your kitchen to spring back to life, then it's high time you embrace the concept of painting kitchen cabinets. It's sure to be an insightful experience.

Add Spice To Your Kitchen With Roosters and Hens Style Kitchen Decor! Many Other Wonderful Kitchen Decorating Ideas at http://www.TrulyLovelyHome.com

Self-Improvement - Modern Manners And The Changes Required

Some manners will always be with us, like saying please and thank you, sharing, and being on time. Some other manners are not commonly required anymore and may appear stuffy, while there are many new manners we should observe that go along with our modern world.

Attention. Cell phones, Call Waiting, Instant Messaging we have more communication and technology at our disposal, but a general rule always applies: Give your full attention to the person with whom you are speaking! If you are having lunch with them or are in a meeting or movie, turn your cell phone off until you are finished. If you are having a telephone conversation, dont jostle more than once between calls, and then only if you are expecting something urgent like your child calling for a ride home. If you are instant messaging, hold only one conversation at a time and do not allow lags in between. Let the other person know when you need to go on to something else.

Respond. We are inundated with communications these days, but make an effort to acknowledge every personal mail, telephone message, and personal email within 24 hours. If volume is a problem, then give single-sentence responses, or with email and voice mail you can set an auto-response message. It is more polite to let people know with a decisive answer that you are too busy to respond to long emails than to ignore their efforts to communicate. On the other side, dont spam people with forwarded messages.

Drive patiently and courteously. Do not tail-gate or drive aggressively, and use your turn signals in time, even when changing lanes. Dont park blocking a sidewalk or blocking anyone in. Dont make people walk around your car at a crosswalk. Keep your muffler repaired and keep your radio low when in residential areas. Never honk to get someone to come out their building to your car, but rather, walk to their door.

Some oldies but goodies include: dont use foul language, dont litter (cigarette butts are not exempt), dont smoke near non-smokers or in smoking restricted zones, dont let your pets disturb others or leave mess on their property, keep clean personal and food related habits, curb your interrupting others, and when in doubt, ask.

Social network users, c42Alick for myspace comments such as compliments, cool comments, love, flirty, birthday, holidays, religion, funny, cute, etc. You can also use myspace graphics in topics like birthday graphics, comment graphics, holidays, daily fun, love, expressions and friendship. If you love glitter graphics, click glitter graphics to send to your friends and add to your profile.

Spiritual Advice

Owens Corning Basement System

The Owens Corning basement system is a system of high quality, highly insulated wall panels that are installed by professionals. These panels are insulated, moisture resistant, mold and mildew resistant and easily removable for access to foundation walls if needed for repair of electrical and plumbing fixtures. This system has been tes1C83ted for flammability, performance stability, acoustical, and thermal properties.

The Owens Corning system is one of the easiest ways to finish a basement, and on average, finishing a whole basement can be started and completed in two weeks using this system. Basements are notorious for moisture. Common basement finish materials are drywall and wood, even though these materials are easily damaged by water. Mold and mildew can grow in these materials when moisture accumulates over time. Upper respiratory health is affected negatively by exposure to mold and mildew.

While the system is moisture resistant, it cannot be used as a moisture barrier for your home. If you have existing water problems they need to be treated prior to installation of this system. Under normal circumstances these panels are able to accommodate high humidity which makes them an excellent choice for basement finishing materials.

An Owens Corning basement finishing system is made of mold and mildew resistant materials. This system not only creates beautifully finished walls, it puts a mold and mildew barrier up for the safety of you and your family. In addition to the mold and mildew resistant features, this basement finishing system also has acoustic properties and flame resistant properties.

When rooms in your basement sound like you are talking in a cave it makes it difficult to enjoy your favorite television program or to work out in your basement gym. The Owens Corning basement finishing system panels are made up of an acoustic insulation that provides 75% sound absorption. The acoustic abilities allow you to enjoy the sound system in your basement home theater.

This system not only insulates acoustically. Thermal insulation is also provided which can create a more energy efficient home. In fact in some areas installing this basement finishing system can actually make you eligible for energy tax credits.

The system is made up of several panels that are fitted easily into a system of rails, and includes the moldings, rails and the panels. Ceiling finishing is not included in the system, although in some areas the certified installers may be able to assist in ceiling finishing as well.

This system can save you money on construction in the long run. When the basement finishing system has been installed it is easy to remove single panels when needed. This is important as it allows homeowners to check their foundation and do any repairs needed to pipes and/or wiring at their convenience. If you do need to get to the foundation for any reason, all that is required is the simple removal of one panel. Once you are finished with whatever repair or inspection work you were doing the panel is simply snapped back into place.

Visit us for more information on installing floating walls in basements, concrete basement construction tips and basement construction in clay soil.

Tools To Help You Focus And Concentrate On Your Goals And Objectives In Business And Employment

For some people, meeting objectives and goals can be difficult. If you are one of the millions of people who have trouble with focus and concentration, don't give up; by following simple guidelines; there is hope for you to reach the goals that you have set for yourself.

The place in which you work has its own atmosphere. The office or cubicle in which you work should reflect your personality. It should be quiet, and you should have an adequate, clean workspace, however, if you are going to spend your time there, you should want to be there. When you have this type of environment, you are more likely to accomplish a lot more work.

It has been proven that music has ability to help you focus o5B4n the task at hand. The genre of the music is up to the person listening to it. Music can make the everyday distractions that cause you to loose focus, disappear. It is recommended however that you use earphones, as other people may not share the same taste in music.

There are a lot of ways to improve your focus and concentration. If you are unable to do it on your own, workshops and seminars are available in many cities and towns across the country. They are designed to assist you in developing your focus and concentration skills.

If at the end of a long day, you find that you do not have the time or energy to attend a workshop or seminar, you can visit your local bookstore to find thousands of books lining the shelves on the subject improving focus and concentration.

When you feel your focus is slipping, a good way to get it back is to take a bath instead of a shower before work. A shower is usually short, while you can lounge and soak in a bath. You will emerge feeling refreshed and you may find that the stress you had went down the drain with the bath water.

It is a proven fact that when you are hungry, you focus and concentration suffer. While dieting can help you loose weight, it can also decrease your concentration levels. It is important that you eat breakfast, healthy or not, it will assist you to focus better.

The power of positive thinking is very much underestimated in todays society. Self-affir5B4mation can stimulate your brain and give you the boost that you need to focus better. It has been proven to work.

Saying positive phrases to yourself over and over again will unconsciously help you to convince yourself that it is true. There is no greater power than believing in yourself.

Believe it or not, breathing can actually help reduce the stress that you feel. When you are less stressed you are able to focus better. There are certain breathing exercises that you can learn to assist you in developing better focus and concentration.

It is important to have the right tools to improve your concentration. It is more important that you use them. Having the right attitude will also assist you in making sure that your focus and concentration is on track. This in turn will have favorable results with your boss.

Leon Edward helps people improve IQ, focus, memory, concentration, creativity, speed reading, public speaking, time management and reducing stress. Download his IQ Mind Brain Memory Self-Help library at his website http://www.IQMindBrainLibrary.com

Leon Edward helps people improve in Goal Setting, Success, Leadership, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Stress Reduction and more through his articles, blogs, reports on line and self-help suc572cess roladex-on-line . Visit his Self-Improvement Blogs and Articles at http://www.AwesomeSuccess.org

Leon Edward Helps people to start, grow and maximize online business income with training articles, reviews, marketing log... ideas and opportunities. Download his FREE Report - How to Find A Solid Home Business Opportunity without Getting Scammed! - Find online business training articles, an internet business in a box, FREE Content , starting a business free ideas, residual internet income opportunities and top network marketing home based businesses... all at http://www.HomeBusinessIT.com

Spiritual Movies and Ideas

Vintage Decor and Ideas for Your Home

Shabby Chic, also known as Vintage, is the idea of incorporating accessories, furniture, and household items from the years 1900-1950 to decorate your home. But what makes this dcor a popular decorating style? It provides a comfortable and casual look through the use of Vintage accessories, new dcor that looks old, pastels, comfy light painted furniture, lace tablecloths, dreamy soft floral fabrics, wrought iron curtain rods with sheer curtains, and vivid fresh flowers. The idea of combining the old with the new opens up endless possibilities when selecting Shabby Chic home dcor and furnishings.

Imagine visiting your grandparents and snuggling in comfortable soft furniture, while being surrounded by colorful fresh flowers and the soft scent of candles. This style can create the same sensation for your own home. It balances elegant items with old and worn, silver accessories with painted wood tables, and soft area rugs with old lace.

If your budget is limited, Shabby Chic decorating is the perfect solution. You can scour some of the great websites noted below for Shabby Chic home dcor.

Shabby Chic and Vintage use furniture that is worn, along with stylish items and things that look old. Therefore, you have a varied range of choices for furniture and home dcor.

Consider the following ideas as a guide:

A fresh coat of paint is a great way of giving old furniture pieces some Shabby Chic appeal. You can also update older upholstered furniture through the use of slip covers or large throws. For small tables, such as side tables, coffee tables, or consoles, look for pieces that feature carved wood as a focal point. When looking for Shabby Chic furniture, take measures to avoid bright bold colors or matching sets. Instead, try to mix and match the upholstery style with floral patterns, along with striped pillows and other accessories.

To accent your walls, you can include carved wood or metal shelves, which can be purchased in antique stores, gift shops, garage sales, and antique fairs. Again, a little paint on these items goes a long way because you will add a special touch to your dcor. For instance, you can incorporate an ornate wrought iron corner shelf and display antique collectibles or crocheted dollies for a vintage look. Furthermore, you can look for old doors, windows, mantels, garden gates, house shutters, and wrought iron, which can be used as wall hangings or even used to replace existing doors to add charm.

For lighting, you can use a floral print or solid colored fabric lamp shade for the right splash of color and display it against surfaces that are distressed. Wrought iron, wood mirrors, or picture frames with white, natural, or distressed finishes blend well in a Shabby Chic room. If you want to add a unique touch to this dcor, apply weathered paint to towel racks in the bathroom or kitchen. And lets not forget to include candleholders or a candelabra. You can give these items a distressed finish in white or ivory for that shabby chic look.

Giorgina Devereaux is the creator of AskGiorgina.com, which features questions, answers, and ideas on home decor and furniture. For more information, please visit http://www.AskGiorgina.com

How To Build A Log Home

If you ever wanted to enjoy living in a log cabin this is for you!

I always wanted to build a log house, but for one reason or the other the need to live and my desire could not come together.

Then one day I had an idea, why not put an addition on and make it out of stone and logs!

This would be my own little log cabin that I always wanted. I needed an extra bed room so why not?

I began building the house in 1983 and added on in 1993 and 2003 (2003 log addition)

Finally my dream was going to come true. After some research and numerous in curries about logs from manufactures, I decided to go back in time and do it the way they use to in the Olden Days. After all I self taught my self to hand cut sand stone with a Hammer and Mason chisels, why not do the logs my self!

Laying up 3-6 feet of hand hewn Foundation stone I began to lay up the logs only on 3 sides. The reason for this is I used pine logs that were dead for a few years yet were not rotten or bug infested. I needed to keep them out of the weather as much as possible, with over hangs and prevailing weather patterns, keep the logs dry at all times. The back wall is all stone so the rain, snow, and sun can reek havoc on that all it wants!

This was a very labor intense build by hand and little help, but the out come was so satisfying and rewarding! The look is very 1800s with a touch of 21st century Tec knowledge, vinyl windows and poly filler for joints made it warm and cozy.

The cost was very affordable because all the material was free except shingles, windows rafters, and sheeting.

Estimated 100 + tons of stone and 75 logs that were all hand cut, and laid with love and compassion. Inside the fire place is10 wide by 14 high and 14 thick out of sand stone that was harvested in the area of my travels in western Pennsylvania.

The entire house is heated with a wood fired boiler in the basement that my dad and I built out of junk that was lying around. The water is pumped through pipe into the old cast iron registers that someone was throwing away! All but the log addition has piping in the tile floor and the fire place. We keep it about 75-80 degrees in mid winter with no extra heating cost.

My wife Robin and I Live in rual Western Pennsylvania, were we enjoy are country life helping others find the same life style we do by working from home. This is what gave me the time that Ineeded to build my dream house just the way I wanted to. This life style can be yours only if you want it. Just like my dream of building a log house, planning, working hard and doing the mundane little things over and over you WILL see your Dream come true! Check out the log house and pick up a copy of "Think And Grow Rich" while your there, http://www.PatRitrosky.com

So if your thinking about building your own log cabin its only a dream away! You can do it if you only wish to and talk to me! By the way you can go to www.PatRitrosky.com to view some pictures of this one of a kind little log cabin. Just click on Going From Nothing to Exquisite.

Success Secrets of the Greatness Grower

"The power inside of you would stagger you if you really knew what it could accomplish. It is a power that conquers, empowers, and Grows Greatness. But most of us have been conquered by Greatness thieves that have robbed us blind. "

Clueless.

That is how most people are about their Power to Succeed that lies dormant within them. They have no idea of the Success Greatness that lies deep within just waiting for a chance to explode into the world and make a so so life into a life made only of dreams.

You have a great Power within that can help create any life you want, have anything you want, and do anything that you desire. This Power is one that has been waiting, watching, and willing to take on the Success Journey in a way that would leave you breathless and in awe.

YOU are that powerful on the inside.

Yes, that Success Power and Force is within you, and waiting to come out and change your whole world! Success is basically the releasing of that Inner Will and Power in your 5B4life, and then operating your life in such a capacity that Success can ONLY be the result!

DARE to step beyond the limits today and live "Life Beyond the Barriers.(tm)"

But people will tell you that this Success Power is for others and not for you, as you came from the wrong family or side of town. They will tell you that Success has never been a part of who you are. Don't buy into the lie.

Success is already inside of you.

YOU must release it, and never look back, as that is where you came from, not where you are going. It is where you used to be, not where you are now. It is WHO you used to be, but not who you are now.

Today, something has shifted inside of you.

You are a POWERFUL being that God has made for massive Success and Achievement, and today you make that decision to release it and never look back at what USED TO BE.

Success is about what is GOING TO BE! And you are going to be a HUGE Success today and not be clueless like so many others.

Let others walks among the clueless crowd and be blind to what the Truth is about their Success.

But not you.

There are so many people in the world that simply are deceived into believeing that what they have and are doing is all their is to life.

They are clueless to the Greatness that lies within them.

I should know....

Mine laid dormant for years. It laid there like a rock that I carried around with me. It heard5B3 all the excuses and the pathetic reasons I was not a Success. It put up with my lack of great effort, as I replaced it with weak effort that was "just enough" to get by.

Am I proud of that fact?

Nope...hardly. I shake my head at it, and that is the reason for this lesson- Release the Greatness and Giftings that you have been blessed with!

I had the Shift- and so have you today! The Inner Shift of Greatness that shifts your life into Success overdrive!

Let me ask you the questions that I had to ask myself:

Are you proud of the fact that you probably have truly never tapped into the Greatness and Gifting of Success within you?

Are you proud of the fact that you could be doing do much better in life? We ALL could!

Here is a Million Dollar Question...

Are you more proud of your Mediocrity than your talent and Power God gave you to Massively Succeed?

YOU are a WINNER and Blessing to people!

YOU are a Gifted Talent that attracts Success to you like a magnet on Steroids!

YOU are the Enlarger and YOU will enlarge you and others today by encouraging them and taking them to a higher realm of thinking, belief, dreaming, actions, and life and total faith in what they can do with it by simply releasing it, and GROWING IT.

Truly, YOU are a Greatness Grower, and Success Shifter today...

And today...YOU start with YOU!

(c) 2006/ all rights reserved

Doug Firebaugh is one of the top Success Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_9.html
http://www.passionfire.com

Fulfilling Expectations

During a conversation with a client, I learned that his soon to be college freshman son was expected to register for only 12 hours instead of the standard 15. The universitys position was that 12 hours was the expected workload because 12 hours was very difficult even for the brightest young person. As the father was also was a former college student who experienced 15 to 18 hour semesters, he asked me what I thought? My reply would be to ask the following question to the university: If you expect my son to earn a 4 year degree in 4 years or approximately 120 hours, how can he do achieve this goal when he is only registering for 24 hours per year?

On the way back to my office, I was reminded of the self-fulfilling prophecy that Robert Merton identified in his 1957 work Social Theory and Social Structure. Merton defined this concept as when a false definition of the situation evokes a new behavior which makes the original false conception come true. In simpler terms, when an expectation is set regardless whether it is factual or not factual, we as human beings will take actions consistent with that expectation.

For my client, if he didnt challenge the expectation of the university, his son would be taking 6 years to complete a 4-year degree. Also, his son would then believe that a 40-hour workweek would be very difficult and then would take actions to support that belief.

My thoughts then turned to a scene in G. Bernard Shaws play Pygmalion when the very wise Eliza Doolittle was explaining the self-fulfilling prophecy to the Pickering, the Professors friend the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how shes treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treated me as a flower girl, and always will, but I know I can be a lady to you because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.

How often do the expectations of others and even ourselves set the stage for predicting our own future failures or future successes? Expectations are simply our thoughts. Through time, these self-fulfilling thoughts turn into belief systems that are reflected in our attitudes or what some have called into habits of thought. Each day these attitudes can provide the momentum for us to reach higher and farther or can be 500 pound weights that drag us down into deep holes where darkness is every present.

Again, the answer is one of choice. You can choose to expect more of yourself and others and you can choose not to. For me, there is only one choice. What is your choice?

Leanne helps individuals and businesses to double their results or performance in real time. Please feel free to contact Leanne at 219.759.5601. If you truly don't believe doubling your results is possible, read some case studies where individuals and businesses took the risk and experienced unheard of results.

Instructions For Remodeling Porches

Remodeling porches can be a great benefit to homes in regard to both its appearance and value. The following example from DoItYouself shows how you can make more of your outdoors with new ideas, such as painting, staining or trying some basic carpentry skills. You can turn a plain backyard into a fresh, fabulous outdoor environment. This may also be a good time to repair an old porch while also sprucing up its appearance.

The owners of an Atlanta, Georgia home decided to transport their back porch from a concrete slab to a screened-in porch due to mosquitoes and their desire to relax outside. They already knew they wanted to screen in their existing back porch, but complications arose since their patio was simply a concrete square tucked under an overhang. They wanted the porch to blend in with the rest of the house yet still stand up against the mosquitoes, humidity and high summer temperatures. Additionally, because their existing concrete porch also had a slight drop for rain runoff the homeowner shad to trim the inside of the frame to fit the drop.

Here is a step-by-step outline of what these homeowners did:

First, cut the paneling. You should cut 4 x 8 foot sheets of pre-primed beadboard ceiling paneling to fit. Second, install the ceiling panels and fan. A nail gun is the most efficient tool when installing ceiling panels. This is easier than holding the panel while swinging the hammer. Be sure the ceiling is wired for a fan and light before installing all of the paneling. The fan helps the porch stay eight to ten degrees cooler than the outdoors, while the light allows the porch to be used at night. Have someone hold the fan while the other person connects the wires and screws the fan into place. The ceiling's trim should hide the seams in the paneling to give a nice appearance. Third, frame the porch.

These homeowner's 2 x 4 frame was sized to fit the standard-width screens installed later. You can either nail the crosspieces directly through the vertical braces or toenail them into place. Fourth, attach the interior paneling. A staple gun secures the interior plywood beadboard paneling. The panels were level across the top, but because the concrete floor was uneven the bottom of the paneling had to be trimmed. Fifth, attach and level the exterior paneling. The hardboard exterior panels should be added individually starting from the bottom. The first panel was custom-cut to fit the bumpy ground line. It did require a few attempts to get the paint's pale yellow tone to match the weathered version of the house. A benefit of using weather-resistant exterior paint is that it only requires washing with soap and water to maintain its color.

The paint thus maintains its great looks unless you use a chain saw to mess up with it. Finally, finish the screen. Vinyl grids are screwed into the wooden frame and the screens attach to the channels in these grids. This creates a staple-less installation of fiberglass of aluminum screens. Once the screens are rolled into the grids, the excess screen is trimmed off. Mallet snaps the caps over the vinyl channels and locks the screens into place.

The magazine writer Ray Walberg is really interested in questions about saw sharpening. Working on his writings, the columnist established his experience on issues associated to chain saws and saw sharpening.

An Obligation To Provide Clean Power?

We contract with an electrical utility to supply are homes and businesses with power. They supply this power, from a power generation facility, through an elaborate electrical grid and then connect it to our home or business with overhead wires or via an underground connection.

Is it reasonable for us to assume that the energy that is supplied and the method used to supply it, is clean and safe? Apparently not!

More and more U.S. electrical utilities are suggesting to their customers that they install whole house surge protection along with specific use surge protectors for high value items such as computers and home entertainment centers. Depending on the utility the fees range from free installation to an installation charge of $95, monthly fees from $6 to $10 and committed contracts for three to five years.

Now I am quite aware that many electrical surges in our homes and businesses do not originate on the power lines, some surges come over cable TV and telephone lines. In many cases the wires, whether they are power, cable TV or telephone are just the delivery mechanism and the actual surge was picked up from lightning striking the ground or the actual wires themselves and there is very little a utility or communication company can do to prevent the damage that might be caused by such an incident.

However, some of the electrical surges are a direct result of; too little power on the grid, over demand and the installation of overhead power lines. Yet we are being asked to cover the cost of protecting our homes and businesses from a commodity that we are paying for in the first place.

The question is; should the property owner be responsible for providing surge protection in order to safe guard their installed electrical equipment, or should the utility take the responsibility both morally and economically of providing surge protection?

For additional information on safeguarding your home from power surges or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Harmony Of Body

Original of India and with more than 5,000 years of antiquity, it is impossible to become an idea of which the Yoga can contribute to us without before knowing the philosophy that surrounds it.

The Yoga word comes from the snscrito and means union or integration. According to this discipline the man is a whole that includes/understands 4 different aspects: the physical part, the mental one, emotional and the spiritual one. The people feel and usually develop these aspects of their life of separated form, so that his I it is incomplete. In order to obtain the union of all the aspects in one, yoga proposes a set of directed techniques to reach an only destiny: an individual personality, where all the aspects are integrated that form our person.

The more habitual ways or techniques to reach this objective are:

The Hatha yoga, starting off of our physical part,
The Bhakti yoga, starting off of the emotional part,
The Jnaa yoga and Raja yoga, for the mental one,And the Samahdi, to unite the three previous ones.

These techniques usually are made one after the other as if it was the stages of a process. It is for that reason that most habitual is to begin with the practice of the Hatha Yoga since in our culture we are more tie to the physicist who to the spiritual thing.

Although one is not a sport, the Hatha Yoga (Yoga for the Health) is the one that you will be able to make, of initial form in center of Yoga. Its practice develops our physical part looking for the balance of the different flows from energy of our body. In fact, a session of Yoga is made up of a set of exercises based on the accomplishment of different positions that will help to obtain optimal to a muscular tone and a flexibility.

The exercises that form the Hatha Yoga can be divided in:

Asanas: It consists of the accomplishment of positions determined without making abrupt movements nor repetitions. In the Asanas, the form is but important to arrive at the correct position that the position in itself is for that reason that the movements must smooth and be controlled. The position will be due to maintain during the indicated time until the passage to the following one is indicated. With them we will work, the flexibility, the strength of the body, the balance and the mental concentration.

Bands and mudras: they are made when the student already has begun and has certain knowledge of the asanas. A little are exercises more complexes than they work on the nervous and endocrine system. Kriyas: directed to clean our body internally and to improve the balance of its vital functions. prolongation: its practice consists of following three phases of breathing (inspiration, retention and aspiration) sequential during the asana. In this part one works the balance and the concentration of the mind.

To practice this discipline implies enters a conception different from the body and the mind. The first sessions the mind enters tension to look for the indicated positions but little by little, the mind relaxes and the movements are perfected providing a beneficial harmonicon state for the health and the physical well-being.

BENEFITS

The level of mental concentration that provides its practice remarkably reduces to accumulated stress throughout the day. Numerous studies exist that demonstrate that the Yoga prevents many common diseases such as arthritis, the asthma, the obesity, the chronic fatigue, the diabetes, etc. Relaxed the muscles and improves the elasticity of the body. It improves the circulation. It reduces the cholesterol and the level of sugar in blood. It increases the capacity of concentration of the person and contributes to the mental relaxation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Each one must know its own limitations and those its body. It tries not forward more of the account so that the body is fortified little by little. You do not make abrupt movements nor repetitions in the positions. It tries to begin the class with the relaxed body and the mind.

Resource:http://www.yoga.com

Does Yoga Benefit Plastic Surgery Patients

When it comes to yoga and plastic surgery, two very important issues come up. The first issue that comes to mind is that yoga is a direct competition as an alternative to plastic surgery especially when speaking about face lifts. Now, after having plastic surgery, these exercise routines would be able to play an important role into helping to maintain the work that you have had completed. The truth is, while many people speak of various facial exercises associated with yoga helping to tighten the skin, one has to remember that in general, the skin is aging and the exercises can only do so much.

Just like your skin, if you do not take care of it, it will gradually fail and begin to wrinkle just as before. Plastic surgery is like a second chance at590 getting a more youthful look, and just like any second chance, you need to do things differently to make sure it lasts. That is where the yoga can be most beneficial as it will help to maintain the completed surgery for a longer period of time than if you were to just let it look good and buy another procedure later.

So if the question is whether or not yoga will benefit plastic surgery patients, then your answer lies in the fact that yoga will help anyone regardless as to whether they are a plastic surgery patient or not. Yoga is a great way to improve your health and your muscles. It is a way for you to feel more alive and increase your energy by starting the day off right as well as finishing it. Yoga is a way of life.

Many people around the world have turned to yoga in order to help them with many things from cancer recover to reliving stress. It is about a way of simplifying your life by changing your outlook on it. At the same time you are adding energy to your day by ensuring you a waking up in the morning on the good side of the bed regardless as to which side you wake up on.

Dr. Jim Greene would like to provide you with CRITICAL information regarding:

Plastic surgery

316Surgery

Breast implants

The above links will provide you with MUST READ information if you are serious about surgery.

When to Purchase a Metal Building

Have you decided to go for a metal building considering all its advantages? Are you sure but do not know where to start? Does the when question bother you often?

7 Tips for choosing THE RIGHT TIME to purchase a metal building

Do your homework Find out what, why and where

The first step is to know what to buy and from where. Have a basic idea about what exactly you want, what is your budget and when do you plan to buy it beforehand. This brings clarity and purpose. Next, you should search for various options available. For example Who are the various dealers? What is their specialization? What do they offer? What is the best price? What do friends recommend? Be absolutely sure about a dealer before buying or even deciding upon a dealer.

Quality comes first Avoid being foisted

We have stories like an XYZ buying a new amalgam of metal which was unbelievably cheap and later realizing that it was just not what he had bargained for. Contrary to what some dealers would tell you, all metals are not the same. In fact, the same metal can vary in quality. The cheaper is rarely, if ever, the best option. Do not compromise on quality.

The last piece is never the last option Dismiss Pressure tactics

Be wary of the dealer keen on selling you the last piece of a most extraordinary building or the one selling you a cancelled order at half-the-price. These are pressure tactics to stop you from investigating further.

In-sync with the times what suits best

You ought to be aware of the latest trends in the metal building industry to make the best bargain. See the latest styles and be aware of the newest trends. Is your dealer selling you a stone-age style building?

Name does matter Reputation counts

If confused, choose the brand. When there is nothing else to judge, it is safer to go with a known brand. Refer to customer testimonials and hear it straight from the horses mouth.

Buy rather than built a better option

Prefabricated buildings enable erection of buildings to be a do-it-yourself thing. It is better to choose a company which can tell you where to buy from in place of a company selling a building.

What do you want as per requirements?

For instance, do you require a steel building with clear span, modular or single slope frames? Where do you want the doors to be placed? Are you comfortable communicating with your dealer? Get full value for your money clarify your requirements.

Mike Zhmudikov is a professional copywriter and seo consultant.

A Guide to Wall Mural Kits

Wall murals are an easy and inexpensive way to decorate your home. They can personalize and brighten any room, and, perhaps best of all, can be done by almost anyone. Even if you feel you have no artistic talent, you can design and paint a wall mural to be proud of and show to all your guests. Look for inspiration in your favorite books, greeting cards, or art. You can also incorporate words, like favorite quotes, into your murals.

Wall mural kits have mad2238e it even easier to create a beautiful wall mural. Wall mural kits exist for almost any type of mural, big or small. The smallest kits contain stencils for room accents, like butterflies, bugs, flowers, or stars. These kits provide an easy introduction into creating wall murals because they are small and dont require much planning. Themed wall mural kits, each with several stencils, start at around $30. Border wall mural kits are another easy way to decorate a room. They can accent furniture or woodwork and look cute painted on childrens furniture. Most border kits cost around $5.

You can also buy large wall mural kits. These kits will help you paint a mural on one large wall. The murals are usually around eight by five feet. Childrens wall mural kits are particular popular. You can find stencils with construction equipment, cowboys, castles, dance, garden, and animal themes, for instance. Large wall mural kits cost around $30. Many of the large wall mural kits also have matching accessory kits, like a wall border or dresser knobs.

Parents wave how much their children love the murals they created using wall mural kits. Adult wall mural kits are a bit harder to find and more difficult to do, for the most part. Childrens wall murals can look like cartoons, but adult wall murals are generally subtler and take more artistic talent. You can, however, borrow aspects of childrens wall mural kits for in your own home, or use the kits to create a rustic, homey feel.

Wall Murals Info provides detailed information about Tuscan, painted, and tropical wall murals, wall murals for children, wall mural stencils and kits, and more. Wall Murals Info is affiliated with Original Content Web.