Mei 2018
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di 06.30 0

Homes decorated to support desired emotions create happy spaces for joyful living. Today, interior design psychology goes beyond the basic interior design principals by considering the effects of those elements on our senses. Rather than decorating to follow a certain style, choosing specific lighting, patterns, colors, and other elements to support happiness and well-being is considered.

The psychology of design includes the understanding of both physical and psychological effects and reactions. For example, knowledge of the psychological effects of color and how it can be used in a home make-over can ensure a room uplifts, calms, or energizes. Or, we all know that a trickling waterfall not only looks nice, but it also relaxes those nearby. Did you know that certain lighting makes you feel irritable while other lighting decisions bring you comfort? Are you aware that undulating patterns uplift the spirit while some geometric patterns cause anxiety? Our reaction to design elements leads to our psychological response. It is these responses that can help you choose interior design elements to bring out your emotional support in your home decorating. You can encourage happiness based on the way your senses – vision, hearing, touch, smell, and even taste – react to interior design details.

Here are some things to consider when decorating for the senses:

  • Ask yourself how you need to feel in a room. Do you want to feel calmness and serenity, or feel awakened and energized?
  • Learn about lighting. This is an extremely important factor in residential design. Poor or inappropriate lighting will help determine how well your room functions, and if it used for the purpose in mind.
  • Use colors appropriate to the natural setting, lighting, and desired emotional response. Color psychology is the most important tool in design. It can make or break the mood you want to create in a room.
  • Think about reactions to patterns already in the room and add harmonious patterns to those. Make sure they are the right scale and type. Patterns are proven to make people happy, but do avoid large patterns larger than your palm as they interfere with people in the room, and create a “busy” look.
  • Choose comfort over pretense. Just because a sofa looks great, does not mean that it will provide seating comfort.
  • Choose some design ideas for your pleasure as well as individual needs. Design spaces to give you and others comfort, reassurance, and merriment. Keep family and guests in mind.

Once you understand how your home decorating choices influence your emotions, you can follow your own inspiration. Remember that home decoration is not a permanent state because our rooms and homes evolve as our lives change. Choose home improvements and furnishings for productivity and happiness. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Enjoy the process and focus on your goal of creating a home that is pleasurable to you. Design happy spaces!



Source by Gina Garunkstis

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July 2007 changed the lives of British smokers almost instantaneously. That was the day that the overwhelming smoking ban takes effect and smokers are cast out into the streets to inhale their barely-legal tobacco. In preparation for the culture shock expected, the government will begin to slowly implement changes, meaning that you could be affected even sooner than you think.

Is it impossible to imagine enjoying that pint without a cigarette in hand? Do you love to enjoy that first morning cigarette over a hot cup of black coffee in the back of your favourite café? For the privilege of smoking in the great outdoors, British smokers will continue to pay the highest price for cigarettes in the EU. British smokers pay almost double as much for a pack of cigarettes than the Dutch, Belgians, and Austrians.

Next up on the chopping block? Quite possibly the smoking break. As work places eliminate smoking rooms in accordance to the new law, workers must seek other areas further and further away from their desks. This means that a five minute smoke break becomes a fifteen-minute break. Employers are not happy. In several countries that have already adapted such bans, discussions regarding getting rid of cigarette breaks entirely keep popping up.

It is in every employer’s best interest to help their employees quit smoking. Not only will this minimize breaks, it will show initiative before more potential law changes. By contributing to employees’ efforts to quit smoking, the employer gains a healthier employee who is on site more than their smoking peers. In the US, studies show that smokers cost employers over $1500 per year in lost productivity in 1999. Paying for employees smoking cessation programmes is among the most cost-effective benefits that an employer can provide. The return for the company is enormous.

According to early studies leading up to the smoking ban, 15% of smokers believed they would quit if smoking were banned from all work places. According to the largest smoking cessation study ever, the success rate for quitting using willpower alone is as low as 6%. This means that despite a desire to quit, come next winter, many Brits will be shivering out in the cold.

© Terry Doherty 2007 http://www.mind-works.co.uk



Source by Terry Doherty

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di 05.45 0

If having a conservatory in your house is something that you have always wished for, then all you have to do is install a glass ceiling into the sunroom of your house. By doing this, you will be blessed with a room that gatherers the warmth of the sun into its fold irrespective of external weather conditions. This is where Better living comes into the picture by providing you with customized conservatories that cater to all your needs and desires. The material used for constructing these conservatories is superior quality vinyl along with glass panels for the ceiling. The great thing is that these materials have the strength to absorb the vagaries of harsh weather conditions and are not affected even by severe snowfall.

What adds to the value of the conservatories built by Better living is that they require minimal maintenance to retain its elegant and beautiful look. You do not have to bother about painting the vinyl at regular intervals as mild cleaning with warm water and a soft cloth will suffice neatly. To add to this, you also have the option of building the conservatory with materials that reduce the impact of external noise and give you all the quiet that you need. The abilities of Better living also include other attractive features like elegant window fixtures and ornate roofs that will definitely satisfy you as a customer.

If budget restrictions do not allow you to avail of the great services offered by Better living and you can not fulfill your dream of a patio room or sunroom, you need not despairs as there are other options available. To begin with, you can always opt for Patio Covers that will enable you to have a carport or a covered porch so that you can spend more time enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. These patio covers are awnings that are fixed on a permanent basis to your walls and with the addition of screen panels, you become the proud owner of a screened-in porch that you can enjoy to your heart's content without burning a hole in your pocket. Another option that you can try is the installation of awning covers that are retractable.

Many people prefer this as it gives them the freedom to bask in the sun or laze in the shade of the covered porch as and when it suits their fancy. If you choose Better living to provide this service, then you can look at as many as 200 diverse fabrics before you decide on the one that you prefer for your awning. A 5 year warranty ensures that there is no need to worry about the durability of the awnings that you install in your house and whatever the size of your porch you will find awnings that match it in size. Depending on your needs, you can also opt for either the wireless remote control model or the manual model with a better living sunroom.



Source by Andrew Caxton

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Dining inside our homes everyday can be boring because the need for new eating environment is sometimes bought by most families. And where else can you dine aside from your own dinner table? You do not have to look that far because you can prepare your meals right in your very own backyard or porch and share them with your family. Furthermore, this arrangement usually turned out to be something like a barbecue party or a family picnic that is attended by others as from the first family. You can invite some of your close neighbors or nearby relatives and catch up on each other. But in case you are on a tight budget, you can tell them to bring their share of foods and arrange a potluck.

However, there are some circumstances when it comes to this kind of arrangement. The foods assigned to each individual or family who are joining is not the problem per se but the food containers to be used. Others will think that it is not practical to place them in fragile silverware and then leave them unattended in other household. Who would enjoy a get together party when you have to keep your eyes on whatever will touch your precious plates or bowls because you are afraid that something uncanny will happen to it?

You do not have to ruin the fun because because party tableware and disposable cutlery are all over supermarkets, grocery stores and on-line shops. These products are made specifically to ease out the burden of taking foods outside our homes. You would not have to deal in washing the dishes once the event is off because plastic tableware is meant to be disposed. Oh, you do not have to fret if you are an environmentalist type of person because most take out boxes and disposable plates of today's generation are made of biodegradable resources. Throwing them after use should not make you feel guilty after all because they will not harm our environment.

For a change, have fun while having your meals outside together with your friends and loved ones while saving the Earth from deterioration.



Source by Noemi Zenitram

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Yards all over the world share the same look and feel. Many of them have the green grass, trees, and flowers in neat little flowerbeds. You do not have to go down this same landscaping road. There are many different things that you can use in your landscaping design to add beauty and interest. One of the materials not commonly thought of is landscaping rocks.

Sprucing Your Landscape

To begin your landscaping adventure, you need to remove all of the grass. If you don’t use the green grass of your lawn, then why should you keep it? It only causes you more work. You can use a shovel or a tiller to help break up the soil and remove the rocks. This will also allow you to ensure that you have proper drainage for your plants and flowers or install an irrigation system to help cut down on your watering time.

Making Your Walkway Perfect

A walkway is a great thing to add to your home’s landscaping design. It helps to enhance your home to have a separate walkway to your home. This will also help to keep your home cleaner by having a separate walkway so that your guests do not have to walk through your yard and bring dirt or debris into your nice, clean home.

You can easily use rocks or stone slabs to create a beautiful pathway to your home. Stagger the rocks or stones to help make the walkway safer and more secure. To add design and style to your pathway, you can make curves and bends.

Rock Stabilizing

To stabilize the rocks in your landscaping design, you will want to remove four to five inches of the soil underneath where you want to place the rocks. If you add a thin layer of gravel beneath each of the stones, this will help to keep your rocks stable for walking.

Adding Trees and Shrubs

Adding shrubs and tress to your landscaping plan will help add height and texture to your lawn. After you have planted your trees and shrubs, you can fill in the gaps using smaller flowers and plants. Adding perennials to your rock landscape will give the area color and visual interest. You can then use river rock to fill in the smaller gaps between the flowers instead of mulch.

Finishing Touches

To add the finished touches to your rock landscaping design, you can choose to include hanging plants or vines. Use the green vines to climb the porch or railing. This will give your landscaping more of a Tuscan feel. Creative stone features can also enhance your decorating design as well as statues. Choose the things that you enjoy for the perfect landscaping design for you and your family.



Source by Andrew Caxton

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It can be tough deciding which colors look great next to others. If you want to create a quiet, restful mood in your garden, try using cool colors like blue, lavender, purple, rose and pink. Warm shades like red, orange, and yellow will give your garden a sense of excitement and visual pleasure. While, contrasting colors like purple and yellow, or orange and blue will add interest to your yard. If you are less daring and want to bring unity to your garden, use different shades of the same color, massing a single color of flowers together. This will create an elegant look that works great for small spaces like patios, terraces and window boxes.

With Shape

If you find the traditional 'rectangular' shape bed dull and boring, try coming up with a fun shape like a star or in a zig-zag design. Of course, you may want to try sketching it out on some graph paper first, then arrange plants to fit that form. Keep in mind, you are limited to how it will fit around the current landscaping in your yard.

With Size

Now, it's time to do the math. How much room do you need to grow everything in your imaginary garden? Your garden can be any size – from a kitchen herb garden in a window box, to a pumpkin patch in the backyard. A large, sunny place in the yard gives you plenty of room for growing a variety of plants, but a small container garden is great too – because it's easier to care for.

Conventional gardens, like those you have seen on a farm or the 1970's TV sitcom "Green Acres" with rows and rows of corn can take a lot of space. Here are three alternatives to gardening the traditional way:

Balcony gardens or container gardening can be done almost anywhere where there is plenty of sunlight – usually 6 or more hours a day. Depending on which direction your patio or balcony is facing will determine what type of plants and vegetables will do best. On a warm, light-filled balcony facing south or west, tomatoes and beans will grow best. If your balcony faces north or east and gets limited sunlight, lettuces and root vegetables will do well.

Raised gardens are small plots formed with soil into raised areas on the ground. Landscaping timbers may be used to frame the bed and can be filled with soil and compost. Raised beds are easy to maintain if they are 3-feet wide or less. This makes weeding and harvesting a cinch and by not walking on the bed, the soil stays soft.

Square-foot gardens are formed by framing and can be filled with soil and compost. Beds can be recycled and replanted once a plant has been harvested. With deaf beds, plants can be grown closer, allowing for a larger variety of plants.

With a little planning, you can create the mood you want in your garden, personalizing it, extending your home to the outdoors.



Source by Rebecca Totilo

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Furniture purchases are serious business. Well, at least they require some research to make sure you get the best value for your dollar. When shopping for your home, it's important to consider price, quality, size, style, fabric, and ease of care, but why not throw in multi-functionality as well? Who says a couch just has to be a couch? Transform a room, stretch your budget, and make the most of your home decorating investment with the magic of sofa bed furniture. After all, you never know who's showing up for the holidays!

The convertible sofa beds of old were chunky, clunky, elephant sized pieces that weighed more than the Toyota in your driveway. They offered little in style, unless you like your couch shaped like a refrigerator box, and the mattress was torture for the poor soul sent to sleep on it. At least that threat might keep unwanted guests away, but you still have to live with it. Fortunately design has graced the likes of the fold out couch and turned it into a modern staple in most American households. Traditional and modern styles abound, with family friendly, easy care fabrics, and even buttery Italian leather, for those seeking a high end look. Best of all, there is sofa bed furniture at every price point, and pieces can be found from Target to Ethan Allen, and everywhere in between.

And why does the sofa get all the press? Comfy oversized chairs and recliners have now joined the ranks of the sofa bed furniture revolution. If you're needing a cozy reading spot in that upstairs den, think of a convertible chair and ottoman. The chair folds out into an overnight oasis for a friend (or a husband in the doghouse) and the ottoman stores the pillow and bedding – simply brilliant! These dynamic duos can be found starting at around $ 400 – close to what you'd pay for a single function chair and ottoman without the perks of an extra bed and storage. Transforming a room and stretching your budget to include multi-purpose sofa bed furniture is a savvy style and money decision that makes magic in any room.



Source by Matt Murren

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Are you moving to Las Vegas NV and looking for the perfect apartment to call you new home? Well there are lots of apartment complexes to choose from in the greater Las Vegas Area, so the task of finding the perfect one for you can be quite daunting. Here are some pointers to help you easily find your new home.

Know what you are looking for – This might seem obvious, but the better picture you have of what you want, the better and the faster that you will find the perfect Las Vegas Apartment for you. Apart from the obvious factors such as size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and the onsite amenities such as parking, pool and laundry facilities, other important questions that can help you narrow your focus follow.

Know where you want to be to achieve the perfect balance between work, play, schools, shopping, restaurants and amenities so you don’t waste your precious time in Las Vegas rush hour traffic. The Las Vegas area has great neighborhoods and shopping centers and many apartments are just a short distance away. One of the many benefits of apartment living in Las Vegas is the proximity to restaurants and activities and you should easily find an apartment that is within easy and convenient commute of your work.

Will you get good service? – There are several tell-tale signs that can clue you in to how of how well-run your property is. What are your first impressions of the exterior appearance, the office and the grounds? Be sure to tour common areas such as the laundry room. If you see liter or an untidy exterior appearance you should probably look elsewhere. Is the staff professional and courteous in their appearance and demeanor? Are they willing to accommodate any special needs like disability etc? Ask about routine maintenance and how quickly they handle service requests. Typical turn-around times for service request should be between 24-48 hours.

Know your budget – When renters first visit an apartment they’re often swept away by emotional responses. The view from the living room, the beauty of the grounds, the fine-grain of the kitchen cabinetry and the spaciousness of the rooms – all can be quite intoxicating. Enjoy visualizing your beautiful new home but ask yourself what it’s really going to cost you. Take care to consider the small stuff, like parking, water, gas, and electric. Ask about typical utility costs for your desired unit – both summer and winter. Remember, the bigger your apartment, the more it will cost you to keep it comfortable, especially in the hot summer months of Las Vegas. Also, check out the often overlooked hidden costs. Do neighborhood prices for groceries, gas, video rentals, laundry services etc meet your expectation?

Will you feel secure? – In the rush to find your perfect Las Vegas apartment rental, security is often an afterthought. And yet it’s perhaps a more critical detail for you as a renter, especially with neighbors that you may have just met. Ask if the apartment performs a criminal background check on all applicants. Note features like night-time courtesy patrols and day night video cameras. These are great for easing your security concerns in choosing your perfect Las Vegas NV apartment.

Use this “Five Factor Formula” and you’ll quickly find the perfect Las Vegas NV Apartment for you. Know what you want, know where you want it, look for good service and property management at a price that you can afford and pay attention to your security. Before you know it, you’ll be watching the desert sun set from your Las Vegas Apartment.



Source by Michael O’Donnell

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It does not matter whether you have a big home or a small home. Your bathroom is one of the rooms you should invest in as many luxurious fixtures and amenities as you can.

Why A Bathroom is Worth Going Big

The bathroom can be a haven, a place where you take long soaks in the tub at the end of tiring days at work. Reason enough why a bathroom remodel is one of the best things you can do for you and your home.

On top of that, bathroom remodeling gives you an 80% to 90% return on investment should you ever decide to sell your home. Whether it's a partial upgrade or a complete overhaul, a bathroom remodel is one worthy project you should seriously consider investing in.

Deciding on the Scope of Your Bathroom Remodeling Project

The minute you start on your bathroom remodeling project, it can result in either one of two things: you'll have that gleaming, tiled paradise of a bathroom you've always wanted to have or you'll end up having a half-assembled mess of old and new bathroom fixtures. To prevent the second scenario, you should decide on the scope of your bathroom remodeling project before you start anything.

Based on your budget, the span of time you have, and the size of your bathroom and its current state, you have several options for remodeling your bathroom:

  • Option 1. Do a surface-level bathroom remodeling. This is an option when your bathroom fixtures, the knobs on the faucets and such, are still in good condition but your bathtub and / or your shower stall is looking a little shabby. When that's the case, a surface-level bathroom remodeling can give you the feel of a whole new bathroom, without the price tag. It's a great project to take on if you do not have the budget for a complete overhaul just yet. The rule of thumb to follow here is, "Cover, do not replace." Replacement adds to the time and costs of a remodel because you're paying to have what's there already removed. Covering uses the structure of what's already there and simply gives it a new face. Some of the not-so-pricey items you need to invest in when doing a surface-level bathroom remodeling include prefabricated shower units, bathtub or shower liners, bath refinishing, and easy-to-install wainscoting.
  • Option 2. Change the layout of your bathroom. Similar to how you sometimes rearrange the placement of furniture in your living room, kitchen, or bedroom to give it a new feel, you can rearrange the plumbing fixtures in your bathroom. This project is a bit more difficult to take on than a surface-level remodel. Bathroom fixtures such as the sink, shower stall, bathtub, and cabinets are not easily moved, and will require the services of a licensed plumber, a carpenter, and possibly an electrician. However, once the professionals are done, you can save a little money by rearranging things like towel racks and bars, shelves, trash cans, and miscellaneous bath accessories yourself. There will be a larger change to the overall look of your bathroom once you're finished.
  • Option 3. Be American – Make your bathroom bigger. If you're feeling patriotic, and have the space to spare, you can extend the area of ​​your toilet and bath. It's as American as apple pie. If you only have a shower stall, you can tear down a non-load-bearing wall and give yourself a proper bathtub. If you already have a bathtub, punch out some closet space from the next room, and give yourself a whirlpool tub. Whatever size bathroom you've got, there are always options for going bigger. (A sauna maybe …?)
  • Option 4. A complete bathroom overhaul. If nothing else is going to do it for you, there's always the final option of a complete overhaul of your existing bathroom. Tear everything out, right down to the bear studies, and completely redo the space. Of the bathroom remodeling projects we've discussed, this is potentially the most tedious, the most expensive and the most disruptive to you and your family. However, if done properly, you can create a perfect place for you to escape your everyday, and add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

Factors to Consider When Remodeling Your Bathroom

After you've determined the size and scope of the bathroom remodeling project you're going to take on, there are a few things you're going to need to contend with before work can even begin:

  1. Your remodeling budget Life is full of the unexpected. That's why most people have an emergency fund. Too often people look at the money sitting in their emergency fund and decide to include it in their remodeling budget. This is a mistake. Remodeling projects are a favorite for Murphy's Law. If you decide to invest your emergency fund in your remodeling project, you all but guarantee something will go wrong in the middle of the project that'll drain that fund and leave you with a half re-finished bathroom. If you do not have the funds for a complete bathroom remodel in your account right now, settle for something less ambitious that you can afford and still improve the look of your bathroom. You do not want to have to stop the contractor from coming in your house when the project's only half way done because you no longer have the funds to pay for labor.
  2. Designing to YOUR dream bathroom This has more to do with design than anything else, but it is the foundation on which the rest of your decisions will depend. To help yourself through this process, go through the following mental exercise. Close your eyes. Picture your dream house: the lawn, the fence, the windows, the door. In your mind's eye, walk through the door, up the stairs, through the master bedroom and into your perfect bathroom. Now this is your dream house. Your idea of ​​a perfect bathroom is completely up to you . For you, a great bathroom may be simple; a bathroom with gleaming, all-white surfaces and brass for all the fixtures. On the other hand, it could be something more chic, like your own personal spa. The point is, the idea for this perfect bathroom is yours, and yours alone. Everyone else inserted in the project from this point forward should be focused on giving you your vision, not their. Whatever scope of project you've chosen to undertake, the end should be as close to your dream as it can be.
  3. The materials to be used The choice of materials for your bathroom remodeling project will be driven by your budget and the remodeled look you want your bathroom to have. You can choose the color, design, and type of materials used for the bathroom's countertops, faucets, flooring, shower, sink, and other parts. Whether you're hiring a contractor or doing the bathroom remodeling yourself, you have the final say as homeowner on the materials to be used for the project, but a lot will be dictated by your budget. Even though you may want travertine marble, be prepared to compromise. Porcelain tiles can look pretty good when you're staring at your bottom line.

A Final Word About Bathroom Remodeling

All in all, the success of a bathroom remodeling project boils down to planning. As long as you know what your budget limitations are and the scope of the remodeling project, there's no reason you can not have that tiled, cool, gleaming haven of a bathroom you've always wanted.



Source by Michael Orehowsky

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Redecorating your bedroom is an exciting and fun process. You get to put on your creative hat and give your bedroom a brand new look. One of the things that you need to consider when redecorating your bedroom is the new furniture that will grace the finished room. Many people have difficulties when it comes to choosing the right furniture. However, choosing the right furniture is not as difficult as you think it is. In this article, let me share with you a few tips that will make the whole thing easier.

Before you get the new furniture, spend some time to plan some DIY. Getting everything you require is boring. It is always better to DIY some things in your bedroom to reflect your personality. The first thing that you should consider is to choose a new color for your bedroom.

A general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing color is to select something that you like. If you prefer a warm and cozy feel to your room, choose a darker color. However, if you room is small, you should choose a lighter color because smaller rooms do not really benefit from darker color. If you are someone who loves the sun and outdoor activities, you can consider orange and lime green. Once you have chosen an ideal color, paint your room yourself. If you are artistic enough, you can even do some paint drawings at a little corner of your room.

Next, it is time to choose your furniture. Before you head down to the furniture shop, determine the theme that you want to set for your new bedroom. Are you going for something retro? Or are you a technology lover and want to make your room the next Googleplex? Once you have identified the theme, think about where you will want everything to be placed before you purchase what you required. Make sure that you measure the size and every corner of your bedroom before you head down to the furniture shop. You will need the measurements in order to get something with the right size.

The most important thing about DIY design is to really know what you want before you start purchasing furniture and painting the room. With proper planning, you can rest assured that everything will fall into places and be absolutely satisfied with your brand new bedroom. If you do not have the time to DIY and still want to redecorate your bedroom, you can always look for an interior design firm online.



Source by Cheow Yu Yuan

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Redecorating homes by changing the position of the furniture and even having an alternate style of rugs, drapes and sheets to make the home take on a different look is something that is very intrinsic to most women. Most women are constantly thinking up ways to liven up their homes either by adding, by rearranging and even removing accessories from around the house. Even when they go shopping, women tend to look at and even check out more things than they intend to actually buy. This is because women in general love decorating so much that they have an ability to store away meaningless information on patterns, colors and accessories at the back of their minds, which they very conveniently pull out when they actually redecorate their homes.

Most people, both men and women have distinct styles when it comes to decorating their homes. While some may love very modern and contemporary styles of all furnishings, others may want a more transitional or classy look to the amount that they would prefer a brass lamp to any other kind. In between these two styles is a wide range of decorating styles that most of us fall into. Some of us tend to buy accessories as and when we feel like it and try to match it to our existing home furniture. More often than not most of us are not able to transform our rooms completely at one time as most of us can not afford the setback decorating will cost us if we get it done all in one go. So we tend to look at it one room at a time, focusing on our needs to replace first and redecorate second.

Redecorating our homes one room at a time is one of the best solutions to avoid mistakes on a big scale. When you take some few basic tips and use them to your advantage, you will find that redecorating your entitlement home will not cost you too much. It will however take a lot of work and effort, that if you give it your best, you will end up with a beautiful home without spending too much money at one time. The first thing you need to do is remove all sources of clutter, do not overcrowd your homes with accessories that you do not need. If you can not bear to throw out some of the useless yet sentimental stuff that you own, store them away in one part of the home that is not frequented by house guests. While clearing up, you will find some accessories that you can still use, sort them out for use at a later date.

The next step is to decide which style of decorating you fall into. If a classy and traditional style is what you are naming for, then add plain brown, white or gray colored rugs to your living room, if you own a brass lamp then you could place it at a vantage point which will help show off your other furnishings in the most attractive way possible. You will find that adding one of these brass lamps will make a drastic difference to the way your home looks, you will almost instantaneously get a more elegant, classy and traditional feel to your home. For a more modern look, add metal floor lamps or contemporary ceiling lamps in colors that will match your existing decor and you will end up with an awe inspiring look. For every other look in between, go with colors and patterns of rugs and lamps that you adore, match them with your existing furniture and you will end up with a home that is not only beautiful but also unique.



Source by Rod Macbeth

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If you are planning to buy a condominium unit, one of the biggest considerations that you have to make is how and where are you are going to put all of your stuff so that they do not take over your whole space. Modern home improvement trends are all about creative storage area as well as efficient use of every available space. To keep your things well organized especially in the kitchen area, you need to have a well thought of kitchen cupboard design that is functional and space saver.

There are a lot of different ways and ideas that you can think of to make your condo living stress- free and clutter-free. The majority of condominium units have more often than not, scarce closets and small kitchen cupboards storage. It is a smart move to sort out your things in order to cut down on the amount of belongings and whatever stuff that you have which you won’t be needing again. Choose and decide on what items that you actually need. Dispose of those that you are just keeping because they are there.

One excellent strategy for condo living is to consider the use of furniture with built-in storage like corner tables, beds, chest, benches, and even living room sofas. These types of furniture are fantastic for storing away and keeping items in order especially those that you might not use all the time.

You can also find condo kitchens that have sufficient space that allows you to put in short cabinets on top of the kitchen cupboards that are perfect should you want to add some storage space. If the building administrator would allow, you can also have shelves built into the wall to make a built-in display rack or a bookshelf.

Condo living can be a bit of struggle for those who enjoy cooking. One option for a small kitchen is to consider built in appliances such as ovens and range tops. You can also choose to buy a folding type dining table so you can just fold it up and put aside when not in use. For small space, it is also a good idea to opt for an open design between the kitchen and dining area and raise an eating bar in between. You can also use the other half of the bar to store condiments and spices, plates and ready to eat food.

Choosing to live in a condominium can be very comfortable if you know how to organize your things and keep it clutter-free. Hanging kitchen cupboards are perfect for this type of living. It provides a lot of advantage as you will have more floor space. Ready to install kitchen cabinets are available in the market in different shapes, designs, colors, and sizes. Before you set out to buy a kitchen cabinet, ensure that you have taken appropriate measurements of the wall where you want to hang the cabinets in order for you to estimate the size of the cupboard that you need.



Source by John Cun

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di 04.50 0

Cascading water can bring a sense of tranquility to any room of your home. Tabletop fountains are a perfect way to sooth the mind and heighten your senses. These extremely versatile and mobile fountains can be put anywhere in you home or office that has a flat surface.

Tabletop fountains can bring the sights and sounds of the outdoors right into you living room. A beautiful fountain can greatly enhance the overall look and feel of any room. Choose a design and style that fits your existing decor. Also, find a location that helps the fountain filter out distracting sounds such as a refrigerator hum or a phone conversation in another room. Let your tabletop fountain work for you by providing visual and auditory stimulation.

Tabletop fountains can be put in any room of your home or office. Often, these fountains are found on tables or shelves of a living room or office. But the soothing sounds of a water fountain would make a welcome addition to any bedroom or bath. Picture yourself dozing off to the sounds of a peaceful waterfall. Try taking a relaxing bath while listening to your lovely water fountain. Use your artistic expression and think of the endless possibilities or these fountains.

Tabletop water fountains can be the focal point of any room of your home or office. They provide you with soothing natural outdoor sounds. Water fountains give you the opportunity to make your indoor surroundings unique and beautiful. Make a tabletop fountain a welcome addition to you home today.



Source by Amy T. Price

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So you're redoing your bedroom and you've got this idea that a chandelier is just what the room needs. But how do you cut through all those lighting fixtures out there and find the one that's just right – the one that really ties to room together (to paraphrase the Big Lewbowski)?

Well, the first thing you need to think about is the mood you want to create. Since you are going to be getting something for the bedroom, an appropriate mood would probably have something of sensuality or intimacy. A chandelier can cast shadows on the walls that dance as it gently sways. What could be more romantic, right?

This is a good start, but do not forget to add other lighting features in the room as well. After all the room may seem a bit cramped and small if you only have one source of light. But if you combine multiple sources of light you can give the room a more spacious feel and you can create different moods by using different lights at different times.

It might help to think of the chandelier as the central figure in the room – like the main character in a play – and the other lighting fixtures as all the supporting roles. The chandelier will be the main focal point, the main attraction, and the primary piece of conversations. However, the other lighting fixtures, whether they be lamps, sconces, or whatever, are there to help support the role that the chandelier plays in the composition of and mood created in the room.

Once you have the mood right, then you can start to consider what type of chandelier you want you want for your bedroom. Would a more rustic chandelier help create an atmosphere of simpler times that lets you escape from the stressful day to day work life you lead? Or would you rather have a more elaborate and classic chandelier style to create a feeling of elegance and refinement in your bedroom?

There are all sorts of chandeliers ranging from antiques, classic, modern, ranging all the way up to the expensive crystal chandelier and beyond. Take the time to really consider what you would like the feeling and mood to be for your bedroom. After all, it is the place where most people will spend one-third of their lives. You might as well make absolute certain that you feel most at home and comfortable in your bedroom.



Source by Felicia Fillmore

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di 01.55 0

So, you've decided you are not happy with the current paint / color of your Oxfordshire home and feel it's in need of change and you want it done professionally by an Oxford painter. Now comes the not so easy task of choosing exactly what color and style you want your room painted.

Most people either rush this step or take it for granted and end up with a paint theme that they quickly became bored of. The first step of your painting job is to choose the actual type of paint, water based paint is odor less which is why it's popular. Although for a more shiny finish you can choose and oil-based paint, semi-gloss or glossy paint, your Oxford decorator should be able to offer you a wide variety of paint styles so you can choose the right one for you.

After you have chosen the style of paint you then need to make sure the Oxford painters / painter properly prepare your walls. In most cases existing layers of paint are oil-based, this means it needs to be trimmed using sandpaper and then wiped clean using either a de-glosser or liquid sander. Make sure your decorator plans to do this otherwise the paint will not look good going over an existing layer. On average this is standard protocol for Oxford painters and decorators.

After your walls have been prepared you then need to think carefully about the color scheme you will use. Neutral tones give a more soothing and relaxing effect, however if you want your room to be vibrant a brighter color would suite say a red or orange.

After that leave your Oxford painters to get on with the job, make sure you check in with them every once in a while to make sure they are doing what you want and you will end up with a room you are happy with.



Source by Jonathan Pitts

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di 01.15 0

Untamed Excess Decorating

Has your design taste gone completely haywire? Do you need a focus in home decorating that is reasonable? The “Untamed Excess” decorating theme is at your service. Feel your way to a decorating style that gives you hope and direction.

Is it your aim to become a clutter bug, by continually adding every little cute, unique or eye-catching decoration to your home spaces? An inclination and strong desire to be a clever decorator can sometimes leave rooms looking over-crowded and flowing with home stuff. The tendencies to express your taste become an over indulgence. Accumulating home accessories starts out as a great idea and turns into too much taste.

A stressed out stressful interior design is where every available space is covered in stuff-literally everywhere. This is a decorating cycle that compounds. It leaves no room to breathe or relax or enjoy home spaces. By going overboard in over-layering personal touches, your rooms miss out on a sense of balance, flow and rhythm.

The perfect antidote is a room softening; a soothing, decorative touch and a system to control clutter. A room re-do or room improvement is in order. Gain confidence in decorating with excessive accessories by styling a space for balanced taste. Reel in your personal taste when it comes to decorating by focusing on three key areas. Find the stylist within and start your own decorating trends.

Think of decorating as a home fashion wardrobe. You start with a main piece, add to it and take a look at what you have created for a coordinated sense of balance. Have a feeling in mind when you want a beautiful interior look. Lastly, let your scheme be a design for luxury. Strive for a luxury feeling that is something more you.

Instead of getting lost in a sea of decorative accents, create a new way to handle room designing. Scale down or scale back on accessories. Re-arrange the items you have for an elegant looking setting. Try not to lose total control when shopping for decorative accessories. Have a new “this is what I want for now” attitude and allow home spaces to feel and look livable.

How you want your home to function is a matter of personal preference. Decorating is fun and exciting. Just add the feeling of style and elegance in excess.

Change Agent Maneuvers

Always up for a challenge? Get excited about creating a new dramatic look for your living room, dining room or family room. Use your home as an experimental lab to delve into a new and different type of decorating. Change the tune, channel and frequency of home design. Fulfill inspired notions of design decorating style.

Are you comfortable with moving things around to get a certain look, quality or feeling in a room space? Are you looking to improve on a layout, traffic flow or angles of a room scheme? Change is good; it offers a new perspective that can be fun and daring. Go for a minimal change or drastic design until your heart is content.

Effectively maneuver your casual elegance home design and glide into effortless style. Start a change-up and renew all of your living spaces. A creative change maneuver decorating style is ready-now home improvement. It packs the juice, personality and flexibility to drive a new angle in your home decorating style.

Let the desire and quest for a fresh new outlook spur you on in an exciting and different decorating direction. Build on your motivation for constantly reshaping your home spaces. Choose accents and accessories that express an upgraded look. Change them as frequently as you change your mind.

Change That Works

Just as quickly as your home design changes, you will want to enhance your rooms and spaces with beautiful accessories for their decorative possibilities, the pleasure they bring and the style that they inspire. Get hot style for your restless decorating soul by:

  • Trying daring bold color combinations
  • Arranging home accents by height, scale and design
  • Dress room spaces with amazing and trendy home fashions

Make dynamic changes to your home with design twists, turns and tweaks for a special spark of elegance. Showcase your favorite decorative accents that express a fun attitude in modern style. Let change agent maneuver style capture something more you by turning a home makeover into a change for more.



Source by Estelle Barnes

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di 00.10 0

The heart of your home is the dining room, right? It’s where you and your family spend meal time together, catching up on different things and just spending quality moments with one another. So, since your dining room is such a used space, the dining table that you purchase for it must be of high quality.

Really, it is important to get a dining table of high quality because it must be able to withstand being used all the time. If it isn’t made from materials that are sturdy and known to last, then you might be out of luck when the one you purchase fails only after a year or so, even months.

So, make sure to go with a dining table that is durable and there are many materials that will make one comfortable. There are a slew of different woods that one can be crafted from including maple, pine, mahogany, and several engineered woods. Okay, so you may be wondering, if they are engineered, how are they of high quality. Well, this is when doing research comes into play. Simply jump online and type the engineered wood being used to build the one that you’re looking at. If positive things come up during your research, then it’s a good bet that it can take a beating. There are other materials one can be crafted from as well including a combination of metal and glass like iron, wrought iron, stainless steel, steel, and even aluminum supporting glass table tops.

In addition to providing your family with a sturdy place to eat meals, even play games or do home, a dining table is also a great way improve the look of your dining space. This is the result of the decorative ways they can be styled. For instance, you can purchase one that has a very country feel crafted from wood that has a distressed white finish and elegant carvings. Or you can get another that is a modern marvel featuring clean lines and a symmetrical design built from stainless steel and glass with a glossy black stainless steel base supporting a clear rectangular glass table top. The style choices don’t just end with the country and modern options either since there are a slew more available as well including traditional, contemporary, antique, and transitional options that tastefully two or more different styles.

To see the many dining table selections that are available, just avoid that trip to the furniture store. What you can do instead is go online and do your comparison shopping there. What’s nice is that you don’t have to deal with any pesky sales reps that are pushy and just looking to make a commission. Don’t worry, if you do have questions, you can just email or call the customer service department of the online store you’re looking at. Basically, shopping has never been so easy.

So, if you and your family spend a lot of time in the dining room, then a quality dining table is something that your definitely going to need to invest in.



Source by Jennifer Akre

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Nowadays, elegant home interior decors are very much popular in the market. You can simply notice a large variety of elegant home interior decors in the market. Damask curtains are also very much elegant and you can simply beautify your living room areas with the help of these curtains. These interior decors are very much in demand in the market nowdays because of their serenity and simplicity.

Below mentioned are some of the major features of these exotic damask curtains. You must go through all the points mentioned below if you want to buy these curtains for your home interiors.

1. The majestic damask curtains are available in various colors. They are mainly available in three common colors and they are red, white and blue. You can also notice them in many other colors. You should always consider the designs and color of the area in which you want to install these curtains. You will not face any kind of problem in buying these curtains if you consider the color and designs of your home interiors. You can also buy the curtains which are well enhanced with a woven pattern.

2. You can simply provide your home interiors with a luxurious touch through these elegant curtains. Damask curtains are well enhanced with a gluing background. This shining background simply adds appeal to the personality of these curtains. They are also comprised up with a stitched pattern which simply makes these decors more appealing. You can simply install them in your bedrooms, study rooms, kitchen areas, drawing rooms or kitchen areas.

3. These curtains are completely uncomplicated. They are quite heavy in weight and they are made up of thick material. You can also control the temperature of your living rooms or drawing rooms with the help of these curtains. It is just because they protect the external air from coming inside. So, if you want to keep your home interiors warm during the winter season, then you can simply take the help of these majestic curtains.

4. Damask curtains are well enhanced with traces of serenity. If you want to make your home interiors out of the ordinary, then you can simply take the help of these curtains. These decors are very much aristocratic and you can simply notice them in various shades and textures. You can also notice them in many woven styles.

So, these are some of the essential features of the damask curtains. If you want, you can also take the help of home improvement decorators and various online websites.



Source by Sophhiar William

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di 00.33 0

Carpeted stairs are passé. Hardwood stairs are the way to go, but is it possible to replace carpet on stairs with wood, without destroying the house, living under the mess of a construction site for months on end or selling your only child to the bank? Absolutely, as long as you can answer yes to two questions!

Tearing the house apart to redo your stairs just doesn’t make sense. Besides to build a standard set of hardwood stairs probably costs four times more that taking your existing stairs and changing carpet stairs to hardwood steps, in a wood species to compliment the balance of your home decorating. It is not unusual to save thousand of dollars. So what do you need to answer first?

Question number one: Are your existing stairs structurally sound? In other words if I were to remove the carpet and add a few (or a lot) of screws to the existing structure would they meet the existing building code and NOT squeak in daily use. If this isn’t the case then give up and start from scratch before you waste any more money!

Question number two: Are you happy with the overall layout of your steps? Are they a suitable size, rising enough on each step to be safe and offering enough depth for you to comfortably plant your foot? Many do-it-yourselfer’s and even those in the trade, have trouble with the math used in constructing steps. They often think that when you get to the point of wanting to replace carpet on stairs with wood, that you can also play with the overall layout by adding width to an existing set of treads. They think that if they build up the front of the stair under the nosing it will give them a longer run. They forget that if you do this to every step it kind of cancels each other out, so your layout must be acceptable as is.

Thus, if you are happy with your existing “rise and run,” then you are in the ideal position to recover these stairs. Hardwood of any species can be used for the job, thus here is a list of steps for changing carpet stairs to wood.

Step #1: Remove the carpet, tacker strips and/or any residual glue. Don’t worry if the wood gets gouged in the process.

Step #2: Cut off the existing nosing of the construction stairs on both the front and if you have an open end, there too.

Step #3: Remove and store any spindles that may be drilled into the stairs. Leave the newel posts in place. You can work around them, unless of course your intent is to have a new railing as well.

Step #4: Use a matching hardwood veneered plywood to face the back riser and stringer. No point in using solid hardwood here as it doesn’t take any wear in this location and solids are much harder to work with.

Step #5: Glue down solid hardwood plank stairs to the face of your old treads, using construction glue. Glue that is in a caulking tube is the easiest to apply, otherwise use a small notched trowel to spread, especially when applying it to the ¼” plywood or bulges will be obvious.

Step #6: Replace your spindles and trim any corners with appropriate mouldings to hide seams between the plywood used for the riser and that used for the stringer.

Further: It is best to pre-finish all the plywood and treads before you install. Polyurethanes typically take 48 hours to come to full strength so it can tie up your steps for a bit of time if you chose to do the finishing on site. Besides it is easier to avoid runs if everything can be finished while on the flat.

For further information on replacing stair treads, changing carpet stairs to wood visit our website: http://www.woodsthebest.com Lots of information on how to order custom made hardwood steps in the size, shape and wood species that you really want plus all the tips on how to install like a seasoned pro. After all precision woodworking is all in the details.



Source by Karen Lacasse

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Where to install a smoke detector and its positioning are as important as having this life saving device installed at all. Placing a smoke detector in a wrong location might delay its response to smoke or even prevent it from sounding an alarm at all.

Although, you should install smoke alarms by following device manufacturers guidelines, and the NFPA standards (National Fire Protection Association), your local jurisdiction might have a different idea. This idea is usually LESS smoke detectors – Chicago is one of the examples.

Since it is your life we are talking about, following just a minimum requirement is not enough – for literally a few dollars more, you can get maximum protection.

Proper Placement of a smoke alarm based on IRC (International Residential Code), IBC (International Building Code) and NFPA:

New construction:

  • Smoke detectors must be hard wired (power supply from the electrical panel) and require battery backup. Your jurisdiction might require a dedicated circuit for this purpose – if such isn’t required, make sure that you smoke detector hasn’t been installed on a circuit / tapped to the wall switch controlled ceiling light fixture or outlet receptacle. Putting a smoke alarm on a GFCI protected electrical circuit also isn’t a good idea.
  • Do not use rechargeable type batteries for smoke detectors, good quality alkaline type battery is the right choice. Smoke alarms shall emit a signal when the batteries are low – replace the battery with a new one as soon as you hear that repeating sound.
  • Smoke detectors are required in each sleeping area and adjoining bedroom. Like I’ve mentioned before, some jurisdictions require less – Chicago is one of the examples where smoke detectors are not required inside the bedroom / sleeping area. Instead, you have to install a smoke alarm within 15′ from the bedroom entrance. In larger homes / apartments, where bedrooms are located more than 30′ apart, two or more smoke detectors might have to be installed.
  • At least one is required on each story of the house and in the basement. Crawlspaces and uninhabitable attics do not require a smoke detector installation. However, in case your attic or crawlspace contains a furnace, water heater, or any appliance that could become a source of fire (gas, oil, electric), have a smoke alarm installed as well (required by some jurisdictions and highly recommended if not required).
  • Smoke detectors must be interconnected – one triggered smoke detector activates all of them. Not all types of smoke alarms have the “interconnection” feature, which is extremely important – smoke developing in one section of the house would activate the closest device and automatically all of them at the same time.

Existing construction:

While remodeling, updating of electrical wiring to interconnect existing smoke alarms is not required unless the wall finishes are being removed exposing wall framing. However, even without any rewiring you can still achieve maximum protection by using an interconnected wireless smoke alarm detector system.

  • The smoke alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over the background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. That’s why regular testing of the smoke detector siren is so important – just like any mechanical / electronic device – sometimes they fail.
  • Enclosed interior staircases also require a smoke detector, and one shall be installed on the ceiling of the top floor. Staircases act like chimneys and smoke rising from the lower floor would activate the device giving you an early warning.

Smoke detector placement – rules apply to all of the locations described above.

This is extremely important and at the same time quite simple, unfortunately very often done completely wrong. It’s probably because we don’t like to read the manuals and often assume that we know what we’re doing.

  • When installing a smoke alarm on the ceiling (preferable location / might be required in some jurisdictions), place it as close to the center as possible, never closer than 4″ (10cm) to the sidewall or corner.
  • If for any reason, ceiling installation is not practical and wall installations are permitted, you can install smoke alarms on the wall with its top edge at a minimum of 4″ (10cm) and a maximum of 12″ (30.5cm) below the ceiling.

Before placing a smoke detector on the ceiling or wall, consider checking the house insulation. Older homes might be missing a ceiling (if open to the attic) or exterior wall insulation. This would allow extreme heat or cold transfer from exterior into the house, creating a thermal barrier, and prevent smoke from reaching / activating the alarm. If this is the case (you can simply touch the wall or ceiling during very hot or cold days), mount a smoke detector on an interior wall of the house.

  • Install smoke detectors in rooms with cathedral, sloped, peaked, gable ceilings at or within 3′ from the highest point (measured horizontally).
  • Install smoke detectors in each section of the room / area that has been divided by a partial wall. The wall might be coming down from the ceiling (at least 24″) or up from the floor.
  • Install smoke alarms on a tray-shaped ceiling (also called coffered ceiling) on the highest portion of the ceiling or on the sloped portion of the ceiling within 12″ (30.5cm) vertically down from the highest point.

DO NOT install smoke detectors in following areas to minimize possibility of false alarms:

  1. Areas where combustion particles are present (Combustion Particles – the by-products of burning process)
    • garages
    • poorly ventilated kitchens
    • close to furnaces and water heaters – I wouldn’t agree with this one, because presence of those particles would be a sign of combustion process problems

    If you decided to have one installed in those areas, photoelectric type smoke alarm might be less annoying.

  2. Damp or very humid areas such as bathrooms. The humidity levels after taking a hot shower could result in a false alarm.
  3. Within 3′ from the forced air heating and / or cooling system air supply vents, in a direct airflow area, close to the whole house fan locations. High air flow could blow smoke or shift it away from the detector preventing it from responding properly or at all.
  4. Near fluorescent lights, where electronic “noise” may cause nuisance alarms.
  5. Dusty areas, where particles of dust could cause smoke alarm failure or false alarm
  6. In areas where air temperature may fall below 40°F (4°C) or rise above 100°F (38°C)
  7. Avoid areas near the doors and windows while installing a smoke alarm

If you got that far, I hope you have more than a general idea on where to install smoke detectors in your house, and what is the optimal smoke alarm placement.



Source by Dariusz Rudnicki

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When I get to heaven, the first guy I want to make an appointment with is Paul. I have so much appreciation for this man – probably because I can see so much of myself in him. Probably because he was such a rough diamond and has the full box . But especially because he loved other people with such passion as well. Paul pushes ahead with everything in him to bring the Gospel to all the people who are on the way to the abyss.

His heart was filled with love for total strangers. It's as if Jesus' heart was transplanted into his heart. Listen to the longing of his heart: 17 Do you have any idea how very homesick we became for you, dear friends? Even though it had not been that long and it was only our bodies that were separated from you, not our hearts, we tried our very best to get back to see you.

It sounds like a love letter between two teenagers in love. Every moment of the day Paul thinks about the people of Thessalonica. Eagerly, Paul makes plans to get to his loved ones. He wants to help them. He wants to teach them more about God's Word. He wants to help them with the solid food of the Gospel so that they can stand on their own feet.

Can you see the passion in Paul? Can you see the love burning inside him, for his fellow believers and for those who have lost their way as well? He leaves no stone unturned to reach them. I hope that I have that same heart for people.

I realize again that life often is all about me. Our own path to success and our interests are more important than helping others. I may be a little direct here, but is not that what the picture of our life looks like? Other people are in the way, looking for attention, time, energy and love at appropriate times.

Actually, there is no need to wait for an appointment with Paul to find out why he had such a passion for other people. It's obvious. If you allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart, it changes everything. Then the own self, the me, moves aside and you focus only on your fellow man. Then you make plans to help others.

And that's what each of us must do. We must allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts. We must allow others' needs to weigh heavier than our own.

I managed to do it the other evening. I was at the movies. It was about 10 minutes before the end of the movie. Tension was high. I saw the light blinking on my phone. It was a friend who mother was dying. I indicated. I can return his call after the movie had ended. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit moved in my heart and I got up.

I was grateful to be able to help my friend when his mother breathed her last breath.

Unfortunately, things do not always work out like that: 18 You can not imagine how much we missed you! I, Paul, tried over and over to get back, but Satan stymied us each time.

Even when we want to do good, there may be obstacles. Take note of that and prepare yourself. But do not allow it to discourage you. Allow the longing to push you, like it did Paul, to make a difference in the lives of others.

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2: 17-20

Reflection

Who are you focusing on?

How can you do more for others?

Do you have to try again?

Prayer

Lord, I confess that I want to be first in line. Mostly, it's all about me and then I do not even see others and how they are suffering. Come and work in my heart so that I want to and can do everything possible to help others, like Paul did. Amen.



Source by Gerjo Ben Van Der Merwe

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di 01.32 0

Excited at the thought of going away on holiday? Traveling is something many people look forward to, but if you have Type 2 diabetes, perhaps you feel traveling is more stressful than it is worth. You may decide to avoid holidays just because of the fact you do not want to have to worry about dealing with your blood sugar level all the time. Feeling that way would be a shame because many good times are had on holiday. And, if you are smart in your approach, you do not need to forgo your travel plans.

Let us go over some of the best advice for those who are looking to travel. Use these tips and get ready to enjoy yourself…

1. Call Ahead. First, call ahead. See if your hotel happens to offer a mini fridge in some of their rooms or even better, a full-on kitchen as this can make a big difference. If you can eat even a few of your main meals in your room, it can save you a lot of calories and sugar you would otherwise have taken in.

2. Get Active In The Morning. The next tip is to be as active as you can in the morning. Get up early and enjoy a brisk walk around while you check out the sights. It is an ideal way to take in all your vacation has to offer while burning some calories and boosting your insulin sensitivity for the day ahead.

Those who exercise first thing in the morning are far more likely to get exercise in compared to those who exercise later on in the day. Do not let anything crowd out your workout as this will help influence several aspects of Type 2 diabetes. Aspects such as…

  • blood sugar concentrations,
  • insulin action, and
  • cardiovascular risk factors.

3. Plan Your Indulgences. Finally, make sure you plan out your indulgences. It is unrealistic to expect you will not eat anything unhealthy during your travels. But, if you don’t plan out what you will let yourself eat, without guilt hopefully, you may end up splurging way too much. So get it under control. Think about what is important to you to eat while you are away and make room for those foods. Eat a small serving and make sure you always eat them along with a source of protein to prevent a blood sugar spike that will set you up for health problems

Keep these tips in mind as you prepare for your holiday. You can have happy and healthy travels if you remember these few tips. Make sure your mindset is geared towards taking care of your health even when you have a few extra tasty treats.



Source by Beverleigh H Piepers

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di 16.37 0

As the pan gets cleaned, it almost has a glow that belongs to your heart. Each dish that gets rinsed means that you are easing your family’s way. When the counters are wiped down germs and bacteria won’t go into the mouths of our children. Refinishing a bathroom helps the community become a better place to live. Giving neighbors a compliment brings a smile to all those around you, therefore raising the energy of the neighborhood.

Our families are counting on us to change this world for the better. Call family what you will whether it be a blood relative, friends or animals. Family means that you get to experience a great life. Watching everyone grow into great beings of the universe. This is why when I had a job that no longer needed my services I was not worried. I got to help first hand raise my family and be as good of an influence as I could muster.

We learn as we grow into adults to help our fellow man. It does no good to tear people down. They all belong the thing we call humanity. Each one of us are the heroes of the story. Every person has a certain task, want or need that they are currently completing. Which one really doesn’t matter. What does matter is how we each will influence humanity. It becomes clear after some time that as humanity comes together we will begin to accomplish great things such as interstellar travel to living on other planets.

Look forward to humanity in growth. To build growth people need to be able to act upon their greatest ideas. They will come up with much more than I could even fathom in a millennium. We are creatures at the beginning stages of growth. When tasks become menial our minds begin to wander. Those wanderings bring humanity their greatest works of art. Think about your most wonderous dream and imagine this world and others experiencing the idea.

Every person deserves to dream. To dream we must slow our minds to the now. That now is the only moment that matters because that is where the greatest difference is made. Become a scullion to dream. Use each day, what are seeming to be menial chores, to show humanity what you want most for them. This is the service that will free us from bad days. Let us have great days, every day, to live and love. Become whole once again my fellow humans.



Source by Matt Collinson

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di 16.37 0

Spring is just around the corner and it's the ideal time to reduce clutter, get organized, and implement new, more efficient policies. According to the 2011 Workspace Organization Survey of Americans by OfficeMax *, when there is clutter and disorder at work or at home, 90% of those surveyed admitted it affects their lives negatively, 77% admitted it negatively affects their productivity, and 53% admitted it negatively affects their motivation. Keeping employees motivated and productive is difficult enough without adding unnecessary clutter and disorder into the equation; clear the mess, clear the mind!

To stop the damaging effects of office clutter and disorder, you will first need to enlist the help of your coworkers; all employees need to be onboard. Second, visualize how you would like the office to look and establish a corresponding game plan. Finally, based on your visualization and game plan, decide what areas of the office require the most focus. If it's decided that the office is going "green", there are certain areas and functions of the office that need to be addressed. If more office space needs to be freed up, the focus will be on other areas. If the goal is to reduce overall clutter and streamline office functions, then the entire office, all spaces and all operations, will be affected in some way or another.

A fast and easy way to start organizing the office is to eliminate paper clutter, which can take form in a few different ways. One is to start keeping electronic files versus hard copy files. Electronic painting is not only "green friendly", but it eliminates the senseless printing of documents which usually costs the company money and eliminates needless piles on desks. It also frees up space in filing cabinets and desk drawers, which can now be used for other items. Another way to eliminate paper clutter is to start shredding outdated and unused documents. It is estimated that 80% of papers filed away are never referenced again, according to the Small Business Association. There are various companies that will confidently shred documents or pick up the shreds and recycle the waste on your behalf. Lastly, if certain files must be kept for tax purposes (the IRS recommends keeping employment tax records for at least four years), there are assorted off-site storage facilities that can be utilized to eliminate large amounts of paper clutter. Utilizing an off-site storage facility will also free up needed office space, whether a storage room, cubicle, or office is cleared out, there is now more room to make use of as seen fit.

As the unnecessary papers have been discarded in some fashion, the papers that remain and are needed on a routine basis bought to be properly stored in the appropriate spaces, not on desks. All employees should have access to the supplies essential for efficient filing and everyone should use the same method for filing as well. There must be a standard; a unified coding system will ensure papers are filed consistently, regardless of who did the filing on any given day at any given time. According to the American Demographic Society, Americans squander nine million hours a day hunting for misplaced items.

Lastly, employees should organize their own workspaces. Clutter can easily be controlled and maintained with just a couple simple steps. First, everything should have a home. This may require desk or desk drawer organizers, pen / pencil cups, and stackable trays or shelves. Once items are properly housed, maintaining the order will only take several minutes a day. Items should be returned to the correct location after every use, mail should be opened and processed immediately, and papers should be properly filed at the end of the day. Old habits will need to be broken so the new habits can prevail.

The fundamentals suggested above will provide a great start to becoming clutter-free and organized. Employees will appreciate the tools provided to help them over the excuses and obstacles standing in their way to a happier, more professional, and less stressful workplace.

* Source: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/officemax/46659/docs/46659-NewsWorthy_Analysis.pdf



Source by Jennifer Daugherty

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di 02.02 0

Several websites on hotels build it straightforward for you to look for cheap hotel bookings and the cheapest hotel prices. Cheap hotel prices are readily available for you to choose and compare from all popular hotel websites such as Hotels(dot)com, Priceline, Orbitz, and Travelocity. At Hotel Deal Website, they ensure that you get the best cheap hotel prices by merely filling out the provided forms, choosing your place of your choice and the date you travel, and they would make comparisons for you on hotel prices.

Comparing hotel prices from among numerous booking agents is very important since many of them will show very low hotel rates but they fail to show the local taxes and charges for utilizing their booking service. When you’re actually done with the booking online, you can be paying more than what you’ve expected.

Check out their package deals too like reservations and car rentals. It’d be possible to save money while availing package deals, however it would be wiser if you even compare the prices for buying them separately. It is not affordable for you to stay in low-budget hotels just because you don’t have adequate budget for a better one. Learn where to search on-line for cheapest hotel prices which could give you better hotel accommodation than you think your budgeted money permits. There you can discover suggestions on how to save on early reservations and bookings, and you will be surprised staying in a four-star hotel at a price of a two-star.

Several prestigious travel agents and hotels provide lower rates for value-conscious people whether you travel for business, vacation, or pleasure. They provide you with complete information on cheap hotel prices in several destinations. Some provide discounts on early bookings and reservations and the same time, utilizing their amenities which suit your needs. If you aren’t yet sure with what you’re looking for, you could book your hotel room by the star rating.

Options are there to fit your budget, the hotel you prefer and the number of occupants you would bring along. You might also seek hotels while not amenities which you would not require, so that their rates could be much lesser than those who have. They’d be offering the cheapest hotel prices. Go for the best one for your budget and stay at that same hotel for few nights, as various hotels offer a one night free for every two or three nights of stay.



Source by Luther Cale

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