Thursday, July 30, 2009

Your Wealth is in Danger

Nope.

It's not politicians.

Or taxes.

It's not your environment, your family, or your job.

It's not.

"Mike, you're wrong on this one, what is it?"

Amigo, move in a bit closer.

Maybe people will resist the answer.

They will. I can't do anything about that though.

Move in a bit more.

I'll whisper it in case it upsets you.

(SELFISHNESS)

"What?"

I'll say it louder.

***SELFISHNESS

Your SELFISHNESS is your greatest THREAT to your wealth.

I know this first hand because it bit me too. (Ouch)

Every day, I speak to people who are so SELF ABSORBED in their own fears, doubts, and worries that they BURY their talent and leave thousands of people starving for their God given gifts.

The INWARD MIND can't get rich.

It's impossible to create TRUE, GENUINE, and LONG TERM wealth this way.

Start with Proverbs, head towards Orison Swett Marden, drive towards Wallace Wattles, say hello to Napoleon Hill; they're all saying the SAME thing.

***What precedes REAL WEALTH is REAL SERVICE.

Sow sparingly, you reap sparingly. This is one of the secrets of the ages. You know this.

Put your past hurts behind you and START thinking OUTWARD.

Start thinking about who you can encourage today, bless today, and be a friend to.

Do you know what we call people who don't plant any SUCCESS SEEDS?

We call them employees who hate their jobs.

Stop being so impatient and start planting thoughts and seeds of success.

There can be no HARVEST where there's not first SERVICE.

Read this 2 times. Scratch that.

Read this 5 times, at least.

***Become OBSESSIONAL about rendering USEFUL service and today will be the poorest day of the rest of your life.

Many people say, "I'm unselfish", but if they look closer they're not as unselfish as they think.

Let me end with this one more time.

***Become OBSESSIONAL about rendering USEFUL service and today will be the poorest day of the rest of your life.

Mike Litman is the #1 best selling author of Conversations with Millionaires

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Is It a Bad Economy or Bad Feng Shui?

Recently, I spoke with a woman who said she and her husband were having a tough time financially. She thought maybe it was just the economy, but she wondered if a Feng Shui consultation might give the energies in their home a financial "boost." She mentioned the idea to her husband. His reply? "Honey, let's do this after our finances have improved!"

The problem is that there is every indication that their finances will not improve - even if the economy starts to soar. In fact, the situation the woman described seemed directly tied to negative energies in the home rather than to external economic factors. Without changing the Feng Shui in that environment, I can absolutely predict that they will have ongoing cash flow problems.

How can I say that? Because there are several tell-tale signs that negative energies are at work. Let's take a look:

1. You start to experience client cancellations or work falling through. Yes, the economy may cause people to hold onto their money, but be sensitive to a situation that seems to worsen no matter what you do. For example, watch for patterns such as clients who make appointments or are ready to sign contracts, but then they call and cancel. A Classical Feng Shui expert can run mathematical computations to see if conflicting energies are indeed at work. If that's the case, Feng Shui can also be used to re-balance those energies.

Feng Shui is so powerful at keeping cash flow positive that I have many clients - CEOs, life coaches, real estate developers, attorneys and investment bankers -- who consider my monthly Feng Shui consultations part of strategic business operations to help them avoid cancellations. In fact, as a practitioner of authentic Feng Shui I can not only see current negative energies, I can mathematically predict exactly when and where new business problems can arise and help my clients be proactive in keeping these problems from ever developing.

I just mention this as a caution to you in choosing a Feng Shui practitioner, because you do not want to base your business decisions (and financial future) on a Feng Shui hobbyist - only a classically trained expert in authentic Feng Shui can apply the complex ancient formulas to determine where the problem is and how to defuse it.

2. You've recently moved into a new home. Now, you find that relationships have become strained or you're hit with a flood of difficulties - you're experiencing financial setbacks, health issues, car accidents, legal hassles. If this "change in luck" happens shortly after moving in, the downturn in the economy probably isn't even at work here. Instead, it's a sign that the Feng Shui is out of balance. This can happen because every home has its own horoscope that shapes its energy patterns. If this conflicts with your own horoscope, you'll quickly experience difficulties.

A Feng Shui consultation can alert you to simple adjustments that will bring your home into better harmony with your own energy so it supports you instead of being "at war" with you. At the same time Feng Shui can eliminate negative energies, it can help stimulate positive energies, creating a dramatic change in the way you experience your home -- and life!

3. You're stuck in life. Things are just not moving. It might seem like you're working hard and doing everything right but that nothing is happening for you. If this has come on over the course of a year, that's a signal that the annual shift that occurs in energy patterns is creating a negative pattern in your environment. If you want to see changes in your life, you have to make changes in your environment. Again, a professional Feng Shui consultation can not only identify these "stuck" energies, but can show you exactly how to manipulate these unseen forces so it's easy to jump start your life.

4. You have a specific problem that just doesn't get solved. Whatever issue you face in your life will be reflected in your home. There are areas in the home that can promote -- or prevent -- problems ranging from breast cancer to legal hassles. If you can't seem to find a soul mate or you're worried about a son's academic performance or a daughter's risk-taking behavior, a Feng Shui expert can usually identify the trouble spot in the home that is triggering the energies that in turn trigger problems. I especially love to use my Feng Shui skills to solve problems for my clients. It's so rewarding to what I call a little energetic intervention and see what are often immediate and dramatic "breakthroughs" - from suddenly being able to conceive a child, to bringing health issues or negative behaviors to an end.

5. You're remodeling your home. Before you remodel, you really should invest in a Feng Shui inspection. Here's why: every home holds both good and bad energy. The minute you begin remodeling, you begin changing the energetic balance. If you unwittingly expand an area of negative energy, you could soon find yourself experiencing an onset of overwhelming misfortune, conflict, anxiety, loss - even disease. Often, for example, couples invest in a master bedroom addition only to find that once they start sleeping in the new room, their relationship or health begins to break down. A Feng Shui and Vaastu assessment early in the remodeling process helps you avoid sinking considerable money into a renovation that will put your house at war with you. Instead, you'll know specific choices to avoid as well as choices - like the direction of a door or the position of a kitchen or bedroom - that can support you with a life- and luck-enhancing environment. Again, let me stress that this is not merely about serene lines and clear energy flow: it is about complex mathematical formulas that pinpoint energetic confluences and conflicts that can exist now -- and months down the road.

Done correctly, Feng Shui is almost unbelievably powerful and can lead to results nothing short of miraculous. In fact, in today's crazy economic climate, who can afford to have a home or office environment that's working against them? But remember, only traditional, authentic Classical Feng Shui can deliver such results. Perhaps that's why I'm hearing from so many clients who are investing in Feng Shui consultations to get help preventing economic woes from costing them not only their financial well-being, but the well-being of their relationships and health as well. It can truly make all the difference.

(c) 2008 Rupal Mehta Turner

Feng Shui and Vaastu Expert Rupal Mehta Turner publishes "The Prosperity Report," a biweekly ezine that reveals Feng Shui and Vaastu secrets for a thriving business and personal life. If you're ready to improve your finances, health and relationships by using the forces in your environment, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ClassicalFengshui.com

Wandering Or Lost Souls

Monday, July 27, 2009

Steakhouse Manhattan Will Give You A Taste Of Real Steak

Manhattan is the commercial and the financial centre of the world, and several leading companies and businesses have their offices set up in this city. Manhattan has abundance of hotels, restaurants and steakhouses to cater to the huge population who live there or visit the city for business or any other purpose. A person who loves to eat steak will never miss out on enjoying and eating his favorite steak dish, since he can visit the numerous steakhouses that are present there to cater to their taste and choice. Steakhouse, whether it is in Manhattan or any other place, is the one where steak lovers love to go and indulge.

If you happen to either reside in Manhattan or have been there for any purpose and need to find a good steakhouse to pamper, make sure that you check out certain important things. First, the steakhouse must be located at a suitable place where you can easily go at anytime of the day. Well, this may not be a very important factor for some, because they are willing to travel the extra mile if they know that they will get what they are looking for. So, it does vary from individual to individual, still having a steakhouse nearby to the place where you stay does make it easy for you to enjoy eating steak.

The kind of food served at the steakhouse is another thing that you must take care of. Well if you are in Manhattan and visit a steakhouse there, you will surely want to be served with the best cooked food. Steak is cooked in different ways, in varying degrees of heat or fire and it is this difference in the degree of cooking which brings out the taste. Some people prefer their steak to be cooked properly so that it becomes dry; while some people prefer steak to be cooked rare or medium rare that allows a huge amount of juice retention in the steak. It all depends on the type of taste that people prefer to eat for the steak.

The accompanying drink with your steak is vital if you want to get the real taste while eating steak. All steakhouses have a drinks bar from wherein you can choose the type of wine which you would like to drink along with your steak. If you are planning to go out and eat with your friends, you better make sure to make all the arrangements beforehand. You would surely not like to walk down to a steakhouse in Manhattan and find out that it is fully occupied and come back disheartened. Steakhouse is the ideal place for you to enjoy your eating out session with your family and friends.

Neil Folley holds a Masters Degree in Hotel Management.He loves good food and arranging private parties.He is working for Markjosephsteakhouse.To book for Sunday Parties and enjoy tasteful food at Steakhouse Manhattan visit http://www.markjosephsteakhouse.com

What Is Intuition

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Ideas About Your Religion and Trees - Something To Think About

Pleasure Based Motivation
Fear Based Motivation

For the Best Spiritual T-shirts - Full of Faith T-shirt Expressing How You Feel About Jesus

This started about 4 years ago when I was at church hearing the preacher say when God is with you all things are possible no matter how it looked. that word started stirring me up on the inside. I know I wanted to started my own business but what. I know I had drawing talent but I did not know how I was going to put it to good use. I prayed about it everyday asking God I wanted to your my talent to glorify you. it took awhile it did t happen over night.

It was about 3 years later. One night God puta vision of a logo in my heart; I quickly woke up and drew it on a sheet of paper. Still I did not know what it meant at first because I still wanted to use my drawing talent for God. Then it hit me I seen alot of t-shirts but very few that Christian can wear that would express how they felt about God. Then I know I was on to something very special. I took my drawing talent and started making design for the christian to show how much they love God using my talents to focus on Jesus in a way that never been do before.this t-shirts are a powerful witness tool for christian of all ages. there is a t-shirt that will please everyone. but for the most part I just one of many trying to do my part in getting the word out that Jesus is here now and forever more.

My Name is Thomas Gathers born in Brooklyn New York now living Lynchburg, Virginia, with my wife of 14 year Gwendolyn and my 2 year old daughter Brookelyn. I am one out of seven children. My life was not easy, but my parent Annie & Ancil done their better to make sure that we had everything we needed. I had friend but sometime they were up to no good. But when I met my wife for the first time there was something different about her. She had Jesus in her life something I really didn't know about. But the more time I spend with her the more I wanted what she had. Joy, peace, happiness. then that special day on 11/21/01 when I accepted Jesus Christ and the rest is history. My life was changed forever I never know life can be so wonderful with Jesus in it.

Finding Something You Don

Affecting Positive Changes Through Hypnosis

Hypnosis can drive away negativity from your life and fill you with positive thoughts. If a person willingly cooperates with the hypnotist, the results of such hypnosis will surely show. However, it must be mentioned that for positive results, the aid of an expert hypnotist is not always required even self hypnosis is a great alternative, and there are many books and compact discs in the market which help you learn to hypnotize yourself.

In order for you to achieve your goals through hypnotism, one has to cooperate and work together with the hypnotist to achieve the desired results. You have to be completely willing to consider what the hypnotist suggests. If you implement completely the suggestions, this will only results in a successful outcome of your hypnotic session. You will be able to dispel all negativity and reinforce those with positive ones. This by its self will be an achievement.

There are many possible usages for hypnotism. Many had actually used hypnotism successfully to lose excess weight and control their diet. Others used it to help them get rid of unhealthy habits like smoking. Beside these, there are also some who used hypnotism to help them recall memories better and be more mentally alert. All this is possible because hypnotism deals directly with the subconscious mind. As such, almost anything is achievable with hypnotism so long as we are motivated and have the will to do it.

Hypnosis actually gets to the root cause of all those bad thoughts and drives them out. Then, it replaces them with more positive approaches towards life. Hypnotism can surely make you realize your true worth, and imbibe self esteem and confidence into you. Besides, it also makes you appreciate the positive happenings and the worth of any personal success, which will further will in positive thoughts in your mind, so that you can embark the journey of life with a fresh and happy mind.

Despite all, one has to bear in mind that successful outcome of the hypnotic sessions is not solely dependent on following what you had read in books or just be listening to the DVDs tutorials. First of all, you must also give yourself time for your sub conscious mind to "imprint" all the messages that you have been feeding it with. Secondly, You must also have the resolve and determination to change. If you lack these qualities, your sessions will not be fruitful.

What Can Hypnosis Do For You? Visit the Self Hypnosis Site. And Grab Our Excellent Free Mp3! Weight Loss Hypnosis Archives!

Painting A French Door

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Building a Basement Bathroom

Perhaps you own an older home that was built with only one bathroom and want to expand your living space. Adding a bathroom to your home can greatly increase its value if you decide to sell it someday, and it'll add to it convenience right away. Anyone with a family or frequent guests knows how frustrating it can be to have to wait in line at the bathroom door. That's why building a basement bathroom is such a good idea. It's not as hard as you might think, and it has an enormous number of benefits.

There are a number of considerations you should take into account when you build, however. That's because drainage works differently in the basement, and most basements also have a few things in common. They're often dark and damp, and may be chilly as well. You'll need to treat your plumbing and the entire bathroom design with special care if you're going to get a bathroom that works well. However, building a basement bathroom is something that you can do on your own, if you have the right skills and knowledge.

One solution to the drainage problem is to use a sewage ejector pump and a sump installed below the concrete floor. This method does require excavation of the floor, but it'll allow you to flush a basement toilet easily, as well as handling the waste water from shower and sink. There are also toilets equipped with grinding mechanisms to deal with waste and flush it out easily. These require no excavation, but are often costly. You may hear some noise after flushing as the motor kicks in, but the functioning is otherwise very difficult to notice.

Of course, if your building has a drain below the level of your basement, no pump at all will be needed. Find where the main drain comes out of the house, and see how deep it is. If it's below the level of the basement floor, you'll have no trouble building a basement bathroom the normal way. One way to tell if your drainage is below the basement floor level is if your basement has floor drains for easy cleaning. A professional plumber can also tell you where your drain lines are located. It's a good idea to sketch out your proposed basement bathroom before you talk to the plumber. He or she can tell you if what you want to do is actually a good idea.

Building a basement bathroom is a great idea for just about any home, and if you know the setup of your house and what you want, it won't even be hard. You just have to know what to expect and be ready to deal with it. If you're thinking about building a bathroom in your basement, take the time to draw up a detailed plan and budget, and the whole process will get much simpler.

Thomas Johnsen is the Author and Leading Expert on Building Basement Bathrooms and the creator of the publication Building Basement Bathroom 101. Visit the site now to find the easy-to-understand step-by-step guides on basement bathroom construction available online today

What Does A Gfi Do

Psychics and Psychic Readings - The Higher Level

When people research or debate also talk about psychic clairvoyants or precognitions, and try to expand their knowledge about this phenomenon, and when people try to find facts about this subject using known theories, this in itself becomes a conflicting challenge about their personal theories, and not many people would like the fact that their theories are challenged.

There are many people who experience events and somehow feel that it is more than coincidence, through out our life of human history. Psychic intuition skills have helped us whether we were aware or not. To glimpse in to the future sounds out of this world, but as we know, we live in a very complex world indeed. And the advancements of modern science answer many unknown facts about our existence. Example being; we now know that our beautiful planet is round instead of flat. Yet also, ancient cultures without such scientific advancement have astounded us with their marvelous creations such as the Pyramids of Giza. They have placed high regard, rather evolved around the concept of spirituality for their spiritual masters. We can all agree we are far from really understanding our true nature.

Also we must place high respect for science and their findings as well, especially the science of consciousness. Many research and energy is being put towards subjects of psychics clairvoyants extra sensory perception telepathy just a name a few. As you maybe aware that psychic readings give insights to events and situations. Psychic readings and psychics ability to accurately advice people, on matters that concern them has forever been within our human history. Also we all have seen movies where in past history, when people who practiced or explored different beliefs or concepts have been tied to a tree and prosecuted. Thank goodness that is in our unintelligent past, as freedom of speech and choice of belief, is the most important factor, rather a sacred treasure, we must all uphold.

Psychic intuition is built in us to protect us from danger, guide us to our true nature (spiritual) just like a little new born turtle hatched and knows to swim straight to the ocean. We too are drawn to spirituality, almost all the people around this complex planet believe in spirituality. And almost all the cultures have a psychic to consult when faced with spiritually unfamiliar waters. The ocean of emotions in every heart thirsts for spiritual reason, guidance and spiritual answers. And only the calm waters will reflect the stars. When we expand our beings then calmness can become part of our hearts ocean.

It is possible to glimpse also anticipate near future events, this requires an art, art of seeing; whether one likes to label such visions as predictions or perception. To have a real psychic ability, one must attend life from a view point of purity of heart, and when a spiritual psychic advances in wisdom through proper guidance and learning for many many years, will develop an intuitive psychic ability. Every human is equipped with this psychic ability; it's just only select few choose to explore the boundaries. And just like any chosen subject, the more we attend the more we learn of it. Also when we debate a subject of reality, then this becomes a personal matter. As what is real for some might not be real for others. Yet if we were to draw a straight line _______ and we both at the same time see this line. We will both see and agree that it is a straight line. The truth cannot be bent. And the truth of the matter is, within the garden of every spiritual heart, there is a rose that is blossoming silently, which is called YOU.

Tolga Savas
International psychic clairvoyant answering all your metaphysical questions, and offers real psychic readings, dream analysis, psychic chat online, Kumalak the Mirror of Destiny, See the Future that is Now

You Have To Start Somewhere

Cottage Home Plans For Everyone

Cottages are not just little houses built for vacationing. Modern cottages are exciting homes that make superior use of their interior space. Snug nooks and inviting corners await you in cottages of all sizes.

Since the Middle Ages, people have lived in cottages. During the 15th century, cottages were built for farm workers and their families and often included a barn and acres of land. By the 18th century, miners and weavers resided in cottages. Modern cottages are usually one and one-half stories, although single story cottages are popular for waterfront getaways. Modern cottages include ranches, Cape Cods and Katrina cottages. A cottage can be as spacious or small as you want.

Vacation retreats are often cottages because of their efficient design. Waterfront and lake communities are checkered with cottages along the shore. In days gone by, fishermen lived in these cottages to be near the water. Today vacationers flock to cottages near rivers and seas to experience the relaxation of the water. Cottages tucked away in the woods are often referred to as cabins. There are a variety of small cottage house plans to create your ideal oasis away from it all.

Many people rent a vacation cottage and become enamored with its charming appeal. Living in a cottage gives you that cozy feeling all year round. Cottages can be perched on mountains, nestled near a stream or situated right in the middle of a busy suburb or city. Cottage have a small, effective design with inviting amenities that give you a warm feeling no matter where you live. Front porches, winding staircases and doghouse windows give cottages added appeal.

Spacious cottage house plans include fireplaces, study nooks, built-in dining tables and attached outdoor rooms. Space is used wisely to create a variety of living spaces in different areas, such as a fold-out bed in a guest room that doubles as your office or craft room. If you have a cottage built on large property, include a matching garage and gazebo. Add a pool house next to an in-ground pool for an instant vacation right in your backyard.

Decorating cottages is fun and creative. Cottage-style decorating and "shabby chic" are often used in these smaller houses. Distinctive English cottage touches include hanging china on the walls, using a variety of colors and textures in one room and mixing patterns. Include plenty of family photos, lacy doilies, fragrant candles, distressed wood furniture and vintage mirrors for an old-fashioned cottage feeling throughout the house.

The affordable luxury of cottage home plans make them perfect for both vacationing and year-round enjoyment. Create your own personal retreat for a special welcome every time you enter the door.

Shopping online for cottage house plans makes it easy and fun to find exactly what you want for your main residence or vacation home. HDA, Inc. offers more than 17,000 different house plans including small cottage house plans along with ranches, Cape Cods and other unique cottage home plans you won't find anywhere else.

Long Dryer Vent Problems

Spirituality - 3 Questions to Develop Your Personal Spiritual Relationship With Your Higher Power

Women often find themselves searching for deeper meaning in life.

We all know a woman who seems to be at complete peace with her divine relationship. She is serene, has confidence and her life works.

  • Maybe she grew up in a spiritually rich environment and has always felt guided and protected by her Higher Power.
  • Maybe she grew up without a spiritual foundation at all and has developed her Divine Relationship on her own.
  • Maybe she had to reinvent her relationship with her Creator for various reasons.

Whatever her path, a woman in an intimate relationship with her Higher Power is a beautiful being indeed.

So, what about you?

You intuitively know that you are intricately connected to something greater than yourself but if you don't have an established spiritual belief in place, where do you start?

Start here.

Ask yourself these 3 Important Questions designed to help you develop your own deeply personal and satisfying relationship with a Divine Power, however you choose to understand that Power.

#1 What is your current understanding of a Higher Power?

  • You may or may not have had any religious or spiritual instruction growing up. Some of what you did receive may no longer fit what you truly believe. Maybe you have gleaned bits and pieces from various sources and haven't taken the opportunity to put it all together. It doesn't matter really, you are who you are, and you are enough.

#2 How would you like to feel about your relationship with your Higher Power?

  • This may seem like an unusual question. By answering it you will understand what you need from your Divine Relationship. Everyone will want something different.

#3 What questions would you like to find your answers to?

  • You undoubtedly have some questions about spirituality. Gather them up and go looking for answers that feel right.

In the end, all paths lead to the same place.

There are no right or wrong answers. There are so many aspects of spirituality in the world. With a bit of insight you will find the path that feels right for you. You will know when it is a good fit. It will feel like you have "come home".

Caution: Some of us have been wounded spiritually at some point in our lives. If this applies to you, please give yourself the gift of finding a support system. This journey is supposed to feel good, you are supposed to feel connected and loved. Anything less than that is unacceptable. Ask someone for help.

Wishing you Peace & Abundance... Joyce Lee "Your Life Empowerment Coach"

2008 joyceleelifecoach.com

Are you ready for more opportunities to explore and reflect? Go to http://joyceleelifecoach.com/prompts.html for your special gift of "20 Profound and Provocative Journal Prompts" designed to help you focus on your life with a spirit of peace.

Joyce Lee is a certified Life Empowerment Coach, Personal Growth Facilitator and Law of Attraction Practitioner, specializes in helping women understand the Law of Attraction and deliberately creating the life they really want.

Spending 15 Minutes Each Day

Monday, July 20, 2009

Avoid Contractor Scams - Home Remodeling Tips

You might think you have to live in Florida, California or a state where natural weather disasters or wildfires create a cycle of home rebuilding to be targeted by contractor scams. But in fact, anyone who owns a home is at risk for falling victim to unscrupulous contractors. It only takes one bad experience to sour a homeowner, and this is unfortunate for the majority of contractors who take pride in their work and do a good job. To avoid experiencing what can end up being a home repair nightmare, all you need to do is be aware of some common scams and don't be afraid to ask questions, require references, make the effort to check those references, never sign anything that looks suspicious or without reading thoroughly and never agree to anything in haste.

In the springtime everything starts to gear up again. Many potential buyers are shopping for a new home and there are real estate agents hosting open houses. There is new grass, leaves, flower buds, families barbequing and shady contractors cruising the neighborhoods looking for an easy mark. Unfortunately, a sad fact is that older home owners are often targeted the most, but really anyone can be duped by a convincing pitch.

One of the most frequently used lines is that the contractor was in the neighborhood doing work and just happened to drive by and see something wrong with your home. Being the kind-hearted person that he is, he took time off from his busy schedule and wanted to stop and alert you to the problem you have. And even more convenient for you, he and his crew can work you in while they are in the area. Most legitimate builders and contractors do not go door to door like salesmen. Be wary of anyone showing up unscheduled and offering to do work right away with the pitch that they'll cut you a deal because they are already doing a project close by.

The most often used pitch for this scenario is roof repair. Dishonest contractors may tell a homeowner that their roof is in bad shape, not visible to the naked or untrained eye, and by hiring them to replace it now you'll save money in the long run by avoiding water damage from leakage. This is often perpetrated on older residents who cannot keep a watchful on the repair work actually being done. The homeowner will usually end up with substandard roofing materials or shingles that are a lower grade than the ones you originally had on the roof.

Getting your driveway repaved is another common scam. Even if someone two houses down from you just had it done and it looks fantastic, don't assume the guy who shows up at your door offering to do yours is the one who did the other. Most of the time it isn't the same contractor, but another one shadowing the reputable one. This other guy will do a sub par job and you'll be left with cracks in both your bank account and driveway.

Any contractor who approaches you suggesting that with your help they can do repairs for you for free by turning it into your insurance company isn't doing you any favors. What they are doing is making you a partner in crime by having you commit insurance fraud if there isn't any real basis for the claim. And don't think the insurance company won't prosecute, because they will.

Never, ever agree to pay cash, especially up front. You may be tempted by a big discount offered for a cash payment or advance, but those savings and your money will be as gone as the contractor who just left to go get supplies and will supposedly be back tomorrow.

Never sign the deed to your home over to finance repairs. Chances are if you do this, you won't have to worry about repairs because you won't have a home to repair.

Be suspicious of a contractor who claims he has extra or leftover lumber or supplies and can give you a great quote on a project. You should wonder and ask where those materials came from and realize that somebody, even if it wasn't you, paid for those supplies.

Always ask to see identification, especially if a so-called inspector shows up claiming you need work done to meet a code and tries to fine you or make you sign an agreement to have it done. This is not standard procedure and always check with authorities to see if the person actually is who he or she claims to be. You should always ask to see a contractor's license and ask for references, then check those references. Unhappy previous customers or a complete lack of customers is a sure warning sign. And speaking of signs, never sign anything without reading it or having your lawyer check it over. There are a lot of helpful sites out there where you can find more tips, such as About Chicago Real Estate.

If you do find yourself in hot tar, shoddy shingles or crummy carpentry, contact your Better Business Bureau or State's Attorney office to file a complaint and seek help. An old builder's rule is measure twice, cut once. Remember to double check everything and always get more than one quote.

Paula Cherrist writes articles about Chicago condos for sale, home trends and new homes for About Chicago Real Estate.

Ice Dam Problems And Solutions

Does God Not Like Corner Backs?

I am a person that has been on a journey. Over that last few years I have really searched for a spiritual centeredness in my life. I grew up in a very religious family. Religion tore our family apart because certain philosophies could not exist. Everyone felt they had the true way to heaven. Now mind you all of them considered themselves Christian, but with their own brand of Christianity.

My family for me is a microcosm of the world. Everyone is not Christian but each religion feels as though THEY have the way to heaven. As a matter of fact if you do not believe as THEY do then you and others that think like you deserve to die! I never could understand the thought process that another creation of the God you worship should not live because you disagree on some miniscule point. For me it is difficult to understand how a creator of all things can choose one group or one person over another.

One day I was watching a football game. My team did win the game on this particular day. One of the receivers was very emotional during the game after he caught a touch down pass. He sat on the sideline actually crying! After the game a reporter asked the receiver what was going through his mind at that time. The receiver stated that he had spoken with his pastor at church the day before or sometime during the week. He said the pastor told him that God would allow him to do something great in the game to glorify him. Because the touch down was a turning point in the game the receiver surmised that this was the great thing that God had allowed him to do. God was on his side that day according to the receiver. A thought came over my mind at that moment. What did the corner back (this is person that plays a position on defense in American football) do to fall out of favor with God? Did God not like the corner back so he allowed him to get embarrassed on national TV?

I make lite of the situation with the cornerback, but it puts religion in a perspective that we should start to think about someday and I hope soon. Many people think of God as someone watching over all facets of our existence. I know some days he must get tired and just rest. He takes his eyes off the window to the world for brief times. I know this is true because I was going to the barber last week and prayed for a good hair cut. The barber messed up!

I figured I got in the same dog house as the cornerback or else he would not have gotten beat for a touch down and my barber would have had a steady hand. Or maybe he was busy with the guys involved in the war that had the guns praying that they be the ones to live and the other guy die? Have you ever thought how a God would choose which one of his creations would live when they were in conflict? People often speak of God as being the father. If that is so then how does a father choose one child over another? If you are a parent, what could your child do that you would never forgive them for and send their souls to burn in hell for eternity?

I don't think any religion has it right. When there is any thought that God will favor one over another for any reason it is wrong. When we start to question why a God does not work favorably for everyone then maybe we can move away from the thought process of God punishing one person over another. That cornerback has to know that he was not out of favor with God and that is the reason he was embarrassed by that receiver. I have come to believe that God is not a being in any sense of the word. However, there is a source that is greater than us, a source that we are all connected with. This source does not favor anyone anymore than the next person. One day I hope that religion will come to grips with its contradictions and let that lowly corner back know that him being out of favor was not the reason he was beaten on national TV. In our connection with universal consciousness, we all are as great as we choose to be.

Hi my name is Reginald Martin and my perspective is one of a holistic approach with the knowledge of how the universe weaves its interconnected tapestry and affects our lives. I am just like many of you. I have been through many of life's major ups and downs, like the birth of my children, raising a family, a divorce, Amway (any former distributors out there?) starting out dating again after years of marriage and being laid off from a job. These ups and downs can either make you or break you! My friend they made me. Although when my Amway business went under that was close to the straw that broke the camels back for me. J Just kidding. I developed a consciousness about life through the school of hard knocks that I would like to share with you. I look back on many of those events now and can laugh a little. I have been where many of you are about to go. There is a saying that I like, "you can learn from your experiences or from the experiences of others. The former will take you a lot longer to get the lesson but you will eventually learn it." I have mucho experience! My expertise is the areas of man, husband, father, brother, uncle, boss, friend and neighbor. I enjoy sports, reading, blogging and manly things like crotch scratching, yawning and stretching in the morning. Unless you have not lived you know that anything going haywire in those areas can cause you to have mental breakdown followed by a spiritual awakening, or not! And oh yeah, I kinda look at life in an irreverent quirky kind of way. I swear this is like writing an online dating profile!

Helpful Habit Planning Tips

DIY Basement Waterproofing in 2 Easy Steps

DIY basement waterproofing can save you a lot of money in the end. A lot of home owners are unsure about using their basement because they are afraid that whatever is in it will get damage due to the basement flooding or molds and mildew. These problems are caused by water seeping in the concrete walls of your basement. A major problem that can be caused by this is a weaker foundation that might lead to deadly consequences.

Today, there are so many products that can be used for DIY basement waterproofing projects. Check out your local hardware to get one that you like best and then you can begin with your project.

Step 1: Look for cracks and holes in the walls of the basement.

Cracks and holes are the most common cause for water to seep in the basement. Should you find any, close them with quick-dry cement. Certain products are also available to patch up cracks and holes just make sure that they are ideal for basement walls. If water is trapped against your wall from the outside, you will need to insert a weep pipe to let it escape.

Step 2: Apply a water proof coating on the walls

Make sure that all patched up holes are dry. Your waterproof coating should not be too thin that water or moisture is still able to pass through. Be sure to you follow the instructions indicated on the water proofing product that you are going to use.

Sometimes leaks may be caused by crack or holes found where your floor and wall meet. Just the same you will need to seal them and then apply a water proof coating. With these easy DIY basement waterproofing steps, you can now enjoy a dry basement.

Considering basement waterproofing? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

Pocket Door Problems

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Home Building Concrete Epoxies

When concrete epoxies first came out I was working on a church remodeling the sanctuary. We were building a set of stairs that was two steps in height and 75 feet long. The steps were going to get a hardwood covering along with the rest of the sanctuary flooring.

I had used redheads in the past and noticed that over time these redheads would loosen up. I could never figure out what caused the redheads to do this. Was it the concrete that was expanding and contracting or was it the steel redheads contracting and expanding.

Either way I can never figure out what was up with the redheads. Another name for a redhead would be an anchor bolt. Red Hed is actually the company's name that makes the anchor bolt used to fasten materials to concrete or masonry surfaces.

Finding out that Simpson building products had made any new epoxy and all it required was drilling a hole 1/16 of an inch larger than the all thread you were going to use . After drilling a hole you would clean it with a plastic brittle brush. This brittle brush was pretty strong but it was not made from metal like I have thought. I was thinking it would have been a nice metal wire brush.

After drilling and cleaning the hole you would insert the proper amount of the epoxy into the hole you had drilled out with a masonry bit. As you slid the cut to size all thread bolt into the hole the epoxy would ooze out of the whole. This would tell you there was enough epoxy in the hole.

After that I cleaned the leftover epoxy off of the wood that I had inserted the all thread into to remove the extra epoxy that had oozed out. I waited 24 hours and the next day came to work with my electric impact wrench and wanted to put this epoxy to the ultimate test.

I put the washer and nut on the all thread and started to torque the heck out of it. As I was tightening the nuts and washer it started to work its way into the wood.

I was simply amazed after 24 hours the epoxy had held that good.

That was then and today Simpson epoxy requires drilling a hole an eighth of an inch oversize and filling it with epoxy. I still can't believe and to this day am a firm believer in concrete epoxies.

Read the instructions, clean out the holes properly with the recommended brush, insert the proper amount of epoxy, and rotate the all thread slowly into the hole as the epoxy starts to ooze out of it. Do not touch or move the bolt for the next 24 hours.

Concrete epoxies are here to stay and will keep improving as time goes on.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as

well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on a great Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes in San Marcos Remodeling

What To Do If Your Home Floods

Ezekiel Prophecy - Bridge Uniting House of Judah and House of Joseph

The following is a bridge from the Native American spiritual path, the Red Road, as taught by Cherokee elder John Red Hat Duke, to Torah, the holy scriptures of our ancestors in Jerusalem, on which Judah (Jews) and Joseph (Hopi and those tribes associated with them) may unite with HaShem's blessing.

Note: The union of the House of Judah and the House of Joseph is the same event as the completion of the Hopi migration back to Jerusalem, as revealed to Dorothy by Creator. Ezekiel 37

Step 1: Observe nature with awe and gratitude. A sense of love and respect for all creation will begin to grow within me.

Creation. Our universe. The cycles of life and death. A vast composite of exquisite harmony; a truly beautiful harmonic symphony of melodious verse with each vibratory element sustaining one another, loving one another. This is truly a miracle of melodies played out in the grand scheme of creation.

HaShem's plan for humanity is wondrous and exciting! As the salmon swim upstream every year to spawn, they are led by HaShem's awesome spirit. In the wondrous scheme of HaShem's creation, all of creation follows an internal instinct, and so Jacob's children yearn to go home. HaShem has provided an inheritance for them in Judea-Samaria so His plan of creation may be fulfilled.

Step 2: Learn to trust Creator and accept my circumstances. Overcoming adversity will produce spiritual growth within me as I walk the Red Road.

Today we face great adversities, probably greater than any of us have ever seen in our lifetimes. It is also a wonderful time of great opportunity for spiritual growth. We have the potential of rising to great spiritual heights; even to the place of forgiveness, love and tolerance where we will be prepared for the coming of Messiah.

Moses' life was filled with circumstances that tested his faith in HaShem, G-d. He was instructed by Creator to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses had to trust HaShem or he would have given up on his mission before he ever began it because in his mind the work was impossible. Yet, if he had given up and not trusted HaShem, the Israelites could still be living as slaves under the Egyptians, but HaShem's plan was fulfilled. The Israelites were protected and sustained. Creator led them through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. Through all the adversity of wandering in the wilderness, Moses had to convince the people of Israel to accept their circumstances and trust HaShem and He would lead them home.

We have a tendency to quickly enter the land of 'fire and ice," where our emotions fluctuate to extreme anger (fire) and to coldness and judgment (ice.) Now we must learn to enter the land of 'milk and honey,' where we will nourish, i.e. provide milk for all the children of Jacob with an attitude of sweet forgiveness, i.e. with the sweetness of honey. May we move beyond the place of being extremely difficult to appease to a place where we will bring joy to Jacob and all of our ancestors who wait with hopeful hearts that we will enter the land of milk and honey.

Step 3: Seek for truth within myself, that I may remove hypocrisy and evil intent from within my heart.

Creator is the third partner in procreation. It is He who gives life. It is interesting to note that procreation is the first mitzvah mentioned in the Torah, which gives it primary importance.

Children are the greatest blessing we can have in this life, and Jacob's children were no exception. They were his greatest joy, and it is said that Joseph was his favorite.

This apparently caused jealousy in the hearts of his brothers, except for Benjamin. So they contrived evil action against Joseph to get rid of him. They contemplated killing him, but ended up throwing him down a well from which he was sold into slavery in Egypt.

Joseph's brothers, including Judah, then went home and practiced possibly the greatest hypocrisy and deception of their lives. They pretended to be grief stricken, and convinced their father, Jacob, that Joseph had been mauled to death by wild animals.

However, HaShem was with Joseph, and turned the evil action of his brothers into a positive guidance and blessing for Joseph and for all of Israel.

There is a way to remove jealousy and evil intent from our hearts and return to live in the abundant blessings and unconditional love of HaShem. HaShem commanded the Israelites that He is Yahweh their God who brought them out of Egypt where they lived as slaves. They shall have no other gods to rival Him.

As we serve others with loving-kindness, we serve HaShem. As we allow His Living Waters to flow through our hearts and bring joy to others, the flowing water also purifies our own hearts through love, and this prepares our hearts to be ready for the coming of Messiah. The reason the union has not occurred between Judah and Joseph prior to now is because the people have not been ready! There has been no water in the well!

Is there any other way for all the children of Israel to regain wonderful blessed companionship with Creator except to accept each other with unconditional love and return to being the unified family of Jacob? Let's bring Joseph back home to his father and receive HaShem's blessing.

Step 4: Repent and humbly surrender my will to Creator, that I may become one with Great Spirit.

The joy of walking in harmony with Creator cannot be surpassed by any worldly activity. It produces a profound sense of peace and completeness; it answers the question, "Who am I?"

The House of Israel sinned against HaShem. We chose to live wickedly and rebel against Him. Before we can walk in harmony with Him again, we must see our own wickedness as repulsive and turn away from it in humility and repentance. We must ask HaShem's forgiveness.

We must surrender our arrogant self-will to Creator's will. For instance, He told us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, and He declared the seventh day as the Sabbath.

Some of us feel it does not matter which day we choose to call the Sabbath, but that is not humble surrender to the will of HaShem; it is arrogant self-will! The Sabbath given to man was a blessing from HaShem, and a blessing once given cannot be changed! If we desire to walk in companionship with Him and receive of His blessing, we must repent and humbly surrender to His will.

When we have turned away from our wicked ways, and received Creator's forgiveness, then we will be ready to accept our inheritance in Judea-Samaria. Currently, Judah is in control of this area. Although HaShem has promised to join together Judah and Joseph as one stick, it will only be accomplished when the people are ready. Judah must be ready as well as the Ten Northern Tribes; the House of Joseph.

It is not enough to walk in the ways of the Noachide Laws, or to adhere to the 613 laws of the Torah. This is like singing in low bass; a very low vibration. We must sing in high tenor or soprano at a much higher vibration. We must walk the higher spiritual path of purity and unconditional love; the spiritual path of the Keetoowah, the Red Road, in the truth of the Torah. This can only be accomplished by learning to walk in the way Creator commanded when He told us to not bear any grudge against the children of His people, but to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Leviticus 19:18)

All children of Jacob, Israel, must accept one another in the way HaShem commanded before we will be ready to fulfill the prophecy in Ezekiel 37:19. May we be quick to forgive perceived wrongs, and not relish being cruel and difficult to appease. May Israel again see all his children united as one family.

Step 5: Communicate with Great Spirit from my heart; listen, and live the insight I receive.

Israel is to listen! Yahweh our G-d is one G-d, and we must love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Have we lost the unity between our body, mind and spirit? Is our worship of HaShem lip service only? We can try to convince others that we walk with HaShem by speaking about holy things. However, our actions speak much louder than our words, and our actions betray what is in our hearts, and what is in our hearts is who we really are.

Some Israelites were thorns in the side of Moses. They tried to convince the people that they should return to Egypt to the good life. These are the dark forces that are with us still.

Today, Joseph wants to return home and claim his inheritance, but there are those who would deny him that which HaShem has provided, saying Joseph's children are an abomination in the sight of Creator and would only destroy eretz Israel if they were allowed to return.

Judah is refusing to invite Joseph back home, and in some ways he has good reason. The Ten Northern Tribes of Israel have not been living as a light reflecting the wonderful love of HaShem. They have assimilated into the many Nations of the world and many of them are living in idolatry today.

But what has Judah done to draw them back into the love of HaShem? Where is the light that would light the pathway for the rest of Jacob's children to find their way back into the joyous place of living in harmony with Creator? Judah, herself, does not appear to carry this light!

We must rise above the material world of law, only, into the spiritual world of HaShem. It is here that love resides; that HaShem resides. It is here that Light exists. It is here that our thoughts exist and we make our choices.

Creator has given us instruction; we are to have a heart full of unconditional love. If we refuse to accept our brothers and sisters of the House of Israel with unconditional love and forgiveness, and with a helpful spirit to help each other prepare to stand before HaShem in purity and truth, then we are a hypocritical people; we worship HaShem with our lips only! We must live His commands if we are to truly be His people! We must love our people as ourselves; all the children of Jacob!

Step 6: Learn true abstinence. It is in serving others, with an attitude of loving-kindness that I create a flow of Living Waters which will purify my heart.

Joseph served his Egyptian master well. Even when he was falsely accused and imprisoned, he retained his attitude of servitude and loving-kindness by interpreting the dreams of the chief cup-bearer and the chief baker. When the pharaoh had two dreams and could find no one to interpret them, the chief cup-bearer remembered Joseph and told the Pharaoh how he had interpreted his and the chief baker's dreams accurately.

So the Pharaoh called Joseph to him and asked him to interpret his dreams. He did so, and then suggested how the Pharaoh should govern in the approaching times of plenty and famine.

Pharaoh approved of his suggestions and the interpretation of his dreams, and therefore promoted Joseph to chancellor. Only his own throne was above Joseph.

Joseph was blessed by HaShem, and because Pharaoh accepted Joseph into his household, he prospered.

Joseph knew and acknowledged that it was HaShem who interpreted the dreams. He also knew that when he served others, he served Creator.

When Joseph's brothers came to him during the famine and asked for food, Joseph lovingly fed them and provided additional food for them and their families. It was this service with loving-kindness that created tremendous joy in Joseph's heart; the joy of serving HaShem.

Jacob's family was reunited, and the flow of love, the flow of Living Waters, moved them all to tears. This is why water is used as the symbol for the cleansing of the soul. Flowing water purifies, and love flowing from HaShem through compassionate servants like Joseph purify their hearts with the flow of living waters.

This same joy will be experienced again when Joseph's brothers serve HaShem by welcoming Joseph's children and the other members of the House of Israel home. It is then that HaShem will establish a new covenant with the House of Judah and the House of Israel. It will be a covenant written in the heart, a covenant of unconditional love without judgment. It will be a time of great joy and abundant blessing as we experience the wonderful love and compassion of HaShem.

Step 7: Attain complete, joyous harmony with Great Spirit; walk the Red Road. This requires that I totally surrender my will to the will of Creator, and love others unconditionally without judgment because that is who I am.

IAM is calling. Have we forgotten how to listen to His voice? Have Judah and the House of Israel become deaf to the voice of HaShem and turned to self-worship in the ways of the world?

We must return to the ways of the traditional ancestors if we would be ready to welcome Messiah (Masaau). We must return to the ways of Abraham, and the ways HaShem taught Moses when he called His children out of Egypt; out of bondage into a land of milk and honey.

We are invited to enter the land of milk and honey and we can do this by inviting our children home with a sweet, forgiving spirit.

It is time to do more than talk about HaShem and about holy things. It is time to BE that which we were created to be. It is time to become one with the wonderful, awesome IAM; to walk in companionship with Him as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden.

Joseph was a wonderful example, and we can do this as he did. With a forgiving spirit, he fed his brothers when they came to ask for food from him in Egypt during the famine.

Joseph depicted a man totally surrendered to the will of HaShem, else he would have judged his brothers guilty and unconditional love and forgiveness would not have been possible.

Joseph walked the Red Road by fulfilling HaShem's Law of Love, and now Joseph's children are asking his brothers to complete HaShem's plan of Creation by walking in companionship with them along the Red Road and inviting them to come home. Will HaShem hold Judah guiltless if they do any less?

For more information about gaining eternal life in the presence of Creator, and about the return of the long awaited Hopi Pahana, read the books Red Hat Speaks, and Red Hat's Wisdom, by Dorothy K. Daigle. These books can be ordered from any bookstore or online from http://www.iuniverse.com or Amazon.com

Dorothy was taught by Cherokee elder and wisdom keeper, John Red Hat Duke, for over ten years in the Keetoowah Cherokee spiritual ways, in Eastern philosophy, and in Judaism. She was raised Christian so she has a good working knowledge of Christianity. She now follows no religion but strives to walk the Red Road spiritual path according to Jesus' teachings.

She received her call from Creator in the fall of '92, and was then taught by the great prophet Elijah for four years. She was given four assurances by Creator when He called her. She was told that she was anointed by the Holy One of Israel, that she would be protected until this work was done, that Creator would go before her whenever He sent her somewhere, and that she did not have to prove herself to anyone. She is one of Creator's prophesied Two Witnesses. She carries wisdom of many years of living under Creator's guidance and direction.

Starting With Simple Things

Bathroom Remodeling Can Be Kept Simple and Cheap

What do you want from your bathroom?

Do you want it to be more than clinically cold and merely functional? The trend today is towards making bathrooms a warm, friendly place to be, a place where you don't mind spending a fair amount of time in. Lets face it, we all have to use the bathroom sooner or later and it's probably the most used room in the house.

If you are planning to remodel your bathroom you should try to provide an experience for the users of the room and that includes yourself. Try to think beyond the simple utility of being a place to wash in.

How ambitious is your bathroom-remodeling project?

When you remodel your bathroom a lot will depend on how much space you have available and how extensive you want your bathroom remodel to be. When I remodeled my bathroom it all started because I dropped something into the bathtub and cracked it. That meant that the bath had to be replaced but I could have stopped there instead of taking the opportunity to replace everything, rearrange the bathroom and add a shower cubicle. Oh yes and I spent a lot of money too.

You don't have to be that ambitious

As long as your bathroom fittings are in working order you don't need to replace them. There is a lot you can do by adding storage space to get things off the floor, replace some tiling that may have seen better days. Giving the place a simple coat of paint can work wonders also. Even if you do need to replace some items like I did then replacing it with a similar item in the same position can be a lot cheaper than a full blown remodel.

How about a few plants?

If you have the space in your bathroom you might like to add a few pot plants here and there. They can hide the more drab aspects of your bathroom and provide a point of interest for anyone using the room. Some people like to talk to plants but don't like others to know that they do so being alone in a bathroom with some nice plants can be very therapeutic.

Think about the lighting

Lighting can make a big difference and adding some nice warm, soothing light that makes you feel cosy and at home can enhance your experience of the bathroom in a very subtle and pleasant way.

Keep it clean and shiny

Often all a bathroom needs is a good clean. Polish the metal work in the room, the faucets and towel rails etc. Make sure that you remove all the lime scale that has built up over the years. Clean the tiles on the walls so that they gleam like new. Do all this and keep it all clean by going over it once a week. It can make your bathroom look as good as if you'd done a complete bathroom remodel. It's also quicker, a lot less stressful and will save you loads of money.

What to do if you're thinking of a more ambitious bathroom remodel

If you've got plenty of money, time and enthusiasm then you may want to do something a bit more radical than simply clean or paint your bathroom. The article href="http://www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com/bathroom-remodeling-idea.php">Bathroom Remodeling Idea - How to get inspiration will give you some inspiration on how to get started on a more ambitious project.

Steve is an engineer and writes for http://www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com He remodeled his own bathroom recently Do it yourself bathroom remodeling

Installing Windows At A Eye Leve

Spiritual Ethical Will - Giving the Gift of Tradition

Spiritual ethical wills are different from a last will and testament. Instead of bequeathing physical assets, ethical wills bequeath personal insights, morals and philosophies. If you are looking for a gift that will keep on giving then invest in the development of a spiritual ethical will.

Parts of an Ethical Will

An ethical will can be formatted in a number of different ways, however, most formats will have the same basic sections. The first section will be the introduction. It will identify who the ethical will is intended for and what its purpose is. The second section will contain personal insights into life, philosophies and values that the writer has. The final section will point out what the reader is supposed to learn from the will, such as cherishing time with their family or learning to be charitable.

Writing Your Ethical Will

Writing your ethical will can be an intimidating process. People who do not write a lot may feel as if the process of composing and editing an ethical will is more than they can handle, or they may feel that they just don't have the time to write one. Fortunately, you don't have to sit down and write the entire thing in one night, nor do you have to write an ethical will that is 100 pages long.

The writing process for an ethical will needs to start with an outline and a brainstorming session. The outline will help you to format your ethical will and the brainstorming session will help you to flesh out the ethical will. There are a lot of brainstorming activities that you can try including word association and freewriting.

The next step is to develop the topics you entered in your outline. To do this you will need to try and write at least one paragraph per topic. You can talk about memories, you can provide examples or you can just discuss your thoughts about the topic.

After you have a first draft completed you will want to put away your will for at least a week. When you take it back out you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes. This will make it easier to edit your will. Start by reading through the ethical will out loud. This will help you to find grammatical mistakes, typos and sentence flow problems.

Get more tips for writing an ethical will at Spiritual Ethical Will.

Developing Wealth Building Habit

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Drywall Repairs Made Simple - Remodeling Tips

By the time you finish reading this article, you will be able to perform basic repairs to damaged drywall. There are some basic tools that you should keep around the house, if you have an active family and are prone to get dings in the walls. This article will not provide enough information to do major repairs to drywall. Major repairs are simple, but you must learn the basics first.

Here is a list of some tools you will need. Your local big box can supply you with some basic tools. They run in price range from cheap to professional quality. They have plastic putty knives for less than a dollar all the way up to stainless steel that with care, will last a lifetime. If you expect a very small number of repairs, the plastic will suffice. Also, get a carriage bolt, a small hammer, a can of drywall joint compound, 150 to 220 grit sandpaper and a paint brush. These basic tools will repair most small dings and dents in drywall.

An example of a ding would be where the locking button on a door knob has left an impression in the wall behind it. This is typical of a quick and easy repair. Look at the damage. Is there anything protruding above the wall surface? If so, use the carriage bolt to push the protrusion below the wall surface. Use the hammer to help persuade the protrusion to go below the surface of the wall and round the edges. Next, take the putty knife and some joint compound or as it is commonly called, drywall mud, and fill the hole. Wait until the mud dries, sand lightly and fill the hole again to bring the material to the same level as the wall. Sand the surface again until the wall is smooth and level. Do not over sand. This will rough up the drywall allowing the paper to fray and requiring more mud to seal the rough surface. There should not be any differences in the surface. Several small applications will last much longer than one large application and give you better results.

Is everything smooth? If not, apply some more drywall mud to even the wall surfaces. Sand again. When the wall is smooth, apply the paint primer. When the paint primer is dry, apply your regular wall paint. The paint primer is to seal the wall so the new paint does not dry too quickly allowing the patch to be visible.

That is the basic method of repairing damaged drywall.

For more in depth instructions on basic drywall repair visit http://www.single-family-home-remodeling.com/drywall-repair.html

Horizontal Or Vertical Drywall

Spiritual Affirmation - Healing Your Inner Self With Spiritual Affirmations

From childhood to adulthood, the knowledge we gain or the experiences we have in our lives only helps us to discover our outer personality and brings us closer to material things of this world. At the same time we sometimes get depressed or fall into a low self-esteem Problem. Spiritual Affirmations help us get out of these problems. Spiritual Affirmations leads us towards a happy and satisfying life with a peaceful mind.

Affirmations are a judgment that we pass or any thought we have. An affirmation is directly linked to our sub consciousness. Affirmations can either be negative or positive which can either guide our subconscious actions to a successful life or towards failure.

Spiritual Affirmations are a form of meditation which when mediated often, have a desirable results. For example if a person has a lack of confidence or self-esteem problem sit in a peaceful, quiet place with some spiritual affirmations in your mind, let the emotions flow to you and start saying the spiritual affirmations aloud, 'I believe in myself' or 'My inner self will always guide me towards right path with decisions that are beneficial to me and others'.

The key behind spiritual affirmations is to let go of all your negative thoughts and trust completely in yourself. Instead of thinking 'This project is too difficult for me' try thinking 'I am capable of anything and obstacles do not effect me or my work'. Once you adopting this kind of spiritual affirmation you will notice a positive and healthy change in your life.

The best way to carry out spiritual affirmation technique is to release your mind of any negative thought, sit in a peaceful and quiet place, relax and visualize any positive spiritual affirmation such as 'My mind is at peace now'. At the same time try to use simple words and sentences which can easily be interpreted by our mind and mind can easily accept it to be true.

Spiritual affirmations not only help to achieve a peaceful mind and happy life but also helps us draw closer to God. Remember God and His blessings as much as possible while utilizing the spiritual affirmation technique. For example "I let my renewed soul thank God for His blessings" or 'I release my old self and reborn with a new pure soul'. The most acceptable and commonly used word in spiritual affirmation is 'Amen' meaning 'so be it'. While some of us use it to conclude our prayer, it can be used for spiritual affirmation.

For a positive result spiritual affirmation needs to be repeated many times for effectiveness. Write down any positive thought you get maybe in a diary, on a piece of card or whichever way is convenient to you. Review them daily to get your mind to completely accept these thoughts. Preferably review them twice a day. Initially during spiritual affirmation technique we will also get negative thoughts. Note down these thoughts as well and at the end of the day review them and try replacing them with something more positive. Once you perform this spiritual affirmation technique on a regular basis you will find a positive change in yourself with a renewed spirit.

Robert Watson is a certified hypnotherapist with the ABH and the NGH, and has worked with affirmations and subliminal messages for over ten years. Visit his Subliminal Messages website for more information about using affirmations and subliminal messages to help you lose weight, quit smoking, have a more positive outlook and more.

Habits To Prevent Losing Things

Fireplace Safety Tips

Proper fireplace safety is extremely important. Even if you have been using your fireplace for years, it is important to brush up on your fire safety rules.

Here are some fireplace safety rules for both wood burning and gas fireplaces:

Open the damper before starting a wood burning fire

Leave flue open, even if fire is only smoldering

Teach children about dangers of fire

Use a chimney cap

Do not use lighter fluid to start a fire

Use long matches

For gas fireplaces, light as soon as gas is turned on

Have your chimney inspected annually

Keep decorations and flammables away from the fire

Never leave a wood burning fire burning while you are not there to watch after it

Use a mesh screen with your wood burning fire, and leave glass doors open

Do not burn trash in your fireplace

Keep the top of your chimney and roof clear of debris like pine needles and even low hanging branches.

Realize that artificial logs are not the same as real wood make sure you read the instructions on an artificial log before you use it, and do not add one to a wood fire already burning.

When done with a wood burning fire, and once the ashes have cooled, clean them out in preparation for the next fire.

Do not use charcoal in your fireplace doing so puts you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you have children, make sure that you have a guard around your gas fireplace children can get burned not just by the fire but by the glass and metal doors surrounding the fire.

If you have a gas fireplace, make sure that you have at least two places in which you can turn off the flow of gas, just in case one of them malfunctions for some reason.

With a gas fireplace, you should stay aware of any unusual smells or flames they could be a sign that your fireplace is not working properly.

Again, realize that fireplace safety is extremely important. Realize that not properly following fireplace safety guidelines could end with harm to all that you hold most dear yourself, your children, your possessions, your home, etc.

It is most definitely worth brushing up on your fireplace safety.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on fireplaces and fireplace safety, please visit Fireplace Doors

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

Friday, July 17, 2009

What Needs to Change to Become Your Authentic Self?

Becoming your Authentic Self is a process of deprogramming who you were trained to be and rebuilding your perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors to be in alignment with who you were born to be.

And this means change.

"Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!"

There is good reason why humans resist change. The inborn survival instinct does not want to risk losing what it has in exchange for the uncertainty of change.

The dilemma for the person on the spiritual path is that you must change in order to grow. My Awakening Your Light Body teacher, Duane Packer, often shared this quote: "If you want to have what you've never had, you will need to do what you've never done."

The good news is that the more spiritually evolved you become, the more tools and skills you have for consciously creating your reality.

Although it is quite tempting to believe that if only the other person (or situation) would change all would be well in our world, at some point in our spiritual growth we come to accept that our outside reality is a reflection of our inner reality. It is said that we don't see the world as it is; we see the world as we are. It is a big leap forward in spiritual awakening to understand that what we experience in our outer life is a reflection of our inner life.

The great thing is we can change our mind any time we want and start focusing on how we want our life to be (instead of focusing on what we don't want and creating more of that!)

As Nelson Mandela has said: "We must become the change we want to see in the world."

A good question to ask when you are not liking a life situation:

"What belief, attitude, behavior, or perspective do I need to change so I can be joyful in this situation?"

Once we get past wanting to blame someone else for our unhappiness, it is not too hard to take the next step and ask what we need to change about ourselves.

Is it possible that something as simple as asking what we need to change in ourselves can turn around a seemingly impossible situation? Yes!

How do I know? Because I have done it. The hardest part is acknowledging that the unpleasant outside circumstance is a result of something inside of me. But as the saying goes, "do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?" At this point on my spiritual path I have found myself to be "wrong" so often that I am used to noticing my "faults" and owning what is true no matter how embarrassing, silly, stupid (all judgments, by the way) it is. I encourage you if you have a situation that is causing you unhappiness, use it as an opportunity to ask "What do I need to change in myself so this situation gets better?"

I know you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc.,Spiritual Growth Coach & Mentor, Founder of http://www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com, an online resource center for people exploring their spirituality. Sign up now for a fr^ee membership and receive Jennifer's guided meditation:"Sitting in the Stillness". In this meditation you will connect with your Divine Self for guidance, inspiration and expanded consciousness. Sign Up Now! http://www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com

Structuring Your 24 Hour Day

Home Construction With Steel Framing

Home building with light gauge steel framing is a recent development in the history of construction. The use of light gauge steel framing is very nearly identical to framing a home with wood. The main difference is in the way the steel is fastened together. The majority of steel framing is screwed together with specially hardened screws that are engineered to handle the different stresses that joining steel framing together produces. Some training is required to understand the importance of how the steel is put together to get the structural integrity necessary for a sturdy structure.

Light gauge steel framing consists mainly of two kinds of pre-bent steel pieces. One kind is used to be the upright piece that is the replacement for the traditional wood stud. The other one is designed to be the horizontal piece that holds the stud in place. There are other kinds of steel, such as flat pieces, that are used for bracing and stiffening the wall structure, but the two pieces used as stud and track are the most prevalent. The stud is pre-bent into a shape that, if looked at in section, would resemble the letter "c". The two opposing sides of the "c" hold the drywall and sheathing of the wall structure. The other piece is called the track. It's purpose is to hold the stud in place at the proper intervals to distribute the load placed on top of the wall. It is also bent, but in the shape of a "u". The opposing sides of the "u" are used to steady the stud which is inserted in the track. When the proper spacing is achieved, the stud is clamped in place and screwed to the track on both sides. When the upper and lower track hold all the studs in position, the basic wall is complete. Then, a decision is made, whether any further bracing is required. Depending on the amount of load-bearing the wall was designed to support, long, flat pieces of steel may be installed on the surface of the wall to keep it square and rigid. There is another kind of steel that is designed to fit inside pre-cut holes in the studs that will lend rigidity. It is a narrow channel of steel inserted in the pre-cut holes to keep the studs aligned in a flat plane. The variety of different ways these pieces can go together is not the subject of this article. Suffice to say that just about every way to make a frame structure of wood for home construction can be duplicated with steel framing.

There are advantages to using steel framing that make it more attractive as a building material. It will not burn like wood. There is no danger of termite damage. The structure is stronger and more resistant to destructive forces such as high winds and impacts from various sources. The pre-punched holes save a lot of time with plumbing and wiring concerns.

There is one slight disadvantage of using this structural material. It is a little more expensive when compared to the equivalent wood framing. However, as more people choose this material, that price will come down to a competitive level. Also, the use of steel will significantly reduce the large demand on our national forests for building materials. These advantages, in my view, far outweigh the disadvantages. It is the material of choice for our future homes.

Plaster And Drywall Cracks

How to Get an Extra Room Without Extending

Want an extra bedroom but can't extend? You may already have all the space you need.

Creating a new room from the space you already have can be a low-fuss way to make your home more practical - or more luxurious. Some of the most popular additions include another bedroom, an en suite, utility or dressing room.

You could even increase the value of your house, too!

The projects and permissions

First you need to check if you have enough space. There are no official guidelines to the minimum size of a room, but you need to be practical. For an en suite shower room, you'll need at least 180 cm x 80 cm.

What's involved?

If your original room is big enough, you can divide it into two by putting up a partition wall made up of plasterboard nailed to both sides of a wood frame and skimmed with plaster. Or you can carve out a space from two rooms to create a room in between. Before you knock down any walls, you'll need to call in a structural engineer to check if they are load bearing.

What permission do I need?

Contact your local building control department to ensure that your work meets safety regulations. If you live in a conservation area, a listed building, or need a window fitted to an external wall, you'll probably need planning permission, too. Check with your local council.

Can I do it myself?

A competent DIYer could add a partition wall - check out ultimatehandyman for advice. For most jobs you'll need to call in the professionals.

Time and costs

How long will it take?

If you're just dividing one room by putting up a partition wall it should be complete within a week. This assumes all the trades (builder, electrician, etc.) dovetail with the next. To create an en suite, add three more days to fit and tile.

How much will it cost?

Prices start about 500 to add a partition wall. For a finished en suite excluding sanitary ware expect to pay around 5,000. If you need planning permission or an architect, this will add several hundred pounds of fees

Top rooms to add

Bedroom

Adding a new bedroom will make your house more attractive to buyers but avoid making a double into a single. Also, the new room you create should be able to fit at least a single bed and bedside table.

Utility room

Using part of your kitchen to create a separate utility room is a good idea as long as your kitchen is left with at least a 3m run of cupboards and worktops.

Dressing room

This is a luxury and should only really be considered if you already have an en suite and four bedrooms - buyers would rather have an extra bedroom.

You can find more information on interior design and interior design ideas at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love

Exterior Wood Beams

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Dream Walking - Where Do You Go To

Dream walking and astral travelling are very similar. Astral travelling tends to be something you do alone, where dream walking is a more conscious experience where you can choose who goes with you.

It is good to set your intentions when going to sleep. You can ask your Higher Self for help with a problem or you can consciously choose to go on an adventure, using your powers of visualization and imagination.

If you have friends who are open to spiritual experiences, you could chat with them in advance and invite them along on the adventure. Distance is no object, so you can even arrange this on Chat or by SMS messaging in advance.

When bedtime comes, go to bed in a relaxed and happy way and if you feel any tension in your body, just spend a few minutes releasing that consciously, becoming aware of the different parts of your body.

Breathe into these areas and relax and expand your consciousness. Feel the more subtle aspects of the physical body  the organs, the cells and molecules; and become aware of your Energy Body or Aura, which permeates throughout the physical body.

Allow the Electromagnetic Power in your Aura to expand and connect to more aspects of yourself by grounding yourself to the Earth, reaching up with your consciousness and feelings to the planets around the Sun in our solar system and feeling their influence, like archangels guiding one's destiny.

As you connect more and more with your Energy Body and the Energy Matrix of the Zero Point Field, which is talked about in Quantum Physics, feel your chakra centres activating and coming alive. Feel the multidimensional aspects of yourself opening up and connecting you with your spirit family, healing helpers and guides within and beyond the veil. You may feel your power increasing like a magnetic presence or charisma comes around you.

When the energies feel right, remember your intentions at the beginning of the process and who is coming with you. Reach out with your feelings and start a telepathic communication with the friends you would like to take with you. You do this deep in your heart with a faint starring in your feelings; it is more the intention to send the message than anything verbal.

If they are ready too, choose to slip out of your physical body into your Energy Body and choose to focus with your feelings on the images in your imagination. See yourself soaring through time and space. This is a process of transcending your physical body consciously becoming aware if the finer and finer aspects of Self, until you transcend the physical into your light body.

Remember that you do not really travel out of yourself: you just choose to make yourself bigger and move your awareness around inside of your Self, which truly is the whole universe. It is like moving your awareness from your head to your big toe, travel from your head to your toe; you just became aware of a different aspect of yourself. So choose to feel yourself as the Universe in this expanded transcendental awareness and then choose which aspect to be aware of.

It is all about focus of intention and what you choose to create; either alone or with the friends you have chosen to have this experience with you. Connect fully to the senses in your Energy or Light Body. This is like being aware of your senses in Sixth Sense Mode.

Feel your surroundings, the warmth of the sun, the wind in your hair; smell the flowers and the freshly cut grass in the hay meadows. Start a conversation with your friend and hear their voice in your ears. Feel their hand in yours as you walk along together. You are using your powers of visualization, imagination and mixing these with your passion and desire in a very subtle dream state.

Then fully open up your imagination and your Self to the multi-dimensions of experiences you can choose to create in this state of consciousness. Enjoy your Dream Walk. Remember you are only limited by your imagination, in this state of awareness all things are possible. Please focus on the good and life supporting aspects, which will help you and your friends, live a happier more fulfilled life.

When you are finished bring your Light Body/awareness back to the here and now, reconnect with your physical body again and enjoy the rest of your night's sleep. Thank all your friends who helped with this process and send them loving thoughts.

By George E. Lockett SSHA, IIHHT -- HealerGeorge(C) Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved. Tel: +44 (0)1286 882701 Visit HealerGeorge's web site to experience the power of Distant Healing or listen to HealerGeorge Radio giving Questions and Answer advice mixed with Spiritual Music. You can also enjoy many free benefits on HealerGeorge, like listening to Free Guided Meditations. Why not order HealerGeorge's Latest book entitled "A Journey into The Self - The Multi-dimensional Nature of Being Human" By George E Lockett. It is all available off the web site. HealerGeorge Web Site and New Book

Description: What is this book going to do for YOU? For those who are seeking a complete energetic makeover, as you read it you will feel a stirring and awakening in the depths of your heart. For those who have questions about Shifts in Consciousness, Energy Balancing, and Healing within the body, you will find clear answers.

Creating A Habit