Category: Post Notes

Pillar To Post Newsletter September 2016

Posted on September 8, 2016 by oi_admin - Post Notes

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Are you a rushaholic? Sure, we all want to be efficient with our time - it’s our most precious commodity. But what if it’s more efficient to do things slowly? What if going faster actually slows us down?

Take your time. Get it done right - the first time.

Rushing Wastes Time
I find I frequently forget things when I’m rushing, and end up wasting more time than I saved. Like the time we were rushing to get my parents to the airport and it wasn’t until we got there that we realized we left one of the suitcases behind. The funny thing is that there was no reason to rush in the first place - we had plenty of time; so much time in fact, that we drove the half hour back to the house, picked up the suitcase, and got to the airport with time to spare. We get so hooked on the habit of hurrying that sometimes we rush needlessly. (I guess that’s why they call us the human race.)

Time Management guru Harold Taylor, in his book, “Slowing Down the Speed of Life”, advises us to “Drive slower, walk slower, talk slower and work slower. The faster you go, the faster life seems to go.”

Accidents Increase with Speed
I can tell you from my experience, once you can get past the initial feelings of panic and guilt (that you are not doing enough) and see the amazing results, slower feels better. When we rush, there is more chance of making mistakes. This can impact our stress levels, our finances and our relationships. Just look at the benefits of slowing down and see if that shifts your view.

Benefits of slowing down:

increased creativity
decreased stress and anxiety
fewer mistakes
more opportunities
more productive
experience more joy
improved communications and better relationships
longer survival rate

(The Body Clock Advantage, Matthew Edlund)

“Speed is the enemy of time management, not its ally.” -Harold Taylor
Are you addicted to the fast paced life? Or have you tried taking it slow?

Hellen Buttigieg
Certified Professional Organizer & Life Coach
www.weorganizeu.com

Shower and bathtub safety is an everyday concern for people, even more so for the elderly and young children.

Here are some essential shower and bathtub safety tips:

Never clutch or use the sliding glass shower door for stability or balance. Shower doors are not meant to support human weight.
Discard all unsafe shower and bathtub features. This could be tub seats or towel bars that are not strong enough to provide support.
Install appropriate weight-bearing grab-bars. Educate the elderly about bathroom safety.
Avoid accidental scalding by turning the hot water heater temperature down to 120 degrees.
Always check bathtub temperature. Nearly fifty percent of water burns come from parents putting children in water that is too hot. These burns can be serious and lead to permanent scarring.
Prevent drowning in the toilet and tub as two inches of water is enough to drown a child. Do not ever leave children unattended in the tub. A lock on the toilet seat in the closed position is an effective safety practice.
Prevent electrocution in the bathroom with proper ground fault-protection outlets. Always keep the floor dry to prevent slips and falls. Place non-slip mats strategically.
Use drain covers and waterspout guards. Children often hit their heads on the waterspout, leading to injuries. Soft covers on faucets protect children’s heads.

When it comes time to sell, it’s important that your home stacks up well against the competition. In order to have it look its best, renovations are sometimes necessary. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re thinking it is time to renovate:

Get Cracking - The kitchen will often yield the greatest return on investment. A welcoming kitchen that’s functional and up-to-date will be very attractive to buyers.
Clean Up - The bathroom is the second most important room in the home in terms of valuation so renovating an existing bathroom or installing an additional one pays off.
Go Green - An eco-friendly home is a healthy home so if you’re thinking about replacing flooring for instance, use environmentally friendly materials such as bamboo or cork.
Landscaping - Adding a few perennials is an easy way to improve your home’s curb appeal. A few well-placed trees and shrubs will reduce utility costs by providing shade and shelter.
The Convert - If you converted a bedroom into a home office, consider returning it to its original state. Buyers are more concerned with the number of bedrooms.

Your basement doesn’t have to be a dark and dreary spot anymore.

Low ceilings, limited light and general dreariness can make the basement a hard spot to hang out in. Here are a few ways to brighten things up in this often dark and cramped looking space:

Fresh Coat - Paint the walls a light shade and ceilings even lighter to give the illusion of height.
Lighten Up - Use various lighting sources layered at different heights including wall sconces and lamps to brighten things up.
Mirrored - Place mirrors across from your basement windows in order to maximize the effect of natural light.
Floored - Don’t break up the basement by choosing different flooring materials. Pick solid, continuous flooring so that the space will appear larger.

These are just a few ways to transform your basement from dark and dreary to bright and beautiful. Before you know it, your basement will become one of your most popular hangouts!

For many, a deck is an extension of the home. It brings indoor life to the great outdoors. With a little care, a deck can last for many years. Neglected, it can become an eyesore or worse, unsafe!

Permit
Is a permit required to build a deck? Most municipalities require a permit to build a deck. Many decks get built without a permit. The result is that many decks are poorly constructed and some are unsafe.

Deck Materials

Pressure Treated Wood: Properly maintained, a pressure treated wood deck can last 20 years.

Cedar: Cedar is a premium deck building material with a rich look and feel. It is more expensive than pressure treated wood but it has many desirable properties. It is naturally more dimensionally stable than pressure treated wood so it does not shrink and split. A well maintained cedar deck can last 20 years.

Synthetic: Synthetic decking is the most expensive decking material but it requires little to no maintenance beyond cleaning and should last many years.

Wood Sealer: The secret to a deck that looks good over the years is wood sealer. Unsealed wood will absorb water and expand and then dry out and shrink. Over time the wood splits and deteriorates.

Guard Rails: Guard rails keep you safe on your deck. The specifics of a quality guard rail are spelled out in local building codes.

Deck Collapse: “Except for hurricanes and tornadoes, more injuries may be connected to deck failures than all other wood building components and loading cases combined.” - Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University. Many decks fail because they are old, worn and rotted. Others fail because they were not built properly in the first place.

Your favorite color is more than a pretty predictor of your fashion or decor choices. It reveals insights into a spectrum of your personality characteristics, from your sociability to your sense of possibility.

If your favorite color is...

Blue: You exude cool confidence.
Red: You’re a passionate go-getter.
Yellow: You’re a visual sparkplug.
Orange: You’re a team player.
Pink: You’re a romantic dreamer.
Purple: You’re a regal artiste.
Green: You’re a smart forward thinker.

Storage space sells so don’t forget to clean out your closets in two steps!

Remove at least half of all items from closets and cupboards so they appear larger and get rid of anything on the floor. Use the same hangers (no wire!) throughout.
Organize the remaining items so your closets and cupboards look tidier. Make sure to neatly fold up towels and linens and use attractive bins and boxes to organize any loose items.

The steps above may seem obvious but they’re often overlooked. Remember that storage space sells and if buyers see your closets bursting at the seams, they will assume your home isn’t big enough for you or for them.

Look for these signs of trouble:

Wood rot: If you see wood rot it could be worse than you think. Rotted connections such as the ledger board to house connection could lead to deck collapse.
Good connections: Check points of connection of major components such as the deck to house, guard rail to deck, beam to post, post to pier, etc. You should see plenty of metal brackets and bolts not nails. If in doubt, have an expert look at your deck. For example, it is very difficult to inspect the deck to house connection because it is not easily accessible. Of course, it helps if you know what you are looking for.

There are over 40 million decks in North America with over 1 million being built or rebuilt each year. With care, a deck can last many years and provide a safe place to enjoy the great outdoors.

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Pillar To Post Newsletter July 2016

Posted on July 8, 2016 by oi_admin - Post Notes

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Have you ever become so absorbed in an activity that time seemed to just fly by? You were able to focus - without looking for distractions - and found you were super productive. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have that same experience with the tasks you’ve been putting off - like tidying up your house or tackling your taxes?

The tendency to put off repetitive routine chores is common, so you are not alone. In fact, many people feel physically uncomfortable when faced with these types of tasks, because they find them downright boring. If you can’t seem to find the motivation to do what you have to do, you might just be avoiding boredom.

There are several ways to combat boredom and make mundane tasks more exciting - or at least more bearable.

The secret is to make the job more stimulating by keeping your mind engaged:

Spice things up. A meal without spices would be bland. What ingredients can you add to your tasks to liven them up? How about adding a few drops of essential oil to your laundry detergent to brighten up wash day, getting some stylish file folders to make filing fun, or listening to music (or an audio book) to help make cleaning the house more pleasurable?
Add some fun. Adding an element of play can make even the most boring tasks more exciting. Get creative and make a game out of chores you’ve been avoiding. Set a timer and challenge yourself to beat the clock. You can also plan something enjoyable to do right after you complete the task, as a reward.
Invite a friend. Sorting hundreds of old photos on your own can be tedious. Inviting a friend to sit with you at the dining room table as you sort the photos can turn a boring task into a social event. Partner up and suddenly you can sort for hours without even realizing it. Your friend doesn’t even have to help you; the person can be there for company and conversation.
Find a stimulating environment. Working at home or sitting at a desk is not for everyone. For a more interesting environment, take your laptop to a neighbourhood coffee shop. Being in the company of others may be all the stimulation you need to focus and get that report done.

Next time you find you are procrastinating on a job that needs to get done, become aware of how you are feeling. Notice your thoughts. If you are dreading it because you hate to be bored, try some of these boredom busters. Not only will you be amazed at what you can accomplish, you might even enjoy yourself.

What have you been putting off and which boredom busters work best for you?

Hellen Buttigieg
professional organizer & life coach
www.weorganizeu.com

A barbecue master is looking for the best prime performance at all times, no matter whether they fire up the old-faithful every year or splurge on a new top-of-the-line grill. Here are some go-to cleaning tips to get the most out of your barbecue all summer long.

Give it a good wipe down.
Clean the exterior with soapy water to remove any build up that can occur from sitting outside. Try to do this every couple of weeks to help remove any dust and residue.

Choose your weapon wisely.
When cleaning inside, traditional brushes with bristles work well for porcelain enamel-coated grates, whereas grillstone blocks or a warm cloth with soapy water are good for stainless steel grates. Not familiar with grillstone blocks? When you rub these back and forth, the shape of the block will conform to the grates to make access to narrow areas easy.

Turn it up before turning it off.
Make your clean-up process easy by increasing the heat after cooking. Close the grill and set the control on high for 10 minutes. The extreme temperatures will burn off any remaining food items like cheese or chicken and the charred remnants will be easier to remove.

No one likes a party crasher.
Gas pipes are notorious for housing spiders and getting clogged with spider webs which can affect the level of gas getting to your burners over time. Once you have made sure that the propane tank is turned off, use a pipe cleaner to remove anything that may be stuck.

With these stylish secrets for keeping cool, you can relax all summer without worrying about the energy bills.

Use nature’s air conditioner. Open the curtains and crack the windows in the a.m. hours to let in cool air, then close them when it starts to heat up.

Bring nature in. Give your rooms a quick pick-me-up by filling them with plants from your garden. The plants will filter indoor toxins so you feel fresher.

Enjoy your outdoor room. Expand your living area onto a covered porch or deck, which will shade you from the heat of the sun. Plump pillows and potted plants make you as comfy as indoors.

White is right. White reflects rather than absorbs sunlight, keeping rooms cool. Give tables, shelves or cupboards a coat of shiny white paint.

Dine outside. Enjoy family dinnertime on the patio at night when the temperature is cool and comfortable. Keep kitchen heat under control by using small appliances like a microwave or toaster oven instead of the stove oven when possible.

The hot weather has finally arrived, and while many of us enjoy basking in the sun, when we are inside our homes we prefer the cool comfort of air conditioning. That said, it is important to keep a close watch on how you use it, because keeping the air conditioning on full blast could lead to hefty energy bills.

Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air. Fan blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction to move air downwards and maximize air circulation so your air conditioner does not have to work so hard and cost you more.

Don’t lose money cooling rooms not in use. Close vents and shut the doors in unused rooms. Also make sure to clear the vents you are using from dust and obstructions. Close curtains or blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight to keep heat out of the house.

Landscaping around your air conditioner unit can help block the sun so it works more efficiently, but make sure trees, plants and hedges are planted at least three feet from the unit to avoid restricting airflow.

The face of air conditioning is changing from efficiency to comfort.

A/C Efficiency The goal of air conditioning is to get as much cooling as possible for the least amount of energy input. SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of efficiency. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. Minimum SEER legislation has kicked in requiring all new A/C systems to be at least SEER 13, with many of the top models are now over SEER 17.

Avoid Installation Problems
One way manufacturers are making their systems more efficient is by making the heat exchangers larger. The outdoor and indoor components are larger than before. You may have to replace your air handler or furnace. There may be workarounds that a novice may not know about. If you are in this situation, make sure you ask if there is an alternative such as any minor ducting modification. It is probably worth a second opinion if the installer has no suggestions.

Two Stage Compressors
Modern two stage compressors solve the capacity dilemma. If the air conditioning system is sized to operate optimally on the hottest day of the season, it’s probably oversized the rest of the time. An oversized system will cool the house very quickly. This means short on cycles. This is inefficient and it does not dehumidify the house properly. The result is that many systems are not achieving their rated SEER and the houses are cold and clammy. There are systems that will operate at two capacities. It’s like having two air conditioning systems in one package. An undersized mode that will have very long on cycles and a larger capacity mode to keep you comfortable on the hottest days.

From great frothy milkshakes to sky-high sundaes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this unofficial dessert of summer - and the way you take your ice cream can say some surprising things about you.Just find your favorite ice cream “style” to learn more about yourself.

If your style of ice cream is …A cup of ice cream: You’re a future-focused go-getter.

A milkshake: You’re a youthful dreamer.

A sundae: You’re an adventurous novelty-seeker.

A popsicle: You’re an in control multitasker.

A cone: You’re a risk taker.

An ice cream sandwich: You’re a laid-back people-person.

The kitchen is the center of the family’s financial, physical and emotional well-being. Here are some tips to increase your clan’s good fortune.

Use lots of warm accent colors, like yellows and reds, and images of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Their symbolic bounty will boost the family’s abundance.
Place something green in the room, like a plant. Stoves and sinks represent fire and water, and in the same room can encourage conflict. But green, a healing feng shui color can temper frayed nerves.
Put out a bowl of nine oranges. Nine is a feng shui number and oranges represent good luck.
Keep knives in a drawer. Displayed knives create “poison darts” of negative energy.

A well-maintained air conditioning system will last longer and cool better than a neglected system.

Clean or replace the filter in the air handler regularly, not just for clean air, but also because the filter protects your heating and air conditioning equipment. Dust can clog the evaporator coil, reducing the heat transfer, efficiency, and life of the system.
Trim vegetation away from the condenser for free air flow. Do not enclose the condenser with trellis or anything else that might block air flow.
Have the system serviced regularly. Servicing is inexpensive and will increase the life and efficiency of the system. A technician typically cleans the condenser coils and checks the refrigerant pressures, adjusting the refrigerant charge if needed.

Like any system in your home, a central air conditioner will work at its peak efficiency and performance when it is properly fitted for capacity and regularly maintained.

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Pillar To Post Newsletter May 2016

Posted on May 8, 2016 by oi_admin - Post Notes

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Why do some folks get hired and promoted faster than others - or seem to get their way more easily in other aspects of life? It is not just due to hard work and good luck. According to new studies, confidence is what gives successful people that extra edge.

Confident people are simply more likely to seek out opportunities and ask for what they deserve. Check out these easy ways to feel great about yourself.

Believe your compliments.
Have you ever received a compliment and dismissed it, downplayed it or even argued against it? Each time you diminish a compliment, you lose out on a feel-good mood boost and you send a subconscious message that perhaps they should not compliment you.

Next time you get a compliment, simply answer.
Thank you - period. No arguing or giving a compliment in return. See if you feel happier and more capable!

Do one thing at a time.
It is a fact that we are wired to handle several tasks at one time but just because we can doesn’t mean we should. When no one task has your full attention, you typically have to repeat several steps in order to finish each task properly - making you less efficient and leading to frustration that can take a real toll on your self-confidence.

Dare to go slow.
Focus your attention on one thing at a time. If you are tempted to multitask just remind yourself of this: two tasks half done are useless compared to one task completed 100%.

Schedule downtime.
Find it hard to relax when there is something unfinished? Join the crowd! Studies show we tend to consider ourselves “on call” 24/7. Giving yourself some downtime makes you more productive overall. Pushing yourself constantly without a break just leads to stress and burnout.

Set a fixed time when you will “shut off” - no matter what. Turn off the cellphone, do not check emails and give yourself some relax time without feeling guilty. You will be better and more successful for it.

Trust your instincts.
When you have to make a decision, do you tend to weigh all the options - over and over again? When it comes to big decisions a study suggests you’ll do better not to think too hard and go with your gut. Your subconscious brain needs almost no time to process all your experiences that relate to a particular situation and come up with a smart course of action. Drawing out the process rarely leads to better outcomes.

Next time you have to make a decision, quickly narrow your options to two, and then give yourself a time limit - say 5 minutes - to weigh the pros and cons and then let your instincts be the tiebreaker. The more often you do this, the more confident you will be in general, not only when it comes to decision.

Close your eyes and visualize yourself succeeding at a really difficult task. If, in your mind, you can confidently ask for a raise or give a perfect speech, you’re more likely to accomplish the goal in real life, experts say.

You’ve been hearing about “going green” and how you can help the environment while protecting your family from toxins. But too often, that has meant paying more for everyday necessities. Here are some ways to go green without breaking the bank.

Sweeten your house with beeswax. Many scented candles are made with chemicals that, when burned, emit toxins into the air, including cancer-causing carcinogens.

Experts advise buying pure beeswax candles. They have a sweet nontoxic scent, and create negative ions, neutralizing impurities in the air. They last five times longer than regular candles.

Filter air without a filter. Indoor pollution levels can be more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels, particularly when the windows are closed. While a HEPA filter can clean your air, they can cost over $100 each. The typical houseplant can remove up to 87% of indoor air toxins within 24 hours. The most effective ones are spider plants, mums and Gerbera daisies.

Plug in everything here. Your phone charger, computer, iPod docking station, DVD player; all sap electricity whenever they are plugged in, even if they are not in use. The average home has 30 of these devices consuming energy right now - padding the monthly electric bill as much as 15%.

Get back more than $100 a year just by plugging them into a power strip. Simply shut off the power strip with a single flip of a button.

Would you like to be greeted by a fresh scent when you open your front door? It’s easy - and guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Be picky about cleaning products. They’re the baseline of your home’s fragrance. Those made with natural ingredients have light, fresh scents - with no chemical after smell.

Invite nature inside. Fresh flowers and herbs have gentle fragrances that are stimulating, never overwhelming. And they’re easy to change, so you’ll never tire of them. Boost your mood with essential oils. Choose a favorite and dab a drop onto a light bulb (heat spreads the scent) or add to a bowl of dried flower petals.

A Scent secret. Flower, fruit and herbal scents are all ideal for your living room. Perfume a cotton ball with a drop of rose geranium oil, wrap in a paper towel and tuck behind your sofa cushions.

Beauty in the bath. Scented soaps, oils and lotions will permeate your bath with your personal fragrance. Add sweet-smelling flowers for extra freshness.

Peaceful bedroom. The sanctuary of your bedroom is the perfect place to indulge yourself. Proven sleep-enhancing scents are lavender, jasmine and vanilla.

Food and soap scum can really gunk up a dishwasher.
Cleaning the dishwasher isn’t something we tend to think of, but debris builds up over time which reduces its performance. Here are a few tips that’ll help keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape:

1. Get rid of Gunk. - Clean the filter to get rid of caked on food and other debris to help with drainage and general cleaning.

2. Clean Up. - Pour a cup of white vinegar into your dishwasher to wash away grease, grime and calcium deposits.

3. Freshen Up. - Sprinkle a cup of baking soda along the bottom of your dishwasher then run it on a short, hot cycle.

4. Accessories. - Don’t forget about the racks and cutlery baskets as they can also accumulate grease and food pieces.

Your garage vehicle door may be the largest moving object in your home and could weigh up to 400 pounds. For your safety make sure it’s in good condition.

Overhead garage doors have gravity to deal with. In the absence of some type of balancing mechanism, the door would slam shut as soon as you let go of it. Older garage doors may employ a weight and pulley system to balance the weight of the door however virtually all modern systems use springs. Regardless of the method used, the door should balance. If you open the garage door about half way and let go, it should balance there.

Spring failure
The springs used to balance the weight of the door are under enormous stress. If a spring were to break, flying pieces of metal could cause serious injury. Modern spring systems incorporate safety features to prevent flying metal in the event of a spring failure. Extension springs should have a cable running down the middle of the spring to contain the spring upon failure.

Automatic opener
Automatic door openers are not a replacement for a properly balanced door. The opener is not powerful enough to lift the entire weight of the door. The opener works with the help of the springs or counter balance system.

An automatic garage door opener should stop and reverse on meeting an obstruction.

Many systems manufactured prior to 1982 may stop but not reverse, these older systems should be upgraded. Today, some form of external entrapment protection is required. An electric eye is the most common system used. If your garage door opener does not have an electric eye system, you may be able to upgrade it without replacing the entire system.

Emergency release
During a power failure the garage door may be impossible to open. Most automatic garage door openers have an emergency release to disengage the garage door from the opener. Once disengaged, you can open the door by hand. It is usually a short rope hanging from the unit. Pulling the rope disengages the door from the automatic door opening mechanism.

From poodles to Shih Tzus, every dog has its own personality, and the breed you love best can say a lot about your personality. Research consistently proves that people attribute certain characteristics to you based on which breed you own.

For insight into how people see you, just find your best friend below.

If your best friend is a…

Terrier: You’re an ambitious innovator.

Labrador Retriever: You’re a relaxed person.

Poodle-esque Pooch: You’re an adaptable smarty.

Sporting Dog: You’re serenity plus strength.

Toy Dog: You’re a cosmopolitan sophisticate.

Freshen your home the natural way and let the spring air enhance your living space.

1. Erase the trace. Cooked a strong smelling dish? Simmer some lemon slices in a pot of water to freshen your kitchen.

2. Twice as nice. Deodorize your carpet and vacuum cleaner - instantly. Sprinkle baking soda, wait overnight and vacuum up the smells the next day.

3. Cure your cutting board. Soap won’t lift some food smells, but parsley will. Chop a few sprigs of parsley and rub the pieces over the board then rinse.

• Keep it in good shape: Your garage door will always require periodic lubrication and adjustment. An overhead garage door that is poorly maintained may pose a threat to your safety.

• Pinch hazard: Sectional overhead garage doors pose a pinch hazard to fingers. Never put your fingers in the space between door sections to close the door, use the provided handles.

• Security: The remote control for your automatic opener is like a key to your garage. When you move into a home, you should change the remote control settings just as you would change the locks on your doors.

• Educate children: Kids need to know that garage doors are dangerous. Mount the door activation button five feet from the ground, out of reach.

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Pillar To Post Newsletter March 2016

Posted on March 8, 2016 by oi_admin - Post Notes

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Is your power of mind really so great that you can condition it to achieve anything you want, such as gaining more profits and finding your desired relationship? What exactly are mind power secrets and is there any way that you can unlock these secrets to help attain success.

Over the years, there have been numerous studies done to prove the power of our minds and the results have been positive. If you have yet to discover the keys to these secrets, this article may be a life-changing experience for you!

The Potentials of Your Power of Mind.
Expert’s studies have discovered that there are actually a lot of untapped potentials in the power of the mind. When you are able to tap into these untouched potentials, the economic, social and personal achievements you can gain are immeasurable.

Unlocking Your Power of Mind.
• Get a professional to guide you through the whole process.
• Purchase and activate a basic power of mind resource or book. It will serve to unlock the powers of your mind.

What are some of these basic mind power principles?

1. Practice Makes Perfect.
The more positive mind exercises you do by meditating and reflecting upon your positive potentials, goals and dreams, the better life you will create.

Take a few moments each day to just think positive thoughts. Thoughts of what you hope to achieve in life. Over time, you will find your negative thoughts and energies will disappear and be replaced with the positive thoughts.

2. Positive Thinking.
You will need to ensure that both your conscious and subconscious minds are positive in believing that you really can achieve your dreams. So, starting from now, start visualizing in your mind your dream life and positively believe you can achieve it. Eliminate all negative thoughts as soon as they creep into your mind.

3. Healthy Physical Self.
Although you only need to use your mental self when you are using your mind power, you must still have a healthy body in order to achieve success. If you are too sickly, your mental self will be affected by the pain and sufferings. Thus, learn to relax and heal your physical self. Once you have done that, your mental power will be strengthened.

The only person who can unlock the potentials to your power of mind is yourself.
If you want to get out of debt and skyrocket your life and business profits, you can do so once you have successfully unlocked your mind powers.

Apply the steps mentioned above and venture on your way to attaining the success in life you were meant to have.

Mak Stella
www.powerofmindtips.com

With the cost and hassle of replacing central heat, a lot of people are investing in space heaters.

Whole-Room vs. Personal Heater:
Select the Right One.
An electric space heater that is too large for an area will consume lots of energy and lead to higher utility bills. Buying a portable heater rated for a small space and expecting it to cover a large area will make it work harder to heat the space.

Tip-Over Protection
A heater with a tip-over or tilt-over switch will automatically shut off if tipped over for any reason.

Pick the Right Place
Install at least 3 feet away from furniture, window treatments, bedding, clothing, rugs, and other combustibles.

Directly Plug into an Outlet
Sufficient power capacity is required. An extension cord increases the chance of overheating.

Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Purchase
Frequently clean and maintain the heater to ensure safety. Wipe down the heater to reduce the amount of dust and allergens that may be dispersed.

Shut Off and Unplug
When leaving an area, disconnect the portable space heater or buy one with an automatic programmable timer.

Keep Heaters Away From Water
Refrain from running a heater in a bathroom or a humid basement. Moreover, do not touch the heater if you are wet or have wet hands, as this increases the risk of electrical shock.

The relaxing experience one gets at a quality hotel or resort is designed right into the rooms to make a stay as rewarding as possible. For those who like the feeling of being in a five-star hotel room and would like to re-create that experience in their own homes, here are a few simple tips.

Your bedroom is the room in your house you spend the most time in every day. You’ll love having a peaceful oasis to retreat to at the end of the day and wake up to each morning.

Bedrooms should not multitask. Banish all furniture beside the bed, a chair, nightstands and a dresser. No exercise equipment, desks, computers, sewing tables, etc.

Insulate for sound. Fabric or paper wall coverings and carpets help. Double-paned or triple-paned glass windows will minimize outside sounds.

Control the lighting for sleep and romance. Dimmable lamps create a warm, romantic environment. Layered window treatments give you options for both privacy and light.

Reduce clutter and make your bed every day. Seeing the tops of the nightstands and dressers makes the bedroom feel clean, and a well-made bed looks luxurious and inviting.

Give yourself some luxurious touches. Place a special robe or pair of cozy slippers at your bedside.

These quick tips from the National Safety Council are geared to keep you safe in and around your bathroom.

1. Use non-slip bathmats or appliques in the shower.

2. Prevent trips by purchasing an adhesive, non-slip rug mat.

3. Make the entrance to the shower or bathtub easily accessible with a bath step or a walk-in tub.

4. Install grab bars by the toilet to assist in safely getting up and down.

5. Plug in nightlights in and around the bathroom.

6. Switch to liquid soap or soap-on-a-rope to avoid reaching and bending over.

7. Add a hand-held shower nozzle.

8. Make sure the shower door swings outward in case of a fall.

Residential electric heating systems are clean, nearly one-hundred percent efficient, and easy to maintain. Fossil fuel would be cheaper and more efficient to burn directly in your home. Except for one mitigating factor: delivery of the fossil fuel to the home comes at a cost. In remote areas where the delivery costs of fossil fuel are high, electric heat may be a less expensive option.

Heat pumps
An electric heat pump collects heat from outside and moves it inside. When you heat your house with electricity, you convert one unit of electrical energy into one unit of heat energy. With a heat pump, you might then use one unit of electrical energy to collect two units of heat energy, giving you one-hundred percent more heat than you paid for!

Electric Furnace
An electric furnace is a simple and relatively trouble-free system. It has no heat exchanger, no gas valve, no igniters and no chimney. It simply has an electric resistance coil placed directly in the air stream. A blower moves air through the furnace and circulates the warmed air throughout the house.

Electric Baseboard Heaters
Electric baseboard heaters provide heat exactly where you need it, as you need it. Baseboards allow you to set back the thermostats in the rooms you are not inhabiting, saving a significant amount of energy. Unfortunately, you cannot easily add an air conditioner to this system.

Electric Hot Water Boiler
An electric hot water boiler uses electric elements to heat water. The heated water is pumped into radiators or convectors throughout the house.

Electric Radiant Heat
Under-floor electric radiant heat is popular in bathrooms and kitchens, usually added as accent heating rather than as the primary source of heat.

Electric Thermal Storage
This system heats a thermal mass, such as blocks of ceramic, located inside the home heating unit. During peak hours when electricity is most expensive, the electric heat shuts off but heat continues to ooze out of the ceramic, thus heating the home.

A signature represents how people want to be seen by the world and how they feel others perceive them.

Use handwriting to clue into anyone’s true personality.
If the person writes their name . . .

Large: They are confident.

Straight up and down: They are cool, calm and collected.

Slanted to the left: They are shy.

Small and concise: They are humble.

Illegibly: They are guarded.

With a line at the end: They are worried about the future.

Slanted to the right: They are extroverted.

With a line underneath: They are dependable.

Make these minor changes to save energy and money.

• Add weather stripping to doors and windows.

• Wrap your electric hot water heater with a blanket.

• Properly setting your programmable thermostat may reduce heating and cooling costs by at least 10%.

• A clean furnace filter will help your heating system work better, use less energy and last longer.

• A heavy duty outdoor timer will automatically turn your seasonal lights on and off.

Low capital & installation costs Electric heating is very easy to install, ensuring installation costs are kept to a minimum. It doesn’t require any pipe-work, simply a connection to the electrical circuits.

Low Life Ownership Costs The true cost to consider is the lifetime costs of the system, which not only take into account the fuel used, but the hidden maintenance costs - both monetary and time - over its lifetime.

Flexible & Versatile No flue or pipe-work, so there are no restrictions on building layout and no regulatory or planning issues associated with positioning of flues to restrict you.

No maintenance and no annual inspection With virtually no moving parts to break down or wear out, electric heating is extremely reliable and there is practically nothing to go wrong.

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