The Five Myths That Slow Down Sales and How to Avoid Them

Time is money, yeah, yeah, we've heard that before. But if time really is money, why do so many professionals squander it chasing anyone with a pulse, including their most horrible prospects? Because they still embrace one of the great myths of selling, common mistakes that drain profit and energy from a sales organization:

Myth #1: Everybody is our customer.

Myth #2: Every sale is a good sale.

Myth #3: Never take no for an answer.

Myth #4: There's always time to make more sales calls.

Myth #5: Sales people pay for themselves.

Business people the world over know these statements are myths, but behave as if they aren't. Why? It's because the great selling myths are so familiar that they have become invisible. To uproot them, we must create effective ways to replace them with more adaptive, successful practices, and turn those practices into habits. Changing habits is hard.

In the case of the Five Selling Myths, these old habits are ingrained in decades of selling tradition, enshrined in company policy, and even taught by well-intentioned people who might be a little bit behind the times. Replace each of the Five Myths with the Five MythBusters, new approaches to the issues that create better outcomes. Selling is about money - making it, but also spending it. If you knew the real cost of one hour of selling time, you might invest those hours more carefully.

Studies have shown that the average sales person only has about 900 hours (about 100 days) of face-to-face selling time per year, once you take away weekends, holidays, vacations, sick time, and record-keeping. To reach a $1 million dollar quota, each of those 900 hours is worth a whopping $1,111. When the Five Myths rule the sales process, a lot of those expensive hours get wasted. Keep that opportunity cost in mind as you review the Five Myths.

Myth #1: Everybody is our customer. In spite of the thousands of words that have been written about this subject, we still find sales people and executives who don't define their target markets or prospects very well. The awful truth is that when you act as if "anybody" is your prospect, you are throwing money down the drain. You're spending $1,000 an hour to chase marginal prospects, because it feels better to be busy. But to what end?

Mythbuster #1: The right prospects seek the value you add. Selling is simple, really. Find out what you do well, and offer it to people who want it. Replacing the 'anybody who'll buy from me' practice requires some effort on your part. Analyze the things you do particularly well, including your product, service, and personal charm. Then go back over your list of existing customers, asking what you liked about them, and what they liked about you. Write down the pertinent information. And use it as your qualifying 'script' - learn to ask penetrating questions, early in the relationship, that reveal the potential for this prospect to become one of your best customers. At BSG, one of the tools we give clients is The SMART Way Prospect Scorecard(TM), a digital scoring matrix that grades your prospect based on how likely they are to become profitable, long-term customers.

Myth #2: Every sale is a good sale. As obvious as it may seem, this particular myth persists in many businesses. If business is slow, if you've got unused capacity or labor sitting around idle, it's all too tempting to accept any business that walks in the door. But is every sale worth it? Not if it's unprofitable or damaging to your reputation.

Mythbuster #2: Good sales bring profit to the seller and satisfaction to the buyer. Now that you have a definition of your ideal customer, add the definition of a 'good sale.' Write down the margin you have to earn to achieve basic profitability, and don't violate it. Add other characteristics that define the 'good' sale, such as evidence of customer satisfaction. Praise sales people when they decline business that is unprofitable or likely to disappoint the customer's expectations. A component of your Prospect Scorecard should be the likelihood that any given sale represents a tangible exchange of value between buyer and seller, and is just as good for you as it is for the customer.

Myth #3: Never take NO for an answer. This myth is one of the most difficult to identify and therefore to uproot. After all, our society prizes this attitude; we build monuments to it. But think about it. Refusing to take "No" goes hand in hand with 'everybody is our customer' and 'every sale is a good sale.' Always remember that a sale is not a one-way transaction. If it isn't right for one of the parties, then it is probably wrong for both.

Mythbuster #3: Don't beat a dead horse. Adopt an analytical attitude. Qualify each prospect, and each opportunity, carefully, to learn if the deal is in fact going to be (a) profitable and (b) satisfying to the customer. Assess the investment costs of continued sales effort, always remembering that your selling time is probably worth $1,000 an hour or more. At some point, the deal passes the point of diminishing returns. Guide your sales people to a more effective use of their time.

Myth #4: There's always time to make more sales calls. This myth comes into play when the sales team is focused on activity instead of results. But it's a dangerous practice. First of all, there isn't much more time left to make sales calls. If the average sales person has only 100 days (900 hours) of selling time in a year, or less, where is that time going to come from - sleep, sick time, vacations, administration? When sales people go after the wrong prospects, pursue unprofitable projects, or waste time on unproductive activities, then more sales calls may not equal more sales.

Mythbuster #4: Make scarce sales time count. The best way to dismantle this belief is to reinforce the investment value of sales time. Remember the investment value of one hour of selling time - $1,111? Now add up the cost of an hour of nose-to-nose time, plus travel time, gas, tolls, parking, literature, coffee, lunch. Now the cost of that sales call is somewhere north of $1200 and rising. What would happen if your sales people had to requisition that money in cash, every time they went out on a call? They would get very discriminating about the way they invested their time.

Myth #5: Sales people pay for themselves. It's true that plenty of sales people get paid on straight commission, so it seems as if they can pay their own way. But it's not so simple. Sales people may earn compensation from a share of the profits, but their true costs include impact on customer satisfaction, market presence and awareness, lost opportunity and perhaps other considerations.

Mythbuster #5: They pay for everybody. The Sales department funds the entire business operation. So sales people have to do much more than pay for themselves. They have to pay everybody's salaries, fund R&D, underwrite marketing expenditures, and put enough reserves on the books to justify investments in capital equipment. And they can't do that if they don't have the right support and guidance. Replace Myths with Best Practices Selling is probably the most important contributor to business health, even more important than products and services. It's a difficult art to master. So it pays to develop good mechanisms to support and guide the sales effort.

Here are five Best Practices that help sweep away the myths and make the Five Mythbusters come alive. They are:

1. Create an Ideal Customer Profile. Develop this profile on customers with whom you have had success in the past. Detail not only the facts (demographics, company size, annual revenues, SIC codes), but the qualitative characteristics as well, those elements that represent the value they seek when doing business with your company. If you really want a powerful profile, use the SMART Way Prospect Scorecard.

2. Set Clear Expectations. Give your sales people clear and quantifiable performance expectations for all stages of the sales process. Don't simply throw a quota and a territory map at them. Tell them you expect them to convert so many leads to suspects, suspects to prospects, prospects to contracts, contracts to repeat business. And follow up with them.

3. Track Performance and Share the Data. Stop managing your sales force by anecdote, those traditional sales meetings where each sales person fills up time telling about why this or that deal hasn't closed yet. Instead focus on collective performance against those expectations you laid out above. Build sales meetings around a review of the data. Now you're dealing with facts.

4. Work on the Process to Improve Results. If sales are down this month, don't panic. Instead, examine the underlying processes to see where the slowdown occurred and why. Maybe sales are down because there's an operational glitch, or an unexpected trend in the local market.

5. Give Great Support. Everybody likes nice bosses better than mean bosses, but great sales support means more than that. It means removing obstacles to performance wherever possible, smoothing the way, and leaving people alone when that's appropriate. Go over your selling process to see if you can spot any of the Five Myths at work. If you find them, replace them with better practices. Now you are on your way to achieving great sales performance, and sustaining it.

How to Get Working Capital with Invoice Financing

Do you have clients that pay your invoices in 30, 45 or even 60 days? If so, then you are aware of how their slow can drain your working capital. Unless your company has a nice cash cushion in the bank, paying suppliers or even employees can become a problem.

Asking your customers to pay your invoices quickly will not help either. Paying invoices in 30 to 60 days is an industry standard. And, if you work with large or midsize companies, you'll be expected to offer 30 days terms if you want to keep their business. There is no alternative.

So what can a business owner do? Going to the bank may help some, but not most. Before providing financing, banks will require that you provide them with three years of audited financials. They may also require that you have stellar personal credit. So if you cannot get a business loan, what other business financing options do you have?

Invoice financing, commonly known as factoring, is a option that is widely used by businesses, however it is virtually unknown to the general public. It gets your invoices paid in as little as 2 days, eliminating long payment periods. In the end, it provides you with predictable cash flow, enabling you to pay suppliers, employees and grow your business.

An invoice financing transaction works as follows:

1. You deliver goods or services and invoice for them

2. You send a copy of the invoice to the factoring company, who advances you up to 85% as a first installment

3. You get the funds to meet business expenses

4. Once your customer pays for the invoice, the transaction is settled

The cost of factoring invoices, varies based on the commercial quality of your customers and the length of time that you need the money for. Generally speaking, the monthly cost will be between 1.5% and 3.5% for most accounts.

The big benefit of invoice factoring is that it is easy to obtain and can be set up quickly. On average, it takes about 5 days to obtain factoring financing. And once you get it, qualifying for line increases is very easy. All you need to do is increase your sales. Factoring is one of the few products that grows with your business.

Warlock Leveling Guide and Warlock Leveling Spec

Starting a new WoW toon is always a bit difficult, especially when you're the type who likes to do everything right. Warlock is a fun and fairly easy class, though, and this Warlock leveling guide and its Warlock leveling spec will make things even less of a hassle in your quest to level eighty.

Warlock is one of the most powerful PvE classes if played correctly, and with the right spec you will be almost invincible while soloing, and experience zero downtime. The best soloing tree is Affliction, as it is incredibly powerful and mana efficient when leveling, resulting in a Warlock that never needs to eat or drink.

The basic Affliction Warlock Leveling Spec is as follows:

Improved Curse of Agony - Rank 2/2
Suppression - Rank 3/3
Improved Corruption - Rank 5/5
Improved Drain Soul - Rank 2/2
Improved Life Tap - Rank 2/2
Soul Siphon - Rank 2/2
Improved Fear - Rank 2/2
Fel Concentration - Rank 3/3
Nightfall - Rank 2/2
Empowered Corruption - Rank 2/3
Shadow Embrace - Rank 1/5
Siphon Life - Rank 1/1
Shadow Mastery - Rank 5/5
Contagion - Rank 5/5
Dark Pact - Rank 1/1
Improved Howl of Terror - Rank 2/2
Malediction - Rank 3/3
Unstable Affliction - Rank 1/1
Pandemic - Rank 1/1
Everlasting Affliction - Rank 5/5
Haunt - Rank 1/1

After you have these talents the rest of your choices are really up to you; I'd recommend finishing out talents like Empowered Corruption and grabbing other useful talents you passed up along the way.

With a good Warlock leveling spec, we're now ready for our Warlock leveling guide.

First, non-class-specific tips:

Use keybinds for abilities and the mouse for turning; if you're doing it the other way, you're going to react slow and be, to put it bluntly, a bad player.

Don't forget to log out at the inn, or in a major city; the extra experience from rest is pretty nice.

Use a good questing guide. Addons and the built-in quest-goal indicator are handy, but you'll move much quicker doing quests in a certain order as opposed to just wandering from goal to goal.

Warlocks don't usually need it, but keep Food and Water in handy anyways; if you end up low on health and mana it sucks to have to wait for passive regen to fill you back up.

Now, the actual Warlock leveling guide!

Early on, when using a Voidwalker, make sure it has it's agro abilities turned on!

Try to keep the Life Tap buff from the Life Tap Glyph up at all times, the extra damage is well worth it.

Learn to kite! When thing turn ugly kiting can let you burn down even the toughest opponents.

Go for Spellpower/Shadow Damage, Stamina, Int, and Spirit over other stats!

Now, warlock play varies a lot as you level, so let's go over each range.

You'll start with nothing but Shadow Bolt. Pretty soon, though, you'll have your Imp and a few spells. Your early rotation should be:

1: Send in Imp while immolating
2:Apply Curse of Agony, then Corruption
3:Wand the mob to death

After you get your Voidwalker and Drain Soul, things change again:

1:Send in Voidwalker
2:Apply CoA, Corruption, then Immolate
3:Wand mob below 25% then Drain Soul it dead
Once you get drain life, you can start using Life Tap aggressively as well, by changing to
3:Life Tap, Drain Life mob below 25% then Drain Soul

After a while, you'll have Fel Concentration. Now you can start drain tanking. Switch your pet to Succubus, and do this:

1:Send in Succubus while casting Immolate
2:Apply CoA, Corruption
3:Life Tap, Drain life until mob is close to dying, Drain Soul

Also, make sure to use any procs of Shadowbolt that you get from Nightfall or Glyphs when they come up! Things stay the same until you get Dark Pact; at this point, we're back to the Imp!

1:Immolate while sending in the Imp
2:Apply Corruption and CoA
3:Life Tap, then Drain Life (using Shadow Bolt when you get Procs)
4:Drain Soul to finish the mob, Dark Pact when mana is needed

Once you get Unstable Affliction, it will replace Immolate in your rotation. And once you get Haunt, make sure to start with it and keep it's buff up for maximum damage.

Chili Verde Recipes - Slow Cooker Chili Verde

Here's a quick and easy chili verde recipe that you can serve as a soup or over chimichangas.

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon garlic pepper

3 pounds pork picnic roast

1 large onion, diced

1 (14.5 oz.) can chicken broth

2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chilies, drained

3 (7 oz.) cans green salsa

2 (15.5 oz.) cans great Northern beans, drained (optional)

Directions

In a slow cooker, pour in half of the Worcestershire sauce and half of the garlic pepper. Place the roast inside of the pan and sprinkle the remaining Worcestershire sauce and garlic pepper over the top of the meat. Add in the onions and chilies. Pour the chicken broth over all. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours.


When the roast is fork tender (you can pull it apart with a fork), stir in the green salsa and beans. Continue cooking until heated completely.

=> Chili Verde Recipes: Chili Verde Stew

This spicy chili verde recipe features roasted pork, salsa, green chilies, spices and fresh jalapeno pepper. Remember to wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling fresh hot peppers, and don't touch your face or eyes while handling.

3/4 pound boneless pork roast, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

1/4 teaspoon garlic, minced

1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth

1 cup canned diced tomatoes

1/2 cup salsa

2 tablespoons canned chopped green chilies, divided

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1 dash ground cloves

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

Directions

In a large saucepan, cook the pork in oil over medium heat until it no longer looks pink; remove the meat from the pan and set aside.


In the same pan, sauté the green pepper, onion and garlic for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they are tender. Stir in the pork, wine or broth, tomatoes, salsa, 1 tablespoon of the chilies, cumin, sugar and cloves. Cover and cook over low heat for 40 minutes; stir occasionally.


Stir in the parsley, jalapeno and remaining chilies. Cover and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the meat is tender.

=> Chili Verde Recipes: Basic Homemade Chili Verde

Here is a simple way to make homemade chili verde which uses fresh cilantro.

1 pound pork, cubed

5 tomatillos (green tomatoes)

3 serrano chili peppers

1 medium white onion

1/3 bunch fresh cilantro

4 cloves of garlic

Directions

In a pan, cook pork until nice and brown; drain off the fat.


Wrap the tomatillos, chilies and garlic in aluminum foil and place them inside a pot. Cover and heat on medum high until the tomatoes are nice and soft; stir occasionally.


Unwrap the vegetables and place in a food processor along with the onion and cilantro. Blend well. Pour sauce over the pork and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. You can add a little more fresh cilantro after about 5 minutes of cooking, if desired.

Preparing the Perfect Fig Preserves Recipe

The history of the fig dates back to around 9000 BC, when remnants were found in Neolithic villages. The Fig is widely grown for its edible fruit throughout Iran and also in the rest of the Mediterranean region and other areas of the world.

Figs have become an important staple in many consumers diet due to the health benefits. Figs are a prime source of fiber, calcium, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin K. Additionally; they are high in antioxidants and maintain healthy digestion.

Taking into consideration figs can be eaten dried, fresh or even in compotes, they are a fantastic ingredient for preserve recipes. The hearty sweet flavors combined with the delicate flesh are a well accompanied ingredient to any fig preserves recipe.

The term Jam and Preserves is often interchangeable although the preparation of preserve recipes requires that the fruit be in larger chunks and for jams the fruit is typically chopped or mashed to produce a sort of hash or pulp. The preparation of fig preserves traditionally involves the use of pectin as a gelling agent, although sugar or honey may be used as well.

The proportion of sugar and fruit varies however; a good starting point is using equal amounts of figs to sugar.

Most cooks work by trial and error when it comes to the changing texture of the preserve however, if you plan on following a fig preserve recipe, when the temperature of the pulp reaches approximately 104 °C, the pectin and the acid in the fruit will react with the sugar resulting in the setting of the preserves.

Typically, when making a fig preserve recipe it is quite imperative to use the figs you purchased immediately. The shelf life is quite short so when planning to prepare a recipe, make sure you have an ample amount of time set aside to complete the entire process.

Although there are hundreds of recipes for preserves and jams, here is a basic preserve recipe to get you started:

INGREDIENTS

o 8 cups fresh figs
o 4 cups white sugar
o 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
o 2 cups water
o 6 cups hot water (boiling)
o 1/2 lemon, sliced

METHOD

1. In bowl place figs and dust with baking soda. Pour the hot water over the figs and soak for 1 hour.
2. Drain figs and rinse thoroughly with cold water. In a large Dutch oven combine the sugar and the 2
cups of water; bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
3. Add the figs and lemon slices to the syrup in the Dutch oven and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
4. Spoon figs into hot, sterilized jars and spoon syrup over figs, leaving 1/2 inch of space. Place lids on top and screw tightly for a vacuum seal. Place in a hot water bath for up to 15 minutes.
Preparing preserves at home is a wonderfully crafty activity to partake with your family and friends. Give it as a delightful present for the holiday season.

Note: You can also enhance the flavors of a fig preserve recipe by adding other fruits such as raspberries or boysenberries.

Preparing preserves at home is a wonderfully crafty activity to partake with your family and friends. Give it as a delightful present for the holiday season.

8 Feng Shui Tips For Bathrooms

Bathrooms are a problem in feng shui. They are very heavy on the water element, which can lead to stagnation and dampness. The best way to handle bathrooms is to first block the flow of chi into them, and then to balance out whatever chi does get in with either wood or metal energy. Here are some basic tips to improve your bathroom's feng shui.

1) Keep the bathroom door closed

It is good feng shui to keep bathroom doors closed as often as possible. It is also good to keep the toilet cover on as often as possible, especially when the toilet is flushing.

2) Put a mirror on the outside door of the bathroom

This will further block energy from getting into the bathroom. You want a big, full-length mirror to really make any difference here. A tiny little six inch square mirror is not going to cut it.

3) Conceal the toilet

Because the toilet is the largest drain, and because the water does not just drain from it, but is forcefully sucked down all at once, it creates a pretty powerful energy vacuum that is very bad. To help reduce the damage it can do, try to block the view of the toilet as much as possible. Put up a physical barrier, like a silk curtain or a bookshelf, to block the view of the toilet from the bathroom door. And definitely do not put a mirror inside the bathroom in such a way that it reflects the toilet. You will just be doubling the damage.

4) Add light

Natural light is best. Sometimes there are no exterior walls for windows, so the best path for natural light is a skylight. The light will help a lot to energize the dampness of a bathroom, and it will generally just enliven the chi and get it moving. Bathrooms tend toward stagnation, so even if you have to put in an artificial light, do it to get that chi moving.

5) Add tree energy

This is particularly effective if the bathroom is to the East, South-East or the South of the center of the house. Tree energy can take the form of tall, upward growing plants (skip the vines in bathrooms), or it can be wood itself, whether that's a wooden floor, a wooden toilet seat or a wooden bathroom vanity. Even books, as wood, boost tree energy.

Another way to add tree energy is with colors and patterns. Tree energy is fundamentally any upward moving energy, so stripes are good, as are floral patterns that seem to grow up. The primary color is green. Frequently the shower curtain is a great opportunity for a big splash of green, upwardly mobile tree energy pattern.

6) Add metal energy

Metal energy balances out water-heavy bathrooms when the bathrooms are to the North, North-West, North-East, West and South-West. Metal energy can, of course, be anything metal, but anything white or round will also lend some metal power.

7) Keep the drains clear

Even though it sounds like the drains are bad, a blocked up or slow drain is even worse than a clear one. Blockages have big meaning in feng shui, whether it is a blocked toilet or a blocked front door. So get out the Draino or whatever will work on those clogs and get them clear.

8) Keep the surfaces ying and clean

By ying, I mean hard and impermeable surfaces like stone and tile. And they should be clean. Again, because bathrooms tend to have stagnant, damp energy, it is all the more important that the surfaces be as clean as possible so that chi does not get stuck in dust bunnies.

Dog Treadmill - Tips on Choosing and Using a Treadmill With Your Dog

Looking for a dog treadmill?

With the popularity of shows like the Dog Whisperer and people's hectic lifestyles, treadmills for dogs have surged in popularity.

Walking your dog on a treadmill is not a substitute for a good long outdoor walk. However it can help to drain some of your dog's extra energy.

It's a great tool on blizzard or rainstorm days when you can't get out. And for dogs that have weight problems, it can help them trim down and stave off other diseases that come with extra weight (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.).

While there are specialized treadmills built for dogs, most people want a treadmill that can do double duty - one that both you and your dog can use. Plus specialized dog treadmills can be just as expensive as a regular treadmill - sometimes more.

So most people decide to go with a regular treadmill and train their dogs to walk on it.

However there are several things to know so you don't waste money or run into problems. This article will tell you what to look for when choosing a treadmill for your pooch and tips for training your dog to walk on it:

#1 Get the Right Belt Length.

Treadmill belts range from 50" to 62". If you have a smaller dog like a poodle or terrier you probably don't need to choose a longer belt, since these breeds aren't very long.

However the larger (and longer) your dog, the longer your belt needs to be so your poor pooch won't feel like he's falling off the treadmill.

For example, I have a 120 lb very long rottweiler that measures about 44 inches from nose to bum. Given that he can get lazy sometimes and fall back a bit, he needs all of the 60" belt on my treadmill.

While treadmills with longer belts can be more expensive, you don't have to spend a lot if you look around and compare models. For example, you may not need a big flashy console (your dog certainly doesn't care). So you may be able to get a longer belt, but skip those extra options and save some money.

#2 Keep Your Treadmill Clean.

Unfortunately your dog will shed (and probably drool) over your treadmill while he's walking. Hair, dirt and dust are the number one enemies to treadmill maintenance.

Make sure you wipe down your treadmill and keep it clean on a regular basis, especially after your dog uses it. This will help keep it in proper running condition and save you unnecessary repair bills.

#3 Watch Those Paws!

Dogs, especially the larger ones, can really tear up a treadbelt if their claws are not properly clipped. If you want to save the integrity of your treadbelt, make sure to keep your dog's paws properly trimmed down.

#4 Start Slow and Make it a Positive Experience.

I recommend you talk to a professional trainer before you try to train your dog to walk on a treadmill. However from my experience, here are some tips.

We started out to make the treadmill a positive experience for our dog. At first we just trained him to get up and sit on the treadbelt (no walking yet). He then got a treat.

After a few days, he was running eagerly to sit on the treadmill and get his treat. Then I kept his leash on (so I could keep him in place) and started the treadmill very slowly (0.5 mph).

After a few minutes we stopped and he got another treat. This was repeated until he seemed comfortable with the experience

Then we increased the speed little by little - all the time reinforcing with treats and praise. Again, I'm not a dog trainer and this doesn't substitute for professional advice, but it worked for us.

So those are 4 tips when looking at a dog treadmill. Remember that treadmill walking is not a substitute for a good outdoor walk. However for those times you need to drain extra energy from your dog or you just can't make it outside, a treadmill is a great tool to have.

Please Note: This article contains tips on selecting and using a treadmill for your dog. It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional advice.

Before buying or using any treadmill with your dog, please consult a dog training expert.

What is a Rain Garden?

Homeowners across the country are discovering the joys and satisfaction of rain gardens. A rain garden is a landscaped area that actually replaces an area of lawn. Compared to a "normal" patch of lawn, a rain garden allows 30% more water to soak into the ground. Rain gardens are a good and inexpensive way to prevent the problem of urban stormwater runoff. A rain garden is planted in wildflowers or other native vegetation. As the name implies, rain gardens are designed to soak up rainwater, mainly from the roofs of buildings, parking lots and hard surfaces. A rain garden is designed so that it fills up with a few inches of water after a storm. That water can then slowly filter into the ground, rather than rapidly running off into a storm drain, river or lake.

So, why are rain gardens important? Rain gardens can:


help protect streams and lakes from pollutants that are carried by urban stormwater; pollutants such as lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other automotive fluids and harmful substances that wash off roofs and paved areas


increase the amount of water that filters into the ground
enhance the beauty of the yard
create habitat for birds and butterflies
help protect communities from flooding and drainage problems

A typical home rain garden can be in one of two places: 1) near the house to catch roof run-off; or 2) further out on the lawn to collect water from the lawn, roof, and other hard surface areas. Don't put a rain garden: Within ten feet of the house so that water cannot seep into the foundation. Do not put a rain garden where water already ponds  the goal of a rain garden is to encourage infiltration and wet areas are where infiltration is already slow. And do not put a rain garden directly over a septic system. In addition, rain gardens will thrive better in areas where they will receive full or partial sun.

Rain gardens can combine shrubs, grasses and flowering perennials. The garden itself is actually a depressed area, which is usually about six to eight inches deep. Rain that flows into the garden is retained in the garden for a short time after a rainstorm. The water slowly infiltrates into the ground or evaporates. The plants in the garden filter the water by trapping pollutants.

Rain gardens are not ponds. Rainwater soaks into the garden, which is then dry between rainfalls.

Rain gardens are not breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need 7 to 12 days to lay and hatch eggs. The standing water in a rain garden will last for only a few hours.

Once established rain gardens require little maintenance. Some weeding and watering may be required until plants get established.

How to Control Or Prevent Pipe Corrosion

Erosion is the continuous slow destruction of a material by its surroundings. Dissimilar metal contact, oxygen, water and debris may provoke oxidation in plumbing pipelines. Not fixed, rusty pipes will lead to a variety of pricey plumbing inconveniences like fractured pipes, slab leak, plus congested drains. With the annual cost of erosion projected at as much as $276 billion - it is not surprising that Americans spend lots of money on piping erosion correction in their houses and businesses. By comprehending the vital details of house plumbing corrosion, you might control or stave off this destructive force to conserve funds and maintain risk-free surroundings for your family unit.

Water Piping Oxidation
In multiple situations, iron, copper and steel pipes along with joints are exposed to rust ruin. The combination of dissimilar metals like copper with steel or aluminum causes erosion in pipe. Metal pipe rust is as well called galvanic erosion and is the aftereffect of electrochemical electron switch-over from the degree of difference of galvanic qualities surrounded by different metals. Plumbers manage or avoid water piping rust by using anti oxidation pipes or at bare minimum using matching types of metals for plumbing connections. If oxidation repellent pipes are not available or plumbing service providers can't use same metals - they will install a plastic or fiber connector surrounded by the joints to stave off diverse metal types from making contact.

The subsequent variables impact rust in metal pipelines:

-Chemical makeup of water
-Low pH water values
-Quantity of air in water
-Pressure of water in piping
-Galvanic rust
-Water temperature

Copper Pipeline Erosion

Pitting rust provokes tiny leaks in copper water pipelines. Copper pipe rust generates the formation of tiny cavities on restricted areas of the metal surface - resulting in small water escape that lose as much as seventy water gallons on a daily basis. Copper pipeline erosion develops for unidentified explanations, however many plumbers attribute the chemistry of water transported in copper pipes to the development of cavities.

Piping Corrosion Care

Aside from bringing about some plumbing inconveniences, rusty pipes transform water passing through them overly acidic, not drinkable, along with of a rusty-brown shade. As a result pipe oxidation repairs ought to be administered as soon as the red flags for oxidation are uncovered by you. Worn or faded spaces all along pipes or under pH seven values of water are familiar hints for piping oxidation. Plumbing service professionals recommend landowners to carry out periodical examinations of susceptible copper pipe for bluish-green stains that in many cases indicate pinhole leakage. If noticed, proprietors and renters have got to phone their local plumbing contractors for efficient handling. Placing pipe vises on tiny holes will cease leakage and minimize the urgent situation until practiced repair is administered.

How to Make Chili in the Slow Cooker

One of the best ways to make a hot meal with beef is by using the slow cooker. This is also one of the easier ways to cook beef as well because it does not require a lot of work on your part. You simply have to prepare the ingredients and then let it cook while you go about your daily business. One of my favorite meals to make in the slow cooker is chili. This article will tell you exactly how to make great tasting chili in just a few simple steps.

First, you'll need to gather the ingredients for making the chili. The ingredients are as follows:

1 lb. ground beef
1 can (1 lb.) stewed tomatoes
1 can (15 1/2 oz.) chili beans
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 c. chopped onion
Pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Once you have all the ingredients you can begin the process of getting it all together to be cooked. The first step will be to brown the beef in a skillet and then drain the excess grease. This will ensure that the beef is cooked thoroughly. You'll have to chop the onion if you haven't already done so but once that is ready, you can combine the remaining ingredients together in your slow cooker. If you wish you can mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl before adding them to the slow cooker. When you have everything mixed together, you can add it to the cooker along with all of the other ingredients.

When you have combined all of the ingredients and placed them in the cooker, you can set the temperature to high and then cook the entire contents for about 8 hours. The reason cooking this chili is so convenient is because if you have to work or leave the house for an extended period of time, you don't have to worry about whether or not the meal is going to cook properly. The slow cooking process allows you to cook the chili over the 8 hours without having to watch it.

When the chili has finished cooking, simply stir and serve once it has cooled enough. Chili can also be served as leftovers, or if you prefer, you can freeze it and then reheat it when you want to have another chili meal. If you're looking for a simple meal that doesn't take a lot of time to cook and tastes great at the same time, try out slow cooker chili. You'll be amazed at how great it tastes and your family will love it too.

Official Boston Baked Bean Recipe

Throughout its history, Boston has been linked to beans. Surely the lowly legume is not the sort of association city forefathers would have sought when striving to cast their city's mark in the New World. But find each other they did -- as evidenced by the names Beantown, Boston baked beans, Beanpot Hockey Tourney and the Boston bean pot, among others.

It hasn't been until the 1900s, however, with its emphasis on healthy eating, that the homey image of a bubbling pot of beans has gained cache. Beans are of the moment, the very definition of what our food should be about -- carbohydrate and fiber rich.

As anyone who's ever done the cooking for a Boston ham-and-bean church supper will tell you: the ideal method for cooking beans is in a bean pot in the oven - to make Boston Baked Beans in the authentic old fashioned way. For that deliciously slow, sweetly fragrant baking, you want traditional pots and sturdy stoneware protecting your beans from burning or overcooking, while keeping them moist and tasty. This recipe embraces the traditional way of cooking authentic Boston baked beans.

OFFICIAL RECIPE for BOSTON BAKED BEANS

Serves 8

2-1/2 Quart Bean Pot Version

1 package (1 pound) navy or pea beans
1/4 pound salt pork, cut in 2 pieces
1 small whole onion, peeled
1 teaspoon dry mustard
8 cups water
1/3 cup molasses
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1) Soak beans overnight in a large sauce pan in 6 cups of water. Add baking soda. Heat to boiling and simmer 10 minutes. Drain in colander over a large bowl. Save liquid.

2) Place beans, salt pork and onion in the bean pot. Add molasses, salt, sugar, dry mustard, pepper and a cup of water. Stir thoroughly. Add enough water to cover the beans. Cover the bean pot.

3) Bake 2 hours at 300 degrees. Add the rest of the water and stir again. Bake additional 1-1/2 hours (or until beans are tender). Uncover last 1/2 hour.

Red Lobster Recipe - Shrimp Salad - Red Lobster Variation

This Red Lobster recipe for shrimp salad is a variation of the popular restaurant dish. It differs from the restaurant version in several ways. Instead of a mayonnaise based dressing, it has a vinaigrette style dressing. Also, it is served on the top of lettuce leaves. The Red Lobster recipe is served with cantaloupe. My variation also contains mushrooms, snow peas and toasted pecans as key ingredients.

I think you will like my version of Red Lobsters famous shrimp salad recipe. The snow peas and pecans add delightful, crunchy texture and the Dijon mustard, oil based vinaigrette give it a fresh, exciting taste.

Shrimp Salad (8 servings)

2 lbs. cooked shrimp
1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 cup toasted pecans
Iceberg, Boston or Bibb lettuce leaves

Vinaigrette Dressing

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 cup oil (canola or olive oil)
salt and pepper (to taste)

Peal and de-vein the shrimp. Cook the snow peas in boiling salted water for 1 minute; drain. Stir together the mushrooms, shrimp, snow peas and pecans. To prepare the vinaigrette, place the mustard, garlic, lime juice and vinegar in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times, then run continuously while adding the oil in a slow stream. Season with the salt and pepper to taste. To serve, toss the salad in the vinaigrette. Place lettuce leaves on top of salad plates and arrange the shrimp salad on top of the plates.

Video Camera Secrets

How to take care of your video camera

When it comes to special occasions that need recording, a video camera will surely be one of the few items present inside the bag. In addition to the camera, a video camera is one of the mainstays of every special event in the family and with the Christmas season and Thanksgiving a few days away, video cameras of all shapes and sizes are being charged inside the homes or being bought off the shelf.

Unlike photographic cameras, which capture one-time images into still shots, video cameras can capture everything, every detail every second and every minute of the day. This is what makes video cameras so popular. It can get every scene in a flash. Nothing is missed!

If you already have your own video camera, it is important that you take care of it. Video cameras like photography cameras have very sensitive parts that you can easily damage when you are not careful. Below are some of the things that you should really watch out for.

Protecting the lens

This is the single most important part in a video camera and it is also the most expensive. If this is damaged, you will have to spend so much, sometimes even enough to buy a new video camera. It is therefore important that you always protect this part.

When storing the camera, make sure that there are no pointed objects that can scratch the lens. Most video cameras that are being sold nowadays have a special compartment for the lens. Old models have lens covers that will protect it from scratches.

When holding the camera, it is important that you loop the strap in your hands or around your neck. This is a safety precaution just in case you accidentally drop the camera. At least, it will not fall on the floor! Dropping the camera is a major no-no because the lens can easily break.

Taking care of the memory card

Although most video cameras have internal memory, which you can use, new models have expandable options. Now, users can add on to the internal memory by using memory cards. In fact, some do not even use the internal memory anymore as this can only slow down the processes of the camera.

To take care of the memory cards, it is important that you place them in a special case, which will protect them from sharp objects or hard ones that can damage its delicate parts.

Lengthening the life of the battery

Although most are probably not charging their batteries according to what the manual says, it is still important that you try to follow the manual every now and then. The general rule is to actually drain the battery first before fully charging it. Fully charging it means that you should not pull the plug until the battery is charged completely. Not charging it fully and not draining the battery before charging can actually cut short or lessen the battery life.

The initial charging of the battery is another area that you should take special attention of. Depending on what the manual says, the battery is often charged for more than 12 hours, sometimes even the whole day. It is vital that the instructions for the initial charging are followed as this can affect the performance of the battery.

How to Choose the Best Juicer Machine

Selecting a juicer to buy can be quite confusing, so here are a few points to consider when comparing different models.

1. There are two main kinds of juicers, fast ones and slow ones. This sounds silly but here's how - fast juicers shred up your ingredients a let the juice drain out of the shredded up pulp. They can be lightning fast, but make lower quality juice. The juice they make can be aerated and goes off faster and has a lowered level of vitamins present. These are called rotary juicers or centrifugal juicers and are the most common sort. Slow juicers (commonly called masticating juicers, masticating=chewing) work by slowly grinding and crushing your ingredients. They take a lot longer but make much better, healthier juice that keeps for 2-3 days and has more vitamin content. Not as common in stores, and often sold in heath food shops.

2. How easy is it to take apart and clean? often overlooked, but you will be doing this every time you use it - so if it has lots of little bits, then it will be a big job to clean. Most modern juicers are designed to be very easy to clean though.

3. How loud is it - if you can, have the shop turn it on so you can hear it running - some models are seriously SCARY in terms of how much noise they make!

4. Finally, is is appropriate to the fruits and vegetables you want to juice. Does it have a nice, big chute that will take say whole carrots, or will it require you to spend more time cutting every thing up into little pieces. Some modern juicers actually have chutes designed to take whole apples now, saving a lot of time indeed.

Can My Sewer Lines Be Repaired Without Digging?

Have you ever had a slow and sluggish drain or looked in your bathtub after washing to find a ring of gunk? If so, you may have a simple blockage not far from the drain. It might, however, be a partially clogged sewer line. This problem is not only annoying but can become downright dangerous if the stuff that's supposed to go into the sewer starts backing up into your house.

Unless you are a plumber yourself, the best way to solve this problem is to call a professional. Sewer lines are buried in your yard and will probably be difficult to find. Then again, in some cases, they might run under the foundation of your house. It is best to hire a professional instead of just starting to dig.

There are many causes of sewer line blockages. Over time a layer of sludge can build up, especially if your drain does not have the proper slope. Sewer lines drain by gravity and the pipe needs to run at a slight downhill angle. This is to allow all the things you send down it to flow where they're supposed to go.

The ground around the pipe can sometimes shift and cause an incorrect angle thus slowing your drain. Other causes of sewer line problems can be a broken pipe that may have happened by being driven over. There may also be a tree or other plant roots that may grow their way into your sewer line. Regardless of the cause, a clogged sewer line is nothing to mess around with.

A professional should be able to diagnose your problem without digging up the entire drain line. This can sometimes be accomplished through checking any clean out plugs you may have installed in the line. Most professional plumbers will even have small video cameras that can be placed in the drain to reveal blockages. That way, the problem can be pinpointed without wrecking your entire yard.

Once the problem is diagnosed however, there may still be some digging involved. If there is a major break in your sewer line the only way to fix it is going to involve digging the line up and replacing the broken section. However, if your blockage is only partial or your line is only cracked there are alternatives to digging. Most plumbers have some type of power rodding equipment.

This equipment is useful for removing sludge buildup or root systems that have invaded your sewer line. It consists of a head used for cutting and clearing, attached to a flexible steel rod or line. This rod or line is then attached to a turning mechanism sometimes powered by a gas or electric engine. This turns the head through the rod thus clearing out the blockage.

If your sewer line is cracked there are even alternatives to recoat the inside of your pipe with dry-in-place epoxies. These and other materials effectively reline your pipe and seal up any cracks without having to dig the entire line up. There are numerous methods to fix a sewer line and calling a professional plumber will be the first step in diagnosing your problem and getting it fixed with as little hassle as possible.

Tips to Preventing the Most Common Types of Water Damage in the Kitchen

Even though it is one of the most frequently cleaned rooms, the kitchen is many times neglected in the moisture department. Since the sink is one of the major points of interest in the kitchen signs of excessive moisture are sometimes overlooked with false justification. In addition to the sink and counter tops being sources of possible water damage, the refrigerator and dishwater are also partners in crime.

Proper inspections of these points of interest can help prevent water damage in your kitchen and we will go over some basic ways you can keep them in check. Make sure to be extremely thorough during inspection and try to look at them with a fresh perspective every time you do.

You should check under the sink regularly to make sure there is no water gathering from a leak down there. "Out of site, out of mind" does not cut it! If you have a problem you need to fix it before it gets worse and requires even more expensive repairs. The two most common reasons for leakage in the sink area are cracked tiles and broken pipes. It may not seem like it is in the scope of this article, but if you have a dripping faucet or slow draining sink you need to fix the problem and stop ignoring it as well. Just like many other problems in life, these things build upon each other, have chain reactions and consequences.

The most under checked area of interest is the rear of the refrigerator. Nobody wants to check the back of the fridge, since it is not very accessible, but it must be done. If you find any liquid back there you must not ignore it. You need to fix the problem immediately, and if you do not posses the skills necessary for the solution you need to call an experienced technician. If this problem has been going on for a while, there may already be water damage and mold. Clean off any mold with agents such as bleach and rectify any damage that has been done. Check for the source of the leak and take care of it, it might be as simple as tightening a hose.

5 Steps to Avoid Headaches With Rental Property Maintenance and Repairs

Are you tired of maintenance calls from your tenants? Then this 5 step guide will help you reduce and or eliminate future headaches.

Through out the years I have discovered the biggest maintenance problem areas are: plumbing, drains, toilets, appliances, and heating/cooling. Those are the areas you should focus on when preparing a vacant house for a new tenant. Are you ready to get started?

Here Are The 5 Steps To Take:

Step 1. The Plumbing: Check each faucet and make sure it operates properly. The water should stop dripping when the hot and cold water knobs are closed. Repair as required. Next look under each sink with a flash light while the water is running and make sure there are no leaks at supply lines and drain. Repair as required.

Next check the water supply line going to the toilets and verify there are no leaks or evidence of a leak. Next check the showers and bath tubs for operation. The water control knobs should be secure and the water should stop when the valves are closed. Take notice of how the water flows from the shower head. If clogged soak in vinegar or CLR chemical.

Next inspect the hot water heater for signs of leakage at the base and at the water supply line going into the top of the tank. Repair or replace as required. Next inspect the washer machine water supply lines for leaks and repair as required. Next check outside faucets/spigots for proper operation and that there are no leaks.

Step 2. The Drains: Check and test every drain including: sink drains, bath tub/shower drains, and washer machine drain. If you find a clogged or a slow drain than repair using a plumbers snake. Bath tubs, showers, and bathroom sinks always get clogged with hair and foreign objects such as tooth paste caps.

Step 3. The Toilets: I always rebuild every toilet with a fluidmaster toilet repair kit. I have had great luck with the repair kit and they cost under $25.00 each. Toilets are a heavily used item and should be rebuilt at every vacancy. This will save you from maintenance calls down the road.

Step 4. Appliances: The biggest appliance problems are the dishwasher, garbage disposal, and the burners on a stove.

Check the dishwasher by running it through its full cycle. Take off the bottom cover at the base and make sure there are no leaks while it is running. Repair any leaks.

Next check the inside of the dishwasher and make sure it is draining properly at the end of the wash cycle.

If a motor goes out on a dishwasher it is more cost effective to replace the dishwasher with a new one.

Next test every burner on the stove to make sure they operate and heat up. If they don't you will usually have to replace the non working burner element. Tenants usually destroy a burner element with excessive grease/oil when they are cooking.

Next test the oven and make sure it is heating properly.

Refrigerators have a tendency to collect a lot of dust around the condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator. A wet/dry vacuum works good for cleaning them.

Next clean the drain hole and drip pan. The drain hole often gets clogged with food particles. Refer to your owners manual for location of drain hole and drip pan.

Garbage disposals: I always remove them from middle to low end houses because they cause excessive maintenance calls. Tenants think they can put anything down a garbage disposal. Wrong! Save yourself headaches by removing them.

I also remove dishwashers on low end houses for the same reasons and you should to.

Step 5. Heating and Cooling: The HVAC system needs to be inspected and serviced once a year and the furnace filter needs to be replaced once a month.Accomplishing routine maintenance on this system will save you big dollars down the road by extending the life.

By following this rental property maintenance and repairs guide you should see a reduction in tenant calls. Giving you more free time to spend with your family.

Clearing a Clogged Drain Before it Gets Worse

The most obvious sign that there may be a blockage in a drain in your home is when the water in the toilet bowl or sink is slow to drain. Unblocking a drain needs to be done as soon as possible. Failure to tackle the problem promptly will only make it worse.

The first thing you need to do is locate the nearest drain to where the blockage is occurring. Prising open the manhole cover will give you a good idea as to the type of blockage you are dealing with. Usually, if the manhole is clear, the pipes leading to your house will be the source of the blockage. If, on the other hand, the manhole is full, the obstruction is likely to be situated further along the drainage system.

If you believe the blockage to be within your property's boundaries, it's time to roll up your sleeves and tackle it.

A great piece of equipment to aid you with this is a set of drain rods. These flexible rods are screwed together to give you the required length to reach the drain obstruction. They can be bought for a very reasonable price, considering they can save you the expense of calling out professional drain services. Alternatively, you can hire rods as and when you need them.

Carefully feed the rods in the drain until you reach the blockage. It is vital NOT to turn the drain rods in an anti-clockwise direction as this could cause the rods to unscrew from each other. This will make the blockage a whole lot worse, as you will now have stuck drain rods to contend with too.

Applying a steady pushing and pulling motion on the rods will usually be enough to force the obstruction through the system.

Once the blockage has cleared, carefully pull the drain rods out of the drain and them run some water through the system to clear away any reaming gunk, and to check that the water is now able to flow freely.

Chicken Breast Recipe With Broccoli

Chicken Beast recipe are easily the favourite recipes for cooking chicken because they have more meat, which means you get more servings from each dish you prepare. When you add broccoli to your chicken breast recipe you nor only make the chicken taste better, but the dish will also look very appealing. The ingredients for cooking chicken breast recipes with broccoli allow you to choose between fresh or frozen broccoli so these are dishes that you can cook at any time of the year. You do have to cook the broccoli until it is tender to use it in these chicken breast recipes so that it will taste just right.

Recipe for Chicken Breast With Broccoli

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts cooked

2 bunches of fresh broccoli or 2 packages of frozen broccoli - 10 oz. Each

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 tsp. Lemon juice

1/2 tsp of curry powder (optional)

1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar cheese is best)

1/2 cup of bread crumbs (grate day old bread to get the best results)

1 tbsp of melted butter

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350°.

Cook the broccoli in a pot of water until it is tender. Drain off the water and arrange the pieces of broccoli in a greased rectangular baking dish. Arrange the chicken breasts on the top of the broccoli.

Then, mix the soup, curry powder, mayonnaise and lemon juice together. Pour this mixture over the chicken breasts. Sprinkle the cheese over this layer and top with the bread crumbs.

Bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes.

This recipe yields 6 - 8 servings.

For more recipes visit my Chicken Breast Recipes blog.

bon appetit!

Life Direction - How To Use Traffic Signs to Guide The Highway Of Your Life

Have you ever noticed the signs that are posted along the roads? They are placed at strategic points along the way so that we will pay attention to what is ahead, give us direction and with the safety of all in mind. We can apply these road signs to our life to give us direction on our own journey.

Stop 2 way: When your relationships are in trouble, stop, look and listen. Both parties have to take a look at what each are contributing to the problem and the solution. Learn more about yourself and your partner, boss, family member or co-worker with whom you are having a conflict. Be open and keep the lines of communication open as well.

Bridge out: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Be creative and explore other ways to meet your goal. Enjoy the change of scenery.

Speed limit: Slow down! Go with the flow! Sometimes we don't even know that we are traveling at a fast speed. Keep to the speed limit set by the masters. The guidance from experts will give you the keys to getting to the destination. Remember to keep up the pace and don't slow up. The people who are getting to their destination don't get there by letting everyone else get in front of them.

Biohazard: Toxic chemicals fill our air, land, sea and bodies. Start coalitions to rid the planet of toxic waste. Educate your community to stop polluting storm drains which empty into our streams and rivers. Do periodic liver and body cleanses. Eat more organic foods` fresh fruit and vegetables.

Do not block intersection: Sometimes we need reminding to get ourselves and other obstacles out of the way of our progress. Work on improving yourself and let go of any baggage you are carrying from your childhood, parents, past lives or any current abusive relationship. When the path is clear, it will be smooth sailing.

No Standing or Stopping: Don't slow down when things get tough, calm down. Keep moving and keep your goals insight. The more you wait to get the brass ring, the more your spirit will become weak. Keep your spirit alive and keep moving forward. If you are not moving forward, you will loose sight of your goals and dreams.

Wrong way: Be aware of the trouble signs. The best way to stay on the right track and avoid failure is follow the directions. If it smells like, tastes like, or looks like trouble, don't go there. Going the wrong direction can be destructive and disastrous.

Dead End: When a door closes, a window of opportunity opens. Either that or you get to see what you are missing. Explore all the options. Take a look at things you've always wanted to do. Find your passion and set your energies in that direction. Soon you'll see a whole new set of goals ahead and you will find new energy to reach them. New doors will be opening

Do dumping under penalty of law: Stop complaining! Get rid of all negativity in your life. There is no room for any hatred, doubt, or question. Know yourself and make a resolution to be grateful for all that you have. The more you hold on to the crap, the greater the chance for getting ill and bringing chaos into your life. When you let go of all the crap, there is plenty of room for abundance, good health and success.

Drug free zone: Just say no! Stay healthy and be conscious of what you are putting in your body. Add yourself to your health care team and make decisions along with the other team members. The more you understand about your body, the better you can keep it healthy. Become active in your up keep and "overhaul" of your body when it needs healing.

Slow Draining Kitchen Sinks - Two Easy Ways to Fix it Fast

Of the multitude of intractable plumbing problems that are treated with a great of trepidation by large swathes of population, the one that provokes dudgeon with unfailing regularity are slow draining kitchen sinks.

A painfully slow and sluggish drain in the kitchen can easily deflate whatever optimism one possesses within the confines of this space. Considering the fact that it is used so frequently, having a kitchen sink drag its feet leads to a mountain of unwashed dishes and stalls the cooking process for an indefinite time period.

In short, a fully functional kitchen sink is simply indispensable and its absence amounts to chaos on the brink.

A clogged sink is messy, problematical and is not something you want when you struggling to fix dinner after a long, tiring day at work.

Win That Interminable Battle

Before you steel yourself to deal with that recalcitrant kitchen sink, it's important to understand the root cause of this recurring problem. In all cases, the kitchen sink gets clogged when food particles, like vegetable and fruit peels, find their way into the pipe. So the best solution is to ensure that they are consigned to garbage bins and not the sink.

If the block is moderate, then a homemade drain cleaner is sure to diffuse tensions. Just pour a combination of ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of vinegar gingerly. Let this concoction work magic for a few hours before you let running water validate the sparkling results.

If you think grease is the villain of the piece, combine ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of salt, followed by a modicum of boiling water. Allow this mixture to work overnight. You are sure to wake up the next morning to a clear sink and a clearer mind.

Isn't it such a relief to find a permanent solution to this niggling issue?

Shower Pan Replacement - Putting it Right

Shower pan replacement gets done after you notice water damage around the bathroom. Sure there are several patch up methods to slow the leaks, but getting deep into the shower is really the only way to a permanent fix. Here's where to start.

1. Tear Out

Getting the old shower base out lets you see what has happened and why the leak progressed. Clearly failure of the shower pan liner happened if water got out of the shower.

Getting out the damaged parts is crucial for building back.

2. Judging What To Leave And What To Replace

It takes some experience to know where to stop when tearing out the damaged parts. Letting everything dry helps to make that call. Sometimes walls may need to come out and sometimes floors do too. Those decisions are easier after everything has a chance to dry.

3. No Shaky Starts Allowed

No matter what type of shower goes back, the sub-floor and the foundation for the shower must be put back to be stable and not shaky. That often means more bracing and possible replacing deteriorated members too.

4. What Shower Base?

More than one kind of shower base will work for a replacement. Tile ready shower pans eliminate much of the skilled mortar work. But often tile ready pans cost so much that you could pay an installer to build you a traditional mortar shower for the cost of the pan alone. Maybe you choose to forget the tile and replace with an acrylic shower.

Building a tile shower pan goes together just like a new one once you have the damage control behind you.

5. Layers To Waterproof

Building a waterproof tile shower goes together layer by layer. Key components are the liner membrane as well as a special tile shower drain. These components do the hidden work of catching all the water that makes it through the floor itself. Get these right and you get a shower with the water in the right places for many years.

Shower pan replacement goes together just like a new installation after you get the old parts out and the damage contained. It takes judgement to decide when to quit on repairs. Once the damaged areas are dried, it becomes easier to know what must come out and what can stay.

How to Get Your Koi Pond Equipment Set For Winter

Depending on the climate in your area you will need to decide if you are going to run your pump and filter system through the winter.

If temperatures mostly stay well above freezing then it would be advantageous to keep your pump and filter running throughout the winter. The bacteria in your biological filter will be inactive at low temperatures. But, as long as you keep it supplied with oxygen-laden water the bacteria will remain alive.

The advantage of this is that when spring comes and the water temperature rises, the bacteria can immediately begin working to keep the water quality good for your fish. It will also be helpful in controlling algae.

If you do run your filter through the winter it would be best to minimize the water circulation in order to take advantage of the layering effect of the water. You don't want to stir up the warm water from the bottom and chill it by mixing it with the cold water from the upper regions of the pond.

Some of the things you can do with your koi pond equipment to minimize the water circulation is to turn off bottom drains, place the intakes to pumps/filters at mid-water rather than close to the top or bottom of your pond, place your intakes for waterfalls or fountains closer to the outlets, turn off surface skimmers, and/ or turn the pump down.

Doing these things will allow the bacteria in the biological filters to stay alive without interfering with the layering of the water. The water is densest at 39 degrees. As long as your pond is a minimum of three feet deep you will have a layer of 39 degree water at the bottom of your pond where your koi can hang out during the cold months.

Too much circulation of water in the winter can super chill the water by exposing warmer pond water at the bottom to the below freezing temperatures near the top, thus causing the death of your koi.

One problem to watch out for if you run a pump and filter in the winter is the potentially major damage that can be caused to your filter and plumbing system by a power outage that lasts for any extended period of time.

If you aren't home to make sure that no water remains in the filter and plumbing, and it freezes UV's and filters, they could break. This would mean costly replacement expenses of your koi pond equipment.

There are two alternatives to allowing this to happen. First, you could install a check velve in your system, using a long piece of tubing or wire to hold the valve open, thus allowing the water to drain out. Or, if your system is designed to allow the water to flow back into the pond in the event of a power outage,you wouldn't need to make any alterations at all!

Of course, you can choose to do the complete opposite of this with your koi pond equipment during the winter, and totally shut down your pumps and filter.

Cold water holds much more oxygen than warm water and your koi's respiration is slow. You really shouldn't need aeration or circulation.

It's not essential to keep the bacteria in your filter alive either, which is the only reason for running the filter in the first place.

If you turn off your koi pond equipment for the winter be sure to drain all plumbing. External filters, UV's, and external pumps all need draining. Since you don't want the seals to dry out you should leave submersible pumps in the pond or in a bucket of water in a warm place for the winter.

If this is what you choose to do, be sure to clean the filter thoroughly before starting things back up in the spring.

If ice will freeze over the pond in your area you will need to add a floating de-icer to keep an area free of ice. This opening is necessary during periods of ice cover to allow an exchange of gases. You don't want noxious gases trapped under the ice with your koi, or they may not be alive in the spring!

If you follow these simple tips during the winter you should have no trouble with your koi pond equipment.

Walk In Your Calling

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" So He said, "I will certainly be with you..." - Exodus 3:9-12a (NKJV)

THE PREMISE

Our Father has endowed each of us with gifts, talents, and abilities. Within you may lay a singer, a dancer, a writer, a director, a minister, or an entrepreneur. Whatever it is differs from person to person, but one thing is certain: something lies within you.

You may have no idea what it is. It may be lying dormant, waiting for you to realize it's there so you can begin to use it. Or you may know exactly what it is, but any numbers of things - finances, fear, doubt - are keeping you from walking in it.

My purpose today is to encourage you to walk in your calling. If you are His, rest assured: God has called you to do something. I pray that, if you lack wisdom regarding your call, you will ask God who gives generously to all. And I pray that, if you know what your divine appointment is, but have not the courage to pursue it for whatever reason, you will find the hope and fire to lay hold of the vision God has for you.

WHY GOD CALLS US

God is omnipotent. He doesn't need anybody. He is all things unto Himself. Yet He chooses to love us, save us, and use us. Praise God! Why He loves and saves us I'll never know. His unmerited mercy and grace are mysteries too deep for me to understand. Don't get me wrong: I understand how salvation works, and its purpose. I just don't know why he decided to bother with us. But I'm so glad He did! What I do know, is why He uses us.

1. For His glory When we begin using gifts and pursuing visions that are God-breathed, people look at us and wonder: "Is this the same shy person that wouldn't look anybody in the eye doing a praise dance in front of all these people?" or "That can't be the same woman who had no self-esteem mentoring young girls!" Your light shines before others, they see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.

2. For our good Romans 8:28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." As you yield yourself and your gifts to Him, He begins to change you: healing you of past hurts, stripping you of old habits, and making you more mature in your walk of faith than you ever were before.

3. For the building up of the church Ephesians 4:12 tells us that we have our gifts "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Through the use of our gifts we encourage, uplift, teach, and help our brothers and sisters in Christ.

4. For the salvation of the lost Acts 2:37 says "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" They saw a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, witnessed the supernatural occurring, and heard Christ preached. It so overwhelmed them that nearly 3,000 were compelled to receive salvation that day!

SO WHY WON'T WE WALK IN IT?

If God's calling on our lives is so powerful, so life-changing, to ourselves and others, why are so many of us not walking in it? I believe that three of the main reasons are:

1. Fear or low self-esteem

Look at all of the excuses Moses made out of fear and low self-esteem:

- Exodus 3:11 - "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

- Exodus 4:1 - "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.'"

- Exodus 4:10 - "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."

- Exodus 4:13 - "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send." We often do the same thing. Fear of failure or low self-image will cripple us, not allowing us to see ourselves as God sees us: His children created in His image, and called according to His purpose.

2. Jealousy

In 1 Samuel 18 David had just returned from slaying Goliath. The women gathered in the streets singing "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Verse 8 says "Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, 'They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?' So Saul eyed David from that day forward." Saul was the king, set in place by God! Yet he coveted the praise given to another and felt threatened by him. Instead of resting in the favor God had shown him and concentrating in the call given him he became jealous and bitter towards David.

We are sometimes so busy wishing we had another's gift or ministry that we can't even see the special anointing God has placed on our own lives.

3. Unclean lives Psalm 66:18 tells us we can't pray right with sin in our hearts. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 tells us we shouldn't take communion in an unworthy manner. 1 Timothy 3:1-13 is very specific about what sin issues in our daily lives disqualify us from holding church positions. Of all the reasons for not walking in our calling, this is perhaps the best intentioned. If we know our lives are not right with God and our walks are raggedy, we shouldn't feel comfortable trying to do the work of the kingdom.

PUT ON YOUR WALKIN' SHOES

These issues I just mentioned certainly exist, but they shouldn't be used as excuses for not being about our Father's business. Instead, they must be overcome.

If you suffer from a negative self-image you're certainly not alone. It affects everyone: male, female, young, and old. So how do you combat it? Get around some people who love you and want you to have what God has for you. People who will encourage you to walk in your gifting. Limit the amount of time you spend with discouraging and negative people who drain your spirit dry like leeches. And learn how to speak life to yourself!

- "You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13, 14a)

- "We am His workmanship." (Ephesians 2:10a)

- "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (1 Timothy 1:7)

If you're wrestling with jealousy or are frustrated watching someone else's ministry blossom, acknowledge that envy as sin, repent of it, and let the scriptures guide your attitude.

- "But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." (Galatians 6:4)

- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Galatians 6:4)

Is sin in your life keeping you from moving forward in God's will? It's a good thing when we are honest with ourselves and God about sin issues. But we're not to use those issues as excuses not to do as God commands us. Instead we are to follow His instructions for dealing with them.

- "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

- "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

It's time to walk in our calling, sisters. God has birthed something in each of you. You have a prophetic dance ministry in you right now. An anointed singing voice or ability to play an instrument that can draw someone into sincere worship. A Christian novel that could bring hope or godly counsel to other believers. An inspirational play or movie. A business where you could provide goods or services to those in need or mentoring others. He's put something in you.

You may not be able to do it all at once, but you can start with what you have available to you. You don't need to know or have everything right now to be effective or valid. God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. Seek His face and ask Him for His timetable, His plan. Write the vision down. Meditate on it. Pray on it. Sanctify yourself for the work of the Lord.

Then put on your travelin' shoes and let's get to walkin'.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

PRAY WITH ME Lord, I thank You for loving and saving me, and I thank You for using someone such as me. Please forgive me for my hesitation, my fear, my apprehension. You nailed my faults, my weaknesses, and my excuses to the cross 2,000 years ago. Help me to step out on faith, and walk in the calling You have on my life, trusting that You who started this work in me are faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Winterizing Your Boat - Thinking Ahead So Next Year You Can Hit The Water Without Problems

For boaters the sad truth is that winter is creeping upon us. Savvy boaters know this is the time to prepare our boats for next year. Those who are new to boating take heart help is on the way. Below are some helpful tips on "Winterizing your boat". Don't cringe at the possibility of yet more work to do, but consider this an opportunity to clearly know what the state of your vessel is for next year.

What should I do to prepare?

If possible, your boat should be out of the water for the winter, and in a climate controlled storage area. Knowing that this is not possible for everyone, you should consider shrink-wrapping your boat. This is also an expensive choice, but gives good protection for your boat. If these two options are unavailable to you then you should make sure that you place a tarp over your boat. Make a checklist using your owner's manual as a starting point. It should include winterizing information on your vessel.

Keep in mind that your insurance policy may not cover neglect for poor maintenance if damage occurs. Each year keep mental notes or write them down, of things you notice or remember that should be done before the next boating season. This should get easier every year. If you purchased your boat second hand, hopefully you included questions pertaining to winterizing in your pre-purchase questionnaire. If you have neither sources of information, create your list based upon of two possible choices or enlist the help of a boating friend or expert. One is for outboards, and one is for inboards.

Items for you're "Winterizing first aid kit":

1. Normal engine lubricants

2. Can of fogging oil

3. fuel stabilizer or fuel biocide (depending upon whether you have a gas or diesel engine)

4. 1-2 gallons of non-toxic propylene glycol antifreeze (for inboards)

Outboards:

Empty fuel lines and carburetors -

Fog the carburetor intake(s) -

Fog the cylinders -

Do a freshwater flush -

Drain Cooling passages -

Lubricate the linkages and the electric starter drive mechanism -

Drain and refill the gear case -

Touch up damaged paint -

Stabilize the fuel -

Clean and liberally lubricate the propeller shaft -

Store upright -

Inboards:

Change coolant -

Change engine and transmission oil -

Run engine out of fuel (gas engines only) -

Fog the intake (gas engines only) -

Drain the fuel tank and lines (gas engines only) -

Flush raw-water circuit -

Protect raw-water passages -

Diesel engines top off fuel tanks and add biocide -

Remove raw-water impeller -

Fog cylinders (gas engines only) -

Fog intake (diesel engines only) -

Drain muffler canister -

Degrease, de-rust and touchup -

Grease control cables -

Coat unpainted parts with an anticorrosion spray -

Tighten stuffing box -

Stern drive:

A stern drive in general is an inboard engine connected to an outboard drive system. With this in mind just follow the instructions for inboard protection and the outboard list for the lower end.

In addition you should consider doing the following:

Fill drive shaft housing with lubricant -

Place the stern drive in the full down position - this allows for draining of the water passages and for checking and/or adding the gear lube.

Additional things to consider:

Check fuel filters and replace if necessary -

Check, clean and grease engine control cables -

Grease fittings -

Check all drive belts for wear -

Check all hoses for signs of wear (bulging, cracking, leaking, and inability to flex) -

Check clamps for signs of rust or corrosion -

Seal engine openings - (remove next spring)

Boat exterior:

Wash, clean and wax the entire boat. Wax should be left on without polishing until spring for a great protective barrier from the elements -

Electronics:

Remove all electronics, like radios, depth finders, GPS chart plotters and radar. These need to be stored in a dry warm place. This will not only protect your equipment from the elements, but also from theft -

Batteries need to be removed, cleaned and re-installed - clean off dirt, grease and oil from the battery. Clean the terminals with a baking soda and water mixture and if necessary a wire brush. Then wipe them clean with a paper towel. Make sure that the fluid level in each of the battery cells is near the top, if not, add some distilled water and replace the caps. Check using a multimeter that the battery is showing around 12.6 volts or better. If not, do a slow charge with a battery charger. Re-check with the multimeter after 24 hours. If it is still holding the charge you are ready to go. Keep an eye on the battery to see if it is bulging around the sides. This condition should be a good indicator that the battery is ready to be replaced. Since batteries have acid in them, you should take precautions to avoid contact with your skin or clothing. If contact is made with skin you should wash with soap and warm water to get the acid off your skin. Acid on clothing means you will probably have to replace that item.

Boat interiors:

Clean everything you can in the interior - Make sure that you have removed any food items from the fridge and living areas (these will cause problems that you don't want next year).

Leave doors to rooms, cabinets or lockers open - This allows these areas of the boat to breathe.

Consider dehumidifying your boat interior - This will keep the smells down for next year.

Fresh water systems:

Drain out all fresh water systems - Refill with fresh water and a fresh water system cleaner. This removes bacteria and algae. Afterward drain it out again.

Drain your hot water tank - Avoid having to fill the hot water tank with antifreeze by connecting the inlet and outlet lines together.

Pump antifreeze through your system until the antifreeze comes out all of the faucets (pink colored antifreeze is the safe product) -

This list can be added to from your list of mental notes each year, but should give you a good start to "Winterizing your boat". Remember, if possible, to look into your boat owner's manual for specifics.

Speeding Up Your PC - Some Simple Solutions

No one likes to deal with a slow or lagging computer. It is never enjoyable to sit back and wait for pages to load or programs to open. In some instances, the inconvenience can prove interminable. It can also be somewhat frightening. Why is this so? A slow computer could also be a warning sign of a crash or even a complete meltdown of the operating system is forthcoming. That is why it wouldn't hurt to look towards a speed up computer program as a spyware infection may be the root of the problem.

Again, one of the most common problems leading to a slow PC is the presence of malevolent programs. Whether you suffer from a virus, adware, or spyware infection, you need to take the steps to eliminate such problems. That means you need to purchase a top cleaning program that will eliminate these infection and speed up computer operations. But, before you even try to do that, you need to delete all unnecessary files. Such files can be a drain on the computer's memory. If you have any files or programs taking up space on the hard drive and you don't need them, get rid of them ASAP! You will be surprised how immediate the results will be.

Your computer also comes with a number of built in functions that help you improve the speed of your performance. Defragmenting the hard drive might be one of the best ways to improve the overall performance and operation of the computer. Running a 'defrag' can take some time. Often, allowing the program to run from early evening to early the next morning might be enough for the entire process to run its course.

Computers also come with a disk cleanup function. This function will scan your computer for a host of unnecessary item such as temporary internet files. Upon locating them, the disk clean up function will move all these unneeded files to the recycle bin where you can effectively dispose of them. Just as a spyware infection can lag and damage a computer, registry errors can deliver the same negative impact. Running a registry repair program will locate the damaged or corrupted registry files on the computer. Once these problems are located, they can then be fixed or removed. This will speed up computer function rather quickly and efficiently.

While you may only have to run defrags and cleanups every once in a while, you should get into the habit of running programs to deal with virus, adware, and spyware infection issues weekly. (You could even do the same with registry errors) Such problems can occur frequently and in a stealth manner. Since you do not know when the infections are developing or manifesting, they need to be addressed more frequently. That is why running speed computer programs at weekly intervals is a wise move.

Once again, a slow running computer may be a harbinger of a serious problem emerging. Taking deliberate steps to locate and treat the problem will add life to the computer and make your own life a lot easier.

Easy Crockpot Recipes With Rice

Rice is something that you might usually make on the stove while making a stew or curry in the slow cooker. This is not always necessary though because it is possible to cook rice in the crockpot. Actually there are lots of grains you can slow cook, including millet and quinoa.

Rye and barley are grains which take a long time to soften so these are not recommended for slow cooking. Soak grains in water before slow cooking them and you will speed up their cooking time.

Rice is perhaps the most widely eaten ingredient in the world, although different varieties are better suited to different cooking methods. Long grain rice, for example, does not do well in the crockpot. It does not absorb liquid well or heat up enough to get tender.

Which Types of Rice are Best to Slow Cook?

If you want to know how to cook rice in the slow cooker, choose quick-cooking rice instead. This is a processed rice which does well in the crockpot. Quick-cooking rice will absorb the steam released inside the crockpot and it will cook to perfection without becoming mushy.

You can slow cook quick-cooking rice in about thirty minutes. Risotto rice is another kind of rice that cooks well in the slow cooker and quick-cooking risotto rice is the best variety. You can make a gorgeous, creamy risotto in your slow cooker in about an hour. Other crockpot recipes with rice include jambalaya and rice pudding. You can add cooked rice to any slow cooker recipe in the final stages of cooking and it is especially good to bulk up a soup or stew dish.

Easy Recipe for Crockpot Risotto

This recipe is wonderful because you can leave it to cook itself. Conventional stove-top risotto needs to be watched and stirred nearly constantly but slow cooking eliminates the need for that, while the end result is pretty much identical. This delicious risotto recipe serves six people and you can serve it by itself or as a side dish with your favorite chicken recipe.

What you will need:

3 cups baby spinach
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups chicken broth
1 diced onion
1 1/4 cups raw Arborio rice

How to make it:

Saute the onion in the olive oil for five minutes in a skillet over a moderately high heat. Transfer it into a crockpot. Add the rice to the crockpot and stir. Add the chicken broth, salt and wine. If you are not using low-salt chicken broth, taste the mixture before adding the salt because it might not be necessary.

Fill a bowl with cold water and add the spinach. Remove it and drain the bowl. Repeat once more, then dry the spinach leaves with a clean kitchen towel. Remove the stems from the spinach and chop the leaves. Add them to the crockpot. Cover and cook for two and a half hours on high or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Stir in the cheese and serve the risotto.

Success and Money - 10 Creative Ways to Attract Wealth

Many creative people have a bad attitude about making money. When it comes to talking about wealth and prosperity, they look at you like you're from Mars.

Well, I'll let you in on a little secret.

The purpose of creative art is..to inspire. Wrong. The purpose of all creativity is to make money.

Oh, I can hear some of you cringe at the thought. And that's just it. Your thoughts about money are, well - let me put it this way - they're not bringing in much dough. Most importantly, your thoughts about suffering for your art are not allowing you to develop the full measure of your gifts.

I'm not saying that art should not be inspiring. All great art is. Just that it has to bring in a good income. An inspiring income.

Why not admit right now that having money, and I mean a lot of money, eliminates all worries and stress. No more energy wasted on how you're going to pay those bills. No more creative energy gone down the drain as you stress out about your debts.

Here are ten ways to attract wealth.

1. First and foremost: Accept the possibility of wealth in your life. This is a big step towards manifesting riches.

2. Figure out what you would do for nothing. All successful people are receiving compensation for doing things that they'd do for nothing. They are getting paid for doing something they truly enjoy. Now that is success.

3. Eliminate self-doubt and criticism. Change the channels, turn down the volume and switch to your inner voice of supreme confidence. Make it play the tune you want to hear.

4. Accept an initial large workload. Don't quit your current job. Allow it to finance your new road to wealth. You might be burning the midnight oil initially, but that's just to get you off the ground and running.

5. Bury the hatchet of guilt. Deal with all unresolved emotional hangovers. Bury them and never look back. Otherwise they will drain your valuable creative juices.

6. Simplify your external stimuli. Silence your TV and radio to the point that all they are used for is to enhance your creative life.

7. Slow down. You'll be far more efficient when you stop rushing around like most people. Your mind won't be on overload so it can reclaimed and used to envision your new life.

8. Get rid of all your beliefs. Beliefs keep you from experiencing life. They are a blind acceptance of someone else's experience. Only you can decide what works and what doesn't. No belief in the world can do this for you.

9. Interrupt all thoughts of fear. They will silence your visions of success. Instead, see that everything is possible. Abundance is infinite. It's not monopolized. A life of wealth is yours for the taking.

10. Imagine a life where all your needs are fulfilled. Can you feel the result of such a life? In fact, the more you see yourself living fully, the likelier the possibility is of that happening.

It's the joy and freedom of wealth that we are all seeking. So, never for a moment think that you're not one of the chosen ones. Break your poverty mentality. That's all history.

Begin today in your mind's eye picturing yourself as wealthy. There's no turning back.

"You must put the whole power of your great soul into every act, however small and commonplace, and so reveal to your family, your friends, and neighbors what you really are." -Wallace D. Wattles.

So, find the one thing you just love to do and pay exclusive attention to it. Keep all distractions at bay. Never waver from your love. Your beautiful life is intricately dependent on your careful attention to this one thing.

Copyright 2005 Tania French

Use These Tips for Staying Awake and Energetic All Day Long

Do you spend your afternoons at work in a haze of fuzziness and drowsiness just hoping you stay awake long enough to make it through the say? You'll be glad to know that you are not the only one. As a matter of fact more than a million Americans never seem to get a good night's sleep leading to long days dreaming about bed. That's one in every four Americans that is so tired on a daily basis that waking up, staying alert at work, and having the energy for work takes a lot of effort that they just don't have.

The ringing of their morning alarm clock marks the low point of their day. I'm one of those people who wake up exhausted and then spend the rest of the day walking around like zombie. It isn't natural to feel this way. Here are five easy steps you can take to prevent those feelings of exhaustion during your afternoons at work:


Fill up on fiber - The great thing about fiber is its time-releasing effect on carbs. It allows them to enter the bloodstream at a slow, steady pace causing you to feel constantly full of energy instead of all at once which gives you a short boost in energy but quickly drains. Doctors recommend fiber-filled meals such as a bowl of raisin bran, black beans and cheese wrapped in a multi-grain tortilla, delicious air-popped popcorn, or just an apple with its skin.


Omega-3s - Omega 3's are mostly found in fatty fish such as tuna and salmon but also in walnuts or canola oil. These are fatty acids essential to keeping your brain cells nice and healthy and keeping you mentally sharp. Omega-3s will also allow your body to store good carbs like glycogen. Glycogen is the glucose but in its storage form and the body's source of food.


Vent your feelings - You should never hold in your feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress pent up inside you. Just because your an adult, doesn't mean good cry or whine is a bad thing. Most doctors agree it's actually a great way to relieve harmful stress and dealing with confusing emotions. Talking about negative feelings with another person reduces its ability to sap your stamina and energy. If you drain all those negative feelings, the only thing you have left is positive.


Get your exercise - Did you know that aerobic exercise is proved to help us fall asleep faster at bedtime? It's true. After an hour of exercise we are shown to spend more hours in deep sleep, and wake up less often throughout the night leaving us less tired the next day. Vigorous exercise like this also acts as a great daytime energizer for a much needed afternoon boost.


Stay hydrated - Water is the life force of all living things. Most of our blood and other body fluids is basically just water. A mild touch of dehydration causes the blood to thicken, which causes our hearts to pump harder to carry blood to your cells and organs. The result of all this extra work is fatigue. Fluids and water keep all those important energy-fueling nutrients flowing throughout our body.