A Better Front Door With Feng Shui: Training, Taming Energy Flow

The front door of your home is not only the focal point of your house; it’s where you, your family, and visitors regularly enter and exit your home, making it a major outlet of incoming and outgoing energy. Known as the “mouth of chi,” the main door is where the home absorbs much of its energy nourishment. But sometimes the architectural design over the entrance of your home presents a challenge for the flow of energy, which is when it’s time to consult a feng shui practitioner or take some feng shui classes to learn ways to slow down the energy once it comes into the door, focusing it and redirecting it to the rest of the house. For example, if the staircase to the upstairs or basement is located very close to the entrance and the foyer is small, a feng shui cure can help you rework the flow of energy so it doesn’t come in the door and quickly rush upstairs or downstairs, leaving the ground floor of your home without energy nourishment.

To learn how to slow down, focus, and guide energy, you may consider checking out a few feng shui classes in your area, whether you are interested in feng shui certification or just the information. You’ll learn that strategically placed items can help you work with the small foyer space that you have to keep energy on the ground floor when it comes in the entrance. A large vase with flowers or a houseplant, art, a piece of furniture, or a mirror can accomplish this purpose, although if you do decide to use a mirror it shouldn’t face the entrance directly, as this will push energy away and out of the home instead of into the home.

A main entrance with a small foyer and a staircase facing the door is only one of the architectural designs that could benefit from a consultation from a professional with feng shui training. Feng shui cures are often specific to an individual space and its needs, so a feng shui consultant will be able to improve the flow of chi in your home and will have the knowledge to use more advanced aspects of feng shui. Determining the bagua (feng shui energy map) of your home, for example, will produce a host of feng shui cures like painting the walls certain colors and other tactics that will support the five elements of feng shui.

A front door with good feng shui can have a remarkable effect on your health, success, and relationships by providing you and your family with nourishing energy that sustains every aspect of your life.

Permanent link to this post: http://blog.homecaredesign.info/2009/01/a-better-front-door-with-feng-shui-training-taming-energy-flow/

From the fadagert.freehostia.com site blogs

Executive Office Suites - Rent Or Stay at Home?

Bottom line - renting an executive suite can be more costly in terms of money out of your pocket than working from home. For new businesses or existing businesses that are struggling, these extra dollars can be critical. However, the costs in lack of productivity and distractions can be significantly more than the direct costs of rent.

Often it’s hard to measure these types of costs and or to really realize them. One quick and easy way to do this is simply add up all of your monthly costs (both business and personal) and divide them by 30 days. By doing this you’ll know your daily “burn rate”. When you start realizing that every day you’re going through cash, regardless of how tight you are with your money, and or if you work from home or from an office space, you realize you have to be productive or you’ll go out of business.

The real problem of working from home is the distractions; fifteen minute here to help bring in the groceries, 10 minute there to let in the dog, 20 minutes to discuss your relationship with your significant other, etc. Also, the lack of total focus by being at home can cut into your time as well. All of this just adds up to a lot of wasted working time and you may come to the conclusion that it is much more costly than paying rent for an executive suite.

Additional benefits include have a secretary answer your phone, which gives a tremendous professional feel for a small business that might not be able to afford a full time receptionist. Other little things like having the trash taken out, or having a reliable copy and fax machine can be such a relief and time saver so you can focus on your bigger, more important issues like calling your clients to bring in more revenue.

Permanent link to this post: http://blog.theestateinfo.info/2009/01/executive-office-suites-rent-or-stay-at-home/

From the ivapip blogs

Classic cars worth $106,000 stolen in Loudon County

Three vintage cars with a combined value of more than $106,000 were stolen early Thursday morning from a classic car lot in Loudon County, authorities said.

The break-in at Smoky Mountain Traders, 11840 U.S. Highway 321, took place about 5 a.m. when a group of thieves disabled the gate and drove the vehicles off the lot, according to Loudon County Sheriff’s Office Detective Charlie Cosner.

“It took about a minute or less,” Cosner said.

The cars were described as an orange and white 1972 Pontiac GTO Judge convertible, a red and black 1971 Chevelle Super Sport convertible, and a red and white 1972 Super Sport Chevelle, said business owner Keith Bledsoe.

“I’m sure they loaded them into an enclosed car trailer after they drove them off,” Bledsoe said. “I’m hoping that someone was on U.S. 321 (Thursday) morning and saw something.”

Bledsoe said he used to build houses for a living but decided to open the car lot in May when the construction industry slowed. “I put my life savings into these old cars,” he said.

Bledsoe said he was able to determine the time of the break-in using a security camera but it was too early to say whether the camera’s images will be useful in identifying the three suspects.

He is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the cars and the convictions of those responsible for the thefts.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to the Sheriff’s Office at 865-986-4823 or the business at 865-988-8088.

J.J. Stambaugh may be reached at 865-342-6307.
Permanent link to this post: http://blog.automoton.info/2009/01/classic-cars-worth-106000-stolen-in-loudon-county/

From the gotoread.freehostia.com blogs

15 important credit card terms to consider before buying a credit card!!

By Thomas Lindstrøm

A credit card is a form of borrowing that often involves charges. Credit terms and conditions affect your overall cost.
So it’s wise to compare terms and fees before you agree to open a credit or charge card account. The following are some important terms to consider that generally must be disclosed in credit card applications or in solicitations that require no application. You also may want to ask about these terms when you’re shopping for a card.

If you don’t understand the language, credit card offers and statements could lead you to deep debt — or at least furious frustration. For the big scoop on the fine print, here’s what these frequently used credit card terms mean.

1.Average daily balance — This is the method by which most credit cards calculate your payment due. An average daily balance is determined by adding each day’s balance and then dividing that total by the number of days in a billing cycle. The average daily balance is then multiplied by a card’s monthly periodic rate, which is calculated by dividing the annual percentage rate by 12. A card with an annual rate of 18 percent would have a monthly periodic rate of 1.5 percent. If that card had a $500 average daily balance it would yield a monthly finance charge of $7.50.

2.APR(Annual percentage rate) — A yearly rate of interest that includes fees and costs paid to acquire the loan. Lenders are required by law to disclose the APR. The rate is calculated in a standard way, taking the average compound interest rate over the term of the loan, so borrowers can compare loans.

3.Balance transfer — The process of moving an unpaid credit card debt from one issuer to another. Card issuers sometimes offer teaser rates to encourage balance transfers coming in and balance-transfer fees to discourage them from going out.

4.Cash-advance fee — A charge by the bank for using credit cards to obtain cash. This fee can be stated in terms of a flat per-transaction fee or a percentage of the amount of the cash advance. For example, the fee may be expressed as follows: “2%/$10?. This means that the cash advance fee will be the greater of 2 percent of the cash advance amount or $10.
Read full article here - 15 important credit card terms to consider before buying a credit card!!

From the unsbloggers.freehostia.com blogs

How To Lose 60 Pounds in 3 Months

In order to lose 60 pounds in 3 months you will need to shock your body into losing a lot of weight fast. Just so you know, to lose 60 pounds in 3 months isn’t the easiest thing in the world and will require you to commit to this process heart and soul. However, with the right will and determination, it can be done.

In order to lose 60 pounds in 3 months, I suggest that you begin by cleansing your body. What this does is get rid of a lot of undigested pounds which have accumulated inside your body and which are weighing it down and damaging your health. Each person carries around some undigested weight. By using a detox diet, you can quickly flush out of your system all those pounds, lose a lot of weight fast and be ready for the next step of the process. This detox phase takes 10 days tops and you will see a great reduction in your weight. I suggest using the Master Cleanse detox diet (I provide a link to a review of this diet at the end of this article so read the whole thing through).

After you finish with the detox diet, you should take a few days to a week off any dieting and eat regularly (but healthy). Then the next phase of your process to lose 60 lbs in 3 months will commence. In this phase you will choose one of 2 courses:

1. Follow a Calorie Shifting diet (namely the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet)
2. Follow a fitness oriented fat loss program (I suggest the Turbulence Training program)

Again, I provide a link to a review of all these 3 programs at the end of the article so you can read more about each of them.

You should follow either of these 2 programs for 2 months. These will provide a slower weight loss rate than the Master Cleanse, but they’re more healthy to use for a long time straight. They should bring you closer to achieving your goal of losing 60 pounds in 3 months.

About 10 days before your 3 months are over, you should go on the Master Cleanse again to give your body the final push it needs to shed the last of those 60 pounds. If you do everything right, you have a good chance to lose 60 pounds in 3 months.
Read full article: How To Lose 60 Pounds in 3 Months

From the gotoread.freehostia.com blogs

Key Ingredients for a Healthy New Year

“This is the year!” When the clock struck midnight on the 31st, what resolution did you vow to uphold in 2009? For many people, the goals we set are centered on looking or feeling better, and food plays a big part of that. This menu highlights seven ingredients that contain essential nutrients to help keep you healthy, give you more energy, and just plain feel good about your food choices.

These seven new recipes make it easy to enjoy a healthy New Year!

Key Ingredient: Plain Non-Fat Yogurt

* Nutritional benefits: high in calcium, fortifies the immune system
* Why I keep it on hand: typically lasts long in the fridge and blends well with almost any flavor (it’s like a blank canvas when creating a new recipe)
* Ideas: mix with fruit, granola, or nuts for breakfast; puree with any white bean or chickpea for the base of any flavor hummus; great for sauces and dips

Spinach and Scallop Curry
Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Servings: 4

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/4 cup chicken broth, reduced sodium
4 green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, minced
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 1/2 pound sea scallop
2 cups baby spinach greens, coarsely chopped
1 small tomato, diced
2 cups instant brown rice, cooked

Directions:
Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Meanwhile, whisk together the yogurt and broth.
Read full article: Key Ingredients for a Healthy Recipes New Year

From the catras.web44.net blog

Americans Turn to Complementary, Alternative Medicine for Pain Relief

By Faith Lapidus
Washington
02 January 2009

Complementary and alternative medical practices - which include health products and therapies that aren’t generally considered part of conventional medicine - are frequently a part of Americans’ health care regimens. That’s the finding of a new survey released this month by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Thirty-eight percent of American adults are using some form of complementary and alternative medicine, known as CAM, to help with their health.

NCCAM Director Dr. Josephine Briggs says the new survey provides the most current, comprehensive and reliable source of information on Americans’ use of unconventional remedies such as medicinal herbs, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation.

Most of these patients, Briggs says, hope to alleviate pain.

“The most common reason why people turn to complementary and alternative medicine in our survey results is chronic back pain - far and away, the leading reason to use complementary and alternative medicine,” she says. “Neck pain, joint pain, headache: All these other conditions are also given as common reasons. But chronic back pain is the leading reason, a very common and difficult condition to treat.”

As the federal government’s lead agency for scientific research into CAM therapies, the center funds hundreds of projects and trials, supports training for researchers and encourages integration of proven CAM therapies into conventional practice.

Another important part of NCCAM’s mission is to publicize news and information about complementary and alternative medicine, and promote discussions about it between patients and their health care providers.

Briggs notes, “It is very important that people talk to their physicians and other health care providers about their use of complementary and alternative medicine.”

Read full article: Americans Turn to Complementary, Alternative Medicine for Pain Relief