Home-made Topsy Turvy Planter Update

I thought that it was time to post an update on my upside down vegetable planters using the Topsy Turvy idea.

Although the instructions for Topsy Turvy says "you can't over-water them since the excess runs out the bottom", I found that statement to be TOTALLY false! Unfortunately, I followed that advice and gave the plants a good dose of water, and more water, when they appeared to be going slightly limp. More than likely, all they were doing was going through some adjustments and NOT in need of more water. As I posted earler, I finally drilled a small hole in the bottom side of each container so that I could measure the moisture content. As of today, a pair of plants that were in one container seem to be beyond hope and the other three containers are just now testing slightly below the MAX on the moisture meter.

I switched covers on two containers so that there would be NO rain/watering holes in the lids and on the other two, simply added a plastic bag to prevent rain water from getting in. That was over a week ago which just goes to show you how wet they are inside yet.

The plants in the garden are doing better since we have had decent rain. The ones planted in plastic containers are not doing as good as those planted the old fashioned way, in the loose soil. Otherwise, radishes, cucumbers, and peas all are looking good!

Play Sports And Be Healthy

If you're looking to get fit, you probably know that it's going to take a great deal of exercise along the way. You might be thinking about starting a course of exercise, or getting involved in some fitness activity. But have you though about getting involved in a sport? Sports are one of the easiest ways to get you into shape and using muscles that you've allowed to permanently relax. On top of that it's a great way to meet new people, and an amazing way to relax after a hard day at the office.

Sports, largely team-based sports, involved a range of skills that are useful in every day life, like teambuilding and strategic thinking, for example. It is this mental element that makes sport enjoyable; whether it be in pursuit of a goal, basket, touchdown or home run. Getting out there and getting involved in a sport can really help you de-stress and forget about your daily worries, which is imperative for improving your health and fitness. Additionally, it'll also get the blood pumping and keep the vital organs ticking over healthily, which will help you fend off heart attacks and strokes in later life.

Sports combine two types of exercise which can improve your fitness: strength and cardiovascular. The strength aspect comes from toning and shaping muscles through the natural resistance of heavy movement. This can be great if you're looking to firm up, and can also help turn excess fat into muscle. The cardiovascular element helps improve your lung capacity and stamina, and has the greatest impact on your physical fitness. The combination of the two is very useful in promoting weight loss, improving speed and improving appearance all round. With the added incentive of competitive sport, you can see it starts to shape up as a great idea.

If you're looking to get involved in sport for fitness reasons, or for any other reasons there are loads of opportunities in most areas nationwide. Check out your local newspaper, or classifieds in your area for information. You won't have to look too far before you can find a sport that's ideal for you, and that you're going to enjoy whilst getting fit at the same time. As long as your dedicated to the cause, sports is one of the best ways to get yourself back into shape, for the permanent benefit of your health.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/self-improvement.html
Author: Jonathon Hardcastle
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Tennis, Golf, and Games
http://thetennisstop.net

Start Enjoying Life By Changing Your Outlook

Two people can look out the same window and one will see only muddy puddles and the other sees a beautiful rainbow.

Let's say you've placed second in a weight loss competition, will you be happy and try to do better the next time or will you be disheartened and make an excuse not to do it at the next opportunity?

In your lifetime, you're given many choices. You can opt to go the way of a pessimist and have a life filled with defeat or you can take the high road of an optimist and have a life filled with challenges and fulfillment.

So what are good reasons to nurture an optimist's viewpoint? And what are the reasons to make changes now?

Studies have shown that optimism goes hand-in-hand with moods that are positive as well as excellent morale. This applies to academics, occupations, athletics, politics, military success, good health, popularity and even to injury avoidance and longevity.

On the opposite side, pessimism and depression rates are at an all time high. Depression affects age groups from middle aged folks to teenagers. The age when depression first shows up has dropped from 30 to 15. Depression is not just a middle age disorder any longer but has become a disorder which affects teens too.

What does research show is the payoff to being an optimist?

The typical optimist's expectation is for only the best to happen. Pessimists usually expect events which are bad to last a long duration as well as to weaken everything they may do. They tend to blame themselves for these bad events.

The same bad luck events of the world face the optimists as well. The difference is their explanation of the misfortune...it's always 180 degrees different from a pessimist. Optimists believe any defeat is only a minor set back and whatever the cause it's a one-time case.

As well, optimists will focus on a plan for the current "problem" by utilizing a technique called "positive re-interpretation". Using this, they will re-interpret something negative in such a way so as to provide a learning and growing experience. Optimists are unbothered by negative happenings, seeing them as challenges and opportunities to try even harder.

The optimist will not utter stuff like: "Things won't get better"; "Since I failed one time, I will fail again"; and "If something bad happened in one segment of my life, it will carry through into my total life."

Optimists' positive expectations also provide smooth transitions to new situations, unexpected tragedy and sudden turns in events. An optimist will stand up if they fall and keep going. Obstacles become opportunities.

Optimists usually draw positive responses from people.

Optimists don't need others as much to stay happy. They are more independent. They don't need to manipulate or control people. People are usually drawn to them. An optimist's view of everything is contagious and can influence all those around them.

Optimism is a desirable social trait in every community. Optimists who share their traits are greatly accepted whereas those that spread panic, gloom, and hysteria are mis-treated and disliked.

In today's world, optimists are those that will win an election; win congeniality votes and be sought after for personal advice.

When and if the going starts getting tough, the optimist will get even tougher.

Optimists maintain a much higher level of well-being during stressful times than people that are not as optimistic. To contrast, a pessimist is more likely to deny that the stressful event even exists or try to avoid dealing with the problem entirely. A pessimist is most likely to stop trying when any difficult situation arises.

An optimist perseveres and doesn't give in easily...they are known for an abundance of patience. They inch towards their goals and dreams one step at a time.

Optimists live longer and enjoy better health

Medical researchers have shown that a positive attitude and outlook as well as elementary pleasures can bring about measurable increases in the ability of one's body to attack diseases.

An optimist's health is uncommonly good. The aging process is kind to them...keeping them freer than most from the typical negative ills that come with middle age. And the bonus is to outlive the ones prone to negativity.

So the question is, "Why would you not be an optimist right now?" Start thinking positively while obtaining a more satisfying and fulfilling life.

Find success in all your accomplishments. Be more resilient. When you hit a low spot sometimes, don't stay down. Lift yourself up and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And you may want to inspire negative folks to take off their dark glasses so they can see the bright side of life.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/self-improvement.html
Author: R.t. Markovsky
Millennium Services Group, run by R.T. Markovsky, hosts a dynamic web site with a wealth of information on self-improvement. Check out http://www.Self--Improvement.com to see more.

9 Tips on How to Declutter Paper in Your Home

I remember when computers were becoming really popular and we all thought they would take care of our paper work pile ups. A man working next to me said he thought they would create more paperwork nightmares. From my observations this has become true.

I have 9 tips on how to declutter paper in our homes and offices:

1. Create a filing system that works for you. I use Freedom Filer that is based on placing everything in color coded categories and is great for organizing files. The first step is to gather up all your lose papers. Sort through every piece even though you might think you know what is in that stack—a bond or some other important piece of paper could be hiding.

Create a system to handle your mail by finding a home for your mail. This could be a basket, bowl, shoe box etc. someplace that you always place your mail so you know where it is and where to go when your ready to sort through it.

3. Do you wonder how long to keep papers? Utility bills only keep one month until you get your next bill and verify you have received credit for payment. If you can prove two different ways that you have paid the bill you don’t have to keep it past one month. The exception to this is if you want to compare last year’s bill to the current year. After you have done this, recycle, shred or trash them.

Anything that has to do with taxes put with the tax papers, don’t keep in separate folders.

Keep your will, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, adoption papers, military records, citizenship papers, power of attorney and copies of your 401K accounts along with the names of your beneficiaries, property titles, deeds and mortgages forever—to name a few.

Go to IRS.gov for information related to how long to keep tax records. They are usually to be kept for at least 7 years.

4. Use your computer for filing instead of printing off everything you receive. Keep the information in a folder on your computer. If you need to print it out you can do so if and when the need arises.

5. Pay your bills on line. Sign up for electronic bill pay and notify the company to send your bills via the internet.

6. Get your name off junk mail lists. Go to Google and search junk mail for several places you can sign up to get off lists. This will really help you organize clutter as you’ll have a lot less junk mail to organize.

7. Handle each piece of paper only once. Make a decision at the time you first pick up the paper and act on that decision.

8. Declutter paperwork by canceling magazine and newspaper subscriptions you don’t read. How to declutter magazines that are stacking up around your home is to go through them every three months and recycle them even if you haven’t read them, you can always find the information online.

9. Keep your inbox under control. Don’t let it overflow with papers that need filing. File on a regular basis so paper work doesn’t take over your life.

By taking care of paper that comes into your home a little at a time can free you up to do what you want to do and will help you declutter your home and life before it becomes a burden to you.

Marilyn is a professional organizer and invites you to visit her website www.marilynbohn.com, She is a sought after public speaker and author who is passionate about teaching ways to organize your life and how to reduce clutter. She works with women in their homes and offices. On her web site she teaches you to get rid of clutter by using her Lights On Organizing System. She provides practical information on how to declutter your home, office and life. In her blogs, articles, and videos she gives timely tips on how to clear clutter and how to declutter everything in your home and office. She is the author of a book called Go Organize! Conquer clutter in three simple steps which will be in major bookstores in December 2009.

Deadlines, Do We Need Them And WHY?

YES, We Do!

We do need Deadlines and there is a good reason for it being so. I have discovered one interesting yet very powerful productivity secret which I am going to share with you right now.

The thing is that without Deadlines you don't work as hard and as fast as you would have if you had one. Deadlines make you go out of your own skin and take the extra mile in order to complete a task.

There are a couple of areas where you can use deadlines. You can start applying deadlines in everything you do. This is actually one of the principles I have used in order to increase my productivity at least by 50%.

Usually what I do is I work with a checklist (I suggest you do to...) and by each task I jot down a time limit I need to complete the task in. This way I don't get distracted while I work and complete my tasks faster and more efficient than ever.

Therefore, I would like to present you with a couple of Tips regarding Deadlines and Productivity:

1. Always use Deadlines. It will make you work faster, harder and more focused than ever before

2. Always use a checklist. That way you won't get distracted doing something that is unnecessary. Plus you will never forget to do a task, since everything is written down

3. If you don't complete a task by the time Deadline expires, expand it a little bit, that way you will still keep your focus even though you didn't make it the first time

A lesson to take from this article is to always set a Deadline. No matter what you do: washing dishes or writing an article, it is utterly important if you want to be as productive as humanly possible and achieve great results in your business.


For More Productivity Secrets Visit Internet Marketing Mastermind
http://www.igorhelpsyousucceed.com/

Give it Time, and Learn to be Patient

Across the world, there are men and women who face some sort of ailment in their body; most of them are to do with our hair. There are various reasons why a person faces hair related problems. For all those who have a bad lifestyle or don’t eat on time, or eat healthy food, the reversal is easy and their hair loss or baldness can be curbed and at times even cured. But there are many others who face this problem for no fault of theirs, who are lost for an answer. When a person who has braided their hair tightly, or wears cornrows is faced with hair loss, it is because the hair strands are stretched and they need to be loosened to allow them to breath. They need to wear loose hair bands or leave the hair loose to let it breath and this will automatically stimulate blood cells in the scalp improving hair conditions. They don’t need to use any hair product or treatment to reverse the loss.

However, on the other hand, if a woman or man is suffering from cancer, they are bound to witness sudden onset of hair loss. They would have been perfectly healthy with a good thick mop of hair, but once treatment begins, they will notice hair fall to a point where they could go bald. There is nothing that can be done to reverse this but there are hair products available to help them tide over this situation till their hair begins to grow back. The minute it starts falling in lumps, some patients shave their head completely as this will look better than patches of baldness. And when they are faced with a situation where they have to step out of the house, they resort to wearing wigs. These are available in a wide range of colors, styles and made of real human hair. So, there are no chances of allergies or infections arising thereon.

Wearing wigs will boost their self confidence making them feel as good as they did earlier. They will be able to step out and face the world, but they must realize that this hair product is only a temporary solution till their own hair begins to grow. For others, who are faced with baldness in certain portions of their head, also called as Alopecia, which is where the human being’s immunity system breaks down and the cells attack the hair Nodules. For these patients, there is a hair product available called Provillus, which is said to help curb this condition and promote hair growth. Or they can go in for hair extensions, which will take many sittings but give them good results. Using fake hair or human hair, extensions are made into the scalp and hair is inserted into them making it look like real giving them volume and the desired effect.

Hair growth patterns differ from person to person, and are dependent on their body composition. The way they live their ways is to a large extent an influence on how fast their hair grows. Also if a person is recovering from a illness or disease, they can use any of the revival hair products but must give it time to work and show visible results.

The rate at which hair grows can’t be pre-determined, but till the time you have your desired set of lock, you can use a wig or other products to keep you going.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/self-improvement.html
Author: Andrew Stratton
Come with better hair tips for hair growth and write your experiences and ways for hair remedy at Promote hair growth blog website. Visit : http://www.promotehairgrowth.net

Things You Should Know About Gardening

Gardens come in different varieties like the plants you find in them. There are several gardening tips that can be used for all type of gardens.

1.Mulching protects your garden topsoil from being blown away. It also provides nutrients as it decomposes and improves the appearance of your gardens. Mulching has other benefits and is one of the most recommended gardening tips by gardeners and farmers alike.

2.Healthy plants are more disease resistant. Plant are like people, a person with a strong immune system can combat diseases. A healthy plant does the same.

3. Pests can be eradicated by cleaning the plant with a watery solution of soap. Just make sure to rinse after. This gardening tip is best heeded for fruit bearing trees or edible plants.

4. Using compost fertilizers are a great way to have healthy plants. It is also a great way to save money on expensive fertilizers. Non -organic fertilizers also tend to leave chemical residues that can accumulate in garden soils and harm not only the plants but the gardeners as well. They cause toxins to go to the water supplies. Another gardening tip recommended not just by farmers and gardeners but also by environmentalists.

5. There are several plants that are only suitable for a specified climate, a certain kind of soil or can only grow with certain plants. You have to know what plant grow in the conditions you have in your area this is for you to avoid unnecessary purchases. This is a money saving gardening tip.

6.Landscaping is a good investment which can double the value of your home. This is one gardening tip that can earn you money.

7. Growing grass on bare ground is an easy way to make your home look better and appreciate in value. This is one gardening tip that promotes earning money while growing grass legally.

8. Aside from looking great in your home, trees also provide some sort of protection from direct sunlight exposure and strong winds.

9. Vines on the walls, fences and overhead structures also would offer some protection and would also look great.

10.Flowers are beautiful, but they are also expensive. Get one that is resistant to many elements. Flowers from your local community already have developed resistance to conditions present in your area.

11.For most gardens plants, their roots go only as deep as 6 inches. Putting fertilizer deeper than that would be a waste of money. Put them shallower as they seep down when the plants are being watered.

12.Earthworms are important to plants. They till and aerate the soil for the roots to breathe. Non-organic fertilizers can kill them. This gardening tip dates back to the old days of gardening.

13. Having several kinds of insects that are beneficial to your garden would be good. These insects can be encouraged to stay by having diverse plants in your garden.

14. Spot spraying weeds with household vinegar, instead of using commercial weed-killers, can eradicate them. This is another environment friendly gardening tip.

15. Avoid putting too much mulch on tree trunks, this would encourage unwanted pests to reside on them.

16. Use plant varieties that are common to your area or have been taken from an area with similar conditions.

17. Be sure to know the plants that are poisonous. If you are intent on growing them, make sure to have the necessary cure available in your household. Take note of this gardening tip, it can save your life.

18. The best time to water plants is during mornings.

19. Before planting a new plant in your garden, you must consider its height and size when it matures. This garden tip can help you save money in the future.

20. Newly transplanted plants may require special attention during its first week. This is to reduce the stress and shock it got during transplantation.

And last but not the least of the gardening tips...

21.Plants are living entities. If you want them to grow in your garden you have to treat them as such. They need to be taken care of. They are like your pets, you look out for them. In return you get that feeling of contentment watching them thrive.

A good way to take care of them is to consider that plants might have some feelings too.

Article by: Gerardas Norkus

Indoor Greenhouse Gardening for Beginners

For any gardener who enjoys working with their plants, a greenhouse is a welcome addition to expand their hobby. Greenhouse gardening can be as intensive or as low-key as you want it to be, depending on how much gardening you do and how much money you want to invest in the hobby. Serious gardeners wishing to expand their interest into greenhouse gardening may opt for a permanent structure in their backyard, possibly something that incorporates a cement foundation, integrated doors and windows, and an auto-venting system for temperature control. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the beginning gardener or hobby horticulturist who wishes to cultivate plants indoors during the winter months or start seeds indoors in the spring for a head start on the summer growing season. This more basic form of greenhouse gardening will be our focus for this article.

Basic greenhouse gardening usually begins indoors with a temporary structure that can be set up when it's needed and taken down when it's not. An inexpensive shelving kit will work well for this purpose, provided you have space to set it up. Other structures could be a tabletop that's not in use or an old workbench. If you are purchasing something new for the purpose of indoor gardening, look for a structure that's lightweight and that can be easily disassembled for storage. Consider buying plastic, if you have the option, so that you can easily wipe away any dirt or water that accumulates.

Next, you'll need to look around your home and determine where the shelf or table will be placed. If you have a sunny window that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, this is ideal. Warm, sunny bay windows facing the west or south will usually meet the criteria. If you don't have such a window, then you'll need to consider using a grow light. This will require a special light bulb that gives off a full spectrum of light similar to the sun's rays. While the light cast from these bulbs certainly won't look like natural sunlight to your eyes, to the plants, it is virtually the same. Grow lights can usually be purchased quite inexpensively from home improvement stores or garden centers, and can then be screwed into your own light fixture at home.

When setting up a grow light, it's important to suspend the light as close as possible to the plants. Particularly if you are using the light to start seeds, you'll want to place the light within an inch or two of the seedlings themselves. If you place the light too far away, the seedlings will grow tall and spindly instead of strong and stocky.

An indoor greenhouse can feature a vinyl cover to help retain heat or moisture, or you can simply use the indoor environment of your home as the greenhouse environment. Ideal temperatures will range from 75 to 85 degrees, so choose a room of your house that is warmer than others. If you're using a grow light instead of a sunny window, you won't be as limited to the possible locations you can choose from your plants. If you're using a grow light and trying to determine a warm location in your house, consider an upstairs room and/or a high up location in the room, vertically speaking, such as on top of a high shelf or a tall cabinet. Heat rises, so the highest place in your home should also be the one with the highest temperature.

If you're a beginning gardener interested in greenhouse gardening, don't be intimidated to give it a try. Getting started indoors is easy and doesn't cost a lot of money. With a little time and a minimal investment, you can expand your gardening hobby, grow more plants, and give your green thumb a workout during cooler months!

About the Author:
Ellen Bell works for Home Products 'n' More, an online retail store offering indoor greenhouse kits and other great greenhouse gardening products to help you get started. Visit us at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Greenhouse_Supplies_s/2504.htm

Giving Thanks With A Purpose

I know Thanksgiving Day is a US-centric holiday and I even had to do a Google search to find out which day it actually falls on. Sounds kinda ignorant of me, like "which day should I start giving thanks huh?"

I suppose Thanksgiving should not be a day, but an everyday attitude of gratitude. The self-development coaches and trainers may say we give thanks for every little thing that sustains our lives (and dreams and hopes), but most did not explicitly say to give thanks for what purpose. "They tell me to give thanks to God. I give thanks. Now what?" I actually once found myself questioning this.

Well, here is my personal answer/opinion: We give thanks so as not to take further risk.

Whatever things that come blessed unto us, they are results arising from our actions and productivity. We can give thanks by remaining consistent and congruent with how we do routines while finding ways to IMPROVE upon them (like stepping stones), not always finding NEW ways to do things as if starting from scratch. A person can only have so many starting points in life, so say a speaker. If we missed that one crucial starting or turning point, you're going to wait quite a while for another milestone. By then we have grown older and may be perceived as a "late bloomer". But by remaining consistent, you're solidifying your position to usher the next foreseeable milestone closer to your destiny.

Blessings almost always come by God THROUGH the people around us, who give us chances and opportunities for expansion. So they are the ones who can see whether we are consistent or not.

So next time, if you don't know who or what to give thanks to, at least give thanks to yourself as a reminder not to take any more unnecessary risk, and remain focused on building up that very first foundation you so aspired to. Do you still remember what it was?

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Nelson Tan is the webmaster behind Internet Mastery Center. Download $347 worth of FREE Internet Marketing gifts at http://www.internetmasterycenter.com

Controlling Weeds, Pests, and Diseases In Our Home Lawns

In this final article in the series of Universal Lawn Care Tips, Weeds | Pests | Diseases discusses the invaders who want to take over our lawns and establish themselves in it’s place, the article concludes to reveal that the best defence is a great offence, read on to reveal all.

If there is one universal truth in growing and maintaining a lawn, it’s that we will always have to deal with unwanted invaders onto our carpets of green. Invaders whose single purpose is to take over our lawn, destroy it, and establish itself in our lawns place. These invaders are weeds, pests and diseases, and why wouldn’t they want to live here, it’s an environment which is cared for and has plenty of nutrients and water. It’s our job as lawn owners to battle these invaders and win, it may sound difficult but in reality it is not, it’s just a normal part of our easy lawn care regime we use to maintain our lawns.

Another of the universal truths in lawn care is that “A healthy lawn is the best defence against weeds, pests and diseases”. A healthy lawn has a deep root system, is well nourished, is thick and lush, and strong.

These characteristics reduce the possibility of weed seeds to establish inside a lawn, and if they do establish then it is very difficult for the weed to out-compete the healthy lawn for either root space or space to grow within the thick lawn matting. On rare occasions that a weed takes hold and does establish, the healthy lawn can easily outgrow and out-compete, and smother the unwanted weed.

The same principles apply to invading pests like ants and others, which require worn out turf areas in order to establish and flourish.

Diseases are usually the same, they love lawns which are already weakened, and thrive without resistance in their quest to spread into and destroy our lovely sod.

You see, all three of these invaders flourish under the same environments, using the same principles of establishment and domination. They seek out a weak host (your lawn) and establish themselves. Once established, they quickly get to work growing and spreading as fast as possible. Their only aim is to take over our lawns, and fast.

It’s easy to see the principle at work here, a weakened lawn invites invasion, and it’s just as easy to see the solution to the problem is a healthy lawn in peak condition.

There are many different types of cures available for each problem our lawns face, whether it is Spring Dead Spot, Army Worm, or Wintergrass. All solutions usually require applications of one type of chemical or another, or in the case of multiple problems we may need to apply many different types of chemicals to aid in ridding our lawns of these lawn invaders. The trouble with these types of defences are their impact on the environment, and in today’s ever growing awareness of the importance of taking care of our environment, it’s just no longer acceptable to use chemicals unnecessarily and unrestrained.

The solution and the best defence against all these sod invaders is and always will be the best offence- “Prevention” and “Good Lawn Health” and “Good Lawn Care”. Keep following these few simple lawn care practices for a great lush green lawn which will ward off all invaders before they can take a foothold.

Thank you for taking the time to read this series of the essential Universal Lawn Care Tips, as the name suggests - they were designed to be universal, to be used in any environment, on any grass variety, and in any region of the world. These are the Universal Lawn Care Tips, and if practised properly and routinely, these tips will ensure a lush green carpet of turf that will be the envy of neighbours, no matter where you live.

About the Author
Steve Beckmand is an established and respected Lawn Care professional based in Perth, Australia. For all lawn lovers and anyone interested in a better lawn, please visit The Lawn Guide at http://www.thelawnguide.com.au/

Supermarket Magazines Don't Help You Lose Weight

Have you ever inventories your efforts and your spending habits for your weight loss efforts. I simply cannot go there. I become awash in all that it entails.

I know a lady who has over $10,000.00 worth of exercise equipment alone at her home and she is still large. I once gave this inventorying task a cursory overview knowing full well that I'd only hit the highlights, and the result exceeded $25,000.00.

Why is it that we spend so much money trying to lose weight?

I think a lot of emotions are behind our decisions to spend money and they are very uncomfortable emotions: not feeling good about ourselves and wanting to feel better; feeling guilty for not being able to live up to the world's standards for weight and appearance; feeling incapable of achievement in this area. I could go on, but you basically know the rest and could write them yourselves.

I've formerly written that Fat Is An Industry. It is a multi-billion industry and if you look at it from the perspective of "how effective are their products?" the only thing you'd need to do is examine their profitability. If these companies really wanted to help the obese, they'd make products that actually work. But then, they'd go out of business if obesity disappeared, wouldn't they? This one thing become an enormous Aha! about whether or not to purchase their product. I've been buying and trying their products for over 50 years and I'm still obese. I proved through experimentation these products are not effective.

How disappointed would you say you are that the products of the diet industry don't work? I am extremely disappointed, but I'm no longer bitter because I have found something else that does work for me. I spent years moving from one solution trial to another. I'm the persevering sort, hence the large amounts of money I spent and all thirty of the years of my experimenting. I still had the problem to solve, so I knew I had to look somewhere other than the diet industry.

I researched self help, and then drilled down into the study of metaphysics. And how long and how successful was this experiment? I looked at this for thirty years too. I worked with it. I polished my skills and I was successful at gaining an understanding of exactly what the problem was, exactly what the fix was, and exactly what I needed to do to work that fix. I am now in the middle of executing that fix.

I learned how accomplish spiritual healing. It's not a quick fix, because it involves the layer-peeling action of self correction. This work is the last stately step that has already gained me self-acceptance, self-love, and keen wisdom and understanding as it's predecessors.

We obese people have been judged by our appearances and because of that, I hesitated a lot before I began the work of documenting the progress I made using spiritual healing and metaphysical tools to make the correction that caused my obesity. I hesitated about going public. Taking the criticisms and short-sighted judgments of a world that does not understand obesity has been painful emotionally. It's been difficult to be judged as less-than because my body is large. I've found it hilarious that I get judged as dumb because I'm fat - if they only knew! In the end, I decided to mainly run the risk of negative input because I think by now I am impervious to it and because I think the growing obesity in our country deserves a real fix since the diet industry has not been helping.

In order to get a grip on a solution to your problem, I suggest you consider these basic principles:

1. Always be impeccably honest with yourself.

2. All that you do should come from integrity.

3. Discover Life's Laws and learn how they can be applied.

There is a lot on the internet when you search for Laws of Life. I suggest you read what's there, synthesize what you read down to a few basics and see if what you cull out meets two criteria: is it universally applicable to each of us and is it changeless. If it is, you've not got some real spiritual healing tools to work with to help you quit giving money for no real help to the diet industry.

Pat Matson, Wise Weight Woman, uses spiritual principles to help women overcome their focus on body image.For more tips to help you achieve spiritual healing, get her free report, => You Are Good and Perfect Right Now and I Can Prove It! at http://www.theworldofwithin.com

A Pitcher of Water and 900 Miles - A Car Story

Let's breakdown the cost of traveling 900 miles and for this discussion let's only take into account the fuel costs involved. For now let's ignore the wear and tear on your car or truck and let's not get into the deeper issue of the cost to the environment from the pollution generated.

All that aside, it's very easy to measure the affects that higher than acceptable fuel prices have on our daily lives. However, you may not know how dramatic that effect has become.

It doesn't matter if your car uses regular unleaded, mid grade unleaded, or super unleaded; gasoline is very high... In fact, fuel costs are out of control and that includes you Diesel buyers as well.

To travel 900 miles in vehicle that gets 20 miles to the Gallon at today's current rate of $3.15 would cost you about $141.75. Also take into account that the average driver drives his automobile about 15,000 miles per year.

That would mean close to 17 of those 900 mile trips. So you can expect to be spending close to $2,400.00 per year just on your gasoline or diesel fuel cost. How does that affect you? Let me explain.

Just a few years ago when gasoline costs hovered around the $2 mark and we naively believed that was as high as the price could ever go and we started making concessions in our lives to compensate for that above average price increase.

Now, not even five years later there is another huge $1.15 per gallon jump in fuel costs and that huge increase directly translates into nearly $900 in fewer dollars in our pockets every year and that type of income severally affects the core of the family structure. How? Let's take a look.

Let's just take a family night out at the local theater. I guess a good estimate would be about $20 for a family of three to go see a show together - matinee of course.

The recent jump in gasoline prices would take away three great weekends per month, every month for an entire year. It's the small things that were loosing with this gas price crunch, and those are the major things that really count in our lives, or at least they should.

Its not that we can't afford to buy our kids the fancy sports car they really wanted because we know eventually the teenager can and will get passed such material things. Such things don't undermine the family structure.

Yet the family time we miss being together, sharing good times are lost forever. Now I only picked the theater from the top of my head. It actually could be any low cost to moderate event you otherwise could afford if you weren't spending all of your money filling up the tank.

Five years ago it was no big deal taking the family out every weekend. Today, that's an entirely different story and it's affected our family bonds, ruining our economy and causing tension in and out of the home. So is there any good news?

The good news is that unlike when the gas prices first began to climb years ago, there is now a viable alternative free fuel source and process to tap into that fuel that has been refined enough for every day use.

This fuel source can put much of that $900 lost to outrageous gas prices back into your pocket and it's a very simple process. A single pitcher of water contains about 1800 Gallons of a very potent Fuel called HHO, which is also called Hydrogen Gas.

That single pitcher of water would supply enough hydrogen gas to blend with your auto's gasoline or diesel fuel to significantly increase your vehicles MPG by as much as 50% plus its report that single pitcher of water would last you for 900 miles.

Hold on, it does get better. This process of breaking down water into hydrogen gas works so well that you can rewind the fuel costs back to well before the $2 mark to effect.

Your auto can become so fuel efficient that its like you are actually spending as little as $1.60 for a gallon of gasoline, while others are spending $3.15.

Hydrogen gas is a powerful fuel source; it's far more efficient than fossil fuels and best of all its free energy... It comes straight from tap water.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/environment.html
Author: Michael Littles
Michael Littles is a big supporter of the continued development of Hydrogen as a fuel source and provides a free video for all those who want to learn more about this technology. Get your free video by visiting: http://www.H2O-n2fuel.com"> http://www.H2O-n2fuel.com

Surveillance Systems - There are Many Types you Can Choose From

When you want to purchase surveillance systems you will have to decide which type you want because there are many types available. You will want to do some research about each one more extensively but this article will tell you a little about the different types that are available. The type that you get will depend on what you need it for.

When you want to purchase a system for surveillance you can get home surveillance systems, security cameras if you have a business of your own, wired systems or even wireless systems. Again you have to know what you need it for before you start looking to purchase anything. This will make finding what you need a lot easier.

Here are some of the different types of systems that you can get when you need them. However, these are not by any means the only ones available. There are a lot of systems available for anything you may need them for.

- Hidden surveillance cameras - These are often used in ATM’s, bus stops, convenience stores and other businesses. They are used a lot more often than many people think. Most of the times they are used to help protect property or people but there have been times that they have not been used for the right reasons. So make sure that you use them for the right reasons.

- Security Cameras - You can find these in banks, grocery stores and so on. Again they are there to help deter destruction of property or harm against people in their business. They are for protection. If you have a business then you may need one of these for your business to help you. You can also find these used in personal homes to help people be more protected. These are more common these days because people want to feel and be safe.

- Home and Business Security With Nanny Cam - These are used to help with the protection of kids. There are businesses such as daycares that need to make sure the kids they take care of are protected so they will use these cameras to make sure no one is mistreating the kids. Parents will also use these cameras in their personal homes if they have a babysitter taking care of their kids because they don’t want their kids mistreated.

You can find so many more than these few if you need to have surveillance systems for another reason. You just have to take the time to look and see what is available. You want to look at more than one of the systems for surveillance so that you make sure that you find the best one for what you need it for. So take time to look before making a decision.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/life-style.html
Author: Ron Mcbride
Ron McBride writes about all aspects of home security.
For more articles and resources on Home Security related topics, Home Security Equipment and Security Systems visit his site at: http://www.homesecuritystore.com

Reading Tarot Cards: The Meaning of Wheel Of Fortune Tarot Card

Who has not had a situation occur that they wished they could change? Every once in awhile, something in life hits you, and you cannot help but think - I wish I could go back in time and change what just happened.

Unfortunately, time machines only exist in fictional movies and books. But what if you could change the future? What if you could make sure that something coming that would change your life for the worse did not happen?

That is one of the main reasons people seek fortune tellers. Most are trying to discover what the future is, especially the bad future, and how they can cheat it.

1) Knowing changes things

If you have never had a tarot reading, you may not understand how it works. Even if you have had a good tarot reading, you may still not understand exactly what a tarot reading is for.

A tarot reading is not like looking into a crystal ball. It is not the myth of the old gypsy woman sitting in front of you, with a scarf wrapped around her head and a crystal ball on the table, telling you exactly what will happen every second of every day of your life.

Tarot is, instead, a way to see into yourself, and a way to get a glimpse past the veil that is the difference between the present and the future. It is like a child who walks back stage and pulls the curtain aside for only a moment, just getting a glimpse of what is on stage.

This is why some people have a very hard time getting a tarot reading done. Most people head to a tarot reader, believing that they are going to come out with a map of their future, and leave, instead, with the knowledge that the reader has just looked deeply into their soul.

2) To know where you have been

A wise man once said - Only after knowing where you have been, can you tell where you are going.

Only by knowing what type of a person you are, can you recognize what type of decisions you would make when a situation occurs. This is often the hardest for people getting a tarot reading to hear.

We usually put blinders on when it comes to recognizing the type of person we are. I know that when I hear something about myself, something that I did not want to hear, I tend to deny it.

This is the reason that some people come away from tarot readings upset and in denial.

It is true, though, that before we can change the future, we need to know what type of a person we are. If you are an impulsive person, with a bit of a free spirit in you, you will make a completely different decision about a situation than you would if you were an obsessive person who loved things orderly and neat.

One of the things that you need to know is that, according to the tarot, things are not set in stone. Things can change as long as you keep your eyes, and your heart, open.

3) The Wheel Of Fortune

In order to understand the wheel of fortune, you have to think about the carnival. It never fails: in almost every carnival, there is a man or woman with a large wheel that is marked with prizes or money denominations. The carnie will say - Round and round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows.

Eventually the wheel slows and the spinner lands on something. This is what The Wheel of Fortune is all about. It is meant to show that no matter wherever the person is in life, they can change their situation with a little knowledge and a little effort.

If you are reading the cards, it can signify a change of fortune for the person, or it could represent an opportunity that will soon become available. This opportunity may be difficult to see, or may be available for only a short time, so the seeker needs to understand that they have to jump on the opportunity when it arises, or risk losing the chance for forever.

If The Wheel of Fortune pops up in response to a specific question, the card means that the person should take a few steps back and look into themselves, and at the bigger picture.

The Wheel of Fortune is definitely one of the better cards to get during a tarot reading, but remember, it should not take seeing The Wheel of Fortune in order for you to change your life. Little changes can happen every day.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/hobby.html
Author: Tenzin Pemo
Reading tarot cards is easy if you can learn the secrets revealed here. Free i ching online! Use my free tools to understand yourself and your destiny and learn what your future has in store for you.

Are You Ready To Truly Enjoy Your Chocolate Even More Than Ever?.

Attention all chocolate lovers! Are you ready to truly enjoy your chocolate even more than ever? First the disturbing news about chocolate before we get to the good part.

Everyone is aware of the overuse of pesticides. As a chocoholic, are you aware that the use of pesticides on usual cocoa is second only to the amount used on traditionally grown cotton? Just think as you put that piece of chocolate in your mouth, you can almost taste the organophosphate pesticides. So what is a chocolate addict suppose to do.

The good news is organic chocolate. I know your image of organic chocolate is yuck. Your yuck is farther from the truth. Organic cocoa which the chocolate comes from is free of all those pesticides. Your chocolate base is even cultivated on small plots under a shaded forest area that conserves the critical elements of the tropical forest. Image, not only are you eating preservative free chocolate but also helping saving the rain forest. Organic chocolate is good.

Well, news over the last couple of years has uncovered the health benefits of chocolate. We all know about the health properties of anti-oxidants but are you aware that chocolate contains further anti-oxidants than black tea or red wine? Just lately there has been great news that the anti-bacterial instruments in cocoa beans can counterbalance chocolate's high sugar level which means that organic chocolate is a better choice for the sweet tooth in not encouraging tooth decay over other sweet candies. Imagine that, organic chocolate is a health food!

Where can you find organic chocolate yummies? Organic Chocolate is readily available online or at your favorite store. I like eating chocolate bars. No problem, organic chocolate is available in bars. I got to have dark chocolate. Once again, not an issue, dark chocolate is available organic style.

You can find organic chocolate yummies in assorted types. The nice thing about these assortments, they allow you to sample the different styles of natural chocolate. By ordering a sample box, you will find out what really appeals to your taste buds. Your next order can then focus on what you really want. Besides, there is no such thing as bad tasting organic chocolate.

May I give you a word of caution when ordering online? Order early in the week. The weather elements might affect your chocolate. Ask for fast delivery. The extra spent is well worth the money. Beside, getting your organic chocolate from the seller to your mouth is the goal and you don't won't to waste any time.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/food-drinks.html
Author: Jerry Johnson
Jerry Johnson owns the Organic Chocolate Yummies website as well as several other successful webstores. Organic chocolates make perfect gifts for the gourmet within all of us. Visit the OrganicChocolateYummies.com for great buys on organic chocolate yummies.

Feng Shui- Wind Chimes To Better Your Life

Wind chimes are attributed to the Chinese, who over three thousand years ago made them to generate melodic sounds for their religious services. Feng Shui wind chimes are often made of wood and bamboo is the most widely used.

When hung in the proper place, bamboo wind chimes are said to contribute to your health. Natural healing powers are said to be one of the attributes of these chimes when they are hung in your doorways and windows. One of the ways to experience the mind healing powers is to stop and listen to the music that is generated by the breeze playing with the chimes.

The number of cylinders that a wind chime has is what decides the purpose of the chimes. Six to eight cylinders are said to bring good luck. Five tubes are often used to protect against bad luck. Although people tend to hang these feng shui items everywhere, placing them in a position where they face a certain star is considered the best place.

Stars are fire elements and by facing them, wind chimes made of wood receive sustenance that in turn makes good luck stream into your home and in turn into your life. Such items have long been considered to bring luck into the home in which they hang.

Not only are they considered to bring luck but wind chimes made of eight cylinders, hollowed and connected to a ship can bring wealth to the owner. The ship must be modeled after an ancient Chinese ship used for trading. It can be made from bamboo also. Rosewood is another good wood for making the ship.

In the same manner as one uses the bamboo one, metal wind chimes are not recommended because they can release bad luck. Rather than receiving the sustenance from the stars, they resist it.

The sounds from bamboo chimes can be quite soothing. If made of a thinner wood they produce a tinkling sound whereas the thicker wood makes a bong sound. Either way the sounds produced by them is said to have great results on clearing your mind and relieving stress.

Many bamboo ones are hand cut. Then they are tuned to produce wonderful sounds. Almost nothing else in the world is as soothing as the sounds from these items. Although many years ago, these sound makers were made of other items rather than metals or wood, that is the main way of making them today. Depending on the preference of the user, wooden ones are the most popular for Feng Shui practices.

Feng Shui wind chimes have become more popular over the last few years as people search for ways to improve their life. Searching for happiness, wealth, and good health has almost become an obsession. Not to mention finding love.

The studies of the past have suggested that wind chimes were a vital part of the Chinese history. A large part of Feng Shui is the belief in it. So if you believe that the placement of these feng shui tools will enhance your life, they may do just that.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/home-improvement.html
Author: Kelvin Ho
Thinking of having Feng Shui interior design for your home or office? It can be easily done with Feng Shui Office tips which you can find at our comprehensive Feng Shui site.

How To Use Power Tools Safely

Craig is a skilled and experienced woodworker. It's more than a hobby for him, it's his passion. And sometimes our passions get the best of us. Like that Saturday when Craig wanted to make one more cut near the end of a long day.

In a moment of rare inattention, the saw blade snagged in the wood and his hand flew toward the blade. Thanks to a skilled surgeon, Craig did not lose part of his thumb that day.

They say to let the tools do the work, but tools can't do the thinking, too. Craig learned an important lesson. Now he turns off the machines and doesn't overdo it.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 100,000 people each year suffer injuries that require emergency room treatment from using home power tools.

The table saw is involved in more serious injuries than any other woodworking device. Most table saw injuries occur during ripping operations.

Proper Preparation

* Take the time to read all instructions on the proper use of your power tools. If you don't use a tool frequently, review the safety instructions before each use. Follow the maintenance schedule suggested by the manufacturer.

* Plan power tool projects. Think through the moves your hands will make before you make them.

* Select the proper tool for the job, and only use the accessories built specifically for that tool.

* Do not force a small tool or attachment to do the job of a heavy-duty tool. Makeshift tools can cause accidents.

* Keep all safety guards in place and in proper working condition.

* Allow ample space in the workshop to work safely.

* Keep the area free of clutter.

* Keep the area well lighted. Eliminate all shadows.

* Keep children and onlookers out of your work area.

* Wear safety apparel, including goggles or safety glasses with side shields. Never wear loose clothing or jewelry around power equipment. Use gloves that are job-rated for the kind of work you are doing.

* Clean your hands before using tools to prevent slippage.

* Never work when you tired, distracted, or angry.

* If your hands are sore, arthritic or injured, don't use power tools.

* Don't use any tool that is worn or broken.

* Keep your workshop well ventilated.

* Keep idle tools stored and out of the reach of children.

In The Heat Of The Action

* Avoid overconfidence or repetitious operations that lull you into carelessness. Periodically pause and refocus.

* Maintain good balance and footing. Don't overreach, or reach over or behind a moving saw blade.

* Do not force tools. Let them do the work.

* When cutting, use sticks or blocks to keep your hands away from moving blades.

* Use clamps and vises to secure the object you're working on.

* Do not touch a bit or blade after cutting or drilling. They can be painfully hot.

* Do not try to catch falling objects. The sudden movement can disrupt your safety equilibrium.

* Never leave a machine with the motor "coasting."

* Never hurry a job.

* Promptly sweep up all sawdust.

* Don't smoke or drink alcohol when working.

Respect The Power

* Always use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

* Ground all your power tools, unless they are clearly marked "double insulated."

* Do not use power tools in wet or damp places. Rubber-soled shoes and heavy rubber mats are good precautions in any conditions.

* Don't use tools with damaged cords or improper extension cords.

* Never carry a portable tool by its cord or yank the tool or extension cords from the receptacle.

* Be certain the switch is on "OFF" when plugging in a tool. Do not carry a plugged-in tool with your finger on the switch.

* Unplug tools when they are not in use, or when you are adjusting them or installing accessories.


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/hobby.html
Author: John Myre
John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles..

Throw Them A Life Raft!

That's what my poor little upside down tomatoes need! Unlike the Topsy Turvy hanging planter, it is more difficult to determine if my home-made containers have enough or too much water. The instructions for Topsy Turvy say to 'lift them up' to see if they feel heavy or light. However, my containers are HEAVY even when not watered!


The leaves were turning upwards but had a 'crisp' feeling to them as though they were dried out. So I flooded the container with water until it had standing water on top. After all, the T/T instructions said not to worry about over-watering them since the excess would simply run out the bottom.


The problem seems to be that the leaves were always wet, whereas in a garden, the sun dries off rain and overnight dew. I remembered that I had a moisture meter somewhere around the house for checking potted plant moisture. Once I located it in all my 'stuff', I drilled a 3/16" hole in the lower side of each container so that I could take a moisture reading. Guess what! The reading PEGGED the meter! So, I didn't water them for two days but over the last two days we have had terrible thunder storms with LOTS of rainfall so I'm sure the containers are totally saturated all over again (from the four 1/2" holes drilled in the lids for watering).

I can never remember how to set this camera up for close-up shots so that they are more defined but you can still get the idea about TOO much watering by looking at the red needle in the photo.

Stay tuned!

Below 40 degrees in June! Who Would Have Thought It!

Who would have thought that the temperatures in the Chicagoland area would drop into the 30's in June!

My neighbor, Carol, asked me if I wanted any blankets to cover my hanging planters and then suggested using plastic bags. Even though we may not get an actual frost I was concerned because the small plants have so much moisture on the leaves compared to those planted in the ground.

So, after talking to her, I put on a jacket and went out and covered my planters. I thought you might get a kick out of seeing them with the tall kitchen bags tied up around them. It may not have been necessary but why take chances when so much time went into making the planters and getting them completed and hung.

Twin Home-Made Inverted Hangers

Today, Mamma Blogga had some free time to finish working on my hanging planters. I bought a couple buckets of cat litter in colorful buckets so after transferring the litter to a couple empty containers, I set about making my final two inverted planters.

Since I had four plants left, I decided to make two separate holes in the bottom of each container. Also, since the plants were in little 6-packs, their root ball was rectangular. With that in mind I made rectangle holes instead of 2" round ones. I also bought a ten-pack of scrub sponges at Menard's for $.99 and cut a small hole in the center of them along with a slit to slip them around the neck of the plant.


I placed the 'scrubby' side of the sponges down against the plastic container and kept the soft 'spongy' side up towards the root thinking it might give more support around the hole opening.


It was kind of tricky putting two plants in by myself since I was unable to support the first plant while working with the second plant. All I could do was move the bucket very carefully so that the neck of plant #1 didn't get bruised by the edge of the opening. Even if I did have some help today, I doubt that two sets of hands would have fit inside the container.


Now that they are hanging next to my original planters they actually look like bigger plants but that is because the first ones are curling upwards and rotating their leaves around while the newest ones are still pointing straight down.


Like I posted earlier, I'm no longer afraid to give them a good soaking since the excess seems to drain out of the bottom. I don't want the black tomato rot that I got a few years ago from soaking, then waiting too long before soaking them again. I also plan to add some egg shells to each planter which is also supposed to help fight off the spots.


I also planted some radishes today and some peas. Too bad it takes so long for everything to mature so that I can have great BLT sandwiches and salads with home-grown ingredients! Tonight it's supposed to get down in the upper 30's which will really toughen up these little guys!


Catch you all later, but in the meantime you are more than welcome to add your comments!

Comparing Topsy Turvy planters to Home-made ones

Mamma Blogga back at you again!

The other day I stopped by my Mothers house and saw a Topsy Turvy planter for the first time (other than from their website. They can be packaged into a very small shipping box since the sides are actually made out of nylon reinforced plastic material, much like a reinforced tarp that you might find a trucker using to cover his load. There is a chrome ring at the top about six or seven inches in diameter that the material is sewn around. the bottom may also have a ring but is also solid as though it has some type of plate to support the weight of the potting soil. From the top ring, there are three wires going up to the hanger hook as well as a couple cheap looking plastic pieces that make up the lid.



I walked over to see how my neighbors planters were doing and took a couple snapshots of them to show you here. The instructions that come with Topsy Turvy says not to worry about watering them since tomatoes are 85% water. I had one planter that showed signs of curling leaves and wasn't sure whether I had not watered enough or had drowned the poor thing. I decided to take my garden hose and give it a heavy dose, adding water until it was actually sitting an inch above the soil. Guess what? That's exactly what it needed, MORE water! The excess runs out the bottom anyway and today the plant is looking as strong as ever.

My next project, since I still have four plants available, is to make two more planters with two separate 2" holes in the bottom rather than placing them side by side. the T-T instructions state that you can add up to two plants per planter and mine are much larger than theirs. Hopefully, I will get that done later today even though rain is expected.

Stay tuned!