Your Salsa Pub

If your bedroom or bathroom faces the street or a nearby neighbor, issues of privacy and light control, plays a very important part in addressing your wellbeing and piece of mine. There are a couple of window treatments available to choose from such as lined panels, operative shutters, or light-controlling blinds. Either one of these window treatments will secure your privacy from unwanted eyes while taking a shower or changed your clothing.

Keeping light out of the bedroom is as important as letting it in or controlling its levels. Blinds do not offer as much noise control as heavy fabric shades and provide privacy only when they are completely closed. Heavy draperies are seldom appropriate for the scale and style of bedrooms, so use a combination of light draperies, shades, or blinds. Check the fabric to determine how much privacy and light control it offers.

Natural light is optimal light. To achieve good natural light control during the day, hang a flexible window treatment that provides privacy but let in maximum daylight. The best investment is a set of plantation shutters or high-quality blinds. If blinds blades don’t fit tightly and are turned downwards, upstairs neighbors may be able to see through them. The same goes for blades turned upward, downstairs neighbors may be able to peer in.

A blind with standard white plastic or metal blades is always a good choice, while shiny; chrome blades express a sleek, chic style. Both are waterproof and easily cleaned with a dust cloth or a brush designed for blind blades. Another option is to install a classic white roller shade; it disappears behind a valance when rolled up to let in the light. Bedrooms and bathrooms should be restful, but they don’t have to be dull or dated. Give your sleepy abode a wakeup call with lively window treatment.

About The Author:
Roger King has been involved in window treatments for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for window treatment solutions. Visit his Web site www.all-windowtreatmentideas.com to learn more about this service.

Anyone that wants to make a smart change to their home should consider shutters as a window treatment, which can be installed on the inside of the home or the outside of the home. Shutters have a variety of features that set them apart from traditional window blinds and should not be overlooked.

Shutters can provide thermal insulation properties, add a dramatic new look to the home, provide ambient lighting control, privacy control, sound insulation, home interior protection, and save on energy. It is a well-known fact that 40% of all heat produced inside a home escapes through the windows, while 50% of solar heat from outside of the home enters through the windows. When an individual decides to add shutters to a home it drastically cuts down on the amount of heat and or cold air that enter and exit the home. One reason shutter are able to insulate a home is because it adds an extra barrier to the window. Additionally shutters also help to save you money by stopping the warping and fading of furniture, carpets, paintings, and woods.

Shutters come in a variety of designs, styles and functions so it is wise to research your shutter options carefully. If an individual chooses, they can add specially designed energy efficient shutters that can significantly lower their energy bills. Shutter window treatments can also prevent premature aging of interior rooms within a home. Each shutter window treatment can also provide a high range of lighting control within a room. Roller shutters provide minimum light while sheer and louver style shutter provide a wide rage of control over ambient lighting. In addition, shutters can add the controlled convenience of visual privacy as well as audible privacy with their ability to absorb more sound than blinds or other window treatment options. Window shutters truly are a capital investment when added to the home, improving both the look of the home and the real estate resale value all at the same time.

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About the Author

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Shutter Shades information portal which reports on the latest window treatment news and developments in the residential and commercial interior design and window treatment industries.

In a recent workshop in Sedona, our group did an exercise while in an 8-sided outdoor gazebo. Looking at the shape of the gazebo, I was spontaneously guided to try something new. In the workshops, I teach how to make direct contact with this Spirit of Nature, or devic realms. In this workshop, I asked each person to go toward one of the sides of the 8-sided gazebo. Then, I asked them to clear their mind of anything previously read or learned about what that side of the trigram they were standing in represented in feng shui. We then did a simple meditation, and after centering ourselves each person in the group invited the Being representing their side of the bagua to make contact with them.

When I tuned into the consciousness of the area of the bagua where I was, the career position, I was quite surprised by what I found! There was a very powerful Being in this face of the gazebo, quite tall and impressive, which I was amazed to see. I was taken aback by this as I had underestimated the power of these Beings, having thought of them all these years as diagrams on a piece of paper telling me where to put my wind chimes or mirrors. Each person then requested the wisdom held by that particular Being in the side of the bagua they were contacting. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but we were just having fun and were very open-minded, which I’ve found to be the key to accessing these inner realms. After about five minutes of this exercise, we came together and shared what we learned. To my astonishment, every person in the group received a “message” totally tailored to their specific situation.

Even those who claimed that they’ve never seen or heard things inwardly received one of their first inner messages. Although the messages were all quite unconventional in terms of what the feng shui books would prescribe, a feng shui practitioner in the group shared how the messages were in fact related to the aspects of the bagua that we were each contacting inwardly. We each received individualized information about how that part of the bagua could help us in our lives instead of what a feng shui book would say about it. Were we in contact with the original “author” or spirit of the various feng shui texts? After all, feng shui means “wind and water” — aligning with the forces of nature and with the Heavens. Sometimes we forget that feng shui is an art of divination. If not from Nature, then from whom does feng shui divine?

This experience made it clear to me that the bagua of feng shui was an “entity” that had a consciousness. As such, It could be accessed for information. Accessing this consciousness directly could take a person beyond the book learning, and rules of feng shui taught today. This is similar to what Machelle Small Wright discovered in her gardens of Perelandra. In her Perelandra Garden Workbook, she relates how she contacted the consciousness of the plants directly to access their wisdom regarding what they needed. While the information obtained defied traditional gardening books, it was very successful nonetheless. In much the same way, Luther Burbank, after which the California town was named, trained cacti and roses to grow without thorns by talking to the consciousness of the plants.

Is this how the Shamans of the Amazon Rainforest say they learned about the “medicine” of a plant, by journeying to the other worlds and contacting the spirit of the plants to learn their wisdom of how they are to be used? And isn’t that what Native American cultures do when they address the Spirit of the Four Directions? They believe the Spirit of the North has a consciousness, as do each of the other directions, and their wisdom and strength can be accessed when invoked. Similarly, could there be a Being that holds the wisdom of Feng Shui itself? If so, then by accessing this “Spirit of Feng Shui” we gain access to that wisdom directly.

If Nature can be compared to a woman, then surely we must realize that She has far too many mysteries to be confined to the static prescriptions, rules and formulas found in any book. While a book may serve as a guide, it cannot ever describe the dynamic forces of nature, which differ in each land and culture. What if we could access our own feng shui consultant in Nature Herself, who could guide us very specifically about how to best align with Her to create for harmony and balance? I’ve found in the countless space clearings I’ve done all over the world, that Nature will inevitable guide us toward the best solution for all concerned. People are often surprised to discover how easy it is to make contact, but after all, She is our true Mother, and She is always available for the asking.

There is a benefit from formal training in feng shui, from the wisdom that has been passed down from the ancestors through the ages. By developing our own co-creative relationship with the Nature Herself, we have direct access to that wisdom which goes beyond the books, beyond what is taught in feng shui schools. We then have a tool to solve any problem, and achieve the harmony with Nature that we are seeking, and from which all things are possible.

Christan Hummel is the author of the best selling book, the “Do-It-Yourself Space Clearing Kit.” She travels internationally lecturing and teaching people how to access nature in a co-creative spirit. For more information, about her upcoming workshops see: http://www.earthtransitons.com

For a special limited time offer for the book, The Do It Yourself Space Clearing Kit, see: http://www.earthtransitions.com/specialoffer.htm

If you have two siblings sharing a bedroom, there are a couple of easy appraoches to decorating a space that both will
enjoy.

The first approach to decorating for siblings sharing a bedroom is to makeover the room in one theme that both can
agree on.

The second apprach is to employ two separate decorating themes within the room to keep them both happy and feeling
like they have individual spaces that they can call their own.

Here are some ideas that you can use to help satify both siblings, no matter which of the above approaches wins out.

Single theme decorating for siblings sharing a bedroom

Of course, this is the ideal. When siblings agree on the same decorating theme, or don’t mind having similar bedding,
there are two great ways you can furnish the room. You can either choose to purchase them a bunk bed, or two twin
beds. You can them dress up the beds with similar or matching bedding. Some excellent bedding choices can be found
at www.homevision.com. One of the easiest, and least costly, techniques for selecting bedding is to go with “Primary
Solids Reversible and Fitted Comforters”. You can always use little accessories to accentuate a particlur theme.

To further pull together the theme for siblings sharing a bedroom, you can select wallpaper in a theme that your
children will enjoy. Or, you can borrow from one of the colors in the bedding and paint the walls a solid color shade.

But certainly wallpaper will add more personality to the room and make capturing the theme much easier. If wallpaper,
or perhaps even a simple wallpaper border, appeals to you, then check out www.decoratetoday.com. You’ll find lots of
different choices for just about every taste and theme.

After the walls and bedding are addressed, you’ll want to think about the remaining furiture. Matching furniture is always a good and safe way to go. But why not throw in some fun furniture like a funky table and chair set, bean bag chairs, etc.

Dual (two) theme decorating for siblings sharing a bedroom

To keep both siblings happy, the easiest thing to do is just split the room in half. If you can, try to get them to
agree on as many of the big components as you can. For example, maybe they don’t mind the walls being the same color
throughout the room. But, if that doesn’t work, don’t sweat it. Here’s what you can do to keep the peace.

You can paint one half of the room a solid color one child likes, and paint the other half of the room a different but
complimentary color that the other child likes. And if you purchase two twin trundle beds, the kids will feel as if
they have more of their own space. Plus, trundle beds will provide extra storage space for each child to store their
personal items.

For other furniture items, it’s okay to mix and match. But if the siblings have similar personal items, be sure to
label the items with their names so that there won’t be any bickering about who owns what.

Finally, some other furnishings you may want to include in the sibling’s bedroom are:

* Lamps
* Window treatments
* Clocks
* Throw pillows
* Area rug(s)
* Wall hooks
* Wall art (posters)
* Shelving
* Toy box bench
* Waste bin

These are just a few of the ways you can keep siblings sharing a bedroom happy. Just be a little creative, ensure that each has his or her own personal space, and everything should work out fine. Happy decorating!

Michael Holland is the creator of the Web sites http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His sites offer lots of FREE home decorating tips and ideas.

Because www.gardendirect.co.uk was created around nineteen ninety six it has with momentum become one of a winning mail order suppliers of plants. From the current 12 years which Garden Direct have been operating GardenDirect.co.uk now have two million buyers who have been interested with real convenience, champion price tags, the best value for money with always high quality plants and garden tools. www.gardendirect.co.uk’s supply are so varied; GardenDirect.co.uk are also regularly respected for their different flower sorts which are also continually brought to said range, that of course includes garden tools & add ons that can help buyers to grab the very greatest for their precious garden. GardenDirect.co.uk sell in excess of 130 million greatest select flowers each and every year, the vast majority farmed in GardenDirect.co.uk’s own farm, all this allows you to be sure about a get & be sure that what you yourself have ordered are of the best standard. If you are looking for garden tools then look at the extensive range available online from Garden Direct.

The business also give the choice of a catalogue aimed at people to inspect through & buy from in some own time. They sell the best variety from classic favourites to lots of extraordinary forms folk might not observe from most gardening stores; the catalogue may additionally integrate a selection of seasonal special offers also. The online store supply distinct options of shrub plants which one will often purchase in www.gardendirect.co.uk’s online store. People might either go for a plug, ready or super seeding. All of which are totally variant, plug plants, distributed at 4-6cm tall in a plug of compost the above mentioned properties can be found the best great value for money, you then have the larger set plants that are distributed at at 6-8cm high & being further older can often be set direct into the garden, last but not least you have super flower plants these are idyllic for people that have less time to spare, distributed at 9-11cm high they don’t forget could be directly set into the precious garden.

Along with flower plants GardenDirect.co.uk have the normal gardening products that you may acquire; the above consist of garden tools, garden sheds and gardening shears along with numerous others.

Here is a simple plan to help your child/teen keep their rooms clean. Don’t worry if the room is a disaster. Just set the timer for 15 minutes each day and get started. Continue clearing clutter each day until you find the tops of the dressers and the floor. By the end of the week, you will be amazed at the progress! When you are ready… start the weekly plan.

During the first few weeks, you may want to assist (or at least supervise). Start by making sure that everything in the room has a home. Don’t worry about perfect organization, just get the surfaces cleared off.

Supplies Needed
Trash bag
Laundry basket
Donate bucket - get rid of the items that they no longer love!
Assorted baskets or buckets for smaller items
Labels - labels make organizing easier

Every Day
Make the bed - have your child do this before the daily task

Monday
Clear all surfaces (dressers, table, nightstands, etc.)

Tuesday
Dust all surfaces - this should be easy since they are all cleared off.

Wednesday
Clear the floor (just the visible parts for today)

Thursday
Sweep or vacuum

Friday
Pick a spot - you or your child can pick one spot for the day. Make a list of all the problem spots in the room and slowly check them off.
- Under the bed
- Behind the dresser
- One dresser drawer
- One shelf
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________

Saturday
Change sheets and bring all laundry to laundry room

Sunday
Free Day - you can also use this as a make up day

Each week, make a mental note of the items that end up scattered about. Use baskets, boxes, shelves or create your own solution to keep these items together. You may need to try several different solutions before you find one that works. If something seems to be working… leave it alone!

Each day, encourage your child to perform the scheduled tasks. Give them a time limit and use a timer (15 minutes should be enough time). Don’t be too picky, just try to guide them. They will soon figure out that if they clear their dresser on Monday and throw everything on the floor, that on Wednesday they will have to pick that stuff up AGAIN when they clear the floor.

Remember… it only takes 15 minutes per day to keep your child’s bedroom neat and clean.

Jess Knutson provides parenting and WAHM information to stay at home moms. Visit www.FutureSAHM.com for free newsletters, business listing and more.

The fireplace has long been the favorite spot to gather in the American home. A place for warmth, the fireplace adds ambience, sparking memories that are to be treasured. With all the benefits that a fireplace can bring, there are some major downsides that if not addressed can cause a love for the fireplace to wane.

With soaring energy costs, the chief negative of having a fireplace has to be its inefficiency. When there is a fire burning, the fireplace does indeed radiate warmth in its general vicinity, but it also creates a convection current that can actually pull conditioned air out of the room and up the chimney causing your furnace to work overtime. When the fire is not burning, the fireplace has a damper which is supposed to block inside air from escaping and outside air from invading. The problem is that the damper is usually made of metal (this type of damper technology hasn’t changed in over 100 years!) and has no seal, which means that the damper is incredibly inefficient.

Your home has a dirty little secret - the fireplace that is designed to warm your house is actually doing the opposite and costing you hundreds of dollars in energy costs. Don’t fret - with a little investment of time and money, you can turn that inefficient fireplace into a powerhouse heater that will reduce your energy bills and add even more charm to your existing fireplace.

The following is a list of 4 things that you can do yourself to drastically reduce the heating costs associated with the inefficiency of your fireplace.

1. Top Sealing Dampers replace the fireplace throat damper and are installed at the top of the chimney. The top sealing damper has a seal that acts like a storm door keeping the expensive conditioned air inside the house and the outside air - outside. This principle works year round, whether you’re heating or cooling your house. This product can be purchased online and is easily installed by either a homeowner or a handyman.

2. A fireback is a cast iron plate that is placed at the back of your fireplace. Its purpose is to protect the back wall from fire damage and it usually features a design that adds to the homes decor. The fireback improves the fireplaces efficiency by absorbing the heat from the fire and radiating the heat back into the room.

3. A Fireplace Heater pulls fresh air from the room, circulates it through a chamber that is heated by the fire and then blows the heated air back into the room. These heaters are closed systems so no smoke from the fireplace is invading the home. Depending on which kind you purchase, these heaters can make a significant difference in your homes temperature, even heating a full room on its own. Specific fireplace heaters can be installed with fireplace glass doors which will kick your cost savings up another notch.

4. Fireplace Glass Doors will likely carry the largest investment, but you can reduce some of that cost by doing some of the work yourself. There are a number of fireplace doors that can be purchased online and come with easy to install instructions. The fireplace glass door creates a barrier between the living space and the chimney, thus reducing the area that your furnace will have to heat. This alone is a good reason to install these doors, but it’s not the only reason. Fireplace glass doors offer another level of safety for the home by protecting children and pets from the fire. If you have a wood burning fireplace you will want to purchase the screen mesh that is designed to go with the fireplace glass doors. This will allow you to have the doors open while the fire is burning and still have your home protected from sparks and embers. Fireplace glass doors are now being manufactured with modern designs and really add beauty and charm to the fireplace.
If you’re handy, all of these suggestions are easy to accomplish. In addition, all of the products, while difficult to find locally, can easily be purchased online. If you’re concerned about high energy costs but you want to keep your fireplace, then it’s time to plug up the holes in your monthly energy budget by plugging up the holes in your fireplace.

Marcus Dallacqua
Woodland Direct
www.woodlanddirect.com

Your bathroom vanity is the only major piece of furniture you have in your bathroom. Whether you are building a new home and looking for that perfect vanity or replacing an old one, it is important to choose well. Your bathroom vanity will make a big difference in how your bathroom looks, and you will live with it for many years.

When choosing the parts for a bathroom vanity, you will find you have many options. Styles can be traditional or contemporary. There is a variey of wood available. You can purchase all-in-one vanities or look at each piece separately.

When picking out countertops, choose something durable. If you plan to place a hot hair dryer on the surface on occasion, make sure it is heat resistant. Most will work with hot air appliances, but some materials stain from the heat easier than others.

The sink should be durable. Materials for the sink present somewhat of a trade-off. While materials such as stone are unlikely to crack or chip, they stain easier than some materials and repair presents a problem. Porcelain, though it cracks and chips more easily, is commonly used. Porcelain is cheaper to purchase and easy to repair.

Cabinetry should be big enough to store whatever you need to store, but small enough so that it doesn’t take up the entire bathroom. Materials should be easy to clean and not affected by moisture.

You’ll want some sort of mirror above the sink. In addition to being functional, mirrors add elegance. Some people like to add even more functionality by adding a mirrored medicine chest.

Lighting is important to your bathroom. You don’t want blazing, harsh light, but you do need enough to illuminate the room comfortably. You can find fixtures with lights in almost any multiple you wish. Some are softer, some less soft. The size and color of your room will help to determine what is right for you. A light on top of the mirror will give you good illumination, while lights on the side reduce shadows on your face.

Your bathroom vanity will be the centerpiece of your bathroom. You want one that is functional, yet adds personality to the room. Thanks to the wide variety of bathroom vanities available, you should be able to purchase a durable bathroom vanity that also suits your sense of style.

http://bathroomsdesignsi.com
Everything you need to know about bathroom designs.

What exactly is mold? There are over 100,000 different kinds of mold in the world so it is literally everywhere. Molds are organisms and are members of the fungus family. Mushrooms, mildew and yeast are also part of this lucky family. They have been given the job in nature of decomposing dead plant material such as leaves, bark, wood etc. If we didn’t have mold we would be finding ourselves totally covered by a pile of leaves. We also wouldn’t enjoy eating cheese or using penicillin because they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for mold. However, as with some family members, we love them when they aren’t visiting our house. We enjoy talking on the phone or sending e-mails, but they need to stay at their place. When mold starts digesting organic material in the home, that’s where the problems occur.

Mold spores settle in a house, but they need moisture and humidity to grow and digest what they have settled on. There are literally spores everywhere from attic to basement and on everything in between. If mold spores are released into the air you can be exposed simply by breathing. You can also make direct contact with them by picking up moldy material outside when raking the leaves, or by eating moldy food. When excess moisture comes in through a leaky roof, or it’s too humid in the basement, or when kids take off their sweat socks and stuff them in the drawer, you have ideal conditions for growing mold. Since it is impossible to rid the home of the spores, the only thing you can do to control the growth of mold is to control the moisture. If you see little thread like clusters of black stuff in a bathroom or basement wall, you are looking at mold. You may also be able to smell a musty closet and this also tell you there is a problem. Don’t rely on just sight and smell. Molds have a tendency to hide behind walls and up in ceiling tiles as well. The most common places you will find mold is where you have the most usage of water. This would be the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and basement. If you have plumbing leaks or a flooding problem, mold can’t wait to move in. If you want to control the problem at the source, go to where the water is.

• All leaks must be repaired. Get the water away from your house outdoors also. Standing water can seep inside.

• Install exhaust fans in the room with the most water usage

• Be sure to get air circulation going with clean air from outside. Warm air also inhibits growth.

• Ensure roper ventilation in the attic.

• Remove or replace damaged furniture and carpets, or at least clean them well.

• Vacuum and clean the house regularly.

• Get dehumidifiers in the house in more than just the basement if necessary.

Mold and mildew can really affect your health which is why you should be so careful when it comes to controlling the moisture in your home. If you are a relatively healthy person that doesn’t have sensitivity to allergies or asthma, you may not have adverse affects of the mold. However, if you do have sensitivity and allergies, you may experience skin rash, itchy eyes and runny nose, cough, fatigue, nausea, congestion and more. If you also have lung problems, heavy smoker, or your immune system is suppressed, you may have problems also.

If you are considering buying a new home or just want to be healthy in your present one, check all of the areas thoroughly that are normally exposed to water, and then check the places that aren’t. You may be surprised what you find because the Fungus Family may have moved in without you knowing about it.

Mae Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying ceiling fans, portable air conditioners, air filters and more. Her many articles can be found at http://www.portable-air-conditioner-4u.com/dehumidifier.htm. She gives information and tips at http://www.portable-air-conditioner-4u.com/index.htm to help you save money and make informed buying decisions.