Several years ago I found myself the lucky winner of 3 free sessions of life coaching. I was ecstatic! I was pumped! I couldn’t wait to start! After the excitement of winning something waned, I realized that I had no idea what to do with those 3 sessions. I’d never purchased the services of a life coach. I had no idea what one did or how one could benefit me. Okay, so I had a vague idea. I knew they talked to people…other people. Maybe people who had no idea what they wanted in life. But that wasn’t me. Or was it? Did I really have my act together? Hmm….maybe I could use some life coaching.
As my first session approached, the ‘coach’ sent me some questions to mull over, fill out, and send to her. As my last session ended, I knew I had more focus in my life and I had identified a few areas that I really needed to work on. So, should you hire a life coach? You should if: Your business is growing faster than you can keep up You deal with difficult people You’ve lost your job You’ve decided to change career paths You need to balance your career and family Your creativity has stagnated When shopping for a life coach, this is what you should look for: Certification by an accredited professional school References Someone with which you feel a comfortable connection A free sample session A reasonable fee Benefits of life coaching: You can define & design a plan to achieve your goals You can identify and eliminate obstacles to your goals Find a way to a joy-filled life Find a way to success Did my 3 sessions benefit me? Most definitely. I defined several areas in my life that could use some work. I also began focusing more on my strengths rather than my weaknesses. Doing this allowed me to become more successful and less stressful than I had been prior to my life coaching. Best advice is to do your research and find a certified life coach that best fits your personality and offers the type of coaching you need or want. Also, look for a coach that offers a fee you can afford. Currently life coaches charge between $40-$500 per session. Prices may vary depending on the area you live in. Should you hire a Chicago life coach? Only you can answer that question. Realize that a life coach is not there to do the work for you. You must be committed to make the necessary changes to get you from where you are to where you want to go. The choice is yours!
Life Coach: Should You Hire One?
Transform Landscape Edging into Outdoor Metal Wall Decor
Landscape edging can make beautiful wall decor for your garden or the facade of your home. Metal landscape edging that looks like miniature fences can be hung in a line to create graceful metal wall decor between two windows. More ornate metal landscape edging can be hung in the shape of a square to create garden metal wall decor. While plastic landscape edging can be used to create wall decor around windows. Here are the simple ways landscape edging can be used to create affordable outdoor wall decor to ornament the facade of your home and garden.
Transform Landscape Edging into Metal Wall Decor for the Facade of Your Home
To create metal wall decor between two windows that face the street, begin by measuring the space, so as to know how many landscape edging pieces you will need. Next, at your home lawn improvement garden center choose metal landscape edging that looks beautiful and filled with rustic charm. You can run one line of landscape edging with the spikes facing down for a single metal wall decor between your two windows. Or two lines, with the spikes facing one another, for a double-sided metal wall decor. Hang the landscape edging with nails hammered in at an angle, to fold over the landscape edging and keep your metal wall decor firmly in place.
Transform Landscape Edging into Metal Wall Decor for Your Garden
More ornate landscape edging can make beautiful metal wall decor for your garden. Simply buy four landscape edging pieces, then hang them in a square, with the metal spikes meeting at the center in a crisscross pattern.
Transform Landscape Edging into Wall Decor Around Outdoor Windows
Plastic landscape edging is more versatile than metal landscape edging because you can easily cut the spikes off. After the spikes are removed, you’ll be left with the ornamental part of the landscape edging alone. Hang these under windows or around them, to create beautiful wall decor on the street facade of your home.
Transform Landscape Edging into Outdoor Metal Wall Decor
Kitchen Remodeling
Affordable Kitchen Remodeling – Remodeling a kitchen, just like a bathroom is one of the most expensive renovation projects of your house and it may sometimes go far beyond your expected budget. However, certain steps, if implemented can give it a great look without redoing the entire kitchen. It is also advisable to hire a kitchen contractor for innovative renovation ideas for your Federal Way kitchen remodeling.
Refinish your old cabinets and countertops With any remodeling project, the main idea is to give a new look to the existing one and make it more functional. So, it is not necessary to change the entire layout of your kitchen. By just refinishing your kitchen cabinets and granite countertops according to your changing needs and preferences, you can solve your purpose in a minimum possible budget. Improving the doors of the cabinet, its handles and even its paint can make a world of difference.
Laminate Flooring If you wish to change the flooring of your kitchen to give it a new look, it is advisable to go for laminate flooring and make your Federal Way kitchen remodeling affordable. They are cheaper in comparison to woods and tiles and come in a wide variety of patterns.
Coat the wall with new paints A very easy way to give a fresh look to your kitchen is to coat the walls with new paint. Coating is quite affordable and with the help of Federal Way kitchen remodeling experts, you can select a good color and enhance the overall décor. To make it interesting, coat one of the walls with a bright color such as crimson red, forest green or sunny yellow and rest of the walls with any light color.
Update the Faucet and Sink Another area in your kitchen where you can easily impart a new look in your Federal Way kitchen remodel is the sink and faucet. You can easily get a moderately priced sink and faucet that can add an element of freshness in your kitchen. They are available in a variety of style, finish and color, which you can select as per your preferences and tastes.
Add a backsplash If you have a shoestring kitchen remodeling budget, and you can only afford to focus on one aspect, you may add a kitchen backsplash. A new backsplash can really dress up an otherwise boring and uninspiring kitchen. Backsplashes are available in a variety of materials, styles and colors. You can add tiles sideways like a diamond to impart a unique look and also save money because of the fewer number of tiles used in this style.
Seek professional advice You can also seek advice from professional remodeling experts in Federal Way or nearby areas in Washington such as Seattle or Tacoma, who can suggest the best option for making your kitchen remodeling affordable. Take detailed bids from them for their services for the entire work proposed by them. Even though they will charge some fee for their services, they may help you save a lot of money by their useful advice.
Kitchen Remodeling
Accidents happen, and sometimes that accident involves a certain object hitting the wall, missing the stud, and well… going through the wall. So now the dream house has an ugly gaping hole somewhere in there. While placing a large picture over the hole may seem like a viable (and inexpensive) solution, it’s not a good idea.
The reason home repairs cost so much is not because the work itself is difficult, though it may be at times, but because of the time used to fix the hole. As a rule, the repairman is not only going to charge for travel time and gas, but he is also charging for other contingiency plans, such as extra trips to the store for various reasons, like picking up the drywall or buying extra supplies.
Most of the time, drywall repair is easy to do, but there are times when Murphy is just itching to get a good laugh. At those times, you just have to go with your instincts and call in a pro. But for an enthusiasts who is willing to take on job that requires a little skill and imagination, doing this repair yourself can save a lot of cash.
This job is a little different because you have to do things out of the usual order. So before you head out the door and buy supplies, the first thing you want to do is begin some of the prepratory work and inspect the damage.
Begin by using a knife to cut a square around the hole. This hole does not have to be perfect, but it shouldn’t be any larger than it has to be. Cut the square, or squares if it must be, to the studs on each side of the hole. Pull the drywall off the stud and remove the nails. While you are there, it is a good idea to see the condition of the stud. Usually there is nothing wrong with the stud. What is important is seeing the handywork used by whomever built the wall. Sometimes there are truly bizarre findings. For example, I once worked on a repair where the drywall was attached to a pile of drywall. The patch of drywall was then attached to the stud. In other words, I was looking at three layers of drywall. If I hadn’t done the preparation work first, I would not have known that I would need to buy two different sizes of drywall in order to match the wall. This saved me a lot of time and an extra trip to the store, though I did waste a few minutes scratching my head.
Usually, nothing too far afield is going to be found. The main purpose of doing the prepratory work is to see what size drywall you need. Although the standard drywall thickness is half-inch, you simply don’t know until you see it.
The supplies for drywall repair are simple: drywall, drywall nails, hammer, drywall sandpaper, and drywall mud.
The key to drywall repair is exact measurement. It is a good idea to cut the new drywall a little too large and scrape it down so that it fits snugly inside the hole. The common error in drywall repair is using tape. When you repair drywall, you do not use tape. Just take the mud and put it on the crack. Like normal drywall work, you will need to put too much mud on and let it dry.
Drying usually takes about 24 hours. When the mud is dry, use the drywall sandpaper to to scrape it down. When you are sanding the mud, be sure to feather it out across the wall. The more you feather it, the less visible any bumps from the repair will be, so it is not a problem to have the dust spread about a foot away from the repair.
After you are satisfied that the wall is smooth, take a damp cloth and remove all the dust. The final step is painting. It is best to simply paint the entire wall, and depending on how old the paint is, you may want to paint the entire room.
Drywall Repair: How To Fix a Hole in the Wall?
With the expiration of the federal housing tax credit, existing home sales plummeted 32.7 percent in May to the lowest level in four decades, according to the Department of Commerce. Those who lost out on $8,000 in tax credits are now pondering whether to keep shopping or stay put.
Home owners who decide to not to sell should focus on adding value to their homes as they wait for the right time to jump back into the housing market. Here’s a look at three home improvement projects that can boost your home value now.
Kitchen Remodeling is Here to Stay
The kitchen remains the prized room in the house, but it should be remodeled with care in today’s market. Create a realistic budget and consult with a real estate agent about what is expected in your neighborhood and what will set your house apart. Check out the best Granite and quartz countertops Inventory in the Arizona.
One big plus for anyone remodeling or installing granite in your home right now is the reduced cost of labor and household products. As contractors, plumbing suppliers and cabinet-makers work through the recession, they are willing to cut deals that can translate to 20- to 30-percent savings to the home owner, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Industry.
With a budget of $5,000 to $10,000, you can create a whole new face for your kitchen. New granite countertops, a nice hutch and some smaller details are just the start, according to Kitchen and Bath Ideas.
Focus on upgrading the main elements — cabinetry, countertops and appliances — while adding in a few “wow” factors, such as a stainless steel backsplash or a high-arching faucet. Whenever possible, reuse what you have. Your kitchen appliances can be refurbished by building decorative cabinetry around them. Cabinetry can be refaced or painted to create a new look.
By focusing on a timeless look, you can create a dream kitchen that will attract buyers in two, five or 10 years.
Add a Spot for Outdoor Entertainment
Outdoor rooms are all the rage these days, as home owners in different climates — Chicago to Atlanta to San Francisco — look for ways to extend their interior living space to the outdoors. Among the options for boosting your home value (and enjoyment level) are a new patio or deck, complete with a pergola, trellis or nearby gazebo or pond.
Select one or two spaces for seating and add in comfy chairs, decorative seat cushions and a few furniture pieces to give it a decorator’s look. It’s also easy to create an outdoor kitchen area with a grill, portable refrigerator and a small countertop. You’ll have an exciting new space and added curb appeal for future home buyers.
Speaking of Curb Appeal
Curb appeal remains a vital element in selling, as it can pull people in or prompt them to drive by without seeing all those fancy interior upgrades. Start by taking a look at your home from across the street. What stands out or blends into the neighborhood? A red door, a new white picket fence, fresh paint and new shutters are among the remodeling projects that can add an attractive finishing touch.
In neighborhoods where the homes have similar styling, try expanding your front stoop, adding a large perennial garden or a curved brick sidewalk. Anything that can set your home apart can pay big dividends when you decide to jump back into the housing market.
Can’t Sell? Three Remodeling Projects Will Boost Your Home’s Value
Why You May Need to Hire a House Cleaner
Many think of a house cleaner as an extra and unnecessary expense, while others see it as an opportunity to make time for themselves and relax a bit. For those who see having a house cleaner as a luxury, read on, as it may actually improve the quality of your life greatly, to those who already have a house cleaner in the first place, you can take a second look and see if you really need one, especially in these hard and difficult times. In the end it is you who will decide if a house cleaner is for you, this is just a guide to help you decide on what to do.
Now it is time for you to decide as to whether or not you should hire a house cleaner. First and foremost should probably be your financial capacity. Can you afford to pay for a house cleaner in the first place? Are you willing to set aside a part of your monthly budget to specifically pay for this service? Are you the type of person who has a lot of spare time, or is all your time spent working, and once you get home you are spent?
Answer these questions first, and if you finally decide to hire a house cleaner you have to choose which type of house cleaner you want.
House cleaners come in two varieties, first those who are part of a company where it is possible to have different cleaners each time they provide their services. This can be a double edged sword, because if there is a cleaner that you particularly like, you cannot request for him or her, you usually are bound by whom the company decides to send you. On the other hand, if you dislike a particular cleaner, it is easy to complain about their service, and they can send a more acceptable replacement the next time they come.
There are those house cleaners who own their business and go solo. They are not beholden to any company but themselves. The good thing about this is that their reputation is at stake with whatever they do whether good or bad. This means that they are usually more careful in providing their services and you can generally get good results. But before anything you should check if they are bonded or insured, so you can decide beforehand if you are willing to take this risk.
You should also do prior research, compare rates, services included, who provides what? There is no harm in canvassing to get the best bang for your buck, after all, it is your hard earned money.
Why You May Need to Hire a House Cleaner
How to Make Your Counseling Sessions Work for You
Counseling is a process during which you- the client can learn to make changes to improve yourself and your life. Counseling can be reflective and educational. The goal of counseling is to allow you to get to a healthier stage in your life. Many clients go in to counseling with the misunderstanding that they will be all better after their first or second session. Healing is a process and counseling is not a pain pill you take. It is a journey you undertake to help yourself with the assistance of a trained professional.
1. In order for the counseling session to be effective to you, you will need to address your resistance to the counselor’s suggestions/feedback. The counselor is not someone who will make you feel better. You will have to do that yourself. The counselor will show you ways to improve yourself but ultimately you will be the one doing the work.
2. No matter what your issue is, try to be honest and open to the counselor’s feedback during your sessions. If you need more directives versus reflection, ask your counselor for homework. Some examples of homework are journaling, bilbiotherapy, or completion of work book assignments. Be receptive to the feedback you receive. If there is something you are not clear on, ask. The counselor can not read your mind.
3. Try not to blame the counselor or others for your lack of progress. Emotional healing is something you have to be seeking and willing to achieve.
Some counseling options are: individual therapy, family, marriage/couple’s counseling and group therapy.
How to Make Your Counseling Sessions Work for You
Tow Trailer Lighting: A Primer on Troubleshooting and Repairs
Many types of tow-behind trailers depend on the simple plug in hook-up to enable the turn signal, brake and tail lights, to operate correctly. Whether it’s a tow behind RV, boat trailer, or small utility trailer, they all use basically the same system. If your vehicle has a tow package already installed it is just a matter of converting the trailer plug to the one on your vehicle. The most common type of plug is the four prong. This is a flat plug with three female and one male on one end with the matching end being three male and one female. There are also several round plugs with a six and seven prong set up.
To make it much easier you can buy adapters to match different plugs on the tow vehicle and trailer. Most major auto parts stores carry a wide variety. These come in handy if you have more than one trailer with each having a different plug type. In some businesses this isn’t all that uncommon.
Sooner or later after the trailer has a few years on it you will inevitably have lighting problems. Usually you don’t know there’s a problem until you are ready to use the trailer. The last time you used it everything worked perfectly and now the lights are acting screwy or not working at all.
A bad ground on the trailer can cause many lighting problems. For instance, when you activate your turn signal both of the lights will blink. They may stay on and blink, or they may just stay on. The towing ball and the receptacle for it is used as a link of the grounding system itself. This is done to eliminate extra wiring and works well most of the time.
The lights themselves have to be grounded to the trailer frame to complete the circuit and enable the lights to perform properly. Check to be sure a clean surface is available for the lights to complete the circuit. A 12 volt test light with a sharp probe is the best to use for this application. It has a clip on ground wire which enables you to check the electricity going to the lights themselves.
Before you connect the trailer to the vehicle, use the probe to check the power coming from the plug on the vehicle. Attach the ground clip and turn the parking lights on the vehicle on. By inserting the probe into the prong holes you can see which hole carries the tail light current. Repeat this with the turn signals and brake lights. Having someone to push the brakes is helpful.
If everything checks out here the problem is on the trailer end. By using the test probe you will be able to completely check each individual light for proper grounding and good power connections. The probe is easier to use than an ordinary voltage meter because it leaves one hand free.
The sharp probe can be used to check for a broken wire by pushing it through the insulation at points along the wire until the light inside the probe handle doesn’t light up. In most cases replacing the entire wire is preferred but in some cases, such as in RV’s the wire cannot be exposed because of an area being inaccessible.
By clipping the ground wire on the probe to the metal frame or metal covering of the particular trailer you can check the power to the light assembly itself. By removing the bulb and activating the turn signal the probe can be inserted into the socket to check for a closed circuit.
Do not touch the inside of the socket itself. A fuse can easily be blown by touching the contact point where the wire enters and touching the socket wall at the same time. This will also tell you if a bad bulb is the problem. If the light in the probe glows and the bulb doesn’t work a new bulb is probably the answer.
Usually the white wire on the trailer end of the plug is the ground. In many cases it is attached directly to the frame. Many times this contact point will rust or become corroded causing the ground to be bad. Often this is simply a self tapping bolt with the wire wrapped around it. A thorough cleaning with steel wool or sand paper will often solve this problem.
I have observed many different ways to attach the ground wire to the frame even soldering. Sometimes it is just better to reattach the wire in a new spot. Using a flat, round crimp on terminal will usually give a better ground than just wrapping a wire around the bolt. Once again, your local auto parts supply can help you.
Sometimes though, the lighting system itself is so corroded that replacing the entire thing is the best way to go. For RV’s, you may be able to replace the old lights with new ones by ordering them from the company. Usually the wiring is good and the fixtures themselves have become corroded. It is a simple matter to unscrew the wires, one at a time and connecting them to the proper spot.
On other types of trailers such as a boat trailer, the light fixtures attach directly to the frame and replacing the wiring is a snap. Be sure the surface contacted by the fixture is clean and shiny. If you do a lot of towing, or even just on occasion, learning how the system works and how to use the test light probe will save you a lot of time and frustration.
Tow Trailer Lighting: A Primer on Troubleshooting and Repairs
Acupuncture: An Effective Form of Alternative Medicine
At a point in my life when I seemed to be changing prescriptions daily, I turned to alternative medicine. I was desperate to relieve the daily headaches and stomach pain.
At my husband’s insistence I made an appointment with an acupuncturist. My acupuncturist was very calm and soothing.
I was still very tense. I was afraid of the needles. I was afraid of the size I thought he would use. I was extremely scared of the number of needles he would need to use.
Before we began the first session he explained that I was in control of the number of needles and how deep the needles were inserted. He showed me the tiny size of the needles. I began to breathe easier.
He gave me five minutes to lie down and listen to relaxing music before out session began. I discovered I was very receptive to acupuncture. Do to this discovery he reduced the number of needles we used the first day.
When the session was over I felt relaxed. The pain and anxiety I had been suffering had lessened. For several months the alternative medicine, of acupuncture kept my pain under control.
Finally, I was forced to see a specialist. After spending a week in the hospital they removed my gall bladder.
When I was released from the hospital I went back to my acupuncturist for pain control. I react poorly to pain medication. Acupuncture was able to control my pain and aid in the healing from my surgery.
I would recommend attending an acupuncturist pre and post op. In my experience it helps control the pain, while shortening healing time.
In searching for an acupuncturist ask for referrals among your friends including your doctor. Find out if the acupuncturist will bill your insurance and determine if your insurance covers acupuncture.
Determine the length and type of training. What type of needles does the acupuncturist use? What is the cost? Is there a higher fee for the first visit? Will the acupuncturist be able to provide you with an estimated timeline for visits?
Do not be afraid to try this ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine.
Acupuncture: An Effective Form of Alternative Medicine
Homemade Cleaning Wipes
Did you know that you can save money by making your own cleaning wipes? It is very easy to do too. All you need to do is get your favorite cleaning product and a roll of very stronge paper towels. You will also need an airtight plastic container to hold your wipes.
Instructions
Take your roll of paper towels and tear off 12 sheets Divide these sheets into two (You now have 24 wipes)
Place the paper towels in your plastic container
Pour your favorite cleaner onto the paper towels (Do not over-saturate the towels)
Use decorative containers to store your wipes (Keep them in all of your rooms throughout your home)
If you decorate them carefully, no one will ever know that you have cleaning wipes so handy throughout your home
Keeping your wipes in decorative containers will benefit you in a couple of ways. First, you will not have to worry about storage issues and secondly, they will be easy to get to. This will encourage you to clean more often.
Examples of handiness
You may be watching television in your living room. At a commercial break, you realize that there is some hand prints on a light switch nearby. Go to your handy container and grab a wipe. Presto!!! The hand prints are gone and you didn’t even need to drag out all of the supplies.
You are in the restroom and realize that the mirrors are dirty. Grab your glass wipes that are handy. Wallah!!! Your housework just got easier.
Homemade baby wipes are great to have around the house also. It is quick and easy to grab some for the dirty little hands and faces. You won’t mind sharing them with the rest of the family because they are so cost effective. Have fun making all kinds of different scents too.
Cost Effectiveness
Once you realize how many wipes you can make out of one roll of paper towels, you will be amazed at how much money you will be saving. These wipes will also not go to waste. Only make as many as you need at a time. This way you will ensure that they do not dry out like some of the products on the market.
Homemade Cleaning Wipes
What is the Cause of Endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis is still unknown. One theory is that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen, where it implants and grows. Another theory suggests that endometriosis may be a genetic process or that certain families may have predisposing factors to endometriosis. In the latter view, endometriosis is seen as the tissue development process gone awry.
According to the theory of traditional chinese medicine, endometriosis is a disease which is caused by the stagnation of blood. Blood stagnation may occur due to one or more abortions or lower abdominal or pelvic surgeries. Additionally, engaging in sexual intercourse during menstruation may very likely over time cause blood stagnation. Emotional trauma, severe stress, physical or emotional abuse can all lead to the stagnation of blood. Additionally, diet may be a precipitating factor. The constant, long term ingestion of cold foods can congeal blood and thus contribute to the stagnation thereof. Cold foods include raw vegetable, ices, ice cream, ice in drinks, frozen yogurt, etc. Remember, cold congeals. Think about what happens to a normal glass of water when put in the freezer. It turns to ice. The blood is affected similarly. That is to say, it congeals, doesn’t flow smoothly and can form endometrial adhesions, chocolate cysts, uterine fibroids. Whatever the cause of endometriosis, its progression is influenced by various stimulating factors such as hormones or growth factors. In this regard, investigators are studying the role of the immune system in activating cells that may secrete factors which, in turn, stimulate endometriosis.
