Home Improvement - Get Top Returns For Your Home Remodeling Investment

Home improvement projects do not always payoff as an investment, but then we seldom undertake a project for purely monetary reasons. More often than not we want to remodel a kitchen or bathroom, convert a garage or do some other project simply to make living a little "better". The increased value of our home is of secondary consideration. Nevertheless, it is a consideration and is a very effective way of increasing the value of a home.

The goal of most home improvement projects is generally to add more space or light to an existing room or to improve and modernize the house or apartment utilities such as kitchen, bathroom, garage, or heating. Home improvement projects such as these not only preserve or even enhance the value of a property but often add a higher degree of safety.

Return On Investment - A Brief Guide

The following is presented as a guide only to assist you in deciding which project to undertake first if money is a consideration and multiple projects are being planned.

• Kitchen remodel (minor) in Connecticut = 125%
• Kitchen remodel (major) in Kentucky = 92%
• Bathroom remodel in Oregon = 90%
• Bathroom remodel in Missouri = 96%
• Master bedroom in Florida is 86%
• Basement remodel in California = 98%
• Exterior paint in Pennsylvania = 90%

Kitchens - A Place To Start

Kitchen remodeling may include such items as new or re-faced cabinets, counter tops, flooring and appliances. Redesigning your kitchen to enhance work flow in meal preparation will make cooking a much more pleasant experience and add to the resale appeal of your home. Obviously, kitchen remodeling can be a major renovation project, however there are many do it yourself home improvements that can be done in the kitchen. Vinyl laminate flooring is ideal for a small budget kitchen home improvement job.

Bathroom Are Going Upscale

If you are trying to increase the value of your home by improving just one room in the house, you might well want to consider the bathroom. This is definitely a place to take a hint from the current crop of new homes being built. Luxurious bathrooms are in vogue. Today, a major bathroom upgrade could and probably should be one of the most luxurious renovations you do in the entire home. Particular attention needs to be paid to the sink and counter top. Your eyesight naturally goes there when entering a bathroom. The large home improvement store such as Lowes' and Home Depot can supply you with just about anything that you can dream of today.

Basements - A Caution

Before undertaking a basement remodel be sure you have moisture under control. Damp or literally wet basements are a problem in many areas. This can usually be easily corrected by a professional but be sure to get several bids before doing this. Basement moisture control is one area noted for scams and/or shoddy, unnecessary work.

General

Home improvement is generally done with the intention of adding some space to an existing room or to add some light to the room. Keep in mind that a building permit is usually required when performing structural work or when a home's basic living area is changed.

Planning for home improvement is like planning for a war; no matter what your estimation as to cost and time is, it will probably take longer and cost more than you estimated. Unlike war, however, home improvement is usually worth it. Home improvement is a really a good investment, producing both a better place in which to live and an increase in the long term value of your house.

Summary

Home improvement includes the repairing, remodeling, altering, converting, modernizing or adding to residential property. It is not an exact science. Any home improvement project needs to be carefully planned with professionals consulted when needed. If adding value is your prime consideration, plan first on upgrading the kitchen and bathroom which offer the best return for you home improvement dollar.

Gerry Marsh is a successful author and publishes several websites in the areas of real estate and insurance. For more information on home improvement see his Home Improvement and Kitchen Remodeling sites.

Pythagorean Stair Theorem

The Law Of Attraction Will Destroy Your Life

You read the title of this article correctly, the law of attraction will destroy your life. It will tear you apart from head to toe, destroy your life, and make you as miserable as a fat kid in dodge ball. Of course the law of attraction will destroy your life, and anyone who argues about it obviously has no idea what the law of attraction is or how it works.

The law of attraction will make your relationships and love life horrible. It will never allow you to attract the love you desire to have. It will never allow you to have friendships that are open, honest, and real.

It will ruin you financially and cause you to be broke your entire life. It will cause you to live paycheck to paycheck week after week. It will keep you in the same pathetic financial cycles you have been experiencing your entire life.

Of course the law of attraction will destroy your entire life, if E4Dyou let it. See, the law of attraction will do anything, and everything you want it to. The sad part is that a huge majority of people use the law of attraction the wrong way. They use it to continue to live a life of misery, sadness, and sorrow.

The law of attraction can allow you to live the life of your dreams just as easily. Of course most people don't consciously use it to create that life, but instead self sabatoge and ruin their lives. But who am I to say anything, we all have the power of choice and it's not my fault if you don't choose to use it properly in order to live up to your full potential and start living the life you deserve to live.

The law of attraction can, and will give you anything and everything your heart desires. All you have to do is ask for what you want and you will get it. It works every time all the time, without exception.

The real question isn't whether or not the law of attraction works, because it does. Instead, the real question is what you truly want and whether or not your willing to start doing what is necessary to have those things you truly want and desire. Are you willing to consciously create and manifest the life of your dreams, or will you continue to let the law of attraction destroy your life.

The truth is that most people aren't willing to do what it takes to start living, manifesting, and attracting the life of their dreams. They would rather be lazy and let the law of attraction destroy their life. It's much easier to just let things go, let the law of attraction work in negative ways, and continue to think and feel negative thoughts and emotions.

Those who really deserve to live the life of their dreams are those who are willing to go after what they want. The people who are willing to face their inner demons and overcome their negative thinking and way of being in the world. These are the true warriors in life who deserve to have everything they want and desire.

Start working with the law of attraction and start overcoming those negative thoughts and emotions. Start consciously creating and manifesting the life of your dreams right here and right now. Start using the law of attraction to create your life instead of destroying it. Then, and only then, will you have truly become a master of your destiny.

Dwayne Gilbert is the founder of http://www.wealthylifesecrets.com and the Wealthy Life Secrets Program. He has been helping people to Unleash Their Potential for over 10 years. He has helped people from all walks of life to get on a better path and to create the life of their dreams. To learn more about the law of attraction and how to create the life of your dreams, visit http://www.wealthylifesecrets.com

Creative Memory Tricks
Can You See Your Dream

Law of Attraction - Is Wealth Mentality a Spiritual Principle?

There seems to be a lot of talk about religion surrounding the Law of Attraction, and it might be nice to put the focus back to where it belongs when working with this principle: on creating good feelings.

The truth is that whether we are talking about LOA or religion, it is of benefit to anyone to be able to feel good about themselves, and create good things in their lives.

If you google the words 'happy' and 'money' together, you may be amazed and saddened by all the search results just in the FIRST page that talk about money and happiness NOT being compatible.

Here is an example of the la1C84ck programming that gets fed to us, from none other than Ben Franklin:

"Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise man, rely upon it; "Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith.""

-- Benjamin Franklin

Is it any wonder we sabotage ourselves unconsciously when it comes to money?

This is the type of thinking that keeps so many people in poverty, and can be dissolved and transformed with new beliefs about financial abundance.

Spirituality can be wonderful, and so too can financial abundance...If nothing else, think of the greater amount of good you could do with more money, if this is where you need to focus to get this point.

Of course money itself is not the goal: money is just paper and metal...dig deeper and really it's just an IDEA that passes around in the ether these days, for the most part (that is a subject for another day!).

There is nothing wrong with wanting MORE, unless it becomes an endless obsession for some vacant promise in the 'someday', which robs you of all joy in your NOW moments.

Passion for creating more abundance; for expressing our gifts and receiving return for them on a massive scale is no more and no less than an expression of our ever-expanding Universe in action.

Abundance and prosperity include money AND happiness. Please see our FAQ's section on Breathing Prosperity for a further explanation of this.

For inspiration on how to expand your 'Prosperity Consciousness' click here.

Enjoy the ride - and direct it!

This is excerpted from the Breathing Prosperity blog - updated daily!

Shauna Arthurs is a writer/editor, Prosperity Coach and Co-founder/Owner of several web-based businesses, including Breathing Prosperity and

Daily Motivation as well as the Wealthy Women Foundation for struggling women.

How To Increase Your Brain Power
Secrets Of Living A Good Life

The Sedona Method Reviewed - Does The Sedona Method Really Work?

If you want to learn more about The Sedona Method as seen in the hit movie The Secret, then you will will want to read this article. Specifically, we will discuss how The Sedona Method uses the law of attraction as made popular by the movie in a unique way.

We will also discuss how you can use it any time, any where as well as some specific uses for it. After reading this article, you should have a more thorough understanding as why The SeA32dona Method has received positive reviews for years

One of the basic assumptions of The Sedona Method, as well as the law of attraction is that what we think about, we attract into our lives. What the movie The Secret (which I love by the way) leaves out is that approx 95-98% of our thoughts per day occur below the level of consciousness. So while we are trying to control the 3% of our conscious thoughts, the other 97% of our thoughts, which researches say are in the millions, occur below our level of consciousness and they can be possibly sabotaging your best efforts... sound familiar?

The Sedona Method unique approach to making the law of attraction work is by letting go of those negative, thoughts, emotions and programs from the subconscious mind that are causing you to attract what you don't want in life. For example, lets say you are tired of being broke (or anything for that matter). The simple fact that you don't like it and want to change it, you are holding it in mind and the more you hold it in mind and the more you dislike that situation, the stronger your thought vibration and the more you will attract what you dislike into your life.

Once you learn how to release all of your resistance and other negative emotions to being broke (or anything else), you will cease creating more of the same which will free you up to create more of what you do want

It is simply not enough to just focus on what you want because if you have subconscious programs to the contrary, they will win every time. That is why you see people getting mixed results with the Law Of Attraction. It works great if there is no subconscious resistance to what you want but can leave one disappointed if there are those programs lurking below your awareness

Another basic assumption with The Sedona Method is that how you do one thing is how you do everything. Most people that have trouble in one area of life often struggle in another area of life and that is because negativity is negativity. Once you learn how to release this negativity from your subconscious mind and life, you will find that many other areas of your life will clear up even though you didn't directly work on it.

In conclusion, the The Sedona Method is a simple, easy to use tool that allows you to release the negative programs that are negatively affecting your life. I hope this Sedona Method Review has been helpful and I thank you for taking time time to read my article.

-Brian

2A5

Feel Free To Check Out My NEW Book The Secret Behind The Secret To Learn More About The Sedona Method

Action is the foundational key to all success
Successfull Living

Exploding the Myths of Insulating Concrete Form Construction Technology

The insulating concrete forms (ICF) industry is rampant with inaccurate information. Some have been passed along by industry members, while others represent simple misunderstandings about the technology. Most of these misstatements are made by persons that simply lack the appropriate knowledge behind the information. The toughest part of researching ICFs is not finding the information, but sorting through all of the inaccurate information.

Virtually every aspect of the ICF industry is affected by misstated information, but the most common issues involve discussions of R-Value, waterproofing, and termites and bugs. R-value statements range from R-18 to R-50+. To explode this myth and get a clearer understanding of this myth, you will need a firm understanding of R-value and the difference between PERFORMANCE and TRUE R-values.

Myth 1: R-Value

An R-value is the measure of resistance (R) of heat flow. Heat flow can be resisted by insulating materials such as plastic foams or mineral fibers, or can be slowed by massive dense materials such as thick masonry or concrete. The larger the R-value, the greater the resistance and the better the insulating value.

All building materials transfer heat to some degree. Heat transfer can be measured by any of the following: 1. Conductivity (k); 2. Conductance (c); 3. Transmittance (U); 4. Resistance (R).

The ability of dense materials to retard heat flow depends on their ability to store heat and is measured by specific heat and heat capacity. (BTU per lb. Per degree F; Density lb. Per cu.ft.; Heat Capacity BTU per cu.ft. per degree F)

When it comes to stating R-values in residential construction, the insulation values applied to a wall or ceiling typically refer to the R-value of the insulation material that is installed, not of the wall or ceiling assembly. For example, when a 2x4 stud wall is insulated with R-11 batt type insulation, the builder states that the wall is an R-11. This is not totally accurate and is NOT TRUE since approximately 20% of the wall is not insulated at all. The wood framing and sheathing do have an R-value, but for the sake of making insulation claims, they add very little. The real R-value or PERFORMANCE R-value ends up between R-3 and R-9. Add to this, the fact that the wall is full of penetrations, such as electrical outlets etc. and the fact that the wall itself is basically hollow in nature. This added thought leads to another discussion on air leakage through the wall.

With ICF technology, the TRUE insulation value of the wall is that of the Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) since the EPS provides a continuous insulation plane from the footing to the top plate. The insulation value of the EPS is determined by the density and thickness of the material. Some ICF systems have EPS that is of differing thickness (waffle and post and beam systems) that typically average the thickness of the foam. This is, in my opinion, not an accurate measurement since a bucket with a hole in the bottom doesnt carry as much water as a solid bucket with a hole at the top. Most ICFs utilize EPS foam that has a density of approximately 1.5 lbs pcf to 2.0 lbs pcf. The insulation values differ only slightly in that range and depending on the testing laboratory, provide R-values between R-4 and R-4.5 per inch of EPS thickness.

The claim that ICF walls are an R-50 sB68tarted a few years ago after the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA) and several members commissioned CTL Laboratories in Chicago to perform some R-value testing and analysis. The summary of the report basically said that depending on the climate zone, the PERFORMANCE R-values for ICF technology is as high as an R-52 when COMPARED to typical wood frame and batt construction. In order to make the comparison correct, one must insure that the comparison is being done vs. the alternative to ICF on the particular project. On average, the performance R-value is much less than the claimed R-50. Research by the consumer must be done to clarify the comparison for the actual project. In short, ICF will PERFORM at an R-50, but that statement is not accurate as far as an insulation value goes.

For more information on insulation values, green building, and energy efficient building, try these websites for research:Energy Star Program, Concrete Homes. Do a Google search to find others many others. It is worth noting that there are many options for research on the internet and that I neither own nor control any of the suggested research links listed in this article.

Myth 2: Waterproofing

Yes, below grade concrete construction should always be waterproofed and this includes ICF technology. Three options include: dimpled membrane, peel and stick membrane, and roll-on/spray-on products. In some jurisdictions in the US, a combination of dimpled membrane and peel and stick membrane or roll-on/spray-on products must be used to meet local building codes. It is best to consult your local building code officials and your local ICF supplier to ensure that you meet the minimum code requirements and use only products that are compatible with EPS.

Myth 3: Termites and Bugs

According to the ICFA, the International Residential Code has provisions in the IRC to allow for foam to be used below-grade. The IRC stipulates in addition to chemical soil treatment, foam can be used below-grade on the exterior of the wall if one of the following requirements is met:

1. All interior partition walls and roof trusses are built of a non-combustible material such as steel studs or pressure treated lumber.
2. An approved method for protecting the foam plastic and structure is used.

Polyguard Underseal XT Waterproofing Membranes has an evaluation report that shows they are an approved method for protecting foam from termites below-grade. Checkout the Polyguard website for additional Polyguard information. Tip, you may want to install an aluminum termination bar along the top edge (AKA: termite stop-ant stop). One benefit, besides stopping insects, is that the termination bar helps out with screeding stucco, etc. 58Dover the foam which you will need to protect the exposed area of foam. Also, dont run your siding down to the grade. This is just another shortcut for ants, termites, and other insects to get up the wall and start nesting behind your siding.

Remember, these insects dont eat the foam, but they can burrow through it, especially in search of food. Eliminate the food source and eliminate the problem. Wood products can be totally replaced in your new home. There is no longer any reason to use wood products in areas of the US with high termite infestation. Consider steel framing, AZEK Trimboards and V-Buck for your next project and get the wood out! Although many additional myths exist and continue to thrive, it is important that you remain diligent in your information gathering. As you seek additional information, be sure to work with those that have the heart of a teacher. Seek those that have a passion for the industry and both understand and can explain the issues.

Eric Williams is the founder of the Get Ready to Win Network. Contact Eric at ericw01@yahoo.com or 928-255-5379. For more information about Eric, click here: ericwilliams.48dayscoach.com

The Dynamic Power of Hope

"If you ask (people) what they want in a leader, they usually list three things: direction or vision, trustworthiness, and optimism. Like effective parents, lovers, teachers, and therapists, good leaders make people hopeful." Warren Bennis, An Invented Life: Reflections on Leadership and Change

Someone once said to the bestselling author and television pastor, Robert Schuller, "I hope you live to see all your dreams fulfilled." He replied, "I hope not, because if I live and all my dreams are fulfilled, I'm dead. It's unfulfilled dreams that keep you alive."

Hope is one of the most powerful sources of energy ever known to humankind. Without hope, we slip from living to just existing. Hope charges our spirit and draws us forward to a better tomorrow. Hope helps us see beyond the problems to the possibilities. Hope gives life meaning. Hope helps us take responsibility for our choices. Hope stretches us and energizes our continuous growth and development. Hope urges us to go against the odds and do what everyone knows can't be done.

All the great achievements and tiny triumphs recorded through the history of civilization began as a hope, a dream, in someone's mind. An ancient Chinese proverb teaches, "Happiness is someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for."

"False hope" is an oxymoron; the two words don't belong together. Hope can't be false. It might be unfulfilled, but it can't be false. If hope makes me try a little longer, strive a little further, live a little more, dream a little clearer, or raise my expectations a little higher, how can it be false?

But in the face of despair, negativity, and feelings of helplessness, being hopeful is hard work. It's easier to reflect the temperature of a negative environment and be a pessimist. It doesn't take as much effort to give up hope and become a victim. Then it's somebody else's fault. It doesn't take much courage to be a cynic that sees things only as they are, not as they could be.

The 19th century American clergyman and abolitionist, Henry Ward Beecher, defined the feeble-mindedness of the pessimist or cynic as "one who never sees a good quality in a man and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game. The cynic puts all human actions into two classes openly bad and secretly bad."

A leader brings hope. That doesn't mean putting on rose-colored glasses, painting on a happy face, and avoiding problems by spouting cliches on positive thinking. Highly effective leaders help others deal with the reality of current problems by focusi59Bng their attention on what's possible. They use the dream of what could be as a magnet to draw everyone forward.

Highly energized cultures are charged with hopefulness and optimism. It's the dynamic power that mobilizes individuals and teams to make the improbable possible. It's the mark of a leader.

Excerpted from Jim's fourth bestseller, Growing the Distance: Timeless Principles for Personal, Career, and Family Success. View the book's unique format and content, Introduction and Chapter One, and feedback showing why nearly 100,000 copies are now in print at http://www.growingthedistance.com. Jim's new companion book to Growing the Distance is The Leader's Digest: Timeless Principles for Team and Organization Success. Jim Clemmer is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, workshop/retreat leader, and management team developer on leadership, change, customer focus, culture, teams, and personal growth. His web site is http://www.clemmer.net/articles.

Home Improvement Guide and Information

Scented Candles And The Love Of Your Dreams

a wandering lass dreaming again
walking happily in the rain
'loves to sing and dance
listens to music and wants a chance

a chance for what
she does not know
but deep down in her
her heart is aglow

looking for a spark to ignite
her feelings that are awaiting to alight
a stranger says hi
she looks at him with a sigh

she moves on and inhales the scented candle
the colours and scents enhance her and her feelings tremble.
amazing what a candle will do
with their soft colours of a delicate hue.

she glances to and fro her eyes dancing
blue eyes dancing in the mist of the flames forever enchanting
her dreams alive and wanting to soar
the scent filling her senses and she knows there is a lot more

my wings will fly and it will be soon
to walk bravely with my friend and lover under the starlit moon
dreaming of things that I want in my life
and not just be a silent waiting wife

This is tD75he epitome of a love gone astray for deep within the heart of this lady are the deep desires for love that have evaporated because her husband has forgotten who she is. The husband has misplaced the memory that brought them together and now sees her as his wife and possibly mother of their children and therefore her job is to be a housekeeper and home maker.

Nothing wrong with being a mother and housekeeper but the lady is also a woman who deserves to be treated with the respect the husband promised when they took their vows many moons ago. How far ago it seems to her that he looked into 'my eyes and asked me to marry him because he loved me so' and now where is his love?

Lover come back to me is the cry heard before the tryst develops because the wrong lover heard the tune and how sad it is that many forget how to love the one they married.

This is not only the practice of men it is also the mistake of women and wives to forget the man they once married with deep love echoing through the heavens. It is never too late, but it is a pity that this has to start at all and although it may be a desire for utopia we all know troubles come but they go too when the roots are planted deep so the worst storm will not uproot them. But like all roots they need nurturing and weeding and it cannot be said enough that it is essential to keep the fires of love alive through communication and adhering to the achievement of the goals for a great future.

Try not to let the goals and dreams get in the way of the fact that you are both humans with desires that need to be attended to and when all else fails it is the love that keeps you both together not the material possessions or anything that depletes your love and it is up to both of you to work it out.

Scented candles in a store can just as well be given to a wife by her husband as a predator on the prowl for a breaking heart. Husbands give your wives the love they deserve and wives give your husbands the love you promised when you gazed longingly at the future of your dreams. Practice the tango lamour and eventually you will both get it right and scented candles will be the fragrance in the background complimenting the flames you prevented from extinguishing.

Thomas J. Cummins is an entrepreneur / motivational / inspirational seeker for a better way of life for one and all to enjoy. I know you desire a better way of life and would like to know more about incredible resources both free and not; so go right ahead and contact me @ incaalpacatrail@hotmail.com for more information Dia Dhuit

Seefailure

Use A Dream Dictionary With Personal Reflection

A dream dictionary may seem overwhelming at first but the key to understanding how to use a dream dictionary is to use a little self evaluation along with the dream dictionary. Some details of your dream may have multiple meanings according to your dream dictionary. When this occurs it is necessary to do an internal examination to determine which definition is more applicable. It is through reflecting on your life and really thinking about your past as well as your current circumstances that it may become obvious which definition in the dream dictionary is more likely to be worthwhile in interpreting your dream.

A dream dictionary can often have the effect of causing the person using the dream dictionary to interpret their dreams to begin to reflect on their lives and on what is happening that can be causing these dreams. When this happens the dream dictionary is useful in not only explaining the meaning of a dream that may have been troubling but also in helping the person to deal with circumstances in their life that may be causing them concern. When you use a dream dictionary in this way, it is important to realize that just because the dream may contain certain symbols, it is only when combined with a little reflection that the person gains insight into their subconscious.

Todd runs the Dream Interpretations Guide website where you can find a large free online dream dictionary. Check it out today at: http://dreaminterpretationsguide20E.com

Real Estate Investing - The "Dream House" Effect

Several years ago I developed a philosophy in renovating houses which resulted in a finished product that I call a "Dream House" or "Doll House."

How many houses on the market today look very ordinary and less than perfect? How many look "Plain Jane?" What is the difference between these "average" houses and the house on the block that is strikingly different at even the distance of a windshield view?

The pronounced difference in the outstanding property offered for sale might be brilliant new lawn grass. Maybe the freshness and color combination of the house paint might stand out. Maybe some feature on the porch or in the yard catches everyone's attention. You know a property has captured this difference when everyone driving down the street is compelled to catch a glimpse at its uniqueness.

The exterior and interior of every house can be dressed up in some way to make it look spectacular!

I try to finish off my refurbished houses with a spit-shine look so they stand out in the crowd. When the 8C1exterior of a property draws attention to passersby, prospects are attracted to see its interior.

It's not always easy to create the best-looking house on the block. But the pay-off in short time on the market is dramatic.

Phil Speer, Ph.D., started his real estate investing career 25 years ago. Without the availability of credit and using only a $10 bill, he purchased $1 million in properties in his first year, and had accumulated $10 million in properties by his fourth year. http://www.CashinHouses.com/

He was featured in a Wall St.Journal editorial as most successful investor in the Nothing Down Real Estate Movement, and was honored with a Caribbean cruise as top investor of the year. In his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been a businessman and Human Resources Consultant for 30 years. He is an author, speaker and seminar director. To learn how to profit in real estate investing, even without cash or credit, read his report at http://www.General-RealEstate.com/business/flipping.html/ Subscription is free to his Fix-up Ezine. He and other contributing authors provide free articles and resources on real estate investing at his online "Academy of Advanced Real Estate Investing Techniques" at http://www.AAREIT.com/

Wilton - American Dream

If you decorate cakes or have ever shopped for cake making supplies, then chances are you are familiar with the Wilton brand. It's hard to miss their products since Wilton has led sales in baking and cake decorating products for over half a century. Based in the Chicago suburb of Woodridge, Illinois, Wilton has grown enormously from its beginnings as a family cake decorating business during the United States' Great Depression.

Today Wilton Industries sells over 2,000 different bake ware and food-related products, from instructional manuals and cake pans to pastry bags and food colorings. Wilton's products aren't just sold in the United States either. Major retailers in over 150 countries carry Wilton products. And business continues to grow with approximately 400 new consumer products being developed annually.

It all started in 1929 when Dewey McKinley Wilton, with the help of his wife, began a small cake decorating business in Chicago. Then came the stock market crash and the nation's Great Depression. Surrounded by high unemployment rates and bread lines, Wilton carved out a prosperous niche by creating wedding cakes for Chicago's famous hotels and clubs. The Wilton family business grew throughout the 1930's.

Decorating cakes for the rich and famous gave the Wiltons' reputation a nice boost. So when they opened a cake decorating and candy-making school for caterers and chefs, they had no problem with enrollment.

By 1947, the "Wilton Method" had become a household word among cake decorators, and a leading department store chain, JC Penney, was now promoting and selling Wilton products.

Before long the Wilton brand name become synonymous with cake decorating supplies and schools. All of this publicity laid the foundation for the Wilton's decorating empire that continues to influence wedding cake trends.

Then in 1977, under the leadership of Wilton CEO Vince Naccarato, three diverse companies were united as Wilton Industries: Wilton Enterprises, Copco and the Weston Gallery.

Today, each division is a recognized leader in its market. Wilton Enterprises is the number one preferred brand name in baking and cake decorating products, Copco is the premier designer and marketer of teakettles and quality kitchenware, and the Weston Gallery is a leader in upscaB4Dle picture frame design and marketing.

Under the continued leadership of Naccarato, the company enjoys strong sales growth and national distribution, which are largely credited to "category management," that is basing marketing on tracked trends, and through "supply chain management," which helps retailers lower costs of merchandising.

According to Austin Chronicle report, the Wilton Method was the unquestionable ruler of cake decorating until the 1980's when Martha Stewart's methods gained popularity. Her made-from-scratch cakes and stance that taste is just as important as the decorating challenged Wilton's use of cake mixes and vegetable shortening.

However, Wilton continues to enjoy great success and to lead the industry. According to Hoover's November, 2006 business report, Wilton Industries employed 650 people and reported $325 million in sales for the 2005 fiscal year, a 7.8 percent increase from the previous year.

For three quarters of a century, Wilton has offered cake decorating classes throughout the United States and Canada, including the Wilton School of Cake Decorating in northern Illinois. Wilton is partially credited for bringing the intricate, European cake decorating method to the United States and Canada.

In fact, Wilton's cake decorating classes enroll nearly 200,000 students every year and from all around the world.

While many cake decorators enjoy the Wilton classroom experience, others like the customer below, prefer learning at their own pace at home with video instruction, such as the "Cake Decorating Made Easy" series.

Another ingredient in Wilton's recipe for success is its annual Your Take on Cake contest, which attracts thousands of talented cake decorators from across the United States and Canada who compete for $5,000 in cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend The Wilton Schools two-week Master Course for Cake Decorating in Darien, Illinois.

Samantha Mitchell, Co-Author Cake Decorating Made Easy! Vol. 1 & 2 The World's First Cake Decorating Video Books For more cake decorating tips along with step by step videos, sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.CakeAnswers.com

Dream Big with a Home Based Business

When we're young, we view the future as a realm of endless possibilities, limited only by our imaginations. As we grow older and spend a few years in the workforce, though, it seems as though we lose our ability to dream big. Or perhaps we can dream, but we see the dream as elusive and beyond our grasp. We may engage in a series of "what if" thoughts, but think of them in the same way we think about what we would do if we won the lottery. The truth is, we each have the ability to claim our dreams as our own. Having a home based business can allow you to not only recapture that dream, but to turn that dream into reality.

Although not everyone is born to be an entrepreneur, you can learn the skills needed to own a home based business. The Small Business Association, for example, has an abundance of resources that will teach you everything from how to write a business plan to how to market that business to your target customers. The Internal Revenue Service has a variety of publications that will help you learn the ins and outs of taxes for small businesses. And your local city or county probably has a website outlining any necessary permits, along with downloadable forms to get you started.

What you can't learn from any of these sites is how to dream big and keep that dream alive. Although every successful entrepreneur has his or her own strategy, here are some suggestions to get you started.

* Define your dream. Perhaps your dream is to have enough passive income so that you only have to work six months out of the year. Maybe you want to earn enough money so you can retire at the age of 50. Perhaps your dream is something more tangible, such as making enough money to buy the boat you've always wanted, or to earn enough extra income to invest in a rental property. When you define your dream, you make it more real, and therefore increase the likelihood that you will achieve it.

* Paint a picture. Or design a mural. Or cut pictures out of magazines and pin them on a bulletin board. The point is to translate your goals - your dreams - into something you can see every day. Keeping a visual representation of your dream in front of you will help keep you motivated. Everyone goes through times when they're discouraged, but if you can look up and remember why you've taken the path of becoming a home based business owner, you're more likely to stay on the straight and narrow.

* Follow your passion. If your home based business is something you hate, you're not going to stick with it and it won't lead you to your dream. If, on the other hand, you love what you do, you'll get up each morning with the excitement of knowing that you're one step closer to making your big dream a reality. Explore all the avenues of home based business opportunities, and select the one that makes the most sense for you. Whether you're seeking passive income or want to actively work your home based business, you can't go wrong if you follow your passion.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Dream Big with a Home Based Busines or Majon's Business and Entrepreneurs directory.

Making It Happen - Dream BIG!

"True Leaders are not those who strive to be first but those who are first to strive and who give their all for the success of the team. True leaders are first to see the need, envision the plan, and empower the team for action. By the strength of the leader's commitment, the power of the team is unleashed" Author Unknown

All summer my son James and I have been traveling back and forth to Austin for him to play tennis up there at the Austin Tennis Academy. He was accepted recently into their academy so we decided to transfer him to Lake Travis High school and so we've been in a huge life transition this summer.

Fortunately the career I've built for the last ten years in Network Marketing is paying us to accomplish some big dreams.

The key is to have a dream that is sooo BIG that it's almost impossible to achieve and then you BECOME the person to achieve the dream.

Because it's not really the dream that matters but the person you become in the process of achieving it and the more that you achieve the bigger your dreams will become and in turn the more you grow into a better person to achieve those BIGGER dreams.

While doing all this driving we've been listening to one of my favorite speakers, a man by the name of Mark Gorman. Mark does business presentations for Network Marketing companies and I had the chance to hear and meet him live at a company event a year ago out in Vegas. (http://www.markgorman.com )

I have most of his CD's and he happens to be the only speaker that my 14 year old son really enjoys listening to!

We started listening to one of his messages titled 'Stop Thinking Like Dirt'. It's based on a proverb in the bible, Proverbs 20 vs 4 which reads

"A Sluggard does not plow in season; so when harvest time comes he looks...but finds nothing".

The dirt sits and waits for someone to give it something. Do you ever have people You've sponsored who sit around waiting for someone to constantly give them something or DO something for them? And even when you do everything you can To help them it's never enough is it? They're not making things happen, they're waiting for something to happen. There not headed anywhere or trying to do anywhere, they're just trying not to go somewhere.

They wait on their upline, they wait on the people they sponsor, they are waiting for the company to do something, their spouse to give them permission, they are waiting to make money BEFORE they'll attend a company event, they are waiting to make money before they will tell their friends and family about their business. They are waiting around like dirt.

Some people are waiting on God to do something before they'll do anything. Guess what? God is waiting for US to do something first!

So when harvest time comes they go out looking and cannot figure out why everyone else is getting harvest and how come they aren't? After all everyone deserves a harvest right?

Actually they don't! Everyone deserves the same opportunity and we all have the same opportunity in Network Marketing don't we? It's a level playing field but everyone doesn't deserve the same REWARDS! Only those who make things happen deserve the REWARD!

The FARMER on the other hand MAKES THINGS HAPPEN by taking the first step!

The Farmer knows he or she h5B4as to PLANT when it's time to plant before they can expect to see a harvest!

The Farmer is a business person and knows he or she has to invest in his or her business and knows to do that SEEDS must be planted in the ground. So what does the Farmer do?

The Farmer goes to the bank and borrows the money, then goes to the feed store and buys the seed, plants it and then reaps the harvest.

Then do you think the Farmer takes the harvest and sits back and enjoys the good life?

Nope, the Farmer then takes that harvest and pays back the bank and buys more seed to plant to reap an even bigger harvest!

We do the same thing in Network Marketing which when treated like a business will pay us like a business.

First we've go to invest in our business by buying seed! We've got to get lot's and lot's of seeds planted and those seeds require an investment. Then we teach others, our team, to duplicate the same thing so that not only do THEY reap a harvest but we also reap from their harvest too!

Let me share a story I heard a few years ago about another Mark in a small town in Austin, Texas who was headed for bankruptcy and just about to lose his car and home. Mark wasn't gonna sit around like dirt so he looked for a way out and discovered Network Marketing.

Fortunately, he had a wise sponsor. The sponsor gave Mark "THE PROMISE": THIS BUSINESS CAN SET YOU FREE FINANCIALLY IN ONE TO THREE YEARS. But 5B4he also gave him "THE REAL PRICE FOR SUCCESS". TO SUCCEED, YOU WILL HAVE TO FACE AND CONQUER 4 MAJOR ENEMIES.

Mark was ready to make things happen like a farmer.

So he invited 200 friends over to his house to watch a video. 80 said NO, not interested. Mark had encountered ENEMY #1 REJECTION

He thought "No problem. My sponsor warned me about that. I've got 120 people still coming over".

Guess what? 50 didn't show up. He had just met ENEMY#2 DECEPTION. Again thinking like a farmer, Mark thought "No problem, my sponsor warned me about that. I've got 70 people who watched the tape".

Guess what?

57 said, Not interested. He had just encountered ENEMY#3 Apathy From Mark's seed planting, 13 people signed up"!

Guess what?

12 of them dropped out of the business shortly after. ENEMY #4 ATTRITION had left Mark with just one serious associate.

That one distributor went on to create a huge harvest for Mark earning him over $50,000 per month. Today Mark earns hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in passive residual income. All because he chose to not sit around like dirt waiting for something to happen. He went out and made things happen like the Farmer and now he's reaping a huge harvest because he planted when it was time to plant!

My own story is similar. For years I've been planting seeds, making tons and tons of connections online.

I started this business oB68nline in 1996 and worked very hard building a presence and branding myself for the first four years, calling thousands of people hearing thousands of "NO's". Why have I been so successful over the years?

One of the main reason's is simply because I never quit! Another reason is because many people have joined our team because of a lot of seeds being planted over the years.

Today I'm reaping a nice harvest because I did not give up in those first four years before these seeds sprouted.

Lot's of seeds were planted with publishers those first few years of writing. Sending the first few 10, 15 times before someone published one of them. After that another one would publish one and then other publishers would see those articles and write for permission to publish another one. I had no experience in writing. In fact, I had NO experience in anything except how to be a wife and mom.

I had no degrees when I started, no corporate background, no income of my own, no credibility, no contacts, and no confidence. After all what else would I be doing for the last ten years, working in some job building someone else's dream? Instead I decided to not sit around like dirt but to make things happen like a Farmer creating a solid career and building a Network Marketing business and an entire team of Farmers who are creating a harvest for themselves and in turn I'm reaping a big harvest too!

Recently another business woman found me from an article I wrote FIVE years ago! That article is still floating around the Internet and she recently became a team member because of that seed planted several years ago!

Remember where you are today is because of decisions you made or seeds you planted five years ago. Where you'll be in the next five years will be determined by decisions you make or seeds you plant today!

Here's how you can take ACTION every single day to move your business forward by getting seed into the ground to reap the Harvest (reward) you deserve!

This is an activity that will get you quickly into taking simple everyday action steps that will lead up to MASSIVE ACTION and create success in your business by building your team one seed at a time!

Get two JARS, label one of them SEEDS and one of the HARVEST

Fill the SEED jar up with some sort of seeds like beans for instance.

Everyday put 10 seeds in ONE of your pockets

Tell your spouse and family especially your kids that every single day your job is to talk to 10 people and each time you do and give them some sort of information on your business or products you move ONE seed from the pocket to the OTHER pocket.

At the end of the day take the 10 seeds that you moved to your other pocket and put them in your HARVEST jar.

When you tell your spouse and kids that holds you accountable to do what you say you'reB68 doing to do. If you don't have a spouse or kids tell your sponsor. Tell someone of your seed planting plans! Trust me when you come home and still do not have all your seeds moved over you are not going to want to see the look on your kids or spouses face!

Make sure you have plenty of marketing materials in your car when you go out. Catalogues with labels, biz brochures, biz cards, product samples. Always carry something even if it's just your biz card.

People to share your business and products with will be Hot Market are people you know, friends and family. If you were to open up a book store, or a boutique or flower shop do you think you'd keep this a secret from your friends and family? Then why in the world would you do that with your Network Marketing business?

Warm Market are people you do business with everyday or people you know from your children's sports teams, post office, hair dresser, etc. Cold Market are people you do not know at all. People you run into at the grocery store, a sales clerk, or leads which are SEEDS that you buy for your business.

Do not think of the outcome of what will happen when you speak with someone or give them your information. Don't worry about the outcome. Just think about moving those seeds from one side of your pocket to the other side and putting them in that HARVEST jar at the end of the day! You're the messenger and all your job is to do is get the information out and plant those seeds! So when the day is over and your kids say ok show me the 10 seeds in your other pocket and let's get them into the HARVEST jar!

Be creative but keep it simple! Keep planting seeds!

If you do not go out or you are not feeling well or you have a sick child that day and cannot contact people in person then send an email to 10 people, call 10 new people or follow up on 10 people. Go into a chat room and give someone your info, or an online forum community.

Do whatever you have to do to get seeds planted.

Do this every single day (taking off a day to rest) and watch your HARVEST jar fill up. This is your PIPELINE filling up!

You'll also be following up with people on some days so you'll move a seed with each follow up. Make sure you keep a good record of your follow ups. Keep a spiral notebook, use your computer, whatever works best. The whole idea is to keep this very simple and to plant seeds everyday. Focus on that! Not the outcome! Let the outcome take care of itself because of the eventual MASSIVE ACTION you are taking to fill your pipeline when HARVEST time comes you will SEE one!

Taking simple everyday steps to plant your 10 seeds a day will help you stay active and reap your harvest!

What are you waiting for? Make it happen, Dream BIG, be the Farmer, teach your team to be Farmers and you will all reap the harvest you deserve!

Copy5A6right 2007 by Sue Seward. All Rights Reserved.

(***You may copy this article using the attached bio below)

Sue is a wife, mom, entrepreneur, top income earner with her company, who has been working from home online since 1996. She encourages millionaire mind thinking and shows people how to develop valuable connections online and turn them into lasting relationships for long term business profits. She is also a public speaker and published author of numerous print and electronic articles as well as coauthor of the book 'Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets From Top Direct Selling Experts'. To find out more about how Sue builds her business online visit http://www.eCommerceHomeBiz.com

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How to Pressure Wash Your Home's Siding

Pressure washing the exterior of your home is an excellent way to give it a thorough cleaning or prepare it for repainting or refinishing. Spraying water at a high velocity on the sidings and trims of your dwelling, with or without detergent mixed in, will remove grime, dirt, and powdery residue from corroded paint effectively. This helps ensure a new coat of paint you may want applied to your exterior surfaces will last.

When Not to Power Wash

Pressure washing, also referred to as power washing, is not intended for the removal of paint from sidings even though it is capable of doing this if sprayed long enough in one spot. Training the forceful jet of water this way will erode soft wood sidings and dislodge mortar from brickwork.

Power washes can be used as a cleaning method on most siding materials, including vinyl, wood, metal and certain types of masonry. But they should never be used on hardboard, which needs to be protected from moisture, and stucco which can get easily defaced by the water and its impact.

If you suspect that your house is coated with paint dating back to 1987, when lead was still a common ingredient of applied finishes, don't apply a pressure wash. And, you would also be better off not doing the washing yourself if your dwelling is two stories high or rather grand in scale. Leave the job to the safer and more experienced hands of professionals.

5B7

Pressure Washing Equipment

Pressure washers can be leased from equipment rentals. They vary in size and pressure or spray power specification, ranging between 1200 and 3000 pounds per square inch (PSI). 1200-1500 psi models are mild enough for such vulnerable siding materials as aluminum, wood, and certain types of steel. Stronger makes, or those in the 2500-3000 psi range may be used for unpainted surfaces like vinyl. Renting these pieces of equipment from Marietta pressure washing will cost you around $50 to $75 each day.

Pressure wash apparatus with stronger jets allow shorter cleaning times. Chose one that has provision for adding detergent to the spray, but mix in the non-phosphate detergent substitute trisodium phosphate (TSP) instead. One pound of TSP is good for four gallons of water. Rinse using plain water.

Operating the Pressure Washing Apparatus Safely

Before you power wash, scrub off any mildew clinging to the surfaces to be cleaned. Operate the equipment using both hands, and never while you are on a ladder. You may rent an adjustable extension shaft that elevates from six to 12 feet for your high areas, but bear in mind that this contraption can be tricky to handle.

Point the nozzle three feet away from the wall at first, gradually moving closer until you gauge that spray impact is forceful enoug5B4h to remove dirt from the siding without damaging it. Never be closer than a foot away from the surface. Do not point the sprayer at windows. Avoid directing it upwards so as not to push water under a siding.

Remember: the pressure making the water squirt is extremely strong, so never point the nozzle at anyone and always protect your eyes with safety goggles. Keeping the wand, water and yourself away from electrical devices or wiring is another important precaution to take.

Steps for Pressure Washing Your House

Outlined below is a general procedure for a do-it-yourself pressure wash of your home's exterior:

1) Protect plants, lamps and other lighting fixtures, and anything breakable around the house with drop cloths, plastic bags and duct tape. Remove obstacles, and temporarily place outdoor furniture away from the edifice.

2) Connect the garden hose to the pressure washer. If the apparatus has a detergent dispenser, pour in cleaning solution, preferably a mixture of TSP and water.

3) Proceed with the cleaning from the top down. Wield the wand at a 45 degree angle, and direct the water jet at overhangs, soffits, downspouts and gutters. Then "spray brush" sidings with a steady, side-to-side sweeping motion. The nozzle should be around two feet away from the wall surface, but you can fine-tune this distance by moving slightly backward or forward to obtain optimal cleaning action.

As much as poss56Eible, aim the spout slightly downward to avoid blasting water up beneath horizontal lap joints of sidings. When cleaning areas around windows, hold the wand in such a way that the water streams at an angle away from windows so water doesn't get through unsealed in-between spaces surrounding the frame.

4) With a garden hose, rinse the cleaning solution off the sidings with clear water, again working from the top down. If you intend to apply a fresh coat of paint, give the sidings no less than two days to dry up completely.

David Lee is a professional presssure washing and deck restoration contractor. Check out more articles and information on Kennesaw deck cleaning

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