Feeling at Home - Defining Who You Are & How You Want to Live

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What does "home" mean to you?

I was thinking about the meaning of home this afternoon as I was running errands and listening to Michael Buble's Home on the radio. For the song, home is a person, someone he loves. But to me, it is more than that.

Home is a place where I can be embraced by comfort, warmth, safety and security. A place that nurtures family, but also supports my individuality.

The Power of Feeling at Home

What I love about this book is her beautiful writing about how powerful it is to feel at home and how important it is to create that in your own home. I am presenting a lot of her thoughts here so that you can get a feel for her way of thinking.

Creating home may be accomplished as you decorate but it is about far, far more than window treatments and furniture placement.

Defining Who You Are

In the first chapter, Stoddard begins by telling a story about her daughter's sense of home in Paris, where she now lives. The story leads to an exercise she suggests for the readers...

What are the ten best words you could use to define yourself? Take a few minutes to compose your own list and then, I will share mine....

Okay, here's my confession. I did this twice. I loved the ten words, but loved the ten phrases even better...

My Ten Words: healing, spiritual, nature, writing, singing, family, reader, orange, brown, tea.

My Ten Phrases:

meant to heal

contemplative spirituality

connection to nature

write at home

singing my heart out

close family

voracious reader

orange with brown

dresses and long skirts

tea and meditation

What's your list of descriptive words or phrases?

But even more important is how it feels to see yourself in words that way. For me, it feels deeply affirming. Like a celebration of who I am. Does it feel that way to you?

That is how it should feel to be at home!

Keep a Home Journal

The author suggests that as you read the book, you keep a notebook and fill it with what you learn and discover about yourself and what feels important to create in your home. The book contains other great exercises for defining yourself and questions along the way to help you explore what is meaningful to you.

"Think of this book as a place to discover your own personal truth. By getting in tune and in touch with your truths, you can create a home that echoes your true spirit." -Alexandra Stoddard, Feeling at Home: Defining Who You Are and How You Want to Live

For more information about Feeling at Home and Alexandra Stoddard, go to Feeling at Home.

Jeanine Byers Hoag is a certified holistic healing practitioner, hand analyst and certified spiritual story midwife. Visit her life purpose website at [http://www.istheresomethingmore.net].

Gardens That Need Less - A Book Review

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If you are like me, then you want to grow your own organic vegetables, and have your own really cool garden, but, you also know that you hardly have time to spend making it perfect. But did you know that there are many time-saving ways to have your garden and eat well too, without it taking hours a day - it's true. Let me explain. You see, what you need is an education in gardening and some sure fire tips to make you the local gardening expert. So, I'd like to recommend a very good book to you:

"Low-Maintenance Gardening" by Fiona Gilsenan - 1998 (A Sunset Book).

Are you interested in gardening, but also realize the need to save water? Perhaps you travel a lot and know that your lack of attention could cause the plants to all die? Have you considered the local critters in the area that might eat up your garden or the problems with insects that feast upon your plants? Well, if any of these things are serious issues for you to consider then you need to get this book.

One super feature of this book, is that it breaks things down by region so no matter where you live, there are tips and information for you. There are also many time-saving methods outlined in the book, to insure that you spend your time wisely. The book also has hundreds of easy to manage plant species that you can plant that work well together and require very little care or water.Whether you are looking for an oriental garden, vegetable garden, decorative garden or a total xeriscape, this book will be perfect for you.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance Winslow's Bio

"Flower Arrangements Made Simple" Review

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Flower Arrangements Made Simple, written by Judy Babb is an easy to follow step by step guide for flower arrangements.

After spending many hours searching on-line, checking out expensive on-line floral course and reading complected flower arranging books I finally found the solution I was looking for. Like many of your selves I was convinced that with a little help and "know how" I could create modern, unique flower arrangements that would not only give me freedom of choice but save me lots of money too. An on-line course can cost between $400 - $600 and can take months to complete, with Judy Babb's' "Flower arrangements made simple" you will be up and running within days.

For the last 15 years Judy has been creating her own unique floral designs that have impressed family, friends and customers alike. she is recognized for her graceful and beautiful designs.She has decided to impart her knowledge in an all encompassing step by step guide that will enable readers to create simple yet elegant designs and become accomplished floral arrangement specialists in their own right.

This down loadable book includes everything from a gentle introduction to the basics of flower arrangements through to an excellent step by step photographic instruction course. Chapters include: Flower arranging must haves ( foams, vases, wiring etc ) What makes a elegant design ( the meaning of line, form and colour ) Learn the three basic floral designs needed to create any floral arrangement ( line, mass, swags ) Types of vases ( baskets, bowls, glass and ceramic vases, Terra cotta pots, fruits and vegetables ) Size and texture ( how to give your arrangement character ) Colour and its relationship to mood. Wedding bouquets ( step by step instructions for individual bridal arrangements ) Buying and caring for your flowers ( where to purchase flowers with tips on how to save up to 55% on retail prices ) Caring for your flowers at home ( up keep of your finished arrangement ) Glossary on the meaning of flowers ( learn how to communicate any emotion or intention to your love ones such as affection, love or appreciation ) How to make your own recipes for potpourri ( including herbs, dried flowers and scents with calming attributes that will help you unwind after a stressful day )

Beside being a detailed technical description guide, Flower arrangements made simple will challenge you to let your artistic juices flow so to design unique and individual creations you can be proud of.

This step by step guide [http://www.creativeflowerarrangements.com] will give you the skills to become an accomplished flower arranger, it imparts the knowledge needed to create stunning and fresh floral arrangements and allow you to create a new revenue stream.if you so wish.

Flower arrangements made simple can be strongly recommended as it is wide ranging in its subject matter, knowledgeable and very easy to follow. I have spent many hours researching this topic and the conclusion is not to spend $100's on on-line florist courses as Judy Babbs' step by step flower arranging guide is every florist worse nightmare come true

I have always enjoyed the presence of flowers around my home, they lift my mood and create a relaxing atmosphere. However, they can be expensive. For years I have spent $100's on fresh flowers only to see them wilt and fade untill I stumbled upon "flower arrangements made simple" written by Judy Babb. Now I have all the skills and knowledge I need to create stunning floral arrangements. I have designed centrepieces, wedding bouquets, wreaths and aniversary arrangements all with this step by step guide. I have saved $100's over the year, learnt a new skill and if I so chose, could use this new found knowledge to bring an extra income stream into the home. Please take a look at some of the flower arrangements created by following this guide at [http://www.creativeflowerarrangements.com]

Choosing and Caring For Your Shrubs and Hedges

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Have you ever wondered how to keep your shrubs and hedges happy and beautiful? If so you are not alone, not by a long shot. So many folks let their hedges and shrubs decay and die, but this is not necessary. What you need is an expert to help you or a really good book that explains it all to you, so you use the correct amount of fertilizer and care for the soil composition.

You see, caring for your shrubs and keeping them happy and healthy is not difficult as long as you know what you are doing and know how and when to trim them. And if you are having trouble transplanting, then you there are things you need to know to allow your plants to survive the shock. Imagine if someone uprooted your rear end and transplanted you to some foreign land and then stood over you and said "grow you S.O.B., now!" How would you feel about that, huh?

Well, I know you care about your yard, your plants, shrubs and hedges, and I know you want to do right by them, watch them grow and provide your property ambiance and joy. You need a little help and information to do it right. So, I'd like to recommend a most excellent book to you:

"How to Select & Care for Shrubs and Hedges" by Ortho Books, edited by Min S. Lee, written by A. Cort Sinnes, photos by Laura Ferguson, consultant Dr. Joseph E. Howland Professor of Horticulture at the University of Nevada; Copyright Chevron Corporation, San Francisco, CA; 1980.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio

If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Multipurpose Wall Lettering Stencils

Stencils are a great way to add color and creativity on the walls of a room. There are various designs and quotes that can be replicated on different walls that will give it a new look. In order to do it flawlessly you can get a stencil frame made in the design or quote and then apply it on the wall and paint through it. Once that is done, there is a neat and tidy design that is left for you to admire.

Wall stencils are useful for home d?cor in these ways and more. They can also be used to do up the walls of a kid's room or even a classroom. There are wall lettering ideas that can be replicated on the walls in a way that will induce better learning habits in your child.

There are companies to provide you professional assistance in all these types of requirements. They have a huge stock of quotes and sayings in different sizes and fonts. You can take a pick of even the style of writing in which you prefer the application. And accordingly the stencil will be prepared. There is also a huge stock of the same available with these companies so that you have an easy reference.

There is a further categorization of messages and quotes for your home d?cor use. These are appropriate for different places of the house. All designs of stencils are prepared with accurate measurements of the wall and its proportions. This is done for a proportionate size of the stencil and the design.

Wall Lettering

There is a huge stock of wall lettering. These are useful to display on the walls of a classroom or even a kid's room in the house. You can put alphabets on the wall for a better learning of the same StockTicker. There is a huge stock of downloadable ones that are available across websites on the internet. You can avail these for the cutting and craft work that are carried out by students of a certain age group.

These stencils of letters are available in various font sizes, which make them useful for a signage or even a message display of any kind. You can choose from curved writing to even bold and capital letters depending on the nature of your requirements. To make these more attractive you can also apply color to them before you download.

For more information on wall stencils, check out the info available online? these will help you learn to find the wall lettering!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - An Easy Household Guide - Book Review

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I was very excited to review Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - An Easy Household Guide by UK author, Nicky Scott. Because my husband and I wrote Trash Talk, which is a similar guide written for North Americans, I was very interested to learn how individuals in the UK are dealing with reducing waste.

With the 96-page book, the author attempts to provide a guide for people to follow; "in a world of confusing messages" where overwhelming environmental problems weigh down our hearts, Nicky hopes to encourage readers with positive information. Cute little illustrations by Axel Scheffler accompany most of the pages, adding a little touch of humor.

One of the first things Nicky discusses is the importance of refusing to purchase over-packaged items - in fact he states it is the main focus of the book, and it does briefly discusses avoiding disposables, things that cannot be recycled and those that are made from all virgin materials. Whereas the book seems to concentrate on how to reuse or recycle existing trash, it also comments on seeing the reuse, repair or recycle potential for products we are considering buying. He also suggests taking advantage of re-fill retailers (i.e. in Canada: Body Shop, Sampson Soaps, etc) and bulk outlets (grocery stores, bulk products at hair salons, etc). The author mentions that maintenance increases the likely hood of reuse and stressed donations and private sales. Tips are included on ways to make the recycle system run more smoothly and interesting UK statistics.

Chapter three hosts 59 pages of an extensive A-Z guide for items that are commonly found in waste bins. What to do with Fluorescent and CFL bulbs, funeral alternatives to consider, what the various numbers on plastics mean -it's all covered here in this tidy book. I found the information about all the different kinds of batteries, particularly the button-cell variety (watch, camera, calculator, etc), quite interesting. Interestingly, I never considered donating furniture too battered for reuse to upholsterer businesses and classes, where they may wish to reuse the frame to make new furniture.

Readers may find that some of the information is repetitive and Chapter four seems to reiterate what the book is trying to say. I enjoyed chapter five, which discusses the future of zero waste and cleaner waste (less toxic or greenhouse gas producing), very much. The book closes with an excellent resource section that offers roughly two-dozen organizations along with their contact information and lists about thirty books that are certain to make the environmentalist in you drool with anticipation.

Nicky Scott, Chairperson for the National Community Composting Network (CCN) in the UK, is the author of three small books (roughly 4 x 6 inches) dealing with waste reduction and has appeared in two videos about composting. His interest began while working at a compost business as a young man, and the passion grew while he studied at the UK's leading organic research organization, The Henry Doubleday Research Association. As initiator and Secretary of one of the first community composting projects, which continues to created jobs, and the head of the newsletter for the CCN organization - he is a busy man. Between all this, he squeezes in time to run workshops and give lectures. In his spare time, Nicky is a musician and artist.

Author: Nicky Scott
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Publisher: Green books (UK)
ISBN: 1-903998-40-9

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca/)

Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening Part 2

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If you have been considering raised bed vegetable gardening, then you are not alone. In fact, many people are starting to grow these vegetable gardens. The popularity has spread because of how many advantages one will have when choosing to use a raised bed. Not only that, but you can build a container in any shape you wish and can use this gardening system no matter where you live. You can make your vegetable garden as simple or complex as you wish. Perhaps the best thing about raised bed vegetable gardening is you can choose which soil you want to use. This allows your vegetables to stay healthy and produce year round. Below are a few more advantages to building a raised bed vegetable garden.

With a raised bed vegetable garden everything stays in place. You do not have to worry about certain plants or vegetables growing wildly within your garden. You will also be able to pick and cut over grown plants with much ease. No more bending over to pull weeds out of the ground and fight with deep plant roots. With your raised bed garden, weeds and plants can be removed easily. This is a major reason why raised bed vegetable gardening has become so popular.

Another great thing about having is the ability to have no concerns with draining. You will be able to see the water draining from your plants out of the bottom of your container. In order to ensure proper drainage however, you must make sure your container has small holes about an inch from the bottom. Another great tip is to place rocks under the soil to help drain the water. No longer will you have to drag a heavy hose all around your yard, because you can strategically place your raised bed garden close to a water source. Are you starting to see the beauty in this type of vegetable gardening?

You do not have to worry about pets or children messing up your produce. You can build your bed high enough to avoid any interactions with dogs or kids who may harm your plants. Another great precaution is to line the bottom of your bed with netting so you can also stop burrowing pets.

If you are thinking about raised bed vegetable gardening then you have an exciting road ahead. It takes time and money to get started, but the advantages of building a raised bed are too great to overlook.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,

The Watch Us Grow Team

Phil Faustini, Grandson of Stephen Follett, creator of "Watch Us Grow" In the 1940's Stephen Follett developed this unique Plant Food. After many years of trials and experiments on all types of plants and crops. 1952 was the year "Watch Us Grow" was made available to the public. Since then the positive testimonials have poured in from all over the world, from professional to novice growers "Watch Us Grow" has made believers out of them all. Go to http://allpurposeplantfood.com/ try some for yourself or get a FREE plant feeding guide. See why the gardening world is so excited about "Watch Us Grow"