Whether you live in a single family home, apartment, condo or duplex, there is probably at least one room that you wish was larger. Remodelling or building an addition may not be feasable for you, particularly if you are renting the residence. Add to that the requirement of inexpensive home decor, to keep things easy on the budget. So what can be done to make a small room live and look larger?

You can give the overall appearance of more space in a room by taking some simple steps. You don’t need a large budget, and some steps don’t require that you spend any money at all.

The first step is to keep the walls a light color. They don’t have to be stark white, although if you love that look, it’s fine. There are hundreds of shades of off-whites that can add interest and warmth to a room while maintaining an overall neutral palette. When you put dark colors on the walls of a room or area, it can make the walls recede visually, and that is what you want to avoid if your goal is to make an area appear larger. The ceiling should be kept ‘Ceiling White’ for maximum overall lightness in the room.

Next, take a look at the floors in the room. Your goal is to have flooring that gives a light overall appearance. For example, if your room is carpeted or tiled, ideally it should be a light, neutral color. It’s okay to have a small pattern or variation as long as the overall look is neutral. Wood flooring should be a honey tone or lighter. You want the ceiling and walls to flow into each other as much as possible, and avoid a stark breaking point of light to dark color.

Your third step in this strategy is to remove any unnecessary furniture from the room. If it is not critical to the function and use of the area, remove it. Let’s say you are working with the living area. It currently has a sofa, wood rocker, two chairs, a floor lamp, two end tables and a cocktail table. Try this: remove the wood rocker, cocktail table and floor lamp. You have kept the most important seating in the room as well as a place for lighting and other incidentals. The extra pieces were taking up space and making the room look smaller and more crowded.

The next step in the process is to make sure you are not over-accessorizing the room. I always advise taking all accessories off of the walls, tables, etc and literally removing them from the room. You might put some of them back in the area, but start out with blank walls and furnishings. Your goal in this step is to accessorize the room to add warmth and interest, but not clutter. If you had three pictures, a mirror and a wall sculpture on the walls of this room before, try two pictures and a mirror. Keep it very simple. If there is so much going on in the room that your eyes don’t have a resting point, it will seem cluttered, and that is what you want to avoid.

Finally, if at all possible, keep everything in the room to an overall neutral look, and use color sparingly and only as an accent. For example, your walls may be painted Navajo White, the ceiling is white, your floor is carpeted with an off-white Berber and your upholstered furniture is beige/light brown. You love the color red, so this is your accent color, but sparingly. On the wall is a picture with a burst of red in it. The accent pillows on the sofa have a beige/brown/gold/red pattern to them.

As you look around this room as described, you see soft, calming, neutral colors, with no stark stopping or break points between walls, ceiling, floors and furnishings. However, the room is interesting and has some drama with the addition of red as an accent color. Best of all, you now have a room that has an open, spacious look and feel, yet still functions well for your lifestyle.

The 5 basic and simple steps to enjoying a crystal blue and clear swimming pool each and every day.

#1 CIRCULATION – Moving water creates a clean and enjoyable swimming experience. Why? Because you’ll get the most effective use of your sanitizer when you achieve circulation to every nook and cranny of your pool. The more movement your backyard oasis experiences, the harder it is for bacteria and algae to find a foothold, grow and set up housekeeping on the internal surfaces. The source of all circulation is the pump, which feeds the filtration system. As the swimming pool water passes into the filter system, cleaning begins, which is another beneficial byproduct of circulation. It’s BEST to schedule circulation during daylight hours. Aim to have circulation for approximately 8 hours per day.

#2 FILTRATION – The filter in the equipment system is the piece of apparatus which accounts for your backyard oasis sparkling and clear appearance, removing both visible and invisible debris from the system. As the pump circulates freely, the water flows through the filter. Once the pool pump basket captures the large debris (which should be cleaned on a regular basis), water rushes into the filter, which traps microscopic particles. Over time the filters ability to remove microscopic matter diminishes as the filter media essentially becomes full. At this point the filter must be disassembled and the media cleaned.

#3 CLEANING – Daily scrubbing of you’re the internal surface is not necessary but once a week brushing will help to free any debris that your filter or automatic cleaner might miss or leave behind. Brush steps, benches, walls and the floor. The physical movement on the surface eliminates lurking, unseen contaminants that increase the murky factor of your pool and spa.

#4 TESTING – Be proactive and you’ll avoid clarity problems. TEST YOUR CHEMISTRY FREQUENTLY – At least 2 to 3 times per week. Testing frequently will save money and time, preventing problems and future headaches. When testing, examine pH and active sanitizer levels. By monitoring these two items at regular intervals, you’ll soon discover patterns in your system. Also, regular testing allows you to detect how having lots of swimmers (versus only two or three) affects your chemical readings. As you respond to test results by adding the appropriate chemical treatment product, you’ll learn how to gauge how each product affects the chemical balance.

#5 MAINTENANCE – Maintaining crystal blue and clear pool water and having an inviting environment isn’t magic. The secret hinges upon adding the right products at the right time in the right amounts. The keys to maintenance are Sanitization, Oxidation / Shock, Algae Prevention and Chemical Balance. When you master the basics, your investment rewards you with a sanitary environment, the cornerstone of a refreshing swimming and relaxing experience. Keeping the water chemistry balanced protects your equipment and the internal surface of your pool and spa; unbalanced chemistry can actually damage both items permanently.

Master these five steps and enjoy your swimming pool and spa each and every day! Ignore these simple key items and plan on sending more time maintaining than relaxing.

“Get Organized” ranks in the Top 10 most popular New Year Resolutions. If “Get Organized” ranks high on your list of goals for 2009, here are some frequently overlooked, yet important things to help you get an organized start in the New Year.

1. Purge and clean out current and outdated paperwork. Get rid of papers you’ve saved that you won’t refer to again. (Tip: 95% of everything you’ve saved for over six months can probably be thrown away.) Ask your accountant how long you should retain old financial records. Accountants typically recommend that you retain old tax returns forever, but supporting information can be destroyed between 4 and 7 years after the filing date. If you don’t need an item for tax or legal reasons, consider whether it should be retained at all. Shred anything containing account numbers or other information not meant for others to see. If you would like to receive a copy of my Retention Guideline Tip Sheet, just e-mail me and I’ll send you a copy.

2. Organize your financial records. Tax time is approaching, so make sure your financial records are organized and easily accessible. Accordion case files are an excellent option for filing and containing all financial records pertaining to a tax year. When needed all your tax information is accessible in one file box already divided by category. I’ve personally used this system for 2 years and have recommended it to countless clients. This system has cut the clutter in my home significantly.

3. Organize your property records. Update your home inventory, documenting any significant purchases with photos and receipts. Store in a safe place such as a safe deposit box or fireproof safe. Better yet, store it at a relative or friend’s home in another city.

4. Update important legal documents. Review your will, power of attorney, living will, etc., to make sure that any changes in your personal situation (e.g., marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child) properly document your desired and current life situation.

5. Update your list of account numbers and passwords. With the threat of identity theft on the rise, it is critical to be able to easily access all your account information when you need it. Include numbers for bank accounts, credit cards, investments, insurance policies, etc. You should also update your list of important contacts including attorney, insurance agent, investment broker, doctor, accountant, etc. Give a copy of this list to a family member or trusted friend or inform him/her of the location of this information in the event of an emergency.

Do these tasks early in the year so you can get an organized start in the new year. Accomplishing these tasks also helps you get organized for tax season.

It takes a very organized person to be successful at long distance moving and relocation. While there are many ways of coping with the chaos that a long distance move brings, one of the best methods is to hire long distance moving companies. These companies specialize in this type of relocation, and they can often take a lot of the stress out of the move. Keep in mind that there are some bad companies out there, and you need to be able to protect yourself. Here are some important questions to ask any company that you are thinking of hiring.

Legalities

The legitimacy of the company should always be the first thing that you consider. You should always secure the license numbers and DOT record of the movers that you are thinking about hiring. Make sure that there are no bad marks on the record and that everything is up to date and not overdue. If the movers choose to not provide these numbers, stay away from them. In instances such as this, something may not be in date, or they are trying to hide bad marks that are on the records.

Reputation

Ask the prospective long distance moving companies about their reputation. Good companies are happy to give you references, and they will probably have a complaint policy they can tell you about as well. You can also check with the better business bureau to see if other customers were happy with the services that were provided by the movers.

Timing

Make sure to ask about time and schedules. You are going to need movers on a specific day, and you will need to hire a company that can commit to that day. You might have to compromise on the date of the move, but you should never have to worry about a company that will not commit to a date. Make sure to check the BBB or other records to see that the company is punctual and on time.

Pricing

Pricing is one of the most important things to ask long distance moving companies about. You should always know what the movers are going to charge you for their services, and that this cost fit into the moving budget that you have created. You can get a quick moving quote from any moving company by providing a few simple pieces of information. You should get quotes from any company that you speak with so that you can get a good idea of what the average cost for certain services is going to be.

Services

Finally, you should always ask prospective long distance moving companies about the services that they include in the prices that they have quoted you as well as any other services available to you from their firm. You should have a pretty good idea of what you will need before you contact these businesses, and you should not settle for less than you need. Be totally clear with the company as to what services that you want to have and what services that you are opting out of. Ultimately, this action gets your needs filled at a reasonable cost.

You can really have peace of mind in your choice of companies when you ask these questions, as all of the points will be covered. Asking the proper questions to the movers that you speak to can help you avoid problems later on as well as making your move stress free.

There are several reasons why you might want to do your own landscaping. For instance, the finished product of your landscaping creativity will give you great satisfaction and self fulfillment, and you will be rewarded well by your dedication, creativity and hard work and your garden or yard will be the envy of all your neighbors.

If you want to do your own landscaping here are some tips to help you succeed in creating a beautiful yard:

1. Have a good look at the area you intend to landscape and make your plan. Don’t make the same mistake as lots of other home owners who end up with a totally unorganized garden just because they did not take the time and trouble to make a plan.

Make a rough sketch of how you want the finished product to look. Pick out the areas where you would like the plans to be and organize the order of the plants without giving up the natural beauty of your garden.

Place any garden furniture where you will most enjoy using it.

2. Understand the reason why you are landscaping your lawn.

The main purpose of landscaping your garden is to get the most from the excess land belonging to you and enhance your home as a whole.

There are many landscaping designs for you to choose from to make your surroundings more beautiful.

3. Choose an appropriate theme for your landscape design.

Check up on the plants and trees you would like to use and find out which are the best survivors of the seasonal weather conditions. There are shrubs that will grow well within your garden during the summer months and during the winter time there are those which will make the beauty of your garden stand out.

If you select a flower, plant, shrub or tree that blooms or has bursts of colorful foliage during every season of the year your landscape design will look absolutely fabulous all year round.

4. Your plants have need of water and fertilization so as soon as you have decided on which ones to use and put them in the ground, remember to water and feed them well. If you live in a dry area, drought-resistant plants are a good choice.

5. Don’t forget to have someone look after your garden if you are spending any time away from home. You do not want to return only to find your garden has dried up in your absence.

Follow these five tips when landscaping and the result will be a super looking front or backyard, all of your own creation.

With the right knowledge and some determination you can create a landscape that people will admire. Landscaping is not hard, and these landscaping tips mentioned here make it easier.

Recently I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Even though I have known cancer survivors and there is tons of literature on surviving cancer, I have discovered there are still a few surprises. My friends and family have been a wonderful support. Here are five ways that I have discovered, along with them, to be able to endure chemotherapy and still enjoy Christmas.

Scents- After my first treatment I noticed that there were scents that were intolerable to me. The scent of anything with a chemical base was particularly obnoxious, cleaning products, perfume and scented candles to name a few. If you are helping a loved one by cleaning for them, vinegar and water works best. Add a few drops of lavender oil to any generic, odorless lotion instead of using perfume. Scented candles are best tolerated when not lit. Leaving the lid off of a candle in a jar adds just enough scent to the room. Better than candles, however, are oranges spiked with cloves, sprigs of rosemary or mint for aromatherapy.

Foods- There are different side effects of chemotherapy that make eating difficult, especially in the first week. I discovered very early on that ice cream is my friend. Bring a loved one several pints of different flavors. While onion and garlic are foods you want to have in your diet, they are too harsh at this time. Instead, I use garlic flavored olive oil and shallots or leeks instead of onions. When I can eat solid food, I practically live on pasta saut้ed in a little garlic flavored olive oil, parsley and lots of asiago cheese.

A Christmas Tree- Fatigue is a very real side effect of almost all types of chemotherapy. Decorating for Christmas just feels like too much to handle but having no decorations would be too depressing and a reminder of how difficult life is this year. Volunteer to put up a Christmas tree for loved ones and take it down. There are also some beautiful table top trees which are inexpensive that you can bring as a gift. I get great joy from my tree which my girls set up for me. It is a cheery spot on a gloomy day.

Laughter- Bring them DVD’s that are light hearted or comedic in nature. Old shows such as I Love Lucy or Abbot and Costello keep me laughing. I also enjoy romantic comedies such as Sleepless in Seattle or You’ve Got Mail. Now is not the time to keep CNN on a running loop on the TV. While I am aware of all of the horrific things that can and are happening in the world, I can’t deal with an influx of that information at this time. I find when fighting for my life, I want to remember all of the reasons that life is good and well worth fighting for.

I am a person- Remember when dealing with a loved one that they are still a person, not a disease. I tend to laugh and make jokes about what is happening to me. I get asked all of the time how I can joke about the cancer. How can I not? I laughed and joked before I got cancer and some of the side effects are just too ridiculous for words, what I like to call God’s little ironies. For instance, how can I lose all of the hair on my body, in places I don’t even want to mention but still have hairy knees? Is the hair on my knees super hair?

Please keep in mind that no matter what you try and do for a loved one, cancer is a solitary event. Everyone’s experience is different. I am one of the lucky ones. They caught my cancer very early. When I am finished my treatments, I can look forward to a very high rate of recovery. Having said that, I hope these ideas which I have shared help to brighten this Christmas for you and your loved ones.

Conquer the Five Most Common Fears about Your Wedding Ceremony

It’s safe to say that of all the important events in your lifetime, your wedding day is certain to be right up there with those that are the most meaningful. And throughout the entire wedding day – the preparations, the ceremony, the reception, and the wedding night – the moment when you recite your wedding vows to each other is the most meaningful. It is a time that you will remember forever, exactly as it felt: a sublime, dreamlike fantastical moment, when everyone significant to you is watching as you join in wedlock with the most important individual in your life.

Conquering Your Fears

Since this is such a unique and central moment to your romantic life, you’re probably wondering how it is that you’ll make the experience better than that 10th grade public-speaking assignment where you blanked out halfway through and fainted in front of all of your peers. Begin by telling yourself that it is perfectly natural to feel nervous when speaking in public. Moreover, not everyone is born with perfect public-speaking skills that accurately demonstrate what they feel in their hearts. However, fortunately for the majority of us, these things can be learned.

Of course, being well-prepared and armed with wedding vows you know are the absolute best they could possibly be is one of the easiest ways to overcome these fears. How do I know? Because the home-study course I put together, The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, has helped hundreds of couples take the fear out of their wedding ceremony by giving them the tools they need to write truly amazing wedding vows. You can find out more about the kit at http://www.weddingvowtoolkit.com.

But beyond that, when you think logically about each of these fears, you’ll realize there is nothing that cannot be overcome with a bit of care, technique, and practice. Let’s take a realistic look at these five incredibly common worries. In a few minutes, you’ll see that none of them are likely to spoil your ceremony.

Common Fear #1: Freezing Up

This is a direct result of being excessively nervous. Therefore, it’s important to come up with some calming techniques that will help you to keep cool. It’s only natural to be a bit nervous. In fact, the added rush from being a little on the anxious side can actually help you to speak better and with added feeling. The best technique that you can give yourself is breathing. Most often, when we are overly frightened, we either breathe much too quickly or we hold our breath. Therefore, as you’re keeping yourself calm, concentrate on breathing smoothly, neither too fast or too slow, but regularly, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Practice a few times in advance, especially in other situations that you’ve found a bit stressful in the past. You’ll be surprised at what an enormous difference something as simple as breathing can do for you.

Common Fear #2: Going Blank

This is another trick played by your overly-nervous brain. To stop yourself from becoming so nervous that you go blank, or even to remove any fear that you may go blank, bring a “backup” copy of your wedding vows on cue cards that you can slip into your pocket. Make sure they are very crisp and neat looking so that you won’t hesitate to use them if you have to, and write clearly on them so that you won’t get stuck due to sloppiness.

Common Fear #3: Blushing, Dry Mouth, and Shaking.

These are extremely common physical responses to being nervous and having to perform in front of others. However, even if they do begin to occur, you can bring yourself to a calmer state where these physical symptoms will begin to fade. Try to ignore blushing and shaking as much as possible and just concentrate on your vows and how much you love the person to whom you are making those vows. With regards to dry mouth, drink lots of water beforehand, and try not to think about it. As long as you concentrate on what you’re doing, instead of the fact that you are blushing, shaking, or have a dry mouth, they will actually begin to resolve themselves quite quickly.

Common Fear #4: Having Someone Heckle

This is a common fear, but it simply doesn’t happen at weddings. Remind yourself that everyone there with you is hoping the very best for you and your future spouse. They are all nervous right along with you and wouldn’t dream of saying anything but best wishes for your future together. The closest they will come to “heckling” is sending a mental prayer to provide you the strength and the courage to continue so that you may enjoy long and happy lives together.

Common Fear #5: Being Judged

The people attending your wedding are all people who know you, like or love you, and who wish you the very best. They know how much adrenaline is running through your system as you say your wedding vows, and wouldn’t judge you at a time like that; except to think about how well suited you are to the love of your life.