How To Instantly Increase The Size of Your Room With The Right Kind of Home Decor

One of the biggest problems with small houses and apartments is that they tend to look cramped fairly easily. In a small space even one item too many will make it look over crowded. There are ways to keep a small room from feeling like you are in confinement.

Color, arrangement and lighting can all play a vital role in your efforts to make the space appear roomier and more comfortable. Icy blues and creamy colors on the walls and ceilings can really open up a small area. You see, it is all about illusion.

The eye will see what we tell it is there. The light colored walls will reflect more light giving the room the appearance of a spacious and airy area. The color of your walls will affect how the room looks in the light.

If you have dark walls they tend to absorb the light adding to the claustrophobic feel of the room. A good trick is to paint the walls a bright color and use an even brighter color for the borders. This enhances the illusion of depth in the room.

Another way to minimize the crowded look in a room is to use built in shelving. Recessed storage areas does not take up the available wall space. This gives you more legroom and makes the place less cramped.

One area that most people tend to leave blank is the wall just beneath the ceiling. By installing shelving or placing artwork at the highest points on the wall you draw the eye upward. This is an illusion of height that can add dimension to most any room.

Do not count out the use of mirrors in your decorating scheme. They also reflect light and other surfaces making the area seems twice its original size. You can get decorative mirrors that will blend nicely with your other decorations. Decorative lamps are equally effective in creating mild ambience. Feng Shui fountains are pretty effective in creating calming indoor spaces too.

You can easily add length and width by choosing the right window treatments. If you have a small window with an expanse of wall on one or both sides you can make the area look longer, wider and brighter. Start the drapes at just below the ceiling and make sure they are floor lengths. Next extend the rods beyond the small window out onto the wall for a few feet. When closed it looks as if you have a picture window and when open the drapes can act as a frame for the small window.

Finally use continuous colors that do not have line breaks. This way you avoid making the room appear in small sections. Also consider the size of the sofas and other pieces of furniture. In a small room less furniture looks roomier.

By Amy C.

Simple, Small, Living

Choosing to live a simple life is often a freeing decision to make. Many people feel that our lives have been consumed by consumerism. We've moved on from owning quaint homes, a few pieces of quality furniture, and having only what we need to wanting everything bigger, better, and in more abundance. If you're feeling like you're ready to slow down, simplify your life, and start minimizing around your home, then you are not alone.

People choose to simplify for a multitude of often personal reasons. Sometimes it's just necessary to reduce because larger living spaces are so expensive. Living in a small apartment, condo, or efficiency can make it seem hard to keep down the clutter. You may be feeling like the tight space is closing in on you simply because you don't have anywhere to put the belongings that you need to keep. Use these tips to learn how successful simpletons manage and love their smaller, more simplified lives.

1) First, start simplifying by reducing the stresses that occupy your everyday life. Something as simple as paying bills can be turned from a dreary task to a quick and paperless endeavor. Most banks offer online bill paying options that can be set up to automatically pay your bills for you, or you can go on and pay them yourself in only seconds. No paper bills, no stamps, no checks, no errands to the post office, and you are just blissfully done with a super minimal amount of effort.

2) Getting rid of excess in your home can be liberating. Before you buy something or decide to keep an item, always consider whether it is something that you need, if it could be replaced with a smaller or more efficient model, or if it is simply something that you want? Many people are able to get rid of a lot of sentimental clutter by keeping a scrapbook documenting items instead of the actual items that can take up space. If you're keeping things because of the memories that they possess, then you will be just as happy reminiscing while looking at a photo of the item. The freedom and control of your surroundings that you feel is very addictive and will help you to keep things simple in other aspects of your life.

3) Storage is a problem for many people living in small spaces. Utilizing furniture that doubles as storage is a great way to hide storage items around your home without taking up any extra space at all. Installing a good closet system is another way to make the best use of the storage space that you have. You would be amazed at the volume of space that is wasted in most people's closets. Vertical space should be utilized all over your home, but in the closet, it can make and enormous difference. Another way to make a difference is to use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to double or triple the space in your closet. Simplify the process of getting ready for work or to go out by cascading your hangers to coordinate outfits. No more searching for that shirt that goes with the pants you want to wear. Use these and other space saving strategies around your home and you can have a simply organized living space before you know it.

By Ricky Miller

Don't Just Get Traffic, Get Targeted Traffic

There is so much need to increase web traffic today, much more than there was a few years ago. This is because every day, the online business community is growing and more people are getting into the business. While these people hold traffic as the major success determining factor, and indeed it is important, there is something else one ought to look at. If you would ask the greatly successful online business people, they would tell you that you should not just be interested in traffic but targeted traffic.

If that term is new to you, then let me explain it for your understanding. Targeted web traffic is traffic that you have special interest in and that is also interested in the products that you have. These are visitors of a given website whose potential of becoming actual buyers is very high.

Let us take an example so you can understand better. If someone was just surfing the web, following link after link and finally landed on your website, it is less likely that such a person would buy anything from your website. After all, it was just by accident that they got to your website. But someone who has deliberately entered "laptops for sale" into a search engine and landed on your website is most likely to buy a laptop from your website if the deal is good because that person went online in search of a laptop.Visitors of this second type visitor give us what we call targeted web traffic.

The big question is how do you get targeted traffic? Let us have a look at the methods of traffic generation that are most likely to generate targeted traffic for your website.

1. Search engine optimization

This is one of the superior methods and it has been in use for a really long period of time. It entails much but a key aspect of SEO is that one should use a good keyword and use it right. Has it ever happened to you that the keyword you choose to target can help you have more targeted traffic?

Think of this, you deal with Dell laptops, just like your competitor Mark. Mark optimizes his website such that it has top ranking for "Dell laptops". He is likely to get more traffic but even from people who just want to know more about dell computers, including children. On the other hand, if you optimize your website for "Dell Laptops for sale" most of the visitors that you will be getting will be people interested in buying Dell laptops.

2. Related forums

The internet has many forums and if you are diligent enough, you can find many forums within the niche of your website. The major reason why people join forums is to get as much information as possible about products they intend to buy. If you take part in such forums and provide valuable information, the members are likely to follow you to your website and form swarms of targeted web traffic.

3. Email lists

These lists contain email addresses of people that have subscribed to some of your products. These people take their time to provide their information, including their email addresses, because they have interest in your products. You should therefore put efforts into growing the list to as much as you can and that is sure to bring you huge volumes of targeted web traffic.

By Michael Moume

Best Business Bank Accounts: Where to Find the Best Deals

Commercial businesses need options for securing their money with readily available access. This can often be done with a business checking account, which may simplify such processes as account reconciliation, expenses tracking and cash flow management. Many banks across the nation offer business accounts complete with personalized checks and a debit card. However, some financial institutions provide more bang for the buck, with free offers and tiered interest rates that accommodate small and large corporations alike. Provided here, therefore, is a list of the four best business bank accounts.

Bank of America provides businesses with a choice of two different business accounts. The first is called the "Business Advantage Checking Account" and caters to owners of small- or medium-sized businesses. The second, "Business Checking Account," is a basic account more ideal for businesses with only one or two team members. The Advantage account requires deposits of at least $10,000 per month to avoid service fees, but it offers more perks than the basic option. Both can be considered among the best business bank accounts available.

Chase Bank routinely offers deals whereby customers can receive $100 with a new business checking account. In addition to a Chase Premier Checking Account that waives all monthly services fees, the bank also offers merchant and payroll services. Lines of credit, certificates of deposit and credit cards designed just for businesses are also available from Chase. In this instance, one of the best business bank accounts may provide money-saving perks as well.

Key Bank is perhaps lesser known than Bank of American and Chase, but the company provides commercial customers with four different business checking accounts. The first option is a basic account that does not require a minimum monthly balance. Similarly, the money market checking account is also considered basic, but it awards tiered interest rates and is available to sole proprietors and nonprofit organizations. Two premier accounts are also available to provide business owners with discounts on products and services or combine checking and investment activities in one account.

Wells Fargo is one of the most recognized banks in the nation. The company offers three different checking accounts for businesses, including a simple option that requires a minimum deposit of $100 to get started. The second is ideal for those who require access to a number of transactions, and the third awards interest. Such options mean the best business bank accounts put a company's money to work in a safe and convenient management vehicle.

By Justin Cooke

How To Get Pregnant Faster - Here Are The Answers

If you do research on "how to get pregnant faster," you will most likely come up a whole lot of search results. Whereas some might be legitimate, most of them will be scams that range from expensive pills to physical exercises that will leave you exhausted and, worst of all, still not pregnant. But there is good news: There are some real answers to "how to get pregnant faster" out there. Read on for the best ways to make the baby you are longing for.

How to get pregnant faster: Your pregnancy chances go up when you watch what you eat

It is almost impossible to conceive a baby when you are eating the wrong foods. Not only do you need to be eating the right foods in order to have the child that you have always wanted, but so does your partner. After all, this baby is the result of both of you! If you both are eating processed foods, drinking alcohol and not getting enough vitamins and minerals, than you will be unlikely to get pregnant anytime soon. On the other hand, if you start eating fresh fruits and vegetables, including green, leafy vegetables, a glass of orange juice each day and lean protein, then you are on your way to answering "how to get pregnant faster".

How to get pregnant faster: Sex is supposed to be fun!

If the only reason why you are having sex with your partner is to conceive, then that may be part of the problem. While you are asking "how to get pregnant faster" part of the answer is to keep your body relaxed, so that it does not reject your partner's sperm and so that it is a hospitable environment for your pregnancy. It may sound crazy, but one of the answers to "how to get pregnant faster", is to make sure that when you have sex with your partner or make love it feels romantic, hot, steamy and fun.

Sex should never be clinical. Get rid of the thermometer by your nightstand, and remember to just enjoy the experience. After all, starting your pregnancy is supposed to be one of the best parts of being pregnant. Still feeling like you and your partner are one a schedule dictated by your body's temperature and a calendar? Then take a time out to rekindle your desire for each other. One of the little known answers to "how to get pregnant faster" is that you will get pregnant faster if your partner refrains from ejaculating for a few days or even a week. This is because it gives his sperm the best chance of making it to your egg and creating a baby when you do finally have sex.

How to get pregnant faster: Exercise is your ally

There is a reason why skinny women seem to have no trouble conceiving. It is because their bodies are already a hospitable environment for their babies. This means that if your body is carrying extra weight, it is already under a strain and may not be able to handle a baby.

By Samantha Penfield

Tips to Making an Income Online

If you are interested in making a income online then there is a few different options that you can choose from. But I want to talk to you about one option that has totaly changed my life. Because I believe it is the best way to get started with your online career. And that is affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is basically just, You become a sales person online for a product. So when you find a product, you market that product online. When a buyer buys that product threw your link you get a commission. That is very simple and sounds easy right? Well if it was that easy, everybody would be doing it im sure.

But if you learn the strategies and techniques that have made other people successful online then you to can be successful. Just copy what others have done and then you will get the same results. And that's basically what you get when you buy a course that tells you that, if you buy their products you will be driving nice cars and owning big houses. The person selling the course I am sure is probably living in a house that nice, and driving that kind of car. But the truth is that you will have to put the amount of work just like they did to be that rich.

But threw the product they are trying to sell they will teach you just how they became that successful online, you just have to implement what they are saying.

If you are worried about if you are getting scammed and don't want to take the risk. I was the same way I wouldn't trust any sales page because they all said the same thing. But the truth is that if you want to learn how to make money online you have to invest in information. There are things you can do to make a good living online with affiliate marketing you just have to find out how.

Now not all courses are created exactly equal, a lot of them I have to admit were a total wast of time and money. And I wish I would not have wasted that time and money. But luckily most of them I did get my money back so it wasn't all a bad thing. But the only way to really be successful online is to not take shortcuts and put in the amount of work that it takes to start a business. But you need to know what kind of work you need to be doing so that your not wasting your time and I want to help you out with that.

By John Couch

Make Money Online - Why A Sports Site Is Perfect

Are you one of those people that try to do all kinds of things in order to make money but just can't? There are many things you can do in order to make a living online and one of those things is to start a sports website. What most people don't understand about sports websites are they don't have to be on every sport, you can just pick one and build on that. The first thing you need to know is that you must love the sport you are going to write about because people don't like to just read an article that they just saw on another site.

The trick to making money with a sports website isn't choosing the right sport, every sport will make money, the trick is to sell things directly related to that sport and the teams that play it. For instance you could use the Amazon affiliate program and promote the different uniforms of the teams, this is great because you don't actually need the items in order to make money. Another wonderful thing about doing this is you can worry about getting traffic as opposed to processing orders and getting more products to sell.

Another way you can make money online with your sports website is by selling tickets. Something that most people don't realize is that you can buy season tickets and then sell them off individually. The nice thing about doing this is as long as you have the traffic to your website you will be able to sell the tickets. Just remember that you should not buy more than 2 season tickets because going overboard will just be a recipe for disaster. Another thing you need to understand is not every ticket is going to be sold and for those tickets you need to try to get rid of them on eBay where there is more demand for things like that.

The final thing I want you to know is that sports websites perfect for making money as long as you keep the site current. This means you need to write for the site daily, even if there are no games. If you look at some of the bigger sports websites online you will notice that even when there are no games they are still publishing articles trying to get more traffic and keep the people they have happy. Just remember that in order to make money with a sports website you need to have the traffic and monetize it with the right stuff.

By Adam Snyder

7 Work From Home Online Income Streams You Can Use Today

There are many opportunities available for those of us seeking work from home online income. The sheer amount available can be overwhelming. There are so many that it can be difficult to know where to start. I have gathered together below several areas that offer programs that anyone can use to start their online earnings growing.

1. Micro job sites:

A recent arrival online, these sites allow anyone to post a job they are willing to complete. To find a list of available sites just do a search for "micro job sites." Once you join you can list your job offer, most allow you to offer a great range of services, take a look at what is popular and be inventive. You will get paid a fixed fee for completing the agreed work. Make sure you are aware of the fee the site takes so you know exactly how much you will receive before starting.

2. Data Entry:

There are many opportunities for the speedy keyboard operator. Jobs entering un-formatted data into web forms or documents so that it is usable by the organization employing you. This job is suited to a quick typist who is able to read longhand or typed data, and enter it error free into the required area. Some specialist areas exist such as medical and legal data entry.

This particular area also attracts a lot of scams. If this is the kind of work you decide to seek beware of sites asking for a fee before they provide you with work, and perform all necessary due diligence. Always search for data on the company concerned before you accept work.

3. Proof reading:

If you love reading, and can spot errors in spelling and grammar a mile away, then this may be for you. Reading documents such as books, articles, and website copy, then spotting and correcting any mistakes, is a service many are willing to pay for.

There are websites that specialize in offering this kind of opportunity. It is also a job you could offer to perform on a micro job site. Offering this service on a site like that is also a great way to build a client base.

4. Graphics editing:

Website headers, e-book covers, company logos, for those of us with a skill for creating graphics elements there are many opportunities available. If you have skill using Photoshop then you have a marketable talent. There are many people who need help with these tasks. Again it is another great service to offer on a micro job site.

5. Writing:

There are literally millions of websites, and more are coming online everyday. All of these will need content. If you love writing there are many people who will pay you for this skill. Articles, email series, sales letters, web-pages, everything you see was written by someone.

Writing jobs are probably the easiest to come by, and if you can produce good error free work you will be in demand.

6. Selling online:

This is not so much a work from home online job, but a business. Go around your house and collect up all the stuff you don't need or use, and sell them on an online auction site like eBay. Using stuff you already have means you can get started today. You can make some money, and build a reputation doing this in the early stages. Then you can use the money from your clear-out to buy more stock and build your business. There are endless things you can sell, take a look at the eBay pulse to find the current best sellers. Some stock gathering ideas are companies selling job lots of large retailer returns and overstocks, charity stores, yard sales, etc. There are thousands making a full-time income doing this from home.

7. Affiliate marketing:

If you don't fancy selling direct, you can sell other peoples stuff by becoming an affiliate marketer. Sites like eBay, Amazon, ClickBank, in fact nearly every online retailer will have an affiliate program you can join. This is a massive subject and there is a lot of good affiliate marketing training available. Basically however you are given a special link by the product vendor that tracks any customers you send. If the person you send makes a purchase you receive a payment.

Work from home online income is available in many sectors. Choose your path and stick to it. Start taking action today and you will soon see success.

By Tony Kitson

Emotional Eating - 7 Techniques To Help You Conquer It

I noted in another article (Emotional Eating: Four Common Causes) that there are at least four common causes of "emotional eating". It has been found that "emotional eating" has psychological implications as well as physical implications and that it is usually used (though unconsciously) in most cases to elevate a persons mood - so they feel better about their circumstances.

This kind of eating usually results, over a period of time, in overweight or obesity. Learning to conquer this type of eating, leads to improved physical and psychological health. Here are six techniques to help you resolve emotional eating:

1 - Recognize emotional eating for what it is.

Learn to be aware of times you eat to avoid unpleasant feelings or in response to unpleasant situations. Learn to eat good, balanced meals at regular meal times. If you must snack between meals snack on healthful alternatives like fruit, carrot sticks, etc.

2 - Find other ways to deal with your emotional avoidance.

If you are bored, find some interesting thing to do. Adopt a hobby that suits your interests, for example. Sometimes, something as simple as chewing a flavorful stick of sugarless gum can help until the feeling of boredom passes.

3 - Drink a glass of cold water.

Studies have shown that people often misinterpret feelings of thirst for feeling of hunger. They also show that many Americans are chronically dehydrated. Drinking that glass of cold water will not only help to alleviate the hunger for a while but will also help to satisfy your thirst.

4 - Learn to manage your stress.

There are many stress reduction strategies that you can learn about online, or even at your nearest bookstore. Some of these strategies can even be practiced in an office environment. Realize that it may take time to learn to implement a strategy; remember, you've been caving into the emotions for sometime.

It will take time to learn to recognize the situations that trigger your emotional reaction and then to learn how to deal with it in a positive way. Learn to view these situations as opportunities for personal growth.

5- Accept the fact that emotional eating may not have a quick remedy.

Sometimes it is difficult to look at yourself objectively, and it may take time and patience. Our emotions are not something we can switch "off" and "on" like a light.

For the short term, you still may need to turn to foods for comfort, but as you learn to recognize what you are doing you will learn to find other ways to deal with the situation. It may even be as simple as substituting carrots sticks for the sweet roll. As time passes, you should be able to deal with the situations that trigger your need in more healthful ways.

6 - Get a coach.

Do you know someone who has dealt with this problem successfully in their own lives? Ask them how they learned to control their emotional reactions. Ask them if they would be willing to give you suggestions and hold you responsible for your actions.

7 - Get professional help.

Talk with your personal physician, he may be able to help, or seek the help of a trained counselor or therapist. Because of the health benefits of losing weight, many insurance companies will cover at least a portion of the cost of professional help for this type of problem.

A letter from your physician may help in getting insurance coverage. The help you receive in overcoming this problem, should benefit you and your medical insurance company for many years in the future. A "cookie cutter" approach to "emotional eating" usually does not work. Some people can overcome more easily than others, so be aware, that resolving this problem will take time.

By Jordan V Davis

Online Jobs From Home - What Are the Best Options?

A dream many of us share is to work for ourselves, and ditch the shackles of our day job. Today more than ever before it is a dream that is a realistic goal. The growth of the online world has produced many options you can try. So if you are looking for online jobs from home you are probably wondering what are the best options? In this article I hope to show you some of the best.

Freelance writing:

Content is what drives the internet, and with new sites coming online every day the hunger for this unique content is ever growing. If you love writing then people are willing to pay you to do it for them. There are many websites where you can find writing jobs, just search for "freelance writing jobs" to find some you can try.

You will need to learn the correct style of writing to adopt. Your customers will expect you to understand what this is. You will need the ability to write naturally, and error free, whilst incorporating the required keywords at a certain agreed frequency.

Affiliate marketing:

Nearly every online retailer has an affiliate program, sometimes called a partner program. Through this they are willing to pay you a percentage of any sale you make for them. There are many people who not only make a living, but have become quite wealthy doing this.

If you are interested in an online job from home then becoming an affiliate is one of the easiest and fastest to get involved in. The down side is that you will need a website of your own. However you can use a free one to get you started. Two of the best options being a Blogger blog or Squidoo lens.

You only get paid when you make a sale, and it will happen, but often not straight away. It can be difficult to keep going if the sales are thin on the ground to start with. For this reason you will need a strong resolve, and perseverance to start with. If this is the path you choose then you must work consistently, treat it like a serious business, and don't give up.

Auction seller:

Using sites like eBay to sell or auction products for profit is a great way to make money. This is probably one of the best known, but don't discount it as there are many full time auction sellers who make a very good living. You can start by just clearing your clutter and selling stuff you don't use or need anymore. Build your sales inventory by searching around your own home. This will build up your rating on the site, and make you some quick cash.

If you decide to get serious then you should specialize in one area or niche. Don't forget there are other options as well as eBay, try the amazon marketplace. Amazon is not just for books and DVDs, plus it is free to list things. You could make a great living picking stock up from yard sales, stock clearances, and charity stores, then re-selling them online.

Quirky unusual jobs:

A recent development is the growth of micro job sites like fiverr.com. Do a search for "micro job sites" and you will find lots of them to choose from. On these kinds of sites you can simply state what you are willing to do for a fixed price, on fiverr it is just $5 but others have other price points.

Remember the site keeps some of the fee so make sure you know what you will get before you advertise. You can get writing jobs, or graphic jobs, and other website related jobs or gigs. However this is just the tip of the iceberg, because you can literally agree to do almost anything. One that sticks in my mind was someone offering to hold up a sign in times square new york with your message on it, and another that just said I will make you happy.

The tip is to list lots of jobs, and then to promote them by posting on sites like Facebook. Remember to make your description eye catching, and tag it with good keywords. These all help to get a good number of people reading it, and ultimately paying for your services.

By Tony Kitson