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Discover Your Secret Hidden Talent Which You Have Been Using Since Age Five - Part 1

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:10:54 +0000

Discover Your Secret Hidden Talent Which You Have Been Using Since Age Five - Part 1
by: Rex Andrews
Many of us are born into this world with talents and abilities. Some have the ability to work with numbers, others have talents to hit a ball and run, while still others are good caretakers. Many people get into various jobs and careers. Some times we look at other people and think, "Boy weren't they lucky to be gifted with that talent or that ability." We look at the sports stars who are earning mega-million dollar contracts and inside we wish we were able to do the same thing.
Well the great thing about being born into this world is that no matter where we were born, where we grew up, what we are doing now for a job or career, we ALL have within us a Secret Hidden Talent. Let's look closely at where that talent came from and how it was developed. Many of us do not really remember things that occurred in the first five years of our lives. However, right around age five, we start to interact with other people outside of our families. It is this interaction that causes this secret hidden talent to start to develop.
We go to school and hear the teacher read us a story about Jack and his dog who helped stop a fire. We go home and we tell our mother and father about the story. Or maybe we hear a funny joke and we just have to tell every one of our friends at school or in the neighborhood.
As we are watching our favorite television show, we see a commercial on the latest, hottest new toy. We just have to get that, so who do we tell? That's right, Mom & Dad. Do we tell them about this toy ONCE? No, we continue to tell them over and over and over about how great it will be if you had that toy. We tell them that we will clean up our room or take out the trash for the next kazillion years if they will ONLY buy that toy for us. Sometimes this works, many times it does not. But the interesting thing is that during this whole time we have been developing our secret hidden talent.
Now that you understand how you developed this secret hidden talent, you are probably asking, "What is this secret hidden talent?" Well if you look at what was briefly described above, you will see that every one of us on the planet have been recommending or referring things to our family and our friends. You see as you grew older the types of things that you recommend and refer change. You no longer are telling your friends about a toy you saw on the Saturday morning cartoons. However, you are telling them about a great restaurant, a special sale, or a great movie.
In fact, if you are an NFL football fan, many people are aware of "The Catch" that occurred during a game between the Steelers and the Raiders. If you watched that game, guess what you talked about on Monday morning at work. That's right - The Catch. You told everyone you knew about how lucky or talented Franco Harris was when he grabbed that ball and ran for a touchdown.
Maybe you went to a friend's wedding over the weekend and you loved the arrangements and decorations, the brides maids dresses and especially the bride's dress. You run into a friend who was not able to attend and you tell them all about it and how they should use this in their upcoming wedding.
What has occurred in each and every case? You have told someone about a product or service or event that occurred. This is your secret hidden talent. The more you tell others about products, services, or events, the better you get. In fact, most people use this talent every day of their life from age five.
Amazingly, most people use this secret hidden talent every day of their lives but they do not realize that they could actually get paid for it. That's right, you heard correctly. You can get paid for this talent. Here's is an example that my friend, Michael, shared with a taxi cab driver. As he was riding from the airport to his hotel, he asked the cab driver where was a good place to eat. The cab driver told him the top eating spots. My friend asked the cab driver his name, which was Oliver. He then asked Oliver if he went into the restaurant and told them that Oliver sent him to the restaurant, would they send Oliver a referral check at the end of the month. Oliver said "NO WAY!" My friend then asked Oliver if he would like to find out how he could get paid for his secret hidden talent. Oliver wanted to know more about getting paid for what he did every day.
You see, my friend, Michael, is one of the few people who have been able to utilize his secret hidden talent and get paid for it. In fact he has been doing this every day for over 20 years. Amazing, isn't it? The fact is many people around the world are recommending and referring and getting paid for it. They are recommending various products and service such as soap, air filters, water filters, nutritional products, cosmetics, computers, telecommunication services such as long distance, pagers, cell phones, Internet, web pages, shopping malls, and the list goes on. These people told others about the products and services that they purchased and at the end of the month they received a referral check.
Here is another story. I have another friend, who worked very hard for over 30 years and decided to retire from his job. Someone told him about his secret hidden talent and told him that he had a choice of getting paid for using it. He decided getting paid was a better option. The interesting thing is that in ten months, he was able to match his salary at his former job of thirty years. Why? Because he decided to use his secret hidden talent and get paid instead of being like most people who use it and don't get paid.
Would you like to know how you can get paid for something you are already doing every day?
Would you like to discover how to fully utilize your secret hidden talent TODAY?
Remember, most people use this secret hidden talent every day, they just don't get paid for it.
If you are ready to learn how you can get paid for using your secret hidden talent, I will be happy to show you how to get started TODAY. http://www.coachme-mentorme.net

Soul Mate Myths

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:08:41 +0000

Soul Mate Myths
by: Randall Curtis
Our soul is our heart. It is full of radiance. Therefore, our soul mate is someone who reflects our heart.
A man's heart is feminine and the woman who is his soul mate reflects his soul. A woman's heart is masculine and the man who is her soul mate reflects her soul. Each one feels the presence of the other inside of them as the very core of who they are. There is a deep recognition of this truth.
The painful truth is that most people have never known this inner radiance. Instead, they cling to the many myths about the soul mate relationship that are simply not true. These false beliefs need to be understood. Here are just a few.
Myth One: Many people believe that they will find their soul simply by looking, wishing, hoping and dreaming.
They feel that somehow this person will come along and make them eternally happy. This is the most naive of all the soul mate myths.
Myth Two: Others tend to rely upon how much they are attracted to another person to determine if they are their soul mate or not. The truth is that our attractions are very deceiving. The myth is that we can trust our feelings of attraction, as if our feelings are a validation of the facts. Further, the attraction you may have for someone could actually be a fatal attraction without you even realizing it. You may think a person is your soul mate, but you could simply be sexually obsessed with them.
Myth Three: Why are so many of us looking for a soul mate when we don't have any capacity for true heart intimacy? Even if our soul mate actually does appear, we become so terrified of giving our heart to them that we run 100 miles in the other direction. The unconscious myth here seems to be that we can find our soul mate without surrendering our heart.
Myth Four: Another myth is that we will recognize our soul mate if we meet them. We fail to realize that if our soul mate reflects our soul, and we are unable to feel our own inner radiance -- don't really love ourself or know who we are -- then we will be unable to recognize him or her. In fact, you could know such a person for years without even recognizing that they are your soul mate. I know this to be true, because it happened to me.
So, how do you find your soul mate?
If we really do want to find our soul mate, then we must realize that we have to awaken to a greater capacity for surrendering our heart. By surrendering our heart, we will know the wound of love as well as the profound sense of intimacy that comes with it. Take the Soul Mate Test and check out The Soul Mate Discovery Group at the link below. Let me know what you think. It may be time to destroy your myths.

You CAN Find Life AFTER DIVORCE

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:05:55 +0000

You CAN Find Life AFTER DIVORCE
by: Connie Butler
It's All About Change
One of the most radical and often devastating changes that aperson may experience is the change accompanying a divorce. But you don't have to flounder through it all alone. Whatif you had help charting a course to the life you trulywanted to live? What if you could leverage this time ofchange to create the life of your dreams? What if youreceived support and guidance through the transition frompain and confusion to thriving in your new life?
I can help.
At the core, my work with people revolves around creatingeffective change - I am a skilled change agent movingclients through the often choppy waters of a complex life.
Many of the women I work with have been through divorce andare trying to work through the complexity of putting thepast behind them, identifying the resources they have andthose they need to help them move forward. They are workingtowards a renewal of their personal power and are interestedin building self-confidence. Often they are faced withupgrading their employment skills or entering the work forcefor the first time when they are faced with financialpressures. Some are learning what it means to be alone andreestablishing the confidence of independence. Although itcan be an extremely confusing, often overwhelming time, thehidden silver lining is that it can also be a potent time torestructure, revision and recreate a life based onprinciples that can bring you the fulfillment and excitementyou desire. My goal in working with you is to help youbetter understand the steps needed to get you there!
I went though a divorce as a young adult with no support andknow first hand the difficulty that many people go throughwhen they are trying to rebuild a positive and fulfillinglife after all of the "legal dust" has settled. Iexperienced first hand how difficult and painful therebuilding process can be with no support. My experiencecoupled with over 18 years of helping people navigatecomplex change establishes my ability as a trusted changeagent in developing a satisfying life after divorce.
I am so blessed to do this work because in it I participatein the process of real and substantive positive change inthe lives of my clients. What a remarkable, real andinspiring undertaking. It calls on me to bring myselftotally present with each of my client calls. It expands mycapacity for understanding and recognition of the amazingopportunity we each have to affect not only our own livesbut that of the planet as a whole. It shows me and myclients over and over again the unique qualities each of uspossess and how precious those qualities are. If each of ustruly understood that our very being ness is exactly whatour lives and the lives of others require to thrive would wehold back anything? Would we allow the next moment tohappen, move into it and meet it fully? Would we bring ourwhole selves forward on this adventure of life?
That is what real living is about - not holding back fromeach individual moment whether it holds great joy or sorrowbut having the willingness to live it fully. Each moment isa moment of change and that change can be profoundly movingif we participate in it fully.
In this article I will be outlining several ways for you toget started on your own right now.
Get Support:
Hopefully you already have the support of family andfriends. But finding the RIGHT kind of support is what iskey here. Often, unfortunately, family and friends, thoughwell meaning, may have their own agendas for you. One of theessential components of this change is that it is based onYOU: your clarity, your dreams and what you want. It isvital that you determine who in your life allows you todiscover what you want and go to them. Basing your own self-development program on what YOU want is the first step inbuilding self- confidence again. Make sure they have yourbest interests at heart and not just what they think youneed. If this does not seem to be available, see if you havea trusted clergy member, a counselor, a support group, or agood coach. I believe you need ample time to discover whatit is that you want next and do all you can to support THAT.
Forgive Yourself:
The greater your willingness to forgive yourself, thegreater will be your enthusiasm and creativity in movingforward. Many people harbor feelings of failure about theirdivorce. Many blame themselves and continue to go over allthat they might have done differently. Self-judgment is likethe cross-current that will immediately send you off course.It is the one thing that can destroy your self-confidenceand any creative idea you may have for the future. It isoften a natural way to deal with all of the chaos andupheaval- we immediately blame ourselves or our spouse. Itis a negative attempt to gain control. But effectively itdefeats your dreams and keeps you tied to the past. Look forways to forgive and nurture yourself; defend yourselfagainst any of your self-judgments. Essentially, they areuntrue and you can move past them. My soon-to-be launchedAudio/Workbook program can give you the tools you need todeal with Judgment.
Discover What You Want:
Often in very important relationships our identity becomesso entwined with another that when it ends we are not surewho we are. This perceived loss of self is actually thedeepest pain of the separation. You need time to rediscoveryourself outside of the relationship. You require enoughspace and peace to be able to envision a new, bright future.Right now you may be using your imagination to see all ofthe possible negative outcomes. The important thing for youto realize here is that you are using your imagination tosupport these old thoughts and actions. Our imaginations arean amazingly powerful and creative tool. See if you canbegin to use it to support you not hobble you.
Start by letting yourself imagine what you would like to seein your new life. Take a moment right now, close your eyes,take a few breaths and consider one thing you would like tochange. Use your imagination to envision or sense it alreadyin your life. Let yourself feel what it would be like tohave it already in place. Use the inspiration of that tofuel your actions.
Action the Change:
Now the next important thing is to start actioning thatchange. Change does not happen unless you take targetedaction. If you need help seeing how to practice makingchange you can sign up for my F.r.e.e eClass that will leadyou through the basic steps of change. You can click herehttp://www.conniebutler.biz/change_signup.php to sign up forthis F.r.e.e. eClass and download it immediately. You canstart making those changes right now. Use the principles inthis class to start making smaller changes so you can buildthe inner strength and resolve needed to make the largerchanges effectively.
Good, targeted reading can add another level of support toaction. You can access some books to support you here:http://www.conniebutler.biz/resources.php.
As you look at your current life and envision what you wantchoose one area that you wish to change. What do you need assupport to make that change? You may need to access aquality within yourself. The quality may be courage or faithor strength. You may need the courage to try something new.You may need the faith to believe the change is possible.And you may need the strength to take the action required.Start developing the quality that will most leverage thechange you want.
Who or what might help you take the action. Perhaps you needa buddy. Someone who encourages you and to whom you areaccountable. Do all you can to put that support in place.One of the things I see in my work with clients is thenecessity to notice the smallest increments of change. Whenyou notice change as you are taking action your motivationfor more action increases.
Continue to envision the change you want. Eventually themomentum of action will increase and you will find yourselfmoving along the line of growth and action that will bringsubstantive change into your life. This is one of the mostimportant transitions of your life. Give yourself all youneed to create the life that will bring you the satisfactionand fulfillment. In the process you can also access my eBook
"Thriving After Divorce - 3 Key Principles for Creating aFantastic Life in 30 Days" athttp://www.conniebutler.biz/divorce.php.
"Nothing will change until you change. Everything willchange when you change."~ Lou DiCaprio

Top 8 Things You Must Do When Hiring a DJ For Your Wedding Party

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:05:22 +0000

Top 8 Things You Must Do When Hiring a DJ For Your Wedding Party
by: Austin Akalanze
Introduction:
Music is an important and indespensible part of any function including weddings. A DJ can make or break a wedding. A DJ who knows his tuff can make what would otherwise be a mediocre wedding, into a brilliant success.
It is important therefore to put a little thought and care into hiring a DJ. Following are somethings you must consider when hiring a DJ.
This article breaks down into three major areas. The DJ and his professional experience, the equipment, the contract and cost.
Hope you find this article informative.
1. Hire the DJ not the company
Though chances are that you will hire a company for your DJ, the truth is that you will be dealing with the DJ and not the company during your wedding party. It therefore makes good sense to get to know your DJ before the party. Be sure to get a written understanding of whom your DJ will be. If possible, meet with him or her right from the go.
2. Get to know your DJ
Do not be afraid to ask your DJ about his experience organizing and playing weddings. Remember, it is your wedding party and not his and to get the kind of wedding you want, the DJ must be willign to listen to your input. Find out how much experience your DJ has and whether or not he knows how to organize wedding receptions.
3. Being a DJ is more than spinning records
A good DJ is a lot more than a record spinner, anyone can do just that. Being a good DJ includes getting the people invloved. It means getting the people off their seats and onto the dancing floor. How will your DJ do that? Find out.
4. What is the dress code?
Be sure your DJ understands the dress code for the occassion. Weddings are a formal occassion and require formal dressing. Your DJ should dress in a way that is appropriate and beffitting for the occassion.
5. Is there a contract?
It is always better to have a contract that spells out the terms of the engagement, such as the fees. Will there be an extra charge if the function goes into overtime? Who pays for transportation? Also your contract should show date, time and place of event and pertinent contact information such as telephone numbers.
6. There are djs and there are DJs, get a professional breed.
Some DJ companies are more equal than the others. How do you know? Here are some pointer. What is there affiliation(s)? Ask if they belong to ADJA or any of the other membership organizations? Are they insured?
7. Your function will sound as good as the equipment
Quality equipment will always produce quality sound and sound effects. Do not settle for anything less than the best. Some of the best brand names include Denon, Gemini, QSC, and Crown. Ask your DJ what brand his equipment is.
Also be sure that the DJ brings along a backup system. Failures do happen when lest expected and you want to be ready when they happen.
8. Encourage your DJ to bring a wide variety of song selections. Do not try to limit them with a list. It is best to have songs that will sweep the people off their seats and on to the dancing floor. The more, the merrier.

True Love and Romantic Fiction, the Perfect Couple

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:04:39 +0000

True Love and Romantic Fiction, the Perfect Couple
by: Tameka Norris
The world is intrigued by true love stories just as much as fiction these days. Now, you can find a variety of sites dedicated to the reality of love at your perusal.
It goes to show you that just as many of us are captivated by the reality of romance as we are by a good romance fiction.
Although the two can offer some of the same results for the reader, it's clear they both bring something of their own individual value to the table.
You can't always get the same thing from true love stories that you can get from romantic fiction and vice versa. Neither can replace the other, but they both certainly do make the perfect couple.
You can take a closer look and see that we are often drawn to both types for different reasons. One very significant reason that many of us are captivated by romantic fiction is escapism.
The ability to dream and dare to dream. To live out experiences that would be impossible in reality... or unlikely. To take on new lives and journey to new worlds that don't exist, for the sheer pleasure of it.
We get to ask ourselves, "What life do I want to live today?" and then pick up a book and choose our own adventure that journeys us through our pick of the day.
True love stories can't really replace the sort of bond we form with fiction. Reality is one thing but fantasy is another.
Of course true love stories offer their own sort of getaway, but the boundaries are clear. In reality, most stories are bound by life's limitations. Oh, you may have a few exceptions to the rule, in which something miraculous happened, but that's on an every-now-and-then basis.
But even then we will never be able to journey to a different world and experience life in ways that exist in fiction.
However, true love stories do have a magic of their own. The truth and experiences that we all share in this world will always carry greater weight with us. To connect with a real person who experienced similar trials can't be replaced by fiction.
Curiosity may drive us to read a true story but it's inspiration and intrigue that keeps us there. Knowing someone out there--someone real has gone through something we've personally experienced is powerful.
True, we may be able to make up a sort of false reality with romantic fiction, but it can't replace the substance of truth. That real connection.
True love stories have their own individual quality. They draw us in, because really... what could be more fascinating than reading a true tale about love offset by the circumstance of reality? We all know there's no guarantee in life. Whether we will be dealt a good or bad hand in love is questionable.
We don't know the odds, or what the outcome in our lives will be in the end or during our own personal adventure through life.
When we add the limitations of uncertainty to the pot and combine them together with love--that alone captures our interest.
Whether the ending is good or bad, we're intrigued by the fortunes and misfortunes of reality, because life truly does imitate art.

Kickstart Your Sex Life Today!

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:03:09 +0000

Kickstart Your Sex Life Today!
by: Sarah Brindisi
Has your sex life been a bit neglected lately? Its not like you don't care but well, it's just finding the time and energy. It seems impossible some days because there's work and cleaning and working out and grocery shopping and cooking dinner, laundry, kids, family commitments, friends, ironing! When you do get horizontal you pass out within minutes. Or you're not in the mood. Or you just can't be bothered. Soon enough a month has passed and you can't remember the last time you had sex. And when was the last time you kissed your partner and I mean really kissed them, not just a polite peck?
Or maybe you've just fallen into a rut. You have sex in the same place at roughly the same time each week and do the same things. Routine is good for things like brushing your teeth but it shouldn't come into your sex life when variety and excitement are crucial elements in making it fulfilling.
If this sounds like you and you want to kickstart your sex life back into well, life, then read on.
1. Be spontaneous
The element of surprise can be very seductive. Take a shower together, surprise your partner with a long passionate kiss when they are expecting to just graze lips, buy some new lingerie and wear it.
2. Get healthy
Eating well and regular exercise put you in better touch with your body and that inner healthy glow not only makes you look more attractive but gives you heaps of energy and makes you feel more vibrant and alive.
3. Be affectionate
If you haven't had sex for awhile then it may be better to build up slowly to get back into the groove. Instead of trying to go from a standing start to racing speed, ease your way back into the physical by touching when you can and by being considerate with each other. Touch when you talk. Stop to kiss when you walk past each other in the hallway. Trail your finger along their shoulder as they sit reading a magazine. Snuggle on the couch in front of your favorite movie.
4. Be sensual
Give your partner a peppermint foot bath when they get home from a busy day. Massage their hands, scalp, back - wherever takes your fancy (if you don't know how to massage, don't think about it, just do what feels good). Or try a lighter touch by using a feather or silk scarve to trail along the length of your partner.
5. Be encouraging when your partner does something you like
Even if you've been together a long time your partner doesn't always know what you like and even if they do it doesn't hurt to tell them once in awhile. Say what you like and why you like it, if they have more information you never know what they may come up with to please you.
6. Read your partner an erotic bedtime story
The mind is crucial in any attempt to resuscitate your sex life. It needs to be turned on first and the body will follow. There is some great erotic fiction around or you could try Nancy Friday for stories about other people's sexual fantasies.
7. Have fun
When was the last time you laughed together? Put on your favourite track and dance. Or buy the music that was popular when you first got together and play that for a trip down memory lane over dinner. Take a midnight dip.
8. Write a sexy letter
If you can't tell your partner what you really want them to do to you, then writing it down is a great alternative. It lets you be as specific as you like without feeling like your face is going to turn tomato red and gives your partner time to process what you've said and get into the mood (if you need help putting your letter together try visiting www.loveyouletters.com for easy-to-us love templates).
9. Experiment
Learn a new technique together. Try a romantic weekend away. Or you could try a sex toy from one of the many on offer. If you always have sex lying down then try standing or sitting. If you're always on top then try switching things around.
10. Focus on the now
When you do get down to it, it is crucial that you focus on exactly what it is you are doing. To do this you must stop the chatter within your own head. Don't worry that you forgot to pick up the drycleaning, or how you need to call your mother about her birthday, or the fact that you're out of cereal. Leave all that stuff to later. Much later. Chances are it won't seem nearly so important once you're done.

Be My Valentine

admin — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:01:57 +0000

Be My Valentine
by: Martin Avis
Before there was a Saint Valentine to bring romance into the equation, mid-February was an important date for lovers. From 400 years BC, the Romans held an annual lottery in the name of their god Lupercus. The names of teenage women were put into a box and drawn at random by adolescent men. The 'winners' were legally paired for a year.
Meanwhile, the mad emperor Claudius banned marriage for young men - he believed that single men made better soldiers.
A Christian bishop, Valentine, disagreed with his Emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies until Claudius found out and first imprisoned him, and finally had him clubbed, stoned and beheaded on February 24th, 270.
While he was imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and when he was taken to be executed, he left her a note signed, 'From your Valentine.'
Taking Valentine's name in vain, the Church, in AD 496, decided to finally abolish the annual pairing off lottery held in honor of the god Lupercus and so decreed a small change in the rules:
>From then on, both the young men and the young women would pick a name out of the hat, but instead of getting a year of companionship (and often lust), they drew the name of a Saint whose life they had to spend the next year emulating.
Must have been quite a disappointment for the hot- bloodied young Romans!
They named the day after Saint Valentine whose involvement, 226 years after his death, was more to usurp the pagan god than to signify love.
Thankfully, public memory was more powerful that political will and Saint Valentine remained associated with lovers. Young Roman men, deprived of their lottery, took instead to handing hand-written notes to the women they admired on February 14th.
The tradition of the Valentine card was thus started over 1500 years ago!
The earliest known card that still exists is currently in the British Museum. It was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. He was a prisoner in the Tower of London at the time and so his feelings of love were probably more acute than most!
In the sixteenth century the Bishop of Geneva tried to reinstate the annual Saint's name lottery, but his efforts were short-lived. February 14th was by then too firmly associated with lovers for the Church to successfully interfere.
In 1797 a British publisher, who would have done very well in modern Internet times, published 'The Young Man's Valentine Writer' which offered scores of suggestions of sentimental verses for the creatively challenged.
The practice of sending cards anonymously began with the Victorians, who secretly loved anything of a racy nature, but publicly needed to maintain a show of respectful purity. Hence, the verses in the cards became more and more obscene, but the authors remained hidden behind a respectful anonymity.
The first publisher of Valentine's cards in America, Esther Holland charged up to $35 for each card. And this was in 1870!
Finally, kisses are written as 'x' because in days of illiteracy, your signature was a cross. To convey the effect of an oath, people would draw their cross and kiss it - in the same way that they would kiss the Bible. So the x and the kiss became one and the same.
Have a lovely Valentine's day! X

10 Essential Ingredients For Finding The Perfect Flatmates

admin — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:15:44 +0000

10 Essential Ingredients For Finding The Perfect Flatmates
by: Enid Steiner
Can you describe your perfect flatmate in less than 30 seconds? If you're having trouble, help is on the way. The good news is you'll be able to find the right flatmates for you by creating your own "perfect flatmate recipe".
By creating your own recipe, you'll be able to find which qualities are important to you, which in turn will help you decide whether a person would be suitable as a flatmate. The ingredients or factors that form part of this recipe will always be the same regardless of your current situation. It's just a matter of finding the right combination of ingredients that will help you find the perfect flatmate for you. As each person has different tastes, there's no right or wrong answer as everyone's idea of the perfect flatmate is different.
When putting together your recipe for the perfect flatmate, simply take these ingredients, stir and add your own twist.
Gender
Do you wish your new flatmate to be male or female? Consider the gender of existing flatmates and how a male or female could affect your existing household.
Age
Will new flatmates need to be in the same age group than you or existing flatmates? People of different ages often have different living patterns, interests and viewpoints.
Smoking Habits
Do you prefer flatmates who are non-smokers or a living environment where flatmates can choose to smoke? The smoking habits of current flatmates and their preferences will naturally determine the smoking arrangements in each household.
Drinking Habits
Is it important whether a flatmate likes a glass of wine, prefers a beer or is a non-drinker? Keep in mind that non-drinkers may not be happy if a portion of the shopping budget is spent on alcohol.
Personality
Do you prefer your flatmate to have a quiet, outgoing, independent, laid back or reserved personality? Whatever your choice, this essential ingredient will influence group dynamics and the interaction between flatmates. For example, a person who sees their flatmates as friends may feel isolated if all of their flatmates are independent and make their own plans.
Hobbies and Interests
Do your flatmates need to enjoy the same type of music, like to entertain or lead a health conscious lifestyle? Different likes and dislikes can cause conflicts and disruptions within a household. To ensure a harmonious living environment all flatmates should have some interests in common.
Length of Stay
Is it important that you and your flatmates spend a minimum amount of time living together? For example, deciding that current flatmates should set up a household for a minimum of a year will help household budgeting and allows everyone to have the same expectations.
Friends and Guests
Do you prefer flatmates which have a lot of friends visiting or living with people who meet their friends elsewhere? It's a matter of deciding whether you prefer a busy home where people are continuously walking in and out or a quieter living environment.
Personal Belongings
Will your flatmates need to bring or contribute any items to the household and how much space will be available for personal belongings? For example, if you are living in a small apartment, a flatmate with only a few personal items may be more suitable than a person that has a 3-piece lounge set.
Independence
Do you prefer flatmates that wish to form close relationships with other flatmates or should flatmates be independent and want to do their own thing? The amount of independence of each flatmate will play an important part in the development of relationships within a household.
The advantage of this recipe is that whenever a part of your life or living environment changes, you can simply re-create your recipe to match your new hobbies, lifestyle or living situation. Changing your perfect flatmate recipe when you need to will help you find the right flatmates each time. Remember, if you are ever unsure in which direction you are heading, just ask yourself "Can you describe your perfect flatmate in 30 seconds or less?"
Good luck and happy flatmate hunting!

Planning The Perfect Wedding - Top Five Secrets Of A Successful Groom

admin — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:34:52 +0000

Planning The Perfect Wedding - Top Five Secrets Of A Successful Groom
by: Scott Fromherz
Let's face it, the wedding is all about the bride. But behind every good bride is a rock steady groom who is ready for anything. Having successfully navigated one of life's most exciting and important milestones, I feel it my duty to pass-on my hard earned advice. So without further ado, here are my top five "Secrets of a Successful Groom:"
1. Be a "Pillar Of Strength" - This wedding planning stuff is an emotional roller-coaster. You WILL fight, you WILL laugh, and one of you might even cry. Your primary role is to be steadfast and sure; to be "a shoulder to cry on." To stand-up for your future wife when some wedding planner is trying to rip her off, or a photographer is giving her a bad deal. Be strong - Be a man.
2. You Really Do Care - You could probably care less whether the shoes are white or ivory, but you need to act like you really do care. Actually listen to what she's asking you. It might seem like the most mundane question in the world, but just try to give your best answer...and then expect to be disagreed with. She may or may not need your input, but she definitely needs a sounding board for her ideas.
3. You Made the Right Decision - What comes with this emotional roller-coaster is the occasional feeling that you may have made the wrong decision in asking her hand in marriage. Did I jump the gun? Should I have waited longer? Am I going to be able to live with this woman for the rest of my life? These thoughts are completely NORMAL. Marriage is a huge commitment, and during the excitement of the ring-buying and the proposal you had briefly forgotten how serious it is. Just remember that you put a lot of thought into this decision, and you wouldn't have made it if you didn't think it was the right one. Keep telling yourself, "These thoughts are NORMAL."
4. Start Thinking About Your Toast - It's never to soon to start thinking about what your going to say for your toast. Some grooms don't have to do this, but if you do, then start thinking about it. It's amazing how hard it can be to come up with a few simple words. Consider using a template from a website or a book.
5. Don't Forget About The Wedding Ring - You thought you were all done when you forked out your life's savings for that giant rock on her finger. Guess what...you still have to buy her wedding ring. Talk to your jeweler about how much warning he needs to have them ready. It's okay to bring the bride with you for this one.
Well that's it. I'm sure you can find some great tips in other articles, but I feel that these tips will serve you well. Just take a deep breath, be patient, and remember the golden rule: SHE IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

Stay Away From The Oxygen Thieves!

admin — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:33:46 +0000

Stay Away From The Oxygen Thieves!
by: Burrel Lee Wilks III
People are either "givers" or "takers." It's as simple as that. They are one or the other. No room for gray. When I talk about giving and taking here, I'm not only talking about people who borrow or lend money, I'm talking about emotional giving and taking.
You know the people I'm talking about. The ones who sap your energy and your strength. They only want to be with you as long as you bring some value to them. They're always afraid they're missing out on something. When you're with them, they're usually looking over your shoulder, scanning the room, to see who else, of more use, might be there.
They talk at you, not to you. The don't listen. In fact they're just waiting for a chance to interrupt so they can talk more about themselves. They only call when they need something, when their lives are out of kilter.
The funny thing is though, that someone who is an emotional taker, will usually take your money, hospitality, kindness and girlfriend as well!
Now do a quick mental inventory of your friends and associates, and without thinking too hard, label each one as a "giver" or a "taker." You'll be surprised at how easy it is to do.
Then there are the Bottom-Feeders.
Now these are the real losers. The extreme takers. They'll take, then take a little more, then just a little more until you're sucked dry.
They probably don't even recognize that they're doing you any harm. In fact, they believe you owe them. After all, they rationalize, you've got so much more than they do: more money, energy, luck and connections. It stands to reason you should share it all with them! That's only fair.
And worst of all, are the Player-Haters!
They gossip, and cackle and love to see other folks fail. When you share good news with them, their smiles don't ever reach their eyes. They pretend to celabrate your success but are just waiting for you to fall.
These are the folks who only want to hold you down, so they won't be lonely at the bottom.
So, stay away from the Takers, the Bottom-Feeders and the Player-Haters at all costs, even if they're so close to you they're related! Find people who have the same goals you have and who'll be there to encourage you when you need it.