Author : Brian Dalton
The art of managing outdoor space
Designing a patio - or a garden, is much like designing a living room or a park. It's all about space, and how you use it. To start with, you have empty space with nothing in it. Then you add plants, statues and other decorative items to fill that space and make it feel like a homey, comfortable space.. but wait! You don't want to actually fill it with stuff. Then it would look cluttered, which is not what you want. What you want is a balance between empty space and decorative items. The real issue, then, is how do you achieve that balance?Use Clustering to make the most of your outdoor space
The first mistake most people make when decorating a patio, backyard or garden is to take their planters, fountains, statues, etc. and spread them out evenly to try to cover as much space as possible. This is especially tempting for those on a tight budget, since they may not be able to afford as many accessories and accents as they would like. Spreading things out evenly, though, creates a boring space which doesn't give the eye anything in particular to focus on. It is much more pleasing to group your plants and decor items into clusters, so that several items can be seen at once, in a friendly grouping, with empty space between providing variety. This way, your visitors' eyes can move easily and comfortably from one cluster to another - each cluster is distinct in character and the empty space between emphasizes their unique natures.Try to think of each plant, statue, plaque or other accent as having its own personality, and place them together in groups that allow them to relate to each other in pleasing and complementary ways; place two low flowering plants on either side of a larger fern, or place a small statue between a palm and a vine - the possibilities are endless and are only limited by your creativity and imagination!Take your visitors on a journey
Think about what a visitor will see as they enter and move through your patio, garden or backyard. What will catch their eye first? Once they've enjoyed looking at that, what will they look at next? Where will their attention be drawn, and where will that carry their feet? Professional designers set up their spaces much like a story; the intent is to guide their visitors' attentions - and their bodies - through the space so that everything is seen and everything is enjoyed in an interesting and pleasing order.Try to create special accent zones to show off your most treasured items by placing them right in the visitor's path, or by placing them at eye level, or by surrounding them with unique accessories that set the entire cluster apart from the others. If you take a little time to consider what people will see and where they will go as they make their way through your garden space, you'll find that creating a relaxing and pleasant garden or backyard is just a matter of common sense!Don't neglect the vertical space
It's easy to think about your outdoor areas in terms of their ground or floor space - the area where you can place a plant stand, set a statue or fountain, or leave a path for friends to walk - but you must also remember the space above the ground! In some ways, vertical space is even more important than ground space!Walls or fences can be beautified with the simple addition of a garden plaque, a wall fountain or a planter on a shelf. If you want a more functional wall item, try a garden thermometer. Training a vine or some ivy up a trellis is a great way to use some vertical space and create a sense of intimacy and privacy as well.Then, of course, there are the hanging items.. hanging plants are a great way of lifting the eye up to a new vantage point and adding a vertical element to your green space. Windchimes are a special prize, because they are not only a delight to the eye, but a treasure for the ears as well. Suncatchers also add a unique beauty with their ability to catch the sunlight and turn it into yet another decorative accent. When placing hanging decor, think 'outside of the box'... hanging items can be part of the clusters you create with your plants and statuary or they can hang by themselves, defining turning points along the garden path or providing embellishment to the open space between clusters.There are so many ways to use vertical decor I can only mention a few of them here: Hang them from eaves and overhangs to adorn borders, suspend them from awnings and overhead beams for a more enclosed and intimate effect, and if you have a tree or two in your garden how about hanging a plant from a branch or placing a planter in the crook of a bough? Now you're using clustering and vertical space at the same time by using a plant to hold a plant!Winged visitors - your mobile decorations!
Birds are beautiful to look at and lovely to listen to, but most important to your garden or patio design, they move around on their own! Attract birds to your outdoor space and you'll have a constant variety of design as they flit from branch to branch or light and preen on a fountain or statue. Birds are nature's own decor and attracting them to your garden or backyard is easy.. just give them something to eat, a place to bathe and somewhere to build a nest! Birdbaths and bird feeders are excellent as statue items and ensure a steady supply of feathered friends as well. Bird houses are especially nice because they can be used for vertical space decoration as well as providing a comfortable place for sparrows and starlings to nest or just to hang out for awhile! What's a garden or patio without the beauty and song of birds?Dare to dream
These three tips are just the beginning of the process. They're intended to get you started thinking like a professional designer and considering the unlimited possibilities that your unused outdoor spaces present. Don't let your space lie dormant.. bring it to life with your own creativity, your own flair and with affordable garden decor and accessories from Springtime Gardens!!Brian Dalton owns and maintains the Springtime Gardens website, and spends countless happy hours decorating and maintaining his own patios and container gardens.Springtime Gardens - Affordable Garden and Patio DecorCopyright 2005 BKD Enterprises
Category : Marriage
วันจันทร์ที่ 24 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Auto Insurance Shopping: What You Need to Know
Author : Penny Hagerman
Shopping for auto insurance is something we all eagerly anticipate, right? We just love surfing online for the best rates, and asking our friends and family for their auto insurance recommendations.If you're thinking, "You're crazy!" you're not alone.We all know we need the protection auto insurance provides in case of an accident; but shopping for the right company with the right policy at the right price can take an investment of time and energy we're just not sure we're ready to expend.After all, we work hard enough already, right?But most people don't know that shopping for car insurance doesn't have to take a lot of time or effort. With a little reading and education on the subject in general, you can actually find great coverage at a minimal price—and have money left over for other things.Besides, knowledge is power!So, what should you know before jumping online or picking up the phone to ask for car insurance quotes?Here it is, in a nutshell:
Your auto insurance premiums are determined mainly by ratings. Insurance companies rate you according to the amount of claims risk you present, and then group you with others like you who have similar risk rates. Such factors as age and gender, where you live, your driving record, your marital status, prior insurance coverage, the number of miles you drive yearly, and your vehicle's make and model all come into play when determining ratings.Discounts can dramatically lower car insurance rates. Rewarded to those considered low risk by their auto insurance companies, discounts are available for insuring multiple vehicles, taking driver education courses, being a good student, installing safety or anti-theft devices, being a good driver, low-mileage driving and purchasing more than one policy type with the same insurer.Auto insurance requirements are set by each state individually. Depending on whether your state is a tort or a no-fault state, the type and amount of car insurance coverage required by law varies. Check with your state insurance department to find out which system your state operates under and the legal limits you must carry on auto insurance.It's wise to consider optional coverage. It makes sense to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage on your car, unless you drive an older vehicle. Collision covers damage to your car when it impacts another car or fixed object. Comprehensive pays for auto damage from almost all other causes, including fire, weather, vandalism, floods and theft.If you drive an older car, the claims you file under these circumstances may cost your auto insurance company more than your car is worth—which makes purchasing collision and comprehensive an ill-advised move.Protect yourself at all costs. Don't even sign an application for car insurance until you contact your state's department of insurance to make sure any companies you're considering purchasing from are licensed in your state! It's illegal for unlicensed insurers to sell insurance—and you may get stuck without coverage if you fail to check them out first.Once you've purchased an auto insurance policy, remember it is a legal contract. So read it carefully, make sure you understand the rights and responsibilities it spells out, and ask questions about anything you don't understand. Both your insurance agent and your state department of insurance are valuable resources for information.Do your research before making your final decision. There are a number of unbiased resources at your disposal, so take advantage of them before you sign on the dotted line. You can find auto insurance information at your local library, in articles online, from consumer groups, through auto insurance publications and, of course, from your state's department of insurance.Don't let the shopping process drag you down when it comes to auto insurance. Read up on the subject, get a grasp on the relevant issues, and move forward with confidence.You'll save yourself time and money—so you can move on to more important things!About InsureMe
Penny Hagerman is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in home, life, long-term care, health and car insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com
Category : Finance:Insurance
Shopping for auto insurance is something we all eagerly anticipate, right? We just love surfing online for the best rates, and asking our friends and family for their auto insurance recommendations.If you're thinking, "You're crazy!" you're not alone.We all know we need the protection auto insurance provides in case of an accident; but shopping for the right company with the right policy at the right price can take an investment of time and energy we're just not sure we're ready to expend.After all, we work hard enough already, right?But most people don't know that shopping for car insurance doesn't have to take a lot of time or effort. With a little reading and education on the subject in general, you can actually find great coverage at a minimal price—and have money left over for other things.Besides, knowledge is power!So, what should you know before jumping online or picking up the phone to ask for car insurance quotes?Here it is, in a nutshell:
Your auto insurance premiums are determined mainly by ratings. Insurance companies rate you according to the amount of claims risk you present, and then group you with others like you who have similar risk rates. Such factors as age and gender, where you live, your driving record, your marital status, prior insurance coverage, the number of miles you drive yearly, and your vehicle's make and model all come into play when determining ratings.Discounts can dramatically lower car insurance rates. Rewarded to those considered low risk by their auto insurance companies, discounts are available for insuring multiple vehicles, taking driver education courses, being a good student, installing safety or anti-theft devices, being a good driver, low-mileage driving and purchasing more than one policy type with the same insurer.Auto insurance requirements are set by each state individually. Depending on whether your state is a tort or a no-fault state, the type and amount of car insurance coverage required by law varies. Check with your state insurance department to find out which system your state operates under and the legal limits you must carry on auto insurance.It's wise to consider optional coverage. It makes sense to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage on your car, unless you drive an older vehicle. Collision covers damage to your car when it impacts another car or fixed object. Comprehensive pays for auto damage from almost all other causes, including fire, weather, vandalism, floods and theft.If you drive an older car, the claims you file under these circumstances may cost your auto insurance company more than your car is worth—which makes purchasing collision and comprehensive an ill-advised move.Protect yourself at all costs. Don't even sign an application for car insurance until you contact your state's department of insurance to make sure any companies you're considering purchasing from are licensed in your state! It's illegal for unlicensed insurers to sell insurance—and you may get stuck without coverage if you fail to check them out first.Once you've purchased an auto insurance policy, remember it is a legal contract. So read it carefully, make sure you understand the rights and responsibilities it spells out, and ask questions about anything you don't understand. Both your insurance agent and your state department of insurance are valuable resources for information.Do your research before making your final decision. There are a number of unbiased resources at your disposal, so take advantage of them before you sign on the dotted line. You can find auto insurance information at your local library, in articles online, from consumer groups, through auto insurance publications and, of course, from your state's department of insurance.Don't let the shopping process drag you down when it comes to auto insurance. Read up on the subject, get a grasp on the relevant issues, and move forward with confidence.You'll save yourself time and money—so you can move on to more important things!About InsureMe
Penny Hagerman is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in home, life, long-term care, health and car insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com
Category : Finance:Insurance
A Premium Cigar, a Texas Entrepreneur, and a Walkabout
Author :
walkabout, n., Australian term meaning a short period of wandering as an occasional interruption to regular work. Texas entrepreneur Michael Makens became familiar with the term walkabout while attending University in Australia. With the ability to speak 4 languages, including Chinese and Spanish, he took the term to heart and has traveled or lived in over 30 different countries. Every three to six months he is off to a new place. When asked why he is constantly on walkabout he commented, Sometimes you just need to stop your daily routine and see what else the world has to offer; you never know what youre going to find. This theory has never proven truer than during a trip to Honduras three years ago when Makens discovered one of lifes great pleasures: a hand rolled Honduran cigar. Makens says that in traveling to Honduras, all I wanted to do was find some nice cigars to bring home for my friends as gifts. As he smoked the finest cigar he had ever enjoyed, he realized that he had found much more. Now, after years of tireless work, he has founded Flor De Jardin and is fulfilling his dream of bringing premium quality cigars back home. When Makens first arrived in Honduras, he was surprised to discover that here, in the heart of the cigar world, not only were the factories and cigar producers off limits to visitors, but that there were no cigars for sale anywhere in the town. Discouraged by his less than cordial reception, he was nearly ready to move on when a taxi driver said that he could take Makens to the best cigars around. The taxi driver drove him out of the town and stopped at an old, run-down factory from which an elderly Cuban man emerged. He introduced himself and after several hours of discussion he finally warmed to Makens and invited him inside. Eventually Makens was allowed to sample a cigar and immediately fell in love with it. Everything about that first experience was amazing. It was and still is the best cigar I have ever smoked. Armed with two bundles of cigars and promises to keep in touch, Makens returned to Texas with a new future in mind. He was determined to make sure people back home could experience the same cigar that he fell in love with.It has taken three years for Makens to found Flor De Jardin. Many things went into starting this company, he says, including permits, production, and most importantly trust from my friends in Honduras. Today he is striving to introduce his cigar to the world, with quality as his top priority. From the construction of the cigar to the construction of the boxes, Makens vows to maintain excellence. I will only produce as many cigars as I can and still guarantee the quality. I dont want to be a huge name producing 20 million sticks a year; I cant maintain quality with those numbers.To learn more about Flor De Jardin go to (<a href="http://www.flordejardin.com" title="test" target="_blank">www.flordejardin.com</a>).
Category : Press Releases
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 23 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Breathe New Life Into Your Half-Dead Website By Using Words That Sell
Author : David Peterson
This article may come as a surprise to you. Especially since it is written by a web designer. Let me explain......Rescue Your Web Site from Boring Words and Poor Design. The difference between a successful website design and a site that brings in zero or very little business is not how nice the graphics are, not the colors you choose. It's not the flashy animation, and it's not your precious company logo. I'm not saying to remove these elements. Some of them are important. But they're mostly ego-driven. They are "me" messages, and have absolutely nothing to do with what you want your visitor to do. And what is that you ask? The answer is of course. You want your visitors to buy something.People who are considering doing business with you are only interested in one thing; "What's In It For Me?" One of the first steps toward a successful website is writing copy that tells the reader what's in it for him, in a style that is easy to read.Make More CashStudy any website that makes money and I promise you'll see the following copy elements in place: In the main body copy, the text color is always black with a white background, making it easy to read. This should be obvious, but it's amazing how many websites out there do not follow this very basic guideline. Testimonials, and other secondary elements commonly use a contrasting font such as courier, courier new. The background in light blue, beige, or yellow shade to make it stand apart from the white background of the main body copy. Verdana is the most widely used font for your body copy. This font was actually developed for use in the web. Times New Roman, Arial, and Georgiana are also popular. Never use more than two different font faces in your sales copy. The use of yellow highlights, italics and bold font-style for emphasis. Headlines and Subheads are usually a contrasting color from the black body text. A shade of red, dark green and dark blue are good colors. However, do not use more than three or four different colors. Sentence and paragraph font size is commonly between 8pt. and 12pt. Never smaller than that, and never bigger. Headlines and sub headlines usually between 14pt. and 18pt. Paragraphs never justified. Most common is left-margin with no indent. How To Write Successful HeadlinesIn your sales copy you need an attention-grabbing headline and a compelling sales message full of benefits, clearly describing what your product or service is all about. Legendary copywriter Ted Nicholas author of 14 best-selling books including "Magic Words That Bring You Riches" has these excellent tips on writing headlines "Start with a well thought out headline." "Five times as many people read the headline as the body copy. It makes sense, therefore, to spend the major portion of your effort on headlines." "A good headline motivates action by stirring an emotion" "Write as many as 250 headlines before settling on one" 13 Proven Headline WordsAnnouncing... Secrets of... New... Now... Amazing... Facts you... Breakthrough... At Last... Advice to... The truth of... Free... How would... How to... How To Write Attention-Grabbing First SentencesJoe Sugarman (of blu-blocker sunglass fame) and author of best-selling book "Advertising Secrets of the Written Word" has these tips on writing first sentences; "Keep it short, sweet and almost incomplete."For example:It's easy. It had to happen. It's time. It's crazy. The sole purpose of the first sentence is to get you to read the second sentence. How To Write Attention-Grabbing Ending Sentences"You must plant seeds of curiosity for the reader." "At the end of a paragraph offer a reason to read the next paragraph."Using sentences such as.....But there's more. So read on. But I didn't stop there. Let me explain. Now here comes the good part. These tips represent just the tip of the iceberg on breathing new life into your half-dead web site.We'll cover all of the other necessary elements in future articles. Stay tuned. I hope that you have found this information to be helpful in your pursuit of excellence. Thank you for reading. Regards, Dave Peterson Dave is not only a Professional Website Designer. He also incorporates exciting state-of-the-art marketing strategies and expertise that help clients put more cash in there pockets. Providing great value to his clients.
Category : General Site Promotion
XM vs. Sirius Satellite Radio: Which One is Better For You?
Author : Matt Barstow
You have probably heard of the two satellite radio companies, Sirius Radio and XM Satellite Radio, but you may not know a lot about them such as how much each costs or what radio talent is available on each. Many people are tired of listening to regular AM and FM radio stations for several reasons. It may be that they are tired of being bombarded with commercials. It may be that they do not like the programming available to them. On the other hand, it may simply be that they are in a rural area and tired of losing their radio signal all the time. Regardless of the reason, many consumers are turning to satellite radio as a viable alternative to regular radio stations.Both companies are able to offer you static free radio due to satellites. XM (based in Washington D.C.) has two and Sirius (based in New York) has three satellites across the United States. Both companies offer users commercial free radio. Sirius offers over 125 channels and XM offers 160 different channels. There are dedicated channels for genres of music such as jazz, folk, country and pop for diehard fans. One cool feature of satellite radio is you can see the name of the artist playing as well as the song title. So never again do you have to spend time wondering just who sang that song you just heard! There are also channels for local weather and traffic, sports, comedy, women?s issues, talk shows, even old time radio shows. Soon, you may be able to see video as well as hear audio on your satellite radios.There are also celebrity shows for both satellite radio companies. Martha Stewart recently signed a deal to launch a 24-hour radio channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. And most everyone has heard that Howard Stern is on Sirius as well ? uncensored. Having gotten in trouble with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for his radio talk show, he decided to jump to the uncensored airways of satellite radio. Since his show started, the Sirius subscriber base has increased by at least 2.7 million. If have satellite radio and want to hear National Public Radio (NPR), you will have to subscribe to Sirius as they are the only one offering NPR. But XM is not to be left behind by Sirius. XM signed Snoop Doggy Dog, but the big coop is Oprah. In September of 2006, XM users will be able to tune in to Oprah & Friends. The new channel will offer broadcasts of The Oprah Winfrey Show, O, the Oprah Magazine and programming on fitness, health and self improvement.All this sounds great, but what do you actually need to be able to receive satellite radio? You will need either a Sirius or an XM radio. This does not necessarily have to be a radio only for use in your car either. There are also home radios available today and there are even radios you can use both at home and in your car. The price for a basic radio offered by both Sirius and XM is as low as $49.99. You will also need to subscribe to a service. Both Sirius and XM charge $12.95 a month for you to receive satellite signals on your radio. However, if you have several cars with satellite radios, you can save by choosing the family plan available from both companies.Just how popular is satellite radio becoming? In March of 2005, Hyundai announced that it would be the first automaker to put satellite radios in all of its models sold in the United States. Each Hyundai, including the popular Sonata, Santa Fe, and Elantra models, will come equipped with an XM satellite radio. When this was announced, shares in XM?s parent company rose by more than 8 percent. Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz also announced in March 2005 that Sirius radios would be a dealer-installed option on some of their models.So which satellite radio should you choose? That depends on you. You should check out the stations available by visiting each company on the web before making a decision. Both offer radios at comparable prices, so it really comes down to what you want to hear. Are you a Stern fan? Then you have to go with Sirius. But if you love Oprah, you can only hear her on XM. Regardless of which one you choose, you will no doubt be very pleased with the services and reception of satellite radio. Matt Barstow offers valuable tips and information about satellite radio, players, and services. Read his latest report answering the most popular questions about satellite radio.
Category : General Art & Entertainment: News & Talk Shows
How To Create a Blog
Author : Keith Mallinson
So, you know that having a blog is a great way to generate customers. Or, maybe your not sure. Either way, creating a blog is not all that hard to do. In fact, there are many companies willing to help you create a blog.First of all, know why you are creating a blog. Do you want a product to be advertised and discussed in it? Or, do you want to create open communication with your customers? Maybe you plan to place an article there in the hopes of your visitors reading it and then browsing your website for more information? Regardless, you need to know why you will use it in order to know what you need to get out of your blog. So, when looking for software to create your blog, consider those factors.Creating a blog can enhance your site. It can allow for better communication, better attention to sales or your get your main point out easily. A few pointers about them, though. If you commit to putting a blog on your site, realize you will need to keep it updated in order to keep the interest there in your visitors. You can even find software that will help keep you updated in your blog.Having a blog is a great tool all around. But, finding the right product for you should take you some time. Time to research the best available product that is. Create your blog to fit your site and watch as it helps your site grow in visitors and search engine ranking.Keith Mallinson is author of the article exchange newsletter, offering
subscribers up to date information on all aspects of article submissions and use
of free articles for search engine
optimization
So, you know that having a blog is a great way to generate customers. Or, maybe your not sure. Either way, creating a blog is not all that hard to do. In fact, there are many companies willing to help you create a blog.First of all, know why you are creating a blog. Do you want a product to be advertised and discussed in it? Or, do you want to create open communication with your customers? Maybe you plan to place an article there in the hopes of your visitors reading it and then browsing your website for more information? Regardless, you need to know why you will use it in order to know what you need to get out of your blog. So, when looking for software to create your blog, consider those factors.Creating a blog can enhance your site. It can allow for better communication, better attention to sales or your get your main point out easily. A few pointers about them, though. If you commit to putting a blog on your site, realize you will need to keep it updated in order to keep the interest there in your visitors. You can even find software that will help keep you updated in your blog.Having a blog is a great tool all around. But, finding the right product for you should take you some time. Time to research the best available product that is. Create your blog to fit your site and watch as it helps your site grow in visitors and search engine ranking.Keith Mallinson is author of the article exchange newsletter, offering
subscribers up to date information on all aspects of article submissions and use
of free articles for search engine
optimization
http://www.article-exchange.com
Category : Spam
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champ Ricardo Almeida Says ATX Athlete Nutrition Technology Formulas are Essential Tool
Author :
Ricardo Almeida, a winner in competitive Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) forums including the UFC, Pride Fighting Championship and most recently the coveted King of Pancrase middleweight title, joins a growing list of professional fighters who use ATX Athlete Nutrition Technology formulas. Ricardo, a medalist at the ADCC World Grappling Championships and undefeated in six professional fights in Japan, also won four National titles and a Pan American gold medal in Jiu Jitsu while growing up in Brazil. Ricardo has used the ATX combative sports pre- and post workout formulas for the last two years and says ATX is an essential tool in his fighting arsenal. I never fight or train without itI have more energy and endurance when using ATX formulas.Ricardos academy team members are also enthusiastic users of ATX products. The team boasts two Pan American champions in Jiu Jitsu and several champions in smaller MMA events such as Ring of Combat and Sport Fighting Championships. Ricardo believes that the ATX line is one of the secrets to the winning success of his team. About ATXATX Athlete Nutrition Technology is reinventing sports nutrition. ATX develops and markets superior nutritional supplements tailored expressly for athletes in specific sports including football, boxing, martial arts and combative sports. To purchase ATX online, visit <a href="http://www.atxsport.com" title="test" target="_blank">www.atxsport.com</a>.
Category : Link Popularity
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