Schuetz

It happens without warning. One day you notice your home has turned into a collage of papers, junk, and stuff everywhere. Youre not alone. Today more than ever it seems that the flotsam and jetsam of living, like the waves of an ocean, continually beat at our doors, flooding our houses with all manner of stuff until our homes are bulging at the seams. A typical home is now cluttered and dirty to the point of exhaustion -- yours.

All this accumulation also makes going home, or being at home, fill us with a sense of dread because were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things surrounding us. Once islands in the stream, many homes are often now just as jumbled, crowded, dirty, and chaotic as the public places we try to escape from. Housekeeping and cleaning house is not the greatest of fun, but it is vital to our well-being.

Recently a study by the UCLA Center for Everyday Lives of Families found that families are overscheduled, child-dominated, and cluttered. The study touched on something thats become a common problem in most households today: too much stuff. And all that stuff, makes us feel out of control.

Could your home be out of control?
If you have a perfectly ordered home or just dont care about the state of your surroundings, then having an out of control home isnt a problem. But, if the thought of your home raises your blood pressure to an unhealthy level or spending time there would make you rather have your teeth drilled, then you do have a problem and you may have a home thats out of control.

An out of control home is a source of frustration, embarrassment, and tension. So where do you start if this describes your home? The first step in learning how to cope with an out of control home is to recognize the signs. Only then can you address the problem.

The 8 Signs You Have an Out of Control Home (OOCH)

1. Its messy.
Anything that can be straightened up in five minutes or less does not qualify as messy. A truly messy house has been hit by more than its fair share of bombs: toy bombs, clothes bombs, paper bombs (magazines, mail, and other piles of paper), dirt bombs (general dirt and debris), pet bombs (hair, smell, food), collectible or hobby bombs, etc. And, the mess is everywhere: the kitchen, the bathroom, the living room, the bedroom.

2. Its disorganized.
No one can find anything, from the car keys to last years tax returns. A disorganized home is one where too much time is spent looking for things, and where you have doubles or triples of everything because when you couldnt find what you were looking for, you went out and bought another to replace the one you couldnt find.

3. It stinks.
The smell can come from the puppy training on the new carpet, the moldy smell from the roof leak, the cat box thats never changed, or the trash that everyone forgets to take out.

4. Its dirty.
This is that garden-variety filth that makes you hope no one will ever come to visit. Its the ring in the toilet, the dust bunnies the size of Dallas, and the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling that wave gently in the breeze. The dirt is pervasive and ground in.

5. It doesnt work.
This is a home where the furniture is broken, the bed sags in the middle, things dont work like they should, and repairs that need to be made drag on for months or years. Its not truly functional and lots of things have work-arounds, such as pliers to turn on the washing machine because the knob fell off.

6. Its anxiety-producing.
Does the thought of going home make you feel anxious? If youre happier at work or in places other than home, then chances are its because your home is out of control. It makes you uptight because its dirty, disorganized, or messy or all three. And, when youre there, you cant relax and you often find excuses to go somewhere else to unwind, such as at the movies or driving in the country.

7. You avoid having visitors.
If you feel panicked when the doorbell rings then youre living in an out of control home. Guests should be a welcome sight in the house and you should feel confident enough to invite visitors in.

8. Its cluttered.
If every square inch of your home is covered with something, then youve got too much stuff. Theres got to be some open space somewhere in your home because open space give us a visual rest. Look at interior design magazines and youll notice the homes pictured in them because there isnt stuff everywhere to distract you.

Most houses have out of control areas
Of course not all homes are out of control, but many homes suffer from one or more Out-Of-Control-Home (OOCH) symptoms, or they have an Out of Control Area (OOCA). These are areas such as the laundry room or garage that tends to get out of control, and most every home has one. But, regardless of whether your home is truly OOCH or OOCA, it doesnt have to stay that way. You can take steps to bring your house back to order and get it under control.

The 8 Steps to Get Your Home Back in Control

1. Declutter and straighten first.
Take a trash bag with you to each room, throwing away anything you no longer want or that doesnt work. Take another box with you from room to room for items you want to donate.

If you have paper bombs, clothes bombs, and toy bombs that have gone off in your house, get these under control. Handle the paper by throwing it away, recycling it, or filing it. Get the clothes picked up and put in the wash, folded or hung up. Next, corral the toys, throwing away whats broken. And practice saying When in doubt, throw it out.

Next, dont forget to contain yourself. Its easy to work in the living room, pick a toy for your child and wander into that room and then start working there. This is important: Stay focused on the task and the room at hand or you wont get anything done.

2. Clean second.
Now that the mess is handled and everything is picked up, its time to get down to serious cleaning. Thoroughly clean each room, including the kitchen and laundry room, and dont forget to sweep porches and walkways outside. Get kids to clean the baseboards, windowsills, and clear the cobwebs from the corners of ceilings. Go from one room to the next and dont leave until each room is completely cleaned.

Lastly, schedule some hired help and have your carpets and upholstery steam cleaned. Steam cleaning does not use soap, which can make carpets get dirtier faster and actually attract more dirt. This will also make your home smell better, too. Schedule this at least once every year. If your house still smells musty, air it out or consider having your heating and air conditioning vents cleaned.

3. Repair whats broken.
The house is decluttered, clean, and now it needs to work. Fix broken panes of glass, leaking faucets, or repaint water stains on the ceiling. Put your husband on the job while youre cleaning or decluttering.

4. Edit your stuff.
Collections and knick knacks everywhere is whats classified as clutter. Clutter is a problem because of the emotions associated with it. For instance, many people feel guilty about getting rid of things because certain items were gifts or were inherited.

But the first rule of clutter-busting is that you have to absolutely drop-dead love something in order to keep it. If you just cant part with something, then dont. Put all the items you can in a box and then put it into storage. Then once youve forgotten about all those guilty feelings, you can put the items in a garage sale, donate them, or just throw them away.

In short, if your house is overrun with family pictures on every inch of wall space, an explosion of sports memorabilia, or a porcelain pig collection that wont end, for example, pare them down and then find one central spot to display these items rather than spreading them all over the house where they can make you feel overrun.

5. Create visual space.
Clear as many items as possible off the floor, off the tops of dressers, countertops and nightstands so your home will have plenty of clear space. You know how a hotel room makes you immediately want to go flop on the bed? Thats because its clean and clear. Clearing away excess stuff will give your eyes -- and your mind -- a rest.

6. Get pets under control.
If possible, evaluate your pets impact on your home. Do what you can to create a living situation where both you and your pets are happy, but not where one of you is at the expense of the other. Many homes are controlled by pets to the point that woodwork is scratched, the home is damaged, every surface is covered with hair, and there is an unpleasant odor in the home.

7. Organize your home.
Create areas for coming and going where keys, backpacks, purses, wallets, mail, and other needed items can be placed. This area should have a trashcan where you can sort mail, and a small hanging basket where bills that need immediate attention can be placed.

Then, work on organizing bill-paying, files, warranty booklets, and all the little areas of your home that get cluttered, such as medicine cabinets, home offices, desk areas, pantries, laundry rooms, garages, spice cabinets, and so on.

8. Keep at it and involve everyone.
This is probably the most important step for getting and keeping a home under control. A home thats under control is not something that happens once and then its done, like taxes. Keeping your home in order is more like exercise or taking vitamins. You have to keep at it. Keeping a home in control is a process, not an event. I have to tell myself all the time dont put it down, put it away.

It also takes commitment on everyones part. My pantry is an OOCA in my home mostly because an orderly pantry is important only to me. But, a family meeting was called so that everyone does their part at keeping the pantry orderly. It will also keep us from having five boxes of raisin bran or three bags of marshmallows.

Bringing your home into control is a wonderful way of bringing a sense of accomplishment and order back into your life. It will also save you money because you wont purchase multiple items because you can find what youre looking for. It will also help you create a home that is your refuge and where you enjoy spending your time. Lastly, it will make you proud to live there and have guests over. Now, lets get to work!

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui e-zine and is the cleaning editor at Bellaonline.com. Both sites focus on how to improve your life by improving your surroundings. Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free report, 16 Feng Shui Secrets for More Prosperity. Log on at http://www.redlotusletter.com

Chios Mastic Gum

Chios mastic is a resinous aromatic substance that comes from boles and branches of the mastic tree. The tree is scientifically named Pistacia Lentiscious var. Chia and it is an evergreen bush which grows only in the south part of Chios island of Aegean Sea. What is more, Chios natural mastic gum is a regional protected name by the European Union.

Chios mastic has been widely used for therapeutic purposes since antiquity and it was well know to almost all Mediterranean and Arabic countries. It was usually used as part of traditional and practical treatments for healing of various conditions such as gastritis, dyspepsia and peptic ulcer. Nowadays, the scientific community has validated the beneficial use of natural mastic gum. Results of laboratory and clinical studies by many independent researchers have revealed and verified the unique therapeutic attributes of Chios natural gum.

Additionally, regular chewing of Chios gum can assists in reduction of bacteria in the oral cavity and dental plague. Moreover, chewing Chios mastic gum is beneficial to teeth health because it helps gums fitness. Chios natural mastic gum has a special taste and toughness and this causes bigger saliva excretion resulting to a fresh and clean feeling.

Chios Mastic Powder

The nutritional supplement with Chios mastic powder and the prebiotic inulin contributes to proper function and better health of the digestive system.

Chios mastic is traditionally used to heal derangements of digestion while, up to date scientific researches, which are published in authoritative and reliable health magazines, verify the beneficial action to digestive system. In addition to this, other researches have proved that this unique natural product has several valuable attributes for the human body (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiphlogistic properties).

The prebiotic inulin, is a vegetable fibre of Chicorys roots that evidently promotes the formation of useful gut bacteria called bifidus.

Therefore, it is advisable to use this nutritional supplement once every day. The appropriate dose is 2-3 grams diluted into a glass of water or brew and it is better to drink it every morning before breakfast.

Chios Mastic Water

Chios mastic water is naturally scented with the unique perfume of the mastic gum and it includes some of the therapeutic attributes of Chios mastic. It is 100% natural distillate and contains little quantity of Mastic Essential oil and carries the waterborne ingredients of Chios mastic and its helpful attributes.

Chios mastic water can be used daily, every morning and every night as hydration and tonic lotion that can offer coolness and natural glow to your skin. Moreover, it can achieve deep cleansing of your skin and perfume your body. Additionally, cosmetics researches alleged that Chios mastic extract reduces the disintegration of collagen.

Chios mastic water is dermatological tested. Clinical trials which made by the Sigrou University Hospital proved that Chios mastic water is safe for skin, for the reason that healthy volunteer who were treated by it, did not show up any irritation of their skin.

George Kakaris is a lover of natural health and lives in Chios island. Visit his site devoted to Aromatherapy and read about the natural therapeutic attributes of various Essential Oils that come from all over the world.

Since the Xbox 360 was released in 2005 the video game console has been plagued with general hardware failure issues indicated by the three red lights flashing on the console.

You may have heard of or experienced this problem yourself. I am going to tell you about the main Xbox 360 problems people have been experiencing and how you can solve them.

The most common problem is overheating. The console is designed to utilize heat sinks, vented openings, and fans to aid in dissipation of this heat. If the airflow to the vents become obstructed then this causes reduced system performance and hardware failure indicated by the three red lights . Try placing the xbox 360 console in the open and free any debris that might be blocking the vents.

The Nyko Intercooler has also been reported to have caused a general hardware failure in a number of consoles, as well as scorching of the power AC input. Microsoft stated that intercooler drains too much power from the console and can cause the faults to occur.

Another problem that is also heat related is the GPU (General Processing Unit). When the GPU becomes very hot it causes the motherboard to flex causing the soldering to become loose, because the lead free solder that is used is more brittle than the older tin/lead solder that was used in the past.

Microsoft repaired consoles under the 90 day warranty for free, and charged $140 to repair out-of-warranty consoles. July, 2007 Microsoft extended the warranty of all Xbox 360 consoles suffering general hardware failures.

If you have experienced the Xbox 360 three red lights, you could pay to have it shipped to the repair center. Let me forewarn you that due to the number of malfunctioning consoles, you may have to wait three weeks or more. If you are a Xbox 360 addict like me that is just too long to wait!

I have just explained the main reasons why the Xbox 360 shows three red lights. I hope this information was of some use to you.

Jeffery Fairow is an Xbox 360 fanatic who loves to play Halo2 and Jonh Madden.

Before You Pay To Have Your Xbox 360 Shipped Off, Check Out My Step By Step Guide On How To Fix These Simple Problems Yourself. Click The Link Below:

Xbox 360 3 Red Light Fix

Most men feel that they are much more sexual than women. After all, men think about sex every 2 to 5 minutes or so they say. Men also think that they have to talk women into having sex. Most men have been taught to be good boys or gentlemen and to suggest sex to a woman is insulting.

So what is the actual reality of women and sex? It took me ages to realize this, but women are much more sexual than men. In fact, they are much more sexual than most men can ever imagine.

To get an idea of this, read any women's sexual fantasy book. Women's sexual fantasies are much more developed than just about any mans. They can be elaborate and emotional and very descriptive and powerful. They incorporate taboo subjects, such as being dominated or in bondage and can be very slutty.

So why do most of us think that women don't like sex that much. I feel that parents teach their girls that you must be in love and in a committed relationship or married for sex. So their daughter will not go out and have sex and get pregnant. Society also says that a woman who really loves sex is a slut. Men are studs if they have a lot of sex with many women. A woman that has multiple partners is called a slut. This is why that even although a women love sex they will not admit this to someone that they do not know. Women do not want to be treated as objects.

Many women and some men too have had sexual abuse in their past. Some of us have had religious guilt about sex and masturbation. These factors can cripple the enjoyment of sex and intimacy. It takes a lot of healing before sex can be really enjoyed after abuse. I feel all of us have had some negative conditioning about sex. You were born as the result of an orgasm. Why not celebrate that fact! Other societies have celebrated the sex orgasms. Why not western societies?

When you walk down the street, do you hear men and women having orgasms? Not usually. Most of us block our sounds in sex due to our sexual shame. In my private practice as a sexologist, one aspect I suggest is to open up to the natural sounds during sex. If you block the sounds you block the full range of energy in your body.

In fact, I suggest to experiment making huge sounds into a pillow so not to deafen your lover. Men love a responsive woman that makes orgasmic sounds but most not want to do the same. My site http://www.bodyecstatic.com has other simple suggestions to increase your sexual pleasure. Talking to women, I am surprise about how bad most men are as lovers. What is even more surprising is that most women put up with this!

Most men's orgasms are only a minute or two in length. However, a woman has the potential to have 2 to 3 hour orgasms even without stimulation. I have known several women that have explored the possibility of being orgasmic when working in an office! Most men do not realize this, but they can have orgasms without ejaculation. So I would like to leave you with the thought that women love sex. Women love to be naughty and slutty. Try some dirty talking during your next sexual experience.

Mauice Tate is a qualified sexologist trained at the Advanced Institute of Sexology. For help in your relationships go to Free dating Tips To improve your kissing go to Free Kissing Tips.