Those that are looking to add a lot of fun to their childs room should consider the addition of kids rugs. There are some really amazing choices out there that your children will love. No matter if they are just babies or a blossoming teen; they will enjoy having a great looking room to call their own. It used to be that many parents just left their carpeting on the floor of these rooms to provide enough comfort and padding. But, today, adding a fun area rug to the room adds more dimension, character and makes their room, well, more like their own room! Of course, you can also purchase area rugs for kids playrooms or just for the area of the home that they tend to play in.

There are several things that you should consider, though, when you purchase a kids rug. You do not want to just head out and just pick one up. You need to consider several aspects about the room, the carpet and your child before you do so to insure that you are making a wise investment. Here are some tips to help you to make the right choice.

Get the size right. One of the biggest mistakes that people tend to make when purchasing any area rug is assuming that they know what the right size for the rug they need is. The goal is not to think about it at all but to get out a tap measure and take some measurements. In a kids room, you may need to purchase an off size or something that is large enough to fit under their furniture. Getting the size right is your first step to finding the right area rug.

Next, consider the color. If you are designing your childs room from scratch, you may want to start with the area rug. In many cases, your child will find and fall in love with the area rugs. They come in so many various colors and patterns that it is easy to really enjoy one or the other. You should consider the color scheme of your room as well as the patterns in the area rug. If the area rug will have butterflies on it, adding butterflies to the rooms dcor works well.

Your childs tastes. One of the fundamentals of decorating a childs room is to make it his room. That means paying attention to the things that he really loves and adding them to his room. The rest of the house is yours to decorate, but a kids room should say something about them. If they have a favorite theme, such as cars and trucks, you will find a good amount of area rugs for this. You can even look for the childs favorite cartoon characters as many of them are available on area rugs.

Educational options. Some of those that are looking to add area rugs to their childs room want to add an educational element to them. This is an excellent way to teach them something without them really realizing that is what you are up to. Its easy to do with all of the options that you have as well. Area rugs are available in a wide range of themes such as ABCs and counting, space, and even those that teach things like sharing and friendship. This is a great way to add a theme to Aparrtamento no Rio a room that is still fun and educational at the same time.

Quality. There are several things to consider when it comes to the quality of the rug that you will put into your childs room. First off, kids are rough and tough as well as being messy. The area rugs that you purchase should be able to take what your child can throw at it. Consider the pile of the area rug as well. This is the height of the rugs fibers. Longer will provide a thicker, more impact resistant surface for falls and bumps. Consider the material. Those that are washable are an excellent choice here. They should be comfortable as well.

Keeping all of these things in mind is essential to providing your child with a kids rug that is perfect for them. Now, the higher in quality that the area rug is, the more costly it is likely to be. But, you can still benefit from the highest in quality. Thats because a high quality product will last longer and take more of a beating. If the rug delivers a smile to your childs face, that makes it even more beneficial to your needs.

Take your time when selecting the right area rug for your childs bedroom or his playroom. The area rug can add to the fun of his room as well as the character it has. He will love it if you take just a few extra minutes to find the perfect rug for his room.

Using the Propagation Technique Known as Budding to Grow Beautiful Ornamental Trees

Flowering Dogwood trees can be easily grown from seed. However 99.9999% of the seedlings that sprout will be Cornus Florida, which is White Flowering Dogwood. It doesnt matter if you collect the seeds from a White Dogwood or a Pink Dogwood, the seedlings are likely to be white.

The only predictable way to grow a Pink Dogwood, Red Dogwood, or one of the beautiful Dogwoods with variegated leaves, is to bud or graft the desired variety onto a White Dogwood seedling. Thats why the botanical name for Pink Dogwood is Cornus Florida Rubra. Cornus means Dogwood, Florida indicates White, Rubra indicates Red or Pink. Cornus Florida Rubra indicates Pink Dogwood grown on White Dogwood rootstock.

Between budding and grafting, budding is the most common technique used in the nursery industry. Grafting is usually done in the late winter months when the plants are dormant. When you graft a plant you remove a small branch (4 to 6 inches) from the desired variety, trim the end of the branch to expose the tissue under the bark and then trim a taper on the end. You then trim the seedling in such a way to match and receive the branch you are grafting on to it. Timing, temperature, and humidity are all critical to the success of the procedure, which is usually done in a greenhouse.

Budding is much easier, and does not have to be done in a controlled environment. Most budding is done later in the summer when the bark on the seedling slips easily. That means that when a cut is made in the bark of the seedling it can be easily pulled away from the tissue layer under the bark. This tissue is known as the cambium layer. Here in the north Crabapples and other fruits are usually ready to bud around mid to late July, while Dogwoods are not ready until late August.

Unlike grafting where you use a small branch to attach to the seedling, when you bud you insert a single bud under the bark. Budding is usually done down low on the seedling, very close to the soil. You can bud up higher, but any new growth that appears below that bud must be removed because it will be identical to the rootstock and not the desired variety.

The budding process is quite simple. Just clip a branch from the tree of the desired variety, this is known as a bud stick because it has many buds that can be used for budding. The buds can be found at the base of each leaf. Look closely where the leaf emerges from the branch and Aparrtamento no Rio you will see a very small bud. In the fall when the tree goes dormant the leaf will fall off, and bud will remain. The following spring the bud will grow into a new branch.

When you slip that bud under the bark of a compatible seedling, it will grow the following spring just as if it were still on the parent plant, with all of the qualities of the desired variety. Almost all fruit bearing and ornamental trees are grown this way.

Just make a T shaped cut in the bark of the seedling. A horizontal cut about long, with a vertical downward cut about long. The two cuts should intersect at the top of the T. Dont cut into the cambium tissue, just slice the bark and open it up slightly with your knife or razor blade. Now you are ready to remove the bud from the bud stick.

First clip off and discard the leaf from the bud that you are about to remove. When you remove the leaf, leave the stem attached to the bud stick, just remove the leaf itself. The stem makes a nice little handle to hold on to. To remove the bud from the bud stick just cut into the bark and under the bud, it should pop off easily. Again, dont cut into the cambium tissue, but make sure you are under the bark so you dont damage the bud. Along with the bud you will have a small piece of bark shaped like a tiny banana peel, and the stem from the leaf.

Holding the bud by its handle (the stem) slide it into the T shaped cut you made on the seedling. Make sure you put it in right side up. The stem and the leaf should protrude through the slit, and the stem should be pointing toward the sky at an angle. Push the bud all the way down into the slit by catching the bark, (not the bud) with the tip of your knife.

Now cut a rubber band so that it is no longer a loop and wrap it around the seedling to close the opening so dirt, water, air, and insects cant get in. Make a wrap below the bud, and a few wraps above the bud. Use a rubber band approx. wide, and be careful not to wrap too close to the bud, nor too tight.

You dont want to strangle the seedling, it needs to be healthy and happy so the new bud will bond to the cambium layer. Leave the rubber band on until early spring, at which time you should remove it, and clip off the top of the seedling just above the bud. As the plant comes out of dormancy the bud will begin to grow into a new branch just as if it is still attached to the parent plant, except that now it is going to grow upright and form the stem of a tree.

When this new growth reaches a height of 3 to 4 feet, clip the tip off, this will force it to start putting on lateral branches. Once these lateral branches are 18 long or so, you can remove all the growth from the stem below where the lateral branches start. Now the plant should look like a beautiful little tree. And that makes you the proud parent!

The NOOA is saying that 2006 could be one of the worst hurricane seasons we have ever experienced. Worse than last year with 27 named storms, 15 hurricanes with 4 of those being a Category 5? Hurricanes Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita & Wilma as well as Tropical Storms Arlene & Tammy touched the United States in 2005.

The NOAA says (11/29/2005): With six months until the official start of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA urges hurricane-prone residents to take proactive measures during this time. “The battle against the hurricane season is won during the off season. Winter and spring is the time to conduct hurricane preparations, such as stocking supplies, assembling a safety kit that includes a NOAA Weather Radio and preparing an evacuation plan,” said Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

It is just not the east coast that should be preparing. There are many situations where Mother Nature will continue to show us her reign; tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, thunderstorms, and mudslides just to name a few.

Think about this for a moment: What would you if you were told to evacuate your house within 15 minutes? What would you take with you? Some of us cant figure this out even if we were given a weeks notice! Do you have your insurance agents name & your policy numbers memorized? Do you have proper identification for you and your family members? How about your medicines or glasses? What about basic necessities food, water, shelter, hygiene how will you locate important items once you leave your house? Clothes will you need extra clothes or just take the clothes on your back? Cash? Maybe some quarters for pay phones? Out-of-state relatives addresses & phone numbers? What will you carry all your things in? How about your pets what will you do with them? In a stressful situation, your mind races and things will be forgotten. Chances are you are not going to remember everything that you & your family will need. As with life, planning helps keep stress to a minimum.

A 72-hour kit will aid as a stress minimizer! A 72-hour kit can also be called an Emergency Supplies Kit, Disaster Kit, or Emergency Kit. How will it minimize stress? Well, if you had food, water, shelter, extra clothes, important papers, medications, in a durable, waterproof bag located in an easy-to-get-to areagrab and goyou wont have to take those precious 15 minutes to think about what you will need for the next 3 days. Your stress would be minimized because you will have the peace of mind knowing that you have your necessities in one convenient, easy to locate, bag. Now, all you will have to focus on is your family, their safety and overall welfare.

Think about this for another moment: Floodwaters are coming up and coming up fast! You & your family race up the attic stairs. You manage to bust your way through to the roof of your home with your bare hands or maybe with something that you have stored in your attic. Thankfully, the rescue helicopter picks you & your family from the roof and drops you off at the closest safe place. Now, what do you do? What do you have with you? Yes, hopefully, you will have your family & that will be a blessing but what about the basic human needs? You will now need to seek food, water, shelter, and maybe some hygiene items not to mention any specific medicinal needs.

Why 72 hours? It is recommended by Red Cross, FEMA, as well as many state governments to have a 3-day supply. It takes about 3 days before relief makes its way to disaster-stricken citizens. This was witnessed during last years hurricane season.

It is our responsibility to take care of our families & ourselves. No one on this earth can assume that responsibility for us. With a little planning before the time of need arises, we can help ourselves and be better prepared to help others around us.

Ive researched quite a few 72-hour kits for my family & I. These are some of the things that kept me from purchasing them:

** The bags were not waterproof – everything could get wet. Most natural disasters involve water.

** The bags were not strong enough to sustain a major beating.

** There wasnt enough water (some had none or cup every 8 hours).

** There wasnt enough food. Some had only one 3600-calorie food bar for 72 hours thats only 1200 calories a day during a situation when your body will require energy the most!

** Would you want a lightweight, rip-prone tube tent to protect your family from the harsh elements?

** Many tools were not of the high quality that should be demanded during a life-threatening situation.

These are just a few of the reasons that prompted a company called Gorgimi to build a 72 hour kit that was durable, waterproof, ample food & water, as well as tools that will work when our lives would depended on it. Countless hours have been spent designing, prototyping, and evaluating the Gorgimi bag and its contents. Gorgimi has been determined to keep their kits within a reasonable price and maintain a high standard of quality. Gorgimis Apartamentos no Rio de Janeiro mission is to help everyone prepare for whatever Mother Nature has in store. Please visit www.gorgimi.com to see how we can help you prepare while the urgency is not prevailing.

Plan now. Spend your 15 minutes focusing on your family & their immediate safety. Rest easy for you will have your basic necessities taken care of during your time of need.

Whatever your age, you want to give your best friend something really special for his or her birthday to show that you appreciate their friendship. Sometimes we feel at a loss because we think that they have everything they could possibly want or use. Not so! There’s always something that will have a special meaning because you gave it. Here are some best friend birthday gift ideas that you may have never considered before.

1. For the art lover. Looking for something unusual for those folks who have everything? Instead of jumping in the car and heading for the mall, keep your computer powered up and let your fingers do the shopping at the online stores of American museums and other sites that specialize in replicas of ancient and modern art.

2. For the wine lover. A gift of wine is an excellent expression of how you feel. Now, at many wine online merchants, you can have wine bottles personalized to show how much you care. It doesn’t matter whether this is your friend’s first time experiencing the wonders of the fruit of the vine, or if he is a serious collector with a large wine cellar. Or, consider a personalized engraved bottle of champagne and toasting glasses.

3. For the environmentalist: Eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean drab. There are many, many products that are made from recycled materials of all kind beer cans that have been made into mugs, tumblers made from recycled glass, sets of bamboo plates, etc. There are many online sites featuring wonderful gifts made from recycled things. Just browse through them and you’ll come up with some great best friend birthday gift ideas!

4. For the music lover. Here’s one that will top the list of best friend birthday gift ideas: Make up a CD of #1 songs from the year they were born up to now you can even theme it: #1 Disco Songs, #1 Heavy Metal Songs, etc. Add in a gift certificate to an online music-downloading site, and they’re sure to do a little dance!

5. For the book lover. Buy a gift-card from your local bookstore (or online merchant) and make your own bookmark so your friend will never forget your thoughtfulness. Get on your computer and type up your favorite poem or memorable song lyrics, add some graphics and get it laminated at most office-supply stores. Every time your friend opens a book, he or she will remember you with a smile.

6. For the person who never has any time to herself. Create your own coupon booklet offering your services to help out the one that’s always been there for you. Include “a day of gardening”, “baby-sit the kids”, “clean the house” and “organize the closets”. Use your imagination and fit the coupons to the needs of your friend. This thoughtful gesture will be considered by the recipient Apartamento RJ as one of the best friend birthday gift ideas ever!

7. For the nurturer. Who doesn’t deserve a day at the spa? Purchase a sturdy cosmetic bag and add all the fixings for a do-it-yourself spa hand cream, body lotion, scented oils, face mask, manicure set. Make a relaxing CD to put inside and top it off with a gift certificate at the local spa for a massage on you!

8. For the sentimentalist. Look back into your photo albums and take copies of all your memories over the years. Create a “Memory Lane” scrapbook highlighting your friendship and events you’ve attended together. As an added touch, get other friends to write special birthday messages throughout the book.

9. For the nature-lover. Make a day of it and go for a hike at your nearest conservation area; bring along a blanket and a picnic basket and you’re set an afternoon of fun and reminiscing.

10. For the golfer. Reserve a tee time at a country club that’s hard to get into and make a foursome of it by inviting a couple of friends. Start the birthday off right and treat them to a special breakfast at their favorite restaurant.

11. For the movie buff. Get a year’s free subscription to Netflix so they’ll be able to have DVD’s delivered right to their door. All they’ll have to do is supply their own popcorn. Or, you can do that too by ordering (online, of course) a selection of premium gourmet popcorn.

12. For the animal lover. Forget about getting a gift designed for your friend; instead get a gift for their pet. There are many fantastic things available online for all types of petsfrom jeweled dog collars to fancy bird cages and everything in between. If your friend really loves his or her pet, this could quite possibly rank at the very top of the best friend birthday gift ideas. Of course, you could get your friend a super duper pooper scooper to make the job of cleaning up after Fido much easier. This, too, you can find at the many online sites featuring pet supplies.

13. For the philanthropist. Donate to their favorite cause in their name. In this time of need for so many, this is a gift that truly will be appreciated by all those who care for humanity and/or nature.

14. For the saver. Buy a share of an up and coming stock in your friend’s name. You never knowmaybe in a few years you’ll be getting thanks for starting someone on the road to their first million!

15. For the sports fan. Buy a pair of tickets to a local sporting event in your area (perhaps when your friend’s favorite team is playing) and spend an afternoon or evening together.

All firms need to build a strong brand in order to effectively compete. A strong brand distinguishes one firm from another and allows individual messages that express the strength of the company,product and service offerings. A strong brand shows how your offering is different and should clearly express features and benefits that appeal to the marketplace. Those firms that make a clear statement about the strengths of their respective brands generally enjoy greater success in the marketplace.

A strong brand will achieve a number of results. The brand will identify the products or services offered and will define the quality of these offering in the marketplace. In addition the core values of the product and firm should be evident and the mission and specialty of the company should be clearly expressed. The net result of brand creation should be an expression of the personality and character of the firm and an expression of the quality of the product offering.

Branding includes Products and Services:

Branding is not limited to products alone and service firms are often aggressive branders.Successful service providers are those that identify a need in the market place and develop a message that appeals to the market. The successful message identifies how the firm is best able to add value to the market place.

The objectives that a good brand will deliver the message clearly and confirm credibility. The objective of the message is also target prospective customers on an emotional level. After successful transmission of the massage the prospect should be motivated to buy and, if the message is powerful enough brand loyalty should be created.

Sell on Quality Not on Price:

Studies have shown that those firms that compete solely on price are almost guaranteed to fail. No matter how much firms discount their prices in order to capture the sale, in a price cutting environment there will always be another player willing to reduce prices lower. The result is that all firms in the market run the risk of selling below cost and, if price cutting continues, bankruptcy is a frequent result.

Firms that prosper in a market are those that can clearly distinguish their offering from those of the competition. Most effective are those that develop a clear message of the benefits of their product/service offering. Development of a clear message requires an analysis of the strengths of the firm and strategic thinking as to that portion of a market that the firm wants to capture. Following the development of the branding message, decisions are required as to the nest way to promote the brand in the marketplace.

Broadcast the Message:

A brand message that is not properly delivered is a waste of time and resources. Even the best brand message fails if it goes unheard and unheeded in the market place. Nevertheless, care must be exercised when promoting a brand because promotion is expensive and bad decisions can result in a disaster for the small firm. There are many avenues to properly promoting a brand and some are more effective than others.

The options available range from print, radio, and television advertising to private mailers and public relations. Each of these techniques varies in price and effectiveness and generally requires multiple exposures to be effective. Many companies dedicate substantial resources to brand promotion using traditional techniques and advertising and public promotion budgets often represent a substantial portion of a company’s operating budget. For smaller firms traditional promotion can be a tremendous burden often producing limited or long term results.

Private Label Drinking Water as a Powerful Brand Builder:

A new and effective method of brand promotion is becoming very popular, particularly for small to medium firms with limited advertising and public relations budgets. Private label drinking water has captured Apartamentos RJ the imagination of those companies wishing to convey their message in clear and lasting terms. Private label drinking water is bottled water that includes a custom label designed to specifications that conveys a clear message. Private label drinking water has many uses and applications:

High quality drinking water with custom designed labels conveys a long lasting message without the need for multiple costly exposures.

Prospects and clients often keep individual bottles for futureuse and the image can be viewed repeatedly.

Private labeled drinking water can be best described as consumable advertising that is cost effective and imparts a sustainable message.

Custom labels can be easily modified for specific occasions.

Additional supplies of water can be ordered for meeting, events and public displays.

Cost is low and water offerings can be coupled with sales opportunities at sporting and other public events.

Quality is Critical:

Any type of brand message requires a quality effort. A low quality, substandard presentation coupled with the most powerful message will fail if it is perceived to be low quality. This is particularly true with private label water.

The first level of quality involves the quality of the water in the bottle. Low quality, impure water will often result in dissatisfaction and impairment of the message, The best way to ensure high quality water is to use ultra pure water that is distilled and oxygenated for highest quality and the best taste. Next, the label design must be of professional quality, address all aspects of the desired message and be configured in an attractive, eye catching design. Lastly the label must be printed using a high quality, high resolution printer on laminated water proof label stock.During the creation and printing process, quality control checks are required in order to ensure the presentation of the most effective branding message.

Creating a powerful brand is critical to the success of any firm in the marketplace and the creation process is only as effective as the expression of the brand message. Many firms succeed or fail as a result of the perception of their brand in the marketplace. Use of private label water is an attractive tool for brand success.

Credit scores are enormously important to both borrowers and mortgage lenders. In the same way that doing better in work, sports or at school produces real benefits, the same is true with credit scores.

With good credit you can borrow more and pay less. With a mortgage, a borrower with solid credit might pay the best available rate while someone with poor credit might pay an additional 1.5 percent. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but on a $300,000 mortgage you’re looking at an additional annual cost of as much as $4,500.

There are a lot of questions concerning good credit and how to get it. Here are 10 basics that come up with great frequency.

1. I finished college a few years ago and did not pay a lot of bills. Now I want to buy a house. How can I improve my credit?

Negative items remain on credit reports for seven years (bankruptcies stay on for 10 years). However, mortgage lenders are particularly interested in your recent credit behavior, what you’ve done in the past two years or so.

To change your credit profile you need to make a point of paying every bill in full and on time. No exceptions. Your credit score will quickly improve.

2. Is it true you need a big income to get a good credit score?

No. Credit scores and credit reports do not show your income at all. This is why loan applications separately ask about income and assets. The issue with credit is not how much you earn, but whether you honor repayment obligations. It’s perfectly possible for someone making $45,000 a year to have a vastly better credit rating than someone who makes $200,000.

3. Can I use a federal employer number instead of a social security number to get a better credit rating?

No. Using an employer ID instead of a social security number to get credit may be illegal, a crime called “credit substitution.” It’s also foolish. No lender is going to accept an employer ID number. If someone suggests using an employer ID to get a mortgage, go elsewhere for advice.

4. If I have a strong payment history should I borrow a lot?

No. You should borrow both no more than you need and as little as possible. Credit scores consider the amount you owe as well as the credit available to you. Hitting credit card limits is a black mark and will reduce credit scores.

5. Is it better to have lots of credit cards or just one or two?

If you reduce the number of cards you have by combining accounts and debts, you might actually get a lower score. There are two issues to consider:

First, you have to watch credit limits. The general ideas is that the more of your available credit that you use the lower your score. For instance, imagine that you have five credit cards with different limits and in each case you have used 50 percent of the amount available to you. You then combine all cards into one card with a big balance but now you’re using a far-higher percent of your available credit line, say 90 percent. A better approach is to keep balances low and pay off credit cards as you can.

Second, while it makes sense to pay down credit card debts, it may not make sense to close accounts. The reason has to do with credit card history. The general rule is that the longer your history, the higher your score. The result is that you may actually want to keep older accounts open even if they’re not used.

6. I’m good about paying off credit cards but not some other bills. Will this impact my credit?

Yes. First, many credit cards include a so-called “universal default” provision. This means if any bill is late or unpaid, the credit card issuer can raise your rate. Second, other bills in addition to credit cards show up on credit reports and negative items are reflected in credit scores.

7. My mortgage payment is due on the 1st of the month but I’m allowed to pay as late as the 15th without penalty. If I pay on the 14th will this show up on my credit report?

No — but be careful here. A debt is considered “late” for credit reporting purposes only if it’s at least 30 days overdue. However, some unscrupulous lenders charge excessive fees and may even raise interest rates if payments are even a day late. If you have such financing you should consider refinancing to get better terms.

As to that mortgage payment, lenders typically provide a payment grace period because checks may be delayed in the mail and payment days may fall on weekends or holidays. However, since the bill must be paid anyway, it’s absolutely best to pay either early or on time.

You may find if you have a good payment record with mortgage lenders that they will be helpful if you run into problems. Example: Your mortgage payment is delayed in the mail and arrives after the grace period. A late fee is charged. You call the lender, they look at your payment history, conclude something is wrong and waive the fee. In other words, you get the benefit of the doubt because you’re credible.

Does this happen? You bet.

8. How often should I check my Aparrtamento no Rio credit?

Given the growing problem of identity theft — the Federal Trade Commission says there were more than 250,000 complaints last year — it makes sense to check credit reports regularly. The good news is that you can get three free credit reports per year, one from each of the major credit reporting agencies, without charge, by going to AnnualCreditReport.com.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission says under federal law “you’re entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you such as denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment and you ask for your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company. You’re also entitled to one free report a year if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; if you’re on welfare; or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.”

9. What should I do if I feel a payment will be late?

Many creditors such as mortgage lenders, credit card companies, auto finance organizations and utilities now have several options for quick payments. You may be able to pay online, pay over the phone or pay by overnight delivery..

However, it’s wise to get quick payment information now, before it’s needed. For instance, some creditors have one address for regular payments and another for overnight deliveries.

If you feel a payment will not be made or will be more than 30 days late, contact your lender immediately. It’s often possible to work out an accommodation if you begin working with the lender as soon as possible.

10. Can I get a mortgage after a foreclosure or bankruptcy?

Foreclosure and bankruptcies are serious matters which are likely to make access to mortgage financing difficult if not impossible for several years. However, some borrowers are able to get mortgages again with some speed.

How? While foreclosures and bankruptcies are the worst credit events, they are not necessarily caused by consumer mismanagement or misdeeds. People have health emergencies. Companies close. Areas are devastated by natural disasters.

The bottom line is this: Mortgage underwriters want to know more about you and your situation. While loans may be approved automatically, declined loans are reviewed individually. Before looking for a home, speak with mortgage lenders if you have had a foreclosure or bankruptcy.

If you had a good credit record and encountered a financial catastrophe outside your control, lenders may be able to provide financing once credit has been re-established. Individual lenders can provide specific advice and information.

As the expression goes, it can’t hurt to ask.

Youve moved into your new home, unpacked the boxes, arranged and rearranged the furniture, hung a few things on the walls. Hmmm. You know, or think you know how you want your rooms to feel but cant get from the builder white walls and your old stuff to that wonderful comfy inviting look you got when you were in the model of the home you purchased?

Before you panic and true anxiety sets in know there are more easy solutions at your fingertips than ever before. There are decorator magazines, home decorating shows, web sites, retailers, great books with very good instructions. Visiting model homes again will help. Okay, you say, I see them, I buy them, I visit them, I like them, but how do I do it? I dont know where to begin.

Start with one room you love in a magazine or model home. Well call it your dream room. If you can go to the model home to feel and study the space or the room you will get the best results. Ask if you may take pictures in the models too. This will help when you get home and when you shop. Take a tape measure and a spiral notebook with you to make notes and draw sketches. I like the ones with plastic tabs and pockets inside.

Lets start decorating by seeing what we like.

Are all the walls the same color and the ceiling too? What color(s) is the room? Write this down. Is there a chair rail or decorative molding at the ceiling, wall covering or faux painting? What is on the floor? Is there tile, wood, carpet, area rugs? What color and texture and pattern? Is the area rug braided or a Persian rug or a contemporary design diagonally placed partly under one of the chairs and sofa?

What style is the furniture? Is it all a matching set? Do all the woods match? Maybe the sofa and club chairs are the same style and wood finish but the chairs have a patterned upholstery and the sofa is a solid or striped fabric. Write this down.

How is the furniture arranged? Does the sofa sit in the middle of the room separating the conversation area from the game table, or is all the furniture pushed up against the walls? Draw a little floor plan so you dont forget when you get home.

The windows. Are there blinds, shutters, a valence or draperies? Are the rods large or small, wood or metal with huge finials? Make a note of it. If there are panels at each side of the window, do they go all the way to the floor? What color are they? Do they match the walls or are they the same fabric as the toss pillows on the sofa? Is it the drapery hold back that catches your eye? You will have to consider the exposure and privacy out your own windows when you make your final window treatment selection.

The pizzazz is the accessories. This is often what many people love most about the model homes or magazine pictures that inspire them. The details, the little things we all love to collect and buy when we shop. This is what pulls the room together and gives it your personality. In the room you love, what kind of lamps are there? Is there a place to store the things you will need to put away? Are there several things grouped on the coffee table? What sizes are they? Is there something pretty tall, a large round platter set on a stand and a box all grouped together? If there are photographs on the end tables, how big are they and how does the frame style work with everything else in the room?

What is on the walls? Is there one large picture over the sofa or is there an arrangement of black and white photos in different size frames? What color is the matting and how much space from the photo to the frame? Details, details, details. Draw a sketch of the picture arrangement and the sizes in your notebook.

Congratulations. You have just completed the first step to decorating your own home.

You know what you want, how it goes together and what it will look like. You dont have to break the bank now to create your room. You probably already have the furniture pieces and accessories. You may already have the lamps and area rug as well. You may just have to recreate and rearrange.

Get started. Go to the paint store and select the paint chips you think best match your dream room. Grab several samples, color can be deceiving and they can look different depending on the light. Take them back to the model home Aparrtamento no Rio and see which ones match the best. Buy the paint and paint the room.

Your window treatment. If you copy your dream room exactly make sure you have the right privacy and exposure considerations covered. This is where a lot of people go astray. They think they like shutters and buy them. Then they dont like them and also wonder how their dream room went wrong. Your dream room may have been more airy with a shade and drapery panels on large wood poles. The wrong blinds, shutters or draperies and hardware can be a costly mistake that you probably wont change.

Arrange your furniture for conversation, TV watching, family fun, reading, eating or homework keeping in mind your dream room. Was all the furniture lined up on one side of the room? Your sofa may be the wrong color and your chairs may need to be redone. That doesnt mean you have to buy all new; consider slipcovers. You can buy them or make them. Be sure your accessories are things you want around you and are of a grand enough scale for your space. Voila! Youre on your way to decorating confidence and living in the home that makes you and your family happy.

Madrid is relatively young when compared to the other great Spanish cities such as Seville and Valencia and so it lacks the traditions of the ancient Andalusian and Castilian towns. It lies on a vast open plateau and is subject to extremes of temperature, the daily variation is sometimes 22C. The locals sum up their climate as nine months of winter and another 3 months of hell.

It is the nation’s chief transportation and administrative centre. Its commercial and industrial life developed very rapidly after the 1890s and today it is nation’s chief transportation and administrative centre, rivalled only by Barcelona. Besides its many manufacturing industries, Madrid are foremost as a banking, education, printing, publishing, tourism, and film production centre.

The general aspect of Madrid is modern, with boulevards and fashionable shopping areas, but the old quarters have picturesque streets. In the heart of the city is the Plaza Mayor, a 17th century square, built in the style of Juan de Herrera. Madrids loveliest gardens can found the Buen Retiro Park which opened in 1631. At the weekends street performers including musicians, tarot readers and puppet shows for children play in the park but this does bring in the crowds. Other landmarks include, El Pacicio Real, the huge and very opulent royal palace. A restored 1850 opera house and the imposing 19th-century building containing the national library, the national archives, and an archaeological museum. Also noteworthy is the modern University City, which transferred from the town of Alcal de Henares in 1836.

The best area in Madrid for bars and clubs is Malasana. If you arrive before 1 am you’ll find the night yet to get underway. Cool Ballroom is probably numero uno in the city. And don’t forget to end the night with the traditional Chocolate con Churrus. Madrid, as you would expect has numerous eating-place but try Casa Mingo in the Rio Manzanares. The house speciality is a whole roast chicken served with a salad and a bottle of cider. On Sunday you should head for, along with most of the population of the city, the Embajadores for the flea market on El Rastro. Most of what is on sale is junk but there are a few stalls with genuine antiques. If you’re a football fan try to obtain tickets for one Apartamentos no Rio de Janeiro of Real Madrid’s home games at the spectacular Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Here you will see the famous “galacticos” perform, or as is more usual under perform.

Madrid places host to three superb art museums, the Prado, which houses one of the finest art collections in the world including works by Veleazquez, Domenikos Theotokopoulos, Goya, Murillo, Ribera, Hieronymus Bosch, Rubens, Botticelli, Mantegna, Titian, Rembrandt, Mengs, Poussin and Gainsborough. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace and is home to one of the most wide ranging private collections of European art. The Queen Sofia Museum of modern art includes turn of the 20th century Catalan Modernism, Juan Gris’ cubism, the bronze sculptures of Pablo Gargallo, some 20 canvases by Salvador Dali and Picasso’s work condemning the German bombing the town of Guernica in the Basque country during the Spanish civil war. Also worth a visit is the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales which holds an interesting collection of treasures.

Madrid was first mentioned in the 10th century as a fortress of the Moors. Alfonso VI of Castile drove them out in 1083. The Cortes of Castile met in Madrid several times, and Ferdinand and Isabella as well as Emperor Charles V often resided there, but Madrid became the capital of Spain only in 1561, in the reign of Philip II. The city developed slowly at first, but it expanded rapidly in the 18th century under the Bourbon kings. The royal palace and the Prado date from that period. A popular uprising against the French took place at Madrid on May 2, 1808 at the beginning of the Peninsular War. A fierce battle was fought in the city’s central square, the Puerta del Sol. In reprisal, hundreds of citizens were shot at night along the Prado promenade. Goya immortalized the events of that day with two of his most celebrated paintings, both can be seen in the Prado gallery. Madrid again played a heroic role in the Spanish civil war, when, under the command of General Jos Miaja, it resisted 29 months of siege by the Franco’s Nationalist forces, suffering several bombardments and air attacks. It finally surrendered in late March 1939 effectively bringing the conflict to an end.

Alcal de Henares lies some 30 km to the east of Madrid, on the Henares River. Once surrounded by wheat fields, the building of a major road has drawn it into the suburban orbit of Madrid. Chemicals, plastics, electrical appliances, leather, and china are produced in the town. Among the landmarks are a Gothic collegiate church and the former archiepiscopal palace. The new University of Alcal de Henares was founded in 1977.

The town was called Complutum in Roman times. It is famous as the former seat of a great university founded in 1508 which subsequently transferred to Madrid in 1836. Also as the birthplace of Cervantes, Ferdinand I and Katherine of Aragon. And lastly as the scene of the Cortes in which Alfonso XI promulgated the Ordenamiento de Alcal. The Spanish civil war saw the town severely damaged.

Other towns within the autonomous region of Madrid include Toledo, which preceded Madrid as the Spanish capital. Avila, whose old walls remain largely intact and a walk along them provides superb views of the town within and the harsh Castilian landscape outside. Segovia and its ancient aqueduct which is an example of Roman engineering at its very best and Guadalajara.

Since the beginning of time and except for the early caveman period, windows have been an integral part of the living area for humans. Windows date back over 4000 years where home occupants were able to look outside and also allow fresh air to continually enter the occupied spaces. Imagine living in a cave where poor ventilation was the daily norm and its occupants were exposed to potential danger from other humans or animals. During these times people’s lives were controlled by the presence and disappearance of sunlight. However, as economic traits were developed over time, humans desired to have privacy and sleep later than the time of sunrise, thus the creation of window coverings originated.

When actual windows were incorporated into the construction of early homes, windows were normally covered with cloth material held in place by nails at the top and somehow rolled up during the day and allowed down at night or whenever privacy was desired. As home construction evolved and windows became an integral part of the home, businesses dedicated to the fabrication of window coverings were born and production of more sophisticated methods of operation for window coverings were developed. This process led to the invention of roller shades. These early roller shades simply raised and lowered the fabric over the opening without the use of any mechanism.

As the popularity of roller shades increased, spurred on by their practicality and availability through dedicated window treatment fabricators, roller shades became a generally accepted product by society. Plain, basic woven fabrics were initially used in the fabrication of roller shades until specialty fabrics evolved over time. The light control capabilities of these early roller shades was limited yet very welcome by the consumers who wished for privacy and the appearance these shades created.

As time passed and manufacturing processes were developed, many products became mass produced and roller shades became a manufactured item which was readily available to the consumer. In the 1800’s, the roller shade became highly popular and many innovations were incorporated into the product. These innovations included the availability of new fabrics and materials, operational components and additional designs. The development of spring systems adopted by roller shade manufacturers increased the mechanical capabilities of the product by increasing the ability to expand the control of the shade. This expansion meant that the roller shade can roll up on its own and stop at a desired point.

Through daily use and experience, manufacturers realized that spring loaded roller shades deteriorated much quicker than anticipated thus shortening their useful life and creating a demand for a better product. This fact accelerated the development of roller shades which could be operated by the use of pulled cords or metal/plastic chains. These newly developed mechanisms increased the useful life of the roller shade and also improved the ability to control the product in addition to the preservation of the fabric (now that the fabric needed not be touched in the daily operation of the shade.)

The introduction of sophisticated control mechanisms increased the popularity of roller shades throughout the world and new fabric materials also became available as the demand increased. These evolutionary product improvements now allow the consumer to meet specific needs such a full light control by the use of blackout materials, never previously imagined large sizes to cover modern window designs, specific translucency factors and hundreds of colors which create specific decorative ambiences.

Today’s roller shades offer many years of enjoyment and practical use regardless of the specific application. Roller shades are now offered for sale almost everywhere from department stores to the corner hardware store in many instances. Yet, Apartamentos Rio high quality, custom made roller shades, available through designers, decorators, specialty retail window treatment shops or Internet retailers are sure to satisfy the consumer’s need and expectation since the shade is made to exact specifications in material, physical dimensions and design and control capabilities. The longevity and durability of a custom made roller shade far outdistances a ready made lower priced shade.

Since the creation of windows and the need to treat them for whatever reason, be that of privacy, light control or decorative purposes, roller shades have become and, will continue to be, a popular product that will meet the desired need. Most homes in the US have at least one roller shade in use. Now that roller shades are widely available in hundreds of fabrics, sizes and configurations, roller shades are expanding to most rooms in the house and creating a relaxed, safe environment for their users.

Care and Maintenance for Butcher Blocks Countertops and Kitchen Islands.

The wood is widely considered the healthiest building material in the world. The solid wood represents a reliable, sturdy material that can last very long without requiring excessive protection. However, wood is a natural living material and, unlike man-made materials, it reacts to different environments in specific ways. We would like to draw your attention to the basic maintenance instructions for the solid wood countertops, island tops or butcher blocks. Following these directions will result in having a great looking, easy to maintain custom countertop that will last for many years.

Tops with a Mineral Oil Finish

The panel must be oiled carefully on top, bottom and sides, giving a special attention to the end-grain area, as the section that the wood is most likely to absorb humidity through. Each cut or drill you make in the panel (either for size adjustment, sink cutout or other purposes) must also be oiled thoroughly. Proterra mineral oil (Hesse, Germany) is a product that we recommend for kitchen tops applications given that it was specially designed to come in contact with foods. For situations where there is a great deal of humidity involved (like sinks, water faucets, etc) the mineral oil only will not assure the best protection and it is advisable to use polyurethane or any other similar finishing instead.

With a soft brush, oil the wood generously on all sides or simply pour a small quantity of oil on the wood and then spread it with the brush. Let the wood soak the oil for about 20-30 minutes and then remove the excess with an absorbent paper towel. When the top is first installed, it is advisable to apply 2-3 successive coats of oil, after which, the oil can be applied once several months or whenever needed. Every time you sand the area to remove scratches or cut marks, a new coat of oil must applied.

Maintenance

In order to keep your wooden top clean, periodically scrape or brush away any food residues existing on its surface, wash with warm soapy water and dry it well using either a dry cloth or paper towels. Apply a new coat of oil any time needed. Alternatively, you can warm up a 1:4 combination of beeswax and mineral oil until the mixture becomes homogenized and then apply it uniformly on tops surface, thus getting supplementary protection against both stains and humidity.

Avoid setting your wood top next to extreme heat sources like stoves unless there is appropriate insulation between the heat source and the top. Avoid spilling vinegar on a wood top having a mineral oil finishing, as it can cause cupping or cracking. Do not use corrosive chemicals or excessively harsh detergents on a wooden top having a mineral oil finishing, as they can cause irreversible depreciation.

Repairing

If properly installed and sealed and periodically oiled, there is no reason that your top wont last a long period of time in the same good shape it was when new. Sometimes however, due to poor maintenance and improper environmental conditions, some problems might arise; it is our duty, therefore to inform about these problems and the way to Aparrtamento no Rio solve them.

Cupping and warping

Are prone to appear whenever there is a significant difference of moisture between the topside and the bottom side of the panel. If possible, place the top on a flat, hard surface, concave side facing down. On the convex side, uniformly place some fairly heavy objects. It will take up to 12 hours until the panel will straighten completely, after which, oil it abundantly on all sides.

If it is not possible to manipulate the top, simply apply generously mineral oil on the concave side until the panels straightens. In this case, however, you might need to repeat this operation several times to obtain the desired result.

End splits

Will manifest whenever the panel is placed in an excessive dry environment without being properly sealed. To repair, mix wood sand with a small amount of water-based wood glue and fill the cracks thoroughly. Allow 15-20 minutes to cure, sand the area with a 120 grit sand paper and then oil the top freely.

Scratches, cut marks and food stains

Can be removed by sanding uniformly the affected area, brushing away the resulting wood dust and applying a new coat of mineral oil. The finger-jointed panels can be sanded to a 3/8 depth, while for the continuous lamella panels and the end-grain butcher blocks, there are no such restrictions.

Tops with a Polyurethane Finishing

A solid wood surface finished with polyurethane based finishing requires no maintenance at all. However, scratches, cut marks and other damages will be difficult to repair; therefore extra care is required.