Sample Content Preview 20. Yoga and Pilates Two of the hottest trends right now, Yoga and Pilates, are great choices for getting into shape. More than 11 million Americans practice Yoga. A 50-minute Yoga session will burn 144 calories. Two 50-minute sessions will burn 288 calories. 21. Calisthenics and Aerobics Like exercising to music? Calisthenics or aerobics may be right for you. They’re fun, and they can really burn calories. A 20-minute workout burns 181 calories. If you work through the pain and make it a 45-minute workout, you’ll burn 409 calories. 22. Rock Climbing Rock climbing is becoming more and more popular. Don’t live near mountains? Rock climbing gyms are easy to find. Just 30 minutes of rock climbing will burn 374 calories. Add 30 more minutes, and you’ll burn 747 calories. 23. Walking Walking has been around since time began, and it’s just about the easiest way to burn calories. Just a leisurely 15 minute walk will only burn 60 calories, but if you walk a bit faster and longer (45 minutes at 2.5 mph), you’ll burn 153 calories. WATER SPORTS Many people prefer water sports because they’re very low impact. This next set of calorie burning sports are all about the water. So grab your swimsuit and jump right in! 24. Water Aerobics This fun and wet way to exercise is a great way to burn those calories. A 30-minute workout will burn 144 calories. Keep going for an hour; you’ll burn 288 calories. 25. Rowing Get out those paddles! Whether you’re on the water, or have a machine, rowing is a great way to build those arm muscles and burn calories. 30 minutes of rowing will burn 360 calories. Row for an hour, and you’ll burn 720 calories. 26. Canoeing If you like rowing but the workout is a bit too much, try canoeing or kayaking. 30 minutes of this will burn 203 calories. An hour will burn 405. 27. Sailing Like sailing or wind surfing? This leisurely sport may burn more calories than you think. An hour on the water will burn 204 calories. 2 hours will burn 408, or the equivalent of each of these: - ½ cup of cashews - 6 oz. serving of garlic scampi - 1 baked potato with cheese sauce and broccoli - 1 extra crispy fried chicken thigh 28. Water Skiing Grab those skis and hit the water! Water skiing for 30 minutes can be a great workout, and it’ll burn 216 calories. Stay on the water for an hour (don’t forget the sunscreen) and burn 432 calories. 29. Scuba Diving Like swimming with the fishes? Scuba diving may be for you! Not only do you get a terrific view, but you burn calories, too. Scuba diving for 30 minutes will burn 239 calories. Make it an hour-long dive, and you’ll burn 478 calories. 30. Swimming Swimming is probably the most popular water exercise. A leisurely 20-minute swim will only burn 130 calories. If you put a bit more effort into it, and swim a bit longer (45 minutes), you’ll burn 409 calories. 31. Surfing Grab your surfboard! Surfing is an exciting way to get into shape. Catching the waves for 45 minutes will burn 155 calories. Stay out for an hour and a half and burn 310 calories. 32. Rafting Blow up that raft! Riding those rapids will not only bring out your adventurous side, but will also burn unwanted calories. A 45-minute rugged raft ride will burn 270 calories. A 2-hour adventure will burn a big 720 calories. WINTER ACTIVITIES Cold weather doesn’t have to be an excuse not to exercise. There are a lot of winter exercises, sports, and even chores that you can do in the wintertime. This next set of tips will give you ideas on how you can burn calories and get in shape, even in bad weather. 33. Ice Skating Grab those skates! Ice-skating is a great winter activity and a great way to get into shape. A 20-minute skate around the rink will burn 138 calories. Stay on that rink for a good hour, and you’ll burn 414 calories. 34. Ice Hockey Grab that hockey stick and puck! This popular winter sport isn’t just for watching anymore. A 45-minute game of hockey will burn 351 calories. Add another 45 minutes for overtime; that’s 702 calories. 35. Snow Skiing Time to hit the slopes? Thousands of Americans hit the slopes each year. It’s fun, exiting and a great way to get into shape. Just spending 45 minutes of downhill skiing will burn 331 calories. Stay on the slopes for 90 minutes and burn 661.

Sample Content Preview 20. Checking Your Shoulder Your doctor should do a thorough examination of your shoulder. During this exam, she’ll check for swelling and muscle wasting. 21. Checking Your Neck Your doctor will also examine your neck. She’ll do this to see whether your pain could be coming partly from your neck instead of your shoulder. 22. Checking Movement A good doctor will also check your movement in your shoulder. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but it’s important that your doctor knows your range of motion. 23. Blood Tests There are some blood tests that your doctor may run. These can help the doctor look for other medical reasons that may be causing your shoulder pain. She may also want to check your blood to see if you might have diabetes or arthritis. 24. X-Ray X-ray pictures can sometimes be useful in diagnosing shoulder pain problems. It can show things like arthritis or spondylosis in the joints. It can also show calcium in the muscles or arthritis in the shoulder joint. 25. Ultrasound Your doctor may have an ultrasound done on your shoulder. This scan is an excellent way to examine the muscles and tendons around your shoulder, and it will allow your doctor to find any inflamed or torn muscles. 26. MRI MRI’s (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are complex and expensive, but they can provide your doctor with detailed picture of the of your shoulder joint and its muscles. MRI’s help doctors correctly diagnose you. TREATMENT This next set of tips will discuss some of the treatment options that may help with your frozen shoulder. 27. Moist Heat Moist heat has been found very effective for frozen shoulder pain. Just take a heat pad and put a moist towel under it, and apply both to your shoulder. 28. Ice Ice can help with frozen shoulder pain as well. To be the most effective, put your ice on for 10 minutes on your shoulder, and 10 minutes off. You can also alternate ice and moist heat. 29. Physical Therapy Physical therapy has also helped with the pain of frozen shoulder. If you think this would help, ask your doctor to give you a referral for a good physical therapist. 30. Anti-inflammatories Although anti-inflammatory medications haven’t helped change the course of a frozen shoulder, they can give substantial relief from the painful symptoms. 31. Cortisone Injections Your doctor may suggest one or more cortisone injections. These injections can really help to decrease pain, and in also let you stretch more. This is very important, because it’s usually only effective when used together with physical therapy. 32. Surgery If all else fails, a surgeon may perform what’s called a manipulation. A manipulation is done with the patient sedated, and the doctor moves the arm to break up adhesions caused by frozen shoulder. There are no incisions made during the procedure. STRETCHES AND EXERCISES This next set of tips will give you some great stretches and exercises that you can do to help relieve and treat your frozen shoulder. 33. Weight Stretch This exercise you can do while standing or sitting. Hold a 5-to 10-pound weight in your hand (a gallon of water or milk weighs 8 pounds) and keep your arm vertical and close to your body. Swing your arm back and forth or in a small diameter circle. 34. Armpit Stretch For this exercise, put your arm onto a shelf or a dresser about breast high. Gently bend your knees, and open your arm pit. Try to push the arm up a little farther with each stretch. 35. Stretch the Towel For this exercise, take a bath towel and hold it with both hands at a 45 degree angle. Use your good arm to pull the towel toward your lower back. You can repeat this with your towel in a horizontal position.

Sample Content Preview 32. Avoid Alcohol Alcohol can worsen nasal allergies. It stimulates mucus production, aggravating nasal congestion and runny nose. So think twice about drinking. And remember to never mix alcohol with allergy medication. 33. Use Filters Placing filters over heating and cooling vents can help alleviate allergies. Vent filters can trap airborne particles like dirt, lint, dust mites and hair. Filters aren’t very expensive and can be found at any hardware store. 34. Choose New Carpet Carefully If you’re in the market for new carpet, it’s important to remember that from an allergy sufferer’s view, not all carpet is the same. New carpet can be a source of chemical emissions and irritants. Ask your carpet guy what chemicals were used on your carpet and give it time to air out. Serious allergy sufferers may want to consider hardwood floors. 35. Thoroughly Clean Down Down comforters, pillows or feather beds can be hard to clean, but are also good at trapping dust and dirt. It may mean a trip to the dry cleaners, but the results are well worth it. You can also look for hypoallergenic down. This is specially made for allergy sufferers and will greatly reduce allergens. 36. Shower Before Bed Showering and washing your hair before going to bed can greatly reduce your night-time allergies. During the day, you can get dust mites, pollen and even mold on your skin and hair. Showering at night will keep these things out of your bed. 37. Clean Your Floors It’s important to clean all floors in your home twice a week. This ensures that allergens are being disposed of. A good way to do this is to vacuum the area, then go over the floor with a wet rag or clean mop. 38. Avoid Smoke This may sound like a no-brainer, but many people don’t realize how smoking tobacco can actually make their allergies worse. Smoking weakens your immune system, making it easier to be effected by allergens. Also keep in mind that the air around people who smoke actually makes a great place for mold to grow. 39. Disinfect A few times every month, clean all of your bathroom and kitchen surfaces with an industrial grade disinfectant (not just a spray disinfectant like Lysol). This will make sure that all of the allergy-causing germs are out of your home. This is also the best way to kill mold. 40. Clean Your Carpets Make it a habit to have your carpets professionally cleaned each fall, after you close your windows for the winter. Do your homework, and ask your carpet cleaners if their service will get rid of mold, pet dander and dust mites. 41. Keep Your Windows Closed A good rule for a serious allergy sufferer is to keep your windows in your house and car closed all year. Use the air conditioner instead. This makes sure that allergens outside won’t blow into your car or home through your windows. 42. Drink Plenty of Water A good tip for an allergy sufferer is to drink at least one gallon of water per day. This may seem like a lot, but it can actually help quite a bit. Along with flushing toxins out of your body, water also hydrates you. When your body is sufficiently hydrated, allergens don't stick as much and collect in your throat and lungs. 43. Exercise Exercising daily will boost your immune system. Research shows that moderate exercise such as jogging, cycling and speed walking can boost the body's defenses against viruses, bacteria and allergies. Don’t overdo it, though. Exercising too much can actually weaken your immune system. 44. Talk To Your Doctor It’s important to talk to your health care professional about your allergies. Whether it’s your family doctor or an allergist, good communication is important to receive the best treatment for your allergies. Web MD (www.webmd.com) suggests asking these questions:

Table of Contents Introduction 6 Chapter 1: The Emotional Body ... 9 Chapter 2: Research on Emotions ... 16 Facts About Emotions ..... 17 Emotions Versus Feelings .... 18 Chapter 3: Your Mind and Its Impact on Your Emotions ... 21 Chapter 4: Embracing Your Emotions Through Awareness ... 24 Avoiding .. 26 Reacting .. 27 Resisting . 27 Chapter 5: Behaviors That Influence Your Emotions ... 31 Chapter 6: Managing Your Emotions Through Breathing . 34 Chapter 7: Techniques to Feel at Peace When Your Life Is Chaotic .. 37 Chapter 8: Developing Emotional Intelligence .. 42 Stop Judging . 42 Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses ..... 43 Be Assertive .. 43 Express Your Emotions ... 43 Chapter 9: Achieving a Deeper Understanding of Your Emotions ..... 46 Rejection . 48 Abandonment 48 Humiliation .... 49 Injustice ... 49 Betrayal ... 50 Chapter 10: Redesigning Your Life to Eliminate Anxiety ... 56 Get Moving .... 56 Enjoy a Good Night's Sleep .. 56 Meditate .. 57 Surrender 57 Have Fun . 58 Socialize .. 58 Keep a Journal .... 58 Conclusion ..... 61 Sample Content Preview Between 30 and 45 points: You often block your desires with your limiting beliefs. These desires are taking too much importance in your life. This makes you experience anxiety, frustration, disappointment, and many other emotions caused by unmet expectations. By not allowing yourself to manifest your desires, you want others to fulfill them for you. In this book, you will acquire a better understanding of how you can shift your mind not to believe all the limits you place on yourself and also better manage emotions. Between 45 and 60 points: you are in the right direction. You feed your emotional body quite well, but you lack confidence in yourself and the world around you. You do not believe enough that you have the right to desire what you want and that you have everything you need to manifest it. Sometimes you doubt it. Your head sometimes takes over your intuition and your feeling, which leads you to worry about the future. This book will enable this ability to trust more in your abilities to create the reality that you want and be more at peace with the world around you. Between 60 and 75 points: You feed your emotional body very well. You allow yourself to have desires, and you realize them very easily. To create your life, you use your emotional energy well, which is very magnetic. You are a person more sensitive than emotional. This book will still provide you with a deeper understanding of what you do right but also how you can help others be empowered to manage their emotions. The emotional body was created to feel, to be sensitive to what is happening in our material world. This role is for the sole purpose of helping us grow and recognize our strength and power that lies within. In the next chapter, we will explore the research that was done on emotions and what that means to you. CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH ON EMOTIONS Emotions have been a subject of research since the beginning of the 20th century. Although it's not a new subject, it was well documented by the stoicism philosophy, which dates back to the 3rd century. In stoicism philosophy, it was believed that one needs to learn what is in one's control to change and what isn't. Some events may not be in our control, but what is in our control is our reaction to those events. It wasn't necessarily specifically about mastering emotional states, but it was part of the practice. Today, Stoicism is a practice that is becoming more and more popular; the goal is to develop the ability not to let events trigger some emotional disturbance. In another way, it's about not allowing adverse events or drama to affect us and regulate our emotions. It will enable many of us to operate in a very stressful situation while remaining calm, composed, and undisturbed by the chaos around us. Stoicism is not about ignoring or blocking emotions but more about learning to tame them and not let emotions take over your life. When someone can reach a certain level of Stoicism, he or she can be less reactive and make a better decision. Based on research, emotions live on a spectrum or a continuum that, on the one hand, is fear and on the other is love. Between love and fear, we experience a variety of emotions, which is like a gradient and not necessarily a matter of fact. Love would be the more positive emotions, and fear would be the more negative emotions. Facts About Emotions • When a person experiences an overflow of emotions, there is a "disconnection" between two important spheres of the brain: the limbic brain (the seat of emotions) and the neocortex (the seat of reflection). That is why it is impossible to reason with a person or even discuss with him/her when he/she is in an emotional crisis. • Every emotion has a purpose and helps us survive and grow. Emotions function to guide us to survive and thrive. Experiencing an emotion of joy is a sign that we are aligned with aspects that can bring well into our life. When we experience anger, it is a sign that there might be some blockages or elements that we need to heal within. • Emotions emerge from a signal released by our brain in response to how we perceive the world around us. This explains if you perceive yourself as safe, you will have no fear where someone in the same situation as you are might feel unsafe and experience an emotion of fear. • According to neuroscience, emotions only last 90 seconds. • Emotions are neutral, but it is the reaction of our feelings that will make us perceive them as good or bad. Many often confuse emotions and feelings, yet they are two different aspects that are very much connected. Emotions Versus Feelings An emotion is a physiological reaction, lasting only three to four minutes maximum. It allows our body to respond in an adapted way to a stimulus from the environment: the body is put under tension, energetically mobilized to act or flee. Emotion has a bioregulatory function since the discharge of emotion allows the body to return to its fundamental equilibrium. If emotions are a purely physiological reaction, feelings are a mental construction. It is an emotional state of a psychological nature, even if a feeling can be an extension of emotion (for example, anxiety in relation to fear, disappointment in relation to sadness). Feelings are what makes us experience an emotion over and over again. When we can’t let go of an emotion, it’s because we connect it with a mental activity that tends to relieve the past or focus on the future. In the next chapter, you will learn about the mind and its impact on emotions. PEACEFUL CHAOS CHAPTER 3: YOUR MIND AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUR EMOTIONS Since our emotions are very short living, it begs the question of why it hurt so much sometimes and lasts forever. The emotion itself is the physical response, while the feeling is more of a mental reaction. In some ways, when your mind is activated after you have an emotion, it becomes a feeling. A feeling can be a complex combination sometimes composed of various emotions or manifestations of repressed emotions. For example, if the emotions of anger and fear have not been expressed, they may turn against you in the form of a feeling of anxiety. Since it is a psychological elaboration, a feeling can persist outside of any external stimulus and could last for years if it is nurtured. In contrast to an emotion, a feeling becomes stronger when it is re-experienced. In the case of a painful feeling, it is therefore important not to reinforce it by expressing it "simply" as one would do for an emotion; otherwise, it will become more lasting. When you think of an event that triggers a certain emotion, you are no longer living in the present; you are thinking of the past, therefore, recreating the same emotional reaction and feeling it. The feeling becomes what you hold on too. That is why, when we get a sudden burst of anger due to a specific event, we relive anger when we think of the situation. A mind is a powerful tool that we can use against us or with us. The only way to free oneself from it is to untangle the different emotional and affective knots that make up the feeling, which, first of all, involves acknowledging their existence. We will explore this a bit deeper by exploring how we can learn to embrace our emotions in the next chapter. CHAPTER 4: EMBRACING YOUR EMOTIONS THROUGH AWARENESS As you've learned in preceding chapters, an emotion is a pure reaction of the body without any connection with the mind. It, therefore, makes no sense to represent it as positive or negative morally. It is a neutral energy. It is not fair to perceive emotions as pleasant or unpleasant, because it could be damaging to associate an emotion with something negative when you risk repressing it rather than expressing it. Pure emotion is an adapted and justified response to an external event, like fear in case of danger, anger in the face of disrespect, or joy following a happy event. An emotion is meant to be neutral, even if our social environment does not always allow us to express it freely. Inhibiting an emotion is, therefore, equivalent to censoring an adequate response. The "natural" way to free oneself from emotion is to express it fully, by welcoming it and by letting this energy discharge pass through us without tightening up on it. But you can only express something that you can recognize. When the discharge cannot take place for some reason, the emotion is repressed in the body, which remains in tension. Stress that has not been able to evacuate itself properly will crystallize to form increasingly dense aggregates in our energy bodies. Many of us are told (or were told) that we are not supposed to feel, let alone express our anger, sadness, or fear. We often think that it is negative, or that it is not appropriate to the situation when someone express a particular emotion. Emotions are an automatic warning system that is essential to our survival, in which our bodies tell our brains how to react to what is happening to us.

Table of Contents Introduction ..... 5 Chapter 1: The Clutter Effect .. 8 What is Clutter? ... 9 Which Areas of Your Life Does Clutter Affect? ..... 10 What Causes Clutter? ...... 12 Chapter 2: Cluttered Home = Cluttered Mind: How to Reduce the Mess .... 15 The Problem of the Cluttered Home .. 15 How Does a Cluttered Home Lead to a Cluttered Mind? .. 16 The Areas to Tackle .. 18 Chapter 3: A Guide to Organizing Your Home ... 21 A Systematic Approach ... 21 Tackling the Floors, Drawers and Closets 22 Bringing in Help . 26 Top Tips for Home Organization . 27 Chapter 4: The Disorganized Workplace = The End to Productivity .... 30 Why is Disorganization at Work a Problem? .. 30 How to Become More Focused .... 31 Eliminating Virtual Mess 32 Chapter 5: Making Your Workplace Organized – A Guide ......35 How to Tackle Organizing Your Desk 35 Tackle Your Hard Drive .. 36 Top Tips for Work Organization .. 38 Chapter 6: Is Your Life Disorganized? ...... 40 What is a Cluttered Life? 40 Why do our Lives Become Disorganized? 42 The Problems of an Overloaded Life .. 43 Chapter 7: A Guide to Organizing Your Life ...... 47 How to Reduce Your Obligations and Commitments . 47 A Guide to Reducing Social Media Use .... 48 How to Reconsider Your Routines ..... 49 Just Say No .. 51 Chapter 8: Could I Benefit from a Friendship Organization? .53 Could Some of Your Friendships be Causing Your Problems? 54 What is a Toxic Friendship? .. 54 Label Your Friendships for Clarity ..... 55 How to Feed the Positive Relationships in Your Life .. 57 Chapter 9: Clearing Your Mind – The Truth About Happiness . 61 The Signs of a Disorganized Mind ...... 61 The Benefits of an Organized Mind ... 62 Chapter 10: A Guide to an Organized Life . 66 Make Lists and Journals . 66 Learn to Let Go ... 68 Avoid Multi-Tasking . 70 Make Decisions and Stick to Them .... 71 Be Kind to Yourself ... 72 Conclusion 74 Sample Content Preview Which Areas of Your Life Does Clutter Affect? As we’ve already pointed out, clutter affects both your environment and your emotional and mental well-being. Both types of clutter can have a major impact on various areas of your life. The first obvious area that can feel the impact is your home. Mess can begin to build up as tasks get left undone. Soon, a pile of magazines has grown on the coffee table, a stack of shoes is thrown in the corner in the front porch, and clothes are piled up on the bedroom chairs. The more messy and more disorganized your home becomes, the harder it is to get motivated to sort it out, and the more negative the mental and emotional impact becomes of living in such an environment. The second key area that is badly affected is the workplace. A lack of organization in the office leads to all kinds of issues. Low productivity, an unprofessional first impression for visitors or clients and poor morale are just some of the problems that arise from a disorganized working environment. Again, once the office has become cluttered, it becomes more difficult to take action to organize it. As the mess mounts up, the worse the associated problems become. The third area that feels the impact of clutter is your personal relationships. This is something that can often be overlooked when considering the effect of disorganization on your life. A messy home puts a strain on your family life and can lead to serious tensions with your partner, children, or other loved ones. A disorganized workplace can make working relationships with colleagues, employees, or managers more challenging and can lead to disagreements that cause long-term problems in your career. Not only that, but clutter in friendships can lead to toxicity, further stress and even more obligations that need to fit into your already overloaded schedule. What Causes Clutter? There are many causes of clutter. Some are physical, and others are emotional or mental. Some are also a lot more obvious than others. Perhaps the first, and most obvious cause of clutter has to be excess physical possessions. Most of us are guilty of accumulating items simply because we can’t bear to get rid of them, even if we don’t really want or need them. There are gifts that we’ve received for birthdays and holidays, souvenirs from vacations gone by. Odds and ends have piled up over the years that should really have gone in the trash but which have, inexplicably, been put in a drawer or on a shelf for later and allowed to remain there. The trouble with this type of clutter is that it builds up slowly over time, so you don’t really realize how much it has gotten out of hand until one day you look around and see the extent of the problem. The second cause of clutter is having excessive commitments in your schedule. We’ve already mentioned how busy modern lives have become. Whereas in the past, lives were much simpler – people went to work, came home, spent time with their family or their friends and then went to bed ready to do it all again the next day. These days, there is so much more to consider. Careers have, in many cases, become considerably more high-pressured, with the expectations placed on workers at all levels much higher than ever before. Family lives are also more complex than ever before, with many people having divided or blended families. Struggling to fit in contact with children, dealing with stepchildren or having to handle an ex-partner along with a current one can all increase the pressures on everyday living. Then, of course, there are all the other elements that weigh on our minds. An endless stream of social media and 24/7 access to the news can easily lead to us becoming overwhelmed with negativity. Meanwhile, we feel the pressure to make the most of our limited leisure time by caving into the demands from friends, colleagues, and family members to attend different events and participate in various activities. Add to this the additional pressure that we pile on ourselves to work out, to improve ourselves and to be the best that we can be in every respect. It’s no wonder that so many of us struggle to cope as we sink ever-deeper under a heap of obligations, commitments and requirements. Chapter 2: Cluttered Home = Cluttered Mind: How to Reduce the Mess First, let us take a look at the home. A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind. Then, we’ll examine some ways that you can reduce the mess so you can regain some essential control over your life. The Problem of the Cluttered Home Why do we end up acquiring clutter in our homes? There are several reasons behind this. Let us look at some of the most common: - You don’t know when it’s time to get rid of items – in many households, there is a lot of confusion about when the time has come to sell, donate, shred or throw away items when they’re no longer used or needed. - You don’t have anywhere to store things properly, or you just don’t know how to store it. - You have no organization routine to follow in the home. - You don’t have sufficient storage space or solutions. - You persistently keep common clutter sources around. - You regularly buy things that you don’t need or use. - You lack the ability to let go of items, especially those with some sentimental value. Many of us can relate to at least one of the above statements. The key is to identify which are applicable to you so that you can then work on ways of addressing them. How Does a Cluttered Home Lead to a Cluttered Mind? Clutter in the home ends up having a negative impact on your mind, your body and your overall health. There is a direct link between high levels of stress and excess clutter in the home, and this has been proven in several studies over the past few years. Why is this the case? The home is supposed to be an oasis of calm – a peaceful refuge and a comfortable space where you can unwind and chill out. How can you do that if there is disorganization and mess everywhere? Clutter in the home impacts negatively on your ability to concentrate and focus. There are distractions everywhere and this causes your mental faculties to become worn down. Frustration is then the inevitable result which causes stress to build up. When you can’t focus properly, your ability to problem solve and be creative is also inhibited.

Sample Content Preview WHY FACEBOOK IS IMPORTANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES I ncrease Web Presence This is the most basic reason for you to do anything online, because it increases your web presence. Any business has only one objective, and that is sales, be it a product or a service. The only way to do this is to make people aware that you are providing a particular product or service. Companies spend between 3% and 10% of their total sales just to do this. In corporate parlance, this is called marketing, when you advertise in different venues so that you let people know exactly what it is that you provide. With so much of money at stake companies are always looking for ways in which they can get the same kind of exposure without spending as much money and the web is giving them that opportu-nity. More than 75% of the population in Western countries has broadband connections at home; more and more people are going online for their needs. Sales are slowly but surely moving towards online, and many manufacturers are already taking advantage of this. Amazon is posting a 15% growth each year, and their profits have skyrocketed in the past couple of years. In fact, even during the downturn, they were one of the few industries that posted growth. There are a number of benefits to buying online, primary among them being lower cost and this benefit is hard to match in retail sales. Many organizations have taken notice of this growth and even though their online marketing budget is only around 14% of their overall marketing budget, it is a large increase from last year's 8%. Everyone realizes that the future is online, but there are still a number of organizations that are still wary. It has grown so fast that it has caught many companies by surprise. With its enormous reach, especially in certain markets and demo-graphics where traditional marketing does not have much impact, Facebook offers an inexpensive, yet quite effective way to put your company's face on the World Wide Web. Just having a website is not enough and everyone knows this. While there are alternatives to Facebook is dominating the social network sites and their 600 million users force you to consider the amount of people that you could possibly reach. With Facebook now surpassing Google in the number of people who visit them every day, this is becoming more compelling. INCREASE BRAND IMAGE This is a carry on from the previous point. The aim behind increasing web presence is to not only increase the brand awareness, but also increase brand image. While brand awareness or brand recall is easily achieved with advertising, increasing brand image is a little more difficult. Companies spend years developing a certain image for their brand, and any decision with regards to a new product is taken considering if it will fit the brand image or not. Online this is not as difficult. Although the basics remain the same, it is much cheaper to develop a brand online than offline. For example, customer service online is usually restricted to email and responses to blog posts and questions in the forum. This is much easier to handle, and much cheaper in fact, than real time call centers where people answer your calls. Of course, emails may not be able to fully replace human interac- tion, but it can reduce it by quite a big margin. In the same way advertising as well as promotion of a product is much cheaper online than it is in the real world. Brand building is all about creating an image of the brand in the minds of the people, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to increase the interaction between the general population and the organization. While having a website is the bare minimum that an organization should do, there is not much interaction you can have with your customers through your website. Many sites have a “con-tact us” link and some even have a complaints page where you can log in and put in your complaints, but doing so in Facebook just increases the personal touch. For example, while if you manufacture toasters and if a customer has a complaint with it, there is not much of a different between asking them to log into your website and post their complaint and asking them to do so on your Facebook page. The difference is that in Facebook they will be connected to you, so that as soon as a response is posted they will know about it instantly. While companies that do not have good customer service may not find this to be of much use, companies that spend on customer satisfaction will definitely find this useful. Imagine if you have a team that has a turn around time of less than four hours for every complaint, this is a good way to make your customers really feel that you care by giving them a resolution in under four hours. Even if you had as good a team, there is no point in it unless the customer realizes it, and Facebook ensures that your customers do. Of course, you can integrate all the different facets into your customer service so that they receive and answer via email or even message to their phone that their issue has been resolved, but this calls for resources. In Facebook, everything is available. If a person connects to you on Facebook you do not have to worry about anything else other than resolving their issue, Facebook takes care of the rest. Not only this, but the customer's own personal network will also be aware of your response, especially if he clicks on a “thumbs up” sign signifying that he was happy with your service. This may take time to build, but it gives you more returns than any other CRM tool. Having a website is all good and well, but just as you have different clothing for different purposes, you need different tools for different purposes. The advantage of Facebook is that it has an already existing infrastructure as well as over 600 million users, while at the same time being cheap to use, so you do not have to spend any resources in developing a tool for yourself. Once again, this dovetails into the previous topic in that Face-book, as an existing networking tool gives you the option of using it to interact with your customers, at no cost to you. Simply having a corporate page on Facebook means that you will get people who are interested in you come and visit you. In addition, anyone who clicks on your fan button will have your logo on his or her profile. While this may not be a big plus with many SMB's initially, over time a fan base can be created. Added to this is the fact that you are linked to these contacts' contacts as well, which will help maximize your company’s visibility. Because Facebook is a place where people network it is a great place for you to bring out any news regarding your company. For example, if you are bringing out a new product, mentioning this on Facebook is a good idea as it will help generate interest in the product. You can use Facebook as a means of providing discounts to your customers if they purchase a product or service using their Facebook login, they will get a discount on the product. A simple example is the release of video games. When the smash hit Call of Duty 6 was released into the market, it was an almost instant hit getting so many downloads that their servers started to hang. Most of this was because of their shrewd marketing through the social media. Interest was generated in the game by targeting a few fans and sending them unique invitations to the next in series.

Sample Content Preview Faucets are no longer just a spigot that provides water. Faucets are pieces of artwork now that have multi-functioning capabilities. Some of them have removable ends that spray water. Others have tops that lift off and move over. Water softeners and filters can be placed over nozzles to provide safer and tastier water. The selections are endless. Faucets can also come in plastic or metal, so the colors are changeable too. 7 – Clean the Clutter A modern look is having the bare essentials or minimalist approach to kitchens. Very few knick-knacks are on shelves and the countertops are cleared off. Hardly anything is out to look at, keeping your view clean. Besides providing a new look, less clutter holds less dust, which requires less cleaning. Less small appliances and items on the cupboard make the room appear larger too. 8 – Ultra Mixer Get rid of your tiny hand mixer and get an ultimate machine. A stand mixer has a lot more capacity and power if you are a faithful baker or cook. The price has lowered tremendously in recent years making them affordable. You can justify the price by how much that speed up your activities in the kitchen. Ultra-mixers have multiple speeds, attachments, and controls to mix virtually anything. The mixers are available in a rainbow of hues to coordinate with new paint or wallpaper too. 9 – Microwave The big, boxy and expensive microwaves that first came out are gone! Or they should be. If you have a large, bulky microwave, it is time to upgrade. Microwaves now come in all sizes and colors, not to mention power levels. If you only need one to warm up food occasionally, a small one is for you. If you do a lot of cooking with the microwave as the source, you will need a sturdier one. Microwaves can be purchased at any department store, appliance store or even a grocery store. They can be plastic, metal or stainless steel. 10 – Cooking Gadgets Every modern cook needs the newest cooking gadgets. Whether you use them or not is up to you, but displaying them may make you seem like more of a modern cook. One such tool is the corn husker. It is a square brush that fits in the palm of your hand with small bristles. The bristles are soft as to not damage the kernels of corn on a cob, but they grab the corn silk from between the rows before it can get stuck in your teeth. Cool, huh? 11 – Flooring Does your floor seem dingy and gray, even after you just mopped? It may not just be the cleaner or water in the bucket. It may be that your linoleum floor is out of date. The linoleum or laminate floors hold up to wear and tear, but do need replacement after several years go by. Find replacement flooring that matches your colors to brighten the room. There are many styles to choose from, including laminate, laminate wood, wood, vinyl and linoleum. The price can vary to, so make sure you have a budget in mind before shopping. 12 – Table If there is a Formica topped table in your kitchen, it is time to modernize. There are many more new, family friendly tables on the market that look pretty. Wood tables have a protective covering you can have applied on the wood, which is clear, so you can still see the beauty of the wood underneath. The covering is waterproof, so any spills will not harm it and they can be wiped right off. There are also coverings that prevent nicks, dings and scratches from showing on the surface. 13 – Chairs Are the chairs at your kitchen table showing their age? To modernize them, you can either give them a facelift or opt to buy completely new. If you don’t feel like a project, head for the store. If you do like improvement projects, find some sandpaper and begin. Sand off any old paint or stain on the chair so that the new stuff will stick to it. Pick your color or stain and then begin. Follow all directions on the paint or stain labels to see the best results. 14 – Bar An addition of a bar or center island will give you much more working space in your kitchen. It can be a place to cool cookie trays, hold mixing pans or store the mail from the day. A bar also works as a place to do homework or to have an evening snack. Whatever you use it for the most, it will make you have much more space in your kitchen. The island or bar usually has cabinets underneath for additional storage. A modern kitchen is a kitchen with lots of cupboards and cabinets! 15 – Bar Stools Refinish or recover the bar stools at the island. Material can be bought at a fabric store to recover worn or faded old covers. The material is sturdy and will hold up for many years, or until you decide to modernize again. If you want a complete new style, bar stools come in many heights and colors. Department stores and home improvement stores carry a wide selection in many price levels. Stools can be plastic, wood, metal or a combination of materials. 16 – Breakfast Nook A breakfast nook is a modern invention. The breakfast nook is a cozy alcove, where there is a table and bench seating where breakfast is enjoyed. Realistically, any meal or snack can be eaten there. The breakfast nook is just a place where meals that are more informal are held. A dining room is considered formal and where dinner typically is served. 17 – Rugs A rug is a simple way to modernize your kitchen. If you have old, dirty and faded rugs, it’s time to replace them. If you’ve never had rugs in your kitchen, they are another avenue to add color and design to the room. Buy a large rug that covers the eating area or a runner for the high traffic areas. Rugs do more than just decorate; they can provide warmth over a cold kitchen floor and protect it from scuffs, nicks and scrapes. If your kitchen is carpeted, a rug will keep obnoxious spills and stains off it. 18 – Crimping Can Opener A modern convenience in the kitchen is also a safety gadget. The can openers of yesterday are old news. The newest style can openers cut right below the rim of the can. As they open, they crimp back the metal so there are no sharp edges to cut a finger on. The can is also safer to drop in the trash, since it won’t rip bags or catch on something else. Crimping can openers can be in the electric form or hand held style. 19 – Bread Machine Grandma used to make the best loaves of bread, however, Grandma had a lot more time on her hands. You can have the best of both worlds by buying a bread machine. This modern technology mixes the dough, lets it rise and cooks it for you. No hours wasted waiting for it to rise. Follow the recipe book, pour the ingredients and then press start. Nothing could be more modern, yet taste so much like the “Old Days.” 20 – Crock Pot Another modern kitchen tool is also a time saver. The crock-pot of today allows you to have a family meal when you get home and still work a long day. In addition, to make it even easier, some food companies have pre-made meals frozen in a bag where all you have to do is open and pour into the crock-pot. Turn on low and let it sit for eight hours. Go and buy a new crock-pot if you don’t already enjoy one. 21 – Automatic Coffee Timer The newest and most modern coffee pots turn themselves on in the morning. You didn’t know that? It is time to get rid of the old percolator and get modern. Automatic coffee makers are available in many sizes, from four cup to twenty-cup capacities. They also come in colors from red to blue to pink or stainless steel. The coffee pot color can even match the Ultra mixer. Get yourself a modern coffee maker and never have to remember to make it in the morning again. You will still need to remember to buy the coffee. 22 – Replace Old, Worn Towels A quick way to modernize your kitchen is with a shopping trip. Throw out any towel that is ragged, worn or discolored and buy new. Buy new patterns and colors to match your décor or to compliment the wallpaper. Towels can come in different qualities of cotton, so make sure to read the tag. Not all blends have the best absorbency and you want to make sure yours do. Wash all new towels before the first use to get any residue off before using on your dishes. 23 – New Stove One part of a major renovation may include buying a new stove. The choices are almost endless now, with convection ovens, convex ovens and side by side-ovens, it’s hard to know what is what. Before you buy a new stove, list what your uses are with it. Do you have large family gatherings often? If so, you may want a dual oven that is placed in the wall. This way you have two ovens to cook with and they can be set at different temperatures, resulting in less burned food. If you only cook a little, a smaller gas or electric stove will work just fine. Stoves also come with different tops. Some are flat and can be wiped clean when they are cool and others have traditional burners.

Sample Content Preview Before you jump in the car and head out on that summer voyage it’s a good idea to make sure your vehicle is in ready to go condition. After all, there’s nothing worse than sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck when what you wanted to do was enjoy a day at the beach. 1. Check Your Fluids - Run your car for a few minutes and then check the oil. It should be in the ok range and it should also be clean on your dipstick. Oil changes are recommended at different intervals ranging from 3,000 miles to 7,500 miles. Check your owner’s manual for the recommendations for your vehicle. If the dipstick is at the add mark, you need to add oil. Regardless of mileage if your oil is dirty you should consider an oil change. 2. Check Your Windshield Wiper Blades - Good wiper blades will be a real benefit during summer rainstorms and thunderstorms, which can occur without much notice. Winter conditions tend to cause blades to become hard and inefficient. Check all your fluid levels including, wiper fluid to make sure everything is topped up before you leave. 3. Know Your Tires – You should know the proper inflation for your tires. You can find this in your vehicle documentation, tire documen-tation, or on the sidewall of the tire. Then grab your tire pressure gauge and check their inflation. The heat of summer will increase your tire pressure so it’s a good idea to test before you drive far. Remember to include your spare in your tire check. If you are driving with tires that are underinflated you a blowout, while an overinflated tire puts you at risk of hydroplaning in rainy weather. Properly inflated tires will increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 3% so there’s a real benefit to making sure you check your tires. While you are at it, take a minute to check the tire tread. Use a penny – stick it in the gaps with the head face down. If you can see the head it’s time for new tires. 4. Visit Your Mechanic – A visit to your mechanic is a good idea before any long trip or for your regular maintenance if you don’t do it yourself. Your car will need regular tune-ups and regular oil and filter changes. 5. Check Belts and Hoses – Check for heavy wear or cracking and replace before they fail. 6. Be Prepared – Always carry an emergency kit with you that includes a first aid kit, jumper cables, air compressors, blankets, and it is also a good idea to carry water and energy bars. Winter brings along a whole new list of concerns for your automobile. The severity of winter depends on where you live. While newer cars require less intervention from us humans, they still need to be prepared for winter. By imple-menting all or some of these car care tips you can begin to save a significant amount of money. 1. Watch Your Tire Pressure – Watch your tire pressure, which will drop when the temperature drops. When you keep your tires prop-erly inflated your will get better fuel economy, and it will also help against flat tires. 2. Keep Your Fuel Tank Above One-Quarter – On older vehicles, this was done to ensure the fuel lines did not freeze. While it doesn’t happen as often with new vehicles it can still happen so why not ensure it doesn’t. In addition, during winter driving it’s a good idea to be prepared in case you become stranded. 3. Check Your Fluids – Some of your vehicle’s fluids are affected by winter conditions. Take a few minutes to inspect your vehicle’s cooling system, and every year you should do a coolant flush. Cooling system failure is the main reason for engine related breakdown, which can lead to repairs costing thousands. You’ll need to add antifreeze at a ratio of 50/50 antifreeze/water. You should invest in an antifreeze ball tester so that you can check your ratios throughout the winter season and add antifreeze whenever necessary. Make sure your windshield washer fluid is topped up with winter fluid. 4. Check Your Battery – Older batteries can have trouble during the winter months with the cold. Make sure your terminal posts do not have any corrosion, because when the posts are corroded it can make it harder for the battery to start the car. When there’s extremely cold weather the life expectancy of the battery can be shortened. Finally, make sure you always have jumper cables, just in case your battery goes dead. 5. Do an Oil Change – Even if your vehicle isn’t quite due for an oil change, now’s a good time to do an oil change. With older vehicles lighter weight oil can be used to keep your vehicle’s parts better lubri-cated during the winter. Newer cars use lighter weight oil year-round. 6. Change your Windshield Wiper Blades – Changing your wiper blades at the start of the winter season will ensure they are new. Winter wiper blades do a better job of pushing the slush off your windshield and scraping away the ice. 7. Put Snow Tires On – Winter driving conditions mean you want to have good traction. Depending on where you live and what you drive snow tires are often a good investment. In some areas where snowfall is minimal you can away with a solid all season radial tire. 8. Carry an Emergency Kit – Your emergency kit should include cold weather gear such as hats and gloves, jumper cables, flares, flashlight, and basic tools. Keeping your car in top-notch condition means you can reduce the costs of repairs and you can relax because you know you can depend on your vehicle. 1. Your Vehicle Break-In Period You spent your hard-earned money to buy your dream car, so you want to take care of it in a manner that will give you the most number of years of reliable transportation. Here are some things to keep in mind once you are the proud new owner of that car. During the first 1000 miles or 1600 kilometer you should keep your speed under 55mph or 88kpm or whatever the manufacturer recommends. Never let your new car idle for long periods both during the break in and throughout its life. Idling doesn’t send adequate oil through the engine. During the break in avoid heavy loads, such as trailer towing, during the break in period. 12 MIKE PINEDA When accelerating keep the engine below 3000 rpm for the first few hours of your driving. 2. Each Day Drive With Care You should drive your car with care every day, not just during the break in periods. During start up don’t race your car engine, especially in the cold as it adds years of wear to the engine. You should not let your car idle to warm the engine. Because the engine isn’t operating at peak temperatures the fuel combustion is incomplete, causing a build up of soot on the cylinder walls, contaminate oil, and damage other components. Shifting to neutral at red lights reduces the strain on the engine. When it is extremely hot or cold avoid driving at high speeds or accelerating too quickly. This behavior leads to the need for repairs more frequently. You can extend your tire’s life by driving carefully. Watch for posted speed limits and comply. Avoid fast starts, turns, and stops. Do not burn rubber, avoid hitting curbs and avoid potholes. 3. When You are Stuck Take it Easy When one gets stuck the first action is to rock the car by throwing into reveres then forward repeatedly, as well a spinning the tires. These acts are okay for a very short period of time, but if you are really stuck call a tow truck because the damage you can do will far exceed what the cost of tow truck will be.

Sample Content Preview After a cryptocurrency transaction is confirmed then it cannot be changed. Nobody in the world can change a cryptocurrency transaction not even presidents or monarchs. It is an immutable record. Basically if you send money to someone else that’s it. There is no turning back. So if you make a mistake or get scammed then you are stuck with the situation. You do not have the opportunity to reverse the transaction. Pseudonymous Cryptocurrency accounts and transactions have no connection to real world identities. You will receive a Bitcoin on an address which is a randomly seeming chain of about 30 characters. You can analyze the transaction flow but you can’t usually connect the transaction to a real person through the address. Global Transactions at Speed It doesn’t take long to propagate transactions and confirm them. Usually this all takes place in minutes. The network for cryptocurrency transactions is global so it doesn’t matter where the transaction originates and terminates. High Security The highest levels of transaction security are essential for a cryptocurrency network and to this end all funds are locked in a public key cryptography system. Only someone that has a private key can send cryptocurrency. This makes the system extremely secure. No Permissions A cryptocurrency system is a “permissionless” system. You do not require the permission of anyone or any authority to make a cryptocurrency transaction. There is no gatekeeper with a cryptocurrency system. The Monetary Properties of Cryptocurrency Now you know the transaction properties of cryptocurrency you need to understand the monetary properties. These are: There is a Controlled Supply Most cryptocurrencies have a limit on the number of tokens supplied. Taking Bitcoin as an example there will be a decrease of supply over time and experts estimate that the final number of Bitcoin tokens will happen around 2140. Experts say that only 21 million Bitcoins will be the limit. To control the supply of cryptocurrency tokens a schedule is written in the underlying code. Using this code you can approximately calculate today the monetary supply of a cryptocurrency for any given future date. Bearer not Debt With conventional or “fiat” money underwritten by a government, the bank account you hold is created by debt. All of the entries in your account are debts. It is really an IOU system. A cryptocurrency is not a debt. There has been a lot of controversy over the launch of cryptocurrencies because they are a direct attack on the monetary policy of most nations. Governments or central banks cannot change cryptocurrencies. Therefore they are immune to inflation and deflation caused by the manipulation of the monetary supply. What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency and a virtual type of money. It’s really like having an online version of money or cash. You can use Bitcoin to purchase products and services and more and more vendors are accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment these days. Some countries feel very threatened by Bitcoin and have banned it completely. There are no physical Bitcoin tokens. You may have seen pictures of Bitcoins but these are fabrications. The worth of a Bitcoin resides in the private codes they have imprinted inside them. Every Bitcoin is just a computer file stored in what’s called a digital wallet. We will discuss digital wallets in more detail in a later chapter. If you have a digital wallet then other people can send you Bitcoins or fractions of them. You can also send Bitcoins or fractions to others using your digital wallet. Every Bitcoin transaction is recorded publically using blockchain technology. This is a transparent network where anyone can trace the history of Bitcoin transactions. All records in the blockchain are immutable meaning that you cannot copy transactions, change the amount of Bitcoins owned or use Bitcoins that you don’t own.

Sample Content Preview 6 – Fort A fort is a wooden structure, all by itself. Many boys like to play hunter with the fort, or act like a spy from it. The fort has four wood stilts built into a square and secured in the ground with cement. Support boards are put in place and then a floor over top of that is made of plywood or two by fours. Add sidewalls for security and to prevent anyone from falling out. A roof is optional. Make several small peepholes and a space for an opening. A ladder rests at the opening for easy access. 7 – Tree House Every child has dreams of a great tree house. Tree houses can be simple structures made of cardboard or designs made of wood. Whichever route you choose, make sure it is sturdy and secured so it will not fall down. Tree houses can be just platforms, a floor and walls or a complete house structure with a roof. Make sure it has easy access with a rope or a ladder for exit. 8 – Chalk Your child can use chalk to draw pictures on the sidewalk or driveway anytime. Make a contest with all of the neighbor kids to see who can make the funniest, scariest or prettiest picture. Of course, give out prizes to every participant. Chalk can also be used for games. Draw a hopscotch chart, write numbers for shuffleboard or draw a road for the bikes to travel down. Chalk opens up endless possibilities for creation and imagination. Large pieces will keep finger scrapes to a minimum too. 9 – Bubbles Bubbles are a cheap and easy way to occupy your child’s time. To make your own batch of bubbles, mix 4 quarts of water, 1 cup of corn syrup and 1 cup of dish soap and store in a two-liter bottle. Label it so it is not mistaken for something else! To use, pour soap into a shallow bowl. Use straws or bubble wands and blow bubbles all afternoon. Hook several straws together and blow large, fancy bubbles. Bubbles can be stored indefinitely under the sink or in the garage. 10 – Basketball Hoop A basketball hoop can be purchased for any level of player. You can have your hoop mounted to the garage or side of the house or have a freestanding hoop. More expensive systems allow for dunking and breakaway rims and then basic models to just shoot hoops through. If you have serious players, mark the garage where the actual free throw line would be. Hold neighborhood contests for free throws and two on two tournaments. 11 – Wiffle Ball field A waffle ball field will require a bit of space. If you don’t have a large yard, modify the game to fit the space you do have. The most important part is to get out and play with your kids. Mark home plate, then where the three bases are. The pitchers mound is in the center, or wherever the potential pitcher can throw from. Make sure to keep the batting spot out of the direct line of any windows. Get enough neighbor kids together so you have two even teams. See who can hit the farthest or score the most. 12 – Stage Every actor had to start somewhere, why not in the backyard? A stage can be a simple puppet stage, where they hide behind and let their arms and puppets show. Or it can be a fancy platform where they have skits and play for the neighborhood. On the sides of the stage, use two poles or wood beams and string rope across. Hang or sew old sheets or curtains to make an actual stage curtain. Have the kids make up tickets and programs and hand out to all of the neighbors. Make it a weekly event during the summer for added fun. 13 – Slide A slide usually comes with a pre-made swing set. However, if you want to create your own, you can make wooden frames and buy plastic or metal slide attachments. Be creative and loop around the slide from the fort to the sandbox. Or from one side of the yard to the other. Check the stability of the slide often so that all of the parts remain secure. 14 – Pool A pool doesn’t have to be big and expensive for the kids to enjoy. Buy a small plastic or inflatable pool and let them go swimming. Fill it up with water early in the morning so it gets a chance to heat up. Add some toys to squirt each other with and they are good for the afternoon. If you do have a large pool, make up games like shark, Marco Polo and dive contests. Toys to use inside the pool can be noodles, floaties, rafts, pedal boats and dive sticks. Supervise any child at all times near a pool. 15 – Sprinkler On a hot summer’s day, every kid is looking for relief. Bring out the sprinkler! Sprinklers come in a wide assortment nowadays. There are standard ones where the water spits up, fancy ones that twirl the water around or a combination of the two. Slip and slides are also fun and give the kids some exercise too. Hook the hose up and lay it in the sun for an hour or two before use so some of the water is warm. Turn on and let them enjoy. 16 – Flower Garden A flower garden is different from any old garden. It only has the prettiest and brightest flowers in the neighborhood. Have your child pick out their favorite flowers to plant and let them do the planting. If your child is older or really in to gardening, make a design. Have a star filled in with yellow flowers and surrounded by purple flowers. Use red, white and blue flowers to make a flag design. 17 – Butterfly Garden Another summer activity for kids is to plant a butterfly garden. There are certain plants that will attract butterflies as host and nectar plants. Go to the library and see what is best for your climate zone. Head to the garden center and buy seeds or plants and the necessary supplies for planting. Plant your flowers and wait for the butterflies to arrive. Once they do, have your child keep a journal. What butterflies visited on what day, how many and what they liked the best. 18 – Bird feeder A year round activity that kids can enjoy is feeding the birds. Bird feeders come in every shape and size. Bird feeders can be generic and hold a mixture of seeds or they can be specialized for hummingbirds, woodpeckers or bluebirds. Feeding the birds is especially important in the winter, when their natural food sources are gone or buried under snow. Keep the feeders full and write down every type of bird that visits for a few days or weeks each season. Then compare the notes after a year and see the differences. This will also teach your children about migration habits – and they won’t realize it! 19 – Bird bath To keep the birds happy, help the kids maintain a birdbath. The birdbath should be plastic and shallow so the birds don’t drown. Place a large rock in the center so the birds can stand on it to drink. The rock also keeps it from tipping over in a windstorm. Scrub with mild soap and water every few weeks to keep the algae and germs from building up. Have the kids watch and see if anything else visits the birdbath. 20 – Toad house Protect the little animals around your house. Use a clay flowerpot and make a toad house. Toads keep the bad bugs away and you should encourage more to live in your yard. Carve or cut a two-inch hole towards the top. Let the kids paint or decorate it however, they want for their toad friend. Flip it upside down and place near the shrubs or where your toad likes to hide out. Set a rock on top so it isn’t easily tipped over. Eventually, the toad will find his new home and move right in. Have the kids check back often and see how big he grows through the summer.