There was a time when having bad credit score effectively meant that loans were impossible. However, these days there is always the chance of turning financial strife around, and regaining a good credit rating. It is widely accepted that personal loans help those with bad credit, and provide the stepping stones to a good credit score.

It is never really possible to have guaranteed personal loans with poor credit, but there are some things that can be done to greatly improve the chances of an application being successful. While there is a list of conditions that must be satisfied, the fact is that there are ways around some of the more problematic issues.

The first thing to do is to look at what some of those issues are, and by knowing what to look out for, it is more likely to see personal loans approved, with bad credit no longer the debilitating factor it seemed.

Reasons A Loan is Rejected

There are a few reasons why a loan application might be rejected by a lender. While it is certainly true that a personal loan helps those with poor credit on their way to financial recovery, the application needs to be carefully structured to appeal to the lenders.

Bad credit can put the applicant in a bad light, thereby reducing the chances of a guaranteed personal loan with poor credit. However, low ratings are not always caused by irresponsible money management.

Pointing out that circumstance was the cause of falling scores, such as a reduction in income, a job loss or even an unexpected financial emergency, can put the score in context for the lender. It is not unusual to see personal loans approved with bad credit as a result.

By stating the purpose of the loan, lenders are assured that the money is not to be wasted on unnecessary things. After all, personal loans help those with poor credit, by clearing credit card debt, or paying for sudden medical bills, but to finance a vacation in Las Vegas is irresponsible.

Finally, the size of the loan being applied for is telling, with lenders understanding that the applicant is beginning a structured approach to dealing with their poor credit.

Why Small Loans Work

The fact is that the closest thing to a guaranteed personal loan with bad credit is a small loan. The lender sees that the applicant has avoided the temptation to seek a big sum, and instead chosen a loan that is easily repaid. For example, a $2,000 loan can be repaid within a year at perhaps just $200 repayment per month. This is affordable and can be quickly repaid in full.

While $2,000 might not repay all of the existing debts, the chief benefit is that it allows a simple way to improve the credit rating. In this way, these small personal loans help those with poor credit, seeing them edge up the rating table.

Type of Short-Term Loans

There is a range of short-term and small personal loans to choose from. Collateral goes some way to creating a guaranteed personal loan with bad credit, since it provides security for the lender. But an unsecured loan, without collateral is more likely.

Other short-term loans approved with bad credit may be only a year or less, but a cash advance or pay day loan can be just a few weeks in duration. These are issued on the basis of an upcoming pay check, with the loan paid in full once the next one arrives.

Such personal loans help those with poor credit, but the terms and conditions are telling and the right one should be chosen carefully.

Good news! The “first ever comprehensive probe of the fitness and health benefits of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and off-road motorcycle (ORM) recreational riding” proves riding is as good as it feels.

The study

Conducted over several years by the York University Faculty of Health, co-supported by the Government of Nova Scotia and 3 riding associations, the study began with a meticulous countrywide survey to determine the ‘typical’ rider.

That was the entire first phase of this huge experiment.

Then researchers observed 128 riders, divided into 6 groups: 3 age classifications, male and female. After modifying these riders’ equipment, they could measure physical effects: heart rate; oxygen consumption; muscle fatigue and exertion, etc.

The findings

Riding an off-road vehicle requires genuine and serious physical effort. According to Canadian government fitness standards, it should positively affect your health.

While riding, riders’ use of oxygen increased by 3.5 to 6 times their level at rest. That’s 600% more! And according to standards set by the American College of Sports Medicine, that constitutes moderately intense physical activity.

That same moderate intensity taxes the heart and fatigues the muscles. How much? About the same amount as those other individual sports you take at your own pace, like skiing, golf or climbing.

A typical ATV ride was 2-3 hours; ORM was 1-2 hours. The amount of work required in the upper body and arms, if practiced regularly, was enough to increase muscle and skeletal fitness. And how regularly did they need to ride to begin realizing that increase? Just once or twice a week!

The biggie

Researchers also noticed the emotional high that fit people always talk about: “enhanced quality of life and stress reduction”. This surprised no riders.

The road from your wedding dream to your dream wedding is often paved with uncertainty and lots of apprehension, anxiety and stress. As newly engaged bride and groom, you are suddenly faced with having to make many decisions and probably, don’t know where to start and what to do. So, what should be your most exciting and fun time, could become a burden.

In previous generations, wedding planning was left for the bride with or without her parents. In fact it was customary that the bride’s parents would plan and pay for the wedding

Today, most engaged couples prefer to plan their wedding and pay for it too. That is, today’s grooms do not like the idea of being a guest at their own wedding. Rather, they want to be actively involved in all aspects of the wedding planning and preparation with the obvious exception of the bridal gown and bridesmaids dresses. Therefore, brides and grooms discuss, share opinions, check their budget and decide what they expect their wedding dream to be like.

I wish you a fun, stress free and memory building engagement. Hopefully, this article, tips and suggestions, will provide you with a road map so you will not get lost.

Suggested Wedding Planning Steps to Consider Starting with Your Engagement Decisions:

The Appropriate Order for Announcing The Engagement. In other words who to tell first, second etc…

How to announce the engagement to everyone else.

Pre-Wedding Parties Organizing Tips.

Whoever plans your engagement party should do the inviting.

If you have chosen your wedding date send out save the date announcements.

Before your wedding you will probably have a shower in your honor. Usually the shower is not a surprise party. You need to decide whether it should be a Bridal Shower, a Groom Shower, or a Wedding Shower. That is a wedding shower for both bride and groom.

Setting Your Wedding Budget, Tips and Ideas

This could be the most stressing part of your wedding planning. You need to set up a wedding account and get a “wedding” credit card. Having both, you need to figure out:

Who pays for what? Remember to include any family participation.

Do you want a local wedding or a destination wedding followed by a honeymoon?

Prepare a wedding budget by category after you finish reading this article.

Traditional Roles And Wedding Responsibilities

You must consider who to appoint for various tasks. Before you do so, you must define the Duties of the:

Bride And Groom,

Bride,

Groom,

Maid Or Matron Of Honor,

Best Man,

Bridesmaids,

Groomsmen,

Ushers,

Flower Girl or Boy and their parents,

Ring Bearer and his or her parents,

Guest Book Table Attendant,

Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom or both,

Father of the Bride, Father of the Groom Or Both.

Have you considered having a theme wedding?

Having a theme wedding and choosing wedding colors are very popular. A well thought of wedding theme can save you money.

You need information about:

the 13 Phases of Wedding Planning – Timeline Schedule, Wedding Planning, To-Do And Checklists. Also, you must have a wedding planning – appointment and events calendars, and if possible, you should attend bridal shows.

Wedding Guests -Tips And Ideas

If you do not have the appropriate guest wotksheets and checklists, compile the information you need for the following items you may be lost without it..

About out of town guests – who, how many, preferences, arrival date, accommodations, transportation etc.

Notes and etiquette for guests such as proper attire – black tie formal, garden reception semi casual, barbque casual etc.

Guest Lists – You may need to trim the number of guests to fit your budget.

Invitations sent and replies received. You will need this information for set-up, for catering and for cake serving.

Guest accommodations and transportation – hosted by friends and family, staying at a hotel, transportation from the airport to their lodging destination, transportation to and from your wedding events etc.

Guest table decorations, favors and seating assignments. I personally like guests to sit where they want. Less possible conflicts and no seating cards needed. But this is my preference.

Individual guest cards are needed only if you have assigned seating.

Reception seating arrangements and seating chart – Basically how many guest tables do you need and where and how to place them.

Invitations And Wedding Stationery

To save money, word and print your own wedding invitaions and stationery.

Bridal Gown And Wedding Attire

Before you look for it, you need to decide about the formality of the wedding attire for your attendants and who should pay for it. It is quite common today for the attendants to pay for their own attire. But, be sensitive to an attendant who cannot afford the expense.

Do research to find the perfect gown for the bride and dresses for the ladies – before you purchase or rent. You also need to decide whether you or your ladies should pay for their dresses.

You may consider to gift your ladies with jewelry to complement their outfits.

Things to take into concideration before you chose your wedding gown or dress

• Your bridal attire budget – wedding gowns are priced from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred dollars or possibly less.
• Will you get your attire in a brick and mortar dress shop, a salon, a dressmaker, on the Internet, look for private sellers?
• Shopping on the Internet will save you a lot of money because the sellers do not have the operating expenses stores have. So they pass the savings on to you. However, to purchase on line you need to provide the seller with accurate measurements or dress size.

For the men: You need to decide if they should wear their own suites and button down shirts or tuxedos. When it comes to tuxedos, they are usually rented. Here too the question is: “who should pay the rental fees.”

Like the ladies, the men wear jewelry such as cufflings and tie clips. Since you probably intend to gift your attendeds, gifting them with jewelry is very appropriate.

Destination Wedding and Honeymoon

Destination Weddings are very popular. The main reason is that they leave the attendees with a lifetime of memories.

With the escelating costs of tradional weddings, many brides and grooms choose to combine their wedding and honymoon. Basically they invite only their families and very close friends. So, instead of feeding many peple, some of whom, such as coworkers of their parents, the bride and groom are not even familiar with, they prefer to provide their loved ones with a memorable exprience.

Planning a Destination Wedding is very different from planning a traditional wedding. Once you decide on the location, you may need to hire a wedding planner who knows what is available in their area. However, if you have friends or family in that vicinity, they may be able to coordnate your wedding to your specificatons.

Case in point; My granddaughter who lives in Texas, is planning to get married near Rochester, NY in July. Her future in-laws live there. So, she and her groom provided his parents with instructons, and trust them to plan and execute the wedding. I can’t wait to fly to NY for the wedding.

If you plan a Destination Wedding – Honeymoon, be sure to draw yourselves one packing list for the bride and her needs and one for the room and his needs. Make sure to include your driver’s and marriage licenses, cash and credit cards.

You have to prepare to work with Wedding Vendors, Professionals And Service Providers

To choose the wedding vendors, professionals and service providers who are right for you, you will need to interview them. Don’t be shy! Negitiate with them. They want your business. Before you choose, be sure to interview at least 3. For example: Interview at lease 3 florists. Ask to see samples of their wedding arranements and choose the one that impressed you most with both their work and the price that is most compatible with your budget. When you interview bakers, make sure to not only see samples of their wedding creations but taste a few of their goodies. When it comes to photographers, depend on their work. Photographers are not vendors to save money on. You want the very best! this is the only vendor that will create your wedding memories, to enjoy and pass on to your children and theirs. Be very choosy!

Create Your Wedding Day Schedule!

By the clock. Hour by hour.

By activities both at the ceremony and at the reception.

Ceremony

as a ceremony site you may choose either your place of worship or the location where your reception will be held.

Choose and appoint your officiant to preside over your marriage ceremony. Some officiants may quote you a fee for their service. Others especially within your place of worship require no fee, but expect an honorarium.

You may want to personalize your wedding ceremony with flower arrangements, and family traditions. Add your own touch such as tying a knot, lighting a unity candle, the wine ceremony where white wine and red wine are combined, representing the souls of the bride and groom uniting as they have become soul mates. How about inviting the mothers and giving each a rose?

The order of a Christian ceremony processions is different than a Jewish one. Both are different than a Moslem one. Indian and Oriental are still different. And so on.

You also need to:

• Pick and choose the music you want for the ceremony,
• Readings you want recited,
• Pew seating arrangements for the family. Usually the front row of the sanctuary.

Reception Venue

Your wedding reception does not have to take place in a wedding hall or hotel ballroom that are very expensive. Instead, you can get creative have fun and save a lot of money.

You may choose to have a beach wedding, a garden wedding, a wedding at a historical site, an apartment complex club house etc.

Once you secure the wedding reception location, it is time to plan the reception and figure out your costs. Note: The recepion is the most expensive part of the wedding but, you can control the costs.

Your saving depend on the location and the vendors, professionals and service providers. Keep reading and you may get some option ideas.

Reception Rentals

Most wedding halls provide you with all your reception needs. However, if you choose an alternative wedding reception site you may need to rent chairs, tables, and unless you provide them, table cloths, napkins, dishes, cups, flatware etc. you’ll need to rent them too. If you hold your reception in a garden, on the beach, have a barbeque reception etc. using paper products is acceptable. In fact it makes clean-up easy. But, you may still need to rent furniture. Finding the right rental company depends on their price and whether they deliver, set-up and pick-up.

Bakery

Every wedding must have baked goods, the most important of course is the wedding cake. Yet there is a way for you to save money.

Don’t be shy! Ask wedding invitees to help and participate in your wedding. Find out if there are any bakers and ask them to bake goodies for your wedding. You may even find bakers who will be able to create your wedding cake. Most will feel honored to be asked and you will save money.

Finding the right bakery is quite easy especially if you have been to a wedding recently. Ask for word of mouth recommendations. visit and interview at least 3 bakeries.

• See their work,
• taste their baked goods,
• find out if they charge for cutting and serving cake to your guests,
• negotiate the prices,
• calculate additional costs,
• select the bakery you want to hire for your wedding.

Once hired, you will need to provide the bakery with the approximate number of servings.

Catering

When it comes to catering, you have lots of options. Some depends on your wedding style, the number of guests, and the time of day your wedding takes place. morning or early afternoon wedding – (lunch can be a catered sit down, light buffet, salads and cold cut sandwiches, finger foods ), afternoon wedding – (light buffet, salads and cold cut sandwiches, barbeque, finger foods or tea time and deserts) evening wedding can be casual (serving a buffet) or formal (serving a catered sit down dinner with a few courses).

If you plan on a catered meal, whether a sit down or a buffet, choose the caterers carefully.

• Make sure that they have a license and are top graded.
• Ask to see their food presentation. You must be impressed to impress your guests.
• Request a menu that you can select from.
• Taste, taste and taste some more.
• Be sure that the food meets youe expectations.
• Compare the presentarion, the food choices and the pricing of at least 3 caterers before you hire.

Your reception food setting

You can:

• Have a catered and served sit down lunch or dinner,
• Provide your guests with a catered self serve buffet,
• Serve a buffet with food items you or your family and friends provide. Here you can be creative.
• treat your guests to a tea-time and desert party reception, a barbeque or even a picnic, etc.

The FREE, personalized and printable wedding planning guide you should download from our magazine, offers you ideas for Self Catered Buffet. It includes items and quantities needed for 50 or 100 guests.

You must also decide if you will serve alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic drinks. If you plan to serve alcoholic drinks other than the toasting champagne:

• Will you place a bottle of wine on each table?
• Will you hire bar tenders to serve your guests?
• Will it be an open bar where guests pay for their own drinks? (This is quite common.)
• Will the bar tenders charge you a ‘corking fee’?

Florist

Flower selections offer you many options.

You can choose:

• fresh flowers,
• silk flower,
• seasonal flowers,
• flowers to match your wedding colors,
• locally grown flowers,
• imported flowers,
• to have flowers purchased in a store,
• to order fresh flower arrangements from stores like Costco or Sam’s Club
• to have stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby create your arrangements from silk flowers
• Order your flower arrangements from a wedding florist.

Note:

A wedding florist will set-up your flower arrangements in your ceremony site and at your reception.

Stores will not. When you order flower arrangements at a store they will have the flowers avaiable for pick-up. You or someone you designate will have to pick the flowers up, deliver them and set them up at both the ceremony and the reception sites.

Yoy will need to provide the florist or your designee with information about delivery and set-up at the ceremony and reception Locations.

Music And Entertainment

Music and entertainment are the soul of a wedding celebration. However you have options.

You can choose:

• live performance, (live band, live singers, live entertaunment) etc.
• a DJ – Master of Ceremonies,
• pre-recorded music, or music right out of your computer. – You will need to set up good speakers.)
• classical selections,
• dance music
• Songs of specific era ( the 20s, the50s, the 60s etc.)

Photographer

When it comes to a photographer, choose the very best! Do not hire a photographer based on price! Hire the photographer whose work quality is more than superb. The same goes for the videographer. Your wedding pictures will become a family heirloom. They will be handed down to your children and theirs and will tell the history of your family to up-coming generations.

Transportation

It is most important that you arrange for transportation. The transportation company must be super reliable!!! You don’t want anyone stranded!

You need them to:

• transport out of town guests from the air port to their hotel or other lodging facility.
• you will have to arrange guests’ transportation from the hotel to the ceremony and to the reception and back to their hotel or other lodging facility.
• You will need special transportation for the bride and groom too.

You will need to provid a transportation providers with all the details: Service date(s) event(s) number of guests, pick-up locations, times, etc.

Our Wedding Rings

Budget for your wedding rings and selct them accordingly.wll they be gold, platinum, another metal, with or without diamonds, what shape diamonds?

Don’t forget to budget for:

• Wedding Favors for your tables
• Gifts for your family members and wedding party.
• Tips for your vendors
• Taxes if applicable

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Time has been making carbon fiber bicycles for a long time. In that time they have gotten really good. Known for their pro bikes that have seen so much success in the Classics, the Edge Racer is the result of trickle down technology. Many of the same features of the top end bikes such as the carbon molding, the self locking headset system and re-enforced fork were all first on the top models. The Edge Racer is second from the bottom of there line, but at $3000 for the frame and fork, it isn’t an entry level bike by any means.

Unlike most companies that use pre-made carbon fabric, Time weaves carbon thread into seamless tubes for optimal strength and weight. This process necessitates lugged construction which give the bike the feel of an classic steel road bike. Unlike a steel bike, the Edge Racer is stiff at the bottom bracket and very light. Because the tubing diameter is smaller than a lot of bikes of the same weight, the tubes are thicker and therefore more resistant to impacts such as stone chips and

I’ve been riding the Edge Racer for about 8 months now. I have it built up with SRAM Rival components, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, FSA Kforce seatpost and Selle Italia SLR XC saddle. Built up this way it is 17.54 lbs with pedals. With carbon wheels and an upgrades to bars, cranks and stem, it would be under 16 pounds.

The Time Edge Racer is an all round road race bike that is at home in both crits and longer road races. The Edge Racer isn’t as stiff as some over sized carbon frames but it’s stiff enough that I don’t notice any flex during sprints and hill climbs. What I do notice is how smooth the ride is while not limiting speed. The handling is fast without getting twitchy at speed. I’ve taken down hill corners at over 70 kph, and felt rock solid. This bike has taken dirt roads and rail trails, which are conditions most people would subject a bike like to, without an issue.

I’ve owned a number of road bikes over the years and find the Time Edge Racer to be among the best balanced. My riding can be a fast group ride on Wednesday and then a century on the weekend so I need a machine that can handle different demands well. If I was only racing, I would look for a more aerodynamic frame but for all round use the Time Edge Racer is hard to beat.

When I meet older people in the small towns and the country near our central Texas ranch 40 miles south of “The Cowboy Capital of the World”, Stephenville, Texas, I find that more often than not, most of these people were either born, raised or visited relatives or friends in this part of Texas when they were children. The memories that were created during that impressionable time in their lives stayed with them. Many of the young people who lived here moved to the cities to attend college, work and eventually marry and raise a family. Some of the same people who couldn’t wait to get to the city came to the realization that the country wasn’t such a bad place to be after all and wisely decided to invest in a second home for a weekend getaway, some with hopes of retiring there. In the meantime, their children also reaped the benefits to be derived from spending time in the country. Many of these people stay in these homes long after their children have left home and had children of their own.

My husband and I have lived in the country full-time since 2003. Prior to that we had a 40-acre weekend getaway in Bosque County between Meridian and the little town of Cranfills Gap, a small town rich in Norwegian history. We now have a bigger place near Hamilton, Texas and plan to stay here as long as we can. Since we’ve been here I have seen many of our older neighbors move back to the cities that they left years ago. Many have lived their dream of country living and are ready to move back to the conveniences that city life has to offer. Some leave because they have lost their spouse and don’t want to be alone. Others have health issues and are more comfortable living closer to medical facilities. Many just want to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Many of our neighbors are constantly on the road to attend their grandchildrens’ baseball games, soccer matches, school plays, etc., and eventually choose to live closer to them. We have met a few people who decide to stay in the country after losing a spouse who lead very active lives and have no desire to move. Sometimes their children persuade them to move closer to them so they will be nearby if a problem arises. Then there are the lucky ones who have lived to a ripe old age and are perfectly content to live out their days in the country on their own. A lady who lives not far from us recently died at the age of 103 and was still living in her own home. I was told of another elderly lady who lived here years ago who always answered the door with a gun in her hand covered by a dishtowel in the event of an unwelcome visitor. She chose to stay in the country and apparently was a very resourceful little lady.

Wherever you live, life is as enjoyable as you choose to make it. We all have to choose which forks in the road to take as we approach them. For us, we chose the fork that led to a quieter, simpler life in the country. We know the day might come when we decide to move back to the city. Until that time comes, we choose to enjoy all that the country has to offer: the beautiful skies and sunrises and sunsets, the abundant wildlife we see every day, the wildflowers and spring showers, the silence in the evening interrupted only by the hoot of an owl or the plaintive sound of a coyote howling in the distance and the promise of waking up to another glorious Texas morning. I know the “golden years” are getting closer (although I see nothing “golden” about it), so I intend to store up enough memories to last the rest of my life while I still choose to live in the country. The last ten years of country living and the ones to come are the ones I will consider “golden” and will always be thankful that I was lucky enough to have had that privilege. Sometimes the simple pleasures in life are the best. I am discovering that every day on my very own “little piece of Texas”.

What Is The Beatles Final Album?

The answer is Abbey Road. This issue has been somewhat confused by the fact that Let It Be was actually released after Abbey Road. But that’s only because The Beatles were unhappy with the recordings made for Let It Be (or as it was called at the time, Get Back) and they had them “shelved” until they were dug out and remixed by music producing legend Phil Specter and released after the band had broken up in 1970.

Abbey Road – The Best Final Album Ever?

How often does a band go out on this kind of peak? I can think of a few situations where a band only released a few albums and they “went out” on a high note (I’m thinking of Neutral Milk Hotel, The Olivia Tremor Control, & My Bloody Valentine in particular… although they may all eventually get to releasing another album) but that’s a different situation from a band who released as many albums as The Beatles did.

While Abbey Road is not my favorite Beatles album I think in some ways it is the best. It is the most “modern” sounding album they recorded, that’s probably because it’s the only album they recorded on what was then a state of the art 8 track recording machine (their other albums were recorded on a 4 track machine.) The album, of course, includes the amazing side two “suite” which to me is the highlight of the album. It also features George Harrision in full bloom as a songwriter. While he only contributed two songs “Here Comes The Sun” & “Something” they were both absolute classics.

Abbey Road – A Good Starting Point?

I actually think Abbey Road may be a pretty good starting point for someone new to The Beatles. Like I said, I don’t think it’s their best album. I prefer The White Album, Revolver, & Sgt Pepper – but I do think it may be an easier initial listen than any of those albums. And I personally like the idea of starting off someone with an album rather than a greatest hits collection. Although Past Masters, Volume 2 is another nice choice to get started with. I like that choice because there’s none of the “overlap” that you get with the greatest hits CDs.

I know about that because I actually started off with the “Blue Album” & “Red Album” greatest hits CDs and while they are definitely a good way to get someone hooked on the Beatles as the songs are incredibly good. They also have the effect of somewhat damaging the way the albums sound when you first get them. For example I think there’s 7 songs from Rubber Soul on the Red album, it’s hard to then listen to those songs with “fresh ears” and hear them in context of the album once you’ve already heard them so many times on Rubber Soul.

Anyway, my point is that the Past Masters Vol. 2 doesn’t have any of that overlap, because it only includes singles that were not included on any albums. In fact, because of that, I consider it a must buy for any Beatles fan.

Standout Tracks On Abbey Road?

The easy answer is the whole thing, but then that’d be somewhat of a lie as Octopus’s Garden isn’t a great song (sorry Ringo.) Some standout tracks for me (that you may not have heard before if you’ve only heard their “hits) are “Oh Darling,” “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” & “You Never Give Me Your Money.” And of course the whole “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Polythene Pam,” through “The End” suite. Oh and “Sun King” is awesome. And so is “Her Majesty” even though it’s only 23 seconds long. And “Because” is incredibly beautiful. And of course the more well known (the songs that almost everyone has heard before) songs like “Come Together,” “Something,” & “Here Comes The Sun” are great too.

Thousands of years ago when Feng Shui was first practised, ancient Feng Shui masters looked for flowing water when identifying the optimum place to site a home. Rivers and streams were known as the veins of the earth which carried positive chi. Today in our more urban environments roads and pathways in addition to water are the main carriers of chi and Feng Shui masters now look at the roadways surrounding your home to check that these are beneficial to your home.

As far as roads are concerned the ideal site for a home is one where the road curves around the property, giving the impression of embracing the house. This allows chi to flow naturally and harmoniously around your environment. Roads, being manmade have a tendency to support yang energy and so to support balancing yin energy the road should curve gently towards the house being neither too straight, nor too wide. Unfortunately we have very little control over how our town planners have designed the roads in our locality and so you will be pleased and reassured to know that there are few problems with roads that cannot be overcome simply and quickly. Below I have highlighted the most common problems experienced with roads and share with you some very simple tips to harmonize the energy in your immediate environment if you have roads around your property that are not conducive to positive chi.

Roads that are too straight.

Roads that are too straight cause energy to move too fast and pass by the house completely. If your home is on a very straight road, especially if your home is situated in the middle of a straight stretch of road you will need to slow the energy down to encourage it to flow in to your property. One of the best ways to slow chi down is to grow natural plants at the front of your property. If you have the space for a large garden this can be as simple as ensuring that your garden is filled with large plants, if you do not have the space then hanging baskets or tubs filled with plants can work just as well. As the energy is moving fast in this type of environment you will need to promote a sense of calm, so evergreen plants with pale flowers will work best.

Busy roads

Busy roads are filled with yang energy which can be disruptive to the flow of balanced, positive chi. If your home is sited on a very busy road then you will need to slow the energy down. Again an abundance of evergreen plants, or plants with pale flowers should be planted at the front of your property. If you have no outside space then filling the windows that face the road with plants will work just as well.

A road that bends away from your home

If the road bends away from your home, and especially if it turns sharply then chi can enter your home in sharp uneven bursts. This can lead the occupants to live very disruptive lives often with severe highs and lows. If this is like your home you will need to create a barrier at the point where the road starts to bend away from your property to stop the chi from entering your home too quickly. To encourage harmonious chi to enter you should hang a windchime at the front of your home either by the gate or the door. When hanging a windchime outside the entrance to your home you should take account of the direction your home faces. If it faces east or south then you should hang a windchime made out of wood, for properties that face west or north a metal windchime should be used.

A home facing a T junction

If your home faces a T junction then energy can rush towards your home too fast. This means that if nothing is done to counteract this your home can have too much yang energy causing an imbalance. A home that is filled with too much yang energy can lead to disharmony in the house causing conflict and arguments. To prevent this you need to create some sort of low barrier at the front of your home, a low hedge or fence is best. It is important that the barrier does not stop chi from entering completely so it should either be built no more than shoulder height or have a small gap.

A secondary problem with a house that is facing a T junction is that T junctions can cause poison arrows. Poison arrows are sharp corners that point towards your home and in this case are caused by the street corners. To disguise any poison arrows that are pointing at your home plant a tall tree or bush directly in the sight line of the arrow. If this is not possible then hanging a small mirror on the outside of your home pointing at the corner will have the effect of deflecting any negative chi.

A home at the end of a cul de sac

Chi can collect at the end of a cul de sac causing it to stagnate. A home that is at the end of a cul de sac will often not benefit from positive chi flowing in to the home. If your house is at the end of a cul de sac you need to find a way of keeping the chi moving. The best way of doing this is to add moving objects either to the front of your house or your front garden. Windchimes, whirligigs and flags are all beneficial additions to the front of your home. Alternatively moving water can also be an excellent enhancement so a small water feature at the front of your property will also be very beneficial.

No Road

Some houses, especially rows of terraces or cottages are not built on a road but are built away from the road down a small track or pathway. If this is the case then it is very important that you stimulate chi at the front of your home in order to attract it in to your home. This can be done by adding brightly coloured plants and flowers to the entranceway and by adding moving objects such as windchimes and whirligigs.

In all cases to promote positive chi to flow from the road in to your home you should have a path leading to your entrance door that curves gently, your entrance should be smart and in good repair and kept clear of clutter to give a welcoming view of your home.

Believe me, I’ve made some bad choices in my life. But I believe with all my heart that mistakes can be fixed, wrongs can be righted, and life is what you make it. Whether you jumped into something without fully thinking it through, or you waited too long to change something that you knew deep down wasn’t right. Life has a way of throwing curve balls and its important to know when to swing and when to stay put.

But how do you distinguish between opportunities that are worth pursuing and others that are worth passing on? I think deep down we all know what we want out of life. Is any amount of money worth being miserable over? Should any relationship equate to a life of compromise and mediocraty? Internally, we all know whats right and whats wrong for each of us and no one should have to compromise for others to be get what they want.

Now I understand, there are situations that are tricky to get out of. But I also understand that its normal for people to put you down in order to get what they want out of us.

I’ve heard the scenerio time and time again, acting like we lucky to be where we are. Like theres nothing else out there, and this is it for us. Heres the thing, the reason people make those kind of statement is so that they can keep taking advantage of us. If something doesn’t feel right day after day, its most likely because its not.

People say things to themselves to push them through day in, day out. This “put in your dues” attitude is what these leeches want you to think. Sure, with hard work comes reward but in a lot of circumstances you are just a tool being used. And what happens to used tools? They get replaced.

If something doesn’t feel right, Its because it not. We will all know what is right for us and what is wrong. Embrace change, follow your heart and always move forward. Everyday take steps in the right direction, because the time will never be perfect. You will always make excuses with yourself. Take the plunge towards your goals. Because at the end of it all, wouldnt you like to look back on things and be happy. Take a page out of Frank Sinatras song and “Do it yout way” You’ll be happy you did.

Whether you are riding a road bike or a mountain bike, you certainly need to wear a helmet for safety purposes. A good helmet can protect your head from the sun and from any accidents.

It used to be the case that for some road races that finish up in a mountain, racers can ride without having to wear helmets. But even that rule has been scraped now. For safety purposes, all racing events (road and mountain bikes alike) must take place with helmets on – no exceptions. If a rider is found without a helmet, he or she will be disqualified.

But what about if you are not riding in race? Do you still need to wear a helmet? Common sense tells us that the helmet can help protect our head in the event of an accident. Still, many riders take this issue lightly and fail to put on helmets while riding.

On a road bike, the bicycle is traveling at a higher speed. During downhill descents, speed reach up to 100 kph. That’s as fast as a motor vehicle! A crash can cause serious injuries or in the worst case scenario, may even be fatal. There are so many riders blogging about their crashes, and many were just glad that they had their helmets on when they crashed. They kept their broken helmets as souvenirs. Now they can show off their “scars” to their friends.

You may shocked when you see those pictures of the helmets because in most cases, the back of the helmet cracked. That means if you are not wearing a helmet, your head is going to absorb the full force of the impact. And any strong impact to the back of the head can only spell disaster. So don’t take this lightly, wear your helmet when you ride.

If you don’t have one, how do you choose a good helmet? Most helmets have been tested in labs to be able to cushion a strong impact during an accident. However, better quality helmets offer more comfort and reduce drag.

If you ride a road bike, stick to a road bike helmet. Road helmets are built more aerodynamically to reduce wind resistance. The frontal area of the helmet is more pointed so that wind travels smoothly to the back of the head. Besides, you will look better in a road helmet.

But if you already own a mountain bike helmet, you may just want to use the same helmet, especially if you are into leisure riding. Unless, of course, your mountain bike helmet is a full face helmet. Then you need to get something else. You certainly don’t want to wear a full face helmet while riding a road bike. A full face helmet can prevent injuries to the face when you are riding in rough terrain on a mountain bike.

A vast, scenic landscape provides the timeless backdrop for the western United States. Mountains rise against big blue skies, geysers and hot springs bubble up from the earth, and wildlife abounds. Appreciative residents live among it all in manageable yet exciting cities and towns. Near the middle of the West region you’ll find Yellowstone National Park, one of the highlights of the U.S. National Park system. An ideal way to experience everything the region has to offer is to take a road trip through the states of Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho that showcases Yellowstone and offers a chance to explore so much more of what the West has to offer. The gateway for your journey: the easily accessible capital of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Stop One: Salt Lake City, Utah

Take note of two things when you arrive in Salt Lake City: First, it’s a big, busy city of almost 200,000 residents, but it’s set beside the stunning landscape of the Wasatch Mountains and their world-class ski and snowboard resorts; second, Salt Lake City International Airport sits only 12 kilometers from the center of the city. Start your journey in the historic and spiritual heart of Salt Lake City, Temple Square. It’s the spot where the city was founded in 1847. Nearby you’ll find a variety of eateries and bars, and you can shop at City Creek Center, which boasts more than 100 stores and restaurants.

Spend a few days exploring the city, or start your journey to Yellowstone sooner. To do so, head north on Interstate Highway 15 toward your next stop.

Two: Ogden, Utah

In 1869, workers completed the transcontinental railroad, making Ogden a transportation hub. To get a sense of the importance of Ogden during that time, make 25th Street your first stop. The historic area features shops, galleries, locally owned restaurants and Union Station, site of the Utah State Railroad Museum.

Other attractions in and around the city cater to adventurers. Take a scenic drive up into the Upper Ogden Valley for a hike, or go to the Salomon Center, where you can skydive, rock climb and even surf – all indoors.

When you’re finished exploring Ogden, get back on Interstate 15 and drive farther north.

Stop Three: Brigham City, Utah

Where the Bear River flows into the Great Salt Lake resides the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a 32,000-plus-hectare swath of marsh, open water, uplands and alkali mudflats just 27 kilometers from the travelled of Brigham City. The refuge is home to the largest colony of White-faced ibis in North America and plenty of other birds that migrate along the Pacific and Central flyways of the continent. For a comfortable view of the wildlife, take the kilometres self-guided auto tour.

On your way back to Brigham City, visit the Golden Spike National Historic Site, where the transcontinental railroad was completed, before continuing northeast around Box Elder Peak along U.S. Highway 89/91.

Stop Four: Logan, Utah

If you’re a 19-kilometre, make Logan Canyon the focus of your time in Logan. Camp here or just make a day trip to hike, mountain bike or ride a horse. The canyon’s terrain is varied, so beginners and experts alike can find challenges to match their skill levels. Or try your hand at fly fishing on the Logan River. During the winter months, ski the 335 hectares at Beaver Mountain Ski Resort or ride snowmobiles on nearby trails.

If you’re not an outdoors person, visit during July or August to take in the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre’s season. When you’ve experienced all you can of Logan, continue north on Highway 89.

Stop Five: Bear Lake, Utah

Bear Lake stretches across the Utah border and into southern Idaho, offering plenty of opportunities to explore and play on its majestic blue waters. Stand-up paddle boarding and Jet Ski riding are popular pastimes here, as is fishing. The lake is renown for having four species of fish – Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish, Bear Lake whitefish and the Bear Lake sculpin – found nowhere else in the world. If you’re not looking to catch trophy fish here, walk the trails in the local mountains. From the top, you’ll find spectacular views of the lake.

To get a better sense of how pioneers in the West and Pacific regions of the United States paddleboarding along trails through the area, visit the National Oregon/California Trail Center in nearby Montpelier, Idaho. Take a simulated wagon ride, then thank modern technology for your car as you continue driving north on Highway 89.