Thursday, May 31, 2012

11 Neat Ways to Donate, Sell Or Give Away Used Books

Books, like many of our treasured belongings, often simply rot away on our shelves and become clutter because we no longer have a current need for them, but because we loved them, we don't want to just throw them away. But, left unused for long periods of time,the fate of our beloved books is to collect dust, turn yellow, fall apart, and even smell bad. Objects that go unused for years create stagnant or stuck energy in our homes that affect our mood, drain our energy and may even make it harder to function and use your storage shelves easily.

Is this what you intended when you bought the books? I know parting with books is challenging. It helps if you can focus on the benefits and value of passing them on. Like sharing the insights or entertainment you got out of the book with others.

Feng Shui

By donating or giving away books you no longer need, you get to contribute value to others while also making more room in your own home or office to function with ease. Think of how much shelf space you could reclaim.

11 Neat Ways to Donate, Sell Or Give Away Used Books

Plus, if you donate your books (including books on tape or CD) to a charity and itemize deductions, you can deduct the value of the books on your income tax return. Web-based tools like It's Deductible make it easy to figure out what the books are worth.

Where to Give Your Books Away

Your Local Library - Unfortunately, many libraries don't take book donations anymore. But some do, so it is worth finding out if there is a library near you that will take your books, even if your hometown does not. Note: Libraries often take Books on CD and Books on Tape, Videos, DVDs, and Music CDs and Tapes too.
JustGIVE.org - This site provides a list of places to donate just about anything. Whether you want to donate Books, Furniture, Household Good and Clothing, Computers, Cars, Cell Phones, Pet Supplies, Eyeglasses, your Hair, or even your Organs, you can find a resource here.
Friends of Libraries, USA - This group is currently accepting donations to rebuild libraries affected by hurricanes and more. You can ship books to them. Address: 1420 Walnut St, Suite 450 Philadelphia, PA 19102-4017 Call: 215-790-1674 or 1-800-9FOLUSA folusa.org
Vietnam Veteran's Association - Offers both pick up service and drop off service. There is a limit on the number of books you can donate at one time. Not all areas have pick up service, but some offer a monthly pick up.
Freecyle.org - List ads for free and give books or anything else away. Be careful in screening who you allow to come to your home. For safety, arrange a public meeting place to deliver the books.
BookCrossing.com - This website is a really fun way to share books. You register your book, leave it in a public place, someone else picks it up, notes it on the website, then does the same. You get to track your books travels after you give it way.
Housing Works in NYC - 126 Crosby Street, NYC 10012 (212-334-3324) You can drop off or ship books to them. They work to end homelessness and AIDS in NYC.
Craigslist.org - Free ad listing website lets you give books and anything else away. Be careful. Avoid giving your address to strangers. For safety, arrange a public meeting place to deliver the books.
Bridge to Asia's Textbook and Journal Donation Program - Got old textbooks and professional journals? This group wants college, graduate and professional level teaching and research materials. They accept books, journals and other forms of information both used and new. Visit bridge.org
PaperbackSwap.com - Here you can mail your books in (usually costs .59 per book)and get credits. Then you can use your credits to get books you want.
BooksThroughBars.org - What better way to rehabilitate someone than through education and reading? This program provides books to prisoners. Before sending books, make sure you check the rules on what types of reading material each prison allows.

Also consider FIRSTBOOK.org - They don't take books, but you can donate to help kids in need get their "first books."

BONUS Clutter Flow Tip: Set up a donation bin, just as you would a recycle or trash bin. Collect books and other items you no longer need. Once a week, on the same day as trash day, check if the bag or box is full and donate as needed. I keep a donation back on a hook in my closet for clothing I no longer need. Automate the process any way you can and set up a reminder in your calendar or phone. Once you get in the habit it will feel almost effortless.

11 Neat Ways to Donate, Sell Or Give Away Used Books

Tired of the same old advice? Get fresh ideas for simplifying life at http://www.arianebenefit.com Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed. is a Life Design Coach, speaker and author with over 25 years experience working with Fortune 500 businesses, non-profits, purpose-driven self-employed professionals and passionate individuals to uplevel their performance, heal chronic disorganization, clutter and overwhelm, and to design more function, flow and fulfillment into life and work. She has appeared on NPR and been quoted in Psychology Today, the Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, and more.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Water-Related Feng Shui for Dragon and Snake Years 2012-14

Yang Water Dragon Year 2012-13 is followed by Yin Water Snake 2013-14. Thus, this advice, when referring to Water, their Year Element, applies to each of the two years in question. Feng Shui means 'Wind and Water' and the Element has played a vital role in Human existence, evolution and civilisation.

Locations of Key Sectors

Feng Shui

Water is associated with the North and the Northern sectors of rooms and dwellings. This is the key sectors of the Year Element.

Water-Related Feng Shui for Dragon and Snake Years 2012-14

Dragon affinities are with the East and South-East (via Wood Element links). These are the key sectors of the Year Animal (2012-13). The Snake has Earth associations via the North-East and South West of rooms and dwellings. These are the key sectors of the Year animal (2013-14).

Except Earth, Elements have Animal associations from Exterior Feng Shui. Earth in this represents the Centre, the Feng Shui practitioner's vacant living-space and therefore has none. 5 Animals Wuxing, however, links the limbless Snake to Earth, due to their immediate juxtaposition (lacking legs Snakes couldn't get closer to Earth if they tried).

Water Links

Colours: Black (Water at night); Blue (Water in daylight).

Materials: Glass (plain and coloured), mirrors, plastics, natural crystals, silk.

Objects, Images and Motifs: Fish, Taiji Symbols, Snakes, water-features, Aquaria, Dragons (Eastern not Western) Seascapes (especially Water-Colours), Rivers and Lakes, waves and wavy patterns, especially in pastel colours, serpentine, coiling, undulating meandering designs, sea-shells, Willow-pattern and of course the 'Chan Chu' or 3-Legged Toad or Money-Frog, crystal-boats, ships.

Roads and Streets are Water in Feng Shui terms, due to their traffic-flow and use for communication and travel. Statues and representations of the Bodhisattva Kuan Shi Yin, Daoist Immortal and Shaolin Temple Patron Deity, particularly in her Aquarian water-bearing mode might appeal to Martial Artists (in particular) and others at this time.

Remember, a picture, drawing, photo or replica can be as useful as an original for Feng Shui purposes.

Water Associations

Water has strong Wealth connexions (e.g. current accounts, currency, flotations, cash-flow and income-streams). Communications (see above) both physical and verbal are linked similarly (e.g. word-flow, gushing compliments, stream-of-consciousness accounts)

Crystals and Minerals:

Gem and Crystal Feng Shui has growing popularity. Care is needed to determine the Element these represent, to ensure effective placement. In Feng Shui, Black and 'Snowflake' Obsidian (water-cooled fragments of volcanic lava outflows) correspond to Water (even having the appropriate Elemental colour-black) not Fire or Earth as you might suppose. Displays off-set with Quartz (which intensifies the influence of minerals/crystals displayed alongside it) and reflected by Mirrors, both Yin Metal for Feng Shui purposes, may be particularly effective during the period.

Objects with water associations like crystal/mineral boats, fish, bowls and crystal water-features are also appropriate. Beach-stones and pebbles from the river bed can also be used for this purpose.

Backgrounds:

Metal supports/produces/encourages Water in Feng Shui (tanks, taps, pipes and pans confirm this, it even melts and flows when heated). Backgrounds utilising this Element's features (colours, materials etc) can encourage healthy Qi-flows within dwellings during this period.

Overall

This information may help you to prepare for, participate in and enjoy Chinese New Year Celebrations of Dragon Year 2012-13 in your area--23rd January 2012 is New Years Day. Hopefully, it will also help you 'harmonise' with Dragon Year Energies, in advance, and improve your health, fortune and prosperity throughout the Year. It may also sensitize you to the similarly watery nature of following Snake Year 2013-14 (4) and facilitate your longer-term Feng Shui planning thereby.

Notes

(1) 'Daoist Immortal and Buddhist Bodhisattva - Kuan Yin!', at Ezine Articles, by the same Author, has more about this remarkable female figure.

Water-Related Feng Shui for Dragon and Snake Years 2012-14

Feng Shui Consultant Peter Allsop M.Ed. also publishes 'Red Dragon Martial Arts Ezine'. Longevity Training, Iron Shirt, 5 Elements Qigong, Daoism, Chinese metaphysics and Astrology feature among his interests alongside gem and crystal Feng Shui.
Explore the free resources at http://www.sheffieldkungfu.com

Senior Student of GrandmasterYap Leong, Peter also teaches Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong in Yorkshire and Derbyshire U. K. as Shaolin Fists International Area Instructor for the region.

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

How To Use A Feng Shui Fish Tank

In Asian and Chinese culture, fish play an important role. You have likely seen many works of Asian and Chinese are that portray koi, or goldfish, and there are also many designs for Asian-style water gardens which allow you to incorporate these lovely creatures into your home. When you are using this art and science, you may also want to have a feng shui fish tank at home. Where do you begin, and what is the best location for it in the house? Are there other places within the home where you should not install it?

Tank Need Not Be Large

Feng Shui

Sometimes, people may be under the erroneous impression that when you are considering a fish tank, this means a very large fish tank that will occupy an entire wall in a room, but this is not the case. As with all of the basic principles, simplicity and balanced are very important, so attempting to fit a too-large fish tank somewhere within a smaller home or room will just make the room feel cluttered, definitely against the principles of feng shui.

How To Use A Feng Shui Fish Tank

Using a small aquariums is just as good, particularly is it adds to the balance of the room. And a feng shui fish tank may not be a fish tank at all. Even a simple fishbowl containing one or two goldfish can work just fine, if it is correctly displayed and maintained. If you are on a tight budget for decorating, this is helpful to know, because you do not need to spend a lot of cash in order to buy a big aquarium, stock it with fish, and maintain it.

Where to Install

Feng shui incorporates natural elements, identifying five elements- water, wood, fire, metal and earth. The five elements are intended to be complementary to each other, and to be balanced so that none of them overpowers the other in a room or other area. The fish tank you are planning to install will likely be used as a room accent, especially if it is a fishbowl or smaller tank.

In a room which is decorated with colors in earth tones, like a warm tan or brown, a water element is a perfect complement. If the fish are then bright colors, for example orange or yellow, this can contrast with the warm earth tones very nicely.

Be sure that your feng shui fish tank is not clamoring for attention with other elements in your room. By having it where you also have a fireplace, say in a living room, the fish tank may not work. These two strong, large elements may compete for attention, and will not result in harmony. Take time to determine where is best for your fish tank, so that it is complementary to your room and environment, so that you are using your fish tank properly.

How To Use A Feng Shui Fish Tank

Download your copy of Secrets of Feng Shui and discover how decorating and feng shui can help you improve your life. Learn how having a feng shui fish tank can help you increase your wealth dramatically.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Learn to Trade Options and Succeed in Your Investments

Do you dream of experiencing financial freedom and stability in several ways in the future? Do you want to enjoy your life after retirement? Well, if you do, you should begin now and learn to trade options to jumpstart your investment vehicle. By doing this, you may enjoy the freedom of maneuvering your wheels at your own pace and time.
Primarily, to be able to increase the value of your money over time allows you to handle your finances accordingly as you also make it work at its best for yourself, your family and loved ones. When you put your money in various reliable and credible investment schemes instead of having it saved in the banks could give you more chances that make your money work better for you in time. So, read on and see how this post can give you tips and learn to trade options.

Time is a necessity in this game. It is important that you begin investing today as experts advised that the earlier you invest, the better you make it work for you. Indeed, investing stocks and option trading are both beneficial and good choices as they both give you versatility in choosing what would have been the best ventures possible and available for you and your money. Thus, there have been some options trading strategies to help you with your investment ventures and consequently learn more about option trading.

Such may complicated and complex at first, but as time passes by and when you get used to the ways and techniques as to how you could play the game. But one thing is for sure, this will be favorable to your part in the end. And here are some helpful techniques that you may want to know:

For you to be able to succeed and win in this investment activity, you need to acquire such knowledge, skills and experiences. You may get those from getting a professional degree or enrolling to some short courses or programs. But if you don't want to spend much, you could actually maximize your means by getting online and doing some web research. These first-hand sources are able to share insights and experiences on options trading, stocks investments and other investment ventures.

When you get to drive your own investment vehicle at your own risks and conveniences, you also need to equip yourself with the reliable principles and concepts about how to learn options trading effectively and efficiently. More importantly, possessing core values necessary to have wise and profitable decisions and of course, to meet your investment venture objectives must be taken into consideration.

One great advantage is that experienced individuals are able to make the tools available over the web. In a matter of a few clicks, you can make use of some useful and unbiased web resources like this sort without paying much, enjoying your time inside the confines of your home, and spending lots of your quality time.

However, you should remember to check the web page or online forum credibility, validity and veracity. And if the page has good reputation and image, you could consider and assume that you are in good hands.

So, what are you waiting for? Decide right now, learn to trade options, and see how you soar high in your investment ventures. Good luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7018217