With the rise in popularity and access to the internet, all the people are looking for different ways through which they can earn money over the internet and make a career out of it. Moreover, you can generate a decent revenue of these easy ways that are mentioned in this article. 

1. PTC websites
   PTC is a form of online business in which you draw online traffic and earn money from that. These websites act in such a way that they connect advertisers with their potential consumers. The advertiser pays the website a certain amount and the viewer who watches the advertisement also get a certain amount, this is how [google_bot_show][/google_bot_show]ptc works. 
2. Freelancing
   This is a really popular way of earning money these days. As you get a plethora of options when it comes to freelancing. You can start working as a freelancer depending on your skills. As there are tons of companies are looking for various talented people.
   All you need to do is create your online account on job search engines and browse through the listings that are mentioned there. Or interested companies will contact you on their own.
   The thing that you need to keep in mind is the fact that you will only get paid once you finish the task that is given to you. Moreover, you may have to redo your task again and again before you get paid for your work.
   
   
3. Starting Your own website
   You have vast resources when it comes to creating your own website. You can start with choosing the domain, designing your website, create templates and once you are ready with your website you can sign up with Google Ad-sense and start earning money from that. This way you can earn more money depending upon the number of visitors that you have on your website. 
4. Affiliate marketing
   Once you are ready with your website you also get in touch with different companies and start with affiliate marketing on your website. In this process, you can add web links of different products on your website and get paid as any of your visitors uses the link that was there on your website. 
5. Survey and research reviews
   There are tons of websites that are offering you money as you take part in their online surveys and researches. You can carry out online researches and get paid for that as well. Although with these surveys you may have to add your bank details which is why it is really important that you pay attention and avoid websites that are credible. 
6. Translation and interpretation
   If you know any other language you can also provide freelance translation and interpretation services as well. There are tons of websites that offer freelance projects where you can translate documents in the target language. There is a huge demand for translators and interpreters when it comes to Spanish, Arab, German, or any other foreign language to the English language. 
   You can register yourself as a professional translator there and can earn really good money with that. 
7. Online Tutoring
   This is another really good option for people that are interested in earning money online by teaching others. You can sign up with different websites that offer online classes to students all over the world and work there as an online tutor. In order to start your career like this by just filling out the forms and do a teaching demo online that can get you this job. You can get a really good income. 
8. Social Media Affiliate
   With the rise of social media platforms, there are tons of people that started working as social media affiliates with the help of their social media accounts. As a social medial affiliate, you can start earning money by endorsing products on your social media page. All you need to do is promote your page and get a decent amount of followers. 
9. Web Designing
   If you have relevant skills in this category you can start working as a website designer and offer your services to your clients. As there are tons of tech-savvy companies that just started with their businesses and are looking for website designers that can help them in setting up their websites. 

These are the top 9 ways through which you can work online and earn money from that. 

With only a few weeks remaining of the school year, it is time to start looking for that summer job. Some of you may have already discovered that the job market is tighter this year. More adults who have lost their regular jobs are working at fast food places or as checkers in grocery stores so you may have to wait longer than usual to be hired, or take fewer hours than you had planned.

A job that most teens overlook, but one that can pay reasonably well and also be a lot of fun is that of being a mother’s helper.

Before you turn up your nose at the job title, hear me out. A mother’s helper is not a baby-sitter, although the job could involve some baby sitting. Usually, though, a mother’s helper is someone who spends time just helping the mother with whatever needs doing at the moment. It could be cleaning up the breakfast dishes, running an errand to the store, folding clothes, making sandwiches for lunch, sewing buttons on a child’s shirt, washing some windows, and, yes, watching the kids for short periods of time. Occasionally, it might involve something really interesting like taking the kids to see a movie, or play miniature golf.

There are a couple of real advantages to being a mother’s helper rather than a baby sitter.

For one, you don’t have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders.

The mother is there most of the time and you will just be following her directions. If someone falls and gets a skinned knee, Mom will usually take charge of the situation and you won’t have to feel guilty that the child got hurt while you were supposed to be watching him or her.

If you are asked to fix sandwiches or kind of soup the kids hate, Mom is the one who made the decision, not you.

If a neighbor child wants to play in the backyard with the kids where you are working, Mom, not you, makes the decision.

Secondly, you don’t have to learn a bunch of new stuff to be a mother’s helper.

You already know how to fold clothes, pick up toys, clear dishes off the table, make sandwiches, etc. At least I hope you do. If not, maybe you should consider staying at home this summer to fill in the gaps in your training. (Just kidding.)

Finally, your hours will probably be pretty flexible.

Since you aren’t being primarily employed to baby sit, and as long as you don’t abuse the privilege, your employer will probably be willing to work your schedule out so you can participate in special activities with your friends during summer vacation.

If you do decide you’d like to spend some time this summer as a mother’s helper, remember that your pay may not be as high as other jobs but your expenses may also be less.

The chances are that if you become a mother’s helper, it will probably be for someone in your own neighborhood. If this is the case, there should be no cost for transportation to work and probably none for lunch if you eat with the family you work for. I wouldn’t expect more than minimum wage for this type of job unless something out of the ordinary is expected, such as heavy yard work, or carpet cleaning or Airbnb cleaning service chicago, etc. but if you don’t have to pay for transportation or lunches, you can afford to be more flexible about your wages.

Ask your parents to mention that you are looking for this type of work for the summer. If there are families nearby that you like and you think might be interested in your services, stop by and let them know you are available. You might even print up a little resume listing the types of things you could do for them, what hours and days you would be available, and what your hourly fee would be. You might give them a deal if they hired you for a certain number of hours per week, instead of just an occasional hour now and then. (Everybody likes to get a bargain.) If you have a special talent, don’t forget to mention that. Perhaps you know Spanish and could teach their children to speak a few basic things in Spanish, or if you like to sew, you could say that you would be interested in mending items of clothing, or in making drapes, etc.

Good luck with the job hunting. Put your best efforts into whatever job you find to do. Believe me, no work experience in life is ever wasted.

If I were a socialite or a debutante, then it might be frowned upon for me to fall in love with the hired help. But how can you help not falling head over heels with your own tireless and always ready vacuuming slave … er … robot? My obedient little Roomba Vacuuming Robot is a sleek and smart robotic beast. Or shall I say vacuuming monster? With iRobot’s unique AWARE Robot Intelligence Systems, the Roomba keeps my floors spotless, and that’s no easy task in a Northern New Mexico ranch house with kids and dogs who spend most of their time outside with horses. Heck, my Roomba boy can even detect the dirtier areas of my rugs and concentrate on some deep cleaning when needed. He also stays exactly where I tell him.

And he’s so darned cute.

When I first took my new robotic vacuum out of his box, charged up his little Roomba batteries, and pressed the “On” button, Roomba piped up with a four-tone song telling me he was ready to go to work vacuuming my house. I swear I almost cried as that bright eyed and bushy tailed Roomba robot rolled tirelessly across acres of dirty carpet, humming away as he vacuumed, freeing me up to sit on the sofa, drink an iced tea and munch a bon bon or two. My Roomba even has a remote control. And unlike the television remote, this one’s all mine. The Best Car Vacuums in 2020 will include robot for cleaning of the cars. The control of the product will be keep from the remote available with the vacuum cleaners. 

I simply love a guy who cleans. Now, don’t get me wrong. My sexy hunk of a husband was a Navy submariner in his former life, and he likes things spic and span around the house and is very effective at keeping everything shipshape. But not quite as good as my Roomba boy! Let’s just say they each satisfy uh … different … uh … needs.

Have you ever fallen hopelessly in love and had this nagging feeling that it was all simply too good, too fabulous to be true? I felt that way about Roomba initially. Surely keeping my floors clean couldn’t be this easy, I told myself. After all, the robotic Roomba vacuum sits quietly on his charger when he’s not working and returns there afterward, never giving me any lip like that smart alecky and expensive cleaning lady who shall remain unnamed liked to do (along with eating all of the leftover homemade apple pie in my refrigerator).

My Australian Cattle Dogs are shedding this spring, but you’d never know it given the way Roomba boy is keeping my house hair free. Roomba effectively cleans up dust, dander, dog hair and God knows what else is dragged inside the house by my outside loving family who spend the bulk of the daylight hours in the barn. Roomba even cleans right along the walls, in the corners and beneath the furniture and beds.

You might criticize me because my relationship with Roomba appears one-sided. Go ahead, call me selfish. Ask me what I bring to the twosome. I can’t help it if Roomba requires only a simple emptying of his tray and a quick clean of his cute Roomba filter. And I do clean Roomba’s stiff little brush with the special cleaning utensil he came packaged with, but that takes only a few minutes. Say what you will, but it appears that Roomba and I are in this relationship for the long haul. And if you want a Roomba, then you’ll just have to go buy your own, no matter how unappreciated or overworked you might think mine is, because even my husband will tell you that I am the jealous type.

If I were a woman prone to religious zeal or just general fanaticism, I might claim that my iRobot Vacuuming Roomba came straight from The Man Upstairs, but then I might lose my credibility as a product reviewer who’s worth her salt. I might be tempted to tell you that my Roomba even has a name–“The Boy,” which I lovingly call him as I give him a good pat or two on his sleek, flat Roomba head after a job well done. I’d share with you my utter disappointment that I can’t feed my darling little Roomba treats. (You should have seen the look on that clerk’s face over at the PetCo when she advised me they had no Roomba toys either.) I might even clue you into my secret and heretofore unspoken ponderings about how I might even be able to teach my iRobot Roomba to do the dinner dishes because, well, Roomba’s just that smart.

Simple eco-friendly changes to your indoor lighting is one of the easiest ways to lover your energy consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 11% of the average American household’s energy bills go toward lighting. Taking steps to reduce energy consumption for lighting can save your budget while you do your part to save the planet. These energy saving ideas are all simple enough for even the home improvement novice.

Energy Saving Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

The most popular, easiest, and best-known energy saving method for indoor lighting is to replace old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. While these bulbs do cost more, according to the government Energy Star program, they use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Savings on energy costs and new bulbs more than makes up for the increased initial investment cost.

Before buying just any compact fluorescent bulbs, you’ll want to make sure it will work for your needs. Light fixtures that use a dimmer feature, or three-way lights may require special compact fluorescent bulbs, so read the package before buying. Also, compact fluorescent bulbs use a lower wattage, but most packages list the equivalent incandescent wattage so that you can choose the right compact fluorescent for your needs. Energy Star labeled bulbs are your best bet for getting the most energy savings for your indoor lighting.

Eco-Friendly Indoor Dimmer Light Fixtures

Installing a dimmer switch saves lighting energy by allowing you to adjust the brightness of a room as needed. A traditional light always turns on at full brightness (and full energy). In many cases, a lower lighting level is sufficient for our needs. We have a dimmer switch as our main kitchen light, and I rarely need to turn it all the way up. It’s especially nice at nighttime when I don’t really want to turn on a harsh, bright light.

Dimmer switches come in styles that look like a regular light switch, or a dial, or a sliding bar. You’ll be able to find one is a style and color that will complement your interior design plans.

Even if you’ve never done any electrical work, installing a dimmer switch is a simple home improvement project. Most home improvement stores supply a dimmer switch kit that contains all the parts you need as well as detailed instructions. Making the eco-friendly switch from traditional switch to dimmer takes only minutes to do. Always remember, before doing any electrical work, however, to shut off power to the area of your home you’re working on.

Save Energy with Smaller Area Lights

If you have a room that uses several large overhead lights, you can save energy by using smaller area lights instead when possible. A small, low wattage desk lamp, or an under the cabinet kitchen light may be all you need. Installation of these lights is as easy as plugging in a lamp, making it a super simple eco-friendly option. The variety of styles available makes it easy to match your decor as well.

Let the Sun Shine In

If you don’t want to have your windows open for privacy reasons, you can still let in some extra sunlight. Use light colored drapes that allow some light into your home, or use blinds that can be opened partway. Taking advantage of the free energy of the sun is the ultimate eco-friendly indoor lighting technique.

Eco-Friendly Light Timers and Motion Sensors

If you tend to forget to turn off a light when you leave a room, technology is here to save energy for you. There are sensors available that will automatically turn off the lights in a room after a certain amount of time if no movement is detected in that room. There are also timers that will turn off lights after a pre-determined time frame.

This option may not work well in every situation, like if you tend to sit very still while reading for long periods, you wouldn’t want your lights going out on you. But if you often fall asleep with your bedroom lights on, or forgetfully leave the bathroom light on all day, these little gadgets will come in handy.

These energy saving sensors are also easy to install and available at most home improvement stores.

So without wasting time, you should go to the nearest store in your vicinity and get all the essentials for lighting by getting some of the best models available and you can follow this tutorial to play the game on your PC, which is your mind that creates many innovative ideas.

University students fed up with housing costs in East Lansing and other college cities might consider a cheap but unusual alternative: modular homes. Coeds annoyed by the ever-increasing rent in the city’s apartments, may find themselves right at home in a mobile home neighborhood just outside of town. You could be looking for a condo near MRT, which is one of the most promising options for you. 

Sure, we’re all aware of the less-than-spectacular reputation and stereotypes out there for trailer parks, but don’t believe all of the hype. Many, if not most, manufactured housing communities are quiet, modest, clean, and vastly different from the media portrayal seen in the movies and on shows like Cops.

One main difference between renting an apartment and living in a modular home is that the occupants actually own the home, whereas a renter never owns the apartment. While brand new mobile homes sell for upwards of $40,000, older or used mobile homes are often easily purchased for under $10,000. A group of four college students could buy a home for less than $2,500 each and have something tangible to sell off after their college years. Rather than pay $300 (or often, far more) per month to an apartment complex, students could own a home, which in as little as eight months, has paid for itself.

A significant majority of the occupants in modular home neighborhoods, especially in the Lansing-metro area, are seniors. A typical day in one of the parks is filled with the sounds of golf carts whirring to and from the mail boxes, garden shears pruning the hedges, and neighborly conversations in low tones. The stereotypical screen doors slamming, couples arguing, and babies squalling are a far cry from the actual environment.

Not only are the neighbors often quiet in manufactured housing communities but they also interact with one another and connect often at much more time-intensive levels than in a regular neighborhood. For example, in Sycamore Village, a community located in Mason just 11 miles south of Lansing, a resident recently lost her trailer to a fire after lightning struck her electrical box. Several of the neighborhood men spent months helping to repair and restore not only the resident’s home that was in the fire, but also the surrounding trailers that had residual smoke or heat damage. Many times, community members pitch in to help out for much smaller tasks.

While the neighbors are helpful and considerate, for college students it is still nice to come home to a place all their own. Since a modular home is a separate, free-standing structure, there is no one on the other side of the wall to make noise, which is a frequent occurrence in apartments and dorms. Likewise, playing music or staying up late to study, as most university students frequently do, won’t disturb anyone.

One bonus to living in a mobile home rather than an apartment is that the occupants are free to personalize their living space and have pets. Unlike in an apartment, it is perfectly acceptable to paint the walls, hang picture frames, or put up shelving. It can also enhance the living quarters if shared with a loving animal companion, which is always acceptable in a home of your own but often restricted by breed or weight or prohibited entirely in apartments.

For far less than the monthly rent of an apartment, college students can have a spacious place of their own where they are free to live unrestricted while completing their studies. Even a single-wide trailer is larger in square footage and storage space than the average four-bedroom apartment and most have a convenient carport or attached garage. Why pay an additional fee for parking stickers or sheltered parking in an apartment complex?

Utilities make up a good deal of the small text in many apartment contracts. While a monthly rent might look cheap, it can become astronomical when factored in with heat, water, electricity, phone, cable, internet, and other bills each month. Sometimes these fees are even automatic and cannot be controlled by limiting consumption. Yet, in a modular home, residents can not only choose their utility companies and take advantage of sales or bundle service packs, but can also lower their bills when they aren’t required to pay complex fees.

Most mobile home communities do have a nominal lot fee, or land rent, that is paid for the land that the trailer is located on. These fees are typically small and generally much lower than a monthly apartment rent. Also, it is important to remember that the students can always sell the home (often to other students) once they graduate, and can come gain back much of their money in the process. For apartments, there is no such recourse; the money a student pays goes to the complex’s company and stays there.

So, when considering where to live for their university time, students in East Lansing and other college towns should definitely consider the purchase of a modular home. Cost-economical, clean, and convenient, trailers are certainly not the trashy stereotype seen on tv.

We are living in a complex world with complex beings and humans are the most intriguing of all as well as the most dangerous of the lot. At the same time, the modern day common man is quite hard working and struggles to make ends meet in the current times.

Under such circumstances, it is natural for many people to buckle under pressure and fall into depression due to being unable to cope up with the workload that they get from office, where they slog it out from morning till night in order to provide a better lifestyle for their families.

Luckily, there is a silver lining in the offering and that is in the form of Kratom energy, which is also known by its scientific name Mitragyna Speciosa and is one of the most unique things that anyone can or has come across.

Location

We will talk about its benefits and properties in a minute but first let’s get to know where they can be found and that is in the Southeast Asian countries that include Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. to name a few.

The location is important to mention because if you are planning to buy Kratom leaves from the department store near you or want to grow it in your garden, then don’t ever make that mistake as it can prove fatal. Keep this thought in mind when you are confused on where to buy kratom.

For diabetes patients, they have to be injected with insulin on alternate days but they simply cannot pluck it out from their plants in the garden due to their ignorance of which is insulin and which is not.

Also, even if the plant is identified, not all of them have medicinal properties as some can contain poison as well, which is the same case with aloe vera. Therefore, if you want the best results, consume only those that are grown in tropical climates.

Stress Buster

Now we come to the query on whether Kratom provides relief from depression or not and that is a complicate discussion at best. While kratom leaves cannot be classified as opioids, they do have similar effects and can be easily mistaken to be belonging to the same category.

As the scientific name suggests, Kratom has Mitragynine as its main ingredient that bind the opioid receptors to the sensory roots of the brain, which help in relieving the pain to a great measure.

It has been specified by many users that kratom does provide significant relief from tension and depression and is a true stress buster and that is due to the medicinal properties found in the leaves.

However, if people with mood swing issues want to use it as a cure, then let it be known that there are certain researches still being conducted in regards to its effects on the mood.

If a 2007 report is to be believed, then kratom heightens the mood by decreasing anxiety. Other positive effects that it gives is that it relieves pain in the muscles, keeps blood pressure normal and treats fatigue and diarrhea in no time.

For more information, you can log onto https://stonerszone.com/kratom/best-for-energy/ for a detailed analysis of kratom energy.

When you are applying for bankruptcy, inevitably you will come across the term exemptions. When you are filing bankruptcy, the things which you are allowed to keep from the creditors are what is known as exemptions. In terms of bankruptcy exemptions, there are states that have their own set of exemptions to supersede the federal ones. You have a choice of using the federal or the state’s exemptions when you are filing for bankruptcy. You can lawfully claim your assets as exempt, which means that neither the bankruptcy court nor the creditors can take the assets for liquidation.

As if the distinction between federal exemptions and state exemptions is not complex enough, the exemptions also vary from state to state. A car can be exempted differently between the states. While Florida allows you an exemption of $1,000 for the car, you can have $30,000 in exemption for the same car in Texas. As you can form the car exemption example, the exemptions can actually make a huge difference at the end of the bankruptcy process. Besides making a difference to you as the bankruptcy filer, it also matters to the creditors since what they can collect from you depend on the state you are applying bankruptcy with.

Bankruptcy exemptions get even difficult with some states allowing you to have a “wildcard” to be applied to any asset. The easiest way to explain this “wildcard” is to use an example. If the state that you live in allows you to take an exemption for car worth $3,000 but your car is only worth $2,000, there is a difference of $1,000. Some states allow you to apply this $1,000 as a “wildcard” exemption that you can use any other property you want to keep. You can use this $1,000 to keep the lawn tractor you want to keep, or use the $1,000 exemption on your ATV.

To throw in further wrinkles to the bankruptcy exemptions, Congress changed the bankruptcy law in 2005 to discourage people from moving to different state for favorable bankruptcy exemptions. If you have lived in the state for the past 2 years, then you can use the state’s exemption when filing bankruptcy under the new bankruptcy law passed in 2005. If you don’t qualify under the 2 year rule for your state’s exemption, you have to use the state where you have lived for at least 180 days during the past 2 years. If you cannot qualify for any state exemptions, you will be relegated to using the federal exemptions.

Given that the exemptions of the bankruptcy law are quite convoluted, as it varies from state to state, you will be better served to seek the advice of a certified bankruptcy attorney. A certified bankruptcy lawyer can help you keep the assets that you wouldn’t normally know you can. Unless you are in the legal profession, leave the legal affairs to the bankruptcy lawyer. If you want additional information on bankruptcy, please visit our website at ToFileBankruptcyOrNot.com.

Bankruptcy law is quite difficult to understand in one go and due to the fact that each state its own set laws that have to be adhered to accordingly, it takes a lot of time to complete the proceedings related to it, so much so that even the Bankruptcy Lawyer has a tough time in arranging all the documents based on the debtors and their possessions.

At times we need to disconnect ourselves from the hustle and bustle around us. Listening to music, podcasts or anything else is a big-time hobby for most people around the world. That includes truck drivers as well. Constantly driving their trucks through different parts of the country can be really hectic and stressful. That is why truck drivers need a good pair of headphones to relax and also for communication. With so many different products in the market, it becomes confusing to choose the right one. So, today in this blog we will talk about some important things to consider that will help you select the best trucker headset in 2020.

Are they minimizing the use of mobile?

One of the main aims of getting a trucker headset is to minimize the amount of time the drivers spend on their mobile phones. Just as long as the drivers do not have to use their phone to look for anything, the headsets are going to serve well. A good headset must cone with its own set of controls which provides primary features like voice control, music control, pick up calls, etc.

Do they come with noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation is a great feature that helps to eliminate all kinds of noise and the is why the audio is much more clear and prominent. Headsets that come with noise cancellation feature are a must for Truck drivers. But, there must also be an option to toggle the noise cancellation feature off as well. As a truck driver, it is always recommended to be aware of the surroundings and that is why it must be present.

Do they offer the necessary comfort?

Comfort is a vital thing to take into account when purchasing a good pair of headset for truck drivers. The more comfortable the headsets are, the more convenient it will be for them to wear these gadgets for long hours. Uncomfortable headsets can be really irritating and fail to deliver the main purpose it’s supposed to. It is a good idea to get a truck driver headset that is in over-ear pairs and well-cushioned. Also, avoid purchasing a headset that is too tight. Premium and very comfortable headsets are a bit more expensive than others. But they are 100% worth the money because of all their features.

How is the battery life?

You need to double-check the longevity of the battery over the course of the day. Drivers won’t be able to charge their headsets continuously while they are on the road. That is why they must get headsets which have amazing battery life. Long battery life enables the driver to use the gadget continuously for the most part of the day. A headset that delivers at least 10-12 hours of battery life is the best of all the ones available.

How clear is the Audio on both ends?

Checking the audio on both the ends is really important. There must be a good balance in the audio and you should be able to listen to it clearly without any distortion. Check the headset carefully, also at full volume in order to ensure that the sound and bass is delivered perfectly. Due to the use of different drivers in headsets the quality of sound will vary among the gadgets. That is why make sure to check more than one device and decide which one is more suitable.

What kind of additional features does it offer?

Many headsets arrive with extra features for truck drivers which are something more than all the other common features already available. For instance, many headsets offer Bluetooth support for more multiple devices at the same time. This proves to be really helpful to keep track of more than one mobile device at the same time. Water-resistant technology and auto call receiver are some more additional features that are available.

So, these are some really helpful tips that can help you get the best headsets for truck drivers. Make sure to read through the blog carefully and keep in mind all these points while purchasing. We promise that you will get yourself a great headset that delivers the best performance.

Every New Year’s Eve as celebrators sip on bubbly stemmed filled glasses, copious amounts of people continue to resolve to lose those pesky pounds gained throughout the year. Along with the cheer filled pounds gained through the holiday season, this can be quite the daunting task when the house is still decked out with celebratory sweets and high-calorie leftovers. You will find More Like This by clicking here and you can finish your preparations and make your kitchen ready for your diet.

In 2019 my New Year’s Eve Resolution I was very successful at retaining my planned diet/healthy lifestyle goals; it is my plan to continue this successful journey throughout 2019! Similar to running a marathon, it is just as important to prep for ones’ weight loss as it is when training for a race. Here are the tips that I found to be the most helpful in getting my kitchen prepared for the 2009 New Years’ Eve Resolution to start on January 1st. If you apply these tips, it can help you out too in 2010.

Preparing ones’ kitchen is the first step in achieving success in ones’ “weight-loss resolution” plan. Here are the steps that I found helpful last year:

Step #1: Remove the Temptations

Temptations are hard to overcome, especially when the family kitchen is loaded with unhealthy selections. My goal each year is to entirely clean out the bad and replace everything with good selections. Yes, that even means emptying out the chocolate drawer in your office desk, chocolate cabinet, and/or hidden sweets in the back of the freezer. Even if not everyone is on the diet goal plan, it is helpful to get rid of anything that is not healthy. For instance, if you have little children in the family you must ask yourself – “Is this healthy for your little tikes if it is not for your body?” I once read somewhere that the most popular first vegetable most children eats in their lifetime is a French fry from a fast-food restaurant. On the other hand, the same parent will not give the family a beloved dog one since it is not healthy for the furry child. Double standards when the human child gets the shorter end of the stick.

Just a few things that need to be removed that may slip your mind: jam, cereal, high-fat butter, whole milk, frozen television dinners, white flour bread, gravy mixes, drink mixes to just name a few. As you do the next step, you can double-check nutrition facts labels to assure that everything going back into the kitchen is healthy and good for human consumption.

Step #2:Sanitize the Kitchen

Just as a simple quality assurance program, deep clean the cabinets, fridge, floors, and so on. A clean kitchen makes dieting easier for a few reasons that may make sense but are rarely thought about beforehand. One being the no trace left behind the theory, similar to the eight days of Passover during the days of Jesus Christ on Earth. Being an Episcopalian, I never generally had an interest in learning traditional Passover preparations until I read Mary Called Magdalene by Margaret George. The authors’ research suggested that wives holding the ceremonies would take special precautions in stripping the entire household of all unholy foods, either in the kitchen cabinets or lying around the house. This included days of scouring the entire kitchen to free it of even the tiniest breadcrumbs. If you can’t see it, you will not eat it. Secondly, a clean environment is healthier than a dirty one, free of bacteria and other viruses lurking around left behind from all the people traipsing around the kitchen during the holidays. Thirdly, a clean environment means a clean, fresh start which may just be psychological but works nonetheless.

Remember to completely clean out the refrigerator and sanitize the shelves, drawer and all condiment containers that you have chosen to remain in the house. Use rubbing alcohol to clean all dials and small trinkets that will remain in the kitchen, this works wonders on oven handles too!

Step #3:Remove Non-diet Cookbooks

Just looking at those high-calorie, high-fat recipe photographs can turn a successful diet plan into something very sour. Remember that these cookbooks are part of the problem; hence it is important to rid your kitchen of them and place the cookbooks away for a few months. It is important for the first few months to stick to healthy recipes so that you can train your taste buds and learn about healthy eating before you start to transform your old recipes into healthy ones. In addition, if you surround yourself with healthy influences such as photos and recipes, your mind will transform

Step #4:Stock Up

Now that your kitchen is clean and clear of all tempting unhealthy foods and grime, it is time to fill in the empty holes. Do not expect your diet plan to be successful if you do not prepare for its startup. For your first week simply go crazy at the grocery store and purchase all sorts of colorful vegetables. Purchase a few different vegetables that you have not eaten before so that you can have a little fun while getting to know your vegetables. In my household, we try to take all of our vegetables out of the clear plastic bags from the store. Showcase all the vegetables in your refrigerator so that when you open the fridge door the cheerful colors will brighten your mood and remind you of your lifestyle change.

This showcase of color is also important for the fruit in your kitchen. Place a large basket or bowl on your dining room table and in a clear vision on the countertops. Fill these containers with lovely, bright fruits for nibbling. Try to purchase all shapes and sizes of fruit so that there are many options and colors sitting around the kitchen.

Step #5:Fill Up On Substitutions

Part of a healthy diet, lifestyle change is all about making healthy choices. It is important to get rid of everything that is not good for the body and your new lifestyle. Temptations will arise so you might as well be prepared for it ahead of time and have healthy substitutes on hand. Here are my healthy substitutes:

*Agave nectar and honey instead of white sugar

*Soy flour or whole wheat flour instead of white flour

*Traditional Instant Oatmeal and/or Irish Oatmeal instead of individual instant hot cereal packets with tons of sugar

*Soy/Rice Milk instead of Whole Milk

*Whole, raw nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, and et cetera instead of candy

*Sugar-free, all organic jam instead of sugary, processed brands

*Natural peanut butter instead of sugary brands

*Herbal teas instead of instant sugar drinks

*Whole wheat bread instead of processed white bread

Step #6:Clean Up the Water

Scientists and dieticians highly suggest drinking at least eight glasses of water a day for a healthy lifestyle. Not only will eight glasses a day help with losing weight but studies have also found that a persons’ complexion clears with a day’s full dosage of liquidation. Studies have also found that even though the local governments have taken a stab at cleaning up the water system, it is not enough to be clean enough to drink in large quantities. For instance, many cities have found that the instant solution to cleaning water is chlorine. Unfortunately, a large quantity of chlorine is unhealthy for the body and must be removed before drinking water. Home water filtration systems are now very inexpensive and come in all sizes. In our house, we purchased and installed a full home filtration system that was connected to our full water supply. For our townhouse, we have a smaller system that attaches to our kitchen faucet. We fill up 5-gallon water bottles to place on top of a water dispenser in our dining room. It may take a little longer than grabbing a pre-packed bottle of water but at least it is helping to reduce unnecessary waste in the landfill systems while we drink to a healthy lifestyle.

This article, the third in the series, will cover the passive solar hot water heating system. One of the simplest systems of heating your hot water using nothing but the energy from the sun, it is also one of the least expensive to build.

Just as the name suggest, passive means there are no moving parts in its system it relies on gravity and thermal dynamics to heat the water in your storage tank. I will explain this as we get further into this article. For our purposes we will cover the most common and the oldest type of solar hot water heater known, the “Batch” type. Surprisingly enough the remains of a rudimentary batch type system consisting of a large can painted black were found at the “Robber’s Roost”, the hideout of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in Utah.

Basically what you have is tank that is located on the roof of your home in a position to harness as much of the sun’s energy as possible. This tank is usually coated with a heat transferring coating, such as flat black paint, so as to absorb as much heat as possible and transfer it to the water inside. Attached to the house water supply, cold water follows in under normal household pressure to replace the hot water as it is used. In most applications the solar tank is used in conjunction with your original hot water heater to provide for back up heating during the night or during colder weather.

You can further reduce the use of back up heat by placing the tank inside the roof instead of on top of it and providing for access to the sun through a glazed opening. This also negates the need to remove the tank when you have to replace the roof. Another option for keeping the water in your tank as hot as possible during the night is to install an insulated lid that can be lowered over the glazed part of the tank at night. There are several automated lowering devices available that are commonly used in the greenhouse world.

So if you are looking to get the most out of your solar hot water heating system, while leaving the smallest carbon footprint, this is the way to go. With minimal parts to buy, and no moving parts at all, this system is by far the easiest to install and maintain. In addition, Solar Hot Water is also considered as [google_bot_show][/google_bot_show]the commercial water softener alternative as it also helps in removing some toxic chemicals from the water supply. 

So now that we’ve covered the basics of how solar hot water heating works. In the next article we will begin looking at installing one in your home from choosing the style to having free hot water.