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After 12 years in our family home raising 2 children we have more stuff than we could possibly ever need. It kind of mounts up slowly but before you know it your house it packed to the rafters with bits of furniture, gadgets, ornaments and toys galore, it was time for a yard sale!
In the UK where I live people tend to get rid of unwanted junk at car boot sales. In fact these are so common and popular you could even say they are a British institution. If you are not familiar with the concept I will explain, car boot sales are held normally on a Sunday in school playgrounds, fields or other big open spaces. Members of the public can pay a small fee (usually about $10) for a pitch where they can park their car and sell all their stuff normally packed in the boot (hence the name).

Anyway for us the idea of doing a car boot sale whilst appealing was not realistic given the amount of clutter we had to get rid of, far more than our small family motor could handle. To be honest I am a bit lazy as well and do not like the idea of getting up really early on a Sunday morning as it is the only day I get to lie in for longer.

So I suggested to my spouse that we do a yard sale. In the first instance we contacted the local council to find out if there where any restrictions on doing one, they advised us that we where not allowed to put posters up on trees, lampposts or any road signs. In addition to this they where not prepared to let us put leaflets through our neighbour’s mailboxes either. Apparently we would need a business permit if we wanted to do either of these activities which definitely were applicable to us.

To get around this we created a banner which we hung from the front of out top bay window. We made it by hand and wrote on it in big letters “Yard Sale This Sat at 11amâ€. We also created some big posters which taped to our bin and wheeled it to the end of our drive and left it there for the week.

Our modest promotion paid off big time. Come 11am on Saturday we had a number of potential customers eagerly waiting for us to pull our junk out so they could trawl through. In fact all day long we had a steady stream of customers buying up pretty much everything in site. In fact I was amazed at what people where prepared to pay good money for!

Worn out but encouraged by the end of the day we where able to withdraw into our house and count up the takings. We had made over $200 dollars and managed to get rid of lots of unwanted items. It was and incredible result and the whole family were absolutely delighted.

With the money I took a trip to the local DIY and discount ceramic tile stores and purchased materials to completely redecorate our family bathroom a very satisfying outcome indeed.

About the Author
Author - Jessica Hannah writes widely on a number of lifestyle topics including health, nutrition, design and gadgets.

Visit her very latest website is all about discount ceramic tiles. Why not take a look and visit http://www.discountceramictilesearch right now.

Tap water containing high levels of dissolved minerals like calcium is known as hard water, which can cause problems with home appliances such as water heaters / boilers, washing machines, dishwashers, radiators and kettles. We’ve all seen the mineral residue left in the bottom of a kettle after prolonged use and many of us have bought kettles with inbuilt ‘filters’ to keep this residue in the kettle and out of the water that pours from the spout.
Magnesium is the other most common dissolved mineral found in our tap water which along with Calcium builds up after the water comes into contact with water pipes. If this build-up is not removed periodically, it will clog pipes, interfere with water pressure and all too often cause appliances such as washing machines and boilers to stop functioning altogether.

Other than ‘fur’ in the bottom of a kettle, another early warning sign that hard water is prevalent is when you have to use a lot of soap or detergent to get a lather.

In the majority of homes, it is normally possible to install some sort of water filtration or softening system. Obviously the best place to install this is at the main water supply point. Other than this, it may be possible to put some sort of water softening compound into the main water tank.

The major cause of appliance breakdown is hard water, particularly the build-up of calcium residue. Water filters and anti-calcium compounds, for example the brand Calgon, can extend the life of washing machines and dishwashers. You should also consider installing an inexpensive filter on your main water heating unit or boiler.

If you live in a hard water area, you can obtain washing products that are formulated to tackle this problem. For example you can buy dishwasher and washing machine powders that first soften the water and so will help to get your dishes / clothes cleaner. There are many cosmetic products such as shampoos and soaps which are also formulated to act as water softeners and these will help to remove the residue from hard water, making it easier to clean your hair and skin.

In summary, dealing with hard water need not be a major concern but installing a water softening system can do wonders. If this option is too expensive or simply not viable, there are plenty of products out there that will make cleaning easier and wherever you live, hard or soft water area, it’s worth a regular ‘flush’ of your water pipes with a water softening agent from time to time to prevent the build up of calcium deposits.

About the Author
Article submitted by Bryan Farrow of Plymouth plumberand low cost replacement boiler supplier in the Devon & Cornwall

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Would you like some parenting tips when your child pouts with lips turned down and drooping eyes? Do you feel stressed, nervous, or angry with the pouting? Look inside for 3 ways to understand, help, and build character in your pouting child.

I know how difficult it can be when your child pouts. Pouting affects your feelings and stresses you on the inside. ‘Oh, no,’ you think. ‘I must make Joey happy.’ If the pouting continues, your mind, like a rubber band, can snap with anger. ‘He shouldn’t pout. He has no reason.’ You yell, “Joey, wipe that look off your face right now! I’m sick and tired of your pouting.”

Kids Who Pout - What You Need to Know:

When kids pout, they’re drowning in a sea of negative thoughts. They need your parenting guidance because they don’t know how to pull out of it. If you yell, they sink further. How can you save them from developing a habit of thinking dark thoughts?

3 Parenting Tips for Building Character and Stopping the Pouts:

First Parenting Tip - Learn What’s Behind the Pouts -

Kids who pout think negative thoughts like the following:

You love my brother more than me
You give her everything
You never do what I want
Nobody likes me
Poor me.

Second Parenting Tip - Ask Questions -

Take your child off the “pity potty” within his mind. When your child is in a good mood, talk with him. Time alone like going for a walk or a private dinner can provide the atmosphere you need. Ask questions like the following:

What was your pouting all about?
Tell me about the pouting. What was going on?
When you pout, what kind of thoughts are you thinking? Would you be more specific?
How do you feel inside when you pout?
Would you like to be happier and overcome the pouting?

Third Parenting Tip - Listen Carefully, Avoid Criticism, and Then Brainstorm -

Your child’s answers will give you the information you need. Don’t interrupt to deny his thoughts, feelings, or tell him why he’s wrong.

You don’t want him to think, “Mom never listens.” Or “Dad doesn’t understand me.” Ask, “Is there more?” Keep asking this question until your child is all talked out and has no more to say.

Assure your child of your love. Avoid criticizing with blame, ‘you should have’, or guilt. These tactics can shut communication down faster than a slamming door.

Now is the time to suggest, “Let’s brainstorm how you can help yourself stop the negative thinking and be happier.” Have your child go first. Make sure all the suggestions are positive.

Conclusion for Saving Your Child, Building Character, and Stopping the Pouts:

Learn which negative thoughts flood your child’s mind. Pull those thoughts out by asking questions. Listen well and get him to trust that you really care. Brainstorm solutions together.

Follow these steps. Save him from a ‘pity potty’ life. Teach him how to stop drowning in negative thoughts. Give him a better future by taking the time to ask, listen, learn, and brainstorm. He’ll build a better character for solving problems too.

About the Author
Jean Tracy, MSS invites you to receive 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids when you sign up for her newsletter at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com Bond with your child. Have fun being the parent.

To help your child overcome negative thinking, pick up Jean’s Thought-Stopping Kit at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd005 Change your pouting kid into a smiling child.