Friday, December 7, 2012

What To Do With Pumpkins After Halloween

Whole pumpkins that are still fresh and "solid" can be eaten. Of course, this assumes that they haven't been painted. First, scoop out the seeds and the stringy insides. The seeds can be roasted for a healthy snack or saved and planted in next year's garden (most pumpkin cultivars are open-pollinated, so you should get what you expect.) The loose stringy insides of the pumpkin can, of course, be composted. Roast the fleshy walls of the pumpkin, mash the roasted flesh with a big fork or food processor, and add some brown sugar and butter or margarine for a tasty puree... or, make some pumpkin pies!

Carved pumpkins are rarely suitable for eating after Halloween. So, your first choice should be to compost them. Cut the pumpkins into smaller pieces with a knife or with your shovel to speed up the decomposition. If your compost pile or bin has had a lot of "green" material added to it, add shredded brown leaves or a small helping of sawdust to help balance the green to brown ratio. Too much green material can make a compost pile smell like a garbage heap.

If you don't have a compost pile or bin, now is a great time to start one... in most parts of the country, you'll probably have access to lots of fall leaves, which is the single best ingredient for making great compost.

If you can't compost your old pumpkin the traditional way, you can still add it to your garden instead of adding it to the trash stream. Step 1 is to cut it up into very small pieces, or run it through a food processor or blender. Step 2 is to "bury" the small pieces or slurry in your vegetable garden or around your perennials. Scoop away some of the soil, add the pumpkin, and cover it with several inches of soil. It's important to have a relatively low concentration of vegetable material in any one spot, and to have a good soil cover to avoid attracting skunks, bears, or other nuisance critters.

Don't want to compost your pumpkin? Perhaps you can offer your old pumpkin to a friend who has a compost pile. Maybe he or she will return the favor by sharing some compost with you next spring.

If you live on a farm or have several acres of wooded property, you already know that you can use unpainted pumpkins to feed some livestock and some wild game, as well. Although the wild game might appreciate it, don't toss you pumpkin into someone else's wooded acreage without their permission. That form of recycling is considered littering by most folks.

Do you live near a zoo? Many zoos will happily accept old carved pumpkins to use as food for the animals. And, a zoo visit at this time of the year can be a pleasant change of pace. Of course, you should call or check the zoo's web site before lugging your pumpkin to the zoo entrance!

Eat it, compost it, or share it with a composting friend or farmer. Please don't trash it.

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How to Remove a Broken Key From a Lock

It is common for individuals to use several different locks over the course of a day, and these locks may be for their home's front door, the door to an office at work, a car door, a car's ignition and more. Keys for these various locks can be made of different materials, and some may be very durable while others may be rather flimsy. It is most common for a less durable key to break off inside of a lock, and this often happens the key becomes stuck or jammed. The user may attempt to jiggle the key or loosen it from the lock. While it is more common for less durable keys to break off inside a lock, even the strongest and most durable keys can break too. When keys break inside locks, there are a few steps that you can take before you call a locksmith.

A Magnet

Keys are typically made of metal, and because of this, they have magnetic properties. In some cases, it may be possible to pull the broken section of the key out of the lock by using a magnet. The magnet typically will need to be rather strong to pull a key out. You may be able to pull the key close enough to the edge of the keyhole opening to pull it out with tweezers or a similar tool, or you may be able to pull it entirely out with a magnet.

Extractor Set

If you have the ability to drive to a local hardware store, you may be able to invest in an extractor set that is designed specifically to remove broken keys from locks. This is a set of long, slender tools that have a hook at the end of them. They can slide into most locks alongside the edge of the key, and the hook can be used to latch onto the key and pull it out. These sets are rather affordable in comparison to the price of locksmith services. However, keep in mind that it can take time and effort to use the extractor tools. Furthermore, if your key has broken off inside the car door lock or your car's ignition keyhole, running to the store to buy an extractor set may not be a feasible option.

If you have tried to extract the key on your own with no success or you do not have a magnet or extractor set available to you, you should consider calling a locksmith for assistance. A locksmith will have the tools and experience necessary to remove the broken key from the lock. While the locksmith is assisting with this need, he can also assist with the creation of a new key to replace the one that has broken.

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Nursery Wall Art Stickers

Nursery Wall Art Stickers are a great way to personalise your child's nursery without going to huge amounts of expense.

Every parent dreams of creating a fantastic nursery for their children but not every parent has the skills or money to realise these dreams. This is where Nursery Wall Art Stickers may come to the rescue and help you create an individual design for your nursery.

During the early years of a child's development the rate of change is the greatest, this includes development of their own personal tastes and interests. As the child develops you will want to update the decor of the room to match their needs. You will also probably want to have a theme that matches the child's gender (although it is becoming increasingly popular to have neutral schemes in nurseries that do not depend on the gender of the child)

A room for a very young child or baby can have a very generic theme that reflects the early stages of development. These normally involve bright colours and bold shapes that are designed to stimulate the child (although you need to be careful not to go over the top and over stimulate the child). As the child develops you may want to introduce educational themes such as quotes from nursery rhymes, classic books etc. By having such quotes on the wall this will encourage your child to start reading and develop an interest in books etc.

Obviously making such changes could be very expensive and time consuming if you were to use traditional materials such as paint etc. Many people do not have the skills or time to carry out such work and hence have to pay external contractors to do the work - very expensive!. However by using wall art stickers in the nursery the ability to change decor is put within the hands of those with even the most basic DIY skills. By enabling people to do the work on a do it yourself basis also drastically reduces the cost of carrying out the work.

As your child continues to develop they will begin to develop their own tastes and likes (favourite cartoon characters, movie stars etc) and you can continue to use children's wall art stickers to flexibly and inexpensively meet their evolving needs.

As can be seen from the above Nursery Wall Art Stickers are a great way to make your child's nursery really individual and something to be proud of without breaking the bank.

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How to Replace a Ceiling Light Fixture Like a Pro!

Switching a ceiling light fixture in a room seems like a simple change, but it makes a huge difference in the design. Luminaries come in many different styles and colors, but changing one for another requires only a few tools and minutes to do it yourself. Here's a how-to you can easily follow to correctly and safely install a new fixture.

First, you will need the following items:

Ladder Drill Wire stripper Wire cutter Wire nuts Voltage tester- (Both Contact and Non-Contact Testers)

Steps to change your light fitting yourself:

Turn the source of power off to ensure you don't electrocute yourself. Approach the electrical circuit panel, if your switches are labeled, then turn off the power to the room you'll be working in. If the switches aren't labeled, turn off each one off then back on until the light you're replacing turns off. For future ease, label the switches to learn its location. Use your ladder to reach the existing light. First, remove the cover, then remove the nuts or screws securing the dome-shaped canopy and lower it. Remove the screws securing the crossbar to the electrical box, and lower the fixture. Remove the base or trim. Use a non-contact voltage detector to determine the power to each of the wires are turned off, but be sure the light switch is turned on. If the tester lights, switch off circuit breakers or loosen fuses one at a time until the tester light turns off. Turn the light switch back off for added protection. Untwist the fixture's wires from the installed wires. Examine the electrical box in the ceiling to see if it's loose. If you find that it is, tighten the screws to hold it in place. Make sure no wires are touching each other or anything else. Turn the power to the light back on at the main circuit panel with the light switch still on. Use the tester again to make sure there is power to the hot wire. Touch the leads of a neon voltage tester either between the hot wire and the metal box, or between the hot wire and bare copper ground wire, depending on if you have one or not. If the tester lights, the metal box or bare copper wire is grounded which means it is safe to proceed. If the tester doesn't light, indicating there is no ground, call in a licensed electrician to supply one, because it is often difficult. Remember to turn off the power at the main circuit panel before continuing. Position all of the wires on one side of the crossbar. Screw the crossbar onto the electrical box (you'll need an additional person to help you do this). Refer to the owner's manual to know how to match the new fixture's wires to the existing wires in the ceiling. Fold the conductors into the ceiling box and slide the canopy over the protruding threaded support. Secure it with the decorative nut to complete the installation. Install energy efficient light bulbs, then flip the electrical panel switch to turn on the lights again. If they don't turn on, you will need to recheck the wiring. Make sure to turn the power off from the switch and the circuit before you begin again. Attach the trim and cover. If you hung a luminaire with a chain, then you may need to adjust the length.

Finally, you can admire your handy work. Good job! For special effects, add a dimmer or a timer.

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7 Things to Consider Before Buying Small Business Accounting Software

The world of small business accounting software can be a minefield for any business owner. However choosing the right package is one of the most critical business decisions you will make.

Here are the seven things you must consider before making a purchase that will help you achieve your businesses goals.

1. Scalability

Businesses change over time so it's critical that the small business accounting software you choose can change too. Some things that often change are the number of products and services offered and the number of employees. When you choose your package try and imaging the business in 5 years or 10 years time and how different it will be. Use this information to guide your purchase decision. It may well be better to pay a little more now for the software knowing that it can be easily upgraded when needed with minimum disruption and cost to your business.

2. Support

It is important that any software has great support for when something goes wrong (and it always does). Most major companies offer support but you also need to think about support in your local area. It's often much easier to have someone locally come in and do things you need done with your software than have someone trying to help you over the phone. Make some enquiries with other businesses about the package they use and who helps them.

3. Accountant Interface

It's most unlikely you will handle every aspect of your businesses accounting. Your accountant is an important factor in making the right decision. What software are they used to working with and what do they prefer? Can you easily supply them data and reports from your package without the need for any extra work (which you'll have to pay for). Don't be afraid to ask their opinion as they live and breathe this stuff.

4. Best Value For Money

Once you have selected the right package for your business you may as well get the best value. Shop around as the price can vary greatly and the product is exactly the same. Online merchants such as Amazon may offer better pricing because of the sheer volume of products they sell. However price is only one part of the equation so if their is great merchant locally with support or installation assistance this may be far more valuable.

5. Major Brands

There are two major players in the small business accounting software market. They are QuickBooks and Peachtree. Microsoft is expected to enter the market soon. I recommend choosing a major brand so that you can get regular updates and you know the company will be around as long as your business needs them.

6. Ease of Use

Ease of use is a personal thing but it is worth trying the software before you buy it if you can. Remember to get the person who will be the main user to test the software as well. Also consider how well the package can interact with other software you use. This is an advantage the Microsoft package may have when it's available.

7. Features Needed

I touched on this earlier when talking about thinking ahead as to where you business will be in 5 or 10 years time. Most accounting software packages come in several different versions. If you don't need certain features now and can't see a need for them in the future then don't buy them. The major differences are usually - number of users allowed, inventory management capability and number of reports available.

To sum up think ahead when planning your purchase of small business accounting software. You will make a much smarter business decision that will save you plenty of trouble and money in the future.

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What You Need To Know About Being An Affiliate

The recession has created a fear around money. Consequently, making money online has become popular worldwide and is the future of business. The Internet and marketing on the internet is evidence of our evolution. There is an array of information about Internet Marketing and learning it can seem overwhelming at first. However, the steps are actually basic and fairly simple to follow.

Step One is to do market research. It is important to find your passion and then research that market. Find out what people in your niche are looking for and how you can help them. To do this, just use Google keywords to find what people are searching the most in your niche. Google keywords will tell you the most common phrases and words that people type into the search engines, which will tell you exactly what people are looking for. It is important to know what people are looking for in your niche so that you can give them value.

By knowing the keywords in your niche, you will be able to use them for your websites and landing pages so that they rank higher in the search engines and drive more traffic to you.

Searching for the keywords on the Google keyword tool is easy and straight forward. Just enter in a keyword or phrase that relate to your niche or product and the tool will tell you how many people are searching that word or phrase per month. You can also click on "get keyword ideas" and the tool will provide you with a list of keywords.

Ideally, you want to find a market that has a high demand and has existing competition with products already available, but not so competitive that it would be impossible to rank highly. There is a happy medium. However, it is pointless picking a market that you have absolutely no interest or passion in. In order to provide good, valuable products and help people find whatever they are looking for, it is imperative that you are passionate about providing that service. Follow your passion and a way will be made for you to succeed. The higher your passion, the more determined, motivated and committed you will be. So find your passion and then find how you can use your passion to help other people, and then provide that value.

Working as an affiliate is great for people who do not want to produce their own product or service. All you have to do is pick a product in your niche - your passion - that you rate highly and promote it by driving traffic to that product.

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A Few of the Best Ways to Make Money Online

One of the things that you can get from the internet is a few of the best ways to make money online. You can get free advice that you can read on some of the most popular methods being used today to make money from your home computer. The best ways to make money online all have one thing in common; they do not cost you anything to get started doing them. You do not have to buy or download any books, eBooks, or instruction manuals telling you how to make the money. Which by the way, have you noticed that most of the books and publications that are supposed to tell you how to make money without working at it really ever say anything. The books generally repeat themselves often and they never divulge the great secret of how to get rich quick.

The best ways to make money online are blogging, freelance writing, and article proofreading. These activities rarely cost anything to get started doing and when there is a charge it is generally a small one. You can set your own hours, set your own pace, and work at something you feel confident that you know something about. Internet can teach you about the fact that online companies are quickly becoming the most frequently started new businesses. Not just here, but in every major country around the world. Working online and having a company online allows people to reach a larger potential customer base than opening shops in their hometowns.

If you open an online business where you sell something then you need to have the start-up capital to purchase the product and then you have to market the item, and there is a lot of hassle to go with it. Actually this is not the case. A lot of companies will allow you to advertise their items and not pay for them until you sell them. Some of them will even ship the merchandise from their warehouses and all you have to do is establish the sale and send them the information. When you become a freelance writer you are actually selling something, you are selling your talent and your time.

There are many places on the internet that hire professional writers and some of them hire people who have no educational backgrounds in writing. All you have to do is search these companies out and start contacting people who need writers. Blogging your own thoughts and opinions can be very lucrative. Many people are making nice income writing about the things they like, dislike, and that are important to them. They link the pages they write to pages of other bloggers that have relevant material on them so that people will travel from one page over to their page and become interested in them. When they get enough traffic visiting their pages they can get sponsors to pay them to allow the sponsor to post advertisements for their products on their pages.

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