With So Many Choices For Patio Furniture, Finding The Perfect Set To Complement Your Yard Is Easy-Gardening
With So Many Choices For Patio Furniture, Finding The Perfect Set To Complement Your Yard Is Easy
There is nothing more relaxing than kicking back with a cold drink on a hot summer day. Or unwinding with a big backyard barbeque with all of your neighbors. When the weather heats up and the days get longer, you need the perfect patio furniture in your yard or on your deck in order to relax and enjoy the beautiful summer weather.No two back yards or patios are the same, and fortunately, there are many different types and styles of patio furniture for you to choose from these days. Is your style sleek and sophisticated? Alternatively, perhaps you enjoy a rustic and earthy feel. Maybe you are constricted by a tight budget. Alternatively, maybe you enjoy an unlimited budget to shop for your patio furniture. No matter what your budget is, or what your personal style reflects, you can find a perfect patio set or patio furniture to suit you.Common Types Of Patio FurnitureThere is such a wide variety of patio furniture these days that utilize a number of different materials. More and more, you can find patio furniture that will use a few different types of materials or materials that are not listed here, however the most common types of furniture that you will find are:1) Rattan or wicker furniture
2) Teak furniture
3) Aluminum furniture
4) Plastic furniture
5) Cedar or pine furniture
6) Iron furnitureOf course, you can find other types of furniture, or even furnishings that incorporate a few different materials as well. Some very beautiful sets utilize iron wrought with a glass top or even tiles for the tabletop. Depending on what you are looking for, and the look that you are going for, you can utilize almost any materials to create your furnishings.Patio Furniture For LoungingIf you are looking for patio furniture specifically for lounging, you can choose from a variety of lounger chairs. Aluminum is an old classic for loungers that are easily stored, as they fold up easily and are lightweight enough to tote around, yet sturdy enough to support the weight of an adult. Aluminum loungers are quite inexpensive, however they may not hold up for a very long time which means that you may find yourself replacing your lounger every season, which may not be the most cost efficient way to go.Plastic loungers are another option for you. These lounge chairs are molded, and therefore they do not fold down resulting in a bulky chair that can be difficult to store. They are lightweight however and may stand up longer than an aluminum style.Teak loungers are beautifully crafted and gorgeous to look at. These lounge chairs can be used on their own, or a pillow can be placed on them for added comfort. The classic look of teak will blend in beautifully with the natural environment in a backyard or look stunning on a terrace. Teak requires some maintenance with semi-regular treatment with teak oil to keep it looking beautiful.I Need Furniture For EntertainingIf you are looking for the right furniture for entertaining, than you are likely to need a patio set with a table and at least four chairs. Look for a set that is easily maintained and will hold up to the weather in your area. Do you want an umbrella to shade you and your guests from the afternoon sun? Alternatively, will your set be in the shade, where an umbrella is unnecessary?You can find tabletops made out of many different materials. Glass is a popular tabletop, as well as resin, which looks very similar to glass. Wood tables will lend a natural feel to your yard, which can look especially nice when surrounded by beautiful flowers and greenery on a deck or terrace.If you really like to entertain, you can purchase furniture sets with a bar and bar style chairs for a different look. This type of set is perfect for people who like to have many people over in their yard and enjoy playing host. You can serve up drinks and appetizers with this type of set and create an outdoor party atmosphere.Choose Furniture For Your NeedsWith so many choices available when it comes to patio furniture, it is important to remember to choose furniture that will suit your needs. There is no point buying pricy loungers if you do not have the time or inclination to sit down and enjoy the weather. If you do not plan to do a lot of entertaining, it may not be wise to purchase a bar with bar seating.No matter what your choice is, with the wide variety of options available, there is something for everyone, and something to fit everyone's yard, patio, deck or terrace.
Lessons From Anakin Skywalker: Making Better Choices Through Recognizing And Managing Our Fears – Positive-Attitude
Lessons From Anakin Skywalker: Making Better Choices Through Recognizing And Managing Our Fears
In the latest and final Star Wars saga, Anakin Skywalker
makes the choice to surrender to the dark side of the force.
Thus makes his transformation complete into the evil Darth
Vader. This choice is motivated by Anakin's fearful
premonition that his pregnant wife Padme will die in
childbirth. We watch as the tormented Anakin succumbs to
the influence of Chancellor Palpatine who suggests that it
might be possible to save Padme using the dark side of the
force.Anakin's choice to compromise all his other principles, Jedi
values, in order to save his wife is both tragic and
understandably human. How many of us have made wrong
life or business choices out of the fear of losing something
whether its pride, money, relationships, being popular, or
missing out on some exciting experience? We then
experience a negative consequence because we
compromised what we knew was right. Perhaps it could be
our values, in favor of a misperceived fear that clouds our
better judgment.In Anakin's case his fear of losing Padme becomes a self-
fulfilling prophecy. He is driven and consumed by his fear
and all his subsequent destructive actions are rooted in
fear. In the process of surrendering to his fears and
eventually to the dark side of the force, Anakin loses his
compassion, his trust, and his heartfelt connection to
others.Anakin's dilemma can be seen in the context of business. In
times of economic uncertainty, leaders may resort to
reactionary decisions such as cutting costs or reducing
headcount. What appears to provide immediate relief
actually fails to produce the desired outcome. Morale,
productivity and company culture are adversely affected.
Business leaders whose decisions are motivated from
apprehension or distress about the future give power to
their fears. And like Anakin, those fears can turn into
self-fulfilling prophecies that cause harm.In contrast to decisions motivated by fear are decisions
which take us towards a positive vision. If a choice is
made from belief in vision, company culture, adherence to
core values and trust in the future, the driving motivation can
be fulfillment or satisfaction. Operating by the above
principles may not always be easy and can be very
challenging during times of uncertainty. However, decisions
made from these principles will always prove to be more
fulfilling as integrity and authenticity are preserved.How can you tell the difference in what motivates your
choices? If that decision causes worry, anxiety and being
attached to a future event, you can bet there is fear involved.
If you are
calm, trusting, energized and focused on things working out,
that choice is most likely coming from positive belief.Even with the best of intentions, fear is something that can
creep in on all of us. However, we can manage our fears, if
we step back and really look at what's driving us. Don't let
fear sabotage your decision making as in Anakin's case.
Determine what your core values, purpose and mission are.
Clarify your own Jedi values and then ask yourself the
following questions:? Will this decision move me closer or farther away from my
core values?? Is this decision based on a reactive solution that may
violate my core values or company culture?? What are other possibilities for my business or life that I
haven't considered or addressed?? How can I communicate and elicit support from the people
I trust for the challenges I am facing?? How can I learn to exercise patience and mindfulness as I
face my challenges?It is interesting to see what would have happened if Anakin
Skywalker had asked himself these questions before he
turned to the dark side of the force. But then again, we
might not have had all those great movies to enjoy. "May The
Force Be With You!"Philip Okrend, CPCC, JD is a Certified Life and Business
Coach and the owner of Stepping Stones Coaching. He
works with individuals and organizations in improving
performance, balance and fulfillment as well as recognizing
and managing their fears. He can be reached at
phil@steppingstonescoaching.com or visit his website
http://www.steppingstonescoaching.com
Know Your Editing Choices
Know Your Editing Choices
Each author has special editing needs. To save yourself time and money, look at the choices below and decide which kind of editing suits your needs.Line editing.Use this final professional edit after you have already revised your work three times.Your first revision excludes all redundancies, reducing your copy by one-third.In your second line edit, rework all the words and sentences so they are your finest. Reduce passive verb constructions (aim for 2-4%) and create relatively short sentences. A standard sentence length is 15-17 words. Longer sentences with multiple phrases and clauses make the reader slow down to understand. As the author, you want your reader to flow along with ease. In your final line edit look at your headings, paragraphs and transitions to make sure your message carries power through placement and is easy to read. Place your most dramatic words and phrases at the end of the sentence, the end of the paragraph and at the end of the chapter. While charges vary, you can expect to pay $50 to $70 for this service from a professional.Developmental editing.While you put your writing, ideas and sentences forth, a developmental editor will not just polish your syntax, but fill in gaps you don't want to take time for. It's practically like ghostwriting and you need to choose an editor who specializes in either fiction or non-fiction. You can expect to pay around $65-$75 an hour.Ghost writing.You give your topic, thesis or theme and chapter focuses to a person you want to finish the research, put it together in chapter form, and write it to sell well. Again, you need to hire a real professional who specializes in ghost writing for your kind of book, whether it is a novel, memoir, how-to, or history. Most ghostwriters don't write on speculation. Prices vary, but they are usually hourly at around $65 up.If you want to write a salable book, you will need some professional editing. If you have contacted a book coaching partner for ongoing format and writing input, you will already be a professional writer and only need a bit of line editing when your book is ready to publish.Don't waste your time and money choosing the path that doesn't serve your needs.---Judy Cullins