I’ve already explained the importance of keeping physical documents behind lock and key in a secured cabinet. I’ve covered the importance if not giving out or writing down your passwords, ever. These are the most important steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft, in general; however, they’re really only the tip of the iceberg.

Also important is choosing strong passwords. A strong password will contain a random mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers, as well as punctuation marks when allowed and will be, at the very least, eight characters long. A longer password is better, in cases where it is allowed.

To be truly secure online, just as in the physical world, you must be willing to forgo some convenience. Security questions are a great idea, in theory, as they allow a method of verifying who you are in order to allow you to reset your password should you every forget it. The problem is that they are often answered by easily researched information, which anyone who knows you probably already knows and anyone who doesn’t can find out with minimal effort. Even if the password reset option relies on email to complete the task, try to bear in mind that your email password can likely be reset with the use of security questions, as well.

Don’t worry, there’s a simple solution. Pick someone you know and answer those security questions as though you were that person; never tell anyone who you picked and try not to pick someone obvious such as a family member, best friend or current or former lover. This way, no matter how well someone knows you, they won’t be able to have your passwords reset to gain access to your online accounts.

So far, everything I’ve covered has been about keeping your data locked up and secured. There’s much more to it than this, which I would love to cover right now. Alas, I hear about it in meetings if I make these articles too long. I’ll fill you in on the rest of the details shortly; in the meantime, start putting what you’ve learned so far to good use!

If you truly want to create a space you can love, start with something you love! Look at the predominate color in whatever you pick. That’s the color you should paint the walls. Accents should be colored after the remaining colors on the object of your affection.

The only limitation on what you can pick from is this; please, pick something you love, not someone you love. Trust me, it won’t turn out as well as you think it will.

Don’t worry, I’ll have more soon! I have three more tips and maybe a bonus for my faithful readers, if enough of you ask for it!

Why, then, should you listen to what I have to say about preventing it? It’s happened to me, twice, right? Right.

It’s happened to me, twice. I’ve recovered from it. Both times.

I, personally, tracked down the scumbag the second time; I traced their steps, I learned more about them than they knew about me. Then I turned that information over to the police.

How did I do this? Simple. I used the same techniques they used. That, right there, is what qualifies me to tell you how to protect yourself.

Before I take you online, let me cover the basics on how to avoid identity theft in the physical world, where I was first victimized.

The single, most important thing you can do to prevent identity theft is to keep your social security card (or equivalent, for non-US readers) and any credit cards you don’t use regularly locked in a safe location. Preferably, this would be a safe deposit box which requires photo ID and a key to access. Failing this, a fireproof safe bolted securely to a concrete floor will do just fine. If you lose a key, be sure to change it.

Shred any credit offers that you don’t intend to accept, as well as any piece of mail or other documents containing any personally identifiable information, unless you intend to keep it and file it in a locked cabinet (secured similarly to the safe mentioned above). Once shredded, divide each item into four piles. You’ll want to have four boxes, labeled 1, 8, 15 and 22, for this purpose. Place one pile in each box and empty each box on the day of the month for which it is numbered. This prevents all but the most dedicated identity thieves from reassembling and using your discarded documents. Yes, credit card companies will accept and process applications that have been shredded, reassembled, filled out, photocopied, wadded up and shipped to them in a jar of kool-aid. It’s a bit extreme, yes; just don’t ask me how I know this. You should follow this procedure, really, for any document you discard that contains anything more than your first name. You might not think there’s anything useful on that overdue notice from the library, but trust me, there is.

Again, if it has your personal information on it, secure it. Locked drawer in a cabinet that can’t simply be slid onto a dolly and wheeled away. Never carry anything on you that you don’t intend to use; my first incident was the result of armed robbery and the sale of my identification, including my social security card, which I had on me because I had just started a new job and my employer required a copy.

These are basic guidelines for protecting your identity in the real world. Beyond that, use common sense and don’t go around giving out your personal information to everyone you meet, even if you think they need it. You’ll eventually end up giving it to someone who does need it to steal your identity!

Protecting yourself from online identity theft, however, is a bit more complicated than protecting yourself in the real world. The most important step you can follow is very simple: NEVER TELL ANYONE YOUR PASSWORD, TO ANYTHING, EVER; NEVER WRITE YOUR PASSWORDS DOWN AND NEVER USE THE SAME PASSWORD FOR MORE THAN ONE ACCOUNT.

Nobody but you ever has a legitimate need to know your passwords. Ever. Period. I don’t care who they say they are, if they’re asking for your password, they’re lying. Service providers can access your account without a password, it’s their system and they have that access. I’ll repeat this one more time because it is the most important step you can take to protect yourself online: NEVER TELL ANYONE YOUR PASSWORD, TO ANYTHING, EVER; NEVER WRITE YOUR PASSWORDS DOWN AND NEVER USE THE SAME PASSWORD FOR MORE THAN ONE ACCOUNT.

There’s a ton more information that I’d love to dole out right now, but Sharon insists that I keep my articles short and sweet (shorter than this, even), so I’ve written more here.

If you have a favorite place, be it somewhere you vacation, a store you love to shop at, even a restaurant you dine at frequently, you can pick your favorite colors from that place and incorporate them into your home. It will help to remind you of that favorite place, in turn helping you relax and making you feel more comfortable.

If you would like more color tips, please, read on!

That’s a good thing, of course, something we all want to see keep happening; that’s why it’s important to understand just why it is happening.

Speculation, the assumption of the risk of loss, in return for the uncertain possibility of a reward, is a common practice among investment bankers, typically hedge funds. In recent years, many investment bankers saw fit to buy barrels of oil which haven’t even been drilled for yet; thus, driving up the cost of those barrels as demand began rising much higher than the available supply.

The end result of all of this is higher prices for gas, along with many other petroleum based products, such as plastics, some paints and many solvents. This, in turn, has led to higher prices for any products which are made of plastic, make use of oil based paints or are manufactured using any of those solvents.
Now, the majority of this speculation began after 2005’s severe hurricane season caused oil shortages in some parts of the world. Many investors were banking on that keeping up in following years. When those hopes (sick as they may seem) were dashed, speculators began selling their oil, causing a sharp drop in price, which we have all seen at the pump.

For more information, refer to this CNN article.

If you’re going to be bringing several sources of color into a room, maybe you should consider painting the walls one of the many hundreds of clean shades of white.

Furniture, bedding, accent pillows, photographs, paintings, sculptures, even a window with a view can bring all the color a room needs.

If you’d like more color tips, please, be my guest!

You want to make a statement to people coming into your home. One way, perhaps the best way, to do this is by painting your entryway a bright color. Strong colors, which would be suitable for such an area, should be kept out of a kitchen, however. There, you should use white or a very pale pastel. Dark or extremely bright colors aren’t relaxing enough for use in a bedroom. You’re better off with a neutral or softer color where you sleep. Pretty much anything goes in the bathroom; it’s such a small space that you can get away with almost anything. Except dark colors, that is. They make small spaces look even smaller.

Interested in thinking bigger? Read on!

If you’re thinking of a bright color but are hesitant to paint an entire room with it, consider painting one wall and keeping the others white or neutral. Not only does this ground the room, it becomes the focal point in what may otherwise be a boring room!

As always, stay tuned for more! This is only the second of ten color choosing tips I have to offer!

Want more? Don’t fret, I’ve got you covered!

1. method Sweet Water Aroma Spray $5
2. PureAyre Odor Eliminator -kit for seeking scents includes a blacklight for finding fido’s urine $20 - $40
3. AirZyme Odor Eliminator - sweet! sugarcane and coconut dissolve smells $8
4. Homemade concoction - 3 parts fabric softener with 4 parts water in a spray bottle.

One of the most important things to consider is how the color on a room works with the colors in neighboring rooms. One simple technique is to start with hallways and other common areas of the house, selecting a neutral shade, such as one of the many Freshaire Choice paint colors. Bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen and other rooms connecting to those common areas can be filled with similar shades of colors you like.

If you’re eager for another color tip, I’ve got more for you right here!

If that’s not enough to turn you off, consider the fact that you have to cut large holes in your ceiling and hope you have enough open area to safely install those recessed cans for your new lighting.

Don’t worry, you can still enjoy light from above. Pendant lighting, lights that hang a short distance from the ceiling, can provide all the light of a recessed lamp, with less installation hassle and a lot more style.

If you already have some idea what style you are looking for, you can find some pendant lighting available to order online.

• Move furniture closer to the wall.
  • Furniture that isn’t against, or near, a wall can block walkways and interfere with your view of a space, making it feel smaller.
• Light it up!
  • Brighter rooms look bigger! Let in as much natural light as possible; light is the only thing you can fill a room with that doesn’t take up space.
  • If that doesn’t work, replace any light bulbs in the room with a good quality, high output compact florescent bulbs. This will not only make the room brighter, it will lower your lighting bill!
  • If there is only one source of light in a room, consider adding a lamp.
• Keep it clean!
  • If you don’t need it in the room, get it out of the room! If it must be there, keep it neatly tucked out of the way. The more open space in the room, the bigger the room will feel.
• Use a simple color scheme.
  • Use colors from the same color family.
  • Cool and light warm colors on most surfaces will make the room feel more open, dark colors will make it feel more cramped.
  • If you have to paint any walls, we recommend Freshaire Choice paint for its environmentally friendly properties and premium durability.
• Soften up!
  • Again, dark colors make a space feel cozy and intimate; in a small room, this translates to cramped.
  • Lighter, cooler colors can make the same room feel more open and airy.
  • Soft blue and green tones give the best effect.
• Check your coordination!
  • Your furniture will appear to take up less space if it blends in with the rest of your decor.
  • Contrasting colors break up a room, making it look and feel smaller.

Take these ides and run with them. Apply them to your smallest room first, then try them in your biggest room. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that your house is bigger than it looked!

Online video rental services, like NetFlix, allow you to make unlimited selections from vast libraries of movies for a low monthly fee!

First, you build a list of the movies you want to see and NetFlix will mail them to you. When you’re done with one movie, you send it back, postage prepaid, and they send you the next.

Best of all, you can get started tonight, with a free 30 day trial!

There is a little more to it than that, but that’s really all anyone but stagers themselves need to know!

So, you’re thinking to yourself “That sounds nice, but why should I invite this person into my home and allow them to judge my sense of style?” I’ll try not to word my response too harshly.

You’re preparing to invite many strangers into your home. Strangers who will be judging every aspect of it, including your decor! Why would you risk being judged negatively by all of them and, possibly, not getting anywhere near your asking price or, worse, not selling your home at all? That’s the whole truth of the situation; I hope it wasn’t too blunt.

An accredited Home Stager won’t judge your sense of style at all! On the contrary, they’ll do what they can to add to it! By inviting an accredited Home Stager into your home and letting them to what they do best, you are able to sell your home faster and without being judged by anyone but yourself!

You’ve been to Home Depot and seen the kitchen displays that have been painstakingly set up. Did you know that the designers at Home Depot can make your kitchen just as beautiful?

Next time you visit Home Depot, stop by and talk to one of the designers. Bring in a diagram of your kitchen, mark out the locations of windows, doors and outlets, as well as your existing plumbing and show this to them. It should be all they need in order to start building your dream kitchen and getting your family gathered around the dinner table, rather than the table at the diner.

1. Use less hot water.
• Hot water is doubly bad. Not only does filtration, treatment and delivery use energy, heating uses even more!
• If you really can’t use less hot water, consider a tankless water heater. Where a standard water heater uses energy to heat water and maintain its temperature, even when not in use, a tankless heater heats the water as it’s used.
2. Replace aging appliances with newer, EnergyStar certified units.
• All EnergyStar certified appliances certainly use less energy than your existing aplpiances.
• EnergyStar certified water appliances, such as washing machines, use less water.
3. Redesign your bathroom water usage.
• Consider a newer toilet, which will require less water per flush.
• Install a shower head with smaller, higher-pressure nozzles. This will provide you with the same feel as your existing shower head, while using less water.
• Look for hands-free, automatic faucets. There are several on the market that use the force of running water to charge a battery, so they don’t require any power. They also save a lot of water by shutting off automatically when not in use.
4. Eat less meat.
• Fruit, vegetables and grains require water to grow and energy to harvest.
• Animals require water and vegetation to raise and energy to slaughter. Meat requires energy to process, transport and store.
• Not only are fruit, vegetables and grains healthier, they require much less energy to produce, as well as prepare.
5. Shrink your lawn, expand your garden.
• Watering.
• Fertilizing.
• Mowing.
• Did I forget anything?
6. Use locally sourced water.
• Water is heavy. It takes a lot of energy to transport water.
• Bottled water uses energy in the bottling process; then, uses more to get to a warehouse. From there, more energy is used to track and count the bottles before even more is used to ship them to your local store. Then, you get to use your own energy to go get your water and to store it in your fridge.
• Much less energy is used to simply filter tap water and pour it into a bottle or pitcher.

All of these steps are simple and, when you really think about it, make a lot of sense. Some of them require an up-front investment but, rest assured, they will pay for themselves many times over, in the form of reduced water usage and lower energy bills. Combining these ideas with the use of compact fluorescent bulbs (they’ve come a long way in the last couple of years, try them again if you didn’t like them a few years ago) could reduce your overall energy bills by 20-50%!

Improving the environment and saving money? That’s a no-brainer.

Going organic means a safer, cleaner, greener lawn that costs less money and requires less upkeep. Despite what chemical companies tell us, organic agricultural and horticultural solutions, used properly, are more effective than any chemical solutions available. We all know, beyond any doubt, they’re safer, to boot. Many facets of organic growing are methods, rather than products, which means you spend less, as well.

If your lawn is overrun with weeds, you may prefer to start fresh, tearing out the old lawn and starting over, after ensuring that your soil is up to snuff. Quality soil is key to a green lawn, whether you’re going organic or using chemicals.

The best soil composition for lawns in Ohio is 50% silt (regular dirt), 20% clay and 30% sand, with an ideal pH between 6 and 7. If you need to raise the pH and soften clay soil, you can accomplish both of these by adding crushed limestone to the soil before tilling. It’s best to add any sand you will need at the same time. Once you’ve added any amendments you need, it is time to till. Ohio lawns should be tilled to a depth of at least 4 inches, preferably as deep as 12 inches, before seeding.

Once you’ve prepared the soil bed, you need to seed your lawn. Take a moment to sketch out your property, noting the areas that receive sunlight all day, those which receive only partial sun and those areas which receive mostly shade. Bring this sketch with you to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s (as a side note, I’ve worked the garden center at Home Depot before and can vouch for their training program and overall knowledge) and have one of their lawn care experts assist you in determining which types of grass will work best in your lawn. It is best to use a slot seeder to seed your new lawn, as it actually buries the seed to the proper depth.

For more information, refer to this page at the Ohio State University website.

I’d venture a guess, in fact, that car sales are booming because of, rather than in spite of, gas prices. There’s a lot of appeal in a smaller, lighter, newer vehicle that gets 30 or more miles per gallon, especially when compared to larger and older vehicles getting less than 20.

If your weekly trip to the filling station is putting a dent in your pocketbook, consider trading your gas guzzler for something smaller that will sip, rather than slurp. I know when I sold my Jeep, in favor of an Accord, my weekly stops for gas were no more.

I fill up monthly now. That’s green for the planet and the pocket and, with all the money I save, I’m the envy of all my friends.

Medina County residents needn’t worry about funding, according to City Service Director Chris Easton, the FAA may fund 95% of the renovation.

Certified Natural Cosmetics - meet European Union natural-ingredients rules and don’t have any of the 1,000 chemicals banned by the EU.

Ecocert - 95% of the farmed ingredients adhere to organic standards approved by the French government.

 FSC - Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, using at least 10% of the wood and paper from responsibly managed forests.

 Green-e - Icon that signals that renewable energy sources like wind and solar power were used in making the product.

Made with Certified Organic Ingredients - Similar to the USDA Organic label, Certified Organic, a USDA-accredited certifying agent, grants the seal to products that contain 70% organic ingredients.

Soil Association - A United Kingdom seal that certifies the product contains at least 95% organic ingredients.

 USDA Organic - The U.S. Department of Agriculture gives this seal to products that are 95% organic.

*The closer a product is manufactured to you, the more green it is. Shipping and packaging can make a big impact on the amount of pollution that a product really creates!

By following a few simple tips, you can answer that question and move onto making your move!

• List and Link Locations
• Create a list of locations and number them. As you pack each box, label it with the number, from the list, of location from which the items in the box came.
• Purchase Plenty of Packing Products
• Be sure to buy plenty of boxes. Having a few too many is certainly preferable to having to run out and buy more! You can always return unused boxes for a refund after the move.
• Pick up a few rolls of packing tape, markers (for marking boxes) and at least one roll of bubble warp. Heck, get two rolls, popping what you don’t use will provide great stress relief after the move!
• Where’s the Wardrobe?
• Make sure you get at least one wardrobe-sized box for each family member moving with you. This allows everyone to have a place to put their own clothes, making unpacking them much easier.
• Attach Accessories
• When things go together out of the box, be sure to pack them in the same box!
• Pack Preemptively
• If you aren’t going to be using something before the move, pack it as early as you can. This leaves you with less to do on moving day!
• Consolidate Cleaning Commodities
• Pack all of your cleaning supplies together.
• Make sure you pack bleach and other acidic cleaners in different boxes than ammonia and other basic cleaners.
• Load the Luggage
• Pack items you are going to need right away after the move into your carry-on and stow-away bags for easy access.
• Protect Precious Pieces
• If something has special meaning to you or is worth a substantial sum of money, take extra care to pack it adequately.

After spending over one million dollars on the two new bridges and having the new structures inspected, the county is still, apparently, on the hook for the inspections of the old bridges, as they were before being rebuilt.

Hopefully, for residents of the county, this is an oversight which is easily corrected, as losing federal maintenance funding would mean the cities which comprise the county would have to foot the bill for bridge upkeep. This, ultimately, woult most likely lead to tax increases for residents of those cities.

Using a Mortgage Calculator, you can input the price you are willing to pay for a home, the term of your loan and the interest rate your lender is offering you. With this information, the calculator will tell you your monthly payment. Once you have this, you can determine if the house you’re looking at fits your budget.

Remember, when you’re buying a home, you’re planning to keep that home; don’t buy more home than you can afford, no matter how in love you are with the house.

Phone calls, excessive paperwork, poor planning, taking on too much at once, lack of self-control; these are all things we waste our time on almost every day.

Ohio State University assistant professor emeritus, Karen M. Williams, has the right idea!

I’ve been doing a lot of preparing lately. I’ve been working with myself to come to terms with the inevitable; I’ve been working with my family to get us all in a place where we can make her feel as comfortable as possible in what may be her last days.

One of the most important things one can do in preparation for such a loss is to make sure everyone in the family knows. This will allow them to say their goodbyes and carry out any final tasks they may have to do.

Be sure to tell them you love them, tell them you’ll pray for them and ask them to watch over you. This will help to quell any fears they have of losing touch with those they care about.

If you’re scared, confused or sad, don’t be afraid to tell your loved one. They likely feel the same way and would be grateful to know that they are not alone. They may also have some words of wisdom to offer you.

If you have any regrets or anything you’ve kept from them, now is the time to tell them; unless it’s something that will devastate them, in that case it’s probably best to keep it to yourself and confess it to them after they’ve passed.

Don’t be afraid to cry in front of them. You’ll feel better and they’ll know you truly care about and love them.

Gather your family around them. Talk about the good times you had together. Fill your loved one’s last days with good memories, joy and happiness.

It is never easy to watch a loved one in their journey through their last days, but do remember, the most important thing you can do for them is just that. Be there.