Decorating for Halloween in the Old Haunted House

To many, Halloween is the second most fun holiday of the year. To some it is number 1.
I do like decorating for both, and then some, and this video shares some of my most favorite scenes in the Old Haunted House.
Maybe you can find a little spooky inspiration for yourself in this video, and let me know in the comments.

Feng Shui, Geopathic Stress, and me...and you.

This year I have been revisiting the ancient art of Feng Shui. If I remember correctly, I practiced this as best I could before I bought my home, and when I got my home, I set it up with what I remember to be good things in good places, but with time I have gotten a little distracted from the practice.
You too, may be looking to get a little more control, and order into your life. A cleaner, less cluttered happier home sounds good to most everyone, right? Well, let's do that!

What made me wish, need, and/or feel that I needed to get back into it was what I saw going on in my neighborhood, which in a nutshell, has been negative in nature. My neighborhood seemed sick. I thought it best that I should "protect" my home, and well being, and so I have begun, once again, reading, studying, and buying, or making things for this purpose. During this time I also learned about Geopathic Stress, which is a distorted or disrupted electromagnetic field of the Earth (Schumann Resonance / Waves). While there are positive stress lines, so too there are not so positive lines. Some people think that vibrations rising up out of the earth can cause negative happenings, and emotions. What I am now attempting to do it learn how to identify the bad Geopathic Stress areas outside of the house. I am not too good with dowsing rods as of today...

The remedy I am going to use (besides the Feng Shui, and Crystals) is made out of copper. A copper pipe driven into the ground, to be exact, so as to turn the identified black negative line into a more harmonious white line. Copper is a conductive material and is cut to length to resonate with the particular frequency of the Geopathic Stress being remedied. They say the results from clearing Geopathic Stress are instant, providing quick relief for those who have lived with the effects of Geopathic Stress for some time. As I believe my neighborhood has. It will be my yard that I will be looking for stress lines in, but I am hoping this will, in turn, have a positive effect on the whole neighborhood. Fingers crossed. This can also be done inside the home, and I have already done this, as best I could. Weather permitting, I will soon be outside to see what I can find.

Between the re-visiting of Feng Shui, placing of Healing Crystals, and identifying the Geopathic Stress areas in the house I actually do feel better. I have also been attempting to rid the house of some clutter, and unused things, as well as clean it (another basic Feng Shui principle). While reading about Feng Shui, I can tell you, it is very easy to get caught up in all of the Chinese protective statues, and such, but I am going to do my best to stay with the basics of color, earth elements, keeping tidy, and clean, and simple.

I am also determined to help the neighborhood get better, for everyone's sake. According to some Feng Shui practitioners I could just as easily place a Bagua Mirror on the house to send back the bad energy created out there, but that does not really fix the problem, if you are looking for a harmonious neighborhood. So I will be using other cures outside this year. Things like a Mirror Ball, wind chimes, and a whirligig strategically placed in the yard. Objects with Movement like Mobiles, colorful flags and “wind-dancers” activate Chi energy in a beautiful, mesmerizing way.

In the house, as you can see from the photos are different rooms that I have been working on. In most of these I have added things I think will help the neighbors, and more, also. It could be something happy hanging in the window, nice new curtains, or crystals. You can hang a clear faceted crystal in your window to attract the sparkle of the sun and its full color spectrum into your space.
Crystals from the earth such as quartz or amethyst are an important source of Earth energy that bring a sense of groundedness to your life. You can read more about Healing Crystals HERE.
If you are looking for a new beginning I would have to say, start with cleaning, and de-cluttering. Then get a compass, and follow the map at the top of this post (it is helpful to print it out), and look for the colors, and earth elements you can add to that specific area of the room. You only need a little item, not cover the entire area with it.

Today I cleaned out from under my bed (in Feng Shui it is very bad to have things under the bed). Feng Shui would like the area under your bed to be completely clear so Chi energy can circulate and nourish you as you sleep, so all of my shoes now have a new home. As you can see, it is very sensible advise, things under the bed gather dust, and dirt, and that is not healthy, neither is a dirty house. Clutter in the home does not make us feel good either. So it is probably time to get to work on living a better life, and include those around you in the neighborhood (even if you would rather not). Positive attracts positive. Believe me, I am doing my best to live these words.

At this point in the journey, I can let you know that I do feel better. If I have accomplished nothing else, the house is all clean, and straightened up. I gave a lot of unused clothing to charity, threw away thing I have not used for a long time, including broken things. I have also made the house look a little brighter, and happier.
Remember: With every Feng Shui Chi adjustment, your Intention gives them their power. Place the objects with your intentions firmly in mind to do the best job of anchoring or activating the blessings of Chi energy in your life. I hope this helps you too. Let me know in the comments.

Cuisinart 2 Quart Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker Review

If you like making your own Ice Cream, you will love this! I have used this faithfully about once a week for 2 or 3 years, and it hasn't disappointed me yet! What's better than 1 quart of luscious homemade ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt? Two quarts! Fully automatic frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream maker; Brushed stainless-steel housing; heavy-duty motor; Large ingredient spout for easily adding favorite mix-ins; Double-insulated 2-quart freezer bowl; instruction book and recipes included.



The Recipe for No Egg Vanilla Ice Cream:
2 cups of milk
5 to 6 ounces of evaporated milk
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons of sugar (granulated)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix together ingredients, and pour into Ice Cream Maker.
Turn it on, and it will be done in about an hour... Enjoy!

Be Inspired, Easy DIY in the Kitchen

Let's us begin the New year with a change of scenery. As we all know, painting is the easiest way to change your current surroundings. It is also the quickest, and least expensive.

Will it work, I don't know, but if you don't try, you will never know.

Kellogg's NYC! Are you ready for it?

Kellogg's has opened a Cereal Cafe in New York's famed Times Square!

Now I like cereal, only having coffee for breakfast, I usually have it for lunch. I even like the thought of someone opening up a Cereal Cafe. In my home town the only creative idea seems to be another bar, so to me this is a good thought. It was said that New York was the place to do this, but I beg to differ. I think many towns would welcome a Cereal Cafe. think about it... Who doesn't like cereal?

Kellogg’s NYC opened on the Fourth of July on Broadway at 49th St., with a menu that is not necessarily just for kids, or for many residents of the five boroughs.
“It’s not for us anyway, it’s for the tourists,” said Art Alvaradi, 41, of Astoria, Queens. “They don’t know any better.” A naive comment, but still a good idea, so I will overlook it.
A little Kellogg history:
John Harvey Kellogg, M.D. (February 26, 1852 – December 14, 1943) was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas, and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism for health and is best known for the invention of the breakfast cereal known as corn flakes with his brother, Will Keith Kellogg.

John Harvey Kellogg was an especially strong proponent of nuts, which he believed would save mankind in the face of decreasing food supplies. Though mainly renowned nowadays for his development of corn flakes, Kellogg also patented a process for making peanut butter and invented healthy "granose biscuits."
Back to the Cereal Cafe:
The restaurant believes breakfast cereal is the most important meal of the day, as we all know, and will cater to a clientele eager for food and favorite childhood memories characters such as of Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam. Unlike those childhood memories The cereal bowls will set you back $7.50, and come in 6 flavors, such as Raisin Bran, the circus, toasted peanuts and banana chips.

You can also get:
"Berry Me in Green Tea" Rice Krispies with fresh strawberries and green tea powder. "Pistachio & lemon" Special K Original, Frosted Flakes, pistachios, lemon zest and thyme. Yum!
A regular bowl of cereal and milk, like the one you make in the kitchen each morning, is $7.50 for a large serving and $6.50 for a small. You might as well get a large...

While the idea does have it's critics, I do like the concept. It is New York, so you have to expect the higher price, but it could be a wonderful thing in your town, or mine.

How To End Violence In One Day

How We Could End Violence In One Day

Sounds impossible doesn't, but it can be done, and at absolutely zero cost to anyone. Search the internet, and you will find thousands upon thousands of sites dedicated to ending violence. Violence against women, violence against children, violence against black men, violence the police, and the list goes on, and on, but the solution is really very simple, and it lies with you. Your own behavior, and your attitude, and your comments are really the only thing that you can control in life. You can try to influence others, but in the end the only person you can guarantee to change is yourself. So that is where you must begin.

What is this magic pill, you ask???
It all has to do with you, and your behavior. Your reactions to others in your everyday life.
Make today a new day. Use it as a day to begin again. Greet others with a smile, and a friendly "Hello". Show everyone you meet in your day respect, no matter what kind of person it is. They are a person, not a group, or a stereotype. Be kind, and see what kind of response you get. It may not work every time, but that is not a reflection of you, it is another person who also must change. Don't make everything about you, and you will drastically improve your life.

Think of others, and how their day may be going, and how you could influence that in a more positive way. We must, as humans begin to accept responsibility for our own lives, and where we are in them. We cannot blame anyone else for that.
Never do illegal drugs, or abuse alcohol. Both will lead to violence. Illegal drugs support the drug cartels, and alcohol is a factor in 40% of all violent crimes today.

Remember the The Golden Rule “Treat others as you want to be treated.
Never lie, cheat, or steal. Never listen to those with negative thoughts. Never listen to those who tell you you cannot succeed because of someone, or something else. That is pretty easy, so if it has been a part of your everyday life, you may wish to remember the rules of Karma:

1. THE GREAT LAW - "As you sow, so shall you reap". This is also known as the "Law of Cause and Effect". Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us. If what we want is Happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship. Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.
2. THE LAW OF CREATION - Life doesn't just HAPPEN, it requires our participation. - We are one with the Universe, both inside and out. Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state. BE yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your Life.
3. THE LAW OF HUMILITY - What you refuse to accept, will continue for you. If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.
4. THE LAW OF GROWTH - "Wherever you go, there you are". For us to GROW in Spirit, it is we who must change - and not the people, places or things around us. - The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES and that is the only factor we have control over. When we change who and what we are within our heart our life follows suit and changes too.
5. THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY - Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me. We mirror what surrounds us and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth. - We must take responsibility what is in our life.
6. THE LAW OF CONNECTION - Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected. Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on. Someone must do the initial work to get a job done. Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance, As they were both needed to accomplish the task. - Past-Present-Future they are all connected...
7. THE LAW OF FOCUS - You can not think of two things at the same time. When our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.
8. THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY - If you believe something to be true,then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth. - Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned, into actual PRACTICE.
9. THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW - Looking backward to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW. - Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams... - Prevent us from having new ones.
10. THE LAW OF CHANGE - History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.
11. THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD - All Rewards require initial toil. - Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil. - True joy follows doing what we're suppose to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on its own time.
12. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION - You get back from something whatever YOU have put into it. - The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it. Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole. - Lack luster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.

In short... Be to be happy, you must spread happiness, kindness, respect, and joy. Try it today, and start a new life.

The Beginnings of an Epic Christmas Display

This is the beginning of my most recent Christmas display. Please follow along as it grows until it's lighting on Thanksgiving night. I am always looking for inspiration, so if you have any ideas please send them to me via my Google+ page. Just find the google+ icon on my YouTube Channel.

Make a crafty Mason Jar Light

Mason Jar lights have become very popular, and I wanted one for a Fall/Thanksgiving display I have outside my front door. After pricing them in stores, and online, I decided to do one myself. It went so well I thought you might like to try one for your home as well. As it turns out, the final cost was Free! Please "like", and share, as well as Subscribe for more of my life stuff. Thanks

davidslifestuff

All about everyday real life in david's house.