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Sick of Doodling? Some of the Coolest Things You Can Do With a Sheet of Paper

High school is one of the most amazing times in the lives of most people. It was the time of crushes, parties and amazing dates. But it wasn't all smiles and laughter-especially come class time. Remember those times when you were so bored and all that you had with you were a pen and paper? Most probably 90% of us are serial offenders when it came to doodling. And it was fun! But just as much as it was fun, there were days when it got old really quick. And didn't you wish you had more things to do with that blank sheet of paper?

But here comes a solution! Since blank sheets of paper are all over the place anyway, here are a few of things that you can still do when you find yourself alone with one:
- Oil collector: A thousand documentaries have revealed the absurdly unhealthy oil content of fried food. So what can you do to at least minimize the harmful effects of this? Put a sheet of paper over your dish. This will allow the paper to absorb some of the excess oil on your food. It can't remove everything though, so avoid pigging out!

- Budget list: A random piece of paper is as good as anything to keep track of your basic needs and wants with their corresponding prices. Not only does it make you more organized and gives more direction to your life, it can also make you more thrifty and help you avoid unnecessary spending.

- Temporary journal/blog entry: For times when you really need to unleash your innermost thoughts and emotions, nothing beats the piece of paper as a temporary home for what will be a future-popular blog entry. So don't hesitate to jot everything down!

- Visual aids for conversations: Sometimes images just say things better than words ever can! And when your best friend or acquaintance just doesn't get it, feel free to use hat sheet of paper you have lying around there to illustrate just what exactly your point is. Anything from stick figures to amazing sketching art will do great.

Why You Shouldn't Throw Stuff Away - The Future Prized Antiques in Your House

It's unique among human beings to treasure those things that are in the past for the sake of their age and their place in history. We all love the Parthenon and we appreciate the Roman Colosseum, because they remind us of old times and past glories. They also help us remember the extent to which humans can dream, and help us achieve those dreams as well. This defiance of time is also evident in the way we appreciate antiques. Almost anything that links us to our distant or almost-distant past can be considered to be an antique. Mostly it would be right to associate the term with pieces o furniture, paraphernalia or accessories from a bygone age that gains value because of its historical placement.

When we think of antiques, we usually think of things from our past. But what about the things that we have all around us now that are sure to be antiques and great finds in about 40 years from now? We take for granted that the most natural things around us will probably increase their values tenfold with the passing of time.

These are a few that people in the future may just end up buying:
Movie Posters: With the way technology is moving right now, with almost all of the arts available in computers or over the Internet, movie posters of old may be extinct in the not too distant future. The advent of file sharing and computer -generated movies and effects may render them obsolete before you even know it.

Kitchen Appliances: Just like those ancient mortars an pestles, our egg beaters, blenders, grills and juicers will soon be museum pieces. A lot of those items in the Home TV Network will probably fetch a handsome price 50 to 60 years from now.

Harry Potter Memorabilia: just like the Star Wars memorabilia that still have a lot value for collectors to this very day, the literary craze known as Harry Potter will most likely have a following far, far into the future. It may or may not become a bona fide literary classic but we all have this series to thank for helping children and grownups around the world rediscover the magic of reading again.

Button Watches: Save those busted Rolexes, Casios and Seikos. With the way that classic timepieces have been selling at auction houses, these are almost guaranteed to sell for a high price, maybe even just 20 years from now!
So there is a lot to be gained over the years by the simple act of not throwing stuff or giving them away

10 Tips For Moving Into an Apartment

Once you have found the perfect apartment and executed all the paper work you can now move in and enjoy the place.

Moving can be an intimidating process and it is quite hard to decide what to take with you and what to leave behind. Check with the apartment super whether the elevator can be used during the move and whether the apartment has any rules.

The key to success is to be organized and plan your move. Here are a few tips:
1. Decide on when you want to move and make a moving plan. The plan should include details like what will be moved, who will do the packing, and the mover you will use.

2. Make a list for things you need to do. Make sure you inform banks, the post office, the school, gym, library, family and friends.

3. An important job is to contact utility companies and make arrangements to turn on the electricity, phone, and water supply. Also contact cable TV and internet providers.

4. Study the apartment plan carefully. Note down the size of the rooms and the size of the furniture you will place in it. Evaluate shelf space and closet space in the apartment, this will help you decide on how many books, curios, linen, kitchenware, and clothing you can accommodate comfortably.

5. Spend time in your old home and sort your belongings into: things that are absolutely essential and can be stored in the apartment comfortably; those that you cannot bear to part with and so must be stored; and ones that can be sold or given away. Consider storing what you will not use in your rental home in readily available storage units located close to the apartment.

6. Begin packing at least six weeks before the day you plan to move. First pack carefully all things you do not plan to take with you and then the rest. Label each box carefully and make entries on an inventory table. Use linen and clothing to buffer delicate and breakable items. If your furniture or decorative items are very valuable consider taking moving insurance for more than what the moving company offers. Pack room wise and tape things like screws and bolts in plastic sealed envelopes to the furniture itself.

7. Select a suitable mover. Find one that has expertise in apartment moving. Insist on a watertight contract. In case you own a piano find a mover who has expertise in moving pianos. Antiques too need special movers.

8. If you plan on doing the moving using a u-haul then invite friends over to help shift the boxes. Hire a u-haul of convenient size and find out what rules regarding moving are.

9. Plan on moving on a holiday or during off peak hours. Check whether all your moving documents are in good order.

10. Before closing up your old home make sure the utilities are all turned off and all windows and doors are safely fastened. Similarly, make sure essentials like light, water, and heat or air conditioning are turned on and working in your new apartment. Have a picnic meal on day one.
The easy way to settle in is to unpack the boxes containing kitchen and bedroom items first followed by the rest. Moving can be done without distress and affordable if done patiently and systematically.

Small Town Life - More Than It's Cracked Up to Be

There are a lot of wonderful things to be said about small town life. Unless you prefer the constant, fast pace of city life, small towns offer a different quality of life; affording you an opportunity to slow down and "smell the roses"! Some people believe a small town will "isolate" them, forcing them to give up the modern day amenities that are near and dear to their hearts. This could not be farther from the truth. You don't have to lose out on modern America while living in a small town. The same transportation, education, cable packages, internet connections, and phone services are available along with tons of stuff to do!

Family, Community, Fun
Many small towns offer a different sense of community that you may find in city life. With familiar faces and fewer people, there is a strong sense of pride in everyday activities. A jog around the park is something to savor, rather than squeezed between a subway ride and dinner. Many small towns like Carrollton, Georgia offer recreational activities for everyone from young to old, from peewee football to the Red Hat Society. There is also a lot of support for cultural arts in most mall towns - they tend to happily support their local artisans, authors, and often have things going on at their cultural arts centers and libraries. Small towns revolve many of their activities around their love for nature. Hunting, fishing, boating, golfing, gardening, and hiking are just a few of these activities. Cleaner air and a slower pace also account for healthier living. Typically, crime rates are much lower as well, providing a more stress free environment and lifestyle!

Best of Both Worlds
Living in a small town does not mean you have to forfeit modern amenities. If the large stores you love are not in a small town, chances are they are located in a big town not too far away. With little traffic, you have easy access to every day needs just minutes away. Also, small towns tend to have offer small shops and boutiques, many offering high-end or one-of-a-kind items. Many popular chain restaurants have worked their way into the hearts of small towns, side by side with the mom and pop diners, making it hard to decide between a delicious greasy burger or a portabello steak. The cost of living in a small town is often lower in a small town than in a city, and a backyard is usually standard, not a luxury. Modern amenities, a sense of belonging, little crime, endless activities, healthy living, and a variety of shops and restaurants are just some of the things that make small town America so appealing to many people! Many find small town living to be the perfect way to live out the rest of their lives.

Laundry Detergent Side Effects

Something as simple and ordinary as cleaning your clothes in a washing machine can have serious repercussions. The chemicals used in these cleaning agents are hardly user-friendly.
In fact, many of them contain cancer-causing chemicals, as well as other harmful toxins. As a consumer, you should familiarize with some of the common terminology that is often overlooked but may have longer lasting ramifications than ever before thought.

There are some very specific ingredients to watch out for and avoid when you examine the label on laundry detergent. Some of these chemicals have even been banned or restricted due to their noxious side effects.

One such common chemical found in laundry detergent are petroleum distillates, or napthas. Having been linked to cancer, lung damage and/or inflammation, and mucous membrane damage, this is a very harmful chemical.

Along the same lines, another family of harmful chemicals are phenols. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has declared that phenol is toxic to people, especially those who are hypersensitive. The hypersensitive population could experience very dangerous side effects or even death, even at low exposures. Additionally, it can absorb very rapidly, causing toxicity through the whole body.

Should phenol be absorbed into the body, death and toxicity are prone to attack the central nervous system, heart, blood vessels, lungs and kidneys.

Further, another active ingredient in laundry detergent is household bleach, or sodium hypochlorite. Responsible for the majority of household poisonings, this chemical is a forerunner to chlorine.

The results can be even more harmful when it reacts with other organic materials,. Carcinogenic and toxic compounds are created. These have been know to cause disorders or damage to the reproductive system as well as the immune and endocring systems.

With so many disadvantages to using traditional laundry detergents, it s no surprise that consumers are becoming more educated about what it takes to go green and make changes for the better in their own homes and in the world. From fragrance to whiteners, detergents have become increasingly dangerous to use, especially on a regular basis.

Many who have families do laundry on such a frequent basis that these dangers posed by toxins should not go ignored. As the awareness grows for the dangers of the chemicals found in laundry detergents and other similar products, companies will have to shift their focus to a greener, safer line of goods.

In order to reduce the use of these potentially harmful products, alternatives are constantly being developed that aim to be environmentally friendly, and healthier for us.