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Closet organizers have come a long way in recently years. There’s more to them nowadays than just a shelf above a horizontal pole.

Concepts in closet organization have gone from simple home improvement to statements regarding lifestyle. And with the best use of space in mind, it is possible to get all your gear in one place, and keep it handy and orderly.

Admit it, weather going out on the town, preparing for that weekend romp or simply gearing up for work, you get a certain thrill selecting your outfit from a well organized display. What, this doesn’t describe your closet? These closet organizer tips will help.

One of the challenges with crafting any kind of closet storage space is that your needs may change. Most wood shelving is expensive, and it usually can’t expand as your storage needs evolve.

To make the most of your closet organization efforts, you first need to know the potential uses of your space and of the things you want to store. You may be able to use the space you have more efficiently.

Start with a general inventory. This can help you determine your space needs.

Do you and/or your spouse have too many clothes, shoes and other accessories? Are your dressers full and there just doesn’t seem to be enough space in your closet?

Analyze your storage needs, inspect available spaces. Your situation isn’t as bad as it seems.

Closet kits today offer enough flexibility that you can change the design to suit your changing needs, which allows you to customize the closet to fit individual needs and lifestyles.

Or simply tame your piles with pretty colored baskets in all shapes and sizes.

Shoes used to be something that sat on the floor, then came simple shoe racks and shelves. This was great for organization and more protection for expensive shoes.

Closet organizers use the space in your closet that doesn’t ordinarily get used, it expands your storage.

Some organizers simply hang the from the closet rod and store folded clothes, shoes and more on the shelves and in the mesh compartments.

Different components allow you to easily organize and add storage space to your closet; arrange it countless ways and reconfigure it as often as you like.

Telescoping rods and expanding shelves are so quick and easy, you can reconfigure your closet organizer system at any time.

With a hamper basket you have a dedicated spot within the closet for dirty clothes which will help anyone’s room - especially kids rooms - remain a little more organized.

Also consider ventilation: closets - especially those with
hampers - need some air circulation to remain fresh. You might also consider disposable air fresheners designed for use in the closet.

Organize your closet by season, work, weekend or his and hers clothing.

There are enough options on the market to go from basic to one-of-a-kind with add-on accessories such as shoe storage racks, extra closet shelving, wire baskets, and tie & belt organizers to fit your specific needs.

Grow your system as your needs expand and relish that “Glad to get dressed” feeling!

Andrew Porter is an interior designer and frequent content provider for ClosetOrganizer4U.com
For more on closets organizers, closet accessories, storage organizers and design
plans, visit: http://www.closetorganizer4u.com

Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had discovered that taking vitamin E at a level of 400IU or more increases the risk of death. (Jan 2005, Annals of Internal Medicine) I was immediately suspicious because I have studied the scientific literature on vitamin E for over two decades and have come to the exact opposite conclusion. Hundreds of studies have shown the beneficial effects of vitamin E on numerous modern diseases including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, claudication, arthritis, fibrocystic breast disease, epilepsy, infertility, intelligence…you name it. This evidence comes from carefully controlled clinical trials and meta-nalyses and is published in peer-reviewed publications. So what gives with this new “scoop?” Why did it receive the headlines while all the other studies aren’t?

Actually this new information is not new at all. The researcher merely investigated mortality statistics from existing studies and came to a conclusion that people should not take 400IUs of vitamin E (exactly what I have been taking for years and recommending to others) or they may die. In effect he wrote an editorial on other people’s work. That is not science.

Although the writer conceded his conclusions may only apply to those who are already seriously ill and not to healthy people, that is the only balance given in the article. He examined 19 different vitamin E studies performed by others including almost 140,000 people. Surely it would seem statistical meaning would emerge out of that. But as science (and life) always goes, the truth is in the details…details too often left out.

For example in one of the 19 studies, large doses of zinc were also given and this can create a copper deficiency which can lead to heart and other diseases. Although a copper supplement was given, it was in the form of cupric oxide, which is poorly absorbed in the gut.

In another of the studies the group being given the vitamin E were much sicker to begin with, including larger numbers of smokers and higher numbers of those with coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Of course there will be greater mortality in such a group, but it would have nothing to do with the vitamin E they were taking.

Another study was skewed by the fact that participants were also taking a synthetic form of beta-carotene, which has been linked to increased lung cancer and liver damage. You can’t give vitamin E and synthetic beta-carotene to a group and blame mortality on vitamin E!

Finally, not one of the studies used the natural form of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a mixture of tocopherols: alpha, beta, gamma and delta. But only alpha- tocopheral was used. Not only that, but the synthetic isomeric form, D, L-alpha tocopherol was used in many of the studies. Natural vitamin E exists in only the D isomeric form. The synthetic L form is not produced in nature and may even interfere with the benefits of the natural D form.

The gamma-tocopherol has many proven life-lengthening and disease preventing benefits but when high levels of alpha-tocopherol are consumed these benefits may be cancelled by a kind of biochemical interference. Therefore, whatever gamma-tocopherol was being consumed in the diet may have been cancelled out by the supplements in the study.

When one is done looking at the details behind the headlines there remains no basis for suggesting that high levels of natural vitamin E are dangerous, but rather, when considering the entire body of scientific evidence, there is significant reason for believing exactly the opposite! So much for headlines.

Perhaps more important than the misleading nature of the story is the reason why it would receive top billing. News organizations seem to be fiendishly rubbing their hands together just waiting for any little tidbit that could debunk the value of supplements or a natural approach to health. (They receive huge advertising dollars from the pharmaceutical and other medical industries.) Of course the medical community is right there ready to pile on as well. They have a vested interest in maintaining the popular mindset that disease is just one of those things that happen, that people are victims of disease, and doctors are needed for repair. The notion that supplements, food, and lifestyle can prevent or cure disease threatens their grip and profitability.

Never mind that modern health care is the greatest threat to life and health, killing more people than any other cause. (Wysong e-Health Letter: June 19, 2002) That’s not worthy of news, but scaring people away from supplements based upon a flawed study is. We do not live in a rational world.

Is vitamin E supplementation necessary? No, not if you are eating a varied diet of raw, organic, natural foods, living out of doors, exercising daily and are not subject to any workplace or other environmental pollutants. If that is not how you are living, then 400IU of a natural vitamin E tocopherol mix is a very good idea. It is logical since it replaces what would be present in a natural raw diet and helps offset modern toxins, pollutants and stresses. It is also supported by a mountain of good scientific research.

Dr. Wysong is a former veterinary clinician and surgeon, college instructor in human anatomy, physiology and the origin of life, inventor of numerous medical, surgical, nutritional, athletic and fitness products and devices, research director for the present company by his name and founder of the philanthropic Wysong Institute. He is author of The Creation-Evolution Controversy now in its eleventh printing, a new two volume set on philosophy for living, several books on nutrition, prevention and health for people and animals and over 15 years of monthly health newsletters. He may be contacted at Wysong@Wysong.net and a free subscription to his e-Health Letter is available at http://www.wysong.net

Borrowing money has become more and more popular in the UK over recent years, and this is partly due to the fact that it has become far easier to borrow money. The rising popularity of consumer finance has also been aided by the wide variety of deals and the low interest rates available these days. Secured loans have become very popular with those that own property, and this type of finance deal offers affordability and excellent value for money. Secured loans are available from a wide pool of lenders, which means that consumers have plenty of choice when it comes to selecting and applying for secure loans.

The amount available to borrow with secured loans is dependant upon the amount of equity available in your property, which means the amount of the market value minus any loans or mortgage outstanding on it. There are many benefits available with secured loans, and you will find that this type of finance is one of the most cost effective options available. With secured loans you can look forward to far lower interest rates than most standard, unsecured loans, and this is because there is less of a risk to the lender since the loan is secured against an asset.

Secured loans also offer far high borrowing levels than unsecured loans, although the amount available to borrow will depend in your equity. However, you could find yourself eligible to borrow tens of thousands of pounds with secured loans, which could prove invaluable if you are looking to raise a large amount of finance for just about any purpose. The repayment period with secured loans is also far longer than with unsecured loans, which means that your monthly repayments will be far lower.

The other great thing about secured loans is that they are far more easily accessible to those with poor credit than a standard, unsecured loan. This is because the lender has to take less of a risk with secured loans, as they are secured against an asset, and the lender is therefore usually more willing to consider those with bad credit for this type of finance. Bad credit secured loans are available at really reasonable rates, which means that you can enjoy lower repayment terms even if your have a tarnished credit history.

One of the most common reasons for taking out secured loans is to consolidate other loans and credit. Many people pay out a fortune each month on a selection of high credit loans and cards. With secure loans you can wrap up all of that expensive credit in to one convenient loan, and you can then pay just one lot of interest and make just one repayment each month. You can use bad credit secured loans to wrap up your other more costly credit, and even to pay of some debts, and this can go some way toward improving and repairing your credit.

Secure loans are widely available online, and by browsing and booking via the Internet you can quickly ascertain which of these loans best suits you in terms of conditions and interest rates. It is always wise to compare the various deals available on secured loans in order to check that you are getting a competitive deal and rate.

Whatever you are looking to fund or purchase, secured loans make it more affordable and more achievable. If you are using a secure loan in order to consolidate your other loans and credit, you can look forward to far lower repayments each month as well as an overall reduction in the amount of interest you pay. Finding, comparing and applying for secured loans is simple when you harness the power of the Internet, and you can rally speed up the process as well as benefit from total convenience and ease. You are also more likely to find really competitive deals on secured loans when you look online, giving you an even better chance of getting great value on your borrowing.

If you find yourself in need of a fairly large sum of money and you have equity in your property, it makes sense to look into the range of secured loans available. With secured loans you don’t have to worry about unmanageable repayments, because the lower interest rates and longer repayment periods on offer mean that your monthly repayments will be far lower than those of an unsecured loan. Most secured loans can be processed quite quickly these days, and when you apply online you can complete your secured loan application from the comfort of your own home.

With such great deals on offer when it comes to secured loans, this is by far the most cost effective option open to property owners. With many people sitting on large sums of money that is tied up in their property, paying extortionate fees on some unsecured loans makes little sense when you could enjoy far better rates with secured loans, which simply enable you to unlock the money that would otherwise be tied up in your property.

Christos Margetis is the president of Clickgofind
Christos is available for interviews and public speaking. The tips in this article were extracted from Chris’s award- winning website http://www.clickgofind.com/secured_loans/

With an easy basic quick mix, you can make a wide variety of inexpensive homemade biscuits, breads, and other baked goods. This mix is easy to make and store and great for any family on a tight budget.

Basic Quick Mix Recipe

10 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 c. nonfat dry milk
1/3 c. baking powder
1 tbsp. salt
2 c. vegetable shortening (room temperature)

Measure flour into a large bowl. Stir in baking powder, dry milk, and salt, mixing well. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to mix shortening into other ingredients until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

Storing mix:

Store basic quick mix in a ziploc bag or container with a tight lid. This mix can be stored at room temperature about 2 weeks. Will keep a couple of months in refrigerator or freezer. Bring mix to room temperature before using.

Using mix:

Do not sift mix for recipes. Stir lightly before measuring mix. When measuring mix into a bowl, level off measuring cup with the straight edge of a knife.

Basic Biscuits

2 c. basic quick mix
1/2 c. water

Stir together quick mix and water. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board, kneading lightly. Roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut with biscuit cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.

Note: For drop biscuits, increase water to 2/3 cup. After mixing flour and water together, drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. 1/3 c. grated cheese can be added to dough before dropping onto cookie sheet.

Basic Muffins

2 c. basic quick mix
4 tsp. sugar
1 egg, beaten
2/3 c. water

Stir sugar into quick mix. Add water and egg. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 c. full and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Variation: Add 1/2 c. of favorite chopped fruit.

Basic Pancakes

2 c. basic quick mix
1 tsp. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 c. water

Stir sugar into quick mix. Add water and egg. Pour pancakes onto heated griddle, turning pancakes when bubbles appear on the pancake surface.

The Internet is a great source for more quick mix recipes. Just type “quick mix recipes” into your favorite search engine!

About the Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.