Sometimes you see a brilliant idea. Yet, it's not really that brilliant, it's a lot more like...an obvious idea. The one that we all wonder why we didn't come up with it.

Well, here is a prime example. It is the 360^o mirror, using a 7 panel system. With one easy manouvre you can see all the way around your head.

Ingenious.   Now why didn't I think of that?

(Source)

Feng Shui is a Chinese belief that involves harnessing the energy flow around us. Followers believe that when you know the principles of the flow of Qi (Ch’i), or energy, you can create a happier and more harmonious environment.

Here are some tips from Feng Shui Living to get you started:

House and Garden

• Remove all rubbish, clutter and bad smells from each room in the house and garden as this leads to blockages.
• Throw out unwanted goods, as this suggests you are holding on to the past.
• Fix flaking paint as this suggests tiredness.
• Repair leaky taps as this suggests gradual loss of income.
• Healthy plants, fresh flowers, nice smells (aromatherapy) and good music attract good energy and lift your spirits.
• Maintain a good supply of fresh air by opening windows and allowing the air to circulate.
• Avoid sleeping near electrical equipment as the electrical fields they emit are potentially harmful to your health.

Entrance to your House

• The energy coming through the door is the single most important factor that will determine how prosperous the occupants will be
• The path to the front door should be wide & spacious & well lit. Curved windy paths leading to the main entrance are auspicious
• A beautiful picture placed on the wall opposite the main door is used to encourage energy into the home & therefore opportunities to come into your life
• Place two wide leaved plants next to the main door to help entice the energy in such as peace lilies
• Avoid facing a dark, pokey room, an interior staircase, mirror, stove, sink, fireplace, the door of a toilet, laundry, bathroom or bedroom. To remedy this keep the doors closed or place a screen between the doors

Bedroom

• The bed head should be against a solid wall. This will provide you with a sense of support & security when sleeping
• You should be able to see the whole room while lying in bed
• Avoid placing the foot of the bed in direct alignment with the door as this is the coffin position
• Your bed should not be located under an exposed beam
• Avoid mirrors as they are harmful to relationships especially if they are directly opposite the bed. Remove them or cover them over while sleeping
• Avoid clutter as Qi should flow easily through the room. It is particularly important that you do not store anything under the bed
• Red candles in the South west (relationship) sector of the room are a romantic feature which will encourage intimacy amongst a couple. (never leave them unattended)

Study

• It is essential that you have a solid wall behind you as it will provide more backing for your ideas & lends authority to your presence
• You should be able to see who is coming through the door. This gives you a sense of being in control of your work
• You should also see the whole room from your desk. This will ensure you have mastery over all you do, you will think more clearly, your judgement will be sound & you will be respected
• Clear clutter, as a cluttered desk reflects a cluttered mind
• Plants, flowers & wind chimes are great in a study or office as they provide yang Qi to the whole room. This encourages you to be productive, maintain good concentration & obtain good ideas
• Good ventilation is important, open windows are great
 

This would have made the perfect Father's Day present for those with an unlimited budget. It's a massage chair that also looks after your wellbeing.

 As you recline in the luxury of your heated OSIM uSpace leather chair, you will receive a full body massage customised for your own accupuncture points. As you are being invigorated and caressed from head to toe, your senses will be enlivened by your favourite music as the chair adapts itself to match the tempo and the rhythym. The chair also comes with mood lighting and surround air cushions to give your tired feet and aching calves the royal treatment.

Unfortunately, it also comes with a royal price tag, at around US$6000. But oh, how lovely it would be.

(Source)

Buying gifts should be an enjoyable event, not something you dread doing! For most people, buying presents normally ends up being a stressful job, which leads to frustration and a lot of the time they leave with nothing because they can’t decide. It doesn’t have to be like this though!

The trick to buying a present is to really think about what the person enjoys, their personality and what they really need. There is nothing worse then receiving a present that may be beautiful, but in the end will end up unused. So, before you hit the shops think about these five main questions and make a list of your answers and some possible gift ideas:

How much money can you afford to spend?

This first question will ultimately rule out lots of choices and make your time shopping shorter! Rather than putting yourself in debt, really work out your budget and work around this. A gift doesn’t need to be expensive to make it special, it just needs to have thought put into it.

Are they male or female?

Women are generally easier to buy presents for because you can just buy them some face or body products and they will be happy! Otherwise, everyone is usually happy with some good DVDs, CD's or books.

How old are they?

People of common ages have common interests so this will cut down your shopping time if you can determine what things may interest them. Shop assistants are great for getting advice from, so ask them what they find to be common gifts for specific ages.

What is the occasion?

Are you buying the gift for a wedding, birthday, anniversary or simply a thank you present? If it is for a wedding present, think about what the newly weds may need in terms of household goods, appliances etc. Quite often if you are buying a thank you present it only needs to be something small to show your gratitude, so even a nice bottle of wine and some delicious food is suitable for this!

What are their hobbies?

Do they play sport, enjoy music, play an instrument, enjoy reading or cooking? This is an opportunity to think about whether they need some new sport equipment, cook books or a new CD.

Once you have taken all these questions into consideration, select a day to go shopping when you know you will have a lot of time to select your gift. There is nothing worse than a last minute present buy because there will be no thought put into it, so make sure you leave plenty of time.

If you really have no clue on what to buy them, gift certificates are always a winner, BUT make sure you buy them one from a shop where you know they would actually buy something from themselves. There is no point in buying a Dymocks gift voucher for someone if you know they haven’t read a book in years! 

Tip: Save the more personal gifts such as jewellery and perfume for that special someone and for a special occasion.

Buying jewellery as a gift

Jewellery makes a very personal gift, so is usually saved for that special someone, or someone you are very close to. Buying jewellery doesn’t necessarily have to cost you and arm and a leg, it’s a matter of finding out what the recipient likes and working this into what you can afford.

Some things to consider when buying jewellery as a gift include the following:

• Do they prefer silver, bronze or gold?
• What type of jewellery do they wear most often- rings, necklaces or bracelets? Or do they actually wear jewellery at all?
• What are you trying to say by giving them this gift? Rings are probably the most personal of all jewellery gifts because they are traditionally traded by lovers, so take this into consideration before you purchase the ring for your brand new girlfriend/boyfriend! Guys, beware of buying diamond rings for your girl unless you’re ready for commitment!
• Do they like plain jewellery or do they like a particular stone? E.g. diamonds, pearls, rubies, topaz or amethyst? If you’re unsure maybe think about the coloured clothes that this person wears most because this quite often will be the colour of their favourite stone!
• Take their lifestyle factors into consideration- do they work in a job that does not allow them to wear rings for example? If so, maybe buy them a necklace instead so they can get wear out of it.
• Do they already own something similar to what you’re about to purchase? If so, then put some extra thought into the present and buy them something original and that will really blow them away.
   

If you’re unsure of some of the answers to these questions, a good way to really find out what they like is to ask a close friend/family member who would know- but if you’re really unsure what they like then maybe jewellery isn’t the gift to be buying this person just yet because really, it should be saved for someone special who you really know!

Buying perfume as a gift

This is another personal gift to be buying, so is quite hard to make that final decision on which type to choose. How do you know what perfume they like? This is a tricky one…so the main question you do need to think about is this:

• What type of personality do they have?
• Are they outgoing, shy, sporty, flirty or romantic at heart?

Different perfumes have different scents which suit different types of personalities. Some are fruity, musky, floral, or have a woody scent and they all suit different types of people depending a lot on their personality. So, if the person you are buying the perfume for is quite sporty, go for something fresh, maybe with an oceanic scent because it resembles the outdoors. Or, if they are quite outgoing and loud, it’s fair to say they will prefer a bold, musky scent that really stands out in the crowd.

Before your purchase the perfume it’s probably best to find out what other scents they already own. This way, you will get more of an idea on what types of scents they like. Another good tip is to go and get some samples of different perfumes, ask the person your buying for the smell them all (pretending they are for you!) and ask them which ones they like best.

Perfume is probably one of the hardest presents to buy a person because there are so many different types available and everyone has their own individual tastes, so it’s best saved for someone you feel you really know!

Happy shopping!