Should You Go Backless?

Nothing else quite shows your personal taste like leather barstools Regardless of the décor style, leather barstools bring a sophisticated look and feel to any kitchen island, breakfast bar, family room or den. The trick to attaining the appearance and functionality that best suits your lifestyle is to determine the purpose of the barstool and the overall form or profile you want your barstools to have.

When selecting barstools or counter stools, many people associate comfort with backrests. But others are loyal supporters of the backless barstool. Both backless stools and bar stools with backs have their own unique advantages. At Leather Barstool Select, you will find a number of both types of stylish leather bar or counter stools to choose from.

Since there is more barstool to look at, leather stools with backs can appear more impressive. Typically, the backrest of a barstool is where many of the stool’s defining decorative details can be found. Especially in the case of leather barstools where the seat back is made of wood, metal or a combination of both, the contrast between the leather upholstery and the backrest can be striking, adding texture to your décor while creating visual interest. The Hillsdale Lilly 30 Inch Wood Bar Stool is an excellent example of how leather and wood combine with stunning effect.

Aside from added comfort, another advantage of choosing leather barstools with a back is they are safer if children will be using them on a regular basis, since the backrest can help to prevent them from tipping backwards. Leather upholstery for a bar stool or counter stool might be the last type of material you would choose when buying stools for a family with children. However, you might want to reconsider. Leather is extremely resilient. A high quality leather barstool is durable and fairly easy to maintain, and it doesn’t necessarily have to cost much more than its faux leather counterpart.

At first glance, there might appear to be fewer reasons for opting for a backless leather barstool. But there are several advantages to consider, particularly when purchasing leather stools for rooms or counters where space is an issue. Backless leather barstools tend to take up less floor space than ones with backs. They are also lighter and easier to move around if and when you need additional seating in any of the other rooms of your home. Sitting down on a backless leather bar stool or counter stool is simpler.

The main advantage of backless stools, however, is esthetics. Because the profile of the barstool is unimpeded by the backrest, a backless leather barstool like the Hillsdale Backless Montello 30 Inch Swivel Leather Bar Stool is an excellent choice for high traffic areas, since the stools can be pushed underneath the counter or gathering table without hiding or obstructing their esthetic qualities.

Take a look at our great selection of leather barstools at Leather Barstool Select and you’re sure to find the ones that will perfectly fit your taste and style.

Online Shopping Safety

The internet has changed our lives in so many profound ways. One of the ways it has, has been with shopping. Whether you are looking for clothes, electronics, cars, household goods, or whatever it is that tickles your fancy, you can find an online retailer that sells it. And don't think for a second that online shopping is just a fad. According to statistics released by StatsCan in November 2008, online shopping propensity has actually increased to $12.8 B in 2007, up 62% from two years earlier.

More and more people are opting to shop from home. The benefits are pretty clear: more convenient, less time consuming, less stressful as there are no line-ups or parking issues, no travel costs are involved, etc. But even with those benefits, some still prefer to go out to their favorite mall or shop. And there are several reasons for that. Some like going out because it can be considered an activity, some like it because of the touch and feel aspect involved in traditional shopping.

But for some, a simple distrust for online shopping is still holding them back. Many people still feel unsafe about using their credit cards online. Some people think they won't be getting what they paid for or for anything at all. Yes, as the number of credible and reliable online stores increases, so too are the scammers looking to make a quick buck. But how can you prevent internet thievery? Perhaps one of the best ways to do this would be to familiarize yourself with some of the qualities of a good online store.

Most credible online stores can usually be identified and separated from the shady ones usually from pure aesthetics. However, you can't simply rely on what looks good, because many more internet thieves nowadays are getting better at web and graphic designs. So what else can you look for?

One of the first things you should look for is for contact information. Make sure there is a dedicated customer service line you can contact so as to ensure you aren't working with a faceless company. Another thing to look out for is a standard return policy. Most credible online retailers will give you the opportunity to return your item for a full refund as long as certain requirements are made (depending on the retailer, of course). If a store you are planning on buying from doesn’t have a standard return policy, then it's best to stay away.

Other important information to look out for includes the terms and conditions. This information describes what you are agreeing to, and what the retailer is offering you. The terms and conditions may also include other types of information such as privacy policies, shipping info, and security assurances.

On the note of security, not all retailers will have the exact services, but it definitely makes things clearer of who's legit versus those who aren't, if they are partnered with McAfee Secure or Thawte. Both these companies ensure the security of online retailers across the World Wide Web. Also search for credibility from third party sources as well such as the BBB (Better Business Bureau) or Internet Retailer (if they are included in Internet Retailer's Top 500 List, you can almost guarantee the site is perfectly safe and legit).

Finally, look for other payment options other than using your credit cards. Companies like Google (Google Checkout), Paypal, and BillMeLater only agree to work with retailers who are 100% trustworthy and meet all statutory requirements. For added assurance that you are working with a safe online store, try searching the site for customer testimonials as well (past customers who have left positive feedback about their experiences with the retailer).

A good example of an online retailer who meets all of the above is Cymax Stores. Cymax was founded in 2004, selling TV stands and other home theater furniture. They have since increased their product breadth to include bedroom, living room, dining room, and office furniture, as well as other small household products. Since its inception over 4 years ago, Cymax has seen growth in the online retail business of over 100% year after year. The navigation of their 100+ niche market sites is very user-friendly, and as noted, they cover all of the grounds covered above.

So next time you want to go shopping, but it's too cold to go outside, or you don’t want to spend money of gasoline, try your hand at shopping online. Online shopping is growing in popularity at break-neck speed and can be quite convenient most of the times. And with this information on hand, you'll be able to know how to differentiate the contenders from the pretenders, and make a successful, safe and secure online purchase.

Filing It Away for a Rainy Day

At first glance, file cabinets might seem like the most boring pieces of office furniture around. But consider this: remember the last time you spent 20 frustrating minutes searching for a document only to discover that it had “just” been misfiled? A good filing cabinet, chosen specifically for your work environment may be the best way to protect yourself against loss or misuse of the data that is so valuable to your business. At More Filing Cabinets we can help.

Maybe we won’t be able to protect you entirely from well-meaning employees, but you will be able to find a wide variety of file cabinets, in different sizes and configurations, with or without locks, that will meet your high standards as well as your business requirements. File cabinets can be as simple and uncomplicated as your standard letter size vertical metal cabinet with two or more drawers to fireproof lateral filing cabinets that are as strong as a safe.

Before buying a file cabinet for your office, consider what you will be using the cabinet for and the features you want it to have. Do you work with blueprints or survey maps? A roll file cabinet would be a good choice. However, if you’re buying a file storage system for a doctor’s or dentist’s office, stackable, lateral filing cabinets will give you plenty of room and allow for future expansion. Think just because you have a small business, you might be able to get away with storing any important papers you need in the top drawer of your desk? A standard file cabinet that can accommodate both letter and legal sized files will get you organized and give you confidence in knowing that documents vital to your business are safe and secure.

Lateral file cabinets do use more floor space than vertical file cabinets, but one lateral file drawer can hold more files than a standard vertical file drawer. Lateral filing cabinets are generally more versatile since they can accommodate both letter and legal sized folders in the same drawer. Keep in mind, that the files in a lateral file cabinet will face the side of the cabinet instead of directly facing the person opening the drawer.

While you may not have the resources for a storage safe with an inch-thick complex steel lock, a well-designed file cabinet should still provide you with enough protective features to give you peace of mind. Many types of office filing cabinets have a single-lock system that locks all the drawers. Some kinds of locks will lock one drawer, usually the top one, only. If this will be a concern, ask how the file cabinet security system works before you make a final decision.

Whatever your filing cabinet needs, More Filing Cabinets has file storage solutions suited for a variety of work environments as well as for the home office.

Resolution Time

The close of a calendar year and the beginning of a new one leaves some of us feeling obligated to make positive changes in our lives. For many, it’s a commitment to increased fitness with an aim to better overall health, and here at Cymax Stores we’ve got the fitness equipment you need to take on the challenge in the comforts of your own home.

In truth, these early days of January are no different than any of the other 360-plus of the year ahead, yet the allure of “a fresh start” to go with a new year creates something of a now-or-next year mystique. One that leads many to believe you’ve got to seize the initiative now in making NEW YEARS resolutions rather than just a plain old resolution that is taken up sometime during the next 11 months.

It’s been suggested that many individuals draw inspiration for their resolutions from the rejuvenative period that is the holidays. Family, friends, celebrations and a general sense of well-being “recharge the batteries,” so to speak, and provide us with a feeling of empowerment that we can and should undertake these challenges come January. Often times, however, once the daily grind resumes itself we may lose that wind in our sails.

I’m reminded of a cartoon I saw once where a decidedly large wealthy socialite announces her resolution is to “get in shape” while making short-work of an entire Yule Log cake. The next frame shows her decked head to toe in work out wear, spandex pants, head and wrist bands etc., but brandishing a platinum Visa as she makes her way into a liposuction clinic.

For those of us with tighter purse strings, a desire for real results and some grasp on reality, it’s understandable when things may not fall into place with your fitness resolution as you’d hoped. Here are 3 tips to stay motivated:

1. Time and schedule permitting, try to exercise first thing in the morning. Your metabolic rate will be at its highest and you will burn calories most efficiently. Also, you are less likely to put off your workout on account of being “too tired” – the most common excuse.
2. Try to leave time in your week as “flex time” where you can make up for workouts lost for whatever reason. Should you stick to your workout plan exactly as planned, use this flex time as a reward of sorts to partake in any activity you love. (Eating entire Yule logs is inadvisable however.) Also keep in mind kinesiologists say you must undertake any regime at least 3 times a week for it to be effective to the extent where you will “see results.”
3. For effective results that can be seen more quickly, combine cardiovascular / aerobic training with resistance training. For example, if you have 30 minutes at your disposal for each session, spend 15 minutes running, cycling or at any other similar exercise and 15 minutes lifting weights in some capacity. Compound resistance training exercises, where more than one muscle group is put to use, are most effective in facilitating calorie burning.

Fortunately, Cymax Stores has all the equipment you’ll need to fashion a workout that best suits your needs. For example, most men wish to lose a little around the midsection and tone up their musculature. Pairing a Phoenix Motorized Treadmill with a Phoenix Power Bench will give you a reasonably priced, top-quality workout station that is not overly space-consumptive and can accordingly be located in a rec. room or similar area.

Women often desire to firm and tighten all over the body, and for that task there is no more effective piece of equipment than an elliptical machine. Pair some time with a MultiSports Fitness Elliptix Dual Action Crosstrainer Elliptical and the aforementioned 3 times-a-week commitment and you’ll be on the fast track to the results you want to see. Stair Stepper units are not as multi-muscle group oriented as the ellipticals, but for pure gluteal conditioning you can’t beat a stepper. A MultiSports Fitness Ultimate 2200 Programmable Stepper can be adjusted to different levels of resistance to keep you pushing yourself towards your goals.

Whatever your New Year’s Resolution may be, stay positive and realize changes don’t happen overnight. In addition, do try to remember you’re not delayed until the dawn 2010 should it come derailed. “New Year’s” Resolutions have taken on something of a limited identity in this regard, but making life changes for the positive are possible all year long.

Should you have one or more, good luck and be resilient!

Merry Christmas from Cymax Stores!!!

Cymax Stores would like to wish everybody a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! May the holidays and the coming New Year be joyful and filled with happiness!

Big thanks to all Cymax customers and supporters! Because of you 2008 has been our most successful year in our 4 years of serving you! For that, we thank you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CYMAX STORES!!!

Black Friday, Cyber Monday Deals

To mark the official opening of the Christmas shopping season, Cymax Stores is offering special Black Friday deals, from Nov. 28 until Dec. 1 also known as Cyber Monday (statistically the busiest online shopping day). Throughout the weekend, we will be offering approximately 500 items, from TV stands to luggage, at special sale prices that will save you a bundle.

Browse our extensive selection of jewelry boxes for some great gift ideas, including musical jewelry boxes, children’s jewelry boxes with or without music and a range of handy men’s jewelry valets and travel cases. You will also find a wide selection of jewelry armoires at JewelryArmoireSelect.com in every style and color imaginable, one that will be absolutely perfect for that perfect someone.

Other great Black Friday promotions include:

• - 15% off all Samsonite luggage
• - 10% off on select SEI jewelry armoires
• - 10% off select SEI fireplaces
• - Free Lamp with purchase of select Standard Furniture coffee table sets
• - Free Nightstand with purchase of select Modus Beds

Christmas is coming! Get ready for it and save money too! With great savings on dining tables, grandfather clocks, Magnussen furniture and other great products, you’re sure to find the perfect gift, whether it’s for that special someone or for yourself.

New Linens for a Tired Bed

If the bed in your guest room looks a little tired, wake it up in time for the holidays with new bedding from MoreBeddingSets.com. To make a good impression on the in-laws, it doesn’t have to mean a major renovation. A new bedding set in a bold pattern can transform your “old” bed into a visually stunning focal point that will make the bedroom welcoming and comfortable.

Before purchasing a comforter set or a duvet set, take stock of the furnishings currently in the room to determine the style. Even if the pieces don’t exactly match one another, one particular style will be dominant. You can’t put the décor style into words? Don’t panic. Look around your bedroom. How would you describe the décor? Does it display the country charm of a bed-and-breakfast inn? Or is it more formal like an Italian villa on the Mediterranean? Bed linens can also introduce harmony into a room’s décor when they are matched in color to the walls and window treatments as well as to the style of furnishings.

Contemporary bedding sets are all about texture and geometric patterns. They can reflect the colors found in nature, from muted earth tones to the vibrant shades found in exotic flowers. The Hallmart Gramercy Queen Comforter Bedding Set is a perfect example of how successfully shape and texture can be blended together.

Still contemporary, but for a more casual look, choose a bedding set like the Chicago Textile Prairie Bedding Set. It has minimal decorative detail but the colors in the bedskirt give the set definition.

If a regular visitor to your home is a sports fan or if someone in your household is, maybe sporty is the way to go. Sports Coverage manufactures sports team logo bedding sets is a range of combinations and colors. You’re sure to find your favorite team’s logo in a bedding set that will appeal to your team spirit.

Classic bedding sets are characterized by patterns and colors that have a timeless feel. They are ideal for country and traditional décors. For a room with country style furniture, choose bedding linens like the Southern Textiles Bed and Breakfast Provence Bedding Set with a distinctive floral theme. In a more formal traditional style, the Lawrence Home Fashions Madeira Comforter Set mixes together fabrics for a soothing, warm effect.

For that final finishing touch, select a bedding set that includes a pillow pack. Accent pillows of varying sizes and in different textures can add visual interest to your bedroom. They also draw the eye to the center of the bed, giving it an inviting look and feel.

Dead Man’s Hand

The accompanying twangs of a certain song paired with his looking at the array of poker tables at Cymax Stores to jar his memory. So long ago, but the memory was so poignant it rushed back with a decided clarity and weight...

It had been a cold and blustery night, par for early February in rural Wyoming. The snow was not falling, but rogue flakes swirled in the air disturbed from their drifts by the intermittent gusts. Nothing projected to be extraordinary as he pulled his pickup off the interstate into the parking lot of yet another non-descript roadside bar. The old Chevy protested its misaligned timing belt as it sputtered to a halt while he made his way to the door.

His opening it coincided with a powerful surge of wind. The frigid blast roared into the dimly lit room, disturbing the single smoke-yellowed chandelier on the high ceiling enough to make his entry as noticeable as it could be for the small handful of inhabitants. Peanut husks crunched beneath his feet as he sauntered to the counter, and it was just then that the strained notes of a tack piano raced from the far wall to seemingly take him back in time.

Perhaps he had dismissed the sign outside that read “Newell’s Saloon” as novelty too soon. This place was something straight out of the Wild West; the walls were bare save a few similarly nicotine-stained oil paintings and a single wood stove tucked into a far corner was approaching a smolder. Only two tables were occupied, and the ones that weren’t featured long-dried spills and dusty bohemian stemware that suggested the place hadn’t had so much as a once-over in months. A number of disinterested can-can girls and you would have thought it was a slow weeknight in an early 19^th century boomtown.

He approached the suspendered and bespectacled barkeep wondering if his ordering a scotch would have him be presented with a bottle of rotgut. The man seemed to look at him vacuously as he continued to wipe over a snifter that was as clean as it was going to get considering the bar rag in his hands. Sure enough, he was presented with a muddy-toned glass bottle and a single glass and not so much as a word from the keep. Not quite firewater, but it carried quite a roughly distilled taste that was strangely agreeable on such a cold evening.

It was as he turned from the bar that the moment found its zenith. The two seated patrons were as far apart in demeanor as were their tables. One gruff sort tapped his heavy boot on the floor, surprisingly in time with the distinctive tune considering the near empty bottle in front of him belied the stupor making it increasingly difficult to keep his head up. The other rugged character appeared as fully cognizant, despite an equally depleted bottle at his side as well. His piercing eyes stood out on his bearded face and had an ominous quality beneath the brim of his black hat.

He sat at a table that was emphatically similar to the Northwoods Billiards Log Poker Table that was now staring back at him onscreen all these years later, a beautifully rustic piece that was now all to fitting considering the retro-sensory old world overload that had been the last few minutes. Log-hewn and suitably unfinished, it had an immediate presence that grew out of its weathered bulk and the number of cigarette burns along its edges. The nostalgic value this poker table took on from his memory made it impossible for him not to be drawn to the “Add to Cart” icon at the right side of the page...

There was something about this character and the moment as a whole that beckoned him towards the table without so much as a word being spoken. The man merely nodded, lit a cigarette and drained his half-full glass before cutting the cards methodically. The meek piano man finished his tune and shuffled off into a back room hurriedly and the interlude made clear the wind had picked up as it bullied the window panes. The silence was broken temporarily as the drunkard’s head thudded to the table, but as the first card flew from the man’s hands heavy footsteps could be heard approaching the door. He waited to turn over his cards, and upon doing so read them clearly - aces and eights.

Time to go

Swordsman’s Resolve

Montricher’s scabbard clattered off the wet cobblestones as he lost his balance rounding the corner at full speed. The calamity of merchants and citizens being bowled over and their startled cries were all he needed to know the palace guards were hot on his tail.

Fortune smiled on him as a trolley of potatoes toppled over ahead and he nimbly swift-stepped over the rolling spuds before his pursuers were thwarted by the throng of poor folk who flooded into the street to snatch one or two before order was restored.

Ahead he saw yet another group of anxiously swivel-headed guards and he quickly cut down an alleyway, narrowly avoiding a fall of waste water that splashed his tall boots with all manner of filth. The end of the squalor lane led to much of the same – a busy rue increasingly thick with guards clearly on the lookout for someone and something. That someone, obviously, was Montricher himself, but of greater concern to them, and their sergeant-at-arms most particularly, was the silver pendant resting in his breast pocket atop his heaving chest.

He removed his plumed hat, and steeled himself to the rotten burlap sack that he wrapped over his tunic and the equally fetid mud he smeared across his face to disguise himself as one of the innumerable poor souls that shuffled through the streets of Havertreille. His father had wanted him to follow in his cooper’s footsteps but he had an exceptional skill for sword fighting and was drawn to the allure of defending the monarchy.

Luck again seemed to be on his side as he reached the steps of the honorable J.F. D’Ormonde’s residence without further incident. The respected magistrate and trusted long-time confidante was the only one he could trust to clear his name and prove that the pendant incriminated the sergeant in the kidnapping of Mademoiselle Descoteaux. Repeated knocks went unanswered, and the commotion that moved up the lane left him no choice. He picked the lock with ease in no time at all, as the King’s Elite Guard were equally well-trained in the illicit arts as well.

He removed his soiled boots and took care not to drip any blood onto the hall carpet as he made his way into the judge’s study. He took a seat at D’Ormonde’s writing desk, a beautiful crescent-shaped piece with marquetry inlays, a scalloped apron and long cabriole legs that fittingly had all the trappings of the intellectual elite. The good judge would sit at his Powell Masterpiece Hunt Desk and put his thoughts to paper with a quill pen and glass of fine cognac, and Montricher remembered this image fondly from his youth when the judge had taken him under his wing after his father’s passing. He had hoped he might have the same good fortune to be able to decorate a den of his own in a similar style with a visit to WritingDeskSelect.com , but it seemed such a life would never be his.

A series of impatient knocks at the door made it known time was of the essence. Montricher removed one of his custom-monogrammed black swordsman’s gloves, a gift from the magistrate years earlier, and dropped the pendant into it. A violent crash and the accompanying stampede of boots meant he had but seconds to spare. Even the old judge had vices, and Montricher quickly opened the baseboard in the floor in which D’Ormonde hid his opium and dropped the glove into it before re-concealing the spot.

He unsheathed his rapier in anticipation of their arrival and smiled to himself knowing they’d prefer to take him alive. Either way would have been fine, but as they escorted him from the building he saw the good judge standing in the crowd and winked at him with an all-knowing confidence.

It was only a matter of time, and pain was a temporary sensation.

Oh, To Have Been a Scribe

The fact that, in 1^st and 2^nd world countries at least, illiteracy has been by and large eradicated is an achievement worthy of praise and of tremendous benefit to society as a whole. The ability to read and write is no longer the divider it once was for everyone from children to adults, and the campaigns for literacy that began 30-plus years ago have been a great success. So much so in fact that Generation X folks like myself and the Y / Z s who’ve followed seem to take it for granted.

If I told you that at some point in the past and in a certain part of the world, your being literate was the only qualification necessary to ensure you a very well-paying, well-respected profession where you, among other perks, NEVER PAID TAXES – would you believe me?

In Ancient Egypt, scribes were part of the royal court who documented everything from the musings of the nobility to administrative and economic policies to legal statutes and much in between. They were compensated very well for their work and enjoyed many of the benefits of being faithful servants of the pharaoh or other nobility. Further, they had absolute job security as literacy was shared by only a tiny percentage of the population and nearly exclusively it was a skill passed down from older scribes to their sons. When not taking hand-written notes or assembling their submissions, these men would also read to their wealthy employers who could not do so on their own.

The benefits didn’t end there – scribes were absolved of military service obligations as well. So instead of being displaced and deemed disposable you’re taking the minutes of the Hieroglyphic Hansard and regaling the old boys with a tale or two before enjoying some wine and entertainment. Sounds like it would have been my kind of gig if I’d been born a few thousand years earlier a little to the left of the cradle of civilization.

Yet here we are in the 21^st century and taking notes by hand is not only unimpressive but quickly becoming as long lost as the Sphinx’s nose. Many people these days claim they have either forgotten how to handwrite or have difficulty with it, and I’m certainly one of them. The electronic medium has taken over, and although well it should, there’s still something of an attractive nostalgic value in scribbling out what you have to say. Love letters need to be commended for prolonging the life of pen n’ paper, and I suppose to a lesser extent so do birthday cards and the like.

For those who do
not channel the entirety of their communications or discourses through a keyboard, there are still furniture pieces that manage to incorporate a writing desk sensibility into their design. Audio-Video-Furniture.com has recently added a selection of Haugen Rolltop Desks that offer the vintage style appeal of more old world-themed writing desks with the versatility to accommodate more electronic means of communicating. Distinctive with the traditional roll-top enclosures that foster a charm seemingly incomplete without a quill pen in ink and sealing wax, these desks also have more modern design features like cord management outlets and drop-front keyboard tray drawers.

These desks are a tasteful hybrid between the old and the new. Not as old as 3000 BC though, as the fact that the scribes sat cross-legged with a slate on their lap writing on papyrus may have made the job slightly less appealing. Actually, come to think of it – no, it probably wouldn’t have. Knowing you’d be set for life shortly after Dad had taught you how to read and write must have been a darn good feeling.

Cymax Stores Teams Up With Commission Junction!

Cymax Stores is pleased to announce our partnership with one of the top third-party affiliate programs, Commission Junction!

For those of you who are experienced with affiliate marketing, you know that CJ is one of the most well-known and trusted affiliate programs available to you. Since going live within the CJ marketplace two weeks ago, Cymax has already become a leader in the 'Furniture' category in terms of sales, conversions, and click through rates. So if you're an affiliate marketer, and is interested in joining our program, please sign up here:

https://signup.cj.com/member/brandedPublisherSignUp.do?air_refmerchantid=2461201

If you're wondering what we offer our affiliates, here is a quick overview of what you can expect:

- High commissions starting at 7% on completed transactions
- Large average order sizes of $450
- 45-Day Referral Period
- Unlimited Action Occurrences
- No keyword bidding restrictions on related keywords (with the exception of trademark terms)
- Dedicated Affiliate Manager
- Over 20 websites to link to
- Links to thousands of products, including highly rated best sellers
- High quality text links and banner ads targeted for high click-though's
- Potential for special promotions, incentives, and bonuses for consistent and high performing affiliates.
- Occasional Newsletter to keep our affiliates well-informed.

So there you have it! If you think you have what it takes to succeed in the affiliate marketing world, then Cymax Stores is definitely the place to start. Sign up today!

1095 Days

All of us mark anniversaries in our lives, even if nothing more than our birthdays. Many of us fortunate somewhat-older folk have wedding anniversaries to celebrate, while others older-yet and supremely fortunate have both weddings and retirements to commemorate each year with loved ones and friends. Dates in our lives that have a significance worthy of recollection can be welcome and anticipated, or draw near with an apprehension that is commonly attached to birthdays as we pass into our transitional '30s.

The truth is, we all have the freedom to attach such significance to any event in our lives, independent of traditional conventions. Although it would probably be classified as more of a remembrance than an anniversary, every October 9th for the past 9 years I take a moment after I wake to mark the day our beloved family dog passed on after 16 wonderful years with us. Maybe it's a bit of both as I always make a point of searching my memories for good times with "the pooch" as I called her, and celebrate her life for a short time all to myself.

I think keeping a mental record of moments in your life that have personal significance is a small yet powerful tool in relishing the course of your life to date. Whether they be fond memories, or not, or a bit of both - they're yours and yours alone and to mark them in whatever fashion you choose can be a rewarding experience.

Surely we can all agree that the best anniversaries are those that arrive with the promise of many more. This is the type of rewarding and promising feeling is currently being experienced here at Cymax Stores, as this past month marks three years in which Cymax has offered its competitively-priced online shopping convenience to Canadian shoppers and the company is very proud of the accomplishment.

Efurno.ca started operations in early 2006 before evolving into www.cymaxstores.ca, with online sales to Canada ever since. Monthly sales have grown in leaps and bounds, doubling in 2007 and tripling so far in 2008. The size of catalog has increased as well, now offering bedroom furniture, outdoor furniture, children's furniture, fireplaces, and much more. No hockey gear or maple syrup yet, but stayed tuned as Cymax has every intention of being here this same time next year with more to celebrate and be proud of regarding serving our valuable Canadian customers.

North of the 49th

I’ve come to understand that it is common for Canadian children to feel disadvantaged upon returning from a trip to the United States. The proliferation of fast food choices, amusement parks and mega-malls full of toys and the like made smaller-town Canada seem very pale in comparison.

My sister and I would bee-line for Chuck E. Cheese every time we made our way to Seattle, both of us understanding the combining of pizza and video games to be greatest merger of all time. Provided we kept a lid on it while we shopped for back to school clothes each year, we were rewarded with a precious 3-hour window of greasy cheese, soda and arcade favorites.

Just as quickly as it came around each Labor Day it was gone as soon as we departed the Anacortes ferry in Sidney. I remember getting one last fix of 50-cent chocolate bars on the ferry before proceeding into my annual rant on the way back into town on how “Canada gets nothing good.” Oh, the blissful ignorance of youth.

Granted, that was very short-sighted in a way to be expected of a pre-teen, but in truth the number of retailers and consumer goods available to Canadian consumers has grown exponentially even since those days. While it’s commonly referred to the “American Dream”, it might be more applicable to add the adjective “North” to the term as Canadians are just as determined to provide themselves with a comfortable life as their southerly neighbors.

Cymax Stores understands that Canadians demanding quality home furnishings, and at competitive prices, is a given as well. Accordingly, Cymax is pleased to consolidate all of its products available to Canadian consumers at www.cymaxstores.ca. Individuals can peruse the impressive selection of home and office products in much the same way they would do at www.cymax.com, but without the need to search for the “THIS PRODUCT SHIPS TO CANADA” tag on the product page. At Cymax Canada, you don’t need to give a second thought as to whether or not the product is available to you at a Canadian residence. Canadian consumers are similarly encouraged to take advantage of the free shipping offer extended to them until October 6^th.

When it comes to providing top-quality products at reasonable prices with a full-satisfaction guarantee, Cymax most certainly hasn’t forgotten those of you north of the Fourty-Ninth Parallel.

All Eyes on You

The lectern is an oft-overlooked piece of office furniture that has an inherent value in successfully communicating business objectives. With a background in Toastmasters / Debating Club, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time behind these fixtures and can attest to the positive influence they have on both speaker and audience. Yes, they offer a convenient and easy-access spot for notes and prompts, but they provide much more than that.

How many of you can remember at least one birkenstock-wearing, semi-bohemian type professor from your post-secondary years? He likely delivered his lecture leaning against the desk, legs crossed and arms propped aback. While your interest in the subject matter may have kept your attention, there were likely more than a few fellow classmates who were decidedly less attentive based on his demeanor.

Conversely, any type of communication that is delivered with the air of authority provided by a lectern is almost sure to be taken in by the audience with a heightened

sense of significance and contemplation. Whether it be in a lecture hall or boardroom, a lectern has a very unique character in the way it commands deference and claims the floor for the speaker. Furthermore, this same quality is equally beneficial to the speaker, giving them a greater sense of confidence and resolve in delivering their communication.

It is this value, attached to the simple fixture standing alone at the front of the room, which makes a lectern such a worthy one for any large boardroom. The speaker’s presence is heightened so dramatically by standing behind the lectern that it buoys his or her confidence and demands the attention of the audience. The value of this type of atmosphere to spoken corporate communications goes without saying, or it should.

Individuals convinced of this reality are recommended to take advantage of the ease and convenience of online shopping and visit www.cymax.com. As a premier online retailer of quality-made and competitively priced office furniture, Cymax delivers with an impressive selection of Da-Lite lecterns to meet the needs of your office. From table lecterns and floor lecterns to multi-media lecterns that allow you to run presentations, you are nearly sure to find one that’s the right fit for you. Pedestal lecterns are popular with those that like to bring an old-world pulpit severity, if you will, to the room.

It’s a common piece of advice for nervous would-be speakers to pretend their audiences are completely naked. I too received this same suggestion, but it was wholly ineffective. In time, however, closing my hands over the top rail of the lectern did wonders for me before I scanned the audience and took a deep breath. You too will likely find the lectern to be a very calming, focusing and empowering “rock” as you prepare to be the center of attention.

When the Puck Drops

So it's the end of August and with it sooner than later, the end of summer as well. No more barbeques on the patio, no more dates on the beach, and no more driving with the top down. Yes, around this time I always seem to have a certain feeling of sadness to befall me. I don’t know what it is specifically, but the sun always seems to have a cheery, happy-go-lucky effect on me. And when I wake up only to see and hear the rain (as it constantly does where I live), a depression-like mode seems to kick in. However, I remind myself that it aint all bad; after all, with the start of a new fall season brings about the one constant love that lasts with me for the next 8 months: NHL HOCKEY!!!

I understand the regular season of the greatest sport known to man (at least in my opinion) doesn’t start until October, but I can't help but get excited about the prospect of a new season and a new hope that my favourite team (the Vancouver Canucks) might finally win Lord Stanley's Cup! But the NHL season isn't quite complete with one important component: the hockey pool!

Since the NHL lockout a few years back, I've been involved in at least 3 or 4 hockey pools, but still have yet to win one. I'm not sure why that is exactly. I'm quite familiar with the rules of the game, what teams are playoffs contenders, and which players are going to 'rack em up'. I even play a fair amount of hockey as well; and although I'm no Alex Ovechkin (who'd be my first overall pick if I had the chance) I'm decent enough to show people I'm not a hockey newbie.

So why can't I win these hockey pools? I have the knowledge of the game and know how to play. Having said that, I should be a lock for at least 2^nd prize, which is usually a small cut of total pot. But alas, in the last 4 years, all I've seen is the basement of the pool and the ridicule of my friends for some of the questionable picks I've made in the past (ie – P.J. Axelson of the Boston Bruins….until this day, I still wonder what made me pick him, but what's done is done, and that pick was made at least a couple years back, meaning it's time to forget about past mistakes).

But this year I think I've found my secret weapon. And no, I'm not talking about sleeper picks (although I do have a couple up my sleeve this year, who I won't mention here). Rather Cymax Stores shall be the X-Factor that'll bring me glory. This year I think I'll be holding the draft at my place and I have the perfect idea to start making smart and intelligent picks: MoreConferenceTables.com. Here I can finally get me and my friends a nice, comfortable and organized place for our draft. No more yelling across the room for us! However, if they want the casual and often soothing ambiance of a living room, then I'm going to need some fine and dandy sofas, coffee tables, and possibly some bean bags to fully accommodate my guests, all of whom I'll be laughing at come the NHL Playoffs in late April and when they fork over the dough.

Yes, summer may soon be coming to a close. But as long as there's hockey, then I say let the rain fall down. Especially since this year I feel it in my blood that I'm destined to win my hockey pools, and my beloved Canucks will win the Stanley Cup. GO CANUCKS GO! Roberto Luongo for the win!!!!

INCENTIVE ENOUGH

The first car I ever became infatuated with was the mid-80s Porsche 911 Targa. Asides from its roadster good looks, aero-tail and beefy rims and rubber, I’m not sure why it appealed to me so much when all of my friends were all about the Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Anyways, it wasn’t long before a poster of that beautiful vehicle took up some prime real estate in my bedroom and my grandmother bought me the Mazur’s die-cast model of it for Christmas.

Around those same years, Ma and Pa were always at a loss as to why a conspicuous “D” grade in Math routinely interrupted the string of Bs on my report card. I was completely at a loss as to it myself, only I simply didn’t care the same way they did. I’ve since come to understand I’m something of a number-dyslexic individual, but back then the folks attributed it to pure laziness and a lack of attention paid in class. The latter, admittedly, had a small part in it, but the former truly had none.

I distinctly remember my father’s tone when he said “I bet if I promised you I’d buy you that Porsche if you got a B in Math, you’d do it.” I similarly remember having a synapse malfunction that was only processing the first half of the sentence, but the fact was his assessment of my laziness was way off base. My indifference? That was a different story without question. I stick by my guns to this day in believing everything I was forced to suffer with after learning the basics of + / - / x / division is completely irrelevant to the adult lives of 90% of us. However, I digress.

Despite an inclination, I didn’t actually ask “Will you?” as I knew both of his example-only insincerity and the fact they would be building snowmen in Havana before I earned a B in mathematics. So as much as he was simply trying to make a point, however erroneous, the incentive really wasn’t there. The day I squeaked by Math 11 with 51% in summer school I was on academic easy street from there on and had no real complaint with my 1977 Honda Civic.

Now, if you’re an imminent new homeowner, re-finishing your home or an individual who foresees any quantity of home produce purchases in the near future, Cymax Stores has genuine incentive for you. With only a few minutes, if that, of your time you can sign up for our email list and receive all of our promotional codes – which may lead to your being the beneficiary of discounts on specific items, or significant discounts on any item you choose. Clearly advertised as “CyDeals” on the bottom quarter of each and every page at www.cymax.com on a dark blue banner, it’s a little something for your inbox that just might be a welcome note on special offers, updates and deal alerts. Sign up now!

It’s painfully more obvious everyday the Porsche roadster is highly unlikely at any point in my future, barring a massive overhaul in employment prospects or some lucky numbers. Nonetheless, I’m quite content in my Toyota knowing I have no clue what the square root of 1,462 is, and yet as assured as I was twenty years ago that I’ll never need to.