5 Reasons Why You Should Travel while you’re Young

Travelling to explore the unknown is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can have during their lifetime. Travelling really paints the world like you could never imagine; it awakens hidden passions that you never thought you had. Anyone that has the ability to travel shouldn’t take it for granted—get out and get around!

I am a firm believer in a child’s upbringing—it heavily affects their future in terms of character and personality. Here are a few reasons why I think you should travel when you’re young.

1 – Travelling helps you figure out what to do with life

Your senses of purpose are altered when you meet new people, explore new cultures and delve into the unknown. Learning about what’s going on around the world can put your priorities in perspective and really change your view on life. You will realize that there is no one correct way to live; every culture, society and religion has its own purpose and each function towards the same goal: to live. A broad range of viewpoints will help you find your own purpose. If you travel when you’re older, it could be too late—opportunities could easily pass you by. Explore while you’re young, fresh and learning.

2 – Travelling encourages independence

Travelling is the best way to build maturity. Catching flights, organizing travel documents and watching your passport need you to be alert at all times. Visiting foreign countries where you have to adapt to the language can take you out of your comfort zone—but it’s during these times when we learn the most. It pushes individuals to think independently, and that’s a quality that cannot be forced on you through school.

3 – Travelling eliminates future regret

You always find older folks complaining about not living life to the fullest. It’s a depressingly-odd thought thinking about someone in their 80’s who wishes he/she should have done something when they had the chance to. “If only I had visited Turkey when I was younger”, “If only Ben and I sailed west when we had the energy in us”. You’ll thank me twenty years down the line when it’s all out of your system. Live life with no regrets and no “if only’s”.

4 – Travelling brings wisdom and makes you interesting

Talking to someone who has nothing to say can get very boring very quick. Travelling gives you memorable experiences that you can always hold onto and share. Most travelers are inspired by other travelers just like them. Travelling comes up in almost every conversation—it’s a natural phenomenon, really. Next time someone’s talking about their Spanish summer experience, you can jump in and compare your own!

5 – Travelling gets you away from daily proceedings

In today’s day of endless Tweeting and Facebook sharing, the true joys of getting out and about can be quickly forgotten. The youth in this day and age have really overlooked the true pleasures of life; it’s not about iPads and Laptops, it’s about breathing in fresh air on a sunny beach, it’s about appreciating nature when you walk through a rainforest, it’s about the adrenaline rush when you’re hiking up a tough mountain. Sometimes, you just need a change.

One of the biggest barriers to travelling at a young age is the monetary aspect. If you look hard enough though, you can find some good package deals. Websites such as HotelClub.com are great for frequent travelers who can become members and earn travel points. There are also resources like Couchsurfing.org or Campinmygarden.com which provide cheaper alternatives to regular hotels. Travel agents can also get you good deals on flights. There are no excuses.

Another fear is the overwhelming feeling of actual travel—where do I start? How do I go? The only answer here is to just go. Just do.

Author Bio

Sohaib is an adventure travel enthusiast who has been moving all over the world since he can remember. He loves nothing more than enjoying an authentic Italian espresso before setting off to explore the unknown.

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Life, Lifestyle, Road Trip, Travel Log

Why Food Gift Baskets Are Special?

Who would never say no to eatables on occasions like Christmas, Easter, birthdays, anniversaries? Surely, even those who are keen about diets are really anxious to skip the diet for some reason and these occasions are best. Aren’t they? This is why there are people who try to send food gift baskets, instead of flowers and accessories. The advantage of these goodie gift baskets is that you need not worry about the preferences of the receiver. For instance, even the flowers, which are said to be loved by all, should be in the colors and shades to be liked. While you send food stuffs like cakes, cookies, truffles, and other eatables, you need not worry about the receiver not liking the flavor or taste. It can be shared with the others who are present in the celebration. A filled stomach is always the gateway for a filled heart.

Choices of Food Gift Baskets

If you can find gourmet caramel apples in a wicker basket, especially in red colored ones, they are best suited for all occasions. If you want to send gift baskets during parties, gatherings, and at scenarios where a group meets, then you need to choose gift bags that are apt for the scenario. There are opulent goodies that are filled to a great level in the baskets is perfect in such cases. Ghirardelli party food presents are available in all blue. The pack, the chocolate wrappers everything is blue. So, you can make it a colorful gift for any beautiful occasion. If you want the food present bag to be of varied tastes, then you need to think of the Starbucks warm at workplace hamper. This is perfect for any celebration to work. If your boss needs to give you more attention, why not this on his birthday or on his successful target achievement? Your boss will find at lease few of these goodies impressive.

If you want to express love with the chocolates and food stuff, then the I Love Chocolates baskets are the perfect gifts. If the gift is for your lady love, a teddy or bunny would be more apt. There are food gift baskets that include these toys to say hug you and love you, and when you want to mend things, then you would never find anything more apposite.

Online Food Gift Baskets

The big letdown in sending food gift baskets through the mails is that you need to pack them right or the shops you rely for this task should be professional in doing so. If not packed in the right way, it may end up in a mess when they reach the receiver. When you go for online shops to send these presents that are delicious and delicate, they deliver it on the same day. They do have connections with the locale of the receiver and ensure that the goods reach in good shape. Same delivery is a great advantage with online shops. It also lets you rest at home while the task is done.

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Gift Ideas

How to Form the Habits of Success

Many professional recruiters learn that the most place able candidate and hence the most likely fee, is the one with most desire to be placed. That is because desire is the energy that can make things happen and leads to success, whatever comes in the way.

A career coach helps to establish their clients' desire. Clients often have a degree of satisfaction in their job, but they are not fully satisfied. They still feel a degree of frustration. This frustration is part of their unconscious not having its needs addressed. If you feel this way it means that you are not working in the ideal position yet have a few of the elements present.

Your destiny is to move on, but first you need to know where to go. On an individual basis it is quite easy to help someone find their true desire. It is quite warming for a professional coach or trainer to see their faces light up with passion as their true desire clicks into place and the energy builds. It is a powerful force.

Many of these people want to be entrepreneurs. I think they already are, and just need a little help to get to the next stage. These desires that hold you back are of two types.

The first type comes under the heading of fears: fears about it going wrong, losing your house, and not getting your job back, the unknown. Lack of self-confidence is in this category. The second category of desires, the enemy to the entrepreneur, is for short-term gratification. You have to take control of your desires to grow to your potential as an entrepreneur.

- What desires do you have that are keeping you from your dreams?
- What weaknesses do you have that are keeping you from your dreams?
- From the above, decide what action you have to take. You need no advice from me here; you will know what has to be done.

How to reprogram your habit so that it automatically achieves your goals for you:
1. Write down all the habits that you would like to change. Include those that you know are a waste of money, time or other resources, for example smoking, drinking, watching too much television, getting up late, spending to make yourself feel good, avoiding exercise, worry, talking yourself into a negative state.
2. Write down the habits that you would like, for example: regular exercise, thrift, opportunity spotting, opportunity developing, being positive when you need to be.

Here is a formula to stop a bad habit:
- Do something different every time it comes up.
- Remind yourself of your goals and dreams.
Here is a formula for forming a habit:
- Think of something you love doing.
- Take those feelings and now think of the new habit, focusing on the long-term benefits.
- Bring those images that come to mind closer and closer.
- Do it consciously seven times in a row.
- Now do it seven more.
- It is now in your unconscious.

This is how young people learn to smoke cigarettes. The first few times they cough and feel sick; as they are determined to fit in with their peer group they persevere. Forming habits is really simple; just make sure that you form good ones.

Guest post by Teyona Dame of comcast xfinity

Categories: Guest Post, Life

Out with the counterculture! In with the confirmerculture!

I’m naturally a social person. In a group of real people I love to read the facial expressions, watch the body language, and flit through the crowd assuring that everyone feels included and comfortable.

But. I have almost no ability to do this online. I have not taken to social media the way so many people have. Maybe I’m too much of an extrovert. Maybe I’m too much of an introvert. Maybe I’m not a bandwagon person. I don’t know. It’s just very confusing to me to try to relate to people through these new websites.

It also interests me how quickly we’ve adapted to so many different arbitrarily-imposed set of rules. On each site, in each forum, everyone seems to know how it’s done. Well. None of this was done at all five years ago. Who is making these decisions? There’s no How it’s done. Sure, be polite. Sure, be respectful. Sure. Yes. Fine. Be proportionate, if you must. Refrain from using profanity. It’s all common sense.

But. The etiquette is to make people like you instead of just being who you are naturally. It’s the height of conformity, which seems odd to relish.

So. Yes, as a mode of social commentary and critique, I do play with all these things.

Why is it okay for me to post 1000 words on a blog but not on Facebook? The action I take as an individual is exactly the same. I write something, click a few buttons, and post it. That’s what happens in either case. But doing it on a blog breeds acceptance while doing it on Facebook breeds criticism and rejection. It’s interesting. Sad, really, how everyone gets all out of sorts and up in arms and goes into patrol-mode if I don’t do the right thing, the right way, in the right place. It’s ridiculous. We’re like a bunch of two-year-olds who can’t stand having peas touch their mashed potatoes. 

I don’t mess with other people’s profiles. I don’t think that’s necessary or right. But I do explore the boundaries of so much instant etiquette on my own Facebook page. Are we really so compartmentalized that we cannot deal with words and thoughts that flow naturally? Do we really need to organize them into fifty-two different web forums? That seems strange. It also intrigues me that we make all these choices about how to represent ourselves online. It’s hilarious that we really are this superficial as a culture. The vanity? The narcissism? The exhibitionism? And. It’s not like people who post nothing are any less to blame. Don’t even get me started on the social judgment, the voyeuristic snooping, it’s all just so weird.

Mainly I’m most interested by the way the actual sites predetermine the kind of writing we are allowed to offer in each space. Facebook’s feed, comment threads, and timeline do not really allow for an interactive open forum. Same with Twitter. What can you do with 160 characters? You could argue that the constraints imposed do inspire creativity, much like poetic forms. Ultimately, the writing is reductive, impulsive, limited. A now, now, now, me, me, me culture strips us of nuance, of space for consideration, and thereby of humanity and dignity.

About

Best New American Voices nominee Nath Jones received an MFA in creative writing from Northwestern University. Her publishing credits include PANK Magazine, There Are No Rules, and Sailing World. She lives and writes in Chicago.

Categories: Guest Post, Social Media

Best Ways To Turn Your Home Into A Concert Hall

Many people dream of home theater systems that provide concert quality audio within the comfortable confines of their home, but selecting the right type of system appears costly and confusing. Those purchasing high-end, custom home theater packages can expect to see hefty price tags, but there are more affordable options for quality theater systems if one is willing to do some research. Here are a few tips for affordable achieving that concert quality sound at home.

#1 Understand The Minimum Components Needed For The System

Generally, a home theater system consists of a display mechanism, a source component, a receiver, and speakers. A home theater display element may be anything from a modest 27 inch television set to a large projector screen depending on one's budget, desire, or space constraints. Typical source components are DVD and BluRay disc players as well as the legacy technology VCRs; selection of source components also depends on home-owners' taste and budget. Audio Receivers are the heart of the home theater system and quality, modern components enhance sound from compressed audio files. Quality speakers, sound bars, and sub-woofers put the finishing touches on a concert quality, theater sound system.

#2 Know The Location Of The Home Theater

Almost nothing looks more ridiculous than a huge display element squeezed into a tiny room. Also, the room chosen for one's home theater should have adequate wall space so that the display is not opposite any glare producing windows. Room configuration should be considered when purchasing sound bars, sub-woofers, and speakers to ensure that cords and equipment fit neatly into desired spaces. Some home-owners choose to transform their outdoor living space into a concert quality theater experience, and special equipment considerations must be made for this type of system. These are just a few reasons why understanding the location of the project is one of the most important factors to consider when pulling together a concert style theater system.

#3 Develop Budget Consciousness Before Purchasing Components

One may have items like a display, stereo, or decent speakers on hand. If compatible, these items may be used along with purchased items to complete the “new” theater system. Additionally, home-owners should visit an audio-visual outlet like Selby acoustics to judge which types of equipment best suits their needs. When they find a quality brand, they should find out if the store sells refurbished items for that particular brand.

#4 Protecting The Investment

Finally, home theater owners should protect their investment with surge protectors and appropriate equipment warranties.

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, DIY, Interior Design

Keeping Your House Plants Healthy

Keeping plants within your home takes supervision and time to maintain them. We’ve had a cold winter and a lot of snow so many plants will have been grown indoors these past few months. Plants being grown within your home need warmth, light, humidity, water and food. The true dedication to maintaining the plants comes when you have a large number of different plants which will of course have different needs to survive. You must find the most appropriate place in your home to grow plants. Using a conservatory or orangery is usually ideal if you want to grow indoors.

First of all, the plants need a habitable temperature and a reasonably consistent temperature as well. Extreme temperatures should also be avoided. The temperature should be around 70°F (20°C), but some only thrive at colder temperatures. For example cyclamen prefer a temperature range between 50°F to 60°F (10°C to 15°C); Cineraria even colder. Sometimes to get the right temperature, a conservatory or an orangery could be a great weapon to have to be able to place the plants in there for a different temperature.

Light again is a main factor you need to consider for your plant. The obvious places like window sills are where plants are most commonly placed and again, a good option is to put in your conservatory or orangery if you own one. The plants with thicker and green leaves tend to need less light than others. Cacti and succulents appreciate the direct summer sun at midday. In winter unshaded sunlight should have no scorching affect on any plant.

Because of the heating systems within homes, the atmosphere is usually too dry for most potted plants. Even when in winter when the heating is on it can be far too hot for the plants to live and you may need to occasionally be spraying them with droplets of water to cool them down. In terms of watering the plant, it seems easy and obvious to do so however watering too much can kill the plant. Also remember to check that the compost is drying out with your finger before watering.

Plants, like people must be fed well while growing. Fresh compost will contain sufficient nutrients to last for around 6 weeks, so supplementary feeding is very important. Do not feed the plants during their resting period, this is in the winter for most plants and with flowering plants this is after the normal flowering period.

Katy is a keen gardener and when she is not tending to her plants she enjoys blogging on the subject for sites such as Best Orangery Quotes.

Categories: DYI, Interior Design, Lifestyle, Summer

Decorating A Fireplace

Fireplaces are great, grand features of a home that create a focal point in a room, acting like a center piece to show class and elegance. There is no real limit to what we can do with them, even those which have long since been used as a place for a fire, however they do give us a space to decorate and draw attention to.

Fireplaces are the ideal area for seasonal decoration, particularly a working fireplace. They are iconic for Christmas stockings and pinned up holly during the Christmas season and are perfect for draping fake cobwebs and hanging bats during Halloween. Yet not all homes appreciate the everyday decoration for a fireplace. People’s eyes are instinctively drawn to the fireplace, which is why so many people cover it in photo frames and leave it looking cluttered, but one photo frame with a small vase of flowers either side is a tastier and appealing look for your fireplace.

Leaving the mantel bare, or almost bare with perhaps a small ornament near the middle, and hanging pictures above it can create a cozier atmosphere, particularly on a wall painted with cold colors if the other walls in the room feature warmer colors. This is particularly effective for working fireplaces.

In some cases sticking to a symmetrical design can be ideal, generally with one item at the center such as a mirror or image (a decal on the wall can be a cost effective artwork if you want to draw in some attention). However in some cases symmetry looks dull or overdone, particularly if you have a little more decoration to your fireplace, in these cases having things that are slightly off symmetrical can be a great touch; for this place pairs of items on the mantle as you would with a symmetrical design, but they don’t have to be identical – just related to each other.

Use bright colors on a white space and light colors in a dark space. If your fireplace is white and your wall doesn't white why have a yellow pot or any flower design plates on show on your mantel? The color will draw in the eyes of your guest and add warmth to the room without taking away any of the light and without the dull look of black on white. Try to keep these all within the same color family for more impact. In a dark room try to use soft light shades, such as a pastel pink or blue to draw out more light in the room and create a contrast.

If your taste is more modern than a traditional 16th century fireplace that’s being used to show off all your classical books then you might think about having something else as a focal point of the room. Modern rooms look great with sparing furniture, light colors and elegant designs; the homeliness of a fireplace rarely suits this. You might consider taking it out and replacing it with an ultra modern radiator, which depending on the style you select makes a great addition to a contemporary home's appearance.

Categories: Interior Design

Five Tips on Organizing a Spa Party

Experience a brand new spa-like experience by throwing a soothing and relaxing spa party. It’s one way of having fun with friends and relaxing at the same time. Of course, it is a combination of spa and party. It can be done at spa clinics themselves, which also offers you the convenience of having a party, but not making so much effort of organizing it compared to regular and other types of party. But there are also backwashes, which can include not having the privacy and exclusive use of space and bringing of any food or beverages desired. A better option, which can also give you more freedom, is to organize a spa party right at home or any location convenient to you and you party goers. Here are five tips that will help you pull off a successful spa party.

1. Contacting and contracting the therapists.
Of course, every spa party needs a team of therapists to perform the services. It is best to contact the therapist at least three weeks in advance to make sure that their schedule and yours would meet, or else, you’ll have a hard time looking for therapists to cater the spa services if you do this near the date of your party. It is also wise to contract a therapist that caters spa party needs, as they will be more knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to customizing their services for the party. If you cannot find a spa therapist that offers party services, look for those who have had spa party service experiences.

2. Sending out invitations.
It is also wise to send out the invitations ahead of time—if possible, even before you contact and contract the therapists. This will ensure that your spa party will run smoothly. Sending out invites and getting RSVPs ahead of time will help you determine how many number and what kind of services you can give to your guests. It is also a good thing to limit your guests to less than twenty to make sure that you’ll have fun and get pampered at the same time. Larger number of guests means more entertaining and less time to get pampered.

3. Booking the venue.
The beauty of spa parties is that it can be held anywhere—at home or any rented location, as long as there are couches or sofas that can be used and would offer comfort for your guests. But having it at home will be wiser, as it can cut some costs, and you can do pretty much everything.

4. Preparing the decorations.
Spa party needs very minimal decorations. Lighted candles, potpourri, flowers or scattered petals paired with a soothing music will actually do.

5. Getting the right food and beverages.
Another good thing about spa parties is that they do not need a lot of and/or heavy food since you are not after the food; you are after the pampering experience. Light and refreshing food like fresh salads, cucumber slices, fruits, crackers and biscuits paired with healthy organic dips will do. For the beverages, lemonade and homemade fruit-flavoured water will do. But you can always prepare anything that you wish, especially those preferred by your guests.

With your own creativity, you can make a spa party at home an even better way to connect and spend time with people you hold dear without getting wasted and/or stressed afterward. This also offers you a time to actually have quality and intimate bonding with friends and family. Sometime asking for help from an expert like Manilyn Moreno that specializes in event planning would be a great idea. And oh, she also writes for a catering software company.

Categories: Beauty, Event Planning, Lifestyle

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Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Social Media

Books That Will Inspire You To Travel

If there are two things that go hand in hand, it’s reading and travelling. But like the chicken and the egg – which comes first?

Are you the kind of person who reads about a destination and then fires up Google Chrome and books a ticket? Or do you jet off to a destination, purchase a book in duty free and then spend the rest of your trip being inspired and led blindly by the words on your page?

I’ve always been a bit of both.

I often use books as a starting point for my research into travelling – and quite often I’ll read a beautiful poem or paragraph from a novel describing somewhere in such a wonderful way that mind then won’t rest until I’ve seen it for myself. But I also read a lot when I’m actually there – fuelling my mind with more inspiration and wanderlust than I started with.

The thing about travel is too – that’s it’s hugely subjective. Everyone’s take on somewhere is different – everyone’s experiences are varied. You never hear the same two travel tales twice that’s for sure., even to people who were in the very same place at the very same time. The amazing sticky rice and mango that you loved from that Hong Kong street vendor – may have given the guy behind you food poisoning – and I bet anything his story about that day will be miles different from yours.

That’s why I love reading about travel, learning about travel – and of course – the travelling itself. Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of books I’ve enjoyed whilst travelling, but more importantly, these books have spurred me to see and do more. They’ve pushed my feet forward, and they’ve ignited the imagination inside of me – to keep booking those flights and keep the adventure going. The gift of enthusiasm and curiosity these books fill you will make them worth any money you’ll send purchasing them…

1. The Geography of Bliss – Eric Weiner
This New York Times bestselling author, explores the world via stereotypes here – questioning whether our geographical location is bound to result in whether we’re happier in life. It’s a fun read, and Weiner’s personality makes it worthy of your time too – as he feels like an old friend chatting right thought the paper pages.

2. Across Many Mountains – YangzomBrauen
This is the story of three women (one family, different generations) and their journey across their country – during the war time. It’s a powerful piece and it’s gripping from the moment you pick it up. But mainly, it fills you with all the pleasure and curiosity that reading about a journey should – along with the heartbreak and sadness of the powerful plot.

3. The 4 Hour Work Week – Tim Ferris
For those who have dreamed of travelling the world – but don’t see a way of making it possible (perhaps because of time constraints or money restraints) this book will give you so much motivation and courage to move forward with your plans. I talked to so many people who have found themselves stuck in their lives – and after reading this book the felt freedom to go out and at least try to make those dreams happen.

4. A Year in the World – Frances Mayes
This tale of travelling has been written by someone blatantly in love with travel and all things travel related. In fact, when reading this book it’s hard not to be injected with a little bit of her enthusiasm for the world. This book is made up of many stories, antidotes and tales that lead you around the world in a glorious circle of beauty and knowledge.

5. The Beach – Alex Garland
For those back packers reading this article – or student travelers looking to explore the paradise that is Thailand, you can’t get a much better book than this. It’s full of travelling information (you’ll even get a few tips when reading this) but it’s also written through the eyes of someone like yourself who is living their adventure right in front of you. I was hooked on this book and read it within a few days, and it definitely played a part in my visit to Thailand years later.

About the author:
Milda is the Community Manager @ AsiaRooms. Born in Lithuania (love it!), studied in the UK, travelled around Asia and USA, taught in Africa and now residing in Singapore where, equipped with a strong cup of coffee and surrounded by an amazing team I’m blogging about travels, cultures, events and hotels in Asia.

Categories: Books, Guest Post, Travel Log

Frugal Finds to Freshen Up Your Home for Springtime

Spring is not just for the birds and bees, it's the perfect time for us to celebrate the sweltering sunshine, blooming nature and the most vibrant color palette of the year. With beauty sprouting up in every direction, who wouldn't be tempted to bring a bit of fresh spring décor home this spring? With great spring savings, these 5 seasonal staples will reinvent your home into the secret garden refuge you've always dreamed of. 

Begin your spring transition by welcoming the spirit of spring into the heart of your home... Your bed. With the addition of floral textiles you can enjoy waking up refreshed as you lie under a bed of flowers. The smallest change can do wonders for your Feng Shui, so check out spring sales or utilize a Kohl's coupon to find great deals on color, patterns and prints that will make your room feel like a whole new space.

• Kohl's Spring Home Classics Comforter 
• Decorative Printed Floral Throw Pillow Cover 

Wall and shelve space is a great place to embellish your house with images or items that celebrate the season. Bring the delicate outside world inside with organic imagery, reading material and works of art. Photographs, paintings, wall sculpture or botanical books will praise the flora and fauna of spring in the empty areas of your home that need a little joy.

• Floral Photographs from Etsy 
• Orange Poppy Print 

What better way to indulge in fresher produce of the season than served over garden-themed dinnerware? Everyone loves good food, but spectacular food presentation is a bonus. As a full sensory experience enhanced by visual composition, every meal will become a work of art this season.

• Palermo Gallery Floral Dinnerware Set 
• Black Line Floral Dinner Plate Set 

With cookouts and other fun outdoor activities on the horizon, there's nothing better to have on hand than a juicer and glass beverage dispenser. Perfect for social gatherings, you can enjoy serving fresh squeezed fruit juices, iced teas or even cocktails at your home garden party this spring. Savor the sweet life.

• Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor 
• Del Sol Double Tier Beverage Dispenser 

What better way to bring spring inside the home than to actually fill your home with live plants? Abstract, organic planters accentuates rooms and provide an ideal habitat for succulents and other low maintenance plants that add character and charm to living spaces. Nothing makes a home more comfortable than the presence of living things, so bring the garden inside if you truly want to freshen up your home.

• Faceted Indoor Terrarium 
• Laura Ashley Succulent & Clay Container 

These simple home additions will brighten up your living space to reflect the season of great change without much time, money or hassle. Give your home the spring makeover it deserves. After all, the birds and bees shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy the season.

Categories: Gift Ideas, Interior Design, Spring

Ippudo Restaurant Review - East Village NYC

4.5 / 5 Stars

You will never quite understood the whole ramen craze until you visit Ippudo. Ippudo in the East Village serves up an array of comforting Japanese fare. Entering the vestibular front bar area, you are immediately and pleasantly enveloped in a subtly cool scene that you thought you were in a bar, but in reality it was a both ramen bar and cool place. The bar itself has a glass countertop, and below it little packets of dried ramen noodles. Cute and neat.

Inside the main dining area, they've got a whole lot more modern piece than other ramen spots. It's funky in decor, and has that Japanese attention to detail. Compared to the other Ramen place I have been to, Ippudo was considered quite roomy. There's a sort of wooden banyan tree whose little wooden branches spread out dendritically across the whole ceiling. It's really cool and unique like that. The tables are laid out rather whimsically - there's a round one, a bar with several stools facing an open kitchen, booths on the opposite wall, and another bar type of area. The staff were basically all Japanese and exceedingly welcoming and friendly. 

The food I tried was the tonkotsu ramen, a rich and complex pork-flavored broth with nicely cooked thin, al dente noodles. There are three kinds, all of which vary in depth and spiciness. Other dishes---or, rather, their descriptions---don't exactly jump off the menu, but they will make your taste buds leap. Another food I tried was the pork bun, although I'm not a big fan of Mr. Pig, but indeed, I really like the sauce and the bun itself. Not too salty but just right for my taste bud. Do I recommend this restaurant? Yes. Definitely, but make sure you don't come here with a starving stomach, the normal waiting time is usually at least 45 mins and above!

Address: 65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Phone:(212) 388-0088

Prices:

$$$$

Hours:

 

Thursday hours 11:00 am–3:30 pm, 5:00 pm–11:30 pm

Transit: Astor Pl

ippudony.com

Categories: Random in NYC, Restaurant Review

Four Tips to Not Get Scammed by Online Retailers

Many people get a little anxious when they buy things online. Everyone has heard horror stories about online scammers, and nobody wants it to happen to them. This fear of scamming is especially strong for people who have never purchased anything online before. To give them peace of mind, they can follow this guide to the four ways to avoid getting scammed by online retailers.

Get to Know the Seller

When you are buying something online, get to know the seller to avoid getting scammed. Ask the seller some questions about the item you are considering purchasing. When you receive the answers to the questions, it will give you a feel for the person you are dealing with. When they are polite and courteous with their responses, you can be reasonably sure that you are dealing with someone of good character.

Don’t Open Links in Your Email

Do not under any circumstances ever open up an email from an unknown sender. One of the favorite tricks of scammer is to send malicious software all over the world through their mass spam mailings. When a person an unwary victim is unfortunate enough to click on one of these links, the malicious software will be used to steal their identities and any other information they can get from their computers.

Shop at Places with a Good Record for Customer Service

One of the best ways to avoid getting scammed by online companies is to use companies that have a stellar reputation for providing excellent customer service. When you shop at a company that always works with consumers to make sure they are satisfied, you know that you can shop with confidence. Shoppers can find out if a company has a good record in their dealings with customers by ordering a customer satisfaction report. Look at resources like http://www.mshare.net/feedback-channels to find out how well companies provide customer service to their online shoppers.

Be Wary at all Times


The scams that these criminals come up with are always changing, but one scam that they can always count on is by appealing to shoppers’ greed. If you see a deal that seems like it is too good to be true online, then in all likelihood it is a scam. Be very careful not to get so excited by a good deal that the scam catches you by surprise. Always approach any transaction online with caution, and you will avoid getting burned.

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Social Media

DDB & Niedermaier Spring Market Bloggers Lounge Recap

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 was the Decoration & Design Building Spring Market Event!

The event had attracted over thousands of visitors came to the building for their celebration of spring market and the whole place was alive with great music, panel discussions, cocktails, wine, food, speakers, demonstration and more. During the event, there was some awesome panel discussion and presentation by famous interior designers.

The DDB spring market event was amazing and very exciting to see all the new product launch from different showrooms, I especially enjoyed the great media coverage from all the top notch interior designer bloggers who came to the event! Thumb up for Niedermaier showroom for hosting such an amazing bloggers lounge! ;)

Holiday House

Mindy Miles Greenberg from Encore Decor

Bloggers Lounge hosted by Niedermaier . Yummy! Don't we love the food? :)

Jennifer Mehditash from DEC a porter

Carrie Leskowitz from Carrie Design Musings

Jeanine Hays from Aphro Chic

Sarah Sarna from Live the Life You Dream About

Bloggers gift bags

Nicole Gibbons from So Haute

Pattern & Palette

That's me! I was having so much fun!

Categories: Event, Inspiring Designer, Interior Design, Photography, Random in NYC, Social Media