View allAll Photos Tagged Uncategorized
via WordPress ift.tt/2UqJ3zG
Performers are not infallible. There are plenty times in the careers of a DJ, actor, comedian, athlete or what have you that they are not in peak physical condition — and yet, they soldier on and deliver a worthy performance because it is their job and they’re passionate about their craft.
Yesterday, beginning with a rather innocuous comment from Rezz, Jauz shared his own horror story of being on stage in Vegas with a raging fever: “it was one of the best residency shows I ever did, I ended up giving so much energy during the set and then when it was done I literally couldn’t walk back up the stairs to my hotel.”
I played a day club show in Vegas once with a 104 degree fever and it was one of the best residency shows I ever did, I ended up giving so much energy during the set and then when it was done I litterally couldn’t walk back up the stairs to my hotel
— JAUZ (@Jauzofficial) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
From there, Rezz got the idea to ask others about their own “performance horror stories,” and let me tell you, the floodgates opened. Kayzo, Illenium, Hotel Garuda, Ducky, Ekali, Tisoki, p0gman, Feed Me, Luca Lush and more all shared their unique performance horror stories, and we just gained a whole newfound respect for these legends.
LOL. This makes me curious to hear any other performance horror stories of being Sick on stage , anybody else? t.co/iyumolZfh1
— Rezz (@OfficialRezz) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Read them all below!
NYE 2017 I had insane food poisoning with three shows in 24 hours. By the 3rd show I needed an IV but the paramedic missed and I started bleeding everywhere which made me puke more. I Almost passed out lol. Honestly I barely remember the shows hahaha.
— ILLENIUM (@ILLENIUMMUSIC) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Played cakeshop in Seoul one time with food poisoning… halfway thru a transition I knelt down and puked on the stage, then had to DJ in it for the rest of the set. Was awful
— EKALI (@EkaliMusic) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
i was awake for 3 days before i played a show in Italy once like 4-5 years ago and passed out during my set from exhaustion and woke up to the stage manager leaning over me lol
— TISOKI (@tisoki) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
played support on @JaiWolfx first headline run , LA show i was battling a 105 fever the whole time, sweating through my clothes. not fun !!
— Hotel Garuda (@hotelgaruda) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
I played lollapalooza last year with kidney stones
— kayzo (@KayzoMusic) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Fainted after a set – club was packed and recorded temperature in booth area was over 100 degrees – took a photo after I came to and went to the restroom to collect myself it was like I had just stepped out of the shower pic.twitter.com/wsltSm6VIx
— Dani Deahl (@danideahl) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Also did 10 shows in 10 days with dislocated bones in foot, XS had to be wheelchaired in. Jake pushed me into roulette table and I fell out. Bones popped back together while at drinks with @DjDieselboy have never forgotten how good that felt
— Feed Me (@feedme) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Had diarrhea so bad I had to stop the music and run through the crowd to the club bathroom because there was no green room bathroom. Luckily @DjDieselboy was there to step in and play a few tracks while I basically exploded
— Downlink (@downlinkmusic) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
・used to get so nervous before my sets I’d panic & throw up
・ 104 fever strep throat – euphoria 2016
・gas station burrito from hell & the endless poops – Tampa 2016
・ food poisoning from in&out – escape 2017
— ʟᴜᴄᴀ ʟᴜsʜ (@LUCALUSH) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
dry heaving thru a set on stage in montanta while the green room is below 20 degrees F and then going back to sit there for and wait for a taxi that just wouldnt come
— bleep bloop (@bleepbloopbass) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Got food poisoning before a Vegas day show and puked in a bucket behind the decks
— louis (@LouisTheChild) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
my first time playing bill graham i had food poisoning AND the flu at the same time
— DUCKY (@QUACKHOUSE) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Broke my leg on the Friday night at @ValhallaSC. Played my set in a cast and wheelchair on the Saturday night. 2 snapped bones, a 10 inch metal plate and 14 screws later. I went on to do an 8 week US tour on crutches 3 months after too
— TRINAL VOL. 1 OUT NOW (@p0gman) March 7, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Photos via Rukes.com
This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Jauz, Illenium, Kayzo & More Share Their Worst Horror Stories Of DJing While Sick
Jauz, Illenium, Kayzo & More Share Their Worst Horror Stories Of DJing While Sick published first on soundwizreview.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2qv2mdn
realtor.com
Feeling lucky? This week’s most popular listing on realtor.com® is a Las Vegas mansion priced just a hair under $8 million. The luxe spread includes a pool on the second floor, primo views of the Vegas strip, and an indoor basketball court. Custom-built nearly a decade ago, it has landed on the market for the first time ever.
The runner-up this week is where Baton Rouge crosses over with SoCal chic. This contemporary home in an unlikely locale has been featured in design magazines and includes a living space with 21-foot-high ceilings, as well as a glass wall opening out to the pool.
Other homes racking up clicks this week include a luxe Hidden Hills spread in prime Kardashian country, a beautifully renovated twin house in Philly, and a potential bed and breakfast in North Carolina.
We’ll bring the tea and scones if you promise to scroll down and check out all of this week’s most popular properties…
10. 2320 Rhoades Rd, Farmersville, OH
Price: $160,000Why it’s here: Log cabins remain oh so lovable! This pinewood build sits on 3.61 private acres. The two-bedroom home has only had one previous owner and features an open loft, full walkout basement, covered patio, a pole barn, and new flooring.
Farmersville, OH
realtor.com
———
9. 6005 Annie Oakley Rd, Hidden Hills, CA
Price: $8,990,000Why it’s here: Here’s a way to cozy up to the Kardashians! Space and privacy are the perks that Hidden Hills delivers, and celebs flock to this exclusive enclave. This chic seven-bedroom has amenities like an office, gym, home theater, and an “avant-garde” master suite. Outdoors, the grounds feature an infinity pool, barbecue, sun deck, and gardens.
Hidden Hills, CA
realtor.com
———
8. 1501 E Martin Luther King Dr, Maxton, NC
Price: $99,750Why it’s here: If you have $100,000 in cash, you can score this oversized two-story home. Built in 1909, the 4,250-square-foot space includes five beds, two baths, and a large kitchen. It’s in need of a few renovations, but the spacious layout could be converted into a charming bed and breakfast.
Maxton, NC
realtor.com
———
7. 7920 Forest Ave, Munster, IN
Price: $289,900Why it’s here: Built in 1930, this gracious brick house includes period details like an arched front door, flagstone fireplace, and hardwood floors. While the interior needs cosmetic updates, the interior space is intriguing for a buyer with an imaginative eye. Cool features include a dining room with vaulted ceiling connected to the kitchen, a sun roof with sliding glass doors to the deck outside, and a living space with skylights. The home has already grabbed a savvy buyer’s attention and is currently pending sale.
Munster, IN
realtor.com
———
6. 19290 Telegraph Springs Rd, Purcellville, VA
Price: $8,500,000Why it’s here: The massive 116-acre ranch owned by comedian Martin Lawrence has captivated the attention of the Internet. On our list for a second consecutive week, the 22,500-square-foot home includes an indoor pool and hot tub, bowling alley, home theater, and basketball court.
Purcellville, VA
realtor.com
———
5. 1835 W Porter St, Philadelphia, PA
Price: $589,950Why it’s here: It maintains tons of vintage curb appeal, but this twin home built in 1916 has been completely renovated inside. The 1,700-square-foot space features three bedrooms, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, a fully finished basement with custom bar, custom tile work throughout, and private parking.
Philadelphia, PA
realtor.com
———
4. 713 N 1800 East Rd, Milford, IL
Price: $4,500,000Why it’s here: Named Amber Oaks for the 3,000 oak trees on the property, this contemporary mansion lives up to its name, with 68 tree-filled acres of property. The home includes 13,000 square feet with eight bedrooms, a separate guesthouse, and an open concept living room, dining room, and kitchen.
Milford, IL
realtor.com
———
3. 450 W Grixdale, Detroit, MI
Price: $550,000Why it’s here: There’s still a chance to grab this perfectly preserved home, which comes with all the retro furnishings and memorabilia inside. Still not convinced? There’s also a heated swimming pool with an outdoor shower and cabana. The two-car garage has hand-painted automotive murals. And the finished basement features a billiard room. At the moment, we can’t take our eyes off the vintage kitchen. Four weeks and counting as a most popular listing, property watchers can’t take their eyes off this place.
Detroit, MI
realtor.com
———
2. 7434 Lanes End, Baton Rouge, LA
Price: $1,375,000Why it’s here: Behold this Bayou beauty! The contemporary appears as if it materialized from the pages of a design magazine, and you’d be forgiven if you thought this place was in L.A. as opposed to Louisiana. In true SoCal style, the open living area’s glass wall opens completely to the pool and patio outside.
Baton Rouge, LA
realtor.com
———
1. 37 Painted Feather Way, Las Vegas, NV
Price: $7,988,000Why it’s here: Let’s bet the house on this property. Built in 2009, this 10,346-square-foot spread features a pool on the upper level with views of the Las Vegas Strip, golf course, and mountains.
An 80-foot great room with pocket doors opens to an enormous terrace. The layout also includes a basketball court, wine room, elevator, and gym. “I think it’s spectacular design, really in tune with what people are really looking for, as far as modern architecture is concerned,” says listing agent Gavin Ernstone. And he adds, “Everyone loves an indoor basketball court.”
Las Vegas, NV
realtor.com
The post The House Always Wins! Glitzy $8M Vegas Mansion Is the Week’s Most Popular Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
The House Always Wins! Glitzy $8M Vegas Mansion Is the Week’s Most Popular Home published first on 8hulletcondo.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2hgh5IL
When, what, who, what, where… okay, not quite the 5 W’s
The Xbox One X finally launches this week, November 7th, and if reviews are anything to go by (I mean, that’s their sole purpose) it’s proving to live up to its claim of being the most powerful console on the market. But if you’re still unfamiliar with the Xbox One X then fret not as we’ve got your back.
The Xbox One X was first revealed during Microsoft’s E3 conference back in 2016. The then named Project Scorpio was announced pretty much in name alone, and even then it was just a codename, but one thing was for certain, this machine was aiming to pack a punch. Fast forward to March of this year when Digitial Foundry got invited to Seattle to see a working Xbox One X development kit running a tech demo built on the Forza Motorsport engine. Initial impressions were that, yes, this console was indeed the business but it wasn’t until June before us mere mortals finally saw it in action during E3 2017. Microsoft’s E3 2017 conference drilled home that the Xbox One X was an incredibly powerful piece of kit and backed up this claim by showing a ridiculous amount of enhanced content to whet the appetites of gamers across the globe.
Whilst the conference was largely a success there was initially some confusion surrounding the new console, in particular, who it was really aimed towards. The main selling point of the Xbox One X was that it was going to play games in ‘true 4K’ and only those with a 4K TV would really benefit from the additional power. This left the rest of us with the option of the Xbox One S (or PS4 but Phil wasn’t going to say that was he). Shortly after, and somewhat contradictory, it was then said that people with 1080p TVs would, in fact, see a benefit if they purchased the Xbox One X. These mixed messages were blown out of proportion by the pesky media further adding to the overall confusion of just what the Xbox One X was. Fortunately, now that we’re just a day away from launch, the answers are here and the message is much clearer.
What is the Xbox One X?
The Xbox One X is to the Xbox One as the PS4 Pro is to the PS4. It’s not a new console, instead, it’s more of an evolution of its previous iteration. The Xbox One X will play all Xbox One games better across the board with specific titles receiving an enhanced updates. The main enhancement for the Xbox One X is the native 4K support which was the primary driving force behind the new console and the reason for the infamous 6 Teraflops. We now know that developers aren’t forced to support the native 4K resolution and can instead purpose the beefed-up internals however they choose, be it for resolution, increased frame rate or a simply better-looking game. Regardless of their direction, all of this means that games will look and play better on the Xbox One X which you’d bloody well hope for considering what it’s packing under the shell.
One of the biggest surprises of the Xbox One X reveal was the size of the console. The Xbox One X is incredibly small, matching a more or less identical size to the Xbox One S but overall being slightly smaller. The console’s style also matches the Xbox One S but instead sports a matte black exterior rather than the S’s white one. Gone are any references to the behemoth that was the original Xbox One, which is now officially discontinued. #neverforget.
But why the shock with the size? Well, the Xbox One X has around 4.3x the graphical power of the original Xbox One and runs a 30% faster CPU. This equates to a machine that has 6 Teraflops of power vs the 1.3 Teraflops available on the original Xbox One. The differences are that great yet it’s all packed neat & tidy into a genuinely great-looking chassis and without the power brick that was bundled with the original box. The two Xbox One consoles now sit comfortably together as part of the Xbox One family with one catering to the hardcore gamers and the other to casuals (yeah, I hate that term but roll with it). The unification of these two consoles and the driving force behind them means that the all-in-one media-centre is well and truly dead with games now at the forefront of Xbox’s vision. That’s not to say the Xbox One X doesn’t support 4K UHD Blu-rays, it does. In fact, here’s all of the technical gubbins that makes up the Xbox One X.
8-core Custom AMD CPU clocked at 2.3GHz
6 Teraflop GPU
12GB GDDR5 of memory
326GB/s of memory bandwidth
1TB HDD
4K UHD Blu-ray Optical Disc Drive
HDMI 2.0b (out), 2160p @ 60Hz, AMD FreeSync
HDR10 Support
Who is the Xbox One X for?
This was certainly up for debate when the console was first announced but now the target market is clear. It’s pretty much for everyone.
We now know that owners of 1080p & 720p TVs will definitely have an improved experience with the Xbox One X over the Xbox One/S. Whilst those without 4K TVs will obviously miss out on the full 4K experience the console makes use of supersampling techniques for these smaller TVs. Supersampling ensures that the ultra HD resolution is downscaled nicely onto your TV without impacting the overall visual quality. This means that those without 4K TVs will still be able to enjoy the high-quality Xbox One X content and will also benefit from visual upgrades such as fewer on-screen jaggies. The increased graphical enhancements such as better draw-distance or higher, more stable, FPS will also be present for those without 4K setups.
That all said it really is the 4K TV owners that will benefit the most from the Xbox One X. 4Kers will be treated to a much clearer image, as expected, and those with HDR enabled TVs will also benefit from a richer colour palette, something that the Xbox One S also has support for. It’s worth noting that some games won’t support native 4K but of those, the majority will make use of dynamic resolution or 4K checkerboarding, which all equates to better visual fidelity on 4K TVs.
But who is the Xbox One X for? Well, as I said previously, it really is for everyone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to jump in right away. The Xbox One X is for a gamer that is looking for the premium console experience especially one that owns a 4K TV. Whilst speculatory at the moment, although pretty much a certainty with its spec, it’s assumed that the Xbox One X will also play third-party games better than any other console on the market. So if you’re somebody that wants the best of the best from their console, grab an Xbox One X. If you’re happy enough with your base Xbox One, PS4 or PS4 Pro and you’re not that bothered about higher resolutions or upgraded visuals it’s definitely worth holding fire until there’s more content to pique your interest. Speaking of which.
What can you play on the Xbox One X?
I’ll not beat around the bush here. The Xbox One is lacking in exclusive content department, even more so if you’re the owner of a gaming PC. Quite frankly their exclusive line-up is pale in comparison to both PlayStation’s and Nintendo’s but that doesn’t mean the Xbox One X should be discounted from the off. The exclusive content for Xbox One is by no means bad, quite the contrary, but it is limited. However, Forza Motorsport 7, Super Lucky’s Tale and PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds are this Autumn’s releases and each includes Xbox One Enhanced upgrades. Older exclusives such as Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3 and Halo 5 are also receiving similar enhancement updates meaning you may already have Xbox One X games in your library without having to spend a penny. It’s not just about the here and now either as the upcoming line-up which at present includes Crackdown 3, State of Decay 2, The Last Night and Sea of Thieves also have Xbox One X Enhancements.
It doesn’t just lie with exclusive content either as the line-up of both new and old third-party titles receiving Xbox One X Enhanced update is mighty impressive. Assassin’s Creed Origins, Call of Duty: WWII, FIFA 18 & Rise of the Tomb Raider are all getting 4K HDR updates, some of which can be downloaded now, ready for when the console releases. In fact, the current line-up of both first and third-party Xbox One X Enhanced games (available and in development) is sitting shy of 200.
Full list of Xbox One X enhanced games
With a strong line-up of third-party games, some of which you’ll probably already own, and a handful of first-party titles there will be more than enough to sink your teeth into when the Xbox One X releases. It doesn’t stop there either. Backwards compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games will also see the benefits of the Xbox One X’s more powerful internals. These backwards compatible titles will automatically run quicker as a result of the upgraded power with some of them even receiving Enhanced updates too. Assassin’s Creed, Fallout 3, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion & Halo 3 are all getting 4K updates with more to follow. This hopefully means we won’t be getting charged for ultra-HD remakes of older games, hopefully.
Where can you get the Xbox One X?
You’re excited, I get it but at the time of writing this, the availability of the Xbox One X is pretty limited. Pre-orders can still be placed but don’t expect one for release. Microsoft.com is still taking pre-orders, so too are Argos (in store, dependant on location), Amazon (late November delivery), Smyths (mid-late November delivery) & GAME (Christmas delivery). If you are really keen on picking up an Xbox One X on release it would be worth checking your local Argos, GAME or Smyths stores on the off-chance they have some stock allocated, otherwise, you’ll have to play the waiting game. Sorry!
So that’s it. The Xbox One X is coming, ready or not. It’s always an exciting time for the video game scene when a new console drops and Xbox One X has made an almighty splash. Content may be a little lacking but that’s not to say there isn’t enough out there to make the Xbox One X desirable. At the end of the day, the hardware is certainly the real deal and I personally can’t wait to see how this is utilised in the future. And whatever your point of view the push towards 4K from both Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro can only be good for the future of console gaming.
Are you picking up an Xbox One X or are you going to hold off until later? Either way, let us know in the comments but if you are picking one up you’re certainly going to be in for a treat, enjoy!
The post Xbox One X Launch Week: The 5 W’s appeared first on Next-Gen Gaming Blog.
Xbox One X Launch Week: The 5 W’s published first on ift.tt/2zb23eR
via WordPress ift.tt/2ACqXTi
Hot Big Ass 04 FGWS Fitness Girls Workout Stories Sexy ft. Neiva Mara Ana Cheri 0:50 Isabela Fasanaro 1:03 Neiva Mara 0:03 Sonia Amat 1:14 Thx for …
via WordPress ift.tt/2GUlb4V
Houzz/iStock
It’s the color of royalty, a signal of wealth and power—and interior design’s hottest color in 2018.
Sure, purple might inspire you to hum a few tunes from (or mourn once more) that musical genius from Minneapolis. But it’s also a fresh shade with a strong personality and lots of versatility, says Olivia Rassow, style editor at Birch Lane, an online retailer of furniture and home decor.
And homeowners are catching on.
“Jewel-inspired tones have been trending in the marketplace,” says Misty Yeomans, senior color marketing manager at PPG paints. “These colors, including the purple hues, evoke feelings of elegance and grandeur, which appeal to consumers.”
But too much of this grape hue could backfire in your home, much like a Barney-themed birthday party run amok. Instead, ease into the trend with some smart advice from the pros. Here are seven ways to introduce this year’s hottest color into your home decor.
1. Paint a purple accent wall
Photo by kmh design inc.
“Purple on its own may intimidate those who live in mostly neutral spaces, so think about using this shade on a single wall or the ceiling,” suggests Sasha Bikoff, an interior designer in New York City.
Your room will seem brighter and more welcoming with just a pop of this tone, she adds.
And when selecting a shade of purple, think in terms of rich tones—bolder, deeper shades of violet create an electric feeling on an accent wall, particularly when paired with complementary colors such as clean, grassy greens,Yeomans notes.
Her picks? Glidden Regal Purple or the more modern Purple Surf, especially in a dining room with warm wood furniture or flooring.
2. Lay down a purple rug
Photo by Susan Nelson Interiors
Those who are color-shy can introduce purple in subtle ways with wall art or rugs.
“A light purple rug adds vibrancy and personality,” Bikoff says, “but because it’s not at eye level, the room doesn’t feel aggressive or too bright.”
Or move into the hue slowly with a single item.
“A purple statement piece like a sofa, headboard, or armchair that uses rich textures—such as velvet and silk— brings excitement to the space,” she adds.
3. Try purple in a powder room
Photo by Slotegraaf ConstructionDrew Henry of Design Dudes saves purple for a half-bath.
“These spaces are guest-centric and made to be impactful, so it’s the ideal spot to go a little crazy and showcase the latest trends,” he explains.
Paul Miller of MakeNest Interiors agrees: “Violet towels in a white bathroom are warm and luxurious,” he states.
4. Pair purple with unexpected colors
Photo by Charlotte Crosland Interiors
Purple doesn’t always have to be paired with its opposite on the color wheel. You can achieve harmony in your decor with some surprising combos.
“We love to add purple to a mix of blues and indigos for an unexpected twist on a classic palette,” Rassow says.
Case in point: The 2018 Pantone pick marries nicely with Oceanside, a deep teal that was named the Sherwin-Williams color of the year, Henry notes.
“I would also pair purple shades with gray and simple whites, though yellow would be a great color to accent with—just use it sparingly,” he adds.
And if purple is in your wallpaper pattern, match it with muted silver, pale pink, or even bright red, Bikoff says.
5. Use purple in your accessories
Photo by Justine Sterling Design
If you fear making a commitment to an eclectic hue, you can always dip your toe in the purple pool with accent pieces—think lamps, a bright throw, or vibrant pillows.
“Getting a few pillows for your couch or bed is a good way to test the trend and frees you up to switch them out next year at low cost,” notes Henry.
Flowers and houseplants are other easy ways to add a bit of purple.
“A potted purple queen adds beautiful color in a kitchen window or a softly toned guest room,” Miller says.
Or look to kitchen accessories in this shade, including a Dutch oven, blender, or dish towels.
6. Give purple to the kids
Photo by Shana Dee Nursery Decor
Purple is young and vibrant—and therefore the perfect pick for a baby’s nursery (try soothing lavender) or a tween’s bedroom (electric magenta).
“Violet shades invoke creativity and imagination, and make for great color choices in a kid’s playroom,” Yeomans adds.
To unite the space, pick bedding and window treatments that have a touch of purple in them.
“Muted purples are neutral enough to work in many spaces,” Yeomans says. “And a grayish purple, like Glidden’s Violet Verbena, has a chameleonlike presence that appears polished yet playful in children’s spaces.”
7. Steer clear of clichés
Photo by House Doctor
As with any color trend, it’s important not to make tired mistakes or mix in wild shades that aren’t cohesive. One sin from the past that designers want you to avoid: adding pops of purple—no matter the shade—into an all-white room.
“This was popular 10 years ago, but it should be long gone by now as it’s just plain tacky,” laments Bikoff.
And refrain from using multiple shades of purple or pink together, Henry warns.
“This look can very easily begin to clash,” he notes.
Finally, make sure to choose your shade of purple carefully.
“Purple [can] quickly look juvenile,” Miller cautions. “So keep the color sophisticated with a version that has red or bluish undertones.”
The post Purple Reign: 7 Pretty Ways to Use This Trendy Color in Your Home Decor appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Purple Reign: 7 Pretty Ways to Use This Trendy Color in Your Home Decor published first on 8hulletcondo.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2qkB2OU
JB Lacroix/ WireImage/Getty Images; realtor.com
Ben Affleck has reportedly bought a home in Pacific Palisades—and if this rumor turns out true, Batman sure paid a bundle: $19,250,000 to be exact, according to celeb site X17.
Wow. Even in A-list celeb terms, a $20 million house is quite pricey. Whom is Affleck trying to impress?
Perhaps his new girlfriend, “Saturday Night Live” producer Lindsay Shookus, whom he’s been dating in the wake of his divorce from Jennifer Garner. According to E! News, Affleck and Shookus were spotted house hunting in the Los Angeles neighborhood on Valentine’s Day.
“They visited two homes in the $8 million to $10 million range with a broker who gave them tours,” an eyewitness said.
Hey, it doesn’t get much more romantic than house hunting on Valentine’s Day! But apparently, those mansions weren’t nice enough, so Affleck must have doubled his home-buying budget.
Did Ben Affleck buy this home?
realtor.com
Is Affleck bending over backward to impress Shookus? Or is this guy going off the rails post-divorce and plagued with impulsive decisions (witness crazy back tattoo)?
A tour of this $20 million megamansion could contain some inkling of an answer.
An ‘entertainer’s dream house’
For starters, according to the real estate listing (currently under contract), Affleck’s alleged new digs features seven bedrooms and seven full baths—plus two half-baths, just in case nine guests need to use the loo all at once. (Hey, it’s possible.) Offering 13,453 square feet of living space on a lush half-acre, the property provides kids and adults alike with plenty of room to roam.
The living room opens out to the yard.
realtor.com
As for the home’s style, it’s billed as “brand-new East Coast traditional” and an “entertainer’s dream house,” complete with a chef’s kitchen, gym, screening room, walk-in wine cellar, and even a room for live-in help. Outside, there’s a pool, spa, and guesthouse. This all means plenty of friends can crash without cramping anyone’s style.
“The amenities are killer here,” says Los Angeles real estate developer Tyler Drew. “Keep in mind, he’s also a director, so the theater in the house isn’t simply window dressing. Filmmaking will happen here. Add in a couple extra bedrooms for Kevin Smith or Matt Damon and you have yourself a great place to work on film. This seems designed from the ground up for a Hollywood actor or actress, with the gym, pool, and mature view-blocking trees. It’s probably worth a few million less than what he paid, but privacy is something that’s hard to put a price on.”
No doubt, had Shookus gotten a gander at this place, too, she would have been impressed.
The kitchen
realtor.com
Or is Ben Affleck buying for his kids?
But perhaps best of all, the house is less than a mile from Garner, so shuttling their kids—Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6—back and forth would be a breeze.
“The fact that it’s less than a mile away from his ex-wife and the kids is perhaps one of the biggest selling points of the house,” says Shane Lee, real estate analyst for RentHop. “It’s easier for him to visit the kids and to maintain a good relationship.”
This proximity to his family could explain why Affleck may have been so willing to entertain this home’s sky-high purchase price.
“In an age where absentee fatherhood is a thing, throwing a couple of million onto the fire is not going to bother Batman too much,” says Drew. “Mr. Affleck’s been living in a pool house this entire time, so it’s safe to say he’s been saving his money for a property like this. This purchase is not for him or to impress his girlfriend. It’s for his kids.”
Kids’ room
realtor.com
Oh, and maybe his ex factors into this over-the-top purchase, too.
“Perhaps Ben is affected by ‘keeping up with the Joneses,’ or should we say ‘keeping up with his ex-wife,‘” says Denise Supplee, a real estate educator at SparkRental. “While there are some homes in that price range; there are other viable options much less expensive.”
Nonetheless, “I see nothing but pros with this home—light, bright, and neutral with timeless elegance that never goes out of style,” says Florida real estate agent Cara Ameer. “I’m not sure if buying this home is a way to impress his new girlfriend, but clearly this move appears to be more motivated by family than anything else. While no one ever ‘needs’ a 13,000-plus-square-foot home or something that costs nearly $20 million, in this case, because Affleck can, he did! Maybe he wants more room in case Shookus decides to move in at some point down the road.”
Game room
realtor.com
The post Ben Affleck Reportedly Blows $20M on a Home You Must See to Believe appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Ben Affleck Reportedly Blows $20M on a Home You Must See to Believe published first on 8hulletcondo.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2L8LulA
A while back we covered some troubleshooting solutions to speaker problems that we hear about all the time. For this article, we’re going to focus on home theater issues that are the result of folks not always making the best choices. If some of these examples look a bit familiar, fear not, they will all be easily remedied by following our recommendations. Let’s dive in and start tackling the obstacles and finding fixes!
1. Placing Tower Speakers Too Close to a Wall
Take a look at this Verus II Grand set up, it looks amazing right? Indeed it does, but there’s one minor issue that can be quickly addressed to improve its performance, which is the placement of the left tower. It’s nearly touching that sidewall and because of that, the bass is probably reverberating too much and the speaker likely sounds muddy. Basically when a tower speaker, or any speaker with a good amount of bass, is too close to a wall, you start to hear the room vibrate instead of the sweet, sweet music coming from the speaker. For a rear ported tower speaker like the Verus II Grand, you really want to give it at least a foot on all sides from any walls and if you can, two feet is even better. For front ported speakers like the Intimus 4T and 5T, you still want to give them at least a foot, because sound will still wrap around the cabinet from the front. The absolute worst thing you can do is to place your front speakers in a corner or alcove. People get tempted to place their TVs in a corner in open floor plans, but it’s a recipe for your front speakers to be too close together. When front speakers aren’t properly spaced apart, you lose stereo imaging and the 3D spaciousness that a correctly set up stereo system can provide. Instead of a realistic soundstage with each instrument having space to breathe, things can sound compressed and undefined. On top of that, the corner walls will really increase the dB level of the bass frequencies. In fact a corner can increase the bass response of a speaker by up to 16 times! So you can see how placing your fronts in a corner is a bad idea that can easily result in a very unbalanced sound.
2. Other Non-Ideal Speaker Placement
Beside placing a tower speaker away from a wall, there are some other rules of thumb to follow when you are positioning speakers in your room. An extremely common impulse we see is for folks to place their center channel pushed back on a shelf. Whether they are concerned with knocking the speaker off the shelf or just like the way it looks with the speaker pushed back, people often times don’t place their speaker on the edge of the shelf initially. But you don’t want to leave any empty shelf in front of a center channel because the reflections off the hard surface in front of the speaker will cause a peak in the midrange and de-emphasize the other frequencies.
Another common placement people attempt when they have difficult rooms is to put their surrounds in front of their seating position. Now you can place the surrounds ever so slightly in front of you, a few inches if you have to, but anything more than that and you will start to lose the surround effect of the speakers. Once the surrounds are a couple feet in front of you, the sound fields between them and the fronts begin to merge and you only perceive two speakers instead of four. Sure sounds coming from the surrounds may be a bit louder because they are closer, but you will not hear sounds as they are moving between the speakers any longer.
3. The Battle Between TV and Center Channel
It’s the age old conundrum, the ideal placement for your TV is eye level and the best placement for your center channel is ear level. Well, bad news, it turns out that your ear and eyes, at least for most of us humans, are roughly at the same level. Because of this, you either see TVs placed way too high, which is frequent when it is placed over a fireplace, or you see center channels that are either too high or too low. Bearing in mind that there will need to be some compromise between the two, the best placement option is to have the TV at eye level and the speaker just below it or conversely the center channel at ear level and the TV just above eye level. No matter what you do though, don’t place everything several feet off the ground as you’ll end up with not only a sore neck from looking up, but also subpar dialog intelligibility. Or hey, maybe go for this placement if your goal is to stop watching so much TV and to go outside once in a while. Just kidding, we would never recommend that!
4. Buying Speakers Without an In-Home Audition
We hear about it all the time from people we talk to, the speakers they purchased sounded absolutely incredible when they listened to them at the store, but not once they were installed in their home theater. It sounds obvious, but the demo rooms in stores have been specifically designed and treated to make speakers perform optimally. By contrast, if you are just listening on the floor of a big box store, there’s so much background noise that who can say how the speaker really sounds? In both instances, the listening environment is going to be nothing like your home. Without a doubt, home speakers that you hear at a store will sound drastically different once you get them in your own home due to the size of your room, placement, furniture, electronics, floor material and ceiling height, just to name a few factors. In fact, your room is a larger part in affecting your speakers sound than the receiver or amp you use! We do it too, here at the Aperion Audio showroom, we’ve spent a large amount of time placing and calibrating our speakers and electronics, as well as adding room treatments to quiet the space in order make sure our speakers sound their absolute best. But the difference with our business model is that getting the speakers home and setting them up is just the beginning of the audition process. With our 60 day in-home audition, you’ve got plenty to time to listen and make any adjustments needed in placement or even try out different receivers and amplifiers if you’re a real gearhead with more than one laying around. It can’t just be us with “spare” receivers waiting in the wings, right?
5. Buying an Underpowered Receiver
This is an easy trap to fall into because so many manufacturers play games with the specs. In fact, we recently even dedicated an entire blog to sorting out how much power a receiver will provide in the real world. Also, many of the reviews out there focus on video processing and features, but don’t really provide much evaluation in terms of sound quality. These reviews may lead you to buy a receiver with all kinds of bells and whistles while lacking a quality amplifier section. But a lot of times folks just don’t set aside enough budget for the receiver. Considering that your receiver controls how everything looks and sounds in your setup, it definitely doesn’t pay to skimp on this link of the chain. Put it this way, if you’re thinking of buying a 5.1 or 7.1 system in the $2K-$4K range as many of our systems are, a $400 receiver is not going to allow the true quality of the speakers to shine through. A good rule of thumb is that most of the receivers that can really power a system a well will start in the $700-$800 range and to really get a beefy receiver that will provide all the juice your speakers crave, you should consider spending $1000-$1500.
Another route you can take is to buy a receiver with pre-outs and then power your fronts and possibly center with an external power amp. While a separate power amp will get much more power to your speakers, keep in mind that you’ll be spending north of $2500 for a setup like this.
6. Not Calibrating Your Receiver and TV
You’ve come this far, you did your research and got the perfect speakers, receiver and TV, but make sure you don’t skip the last step, calibrating your system to get the most out of it! As far as the receiver goes, almost all of them include some form of auto setup software. Now sometimes you can get better results from a manual set up, but the auto set up is definitely a little quicker and can also do a very good job. If you do use the auto set up feature of your receiver, make sure you follow the instructions for the microphone placement, as this is critical. Placing the mic on the back of the couch isn’t the best option as any obstructions can affect the quality of the test tones it needs for setup. Use a tripod if possible and place the tip of the microphone exactly where the listener’s head will be when sitting down. Use as many mic positions throughout the room as you can so that the software can accurately measure the acoustic properties of your room. One last tip, when using the auto set up, turn the level of your subwoofer down to maybe 1/3 or ½ volume and always double check your channel level when the calibration is done. If you see large variances in volume level, especially from the surrounds or subwoofer, chances are you didn’t get a clean reading and should try again. If you do go for a manual set up, you can find some tips for adjusting the settings here.
As for the TV, these days some calibration is something you simply must do. At the very least you’ll want to turn down the brightness that they use for in-store demonstrations and turn off the dreaded “soap opera” effect aka motion smoothing. Beyond that, it’s a good idea to go through each of the settings in your TV and to adjust them to your viewing conditions and preferences. If you want something a bit more technical, but also more generic, you can search for your model’s ISF settings and use those recommendations to dial in everything. Spend a little time making either your own adjustments or use the ones from ISF and you’ll be amazed at just how much better your display will look.
7. Listening to or Watching Low Quality Source Material
Finally, once you’ve calibrated your system and everything is ready to rock, pay attention to what you are going to be running through it! We hear about people that are having issues with audio and video quality all the time and it turns out they are either listening to low quality mp3s or just watching broadcast TV. Especially if you are watching standard definition TV on an HDTV or 4K display, it’s going to look pretty terrible. Remember, your system is only as good as its weakest link and that goes for the material you watch and listen to as well. You’ve spent the time and money on your gear, make sure that the sources are high quality too! Stick to HDTV and Blu Ray for your TV and CDs, SACD or lossless audio downloads for music.
Now that you now what not to do, go forth and enjoy the best that your system has to offer and as always, happy listening!
Seven Frequent Home Theater Missteps published first on medium.com/@123movieshub
via WordPress ift.tt/2EaO1Yp
Getting braces, whether as a child, teen, or adult, requires strict and diligent adherence to good oral health. While you might feel like you’re spending tons of time at the orthodontist, that time in the chair doesn’t allow for slacking at home with forgone brushing or flossing. Since plaque and other bacteria can easily become trapped inside and around the brackets and wires of braces, tooth decay can easily occur and go undetected.
In addition to maintaining a good tooth cleaning routine, it’s also important to eat foods that will benefit your teeth and not set you back in your treatment, whether it be as a result of broken wires or cavities. We have comprised a list of foods that are good to eat with braces as well as those that should be avoided! Take a look.
The good
If you’re looking for something quick to eat, it’s important to choose items that are soft in texture for the sake of your braces. This is especially important after you get your braces tightened and your teeth are sore.
Experiencing pain isn’t a free-for-all to eat carb-dense food just because it is soft, however. Remember that carbs turn into sugar that spur bad bacteria growth on your teeth! Instead, turn to calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
Since braces are attached to the enamel on your teeth, it’s important you keep your teeth strong so the braces can do their job. Increasing your calcium intake will help boost your enamel, too. It is also important to remember to eat protein-dense meals. These meals will keep you full longer and help keep you from snacking later. While dentists typically recommend nuts as a good source of protein, and a natural exfoliator for your teeth, we would suggest staying away from hard nuts (such as almonds) since they could harm or break your braces. Instead, incorporate soft meats such as chicken, turkey and fish into your diet.
Finally, fruits and vegetables are always a good option! Try streaming vegetables on days where your teeth are especially sore. Soft fruits such as kiwi, peaches and tangerines are easy to eat and provide a high nutritional benefit.
And here’s the best trick…no one expects you to avoid dessert during the course of your treatment! Treating yourself to soft-serve or other ice creams (without add-ins like bubble gum) are a good way to relieve pain after orthodontist appointments and stick to the “soft foods” rule.
The bad
Any food that is tough or chewy should be minimized or eliminated during your treatment. This includes foods like pizza crust, or raw vegetables like carrots or celery. While raw vegetables are normally recommended by dentists for the natural cleaning effect on the teeth, with braces, they are too hard and could break wires or brackets.
Tough meats such as beef jerky or undercooked meat that makes it difficult to consume can also be problematic for those with braces. Just like with crunchy foods, these meats could do measurable damage in your mouth.
Finally, avoid chewing on non-food items (including ice!) for the duration of your treatment. This could include pens, pencils or nails. Many times, we unconsciously gnaw on our pen out of stress or boredom, however this could adversely impact your braces and set you back on your treatment.
The ugly
Hard candies are bad for your teeth whether you have braces or not. While we would advocate for everyone to ditch these tooth-destroyers, those with braces need eliminate them most of all. The sugar in these candies can get lodged behind brackets, out of reach of any toothbrush, and lead to tooth decay. In addition, you may be tempted to bite down on the candy and cause serious destruction to your braces.
Sticky foods are just as bad as hard candy. Taffies and caramel can get stuck in the wires and be nearly impossible to remove.
Getting braces is a great catalyst to help you clean up your diet as well as your oral hygiene. Eating foods that promote strong teeth, healthy enamel, and reduce bad bacteria will ensure you have a bright, straight smile when you get your braces off.
Learn The Top Foods (And WORST Foods) For Braces published first on arlingtontexasdentist.tumblr.com
via WordPress ift.tt/33VRg4i
New Videos on Motivation HQ Channel Starring: Sommer Ray, Eva Andressa, Katya Elise Henry, Laci Kay Somers, AnaCheri, Lauren Drain Kagan, kim …
via WordPress ift.tt/2IKTrMx
Photo by Famaliving San Diego/Houzz
No matter how much you love your friends and family, hosting them in your home can be tricky. How do you make them comfy without sacrificing your own space and routine? And what do you do if spare space in your home is at a premium?
Living with limited square footage doesn’t mean you should never host house guests. But you will have to come up with some big ideas to do so without a hitch—and, best of all, without traumatizing you or your visitors.
Place your guests strategically
Whether they’re using air mattresses, sleeping bags, or futons, prioritize your guests’ top needs: easy access to a bathroom and not being stepped over or woken up while they’re sleeping.
If providing both these things is impossible, “privacy definitely comes first,” says Tidy Tova, a professional organizer in New York City. “Unless it’s a grandparent who pees 10 times a night.”
Buy furniture that multitasks
If you live in a small space, you might not be able to squeeze in a guest bed—or even an air mattress. If you know you’re going to be hosting people from time to time, go ahead and invest in the right kind of furniture that can pull double duty.
“A pull-out couch is ideal for hosting guests subtly and conveniently,” Tova says. So is a big, comfy sofa.
And don’t stop with sleeping arrangements. Your guests will appreciate extra space wherever they can get it.
“There’s lot of furniture now—from ottomans to chairs—that have storage,” Tova adds. “Those are great for regular use and providing extra space for guests.”
If you have somewhere to store it when it’s not being used, you may also want to buy a folding privacy screen.
Clean up your entryway
Before your guests arrive, pay close attention to your entryway and areas by the door since they are the first things guests see, says Bridget James, senior professional organizer with the Organizing Professionals in Philadelphia. It couldn’t hurt to also wash your dog and get your rugs professionally scrubbed.
“Cleaning can go a long way in having your guests feel comfortable and happy during their visit,” James says.
Make a space for their suitcases
“Invest in a small unpacking solution that can double as a night table or foldable luggage rack so your guests can lay out their suitcase,” Tova says. (She likes the stackable, modular Stax products.)
Create the illusion of privacy…
Small space + thin walls = potential embarrassment when it comes to using the bathroom. To make everyone slightly less self-conscious, play light music in or around the bathroom, Tova advises.
… and space
Of course I have room for your things! That’s the idea you’re going for. To encourage that perception, clean out at least one drawer in your bedroom per guest. Then either buy a set of matching hangers they can use in your closet or double up your clothes on hangers so you have a few spare ones to share.
Clear off all flat surfaces
That includes kitchen counters, coffee tables, end tables, and TV consoles—if it’s horizontal, it should have nada on it.
“The less stuff that is lying around and taking up space, the more spacious and inviting the room will feel,” James says. “If you don’t love it, need it, or use it, it doesn’t deserve a place in your home.”
Not only will less clutter make your space seem larger, it will also reduce everyone’s stress level.
Transform your kitchen into a snack station
Did you really get everything off your counters? Because you’ll want plenty of space when you’re preparing and serving nonstop food and beverages.
Make it easier on yourself by designating an area for extra beverages and snacks, or a coffee station that includes mugs, a coffee pot or Keurig, sugar, and so on. That way, your guests can help themselves during the day.
Plan enough seating
Do a quick inventory before people arrive. Are all your sofas and chairs cleared off and ready to be used? Your space will feel even smaller if someone’s forced to sit on the floor.
If you need extra seating, set up folding chairs, James advises. True, it’s not fancy, but if your guests complain, they can go to a hotel, right?
Max out your use of baskets
You might not have enough cabinets or shelf space to share in your bathroom, but damn if you can’t put a trendy wicker or wire basket on the counter and shove everything in there.
Bonus: Displaying a selection of toothpaste, soaps, razors, cotton balls, hand lotion, and the like may prevent your guests from cluttering the counter with their own toiletries.
Add small touches
What would make your guests feel at home, besides extra blankets, clean pillows, and a clean set of towels? A bedside lamp or clip-on night light? Their favorite yogurt/coffee/contact lens solution? It’s these small gestures your guests will remember far more than the not-so-big space you have.
The post How to Host Guests Without a Guest Room—and Make Them Feel Right at Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
How to Host Guests Without a Guest Room—and Make Them Feel Right at Home published first on 8hulletcondo.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2fAAXoB
Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria to star opposite Tiger Shroff in Student Of The Year 2?
It’s been a year that Karan Johar confirmed that Tiger Shroff is a part of Student Of The Year 2. It was also revealed that there would be two actresses opposite him. But till date, the team has kept mum on who has been cast. Earlier, there were reports that Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s daughter Sara Ali Khan would make her debut with Student Of The Year 2. But it later came to light that that she is debuting with Kedarnath, opposite Sushant Singh Rajput. Then came the news that Sridevi’s daughter Jahnvi Kapoor would be cast. Last month, the name of Tara Sutaria cropped up as one of the actresses in this sequel.
The latest reports claim that along with Tara Sutaria, it’s Ananya Panday, daughter of actor Chunky Panday, who has bagged Student Of The Year 2. For those who don’t know, the beautiful Ananya Panday has already made waves since she is Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan’s friend. Suhana has posted lot of pictures with Ananya, many of which went viral. Few months ago, popular stylist and designer Seema Khan, who is also Sohail Khan’s wife, posted a picture of a hot-looking Ananya Panday, wearing a beautiful pink lehenga. Again, the picture got a lot of attention.
The team at Dharma Productions is expected to formally announce the star cast of Student Of The Year 2 in a month or two. It remains to be seen if it’s indeed Tara Sutaria and Ananya Panday who get the role in this much-awaited film.
Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria to star opposite Tiger Shroff in Student Of The Year 2?
via WordPress ift.tt/2Aqp381
Hot Big Booty 01 FGWS Fitness Girls Workout Stories Sexy ft. Bikini Ifrit Bikini Ifrit 0:03 Neiva Mara 0:17 – 0:55 Paola Celeb 0:03 – 0:55 Sara Vixen 0:55 Thx for …
via WordPress ift.tt/2GeCIk8
Some say gallery walls are trending out in favor of larger scale art. Maybe. It makes sense that gallery walls on every wall (especially the ones with a ton of tiny frames) might feel a little less “new and fresh” these days. But I’d argue that a collection of frames hung together on the wall feels pretty classic if you stop and think about it. Watch Home Alone. They totally have a gallery wall going up their formal staircase in the foyer where Kevin sleds and hurls paint cans. But one spot I love for a gallery wall these days is actually around a TV. Why? Well, that big black box isn’t exactly gorgeous.
It’s often this hulking dark thing on an otherwise bare wall, so why not break things up and add a few other rectangular things to deemphasize it. It’s not like the TV disappears when you add a gallery – but at least you have a few other (prettier) spots to rest your eyes. And you can always turn on Planet Earth, since that makes any TV look like art in a nanosecond.
We first blogged about adding a frame gallery around our living room television, oh, FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO (evidence: here – also how funny is the “What Does the Fox Say?” reference – ah, 2013). Things have evolved A LOT in that room since then (hello paint!) and the gallery got a few tweaks (some new art there, some frame switches there) but it has pretty much stood the test of time. And since I get a bunch of questions every time we show a smidge of it on social media, this post is for everyone asking about framing arrangements, what to frame, how to hang them, and where we get our art. So let’s dive in, Planet Earth Style. I’ll be the whale if you’re that big school of tiny reflective fish.
Dealing With The TV
First, if you listened to last week’s podcast you heard that we got a new TV (the old and very faithful one now lives at the beach house, reunited with our old couch and it feels so good). We also decided to mount our new TV on the wall and used one of those in-wall power cord systems to hide the wire. That whole process only takes an hour or so and is SO WORTH IT. We’ve got an entire post dedicated to creating a cord-free TV wall if you’re interested in a step-by-step tutorial on that. That post also shows you how to hide a cable box if you have one. And if you’re looking to cut the cord, here’s how we did that.
But it’s not absolutely necessary to mount your TV to create a good-looking frame gallery around it. As you can see in the old photo below, we had ours resting on the media cabinet for years. But mounting it has definitely made the room feel more spacious and less cluttered. Also, we are BIG FANS of secondhand dressers as TV cabinets – this one is from a thrift store and we have a similar one in our bonus room from Craigslist.
Getting Your Frame Arrangement Right
Ok, now onto actually hanging your frames around the TV. There are a few methods you can use…
1. The Floor Method
Grab whatever frames you have on hand and want to use (or pick up new ones that you love) and lay them out on the floor, with a gap on the floor in the shape of your TV (measure it to get the correct amount of space). Then just move them around on the floor to see what layout you like. That’s how we created this very frame wall in our original post… back when our living room was overwhelmingly, mind-numbingly brown.
2. The Paper Method
This one is really easy too, and if you are worried you won’t like things once they’re up on the wall, it’s the one to try. Because it helps you visualize things right on the wall before you actually hang the frames. How? Use newspaper, brown paper bags, or even printer paper (taped together if you need to make a larger piece of paper) and cut them to the size of each frame you want to hang. Then you just tape them up on the wall using masking or painter’s tape, and move them around until you like the arrangement and are ready to put the actual frames up in place of the paper templates. You can see that method in use here in our last house where we created a frame gallery in the hallway. Less busy paper would be easier on the ol’ eyeballs, but you get the idea.
3. The Sheet Method
This is kind of a combo move of the two above. SHAROOOKEN! You arrange your frames on the floor, but on top of a large sheet of paper (like brown craft paper, red rosin paper, or even wrapping paper if that’s all you have). Once you reach the arrangement you like, trace each frame onto the paper – even marking the spot where each one hangs on the back – creating an oversized template that you can transfer right onto your wall. It’s best on small to medium sized frame groupings (like this one we hung in our last house) because you’re somewhat limited by the size of your paper roll, but this would totally work on either side of the TV (you’d make two in that case).
4. The Figure-It-Out-As-You-Go Method
You also can be a rebel and JUST HANG STUFF ON THE WALLS! I wouldn’t recommend going totally rogue and just making holes willy-nilly (although I’ve done that and spackling takes like three minutes so it’s not the biggest deal if you end up there). But if you break things down into sections it’ll help you stay on track. For example: start by getting the centering and spacing of the frames above your TV to your liking first. Then that’ll help guide the height and spacing of the frames to the left of the TV. Once those are set, you can match them on the right side.
How To Tie Frame Groupings Together
“Should I use all the same frames?” “Is there’s some sort of formula for mixing them?” “Should all of the art be black & white or all the same type of thing (all sketches, all photos, all paintings?)” Questions like this abound. So I’ll try to explain what works for us and why we typically end up there – although this is definitely one of those “we’ve seen it done so many different ways, there are probably a million ways to skin this cat” kind of things. Personally, we started with all white frames in here, and I slowly found myself craving a little more variety, so over time if I found nice light wood frames (like the two over the TV) or some pretty thin gold ones (like the five of those you see below) I slowly brought those in to mix things up.
But despite having different frames up there, these are three factors that help tie the arrangement together:
Mats! See how most of the frames above have white mats? That ties them together and helps your eye take them all in as one big “family”
Color palette! It might not be what you notice right away, but a lot of the art has similar tones – there’s a lot of green, blue, and pink. And again lots of white in the art and the mats too. Even the objects on the wall (the antlers and the faux turtle shell) are white, so nothing is too jarring and it all looks related, yet not super cloned and repetitive.
Spacing! A lot of times this is the thing that makes a wall feel off. If the frames are hung too far apart, they read more like a smattering of islands, too far away from each other to be viewed as a grouping. The ideal spacing for me is usually 2-3″ (any closer and they can feel clumped and crowded). Also remember to treat the TV like just another frame and try to mimic the same spacing around it. This can be tricky because the TV sits off the wall a bit and that depth can change the spacing depending on your vantage point. I try to step back and view things from the couch across the room, since that’s where everyone will be viewing it most frequently.
What Should I Frame?
Since our arrangement is a mix of frame types and sizes, we wanted the items that we framed to be a bit of a mix as well. Had this been a more gridded frame gallery using identical frames – like this one we did above the couch in our last house or down our old hallway – we probably would’ve kept the art more consistent too. But to give you a sense of the random mix we’ve hung here, I added some numbers to the next two photos so you can see we have up there, where we got things, and why we love ’em.
1. Family photos (one of me with our daughter and a similar shot with our son around the same age – the mat didn’t come with that frame, it came from another frame and I switched it out)
2. White faux antlers (these were black and I painted them white years ago, but now they sell them in white all the time – here are some similar ones and this set of three is awesome too)
3. Another family photo (this is one of our favorite wedding pics because it looks like we’re standing in a bush)
4. A little algae/anemone thing I painted (this one is cut off, as is the middle one above the TV, but you can see it if you scroll up to the photo before it. I just wanted something in those colors and did it quickly to throw it up “just for now” and it has been there for years – ha!)
5. A postcard from a local art exhibit (I loved the colors and the artist, so why not frame the postcard?!)
6. Photo of a succulent (this is a photo we took while shooting our second book – love the soothing colors and all that white space – here’s a link to it in our Society6 shop)
7. Original painting (this is one of my favorite Etsy artists who sells tiny original paintings & prints and I LOVE THEM!)
8. A book page (yup, this is from one of my favorite photography books by Gray Malin, who shoots beaches from above)
9. Another succulent photo we took and got printed (here’s the link to it on our Society6 shop)
10. A faux turtle shell by Nate Berkus for Target (this was from his very first collection there, memories) – here’s something similar
11. More family photos (on this side it’s John with our daughter and our son in basically the same exact pose – I switched a mat from a different frame into this one)
12. Another original painting (from the same woman on Etsy who did the one on the other side – so in love with her stuff)
13. Map with pins where we’ve gone (got the map on eBay, took out the glass of the frame and backed it with cork so the pins would stick) – here are some similar maps
14. Another postcard (from the very same art exhibit – gives the wall balance and it’s more of those blue/pink tones that reoccur, so it ties things together)
I talked more about my process for finding frameable “art” recently on Instagram too (on one of our trips to the beach house) so check out the video below for more examples of how we fill our frames without breaking the bank:
content.jwplatform.com/players/rY5D9FgF-B7kt0oQR.js
Also! Frame PSA! The gold frames you saw in that video are my very favorite, and they don’t hail from a fancy and expensive frame store – they’re from Target! They come with the mats, are extremely pretty, and come in a bunch of sizes (I have all three of these sizes all over our house and the beach house). And the artist from Etsy that I shouted out in that last video is Emily Jeffords, who recently got picked up by Minted! Love her stuff so much.
As for how we hang them, here’s a quick video that I made for InstaStories a little while ago (sometimes videos help more than a static pic):
content.jwplatform.com/players/JS3MmJrE-B7kt0oQR.js
So there it is, a full succulent-riddled detail-riddled rundown of our TV frame wall. If you’re still feeling like you don’t know where to start or how to approach this, my loving encouragement would be: JUST START! You can see from the video above that holes in the walls behind frames don’t even get seen! So if you hang something too low and have to move it up, it IS NO BIG DEAL. Even if you have to spackle a few holes, that is as easy as spreading butter on bread, and you know you can do that. I believe in you. May your walls be happy and your holes be hidden behind frames like mine, ha!
Oh and if you have a lower TV/media cabinet situation and are left with a big bare spot on the wall above it all, here’s what we did to fill that space in our last house. So easy and so cheap! And for more framing/art ideas, we have a whole archive full of ’em, so have at it!
*This post contains affiliate links*
The post How To Create A TV Gallery Wall appeared first on Young House Love.
How To Create A TV Gallery Wall syndicated from vacuumpal.wordpress.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2xa71pQ
WOW! Ranbir Kapoor and Virat Kohli to compete in a charity football match
Bollywood and cricket are two of the most celebrated industries in India and watching them come together is always a pleasure. While there amalgamation is often in the form of IPL or many a times even personal, the two industries are now coming together for charity.
Readers may be aware that Ranbir Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Arjun Kapoor and many other celebrities share their passion towards football and are often seen practicing at the grounds in Bandra, suburban Mumbai. But their practice is not restricted to personal interest. They went ahead and formed the All Stars Football Club which is owned by Bunty Walia. Now the ASFC team will play a match with All Heart Football Club owned by Virat Kohli Foundation.
The AHFC consists of cricket players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh among others and they will be playing the match opposite ASFC at the famous Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri Sports Complex. In fact, according to recent reports, the prep for the same has already kick started with members of ASFC already practicing regularly in order to face their fitter competitors.
As for the charity, Bunty Walia revealed that their aim is to raise funds for varied charities and one of the causes they are supporting is that of self-defense for women. In fact, a part of the match’s collections will be donated to Akshay Kumar and Aaditya Thackeray’s initiative, the self-defense center for women. Another portion will be to fund the state-of-the-art gym at Andheri Sports Complex.
Bunty Sajdeh who is the owner of ASFC is impressed by the potential this match holds since it brings together the known personalities of the cricket world and Bollywood together in one platform. The last year’s match is said to have ended in a draw and a part of its funds were given to the drought-affected areas of Maharashtra.
WOW! Ranbir Kapoor and Virat Kohli to compete in a charity football match
via WordPress ift.tt/2I23zm6
kutdeq3q:
eva andressa
summer body – dream body – body goals fitspo – bikini body – fitspiration – cute girls – beautiful woman – sexy bikini body pretty woman – beautiful girls – attractive woman
via WordPress ift.tt/2DkUUJT
[The Sea Ranch Lodge, Photo by BUILD LLC]
Anyone in a design-related profession toils with the constraints imposed on the objects of their labor. For architects, these come in the form of ever-increasing land use codes, building codes, and community covenants. And to say that these rules have a real effect on houses and buildings is an understatement. In extreme examples, such regulations can all but shape a project. This enforced control of the built environment often seems antithetical to the very innovation and creativity that architecture aims to achieve, and yet it is precisely these constraints that make a place harmonious and exceptional under the right circumstances. For quite some time now, the circumstances we’ve been most fascinated with are those of planned communities. Some planned communities are among the most thoughtful built-environments we’ve experienced, while others are middling or feel like a weak replica of past times to the design-minded. All are subject to their respective codes and community covenants, so it isn’t the mere presence or absence of constraints that seem to make or break a planned community, but other factors.
We’ve selected three planned communities as examples of the harmony that can be obtained with the correct balance of these factors.
The first, an architect’s go-to for planned communities, is The Sea Ranch which was established in 1965 and is a community of approximately 700 cabins and homes located about 100 miles north of San Francisco on California’s Sonoma County Coast.
The second is Central Oregon’s Black Butte Ranch which was started in 1970 and is a community of about 1,200 cabins and homes nestled in the Deschutes National Forest about 150 miles southeast of Portland.
The third is a relatively recent community with plans to grow. The Pass Life, was started in 2011 and is a community of 30 loft cabins perched on Snoqualmie Pass, just 65 miles east of Seattle. These three communities have a great deal in common and one of these factors is the presence of strong community covenants. But as mentioned earlier, covenants alone do not guarantee the character of the community.
Take, for example, the Sea Ranch Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) which address the acceptable exterior color palettes of cabins relative to their lot location (Section 3.03, subsection 5 if you want to get all technical):
The colors of all exterior surfaces shall be shades of grey or brown of values between black and white or shades of grey-greens or brown-greens (such as russet, citrine, and olive) of values between black and medium, and the value range for each lot shall be further limited by the applicable letter key, if any, set forth on a subdivision map, as follows:
(aa) the value range for “A” lots shall be white to medium;
(bb) the value range for “B” lots shall be medium light to medium dark; and
(cc) the value range for “C” lots shall be medium to dark.
At face value, these covenants don’t seem decisive or compelling enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. They could just as easily be a recipe for dull, suburban homogeneity rather than helping define the ideal that The Sea Ranch has become. The CC&Rs of each of the planned communities are full of passages like this one, and getting to the root of their harmony begs for a deeper more cerebral read of the planned communities we love best.
[Cabin at The Sea Ranch, Photo by BUILD LLC]
As students of, travelers to, and even owners within planned communities, it’s an issue near and dear to us. As architects and designers, the issue is also too important to dismiss as mere subtly, serendipity, or, worse yet, chance. Digging into the matter further, we believe that there’s an essential DNA to the planned communities that achieve harmony.
[Cabins at Black Butte Ranch, Photo by BUILD LLC]
We’ve read the books, we’ve spent weekends, weeks, and even summers at some of them, and we’ve photographed them inside and out. We’ve picked them apart architecturally, we’ve read through their covenants, and we’ve studied their business plans. While there are many ways to approach these planned communities, and even more ways to experience them, we believe that we’ve got our catalog of qualities that set these special communities apart.
[Lofts at The Pass Life, Photo by BUILD LLC]
But before we get to these qualities, it’s worth sharing some of the gems we’ve found along the way. The following quotes and observations were pulled from our research and experiences over the years. They get to the essence of each community and help go beyond pretty pictures and speak to the thoughtfulness and carefulness of each community.
[The Sea Ranch Lodge (left) and Condominiums (right), Photo by BUILD LLC]
“At The Sea Ranch we have developed a community—based in wild nature and sustained by its beauty. We have an important responsibility here. What do we bring to this environment and how do we alter it? I feel myself a custodian rather than an owner of it. . . . I feel I owe constant vigilance and care for its poetic and spiritual survival. I hope those who follow me feel the same.”
–Lawrence Halprin, Landscape Architect of The Sea Ranch, from the book: The Sea Ranch
[The Sea Ranch Lodge, Photo by BUILD LLC]
“Ordinary Architecture “Not an act of ordinariness, but allowing a building to do what it was meant to do by ordinary means with a minimum of strain.” “You don’t have to engage in structural or shape making gymnastics that require a lot of huffing and puffing and the spending of a lot of the client’s money.”
–Charles W. Moore, Architect of The Sea Ranch, from the book: The Sea Ranch
[The Pool House at Black Butte Ranch, Photo by BUILD LLC]
“With Lakeside, we set out to both honor and evolve the Northwest modern aesthetic of Black Butte Ranch. Because of the site’s stunning setting, it was essential that the building be secondary to the landscape—that the architecture serves as an aperture for the site, making connections to the land stronger and more immediate.”
–Hacker Architects, Architect of the new Black Butte Ranch recreation center
[Cabins at Black Butte Ranch, Photo by BUILD LLC]
“The architecture [at Black Butte Ranch] was a larger story about Pacific Northwest Modernism, and the region has a legacy of creating buildings that are self-confident interpretations of Modernism, but also subordinate themselves to the natural environment” –Corey Martin, Hacker Architects
[The Pool House at Black Butte Ranch, Photo by Jeremy Bittermann]
“No man-made structure should even attempt to compete with the view of the Three Sisters and surrounding snow-capped peaks.”
-George Sheldon, Architect of Black Butte Ranch Lodge, from the book: There Is A Place; Black Butte Ranch
“The meadow and entry [were kept] wide open to make spaces that are completely visible when owners turn in from the highway. That creates ‘a feeling of generosity,’ each owner having a sense of proprietorship beyond his own piece of land.”
-Don Goodhue, Planner of Black Butte Ranch, from the book: There Is A Place; Black Butte Ranch
[Lofts at The Pass Life, Photo by BUILD LLC]
“Our holistic approach to development means more than creating the mountain town of the future. It involves building a community that’s open to everyone.”
–Evolution Projects
[The Pass Life, Photo by BUILD LLC]
“If there’s a higher-level consciousness around crafting and creating a space, people respond to it. But you don’t do it to sell stuff. You do it because you care.”
–Bryce Phillips, Evolution Projects
Evident in the thoughts and quotes about these three communities, the quality and harmony of these places stem from a life philosophy. The codes, covenants, and rules are necessary guardians, but it’s really the shared vision of being stewards and curators of places and communities that make these projects special. Sparing the reader the homework and cogitations of our study, we came up with a list of what we believe to be the essential DNA behind these three communities.
Focus on Activities and Nature (rather than property and real estate)
At The Sea Ranch, the focus is on walks along the ocean bluff, horseback riding, and swimming. At Black Butte, it’s golf, swimming, hiking, skiing, cycling, and fishing. At The Pass Life it’s skiing, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing. Each of the communities also has a thoughtfully designed community space for gathering and dining.
Cluster the Dwellings and Share the Land
Dwellings at The Sea Ranch are strategically clustered together leaving natural spaces open to all. Cabins are discretely tucked together into the trees at Black Butte Ranch so that contiguous forest remains as the primary experience. At The Pass Life, lofts are paired into common structures and the structures are tightly organized. Each requires that people appreciate their neighbors and enjoy sharing the natural spaces with each other.
Shared Stewardship
Owners within each community own land that is considered commonly shared space and it’s understood that everyone takes care of it. An organic and linked whole is more important than the constituent parts.
Visual Order
Each community shares a common understanding and appreciation of keeping things neat and tidy. Owners make decisions about their home and land based on the good of the overall community. A shared discipline with the built-environment benefits everyone.
Environmental Sensitivity
Touch the land lightly and appreciate nature going about its usual course. A shared resistance to the domination of nature keeps structures modest and environmentally unobtrusive.
Localized Design
There is a mutual agreement of a design language specific to each particular place. Each community establishes its own architecture that responds to the environment and spirit of the place.
There are probably many more examples, but these 6 have made themselves apparent to us over the years. It’s difficult to ignore the frequency of the words – share, appreciate, and community – in our list above and perhaps they are the true DNA of harmonious community (planned or not).
[House at The Sea Ranch, Photo by BUILD LLC]
Important development factors were also at play to realize these projects. The Sea Ranch, Black Butte Ranch, and The Pass Life were each built by brave young visionaries willing to challenge the status quo. The Sea Ranch was founded by a group of young architects and landscape architects willing to go toe-to-toe with politically backed opposition groups. Black Butte was founded by a handful of young locals whose average age was 30, none of whom had ever had any experience in resort development. The Pass Life was started by 36-year-old developer convinced that he’d wake up to picketers on his lawn for trying to build the project. In addition to the initial vision, determination, and hard work, the development teams behind each community have a vested interest to follow the vision through over the life of the project. So while the covenants and codes provide a basic framework for how to achieve specific results to shape a planned community, it’s ultimately the intangible qualities and personal commitment that infuses projects like these with life and longevity.
Cheers from Team BUILD
Related posts:
Notes on the Nature of Perfection
BUILD Status Report
BUILD Status Report
BUILD Status Report
The DNA of Planned Communities syndicated from thegardenresidences.wordpress.com
via WordPress ift.tt/2lljync
#fitness #gym #fit #workout #fitnessmotivation #motivation #bodybuilding #fitfam #health #training #healthy #lifestyle #crossfit #gymlife #sport #love #muscle #personaltrainer #healthylifestyle #instafit #fitspo #exercise #weightloss #fitnessmodel #fitnessgirl #instagood #yoga #gymmotivation #o #bhfyp
via WordPress ift.tt/2ImY6Ev
There are many aspects of modern dentistry that have ties back to ancient times. From primitive toothbrushes to tooth fillings in ancient Egypt, we’ve learned and progressed significantly from practices originally used thousands of years ago.
However, what if we told you chewing gum history is just as storied as some of the practices mentioned from ancient Egypt? In fact, there’s evidence that Europeans chewed birch bark tar more than 9,000 years ago as a way to relieve toothaches. Will you ever look the same at those colorful packages lining the grocery store checkout? Chewing gum for dental health is a practice that has transcended millenniums while helping to cure dry mouth or relive pain. Keep reading as we unpack the chewing gum’s sticky history!
The history of chewing gum
There’s evidence that chewing gum actually dates back more than 9,000 years. Originally the substances chewed had medicinal purposed and were thought to receive toothaches or quench thirst. Some cultures even had strict social constraints on who could chew gum. For instance, in many societies, kids and single women could chew it in public while married women were allowed to only do it in private as a way to freshen their breath. Men, on the other hand, had to chew gum in private and used it solely as a way to clean teeth.
Fast forward to the 19th century where Europeans began to use products that local Indians already used as part of their cultures. By 1850 this led the first chewing gum factory to be opened. The original gum was made from spruce tree resin boiled down and coated with cornstarch. Unfortunately, the combination was less than ideal, and led subsequent produces to use paraffin wax instead of spruce tree gum. Once again, the products evolved, and chicle was substituted for paraffin wax. This combination of ingredients worked so well that it remained largely unchanged until the mid-1900s.
In 1928, bubble gum made its first entrance onto the market. This product was different than other chewing gums since it was made with the purpose of blowing bubbles. After more than a decade of comic failures, Flank Fleer finally created what we know as Double Bubble.
Today, the market is full of different varieties of gum. From dental chewing gum to the gum that comes inside lollipops, there is something out there for everyone. In 2017 over 72.04 million Americans chew at least one stick of spearmint flavored gum—the most popular flavor on the market. Peppermint, wintergreen and fruit flavors fill out the next three spots. Although it took over a decade to produce, bubble gum is one of America’s least favorite flavors with only 22 million people chewing it.
Dentists have long recognized the oral health benefits of chewing gum. Studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum after a meal can help rinse off harmful acids and help prevent potential of tooth decay. In addition, chewing gums helps to stimulate up to ten times as much as saliva in your mouth as an otherwise unoccupied mouth (dry mouth can lead to significant oral health problems since bad bacteria are able to infiltrate gum lines easier).
Finally, chewing gum can prevent the growth of bad bacteria that causes cavities since one of the main ingredients in gum—xylitol—causes the mouth to become inhospitable to these bacteria. It’s due to these benefits that the American Dental Association has put its seal of approval on sugar-free gums. If you’re in a pinch after a meal and need something to freshen your breath or otherwise don’t have the opportunity to brush, popping in some sugar free gum is a great and long-since popular option!
The Unknown History of Chewing Gum published first on arlingtontexasdentist.tumblr.com
via WordPress ift.tt/2SP37x9
In den letzten Lebensjahren hat Pound so gut wie nicht mehr gesprochen. Er war sehr versunken in seiner Stummheit. Auch mit seiner Lebensgefährtin Olga Rudge hat er nur das Nötigste geredet. Meine letzte Begegnung mit ihm war kurz vor seinem Tod in Venedig. Im Restaurant bestellte Olga für ihn das Essen. Als es auf dem Tisch stand, sagte er: „Was ist das? Hast du das für mich bestellt?“ Sie zischte: „Ja, Ezra, iss es!“ Bei meiner Abreise bestellte Olga eine Gondel, die mich zum Bahnhof bringen sollte. Pound fuhr mit und wollte, obwohl er schon betagt war, unbedingt meinen schweren Koffer tragen. Er hat sich mit einem Gepäckträger am Bahnhof fast darum geprügelt. Aber gesagt hat er nichts mehr.
— Eva Hesse über die letzten Jahre von Ezra Pound
via WordPress ift.tt/34t6OyO
The investigation begins with a citation from Macrobius’s Saturnalia to the effect that “four deities preside over the birth of every human being: Daimon, Tyche, Eros, and Ananke (Demon, Chance, Love, and Necessity).” He then turns to a work in which Goethe—an author who, incidentally, spent his life working on a sprawling multi-volume project (Faust)—takes up Macrobius’s list, expanding it to include Elpis (Hope). The five chapters of the work correspond to Goethe’s five figures, with Chance replaced by “Aventure” (Provençal for “adventure”) and Necessity by “Event.” Hence the reader must be familiar with two dead languages—Greek and Provençal—even to scan the table of contents, and the rest of the work shows the same breezy erudition for which Agamben is well known. Yet his fast-paced argumentation keeps the reader from getting bogged down, as every confusing or baffling point is quickly succeeded by a fresh idea or interpretation.
via WordPress ift.tt/2nrnV0P
Bianca Taylor Fitness Workout Motivation | Fitness Workout Motivation 2019 | Fitness Girls Workout Bianca Taylor is a fitness model, certified coach, and bikini …
via WordPress ift.tt/2v5pyoi
iStock; realtor.com
According to a National Sleep Foundation survey, 62% of people wash their sheets at least once a week. If you’re one of them, pat yourself on the back next time you lie down on your nice, clean bed.
And if you’re part of the 38% of Americans who don’t wash their sheets that frequently? Well, maybe it’s time to step up your game. We don’t think you’ll need much convincing, after you read this.
That’s because we asked a scientist why you should change your sheets every week—and what happens every day that you don’t. And trust us: The answers are truly disgusting.
Doing laundry never looked so good.
What’s under your covers?
If you’ve just returned from the beach, it’s common sense to shower before you climb into bed. Otherwise you’ll be rolling around in a scratchy pile of sand all night. But generally speaking, dirt and debris are the least of your concerns when it comes to your sheets.
What should cause more alarm is all the other gunk that rubs off on your sheets every time you crawl under the covers.
“Body oils, sweat, and sloughed-off skin,” lists Bill Carroll Jr., an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University. “The world looks pretty scary through a microscope.”
In fact, we humans slough off about one-fifth of an ounce of skin cells every week. You know all the “dust” you see dreamily wafting through the air in a sunbeam? About 80% of that is skin flakes.
“And to a dust mite, (those) skin cells are Scooby snacks,” Carroll says.
You can’t see a 0.5 millimeter dust mite with your naked eye. But put your sheets under a microscope and you may be treated to an army of eight-legged creatures that look like a cross between a crab and Jabba the Hut.
As many as 500 dust mites live in a single gram of dust. Now imagine them feasting on your dead skin while you sleep—night after night after night.
“The point of washing,” explains Carroll, “is to return your sheets to their normal state.” “Normal” being “dust mite–free.”
There are germs, too
“We live in a world of pathogens, and not all are virulent enough to take us down,” Carroll says. “But can bedclothes spread disease? Kind of.”
If you’re sleeping in bed and actually sick—particularly from a highly contagious gastrointestinal bug—“those things can be carried forward,” he says.
There’s a reason hospitals meticulously wash sheets between patients.
The ‘best’ way to wash your sheets
To get rid of the nastiness—or at least keep it at bay—Carroll advises washing your sheets at least once a week.
When you do, resist the urge to stuff your washer to the brim. While you may think that doing so saves you time and water, “all the germs coming off in the water could go right back onto your sheets,” Carroll says.
To get sheets genuinely clean, you need to wash them in small loads in lots of water. You also need that water temp to be as hot as your sheets will withstand. (Check the manufacturer’s guidelines.)
“Hot water’s the surest way to eliminate pathogens,” Carroll says.
If the coloring can take it, consider also sanitizing them with oxygen bleach, suggests Leslie Reichert, cleaning coach and author of “The Joy of Green Cleaning.”
Chlorine bleach works, too, but “it does have a fume that lingers and isn’t something you want to be breathing in all night,” she says.
Don’t have the time to wash your sheets that frequently?
“Have at least two sets of sheets so you have a week to get them cleaned, dried, and folded,” Reichert suggests.
Do these things in between weekly washes
Do your best to keep your bed clean and dry so that it’s a little less hospitable to bacterial Armageddon.
That means no shoes on the bed. No taking a nap after your sweat-drenching spin class. And you might want to think carefully before you let your dog jump into bed with you.
You should also revamp your daily bed-making routine. Each morning before you do so, “pull all the covers down from the fitted sheet and let them air-dry for a few minutes,” Reichert says. “This lets the sweat and moisture evaporate rather than capturing it inside your sheets.” (Because, gross.)
To make this process easier, you can invest in sheets that promise to wick away extra heat and moisture. For instance, Bedgear bedding uses the same technology that firefighters do to keep cool amid a blaze.
“Keeping your sheets dry will definitely work against culturing biology,” Carroll says. But just remember that it can’t prevent the sloughing off of dead skin and body oils. Those will need to be washed out.
Each time you change your sheets, vacuum the mattress to remove any dust mites and allergens that have accumulated. You can also lightly spray it with hydrogen peroxide to remove any smells, or sprinkle on some baking soda.
Blankets, comforters, and pillows
Fortunately, blankets and comforters don’t need to be washed every week—once a season should do the trick. If you’re feeling icky about it, though, Reichert suggests simply placing them in the dryer on a very hot setting for 10 to 15 minutes to kill dust mites.
And don’t forget your pillows! A quick spin in the dryer or half-hour outside in bright sunlight can kill those dreaded dust mites and freshen the smell, Carroll says. And when you’re ready to fully wash your pillows (which needs to be done a few times a year), better get a good night’s sleep first.
Because that’s a whole other ordeal.
The post How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets—and What If You Don’t? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets—and What If You Don’t? published first on 8hulletcondo.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2UFzwpA
Hot Big Ass 16 FGSW Fitness Girls Squat Workout Sexy ft. Paola Celeb Giana Snow 2:04 Neiva Mara 0:44 Paola Celeb 0:03 Yaela Heart 0:58 Yaslen Clemente …
via WordPress ift.tt/2JBGGYH
Westbourne Grove is a residential neighbourhood and shopping destination in West London, bordering Hyde Park, Notting Hill, and the iconic Portobello Road. It’s an eclectic mix of cultures and architectural styles where elegant townhouses and budget hotels, souvenir shops, and Middle Eastern restaurants, organic food markets, and council estates live alongside each other. The coffee scene consists mostly of chains like Starbucks or Costa and a few independent cafes—none of which would merit a trip out to this part of town solely to drink a flat white. That all changed with the opening of Tab x Tab. Finally, there is a very good reason to stop over in Westbourne Grove.
Tab x Tab was opened in July 2017 by husband and wife Mathew and Charmaine Tabatabai. Alongside speciality coffee from Ozone and Bocca, they serve premium teas from Lalani & Co., fresh pastries from Flour Station, and à la carte breakfast dishes prepared on site. Tab x Tab also has a retail corner with carefully curated homeware and lifestyle items, Linda Bloomfield tea ware and Kana London ceramic coffee mugs.
The Tabatabais embarked on an 18-month coffee tasting journey through London and beyond before launching their shop.
“We started exploring the idea of opening a coffee shop by doing a lot of research and going to a new cafe every single day. After about one year, we had developed a strong idea of what we wanted our coffee shop to look like,” Mathew Tabatabai says. “The majority of cafes in London melted into the same kind of place.”
The decision to offer a new kind of coffee experience, rather than do a carbon copy of other shops, gave the couple enough confidence and motivation to pursue their idea. The approach at the heart of Tab x Tab can be summed up in three words: speciality, execution, and consistency. High quality standards were set for Tab x Tab: from the food and beverage offerings to appliances and in-store tech, from the Front of House service to the interior design.
Charmaine and Mathew Tabatabai. Photo courtesy Zsuzsa Zicho.
Mathew and Charmaine always knew they had to start with the coffee. They looked for the best and found it at Ozone Coffee Roasters in London and Bocca Coffee in Amsterdam. They carefully planned every element of the store, looking for excellence in functionality first and then for beautiful and understated design.
“We worked so hard to ensure the execution of everything was as high quality and consistent as possible,” says Mathew. “Everything is there to give customers a truly unique and tasteful experience and bring some peace to their day when they are with us.”
Their attention to detail can be seen in the large oak table that allows customers to gather around, and share the space as if they were in their own home. It’s also seen in the 5.4-meter-long bar counter, custom built from a single piece of concrete (they had to remove the store doors to install it).
Mathew and Charmaine also made a deliberate choice to install a stainless steel Mavam—a groundbreaking machine that sits beneath the counter—instead of a bulky bar-top espresso machine, to remove barriers between baristas and customers, but also to stand out among the rest of London coffee shops.
“The Mavam represents our entire approach to coffee. It is not a flashy espresso machine: it sits quietly without needing to be seen, but it does its job perfectly,” says Mathew. “It fits perfectly into our aesthetics. At the time, the Mavam machine was only one year old, there was only another one in the UK…so we really took a chance with it,” Mathew explains to me.
Next to the Mavam, there’s a Nuova Simonelli Mythos One and a Mahlkönig EK43 grinder, a FETCO coffee brewer, and a high tech cold press juicer. The milk is by the Estate Dairy (profiled here on Sprudge), a UK dairy brand founded by Shaun Young and loved by professional baristas.
Customers have the choice of two coffees for espresso: a seasonal blend by Ozone Coffee called Brothers and a single origin coffee by Bocca, which the Tabatabais discovered on a trip to Amsterdam. They persuaded the Dutch roasters to supply their cafe (Tab x Tab is the only coffee shop in the UK to serve or sell their beans). At the time of my second visit in January, the single origin was a natural Brazilian coffee from Fatima Farm (Yellow Bourbon and Mundo Novo variety) with notes of vanilla, roasted nuts, and a medium body.
Tab x Tab also offers a single origin of choice on batch brew. “The batch brew may not be sexy, but it delivers consistency,” which is what Tab x Tab always strives for. “We let the quality of the coffee speak for itself.”
It was head barista Lucas Gorczyca who sold the idea of batch brew to Mathew. “The batch brew delivers consistency. Our customers expect the coffee to taste exactly the same throughout the time we use a certain single origin. The variables with brewing coffee are crazy, the coffee never tastes the same every time,” Gorczyca explains. “Batch brew is also good for our customers because they know it’s a grab-and-go drink.”
Customers looking for the theatrics of a brewing experience will get it with tea, rather than coffee. Although Britain is considered a country of tea drinkers, the majority of tea consumed in the country comes from tea bags. Tab x Tab champions high quality, loose leaf tea, offering a selection of small batch teas—surprisingly absent of English Breakfast or Earl Grey. Instead, you will find black tea, oolong, and matcha, all prepared with care and precision.
Soon the cafe will expand its food offerings to include a modern take on the classic Afternoon Tea, as well as pop-up dinner events. Until then, I will continue to return to Westbourne Grove and stop by Tab x Tab for a great cup of coffee or tea and for their thoughtful and dedicated service.
Tab x Tab is located at Westbourne House, 14-16, Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RH. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Giulia Mule is a Sprudge.com contributor based in London. Read more Giulia Mule on Sprudge.
The post Tab x Tab: A New Home For Coffee In West London appeared first on Sprudge.
Tab x Tab: A New Home For Coffee In West London published first on medium.com/@LinLinCoffee
via WordPress bit.ly/2DfeXb9
You see names like Skrillex, Zedd, Calvin Harris, Diplo, and more all the time. They’re at the tops of festival lineups, on the covers of magazines, the front page of Spotify… they’re the faces you pay to see. But they’re not the whole equation. A lot of people work behind the scenes to help these artists do the multitude of things they set out to do. Among those people is Tom Norris, engineer for Skrillex and Zedd, among others.
Born in Massachusetts, he moved to San Diego at a young age where he later started a band with a couple friends. Hollywood Records offered the band a deal, which they signed, but Tom left shortly after to attend UC Berkeley. It was there that he started teaching himself music beyond the band, delving into production and sound design. He started a popular account on SoundCloud called “getyoursnackon” where he’d remake and post popular songs. During this time, he also became close with Kyle Trewartha of Grey. Together, they moved to Los Angeles and started working on projects, eventually leading to him working with bigger and bigger names.
In the world of electronic music, Tom is likely one of the biggest names you’ve never heard of. In rare fashion, he’s answered some need-to-know questions exclusively for Your EDM. Read on to find out the secrets of his success, what’s next for Skrillex, and more.
Where did your desire to create music come from?
Both of my parents are musical, and there’s a lot of music and creativity flowing throughout my extended family. I think I was hopelessly bound to do something relevant in music as a result. I do remember seeing my cousin making music with a really early version of FL Studio, and being completely blown away. I thought only producers (who were essentially wizards in my mind) in huge recording studios could create music, and so I immediately downloaded the demo when I got home and started messing around. That was in 2001, so it’s been a minute!
Tell me a bit about your experience with your first band Outerspace Politicians, later Allstar Weekend. What were some of the challenges you faced as a newcomer to that world?
I messed around with beats and instrumental production before the band, but I didn’t know anything about what it meant to write a song with vocals, or how to record things with a microphone and have them sound like real music. I was kind of like the Ryan Lewis of the band, recording and producing all of our tracks, doing our photos/videos/website/etc. It was a huge learning experience.
What eventually led to you leaving the group?
There were a bunch of factors—hating touring, stress, and bad managers. I also had a ton of FOMO from friends who were having a great time in college, while I was miserable in my band. The silver lining was definitely learning that I loved being in a studio far more than performing, and fostering a lot of great friendships that I still have today.
You chose to study linguistics at UC Berkeley, which arguably has no relevance to music. I would know, I also majored in it at UCSB. What about linguistics did you find interesting enough to pursue that over music?
A lot of my family works in academia, so I think I felt pressured to study something more ‘serious’. At the time, Siri for iOS had just come out, which to me seemed novel and exciting that I could control my phone with my voice. I was also really into pop linguistics books by authors like Steven Pinker (especially The Language Instinct), so linguistics felt like a natural choice. I think only once I was studying it, did I realize that I just fundamentally didn’t have the same passion for it like other kids in my class, and wasn’t looking forward to the day-to-day existence of being a computational linguist.
Of course, you did return to music eventually, as “getyoursnackon” on SoundCloud. How did you begin that project?
I knew a lot about engineering and producing ‘real’ instruments from doing band demos, but I didn’t really understand how to do anything else. EDM was at its peak when I was in college (around 2012), and I thought by remaking songs I could quickly learn how to use synths and layer MIDI-based stuff. I started uploading some of them to SoundCloud to show friends, and I think from that I started to gain some notoriety on various internet production forums.
What was your first foray into the electronic world?
I think working with the Grey dudes was my first serious foray into the electronic world. I actually met Kyle on Reddit back in 2014, and we became friends and started working on music together. He and Michael created Grey a year later, and they asked me to mix and master their stuff.
How quickly did you go from working with Grey on their music to suddenly working on tracks for both Zedd and Skrillex?
Zedd became involved pretty early on with Grey, and basically anything they worked on together I had some part in. My old roommate Ty (producer Lophiile) used to work with Skrillex, and randomly invited him over one night. We watched skate videos and played with yo-yo’s, and the next day he hit me up to come through and check out stuff he was working on. That was almost 2 years ago, and I’ve been working with him since!
open.spotify.com/embed/track/09IStsImFySgyp0pIQdqAc
You were nominated for a GRAMMY® Award, Record of the Year, for your work on “The Middle.” Did you ever think when you were 15 starting a band in high school that would ever happen?
I don’t think I could have anticipated anything I’m doing now back then… or even 2 or 3 years ago. But I think that’s what’s great about working in music—anything can happen! The Grammy nomination is insane, and I feel incredibly grateful to be recognized with some of my best friends.
You’ve also been working with Skrillex since early 2017. Which of his tracks would you say was the most creatively fulfilling to work on?
Every single thing I’ve worked on with Skrill has been creatively fulfilling, given how incredibly creative he is as a person and musician, and how he imbues that in everything he works on. That aside, I do think the Humble remix for Kendrick was really interesting to have been a part of, in seeing how it was iterated on and evolved over 4-5 months from an initial concept to the final release.
How was it specifically working on “Surrender” with From First To Last, given your rock background.
open.spotify.com/embed/track/4EkI2iujq3AiwgmyGuP2xn
It was a nice change of pace entering that world again! With Surrender, we had two ideas in mind: to make it sound like FFTL with a modern vibe—ie, super loud drums and low end, and to make it feel almost like a spiritual successor to “Make War”, their prior release. It took a while to finish, I think Matt Good from the band had recorded all of the instrumental parts almost a year before it actually came out. Kyle (from Grey) also recorded guitar layers to help fill out the mid-range. Sonny and I then went back and forth on drum sounds and mix versions for almost a month.
You not only worked with Skrillex directly, but also his collaborators like Mariah Carey and The Weeknd. Do you have any specific fond memories of working with anyone in particular?
I remember FaceTiming with Abel after Skrill and I finished the mix on “Wasted Times.” It was dope seeing how stoked he was on how it turned out!
The one question on everyone’s mind: what’s next for Skrillex?
Given all of the crazy stuff I’ve heard over the last couple of years, whatever form the next project or release takes, it’ll be absolutely worth the wait.
Outside of the Skrillex and Grey/Zedd universes, you and Ansel Elgort are friends and have collaborated on a number of original productions and projects. How did you link with Ansel? Are you still working with him?
Our mutual friend linked us 3-4 years ago. I didn’t really know anything about him besides the EDM/DJ stuff that he was doing at the time, but I thought it was cool that he was starting to sing on tracks he produced and wanted to do that kind of thing. I’m currently working with him on a full length album that should be out sometime this year – not sure if I’m allowed to say anything else about it
What’s next for you creatively?
Climbing Everest! Just kidding—I’m working on a bunch of projects that I can’t really talk about yet, but I’m excited for people to hear them. Some are with artists you’d expect, some aren’t. I’m also working on some VST plugins/effects for producers that might be release ready this year, and more sample packs/sound libraries that I think people will find useful.
You can find a list of all the tracks Tom has worked on at getyoursnackon.com. Keep up with Tom on Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud!
This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Meet Tom Norris, One Of The Biggest Names In EDM You’ve Never Heard Of
Meet Tom Norris, One Of The Biggest Names In EDM You’ve Never Heard Of published first on soundwizreview.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2Sn6A2Q
Ultra Music Festival hosted its first full festival event in Australia this past weekend (i.e., not a “Road To Ultra” event), headlined by The Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, and Marshmello. The event was held over two days, once in Sydney and another day in Melbourne.
Among those performing was Australian Melbourne bounce artist Will Sparks, who has become the subject of multiple accusations of misconduct at the festival.
According to an assistant tour manager for one of the major artists performing, who requested anonymity (henceforth referred to as ATM), Sparks was hanging out with their artist in their trailer before showtime. As they were going to be taken to stage, ATM poured everyone in the trailer a shot so as to move them outside and clear the room. As ATM was cleaning up, Will and some girls reentered the room for more drinks.
“I let them pour another but told them I’m closing everything down,” ATM told Your EDM via Instagram DM. “They stayed in the doorway to keep me from closing. I politely asked them to move and closed the first door of our trailer and instantly started to be taunted by Will.
“‘Hey guys, I’m just doing my job, I gotta close up here,’ is all I said. It was followed by calling me a stupid cunt and bitch.”
The rest of the interaction apparently proceeded in much the same way, with ATM trying to close up and Sparks becoming increasingly confrontational and irate.
ATM continues, “I shook it off with a ‘whatever dude.’ Right as I’m about to close the 2nd door he runs up and punches it. I was unsure what happened and swung open the door like ‘what the fuck was that.’ He continued to call me fucking cunt, an ugly bitch, etc.”
Ultra artist relations, as well as Sparks’ manager, eventually came over to help while he continued to act aggressively toward ATM.
Yo if you can’t handle your alcohol don’t fucking drink!!
Acting like a raging baboon, hitting shit & abusing women who are simply just trying to just do their job for the HEADLINE artists at the festival is disgusting. All I can say is thank fuck Melbourne bounce is dead
— AMYJANEBRAND (@AmyJaneBrand) February 24, 2019
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Another tour manager also claimed that Sparks had once shoved her into a video wall because she asked him not to walk out onto stage when her artist was performing. Your EDM reached out to her, as well, but hasn’t heard back at time of publishing.
“[Sparks’ manager] apologized after, but I said I wanted one from Will,” says ATM, “and I haven’t heard anything. […] If he isn’t confronted it’s enabling others to do the same and just ruins the culture.”
Posts from Clancy Silver, currently tour manager for The Chainsmokers, and Tobias Wang (@visualbass), a photographer who’s worked with The Chainsmokers, Zedd, and more also echo the feelings and account given to Your EDM by ATM.
This kind of behavior from artists at festivals is entirely unacceptable. While it may seem like artists are there to party and have fun, being booked to perform at an event is a job, first and foremost. And acting in this manner while under contract at a place of work is not only embarrassing, but also endangers those who are in charge of keeping things in order.
Representatives for Will Sparks have not returned a request for comment at time of publishing. We have made Ultra aware of these serious accusations and will update with their response.
Photo via Rukes.com
This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Will Sparks Accused Of Verbally Assaulting & Physically Intimidating Staff at Ultra Australia
Will Sparks Accused Of Verbally Assaulting & Physically Intimidating Staff at Ultra Australia published first on soundwizreview.tumblr.com/
via WordPress ift.tt/2mTITF2
CREDIT instagram model : @Whitneyysimmons thanks for watching i hope you motivated & enjoyed , please like share and hit the subscribe button, and don’t …
via WordPress ift.tt/2A0kykf
Hot Big Ass 16 FGSW Fitness Girls Squat Workout Sexy ft. Paola Celeb Giana Snow 2:04 Neiva Mara 0:44 Paola Celeb 0:03 Yaela Heart 0:58 Yaslen Clemente …
via WordPress ift.tt/2uHAWpU
Finally! Prabhas finds his heroine in Shraddha Kapoor for Saaho
Currently he rules the roost in Indian cinema, courtesy the mega blockbuster Baahubali 2 that became a talk of the nation owing to its immense success. Prabhas is now gearing up for yet another multi-lingual with Saaho and after many names of the actresses being tossed around for the role of the leading lady, it is Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor who has been finalised for the role.
In fact, there were earlier speculations about South actress Anushka Shetty playing the leading lady but it seems the deal didn’t work through and now, Shraddha Kapoor has come on board for the same. The producer of the film reportedly revealed that he is quite excited to kick start the film with Shraddha and that it is very special since it is Prabhas’ first film in Hindi.
Besides the two of them, Neil Nitin Mukesh plays the antagonist in this action packed drama which is said to feature many high octane stunts that will be choreographed by international stunt co-ordinators. The film, produced by Pramod of UV Creations and directed by Sujeeth, will be releasing in three languages namely Hindi, Tamil and Telugu simultaneously. In fact, prep for the film has already started with a massive set being erected at the iconic Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, India.
From what we hear, Saaho is slated to go on floor from mid-August and will also be shot extensively in abroad locations like Romania and Abu Dhabi. With lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya and music by Shankar – Ehsaan – Loy, the other technical aspects like, production design is taken care of by Sabu Cyril whereas the DoP [Director of Photography] is Madhie.
Finally! Prabhas finds his heroine in Shraddha Kapoor for Saaho
via WordPress ift.tt/2lUZwA9
2019 Sexy gym Watch Now – COURTNEY DOLYN – Perfect Body | Fitness Motivation: Quads, Glutes & Legs GIRLS Are Awesome! 2019 (FITNESS …
via WordPress ift.tt/2LIEwES
Father’s day 2018 is Sunday the 17th of June, so we’re only a couple of weeks off. In this post I’m sharing what I believe, as a Dad myself (hint hint ;-)) to be some of the best ideas for coffee gifts for coffee lovers, for Father’s day this year.
It was actually a coffee gift that prompted me to start coffeeblog in the first place! A few years ago, my wife and kids bought me a new stainless steel cafetiere for my birthday. I was starting to write a review about it on Amazon, and the review was getting quite long.
I was thinking about starting a blog anyway, but I wasn’t sure exactly what to focus on, and suddenly creating a blog about coffee became the obvious choice, and this review became the first ever post on coffeeblog.
Coffee Subscription for Father’s Day?
My first choice when it comes to a great Father’s day gift, would be a coffee subscription.
As you’ll know if you’ve read my best coffee subscriptions post, I have a few coffee subscriptions – I drink a lot of coffee and a coffee subscription is definitely something I would recommend as a great Father’s Day gift for 2018 for any coffee lover, given that there are quite a few great coffee subscriptions now.
The reason I think coffee subscriptions are so great isn’t just about keeping stocked up, although that’s one benefit of course, the best thing for me about subscriptions is discovery and variety. With coffee subscriptions, you get to try different coffees from different origins, different varietals and different processes, meaning that you get to discover a wide variety of different tasting coffees.
This is why my favourite coffee subscriptions are who they are, as they all deliver a variety of different coffees each time, rather than just a “supply” subscription whereby you would choose a coffee and just have the same one delivered each week or month.
Here’s a great Father’s day coffee gift offer for you, from one of my favourite coffee subscriptions!
Blue Coffee Box, one of my favourite coffee subscription firms, have a great offer on for Father’s day 2018, just for coffeeblog readers!
Blue Coffee Box are a multi-roaster subscription service, offering a discovery coffee subscription, delivering a box of three different coffees each month (or each fortnight, or every two months, depending on your choice) from different origins, different coffee varietals, different processes and different roasters, working with some of the UK’s best coffee roasters.
Here’s there Father’s day offer, for coffeeblog readers only:
Purchase a Blue Coffee Box subscription gift, and get £9 off – or – purchase any Blue Coffee Box bag gift (a single bag rather than a coffee subscription) and get £3 off.
For the subscription discount, just type or paste the code CB719 into the voucher box at checkout, or for the bag discount, use the code CB713 – at bluecoffeebox.com
There’s more…
If you’re buying a multi-month subscription (for three, six or twelve months), they will also send you (the person buying the gift) a free Blue Coffee Box bag of coffee worth £7.99! All you need to do is reply to the purchase confirmation email with your address for the free bag, and they’ll send it to you straight away.
Also, I had a word with the nice guys at Blue Coffee Box – and they’ve agreed that even if you’re buying a subscription for yourself (so, not selecting the gift option) they will still honour the free bag offer, just until Father’s day! So if you were thinking of going for a subscription, now would be a good time even if it’s not as a Father’s day gift.
Other Father’s Day Coffee Gift Ideas
Coffee Brewers
If the coffee lover you’re buying for, doesn’t own one of the following brewers, any one of these would make a great Father’s day gift – enabling dad to add another brewing method as a string to his bow when it comes to brewing coffee, at home or while out and about.
Aeropress, from £26.33 on Amazon
Aeropress. This is has become one of the most popular coffee brewers over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why.
Aeropress is faster and easier than more traditional home coffee brewing processes such as cafetiere & filter, and cleaning up is mega fast and easy (basically just firing the spent puck of coffee into the bin or compost, then giving it a rinse & a wipe).
Made by Aerobie (yes, the same people who make the famous flying ring), Aeropress makes a great coffee, either Espresso style, or Americano style coffee depending on how you want it, you basically just add less water if you want an Espresso style coffee. I say “style”, as it isn’t quite espresso, you don’t get the crema, but it’s not a million miles off, which is amazing for a coffee maker at under £30!
There are various different ways to use Aeropress, you don’t have to follow the instructions – in fact, there are national and international Aeropress championships, entered by Aeropress baristas each who have their own specific process for brewing the way they believe makes the very best Aeropress coffee.
Oomph Coffee Maker, on offer on Amazon for £34.75
The Oomph. The oomph is a great coffee maker, it works along similar lines to Aeropress in that you apply manual pressure, but it’s different to Aeropress, for a start given that it is a coffee brewer and travel cup in one.
I was initially interested in the Oomph based on it being a way to drink coffee similar to Aeropress on the go, but what amazed me about the Oomph, is the taste!
It makes an outstanding cup of coffee! As I wrote in my Oomph coffee maker review, the Oomph is my favourite brewer now for most of my coffees during the day in the week. I still use Aeropress from time to time, but more often than not I’ll use the Oomph, as I love the taste of the coffee it makes, and it keeps my coffee warm for ages.
V60 coffee maker, from £4.98
Hario V60. The V60 is a pourover drip filter coffee maker, it makes stunning filter coffee, and it’s mega inexpensive from under a fiver, and then around £5-6 for a hundred filters. You simply plop in the ground coffee, and then pour over (the process is known as pour-over) the water, until you have a cup of lovely clean (due to the paper filters) cup of filter coffee.
There’s a similar coffee maker which is also very popular, called the Kalita Wave, this has a different design, with a flat bottom, but it’s still a manual pour over filter coffee maker. I’m focusing more on the V60 as they’re better value for money, generally speaking.
There’s also Chemex, which is another great pourover filter coffee maker – which doubles as a coffee jug. Chemex has been around for a long time, and makes great coffee, but again – I’m featuring the Hario V60 in this post as I think it’s so good when it comes to value for money, and makes for a great inexpensive coffee gift idea father’s day.
Travel Cups/Mugs.
Keepcup, lots of varieties available on Amazon from £7.61.
With the looming take-away cups tax along the lines of the 5p plastic bag charge, buying dad a travel cup is a nice idea, if he doesn’t have one, or if he doesn’t have a decent one.
You see, there are travel cups, and then there are travel cups… Yes you can get very cheap travel cups from supermarkets which may seem like a bargain, but there are also really well performing and stylish travel cups such as keepcup and Bodum, which will keep dad’s brew hot for longer, and will perform better when it comes to not leaking, and not burning his fingers.
There’s also a really novel shaped travel mug called Goat Story, which is shaped like a Goat’s horn! ;-). I’ve got one of these, they sent me one a while ago to review, and despite the unusual look, it’s actually a brilliant travel mug, stays hot & is completely leak proof.
If your dad is the kind of bloke who wouldn’t want to stand out, then don’t get him this… however if he’s the kind of Dad who likes to be different, and you think he won’t be embarrassed drinking coffee from a Goat horn in public, then the Goat Story mug is a great idea for dad.
My wife uses her Bodum travel mug for her cup of tea when she goes to work in the morning, and she’s always amazed to find her brew is still hot hours later. She has this one.
Personalised Mugs.
Personalised Mugs, from about £6 on Amazon.
These are always a nice idea for any occasion, and generally speaking, if you go for a ready-made slogan type mug, like the one on tha left, you’ll pay six or seven quid or so, which makes them an inexpensive gift idea.
If you want to spend a little bit more though, and show that you’ve put a bit more thought into it, you can have your own text and/image printed onto a mug for dad, which I think is great. I still have a mug like this with a photo of my kids on when they were toddlers, I’ve had that mug for probably 10 years now.
Is there a photo of the kids or grandkids that you could have printed onto a mug that would make him smile? Or maybe Dad/Grandad has a nickname or a special saying, or something else that you could have printed onto a coffee mug which would make this a particularly meaningful gift?
You can get mugs like this on Amazon, there are also websites such as Photoimageart and Photobox who produce personalised mugs, personalised travel mugs, personalised tea towels, cushions, canvas prints, aprons & all sorts, which I think make for great alternative Father’s day gifts to “off the shelf” gifts.
There we go, lots of Father’s day coffee gift ideas for coffee loving Dad’s this year :-).
If you were to ask me what I would prefer from the above, as a Dad who loves coffee, then definitely it would be the coffee subscription – although I probably have enough for now ;-). Don’t forget, if you decide to go for the Blue Coffe Box subscription offer, the website is Bluecoffeebox.com, and the code for the box is CB719 or for the bag discount, use the code CB713.
Life is like a box of chocolates, so follow me on Twitter, and that’s all I have to say about that.
The post The Perfect Coffee Gifts For Father’s Day 2018 appeared first on Coffee Blog.
The Perfect Coffee Gifts For Father’s Day 2018 published first on medium.com/@LinLinCoffee
via WordPress ift.tt/2mOnY6k
Bianca Taylor Fitness Workout Motivation | Fitness Workout Motivation 2019 | Fitness Girls Workout Bianca Taylor is a fitness model, certified coach, and bikini …
via WordPress ift.tt/2LwrWdI
Like & Subscribe for more videos! INSTAGRAM : ift.tt/32GlpmH TWITTER : www.twitter.com/BaddiesMania REDDIT …
via WordPress ift.tt/2GUn7dT
Brandon Architects, Inc/Houzz
For Bob Weinschenk, wine isn’t just a pleasant accompaniment for dinner: It’s a bond that connects him to family and friends. He grew up with his parents and French grandparents in Queens, NY, where wine was paired with conversation at just about every evening meal. As an adult, Weinschenk collected bottles, first storing them in closets at his home and eventually working his way up to three wine refrigerators, each holding 150 bottles.
Now living in Austin, TX, Weinschenk, 54, has taken his love of vino to a new level, with a custom cellar built directly under his kitchen, holding 2,500 bottles.
Weinschenk is one of a growing number of homeowners who are creating designated spaces in their homes to celebrate their love of wine, spirits, and beer. Whether it’s having a home sports bar to enjoy the big game with pals and signature cocktails or an outdoor beer garden, people are showing their love of entertaining by redesigning their homes to create boozy spaces.
Although there have always been deep-pocketed collectors of wine and spirits willing to invest in custom spaces, remodeling experts say there’s a growing wave of homeowners renovating their homes with drinking rooms in mind.
For Weinschenk, who has founded several startups, including a wine recommendation app called WhatsMyWine, the four-month construction project involved jackhammering 12 feet underground, pouring about 15,000 pounds of concrete, installing an HVAC unit, and, finally, having the 7-foot-wide cylindrical wine cellar shipped from the United Kingdom. It took a few more months to calibrate the optimal wine storage temperature. Total cost: about $60,000.
“It’s the intersection of food and beverage and residential [real estate],” says Jason Dorsey, president and co-founder of the Center for Generational Kinetics, a millennial and Generation Z research and consulting firm. “It’s not just putting up a Budweiser sign. People want this kind of live-play space in their house so they can entertain.”
The craze, which grew out of the artisanal food and craft beverage movement of the past decade, has really taken off in the past two or three years as more younger homeowners are remodeling their homes to suit their needs, says Nancy Fire, founder of Design Works International, a New York City–based interior and home design studio.
“It’s definitely a movement,” says Fire, who also serves as the design director of HGTV Home, curating the station’s home products. Millennials “truly love their homemade whiskey, bourbon, wine, and craft beer.”
Bars or wine cellars can add to a home’s value
Creating a boozy space doesn’t have to break the bank—and it might just make a home more valuable when it comes time to sell.
The average cost for a basement remodel is just under $19,000, for example. But an area can be revamped with fresh paint, carpet, and furnishings for much less. The average cost to install a wet bar ranges from $2,000 to $12,000, depending on the type of appliances and other details, according to HomeAdvisor.
The more deluxe spaces can be attractions unto themselves. Weinschenk’s wine cellar has an entrance set in the floor, covered in glass strong enough to stand on. It serves as a centerpiece when he and his wife have friends over for dinner.
“You can go in there and have hors d’oeuvres or just sit down and drink a glass of wine,” Weinschenk says. “It’s visually beautiful, and it doesn’t take up a whole room.”
Bob Weinschenk’s luxury wine cellar cost more than $60,000.
Provided by Bob Weinschenk
Although older homeowners typically have more money to pour into such features, younger homeowners are often the ones creating these booze-focused spaces. In the past 12 months, millennial homebuyers, now the largest single group of buyers, have spent an average of about $5,000 on home remodeling, second only to baby boomers, according to HomeAdvisor. And millennials are also 89% more likely to remodel a basement than homeowners of other generations.
“The whiskey room, the beer garden, it’s a way to put their stamp on the home without having to take out a second mortgage for a major renovation,” says Dan DiClerico, HomeAdvisor’s home expert.
You don’t need an extensive remodel to create a drinking space
Some homeowners are also creating smaller home spaces for libations and entertaining. One example would be a micro bar next to the kitchen.
Because they love to entertain in different ways, event planner Gina Whittington, 41, and her husband created several his-and her drinking areas in their respective home offices in Austin, TX.
“I started with a fun bar cart that I found and then some of my grandmother’s vintage carnival glass,” she says, describing her office bar.
Whittington’s husband has a bar not only in his office, but also in the garage. Their main bar in the living room is stocked with an array of spirits and vintage glassware, and the dining area holds their wine refrigerator and accessories.
The couple often entertain friends in the main bar areas, setting up a tequila bar or Scotch tasting. Whittington likes to make special cocktails for her book club and parties. She recently set up a station to mix up blood orange margaritas for the adult guests at her 2-year-old daughter’s taco-themed birthday party.
YOLO: Going all out and creating a full bar in your home
Some homeowners would rather stay in and have friends over to watch the big game than hit the bars.
Provided by Leo Lantz
Last year, for example, Curtis Irby, 51, had a full-scale sports bar built in the basement of his Quinton, VA, home.
The bar features a 6-foot commercial refrigerator, and the bar’s name, “Bloody Alibi,” is etched in a mirror behind the bar and backlit with LED lights that change color. The project took about four months and $50,000, Irby says.
Irby, 51, a former Navy football player who is now a high school Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps teacher, says the bar seats six, but there’s plenty of standing room. He hosted friends for the Army-Navy football game last fall in his bar and had a Super Bowl party with about 25 people in attendance.
“You only live once,” Irby says. “A lot of people would get a small refrigerator and just be happy. I said, ‘No.’ I wanted to turn this into something that has the look and feel of a real bar.”
You don’t need to go to a sports bar when you have one in your own home.
Provided by Leo Lantz
The post Beyond the Bar Cart: How Boozy Spaces Are Taking Over People’s Homes appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Beyond the Bar Cart: How Boozy Spaces Are Taking Over People’s Homes published first on 8hulletcondo.tumblr.com/
via WordPress bit.ly/2StOBsq
Curious about the benefits of female masturbation? Learn all about why masturbation can be so great.