Brain Wave – Page 49 – Sasha Says…

How Art Can Improve Your Home

August 30, 2018 No Comments

Having a home that you are proud of is important and there are many different ways that you can achieve this goal. If you are trying to improve your home, then you should think about adding some new elements of design. One of the best ways that you can improve your home is to add some fine art or paintings. In this article, we are going to discuss how art can improve your home. Make sure to keep reading if you’d like to find out more.

Add Variety

One of the best reasons for adding art to your home is that you can change it regularly. Some people get bored with the décor of their room but if you create a sort of rotating gallery then you can update your room with a new painting when you want. Rotating galleries are great for keeping your home up to date with the latest seasons and art trends. Make sure to consider this if you want to improve your home.

Adding Colour

Having art in your home is also great as it can add another layer of colour. Dark coloured rooms can be brightened up with bold paintings and pale rooms can be made more exciting with a nice piece of art. Adding colour is very important and when you choose art for your home you can really make a huge difference.

Making A Statement

If you really want to make a statement in your home, then you should think about adding some art. Art can be really important in adding something that is bold and interesting to your room. You want your guest to walk in and be amazed by the décor and when you have a statement piece, you can be sure that this is going to happen.

Adding Movement

Another reason why art can improve your home is that it can actually add some movement to the room. If you choose certain pieces that will move the gaze of the guest around the room or that work well with your furniture choices, you can really change the way that the room is viewed. Your guest’s gaze will be guided, and they will appreciate what you have done with your home.

Add Texture

With art, you don’t always have to choose a print piece or a painting that has no texture. Art comes in many different forms and if you are able to find a textured piece to add to your home, you’ll be able to add this texture to your home. This can make a huge difference to how your room looks, and it is something which you should try.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons why art can actually improve the way that your home looks. Think about how the piece that you choose can add some colour, texture or movement to your home. You will love how nice your room looks when you find that perfect piece.

Brain Wave, Travel and Attractions

3 Reasons to Visit Crete

August 29, 2018 No Comments

The Mediterranean is home to a number of beautiful, picturesque landscapes. Among these, Crete stands out at one of the most breath-taking. Greece’s biggest island is home to a number of things that we think of as being characteristically Greek. From the eponymous Greek salad to feta cheese, even the famous mythical Minotaur, Crete has inspired many of the defining features of Greek civilisation.

While the Greek mainland is home to a large number and diverse array of culturally and historically significant sites, the island of Crete still retains a great deal of its original atmosphere. Being an island separated from the mainland, Crete has not had the same kind of cultural evolution as the rest of Greece. This makes Crete much more traditional in many ways, and it is a large enough island to support a culture that is subtly different to most of Greece.

There are several reasons why you should consider visiting Crete next time you are in the mood to take a Mediterranean holiday. Here are just three of the best reasons to visit Crete at least once in your life.

An Ancient Capital and Home of the Minotaur

The legend of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the most famous from Ancient Greece. The Minotaur was the bane of Minos’ (the King of Crete) rule over the island. The Minotaur was imprisoned in a labyrinth beneath the King’s castle but demanded a yearly sacrifice of 14 people, seven young men, and women. Theseus, the son of the King of Athens took exception to the arrangement. He sailed to Crete and defeated the Minotaur. Using a thread, as suggested to him by Ariadne, the Cretan princess, Theseus was able to find his way back out of the labyrinth again.

Needless to say, the actual story is a lot better than that summary! The whole tale is set in the ancient city of Knossos. In fact, this is Europe’s oldest city and today is an archaeological site well worth visiting. Knossos was the centre of the Minoan civilisation, to which King Minos belonged. It is a truly fascinating experience to see the ruins of this mythical city and to compare the famous legend with the historical site.

Knossos is also located near to Crete’s largest city, Heraklion, making it a really fantastic day trip to take. Most schoolchildren in the UK will study the Ancient Greeks at some point. If your children are learning about Ancient Greece and the Greek myths, this is a really wonderful opportunity to make their learning a little more interactive.

Tropical (But Friendly) Waters

If there is one thing that the Mediterranean region is known for, it is the idyllic coastlines. When we think of glistening golden sands, dampened by the rhythmic tidal flows of deep blue waters, it is the Mediterranean that most of us are imagining. Crete is renowned for the beauty of its mountains and cliffs, but these are far from the only types of landscape the island has to offer.

There is a long list of beaches on Crete. And really, you can’t go wrong with picking one! Even if you arrive at a beach that isn’t to your liking, there is a whole coastline of alternatives! One beach that does deserve a special mention is Matala. Matala contains a network of caves that housed a group of free-spirited hippies during the 1960s. Speaking of which, the caves and cliffs that mark the Cretan coastline are worth exploring themselves.

An Authentic Villa Experience

If you are planning on staying in one of Crete’s urban centres, and you want to make sure that you are bang in the centre where the action is, then like most European cities, you will be looking at Hotels or Airbnbs for accommodation. However, while Crete is a pretty big island, it is small enough that transporting yourself around it is nice and easy. It’s not so small that you can travel everywhere on foot, but it is small enough that you can stay in an authentic, relatively rural villa, while still having easy access to the major towns and cities on the island.

There are a number of holiday companies who offer Villas in Crete, among them Blue Villas, which have these villas in Crete. Blue Villas is one of the best established and most popular. Their villas are perfectly situated to balance the remoteness and privacy of a rural setting, with access to the more modern trappings that Crete has to offer.

Greece is a very popular holiday option. The unique cuisine, culture, and history make Greece one of the most enriching places to visit, but the island of Crete remains somewhat overlooked. Crete is, as some islanders like to joke, more Greek than Greece. If you are fascinated by this place, and the myths and legends it has spawned, you should definitely consider visiting Crete.

Brain Wave, Computers and gadgets

4 Apple Products Every Apple Aficionado Must Have

August 22, 2018 No Comments

Do you consider yourself an Apple aficionado, or are you really just someone who casually dabbles in their product lines? If it’s the former, then you should have the following products either already bought or as part of your shopping list when you’re out and about to buy Apple products in the Philippines. Anything less means that you’re not getting the true kind of Apple experience that you deserve, the kind of bleeding-edge tech that has made the visionary company a tough act to follow and compete with.

The Apple iPhone X 64 GB.

When it comes to Apple essentials, we have to start with the biggest and most important one on the list: namely, the iPhone X. This is the latest, state-of-the-art iteration of the mobile device that truly made Apple the electronics giant it is today. While it comes with all the improvements and refinements that we can expect to set it apart from the previous generation of iPhone, the iPhone X also sports some new bells and whistles that come from the bleeding edge of tech.

One notable example is the FaceID facial recognition system, wherein the iPhone creates a 3D map of your face using its TrueDepth front-facing camera system and uses that map as a fingerprint to unlock itself and other features with. This essentially makes your phone truly and utterly yours, as it won’t function unless it knows you’re the one holding it. Best of all, it uses infrared camera tech and machine learning in order to detect your face flawlessly even if you’re in the dark or if you’re wearing something like caps, glasses, and so on. Moreover, the fact that it’s using a 3D map of your face means that it can’t be fooled with pictures or masks of your face either.

The Apple Airpods

Let tangled earphone cables be a thing of the past with the Apple Airpods. Launched alongside Apple’s historical removal of the 3.5mm jack from their iPhone line, these tiny little technological wonders allow for a truly wireless mobile listening experience—literally! Pop them out from their charging case, and they’ll automatically sync to your active iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac—immediately turning on to pipe crystal-clear sound into your ears. They also automatically pause whatever’s going on once you take them out, allowing you to get back in the groove seamlessly once you put them back in.

Audio controls are simplified for your convenience too. Whether it’s adjusting the volume, changing tracks or even starting a call in the middle of your sound trip, all it takes is a double-tap and Siri will come up to help attend to your needs. As for battery life, you won’t have to worry about them going flat during your day, as the carrying case guarantees a charge that can last up to more than 24 hours.

With this kind of innovation driving all their products, it’s easy to see why Apple is at the forefront of mobile tech.

The Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 256 GB

Apple dominates when it comes to laptops as well, and this can be seen in none other than their Apple MacBook Air line of laptops. Made with the rationale that laptops should be as powerful as they can be while still being as portable as possible—i.e. not weighing you down like a thousand-pound barbell that you have to carry in a backpack or suitcase—the MacBook Air packs as much processing power as Apple can cram into it, while also sporting a feather-light weight and blade-thin profile. It’s the ultimate in on-the-go business convenience that’s straight out of science fiction.

In this, the Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 256 GB, one of the latest entrants in the MacBook Air line, continues that illustrious pedigree. For one, it sports a beastly 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor that can be Turbo Boosted up to 2.9 GHz, and is supported by 8GB 1600MHz of LPDDR3 memory. This means that whatever you’re doing on the go, this MacBook can handle it more than adequately. It’s no slouch when it comes to graphics either, with its integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000 card pumping out high-fidelity, high-quality visuals through its 1440 x 900 panel. Finally, it sports one of the best keyboards and trackpads ever made in the mobile tech market today, with smooth tactile action and pin-point accuracy following your every tap, click and swipe.

All of this, in a powerful package with a 12-hour long battery life and a total weigh-in of only 3 measly pounds. Whether you’re an Apple fanatic or you simply travel a lot in your line of work, the Macbook Air is a godsend and an essential.

The Apple 12W USB Power Adapter

All your Apple devices need an adapter to charge. However, you just can’t use any adapter you have lying around the house, even if the connections match and they do work. This is because third-party chargers have a higher chance of failing, and can easily damage your Apple gadgetry if you’re not careful. Protect yourself from that heartbreak in the making by only using first-party power adapters, such as the Apple 12W USB Power Adapter. It can charge any Apple product, so long as it has a Lightning connector, that is. It also features folding prongs so you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged (or damaging your stuff) if you toss it in your bag along with your other electronics.

Make your mark as a true Apple aficionado, and include these items as part of your daily loadout. In doing so, you not only prove your loyalty to this innovative and groundbreaking tech company, you’ll also be making your digital life all that much easier.

Brain Wave, Family and Home living

Home Projects with Best ROI

August 21, 2018 No Comments

Quality and value. These are two reasons why you should seriously consider doing some renovations in your home. If you either want to live under significantly better conditions or you want to make your home increase in value than it would fetch in its current state before the renovations. Looking at it, this is a win-win situation. Even if you do not end up selling your house, there’s nothing that brightens your mood faster than being able to finally use your new and upgraded kitchen. Many homeowners are however inadequately informed about which areas in their homes they need to focus their attention on. Areas that will not only look good but also areas that can simultaneously significantly add value.

You may want to have a master bedroom suite, but it would be better to install that steel front door in place of that frail wooden door. It is not very much about how much money you use for an upgrade, but more about where you focus this money. At the end of the day, several factors determine how good or bad your renovation idea is. So how do you know whether a renovation project is going to add value or not?

You do not spend a fortune

Taking a risk and spending too much money on a small upgrade reduces the chance of making good returns. Average spending more often than not translates into a valuable addition. For instance, an ostentatious kitchen would bring significantly low returns than a mid-range kitchen project. Is your focus inside or outside? In the real estate world, the first impression means everything. How your home looks on the outside can open or close the door to opportunity when you want to sell. Exterior renovation projects have been found to bring better returns than interior renovation projects. Remember that projects that cannot be seen when standing in front of the house are also considered interior because they are not part of the view.

Where is your home located?

If you reside in an area where it is relatively cold most of the months in a year, then it would mean more value to renovate the interiors of your house where the owners spend the most time. On the other hand, if your home is located in an area where the climate is warmer, it makes more sense to focus efforts on the exteriors of your house.

Home improvement projects that will add value to your home

Steel entry door replacement

A 20-gauge steel door is purposefully made to provide your home with security and to complement the face of your property. This steel door is a significant upgrade from the good old 36” by 80” wooden or iron door. It comes ready-made by the manufacturers. No glass panel, hinges or other additional accessories are required. Simply unload and install. On average, a steel door costs $1,471 and brings a 91.3% return of $1,344.

Manufactured stone veneer

Most houses use vinyl siding which tends to wear off faster. Manufactured stone veneer is not only durable but brings with it significant curb appeal. On average, installing stone veneer costs $8,221 and would bring back $7,986 hence a 97.1 return on investment.

Garage door

Replacing your garage door stands top among the list of best return on investment-ROI projects. Say your current garage door measures 16ft by 7ft and you want to replace it with a heavy duty garage door with steel tracks. This seemingly simple renovation project can help sell your home in an instant. A good garage door on average costs $3,470 with its resale value being $3,411 which translates into a 98.3% return.

Simple kitchen upgrade

Say your kitchen measures 200 sq. ft. and has fitted cabinets covering at least 30 ft. seek to have the cabinets upgraded with stylish wood panels and attractive drawer fronts. Have old electric cooking appliances upgraded with new yet more energy saving ones. Also, it’s wise to have your old countertop laminate replaced with fresh laminate. Likewise, you should install a new sink and taps, add a new coat of paint and re-do your old floors by getting new vinyl tiles. A full kitchen renovation would cost an average of $21,198 and bring a return on investment ROI of $17,193 or 81.1%. Quite impressive don’t you think?

Lauren Horowitz

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

What Does It Take To Manage A Business?

August 15, 2018 No Comments

Pexels

Managing a business is something that many people dream of, but few know exactly what it takes to become competent at it. People find many different avenues into this career path. It might be that their discipline and loyalty towards a firm has helped train them from the moment they entered that workplace from a young age. It could be that it’s a natural fit after building competence in another important management role, perhaps even as intense as a military leadership role. Some people naturally fit this around themselves, not joining a pre-existing hierarchy but developing their own to chase a dream.

All of these are valid methods of becoming a business manager, but they’re by no means the only options available to you. If you hope to truly understand what makes a manager competent, you should consider these following personal virtues:

Great Education

Many people enjoy the idea of opening a business and romantically hitting all the pitch-perfect notes they need to in their operational activity to grow and expand. The reality is that it takes time to learn this, and many many mistakes. While no business is free from error, and will often learn things the hard way, managing a business is a complex task. It requires being well educated. You may decide to head to university to gain a degree in this complex issue, perhaps furthering on into a masters in business management. Alternatively, it might be that before you even begin to dream of opening your own business you gain some real insight into the commercial sector by working under competent managers or by hoping to hold that position yourself. While on-the-job training is considerable, it’s always best to learn in either a safe environment or an environment where your money is not on the line.

Patience & The Ability To Listen

It’s essential to have patience in the management fields. Management is not easy to deal with. You will need to rely on those under you as part of your job role, and this is something that many incompetent managers fail to do. Remember that managing a team is reliant on the team working together, so it’s your best responsibility to serve as a form of social and communicative guide for the problems and excitements your team have to articulate. With a little patience and the willingness to learn, you will allow the wind to power your sails, rather than rowing alone.

The Basics

Of course, management is not an isolated skill. You will usually be in management of something, and this is very important to figure out. Without this, you may find yourself truly worrying about the effectiveness of your daily efforts. You need to have more competence than any of those under you, and continue to learn the frontline efforts of those you manage. Without this, you’ll often find that leading from behind demotivates your employees and makes you feel incompetent on a daily basis.

It takes guts and patience to manage, but if you ensure to hit these vital markers, you’ll be on your way forward.

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks, Money matters, Work at Home

Financial Management Advice for Home-Based Business Owners

August 10, 2018 No Comments

Running a business from the comfort of your own home is convenient, but it isn’t without its struggles. As many can attest, it can be difficult sometimes to keep the lines of home and business from blurring. This isn’t just true when it comes to the management of time and responsibilities, it is also true when it comes to your finances. Keeping the finances together as you work on turning profits is a must, and it’s also challenging in the beginning. To help keep your money in order at home and in the business, here are a few financial management tips to remember.

Establish Separate Financial Accounts

The very moment you start your business you need to separate your personal finances from your business affairs. Therefore, you should create different banking accounts to keep things in order. Any and all expenses related to the business should be withdrawn from your company account while all household expenses should be maintained on the personal account. This makes things easier to track and helps a ton during tax filing season.

Pay Yourself

When the money starts coming in from the business it can be tempting to use every cent of it for your personal affairs. If you do this, however, where does that leave your business? To maintain your finances appropriately, it is better to pay yourself and then deposit the rest of your earnings into your business account. Whether you are going to charge a flat rate, hourly fee, or take a percentage of the profits each month, this money should be considered your personal income and used for that purpose.

Make Separate Budgets

Again, it is important to keep the lines between personal and professional finances separate, so your budget should be separate as well. Your household budget should consist of all expenses related to your personal finances and covered by the income you pay yourself with (along with any other income from others in your home). Your business budget should be a list of all company expenses and covered by the remaining profits you have left in your business account.

Have a Backup Plan

Things go wrong in business and at home that will inevitably need to be handled right away. There are plenty of avenues you could explore as you try to secure cash when you don’t have it on hand. For example, you could apply for a loan advance online and get a few hundred bucks overnight. You can also tighten your budget to stretch your income or profits. Lastly, you should create separate savings accounts for emergencies. You should have at least 3-6 months worth of expenses (for business and personal needs) in an account so you can access it if you need to.

Keep Debt to a Minimum

It’s almost a given that you will accumulate debt at home and in business. The trick, however, is to remain debt free or at least keep this debt low. Falling behind on bills in both areas would mean a serious financial hardship for you. If you have outstanding debt, start paying those bills down. You can also keep debt down by watching your spending habits. For the business, you might buy used instead of new when you are in need of furniture or electronic devices. Hire interns or outsource instead of hiring a team. Use free software and applications, go paperless, and plan virtual meetings to cut back on travel. At home, you can reduce your energy and water consumption, bundle your cable, phone, and internet services, make meals at home instead of eating out, and cancel unnecessary subscriptions.

Always Look for Opportunities to Earn More

You can never have enough cash, so you should always be on the lookout for opportunities to earn more. This can help to balance the books at home and in the office. Fortunately, there are several ways you can do this without sacrificing too much time or money. Answer surveys in your spare time, become a personal shopper, start a blog, babysit in the evenings, and whatever else you can think of to accumulate more cash.

It’s easy to blur the lines of business and home – especially when it comes to finances. However, if you don’t want to end up in a world of financial trouble, it is important to learn how to properly manage both. Start by separating the two, then create a budget and backup plan for emergencies. Lastly, make sure that you’re always looking for ways to earn more. It won’t be perfect, but if you keep these tips in mind, managing finances both for your home based business and for your household won’t be so bad.

Brain Wave, Shopping and Merchandise

Best ideas for a Lego party

August 3, 2018 No Comments

Lego has always been a favorite among kids. The Lego bricks are the building blocks. These Legos have miniature figures, wheels and so much more that you can make a city out of them. The Lego blocks are not only fun but also educational. These help in promoting educational things. Right from the young age, kids start developing good habits by using Legos. They have always been on the hot trend. Legos have become extremely famous and hence, parties too are being organized in Lego theme. If you are looking forward to organize a Lego themed party for your kid, you can choose to contact Bricks 4 Kidz Atlanta who will help in organizing the best party.

Nevertheless, mentioned below are a few ideas you can set up for your Lego themed party.

Lego Building Block Invitation
The first step of a party are the invitations. Start out with sending little Lego-inspired building bricks invitations to your known ones. This will your kids to get a brief idea about the party and is also pretty fun.

Building blocks decorations and foods
If you have sent out Lego building block invitations, you can put up all the Lego bricks decoration into your house. You decorate everything in the colorful Lego theme to impress your guests. You can always choose to use the Lego brick plates and glasses to attract the attention of the kids. You can put up some small Lego trucks and cars on the table as a part of the decoration. Use the Lego building blocks to hold the napkins and stands for the foods.

Food is yet another important factor. After building the Lego blocks the kids are surely to get tired, make sure you set up the eating theme according to the theme. All you will need to do is put up a card saying “build your own” sandwich. Then keep all the essential ingredients in the side. The children and adults can have fun while preparing your meal. A Lego theme cake would be the perfect addition to the delicacy. Decorate the table with solid colored popcorn holders and chips. The table would be a perfect addition with your snacks.

Party Activities
Now that you are done with the invitation and food, the next thing that comes up to your mind are the activities in your party. You need to set up some really cool games at your party. After food, everyone needs time to play with the Legos. Make sure you put up some Lego coloring pages so that the kids can come up with their wide range of creativity. There is a list of games you can try for your party.

Favors
One of the perfect favor idea for a Lego party are Lego building blocks. Gift every kid a set of Legos building blocks and make the party even more interesting.

A Lego themed party is one high rise in today’s generation. Kids are absolutely in love with these. If your kid is willing to have a birthday party, make sure to put up a Lego themed one. Invite everyone to your party and let the kids enjoy their best.

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