A Lobby To Welcome You Home

The list of what to look out for during an apartment hunt can seem never ending. You probably attend each viewing with reams of paper reminding you about things like location and the quality of the view. The more bases you cover, the less chance there is of landing in an imperfect living situation, right?

But, despite a world of preparation, many of us forget to consider one crucial thing; the entrance lobby. It wouldn’t even cross many of our minds to spare this a thought. You aren’t buying the lobby, after all. Surely the apartment should be more important?

When you break it down, though, that lobby is the first thing you’ll see when you arrive home. It’s the first impression your guests will form of where you live. Hence why many landlords go all out by investing in expensive floor tiles, and even contacting aluminum canopy manufacturers to provide an entrance to come home to. The grander the entrance, the better the prospects. With that in mind, you may want to start your next viewing appraisal before entering the potential apartment. For proof of things to look out for, consider the prowess of these top New York lobbies.

The Galleria, 117 East 57th Street

From the moment you set eyes on The Galleria, it’s clear to see that this complex has something to shout about. This entrance canopy ticks all the boxes. Things only improve as you get closer, and spot the iconic swooping glass entrance. Without needing to set foot in the building, it’s clear these apartments come complete with dreamy contemporary designs. What more could a property hunter ask for?

The Osborne, 205 West 57th Street

Many would argue The Osborne has the best lobby in the city, and it’s difficult to disagree. Built back in 1885, this couldn’t be further from the modern glitz you’ll find at the Galleria. Instead, this lobby will put you in mind of a stately manner. The gilded ceiling is only the tip of this lobby iceberg. You also have brownstone walls and traditional paintings galore. You could go as far as to say this is the dream apartment block for fans of Downton Abbey.

River House, 435 East 52nd Street

Of course, New York’s most impressive apartment building had to find its place onto this list at some stage. A pillared stone gate leads you into this beautiful lobby, complete with gardens and river views. The highlight, though, is the cloakrooms which you’ll find there for all your party needs.

The Plaza

Whether you recognize it for its iconic appearance in Home Alone 2, or because you’ve marveled at it many times; The Plaza also deserves a look-in. The lobby for this apartment complex is about as grand as you would imagine. Again, the entrance brings to mind a stately manner house. This image is only furthered by the iconic chandelier you’ll fail to miss when you walk in. How does that sound for impressing anyone you bring home?

 

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Does Selling Your Home Have To Be Such A Source Of Stress?

There are a lot of things in life that can be a major source of stress for a lot of people. From finances to work to your social life, the modern world is full of a whole lot of stressful things that can make life pretty difficult to deal with. However, there are very few things that can cause a more significant amount of stress than trying to sell your home. Moving, in general, can be difficult, with the stress of packing up and finding somewhere new, but when you combine that with trying to go through the incredibly complicated process of selling your home, it can become a waking nightmare. Of course, that's not necessarily the way that things have to be. There are plenty of things that you can do in order to make the whole process a little easier, even if they do take some extra work and careful planning. With that in mind, here are some ways that you can stop selling your home from becoming such a major source of stress in your life.

See the ultimate checklist here

Plan everything carefully

Planning in the most important thing when you're trying to go through a process as complex and potentially stressful as selling your home. You might feel like you're going to be able to wing it but, rest assured, this is the worst possible idea. Instead, think about how the whole process is going to work and try to figure out the best order to do things in and how long they're going to take. If you have a deadline that you're working to, having a plan can make your life a whole lot easier. Otherwise, you run the serious risk of missing details or forgetting things entirely which can often cause the whole thing to fall apart around you. Sure, there will always be things that happen that you can't plan for, but if you try to plan for everything else, then you're going to be in a much more secure position if something does go wrong.

Know who to work with

If there's one thing you should never, ever try to do, it's trying to sell your home entirely on your own. You might think that you'll be able to save money by avoiding things like real estate agent or lawyers fees, but doing that is almost certainly going to end up making your life more difficult than it needs to be. Plus, there are plenty of companies like Otranto Real Estate who can help you sell your house fast without huge fees on top. You also need to think about things like legal representation, otherwise, you could end up in a position where you're either misreading or ignoring important elements of the sale which can put you in a pretty precarious financial and legal position.

Share tasks among your family

When it comes to the actual process of moving out of your home, trying to do everything yourself might be tempting. After all, if you're doing it completely by yourself then you're going to be able to keep track of everything, no matter how much there is, right? Well, the truth is that it's a whole lot more likely that you're just going to end up getting buried under all of the stuff that you have to deal with. Rather than trying to take everything on yourself, share the various jobs out between your family so that you can all take care of things. Even something simple like letting the kids take care of packing away their toys can make a huge difference to the workload that you have to deal with. Not only that but you can cover a lot more ground a lot quicker if you've got a few extra pairs of hands helping out.

Keep notes

Then again, it's not going to matter how many hands you have on deck if you're not able to keep track of everything that's happening. When you're buried under piles and piles of unmarked boxes with no idea what's supposed to go where it can be enough to make you want to curl up into a ball and give up. The best way to avoid this is to keep detailed notes on everything that you pack up so that you know what goes where. Not only should you have the boxes clearly marked on all sides but it's also a good idea to set up something like a spreadsheet which can allow you to keep track of what items from the different rooms have been packed up. That way, you're going to be able to look at it at know exactly what stage of the process you're on at any given point.

Budget carefully

There are a lot of costs involved in buying a home, but a lot of people tend to forget that there are often just as many involved in selling a home as well. Because of that, it's important that you keep a careful budget so that you don't end up spending more than you can afford. After all, things like real estate fees, as well as the cost of moving companies and storage, can often add up a lot more quickly than you might expect. Keep a clear budget and update it every step of the way.

Of course, it's important to remember that no matter what you do, there are still going to be things that could go wrong or things that could make your life more stressful. The truth is that you've got to be ready and willing to put in the effort and not just leave things to the very last minute. Hiding your head in the sand and trying to ignore all of the difficult aspects of selling your home is just going to end up making everything a whole lot more difficult in the long run. No matter how difficult or stressful things might get, trying to ignore them is just going to make your life more unpleasant in the long run.

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The Most Indulgently Beautiful Places To Live

You’ve worked hard. You’ve taken the risks to develop your business. You’ve managed to get to the top of your industry. You’ve made investments that make sense and are now reaping the rewards. You have come into funding through your own effort, or perhaps good sense and circumstance. In any case, you deserve to enjoy your funding through a wonderful living situation. Anchoring yourself somewhere beautiful is one thing, but some of the most beautiful places in the world? Why on earth not?

But first, you need to know where the most beautiful places to live are. You needn’t be a millionaire to live in some of the following locations, but there’s no doubt that the following locations emphasize quality, beautiful societies, and a demographic makeup of pure intrigue and gorgeous historical merit.

Consider the following places in our home buying guide:

Bahamas

The Bahamas are known for not only the pristine and idealized geography, the gorgeous, crystal clear water and the white gold beaches, but also a perfect sense of spacial design, allowing Bahamas real estate to take on a luxury feeling while also offering enough access to well-meaning tourists. The balance of tourism trade and residential comfort is perfected in the Bahamas, and living here could truly be considered one of the most beautiful places to relax on Earth.

People enjoy coming here to escape the heavy bustle of the inner-city and once again get an appreciation for the beauty of sunny environments, wonderful culture and perhaps the most down to earth people they can encounter. There’s a reason why when asked their intent after hypothetically winning the lottery, most people will tell you they’d lay back in a chair sipping a margherita, lost in the Bahamas with nothing but their surroundings to support them. That sounds pretty amazing to us.

Paris

The city of love is known by that moniker for a recent, a real palpable feeling of romance floods the city streets here. But why is that? Is it because people are too loose and expressive here with one another, when really they should be a little more considerate of the people near them? Of course not. Paris, the hub of all Francehood, is known for its dilligent apprecation for the arts, and the care of its creative community. Sensational food, historical preservation, artistic enterprise, theatre, dance, film, all of it lends itself to a feeling of observation and representation, of appreciation and care. How could that not be romantic? Renting an apartment in the hub of the city, or perhaps purchasing a gorgeous home on the outskirts not only gives you access to a wonderful and routinely cherished location, but helps you thrive in the heart of this community, impress a lover throughout any stage of the relationship, and celebrate life in a manner that is seemingly only accessible by that secret French beauty.

These two places can provide you with internal and external beauty, a sense of real comfort and a gorgeous, neverending cycle of activities to take part in. With this in mind, you’re sure to enjoy your new surroundings completely.

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Festive Finds To Dress Up Your Next Open House

By Shaunna Redman

Make your open house the talk of the town this fall. These must have items from Wayfair and Anthropologie will help you stand out against other homes and allow you to feel festive. Liven up your open house this fall with these must have items.

This Brass Wine Rack from Anthropologie is the perfect piece to add to your kitchen for your fall open house. It will show potential residents how great your space will be to host a get together. The color is perfect for fall as it corresponds with golden apples and the golden leaves. Add some bottles of red wine and sparkling wine to the rack to add to your fall flair.

 This Striped Glass Pumpkin from Wayfair will turn any of your rooms festive. The pumpkin is completely handmade using mouth blown glass. The orange and brown colors combined throughout the pumpkin bring the feeling of fall inside.

Consider adding these Recycled Table Vases from Wayfair to your home to bring the rustic feel of fall indoors. Not only does these vases allow you to add your own personal fall flair, they will also help you brighten up the space where you have them placed.

This Tufted Patricia Curtain from Anthropologie offers a small touch of fall for those who don’t want to go very big. The curtains in ochre offer deep red and orange dots against a white background to offer a modern and chic look for your room. These curtains are perfect to show potential residents how homely your house is.

Bring the feeling of the beautiful outdoors indoors with this Willow Leaf Semi Flush Mount from Anthropologie. This light fixture will give you the ultimate fall feeling with the addition of making your room brighter.

Dress up your sofa with this Sarepta Beaded Pumpkin Cotton Throw Pillow from Wayfair. Not only will this pillow provide you the festive feel fall has to offer, it will also provide you the comfort you’re looking for.

Add the smell of fall to your house with these Mini Capri Blue Jar Candle from Anthropologie. The scents include pumpkin clove or spiced cider. The candles come in a decorative jar that will further add warmth to your living space.

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3 Ways to Celebrating Your Anniversary in Style

It doesn’t matter if this is your first, fifth or tenth anniversary together - you should be able to celebrate your time together properly. There are many ways to do this, though, and some of them are small and intimate while others are large and festive.

Choose whatever suits your personality better, and you’ll definitely look forward to your next big anniversary. Look into planning an activity to spice up your date night out. One great activity is a paint and sip session with Pinot & Picasso.

Here is a handful of great ideas on how you can do it to trigger your imagination. While some of the ideas below costs a bit more than others, you can always tweak it to work for the two of you.

#1 Plan a special picnic

As outdoorsy people, you’re going to love a romantic meal out in the open air. Pack a picnic basket fully equipped with a large blanket, some meals that are perfect for picnics, a bottle of wine or champagne, and an extra sweater for each of you in case it gets chilly.

Try to plan the picnic somewhere scenic and see if you’re able to time it for the sunset to make it even more romantic.

You might want to bring a Polaroid camera to have a couple of old-school and charming pictures to look back on where you’re all cuddled up and cosy on your picnic. If you’re particular outdoorsy, you can always make it a hike or spend the night out in a tent together.

Just remember to bring warm clothes, though, as the cold might make it less romantic and more uncomfortable during the night.

#2 Recreate your first date

This is a favourite to many people for a reason; your first date together might have been a grand meal somewhere fancy or it might have been a pack of instant noodles in your campus dorm - it doesn’t matter as long as it feels romantic to you.

Try to cook up the same meal you had on your first date, but consider making it a bit more fancy than that pack of noodles. Serve it up as a starter for jokes, for example, and dazzle him or her with a home cooked meal afterwards to show how far you’ve come.

You can always just cook his or her favourite meal as well, though, and watch your favourite movie together afterwards for an intimate evening. It doesn’t cost much either, and you’ll be able to do exactly what you enjoy: spending time together. If you’d like to add a special touch, you can find some jewelry repair services that can repair or restore any sentimental jewelry pieces on your first date. It’s a great way to celebrate your relationship and your special moments.

#3 Spend the night out

While it’s great to be home and do the things you’re used to, it’s also nice to experience something new. Treat your special someone to a night at the Mirabelle Inn, for example, to make sure you’re properly pampered and that the evening feels special. It’s the kind of stuff you’re going to remember for a while to come, and you’ll definitely look forward to your next big anniversary.

Anniversaries are a celebration of the time you’ve spent together, and how you prefer to do it is, of course, up to you. Let these tips inspire you to find the perfect date for the two of you, and consider yourself the perfect partner.

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8 Things To Do Before Summer Ends

What better time to take an adventure than Summer? The experts of adventures from Go Dream have shared their favorite Summer adventures to do in New York City. Go Dream was founded in 2007 by Nicolai Billie Krogh, and gives people the opportunity to give fun life experiences as gifts. They have been able to share over two million experiences, and also offer more than 5,000 experiences. Check out these once in a lifetime experiences that can help you send Summer out with a bang.

.1. Paragliding In The Catskills

Get your adrenaline pumping by paragliding in Catskills. At $145, you can learn to paraglide with a certified instructor. After completing your lesson, you’ll be able to see scenic New York from a bird’s-eye view.

2. Drive a Ferrari

Who doesn’t want to drive a supercar? At $99, you can take a Ferrari out for a test drive. With this experience you get half an hour to drive on an adrenaline filled, but safe course with either a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren.

3. Fly A Helicopter

Starting at $440, you can fly a helicopter around Upstate, New York. You get a safety briefing beforehand, then you and your instructor will take flight around Westchester county, the Hudson River, and the New York/Connecticut coastline. At the end of your flight, you can take home an HD recording to show your friends and family all the sights you flew by.

4. Ice Cream Treats Tour

Beat the Summer heat by taking an ice cream tour in Manhattan. Starting at $55, you’ll begin the tour at Union Square, then explore neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Soho. This tour isn’t just about ice cream though, you’ll also learn about the areas you visit while taking in the beautiful scenery.

5. Wine Tasting Sail Trip

Enjoy a relaxing sail around New York City while also enjoying a fine selection of wine. Starting at $199, you can go on a wine cruise which will include charcuterie and cheese along with a special selection or theme of wines. While you’re sailing, you’ll also learn basic knowledge to understand various wines. The sail will last for two hours, and upon arrival you can choose which wine cruise you would like to go on as each one has a different selection of wines and themes.

6. VIP Golf Lessons

If you love to golf, this once in a lifetime experience would be perfect for you. For $100, you’ll be able to learn gold techniques personally from a PGA professional in Manhattan. After your lesson, a video of your swing can be viewed on a premiere Golf Channel Academy website so you can show off your skills. The best part is you can be any skill level to do this experience.

7. Downtown Jet Ski

Want to tour New York in a unique way? For $139, you and a friend can take a jet ski tour to see the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, and more. All equipment is included, and the tour will last for an hour.

8. Hot Air Balloon Upstate and New Jersey

Experience parts of New York you haven’t seen before from high up in the sky on a hot air balloon. Starting at $248, you can travel by hot air balloon over Upstate New York where you can see Lake George along with vineyards and farmlands. You can even enjoy lunch and champagne included with your balloon tour.

By Shaunna Redman

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How Skilled Are You In The Art Of Relaxing?

All arts require skill. Relaxing is absolutely an art. It is not something that happens completely passively. It’s possible to have many days off work, with your only responsibility there to relax and enjoy yourself, and yet STILL feel stressed and unnerved. It’s a normal part of being a person, and in order to improve your baseline levels of comfort, you can benefit from taking a little time to perfect this skill.

Referring to relaxing as a skill is quite difficult to conceptualize. However, with this list, you’ll see how healthier options can always be chosen:

Meditation & Yoga

Meditation and yoga is always an essential part of learning how to relax. This is because these practices help us slow down our minds in ways that are deeper than surface level. Taking the time out of your day to visit a tantra yoga Thailand session, or to begin a guided meditation group session, or to simply research the benefits of which online can help you begin to feel a sense of kinship with concentration. Many people feel that yoga and meditation are exercises in relaxing, in getting out of your body and escaping in good feeling. This is not the case. While you will often feel refreshed and deeply restored after one of these sessions, to consider this the main aim is incorrect. You can also visit Nature Sound Retreat to learn more about the benefits of meditation.

Meditation and yoga aren’t an escape from reality, it’s a deep cultivation of your awareness of it. A concentrated mind then begins to build, and this can feel intrinsically pleasurable in itself. With this, science has proven that you’ll become more able to feel empathy, to reduce aggressive and anger-fuelled issues, to feel a sense of deep relaxation and to enjoy better physical health and sleep hygiene. Meditation and yoga help you Relax with a capital R, as it woks on the underlying emotional and psychological structure of your mind, helping you relieve stress and come to a sense of real peace.

Better Content

It can be that while we find time to relax, we may not be conducting in relaxing activities. It might be that during your pleasure time this week, you’ve been watching an intense drama with difficult social situations and aggressive content. Of course, this isn’t to advise you to limit your content by appealing to the negative nature of the show in an accepting sense, but that how exposing yourself to this may mean you’re emotionally stimulated or impressed in ways that might not be the most beneficial for your relaxation time. Instead, perhaps focusing on a creative hobby, absorbing more relaxing and positive content, or taking the time to simply sit and read could help you feel much more catered for after work, or in the moments where you truly need to recharge.

Relaxation Aids

We all like to relax in different ways and there are plenty of relaxation aids out there that can help you to settle down. From learning what is thco and using it to your benefit to booking in a massage at your local spa, it’s important to know what aids suit you and to incorporate them into your lifestyle.

Social & Isolation

Some people recharge in a group. Some people need to recharge alone. No matter who you are, relaxing and comforting yourself in these matters can be benefited, but only if you try both to make sure you know what is best for you. It might be you decide to spend more time with your flatmates, or perhaps more time with your family despite working obligations. If intensely socialized but at your limit, you may decide that scheduling more time alone could be tremendously helpful to you. We all have different requirements, so be sure to find the setup that works for you the most appropriately.

With these tips, you’re sure to find yourself skilled in the art of relaxing.

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How to Rejuvenate Your Skin for Fall

By Peter Minkoff

You know the rule, and if you don’t, we’re here to dole out some serious skincare truths and the first one is – change of seasons calls for a change of your skincare arsenal. So, hurry up, finish off those summer go-to products so they don’t go to waste and get ready to spice things up – fall skincare style. The slightly harsher weather calls for some serious changes so stay tuned as we guide you through the skincare maze in order to welcome the golden season (with hopefully a few days of that magical Indian summer) looking fresh, rejuvenated, and ready for anything this period throws at you.

Laying down the groundwork

Fun in the sun is fun indeed, but excessive sun exposure, a crime we’re all guilty of, can and usually does take a toll on the skin, making it patchy, dry, and at times even leathery. So, before you do anything else, it’s time you did some repair work and eradicated the damage the sun may have caused. This is where two little miracles come to play – exfoliation and facial serums. By exfoliating your skin regularly – two to three times a week - you will have removed the dead skin cells caused by dehydration and sun, and will have revealed a glowing clean complexion that is ready for subsequent pampering. In case you have more serious sun damage, investing in a high-quality serum that targets this particular issue is the smartest thing you can do, as sun damage can have long term consequences if not addressed in a timely manner.

When in Rome

In this case Rome is exfoliation and, as caring for your skin shouldn’t end with the face, it’s time to spruce up and rejuvenate the entire body. One of the whole-body pampering trends that has spiked in popularity is actually the ancient art of dry brushing. Not only does it  help remove dead skin cells, but fosters better blood flow and helps eliminate cellulite; not to mention that it has the power to soothe your body from within, so make sure you snag a good brush and learn how to do this ritual properly.

Choose wisely

When it comes to choosing products such as cleansers, toners and moisturizers, it’s always best to go with those coming from the same line. Skincare lines are carefully designed to work together in the right order and bring you the optimal level of cleanliness and much needed moisture, as harsher weather will call for reinforcement in the moisturizing department. So, choose your products wisely and stick to the best skincare regimen and you’ll have nothing to worry about. Of course, when choosing, make sure you take your skin type and possible issues (acne, discoloration or anything else) into account as this is what perhaps matters most when we talk about effectiveness.

Don’t forget this part

We often neglect our lips, it’s time to admit that. Yes, yes, we did have fun with matte lipsticks and will probably continue to do so in the time to come, especially when we switch to darker berry and chocolaty hues, but we mustn’t forget to nourish our lips in preparation for the fall, during fall and well into winter. The harsh weather will leave you with dry chapped and not at all kissable lips, so go for something deeply nourishing that will also rejuvenated your lips too.

Butter up

The shiny and glitter-loaded body lotions were definitely one of summer’s top hits as the entire season was marked by the pursuit of the glow, but as amazing as they look, these lotions are more decorative than nourishing. Therefore, it’s time to switch to something thicker, buttery and deeply nourishing. Think in terms of Shea butters, rich and rejuvenating coconut. Search for local handcrafted brands that have incredibly powerful body butters in a variety of scents, so take your pick according to your scent preferences, but always keep protection and nourishment in mind.

Finish off strong

Another product we tend to leave on the bench during summer is a really good hand cream. Just as the lips, dry, cracked hands are not only un-alluring but can actually be quite painful, so snag the best hand cream you can get your hands on. Moreover, just like the lip balm, always keep it in your bag because these are the two products that you’ll be applying at least five times a day so it’s vital to always keep them in close vicinity.

Not that hard, right – a little exfoliation, some new goodies; preparing for the fall has never sounded more appealing, you have to admit it. We know you can’t wait to get your hands on these fall skincare goodies, so now that our work is done, we’ll leave you to it.