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Read MoreThere’s a New Nail Brand in Town And It’s Bringing Chaos
“I love your nails.” Midway through checkout, the two cashiers just had to stop ringing items and take notice of her fingertips. At this, the tangy brightness of her nail beds were no longer a match for the big smile XXVZ Nails owner Na’Tasha Simmons cast. She leaned in slowly, taking the opportunity to exchange friendly chatter with the Costco employees and promote her new nail polish line. Na’Tasha has already captured two enthusiastic customers, organically, and her company’s still in pre-launch. But this is who she is: bold, outgoing, charismatic and fiesty. You’ll find these same attributes mirror the tone she’s setting for her nail brand. As a person, she will joyfully command your attention. I reckon XXVZ Nails will be destined to do the same.
The Chaos Collection
When asked what prompted her to start her company, Na’Tasha had many reasons but the foremost was simple, “I had always loved nail polish” she said. Na’Tasha also realized that there was something missing in the world of nail colors that she could add to, “I love the color red, and I always had this idea of creating a line with only reds in it because it’s so hard to find a good red!” The Chaos Collection, XXVZ Nails first family of colors, features five of the baddest options around: Bite The Apple Eve, Wild Thang, Calypso, Rave Ready and Sweet as Pie, all of which stick to a red color scheme. “I cannot be basic,” she states, “I cannot just blend in. Your nails are a statement, they’re an extension of you.” She feels passionate about looking good and feeling your best; she’s calling out to all those who are unapologetic in wanting the same.
XXVZ Nails, set to launch in July, wasn’t only brought to us out of the founders love for everything red- Na’Tasha just realized that it was time to be her own boss. Having been laid off twice since the summer of 2019, she decided to use that time to rethink her career plans and the path she wanted to take professionally. She experienced many sleepless nights, and the coronavirus pandemic only added to the stress of it all. But, there was one night in October where she decided to get up and do something more to push her dreams forward. “I just started researching black owned nail polish companies'' she stated, and Na’Tasha dove deeper into the details, such as how to make nail polish and where it was made. From that moment she took off; scouting vendors, ordering samples and paying close attention to the industry she had set her mind on becoming a part of.
Na'Tasha Applying Calypso
Na’Tasha brought up being a black woman and what that means to her as she enters the world of entrepreneurship, particularly within the beauty industry. “I’ve just been doing my research” she mentioned, “I’m not going to say that I know everything, but I don’t know why there isn’t representation like there should be. I know that it’s not enough.” But Na’Tasha made it clear that she’s all about disruption and plans on bringing brown and black bodies to the forefront of her company. She recounted a social media feed she came across from a well-known nail polish brand. It featured a photo of a white hand and a black hand joined together, along with sentiment showcasing their commitment to diversity. Then it hit her. “It seemed so insane to me,” she said, “this is social media and this is nail polish and even then we can’t be represented.” This made Na’Tasha realize that the presence of black and brown people within the beauty world had yet to be completely normalized. “It’s so ingrained that everything needs to look one way. ”
Na’Tasha has an up close perspective of this, coming from a background in magazine production.”I know, when they have two black models in an ad next to two black models in an editorial page, that’s weird to them,” she adds, “but it’s not weird when it’s a white person, like most times, who’s in an editorial page next to another white person in an ad page.” She’d been in the room where uncomfortable conversations featuring race and skin tone had been had in roundabout ways. However, she was personally surprised as she moved deeper into the world of nail polish and saw the same patterns occur. “We’re talking about body parts.” For Na’Tasha, it had become something more than simply launching a nail polish line. XXVZ Nails is an all-inclusive brand, but she’s making sure that there’s truly a place for everyone. “I do want to focus heavily on brown and black people, but also people with different color hair and tattoos. When it comes to retail and health and beauty, you don’t see that a lot.”
Na’Tasha has recently applied for Glossier’s Grant Initiative, which is specifically for black-owned beauty businesses. The company will award fifteen business owners in various stages of growth a set amount of money to, as their post says, “support the next generation of game-changing companies”. While Na’Tasha “hopes to expand the brand into overall health and beauty”, this grant money will help her address the basics she needs to run her business now, especially from home. She’s learned so much and accomplished even more within the past several months. “There’s a lot that goes into this, and I have seen all of the YouTube videos.” It’ll also ensure she can provide the level of quality she seeks within her nail polish line. When asked, she noted that the one thing she wasn’t expecting as a new business owner was to develop this strong affinity for curating her customers’ experience, “I didn’t expect to feel so involved”.
This is a step for Na’Tasha Simmons. A step towards seeing all five versions of her reds painted on the fingertips of XXVZ customers, a step towards being the divine creator of her own career and a step towards her building a black presence within the beauty industry. Her Chaos Collection comes to us at a time where chaos is all abound politically, socially, economically and healthwise but it’s also about feeling free to be you whenever you want to. “It’s now or never” she stated, and this Harlem native has all the smarts to make it happen no matter how the world may turn around her.
Stay tuned for her official launch and upcoming collections by visiting the XXVZ website and following her on Instagram!
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The New Sunscreen You'll Want To Wear All Summer
Are you ready for a new sunscreen that has an SPF of 50 and will protect you all day long? Shiseido has created a new sun protecting lotion that surfers love!
Shiseido’s new sunscreen Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen is ocean-friendly and Hawaii-compliant, meaning there is no oxybenzone and octinoxate in the product. Shiseido focuses on ocean conservancy and the surfing community in their products.
Shiseido has partnered with the World Surf League (WSL) and is now the official sunscreen of WSL. The campaign for this new sunscreen features two surfers in the top 20 professional surfers, Lakey Peterson and Sage Erikson. The campaign consists of two films, one shot in Australia, and a 4-minute YouTube video that stars the two surfers telling their stories.
The innovative new sunscreen utilizes SynchroShield™ Technology which uses a mix of WetForce and HeatForce. WetForce being negative ions in the formula combine with positive ions in perspiration and water to create an additional layer of invisible sun protection. As you continue to sweat and get wet, the product becomes more effective. HeatForce, a heat-sensing essence in the formula becomes activated by external heat, forming a stronger barrier. Provides elevated sun protection when it in the presence of heat or warm temperatures.
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The Coronavirus Broadway Intermission
Caroline Fiske and Hailey Manlowe at “Six” on Broadway
In March 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo made the decision to close Broadway until we flatten the coronavirus curve. As a result of this decision, certain Broadway shows have closed such as “Beetlejuice” and “Frozen.” Theaters are now reaching out to people who have purchased tickets after March 2020 for refunds and exchanges until Broadway reopens again. Since Broadway is not going to reopen until phase four, we will most likely not listen to “The Lullaby of Broadway” until 2021. New York is in phase one of reopening as of June 8, 2020, the state has a long way to go until the Broadway lights are on again.
One of the biggest reasons why Broadway is in phase four of reopening is because Broadway attracts everybody including a lot of older people. Unfortunately, older people have a much higher chance of catching the coronavirus due to their weak immune systems. Tourists are also a very popular group for Broadway goers since America has the highest number of coronavirus cases out of any other country, the majority of Broadway’s audience members will not be able to attend. Another reason is because of how claustrophobic these theaters can be. Most of these theaters have been around for hundreds of years and because of that the aisles, the bathrooms, the stage, the backstage area, and the seats are small. Broadway wants to keep its historical presence as much as possible so it will not be easy to social distance in these types of circumstances.
Just like 9/11 affected everything in our daily lives as we know it, so does the coronavirus. Broadway opening back up sooner rather than later will all depend on how well the various reopening phases go and if New Yorkers listen to the CDC health guidelines. Broadway will be changed drastically not just from shows being canceled but for long-running shows too. Shows like “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Wicked” have been on Broadway for as long as I can remember. Shows like that will be difficult to sell post-pandemic because many people have already seen them.
Caroline Fiske, Anneka Knoll, and Joe Rozylowicz at “Aladdin” on Broadway
Broadway actors and crew members are now also unemployed. Many of them solely rely on how much money they make on Broadway to pay for their rent. Unfortunately, Broadway actors and crew members as well as many other people who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus, are going to be unemployed for quite a while. Donating to worthy causes like “Actors Fund” for example will help actors who are struggling financially during this trying time get back up on their feet again.
Overall, New York City highly thrives on Broadway. It is one of the many reasons why people even come to New York City in the first place. According to MarketWatch.com, “In its last season, Broadway contributed $14.7 billion worth of economic impact to the Big Apple.” People would often stay in a hotel and go to a restaurant as they are about to see a Broadway show, it is going to take a lot of time in order for these events to become “normal” again. The Coronavirus Broadway Intermission will not be in effect “For Good,” things will get better “One Day More.”
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Things To Consider Before Buying Your Own Private Island
Dreaming of owning your own private island is no longer an unattainable dream. Those dreams can turn into reality. Gone are the days of thinking on the wealthy and famous can afford a private island. With the use of the internet, there is more information out there that shows that private islands are not something you only dream about. In most cases, they cost just as much as a house would.
The Naomi Island, located halfway between New York City and Albany along the Hudson River costs only $99,000 and is only reachable by boat. Round Island in Nova Scotia is going for $58,647 for 2.7 acres of land. Owning your own private island is something attainable. If you are thinking about purchasing your own private island, here are some things to consider before buying.
Location
The location of your future private island is an important thing to consider. There are tons of islands in this world, and it is best to narrow it down to a specific region you want to purchase on. Would you want to live in the Southeast Asia region where they have some of the biggest archipelagos in the world, like Thailand or the Philippines? Would you prefer to live in the Bahamas or Central America? Some regions have a limited selection of islands that are available for purchase.
Every region has different laws for purchasing land. For example, the Philippines does not allow non-citizens to purchase islands whereas Sri Lanka does. Taking the location into consideration will help you understand how to move forward with your purchasing steps.
Kind Of Island
Take into consideration what kind of island most fits you, your personality and your goals. Will your island be a place you go to when you can take a few days off from work on a random holiday, or is this someplace you will frequent every year around the same time? Will you be living there for an extended period of time? Are you planning on turning your island into a resort location for commercial use?
Asking yourself those questions will help you to determine what work needs to done or what kind of island you want to buy. Some islands do not come fully developed, but others do. For those that do not come fully developed, you will have to consider what it takes to develop that land for commercial use or for extended use. It may require you to get permits and pay fees.
Cost
It is true, not all islands are as expensive as you may think. Bahamas private islands for sale will be more expensive than those in places like Novia Scotia. An island that is already developed will be more expensive than one that has not been touched by human hands. Purchasing the latter may seem like the most cost-effective option, but there are costs attached that are required to get the island running smoothly.
Aside from the financial costs, there could also be environmental costs that you should consider. Though you may be living on an island, you still have to be mindful of nature. As an island owner, you are now responsible for that island’s ecosystem, which is a very delicate thing. Consider looking into local regulations on the nearest mainland for guidance on maintaining the ecosystem while making it livable at the same time.
Climate Region
Consider the climate of your future private island. If the climate there does not suit your needs or wants, you will be miserable. Other than the everyday weather, keep in mind of the frequency of natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes. Knowing this information ahead of time can help you make a better-informed decision before purchasing.
Now that you have taken into consideration these things important factors that go into the quality of your future island, and you are about to pull the trigger on buying it, you should be aware of some pitfalls to look out for and how to avoid them.
Stay On Or Near Your Island Before You Buy
This ensures you know what it will be like when you start developing that island. There is nothing worse than funneling tons of money into a project only for you not to like it. The same can be said about your island. You want to make sure it is a place you feel comfortable in. This can also help you to determine whether or not a region works best for your vacation goals, lifestyle and personality.
Make Sure You Can Develop On The Island
That would be terrible if you purchased an empty island with intentions on developing it only to find out that is not possible because the government that island falls under will not let you. Do research on the jurisdiction your island falls under so you can research the laws on developing. Your island could be an environmentally protected area, in which case you cannot do any development. Maybe you can do some developing but you need permits to do so. It is better to find out about that stuff and get the ball rolling on those things before you purchase.
Again, Consider The Costs
This cannot be stressed enough. There are going to be tons of costs associated with purchasing an empty island that you may not even think about that will make your island suitable to live on. For example, you need things that make it possible to obtain fresh water, you may need some kind of waste management system in place, you may need to install solar panels for energy and on top of all of that, you have to consider costs for constructing a place you can lay your head. All of these things need to be taken into consideration as those can cost several hundred thousand dollars and it would be good to know that before you spend money on an island.
Try To Stay Relatively Close To The Mainland
Being away from civilization may be the very reason you decided to get a private island in the first place, but you do not want to be so far out that it can be difficult to transport supplies and other important things needed for sustainable life on your island. If you are willing to travel a long way to the mainland to get your supplies, that may not be a problem for you but it still benefits to know these things before you dish out all your money on purchasing a private island.
Determine How You Will Pay For Your Island
You may have to pay upfront, and with cash, as banks typically will not give out loans to buy private islands. This is because there are not any comparable properties on that island or nearby so it can be difficult to establish a cut-and-dry monetary value. In the rare event that you get approved for a loan to purchase your private island, it may only cover small costs. This is definitely something to consider before you think about purchasing your own private island.
Houses That Already Exist On The Island Barely Affect The Price
A house that can sell for $1.5 million somewhere else may not equate to the same amount on an island’s listing price. Sometimes a house already existing on an island can decrease the final purchase price because potential new owners might have different needs for the property, according to Coastal Living.
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4 Ways to Organize an Entryway
Heavy-traffic spaces in the home tend to attract clutter more heavily than others. Front halls and mudrooms are prime examples. Regain control of the space with some of these ways to organize an entryway.
Hang It
Keys, coats, and bags fit better on hooks than on rods. Take a critical look at your wall space in the entryway—blank wall space is ripe for creating organization. Get creative by staggering rows of hooks for shorter or longer items.
Sort It
You bring stuff into the house when you arrive, and you take stuff with you when you leave. You can sort mail, loose change, pens, and seasonal items such as sunscreen and gloves into convenient bowls, baskets, or racks atop a small table or in cubbies. Keep things you may forget when you’re in a hurry visible but organized so that you don’t spend precious minutes sorting through a junk drawer for your eyeglasses when time is of the essence. Sort mail by urgency and utility—bills in one section, coupons in another.
Stow It
There’s no reason to have your winter boots getting underfoot during the summer when all you’re wearing are flip-flops or sneakers. If you have the space, invest in a good storage bench or create a shelf above your wall hooks with cubbies or decorative bins in which to stow off-season coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, and scarves. Umbrellas and walking canes make attractive and compact hall décor if properly organized into attractive stands. These are items you may use often, so having them handy by the door saves you time.
Donate It and De-Door It
Digging out the front hall closet can lead to some surprising discoveries, such as coats that kids outgrew years ago or hats you never wear. Shovel out that closet and separate the contents into keep, donate, and trash piles. Don’t give away coats that are dirty, torn, or missing buttons; you can recycle those at a facility that accepts textiles.
Once you clear out the closet, turn it into an attractive, visible space by removing the door and adding a small bench with cubbies beneath. Hooks can replace a rod as long as you leave enough head room above the bench. Finish it off with a high shelf for storage. Beadboard adds a cottage touch, and light-colored paint gives the nook a fresh look. This way of organizing your entryway will encourage you to keep clutter to a minimum daily. An attractive entryway welcomes you and your family and creates a positive first impression of your home for visitors.
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Read MoreFive New York City TV Shows To Binge-Watch
Binge-watching has become a lifestyle for pretty much everybody due to the coronavirus. Binge-watching helps us escape from reality and kill time during this difficult year. New York City is my favorite place in the whole wide world. Since I cannot go there during this time, I am doing what I can do to immerse myself in that place. Many TV shows take place in the Big Apple and the more I watch them the more I love the City that Never Sleeps. If you love New York City as much as I do, you will love these TV shows too! Below are just a few of my recommendations for NYC TV shows to binge-watch during the coronavirus pandemic.
TV SHOW #1: Friends
The iconic TV show of six friends navigating through life after college with many love, family, work, financial, and of course friend obstacles is my all-time favorite TV show. It proves that no matter how tough life gets, your true friends will always be there for you. They will be there for you when the rain starts to pour. They will be there for you like they have been there before. Friends has a total of ten seasons and it was on NBC from 1994 to 2004. The six friends are Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courtney Cox), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), and Joey Tribianni (Matt LeBlanc). You can currently binge-watch the series on HBO Max. If you have not watched the series yet I will tell you just how amazing it is in the wise words of Janice Hosenstein (Maggie Wheeler), OH! MY! GOD!
TV SHOW #2: Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl here! Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite! This CW series from 2007 to 2012 is about an anonymous online blog called “Gossip Girl” that reveals all of the secrets of the lives of Manhattan’s most privileged people on the Upper East Side. The four people that Gossip Girl bashes the most are Serena VanderWoodsen (Blake Lively), Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), Nate Archibald (Chase Crawford), and Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick). The outsiders from Brooklyn who immerse themselves into the lives of Serena, Blair, Nate, and Chuck are Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgely), Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen), and Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr). This show has so much thrill, drama, romance, action, and of course scandal. It will always keep you on your toes and you just don’t know what is coming next. Just like New York City, Gossip Girl is unpredictable. You can currently binge-watch the series on Netflix.
TV SHOW #3: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Photo Creds: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5788792/
Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) is your typical New York City housewife in the late 1950s, she has the perfect husband, the perfect children, and the perfect apartment on the Upper West Side. Until one day, her life turned completely upside down! When Midge’s husband Joe Maisel (Michael Zegen) cheats on her and they get a divorce, Midge discovers her hidden talent for stand up comedy. Midge tries to make this hidden talent into a career by performing at various cafes and nightclubs in Greenwich Village. Midge’s agent is Alex Borstein (Susie Myerson) and throughout the series, she encourages Midge to go above and beyond everyone’s expectations. This show first premiered in 2017 and it has been renewed for a fourth season but the premiere date of that season is delayed due to the coronavirus. You can currently binge-watch the series on Amazon Prime.
TV SHOW #4: You
Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley stars as Mooney’s bookstore manager Joe Goldberg who falls in love with aspiring writer Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) when she walks into Mooney’s one day. You can say it was love at first sight… This plotline may sound like one of those cliche love stories at first, but you are so wrong for thinking that! Joe starts to form this toxic obsession over Beck (her nickname in the show). Joe starts to stalk Beck on social media and in real life to make sure that they end up together. Joe stops at nothing in order to keep Beck all to himself. They say that love makes you crazy! The first season premiered in 2018 and in the second season, Joe moves to Los Angeles in order to escape his New York City past. The third season is coming out in 2021. You can currently binge-watch this series on Netflix.
TV SHOW #5: Seinfeld
Photo Creds: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098904/
New York City stand up comedian Jerry Seinfeld (played by himself), his best friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander) and his friend/ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) live their crazy daily lives in an apartment on the Upper West Side. Seinfeld is often described as “a show about nothing.” Jerry, George, and Elaine face many challenges throughout the show including their crazy neighbor across the hall Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). This was the original series before Friends that revolved around a friend group going through whatever their New York City lives threw at them together. Seinfeld went on for nine seasons and it premiered on NBC from 1989 to 1998. You can currently binge-watch this series on Hulu.
These five shows are just some of the many remarkable TV shows that take place in New York City. There is really no other place in the world like New York City and that is exactly why so many TV shows revolve their character’s lives around this city. So what are you waiting for? Start binge-watching!
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5 Things You Can Still Do In The Hampton's
The Hamptons are still kicking off the start of summer amidst the Coronavirus pandemic and quarantine. As places slowly open on the tip of Long Island, New York, here are a few ideas that your family and friends can look forward to!
Take-out
from your favorite spots. Many restaurants are offering curbside pickup so that you don’t have to miss out on your favorite dishes. John Scott’s Surf Shack in Westhampton Beach is still open giving its customers their favorite fresh seafood!
Image source: www.facebook.com/JohnScottsSurfShack
Walking and Hiking
Many parks and outdoor areas are still open for people to enjoy exercising and breathtaking views. The Elizabeth A. Morton Wild National Wildlife Refuge is open for hikes. Hike through forests and fields and along ponds and beaches. Bird lovers will see many different species. Other wildlife to view are turtles, deer, frogs, and osprey.
Virtual wine tasting at Wölffer Estate
Wölffer is offering an online 45-minute tasting with a wine expert. Customers get to choose from a Rose Package or White Horse Package. The wine will be delivered to your door. Virtual tastings are done on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and requests can be taken upon availability. For more information go to www.wolffer.com.
Image Source: www.27east.com
Go to the beach
The beaches in the Hamptons are now open for the summer. Hither Hills and Cupsogue Beach County Park, among many others, are now operating with 50 percent capacity monitored by parking lots to ensure social distancing is being followed. Parking for beaches in the Hamptons can be tricky. For more information, you can see Beach Parking in the Hamptons: What You Need to Know.
Image Source: www.longislandleisure.com
Biking
Biking is one of the best ways to see the beautiful scenery of the Hamptons. Biking Dune Road and Montauk Highway are some of the best routes to see beaches, magnificent houses, and quaint towns.
How to Design a Chef's Kitchen for the Home Cook
Many of us fondly refer to our kitchens as the heart of our homes. After all, it's where we gather to share meals and entertain guests. If you want to transform your space into a beautiful gourmet area that everyone can enjoy, look no further. There are so many ways to achieve the kitchen of your dreams.
Which features can set your space apart from the rest? Here are a few design tips for an ideal chef's kitchen.
1. Try Warming Drawers
You never want to use a microwave to reheat a dish — but what's your other option? When you need to make a course ahead of time, a warming drawer works perfectly. You don't need to turn on your oven or serve some cold appetizers. Instead, this appliance keeps your meal ready to go.
You could also add a refrigerator drawer. This appliance works similarly, but it cools your food instead. It's an easy way to keep your refrigerators clear of unnecessary items.
In New York, finding a residence with a warming drawer may seem like a challenge. Yet many luxury properties are catering to the home cook. 49 Chambers at Reade St., located in Tribeca, offers stunning kitchens with amenities and appliances perfect for entertaining. Ovens with warming drawers allow chefs to delight guests with ready-to-go dishes.
2. Add an Island or Two
Every cook needs ample work surfaces. It's not always feasible, but if you can add at least one island, you'll have a lot of elbow room. No one wants to feel overwhelmed by dirty dishes and pans as they struggle to find an area to chop vegetables. Plus, when there's more than one chef at the helm, an island provides a lot of advantages. When you mix materials and colors, your island can serve as a distinct centerpiece.
If there's enough square footage, think about a second island. One could act as a tasting counter, where guests can sample dishes and enjoy their drinks. You can reserve the other island for your needs as a cook. Your kitchen needs to allow for both flow and function.
3. Look to Outdoor Space
Right now, there's a massive demand for indoor-outdoor rooms. After all, who doesn't want to enjoy a beautiful view as they cook? If your kitchen connects to a balcony or yard, consider an extension. You can use a sliding or folding door as a replacement for the existing wall. As a result, you'll achieve tons of natural sunlight — plus a truly flexible space.
Those in high-rise apartments may not have outdoor kitchens, but sunlight should still be a prime consideration for the chef’s kitchen. Take the stunning views offered by the luxury residences at Fifteen Hudson Yards in Manhattan. These elegant kitchens are designed to take advantage of natural light and illuminate any home-cooked meal.
4. Find the Right Appliances
When most homeowners envision a gourmet kitchen, they see a six-burner stovetop and stacked double ovens. Those appliances make a huge difference, but you need to choose what's right for your space individually. If you live alone, you may not want to prioritize a massive refrigerator, especially when such a purchase can eat up a major portion of your budget.
You should also consider your home's current capacity and capabilities. Would it be a pain to install a gas stovetop? Consider a variety of appliances before you make a decision — and think about important built-in features, too. These fixtures should add to your space through their appearance and practicality.
5. Consider a Wine Display
In many modern, updated properties, people install small wine refrigerators to keep a collection ready for any event. New York sommeliers have no shortage of such options in luxury properties. For example, Waterline Square — intersecting Midtown and the Upper West Side — offers both under-counter and full-height wine fridges for residents who value vino.
If there's enough extra space, consider a wine room. You can use a spare pantry or downstairs room to create a beautiful display. Use technology to control the area's temperature and add plenty of room for dozens of bottles. Your guests won't be able to look away. Plus, you'll be ready to see every wine together. That aspect makes it a lot easier to choose specific types for recipes or meals.
Finding a Residence With a Chef’s Kitchen
The ultimate gourmet chef’s kitchen includes top-end appliances, entertaining features and elegant design. Fortunately, you can achieve a stunning and versatile space with just a few changes and additions. Both move-in ready and flexible properties can help you start cooking right away in your new kitchen.
Holly Welles is a real estate blogger covering design, finance and market trends for apartment dwellers. You can find more of her work on her blog, The Estate Update.
Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
4 Quick and Easy Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem
You are your own harshest critic. While everyone has down days and occasional doubts about their good qualities, many people experience persistent low self-esteem daily. It can cause them to feel insecure and unmotivated and, if unchecked, can lead to depression and anxiety.
Low self-esteem is usually self-inflicted. People’s opinions of themselves are often skewed towards the features they perceive as unfavorable while ignoring the many positives. Your view of yourself is the only one that truly matters, so what can you do to boost your self-esteem and feel more confident about who you are?
Be kinder to yourself
Your inner critic can be cruel. When you hear that little voice criticizing your abilities or the way you look, don’t listen to it. Learn to shut it out. If an acquaintance expressed nasty opinions about you, you wouldn’t hesitate to shut them out of your life. So why accept it from yourself? Learn to be mindful of your inner voice and notice it whenever it pops up in your mind. Rather than listening to the criticism, simply take those negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. For every criticism, your inner voice comes up with, think of three positive things. To feel better about yourself, you must start by treating yourself better.
Change something
One brilliant way to rid yourself of that persistent feeling of self-doubt is to shake things up. Do something different. That’s not to say you should change who you are or how you look, but making one little change can make a big difference in how you perceive yourself. If you’ve always had the same hairstyle or have worn the same clothes, why not mix it up? Cutting your hair short or growing it long could change everything. For men, if you’re clean-shaven, try growing a beard. Or if you have a beard, try shaving it off. What about a tattoo or an eye-catching new piercing? For an out-there look, check out a bone septum ring, found here. Only you can decide what’s right. But you must make a change you’re comfortable with, don’t go changing who you are.
In case the changes you made don`t make you feel comfortable you can always decide to remove your tattoo.
Get moving
Exercise is a great way to feel good about yourself. It gives you a framework for setting positive targets, giving you confidence when you hit them. Couch to 5K is a great program to help beginners to get started. Just the act of getting outside and going for a casual run can do wonders. Breaking a sweat causes the body to release endorphins, which are known for making you feel happy.
Treat yourself
There’s no better way to show a loved one you care than by giving them a treat. Show yourself some love by taking the time to enjoy the things that make you happy. It could be running a relaxing bath with some music and a big glass of wine, or it could be ordering a takeaway and watching your favorite film at home. Whatever makes you feel good, make time for it.
Think about these tips next time low self-esteem starts getting you down, and you will be better equipped to feel great about yourself.
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Bring the Performing Arts Home with these Virtual Live-streams
As drawn out as the days are indoors, it is a privilege to be able to have extensive resources at hand to help keep us occupied, safe, and able to support our communities in any ways we can. Local theater and various performing arts being no exception. These centers bring people together, naturally, inspiring us through a combination of music, fantasy, and creativity through performers dedication to their art. If you find yourself bored or have some spare time; below are a few performances you can live-stream from home.
The Metropolitan Opera’s Nightly Met Opera Streams
image source: metopera.org
Every day the Met will showcase a different encore presentation from their Live in HD series, available for free, from 7:30 p.m. EST until 6:30 p.m. the following evening (in case you couldn’t catch it at the show time). The streams are also available through the Met Opera on Demand apps for Apple, Amazon, and Roku devices and Samsung Smart TV.
Feinstein’s #54BelowAtHome
image source: 54below.com
In addition to showcasing many upcoming performers for the next few weeks, the line-up consists of a few past performances in their archive as one-time only events on YouTube. Visit their website for upcoming schedule of live-streamed events.
BRIC Brooklyn’s Stay Home with BRIC
image source: bricsartsmedia.org
Support the leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn by tuning in to BRIC’s live-streams available on their instagram as well as their website. This virtual series includes artist interviews, musical performances, dance parties, while giving light and reflecting the diversity encompassing NY. Tune into their virtual poetry slams on April 20th and 27th or create a dance party at home with Brooklyn’s virtual DJ party on April 19th.
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Artist Theresa Rivera Brings Color To The Meatpacking District
Upon the mandate for non-essenital businesses to close, the city had a sudden wave of retailers boarding up their storefronts. Specifically, the Meatpacking District first saw this with Sephora. The visual of boarded up store fronts only furthered the sadness that the city and world was currently facing, so to make a little lemonade out of it and put a smile on faces of those passing by, the BID’s Executive Director, Jeffrey LeFrancois recruited local artist Theresa Rivera to bring something beautiful to the neighborhood.
Since the completion of the mural outside of Sephora, Christian Louboutin and Arhaus have also boarded up their windows. To continue bringing some positivity and art into the neighborhood, Jeffrey went back to Theresa and commissioned her to make art out of the boarded up windows at both Louboutin and Arhaus. Louboutin and Arhaus are now completed.
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Perfect Gifts For The Mother In Your Life
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gift for your mom. You may have waited this long but given a few days for shipping you can still get the perfect gift for mom Below are our top Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for 2020. See below the top health, fashion, and fitness-related gifts for the Mother in your life.
Captivating Virtual Experience You Can Have From Home
During this current stressful time, staying home is not only integral for our own health but for the safety and health of others. Despite this, the desire to simply move makes the necessity of social isolation a daunting task and, at days at a time, overwhelming.
As a modern culture we have had breakthroughs in our virtual experiences. Whether the focus be on augmented reality games or completely immersive virtual reality- we can experience things in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to in the past. Granted- the virtual can never truly compare to reality- however, its ability to mirror the same breathtaking views can do more than just ease our tensions. It can give you something to look forward to, future plans to make.
Whether you’re an avid traveler, love new experiences, or are simply trying to find things to do, below are a few virtual reality experiences to keep you occupied or to spark something within:
Travel Throughout Japan
preview courtesy of visitjapan
The Japan National Tourism Organization created a 360-degree virtual reality movie incorporating experiences and scenes throughout the country, navigating visitors through their rich landscapes. You can feed of bamboo forests, Geisha performances, and Tokyo’s famous Shibuya Crossing (to name a few without spoiling the beauty of the surprises). To celebrate the beginning of Spring you can also view the traditional Japanese hanami, the ancient and celebrated tradition of admiring newly bloomed flower blossoms. You do need to make sure to have a smartphone in order to view, and you have a choice of the 360-degree VR movie or you can opt for the interactive vision.
For the website to the Japan National Tourism Organization experience click here.
Try Bombay Sapphire’s “Create from Home” Initiative
image credit: https://www.bombaysapphire.com/us/en/createfromhome/
Bombay Sapphire’s brand new North American initiative was created with a major goal in mind: “to inspire and empower communities to discover their creative possibilities during this unprecedented time.” Sapphire’s “Create from Home” was sparked after Bacardi Limited’s global campaign #RaiseYourSpirits, pledging $3 million dollars for financial aid support of the hospitality industry which has been currently impacted by the effects of COVID-19 and the necessity of social distancing/quarantine practices. Therefore, in support of healthcare professionals and the local communities, Bombay Sapphire announced that they will be producing hand-sanitizer from its home distillery in Laverstroke Mill, UK.
So what is “Create From Home”?
The initiative offers multiple resources to help you tap into your own creativity and curiosity – online classes, workshops, and cocktail-making sessions. The live-streamed content consists of partnerships with three digital platforms:
Skillshare: providing unlimited 3-month memberships & live Q&A’s to everyone with some of their most popular teachers through their subscription-based online learning community.
Society6: a leading online marketplace for artists from around the globe, weekly video-based “Drink and Draw” events where participants will receive an interactive tutorial from a S6 artist and a bartender to design a gin cocktail inspired by their artwork.
Hunker: the creative D.I.Y home projects platform, will work to launch a Create-From-Home hub with a library of content & IG tutorials and interviews with creative influencers who work and create from home.
For the website to Bombay Sapphire’s Initiative click here.