Video by Julia Nell
July 9, 2017
What Your Business May Be Lacking
Your business may be lacking luster and you aren’t sure what to do about it. It’s common to experience lulls, but it’s important you know how to bounce back. Give yourself time to sort through your current state of affairs and figure out what’s going on.
It’s usually during the most unexpected time that you’ll hit a wall. This may come as a surprise to you, and perhaps you don’t have a plan in place to make it better. Whatever you do, don’t panic. Regroup and start brainstorming ways to get back on track. See what your business may be lacking.
Creativity
You need to have a mix of logic and creativity in your organization. You can’t function without some sort of creativity and spunk. You need people who are going to bring new ideas to the table and who aren’t afraid to go against the crowd. Implement activities that focus solely on building creativity and learning how to practice different types of thinking patterns. Get your team involved and let everyone know they’re free to come up with innovative ideas that although they may not work, are worth discussing because they could lead to other changes.
Passion
Find your passion for your job and work again. Rediscover why you’re in business and share that information with others. Get excited about your products or services and celebrate team successes along the way. Make improvements to the business and team structures so people are excited to come to work each day. You need to have a hunger to win and excel. Pass this drive down to your teams and get them pumped up about the work they do.
A Plan
You can’t keep functioning on a whim. There needs to be a documented business plan and goals in place. Everyone at the company should know the vision and how you’re getting there. Writing down a strategy is imperative. Otherwise, it’ll feel like you’re chasing your tail and never achieving. There needs to be a plan for beating the competition and innovating your company. Nothing will get done without a documented plan of attack. Everyone needs to be on the same page in order to advance forward.
Content
You need to have content your customers will embrace. This includes launching a robust website with an attractive design and appropriate information. Also, consider a newsletter, blog and magazine. Get creative and test out different magazine covers that promote your brand. Design it yourself for free, using a theme and images of your choosing. Include compelling information on the inside that your readers won’t be able to put down. Spend time writing content that draws them in to your business and demonstrates your expertise in your field. Publish on a regular basis and show your audience you care about them by sharing your knowledge and company updates.
Conclusion
It’s normal to experience bumps in the road when you’re running a business. Ride it out by figuring out exactly what’s holding you back. This is what your business may be lacking.
July 6, 2017
how-couples-can-cope-with-professional-stress
Stress is no joke. In the short-term, stress improves productivity and gets us out of a danger, but exposure to long-term stress soon leads to mental and physical health problems. Unfortunately, modern life is very stressful. We work long hours and family often takes a back seat to a demanding boss.
It is common for people climbing the career ladder to become overwhelmed with stress and eventually burn out. If your partner is suffering from work-related stress, he or she is probably not easy to live with. They may be emotionally withdrawn or bad tempered. You may even be at your wit’s end. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to ease their stress, so read on for some tips.
Listen
The most important thing you can do is listen to your partner. Let them bend your ear at the end of a bad day. You might be tired, but spend ten minutes listening to your partner offload their worries and concerns. You don’t need to give them advice; you just need to be a good listener. Often, that is all they need.
Empathize
There is a big difference between sympathy and empathy. Most people don’t seek sympathy when their life is not in a good place. Rather, they want you to walk a mile in their shoes. Be as empathetic as you possibly can be. Let your partner know you care and that you want to help make things better. You might not be able to make the stress go away, but you can at least try.
Help them to Relax
Do your best to help your partner relax when they are not at work. Let them sleep in at the weekend and don’t burden them with extra chores. If the kids are quarreling, take them out of the way so your partner can relax.
Many men and women use alcohol to self-medicate when they are under stress, so keep a close eye on your partner to make sure this isn’t happening. Instead, offer to give them a relaxing massage or run them a hot bath and add some aromatherapy oils to promote relaxation.
Have Fun
Fun is a great antidote to stress. Organize some fun activities to take your partner’s mind of their stressful job. If you can afford it, book a surprise vacation to the https://www.whitebuffaloclub.com. A week’s vacation in Wyoming could be just the ticket. Alternatively, book a beach vacation. Some people need to spend their time doing absolutely nothing for a few days in order to recharge their batteries.
Encourage Them to Make Changes
If temporary cures don’t work, you need to encourage your partner to make some more radical changes to their life. Suggest they look for a new job or try a different career. No job is worth making yourself ill for. Life is too short.
Keep a close eye on a stressed-out partner. Sometimes, stress can lead to anxiety and depression, and if this happens, your partner will need more than a sunshine vacation to recuperate.
July 6, 2017
Is eczema a result of genetic mutations?
Filaggrin binds to keratin fibers in the outmost skin cells. They enable the corneocytes to attach to each other and form strong barriers. When the epidermal cells finally form, Filaggrin precursors undergo an enzyme-mediated hydrolysis step to form functional aggregates. The FLG gene codes for the complete Filaggrin protein.
Why do we need Filaggrin?
It regulates skin formation and homeostasis. As the old layer of skin slowly dies and wears off due to regular scrubbing, exfoliation or even brushing against sleeves, the new layer of epidermal cells takes their place. If the new layer of cells does not possess active Filament Aggregating Protein molecules or Filaggrin, then they are incapable of forming protective barriers against external pollutants, allergens, and irritants. Further research also shows that these protein molecules also assist in water retention in skin cells. This is a crucial step in preserving the structural integrity of skin tissue.
Certain individuals possess a loss of function mutation in the FLG gene. This is a truncation of the functional gene, which can no longer form functional proteins. Any person with multiple copies of the mutated FLG gene is highly predisposed to ichthyosis vulgaris and eczema.
Eczema: demographic data
Recent studies inspired from McLean et al. show that over 50% of severe cases of eczema involve a loss of function mutation in the FLG gene. These mutations are heritable. If you suffer from an extreme case of eczema, it is likely that you have inherited at least one copy of the faulty FLG gene from each parent. The Caucasian population shows a predisposition towards truncation mutations of the gene involved. Almost 7% to 10% of the Caucasian population carries at least one copy of this mutation. Those unfortunate individuals, who have no active filaggrin gene, severe cases of asthma often accompanies these common skin disorders.
How can diet affect eczema?
Researchers also think that a sharp decrease in the consumption of green vegetables and a skewed ratio of omega-6-fatty acids to omega-3-fatty acids intake are affecting skin conditions. People without any mutated genes are also falling victim to dehydrated and flaky skin that need eczema-like care. Researchers are showing a drastic improvement of skin conditions by increasing the intake of linoleic acids and arachidonic acids. An increase in the uptake of n3-polyunsaturated acids also helps in controlling dry skin and eczema.
Filaggrin and eczema
Many people are curious about the role of filaggrin in treating eczema. We are still in need of a highly targeted treatment for the skin condition. It may affect over 30% of the global population, but treating a protein expression related disease by oral consumption of the protein is highly unlikely. It is theoretically possible to treat and cure eczema resulting from filaggrin deficiency by biological methods. No such procedures exist in real life as of now!
Eczema is annoying. It is distracting, and it is spreading. Knowing how to manage the symptoms of eczema is more important than finding out if you have FLG mutations. Once you get an idea about the frequency of occurrence and allergens involved, you will learn to understand and manage your skin condition more efficiently.
Author Bio: Daniel Noels writes on stopitchy.com about eczema, its causes and implications. To know more about this skin condition follow the website.
July 5, 2017
Top 4 Glamorous Vacation Destinations in the USA
Some destinations lend themselves to being glamorous, while others never achieve this status. Often a place is in the eye of the beholder. Adding some much-needed glamor to life infuses a destination with added zest that overflows into a desire to explore it further. Unearthing those hidden gems that other visitors often miss is half the fun.
Here are the top four glamorous vacation destinations to consider visiting in 2017.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco is an iconic city that tops the list of destinations for many Americans when visiting California. The unique atmosphere, steep roads and the boats moored at the marina provide different impressions of the city. Cosmopolitan with a youthful atmosphere, the many tech startups fill the city with smart young people who make their home here. The art and the gay-friendly scenes are noticeable to everyone who visits “San Fran.” There’s plenty of old and new glamor here too.
For impressive views, get to the Presidio to grab some Instagram-worthy pictures of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge from a distance. Alternatively, make a visit to the famous Alcatraz Prison to see how inmates lived in years’ past. Exploring the various districts on foot and by tram is often the best way to understand the city better. Be sure to check out The Haight, Mission and The Castro districts before you depart.
New York City, New York
New York City almost needs no introduction. From the upscale hotels offering every kind of luxury to the high rises of Manhattan and downtown in Times Square, there’s so much to see and do in New York that it’s difficult to know where to start.
A visit to The Village is essential to soak up its bohemian feel and the Garment District is also interesting too. Go shopping in the designer stores on Fifth Avenue and ones that line the streets of SoHo. If you’ve got the time, then catching a show on Broadway doesn’t get more glamorous unless one can score balcony seating. The most exclusive restaurants require advance booking, so plan ahead when taking a vacation to the Big Apple to avoid disappointment.
Martha’s Vineyard
Lying just 8 miles from Cape Cod, this is the summer plaything of the rich and famous, the quietly wealthy, and visitors who wish to soak up the atmosphere for a limited time. The lobster and sea views are to die for but make sure you bring your gold card with you. Despite its success and popularity, Martha’s Vineyard remains as laid-back as it ever was, which is part of its attraction.
Dress down for Martha’s Vineyard. Low-key elegance is the order of the day here. Casual sandals instead of high stilettos are a better idea, but pack both just in case. Famous people watching is possible in Edgartown, but Menemsha and Vineyard Haven offer less showy relaxation if that’s your thing.
Park City, Utah
For outdoor entertainment in nature, it’s tough to beat Park City. The rolling hillsides, relaxed Main Street and abundance of art galleries all provide a slower pace of life. Outside of the city, things pick up with every type of outdoors adventure one can dream up. While staying in Park City, try one of the condos at https://www.resortpropertymanagement.com/park-city/condos for simple elegance and quiet evenings.
There are plenty of glamorous places to visit when taking time away from work. The trick is to find the one that suits your sensibilities. Some cities are too ostentatious and don’t allow much relaxation. Others are a little too glamorous if that’s even a thing. Getting the balance right is key.
June 22, 2017
YouCam Celebrates National Selfie Day
With National Selfie Day just around the corner, YouCam, the #1 downloaded beauty augmented reality app, will let you instantly perfect the art of the “Selfie”. YouCam is the number one interactive platform offering users the complete beauty journey, from selfie expression to makeup experimentation, and empowerment through social sharing. YouCam launched in 2014, and in only three years’ time, they have amassed over 400 million global downloads.
Did you know these “Selfie Stats?”
Since 2012, the word “Selfie” grew in popularity more than 17,000%
93 Million Selfies are taken everyday
#Selfie has 304 million posts on Instagram
36% of people use filters and apps to edit their Selfies
In Addition to the above overall Selfie stats, the YOUCAM apps have their own astonishing numbers!
Over 400 million global downloads to date
More than 16 billion selfies have been taken on the YouCam app since their launch in 2014
30 million Selfies taken daily
800 Million minutes are spent on Selfie Cam every month
Over 140 Million users look to YouCam’s beauty circle social platform to discover beauty and fashion inspiration
Over 40% of users spend more than 5 minutes per session perfecting their selfie
On the YOUCAM app, the top selfie-taking locations around the world are:
Disneyworld, Florida
Top of The Rock, New York
Empire State Building, New York
Big Ben, London
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Colosseum, Rome
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Disney Land, Paris
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
June 21, 2017
Top 5 Celebrities Who Look Great Over 45 / How to Get Their Look
There are celebrities who seem to get better with age and maintain their looks while others seem to be at war with aging. From lip injections and fillers that make faces look oddly distorted; to full face lifts that lead to slanted eyes and an expression-less appearance, we can’t help to notice when celebrities get it so wrong. In a sea of over-the-top plastic surgery, there are many celebrities who may have had a procedure or four, but managed to preserve the integrity of their faces. Dr. Kirk Brandow, founder and director of the Brandow Clinic for Cosmetic Surgery in Philadelphia; who has appeared on national programs such as Good Morning America and 20/20, shared his list of the top 5 celebrities who look great over age 45 and explains why.
The best part, these images are from the Instagram accounts of these gorgeous ladies so the photos are current and in many cases, unretouched. Let’s begin.1.
1. Salma Hayek, age 50. Latin women with olive complexions age very well and Salma certainly fits into this category. She was gorgeous at 30 and she’s stunning still. “She looks incredible. She doesn’t appear to have had anything done. Amazing!” says Dr. Brandow. “For women looking to achieve this look there are simple things such as Botox to the forehead to prevent eyes from falling and to keep eyebrows in their natural position,” he adds. “You want to maintain your natural features and knowing the right moisturizer, make-up, plus sticking to a healthy diet, helps to maintain a youthful glow from the inside out. To achieve a look like Salma’s, most women would have to go the route of a mini face lift in their 40’s which offers a more natural look for 6-10 years without the distortion of excessive fillers,” he adds.
2. Kris Jenner, age 61.
While the Power “Momager” admits to having cosmetic procedures, she’s transformed herself into an elegant, age appropriate grandmother. Kris Jenner is on record saying she’s had a facelift, uses fillers yet, her look is sophisticated and not at all scary. “She looks great at 61. Her skin is radiant, her face has expression, there’s great symmetry and her features are soft. She is an excellent example of someone who has embraced surgery to improve her eyelids with blephorplasty, her face with a facelift, and fillers in a very conservative fashion to get a nice, natural, ageless look.” explains Dr. Brandow.
3. Cindy Crawford, age 51. Cindy Crawford’s look is iconic. She knows this and makes sure she keeps things as authentic as possible. “With Cindy, it’s all about those classic eyebrows and lips. Both have been beautifully maintained. Her eyebrows aren’t freakishly high. They look the same as they did in the 90’s. Her lips aren’t any different either. A lot of women over inject their lips distorting their shape and lose their uniqueness. The idea is to preserve, not change,” suggests Dr. Brandow. “Again, women often go too far with fillers leading to a puffy look when they can achieve a more natural look with a mini facelift which lessens the need for the fillers making the mini facelift a more cost-effective option over time,” he adds.
4. Jennifer Lopez, age 47. Jennifer Lopez is another Latina who looks at father time and gives him a wink. Her body is amazing and you can tell she has a healthy lifestyle. “I have patients in their 30’s saying they hope they look like J-Lo when they reach their late 40’s which is why they are getting procedures now. Jennifer Lopez is truly the hardest working woman in show biz who looks like she sleeps full 8 hours every night a very important part of the anti-aging regimen,” Dr. Brandow advises. It is possible that she does minimal things such as Botox or fillers, but in a very conservative way.”
- Jennifer Anniston, age 48. When you see re-runs of the hit 90’s TV show Friend’s, you can easily compare a 26-year-old Anniston in her role as Rachel Greene, to how she looks two decades later. You immediately can see how Jennifer Anniston has aged with grace. “She is another laid-back celebrity who ages with elegance. Her body is toned and strong and her face looks fresh and natural. As women age they lose volume in their lips. So, it is important to keep lip injections subtle and factor the overall shape of the mouth,” advises Dr. Brandow.
About Dr. Kirk Brandow
Dr. Kirk Brandow, founder and director of the Brandow Clinic for Cosmetic Surgery is a plastic surgeon with 2 locations in the Philadelphia metro area and a 3rd one at the jersey shore. Named a “Top Doc” in Plastic Surgery by Philadelphia Magazine as well as nationally recognized for one of America’s “Best Plastic Surgeons” of this decade, Dr. Brandow is a trusted expert who has developed many innovative, minimally invasive procedures for the face, body and skin. He has been featured on local, national and international television programs including 20/20, CNN’s Headline News, Good Morning America.
June 16, 2017
3 Ways Dogs Can Help Fight Addiction
In a previous article, we talked about the things caregivers need to know about how addictions originate. Helping children or family members suffering from addiction isn’t always the easiest thing to do. It is even more difficult when you’re the one fighting the addiction because things are much more complicated from that point of view.
Experts are now suggesting dogs as the perfect pets for people fighting addiction. Dogs are great in many ways, especially at times when you need companions the most. Here are the top three ways dogs can help fight addiction.
The Emotional Battle
The most difficult thing to deal with in cases of addiction is the emotional side of things. Addicts often have low self-esteem and find trying to get away from their addictions is a lot more difficult because of it. If you’re experiencing this issue too, getting a dog could be the perfect solution to try.
A close friend of mine got sober almost immediately after finding out that her dog had cancer. The strong bond she developed with her dog and the drive to help the dog survive the illness gave her the right emotional boost to fight addiction. She ended up reading Canna-Pet reviews and using the product to help with her dog’s symptoms, as Canna-Pet supplements can help ease the pain of cancer in pets.
Dogs also have the ability to build strong, deep relationships with their humans. This kind of relationship – the way a dog greets you happily after a long day at work or how they rest their head on your lap to cheer you up at the right moment – is invaluable to those fighting addiction.
Good Chemicals
There is a long list of benefits to gain from caring for and playing with pets, particularly dogs. These experiences allow the brain to release feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. As your body produces more of these hormones, you will feel better about yourself and much less dependent on the addictive substances you normally consume.
The same experiences also reduce withdrawal symptoms greatly. Things such cravings, sadness, and hostility are easier to deal with when you have a good companion – or several of them – around. The presence of a dog is known to aid relaxation and will also reduce most withdrawal symptoms down to a minimum.
Alternative Activities
Of course, having dogs as pets comes with a lot of responsibility. You have to take them for walks regularly, feed them at the right time, and assume other responsibilities along the way. Fortunately, these routines also help with the fight against addiction.
The additional exercise you get from taking your dogs for a walk, for example, will help your body physically recover much faster. Your improved metabolism will result in better sleep at night, faster cell regeneration, and fewer withdrawal symptoms in general.
At the same time, having routines and extra activities to do will keep your mind from thinking about getting a drink or consuming the addictive substances that hooked you in the first place. Combined with the other benefits dogs bring into your life, a pet dog is a great way to make your fight against addiction – or the fight of a loved one – easier.
June 5, 2017
3 Reasons Cartier Watches Can Bring Classic Style to Wild Wardrobes
If you are given to the bold and colorful when it comes to your personal fashion choices, you may have, at one time or another, avoided the classic and timeless. Perhaps you still do. Maybe these items seem too safe or understated, not like the big, loud fashion statements you’ve built your identity on.
The problem is, without aspects of your personal style that are based in the timeless fashion values that have gone before, your look might have the shelf life of a gallon of milk. Classic brands like Cartier have a way of anchoring an otherwise wild style into the bedrock of time-honored tradition. Here are some of the reasons this works.
- If Everything You Wear is New and Crazy, You Might Look Like a Clown. People who only wear clothes that are crazy, colorful, and/or avant garde have a tendency of looking like carnival entertainment, or like members of a traveling funk band from the 70’s. There’s nothing wrong with that if that is your goal. But you’ve got to recognize that consistently unconventional styling takes immense skill to get right. What’s more, it takes a deep understanding of classic styling, with which you are choosing to perform a contrast. Iconic watch brands are a great way to bring classic elements to your otherwise edgy style. These accessories show the world that you aren’t someone who jumps at the latest trends without any consideration.
- Classic Watch Brands Hold Their Value. If you’re into buying up fashion trends, you know that not every item in your closet has much in the way of resale value. Dressing up in the newest and the wildest is a bit like investing in brand new stocks. You might get a few big winners, but most of them are going to lose all of their value within a year. A classic iconic watch, due to its incredible design and impeccable beauty, will be worth close to what you paid for it for years. Decades from now, it could be worth far more. All you have to do is go up to the attic and take a look at mom’s bell-bottoms from the 70’s to know that not all fashion choices appreciate in value this way.
- Subtlety is Sexy. There are lots of clothes worn by the young and hip that absolutely scream sexy, to the point where the statement means almost nothing anymore. If you’re sitting in a sea of people all trying to make the same statement with the same methods, the message starts to mean very little. Today, by choosing classic brands, you can send a different message: one of subtlety and sophistication. In an era of fashion excess, classicism is a new kind of sexy that more and more people are becoming aware of.
Classic brands are having a resurgence in an era where more people are starting to think of burgeoning fashion trends as artificial and fleeting. If you want to update your style with a fashion values of timeless vintage, Cartier is a great place to start.
June 2, 2017
Celebrities Love Hat Attack!
LOS ANGELES – May 31, 2017 – Emily Ratajkowski and Katie Cassidy shared photos wearing Hat Attack on Instagram yesterday! The model/actress shared a flirty snap carrying the Mini Gusset Straw Bag ($90) while Katie soaked up the sun in Mykonos wearing The Original Panama ($112; www.hatattack.com).
Photo courtesy of Instagram