Meggan Gulbranson, Author at

Water Kefir: FAQs

December 5, 2017 No Comments

For those of you that are new to water kefir – Water kefir is a probiotic drink that is made using kefir grains. Water kefir grains can be used in order to culture sugar water, coconut water and juice, and also powdered kefir starter culture can be used to culture waters and juices.

What are water kefir grains?

Water kefir grains are made up of bacteria and yeast which exist in a symbiotic relationship. The term ‘grains’ simply refers to the look of water kefir – Water kefir grain in fact do not contain grains of any sort.

Difference between water kefir grains and powdered kefir started culture

There are three main differences between water kefir grains and their alternative, powdered kefir started culture. These are:

Water kefir gains contain a higher amount of probiotics than powdered started culture
Water kefir grains can be used an infinite amount of times to create water kefir whereas powdered started culture can only be used to make a certain amount of batches before it stops working
Powdered kefir starter culture can be slightly cheaper than water kefir grains, making it a good choice for people who simply want to give making their own water kefir a try

Does water kefir boast the same benefits as milk kefir?

The two kefir drinks offer quite similar benefits, however the benefits offered are not exactly the same, with the main difference being:

Water kefir contains less strains of bacteria and yeasts than milk kefir

How do I know if I have successfully made water kefir?

When made successfully the liquid should lighten in colour and turn cloudy. When water kefir looks, smells or tastes unpleasant you should not drink it as this might mean that something is not quite right.

These are only some of the most frequently asked questions regarding water kefir too – If you have any questions in which we have not answered for you today we highly recommended that you speak with your local kefir provider who should be more than happy to help you. Never be afraid to feel silly, those involved in selling water kefir and related products are typically incredibly passionate and waiting to urge more people into drinking the miracle drink.

In Fashion

3 Ultra-Chic Party Clutches from Gucci India Online

December 1, 2017 No Comments

If you are about to attend a cocktail party, you must have chosen a beautiful and stylish party wear which can perfectly balance your style and look. But only an elegant dress cannot set you apart from the crowd. You need a cute designer handbag which can compliment your whole look. To choose a perfect tote for the party night, you need to go through various collections so that you can select the best one. And what can be more elegant than the renowned brand Gucci’s handbags? Before choosing any purse, you need to concentrate on the colors, style, and embellishments, to get glamorous compliments on any cocktail party. My Luxury Bargain is the most significant online platform where you’ll get beautiful collections of Gucci India online at an affordable price range.

Alessandro Michele is the new creative director of Gucci. His excellent designs and beautiful work have made Gucci a global brand. He started his career with another coveted brand Fendi. Later on, he joined Gucci, and in 2015 he appointed as a Creative Director. In the year 2011, he also worked as Associate with another renowned Creative Director Frida Giannini. He gave an entirely new direction to this sophisticated brand during the time of Men’s Fall/Winter 2015-16 runway show. It was the biggest hit, and the collections were loved by all the fashionistas across the world.

My Luxury Bargain is an excellent online store which will surely please you with its latest Gucci India Bags collections. You are going to encounter some of the beautiful designer pieces from this top brand Gucci handbags India. The main motto of this renowned brand is to enhance the beauty and the confidence of every modern woman with its luxurious collections. So if you are looking for the best cocktail party clutches from Gucci India online do not look further because here you’ll get the best collections in the best price range.

Gucci Exotic Leather Purple Clutch

If you want a gorgeous look on the party night, you should take this one. This ultra-chic Gucci bags India is meticulously crafted from snakeskin leather. The purple canvas features two tassels. Its spacious interior is designed with the delicate fabric material and secured with a magnetic closure. This head turner is available at a reasonable price range. You can even try it with your traditional attires too.

Gucci Red Suede Nouveau Fringe Handbag

If you want an unusual look, then pair this chic with a beautiful red dress, and you’ll surely grab the centre stage at any party. This authentic Gucci Red Suede Nouveau Fringe Handbag is brilliantly crafted from Suede and designed with beautiful gold-tone hardware. It also features spectacular fringes, and it fantastic bamboo handle and a tassel adornment on its side make it a perfect wardrobe staple. One zipper pocket and one open pocket is provided to its beautiful, roomy interior. In short, you can carry this with your casual attire. At the same time, you can try this one to get an attractive party look.

Gucci Hysteria Pink Leather Clutch

This ultra-chic Gucci Hysteria Pink Leather Clutch will shimmer and shine as dazzling starts. The extraordinary combination of soft pink leather with excellent gold-tone hardware creates a magnificent look. But the centre stage is grabbed by its iconic Hysteria logo. It will flaunt your femininity and elegance with style. The interior is designed with a top zip closure and an excellent wrist-let pull. Along with that, the beautiful fabric lined interior houses one zipper pocket and one patch pocket. So don’t miss the chance to own this beauty from Gucci India online because it will be a sound investment too.

In Featured

Best Tips To Straighten Your Hair At Home

November 30, 2017 No Comments

Having straight hair is a common desire for a wide variety of people. Some need to look more formal for work or during a special occasion, and some people want it just for how good it looks to them. Sometimes getting straight hair becomes very difficult, especially if you have a busy day ahead of you. It is easier if you let us help you with our advice because having straight hair is more of a lifestyle thing than anything else. Now we bring you the best tips to have your hair straight without going to the hair salon.

Finish your showers with cold water.

Before getting out of the shower, you must close the hot water tap and wash your hair with cold water only. This trick will also make your hair shine longer.

Use a shampoo that has added keratin.

Your hair has natural keratin; shampoo will only reinforce the amount naturally found on it. Shampoo with keratin will close the cuticles and will get you a more healthy hair. Try this try and enjoy. If you are not sure which shampoo brand is best suited for you or which brand gives you more value for your money, you can always check it at comparoid reviewed and just find the one for you!

Make sure your hair is in optimal conditions at all times.

When you are going to use a chemical or make recurrent use of the dryer, your hair must be in optimal conditions to remain smooth for longer, so you should wash it well and condition it thoroughly. If this is your case, use a lightening shampoo once a month and do not forget to use a moisturizing mask once a week, your hair will thank you for the extra hydration and will remain smooth for longer. We guarantee it.

Make a homemade hair straightener.

This trick looks like a cooking recipe, but it is not! Make a mixture of 1 egg in two large cups of milk. Soak all the hair and leave it set for 10 minutes. When the time has finished, cover your head with a plastic cap and let it rest for 30 minutes. Finally, use the shampoo you regularly use (we recommend it to be a shampoo for straight hair with keratin), and that’s it. It’s going to give you a unique shine. Do you dare to use this recipe?

Do not tie your hair when it is still wet.

Many times we run out of a house with wet hair and the first thing we do is tie our hair. This can be a serious mistake! If you want straight hair let it dry loose, so you leave no marks on it.

How to use a hair dryer or iron.

It is worth remembering that you should use a heat protector if you use such devices. Ideally, you get a product that combines a heat protective serum that also prevents the frizz from appearing. You should put these on your hair at least 10 minutes before starting to dry it. This will allow the product to penetrate and the hair can benefit from its components.

When using the dryer remember to place it at least 15 cm away from the hair. It is best to take small sections and start from the root to the tips. Even if it takes more time, you can be sure that you will smooth the strand of hair.

When finishing with the dryer – even if your hair looks smooth – you should make at least one pass with the iron. Opt for one that is coated with ceramics because it helps you reduce frizz and prevent hair from shrinking.

When you finish smoothing, use an anti-frizz serum, which will also make your hair shine.

Don’t dry your hair upwards.

A very common mistake we made when drying our hair is to use the dryer from the bottom up, seriously avoid doing it. That is only going to add volume to the hair and will not make it look as straight as you want. The perfect look is not that far away!

In Fashion

Changing a Pierced Navel Jewellery

November 16, 2017 No Comments

Navel piercings are considered a sassy body piercing across generations. These piercing usually take about six months to a year to completely heal. The longer healing period is because the piercing is located at a delicate part of the body. Changing the belly piercing jewelry is not recommended if your piercing is not fully healed yet.

But once it is fully healed, cleaning and changing is good practice every month or two to keep the piercing clean and away from infections and germs. After the belly button piercing healing process is complete and you are planning on changing it, then written below are the steps that you can follow.

What You Will Need

Saline solution
Cotton pads
New clean navel jewelry
Plastic bag

How to Change the Navel Piercing

Clean the new jewelry

First things first, put a small amount of saline solution on a clean cotton pad and set it aside. Remove the top ball of the new jewelry, and clean the belly button ring with cotton pad you had earlier. Set it aside and let it dry completely

Note: When setting aside cotton pads and jewelries, make sure that you put them on a clean surface.

Remove the top of the old jewelry on your navel

Unscrew the ball located at the top of the jewelry currently inside your piercing.

Note: Removing the old jewelry might take a little longer than you expect. You need to put a little bit more pressure to completely take it out. Once it’s unscrewed for the first time, then it will get faster in the succeeding times.

Completely remove the jewelry

After placing the top of the jewelry on a clean surface, slowly pull the entire jewelry out. Gently do continue until it is completely removed.

Put the new jewelry into the piercing

Get the new and recently cleaned navel jewelry. Make sure that the top ball that you unscrewed is still loose and is easily accessible. Again, slowly and gently, insert the tip of the jewelry into the piercing.

Secure the new jewelry

Once the shaft of the jewelry is completely inserted, screw the top ball onto your new navel piece of jewelry. Twist the ball to secure it and continue doing it until you are sure that the jewelry is firmly in place.

What to Do After Changing Your Navel Piercing

Here are a few pointers before you go out and parade your new jewelry. Did you know that sitting for a long time can actually loosen the ball found at the top of the jewelry? Aside from that, the top ball might also come off if you wear clothes that tend to move a lot and when you yourself move a lot.

So do not expect to be engaging in super active lifestyle anytime soon. For example, going swimming after your piercing.

Aside from trying to keep your jewelry safe and secure, you also need to ensure that your navel piercing is free from germ and infections. Clean your navel piercing and the jewelry itself regularly especially if you expose, from time to time, your midriff. Cleaning is an easy procedure.

Simply pour some saline solution onto a new and clean cotton pad, and wipe it on the navel and the jewelry. Do not rub it too hard or too rough since you might risk infecting it. You can also try soaking the navel area with saline solution. It cleanses the area and does away with the rubbing and wiping.

Last but not the least, store your jewelries in a clean and cool place. You might need them in the future again.

In Health

Dental Care Products For a Healthy Smile

November 9, 2017 No Comments

Practicing a good oral care is important in order to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums. It not just helps you to maintain an oral health but also helps in your appearance. Not taking a proper care of your oral health can lead to many issues like sensitivity, plaque, gum problems, tooth decay, bad breath, and many other oral issues. So, it really gets important to add a dental care regime in your daily routine.

What a proper dental care involves?

When it comes to healthy oral hygiene, there come many questions. What to do to keep teeth white, what should be included in daily dental care routine, and many. Dental care is not easy as it seems to be. Just brushing your teeth does not clean it completely. There are few measures which you need to take to get healthy mouth. Let’s take a look at those-

The dentist says, brush your teeth twice a day to remove dental plaque.
Another step is to floss daily to remove plaque from between the teeth and gum line before it turns into tartar.
Cut down on sugar and sweet products to avoid cavities and make sure to clean teeth properly after eating sweets.
Avoid the consumption of tobacco as they may cause gum diseases.
Keep visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleaning.
Clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner or you can use a soft bristle brush to do so.
Add mouthwash in your dental care, if in case you miss a chance to brush your teeth, you can use mouthwash to clean and kill bacteria’s.

Hair Care Routine that one must follow:

Following a healthy routine can help in preventing a tooth decay, gum diseases, bad breath, sensitivity, and other dental diseases.

Choosing a right product is another measure one should take when it comes to oral care because using a wrong one may increase the problem. For daily brushing, use a toothpaste which contains fluoride because it helps in preventing tooth decay and cavity. de.siberianhealth.com has a wide range of dental care products which will help you to take a proper care of your mouth and smile. From toothpaste for daily use to toothpaste and products for restoration; everything is available online at de.siberianhealth.com at a reasonable price.

In Featured

Top FAQs on Background Checks

November 3, 2017 No Comments

It is now quite common for people to complete an online background check. Some of these checks are free, whereas others have paid for facilities. Either way, however, you may have some questions that you want answering first. Hopefully, this FAQ will assist you in that.

Q1. Why Perform a Background Check?

There are lots of different reasons for this, but it is basically about verifying available information. This can be important for new employees, tenants, debtors, dates, friends, or anyone else. Essentially, these checks allow you to make sure someone is who they claim to be.

Q2. What Types of Checks Exist?

There are a lot of different checks available. Some offer multiple pieces of information, others just a few. Details that you may be able to find include:

Social Security Number traces.
Address history.
Federal, statewide, county, and instant criminal histories.
Sexual offenders’ registers.
County and federal vicil history.
DMV history.
Certificate, license, education, and prior employment confirmations.
Reference checks.
Drug tests.
Workers’ compensation records.

Q3. How Much Does it Cost?

The cost associated with performing a background check varies depending on what you want to check and who you want to check it through. Although many advertise their services as free, you can expect to pay around $20 for a high quality, accurate check.

Q4. How Long Does the Check Take?

Again, this depends on the check you want to perform. Some are instant, others can take up to 72 hours.

Q5. How Will I Receive the Information?

Usually, you can choose how to receive the information you want. That said, email is the most common option.

Q6. What if I Spot Mistakes?

Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, any mistakes can be investigated if a proper inquiry is made.

Q7. Do I Need a National Criminal Background Check?

It is possible to complete a national check, but this is likely to be very costly as well. This is because a lot of courts do not yet participate in national sharing initiatives. Hence, while some sites advertise as performing a national check, very few will actually do so.

Q8. Is it Possible to Perform a Background Check on Minors?

Records on minors are not available, unless they were tried as adults. This is a national agreement that is also enforced in most other countries across the world.

Q9. Does the Subject Have to Provide a Release Form?

If you want to perform a full background check, you should obtain a release form. That said, there are certain elements of background checks that you can perform without a release as well.

Q10. When Should I Check Someone’s Driver’s History?

If you have an employee who drives as a representative of your company, be that as part of their day job or even just once, you should check their driver’s history. In fact, you should do this quite regularly, as people also drive vehicles for their personal use, which means that you, as an employer, wouldn’t know of any misconduct unless they tell you themselves.

In Health

Questions You Should Be Asking Your Plastic Surgeon

November 1, 2017 No Comments

So you can be better prepared for your consultation, we have put together a list of crucial plastic surgery questions you will want to ask your surgeon before you have your surgery.

What makes you qualified to administer this procedure?

It is essential that you know what exactly qualifies a surgeon to administer the procedure you want to undergo. One of the first questions you should ask any surgeon if he or she is “Board-certified” in plastic surgery. Another important question is to ask if they specialise in the procedure your interested in having. Which brings us to this next question.

How many similar surgical procedures have you performed?

On top of knowing what your surgeon’s credentials are, you should also know how many times he/she has administered your plastic surgery procedure. Choosing an experienced plastic surgeon is one way to ensure proper results.

What do I need to do to prepare for surgery?

Several types of surgeries require that you lose weight, stop smoking and limit certain foods you eat before your surgery. Ensure that you talk to your plastic surgeon about any pre-existing conditions or allergies you may have. You should also mention any supplements, over-the-counter drugs you’re taking too.

What are the risks?

There are associated risks involved with every type of plastic surgery. Weigh the benefits of the procedure against the risks of side effects and complications prior to making your decision.

What happens if I experience complications or some of the side effects?

Like with all surgeries, there are some complications and side effects, that are easier to manage than others. Talk to your surgeon about what your chances of experiencing the associated risks are.

How long will recovery take?

Some surgeries take way longer than others to recover from. Always talk to your surgeon about how you should expect to feel after surgery and how long it will take to heal. Your surgeon will tell you what arrangements you will need to make to help you during your recovery time.

Will I be able to go to work after surgery?

The recovery time of your surgery really depends on various things including your overall health, the nature of the procedure and length of the surgery as well as what kind of work you will be going back to. To ensure that you won’t slow down your recovery time, talk to cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr Magnusson or another experienced and qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon about all of the things you may or may not be able to do following your surgery.

In Food

Charles Nucci Reveals Easy Product Photography Tips and Tricks

October 26, 2017 No Comments

A lot of people now operate online businesses, using platforms such as Amazon as their marketplace. They want to do as much as possible themselves, which includes their own product photography. Charles Nucci, who is a professional product photographer, welcomes the efforts that people make, but cringes regularly at the terrible photographs he comes across. This is why he has developed a number of simple tips and tricks to help people take pictures of their products that will actually help them sell.

9 Simple Tips According to Charles Nucci

Read the manual.

Surprisingly, around 99% of camera owners never read the manual. While it is true that most cameras are simple point and shoot, by understanding the different settings, you will learn a lot more about how to take a perfect picture, focusing on lighting, aperture, picture size, shutter speed, and so on.

Focus first, then shoot.

All cameras focus when the button is pressed halfway, and take the picture when the button is pressed all the way, or held in place. When you take product photographs, you can take your time. Hence, focus first, see what it looks like on the screen, move about and focus again, and don’t take the picture until it actually looks good.

By a camera hood.

Camera hoods are very affordable and they make a huge difference. It increases color saturation while also decreasing glare. The pictures will truly come to life.

Make sure you hold your camera right.

Imagine your camera is a footlong sub, and that is how you should hold it. You also have to bend your elbows properly. Keep the camera straight as well.

Buy a tripod.

Keeping your camera straight and still can be a big effort. Even the smallest movement, including the pressure from pushing the button, will move the camera and change your shot. Hence, if you purchase a tripod, you will make sure your camera always stays in the same position.

Use the self-timer.

Even the smallest body movement has an effect on the sharpness of the picture. If you did purchase a tripod, then using the self-timer means you don’t even have to worry about the pressure from pushing the button anymore.

Use your wireless shutter release.

If you read the manual (see tip 1), you will know how the wireless shutter release works. This means that you can also move the scene of your product, while leaving the camera where it is.

Get your lighting right.

Lighting is everything. Bright light is definitely best with product photography. At the same time, however, you have to make sure that you do not cause a glare. This is all about experimenting, as the ambient light around your scene also plays a big impact.

Use hot shoe flash.

Hot shoe flashes are an accessory, but they aren’t too expensive. They are also versatile because they don’t have to attach to your camera. A hot shoe flash makes a huge difference to the overall lighting quality of your picture.

In Business

Inspirational Leadership Quotes

October 26, 2017 No Comments

I was recently reading about the highly successful Marc Leder, co-founder of Sun Capital Partners, the private equity investment firm. Leder has been successful throughout his life from education to his first job at Lehamn Brothers where he worked himself up from junior analyst to Senior Vice President. Mr. Leder has also involved himself in philanthropic activities as well as his success with Sun Capital Partners, a truly inspirational man.

I am often inspired in business by stories like Leder’s as well as inspirational quotes which I have posted all over my house and office. I wanted to share with you some of my favorites in the hope that they can inspire you too.

“There is a difference between being a leader and being a boss. Both are based on authority. A boss demands blind obedience; a leader earns his authority through understanding and trust.” Klaus Balkenhol

“Do you know that one of the great problems of our age is that we are governed by people who care more about feelings than they do about thoughts and ideas?” Margaret Thatcher

“If a rhinoceros were to enter this restaurant now, there is no denying he would have great power here. But I should be the first to rise and assure him that he had no authority whatever.” G.K. Chesterton

“Great leadership is about human experiences. It’s not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine.” Lance Secretan

“Leadership is not magnetic personality that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not ‘making friends and influencing people’–that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” Peter F. Drucker

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: It was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.” John Kenneth Galbraith

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow a weak trumpet.” Theodore Hesburgh

“Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” Colin Powell

“Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” Vince Lombardi

Do you have some favorite leadership quotes? If so let us know in the comments section below, we’d love to hear what you think.

In Game

How Every Hotel Should Be: The Bicycle Casino Hotel

October 26, 2017 No Comments

I have stayed in more hotels with Сasino Games in the last decade than I could keep count of and most years it is fair to say that I spend more time in hotels than in my own home. Naturally with traveling to so many hotels, you start to get pretty high standards when you find a new hotel. Last week I was in the Bicycle Casino Hotel, staying for 6 days and it suddenly became clear to me that this is exactly how a hotel should be run.

This hotel really had it all and this is what it does so well that many other hotels could learn from.

Cleanliness

I am always, always stunned when I go to a hotel, budget or otherwise, and it is not clean, in fact there are few things worse than going to a hotel and finding a dirty room. Cleanliness should not be something that you need to talk about but unfortunately; many owners didn’t get that memo. The Bicycle hotel in California was clean from ceiling to floor throughout every rooms, the amenities, the restaurant and the bar. Very basic, but very important.

Service

Hotels have a problem now in terms of their competition against the vacation rental market and the one thing which they have that vacation rentals do not, is staff on hand to help. For this reason when I walk into hotel , I expect to be greeted with a smile and be made welcome from the time that I enter, to the time that I leave. Once again however, you’d be surprised at just how many hotels there are out there who do not understand just how important service really is. The Bicycle hotel absolutely nailed it in terms of service and they treated me like royalty.

Entertainment

Hotels must have different strings to their bows and the Bicycle hotel shows the world exactly how you can use entertainment to further push the bottom line. Not only does the hotel have the largest casino floor in the West Coast, it also has regular entertainment such as shows and comedy nights, as well as private parties and themed nights in their bar. What this does is that it brings in more people from outside the hotel, to spend money inside it. When you have a bar that is bouncing, it attracts everyone around it to come inside and helps you to make even more money. Try not to be a Jack of all trades, pick one form of entertainment and be excellent at it before moving on to something else.

Promotions

This hotel gets almost 90% of all of its bookings online and it uses the likes of booking.com to offer promotions on empty rooms to ensure that they have a guest in them. It is far better to part with a room for a low price than leave it empty. As a hotel owner you must do all that you can to keep the business coming in.