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Fashion

2019 Met Gala: What Culture Will be Explored Next?

April 23, 2020

One of the biggest cultural events in the world takes place in a few weeks as the Met Gala gets underway in New York on Monday, May 6.

The Met Gala is a spectacle of fashion, art and culture which also acts as the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibit. Celebrities and socialites will gather in flocks as they show off their extravagant clothing and accessories.

Every year the Gala has a theme which the guests are supposed to acknowledge via their clothing. Different cultures are often explored through these themes. In 2015 the honorary chair was Silas Chou, a Hong-Kong based billionaire who is extremely active in the fashion sector. This led to a theme directly tied to Chinese influence on western fashion and culture. It was titled “China: Through the Looking Glass” and the result was a record-setting attendance for the museum along with some of the most beautiful costume pieces the exhibition has ever seen. The designs featured tropes tied to ancient Chinese culture including dragons and floral patterns.

Other themes that have been explored include the Victorian era, Napoleon’s rule and Jackie Kennedy’s years in the White House.

This year’s theme is “Camp: Notes on Fashion”. It’s a theme celebrating a love of the unnatural. The theme is rooted in the over the top and exaggerated.

Many have been hoping for a theme tied to minimalism but that sounds like it could be the plan for the 2020 Met Gala. With contemporary thinking being, less is more and a general theme of conservation starting to emerge world-wide it should come as no surprise that this is the route the Gala might go.

With Lady Gaga being a co-chair of the 2019 event, it will be interesting to see how she utilizes a potential “camp” theme. She’s well known for her extravagant and over the top costumes for award shows. Most think she’ll tone it down for this event due to her recent Hollywood success but she’s always been unpredictable.

Regardless, the Met Gala is always an exciting event that captures the different cultures and fuses them together in unique and interesting ways. With the honorary chair being announced soon, we can only wait to see who and what will be celebrated at this year’s prestigious event.

Technology

Show Off Your Work Style with Business Cards

April 19, 2020

It is a widely recognized phenomenon that having a certain sense of style in your business doesn’t only set it apart from its competitors, but also provides you with the confidence of having a distinguished brand image.

Whether it is through your office décor or your promotional material, projecting your business’ style and personality in a holistic manner opens many doors of opportunities for you.

And when that is done in the form of some of the best business cards, it carries a few additional benefits in itself.

Using Business Card Enhances the Appeal of Your Business

As an analog contact sharing medium that has been used for centuries, business cards have an effect of their own. Regardless of how advanced of a smartphone you carry around, you cannot argue against the connection that you can invoke by sharing your info in the form of a business card instead of a digital contact.

When you think of it, there’s a simple logic behind it. As humans, we respond more strongly to things that we could sense more profoundly, as compared to the ones that we could only perceive in one way.

For instance, a chic jacket or scarf cannot have the same effect through a picture as it does when you could hold it in your hands. This is because by looking at the picture, you are using your visual senses exclusively. But when you are able to see, touch, and feel the very same jacket or scarf all by yourself, it elevates your experience to a whole new level.

Similarly, while digital contacts can do the job of sharing letters and numbers in what is a fairly monotonous way, they fail to invoke the memory, the connection, or the positive feelings that you want to establish for your business.

That is where business cards come in.

How Business Cards Help You Achieve Your Desired Business Image

Through various color schemes, materials, and designs, business cards give you an option to turn away from the mundane looking digital contacts and project your style the way you want.

From foil business cards to clear business cards, and from photo-printed business cards to embossed business cards, ensure to find something that goes right in line with your business’ image.

With vendors such as Basic Invite, ordering business cards that are the right fit for your personal and professional vision is now easier than ever.

How Basic Invite Makes Sure You Can Project the Style You Want

Basic Invite has a state of the art online design tool that lets you customize your card to the very last detail. Whether it’s about the shade of your card’s background or the color of your business’ name, you can count on the popular stationery provider to fulfill all your personalization needs.

With over 180 different color options in each element of your card, you have almost unlimited color options at your disposal. This is clearly something that sets Basic Invite apart from other vendors. But that’s not all.

With the ability to order custom samples for each iteration of your design, you can hold your new card in your hand and see if it evokes the feeling you wanted. If it does, you can order a whole bunch right there. If it doesn’t, then you can redesign your card until its picture perfect.

There are different varieties in each card design as well. For instance, in foil business cards, you could have the option to have your raised or flat design done in gold, silver, or rose gold. While in other business cards, you could enjoy options such as two sided business cards.

Basic Invite also offers over 40 different colors of envelopes, so you do not only have the option to project your style through business cards but your other business stationery as well. With that, you also have the option to enjoy an online address capturing service, so you could keep all your mailing information in one place.

Basic Invite is currently offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51 – keeping this in mind, if you want your business cards to enforce their association with all what’s good in the world, this would be the time to start designing them.

Food

How To Be A Foodie

April 14, 2020

Being a foodie is not a straightforward role to take on for oneself. It is not every day that one can go from being just a regular civilian to having the exalted role of a foodie. One can not simply be a foodie by frequenting places such as Starbucks, Wendy’s or Burger King, we dare not even mention the mainstream golden arches.

One takes up the honorable role of being a foodie because one has a more intimate relationship with their food than others. A foodie like Ryan Hibbert respects the food that they eat and pay more attention to the fine details present within their food.

Taking on the role of being a foodie requires individuals to be more interested and invested in their food, being a foodie is not a one-time thing, it’s a lifestyle.

A Foodie has Principles

A foodie understands that food is a core part of their lives and as such, they spend more time with the types of foods that they choose. The foodie realizes that there are two components to their lives, the first is that of their home food life and the second is that of their outside food life.

Their home food life is not simply about watching cooking shows, reading cookbooks, and learning about chefs within their city, it is much more. Their home food life and their foodie role calls for constant activity, one must immerse themselves within the life of food.

The second aspect of their lives would be that of their outside food and dining habits. As noted above, the foodie would abhor a mass-produced, processed, and delivered, and vile place such as an Arby’s. They seek out hole-in-the-wall places that are privy to knowledgeable individuals within the community, places that are only present to those that conduct their homework and seek out something better and unique. They dine at an assortment of places that range from the old gems that continue to stick around to the latest and trendy restaurants within their vicinity.

Foodie Immersion

The life of a foodie requires total immersion in food and hospitality.

Immersion requires the individual on the path to foodie nirvana to realize a few key aspects. They have to be true to themselves, to their local food culture, to their utensils, and to their community at large. Full immersion requires the individual to understand and act on the fine nuances that are involved in the fundamental details of food. This means that an individual would know at least the basics of the end-to-end process, from the basics of food storage to food preparation to the proper cutting techniques, fine cooking, and proper dining as well.

This means that the food will allocate a good percentage of time per week planning their meals and spending quality time on the type of recipes they will make and the restaurants they will visit. The foodie does not compromise on food quality, utensil quality or service quality.

The foodie believes that if they are hosting others that they must provide a glorious meal and makes certain that their service quality and their food quality is equivalent to that of top restaurants within the local city.

Being a foodie is not for all but it is definitely worth it.

Health

CBD Is The Cannabis Ingredient You Need In Your Recipes

April 7, 2020

The cannabis plant has always divided opinion. Those who partake either recreationally or medicinally tend to sing its praises, while those who don’t often have strong opinions against it – some warranted, others not. Psychoactive cannabis may come with mental health risks, but there is a new form of weed that is much, much different, and totally non-intoxicating: cannabidiol (CBD).

Cannabis is an herb containing more than 400 compounds, and one of those is CBD. Teeming with health benefits, CBD causes hardly any side effects and has been deemed safe and non-addictive by the World Health Organization. What’s more, the cannabinoid has unique and crucial value for our health, as it helps to regulate the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Without getting too technical, the ECS is implicated in our mental and physical wellbeing, influencing immune system function, pain sensitivity, cognition, reproductive health to name just a few.

CBD can be used as a medicine, but hemp-based CBD wholesale products are also marketed as food supplements, and can be effectively used as a recipe ingredient. While available in creams, vape juices and edibles, the most suitable product type for using CBD in this way is a tincture oil.

CBD oil can be added to pretty much any recipe at any time, and goes particularly well with salad dressings. However, do be aware that the powerful earthiness of the hemp extract can be somewhat overwhelming if it is not matched by other strong flavors. Furthermore, as CBD boils at around 160°C (or 320°F), be sure that you aren’t heating your recipe beyond that after mixing in the CBD, or you will miss out on the benefits.

Here is a closer look at the benefits of CBD.

CBD: packed with antioxidants

CBD has lots of beneficial antioxidants, as studies have consistently demonstrated. Believe it or not, the US government has an active patent on CBD being used as an antioxidant medicine. Antioxidants are essential for brain health as they help to decrease oxidative stress, which occurs when the body fails to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals, uncharged molecules which can cause cell degradation. Antioxidants are, therefore, very important for protecting neurological health.

CBD: a unique anti-inflammatory

There are many foods that can cause inflammation, especially processed foods such as ready meals. Sugar is also known for triggering inflammation, which can lead to breakouts of skin conditions such as acne. This explains why anti-inflammatory diets have become more popular. CBD is a very effective anti-inflammatory, as the ECS has a direct passage to the immune system through CB2 receptors. Taking CBD doesn’t directly reduce inflammation, but the compound stops the breakdown of the endocannabinoid anandamide. This chemical is a CB2 receptor agonist, and can send immunomodulatory signals to the immune system to taper inflammation.

Improve mental wellbeing with CBD

When we eat great food, not only does our physical health improve, but our mental wellbeing does, too. With CBD, this comes once again from the promotion of anandamide, but this time the chemical has an effect on the CB1 receptor, which is found in abundance throughout the central nervous system. The CB1 receptor regulates mood, and anandamide is an endogenous antidepressant, an effect it initiates as a CB1 receptor agonist.

Moreover, when we feel good about ourselves, we often have more energy and motivation, which makes us more likely to want to exercise – a positive knock-on effect.

CBD helps to regrow the brain

The brain tends to deteriorate with old age, or because of inflammation. When areas like the hippocampus are affected, the result can be neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, new neurons and brain connections can be formed with compounds capable of neurogenesis. Surprise surprise, studies have found that CBD is capable of just that. If your memory needs a boost or you just want to protect your brain’s health, boost your next meal with some CBD.

CBD is great for bone health

Our bones are in a constant state of flux, as minerals and calcium are pulled in and removed. However, with age, bones get weaker due to bone resorption, where more vital minerals are taken than replaced. This brings about an increased risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. However, CBD helps to improve bone health as the ECS is implicated in bone growth. Those with broken bones can also enjoy quicker recovery times by adding CBD to their diet.

Final thought

Incorporating CBD oil wholesale into your meals is a clever way of enhancing your all-round health via regulation of your endocannabinoid system.

Around The World

Take a Break and Go See Montreal

March 29, 2020

Take a Trip To Montreal Canada

The year has just begun but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to take a vacation. Make this year count by traveling to places such as Montreal and exploring the world today. Montreal is a great place to visit for those who reside in Canada and for those who reside in the United States as well. Start your new year off right and book a flight to Montreal today.

So, what is there to see and do in the great city of Montreal? Let’s find out in this brief but fairly comprehensive guide.

The Places You Will Go in Montreal

Notre-Dame Basilica

Start your Montreal adventure by visiting the beautiful and magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica. This amazing landmark will provide you with wonderful views, culture, and a wonderful history to boot.

This church is a staple of the community and was founded about four centuries ago in the 1600s. The beautiful cathedral is one that every visitor should check out at least once. The cathedral is not just for those that are interested in architecture, it is for those who are taken aback by manmade art.

Visit Lester’s Deli

Grab a bite to eat. Get a smoked meat sandwich at Lester’s Deli, it is to die for.

Mount Royal

Appreciate the views that a natural landscape can provide. Many people have known to call this one of the greatest highlights of their trip to Montreal. The Mount offers a simple and easy walk while providing magnificent views. One can even witness individuals taking part in skiing on the mount as well. Make sure to visit the Chalet when you get to the top of the Mount. This place essentially serves as a park and simple getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, individuals can take a step back and take in the big picture from Mount Royal.

Almost forgot to mention, this is a great place to be for hikers, bike lovers, peddle boat lovers, and those who love to be in the great outdoors.

Montreal Botanical Garden

If it is your first time to Montreal, make sure to visit this scenic location, it will serve as a great to hang out with friends, family, and associates.

The Montreal Botanical Garden offers various greenhouse sections, observation spaces, and the occasional bird that’ll stop by the gardens. Bask in the many walking paths and the various gardens this place has to offer.

Lastly, you will want to stop by the café and grab a bite to eat, you will definitely enjoy the overall vibes at this particular hotspot.

Find your inner peace at the Montreal Botanical Garden.

Lachine Canal

The Lachine Canal is a great area to engage in activities such as exercising and biking. If one were to arrive in the warmer seasons, they will be able to go on boat rides or go kayak with friends and family. Stop by the Lachine Canal when you want to wind down, hang out and ponder life’s greatest mysteries.

Pack a simple lunch and have a picnic with your friends and family.

Casino de Montreal

The Casino de Montreal is a place to go for the many thrill seekers out there. This casino boasts of being the largest casino in Canada, it is open 24 hours a day, so go whenever you feel like taking a risk and possibly winning big.

Don’t Forget to try poutine while in Montreal.  This delicacy is found in popular restaurants such as La Banquise, Poutineville, and Montreal Pool Room.