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Benefits of having wood in your interior

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If you look at interior decoration and architecture magazines, you’re bound to find stylish and interesting designs. However, when trends come and go, some ideas, some materials and styles seem to never go out of fashion. One thing that can adapt to every interior is wood. Whether it’s wooden furniture, wood floors or the siding, timber can always add a touch of natural, and homely to every interior. Here are a few benefits that substantiate our claims!

It doesn’t rust

Medium.com gives us some shocking details. In this article they claim that wood does not rust… Who could’ve thought, right?

All jokes aside, it is worth mentioning that wood is quite durable and dependable as an interior décor material. Usually, and especially if wood has been processed, you can rely on it to stay in peak shape for years to come.

You can get a premium look

Now regular rustic décor isn’t for everyone. A lot of buyers and homeowners are feeling the lack of premium, better-looking wood decorations for the interior. However, that mustn’t necessarily be the case as you can have something like charred wood present.

Essentially, charred or burned wood is regular wood which has been treated with fire to improve its looks and constructional properties. The charring is called Yakisugi and it’s a Japanese technology, which roots’ can be traced back to the 17th century. So, charred wood looks better and has fire and moisture-resistant properties for better durability. Thus, having charred timber cladding or something else seems like a great idea!

Paint creates an endless list of options

Wood can be painted, don’t forget it. It can be brown, white, black, red, aqua, beige and whatever colour you want. This is an amazing advantage to have when you are trying to decorate a space. Metal, on the other hand is rarely painted, making wood one of the better materials for a creative home!

 

The Diamond Feature You Didn’t Know About: Polish

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A diamond undergoes grading according to its value. There are different ways to achieve this and among them is through polish and symmetry. They determine how well a diamond’s finish and craftsmanship is.

What is a diamond’s polish all about? How can this determine a diamond’s value? How is the diamond’s polish checked?

It helps to know small details of how diamonds are being valued. Below are some simple explanations on the importance of polishing. Know how to select your diamond.

What You Should Know About Polishing and a Diamond

Planning on getting diamond rings? If so then you would want to buy those that have good value. Looking at its polish will give you a good idea of how well a diamond’s cost is.

A diamond’s polish refers to the smoothness and the surface of a diamond. When a diamond has crisp reflections and undistorted light transmissions, they are well polished.

A polished diamond can either be excellent, ideal or very good. There are available grading systems that can rate a diamond on how polished they are. Experts allow a diamond’s cut grade to be a rating higher than its polish rate.

Identifying a Diamond’s Polish Features

A diamond is a popular choice for wedding rings. This is why so many people look for ways to buy the best ones. Before you buy one, you might want to check these polish features.

  • Abrasion-These are being caused by a series of nicks found on the facet or on girdle junctions.
  • Burn marks- These are white-looking hazes from high temperatures. Most come from a jeweler’s torches or polishing wheels.
  • Lizard skin- These are the bumpy-looking textures on the stone
  • Scratch- These are transparent white lines on the surface of the stone.
  • Rough girdle- These are those unpolished girdles left behind after bruting.
  • Nicks- These are small notches that are on the facet or the girdle junctions.

What Matters the Most

The cut grade does rely on the diamond’s polish. But you should note that the cut itself gives the most value. A well-polished stone is great, but if you like another cut then you should go for it.

If you’re interested in the light performance of the stone then polishing will be a good factor. You may need to choose stones that have better cuts or better polishing. Go with what your budget can afford.

When you want the most “ideal” looking stone, go with a diamond in an “excellent” grade. This is the best option when it comes to a diamond that looks the most brilliant under the light.

Benefits of going on a Spa holiday

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If you are looking forward to relaxing and enjoying your next holiday with the hope of coming back very fresh to face the new challenges of work and your normal activities, then you might want to go on a spa holiday. If you are wondering what benefits you are going to get from going on a spa holiday, this article will discuss some of the major benefits.

Detox
 Our environment today has a lot of toxins. In some cases, we even work in factories where a significant quantity of emissions that can affect an individual is produced. If you want to detoxify yourself (get rid of toxins from your system, then taking a spa holiday would be ideal for you. Toxins are harmful to individuals both physically and mentally. To avoid such complications, a spa holiday might just be exactly what you would need. You can read spaseekers reviews to see the experience of other customers they have helped to detox during a spa vacation.

Stress Management
 Another reason why a spa holiday could be good for you is stress management. Our daily activities put us through a lot of stress as we strive to make ends meet, work diligently, get our paychecks, buy our needs, take care of our loved ones and try to make the best out of life. Sometimes, it is best to just take a break. The break could then be a spa holiday where you would get nice massaged that relieve you of stress and aching muscles.

Weight loss
 Stress has been consistently linked with weight gain. This is because we could get overwhelmed by things and we begin to eat excessively. With spa holidays, we could get relieved of the stress and with the stress out of the way, we might reduce those activities that make us gain weight and we could start shedding all the excess weight that we got.

Improved confidence and self-esteem
 Spa holidays could give you time to relax and reflect on things around you. It is often difficult getting enough time when you are not on vacation. The quality time during the vacation could help you come to terms with a lot of things, help you reflect and find solutions to major problems. By the time the spa holiday should be rounding up everything about you would have increased including your self-esteem and self-confidence. This would go a long way by the time you are back to help you become more productive and happier.

Skin management
 Another benefit of a spa holiday is skin management. The oil and other things that would be required for giving you a massage and other spa activities would be beneficial to your skin. This is apart from the fact that your spa holiday could include sun tanning and other activities that would be beneficial to your skin. Thus, it is expected that you would come back from your spa vacation with better skin.

Pain management
 A spa holiday is one of the easiest ways to relieve your body of pain. Massages and other things you would be involved in during a spa holiday would mostly be geared towards relaxing you and taking away every pain from your body.

 

Business Profile: How Has HiLife Vitamins Has Remained Essential Since 1971?

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When it comes to the wellness industry, there are many new brands and products competing for business. The most recent numbers show that the global wellness industry is valued at an explosive $4.5 trillion. Not only that, but the market is still growing. Between 2015 and 2017, the industry grew by 6.4 percent annually, showing that more and more dollars are being spent in this sector. Despite all this new growth and competition, some companies have been staples in the industry for decades and stand out against the competition. HiLife Vitamins is one of those companies. It has remained an essential business since it was founded in 1971, while plenty of others have fallen by the wayside, and here’s why.

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A massive inventory

HiLife Vitamins has a massive inventory of vitamins and supplements, meaning customers can turn to them as a one-stop-shop. HiLife Vitamins currently stocks more than 5,000 products from trusted and tested brands. This wide selection is appealing to consumers, who know they can trust HiLife Vitamins will have what they’re looking for. Plus, consumers know these are reliable brands, which are worth their dollars. Some of these top brands and products include:

Aside from these products, HiLife Vitamins has vitamins and supplements for a wide array of topics such as heart health, digestion, memory, blood pressure, and weight loss, as well as many herbs, and doctor recommended products.

A user-friendly website

A key way HiLife Vitamins has remained essential since 1971 is by making an effective shift towards ecommerce. Their website is filled with thousands of products, yet it is effectively organized, so customers can easily find the product they’re looking for. When adapting to the era of digital shopping, many companies which had been around for decades struggled to adjust to the changes. HiLife Vitamins has proven to be a timeless and essential institution, by easily adapting to the digital era.

Fast and easy shipping

HiLife Vitamins makes it easy and affordable to get their many vitamins and supplements delivered to your door. HiLife Vitamins offers free domestic shipping for orders over $49, making their thousands of products readily available to customers. With this, HiLife Vitamins is a competitive alternative to other supplement shopping options. Despite having a large inventory, HiLife Vitamins has the touch and feel of a small company, and it’s easy to get in contact with them. HiLife Vitamins has a phone line, which you can call between 9AM and 7PM. There’s also an email address customers can use to reach out to HiLife Vitamins any time.

Five Countries Most Famous for Gambling

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Thanks to numerous technological advancements, gambling has now gone global. Everyone is now able to access gambling sites on their devices via popular online casinos. The industry faces major opposition and stereotype from society and governments, which imposes heavy regulations on the industry.

Gambling is a hugely profitable industry that brings along with it poor gambling behaviours in society. This twist puts pressure on government institutions to find a balance between protecting its citizens and reaping revenues from the venture.

Some countries have outlawed gambling and imposed stiff penalties on those that take part in the activity. However, it is legal in other countries where both players and the government reap millions.

Two gambling hotspot cities – Las Vegas in the US and Macau in China – could make anyone assume that the two countries top the list of the top gambling countries of the world. However, there are other bigwigs that give the two a run. Some of them are:

1. Australia

Australia is popularly called a gambler’s haven. According to some research studies, over 80% of adults in Australia engage in gambling. The casinos in Australia serve all gamblers’ needs from entertainment and lotteries to betting. The policy of no-tax-on-winnings heightens practice since you usually take home whatever you win.

The country’s stability and huge emphasis put on recreation make it attractive for gambling. Other factors, such as the healthy economy and high quality of life create a 24-hour gambling economy.

Australia is the land to spend your fortune making merry. The rich sporting culture of cricket and football activities exclusively fits the gambling culture. Australia’s gambling freedom attracts players from various countries who want to feel the thrill, creating billions for the economy.

2. United Kingdom

The UK has one of the biggest numbers of active gamblers. Dating way back in history, gambling has been a primary recreational activity in the UK. The numbers have increased because of online gaming fostered by significant innovations in the country.

Since gambling has been around for so long, most people are brought up knowing it as a great way to socialise. Modern technology has only made it easier for people to practice.

3. China

Although online gambling and land-based casinos are prohibited, China’s young generation has taken over state lotteries and sports betting. These create revenues of over $50 billion for the country.

Asian cultures emphasize their beliefs on superstitions regarding luck, fate and fortune. They uphold the trio with sentimental value and link losses and wins to ancestors. Luck, for example, is considered a favorite of the gods.

Profound cultural factors have made the activity hard to ban. You will often find people in street corners and open joints gambling using cards and Mahjong. Wherever you see a huddle of five people, you can be sure they’re gambling.

The enthusiasm for gambling in China’s economy made the government licence the activity. This is especially true of the city of Macau. Macau is one of the most popular gambling cities in the world, bringing in nearly $35 billion in revenue.

4. India

Although gambling in India was banned long ago, online poker games have created an inherent problem for the country. Blame it on the population or technological advancements; the middle-class population is taking to gambling at a higher pace than their counterparts in first world countries.

Online gambling is popular because of the engaging atmosphere made possible by live streams of high definition videos. The live streams give people the experience of land casinos.

Diwali is another occasion where families stay together to play cards and bet on them. This makes poker and other card games acceptable and even desirable for much of the Indian population.

5. Ireland

The horse racing culture in the country has seen Ireland become an important gambling economy. Most people are raised on horse farms, where the activity is nurtured from childhood. How beautiful! Imagine knowing the tactics of the game at a younger age. You’d have probably been a billionaire by now.

The Irish love a gamble, and the authorities are aware of this. To make its people happy, laws in the country provide hatching grounds for gambling. The casino industry is unregulated. The activity is perceived as harmless, and household names in the activity, such as Paddy Power and Betfair, deliver precisely what the people need.

Conclusion

Different countries offer a different sort of gambling experience. You could choose to visit them or take a shot at online gambling from the comfort of your home.

Who In Your Business Is Controlling the Finances?

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When it comes to your business, the bottom line is always going to be profit. And to understand profit, you have to look at all of your finances. But, after you’ve grown your business to a certain point, who is really controlling those finances? You may have had a very good idea when you were the sole proprietor of a business idea, but as the concept has expanded, you can very quickly lose track of revenue and expenses. Depending on the size of your company, this realization may come sooner than later.

So, within the construct of your current business environment, who is in charge of controlling the finances? There is a chief financial officer to consider. There is someone who is known as the Comptroller. And, to a degree, the board of directors of a company will also have a dynamic say into how finances are used. Again, this is all context-based, and the size of a company has a great deal of influence.

The CFO

Even in a small business, there is going to be someone designated as the chief financial officer. This is the person who is in charge of the money. Their primary purpose in that role is to understand where the money is coming from and where the money is going. They handle the part of the business plan that recognizes all of the revenue and expenses that go into day-to-day operations and long-term endeavors. Without someone in a CFO role, your profitability will take a big hit because you have no way of analyzing all of the information coming through.

The Controller

Another essential person when it comes to your business finances is the controller. If you’ve ever wondered what a controller does, you may have to look at larger companies that have one or more people in this position. A controller is essentially the head of a financial Department, and they are the person who reports directly to the CFO. There can be controllers over different departments, and the organizational structure of a particular company or Corporation will determine how many of these people there are and what their specific tasks will be.

The Board of Directors

You may read the news that suggests the power of the board of directors to alter the financial direction of a company. After a company goes public, the board of directors is a group of people who are gathered to represent the interests of the shareholders and other stakeholders. Though in many cases, the work that this board does is not exactly transparent, the time, effort, energy, and resources they bring to a company is invaluable.

There are some issues when a board of directors does not necessarily navigate company policy very well. In those cases, the actual stakeholders in a company can adjust who the board of directors are. The board of directors also can hire and fire different high ranking positions within a company structure. The checks and balances are fascinating.

 

InventureX Shares: 4 Elements All Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns Should Have

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Crowdfunding has transformed the way entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground and has made jump-starting ventures much more realistic. Now, it’s very possible for an idea to go viral, explode with traction, and receive tons of backing, thanks to crowdfunding, and entrepreneurs and investors alike have been taking notice of how successful it can be. But because the industry is so saturated with ideas, entrepreneurs want to make sure they’re going about their crowdfunding campaign the right way, from the get-go. As the Vice President of Marketing for InventureX, Mark Campbell understands just how much nuance can go into crowdfunding. InventureX is the #1 crowdfunding agency, helping entrepreneurs succeed in their crowdfunding campaigns. In the past, Campbell has shared some crowdfunding marketing secrets. Now, he’s diving into 4 elements all successful crowdfunding campaigns should have.

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Be as prepared as possible

When it comes to crowdfunding, Campbell says you can tell which campaigns are well thought out, and which ones have been thrown together at the last minute, by inexperienced entrepreneurs. You want to be as prepared as possible before going live with your campaign. Weeks or months can go into planning just the launch of a crowdfunding campaign alone, and if you feel you’re not ready, you shouldn’t launch your campaign.

Have high-quality digital assets

In the digital era, there’s nearly nothing more important than having high quality end eye-catching digital assets, according to Campbell. InventureX has its own in-house studio, StudioX, responsible for photo and video shoots. Campbell feels this is an invaluable part of launching a crowdfunding campaign, and that digital assets are key to showcasing the project you’re looking to crowdfund.

Identify and hit your target audience

When launching a crowdfunding campaign, you don’t want to waste time, money, and energy, trying to market to the incorrect audience, says Campbell. Identifying your target audience is key to having your venture successfully crowdfunded. For example, at InventureX, they do a lot of that legwork for their entrepreneurs. That way, Campbell says, they’re making sure their projects are hitting the right audiences and getting successfully funded.

Know that you can transform your idea into reality

According to Campbell, being an entrepreneur takes a lot of guts, but it also comes with a lot of ups and down. One element to success every entrepreneur needs to remember is that with crowdfunding, it truly is possible to transform your idea into reality. Getting the funding to launch your venture is not impossible, and on the contrary, you have the ability to tap into a massive reach. The trick is knowing how to work the world of crowdfunding to your advantage.

About InventureX

InventureX is the #1 crowdfunding agency, helping entrepreneurs launch and successfully fund their ventures. More than 350 entrepreneurs have successfully crowdfunded their projects, thanks to InventureX. More than 85% of entrepreneurs who work with InventureX hit or surpass their crowdfunding goals. For entrepreneurs who are interested in working with InventureX, the agency will conduct a free review of your project.

Signs That You’re Close to a Deal to Sell Your House 

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After waiting for some time to sell your property, it might not be a good feeling if you still can’t close a deal. You have to be patient and try your best to advertise your property as much as you can. However, you might be close to a deal soon. These are the signs that you will probably get the transaction you want.

Someone keeps asking more detailed questions

When you have a new potential buyer, the questions will be more general in nature. If the property seems interesting, you will receive more questions from this potential buyer. However, if this buyer doesn’t seem interested at all, you will receive no follow-up questions. Therefore, if you still keep getting inquiries after your initial conversation, you’re close to a deal. No one will spend enough time to discuss with you if there’s no chance to buy the house.

There are more interested parties 

At first, you might find it complicated to look for the right buyer. However, it might be surprising if you receive a surge in inquiries about your property. It could mean a lot of things. First, it means that your property is becoming more valuable, given its location. The area saw economic progress in recent years, and a lot of people are willing to move there. These potential buyers will compare the properties in the area, but they will compete with each other until they can settle with a great choice.

Other properties in the area are getting sold 

If the other properties in the neighborhood are selling quickly, it’s a sign that it won’t be long before you can sell yours. There won’t be enough houses in the area for everyone. If you offer a property that has excellent features, it means that you will find the perfect buyer soon. It’s even possible that some people are willing to buy real estate due to the possibility of increased value in the future. It’s more of an investment than an intention to reside in the house. Therefore, you can expect more inquiries in the future and even ask for a higher amount before closing the deal.

Wholesale buyers are available in your area

If there are wholesale buyers in your area, it means that there’s a huge demand for properties from their pool of buyers. You can contact them and ask if they can come over and assess your house. You will receive a fair assessment and an offer in no time. If you think that the amount is good enough, you can sign the agreement and walk away with cash. These wholesale buyers are easy to partner with, and they already made transactions with several homeowners in the past. If that’s something that interests you, type sell my house fast Miami in Google. Check the details based on your search and decide if it’s a path you would like to pursue.

Hopefully, you can get what you want and walk away with enough money out of this transaction.

 

 

3 Ways To Save On Utilities In The Summer Months

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If you live somewhere that has hot summer months, you might find that your utility bills spike during this time. But while some of this is just the nature of the beast, there likely are things that you can change about your home or lifestyle that can help you lower these costs without feeling like you’re having to suffer through the heat.

To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to save on utilities in the summer months.

Use Your A/C Correctly

One of the biggest uses of energy for a home is the heating and cooling system. In the summer, many homes have to wind up using their a/c in order to keep their home at a comfortable temperature. However, setting it and forgetting it can often cause your cooling bills to skyrocket.

To combat this, Dana Dratch, a contributor to Bankrate.com, advises that you learn how to use your a/c correctly. As part of this, you’ll want to avoid cranking up your air conditioning as the primary to keep yourself cool. Ideally, you should try other options for cooling off before lowering the temperature of your home completely. To help with this, you may want to consider getting a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust as you and your home need it to.

Take Advantage Of Your Windows

To keep your home cool in a more natural way, try taking advantage of the windows in your home.

According to Megan McMorris, a contributor to Reader’s Digest, keeping the drapes or blinds of your windows closed while the sun is out will help you block out some heat during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally, if you open your windows at night, you’ll be bringing in some cooler air that will help keep your home from heating up as quickly the next day. Just make sure you only open your windows when it’s cooler outside than it is in your house and that you close your windows back down before the sun comes up.

Keep Appliances Off During The Day

When it’s hot outside, the last thing you want to do is nullify your efforts to keep your home cool by using appliances that produce their own heat when you turn them on. Because of this, Energy.gov recommends that you try to avoid using heat-creating appliances during the day. Some of the appliances you should use minimally include things like your dishwasher, your washer and dryer, your oven and stove, and even some bigger electronics.

If you’re wanting to keep your home cool while also keeping your utility bills lower this summer, consider using some of the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.

Buying vs Building a House: Pros and Cons

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If you are ready to own a home, you may choose to buy a house that is readily available or build one from scratch. They have their pros and cons, and depending on your needs and personal preferences, one option may be better than the other. Get to know their advantages and disadvantages to help you decide which one will work for you.

Building home pros

Customise it to your liking

If you want a specific look or design for your home, that will be easier to achieve if you are building it from scratch. You can discuss with your builders the details that you want, and they will incorporate them when they work so that you will be satisfied with the result.

Be secure with a warranty

As long as you are dealing with a reputable builder, their work will be under warranty. You will have peace of mind knowing that you are covered in case something happens concerning the construction of the house. If you are looking to have the construction in Bristol, choose a builder that has a proven track record in this field.

Avoid unknown problems

Since you will see the construction from the beginning, you can be sure that there will be no underlying issues that may surprise you.

Enjoy lower maintenance costs

You will be the first-time owner so everything will be in top condition. Maintenance will be cheaper and easier because there will be no significant issues, as it’s brand-new.

Building home cons

  • It takes time to complete. You will not be able to move right away until the construction is complete. It can be an issue if you need a new home immediately.
  • There could be unexpected expenses. Unexpected things could happen like you want some changes to be done or make some additions, and all these will add to the cost.
  • Dealing with construction noise and traffic. Depending on the city you are in, the builders will have restrictions on the hours that they can work. It’s because cities have their legislation for construction hours due to the noise and traffic they create.

Buying home pros

  • The house is ready for your move. As soon as you purchase the house and agree on the closing date, you can move in right away. There’s no need to wait for an extended period to start living there.
  • It’s more convenient. You don’t have to worry about dealing with the noise and traffic, or the unexpected expenses that might come up.

Buying home cons

  • You will get it as it is. Since it’s not customised, there may be areas that you like, and others that you don’t. You can either live with the details that you don’t like or spend money to change them.
  • There can be underlying problems. Unless you have a thorough house inspection, there can be problems that are waiting to be discovered.

Weigh up the pros and cons of buying and building a home to determine which will be the best choice for you.