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14 Reasons You Should Start Birdwatching in 2024

Looking for physical activity but do not want to sweat? You should definitely try birdwatching. It’s a fun thing to try during the lockdown. You have been trapped in your home and could not go out for a while. That is why this would be the best solution to get rid of this boredom.

Netflix might have saved your life, but sitting all day in your room will cause mental stress. wildbirdworld.com is providing you with some of the essentials that you might need.

If you have not been convinced yet, here we have the 14 reasons to help you decide.

Source: Washingtonian

1. A kind of meditation

A quiet mouth will result in a noisy brain. There will be a thunderstorm of thoughts in your mind if you are not doing anything particularly. But meditation is a way of relaxing your mind. And birdwatching is one of the meditation forms. It will relax your mind and will calm your body. The sweet birds chirping will be a pleasant thing to listen to.

2. Not a seasonal thing

Netflix won’t last for the whole life. Your favorite seasons and movies will come to an end, whether happy or depressing. But birds won’t go away. Although you won’t get to hear their chirping in the most extreme weather, they won’t be quiet in the morning. You won’t be bound by the season. They will engage you for the whole year.

Source: Brookdale

3. Social interaction

Birdwatching, although it might seem not to, is actually a thing to build social interaction. How? Of course, if you are going to watch the cute little birds, many others will too. And you must have heard that “bird of the flock fly together.” You can make some friends with similar habits. Furthermore, it is also an activity of the elites. So, it will help you make new connections.

4. An activity for a family picnic

If you are planning a family gathering and are unsure what to do after going to the right place? Well, you can try out this exciting thing. It is not a thing related to age, gender, or even with social status. Everyone can enjoy it. You just need to have the will to do so. And doing something with the family will strengthen the bond between the members.

Source: Hotel La Laguna Spa & Golf

5. Enhances the reflex response of the body

If your children have become computer freaks and living like zombies, you should try this out. It increases the concentration level. Besides, you will have a quick response to things. This will improve the reflex response of your body.

6. Develops patience

Patience has been becoming rare in this society. We have got anger issues and cannot manage our mood. So if you have been having such problems with you and want to deal with it, this will prove an adequate remedy. You will be watching your favorite bird and looking after it by getting relaxed at the same time. Moreover, it will also cultivate positive thoughts and, thus, improving your attitude.

Source: Batumi Raptor Count

7. Makes you learn to give value to others

You won’t be paying attention to nature lately. Thus, if we ignore something for too long, our mind gets away from it. Therefore, you should try giving some time to appreciate the natural beauty. It will make you learn the beauty of small things that we often ignore. Thus, you will also get to know the ways to appreciate the small efforts of other people.

8. Get to know the birds

In addition to giving value, you will also learn more about birds. The beauty that these little creatures hold and their unique patterns and designs amaze the mind. Furthermore, you will think of ways of preserving biodiversity. As soon as you learn more about them, you will get to know their value.

Source: Rainforest Expeditions

9. Improves your health

Not only your physical health but also mental health will be improved by just birdwatching. Physically, your body will be active, and your reflex response will be enhanced. You will get to build your muscles. Other than that, your mind will be refreshed. The cognitive functions of your brain will be improved to a great extent. So do not think of it as wasting your time. You will be working on your body.

10. Natural awareness

As you start birdwatching, you will get to read journals about birds. It will be a fun activity and a learning thing. You will get to know a number of different bird species that exist in this world. Besides, you can go to bird parks and can enjoy their company. Instead of listening to the celebrity gossips, your ears will hear the sweet and pleasant sound of nature.

Source: Hideaway Report

11. A cost-effective thing

You won’t have to spend too much. You can try out different things and all of them do not require money. You can go to any public park, sit there, read a book about them or interact with them. It is really a cost-effective thing to do.

12. Improves your heart

Not only your heart but also your cardiovascular organs will be improved. You will get to do hiking, walking and even spend more time in greenery. This will provide you with oxygen-enriched air to strengthen your lungs. If you go hiking, your physical health will be improved. You can lower your cholesterol level through this.

Source: Central Park Conservancy

13. Promotes traveling

If you have always been hesitant regarding traveling, birds will motivate you. If you get too much interested in birds and want to learn more about them, you will be ready to travel. Your life will get more adventurous as you get engaged in such activities.

14. A gate to another world

Seems like a fantasy? Sure it is. If you go to remote places, you will know about a completely different world. Thick and dense forests will provide you a healing environment if you are ready to go there.

Best Chef YouTube Channels to Follow in 2024

Image source: unsplash.com

Cooking is a passion for many, and although spending a lot of time creating the perfect meal just to down it in under a minute doesn’t sound too rewarding, it’s surely one of the best feelings ever. Although it’s not easy to start creating these aesthetically-pleasing meals, we cannot deny the fact that we live in the age of the internet, so almost everything that we want to learn is available in less than two clicks.

YouTube is probably the world’s most popular video-sharing platform, and there you can find so many different types of content, including cooking channels, shows, and tons of different cooking-related activities. The reason why so many people find this hobby appealing is exactly this, the tons of unique and easily-accessible content through which you can learn so much about making the perfect meals for you and your family members.

In today’s article we’ve decided to list some of the best Chef YouTube Channels that you can follow in 2024, so if you’re currently looking for some extra motivation or just a few cool ideas, stay tuned because we have a lot to show you. Without any further ado, let’s take a look at our recommendations.

Pro Home Cooks

This channel currently has about one and a half million subscribers, which is a pretty impressive number, and across all of the videos posted there, we count an approximate number of 120 million views. It’s not your regular cooking content, because the person running this channel considers this to be an art, and his main goal is to teach others how to treat it as an art, how to be connected with the process of creating meals and all of what’s considered the spiritual part of it. The content is unique because of the location, which is the kitchen studio that he built from scratch, and included videos of the entire process. How amazing is that?

How to Cake It

If your sweet tooth is “itching” and you are looking forward to creating something delicious and good looking, How to Cake It is a channel where you can learn so much about it. Yolanda is the name of the person running the channel, and she has quite a lot of experience in making cakes. The channel has four million subscribers and almost half a billion in views across all of the videos posted there. Please note that this is not your ordinary cake channel, as most of the things posted here are just ridiculous and over-the-top creative. Some cakes contain surprises inside when you cut them, but we don’t want to spoil anything for the potential future viewers, so make sure to head there and take a look for yourself.

High Carb Hannah

With over sixty-two million views and six hundred thousand subscribers, High Carb Hannah is one of the sweetest YouTubers in the cooking field on this entire platform. She’s still relatively “new” compared to some of the channels who already have millions of subs, but she’s doing a very good job at entertaining and spreading positivity. She’s known for her amazing transformation where she lost about eighty pounds of bodyweight and completely re-shaped her life and future. Now she motivates others through her own experience and stories, and it’s a channel that we wholeheartedly recommend if you want to learn how to cook and become a happier person in general.

Nathan Chase Plummer

If you are interested in cooking, but you want to focus on healthy meals that get your body in perfect shape and allow you to look great with your shirt off, this is the right place to be. Nathan Chase Plummer is an author, a YouTuber, and a creator, and he’s the one who runs the brand Look Great Naked. If you require motivation and a bit of extra knowledge on all of these things, one of the best people to take advice from is exactly him.

You Suck At Cooking

Well, it was about time that we added a hilarious channel on this list, so if you’re in for some laughs and quality cooking content, You Suck at Cooking is a great place to be. It currently has about 1,8 million subscribers and 170 million views across all of the videos. You’ll learn a lot from this show because the content is dedicated to all those who are not familiar with cooking at all, and while learning, you’ll have tons of fun because most of the videos, if not all of them, are made with the purpose to make someone laugh. Videos are not very frequent, but they’re not rare either. On average, one or two videos are being uploaded through the course of one month.

Avant-Garde Vegan

Did you think that we would let all of you vegans down by not adding a single vegan channel on this list? We know better than that, and today we have a wonderful recommendation for a YouTube channel if you are not already familiar with Avant-Garde Vegan. This is a channel where you can learn many new recipes for vegan meals directly from Gaz Oakley. Gaz also has his cookbook published so feel free to take a look at that as well if you like his content and the way he prepares meals. The channel is very entertaining and it will most definitely teach you to cook some interesting meals even though they’re vegan. Who said that you cannot have great pizzas, casseroles, and all sorts of different desserts without including any animal-based products?

Laura in the Kitchen

Last but not least, Laura in The Kitchen is a channel with over 3,5 million subscribers, so it’s pretty safe to say that it’s a very successful one. These numbers only show that the content posted here is top-quality and a lot of people find it appealing. We expected nothing less from someone present on the YouTube scene for almost ten years, and we recommend Laura’s videos to anyone who wants to learn how to cook at home without any fancy or expensive equipment. The best thing about this channel is the fact that Laura cooks meals based on the requests from her viewers, so if you want to see something done by her, head over there and write it in the comment section.

7 Tips On Choosing Contemporary Art For Your Home

Paintings and wall art can make all the difference when it comes to the look and feel of your home. If your walls are looking quite bare and boring, just one statement contemporary art piece can seriously transform the space and turn an entire room around. Art can be used to draw attention to the parts of your home that you enjoy the most and can also be used to pull other elements of your home décor together. But when it comes to picking the right statement contemporary art pieces for your home, it isn’t always easy. With so many styles and artists to choose from, finding the right pieces for your home can take some time. If you want to give your home a refresh with new contemporary art pieces, keep these tips in mind.

Source: Interior Design Ideas

1. Choose a Style That You Love:

Modern art comes in a wide range of different styles, so it’s a good idea to spend some time browsing to find a style that you are completely in love with for your home. Whether you like abstract art or the works of artists like Banksy, which you can find here at www.contemporaryarttrader.com, explore a huge range of different art styles and contemporary masterpieces with something to suit everybody’s preferences for home décor. Statement art pieces are designed to be a key feature in your home, so it’s important to spend the time searching for a piece that you are seriously in love with and happy to look at every single day.

Source: Decoist

2. Sizing Your Art:

Think about the size of your room and the other decorative items that you have there before deciding on the size of the artwork that you want to display. Huge contemporary art pieces can look absolutely stunning on a large wall or as the only piece of art in the room with all the attention focused on it, while smaller, coordinating pieces can look fantastic when hung together as a pair or three, or even as a statement art wall. Before you start searching for art, it’s a good idea to take some measurements of the walls where you will want to hang it so that you have a better idea of the best sizes to opt for.

Source: Elle Decor

3. Consider Your Home Décor:

If you are in the process of redecorating your home and want to add some contemporary art pieces to finish the look, it’s a good idea to wait until after you have completed decorating before searching for the art that you’ll display. No matter how much you might love a piece of art, it can be devastating if you hang it up only to find that it seriously clashes with your wallpaper or paint colours. If you are planning to decorate and have already found contemporary art pieces that you’re sure you want to display in the home, it’s a good idea to choose your home décor with the art in mind so that everything flows nicely once finished.

Source: Franklin Arts

4. Hanging the Art:

How easy the artwork will be to hang on your walls is another key factor to take into consideration when choosing contemporary pieces. Thankfully, many contemporary art pieces are available in lightweight frames or light canvases making them ideal for hanging on any type of wall including plasterboard walls that might not be supportive enough for heavier paintings. If you decide to get a heavy painting, it’s important to check your wall first and ensure that it is sturdy enough to support the artwork once hung. Using the right fixings when hanging your art will ensure that it is kept secure and doesn’t cause any disasters in your home.

5. Think About Your Furniture:

It is also a good idea to consider the furniture in your home throughout the process of choosing artwork for the walls. If you are planning to keep your current furniture, it is a good idea to consider the style and colour of the pieces and keep this in mind when choosing art. Contemporary art can often look excellent when paired with more traditional furniture since this creates an interesting and unique contrast, while modern, sleek furniture items will always go hand in hand with modern and contemporary art. Consider where you are going to hang your artwork in relation to where your furniture is placed in the home, to avoid overcrowding and make sure that everything appears balanced once finished.

Source: Pinterest

6. Art and the Mood of Your Rooms:

One of the great things about contemporary art is that it is so diverse, so you can easily use it to contribute to the kind of mood and feel that you want to achieve in each room. For example, if you are choosing modern art for your bedroom, you might want to go for serene landscape style paintings in calming colours that will add to a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere in the room where you go to sleep. On the other hand, kitchen artwork is often more colourful and quirky, which can add some interest and warmth to the heart of the home. If you have a certain theme in mind for any of your rooms, the artwork that you choose can make all the difference to how well it all comes together.

Source: Awesome Decors

7. Creating Your Own Contemporary Art:

Another option to consider when choosing contemporary art for your home is to create your own. Art is very subjective, and your idea of contemporary art could be almost anything that you like. With tons of online tutorials to use and art supplies easy to come by, creating your own modern art is a great way to put a unique and personal stamp on your home while getting in touch with your creative side. And the best part is that you don’t have to be a professional artist to create stunning artwork for your home that every visitor will notice.

Contemporary art can make all the difference to the look and feel of your home. If you want to give your home a makeover with artwork, keep these tips in mind to help you choose the perfect pieces.

7 Global Gaming Industry Trends in 2024

Source: ey

Global gaming trends don’t change too much compared to the previous years, because that process is going smoothly and without distractions. But, if we go back 10-12 years, we can see how the whole gaming experience is dramatically improved. Today we have better graphic solutions, next-generation computers, and a lot of helping tools and equipment.

Also, one of the greatest steps the gaming industry took, is making these games more competitive and challenging. As a result, this industry is one of the fastest-growing in the whole market. Gamers often organize championships, encouraging new players to invest in their online career, and also use their premium services. Today’s gamers have a lot of different and affordable options, boosts, and improved methods to gain more experience during the game and set great scores.

The trends are changing and improving every year, and these are the most popular gaming industry trends for 2024:

1. Cloud-based games are becoming more and more popular

Cloud technology is pretty useful for every business and profession. As we know, cloud-based systems allow us to reach our important files and media using any device we have, as long as we know the login details. Some game companies are dedicated to improving their gaming services using this technology. Most gamers are willing to pay some fee for this type of service, knowing that they don’t need to download the game or use a CD to play. This trend is popular between the young adults aged 25-34 because statistically, they own more devices that are eligible for gaming, but also they often work and have money to pay for such a service.

Source: hackernoon

2. Gamers are nostalgic for the old good times

The developers and creators are creating excellent new games every day, so gamers can choose what they want. But, there is still a big group that always feel some nostalgia, and they are more likely to play some reboot or improved version of the games that were popular a few years ago. Also, game companies are aware of this fact, and together with the new creations, they release new chapters and upgrades to the old and popular games. The nostalgia is even bigger when some game was discontinued in the past, and the owners decide to re-release a new version. These upgrades also make the game more acceptable for the new generation of remastered gamers.

3. The comeback of the consoles

In the last decade, many developers adapted their games for smartphones and tablets. But, the gaming enthusiast knows that there is no better device than the standard PC configuration, your TV, and a good console, such as Xbox or PlayStation. These companies are always trying to improve their consoles and stay competitive in the gaming market. When people got bored with small screens and gave up on smartphones and tablets, they reached the old and gold gaming consoles. That also inspired the manufacturers to develop more advanced versions of the current consoles, so they can attract even the young group of gamers in the world. According to some recent surveys, the current gamers are more interested in consoles like never before.

Source: vrlatech

4. There is nothing wrong with a little boost

These “boosts” exist since the first game in the world was invented. In the past, they were known as “cheats” and were illegal to use, especially when the gamers are trying to win some prize, by reaching a good result. But, many people discovered that there is an open door for a profitable business. So, if you want instant success in some game, you can hire a professional that will “boost” your experience, passing the boring steps and levels for you. Many gamers are willing to spend money on the game they play. For example, let’s take Call of Duty as one of the most popular games in the world. Boosting services like lfcarry.com offer you fast passing through the levels so you can collect your weapons arsenal. CoD Modern Warfare weapons camo is a term that is used for a weapon camouflage for this game. This boost will help you “flex” with a good looking weapon that will make all your competitors jealous.

5. Social activities and broadcasting

Many gamers decide to stream their game, which leads to socializing and meeting new people with the same interest. As we know, this may lead to real-life meetings and organizing championships and tournaments. But, since the world is in a global health crisis caused by the coronavirus, all gaming social activities are reserved for these broadcasting channels. Also, there is nothing better than watching how your opponent is losing some battle you are in together.

Source: teufelaudio

6. Mobile gaming is not a joke

The most experienced gamers will always choose their console or computer before the smartphone. But, smart devices are good to maintain your score when you are not able to bring the console with you. So, you may prefer your PC over the smartphone, but you should never underestimate its power when it comes to games because, by the time you are avoiding it, smart gamers are using their phones to play and win.

7. Safety is always a priority

When you choose to play video games, you always need to stay safe and protect yourself from scams. You can use antivirus systems so you can avoid breaches and hacking attacks. Always buy licensed and original games, so you can protect your devices from viruses and harmful malware. Many inexperienced gamers “infected” their consoles or computers while using untrusted sources and illegal game copies.

Gaming trends maybe aren’t changing very fast, but we are all able to see the differences in so many ways. It’s clear that this industry is growing rapidly, especially when new games are released every now and then. It’s estimated that the gaming industry is worth a few billions of dollars, which clearly shows us how many people play these games. These trends are helping them to always be happy and satisfied but also challenged by the new versions and features.

7 Things to Know About Selling a House on Your Own – 2024 Guide

Source: imagestreet

If you’re thinking about selling your house, then there are a few things to note before starting the journey.

There could be a whole host of reasons why you might be thinking about putting up a “For Sale” sign. But do know that while the financial benefits are many, it will take a lot of time to make sure that the process runs smoothly.

Selling a house on your own isn’t recommended if you have no experience with real estate. However, the internet is an amazing place that can tell you everything you need to know about it.

So, that’s why you’re here. If you’re interested in uncovering the 7 things to know about selling a house on your own, then this is the article for you.

Without further ado, let’s start.

1. You Will Need To Do an Inspection

Source: bankrate

Whichever way you look at it, you must do a thorough inspection of your house before putting it up for sale. Why? Well because an inspection helps uncover a lot of problems.

This process is highly recommended by experts in the field. An inspection can be the difference-maker in getting a good price. By doing an inspection, you will know every issue surrounding the property.

This helps you plan for repairs; repairs that can potentially save you thousands of dollars.

2. See What Others Sell For

Source: medium

Pricing can be a real issue and a higher price can potentially put off a lot of buyers. That’s why we recommend doing a simple research task.

Namely, the best way to know what price is right is to assess the competition. Find any live listings of other properties within your city or neighborhood and see what price they go for.

You can also do some comparing and find the exact price for similar properties such as yours. While we do agree that it’s literary impossible to know the exact same price based on the number of rooms, quality of the interior, exterior, roof, etc, it will get you close to the desired number.

You can also get in touch with a real estate agent and ask for a free analysis. Most agents do offer free analysis, but not all of them. You can even go as far as to find a professional that will calculate the value of your property.

3. Sell At The Right Time

Source: Forbes

We cannot stress how important this one is. The market dictates the prices. If the market is in demand, then your house will sell for more. If the market is in more supply, then you might have to drop your price to sell faster.

Regardless, the law of supply and demand within the real estate industry is one that makes all the difference when it comes to pricing.

Selling at the right time is crucial, and you shouldn’t settle for anything less.

4. Use the Online World

Source: mashvisor

There isn’t a better way to sell your home than to offer it online. Nearly 95% of all house shopping is done online. While people will come over and see your home in the first person, the first thing they do is go online and look up listings.

Deviating from it will drastically lower your chances of finding a buyer. Never underestimate the power of websites that give you the option of selling or buying houses.

These websites are specifically designed to meet the needs of buyers and sellers alike. Other services specialize in buying your property without even needing an agent.

These services will come to your address, do a full evaluation, and offer you a price. If you accept, then the process of buying the home will be swift. If you’re interested in that, then make sure to visit www.veryfasthomebuyers.com.

5. You Might Pay Commission Fees

Source: buyingahousebr

Even if you’re not using a real estate agent to sell the home, the buyer might well be. And if this is your first time selling a home and have no idea how the process goes, then you’re in for a disappointment.

Most people choose to sell on their own to avoid commission fees set by agents. However, it doesn’t matter if you’re not going with an agent as you will still pay the 3% commission fee if the other party uses one.

While 3% might sound silly, it’s still important to know about it.

6. It Takes A Lot Of Time

Source: tallbridgeinvestments

Selling a home is very time-consuming. As we mentioned earlier, every show, every renovation, every small thing involved with it can take hours of your day.

This is why people go with real estate agents instead of doing it on their own. Going without an agent means doing all the legal work yourself.

This can become an issue especially if you have scheduled potential repairs and renovations.

But perhaps the most irritating thing about this whole thing is the fact that you’ll lose hours on people coming over and taking a look at your home without committing to it.

If you had hired an agent, then this issue never exists. Every showing can take anything from an hour to a few hours of your day. And nothing guarantees that the person will buy your property.

7. You Might Not Always Get the Right Price

Source: salemyhousefastforcash

Listen, everyone wants to sell at their own price. But overpricing because your home holds sentimental value means nothing to the buyer.

This is perhaps the biggest reason why selling on your own is potentially counterproductive. By having a professional by your side that will guide you and put some common sense into your head, you are making sure that the home sells for the right price.

This means that more people will be willing to come over and take a look. The more people show up, the higher the chances of selling the thing.

If you do want to sell for a higher price, then we recommend going a maximum of 10% above the market value. This way you are making sure that people still find the price reasonable.

5 Movies About People Who Were Stranded on No Man’s Land – 2024 Guide

img source: ventsmagazine.com

Movies and shows have been a great escape from boredom and being stranded in your thoughts, but how about watching a movie that itself is about the people who have been stranded. If this is your taste, then there is much to watch on the online streaming channels. I have compiled a list of 5 movies about people who were stranded in No Man’s Land. But before we get on to the list, let me tell you what one thing that is common in all these movies is, it is the will to fight and survives, it is the will to not give up, and if you want something to ignite a spark of not giving up, then pick one of these movies and start watching right now!

1. 127 Hours

img source: ucsb.edu

How often do you think of adventures that are life-taking? Well, not too often surely, but the lead actor here in 127 Hours likes to take on to things that can make him feel alive. He, with a wish to explore some unchartered territory, goes on to an abandoned mountain. While enjoying his adventure, he faces an unexpected turn, the turn that takes his life. He falls off the canyon that he was trying to take on, and a big giant rock falls on his hand, making him unable to move even an inch. With just no food and water, he is now stuck in a no man’s land. In his fight for survival, he tries to cut the rock off, but it is just too much for him to do, and after 127 hours of the fight, he finally gets an idea to break his arm after cutting through the flesh and climbing the 65ft canyon to be found by tourists who save their life. Do you know what the most shocking thing about this movie is?

Well, it is based on a true story. Yes, this all happened with a man from the US, and this gives us all the lesson that we can survive no matter what happens. An editor from StreamingRant stated, “It is hard to believe that this movie is based on a true story because the way Director has shown the shots it was truly giving a feel as if life was slowly walking out of the actor. The camera has done justice with the story, and this is the reason that I like this movie.”

2. Cast Away

img source: youtube.com

The first movie on our list today is Cast Away. Released in 2000, this movie to date is one of the best movies about survival, putting in a fight for life and whatnot. This Tom Hanks starrer starts with a pretty casual opening of a FedEx agent who lives his life by the rule of books. Earning a pretty good salary, he is all good and happy with his family, but his life turns upside down when his plane crashes in the Pacific during a job task. This plane crash causes a disaster killing everyone to expect Hanks and then begins his journey of survival. He now is all alone on an island with nothing but the hope that someone will rescue him. It turnouts that no one is there for him, and he will have to survive until he is either found, which is no less than a miracle, or is dead—a perfect watch for anyone who loves to see survival and fight for life.

3. Life of PI

img source: youtube.com

The life of PI is again a great movie about survival. The boy traveling with his family loses everything and everyone in the middle of the sea due to a thunderstorm hitting the ship. All his family members are now dead, and he is all alone on a lifeboat with nothing but a tiger. Yes, a tiger is what he is all alone with. Sea is one of the life-threatening challenges for him, and now the boat has the tiger. He sees nothing but death from here, but the kid does not give up. He survives all his days until he reached shore and is found by the people on that island. This movie is a great treat to watch for all the fans of survival movies. The movies have even got an Oscar for its amazing story and great screenplay.

4. In the Heart of the Sea

img source: yourhub.com

Well, you would have judged this movie by the name that it is something about the sea. But what you need to see here in the movie is the greatness of survival and not giving up. Few men from a village go out on the hunt for Whale oil but drastically encounter an angry whale that wrecks their ship and makes them fight for life. These men are left stranded in the sea and are fighting for life. The survival takes 180 days to get some help and make their way back to their home. It is a mix of emotion, survival, and some amazingly crafted scenes.

5. The Martian

img source: medium.com

Well, all of the above movies are about survival, but they are about survival on earth. On the other hand, The Martian is about survival on Mars. Nasa’s team is on a mission to explore another planet, but it turns out that they have met some unexpected turns, and they have to abort the mission. But while aborting the mission and return to earth, they leave one of their team members behind, thinking that he is lost and dead. The scientist left alone is now all alone on a planet that has nothing but some great challenges. He grows some food and finds some water to make his survival mission successful. But for this movie, I won’t reveal much, and I guess you should see it yourself.

9 Tips for Using Moroccan Décor for Your Living Room – 2024 Guide

Morocco décor styling is quite common these days. With time, people are dragging to the more classic style of decorating their house. No matter what things you keep at your home, it must be attractive, trendy, and classic. If you are working on the interiors, then you must prefer this style and get the best look for your living room.

Visit babouche-maroc.com to get Moroccan-style rugs, carpets, blankets, etc., and decorate your house in a better way. If you are investing your money, then why don’t you do it in the right way. These décor items represent African goods, and you can decorate your room with unique lanterns, accents, patterns, and designs.

Make sure that the interiors must look eye-catching and attractive to others. If possible, Dawson Management in Matthews, NC advises you can also take help from professionals and other online portals. In the following write-up, we will discuss a few interesting tips for using the Moroccan décor for your living space. Let us discuss them in detail.

Source: The Spruce

1. Weave Moroccan Designs on Pillows and Cushions

If you prefer bold prints and colors, then you can choose Moroccan patterns. Anyone who visits your place will easily recognize the pattern you have on your pillows and cushions.

You can place those pillows on the bed or sofa and make your room a beautiful place to admire. Bold and loud colors will look amazing in the living room because it gives a classic appearance to the room.

2. Use a Rug

You can find different types of rugs in different patterns and colors from unique websites. You can choose to buy any carpet that matches well with the room’s furniture and other interiors. Nowadays, the diamond pattern is quite common and popular. You can place such rugs and make your space impressive and admirable.

Source: Pinterest

3. Get Floor Tiles of Moroccan Pattern

Buying floor tiles in a Moroccan style is quite common and preferable by people across the globe. It gives a fantastic appearance to the interiors. The patterns are quite unique and eye-catching. You can prefer the tiles with a combination of black and white or navy blue and white or any other.

You can pick any combination of your choice and decorate the floor permanently. The price to install such tiles will be a bit high. But once it is completed, you do not have to invest in it repeatedly.

4. Give Dramatic Details to the Interiors

Every person has a different taste in terms of choosing the interiors for the living room. No matter what color you pick, make sure that you choose matching patterns and eye-catching details.

You can consider that decoration in pillow covers, rugs, tiles, coffee mugs, walls, etc. When you keep them closer, then you will easily understand the right way to set your décor.

Source: littlemoroccanthings.com

5. Install a Moroccan Pouf

The Pouf is a traditional footstool kept with the seating that allows a person to sit comfortably. If you are designing your living room, then it is a must to install the poufs.

Whenever any guest arrives at your place, it is crucial to make them relaxed and comfortable. If you have such a thing in your house, then your guests will appreciate it a lot. You can prefer embroidered ones because it looks more classic and attractive.

6. Lamps and Hanging Lights

You can install Moroccan lights in your living room for a subtle look. But if you are a bold person and love to have bold colors and patterns, you can prefer lamps with amazing designs on the lampshade.

When you switch on the lights, a unique pattern will be visible in your room. If you are organizing any parties, then such lamps will look amazing. You must research well and find suitable options for yourself.

On the other hand, you can also get hanging lights with Moroccan style. It can appear as a lantern or pendant light. It gives immense magic to the room and gives a traditional appearance to it. If you prefer a natural, subtle, and classic look, then you must focus on lamps and hanging lights.

Source: Dervish Handicrafts

7. Woven Décor

You can get woven décor like baskets, showpieces, etc., from the market or online stores. You can place them on the walls or shelves in the living room.

It is a perfect way to attract anyone to your house and make them appreciate the things you want. It is a classic style that every person must prefer at their place. On the other hand, it is quite an affordable thing to decorate your room.

8. Combination of Different Styles

If you want your home décor to be in a Moroccan style, it means that you have to keep all the same style things. You can experiment a bit and combine various styles. The combination will enhance the appearance of your home décor and make it look more beautiful.

It gives a classic as well as a modern touch to your interiors, and therefore, it is better to invest your time in such a style. If you want to add elegance, then you can think about this idea.

Source: Pinterest

9. Play with Patterns

The Moroccan style is all about playing with patterns. If you are good at this thing, then you can easily decorate your space effectively and conveniently. The more designs you include, the more you will get into the style.

It depends on your creativity and how you can decorate your space. You can consider patterns on various things like carpets, rugs, showpieces, lamps, etc.

The Bottom Line

If you want to decorate your living room using the Moroccan décor, you can follow the tips mentioned earlier. Your creativity plays a vital role in the decoration of the house. You must research well about the accessories that you can install in your room.

If you do it right, then more guests will come and praise your creativity. Undoubtedly, you have to spend a lot of time getting the right ideas and implementing them.

Buying a Second Home and Renting Out the First in Canada: Pros and Cons – 2024 Guide

img source: bricksnwall.in

Buying a second property is a dream for many homeowners across the country. But it’s not a rosy prospect as it’s ridden with numerous complications. You may need to find financing while still paying off the mortgage on the first property. Becoming a landlord and finding tenants to occupy the property is also a challenge by itself.

While getting started can seem complicated and often impossible, the future financial payoff makes the whole process worthwhile. All you need during the preliminary stages is careful planning and execution. Today will attempt to answer some common questions you may have as you consider the possibility of buying a second home and renting out the first in Canada.

Is it a good idea to rent out your house?

img source: bricksnwall.in

From a financial standpoint, venturing into real estate is one of the best wealth-building strategies you can employ. Rather than selling your first starter, it may be more worthwhile to rent it out and include it as part of your investment portfolio. Even if you choose to sell the property, there might be costs to pay such as commissions and renovation expenses. The property may sit out in the market for a long time.

They are also lifestyle considerations to make. You may be forced to relocate to a different area for a prolonged period of time. And you may have dreams of returning back to your first starter and making it your retirement home.

Becoming a landlord also means that you may get to enjoy certain tax benefits. In Canada, it’s permissible to deduct any reasonable expenses incurred to generate the rental income. For instance insurance, advertising, office expenses, professional fees, management & administration fees, repair & maintenance, property taxes, and utilities. There are also certain expenses that can’t be deducted such as mortgage principal or the value of your own labor.

By making these considerations, you can gauge the value of buying a second home and renting out the first in Canada. Now let’s talk about the cons of renting out your home before we move on to the pros, so you can have a fuller picture.

Cons of Renting Out Your Home

img source: kohinoorpune.com

1. Filing your taxes is more complicated

Consider that you have to file a statement of your income and expenses in order to calculate the payable tax for the income generated by your rental property. This requires that you complete the T776 form.

2. Taking on the role of the landlord

Managing a rental property may be more complex than you think. You need to deal directly with tenants and address any issues that they may have. Similarly, it’s your role to ensure that the property is kept in proper order. Collecting rent may pose another headache altogether.

One way to avoid this is to hire a dedicated property manager. They may be tougher on rent collection, code violations, disturbances, and other issues such as how long a tenant can have a guest. Learn more about such issues. The only disadvantage is that they charge about 8 to 10% of the monthly rent.

3. Various costs

img source: strategydriven.com

Landlords also have to deal with other costs. You may need to renovate your home before it becomes ready for rental use. At times, you’ll need to part with repair and maintenance costs. There might be eviction and legal fees down the road when dealing with problematic tenants.

4. Complying with building codes

Before making your property available for rent in Canada, you have to ensure that it strictly adheres to building codes to limit your liability. There are also laws that you have to abide by when it comes to issues such as offering notices for overdue rent or formal evictions.

5. Dealing with vacancy

The positive aspect of Canada’s rental housing market is that there is a current strong demand for rental units. Construction of rental housing has been rising steadily but it may reach a point that the amount of inventory is more than the supply. In such cases, landlords have to deal with high vacancy rates.

We recommend that you consult the CMHC’s annual Rental Market Survey to view the average vacancy rate in your region.

Pros of renting out your home

img source: review.com

1. Generate additional income

Are you looking for more stability in your income? Having multiple properties that generate returns on a monthly basis is a sure way to achieve your goal.

2. Deduct expenses

You get the chance to deduct a wide range of expenses that were incurred in generating rental income. You can find a full list of these expenses on the official government website. Additionally, and under certain conditions, you may deduct capital cost allowance (CCA) for a depreciable property such as the building used for the rental business.

3. Avoiding the complications of selling

img source: newyorkhomesforcash.com

It’s not guaranteed that you may list your home for sale during the current market and automatically find a buyer. Rather than going through the complicated process of selling a home that has an outstanding mortgage, you may rent it out and use the rental income to pay for the home.

4. Building equity

Equity represents the share of ownership in a property. It may allow you to access credit in dire situations, for instance, taking out a home equity line of credit.

5. Waiting for the property’s value to increase

Does your home have the potential to be worth much more in a couple of years than its current market price? If you hold this view, you may choose to rent out your house and live in the second home.

How to rent out your house and paying for a second property: Quick Tips

img source: pinterest.com
  • Speak to your local government office to find out what’s needed to convert your primary residence into a rental property.
  • Contact your mortgage company and ask if there’s a clause in the initial agreement that prevents you from renting out the home.
  • Find out more about the change of use process. For instance, every time the property undergoes a change of use, the government considers that you have sold the property under the current market price and immediately reacquired it.
  • Evaluate your finances to determine if it’s possible to take out a second mortgage. You may also consider alternative financing options such as a HELOC or personal loan.
  • Determine if your home is attractive to renters such as its proximity to amenities or its standout features.

Is buying a house to rent out a good idea?

img source: mashvisor.com

It’s one of the most popular investment strategies used by investors to build up real estate portfolios. You may start by identifying properties in the market. Find a well-priced property and evaluate if the rent you’re going to charge will be sufficient to cover all your expenses leaving a small profit margin.

4 Best Travel Guide for Saudi Arabia 2024

Traveling around the world is the goal that we all have. However, different circumstances and issues do not allow us to achieve that goal. In most cases, people do not have to travel more often. Despite that, the lack of cash flow is another common problem why people stay at home.

Everyday costs can reduce our budget a lot, but people find a way to gather enough money to travel. Yet, when they decide on that move, they want to make their holiday unforgettable. Because of that, deciding on the location where you would want to travel isn’t easy. There are many of them in the world that deserve your attention. In this article, we will talk about one of the countries that welcome a big number of tourists yearly – Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is the fifth largest country in entire Asia with around 35 million citizens. However, more impressive data is the number of people that come to this country. For instance, only in 2018, Saudi Arabia welcomed around 15 million tourists. There probably is a good reason why many people have the desire to go there. Fortunately, you came to the right place to get the best travel guide for Saudi Arabia. We will provide you with answers to all relevant questions that tourists often have. Let’s get started.

1. Prepare Yourself for Travelling

Source: Connect Insurance Brokers Inc.

Entering Saudi Arabia is not possible without the necessary documents. More precisely, in most cases, you will need to have a touristic VISA to enter the country. Getting the document like that is not as tough as you might think. Since 2019, people have the chance to apply for VISA online.

We assume that doing that from the comfort of your room seems like a perfect opportunity. You only need to fulfill the application with data from your passport. After doing that, you need to connect your debit or credit card to make payments. In the end, you will need to enter your email where you will get the approval. If that seems like an easy process for you, we recommend you click here. There you will manage to see the entire process functions.

2. When Should I Visit Saudi Arabia?

Source: Gulf Insider

You can conclude alone that summers in Saudi Arabia are extremely hot. Believe it or not, the temperature in that country can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. Many tourists like to say that Saudi Arabia has only two seasons – hot and hotter. Because of that, you need to pick the period when you can truly visit some amazing places in the country.

When we talk about the official tourist season, it starts in October and it lasts until March. However, it might be better to visit this lovely country between November and February. Believe it or not, the average temperature during November is around 28 degrees Celsius. The temperature might be even cooler if you visit the mountains.

To conclude, Saudi Arabia is a winter destination. You should not plan to travel there during your summer holiday. However, people that hate winter and cold days should visit the country for sure.

3. Will I Be Safe in Saudi Arabia?

Source: Saudi Arabia eVisa

It is not a secret that you can hear different opinions about the country. However, you need to understand that Saudi Arabia is a completely safe place for tourists. However, that doesn’t mean that you should not respect the locals and their culture. Despite that, you will need to get familiar with certain rules that citizens of the country have.

Respecting the rules is not something that should scare you. The same rule counts when you go to some of the most attractive destinations like the USA, France, Italy, etc.

4. Destinations to Visit in Saudi Arabia

Source: Pinterest

Saudi Arabia truly is a big country and it has many attractive destinations that deserve your attention. Because of that, it can be tough to decide on visiting a certain destination. At first glance, they will all look equally attractive. Because of that, we would like to highlight a couple of them that you should visit when you stay in Saudi Arabia.

“Edge of the World”

Source: Al Arabiya

Riyadh is the place that almost every tourist visit. There are many things you can see there including different cultural sites. For instance, there are some traditional places like Souq AL Zal and Taiba. These two places can tell you a lot about the culture and history of the place. Besides, getting familiar with the culture and mentality of a certain group of people is one of the purposes of traveling.

Anyway, there is also a renovated historic area of Diriyah that everyone should visit. It is an ancestral home of the ruling family in Saudi Arabia. You will manage to see how it looks when someone makes a mixture of tradition and history.

All the places we mentioned are extremely popular among tourists. Yet, we need to highlight that the so-called “Edge of the World” is a must-see destination. Believe it or not, you will not have to travel more than to hours from the town to reach that destination. It is one of the most popular hiking spots where you can manage to get an incredible view and complete silence. Many people remember the moments they spend there forever.

“Land of the Future”

Source: MedicalExpo e-Magazine

Have you ever heard about the project “Neom”? The crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman plans to invest around 500 billion dollars into the futuristic project. The location of the project is going to be in the Tabuk region. It is a place full of different natural wonders that many people love. We are sure that you will be one of those tourists that will make many pictures in that place.

One of the sites that will grab your attention is Wadi Tayib Ism. It is a narrow valley stated between two cliffs. The legend says it is a place where Moses landed after crossing over the sea from Egypt. We are sure you would want to visit a place like that because it has huge importance for different religions.

Anyway, there is one thing we need to say here. The number of hotels and restaurants you will find near the place is not big. However, be sure that locals will invest a lot of effort to welcome foreign visitors.

Say Cheese: 6 Tips for Making People Smile in Your Photos – 2024 Guide

Source: ukmodels.co.uk

If you are a portrait photographer, you know how hard it is sometimes for people to feel comfortable in front of a camera. Many stunning people say they don’t look good in photos or even consider themselves not photogenic. However, according to Anna Pozdeeva, there are things you can do as a photographer to find a better approach to a person and help them feel more confident during a photoshoot. A professional photographer must know how to get their models to smile sincerely during a photoshoot and how to make them feel more comfortable in general, as this results in more natural photos with more good-looking and confident people.

This article explains how you can make people smile sincerely in your photos without forcing them into an uncomfortable situation. Smiling people represent happiness, which is one of the most popular inquiries on Depositphotos. If your high-quality photos have a commercial appeal (and images of happy smiling people usually do have it), you can upload them to a stock website and start earning passive income as a freelancer. If you want to start earning as a stock contributor, don’t forget to ask your models to sign a model release form so you can use their portraits for this purpose.

1. Smile yourself

Source: stocksy.com

Everything begins with you. If you as a photographer are in a good mood, friendly, and smile from the first minute you meet your model, there is a high chance a person will smile back. Of course, it doesn’t work with everyone. There are so many people who just can’t help but feel uncomfortable when they need to pose for a photographer, but smiling yourself is a good place to start. Your sincere smile comforts your models and communicates a message that you are open and supportive as a photographer.

2. Compliment your models

People smile when they feel confident and a compliment is something that can boost a person’s confidence. Don’t hesitate to compliment your models and tell them they look beautiful as this might bring a smile to their faces. However, you should remember that your compliments should be sincere so that they don’t seem fake. Observe your models and choose a particular feature you really like about them, whether it is their awesome outfit, their hair, or the way they talk. Such compliments are more specific, which make them feel less fake and more natural (and pleasant) to a receiver.

3. Ask them questions

Source: diyphotography.net

An experienced portrait photographer becomes some sort of a psychologist. They have photographed so many people throughout their career that even a couple of general phrases is enough for them to learn a lot about their models. However, if you are not a medium yet, just ask people questions about what they like, what they do for a living, or what their hobbies are during a photoshoot. First, this will help you know them a little better and give you more ideas for postures or activities they can do while being photographed. Second, many people simply would smile when they talk about things they love and enjoy.

4. Give them fun directions

When you shoot a person who struggles with changing their positions and facial expressions in front of a camera, you can offer them a simple exercise that might help them loosen up for a little bit. Ask them to change their facial expressions by telling them something like ‘Pretend you are surprised’, or ‘Show we your angry face’, or ‘Recreate this emoji in real life’. While these facial expressions will be obviously posed, the person you shoot will relax and laugh while trying to follow these fun or even silly instructions, especially if you are friendly and playful in your approach.

5. Ask them to look serious

Source: as-congress.com

You might have heard of reverse psychology, which basically means that sometimes people can’t resist doing something that they are not allowed to do or asked not to do. That’s why a sign ‘Do not enter’ usually sparks a huge interest and a desire to go there. You can take this approach during a portrait photoshoot if you feel that smiles on your models’ faces tend to be more forced than genuine. Tell them with no smile on your face, as seriously as you can, that from now on, they must be super serious. No smiles allowed. Any smile would ruin the artistic intention of your photoshoot. While this approach always works when you shoot children, you would actually be surprised how many adults would fall for the very same trick and smile or even laugh when you prohibit them to do so.

6. Before a photoshoot, take a selfie with them

Taking a selfie with someone seems like a personal and touching experience for many people. Most of us usually take selfies with their closest friends and loved ones. That’s why you can get into a habit of taking a selfie with each of your models or clients before a photoshoot starts. Selfies are fun and silly, and offering to take one with a person you are going to photograph is a way to make them feel more relaxed before a photoshoot. It also helps you bond.

An afterthought

Source: pexels.com

Not every portrait photoshoot has to feature smiling, happy people. Your artistic intentions might be very far from it, and sometimes moody models look way better in a certain location. However, if a person orders a portrait photoshoot from you, they surely want to look beautiful in the final images. Naturally, many people would pose for a photo with a super serious face, especially when they pay money for a ‘serious’ photoshoot. Getting your models to sincerely smile will diversify their expressions in photos and provide more visuals to choose from for the final selection. What’s more, a genuine smile also shows a beautiful and slightly vulnerable side of people they might be unaware of (they simply don’t think about it when they look in the mirror), and photos with sincere emotions can reveal a different side to them.