Lenny

Everyone knows how hard it can be to find a good apartment in New York. This can be especially true in desirable areas like the Chelsea neighborhood. How do you find something close enough to work or school that you can afford? The following list is of tips that will help make your apartment hunting journey in Chelsea a successful one!

1.) Learn the Market

As they say, knowledge is power! When renting in Chelsea, it is important to realize that rent can be quite high. There are many luxury buildings that have rent at quite high price points. That being said, a diligent (and sometimes lucky) renter may be able to find a more affordable walk-up. Post-war walk-ups are often on the smaller side but offer some of the lowest rent prices. By knowing what areas and buildings are in your price range, you will be starting your apartment hunt with an advantage.

2.) Be Realistic

Almost everyone wants to live in New York, and with good reason! The Chelsea neighborhood is particularly desirable thanks to its nightlife, restaurants, and art galleries. In order to get the perks of living in this great city, you may have to drop some things off of your “dream-list.”

One example of this would be your commute time. It is unrealistic to expect to have to travel less than 15-20 minutes to work in the city. In fact, the average commute in New York City is 36 minutes. You may also need to be prepared to relax your requirements on bedrooms, bathrooms, and outdoor space.

3.) Beware of Scammers

There will be a lot of people willing to help you find an apartment in Chelsea. Unfortunately, many of them will not have your best interests in mind. One common tactic of shady brokers is to show tenants rundown apartments to try to pressure them into increasing their budget. Make sure to do your own research into prices as well as read reviews online before working with any agents or brokers.

4.) Utilize Loftey

Unlike agents who are out for a commission, Loftey is an online site that helps put people in apartments without taking money out of their pocket. Loftey is a great way to find Chelsea apartments and also save some money. In fact, the company reduces your rent anywhere from $25 to $200.

So what is Loftey? This is a program that makes its money off of referral fees. They work with brokers and buildings to negotiate on rent rates that are lower than market. When you rent through them, you will get a break on your rent. This is available as either a monthly rent reduction or given to you as an upfront payment. Both options would be great for someone starting out in Chelsea!

 

Owning a whirlpool is perhaps the closest you can get to luxury in your home. And although having a Jacuzzi in your bathroom or your backyard is the best of the high life, there is also no denying the fact that cleaning it and maintaining this fixture is a tough thing to handle.

Fortunately, maintaining your whirlpool bath is easy. Here are some tips that you can use the next time the situation calls for another whirlpool tub cleaning. Here are some of them:

Flush the jets once a year

Like any other furniture in the home, whirlpool baths are used regularly and can, over time, collect a fair amount of hair, oil, grime, and soap scum. To avoid this build-up which can ultimately lead to problematic damage in the pipes, make a habit of flushing the jets regularly.

Fill the tub with two to three inches of hot water, and mix in some bleach. Run the jets for ten to fifteen minutes. This process cleans not only the walls of the tub but also the jets themselves.

After cleaning with bleach, rinse the tub with warm water.

Use dishwashing detergent twice a month

Whirlpool baths create a lot of bubbles. If you do not want to use bleach as a cleaning agent, you may opt for the milder dish soap, which makes the surface clean, fragrant, and shiny, too. You can clean the tub following the same procedure above, but replace the bleach with dish soap. Rinse with warm water and drain. Alternatively, you may use special low-foaming dishwashing detergent as well.

Toss in a whirlpool sanitising tablet every time after use

There are certain manufacturers of cleaning agents that produce whirlpool sanitising tablets, which are like bath bombs for whirlpools. Tossing in a whirlpool sanitising tablet or two after using the whirlpool is easy, and you can even run the system and wait for the tablet to take effect while you get a fresh change of clothes.

Sanitising tablets clean the whirlpool bath almost as thoroughly as hard bleach and detergent, but many experts still recommend using a cloth or cotton swab to clean the walls and the jets.

Other considerations

When maintaining a whirlpool bath there are some things that you should keep in mind before, during, and after maintaining your tub.

• Before using any detergent or cleaning agent, refer to your whirlpool bath’s user manual. Some manufacturers recommend specific cleaners. If you have lost your copy, you may look it up online.
• Make sure that the surrounding area is free of children or pets when you run the jets with bleach, dish soap, or other harsh detergents.
• When using extra strong cleaning agents, make sure to open the bathroom windows and wear the proper protective gear to prevent the inhalation of excessive fumes.

When in doubt, ask for help

Cleaning a tub may be easy for some, but it certainly is not the case for everyone. Some brands of whirlpool baths may be more particular compared to others. If you are in doubt in any way, consulting a professional to do the job for you is still the best option.

While there are many things known to emit EMF radiation, such as cell phones, there are other things which can be a source of EMF radiation as well, foremost of which is your WiFi router and other wireless gadgets. The kind of radiation emitted by your WiFi router is similar to the radiation emitted by a microwave oven, and this can’t really be good for the health. But while the effects of EMF radiation on health haven’t been conclusively proven, it’s still better to be safe than sorry, particularly since we’re exposed to EMFs almost all the time. So how do you enhance protection from radiation from your WiFi router and other wireless devices and gadgets? Let’s find out.

• Use the proper cable

An Ethernet cable connects your router to your computer or PC, and this can provide you with a wired Internet connection. But many people use the cables which come with their router or modem, which is a mistake. If you can, replace the standard cable which comes with your router or modem with a screened Ethernet cable, which you can buy from hardware shops.

• Replace wireless with wired

Many homes today have wireless gadgets, and these include not just your WiFi router, but also your keyboard, mouse, printer, and so on. If you can, replace your wireless gadgets with wired ones, such as the keyboard as mentioned above as well as the mouse, printer, and scanner. You can make use of a USB wired version instead. You can even find products which can connect your iPad, which isn’t designed to be wired, to an Ethernet adapter.

• Keep it away from you

If you can’t totally get rid of your wireless WiFi router, you can at least keep it away from you and your loved ones. You can, for instance, place it in a room which is unoccupied or hardly used. Don’t set your router or modem near a bedroom (or in a bedroom where people sleep) and try not to put it in your living area, either.

• Turn it off in the evening

One of the things you can do to reduce your EMF radiation exposure from your WiFi router is to make it a point to turn it off in the evening before you sleep. So that you don’t forget to do this, use a mechanical timer on the socket where your WiFi router is installed. You can then simply set the timer to turn off the power once you sleep. You can even do better by plugging your devices (your laptop or desktop, monitor, printer, scanner) into a power strip with multiple outlets, then attaching a timer to it. Once the timer is activated, all the devices will then be turned off as well.

There are other solutions out there; you just have to be mindful and do your research. For cell phones, try texting instead of calling, or place a call on speaker mode. For further protection, you can even make use of unique products such as an EMF pendant, chips, and shields, which can help if you want to stay healthy and decrease your risk of overexposure to EMF radiation.

Structural insulated panels are quickly becoming a popular choice for building homes focused on increased energy-efficiency. Increased energy-efficiency means you will pay less for keeping your home warm or cool.  This article aims to provide an essential guide to this innovative construction method since not everyone is familiar with what a SIP is.

What is a SIP panel?

The type of SIP UK constructors use typically consists of two oriented strand board skins bonded together with insulation foam in between. These panels come according to the size and height requirement of a construction project ranging from heights of 2.4 to 7.45 metres. Once cut to the desired size, they are ready for installation to form walls, roofs, and floors.

Different types of SIPs

SIPs are categorised according to the following:

• Insulation core material. The insulation core inside each SIP comes in two types: expanded polystyrene or urethane core. A polystyrene core consists of thousands of tiny foam beads while the urethane core is rigid and free of fibres. These two types of insulation differ in cost and thermal performance.
• Panel thickness. Polystyrene core SIP panels have a thickness of 95mm to 195mm. To get better thermal performance, you need to choose a panel with greater thickness.
• Jointing method. The most common jointing method for SIPs is solid timber for greater stability and strength. Although in some cases, small panels used in jointing increase air tightness and further improve thermal performance.

Overall, SIPs are quite flexible regarding design. Your contractor can help you choose the right SIP for your project.

Designing with SIPs

Using SIPs to design a home also has additional benefits. If you are designing vaulted ceilings, you won’t need roof trusses which can double the floor to ceiling height of the home’s top floor. If you are also considering an open floor plan for your home’s interior, you can easily accommodate it by using SIPs which come in long floor and roof panels.

While SIPs offer design flexibility, there are still some considerations when using SIPs to build your home. First, you need to work with a designer who can ensure that you get the most out of the cost and use the product to its full potential.

Another consideration is the size of other construction materials you are using together with SIPs. All construction materials come in standard sizes, so you need to build your SIP design around these sizes.

Are there limitations to using SIPs?

Using SIPs has a lot of benefits especially if you are looking for a home with high energy efficiency. However, SIPs need to be used wisely to justify the cost. Another challenge in building with SIPs is how you can manoeuvre them carefully to prevent any problems during the building process. In most cases, you will need to use a crane to transport panels on-site and facilitate easy installation. Lastly, you have to pay attention to all construction details to avoid experiencing any problems while building the home.

 

Your mortgage is not just a matter of settling on a plan and paying it off. A lot of factors play into creating your mortgage plan, and it, in turn, can affect the way you live for the next five to twenty years. When the parts of your lifestyle that help establish your mortgage change unexpectedly, you must be able to adjust. When life throws you a curve ball, you need to look at alternate ways to improve your mortgage situation.

It is essential to adjust to changes like decreased income or additional expenses, especially when they seem like long-term changes. Failure to make your payments may cause you to lose your house and everything you worked to pay off. Here are things you need to know about the alternatives for your mortgage:

What is a product transfer?

A product transfer is when you are looking at other plans/products with the same lender. There are two cases when a product transfer may seem ideal. The first is when your circumstances change, and you are looking at a different payment method. The new alternative could be smaller payments over a more extended period. The second is when your lender offers better rates, typically lower, with a different plan. Even though your circumstances haven’t changed, and you can comfortably pay your current rates—shifting to a new plan could give you more room financially. The two cases may seem similar with the end goal being a new product with lower rates, however, what prompts people to look at other products are different. The first is because of necessity and the second is by choice.

The benefit of a product transfer is that you know the company well enough and they know you. You do not have to go through the same amount of paperwork when you initially got your mortgage. They might ask you to redo certain papers, but it is mostly to update your information. To know more about product transfer, contact your mortgage adviser and see if you are missing out on any deals from your lender.

What is remortgaging?

Remortgaging is a term that is often confused by homeowners with product transfer since they both seem to look for lower rates. Remortgaging, though, is about shifting your mortgage from one lender to another. This jump between companies often happens when a competitor has lower/better rates. You can get extra help with remortgaging through websites like mortgage-wise.co.uk.

The benefit of remortgaging is that you find a better fit for you and your circumstances. However, you need to be able to look at the fine print. Before remortgaging your home, double check if the rates are ultimately worth it after you consider the fee for changing your lender and paperwork for the transfer. If there are no extra fees, or if they aren’t as expensive as you thought, the change might even pay for itself.

Since there is a distinct difference between the two, which one is better? There is no one answer to that because it all depends on when these opportunities present themselves.

Digital Nomads are not only envied but make heads turn wherever they go. After all, who wouldn’t want an exciting life full of new journeys and exploring new places and earning money side by side? It is like being on vacation forever and still be able to make your living!

Who is a digital nomad?

It certainly is fun to be a digital nomad and feel free to explore the world with your laptop and travels whenever and wherever. At the same time, these digital nomads support themselves by working along the way. They are not tied to any particular office or location. All they are looking for is an interesting city or location and an excellent place to stay and work. They could be freelancers or work for distributed companies or could be entrepreneurs. A digital nomad can be a photograph, a person who does online writing jobs, a business owner, or just everyone!

Florida is getting immensely popular among digital nomads and for good reasons. The sunshine state of America has lots to offer and is just perfect for adventure, culture, entertainment, food and many other touristic things to do. Few cities or states offer the digital nomads the way they like their things to be. As they typically travel a whole lot, they prefer not to stay in one place for too long. However, the cities they travel to muss have good basic facilities, should be exciting and provide good internet connectivity. Just rent a villa in Florida and enjoy your life! You can always shred it with other digital nomads like you.

Why Digital Nomads prefer Florida?

When it comes to accommodating digital nomads and their lifestyles, Florida ranks high locations. The digital nomads can travel across Florida and enjoy traveling while still working. One of the most apparent reasons is the weather and one can spend their days strolling on the beach in the warm, breezy weather. You can relax on the beach and take your laptop with your and soak up the sun. Nothing could be better than working and enjoying at the same time. What adds to the excitement is the fastest growing art scenes of Miami and the frequent celebrity visitors here. The nightlife that is buzzing and never seems to end. Famous for its cultural diversity, cuisine and its colorful history Florida attracts a liege number of tourists as well as digital nomads.

Florida holds enormous appeal for those pursuing the nomadic lifestyle. There are plenty of cities where one can head for, starting with the capital, Miami. Then there is Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Lauderdale and more. There are great tourism-related opportunities at these cities which are high-tech and educational at the same time. While some cities are more expensive than others, it is up to the digital nomad what he is looking for. One is obviously looking for a great touristic place, enough public transportation, and a wonderful s quality of life.

Who would not want to come here every year and enjoy the beach city and its culture? There is plenty to observe and write about. Believe it or not, Florida is one of the best states for digital nomads as there are dozens of co-working spaces and Wi-Fi spots. Although the expense of living may be higher, with a little effort, one can get a cheaper and affordable place. It indeed is an exciting place to live and work.

There are plenty of locations and spots within Florida where one can find a professional location to work. There are cafes and coffee shops where or other local joint and specific places to work, that welcome digital nomad.

The thriving cultural, musical, and artistic coattail of Miami is where you should begin your digital nomadic life! As the most populous city, the beautiful Miami offers digital nomads the prospect of good job opportunities along with an active, outdoor lifestyle.

St. Petersburg is relatively inexpensive when compared to other cities in Florida and has lots to do. The sailing city has lots of wind, and one can feel free to work and holiday as and when they want. Orlando is another excellent option for the digital nomads.

Traveling around is easy and stress-free within Florida, whether one is moving within a city or hoping form one location to another. One could use the network of public transport or hire a car and drive on their own.  Most of the neighborhoods are safe and walkable.

There is no shortage of outdoor and fun activities to choose from in Florida.  The street life is energetic, and it is hard to get bored here. Just exploring the vibrant streets or the quieter nature is entertainment in itself.

Wifi hotspots on almost every street corner and the connection is also excellent. Foodies won’t be disappointed as Florida boasts of some unique and great options when tie comes to cuisines. Although it is located towards South, the food her carries minimal influences from the neighbor states.

While there are endless spots, cities, and locations for the digital nomads, there are very few that offer them a unique and fulfilling experience. Moreover, Florida is one of them. As a digital nomad, you can enjoy a lifestyle here that is easy, comfortable and productive. The state boasts of world-class facilities, corporations, and startups and thus offers a wealth of jobs for digital nomads. It is the transient lifestyle and flexible work opportunities what lure the digital nomads to Florida.

 

Like clothing – items become fashionable, trends are born and eventually they die off and then they’re resurrected because they’re ‘vintage’. There are those household pieces that we were glad to see the back of, and there are those we welcome back with open arms. Together with Acorn Stairlifts, Global supplier of disabled stairlifts, we take a look at the retro items that have come back into our lives.

The Record Turntable
Vinyl records were produced in 1950s and sprung into popularity, right up to the 1990s. After this, they were replaced by CDs, then the CD was replaced by the mp3 players and then digital downloads replaced mp3 player. However, their popularity returned as people dug out their record collection and bought new music in the classic format too. In 2016, vinyl sales grew 53% compared to the previous year. In April of the same year, Fortune reported that vinyl record sales were at a 28-year high.

For many people, the quality of sounds produced by vinyl cannot be beaten by today’s digital music. Perhaps for this reason, in 2017, HMV announced that the turntable would be the top-selling product in its technology department. Companies are catering for different markets too as prices range from a reasonable £25 to £20,000 for those who want top-of-the-range technology.

The Chaise Longue
The chaise longue, had originated back around ancient Egypt and Greece, when day beds were around. In the 18^th century, it was known as the ‘fainting’ couch so that women who couldn’t bend at the waist because of their corsets could instead fall gently in reclining position. According to interior designers and furniture retailers, the style is now making a comeback.

Long Chair, is the literal English translation of “Chaise Longue”, and is recognizable as a sofa that takes the shape of a chair but is long enough to support the legs. These days, it makes a nice addition to a conservatory or orangery and provides a relaxing spot to look out onto the garden. Some are big enough for two, and can act as a sofa for couples and families.

The SodaStream
Peaked during the 1970s and 80s, the SodaStream allowed people to make their own carbonated drinks at home, through mixing flavored syrups with soda, and it was giving the tagline ‘get busy with fizzy’. The Business halted in 1996 and the product was reintroduced in 2010 to a newer market.

In recent years the machine had appealed to prosecco lovers, so Sodastream Germany had launched a sparkling gold ‘alcoholic concentrate’ that allows consumers to make home-made prosecco. The machine has evolved over the years too, into a slimline machine that is available in a range of colours.

The Instant Camera
We saw that the instant camera had soared, soon after instant film begun in 1940. People loved the novelty of a tangible picture minutes after taking it, without having to visit a store to get them printed — the invention transformed the photography market!

Unfortunately, the production of these cameras had dropped with the digital camera, which took over and then smartphones became the primary tool for taking photos. With digitalised photos becoming the norm, the instant camera brings back the idea of keepsakes and with only one chance to take the photo, eliminates the obsession with capturing the perfect shot. The comeback of the instant camera has been popular, and there are many accessories that can now be purchased to support the product. For example, coloured camera cases are on sale and filters are available to take different shots.

The Jukebox
Jukeboxes were once populated within the pub scene, with many pubs across Europe having them. They give the customers the opportunity to choose the song they wanted on out of the thousands available. However, as digital downloads took over and video platforms such as YouTube gave customers access to millions of songs, they experienced a decline.

However, it appears that jukebox has made a return. Chris Black, managing director of Sound Leisure (one of the last two makers of hand-built jukeboxes in the world), said that his sales doubled from 2012 to 2016 and he is witnessing a rise in popularity. He says that it’s down to the distinctive sound of a juke box, its ‘more bass-y and more boom’ and this is what is driving the sales. Some jukeboxes can contain up to 2,000 tracks and make a nice household item for music lovers.

As we can see, nostalgia brings back the popularity of many products that we want in our home. Who knows what will be returning next!

If you’re interested in perfecting the art of embossing wood, simply continue reading to discover a few helpful tips which will help you perfect your craft.

7 Tips on embossing wood:

1. Make sure to work quickly

Wood absorbs ink faster than most other surfaces, so it’s crucial to work quickly when it comes to trying to emboss a wood surface with image or text. By ensuring that you work quickly and diligently you’ll also avoid accidentally burning the wood piece which you’re working on!

2. Make sure that you have a steady hand

As wood is extremely porous and soaks up ink in the blink of an eye, it’s important to keep focused and to keep a steady hand when it comes to embossing an ink design on to a piece of wood such as a sign or a wood jewelry box.

3. Make sure to use plenty of embossing powder in order to produce high-quality results

Many individuals make the mistake of skimping on the amount of embossing powder which they use to create their pieces. Remember to apply a decent coat of embossing powder onto your wooden surface as the more embossing powder which you opt to use, the more visible your finished design will be.

4. Don’t worry about your embossing powder or the heat which you’ll use, damaging any stamps which you choose to use

If you plan on using stamps to emboss designs onto your wood items, you may be worried that the stamps which you’ll use may become damaged, either by the heat which you’ll use to emboss your wood items or by your embossing powder.

5. Use stamps to create fun patterns

If you’re interested in embossing items such as wooden furniture, signs, and trinkets you can repeat the use of a single stamp in order to create a bold, eye-catching pattern. As an example, you may want to use a star or a flower stamp multiple times in order to create a fun pattern.

6. If your embossing powder hardens before you get a chance to stamp your chosen design, simply use your heat pen or heat gun in order to melt your embossing powder again

If you find that your embossing powders begins to set and harden before you’ve had a chance to choose a stamp, don’t worry, all is not lost, just use your heat pen or gun in order to melt your embossing powder into a malleable state again.

7. Don’t worry if your embossing power bubbles up

When you’re new to embossing items, you may find that your embossing powder may bubble up. Don’t worry as any bubbles will just add an extra dimension to the artwork which you’ve created on your wooden item. Although as you become more skilled you may be able to work fast enough to avoid your embossing powder bubbling up!

Whether you’d like to emboss a loved one’s initials into a wooden jewelry box or you’re interested in embossing a location onto a sign, it’s well worth following the helpful tips listed above to help you create a high quality embossed product!