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4 Tips To Care For Houseplants

May 23, 2013 By

Plants not only bring life into your space, but they can make your house feel even more like a home. Even if your interior is tiny, bringing in a small plant or two is a great idea. Here are 4 tips to help you care for indoor plants even if you don't have a green thumb. 

  1. Humidity. Plants need additional humidity to thrive. Mist your plants occasionally, or bring them into the bathroom when you take a shower.
  2. Light Control. Check to see how much light your plant requires, and place it accordingly in your space. Too much or too little light can negatively affect its growth. 
  3. Watering. Again, check and see how much water your plant requires, and follow the guidelines. Especially in a small space, it's easy to remember to water your plant if its in a highly visible area. 
  4. Design. Plants enhance the style and design of your home. Pick out pretty pots, and make sure that they're big enough to provide adequate room for the plant's roots! 

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Five Famous Restaurants in Movies

March 25, 2013 By

Some of the most famous, memorable scenes in movies take place in restaurants, and a lot of times those restaurants are real places that you can actually visit! Explore a piece of cinema history by eating a meal at these iconic places:

Katz's Delicatessen
Located in Manhattan, Katz's Deli is home of the iconic scene with Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. The deli was also featured in Enchanted, Donnie Brasco, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. This is your go to spot for some tasty sandwiches in New York. 

Mulberry Street Bar
Another landmark location in New York City, Mulberry Street Bar, located in Little Italy, has been a part of such films as Donnie Brasco, 9 1/2 Weeks, and Godfather Part III. 

Randy's Donuts
Fill up with tasty donuts at Randy's Donuts. It has been featured in movies such as Iron Man 2, 2012, Breathless, and Coming to America. Not only is a must see spot because of the movies that have taken place here, but the whole California shop is shaped like a donut. 

The Jefferson Hotel
The entire movie, My Dinner with Andre takes place in one location, and that location is The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Dine in the spot Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory shared a conversation while eating quails. 

Lenny's Pizza
In Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta performs some great dance moves and eats some pizza at Lenny's Pizza in New York. He doesn't just eat regular pizza, he stacks two slices on top of each other, and digs in. Feel free to reenact the scene during your next visit. 

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

March 15, 2013 By

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Who Are Your Favorite Guitarists Of All Time?

February 28, 2013 By

The greatest guitarists of all time achieved their success with the popular instrument by not simply mastering chords and notes, but through adding their own signature style and bravado. Here are some of the greatest guitarists of all time:

Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix’s innovative guitar player pulled in whammy bars and feedback to create previously unheard of sounds, blended into his already bold playing style. His undeniable expertise and over-the-top performances are made even more unforgettable by how effortlessly Hendrix produced them.
 
Jimmy Page
Founder and guitarist of Led Zeppelin, Page set the bar for future rock guitarists. With his signature charisma, Page rolled out innovations like classic riffs, using a cello bow to play the guitar, and employing a double-necked guitar to create greater melodic depth.

Chuck Berry
One of the early innovators, Berry played jazz and blues music, though his contributions are heard to this day in rock music. Berry’s soul and guts, though, can’t be replicated. 
 
Django Reinhardt
Drawing on his unique background, Django is seen by many as an innovator with his hot jazz guitar technique and his composition of many jazz standards.   

Jeff Beck
Instead of going for bravado, Beck’s signature style is a quieter focus on lyrical, heart-breaking ballads with deceptive simplicity. His mastery of guitar technique is the envy of other lead guitarists.

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Five Flexible Career Choices for Recent Graduates

February 26, 2013 By

Getting your college degree is only the start of your life in the workplace. It can be extremely difficult for a new graduate to find a position in the industry of their choosing, so many new graduates are looking for more flexible positions to pay the bills while they search. Here are five good choices.

Medical and health care jobs are the leading providers of flexible hours in the work marketplace today. If you studied anything medicine-related, a position as a nurse’s assistant or medical transcriptionist is a good use of your degree while you look for a better job.

Online teaching and tutoring is a popular career field for a number of different groups of people. Your recent exposure to pedagogical methods will help you here, and the best part is you never have to leave your computer, freeing your day up for job hunting.

Sales is also an excellent interim job for recent college graduates. Because your salary is usually at least partially dependent on commissions, you can work as much or as little as you need to in between applying for other jobs.

Customer service is also a popular choice for recent college graduates. These jobs typically have heavy turnover, so positions are usually available. Schedules are typically fairly flexible as well.

If all else fails, try microworking – this new trend of completing small, low-paying jobs on the Internet can be done in your spare time, making you able to work from any location. It’s ideal for salting away small amounts of money while you use your degree to find your dream job.

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Tips for Creating a First Post-College Resume

February 19, 2013 By

As you progress through your college career, undoubtedly, at some point you'll need to create a resume. In order to help you craft the very best resume possible that accurately reflects your unique skill set, we've compile some useful tips.

Seek guidance
The first place to check is your college career center. The counselors there are adept at creating concise, successful resumes and can tell you what you should and should not include – a counselor may be even willing to write a first draft with you! If this service isn't offered on your campus, visit job search engines, such as Monster, that provide templates and occasionally offer free feedback on submitted resumes. Keep in mind, there isn’t one perfect template out there, so don’t get too hung up on those details. The goal is create something eye-catching without it getting too busy.  Bullet points work well since you have to condense your employment history and skills on to one page, and make sure to start each description with an action verb, like ‘created,’ ‘led,’ or ‘ran’.

Tailor your resume
Employers prefer one-page resumes that specifically outline skills and experience related to their company's job posting.  If you’re applying to jobs in different industries, you will have to make a resume for each – such as “My Education Experience”, “Food Service Resume", etc. You can further personalize these resumes by adding ‘an objective’ related to the company that ties your experience into the specific job you are seeking.

Edit and re-read
Triple check your resume before sending it out – you don’t want a typo to cost you a job! Additionally, typing programs may spontaneously change formatting and alter your résumé’s appearance – so beyond spelling, make sure your formatting is as you wish too.  It's essential to include (and double check) your contact information and keep it up-to-date, and make sure your email address does not contain unprofessional words or phrases.

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Antioxidants: The Key To Health

January 29, 2013 By

Antioxidants are known to fight heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, and cancer.  Therefore, antioxidants are essential for a healthy body and mind. If you're looking to incorporate more antioxidants into your diet, look for these foods:

Beans. Beans are full of protein, vitamins, calcium, fiber, and many more essential nutrients. Also, all beans are rich in antioxidants, and red beans contain more than any other fruit or vegetable.

Pomegranate. Pomegrante not only increases antioxidants in the blood stream, but also fights LDL (bad cholesterol), as well as arterial plaque build-up. If you're wondering how to get your fill of pomegranate, keep in mind that drinking the juice is more effective than eating the fruit.

Red Wine. Wine-lovers rejoice! — red wine contains bioflavonoids, phenols, resveratrol, and tannins, which all have profound antioxidant and anticlotting properties. Red wine also raises HDL— or, good cholesterol.

Green Tea. All green tea contains a fabulous antioxidant called EGCG, which helps slow the aging process throughout the body.

Dark chocolate. A modest piece of dark chocolate—with a high percentage of raw cocoa—is as beneficial for your system as a glass of red wine.

Remember to check with your doctor before starting any diet regimen.

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Pre-Party Cleaning: The Short List

January 15, 2013 By

So, you just found out that company is coming Saturday afternoon — and it's already Friday morning. Instead of flipping out, refer to this short list of pre-party cleaning must-dos to keep you sane, and ensure your home is looking it's best.

Short List (day before or day of party):

Time Needed: 60 – 90 minutes
Dust mop floors and vacuum rugs.
Dust/wipe all surfaces.
Clean kitchen.
Clean bathroom.
Do final clutter sweep to make sure all surfaces are clear, all beds are made, and all clothes are put away.

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Brain Buzz: Best Chess Players In History

December 26, 2012 By
If you’ve ever watched two brilliant chess players deep in thought, hunched over a chessboard, then you know the tension and excitement that can unfold during a truly compelling chess match. Read on to learn about some of the sharpest chess minds ever to play the game:
 
Bobby Fischer, 1943 – 2008
Bobby Fischer was an American player known for having displayed prodigious chess abilities from a very young age. At age 14 he won several US Championships, and by 15 he was the youngest chess Grandmaster ever to be awarded that title. In 1972, he won the World Championship, beating the Soviet Union’s revered Boris Spassky. Fischer set a number of winning records over the course of his chess career. He also influenced the game beyond the playing board, achieving success as a chess author and innovating a new chess timing system that became a standard of the game.
 
Alexander Alekhine, 1892 – 1946
Alexander Alekhine was considered one of the strongest players in Russia by age 16 and one of the best players in the entire world by age 22. He dominated the tournament circuit throughout the 1920’s and 30’s. His most famous triumph as a player is widely considered one of the most remarkable feats in chess history – his defeat of the legendary Jose Capablanca in 1927, which earned him the title of World Champion. He was known for his aggressive and innovative style of attack on the board and was also highly regarded as a chess writer and theoretician of the game.
 
Emanuel Lasker, 1868 – 1941
Emanuel Lasker was a German chess player whose dominance over the chess world was so extensive that he spent an incredible 27 years as World Champion. Many of the best chess players around the world challenge him during his reign as the Champion but he went undefeated for a record amount of time (until finally losing the title to chess legend Jose Capablanca in 1921). By insisting of high feeds for his appearances, Lasker contributed to the development of chess as a viable professional career. Many Russian chess masters cite Lasker as a major influence on their playing style.
 
Anatoly Karpov, 1951 – present
Karpov is a Russian player considered by many to be the best player who has ever lived. He held the World Champion title twice in his career, first between 1975-1985, and then again between 1993-1999. Karpov has garnered over 160 first place tournament finishes over the course of his career. He is known for having engaged in a long and legendary rivalry with chess legend Gary Kasparov, and the continual competition between the two men is one of the most famous and exciting rivalries in chess history. 
 
Gary Kasparov, 1963 – present
At age 22, Kasparov became the youngest ever undisputed chess World Champion, defeating renowned master Anatoly Karpov for the title. Kasparov was ranked number one in the world almost continuously from the mid-eighties until his 2005 retirement from the game. He is known for having dominated his chess peers for two decades in a variety of tournaments, earning a string of major titles along the way. He also contributed to the game in important ways as a chess writer and theorist. 
 

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Tips for Searching for a Post-College Job

December 18, 2012 By

The economy may not be on your side right now, but you can do some things to tip the scales in your favor and win over as many professionals as possible while you're hunting for that elusive first job.

1. Use your college’s career center

Many students overlook the career center, but college is a rare time when people are on your side in the job hunt.  Talk to a counselor, tell them what you’re looking for, and look through whatever books and resources they have available. They often have access to resources that you cannot find in straight-forward online searches.

2. Resume, Cover Letter, etc.

Career centers can also help you get your resume and cover letter in order, train for interviews, and answer any other questions you may have as you begin your job hunt. Start compiling some ideas for your resume before you visit the career center, so you have something to work with when you speak with them.

3. Talk to alumni and other professionals

Ask the career counselor about your college’s alumni network and reach out to alums with similar careers to your goals or individuals who live in the area where you’re looking.  Talk to your parents, family, relatives- anyone who may have an “in” at a company you’re interested in.

4. Check company websites

Before hitting up search engines and getting overwhelmed with results, check specific, desired companies’ websites for job listings. Even if they don’t have the right opportunity for you at the moment, write a professional inquiry and ask to have your resume kept on file.

5. Follow up

After submitting your resume in person or online, always follow up to make sure it was received. Calling HR or the proper department is best, as e-mails are easy to ignore. Have any needed information immediately available and be flexible with setting up interviews.

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