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Visiting the USA: Chicago

July 11, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

As the third largest city in the United States, Chicago, has come to represent all of the culture, commerce, entertainment and politics that have made this region famous. Known as the Windy City due to the constant crisp breeze that rolls in off of nearby Lake Michigan, Chicago is also renowned for some especially frigid winds that blow down the city streets during the colder months. However, you can always warm back up in a cozy Chicago hotel, and the sights and sounds of Chicago will have you on your feet far too much to let you catch a cold!

Illinois’ Windy City has been wowing foreigners for many years with its many wonderful attractions. Although Chicago may not be the first choice for people going on a holiday in the US, it usually ends up being chosen for the reason that most people find it very accessible and rich in sights and sounds. The city’s attractions range from the deeply historical to downright recreational. Indeed, its mystique is working on a lot of people as shown by the steady increase in the number of tourists coming to experience the city every year.

Things to Do and See in the Windy City:

Explore:

If you are traveling to Chicago for the first time, there are a handful of attractions that are certainly not to be missed. First off, the famous Magnificent Mile is a great place to start. With upscale shopping opportunities as well as the finest hotels in Chicago, it’s a must-visit location. Next, the legendary Chicago Theatre is one of the most iconic theatres in the country and a great introduction to Chicago’s thriving entertainment industry. Art enthusiasts should be sure to visit the Art Institute of Chicago with its collection of over 30,000 treasures. The gallery is one of the top in the nation and art lovers could get lost for days in this cultural gem. It houses some of the most famous paintings in the world, so it is perfect for aficionados and students alike.

Get Out on the Water:

Chicago is a waterfront city, and you haven’t got the full experience until you have spent a little time down along the harbour, particularly Lake Shore Drive. If you’re on a budget and the weather is nice, there’s no better way to enjoy Chicago than with a stroll or drive along Lake Shore Drive. There are many parks and beaches and best of all – it’s free. The Chicago Architecture foundation run a famous tour which takes in more than 50 buildings along the riverfront and educates visitors about their history, it’s well worth a trip!

Discover the Outdoors:

Chicago is a wonderfully green city and is filled with gorgeous parks and outdoor spaces. Millennium Park, with its giant ‘bean’ as the main attraction is one such park. There are plenty of activities on offer here, such as concerts, exhibitions and even yoga!

Lincoln Park Zoo is another attraction well worth a visit. The zoo is situated on 35-acres and is completely free! Over 1,200 animals call this place home, and you can see everything from Snow Monkeys to Camels here.

Navy Pier, a 3,300-foot-long pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan that was built in 1916. Today it plays host to a vast range of activities and events, including tall ship exhibitions, restaurants, a giant Ferris wheel, and a cinema.

During a visit to the city, it is advisable to have a Chicago Go-Card it is important so you can get to the must-see places conveniently. Whether you’re traveling with the family or with your partner, you’re sure to find Chicago an unforgettable place. Chicago and the surrounding area are filled with little neighbourhoods that have a culture and a language all of their own, and you’re sure to find the perfect area that matches your tastes and lifestyle. Like most cities of this size, Chicago can be slightly dangerous in some areas, so just be sure to ask around before you set off to explore on your own. In saying that, you will find that vast majority of residents in the city are unusually warm and welcoming.

Get Ready for Summer with a Whole New Look for your Home

June 10, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Summer has got to be my favourite time to change up the décor throughout my home. This is the perfect season to introduce exciting splashes of colour and to invest in some key pieces of furniture to make your living space look and feel refreshed. You can also rely on professionals who are well-trained in doing Kitchen Renovations if you want to spice up your kitchen.

If you are thinking of redecorating your home, have a look at my tips which I hope will help you give certain rooms in your home the revamp they need.

Perky Painting

New colours suggested by Just DIY Decor can instantly refresh a room and don’t think you need to just stop at painting the walls. Tired furniture can be revived with a lick of paint, and dining chairs, each painted in a different pastel shade. Epoxy Flooring can also give your dining area or kitchen a stunning new vibe. Now is the time to paint your kitchen an entirely different shade and bright yellows will help keep your home feeling summery even during the inevitable wet days of summer in the UK.

Refresh Your Bedroom

If you have had the same bedframe and mattress for many years, now is the time to invest in a brand new bed. I’d recommend browsing the selection at Bedstar as they have a great choice of mattresses to suit all body types, which is ideal for summer months when the warm weather can have the potential to interrupt your sleep. White bed frames and bedroom furniture are in this season and this shade is perfect for introducing relaxing summery elements into your home. Complete the look with white or pale bed covers and throws and a white cotton rag rug beside the bed for a beach-shack feel. A new carpet installation can also refresh the overall aesthetics of your bedroom.

Lush Living Rooms

As the place where you are most likely to relax, the living room needs to be a cocoon of comfort for you and the entire family. One of the most enjoyable things about summer is seeing the sunlight stream into the room and if you still have heavy curtains, you cold be missing out on enjoying the full impact of the sun in your living room. Choose light, translucent curtains which will allow light to flow into the room and opt for white or pastel shutters rather than darker colours. Brighten up the living area with a colourful rug rather than completely overhaul your flooring and if you don’t want to purchase a new sofa, buy a few light-coloured throws and cushions.

Garden Ideas

Summer’s here, which means its time to dust off the barbecue and get your friends and family around for a garden party. Make sure your garden looks its best by choosing quirky, pergolas for shade, colourful garden furniture where your guests can relax. Ensure you can keep partying into the night by draping outdoor fairy lights on fences and in hedges, and invest in an outdoor heater or two so you won’t feel the need to retreat indoors.

Although we are already well into summer, it isn’t too late to get decorating, so grab a paint brush and don some overalls and get your home summer ready!

How to Create Your Own Shabby Chic Furniture

May 25, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

The shabby chic look is incredibly popular right now. People everywhere are ditching their IKEA furniture and snapping up old bits of antique furniture, purely so they embark on a furniture restoration project. There is no doubt that distressed furniture is a really cool look, but if you don’t know the difference between milk paint vs chalk paint, or you are not sure which paint to buy from www.realmilkpaint.com, where do you begin?

Choose a Piece of Furniture

The shabby chic look is ideal for any piece of furniture, with the exception of modern veneer items. Basically, as long as the piece is solid wood, you are ready to go. So take a look up in your attic and see what you can find, or start hunting through garage sales or junk shops. One man’s unwanted furniture is another man’s shabby chic masterpiece!

Prepare the Surface

Once you have found your perfect piece of furniture from the Dumonds Custom Furniture catalog, you need to prepare the surface. The item needs to be clean, so wash it thoroughly with some soapy water and leave it to dry naturally. If there are any holes or cracks, fill them, and if the item has metal hinges or handles, remove them for now.

Pre-painted or varnished pieces of furniture need to be sanded down. You don’t have to go too far overboard, as a bit of paint or varnish will give you a nice distressed look with zero effort on your part, but it is a good idea to apply sandpaper to the surface so the paint has something to adhere to you can even add resin to your furniture to make it look better and last longer since you can get it easily from USA Epoxy Resin online.

What Paint is Best?

There are lots of boutique paints in the stores. Chalk paint comes ready mixed in a can. It doesn’t need a primer as it grips well to non-porous surfaces. Milk paint comes in powder form, so you mix only what you need. Milk paint doesn’t grip well to non-porous surfaces, so you may need to add a bonding agent to the mix. Both paint finishes will benefit from a final topcoat of wax or oil. Both paints produce lovely finishes and both are easy to work with. Ultimately, you should try both and see which one you prefer, as it is a personal choice.

Add Resistance

To create the shabby chic look, you need to add some resistance to the surface of the item, as this prevents the paint adhering. You can do this with oil or wax. Use a wax candle to rub over any areas where you want the base color to show through.

Apply the Paint

Apply a base coat of paint and follow this up with a second coat. If you want a two-tone look, use a darker color as your base coat.

Distress the Surface

To distress the surface, use some fine sandpaper to rub away the top coat of paint. You can also mark the surface using sharp tools and fill in the cracks and holes with tinted wax.

Once your restoration project is complete, invite family and friends over to admire your handiwork!

The Best Entertainment Apps to Download Right Now

May 23, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Now with smartphones and tablets taking over the digital world, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of things. Although we have our basic apps to take care of the everyday basics, we’re often left using our devices as a means of entertainment. However, a few weeks without checking the charts, or asking ‘What’s new,’ and we feel lost. That’s where we come in to play. We’re bringing you the best—old and new—apps to download right now. Your social life might take a hit, but who wants one anyway? Especially when you can cozy up in bed with your wide selection of apps to keep you occupied, right? With the help of leading app development companies, we ensure that you always have the most innovative and engaging apps at your fingertips.

New Apps to Consider:

The Pickle Index

The Pickle Index is a story-based game that allows you to play a host of mini games. The narrative involves a dictatorship, and it’ll leave you hooked for days. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Sports Apps

Whether you like it or not sports has, and always will have its place in the entertainment world. With Wimbledon, Euro 2016, NBA Finals and many more major sporting events taking place, browse the sports entertainment options. With 바카라 사이트, you can keep up with statistics, highlights, games and special features. If that’s not enough there’s dozens of slots to pick from on brilliant casino and e-sports sites.

Genius

Have you ever been left up at night, listening to music, questioning the meaning of life? We all have. Just what did that artist mean, we wonder. Well, Genius allows you to look at the meaning behind over 1.7 million of your most favourite songs. Whether it’s that significant R&B song you can’t get out of your head, or that hard-hitting rap verse, you can find out exactly what Alicia Keys and Drake have been telling you via your headphones all along.

Soon

We all still crave some old-fashioned entertainment, right? Whether you’re looking to organise the old, or new, entertainment you want to explore, Soon is the app for you. It lets you make a list of things you keep saying you’ll see to ‘soon’. Whether that be television shows, films to analyse, books to read, songs to listen to, it puts it all in one place. If that’s not enough, you can explore the things that everybody else is planning on doing. What’s not to like.

The Moron Test

The Moron Test allow you to play a host of games, and challenges, and ones that really test your basic intelligence. It’s great fun, but even better to watch as your friends and family struggle to master the basics you did with ease [obviously]/

Netflix

Netflix is still the king of entertainment apps. You can watch it via your iPhone or iPad, and the app recommends TV shows and films based on your preferences. There’s new series, exclusively owned by Netflix, and many movies, or kids’ shows you’ve been dying to watch again. Netflix has, and always will, be the king of entertainment apps.

Enjoy your entertainment-filled summer, guys.

My Top Electrical Appliances

April 7, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

In this day and age, we take a lot of tech for granted. My phone is pretty much an extension of my hand and watching TV, playing on a console or even making a cup of tea, are all often taken for granted. As a celebration of all things electrical, I wanted to share my top 5 appliances that I use pretty much every day. If your appliances break down, you may need to seek professional appliance repair mission viejo services.

My Phone

As I mentioned, this is really an extension of me most days. While I hardly ever make or receive calls on it, I use it to text, check social media, play games and keep up to date with my Etsy Store (amoungst other things). I use it as my every day camera to take pictures of my work, the girls or even video the odd thing here and there. While I can’t always keep up to date with the latest iPhone make, I do try to. I’m currently on an iPhone 6 Plus.

My iPad and Laptop

Its a bit of a cheat lumping these together, though I actually put them all together with my phone anyway. I use my laptop to blog, to browse the internet, to fiddle around with photos and to update my listings on Etsy. Although all of those things are also possible on my iPad, I don’t tend to do them there. However I do use my iPad to browse Ebay, Etsy and Amazon as I like the apps. I also play games and stream TV pretty much constantly while I’m working.

The Kettle

There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t use the kettle (unless I’m not at home obviously). I don’t function well without my cup of tea first thing in the morning and to be honest if I’m around the house in the day, I drink tea every few hours. I recently got a new red kettle and it glows blue when its on. I think its the most favourite kettle I’ve ever owned.

My Sewing Machine

Considering I sew pretty much every day, it’s probably not too much of a surprise that I use my sewing machine a lot. Though there are days when it isn’t used, I often feel like I spend more time in the dining room than I do in any other room of my house (even my bedroom!). I bought a new sewing machine in the last year and it’s been an absolute dream to use. I often choose to sew, even when I don’t have any orders, just because I actually find it incredibly relaxing.

The Printer

Though many might have assumed the TV would be on my list, my printer definitely comes in ahead of the TV (partially because I watch a lot of programs on my iPad as I mentioned before). However I use my circuit maker for so many things in every day life, from printing out tickets, murder mystery parties, homework, sewing ideas, holiday planning and so much more. I bought my printer about 2 years ago from PC World and to be quite honest I was just looking for the cheapest portable printer scanner I could find. I settled on a HP Envy 4500 Series, partly because of its price but also because of HP Instant Ink.

HP Instant Ink has been an absolute lifesaver for me. I always used to run out of ink cartridges at the worst possible times and I’ve had endless trips out at ridiculous times of day, just to buy the essential cartridges. That said I was also the person buying cheap replacement ink, as full price branded cartridges can work out so expensive. However not any more! Since getting my new printer, I signed up to HP Instant Ink. There are various plans and I tend to switch between £1.99 per month for 50 pages and £3.49 for 100 pages, depending on how much printing I have to do. When my cartridges get low, HP ship out cartridges for me in plenty of time and I can hand on heart say I have never run out of ink. Each month you can change your plan, or you can even just pay per 10 pages if you go over. Unused pages roll over to the next month and it really is a great system. If you’d like to know more, you can watch the video below or click here for more information.

Fun Holiday Activities for the Whole Family

April 5, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Spring is here. In a few months it will be time for the family vacation. Now is a good time to book, if you haven’t done so already. It’s also a good time to plan ahead and look at the kind of activities the whole family can enjoy.

Plan Ahead

When planning your family summer adventures, think about each member. What are their interests? Do they have similar hobbies or are they very different? Try to include something for everyone.

Organising pursuits ahead of time is a good idea, especially if you need to hire equipment. Some holidays may include this part of the package. If you’re going self-catering and are planning everything yourself, it’s a good idea to do a little advance research. If you’re planning a family vacation, it is advised that you book hotels Smith Mountain Lake like Westlake Waterfront Inn in advance.

Walking

Walking is something that can be enjoyed at most destinations. If you’re intending on embarking on more than a gentle stroll, there are a few things to take into consideration. Make sure you pack walking boots and rucksacks. Try to wear walking shoes before you go away. This will avoid painful blisters during the holiday. Rucksacks or light bags that can be slung over the shoulder won’t get in the way when you’re walking.

Check some routes ahead of time and make sure you pack enough food and water for the day. Make sure you’re fully aware of any safety issues such as tide times and terrain etc.

Cycling

Cycling is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy. If you’re travelling abroad, then it’s likely that you will need to hire bikes and equipment. Book this in advance to avoid disappointment. Check with the provider as to exactly what is provided. Make sure it includes helmets and other safety equipment.

You will also need to become familiar with routes before setting off. Make sure they are suitable for the whole family, especially if you have young children.

When packing, remember to include clothing suitable for this activity. Click here for detailed information on cycling with your family.

Water Sports

There are lots of different water sports to enjoy with the family. For example, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and canoeing. Choose sports that are suitable for everyone. Safety will be key and so check with providers regarding provisions. Find out about booking procedures and if necessary, book a molokini snorkel tour in advance.

Leisurely Pursuits

It isn’t all about being active during your holiday. Remember to factor in some relaxation. Enjoy time by the pool or at the beach. Take a pile of books or load up your e-reader and just enjoy your surroundings. This can be interspersed with gentler activities such as beach football or volleyball.

Some hotels provide childcare provisions and activities for kids. There may be some days when you enjoy a spa day or time to relax. And you can rest assured that your children are also enjoying themselves.

Planning holiday activities is all about being organised and proactive. Advance preparations will save time and will help when it comes to packing and budgeting. Set up a range of different activities that everyone can enjoy. And remember to factor in some free time. Avoid being too rigid. Spontaneity is also good and those days are often the most memorable.

BRB… DIYing

March 15, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Just a quick note to say I won’t be blogging much this week and next! We’re in the process of getting some DIY done, in order to get our house on the market. We’ve got loads to do, I’ve even closed Closet Geek for a while and so I won’t be online much either. I hope to be back with an update after Easter though so watch this space!

Superhero Movies – the good and the not so good!

November 25, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

The last superhero movie I saw was Avengers – Age of Ultron and it was awesome. The other day, when Nat and I went to see the new Hunger Games movie, I got excited seeing the trailer for Deadpool which is finally out next year. Also with things like The Flash, Arrow and even Super Girl all currently airing on the TV, I thought I would share some of my favourite superhero movies.

Batman

I really enjoyed all the Batman movies that have been released to date, though I’ll admit the Dark Knight series was definitely my favourite. Christian Bale was by far the best Batman in my opinion and Heath Ledger at The Joker was just amazing. I’m really unsure about the new Superman Vs Batman that is planned for release as I’m just not convinced on Ben Affleck as Batman.

Spider-Man

I’ve watched all three original Spider-Man movies but only one of the recent ones. I did enjoy Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man but I have to admit that Andrew Garfield was my favourite in the end. I don’t honestly know why I haven’t got around to seeing The Amazing Spider-Man 2 yet, especially as I love Emma Stone. It’s on my to-do list though.

Superman

No one will ever beat Christopher Reeve as Superman for me. I love Brandon Routh in Arrow these days but his role as Superman in Superman Returns was just dreadful. I haven’t even seen Man of Steel but it’s certainly not on my “must see” list. And like I mentioned above, I’m really not sure about Superman Vs Batman.

Iron Man

Way before the first Avengers movie, Iron Man (and its sequel were released). Iron Man is by far one of my most favourite superhero movies as I just love Robert Downey Jnr’s portrayal of him. The first Iron-Man movie is my favourite, followed by the third. I didn’t really think much to number 2, but it doesn’t change my love for Iron Man.

Thor

Still on the theme of Avengers, Thor was another movie that I had high hopes for, based on its main actor – Chris Hemsworth. I have to admit I loved it and again enjoyed Thor in the Avengers movie when it finally came out. I’m sad to say I haven’t seen the second movie yet. It was even on the plane, on the way home from Florida, but I chose sleep over Thor (though technically Robert Downey Jnr in The Judge before that).

Captain America

Based on liking Iron Man and liking Thor, I fully expected to like Captain America too. Sadly I didn’t though. I like Chris Evans and I thought he was great, but the movie just didn’t really float my boat. I’m not one for war movies or soldiers so that didn’t help. I’m also not great with movies set in the past. I did however enjoy the character of Captain America in the Avenger movies and I’m sure I’ll eventually get around to watching Captain America 2, though like Man of Steel, it’s not high on my list of priorities.

(The Incredible) Hulk

I hated both these movies. Seriously. I used to love the TV series of The Incredible Hulk but both movies have been bad! The first one, titled just Hulk was by far the worst, Edward Norton giving a bit more credibility to the second one, The Incredible Hulk. Having seen Mark Ruffalo as Hulk in the Avengers movies though, I do wish they would make a spin off movie for him. I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

Daredevil & Elektra

In all honestly, these are two completely separate movies and should have their own paragraph. However I didn’t like either so I don’t want to waste too much time writing about them. Daredevil was marginally better than Elektra but I wasn’t keen on Ben Affleck or Jennifer Garner. Both movies felt a bit cheap and low budget, though Colin Farrell as Bullseye was pretty awesome.

X-Men

I’ve always been a lover of the X-Men movies and have watched each as they’ve come out. The third was my least favourite though and I have to admit to slipping a little behind recently. I haven’t seen either Wolverine movie, or Days of Future Past but they are all on my to-do list. X-Men First Class is probably one of my favourites, though I love Patrick Stewart and he was definitely missing for me. Hopefully Days of Future Past will solve that for me.

Green Lantern

I absolutely love Ryan Reynolds and as such I enjoyed the Green Lantern. That said I think it could have been better and I wasn’t a big fan of Blake Lively’s part. That said, knowing Ryan Reynolds is also Deadpool makes me excited for that being released. I’m saddened to see they are making a reboot of Green Lantern in 2020 though as I don’t think that’s necessary.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Before this movie was released, I have to admit to knowing nothing about this particular storyline. That said I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope they plan to do more spin-offs. All the characters were great and the girls even enjoyed watching the movie. We have three out of the main four characters as Disney Infinity figures too.

There are several other movies that I haven’t mentioned such as; The Green Hornet (hated it), Fantastic Four (liked but not loved, no idea why they rebooted but haven’t seen it), Ghost Rider (love Nicholas Cage but wasn’t especially won over by this, haven’t even seen 2), Hancock (meh), Catwoman (meh, meh) and so on but I would be here for days if I listed them all! As a huge fan of the superhero genre I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot more as they’re released and even catching up on those I’ve missed. Let me know what you think of the ones I’ve mentioned, or even those I haven’t!

Favourite Book Adaptations

November 17, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

With the final part of Hunger Games: Mockingjay coming out this week, I thought it might be fun to share with you some of my favourite book to movie adaptations. I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of adaptations and if I’m going to watch them then I either don’t read the book at all, or I have to read the book first. All attempts to watch a movie and THEN read the book, have been a big fail. However the Hunger Games are some of my favourite book to movie adaptations and have been Book of the Month several times so I thought I’d share some others with you.

Divergent – As well as the Hunger Games, I love the Divergent adaptations. So far I have seen Divergent and Insurgent and loved them both. While they do differ to the books somewhat, none of the changes fill me with rage or get me ranting as I walk out of the cinema.

To Kill a Mockingbird – This is such an old movie/book that I imagine many people won’t even know what I’m talking about. However I loved both the book and the movie of this story. I studied To Kill a Mockingbird at school and its one of the few that I didn’t hate. The film was part of the study and I enjoyed it just as much as the book.

Matilda – Roald Dahl is one of my favourite authors and this particular book is one of his best. I loved the movie Matilda too and to this day I still find it one of the most enjoyable and easy to watch family movies out there. It’s also pretty timeless and I’m sure my kids would love it, even though it’s fairly old now.

Little Women – as with both above, this movie/book is a fairly old one. I can’t really say much other than the same things I’ve said for the other two options, just that its a great adaptation.

Bridget Jones’ Diary – you’re probably noticing a trend here but again, another oldie but a goodie. I read Bridget Jones when I was a teenager and while the movie is pretty different to the book, I still love it regardless. I never read The Edge of Reason but I’m sure the same would be said for that.

The Fault in Our Stars – most recently I added TFIOS to the list of my favourite adaptations. I really loved the book and so it was so nice to see the movie was just as good. I already liked the lead actor and actress (from the Divergent series) but the movie was very faithful to the story of the book and I would definitely recommend it.