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The Best Phone Apps For Cannabis Enthusiasts
Cannabis is a plant that’s been around for thousands of years, but that doesn’t mean it’s not solidly part of the digital age.
As the legal cannabis market has boomed, so has the technology that can help stoners, medical marijuana patients, and other cannabis lovers find what they need.
Are you up to date with the latest phone apps for cannabis enthusiasts? With new developments constantly being made, it can be hard to keep up. That’s why we put together this essential guide to the cannabis phone apps you need to download today.
Go grab your smartphone, then keep reading to learn about the best cannabis apps for you!
1. Leafly
Probably the best-known cannabis app, this one remains on a constant can’t-live-without-it status. Leafly’s app is regularly updated so it stays relevant and useful as the cannabis market changes.
This is a catch-all app for information related to cannabis. It combines information about the nearest dispensaries, reviews of strains, and news and updates about the industry seamlessly.
Not only that, but the app includes options for networking and product deals, so you’ll always be in the loop. This is first on the list for a reason – if you want a one-stop app with lots of information, start with Leafly.
2. HighThere
Getting sick of Tinder? Why not try a dating app that’s full of cannabis enthusiasts just like you?
Dating apps are notoriously unpleasant for many people. However, HighThere is a different story – it’s specifically targeted towards cannabis lovers, so you already know you can meet someone who shares at least one of your passions on this app.
To sweeten the deals, this app is free, unlike many niche dating sites that charge for a subscription. Say goodbye to dating disasters by downloading this app now.
3. MassRoots
For the budding photographers in the cannabis community, MassRoots is the perfect platform.
This app is like Instagram for stoners: you’ll share pics and vids of all things cannabis, from gorgeous glass to amazing home growing setups.
Whether you love documenting your weed-related activities, or just want to see what everyone else is posting, this creative app is sure to inspire you!
4. WeedMaps
When it comes to finding medical and recreational dispensaries, Google Maps won’t always cut it. For a more accurate map of where to get what you need, download WeedMaps.
The name says it all: this is a maps app for dispensaries and medical shops. You can easily filter your search if you’re looking for something specific. No more aimless driving around looking for a promising sign – this app can show you exactly where to go.
5. simLEAF
Phones are great for work, education, and communication – but sometimes, you just want to play.
One of the top phone apps for cannabis-related recreation is simLEAF. This grow simulator is both fun and educational – it’s the next best thing to having your own grow op.
Adjust the settings to make each play experience unique. You can grow different strains, use different lamps, and change the nutrient or pH level of the soil in the app.
To add to the realism, the plant you grow in this app can die if you neglect it. You’ll learn to stay on top of the plant’s needs, just like if you had your own grow room.
The payoff of taking care of the virtual plant is a satisfying virtual harvest – and a lot of knowledge that can actually help prepare you for real growing in the future. When you’re ready to start growing for real, make sure you read more here.
6. Hemp INC
For another cannabis game with real-world benefits, you need to download Hemp INC.
This game has a bigger purpose: to help get cannabis legalization in more places faster. It has ties to the activist group NORML, which seeks to legalize marijuana by changing widely held misconceptions about this plant.
If you’ve ever played Farmville, you’ll be familiar with how Hemp INC works. However, this app doesn’t feel like work – it’s fun and will keep you engaged as you run into famous stoners in the app, including Jimi Hendrix and Tommy Chong. Ever dreamed of selling weed to Snoop Dogg? In Hemp INC, you can!
This app sets you up to manage and maintain your very own weed business. You’ll grow a variety of strains, develop a customer base, and buy property as your virtual business grows. Fulfill your weed entrepreneur dreams while supporting this app with a cause.
7. Ultimate Weed Trivia
Who says stoners can’t be smart? With the Ultimate Weed Trivia app, you’ll learn all about weed and keep your brain engaged as you challenge your reaction time.
From history to chemistry to botany, all aspects of cannabis and weed culture are covered in this trivia app. If you don’t know the answers yet, even better- this is a great opportunity to learn.
8. Eaze
Ever caught yourself wishing there was a marijuana delivery service (besides that unreliable friend-of-a-friend who sometimes does house calls)?
Eaze is aptly named: this app fills the gap in marijuana home delivery services, making access to cannabis easier than ever. You’ll place your order through the app, then watch your driver’s progress until they arrive.
This app lets you order medical bud, edibles, or extract, making it a great choice for anyone with health issues that sometimes prevent them from leaving the house.
Even better, this app can help you find a marijuana doctor who can write you the prescription you need. No medical marijuana card? No problem – use this app to help you get one.
Download These Phone Apps Now
Cannabis culture is constantly changing as legalization moves forward. To keep up with the times and get the most from your cannabis experience, you need to download the right phone apps.
Choose from the apps on this list to make a curated list that will take care of all your cannabis-related needs, from finding bud to finding information. Or just download them all – you never know when phone apps like these will come in handy.
Ready to learn about more great phone apps? For a different way to digitally go green, check out these amazing eco-friendly apps.
7 Ways to Start Earning a Passive Income Online
Approximately 3.8 billion people have access to the internet. This means that when it comes to making passive income online, the sky’s your limit.
Passive income is when you’re earning money in your sleep- you don’t need to be involved in any way.
Whether you simply want to earn a few dollars on the side or you’d like to quit your day job and retire in style, here are some ways you can get started:
1. Blogging
One of the most popular (and simple) ways to make passive income online is through blogging. The good thing about blogging is there are many different options for monetizing, and it can help you launch future profitable ventures.
The biggest hurdle? Finding a decent niche. You need to be passionate about your niche since blogging is a lot of work in the beginning. You’ll also need to be an expert in that niche, so you can stand out from other bloggers. Finally, that niche shouldn’t be too saturated (avoid blogging about cheap travel in Southeast Asia).
As your visitors grow, you can monetize it through sponsored posts and ads. Hire a virtual assistant and you can take yourself almost completely out of the equation while the money comes rolling in.
2. Drop Shipping
Talk to any digital nomad, and you’re likely to hear them mention the words “drop shipping” at some point. This is when you set up your own store online. However, instead of selling your own products, you’re selling products from other people and companies.
You then submit the order to that company, and they deliver it straight to the customer. Since you don’t need to actually have a warehouse full of product, you’ll have very low overheads. You may have purchased products from a drop shopping company in the past without even realizing it.
The idea is to find a niche with low shipping costs and high profit margins. Cosmetics and vitamins are two good examples. You can set up a drop shipping store quickly, and could offer hundreds of products within just a few days.
3. Information Products
You’ve probably noticed that many people are creating their own courses online. Jeffrey Nelson is a great example of this. You can also create e-books, membership sites, and much more.
One of the great things about this option for passive income online? You’ll have a margin close to 100%. That’s because you have no costs for creating the product or distributing it since it’s all online. You’ll create your product once, and then you can sell it to thousands of people from all over the world, creating a passive income stream that can last for years.
4. Apps and Software
A few years ago, selling software wouldn’t have been considered to be a source of passive income online, but this is now changing. There are plenty of tools online that allow you to create simple mobile or web apps without hiring a developer or knowing how to code. And we can expect this to become even easier in the future.
Sure, you may not develop the next Facebook in your spare tie. But you could create an app that solves a particular problem for a group of people. And that app could make you a few thousand dollars each month.
5. Affiliate Marketing
Once you’ve built up an audience, affiliate marketing is a great way to make passive income online. There are a number of options for affiliate marketing, but Amazon is by far the most popular. There are also some affiliate programs which will offer you a lifetime commission when you send referrals their way.
As long as a client is continuing to sue and pay for their service, you’ll continue to make a percentage in commission. The trick is to find high-quality services offering recurring commissions. Check out SEMRush and Shopify to get started.
6. Create WordPress Themes
One of the best ways to earn passive income online is to use an existing marketplace. One of the biggest (and best) is Envato Market). For people starting a blog, there’s a high chance they’ll be using WordPress. And people using WordPress will need their own theme.
Some of the best theme developers make millions through Envato. Obviously, this will take some work, but if you’ve got the skills, you can build up a nice passive income.
7. Design Apparel
Have you always been the creative type? Selling apparel is quick and easy, and if you’ve got some good designs, you’ll be able to get started relatively quickly. You can either create your designs yourself, hire someone, or purchase stock images.
There are also a number of marketplaces like CafePress. They’ll take a cut, but you also won’t need to handle sales, fulfillment, or printing.
Marketing is relatively easy as well. You can use Google Ads and Facebook to get your designs in front of your target market. You may have a niche audience for your designs, and this can help you build up a loyal following for any subsequent designs.
There are plenty of online tutorials which can help you with your graphic skills, and while you’ll need to put in some hard work to get started, this can quickly turn into a nice side income.
Ready to Earn a Passive Income Online?
While earning money while you sleep sounds like a dream, it’s a dream you can make true with a little elbow grease. All of the above options require you work hard initially, but once you’ve got the ball rolling your earning potential is almost limitless.
The internet makes it possible for anyone to earn online, but it can be tricky to know how to get started. You’ll also need a solid marketing plan, so check out our marketing posts to learn exactly how you can get your product or service in front of the right people at the right time.
5 Photo Effects Software You Need to Try
Using image-sharing apps like Instagram and Flickr is a great way to follow amazing photographers and find inspiring images.
Trying their techniques or processes can help you boost your photography. But how much of their beautiful images comes down to photo effects software?
Few images in the history of photography haven’t been altered. Before Photoshop, photographers used darkroom techniques to achieve the effects they desired.
Don’t want to get your hands dirty in the darkroom? Software will be your new best friend and we’re here to help.
We’ve rounded up five of the best programs, though you won’t find web-based applications like PicMonkey or Canva here.
We’re sticking to serious software so you can give your photography a boost. So keep reading on reading!
1) Adobe Lightroom
Want to try photo effects software to get results like this photographer? You can’t talk about photography and photo effects software without mentioning a product by Adobe. Photoshop might seem like the obvious choice but Lightroom is also an excellent option.
Why? Photoshop offers vast potential for photomanipulation, graphic design, 3D renders and beyond. But Lightroom focuses on getting the best out of your photography.
Being a specialist piece of software means it does its job very well. Think of it as a digital darkroom for your RAW photography.
Photoshop has a RAW processor within it. But Lightroom allows you to add extra effects like split toning.
It’s also great for batch processing, so you can apply the same settings to lots of images from the same shoot. You can also organize your image library, adding keywords or editing the metadata.
It’s a lighter program meaning it doesn’t hit your system resources as hard as Photoshop. That’s great news if your budget doesn’t stretch to a brand new laptop.
Try our complete guide to Lightroom if you want to learn this amazing software.
2) Affinity Photo
Brought to you by the company that made Serif PhotoPlus, Affinity Photo is a heavyweight contender for Photoshop’s photo effects software crown.
At a fraction of the price for an Adobe product, Affinity Photo offers a one-off cost. There are no subscription fees but they roll out regular updates to the software.
Its interface mimics Photoshop and the software even handles PSD files. If you can already use Photoshop but dislike its price tag, you’ll be up and running in minutes.
Alongside a raft of selection features, Affinity Photo offers plenty of non-destructive editing options. Take advantage of their Live Adjustment Layers to apply effects to one layer – or all of them.
Install your Photoshop plugins or brushes to work with the software. If you’re still not sure, download their free trial to take it for a test drive.
3) Pixeluvo
If you’re used to the handy filters in Instagram or the Flickr app, Pixeluvo might be the photo effects software for you. Its Quick Color tool offers plenty of color balance options to apply to your images.
Its selection tools are easy to use and it offers handy previews of blending modes before you apply them.
That’s better than Photoshop. In Adobe’s offering, you have to manually select each blending mode to see the effect. That can lead to plenty of pointless clicking until you find the mode you want.
The software doesn’t include layer options like styles and groups, so if they’re your favorite tools in Photoshop then Pixeluvo might disappoint you.
But that makes it easier to learn if you’re new to this software. It’s cheaper than Affinity Photo and it comes with a trial version.
4) Nik Collection
Still want to use Photoshop but want to remove some of the learning curve? Try Google’s Nik Collection.
This free suite includes seven Photoshop plugins that also work with Aperture and Lightroom.
DxO acquired the collection and will release a new set in 2018. For now, download the existing set for free. Get started on beautiful images at the click of a button.
What Are The Plugins?
Analog Efex Pro lets you fake the look of classic lenses, cameras, and films. Film photography gets expensive with the cost of developing negatives. This plugin will get you the look more easily.
Silver Efex Pro gives you tools inspired by the darkroom to help you improve monochrome photography.
Color Efex Pro uses filters to give you a range of options for retouching, color editing, and more. Or use Viveza to adjust color and tone without using selections and masks.
If that weren’t enough, you can use Sharpener Pro to sharpen your images. Or try our HDR photography with HDR Efex Pro. Finally, Define helps reduce noise.
5) GIMP
We couldn’t write a post about photo effects software and not mention GIMP. The classic alternative to Photoshop, this free open-source program even handles PSD files.
You can work with layers, apply photo actions, or install custom brushes to enjoy a similar workflow to Photoshop users. GIMP is a powerful program, considering it’s free.
Apply filters, effects, and more to achieve impressive results.
At present, GIMP’s biggest downside is the lack of non-destructive editing. If you make a mistake, you have to go back to the beginning and start again. You can’t just turn off an adjustment layer.
We say ‘at present’ since that’s going to change. Version 3.2 will introduce the non-destructive editing features photographers love, along with adjustment layers.
Even smart objects are on their way at some point.
With a price tag of ‘free’, what have you got to lose by trying it?
Photo Effects Software Doesn’t Have to be Complicated or Expensive.
Photoshop is an obvious choice for photo editing. But there’s a lot to learn and paying for a subscription can soon mount up.
Lightroom is a cheaper option which will level-up your photography almost overnight.
If the cost is still too much, Affinity Photo might be the right software. Or try GIMP – maybe it’s steep learning curve is less intimidating since it’s free.
Still got questions about downloading photo effects software? Please contact our support team. We’re happy to help.
8 Coolest Home Security Gadgets to Keep Your Family Safe
Do you wish there was an easier, cheaper way to secure your home, without having to install complex security systems and big safes? This is where the brilliance of security gadgets will make your life easier.
By using a few of these typically small and inexpensive pieces of home security equipment, you can secure your home without a lot of hassle.
In addition to this, the portability of these devices makes them easy to bring with you when you move.
You can even use them when traveling, to keep an eye on your temporary home. With some imagination, you can use them to secure your home, car, and office in one go.
This list will show you eight incredible security gadgets that will keep your home safe.
1. Wireless Wi-Fi Security Camera
Surveillance is crucial for solid home security, letting you see not only what exactly happens, but also who’s doing it.
A wireless wi-fi security camera is the perfect solution for your in-home surveillance since you can put it anywhere without worrying about cords.
We recommend the T-5 Wi-Fi security camera. Due to its IR night vision sensor, it’s able to capture footage in great detail regardless of lighting conditions.
It can record for 8 months on one single charge of the battery, so you can keep it up and running where it’s needed instead of having to take it down for charging regularly.
2. Wireless Window/Door Alarms
Not every window and door has locks, and you can’t really install them for all of them. Fire escapes, for example, cannot be fitted with great locks since that would be a safety hazard and against the law.
What you can do when locks are out of the question, and ideally should do even on windows that lock, is install wireless window alarms.
A good window security alarm will react whenever the window is broken or pried open while being easy to deactivate when you need to do so.
These security gadgets sound the alarm when the magnetic contact gets broken. Even strong vibrations from attempts to force the window may set it off.
It’s also easy for you to deactivate and reactivate in case you want to open the window or door for a while.
3. Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera
If you own a house or a business, outdoor surveillance is just as important as indoor surveillance. Being able to record any trespassing and vandalism will help you catch culprits and bring them to justice.
Just the fact that you have outdoor surveillance will deter criminals.
The SW-4 outdoor wi-fi camera is weather resistant and easy to mount almost anywhere and allows you to watch its 720p high definition footage remotely with any PC or smartphone you choose.
For more cameras like it, take a look at the Sentel Tech page.
That’s all it takes to keep an eye on what’s going on outside your home or business.
4. Door-Stop Alarm
Simple, ingenious solutions like door-stop alarms is why home security gadgets are such an awesome investment.
It’s as simple as it sounds. You wedge this portable, little door-stop under your door. If anyone tries to open the door, the alarm will sound.
One of the best things about these security gadgets is they’re so easy to set up and remove. You can set them before you go to bed, and remove them in seconds when you need to leave in the morning.
The great portability and low price also means you can bring them with you if you go traveling.
Try these nifty security gadgets.
5. Hidden Night Vision Camera
Burglars aren’t the only threat to your home security, and sometimes the problem comes from inside. A hidden camera lets you keep maids, babysitters, and rebellious teenagers under surveillance, and catch them red-handed. Because sometimes you need hard evidence, and a visible camera won’t help you catch these culprits in the act.
This dual USB night-vision camera lets you keep an eye on people without giving yourself away. It looks like an ordinary charger, but it can record up to 32gb of footage once it’s plugged in.
Its highly portable and inconspicuous design lets you move it around easily without anyone suspecting a thing, and you can have a lot of them installed without raising suspicion. They’re perfect for keeping an eye on a specific room, and for bringing to your office or hotel room. Wherever there’s a wall outlet, you can see what’s going on.
6. Compact Safe
Do you keep cash, jewelry, or other valuables hidden in a drawer, under your mattress, or some other place where someone could easily get their hands on them?
With one of these lockboxes, you can keep your valuables safe without having to buy a whole safe. In addition to its combination lock, it has a strong cable that lets you secure the box in place so it won’t get stolen.
7. Frosted Glass Window Film
You may not have thought of this one as a security gadget, but preventing people from seeing what you have will decrease the risk that they’d break in.
These cheap, self-adhesive sheets are easy to put on your windows, it’s easier than putting up wallpaper. You’ll get your privacy and security without giving up natural lighting. You can use any left-over film to keep snooping eyes out of your van.
8. Small, Inconspicuous Spy Camera
That’s right, another piece of hidden surveillance equipment. Keeping an eye on your home is your first line of defense.
This spy camera looks just like a universal TV remote and lets you keep an eye on things without anyone knowing. It blends in almost anywhere, capturing full HD 1080p footage without any memory card slots or recording lights that could give it away.
It’s especially good if you’re suspicious and want to catch someone red-handed. But it can just as well be directed to your window to keep an eye on your garden.
View More Security Gadgets
Safety gadgets are the simple and cost-effective means to secure your home without the hassle.
Beyond these cameras and alarms, there’s a whole lot of gadgets that could be the perfect fit for your home.
This page offers a wide selection of clever surveillance security gadgets for your home.
Check out our selection of useful software to complement your home security.
How to Invest Money Online for Beginners
For beginners, investing in the market can be scary. On one hand, you may hear news about stocks like Apple that gained 43% in the past year alone.
And if you owned Apple since it went public in 1980 you would have gained over 3000% by now. If that doesn’t make someone want to invest money online what would?
But we are also all familiar with the crash stories. And when we go to start investing it can be confusing on what tools to use and how to even start.
Follow our guide to learning how to invest money online and you will be ready in no time:
1. Balance Against Goals
Do you know your financial goals? We would all like to be whisked away and live in luxury for sure.
But to invest money online it’s important to be realistic about your goals. There are a variety of budgeting, expense tracking, and financial tools that can help.
If you’ve ever had the experience of being lost and calling someone on the phone for directions the first thing they will ask is “where are you?”
The second is “where are you headed?” Without these two pieces of information, they will be unable to help you.
Knowing where you are financially and where you would like to be is the first step when you plan to invest money online.
2. Get Started
You don’t have to be a millionaire to make money investing. In fact, many successful investors have started out with modest means.
But in order to make money investing you need to be in the game. And the more you are in the game the more you are letting your money work for you.
Billionaire Warren Buffett attributes much of his success to depending on compound interest. The Warren Buffett Rule suggests using even modest investments and letting them grow.
Certainly, you need to stay on top of your expenses. And don’t neglect your bills.
But the sooner you get started, the better you can do in the market.
3. Start Small When You Invest Money Online
It’s not just true that you don’t need to be filthy rich to invest. You also should start small when it comes to investing.
This will help you get a feel for the tools, choices, and options out there. The above example of a small investment in Apple is a good place to start.
An initial share of Apple would have cost $22 back in 1980. At 100 shares that would keep an investor at a $2,200 investment.
Depending on your current financial standing, this is a great place to start. Give yourself a chance to learn the tools and watch how your portfolio responds.
4. Real Estate
Many beginning investors hesitate to invest in the stock market. They are more attracted to concrete worth than in speculation.
But in truth, there are many different types of investing that you can benefit from. When you invest money online.
If you prefer real estate there are a number of REITs that you can invest in online, A REIT, or Real Estate Investment Trust, is a great way to make the most of commercial real estate investing.
Owning a Piece of The Company
It is important to remember that investing in company stocks means owning a piece of a company. When you research a company you should make it a point to know the true benefits of that stock.
While many think of McDonald’s as the biggest brand in fast food in the world there are other benefits of this stock. In fact, McDonald’s is one of the largest real estate holders in the world.
If you prefer real estate, there are individual stocks and trusts to invest in.
5. Know the Tools
The blessing and the curse of the internet and cloud computing is the availability of tools. Type in any search term and you are bound to get many results.
But with online investing, you need to choose a platform that supports your goals. Plus, you want to make sure these tools are reliable for handling your money.
There are so many internet scams out there. Know where you are putting your money, and know the support you will get up front.
Even free tools get the benefit of access to you, your accounts, and your money. Don’t choose a tool simply because it’s free or popular.
6. The Best of Both Worlds
Many new investors think they need to go it alone when it comes to making money online. They view their options as either opening an account and guessing or paying heavy fees to a firm.
But when you choose to invest money online you don’t need to go it alone. Places like Forex Brokers Australia will give you the tools you need as well as support.
While there are many tools that allow you to invest all on your own why would you? You won’t have the technical support, advice, and market research at your fingertips.
Make sure you get all the support you need when managing your finances.
7. Mutual Funds
Mutual funds are a good way for investors to get started. A mutual fund allows you the benefit of diversifying and owning a small piece of many different investments.
They also have a lead investor making choices in your favor. To start small, find one with a low initial investment.
Get the Best Support for Your Goals
Once you know how easy it is to invest money online there is no reason not to get started. But remember, starting slow means tracking your progress and checking your performance.
To invest money online successfully you need a blend of caution, timing, and skills. Since recent years have seen stocks at their peaks, there is much to be made in the market.
The global market, oil prices, and market averages have all seen gains. But remember, the secret to any endeavor is practice and learning.
Pligg can help. Our digital downloads in a range of topics will augment your understanding of industries and the market.
Come get the best information now.
7 Modern Home Improvements That Will Add Value to Your Home
A home is something people take personally because, well, it’s where they live.
Or it’s where they’ve lived.
Either way, your home’s value is tied to two things: the memories you’ll make there, and how good of a building it is, overall.
Whether you’re buying or selling, modern home improvements make your home is a better buy.
There are always improvements to be made on any building, exterior or interior. From a paint job to more advanced smart technology and home security, your options for increasing the sale value of your home are boundless.
So, with so many options available to you, where do you begin?
Join us, today, as we take a closer look at seven innovative opportunities for improving your home, and making it more valuable.
Seven Effective Modern Home Improvements
When it comes to improving your home, it’s the little things that count.
All the thoughtful little ways we improve a house so that living in it becomes easier, more attractive, and fun. These are the types of modern home improvements that can make or break a house’s resale value.
And, with smart technology, better design, and refined finishes, there’s never been a better time to sell your home.
So, with that in mind, let’s start with a classic.
A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Curb appeal is a fairly common term among house sellers.
It refers to the idea that your home’s sale value starts with how good it looks from a distance, or “on the curb”.
And those good looks start with your home’s paint job. If your walls have scuff marks or the standard wear and tear that comes with age, a high-quality paint job is an inexpensive way to bring them back to life.
Research matching color combinations for the outside walls, gutters, and awnings. Then, use neutral colors like off-white and soft grays to paint your rooms, making them look roomier.
With the right combination of colors, you can transform your entire home for a better sale.
Better Landscaping
Of course, the color of your house isn’t the only factor playing into its curb appeal.
There’s always the question of your lawn.
Hire a professional to trim back your trees and shrubs, prune back dead plants, and mow your lawn. If your grass is patchy or thin in specific areas, you can plant new grass as needed.
Finally, take a leaf blower to your driveway to get rid of grass trimmings.
The effect of professional landscaping will be a refreshed, neatened look that will add to your home’s marketability.
Update Your Window Fixtures
Like a pair of glasses that goes out of style, dated window fixtures can make your home look older than it actually is.
A good rule of thumb is, if you inherited your blinds, drapes or curtains from the owner before you, they could probably stand to be updated.
Look into quaint wooden blinds, plantation shutters, or high-end draperies to bring a touch of modernity and class to your home.
Kitchen And Bath
The two most important rooms in the sale of your home are the kitchen and bathroom.
These two rooms are where the buyer will carry out the most important parts of their day, aside from sleeping. Preparing their meals, and cleaning themselves.
They have to be spotless but, moreover, you should consider renovating these as well. You can start with something as simple as a new coat of paint, as with the outside of your home, and move on to islands and sink fixtures later on.
In your bathroom, look into new hardware and countertops. Wall mounts look better than overhead lamps, and low flow toilets continue to be very popular.
In the kitchen, new tile can add a needed flair, and stainless steel fixtures and appliances create a sleek look that’s hard to turn down.
And, as natural stone looks continue to be a hot seller in the housing market, it makes sense to research a reliable granite company to source your countertops from.
A Backup Power Generator
There are two simple facts when it comes to home electricity. Anywhere you live, there’s no guarantee against power outages. And nobody enjoys spending an evening in the dark.
A practical step you can take to make your home stand out is to invest in a backup power generator.
Maybe you’ve considered getting one for yourself but never committed to the price. This is understandable, but it’s an investment that will put a check in favor of your home when it comes time to sell.
And anything that holds a potential buyer’s attention for even a few minutes longer is worth the effort.
Make Your Basement Better
In real estate, more is almost always better.
Increasing the floor plan of your home is a great way to increase the value of the property as a whole. And one room that remains criminally underused in most homes is the basement.
If you have a basement room, invest money into remodeling it. If you can turn it into a viable bedroom, study or nook, that’s just more reason for somebody to want to live there. If the basement is big enough, you might even consider turning it into an additional apartment.
Smart Features
One of the most exciting developments in real estate and modern home improvements is smart technology.But, if you are going to buy into high tech, it has to be smart.
Audiovisual systems, for instance, lose value at an alarming rate because the technology evolves too quickly.
Certain smart devices, however, can have a positive impact on a home’s value. Nest thermostats link to smartphones and tablets for easy adjustment and can learn your preferences. Smart lighting, door locks, garage door openers and security systems, similarly, add a high degree of value to a home.
Sell More Effectively, With Modern Home Improvements
Making your home better can mean different things to different people.
Ultimately, the more you can do with what you have, the better chance you’ll have of selling your property.
Interested in learning more about modern living, home maintenance, and a range of other fascinating topics? Check out some of our other great articles, and learn how to get the best out of your daily life, today.
8 Basic Logo Design Tips For Success
A logo can have a huge impact on a business’s success, but it doesn’t have to break the bank.
After all, Twitter’s original blue bird logo was purchased for $15 as a stock photo, while Nike’s swoosh cost $35 in 1972.
Ready to design your own basic logo? Here’s how to get started.
Eight Great Tips for Basic Logo Design
If you’re a new designer or a business owner bootstrapping your own logo, graphic design can seem a little intimidating. It doesn’t have to be.
Anyone can create a great basic logo by following these eight tips.
1. Make Sure It Can Scale
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in logo design is forgetting to plan for scalability.
A good logo is clear, readable, and compelling no matter what size it is. Whether it’s on a billboard or a business card, it needs to carry your message across.
The best way to plan for this is to design your logo in a vector file format, like:
- .EPS
- .AI
- .SVG
Vector images are infinitely scalable. You can change their size without losing any clarity. Raster files–like .JPEG, .GIF, or .PNG–become blurry when you change their size.
2. Choose Your Font Wisely
When you pick your font, you have a few priorities you need to keep in mind.
Above all else, your font must be readable. Avoid anything with extra flourishes or decorations, since these won’t work on a business card.
Your font should also say something about your brand. Young, creative businesses might benefit from a modern sans-serif font, while traditional companies usually opt for serif.
3. Pick the Right Colors
Your color palette says a lot to consumers. That’s because humans have a psychological reaction to color.
Red, for example, is often seen as energetic. Green can represent growth, while blue often conveys a sense of professionalism.
People’s individual reactions to color can vary, however. It’s more important to match your palette with your brand.
For instance, if you’re designing for a young, agile startup, bright red or orange could be a good fit. If your logo represents an established professional firm, like a medical practice or accounting business, a muted color palette might make more sense.
4. You Need a Focal Point
One of the basic elements of an effective artistic composition is focus. When you’re designing your logo, you need to choose one single focal point that you want your viewers to see first.
For most brands, the focal point is a symbol that represents the business. That could be house icon for a realtor, a video reel for a film studio, or paw print for a veterinary clinic.
Don’t be afraid to get more abstract with your logo design. Consumers respond emotionally even to basic shapes, so you have room to get creative.
5. Don’t Add Too Many Elements
What do some of the most famous logos have in common? Minimalism.
Apple, McDonald’s, Nike, and Twitter all use simplistic shapes and colors to represent their brand. These logos are easy to understand and instantly recognizable, thanks in part to their minimalistic design. They also look great at any size.
Keep that idea in mind during your design process. Too many elements will compete for your viewer’s attention. That makes it less likely your logo will have the impact you want.
Once you’ve chosen your focal point, pare down everything else around it. Remove any text you don’t need, cut down on the number of colors you use, and take away extra flourishes.
You’ll be left with a simple, compelling design.
6. Communicate an Appropriate Message
All logos say something to consumers, whether it’s intentional or not. When you design yours, you need to think about what you want to say.
As we’ve mentioned, your color palette and typography say something to consumers. It’s important that your design choices match your brand’s personality.
For example, eclectic logo elements could be a great fit for a funky clothing brand, but would be a terrible choice for a law firm.
If you’re unsure of the message you need to convey, turn to your brand guidelines.
7. Fits Your Logo in With Your Brand Guidelines
Sometimes, new designers think of a logo as a stand-alone asset. In reality, your logo is just one component of your entire brand. If you don’t have a document outlining your brand guidelines, it’s time to start writing.
In addition to your logo, your brand guidelines should include information on your:
- Color palette
- Typography
- Brand voice
- Story
- Icons and imagery
If your logo doesn’t match what’s in your guidelines, your brand won’t look cohesive.
Developing your brand guidelines first can actually make it easier to come up with ideas for a basic logo.
8. You Need Print and Digital Versions of Your Logo
When you’re designing, you’ll need a few different formats for your logo.
That’s why we recommend you download graphic design software before you get started. These programs will be able to generate the formats you need for print or digital projects.
Print Version
To create everything from business cards to banners, you’ll need a high-resolution version of your logo to print correctly. That means:
- A resolution of 300 DPI
- A file that is scaled to its actual size
- CMYK colorspace
Print is a notoriously unforgiving format. If you get one of these specs wrong, you’ll be left with blurry, off-color product.
Digital Version
Web graphics are much easier to get right. Since there’s no physical product, getting the resolution right isn’t as difficult. That said, any time your logo appears on the web, it should be:
- 72 PPI
- As small of a file size as possible
- RGB colorspace
If your logo file is too large, it will load too slowly–or fail to load at all. If it’s too compressed, it might appear blurry online.
Learn More About Logo Design
This article just scratched the surface of basic logo design. If you want to move beyond the basics, Pligg can help. We don’t just cover the latest graphic design trends on our blog. We offer the very best digital downloads to help you create a compelling logo for your business.
The Human Footprint: 3 Tips for Green Camping
Camping is a fantastic recreational activity that normally involves some overnight stays in the wilderness. Living off the land and amongst nature for a time is a rejuvenating experience.
Many people go camping and underestimate the damage they do to the environment they spent time in. From leaving plastic that ends up in streams to chopping down trees for firewood, the wilderness can take a hefty hit with each stay.
Though camping might feel environmentally friendly already, it’s important to leave the campsite better than you found it. Here are a few extra tips on green camping.
How To Go
Nature is going to call while you’re in nature on your camping trip. It is essential to know where you can go and how to properly dispose of your human waste without affecting your campsite or nearby streams. After all, you may need to drink that water.
If you’re at a campsite that is regularly used, there is quite possibly an outhouse or composting toilet in the near vicinity. If that’s available, use that. If you are a little deeper into the woods in a more uncharted area, you may have a bit of a challenge.
You need to bring your own toilet paper and find a spot that is secluded and at least 200 feet away from any water source or your campsite. Dig a hole that is at least 8 inches deep (if not more), and when you’re done simple cover the hole up completely.
Make sure you bring along a paper bag with you that you can put your used toilet paper in so you can find a proper receptacle.
Use Non-Toxic Bug Spray
Fighting bugs while green camping can be burdensome. It is important to use bug spray that is non-toxic so the environment is not polluted by chemicals.
Toxic sprays are bad for the water, air, and the animals in the forest. They also aren’t good for your own health. Try safe alternatives that are eco-friendly to enhance your green camping experience.
Use Reusables for Green Camping
Just because you’re using a tent that you’ll take with you doesn’t mean you’re being eco-friendly. You also need to bring dishware that you can wash and take with you as well. Remember the basics you learned in scouts, and utilize woven labels HK to make sure your equipment or scouting troop is well marked.
Bring a small foldable basin that you can carry with you and biodegradable soap. Bring a breathable bag for your napkins that are too dirty to reuse. Bring cutlery and other cooking items that you can reuse throughout your journey.
Green camping is good camping. You’ll get to enjoy your time in the wilderness without making the environment pay for your visit. Leave a footprint, but only the ones you make with your hiking boots.
Leave Only Footprints, Take Just Pictures
The most important thing to do when you’re on your scouting or recreational camping trip is to only take photos and memories with you. No one should know humans were there once you’ve gone.
Eliminate the smoldering fire pits, cut down trees and ripped up grass. Don’t reposition boulders or contaminate water sources. For more tips, tricks, and how-to manuals for recreational activities learn more here.
Top 5 SMS Apps for Android
There’s one consistent complaint among the nearly 107.7 million Android users in the U.S. – the messaging app that’s pre-installed sucks.
SMS is still the gold standard for messaging on any smartphone, and texting’s one of the top activities we use our phones for (apart from looking at #foodporn and watching cute puppy videos). However, texting can be unpleasant when the app you use doesn’t work properly or have the features you want.
Luckily for you Android users, there are tons of high-quality SMS apps you can download in place of the pre-installed app. They range from being very bare-bones to packing tons of features.
To help you choose your next go-to texting app, we’ve compiled a list of the best SMS apps for you to choose from.
Handcent Next SMS
Handcent is a highly customizable and streamline messaging app.
When you first download it (free), it will walk you through your customization setup. This does take a few minutes, but it’s worth it to have your app exactly as you want it.
The app offers a clean experience while providing more complex options like sending e-cards for birthdays and holidays.
Google Messenger
Google Messenger is one of the most popular SMS apps among Android users. It’s free, simple to use, and cuts through the clutter of Google Hangouts.
This app has many of the same features as Google Hangouts like sending recorded video and audio, blocking SMS, and location sharing.
You can also integrate your Gchats into Google Messenger, making it a one-stop shop for your SMS and online chats.
TextBetter
If you text a lot for your work or on behalf of your business, you need TextBetter.
It allows you to enable your main business line to send texts and emails. The main benefit is customers interact with only one number.
Use TextBetter for sending texts to landlines, managing engagement campaigns, and tracking conversations.
Signal Private Messenger
Signal is ideal for those who feel like Big Brother is watching.
The app encrypts your texts using end-to-end encryption which protects them from being intercepted when they go through data centers. You also can’t take screenshots in the app.
Signal is also versatile. It works similarly to Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp but if your SMS recipient doesn’t have Signal, the message sends as a regular SMS to their phone.
Apart from its versatility and security, Signal is also free to download.
chomp SMS
chomp SMS has been around for a long time and is one of the most popular Android messaging apps.
It allows you to customize how your messages look and has tons of emojis. It also lets you reply in message pop-ups, add a passcode to the app, and blacklist numbers you’re sick of hearing from.
While all those features are great, the app can feel a bit bloated to others. chomp SMS is also free to download.
SMS Apps to Try and Love
Depending on your SMS apps preferences, you’ll find a messenger app to satisfy your needs. Whether you want something that’s very light or something that has tons of customizable features, there’s something for you.
Once you’ve found an app you love, you can learn more about how to use messaging to engage with your customers and increase sales here.
6 Signs It’s Time For Driveway Resurfacing
We know driveway resurfacing is not the most exciting household job you’ll ever pay for. And many people like to sort out individual problems at a time, as simple problems can be relatively cheap to fix – as low as $300.
When a driveway is reaching the end of its life, this strategy feels like whack-a-mole. You fix one problem and another pops up in its place.
At this point, driveway resurfacing makes financial and aesthetic sense. But at what point is your driveway due for a full overhaul? Here are the signs to look out for.
1. Water Pooling
If you see water pooling on your driveway, it may have drainage issues. This can happen if the driveway is uneven, as all the water is running to the lowest spot and staying there.
Over time, this will weaken your drive, but the effects won’t always be visible until it causes cracks and potholes. In the winter, if the water freezes, it will push these cracks apart further.
If you live in a rainy area, adding a drainage channel when having your driveway resurfaced can help to avoid this issue in the future.
If you do notice water pooling after a storm, you can help to minimise the damage to your driveway. Push the water out of cracks and dips with a brush or a mop.
2. Cracks
Cracks are often the first sign that a driveway resurfacing job might be necessary in the near future.
While they’re not going to damage your car right away, they don’t look great. And they’ll only get worse over time.
You can try to fill in or cover up cracks. But the more you do this, the more your driveway starts to look like patchwork.
You should also know that sometimes, fixing cracks only covers up the problem, and doesn’t actually fix an underlying issue. For example, if an asphalt drive has already been damaged all the way through, it may be that a pothole is inevitable, even if you fix the crack on top.
3. Potholes
A step beyond cracks, you get potholes. These are caused by cracks getting worse and worse over time, as well as the ground beneath the paving shifting.
Water (and other fluids) seeps into the cracks and weakens the ground underneath the paving. The ground is also compacted as you drive your car over it.
The paving or tarmac starts to break up and sink downwards, forming a pothole.
Large potholes can damage your car’s suspension, and increase the wear and tear on your tires.
You might decide to fill a small pothole in, but this will never totally fix the issue. You need to look into a full driveway resurfacing job to make sure the problem is tackled at its source.
4. Your Driveway Looks Rough and Weathered
Wind, rain, sunshine, and snow all wear down your driveway over time.
This is inevitable, but the good news is that it’s largely cosmetic. For example, you might notice colored slabs are losing their hue, or paving slabs have slight chips and cracks.
However, if a driveway has been in place for a very long time, the weathering can mean it’s less stable than it used to be too. A driveway will only last for a certain amount of time.
You should expect it to remain stable for around 20 years if it’s asphalt. Or 25 if it’s paved or concreted. You still need to remember your maintenance tasks to make it last this long though.
So if your current driveway has been in place for a long time, you’ll need driveway resurfacing after a while. It might be better to get it resurfaced right away.
If you’re unsure, you can always call up experts like Pavement Planet to get their opinion of whether resurfacing is needed or not.
5. Tire Marks
Particularly noticeable on gray concrete, black tire marks end up being very unattractive after a while. These tend to appear faster if you live in a hot state.
You can’t avoid this unless you decide to never drive on your driveway!
By the way – if you do have a concrete or asphalt driveway, do you remember to reseal it every few years? This process helps to stop it cracking so quickly, and from getting chipped off at the edges.
By protecting the material, you’re helping your driveway to last longer. If you don’t keep it protected, you’re pretty much asking for cracks – which will lead to more frequent driveway resurfacing jobs.
Save yourself money by adding a reminder to your calendar to get this done.
6. It’s Too Old – Driveway Resurfacing Time!
Everything reaches the end of its useful life at some point or another.
If it’s for cosmetic reasons, or you just want a change, a new driveway can really add to the appeal of your home.
Perhaps you’re selling up and want buyers to be attracted to the house. Or maybe you’re sick and tired of being outdone by the neighbors.
Eventually, your driveway will develop one or more of the problems listed above. Replacing it now and again can save your car’s suspension and keep your home looking great.
My Driveway Looks Great – Now What?
If you’ve now sorted out your old, worn driveway, and done away with the cracks – what’s next?
How about bringing an old garage up to date? Consider some of these cool automation devices for your garage door.
Or if you’ve put in a new driveway because you’re looking to sell your home, heed our 5 solutions for a fast sale. No potential buyer will be keen on moving into a new home and having to replace the driveway themselves right away.
Whatever your objective, we hope this guide has helped you identify common driveway problems. Browse our archive for more great advice.
Preparing for Tax Season: What to Do
As we move to the end of the year, most of us are thinking ahead toward Christmas and the New Year. Maybe you’re planning your weight loss resolutions, hope to quit smoking, or you’re considering a big trip for the family.
But as you’re gearing up to close down 2017 and move into 2018, don’t forget to start preparing for tax season. There are a number of steps you can take now to plan ahead and make life easier when the tax deadline rolls around.
Read on to learn more about the ways to gear up for tax season.
Gather Your Documents
This includes both paper hard-copies, and digital documents. We suggest organizing these documents by tax filing year, since most documents need to be retained for at least several years.
Many of these documents won’t be ready until after the new year, but here’s what you should prepare to have on-hand:
- Last year’s tax data (gather this information now)
- Regular income: W2s and 1099’s
- Other income: real estate income, dividend earnings, investment gains
- Loan information: interest paid on student loans, mortgages, etc.
- Business-related expenses: meals with clients, technology purchases, etc.
- Tax-deductible expenses like moving or medical expenses
- Tax-deductible donations to charities or non-profits
As you gather these documents, you can begin entering the necessary data into your tax returns (whether you’re going the paper route or electronic.) For example, there’s no need to wait for all of your 1099s to come in; enter them as you receive them, which saves time later.
Don’t Forget about Lesser-Known Deductions
It’s important that you deduct every possible penny from your taxable income. Often overlooked tax deductions include:
- Childcare costs (daycare, etc.) or adoption expenses
- Education expenses
- Casualty and theft losses
- Taxes paid (state and local, personal property)
These are just a few of the many possible deductions, but look over the IRS list of deductions and ensure you’re not missing any that apply to you and your family. Again, no need to wait on all of these: if you moved over the summer, you should already know your total moving costs and can enter them into your filing any time.
Get Electronic Filings Ready for Tax Season
We highly suggest filing taxes electronically, using software such as Turbotax. Filing electronically not only reduces input errors (those extra zeros won’t work in your favor!) but tax software saves information year after year, so you won’t need to re-input the same information like social security numbers, etc.
Another benefit to using tax software? You don’t need to memorize tax code or learn about complex changes in tax rules.
The software will ask you key questions like, “Did you buy a house?” or “Did you have a child?” Depending on your answers to these questions, the software will customize the tax filing based on your information.
Get started with the software early – well before your tax documents start rolling in. You can fill out key information for you and your family (like dates of birth, social security numbers, job information, etc.) and you can also familiarize with the software. Read more about electronic tax software here.
Maximize Deductions Before the End of the Year
It’s not too late! You still have time to get in a few more deductions that can benefit your tax position for the year.
Consider donations to charity. Most people feel like giving during the holiday season, and this is a great way to hit “two birds with one stone.” Just make sure that the charity donations are tax deductible, and that the organization can provide a receipt for your tax purposes.
Also, consider any last minute write-offs or business purchases which may lower your taxable income. For example, if your small business experienced record earnings and you’re expecting a big tax hit, you may want to consider loading up on the new computers you’ve been considering, which you can write off during tax season as a business expense.
Minimize Surprises
Let’s face it: we all love the idea of a big tax return come springtime, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out this way. Rather than being surprised and disappointed by a less-than-thrilling tax return, set expectations now.
There are a number of calculators available online that can give you a rough estimate of what you may owe the government, or what you can expect to get back from the IRS. But keep in mind, these often require making a number of estimates and assumptions.
If it’s looking like you’ll be close to breaking even, or if you’re planning to pay out in taxes, then start setting aside the cash now (if you haven’t already.) And if you’re one of the lucky people who’s getting a refund, consider savvy ways to use the money. Spend some, save some (or save it all!)
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Taxes, especially for small business owners, are extremely confusing. We suggest that you begin writing down your questions now, before tax season. There may be some questions that you just can’t get answered online, and it never hurts to talk to a licensed CPA.
When speaking with a tax professional about this year’s taxes, you may also want to ask them what you can do next year to further reduce your tax bill. There may be different investments to consider, or clever ways to structure to your small business. You can also talk to a tax professional if you expect to need a tax filing extension because the sooner you file for an extension, the better.
We Can Help Your Gear Up For Tax Season
Don’t delay with these key tax-filing preparation steps. You’ll be less stressed over the holidays, which means more fun with family.
Besides, who needs added holiday stress? We encourage you to get started with these filing taxes steps so that you’re well prepared by the time the deadline rolls around.
5 Mental Health Apps You Should Give a Try
Odds are you spend a good deal of time on your smartphone. While it’s certainly nice to feel connected to the world at all times, studies are starting to conclude that social media and smartphones may not be as good for us as once believed. That’s twice as true for those who struggle with mental health issues.
But did you know that there are actually mental health apps you can download to boost your mood, keep you sober, and even calm you down?
Here are five mental health apps that you absolutely need to try.
1. iMoodJournal
Mental health specialists often recommend their patients record their thoughts and moods throughout the day. Doing so allows them to notice patterns and analyze if a situation may be problematic.
But carrying around a journal can be embarrassing and cumbersome. Thankfully, iMoodJournal is the perfect remedy.
This $1.99 download is a great resource for those looking to learn more about their moods. Users can rate their mood on a scale of ‘Insanely great’ to ‘Couldn’t be worse’ and everything in between (1-10, essentially).
Best of all, users can view their moods in a chart that shows how their moods have fluctuated over time. When paired with the journaling tools included in the app, iMoodJournal is a powerful tool for those starting their mental health journey.
2. TalkSpace
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to talk to a therapist but can’t? Thanks to technology, that’s no longer a problem.
TalkSpace is perhaps the coolest mental health app on this list. It’s essentially an on-demand therapy program.
For a small fee, users can chat with licensed professionals whenever they need to, 24/7.
3. Headspace
Research shows that meditation is a great way to calm the mind and the body. In fact, it’s one of the most recommended treatments along with therapy and medication.
But meditation isn’t always easy, especially if you’re just starting out. If you’re one of the many people who deal with a rapid-fire, busy mind, Headspace is for you.
It touts itself as a mindfulness coach on the go, and for good reason. Users can enjoy guided meditation sessions, as well as words of affirmation and inspiration.
4. Panic Relief
Those that have experienced a panic attack know how debilitating it can be. Seconds feel like minutes, and minutes can feel like hours. The walls feel like they’re closing in, and everything seems amplified.
If you suffer from anxiety, be sure to download Panic Relief. This mental health app offers guided relief to those experiencing a panic attack. Never worry about a panic attack in public again!
5. SoberTool
Of course, there’s much more to mental health than anxiety and depression. It can also affect your life in ways like substance abuse.
If you’re struggling to maintain your sobriety, check out Sober Tool. Get all the benefits of professional facilities like Recovery in Motion treatment centers in Arizona, on the go, whenever you need it.
What Are Your Favorite Mental Health Apps?
If you have a favorite app that helps you get through the day, be sure to let us know!
And don’t forget that Pligg offers tons of great downloads. From manuals to software to eBooks, you can find anything you need at Pligg.
5 Interior Design Apps That Will Help You Remodel
Has it been too long since the last time you gave your home a little makeover?
Maybe you’re noticing that the dining room wallpaper is a little shabby. Perhaps that living room couch has seen better days.
Chances are, it’s been a while since you’ve updated your home. According to a survey, 47% of Americans haven’t revamped their home decor in over 5 years. Life gets in the way, and home maintenance often falls by the wayside.
It’s understandable. Doing a remodel or redecorating is a big task. Luckily, there are hundreds of apps that can help you with this undertaking.
Getting started on a home improvement project can be daunting. Check out these awesome interior design apps that will make the project so much easier.
1. Hutch
Know that your home needs a change, but you’re not sure where to start? Use the Hutch app to play around with different ideas.
Start by uploading a picture of a place in your home that needs redecorating. Within an hour of submitting your photo, Hutch will virtually erase all clutter from the room.
Then apply one of their “filters” like, “flea market finds” or “eclectic chic.” The filters are basically the names of whatever style you’d like the room to have. The filter will superimpose potential room designs onto your photo.
Everything in the space are items you can buy. The app itself is free, so there’s no harm in trying it. You can buy as many or as few of the furniture and decor as you want.
If you don’t want to use one of their filters, you can try out a totally new look on your own. You can use photos of furniture and decor from their vendor’s list. Mix and match items until you get the look you want.
From there, you can buy all the pieces you’ve found. You can also hold on to the picture for inspiration. Take it with you next time you go home goods shopping.
One downside to the app is you can only use their features on living rooms and bedrooms.
2. Color Capture
Color Capture by Benjamin Moore is like the Shazam of color.
Do you love a color used in a random piece of street art? Is there a particular shade of green you saw on your camping trip? Take a picture of it using the app and it will help you match the exact shade with one of their paints.
The app lets you save your favorite color inspiration pictures. You can also browse through the Benjamin Moore paint collection. Once you know what you want to buy, the app can direct you to the nearest store location.
There are other interior design apps that are similar to color capture. Sherwin William’s has one called Color Snap and Behr’s is Color Smart.
Using any one of these apps will ensure that you get the perfect color for every room during a remodel.
3. Modsy
For some, interior design is an exciting fresh start. For others, designing might not be their strong suit. What are those people to do if they can’t afford to hire a professional designer?
Luckily, Modsy is a relatively affordable way to get the help of pro.
The service costs $69 per room. Start by taking eight pictures from different angles of the space you want decorated. Then you’ll take a quiz to figure out your desired style.
Finally, you’ll let Modsy know what your approximate budget is. Then from there, they’ll get to work!
Modsy will send you back a personalized, 3-D rendering of how you should decorate. From there, you can buy what you want from the rendering straight from the app.
Still not feeling so confident and need a little more help? For $199 you can speak virtually with a designer and ask them all your questions.
4. BrightNest
Maybe you love a good home design project but you’re just not so good at staying on task. There’s an app for that!
Everyone loves looking on Pinterest and finding a cool home project. But, often we never end up getting around to it.
With BrightNest, you can browse through their app and find design and maintenance projects. When you see one you like you can save it and schedule a time to try it.
They’ll send you a reminder when it’s time to get started. There are also hundreds of articles to check out for home design and DIY inspiration.
5. PRO Landscape Home
You’ve put a lot of time into the interior, but what about the exterior? Make your backyard like another functional entertaining and relaxing space.
The Pro Landscape Home app is similar to other interior design apps. Take a picture of your backyard and upload it on to the app. Then start designing your outdoor sanctuary!
With this app, you can see how different landscaping options would look in your yard. Add grass, mulch, and fountains. There are thousands of photos of shrubs, trees, and backyard accessories to choose from.
Play around and see which area would best accommodate a fire pit and patio set. When you’re done, you’ll know exactly where your BillyOh garden furniture should go.
Are you also a gardener? PRO Landscape can help plan and map it out.
Tell the app your location and it will pick out plants and flowers that will thrive in your home’s climate.
Done designing your dream yard? View what you’ve done in “before and after” mode. Then share it all to your social media.
There are Tons of Interior Design Apps Out There
But, we think these are some of the best and most innovative.
Doing a home remodel can be stressful and time-consuming. Interior design apps like these can help take some of the guesswork out.
Are you looking to do some home improvement projects and need a little inspiration? Then check out some of our other blogs!
5 Foolproof Photoshoot Poses
If you want to look like a model in photos, then you’ve come to the right place.
Professional models always look amazing, right? They strike a pose, and always manage to look a million dollars.
Read on to discover the top 5 photoshoot poses that’ll have you looking like a professional model every time.
1. Say Cheese!
Let’s start with a smile. Pouts and sullen expressions are trending right now, but the smile is a classic.
Your best smile’s a natural one. Overexaggerate your grin, and you’ll be facepalming when your goofy mug pops up in a colleague’s Instagram story.
Instead, smile the way you do when you’ve heard something amusing. And make sure your smile reaches your eyes; it looks way more sincere that way.
2. Angle Your Head
Professional photographers like the guys at Head-Shot.co.uk rarely take a photo head-on.
Head-on photos lack the depth and benefits of shadows and can make your face look disproportionate.
Instead, tilt your head up or down, and then angle it to the left or right. This gives your cheeks more definition, elongates your neck, and allows shadows to play across your best features.
3. Show Off Your Waist
No matter your body shape or size, angling your body to show off your waist will always get you the best photos.
Check out models’ and actresses’ photoshoot poses, and you’ll often see them standing at a 45-degree angle to the camera lens. That makes the waist automatically appear smaller.
Another thing you’ll notice is how they hold an arm away from their body. Copy this pose by putting your hand on your hip, or at least holding it away enough that there’s a noticeable gap.
The camera picks up the gap, cinching in your waistline and giving you that sexy, curvaceous look.
4. Do the Mermaid
You probably didn’t think it when you watched the Little Mermaid as a kid, but her small waist and curvy hips gave this Disney princess quite the voluptuous figure.
To get yourself that hourglass shape, cross your ankles and hold your arms away from your body.
This’ll make your waist stand out against full hips that taper your body down into a single point at your ankles.
5. Props to the Rescue
Props are the best way to add some interest to your perfected photoshoot poses.
Take advantage of those fun lips, mustaches and princess crowns next time you hit the photo booth. Couple props with poses for a fun but sophisticated shot.
But what if you’re out and about without a prop in sight? In that case, get creative!
Tuck one hand into the crook of the opposite elbow, and hold your arms at a 90-degree angle. Then, tip your chin down onto your free hand for an instant hand-prop.
If you’re holding a handbag or purse, bend your arm and rest your hand on one corner.
Or, use your hand to lightly touch your face when you’re having your photo taken. Practice in front of a mirror for what looks best, and keep it in mind for that impromptu picture.
Make Photoshoot Poses Work for You
Photos have become a part of everyday life and, of course, we want to look our best.
Whether you’re out with friends and want to capture the moment, or you’re taking a stop-and-drop selfie, use our tips and you’ll have elegant, stylish photos a model would be proud of.
Liked what you read? Keep yourself looking gorgeous with the 5 best fitness apps you’ve got to download.
Top 5 Benefits of Educational eBooks for Students
In 2016, it was estimated that 485,538,000 ebook units were sold. In fact, sales are continuing to grow as technology gets better.
For students, ebooks are the perfect way to access their educational books. Educational ebooks are only as heavy as the device they are downloaded to!
The ability to manipulate, magnify, and jump to pages in ebooks are only some of the benefits that they provide.
For a student, ebooks are the future, so here are our top five benefits that ebooks provide.
1. Weight
Students are often forced to lug around many books in a backpack for their classes. Heavy backpacks can cause back and neck problems. Since students may need the books, they cannot afford to lighten the load. Some schools are even removing lockers to store the books in.
Ebooks are only as heavy as the device they are featured on. It may seem like a small benefit, but portability is a plus. To avoid future physical pain, consider switching to an educational ebook.
2. Instant Downloads
Have you ever had to sit in a school bookstore waiting in line to buy books?
A benefit to an educational ebook that often goes overlooked is accessibility. Much like downloading music, ebooks often have marketplaces. One click, that the book is on the device.
Gone are the days of waiting in line at a bookstore or an alternative high school library. After the class is over, you are able to simply delete the ebook. Downloads are instant, and there is no physical book left to take up space!
3. Search Features
Thumbing through physical books can be a pain, which is especially true with large school textbooks.
Many educational ebooks have a search feature. Typing in a keyword allows you to jump straight to the page you’re looking for. Bookmarks are also a key benefit of ebooks, allowing for many saved pages at once.
Searching through an ebook saves time and hassle of scanning through a regular book.
4. Affordability
Unlike regular textbooks, ebooks are digital and thus more affordable. Educational ebooks may be also rented for a limited time, instead of owning the book completely. This not only saves money but also space on the device!
Students are even able to find ebooks online for free, depending on the version. Slight changes to a new edition of a book often leave past editions costing less.
5. Accommodation
Educational ebooks accommodate the learning styles of students. Videos or audio narration cues can be embedded within the ebook itself.
Some students need visual stimulation to help them learn. Ebooks feature graphs, infographics, and diagrams for a more enriching experience than plain text.
Educational ebooks and You
Ebooks are the future. Students are able to learn and thrive from using them in the classroom and at home. They’re easily downloadable and are cheaper than regular books.
As a digital download marketplace, we have many areas you can instantly download from. We offer a variety of music, movies, as well as ebooks and other documents.
For more information on ebooks and other topics, check out our blog!
5 Addiction Recovery Apps You’ll be Glad You Downloaded
Trying to add another tool to your recovery toolbox? Good for you! Recovery from addiction can be a long and challenging battle, but support and help are always available.
Today, with the convenience of addiction recovery apps, more and more of this support is available right at your fingertips.
We’re showing you our top five favorites. Let’s get into them!
SoberTool
SoberTool is an interactive app that allows you to track your sober days. It also provides daily motivation messages and reminders for you to stay on track.
You can customize these messages by indicating your mood and thoughts (i.e.: I want motivation to do a recovery program, or I am questioning if I am addicted).
SoberTool also offers a safe, anonymous community for members to discuss concerns, fears, and successes.
Nomo
Advertised as the #1 sobriety tool in the Appstore, Nomo is well-known and profoundly loved.
With Nomo, you can track multiple sobriety dates for numerous kinds of sobriety. You can also share your clocks with your accountability partners and loved ones.
You also earn a chip every time you hit a milestone in your recovery. This tracking is a great way to stay encouraged and motivated.
One more fun perk? You can see how much time and money you’re saving by not using or acting out in your addiction.
Sober Grid
Addiction recovery apps can be fun, and Sober Grid capitalizes on that notion with its sober social network.
This app provides a sobriety counter (unlock awesome badges as you acquire more time) and the ability to track your recovery.
It also helps you discover sober people near you. Whether you’re looking new friends or transitioning out of a treatment center, such as A Better Today Recovery Services, this is the app for you!
Solid support is vital to recovery. This app makes it easy to find friends in your general area.
rTribe
rTribe is the first counseling platform to offer smart-match collaboration with therapists and coaches to provide “just in time” support.
Upon downloading, you can start a free trial and securely message your therapist or coach. You can also schedule live video and voice sessions. It’s a great, secure way to receive instant support- without all the hassle of showing up to the office or filling out tons of paperwork.
rTribe is significantly cheaper than paying out of pocket for traditional clinical services, and you can do it anywhere!
Pocket Rehab
Pocket Rehab allows you to connect with peers anonymously. You can get help anytime or volunteer to help other users.
This app also provides a strong community Q&A, where you can anonymously discuss real-world topics in a forum setting.
For people who cannot go to rehab or have just completed rehab (but want additional support), this is the app to download.
Final Thoughts on Addiction Recovery Apps
With more and more people turning to their phones for information and entertainment, why not reach for your device when you need support?
Interested in more awesome apps? Check out our extensive app blogroll today!
Digital Fundraising: How to Benefit Real World Causes Online
Do you run a charity and feel like you need some new ideas on how to raise funds?
It may surprise you to know that charities raised a total of $177 million through digital fundraising last year. Incredible, right? And there’s no reason why your charity can’t do it too.
It’s important that you know how to use the valuable online space for your charity so you aren’t left behind. With people being bombarded by messages both online and off, you must make your charity stand out.
Keep reading to find out the best digital fundraising strategies to raise funds for your charity.
Online Event Fundraising
A popular form of digital fundraising is raising funds for an event online. Current trends are moving toward mobile payments for a number of things. You can take advantage of this.
Firstly, sell tickets to your event online. Setting up an online payment method takes a lot of the hassle out of event planning. To sell even more, share posts on social media about how many tickets are left.
Once the event has sold out, you can direct wannabee attendees to a waiting list or ask them to sign up for updates.
You can also set up an event donation page and even people who don’t attend can still give. Include a call-to-action button and a detailed description of exactly how your charity will spend the money.
Digital Fundraising with Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a collective way to raise money through individual donors, friends, and family. This is an increasingly popular method of fundraising online. People feel a direct connection to projects they get when they give this way.
Supercharge your crowdfunding project by creating personalized messages for donors. Make sure your goal is realistic, don’t aim for too high of a dollar amount in a short period of time.
Finally, be sure to encourage people to share and comment as much as possible.
GoFundMe is the largest platform for crowdfunding. You can use their site to create a custom project. For an alternative to GoFundMe, weigh the pros and cons of other platforms such as YouCaring vs GoFundMe.
Gamify Your Giving
People love donating to charity, but life sometimes gets in the way. Want a good way to catch their interest and make giving fun? Turn it into a game!
Gamification means using game-like design or strategy. You’ve probably already used a thermometer that shows how close you are to a fundraising goal.
Take it further by creating badges or levels so that donors can display achievement. Using leaderboards is also fun and creates competition, and it rewards people in a public way.
Raising Funds for Your Charity Online
Hopefully, now you’ve got some great ideas for digital fundraising activities.
Remember at the heart of your strategy is engaging with donors. Keep online fundraising innovative and fun and you’ll always have donations rolling in.
Now that you’ve got the tools, it’s time to get out there and raise some funds for your charity.
Read up on some online digital marketing tips to raise your charity’s online profile even more.
10 Interior Design Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier
While many smartphone and tablet apps are strictly for entertainment purposes, many put a powerful tool in the palm of your hand.
There now seems to be an app for everything. In fact, as of March of 2017, there were 2.2 million apps to choose from in the Apple Store alone.
The interior design world hasn’t missed out on exciting apps that help bring creativity to your home improvement projects. From accurate planning to help with color schemes, there are interior design apps for all steps in the decorating process.
To help you choose the best app for your next home improvement project, we’re going over ten of the most popular apps on the market.
Let’s start designing.
1. MagicPlan
Do you have a vision of your new room but aren’t so great at crunching numbers when it comes to dimensions? MagicPlan has your back. With this helpful app, you can take a picture of your room and it will tell you the dimensions.
You can also use the app while you shop. If a piece of furniture catches your eye, take a picture of it and the app will let you know if the dimensions will work in your room. MagicPlan takes care of the mathematics and leaves the vision to you.
2. Zillow Digs
We all know Zillow, the online real estate database. Now they provide an app that brings price estimation to the interior design world. Zillow Digs provides estimates on design projects to help you get a bird’s eye view of the cost before you start.
Need help finding retailers that carry the products you need? The app will point you in the right direction.
3. ColorSnap
Interior design apps need to enhance your eye for color, and Colorsnap does just that. Sherman-Williams has built an app that lets you find a paint color that exactly matches your source of inspiration.
By taking a photo of your favorite piece of art, car, window curtains or just about anything, the app will tell you exactly which shade of Sherman-Williams paint matches your object. You can also look through 1,500 shades of paint and apply it to virtual rooms in the app.
4. Houzz
This is a monster when it comes to interior design apps. Houzz contains over 5 million high-resolution images of homes and rooms for you to peruse. These are all categorized and tagged based on style, type of room and location.
Houzz works as your ultimate idea guide. Save your favorite ideas and let the app’s design consultants give feedback on the direction you should take the room. Think of this app as your own personal interior decorator at your fingertips.
5. Homestyler
This app calls itself a “virtual fitting room,” and this makes sense once you see what it can do. Homestyler allows you to sample different styles for your home by superimposing virtual models of furniture, light fixtures and more onto a picture of the room you’re working on.
This gives you an accurate look at a rooms end result using certain products. Definitely a huge time and money saver. The app also includes a gallery where you can view other user’s ideas along with portfolios of actual interior designers.
6. Chairish
If you love pre-own or vintage furniture, this is the app for you. Chairish provides a buyer and seller market for used furniture. And rest assured, quality is key when it comes to Chairish products.
The app lets you browse furniture, save your favorites and message sellers if you’re interested. Even the buying process is done through the easy-to-use interface.
7. Curate
If you need interior design apps that help with choosing artwork, Curate is the way to go. With this app, you no longer have to use your imagination when trying to decide how a piece of art will look in a room.
Curate sets up a virtual environment where you can upload a picture of any wall and see how a piece of art will look. If also lets you browse art by your favorite artists or art galleries. Forget about playing a guessing game when trying to pick artwork for your home.
8. MyPantone
Think of this app as your color guru. If you’re questioning the exact color of a shade, MyPantone will set you straight. The company has included its entire library of colors in this app so you never have to question if you’re looking at teal or green.
MyPantone also lets you share your color choices with decorators and manufacturers so they can provide you with news about their products and services. It can also identify colors in a specific photo and give feedback on complementary color choices.
9. BrightNest
Interior design apps are meant to help, but this one goes above and beyond. BrightNest acts as a virtual personal assistant during your home improvement project. Using this app lets you remain organized, making sure you maintain your initial vision throughout the project.
Keep track of tasks and stay on schedule with helpful reminders. BrightNest even gives you advise on completing tasks more effectively. Projects you thought would never get done finally become attainable with this app.
10 Sun Surveyor Lite
This cool app helps you achieve the perfect amount of natural light in your home. Sun Surveyor Lite includes a 3D compass that measures the angle of the sun with respect to your home.
By walking through your house with the app, you can decide where to position furniture or plants in order to get the best natural light. Also, use it when planning for a remodel or if you plan on adding new furniture.
Which of These Interior Design Apps Are for You?
The first step in successfully completing an interior design project is knowing exactly what you want. While you may not have a use for all of the apps listed above, it’s likely that two or three will benefit you.
Ask yourself what you need help with the most and go from there. You’re sure to find something that works.
Visit Pligg.com for more articles on home improvement to help out with your next project.
Great Downloadable Instructions for Rolling Cigars
Smoking cigars is a great hobby and it’s easy to gain a passion for cigars. Don’t be surprised if you become interested in rolling cigars. This skill is often taught to cigar enthusiasts who own their own cigar store or make their own cigars.
But if you’re a passionate user and want to roll a cigar for yourself, here’s a step-by-step instruction guide on how to roll cigars like a pro.
Rolling cigars isn’t as easy as it looks. You have to remember tobacco leaf care and use a very skilled way to pack and roll the cigar papers.
But for now, learn the easy way. Here are downloadable instructions for rolling cigars.
Separate Leaves
Your tobacco leaves will be used for different purposes. Separate them from fillers, binders, and wrappers. Your best tobacco should be used for your wrappers.
Filler tobacco is usually a combination of two different types of tobacco. But if you’re only using one type or you grow your own tobacco, then one type is fine to use as a filler.
If you’re looking for quality leaves, check a great source such as Eurobacco.
Moisten Leaves
You don’t want to smoke dry tobacco leaves and you don’t want your tobacco going stale. Before you start rolling the cigar papers, make sure the leaves are moist. Make the leaves wet by just adding a little bit of water.
A spray bottle works perfectly to moisten the leaves without leaving them too wet.
Leave the spray bottle out in case the leaves start to become dry.
Remove the Stems
Start to remove the stems.
But the whole stem, meaning the stem in the middle.
Start to separate the whole leaf from the end stem, and work your way up the middle vein. That’s one half of the leaf, now separate the second half of the leaf from the stem. You should have two leaf halves and the ripped stem.
When removing the stems from your binder and wrapper leaves, make sure the leaves are smooth. Make sure all of your leaves are moist.
Shred or Bundle Your Filler Leaves
Start to shred your filler leaves. You can either use your fingers and find a downloadable tutorial for shredding the leaves. Or, a grinder works great.
You can also use a small cylinder to bundle the leaves. Make sure your leaves remain moist.
Trim the Binder Leaf
Straighten out your binder leaf by trimming it. Lay the leaf out on a smooth workstation and trim off the edges. Use any sharp blade or find a downloadable tutorial on cutting leaves. If you want to be legitimate, use a chaveta.
Gather Your Glue
Use glue to hold the cigar together, but not the glue you use for art projects. Most cigars use either tragacanth or Guam gum.
If you would rather do the homemade approach, use either egg whites or a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon of flour and 2-3 teaspoons of water.
Fill the Binder Leaf
Start by filling the binder leaf with the filler tobacco. Roll the binder leaf into a cylinder shape. As you roll, add the glue to the edge of the binder leaf. When you’re done rolling, add the glue to the end of the wrap.
A great method when rolling is to roll at an angle. Start with a corner of the leaf and roll the paper to the opposite corner of the leaf. Think of candy cane stripes.
Mold the Cigar
Start to mold the cigar. Keep it in the mold and heat it at a low temperature. Press on the cigar to give it a better shape. Keep the cigar in the mold for an hour or two.
If you don’t hold a mold, you can skip this step. It isn’t necessary, will just perfect the shape of your cigar.
Prepare the Shell
Lay out the wrapper leaf. Make sure the vein is up. Smooth out the leaf. Moisten if necessary; if the leaf is too dry, it will crack. But if the leaf is too wet, it will tear.
And be careful. This will serve as the outer shell of your cigar.
Trim the Shell Edges
Like you did for the binder leaf, trim the edges of the wrapper leaf. However, the cut needs to be perfect.
When you trim the edges, make sure the top cut is especially perfect. Make sure there are no bumps or dips on the edges, the cuts need to be perfect. Use the same knife or chaveta you did for the binder leaf.
Roll the Wrapper Into the Body Mold
Place your molded cigar at one end of the wrapper leaf, but make sure there’s some space between the leaf and the mold.
Like the binder leaf, put some glue on the edge of the wrapper leaf. Start to roll the body mold on the wrapper leaf, making sure there the mold is rolled on the surface of the wrapper.
Don’t roll the cigar in the air. Make sure you’re rolling it on a smooth surface. Roll the cigar in the candy cane stripe way, starting at one edge and rolling at an angle to the opposite edge.
Before you finish rolling, put some glue on the final edge of the wrapper leaf.
Finish and Age Your Cigar
If there’s excess leaf sticking out on the ends of your cigar, that’s normal. You can cut the bottom leaf off, and most cigar makers roll up the leaf on the top. You can also add a small piece of leaf at the top if there’s not enough leaf left to roll.
Place your cigar in your humidor. If there’s a room in the house that’s a great temperature with good humidity levels, the room will work just as well. Wait a few months to smoke your cigar.
This will allow the tobacco leaves to blend, giving the cigar a great flavor.
Create the Best Cigars with These Downloadable Instructions
You don’t have to be a genius to roll a perfect cigar, but expertise does grow with practice. Cigar rolling takes a lot of effort and patience; as much as you would love to smoke that perfectly rolled cigar, you have to discipline yourself and wait.
But once you smoke the cigar you rolled (and maybe even grew the leaves yourself) you’ll feel so much pride.
For more downloadable instructions, check our database.
Top 5 Best Downloadable Dating Apps in 2017
Today, more than a third of married couples in the United States meet online through websites and apps.
Chances are, you’re already glued to your electronics. Why not use your technological obsession to boost your intimate life?
Whether you’re looking to find your perfect match or simply interested in having a good time, downloadable dating apps are the easiest way to meet new people.
Keep reading to learn about the hottest apps in 2017.
Tinder
You’ve heard of it, you’ve wondered about it, and maybe your coworker met her husband on it.
With 350 million swipes happening each day, Tinder is one of the most well-known downloadable dating apps on the market. It’s wildly successful at helping people meet in an easy, fun way.
Here’s how Tinder works:
Any adult over age 18 with a Facebook account can sign up. Once you’re registered, you create a brief profile and add up to six pictures.
Then, you get swiping! Tinder will reveal a name and photo to you.
Like what you see? Simply tap on the photo to learn more about the person (you can also see if you have mutual Facebook friends).
Do you still like what you see? Swipe right to “like them.”
Not a fan? Swipe left.
If it turns out that you both swiped right, Tinder will notify both of you that you’ve matched and invite you to send a message.
Hinge
They say we are who we hang out with, and the Hinge app capitalizes on that notion.
Rather than scrolling mindlessly through a stream of strangers, Hinge matches you with people that you have mutual Facebook friends with. You also have access to see where users work and go to school.
That means that the love of your life may be your cousin’s roommate or your high school bestie’s coworker. It may even be one of the bombshell blonde escorts looking to settle down.
It’s also one of the best downloadable dating apps for ensuring safety. After all, you can always ask your cousin if his roommate is mentally stable before actually going on the date with him.
Bumble
Do you identify as a feminist? Or, are you just someone who isn’t afraid to break the ice when you know what you want?
If you’re a lady tired of being hit on by strange creepers, we’ve got the ultimate downloadable dating app for you.
Bumble works by the woman taking the lead. If a man and a woman match, the woman has 24 hours to send a message.
Make a mistake swiping the wrong way? No worries. You can magically undo this error by simply shaking your phone.
If you wait longer than 24 hours to send a message, the connection disappears (unless the man extends for another 24 hours).
Don’t worry – the app will give you notice when your time is about to expire.
For same-sex couples, either person can initiate the first point of contact.
Regardless of your intentions, Bumble is an exciting, fast-paced way to get the conversation moving and flowing – or onto the next person!
Happn
What if you already met the love of your life, but you just didn’t know it?
Happn believes in that magic of hopeless romanticism. They believe that can exist in tiny passings every single day – whether you are actually aware of it or not.
Perhaps, your soul mate is the person that grabs coffee at the same local diner as you. Maybe it’s the cute girl in your English class. Maybe it was someone you saw on the morning bus.
This app works with GPS location-tracking services. When opening Happn, you receive a gallery of photos of people you’ve physically crossed paths with throughout your ordinary day.
In a nutshell, you get a birds-eye view of everyone who has been physically around you.
In fact, you can even see a timeline of every user you’ve been near in the past few days. The app ranks in chronological order and by how often you’ve been around them.
Seem creepy? It depends on how you look at it. This might just be the icebreaker you need to chat up that cute barista or fellow students in class.
Send a “heart” if you like what you see. If the other person sends you a “heart,” you both receive a notification. Let the magic unroll.
Match.com
It started as one of the most infamous dating websites in the world, and now Match has an easy-to-use downloadable app.
Unlike apps that simply pair you with people near you or people who have mutual friends, Match takes into consideration your actual, well, matching capabilities.
That means it learns “who you are” and helps tailor appropriate potential matches each time you log in.
If you’re tired of the wild, wild west when it comes to free dating apps, it might be time to upgrade your options. Because it does come with an upfront fee, Match tends to attract more serious users looking to settle down.
Match allows you customize different details and potential dealbreakers from everything to travel styles to religious preferences. It also allows you to fill out an extensive profile and indicate what you are looking for in a partner.
In a world full of swiping, Match still has a serious role on the dating playing field.
Final Thoughts on Downloadable Dating Apps
Dating in the 21st century can be stressful, but it’s also easier than ever.
With just a smartphone and a few pictures, you can be well on your way to securing your perfect match.
Looking for more awesome reads on relationships and dating advice? Check out our extensive downloadable articles today.
Go Green: Top 5 Eco Apps to Download Right Now
Looking to start going green, but not sure where to start?
Technology is one of the greatest tools we have at our disposal to help us lead more eco-friendly lives.
The average American adult spends up to 86 hours a month on their phone, which amounts to about 3 hours a day! As for tablets, in 2016 156 billion minutes were spent browsing the web on these nifty gadgets in the US alone.
With so much time spent on mobile screens and tablets, it seems silly not to use their convenience to do good for our planet in some way.
You may be wondering how this is possible. The answer is apps. As of January 2017, there were 2.2 million apps available in the Apple app store.
With so many on offer for you to choose from and test out, where do you start? Not to worry, read on to discover our top 5 recommendations for eco apps. But first…
How Can Eco Apps Help You?
Whether you’re the owner of a smartphone or tablet, you may be on the lookout for more convenient ways to get information on the go. Information that will help you make the most eco-friendly, sustainable choices you can.
Not all eco apps are created equal. However, each eco app we recommend in this article is not only popular but super useful too!
Whether you’re on iOS or Android, the five eco apps listed below are compatible with both. All five are sure to make your quest to be an environmentally conscious consumer much easier.
Read on to find out what they are about and how, individually, they can help you.
1. Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping
If you’re invested in environmental issues that affect endangered wildlife, you’ll already know the deal when it comes to why palm oil is bad. If not, let us explain.
The Low-Down on Palm Oil
Palm oil is an ingredient which regularly appears in all kinds of products ranging from food to cosmetic products. However, it is also the root cause for some of the most disastrous of environmental issues.
It is one of the lead causes of deforestation, which in turn destroys the habitats of endangered wildlife such as Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Malayan Sun bears, and Bornean Pygmy elephants.
Overall, palm oil deforestation is one of the largest contributors to climate change. If you care about our planet, then it’s definitely worth looking into. The Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping app offers an easy way to do so.
Why This App?
Concerned you may be buying products contain unsustainably sourced palm oil? Worry no more! This eco app allows you to shop with confidence with just the scan of a barcode.
Developed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado, this incredible app can help you check to see if the product you’re planning to buy is ”orangutan friendly”. Its database contains over 6,000 products.
The Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping app also helps consumers discover alternative products to those that aren’t R.S.P.O. certified, and explains the crisis, as well as providing tips on how to do your bit to help wild orangutans.
As far as eco apps go, this one is pretty impressive!
2. Light Bulb Finder
Whether you’re going solar in San Diego or Tampa, paying attention to where your energy and electricity is coming from is a great way to maintain strong eco-awareness.
Tying into the theme of sustainable energy and electricity comes the Light Bulb Finder app.
Are you unsure of which bulbs you should be putting where? Worried about how much your electricity bill is racking up from inefficient lamps, as well as the wider effect on climate change? Light Bulb Finder is the eco app for you.
This award-winning eco app makes it easy to find suitable energy efficient bulbs for your home.
Named best overall app by the EPA in 2011, it aids users in their search for eco-friendly bulbs. You can even buy your bulbs directly through the app.
3. #Climate
Fancy yourself a climate change activist? This is one of the best eco apps that will allow you to well and truly fulfill that role.
#Climate makes it easier than ever to uncover and share a variety of actions you can take to battle climate change through over 90 non-profit organizations.
This app also provides statistics to see what kind of personal impact you’re making on the causes you care about. #Climate provides a platform for change and positive global and environmental impact.
Change starts with action, and if #Climate doesn’t make you want to start researching and planning your activism and making protest signs, we don’t know what will.
Harness social power for the greater good with this app, today.
4. Wise Up On Waste
Every year, roughly 50% of food is wasted in the United States. That amounts to about 60 million tons, worth an approximate $160 billion!
It’s a pretty sickening statistic, especially when you consider that 41.1 million Americans are food insecure. This means they are forced to skip meals, or feed their children over themselves, and buy cheap nutritiously lacking food.
If you’re looking to reduce your food waste, this is the app for you. The Wise Up On Waste app can help you reduce the amount of food you throw out by 20% or more.
How Does It Work
This app can help will help you keep track of how much food you waste or spoil. The king of waste management eco apps, you can permanently stamp out kitchen waste with this app with some of its awesome features. These include:
- A means of identifying where/when you generate waste
- Trackers for weekly progress and savings
- Audits for waste at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
With all of these features and more, this is definitely one of the eco apps you need on your phone if you’re looking to save the planet, as well as your wallet!
5. iRecycle
iRecycle will help you find convenient eco-information and recycling options across the US. With over 1.6 million ways to recycle more than 350 different materials, you’ll never be short of recycling ideas again!
You can review the latest recycling tips and tricks and browse recycling news and updates. This really is an app for those who are passionate about the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
Even if you’re just a casual user who simply wants to make a difference, this app uses your current location to help you find nearby resources, with information about their operating hours and directions.
No matter the material, get organized with this app and get to know your local recycling depots.
Honourable Mentions
In the world of eco apps, there are no losers. In our book, any app that exists to help make a difference to the planet is worth giving a go.
With this in mind, here are more amazing eco apps but almost, but didn’t quite make the top five.
Bunny Free
Trying to go cruelty-free? Bunny Free is the app for you! Developed by PETA, it gets its data from their lists of companies, along with their animal testing policies.
With the app, you can type in a name or scan a barcode of a number of products:
- Cosmetics
- Personal-care products
- Household Cleaning Products
- General Household Products
Not only will it tell you whether a company tests or not, but it can tell you if it is owned by a parent company who does. Knowledge is power, and this app gives you just the information you need to make some smart consumer decisions
greenMeter
greenMeter is a great app that is, sadly, exclusive to iOS.
It also costs $5.99, though in the grand scheme of apps that really isn’t a whole lot of cash. This is without mentioning what a worthwhile investment it is. In fact, the software can supposedly pay for itself within 1-2 tanks of gas.
greenMeter calculates your vehicle’s fuel and power usage. It evaluates your driving and displays real-time results for instant feedback on how to increase fuel efficiency, lessen fuel consumption and cost, and lower the environmental impact of you and your car.
At its best on the road, greenMeter can help you even before you set foot in your vehicle. You can simulate acceleration by tipping your phone back and forth, aerodynamic drag, and more.
Great for those interested in eco-driving, or even if you’re simply interested in greenifying your entire lifestyle. This is one of the eco apps that is definitely worth your time.
Found Some Eco Apps You Want To Try?
There’s something here for everyone. Every single one of these eco apps can assist you in making more sustainable choices in your day-to-day life.
Reduce your carbon footprint, share them with your friends, and learn from them. These eco apps all provide a service that, were more people to use them, may leave the earth in a better state for future generations.
Inspired by our list of eco apps? Why not check out more of our app recommendation lists?
Whether you’re looking for fitness apps, travel apps, or even apps for home security – we’ve got you covered!
Common Health Concerns For Mature Men
The saying is true: getting older is a pain. Everyone has their own ways of aging, but most struggle the same way.
This is definitely true if you’re a man — it’s easy to lose the vitality you had when you were young. You’re sluggish, and you lose your strength.
There are also certain diseases and conditions men are susceptible to developing as well as certain types of cancer.
Whether they’re issues with genitalia or issues with hormones, male aging isn’t a joke.
Read these health concerns for mature men. And always discuss any possible health issues with your doctor. Start understanding the signs before your health deteriorates.
Alopecia
This is a fancy word for balding. Up to 25% of the male population is susceptible to baldness as they mature. Most of these mature men develop this symptom at the age of 60, but some can start to lose hair as young as 30.
Alopecia isn’t limited to just balding. Alopecia also includes thinning hair or a receding hairline.
Check your genetic history if you believe you’ll be a victim of Alopecia. There are some treatment options available.
Heart Attack and Heart Disease
Heart diseases include cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease, also called coronary heart disease (CHD).
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans. One out of five Americans will get a heart attack sometime in their lives. And heart disease is also killing plenty of men and women outside of America.
Men are more likely to develop heart disease than women. The reason why has always been speculated. Heart disease is also the number one killer of women, but men are twice as likely to get a heart attack than women.
The most likely factors are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and lack of exercise that also results in a higher body mass index (BMI).
1.2 million heart attacks occur in America. 460,000 turn out to be fatal. Because these heart attacks are so intense, 300,000 die before they receive medical attention. These numbers are scary for mature men.
Hypertension
When the force of blood is stronger than what your arteries can handle, hypertension occurs.
Hypertension is the first sign that something life-threatening can occur. These diseases include heart failure, heart disease, impaired vision, stroke, and kidney disease.
Mature men are at more risk of developing these diseases when their blood pressure is very high. If this issue isn’t resolved, it can shorten a man’s lifespan between 10 and 20 years.
High Cholesterol
Produced by the liver, cholesterol is the building block of cell membranes.
It’s a soft and waxy fat that is a common steroid. Cholesterol is needed for many things such as producing Vitamin D, the formation of bile, your hormones, and other steroids.
Cholesterol is a very good steroid. However, too much cholesterol has negative consequences. When too much cholesterol is in your blood, it will accumulate in your arteries.
How do we consume too much cholesterol? In the food we eat.
If you don’t treat high cholesterol, it will increase your risk of heart disease as well as stroke and circulatory issues.
Urinary Tract Infection
Anyone can develop a urinary tract infection (UTI). These are common in adult men and women, even children can develop a UTI.
You get a UTI when bacteria enter your urethra. This causes bacteria to multiply, resulting in painful urination.
While not serious, without treatment mature men can suffer. A UTI can do serious damage to your kidneys and bladder. If not treated, a UTI can turn into a kidney infection.
Enlarged Prostate and Prostate Cancer
Every man does not look forward to the daunting prostate exam. But it’s necessary if you want to prevent Adenocarcinoma. This is cancerous growth on the prostate.
If the growth isn’t caught on time, cancer can spread to the whole prostate and other tissues. Eventually, cancer can spread throughout the body including the lungs, liver, and bones.
If you catch the prostate cancer before spreading, good news. Prostate cancer alone is very easy to treat. But you will have to endure the extremely awkward yearly exam in order to truly prevent prostate cancer.
Erectile Dysfunction
As a man grows older, his sex drive slows down. While this is normal, it’s not appreciated by your wife, whose sex drive increases as she ages.
Erectile dysfunction has many forms.
A failed erection is the most common type, but other erectile dysfunction types include premature ejaculation. In some cases, infertility is the cause of erectile dysfunction and not age or lack of hormones.
To keep up with your wife — and continue feeling young — modern medicine has your back. You can easily treat erectile dysfunction with medication such as Testerone Free. Discuss your options with your doctor.
Testicular Issues
Your testicles are a very fragile part of the body. This is why many mature men are susceptible to developing some kind of issue with their testicles.
The most common issues are testicular pain or pain in the scrotum.
Epididymitis is another testicle issue that’s a cause of infertility. This is inflammation of the area that stores sperm.
If you notice your scrotum is swollen, this is hydrocele. However, this isn’t an issue; hydrocele is usually just scrotal inflammation and goes away on its own.
Addiction
One of the many causes of health risks for mature men is how you treat yourself. As men age, they become more prone to developing addictions. The two biggest players are alcohol, narcotics, and cigarettes.
Additions and habits usually form with social incompetence, addiction family history, and stress.
Prevent Health Problems in Mature Men
There are many genetic and external factors that contribute to increased health risks.
It’s common for men to develop bad habits such as drinking and smoking cigarettes. If you’re predisposed to physical conditions such as cancer, this makes you more likely to develop them.
By paying attention to your health, you could potentially save your life.
If you want more health advice, read our content and educate yourself.
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Speak in Spanish?
Including both native and bilingual speakers, 52.6 million people in the US speak Spanish. It’s estimated that nearly 140 million Spanish speakers will live in the US by 2050.
Learning any second language can help slow the onset of Dementia. But Spanish, in particular, has many practical applications. Some employers actually pay bilingual Spanish speakers substantially more.
Let’s find out how much time you can expect to set aside to learn to speak in Spanish.
How Long It Takes to Learn to Speak in Spanish
Spanish is actually one of the easiest languages for an English speaker to learn. It takes between 575 and 600 hours to reach speaking and reading proficiency in the language.
Therefore, if you study 2 hours per day, you can expect to learn how to speak in Spanish within 9-10 months. At that point, you can read something like “peliculas completas gratis” on a Spanish site without having to use Google translate.
But keep in mind that this is only an estimate. Some people will pick up the language much more quickly. Others will experience more difficulty.
A few factors that impact how fast you learn the language include the following:
- Learning method
- Focus
- Consistency
- Goals
Why the Language Is So Easy for English Speakers to Learn
Compared to Chinese, which takes 2200 hours to achieve proficiency, Spanish is undoubtedly easier to learn.
The main reason why English speakers grasp Spanish so well is that the two languages are similar. Spanish derives from Latin, and so do many English words.
Spanish is also a phonetic language. This means the spelling of a word determines its pronunciation. Chinese, for example, is non-phonetic, which is one of the many reasons why it takes so much longer to learn.
However, Spanish does offer some challenges for English speakers. You’ll need to pay very close attention to the verb tenses and rule exceptions.
The Best Ways to Learn Spanish
If you have friends who speak Spanish, consider listening to them speak daily, and try to join in on the conversation.
You should also consider taking a Spanish class. But avoid large classrooms, as a one-on-one learning environment is much more efficient. It’s easy to find online Spanish tutors, so you don’t even need to leave your home for a lesson.
If you want to learn how to speak Spanish on your own, start with a site like Duolingo. Use speed learning Spanish ebooks to supplement your studies.
Put together a plan first. Here’s an example of a basic study plan you can use for a 2-hour study session:
- 30 minutes of Duolingo
- 30 minutes of reading an ebook
- 20 minutes of vocabulary practice
- 20 minute Skype conversation
- 10 minutes of reading Spanish articles
- 10 minutes of listening to Spanish music
To maximize the intensity of your sessions, you can study one hour in the morning and another in the evening.
Final Thoughts
If you’re dedicated and study regularly, you’ll learn to speak in Spanish in less than a year.
Once you begin to understand the basics, switch the language on your smartphone to Spanish. Try following a few Spanish speakers on Twitter, and visit a Spanish website every day. Small changes like this will help you speed up the learning process.
Now that you know what it takes, start building your study plan today! Also, make sure to check out our education blog for more useful tips.
5 Home Security Apps You Should Download Immediately
Looking for ways to improve your home security?
Do you need a better way to monitor your home?
If you’re looking for a way to make sure your home is safe even when you’re far away, you’ll be happy to learn that many great home security apps can help you stay connected to your home.
Below is our list of the 5 home security apps you should download immediately.
1. Ivideon
Ivideon is available for both Android and iOS devices and is a cloud video surveillance service that helps you to monitor your home.
The company has various cameras and types of equipment that can be installed around your home or office, and the app will use these to automatically upload surveillance footage to the cloud.
By logging into the app or on the web, you can easily connect to the cameras and stream the footage.
2. Alfred
Alred is an app that is available for both Android and iOS and allows you to easily convert your old smartphones into security cameras. This may be one of the best ways to repurpose an old smartphone.
No lengthy signup is necessary, and the process to get started is very easy and allows you to get a high-security camera set up in your home in no time.
The app also allows you to view the footage from any cameras you have set up and has an easy-to-use and attractive interface.
3. Reolink
Reolink can be used for both Android and iOS devices but works only with Reolink security systems and cameras. However, the app is fully-featured and easy-to-use.
With the app, you can access the 4-megapixel super HD feeds both remotely and locally. Additionally, the app has motion detection features and notifications, allowing you to get the most out of your security system.
4. i-Security
The i-Security app is available for both Android and iOS devices and is a great tool for monitoring multiple cameras for home security purposes.
On the app, you can view several live video feeds over WiFi or 3G internet connections. In conjunction with the best home surveillance system you can find, this app can go a long way in keeping your home well-protected.
While this app isn’t as easy to use as some of the other options on this list, it is a bit more technical and has some advanced features that the others don’t offer.
5. Video Monitor
Video Monitor is another excellent home security app that is available for Android devices. The app allows users to monitor multiple video feeds and comes with additional features that help you to detect intruders and unusual events.
The app has motion detection features and notifications as well as GPS tracking features. While it can be slow to startup at times, this video app more than makes up for it in features and ease of use.
Home Security Apps Are the Way of the Future
There are many things you can do to improve home security. However, if you’re looking for new ways to track your home security more efficiently, these apps will give you everything that you need.
Android and iOS devices have made monitoring the safety of your home or office easier than ever before, and by downloading one of the apps above you’ll have everything you need to manage security in the palm of your hand.
Looking for the best digital downloads and software? Check out more software available at Pligg.
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