ATHLEISURE LIST | STRETCH*D

We find that throughout the week we are always selecting fitness methods based on what we are looking to target or to ease ourselves into the day. Sometimes, you're focused on legs, your abs and on others - you need a really good stretch! We all know that you are supposed to stretch before and after a workout and many of us own foam rollers where we can continue the practice at home.

Stretch*d provides a Stretch*r which is certified to be able to maneuver your body. Whether you have an appointment or not, you can opt for a Quick*e (25 mins), Flex*d (55 mins) and E*longated (75 mins) for a full body stretch out. Even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, they can work within this timeslot as well.

In addition to these packages, there are additional add ons. There are services such as the Anti*aging Stretch which which incorporates a Light Slim LED that focuses on your face, feet and lower leg. You can opt for Get Buzz*d which adds a Hyper Volt to your treatment, Get Relax*d that adds CBD Cream neck massage, Lengthen*r which adds 10 minutes to your base package, Get Puls*d which is a 20 minute leg compression with Normatec Recovery Bootie, Get Stimulat*d is a 20 minute massage with a smart muscle stimulator the PowerDot, and if you happen to not have the appropriate clothing, you can also rent an outfit so that you can be in comfort.

Pre or post your treatments, there is also an area that has foam rollers, stall bar and additional stretching aids that can assist you in further treatment.

The Stretch*d Method was developed due to work with pro-athletes, weekend warriors and those who experience the wear and tear of daily life (extensive sitting, driving, picking up children, etc). The team believes that this dynamic assisted stretching is the most effective form of stretching for all bodies, no matter the activities that you do.

Ultimately, this method will allow you to perform at your peak, improve your
range of motion and posture, reduce pain, increase longevity and keep you stretched out.

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STRETCH*D
27 W 20th St
NY, NY 10011

www.stretchdspace.com

IG @stretchdspace

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | STRETCH*D in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | GAME TIME EATS

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Game Time Eats in issue.

BINGELY SPOTLIGHT

Earlier this month, WWE's John Cena appeared on SiriusXM for Today Show Radio on channel 108 for his interview on "The Hoda Show" hosted by Hoda Kotb to read his #1 New York Times Bestseller, "Elbow Grease," to a group of children.

John's book, focuses on a monster truck named Elbow Grease who is smaller than his four brothers but is determined to show that he is just like his brothers. To prove this, he enters the Demolition Derby to show that he has grit and guts - even though he may not have the same amount of power as his brothers.

This picture book (which is a part of a new picture-book series) is based on John's own experiences with his four brothers growing up and is based in his foundational beliefs of his ethos: hustle, loyalty and respect.

PHOTO COURTESY | SIRIUSXM

Read more from the Oct issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Spotlight in mag.

BECOME CYBER SMART TODAY!

BY PAUL FARKAS, TECH DIRECTOR

We live in a world where cyber threats are all around us in our business, personal and family lives. It is integral to gain knowledge and take action on how to have better habits and get with protection from safeguard third-party solutions. We found a recent industry panel session hosted by Chubb, "Becoming Cyber Smart at Home, Work and Wherever Life Takes You," to be super-informative and recommend looking at these topics, themes and steps to get your digital lives in top shape!

The panel comprised of cyber industry experts from Chubb, ADT, Carnegie Mellon University and CyberScout, and outlined a range of cyber threats facing individuals and small businesses in today's connected world. It describes real-life examples and anecdotes in bite-size answers, and offers some best practices for individuals and businesses for keeping their personal information safe against some of today's biggest cyber risks.

The session delivered an insightful discussion about cybersecurity and its impact on our personal and professional lives by demystifying cyberthreats as well as highlighting practical protections that can be implemented by anyone.

Patrick Thielen, Senior Vice President, Cyber and Technology Product Lead in North America for Chubb, led the panel discussion. “To frame the risk facing consumers, global economic costs of cybercrime are rising into the trillions of dollars annually, and a large portion of that falls squarely on the shoulders of consumers. Since 2005, there have been over 8000 reported data breaches of businesses, in which over ten billion consumer records have been stolen. As of today, 64% of American adults have been victimized by at least one of these
breaches and most multiple times.. The average email user today has over 130 online accounts and we have more and more internet connected devices in our homes. It is not surprising that according to the 2018 Chubb Cyber Survey focusing specifically on individuals, 86% report being concerned about a cyber breach, yet only a small percentage were taking basic precautions to guide against them.”

In fact, 8 in 10 people experience or know someone affected by cybercrime per the noted US Results, 2017 Norton Cyber Security Insights Report. Incredibly, cyber attacks were found to be happening every 39 seconds by a referenced study by The James A. Clark School of Engineering at University of Maryland.

Summer Craze Fowler, Technical Director of Cybersecurity Risk and Resilience at Carnegie Mellon, is responsible for a team and portfolio of work focused on improving the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure and assets. “Businesses of all sizes are targets for these data breaches as they hold so much information and data, not only about consumers, but also about their employees,” she noted. “Typically when we think about these data breaches, we think about credit card fraud, but it has extended well beyond.. we’re looking at lately W-2 fraud and health insurance fraud,” raising that W-2 phishing is up 870%, where tax returns are being filed on behalf of employees and diverting those funds to the bad actors. “Your health insurance information can be used by others getting care and pretending
to be you.”

The session was well-supported by studies and figures. 27% of data breaches in 2017 were medical or healthcare related per the claims data from the Identity Theft Resource Center. A whopping 24% of all Chubb cyber claims are healthcare related.

Adam Levin, Chairman and Founder of CyberScout and author of the critically acclaimed book, Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers and Identity, made some excellent points for business and consumer to note and act upon. “The reality
with the ID theft problem.. is this data can use you as the credentialed person to get into your business network, where they can put malware on the computers of your business; they can steal information involving W-2s; create situations where they do wire transfer fraud; they can steal intellectual property and trade secrets. It isn’t you for you, but as a conduit of all of the other things. The biggest thing they do is phishing attacks, they do drive-by attacks, they find ways to get malware on your computer and do keystroke attacks, ransomware and then they also get into information about kids.” He shared some appalling scenarios, like child-related identity theft, where the scheme can be as long as a 15-17 year run, because kids’ credit isn’t often checked, and often times it is a person in the home as a relative to set up a separate life right under their nose across the table.

Michael Keen, Vice President, ADT Cybersecurity, chimed in, “[a]n additional threat vector is the home network, like a home router.. there are countless folks that have the same passwords or administrative access to those devices and the same firmware when the device
was issued. Compared to all of the threats out there, you have to look at what’s keeping against threats created yesterday to protect us today. And so the motivation of criminals that
attack the home has also extended to the Internet of Things (IOT) devices. In 2017, the average number of internet-connected devices connected to the home was around 13.. talking
about (connected) light bulb, a thermotstat, a lock, a baby camera, a refrigerator, television, and in terms of motivation, frankly it pays.” He added, “Cybercriminals will always take the
path of least resistance” and gave low cost IOT devices as an example, where the ability to put additional layers of security, firmware updates and testing is nowhere near physical security installed by professionals. The strength of your network is dependent on the
weakest devices in your network. It is either focused on things like denial of service attacks or can even be used to mine cryptocurrency using your network’s power to mine Bitcoin.”

Indeed, studies show costly ransomware is on the rise. Per the Symantec 2018 Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), the average cost of ransomware per attack is $533.

Ms. Fowler continued by pointing to the fact that people need to be practicing good cyber hygiene. “Often times we are offering up the information, like internet quizzes where the data we put online is used by nefarious purposes. Phishing, vishing (voice), smishing (sms) are prevalent and even videos on online dating sites are also being used for ransomware.”

“Unfortunately we are not going to be able to prevent this anymore,” Mr. Levin regrettably noted. “We have hundreds of millions of social security numbers out there due to breaches for many years. Cyberwar has replaced the cold war that we face-off everyday against state-sponsored hackers, for-profit hackers, cause hackers and basement hackers. We have to adopt entirely new paradigm as to how we think about it.” Mr Levin has coined and developed the 3M’s for the industry where “we boil it down to three M's -- minimize, monitor and manage," said Mr. Levin. "It is about minimizing your risk of exposure through adopting best practices, monitoring your accounts effectively and comprehensively, and managing any damage, such as ID theft or stolen accounts that might occur." He elaborated that it was about “minimizing the risk of exposure or reducing your attackable surface; effectively monitoring, and planning for and monitoring the damage.” He said, “it’s not about the technology, it is about creating and following a culture and following it for businesses and
consumers.” Some solid advises Mr. Levin gave were: using strong passwords or getting a password manager; enabling 2-factor identification; creatively changing memorable answers
to security questions; staying away from public wi-fi and using VPN for better protection; updating and backing-up your data; shredding; freezing credit; changing default passwords of
IOT devices; checking and being mindful of credit scores and signing up for transactional monitoring alerts; thinking of more sophisticated monitoring programs; and looking at explanations of health insurer benefits where there are multiple charges due to fraud.

“The culture of security and acting on things today is very important,” Mr. Keen added. “A variety of different service partners can provide installations of hardened security equipment, like how a network is setup.” He gave examples of considering implementing guest wi-fi that can be configured on your behalf, and staying on top of security patches and firmware updates, as well as monitoring – all which are readily available services and solutions by providers.

Ms. Fowler highlighted that it is also a culture of resiliency, “where the internet is a part of our lives and we need to exercise resiliency.. and have a response plan.” Some questions to think
about are, “who would you call as a family as victims of a breach; whether you have an attorney ready with something more serious, like physical attempts and ransomware, and also
knowing how to access financial institutions with bigger problems and whether people have and test backups to make sure they work. She noted that when going away on travel, it is good practice to have other ways to access funds than a primary credit card as a backup plan. “Basic hygiene includes having a response plan,” she stated.

“The 3rd M is manage the damage,” Mr. Levin pointed out. “It really has to do with knowing who to call and knowing what to do. In a business you would create a breach response plan,
game this plan, and know you would have to respond urgently, transparently and empathetically. As a consumer, many institutions have programs available either to policy holders, account holders or employees, so (they can) check with insurance agents, financial
services organization, and HR departments and find out how to be part and the cost is one of the cheapest investments you can make versus the agony and financial loss you can have,” he
warned.

Mr. Keen agreed, “be partial to action, these suggestions are easy and free or inexpensive if implemented today. Think of the prevalent use of mobile phones and whether security has
changed to meet those demands.”

“Technology is moving at breathtaking pace and families should discuss with children and elderly and monitor use online. Often adversaries are coming with sense of urgency, if too good to be true, it likely is, either with big discounts and savings or fear of quick force like threats of governments coming to your home. Take a breath and think about things before doing things that could open you up and expose you,” Ms. Fowler noted.

In response to one of the audience questions, Mr. Levin creatively added, “when you say the word portfolio, the Pavlovian response of most people is investments - but the truth is we also have other portfolios in our lives – we have our credit and our identity, and have to be professional managers, because business, governments, and truthfully, consumers have not done enough, there needs to be a shared responsibility of cooperation, collaboration and communication… It is incumbent upon us to help one another. The AthleisureMag.com extra step is sometimes the harder step to understand the threats and extra things to do to protect yourself, and look to trusted institutions with relationships to get assistance. Be bold, ask and when there is some assistance take it.”

Answering another query to the panel, Ms. Fowler alluded, “from a business standpoint, they need to be cognizant of what they bring into their environment. It is really critical to understand what assets you have inside - people, technology, the facilities themselves – it is a prioritization process.”

Mr. Levin added another array of things to target optimizing for business: 2 factor identification; training; segmenting data as need to use and need to know; mapping data to be readied for incidents; aggressive vulnerability analysis and patch programs, and more. He
forewarned we “have to assume there is going to be an incident. A defining moment can be how a breach is handled. In the future, regulators, class action attorneys and the public will judge businesses on how well they protected the data and how well did they respond for customers, employees and business partners.”

Indeed, within the last few years, there are several products in the market that will offer cyber protection for individuals stated Mr. Thielen. “There are policies that cover financial fraud,
extortion and ransomware, privacy breaches, cyberbullying and other disruption victimization. Incident response coaches will have steps of what to do and facilitate,” noting they should be contacted in the first steps.

Adding layers of redundancy to make a security culture was also stressed by Mr. Keen. “Victimized business owners may face obligations from rules and regulations to notify customers or partners that could lead to loss of revenue, so it makes a lot of sense to mitigate risk through policies. Cyberthreats are evolving constantly, the latest stat is 250,000+ strands of malware are created daily, so if you are not evolving at an equal pace you are continuing to be left at risk. The reason why there is so much cybercrime is because it is easy and because it pays.”

Mr Levin underscored that “the truth is technology makes us powerful, but it also makes us vulnerable. When convenience trumps security, there are issues. And we know as technology
evolves, the protection tends to catch up and there are responses to the flaws and issues, the bad guys find a work-around, because there is more money on the dark side, and so we need to work together and find new ways to do this and find ways to better accurately authenticate people. Especially for businesses, we have to move toward privacy by design and security
by design, and can't be a bolt on - they have to be a core of things from day one. IOT devices should not be allowed to be connected to the internet until a new password is entered to work, so devices can be updated and upgraded automatically.”

“As businesses, the threat is evolving everyday,” concurred Ms. Fowler, “but we are really worried about the impact, be it from a cyberattack or a natural disaster, so it is very important for businesses to think about what is it that is most important for the operations of this business, and then make sure they have the right protections around those things most critical and more broadly than cyber - being resilient to accomplish its most important
objectives. For personal, we look at kids and monitoring what is online and think about what is most important and build protections around that.”

THE EIGHT BEST

Read the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Eight Best in mag.

HOW A BOTANICAL DESIGN CAN LIGHTEN UP YOUR ROOM

Spring and summer mean it's time to step outside. But what if it's still Winter, or you live in a country without warm, beautiful Spring days? You would still want to beautify your room with botanical pictures, landscape designs, and green views.

Thanks to a modern art form, home decor can change this for you and create something beautiful to look at.

When you are thinking about remodeling your room or renovating the scenery, you might consider going with the botanical design. It brings back the feeling of being in the garden, breathing clean air and enjoying nature.

You can create a botanical feeling in your room with several design ideas:

● Indoor wall murals

Murals are not only for graffiti art and outdoor work. You can remodel your room wall with a great mural and be happy with it. A lot of people choose to erect a botanical mural on their walls. They like to be surrounded by nature. Muralists use several elements of outdoor view to create a natural feeling of gazing into the wildlife.

You can hire a professional muralist to paint your wall. You can even try doing so yourself. What you can do is to choose a removable mural template or browse through other ideas. Decide if you want to shop for landscape designs. You won't regret gazing into wildlife every day.

● Indoor botanical designs

Many people decide on creating indoor gardens nowadays. It's to create a sensation of freshness and being in nature. A botanical garden is a great way to introduce house and outdoor plants to your family.

A botanical garden is a type of garden that is usually public to the community. But it can be private for you and your house guests. A botanical garden is something that you can enjoy every day. It's something to amaze your guests with.

● Small botanical elements

If you are not ready to transform your room into a small botanical garden. If you don't want to wake up every day looking at a forest mural, but still want to have some botanical elements, this might be for you.

You can include small botanical elements in your bedroom, living room or kitchen. Take, for example, botanical sheets for your bed. Botanical drapes in the kitchen, or hand cloths for the bathroom.

Houseplants are also a good addition. Cactuses, succulents and other types of houseplants can add some natural and green look to your interior.

Go with green pouf chairs. Add some green leafy pillows to your living room couches. Do you use lampshades? It can be an opportunity to give your room a green feeling with a simple lampshade design.

Your room decor is up to you. Botanical design can transform your house into something fascinating and fresh. It gives your room a green and fresh look.

Create your indoor wildlife. It should deliver multiple feelings once you're done with it. A great sense of new life and plenty of oxygen, even if you use artificial elements. You will feel more relaxed and rested. You will wake up to something beautiful every day and enjoy living in your corner even more.

Read more from the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | SWITCH PLAYGROUND

Switch Playground came to NYC in fall of 2016 by way of initially launching in South Africa in 2014! Steve Uria, a longtime fitness entrepreneur and personality launched this fitness method which is fueled by a DJ playing as you go through a number of circuits in 2 minute increments. One of our classes started with a quick yoga warmup and continues with a mixture of TRX workouts, treadmills, medicine balls, trampolines and of course, all done
within a blacklight setting! Although you workout individually, we found that we worked in groups of two and through a series of hand signals, we navigated the workout to figure out if
we would do it again or modify it within our 2 minute slot before moving into the next movement. With an array of instructors guiding you through this bootcamp style workout, you're able to see others who are in your class doing moves that you will do later in your
session, which consists of 20 stations. You have 20 seconds to get from one station to the next one before you start your 2 minute drills.

Those who do this workout find that it is truly a total body workout and it consists of plyometrics, strength training and cardio. It's a challenge that allows you to sync in with your instructors (which there tend to be around 10 that float throughout your session) and your partner as you continue with the workout.

Whether you take the class religiously or just from time to time, the workouts change from class to class so there is no way that you will be bored or be able to go on "autopilot". It's all about intensity, intervals and of course - variety.

This nightclub oriented workout complete with fog machines and dancing by the instructors while you complete your stations, are followed by access to bathrooms that have a number of
amenities including showers as well.

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SWITCH PLAYGROUND
Soho Playground
180 6th Ave
NY, NY 10012

12th St Playground
130 East 12th St
NY, NY 10003

www.switchplaygroundusa.com

www.switchplaygroundsa.com

IG @SwitchPlaygroundNYC

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Switch Playground in Mag.

5 QUICK TIPS IN MAKING HEALTHY YET DELICIOUS SNACKS

We all know that losing weight is not an easy feat. With the holidays soon approaching, shedding excess weight becomes even harder. We are always bombarded with various diet plans, but it all boils down to making sustainable, informed choices. It’s all about creating perfect decisions, and there is no better choice than eating a healthy snack.

It is easier to say than to implement, right? When you are going out on a vacation or business meeting, you don’t always know what constitutes a healthy snack. That is why this article has come to your rescue! This article will provide excellent tips to help you prepare a slim and smart snack suitable for your weight loss needs. There are a series of crucial decisions you have to make when renovating your kitchen. No kitchen is considered to be complete without modern cooking appliances.

Choosing the right cooking appliances can be an uphill task, especially when you don’t know where to start. This article will help you select kitchen ovens, refrigerators, sink and dishwasher amongst other cooking appliances. If you want to learn more about the best cooking appliances, then visit https://yourcookingexpert.com for more details.

5 Simple Tips for Healthy Snacking

1. Match and Mix

Your diet is personal. Although we have general guidelines to follow, our eating habits are unique and not universal. Maybe you consume more fat in your breakfast than an average person. If that is the case, you need to include that in your afternoon snack. Your gut will probably react with something nutritious and delicious like walnuts. Making healthy snacks are as easy as limiting specific foods and combining them with other micronutrients. Snacking using a single food can be dangerous. Match and mix for healthy, smart snacks.

2. Reduce Simple Carbs

We all understand that sugar has adverse effects on our health. You might have already started to cut out sweets, candy, soda, etc., but many times we don’t remember those simple carbs can be dangerous. They behave like the normal sugars only that they are burned quickly by your body and won’t leave you satisfied for long.

Let’s take a typical example. A sandwich is a quick snack for many people. It contains a lot of lean proteins; it has a beautiful appearance when packed in a paper. One slice of bread contains 15 carbs, but it does not exceed the macros. White bread contains processed wheat, and that could probably be the source of those carbs. To avoid this problem, you can add some proteins in the salad, vinaigrette dressing and dark greens.

3. Have a Pre-vetted, Go-to Healthy Option

Sometimes making perfect snacking choices boils down to having healthy options in your hand. Preparing meals is a hard task for many people, but preparing snacks are a little bit easier. Adding something simple like carrots can make a significant difference in your snacking. If you require something healthier, there are various pre-vetted options such as Espresso Obsesso offers balanced macros in a simple package.

4. Remove Troublesome Ingredients

Sometimes pre packaged snacks help people to eat healthily, but certain ingredients blow them off. For instance, Trail mix is full of complex carbs, fruits and nuts, but they add something such as M&M to make it more enjoyable. But removing M&M from your snack could be the best option. If you want to reduce your sugar consumption, you need to keep off from those delicious morsels. That could help you save a lot of carbs and calories!

5. Begin with the Meals

A surefire way to make sure you over-snack is avoiding eating enough food during the previous meal. Snacks should be easy, quick and sufficient food to make it to the next meal. Therefore, if a snack in between your meals ensure that you consume enough food during your main dishes.

Snacking is hard. But this article aims to make it easier, by providing top-notch snacking tips that will help you prepare healthy snacks. If you follow the snacking tips outlined above, you will be able to suppress those midday hunger pangs effortlessly. This article has provided five simple tips for healthy snacking that readers wanted to know.

Read the latest issue from Athleisure Mag.

PARTY AT DAYBREAK WITH DJ ELOY + STATE MGMT'S COCO YU

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Party at Daybreak with DJ Eloy and State Mgmt’s Coco Yu in mag.

ATHLEISUE BEAUTY

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.

UNDERSTANDING THE POPULARITY OF ONLINE GAMING

The rapid growth of the internet has led to the innovation of various useful online platforms. One of such is the online games that are seemingly still growing. And with the tremendous growth being witnessed on various social media platforms, there is no doubt that people are continuously looking for new and better ways to have some online fun. Since we are all different, we also tend to find comfort in various activities. That explains why the world will keep witnessing various innovations, especially when it comes to games, at least until the end of times. But then what's the real power source of online games? What keeps them so prominent? This article seeks to unveil all that and so much more. Be our guest.

The Accessibility To Fast Internet

The availability of the internet and faster internet speed to be precise happens to be a vital requirement when it comes to online gaming. This factor became more prudent especially with the introduction of incredible video games. But why is this so important? Let's look at it this way, with fast connection comes quick transition, which makes the accomplishment of targets much easier. It also almost instantly eliminates all the unnecessary, time-consuming pauses, glitches and messes and gives you and other playing partners ample playing time. So if your internet connection is top notch, then you won't have to experience connection cut-out on your favorite game spinning endeavors.

Additionally, speedy internet connection easily translates to superfast downloading time. So you get to download your favorite game from LiveMobile99 and start playing within seconds. Therefore, there is no doubt that online games have really increased their popularity thanks to the present times steady internet connection in various parts of the world, including some remote areas. And the fact that you can easily access games 24/7 makes it even more exciting. It has also in some way been made possible with the presence of the cloud.

This is something you wouldn't enjoy with a slow connection. Imagine having to endure all those annoying pauses and having to start your game all over again? Very frustrating, right?

Social Media Platforms Changed The Way People Communicate

Currently, the world is full of extension service providers. And with the overwhelming competition rates, each one of them is trying the best they can to maintain and increase their audience reach. Gone are the days game lovers used to heavily depend on online messaging systems for daily interactions. Nowadays the increasing level of social interactions has taken center stage in the world of online gaming. Little by little, people are rapidly embracing the use of online screens and microphones to communicate.

Other social media platforms such as Facebook has jumped at the opportunity to allow its users to expand their online presence and have lots of fun, by allowing them to use their accounts for direct connections with various gaming sites. This has brought a little bit of realism into this sector as people get too warm towards each other through sharing their photos and seeing real faces.

Also, this means that online game lovers can easily interact and form long-term online-friendships with others across the globe. It's a totally new experience that almost everyone (of course in the gaming sector) could not waste an opportunity to try. So the more people wanting to be part of this fast-rising global movement, the higher the demand for various types of games and the greater the popularity of online gaming.

Variety Tones Down Boredom

Imagine having to play the same type of game every single day or even several times a week? How long will it take for you to sink into the boredom spot? Of course not that long, well, unless you're a rare kind of breed that enjoys repeating same concepts and routines. As already mentioned above, the increase in the demand for online games quickly leads to the innovation of various plays to cater to market demand. Of course, since the demand is huge and from all over the globe, there's no way one company can step-up and fill the gap. This has lead to the emerging of various online gaming service providers with various specialties.

Therefore, once you get acquitted with the concept of a particular game provider, you can easily move from one platform to the next in search of a more challenging game. The fact that you have the power to choose what you want to play and at what time, doesn't leave room for boredom. As it's, there is no way two extinct service providers can present an idea the same way. It's that uniqueness that keeps things more exciting, making people glued to their screens with an anticipation of what to expect next. Think of car games, shooting games, candy games all the way to farm games, it's evident that all the fun lies in the variety. And so long as this trend continues, you can be sure that you haven't seen the end of online gaming yet.

Gives An Opportunity To Skill Improvement

Like any area in life, joining the online gaming sector doesn't only revolve around getting a computer and fast internet connection. In facts, it calls for much more and that includes a commitment from the players. But you cannot simply promote your commitment when you don't even know your way through the playing concept. So this is the reason as to why many gaming platforms have introduced a specific section where interested parties get to sharpen their skills by first learning the basic concepts of the playing before joining actual competitions. In some way, this acts like a coaching section to help players gain confidence.

Here you get to involve yourself in various games without being competitive. The required skills for each game is normally provided in form of simple clear instructions and some rules. Remember rules differ from one game to the other, so the more games you want to learn, the more information you will have to grasp. It's like attending a school with essential guidelines and most individuals are taking advantage of this to be part of the online world.

Embraces The Power Of Sight

Almost everything that our brain processes begin with sight. It's what we see that creates the greatest impact. And maybe that's why it's often said that " first-impression matters." Many individuals will gladly confirm having clicked on various online games because of the graphics they present. When we see something we like, it's natural to have a given form of connection to it. So if you as a player likes cars, guns or magical stuff, then you're also likely to get lured into playing games with similar appeal. Besides, you have to be interested in something to want to try it out. You can't build your curiosity around boring stuff.

Online players seem to understand this very well and that's why they dedicate a lot of time in the creative aspects of the game. They deeply embrace the use of graphics and a blend of colors to achieve their goal. This with a combination of playability significantly contributes to the success of these platforms.

The Secret Of Regular Updates

The world is undoubtedly moving forward at a fast pace and that seems to apply in every aspect of our lives. Everyday, people work towards improving themselves and embracing new ways of making certain processes much easy and convenient. Online game providers seem to understand this very well and have always worked hard to ensure their sites stay up-to-standard. That's why they tend to invest a lot in regular game updates. Through this, players get to enjoy new features, additional characters, and game goals. So they typically evolve with the world.

Developers enjoy so much freedom, get to implement their latest discoveries and players appreciate the convenience. This is one of the most outstanding benefits of online games that have managed to see the sector strongly stand against console games. Who doesn't enjoy trying out new things in this creatively advancing world?

The Affordability Of Online Games

Ever walked into a store to purchase your favorite game? How much does it cost? Of course, it doesn't come cheap, right? It even gets out of limit when it comes to newly released games. In fact, some individuals would prefer letting the dust and hype cool down, before purchasing that a new set of their favorite game. Not convenient at all. But what to do in these hard economic times?

Most individuals find the answer to the above questions on the internet; online games. In fact, it costs a fraction of the store prices to play the games online or even use the download option. So it's normal to have many people playing online. Can you imagine using the money you could have spent on one game to gain access to a variety, that too at your convenient time? Wouldn't you too want to join the movement and get to save some bucks?

Another option is to combine your contributions with your friends and get to soak in the fun. If this isn't enough reason for many individuals to want to play online games and understand the logic behind its popularity, then we don't know what is! The combination of saving and satisfaction has always been a winner. Don't expect it to change any time soon.

Gives You Real Opponents

Nothing can be boring as playing and winning against yourself. Is that even a game to begin with? Well, you might find some comfort playing against the machine but the real fun sets in with knowing you're tackling a real opponent. Someone with blood running through their veins and with probably the same or more skills than you. Doesn't it feel good to know there is someone on the other side of the machine all tensed up and psyched up as you?

Some game providers have even embraced the aspect of teamwork and have an option for team competitions. This makes online games seem line real-time games. People gather to cheer on their favorite teams and even place bets on the same. It's an interesting turn of events that has largely contributed to the popularity of this sector.

Gives Opportunities To Upcoming Developers

It's true that opportunities can present themselves anywhere and without warning. Some well-known developers found the opportunities to exhibit their talents through the internet. And this is one area that the online gaming sector seems to maximize very well. Over the years, various platforms have managed to come up with game development segments that allow their players to demonstrate their specialties in development. This isn't surprising as most individuals who enjoy online games tend to possess various tech skills that they can use to improve the industry.

Some platforms such as Steam and The Happy Wheels are known to give upcoming developers the golden opportunity to develop their unique games and add them to the platform's library. In some platforms, recently developed games have to go through thorough scrutiny, which might include voting by the players before being allowed into the pool. So basically, the more followers/players you get to love your game, the more popular it becomes and of you in the process. It's enough motivation to witness the fruits of your hard work. Therefore, so long as platforms like these ones continue to exist, online games will also continue spreading like world fire. In fact, you can look at it as a way of adding variety to the industry.

In Conclusion

If we look at the online gaming industry in terms of expansion and improvement, then we can attribute most of its success to the evolution of speedy internet connection. But then that cannot stand on its own. People have to be interested in the games and increase their demand for popularity. That's why the availability of social media, games affordability and multi-player features play a huge role in this aspect. Besides, there is so much fun online and the industry is undeniably headed to a bigger and better expansion. Be part of it, enjoy the games!

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PUMPKIN BEAUTY

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THE PICK ME UP

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IN OUR BAG | AFTER THE STUDIO

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#TRIBEGOALS

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5 ICONIC ITALIAN FOODS THAT CAN TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO ITALY

As an Italian myself, I can say with the utmost certainty that Italians love their food. Each bit of cuisine is a combination of different flavors that blend together in harmony. There are Italian restaurants everywhere, but few make you feel like you’re inside grandma’s kitchen. You know a good Italian restaurant when those are the words that leave an Italian’s mouth. Between the sauces and spices, the pasta, the meats, there is something unique in every dish that would please even the harshest of food critics.

Journey to Italy?

You don’t need to take a trip to Italy to experience the art of true Italian cuisine. Some of the best Italian food can be found right here. The authenticity of these different dishes can take you on a journey. You may even feel like you’ve been transported straight to Italy.

1. Focaccia Bread

The Focaccia al Rosmarino, or rosemary focaccia bread, is a simple, Italian classic. This baked flatbread resembles pizza, without the sauce and cheese. It is flavored with delicious herbs and is delicious dipped in olive oil. If you aren’t a fan of tomatoes, this table favorite is an excellent choice.

2. Burrata

You can never go wrong with the Burrata Pugliese. This lovely antipasti starter takes a few of the foods we love and combines them into a dish that will dazzle your taste buds. The burrata cheese is served with juicy cherry tomatoes, micro arugula, dried cranberries, and white balsamic dressing. This is a dish that pairs wonderfully with crispy Italian bread.

3. Lasagna

If you’re looking for the meat, lasagna has it. This take on a traditional lasagna dish combines homemade spinach pasta with a meat-based Bolognese sauce and béchamel, a white sauce derived from milk. The two sauces are combined between each layer of the pasta for an intricate blend of flavor. If you would like an additional flavor trip, try it with Parmigiano cheese.

4. Ravioli

Ravioli is a personal favorite, a very simple dish of pasta stuffed with cheese. However, the Ravioli alla Bergamasca takes the simple and intensifies it into a delicious blend of ricotta cheese, mild Italian sausage, fennel, and garlic. It is topped with a cherry tomato sauce and shaved Pecorino cheese. By this point, I’m sure you’re seeing a trend. We Italians love our cheeses.

5. Pizza

Pizza is probably one of the most iconic Italian foods. Though Americanized, pizza was actually invented in Naples centuries ago, and it exists to this day. It is like the focaccia, a flatbread, though it is covered with a tomato base and mozzarella cheese. There are a variety of toppings that have been added to pizza over the years. Still, you cannot get anything more authentic than a Napoli pie.

Welcome Home

With Italian dishes you get both quality and quantity from any chef. Why? Honestly, because we love food. It reminds us of home, and we would like to welcome you into it. So join us for an Italian journey and enjoy the food. Just make sure you’ve saved room for dessert!

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HOW TO DRESS | FOR TROPICAL GETAWAYS

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THE BIG BENEFITS OF MENTAL FITNESS

If you want a body that’s toned, fit and healthy, you’re going to have to hit the gym. It’s not rocket science: we all know that lifting weights builds muscle and jogging improves cardiovascular health. What many of us don’t realize, however, is that similar principles apply when it comes to our brains. In this article, we discuss the idea of mental fitness and what you can do to keep your brain in tip-top condition.

What is Mental Fitness?

Quite simply, mental fitness involves taking steps to improve your psychological functioning. We’re not talking about becoming a genius or performing superhuman intellectual feats – although research does show that it’s possible to strengthen your memory and boost a cognitive capacity known as fluid intelligence. Rather, mental fitness involves simple tasks that you can perform each day to optimize your mental and emotional wellbeing. Read on to learn more.

The 5 Parts of Mental Fitness

In the gym, there are various activities that can be used to improve parts of your physical fitness – from cardio to upper body and leg strength, for example. Similarly, mental fitness is made up of various attributes that can be reinforced using different techniques. Below, we discuss five strategies that you can use to increase aspects of your mental fitness.

Visualizing (Or Daydreaming)

Visualization makes use of mental imagery, or daydreams, to improve your mental fitness. You might, for example, visualize yourself achieving a personal or career-related goal. Alternatively, you may imagine yourself taking the steps that you need to get where you want to be in life. Such forms of visualization have been shown to stimulate brain networks that are involved in motivation and goal-directed behavior.

On the other hand, visualization can also calm you down when you’re feeling stressed, thereby improving your focus and creativity. People usually accomplish this by visualizing themselves in a physical environment (real or imaginary) that feels safe and nurturing.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a form of Buddhist meditation. This technique requires you to focus on the present while accepting your moment-to-moment experience without judgement. Mindfulness represents a simple technique that you can implement at any point of your daily routine.

For example, you may choose to engage in mindful eating, where you focus on the flavors, smells and physical sensations that arise during a meal. Alternatively, you could choose to practice mindfulness while showering or brushing your teeth, paying close attention to your sensory experiences while bringing your focus back to the task at hand every time you notice that your mind is wandering. Some people even use mindfulness to take advantage of the time that they spend performing a daily commute.

Optimism or Hopefulness

The way that we interpret the world influences how we experience life. Optimism and hopefulness are lenses that we can use to view ourselves and the world in a healthier way. Contrary to what some think, this doesn’t mean ignoring the negatives. Rather, optimism and hopefulness involve making a deliberate attempt to view the world more realistically by making sure that we’re also paying enough attention to the positives.

For example, cultivating optimism is about learning to acknowledge your own strengths and recognizing that when things go wrong it’s not all your fault. Hopefulness means realizing that the challenges you face will not last forever and acknowledging that adversity builds resilience. Additionally, optimistic and hopeful people differentiate between situations that they can influence and those that are out of their control. An important aspect of mental fitness involves accepting situations that cannot be changed.

Relaxation and Good Sleep

When it comes to relaxation, different strokes work for different folks. You might find, for example, that spending time in nature, doing some light cardio or listening to relaxing music does the trick. Alternatively, deep breathing and progressive muscular relaxation (where you gradually relax tension throughout all your muscle groups) are popular techniques used by psychologists to promote relaxation. These sorts of exercises help to reduce stress and anxiety, thereby improving your physical, cognitive and emotional health.

Practicing relaxation has the added benefit of helping you sleep better. Healthy sleep is a vital habit for promoting mental fitness. Research has shown, for example, that sleep allows waste products to be cleared from the brain at night. It’s also during sleep that our brains create new neural networks and move the information that we have learnt during the day into our long term memory.

Physical Fitness

With recent developments in brain imaging technology, we now know that the brain-body connection is incredibly powerful. Physical activity goes a long way in promoting mental fitness – not just physical health. For example, research shows that exercise can boost your cognitive functioning, increase your energy and improve your self-esteem.

Exercise also provides mood-boosting endorphins and reduced levels of cortisol – a stress hormone that can negatively affect your health in many ways. Importantly, you don’t need to be running marathons to see the benefits. Evidence suggests that even a simple daily stroll can be enough to promote mental fitness by boosting your creativity, concentration and memory.

The Benefits of Mental Fitness

The benefits of the mental fitness techniques that we have discussed today are broad. You can apply these skills selectively to reap the specific benefits that you require. For example, research shows that thinking optimistically can increase your overall physical and mental wellbeing. Mindfulness, on the other hand, can help you manage stress and combat mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

We’ve also discussed how visualization can improve motivation and mental focus; and how keeping physically active can promote mental health by strengthening the brain-body connection. Finally, relaxation techniques can reduce stress and improve your sleep quality, which can go a long way in fostering basic brain health.

Train Your Brain for Mental Fitness

One of modern neuroscience’s most exciting findings is that our brains are neuroplastic, meaning that they can change. The way that we think and behave can strengthen or weaken specific neural pathways. This means that we can influence the structure and functioning of our brains to maximize our emotional and mental wellbeing.

Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done; and brain changes don’t happen overnight. Neuroscientists agree that practice is the key to success when it comes to mental fitness. By incorporating the above-mentioned skills into your daily routine, you can start building the brain that you want today.

Haley Neidich, LCSW has her masters degree from Columbia University and is licensed psychotherapist who has been in the mental health field for over 10 years. Haley is the Director of Clinical Development for ThriveTalk.com an online therapy company that instantly connects you with highly trained and empathic therapists who help you to craft a plan for powerful change in your life.

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BINGELY STREAMING

BUSINESS WARS
Wondery

Netflix vs Blockbuster, Netflix vs HBO, Adidas vs Nike, Nintendo vs Playstation, Hearst vs Pulitzer, Beats vs Monster - we could list a number of business wars of titans that exist today and those that lost ther fight.

These business battles have shaped how we view brands, products, status and more and for those companies that exist, we're able to continue to watch their battles as they play out in real time.

Wondery's David Brown walks us through a number of business battles from their origin story, their awarness of their competitors (sometimes within the series a business engages in a battle with a new company). When possible, at the conclusion of the episodes focusing on a particular business battle, David interviews those who were a part of the company to find out more information on these wars. This is a highly bingeable show that takes you through a brand's history and brings an awareness to what it took for them to reach the success, pivots and failures that came their way.

MAKING A MURDERER S2

Netflix Originals

Three years after the docuseries, Making a Murderer appeared on Netflix (which followed Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey who are serving life sentences for the murder of Teresa Halbach), Season 2 drops this month. In these 10 episodes, both men are still serving their life sentences but this season is a followup of additional details and reporting that should give more context to this midwest case.

Season 1 of this True Crime docuseries focused on the theory that both men were framed by a crooked police system that planted evidence as well as creating an enviroment to instigate a confession from the men that they didn't mean to make. Since Season 1, there have been appeals and in June, the Supreme Court decided not to hear Brendan's case - both are still in jail.

This season focuses on Steven's lawyer, Kathleen Zellner and how she plans to fight the State of Wisconsin and how she is building her case. If you have yet to see the first season, it's highly suggested that you start with Season 1 as well as to follow @MakingAMurderer on Twitter for up to the minute news about this case.

THE ROMANOFFS

Amazon Prime Originals

With a stellar cast that includes Diane Lane, Christina Hendricks, Noah Wyle, John Slattery, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart and more - this anthology series tells the story of people who all believe that they are descendants of The Romanoffs (Romanov), a Russian royal family.

The series spans over three continents with each of the 8 episodes taking place in a new location around the globe. Mad Men's Matthew Weiner writes and directs each episode which is released every Friday.

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HOW CAN CBD GUMMIES BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Today, almost everything is being infused with CBD from bath bombs to vape oils, body lotions, bud and drinks for health benefits. CBD is a cannabinoid compound sourced from the cannabis plants, which raises the question of why a compound from a controversial plant is all over a sudden gaining popularity.

Although research is still being carried out on the effectiveness of CBD, its popularity has been due to its effectiveness in relieving pain and anxiety. In addition to people suffering from chronic conditions, other people using various CBD products like CBD gummies include those suffering from epilepsy, endometriosis, fibromyalgia and drug cravings among others.

Why Choose CBD Gummies

CBD gummies are right for you if you would like to take your CBD in edible form. Top CBD gummies are not your normal gummies. They are 100 percent natural and do not contain any trace of the psychoactive THC compound. They also come in various flavors and texture that is similar to the gummy bears to make them enjoyable. Furthermore, the fact that CBD gummies do not contain THC compound makes them safe and effective for patients cautious of the mind-altering effects of THC.Health effects of CBD gummies

Analgesic Effects

When you take gummies, the CBD interacts with your brain and immune system receptors to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. Studies have shown that CBD helps to alleviate pain without triggering the side effects of other alternative powerful pain medications.

Reduce Anxiety and Depression

People suffering from anxiety and depression are commonly treated with pharmaceutical medications that usually trigger unwanted effects like agitation, sexual dysfunction, headache, insomnia, and drowsiness. Other medications are addictive and may result in drug abuse. To avoid suffering from the side effects of pharmaceutical effects, people are opting for CBD gummies to treat anxiety and depression naturally. To test the effectiveness of CBD in lessening and fighting anxiety, a group of 24 people with a social anxiety disorder were grouped into two with one group receiving a placebo while the other received CBD before a public speaking test. The group that took CBD experienced significantly reduced cognitive impairment, anxiety, and discomfort. Today, CBD is being safely used to treat anxiety and insomnia in children suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Alleviate Cancer Treatment Symptoms

Studies have shown that taking CBD gummies can help alleviate the side effects of cancer treatment. It has been proven that CBD helps in reducing the chemotherapy-related side effects like nausea and vomiting among other symptoms. Furthermore, although studies are ongoing, animal test tube studies have shown that CBD may have anticancer properties by inhibiting the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice.

Neuroprotective Properties

Studies have shown that CBD has the ability to act on the endocannabinoid system as well as other brain signaling systems that offer benefits to those suffering from neurological disorders. In fact, the use of CBD among people suffering from multiple sclerosis has been proven as a safe and effective solution to reduce muscle spasticity, especially among individuals experiencing muscle spasticity that is resistant to medications. CBD is also proven to offer tangible benefits to people suffering from epilepsy, such as reduction of seizure activity.

Although CBD treatments are still in their early stages, their potential role in treating various health issues without triggering dangerous side effects has been proven. Other less known benefits when taking CBD gummies can provide include antipsychotic effects, anti-tumor effects, and diabetes prevention.

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