If you are a freelancer and wanting to build up your portfolio and posts by using an image, but worried because you might get sued for copyright, then here are the top websites list where you can find images to be used for free, and not just free but also a copyright-free. Some websites allows you to download and use the photos for private use (example: background photos, Instagram use etc.) This also includes creating business cards, thru website creation and even posters. Freerange:You can register here for free and once signed up, high-resolution images will welcome you for free in which you can use depending on your needs and niches. If you are a photographer or aspiring photographer, Freerange also offers Google AdSense revenue sharing when you contribute. Not only you share photos but also you can have some revenue because of Google AdSense. Also, the team behind launched another website that specialized in vintage called Vintage Stock Photos. Before, the content actually requires payment but it has now changed so for now, you can find more than thousands of bucks worth of quality vintage photos available with no extra charge. Unsplash:it is a side-project started by Crew, Crew is an online marketing agency that is dedicated to make your designs into reality. Aside from providing free stock photography, Unsplash also takes in and publish graphic design works that is being done by their users with their so-called MadeWith section. Pexels:Started in 2015, Pexels is a website that aims to help in which has grown to have developed a reputable stock photo library. Pexels is also unique because it doesn’t display images located on the Pexels Website but also outsources images from high-quality websites such as Gratisography, Little Visuals and more. Pexels screens their image to ensure the users to have the highest quality image available. You can also download high quality videos from the website. Flickr:Flickr is also one of the famous website that has greatest image libraries in the internet. Although flickr is not for public domain images, you can find here the highest quality images from the users. Life of Pix:Created by LEEROY advertising agency in Montreal, Life of Pix is free public domain photography. Also, their so-called Life of Vids website contains impressive video footages that are also available for free. Two birds in one stone. StockSnap:Created by the people from Snappa, every photo that you can see in StockSnap is free to use. This website provides an excellent and high-quality images, and even extensive library of free images. With hundreds and even thousands of images that is being uploaded every week, StockSnap is definitely not just your ordinary photo website. Pixabay:Pixabay is a great website resource for both beginners and professional photographers. Pixabay allows easy access to camera search which the users are allowed to explore images based on the camera used to take them. Pixabay is also used to integrate images from another image hosting sites. They also gather the best and high-quality images for free to use in your personal or commercial use. Burst:Burst provides a sleek interface to explore as it also aims to have a very wide selection of the images base on the users preferred categories. It also provides from low to high resolution images depending of the user’s needs, whether it will be used for commercial or personal use, or even the user’s own website or their clients'. KaboomPics:KaboomPics is the user’s most favorite website among all. Why? Because it provides impressive and breathtaking images, from the UI design to the image reservoir, you can find a lot of images that will make your eyes and mind impress. They also feature a color picker search engine and color palettes for the images as well. KaboomPics offers informative images to be use for ideas in photoshoot, blogposts, and more. AvopixAvopix has more than 56000 free stock images under Creative Commons CC0 (Public Domain) that is free to use. Whether if it's for Personal or Commercial use; it also does not require attribution. You do not need to worry for using images for your website, for personal, or for your social media.
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Collagen comes from the Greek word ‘kolla’ – it means ‘glue’. Collagen is a fibrous protein that is found towards our body parts such as our organs, skin, hair, muscle, teeth, bones, nails, etc. It is a major component that is connective tissues that makes up several of our body parts. Type 1 collagen is the most and strongest type of collagen. Starting at the age of 35, the production of the collagen in our body slows which can make negative effects can be visible on our body. At the age of 40, collagen depletes faster than being reproduce. And by the age of seniority at 60, half of our body’s collagen has been totally depleted. So adding a collagen supplement is essential for our functioning and our health, from relieving joint pains up to improving skin health. So what are the benefits in taking collagen supplements? Let’s find out below. It improves the appearance of skin:The wrinkle-reducing effect of the collagen can also help strengthen skin as collagen may help slower the aging of your skin as it reduces wrinkles and dryness. As you age, your skin starts to show and becomes looser and less elastic, it also wrinkles and creases started to show up. Collagen intake increases and boost elasticity, helps to smoothen out the skin and fine lines, promotes the production of other protein such as elastin. There are also claim that taking collagen supplements can help reduce acne but still not supported by scientific evidences studies. It helps relieved joint pains:Collagen is like oil on the joints, ligaments and tendons which glides and helps moves easily. Collagen contains amino acid glycine and proline which helps support the mobility of the joints. It also helps the cartilage which is a tissue that protects the joints. The more we age, the more we’re at risk of getting and developing joint disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Taking collagen supplements reduces inflammation and stimulates collagen in our body. It also promotes pain relief for those who are suffering from joint disorders such as osteoarthritis. Supports Bones Growth:Bones are also made from 1/3 collagen which makes our bones flexible. As we age, calcium and collagen decreases which makes our bones depleted. Adding a collagen in our diet helps as it increases bone minerals. BMD is a measure of the amount of minerals such as collagen and calcium found in our bones. Low BMD may result to bone diseases such as arthritis; weak bones can lead to osteoporosis. Consuming collagen supplements can help reduce bone disorders as it helps increase BMD and lowers the levels of minerals in the blood that stimulates breakdown of the bones as we age. Supports Liver and Helps Detoxification Process:Glycine which is found in the collagen can support the liver while it’s in detoxification process. Reduces Heart-related Problems:Taking collagen supplements can help reduce heart related problems as it contains Proline. Atherosclerosis is characterized as narrowing the arteries which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Collagen increases the level of good HDL as collagen provides structure of the arteries, making the blood vessel carries the proper amount of blood towards the body Improves Gut Health:Having a leaky gut can caused inflammation as toxins and infections can pass on the intestinal walls. Intestinal walls are made up of collagen or villi. Collagen supplement intake helps to treat the intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome. The amino acid in collagen supports cellular health and tissue growth. Improves the appearance of Nails and Hair:Taking collagen can help strengthen the nails and hair. As you age, nails can be brittle and hair loss can be seen. Adding collagen on your diet makes your nails and hair healthy at it gives impact making the hair look shiny and nails looks healthier than being pale. Adding collagen on your diet is recommended. There are also collagen-rich foods such as spinach, kale, tomatoes fish etc. However, there are many collagen supplements that are out in the market and starts being on-trend because of the celebrities using it. Be mindful and consult your family doctor about the right dosage of supplement collagen intake. Better be safe than sorry.
ACER Swift 7, the thinnest and lightest laptop, beating Apple’s 12-inch Macbook when it comes to portability. This laptop is a pound lighter than iPad Pro with Apple’s Smart Keyboard being attached to it. But in all these new aspects, is it worth the price? Let’s find out! Basic Specs: Display: 14-inch (1920x1080) IPS touchscreen Processor: 1.3GHz Core i7-7Y75 (Kaby Lake) Graphics: Intel HD 615 Memory: 8GB LPDDR3 Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD Security: Fingerprint reader (Windows Hello) Ports: 2 USB 3.0 Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack Wireless: 802.11ac, Bluetooth Cameras: 720p HD camera (front-facing) Battery: 45.8Wh Operating system: Windows 10 Home Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.3 x 0.35 in. (8.98 mm) Weight: 2.54 pounds (laptop); 3.10 lb with power brick; 3.56 lb with brick and sleeve Colors: Black, White Price: check with your local stores as it varies per country and availability. If you are looking for a laptop that is easy to carry, especially if you are the kind of person that is on-the-go, or even for a student, ACER stepped up the game in tech by releasing this Swift 7 laptop. ACER also emphasizes that they used magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminum alloy used in making this Swift 7 are lighter and stronger than aluminum alone and having the same thickness. Also, the cover is matte with a single LED to indicate its battery life. Swift 7 display has 14-inch 1080p screen, a 1.3GHz Core i7 processor, 8gb or 16gb ram 256gb to 512gb ROM. There are also two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. They also included a three-port dongle adapter with USB-A, another USB-C and an HDMI port. The LCD touchscreen panel is protected by Gorilla Glass. But if you are expecting to have it to a level like a Retina display, it is not. But it is not that bad at all. Since Swift 7 is being marketed as the thinnest ultrabook, they really did a good look on it is thin but there’s still a noticeable area as it is kind of wobbly when being open or closed, or even being fully reclined to being perfectly flat. When being viewed on the side, Swift 7 has its limits as the thickest portion of the chassis is unable to take a USB type-A port. For the sound and speakers, Swift 7 is supported by Dolby Audio. So it is required to have external speakers or headphones if you want to achieve the “bang” sound. For fingerprint reader, there is quite an issue to it as some users of this laptop doesn’t recognize their fingerprints, making them re-key their finger to it. But there’s a catch, ACER managed to have a chassis with a 45-watt battery, the CPU, motherboard, and SSD. If you are a minimalist and wanting to have an aesthetic feel, this laptop is perfect for you. Keyboard and typing experience which is somehow very poor in performance. The landing areas for the keys were too small which makes it very uncomfortable especially if you have big hands. Function keys are scattered within first and second rows. Delete key is just as small and Backspace next to it. It’s not surprising but a bit disappointed even if the laptop is designed for being thinness, I believe ACER could have done it better. Also, the touchpad precision is totally a mess and disappointing, and its glassy features remind me of like the Surface devices. For the camera, ACER made it’s webcam down to the body of the laptop and pops-up when it is used. If you are worried about being watched, this camera is blocked when not in use. But the downside, if the camera is used, has a nose cam effect. Not very great in dealing with video chatting either. For the performance: Swift 7 is like owning a notebook but with a processor. The challenge is that Swift 7 is no match with tablets like Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6. Swift 7 easily gets heat up during large file transfers but is cool when using it on a daily basis. If you are a gamer, then this laptop is not for you. Final Verdict:ACER really reached out to their goal in making this Swift 7 the thinnest and lightest laptop in the market, making it very portable as possible. If you are the type of person that is on-the-go, this made me really appreciate that they had heard and made this laptop possible. But for the cons, ACER disappointed me especially with the keyboard, the webcam, and its performance as they could have done it better. Price-wise? This laptop is a NO for me. I’d rather settle for another laptop with weight as the performance is better, build having a quality, long-life battery, and a usable webcam with the same price as Swift 7.
Apple AirPods has made some noise in the technology world after it is being released. Even if you owned the second-generation AirPods or the new AirPods Pro, it is still worth your money. Their similar features have Siri voice assistance, 5-hour battery life, and a charging case that works in wireless charging pads as iPhones. The difference is, the AirPods Pro has its new design, noise cancellation, and a transparency feature which makes you listens to the music while hearing what’s going on around you. For the pairing, it will only take 3 seconds to pair it with your Apple device. Open your charging case and wait for the prompt of your phone, tap Connect and done! No need to worry as this is automatically paired to your Apple devices as long as you used the same iCloud account. Pretty cool, right? To those who don’t own an Apple device and worried if your AirPods can be paired with it. Yes, it can be paired with non-Apple devices. If you notice a small, flush button on the back of the charging case, that thing is going to be used when pairing your AirPods to your non-Apple device. To start pairing, put the AirPods on the case, flip the lid up, press and hold on the small button on the rear of the charging case until the LED light starts to white. Now it will show up in your non-Apple device Bluetooth-pairing settings. For the quality and its usage, please be reminded that since you paired your AirPods to the non-Apple product such as taking an AirPod out of your ear will not pause music, playback controls will not work as well. To check your AirPods battery life, you have several options when it comes to checking your battery life and also the charging case. First is open the charging case next to your iPhone which makes your phone display a popup of battery status. You may also add the battery widget on your Notification Panel. Keep in mind that the Battery widget will only include your AirPods if you are actively using it. If you have an Apple Watch, Place your open AirPods next to your watch, open Control Center and tap the battery option. Aside from showing its battery life, you may also find the stats for your AirPods and your AirPods case. Hey, Siri! The command works with the second-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro. So you can ask Siri to control the volume, for playing music, ask another command, etc. Siri can also read your messages with having the latest iOS installed on your iPhone or iPad. You can also reply to the message with a quick voice command. Very convenient and cool! To change your AirPods’ name, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap on the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods’ name. Tap on the Name field and enter your preferred name. The new name will now sync to the rest of your iCloud-linked Apple devices. To use AirPods as hearing aid, in iOS 12, they launched a feature called Live Listen which turned your AirPods into hearing aids. Once you are done setting it up, you can place your phone on a table closer to the person you are talking to, making the audio send to your AirPods. To set it, from your iPhone, go to Settings> Control Center> Customize Controls and tap the green “+” symbol next to the Hearing option. If you need to use the feature, you may put in your AirPods and head over to the Control Center on your iPhone > select the Hearing icon followed by Live Listen. To turn it off, you may repeat the final steps in your iPhone’s Control Center. To use your AirPods on your MacBook, you have to select it as an audio output device. Head over and click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar > Select AirPods > Connect.
To customize your controls on your AirPods, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and click Options next to your AirPods, use the drop-down menu to adjust your settings according to your preferences. Make sure to always check if your firmware has been updated. You cannot update the firmware manually, but you can check and make sure that you have the latest version. Go to Settings > General > About on your iPhone when your AirPods are in your ears. At the bottom of the page, and AirPods tab will show up the model and serial number together with its firmware version. Wireless charging is optional. You do not have to buy the AirPods with the wireless charging case if you are the type of person who is saving. The prices of AirPods varies depending which country are you living. It is best to check with the local official Apple Stores near you. Aspiring Social Media Content Creator? or maybe a Social Media Manager? or just wanting to update your socials using a tool that can easily make your design visual come to life? Here's Visme to fill-in that missing spot. Read: Glow up your presentation using Visme App. One of the confusions a lot of people have with Visme vs. other tools such as Canva, Adobe Photoshop, etc; is that they often think of Visme as just a Presentation or Infographic tool but it is so much more than that. Visme is used to create Graphs and Charts, Flyers, Scatter Plot Maker, Survey Results, Social Media Posts, Video/GIFs, and more. As for this post, we're going to tackle on the features of Visme which is the Social Media. Which we're gonna compare it with Canva. As you can see, they do have the socials on Top of the ready-made canvas. We're just gonna tackle here about the Facebook Covers, Ads, Event Covers, Posts, and Pages. Take this for example. 4 free ready-made template for Facebook Covers. A limited one for Free accounts. Let's talk about the Pros and Cons for creating Social Contents using Visme. I had a chance to explore both Free and Business/Premium account of Visme and I must say, I'm quite impressed at how this tool can actually help those business-aspiring users in creating their Social Posts having an upgraded account. Aside from creating a blank template/canvas, users can choose a ready-made template which the user can modified or just post it directly on their Social Accounts. The downside is for Free users. I just tackled the Free templates on Facebook Platform above which is somehow a NO for me. They got a very limited number of Free templates which somehow isn't good for those who are students, aspiring Social Media freelancers that updates their Social Portfolios, and for those freelancers with clients who doesn't provide a budget for account upgrading. In comparison to Canva's free account, users can have a countless number of templates that they can post (this for example for the Facebook Covers) in which a great way for starters. And now, let's explore creating a Facebook Post. On the left side corner, there's the basic ones such as the Header and Text, Fonts, Stats and Figures, Diagrams etc. that you can place on your template. You can always customized, remove those graphics/drawings and replace it to your liking. And so, I tried exploring the Graphics using the Search bar. Typing an specific name, which I made the piggy bank as an example. and compared it with Canva. Visme has both Premium and Free Graphic Icons for an specific user's needs. As for me, I'll be needing the saving related icon which I typed the basic one -- Piggy Bank. Of course, in comparison to Canva, they do have lots of Free ones as stated unlike the Visme that has a very limited number of Piggy Bank graphic on both Free and Premium. But it's just for Graphics and One specific Category and that doesn't mean it applies to general categories. With regards to Photo Categories, this just saved me as they got lots of photo free stacks that can be used either for Background or for a graphic image. Finally had lots of options not just in General Categories, but also in Specific Type. In Visme, you can have the list of option on what format are you going to download your graphic. Since this is for Social, I'll be downloading this as an Image. We do have 2. JPG format and PNG for Premium. Downloading it in High Resolution also requires a Premium Account. Final Verdict:Using Visme in creating Social Content has a 50/50 for me. As I've mentioned, I had a chance exploring everything using Free and Business Account. Of course you get what you pay for, which you can avail their plans by clicking here. But honestly speaking if you have a Free account, they had a very limited templates, limited graphics, saving option like the PNG and High Resolution which you needed to upgrade to Premium account. In Canva, those mentioned above can have it using Free Account. Saving options such as PNG image and High Resolution is FREE in Canva.
Will I use it for my postings? YES but only for alternative if Canva is down. I know Visme is continuously improving their services, and hoping to see changes in the near future. And so, I've been testing out new things and how will I improve creating contents on both my portfolios and my client's account. So I'm using Canva, and Adobe Photoshop. Till then, I was introduced about Visme. So, what is Visme? Imagine combining Canva and Powerpoint. Mixed it together and Voila! Visme has been made. Making the beginners and also the pros life easier. Here's a Quick Introduction about Visme: What's the Difference Between:Visme x Powerpoint: We've all been using Powerpoint Presentation since school days. Gradeschool, Highschool and even during College days. But we're now in a world wherein everything upgrades. So why not upgrade your game, right? There are so many reasons why we used presentations. Maybe for school or work stuffs, or even to simplify your portfolio. However, it's getting boring having the same visuals and designs. Now there's this Visme to simplify yet tons of designs that you can choose from. Since I don't use Powerpoint presentation anymore, and I'm pretty much sure we all have an idea on how Powerpoint works, let me give you a quick summary for using Visme. One thing that I love using Visme Presentation the most compared to the regular Microsoft Powerpoint, is that aside from choosing the never-ending same visual design on the local MS Powerpoint, I can easily choose what type of Visual Presentation should I get in Visme. Whenever I feel like I'm going into a simple one yet wanting to have an elegant look, or just love taking my level to creative ones, or even wanting my presentation to look like an infographic. Visme can handle it at the same time without me running out of ideas. Perfect for those beginners and pros. To make things simple, Visme made everything mixed in one. The purpose of this is to allow those non-designers (like me) to create designs basing on what's been on the creator's mind. Visme provides a handful of different designs, for presentation, social media posts, infographics for Pinterest, and of course, animated posts. All in one app.
Visme will create an Embed code for you to place it directly on your website. See? Less hassle than any other software app. Visme x Lead Generation.One of the main difference between Powerpoint and Visme. The Lead Generation. Yes, you saw it right. Visme has the power ability to have and access Lead Generation compared to Powerpoint. Perfect especially for those creators that wants to know and stand out against their fellow creators. You can create a presentation for your webinar using Visme, or a pre-recorded webinar. and use it for your email tools, most likely for your audience to register/sign up. By using this, it allows the user to access and to see what the users collected the viewer's contact information towards his/her content. The user is able to download the data and upload it to CRM platform. Visme x Analytics.Does Powerpoint offers analytics? I do not think so. It's a big difference compared to Visme. Visme offers Analytics for the user's projects. What's great about this is that Visme gives an analytical graphic that allows user to see how their presentations are doing great, comparing one to another. Visual versus Visual. Conclusion:Visme has a lot of improvements, especially when it comes on deliverable contents and slides. But on how the Visme's developers took an initiative to spice up the game, allowing users to expand their visual ideas and letting their ideas comes to life by the presentations, and how Visme makes the beginner's life pretty much easier is already a huge step. Pros: Visme is very easy to use. Which is great for beginners and non-creative users like me. Creating presentations, infographics, social posts as Visme provides a template and voila, make a little edit and you're done. Also, you can choose to save it as a JPG, PDF, PNG, MP4, GIF (beta) and it only takes seconds to import everything and save or print it, without any hassle at all. Cons: No mobile app yet. (on both iOS and Play Store) which is pretty much slower if Visme wants to be moving forward in comparison on both Adobe Photoshop and Canva. Also, it took me a while to navigate and learn its features compared to Canva. It will be great for them to have and edit it in a friendly-navigated ways which makes it easier for the beginners to click and access. I get it that Visme has this Business-theme navigation, but then, as I've mentioned, it's always the Wow and First impression factor makes the user create not only for business type of presentation, but also a presentation that can be used personally. Free or Premium plan, it's great investing in Visme especially if you love creating presentations. You may visit their website here so you can sign-up. Yes, it's FREE. I know you love FREE stuffs like this. On my next post, let me show you a brief content on how I create posts for my clients using Visme. See you soon!
2NE1 consists of four members namely Park Sandara, Park Bom, Lee Chaerin (CL), Gong Minji (Minzy). 2NE1 debuted in 2009 under YG Entertainment with their debut song titled “Fire”.The song was a hit, earning Song of the Month (May) in Cyworld Digital MusicAwards, Hot Online Song in MNET’s 20s Choice Award, Best Music Video in MNET Asian Music Award (MAMA), etc. Since then, the group made a unique yet powerful music video such as I Am The Best, Come Back Home, Go Away, I Love You, Come Back Home, etc, which won and nominated in several music awards, not only in Korea but also International. But why is it that this group is an extremely unique girl group despite being disbanded? Before they debuted, 2NE1 collaborated with Bigbang for LG Cyon phone with the music video ‘Lollipop’. The song is not considered as their debut song as it is only intended for promotions. 2NE1: the name combining “21st Century”, and “New Evolution”. In July 2009, after the release of ’Fire’, the group released the song titled ’I Don’t Care’, making the EP third highest-selling album of 2009 according to Hanteo charts. It rivaled Girls Generation’s ’Gee’, making it one of the biggest songs of the year. Solo promotions also made its way as Dara collaborating with Cass Beer, releasing a cf song titled ”Kiss” starring actor Lee Minho, Park Bom’s ”You and I” which earned the number one spot on the Gaon chart, and CL and Minzy’s collaborating song titled ”Please Don’t Go”. Even though they are a rookie group at that time, 2NE1 winning lots of awards such as ”Best New Artist” at Melon Music Awards, ”Song of the Year” at the MNET Asian Music Awards (MAMA) – their first Daesang after six months of debuting. Also, the girls have lots of endorsement such as Etude House, Cass Beer, Baskin Robbins, Fila, etc. In 2010, the group also collaborated with Black -Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, making their way to US Entertainment. 2NE1 released its full-length album “To Anyone” in September. The album ranked as number seven on the Billboard World Albums Chart and received a certified all-kill on the Korean music charts. 2NE1 is namely BIGBANG female version. What made them so unique with the other girl groups, even on the present girl group is that they have these edgy-type fashion, unique hairstyles, making them the coolest girl group on the stage. Not only that, they don’t lip-sync in every live performances and concert. Their charismatic yet powerful aura makes them very different from the other girl groups. And that impression never changes. As a result, they gained lots of awards such as ”Best Female Singer” at the 2010 Style Icon Awards, ”Artist of the Year” and ”Best Music Video of the Year” at MNET Asian Music Awards (MAMA) and ”Album of the Year” on the mentioned events and the Melon Music Awards. The group also released a single titled “Don’t Stop the Music” as a gift to the Thai fans. As they returned to Korea, they released their songs such as ”I Am The Best”, ”Lonely”, ”Ugly” for their second-self titled album which reached number one on different music charts.In 2011, the group released their Japanese debut ”Go Away” in March which made them ranked 24 on the Oricon Awards. However, they have postponed their promotions due to the earthquake and tsunami that happened in Japan that year. ”I Am The Best” winning the ”Song of the Year” at MAMAs, reaching over 3.4 million digital downloads, also ranked as the fourth best-selling song in the country. The song was also featured on several international advertisements such as Microsoft and Adidas Japan and a video game Dance Central. Because of that, ”I Am The Best” became on of the most popular and recognizable K-pop songs worldwide, making the group won awards in MTV’s ”Best New Band” and being nominated for ”Best New Artist” at Japan Record Award. In 2012, they released a single titled ’I Love You’, making their sixth number one hit and first number-one single on the Korean Billboard chart. It was also the first Korean song aired on BBC Radio 1. 2NE1 also became the first Korean girl group to go on a solo tour in America, with two stops of their tour in Los Angeles and Newark, New Jersey. The group, together with their label mate group BIGBANG was included on MTV’s Best Band Style of 2012. The group also released their two English songs that collaborated with will.I.am titled “Take the World On” and “Gettin’ Dumb”. In 2013, they released a reggae song ”Falling In Love” which won in MTV Iggy’s ’Song of the Summer’ award; the emotional ballad titled ”Missing You”, and the electro-pop theme ”Do You Love Me”. 2014 was also the group’s best year as they released the album “Crush” last February. The songs titled ”Come Back Home”, ”Gotta Be You” and ”Happy” were the songs from the album who became an instant hit. The album made it into number 61st, beating out BIGBANG and Girls Generation in becoming the highest-charting K-pop album. ”Crush” album was also listed by Fuse and Rolling Stone as one of the best albums in the entire year. ”Come Back Home” was listed as ninth number one hit and won ”Best Electronica Song” at the Melon Music Awards. ”Gotta Be You” was released in celebration of the group’s fifth anniversary since debut. It also won “Song of the Year” in MTV Iggy’s Award. In 2015, the group has been on hiatus due to a lot of problems, and mismanagement, including the misunderstanding in Park Bom’s issue. Up to this day, the company has not released any further details regarding that matter, in which we can all agree that YG Entertainment could have handled the situation and protect its artist at all costs. Also, the solo promotions and mismanagement of the company made the group totally on hiatus. CL, on the other hand, released her solo single ”Hello Bitches” featuring the Royal Family Dance crew, Minzy opening her own dance academy which was named ”Millennium Dance Academy”, Dara having her solo acting career which made her won the Best Actress in the webtoon “Dr. Ian”. In Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in the same year, after CL’s ”Hello Bitches” performance, the whole group had a reunion performance, performing their top hits such as ”Fire”, and ”I Am The Best”. This was the most viewed performance on YouTube and also the most iconic performance that will remain in the history of K-pop. In 2016, the year that almost made the blackjacks cried in pain. Minzy announced her departure from the company last April 26. YG Entertainment also stated that the trio will remain but Park Bom was released from her contract and 2NE1 was no longer a group on November 25, 2016, which makes the rest of the members, goes to their solo career. Park Bom has signed into a new label ”D-Nation” entertainment and released her solo album after long hiatus. Minzy on the other hand are in talks to get her contract release from “Music Works”, CL didn’t renew her contract to YG Entertainment and became a one-man agency; she also released her solo album and her own website. And Dara is still under YG Entertainment and busy with her variety shows. ”Goodbye” was the last farewell single that the trio has made and released last January 21st 2017. Making the song as a farewell to everyone; Especially, for the blackjacks who had supported the group through thick and thin.
Nowadays, after the group left a remarkable history, making them the most unique and powerful aura in the K-pop girl group, it is indeed that they will always be the Queen. 2NE1 serves as an inspiration to the new girl groups of this generation. As of this writing, Park Bom just announced that 2NE1 just recorded a song. On 9th of April 2021, during her guesting on KBS Cool FM's "Park So Hyun, A Flattering Night", where she revealed that the girls just recently met up and recorded a song. However, she added that she doesn't have a date on when will this be released. Let's keep our heads up, blackjacks! We're patiently waiting for the Queens comeback. Green tea originated from India and China has been proven for its health benefits, from skin to our body. Green tea is used in Chinese and an Indian medicine that controls bleed, heals wounds, improves digestion, improves mental health etc. studies also shows that drinking green tea has a positive effect in weight loss and liver disorders. Green tea is more than just a leaf. Many of its components contains important nutrients. Tea is rich in polyphenols that reduces skin inflammation and helps fighting cancer. Also, it contains catechins that are natural antioxidants which help prevents cell damage.Green tea substance can decrease the formation of free radicals inside our body, protects our cells from further damages. Free radicals are one of the components which make our skin age and give various diseases in our body. EGCG or catechins is found one of the most powerful components in green tea. It is proven to be used in treating various diseases in which the main reason why green tea is used in traditional medicines because of its powerful medicinal properties. Types of Green Tea:a bottled or with artificial sweetener green tea, single tea bags, loose-leaf, instant powder or herbs, green tea supplements which sold in capsule form or in liquid extract juice. Tip: use or buy the higher quality of green tea as lower quality brands has been proven to contain a lot of fluoride ingredients. Also, according to research, bottled teas are not equivalent to brewed tea because it contains few polyphenols than a brewed cup of green tea. Choose green tea products that are suitable for you. Health Benefits of Green Tea:Cancer Prevention: Cancer is one of the leading diseases which cause rapid deaths around the world. The polyphenols in tea is shown to decrease the tumor growth and protects damage that causes by UV radiation. Also, if you live in a country wherein green tea is high in consumption, it is proven that the cancer rates on that country is lower than the average. Researchers believe that having a high level of polyphenols in tea helps kills cancerous cells.
Heart Benefits: green tea contains catechins and polyphenolic compounds that have protective effects on cardiovascular system. Green tea also increases antioxidant on the blood which protects the LDL from oxidation. Knowing that heart diseases, stroke are one of the biggest causes of death in the world, drinking green tea can improve the risks factors of this disease. Lowers Cholesterol: consuming green tea reduces bad cholesterol in our body. Improves Brain Function: green tea contains less caffeine than coffee. It also contains amino acid or L-theanine which improves brain function, L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter which has anti-anxiety effect. Not only that, green tea may also protect your brain as it lowers the chance of having Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Alzheimer is the most common disease and also the lead cause of dementia. Parkinson is the second most common disease after Alzheimer as the Parkinson’s death of dopamine which produces neurons on the brain. The bioactive compounds that can be found in green tea reduce the risks of getting the two common neurodegenerative disorders. Lowers the Risk of Infection: green tea has a component called catechins in which lower the risk of infections and viruses particularly influenza as it lowers the risk of infection on the body. It also reduces bad breathe as it contains catechins which reduces the growth of streptococcus mutans. Streptococcus mutans are the primary bacteria that harms on the mouth as it causes plaque formation which contributes cavity and tooth decay. Lowers the Risk of Obesity: green tea can promote a small weight loss in overweight and obesity when consuming it, particularly in reducing the dangerous abdominal fat. Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: This disease involves elevated blood sugar levels in insulin or inability to produce insulin. A study shows that green tea improves insulin and reduces blood sugar levels. Over 400 million people worldwide have a Type 2 Diabetes. If you are unfamiliar of what Jade Roller is, a jade roller is a hand-size type of paint roller with a cylinder jade stone at the top. In 2018, Jade roller started to be a trend which was also used by different celebrities, But let’s look at how it all started. Jade rollers have been trending worldwide and even use by your favorite social media influencers, local and international celebrities. But what is Jade Roller and benefits that can be attained in using this.Originally from China since 17th century, as a part of their traditional remedies, jades are used to massage the face to improve blood circulation and believed to have a healing and protective property. Jade is known as the stone of beauty and eternal youth in their culture, and rolling it on your skin moves stagnant Qi which means energy, and toxins in which stimulates your blood circulation, and increases the elastin and collagen in your skin. Skincare experts explains the main benefits of using Jade rollers – by boosting the circulation of blood flow and grants the skin the visible glow. Jade is also proven to be great for evening use in which makes the skin calm and cool. Main Benefits of using Jade Roller as follows:Gentle Pressure: helps to stimulate the blood circulation and makes the face muscles more relax. Free from chemicals and other additives: Since it is made from a natural green jade stone, it is free from synthetic fragrances, sulfates, dyes, parabens and mineral oil. It is safe to use for any skin types. Boost Skin: it boosts the natural detoxification process. Tense facial muscles can lead deep lines across the surface of the skin. By gently massaging the jade roller on the skin makes the muscle relax and maintains youthful and smoother complexion towards the skin. Draws Away Toxins: It allows gentle toning and has lifting effect on the skin. It also increases circulation to the skin. This increase the blood flow to the skin in which promotes better circulation when jade roller starts to roll over towards the skin. Has Cooling Sensation: it helps to calm the skin and soothes inflammation. Decreases Puffy Eyes: Jade rollers can make your skin less puffy since it is cool to the skin; making the inflammation, and puffiness subsided. Stress Reliever: By using jade roller, it helps relieve stress, tension as jade roller acts as a facial massager. How to Use Jade Roller:The Jade rollers features a larger jade stones fit for cheeks, jaw, forehead, and under-eye area. If you want to achieve the best result, start rolling the jade roller on the lower part of the face up to the chin. Roll in both up, down, sideward direction. Be careful with the under-eye area. Jade rollers can be used if you’re having a dry complexion; it can also be used to massage in your favorite skincare products such as face oil, serum, moisturizer, and ampoule. It is also recommended to leave your jade roller on the fridge for more cooling effect. Skincare products are useless, no matter how good it is unless it is actually absorb on the skin. The jade roller works in paired with your favorite skincare products which makes the application more efficient. As the dermatologist said, Jade rollers could indirectly help prevent or clear acne breakouts. Because of the massaging motion of the jade roller, it stimulates certain hormones and relaxing effect which can affect the acne breakouts. Just make sure to massage the jade roller gently, as exerting too much effort can rupture pimples which can lead into infection and further inflammation. It is also recommended to clean the roller before and after use. Jade Roller Brands in the market that is proven effective to use as follows:Skin Gym Jade Crystal Facial Roller and Skin Gym Amethyst Crystal Facial Roller from credobeauty.com
Mount Lai De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller and Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool from Sephora.ph Esker Beauty Allover Jade Roller from net-a-porter.com Herbivore Botanicals Jade Facial Roller and Skin Gym Double Duty Smooth & Textured Jade Face Roller from Nordstrom.com Jade Roller Massage Tool Set from Amazon.com Revlon Cool De-Puff Jade Stone Facial Roller from walgreens.com Whether if it drains you physically and emotionally to the point that you’re getting tired of it, When it comes to friendship, there are certain limits or boundaries that makes it totally easier for us to determine if it’s the sign of being in an unhealthy friendship. How will you be able to know that you are friends with someone that is already toxic? “When you can’t be yourself.”– If you are anxious because of getting worried of what you will tell them or how you’re going to do things but in fear of making them feel upset. “Feeling unsafe.”– Feeling of getting drained and just trying your best not to go with your appointments whenever they are around. “One-sided type of friendship.”– Planning about going on a trip but all of sudden, they cancel it. Or if you stop reaching out to them but they never really care about you. “Not comfortable to tell problems”– If it bothers you to tell a story, or even your deepest secrets, in fear of getting judge or worse, making you the topic of their gossip with other people. Or you know things about them but they don’t give any importance to you by not asking about what’s happening to your life. “Inconsiderate with your time.”– It is never worth your time when they cancel the plans the last minute or when they plan on going out knowing that you won’t be able to go with them. “Disrespects your boundaries.”– You should not feel anxious in the first place if they are really your friends. You should not feel any pressure whenever someone boasts his/her achievement which makes you feel insecure. “Ask-hole.”– The kind of toxic friend who asks for advices but never really does it. Or someone who just vents out but when you are the one who needs to confide, they’re all out and busy, not wanting to talk and listen to you. “Manipulator”– if they are the ones who manipulates you instead of giving you positive advice. “Nega-tron”– the one who gives you negativity vibes in your life. “Liars”– When they lie to you about a certain things or situation. “Makes you feel guilty”– when you started to hang out with different kinds of people which made them upset to the point that they started to insult you, or if they disregard what you feel. How To Deal With Them?First thing first, think about yourself. Think about what you really feel. A healthy friendship is like having your own family. They care about you and how you feel. They make you feel safe and as much as possible, the belongingness. They never let you feel any single thing that makes you upset. Of course it is normal and natural to have a misunderstanding but in terms of things that makes you feel like you’re not belong, then that’s toxic.
Liars are also the number one factor in terms of being in a toxic friendship. Better yet confront them, let them know how you feel. So they can reflect on their own actions and you will know if second chances can be given to them. If the friendship can’t be save anymore, then walk away and move on. Travel and love yourself again, rebuild and boost your confidence. Never let the old memories define you because of what they had done; the situations that made you feel upset and unsure of what you really are. Till then, you will meet new set of friends that will make you feel loved, confident to confide and not to let you feel anxious whenever you’re with them. Real friends will show interests and reciprocates your feelings. You will never pretend or change yourself just to show off that you can be with them. Real friends should make you feel comfortable, be able to smile and laugh even on the slightest jokes, and even defend and protect you when you are in trouble. Mostly, real friends are the ones who are trustworthy, being able to give you positive advice and knock your head off whenever you are in trouble, will make time for you when you need them to. |
AuthorElin @ E's Digital Creatives Archives
January 2022
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