No matter how many times you put a big red circle or set up triple reminders around February 14th on your paper and digital calendars, 99.9% of U.S. males are still bound to forget Valentine’s Day.
If you’re known as one of those dudes who scrambles every year for a last-minute gift idea that says, “I love you, sweetheart”, you also know that the perfect token of your love is difficult to find at the drop of a hat. No, you don’t want to present gas station flowers, candy, or balloons to your beloved yet again this holiday of hearts, so take these five last-minute Valentine’s Day gift ideas to heart.
Is your Valentine feeling a little stressed-out? Treat her to a spa gift certificate that’ll pamper all the anxiety away. Just ask her (or one of her friends) about her favorite spa and pop in or (even better) purchase a gift certificate so she can book a facial, mani-pedi, or massage.
On Valentine’s day you can never go wrong with a classic duo of flowers and candy. And better yet, you can arrange both the day before or the day of, without even leaving the comfort of your couch. Simply pre-order flower delivery online. Pair your beloved’s bouquet with a box of candy and voila, Cupid wins again. She’ll be tickled roses to have flowers delivered to her place of work.
There’s no rule that what you give on Valentine’s Day has to be enjoyed on the actual day. Hence booking last-minute tickets to a romantic B&B. You’re technically giving a gift on February 14th that’s intended to be enjoyed at a later date. Your beloved doesn’t need to know that it’s a stall tactic because she’ll be dreaming of what she’s going to pack for your weekend away.
Like flower delivery, love is like a box of chocolates…it’s sweet and always satisfying. And, even better you can arrange to have an impressive array of flowers and chocolates delivered right from your computer. Do it now, it’ll take 2-minutes tops. Most online flower delivery services also offer upgrades with chocolate, candy, or chocolate covered strawberries and you can pre-order by scheduling delivery to a future day, pay with credit card, and get your Valentine’s day shopping taken care of early.
For the health-minded Valentine who isn’t tempted by flowers or candy, there is the fresh fruit basket or edible bouquet. A colorful fruit basket delivered in a delicious arrangement of fresh sliced melon, grapes, pineapple, banana, and strawberries ripe for the plucking and enjoying. Arrange to have yours delivered or show up at her office with your fruit basket and a bottle of bubbly…ta-da…romantic picnic lunch, and you win Valentine’s day!
Although no one seems to know the origins of the word ‘cocktail’, which seems to have somehow lost its way in history, the first definition in print comes from an 1806 newspaper from upstate New York. A cocktail is defined as ‘a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters…..’. Over the entire era of the 19th century, the cocktail picked up a number of additions and refinements like liqueurs, fortified wines, and bits of garnish. The below mentioned recipes are a must try for the ones who like it traditional way. Cocktail fans will definitely love it.
Scroll down to have a look at some classic cocktail recipes that you can relish along with some mouthwatering starters:
An old-fashioned cocktail can be made with any robustly flavored spirits like whiskey, tequila, brandy, rum, aquavit or gin. Drinkers who prefer to order a cocktail just like their grandfathers drank it, refer to this preferred choice as the old-fashioned cocktail. The old-fashioned is the most venerable of classic cocktails.
Place sugar in an old-fashioned glass, douse with bitters and add a few drops of water to it. Then add the whiskey to it and stir till the sugar is completely dissolved. Add several large ice cubes and stir. To finish off, garnish the drink with a slice of orange or a cherry.
You can mix a Martini however you want to and it will still be a Martini. You can make it extra wet with equal parts of gin and vermouth or extra dry with merely a wisp of vermouth. It can also be garnished with onion, an olive, a lemon twist or a slice of cucumber.
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir well to chill and strain the mixture into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or a slice of cucumber.
: A cocktail cannot get any more classic than the Manhattan. Always remember to use a Bourbon with a muscular rye-heavy mash bill in your Manhattan to take it up a notch.
Pour the whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters into a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until the outside of the shaker is very cold to touch. Place a maraschino cherry each in two cocktail glasses and strain the cocktail over the cherry, dividing it evenly between the two glasses and then serve immediately.
Who doesn’t like gifts? 16 or 60 years, doesn’t matter. Men or women doesn’t matter. Birthday or promotion, doesn’t matter. When it comes to receiving gifts, we all know that none of this matter. Gifts are always cherished by an individual, no matter the age. What does make a difference is whether it is eye-popping and appealing to your friends/family, or would they want to return it to the store and prefer exchanging it for something else? We wouldn’t want that, do we? Our gift guide for men and women is both exciting and impressive and would evoke the right reactions from the receiver.
If you are a 100% sure of the measurements, a trip to a seasoned tailor to make an exclusively customized, swanky suit/dress ready to be worn by the receiver would definitely be a surprise, and take their breath away at your efforts.
A personalized watch box that has the receiver’s name etched on it to show off their wide collection of designer watches could add an element of style to their chic wardrobe.
For the fitness freak, a state of the art fitness tracker watch would make a proud, bold statement while your loved one is getting in shape for you. It has all the features that modern technology can offer on your wrist.
A statement piece of accessory or jewelry from a top of the line designer brand would exhibit your liking to do things in style and would leave the receiver speechless. For the gadget-obsessed person who also enjoys cooking and whips up delectable dinners, there are smart devices that multitask just as they do, doling out real-time news, giving info on the weather, while simultaneously letting them watch recipe videos or click pictures of their gastronomic experiments.
Besides these, some companies join hands with their shoppers and support social causes. While you buy a gift from their product range, like an eco-friendly wooden wristwatch or handcrafted crocheted products, fashionable rain boots, or state of the art Bluetooth speakers, they donate a part of the money earned from their sale for funding organizations that make positive changes to the lives of the underprivileged. Helping AIDS-affected children receive better treatment, providing solar energy to those who live in the dark without electricity, feeding fresh meals to the starving, planting and maintaining trees where afforestation is the only answer to the ever increasing natural issues, empowering young women to pursue their education, the list is endless.
At the end of the day, whatever you choose to gift your loved one, do remember that it is not the price that matters, it is the thought behind the act of gifting that is appreciated more. The above-mentioned gift guides for men and women will surely help you choose the best according to their likes.
Skin care is an essential aspect of personal care and grooming, be it for women or men. Many men tend to ignore healthy skin and grooming as “unmanly, ” but healthy skin is important not only from a cosmetic perspective but also from a hygiene and health perspective. Men must put in the effort to groom themselves with necessary and basic skincare elements that will
Here are some important guidelines when it comes to skin health and care.
Skin health is not simply about washing with soap and water. As we age, the quality of skin changes and so the kind of soap or cleanser you use on your skin can make a big difference to whether you have healthy skin or not.
Most experts on skin care recommend a regular moisturizing ritual using a moisturizing gel or cream that is fortified with vitamin A and C. Moisturizers that are boosted with antioxidants, peptides, and other essential fatty acids are considered to be very effective in hydrating the skin and giving it a healthy glow.
When using a moisturizer, gently massage a small quantity into the pores of the skin, taking care to go in circles.
Another often ignored aspect of personal care is shaving. When shaving, do remember to use a sharp razor that gives you a clean shave. Using a razor with a blunted edge can cause skin irritation. As a pre-shaving routine wash your face with a mild soap and warm water. Using a shaving cream applied by a good shaving brush will help to raise the hairs and affords a close shave without cuts. Post shaving, one could wash with cold water and gently dab the skin dry. Many men also prefer to use an aftershave lotion to soothe the skin. The aftershave lotion also helps to enhance the glow of the face.
A healthy skin routine necessarily includes cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. This is especially important as our skin is constantly exposed to dirt and grime when we live in large cities and these can clog the pores of the skin. There are a variety of chemical and herbal skin care products that contribute to skin health.
Gentle exfoliation is recommended but over exfoliation can chafe the skin.
Given the intensity of the sun’s heat, a mild sunscreen is recommended by cosmetic specialists especially when one is outdoors but choose a sunscreen with a moderate SPF and which suits your skin type.
Another important tip when it comes to healthy skin is to avoid picking at pimples or acne spots on the face, as this will only cause infection or scarring. In most cases. It is recommended that the skin is left alone.
A nutritious mineral rich diet and adequate sleep are also essential for developing and maintaining healthy skin.
Every man has a perception of what a “hot” girl/ woman is. A hot girl is much more beyond her sexy curves, her clothes, and her sultry looks. Although the physical attributes and external beauty contribute towards this perception, there are other traits that men consider really unique and catchy to match their unique tastes. Every man has his own favorite form of coffee, and women can easily be seen as differing to men based on their traits. Some of the traits that men advice as well as expect in women towards developing a relationship are as follows:
Confidence goes a long way in supporting a person emotionally throughout their life. To move on in life, grow up, and achieve things requires a lot of self-confidence. Men prefer women who can motivate them through their hard times rather than one who merely criticizes. Even to be a homemaker a woman needs to have the confidence to run the house when the husband is out earning. To survive in the corporate world or even start your own business, a woman should know what she believes in and make sure she sticks to it so that her life is successful. Self-doubting only leads to chaos. These traits pave the way for a successful companionship because it builds an appropriate dependency.
Men definitely prefer a “female” in all its true sense. Someone who can carry themselves appropriately in the crowd and make the man shine for having a trophy in her. A girl doesn’t have to be a boy to succeed in a man’s world. This misconception over the ages has led to the failure of many women because they try to adapt and imitate the opposite sex. However, being feminine is a quality in itself that pleases men at all times.
A woman is almost always seen as an epitome of only beauty and never of intelligence. Women can go ahead and wear jewels and dress up for the world to take seriously, but men want the brains too. Apart from the physical beauty, the innate elegance of a woman is something to die for. The inner beauty should be given utmost important for both men and women. Beauty and brains is a combination that boosts men’s ego.
Men are emotional, but a woman can be their backbone in rough times. Women with a positive attitude can rule the world as they are optimistic about everything they think and execute. A woman who can take up a role of wife, daughter, mother, entrepreneur, host etc make men to cherish them all their lives.
While men are sometimes seen as the conquering king, finding the compatible woman brings out the success of both the individuals and the relationship as a whole. “Being hot” is more than just looks for men.
Humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide entertainment. The term “humor” is derived from the humoral medicine of ancient Greeks, which taught that the balance of fluids in the human body known as humors controlled human health and emotions. People all around the world, irrespective of age and culture, respond to humor. Most people have a sense of humor, which is the ability that they possess to smile, be amused, or laugh at something funny. The event which each individual finds humorous varies from person to person depending up on the culture, geographical location, maturity, level of education, intelligence, and content. For example, young children may find humor in cartoons such as Tom and Jerry that they watch whereas more sophisticated forms of humor like satires require an understanding of its social meaning and context, thus making them appealing to a more mature audience.
While there is no general agreement on what is funny, researchers have identified three theories about what one may find funny. Let’s take a look at the three theories that are generally associated with humor:
This is when logic and familiarity are replaced by things that normally don’t go together. This theory is one of the most basic elements of humor.
This theory describes that when we laugh find humor in others misfortune, mistakes, or stupidity because of detachment. Slipping on a banana peel or falling down the stairs can be quite embarrassing when it happens to you, but when the same thing happens to someone else, it can be quite funny.
It helps to explain how laughter helps to release tension during emotional moments. Relief theory happens all the time in movies where tension is high and laughter helps people cope up with stressful situations.
Lately, researchers have identified a fourth theory known as the Benign Violation theory, endorsed by Peter McGraw, which attempts to explain the existence of humor. This theory states that, “humor only occurs when something seems wrong, unsettling, or threatening, but simultaneously seems ok, acceptable, or safe.” Humor can be used as a method that helps in easily engaging in social interaction by cutting through that awkward, uncomfortable, or uneasy feeling of social interactions.
As far as humor is concerned, people have different views and opinions about it. Some say that humor should not be explained but then there are others that counteract this view by stating that humor, although explained, does not necessarily lose its sense of humor. Humor is often used to make light of a difficult or stressful situation and also to brighten up a social gathering. Humor provides a positive and an enjoyable experience.
In this way, depending on various factors, one can understand in a better way what humor is and the theories related to it.
Movies and TV sitcoms have made a huge contribution in the entertainment industry. These shows and movies can be watched by adults as well as teenagers. Here is a brief list of some popular American movies and TV series that have gotten remarkable recognition almost all over the world, not just in the US.
This Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon is an epic war drama film set during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II. The realistic portrayal and the intensity of some of its scenes earned universal critical acclaim and won several awards because it was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, this immensely popular 1939 epic historical romance film is adapted from a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It is the story of Scarlett O’Hara, the strong-willed daughter of a Georgia plantation owner set against the backdrop of the American Civil War.
Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley amongst others, this epic historical period drama film is based on the novel of an Australian novelist. It tells the story of how a German businessman saved the lives of thousands of Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.
Directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, this is another drama film. The film tells the story of how an innocent banker is sentenced to life in prison for the murder, and about his friendships and life inside the prison.
Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, and Jack Haley, this 1939 musical comedy drama fantasy film that is one of the most well known films in the history of cinema.
A comedy drama that delves into the lives of people who share the same birthday and whose lives are mysteriously intertwined to each other.
Another comedy drama, this one set in Chicago, is about an alcoholic man who lives in a perpetual stupor while his six children with whom he lives cope as best they can.
This horror fantasy drama is about how when a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief, and his friends confront terrifying forces to get him back.
This fantasy adventure drama tells the story of nine noble families that fight for control over the mythical lands of Westeros, while a forgotten race returns after being dormant for thousands of years.
A crime drama web television series shows how in the late 1970s, two FBI agents analyze criminal science by delving into the psychology of murder and getting uneasily close to almost real monsters forms the base of this thriller.
These movies and TV shows are a complete package of drama, romance, thriller and fiction which will suit every taste.
In the present day, personal care and grooming are essential for women and men alike. While the cosmetic industry in America is booming with a diverse range of skincare and grooming products, people are now also increasingly questioning the use of chemicals on the skin and body and are opting instead for natural grooming products. These products provide the necessary changes for the overall look for men. There are several popular natural grooming products for men on offer at retail and online stores in America. Organic and vegan options are also widely available in the natural grooming products segment.
Here are some of the top picks when it comes to natural grooming products for men.
The Burly 3N1, a product created by Precision Barbers is a natural softener that also triples as shower gel and face wash. It contains select keratins along with rose seed oil for softening facial skin.
An old favorite with a historical provenance, Bay Rum Oil is a favorite among the men’s fragrances segment. As the name implies, this perfumed oil derives its distinctive flavor from rum soaked bay leaves. Now, bay rum oil is also available in a soap and face wash format combined with special oils and cleansing agents.
The Hanz De Fuko Conditioner is a fully plant-based hair care conditioner that offers nourishment for hair, prevents hair fall and promotes luxuriant growth.
Brickell is another known name in the natural grooming products segment with its activated charcoal face wash receiving repeated good reviews. Activated charcoal has been shown to have significant effects in brightening the skin and also is suitable for all skin types.
Another manufacturer of natural grooming products is Ursa Major and a very useful product in their line up of men’s skin care products is their Essential Face wipes that are infused with herbal ingredients like witch hazel, aloe vera extract, green tea leaf extract and lemon extract. These all natural wipes clean your skin of dirt and grime without drying the skin and also remove dead surface skin and close up the open pores, leaving you with a freshly washed feeling.
Yuli, a luxury skincare brand that specializes in all natural grooming products has come up with a cold pressed shave oil serum that combines the skin vitalizing benefits of jojoba oil and grapeseed oil offering adequate hydration without making your skin oily.
Dental hygiene is also a part of essential grooming, and Gaia Guy’s bamboo toothbrush that is coated with antimicrobial bamboo charcoal is claimed by its manufacturers to leave your teeth clean and your mouth odor free.
These and several other natural grooming products are all set to create a whole new revolution in the men’s skin care industry. These natural grooming products for men help to enhance the overall look and personality of men.
Loss of hair causing a receding hairline and even baldness is a very commonly encountered cosmetic problem, especially in men.
We must understand that luxuriant hair growth is usually dependent on heredity, but is also largely influenced by the nutritive quality of food, lifestyles as well as stress.
Impending baldness may be indicated by excessive hair fall when shampooing, rinsing or combing.
Many men do regard baldness as a serious issue as it affects their appearance, personality and confidence. Because of these, brands have come up with tempting hair transplant surgery. These surgeries do come with a price. Hence, one should possibly consider hair transplant after giving some of these simple and easy to try natural remedies a shot.
First of all, the most obvious of natural remedies for hair fall and baldness is to shift to a diet that is rich in proteins, fruits and other macro and micro nutrients. Foods that have a cooling effect on the body such as tender coconut water may also be included in the diet.
Regular application of and gentle massage using oils like castor seed oil or coconut oil is believed to stimulate the hair follicles and promote hair growth.
Applying the beaten up yolk of egg on to the hair roots a little while before bathing is considered to be one of the most effective natural remedies to strengthen the hair and make it less brittle.
Dermatological issues such as dandruff may also result in hair loss. Application of lemon juice is popular among the anti hair loss natural remedies. Lemon juice may be added to aloe vera gel or even to coconut oil and applied over the hair roots using a ball of cotton. It must be rinsed well after about 30 minutes.
Juice extracted from onions or shallots, which are rich in sulphur is believed to be very effective as an antibacterial agent that not only keeps the scalp free of bacteria but also is believed to enhance blood circulation in the hair follicles. Onion juice can be applied raw or in an oil base and rinsed off well with water and a gentle shampoo after a while.
Yoghurt which is naturally considered to be rich in protein is one of the tried and tested natural remedies to condition the hair. The inclusion of yoghurt, cheese, cottage cheese and other protein rich foods like chickpeas as part of your daily diet can also promote hair growth.
While there are indeed many natural remedies for hair loss, do remember that at times excessive hair loss may indicate some other underlying issue that needs to be treated medically. If the issue still persists even after these tips, make sure you consult a specialist to prevent any further damage.
