Cat Cafe Opens in London

Lady Dinah'sA new café recently opened in London, combining coffee and feline passions to create a brand new atmosphere. The new venue has proven so popular it is already booked through June. Called Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, the café allows visitors to enjoy a cappuccino or latte while winding down with some of the location’s resident cats.

Anna Kogan, investment banker and co-owner of the café, explained: “The idea is you can come have a peaceful lunch or high tea and be surrounded by cats. If you’re lucky one of them will fall asleep on your lap.”

The café opened its doors on March 1st after being partially funded by a campaign that raised more than $181,100 in less than two months. More than 3,000 online bookings were made within hours of the café’s launch.

“I thought that it would be really really cool to just hang out with loads and loads of cats,” said recent patron Christy McCormick. “They’re really fluffy and cute and… I really like cats. They’re great.”

The café has 11 cats, and features vintage-themed décor. There is a 5-pound entrance fee and a two-hour turnaround time for patrons.

Photography Tips for Spring

Spring has sprung, and while some enjoy documenting the dark, mysterious scenes of winter, many amateur photographers feel more confident in the bright, colorful, sunny days of spring and summer. Whether you are snapping photos with your phone or working with professional equipment, expert advice can always come in handy.

One great tip for photography anywhere is the rule of thirds. Many amateur photographers place the subject of their image directly in the center- an approach that is relatively easy but rarely creates the depth and personality that a photograph can express. Instead, try the rule of thirds by imagining a tic-tac-toe grid over your image. The four points where the lines intersect are called “points of power” by photographers, because they lend depth, interest and definition to a finished photograph. Place the focal points of your images on one of these intersections points to give your final products an immediate touch-up.

Another great way to add drama to your photographs is by filling the entire frame with your subject. Take this image by Chris Gamel, for example:

Elephant Close-Up: Thomson Safaris

The elephant’s face takes up the entire image, and in doing so allows the viewer to connect with both the subject and the photographer behind it. Gamel explains: “As she approached, I asked myself what it was that captured my interest. The answer was obvious- an elephant was walking directly towards me… The result is an image with impact that reflects my personal experience.”

Gamel suggests: “Ask yourself what you are taking a picture of. The fewer words you use to answer that question, the better. Once you have identified your subject, fill the image frame with it. Usually, this means getting closer. Fascinated by the dexterity of a local artist’s hands- get closer. Want to capture the look of joy on your child’s face just before she zip-lines through the rainforest- get closer.”

Online Safety Tips for the Whole Family

Internet Family SafetyTechnology has a tight grip on today’s youth, and while there are undoubtedly some upsides to the digital world, there are also numerous dangers, especially for children. Internet security and privacy can impact what your child is exposed to via web searches, friends and bullies and advertisements, and can also help you protect personal information such as your home address, credit card numbers and even bank account information.

Here are a few tips to help you and your children enjoy the internet and its benefits with minimal risk:

  • Keep your home WiFi secure with a password to restrict bandwidth use as well as prevent intentional or accidental malware attacks.

  • Read online privacy policies, and encourage your teenagers to do the same. Many networks and websites require personal information in order to create an account or register, so make sure you know what the creators intend to do with the information before passing it along. Take the time to look into their security measures as well, to prevent phishing and identity theft.
  • Maintain open communication with your children, as well as with older members of the family. Make sure they are aware of the potential dangers, such as viruses, identity theft, credit card fraud, exposure to adult content and social issues such as stalking and bullying. Encourage them to keep personal plans private, including schedules, travel plans and pictures with identifiable details.
  • Keep live online gaming safe by switching on the safety measures in the game consoles and by educating your children about cyberbullying and predators. Games such as Xbox Live should be played under a fake name, and personal information should never be given freely.
  • Keeping your children in the loop and maintaining channels of communication is very important, but extra caution may be necessary. Parental Control tools such as BullGuard Internet Security or eSafely enable parents to monitor internet use and restrict certain activities, as well as block inappropriate websites.
  • Don’t underestimate hackers. Keep your online information and accounts safe with strong, unique passwords, and change them regularly.

Taylor Swift No. 1 “Money Maker” in 2013

Taylor Swift has won the Grammy award seven times since she launched her musical career in 2006, and she is the youngest winner in history of the music industry’s highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Now, Swift has topped the list of the music industry’s highest earners in 2013, having made nearly $40 million dollars with sales of her 2012 album ‘Red’ as well as her six-month Red tour across the United States.

Multivitamins: What You Should Know

vitaminsMany people turn to vitamin supplements to ensure that they get the appropriate daily dose of substances like iron, vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids or probiotics.

Before you get swept away in this convenient trend, there are a few things you should know, however. Woman’s Day Magazine offers the following 10 facts about multivitamins:

  • Consider temperature and storage requirements. Supplements that contain oils or probiotics should be refrigerated to prevent them from becoming exposed to too much heat, light and oxygen.
  • Different medications may interfere with your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. Aspirin or birth control effect the body’s vitamin C levels, for example, and a boost in intake may be necessary.
  • Folate, or folic acid, is a B vitamin which the body often struggles to absorb. Contrary to popular belief, a synthetic type is better than naturally-derived folate in this case.
  • If you are a vegetarian, or don’t eat much meat during the week, you may want to consider a vitamin B12 supplement. This is a crucial substance that supports the body’s blood supply and nervous system, and is found mainly in animal products. Though some dark green vegetables, such as spinach, have B12, the plant form is not well-absorbed by the human body.
  • Be careful not to get too extreme. Vitamins are good for you, but large doses can effect digestion, moods and even the liver. Do your research, and maybe even consult with an expert.
  • Iron can be dangerous in large doses- if your multivitamin contains iron, make sure to take only the recommended amount each day. If you are pregnant or anemic, a doctor can recommend the appropriate dose for your needs.
  • Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, so take them with a bit of fatty food to maximize their benefits. Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, include B and C.
  • Prescription medications may interact with certain vitamins, or deplete your body’s stores. Discuss the possibility with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Do your research when you buy your vitamins, as labels can be misleading. The FDA regulates vitamin supplements like food, and not like medications.
  • Vitamin supplements cannot replace a healthy diet. Your daily routine and dietary habits will have a much stronger impact on your health than your multivitamin can.

Top Super Bowl Commercials of 2014

Millions of people gathered in front of their televisions on Sunday to watch the epic showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. Though the game ended up being surprisingly anticlimactic, this year’s Super Bowl commercials have garnered worldwide attention, and social media outlets have been buzzing with them for the past several days.

So far, according to twitter, Facebook and other social media shares, this year’s top ten Super Bowl ads are:

Budweiser’s “Puppy Love”
 

Dannon Oikos’ Full House Reunion

Toyota’s ad starring Terry Crew and The Muppets

Budweiser’s “Ian Up for Whatever”

Jaguar’s “British Villains”


Cheerios’ “Gracie”

Carmax’s “Slow Clap/Slow Bark”

GoPro’s “Red Bull Stratos”

Beats Music’s “Ellen DeGeneres”

Kia’s “The Truth”

Which was your favorite?