Monday, November 29, 2021

Books That Make Great Holiday Gifts

 
 
If you are trying to decide what type of gift to give for the holidays, we got you covered and have put together some thrillers, mysteries, suspense, and romance narratives that will make great gifts for the upcoming holidays. Just click on the title and shop until you drop.

 

Frenzied by Brandon Massey - A couple, arriving home from vacation, discovers their son is behaving like a demented killer.

 

Man on the Run by Carl Weber - An inmate, who swears he is innocent, escapes from a federal prison, which may cost his best friends their freedom.

 

Nickel City Blues by Gary Earl Ross - A PI is hired to protect a singer who is being stalked by a cop.

 

Little Blue Eyes by Rob Santana - A woman finds an abandoned infant in an alleyway and calls a drug-addicted baby broker for assistance.

 

Miller Avenue Murder by Nenny May - An elderly woman is found murdered in her wedding dress.

 

Summer & Joon by Sydney Arrison - From two different worlds, a single waitress meets a successful entrepreneur.

 

Vanished (A prequel to a series of six short stories) by Clara Lewis - A detective comes across a murder file that is similar to an earlier case.

 

Agent Red - Fatal Enemy (Book 5) by Ava S. King - An undercover agent receives a tip about dead bodies showing up in a small town.

 

The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley - A down on his luck homeowner rents his basement to a peculiar man.

 

The Badge (Tessa White Series Book 1) by Nadia Siddiqui - A chemistry teacher leaves her job to find the real person who murdered her sister.

Monday, November 22, 2021

The Best Virtual Office Holiday Gathering Ideas

The idea of coming together is a theme that characterizes the holiday season for many of us. 

Despite haunting memories, you may have from past work parties, it is a key pillar in celebrating your company’s culture and your success for the year. It allows employees to get to know each other and to reflect while also permitting them to let their hair down.

This should not be any different if you have a virtual or flexible workforce because of the pandemic. By hosting a virtual party, you show that you care about the morale of your employees.

So how can you have a memorable holiday party when you cannot bring your team together in person? You are in luck as there are now plenty of options for fun virtual experiences out there.

Following are some virtual holiday activities you can do while you are still at home:

Online Cocktail Party

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The holidays would not be the holidays without some relaxed conversation along with non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments. Typically, this would involve corralling everyone into a venue. You can do this from the comfort of your own home and drink with your colleagues from around the world.

One simple way to approach this is to have your team purchase their drinks and then jump on a video conferencing app like Zoom. This is a good option if you are short on time and on a budget.

If you would like to make things a little chic, some companies will send you a selection of drinks to sample.

Mixology Classes

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If your team is feeling more adventurous then why not take it a step further and try learning to make your cocktails. This is a great activity if you want to give something to your team to talk about right away and connect through a shared goal. Most virtual Mixology classes send out everything you need to get going.

Karaoke

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For the bravest teams, Karaoke is a great way to get everyone out of their shells and into the holiday spirit.

You can easily find karaoke resources on YouTube, but try to get song recommendations from your attendees beforehand so you do not have to waste precious time on the call looking for music. Tools such as Watch2Gether will help sync up your internet song browsing experience to make sure everyone can keep up and are on the same page.

Meditation Classes

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While many see the holidays as a cheery time, for some it can be a stressful time for many reasons including financial, social pressures, and isolation. You can help your employees slow down a little and prioritize their well-being for a few moments.

Studies have shown that meditation helps reduce anxiety, improve concentration and remove stress. Mindfulness and presence are great skills to develop in life for any celebration. This could be the first step in a new journey for your team.

Baking Challenges

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Holidays are the time of year to indulge and give in to your sweet-toothed cravings. If your team likes their baked goods (with a hint of competition), why not propose a baking challenge?

Monday, November 15, 2021

How to Practice Being Open to Surprising Matches While Dating

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We teamed up with Pepsi Mango to help you celebrate unexpected matches — and embrace surprising pairings in every aspect of your life with a little chispa-meaning spark in Spanish.

 

If you keep tripping over the same stone (ahem, person), as the Spanish saying goes, maybe it's time to pay a little more attention to what hasn't worked for you in the past. Think about your past relationships. Do you see a pattern with the type of person to whom you have been attracted? If this is the case then it is probably time to reassess if your "type" is working for you or not.

 

We asked Sujeiry Gonzalez, dating expert and founder of Latina x Love Magazine, also known as Love Sujeiry, about how to get out of that rut and be more open to surprising matches when you're out in the dating world. How do you get out of your comfort zone when you are dating online? How you can figure out what you want in a relationship, and the number one question you should ask yourself to know if there can be compatibility with someone you just met.


Photo by Viktoria Slowikowska from Pexels



What is Your "Type?"

 

First, how do you determine if you have a type? Get a notepad and go down memory lane, Sujeiry recommended. "Think back to your last three relationships," she said. "What do these exes have in common physically and personality-wise? Do they have similar characteristics?"

 

She also said it is important to look at the dynamics within these past three relationships. "What dynamics played out when it came to gender roles, money, faithfulness, and communication? Did they all treat you the same? Why did the relationships end? Jot down any blaring commonalities. If you find a common thread (or multiple threads), then you have a type."


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How to Let Go of Old Patterns

 

Once you have identified your type, consider why you were attracted to them in the first place, as well as how they ended up not meeting your needs. Some people seem to date people who work in a particular field or look a certain way or are into a specific kind of music, but you need to identify your type at a deeper level.

 

"Let's say you have a type that is a bartender," Sujeiry said. "You fall for them over and over again. Yet you struggle with their career because your love language is quality time, and they are always working when you are at home. Or you love musicians, but they get a lot of attention from groupies, and it enrages you because you struggle with insecurities."

 

This is when you need to start looking outside your comfort zone. This does not mean trying to force yourself to date someone who is the complete opposite of your type. Rather, you want to look for someone who is going to meet your needs. "In the end, what matters is that you are loved and respected and that you are in a healthy, reciprocal relationship," said Sujeiry.

OK, so you do not want to do a complete 180, but where do you draw the line then when swiping right or left. Take that list of commonalities and be mindful of these character traits when dating again. It is easy to get lost in old patterns of people we are traditionally attracted to, even if that type of person has only caused drama, loss, disappointment, and heartbreak.

 

"If you're online dating, talking to a potential mate, or even on a date, pay close attention to what they say and what they do," Sujeiry said. "Speak less, listen more. Remember how those relationships ended and why you were unfulfilled. Eventually, you will be able to pinpoint your type from a mile away; your type will turn you off, and you will turn them down. That's when you will be open to exploring other options."

 

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Dating Outside the Box

 

For many people, dating people with a similar cultural background is a habit — and potentially a must-have. Ask yourself, have I ever considered being open to other cultures? That can be an excellent place to start.

 

Being with someone from a different culture helps you broaden your horizon and get out of your bubble in more ways than you might expect. "If embraced, you can grow as a person and as a couple, as long as there is respect and understanding for each other's cultures and open communication about cultural traditions, customs, and expectations," Sujeiry said.

 

However, some challenges are particular to multicultural relationships. "Not every culture embraces interracial or intercultural relationships, which can make it difficult to connect to relatives and cultural traditions," Sujeiry said. "This is where you need honesty and compromises. You do not have to have the same relationship that your parents did, and you do not have to raise your children one way or the other. As a couple from different cultures, it is your responsibility to choose what you take and leave from each other's respective cultures. That way, you can build a relationship identity based on both of your cultures."

 

Photo by Jasmine Carter from Pexels

One Question to Rate Them All

 

Ultimately, when there is true compatibility with someone, it does not matter if that person fits that "type" you are used to, ticks all the boxes on that list you made when you were getting over your last breakup, or shares a cultural background with you. Sujeiry said at the end of the day, what matters when thinking about if a new relationship has potential is asking yourself if you can see them as an actual friend. "Not just an acquaintance, but a best friend," she said. She goes on to say, "someone that enjoys similar activities as you, someone that you can be open with and fully yourself without judgment, someone that shares similar values about money, love, religion, and family, someone that desires the same lifestyle that you do. Friendship is the foundation of relationships, and as they say, 'birds of a feather flock together.'"


Monday, November 08, 2021

News for Travelers

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News from Travel Noire

If You Retire In These Countries, You'll Get Extra Perks As A Foreigner - If you end up in one of these places, it could mean a little extra savings on monthly bills and other expenses. So, as you plan for retirement, here are a few countries that should be on your list for consideration. Learn More→

 

4 Places In The World Where Public Sex Is Legal - If you're an exhibitionist who gets a thrill from being watched by strangers, or a voyeur who enjoys observing others engaged in the act, this list just might be for you. Learn More→

 

Jordan English: The 24-Year-Old Influencer Who Opened Barbados' New Hot Spot - A chill scene filled with mostly millennial customers vibing to Soca, R&B, and everything in between. Guests will also witness patrons chowing down on tasty eats that offer a spin on Bajan cuisine. Learn More→

 

These Unique Airbnb Homes Will Change Your Next Vacation - Unique Airbnb homes are a great way to get away from the norm. Not sure where to go on your next vacation? "Perfect." says the app. Learn More→

 

7 Fantasy Vacations For Those With Unlimited Budgets - If you're looking to travel and have an unlimited budget, we've come up with a list of fantasy vacations that you simply must try before you get too old to do so. Learn More→

 

Booking Travel With Cryptocurrency Is On The Rise, But There Are Consequences - "The number of bookings using crypto has steadily risen month over month to record highs, even during the pandemic," Juan Otero, Travala.com's CEO said. Learn More→

 

You'll Soon Be Able To Use Your iPhone For Your ID At Airport Security - "The addition of driver's licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet." Learn More→

 

Oh Wow: Travelers Share Their Stories From The 'Worst Airports' Around The World -

Several travelers in the popular Black Travel Movement Facebook group recently weighed in on some of their worst airport experiences. Learn More→ -

 

From A Hotel Housekeeper In The US To Owning A Luxury Hotel In Dakar, Senegal - "I started cleaning toilets. Today, I am the manager of my own five-star boutique hotel with 60 employees," Souadou Niang told BBC Africa. Learn More→

 

Los Angeles Has Its First Afro-Mexican Restaurant And It's Everything - Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! The first Afro-Mexican restaurant features a vast menu full of different types of tamales, tacos, moles, plantains, pozole, black beans and more.  Learn More→

 

Beware: Travelers Share Tourist Traps Around The World - Redditors went IN and shared the dark side of travel. Read on to learn some tourist traps to avoid around the world. Learn More→

 

2022 On The Horizon: 7 Of The Best New Year's Eve Destinations To Celebrate - As another year without a dull moment comes to a close, why not start planning an epic, but safe New Year's Eve trip to celebrate a fresh, new beginning? Learn More→

 

Idris Elba Is Opening A Wine Bar In London This Fall And We're Already Planning A Trip - At this point... the real question is what does Idris Elba not do?  We know he's fine, canactmodel, rap, can DJ, and now, add wine bar owner to the list. - Learn More→

 

Get Free Food On Your Birthday At These Restaurants - We know what you're thinking. Is it really free? Yes. There are multiple restaurants around the country that treat their customers to a freebie meal or food item as a birthday treat. Learn More→

 

Traveler Story: I Dined In The Nude At The Only Naturist Restaurant In Paris - Have you ever dined in the nude? I have, and not only is it freeing, it's an exercise in self-love and vulnerability. Learn More→

 

La Juanita Is Mexico City's First Cannabis Coffee Shop - Since its opening in May, this cannabis cafeteria has become the place for cannabis users and non-users to learn even more about the industry. Learn More→

 

From Madrid To Turks & Caicos: November Flights For Less Than $350 Round-Trip - The year is winding down, which means these cheap flights couldn't come at a better time. With November on the horizon, you have a short time to cross off those travel goals. Learn More→

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Monday, November 01, 2021