Month: June 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re doing our best to protect ourselves and our communities by staying home—but the same surroundings for weeks on end can get a little boring. If you find yourself with the time to start (and finish!) home improvement projects, you can take the opportunity to transform your space, freshen up whatever’s feeling stale, and establish a new sense of peace in your home.

Experts on the Vacasa Interior Design team rounded up a list of tips and inspirational vacation homes to help bring your most coveted Pinterest boards to life—plus, a little redesign will give you a much-needed sense of control over your environment in this period of uncertainty.

1. Declutter your spaces

Right now, many of us are feeling worn out by the unpredictability and chaos surrounding the global pandemic that governs our lives. By consuming news about the virus every day, we are overstimulating ourselves—and it’s possible our living spaces could reflect that state of mind.

Small changes can make a world of a difference here. Start by examining your home with a critical eye, thinking about what gives you comfort versus what may be subconsciously adding to your stress. Here are some of the ways to give yourself a mental break:

• Take your mail, including pesky bills, off the dining room table and establish a drawer where they can live until you’re ready to revisit them—then, wipe down all your counters!
• Consider whether there are too many items on your bookshelves and dressers. Does the arrangement look hectic to you? Do any of the items conjure up unpleasant memories? If so, remove some, putting them in storage or a box to eventually donate.
• While you’re at it, check out your pantry and closets, too. Odds are, they could benefit from some serious reorganization.
• Examine your home for stray cords, and tack them along the walls for a much cleaner, more orderly feel.

2. Rearrange your common areas

It’s tempting to spend all day in front of the television when you’re working from home or trying to entertain the kids. But, wouldn’t we all rather have meaningful conversations with loved ones, read, or play board games—at least some of the time?

Think about whether your living room furniture is arranged to foster interactions between those in your household. Set up your couches or chairs so they’re facing one another, and make sure you have a coffee table in the mix where drinking glasses can rest, novels can be set down, and Monopoly can be played!

3. Spruce up the kitchen

Kitchens are essential spaces to connect with members of your household—especially right now. More than ever, people are enjoying the art of baking cookies with their kids, or creating a home-cooked meal with a partner. Maximize circulation as much as possible, and provide extra hang-out room with chic barstools, or reimagine the flow between the kitchen, dining, and living areas.

If you don’t already have one, considering adding a kitchen island to give yourself more counter space. We know bumping arms in the kitchen is never fun, and can result in a sliced finger!

Proper layered lighting in kitchens is also crucial, both for creating ambiance and for aiding in specific tasks. Pendant lighting over an island, under-cabinet lighting, and overhead lighting should all be considered.

4. Experiment with new pops of color

Color gives a room its feeling and can evoke warmth and comfort. Spring is the perfect season to introduce new hues to your home, so there’s no better time than the present for a quarantine refresh.

DIY painting is a cathartic way to brighten your mood and enhance day-to-day living. Consider the best location in your home for an accent wall. Is it in the living room behind the couch, or would it be better suited for the bedroom? Think warm jewel tones and cheery bold colors—but remember to stay true to your own personality and style.

If you want to make more subtle updates, try replacing pillow slipcovers or investing in a new throw blanket for an added splash of color and texture.

5. Play up the bedroom

Many of us are having trouble sleeping right now due to pandemic-induced stress. Maybe you’re having bad dreams, just can’t get to sleep, or wake up too frequently. And, let’s be honest, we all need some R&R right about now.

Consider what aspects of your bedroom may be disrupting (or, at least, not helping) your REM cycle without you knowing it. Make sure you have plenty of pillows, including accent throws, and think about investing in new, high-quality sheets.

Put up some art that brings a smile to your face, but make sure it complements the overall feel of the room. Equip your bedside table with essential items that give the room character and added utility, like a lamp or a clock.For more interior design tips and tricks, visit: https://www.vacasa.com/property-management/interior-design.

After years spent in a lucrative retreat from the spotlight, multi-faceted musician/singer Randy Hall is in the midst of a hot streak as a recording artist as hot as his home base: Las Vegas!

Randy Hall has enjoyed international chart-topping success with his solo single “How Do You Want Your Love” (co-composed with Kevin Toney, founding keyboardist of Donald Byrd’s Blackbyrds band) which vaulted over superstars such as Charlie Wilson and Usher to hit the top of the U.K. Soul Chart and several others from Brazil to Germany. Next, Hall had the honor of hitting the top of those same charts with a song he originally wrote in the `80s for Al Jarreau to sing as a guest of Miles Davis on an album that was ultimately shelved for decades. That swingin’ song, “I Love What We Make Together” (from 2019’s jazz chart-topping posthumously released Miles album, Rubberband) also shot up the world charts.

Now Randy Hall is firing back by dusting off a song from his archives entitled “A New Way of Love” that is even stronger than its predecessors. In a review for the digital magazine Pump It Up, the writer exclaimed, “The chorus has a sweet ear-bending harmonic surprise kissed to life by backup singers Medina Johnson and Patrice ‘KP’ Isley while the rhythm track gives those mature enough to remember a masterful Barry White vibration. The only things this 4-minute single edit lack are a mid-song breakdown, a sexy spoken mack laid on thick over the top and a guitar solo from master-picker Hall.” This entry is so smokin’ hot and ready for spring/summer that Hall is doing an intensive promotional push for it to sail up the charts at American Soul radio outlets from Sirius satellite to terrestrial stations from coast to coast. Irresistible to the heart and impervious to burnout, “A New Way of Love” will give longtime lovers of real soul music reason to fall in love with Randy Hall all over again.

Randy Hall first sprang to international attention at the young age of 21 circa 1981, co-writing and singing “The Man with The Horn,” the title track of jazz legend Miles Davis’ first album in six years after a self-imposed hiatus for health reasons. Hall also co-composed and played guitar on the instrumental “Shout,” the lead single from The Man with The Horn that reintroduced him to the marketplace. In short order, Hall was recruited to be a member of established funk band Pleasure for one album followed by releasing two solo albums on the major label MCA Records executive produced by kindred singer/guitarist spirit Ray Parker Jr.: I Belong To You (1984) featuring “Jamie’s Girl” (Top 10) and Love You Like a Stranger (1988) featuring “Slow Starter” (Top 30).

Now after spending the last two decades working behind the scenes as a producer, talent scout, songwriter, film and television scorer, and Las Vegas strip performer, Randy Hall has come full circle to reclaim his soulful rightful spot in the forefront.

Randy Hall is ready to show the universe “A New Way of Love”…and, oh, is it what the world needs now!

Buy/Stream link: www.smarturl.it/RandyHall

“Cangrejita” Is Another Great Hit Of The Prolific Artist, Member Of Plastilina Mosh And Leader Of A Band Of Bitches 

The Fun Goal of the Video Game Is Inspired by Virtual Technology of the 80’s

Jonaz, Has Also Become An Important Figure In The Instagram And Through Exa TV From Monterrey With His Recent DJ Collaborations

One month ago, Jonaz released his new song “Cangrejita”, a fun, fresh and danceable track. Inspired by the sound of 90s house music, the song is another hit by the prolific artist from Monterrey.

Following the thread of the video, the time has come to unveil the video game “Cangrejita by Jonaz”, a fun adventure in which Jonaz becomes the main character to travel through a world inspired by the video games of the 80’s and to be able to ultimately conquer Cangrejita. Meanwhile, on his way to her, he will come across “Los Aburridos”, who will try to destroy him, whom he will have to defeat with his guitar riffs and if he runs out of energy, there is nothing better than a good beer to recover and keep going. Through two levels, you can enjoy the music and the fearless adventure towards the winning barbecue and the Cangrejita, in the unique style of Jonaz.

The video game was created by London Mexico, a content producer based in Monterrey, who gave life to this charming video game.

This last month has been a very productive one for Jonaz, who was invited along with La Picosa, by the radio station Exa Monterrey to host the special “Rock in Exa” for a week but due to the great acceptance of the people, the special was extended to a month. Now these programs will be transmitted to all Latin America through EXA TV, as daily one-hour broadcasts.

Jonaz, who made his appearance in social networks a little less than a year ago, became one of the most expected moments daily in Instagram, where he talks about his daily life; with his natural ease and accompanied by La Picosa, who’s face is unknown, but who moderates the mood and Jonaz’s madness.

Download the FREE Videogame

For IOS HERE

For Android HERE

‘Sipsmith Gin is now available within just 30 minutes all across the Capital’

London UK, Tuesday 26th April 2020 – London’s favourite on-demand delivery service has announced a new partnership with the capital’s leading craft gin brand ‘Sipsmith’. Working together to bring Sipsmith to homes across London, the new partnership will now see Booze Up adding a number of award-winning Sipsmith Gins to the wide range of high-quality spirits available for delivery, in under 30 minutes.

Credited with pioneering the gin boom with its original London Dry Gin, Sipsmith is committed to continually harnessing the passion and talent of its distillers, allowing them to defy the boundaries of what is possible and create delicious high quality, handcrafted gin – in the most unique, innovative and delicious flavours. 

The full range of delicately balanced craft gins will be available to order as from Booze Up from Friday 29th May 2020

In addition to the inclusion in Booze Up’s offering, the new partnership is due to coincide with the launch of Sipsmith’s latest limited-edition craft gin creation – Chilli and Lime Gin. Hand crafted using the best quality ingredients, it has been blended and refined to create the perfect zingy spirit with a little added heat, guaranteed to tantalise the taste buds of its sippers.  Full of flavour and ready to drink served simply with tonic water, ice and a lime wedge – the Chilli & Lime Gin is also perfect for creating delicious cocktails, including Margaritas and Mojitos, with just a few additional ingredients.

Booze Up founder Ashleigh Fletcher commented: “Sipsmith is a prestigious name in the world of craft gin – ever better, they’re based here in London. We’re thrilled to be working together to complement our alcohol delivery service and boost our range with some of the finest gins available.”

Ashleigh continued: “We currently offer a wide range of big brand spirits and drinks, as well as a number of snacks and other useful essentials, delivered right across London. We deliver to our customers within 30 minutes.  However, many of our alcohol deliveries arrive much quicker than this! Our fastest recorded delivery is just 40 seconds from the moment of order, to the point the customer received their ordered products. Our delivery execution is extremely stream-lined, and we are constantly striving to further reduce our delivery times and improve our customer experience.   I expect the new Sipsmith partnership will extend our appeal to wider audiences and provide a fantastic platform for the new Sipsmith Chilli and Lime Gin to reach consumers during such unprecedented times.”

To place an order for an alcohol delivery, please visit the official website at https://www.booze-up.com for further details.

About Booze-Up:

Fast, easy and affordable, Booze Up aim to deliver alcohol within 15-35 minutes of an order being placed. Stocking well over 170 products that includes an extensive selection of beers and spirits, same-day wine and champagne delivery, along with an extensive selection of snacks and food – all available for fast delivery across London, Surrey, Kent & Middlesex.

Media Contact:

Contact name: Ashleigh Fletcher

Telephone: 0843 289 2930

Web: https://www.booze-up.com

Rockford, IL: Marriage fraud has become a growing concern for United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). Many cases of sham marriage have come to light in recent years, such as the large ring of organized marriage fraud for which about 100 people were charged in Houston, TX, last year. 

This problem takes many forms, some of which have caused much emotional and financial damage to many Americans citizens. 

Auguste is one such victim. His story of his marriage began when he was visiting the Dominican Republic to attend his mother’s funeral.

The relationship blossomed, and Auguste was smitten with a young, beautiful Haitian girl who seemed eager to start living with Auguste. The couple came to the US with her travelling under a K-1 Fiancée Visa and got married in spring 2016. 

Auguste soon applied for his new wife’s citizenship, planning to live together forever. However, by August 2017, in a little over a year, the beautiful dream turned into a nightmare. Auguste watched in shock as his wife called the police and accused her husband of domestic battery, for which the man was arrested and jailed.

Just two days after that phone call to the police, she also filed for an Emergence Order of Protection against her jailed husband and, within months, filed for divorce. By this time, she was several months pregnant with another man’s child, as investigations from the highly respected marriage fraud investigator John Sampson discovered.

Auguste’s story is just one of many, and the increasing incidents of marriage fraud involving the I-751 are raising important questions about the unfortunate and unintended consequences of VAWA.

While VAWA was included into the legislation to duly increase legal protection for female victims of domestic violence, the law is actively used by female immigrants to label their American spouses as violent individuals who abuse their wives. 

If they can convince the VAWA unit of USCIS in Vermont that they have been abused, the state immediately frees them from the obligation of living with their US citizen spouse for a specified period of 2 years after the wedding and speeds up their independent US citizenship.

There is a growing need for concerned authorities to elevate the level of credible evidence when stories such as the one stated above come to light. The law must also be protected against abuse from unscrupulous individuals who cause unwitting US citizens like Auguste a lot of pain and infamy. 

Concluding his investigation of the case, John Sampson from CSI Consulting LLC states in his report that “given the totality of the circumstances, that SUBJECT married SOURCE (Auguste) solely for the purpose of entering the United States and without any intention of establishing a life with SOURCE (Auguste).”