A fresh, spacious and well-designed kitchen is one of the best ways to boost your resale appeal, whether you are considering moving out soon or not. We asked budget-conscious real estate agent Michael Macerollo for his top kitchen renovation tips to ensure you get the result you want at the best possible price.
Do Your Homework
Research carefully before you purchase anything. If you are considering altering your spatial design, consult the experts. Ikea has excellent plans to follow when changing your kitchen. Shop around and consider different types of building materials that might fit with your budget. Also enquire about durability and long term care required. Get a one hour consult from an interior decorator for tips on colour combinations and design as well. This is your most important step.
Monday, October 31, 2011
5 Keys to a Successful Kitchen Renovation
Sunday, October 30, 2011
If Disney princesses were real Photos | If Disney princesses were real Pictures
By Joanna Douglas. We’ve always loved the Disney princesses in a fairy tale sense, so we’ve never imagined they were real. But one graphic design student at the Arts University College at Bournemouth in the UK had the creative idea to bring Disney characters to life using photo manipulation. Jirka Väätäinen told us, “I've always been interested in the way people look and what makes them unique in their appearances. This was a personal challenge for me to see if I could recreate characters that we all know and love, and try to maintain their unique features. The end results are what I would imagine the characters to look like in ‘real life,’ while still staying somewhat true to the unrealistic quirks in their original character designs.” Väätäinen said his interpretations of eight Disney princesses and one villain were created by combining elements from different photos of women who resemble the characters. He then creates composite images through digital painting and then puts them together using Photoshop. The results are stunning and completely entertaining. Check out all of Väätäinen’s Disney-inspired art here in this slideshow. We’re hoping he’ll add Snow White, Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel, Alice, and Tinker Bell soon. Some of them look very realistic, like our favorite, Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin.” Let us know which you like the best.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
3 Shocking Lady Gaga Halloween Costume Ideas For 2011
Lady Gaga’s Dress
Year after year, Lady Gaga always provides us with a heap of inspiration for fun and unusual Halloween costumes! 2011 was no exception. Here are three of the most memorable outfits for you to choose from.
Check Some Of Lady Gaga Halloween Costumes
1) The Meat Dress
Latest Steve Jobs mystery revealed: how he drove without license plates
The multitude of mysteries revealed following the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' death now includes one that puzzled car enthusiasts for years: How did Jobs get away with driving without a license plate? It was common knowledge that Jobs would park his Mercedes SL55 AMG in a handicapped spot at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, with nothing to identify his vehicle other than the tiny barcode that usually rests behind the rear license plate. According to Walter Isaacson's new biography, Jobs wanted to avoid having a plate for privacy reasons; and yet when having a license-less silver Mercedes became a kind of trademark, Jobs kept motoring without one "because I don't."
Friday, October 28, 2011
Commonwealth heads agree to update 300-year-old royal succession rules
PERTH, Australia - It's taken 300 years, but the old boys club of royal primogeniture has finally been shelved.
Sixteen Commonwealth "realms" that still maintain the Queen as their head of state agreed Friday to change the rules of succession that have favoured boys over girls since the 17th century.
The rules of primogeniture — which determine the constitutional figurehead of Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, among others — were belatedly dragged into the 21st century by dint of the massive popularity of Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
"In future, the order of succession should be determined simply by the order of birth," British Prime Minister David Cameron said in announcing the agreement at a Commonwealth leaders' summit. "And we've agreed to introduce this for all descendents from (Charles) the Prince of Wales."
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Surprise! Baby an unexpected delight for Island mother
Surprise! Baby an unexpected delight for Island mother
A 25-year-old Crofton mother who didn't know she was pregnant until she delivered a healthy sevenpound baby hopes she doesn't receive a call from a reality TV show on the topic.
Emily Ratcliffe and her husband always questioned the women who appeared on the TLC show I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant - until it happened to her.
On the evening of Oct. 1, after a day of moving heavy furniture into her new home, Ratcliffe was overwhelmed by increasing abdominal and back pain.
About 30 minutes later, she delivered her fourth child, baby Mariah, on her livingroom couch.
"Honestly, I thought I was dreaming," Ratcliffe said. "It took me a minute to realize what just happened."
Baby Mariah is nothing short of a miracle, she said. "It's hard to believe. I'm happy. I can't imagine life without her."
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Amy Winehouse died as unintended consequence of drinking too much alcohol
LONDON - Amy Winehouse died as the unintended consequence of drinking too much alcohol, a British coroner ruled Wednesday.
Coroner Suzanne Greenaway gave a verdict of "death by misadventure," saying the singer died of accidental alcohol poisoning. "The unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels (of alcohol) was her sudden and unexpected death," Greenaway said.
The singer, who had fought drug and alcohol problems for years, was found dead in bed at her London home on July 23 at age 27. An initial autopsy proved inconclusive, although it found no traces of illegal drugs in her system.
Pathologist Suhail Baithun told the inquest into the singer's death that Winehouse had consumed a "very large quantity of alcohol" — the level in her blood put her more than five times over the legal drunk-driving limit.
Police Detective Inspector Les Newman, who was called after a security guard found Winehouse, said empty vodka bottles were scattered around her bedroom.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
October 17-23: Lady Gaga Buys $13,000 Dinner At Charity Auction
Lady Gaga had a few good personal reasons for purchasing a $13,000 dinner with E-Street Band member Steve Van Zandt Thursday night when she attended the "Right To Rock" charity auction.
According to Forbes,Van Zandt used to frequent New York's Parma restaurant, where Gaga worked as a waitress when she was 19.
Additionally, the "Born This Way" singer's donation benefits the Little Kids Rock non-profit that supports music programs in schools.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Jennifer Lopez Gives Tearful Performance About Lost Love
Jennifer Lopez was spreading the love on Saturday night, but deep inside she was feeling mixed emotions.
At her jam-packed Mohegan Sun concert in Montville, Conn., the 42-year-old put together a bit focused around her love songs.
PHOTOS: Look back at Jennifer and Marc, the way they were
"You want to talk about love? I can talk about love. Oh, the stories!" she said during a heartfelt speech to the audience before breaking out with her hit "If You Had My Love."
PHOTOS: Look back at all of Jennifer's rocky relationships
Afterwards she said, "That's the first song I wrote about love. And this is the last song I wrote about love. A lot has happened since then!"
As she belted out one of her newer songs, a montage of male and female dance pairs whirled behind her. They paid homage to her past romances: her with a Diddy-esque person, her and a Ben Affleck type and lastly her and a Marc Anthony lookalike.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Charlie Sheen slams new "Two and a Half Men"
Actors Charlie Sheen (L) and Ashton Kutcher are seen in this combination file photograph …
By Tim Kenneally
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Looks like Charlie Sheen is done playing nice with his former bosses.
The ousted "Two and a Half Men" star, who's preparing for his small-screen adaptation of the Jack Nicholson film "Anger Management," took a few shots at the show while out in Los Angeles on Thursday, saying he's "very disappointed" in the direction "Two and a Half Men" has taken since his ouster, TMZ reports.
Asked about the ratings slide that the show has taken since its eye-popping season premiere numbers, Sheen offered, "People aren't stupid, you know? Not all of them."
Saturday, October 22, 2011
PIC: Meet Mariah Carey's Twins, 6 Months, Moroccan and Monroe!
Friday was one sweet day when Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon finally let the world see their twin six-month-old bundles of joy on 20/20.
Moroccan and Monroe made their primetime debut when their beaming parents introduced them to Barbara Walters, who bonds with the cuties in an ABC interview.
PHOTOS: Stars who struggled to conceive
"My family gives me everything," Cannon, 31, told Walters. “Unconditional love means...the world to me. I mean, it's completion."
"It's just love," Carey, 41, added. "It's a beautiful place to be."
Friday, October 21, 2011
The plastic surgery a model needs to look like Barbie
(Matthew Rolston/O Magazine)
We know that Barbie’s body is anatomically impossible. So why are we still trying for it?
Every day a new plastic surgery promise emerges: scooped-out backs, rear-end lifts, sculpted kneecaps. If it’s possible, it’s suddenly necessary.
But what exactly would you have to go through to get the 'perfect' Barbie body? In the latest issue of O Magazine, model Katie Halchishick becomes the human diagram.
Posing for photographer Matthew Rolston, her glamorous, Marilyn Monroe-type features are surgically outlined according to Barbie's proportions.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Cyclops Shark & Other Cryptic Creatures Make October Creepy
In this world of Photoshop and online scams, it pays to have a hearty dose of skepticism at reports of something strange — including an albino fetal shark with one eye smack in the middle of its nose like a Cyclops.
But the Cyclops shark, sliced from the belly of a pregnant mama dusky shark caught by a commercial fisherman in the Gulf of California earlier this summer, is by all reports the real thing. Shark researchers have examined the preserved creature and found that its single eye is made of functional optical tissue, they said last week. It's unlikely, however, that the malformed creature would have survived outside the womb.
"This is extremely rare," shark expert Felipe Galvan Magana of Mexico's Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias del Mar told the Pisces Fleet Sportfishing blog in July. "As far as I know, less than 50 examples of an abnormality like this have been recorded." [See photos of the one-eyed "Cyclops" shark]
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Apple blames iPhone rumors for disappointing results
On Tuesday October 18, 2011, 7:21 pm EDT
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc stunned Wall Street by reporting results that missed expectations for the first time in years, blaming rumors of the new iPhone for hurting demand in the September quarter.
Shares of Apple fell 7 percent in extended trading on Tuesday, wiping some $27 billion off the value of the world's largest technology company.
It was Apple's first quarterly earnings under Chief Executive Tim Cook, who took over from Steve Jobs in August at a critical juncture for the company. Apple is battling Google Inc in the mobile arena, as well as other challengers such as Samsung and Amazon.com Inc.
"Investors are going to start to speculate that there is change under way now that Jobs is gone, and that there's trouble ahead. We don't share that point," said Channing Smith, co-manager at Capital Advisors Growth Fund, which holds Apple shares.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Scarce resources, climate biggest threats to world health
An environmental activist watches a lumberjack saw a tree in Sumava National Park …
LONDON (Reuters) - The Earth's natural resources like food, water and forests are being depleted at an alarming speed, causing hunger, conflict, social unrest and species extinction, experts at a climate and health conference in London warned Monday.
Increased hunger due to food yield changes will lead to malnutrition; water scarcity will deteriorate hygiene; pollution will weaken immune systems; and displacement and social disorder due to conflicts over water and land will increase the spread of infectious diseases, they said.
By 2050, there could be 70 million additional deaths in sub-Saharan Africa alone, said Tony McMichael, professor of population health at the Australian National University.
As mosquito species spread due to climate change, the transmission rate of diseases like malaria will increase, engulfing countries like Zimbabwe from 2025 to 2050.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Wheldon's final days were filled with joy
Four days before he died, Dan Wheldon sat next to me on a couch reflecting on a year in which he started out unemployed, won the Indianapolis 500, then went back to the unemployment line to look for a job. I expected a bittersweet tone. Instead I got classic Dan Wheldon, ever the grounded optimist.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
7 Ideas For Sexy Men’s Halloween Costumes
Sexy men’s Halloween costumes are just as much in demand as sexy costumes for women! If you’re looking for a costume that’ll get the women swooning, then how about choosing from one of these seven ideas?
Who doesn’t like a man in uniform? The firefighter is one of the most popular options for a sexy men’s costume. He may be fighting fires and saving people’s lives every day, but he still has time to look good! The classic firefighter outfit consists of the pants with a reflective trim, those classic firefighter suspenders, and the yellow firefighter hat.
2) Spartan Warrior
These Ancient Greek warriors have always been admired by the ladies, thanks to the fact that their outfits are sparse to say the least. Spartan warriors are ready for battle in long capes, short wraps and a bear chest.
3) Scottish Kilt
Is it true what they say about Scottish men and their underwear? You can be the judge of that when you don the famous Scottish kilt as your sexy Halloween costume. Men have been known to wear this outfit with nothing on top and nothing underneath!
Taylor Swift named ‘Woman of the Year’ by Billboard magazine
This is one busy 21-year-old. (Getty Images)
Rihanna may have been named "Sexiest Woman Alive" by Esquire earlier this week, but it's sugary-sweet country star Taylor Swift who caught the attention of Billboard: The magazine has named the 21-year-old "Woman of the Year," making Taylor the youngest performer to receive the award.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Doctor's defence lawyers drop claim Jackson swallowed fatal dose of anesthetic
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The defence for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death surprised prosecutors and a judge on Wednesday, dropping a key claim that the singer swallowed a fatal dose of an anesthetic while the physician wasn't looking.
Dr. Conrad Murray's attorneys have for months suggested that Jackson could have swallowed propofol, which is normally given through an IV drop in hospital settings.
They told jurors in opening statements that they would present a theory that Jackson swallowed several pills of the sedative lorazepam and somehow self-administered the propofol — killing the singer before he had a chance to close his eyes.
On Wednesday, without jurors in the courtroom, attorney J. Michael Flanagan said he commissioned a study about the effects of propofol if swallowed, mainly to counter one by a key prosecution expert that it would have been negligible.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Magnitude 6.1 quake shakes Indonesian resort island of Bali; dozens injured
A Balinese woman walks past a damaged gate at a Hindu temple after an earthquake …
BALI, Indonesia - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake jolted Indonesia's popular resort island of Bali on Thursday, injuring more than 50 people and sending others fleeing from their hotels and houses in panic.
Ceilings caved in at two high schools and several ancient Hindu temples were damaged, with stones tumbling to the ground and walls crumpling.
Some cars in the bustling capital were crushed by falling slabs of concrete.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centred 60 miles (100 kilometres) southwest of the island, famous for its resorts and spectacular surfing beaches. It hit 21 miles (35 kilometres) beneath the ocean floor.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Pirate Costume For Halloween
Thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Captain Jack Sparrow has become probably the most popular fictitious pirate to ever exist. Start with the dreads. If you don’t have long hair, you may want to consider getting a wig. A hat or bandanna will help you achieve the look. Go with a puffy collared shirt that is open near the chest area and some dark colored pants. If you own a pair of leather boots, great, but you can always wear knee-length socks over your pants. Never forget the fancy accessories. Jack Sparrow is a fan of huge rings, so wearing a lot of them on your fingers will seal the deal. You may or may not add a fake sword.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Apple's Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer, respiratory arrest according to death record
FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2010 file photo, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs introduces the iPad during an Apple event in San Francisco. A copy of Steve Jobs' death certificate made public Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 indicates that the Apple Inc. co-founder died of respiratory arrest resulting from pancreatic cancer that had spread to other organs. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)
, On Monday October 10, 2011, 11:30 pm EDTBy Brooke Donald,Rachel Metz, The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO - A copy of Steve Jobs ' death certificate made public Monday indicates that the Apple Inc. co-founder died of respiratory arrest resulting from pancreatic cancer that had spread to other organs.
Jobs died last Wednesday at age 56. Apple did not disclose his cause of death, but Jobs had been in poor health for a number of years.
He battled pancreatic cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January — his third since his health problems began — and resigned in August, handing the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook.
The death certificate, released by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and obtained by The Associated Press, said Jobs had a metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumour for the past five years. It listed his immediate cause of death as respiratory arrest.
Monday, October 10, 2011
6 Common Credit Card Pitfalls to Avoid
You don't have to be a frequent credit card user to make a costly credit card mistake. Credit cards can offer the ultimate in convenience when you're traveling, shopping online, or just trying to balance your budget. However, a few slip-ups here and there could set up you up for credit problems in the long term. High fees, a drop in your credit score, and extra charges that you didn't realize you authorized could have you stuck with a serious credit dilemma in a few short months. Fortunately, many common credit card mistakes are preventable.
Here are six common credit card pitfalls to avoid:
[See 10 Ways to Improve Your Finances in 2011.]
1. Using credit card checks. Those handy checks your credit card companies send in the mail may prompt you to go on a mini-shopping spree, but keep in mind that this is the equivalent of taking out a cash advance--and a costly one at that. Cash advances on credit cards typically involve high interest charges and fees, and you could end up paying a higher interest rate on your entire balance when you cash that check. Make sure you're aware of the fees involved with signing a credit card check.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Michael Jackson's Daughter Paris Wears "Thriller" Jacket at Tribute Concert
Michael Jackson may be gone, but he's certainly not forgotten. The King of Pop's three children -- Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and Blanket, 9 -- paid tribute to their late father at the Michael Forever concert in Cardiff, Wales Saturday.
"We're very happy to be here on this special night to honor our father," said Paris, who wore a replica of her father's famous red and black leather jacket from his "Thriller" music video.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Best Costumes For Halloween
Men’s Cowboy Halloween Costume
Life on the range was as ruggedly beautiful - sparkling lakes, craggy mountains and glorious sunsets as it was tough - herding cattle, mending fences and more. But cowboys are an iconic part of America - the reason behind what makes this country so great - they’re the backbone of the Old West.
A lucky Lotto mistake
What's better than winning $25 million in the lottery? How about winning $25 million when you never even intended to play?
That's exactly what happened to Kathy Scruggs, 44, of Lithonia, Georgia. Scruggs, who won the state's Powerball jackpot last month, recently told lotto officials that she never meant to buy the ticket. The convenience-store clerk misunderstood her request.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Shocking Elimination On 'Dancing With The Stars'!
A shockwave went through the ballroom on "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday when the latest celebrity was eliminated.
(SPOILER - this story contains the results of "Dancing with the Stars.")
PLAY IT NOW: Kristin Cavallari & Jay Cutler’s ‘Dancing’ Reunion
Despite dancing a Beyonce-inspired samba to a score of 24 out of 30, and being cheered on by her former fiance, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, during Monday night's competition show, Kristin Cavallari was eliminated from "DWTS" on Tuesday's results show.
"Um, I'm a little surprised to be honest," Kristin said, after learning the news, which left several of the "DWTS" cast members with their mouths agape. "But I've had such a great time and it's been an awesome experience. So, you know, it is what it is."
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Amanda Knox returns home to Seattle
SEATTLE/PERUGIA (Reuters) - Amanda Knox returned home to Seattle on Tuesday, one day after an Italian court cleared the 24-year-old college student of murder and freed her from prison.
A plane carrying Knox, who grew up in the close-knit West Seattle neighborhood where both of her divorced parents still live, landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly after 5 p.m. local time.
Knox wiped away tears as she spoke to a throng of reporters at the airport minutes after she stepped off the plane.
"They are reminding me to speak in English because I'm having trouble with that," Knox, 24, said in brief remarks. "I'm really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the airplane and it seemed like everything wasn't real."
A former University of Washington student, Knox thanked "everyone who has believed in me, who has defended me," during her ordeal. "I just want my family. That's the most important thing to me right now, and I just want to go be with them."
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Apple expected to unveil new iPhone on Tuesday with new software, faster processor
SAN FRANCISCO - Apple fans are amped. The computer and gadget maker is expected to announce a new, more powerful version of its wildly popular smartphone this week — more than a year after it unveiled the iPhone 4.
Last week, Apple Inc. emailed invitations to a media event at its headquarters in Cupertino on Tuesday morning. The invite says "let's talk iPhone ," implying the normally secretive company intends to show off the latest version of the device. In the past, Apple has typically introduced a new iPhone during the summer, but this year it was expected to hold off until the fall.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Canadian-born Nobel winner died last Friday: Rockefeller University
STOCKHOLM - The Canadian-born scientist who won this year's Nobel Prize in medicine is dead, Rockefeller University says.
The New York-based university said Monday that Ralph Steinman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four years ago and died last Friday, three days before the announcement.
Nobel Prizes are typically not given out posthumously. Nobel committee member Goran Hansson said the Nobel committee didn't know Steinman was dead when it chose him as a winner and was looking through its regulations.
Steinman, 68, was born in Quebec and was one of three scientists who won this year's Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries about the immune system that opened new avenues for the treatment and prevention of infectious illnesses and cancer.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Best Costumes For Halloween
Home Made Costumes Save Money at Halloween
It’s that time of year again, when children’s thoughts turn to ghosts and ghoulies and candy… and costumes! For parents, it can be a little stress inducing – we want our children to have the wonderful Halloween celebrations that we remember from our own childhoods. But things have changed these days. Trick or treating isn’t as safe as it was in our day, back when everyone in the neighborhood knew everyone else. Also, so many of us are working on extra tight budgets, we might not have the money to splurge on that awesome costume our kid is begging for. So how do you come up with a great costume when you have to stay on a budget?
Is distance the key to a happy marriage?
(Thinkstock Photos)
Boredom. It’s the leading deal-breaker in marriages, according to a recent survey of over 100 family and divorce lawyers. Not to mention Brad Pitt.
Married for 23 years, journalist Iris Krasnow has a personal antidote to the long-term marital rut that creeps into relationships over time: separate summer vacations.
Once a year for about a decade, she’s spent a portion of her summer away from her husband. When her four sons were young, she’d work as a counselor at their camp in the Adirondacks while her husband, an architect and furniture maker, focused on his own projects back at their Annapolis, Maryland home. “I love nature so I just thrived up there and he’d get so much work done back home,” says Krasnow, an associate professor of communication at American University.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Naughty Cop Halloween Costume
There are many “naughty” costumes that women like to wear, and at any given Halloween party with a lot of young women you are likely to see at least one naughty cat, naughty angel, naughty devil, naughty nurse, naughty soldier, and of course the naughty cop costume. The naughty cop Halloween costume is a classic naughty costume and a favorite for women who like to take charge or be taken charge of.
Click any picture for details
How Much Would Steve Jobs Be Worth Today?
Small business owners and future entrepreneurs take note. If you thought starting and growing a business was easy for some, look no further than the story of Steve Jobs and Apple. It is a story of innovation that is so drama-filled that film studios have made big money producing made-for-TV dramas around it.
Apple
Steve Jobs as well as his two partners, Steve Wozniak and Mike Markkula, started with barely anything. In order to raise funds, Wozniak sold his prized calculator for US$250 and Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen bus for $1,500. From there, more investors came on the scene. There were differences in opinion, and eventually Steve Jobs left to start his own company called NeXT Computers after being forced out of the company.Although they wouldn't admit it, Apple quickly figured out that they needed Steve Jobs. In a interestingly timed acquisition, Apple purchased Jobs' company NeXT computers, bringing Jobs back to the company where he would later become CEO working for $1 per year in compensation.