Going To Miami? This Is The List For You

Party in the city where the heat is on

All night, on the beach till the break of dawn

"Welcome to Miami"

"Bienvenidos a Miami"

Yeah, pretty much everyone will have those lyrics in their head as soon as they hear the word Miami, but Will Smith had a great point. Miami is hot, fast-paced, and the place to go for those who love life. Of course, it isn’t all sea, sun, and sand. Miami is famed for its Art Deco architecture and the bright Wynwood. Plus the food is phenomenal.

So, let’s dive into a list of things to see and do when you’re in Miami!

Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash

Beach Side

Of course, spending time on the beach and in the water is a given. Why else would you be in such a beautiful coast place? For a really luxurious and indulgent - yet once in a lifetime experience rent a yacht in Miami and spend a few hours, or even the day listening to waves lap the side of the boat, and viewing the beach from afar.

Get Geeky

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is a vast 250,000 square feet of fun science. Frost Planetarium, the North and West Wings which have year-round exhibits and the Aquarium. This place is about as state-of-the-art as you can get. And it is a far cry from your basic Aquarium, this beast holds a 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream that has some spectacular sea creatures. The Planetarium has sleepovers, and bi-weekly laser shows.

Wynwood

As it was mentioned in the opening paragraph, of course, it would be in the list. The Wynwood Brewing Company set off a chain reaction. More craft brewing companies popped up, and a citywide boom of tasty beverages happened. La Rubia, a flavourful blonde ale is stunning and so refreshing it’s not hard to see why it’s infamous.

Sugar

Cocktails in the sky, luxurious and so much fun. This rooftop bar sits atop East, Miami, and it is home to a stunning 360 view. The cocktails are delicious and Asian-theme. It’s one for the lux side of life so dress your most dapper. It’s 40 floors up, and very secluded.

Lincoln Road

If you are in the mood to shop till you drop, have a coffee, and people watch, then shop some more then Lincoln Road. It was designed by Morris Lapidus in the 1950s and was called ‘The Fifth Avenue of the South,’ although now pretty much everyone refers to it as Lincoln. It is packed with cultural venues, coffee shops, and some gorgeous boutiques.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens

One of Florida’s most stunning places. It is a substantial 83-acre garden, named after a renowned Miami resident and botanist David Fairchild. It’s a lush rainforest, with things like vistas, vine pergola, a sunken garden, and even a stream. If you have ever wanted to feel like a kid in Willy Wonka, then visit in January for the chocolate festival.

There is plenty to do in Miami no matter what you are in to, so what will your adventure look like?

10 Signs That a Trend Will Become a Viable Business Opportunity

Being successful in business requires you to take advantage of opportunities as soon as they’re in front of you. Grabbing hold of a trend and building a product or service around it is a great way to stay relevant in the eyes of the consumer and it’s important to occasionally refresh your brand and products so that you can stay in business and grow your audience.

However, latching onto a trend and creating a product from it can be difficult especially if you’re unsure if it will be a lasting one. The worst thing you can do is hire new employees and shift your business direction just to take advantage of a trend that isn’t going to last for a long time. When this happens, you’ll waste money, you’ll waste time and you’ll waste valuable resources that could’ve been invested elsewhere.

So to help you out, we’ve put together a list of 10 signs that a trend you see on social media or in the industry will become a viable business opportunity and not just a fleeting idea.

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1. The trend is capable of changing the lives of many people

A good trend is one that will be capable of changing the lives of many people. For instance, a trend for healthy eating is a great one to consider if you’re thinking of starting a new business or changing the direction of your current business because it can make a positive change to people’s lives. Trends such as smartphones many years ago were also a viable business opportunity because of the power they had to make people’s lives easier and also connect more people from all over the globe.

2. The trend is based on a legislative change

Sometimes, trends are forced by legislative changes that make new markets appear or create entirely new product possibilities. For instance, the attitude change towards cannabis products in the United States makes a wholesale vape partnership a lucrative one. Not only does it give you access to trendy products at a lowered price, but it also helps you learn more about the trend and the legislative change that can help empower your business opportunities.

3. The trend doesn’t require you to shift your business much

If a trend doesn’t require you to shift your business much then it’s a great opportunity that you can take advantage of. For instance, if you’re already a consultancy firm that deals with technology and networking in offices, then you could add new services to take advantage of any regulation changes. A good example of this in the past was the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR for short, that made it difficult for companies to work with EU-based consumers unless they met the new strict standards regarding data storage and usage.

4. The trend is being spoken about in social media

If a trend is being spoken about on social media then there’s a good chance that it’s something that could stick around. However, it’s always a good idea to ensure that the trend isn’t just a passing idea or a temporary thing. You can use data to help you ensure that the trend you see on social media is one that will be a lasting business proposition and not just a fad. However, if your team is agile and you have the connections to make it happen, it’s still possible to take advantage of fads.

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5. The trend is enabled by a technology advance

Sometimes a trend is enabled by technology advances. For instance, smartphones were a fantastic platform for people to create businesses based on apps. Whether it was creating apps, helping other businesses create apps or even creating consultancy firms to help offer advice on add development, many new business opportunities were created as a result of increased awareness of smartphone technology.

6. The trend has many possibilities that can take it in different directions

Much like app development trends in the past, a good trend can be taken in different directions which will offer you many viable business opportunities. If you can already envision the many ways that the trend can be shifted then there’s a good chance that it’s worth further investing in the idea and take it in a new and unique direction.

7. The trend is something that you fully understand

If you want to fulfil orders efficiently then you need to fully understand the trend before attempting to take advantage of it. Whether it’s understanding the entire legislative change or learning why it’s exciting for so many consumers, you need to fully understand a trend before you attempt to take advantage of it.

8. The trend has been seen before in the past

Trends come and go and there are often times where a trend will fail in the past yet be brought back because of new technological advances that can advance it further. We saw this with tablet and mobile computing. It was once popular for business users despite the bulky size of a laptop and touchscreen computers, but as that technology improved, it came back in the form of smartphones and tablet computers.

9. The trend isn’t being spoken about too much

Trends that are constantly being spoken about with predictions are often over-hyped and usually don’t last long. The other direction is that they can be completely exploited by larger companies before you can even take advantage of it as a business opportunity. Look for niche ideas that aren’t being spoken about much so you can surprise the industry with a new idea.

10. The trend aligns with your existing ideas, culture or industry

If the trend is something that is closely related to your existing idea, office culture or the industry you’re in, then it won’t take long for you to adapt your business processes in order to take advantage of it. In this case, it can become an excellent business opportunity that you should take advantage of in order to grow your brand and reach a wider audience.

Avoid The 4 Most Commons Vacation Injuries

If you’re in the midst of planning your summer holiday, you’ve probably set a list of the things you’d love to do and see. Some holidaymakers can’t get enough of the beach and sea, while others prefer the appeal of fresh mountain air. As you compare the accommodations and activities available, you check that they match your criteria:

• Suitable for young children
• Does the hotel have a separate spa for the days when you just want to relax?
• Included airport transport
• All meals included
• Sports equipment available for hire
• Etc.

Ultimately, making sure you can plan the best possible holiday requires a lot of preps, checking and double-checking. But don’t think your job as a holiday organizer is already over. You need to keep your family safe from vacation injuries and diseases too:

Protect your skin

Active holidays are not for everyone

When you have healthy and enthusiastic kids, you might be tempted to book a sporty holiday for everyone. Ultimately, while holidays are designed for relaxing and de-stressing, it doesn’t mean you have to stay idle. However, whether you want to go hiking, cycling or kayaking, you need to consider the risks of each activity. Inexperienced children could come to harm when they’re stuck performing skills they haven’t yet fully mastered. Do take into consideration everybody’s fitness and skill levels before making a decision. Sometimes, a less exciting option might be the safest plan.

The unsafe hotel

You might have picked a comfortable and luxurious hotel, but what is it isn’t safe? In recent months, many articles have surfaced relating to accidental deaths and injuries in hotels all over the world. Hotels in other touristic locations, such as the Solaris Hotel in Cancun, can struggle with potential health and safety failures. Slips, falls, and other injuries in international hotels can often be blamed on H&S discrepancies and lack of common sense. While you have a legal resort if you find yourself in this position – you can find support with professionals such as The Hadley Law Firm –, it is best to avoid the issue at all. Choose your accommodation wisely!

You’re just tired of hearing about sunscreen

Sunscreen, sunscreen. Who needs sunscreen anymore? Unfortunately, many Millennials have grown bored of hearing about SPF lotion and have decided to go with as little as they can afford. In reality, skin cancer remains a high risk when being exposed to direct sunlight. Countless holidaymakers get a sunburn within the first few hours of their vacation, which makes them more vulnerable for complications. According to the Environment Working Group, SPF 50 is the most effective protection, so pack a tube in your beach bag!

Wait, is this food even clean?

When visiting a foreign country, be cautious about what you eat. Drinking unfiltered water can expose you to bacteria and parasites. Additionally, if you’re going to buy street food, pay close attention to the way it is prepared. You don’t want to end up with food poisoning from a yummy snack that might not have been cleaned or cooked properly.

Choose street snacks wisely

Everybody loves to relax during their holiday. But if you’re not careful, you could put yourself and your family at risk. From choosing a safe hotel to avoiding complex activities, you can keep everyone happy and healthy!

Modernize Your Old Kitchen Without Remodeling

Chances are if you’ve purchased an older home, it was for a reason; you wanted a place that had charm, you wanted to have quality wooden interiors which were done by trusted wood importers along with a dash of history, and you wanted a place that had character i.e, not a cookie cutter house. That’s great, but sometimes people wished that when they owned these homes, they could update the spaces inside of it a little bit to a more modernized style. Not necessarily fully modern in terms of looks, but also function. If you still want to keep your beautiful home, but you want to remodel a few things along the way, here are a few to consider.

Change The Flooring

Chances are if you’ve got a house that is 50, 75 or even 100 years old, the flooring needs an update. A lot of the floors that are that old tend to be wood. Hardwood is a great flooring material because it does last a long time, but with that age can come stains, scratches, dents, squeaky floors, etc. You can find wood floors that are especially cheaper than that of hardwood, and they still look and feel amazing. One option if you like wood but you don’t have the money to put down on a new hardwood floor, is to look at installing laminate flooring material, a lot cheaper option.

Add A Fun Backsplash Tile

This is a modern take in bathrooms and kitchens. You might even have one right now – but it’s probably stained, you might have a few cracks or missing tiles, you might even have grout that so desperately needs to be cleaned but can’t be. If that’s the case then a brand new backsplash is just what you need. Not only with this update the look of the kitchen, but if you feel that you need a little contrast or want to add a little color to the kitchen or bathroom, this is a great way of going about it, without going crazy with color.

Paint Your Kitchen

Painting a kitchen or even a bathroom is a great way to create a clean and uniform space. White can make a room feel updated, without feeling overbearing. Make sure you paint the cabinets white too. This can be a time consuming process, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

Add A Kitchen Island

Kitchen islands might seem like a newer accessory, but these have actually been around a lot longer than you might think. In one capacity or another kitchen islands have actually been around since the 50s, perhaps just a smaller version than the ones available now. A kitchen island has an aesthetic draw, but it’s also quite functional. If the kitchen is big enough, an island can give you more working space/cooking space. On top of that, most all kitchen islands have drawers and cabinets which gives you even more space to put things like cookbooks, pots and pans, jars filled with baking ingredients like flour, sugar, and yeast. Kitchen islands are primarily made from wood, but you can find all sorts of options for the stand as well as the top; butchers block, stainless steel, tile, etc. Simply find the one that works for you and your kitchen style. If you have the money, you can also find websites online and businesses offline that will make you a custom made island too.

Choose Classic Finishes

Instead of choosing more updated or trendy materials like stainless steel or marble, try to stick with materials that are more classic. That includes wood, porcelain white tiles, white cabinets, glass, etc. Try to stay away from overly expensive or luxurious appliances, natural stone materials, and the like.

Update The Hardware

You can still keep the charm of your kitchen and bathroom, but update it by changing out the hardware. Not only will this create a new updated look, but who knows, maybe you need a change. Hardware can get oily, faded or stained over the years. Hardware can be purchased at any home improvement store and depending on how decorative you want to get, it might cost you less than $30 for the entire kitchen or the bathroom.

Update The Faucets

If you have a faucet in the kitchen or bathroom that is deteriorating, why not consider buying a new one? These days you can actually find all sorts of styles, which is great because it gives you the ability to keep that old age charm, without going too far modern. If you really want something unique, look into finding a custom made faucet or find a recycled faucet – these tend to be aged, like your home, but they are cleaned, fixed and renewed.