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Travel Happy!

I recently went on a short trip to Beijing, China with my sweetheart and it was really a fantastic experience. The break was good for us both as we were finally able to take our minds off our busy work schedules.

What was even better was that we didn't quite spend as much as we thought we might have. This of course requires a little bit of planning and research beforehand. If you're just the kind who leaves everything to your travel agent, then you might be spending much more than you actually should.

A good practice is to check out hotel rates beforehand. And you don't even need to waste time going to individual hotel websites. For instance, a website like Hotels Combined helps you to seach multiple hotel reservation websites at once and provides a comparison so you can sieve out the lowest hotel prices. You can also view other specifications of the hotels if price is not your main concern. The great thing about this website is the massive number of hotels it searches so you can explore many different options in your travel plans. Best of all, the service is free of charge!

For us, we stayed at the Tianlun Songhe Hotel in the heart of the city center. This may not have been the cheapest hotel but it was reasonably priced, in a great location and had a modern business center, where we were able to surf the Internet at high speeds and check our emails in comfort.

Another good policy before you embark on your journey, especially if you're not going with a travel group, is to arm yourself with a comprehensive travel guide or get some information from travel websites such as Smarter Travel or Lonely Planet. The latter also publishes some very useful travel guidebooks which you can pick up from your neighborhood bookstore.

And by the way, if you're in Beijing for the Olympics, do drop by at the Forbidden City and Great Wall. It is simply spectacular and not to be missed! Travel happy!

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To Spain With Love

If you’ve worked yourself to the bone, it’s time to relax and take a trip to beautiful Spain. Spain is an extremely beautiful and romantic country and you wouldn’t want to miss out on some attractions there:

Torre de Bujaco or simply The Bujaco Tower is an awesome landmark. Standing at 25 meters, it has also been called the “New Tower” or the “Watch Tower”. This exotic Arabic tower was once under Muslim control and its name is derived from Caliph Abú-Ya’qub, whose troops conquered the city way back in 1173. Another attraction is Muralla de Avila, which means “city walls of Avila”. Situated in Avila, which is the highest city in Spain, Muralla de Avila is a whopping 2,526 meters in longitude. You’ll want to spend more than a day there so do check out the hotels in spain when planning for your trip.

After a quick rest in one of the hotels in barcelona, be on your way to Sagrada Familia, which is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist spots. This basilica by Antoni Gaudi is one sight you won’t forget very soon. La Boqueria hosts one of the oldest markets of its kind in Europe. The huge array of fresh produce is sure to captivate anyone. The Gorthic quarter or Barri Gòtic is at the center of Barcelona and has many small streets lined with shops.

Next, head to the capital of Spain, Madrid. Check out the finest masterpieces in the largest art gallery in the world – Prado museum. Then enjoy the flora and fauna at the Botanic Gardens. Finally, experience what it is like to be a king by visiting the Royal Palace before resting for the night in one of the posh hotels in madrid.

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Do Cufflinks Make a Difference?

Cufflinks are decorative fasteners worn to hold together link cuffs on formal shirts or blouses.

While good to have, in this age where everyone virtually moves at the speed of lightning, time is of the essence and cufflinks may be regarded as a bother. After all, there are many button-down shirts available in the market, which are so much easier and faster to handle.

Notwithstanding that argument, cufflinks do add a touch of class to your shirt. This is especially so when they are purchased form well-established and renowned companies known for their fine quality. Some of these exquisitely designed cufflinks are works of art by themselves.

In projecting a good image of oneself, it is helpful to add that touch of class to what you are wearing. This is more so if it means helping you to look and behave more confidently.

So don’t undermine the difference a few classy cufflinks can make to your dressing and demeanor.

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Driving Safely & Without Worries

Do you own a car? Do you drive? Driving is now a mainstay for most families, with most owning at least one vehicle, some even owning several. Driving has become essential to get from place to place, especially in large countries where going to the nearby supermarket may be half and hours drive away. Imagine if you do not own a car!

But driving has its risks. Accidents are happening every single day, in almost every country in the world. And I do not just mean major accidents. Minor crashes could hurt not only the parties involved physically but it could also hurt your wallet. That is why automobile insurance policies are so important to drivers. These help protect the drivers from having to shell out unnecessary sums of money in the event of an accident.

And you don’t even have to pay astronomical sums for such auto insurance plans. A company such as Advantage Auto Quotes offers competitive and affordable auto rates for your car in the United States from all major agencies. It promises to give you the lowest auto liability quote you can find online. So remember to get an insurance policy for your automobile today.

Drive safely and happily!

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One Shirt But Many Looks

Did you know that a single shirt can be used for numerous occasions and for different styles? You don’t need to be wearing formal shirts to look casual. Likewise, casual shirts can be used for formal occasions as well. My friend Jason is a bit of a daredevil, I must say. I once told him he was wasting his talent in publishing when he could well be a fashion designer. He is someone who isn’t keen on following the latest fashion trends, nor does he subscribe to any of the styles as prescribed by the fashion gurus. He wears his clothes his way, the Jason Way, as I call it. And he doesn’t spend a fortune on designer labels either. He relies on mixing and matching his clothes.

His shirts are extremely versatile. A nice formal shirt can be tucked out, unbuttoned at some point, matched with a cool jacket or some accessories for a trendy or even heavy-metal look. He also wears casual shirts to work, pairing them with ties and even bow ties. Odd stuff, but his colleagues have accepted him for his uniqueness and some have even joined the bandwagon.

So all that’s needed is to let your creative juices flow and you could not only save quite a bit with your Spartan closet, but also look good at the same time!

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[Blogodise Grooming Focus] – What does your shirt say about you?

Picture this: You go for this very important interview feeling ultra confident. You’ve waited for this opportunity for a very long time and are exhilarated when your dream company finally calls you up for an interview. You go in well-prepared, having done more than the required share of research and having consulted all your friends on the tips you need to get the job. However, your interview turns out to be a disaster. When you step into the interview room, you are met by strange condescending stares and a cold attitude by the interviewers. They do not seem very interested in what you say and very soon, you find yourself being ushered out of the room.

Despite all your efforts in preparing for the interview, what might have tripped you up? You are totally baffled. Then it dawns on you. Your shirt! The relic from your dad’s closet was purchased for a couple of pounds from your neighbor’s garage sale. Not that you thought much about that. But you were never a fashion guru, were you? The hard truth – your shirt represents you! I found this out through personal experience – the hard way. Your shirt shows the attitude you take and more subtly, how much the job or company you are interviewing for means to you. A good quality, stylish and smart formal shirt projects a good image of yourself and the company that you represent. The opposite is true as well. If you look good, so does your company! It is no wonder that many interviewers include the image projected as a criterion in selecting a candidate.

And good quality and style does not equate to high price. Established shirt companies such as Van Heusen offer a wide array of formal shirts, casual shirts, ties, cufflinks etc for competitive prices. You are simply spoilt for choice. So before you jump into that important interview, make sure you take a peek in the mirror first so that you don’t let that shirt of yours reduce the chances of winning that dream job!

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