mikesbusinessandlifestyleblog

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Windows 10 Screensavers Coupon Code

Uscenes24 is our winter sale for Cyber Monday, offering 24% off all products until the end of November at http://Uscenes.com 👍

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LED Letters Rental for Parties in Dubai

Recently we created a party for a birthday in Dubai. We used Pinch Me Rentals. They have loads of great event rentals availoable for delivery in the UAE.

The highlight was their LED letters which other party supplies services don't seem to have. If you are hosting a party or other event in Dubai, I recommend hiring the big letters, also known as marquee letters and numbers.

You can use numbers for birthdays and anniversaries, or letters for peoples names or company names if it is a corporate event.

Our party was for a 70th birthday, as you can see from the photo above. They are good value and you can see these and their other party decor at pinchmerentals.ae

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The Insomnia Key Sleep Aid Video

Having trouble sleeping? If you need help falling asleep try this free insomnia aid.

Sleep Aid Video - Free on YouTube by Uscenes

The Insomnia Key has helped millions of people fall asleep. It has had over 5 million views on YouTube.

On average it takes just under 10 minutes for people to fall asleep with The Insomnia Key. Sometimes just a minute or two, sometimes not at all.

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Pergear 10mm f5.6 review

Amazingly cheap and good fisheye lens for APSC and M43 cameras.

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How to overcome fear of flying

How to overcome a fear of flying with relaxing videos.

Great post on how to get rid of your phobia and anxiety about flying. Some airlines are using Uscenes’ relaxing videos to put nervous fliers at ease. 

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Love this 4K Shark Tank Video on My Samsung Ultra HD SMART TV Manta Rays and Sharks look super cool on a 65 inch UHD screen 4K

Edit 2022: For public use they now have a longer aquarium video for waiting rooms and whatnot.

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Great service if you have an old car you want to get rid of: Sell The Car USA

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Rice Terraces and Volcanoes in Bali in 4K

Available for download at Uscenes.com for any 4K UHD TV or any PC or laptop as a screensaver.

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4 Reasons Why You Need a Wedding Planner

You are happily engaged, the date is set, and the one thing you know for sure is that you want to honeymoon along the breathtakingly beautiful sandy beaches of the Algarve in Portugal’s southernmost region. This may still be the one place left in the Mediterranean where you can enjoy a honeymoon in paradise without the crowds and high prices you would find in better-known resort areas like Ibiza or the French Riviera.

Unfortunately, your honeymoon is the culmination of events leading up to those idyllic days alone with your new spouse, so what should you do first? There is so much to do and so many arrangements to make that your head is already spinning! The simple solution is to hire an Algarve wedding planner and if you hadn’t thought of it, here are 4 reasons why you need one.

1. Planners Keep Your Stress to a Minimum

If there is one thing you can count on a wedding planner to do for you, that would be to keep your stress levels to a minimum. Once you have worked with them to outline your vision of what a perfect wedding would be, they are in a position to run interference for you. Not only are they the liaison between you and caterers, venues, entertainment, travel agents and florists, but they can also ensure that any contracts you sign are in order and that your invitations get out timely. There is little today’s wedding planner can’t do to keep stress at bay.

2. Planners Know How to Keep Your Costs Within a Budget

Once you’ve outlined your budget with your wedding planner, they are expert in keeping everything within limits. In fact, it is their area of expertise to make suggestions on ways you can have what you want at lesser costs. For example, music for the celebration is always a concern. Where you may end up paying more than £1,000 for live entertainment, you may pay less than a quarter that for a popular DJ. A wedding planner can help you see alternatives in everything from apparel to menus to help you stay nicely within that budget.

3. Planners Are with You Every Step of the Way

Another reason why it’s best to have a wedding planner is that they are there with you every step of the way. If some little bump in the road would normally send you into a panic, the wedding planner is there to deal with obstacles. Your choice in wedding planners does make a difference, though, so do take the time see that you will be getting the services you need.

4. Planners Cost Less than the Mistakes You Are Likely to Make

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, wedding planners can help you avoid those costly mistakes most couples make when planning their wedding. As mentioned above, the cost of a wedding planner is nothing compared to the savings you can realise, and when it comes to the avoidance of costly mistakes, that could net quite a tidy savings. If you are worried about the cost of a planner, you should probably worry more about those mistakes that can send your stress levels through the roof right beside your budget.

This is the one day of your life you will want to cherish forever, so why leave all the arrangements up to chance? Find the right wedding planner and your dreams really can come true. That perfect wedding you’d always envisioned is just a wedding planner away.

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Jizan Perfumes are awesome. I never know what to buy my wide at Christmas and for birthday and I hate getting her the same old Dolce and Gabbana Blue. Jizan Perfumes sell select perfumes and have staff which offer great personalized recommendations. Has worked a few times for be now- she much prefers the surprise of getting a new fragrance she loves.

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I just had to share another amazing video filmed by Uscenes. These guys make such beautiful relaxation videos with lovely nature sounds.

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Review of John Mighalls Removals in Wirral

This is just a quick blog post from me today because I had a great experience with Mighall’s Removals Wirral. The staff were nice on the phone and very patient with my very long checklist of questions. I am a stickler for not damaging my property in any way (yes I am one of those people who freaks out if people don’t use a coaster).

Anyway, I tried getting a few quotes but John Mighalls were the most impressive in terms of communication and reputation. They have crazy good reviews on Google, which is one reason I thought I would put mine here, plus I like to blabber on more than your typical reviewer.

They are based in Birkenhead on the Wirral. Which was ideal as we were moving to Heston from Runcorn. They have a long history as a well-established family company and from what I experienced from the son I met, I am positive the company will continue to have great success. 

I love it when I come across a local family business who has survived the times and the competition of the national companies, which is why I wanted to do a longer than a normal review. It means a lot to me when I get a feeling that the employees care about their work. 

The removal team were great and very careful. We had a few last minute layout changes in the new house and they were again very patient with our requests to move our big sofa, sideboard and TV around.

Price wise I was very happy. We got a complete rip-off quote from another firm (this is why you should always get a few prices as I had no idea what the going rate was). Plus a cheaper quote but that was really a “man with a van”, who I wasn’t very confident about (he kept just saying “yeah yeah I’ll do a good job” to all the checklist items, but Mighalls gave me proper assurances). I am happy I paid the middle ground (and I assume the fair and reasonable price) for a top-notch service and peace of mind.

I give John Mighall’s Removals 5 stars- highly recommended to anybody. And you don’t need to take my word for it, they have loads of beaming reviews on Google and Facebook. 

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoS13jZ5RB4)

Finding Dory inspired aquarium screensaver and video. Amazing quality and well worth the price (download from $5).

Features lots of colorful fish and corals. Plus a surround sound track with is really relaxing.

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My Current Favourite Salsa Class in Manchester

I have taken up salsa dancing this year and it is becoming an obsession with me. Thankfully I live in north Manchester in the sunny (joke) northwestern region of the UK, which is a place overflowing with salsa classes.

I have tried 5 different classes so far and consider myself to be beginner to intermediate level. My favourite salsa class in Manchester at the moment is one I found at a salsa classes in Manchester listings website. 

It is held at La Tasca on Deansgate in the heart of Manchester and the lessons are taught by Tina. She is an awesome teacher and very easy to learn from. Her classes are a lot of fun. The classes run every Sunday starting with a beginners class, then a more advanced class afterwards.

Below is a video I found of salsa dancing at La Tasca (not Tina’s class, but it gives you an idea of the setting):

Tina also teaches dancing classes for other types of music like Tango and Zouk (which seems to be very trendy at the moment). We will give those a try when we have nailed the salsa moves. Check out her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tina.zoukmanchester for class information. Highly recommended for dancers of all levels :)

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How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

Weddings are a massive hassle and expense. I know that is not the traditional, romantic view of what is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But it is what I think of getting married after many months of planning and preparation.

Of course my bride to be still thinks it will be a fairytale. She seems to love all the choosing flowers and outfits. Between you and me I couldn’t care less. I just want to get it over with and not have my bank balance go too much into the red.

I am not a total killjoy. I will enjoy the big day and do look forward to our partnership. Love is a great thing. I just don’t  enjoy all the stuff that comes with such an important event. Thankfully my fiancee is pretty thrifty so I have been able to leave a lot to her without worrying about what my bank manager will say too much.

As the one with some photography and videography experience; one of my main tasks has been to find a photographer. I am the type of person who over researches things online, so after much deliberation I am fully confident in my choice.

My Tips on Hiring Your Photographer and Cinematographer

My first tip in how to hire a wedding photographer is to hire someone local. At first I just looked at some guys with a reputation, who I had come across in the past. They were either booked up, charged too much, or usually both. So I switched to local options and found things much easier.

My using Google local search I just typed in Algarve wedding photographer to find the firm I settled upon. They are called Bloom Imagery and have a history of great work, despite having a fairly new name and website. The head honcho has won a bucket load of awards for a short film he did. He has lived in the local area for over 10 years. Plus his team have a portfolio of many previously photographed weddings.

I should just say we are going to the Algarve for our wedding in the Faro district. The prices over there are awesome, especially in May when the weather should be warm, but without the summer holiday crowds. We were also able to get good deals on accommodation and flights for our wedding guests.

Anyway back to Google: it will give you a list of local businesses when you search for a service and a town. You may then be able to see reviews on their Google+ page, but not many people use this. There are also other websites where reviews can be found such as Yell and Yelp. There were actually none for Bloom Imagery, but I didn’t let that put me off because some others had no reviews too.

Without reviews I turned to the website and social accounts. The website was modern and had amazing photos. I appreciate good photography when I see it and these guys have a special touch. Next I visited their Facebook and sent a message. I received a quick reply in perfect English, which was a relief with the wedding being in Portugal.

For other companies I tried emailing and some took days to respond and one didn’t even reply. Bloom Imagery put me at ease quickly and had a quote for me within 24 hours. I eventually got 2 more comparison quotes, but I was hoping they would be in the same ballpark as Bloom.

One was a bit less and one was much higher. It annoys me when companies think they can “try it on” and charge too much. The company that quoted less didn’t seem as competent, so I happily booked in with Bloom Imagery. They have given us some great ideas for photos and videos on the day: very creative stuff. I am sure they will record our memories from the big day brilliantly. Then I can just remember the day itself and not all the darn planning and expense that I am currently dealing with.

Here is a quick checklist of things to do when looking for a wedding photographer, which you may find useful:

Hire a local firm with experience. You don’t want inexperienced photographers getting in the way or running out of batteries on the big day.

Choose a photographer with a portfolio which is stylish. You want someone who can enhance your wedding’s theme and offer creative suggestions.

Don’t choose based on price. But be sure to get 3+ estimates/quotes so that you make sure you pay the going rate.

Look out for reviews. Be wary of fake reviews and keep an open mind. Choosing a photographer that you get along with, but who doesn’t have reviews yet, could be a better option.

Book in advance and ideally out of season. In the UK the season runs from may to September, but in Portugal May was considered out of season, so we got a better rate for everything.

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Summer- Best Time to Clean a Driveway

It is one of those times of the year when a job around the house needs doing. This time it is the driveway, which as you can see below, is block paved. I wish I had taken a before photo too, because it was completely different. 

All the joints were full of moss and a few weeds. Plus the blocks were much darkers after years of tyres going over them and dirt build up. In my opinion it looks almost as good as new now.

First up was to jet wash the block paving. Easy enough with my trusty power washing machine. I splashed out extra on a better model after learning the hard way that cheap power washers are terrible for anything other than washing the car.

After the jet wash which took about 3 hours I could put my feet up. I went into Travis Perkins where they advised me to use Kiln Dried Sand after cleaning to refill the joints. So I left if for 2 days until I was sure. Then brushed the sand over the joints with a soft brush to help it fall into the joints.

The next step was to brush off the excess sand in preparation for the jointing solution and sealer. I am not a fan of using the heavy sealers as they can give a driveway a glossy finish. Instead I went for a joint stabilizing solution which also acts kind of like a sealer. So it protects the surface as well as keeping the sand in the joints.

I bought the block paving sealer from B&Q and spread that out. Apparently this Permaseal is the best stuff and should prevent moss growing and dirt from growing in future. I am hoping the sealer will mean I don’t need to clean the driveway for a long time.

If you want a professional company to clean your driveway and provide additional maintenance I can full recommend Sale Exterior Cleaning based in south Manchester, UK. They also service Cheshire.

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My 5 Favourite Filipino Dishes and a New Restaurant

Filipino food is something I love to eat. I am surprised it doesn’t get the attention it deserves around the world. Thai and Vietnamese food are very popular in London, so I was happy to hear about a new restaurant offering Filipino food in London. It is named after one of the biggest islands in the Philippines: Luzon. 

There are already a few places but the new one promises a more contemporary style. The interior looks pretty awesome as well. It is just doing a soft opening for a few months at first starting 6th August 2015, opening Thursdays and Fridays. One thing I haven’t noticed on other sites before is that you can make a booking online, which is pretty cool: http://www.luzon.co.uk/reservations/

The following post is a description of my favorite Filipino dishes. I have spent quite some time in the country and learned to cook a few myself. I have taken the photos from Wikimedia Commons.

1. The best filipino dish is Bicol express. I can eat this everyday, I often did when I was staying in the Philippines because my partner didn’t like it and I made big batches. It is always served with pork in coconut milk and fermented shrimp paste (bagoong) is what really gives it a unique kick:

2. My second favourite Filipino food is Nilaga, usually served with larger chunks of pork, but there are regional variations. It is a pretty simple soup based dish featuring green beans, potato and cabbage. True comfort food:

3. Bacolod Chicken is my third choice. This is the dish I miss the most from the Philippines. I haven’t put it higher as it is so simple. It is barbequed chicken cooked over a flame. The marinade is superb, I think it may contain Sprite or 7UP? Anyway it is the best BBQ chicken I have ever tried and I love to eat it with my hands with garlic rice and a dipping sauce of chili, calamansi (sweet lime) and soy sauce:

4. Tinola. Chicken tinola is another soup based dish with lots of ginger. It also comes with either chili leaves or a smaller leaf which name I don’t remember. The vegetable is either green papaya or chayote:

5. Finally in my list of the best Filipino foods is Sinigang. This is served usually with either prawns or pork, plus tomato, ochra, weak chili, yard long beans, water chestnut and kangkong leaves. This is a love/hate dish because it contains tamarind, amongst other ingredients, which give it a very sour taste. At first I hated it, but after a year in the Philippines I grew to love it. This is certainly the strongest tasting dish for those who are adventurous: