7 Best Museums to Visit When in Chicago

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Krissyar

Chicago is a great place to spend the weekend, but if it’s a family trip you’re planning, or you’re just in the mood for some intellectual stimulation, the museums here are worth a visit. To help you make your choice, here we’ve listed the best museums in Chicago- spend your time at any of these and you won’t go back disappointed.

Museum of Science & Industry
The Museum of Science & Industry has been, since the time of its inception, focused on imparting the knowledge of science and industry to the public. Here you’ll find everything from coal mine exhibits and the German submarine that was captured during world war II to special LEGO structures and the Apollo 8 module. Prepared to be fascinated when you’re here.

Shedd Aquarium
If you’re keen about exploring life under the water, Shedd Aquarium is a must visit. Enter here and you’ll find a different world altogether- discover more about coral reefs and aquatic life in general. There are tons of exhibits (read 32,000) here too. What’s best is that Shedd Aquarium takes pride in dedicating itself to the preservation of life under water and actively takes steps to protect endangered species.

University of Chicago Oriental Institute
This one’s built on the campus of University of Chicago and is a small teaching museum, but enough to keep your mind stimulated. Here you’ll find a rich collection of Egyptian artifacts- think mummies, carved tablets and human headed bulls.

Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium was founded in the year 1930, which makes it the oldest one in America. It now boasts of having an extensive exhibit space and offers a breathtaking view of the skyline of the city. You can also get to be a part of the featured shows they have on everything space.

The Field Museum of Natural History
This one’s best known for its dinosaur displays, but there’s a lot more than just that to explore. This museum is also believed to hold more than 20 million objects- everything from priceless gems to Egyptian mummies.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
This one attempts to bring nature a bit closer to you with its extensive exhibits on local birds and habitats. It also boasts of having archives dating back to the 19th century. This nature museum is also a home to more than 1000 butterflies and you’ll find everything from huge greenhouses to exotic birds here.

National Museum of Mexican Art
This museum is specifically dedicated to preserving and stimulating the Mexican culture and what it has to offer. Though it may not be as big as the other museums we’ve listed here, it has one of the largest collections of Latino art and everything from modern protest installations to pre Columbian art.

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The Future of Driving: What We Can Expect

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Krissyar

What once seemed ridiculously futuristic is now becoming a reality, as the concept of driverless cars is becoming more and more prevalent. Indeed, whilst they are not perfect, as we know from stories relating to driverless car crashes driverless cars take away the most dangerous component of driving – the driver!

In consideration of how subject to error us humans are, the concept of having automated cars that drive themselves is actually a pretty good idea and whilst it might seem a little peculiar to us, just think about the last plane journey you took – as chances are, this was driven predominantly on autopilot rather than at the hands of a pilot.

The largest single factor in car crashes today, is human error, so if we can replace the need to concentrate on the road as we allow sophisticated sensors to monitor and respond to everything our freeways will become much safer places – in addition to being much more productive places, as you will be free to get on with other activities.

Today, if you want a car with sophisticated technology then the first thing you need to do is head to an auto finance calculator such as https://auto.loan/calculator/ in order to work out how much you can afford, before splashing out on a new hi-tech car.

Admittedly, we’re not quite there with driverless cars, certainly not for the masses – but with the inclusion of AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) becoming a staple of many new cars which uses sensors to detect when an obstacle is approaching and applies the brake if a driver is appearing not to respond, we are getting closer to the driverless transition that was once dreamed up in the sci-fi film iRobot.

The infrastructure required for driverless cars, in consideration of the vast amount of sensors required for each stretch of road and the inevitably protracted roll out of driverless vehicles means we are some time away from mainstream driverless cars, yet the possibility of driver-assisted cars is becoming more and more realistic.

Indeed, in the Volvo XC90, as far back as three years ago, it was employing autonomous safety systems to change lanes, keep the car within a lane (in the event a driver fell asleep) and keep the car driving at a set speed whilst autonomously braking and speeding up. Today, we have much more advanced technology being put in our cars, and not just the fancy cars, many cars are being fitted with devices that essentially employ an automated back seat driver who steps in should there be a need, like a lifesaver, that can seriously reduce the impact of a crash by reacting in a split second upon realising the driver is no longer in full control of the vehicle.

In summary, whilst driverless cars do seem to be in our future they seem a somewhat distant reality in terms of the mass market – but without a doubt, in a few decades time people will be nostalgically looking back at the “good old days” when they could drive their own car whilst the young people of tomorrow will be questioning how crazy the world must have been when people were in control of their own cars!

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Family Fun in Fort Wayne Indiana

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Krissyar

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting Fort Wayne Indiana for an overnight trip to see what the city had to offer – and we weren’t disappointed. There is a ton of family fun to be had in Fort Wayne, and I’m going to share the top sites you don’t want to miss on your next visit to the city.

Now I don’t know about you but the first thing on my list when checking out a new city is knowing where to stay. I’m pretty particular about our hotels – cleanliness is at the top of my checklist when reserving a room. When there is a Hilton, I know I’m going to get everything I need and want, so having a Hilton in downtown Fort Wayne was exactly what I needed. If you’ve never slept on a Hilton mattress – or let your head rest on one of their fabulous pillows, you are missing out! I melted right into the mattress and slept like a baby so we were refreshed and ready to go for our adventures the next day. (and I slept alone and yes I used all 4 of those pillows. It was amazing!) 

Now staying at the Hilton downtown had more than just the advantage of the comfy beds and gorgeous room – They have a restaurant in-house and wait for it.. a Starbucks! I may have or I may have not gotten my coffee in my pj’s.

In addition to all the amenities in the hotel itself, it’s also located right in the heart of downtown close to a lot of the wonderful thing Fort Wayne has to offer. There are a ton of restaurants to try out – some with a great night life, lots of music and dancing.

We called it early since we had an early morning plan to kayak at the beautiful Riverfront- when the weather is nice, kayaking is one of the most peaceful outdoor activities you can do; especially near the beautiful Fort Wayne Rivergreenway, a trail which is along the banks of where 3 rivers meet right in downtown Fort Wayne at the Water Filtration Plant. The St Joseph, St Mary’s and Maumee all cross paths. It’s a gorgeous 24 mile long trail that you can ride, walk or run on and of course gives the more adventurous types some great time on the water.

Another great family fun experience – and my favorite – is the Fort Wayne’s Children’s Zoo. Now don’t let the name fool you, this zoo is not just for the kids. In fact, my best friend and I had a blast visiting and we will definitely be back with both of our families! I was super surprised at how fun and interactive the zoo is!

There’s 2 really cool things about this zoo. One is, they have the animals separated by country. You can find rhinos and zebras in the African Journey, you can see a reef shark, a dingo and kangaroo in the Australian Adventure,or see a komodo dragon, a gibbon or a crocodile skink at the Indonesian Rain Forest.

Also what is also really cool things about the zoo is the rides. Yup, rides! There is the Z.O.&O Railroad, the Endangered Species Carousel, the Crocodile Creek Adventure Ride and the Sky Safari Ride.

I really loved the Sky Safari- I was able to get sky view of the African Journey area, which houses one of my favorites – ZEBRAS!

The Zoo also offered some delicious food options as well. This is definitely not a zoo where you want to pack your lunch!
And the best part? THEY HAVE DOLE WHIPS! Yes, I’m talking like Disney-Dole Whips. No need to travel to Florida or Cali – you can get them right here in the Midwest, in Indiana! They were so delish, and definitely a nice cool treat on a hot day.
Obviously I am a big fan of the Children’s Zoo. I think the Zoo itself is worth the trip, but there is even more that Ft. Wayne has to offer.
Science Central Science Central is a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for all people of all ages. Explore 200 permanent hands-on exhibits and national touring exhibitions.

BOTANICAL CONSERVATORY Always in Season: Surround yourself with nature at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory ~ an oasis in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne Indiana. Visit the Showcase Garden with its lush seasonal displays, wander through the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive in the shadows of a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden.


FORT WAYNE MUSEUM OF ART American Art Museum offers diverse exhibitions of contemporary and historical art. Activities include tours, lectures, workshops and parties. The Paradigm Gallery has fine art and craft for sale and the Early Learning Center offers hands-on fun for youngsters.

TIN CAPS – MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALLThe Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who are affiliated with the San Diego Padres, and play in the Midwest League. If you’ve never been to a minor league baseball game – you are missing out! Catching a game at the stadium (which is just around the corner from the Hilton) is definitely a wonderful experience. Be sure to check them out if you are ever in town during ball season.

 

Fort Wayne offers a plethora of fine and casual dining – keep an eye out for another post with all the great foodie stops in Fort Wayne!

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5 Step Wig Maintenance Regiment

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Krissyar

Buying a wig is not as easy as throwing on the nearest wig that you find. You need to spend a good amount of time trying to find a wig that suits you. There are many different materials, colour, design and lengths that you can choose from. This makes getting a wig a rather time-consuming activity.

A good wig is never cheap. If you choose human hair wigs then you need to spend more than just a couple of hundred bucks. Natural hair wigs are of far superior to synthetic ones. Natural-looking lace front wigs need a good amount of money. Human hair wigs also need to be maintained regularly.

Without regular maintenance, the wigs are bound to not last you long. To increase the life expectancy of your wig here are a few maintenance steps you must follow.

Untangle Before You Start

Human hair wigs have the tendency to bundle up and get tangled frequently. Once you are done wearing it, you need to comb it. Regular combings prevent dangerous tangles from tearing away the tresses. Combing the wig before you wash it ensures that you wash every strand.

Shampoo for a Shine

You do not shampoo your wig as you would your own hair. Use a mild shampoo. Wet the hair of the wig and not the scalp region. Comb the shampoo through the hair softly without tugging at the strands of hair too hard. The scalp needs to be rinsed with soapy water before being rinsed with lukewarm water. Wash the wig gently with lukewarm water. Scrubbing the wig is not an option. Do not treat the wig lie an extension of your head. Shampoo the wig with care.

Condition with Care

You can use your regular conditioner or special wig conditioners on your wig. Use the conditioners on the bottoms of the hairs. Do not use conditioner on the cap region of the wig. By conditioning the scalp area of the wig, you make the knots of the wig come loose. This means that the hair might start falling out if you condition the wrong areas of the wig. Once you apply the conditioner in the right part of the hair leave it on for 3-4 minutes. Run the conditioned portions of the wig under a running tap to get rid of the conditioner.

Dry it Diligently

After shampooing and conditioning the wig, it is time to dry it up. Gently squeeze out the excess water from the wig first. Blot it dry with a towel and then leave it to air dry. By using a hair blower when the wig is wet you run the risk of drying and damaging the wig. Once the wig is dry you can use a blow dryer to style it.

Untangle After

Having given the wig time to dry out, you need to untangle any knots. Run a comb through the dry wig softly. This step is important since allowing the knot to remain after a wash damages the wig.

You can style your freshly washed wig just how you want it.

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How to Remove Common Car Smells

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Krissyar

One of the best scents ever is the smell of a new car; but what do you do when your car, well, doesn’t smell so new anymore? There are ways you can get rid of the most common car smells.

This post is sponsored by Wyatt Johnson Kia.

Check for Hidden Odors.
Most parents already know how to do this – but you have to play a little bit of detective. Check around for what could be causing the smell – pockets, under seats, on the floor mats, the glove compartment, lost baby bottles, moldy fruit forgotten in a bag, weird blobs of ick that you have no idea where it comes from, etc. Be sure to remove the source immediately and open the doors and windows so you the odor can dissipate. Also keep in mind that sometimes a funky smell can be something in the car itself, like being in need of an oil change.

Clean Carpet and Upholstery.
If you can’t find a source – vacuum. Sometimes carpet or fabric can trap odors. Be sure to sweep everywhere, even the crevices. If that doesn’t work, you may need to deep clean them. Replace floor mats (that may help) and buy plastic covers for the floor mats to prevent issues in the future.

Removing Cigarette Smell.
If you are a smoker – or has a passenger who is – empty ashtrays on a regular basis. Smoke gets everywhere – including in the vents! Get a spray deodorizer and spray it into the vents as well into the intake valve under the hood. . and always air out! Open the doors and windows! Smoke does leave behind tar, which is sticky. Wipe down the interior with a water/vinegar solution and maybe add some dish soap as well, then wipe dry.

Puke.
So sometimes kids or pets get car sick – and that can definitely leave a icky smell behind. Even if you cleaned it up right away, you probably need to do a deeper clean. Use a water/vinegar solution  on the area and use a wet/dry vac to get it up. You can also spread kitty litter on the area or baking soda, to help absorb the odors.

Mildew. 
Mildew is an awful odor to deal with! A rainstorm with a partially opened window or a small leak can cause mildew. Removing mildew smells in cars is pretty easily taken care of. A wet/dry vac will help remove water from carpets and upholstery, but you could use a hair dryer as well if needed. Be sure to check all areas such as under the mats and in the trunk for condensation and even where the spare tire is stored!

After finding the source of the odors and cleaning them and treating them, your car should be as fresh and almost as good as new, if not, go ahead and get a air freshner or some air freshener – can get you there. the source of car odors and treating them, your car should smell great.

 

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