Recos & Reviews – Page 7 – Syndication Server

Top recipes for a healthy and delicious 2021

2021 can’t come soon enough! We can all agree this past year was a bumpy road, but we take an optimistic outlook here at The Forked Spoon: the next chapter can only be better. As we step into the New Year, our minds inevitably turn to food. The …

2021 can’t come soon enough! We can all agree this past year was a bumpy road, but we take an optimistic outlook here at The Forked Spoon: the next chapter can only be better.

As we step into the New Year, our minds inevitably turn to food. The weather’s still cold, the holiday leftovers are gone, and we need a set of recipes that won’t derail our resolutions.

We’ve compiled a list of several dishes that hit all these marks, paving the way for a healthy and delicious 2021. These are recipes that will get you through those chilly first few months of the year and set you up for a fantastic Spring and Summer.

Plus, these dishes invite experimentation, so you can add unique twists and variations every time you make them! Once you’ve got the basics down, there are endless possibilities.

No more waiting—let’s check out the recipes!

How to play Fortnite on your PC or Android

Fortnite’s popularity has skyrocketed since the game’s first appearance in 2017, gaining millions of users worldwide, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a new concept to many-maybe to the ones who are researching ways to stay entertained (and occupied) …

Fortnite’s popularity has skyrocketed since the game’s first appearance in 2017, gaining millions of users worldwide, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a new concept to many—maybe to the ones who are researching ways to stay entertained (and occupied) during the ups and downs of the coronavirus lock downs.

If you fit into that scenario, then take a breath: it’s OK if you’re thinking about getting into the game, but have little to zero idea what Fortnite actually is, or how to get started.

In this quick USA TODAY’s List Wire How-To, we’ll give an overview of Fortnite and—more importantly—walk you through the steps for downloading the game on two of the most popular devices: PC and Android.

How to play Fortnite on your PC or Android

If you fit into that scenario, then take a breath: it’s OK if you’re thinking about getting into the game, but have little to zero idea what Fortnite actually is, or how to get started.

The 5 bags your closet needs

If you’re anything like us, a rescheduled meeting or plus-one invitation has left you scrambling for the perfect last-minute look. Whether you’ve decided to invest in a classic LBD or a trusty pair of pumps, you could be missing one very polished …

Looking to avoid an expedited shipping charge or a last-minute trip to the mall? We’ve rounded up the only five bags you’ll ever need, no matter what a packed calendar brings your way. Plus, your good taste just may earn a few well-deserved compliments.

The best holiday sale and clearance deals for sports fans, athletes and more

Holiday gift guide for athletes, sports fans and more

5 reasons why your business needs organic SEO

A modern business cannot survive and thrive in the online arena without search engine optimization. SEO has quickly become a pillar of digital marketing, and as long as we keep using search engines to find what we want online, it will remain in the …

But as SEO becomes more significant, some distinctions need to be made between organic and non-organic strategies. As you may expect, there are pros and cons to each, and marketers need to strike a balance to max out their results.

Non-organic SEO trends like Google Ads, PPC campaigns, and paid affiliate marketing often get the glory, so today, let’s take a closer look at the organic side of things.

Here are five reasons why your business should focus on organic SEO and some tips to keep in mind as you map out a winning strategy.

1. Save Cash and Lock-In On Content

If you haven’t noticed, content marketing has completely revolutionized digital business in the last ten years. Now, more than 75 percent of companies are using branded content to achieve search engine marketing goals and attract qualified leads.

This marks a dramatic shift away from the “outbound” marketing methods that defined old-school campaigns and emphasizes delivering authentic value to the world at no charge. In other words, “if you build it, they will come.”

Here’s the honest truth about ads: they are great for boosting brand awareness in the short term and targeting specific buyers with laser accuracy, but they often don’t deliver in the long run. Plus, as soon as you cut the cash flow, your traffic ceases just as fast.

Also, realize that ads just aren’t as effective as they used to be, according to HubSpot, which found that about 80% of search engine users completely ignore the paid ads when browsing the results pages.

It has always been the case that most web users prefer organic search results, and once you factor in the widespread use of ad-blocker technology, you wonder whether paid campaigns are truly past their prime.

Finally, organic SEO is far less expensive than any paid campaign out there. Although ROI calculations can be fuzzy, there is plenty of evidence to suggest you earn back more for every dollar spent.

This isn’t to say that organic SEO is free by any means – you’ll still have to foot the bill for content creation, technical work, and some social media promotion. But it’s a far more cost-effective approach to climbing the SERPs compared to paying your way to the top.

2. Evolve Alongside Google’s Algorithm

SEO should be all about adaptation, but focusing too heavily on paid ads can leave your brand behind the curve when it comes to the rapidly changing world of organic search.

According to research conducted by Backlinko, the Google Algorithm makes between 500 and 600 updates each year, varying in scope and severity. By closely tracking and navigating these changes with a flexible organic SEO strategy, your brand stands to benefit greatly over competitors that remain stagnant in their approach.

From domain, page, and site-level factors to backlinks, metadata, and user interaction rules, the rank signals Google relies on to index and sort search results are in constant flux. Your organic SEO strategy needs to be adaptable enough to stay on the cutting edge.

Even if it requires some guesswork and trial-and-error tactics, it’s better to maneuver with the algorithm and gain competitive advantages, rather than simply throwing more money at the problem with PPC and paid ad campaigns.

The best organic SEO strategists keep their eyes on the analytics and their ears open around the industry to gauge how the algorithm is shifting, and they will give your brand the best chance to gain ground in the ranks when it matters most.

3. Create Valuable Connections and Partnerships

There’s one downside to non-organic SEO that always seems to get ignored. When you do nothing but launch paid ad campaigns from the top down, your brand fails to make inroads with the industry’s leading players and gets left out of the conversation.

Sure, you may hit the jackpot on a PPC campaign now and then. Still, it’s far more valuable to gain traction with influencers, publications, media outlets, and other major voices across the web, which will have your back for promotion and partnerships.

Exactly how you go about making these connections is less important than actually making an effort to connect, whether it’s guest posting on a leading blog, working with social media influencers, or using a platform like HARO to get positive press from a news site.

These aren’t just one-off deals, either. As you build a digital Rolodex in your organic SEO journey, you’ll find that what goes around comes around. You will undoubtedly see more opportunities open up as you develop an excellent reputation as a marketing partner and build a dedicated audience of your own.

Who knows, maybe that Instagram influencer you worked with early on will become a superstar overnight, and you’ll have the next viral sensation on your hands. You’ll be glad you aren’t paying the premium on paid ads when you have that leverage.

View organic SEO as an investment in your credibility, authority, and reliability not only in the eyes of potential customers but with the other leading voices in your industry as well.

4. Position Yourself for Mobile and Voice Search Success

You may have caught wind of the huge mobile trend that is changing the way we search and discover information on the go. Now that more than half of all Google searches are conducted via smartphone, it’s safe to say that we live in a mobile-first world.

This means that if you haven’t already optimized your web pages to be crawled and indexed for the mobile-centric search environment, you better get up to speed fast. Not only does Google give a massive rank boost to fast, mobile-optimized websites, but smartphone users also have very little patience when waiting for pages to load.

How you improve your organic SEO on mobile is up to you. Change up your content style, create smartphone-friendly interactive elements, or overhaul your whole site with a protocol like Google Accelerated Mobile Pages.

What matters is that you don’t sit on the sidelines as mobile search takes over.

The same idea applies to voice-activated SEO, which is quickly catching up with desktop and mobile. Look into various long-tail keywords that reflect the conversational tone of voice search queries, and try to get into the top “position zero” spot for a huge boost in reach.

As mobile and voice become the norm, your ability to implement forward-thinking search engine marketing techniques will be more important than ever before.

5. Take Advantage of the Compounding Effect

Imagine paid SEO as the fast-acting firecrackers that explode quickly and leave you with little to show. In contrast, organic SEO is akin to slowly building a foundation for a roaring fire that only gets bigger and more powerful over time.

This compounding effect is one of the most overlooked strategic advantages of organic SEO, especially in a world where big backlink catalogs and keyword dominance require you to play the long game.

Consider a metric like Domain Authority, for example, which looks at a wide array of different rank factors and how your brand performs on keywords and links. While this isn’t an official indicator of search engine success, it can show how your website gradually improves over time as you dedicate more time and resources to organic SEO practices.

This doesn’t happen overnight, of course, but once you start gaining momentum, you’ll notice traffic, leads, conversions, and return customers start to accumulate rapidly.

Just like investing, health, and planting trees, the best time to start your organic search engine marketing game plan was years ago – but the second-best time is right now.

Conclusion

There will always be a time and place for paid ads and other non-organic SEO strategies. You can’t deny the power of the instant visibility and accuracy of PPC campaigns, and as long as they lead to sales, they’re going to be part of the marketing mix.

Always be looking to gain an edge in areas like non-branded online advertising, and outthink your competition with stronger targeting and analytics-based campaigns.

However, organic SEO should be where the majority of your creative and technical energy is spent. It’s where you can make significant strides in the search engine results by applying the proven principles of content marketing.

Don’t let your organic SEO efforts fall to the wayside in the years to come as SERPs get more saturated, and it becomes tougher to carve out territory for your brand online.

Whether you bring on some freelancers, outsource to an agency, or tackle it head-on with your own marketing team, be sure to make organic SEO a central part of your strategy moving forward, and it will pay off in a big way.

10 tips for wearing makeup with a face mask during Covid-19

You love your makeup, but you also want to stay safe by wearing a face mask when out in public, which can totally mess with your look. Talk about a dilemma! It looks like the masks could be with us for a while, but makeup isn’t something we’re …

You love your makeup, but you also want to stay safe by wearing a face mask when out in public, which can totally mess with your look. Talk about a dilemma!

It looks like the masks could be with us for a while, but makeup isn’t something we’re willing to give up! We all want to look great when the mask comes off, so here are 10 tips for wearing makeup with a face mask during Covid-19.

1. Make Skin Care a Top Priority

The most accomplished makeup artists in the world know that skincare is the No.1 way to get that healthy, vibrant glow. Makeup is a fun and effective tool to highlight our best features, but proper skincare should always be our central focus, especially in times like these.

When wearing a face mask, our skin’s most sensitive areas – on the nose, cheeks, and lips – are vulnerable to irritation and friction throughout the day. Pores can become clogged, trapped moisture can cause bacteria growth, and makeup tends to only worsen these effects. This leads to the dreaded “maskne,” where people who might not break out normally are experiencing a high volume of pimples in the areas covered by the mask.

If you don’t already have a comprehensive skincare regimen in place, now is the time to tighten up your routine with the proper exfoliators, moisturizers, and occasional face masks. With the right routine, you can soothe dry and stressed out skin so that you have the best possible canvas for whatever gorgeous makeup look you’re trying next.

This isn’t to say that you should avoid makeup altogether, and we’ll get into some practical tips next, but take this opportunity to dial in your skincare for max health and cleanliness.

2. Protect Pores With a Hydrating Primer

Regardless of the look you’ll choose to rock, you need a moisturizing multitasker to keep your skin hydrated and protect those pores underneath the mask.

We’re all guilty of fast-tracking our makeup routines to save time, but these days, you can’t afford to skip the primer. The best hydrating primers give your skin a soft feel all day long and minimize fine lines when you’re in mask mode.

Find a primer that matches your skin type, and be sure to apply a few dabs in the morning so that the rest of your makeup has the perfect base to stick to. This is a super quick and easy step that can protect your skin and prevent any makeup mishaps.

3. Take Time to Emphasize Your Eyes

Since face coverings need to be worn over your nose and mouth, the upper half of your face needs some extra attention in the morning, with your eyes being the central focus.

Whether you’re already an eye makeup expert or new to the game, now is a great time to level up your techniques and splurge on some items that make your eyes look amazing each day.

There’s an endless number of eye makeup options out there, but be sure to grab these basics:

Eyeliner liquids or pencils
Eyebrow tints, pencils, or shaping gels
Liquid eyeshadow, primers, and color palettes
Mascara with primers and volumizing brushes

Get used to using these tools of the trade because your eyes are now the star of the show! Experiment with different color schemes, shadows, and angles, and take things to the next level by coordinating with your face mask color and texture.

Your morning makeup session isn’t likely going to take as long, so you have a few more minutes to be creative and expressive with your eyes.

4. Stick With Transfer-Proof or Matte Foundation

A great foundation gives us that smooth, even complexion we all desire, and longtime makeup wearers can apply it in our sleep.

However, many of us have learned the hard way that foundation and face masks don’t mix, but you shouldn’t have to go without this key product.

To successfully wear foundation all day with a mask, you’ll need to go a bit lighter on the amount you use and select a transfer-proof product to battle any moisture that may derail your look.

Just a little bit of quality foundation goes a long way on the nose, cheeks, and chin, and you don’t need much around the eyes to get rid of redness or dark circles. Since most of your face is covered anyway, aim to be more artful and minimal with your application.

Pick a foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone and shields your skin from aggressors like pollution and blue light from digital screens.

5. Opt for Neutral Lipstick Instead of Colors

Everyone loves bright and bold lip colors, but in 2020, your face mask will end up wearing more of your lipstick than you at the end of the day!

Refinery 29 tells us that neutral tones are the way to go right now. When wearing a face covering, they are less likely to result in smudging and smearing. It’s a more natural look that works well with all skin types, and you can still make a statement without crazy colors.

If you’ve been skeptical of nude lipstick in the past, it’s time to embrace the style! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how effective these products can be, especially when combined with some lip gloss and a complete lip care routine.

6. Go for the Glow with Face Oil

We’re all learning to live with a little less makeup this year, but look at the bright side: products like facial oil can give your skin a gorgeous natural glow that can’t be stopped by a mask.

Not only are face oils weightless and fast-absorbing, but the best ones are also made with 100% natural products that lift, tighten, and rejuvenate your face in a matter of minutes. It’s one of the easiest things you can do to avoid skin sabotage from face coverings.

If you aren’t sure what face oil to buy, start by looking for real ingredients you can recognize from the earth. Sunflower, Apricot Kernel, and Rose Petal are just a few things that nourish the skin and provide a huge blast of rejuvenating Vitamin C.

Apply face oil generously before putting on your makeup in the morning, and there’s no doubt you’ll look and feel better all day long.

7. Grab a Longwear Concealer for More Coverage

A small tube of concealer can be a real lifesaver when navigating a busy life filled with work and play, but some products just don’t hold up for very long under the pressure of a face mask.

Even if you keep your mask on for 90% of the day, you’ll want to minimize blemishes on the lower half of your face, so keep some concealer close by, just in case.

The key here is to find a rich longwear concealer that does the heavy lifting for more than 12 hours, so you don’t have to reapply in the bathroom mirror every time to remove the mask.

With a strong yet lightweight concealer, you can confidently go mask-off at the end of the day to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. No more pit stops and subtle cameraphone inspections, just perfect, even skin without the hassle.

8. Lock in Your Look With Setting Spray

With a naturally hydrated glow from your skincare and primer, your skin will already look and feel great, but your makeup may not make it 16 hours with a clean, even surface to stick to. That’s why you need to lock in your look with a quality setting spray.

Even if you’re taking a minimal approach to your face mask makeup routine, a powerful setting spray or powder is key to maintaining your look throughout the day, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The last thing you want is to see most of your makeup rubbed off on the inside of your mask and all that hard work undone. Avoid sticky residue and make it last all day with a setting product that only adds a few seconds to your morning routine.

Find a spray or powder that protects your makeup and skin at the same time, ideally with SPF and antioxidants that block out UV rays and any pollutants in the air.

9. Clean and Swap Masks Frequently

No matter how perfectly you apply your makeup, an unclean face mask can mess up your whole look. Many of us wear coverings for hours a day, and they should be washed just like any other article of clothing.

At this point, you should accumulate a small collection of different face coverings to see which ones fit best and do minimal damage to your makeup. You may have noticed an entire industry of accessories take off in recent months, so get with the trend!

10. Cleanse and Remove Makeup Completely

At the end of the day, you and your skin just want to breathe deep and enjoy a deep clean in the shower or bath. Be extra vigilant about cleansing your skin and removing 100% of your makeup, even if you’re feeling lazy.

Using one cleanser at night is good, but using two is even more effective at getting off every last bit of makeup and grime that may have accumulated during the day. To double cleanse, first apply an oil-based cleansing balm to melt off that long-lasting makeup, and then follow with a more traditional cleanser. This way, your skin will be clean and prepped for any nighttime skincare products you may be applying, so you’ll be fresh-faced and ready to go the next morning.

Take a minute to assess your complexion at the end of the day and adjust your routine if breakouts or irritation persist, Vogue says.

We all know the consequences of letting makeup sit overnight, and the face mask compounds that effect, so take this part of your skincare routine more seriously than ever.

Conclusion

While they’re not exactly ideal for makeup lovers, face masks are just part of the deal right now. But if there’s anything we know about the makeup community, it’s that we rise to the challenge when it comes to finding new, more effective ways of getting our makeup fix! If you stick with these ten tips for getting the most long-lasting makeup possible, you’ll basically forget that you’re wearing a mask anyway because you’ll simply look that good.

10 ways that AHCC can improve your health

With everything going on in the year 2020, we have all learned to take our health a bit more seriously. But since the body is so complex, we need a quick addition to our daily routine that boosts our system without overcomplicating things. Active …

With everything going on in the year 2020, we have all learned to take our health a bit more seriously.

But since the body is so complex, we need a quick addition to our daily routine that boosts our system without overcomplicating things.

Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) supplementation may just be the thing we’ve been looking for, with numerous clinical trials showing effectiveness in multiple areas.

It’s not a miracle cure by any means, but the benefits have been well documented for years and worth a closer look. Here are 10 ways that AHCC can improve your health.

1. Rich in Antioxidants

You’ve heard doctors and scientists praise antioxidants when discussing superfoods like leafy greens and healthy fats because they serve an important purpose for our overall health.

Since AHCC is a functional food derived from healing mushrooms, each capsule is packed with powerful antioxidants, helping keep cells from breaking down under oxidative stress.

Nobody can live a perfectly clean lifestyle in the modern world, and antioxidant-rich AHCC can give us the extra boost we need to maintain health on a cellular level.

2. Boosts Both Types of Immunity

The human immune system is a complex and mysterious machine, but we know there are two basic types of immunity: innate and adaptive. While innate immunity attacks a non-specific threat with immediate response, adaptive immunity is slower yet more targeted.

AHCC is one of the few supplements on the market that effectively promotes both types of immune responses, allowing our systems to fight foreign bodies known and unknown.

In a world with ever-changing bacteria and viruses invisible to the human eye, there’s a strong case to be made for holistic immunity building, and AHCC is a piece of the puzzle.

Remember that a complete regimen is crucial to maintaining strong immunity, and you should consult your physician to determine a full daily stack. Along with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, and other natural compounds, proper supplementation can raise your defenses inside and out.

3. Improved Liver Function

Our livers are vital for metabolic regulation and keeping our systems clean from toxic threats, and we must do everything in our power to make sure this organ operates at peak capacity, especially as we age.

An article from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center tells us that AHCC can help our livers recover from cirrhosis (scarring and swelling) and the chronic effects of hepatitis.

Although science does not confirm the complete reversal of liver disease with this supplement, it has been shown in many studies to improve the quality of life for patients living with the condition.

4. Combats Chronic Inflammation

Acute inflammation response is part of the body’s natural defenses against superficial wounds and infection, but too many people live with chronic inflammation that causes real damage to our systems over time.

AHCC can help to regulate the inflammatory response in our cells, ensuring that we fight the real enemies compromising our health rather than remaining in a chronically inflamed state.

Long-term users of AHCC report a reduction in chronic pain caused by arthritis, relief from severe migraine headaches, and even improved symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, according to Verywell Health.

With reduced inflammation, you can more easily move around, enjoy normal daily activities, sleep better at night, and enjoy an overall happier, more productive life.

5. Reduces the Impact of Auto-Immune Attacks

We touched on the two types of immunity earlier but shouldn’t overlook the fact that some of us have compromised immune systems that actually attack our bodies from the inside.

These auto-immune conditions are extremely serious and unpredictable, and scientists have struggled to understand them fully despite years of rigorous research and testing.

Progress has been made in some areas, luckily, and AHCC is one supplement shown to help mitigate the severity of auto-immune attacks. The compound is shown to promote optimal T-cell and macrophage activity while increasing the activity and number of dendritic cells.

To put it more simply, AHCC gives your immune system the right tools and instructions to fight off bad bacteria and viruses while leaving your important vital mechanisms alone. Think of it as a general leading troops to battle and giving them the best weapons and tactics for victory.

Without getting too deep into the science, know that AHCC is a complete immunity booster, not only for the main defense systems of the body, but also in keeping healthy body tissue protection from friendly fire.

6. Mediates Stress Response

Our systems have evolved over thousands of years to develop a highly-attuned stress response to dangerous situations. You may know it as fight or flight, and it helped us avoid predators and find food way back in the day.

While our modern lives appear to be low-stress on the surface, many of us actually suffer from low-level stress at all times, resulting in boosted cortisol levels, which degrades our cells, fogs our minds, and leaves us vulnerable to disease.

By taking a powerful dose of AHCC in the morning and night, you may lower the impact of this chronic stress response and experience a sense of well-being as your body returns to its natural state of calm.

As always, you should partake in daily exercise and reduce external stressors in your life as much as possible, but the right supplements can help tackle stress at the cellular level.

7. Can Treat Various Types of Cancer

The research surrounding AHCC’s interaction with cancer cells is far from definitive, but there have been a wide array of promising studies published in recent years suggesting it can inhibit the proliferation of these deadly rogue cells.

WebMD states that although the science is not conclusive, recent trials have shown AHCC to help cancer patients feel better day to day. If you or someone you know has battled against this disease, you recognize first hand how much a bit of relief can help.

Far more research is needed to determine whether this compound is effective in truly combating cancer cells and providing real results for later-stage patients. Still, considering the minimal side effects and low cost of the product, it’s worth a try for anyone seeking alternatives.

8. Real Benefits for Diabetics

Diabetes can be destructive to the body and distracting from the things that matter most in life. Unfortunately, it’s a condition that affects millions of Americans each year, and no definitive cure has yet been developed.

However, a great diet, routine exercise, and proper supplementation with nutrients like AHCC are thought to give people with diabetes a better daily life experience, avoiding emergency blood sugar situations, and promoting healthy weight loss.

You don’t need to be diagnosed diabetic to enjoy the blood-sugar regulating effects of AHCC. Anyone looking for more even and sustained energy throughout the day can take the supplement to manage glucose levels and regulate insulin.

9. Effective Against Hypertension

It’s almost a guarantee that we all know someone who suffers from high blood pressure or hypertension since it’s one of the most common conditions in the United States.

With the Standard American Diet so high in sugar, fat, and starch, and so few of us exercising regularly, it’s no surprise that the nation’s collective blood pressure is off the charts.

Pharmaceutical medications are widely available to fight high blood pressure, but there is no better way to address this condition than with diet, exercise, and natural supplementation.

AHCC is just one of several compounds that have been proven to positively impact cardiovascular health, and it was actually first developed as a treatment for hypertension

10. Alleviates Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Until we have a superior cancer treatment, chemotherapy is still one of the go-to methods for oncologists worldwide. Chemo works wonders for fighting back cancer cells, but it also takes a heavy toll on the human body, even in extremely low doses.

Side effects include hair loss, liver damage, bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, and other distressing experiences that can have a serious psychological effect. Any relief we can provide to patients undergoing chemo should be utilized to the fullest extent.

AHCC is one of the few natural compounds with a clinical track record for reducing the symptoms of chemo side effects, allowing patients to experience better balance, more strength, lighter mood, and overall quality of life.

Conclusion:

The industrialized world and modern medicine have given us many gifts, but we sacrifice our personal well-being for easy conveniences in too many cases.

It’s time to bring natural supplementation back into our daily routines, using nutrients like AHCC to benefit our bodies’ various complex systems.

From the immune response to inflammation and cardiovascular health, there are so many aspects of physical wellness that can’t be ignored if we want to live long, happy lives.

Consider taking some more time to research the origins and effects of AHCC, and if you choose to try it for yourself, be sure to buy from a reputable producer such as Quality of Life, which sources from the world’s best natural ingredients.

Great NFL fan cave ideas for each team’s fan base as the holidays approach

Get ready for the football watching as the holidays approaches