The habits of the world’s richest people, from Bill Gates to Warren Buffett, and what they now require of non-profits before they invest in a cause.
Tag Archives: wellness
How to Lose Weight While Cleaning
Stevie Markovich’s “Aerobic Housecleaning Lifestyle” video came out in 2002, but now it has some stiff competition: Carolyn Barnes’ “Clean Momma Program,” complete with her signature move, the Rag Drag. WSJ’s James R. Hagerty reports.
Como Shambhala Urban Escape at Metropolitan London
Como Shambhala Urban Escape at the Metropolitan London focus on the best possible therapies for body and face for guests. The newly renovated spa provides a peaceful sanctuary for those looking to escape the pressures of city life with its six treatment rooms, two of which are doubles and features steam rooms. The new spa also incorporates an expanded gym and yoga facilities. The comfortable reception has a dedicated retail space exclusively stocking COMO Shambhala products, including yogawear from the Como Shambhala Active Living Collection, and the company’s hair, skin and bodycare products blended from natural essential oils. (More info)
Warren Buffett Interview: The Best Life Advice I’ve Ever Received
Billionaire Warren Buffett, widely considered the smartest investor on the planet and known for his modest lifestyle despite astronomical wealth, was recently asked the best advice he ever received. Surprisingly, it wasn’t about money, finances or wealth creation. It was about parenting. Here’s what Buffett said about the best advice he’s ever received:
The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean you’re 90 percent of the way home. There may be days when you don’t feel like it, it’s not uncritical love, that’s a different animal, but to know you can always come back, that is huge in life. That takes you a long, long way. And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it’s going to make for a better human being. – Warren Buffett
Vanmoof Bicycles
Who exactly is Vanmoof?! Here’s the company, in their own words:
In Holland we have been using bikes for centuries. Even our royal family rides them. Time for the world to experience the joy: presenting the ultimate urban bicycle VANMOOF.
Yup yup, we have arrived!
VANMOOF is an ambitious young Dutch company that originated out of love for bicycles and a hunger for change. With a talented young development team and a fresh business approach, VANMOOF pursues only one goal: help the ambitious urbanite worldwide move around town by bike and in style.
It all started with the entrepreneurial brothers Taco and Ties Carlier, who had already successfully developed products for their companies Strida-Europe and Dutchband B.V. They wondered why there were so few urban-proof bikes available. After all, it’s not easy for a bike to be completely urban-proof. You go outside in any weather, used daily and occasionally a victim of vandalism.
Why does the bicycle market ignore urban needs? Why are stores flooded with overly equipped bikes that make a simple tool way too failure prone? The brothers asked 100 friends from several cities the question; “How do YOU see the ultimate commuter tool?”. The friends tested 100 prototypes for 100 days. This experience is the foundation VANMOOF is built on. The answers – a sexy, durable and affordable bike – became our challenge. We decided to redesign the backbone of our Dutch culture from the inside out, instead of sticking with the familiar base. We stripped the bike from non essentials that can only break or cause frustration and integrated features inside the big lightweight aluminum tubes. The signature VANMOOF look was born.
We’ll spread our wings to all metropoles around the globe. Officially launched in May 2009, VANMOOF is currently sold in Tokyo, Barcelona, Jakarta, Paris, NYC, Milan, Sydney, Amsterdam and probably also in your town.
Be aware, we like to shake the unshakable!
Vanmoof Bicycles
Who exactly is Vanmoof?! Here’s the company, in their own words:
In Holland we have been using bikes for centuries. Even our royal family rides them. Time for the world to experience the joy: presenting the ultimate urban bicycle VANMOOF.
Yup yup, we have arrived!
VANMOOF is an ambitious young Dutch company that originated out of love for bicycles and a hunger for change. With a talented young development team and a fresh business approach, VANMOOF pursues only one goal: help the ambitious urbanite worldwide move around town by bike and in style.
It all started with the entrepreneurial brothers Taco and Ties Carlier, who had already successfully developed products for their companies Strida-Europe and Dutchband B.V. They wondered why there were so few urban-proof bikes available. After all, it’s not easy for a bike to be completely urban-proof. You go outside in any weather, used daily and occasionally a victim of vandalism.
Why does the bicycle market ignore urban needs? Why are stores flooded with overly equipped bikes that make a simple tool way too failure prone? The brothers asked 100 friends from several cities the question; “How do YOU see the ultimate commuter tool?”. The friends tested 100 prototypes for 100 days. This experience is the foundation VANMOOF is built on. The answers – a sexy, durable and affordable bike – became our challenge. We decided to redesign the backbone of our Dutch culture from the inside out, instead of sticking with the familiar base. We stripped the bike from non essentials that can only break or cause frustration and integrated features inside the big lightweight aluminum tubes. The signature VANMOOF look was born.
We’ll spread our wings to all metropoles around the globe. Officially launched in May 2009, VANMOOF is currently sold in Tokyo, Barcelona, Jakarta, Paris, NYC, Milan, Sydney, Amsterdam and probably also in your town.
Be aware, we like to shake the unshakable!
Dhara Wellness Center in Italy by Studio Alberto Apostoli
Welcome to the interiors of an exquisite wellness center, designed by Studio Alberto Apostoli and located in side the Belfiore Park Hotel, on the Venetian side of Lake Garda, Italy. Entitled “Dhara”, the spa occupies an entire floor of the hotel and invites its guests to have a relaxing break.
According to the designers, “the project aimed to create a balance between the classical elements of the SPA by carefully studying spaces, forms, materials, colors and lights. By taking advantage of the local materials, the particularities of the location and a natural spring that was discovered during the construction, the SPA obtains a sensorial environment that is alive with every construction detail and material that was specially designed for it“.
The focal point of the entire wellness center is a massive olive tree, that was especially integrated in the design in order to enhance the feeling of relaxation. This beautiful natural element adorns the socializing room, a place with a highly contemporary look. The basin of water in the middle is constantly refreshed by a natural spring and the mosaic room in the photo below is in fact a vapor bath, meant to sooth the senses. To top it all, the center also has stunning views of lake Garda, located nearby.
Luxurious SPA Center in Istanbul by HBA
Istanbul is a city with a rich history and tradition. Taking these elements into consideration when designing a spa center may not be a simple thing to do, but it is sure recommended. Hirsch Bedner Associates’ (HBA) recently completed this spa design in Istanbul EDITION hotel and even though its feel is highly contemporary, the architects say that Turkish traditions stood at the basis of their planning.
The wellness center is called ESPA and features design elements which pay tribute to Hammam customs while mirroring the atmosphere of rich life in Istanbul. The designers felt that an intriguing mix of old and new would increase the originality factor and attract distinguished guests.
The opulence is expressed by embossed bronze floors, marble and bronze sinks. The walls are decorated with crystals in a very delicate manner, ensuring a tasteful overall design. Lighting was a major decision factor when developing this project. The cut out patterns used in the traditional communal Turkish bathhouses stood at the basis of the lighting scheme used in this contemporary spa center.
A touch of mystery is given by the unusually-shaped walls and by the dark colors. This way, a simple walk through the corridors of this Istanbul spa is not just a relaxation experience, but a small adventure as well.
Adidas unveils miCoach SPEED_CELL
Adidas unveiled the miCoach SPEED_CELL, touting it as the latest innovation in digital sports technology.
The old version of miCoach technology only measured forward motion. The new version, the miCoach SPEED_CELL, captures information from motion in every direction. It measures key performance metrics such as speed, distance and time during, bringing technology to the masses that had previously been limited only to professional athletes.
A specially designed lightweight Adidas shoe is required to use miCoach. The miCoach SPEED_CELL – which is a tiny computer the size of a thumb drive – is designed to fit into a cavity in the sole of the shoe. The shoe is the Adizero F50. miCoach SPEED_CELL stores seven hours of an athlete’s metrics and wirelessly transmits the on-field performance data to their smartphone, tablet, PC or MAC.
The initial design is for soccer shoes, with American football, basketball and tennis shoes to be added to the miCoach SPEED_CELL line in the near future.
World Humanitarian Day 2011
Millions of people are in need of help, from Japan to Sudan, from Pakistan to the Horn of Africa, and today, August 19, World Humanitarian Day honors those who roll up their sleeves and do their part to help make the world a better place. World Humanitarian Day has been celebrated since 2009 and is [...]