Nicola P. Young
Bio
Lover of Books, Saxophone, Blogs, and Dogs. Not necessarily in that order. Book blogger at heartofinkandpaper.com.
Stories (168)
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Fashion Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
Fashion, as we know, is a complex thing. It changes radically with the times, and what was considered the peak of style a decade ago might now be considered downright cringe-worthy. The influence of radical styles amongst celebrities especially complicates the issue, and definitions of style and fashion rules are constantly fluctuating and up for debate. That said, there are certain robust do's and don'ts in the fashion world that have withstood the test of time. That is to say, there are simply some fashion mistakes to avoid at all costs.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Styled
Toxic Beauty Treatments from the Past
Although beauty standards across time and space may differ drastically, every culture at every time has held some beliefs and practices regarding beauty. And while standards and preferences may change, even to their own opposites, one thing remains the same: people are willing to do some crazy things in the name of beauty. From leeches to lead, nightshade to radiation poisoning, toxic beauty treatments have been a health hazard to women - and men - for eons. And don't think just because we're in the 21st century now, that personal care products don't still sometimes have dangerous long-term effects...
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Blush
Memorable Proposal Ideas You'll Never Forget
You don't want your proposal to be canned, to just copy someone else's idea, but you also don't want to be boring. You want to give your proposal a personal spin, make it meaningful and heartfelt, but it can be difficult to come up with creative, memorable proposal ideas that your hopefully-soon-to-be spouse won't be able to resist (not that they would anyway, of course). There are a number of ways to prepare to pop the question, and here are a few such memorable ideas to help you plan the perfect proposal.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Marriage
10 Worst Video Game Heroes in History
The development of video games into compelling, virtual-reality narratives highlights the importance of good characters. As these games are increasingly viewed as a form of art, in addition to an engaging pastime, the role of the video game hero becomes ever more important. This throws a bright spotlight on the playable characters, the protagonists of popular games. Unfortunately, not all of them pass muster. Here are some of the worst video game heroes ever created.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Gamers
Soulstice's Kickstarter Campaign Gives You a New Way to Save the Rainforest, One Bracelet at a Time. Top Story - September 2018.
Deforestation is destroying rainforests at a rate of more than 1.5 acres per second. If that rate remains steady, that means that 47.3 million acres of rainforest will disappear each year. The impact this destruction has on our planet is almost incomprehensible. Considering that the Amazon rainforest houses almost half of the world’s known species—many of them already endangered—as well as provides more than 20 percent of the Earth's oxygen, this level of destruction could very well wipe out thousands of species in just the next few years, and permanently alter our global ecosystem. With extinction rates rapidly expanding, and the forest rapidly disappearing, there will soon be no Amazon to visit.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Wander
10 Signs You Are Not Investing Wisely. Top Story - September 2018.
Investing your money can be a smart, future-oriented decision, but if you don't know what you're doing, it can also be a complete, financially-ruining disaster. No one can entirely escape the volatility of the market—even Warren Buffet made some terrible investment decisions—but you can make informed, smart choices and decisions in order to maximize your gains and minimize your losses. Everyone wants to become a millionaire through investments alone, and never have to worry about money again. The investment market can be dangerous though, and it's important to watch out for these signs you are not investing wisely in order to avoid some of the major mistakes that could mean the difference between financial independence, and financial ruin.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Trader
Best Gifts for Retro Gamers
From Legend of Zelda to Pac-Man, the games of our childhood hold up as timeless classics, taking a prominent place in pop culture that we would never have dreamed of as kids playing around at the arcade. Today, there's no denying the draw and appeal of those simpler, highly pixelated times of our lives. Because of this, we look back at the days of old, seeking out the perfect gifts for retro gamers who would truly appreciate a fun, useful gift without having to resort to purchasing and playing some of these retro games on the Nintendo Switch. With all the gaming options out there these days, none are better than those that stir up feelings of nostalgia.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Gamers
10 Lifehacks That Will Cut Cord Clutter Down Immensely. Top Story - September 2018.
In the age of technology, one simply cannot escape the chaos of cords. Cell phone chargers, television hookups, gaming necessities, headphones—the curse of the cable hangs over us all. They wrap around each other, around table legs and cell phones and whatever objects they can find, and create absolute chaos. However, in the age of technology, you can't just get rid of them. One must make the most of the hand one is dealt, and in this case, find ways to organize and order those awful messes. To that end, here are some handy lifehacks that will cut cord clutter down to a minimum and help you keep track of what cord goes to what, which plug plugs in where, and all the other mistakes that endless matching cords may cause.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Lifehack
The History of Steam-Powered Cars
The history of steam-powered cars goes back not just centuries, but millennia. To trace the path of its invention, we first have to go back to the first use of steam as a mechanism to power motion: the aeolipile. The aeolipile was invented by the Hero of Alexandria in the 1st Century AD. Although it did not channel steam power for any practical purpose at this point, the mounted spherical device used the force of escaping steam to make it spin, demonstrating the principles that would later be used to make steam engines and steam-propelled vehicles—namely, the potential force of directed steam.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Wheel
How to Start Your Child's Stock Portfolio
The types of portfolio management strategies are as diverse as they are convoluted, and building a stock portfolio can seem like a dry, boring, and very adult task. Frankly, many adults find it a rather tedious topic, too. This doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, getting kids involved in building a stock portfolio is not only a smart financial move, but a fun and educational one, too. Creating a portfolio for your child will give you an opportunity to teach them about stocks, the stock market, and financial responsibility, while giving them something to watch, build, learn about, and have fun with. To get started, here’s how to start your child’s stock portfolio.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Trader
10 Famous Movie Pets Everyone Loved. Top Story - September 2018.
When I was little, the only movie I wanted to watch was Homeward Bound. With few exceptions, you could only get me to watch anything else by replacing the beloved Shadow, Sassy, and Chance with other famous movie pets. As long as there was a dog on the screen, I was happy.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Petlife
