How to Personalize your Facebook Cover Photo

Creating a Facebook page is the first step any brand takes towards establishing themselves on social media. With over a billion users, Facebook is the largest social network that allows you to engage, meet and influence others on such an enormous and international scale. Why you should bother with Facebook? Because it offers unlimited access to millions of people, who you would probably not have an opportunity to meet had it not been for social networking. Have I convinced you to take Facebook seriously yet? Are you clicking on your browser now to create your page?

Not so fast.

A Facebook page is not something that should be taken so lightly. Yes, it is a social network and the primary purpose is to be fun BUT, and this is a huge but, if you are a blogger who wants to establish themselves, it is imperative that you take the steps to brand your page. One of the things you can do to make your brand apparent on Facebook is the huge image at the top – the Cover Photo!

This post is to help bloggers you personalize your Facebook cover photo by using one of the easiest software available online. Here is a mini guide to get you started to spruce up your fan page:

Creating your Cover Photo

Step 1: Go to http://www.ipiccy.com, select ‘Start Editing’ and upload your template

Step 2: Resize the image to the Facebook cover photo size (851×315). Once you are happy with the size, click ‘Apply’

Note: Make sure you untick ‘constrain proportions’

Step 3: For adding images and text on your cover photo, select the ‘Blender’ tool – it is the 4th icon on the top. Once selected, choose ‘Add Photo’ or ‘Add Text’. A pop- up will appear, select ‘Enable Local Storage’ on the pop up.

Step 4: Once you have agreed to the local storage option, you can start adding text and images to your cover photo!

Step 5: Once you have completed your image, with text and images – simply select done and save it to your computer.

And voila! your Facebook cover photo is ready to upload

I hope this step-by-step helps you get the cover photo you want for your brand, let me know how you get along!

How I Met Your… F•R•I•E•N•D•S?

When Friends ended in 2004, it left a vast void in my life.  Little did I know that another show would be hitting the silver screen within the period of one year. A sitcom that basically converted the characters of Friends, substituted the coffee for beer and added the mystery of the 6th ‘friend’.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of Friends. I watched all the seasons , from rooting for Ross and Rachel and being shocked at Monica and Chandler’s relationship to crying at Pheobe’s wedding and laughing at Joey’s antics. Even though I watched the majority of the show in reruns considering that I was 14 at the time it ended, I felt that I grew up with this show as it was an era or reruns.

Like the majority of the Friends fan following, I was sad to see the show end – however television producers followed up with an equally entertaining show through the release of How I Met Your Mother in 2005. I actually was old enough to follow a show at this point, and watched every single episode eagerly as it tried to fit into the huge empty space that Friends  had vacated only a year ago.

The similarities in the show are uncanny, thus making a number of Friends fans turn to HIMYM. The only new element that this show brought to screens was intrigue – the mystery incorporated into the show from the very start – the character of the mother. The setting of the show is unusual, with each episode relating a story of the past as the main character relates the story of meeting his wife to his children.

Here are some of the main similarities of the two shows:

Both shows are based in New York City

Monica is the control-freak who everyone listens to – just like Lilly, while Rachel is the one trying to make it on her own in the big city – just like Robin.

Joey is the ladies man who performs the main couples wedding – which is pretty much identical to Barney, who performs Marshall and Lilly’s wedding.

They all hang out at one place – Central Perk and continuously drink coffee. Just like in HIMYM they chill at the bar drinking beer.

And the main character is in love with the independent character who is not ready for the relationship. Ross and Rachel Vs Ted and Robin.

These are just some of the similarities in the show, leaving out the whole Marshall is based on Chandler and that Ross and Ted are hopelessly in love with love. Despite their similarities, HIMYM has failed to reach the height of success that Friends experienced. The main reason for this is that Friends provided a unique experience whilst HIMYM started strong, the lack of the 6th character and the continuous mystery has taken a toll on the patience of audiences. If they had introduced the mother and related some stories with the perspective of both parents, the show would have entered a whole new era.

What do you think is the reason for the uber success of Friends in comparison to HIMYM? 

Traveling in Style

Recently I went on a trip abroad – hence my 1 month blog hiatus – and boy was it the best vacation of my life. I was skeptical of taking my entire annual leave in one go, but it was a spontaneous decision I made in for a much needed break. I was going on a long journey, with 10-12 hours of travel time and this meant making some good travelling decisions.

Usually this would mean stretched skin, dry hands, frizzy hair and crumpled clothes – but now this time! I arrived at my destination in not only a good mood, but feeling fresher than ever. So what if you are flying economy, doesn’t mean that you can’t look first class! How did I do this? Here are my secrets on how to travel in style:

Extra Top

While it is tempting to arrive at the airport with full make-up and perfect clothes, this is one of the reasons that people look haggard by the end of the journey. My advice is that you go to the airport in jeans and perfect shoes, but an average top. This is because jeans can go from casual to glam with the right top – so pack that top in your handbag! It doesn’t take too much space, especially if you pick the right material. Something flowy and that doesn’t need ironing – and now you’ve hit jack pot!

Socks

As I said before, wear your preferred shoes – whether heels, boots or flat. Just go for it because for the majority of the journey you will take them off. Yes, that is the secret – take socks in your ever-dependable hand bag. Once the seat belt sign comes off and you’re in the air, take your shoes off to enjoy the journey without the hassle of shoes. Most women who travel in heels end up walking like camels by the end of their journey – but not you!

Moisturizer

One of the worst things about flying is the dryness you feel in the cabin. The air pressure and lack of circulation makes your skin dry up, so the best thing to do is have a very good moisturiser with you. No need to go splurging at the Duty Free, you can easily find Vaseline at your local shop – which is probably the best and most effective moisturiser around. I like their hand and nail cream, as well as their lip tins. Secret tip: take some vaseline gel from the lip tin and apply it under your eyes (on the bags), this will make your skin feel blissful while in flight.

Jessica Alba has perfected the airport look

Hydration

Many people forget to drink water while in flight. Maybe its because of the inconvenience or lack of routine, but you should always try to keep hydrated to keep your body regulated. I recommend buy a large bottle at Duty Free (this is where you need to splurge!) and aim to finish at least 2-3 of them during the flight (depending on the length of the journey).

Hair Do

My hair is long and straight, and most of the time I have to do nothing to manage it – unless I am flying. God knows what happens, but it goes frizzy and unmanageable. So as soon as I sit at my seat, it is goodbye beautiful long locks and hello braid. I just do a simple braid, finishing on my shoulder, which can be easily undone at landing.

And Time to Land…

Around 30-40 minutes before landing, go to the rest room in the airplane and put your glam on. Change your top, pack up the socks and apply make up. You can fix your hair and voila! you’re the most stylish traveler on the airplane! While everyone gawks at you at immigration, you’ll be looking effortlessly chic and rested – something that cannot be achieved if your make up is running down your face while you camel walk through passport control!

Do you have any travelling tips to share? Did you find these tips useful? Share your tips by commenting below

Why I am a Sucker for Classic Literature

My affair with Literature started at a young age when I first read Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. I was unfamiliar with the concept of novels being captured on film at that time, so I had pretty much watched Gone with the Wind every Christmas until I was 13 – which is when I was gifted with the enormous book. It was an exceptionally heavy read but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The realisation that the epic film did not capture the entire story made me question every film I had ever seen. From then on, I have been reading every book before watching the film so that I have a clear picture of how it was meant to be.

After reading Gone with the Wind, I realised that literature was like a mini-gateway into the past, intertwining history with fictional story lines was the epitome of understanding each era that has past. Classic literature is a doorway into how people lived, their mannerisms, their believes and it is a means of documenting each moment of the past in a beautiful way. The timeless themes of love, revenge, anger, sorrow and indecisiveness are all evident in classic literature, making it a relatable form of expression.

Many people find classics a heavy form of literature, moving away from it to read something that is easy to understand and read. This is mostly because classic novels require dedication and effort, however I recommend that everyone try and attempt at least the most popular literary novels of all time – they became popular for a reason!

Here is a brief list of my favourite classics, and I highly recommend these to literature lovers:

• Anna Kerenina – Leo Tolstoy
• Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe
• Emma – Jane Austen
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
• Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
• Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
• War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
• The Idiot – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
• Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
• Frankenstein – Mark Shelly
• Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
• The Picture of Doran Gray – Oscar Wilde
• Ulysses – James Joyce
• Mrs Dalloway – Virginia Woolf

As a literature fan, I could go on and on with this list but these are a few of my all time favourite classics. Each and every book has been a journey into the past, of understanding the time and era and relating to the timeless themes. These texts inspired me to study Literature and take on the profession of a writer, so as for my confession: I am a classics geek and proud of it!

Share your thoughts and let me know how you feel about classic literature. Love it or hate it, we have all read at least one classic novel in our lifetime!

Happiness

The Return of Vintage Fashion

It’s Thursday and nothing completes the week without a good look at the past. This week I have been thinking of the amazing fashion of the 60′s and 80′s – both golden eras for fashion because of all the glitz, glamour and rebellion. Even today, we are inspired by these times, which is a testimony of good style.

So today I will showcase some trends that should really make a comeback. These fashions exude class, elegance and everything that a woman should represent – a timeless beauty that is the perfect combination of confidence, charm and mystery. Here are some of the trends that should be back this year:

Gloves

 

Gloves add a quality of mystery – the hidden part creates the illusion of a woman that is unknown to anyone but herself. The popularity of gloves has died down, but they continue to be a part of evening wear at balls and royal affairs as they create a timeless appearance of elegance. Bring back the gloves!

Polka Dots

 

As a huge fan of polka dots, I have always sided with this fashion. Whether on blouses, shirts, skirts or dresses, polka dots add a certain formality to an outfit that is least expected. It is the perfect print for work outfits, and gives a salute to the retro era.

Pearls

For the shortest period of time, pearls were the ‘it’ jewellery to wear – unfortunately the trend didn’t last for long. Personally, I used to associate pearls with Mrs. Havisham (Great Expectations) until I saw Blair Waldorf (above) pull them off so beautifully. Now I consider them to be the perfect accessory for a formal outfit!

Collar Dress

 

I have to admit, I was skeptical of this trend at first because of the large white space around the collar – but now I’m loving it. The simplicity of the outfit makes it one that allows you to add color pop accessories such as bright shoes and a clutch.

Bows

 

Adding a little oomph to your outfit, bows are not only a feminine touch but they look so cute! Whether you choose bow heels, flats, a hairband or a brooch – it will definitely make your outfit fun. So go ahead – give your nod to the 60′s!

Film Review: Iron Man 3

The third installment in the Iron Man series has been one of the most anticipated films of 2013. As a huge superhero films fan, I had been waiting for this release since the epic awesomeness that was The Avengers. With Iron Man 3, there is the return of the ever charismatic Tony Stark – his devil-may-care attitude and overconfidence is what makes him the genius playboy philanthropist that he is. However, Iron Man 3 shows a different side of Stark – one which was unexpected.

Basically…

Iron Man has always been one of those characters that you either love or hate. He is not like Spiderman, Superman or Batman since he parades his identity in the face of everyone. Everyone knows Tony Stark is the creator of the Iron Man suit, and he wears it in time of peril to save the world (as you do) – ultimately this quality of flamboyance is what makes him an easy target. To cut the chase: Tony Stark threatens the terrorist Mandarin (who incidentally is from Asia, keeps making explosion in the US and threatens to kill the President)

Once the threat is issued, Mandarin launches an open attack on Tony – which makes him a dead man walking. Until this part, the film was excellent. It is one of the first times that we get to see the vulnerable side of Iron Man. Unlike other superheroes, his human side of emotions dominates him and makes him weak. I mean, surely Superman would never have panic attacks that leave him breathless. Personally, I think it was a good touch – humanizing Iron Man makes audiences feel more connected to the superhero, essentially making us feel invincible (the whole association theory)

On a Serious Note

The film progresses in this manner where Stark has to face the impossible, survive and ultimately defeat the Mandarin. What I absolutely loved about Iron Man 3 was the interesting twist about the Mandarin. While on the surface he is an Asian man who has a beard and dominates without reason, he is later revealed to be a puppet of an American scientist – Killian. The reason Killian chooses anonymity is to reach greater power without any negative effects. This was a very insightful twist, and makes you think about the current world situation. Who are we to trust in terms of news and threats – we don’t really  know who the bad guy is…

Iron Man 3 is a well thought out and executed film. Seeing Tony Stark being Tony Stark is a treat in itself because of his humor and personality – you can’t help but love him. You can keep making these films and audiences will love them because of Robert Downy Jnr, he is an all-time favorite. More power to him, and here’s to another squeal!

That’s all folks – what are your thoughts on Iron Man 3?