Remember the days when you had to download your own songs and create your own playlists? I'm a millennial, so I remember this all too well. I used to commute to and from work and I couldn't do it without my trusted earphones and mp3 player filled with 2 GB worth of my favorite songs.

I rarely leave the house nowadays, but when I do I always have my trusted AirPods with me
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| The AirPods were J's gift to me for beating Covid-19 twice. |
Listening to music used to be pretty damn expensive, but it’s become more affordable with the birth of music streaming services. While it wasn’t the first around, Spotify has quickly become synonymous with streaming. It’s by far the most popular of all music services around, but is it the best?
Spotify has always been impressive because it has such a huge music catalog. You can listen to pretty much any musician or band from any genre you can think of. There’s K-pop, rock n roll, drum & bass, rap, hip-hop, grime, latino music - the list is endless. So, in terms of sheer variety, Spotify is always at the top of the game.
Alongside this, the mobile app is really easy for you to use and has a lot of extra features. For example, it curates playlists for you based on your listening habits. If you listen to a lot of K-pop, you’ll end up with playlists composed of similar songs. You even get recommended artists to try and find something new. But, one of the best playlist-related features is that you can ‘enhance’ your own playlists. Basically, put your fave songs in a playlist, then click enhance. A series of new additions will be added to the playlist based on the songs already in there.
You can also download as much music for free as you want. Well, it’s free as in there’s no extra cost on top of your subscription fee. Plus, you can connect the mobile app to Bluetooth speakers and other devices with absolute ease, which is great if you want to blast your music as loud as possible.
As if all this wasn’t enough, there is a free version available. This lets you listen to music, but you will have to deal with ads. Still, if you want a completely free music streaming option, this is definitely the best one around.
All in all, there’s a lot to like about Spotify, but what should you be wary of?
One of the worst things about this service is that it barely pays artists a penny. They get a tiny fraction for every song that gets played, so it’s perhaps not the best option if you want to support music artists. Instead, a service like Tidal is better because it specifically pays more to every artist on the platform. It even has a premium subscription service that costs twice as much as the standard one, but it pays 10% of your sub fee to your favorite artists every month.
Speaking of subscriptions, Spotify has a lot of them. This can be good as you have lots of variety, but it’s also bad as they are all pretty expensive. They keep on hiking the prices up year by year too, so it’s harder for a lot of people to avoid their ideal service. Now, there are ways to learn how to get Spotify cheaper - such as using a VPN - which could eliminate the price as an issue.
There is also one other minor problem that might affect some people. Spotify doesn’t have a HiFi option for fans right now. Some of the other big streaming services already provide this, meaning fans can listen to their favorite music in the highest quality possible. If you’re obsessed with listening to high-quality audio, Spotify might not be the best option for you right now.
Despite the drawbacks and bad aspects of Spotify, it still seems like the best option for the majority of people. Yes, it kind of sucks that they pay artists such a small amount of money. However, you can compensate for this by actually paying for albums or singles if you want to support an artists. Or, you can pay to see them live - basically, you can find other ways to support them beyond Spotify. Plus, you have to recognize the coverage that smaller artists can get through this massive streaming service. Spotify often recommends smaller bands and artists to people, letting musicians be discovered.
All in all, if you love listening to music and want to know which streaming service to choose, Spotify is the safest option. It has the biggest music catalog, some great features, and it really helps you get a personalized experience.
The pandemic has made me scared of huge crowds, and there was a time shortly before I got Covid for the second time when even going out of the house gave me anxiety, but I am pushing this anxiety away so I can go to PASIGlaban on Sunday for a Leni-Kiko rally.
| Source: Tarantadong Kalbo |
Seeing the turnout in the other parts of the Philippines gave me goosebumps, and I cannot wait to be part of the crowd and feel this electrifying energy!
We hesitated a bit because of the logistics, until we thought of booking a room in a hotel nearby so won't have problems going home, or even have issues with stuff to bring, or looking for a public comfort room if the need arises. I will also find time to bake tomorrow so I can distribute cookies at the rally. :)
As for our meals, I do not think we will have any challenges because it's nearby at least four different malls. Besides, foodpanda and Ayala Malls have started a joint initiative to offer hassle-free solutions and deals to their patrons through DriveBuy pickup stations.
Revisit familiar flavors and discover new faves at Ayala Malls, get in touch with your inner foodie and enjoy amazing eats while skipping the queues through PICKUP or staying within the safety and comfort of your home through DELIVERY. To make the most of it, synergize with foodpanda’s newest pal, Pau-Pau as he knows all the tricks of the trade.
foodpanda continues its joint initiative with Ayala Malls to minimize person-to-person contact and ensure everyone’s convenience and safety. Ayala Malls also has designated DriveBuy pickup stations and dedicated al fresco dining areas.
Looking to satisfy your cravings from a restaurant in an Ayala Mall? Get ₱100 OFF on top of existing deals when you order using the code AYALAMALLS100 for a minimum order of ₱399 on all food delivery and pick-up orders. The code is valid in 27 Ayala Malls branches nationwide until April 30, 2022.
Will you be joining PASIGlaban? See you there!
In this day and age, staying healthy is a difficult task. There are so many different ways that can harm your health. However, there are some simple things that you can do to stay healthy. The most important thing to do is to find out what type of lifestyle you want to live. If you want to be active, then make sure you get enough sleep and exercise regularly. If you want to eat healthier, then try cutting down on processed foods and eating more vegetables.
These are just some of the simple ways in which you can stay healthy this year and have a good time doing it. So now, in this post, we’re going to look at the best ways to keep yourself healthy and why you need to.
Why Are More People Becoming Unhealthy?
Many people are struggling with their health, especially in the US. There is a growing number of people who are suffering from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The first reason why more people are becoming unhealthy is because of the changing lifestyle. The way we live has changed significantly over the last decade. People have become less active and that has led to an increase in weight gain for many Americans. The availability of fried food and changes in diet are also a big factor. Other lifestyle choices are also contributing factors too. So it’s important that we’re all conscious of this.
Why You Should Want to Become Healthier?
People have been trying to be healthier for a long time. However, the rate at which people are becoming healthier is increasing. There are many benefits that come with being healthy. These benefits include better mental and physical health, better performance, improved moods and well-being, and more energy. You’ll live longer, feel better in yourself, and be able to get more out of your life too.
The Best Ways To Improve Your Health
In today’s world, people are constantly looking for ways to improve their health. They want to be more active and live a healthier lifestyle. There are many ways that you can improve your health including physical activity, good sleep, healthy diet and stress management. Some of the best ways to improve your health are to exercise regularly with a buddy or group, eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and get enough sleep every night.
| My boyfriend gave me these Puma x Animal Crossing sneakers for Valentine's Day Perfect for working out! |
How To Focus On Nutrition & Fuelling Your Body
Nutrition is an important part of your life and if you want to live a healthy and active lifestyle, then you should focus on it. You need to eat a balanced diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. The most important thing you can do is to fuel your body with the right nutrients so that it can have enough energy for a long day of work or exercise. And this often involves trying new things. So why not try this seaweed salad or work on new recipes yourself? It can really help to add more nutrient-dense options to your diet.
Why You Need to Engage in Nourishing Activities that Make You Happy
There are many reasons why you need to engage in nourishing activities that make you happy. These activities can help you achieve your goals and make the most out of life. Some of the ways you can do this include;
Nourish yourself: Nourish your body by eating healthy foods, exercising and getting enough sleep.
Nourish your spirit: Engage in activities that bring joy to your life such as taking a walk, meditating or spending time with friends and family.
The Importance of Getting out and Exercising this Winter
Having a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone. It helps create a healthy body and mind. Exercising helps you stay fit and healthy by burning calories, improving blood circulation, increasing your metabolism, relieving stress, and more. It also provides a variety of other benefits such as lowering risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke. Winter is the perfect time to get out and exercise. It is cold outside, but it is also a great time to get some fresh air, enjoy the outdoors, and get back in shape.
Tips on Avoiding the Most Common Health Problems
Some of the most common health problems that people face in their lifetime are heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In order to avoid some of these health issues, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.
I always found joy in the novelty of my Tatay being born on Valentine's Day, thus his name Valentino. I always quip this as an unsolicited fun fact whenever I get asked for my parents' name or when conversations veer towards names as topic. I do not exactly know where I am named after (although my Mama always claims it's because the name Kris was popular in 1986 because of the People Power Revolution (for non-Filipino readers of this post, the youngest daughter of the late President Cory Aquino who overthrew the Marcos dictatorship is named Kris).
Anyway, this past Valentine's Day is probably the saddest Valentine's Day for me yet, because it's the first Valentine's Day that my Tatay is not here to celebrate his birthday with us.
Happy birthday, Tatay. Hope you're having a blast up there.
We love you and we miss you so much.
Hello, friends! How have you all been? I recently recovered from my second bout with Covid-19 and although I still struggle mentally every once in a while, I feel I am in a much better place these days.
| Matchy-matchy with this Barbie! |
Anyway, if you’re like me in that you're also looking for some extra ways to make some more money this year, whether to help you save more, or to help you start a side hustle, the internet can be a great place to turn for some money-making opportunities. Here are a few easy ways to earn money online.
There are lots of options to make extra money online, whether you want to make a passive income, use your skills, or turn to some more unusual methods, like deciding to buy bitcoin.
Sell Your Photos
Are you good with a camera, and do you live in an area where quality images are in high demand? Stock photography websites are large banks of photographs covering just about every subject that you can think of. Photographs can upload their pictures to one of those websites, letting magazine editors, designers, or any other organisations who have a website to buy them to use. The advantage of stock websites is that you can sell photos lots of times, so you can make money with minimal effort. Photography sites you could try include Getty Images and Shutterstock.
Create How-To Videos
This is something I've been enjoying doing using Instagram Reels where I share recipes. YouTube has recently become the go-to source for all kinds of guides and courses. Instructors can monetize their content through advertising revenue, sponsorship, affiliate marketing, or by charging a subscription fee or password-protecting content for paying customers only. To succeed, get to know the keywords and phrases that people are searching for. A good way to do this is to start typing how to (and your topic) into the search bar on YouTube and see what phrases come up in the auto-fill dropdown. Make sure to use the same keywords when you write your video's title, description, and tags. You can teach anything, from DIY to make-up skills, from French to cooking.
Become A Copywriter
Do you want to be able to earn a good income online, no matter where you live? Copywriting could be a good option for you to work online and make more money. Copywriting is a huge industry, with plenty of opportunities for earning ability. There is a lot of demand for writers who can create fresh, well-written marketing content. A big benefit of freelance copywriting is that you can be paid in US dollars, but live just about anywhere else in the world. Native English speakers are in particularly high demand. You can find freelance writing gigs through agencies, by seeking your own clients, or own sites like Fiverr.
Teach English
If you speak English as your first language, you already have the main qualification you would need for a fun way to make an income that could help you to earn steady money from just about anywhere in the world. You can find jobs teaching English through sites like GoOverseas.come, TeachAway, iTutorGroup, and English Hunt. You can teach virtually, over the phone, or in person. It could even be an opportunity to travel and teach in another country for a short time.

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