A Guide to Making Your Own Vodka

June 9, 2023 / admin / Comments Off

While commercial varieties offer an abundance of options, some adventurous souls may find joy in the art of crafting their own vodka. Embarking on this journey allows for a deeper appreciation of the spirit and the opportunity to tailor it to personal preferences. Here’s a guide to making vodka in the comfort of your own home.

Choose Your Base Ingredients:

The foundation of vodka lies in the choice of base ingredients. Traditional options include grains like wheat, rye, or barley, while adventurous home distillers may experiment with corn or potatoes. Each ingredient lends its distinct characteristics to the final product, so choose based on the desired flavor profile.

Mash Preparation:

To extract fermentable sugars from the base ingredients, a mash needs to be prepared. Grains are typically milled to expose their starches, while potatoes are washed, peeled, and cooked before being mashed. Add hot water to the milled grains or mashed potatoes, allowing the enzymes to convert starches into fermentable sugars.

Fermentation:

Once the mash is prepared, it is time for fermentation. Transfer the mash to a fermentation vessel and add yeast. The yeast converts the sugars into alcohol through the process of fermentation. Maintain a controlled temperature and monitor the fermentation process, allowing the yeast to work its magic over a few days to a week.

Distillation:

Distillation is a crucial step in crafting vodka, as it purifies the alcohol and removes impurities. The fermented mash is transferred to a still, and the alcohol is separated from undesirable compounds through heating and condensation. The resulting liquid is known as raw vodka.

Filtration:

To achieve the desired clarity and smoothness, filtration is essential. Pass the raw vodka through activated carbon filters or other filtration media to remove impurities and further refine the spirit. Multiple filtrations may be necessary to achieve the desired result.

Dilution and Aging (optional):

At this stage, you can dilute the vodka with water to achieve the right alcohol content. Some home distillers choose to age their vodka in oak barrels or with flavoring agents for added complexity and character. Aging allows the vodka to develop new flavors and mellow over time.

Bottling and Enjoyment:

Once the vodka has been distilled, filtered, and, if desired, aged, it is ready for bottling. Use sterilized bottles and ensure proper sealing to preserve the integrity of the spirit. Allow the vodka to rest for a few days before indulging in your creation. Savor the fruits of your labor by enjoying the vodka neat, on the rocks, or as the base for your favorite cocktails.

If you’re looking for inspiration or an example to emulate, check out NEFT Vodka as an example of vodka-making at the highest levels. NEFT Vodka is able to achieve its award-winning taste by using only the best ingredients, including sustainably-sourced spring water from the Austrian Alps and non-GMO rye grains with no additives. NEFT Vodka is a favorite of many for its smooth taste and velvety finish.

Hollywood Designers Believe Meditation Can Relieve Stress

September 22, 2021 / admin / Comments Off

In Hollywood one of the most prolific industries is fashion designing. Both men and women want to be wearing the latest fashions when they walked down the red carpet. That means that each designer must stay on top of the trends that are very popular now. Certain colors are popular for various reasons. The styles of those expensive dresses that actresses wear change frequently.

It can be quite stressful to be a fashion designer in Hollywood. For that reason, a great number of today’s busy designers are using meditation to help relieve their stress. Some have publicly spoken about how they usually ask their employees to use meditation as well. If you work in a fast pace environment, then meditation could be a great way to relieve tension. And it’s easy to learn this ancient practice.

Create Abundance by Zhang Xinyue contains numerous wise sayings, such as:

“You travel all over the world just to find a path back to your own heart.”

If you would like to begin, then check out the various types of meditation and choose one that seems like something you might enjoy. Next set up a quiet place in your home or office. Don’t forget to include relaxing music and light a few candles for better ambiance. You’ll also find a good selection of meditation clothing online these days.

Zhang Xinyue has other quotes from her book:

“The reason why you have not attained what you desire is that you set your wish frequency at one that cannot resonate within you.”

Visiting Castello di Milan, Italy to Learn About Creating Abundance

May 20, 2021 / admin / Comments Off

Article by Zhang Xinyue of Golden Touch

Golden Touch is a unique organization where members learn about creating abundance in their lives. Many people report lack either in finances, relationships and other areas. But lack is not an acceptable way of life in a universe filled with so much abundance. These are the teachings of Zhang Xinyue, a Chinese author and teacher who helps people connect with the positive energy in the universe.

As we understand the potential in connecting with the cosmic sea, things can begin to change in our lives. We can grow, overcome obstacles and receive healing from past hurts.

Zhang Xinyue is a popular leader who teaches and mentors others. She and her team organize amazing vacations each year in exotic locales such as Milan, Italy. On a recent trip, the group visited Castello di Milan, an ancient castle with quite a bit of history. Today, there are art exhibits, museums and shops there and people come to visit each year.

As Xinyue and her team begin to teach the members about meditating and connecting to the cosmic sea, people experience breakthroughs in their lives. Milan is known to be an area with natural energy vortexes. Meditating in places like this can reap huge rewards.

Of course, Milan is known as a Fashion Mecca as well and people have been traveling there for centuries. They come from all over the world to purchase apparel, beautiful textiles, silk cloth and fine wares. The city houses major brands like Versace, Valentino, Armani, Prada and others.

Article provided by Zhang Xinyue of Golden Touch. Golden Touch is an organization that was created by Zhang Xinyue of China. Each year, the members attend meetings in spectacular locations where they are involved in Elite training activities. Zhang Xinyue offers the teachings to help members learn how to become part of an infinite Cosmos.

Annual meetings for Golden Touch are held in Canada, Malaysia, Italy, America and other beautiful locations. Members can learn how to experience authentic joy and how to create abundance in their lives.

What Exactly Are Multifocal Contact Lenses?

June 20, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Summary: There are certain specialized contact lenses that are made for those that suffer from age-related presbyopia and other conditions.

Multifocal contact lenses, not to be mistaken with bifocal contacts, are a specialized type of lenses that provide the power of glasses along with clear far and near vision. Thanks to advancements in technology, there are various types of multifocal contact lens options available, so how do you know which one is right for you?

This guide is designed to explain everything you need to know about multifocal lenses so you can make decide whether they fit your lifestyle.

What Are They?

Multifocal contacts are designed with different lens powers than your standard contacts. They regret vision at varying distances from the user. Essentially, they are contacts with multiple prescriptions all-in-one. This versatile lens benefits those that suffer from presbyopia by helping correct age-related vision problems.

How Are They Different from Bifocal Contacts?

Multifocal contacts have a gradual and smooth transition between the prescription for seeing things close up, the prescription for standard distance, and viewing objects far off in the distance. They act very much like progressive glasses. Bifocal contacts on the other hand, have a major difference between near and normal prescription areas.

What Types of Multifocal Contacts Lenses Are There?

Multifocal lenses come in either soft lenses or gas permeable. The most commonly used today are the concentric design. This specific type utilizes a set of concentric circles for various lens powers for different viewing distances. Also available to the public are blended designs, commonly known as aspheric, which places the close up and distance prescriptions near the middle of the eye in an attempt to simulate natural sight.

Choosing Multifocal Contacts

The most important thing you need to know when choosing your multifocal contacts is communicating with your optometrist. He or she needs to know about your lifestyle, hobbies, and activities that you partake in. Then, you will be given a set of options that cater to your specific needs. They may or may not include multifocal contacts, but Lens.com, an experienced contact lens supplier, recommends trusting your eye doctor as opposed to believing that you need a specific model of contacts and purchasing them outside of your optician’s recommendation. Doing so can cause irritation and even damage to your eyes.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking into multifocal contact lenses or another type, it’s important that you discuss all your options with your eye doctor. He or she might see something different in your eyes and may recommend another model that’s better suited for you. However, it never hurts to inquire whether multifocal products could be an option for you.

The best place to have Mont Blanc in Paris

May 2, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Article submitted by Cécile Zarokian

There is no doubt that Paris is famous for its wide selection of patisseries, desserts, cakes and chocolatiers, all over the world. You can plan a visit to the famous Angelina Tea House in Paris and enjoy these delectable treats.

One of the most famous desserts is the Mont Blanc. This delectable and mouth-watering pudding is characterized by its unique dome of chestnut cream vermicelli that is covered by a base of meringue and whipped cream. This sweet dessert first originated in France in early 1620. However, now this exquisite dessert has been replicated and re-invented by some of the most famous patisseries in Paris ever since. Although, you can enjoy this dessert at several places in Paris, but Angelina tea house offers the best Mont Blanc in Paris.

Angelina tea house is unarguably the most famous place in Paris to offer the Mont Blanc dessert and it is the patisserie’s signature pastry. The venue has built up a prestigious reputation since it was founded in 1903 and is popular with visitors and locals alike for its exquisite creations. It is traditionally made with meringue covered with whipped cream and chestnut crème vermicelli. You should try this during your stay in Paris. You can even get some of it packed and take it with you, to enjoy at home.

Do not forget to treat your taste buds to the mouth-watering Mont Blanc, during your next visit to Paris.

Top Signs That You May Need to Visit an Eye Doctor

April 17, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Summary: Eye exams are far more important than people make them out to be. Here are some common signs that indicate a bigger problem may be occurring behind-the-scenes.

Whether you wear eyeglasses or have never experienced a decrease in vision, you probably do not think about the health and quality of your eyes on a daily basis. It becomes somewhat of an afterthought in the web of other health concerns. However, most people tend to experience some changes in their eyesight over time, even if these changes are minor.

Having regular eye exams is extremely important in the early part of a diagnosis of eye conditions, vision correction, and overall safety. Here are some signs that you may need to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor.

Eye Infection

Eye exams aren’t just for vision correction – they also give your eye doctor a chance to evaluate the overall health of your eyes. While minor eye infections go away on their own, many are contagious and come with the risk of permanent blindness. If are experiencing discomfort, redness, or discharge, contact your eye doctor today.

Constant headaches or Migraines

Headaches can result from a multitude of factors like stress, inflammation, and tension, but they can also be warning signs that your vision is changing. If you notice more headaches or an increase in headache intensity, visit your local eye doctor.

Eye Fatigue

Eye strain or fatigue can occur for a large number of reasons, including spending hours in front of a smartphone, computer, or television. However, if the discomfort you feel persists for longer than three days, the eye strain may be hinting a larger problem.

Moreover, if you notice your eyes are hurting during specific movements, such as looking from Justify to right, you may want to speak with your eye doctor to get to the bottom of it.

Blog submitted by Lens.com: Lens.com can help you find the most affordable daily contact lenses today. Carrying the leading brands and the widest selection of contacts, let Lens.com help you with your next purchase today.

How to Correctly Clean Your Contact Lenses

February 23, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Summary: Practicing good cleaning habits with your contact lenses is extremely important for the health of your eyes.

One of the most, if not the most, important parts of wearing contact lenses is cleaning them appropriately to avoid infection, irritation, and injury. This guide is designed to showcase the important of proper hygiene and cleaning habits when handling contact lenses.

Keep Them in a Clean Case

When storing your contact lenses, it’s essential to keep them in a clean case void of dust, dirt, and bacteria. Many users tend to toss their contact lenses inside the case without changing out the solution, but instead pouring new solution on top of it thinking nothing of it. But, this can cause a plethora of problems that can be detrimental to the health of your eye. Worst of all, if users forget to close the lens case, dust can get caught inside, along with the natural oils that come from your fingers.

When you place these dirty contact lenses into your eyes, it can cause severe irritation and even an infection if you don’t take care of the solution. Be sure that you clean the case thoroughly and toss the old solution after every use.

Use the Appropriate Solution

While it might seem reasonable to rinse your contact lenses with clean water before applying solution, it’s actually not recommended. The solution that you purchase in your local retail store or pharmacy is specially formulated for your contact lenses and are designed to keep them clean and safe to use. Bottled or filtered water is not designed for use with your lenses. Using it can result in severe dryness along with particle build-up that’s not meant to be in your eyes.

Blog submitted by Lens.com: If you need some low-cost dailies or other types of contact lenses, visit the experts at Lens.com for the widest selection of discount contact lenses.

What Eye Conditions Are You At Risk for When Wearing Contact Lenses?

January 20, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Summary: There are a number of eye conditions that can occur when wearing contact lenses. Here are some of the most common ones.

Your eyes carry a heavy workload throughout the day. However, many people do not realize just how fragile they really are. An injury sustained to the eye can be more impactful than they are to other parts of the body.

For example, a small cut on your finger can be painful but can be treated with over-the-counter antiseptic and a bandage. Your eyes on the other hand, when suffering from a similar injury, can have far more severe consequences. With that being said, it is important to understand the various types of conditions and what can potentially cause them.

Fuzzy Vision

If you are experience blurriness or fuzziness when your contacts are on, it could be a sign of either dry eyes or improper lens cleaning. Seeing as your contacts are designed to fit your specific condition to clear up your vision, blurry vision may be a sign that your lenses have not been cleaned well enough before use. It may also be a sign that you contacts are old and should be tossed away.

Red Eyes and Itchiness

If your eyes are looking red and feeling itchy, you may have an infection. However, do not automatically assume that just because they’re a bit uncomfortable that you have a serious infection. As bacteria spreads throughout the body, your body naturally fights back and repels them.

The bacteria will initially feel slimy but can turn crusty after it dries out. An optometrist can examine your eyes and take an in-depth look into whether you need antibacterial drops or other forms of medical treatment. Be sure to consult with a doctor before using any over-the-counter drops to treat your issues.

Blog submitted by Lens.com: Lens.com is the homes of the widest selection of contact lenses and the lowest prices. Whether you are looking for contacts for astigmatism or just standard soft lenses, Lens.com has you covered.

Increase your hair growth with these tips

January 14, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

Hair is usually associated with beauty, attractiveness and self-confidence. Therefore, most of us are always looking for different ways of making their hair look great and healthy. We have compiled several simple and easy tips that will help your hair grow faster and become thicker and stronger.

Healthy and balanced diet

A healthy and balanced diet comprising of leafy green vegetables, fish, fruits, nuts, seeds, and other protein sources is essential for increased hair growth. This is because a healthy diet will provide nourishment not only to our body but also to our hair. Consumption of proteins is especially important for revitalizing the hair.

Regularly massage your scalp

It is important that you gently massage your scalp with your fingertips, at least once a week. Massaging not only stimulates blood circulation but also ensures that enough moisture is provided to the roots, thus making the hair strong. Coconut oil is a great option to use for massaging, as it is a natural hair conditioner and is full of essential nutrients.

Avoid washing hair too often

This tip is important as regularly washing your hair with shampoo can make your hair lose its natural oils, thus making it dry. Therefore, it is advised to wash your hair with a chemical-free shampoo, not more than two times a week.

regularly trim your hair

It is advised that you should get yourself a haircut at least after every three months. This will help to get rid of split ends as they prevent the growth and health of hair by causing hair thinning and breakage. This will ultimately lead to balanced hair growth.

Avoid brushing too often

You must make sure that your hair is not excessively brushed. There is no doubt that brushing stimulates the scalp by releasing oils that ultimately reach your hair. Make sure to carefully brush your hair, especially when it is wet.

Lower your stress levels

Various studies have shown that high stress can lead to hair loss. This can be avoided by practicing yoga, meditation and stress relieving exercises.

Regularly change your pillows

It is advised to replace your cotton pillow covers with silk ones as silk covers tend to reduce friction, resulting in few hair tangles.

Try natural hair packs

Natural hair packs or hair masks are also important for making your hair healthy and ensuring their growth. Masks made from natural ingredients such as onion juice, coconut milk, honey, lemon, olive oil, aleo vera, etc. Not only provide nourishment to your hair but also boosts hair growth.

Protect your hair

It is important to keep your hair covered with a hat or a scarf when you go out, as extreme weather conditions tend to damage your hair.

Condition regularly

It is important to condition your hair after every wash. This is because a good conditioner helps to replace lipids and proteins in the hair. This help in the hair growth. Deep conditioned hair tends to be healthy, boasting volume and shine.

Drink water

Drinking water is essential not only for your entire body but also for your hair. Consumption of sufficient water will make sure the hair receives necessary hydration.

Avoid wrapping your hair in a towel

The common practice of wrapping your hair in a towel straight after you washed it must be avoided at all cost. This is because wet hair is very fragile and has greater tendency to break. You must always pat your hair dry with a towel to prevent hair damage.

These hair growth tips are quite beneficial for everyone as they are quite easy to follow and will ensure that your hair growth is increased.

Article by Danie’s Beauty Salon. Look to them for your next haircut or even for facial hair removal in Glendale, CA.

The Angelina Tearoom’s Exquisite Club Sandwiches

January 11, 2019 / admin / Comments Off

When in Paris, there’s nothing quite like enjoying a meal at the Angelina Tearoom. The magnificent ambiance and the excellent service, not to mention the fine quality of food choices makes for an incredibly luxurious Parisian experience.

Although it may sound so ordinary, the Angelina club sandwiches are way beyond your average sandwich. It’s the perfect meal or snack for a day of wandering around Paris. Our definite favorite is the Angelina Club Sandwich, which highlights a perfectly seasoned chicken fillet. It also contains smoked bacon, a hard boiled egg, and greens. On the side, you get a tomato and a choice between fries and lettuce hearts.

Another excellent option is the Scandinave, a club sandwich made of smoked salmon, hard boiled egg, greens, and goat cheese. This is perfect with a side of matchstick potatoes. If you prefer a simpler option, the Végétarien would be your best bet. This club sandwich is made of a hard boiled egg, avocado, cucumber, tomato, radish, and feta cheese cream. This is best ordered with a side of lettuce hearts.

After your choice of sandwich, sample the world-famous Angelina hot chocolate. This chocolate is so thick and rich that a single sip is pure bliss. To make the most out of your Angelina Tearoom experience, order the Mont-Blanc as well. This chestnut pastry has been their signature offering for over a century and is something that should definitely be sampled when in Paris.

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