Basic Tips in Hiring an Electrician.

When you hire an electrician to do electrical repairs at your workplace or home, you wish to make certain that the professional is able to do the job proficiently. However, there are many "professionals" who promote themselves as being skilled enough in carrying out any electric work. Speaking to someone over the phone won’t help you assess his credibility.

So how do you figure out whether the person you’re considering is a good fit for the job? Here are some tips to consider when hiring an electrician:

Is your electrician authorized and qualified?

Insurance and licenses 
It’s necessary to ascertain that the electrical professionals working in your house or workplace are insured as well as licensed. They should willingly provide details in these respects. In case an electrician works for a company, it’s possible to get these details through the company. For independent contractors, these details are more important.

Never run the risk of your skilled friend undertaking an electric work in your home. It’s better to turn to a legitimate contractor for the job. If the person in consideration possesses license and carry insurance, you can be sure of his legitimacy.

Experience
You’ll come across numerous professionals like electrician Sydney dedicated to electrical chores. So how do you filter unskilled persons from your list? The simple answer is experience. Never consider an inexperienced electrician. While such a person may be able to fix minor problems, he’ll only punctuate a major electrical problem. Since electrical chores include a lot of risks, you should always depend on a professional who carries years of experience in fixing a range of electrical issues.

Photo credit: Raad on Pixabay.

Quotes and estimates
Never allow an electrician to work at your place without getting an agreed quote. Obtaining quotes from electricians offer two benefits. Firstly, you get to compare quotes from multiple professionals before committing to one. Secondly, a proficient electrician is the one who is able to give you a comprehensive estimate of the work in a detailed manner.

Timeline
As well as giving an estimate of the total cost of the electric work, an effective electrician will provide a projected timeline for the completion of the work. It's crucial to learn more about how long they expect the work to take before picking an electrician. Although some adjustments may be necessary while the work is being carried out, having an indication on how long the given project will take is very important.

References
Obtaining references from others is one of the most effective ways to assess the quality of an electrician's work. Without warnings or recommendations, it can be challenging to determine whether previous clients were impressed and satisfied with the electrician's services. A reputable electrical service company should provide plenty of references and testimonials showing high customer satisfaction. When looking for Electrician Services, make sure to ask for references from past clients who can confirm their reliability, professionalism, and quality of work.

Photo credit: Matthias Grieshammer on Pixabay.

Listening and recommendations
The best professionals will always pay attention to your needs as well as expectations when doing their job. Also, they’ll provide information regarding the work required as per their professional opinion. In addition to this, they’ll explain using terms and language that you can easily understand and comprehend. To get the process underway and find a suitable electrician locally, search online for 'electrician near me in atlanta', or set to your desired location. This can help you find a list of professionals to choose from. 

Bottom line
Choosing the right electrician for the job can be a daunting and time-consuming chore. However, it’s easy to do away with this chore by acting smartly. Just check the above tips when hiring an electrician. With these handy tips, picking the right professional becomes easy.

My Althea Lunar New Year Haul!

"I konmari-d my vanity dresser over the weekend," I told my sister, who came over yesterday to visit the kids.

"Oh, you watched the show?" she asked.

With a head shake and a finger wag, I replied, "No, but konmari is all over my Facebook news feed and I just did what everyone else seems to be doing. I needed space for all these beauty products that I'm getting."

"I stopped watching after the first episode."

"You didn't like the series?"

"I liked it. So much, that I ended up throwing half of my husband's stuff after episode one," she answered, before bursting into a fit of laughter.

My sister and I live apart so we don't see each other very often. But when we do, we talk about everything under the sun - from our married lives to our travel plans, to serious 'adulting' issues like life insurance and property investments, and of course, kikay stuff like upcoming makeup launches and the skincare products that I'm buying from Althea. Case in point, my latest beauty haul.

Ringing in the Lunar New Year with this haul from Althea!

Halfway through January, my Althea family sent me another surprise gift - $50 worth of Rewards Points credited to my Althea account. And with that, I was able to purchase all these without having to spend a dime. Awesomesauce, right? :)

Now here's a quick run-through of what's inside my Althea Lunar New Year box:

Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner Moisture, Php 1100.

Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner Moisture (Php 1100).

I received a complimentary travel-sized bottle of this toner when we visited the Laneige Flagship Store in Ewha last spring. Unlike most toners, the Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner has a thicker, more viscous formula that deeply moisturizes the skin from the get-go.

The cold months usually wreak havoc on my skin, and this toner was quite the wonder worker. It kept my skin from looking dull and feeling dry, and you get soft and smooth skin in an instant. I just couldn't get enough of that 'chok chok' (dewy, bouncy, hydrated) effect from this toner so I decided to go full-size! 

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum, Php 1090.

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum  (Php 1090).

To complement the Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Lotion that I've previously bought, I got the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum which now comes in a new packaging. Not sure if they also changed the formulation, but I hope they did not because the OG formula is already hydrating and nourishing as is.

Mise en Scene Perfect Repair Serum, Php 400.

Mise en Scene Perfect Repair Serum (Php 400).

I've been using the same brand of hair serum for more than five years now, and giving the Mise en Scene Perfect Repair Serum a try is like breaking out of my comfort zone. I've read tons of positive feedback about this product, and I just had to satisfy my curiosity as to why they love this hair serum. I just hope the curious cat in me won't have regrets later on. 

Missha Superfood Apricot Lip Scrub, Php 240.

Missha Superfood Apricot Lip Scrub (Php 240).

Because we can't get enough of lip treatment products! Also, I was very much drawn to the packaging. Supreme vibes, yes?

Tony Moly New Pureness 100 Mask Sheet, Php 40.

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Mask Sheet (Php 40).

One thing I love about Tony Moly sheet masks is how they fit nicely on my face. I've tried the Snail variant of this sheet mask before and it was so damn good. Very moisturizing, and your skin looks glowing the morning after. Unfortunately, the Snail sheet mask wasn't in stock when I placed my order so I settled for the Hyaluronic one instead. I hope this variant will be just as impressive.

I have another beauty haul arriving in a few weeks. Should I take my sister's lead and konmari my husband's stuff as well? :)

Pucker Up! | Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense.

If you're an avid fan of Korean dramas, then you probably know what 'PPL' or 'product placement' is. It's a marketing technique which strategically features brand logos in a particular scene, or shows the characters in the drama using the product. Sometimes subtle, but oftentimes not, PPL has become a norm in Korean dramas; the more popular the drama is, the more PPLs are inserted in it.

I fell for these PPLs several times in the past, and thanks to these Korean dramas, I've bought all sort of stuff - lipsticks, cushions, sheet masks, perfume, plush dolls... Heck, I would even have pizza or fried chicken delivered to our flat (in Seoul) because my favorite Hallyu stars were endorsing them, lol!

The latest PPLs that I fell prey to were the ones shown in Memories of the Alhambra. You see, I've come across these Creamy Tint Color Balms countless of times in Myeongdong and Sinsadong, but never really paid much attention to them. I did swatch a few shades, but purchase them I did not. Then came Memories of the Alhambra with scenes of Park Shin Hye gliding them color balms on her lips, and I was like, "Freeeaaaak! Why did I not buy those while I was in Seoul???" 

Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense, Php 390 each on Althea.

Thankfully, these lippies are sold in Althea, and I bought two out of the seven shades that were listed on their site. That's just a fraction of the entire Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense line, which has a whopping selection of 27 shades!

Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense.

A crayon-type lip product, the Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense has the vivid color of lipstick and the creamy texture of a lip balm. It's formulated with jojoba extract to moisturize and smoothen the lips, and green tea seed oil to protect the lips from external pollutants and free radical damage. It also contains a special powder ingredient which provides this product with a soft, smooth, glide-on texture.

Twist-up lip crayon.

The shades that I got were #21 Red Soul and #22 Dandy Coral. The former is a muted brown-red shade, while the latter is a coral-based peach.

Shade reference on the top flap of the box.

Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense #21 Red Soul.

Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense #22 Dandy Coral.

Both shades are nicely pigmented, have a smooth, velvety texture, and a true matte finish. Although these Creamy Tint Color Balms do not have that slick, buttery feel when you glide them on the lips, they're very easy to apply, and you only need to swipe them once or twice for the color to pop.

Crayon-type lip product.

Twist the bottom part to expose the tip of the product.

They're non-drying, and your lips won't feel parched even after hours of wear. They don't accentuate fine lines either, despite settling down to a flat matte finish. Do note, however, that I have a regimen which keeps my lips from looking or feeling dry. If you have dry, flaky lips, I suggest you exfoliate and moisturize properly before and after using matte lip products.

#22 Dandy Coral on top, #21 Red Soul on the bottom.

Swatched: #21 Red Soul on the left, #22 Dandy Coral on the right.

For a 'lip balm', these products are surprisingly long-wearing. The colors stay put for hours (especially if you wear them full lip), and can survive a light, non-greasy meal.

Wearing shade #22 Dandy Coral.

Wearing shade #21 Red Soul.

Most of my PPL buys have never failed me, and I'm so glad that the Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense exceeded my expectations. I have a feeling I'll be buying more of these in the (very) near future because why not? They give value for money, plus I have a few more Althea Rewards Points to spare, anyways. :)

Have you been influenced by Korean dramas (or any other TV show, for that matter) in buying something? Share your PPL story in the comments! :)

10 Instagram and Facebook Advertising Courses to Upgrade your Digital Skills.

When starting out on your journey to learn online marketing, it is easy to get disorientated with too much information and courses that are available in the market. Before you blink, many more have been added and you can’t seem to know where to get the most useful information about social media advertising so you might tend to just refrain from learning anything. The Top 10 Advertising Courses for you to be a guru in Facebook and Instagram are listed below.

It's all about Facebook and Instagram these days...

 1. What is Social? 
 It is a beginner MOOC – Massive Open Online Course made as part of 6 specialization courses by Northwestern University and offered on Coursera. You will learn all about trends on social media like Facebook, Instagram, how to state target audiences and how to analyze data. You get to test the water with the first course which is free and if you want to proceed down that path, you have to pay for the full courses. Read more here.

2. Facebook Ads: Facebook / Instagram Advertising Course 
A course on Udemy that was created by Davis Jones, Eazl Publishing and Ludell Jones. You learn all the skills you need to launch and configure advanced features for Facebook Ads. You all learn how to target Facebook users and create similar audiences with data i.e. Email list, MailChimp. It does not matter if you are a digital marketing professional or a corporate business that wants to use Facebook to manage Business ads or you are a small business owner/ entrepreneur trying to leverage Instagram or Facebook in a much better way. Once you complete 100% of the course you will a personalized Facebook for Business 2019 Certificate issued by Eazl.

 3. Facebook Blueprint 
Free resources for beginner and advanced users to learn how to successfully run ad campaigns on your Facebook business page. It was made by Blueprint eLearning and offered by Facebook. The topics covered include terminology of Facebook and its meaning, best posting strategies for Facebook and Instagram, how to optimize your Facebook and Instagram ads, how to make a high-quality business page on Facebook and improve the experience of your followers.

4. Social Media Quickstarter 
A class offered and created by Constant Contact for beginners to learn how to build a professional presence on any platform for social media. If you aren’t too sure on the right one for you or your business, you can start small with this program and you just might find the perfect social media fit. You can start any of the courses reviewed by onlineadcoursereviews.com to advance your level of digital skills and learn the ropes quickly even if you have never made ads before.

5. Introduction to Social Media Advertising 
This course is created by Buffer in conjunction with other courses offered on Skillshare at a flat monthly fee. The best part is that there is a free 2 months trial period to get access to over fifteen thousand courses before paying. This preparatory class is essential for small business, brands, marketers, freelancers, and anyone eyeing the potential of paid advertising on social media. In the end, you will be able to run your first ad campaign, bond with customers, transform clicks and views into action, and cultivate ways for the lasting success of your business.

Get social.

6. The Complete Facebook Marketing Masterclass 
The course was created by Diego Davila, who will teach you techniques and tips to take over Facebook & Instagram this 11-hour course. Training will cover how to thousands potential customers in a targeted way, how to successfully use retargeting and Pixel on Facebook and ways to earn money by marketing the right products to the right clients. As a bonus, you will also acquire strategies for advertising with Facebook videos, make powerful ads on Instagram and means to grow your followers and likes.

7. Instagram Marketing: A Step-By-Step to 10,000 Real Followers
This is a bestseller course created by Benjamin Wilson and it is majorly about marketing on Instagram. You learn how to succeed in reaching your target market/audience and get thousands of active followers on your personal or business Instagram account. Over thirteen thousand students have joined, and in four hours of committed coaching and training, you are on your way to becoming an expert on Instagram. Even if you are a rookie about advertising on social media, this course promises to make you into a guru that can start a business on Instagram or offer the services to clients.

8. The Complete Facebook Ads & Marketing Course 2018
The course is created by a Facebook guru, Suppoman and available on Udemy. Over 76 000+ students and online marketers have joined and gained skills in advertising and marketing on Facebook. You will learn how to use ads functions to promote your Facebook posts and page effectively, how 80/20 principle can be applied to the ads and strategies to make money with ads and likes on a page to make it viral. With real-life proof of strategies which works for him, you will get better at how to discover and draw the right audience to the appropriate product. You get lifetime access on TV or mobile as well as a certificate of completion when you finish the course.

9. Viral Marketing Course
Viral Marketing is the most popular buzzword likely to exist on Social Media. This course was made by the University of Pennsylvania to help people sell their ideas effectively on different social media platforms. You will be trained by Professor Jonah Berger, a knowledgeable person in the domain that will show you methods to make viral content and sticky messages while ensuring you know how to make campaigns to be shareable on social media.

10. Comprehensive Social Media Training Bootcamp
A course offered on CreativeLive to teach you the strategy and how to you can excel with it like other social media experts. Secrets, tricks and tips are shared by nine gurus from various domains of social media i.e. Instagram advertising, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook marketing, LinkedIn etc. The 13 classes run for a period of 5 days. However, you can choose to download the lessons and learn at your own pace.

After going through the high volume of resources available in the market, the list above was made with only the essential courses that you need to become a proficient marketer on social media especially Instagram and Facebook.

Spotlight | Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion.

It was around this time last year when I received the Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion as a gift from a friend who traveled to Korea. I helped her plan the entire trip - from visa application to creating a detailed itinerary for her four-day stay - and as a way of expressing her gratitude, she came home with a bagful of makeup for me, with this cushion included.

The Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion is a cushion compact that claims to have a 'buildable, non-cakey coverage with a dewy glow'. Formulated with light-reflecting pigments, this cushion brightens the complexion and makes the skin radiant. It's infused with lavender, violet, and blueberry to replenish the skin's moisture and make the skin glow from the inside out. I reckon it's this combination of purple ingredients that gives this product a mild, powdery scent.

Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion, 12000 Korean won.

Product details at the back of the box, text mostly in Hangul.

The Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion comes in a typical cushion case with a standard puff applicator. I've noticed that this purple dotted puff is a tad thicker than the usual puff applicator. It's more absorbent than other puffs that I have tried, and picks up a generous amount of cushion in one go.

How the cushion case looks like from inside.

However, that can be an issue if you're more accustomed to rubycell puffs which pick up a moderate amount of product and gives the skin a seamless, airbrushed finish. 

The purple dotted sponge.

How the cushion looks like. 

As for the shade range, this cushion gives you three options - #1 Ivory, #2 Beige, and #3 Sand. I was given the middle shade, which Peripera describes as a 'subtly radiant, natural beige'. Turns out, this shade is a bit lighter than my usual (I'm a 23 in Missha, Innisfree, and Laneige) but I was able to make it work on my skin with some good ol' setting powder. 

Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion in #2 Beige.

Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion #2 Beige when swatched.

Truth be told, I had qualms about using this cushion. I've read reviews about the Peripera Inklasting Cushions (not just this variant, but also the Pink and the Mint cushions) and most of them weren't very favorable, to say the least. Common issues were the shades being way too light, the cushion not setting well on the skin, minimal wear time, and caking after a few hours. Apparently, these are not entirely false as I have experienced some of them myself with the Lavender Cushion.

Left, without cushion. Right, with cushion.

Left, without cushion. Right, with cushion.

I thought it would be a waste to just give up on this cushion, so I tried to figure out a way to make it work on my skin. I experimented with it for an entire week, mixing and matching it with different primers and setting powders to find a combination that will make the Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion 'more wearable' in this tropical weather.

Bare skin.

• Worn on its own, no primer, no setting powder - dewy finish, cakey after 3 hours, oily T-zone after 3 hours
• Worn with setting powder, no primer - satin finish, cakey in less than 3 hours, product feels heavy on the skin as well
• Worn with primer, no setting powder - dewy finish, cakey after 4 hours, oily T-zone after 4 hours
• Worn with an illuminating makeup base and setting powder - very radiant finish, cakey in less than 4 hours, cushion looks like it's sliding off my skin
• Worn with a cushion primer and setting powder - dewy finish, minimal caking after 4 hours or so, oily T-zone after 4 hours or so
• Worn with a blur/mattifying primer and setting powder - satin finish, a bit of creasing around the corners of my eyes after 5 or 6 hours, a bit of shine on my forehead by midday.

Wearing the Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion in #2 Beige.

Yes folks, there is hope for the Inklasting Cushion which others have branded as 'the worst cushion ever'. With a mattifying primer and the right setting powder, you can make this cushion work for your skin tone and minimize the creasing or caking. 

You also need to be wary when applying the cushion because the more layers you apply, the lighter it looks on your face. Take note that this cushion has medium coverage from the get-go, and can even out your skin and cover minor blemishes with just a layer or two.

Products used:
FACE: Innisfree No Sebum Blur Primer,
Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer in Honey,
Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion in #2 Beige.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara,
Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Skinny Eyeliner in 03 Walnut Brown.
CHEEKS: Peripera Pure Blushed Velvet Cheek in #8 Appealing Dry Coral.
LIPS: Peripera Ink Airy Velvet in Elf Light Rose.

Looks like it's not the end of the road yet for the Peripera Inklasting Lavender Cushion and I. Sure, it's not holy grail material, but it's not so bad either.

Spotlight | Althea Makeup Box + Simple Makeup Tutorial.

Oh yes, you read it right! Our favorite K-beauty shopping website, Althea, now has its very own line of makeup. And if you're following me on Instagram (or in my other social pages), then you've probably got a glimpse of the new Althea exclusives.

Althea's all-new makeup line + the hanbok-inspired Lunar New Year box.

The Althea makeup line consists of an eyeshadow palette, eye glitters, concealers, and lip tints. They even included the Skin Relief Soft Film Gel in the hanbok-inspired box that they sent me, but I'll write about that in a separate post. For now, I'll just talk about the makeup products and show you how I used them.

Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer.
Shades from L-R: #01 Vanilla, #02 Ginger, #03 Honey, and #04 Mocha.

The Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer (Php 200) is an easy-to-blend concealer that covers undereye circles, blemishes, dark spots, and other skin imperfections. It has a buildable formula that gives medium to full coverage, and comes in a range of shades that can cater to different skin tones.

Swatches from L-R: #01 Vanilla, #02 Ginger, #03 Honey, and #04 Mocha.

The Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter (Php 300), as its name implies, is a glittery eye product that can be used as an eyeshadow and an eyeliner. It has a silky-smooth liquid formula which dries down to a long-wearing finish. It also comes with a precise brush for easy application.

Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter in #01 Gold Light (left) and #02 Pink Light (right).

Swatches - Gold Light (left) and Pink Light (right).

Then there's the Althea Watercolor Cream Tint (Php 260), an innovative lip product that combines the pigmentation of lipstick, the moisturizing feel of gloss, and the staying power of stain. The Althea Watercolor Cream Tint has a lightweight, buildable formula that allows you to wear the product two ways - gradient or full-on. They come in four highly-pigmented shades, each with a mild, sugary scent.

Althea Watercolor Creamy Tint.
Shades from L-R: #01 Plum Cream, #02 Strawberry Cream, #03 Peach Cream, #04 Marron Cream.

Swatches from L-R: #01 Plum Cream, #02 Strawberry Cream, #03 Peach Cream, #04 Marron Cream.

Finally, we have the Althea Eye Palette Sunrise & Moonrise BCL x Althea (Php 1780), Althea's very first eyeshadow palette. Made in collaboration with Indonesian singer, actress, and style icon Bunga Citra Lestari (more popularly known to fans as BCL), this palette contains a mix of matte, shimmery, and glittery shades. There are eight shades in total, and they're all beautifully-pigmented, long-wearing, and easy to apply. The glittery ones have a bit of fall-out though, but nothing a setting powder can't handle.

Althea Eye Palette Sunrise & Moonrise BCL x Althea.
Shades have no names, but the ones on top are numbered 1-4,
while the ones on the bottom are numbered 5-8.

Swatches: Shade number 1 on the bottom, shade number 8 on the top.

And now for my quick makeup tutorial. Keep in mind that I'm no makeup artist, so please bear with my so-called skills, lol.

Using the Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer in shade #03 Honey.

After my morning skincare routine (and yes, that includes sunscreen), I applied a primer first, followed by a layer of cushion, and then the Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer. I dotted it along my undereye area and blended it using a beauty sponge. I also used the concealer to cover the tiny red patches on the side of my nose. Once I've blended the concealer in the 'troubled areas' of my face, I applied the Althea Petal Velvet Powder in Pink Lavender to set everything in.

How it looks like after blending. 

Ideally, the next step would be to groom, line, and fill in your brows. But because I'm weird (lol), I usually apply eyeshadow first, then work on my brows after. The shades with arrows on the right are the ones that I used for my simple, daytime look. 

Shade number to cover the entire lids, shade number 3 as the main shade,
and shade number 5 on the crease and outer V.

I applied the matte beige shade number 2 on my entire lid and used the metallic rose gold shade number 3 as the main color on my lids. To add depth and dimension, I used the shimmery golden brown shade number 5 on my crease and outer V.

Using shades number 2, 3, and 5 for this look.

To complete my eye makeup, I applied black eyeliner on my upper lashline, a bit of the Gold Light Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter on my water line, and mascara on my lashes. Then I worked on my brows, which is usually the most time-consuming step of my makeup routine.

On my lips - the Althea Watercolor Cream Tint in #03 Peach Cream.

I then used a dusty pink blush on my cheeks and the Althea Water Color Cream Tint in Peach Cream on my lips.  

My daytime/Valentines look using Althea makeup.

Ta-daaa! This is the final look. :)

My daytime/Valentine look using Althea makeup.

It was such a joy working with all these products from Althea's exclusive makeup line. I love playing with the colors on the palette, and now I'm wearing eyeshadow almost everyday - well, for this week, at least. :)

You can purchase all the products featured in this post on the Althea website. There's a storewide sale going on right now, because it's Valentine's Day. We don't normally celebrate this occasion (I'm the scrooge of Valentine's Day, lol), but I hope you all have a Happy Hearts Day! :)