Here's Why Instagram Is The New Social Superpower

The giant himself.

We live in a busy world where technology seems to be our best ally. Even though we are drowning in social platforms and new apps that are being developed every day, there are a few platforms that remain "Social Superpowers" as I like to call them. In a time when there are hundreds of copies made of a new app every week, some of them hold their own by following some simple rules, mainly one rule: UX. I think the user experience is one of the most important factors in creating anything that is meant to be used by everyone in the world, since ultimately the users have the power to make or break it. 

So in the arena of Twitter and Facebook, comes Instagram. One of the fastest growing giants of them all, with over 400 million monthly users it surpasses even Twitter. So let's get to it, what is this undisputable's giants secret?
The first reason Instagram is so popular is that it's very user friendly. The interface was created for the every day user. The upload process, the profile settings and even following new profiles is easier than ever.
Then there's brand awareness. While we may not like to admit it we are influenced by society and marketing. Recommendations and advertisements play an important factor in our decision making process. We follow what others do and try new things based on what we see.
The 3rd reason is the freedom it provides. No longer are photographers defined by professional camera's and the technical details. With one smartphone users become 21st century photojournalists. Sharing their view of life and stories with their followers, not unlike a photographer does at an art gallery, turning Instagram into their showing room and followers into their captive audience.
The 4th reason are the number of edit settings. No longer do users have to turn to Photoshop or Illustrater to make their pictures perfect. Instagram offers a wide variety of filters as well as individual edit options to fix everything from lighting to contrast. Giving every day people the chance to be recognised among the best.
The 5th reason are the opportunities it creates. With high quality content comes opportunity. Companies often enter partnerships with Instagrammers that have a big following to promote their services or products. Giving marketers access to a new and real audience and Instagrammers the chance to make a living by doing what they love.

So there you have it, Instagram came - gave users what they wanted - and secured it's place among the giants of today's social media platforms.
Geek out!

8 Songs to Change Your Life

Music will change your life.

Though I have said many times that, for me at least, coffee makes the world go 'round I also believe music plays a big part in that. That's probably one of the reasons my headphones are permanently attached to me, ha ha. So without further ado, here are 8 songs that will change your life!
The first one is the "current obsession", the one song that you can listen to on repeat all day without getting sick of it. For me at the moment that song is by Aron Wright - I Surrender. It was recently featured on Grey's Anatomy and ever since then it has found it's way into my heart and head. It's one of those songs that brings you the classic tale of hurt and hope.
Next up is the "love song", that will always make you think of someone you love or have loved deeply. I bring you: James Bay - Scars. His raspy voice makes even your fingertips tingly and your heart ache for days long past.
There's the "apology song" that lists a lot of regrets for past wrong doings and makes even the best of us think twice about our past actions. City and Colour - The Girl perfectly sums up the sacrifices others make for us and the regret of not appreciating them more for it.
Hozier - Take Me To Church brings us the "brave song", the one song that while discussing current social issues also makes you want to be brave. All about silenced screams it is pushed through by one of the best voices of our time.
The "declaration song" comes from The Lumineers - Ho Hey. A short upbeat song that simply states a desire to be with someone.
OneRepublic - I Lived is one heck of a "party song"! While it might start out slow, it propels you into a dancing mood within seconds!
For the days that you feel like crawling under your blankets, shutting the blinds and never leaving your bed again, I give you the "comfort song" The Civil Wars - Dust to Dust. It will match your mood while silently comforting you with the softness of Joy Williams and John Paul White's voices.
Finally, the "guilty pleasure song" is that one song you know you like and makes you smile but you're too afraid to share with anyone. Walk the Moon - Shut Up and Dance always manages to lift my spirits, ha ha!
There are many more songs that can replace the ones I mentioned above and make our life just a little bit better, sadly I can't list them all or we would never get through this article, ha ha. For every part of our life there is a song that will either help us through it or make it even better and match our happiness. So dive in and enjoy the music.
Geek out!

How to Survive Rainy Days

Coffee? Yes please!

While I love rainy days as much as the next person, that is permanently attached to a fuzzy blanket and lost in her Netflix queue, I do think that a full week of rainy days is a bit much. Luckily I have a few tips on how to get through one of those weeks.
The first step, and maybe the most important one, is to always have hot drinks around. Be it coffee for the caffeine addicts or tea for the bookworms. Next on the list is making sure you're dressed warm enough. My favourite choices usually include an oversized sweater with some warm leggings and comfy boots. In case you're lucky and happen to have a few days off from work then it's fuzzy pajamas all the way!
While these are all important another thing to not forget are headphones and a good playlist. You can't get through a rainy day without music *you can't really get through any day without music, or is that just me?*. If you're at home order some great food, get under the blankets and just watch movies all day. There's no better therapy than movie therapy.
Now if you have to actually be productive, shutting the blinds might just save you from wasting time at work and not completing your projects. I always get distracted by the sound of the raindrops on the windowsill, so I tend to stay away from windows. Just stick to your desk and focus on your work, try and distract yourself with funny memes or reading the latest news from around the world, get lost in a great article about new marketing strategies or look at travel websites and plan a vacation, or go searching for some cool tutorials, just find stuff that takes your mind of the horrible weather outside. And don't go falling into a seasonal depression thinking about how life is unfair and start remembering all the things that went wrong in your life so far. That won't help anyone, neither you nor your colleagues who will probably be wondering why you're on the floor rolled up as a ball crying your eyes out. Instead turn your office into a music filled hangout and get to work!

Valentine's Day Aftermath

Tulips and coffee sound perfect to me.

Well, here it is. Monday morning, the 15th of February, also known as the day after Valentine's day. This day has become one of the most popular and commercially profitable days of the year. Advertisers unite to create some of the most heart warming and tear-jerking commercials, that advertise the importance of getting the perfect gift, making the right restaurant reservation and all the other details that make up the perfect valentine's day celebration. They have infiltrated everything, starting with the flowers and ending with the clothes you wear. 

Now you might say: well wait a minute, aren't you being a bit harsh? Or cynical?
All I can say is, in my eyes this isn't a real holiday. Not in the traditional way at least. It just makes people crazy, puts unwanted pressure on relationships and, with the help of the formerly mentioned advertisers, creates unrealistic expectations.
I mean come on, people nowadays will not be happy with just getting some beautiful flowers unless they have a hidden Tiffany box in the bouquet. Limits have to be pushed and new ones created. What's next? Buying a puppy that delivers the flower bouquet with the hidden Tiffany box?
Celebrating love should be simple, classic and elegant. Not this over the top circus like event. But then again, that's just my opinion. Though, I have to give it up to the marketing world, they sure created a massively productive beast turning Valentine's day into a brand that dominates the film and business industry while taking over the online world for a few days a year.

There are of course the people that chose to celebrate in a more modest way, Netflix and food! Flowers are always welcome of course. Yep, you guessed it, that's how this blogger spent last Sunday and I have to say, it was like a mini vacation and I loved every minute of it. Let me know what your thoughts are on this beloved holiday and how you spent it. Gear up for a new week with some good reading materials and coffee of course. 

Geek out! 

Why I Love Fridays (And You Should Too)

Cozy weekend it is!

Oh how I love Fridays! It always seems to come at the exact time you need it to and it always brings friends: Saturday & Sunday. How great is that! I always get excited on Fridays, there's all these possibilities of what I could do in the days to come, adventures or spending time with friends and family, or inventing a time machine, travelling to far away galaxies, befriending a polar bear .. wait, I might have gotten lost here a bit. Anyway, the sad truth is I usually end up sleeping in late and staying in my pajamas all weekend if possible. Not sure if that's sad or just really awesome.
So yes, I love Fridays is what I wanted to say. What I don't love is waking up at 7AM but we all have to make sacrifices I guess. Wow, I might get some backlash on that one, but hey, I'm feeling adventurous for some reason today so I'll go with it, ha ha.
Seriously though, I think everyone loves a good Friday you know the type I mean. You get to work early so you can go home at a reasonable hour, your coffee turns out just right, you find a great song that sets the mood for the rest of the day and not to toot your own horn but you packed a pretty darn good lunch. So basically all is in place for you to have a smooth and easy going day so you start making plans for the weekend *well you guys, I already have mine, Netflix and bed, oh and food! God, I almost forgot about the food, ha ha*.
In any case, no matter what you choose to do come the weekend, the point is Friday got you there, it got you to the door that opens possibilities and gave you a two day gift. I consider that some kick ass gate keeping skills. So I'm pretty sure you all agree with me when I say Friday deserves to be loved and awaited. So join me in celebrating the fact that tomorrow the weekend starts and come get your dance on! Speaking of dancing, here's a song perfect for our celebratory dance party - Shut up and dance by Walk the Moon.
Geek out!

How to Beat the Monday Blues

Coffee should be hot and foamy.

Since we are all trapped in an eternal loop destined to repeat itself, we have arrived at that point again where the bad began. You guessed it, it's Monday! And as you might know by now, I'm not a big fan of Mondays, partly because I wish weekends were longer so I could have one more day of laziness and partly because usually everything that can go wrong, goes wrong on a Monday. Besides, everyone is sleepy and moody and usually the best escape is to put on those headphones and try to get through the day without starting world war three with your friends. Anyone else in the same metaphorical boat with me?
Anyway where were we? Ah yes, the famous Monday blues. Nothing left but try and survive it, so here are my tips on how to do so. First of all, start the day happy = CHOCOLATE! You heard me, forget about your diet and just help yourself out. Next is coffee, no brainer really, this one is essential! Once you have that there is nothing else to do but to hunt down your headphones and look for the appropriate songs. I believe there are two types of scenarios that can happen, you start listening to some happy-pop-dance inducing song, or you go down the path of City and Colour or Thirty Seconds to Mars or James Bay.
Sadly I can't help you with the former, but I can with the latter. So here are some of my favourite songs that usually either get me out of the blues or help me survive it. Walking on Cars - Catch me if you can, now this one is also my ringtone, so it had to be my first choice. Just give it a chance and I'm pretty sure it will find it's way into your playlist. Then there's also City and Colour - The Girl, Casting Crowns - Broken Together , Above & Beyond - Little Something, Kodaline - High Hopes  and let's not forget The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather. Also, if you're really down there's always Breaking Benjamin - Ashes of Eden!
Those are just a few, but they will help you tune everything out for a bit, until you are properly caffeinated and ready to join the real world. That's mostly all I got, just take it song by song and sip your delicious coffee. Also, if you have a gaming room at your company, spend some time there, gaming always helps! Don't worry, Monday will be over in no time. Let me know what some of your tips are on how to beat the Monday blues. Hang in there.
Geek out!