By Vanessa Paredes
The subscription service model is simple; pay a monthly or yearly fee and get continuous services or product(s) in return. Companies like Birchbox spearheaded the subscription biz boom in the early twenty-tens and the rest is history.
Today, millions of Americas are happily subscribed to a box or five, which comes as no surprise considering the nation’s lust for the following three things: fast, convenient, and app-enabled.
With over 1,000 subscription boxes and tons of other services now available, it might be difficult to sift through the melee and figure out which ones are truly adding value to your life.
I have personally tried quite a few of them myself, and I can assure you that the following seven services are worth a try.
Harry’s
Harry’s is a no brainer for those who happen to grow hair on their bodies. Yes, that includes women. This service offers a variety of “shave plans” depending on how often you need to shave, and it is a lot more affordable than buying over-priced razors at the drugstore all the time.
Bonus: the razors themselves are beautifully designed and the blades boast a clean shave every time.
Blue Apron
Wrap up the weekend with a pita full of all the best Greek and Middle Eastern ingredients!
A photo posted by Blue Apron (@blueapron) on
Throw on your apron and get ready to cook like a pro. This food subscription box might give you sticker shock at first ($59.94 a week). But when you start breaking it down, it makes sense.
You get 3 meals a week for two people, meaning each meal is under $10 per person.
If you happen to already be eating out or going to the grocery store regularly, chances are you spend more than that already without reaping the Blue Apron benefits: fresh pre-portioned ingredients delivered to you weekly that actually teach you how to cook like a chef.
Amazon Prime
Prime may not be actual subscription box, but the benefits of having a membership are so rewarding that it had to be included in the list. Not only is two day free shipping a complete lifesaver for last minute gifts, but you also get tons of free movies and shows as well as access to Amazon Pantry and Amazon Now which will eliminate the need to drive to a store ever again.
Class Pass
Jumping for joy to have an extra day this year! #leapday #leapyear Studio: @bounceinc
A photo posted by ClassPass (@classpass) on
Its not all about making life easier, sometimes is about making life healthier. If you are looking for a subscription service that gives you the most bang for your buck, class pass is the way to go. It allows member to attend unlimited fitness classes a month, with options ranging from Yoga, to Spinning, to Zumba all over your respective city.
Trunk Club
In a way this is a free subscription service for men who hate going to the mall. How it works: you receive a “trunk” filled with clothes, belts and shoes in your size and style to then try on. Pay for what you want to keep and return the rest. It’s pretty simple and awfully convenient.
Birchbox
A photo posted by birchbox (@birchbox) on
Makeup junkies rejoice, Birchbox is a super affordable way to try top of the line products and decide which ones are worth the purchase. Shopping for cosmetics can get tricky when you aren’t sure how certain products will affect your skin or look throughout the day. Birchbox saves the day by letting you try a gamut of items every month for only $10. Plus, you can take these minis with you when you travel as an added benefit.
Netflix
If you are looking to make your life easier by saving money and you haven’t cut the cord already, you need to listen up: stop paying for cable and switch to Netflix. The streaming service is a respectable replacement for that little black box costing you a fortune in your living room.
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Your Grass Lawn Is Literally Killing Earth
By Alexandra Del Canto
When thinking of a front yard, the first thing many of us envision is a carpet of green grass.
Lush lawns do not occur naturally, therefore a healthy lawn does not happen without much effort from the owner. But what started this craze about homes needing a front lawn?
Lawns originate back to the aristocratic times of the early 18th century. Lawns were a sign of wealth and were popular as the climate was conducive to growing them in the United Kingdom. The trend was adapted throughout history over and over again, although many would argue that owning a lawn is actually hurting the planet.
Why?
Well, the EPA estimates that 30-60% of fresh water is used for watering lawns.
Just as certain species of plants do not thrive in particular areas, lawns do not thrive well in certain areas as well. This can mean that depending on the location, lawns may need extra water and certain pesticides to keep them lush and growing.
Both of these elements are detrimental to the environment. On top of the extreme use of water and pesticides, mowers that maintain the lawns emit a large amount of pollutants. The EPA estimates 580 million gallons of gasoline are used for lawnmowers annually.
Hey nice lawn, Earth killers. Photo Credit: Alex Del Canto
With severe on going droughts in many part of the world, why are we continuing to waste our natural resources on maintaining a piece of aesthetic and modern comfort?
In many areas, as well as South Florida (where Rise News is headquartered), not “properly maintaining” a lawn is punishable by law. But what if you wish to not have a lawn at all, so you do not have to use the resources to maintain it?
In most areas of South Florida, that’s not okay either, you must maintain a certain amount of lawn on your property.
Here’s an example from the Broward County Code:
(Article VIII, “Landscaping for Protection of Water Quality and Quantity,”):
“For the purpose of this article, native vegetation shall consist of those plant species indigenous to the ecological communities of South Florida, as indicated on lists provided by Broward County. The remainder of the required landscape area shall be landscaped with turfgrass..”
Why is there such an emphasis on growing lawns rather than maintaining native vegetation? The most practical use of personal land would be to benefit the environment and it’s inhabitants. The use of land for growing food rather than lawns should be encouraged rather than discouraged. Think of the consequences of keeping a lawn and the alternative uses of potential space. Besides, beauty is only blade deep.
This article was original published on www.risemiaminews.com.
Cover Photo Credit: Alexandra Del Canto/RISE NEWS
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Meet Nashville’s Very Own Vegas Showgirl And Potential Breakout Star: Sierra Black
Sierra Black has been gambling since she was 6 years old.
Now she’s gambling on a future as a country music recording star, which looks bright after recording her debut album in Nashville.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Black is now on the road promoting her debut single, “Heart On Ice”, to radio stations.
“I immediately fell in love with it when I heard the first verse,” Black said of “Heart On Ice”, a song written back in 2002.
On the up-tempo country song, she sings: “Flying 90 miles an hour down a dusty road, pushing this thing to just see how fast this thing will go; engine hot enough to burn up the fuzzy dice; I better put my Heart On Ice.”
Black finds herself on her debut single preaching to the choir about “having to step back and cool off” when hot in love.
Read More: Up And Coming Country Star Mitchell Tenpenny Is Proving Nashville’s Relevancy
Black, who is 22, fondly remembers how her father sparked her love of country music at age 6 when he used to play guitar and sing Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash songs to her.
Sierra’s love of music didn’t just originate with her father though. Her grandmother was Babette DeCastro, one of the members in the trio, DeCastro Sisters, who were famous for their 1954 top Billboard hit “Teach me Tonight.”
Unfortunately, her grandmother never got the chance to hear Sierra sing because she passed away before Sierra was born in 1992.
WATCH: Sierra Black’s “Heart On Ice”
Sierra proudly wears her grandma’s necklace to keep her close to her. Interestingly enough, her grandmother provided the voices to the animals, including the butterflies, in Disney’s animated film Song of the South.
Sierra has been playing around with music ever since she can remember.
As a young girl, she would put on her own stage shows, alone, in her bedroom.
Fluent in Spanish, she could sing “El Paso” by heart by age 7.
She wrote her first song at the age of 12.
Her first break came when Keith Urban handpicked her out of 14,000 contestants to sing alongside him at a music festival.
“I wasn’t nervous meeting him or singing with him but the experience was surreal,” Black said of singing with Urban.
Sierra Black (R) singing with Keith Urban. Photo Credit: Sierra Black/ Facebook.
Chalking up her lack of nerves and comfort singing on stage to being an “old soul”, Black is determined to take the country scene like a dust storm.
And unlike many other young stars, Black actually has some chops in writing songs as well.
“I start with the title first and then the lyrics come to me,” Black said of her songwriting process that eventually leads to a melody.
With a bit of luck, Black eventually found herself in Nashville working with Grammy award winning producers Michael Omartian (who has worked with Donna Summer and Trisha Yearwood) and Tom Hemby (who has worked with Faith Hill and Bebe & Cece Winans).
Read More: New Jersey Girl Lacey Caroline Tries To Break Into Country Music Scene
She was recruited from Vegas after someone at one of her live shows caught wind of her voice. One thing led to another, and she was flown out to Nashville for back-to-back meetings with the producers.
“It’s been a bit of talent and luck and being in the right place at the right time,” Black said of the events that’s led to her rise.
Black after a radio interview. Photo Credit: Sierra Black/ Facebook.
Black’s promotional single, “Casino”, was her first release to iTunes and will also be featured on her debut album.
Lyrically, the song is a metaphor for love where Black says, “Sometimes you win in the game of love and sometimes you lose.”
On this ballad, she sings: “Like a coin I was tossed into a wishing fountain. I was only one of a 1,000 looking for a little fortune,” and further laments that her heart is like money a lover blows with “I was a card you were using and a trick that you were good at playing. Luck didn’t build up the Monte Carlo just like love never promised tomorrow.”
WATCH: Sierra Black sings “Casino”
Black describes her sound as “twang with a slap of gospel.“ Like a true Vegas Show Queen, she laughs, “you can never have enough rhinestones.” Hoping to have a show like Shania Twain in distant future, she is now hoping for a duet with Jason Aldean in the near future. She has already opened up for Joe Nichols and Uncle Kracker to name a few.
She is not hoping to hit the jackpot with slot machines but instead with her music. What is truly special about both of her songs, “Heart on Ice” and “Casino”, is that they do something that most songs in the music business fail to do. Both songs brilliantly forfeit a clunky bridge and offer a seamless melody to sing along to.
The music is already there. As long as she doesn’t forget her bedazzler at home, Sierra Black will surely be able to forge her own luck and have a long career in the business.
Sierra Black is on a radio tour promoting “Heart On Ice”. You can find it along with her promotional single, “Casino”, on iTunes. Look out for her self-titled debut album in the Spring. And don’t forget to request “Heart On Ice” on your local radio stations.
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. You can write for us!
Cover Photo Credit: Submitted
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FIU Cancels Meeting With North Miami Councilman So Lawyers Can Attend
What’s News In This Story?
-A meeting between a North Miami City Councilman and a high ranking FIU official was canceled after the university requested that lawyers be present to prevent “misunderstandings” between the two sides.
-Councilman Scott Galvin and FIU Vice President for Government Affairs Michelle Palacio planned to meet at Galvin’s work office in Overtown to discuss the Arch Creek East Environment Preserve situation.
-Palacio canceled the meeting in a email to Galvin on late Tuesday night.
From Palacio’s email to Galvin:
“…you have stated publicly that you are exploring legal options against FIU. To avoid any further misunderstandings, I would like to postpone tomorrow’s meeting and ask that it be rescheduled to a future date, in City Hall, and that the City Manager, the City Attorney and an FIU attorney attend as well. As always, we’ll be glad to meet with you and your fellow City officials.”
-Galvin said during a protest last Saturday that North Miami was actively at looking at legal remedies to stop FIU from building a road through the preserve.
North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin speaks to gathered protestors during an anti-FIU event on Saturday. Photo: RISE NEWS
-Galvin told RISE NEWS that he thought the meeting was going to be an informal way to air out differences between the city and FIU. Now, he doesn’t think the meeting will happen.
Galvin also told RISE NEWS:
“…having attorneys present turns it into a deposition and ruins much chance for progress. Putting a caveat like that on a meeting probably means it won’t happen. Even our respective attorneys would likely advise we not attend it.”
-Galvin has been the most vocal city leader in opposition to FIU’s plan to reopen a road through the preserve.
-FIU claims that the road, which will open a second entrance to their North Campus via 135th St, is needed for student safety.
–The city of North Miami has opposed the plan for years because they say it would damage the preserve.
–FIU spokesperson Maydel Santana said that the university intends to meet with the appropriate North Miami city officials and “will reach out to the residents at the appropriate time.”
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