Azura Magazine is offering all registered non-profit organisations the opportunity to advertise for free in our monthly magazine. Each month we will be giving two ad slots, one page each, to two different non-profit organisations. We understand how hard it is to have your voice heard, so we are giving you a platform to advertise your cause.

This is not limited by geographic region, so don’t be discouraged!. To take advantage of this offer you must complete the application here with proof that you are a registered non-profit/charitable organisation. Your portfolio should be a concise piece of literature that defines your organisation and its activities. This is just a document that should detail what you have done so far and what it is that your non-profit does.

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Traveling to a different time zone can be exciting – and it can take some getting used to. Depending on how far you travel, the difference in how your body responds literally could be night and day. That’s why frequent travelers often have to deal with jet lag. The most common symptoms of jet lag are sleepiness during the day and wakefulness, often with insomnia, at night, headache, and stomach upset.

Here are a few ways that may help

Several days before your trip, gradually adjust your sleeping habits to the time zone of your destination.

As soon as you board your flight, reset your watch for the new time zone.

While on board, try not to sleep too much.

Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration makes it harder for your body to adjust to the new rhythm.

If you feel the need to nap right after you arrive, limit it to 2 hours.

Try taking melatonin. This hormone can help you reset your body’s internal clock so you can fall asleep at the right time. Take a dose before bedtime at your destination every night until you adjust.

Daylight can help reset your internal clock. Try getting some exercise outdoors, like a brisk walk, as soon as you get up in the morning.

Don’t drink too much caffeine or alcohol, and avoid tobacco.

Try to keep yourself busy and engaged with other people.

Practice good sleep habits while you’re away.

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Our cover is an intentional piece of art. In keeping with the modernity of the publication, each image depicted is in digital vivacity. The inspiration behind the cover of each issue draws directly from the month’s theme. The overarching motif facilitates the creation and curation of of specific materials for each month.

Magazines are a visual medium; they are meant to excite the optics. Like the composite pieces written each month, our covers shows a combination of a literal and abstract interpretation of the theme.

Our first issue, The Sky Issue, is exemplary of what Azura embodies as a publication – a sleek, stylish and modern perspective on subjects of interest. The issue was themed after the sky, taking inspiration from our name. The cover features a simplistic illustration, combining colours that make each element stand out.

Our second issue, The Creators’ Issue, is about the invention. The cover depicts the explosion of ideas that we get once we are inspired – the chaotic detonation of an abstract concept that is yet to be fulfilled. A recurring element throughout the issue is “creation is the hobby of man”.

Our third issue, The Fever Issue, draws from the phrase “living in a fever dream”. If you’ve ever had a fever dream, then you will understand the warped perception of concepts that dance throughout your mind. If you haven’t, then you will after reading this issue.

Our fourth issue, The Hot Issue, is the personification of what is hot, exhilarating and fun. What exactly is hot? Well, anything from relative temperature to trendiness to flavour, and you can take comfort that it is covered here in this issue.

Our fifth issue represents the brilliance we hold within ourselves and towards our lives. Symbolic of an “enlightened” way of living, the lightbulb that graces this issue’s cover is the most fitting representation of illumination.

Our sixth issue, The Monster Issue, is all about grandiosity and imagination. What is a monster, if not something large and mystifying? How do we channel that? Our cover for the October issue is a crimson landscape – one that can be treacherous, but rewarding once defeated.

Colds are considered a mild illness in comparison to flus because their symptoms are easier to decipher and battle. A cold/ will give you a runny nose, sore throat or watery eyes, while the flu won’t let you get out of bed, makes you ache from top to toe and gives you a severe headache”. Whether you catch a cold or the flu it is important to know what we need to do to keep our bodies away from sickness.

To understand how to help keep our immune system strong and healthy, follow these tips through the acronym “ARMOUR”:

A – Always exercise regularly.

This is crucial as physical activities may help release bacteria out of your lungs and airways, reducing your chances of getting a cold or flu.

R- Remember to take an immune boosting supplement.

Reishi and Shiitake mushrooms are known to enhance immunity and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen vitality. Reishi and shiitake supplements help keep your immune system strong and healthy, and assists with immune cells to work more efficiently even under stress.

M- Must get enough sleep every day.

Lack of sleep can cause an impaired immune system. Sleep is one of the key factors that help keep immune cells healthy that our body needs to fight sickness.

O- Over analysing everything will only lead to stress, so do your best to avoid it.

Stress weakens the immune system and can lead to chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

U- Understand the importance of getting regular medical check-ups.
Visiting the doctor regularly for an annual check-up will keep you updated on the health status of your body. Medical check-ups will show what your body is lacking and help you make an informed decision to address any potential health concern.

R- Remember to eat a healthy diet filled with fruits, veggies and whole grains.

Eating the right food with a balance of all essential vitamins and minerals will help keep our immune system strong and healthy.

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While we aren’t prone to playing favorites, there’s one room style that makes our design hearts burst every time: an all-white interior. While in theory, a bleached-out space should be stark and cold, the visual reality tells a very different story. A milky-hued foundation is the perfect blank canvas for creating a striking space that never gets old. Have you ever seen a white room you didn’t like? We thought not. But there is an art to making it look this effortless.

Scandinavian interiors have been the single biggest trend of the last few years. These schemes maximise light and space, with a pared-back neutral palette of cool whites, blonde wood and minimalist furnishing.

For a glamorous modern twist on traditional all white schemes no one does it better than the French – look to interior designers Maison Hand, Jean-Louis Deniot or Joseph Dirand.

The latest trend for white interiors is a textural, layered look. Shaggy Moroccan rugs, thick knitted blankets, linen sofas and striking artwork can create the perfect place to relax.

White works just as well for minimalists or maximalists – whether you want to achieve chic understatement or give the perfect blank canvas to display a collection of beloved furnishings and artwork.

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Using neuromarketing, you can rethink your strategies and create smarter marketing that will boost the effectiveness of your efforts. The goal of it is to understand how your customer’s brain actually works and what affects your marketing will have on the population of consumers.

Brands such as Campbell’s Soup, Gerber, and Frito-Lay have used neuromarketing to restyle their packaging designs. In these instances, consumers were exposed to a product’s packaging piece by piece, and their response was recorded as positive, neutral, or negative. This information was then used in conjunction with an in-depth interview to analyze specific points that eventually resulted in changes to elements such as color, text size, and imagery.

Use Simple Fonts to Encourage Action

For years, many of us have been told to “keep it simple,” well, experiments completed by Hyunjin Song and Norbert Schwarz at the University of Michigan show that consumers truly can be affected by simple vs. complex fonts. This goes without saying for all website related content, including forms. Instructions for the form fill should be in an easy to read font and simplified as much as possible. The harder something is to do, the more friction it creates, and the less likely people will be to take action.

Make Consumers Remember with Complex Fonts

While simplifying and easy to read fonts can help consumers take action with instructions, memory recall is boosted with a complex font. Be careful though! This doesn’t mean you should use a complex font for your logo, phone number, or tag line. Use this tactic for important information throughout your web copy only. A complex font will not only be more memorable, but grab more attention visually.

Use Gaze to Direct Attention

If you are using an image of a person or even an animal, take a look at their eyes.

In his research, he found that people will look at what the person in the ad is looking at. So, be sure to direct the face in your ad to look at what you’d like the viewer to focus on.

Gain Trust

Trust is very important when it comes to getting referrals and building a credible business.

Get Personal

Many marketers rely on stock photography in order to “personalize” their website.

This could be a quick way to show personality and “humanize” the brand but what should be considered when selecting the best option?

Choose the smiling photo over the serious business man. Studies show from marketing research that a “mood boosting” image can affect customers’ willingness to spend.

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Not only are copper pots and pans attractive in the kitchen, but copper is an excellent conductor of heat and very good for top-of-range cooking. Cooks often use copper pots and pans to prepare delicate sauces and dishes that need to be prepared at strictly controlled temperatures. Copper pots and pans are usually lined with tin or stainless steel so the consumer doesn’t need to be concerned with copper toxicity. Excellent heat conduction can be maintained through the lining.

Copper is an essential trace mineral in all body tissues. Copper and iron help form red blood cells. Copper also helps to keep your blood vessels, nerves, immune system and bones healthy. Copper is found naturally in certain types of shellfish, whole grains, potatoes, dried fruit and dark leafy greens. Most people get enough copper in their daily diets. The specific amount of copper needed daily depends on your age, gender and health situation. Copper in large amounts is poisonous, though a specific toxic amount has not been determined.

Is it Safe?

Copper pots that are lined with materials like tin and stainless steel can protect you from potential toxicity related to copper. The metal is easily dissolved by some foods and large amounts can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. According to the Food and Drug Administration, acidic foods cause copper on unprotected cookware to dissolve into foods. If you use unprotected copper-lined pots and pans, research the acidity of certain foods.

How to Care?

To increase the look and longevity of your copper cookware, read the care and use instructions that come with the products. Use an anti-tarnish cream to clean the copper finish on your cookware. Don’t use abrasive cleaners like oven cleaners or baking soda, as these may damage the copper finish. Allow your cookware to cool before cleaning to prevent warping.

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Oxfords are not always Brogues though they sometimes are and Brogues are not always Oxfords though some of them can be. It is the lacing system and the absence or presence of broguing that is the differentiating feature.   To Americans the shoes described in the article are more familiar as Balmorals or ‘Bal- type’ while to the English they are known as Oxfords. To the English, the Balmoral is an entirely different shoe (a particular type of oxford with no seams, apart from the toe cap seam, descending to the welt). In this guide, we use Oxford the traditional, English way.

Plain Oxford

The plain Oxford basically consists of the quarter and the vamp. It features neither a leather cap over the toe box nor does it have  broguing. This style is simple yet elegant; black is  the number one choice for evening shoes, and patent leather for black tie and white tie.

Cap Toe Oxford

The cap toe Oxford, sometimes also referred to as captoe or cap-toe,  is probably the most widespread Oxford shoe style in existence. The most popular color is undoubtedly black, and the black cap toe Oxford is the most popular shoe for the majority of classic men’s shoe manufacturers. Of course, it is also available in tan, brown, cognac, oxblood, etc., but the black variety is the epitome of Oxford shoes.

Wingtip Oxford / Brogue

The Wingtip Oxford has a pointed toe cap with extensions called wingtips which extend along both sides of the shoe.  Although technically an Oxford, it is generally referred to as a Brogue. When seen from above the cap is shaped like a ‘W’ or a ‘M’ depending on the viewpoint. This style is considered a bit more casual than the Cap Toe.

Saddle Oxford

These oxfords lack any kind of toe caps and have an additional strip of leather that runs across the top of the middle of the shoes down to the sole (the width of the shoelace eyelets) in a contrasting color. They may or may not have heel caps in a contrasting color. Historically, it is an American style, but you can find them offered by companies all over the world.

Wholecut

This type has an upper that is cut from one single piece of leather. Usually, shoes are made from multiple pieces of leather sewn together. The wholecut oxford has the distinctive closed lacing system and this along with the single piece construction gives it an extremely clean and sleek look. It also requires more leather to make a wholecut because it generally has only one seam at the heel. It is available in all kinds of colors and is usually a bit more expensive than a cap toe or plain oxford because it requires more skill and more leather. An all black wholecut in patent leather or mirror polished calf works as an evening shoe as long as it has no broguing.

Kiltie Oxford

The Kiltie Oxford is distinguished with an additional fringed tongue hanging over the top. These shoes are no longer very common.

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While just one revolutionary idea can turn an industry on its head and brand a business as innovative, usually it is the combination of the little things that a business owner does or stops doing that brings about its ability to truly be innovative.

Ask the right question.

Anyone can ask, “How do we increase sales?” or “What do our customers want?” But, by asking variations on the common questions, you start to approach problems, issues and opportunities with a different mindset. Ask questions that challenge everyone’s thinking in new ways. Resist the urge to continue asking common questions that only produce stale ideas that have been recycled repeatedly.

Put yourself on the frontline.

When you were starting out, working on the frontline was a necessity. You wore most, if not all, of the hats. You had a front row seat to where the fulfillment of your product or service took place.

Don’t just do something, stand there.

Your work ethic and commitment to get things done is a huge contributor to the success of your business. However, all that busyness can be an obstacle when it comes to being an innovative entrepreneur.Innovative entrepreneurs regularly push back from the desk to do nothing. Actually, it isn’t “nothing” in the truest sense of the word, but they know the value of taking time to think.

Create a state of “flow.”

While it is impossible to describe all that goes into creating a state of flow here, understand that creating it resides within your ability to pursue clear goals that challenge your strengths.

There are activities that you do well and others in which you excel.

Let others use their own strengths as well.

We view the world through our own biases and experiences. As a result, we tend to think our way is the right way and in extreme cases, the only way. However, if you want to run an innovative business, you need to let others use their strengths as well.

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Energy and motivation are important parts of life. We need energy to go far, and we need motivation to work on our goals and dreams. The problem most people are facing today is that they don’t have enough energy and they lack the motivation to take action to reach their goals.

The best way to feel more energetic is to be happy. Do something that will make you smile and laugh. However, don’t overdo it because if you laugh too much, you use up too much energy and it makes you feel tired.

Drink plenty of water. Do you know that 60% of our body is made of water? Your heart and your brain consist 73% water. Thus, what makes you think you should not drink more water? Plus, drinking water also makes you feel fresh. So drink more water.

Take power naps when you have to recharge and replenish your energy a power nap is all you need. Try this and make it your routine if you want to.

Practice good posture. If you want to maintain your energy level, you must keep a positive posture. Sit straight, walk straight and act like you are energetic.

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