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Old Oak Barrels Find New Life as Furniture

"Looking at the curve of the old barrel staves, the wooden lids and the rusty rings that once held it all together, I was struck by the shapes and threw it in my pickup truck to take home and see what I could do with it," Deffenbaugh recalls.

Despite having no barrel-making experience, Deffenbaugh put the barrel back together and decided to take it a step beyond serving as an unusual table in his home. He cut out one side and turned the pieces into a bar cabinet that could store wine and liquor bottles on the deck when he had guests.

Then, when the guests started asking him to make something similar for them, he had an inspiration that led him to quit his career in human resources, draw up plans, rent a truck and head for Kentucky, returning with 90 barrels and an idea that would become The Oak Barrel Company.

The Oak Barrel Company, based in the heart of Amish country in Berlin, Ohio, takes recycling seriously. In keeping with its motto, "Reclaim, Reuse, Recreate," the company does its best to use the entire barrel, with little or nothing wasted.

Deffenbaugh learned woodworking from members of the local Amish community and contracted with several Amish craftsmen and other local woodworkers to partner with him on various phases of creating art and furniture from the components of the barrels, including the staves, lids and rings. The company has chosen to use wine barrels to create beautiful tables instead of whiskey. While whiskey barrels are very popular, they run the risk of producing a black mold if not properly cleaned, both inside and out, whereas wine barrels are already clean and do not run the risk of any mold, creating a better product in the long run.

The company's product line is always evolving and includes small benches with curved seats and legs from barrel staves as well as stools with barrel-lid seats. Also available are bistro-style, wooden-topped tables made from whole barrels, with matching chairs made from barrel components. Wine enthusiasts may appreciate the wine barrel wine rack and even the wine slate wine rack, designed to hang on the wall or sit on the counter.

All Oak Barrel Company products come with a lifetime guarantee, and many of the products can be customized with choices of stain color, type of metal fixture, and indoor or outdoor finish. The Oak Barrel team can create a custom piece in four to six weeks.

For more information visit theoakbarrelcompany.com to view some of the company's unique designs.

Create Your Own Virtual Video Memories

Humaneyes Technologies, an innovator in camera technology, has developed a consumer-friendly, dual camera that combines 360-degree photography with immersive 3D Virtual Reality (VR), all in one simple-to-use solution that costs about the same as a decent DSLR camera.

"360-degree pictures and video continue to change how we use cameras to capture the world around us," says media expert Jim Malcolm of Humaneyes Technologies, "and the global adoption of VR headsets, combined with 3D cameras is providing even more ways to create virtual content and virtual memories."

"We've done it with the best; from documenting Mako sharks with The Discovery Channel, to weightless experiences in the International Space Station, floating more than 250 miles above the horizon." Says Malcolm, "we're now excited to watch, firsthand, as consumers create their own immersive personal stories." The Vuze XR flips easily from a 360-degree camera to a VR180 camera and shoots both virtual video and photos.

Whether recording or live streaming, users can create and share virtual experiences at the moment, and then save them to revisit next week or next decade. Special features of the VUZE include built-in image stabilization, filters, and a VR editing suite. Plus, it doesn't get more portable.

"Everything can be viewed, controlled and edited, right from your phone, so that you can shoot, create and share virtual videos at a moment's notice," says Malcolm.

But not everything needs to be virtual; therefore, the VUZE also functions as a 5.7K and 4K up to 60fps 2D camera for capturing high-resolution videos and 18-megapixel pictures to fill out your photo album.

So think ahead to the holidays and the way the latest in VR technology can help make unforgettable memories and connect far-flung family and friends. The VUZE camera also features live streaming and social sharing features for platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, so that you can bring your social media audience into the scene with you.

For more information on the VUZE XR camera and how to create your own virtual experiences and memories, visit humaneyes.com.

 

Fuel Your Adventures with Great Coffee on The Road

Most away-from-home coffee options have major drawbacks. Hotel room coffee makers are convenient and cheap, but the coffee they brew means a major compromise on taste. Local cafes often offer good coffee, but the cost of all those to-go cups can really add up. Existing travel coffee presses offer a way to brew while on the go, but they typically brew slowly and therefore brew a bitter and very acidic cup.

Travelers benefit from being able to brew delicious coffee quickly and easily wherever they are. Luckily there is a perfect way to do just that. The AeroPress Go travel coffee press brews up to three cups of delicious hot or cold brew coffee that is richer, smoother, and lower in acidity than coffee brewed by other travel presses. Simply add ground coffee and water, stir briskly, press, and enjoy a cup of hot or cold brew coffee in just a minute or two.

The AeroPress Go travels self- contained in its own mug with a lid, making it easy to fit in a suitcase, in a desk, with camping gear, in an RV or in a backpack. It is compact, lightweight, and durable, making it easy to transport. And it cleans up in just a few seconds with a quick rinse.

The AeroPress Go's ability to make cold brew coffee is a big additional advantage because it can be used where there is no access to hot water. Wherever you go, there is almost always a source of water, but often no way to heat it. Use the AeroPress Go to join the hot new trend of drinking coffee that's an amazingly smooth, rich cold brew. With the AeroPress Go, it's easy to brew a cup of cold brew using unheated water in about two minutes.

Visit https://aeropress.com/ for more information about how to brew great coffee on the road.

 

OTC Products Can Help Smokers Quit

Easy to say, but hard to do, as many smokers can confirm. Encouraging smokers to quit saves billions in health care costs, promotes longer, healthier lives, and restores lost productivity, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).

Quitting smoking is a challenge, but today the widespread availability of many over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products can make a huge difference in helping smokers quit.

CHPA estimates that quitting smoking with OTC NRT products could save $1.3 billion per year in direct medical care costs in the United States.

In addition, data suggest that former smokers are worth an increase in productivity of approximately $1,300 to $1,800 per employee per year compared with current smokers.

Of course, the health benefits of quitting smoking are as significant as the financial ones.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smokers who quit may reduce their risk of health problems including lung and other cancers, heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, and vascular disease, while their lung function and circulation can improve by as much as 30 percent.

In a recent study, CHPA analyzed nine categories of OTC medications, including those for smoking-cessation. Although smoking cessation products were a smaller part of overall OTC savings than other categories, including allergy medications, cold and flu products, and gastrointestinal products, the data suggests that approximately 1.8 million smokers would not seek help if OTC products were not available.

"In a scenario where OTC medicines are not available in the marketplace, a patient would have to visit a physician to get treatment or diagnosed during normal working hours, causing them to miss work," according to CHPA.

The main types of OTC NRT products available in the United States include nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and nicotine lozenges. These FDA-approved products are available in a range of dosages, and they are designed to help reduce the nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting smoking. NRT products can be purchased in most pharmacies, and pharmacists can answer questions and help individuals choose which option may work best for them.

For more information about how OTC medications make a difference in smoking cessation and other areas of health, visit overthecountervalue.org.

Private Jets No Longer for the Rich and Famous

And now that those days are behind you, the hustle, bustle and hassle of commercial airlines and airports can be your next farewell.

Meet ONEflight International, your new travel buddy, bringing the joy and thrill back to flying. No more turning on your Google flight tracker for the best deals or acting out a scene from the Hunger Games when it comes to an airline's early flight check-in process.

ONEflight International's new state-of-the-art Book A Jet or BAJit.com program makes taking that trip to California (or anywhere else you have to go, for that matter) as easy as calling your nearest ride- hailing company.

Think this service may be outside your budget? Think again. ONEflight's volume-based pricing allows savings of 30 to 40 percent over typical private jet costs and with a database of more than 4,000 jets and 500 of the leading charter operators, you are guaranteed to find the perfect size and style.

The price for a single flyer may seem daunting. However, President and CEO Ferren Rajput believes the private flights are ideal for businesspeople and families.

When factoring in the time, money and overall hassle it takes to travel in groups, flying private quickly appears as the most viable option. Plus, let's not forget that each flight comes with a complimentary catered meal - and we're not talking bagged pretzels and a cup of water. Passengers are connected with a Concierge Coordinator that will accommodate any food and dietary restrictions to provide a deliciously catered meal selected by the passengers, with crowd favorites such as steak and potatoes.

Private jets also offer the convenience of smaller, less crowded airports. For the group of business folks eager to reach their destination, flying private cuts out the stress. No long check-in station or even longer TSA lines to fight through, shaving off hours of travel time and leaving more time for business.

In an interview with Arizona Daily Mix Channel 7, President and CEO Rajput says, "the private jet segment was really just supposed to be for the wealthy, the top super- rich, but it's not that anymore."

With the new system BAJit.com, developed by ONEflight International, anyone can experience the luxury and convenience of a private jet.

"If you're going to fly private jets, you need to check out ONEflight's BAJ, the most efficient booking system." says Robert Herjavec, founder and CEO of Herjavec Group, a global cybersecurity company, leading Shark on ABC's Shark Tank, and brand ambassador for ONEflight.

So, before you book your next getaway, be it business or pleasure, check BAJit.com for the best options.

Beauty Product Fans Embrace Power Serums

The BABOR skin care product line, developed in 1956 in Germany by biochemist Dr. Michael Babor, has an established reputation of science-based skin care. Each item in the company's latest line of Power Serum Ampoules is designed with advanced-strength active ingredients to address specific skin issues quickly and effectively with precision single doses of targeted ingredients.

"At BABOR, our highly innovative active formulations are carefully combined with our exclusive treatment methods to provide outstanding results and a uniquely indulgent experience," according to the company website.

The new DOCTOR BABOR Power Serum Ampoule collection launched in January 2020 and features six products: Ceramides, Ferulic Acid, Growth Factor Concentrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, and Vitamin C. The collection continues the high standards and precision use of clinical ingredients for individualized skin care.

The Growth Factor serum is of particular interest to individuals seeking treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, as well as maintaining the skins elasticity and firmness and preserve the cell's optimal metabolic efficiency.

The serum contains two active ingredients, cyclopeptide and oligopeptide, that stimulate the skin's natural growth factors and promote collagen and elastic production.

The Vitamin C serum is targeted to brighten the skin and protect against the development of age-related skin damage. The Hyaluronic Acid serum is formulated to help promote skin hydration, and the Retinol serum focuses on resurfacing, improving skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of pores.

The Ferulic Acid serum promotes skin regeneration and is engineered to support the skin's natural defenses, and the Ceramides serum contains a blend of three skin ceramides that combine with the skin's natural lipids to protect against moisture loss and promote skin barrier repair.

All BABOR products comply with the European Cosmetic Safety Standards. In addition, the Power Serum Ampoules contain no artificial colors, fragrances, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or gluten.

For more information about precision, targeted skin care and the BABOR skin care product line, visit BABOR.com.