Spider Man (2000)

Swing through the streets of New York City as Spiderman as you fight to stop Doctor Oc from taking over the city. This is a level-by-level game where you get to square off against other villains such as Rhino, Lizard and even Carnage! Being the first 3D game of the series, this was so much fun to play and was the start for superhero games to come.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Modeled after the first book and movie that came out around the same time, the game was better than most had anticipated. You’re able to roam around Hogwarts at Harry Potter completing quests and solving fun puzzles from the beginning of the traditional story until the very end. Of course, they added some parts of it to be more interactive, but all in all, this was a great game to play, especially for children at the time.

Mega Man X4 (1997)

Mega Man X4 was one of the earlier games to be released for the original PlayStation and became a pretty tough act to follow. You can play the story mode as either Mega Man X or Zero (this is an X, after all), where you take part in the war against the hunters. Level by level, this game was filled with action and even though it was a platformer, they always found a way to keep the gameplay fresh and never repetitive.

Ape Escape (1999)

Ape Escape is about a monkey (Specter) that lives in a family fun amusement park who is given a helmet designed by a crazy scientist that gives him super monkey powers. As cool as the powers are, the helmet also turns him evil. So you, Spike, must rally all the other monkeys to stop Specter from rewriting history. It sounds wild, but Ape Escape was one of the best family-friendly games of its time, introducing a fun plot, dynamic gameplay and excellent graphics for its time.

Tomb Raider (1996)

The start of an era, you can start your adventure as Lara Croft in what were the best graphics at the time. Explore caves, tombs and crypts to find a special artifact in the mountains of Peru. This game was successful enough to sell over 7 MILLION copies, which was crazy at the time.

Crash Bandicoot (1996)

Naughty Dog’s first hit was none other than Crash Bandicoot where you must get through each level to stop the evil Doctor Neo Cortex from taking over the world. With the help of Aku Aku, a floating magic mask who sometimes takes damage for you, you must get through each stage, collecting apples and defeating enemies in the process. As much fun as this game was, it was equally (if not more) frustrating. Beware of the boulders.

Spyro the Dragon (1998)

One of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises started here. Play as Spyro, the small, yet powerful dragon who learns more abilities as you go to defeat Gnasty Gnorc and rescue all the other dragons and dragonflies from his reign of terror. The game consists of multiple worlds where you meet friends, collect valuables and are tested in many different facets.

Metal Gear Solid (1998)

The ultimate game for 3D stealth missions and combat-related tasks was, of course, Metal Gear Solid and it all started here. You play as Solid Snake as you navigate through a nuclear weapons facility to neutralize the threat of war… nuclear war.

Spyro the Dragon: Year of the Dragon (2000)

The best of the entire series (in our opinion), Year of the Dragon takes Spyro to a whole new level. Actually, there are 37 in which you have to collect dragon eggs that have been stolen by a thief. Among the many fun adventures involving ‘out there’ themes like gliding, swimming and even skateboarding, you also meet a lot of recurring characters like Hunter and Sheila the Kangaroo to help you with your quest. This is especially fun for kids!

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)

Considered to be the best Castlevania game, you play as Alucard (Dracula’s son) to fight through Dracula’s castle in an attempt to defeat the possessed Richter Belmont. While still 2-dimensional, this game offered a lot to explore, so many monsters to fight, surprising adventures within the initial quest and so much more for it’s time to the point that it’s still considered to be one of the best PlayStation games, period, not just from the original.

The post The 10 Best Adventure Games For The PlayStation One appeared first on Koshka.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000)

The first full 3D adventure in the Kirby franchise was a total hit. The side-scrolling 3D platformer has players fighting through Dreamland as none other than Kirby in an act to retrieve the sacred crystal shards to defeat Dark Matter. This was the first game where Kirby actually teams up with King Dedede. Between the unconventional teamwork and the tons of challenging levels, this game was amazing.

Bomberman 64 (1997)

We’ll be totally honest with this one. Bomberman 64 was a pain in the you know what because of all the fun puzzles and (sometimes) time restraints. As annoying as these parts were, it was all the more rewarding as you work through each level and defeat dangerous space pirates every step of the way.

Yoshi’s Story (1997)

This was the first N64 game that focused on Yoshi, who was previously known as basically Mario’s horse. The graphics of this game weren’t the best of its time, but the gameplay more than made up for it. The side-scrolling platformer was a classic as you fought to protect the fruit-bearing super happy tree from the likes of the super jealous Baby Bowser.

Star Fox 64 (1997)

The source of the infamous “do a barrel roll” meme, Starfox 64 was ahead of its time in a dogfight-style aerial battle. The only game of it’s time that even compares was Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. There were countless levels as you played as Fox McCloud and his team of fighter pilots.

Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)

The second Zelda installment for the N64, Majora’s Mask picks up after Ocarina of Time. You play as Link in an alternate reality from that of the Ocarina where you have to save the moon from complete destruction. The graphics were totally ahead of its time, which was surprising considering it only took Nintendo 2 years to make and develop it.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999)

Rayman 2 was so much fun! The plot begins when you find yourself (Rayman) and a couple of allies in a prison aboard a giant ship. Shocker, you eventually escape from your cell and retreat deep into the forest to reconnect with Globox, Rayman’s trusted guide. From dashing through swamps to swinging on vines, this action-packed game was arguably the best of the series.

Donkey Kong 64 (1999)

If there is one lesson to take away from Donkey Kong 64, it’s not to mess with a monkey’s bananas. You play mostly as Donkey Kong on Donkey Kong island where you fight the likes of King K Rool to retrieve your stache of delicious bananas and free Diddy Kong from captivity. This game was full of fun puzzles and mini-games that really spiced things up and made for an excellent sequel to Donkey Kong Country.

Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

We’re not going to lie, Banjo-Kazooie is tough, even for adults. There are 9 worlds in total where you have to complete (sometimes annoying) puzzles to collect musical notes and advance to the next world. Like Super Mario and Donkey Kong 64, it was the closest thing to being ‘open-world’ at the time, meaning you could go back and try old missions, meaning not everything had to be completed in linear order. The uniqueness of the story and gameplay made this game a major hit.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Considered one of the highest-rated games of all time, Ocarina of Time is a staple in the Zelda franchise. You play as both young and adult link as you move throughout time to help Zelda defeat the sinister Gannondorf. This game allowed for a lot of flexibility for its time, like playing special songs to give you unique power upgrades to help you advance through the story.

Super Mario 64

The game that everybody (and we mean everybody) had was Super Mario 64. The entire game takes place in the Mushroom Kingdom (mostly within Peach’s castle) where Mario must collect stars to advance throughout the castle and defeat bowser. Getting to explore the castle and play levels ranging from haunted houses to lava fields, ice worlds, and carpets in the clouds – it really felt like this game had no limits. This game set the standard for not only Super Mario, but all other 3D adventure games to come.

The post The 10 Best Adventures Games For The N64 appeared first on Koshka.

Tomb Raider: Raider Chronicles (2000)

Embark on another adventure as players could fight through temples and jungles as none other than Lara Croft. While this was considered to be one of the weaker games from the Tomb Raider series, it was still strong enough to make the list and was known for giving Lara many of the tools in her arsenal that made the series iconic, including her ability to walk the tightropes and swing on horizontal bars.

Shenmue (1999)

Shenmue was one of the first games to merge 1v1 platform fighting games with gut-wrenching adventures, making it a storied franchise in Japanese gaming. You play as a teenage martial artist seeking revenge for his dojo, as you investigate and fight through the streets of Hong Kong. The game featured a great balance of action, story and adventure that kept it from getting stale.

Nightmare Creatures 2 (2000)

One of the first successful horror adventure/survival games was the Nightmare Creatures series, with the second installment being considered one of the best. Here you play to stop an occult from taking over the world. The overall style was so unique and fun for the time that we just had to add it to the list. It almost gives you the feel of exploring a fun haunted house.

Stupid Invaders (2001)

Fun for the entire family, Stupid Invaders is something of a cartoon parody that adds a level of comedy to your adventure. The plot involves you and your alien friends literally just trying to get back into space, but of course, you run into problems along the way. It’s a fun, almost-spoofy kind of game that has aged fairly well.

Shadow Man (1999)

Play as the “Shadow Man” where you possess the voodoo magic that originally spawned in the 1880’s with Jack the Ripper. The protagonist is Michael LeRoi, who is set to protect the living from the monsters and demons that walk the earth in an attempt to cause harm to the innocent.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (1999)

The Legacy of Kain was riveting at the time, acting as a dungeon crawler meets RPG at a time where this was brand new. You act as a sort-of nephalem and fight through vampires, werewolves and all other kinds of monsters to progress through Nosgoth and defeat Kain to save the world. The graphics and gameplay were innovative, making this a great addition to our list.

The Nomad Soul (2000)

Taking place sometime in the future, in The Nomad Soul, you play as an ex-police officer to combat the “The Awakened”, a governmental group of religious zealots. You fight through the streets of Omikron, fighting everything from gangsters to demons to strip the power from the group of power-hungry monsters looking to take over the world. In addition to battling, there are also other fun things to do in the city. The 3rd-person perspective was perfect because it gave players the energy of an adventure with the plot of a fantasy.

Fun fact – David Bowie created and put the soundtrack together!

Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)

The Sonic Adventure series took the franchise to a whole new level! The 3D effects were amazing, as you speed through cities with multiple playable characters. The story is split into two parts, Eggman and Shadow. There are 3 unique game modes, including fast-paced plat forming, multi-directional shooting and our personal favorite, action-exploration.

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Arguably the best Tomb Raider game of all time, The Last Revelation featured the best of its core specialty – exploring. The caves, temples and ruins were so cool for the time and the combat portion was so unique. There’s a reason why so many are skeptical as to why it hasn’t been remastered yet.

Sonic Adventure (1998)

A lot of us remember Sonic Adventure for it’s introduction to Shadow, probably still the coolest character of the franchise 20+ years later. But it’s also the first real 3D adventures that totally reimagined the series entirely. It was also the first to incorporate the slight RPG elements, making the game fun for longer.

The post The 10 Best Adventure Games For The Sega Dreamcast appeared first on Koshka.

Creekmoor

This fairly simple, straightforward golf course is ideal for those trying to improve out of the tee box. The real fun begins around the greens, where they make challenging slopes that add a level of strategy into your game. Thankfully, the greens run slow to balance this effect. The beauty of the course stands out, making it a bargain for the price.

Fred Arbanas

One word comes to mind when playing Fred Arbanas – value. No, there isn’t any part of the course that makes your jaw drop but the experience is always organic and worth the price. It also doesn’t have that stuff environment that some other courses do, which is always refreshing.

Hillcrest

For a nice, stress-free and wide-open day out, Hillcrest just might be your go-to. But be careful, most holes are riddled with large bunkers, so don’t forget your sand wedge! All in all, you can enjoy a fun round without too many obstacles, with dogleg holes being the exception. The course also has a couple of dog parks, always fun to drop by after your round.

Hodge Park

Talk about an exciting 18 for a bargain! Hodge Park is a local favorite, with a nice balance of simple and complex holes that keep your interest. A few holes have water hazards, while some (especially the par 3s) are more reserved. A conservative game out of the tee box with consistent iron play can yield you a fairly low score.

Drumm Farm

While there are two golf courses on the property, we’d like to pay special attention to its design. Drumm Farm has a nice array of holes to keep you on your guard… you’re never really able to get comfortable with a single club, which is both frustrating and exciting at the same time. All in all, Drumm Farm is a great experience that presents a unique challenge just about any golfer can appreciate.

Swope Mountain

This par 72 has been around for almost 90 years and for good reason. Swope Mountain features a historic design around a beautifully unique setting. Sitting in downtown Kansas City, you can enjoy almost-premium golf without having to take a hike and for a nice price as well.

Minor Park

There’s a lot to experience at Minor Park. We loved the contemporary course that isn’t afraid to show its unique personality. You’ll have wide-open fairways that narrow to small greens with water behind it, dog-legs that can take you just about anywhere (fingers crossed) and so much more. When you consider the special deals they offer online, you’ll immediately realize the value of playing here.

Heart of America

Golf is already hard enough, so why go out of your way to make a course so challenging that it takes away the fun? Heart of America understood this and made a course for people to relax and have fun – not leave sweat tracks from the tee box and beyond! So if you’re looking for a chill experience with friends – this is your spot.

Iron Horse Golf Club

Arguably the most aesthetically pleasing golf course in the area, Iron Horse offers scenery that’s pretty tough to top. The designs of the holes, particularly on the back nine are kept up with true class. The course itself is fairly challenging, but nothing that makes you want to tear your hair out. This is one for the experience above all else.

Shoal Creek

When you want balance – you come to Shoal Creek. It features top-tier architecture and beautiful scenery. From wide-open par 5’s where you can flex your muscles to tricky par 3’s that can take you swimming – it’s all here. The 18-hole experience is probably the best Kansas City can offer all-around for a nice deal.

The post The 10 Best Public Golf Courses in Kansas City appeared first on Koshka.

Batman: Arkham City (2011)

We name Arkham City not only the best Batman game ever, but the best superhero game ever – period. You’re no longer confined to Arkham Island… you have the whole city to explore and fight crime in. There’s an extensive main story filled with high-profile villains such as The Joker, Killer Croc, Scarecrow and more, plus tons of mini-games and side quests to feed your craving. Oh – and there are additional heroes you can play as, such as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and more!

Toy Story 3: The Video Game (2010)

Did you like the Toy Story 3 movie? If so, you’ll love the game! It’s a platform-adventure game that is based on the movie, but with more included. Play as Woody, Buzz, or Jessie in multiple game modes, including multiplayer, where you explore everything from Andy’s room to the outside world.

Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)

Left to explore the dying forest alone, you play as Ori and are accompanied by Sein, a spirit that guides you through your adventure. Your goal is to restore the forest, along with those who you lost within it. The beautiful, natural-looking graphics add an aesthetically pleasing tribute to the Rayman games while demonstrating some originality of its own. The story and gameplay are truly loads of fun for the whole family.

Doritos Crash Course (2010)

Have you ever watched shows like “American Ninja Warrior” or “Sasuke” (in Japan)? They have people attempting crazy-timed obstacle courses that require immense physical strength and durability. Well, this was re-animated with a super fun platformer-adventure game sponsored by Doritos. There are various stages across 5 countries, each more difficult than the last. You can play alone, competing against your past times, or challenge friends in real-time. Tons of fun, and even better it was free!

Sonic Generations (2011)

The modern Sonic of today (well, of 2011) collides with the vintage Sonic of the Sega Genesis era, creating a wild adventure for all. This happens because Dr. Eggman tries going back in time to defeat a more vulnerable Sonic, but it backfires because the two just unite for some extra action. You get the best of both worlds, with a combination of nostalgia and modern action that anyone can enjoy.

South Park: The Stick of Truth (2014)

If you’re a fan of South Park, there’s no way you won’t love this game. It takes place following the Game of Thrones gag trilogy from their 14th season, where you play as your own character. As the “new kid”, you embark on a fantasy quest with the kids in South Park, defining your role and backstory along the way. Warning: the contents of this game aren’t ideal for younger audiences.

Alan Wake (2010)

Playing as the famous author, Alan Wake, you embark on a journey to find your missing wife. During this process, you notice something weird going on in town. Like his books, the plot consists of 6 episodes, each loaded with plot twists and cliffhangers. It’s very creative, and a great way to combine action with mystery for a ton of fun.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008)

The fifth installment of the series was not a disappointment. Your team has to compete in a long set of difficult challenges to win the L.O.G. (Lord of Games) competition. There is a lot to unwrap here, tons of game styles and mini-games built for both single and multiplayer – lots of fun! Though we have to admit, while the graphics were great, we thought the animations were a bit… awkward.

Red Dead Redemption (2010)

This open-world adventure is like Grand Theft Auto meets the Wild West. As a super cool cowboy, you engage in revolver combat on horseback. There are hundreds of bounties to finish that you can complete alone or with friends (up to 15 of them). The story is solid, graphics were ahead of its time with years with an impressive budget to boot.

Assassin’s Creed 2 (2009)

It’s time to get back into the animus, but instead of playing as Altaïr during the crusades, you’re playing as Ezio in Italy during the Renaissance era. Haven’t you always wanted to travel to Italy? Here’s your chance – battle the Knights Templar and assassinate corrupt world leaders for the greater good. Here you’re equipped with new tools and gadgets, including flying machines designed by Leonard Di Vinchi himself! In our opinion, this is the best from the entire Assassin’s Creed series.

The post The 10 Best Adventure Games For The Xbox 360 appeared first on Koshka.

Far Cry 3 (2012)

Here you play as someone stranded on a fictional tropical island. You notice your girlfriend is gone (later to find out she’s been kidnapped), so you accept numerous missions in an act to gather intel and rescue her. The game focuses on the exploration of the island, where you battle people and wildlife – it’s much like Far Cry 2 (which took place in Africa), but it has a lot more added to it.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (2007)

The dynamic duo is back together, but at the beginning of the story, you realize there’s something up with the hovercraft. While working on it, you get a call from Captain Qwark and have to go fight an army of commandos. From here, you get word of a bigger war at stake – this story takes place after Up Your Arsenal and Going Commando – but with more gadgets and battles than ever!

Crash of the Titans (2007)

With twenty full levels of boss-battling fun, Crash of the Titans decided to add a new “punky” look to their game. This was the first Crash game that enabled co-op, which allowed people to play together, instead of taking turns. While still challenging, this wasn’t quite as frustrating as the original 3 Crash games, making it less inclined to drive you crazy.

Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013)

To this day, it’s the highest-rated Grand Theft Auto game, as well as any game published by Rockstar. You play the story mode alternating as 3 protagonists, Michael, Franklin and Trevor who have been involved in heists together. They find themselves crossing paths in an open world that allows players to do just about what their imagination lets them. Online and off, you’ll find there are tons of fun things to do in San Andreas.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

The Arkham series brought the darker side of Batman to home gaming consoles everywhere. It all starts with Arkham Asylum, where the Joker finds a way to escape and hold Gotham City hostage, telling Batman he can’t leave Arkham Island without bombs destroying the city. You have to fight through a prison filled with bad guys, all while uncovering clues in furthering your mission to rescue Commissioner Gordon and save the city. Oh, and getting all the inmates back in prison where they belong.

God of War 3 (2010)

About an epic of a game series as it gets – you play as Kratos (son of Zeus) in the world that’s loosely based on Greek Mythology. You fight armies of soldiers and in some cases, Greek Gods. The combo-style button masher has been praised for its playstyle and graphics, not just the third installment, but all of them. However, God of War 3 is considered to be the best of them all.

LittleBigPlanet (2008)

Sony’s favorite platformer adventure game was a smash hit for good reason. You play as Sackboy in a 2-dimensional world where you try to help the 8 creators fix their own issues and stop the collector from taking over. You can also create your own worlds and share them with your friends, making this the game that keeps on giving.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)

The sequel to the original Uncharted was even better than the first. You embark on a quest as none other than Nathan Drake to find special treasure in the Middle East. But in the process, you find a lot of double-crosses and issues that make for a really fun and interesting story.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)

The decorated Solid Snake has aged but must return from retirement. You team up with a genius kid to battle cyborgs and corrupt soldiers with the fate of the country in your hands. The in-depth story and state-of-the-art graphics were considered ahead of its time – making this a must-play!

The Last Of Us (2013)

Following an outbreak of mutant fungus, you find yourself in something of a post-apocalyptic world just trying to make it to tomorrow. Joel (the main protagonist) teams up with a child, Ellie to gather supplies and… survive. The story of this one tugs at the heartstrings and the gameplay makes you feel as if you were there. This is truly a game for the ages.

The post The 10 Best Adventure Games For The PlayStation 3 appeared first on Koshka.

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

The ninth installment of the Tomb Raider series was a doozy (in a good way). You play as Lara Croft, right after the events from Tomb Raider: Legend. You adventure through Northern Europe, into the Mediterranean Sea all the way into parts of Asia with the intent of finding new information about Lara’s missing mother. The maritime exploration was a really nice touch! This game gets pretty mythical, dealing with Nordic Mythology and its DLC expansions Beneath the Ashes and Lara’s Shadow add additional light to the plot.

Cave Story (WiiWare) (2010)

Created as an expanded port of the original hit from 6 years earlier, this version of Cave Story offered enhanced graphics, new soundtracks and a few extra levels. This includes the addition of Curly Story and Boss Attack, which just added more depth to the already awesome adventure platformer. We love how your character has no memory of where they came from, so you relate to them as you play through many areas of the game.

Wario Land: Shake It! (2008)

The sequel to the classic Ware Land game hit the shelves in 2008 and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It gave users a similar experience to the original Wario Land games they loved for GameBoy but featured something special – the shaking/moving options of the Wii controls. This added the extra level of fun that really had people feeling like they were part of the game, enabling tons of fun for the whole family.

Rayman Origins (2011)

The jungle platform-adventure game returned with a twist – additional playable characters. Up to 4 people can jump on a game at once, playing as either Rayman, Globox or one of the Teensies where they can explore levels that take people from the seas to the skies. It had just enough of its old essence for the nostalgia people wanted, with better graphics and enough new features to freshen the game up.

Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)

A lot of people were waiting for this and for good reason. Acting as a sequel to the previously successful New Super Mario Bros for Nintendo DS, the Wii version added new playable characters such as Luigi and Yoshi. It added a touch of Super Mario Land to the original platformer that people absolutely loved. With cooperative gameplay, people can play together with their friends to complete levels, which gave rise to special features in new Mario games such as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey.

Lego Batman: The Videogame (2008)

Everyone’s (or at least most people’s) favorite character from The Lego Movie got his own game and like many of its kind – it was a great one! It takes an alternate twist on the infamous M-Rated Arkham series where the inmates escape and it’s up to Batman and Robin to stop them from wreaking havoc on Gotham. There are nearly a dozen villains to take on, such as the Joker, Man-Bat, Killer Moth, Penguin and more!

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (2007)

The animated pirate adventure became an instant classic among the Nintendo community. The plot is to find Treasure Island, in doing so Wiki and his crew has to explore jungles, volcanos, castles and island fun, all to find the maps. The game is filled with adventure for the whole family.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

Taking place in between the Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess takes Link on a journey through the Twilight Realm, a parallel dimension to his own. The world design and unique characters were so innovative for its time, combined with surreal gameplay. As a result, it’s considered one of the best games from Nintendo.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)

The sequel to Super Mario Galaxy was perhaps one of the best… ever! You pick up where you left off from the original, only this time each planet has you transforming like never before, including bumblebee, rock, fire and so many other Marios. You even get to ride Yoshi like the good ol’ days!

Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

On your way to celebrate a once every century event Princess Peach is kidnapped, along with her entire castle. Mario fails to stop the event, and is stranded in space until he’s picked up Rosalina and her Lumas – those who watch over the cosmos. From here, you have to travel to different planets and galaxies to collect power stars so you can reach Bowser and rescue the princess. This game took all 3D Mario games to new heights, adding new transformations, play styles and missions that made it an all-time great.

The post The 10 Best Adventure Games For The Nintendo Wii appeared first on Koshka.

In contrast, when renovating on a shoestring budget, you must stay on top of matters right from the start. Home renovations always cost you more than the initial estimates, no matter how comprehensive your calculations are. Working with a tight budget is one of the major reasons many people do not meet all of their home renovation goals.Here, I will share some tips to help homeowners meet their home remodeling goals without breaking the bank and getting the outcome you are hoping for.

Leverage Laminate Flooring

Renovating and remodeling floors can change a house’s look and feel considerably. In some cases, flooring renovation even improves the functionality of a given space. If flooring modifications and upgrades are a part of your renovation project, you should consider laminate flooring for the job. The top reason to pick laminate is its significantly lower cost than all the other flooring options. Hardwood flooring job can cost you anywhere between $12 and $20 for a square foot. Similarly, installing tiles can lie in the range of $5-13 per square foot. However, even the top of the line laminate flooring options (e.g., luxury vinyl tiles) won’t cost you more than $8 per square foot. Besides cost, laminate flooring also involves a host of other benefits. For instance, they are easy to install and maintain. You can install them on any type of subfloor, and they can withstand almost all types of uses and are a great option for any area of your home. Also, you can choose them in a range of designs and product offerings. You can renovate your bedrooms with stone/tile-design laminates. In the living room, you can use laminate with hardwood finish. Going with laminate instead of traditional flooring material can reduce your flooring cost by more than half.

Stress Over Function Rather than Space

Your house is built to certain square footage, and the only way to increase that is to add on to your home and that is not always an option given your lot size and other limitations. Often the only way to update the layout of your home is to take away space from other areas. When you increase the size of any section in the house, you steal the space from other portions. For instance, when you extend your kitchen, you trim down your dining/living room space at the same time. Besides, extending any space requires tearing down walls and partitions and building them again, making this type of renovation a giant sinkhole of expenses. On the other hand, you have the option to improve the function and efficiency of the existing layout without fiddling with space extensions and reductions. For instance, if you need more functional space in the kitchen, just remove the traditional space-hogging, single-story shelves with multiple cabinet-style pullout drawers. This modification will let you put three times more things in the same space. Similarly, cabinets utilizing the wall’s full size will ensure you don’t have to clutter up the room space with standalone storage furniture. Also, you can set up spaces to utilize multiple functions. A spare bedroom should not just be a spare bedroom. You can also renovate it to make it a study or even a small gym. Remember that improving a given space’s utility and function is less stressful and more budget-friendly than remodeling it for space extension.

Go for Rental Equipment and Tools

In the initial excitement of a DIY renovation project, many people blow a considerable amount of their budget on buying tools and equipment needed for the job. They buy construction and remodeling tools and equipment and rationalize the purchase as a lifetime investment. You need to understand that construction equipment is different from other appliances and not used on a daily basis. This limited use stretched over a long duration doesn’t justify spending a high upfront amount on them. Instead, it would be best if you rent them. Apart from what you already have in your hardware toolbox, you may need a power drill, impact driver, nail gun, oscillating tools, step ladder, and scaffolding for your home renovation job. Instead of spending huge sums on buying those articles for later “non-existing” use, look for options to borrow or rent them from your local hardware store. A top-quality impact driver can cost you around $130-$140. However, you can borrow the same model at $10-15 for 24 hours. Similarly, you can get all sorts of scaffoldings on rent at less than one-tenth of their prices. Besides saving you hundreds of dollars, using rental equipment and tools also has another benefit, i.e., you don’t have to worry about where to keep them.

Consider Second-Hand Fixtures

Many homeowners believe that second-hand fixtures can’t be used in renovation projects. One has to steer clear away from the misunderstanding that “second-hand=low-quality/rip-offs.” Suppose you are looking at the right place and assessing items for your remodeling/renovation requirements. In that case, you can find a host of valuable things from stores offering second-hand and salvaged fixtures. They can provide the same functional and aesthetic value as a brand-new fixture after a little do-up. From acrylic skylights to insulated windows and prehung doors, you can find various home renovation items and fixtures from second-hand or repurpose type stores.. For example, a 4×5-foot insulated window that you buy for $600 from a home center can cost you around $300 when you buy it second-hand. Thrift stores are one place where you can find various salvaged fixtures in pristine condition and at a reasonable price. Home renovation is undoubtedly a stressful job with lots of expenses involved. However, if you follow some of the tips laid out here you can renovate your home and come in on or under budget. Choose laminate over real wood for your floors, focus on functional expansion instead of space expansion, borrow tools instead of buying them, and leverage second-hand fixtures. By following these tips, you can keep your renovation job a cost-effective affair.

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In reality, bodybuilding is defined as “the developing of the body through exercise and diet …” In other words, you’re implementing a routine designed to improve your body in one way or another. As we mentioned, this doesn’t mean you have to get “huge”. As a practitioner of bodybuilding, you decide what you want to focus on and how far you want to go.

If you’re looking to attain a more aesthetically pleasing physique, a more traditional routine is for you, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Here’s an example: Say you love to https://www.koshka.net/tag/golf/, but you live in a climate where you can only play during certain seasons (spring, summer, some of autumn). This may limit your ability to practice on the range and course, but it doesn’t mean you can’t improve your game in other areas, and that’s where bodybuilding can come into play.

Outside of finesse (having a sound swing, doing drills for more consistency, etc.), there are other ways to https://topgolf.com/us/.

Like what? You can:

• Increase your clubhead speed to improve your average driving distance.
• Improve your flexibility to increase your range of motion per swing (increasing torque and distance) and decreasing chances of injuries.
• Enhance your cardiovascular endurance to improve your stamina, ensuring you’re not tapering off on the back 9.

While these advantages might not inherently make you a better golfer, they will increase your potential.

After all, if you can’t play or go to the range, this is the next best thing. Plus you can work on (some) of your short game indoors.

Let’s start with strength training. There are two main areas of your body that will most contribute to faster clubhead speeds and farther average driving distance:

• Your Legs: Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Adductors, Abductors, Glutes, Calfs, Shins
• Your Core: Abdominals, Obliques

The rest of your muscle groups will serve to aid these muscle groups to put the swing together. Think of them like your supporting cast, so yes you should train them, but your main focus should be on what’s listed above. Here’s an ideal strength training schedule.

Make sure you’re balancing your training. For example, work your chest/back and quadriceps/hamstrings equally to ensure balance and a smaller chance of injuries. A long-term imbalance of training can lead to joint and ligament issues.

Also, be sure to stretch after each workout and throughout your day, a few minutes here and there can promote flexibility and deter extreme soreness.

Monday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Legs
Spend 35-60 minutes doing weight training, focusing mostly on your quadriceps and hamstrings. The rest of the muscle groups should serve as support.

Prioritize squats, deadlifts, Romainian deadlifts and leg presses, as they are best for targeting and strengthening these large muscles that will be used to increase strength.

Finish that with at least 15-20 minutes of cardiovascular training to enhance oxygen

efficiency and limit soreness after your workout. We suggest jogging outside or using the elliptical machine.

Tuesday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Chest + Core
With your legs healing, day two is perfect for training your chest and core. Your pectoral region (chest) is great for a strong backswing and your core (mainly obliques) for following through on the front. While many traditional bodybuilders like to focus on squeezing exercises (like chest flies) for aesthetics, we suggest more pushing routines (like presses). Also be sure to do flatbed, incline and decline workouts for your chest. Core should only be a small percentage of your session. Balance is key!,

Wednesday

Training: Yoga
Muscles Trained: Full Body
Yoga is incredibly underrated. Getting some yoga into your routine is important because it works your core regions in ways you can’t achieve with crunches or weights. We suggest doing some lighter-duty routines that promote more flexibility and are easy on the back but feel free to make the routine perfect for yourself. You won’t know until you’ve tried as many styles as you can, many gyms offer classes and there are free videos on YouTube.

Thursday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Back
Next is back day, be sure to balance your rowing and pulling exercises to enable symmetrical gains. Do a lot of wide grip pulls to get a strong stretch to deter stiffness and be sure not to jerk while doing reps. Always be in control, just as you’re supposed to be when performing your golf swing.

Friday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Shoulders + Core
Now that most of the larger muscles and supporting groups are rested, you can spend some time working on shoulders. Be sure to balance the use of your front/side/rear deltoids, as well as your trap muscles for a complete workout. With the exception of shoulder presses (and maybe shrugs), these should be lightweight exercises aimed at improving muscle control. Then with your extra time, work some core and obliques.

Saturday

Training: Weights + Cardio
Muscles Trained: Arms
Your triceps got a half workout on Tuesday and biceps got a half workout on Thursday, so both should be ready for a real pump. Don’t focus on using too much weight because you want to maintain flexibility, so instead, factor in lighter sessions with more reps to emulate the experience of taking many golf swings. For the sake of training, you need your arms to assist with other workouts during the week, so don’t go too hard on them.

Sunday

Training: Yoga
Muscles Trained: Rest
Repeat your Wednesday workout, just try to deviate a little bit if you can. These days should be used for rest, so take it easy and treat your workout equally as a mediation session.

The post Bodybuilding For Golfers: What You Need to Know appeared first on Koshka.

Position Your Most Popular Items in the Back of the Store

You may have heard this one before, but either way it’s too important not to mention. By placing your most popular items (some of which people will come to your store for), you’re forcing customers to walk through your store TWICE. Going to the front and the back again. By doing this, you’re opening the door of possibilities for customers to see something they like and possibly buying something they might not have been planning on. Just think about it, the more items they see, the more likely they are to buy something.

Place Smaller Items Near the Cashiers

Another common, yet super important tip to implement. Place some of your smaller, more accessory-based inventory towards the front of your store, or wherever the cashiers are. This is where the lines form, meaning customers will have no choice but to see these items while they wait. The reason you should place small, accessory-based is because people are more likely to make impulsive decisions and the size makes them easy to store in their cart or hold in their hands. Think phone chargers, wallets, movies, stuff like that.

Offer Free Wifi

Everyone loves Wifi, especially when it’s free! Just have them enter their email address for access. When they sign into your Wifi, they feel more comfortable, therefore will stay longer and even better, you can send them email promotions.

Encourage Social Check-Ins

Any marketing professional will tell you word-of-mouth marketing is stronger than any ad campaign. This is because people trust their peers more than brands, so their endorsement will have more impact. Encouraging a social check-in (like on Facebook) is a great way to get immediate word-of-mouth exposure and set a reminder of your brand in place of your customers social media profile(s). Simply offer a discount in exchange for a check-in.

Utilize Customer Surveys

Want to get into the minds of your customers? You don’t have to hire that psychic down the street, you just have to ask your customers. Entice them to take surveys (maybe send them an email after letting them use your Wifi) and position the ask as a way to improve your customer experience. Offer them a coupon in exchange for an honest review.

Compiling enough surveys will give you a good idea as to what your customers are looking for and how you can improve their experience moving forward. And actually implementing these changes will tell your customers you’re actually listening, which will impress them and cause them to tell their friends leading to, you guessed it, word-of-mouth marketing.

Analyze (and Learn From) Foot Traffic Patterns

Just as digital marketers invest heavily in analyzing website traffic, you have to analyze foot traffic. Start by tracking what times of the year/month/week/day people are coming in and making observations. As an example, bar/restaurants use happy hour as a way to drive traffic during slower times of the day. You have to implement your own version of happy hour if you want to secure a steady stream of traffic.

Create a Customer Experience

You know what consumers look for? An experience, because that’s not something you can necessarily buy. That’s what large brands are selling, experiences. Creating a unique experience in your store will drastically increase the chances of customers buying more, coming back and telling their friends. Use compelling images on the walls and place your products strategically to transcend the traditional shopping experience.

Double Down on Loyalty Programs

Not everyone will take advantage of your free Wifi, so you should be investing heavily in your loyalty program. Offer exclusive offers in exchange for their email address, then provide special discounts and incentives for larger purchases.

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