Raahe, one of Finland's municipalities, boasts of beautiful historical sites. ​Travelling had been one of the most essential experiences for any human being. Travel destinations can vary from modern to more rustic ones. Some would visit a place for different reasons as well. some would visit a place because of the beautiful photos they could take, and some would visit for historical reasons. This is an advantage for those who want to visit unique places.

Raahe has a small population of 25 000 residents but due to various development projects, it has one of the lowest employment rates. These developments did not change the town. The old wooden buildings stood still and visiting the town is like going back in time. There are also various stores, pubs and restaurants that anybody can enjoy. While other small towns and municipalities find it difficult to offer services to tourists, that is not the case in Raahe. They have various hobbies and establishments that locals and tourists alike would enjoy.

​Raahe has a deep history. Founded in 1649 by a Swedish governor-general, the city was called Brahestad, Raahe in Finnish. Raahe was known as the town that used wood to build homes and other establishments thus it is known as a wooden town. Even public buildings such as the city hall are made of logs. Up to this day, the town still holds the name of a wooden town, and the old wooden structures are their main attraction.

The city of Raahe had also experienced the worst time. They experienced a famine and wars that killed thousands of residents of the town. In the 17th century, Finland experienced years of crop failure. This resulted in starvation and eventually, death. When the country was slowly recovering from famine, the Great Northern War started. The town was burned by Russian troops. Residents of Raahe either left for Sweden, run to Northern Finland, or hiding in the woods. The unlucky ones were captured, tortured, and imprisoned.

​When peace was achieved, the survivors and entrepreneurs rebuilt the town. They restored it to its former glory. From the city hall and other wooden buildings. Not only were the buildings restored, but the town also grow and prosper. After obtaining the staple town right and the right to sail freely to other countries, they were able to export goods. Some of these goods include pitch and tar, timber, pelts, and butter. Having ports give them an advantage to easily trade with other countries and towns.

As the town grows economically so thus their population. The increase in population also increased the skills of its inhabitants. Some of the inhabitants are craftsmen thus they can create products that increased their export. As the town progressed, the difference in social status had been more evident. The wealthier the family is, the nearer they are in town. Those who are in power, like the mayor and other members of the city council, would also build their homes in the city center.

The prosperity of the town had been more evident when new homes and establishments had been built. The rise of two-story homes. The size of the homes also depends on the wealth of the family. The wealthier the family, the bigger the homes. These homes also come with huge plots and are in the center of the town.

​Poorer families would live on the outskirts of the town, in smaller homes, and smaller pieces of land as well. Raahe was never known as an agricultural town so smaller plots in the outskirts, do not affect the products they produce. Progress also resulted in the extension of the town's territory.

At the height of the progress of the town, comes a huge fire. The fire had engulfed most of the homes and buildings in the town center. The city was one of the buildings badly hit. The whole building was damaged including the records in it.

The other part of the town where the church and smaller homes were located was saved from the fire. The fire that had engulfed Raahe had opened an opportunity to rebuild the town and create a new plan. This has resulted in building the market to be bigger and located in a more strategic area.

​New guidelines for building homes had also been established. No two-story homes could be built, instead, homes would have stone bases and these will be uniform. Despite the changes in the market and the homes, the width of the roads remains the same.

Raahe was later connected to other parts of Finland when a railway was finally connected to the town. It took some years for the project to be completed but this had been helpful to the residents of the town. It is almost the same time that the railway got connected that the sailing ship was replaced by steamboats.

This did not deter the trade that happens between Raahe, the surrounding towns, and even other countries. Instead, the steamboats strengthened the trading industry of the town.

​In 1960, Rautaruukki steelworks opened a factory in the town. This attracted people to come to Raahe and stay there for good. 7000 men were employed in the factory to date. This also pushed for new and rapid changes in the town. The rise in population means that new homes are needed.

This almost demolished the wooden homes. However, instead of demolishing the old homes, they created a new center. Government services were also moved to the new center. The old wooden homes were preserved. To this date, when visiting Raahe, the evidence of this period could be seen. On the other side of town where more modern homes and amenities were present and preserved wooden homes.

The preservation of the old town saved 150 homes and around 200 outbuildings. The old part of the town is not just a remnant of the town. Instead, the old town is still part of Raahe which is being occupied by its residents. The preservation had proven that years later, despite development, old homes can still be used.

​Throughout centuries of watchmaking there have been many iconic watches characterized by rich history, strong brand legacy, and advanced technical features. Here are only a few icons of the watchmaking industry that receive admiration to present day. 

​The Omega Speedmaster Professional is undoubtedly one of the most iconic watches ever created. Nicknamed the Moonwatch, it took part in several moon landings and a rescue mission in space. It has been an irreplaceable element in NASA's official kit for decades. Its timeless design is yet another factor that makes it so recognizable and loved by watch wearers. 

​The Rolex Daytona is one of the legendary watches of the popular Swiss brand. Surprisingly, when it was launched in 1963, it didn't receive much appreciation. As time passed, it gained popularity as an accurate, practical, and aesthetically pleasing sports watch that could be worn in both formal and casual situations. This led to the market prices exploding. Today, Daytona is one of the most desirable Rolex models. 

​At one point, the Patek Philippe Calendar Chronograph held the record for the most expensive watch to be sold at an auction ($7.38 million). What makes this timepiece so pricey is the fact that it is the first wristwatch to have both a perpetual calendar and a chronograph function integrated in it. Also, it is the very first watch to be equipped with such complications. Patek Phillipe produced a limited number of this model. 

When it comes to innovation, the Japanese brand Seiko is hard to beat. In 1969, they created the first quartz watch, the Seiko Astron, that caused the popularity of mechanical watches to drop dramatically.

​Aside from introducing a new concept in the watchmaking lexicon, Seiko’s innovative engineers equipped the timepiece with a GPS mechanism, making it the first-ever GPS solar watch. The new technology allowed the wearer to adjust the time to a specific location with one push of a button. Moreover, being powered by the sun, the watch didn't require charging and winding. 

​Also called the watch that won the war, the A-11 is an icon of American watchmaking. It was specially created for the Allied soldiers in World War Two. As the environment required, it had to be shock-resistant, legible, and accurate. Aside from its utilitarian purpose, its robust design and vintage classic style makes it a coveted accessory for many watch enthusiasts today. 

​The Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle marked a revolution in the segment of navigation and pilot watches. The timepiece had a rotating disc that allows for the synchronization of the second-showing hand with a radio GMT signal.

This helps to calculate the longitude and latitude and determine the geographical position. Thanks to this feature, the Longines Longbergh Hour Angle is one of the most popular navigation watches to this day.  

​Here are some of the most famous goldsmiths in the world.

​Andrien Vachette was an illustrious French goldsmith who was the personal jeweler of Louis XVIII. He created gold boxes, jewelry pieces and other precious items for the king. One of Vachette's signature designs was jewelry with tortoiseshell incorporated in it. He loved adding natural materials into his designs which at that time was not practiced by any other goldsmith. 

​Paul Storr is one of the prominent goldsmiths of the British Regency era who created stunning Neoclassical style jewelry and ornate pieces. His work was appreciated by the royalty with King George III and King George IV being some of the notable purchasers of his art. Storr's pieces are displayed today in Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Learning the craft from Andrien Vachette, Jean-Valentin Morel became a master of goldsmithing recognized in the entire France. After the apprenticeship, he opened his business in 1818 dealing in stone cups, inlay patterns and later embossed products.

​Morel's most successful project was the shop Morel & Cie which he founded in collaboration with silversmith Henri Duponchel. They created vases, jewelry, table silverware, and precious trinkets that were purchased by Pope Gregory XVI, the King of Sardinia, and William III of the Netherlands. 

Jean Paul Miller was a remarkable 20th-century goldsmith and jeweler originated from the United States. He completed the Cleveland School of Art where he studied enameling and granulation, which involved placing tiny beads of precious metal on gold surface without using the solder.

​His fine works inspired by the natural world are displayed in the Smithsonian Institute, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Yale University. 

Jacelyn Burton was the first woman to become part of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, which for seven centuries had been dominated exclusively by men. The British goldsmith has received the De Beers International Award in 1967 and the United Kingdom Jeweller Award in 1995.

​Her work was inspired by nature subjects and evoked emotion, elegance, and femininity, which helped her stand out from men's work. While she was mainly focused on jewelry, she also made architectural lighting, tableware, and flatware. 

​Jo Hayes Ward is easily recognized by her unique jewelry built around intricate 3D patterns. She positions differently shaped blocks or facets close to or on top of each other, so the light is reflected off the golden surface. She creates the design digitally, then 3D prints it in wax to later cast it in gold. 

A recent winner of the UK Jewellery Awards, Ellis Mhairi Cameron is one of the most promising and notable contemporary goldsmiths and jewelry designers. She takes her inspiration from the rough terrain of her native Scotland creating stunningly organic pieces that are shaped like shards and evoke strong relation to wild nature.

​Traveling is a unique experience that helps you recharge your mind and body, discover the world, and change the way you see things. If it is not listed yet among your hobbies, here are seven reasons to fall in love with travel. 

​Traveling gives you the chance to familiarize yourself with different cultures around the world. By interacting with the locals and their traditions, you learn to accept the differences and similarities between people and respect other visions and ways of life. 

​Traveling teaches much more than a textbook does. It allows you to fully immerse yourself in the country's environment and learn about their geography, gastronomy, culture, history, and languages. No recipe book can render better the rich flavor of the Indian food than a restaurant in an Indian town, and no geography book can teach better about Norway's landscapes than a hike on one of Norway's nature trails. 

Daily hardships and monotonous routine can negatively affect your mental health, causing stress and depression. A vacation in an unexplored territory can help you escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with yourself and the natural environment.

​Exploring new places and cultures is a great way to relax and recharge your batteries. You clear your mind of negative thoughts and fill it with positive energy and beautiful memories. 

​Even if you are not an innate explorer, traveling stimulates this quality in you. It takes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you to adapt to the new surroundings and engage with the lifestyle of the local communities. The novelty and beauty of the new place tempts you into trying and tasting new things and embarking on adventures that seemed unthinkable before. 

​Everybody feels the need once in a while to escape reality and go to a faraway place where nobody knows them and has no expectations from them. A place where you can enjoy anonymity and have the freedom of picking any spot on the map and go explore it anytime you want. Traveling gives you this opportunity, allowing you to fall off the radar and roam unexplored territories.

A trip to a remote destination can really change the way you perceive things in life. You learn to be grateful for what you have and recognize the importance of things that you didn't consider so important before.

​Also, you learn to be respectful and tolerant of other people and accept differences between other cultures and yours. Practicing acceptance while traveling helps you become more humble and conscious. 

​When you travel to different countries, you have the chance to try different cuisines and indulge in local delicacies. If you are fan of gastronomy, you will have a great time trying new flavors and discovering new ways and techniques of cooking. After all, getting familiar with the local food will help you learn more about the country's culture and understand its people better.

It's the end of an era for Katherine Von Drachenberg, a 37-year-old superstar tattoo artist turned entrepreneur. After 12 years of helming her best-selling vegan-friendly cosmetics company Kat Von D, Von D decided to call it quits and turned to other projects, namely, raising her child, developing her growing vegan-friendly shoe company, and even preparing the release of her upcoming album and supporting world tour. ​

In the official announcement, which came through her Instagram on January 16th, Von D expressed heartfelt thanks to her fans for their support over the years, and for understanding and respecting her decision to leave the company. ​

Having realized that she can not devote maximum attention to all her pursuits simultaneously, Von D said she decided, with regret, to exit the cosmetics business, thankful for being given the opportunity to challenge contemporary standards of beauty. ​

Reflecting on her time with the company, she identified compassion and genuine artistry as her primary driving forces in running the Kat Von D brand. Having felt like an outsider to the world of beauty for most of her life, Von D said she sought to empower those who stood out by providing them with tools for their unique self-expression. ​

Kendo has been partnered with Kat Von D since the latter's launch in 2008. While the new sole owner of the brand has made a pledge to remain committed to producing cruelty-free products, they've announced that the cosmetics line will be rebranded as KVD Vegan Beauty, effective immediately. ​

Von D, known for her pale complexion and coal-black hair, initially rose to fame in 2007 as a reality television star. Miami Ink, and later, LA Ink chronicled her life as a tattoo artist for several seasons. During the show's run, she broke the Guinness World Record for most tattoos given by a single artist in the space of a day. ​

Before starting her cosmetics business, she published two books: one compilation album of her tattoos and artworks, and one illustrated diary of a year in her life. Rumors of her personal beliefs have attracted much controversy in recent years, making her association with the Kat Von D brand somewhat contentious. Publicly denying accusations of anti-Semitism and affiliation with the anti-vaxxer movement in a YouTube video did little to temper mass boycotts of her products. ​

By all accounts, the founder and the company parted ways on amicable terms. In her Instagram announcement, Von D expressed trust in Kendo's vision for the brand, saying that the decision to leave her cherished cosmetics line in their hands had not been made lightly. She also stated that she hopes the rebranded line will continue to grow and thrive under new management and promised her followers that the transition will be seamless. ​

People love their free-time and we all have free time at one point or another, but deciding what to do with that free time is no easy task. Luckily, we have hobbies and the options are truly endless when it comes to them but what are the most popular hobbies today? Keep reading to find out. ​

Believe it or not, television is a hobby and its likely one of the most popular there are worldwide. Today there are more ways than ever for people to watch the shows they love such as; Simpsons, Netflix, Cable, Satellite, Hulu, Disney+, etc, and with new ways popping up all the time - this is a hobby that is not going anywhere. Spending your free time doing something that takes little to no effort, passing the time, immersed in a new world ... can't complain about that. ​

If you're looking for a way to unwind with nature then fishing might be for you. People love fishing and its a very popular hobby worldwide, whether you're looking to eat or just enjoy the motions - fishing gives people the opportunity to truly enjoy nature. Another thing that keeps this hobby ever-growing is that there are different options. Looking for a more difficult time, ice fishing might be for you. ​

This is another hobby that lets you become one with nature but you can't be afraid to get dirty. Gardening is loved worldwide and has many benefits, the most obvious being food. Many people love to grow their own foods and gardening is the hobby to do that. For others, it's like creating art with gifts from the earth, regardless of the reasoning - gardening will likely continue to be a most popular hobby. ​

Coins, stamps, toys or comics, the options here are endless. People have been collecting for a long time and will continue to for the simple fact that people love what they love and who wouldn't want to be surrounded by those exact things. ​

Crafting is popular among people of all ages, there's something about letting your creative juices run wild and making something from scratch that attracts people. With sites like Etsy around, crafting is only getting more popular. What better way to spend your free time than doing something you love that can lead to monetary compensation. ​

Likely the most controversial hobby on the list but also one of the most popular. Kids love video games. Adults love video games. Video games are everywhere and popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Technology has come a long way and video game lovers are lovin' it! With new games popping up weekly and consoles advancing at rapid rates, video gaming is only going to get bigger. The online world makes it even more immersive than ever, making it easy to pass hours. ​

Whether it’s learning what kind of cardio you should be doing or understanding that you might be doing your sit-ups wrong, Healthymes has you covered with fitness tips that just make sense. With detailed information provided in every section of their fitness tips section, they make sure that you will be spending less time trying to get into shape, and more time actually doing it!

The main aim of Healthymes is to provide you with constant fitness tips, ideas and solutions that are going to help you turn that excess flubber into something leaner, healthier and sexier. However, fitness and exercise in general is something that most people absolutely detest – they just cannot get in the mindset for it.

With the help of Healthymes, though, preparing for elite and considered fitness management is far easier than ever before. They’ll give you plenty of help and assistance with exercise videos and workout planning assistance to help you get into shape on a regime that fits with your lifestyle. They also provide useful information such as;

• Fitness videos to help you understand the best ways to get over those tough days where you feel like you’re running on empty.
• Workout videos to aid you in understanding not just what exercises to carry out, but how to carry them out in the right way.
• The best ways to exercise – such as learning how to breathe right, how to manage your cardio and how to get into the fitness mindset.
• Plenty of fitness plans and regimes built around high-intensity workout for those who want to turn that extra layer of fat into a human piece of Kevlar!

All it takes to get into the level of physical fitness and general body conditioning that you need is a desire to learn. With Healthymes, you get access to all the information that you could need. Be sure to keep an eye on the latest developments from their site as we regularly add new fitness plans and ideas to the table.

One thing you will absolutely need, however, is motivational assistance. They provide you with all the help that you need to see the benefits of a workout and staying involved with exercise. If this sounds like your main weakness then be sure to check out their fitness tips and planning ideas for the long-term, and make your fitness journey that little bit easier! Check out their fitness content if you need any other help or information.

​​Potty training is one of the most important things for children since this will keep them and the house clean. If a child is trained well, everything will be easier for a mother like me because I will not get frustrated to clean the mess that could happen anytime and anywhere in the house. For cleanliness purpose, I have an intention to train my little child so that she can do her potty in the proper place. Some of potty training tips that I implement to my little girl are as follows.

​Before I start potty training my child, I consider her age whether she is ready or not. I start the training when she is 2 years old. I think this is the right time to start because she start to understand what I say. I introduce the training to her in a very simple words so she could remember and get what I mean. Keeping any of her good attitude would be very good start for the training.

​In doing a toilet training, the first thing to prepare is a comfort potty chair. This chair will become the spot where she will do the potty during the training. I put the chair in the toilet and show her how to use by taking her to the toilet every time I use it. She copies what I do in the toilet giving me certain sign that my child start to understand what is the training all about. Now, she can do the potty business in her potty chair although sometimes she makes accident which is fine.

​Every time my child does the right thing that is doing her potty business in the potty chair, I give her certain reward or incentive. This kind or reward is very effective to encourage her to do right things. This makes everything easier because she has certain goal to get the reward. The reward is not always as things, this could be a praises, hugs and kisses. I’m very happy that the training could go well and my child gives her best understanding about it. 

​Finally, those simple tips can be followed by every mother for potty training boys or potty training girls that they have. All it needs is patience to guide the child to do the right things in doing potty so that the cleanliness of the house is kept well.

​I have a little boy and I wonder when to start potty training for him because I think he is old enough to have such training. I have some plans to keep my little boy on a potty training so that he will be able to do potty in the designated place. I know that this might take quite long time before he is independent and do everything in the toilet by himself. 

Some people say that mothers can do the potty training in 3 days. But I think, 3 day potty training will not be enough to make him independent. There many things to do and these cannot be done in three days. However, I need to set the plans and easy guides for him so that he could understand the potty training that I try to make him understand. I follow some expert keys on how to potty train so that I will get my expectation from the potty training.

​If there is a question “how to start a potty training?”, the answer will be “get a potty chair”. This is the first thing that I take into consideration before starting the training. This will become the “place” where my little child does his potty. This chair is specially designed for children for potty training purposes. I choose the most interesting one so that my child will get interested to use it. I also consider the comfort and safety of the chair so that my child will use it safe.

​After getting the potty chair, I always take my little boy every time I use the toilet. I place the potty chair in the toilet so that he will think that potty business should be done in the toilet. This is very important to keep such thought in my child’s mind so that he will get used to it easier. Every time my little boy does the potty in the toilet, I praise and kiss him as such reward. This works for him that he does the potty business in his potty chair since then. 

However, I need several months to make it works. Potty training needs time and the mother’s patience. Sometimes my little child resists it that make me think that he might be not ready yet and should take a break. I will repeat the routine in several weeks after he is more ready. I do this cycle for three times before my little boy is trained well.  Now, he always do the potty in the proper place and I can say that the training works.

The ability to interact and communicate with people in both verbal and non-verbal skills is a valuable skill in business, and the lack of it will result in stunt growth. Socialization is needed for both clients and staff in an organization. An entrepreneur who cannot boast of social skills should be able to employ people with the skills although charity begins at home, many benefits come with being social in business.
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Having social skills does not end in just being able to communicate. Skills like proper listening, self-expression, being quiet when necessary, comportment during public speaking, and how to deal with personal or professional rejection are also essential.

The following are top 5 social skills needed by an entrepreneur to move a business to heights:

It is important to note that there is more to speaking as an entrepreneur. Not knowing what to say and how to say it has crumbled so many businesses, this is why companies hire seasoned marketers, having this skill sets an entrepreneur out from others if it is done with confidence.

​Having this knowledge is part of social skills because building mutually beneficial relationships in business is a good potential for significant opportunities in the future. Therefore, it is important to note the contribution someone would bring to the table if being met for business.

​An entrepreneurial should possess excellent listening skills, ask clarifying questions, give full and undivided attention, and ask questions when necessary. A good entrepreneur should be able to compare and pass judgment, think of his next response, and not filtering speeches or listening only to what he wants to hear.

​Most times, clients try to put entrepreneurs in a tight corner. Knowing the right answer to a question and the best attitude but would want to observe the body language of the entrepreneur, lack of proper communication skills creates dysfunctional leadership and leaves an entrepreneur misaligned. There is a need to be immediate, direct, and clear about thoughts and feelings. Focus on being heard and being able to distinguish between facts and feelings in any situation.

Since people fear silence, it can be leveraged to drive great points. It is important to speak slowly instead of speaking fast as it can be misinterpreted as nervousness or anxiety, which may undercut the message. Silence, on the other hand, can be used to gain composure and collect thoughts and hit points.
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The importance of building valuable skills and continuously improving strengths is a vital aspect of entrepreneurship. For the fact that the world keeps advancing and growing in every aspect which business is not an exemption, there is a need for continuous improvement in other to meet up with the global trend.