The History of Disney World

Walt Disney World is the happiest place on earth.  If you have ever been there, you can attest to the magical experience that Disney brings to families.  The Disney company now stands as one of the largest in the world with connections in television, entertainment, sports, and merchandise.  The most notable location of the Disney company is Disney World itself. But as with any giant success, it started out as a dream. And with any dream, there is a lot of work that went into making it a reality.

Walt Disney Himself

Now the history of Disney World starts with Walt Disney himself.  Walt Disney grew up in the small town of Marceline, MO.  His father was a family-oriented person who wanted nothing more than to support his three children.  And Walt himself was no stranger to arduous work. At the age of 8, him and his brother Roy got a paper route to help bring in extra money for the family.  After serving in WWII, Walt moved to California to pursue his dream of becoming a cartoonist. He was a man who believe in dreams and was famous for saying “if you can dream it, you can do it.”  This belief was tested.

You have heard of Walt’s most famous cartoon creation, but his first try at it ended in failure.  Originally, Walt created not a mouse, but a lucky rabbit named Oswald. However, through a loophole in a contract, he lost all the rights to Oswald, which forced him to start again.  On his train ride home, he began sketching a mischievous little mouse, one we would come to know as Mickey.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse was the spark that lit the fire that would become the Disney company.  After starring in his first smash cartoon, Steamboat Willie, the Disney production company gained a name for itself as a studio who brought sight and sound together.  That little mouse was the gateway to creating the first full length animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and many more films to come.  But there were still grander ideas and dreams that Walt was ready to make come true.

Disneyland

Walt settled down with the love of his life, Lillian, and they had two daughters together.  Every Saturday Walt and his girls would go on an outing, which inspired his latest idea. What if there could be a place where children and adults could enjoy their time together?  Something beyond a carnival or a fair, but a true theme park. Thus, the idea for Disneyland was born.

Now this project would be a major undertaking, but Walt decided to do it right.  He continuously aimed for perfection and a way for guests to be 100% immersed in this world while being able to leave the real world behind for a bit.  With the magic of Mickey Mouse as his guide, his brother Roy helping with the accounting and auditing services, and some help financially from ABC, the world’s first theme park was opened in Anaheim, CA on July 17, 1955.  Disneyland featured some of the classic attractions we know and love today such as the spinning teacups, The Jungle Cruise, and a classic carousel.  

“The Florida Project”

While Disneyland proved a remarkable success, Walt could not stop dreaming.  They had limited space to grow in California, so Walt and Roy began exploring new options, one of which was the state of Florida.  The state can already boast many extraordinary places to see on Florida’s Gulf Coast, so what if he moved a little inland?  Central Florida was swampy, hot, had mosquito problems, and a significant risk of lightning strikes, but where many saw problems, Walt saw opportunity.  After buying the land in secret over a course of several months, he bought an area totaling 42 square miles to begin what he called “The Florida Project.”  A space with this much potential could hold all of Walt’s future ideas. Beyond the classic Magic Kingdom, his first endeavor was to create an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT.  An actual living area of the future.

Sadly, Walt would not live to see Disney World open.  After dying from lung cancer, Roy Disney stepped up to complete the excellent work his younger brother started.  The park opened on October 1st, 1971, dedicated to Walt by Roy. At the ceremony, Roy proudly brought Mickey Mouse up to the podium with him, because it was the closest thing he could get to having his brother there.  Walt may not have been there in person, but his never-ending pursuit of impossible dreams has left a legacy of greatness and created magical memories for so many children and families alike.

The Disney Attitude

Since Walt Disney World’s opening in 1971, the park has only grown.  Disney World now consists of four unique theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs shopping area, over 25 resorts, golf courses, and ESPN’s World of Sports and boasts 70,000 cast members working there every day.  Everyone working on property is a cast member rather than an employee because every person who wears a Disney name tag is helping to create a magical experience for the guests. They all learn the unique traditions and values of Walt Disney and continue his work of making the world a happier place.  

Innovative Ideas Today

Not only is Disney World working to make the world a better place, but their new and innovative ideas are creating a cleaner world as well.  The overall organization recycles by not using garbage bag and exploring laundry wastewater recycling options.  Also, to take care of their mosquito problem, rather than introducing pesticides into the park, there other animals brought that eat mosquitoes to get rid of them.  

Disney also brings in a significant percentage of their cast members through the Disney College Program and the International College Program.  Students at traditional universities or accredited online education programs can spend a semester learning how to make magic for guests in the most magical place on earth.  And they get college credit!

Disney World and the Disney company are now leading the entertainment industry with new and innovative motion capture and animation skills.  They will continue to grow and expand and spread joy and magic. But as Walt Disney would say “it was all started with a mouse” — a mouse and a dream.

If You Like These Shows, You’ll Love These Books

After your 12th episode on Netflix, you may be wondering what you’re doing with your life. You’d like to be more productive, but not too productive. You’d like to pass the time, and also stimulate your brain a little more. If the gnawing desire to do more than stare at a TV screen for hours on end describes you, pick up one of these books and binge read instead of binge watch!

 

If You Like Frontier, You’ll Love Matt Miller in the Colonies: Book One: Journeyman

If you’re into the American-Canadian drama series, Frontier, you will love Journeyman, which is the first book in the Matt Miller in the Colonies series. Set in Colonial America, Matt has traveled back in time. With no way home, he must now live life as a colonist, with only the skills and knowledge he has from modern times. Matt knows no one, and seemingly has no skills, making surviving the 18th century harder than he expected.

 

If You Like Jessica Jones, You’ll Love Gates of Midnight: Warrior of the Gate

Just can’t get enough super hero action, but want something a little different from the overdone heroes we get in such large doses nowadays? Find a new heroine to admire in Gates of Midnight by Debbie Lynn Smith. Follow Raven Moon as she investigates the truth behind her father’s death. Raven soon discovers the world is full of dark secrets, and you will, too with this empowering graphic novel.

 

If You Like The Handmaid’s Tale, You’ll Love XX v XY: The Final World War

The terrifying story of women being utterly controlled, is gripping in The Handmaid’s TaleXX v XY is a story with many similarities. The setting takes place in a future where men and women have split the USA in half. The East is controlled by President X, who believes women are there to serve and just be beautiful. Women from the East are subjected to physical and mental-altering treatments to make them all clone-like replicas of the “ideal” womanly image. In the West, women have decided to take a pill to suppress their “weaker” emotions. The two sides are vastly different, unable to co-exist as the final world war sets upon them.

 

If You Love The Crown, You’ll Love The Prince

If you can’t get enough of the royal scandal The Crown provides, try reading The Prince by Nanishka Torres. In this LGBTQ-friendly novel, a Prince’s lover is kidnapped by a radical religious group. Held captive in a game of subterfuge, the royal family must decide what to do next. High-stakes and daring heroes, The Prince is a read for our times.

 

If You Are Inspired by Netflix Documentaries like Miss Representation, You’ll love the book: How Women Negotiate from a Position of Strength

If you strive to be better and feel inspired by learning all you can to be a powerful woman, you need to start reading How Women Negotiate from a Position of Strength. Build core expertise, fortify your personal brand, and master negotiation and deal-making skills. It’s time to grow as a person, put the remote away, and grab a copy of this empowering book.

 

If You Like Hell on Wheels, You’ll Enjoy The Engine Woman’s Light

If you like the gritty action and crime theme of Hell on Wheels, you’ll find the same in The Engine Women’s Light. Set in the 19th Century, one woman must find a way to stop a hell-bound train and end the corruption that’s costing lives. Explore the nineteenth century steampunk world where ancestors make ghostly visits, and heroes must make unsavory decisions.

 

Do You Love a Good Mystery Show: a Classic Like Columbo, Sherlock, or a New Release like Broadchurch? Then You’ll Love Baker’s Dozen

If nothing grabs your attention like a captivating mystery, you need to read Baker’s Dozen, the first book in the Lexi Fagan series. A new genre labeled “urban cozy”, this novel brings all the comfort of a traditional cozy mystery, with a twist. It is set in the urban landscape of San Francisco and is a touch sexier and tenacious than a typical cozy. Lose yourself in the mystery behind burnt cookies and mistaken identities.

 

If You’re a Fan of Bladerunner, You Need to Read Mostly Human: A 4Pollack Novel

If you liked the gritty story of replicants and space from Bladerunner, you must read Mostly Human: A 4Pollack Novel. In it, 4Pollack is the fourth clone of the once famous detective named Pollack. His mission is to find out why the last clone died. Set on the planet Mars in the future, 4Pollack is soon taken on dark and murderous path.

 

Is Frasier One of Your all-time Favorite Shows? Then You’ll Get a Kick Out of Next Therapist Please

Like the TV show Frasier, Next Therapist Please combines humor and wit with the never-ending search for the perfect therapist. This book is a humorous take on the struggles of OCD, anxiety, and depression. Laughter is the best medicine, and this book will have you smiling as you relate to the frustration, struggles, and hardships that Janie endures as she moves from one therapist to the next.

 

If You’re into All Things Science Fiction like Star Trek or Farscape, Check out The Fifth Battalion

If you consider yourself a science fiction lover, you’ll want to pick up a copy of The Fifth BattalionIn this fast-paced adventure, planet Earth isn’t what it seems. Controlled and enslaved, our planet is really an immortal prison used for a galactic ruler to punish criminals. One man leads the cause to escape Earth in an epic struggle for freedom.

 

If You Like The Man in The High Castle, You’ll Love The Fuehrer’s Blood

The Man in the High Castle is an alternate reality in which the Axis power won WWII and the USA is under control of Germany and Japan. While you’re waiting for the next season to come on Amazon Prime, try reading The Fuehrer’s Blood by Shreyans Zaveri. Like The Man in the High Castle, you will experience an alternative ending to WWII, one in which Hitler doesn’t commit suicide.

 

If You Like American Horror Story, You’ll Love Wraith Ladies Who Lunch

Do you love the bizarre nature of American Horror Story, with the unusual plots and twists? Then you’ll enjoy reading Sean Patrick Traver’s novels. His most recent, Wraith Ladies Who Lunch, is a novella, so it will be a quick and fun read once you’ve decided to pause the T.V. Wraith Ladies Who Lunch is a paranormal story of a mummy, whose body is displayed at LACMA, but her soul is bound to Earth. She and her Victorian era soul-friend meet at the nearby Cheesecake Factory and discuss how they can move on to the other world.

 

If You Like This Is Us, You’ll Love The Path of Lucas

If you get that warm and fuzzy feeling while watching the family on This Is Us then you’ll enjoy cuddling up with Path of Lucas by Susanne Bellefeuille. Written about her life growing up, and the struggles her family faced as her mother was slowly lost to mental illness, the story is real and poignant. Lucas, the ever-adoring husband and father, has no option but to try to save his wife from herself, and he defies the doctors to do so.

Sexual Harassment: On the Rise or Just Into the Light?

From politics and Hollywood, to teachers and students, to the NFL and more, sex scandals are all around us. They’ve even taken over our social media news feeds with the recent #MeToo movement. But with accusations flying, fingers pointing, and signs a-waving, it bears the question, what’s really going on here?!

Sexual Harassment v. Sexual Assault

First, let’s get our definitions straight. Sexual harassment paints a broad stroke and can be anything from an unwanted invitation to an unwelcome comment. Harassment, in fact, doesn’t even necessarily have to be of a sexual nature. Making a comment about a woman’s height or a man’s thinning hair can be considered harassment, if it’s taken as an insult or delivered in a certain way. In the workplace, in particular, harassment must be frequent or severe enough to create a ‘hostile work environment.’ Outside of the workplace, there’s no such rule.

Sexual assault, on the other hand, is strictly physical in nature. An assault is unwanted, unsolicited sexual contact that usually involves force. Attempted rape, forcible sodomy, and similar acts are all considered sexual assault.

One of the current issues, though, is whether or not the definitions have changed. Some experts suggest that harassment is defined and perceived differently based on your age and generation. Millennials, for example, are less likely to tolerate an uninvited touch than a Generation X’er while Baby Boomers rarely use the term ‘sexual harassment’ at all.

Sexual Harassment by the Numbers

We know that sexual harassment is really nothing new (even if the terms have changed) but what do the numbers say?

According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incent National Network), sexual violence has actually dropped by almost half since 1993.

But, at the same time, the EEOC is estimating that nearly 75% of all workplace sexual harassment incidents are going unreported. In other words, according to the EEOC, it’s a bigger problem than we think.

With such conflicting numbers, again, it begs the question, what is really going on? It’s hard to get the full picture when definitions won’t line up and statistics don’t add up.

Is This a Political Thing?

One proposed explanation for all this noise and confusion is that politics play too big a role in the conversations.

It’s been noted, for example, that the #MeToo movement is mostly dominated by progressive and liberal females. The Hollywood actresses at the forefront of the movement are notably all liberal in their political ideologies.

Similarly, it’s been mentioned that nearly half of all white females voted for Trump in 2016, despite the sexual harassment allegations that surfaced during his campaign. And of these conservative females, few are participating in the #MeToo movement or coming forward with sexual harassment allegations themselves. In other words, conservative women, it’s been suggested, don’t seem to have an issue with harassment.

So, is this all just about politics?

There are no conclusions being drawn here but clearly there are some interesting discrepancies at the center of this sexual harassment epidemic. For everybody’s sake, hopefully things start to become clearer.  

Get a Good Mattress for the College Years

The college years are ones of experiment and growth; of doubt and hope. So many demands are placed upon college students that it is easy for them to forget to take care of themselves, to burn the proverbial candle at both ends. The result can be complete exhaustion and the need for a sound night’s rest in order to recharge the intellectual and physical batteries for the next day. This will come a lot easier if the college student has got a good mattress to depend on, one that is not too soft and not too firm — and not too expensive!

Whether in the dorm or on their own, college students should take the time to invest in the most comfortable mattress you can afford — one that will last them throughout their years at school, and beyond. The brand choices are huge, and continue to grow. Here are a few of the favorite mattress brands on college campuses today:

The Signature Sleep mattress

For students on a fixed budget this is one of the best sleep investments available. It is manufactured with traditional spring technology, but also includes a quilted pillow top of memory foam, combining the two forms into one sweet sleeping experience. At thirteen inches thick, it’s one of the sturdiest mattresses around.

The Contour Signature Sleep mattress

Eight inches of solid spring coils topped with a cotton quilted foam pad, this is the lightweight version of the Signature mattress, made especially for students who might be moving around a lot during their college time. It’s inexpensively priced, too. It’s easy to transport, durable, and guaranteed to aid and abet in getting a sound night’s sleep.

The Memory Foam mattress brand

The original Memory Foam that started it all for the mattress industry, Memory Foam mattresses are one of the most expensive brands on the market, but the benefits should make students give it serious consideration. That’s because it’s consistently rated as the best mattress overall for overnight muscle relaxation, so it’s perfect for college athletes. Plus it comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so in theory you’ll never need to buy another mattress for the rest of your life!

The Trizone Ultimate Dream mattress

With three layers of the latest foam technology, the Trizone is both comfortable and very affordable. The whole thing is stitched together in a cocoon of cotton quilting that gives it extra warmth during cold weather and cooling air flow during the hot summer months.

How to Spot Out-of-State Lawyer Scams

There are some situations that call for you to use an attorney who does not reside in the state where you live. Sometimes this comes into play when you want to purchase or sell property that is in a state other than your primary residence, but there are also many other reasons, such as custody issues when you decide to move and so much more. Most recently many out-of-state lawyers have descended on California trying to take advantage of wildfire victims. As a general rule, an attorney must be admitted to practice in the state in which they are representing their client. This is true for even the simplest issues, like negotiating a contract or going to a short court hearing. But what happens if you feel as if you are being conned by an attorney in another state?

 

Most attorneys are hardworking individuals who are actually looking to represent you on a realistic level because they want to help you get the best results in your case. However, sometimes you will find a few who are not as ethical as they appear to be. It is important to always do your research when you are looking into an attorney for certain matters. Sometimes it helps to have a little extra push, so today we will look at some of the scams that out-of-state lawyers use to scam others.

 

Common Out-of-State Lawyer Scams

 

Case Worth: Clients want to know right off the bat what their case is worth or what they can expect as far as results are concerned. And, though your attorney will probably have a good idea about this, your attorney usually will not tell you an exact amount of what your case is worth right off the bat. There are many types of necessary information that is needed before they can tell you this. If your attorney seems all too excited about your case without information, you could be scammed.

 

Contingency Costs: Your attorney should not make costs contingent on the outcome of your case. This violates an attorney’s rules of professional conduct and, though it does not always point toward a scam, sometimes it does indeed. You should consider what other codes of ethics they would be willing to break just to get you excited about your case.

 

No Communication: If your attorney or their office doesn’t keep good communication with you, you could be scammed. If an attorney is trying to avoid certain aspects of your case or ignoring your calls, this may not be a good attorney for you – especially because they are out of state as it is, so it can sometimes make communication more difficult. Your attorney’s job is to always answer your questions about your case, even if it is not what you want to hear.

 

No Results: If your attorney calls themselves a trial attorney, but cannot tell you about their proven results, it may be a scam. Many attorneys will advertise as trial attorneys when they never actually went to trial. Some attorneys could scam you and make your case worth less than it is worth, which could leave you in the dust when it comes to compensation you deserve.

Why Silicon Valley is Committed to the Cannabis Industry

By David Jackson, MBA

America may not be able to figure out its relationship to cannabis, but Silicon Valley can – and their weed industry is aiming sky-high.

While cannabis is still prohibited on a federal level, in practice, states are in charge of their own legislation on the issue. This means there is no unified cannabis policy from state to state, and an American citizen can find herself becoming a criminal, just by crossing a state line.

Federal Law & Cannabis

Cannabis is legal for recreational purposes in 8 states, meaning that the buying, selling and smoking of marijuana can happen publicly. In 13 others, its decriminalized, which allows an individual to possess a small amount without the threat of prosecution, but selling and trafficking will get you arrested.

29 states have legalized medical marijuana, but the specifics of the policy differ from state to state. In California, you can buy medical weed from a dispensary, whereas in Alaska, you can only grow your own weed for medical purposes at home. You may want to try out vaping without any marijuana, perhaps just some vape with a coffee or mint taste. Visit Smoking Things for more.

Because of this disparate legislation, if you’re selling a vaporizer for weed, you can’t call it a weed vape. In federal law, marijuana is still a schedule 1 drug, which means any paraphernalia that aids the drugs consumption can be federally prohibited.

You can make a gadget for pot and sell it, but you can’t include its real function in any of your marketing. If you do, you risk being banned from selling in some states, making running a national operation nigh on impossible. You are also prohibited from importing any drug paraphernalia from abroad, so if you have a factory in Vietnam, your product won’t be allowed in. That’s why you’ll always read about the best dry herb vaporizer, never the best weed vaporizer.

Despite the shady legality, in the tech hub of the U.S. people are more exciting about the developing weed industry than ever before.

Silicon Valley & Weed: A Love Affair

Lots of people working in Silicon Valley cut their teeth in tech during the dot com boom. It’s hard to believe now, with the dominance of giants such as Facebook and Google, but the early days of the internet were times of great financial risk, which fueled the excitement surrounding it.

Some Silicon Valley investors are chasing the wild-west days of the early internet. They’re looking for a developing industry which still has a sense of danger about it, which offers great returns – and the new legal marijuana industry is just that. The new administration has made the future of federal legalization uncertain, but the astonishing demand for weed signals strong profits.

California is one of the biggest states to offer full legalization, and it’s no coincidence that Silicon Valley, one of California’s biggest money-makers, is getting in on the action. There’s millions of dollars to be made in providing software and ancillary services to the growing marijuana industry, and even more money to be made in developing vape-technology.

The weed industry appeals to another habit of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, which is using science and tech to disrupt areas that were formally the province of hippies and gang-lords. Some of the brightest minds in tech are seizing the opportunity to get involved with this very young and very hip industry.

Young engineers and industry experts – from companies as big as Apple and Google – are leaving their desk jobs to apply their expertise to making a breakout product in this growing industry. Just like cryptocurrency before it, Silicon Valley types are eager to quickly make leeway in this new arena. The willingness of these entrepreneurs, to risk great losses when tempted by great profits, is the heritage of a reckless streak in Californian business that can be traced back to the Gold Rush.

Silicon Valley STEM types are at an advantage when it comes to the burgeoning weed industry, because some of the developments which offer huge profits cannot be created without a background in science and tech. As with every other industry, if you can develop an app that consumers find useful, you can make a fortune.

Nowadays, there is an abundance of marijuana apps operating out of Silicon Valley. There’s WeedMaps, where you can look for weed shops in your area and see their customer ratings. There’s also Leafy, where consumer’s review and discuss different strains of pot. There’s a glut of Instagram-esque apps where people post and like different pictures of pot.

Not only can you find apps, but you’ll also find vape engineers. Some of the biggest developments in tobacco and ‘dry herb’ vaping come out of Silicon Valley. The tech-hub has become a place where people believe in pushing toward the future, so there’s less fear of new industry risks. This fearlessness, combined with tech-savvy, is about to create a lot of Silicon Valley engineers, investors and entrepreneurs, with very high bank balances.

The Best Tips for Surviving Life With Your Roommate

If you are still in the process of choosing the best roommate(s) to live with you and split costs in your apartment, you may find that it can be a stressful process with many aspects to consider. It can be difficult to start out on life “on your own” if this is your very first apartment, and costs can pile up, which is why it can be a smart move to choose a roommate – but you want to be sure that this roommate meets all of your expectations and is somebody you can rely on. This is why it is always important to plan ahead when you are seeking a roommate so you have enough time to look over the fine details and make considerations before it’s too late. Today we want to share some tips with you on how to survive life with your newest roommate(s) to make life easier on everyone!

How to Keep the Peace With Your Roommate

Doing Research on a Prospective Roommate: When it comes to meeting somebody that you could be spending a lot of time with in your apartment, you want to do your research – especially when this is not a long-time friend or family member. You may think that, just because somebody shares some of the same interests, you will instantly click. However, this is not always the case. Be prepared by looking ahead and asking questions about the person to those who know them, as well as past experience with their living situations. 

Setting Initial Ground Rules: This rule applies to all apartments, especially those on-campus at college. You may not be a fan of rules but it is important to have them as a way to come to agreements on specific issues that may arise, such as when “quiet” times take place in your apartment or who cleans what. You don’t want to wait until you have a mess to clean up – get these problems sorted out from the very start, and you will be thankful later.

Good Housekeeping: You may argue over cleaning at times. This is why it is important to manage the cleaning in your household by making a schedule that works for you. Take everybody’s opinions into consideration on these matters.

Balancing Social Lives: You may enjoy having friends over at times, but not all the time. You never want to make every day a disturbance to your roommates and likewise for you, so make sure that you always ask friends before a major event or if somebody wants to spend the night. Coming to an agreement can avoid a fight. 

Having a Backup Plan: You never know when a roommate is going to back out of the lease or return home when the lease must be renewed. As a result, it is always wise to have a backup plan full of potential choices, or being able to manage an apartment on your own. This will keep you feeling safe and secure in the long run for major decisions that could have a lasting impact.

 

The Best Ways to Incorporate Indoor Lighting

Each morning when you wake up and at night when you head to bed chances are you flip a switch. Lighting is a staple in any home that most of us don’t even notice. However if utilized correctly, it can draw the eye to certain elements of design in a room. Lighting can also serve as the focal point by which you base your design. When deciding what lighting to incorporate in your living space, opt for fixtures that add a level of comfort and are energy efficient. Electronics, lighting and other appliances account for 30 percent of a home’s energy use according to the U.S. Energy  Information Administration. For this reason, more and more people are choosing to go with light bulbs that save energy and last longer.

There are four different types of lighting you can work with when designing a well lit home. The first is ambient lighting which highlights undefined space in your home with a soft level of brightness. Next there is task lighting which is brighter light that illuminates a specific area such as the kitchen counter for food preparation. You also have accent lighting which can be used to feature a piece of art in a room or architectural element. All three of these lighting forms can be utilized as decorative lighting to create the look you are trying to accomplish.

Use a Variety of Lighting Fixtures

To effectively light a room, you want to decorate with a number of different types of lighting fixtures. You want them to be at different heights and locations throughout the room. Mix up your lighting with table lamps, floor lamps, and lamps placed on shelving. This will create an even glow throughout the room. It also gives you more options for which areas to highlight at different times of day.

Identify Focal Points to Balance the Room with Light

Place lighting where you feel it is most needed. The best way to create balance in a room is to layer the light that shines throughout. Identify focal points in the room where you will likely need a light source such as a reading chair. The brightest layer of light should aim for that area of focus. You will then want to add a middle layer of light that is visually attractive but does not take away from your focal point. Lastly, you will want to have a background layer of light to complete the space.

Use Lighting to Create the Illusion of a Larger Space

The direction you point the lighting in your home can impact how spacious rooms appear. If you have low ceilings, bounce light from up light fixtures. This will serve to visually raise the ceiling. Some older homes will have ceilings with unattractive surfaces. The best way to distract the eye from zeroing on these points is to use only down lighting such as a chandelier to hide the unsightly areas. If you want to emphasize the height of the room, you can implement long pendant hanging lighting. It will draw the eye up rather than to the ground if the room is smaller in size. You can also make the room seem bigger by choosing light paint colors and soft colored rugs which don’t absorb light like darker colors.

Install Dimmer Switches

Lighting can dramatize and highlight the room according to the mood of the homeowner. The best way you can exert some control over the level of brightness is by installing dimmers. Dimmers help you avoid the mistake of overlighting a room which can create unattractive glares throughout the room.

Stick with a Consistent Bulb Color

Don’t assume that all bulbs will emit the same color white light. Bulbs come in a spectrum of colors from bluish white to yellow white. Take note of the bulb’s Kelvin Color Temperature and choose bulbs with a similar rating. When you go to purchase a lightbulb, chose either halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), or light emitting diodes (LEDs). While they will cost you more upfront, they will save you money in the long term because they are energy efficient.

While lighting your home won’t be the most expensive item on you decor list, you must give it the proper attention so other items such as art and furniture look there best. Lighting can create the overall mood of a room and add to the design aesthetic. If you don’t take note of how light is diffused in your home, you may notice there are unsightly glares or overly bright rooms that detract from your decor.

Meditation Tips When Suffering From PTSD

It is very important to talk to doctors whenever suffering from PTSD since dealing with the condition is necessary in order to have a normal life. Meditation is a way to handle the problem that is highly accessible for everyone. However, the main idea is that you do need help. Physicians can help and here are some recommendations about this from dzhingarov.com.

Look For Therapists That Understand Meditation And Trauma

Not all PTSD cases are the same. For instance, people affected because of sexual assault will have a different trauma than those that went to war. You want to find someone that is experienced in counseling people that were affected by something that is similar to what you went through and knows as much as possible about meditation.

When you work with someone that truly understands both trauma and meditation you can reduce intensity and flashbacks of the associated panic attacks. Meditation is a calming, useful practice that can be central to the entire healing process but making the first step is usually the difficult part.

Find Places Where You Truly Feel Safe For Meditation

If you do not feel safe when you meditate you cannot possibly get in the right state of mind to gain the benefits that are possible. You may feel that you are not in an immediate danger when you are in a location but this does not mean that you are going to meditate without flashbacks. In most cases it is your home where you feel the safest so this is where you should start. Alternatively, if you are having problems even at home, do all that you can in order to secure the location like installing new locks or an alarm.

Practice Mindfulness

Meditation is just one of the ways in which you can be mindful. It is always possible to gain the benefits associated with mindfulness without avoiding difficulties usually associated with trauma and meditation. Distraction is normally really effective during the healing process. If there is something that is triggering your anxiety or PTSD, an activity may help you to become distracted. Some people knit while others work out. Mindfulness can so easily be applied when you do various actions around the home like vacuuming or washing dishes. The idea is that when a flashback happens as you are doing something (preferably something you like), it becomes much easier to move towards what you are doing.

Witness Flashbacks

Last but not least, it can take years of mindfulness practice and therapy to get to the level at which you can just witness the flashbacks and not experience them over and over again. You are taught to acknowledge and witness thoughts as you meditate so you eventually move towards observing the flashback without having to interact with it.

In reality, one of the biggest advantages of using meditation to deal with PTSD is that you can move towards the level at which you are not going to be directly affected by flashbacks. This makes it easier to heal.

Are You Suffering From An Abscessed Tooth?

The abscessed tooth is an infection that happens at tooth root or alternatively between the tooth and the gum. It is generally painful and can be caused by different things. Generally, it is a sign that you are suffering from severe tooth decay. However, it is possible that you have a tooth that is chipped or broken, while gum disease and gingivitis also causing it. Because of the problems you generally have openings present in tooth enamel. Bacteria manage to reach the pulp and an infection appears.

Abscessed Tooth Symptoms

The really common symptoms that you should be aware of are continuous and severe toothache or soothing and sharp pain. You can also be faced with pain as you chew, fever, tooth sensitivity (both cold and hot), mouth bitter taste, swollen neck glands, foul breath smell, gum swelling or redness and a swollen lower or upper jaw.

When root tooth pulp dies because of the infection, toothaches disappear. Unfortunately, this does not mean that the problems are over since infection did not heal. It remains active and will keep spreading, only to destroy more tissue. If the symptoms highlighted appear, do be sure that you go to the dentist as soon as possible. Even if there are natural remedies for tooth abscess, help from the dentist is always really important.

Diagnosis

One of the reasons you absolutely have to go to the dentist is that you want to be sure it is an abscessed tooth you are suffering from. The doctor probes the tooth, causing pain. This is usually a clear sign that an infection is there. Dentists can suspect the presence of abscess when gums are red or swollen. In rarer situations an X-ray will be needed to check for bone erosion signs.

Treatment

Besides the natural treatment options that can help, the important thing is to eliminate infection. At the same time, dentists want to prevent possible complications and preserve teeth. In order to eliminate the infection an abscessed tooth does have to be properly drained. Root canal therapy is normally preferred. If there is diseased root tissue present after having subsided infection, surgery can be used. Crowns are normally placed over teeth in order to avoid future abscesses.

In some situations the only solution is extraction so that proper drainage can be done. Incisions done into gum tissues that are swollen are commonly used when that is where the abscess appears.

Dentists can prescribe antibiotics in order to help deal with the infection and relieve discomfort and pain. Also, regular over the counter medication for pain treatment like ibuprofen may work.

Prevention

As with most problems that can affect your mouth, the best thing you can do is to prevent the appearance of the abscessed tooth in the first place. You want to follow proper oral hygiene practices in order to reduce the possibility that abscessed tooth appears. When you are affected by tooth trauma, the dental attention that is offered by the professional is paramount for prevention reasons.