#leah plays mass effect 3

[ageless-aislynn]

List 5 things that make you happy, then send this question to the last 10 people who liked/reblogged one of your posts.

Thanks so much, @helix-enterprises117 and @mrtobenamedlater for including me!

When I'm playing a video game, sitting here totally alone, not playing co-op or anything, if something good/fun/random happens, I say out loud some variation of, "Chat, check that out. Can you believe that just happened?" like I'm streaming on Twitch or something. Then I laugh, just 'cause. 🤷‍♀️😂

My tol and smol ships. I've loved those who are NOT tol and smol, of course, but I just have a particular love for those who are.

Kara/Luther, Detroit: Become Human

John-117/Talia, Halo the series

Kai-125/Miranda, Halo the series

Frank West/Leah Stein, Dead Rising (Okay, so Frank's not super tol, nor Leah super smol but my man is BURLY, so I'ma call this one accurate, lol).

Frank showing off his thiccc boi status, lol! 😇

3. Managing to 100% a game.

I just have 4 more achievements for Detroit: Become Human to go and I'm about to start the playthrough that should get all of them. 🤞😣🤞Dead Rising has 2 left but they're considerable: 5 Day Survivor and 7 Day Survivor. 5 Day Survivor means playing for 12 hours straight without dying once and without the ability to save. 7 Day Survivor is the same but takes 14 hours. They're both literally real life endurance challenges. Even still, I'm working up a strategy and plan on trying it one day. Just got to make sure I have my meals already planned and ready and that my family knows what I'm doing. I just love the game so much, I'd like to see if I can do it. And I'd like the Laser Sword you get for 5 Day Survivor (it's a lightsaber without the name, lol) and the boxer shorts with heart on them for 7DS. And just to know I was able to figure out a way to conquer them both.

I'll never be able to 100% the Halo Master Chief Collection simply because there are a lot of achievements requiring co-op play. Even without that, I have no desire to try and play LASO and I can't do the ones for "play the entire game on Legendary under 3 hours" even on the game that I'm absolute strongest at (Reach). I can play fast or I can play Legendary, just not both at the same time. 🤷‍♀️

I honestly never thought I'd beat even one modern game on Easy and now being able to complete or nearly complete 4 of them has made me so happy and proud. (I have a bit of a tremor in my hands so I have to adapt my play to account for that.)

4. The Halo theme. 'nuff said. When the game has written itself into your DNA, this song is part of your blood and bones.

5. Funny game glitches/random occurrences. Anything that's not really supposed to happen but then it does and there's something just so silly and ridiculous about it? Yeah, that's my jam!

Sara Ryder, the Pathfinder from Mass Effect: Andromeda, spending an entire gaming session, crouching over and talking to everybody's, um, belt buckles, will NEVER not make me laugh! 😂

No pressure tags (apologies if you've already been tagged/done this one, I'm trailing behind on things, so feel free to skip or do again, however you're inclined): @ionlymadethissoicouldleaveanask @morganas-pendragons @swiftzeldas @aureli-us @authortobenamedlater @blakeivy80 @inthatfandom @emmaswanned @officialnighttime @saltykidcreation 💖💖💖

[oakashandwillow]

20 Questions for Writers

Tagged by @bywayofmemory

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 91. A couple of those are 3SF compilations.

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 115,642

3. What fandoms do you write for? Narnia, mostly. Used to write some Supernatural, Doctor Who but mostly in crossovers. Once we get into 3SF or "i've written this like once" - Star Wars (Mandalorian & Andor/Rogue One in particular), Battlestar Galactica, original stuff, Alex Rider, The Locked Tomb, Mass Effect, DC Comics, Middle Earth (movies, all books, Rings of Power), MCU - a lot. Twilight because of my "what if Renesmee was not... what Meyers wanted her to be" series.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Whose Other Side Is Salvation. Narnia/Doctor Who. Susan and the Doctor run.

we have to go on living. Young Justice. He can't hold it together forever. Robin, post-Failsafe.

to go nowhere with you. Torchwood/Narnia. "Minotaur," Edmund corrects automatically. Edmund/Ianto, time loops, minotaurs, coffee, and rift archaeology of sorts.

give me a world, you have taken the world i was. Hardy Boys. Joe wakes up alone in the dark. Things get worse from there, which sucks, because Frank is supposed to be home from college for Christmas break today.

Secrets Kept. Young Justice. Artemis knows Robin's secret. Spoilers through Young Justice 1x08.

5. Do you respond to comments? I... am nowhere as good as I would like to be at it.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? ... considering all the Narnia and specifically Susan Narnia stories I write that is a hard call. Probably we have come to our real work. AU. When Peter and Lucy hunt the White Stag, Susan and Edmund are in Archenland. Things go downhill from there. It's pretty early in my fic career so it could be a lot better in terms of quality but it is probably the saddest ending I've written. In terms of saddest story that I'm actually proud of? Probably we should take warning, we should forgive each other. Narnia, Prunaprismia, the bitterness of loss and pride and decisions it seems like are the only ones you can make even though they aren't.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Do I.... do I write happy endings.

I suppose my Renesmee series has a pretty happy ending! between one June and another September. Twilight, Renesmee/Leah. Renesmee Cullen comes full circle and falls in love. Does not make much sense without having read the previous works in the series though.

OH wait i gave edmund/bacchus (Narnia) a happy ending in one year since i've seen the mountains. I can write things that are happy!

8. Do you get hate on fics? I am extremely under the radar for almost everything honestly so no! And tbh I just don't have patience for that so would probably just delete and block if it was properly hate.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? I've written some, though it's pretty mild!

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? Look, what haven't I crossed over with Narnia. Merlin (BBC), Doctor Who / Torchwood, Mary Poppins, The Dark Is Rising, The Library Trilogy. I've done Leverage/Supernatural and I don't even know what I've done in various 3SF rounds. If we're counting my RP days I had some WILD character interactions while playing Padme Amidala in particular.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? I doubt it? Never checked.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Once or twice! And podcasted once.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Several times! Only one is actively published and available as a fic though. Winds To Catch, Narnia/Mary Poppins, with @siterlas and animus in the city on A03. A Very Long Time Ago @bedlamsbard and I did like... an alarming amount of words on a BBC Merlin/Narnia crossover in commentfic. (Alarming for me who mostly writes like, maybe 1-2k a fic, not for Bed who's chapters number easily in the multiple thousands of words.) @siterlas and zempasuchil and I once wrote a bunch of AU BBC Merlin RPF commentfic where we wrote both the actors as if they were in a show about Marx and Engels instead and also parts of the fake show that they were in. Definitely various Supernatural and Narnia commentfic across the years. Probably more? Have also written friend fic for Las with Animus and Z. I also did a lot of RP stuff over the years! Which is cowriting though not in the sense we think of with fic.

Actually I really miss commentfic. It's so fun. I sometimes get to do it a little in 3SF but most people don't even know it's a thing you can do these days I think alas. Very informal collaboration is delightful!

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? Yeah I can't answer that. I'm very bad at picking favorites, ever. If we're talking ships I actually write, Susan/Edmund (Narnia), Bo-Katan/Din (Mandalorian) and Kara/Lee (BSG) are probably my top three? But I love... so many ships.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? I started a follow up to my Hardy Boys story and I've noodled with it occasionally and don't think I'll ever properly finish it.

16. What are your writing strengths? I have been told I'm really good at ending lines! I like to think I'm good at just character study.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Plot. Who needs a plot. What is a plot.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I do not trust myself to get it right at all so I just don't overall.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Depends if we count doing RP in which case it's Lord of the Rings. If it's straight fic, Narnia.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? My favorites land in very different categories, so I think I will pick the first fic I wrote that I properly felt "wait, I think I can be good at this writing thing" and still gets received well. this temporary flesh and bone. Narnia. Susan/Edmund. Susan, Edmund, and the zombie apocalypse in England.

I shall tag. @svgurl410 @lyntergalactic @liminal-zone @callowyn @ravenlilyrose

[ashenlavellan]

get to know me better :)

hi there! ^.^

My nickname is Ash and if you're new here or curious about myself, I'd be glad to share some tidbits with you! here we go!

1. What is the story behind my nickname?

I go by the nickname "Ash," not just because my titles through AO3/tumblr are similar, it's also tied into my usernames on games that I go by as well. Most of my close gaming friends call me "Ash," instead of my real name.

2. What types of relationships do I like writing/reading the most?

I mostly write stories with fem!character/male!character pairings, but I'm intrigued and thinking of writing fem!character/fem!character pairings too.

(before anyone asks - I identify as bisexual, so it would be quite easy for me to write stories from fem!POVs with male or female characters.)

3. What/Who was my first fictional crush?

I had the BIGGEST crush on Poison Ivy when I was younger and she was my first ever fictional crush - initially, I believed I was lesbian for awhile too before I realized I was bisexual. (LMAO)

Zuko was my first male fictional crush - his redemption arc and everything meant so much to me. (I shipped him with Katara - but I know us Zutara shippers can still imagine!)

4. What will always be a comfort show / book / movie for me?

Adventure Time - this will always be my comfort show to watch and I adore every single character and liked the gender-bend episodes. ^.^

BOOK -

Throne of Glass - the series will always be comforting for me and got me through some of the darkest times in my life. I highly recommend it and it's an amazing YA series that still has smutty elements, but so much world-building. (Sarah J. Maas is the author).

Howl's Moving Castle - an all-time favorite movie of mine and once I have the time, I will sketch out the rough draft design of the tattoo I've imagined for years. I adore this movie and luckily, my fiance loved it too when I showed him.

5. What fandoms am I involved in / want to be more involved with?

I am heavily involved in the Mass Effect and Dragon Age fandoms, but I'm currently wanting to delve deeper into the Skyrim fandom. I have a series/saga in mind, but I'm working on finishing my Mass Effect project first.

(I was in the ME/DA fandom, but not known back in 2015 - however, I didn't play the games until about 2016 - 2017 ish.)

6. Are there any celebrities that I've personally met? If so, list them.

For sure -

Sarah J. Maas (Author of Throne of Glass/A Court of Thorns and Roses/Crescent City)

Leigh Bardugo (Shadow and Bone / Six of Crows)

David Vincent (Robin - Fire Emblem: Awakening)

Leah Clark (Himiko Toga - MHA / Blair - Soul Eater)

Through Streamily -

Jennifer Hale (Fem!Shep - Mass Effect / Bayonetta - Bayonetta 3)

Courtenay Taylor (Jack - Mass Effect)

Mela Lee (Tiki - Fire Emblem: Awakening / Lifeline - Apex Legends)

Keythe Farley (Thane Krios - Mass Effect)

7. What is an anime(s)/show(s) you highly recommend that's underrated?

Death Parade.

There are only twelve episodes so it's not long at all, but the show is incredible and I wished they released a second season - it did not perform as highly as they wanted since it's such a niche show. It's a psychological thriller with a little bit of comedy here and there...

I highly recommend it and the soundtrack is amazing.

8. What are some songs that mean a lot/describe you as a person? That scratches that itch in your brain?

I have quite a few songs that I particularly like, to the point I could play them on repeat for an entire hour. Here's the list -

Chasing Hearts - Breathe Carolina

Alkaline - Sleep Token

Follow You - Bring Me the Horizon

After Dark - Mr. Kitty

No Pressure - PLVTINUM

9. What's a random pet peeve of yours and why is it?

Any time I'm out walking and/or going to work, I hate it when I press the button to walk across the intersection and another person right behind me presses it after seeing me do it.

Like - you pressing the button right after I did it isn't going to make the timer go faster? Like, where's your common sense??

10. [RANDOM FACT] -

I heavily enjoy and implement zodiac signs into my characters and playlists - however, I know that everyone is not like their zodiac sign. (ex: my own mother has said that I act like an Aries more than my own sign [Cancer]. My moon sign is in Aries though.)

[professorspork]

Shepard: Come on, sir, the quantum entanglement thing isn't the problem. Reaper war's keeping you and Sanders apart. You two just need to bone.

Anderson: What did you say?

Shepard: I said you two need to bone.

Anderson: How... DARE you, Commander Shepard. I am your superior officer!

Anderson: [five minutes later] Bone!!!!

Anderson: [ten minutes later] What happens in my bedroom, Commander, is none of your business.

Anderson: [twenty-one minutes later] ~BONE??!!?!

Anderson: [forty minutes later] Don't ever speak to me like that again.

[ghostxofxartemis]

Writing-tag

I’ve been tagged by both @zet-sway and @rosenkow, thank you both dearly! Sorry it took so long to post this. 

Tagging: @illusivesoul, @nightmarestudio606, @staff-lieutenant-alenko, @lyrishadow, @bardofheartdive and whoever wants to partake, just tag me so I can see! No obligations! (sorry, this tag was going on like last week, I don’t know who got tagged and who didn’t).

--

How many works do you have on AO3?

So far 13 (technically more because there is one work that’s a multitude of one shots for John, which has 2 chapters so a that brings it to a true total of 15),

What’s your total AO3 word count?

42,174.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

In Order: 

1. Midnight Rannoch, M!Shenko

2. Reignite, M!Shepley

3. A Night Out On The Town, ShepShep

4. Addendum: A Collection of Short Stories, M!Shepley (that’s the one-shots mentioned above.) 

5. A Night’s Gather, M!Shepley 

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Yes! I take the time to read them, especially if they are heart warming comments, and it feels amazing to have my work validated, not going to lie since most of my stuff seems to be uninteresting to most it seems? And I absolutely love to reply back! 

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

I don’t have an angsty ending yet, but Reignite, is angsty throughout the whole thing because it takes place during ME2 and I hurt myself while writing it, and I’m quite proud of that.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Till Death Do Us Part.  It is as it sounds my M!Shepley get married post-war. 

Do you write crossovers? If so, what is the strangest one you’ve written?

Nope.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

So far have had nothing but pleasant comments. Seems like people have sticked to “don’t like it, just move on” for now.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No doiiii. Of Course I do!

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nah. 

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

My all time favorite is Shepley. Okay, hear me out before you all start ripping my head off. I started playing Mass Effect in 2007, yes fourteen years ago. There was only ME1 at the time, and if you were playing as BroShep you only had t he choice between Ashley and Liara, and If you were playing FemShep you had Kaidan and Liara (back didn’t I was not a fan of femshep, I seriously only started playing as femshep two or three years ago). I wasn’t a fan of Liara, I found her very pushy and obsessive; I liked Ash, she’s tough, funny, and altogether very similar to me in the tomboy-kind-of-way and so I stuck with her. M!Shenko was not a thing yet. ME2 came along three years later and I wasn’t really a fan of any of the other female crewmates, I chose Miranda but at the time I didn’t like her (She’s grown on me and now I like her).

 So Ended Up Loyal To Ashley. 

ME3 came along in 2012 and MShenko was now a thing. They became my next Ship, but only recently, and along side with playing as Leah, F!Shenko as well. So there you have it. That is why I am very attached to Shepley.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I don’t plan on not finishing any so far? they just might take a while to be posted? If ever because adulting is hard and takes so much time.

What are your writing strengths?

I really don’t know to be honest. I’m still new to this and have a lot to learn/master, and with such little comments to go on from it’s hard to say if anyone is enjoying my stories other than my beta, haha. 

What are your writing weaknesses?

Combat! It’s hard to describe the movement, the layout, the actions themselves. But working on it. 

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I am bilingual, I can easily write French dialogue but choose not too,

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Never posted or shared, but I’m a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, and Xbox had a DND game (I’m talking original xbox here) and I really liked the game so I had written a fanfic mixing the two slightly. 

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

Oof. I have to chose? I’ll pick two.

Reignite this all started with just a prompt too. 

Happy Birthday, Shepard. 

[hunnybadgerv]

A, B, N, O, U, V, Z

From the Fandom Meme

A - Your current OTP(s)/OT3(s)/OTX(s) Currently I’m mainly writing two of them:

fShenko

Jedi Knight/Doc

Though I have WIPS of so, so, so many OTPs and OT3s. 

B - A pairing you initially didn’t consider but someone changed your mind Sharky Boshaw and John Seed. Yep! This is all thanks to Chyrstis’ wonderful writing. She really captures an element between these two that just spans the seeming personality gap so wonderfully. 

Another pairing I was never really a fan of that someone turned me onto was JK/Doc. I didn’t even play Republic side characters until I read @alyssalenko‘s fic for her Trooper and later her JK. It really opened up a whole other world of intriguing characters and storylines, for which I am eternally grateful. 

N - Name three things you wish you saw more or in your main fandom (or a fandom of choice) This was a struggle to answer once, so I’m going to direct you to the previous answer for this one.

O - Choose a song at random, which ship or character does it remind you of

Okay so the shuffle says: You Might Think by The Cars

This one really feels like Leah Rook and John Seed. They go through this kind of boomerang type of situation. It captures the way they can read things about one another, and how they just can’t stay away, and how they keep ending up in one another’s orbit. There’s also an element of the clash between and they way they kind of also keep one another going in some ways. It’s not a healthy relationship or association by any stretch of the imagination. But they keep coming back around and foolishly playing with fire together again. Because when it comes down to it, they both really want to be with one another when you strip everything down to bare bones. 

U - 5 favorite characters from 5 different fandoms Dragon Age:

Varric

Sten

Aveline

Cassandra

Wynne

Mass Effect:

Kaidan Alenko (shocking, I know!)

Kasumi Goto

Thane

Garrus Vakarian

Joker

Middle Earth:

Faramir

Gandalf

Tom Bombadil

Treebeard

Eowyn

Skyrim:

Brynjolf

Vilkas

Cicero

Kodlak

Arngeir

Saints Row:

Oleg Kirrlov

Johnny Gat

Shaundi

Carlos Mendoza

Matt Miller

V - 3 OTPs from 3 different fandoms Going to choose some different fandoms for this one, so I guess I’ll grab up the ones that I have written for in the past. Though to be honest, in hindsight these felt a little trite and obvious. But alas ... here they are.

Far Cry 5

Deputy/Sharky Boshaw

Nick and Kim Rye

Deputy/John Seed

(Though I do adore @chyrstis’ OT3: Sharky/Dep/John Seed)

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Dovahkiin/Brynjolf

Dragonborn/Vilkas

Cicero/The Night Mother

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Jedi Knight/Doc

Lana Beniko/Koth Vortena

Sith Inquisitor/Theron Shan

Z - Just ramble about something fan-related, go go go (prompts optional but encouraged)

I’m going to be totally lazy and point you back to the previous answer to this question. I’m really not in a great space for rambling today. 

[tallmantall]

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – ‘A Sad State Of Affairs’ For #MentalHealth In #America

“I believe I will be helping people navigate the effects of the #pandemic for the rest of my career,” said Leah Seeger, a marriage and family #therapist in Minneapolis. To the Editor: “We Surveyed 1,320 #Therapists Across the Nation. They’re Worried About #MentalHealth in the U.S.” (news article, Jan. 3): #Psychiatrists were not included in this Times survey, sent by Psychology Today to its professional members, but there were references to my field that illustrate a sad state of affairs. A quarter of those polled said #suicidalthoughts were among the leading reasons #patients sought help. Sixty percent said more #patients wanted medication. One clinical social worker noted that a person who was suicidal and depressed had to wait three months to see a #psychiatrist for medication. That waiting time was not just for #psychiatrists: Nearly a third of the #therapists surveyed said it could take at least three months to get an appointment with them, if at all. If a person is severely depressed and suicidal, a professional should evaluate them immediately. I know from being a hospital #psychiatrist throughout my career that this evaluation can be accomplished in an emergency room. The problem is that the necessary, close follow-up care is not accessible to most who cannot pay out of pocket. It is often difficult to find those who will accept fees paid by insurance. As a society, we have to examine our priorities for how money is allocated, and whether #mentalhealth is worth the financial investment. Jeffrey B. FreedmanNew York To the Editor: It’s about time this survey was conducted. I’ve been hitting my head against the wall in frustration since #Covid began, trying to get national coverage of our #mentalhealthcrisis. Now, let’s take needed actions or we will face worsening incidences of #PTSD. As the article stated, medical workers are already suffering. We will also see increases in #massshootings, uncontrolled anger against airline stewards, #domesticabuse, #substanceabuse and #suicides. Here are some things we can do: Broadcast and print media: Offer continual #mentalhealthreports. Post the 800 number for crisis and #suicidehotlines everywhere, along with symptoms of acute #stress. Warn about deadly pills through #socialmedia. #Schools: Talk to #students about #stress, #depression and #suicidalideation. Add needed #counselors. Community, state and federal governments: Determine needs of vulnerable populations and how to respond immediately. Find additional #therapists and #psychiatric ward availability. Demand insurance parity. Most important: End the #stigma. Finally put #mental and physical health on equal footing. Sharon L. CohenNewtown, Conn.The writer is the co-author of “Disaster #MentalHealth Community Planning.” To the Editor: Surviving the #pandemic has proved to be a lot easier for me than surviving the relentless demands of home care for my wife, who recently died after eight years with #Alzheimer’s. I hope you conduct a similar survey of the #mentalhealth costs of home care for those with #dementia, especially as millions of #babyboomers soon begin to turn 80. Our #mentalhealth system may be in crisis right now, but an even bigger and more enduring #mentalhealthcrisis may lie right around the corner. Jerome T. MurphyCambridge, Mass. To the Editor: As a social work clinician, educator and board member of the International Association for Social Work With Groups, I have been very concerned about the social and emotional impact of the #pandemic on people of all ages and backgrounds. #Socialisolation plays a key role in the sharp rise in #mentalhealthproblems described in this article. An individual #therapist can do much, but is unable to provide the sense of belonging that a group can offer. In social work practice with groups, the experience of mutual aid promotes connection, increases #self-esteem and lessens isolation for its members. Since the start of the #pandemic, groups have been meeting safely and effectively online. Using group methods can serve more people, decrease waiting lists and lessen pressure on individual #therapists. We need to provide opportunities for clients to join groups that can counter the terrible #isolation of so many. Ann M. BergartChicago #James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Read the full article

[the-universe-in-our-mind]

OHH 🌙🗣️🎮🌱🎨🖌️ for the marvel squad? >:] <3

THIS IS SO LATE I’M SORRY ;-;

🌙 - What’s their sleep schedule like:

Jaiden- 5-6 hours but he takes lots of naps during the day

Theo- Either the 8 hours of sleep or 2-3 hours and being on lots of cup of coffee the next morning

Alizée- Maybe like 5-4 hours by night? They end up watching series way too long in the late night so

Melody- Around 8 hours, she goes to bed at a reasonable hour knowing she’ll need the energy the next day

Abigail- What is sleep, she would ask. But all seriously, around 4-5 hours like her twin sister.

Nate- He tries to have around 6-7 hours of sleep every night but will often have 4-5 hours as he cannot go to sleep before Alizée.

Caliah- She sleeps around 5-6 hours on a good night, if she isn’t having nightmares.

Samiel- He sleeps around 5-4 hours as well as he has to watch his back and Caliah’s too.

🗣️ - How do they handle public speaking:

Jaiden- Not scared of it, but isn’t the best to talk to people, would not send him public speaking unless you don’t have much choice

Theo- Can do it well, is very charismatic and not scared to speak to people, definitely would recommend as he can convince people pretty easily

Alizée- Listen, she’s trying her best but it’s still a challenge. She wants to be a journalist that said, so she is not bad at it, just needs a little practice

Melody- Has no trouble doing it, she has a way with people and does make them feel comfortable so she’s a safe choice as well

Abigail- Can do it with no trouble, might not be the best for official speeches or anything calm but can do motivational speech very well.

Nate- A little bit anxious about it but can give a pretty good speech if needed.

Caliah- With her past, her anxiety makes her inadequate to give speeches.

Samiel- He can give a good speech but this might not be a good idea with his ideology.

🎮 - What’s their favorite game?

Jaiden- GTA, it’s a classic and he loves it

Theo- Mass Effect, he loves the video game as a whole, from the plot to the characters

Alizée- They play Stardew Valley a lot and always marry Leah for personal reasons

Melody- Any Animal Crossing or the Sims, anything cute and relaxing is her kind of game

Abigail- She has plays Undertale a lot, which she grew fond of.

Nate- Wii sport Resort, for some reasons.

Caliah- Minecraft is one of her favourite game as she likes to build and create things.

Samiel- Cyberpunk 2077 is one of his favourite game for the story line and the character’s story.

🌱 - Do they have a green thumb or are they a plant killer?

Jaiden- Do not hand him a plant, he does not care and do not have the time

Theo- He would have one if he had time, but he’s barely home so he does not have time to take care of it

Alizée- She has one and she takes care of it okay, could be better but could be worst. At least, her plant isn’t dead, right?

Melody- A plant mom, so many plants in her apartment and then in her home, never has enough plants.

Abigail- Have a few plants and can, surprisingly, take care of them just fine.

Nate- I mean he could take care of a plant but with his dog around that likes to investigate everything, this might not be the best idea.

Caliah- She has one and treats it very well, almost as if her plant was her child.

Samiel- No plants, could take care of it but doesn’t have the time.

🎨 - What’s their favorite color:

Jaiden- Green but a forest green! 🌲

Theo- Navy blue! 💙

Alizée- Yellow! 💛

Melody- Purple! 💜

Abigail- Pink! 💗

Nate- Orange! 🧡

Caliah- Green! 💚

Samiel- Red! ❤️

🖌️ - Do they have any hobbies?

Jaiden- Cooking! He’s very good at making good food and likes to experiment new dishes

Theo- Hiking! Theo loves to discover places in nature and does not hesitate to go hike in the forest as much as he can

Alizée- With their future job, they learned that they were very good at writing, which did became an hobby

Melody- She reads a lot, she has lots of books, her friends jokes a lot that she could practically open a library with all the books she has (they are not wrong)

Abigail- She likes to watch movies a lot. As she studies in cinema, she likes to analyze them and see the most of them.

Nate- Soccer! He’s been playing since he was a child and it just stayed with time.

Caliah- She likes to knit. She thinks it’s relaxing and it gives her a reason to focus on something.

Samiel- He’s a good musician. He can play guitar, piano and clarinet very well as he learned it when they were a child.

[newagesispage]

                                                            OCTOBER                2020

PAGE RIB

 The Stones opened Rolling Stones # 9 on Carnaby St.** Bill Wyman auctioned off many unique items for the Prince’s Trust.**Wyman’s bass used for groundbreaking records in ’69 and ’70 broke a record at $384,000. The famous amp that got him into the Stones went for $106,250 and the most expensive toilet seat cover sold at auction with the tongue logo went for $1,142. Brian Jones Rock and Roll Circus guitar sold for $704,000.

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VOTE!!!!

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In San Francisco people can order dinner and drinks delivered with a drag queen performance.

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Joaquin and Rooney had a baby that they named River.

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Real Time has been renewed thru 2022.

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The new film, No Sudden Move about 1955 Detroit will star Don Cheadle, David Harbour, Benicio Del Toro, Ray Liotta and Kieran Culkin.

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Shep Smith is back with Just the Facts on CNBC.

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The Presidential debate: Well, Good Biden moments-“You don’t panic, he panicked.”  “It is what it is cuz you are what you are.” “Everybody knows he’s a liar.” Wouldn’t know suburbs unless he took a wrong turn.”  “Will you shit up man?” “Get out of your and trap.” Imagine if Bernie or a younger candidate with real energy were there. Imagine someone quick on their feet because we need that.  The bully style of scary clown 45 does fluster a normal person as it supposed to. Joe held his own and had real dignity though. It is hard to not respond to the President’s ridiculousness but he needs to be ignored.  Trump and son both seemed like they were about 8 Red Bulls into the day with all that pent up anger.  Who should be drug tested? Biden?  Trump went on about forest management but most of that land belongs to the Federal government.  ** I have never seen my mailperson trying to sell ballots.** Trump said that bad things are happening in Philadelphia. Biden should have showed some love for the state. He is on a tour of it now though. ** Chris Wallace said, “Why you not?” Was that a real question?  45 said, “I was a private business people.” They all had a little trouble talking. It is exhausting the way people put up with his manners.  **As soon as the debate was over, the Trump army wasted no time reaching out to goons to be poll watchers. Do they know that you just can’t show up randomly for that??**Apprentice insiders say Trump abuses Adderall.

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The other day when Trump took the podium for a rant, an open mike caught a someone saying, “Oh shit” On Fox.

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For those who insist Trump is a religious man, I’ll grant you he pays taxes like a church. –Stephen Colbert

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Letterman is ready with My Next Guest Needs no Introduction. This season includes Robert Downey Jr., Lizzo and Dave Chappelle.

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There are about 9 million feral swine in this country known as super pigs.

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There is talk of Levar Burton replacing Alex Trebeck when he retires. YES!!!!

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Cigar Afficionado magazine has named CBS Sunday Morning the greatest show on tv.

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The U.S. built tunnels under Trump’s wall to let water, garbage, DDT and other toxins flow thru. Millions were spent for nothing and now millions more will be spent to address this problem that empties into the Pacific Ocean.

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Days alert: Melissa Reeves is being replaced. Is it that she does not want to commute from Nashville or that she is a bit too conservative or something else? Is it an end of Days with old side characters and replacements of the stars??** Ava is coming back, JJ is back, Eric and Sami are gone. ** Absolutely loved the pic of Abigail 1 that confused Abigail 2. Funny!!!! It reminded me of the OLTL moment during Asa’s funeral when Blair saw the 1st Blair in a flashback.

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“Smaller than expected” would probably explain a lot about the proud boys. –Andi Zeisler

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Why does anyone listen to Christie or Rudy??

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Looting isn’t part of protesting just like murder isn’t part of arresting.

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A judge has said that Florida has created an “unconstitutional pay to vote system.” This has now been overturned. What are the things that can be termed felonies to keep one from voting? The list includes releasing helium filled balloons, driving without a license, catching the wrong lobster and disturbing turtle eggs. Amendment 4 was originally put into effect to stop freed slaves from voting. But SB7066 makes sure that felons complete the terms of their sentences. The fines, fees and restitution can be hard to navigate. There must be proof before they can vote but all counties keep their own records and there is no organization statewide.  Mike Bloomberg, John Legend, Michael Jordon and others are paying off millions of dollars in debt for felons in Florida so that they can vote if they can unravel some of the puzzles. Now Florida Republicans are saying that that is also illegal.

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Two thirds of the world’s wildlife has disappeared in the last 50 years.

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At our own peril, we have to step up or everything is lost. –John Batiste

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Michael Jordan will start up a Nascar team with Bubba Wallace.

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Laraine Newman signed up to be a poll worker. How do you get people to vote? Celebrity poll workers? Hey whatever works as long as the masses don’t gawk and hold up the lines.

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A refrigerator sized asteroid is headed to earth and may arrive about the time of the election.

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So the coronavirus relief funds were funneled by the pentagon to defense contractors.** What kind of a selfish fucking world do we live in? At least we know which people in this world give a flying fuck about the rest of us. Rally and fair participants, relief money scammers and mask protesters, we hear you loud and clear!!

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The Emmys went on thru the week of the 14th thru the 20th. Winners included RuPaul, Don’t fuck with Cats, Leah Remini, The Apollo, Eddie Murphy, Last Week 2nite, SNL, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Crown, Better Call Saul, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Archer, Hollywood, Maya Rudolph, Dan Harmon,  Bad Education, Cherry Jones, Regina King,  Julia Garner, Mark Ruffalo,  Uzo Aduba, The Last Dance and Stranger Things. Schitt’s Creek (and practically the whole cast), Dave Chappelle and Succession took home the big ones. Norman Lear became the oldest Emmy winner ever. Letterman ‘hitchhiked’ to the Emmy’s to present an award. I was really rooting for Amy Sedaris!!

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Bill Murray and Rashida Jones will star in Sofia Coppala’s On the Rocks.** The Doobie Brothers want Bill Murray to stop using their music to sell his golf clothes.

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Danny Trejo and Jessica Tuck will star in ‘The Shift.’

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Illinois is pulling down statues including Chris Columbus. Woo Hoo!!

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13 mummies have been discovered in a well, stacked one on top of the other. The Egyptian discovery from about 2,500 years ago has been well preserved.

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Hysterectomies on immigrant women in detention camps?? Really??

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Scientific American mag is 175 years old has never endorsed a candidate but Joe Biden id their man.

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Word is that in Indonesia the anti- maskers are forced to dig the graves of the Covid 19 victims.

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The Breonna Taylor case continues with a settlement and too few charges.

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Scary Clown 45 announced he will call in to Fox and Friends every Monday or Tuesday but a host told him that they were not committed to that.** The Scary campaign put up ads with “Support Our Troops” but the problem is they are Russian troops and jet fighters.** Trump did a phone interview on Fox Sports and talked about golf.

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It is a shame that Hillary lost the election and many more of us would be alive if she were running the show. But, I can only imagine the shit they would have given her.

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Brad Pascale, Trump’s former campaign manager, went to the hospital after being taken into custody in Florida after threatening suicide.

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Just remember , 1619 Project: Good   1776 Commision: Oh my! Why do these rich old fucks want us to stay as stupid and uninformed as they are? Haven’t we been in the dark long enough? They are the fake news masters.

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Jim Carrey will play Biden on SNL. Chris Rock will be host the season 46 opener on Oct. 3. New players will be Lauren Holt, Punkie Johnson and Andrew Dismukes.

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Gulf War Syndrome is a chronic and multi symptomatic disorder that has affected military personnel from the Persian Gulf War. The DOD is resisting the strong evidence and needs more of a spotlight. The possible exposure to chemical weapons may even have been passed on to their partners through sexual contact. All of this came to light in the mid 90’s thru complaints that were told to Ross Perot. Let’s hope Tammy Duckworth looks into this further.

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Amy Coney Barrett has been nominated to the Supreme Court. Her previous statements tell us she believes the ACA is unconstitutional, abortion is always immoral and the country should undo marriage equality. She is a member of People of Praise.** If she was a Muslim and everything else was the same regarding her beliefs and associations, Republicans would call her a religious extremist and never let her step near the Supreme Court. –Wajahat Ali.** Notorious A.C.B. ?? Do they have one original idea other than new ways to cheat and steal??

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Finn Wittrock has a funny little Emmy Uber ride on Funny or Die.

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Breonna Taylor’s neighbor’s wall got more justice that Breonna herself. –Jordan Uhl

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Go Stevie Wonder!!!

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Dax Sheppard went off the wagon for a while.

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A Giant Gundom? Really?

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A fun prank would be if we stopped this from becoming a dictatorship on Nov. 3rd and whatnot. –George Wallace

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Sen. Kevin Kramer has been acting a little crooked on building the Wall.

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The Metropolitan Opera has cancelled the whole season.

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Happy Doomscrolling

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Can dogs be trained to detect the coronavirus?

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Rand Paul is an idiot. Birx and Atlas have ruined reps. Give ‘em Hell Fauci!! ** Everything Atlas says is false. –R. Redfield

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Eric Trump must testify in court about the Trump business’s a judge has decreed. The Trump biz has made about 19 billion in the last 3 years.** The world is gobbling up the news about the Trump tax returns with tales of debt, the $72.9 milliion refund and foreign influence. How does the IRS let a refund like that happen? How bad of a businessman do you have to be to lose that much $? National security threat. One of his fans will probably bail him out.

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Bet we’d all own houses if we stopped eating so much avocado toast and committed tax fraud. -Kashana

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Mary Trump has sued The President and his siblings for fraud.

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Ellen is selling off $10 mil in art.

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61% say we should abolish the electoral college.

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The Netflix series, Challenger :The Final Flight reminds us that like The Titanic, the arrogance of man can change so many lives.

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Wilderness of Errors is a great doc. It proves just how right the book and mini -series got it.

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The remains of the 1644 warship, Del Menhorst have been found off the Danish coast.

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Everybody is talking about Jeff Daniels in The Comey Rule. The actors were upset when Showtime was going to push back the release until after the election. The actors said they wouldn’t promote the film so the film has premiered.

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David Tennant gets better and better and now he is giving us DES on ITV. Quality AND quanity.

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Independent prosecutors are not going ahead with a case against NE Patriots Robert Craft for soliciting prostitutes.

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America has no memories. –Wallace Shawn

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Tyler Childers has released ‘Long Violent History”. Give it a listen.

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Does it seem like the administration gets a word of the week and they really push it? Caravan-Herd-sedition-looters- Antifa. It is like they all share a brain and do not have a thought of their own.

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Chris Petrovski `will star in ‘Listen’ about a young Israeli soldier.

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On a personal note, I love the way that Autumn makes my brain feel. The spring allergies are gone, the hot muddled summer thinking fades and everything opens up.

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Gubler is back and in the video for Future Islands ‘Moonlight’.

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Niecy Nash wed Jessica Betts.

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Check out the Curious life and death of… on the Smithsonian channel.

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Conan is looking hot with his grown out hair.

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I just love Mel Rodriguez and Weijia Jiang. Some people just don’t get enough credit.

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Vet’s crisis line: 1-800-273-8255

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Donald Trump is taking page out of Charles Manson’s playbook. Start a race war, then convince the public you alone can end it. He’s a lying racist piece of garbage. –Rob Reiner

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Serious Question: Would good Christian conservatives have mounted a Go fund me for Timothy McVeigh? –Michael Mckean

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Old Navy will pay employees to work the polls on Election day.

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Trump is the most effective anti -liberal in my lifetime. –Newt Gingrich

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Tommy Chong does not seem too happy with Joe Rogan.

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Anna Faris is leaving CBS’s Mom as it heads into its 8th season.

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Q Anon should take advantage of the ACA. –Joe Biden

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Word is that the White House told Federal agencies to ban race based sensitivity training.  The thinking is that Un American propaganda training sessions have no place in Federal Government.

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I wish I lived in a country where John Kelly, James Mattis and John Bolton had at least half the balls of Sally Yates, Maria Yovanovitch, Fiona Hill, Reality Winner, Christine Blasey Ford or Stormy Daniels. – Andrea Junker** If only Mad Dog Mattis had the balls of Olivia Troye – Michael Mckean

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38 million Americans live in poverty.

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80 year old Sam Little with a possible 93 murders has now been called the most prolific serial killer in the U.S. and he has a photographic memory. Whoever takes this on, please let David Alan Grier play him in the movie.

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You must check out the album, the Angel Headed Hipster.

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Everybody is talking about Cottage Core.

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The Trump campaign can’t help themselves with things like playing ‘knockin’ on Heaven’s door’ and ‘Fortunate son’ at rally’s. It was like the time my Grandfathers young wife brought a purse to the funeral that boldly stated ‘Jackpot.’ True Story.

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Glenn Howerton and Seth Meyers should play brothers on something.** Also Meyers and Larry Wilmore wondered if the cancellation of Wilmore’s show was a reason for the racial unrest and terrible results of the last election. Hmmm.

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Can we remember this election enthusiasm for all future elections?  We need to take things seriously EVERY time.** So many say that even with our divide, we all want the same things in the end. I do not think that is really true. It seems that in this divide, we have different ideas about what we want this country to be.

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Harry Styles has replaced Shia LaBeouf in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling.

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Cat Cora has filed for a restraining order against her ex- wife, Jennifer who it seems has been stalking her.

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Showtime’s The Comedy Store sounds interesting with stories like Jimmie Walker who claims that Freddie Prinze wanted to kill John Travolta.

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Maplecroft, Lizzie Borden’s last house sold for about $890,000.

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A woman ref in the NFL?? It’s about time!

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Doc Martin will end after its 10th season.

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Kelly Clarkson is being sued by her management firm.

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Pope Francis refused to meet with Mike Pompeo.

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R.I.P. Tom Seaver, Sophie Farrar, Kevin Dobson, Toots Hibbert, Stevie Lee, Bruce Williamson, Ben Cross, Diana Rigg, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Rev. Robert Graetz, Ron Cobb, Gale Sayers, Dan Dettman, Kevin Burns, Mac Davis, wildfire casualties, Covid victims and Helen Reddy.

[yourfirsthealthfitness-blog]

15 incredible tips to boost metabolism for weight loss

New Post has been published on https://www.firsthealthfitness.com/weight-loss/15-incredible-tips-to-boost-metabolism-for-weight-loss.html

15 incredible tips to boost metabolism for weight loss

There are many easy, quick lifestyle and diet changes that you can make to boost metabolism, thus making your body run more efficiently while reaching your ideal weight and body faster. ……………….. A Secret ‘Carb Trick’ That Burns Up To 1 Pound Per Day If you’re like most women trying to lose weight… you diet, you count calories, you tear up the treadmill, and… nothing. That’s how 40-year-old Sarah Donovan, an overweight mother with prediabetes was feeling… She did “everything right” and never lost an inch. Until she stumbled on this strange “carb-pairing” trick and burned away an unheard of 22lbs pounds in just 13 days. And because of this one simple shift in her eating, she shed pounds and inches from her body without starving herself and without a lick of exercise! With the same “carb-pairing” trick Sarah dropped a total of 37lbs in the FIRST month and she shocked her doctor by completely reversing ALL pre-diabetes symptoms!

If you’re a woman over the age of 25 who wants to reclaim her life inside the body she DESERVES, you should check it out for yourself. ………………………

Check out these 15 incredible tips to boost metabolism for weight loss

1. Laugh More Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Simple as that: Try to laugh as much as possible! According to one study from the International Journal of Obesity Genuine, laughter may cause a 10–20% increase in basal energy expenditure and resting heart-rate. That means a 10-15 minute laughing could burn up 40 to 170 calories. Let us hear you lol! 2. Eat ENOUGH Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Your body can lose muscle mass, which will decrease the pace of your metabolism if you take in few calories. Plus, when you cut calories, your body slows the pace at which it burns calories to conserve the fuel it’s got. Carolyn Brown, MS RD at Foodtrainers in Manhattan explains the under-fueling is just as risky as over-fueling. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN agrees with her and adds many people believe that eating as few calories as possible is the best solution to get a quick weight loss. That is wrong and it can lead to many nutritional deficiencies as the body is getting less food and it can have the opposite effect on weight loss. Use the simple diet and exercise hacks below that can help you slim down safely harming your metabolism, instead of cutting too many calories. 3. Use Virgin Olive Oil Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Our bodies need healthy oils to function properly and lose weight. The right kinds of dietary fats and oils help beat hunger, boost your metabolism, and speed the nutrients through your body. Healthy monounsaturated fats like olive oil can help your body to burn calories. Extra virgin olive oil may increase the blood levels of the hormone associated with satiety, serotonin. 4. Eat Sufficient Protein Daily Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Working out helps you build muscle, but eating protein keeps it from breaking down, consequently slowing the metabolic rate. Leah Kaufman, MS, RD, CDN, a New York City-based Dietitian says the needs of protein differ by individual, but generally consuming 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight a day should be enough to fuel weight loss. For a 58-kilogram person, that would equal between 46 and 58 grams of protein. Research has shown the protein is harder for the body to break down and digest than other nutrients, thus it can increase post-meal calorie burn by 35%. Try to include some protein in every snack and meal throughout the day.

5. Drink Full-Fat Milk Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Studies at The Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee suggest consuming milk, full of calcium, may help your body metabolize fat more effectively. Other studies have found the increased calcium intake from dairy products, caused the participants to burn out more fat as opposed to it sticking on the body. 6. Snack On Chocolate Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! In a study conducted by Swiss and German researchers, lucky study participants ate about 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate daily for 14 days. In the end, these chocolate snackers had a more regulated metabolism and a lower stress-hormone level than a control group. Experts speculate chemicals in cocoa, like flavonoids, play a key role in balancing metabolism by alleviating the stress that can cause the fat-burning engines to go on the fritz. So, include chocolate in your diet, but make sure it’s a high-quality one. Researchers say 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate is sufficient.

7. Drink More Water Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Believe us, weight loss doesn’t get simpler than this! According to a study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism drinking more water may increase the rate at which healthy people burn calories. After drinking 2 tall glasses (17 ounces of water), participants’ metabolic rates increased by 30%. Drinking 1.5 liters on a daily basis would burn 17,400 calories over the period of one year. That is a weight loss of about five pounds! 8. Eat Lentils Daily Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Insufficient iron impacts more than 1 in 5 women in the United States. Lacking essential minerals can show up in all ways but lacking iron can also be a blast for getting into your skinny jeans. The body can’t work as effectively to burn calories when it doesn’t have the needed things for working properly. It turns out, a cup of lentils, provides a third of your daily iron needs.

Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! 9. Drink Kola Nut Tea Kola Nut tea, full of caffeine (higher than a cup of coffee), is sure to fight any morning drowsiness also prepare the metabolism for a hotter burn. In a study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, a 4% increase in metabolic rate was measured in both lean and obese participants after a 100 mg dose of caffeine. 10. Include Lean Protein In Your Breakfast Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Researchers opposed the common belief and showed the breakfast doesn’t kickstart the metabolism and may not be an essential meal of the day. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition researched more than 300 overweight study participants consuming diets with skipping or eating breakfast. At the end of four months, the individuals who ate breakfast didn’t lose more weight than those who skipped breakfast. A second study in the same journal discovered eating breakfast had no impact on resting metabolism. The breakfast is an ideal meal to include protein, nutrients, and fiber into, your day, but if you’re choosing between a doughnut or nothing, choose nothing! So, add lean protein to your breakfast, now that you know it burns twice as many calories during digestion as fat or carbs. But it’s better not to before 9 am.

11. Include Carbs In Your Dinner Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! The theory is your body burns carbs for energy, but if you eat carbs before you go to bed, your body will store them as fat. However, the pastanomics of losing weight aren’t so simple. A study in the European Journal of Nutrition put two groups of men on identical weight loss diets. The only difference was that half of the group ate carbs throughout the day while the second group ate them for dinner. The result was unexpected! The nighttime carb group had a significantly higher diet-induced thermogenesis. Translation: They burned more calories when digesting their food the next day. Also, the daytime-carb group had increased blood sugar levels. A study in the journal Obesity presented similar results. Nighttime carb eaters lost 27% more body fat than those on the standard diet. 12. Eat Only Three Square Meals Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Bodybuilders have a tendency to eat every few hours to keep their muscles fueled but don’t ignore the weight loss potential of three meals per day. A study in the journal Hepatology put two groups of men on weight-gain diets. The first group divided the calories among three small meals with snacks in between. The second group ate the same number of calories in three square meals. Both groups gained weight, experts found the high-meal frequency group had an increase in belly fat. And we know the belly fat is the dangerous kind that increases heart-disease risk.

13. Eat Cheese Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Think twice if you’re considering cutting dairy to lose weight. Cheese is a satisfying and inexpensive food that’s loaded with vitamin D, protein, and most importantly calcium. Tanya Zuckerbrot, RD, explains that calcium can promote weight loss because it helps maintain muscle mass, which boosts metabolism, helping burn calories more effectively throughout the day. That doesn’t allow you to dig in a cheese-drenched casserole, though. It’s best to include cheese into fiber-rich snacks.

14. Include Mustard In Your Diet Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Scientists at England’s Oxford Polytechnic Institute presented that by eating 1 tablespoon of mustard (about 5 calories) can boost the metabolism by up to 25% for several hours after eating. So, include mustard in your meals, and feel the bur, literally! The researchers say the may be connected with phytochemicals, allyl isothiocyanates, and capsaicin.

15. Eat Oysters Do you want to KICKSTART your weight loss? Secret metabolism boosting foods to increase your body’s natural fat-burning potential, slim down and add years to your life! Oysters are one of the best dietary sources zinc, a mineral that’s complementary, to a healthy thyroid. The body needs zinc to activate production of thyroid hormone. In turn, we need thyroid hormone to absorb zinc. Deficiencies are likely to result in a slow metabolism, and supplementing with the mineral has shown to get weight loss back on track. A study presented that obese people, consuming 30 mg of zinc a day, equivalent to six raw oysters, lost weight and had improved body mass indices.

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[jeremystrele]

Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home

Going on vacation is a great way to relax and refresh. And if you stay in a luxury hotel, lakeside inn, resort spa, or elegant bed and breakfast, you’ll also enjoy a lush living area, and a luxurious bathroom experience. However, you can create that hotel vibe in your own home, and enjoy luxurious living every day. Here’s how to achieve those looks.

Make your bed irresistible

A plush bed is inviting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

One thing everyone enjoys about luxury hotels: the luxurious beds. However, Wendy Hammerman, Founder & Lead Designer at WLH Interiors, a full service interior design studio, says you can recreate that vibe by investing in new bedding. “There is something about crisp, clean, freshly laundered sheets that says ‘I’m on vacation!’” Hammerman says. She also recommends a cozy down comforter and a feather mattress topper. “Add lots of fluffy pillows, the fluffier the better, and last but not least, add a throw at the end of the bed for a homey feel and perhaps a pop of color.”

Consider sheets with a higher thread count. Image: courtesy of Lance Selgo with Unique Exposure Photography.

Karen Otto of Home Star Staging agrees that luxury linens can create a luxury hotel vibe for a staycation or when family and friends come to visit. “Look for sheet thread counts higher than 500, and since we run an Airbnb, we always purchase white for ease of cleaning – and they always just look fresh and inviting.” Otto says.  “From comfy pillows to fluffy absorbent white towels in the bath, who wouldn’t want to feel like they’ve come home to a luxurious night’s sleep in a bed that looks like it was made at a 5-star hotel?”

Use appealing scents

The right scent sets the right mood. Image: Rido/Shutterstock

While creating an environment that appeals to your senses, don’t forget your sense of smell. “The first thing you will notice when you arrive at a high-end, luxury hotel and spa is the aroma,” says Hammerman.  When you enter the resort, she says you’re surrounded by a fabulous fragrance that evokes feelings of calm and comfort. “Whether it’s beachy, floral or clean and crisp, smell is a great way to transform your space and instantly take you away to another place without leaving home.”

Hammerman recommends using a candle or atomizer that you can get at any home store. “Nest is a popular brand with several scents to choose from, including my personal favorite, Grapefruit – clean, fresh and fruity.” She also recommends Ocean Mist and Sea Salt, which smell like the beach. And if you want sometime more exotic, Hammerman suggests Moroccan Amber.  “If candles aren’t your thing, Aroma 360 offers a plug-in with an array of interchangeable options, depending on your mood.”

Recreate a spa bathroom

Achieve a spa-like experience at home. Aqua-Sense Collection. Image courtesy of GRAFF

If you want to transform your bathroom to feel like it’s in a luxury hotel, Celine Marcotte, Business Development Manager at GRAFF, recommends refreshing the shower. “Products that stimulate the senses instantly provide a luxury hotel feel. Water, light, and sound, orchestrated in a harmonic balance allow for a deeper sense of wellness, a sensation and experience that can be achieved with GRAFF’s Aqua-Sense Collection, which uses chromotherapy and LED lights.”  And the finishes and textures can also enhance a space’s appeal. “For example, 24K Gold, Rose Gold, and Matte Black come to mind as uber luxurious options.”

Marcotte also recommends accessories that can update your bathroom and can be easily swapped out. “Grab bars are one way to go, providing both an elevated style and a great aging in place solution.”

The right showerhead makes a big difference.

According to Leah Tuttleman, a designer at Re-Bath, sounds and sights can help you achieve an ultimate level of relaxation. “Let stress float away with a countertop waterfall to help your spa achieve an air of serenity. Install dimmer switches to set a calm, sunset-like mood to capture the essence of a professional spa’s tranquil ambiance.” And you can achieve this experience by just upgrading to a massage shower head. “Whether you prefer a waterfall shower, high-pressure or hand-held, these modern designs that mimic the natural flow of falling rain emanate relaxation.”

Other elements reminiscent of high-end luxury hotels include touchless faucets and soap dispensers, and Tuttleman says they’re easy to install. “Also, matching benches are a beautiful, functional addition to almost any shower, and a built-in caddy makes storage a breeze so you can focus on that clean, simple, minimalist look of a 5-star hotel.”

Layer your lighting

There are many ways to create lighting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Hotel rooms usually provide several lighting options. “Layer your windows with a lighter drape to accommodate sun-filtering light and a heavier drape that creates a black-out effect essential for sleeping late on lazy weekends,” Hammerman recommends.  “Also, consider a 3-way bulb in your bedside lamp which gives you the option of a bright reading light or the opportunity to create a softer ambiance.”

Lighting effects can change the look of your home. Image courtesy of Philips Hue

And there are other tips and tools to hlep you vary lighting – for example, Mike Deschamps, US Product Marketing Director at Philips Hue Signify, recommends layering your lighting – with ambient, accent and task lighting – to recreate a luxury hotel vibe at home. “Ambient lighting illuminates your space evenly; you can achieve this with the right ceiling fixtures or recessed lighting,” he says. “Accent lighting sources indirectly illuminate spaces while remaining mostly hidden; for example, use the Philips Hue Play light bars to highlight particular elements in your room like artwork or plants. “

In addition, Deschamps says you can use light strips in cabinets or under a bed or sofa. “Lastly, bring in task lighting through table and floor lamps to give you the light you need for specific activities like reading.”

Use a multi-functional sofa

Who doesn’t love a great – and great-looking – sofa? Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Luxurious leather sofas are common in upscale hotel lobbies and private rooms. Whether you’re waiting in the lobby with all of your luggage, or you return to your room loaded down with a laptop and suitcase – or after a busy day of shopping – those stylish sofas are convenient and handy.

However, you can also create this look at home, for less than you might think. And you won’t even have to leave the sofa when you want to charge your phone and other devices.

A versatile, luxurious sofa without the luxurious price tag. Images courtesy of Coddle

For example, the Coddle Smart Couch is stylish and versatile, and is available in leather and microfiber verions. “It was designed entirely with the consumer in mind. With built-in USB ports and outlets, and the ability to transform into over a dozen different positions, the couch is both practical and useful, without sacrificing a luxurious feel,” says Nuri Djavit, CMO of Coddle. It folds flat to become a sleeper sofa, but you can also choose to fold up the arm rests on either side, or fold up all or just half of the back section. In addition, any spills wipe right up.

“Through the Coddle Smart Couch’s modern design and high-end materials and finishes, the atmosphere of a luxury hotel is easily recreated, but at a reasonable price point,” Djavit say.

Redesign your storage

Eliminate clutter by keeping everything out of sight. Images courtesy of Ornare

In most hotel rooms, there’s a place for everything, which reduces the clutter in your room. “Declutter your space, especially your bedside tables. Keeping only the essentials handy (and maybe some fresh cut flowers) helps bring a sense of calm and simplicity,” Hammerman says. Removing unnecessary items also creates more space in the room – making it appear to be larger. And you don’t have to have a walk-in closet. “We are seeing a lot of our clients redesign their master suites lined with Ornare closet doors that become part of the design of the room, and leave the bed to float in the room – instant private island,” says Claudio Faria, director of Ornare USA.

Choose a soothing paint color

A neutral tone provides a soothing backdrop. Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore.

“For better or worse, that warm Southwest-type of palette has come to be associated with mass hotel chains, and so, if you’re going for luxury or boutique, the exact opposite in terms of color and design is key,” explains Benjamin Moore Color and Design Expert, Nivara Xaykao. “Nothing beats crisp white walls, and luckily, there are new paint products out there that can keep your bedroom walls looking pristine. She recommends Chantilly Lace as one of the company’s favorite whites for achieving this look. “To bring a designer’s touch to the space, keep accent colors cool and neutral with calming grays and graphic blacks. Bold color statements can transform the bathroom into a special sanctuary.”

Deep blues are also calming and always stylish.  “Lastly, don’t forget paint sheen. Higher glosses in the right places, like cabinetry and trim, can really heighten the glamour in a space,” Xaykao says.

Add artwork

Artwork can add personality to your space. Image courtesy of ArtSugar.

The last step is to incorporate artwork to liven up those blank walls. “Hammerman recommends a palette of warm neutrals to create a soothing hotel-like environment.

And fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot to get quality artwork. You can buy large framed art prints to recreate eye-catching looks without breaking the bank,” according to Alix Greenberg, Founder and CEO of ArtSugar, who recommends incorporating art featuring scenic landscapes to remind you of being on vacation. “Art or art prints featuring beaches, mountains, or even jungles can create a feeling of wanderlust, reminding you of being in a luxury hotel,” Greenberg says.

However, she recommends keeping frame colors simple. “Stick with white or black frames for a chic and elegant look reminiscent of a luxury hotel.”

The post Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

[professorspork]

TODAY IN THE REAPER WAR: I DIED AND TURNED EVERY BEING IN EXISTENCE INTO A CYBORG! IT WAS... WEIRDLY UTOPIAN, FOR ALL THAT!

I gotta say, I don’t... really get why this endgame is so universally hated? like, I have my critiques about the nuance of the writing (I feel like there would be a big faction of peoples that would HIGHKEY HATE what I did to them, humans especially! I feel like a spot in EDI’s epilogue slideshow could have gone to that!) but the idea that there’s no way to, like, get a Pure Win and live happily ever after and marry whomever you romanced... I just never saw that in the cards for Shepard. 

I waffled a lot between the Control and Synthesis options. On the one hand, I as a toasterfucker person was drawn toward Synthesis, but the fact that the Catalyst child was like “this is the best idea” when the last good idea the Catalyst had was REAPERS made me extremely suspicious-- and one couldn’t help but detect a whiff of the eugenic in the description of it “perfecting” everyone. But on the other hand, one couldn’t help but detect a whiff of the fascistic in the idea of Shepard personally driving every Reaper and doing whatever she thinks is best with that power, even though I gave some valance to the fact that the Control option was probably closest to Shep safely fulfilling her mission parameters and military objective without like, really going above and beyond and doing a lot of unasked for extra credit. but ultimately I decided I’d played my Shep as enough of a toasterfucker an optimist to justify going with Synthesis.

 but really the highlight was walking in on Garrus and Tali hooking up, that shit was hilarious 

(but I am bummed to learn quarians apparently just look like humans under the mask. WHAT A WASTE.)

[cessanderson]

Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home https://ift.tt/2JFvc4y

Going on vacation is a great way to relax and refresh. And if you stay in a luxury hotel, lakeside inn, resort spa, or elegant bed and breakfast, you’ll also enjoy a lush living area, and a luxurious bathroom experience. However, you can create that hotel vibe in your own home, and enjoy luxurious living every day. Here’s how to achieve those looks.

Make your bed irresistible

A plush bed is inviting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

One thing everyone enjoys about luxury hotels: the luxurious beds. However, Wendy Hammerman, Founder & Lead Designer at WLH Interiors, a full service interior design studio, says you can recreate that vibe by investing in new bedding. “There is something about crisp, clean, freshly laundered sheets that says ‘I’m on vacation!’” Hammerman says. She also recommends a cozy down comforter and a feather mattress topper. “Add lots of fluffy pillows, the fluffier the better, and last but not least, add a throw at the end of the bed for a homey feel and perhaps a pop of color.”

Consider sheets with a higher thread count. Image courtesy of Lance Selgo with Unique Exposure Photography.

Karen Otto of Home Star Staging agrees that luxury linens can create a luxury hotel vibe for a staycation or when family and friends come to visit. “Look for sheet thread counts higher than 500, and since we run an Airbnb, we always purchase white for ease of cleaning – and they always just look fresh and inviting.” Otto says.  “From comfy pillows to fluffy absorbent white towels in the bath, who wouldn’t want to feel like they’ve come home to a luxurious night’s sleep in a bed that looks like it was made at a 5-star hotel?”

Use appealing scents

The right scent sets the right mood. Image: Rido/Shutterstock

While creating an environment that appeals to your senses, don’t forget your sense of smell. “The first thing you will notice when you arrive at a high-end, luxury hotel and spa is the aroma,” says Hammerman.  When you enter the resort, she says you’re surrounded by a fabulous fragrance that evokes feelings of calm and comfort. “Whether it’s beachy, floral or clean and crisp, smell is a great way to transform your space and instantly take you away to another place without leaving home.”

Hammerman recommends using a candle or atomizer that you can get at any home store. “Nest is a popular brand with several scents to choose from, including my personal favorite, Grapefruit – clean, fresh and fruity.” She also recommends Ocean Mist and Sea Salt, which smell like the beach. And if you want sometime more exotic, Hammerman suggests Moroccan Amber.  “If candles aren’t your thing, Aroma 360 offers a plug-in with an array of interchangeable options, depending on your mood.”

Recreate a spa bathroom

Achieve a spa-like experience at home. Aqua-Sense Collection. Image courtesy of GRAFF

If you want to transform your bathroom to feel like it’s in a luxury hotel, Celine Marcotte, Business Development Manager at GRAFF, recommends refreshing the shower. “Products that stimulate the senses instantly provide a luxury hotel feel. Water, light, and sound, orchestrated in a harmonic balance allow for a deeper sense of wellness, a sensation and experience that can be achieved with GRAFF’s Aqua-Sense Collection, which uses chromotherapy and LED lights.”  And the finishes and textures can also enhance a space’s appeal. “For example, 24K Gold, Rose Gold, and Matte Black come to mind as uber luxurious options.” You can also get ideas from the 2019 Trends in Bathroom Technology.

Marcotte also recommends accessories that can update your bathroom and can be easily swapped out. “Grab bars are one way to go, providing both an elevated style and a great aging in place solution.”

The right showerhead makes a big difference. Image: ImageFlow/Shutterstock

According to Leah Tuttleman, a designer at Re-Bath, sounds and sights can help you achieve an ultimate level of relaxation. “Let stress float away with a countertop waterfall to help your spa achieve an air of serenity. Install dimmer switches to set a calm, sunset-like mood to capture the essence of a professional spa’s tranquil ambiance.” And you can achieve this experience by just upgrading to a massage shower head. “Whether you prefer a waterfall shower, high-pressure or hand-held, these modern designs that mimic the natural flow of falling rain emanate relaxation.”

Other elements reminiscent of high-end luxury hotels include touchless faucets and soap dispensers, and Tuttleman says they’re easy to install. “Also, matching benches are a beautiful, functional addition to almost any shower, and a built-in caddy makes storage a breeze so you can focus on that clean, simple, minimalist look of a 5-star hotel.”

Layer your lighting

There are many ways to create lighting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Hotel rooms usually provide several lighting options. “Layer your windows with a lighter drape to accommodate sun-filtering light and a heavier drape that creates a black-out effect essential for sleeping late on lazy weekends,” Hammerman recommends.  “Also, consider a 3-way bulb in your bedside lamp which gives you the option of a bright reading light or the opportunity to create a softer ambiance.”

Lighting effects can change the look of your home. Image courtesy of Philips Hue

And there are other tips and tools to hlep you vary lighting – for example, Mike Deschamps, US Product Marketing Director at Philips Hue Signify, recommends layering your lighting – with ambient, accent and task lighting – to recreate a luxury hotel vibe at home. “Ambient lighting illuminates your space evenly; you can achieve this with the right ceiling fixtures or recessed lighting,” he says. “Accent lighting sources indirectly illuminate spaces while remaining mostly hidden; for example, use the Philips Hue Play light bars to highlight particular elements in your room like artwork or plants. “

In addition, Deschamps says you can use light strips in cabinets or under a bed or sofa. “Lastly, bring in task lighting through table and floor lamps to give you the light you need for specific activities like reading.”

Use a multi-functional sofa

Who doesn’t love a great – and great-looking – sofa? Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Luxurious leather sofas are common in upscale hotel lobbies and private rooms. Whether you’re waiting in the lobby with all of your luggage, or you return to your room loaded down with a laptop and suitcase – or after a busy day of shopping – those stylish sofas are convenient and handy.

However, you can also create this look at home, for less than you might think. And you won’t even have to leave the sofa when you want to charge your phone and other devices.

A versatile, luxurious sofa without the luxurious price tag. Images courtesy of Coddle

For example, the Coddle Smart Couch is stylish and versatile, and is available in leather and microfiber verions. “It was designed entirely with the consumer in mind. With built-in USB ports and outlets, and the ability to transform into over a dozen different positions, the couch is both practical and useful, without sacrificing a luxurious feel,” says Nuri Djavit, CMO of Coddle. It folds flat to become a sleeper sofa, but you can also choose to fold up the arm rests on either side, or fold up all or just half of the back section. In addition, any spills wipe right up.

“Through the Coddle Smart Couch’s modern design and high-end materials and finishes, the atmosphere of a luxury hotel is easily recreated, but at a reasonable price point,” Djavit say.

Redesign your storage

Eliminate clutter by keeping everything out of sight. Images courtesy of Ornare

In most hotel rooms, there’s a place for everything, which reduces the clutter in your room. “Declutter your space, especially your bedside tables. Keeping only the essentials handy (and maybe some fresh cut flowers) helps bring a sense of calm and simplicity,” Hammerman says. Removing unnecessary items also creates more space in the room – making it appear to be larger. And you don’t have to have a walk-in closet. “We are seeing a lot of our clients redesign their master suites lined with Ornare closet doors that become part of the design of the room, and leave the bed to float in the room – instant private island,” says Claudio Faria, director of Ornare USA.

Choose a soothing paint color

A neutral tone provides a soothing backdrop. Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore.

“For better or worse, that warm Southwest-type of palette has come to be associated with mass hotel chains, and so, if you’re going for luxury or boutique, the exact opposite in terms of color and design is key,” explains Benjamin Moore Color and Design Expert, Nivara Xaykao. “Nothing beats crisp white walls, and luckily, there are new paint products out there that can keep your bedroom walls looking pristine. She recommends Chantilly Lace as one of the company’s favorite whites for achieving this look. “To bring a designer’s touch to the space, keep accent colors cool and neutral with calming grays and graphic blacks. Bold color statements can transform the bathroom into a special sanctuary.”

Deep blues are also calming and always stylish.  “Lastly, don’t forget paint sheen. Higher glosses in the right places, like cabinetry and trim, can really heighten the glamour in a space,” Xaykao says.

Add artwork

Artwork can add personality to your space. Image courtesy of ArtSugar.

The last step is to incorporate artwork to liven up those blank walls. “Hammerman recommends a palette of warm neutrals to create a soothing hotel-like environment.

And fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot to get quality artwork. You can buy large framed art prints to recreate eye-catching looks without breaking the bank,” according to Alix Greenberg, Founder and CEO of ArtSugar, who recommends incorporating art featuring scenic landscapes to remind you of being on vacation. “Art or art prints featuring beaches, mountains, or even jungles can create a feeling of wanderlust, reminding you of being in a luxury hotel,” Greenberg says.

However, she recommends keeping frame colors simple. “Stick with white or black frames for a chic and elegant look reminiscent of a luxury hotel.”

The post Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

Terri Williams

[owensrhodes]

Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home

Going on vacation is a great way to relax and refresh. And if you stay in a luxury hotel, lakeside inn, resort spa, or elegant bed and breakfast, you’ll also enjoy a lush living area, and a luxurious bathroom experience. However, you can create that hotel vibe in your own home, and enjoy luxurious living every day. Here’s how to achieve those looks.

Make your bed irresistible

A plush bed is inviting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

One thing everyone enjoys about luxury hotels: the luxurious beds. However, Wendy Hammerman, Founder & Lead Designer at WLH Interiors, a full service interior design studio, says you can recreate that vibe by investing in new bedding. “There is something about crisp, clean, freshly laundered sheets that says ‘I’m on vacation!’” Hammerman says. She also recommends a cozy down comforter and a feather mattress topper. “Add lots of fluffy pillows, the fluffier the better, and last but not least, add a throw at the end of the bed for a homey feel and perhaps a pop of color.”

Consider sheets with a higher thread count. Image courtesy of Lance Selgo with Unique Exposure Photography.

Karen Otto of Home Star Staging agrees that luxury linens can create a luxury hotel vibe for a staycation or when family and friends come to visit. “Look for sheet thread counts higher than 500, and since we run an Airbnb, we always purchase white for ease of cleaning – and they always just look fresh and inviting.” Otto says.  “From comfy pillows to fluffy absorbent white towels in the bath, who wouldn’t want to feel like they’ve come home to a luxurious night’s sleep in a bed that looks like it was made at a 5-star hotel?”

Use appealing scents

The right scent sets the right mood. Image: Rido/Shutterstock

While creating an environment that appeals to your senses, don’t forget your sense of smell. “The first thing you will notice when you arrive at a high-end, luxury hotel and spa is the aroma,” says Hammerman.  When you enter the resort, she says you’re surrounded by a fabulous fragrance that evokes feelings of calm and comfort. “Whether it’s beachy, floral or clean and crisp, smell is a great way to transform your space and instantly take you away to another place without leaving home.”

Hammerman recommends using a candle or atomizer that you can get at any home store. “Nest is a popular brand with several scents to choose from, including my personal favorite, Grapefruit – clean, fresh and fruity.” She also recommends Ocean Mist and Sea Salt, which smell like the beach. And if you want sometime more exotic, Hammerman suggests Moroccan Amber.  “If candles aren’t your thing, Aroma 360 offers a plug-in with an array of interchangeable options, depending on your mood.”

Recreate a spa bathroom

Achieve a spa-like experience at home. Aqua-Sense Collection. Image courtesy of GRAFF

If you want to transform your bathroom to feel like it’s in a luxury hotel, Celine Marcotte, Business Development Manager at GRAFF, recommends refreshing the shower. “Products that stimulate the senses instantly provide a luxury hotel feel. Water, light, and sound, orchestrated in a harmonic balance allow for a deeper sense of wellness, a sensation and experience that can be achieved with GRAFF’s Aqua-Sense Collection, which uses chromotherapy and LED lights.”  And the finishes and textures can also enhance a space’s appeal. “For example, 24K Gold, Rose Gold, and Matte Black come to mind as uber luxurious options.” You can also get ideas from the 2019 Trends in Bathroom Technology.

Marcotte also recommends accessories that can update your bathroom and can be easily swapped out. “Grab bars are one way to go, providing both an elevated style and a great aging in place solution.”

The right showerhead makes a big difference. Image: ImageFlow/Shutterstock

According to Leah Tuttleman, a designer at Re-Bath, sounds and sights can help you achieve an ultimate level of relaxation. “Let stress float away with a countertop waterfall to help your spa achieve an air of serenity. Install dimmer switches to set a calm, sunset-like mood to capture the essence of a professional spa’s tranquil ambiance.” And you can achieve this experience by just upgrading to a massage shower head. “Whether you prefer a waterfall shower, high-pressure or hand-held, these modern designs that mimic the natural flow of falling rain emanate relaxation.”

Other elements reminiscent of high-end luxury hotels include touchless faucets and soap dispensers, and Tuttleman says they’re easy to install. “Also, matching benches are a beautiful, functional addition to almost any shower, and a built-in caddy makes storage a breeze so you can focus on that clean, simple, minimalist look of a 5-star hotel.”

Layer your lighting

There are many ways to create lighting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Hotel rooms usually provide several lighting options. “Layer your windows with a lighter drape to accommodate sun-filtering light and a heavier drape that creates a black-out effect essential for sleeping late on lazy weekends,” Hammerman recommends.  “Also, consider a 3-way bulb in your bedside lamp which gives you the option of a bright reading light or the opportunity to create a softer ambiance.”

Lighting effects can change the look of your home. Image courtesy of Philips Hue

And there are other tips and tools to hlep you vary lighting – for example, Mike Deschamps, US Product Marketing Director at Philips Hue Signify, recommends layering your lighting – with ambient, accent and task lighting – to recreate a luxury hotel vibe at home. “Ambient lighting illuminates your space evenly; you can achieve this with the right ceiling fixtures or recessed lighting,” he says. “Accent lighting sources indirectly illuminate spaces while remaining mostly hidden; for example, use the Philips Hue Play light bars to highlight particular elements in your room like artwork or plants. “

In addition, Deschamps says you can use light strips in cabinets or under a bed or sofa. “Lastly, bring in task lighting through table and floor lamps to give you the light you need for specific activities like reading.”

Use a multi-functional sofa

Who doesn’t love a great – and great-looking – sofa? Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Luxurious leather sofas are common in upscale hotel lobbies and private rooms. Whether you’re waiting in the lobby with all of your luggage, or you return to your room loaded down with a laptop and suitcase – or after a busy day of shopping – those stylish sofas are convenient and handy.

However, you can also create this look at home, for less than you might think. And you won’t even have to leave the sofa when you want to charge your phone and other devices.

A versatile, luxurious sofa without the luxurious price tag. Images courtesy of Coddle

For example, the Coddle Smart Couch is stylish and versatile, and is available in leather and microfiber verions. “It was designed entirely with the consumer in mind. With built-in USB ports and outlets, and the ability to transform into over a dozen different positions, the couch is both practical and useful, without sacrificing a luxurious feel,” says Nuri Djavit, CMO of Coddle. It folds flat to become a sleeper sofa, but you can also choose to fold up the arm rests on either side, or fold up all or just half of the back section. In addition, any spills wipe right up.

“Through the Coddle Smart Couch’s modern design and high-end materials and finishes, the atmosphere of a luxury hotel is easily recreated, but at a reasonable price point,” Djavit say.

Redesign your storage

Eliminate clutter by keeping everything out of sight. Images courtesy of Ornare

In most hotel rooms, there’s a place for everything, which reduces the clutter in your room. “Declutter your space, especially your bedside tables. Keeping only the essentials handy (and maybe some fresh cut flowers) helps bring a sense of calm and simplicity,” Hammerman says. Removing unnecessary items also creates more space in the room – making it appear to be larger. And you don’t have to have a walk-in closet. “We are seeing a lot of our clients redesign their master suites lined with Ornare closet doors that become part of the design of the room, and leave the bed to float in the room – instant private island,” says Claudio Faria, director of Ornare USA.

Choose a soothing paint color

A neutral tone provides a soothing backdrop. Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore.

“For better or worse, that warm Southwest-type of palette has come to be associated with mass hotel chains, and so, if you’re going for luxury or boutique, the exact opposite in terms of color and design is key,” explains Benjamin Moore Color and Design Expert, Nivara Xaykao. “Nothing beats crisp white walls, and luckily, there are new paint products out there that can keep your bedroom walls looking pristine. She recommends Chantilly Lace as one of the company’s favorite whites for achieving this look. “To bring a designer’s touch to the space, keep accent colors cool and neutral with calming grays and graphic blacks. Bold color statements can transform the bathroom into a special sanctuary.”

Deep blues are also calming and always stylish.  “Lastly, don’t forget paint sheen. Higher glosses in the right places, like cabinetry and trim, can really heighten the glamour in a space,” Xaykao says.

Add artwork

Artwork can add personality to your space. Image courtesy of ArtSugar.

The last step is to incorporate artwork to liven up those blank walls. “Hammerman recommends a palette of warm neutrals to create a soothing hotel-like environment.

And fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot to get quality artwork. You can buy large framed art prints to recreate eye-catching looks without breaking the bank,” according to Alix Greenberg, Founder and CEO of ArtSugar, who recommends incorporating art featuring scenic landscapes to remind you of being on vacation. “Art or art prints featuring beaches, mountains, or even jungles can create a feeling of wanderlust, reminding you of being in a luxury hotel,” Greenberg says.

However, she recommends keeping frame colors simple. “Stick with white or black frames for a chic and elegant look reminiscent of a luxury hotel.”

The post Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

[jovialsoulinfluencer]

Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home

Going on vacation is a great way to relax and refresh. And if you stay in a luxury hotel, lakeside inn, resort spa, or elegant bed and breakfast, you’ll also enjoy a lush living area, and a luxurious bathroom experience. However, you can create that hotel vibe in your own home, and enjoy luxurious living every day. Here’s how to achieve those looks.

Make your bed irresistible

A plush bed is inviting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

One thing everyone enjoys about luxury hotels: the luxurious beds. However, Wendy Hammerman, Founder & Lead Designer at WLH Interiors, a full service interior design studio, says you can recreate that vibe by investing in new bedding. “There is something about crisp, clean, freshly laundered sheets that says ‘I’m on vacation!’” Hammerman says. She also recommends a cozy down comforter and a feather mattress topper. “Add lots of fluffy pillows, the fluffier the better, and last but not least, add a throw at the end of the bed for a homey feel and perhaps a pop of color.”

Consider sheets with a higher thread count. Image courtesy of Lance Selgo with Unique Exposure Photography.

Karen Otto of Home Star Staging agrees that luxury linens can create a luxury hotel vibe for a staycation or when family and friends come to visit. “Look for sheet thread counts higher than 500, and since we run an Airbnb, we always purchase white for ease of cleaning – and they always just look fresh and inviting.” Otto says.  “From comfy pillows to fluffy absorbent white towels in the bath, who wouldn’t want to feel like they’ve come home to a luxurious night’s sleep in a bed that looks like it was made at a 5-star hotel?”

Use appealing scents

The right scent sets the right mood. Image: Rido/Shutterstock

While creating an environment that appeals to your senses, don’t forget your sense of smell. “The first thing you will notice when you arrive at a high-end, luxury hotel and spa is the aroma,” says Hammerman.  When you enter the resort, she says you’re surrounded by a fabulous fragrance that evokes feelings of calm and comfort. “Whether it’s beachy, floral or clean and crisp, smell is a great way to transform your space and instantly take you away to another place without leaving home.”

Hammerman recommends using a candle or atomizer that you can get at any home store. “Nest is a popular brand with several scents to choose from, including my personal favorite, Grapefruit – clean, fresh and fruity.” She also recommends Ocean Mist and Sea Salt, which smell like the beach. And if you want sometime more exotic, Hammerman suggests Moroccan Amber.  “If candles aren’t your thing, Aroma 360 offers a plug-in with an array of interchangeable options, depending on your mood.”

Recreate a spa bathroom

Achieve a spa-like experience at home. Aqua-Sense Collection. Image courtesy of GRAFF

If you want to transform your bathroom to feel like it’s in a luxury hotel, Celine Marcotte, Business Development Manager at GRAFF, recommends refreshing the shower. “Products that stimulate the senses instantly provide a luxury hotel feel. Water, light, and sound, orchestrated in a harmonic balance allow for a deeper sense of wellness, a sensation and experience that can be achieved with GRAFF’s Aqua-Sense Collection, which uses chromotherapy and LED lights.”  And the finishes and textures can also enhance a space’s appeal. “For example, 24K Gold, Rose Gold, and Matte Black come to mind as uber luxurious options.” You can also get ideas from the 2019 Trends in Bathroom Technology.

Marcotte also recommends accessories that can update your bathroom and can be easily swapped out. “Grab bars are one way to go, providing both an elevated style and a great aging in place solution.”

The right showerhead makes a big difference. Image: ImageFlow/Shutterstock

According to Leah Tuttleman, a designer at Re-Bath, sounds and sights can help you achieve an ultimate level of relaxation. “Let stress float away with a countertop waterfall to help your spa achieve an air of serenity. Install dimmer switches to set a calm, sunset-like mood to capture the essence of a professional spa’s tranquil ambiance.” And you can achieve this experience by just upgrading to a massage shower head. “Whether you prefer a waterfall shower, high-pressure or hand-held, these modern designs that mimic the natural flow of falling rain emanate relaxation.”

Other elements reminiscent of high-end luxury hotels include touchless faucets and soap dispensers, and Tuttleman says they’re easy to install. “Also, matching benches are a beautiful, functional addition to almost any shower, and a built-in caddy makes storage a breeze so you can focus on that clean, simple, minimalist look of a 5-star hotel.”

Layer your lighting

There are many ways to create lighting. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Hotel rooms usually provide several lighting options. “Layer your windows with a lighter drape to accommodate sun-filtering light and a heavier drape that creates a black-out effect essential for sleeping late on lazy weekends,” Hammerman recommends.  “Also, consider a 3-way bulb in your bedside lamp which gives you the option of a bright reading light or the opportunity to create a softer ambiance.”

Lighting effects can change the look of your home. Image courtesy of Philips Hue

And there are other tips and tools to hlep you vary lighting – for example, Mike Deschamps, US Product Marketing Director at Philips Hue Signify, recommends layering your lighting – with ambient, accent and task lighting – to recreate a luxury hotel vibe at home. “Ambient lighting illuminates your space evenly; you can achieve this with the right ceiling fixtures or recessed lighting,” he says. “Accent lighting sources indirectly illuminate spaces while remaining mostly hidden; for example, use the Philips Hue Play light bars to highlight particular elements in your room like artwork or plants. “

In addition, Deschamps says you can use light strips in cabinets or under a bed or sofa. “Lastly, bring in task lighting through table and floor lamps to give you the light you need for specific activities like reading.”

Use a multi-functional sofa

Who doesn’t love a great – and great-looking – sofa? Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Luxurious leather sofas are common in upscale hotel lobbies and private rooms. Whether you’re waiting in the lobby with all of your luggage, or you return to your room loaded down with a laptop and suitcase – or after a busy day of shopping – those stylish sofas are convenient and handy.

However, you can also create this look at home, for less than you might think. And you won’t even have to leave the sofa when you want to charge your phone and other devices.

A versatile, luxurious sofa without the luxurious price tag. Images courtesy of Coddle

For example, the Coddle Smart Couch is stylish and versatile, and is available in leather and microfiber verions. “It was designed entirely with the consumer in mind. With built-in USB ports and outlets, and the ability to transform into over a dozen different positions, the couch is both practical and useful, without sacrificing a luxurious feel,” says Nuri Djavit, CMO of Coddle. It folds flat to become a sleeper sofa, but you can also choose to fold up the arm rests on either side, or fold up all or just half of the back section. In addition, any spills wipe right up.

“Through the Coddle Smart Couch’s modern design and high-end materials and finishes, the atmosphere of a luxury hotel is easily recreated, but at a reasonable price point,” Djavit say.

Redesign your storage

Eliminate clutter by keeping everything out of sight. Images courtesy of Ornare

In most hotel rooms, there’s a place for everything, which reduces the clutter in your room. “Declutter your space, especially your bedside tables. Keeping only the essentials handy (and maybe some fresh cut flowers) helps bring a sense of calm and simplicity,” Hammerman says. Removing unnecessary items also creates more space in the room – making it appear to be larger. And you don’t have to have a walk-in closet. “We are seeing a lot of our clients redesign their master suites lined with Ornare closet doors that become part of the design of the room, and leave the bed to float in the room – instant private island,” says Claudio Faria, director of Ornare USA.

Choose a soothing paint color

A neutral tone provides a soothing backdrop. Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore.

“For better or worse, that warm Southwest-type of palette has come to be associated with mass hotel chains, and so, if you’re going for luxury or boutique, the exact opposite in terms of color and design is key,” explains Benjamin Moore Color and Design Expert, Nivara Xaykao. “Nothing beats crisp white walls, and luckily, there are new paint products out there that can keep your bedroom walls looking pristine. She recommends Chantilly Lace as one of the company’s favorite whites for achieving this look. “To bring a designer’s touch to the space, keep accent colors cool and neutral with calming grays and graphic blacks. Bold color statements can transform the bathroom into a special sanctuary.”

Deep blues are also calming and always stylish.  “Lastly, don’t forget paint sheen. Higher glosses in the right places, like cabinetry and trim, can really heighten the glamour in a space,” Xaykao says.

Add artwork

Artwork can add personality to your space. Image courtesy of ArtSugar.

The last step is to incorporate artwork to liven up those blank walls. “Hammerman recommends a palette of warm neutrals to create a soothing hotel-like environment.

And fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot to get quality artwork. You can buy large framed art prints to recreate eye-catching looks without breaking the bank,” according to Alix Greenberg, Founder and CEO of ArtSugar, who recommends incorporating art featuring scenic landscapes to remind you of being on vacation. “Art or art prints featuring beaches, mountains, or even jungles can create a feeling of wanderlust, reminding you of being in a luxury hotel,” Greenberg says.

However, she recommends keeping frame colors simple. “Stick with white or black frames for a chic and elegant look reminiscent of a luxury hotel.”

The post Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

from https://freshome.com/cant-go-on-vacation-recreate-a-hotel-vibe-in-your-home/ via Can’t Go on Vacation? Recreate a Hotel Vibe in Your Home

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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – ‘A Sad State Of Affairs’ For #MentalHealth In #America

“I believe I will be helping people navigate the effects of the #pandemic for the rest of my career,” said Leah Seeger, a marriage and family #therapist in Minneapolis. To the Editor: “We Surveyed 1,320 #Therapists Across the Nation. They’re Worried About #MentalHealth in the U.S.” (news article, Jan. 3): #Psychiatrists were not included in this Times survey, sent by Psychology Today to its professional members, but there were references to my field that illustrate a sad state of affairs. A quarter of those polled said #suicidalthoughts were among the leading reasons #patients sought help. Sixty percent said more #patients wanted medication. One clinical social worker noted that a person who was suicidal and depressed had to wait three months to see a #psychiatrist for medication. That waiting time was not just for #psychiatrists: Nearly a third of the #therapists surveyed said it could take at least three months to get an appointment with them, if at all. If a person is severely depressed and suicidal, a professional should evaluate them immediately. I know from being a hospital #psychiatrist throughout my career that this evaluation can be accomplished in an emergency room. The problem is that the necessary, close follow-up care is not accessible to most who cannot pay out of pocket. It is often difficult to find those who will accept fees paid by insurance. As a society, we have to examine our priorities for how money is allocated, and whether #mentalhealth is worth the financial investment. Jeffrey B. FreedmanNew York To the Editor: It’s about time this survey was conducted. I’ve been hitting my head against the wall in frustration since #Covid began, trying to get national coverage of our #mentalhealthcrisis. Now, let’s take needed actions or we will face worsening incidences of #PTSD. As the article stated, medical workers are already suffering. We will also see increases in #massshootings, uncontrolled anger against airline stewards, #domesticabuse, #substanceabuse and #suicides. Here are some things we can do: Broadcast and print media: Offer continual #mentalhealthreports. Post the 800 number for crisis and #suicidehotlines everywhere, along with symptoms of acute #stress. Warn about deadly pills through #socialmedia. #Schools: Talk to #students about #stress, #depression and #suicidalideation. Add needed #counselors. Community, state and federal governments: Determine needs of vulnerable populations and how to respond immediately. Find additional #therapists and #psychiatric ward availability. Demand insurance parity. Most important: End the #stigma. Finally put #mental and physical health on equal footing. Sharon L. CohenNewtown, Conn.The writer is the co-author of “Disaster #MentalHealth Community Planning.” To the Editor: Surviving the #pandemic has proved to be a lot easier for me than surviving the relentless demands of home care for my wife, who recently died after eight years with #Alzheimer’s. I hope you conduct a similar survey of the #mentalhealth costs of home care for those with #dementia, especially as millions of #babyboomers soon begin to turn 80. Our #mentalhealth system may be in crisis right now, but an even bigger and more enduring #mentalhealthcrisis may lie right around the corner. Jerome T. MurphyCambridge, Mass. To the Editor: As a social work clinician, educator and board member of the International Association for Social Work With Groups, I have been very concerned about the social and emotional impact of the #pandemic on people of all ages and backgrounds. #Socialisolation plays a key role in the sharp rise in #mentalhealthproblems described in this article. An individual #therapist can do much, but is unable to provide the sense of belonging that a group can offer. In social work practice with groups, the experience of mutual aid promotes connection, increases #self-esteem and lessens isolation for its members. Since the start of the #pandemic, groups have been meeting safely and effectively online. Using group methods can serve more people, decrease waiting lists and lessen pressure on individual #therapists. We need to provide opportunities for clients to join groups that can counter the terrible #isolation of so many. Ann M. BergartChicago #James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Read the full article