I have been battling depression for several months. I have Treatment Resistant Biplor Disorder. What that means is many medications don’t work on me, or if they do, they stop working at some point. I have been dealing with this up and down since 1992.
One of the medications I started in the Spring, which was working wonders, stopped working. I’ve been working closely with my Psychiatrist to change doses, but nothing is working. He increased the dose today on one of my medications, and I’m always positive it will work. My fingers are crossed.
I’m sure you’ve noticed I have been posting less; I can’t wait to get back to myself.
If your medications stop working, don’t abandon your medications, call your doctor and get the attitude that the next drug will work. You can’t do it alone.
Fact: May 20, 1873, is the “birthday” of blue jeans
According to the Levi Strauss website, this was the day that Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, the innovators behind the sturdy blue jeans we all love, got a patent on the process of adding metal rivets to men’s denim work pants for the first time in history. The pants were called waist overalls until 1960 when baby boomers began calling them jeans.
Fact: 170-year-old bottles of champagne were found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea
The bottles of bubbly are estimated to have been traveling from Germany to Russia during the 1800s when they sank to the bottom of the sea, says New Scientist. Turns out that the bottom of the sea, where temps are between two and four degrees Celsius, is a great place for wine aging. Oenologists, people who study wine and winemaking, sampled the champagne and described it as, “sometimes cheesy,” with “animal notes,” and that it had elements of “wet hair.”
Fact: The MGM lion roar is trademarked
At the start of any movie made by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, there’s the iconic lion that roars at the audience. While MGM has gone through several iterations of lion mascots, the sound of the roar is always the same. The company trademarked the “sound mark” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the ’80s.
Fact: Neil Armstrong’s hair was sold in 2004 for $3,000
The lucky buyer, John Reznikoff, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of hair from historical celebrities, reports NBC. The not-so-lucky barber Marx Sizemore, who cut Armstrong’s hair, received threats of being sued by Armstrong’s lawyers who said he violated an Ohio law that protects the rights of famous people. Sizemore said he wouldn’t pay, and Reznikoff said he wouldn’t give back the hair but that he’d donate $3,000 to charity.
Fact: Irish bars used to be closed on St. Patrick’s Day
You might associate St. Patrick’s Day with wearing green and drinking so much you think you actually see leprechauns. However, until 1961, there were laws in Ireland that banned bars to be open on March 17. Since the holiday falls during the period of Lent in the heavily Catholic country, the idea of binge drinking seemed a bit immoral.
Fact: Nikola Tesla hated pearls
Tesla was a European electrical engineer who paved the way for current system generators and motors. The way electricity gets transmitted and converted to mechanical power is thanks to his inventions. However, despite experimenting with electricity, he despised being in the presence of pearls. One day when his secretary wore pearl jewelry, he made her go home.
Fact: Thomas Edison is the reason you love cat videos
Thanks to Edison’s invention of the Kinetograph in 1892, he was able to record and watch moving images for the first time. He filmed short clips in his studio named Black Maria. Some of his shorts feature famous people like Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, but the real stars are The Boxing Cats. Check out the video Edison captured of adorable cats in a boxing ring circa 1894.
Fact: Brad Pitt suffered an ironic injury on a film set
During Pitt’s prime acting career, he filmed Troy, based on Homer’s Illiad. He played the brave, and buff, Greek hero Achilles. Legend has it that Achilles could not be defeated unless hit in his Achilles heel. While filming an epic battle scene, Pitt ironically hurt his Achilles tendon that put him back two months.
Fact: Pregnancy tests date back to 1350 BCE
Based on an ancient papyrus document, Egyptian women urinated on wheat and barley seeds to determine if they were pregnant or not, according to the Office of History in the National Institutes of Health. If wheat grew, it predicted a female baby. If barley grew, it predicted a male baby. The woman was not pregnant if nothing grew. Experimenting with this seed theory in 1963 proved it was accurate 70 percent of the time.
Fact: Martin Luther King Jr. got a C in public speaking
Everyone remembers Dr. King as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and often quotes his “I Have a Dream” speech that he delivered in 1963. However, over a decade before his legendary speech, while attending Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, he earned a C in public speaking during his first and second term.
So glad you are enjoying the post, I love hearing your comments.
On the way home from work, I vomited in my new Land Rover. I could not pull over fast enough; vomit was everywhere, and I didn’t have any napkins. Once I arrived home, the clean-up began. It was getting late, and I stopped to find I had locked myself out of the house. I was living in a new neighborhood and only had three neighbors. I found a light on, and asked if I could borrow a phone book, and she said yes. Bet I smelled bad, and this was the first time I met her. Even after a professional cleaning, it smelled, and I traded it for something else.
My friends and I went to dinner to celebrate my 33rd birthday. Out of the blue, I got a tattoo and a belly button ring. Several of us drove to a bad part of town because they wanted to watch me get the tattoo. Thank goodness I was drunk. The sign said not to be drunk, but at that age, I was on top of the world.
FYI, the belly button piercing hurt so bad, like your guts were being pulled out. After six months of babying the spot, I took it out.
My gramps had Prostate and Bladder Cancer; the two pushing against each other caused him to have to pee about every 10-15 minutes. My cousin was in a small plane crash and was in really bad shape; Gramps had to go see him. The problem was that the hospital was 1.5 hours away. Knowing that we would be stopping along the way, I took an empty Gatorade bottle for emergencies. I’m flying down the highway close to 100 miles an hour, and Gramps says I have to pee now! I had to push the accelerator all the way down to find an exit. I was Speed Racer! I found a spot, and he peed in the bottle. It wasn’t funny at the time, but it sure is now.
March is not only the beginning of Spring but it is chocked full of awareness days, weeks and months. Due to the size of the list, I only included the monthly awareness days. At the bottom of the post there is a link where you can see the full list.
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
30 drops of vanilla oleoresin/vanilla botanical extract 1/2 cup organic instant coffee powder
Airtight containers
Coffee beans (optional)
To Make
n a large bowl, combine the milk powder, colloidal oatmeal powder, and Epson salt, and mix well with a wooded spoon. Place the emulsifier starch into a separate smaller bowl. Sprinkle the essential oils over the starch, mix well until the oils are completely enveloped in the starch. Pour this blend over the rest of the ingredients, and mix well to incorporate all the ingredients evenly. Add instant coffee powder, and mix to combine. Transfer the coffee milk bath to a storage container of your choice. with all the ingredients mixed together. If gifting, top the mixture with a few coffee beans for extra decoration.
To take a coffee milk bath at home, place 2 cups of homemade milk bath in warm bathwater. Swirl to mix and enjoy the luxurious, moistening soak, allowing the milk to soften your skin for 20-30 minutes. Gently pat your skin dry, and follow with a moisturizing body butter or lotion to lock in moisturizer
Stress has been linked to cardiovascular disease, depression, and even the common cold.
Stress is all around us. And while some stressors certainly can feel overwhelming, it’s important to remember that not all stress we face is bad.
The National Institutes of Health says stress is “how the body and brain respond to an external cause that may be a one-time or short-term occurrence or happen repeatedly over a long time.”
Our body’s response to stressors can sometimes be helpful — giving us a burst of energy to get away from danger or perform well under pressure, explains Michelle Dossett, MD, PhD, MPH, an internist and an integrative medicine specialist at the University of California in Davis.
Anxiety about a doctor’s visit or a performance review at work, for example, or even something scary, like a car heading right at you, are all examples of short-term stressors.
Long-term stressors have a different effect. “Stress that lasts years or a long time is usually the worst kind of stress,” says Bert Uchino, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City who studies stress in aging populations.
If you’re in a job you hate or you’re a caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease, for instance, says Dr. Uchino, you may suffer from high levels of chronic (or long-term) stress. That’s where your body “never receives a clear signal to return to normal.”
It’s this type of chronic stress that causes changes in the body that can do damage and contribute to disease in some cases, says Uchino. Blood tests can reveal inflammation, changes in blood pressure, and elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can all be signs of chronic stress.
9 Illnesses That Stress May Cause or Make Worse
Chronic stress certainly doesn’t help or promote healing in any disease or health problem. Here are some common illnesses that can be caused and made worse by stress.
1. Depression and Other Mental Health Conditions
The exact reason why some people experience depression and anxiety as clinical mood disorders and others do not is still unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many factors are potentially in play, including genetic, environmental, and psychological conditions, as well as major stressful or traumatic experiences.
Research shows, however, that chronic stress left unmanaged is linked to serious mental disorders like anxiety and depression. Persistent or prolonged stress leads the body to produce certain hormones and chemicals that perpetuate an ongoing state of stress that can have adverse effects on key organs. Around 20 to 25 percent of persons who experience major stressful events will go on to develop depression, according to a commentary and review of research published in JAMA.
2. Insomnia
An informal APA survey from 2013 on stress and sleep found links in both directions. Forty-three percent of the nearly 2,000 adults surveyed reported that stress had caused them to lie awake at night at least one time in the past month. When they didn’t sleep well, 21 percent reported feeling more stressed. Among adults with higher self-reported stress levels (8 or higher on a 10-point scale), 45 percent said they felt more stressed when they didn’t get enough sleep. Finally, adults with lower self-reported stress levels claimed they slept more hours per night on average than adults with higher self-reported stress levels, to the tune of almost an hour less sleep (6.2 versus 7.1 hours a night).
3. Cardiovascular Disease
Chronic stress has long been connected to worsened heart health outcomes. While there’s limited conclusive evidence to say that stress alone can trigger heart disease, there are quite a few ways stress contributes to it, according to a JAMA review. Part of the stress response is a faster heart rate and blood vessel constriction (or vasodilation for some skeletal muscles to help the body move in a fight or flee response), thanks to the stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol, according to research. If the body remains in this state for a long time, as in chronic stress, the heart and cardiovascular system may be damaged, according to other research.
Another means by which stress can contribute to heart disease: You might cope with your stress by eating or drinking too much, which in turn can contribute to cardiovascular disease, also according to APA.“Negative emotions and stress can contribute to a heart attack,” Dr. Dossett says. One meta-analysis, for example, found a 50 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with high levels of work stress.
4. Common Cold
Stress can also weaken your immune function, which can make you more susceptible to infectious diseases like colds, Uchino explains. Researchers conducted an experiment in which they exposed a group of 420 volunteers to the common cold virus and then quarantined them to see if they got sick. The data revealed that participants who suffered from greater overall stress at the start of the study (measured via surveys on stressful life events, perceived stress, and mood) were more likely to become infected with a virus after exposure.
5. HIV and AIDS
Stress does not cause HIV (the virus that causes AIDS, which is sexually transmitted or passed through blood, which can happen when needles are shared). But there is some evidence that stress can worsen severity of the disease. A study of 177 HIV-positive patients found that the stress hormone cortisol (associated with chronic stress) was linked to a higher HIV viral load over four years and accelerated disease progression in people living with HIV. For the study, cortisol levels were measured via urine samples every six months.
Another review, published in 2016, concluded that while the link between stress and clinical outcomes is unclear, higher stress was linked to lower disease-fighting white blood cell counts, higher viral load, and disease worsening. Studies also linked stress with worse treatment adherence, per the review.
6. Gastrointestinal Disease
“Stress can affect gastrointestinal motility,” says Dossett, which is how food moves through your digestive system, increasing your chances of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel conditions, gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and discomfort. “All those things can be impacted by stress,” she says. Research supports this as well.
7. Chronic Pain
Some chronic pain conditions like migraine and lower back pain can be caused, triggered, or worsened when body muscles tense up. A lot of chronic low back pain is related to stress, says Dossett. “Very often it’s muscle tension and tightness that is pulling or creating strain, and then contributing to this sensation of pain.”
A study published in 2021 confirmed a strong relationship between the degree of stress and chronic lower back pain. The researchers concluded that clinicians who treated patients with chronic low back pain should also evaluate a patient’s stress levels.
“Pain is inherently stressful. When the pain does not appear to be remitting or getting better, the concern regarding the pain can turn into fear, anxiety, and hopelessness,” says Joel Frank, PsyD, a psychologist in private practice in Sherman Oaks, California.
A review published in 2017 examined the overlap between chronic stress and chronic pain, finding that both conditions triggered similar responses in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus and amygdala. The researchers also noted, however, that because of the wide variety of ways humans experience chronic pain and stress, these two conditions do not always overlap.
8. Cancer
What causes cancer is a particularly challenging question to answer, says Uchino. Because most patients are diagnosed only after years of cancer cell growth, it’s difficult if not impossible to pinpoint a specific cause. And it’s likely that several factors (someone’s genes, plus an environmental trigger like smoking, air pollution, or stress, for example) contribute.
But there is some evidence in human studies that stress plays a role in the onset of cancer, Uchino says. (It’s also worth noting that some studies have found no link.)
One possible reason why stress might contribute to some cancers: Stress can activate your brain and body’s inflammatory response, as well as stimulating your adrenal glands to release stress hormones called glucocorticoids, among many other downstream effects. Some research suggests that too much of this type of inflammation from chronic stress is the connection with cancer (as well as some autoimmune diseases — see below), Dossett explains.
9. Autoimmune Conditions
“Many inflammatory conditions are exacerbated by stress, and that includes autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis,” says Dossett. A Swedish population-wide study published in the June 2018 issue of JAMA found that patients with a stress disorder were more likely to develop an autoimmune disorder (9 per 1,000 patients per year compared with 6 per 1,000 among those without stress disorders). Another extensive review on the role of stress in autoimmunity emphasized that this is a relationship that medicine often overlooks.
Summary
The good news is there are many effective ways to manage stress, says Dossett, including yoga and mindfulness. These types of interventions don’t undo or change whatever situation is causing stress (financial woes, a family argument, or a busy schedule), but they can retrain the body’s central nervous system’s response and help dial that response down if it’s been triggered.
But some conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, develop years before they are diagnosed, so more research into interventions is desperately needed, says Uchino.
All things considered, if you want help with your chronic stress or other psychological issues, it’s best to ask your doctor or a trained mental health provider to evaluate and support you based on your needs.
My laptop is going on six years old and needed a new battery. I thought no problem, boy was I wrong. The service was under Apple Care and I took it to a Certified Apple Dealer. Thinking I may have the laptop back in three to four days,
I was totally surprised to hear my laptop had to be sent out because they don’t replace batteries. Now I’m looking at up to two weeks. It would have been nice if their website shared that information. Instructions are sent on how to prepare your device but the directs are not complete. After dropping off the laptop, he tells me I have to go into the Cloud and remove the device. What?????
I’m blessed to have an iPad to work with but it’s like a child’s play toy with a mind of its own.
If I’m not around much please understand what I’m dealing with.
I completely forgot about the original Good Times On the Highway To Hell and had to share it with you. There a plenty of chuckles in this one.
My brother was my best friend and I have hundreds of great memories. I laugh thinking how we came up with some of our adventures. Looking at the worst years of my life and finding happiness is liberating. These memories made my life feel normal. Some are a chuckle, others a belly roll, and most are just things kids do. I was often the mastermind, no time to waste. I hope it will brighten your day. Maybe spark some memories of your own.
We put sheets and blankets over our double-long clothesline making tepees to hide in. We could get a good thirty minutes of fun before having to look for real fun/trouble. Our dog Sandy got in on the action by pulling the tepees down.
While preparing my stepfather’s house for sale. My mother had finished moping the floor. With no thought on our part, we put pop tarts in our soda and they blew all over the newly mopped kitchen.
My brother was checking out a new Christmas BB Gun and shot me in the leg.
We always fought over who got to lick the cake icing bowl.
My Favorite We didn’t know why but our grandma was babysitting that day. Beyond bored, we start walking down the alley. My brother finds a bag of rotting potatoes, perfect for trouble-making. Our neighbors had a pool and were not home, we threw potatoes in the pool, and a dog bowl, on the house and back door. Little did we know our grandma was looking out the kitchen window watching us. We came into the house like nothing new. We had to wait until neighbors got home, apologize for what we’d done, and clean up the mess. It was nasty to clean but it was worth it.
Popping Bubble Wrap was a huge treat, we would fight over who got the bigger piece, We would lay in the front yard watching the stars popping our bubbles.
I would take Turtle Wax from the garage and mix in a little dirt to see how fast it would eat through a pie pan. Dixie cups melted quickly but pie pans took longer. It was difficult to explain the stains on the picnic table.
I never wore shoes unless forced. My grandfather came over and I was my usual jumping-around self. Looking at the flowers of the weeds in our yard. I enjoyed the simple things. Then I let out a scream, I stepped on a Bubble Bee. My grandfather said “Pud” you’ll be okay. I wandered off to find the bee. It was so pretty and I’d never seen that kind of bee. My grandfather called me “Pud” all my life, my guess is that it was an old people’s term of endearment.
At 4-5 years old, I was across the street playing and my mother started yelling there’s a tornado coming. I didn’t hear her so went to the middle of the street to see what was so important. A tornado is coming get in the house now. OK. My dad was at work so we gathered around the television. It wasn’t long before I had to go to the bathroom. I was so scared, I would not go because the Tornado Man might get me. An important note: my Easy Bake Oven went with the wind.
This was great, my brother came from the store with gum with a small poster in it. He asked if he could put it on the wall, NO! He snuck into her bedroom found a bobby pin, plugged it in an electrical socket, and caught the carpet in his bedroom on fire.
I matured early…..getting my mouth washed out with soap for saying fuck at 4 years old.
We’re on a teeter-totter at our grandparent’s house, I was in the air and spotted a snake. I was screaming like crazy. Gramps came back with a hole but I would not get off the swing. I still hate snakes.
When our teeth were loose we put a string around it, tied it to the doorknob, and then slammed the door. One time it took three tries to get one out. The tooth fairy didn’t leave any extra money.
Gramps and I would have a watermelon seed spitting contest, who could get seed all over the picnic table.
One of the methods of discipline my grandparents used was to go outside and get a switch. If you brought a wimpy one, it was back outside for another.
My grandparents would take us to Ponchos, and we raised the flag for more until we exploded.
We had pampas grass with long razor blades, on each side of our driveway. We made a bike ramp, the goal was to jump over both pampas grass, and the driveway and not get cut to shreds.
Singing to the radio with my dad driving 90 miles an hour, smoking a cigar with windows rolled up and constantly pushing buttons on the radio while changing lanes. We didn’t worry about his driving it was the cheap cigars we complained about.
I’m blessed to have good memories of my childhood.
In a bowl, mix together the Castile soap, coconut oil, and essential oils. Add salt and sugar, and stir to combine. Store the scrub in a glass jar. To use, add a small amount of warm water to your and, scrubbing off any excess dirt. Rise with warm water and enjoy your newly moisturized hands.
Use clean, sterilized spray bottles, containers, and tools when making natural products. The dishwasher works well to clean and sterilize tools, particularly for something that will be stored long term. Wipe out any jars or bottles with 100% vinegar before adding a product to the container. Make sure to use clean hands or tools when using and applying the product.
Water Safety
Distilled (or boiled & cooled) water is best to use for any homemade product calling for water because it removes any potential contaminants. Tap water should be boiled for 15 minutes and cooled before use.
Label Products
Label your products with the name and date made. This can be as basic as using a permanent marker to write directly on glass or tape.
Avoid Mixing Certain Products
There are a few ingredients that should not be mixed together due to chemical reactions: this applies mainly to cleaning products.
There are mainly three notorious natural combos, using, using four different ingredients (baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and Castile soap) that should be avoided.
Storage Tips
Store your products in a dark, cool place. Store them in airtight containers to eliminate humidity and other contaminants. Reduce the chance of outside water coming into contact with the product; for example, scoop out a scrub with a spoon rather than your fingers.
Using a motor and pestle or coffee grinder, lightly crush or grind the juniper berries. For the cold-pressed foldlore theodicy, add crushed, rosemary, and calendula petals to a sterilized jar. Top with hemp seed and jojoba oils and seal the jar. Shake to combine and place in a cool dry place for four to six weeks. Give the jar a good shake every few days to aid the infusion. Once the oils are infused, place a layer of cheesecloth over the jar, using the ring to secure it. With the help of a funnel, pour the cooled oil into dropper bottles.
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
I moved to a new apartment for my job and it had a nice fireplace. I was so excited until I lit it. I knew nothing about fireplaces and didn’t open the flue. My place filled with smoke, and my fire detector was going crazy. I ran downstairs to the only person I had met and he opened the flue for me. What an embarrassment. It got black gunk on the only expensive piece of art I owned.
I’ve always been a curious person, even as a child I was always getting into trouble. When I was five years old, I snuck into the janitor’s closet at daycare. There were big plastic buckets of paint. I opened the lid on one and it looked dried out. So I stuck my arm in the paint and to my surprise only the top was dry. I had to tell on myself because my arm was covered to the shoulder and dripping paint.
This is one of my best stories and one that makes me laugh every time. I stopped to get gas, I put the nozzle in the car as always and put my card in to pay. It wasn’t working, after a few tries, I went in to see what was up. The guy said they were changing shifts and it would be another 30 minutes before the pumps would work. I was so angry, I jumped in my car and took off. I’m driving up the street and people are pointing to the back of my car. I then realized I had torn the nozzle off the gas pump. I laughed till I cried. I got home and threw it in the trash.
When I was 12 years old, my dad’s friend left his car at the house. It was a hot rod and I wanted to drive it. I didn’t know how to drive but I was determined. I asked Daddy, and he said no of course. He was on the phone so when he got really involved in the call, I grabbed the keys and went for a ride. I drove it around the cuddle de sac and back to the house. I parked, then thought I was too far away from the curb so I moved it. The only problem was we had a fire hydrate by our driveway and I got on the gas too much and ran right into the fire hydrant. My dad came out screaming words I won’t use here but he was a maniac.
My best friend was close to my grandparents, one day she placed a huge cucumber in the toilet. She didn’t even tell me. Gramps was the victim! He got such a kick out of it.
These are the Hotel Stories
During the construction of a swanky hotel, I lived in the hotel until our job was completed. My job was to expedite all the furniture, carpet, and artwork for the hotel and at night I ran a temporary crew of about 10 guys. The halls were not carpeted so I wore my roller skates to make sure they were putting furniture in the right room and placed where specified. I did this for 8 months, it was exhausting but I learned so much.
Speaking of the hotels, the same one, all the craftspeople were still working so getting in an elevator is always a wait because there are so many waiting for two construction elevators. One day my boss and I were going to lunch, a full elevator stopped and I jumped in. The doors didn’t shut, and people were hanging on to me, as we fell four floors landing in the basement. My boss did not get on the elevator and he was looking for and couldn’t find me. I was in shock and had crawled around the corner leaning on a wall-shaking, and thinking I could have died.
Also while working at the same hotel, the Fire Department was testing the fire alarms all the time, several times a day. We stopped paying attention and kept working. A Fire Marshal comes into our office and says the fire is in this room. I looked down and sure enough, my trashcan was on fire. Guess my cigarettes were the cause.
At night before the team started placing furniture in the rooms, we would meet in a staging area and discuss the plan for the night. I also ran the elevator while they worked. We always had to use the service elevator. I had the elevator stop between floors on me, one not open, and one time I had to crawl out the top. Not to mention falling four floors. Surprisingly, I’m not afraid of elevators.
Fact: Cap’n Crunch’s full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch
He’s also been called out for only having the bars of a Navy commander, but the so-called cap’n held his ground on Twitter, arguing that captaining the S. S. Guppy with his crew “makes an official Cap’n in any book!” For more fun facts, find out other characters you didn’t know had full names.
Fact: The CIA headquarters has its own Starbucks, but baristas don’t write names on the cups
Fact: Europeans were scared of eating tomatoes when they were introduced
Scholars think Hernán Cortés brought the seeds in 1519 with the intent of the fruits being used ornamentally in gardens. By the 1700s, aristocrats started eating tomatoes, but they were convinced the fruits were poison because people would die after eating them. In reality, the acidity from the tomatoes brought out lead in their pewter plates, so they’d died of lead poisoning. These facts about our world are so surprising, they’re hard to believe.
Fact: The inventor of the microwave appliance only received $2 for his discovery
Percy Spencer was working as a researcher for American Appliance Company (now Raytheon) when he noticed a radar set using electromagnetic waves melted the candy bar in his pocket. He had the idea to make a metal box using microwaves to heat food, but the company was the one to file the patent. He received a $2 bonus but never any royalties. Here are 16 more random facts about money.
Fact: The Eiffel Tower can grow more than six inches during the summer
A cattle rancher in New Jersey is credited for inventing glitter, and it was by accident. Henry Ruschmann from Bernardsville, New Jersey was a machinist who crushed plastic while trying to find a way to dispose of it and thus made glitter in 1934.
Fact: Creature is a vegetarian
Victor Frankenstein’s Creature is actually vegetarian. Frankenstein and Creature are fictional characters created by Mary Shelley in her novel, Frankenstein. In the novel, Creature says, “My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment.”
So glad you are enjoying these post, I love hearing your hilarious comments.
As a beginner photographer, the allure of image manipulation can be hard to resist. With powerful editing software at your fingertips, it’s tempting to transform your photos dramatically. However, without understanding the potential side effects, excessive manipulation can do more harm than good. It often takes years of practice to master the subtlety and restraint needed to enhance images effectively without compromising their integrity.
Understanding Image Manipulation
Image manipulation involves altering or enhancing a photograph using various techniques and tools. This can range from basic adjustments like brightness and contrast to more complex edits like retouching, compositing, and adding special effects. While these tools can significantly improve a photo, they can also lead to over-manipulation if not used judiciously.
The Allure of Excessive Editing
For beginners, the excitement of discovering what editing software can do often leads to over-manipulation. Bright colors, extreme contrasts, and flawless skin retouching might initially seem appealing. However, these edits can quickly turn a natural-looking photograph into an unrealistic image that loses its original essence and authenticity.
Side Effects of Over-Manipulation
Loss of Authenticity: Over-editing can make photos look artificial. The charm of a photograph often lies in its natural imperfections, and excessive manipulation can strip away the authenticity that makes an image relatable and engaging.
Reduced Image Quality: Excessive editing, especially when applying filters and effects, can degrade the quality of the image. Overuse of sharpening tools can introduce noise, while aggressive color adjustments can lead to unnatural hues and tonal imbalances.
Viewer Distrust: In an era where authenticity is highly valued, overly manipulated images can lead to viewer distrust. Audiences today are more aware of photo editing techniques and can easily spot when an image has been excessively altered.
Time-Consuming: Spending too much time on editing can be counterproductive. While post-processing is important, it’s essential to strike a balance to ensure you’re not spending more time editing than shooting.
Skill Dependency: Relying heavily on editing software can hinder the development of essential photography skills. It’s crucial to learn how to capture well-composed, properly exposed images in-camera to minimize the need for extensive post-processing.
Finding the Right Balance
Learn the Basics: Start with basic adjustments like exposure, contrast, and color correction. Mastering these foundational edits will help you understand how to enhance your photos without overdoing it.
Preserve Natural Elements: Aim to retain the natural elements of your photographs. Enhance features that draw attention to your subject without overshadowing the overall composition.
Seek Feedback: Share your edited photos with more experienced photographers and ask for their feedback. Constructive criticism can help you recognize when you’ve gone too far with your edits.
Practice Restraint: Less is often more in photo editing. Use a light touch and make incremental changes. Step away from your work and return with fresh eyes to evaluate your edits before finalizing them.
Develop Your Style: Over time, you’ll develop a unique editing style that enhances your work without compromising its integrity. Experiment with different techniques, but always prioritize the story and emotion you want your photo to convey.
Conclusion
Image manipulation is a powerful tool in a photographer’s arsenal, but it requires skill and restraint to use effectively. As a beginner, it’s crucial to understand the potential pitfalls of over-manipulation and strive to find a balance that enhances your images without detracting from their authenticity. With time, practice, and a focus on developing your photography skills, you’ll learn to create stunning images that resonate with viewers and stand the test of time.
Keep experimenting! May your photographic journey be filled with endless discoveries and captivating narratives. If you’re curious to explore more captivating images and the stories behind them,
Here are a few products I’m loving right now. I hope you find a product to add to your household or self-care routine. The list may also give you ideas for a surprise for friends and family. Most products are found on Amazon. I’m not an Amazon Affiliate, I do not make a commission on anything you buy, and using the links does not cost you more.
Verilux HappyLight Lumi Plus
Light Therapy Lamp with 10,000 Lux, UV-Free, LED Bright White Light with Adjustable Brightness, Countdown Timer, & Detachable Stand – Boost Mood, Sleep, and Focus.
Customizable Lighting Experience: Personalize your light therapy with 3 brightness settings and a convenient countdown timer programmable up to 1 hour in 15-minute increments.
I have been feeling down and some of it may be because it’s Winter and there is less light. Therapy Lights are a great way to get extra light in that they mimic sunlight. I use mine for an hour a day.
Andalou Naturals Body Butter
Kukui Cocoa Nourishing Body Cream, 8 Oz, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter & Argan Oil for Dry Skin, Vegan.
Nourishing Body Butter: This luscious body butter blends shea and cocoa butter with argan oil to nourish, smooth and soften the appearance of dry skin. This rich, nourishing lotion helps hydrate.
This was purchased at Whole Foods, an Amazon grocery store, but Amazon may also carry the product.
This body butter is the best! It comes in a tube and it’s creamy and soft, soaks in quickly, and leaves no greasy residue. The cocoa smell is delicious but not overwhelming and it’s long lasting.
HENCKELS Razor-Sharp Steak Knife Set of 8
German Engineered Informed by 100+ Years of Mastery, Black
SET INCLUDES: Set of eight
SHARP BLADE: Large serrations containing smaller serrations ensure sharpness
QUALITY MANUFACTURING: 4.5 inches steel blades will stay sharp for years
BALANCED KNIFE: Triple riveted handles provide strength and longevity
EASY CLEAN UP: Dishwasher safe; hand washing recommended
Our cheap knife set had seen better days. When I was searching for an upgraded set, not an expensive set, they had to go in the dishwasher. We have a set of expensive Henkels but don’t use them because they have to be hand-washed, I used them when I was single. This set was at a great price point and the blades are sharp.
Bedsure Calming Dog Bed for Small Dogs
Donut Washable Small Pet Bed, 23 inches Anti-Slip Round Fluffy Plush Faux Fur Large Cat Bed, Fits up to 25 lbs Pets, Camel.
Soothing Support: This donut dog bed is ideal for pets who love to curl up. The raised rim snuggles your cat or dog, offering optimal head and neck support and a sense of security. Premium ultra-soft filling offers joint and muscle pain relief.
I have two of these beds and our dogs love them, I often find them asleep with their heads over the edge sleeping. The fabric is shaggy, soft and warm. I put one of their blankets in there and they love it.
Lesure Waterproof Puppy Blanket for Small Dogs
Washable Double Sided Dog Blankets with Warm Jacquard Shag and Soft Sherpa Fleece, Pet Cat Blanket for Couch Protection, 3D Textured Cloud, Blue.
Cuddle-Ready Comfort: One up your snuggle game with Lesure’s waterproof blanket! The feel of soothing Sherpa on one side and an extra plush Jacquard shag on the flip side promises your furry friend’s ultimate warmth and coziness. Light as a feather, this blanket shields your beloved pets from the chill and damp, keeping them toasty and comfy.
The blanket is two-sided and my dogs love the sherpa side, it’s warm and comfy. Our little dog has not shown interest in blankets before but she is attached to this one.
A few drops orange & ginger essential oils (optional)
Salve tins
To Make
In a jar, combine jojoba oil, orange peel, and ginger root. Secure the lid, and store in a dark place for at least two weeks to infuse. Strain the oil and set it aside. In a double boiler over medium heat, combine the infused oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter. Stir until fully melted, about three minutes, and turn the heat off. If using essential oils, add them to the mixture and stir well. Pour the mixture into salve tines, and let it sit for at least an hour until hardened and fully set.
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their blog with you. This week, we highlight Love, Life, Happiness, and More. Tina started blogging in 2020 and has never looked back. She has a big heart, and one of the goals of her blog is to motivate and inspire. We have not followed each other long but she always brightens my day.
Let’s chat! marriage, love, daily motivation, uplifting, self-love & more
Hello, I’m Tina!
I crave peace, and happiness.
I’m a blogger and I love encouraging, inspiring, and motivating people. If you enjoy any of these you are definitely in the right place. 😌
The name of my blog is ~ Love, Life, Happiness & More.
The name comes from what I enjoy, every word means something special to me. I love others, life is what you make it, happiness is a choice, and so much more.
I absolutely love blogging!
Questions I asked Tina:
M. What is your favorite post and why?
T. My favorite post would be Thankful Thursday. I have dedicated Thursday’s to expressing my gratitude for GOD blessings.
M. What was the catalyst that made you decide to start a blog?
T. Starting a blog meant I could start writing. I knew it would be putting myself out there like never before but, I was excited and ready. What the world needs is love, motivation, and peace and that’s what I love blogging about.
Read Tina’s Thankful Thursday post from 2/13/25 HERE.
One of my favorite posts from 2024 is If someone..
The post is about helping someone who seems down or having trouble. Be the rock for them. The message reminds us to think about others.
Stop by and pull up a chair to read through her archives, you will leave inspired.
In a large bowl, combine herbs. You may want to break up the larger red clover and calendar flower heads if you are using whole flowers so they will be more evenly distributed within the mixture. Stir to combine with a wooden spoon, and scoop into a glass jar. Store out of direct sunlight. To use as a simple bath tea, fill a linen tea bag with the hears, tie it tightly, and place in a warm bath.
In a plastic or glass bowl, mix together the bentonite clay, activated charcoal, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils if desired, using a wooden or plastic spoon. To use, apply the face mask to a clean face or other trouble areas using the silicone face spatula or clean fingers. Allow mixture to harden slightly, about 5-10 minutes, and rinse off with warm water. It’s best to do this in the shower because it can be messy. For best results, use one a week.
lookingforthelight.blog 