Is A Career In Musical Theater For You?

The world of musical theater seems to be growing in popularity by the day. This is a form of entertainment that has long been enjoyed. However, to say it has come back into fashion would be a mere understatement. Nonetheless, this post does not deal with watching productions, it is for those who wish to be involved in them. Have you got dreams of being on the stage? Or, perhaps this is something you are merely considering? Either way, read on to discover all of the benefits associated with taking one of the musical theater courses. 

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One of the best things about getting involved in musical theater and taking a relevant course, is the fact that you will be increasing your skills in a multi-talented subject field. After all, there is no one solo ingredient that makes a good performer. You will work on everything from acting, to singing, to dancing. If that wasn’t enough, a lot of courses provide aid on everything from costuming and music production, to box office and direction, to stage management and lighting. There are so many components that come together to create the ideal performance. By enhancing your knowledge in all areas at a music school, you are going to put yourself in a fantastic position once the course has finished. Moreover, if you don’t bag your dream musical theater job, you will have plenty of qualities and skills that appeal to other roles. 

In addition to this, musical theater is beneficial because it develops you as a person. This is something very few people consider. However, after several years in the industry or several years in training, you will definitely start to notice a difference. Your self-esteem and confidence will have rocketed. In addition to this, you will have increased your level of self-discipline and you will find prioritising and organising a lot easier. If that wasn’t enough, your poise will also improve. Don’t take for granted just how beneficial all of this is. All of these excellent qualities come together to build your character and make you a better person. They are attributes that will serve you will in other parts of your life. After all, being more confident will lead to increased happiness, whilst being more organised will certainly help in a lot of areas.

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Aside from the points that have already been mentioned, the last factor worth considering is the job opportunities you will have at your disposal once you complete your musical theater course. A lot of people tend to think that this is a limited industry because they only consider the main theaters and the award-winning productions. However, if you think about how many theaters there are all over the country, you see that there are a lot of productions to get involved in. Unless you are lucky and get a big break, this is definitely a career whereby you have to work your way up. Nevertheless, this can certainly be fulfilling and is a quality many people enjoy. Moreover, this is not your average job. No two working days are ever the same and this is something that appeals to a lot of people. When you take all of the points mentioned into account, it is not difficult to see why musical theater courses are becoming so popular.

Have you considered a career in musical theater? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Treat Yourself Tuesday: TAYORi Fine Soaps

I don't know where you are in the world right now but where I am, it is HOT.

I have been working on projects around the house (so many projects) and this heat is not helping one bit. So this week, we have lovely soap products again!

TAYORi Fine Soaps And Skincare

TAYORi Fine Soaps are all natural handmade soaps that are detergent and cruelty free derived from plant based oils. I was asked to review the Luxury Face Mask Bar Soap and I fell in love! It's a face mask that starts as a bar soap. Once you lather it up, it smooths right on. It was so soft and silky. I was sanding dressers this week and my bones are done with me so I was definitely ready for my soak! I decided to try the TAYORi Luxury Face Mask Bar Soap, fell in love, and now I will be using it every bath. It smells and feels amazing. Once I rinsed it off, my skin didn't feel too tight like it does with other masks which was a welcome change. It was so refreshing!

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I know I needed my soak this week, how about you? For the month of July, if you use my code STEPH15 you will receive 15% off this product! Let me know how much you like them!

How are you treating yourself today?

Heavy

Heavy
This feeling that is
weighing over me

I look over my shoulders
to see if it's the world rotating upon them

but all I see 
is that monkey

Glaring with his 
red eyes
snarling
gnashing nightmare teeth

that
will
chew
right
in

Heavy
this burden

This burden 
I am...

Treat YoSelf Tuesday: Little Lovelies From Sureway Digital Mall

I always look forward to Tuesdays. It's those one days that I can count on to give me a much needed break. Working from home, it's easy to fall into the work, work, work all of the time hole and not be able to climb out. I used to give myself a break on the weekends, but found myself checking this one little thing and oh while I check that I might as well check this and so on and so on...

I picked Tuesday because I've just gotten over the crazy Monday and could use a little goal and oomph to get motivated and ready to tackle the rest of the week. Hence, Treat YoSelf Tuesday.



via GIPHY
I was browsing around and came across Sureway Digital Mall and found some pretty little lovelies, plus many more if I would've let myself keep shopping, heh.

Sureway Digital Mall

I got myself a gorgeous Kate Middleton Silver Cocktail Ring Replica and this adorable gold cat pendant. There was much more gorgeous jewelry and unique gifts that I might just be checking out for my next treat!
You can visit Sureway Digital Mall on their website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Now, go for it. Treat Yo'Self! 💋

Most Common Cases Of Medical Malpractice

Once you find out that you must go into surgery, it can be frightening news. One of the least worrisome things that you could possible imagine is mistakes by your doctor. It's a little more common that you think so here's a list of the most common causes of Medical Malpractice:

Image Credit:  Pexels

Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital or healthcare professional causes injury to a patient, whether it be through negligence or omission.  While fairly common, medical malpractice can have a devastating impact on not only the patient, but their loved ones as well. Medical malpractice can sometimes even lead to permanent injury or death, which is why it is so important to be able to recognize what medical malpractice is and know what to do if you suspect it has occurred.  Here are some of the most common cases of medical malpractice and next steps you should take if you or a loved one has fallen victim to it.

Birth Injuries

Some of the most common cases of medical malpractice involve birth injuries.  Birth injuries occur when damage is inflicted on an infant during the birthing process, and of every 1,000 infants born in the United States, 6-8 of them will be affected by a birth injury.  There are several different types of birth injuries that fall under this umbrella, with some of the most common being:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Hypoxic Brain Damage
• Misdiagnosis
• Placental Abruption

Birth injuries are often some of the most devastating kinds of cases of medical malpractice, and in worst-case scenarios, can even result in death of the infant.  Many birth injuries can also result in the need for lifelong medical care, making these cases of medical malpractice all the more devastating.

Misdiagnosis/Failure to Diagnose

A misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a condition can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening, making it one of the most serious cases of medical malpractice.  As a healthcare professional, it is imperative to listen to a patient’s concerns and run the proper tests to make an accurate diagnosis. Cancer misdiagnoses are some of the most common and also most dangerous, as devastating consequences can occur if left untreated.  What makes a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose so dangerous is that patients typically put a lot of trust into healthcare professionals expecting them to take the necessary steps in detecting a condition, so when a doctor fails to do that, the patient’s health is put in danger.  With something as serious as cancer, for example, failing to properly treat and diagnose symptoms can often result in death.

Surgical Errors

Going in for surgery can be an incredibly scary and nerve-wracking experience, and one that requires the patient to fully trust their surgeon.  However, this trust can be broken if a surgical error occurs during the procedure.  Some of the most common surgical errors include:

• Performing unnecessary surgery
• Too much or too little anesthesia
• Performing the incorrect procedure
• Using non-sterile equipment
• Leaving medial equipement inside of the patient

Errors during surgery can be extremely dangerous and can often result in life-threatening injuries or even death in some cases.

If you suspect that you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, it is important that you know what to do.  Hiring one of the top medical malpractice lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve.  An experienced medical malpractice attorney will go over the details with you and help you build a case based on your experience.  Falling victim to medical malpractice can be traumatic, but with the right team on your side, you can rest assured that you will see justice.

Do you have a medical malpractice story to share? Leave your story in the comments below!

For you:

Exercise And Supplements And Wellness...OH MY!

In the past two years, I have been on a health and wellness mission. I'm not sure if it is because I turn 43 this year, my brother had a really big health scare last year that put him in the ICU for a few weeks, or I'm just plain tired of being tired, I am serious business about getting back to good. I have been steadily losing weight and trying to better my diet and myself any way that I can.

It's been quite the journey but ultimately, I feel a lot better. My outlook on life has gotten better (despite many of my writings that might make it seem otherwise) and I feel physically better than I have in YEARS. 

Of course, once you get into this whole health and wellness lifestyle, you will start to see more and more recommendations for supplements and detox cleanses. Up until this point, I had only really taken a collagen supplement (because my skin seems to love gravity more than staying where it's supposed to be on my body) and didn't really think about any others. Then, my brother got very sick and I started to think about maybe trying a detox cleanse or something similar.

I tried many, much more than I'd like to admit, and while I understand that not all detox products cannot be classified as snake oil, I did find one that I am pretty happy with.

MaXX Herb Liver Cleanse Plus

I have been taking it for about a month now and I like it a lot! I feel better than I thought I would and am actually impressed. Liver Cleanse Plus features 13 herbs used for generations (8 Chinese herbs and 5 that are western herbs). This mix was  tested and re-tested for 8 years prior to its launch. Also, there is no Milk Thistle in Liver Cleanse Plus, as Milk Thistle, being a "liver protector,” caused the formula not to work. The liver’s job is to protect you. If you are protecting it with Milk Thistle, the liver is isolated from the body. A poor functioning or “protected / isolated” liver, cannot filter waste. Thereby, it causes  your body to be bathed in all sorts of “raw” substances that are not healthy. I started with a liver cleanse/detox because the liver is the largest organ inside the human body. It weighs approximately 1 pound, houses the gallbladder, and carries out hundreds of functions. Just to name a few:

• The liver filters everything we eat or come in contact with
• It helps regulate blood sugar levels, cleanses the blood, metabolizes vitamin A, and detoxifies poisonous substances and more 
• Up to 25% of the liver can be removed and it will still regenerate itself 

The liver may be the most overworked and misunderstood organ in the human body. It filters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therefore, I decided to start there! I was not disappointed trying this product and have added it to my daily routine. By using my link, you can get 10% off of Liver Cleanse Plus and see for yourself! 

If the liver is affected you will notice it in the following areas: Skin irritation, eye irritation, aches and pains, frayed emotions, headaches, low energy, foggy thinking, slow reaction time, fatigue, muscle weakness, congestion and mental stress. I have a fun quiz below for you to determine if this is the best liver detox for you:

Is Liver Cleanse Plus right for you?

• Do your moods run you?
• Do you get headaches?
• Do you get reoccurring muscle and joint pain?
• Is it hard to stay in a good mood?
• Is your vision fuzzy or blurry from time to time?
• Do you get irritable from time to time?
• Do you or have you had gallbladder or liver problems?
• Do you have trouble concentrating, feel foggy or slow?
• Do you run out of energy during the day?
• Do “things” just build up and get to you?
• Do you have allergies or congestion?
• Does an area of your skin frequently burn or itch?
• Do your eyes burn, get red, irritated or itchy?
• Do you have insomnia or are you restless?
• Are you frequently awake between 1:30 to 3:30 A.M.?
• Do you have "liver” or “age spots”?
• Is your skin broken out or blemished?
• Are your emotions on a roller coaster?
• Do you later have to apologize for your bad moods?
• Is there always “something” wrong?
• If you are upset, is it best not to talk to you?
• Does the cheeriness of others annoy you?

Scoring:

Count your YES answers and see below.

0-3 – Great! Liver Cleanse Plus will help you maintain a healthy liver.

4-6 – You would see clear benefit.

7 or more – Liver Cleanse Plus is for you.

What was your score? Let me know in the comments below!

Today In My Home Town

Click here for more info

I have disabled comments on this blog as I need to step away and mourn my home. I am beyond sad about this.

Outdoor Living With The SunBrite TV Veranda Series Outdoor 4K UHD HDR TV

It's that lovely time of year again! We're all spending more time outdoors right now, whether it be just to enjoy the weather or inviting friends and family over for get togethers, it is definitely time to get out and enjoy that sunshine!

As those of you who read my blog regularly already know, we recently bought our first home. The project I'm currently working on is our firepit and outdoor area and have been looking for fun ways to incorporate activities for the entire family. This includes weatherproof electronics, specifically televisions, so that I can get the kids (and their dad!) outside, even if it's just to get that fresh air and sunshine while they are gaming!

The Sunbrite TV Veranda Series Outdoor Television

So, I have been looking for inspo pictures and shopping around and came across the Sunbrite TV Veranda Series and I am totally in love! The Sunbrite TV outdoor televisions are designed specifically for outdoor use in screened in porches or full shade outdoor spaces. They have been engineered to withstand any climate North America can throw at you and resist rain, snow, dust, insects, and extreme temperatures. It comes standard with a direct lit 4K UHD screen with HDR, which is 50% brighter than indoor televisions so the bright outdoor light does not affect your viewing (or gaming, heh). It's much more durable and safer than using an indoor TV outdoors, that's for sure! 

You have to start somewhere when planning your new outdoor space, and I decided to start with the small things and work my way up! I am going to design my entire outdoor living space around this television and I am finding inspiration everywhere I look! 

This is life goals right here:

I don't ask for much, just this entire patio, pleaseandthankyou!

This summer the best seat in the house is outside and I am going to take full advantage of it! Hopefully, I will have pics to post of my own outdoor living space soon. In the meantime, back to pinterest for more inspiration!

What are your plans for an outdoor space? I'd love even more ideas so leave them in the comments below!

Current mood:

Clutch - A Quick Death In Texas

The Epic Fail Of The Epicenter Festival

**THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE MY OWN.**

This weekend I had the good fortune ( HA ) to attend the Epicenter Festival in Rockingham, NC. I was out of my MIND excited. TOOL has been my favorite band since the first time I heard them around 1994 and I'd only seen them once! I was going to see Rob Zombie, Korn, The Cult, Tom Morello, so.very.many.bands in 3 days!!

If this happened when I was in my 20s, I would have spontaneously combusted.

Our friends that were coming with us had to drive four hours to get to our hotel and we only had to drive 2 hours to the hotel after we all got off of work. 

So, we all really wanted to see Korn Friday night, so when we met up at the hotel, we rolled out.

And then sat in stand still traffic.

For 5 hours.

2 miles away from the venue.

I am not even close to kidding. Not only did no one know what they were doing with the parking, it was only a 2 lane road so it was almost impossible to turn around. Traffic was a nightmare, nightmare, the worst. And it wasn't that there wasn't ENOUGH parking, there was plenty (in the dark, of course, because there was NO lighting in the parking lots). The people directing it were having troubles with communications and the confusion was REAL.

We got there in time to see the last 4 songs of Korn and then we had to leave.

I don't even want to talk about people trying to leave the parking lot. It was ridiculous.

We get back to the hotel and just flop out. I just wanted to get some sleep because the next day, Saturday, I was going to see my most favorite band in the world. I'll just forget the cigarette stains in the bathtub in this musty hotel that we only took because it was the ONLY one available ONE MONTH after the event was announced (and was STILL 45 minutes away from the festival). Forget that I missed almost all of Friday's show. Forget that I feel like I need to power wash and fumigate the hotel room we were in...just forget it all and dream of Tool and Tom Morello and all of the awesome bands I had always dreamed of seeing and was going to, finally! I mean, we'd just leave early to beat the traffic and spend all day rocking out to other new bands. What could possibly go wrong?

THIS. This is what could possibly go wrong.

We woke up to a severe weather alert (that later turned into a tornado warning) and for the safety of all fans, the venue cancelled the show (as they should have so no fault there). We drove out to see if they were letting anyone in so we could at least check out the vendors and grab some merch while we could but nope, they weren't letting anyone in.

So, back to the middle of Assthumb, North Carolina for a hotel party!

As of this writing, people are working on getting refunds, but it looks dismal.  Hopefully, they do after the ABSOLUTE INSULT of charging $1 for tickets after selling them for $200+ (when we, of course, bought them ugh). While I absolutely do not fault the vendors and of course the bands for the weather, I do fault DWP for the worst organization of a festival I have ever seen! We were so bummed and didn't know what was going to happen so we just left on Sunday. Which means, I missed Tom Morello.

Le sigh. 

WRAL did a great report you can read here: https://www.wral.com/after-traffic-security-concerns-severe-weather-day-3-at-epicenter-sees-sun-fewer-fans/18380612/  I didn't camp so there's more about the situations for the campers, there.

Another article where the Highway Patrol told DWP in advance that their traffic plan was beyond inadequate: https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/86833/highway-patrol-told-epicenter-producers-their-traffic-plan-was-inadequate?fbclid=IwAR05SuyK1YDALkZMeIjnY9kd5LyC6ph_Ue5zxQuBn-rbvMT0dWofUnqlQPk

FINAL VERDICT: Nope. I would definitely not attend ANY event thrown together by DWP ever again. 

UPDATE 5/16/2019: PAYPAL is honoring and giving refunds. I got a full refund. Once I hear of more banks, etc giving refunds, I will post them.

UPDATE 5/24/2019: PayPal is now being weird about refunds but I have heard from many different folks that almost all of their banks are cooperating. DWP is offering a 50% refund for Saturday (because they just can't stop insulting the people who spent a lot of money to come to this festival). For anyone worried about the bands not getting paid because of refunds, they get paid regardless (thank goodness).

Current Mood:

Chris Cornell - Nothing Compares To You 

5 Things To Keep In Mind When Moving

We all know that there are always going to be stressful periods in our lives. It happens. Because as much as we all might like for life to be peachy, it doesn’t always work out to be that way. We have good times, sure – but there are also stressful periods for us to be concerned about too. Yet, the best thing to do is to recognize that they are going to happen – no matter what you do. And, where you plan, prepare for them. This is very much the case when it comes to moving to a new house. We all know that the moving process is stressful, and so it makes sense for you to be able to be aware of that, and plan for it. Let’s take a look at some of the things you might like to keep in mind when you’re moving.

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Timing

First of all, you’re going to want to think about the timing with this. Do you know how long it will take? Are you trying to rush the process? If you are able to be as realistic as you can with the timing, you won’t find yourself getting stressed out about being late or running out of time.

Budget

The next thing that you need to do here, is budget! Because moving always seems to get so much more expensive than you could ever imagine. And you need to make sure that you’re being really transparent with this. Try to forecast as many costs as much as you can – and over budget if you can. Because you’ll want to ensure that this doesn’t become a financial burden as well.

Packing

And then you also need to pack. Here, you really need to allow yourself as much time as you can. Because you will not believe just how long it all takes! Start packing as soon as you can, throw out or sell what you do not want to take with you, and think about the experts you need, such as Proweather Store, that can help. Because the more organized you are, the easier moving will be.

Stress Levels

The next thing that you need to be able to manage here, is stress. Because we all know that it is super stressful to move. And there’s no excuse to just ignore it and then get sick! You have to try and keep yourself relaxed. Not only can planning and asking for help allow you to make this happen, but you should also focus on your hobbies to keep you relaxed too. This will make it feel so much easier.

Living

Finally, you're also going to want to think about your lifestyle as you’re moving too. Because it is stressful and your usual routine is completely uprooted for a while! And so, it can be really useful for you to plan in the right things that will help you to manage the move more effectively. Making freezer meals that you can access easily, packing snacks, having easy to wear and comfortable clothes available all helps. Because then you can still live and get through the move in one piece.

What are your moving tips?

Brand Storytelling And Why It Is Vital

Brand storytelling is more crucial than ever these days. What is brand storytelling? It is easily defined as such:

"Brand storytelling is defined as the art of shaping a company’s identity through the use of narratives and storytelling techniques that facilitate an emotional response and establish meaningful connections." - Source 

 Customers are consistently interested in what your brand is about, what drove you to start your brand/business, and what values your brand stands for. In essence, your brand has a story that customers would love to hear, so tell it!

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Studies on storytelling have found that:

"Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts & figures alone  

Our neural activity increases 5X when listening to a story 

Storytelling lights up the sensory cortex in the brain, allowing the listener to feel, hear, taste, and even smell the story" - Source 

There are plenty of ways to get your brand's story out there. You can use your website, social media, even video production. Of course, if you have a marketing team by now, they should also be aware of your story and easily share it. By telling your brand's story, you can easily connect with your customers and watch as success comes rolling in. 

For example, is your product fair trade and ethical? You can explain why you feel this issue is important to your brand and why you choose to only conduct your business this way. Is there a message that you would like to put out and have represent your brand? Absolutely tell your customer why this particular message is of the utmost importance to your brand. Some great examples of brand storytelling would be Dove's Self Esteem project, Nike's commitment to athletic excellence, and Ikea Singapore's Shelf Guru campaign. Dove is committed to showing the beauty of all women, Nike stands for and supports all athletes, and Ikea Singapore has connected with their customers by answering queries with punny humor and memes. 

All of these campaigns are easily identifiable to customers and bring much more attention to the brand. Even more meaningful is that it sparks a conversation about your brand and products and keeps it in the front of people's minds. Customers love to know that the company they are buying from has the same interests at heart. It gives them something to think about and more importantly, it also gives them a lot to talk about with others. The more customers connect with your story and values, the more other consumers will take notice. Once your brand's story is established and shared, it can give you the inspiration to continue forward with even more purpose than ever before!

Through the power of brand storytelling, you can easily connect with your customers which can lead to unlimited success. Customers are definitely interested in a brand's story these days as the market is so overcrowded with so many brands and businesses vying for the consumer's attention. By telling your brand's interesting and unique story, you can easily shine through the masses and reach people much more easily leading to success for you and your brand!

What is your brand's story?

How To Use PNG or JPEG Files To Create Craft And Design Mockups

What are craft and design mockups? The simple answer is that mockups are a prototype of what you would like to/can accomplish in your design; a model or example of a finished product. This can help you with designing your craft and seeing the end product before it's actually done. 

The most common way people create mockups is by using PNG or JPEG files, which is what I will be focusing on today. I am no great wizard when it comes to Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. I am barely able to take decent pictures as it is, much less edit them so they look amazing on the internet. However, I have been practicing now that I have more time and I am getting the hang of it. 

Photoshop is an amazing tool and resource, I am finding. Using the Photoshop (or Adobe Illustrator) program, it is easy to make a mockup of anything! You just:

•  pick your background, whether it's a plain non-specific scene or backdrop or a picture of a room or an item you want to superimpose your idea onto
• start adding your designs
• make your creative changes as you find them! 

A lot of home decor and design websites and/or apps use a sort of mockup program. You can take a picture of the room you would like to put the product you are interested in buying, superimpose the product over your room picture, and then you have an actual idea if it's going to work or not. Mockups are a lot like that, except YOU are the designer! It's a quick and easy way to actually see your finished product or design before you finish it so you can adjust and make changes as you see fit! 

Mockups are especially useful when you are trying to sell your finished product and/or design. You see this most often with clothing items, like T-shirts, for example. You can choose your background and superimpose your design onto your clothing item background. This way your customers know what you are offering, and you are also able to use those images on your website, Etsy and other shops, social media pages, or anywhere else you would like to market your product. That way, you aren't spinning your wheels by working on or purchasing materials for something no one is interested in buying. This saves you money and energy to pour into the project people are definitely interested in!

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There are many websites that have splendid images that you can use in your creative process, as well as many free or almost free tools and resources to start making your own mockups. I have even found them to be priceless when trying to make an image for a blog post. For those of you who use Pinterest to share your creations, the perfect image for your pin is essential! Your pin image should give others a clear idea of what the product is as well as what it looks like finished. Most of you savvy pinners know that the image you use for your pin must be eye-catching and attention grabbing at first glance!

And so, mockups are incredibly useful as they help you see your finished design/product so you can find any creative changes you need to before you begin and they can give your clients and/or customers an idea of what you can and will accomplish and bring to them!

Do you use mockups in your design process?