DAPULSE LIFESTYLE

You can create a functional and inviting kitchen your entire family will enjoy without spending a fortune. The average cost of a kitchen remodel is $12,700 to $33,200. Instead of breaking the bank, get rid of that remodeling itch with these ten DIY kitchen updates, all for less than $100. Give your chrome sink a fresh look when you paint it. Use sandpaper and a $4 can of spray paint designed for metal to refresh your sink for a fraction of what you would pay to replace it. If painting’s not your thing, upgrade the faucet, a focal point in your kitchen. Select a stylish faucet or a design that fits your personality. A decorative light fixture upgrades your kitchen’s appearance and only costs $30 to $90. Select a fancy, rustic or chrome light fixture that matches your existing decor or kitchen’s color. Alternatively, you could add a statement floor lamp or hang $8 battery powered LED lights under or inside the cabinets, two smart and affordable ways to increase lighting and create a cozier and more welcoming kitchen space. A coat or two of paint or stain allows you to update your cabinets on a budget. Refinish all the cabinets in the kitchen with a kit for around $75, or focus only on the doors, trim, or shelves to cut costs. For best results and to maximize your time and money, spend adequate time on prep and follow these tips: • Fill in nicks or holes with wood putty. • Sand the surfaces between paint or stain layers. • Allow the paint to dry completely. Consolidate weekly menus and give your kids space to draw when you paint a chalkboard on your refrigerator doors. With painter’s tape, outline the shape and size of the chalkboard. Then apply a few thin layers of $20 magnetic primer and $10 chalkboard paint. When the chalkboard dries, your family will enjoy your new and functional fridge doors. A pop of color on the wall draws the eye and adds excitement to a kitchen. You can create a DIY ceramic backsplash for $25 per square foot or a stainless-steel backsplash for $36 per square foot. You can also choose tile, stick-on metal, or chalkboard paint. Once complete, your colorful or textured backsplash will add visual appeal above your sink or behind your stove. Colorful, textured or decorative outlet covers in chrome, bronze, or Steampunk give your kitchen a new look. To save even more money, decorate your existing covers with paint, paper, or decoupage. Your cabinet handles and drawer pulls may seem insignificant, but they make a big impact on your kitchen’s appearance and style. With your new hardware, a few tools and a bit of time, you’ll add personality and style to your kitchen. The average kitchen has 40 drawer pulls or knobs, so browse your local big box store for an affordable set of hardware. For fine vintage, decorative, or colorful hardware, check out local estate sales or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Customize your kitchen and maximize its space when you transform an empty wall, cluttered drawer, or unused cabinet into storage for pantry items, cookbooks, or pans. The cost of this kitchen improvement depends on the size, type, and finish of the shelving units, single shelves, pull-out trays, lazy Susans, and other storage options you choose. Now’s a wonderful time to update your kitchen decor and ensure the room reflects your personality and style. For a few bucks, replace worn rugs, boring curtains, and collectibles you no longer love with a new floor runner, bright fabric curtains, and pretty artwork. Spend a few hours clearing clutter from your kitchen cabinets and counters. Toss outdated or unwanted food, donate utensils and appliances you no longer use, and remove items that don’t belong in the kitchen. You won’t spend a dime to create a tidy kitchen that’s also more functional and spacious.

Opioid abuse is defined as an individual not taking his or her medication as prescribed and using the prescription to get high. Opiate addiction is a serious epidemic and, currently, a public health crisis. Typically, a person addicted to opioids is treated with medicines, behavioral and counseling therapies, medication-assisted therapy, and hospital- and residential-based treatment. Here are the four most commonly used medicines to treat opioid addiction. Methadone has been used for over 50 years as a successful treatment for those addicted to opiates. When used appropriately, it’s one of the safest and most effective forms of addiction medication. MD Edge explains, “methadone provides the patient with pain relief by blocking the receptors in the brain that opioids affect. It eliminates or reduces the terrible withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioid addiction to prevent relapse.” The changes in brain chemistry take much longer in a detox program. Most patients will benefit from a single dose as the effects last between 24 and 36 hours. On the flip side, methadone will show up on a drug test for employment, and making daily visits to the methadone clinic may be difficult for some. According to Right Path, “in 2002, a different medication was introduced to the market designed to address a new approach for treating those suffering from opioid addiction called Buprenorphine.” Suboxone is a trade name for a drug made up of four parts of an opioid called Buprenorphine and one part opioid antagonist, Naloxone. Suboxone changed the game because it provides relief from withdrawal symptoms and cravings by blocking opiate receptors in the brain. It’s combined with buprenorphine and naloxone making it unlike its competitors. If an addict uses opiates while on Suboxone, it will induce nausea, vomiting, sweating, and restlessness, making Suboxone a deterrent from opioids. Unfortunately, Suboxone also has the potential for becoming addictive itself with long-term or repeated use. Naltrexone blocks the adverse effects that opioids have on the brain. Users will not experience euphoria or the sedative effects of opiates. According to Cochrane, “unlike other medications that are designed to reduce cravings, naltrexone eliminates the desire to take opioids completely. If you are currently dependent on opiates, naltrexone will trigger painful withdrawal symptoms.” It’s difficult and dangerous to come off of opioids cold turkey. Opiate withdrawal symptoms are extremely unpleasant and usually result in the addict choosing to use again. Withdrawal can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. It’s vital to seek medically-assisted detoxification through a facility, especially if you have a long history of opioid abuse. If you or a family member are ready to get help, seek help immediately. There are several resources and clinics available that can ease the painful symptoms of withdrawal and help you succeed. Here are two other articles on the topics of medicine and mental health we think you’ll enjoy:

What happens to those caught up in the toxic lies of conspiracy theorists? The Guardian spoke to five victims whose lives were wrecked by falsehoods. Conspiracy theories used to be seen as bizarre expressions of harmless eccentrics. Not any more. Gone are the days of outlandish theories about Roswell’s UFOs, the “hoax” moon landings or grassy knolls. Instead, today’s iterations have morphed into political weapons. Turbocharged by social media, they spread with astonishing speed, using death threats as currency. Together with their first cousins, fake news, they are challenging society’s trust in facts. At its most toxic, this contagion poses a profound threat to democracy by damaging its bedrock: a shared commitment to truth. Their growing reach and scale is astonishing. A University of Chicago study estimated in 2014 that half of the American public consistently endorses at least one conspiracy theory. When they repeated the survey last November, the proportion had risen to 61%. The startling finding was echoed by a recent study from the University of Cambridge that found 60% of Britons are wedded to a false narrative. The trend began on obscure online forums such as the alt-right playground 4chan. Soon, media entrepreneurs realized there was money to be made – most notoriously Alex Jones, whose site InfoWars feeds its millions of readers a potent diet of lurid lies (9/11 was a government hit job; the feds manipulate the weather.) Now the conspiracy theorist-in-chief sits in the White House. Donald Trump cut his political teeth on the “birther” lie that Barack Obama was born in Kenya, and went on to embrace climate change denial, rampant voter fraud, and the discredited belief that childhood vaccines may cause autism. Amid this explosive growth, one aspect has been under-appreciated: the human cost. What is the toll paid by those caught up in these falsehoods? And how are they fighting back? The Guardian talked to five people who can speak from bitter personal experience. We begin in a town we will not identify in Massachusetts where a young man, who tells his story here for the first time, was asleep in his bed. Falsely accused of being the Parkland shooter. Valentine’s Day 2018 was Marcel Fontaine’s day off. He slept late into the afternoon, having worked a double shift the day before. When he woke up, a wave of happiness washed over him – he was in a relationship, had a job he loved at a local concert venue. His life was good. By the time he roused himself, the deadliest high school shooting in US history was already over. A 19-year-old with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle had entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida, and opened fire. Seventeen had been killed, though Fontaine, who has no cable TV or radio, was oblivious to the tragedy. Then he received a text from a friend. A photo of Fontaine was flying around the internet and he was being accused of carrying out the terrible Florida shooting. His immediate response was bewilderment. What shooting? Where? He was in Massachusetts, 1,500 miles away. It would take a four-hour flight to reach the school. He’d only visited Florida once when he was a little boy to see Mickey Mouse. Fontaine, 25, describes himself on Twitter as a “non-binary gay queer autistic commie that loves horror movies and metal!” He was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum as a child and for years has struggled with anxiety and a debilitating stammer. At moments of heightened stress, he flaps his hands like a bird. In short, Fontaine is a vulnerable leftwing individual who would not harm a flea, which apparently makes him perfect fodder for the sadistic mockery of 4chan, the anonymous message board that hosts alt-right activists and other extremists. A few days before the Parkland shooting, a photo of Fontaine wearing a T-shirt of Marx, Lenin, Mao and other communist luminaries dressed in party hats had been grabbed from his Instagram feed and posted by an anonymous use...

Snacking can be part of any healthy diet, but it can feel impossible to find options that are nutritious and tasty AND that keep you full. So we enlisted the help of registered dietitian Jessica Jones, co-host of Food Heaven Made Easy, to guide us through the snacks maze. In determining what qualifies as healthy, here are her rules of thumb: 1. Aim for less than 6 grams of added sugar per serving. This is crucial, and the downfall of most snacks. Foods with lots of sugar will raise your blood sugar and that spike can be followed by cravings for more carbs and sugar, and mood swings, Jones tells BuzzFeed. “In the long run, high blood sugar can lead to weight gain, pre-diabetes, and diabetes.” Keep in mind that something innately sweet like a serving of fruit will have more than six grams of naturally occurring sugar, but the fiber in the fruit will slow the release of sugar and help minimize those spikes and crashes. 2. Pick a snack with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. A snack with more fiber is going to be more satiating and help you stay full. At minimum, your snack should have 3 grams of fiber. 3. Look for reasonable serving sizes. You’re setting yourself up for excess calories if you start munching on a bar where the serving size is a quarter of the bar, because you’re less likely to simply consume a quarter. And keep this in mind when you’re reading the nutrition label: Whatever numbers you’re seeing have to be multiplied by the number of servings the item contains if you want to eat the whole thing. 4. The less processed the better. Generally speaking, the less processed something is, the more nutritious and the lower it will be in added sugar, sodium, and other additives. The fewer ingredients you see listed on a label, the less processed the product will be. 5. Balance is best. Pick a snack with a good balance of carbs and protein, carbs and healthy fats, or protein and healthy fats — this’ll keep satiated you for a longer amount of time (e.g., cheese and crackers, or apples and peanut butter.) Many snacks people think are “healthy” don’t actually fit these guidelines, says Jones. Here are nine common ones that you want might want to think twice about — plus her suggestions on what to snack on instead. Packets of flavored, instant-cooking oatmeal tend to be high in sugar and made from oats that are highly processed to ensure a faster cooking time — meaning they’ll be lower in fiber and provide less satiety, and ultimately not keep you that full for long. Healthy swap: Opt for steel-cut or rolled oats made without added flavoring, sugar, or preservatives. Both options are less processed — as they aren’t designed to cook instantly — are digested at a lower rate, and will keep you fuller longer. To add a bit of flavor, add nut butter or fresh fruit. Unfortunately, fruit juice is often loaded with as much sugar as soda, and is devoid of the fiber that helps with digestion and slows down the absorption of sugar. Healthy swap: Instead of juice, reach for a piece of fruit — it’ll have less sugar and more filling fiber to help you reach your daily recommended intake of 25 and 38 grams for women and men, respectively. “Even when it comes to fresh-squeezed orange juice, I’d rather have someone eat an orange,” says Jones. Yogurt can be a great snack — high in protein, super portable, and a great vehicle for fruit, nuts, or whatever you like to top it with — but flavored yogurt is often quite high in added sugar, especially the low- and fat-free varieties that rely on lots of added sugar so they still taste good even with the fat removed. Healthy swap: Stick with plain Greek yogurt and add your own fruit to the mix. It’ll have more protein, be a lot more satiating, and keep your blood sugar more stable (which goes hand-in-hand with maintaining steady energy levels and enough willpower to make better eating decisions!). The idea of granola is great — whole grains mixed with some fruit for flavor and nuts for healthy fats a...

Meghan Markle Just Made It Easier To Guess Her Due Date

There is going to a new royal baby in 2019 thanks to the blessed fruits of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The couple announced they were expecting their first child during their first Australian tour late last year telling us the new Duchess of Sussex "is expecting a baby in the spring of 2019". While Kensington Palace never discloses

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Rosie O’Donnell is making a big real estate move following speculation she and girlfriend Elizabeth Rooney are engaged. The 56-year-old actress is selling her $5.9 million English-inspired country estate in Saddle River, New Jersey. She’s taking a small loss to get rid of the property, which she reportedly purchased for $6.375 million in 2013, according to Homes.com. Despite the timing, the sale doesn’t appear to be a sign that she and Rooney, a police officer from Worcester, Massachusetts, are looking for a new home to call their own. A friend of The View cohost tells PEOPLE that, “she’s selling because she is living in New York City full-time now and most of the kids are grown and did not need the big house.” O’Donnell has three daughters — Chelsea Belle, 21, Vivienne Rose, 15, Dakota, 5 — and two sons, Parker Jaren, 23, and Blake Christopher, 18. She has been dating Rooney, who recently suggested she was engaged with a subtle change to her Instagram bio, for nearly a year. Her page now includes the letter “R” followed by a diamond ring emoji. Radar Online first reported the possible engagement on Oct. 8. O’Donnell’s New Jersey mansion sits on 5.7 acres, according to the listing with Special Properties, a Division of Brook Hollow Group Realtors Inc., an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. It boasts six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two half baths, a gourmet kitchen, multiple living rooms with fireplaces, an elevator and a guesthouse. Outside, amenities include an in-ground pool with a grotto and waterfall, a plunge pool, spa, basketball court, three-car garage, artist’s studio and multiple balconies with sweeping views of the property. It was totally remodeled and renovated in the early 2000s. O’Donnell and Rooney went public with their relationship in November 2017 after O’Donnell revealed she was dating a younger woman during an appearance on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM radio show. “It’s the first time I’ve dated someone younger than me,” she said. “It’s a very trippy thing.” “I get along so well with her, it’s kind of fascinating,” she added. “The one thing that she doesn’t know? Streisand. I made her watch Funny Girl. She’s like, ‘It was good.’ I’m like, ‘Come on!’ ” At the time, O’Donnell also told Stern she would “never” get married again.

Gathering with family is one of those things that we look forward to. It’s important to stay in touch with brothers and sisters, parents, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. But you need to make plans when you are going to have a family gathering. Everything from ensuring that your house is ready to hold a large number of guests to having enough food needs to be done. And if you’re like most people, you probably need a list to make sure that you don’t forget anything. Here are a couple of important preparations to consider adding to your list. If you’ve never hosted the family gathering, you might be wondering how much food you need to prepare and what you should make. How much food you need will depend on how many people are coming, so make a list and prepare a little more than what you think you will actually require. In a worst-case scenario, you can send leftovers home with some of your family. When preparing your menu, remember to plan for the dinner, which will most likely include at least one main dish and a couple of side dishes. But when you’re having large groups of people over to your house, you should also remember to have appetizers before the meal. It builds a cushion in case the meal takes longer to set up than you expected. Good appetizers don’t have to be complicated. They include easy things like nuts, chips and salsa, crudite (cut up vegetables), and cheese and crackers. Also, remember to have plenty of beverages on hand for all ages. One thing that’s easy to forget is that children might want to play outside, so you need to make sure that everything is child-friendly so that children don’t get hurt. If you want to prevent kids and pets from running off, make sure your yard is closed off with sturdy fencing for the children to play in while the adults mingle in the kitchen. If you’re going to have a lot of people over to your house, make sure that you spend some time planning the layout of your party. You need to make sure that there are enough places for people to sit while they eat and that you have plenty of space for people to walk. Kids’ tables are one option. If you have too many people, consider turning your table into a buffet and bring in extra seating; people can eat on trays or laps if needed. Planning a family gathering is a lot of work. It’s best to plan at least a week in advance so that you don’t forget anything. You can also enlist the assistance of other family members so that you’ll remember every detail or for help remembering and addressing any special needs from a family member. Did you like this article? Keep reading: • None Great Ideas to Keep Them Busy All Summer! • None How to Catch a Break as a Stay at Home Parent

Kids start to develop their personality in early childhood. These

personalities will become more full-fledged as they progress through

elementary school. As a parent, you need to do everything in your power to

help your kids develop their own unique personality. One of the best ways to

do this is by letting them explore their own interests at a young age. Why

Kids Need to Explore. Exploration is vitally important for children because it

is the only way they can truly find a new interest or passion. Kids are never

going to discover their passion for soccer if they are never exposed to the

sport. Finding their own interests helps children build their creativity,

become more independent and enhance their decision-making skills. Since

participating in clubs and activities help make children more developed,

schools are starting to let their young students explore their interests. The

days of waiting until middle school to begin exploring hobbies and interests

are gone as many elementary schools now offer electives and activities. The

developmental skills gained by finding a hobby are far more beneficial when

discovered at a young age. This means that children are never too young to

start exploring their interests. Pays Off Later in Life. Finding and

developing an interest at a young age is going to pay off in a big way later

in life. Participating in a hobby is a great way to relieve the stresses of

adulthood. This will lead to an overall happier life without having to use

alcohol and other vices to cope with stress. There is also a strong chance

that your child’s interest will lead to a rewarding career in the future. A

child that loves learning about the earth can very easily use their knowledge

to become a geologist. The only way interest exploration is effective is if

you let your children find their own passion. Let them pick the next hobby

they want to explore. Do not get mad or discouraged if they quickly decide to

pursue a different interest. This is all part of the discovery process. You

also need to avoid pushing your agenda on your child. It may be tempting to

lead your child towards your hobbies, but this is not going to help them

develop their own personality. The goal of every parent is to see their child

live a long and happy life filled with unique experiences. A great way to

ensure this happens is by letting your kids explore their interests at a young

age.

Whether you have been to Walt Disney World many times or it’s your very first

visit, there are quite a few special things to experience. If you are not sure

where to start, consider these five unique moments at Walt Disney World.

The Good Night Kiss

As the last guests are leaving the park, position yourself so that you can

clearly see Cinderella's Castle. You will see it light up two or three times,

and then a narrator will make a very special announcement telling you that

when you wish upon a star, your dreams really can come true. While the whole

thrilling performance lasts only about two minutes, it may become your

favorite memory of visiting Walt Disney World.

Unique Character Dining

While you will want to be sure to check the calendar for unique experiences

like storybook dining, the only place that you can see The Beast is at dinner

at the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Bookings open 180 days before the meal, and

they usually fill up the very day that reservations start. Therefore, you will

want to make sure to mark that date on your calendar. You cannot find unique

characters like The Beast wandering in the park.

Play Dress-up With Belle

If you have a princess in your family who adores Belle, then give her an

experience that she will never forget by letting her get transformed with

Belle. Each special experience designed for ages three to 12 offers a chance

to put on a special gown, get her hair done and her nails designed. In order

to arrange for this unique experience held inside Cinderella's Castle, contact

the park before your arrival.

See Citizens of Hollywood

While many visitors run right through Hollywood Boulevard, stop and see the

shows there. These shows held at random times through the day are each unique

because they each involve different characters along with audience

participation. Many of the shows are designed to allow visitors to relive the

Golden Era of Hollywood.

Take a Surf Lesson

If you have someone who wants to learn to surf in your group, then send them

to the Typhoon Lagoon two hours before the park opens. Participants do not

need to bring their own surfboard to ride the waves that can be up to six feet

tall. After a short instruction period on land, participants can ride the

waves with two specially-trained instructors.

There are many unique activities occurring daily at Disney World. Make the

most of your time by participating in these activities and many more.

DaPulse hears all about the latest in entertainment, movies, and more.Check

out our online entertainment content to get the best insights into your next

trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.

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first on DAPULSE.

Essential oils are fantastic because they help to relieve a number of mental

and physical health issues. Unfortunately, there's been a lot of bad press

about essential oils recently because people are beginning to see that they

can be bad for the environment. It's important to note that it's not

necessarily the oils themselves that are bad, but it depends on how they are

sourced that can make the difference.

How Some Companies Work

Some companies work on a give and take basis. They might use natural sources

for their essential oils, but they give back to the environment by continually

planting and growing more of what they've taken for the products. However, not

all companies are like this and some will simply take ingredients more than

they give back. This is when it becomes a problem for the environment.

Related: The Guardian | How to Source Wild Ingredients Ethically and

Sustainably

Why Essential Oils Themselves Aren't the Problem

Essential oils are good for the environment because they're made using natural

and often organic ingredients. It's not a worry that they are not made using

chemicals and other ingredients that are bad for the environment. However, it

depends on how they are sourced when it concerns how good they are for the

earth. If the sourcing is done unethically, it is going to result in a lot of

barren land and a ton of bushes, trees and other plants to be torn down

specifically for the essential oils.

Related: doTERRA | Ethical Sourcing for Essential Oils

Unethical Practices by Companies

Before buying any type of essential oil, be sure that you're purchasing it

from an ethical company that sources its oils from readily available plants

and trees. The company might also work to regrow the plants they are

harvesting, which is also important if they are mass producing a specific oil.

Keep in mind that you need to know which type of company is good and which one

is unethical. By doing some research on different oil companies, you can

decipher which ones are good for your own healthy lifestyle.

Related: Consumerist | Young Living Sentenced for Harvesting Essential Oils

from Endangered Plants

Essential oils are ideal for living a healthy alternative lifestyle, but it's

crucial that you look into the wide range of oils available to you and make it

your mission to find one that is going to be perfect for your needs. You can

then learn the myriad of ways for you to make use of these oils on a regular

basis whether this is for yourself or for one of your loved ones through

massage or aromatherapy. If you are using essential oils as a way to find

relief from pain or symptoms of illness, check out this article to see if it

might be able to help you!

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