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Simple Home Tips and Solutions

Understanding Sleep Paralysis: Can’t Move While Sleeping or Dreaming

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Sleeping

Have you had an episode of sleep paralysis, where you can’t move while sleeping but are aware of your surroundings?

In a sleep paralysis dream, you see and feel yourself in your bed and the room around you looks normal, but you cannot move your body. In short, it feels like your mind wakes up before your body does.

I personally agree with the theory that this is a situation where your brain is protecting you from sleep walking. The National Sleep Foundation classifies sleep paralysis as parasomnia. WebMD provides a list of factors that may contribute to this issue.

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Chromecast Not Showing Up? Cast to Device Not Working?: Possible Causes

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I use my Chromecast so much that I barely even watch regular television anymore. So when my Chromecast isn’t showing up or my cast to screen icon is missing on my device, I will do what’s necessary to get it working again. Here are a few troubleshooting tips that have worked for me in the past:

Is the Chromecast Plugged In?

I know, I know, this is so obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I realized my cast to screen icon was missing because I forgot to plug the Chromecast device in!

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How to Cast Screen from Laptop to Chromecast Amazon TV Stick or Similar Casting Device

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I didn’t realize until this year that it was possible to cast screen from my laptop to my Chromecast device so that I can watch shows on my television. The option is available in your web browser. The video silently plays in the background and shows up on your television screen while you navigate other things on your laptop.

I’ve tried all three major browsers (Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla) and in my experience Chrome has been the best for casting shows to the TV. Here are the simple steps:

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10 Things You Should Clean with a Lysol Disinfecting Wipe Every Now and Then

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I am a big fan of disinfecting wipes because they are easily accessible and a replacement for paper towels/spray bottles. They also make things feel and look clean. Here is a list of 10 items in your home, car, and office that you should definitely clean with a Lysol Disinfecting Wipe on a fairly regular basis.

1. Your Car Keys and Supermarket Cards

I’m sure I’m not the only one who still carries a set of keys full of supermarket cards. Cashiers handle money from so many different people throughout their whole shifts, so every time they grab your card keys, germs get transferred. Wipe them and your keys down with a Lysol wipe at least once a week.

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Relating with Your Siblings As an Adult

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Brother and Sister

Getting along with your sisters and brothers when you’re an adult can be a major challenge. In extreme cases toxic sibling relationships can form. Here are some of my thoughts on sibling relations and finding peace with family members.

I recently went to a family reunion which included 4 out of my 5 siblings. We hadn’t all been together in one place since our Dad passed away. Needless to say, about a day into the trip, many of the usual sibling contentions came to the surface. It only took a day! It got so bad at one point that we had to have a pow wow and get back to a good place for the sake of the trip.

It’s funny how these things happen. The first moment you see your adult brother or sister, it’s like you’re kids again. You’re happy to see each other, catch up, laugh and have a great time. But it doesn’t take long for you to begin to see the traits that you don’t like about each other. The selfish actions or the mindless comments. The “I’m better than you” attitude. Maybe your sibling used to bully you when you were kids and calls you by that name you hate. Or you see the way that they treat your parent and begin to seethe with anger.

My Sibling Drama

In my case, I have a specific issue with each of my siblings that I have kept mostly to myself for over 30 years. The issues have quietly worsened in my adulthood because I feel that they all have managed to escape the mentally and physically tiring responsibilities of taking care of senior parents. I was the one left holding the bag for the most part — helping to care for my father until he passed away, and sacrificing a lot of my freedoms in the process.

My oldest brother left the family when I was young, leaving us vulnerable to a lot of family drama as kids. My oldest sister also left after a while, leaving a lot of responsibility in the hands of my other older sister, who I am closest to. My younger sister and brother became very spoiled and entitled after my father fell ill and was no longer able to discipline them. They put my parents through a lot (both as teens and as adults) and I guess I still resent them for that. All of my siblings eventually left the nest, while I stayed close to it.

One thing I’ve learned from watching my siblings in action is that people don’t really change–they just get older and keep repeating the same behaviors. And that includes me. I can admit that I continue to put myself in a defensive role, always ready to jump down anyone’s throat when they do something that I feel is offensive. I can be a very emotional person, and those emotions really come to the surface when I have to deal with my sisters and brothers.

We all continue to repeat the same behaviors, have the same thoughts, and react the same ways when it comes to our siblings because we grew up that way. Together. And that’s why in our 30s and 40s, we’re still having the same exact conflicts that we were having 20 years ago. A period of absence doesn’t really change anything.

Finding Peace with Siblings

After this latest family trip, I’ve come to the personal decision that staying away from my siblings as much as possible is probably the best thing for my mental wellness. I want to live as peaceful a life as possible, and if that means staying away from people who rob me of that peace, that’s what I have to do. At the same time, I understand that a life of isolation from your family isn’t the best idea. They are the only ones who will likely be there for you when you need them. So I’m open, in the future, to healing with one or more of my siblings, but at the moment it’s not high on my priority list.

Now Let Me Know Your Thoughts!

How have you managed to related with your sibling as an adult? Do you get along?

If not, what are your issues with them?

If you do get along, how have you been able to achieve that type of relationships?

If you were an only child, do you wish you had siblings as an adult or are you happy to escape potential drama?

Post your comments below!

 

Life Thoughts by Jas

 

 

Beautiful Image Courtesy Bessi/Pixabay
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Leaving Cats Alone for Up to a Week? Here’s What to Get

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There’s debate on how long can you leave a cat alone in your home while you go on vacation or a business trip. Some say that you shouldn’t leave them alone for more than a day. That’s because some cats get separation anxiety (they want to see you regularly). Another point is that some cats have special needs, such as needing to be fed a certain type of wet food or take medication.

If you only have one cat, leaving him or her alone isn’t a great idea. They need a buddy (at least in my opinion). New kittens need plenty of attention. In those cases and others, I don’t recommend leaving your cats alone for an extended period of time. If those situations apply to your case, you should either hire a professional cat sitter or take the cat to a high quality cat boarding hotel.

Other cat lovers (including myself) believe that an extended time “home alone” is okay for our feline friends. They’re very independent animals — consider how well feral cats take care of themselves when they live outdoors. I’ve been a multi-cat owner for over 30 years, and in my experience it is possible to leave your cats alone for up to a week, once in a blue moon, but you MUST be prepared and ensure that they will have every amenity possible. In fact, you should go overboard a bit to ensure that they have *more* than what they’ll need.

I’ve created a comprehensive list of the things you should buy when leaving cats alone for up to a week. The one time cost will be around $100 – $125 and you can reuse these important cat supplies indefinitely. What’s $125 when it comes to your feline family members? At the end of this list, there are a few more important tips to keep in mind before you go on vacation or a trip and leave your cats alone, so keep scrolling!

A Hard Plastic Kiddie Pool (To Use As a Backup Litter Box)

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