One of the most common ways locals spend time with their friends and family in Seattle is hosting a movie or game night at their home. Whether one stays in a small apartment or in a big house, they would want their home to be warm, hygienic, and welcoming to those who visit. It is not a very difficult task to prepare a home to get ready to have a fun night, and most of the residents living in Seattle use the same steps to make the event comfortable for everyone.

In this article, find out how Seattle residents prepare their homes for an ideal movie or game night to make their guests have a special experience.

Tidying and Cleaning the House

Seattle residents make sure their houses are tidy before engaging in any activity. A clean environment will ensure the guests feel comfortable and will give them a sense of welcome, not to mention the fact that it will assist in creating an atmosphere of a fun evening. You would also like to tidy up the common rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, and hallway, first, before you host. The vast majority of them make blankets, pile loose objects on shelves, and do not litter up the floor.

Seattle is a city with a conscious behavior toward the environment and it influences the manner in which the residents of the city clean their homes. It is not surprising that people favor non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals over harsh ones. It is safer and more comfortable to apply green cleaning solutions to reduce the risk of any visitor being more comfortable and safe. That’s why most households seek professional services from Seattle home cleaning companies, particularly those that embrace human and eco-friendly cleaning detergents and methods.

Setting the Mood

The people of Seattle are always striving to create the appropriate game or movie atmosphere after cleaning the home. In case of a movie night, this would include arranging lights to make the room look like a home and a movie theater. Many use warm lamps, dimmable bulbs or LED strips in front of the TV to give the TV a soft glow. You can also dim the lights and close the blinds when you want to have the experience of a theater.

Sound also plays a big role. The Seattle locals are used to checking their speakers, soundbars, or home projectors in advance to make sure everything is in order. A good sound system makes games more realistic and movies exciting. You should check the volume, resolve any audio latency or even link up your streaming applications, prior to the arrival of your guests.

This is different in the case of a game night. The Seattle individuals will book the tables to play board games, card games or to use controllers, particularly in playing video games. Other hosts lay the snacks and drinks in smaller trays or baskets so that the table will not be dirty.

Make Some Snacks and Drinks

The movie and game nights are usually early in the evening, but can run late into the night. Therefore, it has always been a culture to make sure that the visitors have something to fill their stomachs. That is why the night out game or the movie evenings are marked with the presence of food and drinks. The Seattle residents strive to make snacks small but delicious. That consists of popcorn, chips, nachos, and fruit bowls.

Drinks can be soda, iced tea, local cold brew, craft beer, or an original cocktail. The city of Seattle has developed a coffee culture as well. Therefore, you can even hire somebody who specializes in coffee brewing to serve your guests at a later time of the night.

Ensure Guests are Comfortable

Comfort means everything when hosting friends in Seattle. When planning to accommodate a larger group, they would ensure to add more chairs or floor cushions. That would also include adding some comfort with blankets or pillows, so that the guests can watch the movie with ease.

Another consideration is the temperature control. Evenings in Seattle can be cold, particularly during the fall or in winter. Hence, many people will pre-warm their houses. In hotter months, they ensure the hosting space is cool and well-ventilated.

They also install charging corners where guests can recharge their gadgets overnight. This little detail makes the night experience more convenient and considerate.

Finally, whether it is a game or movie night, they ensure the systems are in good condition by testing the screen and sound. That ensures you won’t disappoint at the last minute.

I have always been very obsessed with tracking the rise and fall of varying fashion trends. Primarily because it is always such an interesting look into the current psyche of the communities that embrace the trends. Why does a particular item of clothing or accessory become fashionable? Why does it then fall out of fashion? What are the societal and economic implications of said trend?

Fashion trends come and go every day. Some are basic repetitions of previous patterns. Such as clothing styles remerging. But sometimes we see a more unique trend emerge. Often an accessory, new hobby, or habit. Especially now we are living in the age of social media. It has become all too easy for new trends to consume the public eye and vanish just as quickly. But some do persist.

I want you to join me as I take a look at some of the most unique fashion trends of the last decade. The trends that have defined multiple generations and helped shape the fashion world as we know it today!

Naked Dresses

Naked dresses are nothing new. They first made the rounds back in the 90s. And it seemed, for a while at least, like they were here to stay. But they did dip out of the public eye at the turn of the millennium. But they have started to make a comeback.

While the trend didn’t entirely vanish it wasn’t until 2014 that we saw the naked dress remerge properly. Rihanna stunned the crowds at the 2014 CFDA awards in a naked dress that sparkled under the lights. And it didn’t take long for naked dresses to then work their way back into the public fashion scene. Although, as we saw with Bianca Censori, some people do take the term ‘naked’ to the extremes.

The naked dress trend is a curious, yet empowering one. It speaks to our society’s very modern views on modesty and self expression. Gone are the days of being ashamed of our skin. We now encourage people to embrace everything about themselves. And naked dresses are the epitome of this idea.

Vaping

Now you might be shocked to see vaping on a list about fashion trends. But I would argue that vaping has become one of the most fashionable habits of the last decade. What started as an alternative to smoking has now been adopted as a status symbol. So much so that millions of people who have never consumed any nicotine now vape. Albeit they vape nicotine free vape juices.

It makes sense that vaping would become such a fashionable habit. Smoking was, for the longest time, a very stylish thing to do. It was very vogue to smoke. This all changed when we began to understand the dangers associated with smoking. And now vaping has created a far safer way for people to enjoy nicotine.

Another big reason that vaping is so in style is due to the fact it is far cheaper than smoking too. Especially now that vaping wholesalers have become more common. As anyone on TikTok will tell you, wholesale vape continues to be the most cost effective way of getting into vaping.

Speaking of TikTok, it has played a huge part in the meteoric rise of vaping. Not only are there hundreds of vaping focused TikTok accounts out there, but a vast majority of the most popular influencers are constantly seen vaping. And this encourages their fans to follow suit. Leading to a huge rise in the number of vapers out there.

Suspenders

It used to be that whenever I thought of suspenders I instantly looked back to the 50s. As a fashion item they definitely evoke a strong feeling of nostalgia for a time many of us never lived in. But despite their practical application, they were not to survive the ever changing stream of fashion. And suspenders become a fringe accessory for the longest time.

But they made a swift comeback in the last decade. Spurred on by a number of influential celebrities and TV shows like Doctor Who and Mad Men. And I for one am glad they are back in fashion. There is just something very powerful about a good pair of suspenders.

People often look down on them as being goofy. But they are quite a bold choice. Adding an extra level of class and style to any outfit. And it helps that they are also extremely practical too. Suspenders speak to the ever repeating cycles of fashion. Even the most outdated styles might eventually come back into vogue.

The biggest advantage to a pair of suspenders is the ability to draw focus towards the middle of the body. They serve as a great tool for highlighting your outfit as most people’s eyes are instantly drawn towards a pair of suspenders.

It is pretty common knowledge that the first feature animated film was Disney’s Snow White released back in 1937. But most people don’t know that the first animated film was actually created back in 1908. The film was called Fantasmagorie and was created via hand-drawn animations.

This was the advent of a new medium of film. Animation has now become a major staple of the entertainment industry. After Snow White was released the world went animation crazy. With a slew of film studios releasing a number of iconic titles. Peter Pan, Treasure Planet, Antz, Shrek, Cinderella. All classics of the genre.

As the years progressed we never lost our love of animated movies. But they definitely started to take a back seat. Tastes moved on. Star Wars, Marvel, Transformers. Live action movies were the predominant medium once again.

The last few years have seen animation pulling back into the limelight in a major way. So much so that we think that animated films are taking over. And the perfect example of this trend are the films Ne Zha 2 and Flow.

Ne Zha 2

The first Ne Zha movie was released back in 2019. This Chinese animation was extremely well received both in China and internationally. And while it didn’t make significant waves, it was a sign of things to come. Ne Zha 2, the anticipated sequel, was released on January 29th in China. And within the span of less than two months it has already become the highest grossing animated film ever.

A startling and impressive feat that has completely shaken the movie industry. We have come to expect western animation to dominate the industry. And this is proven by the fact that the next 29 movies on the highest grossing table are all western productions.

But we know that financial success alone doesn’t tell us if a movie is actually good. But Ne Zha 2 has received glowing reviews across the board. Critics and casual viewers alike have fallen in love with it. And some Reddit users have gone as far as to claim it is the greatest animated movie ever made. Both in regards to the animation and quality of the story. The big advantage of animation against live action is the ability to tell stories that are so drastically different from the human experience. Yet Ne Zha manages to create a compelling human story in a world that is so drastically different from our own.

Flow

Flow is a Latvian film that was released in 2024. The movie’s original Latvian name is Straume and took nearly five and a half years to complete. But the result was well worth the hard work and dedication. The entire movie was made in Blender. Absolutely no story boards were used during production. And, as such, that means there are no deleted scenes. The entire thing is one fluid animated performance.

Flow took the world by storm and broke records by being the first ever film from Latvia to receive and win an academy award. It also won a Golden Globe for best animation. This is no small feat and is a testament to the impact animation is having on the industry.

The movie follows the adventure of a small cat surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. The film features no dialogue at all. It is a beautifully moving story told entirely through the beauty of animation. A lot of modern movie makers seem to think that dialogue is the be all and end all of a movie. Yet Flow has reminded us that storytelling is an art. And art can express powerful ideas through many different modes.

Animation For All Ages

The big issue that faced animation of the past was an emphasis on producing content aimed specifically at children. Disney is the prime example of this. Now we aren’t saying that the classic animated movies are only for children. Many of the best titles can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages.

But what we have started to see is a rise in animated films targeted at an older audience. Titles like Into The Spiderverse and The Boy And The Heron. The former movie is a more mature superhero movie that uses the animated medium to bring the genre to a new world. Whereas the latter is a work of art both visually and mentally. Asking viewers to engage their minds on a more metaphorical level and really dig deep for the movie’s meaning. The Boy And The Heron hides wealths of interpretation beneath the stunning animation. And it is definitely not a title that will be fully appreciated by children.

There is no state in the US that has as strong a cultural identity as California. Hollywood. The Golden Gate Bridge. Santa Monica. Napa Valley. The list of the wonders of California go on and on. There is a reason it is the most populous state in America. Sports, entertainment, music. California contributes so much to all of these fields. But perhaps one of the most famous aspects of California is its fashion!

California might not be known for fashion in the same way Paris or Milan are. But both of those cities focus more on fashion as an art. Often experimental and avant garde in their approach. California is the home of modern fashion trends. It is one of the many reasons people flock to the city. Today we are going to be showing you how to stay stylish while in the Golden State!

Fashion For All

One of the best things about California is the huge variety of locales and styles you will encounter. Fashion trends in the state will vary from place to place. With beautiful beaches for you to show off your summer gear to the streets of Hollywood where you can strut your designer brands. No matter what you will find a fashion style that works for you.

And there is freedom in that. You aren’t ever going to be restricted. It truly is one of the most inclusive states when it comes to fashion. That being said, there is still a lot you can do to stay on trend.

TikTok Fashion

TikTok has become THE social app of the generation. It is where social and fashion trends are born. So the first step to keeping up with California fashion is to immerse yourself in the scene on TikTok. You should follow some of the biggest Cali fashion influencers. People like Julie Sarinana, Chriselle Lim, and Ashley Madekwe are a great starting point. From here you will soon pick up on what is hot and what is not.

Home Fashion

A big part of being fashionable in California is having a stylish home. Playing host is one of the best ways to ingratiate yourself into the social scene. The good news is that buying and selling a house in California is easier than ever before. So you won’t struggle to find a prime location in a good area.

You will want to spend a lot of time mastering your interior decoration. We recommend consulting some of the best interior design blogs such as House Of Hipsters to find out what the best way to make sure your home is ready to become one of the hottest spots in Cali.

Having a stylish home is also important if you want to become a California influencer. You will need to show off your home in your content. So it is in your best interests to ensure it is as fashionable as possible.

An Extensive Wardrobe

The fashion scene changes quickly in California. From one day to the next, you never know what outfit is going to be needed. So it pays to have an extensive wardrobe selection. And the best way to do this is with thrift shopping and kilo sales. Here you will find an abundance of hidden fashion gems. Plus, buying second hand is extremely vogue at the moment.

You will want to ensure you have outfits for every occasion. Hitting the beach? A selection of breezy button ups or dresses paired with stylish sandals and beach shorts. Strutting down the boulevard? A stylish jacket and jeans combo or an elegant jumpsuit will fit right in. Heading to a gala event? A designer suit never fails.

Designer Brands

Speaking of designer suits, California is one of the best places for high-end shopping in America. You will find every major designer brand under the sun here. And a huge range of more independent boutiques as well. If you are serious about your fashion it is definitely worth investing in both big name brands and smaller designers.

Not every designer brand will always be the current fashion though. You will want to keep an eye on the fashion blogs and TikTok to see which brand is hot at the moment. If you have a substantial following on your social media page you might consider trying to get a sponsorship deal from various designer brands as well. This is a great way to add to your wardrobe selection.

Experiment

California fashion isn’t all about following the trends. Sometimes you need to try to make the next trend yourself. Experimenting with fashion is the cornerstone of California. So don’t be afraid to try out new things. If you have ever thought an outfit might be too risky or too out there, why not give it a go one day. You might be pleasantly surprised with the response to it.

Video gaming is an exciting and anytime during the day activity for young people, especially during holidays. It is even more enjoyable when two kids compete against each other or as a team, as it brings out a lot of mental and physical engagement to make one stand out against the rest. This kind of multiplayer gaming can be conducted from the same device and simultaneously, either locally or from different locations, using the internet.

As kids love to play with each other, video gaming, as many players, has become more popular than playing individually, which they consider boring. There is a false theory that gaming contributes to bad behavior and negative growth of knowledge and skills. However, gaming involves the whole body contributing towards the successful completion. Hence, this multiple playing for kids comes with many other benefits besides the fun and winning. Playing contributes a lot to the child’s mental, physical, social, and academic growth.

This blog will help you understand how gaming with other kids can help your child grow positively by gaining skills that will come in handy on their journey to adulthood. Keep reading.

5 Positive Gaming Skills That Benefit Kids

Let’s look at how your kids will benefit from gaming with other kids of the same age within your home or across the world through the internet.

Working Together as a Team

When kids play in groups, they all strive to contribute individually to the game’s success. Each kid is given a task to enable the other kids to achieve a common objective. That is the definition of teamwork, where everyone is engaged to the fullest of their abilities towards achieving the end game goals. Hence, the individual player or kids must work as hard to conquer and complete the mission.

A good example is the Overwatch game, where kids in a team are expected to perform their assigned tasks and ensure they are well carried out to win. This game requires the kids to be in touch with each other, develop a game plan that will give them a win and have trust in their teammates.

Minecraft is another example that tops the list of the best survival servers where players combine their efforts and construct structures that will outstand their enemies while making their virtual city self-reliant. This game teaches kids the importance of working together to defeat their enemy through strategic planning and execution of greater ideas than what they would have achieved individually.

Enhances the Growth of Arithmetic Skills

Some games involve the kids’ abilities to compute time resources and determine what quantities of different resources are required to complete a task. That requires the kid to be highly skilled in recognizing numbers and working out simple arithmetic as fast as possible. For games that require building structures, handling different materials with different shapes and lengths is critical to achieving success.

Minecraft is an excellent example of such a multiplayer game that engages kids’ knowledge of their arithmetic skills in defining shapes and dimensions in order to build the houses they envision. Hence, it motivates them to learn mathematics concepts that will help them in gaming.

Adapting to Challenges

Playing with other kids allows your kid to meet different environments with different challenges every other time a new game begins. This is brought about by the mixed gaming settings and features chosen as a team. Each player is required to be conversant with each challenge and learn how to overcome them. While every game is expected to have sudden changes and setbacks, learning how to overcome them is the game’s ultimate challenge.

An example of a game that requires the child to be adaptive and resilient is the Fortnite game, where players find themselves in new environments with scarce resources and have to defeat their opponents. In addition, to win against their opponents, they must adapt as fast as possible to the new environment.

Problem-Solving Skills

Multiple gaming requires children to think and make decisions before executing their moves, as it will determine their failure or success. Kids have the opportunity to develop this skill early and become fast thinkers later in life.

In the process, they also learn that their choices in life have consequences and every decision matters. Hence, they also learn the skill of solving problems by analyzing the environment and thinking outside the box.

When they are faced with minimal resources, they learn to allocate them to their maximum use and benefits. It also requires them to take risks they can afford in order to achieve the best results by evaluating the best possible outcomes.

Social Interaction Skills

Finally, multiplayer gaming requires kids to form groups and compete with other groups. Each group is made up of children from different backgrounds, including culture, lifestyle and location. For every child to blend in with the team without hesitations, they must each learn how to appreciate their differences and use them to their advantage.

That motivates the young children to join different online gaming communities and learn their ways of life, which helps develop their social skills, including respect for race, opinions and cooperation. In addition, multiple gaming inspires kids to one day compete in physical sports with opponents from different parts of the country when they grow up.

Conclusion

Gaming is a favorite activity for kids and should be encouraged by parents who don’t want to foresee their kids engaging in odd activities. Multiple gaming has many advantages, allowing kids to learn various skills for personal growth and development. These include mathematical, social, problem solving and analytical skills. Hence demystifying the theory that gaming is harmful for your children.

It is no small exaggeration that the world is currently facing a mental health crisis. The latest studies estimate that as many as one in four adults suffer from serious mental health issues. And one in ten children suffer too. And experts estimate that this number will only go up in the years to come if something isn’t done.

But we are also lucky to live in an age where we know more about mental health issues than ever before. Advances in medical technology and a shift in the attitudes of our society mean we are far better equipped to help people deal with their mental health issues. But, like any medical crisis, it requires a lot of involvement from a country’s government to properly combat it. Today we are examining just how Canada is dealing with the growing mental health crisis.

Bell Let’s Talk

Bell Let’s Talk is a charity that was founded by the Bell telephone company back in 2011. The foundation was created to help combat mental health issues in Canada. The original five year goal of the foundation was to give out $50 million to various institutions. And it didn’t stop there. The foundation has continued their good work relentlessly. Providing much needed funding to numerous mental health charities across the nation.

Most recently the foundation donated $1 million dollars to 11 different Canadian colleges and universities. The money is going directly into the institution’s different student mental health programs. This is a huge step in the right direction. Studies have shown that the later educational years are when young people can suffer the most from mental health issues. The stress of education paired with the anxiety of the future can be a lot. Not to mention the financial strain of funding a university education.

THC Legalization

Back on October 17th, 2018, Canada took a monumental step forwards as a nation. They legalized weed. This was an amazing decision for a number of reasons. It was a huge step forward in the social justice cause, removing the issue surrounding unjust incarceration relating to weed. It was a huge financial boon for the nation, bringing in an estimated $1.3 billion dollars a year to the nation’s economy. And, most importantly, it was extremely beneficial for the war against mental health issues.

Many studies have shown that both THC and CBD, the two primary cannabinoids found in hemp, can be used to help deal with various physical and mental ailments. The primary medical use of THC has been as a potent natural pain medication. It is particularly useful in helping people who suffer from chronic pain.

Recently there have been studies that have found that using THC and CBD in moderation can help alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Both substances can elevate a person’s mood and boost their creativity and emotional thinking. All things that have been proven to help those suffering. CBD can also increase the brain’s ability to absorb the serotonin it produces, helping combat the chemical imbalance that leads to depression.

The legalization of weed has made it so that Canadians can get whatever they need, whenever they need it. Companies like topshelf in BC sell a range of buds and flowers that can be delivered directly to your door. Which is a huge boon for people with mental health issues that keep them from venturing outside.

Farmer’s Mental Health

The agricultural sector in Canada is huge. The sector provides 1 of every 9 jobs. And it is responsible for 7% of the nation’s GDP. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador makes up 1.1% of the 7%. And it is for this reason that the nation is putting around $7 million dollars into the province’s agriculture sector. And a large sum of this is to go towards a new farm-focused mental health initiative.

It is all too easy for our digital society to forget about the people working in the agriculture sector. Our attention is often focused on the big tech innovators, celebrities, influencers, and the bigger cities. But the mental health concerns of farmers are just as important. These are the people that grow the food we all rely on. So it is amazing to see Canada putting more money into making sure their needs are being met.

Over the last few years we have seen more and more initiatives like this and the Bell Let’s Talk foundation. And we hope it is the sign of a continual upward trend for Canada when it comes to handling the mental health crisis. As long as people don’t stop discussing the importance of mental health care, we can hopefully build a better future for everyone.

The Power Of Social Media

If there is anything that defines our current generation, it is social media. The advent of the internet changed the way the human race functions forever. It allowed us to connect instantly across the globe. It changed nearly every industry on the planet. And it has shifted the social and political dynamics of our world forever.

If the internet was the foundation of these changes, social media was the hammer that fixed them into place. Social media had humble origins as platforms for friends and family to keep in touch and share updates about their lives. Over the years it has transformed into a multi-million dollar industry that is used in nearly every industry and political sphere on the planet.

And the wheels of social media are not slowing down. So to get ahead in this digital age, you will need to have a good understanding of how social media works and how you can make it work for you. This guide will help you understand social media through the lens of an influencer.

Understanding Your Audience

In the past, social media was a more personal thing. The platforms such as Myspace and Facebook were primarily designed to allow you to connect with a small group of people. Now, many social media platforms allow you to post content for the entire world to see. Reaching an audience that the marketing professionals of the past could only dream of.

And understanding your audience is the first step in mastering social media. This draws back into some of the very basic lessons of marketing. But with social media it is more important than ever before. People who use social media are far more changeable. So you need to understand not only what they want to see, but what the latest trends are. And, to a greater extent, which demographics are engaging with which trends.

Gathering Followers

Knowing your audience is only step one. You then need to acquire followers. In the social media world, followers are as good as currency. And, in business terms, they often equate to sales as well. Gaining, and keeping followers, is a whole game in and of itself.

There are a few methods for gaining followers. Chief amongst them is creating engaging content and keeping to a consistent posting schedule. Another great method for gaining followers is working in collaboration with other pages and influencers. This will help you reach a wider, and often more diverse audience.

You will also want to engage with your followers on a more personal level as well. Live-streams are a great way to do this. You can run competitions or giveaways, which are a great method for improving customer relations and bringing in new followers. You will also want to ensure you have staff who spend time responding to all the DM’s you will receive on your social media platforms.

Follower24

There is a more direct method for acquiring followers as well. Follower24 is a service that allows you to instantly buy TikTok followers for your page. It is primarily based in Germany, but it offers international followers as well. Germany is a major competition in the industrial stage, so creating a strong following here is a great way to expand your business.

TikTok has become one of the fastest growing and most popular social media platforms on the planet. So if you want to succeed in the social media game, you need to be on TikTok. Follower24 can help you get your foot in the door. Once you have bought a good following, you will quickly start to amass unpaid followers quickly.

Quality Content

As technology has improved we have been blessed with more powerful cameras and editing software. AI allows us to touch up content and enhance it. And modern CGI can do amazing things. And a lot of it can now be done from our phones.

So in an age where it is easier than ever before to create such amazing content, you have to ensure the content you are putting out is keeping up with standards. To that end you will want to spend some time studying the principles of photography and filming. There is a lot to learn about shot composition, lighting, angles, and the settings of your devices that will impact the quality of your content.

If you aren’t that tech-savvy, we recommend hiring professional content creators to make your content for you. And it never hurts to have some professional editors on staff to keep your content snappy and crisp. This will go a long way in helping you gain new followers and potentially help your videos go viral. You will also want to keep up to date with any new technology that is released that could improve the quality of your content.