Have you ever been asked, “What do you do for fun?” and wracked your brain for an answer? You won’t have to do that once you’ve installed a multi-purpose game room in your home!

And please skip saying you don’t have the basement space for a rec room. Game rooms/rec rooms can be built anywhere in your house– in a spare bedroom, an unused office or a (formerly) dusty attic. This is a great motivation to clear out the clutter – it’s time!

Pick a Theme

• Wrap yourself in childhood fun with Monopoly or Candyland-themed decor and a closetful of classic board games.
• Online gamer? Situate yourself in virtual reality paradise by decorating in the theme of your favorite world.
• What card shark wouldn’t want a genuine casino in their home? Look up one-of-a-kind card tables and cool chairs to make your players drop their poker face.
• Sports fans can cover the walls with their favorite team’s paraphernalia.
• Pick a decade and go retro! Find furniture, lighting fixtures, and other décor from the era of your choice. You can even seek out vintage games!
• Build an in-house arcade and make it just as noisy and colorful as the real thing. Your game room will be “the talk of the block!”
• Lots of people have pool tables in their rec rooms, but how many have a full-blown billiard room? Take the theme to new levels by designing around the pool table’s style. Add other standing games, such as foosball and air hockey.
• Choose a “Luxe Life” theme, complete with vintage bar accessories and luxury bar stools; “refined” table games like chess (or one of these classic 19^th Century Parlor Games) played on an antique game table; and, some classical symphonic tunes playing in the background.

Add a Home Theatre

Games and movies go together like popcorn and candy. They’re both tons of fun, right?

Combine your game room with a home theatre for the ultimate happy place. Choose comfortable seating like classically comfortable sofas and sectionals from xxx and set them up around a big coffee table at knee-height. Then, put up a big projection screen to fill your wall with fascinating images.

You can settle in on the sofa and put your feet up (plus have a place to put your soda) on the table during movie night. Plus, the sofa and table set will double as a gathering place during game time or for a social occasion. Sports fans will appreciate that this is a fabulous set-up for game watching! When things get crowded, get a better view of the screen by adding luxury bar stools from xxx.

Don’t Forget the Watering Hole

A bar stocked with drinks and snacks is a must-have for your personalized game room. Luxury bar stools from xxx “transcend the fashion of the moment, bridging past and future to create a sense of timeless style and luxury.” The addition of luxury bar stools liven up your game room by providing seating not only guests and players but spectators as well. We all need people to cheer us on, don’t we?

Get Set for Gaming

Discover a truly immersive gaming experience with Gaming Chairs, which are comfortable to sit in for hours on end. Not only that- they have built-in speakers, cupholders, and interactive vibration to get you all caught up in the action.

By mounting your gaming consoles on the wall, you can easily hide unsightly wires. This both simplifies TV connection and eliminates the need for a TV stand. To save even more space, mount the controllers on the wall as well (the controllers will become a neat-looking decoration to boot.)

And, here is another reason to install that home theatre: you can use the projector for gaming. Just imagine being immersed in your virtual reality worlds on that huge screen!

Ultimate Game Room for Kids

Your kids will surely thank you when you present them with their very own, kids’-centered playroom. This isn’t your typical playroom with a bunch of stuffed animals thrown around and random puzzle pieces scattered around the floor. Think carefully and pick a design theme that will tickle them, such as their favorite cartoon show or color scheme.

Blogger Julie of Julie Loves Home wrote about how she did a “$100 Chalkboard & Graffiti Guest-Game Room Makeover” on an underutilized room in her home. She bought some chalk and spray paint and, with restraint, let the kids design their hearts out. The result was a room they couldn’t live without.

Julie’s Guest-Game Room Makeover

Once you have chosen your design theme, consider installing:

• A mini children’s library, which can evolve as the kids grow
• A “Wall of Fame” where you frame and hang your children’s artwork and accolades
• A closetful of board games
• A must-have chalkboard wall (buy chalkboard paint or contact paper here)
• Plenty of storage accessories to keep things tidy
• Check out Amazon’s Best Sellers in Rec Room Games for Kids

Keep Score with a Classic Scoreboard

*This commercial scoreboard from M&S Sporting Goods is on the pricey side;
but you can buy a magnetic chalkboard from Amazon and use this as a DIY template!

For kids and adults alike, no game or competition is complete without keeping score. “Watch the game heat up” or “keep track of your winning streak” with a DIY scoreboard – either traditional chalk or dry erase-style.

[Source: Extra Space Storage}

Keyword: luxury bar stools

With almost no downside due to minimal recovery time and relatively low cost and a huge upside of a dramatic but widely loved look, ‘dimpleplasty’ – plastic surgery to create dimples – is growing into “the Next Big Thing.”
Selfie Culture Creates Dimple-Desire “Our selfie-driven culture is contributing to why we are getting more dimpleplasty requests,” says Atlanta’s Dr. Wright Jones, MD, creator of the dimpleplasty. He explains that millennial men and women, and the younger selfie-set in general, don’t want to look any older, “overdone and plumped.”
Why Dimples? Dimpleplasty is increasingly seen as an effective anti-aging treatment and a way to look fresh, “cute,” and approachable. A terrific example is celebrity Jennifer Garner, who “is over 40 but has an instant youthfulness that is considerably younger when she flashes her gorgeous smile,” says Dr. Jones. This trending treatment has a timeless quality as well: dimples are often seen as sexy, and some cultures consider them a sign of good fortune.

Which Celebrities Have Dimples To-Die-For?
For women, the most requested celebrity dimples are those like:
• Gabrielle Union
• Miranda Kerr
• Kate Middleton
• Jennifer Garner

Men most often request celebrity dimples like:
• Harry Styles
• Brad Pitt
• Eddie Cibrian
• Usher Designer Cleft Chins?

Some surgeons have even begun performing dimpleplasties on the chin, creating a cleft look (which coincidentally men used to have filled in!)

Patients come in requesting designer cleft chins like those of celebrities such as:
• Ben Affleck
• Patrick Dempsey
• Demi Lovato
• Fergie
• Sandra Bullock

The Dimpleplasty Procedure Dr. Jones, founder of Muse Plastic Surgery (and dimpleplasty inventor) says his first dimpleplasty came four years ago when a patient asked if he could give her dimples like his own. This lead him to research and spend a lot of time smiling and analyzing his own face. In this way, he figured out the dynamics of the facial muscles. The procedure is minimally invasive, takes just 30 minutes in the doctor’s office, and is done under local anesthesia. There are no external cuts or bandages involved. During the procedure, an incision is made inside the mouth, where a defect is created in the cheek muscle. The defect is then attached to the undersurface of the skin, so the dimples are seen when the face moves but not when it is relaxed, just like with natural dimples. Fat can be removed to further customize, deepen or contour the dimpling. Once the swelling goes down there is no visible scar or sign of the procedure.

Can You Make Yourself Develop Dimples Without Surgery?
Absolutely not! But from early on until the present day, that simple fact hasn’t stopped people from trying!

The Dimple Machine
The Dimple Machine was invented in 1936 by Isabella Gilbert of New York (It was no coincidence that this was the year the Shirley Temple movie “Dimples” came out.) The Dimple Machine was a headgear that pressed at the two sides of the face at the dimple points. Although today it regularly makes lists of “bad beauty inventions,” at the time it fueled the trendy belief that you could “make” dimples yourself with willpower and something pointy.

YouTube Videos
Just search YouTube today and you will find a shocking number of “how-to” videos that teach you how to make your own dimples. Many show how to make temporary indentations by pressing hard on the skin or working magic with makeup.

Dimple Piercings
Contemporary cheek piercing can fake or enhance the appearance of dimples by placing jewelry at the dimple site. A lesser-known alternative is micro dermal implants, which are said to avoid some of the drawbacks of cheek piercings.
Why are Some Smiles So Cute? The Reason People Have Dimples

Chin Dimples
Believe it or not, Demi Lovato and Ben Affleck’s “hot” chin dimples are the results of birth defects! Chin dimples are caused by an underlying bone cleft in the chin. The prevailing theory among scientists is that cleft chins are the result of a problem in fetal development in which the left and right sides of the chin don’t fuse together properly in the womb.

Cheek Dimples

Are They Genetic?
Yes, scientists generally agree that cheek dimples are genetic, but there is some argument as to whether having two parents with dimples guarantees that you will be born with dimples 100 percent of the time. It’s a puzzle that’s still being solved.

What Creates Them Physically?
There are two separate theories about what causes the actual dimple to form in your cheek.
1. It’s a product of shorter muscles around the mouth
2. The more popular theory: It’s a defect in a facial muscle (zygomaticus major, a large muscle in the side of your face) and the dimple forms due to a divide in the muscle, which is normally in one piece.

Is your kitchen a fixer-upper from decades ago? Or, maybe your once-trendy laminate countertop and linoleum flooring have fallen out of style. Either way, the time has come to modernize your outdated kitchen.

Start with the cabinets– an older style, color, or design of cabinets can make your kitchen feel old and gloomy. Not having enough cabinets can make storage a pain, but too many cabinets can feel claustrophobic. To change the entire feel of your kitchen, try updating and installing modern kitchen cabinets xxx from XXXX.

Whether your style is modern or traditional, you can find cabinets as well as countertops, lighting, home appliances and interior accessories from the exclusive xxx dealer of XXXX kitchens.

If you are planning to sell your home, or stay for generations to come, updating your kitchen is a must-do.

Modern Kitchen Cabinets Los Angeles

It’s true that modern styles are very popular these days. Even if your tastes are more traditional, you can still have the best of both worlds with XXXX kitchen cabinets. XXXX offers a portfolio of both modern and traditional styles which include all the features of modern luxury.

Custom Cabinetry

Custom kitchen cabinets offer you the most creative freedom to design your dream kitchen. The main advantage to using custom cabinets in your kitchen is the flexibility– in style, material, and finishes. Size and design are tailored to suit the needs of your specific kitchen so even unique or challenging spaces can be fit precisely. The possibilities are many for the number, size, shape, depth, finishes, and accessories, so you’re sure to end up with a kitchen that’s tailor-made for your cooking and dining needs.

Thanks to the semi-custom feature of modern kitchen cabinets xxx from XXXX, designers can upgrade your kitchen to fit your personality.

Granite Countertops

Outdated kitchens may have (inconvenient) tile-and-grout or (cheap) vinyl countertops. Your countertops get a large piece of “real estate” in your kitchen, influencing its look and feel greatly. Update your kitchen countertops with anything from solid surfacing varieties that consist of resin and polymers to natural stone varieties such as quartz, marble, and granite, there’s an option for everyone’s style and budget.

XXXX is XXXX’s featured brand of quartz countertops. XXXX 2018 Color Collection offers a variety of stunning options, from classic to contemporary.

Energy-Saving Appliances

Kitchen appliances are the next place you should look if you want a modern, up-to-date kitchen. Upgrading to energy efficient appliances helps you save water and energy, which lessens your carbon footprint (and saves you money to boot!)

XXXX features interior accessories by XXXX, a 119-old, family-owned company known for energy efficiency, design, and durability. From their freshness-retaining refrigerators/freezers to freestanding or built-in coffee machines, XXXX offers the best in design and quality at an exceptional price.

Kitchen Lighting

When modernizing the major components of your kitchen, don’t forget about lighting! While kitchen lighting can sometimes be an afterthought, it is essential for ambiance, aids in safety, and adds to the versatility of your kitchen. Some kitchens only have one overhead lighting fixture. For a modern illumination source try installing recessed lighting.

Other thoughts:

• Consider installing a dimmer switch for versatility. It can help set the mood for entertaining, improve safety, or just help you relax!
• Pendant lighting often works well over a kitchen island
• You can install hidden lights on the undersides of cabinets to illuminate countertops
• Chandeliers are coming en vogue for modern kitchens!

“XXXX implements a specially developed, premium LED light that can be used as under-cabinet lights, inside glass units, and on floating shelves.” The XXXX collection offers many versatile forms of installation which provide effective, pleasant kitchen lighting.

Your xxx eye doctor can tell you that puffy eyes may be caused by allergies, stress, eye fatigue, individual skin characteristics, or it can be an inherited facial feature. When your eyes are puffy, they can also be red and dry.

If you have puffy eyes, you’ve probably heard of lots of do-it-yourself fixes. Popular remedies include cucumber slices, cotton balls soaked in milk, cold wet tea bags, and even anti-hemorrhoid creams like Preparation H under the eyes. Some of these solutions are more valid than others and will save you from looking like you just cried your eyes out after watching Titanic for the 14^th time.

Easy Ways to Erase Eye Puffiness

Puffiness around the eyes has to do with fluid pooling near the eye area. To reduce the swelling, your xxx eye doctor advises you focus on cooling and encouraging the fluid to move away from the area.

Cold Compress

Make a cold compress by running cold water over a clean, dry washcloth. Apply to the skin under and around your eyes while pressing gently. Make sure you are sitting up in a chair so the fluid can drain from your eyes (if you are lying down it will have nowhere to go.)

Cucumber Slices

Cucumber slices are like mini-washcloths – they are cold and wet, and fit perfectly over the shape of your eyes. In addition, they are moisturizing, so if you use them you will get the bonus of a skin conditioning treatment. To treat puffy eyes, use a refrigerated cucumber and slice into ¼ in. medallions. Sit up, preferably on the sofa – where you can lean your head back slightly—and place the cucumber slices on your eyes. Keep them there until they are no longer cool.

Tea Bags

Many different kinds of tea bags have been recommended to treat the eyes. These include chamomile (to soothe), rooibos (to brighten), and green (for pink eye or a black eye). To treat puffy eyes, experts are recommending black tea due to its high caffeine content. Caffeine is said to constrict the blood vessels, reducing puffiness and inflammation. It also keeps skin taut. In addition, black tea contains antioxidants called flavonoids and tannins that have an anti-inflammatory effect.

To use, steep two tea bags as you normally would if you were going to drink the tea. Squeeze out the excess liquid and place them on a small plate under saran wrap in the refrigerator until cold. Apply the tea bags to closed eyes for 15-30 minutes.

Gentle Eye Massage

To ease puffy eyes, your Orange County eye doctor can show you how to gently massage the area around your eyes to increase blood flow to the area.  Or, follow these directions from  Healthline.com:

1. Work the pressure points in your brow for a few seconds before sweeping your fingers from the inside corner of your eye outward. This helps drain that area that’s inflamed.
2. Then tap at your sinuses using two fingers on each hand, starting on either side of your nose and working outward. You may even feel fluid moving in this area.
3. It’s all about moving fluid, so you may also want to gently massage the lymph nodes in your neck. Work in a downward motion, away from your face.
4. Continue for about 3 minutes and repeat as needed.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel contains compounds with many anti-inflammatory properties, including gallic acid and tannins. Studies show that topically applied witch hazel can effectively reduce inflammation and help soothe your skin. For use on your eyes, you probably want an alcohol-free brand like Thayers, T.N. Dickenson’s, or Quinn’s. To use, apply the witch hazel to a cotton pad and place over your eye area for five to ten minutes.

Eye Roller

There are now eye cooling gels dispensed by tubes with metal roller balls, designed specifically for puffy eye relief. To use, hold the tube like you would an eye pencil and sweep back and forth under each eye to massage in.

A higher-end option is Clinique’s All About Eyes Serum, which both “cools and hydrates.”

A highly reviewed option at half the price is the First Aid Beauty Detox Eye Roller, which has caffeine in its formula.

A good budget option is Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller, formulated with Vitamin C, Mint, and Caffeine.

Refrigerated Eye Cream

Since cooling the eye area reduces puffiness by constricting blood vessels, refrigerating your favorite eye cream before use can work in your favor. According to Elizabeth Tanzi, associate clinical professor, department of dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center, eye cream is pretty much the only facial product that benefits from refrigeration.

There are also creams which are specifically designed to be refrigerated. Kenzoki Ice-Cold Eye Cream has a 4-star rating on Sephora.com.

To use, keep any eye cream in the refrigerator and apply as you normally would.

A Final Thought…

If eye puffiness is a recurring or serious problem, you should take a look at your diet. “Soda makes you dehydrated, and when you eat foods that are high in sodium, your body retains the salt and you get puffy, especially under your eyes,” says Michele Green, a dermatologist in New York City. Ask your Orange County eye doctor for eye-friendly diet tips.

Keyword: xxx eye doctor

If you have seen the classic Seinfeld episode where Jerry drugs his date by feeding her Turkey and wine so that he can play with her elusive toy collection, you know just how pervasive the myth of getting sleepy after a turkey meal is. We have all passed out on the couch after a Thanksgiving meal, and many of us have learned to blame the tryptophan found in turkey for our sleepiness. But that is not the whole story.

The truth is, most meats and even shellfish contain tryptophan. Cheese, yogurt, and eggs are also rich sources. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which the body can’t make, so diet must supply it. The tryptophan converts to serotonin, which then converts to melatonin, which is the amino acid which is sleep-inducing. You may have seen melatonin supplements sold over the counter as a sleep aid.

But if the turkey isn’t the culprit and most of our everyday foods contain tryptophan, why do we get so sleepy after a Thanksgiving meal?

What really makes us sleepy are the substantial amounts of carbs that we typically consume during a Thanksgiving meal. Consuming large amounts of carbs like stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams smothered in marshmallows, and pie triggers the release of insulin. Insulin removes most amino acids from the blood — except for tryptophan. This is how we wind up with more tryptophan in our blood and our brain, which leads to more serotonin, and eventually, more melatonin.

Therefore, while it is true that the amino acid tryptophan really is to blame for your post-meal sleepiness, it’s not really coming from the turkey.  It’s the carbs.

Since so many common foods contain tryptophan, is it possible to have too much tryptophan in the body? Not really, says Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, author of numerous nutrition books. “Except if you end up eating a lot of tryptophan, it means you’re eating a lot of protein and Americans already eat a lot of protein. It’s the only nutrient we get too much of,” she says. “If you’re getting even one serving of 3 ounces of meat, chicken, or fish; a couple of glasses of milk or yogurt; or if you’re eating beans and rice, you will get all the amino acids you need and in there will be the tryptophan,” Somer says.

Another reason you’re so sleepy is overeating. When you pile your plate high with food, digestion takes a lot of energy. That can make you tired. “Studies have indicated that stretching of the small intestine induces sleepiness and a protein–fat loading of the stomach induces sleepiness,” says biologist H. Craig Heller at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., “and, more blood going to the gastrointestinal tract means less going elsewhere,”—for example, the brain or skeletal muscle.

The lesson? If you want to have more energy after dinner this Thanksgiving, eat light and reach for the salad, with maybe just a dollop of potatoes for tradition.