Life can be crazy sometimes and it can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Since most of us are not ready to drop everything and move to a farm then what if I told you that something you already do every second of your day can make you feel healthier if you do it a little bit different and it can be done in seconds while you are busy conquering the world. It’s breathing, yes breathing but I am referring to deep breathing. Deep breathing brings more oxygen into your brain and body which can give you some great benefits and it is something so simple to do. Let’s explore some of those benefits.   Helps Beat Headaches I came across deep breathing by accident. I was suffering from persistent headaches that just wouldn’t go away. At the moment of my worst pain, I closed my eyes and started to breathe deeply while working hard to clear my mind, almost like meditating. The deep breathing gave me an immediate peaceful feeling but what happened a few minutes later was the amazing part, my persistent headache was better. Then a little later while I kept doing the deep breathing, my persistent headache was gone. Deep and slow breaths can help relax tense muscles specially in the neck and shoulder areas potentially helping get rid of headaches.     It's a Stress Reducer When someone is stressed, their breathing pattern changes. A stressed person takes small, shallow breaths, using their shoulders instead of their diaphragm. This style of breathing deprives your body of the much-needed oxygen to function properly. Without enough oxygen our bodies and our minds become weak, so take a deep breath in then let it all out. You might notice a big difference in how you feel in a matter of seconds. Your breathing pattern is a powerful tool to control stress and anxiety making you ready to face any challenge in your day.     Improves Sleep Nothing better than a good night sleep to get you ready for a hectic day ahead, but what if you just can’t get enough sleep? And did you notice the more you worry about not being able to sleep the longer it takes to actually fall asleep? I am here to tell you that deep breathing techniques can be very effective in helping you fall asleep and stay asleep by promoting body and mind relaxation. The diaphragmatic breathing technique has become my favorite. You focus on breathing deeply into your abdomen, feeling your hand on your belly rise as you inhale and fall as you exhale, while you try not to move your chest.   It Helps you Focus Deep breathing techniques can also help you increase focus and improve cognitive function. By including deep breathing in your daily routine, you can calm your nervous system, reduce stress, and increase oxygen flow to your brain, making your mind sharp which promotes improved concentration. It will help train your brain to stay present and focused on the task at hand.   So let’s not forget to breathe but breathe right! If I knew about all these benefits, I would have started deep breathing a long time ago. Find the deep breathing technique that works best for you and consider including it in your daily routine. Some of the techniques out there are the diaphragmatic breathing, the 4-7-8 breathing, the box breathing, the alternate nostril breathing and the counting while breathing. If techniques are not your thing, just close your eyes and take a deep breath. Happy breathing everyone!  

  Feeling stressed or overwhelmed like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Own less things! This is exactly how I started my new year, doing a detachment of material things by reviewing every single item in my closet and other areas of my house. The feeling of freedom with each full bag that left my house was kind of shocking. Getting rid of the unnecessary things in your home might just give you a fresh start and help you reduce stress, it gives you a sense of freedom, it supports better focus and it might even give you more confidence, let’s expand on these benefits. Reduced Stress and Improved Focus An overfilled or disorganized home can trigger your body to produce the stress hormone cortisol making you feel overwhelmed making it difficult for you to concentrate and get things done. Eliminating the excessive number of things on surfaces, clothes on closets, decorations and even furniture can reduce stress by creating a sense of control and order in your environment. It clears your mind allowing you to relax and a calm and relaxed mind is able to think at its full capacity, focus and concentrate to analyze situations and find solutions.     Feeling Free Are you a slave to your own possessions? Do you feel emotionally attached to material things or have the need to constantly buy more material things? The hardest part is getting started but once you find the power to let go, the feeling of freedom is just amazing. You will find yourself free from the expense of unnecessary spending, free from having a huge number of things to clean, free from the fear of unexpected visitors and free from the lack of space in your house. You will feel like a weight came off your shoulders, a feeling of unexplainable happiness. This is something that most of us don’t realize that by buying unnecessary material things aka clutter you are actually making your life worse.    More Confidence By reducing stress, feeling free and more focused, you could find yourself feeling more confident in many aspects of your life. Owning less can provide a sense of accomplishment and control over your environment, positively impacting your self-esteem. Now you will be able to easily find clothes in your closet which will make getting ready in the morning a piece of cake. You will feel confident feeling like your brain is working at full capacity at work due to your newly found focus. Problems become something easy to solve, just throw me another one! It’s exactly like they say, confidence is everything!     I couldn’t believe these benefits myself and I plan to continue working on my new semi-minimalist self throughout the year. In addition to improving your life, this lifestyle supports cutting back on spending, reducing waste and focusing on what’s really important in life. It’s all about owning less and living more and I am all in for that. Would you dare to try it?  

Having a grateful mindset all-year-round and not just on Thanksgiving Day is a positive trait to have. It is a trait that can help you be resilient and strong regardless of what life situation you might be in. What I mean by having a grateful mindset is appreciating what you do have in your life regardless of how small you might originally think they are and seeing them as big things. Here are three questions to help you reflect and feel grateful:   Do You Have Air in Your Lungs? I have air in my lungs. I can smell the flowers. I can hear birds singing. I can taste food. I can walk. I can feel the sun and the breeze of the ocean on my skin. I can talk. I can write. I can earn a living. I might need glasses sometimes but I have eyesight to see this beautiful world. I am grateful and feel strong because I know how lucky I am to be able to do all these things. Even though none of us know what tomorrow brings, I do know that having a grateful view of our current health status contributes to more health.     Have You Ever Overcome a Difficult Situation? I am proud of myself for everything I have been able to accomplish in my life regardless of the difficulties. Moving often as a child due to having parents from different countries. Learning English as a third language after moving to the United States as a teenager, going to college with a somewhat broken English, building a successful career in a highly competitive industry. Looking back, I am grateful for all these experiences because they made me the strong person I am today. Whatever your life situation was or is, make it a lesson of strength and have the confidence that once you overcome it, you will be stronger and nothing life throws at you can bring you down.     Do You Have Food and a Roof Over Your Head? I am grateful that I have food and a roof over my head. Some might think this is a silly thing to say but that is because some of us take these things for granted. Stop and think that about 1 billion of the world population does not have food to eat on a daily basis with as many as 1.6 billion people are lacking adequate housing and these are statistics that do not include the average struggling families. I feel extremely grateful to have a life where these immediate needs are always met. How this gives me strength? Even when lunch and dinner are not perfect, I am happy to have something to eat.  Even if we end up living in a tiny house (which we do contemplate sometimes) it is a roof and it will always be a happy place.     I do have a grateful mindset and I strive to always keep this mindset even when situations are challenging. And yes, one can say that things could be better, do not forget though that things could also be worse. Focus on the things that you do have in your life. Consequently, having the wisdom to see things that you might not currently have in your life as motivation points, positive life goals and dreams to be chased.

The town of Celebration in Florida is a place that attracts many people including celebrities due to its beautiful 20th-century architectural style and peaceful environment, but do you know who is the biggest celebrity that has ever lived in our town? I do understand that considering a person a celebrity can be subjective, however, when a country with a territory almost as big as the United States considers someone to be the greatest personality in the history of television, I would say that this person is indeed the biggest celebrity to ever live in our town. That country is Brazil and that name is Silvio Santos.   The Man Behind the Name He was famous by his stage name of Silvio Santos but his real name was Senor Abravanel. He was the son of a father of Greek Jewish descent and a mother of Turkish Jewish heritage, who grew up in the neighborhood of Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started as a street vendor at the age of 14 in the 1940's in downtown Rio and went on to become the biggest TV host of all time. He was the owner of Grupo Silvio Santos that included his own TV channel called “SBT” which is the second largest television network in Brazil. His net worth was USD $2.3 billion in 2013. It is impossible to find a person in Brazil who does not know who Silvio Santos is.     His Charisma He connected with the audience like no other TV host. He had an ear-to-ear smile. His laugh was something that can’t be explained in words other than if he was laughing, the entire room was laughing, as was everyone watching him at home. He had a very charismatic personality, a very unique style and a voice like no other. He was considered one of the most influential and beloved people in Brazil. His famous catchphrase was “Who wants money?” and every Sunday the entire country would be watching him in his several shows and contests. He became part of Brazilian history.     Life in Brazil He lived in the prominent neighborhood of Morumbi in São Paulo which should be similar to the quality of life of the United States. However, he used his platform to criticize aspects of life in Brazil including poverty, inequality, lack of access to basic services, all which contributed to higher crime rates in Brazil. In 2001, one of his daughters was kidnapped but thankfully returned unharmed. Once, Silvio Santos himself was held hostage at gunpoint in his own home. He often expressed his dream for Brazilians to be able to enjoy a similar standard of living as people in the United States.    Photo: Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil   His Love for Celebration He was a resident of Celebration and he found comfort and joy in being in our town. He spent months each year in his Celebration home with his wife and pets enjoying the simple things in life. In Celebration, he was able to live a more “normal” life away from the big crowds of fans and most importantly away from the constant threat of crime. He was sometimes seen at the Publix on Blake Road while shopping in his pajamas or enjoying dinner at downtown Celebration with his family.  He would interact with the few Brazilian fans who were lucky to spot him, he gave autographs and took pictures.    Photo: Silvio Santos with wife and pets in front of their Celebration home.    Photo: Silvio Santos and wife at the Italian restaurant in downtown Celebration, Reggiano's of Celebration.   Many people in Brazil know about Celebration because of Silvio Santos. If he liked living here, then it must be a great town. He passed away in August of 2024 at the age of 93. Even though he’s no longer with us, his legacy lives on and the Abravanel family continues to be a big part of our Celebration community. He was a very smart man to have been able to build his empire from nothing but he was a smarter man for having discovered the beauty of Celebration.    Photo: After Silvio Santos' passing, fans left flowers in front of his home in Celebration.    Photo: Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil dressed as Silvio Santos as a tribute after his passing.   Valeu Silvio!                  

Have you ever wondered why you cannot find any Airbnb options in Celebration, Florida when trying to book an Airbnb for your Disney World vacation? Some Airbnb posts include Celebration in the title but in fact those places are not located in Celebration but the surrounding areas. So why can’t you find any?Honestly, from a visitor’s point of view it would be a dream come true to stay in one of the beautifully designed homes in the town Walt Disney dreamed of and waking up to see all the green areas around Celebration while enjoying a cup of coffee on a comfortable rocking chair on a front porch overseeing a pond. You might even be able to see a deer or two walking around!   However, the truth is that Celebration believes that only residents should be able to enjoy those precious moments. In fact, Celebration does not allow Airbnbs to operate within the town and it strictly prohibits short-term rentals in residential areas. This makes it a difficult environment for Airbnb hosts to operate legally and without the risk of penalties. You can find Airbnbs in nearby neighborhoods around Disney World like Kissimmee, Davenport and Windermere but Celebration is kept out of reach for these types of rentals and this just adds to the uniqueness of the town. The message from the town is you can come by, eat at our restaurants, walk around, even enjoy some of our events but when the day is over only residents can enjoy these amazing houses, townhouses, condos and long-term apartment rentals.   The good news is that there are other options that will allow you to stay in Celebration and see how it feels to wake up in Walt Disney’s town. The top choices are hotels like the Celebration Hotel located downtown steps away from all the downtown fun or the Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel which a resort with lots of amenities that guarantee a great time.   Celebration Hotel   Meliá Orlando Celebration   Celebration really is a unique town and no you will not find any Airbnbs here. If you have love for the town like I do, you might want to consider buying a vacation property here. A house, a townhouse or a condo would be a perfect vacation home when visiting Disney World and it could even become a stay-forever home. There are also luxurious long-term rental apartments available like the ones at the Cortland Colburn complex. I am beyond lucky to call Celebration my home and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Are you ready to love Celebration?

The town of Celebration in Florida is a beautiful place for sure, you can immediately see its beauty as soon as you step into this amazing town. Its green areas and trails, the beautifully designed homes and streets look so surreal. But besides all this, do you know why Celebration is so special? Some residents might have different reasons as to why Celebration is special to them but for most of us, it all started with a mouse.Location, Location, Location!Celebration is located just outside the Most Magical Place on Earth, a 5-minute drive to Disney World. This is a dream come true for any Disney fan or anyone who loves to have a good time. Disney World does not only consist of theme parks, there is also amazing dining options, shows, live music, entertainment, shopping, just anything you can imagine when you think of having a good time either as a family, as a couple or solo. A Very Special HistoryCelebration is a town that was designed by Disney so it is not a surprise that its first name was Disney’s Town of Celebration. Disney was inspired by the charm of small-town America and had the dream of creating a community that combined both modern conveniences with a traditional look. The Disney Development Company (DDC) established the Celebration Company to oversee the development of the community. The DDC invested an estimated US$2.5 billion in the project. To decide who would be the first residents, Disney held a lottery type of selection process where 1,200 people submitted $1,000 deposits. The first family moved in on June 18, 1996, and the downtown area was completed on November 12, 1996. Beautiful Design and PlanCelebration is a master planned community (MPC) which is a large, custom built residential community. The community was designed in an early 20th-century architectural style, with homes featuring porches, picket fences, and different types of roof lines. Civic buildings were designed by world-famous architects like Philip Johnson, Cesar Pelli, and Robert A.M. Stern.   If You Get It, You Get ItSimilar to Disney, those who like Celebration are those who understand its magic so yes if you get it, you get it. The appreciation of the town from its residents and fans in general come from each person's connection and life memories of Disney and you can see it and feel it while you walk around Celebration. Residents are always happy, smiling and greeting each other.   Celebration has a special place in my heart. Even though it is no longer owned by Disney, Celebration is located on land that used to be part of the Walt Disney World Resort which is now part of Kissimmee and Osceola County. Celebration is a fun place to live with lots of events and activities, not to mention the ongoing growth of amazing restaurants and shopping options as a result of a recent expansion project of the town. While growth is inevitable, the Disney and Celebration fans hope that the special feeling that you get while you are in Celebration never goes away. Thanks to Walt Disney for making his dreams come true because they became our dreams.

I thought I knew something about the Haunted Mansion until a few months ago when we met up with friends who are huge Haunted Mansion fans and know so much about this awesome ride at the Magic Kingdom. I then realized I didn’t know much at all and needed to do some research of my own. One thing was clear to me, to better know the Haunted Mansion I would need to get to know more about the main characters in it and that’s exactly what I did.     Let’s Start from the Beginning The Haunted Mansion is a slow-moving ride at the Magic Kingdom that opened along with the Magic Kingdom itself on October 1, 1971. The ride length is approximately eight minutes long. The ride is open for guests of any height and any age. It is considered to be a spooky ride but with friendly ghosts which means that everyone would enjoy it. There are versions of the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland California, Disneyland Tokyo, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. Each of these versions have their own little bit of history behind it.   Picture: Yale Gracey   The Best Spooky Fun As part of the ride queue at Magic Kingdom, be prepared to walk through some tombstones including the one for Master Gracey, who is the owner of the Mansion. Make sure to have your hands free for some supernatural hands-on experiences as well. Once inside, you will see a room actually stretching along with a hanging body from the ceiling and yes this part is actually a little scary. Then you climb aboard a Doom Buggy for a grave tour through a dark maze of haunted chambers. The ride is narrated by the voice of The Ghost Host as your private guide through a very Haunted Mansion, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises. You will go by a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling seance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing ghosts as you try to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers and be careful because a ghost may follow you home.        Master Gracey Master Gracey was a very rich man and the owner of the Mansion. After his passing, you can see Master Gracey's tombstone as part of the queue of the Haunted Mansion. Many believe he is also The Ghost Host which will make him also be the hanging body from the attic on the first part of the ride. There's also an interesting and mysterious fact, fresh flowers appeared for many years in Master Gracey’s tombstone. Who do you think put those flowers there? Now let’s go over the true story of Master Gracey. He was created as a tribute to Disney Imagineer Yale Gracey who was murdered in 1983 at the age of 73 at his home. He was responsible for pretty much all of the illusions found within the ride. The association of him being referred to as, "Master" Gracey lead the majority of cast members and guests to presume of him having been the Master of the Haunted Mansion. This was supported by how every morning a red rose was placed on Master Gracey's tombstone, this was most likely started during the 1980s by cast members as a way of mourning Yale Gracey after he was murdered.         The Ghost Host Many people believe that Master Gracey and The Ghost Host are one in the same and that he died by suicide. Master Gracey as the owner of the Mansion acts as the host as he welcomes mortals into his haunted home. His evil laugh once you enter the mansion as he displays his own hanging body from the attic is just priceless. Regardless if Master Gracey and The Ghost Host are the same or not, I couldn’t think of a better voice for this ride and you will hear his spooky narration throughout the entire ride. He is voiced by actor Paul Frees, who appeared in many Disney movies and was the voice of many famous characters over the years. You can hear his voice in another ride at the Magic Kingdom, Pirates of the Caribbean. He recorded the ghost voice saying the iconic "Dead Men Tell No Tales", as well as lending his voice to several audio-animatronic pirates.         Constance Hatchaway Constance Hatchaway is bride in the attic and one of the figures depicted in the Stretching Room’s portraits. She is the scariest character in the Haunted Mansion, because not only she is a bride ghost but when she was alive she murdered all her five husbands. She’s also known as The Black Widow Bride. She would marry the richest of the richest then she would murder each husband by cutting their heads off. This is why you see her holding a hatchet in the ride next to the portraits of her husbands with no heads. Pretty creepy, right?           Madame Leota Madame Leota’s character is a disembodied head that speaks from inside a crystal ball, how cool is that? Madame Leota got her name from Leota Toombs who was a Disney Imagineer and the face of Madame Leota. Yale Gracey (Master Gracey) asked her to pose for the floating head character to test it out and the rest is history. However, Madame Loeota was voiced by Eleanor Audley, who had the perfect villain voice. You can hear Eleonor’s perfectly villain voice in Cinderella as the evil stepmother and in Sleeping Beauty as Maleficent.           The Hitchhiking Ghosts The Hitchhiking Ghosts have to be the coolest characters of the Haunted Mansion. They are the three ghosts that you see towards the end of the ride. These ghosts are established residents of the Mansion known as The Traveler (Phineas), The Skeleton (Ezra) and The Prisoner (Gus). Since they “hitchhike” be ready for them to jump on board your Doom Buggy for a little ride. They might also mess with you just because they can. The three ghosts got their names from a backstory created by a cast member. Since the creation of the story, their names have become official for all Disney lovers and you will even see their names in Haunted Mansion merch in the parks.       Hatbox Ghost The Hatbox Ghost character is a crazy and evil looking skeleton with a big hat on. He was at the Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland when it first opened in 1969 then removed then made a permanent return in 2015. Even though he’s located in Disneyland and not in Disney World, it is worth mentioning him since in September 2022 during the D23 Expo, it was announced that the Hatbox Ghost character will be added to the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion at some point in 2023. We are patiently awaiting. UPDATE: In November 2023, the Hatbox Ghost materialized at Disney World. Yes, he's here!     The Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World is loved by many but learning more about its characters can give you a better appreciation for the ride. So next time you ride the Haunted Mansion, don’t forget to bring a red rose for Master Gracey, or to count how many portraits of Constance’s headless husbands you can see, or to try to see which Hitchhiking Ghost you can identify by name. Lastly, don't forget to say this awesome line out loud with Madame Leota: “Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat. Call in the spirits wherever they’re at!”   Watch our Haunted Mansion videos on YouTube:                

Whether you live here or are just visiting the United States for vacation, did you know you can learn about American History while you are at Disney World? These are the two attractions you must go while at Disney if you are interested in learning more about our amazing history including about all the American Presidents.   The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom ABOUT THE ATTRACTION: Located at Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. This attraction shows you all 45 Presidents of the United States in an amazing show going over the nation’s history. It is open to any height and any age. The show is approximately 25 minutes long and it runs continuously throughout the day. Make sure to check the large clock hanging under the marquee for the next showtime.     HOW IT WAS BUILT: It was originally opened as animated wax figures show, however, the Presidents didn’t meet Walt Disney’s approval. Walt wanted it to be the best, so he tasked Walt Disney Imagineering to develop the first audio animatronics figure in human form. The result is what you see today, the groundbreaking Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The Hall of Presidents built upon the show’s legacy, expanding it to all Presidents when it opened in 1971. Each time that there is a new President elected, a new animatronic is added.     THE EXPERIENCE: In the waiting area, you will see presidential memorabilia along with pictures and painting of our Presidents. Then once you are inside, you will take a seat in a beautiful theater, home to 3 massive digital projection screens and a grand proscenium. You will watch an original film that was developed by a Pulitzer Prize winning historian, that tells the dramatic story of the nation’s founding. The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States.     You will learn about the formation of our Constitution and the hard-fought struggles along the way, such as the American Revolution and the Civil War. You will listen to the amazing words of John F. Kennedy echo through the theater and watch Abraham Lincoln right there on stage, deliver his Gettysburg address. You will then watch the curtain rise to reveal amazing realistic looking audio animatronics replicas of every President of the United States. You will see them all together standing side by side. Then, you will hear a speech delivered by George Washington and a recorded performance of the oath of office by the newest addition to the Hall, 46th President Joe Biden.   The American Adventure at EPCOT ABOUT THE ATTRACTION: Located at the World Showcase at EPCOT. In this attraction, you will feel the spirit that propelled America to greatness in an inspiring retelling of our nation’s history. The attraction is open to any height and any age. The show is approximately 29 minutes long and is a dramatic production featuring 35 audio animatronics figures, digital rear projection images on a 72-foot screen and amazing patriotic songs, you will watch America’s story unfold right in front of your eyes.     HOW IT WAS BUILT: This is a work of Art, a huge success to Disney World. The American Adventure took Disney Imagineers 5 years to complete. The stunning building in which it is housed was intended as a “people’s mansion,” taking design cues from the classic Georgian style of the late 1700s, Colonial Williamsburg, Independence Hall, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Old State House in Boston. As the end result, pivotal moments in history appear and disappear seamlessly through the use of a massive computer-controlled movable device. Ten different sets are stored under the stage and are moved forward or backward on cue by this American technological marvel.     THE EXPERIENCE: Inside you will take a seat in a grand Colonial Theater and meet Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, your guides on this trip to the past. You will witness landmark events like landing of the Mayflower, the Boston Tea Party, the winter at Valley Forge, the penning of the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War and the Great Depression. Then, you will encounter luminaries like Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Chief Joseph and Teddy Roosevelt, among others.  So on President’s Day, Fourth of July or any other day, go on an American learning adventure at Disney World. First, because why not? And second because there’s a greater appreciation that gets created once we learn all the things that had to happen in our history in order for the United States of America to be the nation that it is today. I feel extremely lucky and grateful to be here and I will never take it for granted. Watch our video on The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom on President's Day 2023: