DISNEY VACATIONS

---

• A trained Disney travel planner can help you find the right experience that matches your family's interests and budget

•  Wilkinson says one of the ways to save money is to use the value Disney resorts which are on the theme park compounds but at more affordable prices. That way you get the same convenience of staying close to the park but as little as $200 a night if you can catch a good sale.

• Staying at a Disney resort can come with other perks like early admission and the  ability to stay later at the parks

• Buy Disney gift cards at Costco and Sam's Club. They work just like cash within the theme parks but you can get $100 worth of food, souvenirs, ticket upgrades etc for $80

• Using the Genie+ app cost $15-$20 per person per day and can help you maximize your park experience by making reservations at rides and attractions that cut down your wait times for rides and helps you plan your day

• Also worth your time investigating in advance the individual lightning lane and Virtual Queue (VQ) rides at the theme park

• The Genie app which is free can help you order food ahead at restaurants within the park

• Disney cruises offer a level of service and accountability to the brand that gives you a higher probability of a great experience -- and also have Disney themes including a private island called Castaway Quay for the Bahamas/Caribbean cruise

• Adventures with Disney is an overseas travel experience service offered by the company that caters to groups of 12-16 people, includes two guides and provides boutique type excursions around the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, and domestically in Wyoming, Montana and Alaska).

• Fertility is on the decline. Richards says she's seeing a decrease in egg quality and egg quantity among even young women, and sperm analyses that are low in count, morphology, and mortality. A lot of her patients at Blossom Clinic are undergoing IVF and IUI. 

• She says as a society, we need to think about the mental health aspect of trying to conceive especially when western medicine methods are being applied 

• Acupuncture is typically done weekly with her patients

• The acupuncture points are on certain places of these energetic channels that run through the body with chi flowing through them

• For example, there's a point on the wrist that when needled, increases blood flow to the uterine and ovaries.

• A good acupuncture practitioner is going to work collaboratively with a western doctor

• When it comes time for injections with IVF or IUI, Richards says she usually stops the Chinese herbs but has her patients continue vitamins and supplements.

• As a baseline, she has her patients take a prenatal vitamin and fish oil

• Richards says supplements and Chinese herbs can help with egg quality, not egg quantity

• She offers free phone consultations to help people decide whether they want treatment with her clinic

• Acupuncture can help with nausea and fatigue and avoiding pregnancy loss within the first trimester, said Richards. During the third trimester, she says other services can help getting breached babies into the right position before going into labor. 

• Acupuncture can also help women have an easier transition to labor to help babies descend, soften the cervix, stimulate contractions.

• These interventions work better if a patient comes in around 34 weeks versus if they're past their due date.

• Learn more about Blossom Clinic and its services, and Richard's Instagram Live videos on Tuesdays during which she will answer questions about what she does 

• Often the first time many people think about organ donation is when we are 16 and about to get our driver's license

• Wirz says it's important to have the conversation with family and friends about your wishes, and whether your want to be a donor

• Despite the impact of COVID on various aspects of healthcare, the United States saw a record-breaking 41,000 transplants in 2021

• Myth: Healthcare professionals aren’t incentivized to save you in an emergent care situation because they want to harvest your organs (mostly perpetuated by horror movies and tv shows). BUST: healthcare practitioners don’t have access to info about whether you’re a donor and are financially incentivized to keep you alive. 

• Myth: “I’m too old/unhealthy to donate organs”. BUST: People of all ages and health backgrounds can donate organs and tissues for their whole lives. In fact, some organs and tissues age like fine wine, so they’re better if they’re older and have some years on them, according to Wirz

• In 2021, Oregon saw 1800 cornea donations in part because corneas can be stored for up to a year before being used in a transplant, giving the gift of sight 

• Right now there are 106,000 people on a waiting list for an organ transplant and 60 percent of that population come from ethnic minority groups (blacks, Asians, Hispanics)

• Often ethnic minority groups share B type of blood, which is more rare so they have to wait longer for an eligible transplant

• Studies show culture can play a role in the low number of organ donors among ethnic minority groups, manifesting as distrust in the health care system and other issues that prove to be barriers to a willingness to donate

• Legislation has been proposed in some states that would change organ donation to an automatic opt-in requirement so that if you don’t want to be a donor, you have to go to the DMV and opt-out, thereby increasing the supply of organs available

• One person who opts to be a donor can impact the lives of up to 125 other recipients waiting for a transplant

• To register to become a donor, go to https://www.donatelifenw.org/

- Insurance is typically based on household size, income and where you live.  Your income will determine if you're eligible for state healthcare (Oregon Health Plan, Washington Apple Health etc.) or if you should get on your own plan. 

- If you're making less than $19,000, you will most likely qualify for insurance from the state. If your employer offers insurance, you can waive their insurance option and still be covered by the state. 

- More small employers are starting to offer health insurance because it attracts and can retain quality staff. 

- Some employers will offer reimbursement if you get your own plan. They'll reimburse you a specific amount per month and some people use that for their premium.

- A lot of routine health screenings will be covered by insurance because they want the individual to be healthy so they can prevent them from having bigger health problems in the future. 

- Some benefits you may not know about. There may be health coaching or gym membership discounts that you have access to so make sure you know exactly what you can get with the insurance you have. 

- Not every doctor will be covered by your insurance. You'll have to make sure the specialists you're referred to are covered before you go to them or you may have to pay more money than you expected.

- When choosing a deductible, you have to look at your specific needs. Are you pregnant? Going to get pregnant? Do you have high needs? On dialysis? Need treatment for something? If yes, going for a lower deductible may be best for you. 

- If you are typically very healthy and go to the doctor once or twice a year, the high deductible plan may work better for you. 

- Some people have Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and that means you pay less for the plan but pay all the money up front. The nice thing about that it will help reduce taxable income. No matter how much you spend, it's a write-off. 

- If you have insurance through your employer, your kids should be on it. They can stay on your health insurance until they turn 26. If they do their own taxes, they should have their own plan.

- If need your insurance questions answered, talk to a broker! They'll talk with you and get to know your individual situation and help you decide what will be best option for your and your family. 

- Modeling has changed in the last few years. It used to be only 5'9 and taller, 24" waisted individuals could model and if you didn't have that look, you wouldn't make it in the industry. Sanjana shared that a lot of agencies are now focused on inclusivity, personality and natural beauty.

- Finding the right modeling agency can take time. Sanjana finally found hers through a lot of trial and error. A lot of bigger agencies have more models and that means it might be harder to actually book a gig. 

- Agencies are interested in your personality more now than looks. You can use fun photos that you would post on Instagram with your iPhone as photos for your portfolio. You don't need to have an expensive camera or hire a professional photographer to get photos for your portfolio. 

- If you're looking for an agency for you or your kids, you have to be very intentional and know who you are willing to work with. If someone reaches out to you to be part of their agency and are asking for you to pay for modeling classes or photoshoots, those are red flags and may not be a legitimate agency. Do your research, check out their Instagram, send them a message and have a conversation with them. Get to know them and see if they are someone you would want to work with.

- A lot of people think you need to drop a ton of money to buy the right clothes and get professional headshots done in order to start modeling and that isn't the case. People want to hire models who embody their consumers and their brand. 

- If you do want to work with a photographer, you still don't have to spend tons of money. Sometimes you can find photographers who are looking to build their portfolio as well. Oftentimes photographers will have an idea for a shoot and need models for it. They're able to add the shoot to their portfolio and they'll give you the photos to use for yours, so it's beneficial for everyone. This kind of partnership doesn't cost money because there's something in it for everyone.

- Social media can also act as a portfolio. Sanjana has actually booked gigs because the client looked at her Instagram and liked her content.

- If you're interested in fashion or beauty or another industry, use social media as a tool to reach out to brands you like and see if they'd be willing to partner with you. The worst they could say is no and they may say yes and send you some products to use and promote on your page.

- If you don't live in the city where your agency is based and you book a shoot, most times you would be responsible for flight and lodging costs to and from the shoot. Sanjana said it may be beneficial to move to where your agency is if you are looking to make modeling a full time job. 

- If you're wanting to start modeling, apply! If one agency says no, move onto the next one. You never know what will happen and you never know what opportunities will arise if you just put yourself out there and start.

- Be true to yourself. Don't compromise your morals if you're uncomfortable with certain kinds of shoots. If your agency is pressuring you into doing shoots you aren't okay with, that may be a sign it isn't the right agency for you.

- If you're looking to be successful as a model, confidence is the most important thing! Get comfortable in front of the camera. Let your personality shine. Casting directors can see if you're shy and timid. Put yourself out there and show them who you are. No one cares if you do something silly or embarrassing. You have to believe in yourself and have the confidence to go for what you want.

- Romance scams have been around for hundreds of years. Now, online romance scams have become a booming business. Coming out of the pandemic and the last two years in isolation, people are craving human connection in any way they can get it. Finding romance online can open up a new way to meet and get to know people, but it can also have downsides. 

- Scammers try to tug at your heartstrings, make connections and then ultimately ask for money. Their intent is to steal your money and leave you not only financially devastated, but also heartbroken.

- Last year in 2021, the FBI took in 24,000 complaints through their online complaint center and the financial losses totaled $950 million.

- Sometimes victims are ashamed and do not report that they have been scammed. 

- Think about what your post online. Especially dating apps and social media sites that aren't set to private. On some sites, people post their location, what activities they're doing and enjoy, pictures of their family, friends, pets etc. Scammers can learn a lot from what gets posted online. If you post about your dog, they can strike up a conversation with you about how much they love the dog breed you have. They collect and carefully craft their backstory to fit yours so you'll feel connected to them. 

- Romance scams can vary in length, but many last for weeks to even months. Scammers have nothing to lose and they have all the time in the world to craft the perfect con, put in the effort and get what they want from their victims.

- When talking with people you meet online, it is important to remember you don't really know them right off the bat so it is wise to approach everything with a little bit of skepticism. Ask yourself if it could really be legitimate and if you're thinking it's too good to be true, it probably is. 

- We can't criticize the victims. These scammers are such masters of human emotion and manipulation. 

- People of all ages and backgrounds can fall victim to these kinds of scams. The FBI sees a lot of people between the ages of 40-49 and they see women more often than men falling victim. They see people who are highly educated and people who have little education.

- Romance scams are evolving to cryptocurrency. Scammers will convince their victims to slowly add to the cryptocurrency, then quickly and quietly empty the account and disappear. 

- Wire or bank transfers over a certain amount will alert the account owner to a potential scam threat. With cryptocurrency, there is no alert and no extra security so scammers are moving toward crypto.

- Have conversations with your family members about people you are meeting online. If you talk through things with them, they could maybe see red flags when you can't. Be careful what information you put online and who can see it. 

- If you're talking to someone online and you're supposed to meet up but they keep canceling, that can be a sign that something isn't right. Also, be aware of people trying to isolate you from your friends and family. They don't want you to talk to others and have them start asking questions and raising red flags.

- Do not send money, gift cards or other forms of payment to anyone you do not know. 

- If you have been a victim of a scam, visit ic3.gov to report it and get help. 

- The mask mandate is being lifted in Oregon. Some are relieved, some are unsure and some are upset.

- There has been a decline in cases which is why health professionals feel the mask restrictions can be lifted. Cases are declining because there is a lot of immunity within the population. Most Oregonians have been vaccinated at this point and about a third has gotten their booster shot. Plus, getting the infection itself provides a level of immunity. You can still get the disease after having it previously and being vaccinated, but those things significantly reduce the chances of being hospitalized. 

- When Omicron hit, the amount of cases skyrocketed. Because of the variant and vaccine, most Oregonians have some level of immunity against the virus. 

- In just a few short weeks, case counts have been down 92% and hospital numbers are down about 70%.

- Politics have somehow been inserted into the discuss of the pandemic and how leaders have been handling certain situations. The Oregon Health Authority has a group that meets regularly to discuss what the policies should be, the data and how to move forward. Dr. Cieslak said politics have never weighed into their discussions or made an impact on the decisions they have made for public health. 

- Dr. Cieslak said he is optimistic that we are unlikely to see a big bump in severe disease and hospitalizations. He said we may see a slow in the decline of cases but optimistic for the future after the mask mandate is lifted.

- Health professionals will be closely monitoring the case levels when the restrictions are lifted. If they are on the rise, they will inform the public to take the right precautions and adjust accordingly. 

- People will have to assess what their risk is when making the decision to still wear masks in public spaces or not. Do you have underlying health conditions? Are you older? Have you been vaccinated?  Have you had Covid-19 before? What kind of settings will you be in? Have the people you're with been vaccinated? If you think you're high risk, it may be wise to still wear a mask.

- Ventilation is extremely important. Facilities, especially gyms and clubs where people are exercising and breathing heavy, should be prioritizing having good ventilation systems that purify the air as much as possible. 

- Business owners have the right to require their staff and customers to continue to wear masks. If you are going to require masking, you should be providing those to customers.

- It's unlikely Covid-19 will disappear completely. But health professionals are optimistic that cases will continue to decline and hospitalizations will be few and far between.