Thursday, January 25, 2018

Dennis Gelbaum Featured in VoyageDallas


January 24th, 2018
Today we’d like to introduce you to 
Dennis Gelbaum.
Don’t just make noise – ramp it up! That basically sums up my life. Everything I have ever done has been loud – nothing subtle about me or what I do. (I’m a New Yorker – born and raised in The Bronx! Moved to Plano, July 2013.)
I have two favorite quotes:
“Those who tell stories shape society” Plato
“When you have the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance!” Lee Ann Womack


About VoyageDallas
Every neighborhood in Dallas has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From Deep Ellum to Arlington (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call Dallas home. 
About Voyage Media

We started Voyage Media in Los Angeles, with our flagship publication VoyagerLA. After generating our first million page views in LA we knew our content was resonating with the community.
We’ve since grown to Dallas and a handful of other amazing cities with the help of an amazing network of friends, associates, local insiders and influencers, PR firms, local bloggers, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and other professionals.

OUR MISSION & EDITORIAL ETHOS

Our small team of 40 has been working hard to create a new type of media for our community. As you browse through our stories you’ll notice that many of our interviews aren’t as polished as you’ll find elsewhere in the media. That’s intentional – we believe that far too many in the media filter, edit, and polish away the personality of interviewees and as a result so much of what we see in the media feels like it’s coming from the same person, the same voice, etc.  We think it’s important for media to more authentically represent the communities they serve and so we try to ensure that voices of those we feature jump off the page.
We also think artists rock.  We love small businesses, mom-n-pops, and hole-in-the-walls. We’re not snobs, but we aren’t fond of most chains.  We think independent entrepreneurs, freelancers and other risk takers make our cities exciting to live in.  We cherish the rebel spirit, we don’t think just a handful of large corporations should control all of our commerce and we think smores with vegan marshmallows are better than normal marshmallows. We respect people and organizations that take the path less traveled.  We root for the underdogs and we almost never say no to pizza.
Accordingly our mission is build a platform that fosters collaboration and support for small businesses, independent artists and entrepreneurs, local institutions and those that make our city interesting.  We want to change the way people spend their money – rather than spending it with the big, cookie-cutter corporations we want them to spend their money with the independent, creative, local entrepreneurs, small businesses and artists.
And finally, we want the stories we share to help give our big city a little bit of that small town community charm, where people know each other and their stories at a deeper, more personal level.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Are You Ready For The Best Night's Sleep Of Your Life - Every Night?

I'm about to share with you my secret (s) to having the best night's sleep of your life - every night.

For the past thirty years, I have followed a routine that allows me to fall asleep in minutes and stay asleep for 8+ hours - each and every night. I can fall asleep anywhere - in a plane, train, in an automobile. I can fall asleep in almost any lighting condition and noise, like a TV or wall air conditioner being on or loud conversation in another room, has little or no effect on my ability to fall asleep. Through the years, I have perfected my method, making minor adjustments (to my lifestyle) and it still amazes me that it works - every night! So, if you are interested in having the best night's sleep of your life - every night, read on. I'll start with the basics, but they need to be said. Then, I will share with you the two tricks (actually there are three of them) that will change your life forever.

Your bedroom is the most important room in your home. You should design, decorate and accessorize it so that every time you enter it, it brings a smile to your face. 


The Bedroom Furniture. Choose a bed that makes you feel special. I selected a four post bed because I love the look of it. I like the unique headboard and the dark wood. I went with a King Size Bed because 1) the room could handle the size and 2) I like having a big bed. I joke with my wife that we have to make an appointment to see each other, because the bed is so big. We added unique end tables that aren't really end tables at all. But the end tables work for us. (Stacy Furniture)

The Bed - Mattress and Box Spring: Doesn't matter how beautiful the bedroom is, if you don't have the right mattress/box spring set, you will have a difficult time getting the sleep you deserve.  Go to your favorite mattress store and lay on every mattress in the store. Turn, roll over, face to the left, face to the right, jump on it, hop on it, get on all fours, think of any and every position you might get into and make sure to try it out. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Ask yourself, is this the mattress for me? The mattress has got to fit you. Don't look at the price until you find the mattress that you absolutely love. And then, only then, if the price is out of your reach, determine which elements of the mattress are the most important to you. Is the bed soft, but not to soft Is it firm, but not to firm. (Mattress Firm)

The Pillows: Just as important as finding the right mattress, putting your head on the right pillow, will just make everything feel better. Go to your favorite store and touch, feel, grab, throw, punch smell every pillow they have in stock. It doesn't matter the pillow fill (unless you have specific allergies) when it comes to comfort. And what you like, others may not. So, pick the pillow that fits you and your body style. I like a pillow that I can hold onto and still put my head on it. I like a pillow that is more soft than firm, but not so soft that my head goes right through the pillow and I can feel the mattress. (Ikea)

The Sheets: The right sheets will make all the difference in the world. There's a lot of talk about thread count and where the cotton comes from and blah, blah blah. Feel the sheet. Put it against your cheek and imagine the feeling you'll have with your body on this sheet. Confirm the texture is right for you. There are many different styles to choose from. It comes down to what works best for you. I like a smooth, but not silky or sateen type of sheet. I like a sheet that fits (the bed) and wears and washes well and doesn't fade. I want the sheet to make me feel good when I lay down. Color selection is of course important, but that all depends on the overall look of your bedroom. (MACYS/Hotel Collection)

The Comforter/Blanket: This is a major design element that also has to be functional. Do you like a thick or thin blanket? Do you expect to use one for the winter/cooler months and a different one for the summer/warmer months? I like a blanket to be lightweight. I like the blanket to be oversized so I don't lose any coverage during the night. Hate to fight over the blanket.  For design, you can place the blanket in a cover. This gives you the feel, coverage and look you want, all in one. For me, this is the key to putting the final touches on the design, the look of your bed.  (Z Galleria)

The TV: I don't like the idea of having a TV in the room. I'm lucky enough to be able to fall asleep with the TV on, I just don't get it. I have asked my partner to wear headsets when watching TV in bed. She doesn't like wearing headsets. I just gave up asking her to turn the TV off. (Samsung) I'm also against having our phone or computer in the bedroom. Don't see the benefit or the reasoning behind having access to either.

The Temperature in the room: This is totally subjective. I like a cooler room, especially when I am sleeping. A cooler room is definitely healthier than a warm/hot room. I don't like to sweat when I sleep. So, it's a matter of choice. If you have trouble sleeping and the room is warm, try to lower the thermostat and go for the cooler room temp.

Sleeping Naked or not naked: For years, I slept naked. Then I went through a faze where I slept with boxers, then I added a t-shirt, then socks. I don't know if it's an age thing or not. And I really have no preference. Naked or not, doesn't impact my ability to fall and stay asleep. This one is totally up to you (and your partner).

The Ambience: Lighting is critical. Do you like a dark room or a room with some light? Curtains, window shades work fine. I like a dark room. I love candles, for their soft glow, but you gave to blow them out before you actually close your eyes and turn your own lights off. A lot of people have tried scented candles (and swear by them) to help them relax and fall asleep. If that works for you, great! (Pier One)

As stated above, I can fall asleep under most conditions. And everything I have presented so far is common sense. So, as promised, here are my tricks to a great night's sleep - every night!

Deep Breaths: Take deep breaths - deeply inhale and slowly exhale - counting each breath. Focus on your breathing, listen as you inhale and exhale, Tune everything out as you do so. If you follow this deep breathing exercise you should never get to twenty breaths.

Remembering a special event/time in your life: After your third exhale, think about a special event in your life that makes you happy. I think about something that happened to me thirty years ago. As you continue to take deep breaths (remembering to exhale...) playback the event in your head. Keep breathing and playing back your special event. Shut out every external noise that is in the room or around you. Focus on your breathing and the special event. You are setting yourself up to enter a relaxed state that will allow you to fall into a deep asleep. The ability to focus on your breathing and participating in your event will take some practice. But once you master the process, you will be amazed how you will start to fall asleep faster and remain asleep through the night - having the best night's sleep of your life - every night.

Bonus Trick (s): I don't know if this has helped or not. So, I'm not making any claims...but it does seem to work for me.

A Glass of Milk: I have a glass of milk before going to bed. As boring as that sounds, there's just something about a glass of milk (1%) before going to bed that relaxes me.

A Piece of Chocolate: OK, this one I had to share. With my glass of milk, I have a small piece of chocolate. Now, I'm not a doctor, but how bad could a glass of milk and a small piece of chocolate be? (Milk Chocolate from Belgium, Trader Joe.s)

Well, there you have it. My secret to having the best night's sleep of my life, every night. If you can master all of the above, tonight could be the best night 's sleep of your life!

Sweet dreams.