Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, gathering, and, of course, great food! It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on life’s blessings while creating cherished memories with loved ones. Planning can feel overwhelming as the big day approaches—but don’t worry! Realtime Brief is here to make your Thanksgiving celebration seamless, meaningful, and memorable.

Why Thanksgiving Matters

Thanksgiving goes beyond turkey and pumpkin pie. It’s a tradition rooted in gratitude, celebrating the harvest and the relationships that enrich our lives whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or keeping it intimate with close friends, the spirit of Thanksgiving lies in togetherness and giving thanks.

The Essentials of a Perfect Thanksgiving

1. A Mouthwatering Feast

The highlight of Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the meal. Here's what you need to include:

• Turkey: Whether roasted, smoked, or deep-fried, the turkey is the star of the show.
• Side Dishes: Classic sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole are must-haves.
• Desserts: Don’t forget sweet treats like pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple crumble.
• Drinks: Serve up warm apple cider or a festive cranberry punch to complement the meal.

Pro Tip: Check out Realtime Brief for exclusive deals on grocery shopping and recipe inspiration to make your meal extraordinary.

2. Stunning Table Décor

Create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with these ideas:

• Centerpieces: Use natural elements like pumpkins, candles, and autumn leaves to set the mood.
• Place Settings: Add a personal touch with name cards or mini pumpkins at each seat.
• Color Scheme: Stick to warm hues like orange, gold, and brown for a classic Thanksgiving feel.

Budget Tip: Many of these items can be DIY-ed using materials you already have at home.

3. Fun Activities for All Ages

Keep the celebration lively with activities that bring everyone together:

• Gratitude Circle: Go around the table and have everyone share something they’re thankful for.
• Games: Classic board games, charades, or a Thanksgiving trivia quiz are great options.
• Outdoor Fun: If the weather permits, organize a friendly game of touch football or go for a nature walk.

Realtime Brief’s Thanksgiving Preparation Checklist

Planning ensures you can enjoy the day stress-free. Here’s your go-to checklist:

Step 1: Plan Your Menu

Decide on your dishes early to avoid last-minute shopping chaos. Create a shopping list and stick to it.

Step 2: Shop Smart

Realtime Brief offers the best deals and promo codes on groceries, kitchenware, and festive décor. Take advantage of early discounts and save big!

Step 3: Prep Ahead

Prepare as much as you can in advance—think marinating the turkey, chopping veggies, and baking desserts.

Step 4: Set the Scene

Decorate your dining space a day before to ensure you’re not scrambling at the last minute.

Step 5: Keep It Organized

Designate tasks to family members or friends to lighten your load. Whether setting the table or washing up, teamwork makes the dream work.

Making Thanksgiving Meaningful

Expressing Gratitude

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show appreciation. Here are a few ways to do so:

• Write Thank-You Notes: Pen heartfelt messages to family and friends.
• Volunteer: Give back to the community by donating to a local food bank or helping at a shelter.
• Random Acts of Kindness: Share small gestures of goodwill, like surprising a neighbor with a pie or helping someone in need.

Connecting with Loved Ones

If you can’t gather in person, use technology to bridge the gap. Video calls, online games, or even a shared virtual dinner can keep the connection alive.

Exclusive Thanksgiving Deals with Realtime Brief

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to break the bank! Realtime Brief brings you:

• Grocery Savings: Get everything you need for the feast at unbeatable prices.
• Décor Discounts: Find stylish yet affordable options to spruce up your space.
• Gift Offers: Planning to surprise your host? Grab a thoughtful gift without overspending.

Making Traditions Your Own

While traditional Thanksgiving elements are timeless, don’t hesitate to add your flair:

• International Dishes: Mix things up with recipes from different cultures.
• Eco-Friendly Practices: Opt for reusable tableware and compost food scraps to reduce waste.
• Unique Themes: Try a theme like “Thanksgiving in the 80s” or a pajama dinner for a fun twist.

The Day of the Celebration

When Thanksgiving Day arrives, focus on enjoying the moment. Here’s how:

• Stay Relaxed: Not everything has to be perfect. Focus on the company, not just the details.
• Be Present: Put away phones and distractions to truly connect with loved ones.
• Capture Memories: Take photos, but don’t let it overshadow the experience.

Why Choose Realtime Brief for Thanksgiving Planning?

At Realtime Brief, we believe in making every celebration extraordinary. Our resources and recommendations are tailored to simplify your planning process while keeping the joy intact. From saving money to finding creative ideas, we’re here to be your Thanksgiving partner.

A Season of Gratitude Awaits

Thanksgiving is about more than just a great meal—it’s a time to appreciate the people and moments that make life special. With a little planning and a lot of love, you can create a truly unforgettable celebration. Let Realtime Brief help you embrace the season’s magic with ease and elegance.

This Thanksgiving, gather, give thanks, and celebrate the beauty of togetherness. Here’s to a joyful holiday from all of us at Realtime Brief! 🦃✨

Our personalities and lifestyles are as distinct as our skin. Similar to our individual demands, our skin also has distinct requirements. Knowing your skin type is essential to developing a skincare regimen that will feed and accentuate your inherent beauty, regardless of whether you have oily, dry, sensitive, or a combination of these types of skin.

A guide to various skin types is provided here.
1. Sebaceous complexion
Features: Excess sebum production from oily skin often results in a glossy complexion and enlarged pores.

Routine: The objective for those with oily skin is to limit the creation of extra oil while drinking enough water. To remove pollutants, use a mild foaming cleanser, and to open up your pores, use a toner with salicylic acid. Apply a non-comedogenic sunscreen and a mild, oil-free moisturiser. Pore clarity may be maintained by once a week exfoliation with a chemical exfoliant or light scrub.

2. Skin that is dry
Characteristics: Because there is inadequate production of natural oil, dry skin frequently feels tight and rough and is prone to flakiness or redness.

Daily: The secret to hydrated skin is dehydrated skin. Make use of a moisturising, creamy cleanser that preserves the skin's natural oils. Use a moisturising product high in humectants and emollients thereafter. Serums with hyaluronic acid can also aid in moisture retention. Remember to use a sunscreen with extra moisturising qualities, and if possible, exfoliate dead skin cells from your skin once a week with a mild exfoliator.

3. Skin sensitivity
Features: Sensitive skin reacts poorly to many skincare products and is prone to redness and irritation.

Routine: Use mild, fragrance-free products to keep things uncomplicated. Apply a gentle, moisturising cleanser first, then a fragrance-free moisturiser made especially for delicate skin. Seek for items that have calming components like chamomile and aloe vera. If physical exfoliation with a gentle cloth is required, then steer clear of harsh exfoliants. Patch testing should always be performed on new items, one at a time.

4. Skin combination
Features: Combination skin can be dry or normal in other areas and oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).

Routine: Here, equilibrium is crucial. To clean the face, use micellar water or a mild foaming cleanser. For the T-zone, use a mild, oil-free moisturiser; for the drier regions, use a heavier moisturiser. In the greasy regions during the day, think about using a mattifying primer or oil-absorbing sheets. Once or twice a week exfoliation helps avoid congested pores.

5. Typical skin
Features: Normal skin usually has moderate oil production, little flaws, and a pleasant moisture content.

Routine: It's typically enough to follow a simple regimen that includes a light moisturiser, a mild cleanser, and broad-spectrum sunscreen. To keep your face clear, sometimes exfoliate it and think about adding anti-aging components like retinoids or antioxidants.

When experimenting with new products, always do a patch test, particularly if you have sensitive skin. In skincare, consistency is also essential. It may take some time to notice any changes, so be patient and follow your regimen.

 

There is typically a lot of early excitement at the beginning of the year, but soon after, doubts about New Year's resolutions surface. I implore you to resist giving in to pessimism so early in the year. For my part, I always look to books for inspiration and motivation, whether it's for long-term objectives or for altering certain behaviours or habits.
If you're not sure about self-help books, you're probably not sure about new year's resolutions too. Your doubts are well-founded. Many people discover that reading "self-help" or "personal development" books doesn't result in long-lasting improvement and could even worsen one's self-esteem. The inspirational words within can make them roll their eyes. They've undoubtedly read one or more of these best-selling books and concluded that while the advice seems sensible and we might follow it for a while before reverting to our old ways, what use does it serve?
I must admit that I adore this genre and find a lot of inspiration in these novels. I avoid corny novels with a tonne of slogans and platitudes mixed in with little real content. Rather, what I like best are books that provide us with experience- and science-based cognitive frameworks that let us reframe our perceptions of certain aspects of our life, like job or daily routines. The finest publications are also those that include a plethora of real-world examples and helpful tools for implementing and maintaining the changes.

The way we read the books matters even more than their content.

Select the appropriate book.
Choose the book that you truly need, not just the one that is a bestseller. I found the book How Women Rise to be quite useful in altering some of my self-limiting habits at work as a woman moving up the management ladder. However, it might not be the ideal book for you.

If, for instance, fitness and health are your primary interests, look for books written by reputable and well-known writers in that field. Not that a generic top-seller won't be useful; nonetheless, it could be ideal to combine a generic with a specialised one. To get particular inspiration for my writing, I've been reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life and another book at the same time lately. In an effort to improve my habits and general productivity—especially now that I've resigned my full-time job and am working for myself—I'm also rereading Atomic Habits.

Act now

The first important thing to remember is that these texts are not designed to be read in an inert manner. This guidance is based on actual learning via practice. The majority of the books include chores, trackers, and plans. Set aside time during the day to work on the book as if it were a project. Reading the book before bed will not do much more than send you to sleep if you don't complete the exercises or use the "tools."

Read slowly.
These are not novels to read quickly for enjoyment. Keep a journal or diary to record your progress and take notes; read slowly, underline important passages, and then read them again.

1. Take deliberate action
Instead of reading the book to gain general life advice or make up scenarios, focus on one or two areas in your own life where you would like to start over or break a habit. Apply the lessons or insights you acquire from the book to your specific field as you read it.

2. Go back and review
It is insufficient to read a book and then put it aside, thinking that the teachings it contains will stick with you forever, whether it is a classic like Brene Brown's Dare to Lead or a more modern one like Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. They are worth going over again from time to time; you could want to go through a certain chapter or the entire book.

Five Novels to Read in 2024:

1. A Spiritual Route to Greater Creativity, The Artist's Way Cameron Julia

2. Atomic Habits: A Simple & Effective Method to Create Positive Habits & Break Negative Ones, James Clear

3. How Women Rise: Dismantle the 12 Traits Precluding You from Getting Your Next Job, Promotion, or Raise, Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen

4. Gabor Maté's book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture

5.When to Leap: Should Your Current Career Not Match Your Desired Life, Mike Lewis






 

Doctors have examined the bodies of the six persons who died in a Bangkok luxury hotel suite and discovered cyanide in their blood.

They claim that cyanide is the only explanation for their deaths based on the preliminary post-mortem examination.

However, more testing is being done to ascertain the "intensity" of the lethal substance and exclude any other poisons.

Cyanide residue was previously discovered by forensic examiners on the teacups used by the victims, all of whom are Vietnamese nationals, two of whom holding dual US citizenship. Police haven't identified the deceased person they believe was responsible for the poisoning, but they believe it was motivated by crippling debt.
 

According to Professor Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin of Chulalongkorn University's Department of Forensic Medicine, the victims' internal organs turned "blood red," which is another indicator of cyanide poisoning, and their lips and nails had turned dark purple, suggesting a lack of oxygen.

The dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Chanchai Sittipunt, stated that more research was necessary to determine the exact amount of cyanide present in the deceased's blood.

"However, cyanide is the only factor that could have contributed to their deaths, based on our observations, internal organ checks, and detection of cyanide in the blood during the screening test," he said to reporters.

Late on Tuesday, housekeepers at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in the Thai capital discovered the corpse.

By then, according to investigators, they had been dead for twelve to twenty-four hours.

International news outlets covered the mystery surrounding the startling discovery.

Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister of Thailand, stressed that the deaths were the consequence of a "private matter" and that there was no indication that the public was in danger as she requested an immediate investigation into the case.

Since then, police have started piecing together what might have occurred.

According to officials, two of the six victims had lent "tens of millions of Thai baht" to one of the deceased for financial motives. The equivalent of ten million baht is around $280,000 (£215,000).

Gen. Noppassin Poonsawat, the deputy commander of police in Bangkok, stated earlier on Wednesday at a press briefing that the gang had individually checked into the hotel over the weekend and had been given five rooms—four on the seventh floor and one on the fifth.

They were supposed to check out on Monday, but they didn't show up.

Vietnamese nationals Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46; her husband, Hong Pham Thanh, 49; Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, 47; and Dinh Tran Phu, 37, are among the four victims.

Dang Hung Van, 55, and Sherine Chong, 56, are citizens of the United States.

In addition to expressing sympathy, the US State Department stated that it is "closely monitoring" the situation. According to Mr. Srettha, Thai officials are receiving investigative support from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

What do the police think may have occurred?

Although the reason behind the crimes is unclear, authorities claim that two of the six lent a significant sum of money to a group member who had not been reimbursed.

On Monday afternoon, according to the police, all six victims congregated in the fifth-floor room.

The lone occupant in the room at the time, Ms. Chong, accepted the food and tea that the party had ordered when it was brought to the room at approximately 14:00 local time (08:00 BST).

A waiter offered to make tea for the guests, but Ms. Chong declined, according to the deputy police chief. Authorities added that the waitress remembered her as someone who "spoke very little and was visibly under stress."

Finally, the waiter left the room.

Then, between 14:03 and 14:17, the remainder of the group started to pour into the room. The six people inside the room are thought to be the only ones who entered, and according to the police, the door was shut from the inside.

According to the police, there were no indications of a struggle, robbery, or break-in. All six tea cups had residues of cyanide in them later on.

Plates of unfinished food, some still wrapped in cling wrap, are shown on a table in the room in photos that the police have released.

Police recognized the seventh name on the group's hotel reservation as belonging to one of the victims' younger sisters. She is not connected to the incident, according to authorities, and departed Thailand last week for the Vietnamese beach city of Da Nang.
 

Thi Nguyen Phuong and Hong Pham Thanh were a couple who ran a road construction company and gave money to Ms. Chong so she could invest in a hospital development project in Japan, according to relatives who spoke with authorities.

Police believe that Mr. Tran, a Da Nang-based makeup artist, was also "duped" into investing money.

According to BBC Vietnamese, Mr. Tran's mother Tuý said that her son left for Thailand on Friday and contacted home on Sunday to let her know he needed to stay until Monday. His family hadn't heard from him since then. On Monday, she called him once more, but he did not pick up.

Mr. Tran was recruited by Ms. Chong to do her own makeup for the trip, a student of his told BBC Vietnamese. Vietnamese media was informed last week by Mr. Tran's father, Phu, that his son had been recruited by a Vietnamese woman to travel to Thailand.

The six dead were found just one day after Thailand opened up its visa-free travel policy to visitors from 93 nations and territories in an effort to boost the country's tourism sector.

How hazardous is cyanide, and what is it?

Cyanide is a very poisonous, quickly acting chemical that has the potential to be fatal. Nature and the goods we use and consume include trace amounts of cyanide. However, at higher concentrations, it is a well-known poison that has been employed as a chemical warfare weapon due to its quick acting and extremely deadly characteristics.

It can exist as a colorless liquid or vapor or as a crystal. Cyanide can enter the body through the skin, be inhaled, or be consumed in the form of food or drink.

In a matter of seconds, ingestion of excessive quantities of cyanide can result in lung damage, unconsciousness, and even death, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Cyanide is extremely dangerous even at lower dosages, resulting in nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort.

Although not everyone can smell it, cyanide can have a "bitter almond" scent, however it doesn't always.

 

Haircuts are one thing, but Rossano Ferretti haircuts are quite another. I just got the chance to meet the renowned hair maestro and have a haircut using his renowned "invisible" method.
The Guy
Ferretti charges $1,500 for a haircut, and he is the guy behind the hair of royals and celebrities like Charlize Theron and Kate Middleton. Fortunately, the Rossano Ferretti HairSpa in the posh Abu Dhabi Edition hotel offers a far more reasonable experience. His team is well skilled in all Ferretti procedures, and a haircut from them costs between Dh400 and Dh500.
When I first met Ferretti, I was captivated by his effortless, modest elegance and his endearing kindness. He wore thick-rimmed black eyeglasses and a casual but well-tailored blue suit. He told me how much he valued uniqueness, accepted natural beauty, and stressed the need of maintaining healthy hair.

Stated differently, the underlying principle of his invisible cut and overall hair style is to achieve desired hair outcomes without revealing the "effect" of scissors or any other type of harsh or artificial manipulation.

Since Ferretti places a strong emphasis on personalisation, it is evident that he detests the concept of following trends. Since each person is unique, it conveys the incorrect message. No one style fits all situations. He said, "We're in the wrong business if we can't personalise beauty."

Customers receive individualised consultations in his opulent hair salons, where their face shape, features, hair colour, and texture are all taken into consideration. This idea is demonstrated by Ferretti's "invisible cut," which produces harmony, softness, and tenderness without allowing the "effect" of scissors to be seen.
I looked fierce, my fringe flaunting in a tight bun, and I looked forward to the enchantment of the unseen cut that was about to be applied to me. His frank criticism of my fringe just made me more excited, and I knew I was about to have a life-changing event.

He declared, "I would never do fringe like yours." I was finally hit with the bluntness I had been yearning for. My fringe turned out to be very harsh as well. He went on, "You look great, but people are not geometrical, so geometrical cuts don't work." What do you propose? I enquired. "More gentleness, harmony, and softness."

Aside from his skill with hair, Ferretti founded the Hairstyle TV competition, a popular TV talent competition, and an award-winning line of hair products. The programme hopes to uplift the hair business, inform viewers, and encourage next generations to approach hair care with more awareness.

For Rossano, maintaining the health of his hair is essential. "Healthy bodies are necessary for beauty. Nothing works if you don't take care of yourself, he continued, adding that this includes bleaching and harming hair.
The Scoop
In only a few minutes, the hair master expertly changed the length of my hair and my fringe while I sat in the chair using his trademark texturizing scissors. "I just follow the natural falls of hair; I don't cut at an angle," he declared.

The outcome was a naturally wavy and subtly textured style that enhanced the shape and contours of my face.

His excellent team member Sabrina then gave my hair a blow-dry, which left it looking gorgeously wavy and textured.
Rossano talked passionately about the hair salon concept he developed years ago during our interview. He sees his businesses as havens that offer skilled cuts and styles together with a comprehensive, unique experience. His distaste for conventional, boisterous hair salons is apparent, and his own spas' tranquil ambiance is a testament to his dedication to providing unmatched customer care.

I came up with the idea for hair spas a long time ago. It's about the experience, not simply a haircut or style, therefore I didn't think it was right to call us merely hairdressers," he says.

His Abu Dhabi shop showcases this approach by providing two hairstylists and a small number of styling chairs, which guarantee personalised, customised, and laid-back treatments.

In addition to being a hair expert, Rossano is the founder of the future international TV talent programme "Hairstyle." His goals for the show are to uplift the hair business, enlighten viewers, and encourage next generations to approach hair care with greater awareness.

The reason why I wanted to do this show was to educate consumers, educate hairdressers and give a voice to the industry. I wanted to produce aspiration and inspiration at the same time to the coming generations because you can see that the hair industry doesn't have a big voice. Everybody knows about skincare, everybody knows about makeup, but not enough about hair.”

One example, he said, was that most people don't always realise what is in the hair products they use. “People don’t read the ingredients on the shampoo they're buying. So many don't know and I want to raise awareness on the importance of these hair-related topics and more.”

Working with Rossano Ferretti was an eye-opening experience for me. In addition to changing my hair, his undetectable cut changed the way I saw beauty and self-expression. Ferretti's commitment to uniqueness, hair health, and offering an unmatched experience makes him a genuine luminary in the hair industry.
 

We are living in 2024 and our world is now experiencing a significant rise in temperatures in all parts of the world. Earth's temperature has climbed by a normal of 0.11° Fahrenheit (0.06° Celsius) each 10 years starting around 1850. Heat waves are affecting major parts of the world, and people are not so comfortable with that.

Moreover, experts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicate that global temperatures are likely to increase by 1.5° Celsius. The most significant reasons for these risen temperatures are burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and farming livestock, these aspects are regularly influencing the earth’s climate. Most of the cities have been turned into concrete landmarks as there is no greenery left to support sustainability in the environment.

Before getting too late, the people should consider saving the planet’s environment seriously. After 50 years, earth will become uninhabitable as the temperature would increase infinitely due to the huge amount of Carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere.

In conclusion, the world is now turned into a boiling planet for most of the residents and we’ve seen a massive increase in temperatures in almost every part of the world. The world should think about it seriously or else it will be the final nail in the coffin for all the people.