Mama's Musings

Time Tip Giveaway #1

Time, time, time, it's getting away from me! Wasn't that a popular song in the 80's? I thought it was only appropriate to start our next giveaway series on time management on Leap Day, the only day that comes once every four years. In honor of slowness, I'd like to empower YOU to manage your time wisely and, more importantly, happily!

Our first giveaway is a CD-Rom on time management, designed by peak performance coach Gabrielle Whitney. We're giving away one CD-Rom to a lucky winner**. To enter, simply leave a comment below about what you think about Leap Day and subscribe to my newsletter here. Deadline is March 5th. The winner will be notified the same day via email.

Fill out your e-mail address to receive my newsletter!

**Worldwide.

We promise never to rent, sell or give away your personal information. Ever.

DESIGN Your Life: Time & Life Management System   

Would you like to spend more time with friends and family?  Would you like to live a balanced, prosperous, and joy-filled life and have time for the things that make you happy?  Improve every area of your life! You will learn an effective time management method designed to enjoy more free time than ever before while achieving your top goals.

 Master the skills of planning your weeks and organizing your days so your time is spent on tasks that really matter
 Determine what you need both personally and professionally in order to thrive
 Reduce stress by eliminating unnecessary activities
 Balance work and life priorities so you are both personally fulfilled and financially successful

This program includes simple strategies for mastering your time and achieving success.  It includes a scheduling template and an example of how to create a schedule that meets your personal and professional needs.   

Congrats to Cindi for winning!

Sneak Peek at The Mr. Men Show

What better way to spend Leap Day than with a little entertainment? As promised here are a few dazzling looks at the Mr. Men Show on the Cartoon Network!

My husband and I met at a square dance so this clip is particularly relevant!

Who's Got Time?

Lately I've been obsessed with the concept of time . So much so that I'm collecting people's opinions. How do you view time? Do you have enough of it? Never enough?

I've devised a survey to study people's perceptions of time today (if you'd like to participate, go to my Web site and deactivate your pop-up blocker). With all the "time-saving devices" we own, you'd think we'd be manufacturing more time for ourselves. Quite the opposite is true. Because everything goes so fast, we think we have to be fast, too.

What are you doing to combat the sense of urgency that seems to pervade our lives? I really want to know.

In March and April, as tax time looms, we begin to get even more frenetic. To offset our insanity around the clock, I'll be running a Time Tip Giveaway starting in March. Stay tuned!

The Mr. Men Show

The Mr. Men show is not the counterpart to Desperate Housewives. It's a new Cartoon Network show about adorable characters we all know and love -- Roger Hargreave's brilliant Mr. Silly and Miss Tickle, along with many of the other characters, have come to life on the screen. And here's the treat. You, dear readers, get a preview of the show in the coming days!  Read on...

1.  What is the history of The Mr. Men Show?

The Mr. Men Show is an ‘inspired reimagining’ of the Mr. Men and Little Miss book series by Roger Hargreaves which was originally published in the early 1970’s.

2.  Who are the characters behind The Mr. Men Show? 

There are 25 characters in the The Mr. Men Show!  Mr. Bump, Mr. Tickle, Little Miss Sunshine, Mr. Grumpy are some of our favorites.

3. Will there be a general theme to each show?  If so what? 

Each 11 minute segment has a familiar theme selected for its appeal and/or relevance to the lives of children (e.g., a trip to a Mall, a visit to a Farm, birthdays).

4.  How long is each show?

Each half hour show is comprised of two 11 minute segments.

5.  What is the appropriate age for children to enjoy The Mr. Men Show?

Like all great comedy, The Mr. Men Show appeals to a wide age range, with the younger kids enjoying the slapstick humor and the older kids enjoying the verbal wit.  The Mr. Men Show captures the magic behind what makes kids fall in love with cartoons --- hilarious physical humor and beloved personality-driven characters.

6.  What makes the characters and stories such a great fit for school-aged kids?

The world of The Mr. Men Show is a humorous reflection of the kinds of social and emotional issues children are facing and working out for themselves. The “stuff” of childhood involves finding out everyone doesn’t see the world the way you do; learning to make and keep friends despite conflicts; and beginning to recognize and label feelings, your own and others. The show’s humorous approach to issues relevant to the audience makes it very appealing

7.  What can school-aged children learn from the series?

The Mr. Men Show gives parents a great opportunity to talk to their children about emotions in a fun, neutral context. Of course it is a comedy developed to entertain so does not have a curriculum of specific learning objectives.

8.  How does the TV show differ from the book series?

The show was inspired by the personalities of the characters in the book series and the producers took  great care to preserve the essence of the original and at the same time re-interpret it for a new medium and with today’s audience in mind.

9.  Does the Cartoon Network series follow the storyline of the books?

The sketch comedy format of the TV show is a refreshing break from traditional narratives in kids shows.

10.  Over the years, has one character been the most popular of all the Mr. Men characters? 
There are a number of very popular characters from the series because of the universal qualities that the characters embody. Interestingly, the first character Roger Hargreaves created, Mr. Tickle (in response to his son Adam’s question “what does a tickle look like?”) remains one of the most popular characters.

11.  Why would parents love The Mr. Men Show? 

The show depicts a range of very real emotions and character traits and offers a rich context for parents/kids to use as a reference point when dealing with feelings in their day-to-day lives. Humor offers a fresh way into issues critical to children’s social and emotional growth.

12.  Are there websites for kids to support The Mr. Men Show?

Kids can visit www.mrmen.com  --- the site is packed with games and all sorts of fun things for children to do. It’s an extremely rich, immersive experience.

13.  Is there any place online to preview the series?

Yes, you can visit Cartoon Network to see a quick preview.

 

14.  Can kids and parents find books or other TV series-related merchandise?

Not yet!  You’ll begin to see TV related merchandise starting Spring 2009. Toys will be available for Fall/Holiday 2009.  The original book series is available at bookstores everywhere.

15.  When does The Mr. Men Show premiere?  What days and times will the show be on?

The Mr. Men Show began airing on Monday February 4th and airs each weekday at 9am Eastern and Pacific.  Additional airings include Monday - Friday 1:30pm e/p and Saturday at 6:00am e/p.

Save the date - March 14th

For those of you who want local PR without hiring an expensive PR professional, this event is for you. On March 14th, Nancy Juetten, a PR star in her own right, will share her trade secrets with you. Check out the above icon for more details.

Spring Cleaning

How many of you actually get the spring cleaning bug? As the temperature gauge rises, do you get an itch for your rubber gloves and a sudsy bucket of water?

To me, there's nothing more motivating than a few buds bursting on the trees and birds singing their spring song.

My son came home from school today and got the shock of his life.

"Mom, you're vacuuming my room," he gingerly placed his backpack next to his desk. "Are you feeling okay?"

He knows I have a hired helper who cleans the house once a week. In fact, he's no longer accustomed to my rolling up my sleeves to do something as mundane as sweep under the dining room table. Except I do, almost every day. He just doesn't see it because he himself is too busy making the mess I later put aside.

I'm ashamed to admit I actually straighten up before the cleaning lady comes. She just seems to do a better job when the floors are cleared of our typical pile of junk. Sick, huh?

The Deep River Within

As the newness of 2008 wears off, many of us have returned to our old ways. Our to-do lists tyrannize our days, and it seems twenty-four hours simply aren’t enough to ‘get it all done’. Enter Abby Seixas, a smart thinker who’s devised a plan to help us women stay on track without falling into the trap of too-much-doingness. Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman’s guide to Recover Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life, fulfills on its promise. In six simple steps, freedom from the tyranny of our busy lives is ours. Ms. Seixas advises us to take time in, create boundaries, befriend feelings versus the rejection we often bring to negative emotions; reduce high expectations of ourselves; practice being in the moment; and, my favorite, doing something you love.

How much time do we spend each day doing the things we think we have to do? What compels us to complete these despised rituals? There’s safety in misery, if it’s familiar. Ms. Seixas allows us to break free of the chains that have bound us. Through gentle, guided exercises and a victory log to record our triumphs, this book offers a wholesome perspective on the insanity to which we subject ourselves. Finding the Deep River Within is a quiet place of the soul. It’s nice to know there’s someone who’s found it for herself and wishes to share that joy we all carry within.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise

My grandfather once told me there are three things in this world you can be grateful for: your health, your wealth, and your wisdom.

Never mind about your bank account or sage advice. After that Berlin bug wrestled me to the ground and kept me bed-bound for five days, I'd say health is the biggest thing to watch out for. Being healthy helps you make good decisions. Being ill, and trying to work anyway, leads you down a path of mischief.

I learned a good lesson this week. Don't pretend. If the pot's black, call it black. If you're sick, you're sick. Don't know where I got to thinking you had to do it all with the flu, too...live and learn. Thanks, bug. I love you, too.

Weight Loss Wonders

I can't believe it's almost bathing suit season again. For all you procrastinators, we've got some newfound motivation for you. For the second year, New Image Weight Loss Camp is giving away free camperships at their Pocono Trails location in Pennsylvania, to 10 qualified teens - - 5 girls and 5 guys.

Interested applicants are asked to write a 500 word essay titled “Imagine Me! I’m up for the Challenge!”

New Image Weight Loss Camp was made famous by the MTV Documentary “Fat Camp,” and most recently profiled on NBC’s Today Show.

To access the contest application and for full rules visit www.newimagecamp.com. Contest deadline is May 15, 2008.

Celebrity Madness - Berlinale Film Festival

I saw the red carpet. I saw the lights and the cameras, but very little action, at least in the way I expected it. Don't get me wrong. Berlin has more action than most cities I know.

The Berlinale, Germany's largest film festival, has a rather down-to-earth feeling about it, without the pretense of Hollywood. After four days of racing about from one showing to the next, I got the distinct feeling the films were really about the art, not the commerce, of movie-making.

While the experimental shorts from the 70's left holes in my head, the most outstanding, and only, full-length film I saw, A Jihad for Love, blew me away. The director, Parvez Sharma, was in the audience. He introduced the film, about the fate of homosexuals in Islamic nations, then promised us a surprise afterwards.

The most touching story of the seven or eight told was of an Egyptian gay man who was beaten and sent to  prison for a total of four years. He finally fled to France where he, unlike many in the film, decided to show his face to the camera. Now mind you, homosexuality is punishable by death in many countries, including his own. He risked his life to do that. And he was in the audience at the showing, too.

I saw courage and beauty and art this weekend and met the most fabulous unjudgemental people. We experienced Berlin together, from a funky local hang-out whose bartender looked like a chain-smoking Frodo from Lord of the Rings to Gegen die Wand director Fatih Akin's party with a male belly dancer.

I was left Berlin exhausted and inspired and moved to stay true to the Light.

Thank you to those who do the same.