Stephanie Vivier's blog
Robotic Sympathy
I happen to have an above average amount of affection for Ground hog's day. It's my favorite holiday. It's also my birthday. It's a safe assumption that my feelings for Groundhog day would be more than slightly muted if I had not been born on February 2nd but as it stands me and the fuzzy rodent have close ties for life.
So that must be why I'm taking such a personal stance on PETA's latest antics. They are pressuring the organizers of the Pennsylvania Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a ....get this....robotic stand-in...WHAT?
They argue it's unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights. Unfair? Has Phil ever had to scrounge for a bug in his life? Has his little groundhog family ever felt hunger pains rumbling in their little groundhog tummies? NO! This unscientific, unsophisticated shadow spotting gig is the best Phil could ever do and I'd be willing to bet he's the envy of all his little groundhog buddies.
Hey PETA, if you're worried about suffering turn your attentions to the suffering of man-kind going on in Haiti right now. Take the 300 bucks a robotic rodent would cost and send it to the suffering people in Haiti.
Even a prognosticating ground hog can see your energies are wasted in this blustery environment of human suffering.
Help for victims of Earthquake in Haiti
Canadians are encouraged to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a financial donation to the Canadian Red Cross
Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian
citizens believed to be in the affected area should contact Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada at 1- 800-387-3124.
Your Compliments
Thank you. Oh Thanks. Yes, it is, thank you.
This seems to be all I said today after wearing a shirt that apparently a lot of people liked. No less than five people complimented me on the dusty rose silky blouse from Le Chateau, that if I do say so myself looks great! I'm a good compliment taker. I simply say thanks when I get a compliment instead of some who shy away thinking they don't deserve the recognition....when they really do! However my problem was with what they were complimenting...my clothes. Okay so I have the ability to pick a style of shirt that may compliment my body and skin tone that also happens to be in style that someone else designed, crafted and sold....can I really take recognition for that? I will.
BUT.
What about complimenting my work ethic (assuming I have one) or my penmanship
(which really doesn't deserve any compliments) or my energy ( which I do get lots of comments on, not sure they are compliments); things I work for everyday. It really is nice to hear someone likes my clothes and I'm as guilty as the next for mentioning style instead of accomplishment to my co-workers and friends but starting now I'm going to work on being more personalized in my compliments.
Tim Hortons Lady, your pour is perfection.
Catherine, your smile makes me smile.
Gary, you always have the music logs ready and organized on time.
And Mark, you are completely strange. Believe me he'll take this as a compliment.
The CUE to success!
The number one New Years Resolution is to lose weight. Most of us have on at least one Dec 31st vowed to get healthy, drop those extra pounds that have been holding us down and then grabbed eight deep fried mushrooms and jammed them in our faces.
A huge key to getting that weight under control for life is controlling the amount you eat...read eight deep friend mushrooms is a little excessive! Here are some tips from David Kessler, physician and author of The End of Overeating, on how to get your abundance of consumption under control to ensure you have an abundance of happiness with your body instead!
We're all wired to focus on the most salient stimulus in our environment. If there's a fire next door, we're focused on that fire. For some people it's drugs or gambling or alcohol or nicotine or sex. But for many of us, it's food. What is it about food that makes it salient? Sugar, fat and salt. And when you layer those three ingredients together - as is the case with highly processed foods - food becomes hyper-palatable.
There are three qualities that conditioned hyper-eaters possess: They have a loss of control when they face certain foods, they often don't feel full even if they've eaten a lot, and they're preoccupied with thinking about what they're going to eat next. Half of obese people, 30 percent of overweight people and 20 percent of people at a healthy weight score very high on these characteristics.
A cue can be the sight or smell of food, a location where you've enjoyed the food before, the time of day or even being in your car. It can lead to you eating the food, and then you develop this cue-arousal-reward-relief cycle. Each time you indulge, you strengthen the possibility that you'll do it again. You can get rid of some cues, but then you turn on the TV or walk down the street and another cue might hit you. What you have to do is cool down the stimulus itself.
The first step is to impose some kind of structure in your diet. If you know when and what you're going to eat next, the cue is not going to have as much power over you.
You can want to be thin, you can try to deprive yourself, but that's not going to work in the long run. The issue isn't just weight, it's how we view food. And unless that changes, the brain's reward pathways are always going to win out.
So as NOT to Offend
Happy Holidays! It's the new greeting of the season...I mean no one is allowed to say Merry Christmas anymore...you'd never want to...gasp...offend anyone! I say forget it! If you celebrate Christmas, than say Merry Christmas, if you celebrate Kwanza than say Happy Kwanza...if you a feets of strength festivus kinda holidayer than let me know by greeting me in YOUR way. This gives us a chance to learn a little bit about each and become more tolerant instead of the other way around. That ‘s the way I see it...but if you're still concerned about the words you choose this "holiday" season here are some politically correct Christmas Carols to not offend anyone with...unless it's your voice that is offending! Happy non-denominational non-specific day of this month!
O Holiday Tree
Have Yourself A Merry Little Day Of Winter
Frosty The Snowperson
Chestnuts Roasting On A Safely-Contained, Continuously-Monitored, Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Outdoor Fire (For Which I Do Have A Permit)
Higher Power Rest Ye Merry Gentlepeople
Grandma Allegedly Got Run Over By An Unidentified Non-Human Perpetrator
Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Unendangered Foliage (If Office Policy Permits)
Hark! The Herald Mythical Winged Creature Sings
I Saw Mommy Greeting Santa Claus With A Purely Platonic Expression Of Inoffensive Mutual Affection
I'll Be Home For A Short Period Of Time In December
50 Million Reasons to Smile
Although I try not to be and I know it's an ugly emotion....I'm women enough to admit when I'm jealous. And I think you're with me when I say I felt just a tinge of jealousy when I heard about the couple in Winnipeg who won 50 million bucks a few weeks back. Okay, okay more than a tinge....
Now those feelings are even more shameful as it turns out Kirby and Marie Fontaine are pretty nice people. They've been quietly helping out people in Winnipeg since cashing in on the biggest lotto jackpot ever in Canada. Just the other day a 13 year old ringette player was shopping for new goalie pads with her Mom when the Fontaine's offered to pick up the $750 dollar tab! I know there are lots of hockey parents here in London that could use a break on that equipment.
Not only that but they've also been helping out at a local church packing Christmas hampers...now these are the kind of people that deserve to win the lottery!
Moral of the story? Maybe the next time you wish to win the lottery you'll remember the Fontaines, their good deeds and remember that by doing good you invite good in. At least then even when your wallet is empty, you'll feel rich in your heart.
Holiday Balance
Tips from the Feng Shui Diva:
The holidays are a lot of fun but they also bring a lot of stress. Everything we have to do for the holidays is piled on top of everything we normally have to do. Here are some suggestions for the home to lift your spirits and things to do to reduce your stress level during the most wonderful and stressful time of the year.
Tap into your happy childhood. Go through your old photos when you were a carefree kid excited about the holidays. Use a color copier to enlarge them to 8x10, 11x14 or 16x20 mini posters for decorations. You can put them in inexpensive plastic box frames or clip frames. If you have old holiday pictures of friends and family who will be coming to visit you, make some fun mini posters of them too. Think of how good that will make them feel to see themselves in your home.
Watch the clutter. Obstacles in the home can create obstacles in your life, so don't create obstacles with your decorations. If you have to step over it, duck under it, or squeeze by, its going to add more stress to your holiday too. Too much clutter makes the natural energy flow in your home slow down and get stuck, which makes us feel stuck or depressed. A good cleaning and clutter clearing before you add decorations is a good idea.
Chuck the negative stuff. Everything inside your home has a memory or meaning attached to it. When you look at an item it will either give you a positive emotional response, a neutral response or negative response. The more negatives you have around the home, the more negative the energy in the home. Getting rid of all the negatives and surrounding yourself with positives raises the energy in the home and helps keep your energy positive and upbeat. Keep that in mind while you are decorating and don't put up any decorations that make you have any negative feelings.
Angry? The more stressed we are, the easier it is to become angry. However, it is physiologically impossible to be angry when your muscles are relaxed. Anger cannot exist without muscle tension. If the holidays start getting to you, take an adult "time out" and go limp like a rag doll. Relax your body without tensing one single muscle. Not a clenched jaw, or your baby toe.
Keep your mood more positive during the holidays by getting a good night's dark. Melatonin is the hormone that controls our mood and our sleep. It is produced by the pineal gland at night in the dark. Light makes the body think its daytime. To keep your body making the right amount of melatonin to keep your mood more positive and help you get enough sleep, make sure you are sleeping in the dark. Don't sleep with the light on, or TV or with a streetlight coming through your bedroom window. Or your holiday light display.
Removing negatives and adding positives around the home to lift your spirits will help create more joy and less stress this holiday season.
Missing Socks No More!
I have solved the great mystery of the missing sock! You know what I mean...at the end of the laundry basket there are always at least two socks leftover ( if not three) and none of them match, not even close. Then you save the socks in hopes that their partners will someday return. You keep these lone rangers in your sock drawer or some kind of basket near the dryer ready to partner back up like a stray hippo waiting to board Noah's Ark.
But that boarding never happens.
Days go by, years, and there they sit their clean soles never to touch the ground again. Where have all the matching socks gone?
Feeling more than a little under the weather yesterday I took a sick day and hopped into bed...ALL day. When I woke up feeling a little better I knew the one thing that would put me back on the mend for sure...clean sheets. As I stripped the duvet from it's cozy cover two little stow aways jumped out! I'd been looking for these socks for weeks! (maybe months, I don't clean the sheets very often!)
Then as I carefully "unfolded" my clean sheets three more MIA socks made an appearance! What an incredible feeling. Mark the date because I'm proud to say I may be the only Londoner with an even number of socks all matched up! Check those linen closets and you to could solve the mystery.
You've got to celebrate the small stuff!
Tying up the kids...Wait...
Sparkling lights, jingling bells, crowded markets, busy parents and excited children are the signs of coming Christmas. Parents seem to be the the most busy category on the eve because they have to keep their kids busy in order to make all arrangements for the Christmas.
The simplest way to keep them busy is to get them involved in an activity of their interest. What could be the most interesting activity for the kids? I think kids get excited while playing games. But taking them to some amusement park or play ground can cost you lot of time. What if you make your drawing room a play ground for them? Here is the list of the activities that can change your drawing room to a play ground to make your kids busy. Following are three best ways to keep them busy:
1. Playing word puzzle games can prove to be very constructive and brain storming activity. These games can keep them busy for the hours. Printable worksheets of puzzle games can easily be made available from the market.
2. Writing wish letters to Santa is another desirable and fun activity for the kids. There are many enjoyable ways which can keep kids engaged in writing these letters for the hours. You can provide colorful and fun templates to the kids for sending invitations of Christmas parties, writing stories and food recipes about Christmas.
3. Christmas math worksheets can improve math skills of the kids. This activity during Christmas holidays provide knowledge along with fun.
Holiday Cheer, Bottle Free!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The lights! Time with family and friends! The stress! ...Wait, what?
It's true, this time of year can be a wonderful time to reflect on and enjoy all of the good things we have in our lives...but with all of that comes planning, purchasing and decision making adding up to one of the busiest most stressful times of the year. Knowing what you're in for can make a huge difference and go along way to actually enjoying yourself instead of just merely surviving. Here a few things you can do to reduce stress and increase holiday cheer! (that doesn't come in a bottle!)
Try not to worry about things out of your control.
Problem solve with people around you...you don't have to do it all on your own!
Exercise. A few extra minutes of exercise a day can benefit your overall health, take a quick walk in your neighbourhood or Victoria Park and enjoy the lights.
Avoid the Christmas baking, decrease the amount of fat and sugar you eat to keep your mood stable
Meditate, or take a class in relaxation and stretching techniques --like Tai Chi or Yoga.
Give yourself an early gift and get a massage. A massage can be beneficial for the mind and body.
Above all...have a positive attitude!
Happy Holidays!
Polar Bear Attack!
These are pictures of an actual polar bear attack that took place in Churchill Manitoba.
The pictures were taken while people watched and could do nothing to stop the attack!
Reports from the local newspaper say that the victim will make a full recovery.
Warning: Viewing these photos may result in smiles, giggles and having a better day. View at your own risk.
Viv
Deck the Halls with Deals!!!!
This is one of my favourite times of the year! The unsightly summer tan lines have faded...the promise of functions filled with food are a plenty...and the guilt of last years Christmas over spend has faded...it's time to get shopping!!!
The key to smart shopping (read having money left to buy yourself a gift or two...)is planning ahead, knowing where to get the deals and staying organized. Here are a few of my tips from Real Simple magazine to get it all done and still see shopping as a great sport...instead of a nasty chore!
Get advance copies of store circulars - Just go to GottaDeal.com. They posts ads and circulars weeks before the big shopping day, featuring everything from clothing to technology to house wares, and more.
Check social networks - Tweeting will emerge this year as one of the best ways to learn about can't-miss deals in real time. On social networking sites, post a question like, "Looking for an iPod dock for under $150. Any leads?" You Facebook friends and your "tweeps" -- that's slang for your Twitter posse -- are likely to respond quickly with tips and links.
Print out your receipts - Don't think of it as "game over" once you've made your purchases. Keep an eye on prices for two weeks afterwards. Many stores will make an adjustment to your credit card if an item you bought goes even lower in price.
Rob plus Viv
Dreams really do come true.
Everyone has THAT person. Not the one they want to spend the rest of
their lives with or owe everything to...the celebrity/singer/famous person
they HAVE to meet.
For as long as I can remember my one person was Rob Thomas...lead singer
of Matchbox 20. I've always LOVED his music. There's no need to explain
why I LOVE his music so much because I believe we shouldn't question pure
enjoyment. So I love it because I LOVE it!
I finally got my opportunity to realize this dream on Wednesday...as part
of a meet and greet at Rob's (ya, we're on a first name basis now) concert
at Massey Hall in Toronto. Now this is a huge moment...I mean all the
anticipation...all the dreams of what it could be...it will all be real
now...you know the Real World (hehehe)...what if it didn't go as planned?
What if he didn't love me the way I love him? What if I pass out?
Turns out...it was truly a dream come true! Rob was AMAZING!!! I
introduced myself and my Mom who I picked from a long line of sucker ups
to come with me, and he could not have been more genuine. I told him I
thought what he did was incredible and he said I was incredible because
without fans he's be singing to himself. So Rob Thomas thinks I'm
incredible ...who am I to argue!
It was so validating to meet such a talented person who makes an
incredible amount of money doing what they love who understands that
without the fans...they'd be sharing their vocal talents with a bar of
soap and a steering wheel like the rest of us do.
After meeting Rob, I am a MUCH BIGGER FAN...as hard as that for anyone who
knows me to believe. He's real, he knows how lucky he is to have the
status he does and he does it for the fans...every song was 110
percent...no phoning it in no sitting on the bench. I know I'm not the
only one in Massey hall or who has experienced a performance by Rob that
feels that way.
It's refreshing to meet a "celebrity" who is worthy or their
"celebrity" status!
If you want to see a picure of Rob and I click here for our Facebook fan page
Mouth to...well...just read it
You've heard the advice always wearing clean underwear in case you're in an accident (which always seemed a little strange to me since even if they are clean before the accident chances are after...well you get the idea....) But what about your bra?
A doctor in Chicago has developed a bra that doubles as a face mask to cup (pardon the pun) your face in an emergency. Not only your face, I mean think about it.... a bra has two sides, so you'll be able to help out a friend by disrobing in an emergency, talk about being supportive!
You're probably thinking what I thought when I fist saw the story...this has to be a man...Wrong! The women's name is Elena Bodnar and here she is displaying her invention proudly.
It begs the question, in this day of forest fires, terrorists attacks and swine flu could women's underwear be our best defense?
I'm not sure but it will give the next guy caught with his face in a bra at Le Senza a whole new excuse!
Halloween etiquette: Trick-or-treat but be polite
I've never been the kind of person at a loss for words...even as a child. For that very reason Trick-or-treating always took a little longer for my family. As many youngsters may simply knock, say Trick-or-treat and move on, I would use the opportunity to get to know my neighbours a little better...you know...ask how the cat is, see if I could get a tour of the house and in more than one instance if they had some other candy that I could have since I wasn't a fan of what they were handing out. Yeah, let's just say my Halloween adventures were usually cut short.
To avoid that from happening to your kids this year Britain's authority on etiquette, Debrett's, issued its first guidance on how to behave while getting the grub.
Jo Bryant is their etiquette adviser and she says Good manners are very important.
Common questions are: Is it acceptable not to open one's doors to trick-or-treaters? How many times should children be allowed to ring a door bell before moving on? And can one forego a Halloween costume at a party?
Debrett's has posted its advice to the etiquette-challenged on its Web site....good luck trying to get your kids to read it!
Here's some of the info:
Trick-or-treat should be used as an ice-breaking formula, not a real threat. Halloween fun should never feel menacing... it says. Children should not be too greedy - if they are offered treats, make sure that they don't take too many and that they do say thank you.
Other advice includes respecting people's privacy - don't repeatedly ring door bells for candy - and if you really don't want to be bothered by trick-or-treaters, it is perfectly acceptable to leave a bowl of treats at your doorsteps so children can help themselves.
Have a fun and polite Halloween!
Political Tips for Halloween
Whenever I'm trying to think of something to blog about I always try to go with something that is on my mind...NOW! This week it's defiantly Halloween! Maybe my favourite holiday! I mean come on....candy...dressing up...candy....getting to act like a goof and entertaining people...candy!
Chances are Halloween is on your brain(s!) so I thought you might want some Halloween safety tips, you know aside from don't let Mark anywhere near your candy, so I Googled it. Yep, that's how us radio announcers get our info...just like you with the Google!
The interesting part about my search was the number one match to my Google search. It's a Government of Canada site all about safe Halloweening...who knew Stevie and the rest of the politicians were so worried about your children's candy? (Maybe if they paid more attention to the candy they take off our cheques every week....sorry...off topic)
Either way there is some helpful stuff they you may not have thought of so here's the link.
After this you may want to go as Steven Harper for Halloween...on second thought maybe something less scary!
What is REALLY scary
When it comes to fear emotion wins over logic every time. I ran across a list of fears, you know since its Halloween season we will be seeing these count downs everywhere. And what do you think number one was? Snakes! Seriously...snakes? How many times do you open a paper to the headline "4 killed in viscous snake attack"...ummm NEVER!
The second biggest fear was spiders...again see above. Others include heights, the dark, dogs, the dentist...come on people!
The only real valid fear I could see was number 4...other people. Now, we're getting to something to really be afraid...ourselves. Just think of those headlines that we do see "4 Killed in Tragic collision" or "London police investigating rash of home B&E". It really is selfish human nature that is the most frightening.
I would much rather face standing on a really tall ladder, with a snake tied around my neck while getting a root canal than to ever have to worry about my family or myself falling victim to tragedy on the roads or other indecent human nature.
How about in this time of revelation of fear we scare each other with a giant helping of decency. Drive safe, look out for one another and when you're buying your Halloween candy this week why not spring for the full-size chocolate bars!
Forever Young Hair
As women...we get a raw deal when it comes to appearance. Let's face it...so much of what people initially think of us do is based on how we look...sad but true. Sure there's always time to win them over with our amazing personalities but first things first our clothes, shoes and hair is on trial...especially by other women!
I believe one of the easiest things a women can do everyday to look polished and professional is her hair and part of that is keeping up with what is in NOW....yes ladies..NOW not when the ink on your high school diploma was still wet!
Here are 6 hair mistakes that age you most...you're welcome!
1. Too Short
"If hair is healthy and plentiful, there's no reason to chop it into a conservative crop just to make it more age-appropriate," says Thom Priano, a hairstylist at Garren New York in New York City. Even as they move into their 40s and 50s, plenty of women still look better with long hair.
Instead: If you do go short, keep it slightly shaggy - think Sharon Stone's crop. You'll look more modern, and the maintenance will be easier without blunt lines. "You should soften things up as you get older," says Jason Stanton, a hairstylist in Los Angeles and London. Use a pomade on the ends (more will be too slick) to give your cropped cut shine. Try Nioxin Smoothing Reflectives Defining Pomade (nioxin.com).
2. Too Long
Excessive length can drag hair down, pulling your features along with it - the anti-face-lift. The worst offender: long, parted-down-the-middle, shapeless locks, which also telegraph the "me decade."
Instead: To keep some length, consider a choppy bob that sits just below the collarbone, suggests Paul Labrecque of the eponymous New York City salons. "Asymmetrical or less-than-perfect shapes deflect attention away from wrinkles," he adds. Since longer hair can look dry and frazzled, treat it weekly to a deep conditioner: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment contains exfoliating apricot seeds.
3. Too Dark
Holding on to that jet-black shade could be aging you. Extremely dark hair against a light scalp makes thinning more visible. It also casts shadows on your skin so wrinkles look more pronounced, says Gary Howse, creative director of the Gary Manuel salons in Seattle.
Instead: Go two or three shades lighter with either permanent color or highlights around your face, says colorist Sharon Dorram of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger in New York City. Or opt for a warmer hue: For example, if you are a cool, dark brown, choose a creamier chocolate instead. Increase coverage of even the most dye-resistant grays with No Gray for Women, a booster you mix with your regular color to help it adhere better. In an informal test at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, adding No Gray into the dye mixture provided better gray coverage than at-home permanent hair dye alone.
4. Too Light
"Hair the same tone as your complexion washes you out," says Louis Licari, a celebrity colorist with salons in New York City and Beverly Hills. He points out that even Madonna's blond isn't as blond as it once was - which makes it more skin flattering. You'll also need to put on a lot more makeup to brighten up your features if you go too light.
Instead: A bit of contrast can give your skin a healthier glow. "If you're too light, add in some deeper, caramel lowlights," suggests Priano. For DIY dyeing, Licari recommends you buy several boxes in similar hues and pluck and dye a few hairs to see which color is the most brightening when you hold it up to your cheek.
5. Too Drab
Gray hair doesn't have to add 10 years - as long as you keep the color vibrant. "Yellowing gray hair is as bad as yellowing teeth," says Howse.
Instead: Prevent silver strands from dulling your features with products that contain shine enhancers and UV filters. Try Mizani Gloss Veil Shine Spray (mizani-usa.com) as a finishing mist. On hair that's more than 50 percent gray, use a shampoo with blue or violet undertones to neutralize yellow. Try Joc Anti-Yellow Silver Shampoo with UV filters (oloffbeauty.com). If yellow tones cling tenaciously, as they tend to on 100 percent white hair, Howse recommends coloring hair a light shade of blond to take the aging effect away.
Sporting a bold cut or color can also ratchet up your age. Hairstylists equate it to wearing too-trendy clothes or overdoing your makeup.
Instead: Keep your style evolving without becoming a slave to trends. "Look for photos of celebrities your age with great hair [say, Halle Berry or Susan Sarandon]," says Howse. "Then show your favorites to your stylist." Bangs are another way to bust out of a hair rut: "They usually make people look younger," says Howse. He suggests road testing them first: Put your hand over your forehead when you look in the mirror, then take your hand away - which look do you prefer? Ask for bangs that are full, not wispy (which can be aging), and that reach the center of your brows. Or opt for a longer, side-swept fringe. But skip both if you've got a stubborn cowlick or tight curls.
Proceed with WILD Caution
Where the Wild Things are has been one of the most anticipated movies of the past few years. Who didn't enjoy this classic 10 line story as a child or enjoy reading it to your children. The popularity paid off as it finished number one at the box office this past weekend, raking in over $34 million in ticket sales. But director Spike Jonze's and screenwriter Dave Eggers' adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved kids' book has some parents saying that they didn't feel the movie is appropriate for children.
Here are some reviews:
"[The film] was joyless. There were maybe 15 minutes of the hour and a half that my kids were into it," said James Griffioen of Detroit, Michigan.
His 4-year-old daughter asked, "Why is this movie so sad?" in the middle of their family's matinee viewing, while his son, a 20-month-old who normally can't get enough of the 1963 children's classic, was simply bored, he told CNN. Read the full story >>
USA Today's article also revealed a bevy of disappointed parents:
[Jennifer] O'Brien, 37, of Phoenix, took 7-year-old Eileen to Where the Wild Things Are on Sunday, hoping the girl would enjoy the movie as much as O'Brien loved the 1963 picture book. Mom was wrong. "She was pretty scared," O'Brien says at the AMC Century City in Los Angeles. "We spent most of the time in the lobby playing video games. This isn't a children's movie." Read the full story >>
As with most parenting issues, it's probably wiser to inspect what children will be exposed to beforehand, rather than complaining about it afterward.
Walk this way
For anyone who's ever completed a marathon, a half marathon, a sports tournament or maybe just a hard weekend of gardening...and had to go to work the next day.... this video is essential.
Enjoy, and congrats on your physical strength!
Give me a day off, STAT!
Need a break? Some time off from the daily grind? Well you may want to move to Lithuania....the perks including eight weeks vacation time. Eight glorious weeks to frolic and flounder about with family and ...ummm...fawns. (sorry I was running low on F words and my boss has warned me enough about that other F word)
Some company did a world survey of workers on the job for ten years...so where do we come in? Well, sadly Canada shows up at the bottom of the list with only 19 vacation days...19?...only 19!!!! Compared to 40!
That's 21 days of bar-b-ques...21 days of R& R....21 days of actually living! Here's link to the article....I strongly suggest you forward it on to your boss, you know since it's more than likely you are at work!
Hockey Magic
There is a slim chance you'll get me to sit and watch a whole game of ...well...anything. I love sports, I really do, I'd just rather be playing or watching the really exciting parts. I'm defiantly a highlight reel kinda girl, give me a good highlight and my sports passion is at it's peak!
And here is a GREAT highlight! Brought to us by a nine year old Oliver Wahlstrom in Boston. It was a shootout attempt in the Boston Bruins "TD Bank Mini 1-on-1" Competition begins as expected: Deliberate skating to the puck before picking up speed into the zone. But once he gets between the faceoff circles ... well, let's just say I wouldn't have been shocked to see him pull a rabbit out of his helmet before sawing a woman in half. This is hockey magic. Enjoy!
Click here to check it out!
Vote Kelly Much VJ 2009!!!
Here at EZ Rock we are so proud of our Kelly Peter! She has made it to the top 16 finalists for the Much Music VJ search!!! We want Kelly to go all the way and get this job...even though we'd miss her around here!To support Kelly simply click here and vote so that she can succeed in beating out 4000 other Canadians that were hoping for this gig!
Laser Flake
There's a splash in the cereal world today over a possible cornflakes hoax.
The British PR office for Kellogg's claimed on its Twitter feed today that it has succeeded in etching its brand into individual corn flakes so they stand out against any copies. Leaving many questions...IS this a marketing stunt, an elaborate hoax or a bizarre attempt by one of the world's biggest food producers to protect an iconic breakfast cereal from imitators?
"Now you'll always be able to tell your Corn Flakes from your corn fakes!" Kellogg's UK announced on Twitter, with a link to an image of branded cereal.
Let's assume it's a marketing stunt or hoax because the thought of a cereal company actually using the resources it would take to laser etch each piece of cereal is leaving me less satisfied then a stale bowl of Fruit Loops. So does it work?
Shreddies did it a couple of years ago with the Diamond Shreddies campaign...one that I will forever consider one of the most genius marketing campaigns that any company has ever launched on us.....and it would appear that Kellogg's simply wants a piece of that clever reinvention of a classic breakfast staple.
The problem is when coming up with a marketing twist to rival that of the success of the Shreddies campaign you really should bring you're "A" game...Laser etching? Everyone knows that last time lasers were funny was in the Austin Powers movies. And in this time of belt tightening who wants to think about a cereal company taking the time, money and effort to laser etch each little flake?
Come on! If you're going to give me a hoax, make me think, make me laugh, make me do a double take-rub the eyes- did you see that point! Instead I'm left not caring if it's true and craving a bowl of Mini-wheats.
Turkey, Not just for Sandwiches
If you were lucky enough to have the whole crew at your place for T-giving dinner then you probobly have a bombed out looking turkey taking up prime real estate in your fridge. Here is a great link to Canadian Living magazine's article on Turkey leftover recipes. They are so good the family might ask for seconds....of the seconds!Viv
Quiet Thanks
Psswsst, I have a secret...come closer....closer still....closer....oh you have great breath!
Oh, ya my secret. Sorry. This weekend is going to be hectic, you'll be lucky to find even two minutes to yourself between all the cooking, baking, counselling, screaming and of course giving thanks. Mark this website...its from Crayola and has lots of free downloads for the kids to colour, paint or ball up and throw at each other. It could just buy you three minutes of peace and even if it doesn't at least you'll have some great new crafts to post on the fridge...which will keep you entertained when you hit the fridge at 2 am for some turkey!
Viv
Hey, Thanks!
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how amazing my life is. Why? I'm doing it for you, so that you in turn will realize all the amazing things in your life....no matter how obscure!
So here we go 10 things I am thankful for (and yes it was hard to only pick 10!)
10) Wal-Mart greeters
9) The last piece of dessert...Always the sweetest, and I always get it!
8) Pay at the pump
7) Dogs that misbehave...things that are too perfect make me nervous
6) No name brands that taste just like the more expensive ones
5) High heels
4) Sweatshirts that still smell like the dryer sheet even though you can't remember the last time you washed it
3) The weather network local weather jingle
2) Diet Dr. Pepper, it really does taste more like regular Dr. Pepper!
1) Friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances and total strangers...without you...well it's really just me and it's the people in my life that make it so amazing!
Have a great Thanksgiving Day weekend! I would love to know some of the things you are thankful for...drop me a line at svivier@radio.astral.com or on Facebook.
Savings Smile
Saving money is in right now, frugality is in fashion. People are looking for anyway to save a buck and brag about it...I include myself in these braggarts. I come from a long line of the frugal...my Mom will drive to five different stores to save five cents a pound on lamp chops...even though they never eat them. My Meme would clip coupons until her hand cramped every Saturday morning and when she passed we recycled enough coupons to wall paper the White House.
While searching today for new ways to flaunt my money saving assets I found a great online forum in which readers submitted their own money saving ideas. Some were very helpful, while others...well...you just have to read them to believe it.
"In our town we have garbage collection that costs us 2 dollars a bag. We have 1 old guy who always walks down town every day and carries a small grocery bag of his garbage and puts it in the municipal garbage containers that line the business core. This way he saves 2 dollars a week. I forgot to say that he is known to be worth over a million. Wonder why."
"I worked with a women who, when we went out to dinner as a group, would claim she wasn't hungry and therefore wouldn't order anything but would eat off everyone else's plate and then when the bill came pay nothing. One time she stopped for gas and as the attendant started putting gas in her tank asked him the price at the station across the road and when it turned out to be marginally cheaper she had him stop filling her tank and went across the road."
AND my personal favorite....
"My grandfather was so cheap he would time the light bulbs and if they didn't get the 1000hrs. he would return to the store and demand a refund. Now that's cheap!"
Your job, only better
As most of you are getting set to enjoy a long holiday weekend with your friends and family...eating turkey, ham and pie...oh the pie! Mark and are set to join you on your radio in our usual slot from 4-7. We love what we do and we love that you are listening...just keep in mind as you hear us on your holiday Monday...we're eating pie during the songs!
So really the only thing that would fix my workplace is a little more pie...how about yours? I thought I'd share the results of a survey from Kellogg's cereal about what employees thought would improve their workplace.
-40% of employees would appreciate a day off on their birthday (I agree! I always take my birthday off...or at least the next day...yikes, thanks a lot birthday shots!)
- 38% of employees think Christmas shopping breaks would be a great benefit to have (two words, retail therapy)
- 20% of employees think workplace beauty treatments would be a great benefit to have (I know there are days I need some beauty, those are called Mondays)
- 50% of employees think lunch should be a full hour ( I stretch mine out all day)
- 40% of workers say flexible summer hours are a more desirable benefit than a financial bonus. (What about flexible hours and a bonus so you have time to spend that extra cash?)
