TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012

The Be Golden Movement

Every year during Lent, I focus on what to give up. Inevitably I give up candy or sugar but as soon as the 40 days of Lent are over, I am inhaling as much sugar as I can.So this year I wanted to do something more meaningful, something that would last beyond Lent and make a real difference in people’s lives. Laying in bed one night, it came to me: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” The golden rule. It’s so simple but so often forgotten.We focus so much on the things that will make US happy. But what if we took the time to think about OTHERS before ourselves. From that thought, Be Golden was born. Be Golden is a movement to do one positive thing for someone else every day for 40 days. Ideally the goodness will be contagious, they will pass it on and the golden moments will continue to multiple.

Be Golden Acts of Goodness can be anything that positively affect others:

• Smiling and saying good morning to a stranger
• Helping a neighbor
• Thanking someone for being part of your life
• Paying for a stranger’s meal or gas
• Opening the door for someone
• Thanking your waiter/waitress

I can’t wait to hear all of the great and caring acts you come up with. I hope you’ll join me in the Be Golden movement and pass on the goodness to others.

Print out the Be Golden card above. When you perform Golden Act of Goodness, give the recipient this card and encourage them to pass on the golden moments to others. Give the cards to your friends and family and ask them to join you in the Be Golden Movement.

If you see someone performing a golden act, perform one yourself or are a recipient, send me your story. Sharing your story will encourage others to Be Golden themselves.

By Claudine Zap | Work + Money – Fri, Feb 24, 2012 6:13 PM EST

2012 is a leap year, meaning that February, the shortest month, has an extra day, bringing the year to 366 days. This notable event comes only every four years. Which means you have an extra 24 hours. So what will you do with yourself? How about heading to Disneyland for 24 hours straight, catching a movie, or spending the day skiing?

Lookups on the Web are taking a leap, including “leap day activities,” along with the quadrennial questions: “what is leap year,” “why is there a leap year” and “history of leap year.” Here, your guide to the day.

When is it? An extra day is added to the month of February every four years. This year, Leap Day is on Wednesday, February 29.

Why we need Leap Day: Usually, our year is 365 days long. Except that it’s not: A full cycle of seasons is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 seconds long, or about 365.25 days. Over time, the extra quarter of a day adds up, and without Leap Day, the calendar would be one day out of sync with the seasons. After 30 years, it would be about a week off, and after 100 years, it would be nearly a month off.

Bing Quock, the assistant director of Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences, explains, “Leap Day is added as a correction to the calendar so that it stays in sync with the seasons … that way, the seasons start on the same day from year to year to year.”

The history of Leap Year: Leap Year has been around for 2,000 years, since Julius Caesar created the 365-day calendar, although Caesar’s astronomer, Sosigenes, get s credit for adding an extra day in February every four years.

How to celebrate: Fans of Disney parks will be lining up to take advantage of “One More Disney Day” at Disneyland in California and at Magic Kingdom in Florida, which will be open for 24 hours, from February 29 at 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. March 1. Michele Himmelberg, a spokesperson for Disney, said it’s the first time in recent memory that theme parks on both coasts will be open to mark the quadrennial event. She confirmed the rides will run all night. Hey, come in your PJs.

Leap Year babies probably have the biggest reason to rejoice — since they see their birthdate only once every four years. Yahoo! searches are in a festive mood with lookups on “leap year birthdays,” “leap year birthday cards,” and “leap year party ideas.” Good news for ski bums born on February 29: Show your Leap Year birthday date and get a free stay at Mammoth ski resorts.

If you prefer to mark the extra day on your couch, there’s always “Leap Day,” the movie. The 2010 romantic comedy stars Amy Adams and is based on an Irish tradition that a man must say yes to a woman who proposes to him on Leap Day. Some NBC shows have already run their Leap Day-themed episodes, which included “30 Rock’s” alternative-universe idea that Leap Day is celebrated like an actual holiday and even has a mascot, “Leap Day William” (Jim Carrey), who stars in a “Groundhog Day“-type movie with Andie MacDowell. Its message: Take a leap.

Read Original Article.

Many of you probably own a Life is good t-shirt. If not, you’ve likely seen them around. But, do you know how this brand came about? Read on:

http://www.lifeisgood.com 

In 1989, Bert and John Jacobs designed their first tee shirt. They knew nothing about the business.

For five years, the brothers hawked tee shirts in the streets of Boston and traveled the East Coast, selling door-to-door in college dormitories.

They collected some good stories, but were not very prosperous. They lived on peanut butter and jelly, slept in their van, and showered when they could.

Chicks were not impressed.

Original Jake drawing, July 1994

By the Fall of 1994, heading home from a long, less-than-fruitful roadtrip, Bert and John were desperately searching for answers to keep the dream alive. Little did they know, the only answer they needed was back in Boston, hanging up on their apartment wall.

Jake’s contagious grin, simple as it was, seemed to express everything the Jacobs brothers believed in.

First day ever selling Life is good, Cambridge Street Fair, September 1994

One fateful September day, they printed up 48 Jake shirts for a local street fair in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They laid the shirts out on their rickety card table. By noontime, all 48 of those tees were gone. A star was born.

Soon Jake was introduced to local retailers, and his simple message of optimism was embraced like nothing the brothers had ever seen. As demand for product soared, Jake’s team grew, and the Little Brand That Could began to spread across America.

Today, the New England based brand stays close to its roots, with an emphasis on simplicity, humor and humility. Through Life is good Festivals, positive products, and a steady dose of ping pong, Jake’s crew does its best to keep the good vibes flowing.

by Danielle Sharpy

Hello, my name is Danielle and I’m a Pinaholic.  I’ve been pinning now for about six months.  In case you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, I’m referring to Pinterest.  This is a website that allows you to create a virtual pin board of things you like or inspire you.  For example… I have a board titled “For the home,” … for when I finally own one.  Another board is titled “My Style,” … for the clothes, bags and shoes that I would like to purchase, but have yet to do so.  I do however, have a couple of boards that I actually take ideas from.  Those would be my “Gift Idears” board and “Helpful Tips” board.  I can tell you how to get old paint off your paint brushes with ease or how to remove soap scum from shower doors with out any crazy chemicals or breaking a sweat.

You can collect all sorts of ideas for weddings, birthdays, decorating your home, do it your self craftiness, all the way to getting fit.  The possibilities are endless, but beware, it does come at a price… ADDICTION.

Are you a Pinterest Addict?  Take the test….
1) Do you have a wall that proudly displays a craft that you made, found on Pinterest?
2) Have you either been late for work, picking up the kids or burned dinner trying to get in one last pin?
3) Is Pinterest shamelessly displaying your recent pins on Facebook?
4) You feel a sense of pride when someone follows you or repins your pins?
5) Do you feel you can still get quality time in with the kids if you create a board for them?
*If you answered yes to more than 1 of the above statements, you might be an addict.

I have walked away with many wonderful ideas from Pinterest.  There is a problem, however.  My husband is inclined to think that nearly every recipe I make or handy dandy tidbit I share was taken from Pinterest. Pinterest makes me happy.  For me it’s like a scavenger hunt for the next best idea and I love every minute. Check it out for yourself and be sure to follow me!!!