January 27, 2014

If You Can Justify A Fancy Cup Of Coffee, Then You Should Definitely Consider Throwing Down A Five Spot On This Gifted Storyteller...


For those of you who regularly read my blog, you know that I try to write about stuff that you may not readily find on your Google homepage.  I love the obscure. A hidden gem, if you will.

 I recently stumbled upon a documentary that was released in December from an up-and-coming, not to mention incredibly talented filmmaker. Griffin Hammond is a gifted storyteller, lobbing the audience a visually stunning backdrop to a seemingly simple main character.

My guess is that the star of his recent film can be found in most of your kitchens. A must to those who crave its spicy goodness.  Yep!  I am talking about Sriracha. While this very popular condiment appears to be one of those highly sought-after imports, it is actually made much closer to home.  The bottom line is that more Americans than you would ever guess have developed a love affair with Sriracha.

The thirty minute flick, cleverly titled Sriracha, serves up a full meal of fun, with a splash of flavor in the way it was brilliantly produced.  In less than two months, Hammond has gleaned a tidy sum of accolades from a variety of heavy hitting publications.

I attached the trailer below.  If you like what you see, spring for the whole film.  It won't disappoint!


http://vimeo.com/ondemand/sriracha/79918470

January 20, 2014

Take A Moment~It Might Just Improve Every Single Aspect Of Your Life...


As our kiddos are further inundated with the multitude of technology sources that are said to make their lives more efficient, the Bay Area schools are implementing some changes that should cause the rest of the country to sit up and take notice.

Say what you will about meditation, but for the past seven years the practice of daily meditation has been introduced to many Bay Area schools.  Not as an option, as a requirement.  And we're not talking about the affluent areas of San Francisco. Meditation has been adopted as a part of the daily curriculum in some of the roughest parts of the city.  Before "quiet time" was introduced by Superintendent Richard Carranza, the student's behavior and grades suffered, the teachers were exhausted, and test scores were uncompetitive with neighboring public schools. Since the implementation, everything has improved. EVERYTHING!  Grades are up, suspensions are down, teachers are happy and more fulfilled, test scores are competitive, and so on and so on.

So I ask...what would happen if every school in America adopted this practice? For that matter, what if every adult turned off the computer and cell phone a couple of times a day and simply meditated?  Studies have shown that daily meditation is not only the ticket for academic and professional success, but it has numerous health and emotional benefits, as well.

There are loads of books and methods out there, but all you really need to do is sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and concentrate on the breath.  Not the to-do list, not feeding the dog.  Simply the breath.

I attached the article from the San Francisco Gate if you are interested.  Now breathe....    


http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Meditation-transforms-roughest-San-Francisco-5136942.php

January 13, 2014

Looking For A Non~Botoxed Role Model? Well, Here's A Shining Example Of Aging With Style...


I am no stranger to embracing the whole age thing.  After all, I went grey by choice, I elect to put my dollars toward kale and non~processed food rather than Botox and fillers, and I would much rather invest in a closet of shoes and handbags before undergoing surgery to nip and tuck the saggy stuff.

Recently, BBC did a documentary on six sassy senior gals that is fantastic!  The opinion of this writer is that they should be the global inspiration for unapologetically aging with style and swagger.

Honestly, I hope you will take the time to watch because, not only are they hilarious, they definitely have their priorities in check.  



http://seniorplanet.org/dont-dress-your-age-six-inspiring-women-say-no-to-drab/#.Uo5ANxqNtt4.email

January 9, 2014

Two Back To Back Interviews On Morning Joe That I Found Annoying...


I have been a longtime viewer of Morning Joe.  The popular MSNBC show starts way before I get up in the morning, greeting me with just enough hard news, while still serving up a balance of entertainment that isn't too fluffy.

This morning was no different.  As I nursed my second cup of joe (pun intended), while simultaneously shooing the family out the door, I was pleased to see that Arianna Huffington and Mindy Kaling were going to be guests.  Two of my favorite women.  Both smart, confident, successful, and great leaders in their respective fields.  Two women, who our young women should emulate as they seek guidance through their formative years.

So, why were their interviews so blatantly different?  They basically hailed Huffington with the accolades that I listed above for her accomplishments.  Yet, when Kaling sat down at the infamous table, they questioned her recent cover of Elle, asking her if she was angry that the mag published the cover in black and white and from the neck up.  One of the hosts even asked a question about her female colleagues, calling them "girls".  Honestly, Mindy Kaling is in her thirties. I am quite sure she did not appreciate the implication.  After all, I think we can all agree they would never think for a minute of asking Ariana Huffington about the "girls" in her field of expertise.

It was, frankly, not their finest hour.  Mindy Kaling appeared slightly unnerved by the interview, and rightly so!  She is an incredibly accomplished and brilliant writer, actor, and leader.  She is not only a fine example to Indian women, she is an extraordinary example to all women.  My teen daughter absolutely adores her. She is currently reading Mindy's book and I, for one, am ecstatic that there are women in the public eye, who supplement the strong female values that I work very hard to model at home.

I guess when all is said and done, there will be good interviews and not so good interviews.  My hope is that the folks on my fav morning show will be more mindful and consider changing the vernacular.  Because I am pretty sure Mindy stopped referring to herself as a "girl" about 20 years ago...




January 6, 2014

Trust Me, I'm A Doctor! You Need A Shot...


Yes, you can trust me.  No, I'm not really a doctor.  And, most definitely you are in need of a shot.  A Daily Shot, that is.  I am talking about the daily webcast of fun that Ali Wentworth serves up on Yahoo! Shine.  Sometimes it's an interesting interview or a gabfest with one of her fancy pants celeb friends.  Other times, it's just learning something about the newest product on the market or an obscure out of the blue topic of conversation.  Essentially, a mish mash of stuff you never knew you needed to know, but Wentworth always manages to lob the audience a few minutes of irreverent laughter in the middle of the day.

Here's how it works.  You can go to the Yahoo! Shine website and find her daily snippet of goodness.  You can also "like" her on Facebook or follow the show on Twitter.  That way Ali will conveniently show up on your electronic device all queued up and ready to go when you have a free minute.

Your welcome...