ideas

5 Thoughtful Gifts for Father’s Day

by patricia on June 12, 2012

Father’s Day is just around the corner and many of us still haven’t decided on what to get our fathers…or for the people who have been like fathers in our lives. With money being a little tighter for most people, it is hard to choose something that will tell them they are special without breaking the bank.

Here are 5 ideas in case you need a little help:

Remind him that he matters – Find several photos of you and your father. With each photo come up with a lesson he has taught you. Either create a scrapbook with each lesson or even better, create a screensaver. Load it onto his computer so that everything he boots up he is reminded of the difference he made in your life. Here is a link to create a screensaver on PowerPoint but there may be similar programs out there that let you do the same thing.
Make memories on the open road – Plan a special road trip with your father to his favorite fishing hole or hiking place or even just an adventure in a new city. Have it all mapped out and present it to him with the highlighted map and the itinerary. Let him know the day is all about him. If you want to take it to the next level, plan a week-long trip and have the cities printed up on the back of a T-shirt like a rock star’s tour. YouTube has lots of videos showing you how to do this with iron-on transfers.
Everyone loves ice cream! – Gifts don’t have to cost a lot. Surprise your dad and take him to a local ice cream parlor and tell him to order anything he wants. Get a couple of indulgent sundaes and just sit and talk. Ask him all about his childhood and growing up. Let it be all about him!
Tech surprise – If money isn’t an issue, check out this tech lifesaver for the car. This device is capable of managing 2 mobile devices, assigning each of them their own distinctive ringtone. It automatically syncs its directory with your phone contacts, up to 2000 contacts, which allows you to dial by name as well as having the person announced when the call comes in. And all you have to do is twist the little wheel or press the red or green button! It is that simple. Want to know more? Check out the Parrot here.
Spoil him– Begin the day with breakfast in bed and then have his special chair (because we all know dad has one) set up with a basket of his favorite snacks next to him and the remote control right there. Allow him time to watch golf or whatever he wants in peace while you head outside to cook a special BBQ just for him. Although he may try to help, let him know he can sit and talk with you but this day is all about him. Sometimes knowing that someone cares and appreciates us is the greatest gift of all.

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8 Family Fun Ideas for Memorial Day Weekend

by patricia on May 22, 2012

Nothing beats a three-day weekend! Okay well maybe a few things, but whenever Memorial Day comes around it feels like I have won the lottery. Although we spend the day remembering those we have lost and those who have sacrificed for us, we also spend the day celebrating life and family. With times being leaner, we stopped heading out-of-town for the weekend and turned our focus to having fun at home. In case you don’t have plans yet, here are a few ideas for your weekend that won’t cost a lot.

Here are 8 family fun ideas for this Memorial Day weekend:

Sunrise, Sunset- Start your day watching the sunrise. Grab a blanket and head out with the whole family. As the sun rises, spend the moment thinking about all that there is to be grateful for. Then wrap the day coming together again to watch the sunset, serving as a reminder that we are all part of a bigger world…it’s all perspective.

Shop your closet- Let’s be honest…Memorial Day is synonymous with great sales. But if you are like me, it is dangerous to step into the stores because I always walk out with a few more bags than I planned on. So this year instead of buying all the things you don’t really need…shop your closet! Take out some of those outfits that have been shoved to the back of the closet and rediscover the cute lost shoes and purses that you totally forgot you had.

Show gratitude- Write a letter to our troops or create a care package. This idea is great way for adults to teach children how to show their gratitude for those who serve our country. A heartfelt letter and a stamp is all it will cost, yet the memory and lesson will last a lifetime.

Do something different- Tap into your creative side and either learn something new or do something different. For instance, this past week I learned to how to can for the first time with my family. Not only did we create incredible memories…we also made delicious salsa and jams! Not feeling that creative? Then do something different – pack up the kids and head fishing. The point is to do something a little out of the ordinary. Something memorable.

Backyard picnic- Getting a spot at a local park can be difficult this coming weekend, but that doesn’t have to ruin the fun. Instead, take out the picnic blankets and set it up in your backyard. If you have kids, pull out the tent and give them their own place to getaway.

Make homemade ice cream- This activity is great for kids that have a lot of energy! You don’t need a fancy machine. In fact, you can pull it off with some empty coffee cans and some duct tape. Don’t have that? Then Ziploc baggies will work too! I prefer the cans. It allows the kids to kick it around and really get involved. The pride they feel at the end when everyone is indulging is priceless. Here are a few links to showing you how to make ice cream with coffee cans and Ziploc baggies. These are my favorite ways! However, Wiki also has a few methods I haven’t tried in case you are feeling adventurous. Enjoy!

Old school fun- You don’t have to have a pool to have fun! You can pick up an inexpensive lawn sprinkler almost anywhere nowadays. Go old school and set it out in the middle of the lawn and let the kids run around or play tag. Add a few water balloons and you will be the coolest parent ever. Just be prepared to get wet and be sure to laugh your way through it. Remind the kids that you, too, can be fun!

Go local- This is festival season people! The weather is great and most cities have lots of free stuff happening. Whether it is an early morning farmer’s market, an art and wine festival or a school parade, there is ALWAYS something going on. Take a look at your local town websites and the community bulletin boards. It’s a great way to participate in the community and have fun. Added bonus…someone else is doing the cooking and the cleanup!

Hope this helps you to start planning your weekend early. Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!

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Oprah, Don’t Wait for the Pitch!

by patricia on January 13, 2012

Without a doubt Oprah, Team Harpo & Team OWN have what it takes to change the face of television. After 25 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show we can all agree that they have a pretty good handle on the pulse of America. But as they ventured into uncharted waters with an entire network, they forgot one thing…don’t leave your success in the hands of others.

Currently, OWN is only accepting proposals for shows from established production companies. The same companies that pitch to every other network. They have great material however, no one knows the vision of OWN and what programming they need better than Team Oprah. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are incredible documentaries and programs that they can tap into and bring to television, but they shouldn’t rely on it. If they want to show the world something different, they need to DO something different.

Oprah has her own production company – Harpo Studios. Instead of waiting for the right show pitch or settling for a decent idea, they should seriously consider uping their game. The most popular shows that are finding the OWN audience are the ones that have come from Team Harpo – Behind the Scenes, Oprah’s Next Chapter, LifeClass, MasterClass. The Oprah Team is SO creative and can run circles around any of these other companies. All they need to do is come together to create the programs that they already know we want to see. If they do, they will knock the balance of TV off its center. THIS I know for sure.

So, Team Oprah, please take this action. Look back at all of the successful years of The Oprah Winfrey Show. You know what people want to see and are drawn to. Find what lifts the world and LEAN into it. With this in mind, we have come up with great show ideas and we are just OWN viewers…although I would argue that we are OWN Experts, OWN Ambassadors and OWN Early Adopters. However, NO ONE knows the vision of OWN and what viewers crave better than Oprah and her team. You just need to trust in that and lean into it. The rest is just gravity!

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OWN is asking – What do you want to see on the Rosie Show?

by patricia on August 23, 2011

As the Oprah Winfrey Network gears up for the October premier of “The Rosie Show”, they are putting out the call to see what we OWN viewers want to see on the show. Right now they are looking for ideas of fun, interesting, powerful or pretty much anything that interests YOU. So head over to Oprah.com…and help them make TV magic!

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5 New Show Ideas for OWN -It Takes a Village to Build a Network

by patricia on August 12, 2011

As we move into a new phase of OWN with Oprah now at the helm, it is probably time for me to get a few more show ideas out there and lend her a bit of help! It takes a village to build a network, right? OWN viewers are loyal and want OWN to succeed, but we NEED some fresh ideas with a fresh perspective. This is what I’m offering up right now.

So, here are our Top 5 New Show Ideas.

Start Me Up – think Shark Tank meets the Big Give for this one. Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas and investors and/or Oprah and her team decide whether or not to give them a chance to make their dreams come true. Just as the computer industry began in a garage, let the newest revolutionary idea unfold on OWN.
Around the Kitchen Table With… – Now the title was supposed to say Maya at the end. I would LOVE to spend time with Maya Angelou around a table just talking. Since it may be hard to pull it off, why not
feature a different celebrity, social changer, politician, editor, history maker, etc. Interesting people sharing their incredible stories. Learning by listening to old stories – one of favorite ways to learn. I only wish I had done it more with my grandparents. Now the question is who could host such a show….if
not Oprah or Maya, then how about Maria Shriver? All I know is that it needs to be someone wise with great, calming energy.
Once in a Lifetime – making a dream come true for someone…anyone. An incredible surprise! Whether someone gets to go to a basketball game with Jack Nicholson, ring the bell on Wall Street, go shopping
with Vera Wang, swim with the sharks, or the one I personally would love…travel anywhere to report the news with Anderson Cooper. This could be an on-going show; please don’t end it after 6-8 episodes! It would be something for the whole family. We all need a little more light and hope in life…let this show give us both.
Top Ten – 30 minute show that highlights the top 10 adventures, moments that changed history, bizarre vacation destinations, coolest jobs, extreme sports, world teachers, cultural experience resorts, festivals around the world, etc. An easy half-hour show that is light and fun.
Cross Cultures – each week take a concept, like death and dying, and give OWN viewers a glimpse of how the topic is viewed around the world. Open our eyes to new ideas, concepts and beliefs. Our world is too small…make it bigger!

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