One mans trash is another mans treasure. What exactly does that mean? I define the old saying as meaning what is useless to one, could be valuable to another. This saying runs true and is at the front of ones mind when browsing through a flea market, yard sale, or second hand store.
I have found countless “treasures” at flea markets and yard sales. It is amazing how thrifty these treasures were. So then it brings this question to mind. Why doesn't everyone shop at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores? In todays economy wouldn't everyone want to save a buck or two maybe even more?
Shopping second hand is a terrific way to save money but still not have to sacrifice quality. Why not buy something you really love and pay 50 to 95% less than what you would pay in a department store? If you are looking for something specifically and you need it yesterday then perhaps going to a regular retail store to buy it would make sense. However if you can take a couple of hours on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning, chances are you will find what you need at your local thrift shops, garage sales, and flea markets for over half the price of what you would have paid in a department store.
Why is it that you can buy things in flea markets, garage sales, or thrift stores for almost nothing? Is it because the items are junk, stolen goods, or outdated product? The answer is usually no, you get amazing buys at these places because people are looking to get rid of “extra stuff” they have accumulated and don't need anymore, or in the case of a vendor they may have bought a lot of items wholesale and are looking to reduce inventory. For whatever reason, it is you the shopper who benefits greatly from these super sales.
The consumer needs to be aware that these deals or great finds are not uncommon. They are out there every day waiting to be found. I use to spend hundreds of dollars on back to school clothes for my son. I found that visiting my local flea market there were vendors that sold name brand clothing for over half off the price I was paying at the mall or department store. So why you might ask would anyone shop retail? Many people are not aware that these bargains exist or they think they may have to rummage for hours to find them. This usually isn't the case.
Flea Markets now a days are set up almost like shopping malls. The vendors usually display what they are selling with sale signs and prices. In some flea markets, these vendors are separated into sections i.e.; beauty supplies, housewares, textiles, clothing, etc..and most have maps of the market so you can head over to the section that interests you most. However, I must add this may take all the fun out of your shopping experience. If you have the time, you can make a day of it at almost any flea market. Usually, in the center of the market, there will be a food court. This means half way through your shopping experience, you can stop for a hot dog and a soda, and if you are lucky, there may even be a funnel cake vendor sprinkling powdered sugar over a steamy hot pastry. This part of the day is my personal favorite!
Yard, garage, rummage, or estate sales are usually small enough you can peruse through the items in less time then it would take to park you car at the local mall or Walmart. These sales are usually where you can save the most money. This is because the sellers want to get rid of "extra stuff”. This stuff becomes clutter in their homes that they just don't use or need any longer. It becomes their own “trash” except instead of throwing it to waste they try to profit a little by selling it. These people don't normally research what something is worth. They slap a price sticker on it with what they think they can get and wait for someone to come along and buy it. Then someone comes along and finds the item to be exactly what they were looking for and it becomes a great find, an amazing deal, a treasure!
If you aren't the shy type, you can really get a lot of bang for your buck shopping flea markets and garage sales. The reason being is the art of negotiation. The people managing these sales do not want to pack up their stuff at the end of the day and take it home. So not only are the items you find already at a discounted price, with a little negotiating you can lower the price even more. I recommend shopping towards the latter part of the day because that is when you can obtain your best deal. You can use your negotiation skills at second hand stores as well, as these shops usually have items coming in daily from donations. It is important for these stores to change their merchandise around and keep it looking fresh to entice shoppers to return often.
In todays economy, people need to get the most for their money. If you are new to the second hand shopping experience I would highly recommend you give it a shot. Wake up on Saturday morning and take a ride through your neighborhood. Chances are you will see quite a few garage/yard sale signs. Stop by these sales and check them out. I guarantee you will be surprised at what you might find and how cheap it will cost. Look in your local paper for locations of flea markets and second hand stores. Take a few hours to swing by these establishments and browse around. You will be amazed when you realize how much money you could be saving and you will be hooked! Take your new found treasures home,enjoy them, and all at a fraction of the cost of retail. Happy Hunting!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Gripe Water? No Gripes Here...
I just had a baby boy a couple of months ago. He is my sun, my moon, my entire universe. He has big blue eyes and a smile so adorable it just melts your heart....at least that is until he starts screaming.
My son has colic. Any parent who has had a child with Colic knows how hard it is to deal with. The tough part is that doctors don't really have an explanation for it. They don't know what causes it and have no real treatment for it. Colic is generally defined as an otherwise healthy baby who cries or screams frequently for extended periods of times at least 3 times a week for no apparent reason. This can be hell on parents. For me it isn't the crying for hours that bothers me, what upsets me is knowing my son is in pain and there seems to be nothing I can do about it. I have tried all the suggestions given to try to soothe a fussy baby, laying him stomach down on my knees, rocking him, massaging his belly, burping, wrapping him in a warm towel, and trying to reduce stimulation like taking him in a dark room and playing soft music. All of those things might work for a moment or two but he will just start right up again.
I talked to my Pediatrician about it and she said we just have to tough it out that Colic normally goes away after a few months. Well I don't know about you but a few months of a extremely fussy baby seems like years. I did find that giving him a warm bath will immediately stop his crying but how long can you give a baby a bath? As soon as the water starts to cool off I take him out and the crying resumes. One day when I was visiting my parents house my son started to have one of his fits. My sister has a baby three weeks older than mine and she suggested I use Mylicon gas drops. She uses them for her son and said sometimes it really calms him down. She had some in her diaper bag so I tried it out. About five minutes after I gave my baby the drops he started to calm down. He had been crying for a good hour and a half so I wasn't sure if it was the drops or just sheer exhaustion that made him relax. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try it again so I bought a bottle. I found that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and when it does work it only slightly reduces the crying and screaming. If I pair it with rocking him it will usually do the trick.
One evening we ran out of drops and I asked my boyfriend to go the drugstore to get more Mylicon. While he was there he noticed a sale on something called "Baby's Bliss Gripe Water" this gripe water stated on the bottle that it eases gas and stomach discomfort often associated with colic, hiccups, and teething. The sale was 2 for 1 and being the good thrifty man I taught him to be he picked it up instead of the Mylicon. When he got home I immediately went on the Internet to learn about what it was. I wasn't just going to give my son something because it was on sale (although I did appreciate my boyfriends thriftiness). I read mixed reviews, the majority said it worked miracles but there were many reviews that were negative mainly because it wasn't regulated by the FDA. The Gripe Water is listed as an herbal supplement and used as a homeopathic method for relieving symptoms of colic. Well I am all about natural supplements as long as they are safe. But how do you know it is safe without it being regulated by the FDA? So I looked up the ingredients. The main active ingredient in this type of Gripe Water is Ginger and Fennel extract. Both of these extracts are known for calming effects on your digestive tract. I found no alcohol in this type of Gripe Water which seemed like the main complaint for the FDA not regulating it. I learned that there are many different types of Gripe Water. It is something that has been around for centuries and passed down generations in families that like to use natural remedies. The ingredients vary but most of them have some form of Ginger and or Fennel. So I decided to give it a try.
I don't know many people that believe in magic but that is the only word I can use that best describes this product. The next evening my son started to get very cranky. We gave him a dropper full before we fed him and then a dropper full after. WOW....he stopped crying...he remained calm and even started giving us lots of smiles. He cooed a bit and just seemed very relaxed. After about an hour he started getting sleepy and went to bed. We couldn't believe it. The evening time is the worse time for his fits of crying and screaming and to have him hang out with us being so chill in the evening was truly amazing. I decided I would like to try it during the day when he gets really cranky. Now please don't misunderstand I don't mind a fussy baby. When I say my son gets cranky I mean balls to the wall screaming, red faced, fists clenched, and tears streaming down his face. So trying anything (so long as it is safe) works for me.
My son also has terrible hiccups. He gets them at least 5 times a day and they last about 10 -15 minutes long. Since the Gripe Water states it helps hiccups I thought BONUS! Well sure enough the next day my son had a case of hiccups. I gave him a dropper of the Gripe Water and waited. It didn't do anything. His hiccup fit lasted as long as they usually do and seemed as strong as they normally are. However what I did notice was he wasn't cranky after that. He was very calm and very happy all day. Man, this makes me want to buy stock in Gripe Water! I really think it is amazing. I would recommend this product to anyone trying to cope with a colicky baby or a baby who has gas, reflux or other digestive problems. Of course you should always check with your pediatrician first. Days and evenings in our home is so much more peaceful now and less stressful knowing my son isn't in so much pain.
I read that many people make their own "Gripe Water" at home. For me it is much easier to buy it at the drugstore. I have found it isn't cheap, a bottle will cost you about eight to ten dollars. However it is so convenient to take with you anywhere you go. For my son it works in about 5 minutes. He starts to calm down immediately because he really likes the taste but then after a few minutes he stops crying completely and is more relaxed. I read there are also many other kinds of "Gripe Water" out there...I don't know about any of the others as I have not used them. I am going to stick with Baby's Bliss because I know it works and my son likes it. I also read that adults can even use it to soothe an upset stomach...I think I will try it myself when I start to feel sick. It already works for soothing me just because it soothes my baby. Gripe Water is nothing to gripe about. It is in my opinion a magical elixir that all parents of colicky babies should have in their medicine cabinet and diaper bag!
My son has colic. Any parent who has had a child with Colic knows how hard it is to deal with. The tough part is that doctors don't really have an explanation for it. They don't know what causes it and have no real treatment for it. Colic is generally defined as an otherwise healthy baby who cries or screams frequently for extended periods of times at least 3 times a week for no apparent reason. This can be hell on parents. For me it isn't the crying for hours that bothers me, what upsets me is knowing my son is in pain and there seems to be nothing I can do about it. I have tried all the suggestions given to try to soothe a fussy baby, laying him stomach down on my knees, rocking him, massaging his belly, burping, wrapping him in a warm towel, and trying to reduce stimulation like taking him in a dark room and playing soft music. All of those things might work for a moment or two but he will just start right up again.
I talked to my Pediatrician about it and she said we just have to tough it out that Colic normally goes away after a few months. Well I don't know about you but a few months of a extremely fussy baby seems like years. I did find that giving him a warm bath will immediately stop his crying but how long can you give a baby a bath? As soon as the water starts to cool off I take him out and the crying resumes. One day when I was visiting my parents house my son started to have one of his fits. My sister has a baby three weeks older than mine and she suggested I use Mylicon gas drops. She uses them for her son and said sometimes it really calms him down. She had some in her diaper bag so I tried it out. About five minutes after I gave my baby the drops he started to calm down. He had been crying for a good hour and a half so I wasn't sure if it was the drops or just sheer exhaustion that made him relax. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try it again so I bought a bottle. I found that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and when it does work it only slightly reduces the crying and screaming. If I pair it with rocking him it will usually do the trick.
One evening we ran out of drops and I asked my boyfriend to go the drugstore to get more Mylicon. While he was there he noticed a sale on something called "Baby's Bliss Gripe Water" this gripe water stated on the bottle that it eases gas and stomach discomfort often associated with colic, hiccups, and teething. The sale was 2 for 1 and being the good thrifty man I taught him to be he picked it up instead of the Mylicon. When he got home I immediately went on the Internet to learn about what it was. I wasn't just going to give my son something because it was on sale (although I did appreciate my boyfriends thriftiness). I read mixed reviews, the majority said it worked miracles but there were many reviews that were negative mainly because it wasn't regulated by the FDA. The Gripe Water is listed as an herbal supplement and used as a homeopathic method for relieving symptoms of colic. Well I am all about natural supplements as long as they are safe. But how do you know it is safe without it being regulated by the FDA? So I looked up the ingredients. The main active ingredient in this type of Gripe Water is Ginger and Fennel extract. Both of these extracts are known for calming effects on your digestive tract. I found no alcohol in this type of Gripe Water which seemed like the main complaint for the FDA not regulating it. I learned that there are many different types of Gripe Water. It is something that has been around for centuries and passed down generations in families that like to use natural remedies. The ingredients vary but most of them have some form of Ginger and or Fennel. So I decided to give it a try.
I don't know many people that believe in magic but that is the only word I can use that best describes this product. The next evening my son started to get very cranky. We gave him a dropper full before we fed him and then a dropper full after. WOW....he stopped crying...he remained calm and even started giving us lots of smiles. He cooed a bit and just seemed very relaxed. After about an hour he started getting sleepy and went to bed. We couldn't believe it. The evening time is the worse time for his fits of crying and screaming and to have him hang out with us being so chill in the evening was truly amazing. I decided I would like to try it during the day when he gets really cranky. Now please don't misunderstand I don't mind a fussy baby. When I say my son gets cranky I mean balls to the wall screaming, red faced, fists clenched, and tears streaming down his face. So trying anything (so long as it is safe) works for me.
My son also has terrible hiccups. He gets them at least 5 times a day and they last about 10 -15 minutes long. Since the Gripe Water states it helps hiccups I thought BONUS! Well sure enough the next day my son had a case of hiccups. I gave him a dropper of the Gripe Water and waited. It didn't do anything. His hiccup fit lasted as long as they usually do and seemed as strong as they normally are. However what I did notice was he wasn't cranky after that. He was very calm and very happy all day. Man, this makes me want to buy stock in Gripe Water! I really think it is amazing. I would recommend this product to anyone trying to cope with a colicky baby or a baby who has gas, reflux or other digestive problems. Of course you should always check with your pediatrician first. Days and evenings in our home is so much more peaceful now and less stressful knowing my son isn't in so much pain.
I read that many people make their own "Gripe Water" at home. For me it is much easier to buy it at the drugstore. I have found it isn't cheap, a bottle will cost you about eight to ten dollars. However it is so convenient to take with you anywhere you go. For my son it works in about 5 minutes. He starts to calm down immediately because he really likes the taste but then after a few minutes he stops crying completely and is more relaxed. I read there are also many other kinds of "Gripe Water" out there...I don't know about any of the others as I have not used them. I am going to stick with Baby's Bliss because I know it works and my son likes it. I also read that adults can even use it to soothe an upset stomach...I think I will try it myself when I start to feel sick. It already works for soothing me just because it soothes my baby. Gripe Water is nothing to gripe about. It is in my opinion a magical elixir that all parents of colicky babies should have in their medicine cabinet and diaper bag!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Change Your Thinking....Change Your Life!
I have been reading for many years about the idea that if you can change your thinking you can change your life. What I have read basically says if you can monitor your thoughts and think more positively you will have positive outcomes in your daily routines, relationships and situations. This idea goes even further by believing that you can even change your own reality. I decided a few years ago to give it a go. I started thinking more positively and started taking time to try to create my own reality.
Most of what I read stated that visualization helps one to make this happen faster. Now if you have ever tried to meditate or monitor your thoughts you know that this isn't a very easy thing to do. You start out with great intentions...quieting your mind and visualizing yourself doing something great or relaxing by a tree in a beautiful field of flowers then all of a sudden you are seeing yourself with an empty wallet and a handful of bills that are overdue and have 4 loads of laundry beside you that you haven't yet done. Then you try to refocus and try to visualize yourself feeling happy and at peace and then again your thoughts drift over to your full schedule, appointments missed, wondering what groceries you have to buy this week, and did I forget to turn off the stove after cooking breakfast this morning??!!! Now unless you are a monk living in the high hills of Shangri-la, quieting your mind and trying to change your thoughts is a very tough task for people. It is a big challenge to monitor your thoughts and try to "change your mind". It makes you aware that you are not as "in control" as you thought you may be of your own life!
One day I went to visit my mother. On this visit she taught me how to make something called a "vision board". She explained that in making this board you would be directing your thoughts towards what you are putting on the board. It enables you to actively think about what you want and then after it is made, you can look at it every day and visualize yourself having the items in the pictures and living the life you created. You can do this for just a few minutes every day and when you do, you are creating new thoughts and creating a new life.
Creating the vision board was so much fun. The premise is this...you find something like a piece of cardboard or something that you can glue stuff onto and hang on a wall (my mom liked to use a cake board that you would place wedding cakes on because they are round). Then you collect a bunch of magazines together. Make sure you have scissors and a glue stick handy. It is nice to have a clean space to work, a steamy cup of tea or coffee, and some good music playing in the background. Then you sit down and start looking through the magazines. The idea is when you see something that grabs you, really makes you feel happy or something you want, then cut it out. It doesn't have to be just an object...it can be words that make you feel good or a color that you really like...it can be anything at all. If it moves you, cut it out and then paste it on the board.
Sometimes the things that you cut out don't seem to make sense at first. Your not sure why that picture, color, word, or idea made you smile, but you cut it out anyway and place it on the board. You do this over and over until your board is full. You can also dress up your board with beads, lace, bows, or use stickers. What is amazing is after you are done the board shows you a story. You didn't plan on the story it just took shape as you were placing things on your board. Now that you are finished take some time to look at your board. See yourself having the things you cut out, believe the words that you posted, feel the happiness of your life in the story that was created.
I loved my vision board when I was done and I was amazed by the things I had cut out. The board showed me things about myself I wasn't even aware of. For example...I had always thought of myself as a girl that wasn't girly. Being a single mother and living independently I never leaned toward the "getting my nails done" or "crying at a good chick flick". After my board was done I had seen that one picture I cut out was of this woman who was dancing in a beautiful dress. She had her hair up and looked almost like a princess. She had birds flying around her as if she was a real life version of Cinderella. I realized that I truly wanted to feel like her. I had been unaware that in my life I had let myself go. I hadn't taken time to make myself feel good by dressing up and getting my hair done and just being a woman for awhile. Seeing that photo and picturing myself all dressed up in a beautiful gown with my hair swept up in an updo and dancing at a ball made me feel young and giddy. It actually made me laugh and smile! That's it I realized. That is what "change your thinking change your life" means. Just the thought of me all dressed up like Cinderella changed my thoughts about myself, changed my mood, and produced me to smile and laugh. It works!
Other things on my board I noticed started to materialize into my life. I had cut out a picture of an adult bicycle with a smaller child's bicycle next to it. To me that picture said "the big wheel turns the little wheel" which is something my father always says to me about my relationship with my son. I had my son at a young age and raised him up more as my equal instead of his parent. Well after thinking on that photo for awhile I noticed that my parenting style started to change. I became more in control of him and his behavior started to improve. I had cut out a photo of a guy and girl with their arms wrapped around one another and looking into each others eyes smiling. I was single but it wasn't me wanting a boyfriend that made me cut out the photo....it was the comfort, happiness, and love you could see in this photo that the couple had for one another. I am now in an amazing relationship and feel those exact same feelings that I felt when looking at that picture. I also had cut out the words "Be In The Now" and after looking at them over and over I stopped moping over the past...and reduced my worry over what the future may hold.
Creating the vision board was awesome but the results that showed up in my life after doing so were amazing. I learned that the idea of creating your own life just by changing your thoughts is true. I did it on a small scale but in doing so seeing the results helped me monitor my thoughts more often. Now I try to think about positive things instead of negative. I don't watch the news because it is always negative. I imagine myself smiling and feeling happy all the time. I imagine the world at peace and people shaking hands and hugging one another.
If my thinking has an influence on my life which in turn influences my children's and families lives which in turn effects the people they know...etc...etc....then isn't it possible for all of us to change the world? If we all start changing our thinking to more positive things, to love, to happiness and peace can't we all eventually bring a stop to injustice, discrimination, racism and war? With our thoughts we can bring prosperity and harmony into our homes, we can bring love and compassion to our communities, and we could bring countries together and live as one.
That vision board I made was done years ago...and now I am making another one. Another chapter or story will be created and I look forward to where this one will take me. I hope that more awareness will be brought to the world about this "idea" and that more people will try it for themselves. Using the vision boards is a great way to get started and fun too! Once you realize you have control over where your road leads the possibilities are indeed endless...!
Most of what I read stated that visualization helps one to make this happen faster. Now if you have ever tried to meditate or monitor your thoughts you know that this isn't a very easy thing to do. You start out with great intentions...quieting your mind and visualizing yourself doing something great or relaxing by a tree in a beautiful field of flowers then all of a sudden you are seeing yourself with an empty wallet and a handful of bills that are overdue and have 4 loads of laundry beside you that you haven't yet done. Then you try to refocus and try to visualize yourself feeling happy and at peace and then again your thoughts drift over to your full schedule, appointments missed, wondering what groceries you have to buy this week, and did I forget to turn off the stove after cooking breakfast this morning??!!! Now unless you are a monk living in the high hills of Shangri-la, quieting your mind and trying to change your thoughts is a very tough task for people. It is a big challenge to monitor your thoughts and try to "change your mind". It makes you aware that you are not as "in control" as you thought you may be of your own life!
One day I went to visit my mother. On this visit she taught me how to make something called a "vision board". She explained that in making this board you would be directing your thoughts towards what you are putting on the board. It enables you to actively think about what you want and then after it is made, you can look at it every day and visualize yourself having the items in the pictures and living the life you created. You can do this for just a few minutes every day and when you do, you are creating new thoughts and creating a new life.
Creating the vision board was so much fun. The premise is this...you find something like a piece of cardboard or something that you can glue stuff onto and hang on a wall (my mom liked to use a cake board that you would place wedding cakes on because they are round). Then you collect a bunch of magazines together. Make sure you have scissors and a glue stick handy. It is nice to have a clean space to work, a steamy cup of tea or coffee, and some good music playing in the background. Then you sit down and start looking through the magazines. The idea is when you see something that grabs you, really makes you feel happy or something you want, then cut it out. It doesn't have to be just an object...it can be words that make you feel good or a color that you really like...it can be anything at all. If it moves you, cut it out and then paste it on the board.
Sometimes the things that you cut out don't seem to make sense at first. Your not sure why that picture, color, word, or idea made you smile, but you cut it out anyway and place it on the board. You do this over and over until your board is full. You can also dress up your board with beads, lace, bows, or use stickers. What is amazing is after you are done the board shows you a story. You didn't plan on the story it just took shape as you were placing things on your board. Now that you are finished take some time to look at your board. See yourself having the things you cut out, believe the words that you posted, feel the happiness of your life in the story that was created.
I loved my vision board when I was done and I was amazed by the things I had cut out. The board showed me things about myself I wasn't even aware of. For example...I had always thought of myself as a girl that wasn't girly. Being a single mother and living independently I never leaned toward the "getting my nails done" or "crying at a good chick flick". After my board was done I had seen that one picture I cut out was of this woman who was dancing in a beautiful dress. She had her hair up and looked almost like a princess. She had birds flying around her as if she was a real life version of Cinderella. I realized that I truly wanted to feel like her. I had been unaware that in my life I had let myself go. I hadn't taken time to make myself feel good by dressing up and getting my hair done and just being a woman for awhile. Seeing that photo and picturing myself all dressed up in a beautiful gown with my hair swept up in an updo and dancing at a ball made me feel young and giddy. It actually made me laugh and smile! That's it I realized. That is what "change your thinking change your life" means. Just the thought of me all dressed up like Cinderella changed my thoughts about myself, changed my mood, and produced me to smile and laugh. It works!
Other things on my board I noticed started to materialize into my life. I had cut out a picture of an adult bicycle with a smaller child's bicycle next to it. To me that picture said "the big wheel turns the little wheel" which is something my father always says to me about my relationship with my son. I had my son at a young age and raised him up more as my equal instead of his parent. Well after thinking on that photo for awhile I noticed that my parenting style started to change. I became more in control of him and his behavior started to improve. I had cut out a photo of a guy and girl with their arms wrapped around one another and looking into each others eyes smiling. I was single but it wasn't me wanting a boyfriend that made me cut out the photo....it was the comfort, happiness, and love you could see in this photo that the couple had for one another. I am now in an amazing relationship and feel those exact same feelings that I felt when looking at that picture. I also had cut out the words "Be In The Now" and after looking at them over and over I stopped moping over the past...and reduced my worry over what the future may hold.
Creating the vision board was awesome but the results that showed up in my life after doing so were amazing. I learned that the idea of creating your own life just by changing your thoughts is true. I did it on a small scale but in doing so seeing the results helped me monitor my thoughts more often. Now I try to think about positive things instead of negative. I don't watch the news because it is always negative. I imagine myself smiling and feeling happy all the time. I imagine the world at peace and people shaking hands and hugging one another.
If my thinking has an influence on my life which in turn influences my children's and families lives which in turn effects the people they know...etc...etc....then isn't it possible for all of us to change the world? If we all start changing our thinking to more positive things, to love, to happiness and peace can't we all eventually bring a stop to injustice, discrimination, racism and war? With our thoughts we can bring prosperity and harmony into our homes, we can bring love and compassion to our communities, and we could bring countries together and live as one.
That vision board I made was done years ago...and now I am making another one. Another chapter or story will be created and I look forward to where this one will take me. I hope that more awareness will be brought to the world about this "idea" and that more people will try it for themselves. Using the vision boards is a great way to get started and fun too! Once you realize you have control over where your road leads the possibilities are indeed endless...!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Is Paula in or out on AI?
American Idol....what are they doing? I don't know about all of you but I am a huge AI fan. I have loved talent shows since I was young... does anyone remember Star Search? American Idol has really taken the proverbial torch where talent contests are concerned and I think they have done a fantastic job. It is amazing to see so many people flock to the auditions to give their best shot at obtaining the American Dream.
I know many people love to watch the show for the funny almost embarrassing auditions that many provide just to get their face in the spotlight, but I truly enjoy the heart warming stories of the rags to riches format that seems ever present in almost every season winner. However when I think about my favorite part of the show I always come back to the judges. American Idol just would not be the same without Simon, Paula, and Randy. There is a chemistry between them that just works. I tune in every week to see what unbelievably harsh words or uh "constructive criticism" Simon will give, I watch and count how many times Randy will say "pitchy" or "dog", and I yearn for the thumbs up, wide smile, teary eyes, and supportive advice Paula will give. I mean there is a perfect balance between them. Its always a bonus when we get to hear Paula use analogies that make us wonder what type of prescription drugs she may be on at the moment but then realize it is just her quirkiness that makes it all so funny.
This last season AI brought on Kara DioGuardi as a 4th judge.....IT DIDN'T WORK! No offense to Kara, I am sure she has plenty of qualifications to be sitting as a judge however she just doesn't "BRING IT'. She is almost like a female Simon and truthfully I don't understand why she is even there. Why mess with something so perfect? Kara threw everything off this last season...the perfect balance was no more. She seemed to pick fights with contestants, she made fun of many, and when she did give positive feedback she repeated herself over and over. How is she good for the contestants? How is she good for ratings, and why is it she went on stage last season and stripped down to a bikini??? So will someone tell me why Paula is now not going to be on the show but Kara is staying???
Now I don't know all the details but apparently Paula was getting chump change compared to Simon, Randy, and Ryan Seacrest. Now I understand that in this economy many people are saying she shouldn't complain and just take the 5 mill. Well what kind of message is that to the contestants? "Here let me throw you a couple million and you just do what we need you to. It doesn't matter that I pay so and so next to you triple what your getting to do the same thing....it doesn't matter that you are an integral part of the show....no all that matters is that you have a few million and in today's economy you should be grateful." That is not the right message to teach to anyone. People should get paid what they are worth period. Paula played a very important role in the success of American Idol and they are going to suffer severely without her. I just don't understand what they are thinking?
I have a solution. Take whatever you are paying Kara and add it to what you are offering Paula. Then tell Kara thanks...but its just not working...which would be the truth. Then leave a perfect balance of judges alone....pay them what they are worth.....and lets have an amazing season of American Idol this year!
I really hope negotiations continue and Paula continues to be the quirky, happy, supportive, loving, and super funny judge she always was. We need her positive spin to balance out the panel and we need her spunk to keep the flame lit. Without her...AI will let the torch burn out and that would really be a shame. They aren't only hurting themselves but the contestants futures, and the viewers entertainment as well. The show must go on I agree....but can it without Paula?? I don't think so...
I know many people love to watch the show for the funny almost embarrassing auditions that many provide just to get their face in the spotlight, but I truly enjoy the heart warming stories of the rags to riches format that seems ever present in almost every season winner. However when I think about my favorite part of the show I always come back to the judges. American Idol just would not be the same without Simon, Paula, and Randy. There is a chemistry between them that just works. I tune in every week to see what unbelievably harsh words or uh "constructive criticism" Simon will give, I watch and count how many times Randy will say "pitchy" or "dog", and I yearn for the thumbs up, wide smile, teary eyes, and supportive advice Paula will give. I mean there is a perfect balance between them. Its always a bonus when we get to hear Paula use analogies that make us wonder what type of prescription drugs she may be on at the moment but then realize it is just her quirkiness that makes it all so funny.
This last season AI brought on Kara DioGuardi as a 4th judge.....IT DIDN'T WORK! No offense to Kara, I am sure she has plenty of qualifications to be sitting as a judge however she just doesn't "BRING IT'. She is almost like a female Simon and truthfully I don't understand why she is even there. Why mess with something so perfect? Kara threw everything off this last season...the perfect balance was no more. She seemed to pick fights with contestants, she made fun of many, and when she did give positive feedback she repeated herself over and over. How is she good for the contestants? How is she good for ratings, and why is it she went on stage last season and stripped down to a bikini??? So will someone tell me why Paula is now not going to be on the show but Kara is staying???
Now I don't know all the details but apparently Paula was getting chump change compared to Simon, Randy, and Ryan Seacrest. Now I understand that in this economy many people are saying she shouldn't complain and just take the 5 mill. Well what kind of message is that to the contestants? "Here let me throw you a couple million and you just do what we need you to. It doesn't matter that I pay so and so next to you triple what your getting to do the same thing....it doesn't matter that you are an integral part of the show....no all that matters is that you have a few million and in today's economy you should be grateful." That is not the right message to teach to anyone. People should get paid what they are worth period. Paula played a very important role in the success of American Idol and they are going to suffer severely without her. I just don't understand what they are thinking?
I have a solution. Take whatever you are paying Kara and add it to what you are offering Paula. Then tell Kara thanks...but its just not working...which would be the truth. Then leave a perfect balance of judges alone....pay them what they are worth.....and lets have an amazing season of American Idol this year!
I really hope negotiations continue and Paula continues to be the quirky, happy, supportive, loving, and super funny judge she always was. We need her positive spin to balance out the panel and we need her spunk to keep the flame lit. Without her...AI will let the torch burn out and that would really be a shame. They aren't only hurting themselves but the contestants futures, and the viewers entertainment as well. The show must go on I agree....but can it without Paula?? I don't think so...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
