(Photo Courtesy: Erth’s Dinosaur Petting Zoo Puppet Show)
I’m a Pittsburgher, so puppetry is in my blood. Mister Rogers and his cast of puppets, like Lady Elaine Fairchilde andAna Platypus were my neighbors. They didn’t live in the house next door per say, but they did tape the show in my city.Recently, my daughter has expressed interest in puppet shows on TV. She tunes in to Barney and Friends and even knows how to pull up the purple dinosaur on my iPad. I wondered if her excitement would transfer to a live performance. But before I take my tot to a show, I needed to know that she would leave the drama on stage.
Yesterday, I sat down with Ra Jobe, a performer for Erth’s Dinosaur Petting Zoo. The unique puppet show takes audience members on a journey through prehistoric Australia. He told me four things I needed to do to prepare my little one to see a show.
Show Your Individuality & Win a Pittsburgh Staycation
My family has always been unique. We probably have a few black sheep in our bunch. Growing up, there were only two Hopson’s listed in Pittsburgh’s White Pages–one was my dad; the other my grandfather. My paternal grandparents met and married at age 16. They stayed together until death did them part, and over the 65 years of marital bliss, they welcomed 15 children and more than 30 children into their home and their hearts. Our family is filled with bakers and bouncers, moms and managers, contractors and childcare workers. My parents encouraged my sister and I to discover our own individuality–even if that meant joining and quitting teams, bands and dance schools. We eventually found our place. I went on to become a television news reporter who traveled the world, and my sister is leading a sweet life as the owner of a baking business called The Cupcake Crew. Now that I’m a mom myself, I want my daughter to embrace her individuality as well–even if she marches to the beat of her own drum.
Here’s what makes her absolutely, incredibly unique.
Hey DFTM Fam–How is your family/child unique?
Share your story by entering UPMC Health Plan’s Individuality Facebook Contest, and you could win a fun and fabulous Pittsburgh Staycation.
Prize Pack Includes:
A weekend stay at a top downtown Pittsburgh hotel
A Wild Encounter, behind-the-scenes experience at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Dinner at a great downtown restaurant
Personal tour of the Senator John Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh Sports Prize Pack
They had me at hotel…
Disclosure: I was contacted by UPMC Health Plan to write a sponsored story about the Individuality Contest. I am being compensated in some form for my work. All opinions in this article are my own.
Happy Anniversary to Me!
Dating Diary: What Will Packer Really Thinks
(Photo Courtesy: Rainforest Films)
Right now, casting is underway for Think Like a Man Too—the sequel to Steve Harvey’s hit comedy Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news, since women are always wondering what goes on in the minds of the opposite sex. Therefore, there will always be long lines outside of movie theaters that feature films finding an answer to our endless questions about relationships, love, commitment and intimacy.
When I was younger and played the “What Super Power Would You Wish For” game, I always wanted to be an invisible mind reader. I wanted to eavesdrop on my family’s conversations without being caught and peek into my neighbors’ lives in the privacy of their homes. I wanted to see if how they acted outside actually occurred inside. I didn’t hope to gain anything from it. I was just a bit nosey. As an adult, I still think that being an invisible mind reader would be a pretty awesome power to possess. I would definitely activate it and find out what’s really going on in the minds of men I meet.
Recently, I caught up with the film’s producer, Will Packer, to find out what he really thinks about dating. Fortunately, I didn’t need to be superwoman to get a glimpse inside his head.
Need a Cure for Mommy Brain? Stock up on Scott Products!
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Scott Shared Values #cbias #SocialFabric
Definition:
Mommy Brain is…oh wait, what did I log onto my computer to do? Oh yeah, I wanted to write an article about mothers experiencing memory loss known as Mommy Brain.
Symptoms:
In general, the signs and symptoms include:
Experiencing sleep deprivation;
Wondering why you walked into a room;
Forgetting where you put your car keys or other items;
Overloading your brain cells with feeding schedules and doctors appointments.
Causes:
Mommy Brain occurs when women deliver a baby, although there have been reported cases in pregnant women.
Treatment:
A proven treatment of Mommy Brain is writing shopping lists and stocking up on supplies, such as Scott bath tissue and Scott paper towels. When I first became a mother, I could no longer run out in the middle of the night to pick up these items. One night when I babysat my two nephews, my sister had to send a roll of Scott in their suitcase. She’s now a loyal Scott Toilet Paper customer, since her plumber recommended the brand after her pipes backed up.