Lisa M. Frame

Parenting

Let’s Dance: Gold’s Gym Dance Workout for Wii Review & Giveaway!

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I was recently contacted by Ubisoft and the Clever Girls Collective to be one of their “Ubisoft Champions” and participate in their social media program. We are huge fans of Ubisoft games in our house and I felt it was a good fit. I game to not only blow off steam, but to spend extra time with my ten-year old son. His friends think I am the “cool” mom! Which is especially helpful when dealing with a bunch of pre-pubescent tweens.

When I received my package in the mail, I was thrilled to find Gold’s Gym Dance Workout for Wii. I am working on getting into better shape and after having danced various mediums for 13 years, this was a win in my book. Starting off was pretty easy as the game collects basic information from you (height, weight, age) and then takes you through some basic steps in a tutorial. While coordination is needed, it’s pretty easy the second time you practice. You just have to remember to look for the hints to change you moves, which are displayed clearly.

After that, I was able to select a personal trainer and then set up an ongoing program for myself. Fun. I picked the “Exercise is Fun” option, which included Merengue and a matador type game where I used my hips to avoid the bull! Let’s just say, I am going to need some work on that part, as I was knocked senseless by the bull on multiple occasions! My son has been playing the boxing fitness portion and loved it. When done, he decided that he need to lay down on the den floor and take a break. Part of his problem during the boxing inspired dance routines was not being able to stay in time with the rhythm. If you can, imagine Speedy Gonzalez playing Frank Sinatra and trying to dance.

Music is always key to my happiness when I am exercising; and Gold’s Gym Dance Workout includes some of my favorites by Madonna, Gloria Gaynor, the Beach Boys, Blondie and Santana. Plus, the mini-games that target specific muscle groups? Fantastic. They also do a quick warm up and cool down during each set of workouts to help prevent injuries?

Are their any cons? Not really. It takes a little coordination and repeating some of the moves a few times, but that is normal with any dance or exercise class. The only other thing? I would love it if the trainers actually spoke to you like they do on the Wii Fit games, however that is of very little concern to me. The fact that it gets me exercising and moving is the biggest boon of of Gold’s Gym Dance Workout.

Now the fun part. Ubisoft is providing a copy of Gold’s Gym Dance Workout for Wii to giveaway! I can feel the salsa dancing in spirit already. However, to be entered, I need you to do a few things.

Here’s how to enter:

I like to make it easy.

  1. Follow me on Twitter.
  2. Like A Daily Pinch on Facebook.
  3. Follow Ubisoft on Twitter.
  4. Leave us a comment when you’ve done that and tell me you’ve done any of the above!

That’s it!

WINNER will be randomly drawn from all entries and ANNOUNCED on MONDAY, AUGUST 30TH. Good luck!

I was selected by Ubisoft and Clever Girls Collective to be part of the Ubisoft Champions social media program. I am compensated for my participation in this program, but my reviews are solely my own and represent my honest opinions. Ubisoft and the Clever Girls Collective promote Blog With Integrity.

On IndoJax, Surfing Life’s Waves and the Visually Impaired Camp

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It was a sight for sore eyes…

After the way this year has been with traveling, the hectic nature of modern family life and other things going on that I won’t mention here, it was great to go out and visit with the IndoJax crew and watch them run this camp for visually impaired children. We could’ve spent the time almost anywhere in the Wilmington, NC area. But we chose to spend it here. With these folks. Doing this…

My wife and I have known IndoJax’s owner Jack Viorel for a few years now. It was a total fluke how we met. We were on vacation a few years ago and I decided I wanted to get surf lessons. Having grown up in Maryland, I knew a thing or two about water sports, but I mostly stuck with boogie boarding and body surfing as a kid. But I really wanted to learn how to surf and was pretty pumped that Kure and Carolina Beach had small, fun-sized waves on a beach break, thanks to the sandbar just a little ways offshore.

At any rate, I signed up for lessons through one of the bicycle/surfboard rental shops on the island only to show up and find out that the rental shop didn’t tell me where to go and they didn’t tell Jack I was dropping in on his week-long class for an AM lesson. But I was drawn to his honesty, his positive energy and vibe overall. We hit it off that AM surf session and we’ve stayed in touch since then.

Have you ever been around a person who not only made you feel better about yourself and the world, but made you feel like there was a better version of yourself waiting to be discovered? And that you had the ability to discover that version of yourself? Well, Jack is that kind of guy to me. Because that’s how I feel when I’m around him and his crew.

And so for a child, who is visually impaired or medically fragile, I could only imagine the feeling of freedom they must feel out on the waves with a board under their feet. It’s so simple. So freeing. Yet inexplicable. I know for me, when I catch a wave it’s a feeling of pure unadulterated joy. But I don’t have health issues and I can express what it means to surf. I honestly have no frame of reference to compare what the experience of surfing is like to these kids.

But honestly, it doesn’t matter. The fact is these kids are being given a chance to experience something special. And it doesn’t matter if they can’t put it into words or may not even be able to place their experience into context. It’s their moment, after all.

Just watching them enjoy it is enough.

I’m going to leave you with this short clip the IndoJax folks put up on their YouTube page. It’s from last year, but you’ll get the idea what this camp is all about. I just ask you to watch it and read the comments…

Visually Impaired Camp \’09

Some days, I think I would prefer a kick in the teeth…

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You know those days. They string along and things are just, well, “wonky”. When it’s just been one thing after another and you can’t figure out quite what is going on.  I for one, blame it on Mars being in retrograde. Well, I try to at least.

Last Thursday was a good day. I found a great doctor to treat my PCOS, had a fantastic lunch with friends and was happy as all get out.  However, later that night when I thought I was going to lose a lung puking changed my attitude. Let me just say this, FOOD POISONING SUCKS!
Ok. Back to my irregularly scheduled blogging.  The only temporary benefit of said illness was the 10lb weight loss from Thursday morning to Saturday morning was a boon, if only for a few days.
My husband did what all husbands do while you are in bed sick. Nothing. Well, not nothing, he did watch over Peanut. However, at 9 years old, Peanut is pretty darn self sufficient with most things.  Last night, let’s just say, I let it spill out due to my exhaustion from trying to clean the house “my way”. He was thrilled. o_0.
Peanut had a massive meltdown today. It has been fantastic. He wants to be a bond trader when he grows up. I am all for it. Come to think of it, he also wants to be a doctor, actor and rule the world. I think we have you covered depending on what you need for the most part. I digress. My little fella is in the gifted program at school and they do work that isn’t normally brought home as “homework”. Imagine my surprise when I get the separate report card we receive from AIG telling me he had extra sheets he was supposed to do and didn’t do them!
Did I mention he is organizationally challenged?
He asked what he was going to lose immediately when I asked him about it. I hadn’t even thought that far, then the torrential stream of tears started.  Various liquids poured out of every orifice it seemed like. Hey, when you are as grossed out by snot as I am, it seems like it’s coming everywhere.
That’s what I get for asking “So, what happened Peanut?”. Woof.
Peanut is so high strung. He gets it honest. I was the same way when I was his age. My husband? If he tries to tell you any differently, I will hold him down while you give him a noogie. We have mellowed considerably in our old age.  Maybe. I dunno. It gets to me to see him so hard on himself. He is his own worst enemy and his perfectionistic streak runs deep. So, today to be a better parent, I am going to be watching my own reactions to things. How critical I am of myself. While it’s good to constructively criticize, it’s not good to destructively criticize and influence others.
Thanks Peanut. You teach me new lessons everyday so that I can guide you through the emotional years that are ahead of you my love.

A simple gesture…

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Spring break has been in full swing around here, along with copious quantities of pollen.  I have been trying to let Peanut enjoy his days off to the fullest knowing that with the end of his break comes crunch time before end-of-grade testing (EOG’s).

However, we were cleaning up his room and I ran across his iPod shuffle. My little geek has moved up to the iPod touch courtesy of Santa Claus, but still held on to his little blue 1gb toy that he bought himself with the allowance money he had saved.  It was nice for him to reminisce over, in his words, “obsolete” technology. Have I ever mentioned that he is a 60 year old man trapped in the body of a 9 year old?

What did he do with his little shuffle? Instead of keeping his first little geeky purchase, he decided to give it to a family friend. She is just realizing her electronics curiosity, however due to a very serious year long illness has not worked and money is tight. My husband and I had discussed purchasing her an iPod, but he said “Mom, let’s give this to KT. She could use it and it would make her happy to have it while exercising”.

Go ahead, let you heart melt just a little more.  The only thing I could think was “what a freaking precious kid I have” and “holy shit, I have done a good job as a parent”. It was a moment all parents wish to have. Eye-opening, awe-inspiring and soul fulfilling.  My little man showed me depth, compassion and giving that is beyond his years and will help shape him, as well as me, for years to come. He reminded me that it’s the little things that count and that while many would keep their “stuff”, he freely gave his.

How did KT react? Same way I did, with tears. It’s been a long trying year for her and it made her week. While she isn’t a mother, she has plans to be and gave me the highest compliment I have ever had. “I hope one day my kids can be as giving as Peanut”.

For Peanut? He was cool and collected. He didn’t want thanks, only to see joy.

Just as it should be.

Bean Chat with Gevalia

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Tomorrow, I am hosting #beanchat for Gevalia coffee. We are going to discuss coffee, blogging and various other topics regarding things near and dear to my heart. Cooking, coffee, parenting, volunteer work and Dress for Success.

Join me and the crew from Gevalia at 10:00 a.m. for #beanchat.  Browse over to http://bit.ly/BeanGrid and log in to your Twitter account.

It will be a fantastic time for all!

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