Thursday, May 21, 2009

World's Happiest Places.....

The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development recently released a new study, ranking the world's nations by the happiness levels of their citizens. So where exactly ARE the happiest people in the world? Read on to find out.....

10. Belgium
9. Norway
8. New Zealand
7. Switzerland
6. Canada
5. Ireland
4. Sweden
3. The Netherlands
2. Finland
1. Denmark

Side Note: The U-S did receive an above-avergae score but failed to crack the top 10.

Have a great SUNNY (and happy) weekend!

Erin

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Happiness Secrets.....

Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of "The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want" has studied "happiness" (and the science of it), for years. The following are a few tips to help you increase your bursts of happiness throughout the day!

*Avoid Overthinking-it'll make you feel more pessimistic, more "out of control" and effects your self esteem
*Focus on your Relationships-loved ones are critical to your happiness....so always take the time to nurture them
*Pick a Goal-Commit yourself to a project (work or fun). Happy people all have goals they care about
*Practice Acts of Kindness-practical, everyday gestures that make someone's life a little easier, will make you happier as well
*Take Care of your Body-carve out a small part of your day to give your body some TLC. It'll go a long way in boosting your happiness.

For more info. on Sonja, you can check out her website
http://chass.ucr.edu/faculty_book/lyubomirsky/

Have a "happy" long weekend!!

Erin

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Mother's Day Run and Walk

On Mother's Day (Sunday)....thousands of adults (Moms and Dads included), kids and seniors will run the annual Mother's Day Run & Walk here in Calgary.
Included in those thousands will be Meg Tucker of the Freeway and Meg Morning Show and me! I've talked Meg into walking it with me (instead of running)....my 7 month pregnant belly is slowing me down!!

Last year's Run and Walk raised half a million dollars for the neo-natal intensive care unit and special care nurseries in the Calgary Health Unit. This year's event will benfit the same organizations. Monies raised, will buy 2 hybrid bed warmers, two cardiac monitors and two triple-channel intravenous pumps.
Meg and I are part of "Team Peyton".....I've attached the story of how Team Peyton came about. It's a very touching story.....we're both very proud to be part of their team!

As some of you know, this will be the 4th year that Team Peyton will be participating in the Forzani Group Foundation’s Mother’s Day Run & Walk (www.mdrunandwalk.com). This year, the funds raised will once again be going to a place that will always be close to our hearts: the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Units and Special Care Nurseries of Calgary (and surrounding area) hospitals.

As many of you know, we have some history with both these areas of the Rockyview and Foothills Hospitals. On January 15, 2006, we tragically and unexpectedly lost our first child, our precious baby girl Peyton Olivia LeManne just three days before her due date. The dedicated doctors and nurses tried desperately to save our little girl, but she passed away in mommy’s arms just 5 hours after she was delivered. She had inexplicably contracted an infection and had started to hemorrhage just 24 hours prior to her emergency delivery via c-section. Up until then she was a healthy, vibrant little girl, and her loss was devastating to us, our families and friends. Recovery has been a long and winding road, and we miss those dark and beautiful eyes every day. In her memory and fighting spirit, TEAM PEYTON was formed, and ran their inaugural run 4 months after her death, on Mother’s Day 2006. The team wound up raising nearly $10,000, and as a result of our success, a Family Team division was added to the event the following year.

Late summer 2006, we were lucky enough to get pregnant again, and were told right before Christmas that we were expecting a boy. As Peyton’s death was still somewhat of a medical mystery, our doctor recommended a scheduled c-section 3 weeks prior to our son’s due date. On April 30th, 2007, our darling boy Wesley Everitt Stephen LeManne was delivered. Not even an hour after delivery, the nurse noticed his wheezing and crying was not subsiding, and was sounding somewhat irregular. He was taken to the Special Care Nursery, where they diagnosed him with Hyaline Membrane Disease, (also known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome) due to a set of very underdeveloped lungs. His situation worsened over the next couple of days, and our strong little man had to be intubated to help him breathe, and had to have a chest tube inserted in his right side to help drain the pneumothorax* that subsequently developed. (*Air leaks between the chest and outer tissues of the lungs) As a result he was transferred from the Rockyview Hospital to the Foothills NICU for more intensive care. It was very difficult watching our little man in pain and fighting to breathe on his own. But day after day, he slowly got better, and after a harrowing two weeks, we were finally able to take him home, as luck would have it, on Mother’s Day—after Team Peyton (minus mommy and Wesley) ran their second year.

This Mother’s Day, Team Peyton will once again be running and walking in memory of our little girl, and now, in honour of her little brother as well. If it wasn’t for the NICU and Special Care Nurseries, and the skilled and dedicated doctors and nurses that staff them, Wesley would not be here with us today. We are eternally grateful for the services and care provided, and are committed to continue raising funds for the areas of the hospitals that house some of the most fragile and vulnerable patients.

Since Team Peyton’s inaugural run in 2006, we have raised more than $18,500. Last year we were the top Family Fundraising Team, and we hope to be again this year.
Please help Team Peyton in having our most successful year yet. All donations are greatly appreciated, and as you can see through our now-healthy baby boy Wesley, will be put to the best of uses.

Registration information for this Sunday's event can be found at mdrunandwalk.com

Have a GREAT weekend.....and Happy Mother's Day!!

Erin

Friday, May 1, 2009

Case of Frank's Missing Chewed Gum!!





This morning, during the last 20 minutes of the Freeway and Meg Morning Show, Frank (as he does every morning) took his gum out of his mouth so that he could talk.
Freeway often sticks it on a piece of paper....once he’s done chatting on the radio he promptly pops the sticky mess back in his mouth.
Today, something went wrong. He lost his piece of chewed gum. Oh the drama!! In the middle of Meg’s final Hollywood 360 of the day, Frank jumped up and starting grabbing his bum and other parts of his body....(in a total tizzy) trying to figure out where the gum had gone. Producer Ian and I just laughed, as Meg (while on the air), advised Frank to “please stop touching himself”!!! Haaaaaaaaa! The poor girl was trying to keep it together. The way Frank was jumping around, you would have thought we’d thrown some red ants down his pants. (I am laughing really hard as I write this).
About an hour and a half later....during my radio show, Frank throws open the studio door and yells “Erin I found my gum!!!!!!”. Enjoy the pictures....this is where he finally found the gum.



True Confessions!!

The economy stinks but that doesn't mean you have to suffer all the time.....so what AREN'T you giving up? What's YOUR guilty pleasure? According to a recent poll, here's some of your Guilty Pleasures!!


Eating Out 20%
Sweet and Salty Snacks 15%
Reality TV 16%
Fashion (still can't resist a good sale!!) 12%
Celebrity Gossip Magazines 12%
Beauty Treatments (manicures/pedicures/massages, etc) 5%

Have a great week indulging-you deserve it!!

Erin
erin@energy1015.com