lee's things

Looking for a magician in Vancouver? London? Calgary? Toronto?

2012-01-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

The Directory of Canadian Magicians has been relaunched! It now features the ability to filter results by province and to sort by name, city and province.

If you're looking for a magician in Canada, check out this directory.

Go red

2012-01-28T09:09:00.005-05:00

From Ask Moxie:

or watch on YouTube.

Video: Reverse table cloth

2011-10-02T08:59:00.001-04:00

[h/t: Teller]

Paper roll people

2011-09-19T09:31:00.000-04:00

Posted over at Craft Day.

Sorcerers Safari lip dub

2011-09-05T10:37:00.005-04:00

The campers and crew at Sorcerers Safari did a lip dub at camp last week.

Not only is it a single shot from start to finish, there are some really talented campers showing their stuff! Enjoy!

Music with cards

2011-08-21T18:54:00.003-04:00

A YouTube video showing that music can be found everywhere, even in a deck of cards, if you'll just listen.

[h/t: iTricks.com]

Donate to emergency relief operations in the Horn of Africa

2011-07-29T14:24:00.002-04:00

If you wish to donate to the emergency relief operations in the Horn of Africa, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Canadian Red Cross are accepting donations. The Canadian Red Cross is also accepting donations via text message through www.mobilegiving.ca.

MLF&H: Only five days left!

2011-07-27T13:39:00.001-04:00

Only 5 days left to grab the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo at last year's price of $39

Read all the details at the website of Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

I've already placed my order!

--
Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

You can't win if you don't play

2011-07-15T19:18:00.001-04:00

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Happiness: have meaningful goals

2011-07-12T07:31:00.000-04:00

Rule number four, from the article 10 Things Science Says Will Make You Happy , is to have meaningful goals.

Harvard’s resident happiness professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, agrees, “Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable.”

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

MLF&H: The UBTSC (classic or colourful) is back!

2011-07-11T13:50:00.002-04:00

Yes, I know. I'm just getting settled into the rhythm of summer and don't want to be thinking about back-to-school.

I thought you'd want to know that this year there are early bird savings to be had by ordering in July!

Also new this year you can order 40 extra skinny-minis for $11.95.

Available only until September 30th this combo includes:

50 Tag Mates™
40 Skinny-Minis™
16 Shoe Labels
2 Teeny Tags™

Choose from 6 limited edition Classic colour palettes or 27 Colourful Label Out Loud™ designs, plus 6 exclusive Ultimate Back-to-School Combo motifs available for both lines.

Read all the details at the website of Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

I've already placed my order!

--
Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

Also a cool treat, but not so healthy

2011-07-10T08:57:00.000-04:00

Yummy and easy recipe for "Fresh Fruit Ice Cream" over at Parent Hacks.

I'm going to try upping the fruit content and finding a way to reduce the sugar and fat some.

Cool summer treat

2011-07-09T08:40:00.000-04:00

and mini-craft for kids!

Jeff McBride 2009 Sorcerer's Apprentice (Masters of Illusion)

2011-07-08T19:58:00.002-04:00

One of my favourite routines (Miser's Dream) by one of my favourite performers (Jeff McBride).

Summer is a magical time for kids to learn magic

2011-05-31T14:16:00.002-04:00

Reprinted, with permission, from Canada's Magic.

Do your children want to learn magic this summer? Then you've come to the right place! We've highlighted the magic programs for children offered through Canada this summer.

Sorcerers Safari

When talking about summer, magic and children, the first name that always comes to my mind is Sorcerers Safari Summer Camp. Sorcerers Safaris is a sleep-away camp in the Haliburton Highlands about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto. This year's camp runs from Tuesday August 30th to Sunday Sept 4th, 2011. The camp is coordinated by Mike Segal and boasts an amazingly talented and experienced staff!

To register or for more information, visit SorcersSafari.ca.

Take a peek at the highlights from last year's camp!

Oh, Magic Camp from Rotten Pictures on Vimeo.

Not interested in a sleep-away experience?

Mega Magic Camp, Calgary

If you're looking for something in Western Canada, check out Mega Magic Camp with Sean Watson and Brent Smith in Calgary from August 22nd to August 26th, 2011.

To register or for more information, visit MegaMagicCamp.com.

Ottawa

In the Ottawa area, Eric LeClerc runs English and French language magic classes during the summer. His 2011 dates haven't been posted yet. Keep checking his website for more information.

Greater Toronto Area

Some of the Sorcerers Safari Summer Camp crew will also be teaching magic in Toronto area day camps. Some of these day camps are offering an introductory magic classes for the entire camp summer and some of the camps also offer a 'Magic Course/Specialty' that run on particular dates.

At present, the participating day camps are:

Bayview Glen: offers a general magic activity 3 days a week for the full summer

Zodiac: offers a specialty magic program (a 2 week program, twice over their 8 week summer course)

Crestwood (warning, website autostarts a video with sound): offers a general program 4 days a week for the entire summer

For more information about the magic taught at the day camps, contact Sorcerers Safari Summer Camp. For more information about the camps in general, or to register, contact the day camps directly.

We hope your summer is magical!

Reprinted, with permission, from Canada's Magic.

Parenting experts

2011-05-19T19:08:00.000-04:00

Inspired by this tweet:

everyone is the perfect parent until they have kids :) @karynclimans @MumsnChums @CoreExpectationless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyJulie Cole
juliecole

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Taco / burrito seasoning

2011-05-12T19:26:00.003-04:00

Inspired by Andrea's post, "Reduced-sodium taco recipe, er, assembly" I went searching for a recipe for taco or burrito meat seasoning. So far, the troops have been pretty happy with this one from Food.com, "Taco Seasoning - Budget Friendly Seasoning for Tacos, Burritos."

Pass the salsa!

No expectations

2011-05-08T09:17:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

It's your responsibility

2011-05-02T00:11:00.001-04:00

Election in your area today?

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

When was the last time you squeezed your lemons?

2011-04-28T08:53:00.001-04:00

From Freshly Squeezed:

Needing to know your lemons is not an illusion.

International Grand Illusionist Ryan Joyce has sent a personal message to remind everyone just how important it is to squeeze your lemons! Knowing if something feels different could just save your life!

Read more to find out how much money has been raised by Ryan for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

[h/t: Canada's Magic]

Reference: blogging tools

2011-04-23T09:16:00.004-04:00

Great post over at Problogger titled "15 Blogger Resources Not Previously Featured on ProBlogger." My favourite:

6. Timely: A Twitter tool that tells you the best time to tweet for maximum impact.

7. TinEye: A reverse image search tool.

and

13. Color Scheme Designer: A simple tool that creates color combinations with the click of a mouse.

Apropos of nothing

2011-04-21T13:49:00.002-04:00

Three Little Kittens
Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme
Written By: Unknown, Copyright Unknown

Three little kittens,
They lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother dear,
We sadly fear
Our mittens we have lost.
What! Lost your mittens,
You naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
You shall have no pie.

The three little kittens,
They found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother dear,
See here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.
What! Found your mittens,
You darling kittens!
Then you shall have some pie.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
You shall have some pie.

The three little kittens,
Put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie;
Oh, mother dear,
We greatly fear
Our mittens we have soiled.
What! Soiled your mittens,
You naughty kittens!
Then they began to sigh,
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
They began to sigh.

The three little kittens,
They washed their mittens,
And hung them out to dry;
Oh mother dear,
Look here, look here,
Our mittens we have washed.
What! Washed your mittens,
You're such good kittens.
I smell a rat close by!
Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush!
Hush! Hush! Hush!
I smell a rat close by.

The universe has to move forward

2011-04-20T12:42:00.001-04:00

RIP Elisabeth Sladen

"The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world, or a relationship... Everything has its time. And everything ends. "

--Sarah Jane Smith, School Reunion

Out vs in

2011-04-15T18:49:00.001-04:00

I previously mentioned Priscilla Claman's terrific post on "How to Avoid Impossible Assignments."

This part of the first paragraph caught my attention:

Burnout occurs when you expend more internal resources and energy than you take in. It's not just a matter of working hard, which at the best of times can feel exciting and motivating. Burnout is exhausting — whether you are working hard or not.

It reminds me of a previous post titled "Relax" which also talks about the importance of filling one's own tank.

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Clutter vs focus

2011-04-12T14:03:00.000-04:00

From the article "Scientists find physical clutter negatively affects your ability to focus, process information"

Or, to paraphrase in non-neuroscience jargon: When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment.

Read more.

I wonder if the brains of people who seem to work best amongst clutter differ from those subjects in the study mentioned in the article.

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.