Under other circumstances, you may give exactly zero sh*ts about celebrities but you are almost guaranteed to fall in love with A-listers Kristen Bell and her hubby Dax Shepard after watching this video.
Before the couple started a family, they were determined to go out with a bang on a trip to Africa.
They shot a video of themselves lip synching, air-guitaring, and generally hamming it up to the tune of Toto's classic song, "Africa." The video of them frolicking with big game and doing the running man is charming and silly and utterly pointless, if I'm honest.
"Our sole objective was to rage hard and honor Toto properly. Hope you enjoy," reads the description of the video on Shepard's YouTube channel. And by the looks of it, the video is perking up social media feeds everywhere with tons of shares. I suspect what people adore most is the couple's ability - despite their fame - to take life and themselves lightly.
It might as well be the tourism board's new commercial. However, word has it that officials weren't too thrilled with the actors' wanderlust. Apparently they were fined for that scene in which they danced with migrating wildebeest.
Now all parents-to-be will be vying to "take some time to do the things we never have." And thanks to Dax and Kristen, my lifelong dream of an African safari still rages strong.
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A principal of an elementary school in England is the source of much discourse after she sent home a letter to parents urging them not to wear their pyjamas when dropping off their kids at school.
The head at Skerne Park Academy in Darlington, Kate Chisholm was driven to write the note because parents of her students were increasingly coming to school in PJs. Some, incredibly, were even wearing bed wear - including slippers - to school assemblies!
While it seems to state the obvious, Chisholm urged parents to "take the time to dress appropriately in day wear that is suitable for the weather conditions.” For this she has been both applauded and condemned by parents from all over.
In trying to "raise the bar," she rightly wants parents to set a good example for their children. In the letter, Chisholm claimed the dress sense of parents was a “pretty poor indictment of the parenting skills of some of our families.”
Obviously attending any event wearing pyjamas brings new meaning to the term "casual dress." Any self-respecting parent should not be attending a school assembly looking like they just rolled out of bed.
However, not everyone needs to dress as though they are headed straight to a board meeting when they drop their child off at school. After all, some people work from home. Some walk their dogs. This hardly calls for a power suit. For some people (hi!) just getting their child to the school gate on time every morning, with a meal in his belly and boots on the right feet, is nothing short of a Nobel-worthy feat.
My son's appearance - not mine - is my primary focus; I don't have the time or the inclination to doll up for the sake of other parents or faculty.
While I don't wear PJs, I am partial to clean jeans or yoga pants. Nor do I typically have time for much more than a splash of water and moisturizer. On occasion - if things are really going like clockwork and my son is cooperating with the routine - I will go all out and slap on a bit of makeup, but that's the exception, not the rule. And doing so doesn't make me less of a parent.
Having said all that, Chisholm is right to tell parents to make an effort, provided she keeps a firm grip on reality. Sometimes you can't have it both ways. You can either have a child at school before the bell or you can have a smartly dressed parent... I know which should take precedence.
You all remember Carly Fleischmann? She famously wrote a book about her experience with autism despite the fact that she is nonverbal. She gave the world a glimpse of what autism feels like with this video, then she went on to university in Toronto.
Well, Carly has a birthday wish and that's for this video of a Starbucks worker she met to go viral. And after watching it, I think you'll agree it's not a big ask.
Firstly, the teenager named Sam works as a barista. So what, you might say? But then you wouldn't realize how very few people on the spectrum manage to find meaningful work at all, even though they show substantial skill and promise. Having a job of any kind is a huge deal.
Like lots of autistics, Sam can't keep his body still. But rather than calling him out for moving constantly, Sam's enlightened manager Chris saw the bigger picture. He understands the teen's very difference is what he brings to the table. Or counter, if you will.
Chris helped Sam channel his moves into dance. He's now known as the "Dancing Barista," and personally I'd sooner be served by someone with a bounce in his step, like Sam, rather than a dour robot.
We need more people like Chris doing that thing which everyone in business talks about but is in fact shit scared to do - think outside of the box.
We need more Chris' taking a chance on more Sams, who have so much to offer with a bit of support.
So happy birthday to you, Carly! Thanks for sharing the "Dancing Barista" with the world. He's already made my week.
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