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Helena Kaufman

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Early Start to Torment with Hallmark’s Christmas Catalogue

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Thoughts of Christmas and the emotional roller coaster come early to Helena Kaufman as these Nutcracker Soldiers stand guard for holiday greetings and things to come
happy holidays red door mat to help step into the holiday season with warmth and confidence - and it starts earlier and earlier every year
Early step into the season. Communicate with warmth and confidence

It is 64 days to Christmas as I write this late on a Sunday night in the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver, BC to be precise. I begin my anticipatory ruminations of the holiday season ahead, early, in one of the locations where Hallmark shoots the more than 40 Christmas movies it releases each and every year. It’s not Hallmark Media’s fault that I voluntarily dial up one of their movies and torment myself early by reminding myself (I know I am not alone in this) of what lies ahead in holiday land. Nor can I blame the older catalog of films produced under the former Crown Media for showing me the scenes of Christmases past that immerse me in the highs and lows of the holiday season.

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On This Labour Day Weekend I Am My Own Task Rabbit

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This was written in time for the Labour Day weekend. But, maybe you can relate… I didn’t hit send. I didn’t pull the trigger. I didn’t close the loop and publish. I procrastinated. I am a professional writer, a copywriter, a content editor, and a curator of content created by any number of means, including materials provided by clients. So, you see, I am a black belt level, master procrastinator.

I am now going to submit this, just 2 days ahead of the October-long weekend. It will be Canadian Thanksgiving and I can then be free to get up-to-date with my sloth and slow progress to fully delay my next blog.

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Go for the whole magilla on Purim & listen to the “Megilla” aka Book of Esther

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Mmmm cookies for Purim called Hamentaschen

Read on for recipe
Read on for recipe

Iran, Jews and deadly decrees are commemorated in an upbeat way this week. Coming early at us in this Jewish Year of 5782, Purim arrives the night of March 16 and lasts with laughter and celebration well into March 17.

Even as tensions continue in the Middle East and are heightened now with what is war in Europe and renewed nuclear concerns, we dip into, for the sake of my story for you today, into the once awesome Persian empire of the 4th century BCE. It extended over 127 lands and is the site on which the Purim story unfolds. Purim is undeniably the most joyous holiday tradition on the Jewish calendar. And, it’s HERE again!!  Here’s your Purim primer according to Kaufman…..

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Road ahead: Fab 45-Day 5 finds the Intersections

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Giant highway sign saying THE FUTURE and an exit arrow

Writing to you with something useful and interesting and perhaps even entertaining is on my mind a lot these days.

grad cap thumbnailWhat have the past hundreds upon hundreds of blogs I’ve birthed into the world had in common? No matter the topic or the source of the publishing impetus, they were written with a specific teaching or marketing purpose in mind. I sketched an outline, usually with a clear objective. Sometimes I just went at it. I knew the pattern I taught my college level business writing students would kick in to bring my ideas to completion and then to publication:

  • Planning 20% of time 
  • Writing  30% of time 
  • Refining/ Revising 45% of time 
  • Evaluating 5% of the time

Social media posts had that edge of spontaneity. They’re more often in the moment and often stimulated by the instant influence of others’ posts, or the news on the radio as I worked.

 Today, Day 5 of the Fab 45 fuses the planned and the just popped up! I’ve decided to respond to something remarkable in my day as the jumping off point. I can’t help but write in some more valued by also sharing some archived wisdom and maybe some point form tips. Today: Intersections

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Can we write ourselves healthy? Social? Successful? Fab 45-Day 4

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two blue artistic heads in profile with cogs in their brains to illustrate Helena's exploration of using her imagination to recreate herself

Do you, as a writer or other creative get your inspiration from the outside world? Swaths of colour in your path. Sound vibrations familiar and foreign. Aromas. Snippets of conversation overheard repurposed first in your mind and then your studio?

Me too.

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Susan G. Komen Struggles to Recover on Capitol Hill

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Komen Race for the Cure

Komen Race for the CureIs it now a case of too little cash too late in the controversy for Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s (SGK) contrite plea to Congress?

SGK founder Nancy Brinker’s letter of apology to members of Congress may not be able to make up for the massive mistakes in messaging during the rift between the fundraiser behemoth and one of its grant recipients, Planned Parenthood, earlier this year.

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Gossip at the Grocer’s

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Over the Counter Communication about Cher Juicy gossip has always existed and it has high communication value. Gossip has such power to move information quickly and effectively that most major religions have injunctions against it. It’s in the fine print. We gloss over it as we head to the office water cooler or stretch closer … Read more