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Get a Hobby! - Campaign Launch

I’ve never really thought of my so-called extracurricular activities as hobbies - that is, what I like to do when I’m not earning money, spending money, or scrubbing the kitchen floor.  Once on a first date, the guy asked if I had any hobbies.  I can only imagine the look I gave him, because for me the word “hobby” conjures up mental images of geeky guys fiddling with ham radios or organizing their baseball cards.

After reading Get a Hobby!, a new book from Tina Barseghian that is just like taking a survey course that covers dozens of fascinating ways to entertain yourself, I had to admit to myself that I do have hobbies.  I’m indulging in one right now - blogging.  I also enjoy stamp collecting (talk about geeky) and knitting - both of which are covered in Get a Hobby!  My husband has hobbies too, even though he probably wouldn’t refer to them that way either:  balloon twisting, beer brewing, magic, and framing - all of which are covered as well.

Hobbies give you something to focus on besides the day-to-day responsibilities.  Even exercise and cooking, while certainly enjoyable (to some people, anyway), are not necessarily hobbies unless practiced as pursuits above and beyond the basic responsibility of keeping yourself fed and healthy.

The Foreword, written by neurologist Miguel Figueroa M.D., notes the significant mental and physical benefits to adopting a hobby - an activity that requires your full concentration, allowing you to take your mind off other worries as you learn and practice new skills.  As he states:  “A good relaxing hobby is a personally pleasing occupation that brings you entirely into the moment.”  It’s the relaxation we experience when immersed in such activities that is so beneficial to us.

Twenty of our bloggers (apparently we’ve got a lot of idle hands and minds out there) eagerly accepted the challenge to Get a Hobby! and will review the book over the next three weeks.  Please refer to the schedule below (and keep reading to find out about this campaign’s giveaway!):

5/29 - Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting, Ruth Dynamite
5/30 - Chaos Theory, Cootie Chronicles
5/31 - Toddler Planet, Radioactive Girl
6/1 - Sarah’s Dandelions, Sweatpants Mom
6/4 - Midwestern Mommy, Rookie Moms
6/5 - Snarky Momma, Mummy’s Product Reviews, Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
6/6 - Growing a Life, Cape Buffalo
6/7 - mothergoosemouse, Marketing Mommy
6/8 - Mother Bumper, Domestic Diva
6/11 - Quarter Rest, Three Kid Circus
6/12 - Round-Up Review on PBN - Announcement of Winner!

What better way to start pursuing a new hobby than with your own copy of the book and a $100 gift card to Michael’s Arts and Crafts (redeemable in-store across the US and Canada)?  Leave a comment here or on the upcoming mid-campaign post, and you’ll be entered to win!

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 24th, 2007 at 5:00 am and is filed under Books, Giveaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

33 Responses to “Get a Hobby! - Campaign Launch”

  1. Whoot! I could use a Michael’s card for MY hobby - scrapbooking!

  2. Count me in!

  3. This looks like a great book. So far my greatest hobby seems to be accumulating how-to books without actually following through…

  4. I love Michael’s. Enter me.

  5. My life doesn’t leave much time for hobbies, which makes it all the more important to have one. Please sign me up for the drawing!

  6. I’ve just picked up crocheting, and after finally splurging for good yarn for a friend’s baby blanket, I’m so spoiled! I’ll need a good gift certificate to finally make a blanket for myself!

  7. I’d love to win this. Thanks!

  8. Ooo I have only heard good things about this book! WOuld love to read it and well I could always use more yarn :)

  9. I love this book! There are so many great ideas in it, That my daughters and I are going to try a few new things this summer. I would love to be entered into the drawing for the michaels card. Thanks.

  10. I’d love to win a gift certificate! I reviewed the book at http://www.5minutesformom.com a couple of weeks ago.

  11. I’m game. :-)

  12. Sign me up!

  13. I wish I could do hobbies ALL the time! Wouldn’t that be the life?

  14. I’d love to be entered. Thanks!

  15. I’ve often joked that crocheting is all that keeps me from letting the homicidal tendendcies break on through. My little guy is a bit young for any real hobbies (you know, other than drooling on mom and biting) but I might have to check this book out for ideas to use in the future.

  16. Nothing like a Michael’s card to help you start a hobby. Enter me, too!

  17. Michaels + me = happiness

  18. I could really use some hobbies for when Michael is out doing manly stuff. I’d love to win this!

  19. A Michaels GC! What’s not to love about that?

  20. Love the book. Love Michaels!

  21. I have more hobbies than time and money alow me to complete. If I can get the free money.. I will make the time!! The book sounds wonderful!

  22. Wow! This would really come in handy. We homeschool, and can’t have enough high-quality craft supplies!

  23. I’d love to sign up for this draw.

  24. [...] Buy Get a Hobby! on Amazon > Visit the Get a Hobby! website > See what other ParentBloggers are saying — enter to win a copy of Get a Hobby! and $100 gift card at Michael’s Arts [...]

  25. [...] reviews of Get a Hobby! are coming up!  Don’t forget to leave a comment here or here to be entered to win a copy of the book and a $100 gift card from Michael’s Arts and [...]

  26. I could definitely use that gift card. Count me in please.

  27. I’m a crafty wannabe, so this prize would be nice!

  28. This is really such a fun book!

  29. you mean breastfeeding every 20 minutes, picking up toys, washing dishes - those aren’t legitimate hobbies????

    ok, I guess you should enter me then.

  30. [...] $100 Michael’s Gift Card? [...]

  31. I’m a scrapbooking addict. This would be sooooo perfect for me!! Yay! I love contests.

  32. Ooh! I sure would love to win. I have recently rediscovered the pleasures and benefits of having hobbies (knitting and photography). It is really nice to do something besides work and the millions of “have tos”. Thanks for reviewing this book. It is widely accepted that a content parent yields a happy, well adjusted child. Hobbies are a key part of that formula.

  33. Ack! More hobbies! Sign me up! (Because you know, I need them like a hole in my head, but they somehow give me sane moments.)