Survive This: Warriors Games on September 10

If you are a fan of the hit TV shows Survivor or Amazing Race, then you have just hit the competition/reality TV lottery because you will be able to meet many of your favorite former players in Dallas at a charity benefit hosted by Cheer 4 Your Life next weekend. The 2nd Annual “It’s A Jungle Out There” benefit will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2016. This year, the event is being expanded to add the Warriors Games, a NEW family-friendly aspect which held on the grounds of the Embassy Suites Love Field Hotel. Attendees will be able to watch teams comprised of former players from Survivor (other reality TV shows) and young adults from Cheer 4 Your Life’s teen Warrior program compete in challenges similar to those seen on the show. Get ready for twists and turns (and maybe a merger) as the games progress until the last player is left standing and is crowned the sole Survivor. Tickets are $10-$20. That evening, Event Chairs Leslie Madden and Laura Powell will gather with adult supporters at the Frontiers of Flight Museum for the 2nd Annual “It’s A Jungle Out There” benefit which will include a concert, dinner, silent and live auction. The doors to the Frontiers of Flight Museum will open to the public at 6:30pm. A private VIP Red Carpet cocktail party for upper level sponsors will take place from 6:30-7:30pm in the upper mezzanine of the Museum. Guests will begin the evening with dinner and live entertainment from talented teens from area Performing Arts High Schools, Competitive Club Cheerleading and Dance programs, and Acrobatic troupes. The evening will culminate with a performance from rising Country music star, Hudson Moore. Leave the stilettos at home and wear anything from a sundress to dressy shorts and a fancy camo top with sandals or sneakers. Anything that screams “jungle chic” will help you to look the part at this benefit.Tickets start at $150. https://igivehere.org/cheer4yl

Casting Call: The Amazing Race

CBS 11 will host an open casting call for “The Amazing Race” on Friday, October 30 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Prestige Ford, 3601 South Shiloh Road (just off of Interstate-635 at Garland Road) in Garland. Prospective teams of two will record a short (up to one minute in length) video to be submitted to the show’s casting directors for consideration.

To be eligible, both team members must:
— Be 21 years or older at the time of application.
— Be United States citizens and be living in the United States.
— Be in excellent physical and mental health and be willing to undertake physical and psychological examinations.
— Be willing to authorize producers to conduct a background check.

Beyond these basic qualifications and any additional qualifications set forth in the application, the producers are looking for a diverse group of men and women who represent a broad cross-section of American society.

Contestants will be selected based upon having the following traits:
— Strong-willed
— Outgoing
— Adventurous
— Physically and mentally adept
— Adaptable to new environments
— Interesting lifestyles, backgrounds and personalities

Click here for more information about “The Amazing Race” casting process.

photo c/o CBS

4 Lessons Your Child Can Learn From Watching Reality TV

As a Mother, I am always looking for fun activities our family can do together that also provide teachable moments. A favorite activity in almost any household, regardless of age, is watching television.

I have a personal obsession with reality television shows. I have always loved biographies. I think it’s utterly fascinating to learn how a person started as an average Joe and wound up a movie star or an inventor or President. The choices they made, the hardships they endured and the adversity they overcame to achieve their dreams and become a success.

Reality shows can get a bad rap and Jersey Shore and The Bachelor may deserve the criticism. But there are many reality TV shows that can give your kids real insight into how to solve life issues, address problems and reiterate good old family values. Being the Mommy Blogger that I am... I felt i should point out some observations...

Lesson #1: Your Health is Everything

On NBC’s hit show, The Biggest Loser, 12 overweight contestants attempt to lose weight and fight for a $250,000 cash prize. Over a 12-week season, trainers show them how to lose weight and take control of their life.

They do not condone fad diets or surgery. Instead they show obese people how to achieve their goals through hard physical work in the gym and learning how to prepare and eat healthy foods. This show provides crucial information on health and nutrition that my child can carry with him for life. You can also clearly see what a lifetime of bad decisions gets you.



Lesson #2: Life is an adventure. Take risks and chances.

The Amazing Race has contestants racing in pairs around the globe on all kinds of crazy adventures. Yak races in China, cliff diving in Hawaii, selling fish in a Japanese market, and scaling castle walls in Germany.

The world is a big place full of mystery, excitement and adventure. Even if you can’t speak the same language, people are the same no matter where you go. And you’d be surprised how easy it is to communicate if you just try to understand each other. There are so many wondrous places and amazing sights on our fantastic planet. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone.

Lesson #3: It’s hard to get to the top and even harder to stay there

HBO’s Hard Knocks follows a different NFL football team each season as they go through training camp and prepare for the upcoming season. This reality show is peppered with spicy language, but if you can overlook that, you really see how dedicated these players are to their craft.

They spend hours in the gym getting their bodies in top physical condition. But beyond that, they have a playbook the size of a dictionary to memorize with their team’s secret plays and they watch hours upon hours of game tape studying their opponents. Only the smartest and best make the cut. Slack off even the slightest bit and you are out. Much like life, you have to be dedicated, resilient and relentless in your pursuit to not only achieve your position but to stay on top.

Lesson 4: Social skills are as important as book smarts

Survivor pits the smart against those who just think they are smart. City dwellers against country farmers. Old against young. The motto of the game? Outwit. Outlast. Outplay.

What Survivor allows your child to observe if that often, it’s doesn’t matter how great your strategy is or how physically strong you are, but how well you can get along with your tribe that keeps you in the game. Social skills are crucial to your success in life. Whether you are a student in a college fraternity or an employee in an office, how you can get along in a group will determine if you end up President or just a member of the team. Learning how to interact, engage and endear yourself to others can pay off big.

Pair that skill with a college education and the world’s your oyster.