Although its missions have been centered in Europe, in 2003, NATO action expanded to Afghanistan to provide peace-keeping troops around Kabul, and this past year many actions undertaken by NATO in Libya have been quite controversial.

Phonetic Alphabet 101

Did you know there was a NATO phonetic alphabet? Designed to make communication clearer for international members communicating via radio and other mediums, it assigned specific English words to every letter. It has since been adopted by the FAA and multiple military institutions, and has found its way into pop culture, as well. Here is the Phonetic Alphabet, in order:

Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India Juliet Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-Ray Yankee Zulu.

Protest

As is often the case when government leaders convene, there are many groups opposed to NATO’s mandate who will be planning on protesting the meetings this coming weekend. If you’re in the downtown Chicago area over the weekend, expect delays getting around, as many roads (for example Lake Shore Drive) will be closed for security purposes.
This week’s NATO Summit will bring international attention to the Chicago area, and while Marbles: The Brain Store will have no role in the summit, our Chicago locations will be open, and perhaps a delegate or two will come through our doors, looking for the brainiest consensus-building products we have!

–Jeff Broitman & Paulette Hicks

Both richly informative and easily accessible, the book serves to explain how brains which evolved in primitive conditions respond to the challenges of a vastly different modern world. Naturally, with a topic so complex and a publication so short, Brizandine makes generalizations and simplifies some aspects of the female experience; nevertheless, readers will walk away with greater insight into the biological and psychological factors that shapes women’s lives.

I recommend The Female Brain to everyone who wants to better love and understand their mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, and selves!

- Gina, BrainCoach

Benefits of Meditation

1. Reduces stress
2. Lowers blood pressure
3. Decreases anxiety
4. Relieves insomnia
5. Lessens the effects of PTSD
6. Improves attention and focus
7. Enhances learning

Can Meditation Increase your Gray Matter?

Thousands of studies have been done in the past 40-50 years that show the many benefits of practicing meditation. A study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in February reports a pronounced difference in the amount of gyrations, or folds in gray matter (cerebral cortex), in people who meditate on a regular basis. The longer you have practiced meditation, the more gyrations. More research needs to be conducted, but it’s possible that this correlation could positively affect cognitive abilities.

We know that because of neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to create more neurons and more connections between neurons) that we can affect positive change in the brain. The more neurons and new pathways we create, the more we strengthen our cognitive skills. Finding a strong connection between meditation and more neuron filled gray matter is another huge advantage of meditating.

Breathe……focus……my nose itches…..breathe….I need to do laundry….my foot is falling asleep…breathe…..my apartment smells funny….breathe….

I have had times in my life where I have been successful with a meditation practice. I’ve take a Mindfulness Meditation class and done a home study Meditation Teacher Training program. When I stick with it, I notice the positive effects. But it takes a tremendous amount of mental energy and discipline. Like anything new that you start, it’s not easy and it takes practice.

There are many different kinds of meditation, some that are connected to a particular religious faith and others that are more secular. If you are affiliated with a particular faith, finding a practice that incorporates your tradition is a good place to start. The familiar language of that faith may make the practice resonate more with your life experience.

Classes are the best way to get started. When you are looking, do some research online and ask friends if they have any recommendations. There are many free groups to meditate with, and having some instruction in the beginning can be helpful. Let the instructor know if you are new to meditation, they can offer tips and suggestions. Most instructors recommend starting out by spending just a few minutes at a time. When you become more comfortable you can begin to increase your meditation time. But keep in mind that meditation is not goal oriented. This can be difficult, particularly for westerners. It’s not about striving, but letting go.

Marbles is also here to help.
Check out T Spheres! This set of aromatherapy massage balls are made from purified organic rubber and infused with peppermint and grapefruit oils to reduce fatigue, increase circulation and improve concentration.

I am a bit of a computer nerd (read major computer geek) and I have Google Hot Trends on my browser homepage.  It shows the most searched terms for the day, which gives a somewhat nerdy overview of what’s going on in the world on that day.

Every Mother’s Day I notice a trend.  Early in the morning, the searches are about “how to make pancakes,” “how to make scrambled eggs,” etc.  Then it turns to “IHOP locations” – I guess breakfast didn’t quite work out.  Then later still, “Mother’s Day printable cards,” “Mother’s day e-cards.”  For some strange reason, I don’t notice this type of trend on Father’s Day, but I won’t draw any conclusions about that fact.

In response to this seeming widespread panic over last-minute Mother’s Day preparations, we put together a little action plan to help.  Just follow our handy flowchart, and you’re well on your way to a fun and happy Mother’s Day for you and your family.

Get the Smart Dads’ Mother’s Day Emergency Action Plan

Enter Sketch It.  At first I was skeptical; I mean…I have to put my iPad down for this?  Nothing really beats getting together with friends, though, and it’s a lot more fun to see everyone’s reaction to my terrible drawings in person.  Sketch It is a fun, quick paced game you and your friends will love.  So unplug for a while, enjoy the company of actual people in the same room with you, and doodle away.

Spontaneous Tunes

She sang lullabys by your crib to send you to sleep. She sang in the car along with the radio on road trips. She loves a good show tune, but maybe hates being center stage. The perfect game for a family get-together is Spontuneous. Not only will she have to come up with “Trigger Words” that will spur the other players to remember song lyrics, she’ll have to remember lyrics that contain the other Trigger Words that the other players come up with. Whether Mom can belt out a tune with the best of them, or she wouldn’t be caught dead singing anywhere outside of the shower, Spontuneous will be a fun time for all.

Critical Thinking, Mom-Style

Everyone knows how important the ability to strategize is, so why not help her exercise her Critical Thinking skills with some beautiful games that expand on the concept of the Sudoku logic puzzle. ColorKu takes the traditional challenge of the Sudoku: finding 1 through 9 in rows, columns, and grids without any repeats, and adds the visual perception aspect of color and the tactile hand-eye coordination aspect of wooden marbles, and comes with over 100 puzzle challenges that will be quite an accomplishment for her to work her way through. In the same vein, Chocolate Fix takes the Sudoku puzzle and brings it into the candy store, with 4 levels of challenges to push those strategy skills to new heights.

Relieve That Stress

Nobody ever said being a Mom was easy (In fact, the consensus seems to be the opposite!), so why not reward her sacrifices with some products designed to ease the stress of life? The Buddha Board is a tool for brainstorming, blowing off steam, or just expressing oneself with a quick brushstroke. A small amount of water and a few minutes can bring relaxation and rejuvenate her for the next hundred tasks she’ll need to take care of. And you don’t need to take her to any fancy spa; T-Spheres are scented massage tools that roll away tired muscle pain and bring in energizing aromatherapy scents.

Marbles has always been the best store for brainiacs, gifted kids, and older adults, among others. There is no better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with a gift. You already know that she’s the smartest—she had you, right?

Spontuneous: http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/spontuneous

ColorKu: http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/colorku

Chocolate Fix: http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/chocolate-fix-game

Buddha Board: http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/buddha-board-1266

T-Spheres: http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/t-spheres

Other Gift Suggestions: http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/gifts-for/gift-for-smart-moms

 Moms – are these the gifts you want?  Be sure to get your entry in for the Smart Hint! What I Want for Mother’s Day Contest!  You could win a $50 online gift card to get yourself whatever your heart desires.

Crossword enthusiasts joined us in Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, MD; and King of Prussia, PA.

In Chicago, the tournament took place in the event room our very first store located at Grand Avenue and Rush Street in Downtown Chicago. The first round ended with the first two finishers completing their puzzles 1 second apart to take first. And the competition didn’t get any easier from there.  The winners are as follows:

In the Twin Cities, the tournament was held in the Sears Court at the Mall of America. Competing with the exact same puzzles as the other regions, the puzzles proved to be a real challenge for all. Especially the fourth and final puzzle of the day that left contestants frustrated until they solved the clue that stated that ‘The six longest words in this puzzle are…’. Until they got the that the solution was ‘misspelled’, contestants were putting their erasers to good use. The Minneapolis winners are:

The Columbia, Maryland tournament was held at The Center Court at The Mall in Columbia. The group enjoyed having Erik Agard, crossword puzzle constructor extraordinaire, as a guest judge. Everyone had a blast and those passing by were interested in learning more about what was happening in the middle of their mall. And the winners were:

Finally, in the Philadelphia area, the tournament was held at the Bloomingdale’s Court at The King of Prussia Mall. The group enjoyed energizing brain breaks in between rounds, which helped brains stay warm throughout tournament play. The three finalists didn’t even have to switch seats for the final round, as the winners of the first three rounds had been sitting next to one another the entire tournament. The group got a good laugh out of that! Those finalists were:

Congratulations to all 12 finalists, and thank you to all of you who participated.

A special thank you to our judges in all locations, including Amy Reynaldo who has helped us organize this tournament the last four years. Also a special thank you to Will Shortz who donates his edited puzzles each year. Proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association as mentioned.

Here are a few pictures in celebration of all of you:

Divide and Conquer

The task can seem daunting, but some simple common-sense rules will help. Breaking down a large, overwhelming task into smaller sub-tasks can help accomplish your goal. You could divide the room into quadrants and focus on clearing the first space. It’s less overwhelming, and will give you a small sense of accomplishment when the “sub-task” is completed.

Soundtrack It

Musical accompaniment makes anything better! Fire up the Itunes playlist, pop in a CD, tune the radio to your favorite station…fun, upbeat music can help make job more fun to work through, and singing along to your favorite songs can help clear the clutter that much faster!

Reward Yourself

Give yourself a treat when you’ve accomplished some of your sub-tasks and the job will be less strenuous. Plus, having a reward to look forward to will help motivate you to get the job done, and who doesn’t like a little treat now and then?

Why Clean?

Well, because it’s National Clean Up Your Room Day, of course! That being said, every individual has a different opinion on neatness—some can’t live without it, some see it as an affront to their creativity, and most others are somewhere in between on the spectrum. Whatever your feelings about neatness, there’s always a little “Spring Cleaning” that can help clear the decks and make way for whatever we have going on currently or in the near future that could probably use a little extra room. And with so much in this world that we have no control over, it’s empowering to take a little control of our environment. Send us your Room-Cleaning tips in the comments, and let us know what works best for you!

However, the co-writers of Geek Wisdom have banded together to expose the inherent wisdom in everything geeky. We see ‘us versus them’ mentality taken apart by Twilight Zone, the importance of creative thinking through Doctor Who, and the value of outsiders (geeks) banding together in The Goonies.

With this collection of over 200 mini-essays, editor Stephen H. Segal’s team lends mainstreamers a key to unlock the inspirational and sagely advice that nerds have been following for decades.

Written by BrainCoach Nayt, Eden Prairie

But when that thought turns out to be something like a vacuum, a toaster, a subscription to Weight Watchers that you haven’t been hinting around for…well…

This year, tell us what you want for Mother’s Day.  Drop that hint big and bold, and enter to win the Smart Hint! – What I WANT for Mother’s Day contest!  One lucky mom will be chosen at random to win a $50 online gift card from Marbles: the Brain Store.

Smart Hint!  What I Want for Mother’s Day Contest

Entering is quick and easy!  Just follow the directions below.

1. Pick out your gift – Find the Mother’s Day gift you do want.  Click the product from the selection, and copy the page address.
2. Drop that hint!  Follow the directions in the box below to drop your hint – comment on Facebook, comment on the blog, pin or tweet!  Contest ends 5/11 and winner will be chosen at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway