Magic Muffin Face Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a baker named Mr. Stanley. Mr. Stanley was known for his delicious muffins, which were loved by everyone in the village. Every morning, he would wake up early and start baking muffins for the day. One sunny morning, as Mr.
One sunny morning, as Mr. Stanley was busy preparing the dough for his famous blueberry muffins, he accidentally dropped a shiny silver spoon into the batter. He quickly fished it out, but to his surprise, the batter started to glow and sparkle.
Muffins, Magic Words, and Maneuvering through Monday Maelstroms
My daughter: [sitting up instantly with a grin on her face] Muffins! Yay!
Me: “Who knew I only had to say the magic word of ‘Muffin’ in order to get you to wake up”
My daughter: “Daddy, saying magic words always help me get up better!”
This exchange took place at 6:32am today as I was getting my family ready to begin the week. Normally, Monday mornings, any day really, waking up my children is akin to prodding a hibernating bear—prodder beware! Happier and calmer children provided good momentum for me to start the week. According to C.S. Lewis, “I’m not sure God wants us to be happy. I think he wants us to love and be loved. But we are like children, thinking our toys will make us happy and the whole is our nursery. Something must drive us out of that nursery and into the lives of others, and that something is suffering.”
While I may disagree with the first half of his statement, the latter part—of desiring us to love and be loved is spot on. Now, love involves sacrifice. Both my wife and I love to be prepared and organized. However, organization, especially with three young children, requires we sacrifice certain things in the short-term for the longer-term goal of having an even-keeled and lower stressed week. On Sunday, we sacrificed watching football and instead prepped our food for the week. The fruit of our labor paid off with that sweet exchange between my daughter and I had about the magic of muffins!
This got me thinking about other possible “magic” words to help stymie your work week stress that Monday’s inevitably throw at us.
1. Pause: Working in a fast-paced job environment and the incredible hectic daily routine of getting three children ages 7 and under for school/daycare makes stopping to take a legitimate break next to impossible. Some weeks it feels like I underwent the stress equivalent of running a half-marathon when my kids are cranky—and it normally is not even 6:50am! As a result of the daily bustle, I learned of the importance to pause. Short and frequent breaks after a stressful situation comes in handy when trying to disarm Monday’s momentum from developing into a morning maelstrom that drowns the rest of your day’s hopes away. Pause, pause, pause. Keep that magic word in mind.
2. Thank you: Together with breaks, nothing else takes the wind out of a chaotic stress-storm as much as gratitude. Your mindset in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day [in some cases even the remainder of the week]. Genuine thankfulness stops negativity in its tracks. But it has to be genuine. Expected ‘thank yous’ in return is not the approach when demonstrating gratitude towards others or for the blessings in your life. G.K. Chesterton said it best, ““When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
3. Help: Closely tied to stopping to clear your mind and developing a thankful mentality is asking for help in times of stress. Sometimes out of pride I fail to ask for assistance from those in a position to help me in time of need. In the midst of a stressful situation, I lose sight that I am not alone in this world. Along with my family, friends, and co-workers, I have a God always willing and able to hear my plea for aid. According to St. Francis de Sales, “We shall steer safely through every storm so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God.”
Whether your week began with a flurry of frenzied customers, unexpected projects, screaming kids, or vehicle troubles please do not throw in the towel. Remember the magic words of: pause, thank you, and help! If you are a good baker, or know someone who is, be sure to make yourself pumpkin muffins for breakfast. I am sure they will be a hit if you have young children or simply a child at heart–unless you are allergic to pumpkin than bake banana-nut muffins!
“Yet what I discovered is that when you put love first, not only does your life improve, but your work improves.” –Jennifer Fulwiler
Mr. Stanley's quick thinking led him to bake the batter anyway, curious to see what would happen. To his amazement, when the muffins were ready, they had transformed into what seemed like magical faces. Each muffin had a different expression, with eyes, nose, and a mouth made of blueberries. The muffins had come to life! The villagers were overjoyed to discover these magical muffins. They would line up outside Mr. Stanley's bakery every morning, eager to get their hands on these enchanting treats. The muffins became so popular that the village started to attract visitors from faraway lands who were eager to witness the magic. Children, in particular, were fascinated by the muffin faces. They would stare at them in awe, wondering how they could be so lifelike. The muffins seemed to have personalities of their own, with some smiling, others winking, and a few even blowing kisses. It was as if they were communicating with the villagers through their expressions. The magical muffins brought joy and laughter to the village. People would often gift them to their loved ones on special occasions and use them to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. The muffins had become a symbol of happiness and togetherness in the village. As the years went by, Mr. Stanley's magical muffins continued to captivate people's hearts. However, one day, as Mr. Stanley was retiring, he realized that the magic behind the muffins was starting to fade. The villagers were saddened by this news, fearing they would lose their beloved muffin faces forever. But Mr. Stanley had a plan. He decided to pass on the secret recipe and the magic spoon to his daughter, Emily, who had been helping him in the bakery for years. Emily, determined to carry on her father's legacy, embraced the responsibility with open arms. Under Emily's care, the magical muffin faces continued to mesmerize people. She found new ways to enhance the muffins' expressions and even introduced new flavors. The magic of the muffins lived on, filling the village with happiness and wonder. And so, the legend of the magic muffin face lived on, reminding people of the power of a simple treat to bring joy and magic into their lives..
Reviews for "Achieve a Flawless Complexion with the Magic Muffin Face Technique"
1. Jenna - 1 star:
I was really disappointed with "Magic muffin face". The storyline was poorly developed and the characters were one-dimensional. The magic element felt forced and didn't add any depth to the plot. Additionally, the writing style was juvenile and lacked sophistication. Overall, it was a book that left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed.
2. Mark - 2 stars:
I found "Magic muffin face" to be quite predictable and cliché. The plot followed a typical hero's journey with no unique twists or surprises. The characters were forgettable and lacked true development. I feel like I've read this story a hundred times before, and it offered nothing new or exciting. It's an average book at best, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh and engaging read.
3. Sarah - 2 stars:
"Magic muffin face" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The writing was mediocre and lacked depth. The protagonist felt unrealistic and lacked relatability. The pacing was off, with slow moments dragging on and action sequences feeling rushed. I wanted to like this book, but it just didn't capture my attention or engage me enough to care about the outcome. It's a forgettable read that I wouldn't bother recommending.