It’s the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday. Are you at work yet? Or are you one of the estimated 1.5 million employees who call in sick or 4.4 million who show up late after the big game? Whether you’re sneaking a minute online at the office or slugging Alka-Seltzer® shooters for a hangover, we hope you enjoy this week’s Post Super Bowl edition of Monday Madeleines.

Chicken Wings – Hot Topic!
According to the National Chicken Council (who knew there was such a thing?), more than 1.25 billion wing portions were consumed during Super Bowl weekend. Take that, Thanksgiving turkey!  And all of this was washed down with approximately 50 million cases of beer.

The 50 Best Super Bowl Commercials Ever
Let’s admit it; the best part of the Super Bowl isn’t the half time show, and it isn’t always the game. It’s the commercials.  Even if you aren’t a football fan, you have to admit you love the commercials.  And at an average cost of $3.5 million per minute, advertisers better come up with something we’ll all remember.

Black Bottom Cupcakes Perfect Ending to Super Bowl Bash
While it may be too late to enjoy these at your tailgating party, the recipe looked too yummy to pass up. They might make a decadent chocolate treat for Valentine’s Day, though. Thanks to @DedhamPatch (Timothy Robertson of Dedham, MA) for sharing this with the world.

Video of the Week

For many, this commercial and the story behind it just might go down as one of the greatest Super Bowl commercials of all time.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Did you watch the Super Bowl? Did your team win? Which commercial do you think was best? Leave a comment and share your favorite highlights from the game. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

January, a month that often seems like the longest on the calendar, is just about out of here. So it seemed appropriate to step back and have a little laugh at life – at least a smile. After all (as you’ll see in a just a sec), laughter may indeed be the best medicine. If we put a smile on your face leave a comment and let us know!

Laughter: Your Rx for Better Health
According to this piece on Highest Potential Self, a recent health study concluded that not laughing enough was one of three primary reasons people can’t cope in life. The late Norman Cousins, in his bestseller Anatomy of an Illness, attributed his recovery from degenerative spine disease to laughter. Thanks to @MelissaOnline (Melissa Stewart) for this grain of wisdom.

She’s on the Way to Becoming One of NYC’s Finest Strippers [PIC]
There’s apparently more than one way to hang on when you’re riding the NYC subway. Thanks to StarStruckNYC (Christopher Chance) for posting this pic from MediaTakeOut.com and then tweeting it for us to find.

Men Know Nothing About Women [PIC]
One photo tells the entire story, don’t you think? Thanks to @AngelsofTROY (Mel W. of England) for sharing a smile.

Video of the Week

I remember this tune from the late Jim Croce, but I never heard the story of how the song came about. Sure, we could have found a funnier video, but maybe not with such a catchy tune to go along with it. Courtesy of @TraceTV (Tracy Ready) who describes himself as Director of Photography, Documentary Filmmaker, Writer, Lead Vocalist, Media Maestro, Blues Belter, Tex-Mex Freak, Beer Swiller. Sounds like a very full life!

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Did you get a smile out of this week’s edition? Do you have something funny you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment and share the laughter. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Here we are in what’s almost the middle of winter. While the Northeast has lucked out (or missed out, depending on your point of view) on the heaviest of snow so far, we couldn’t let the season pass without at least an honorable mention. While we invite all readers to comment, we’d especially like to hear from those who’ve shared these tidbits on Twitter. We’d love it if you could take a moment and share some insight on your tweet!

Stuck Creatively? Turn Everything Upside Down for Creative Ideas
If the winter weather’s got you down, here’s something that will put a smile on your face. And maybe it’s not a bad idea for getting you to think outside of the box. Thanks to @Brainzooming (Mike Brown of Kansas City) for putting a smile on our face.

Got Some Snow in Front of Me [PIC]
Here’s an interesting photo by @PhilJay. Sure, we’ve all seen pictures of snow out the windshield before, but this one is different…intriguing. Look at it for awhile and you never know what you might see (or imagine).

Snow Inspired – Pictures of a Winter Wonderland [PICS]
Here’s a collection of great photos from Arlene D. Marston (@ArleneDMarston, of Boston who describes herself as a photographer – snowboarder – hula dancer. I’ve got to admit that’s a fascinating combination. Anyway, this piece on her photo blog is the result of a walk at the Marblehead Audubon Bird Sanctuary in Massachusetts.

Safely Skate, Slide and Glide through Winter
Here are some handy tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for winter sports safety. After all, snow can not only be beautiful, but fun to play in. And, you have to admit, at least one of these tips could help you year round – learn how to fall correctly to avoid injury. Seems like that might be useful even after a wild cocktail party in mid-summer. Thanks, @drmikemilne (Dr. Michael J Milne , a board certified orthopedic surgeon from St. Louis) for this one.

Video of the Week

Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke’s life was taken from her last week at the age of 29 after falling at the superpipe in Park City, Utah more than a week earlier. Here’s a tribute to Sarah from the CBC.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Do you have a comment you’d like to share about winter? Leave a comment with your thoughts, a hearty winter recipe, your favorite tea or just what’s on your mind. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

In recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, here’s a collection of reflective pieces that help pay tribute to the impact Rev. King had – and continues to have – on society. It’s our way of sharing our appreciation of a truly exceptional man and fine communicator. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

FULL TEXT: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
Fox News Insider posted the full text of Rev. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech delivered on August 28 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. If you haven’t heard – or read – it in awhile, it’s worth revisiting. How prophetic he was when he said, “Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.” Tweeted by @FoxNewsInsider itself.

5 Key Cases Since MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
This piece by Andrew Chow on FindLaw looks at 5 key US Supreme Court decisions handed down over the 5 decades since Rev. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech . Courtesy of FindLaw Editor, @AdamRamirezlaw (Adam Ramirez of Sunnyvale, CA).

An Apology Letter to Dr. King
Here’s some counterpoint on the progress we have (or haven’t) made since Dr. King made his mark and wrote his ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’. It’s a well-written piece that pulls you in by T. Jamal Smith of WHMGTV. Of course, as writers, you’d expect us to appreciate such fine writing. Thanks to Jamal Smith himself (@imfocusedmanx), an aspiring screenwriter, for sharing this one.

Video of the Week

Dr. King’s ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech, delivered the night before his assassination. An on-point message from an exceptional orator.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Do you have a comment you’d like to share about Dr. King, where we’ve been and how far we’ve come? We welcome your thoughts, ideas and inspirations. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Happy Monday. Here’s a collection of random musings we found interesting this week. A little something to nibble on while you’re getting your second eye opened to face the new work week. So enjoy and leave a comment to let us know which morsel you liked best or what’s on your mind.

Infographic | The Most Powerful Small Business Tweets of 2011
Here’s a look at the most popular (most retweeted) small business tweets of 2011. And the winner is? We don’t want to spoil it for you, so you’ll just have to check it out and see. While we’d love to see that kind of activity on our tweets, we don’t have the 430K+ followers they do. Thanks to @HP_SmallBiz for sending this our way.

To thwart lawsuit, Pepsi claims Mountain Dew would dissolve a dead mouse
Here’s something for the “What were they thinking?” files: To defend itself in a lawsuit where a Mountain Dew (a Pepsi brand) customer claimed he found a dead mouse in his Dew, Pepsi’s legal team had its experts testify that such an occurence would be impossible because the “mouse would have dissolved in the soda had it been in the can from the time of its bottling until the day the plaintiff drank it.” Oops! We have to think the PR department was not to thrilled about that. Cheers to @RealYaverbaum (Eric Yaverbaum of NYC) for this one.

Social Shower Curtain
Are you so addicted to Facebook that about the only time you’re not using it is when you’re in the shower? If so, here’s a shower curtain that might help you feel like you’re still connected. Makes you wonder if the next product will be social toilet paper, doesn’t it? Thanks to @AnaLuciaNovak for sharing this.

Video of the Week

Here’s a music video that looks at how sometimes interactions with ‘friends’ can be a whole lot more enjoyable on Facebook than in person.

Happy New Year! Our special 2011 Year in Review edition is one last look at 2011. So before you start working on your resolutions for 2012, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy this collection. At the end, please share your thoughts on 2011 – or 2012 – in a comment!

The 11 Biggest PR Disasters Of 2011
Paul Argenti, a professor of corporate communication at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, offers up his list of the top 11 PR disasters of 2011 on Business Insider. Thanks to @contentgrrl (our very own TereLyn Hepple) for calling this to our attention.

Top 10 Media Stories of 2011: Arab Spring; R.I.P. Steve Jobs; Phone Hacking
Mark Glaser, over on PBS’ Media Shift blog, offers up these top 10 stories for the year as well as a few runners-up. Leave a comment if you know of others that should have been included in your mind. Shared with the world by Mark Glaser himself (@mediatwit).

6 Game – Changing Digital Journalism Events of 2011
Meghan Peters (@petersmeg) takes a look back at the year in digital journalism in this piece on Mashable. At the heart of all of this game changing are social, mobile apps and content optimization. Can’t say I’m surprised at any of that. What seems more intriguing is what’s going to come along next year that we haven’t even dreamed of yet?

2011: Reflecting on the Photos [PICS]
Here’s a treat – and perhaps a welcome break from the news. It’s a collection of photographs from Adam Allegro(@catchthejiffy), a full-time officer in the U.S. Navy who is exploring Europe through a camera lens. Adam just started his blog in May of last year but has already posted loads of incredible photos – all of which are free for personal use.

Video of the Week

Here’s a look at the year in review from Google. A bit self serving at times perhaps, but this video covers a lot of ground around the world in under 3 minutes.

Did you enjoy this special 2011 Year in Review edition of Monday Madeleines? Do you have any stories or photos from last year you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment and share your thoughts on the year gone by, the year ahead, your New Year’s resolution, or whatever. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

By the time you read this, Christmas 2011 will have passed by. To help you prepare for the new year, this week’s After Christmas edition provides some visual food for thought, the remains of which won’t end up on your hips or waist. We hope you enjoy our Monday Madeleines and that you’ll leave a comment!

Rudolph the Red-Dusted Strömgren Sphere [PIC]
Here’s an amazing pic of Barnard 3, a dusty, gassy region of the galaxy about a thousand light years away from NASA’s WISE observatory. If you stare at it long enough, the red splotch in the image will either resemble something or make you dizzy – you decide. Thanks to @LoriMoreno for sharing this.

Shaniko Paddy Wagon [PIC]
If nothing else, this will keep you in the winter holiday spirit. It’s a picture of an old paddy wagon in Oregon amidst the frozen frog (would that be considered ‘frog’?). Another great pic shared with us by @OregonArtGuy.

Caffeinated [PIC]
Cat and caffeine lovers alike are sure to appreciate this photo and its accompanying text. Maybe after a long night of partying, it’s just what’s needed. Thanks to @BundlePost (Robert Caruso) for this stimulating graphic.

Video of the Week

Here’s some interesting imagery captured by International Space Station Commander Dan Burbank of Comet Lovejoy last week. His description of what’s depicted follows the amazing shots captured here, a small subset of the collection they captured and hope to publish in the future.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Do you have any stories or photos you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment and share what’s on your mind, a favorite recipe, your plans for New Year’s eve or what have you. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

The holidays are just about right on top of us now. Take a few minutes, relax and get off to a good start with our Mixed Bag edition of Monday Madeleines. And by all means, leave a comment and let us know you’re alive.

Have fun!

The Sneaky Psychology Of Advertising
Here’s a very graphic look at how advertising has played on our subconscious over the years. Nicely done. Thanks to @MyCreativeTeam (Harry Hoover of Charlotte, NC) for sharing this.

Santa gets help: Anonymous donors are paying off strangers’ layaway accounts at retail stores
The Washington Post reports that at Kmart stores across the country, Santa is getting some help. In a practice that may have started in Michigan, Kmart customers across the country are getting treated by unknown benefactors. In some cases, layaway balances are being paid off. In others, purchases are getting paid for on the spot. Kind of warms the cockles of your heart this holiday season – wherever those are. Thanks to frequent contributor @Lucas_Wyrsch for making our day.

Aren’t We All “Foodies”?
This post by Mike Whitmore isn’t new, but it’s interesting. Whitmore took a restaurant survey asking what people liked most about their favorites and got responses that didn’t mention the food – the actual ‘product’ they create. But what I especially like about this post is the first paragraph, because its tone reminds of the late Andy Rooney. In fact, I could almost envision him delivering the paragraph on a 60 minutes segment. Thanks to @mikewhitmore himself for calling this to our attention.

Video of the Week

Here’s a clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live that seems appropriate for the season. Whatever holiday you celebrate, we hope it’s happy, healthy, peaceful and full of love.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Do you have any stories you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment and share what’s on your mind, a favorite recipe, tea or what have you. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)