After seeing the video of me feeding our son puree’d Cheetos, my wife demanded that she provide a video demonstrating how to make home made baby food for real… so that people wouldn’t think she’s a terrible parent. I keep telling her that preventing me from buying a Bugaboo is what makes her a terrible parent. HAHA
Here she grabs some cauliflower and shows us how to steam, puree and freeze it into portions. I then reheat and feed to our son. All under 5.5 minutes. Hey, you can save some money and provide something a bit more healthy than store bought.
Feel free to ask questions, or offer your own tips on making baby food at home.
Yesterday, it was just me and the little dude driving around. His mom called and he likes when I put it on speaker phone so he can hear her talking. I was driving, he was in the back seat, so I handed over the phone. He’s nine months old, so he was munching on every possible angle while mommy talked to him. Anyway, as I’m driving, I look back and he’s pressing all kinds of buttons and I see a padlock icon… so I grab the phone before he can save some type of password, but it’s too late, the phone goes black and I can’t turn it back on.
Listen to my tale (as told on Magic 106.5) and see what I did….
Yes, that is a big burn mark on the chip Read the rest of this entry »
So we visited the Diamond Select Toys‘ offices last week to test out the Flux Capacitor replica coming out later this month. We strapped it to the Peg Perego, and sent my son on a whirl wind trip.
I shot and edited the video, our good friend R-Dogg at Quappy.com added the digital effects (explosions, fire trails, lightning, etc), and I used the dinosaurs from our playmobil dinosaur reviews for the prehistoric scenes.
We were only able to borrow this Flux Capacitor sample, but it is going on sale at BTTF.com right now.
Several times a year, Wizard Entertainment publishes Toy Wishes a magazine for kids and their parents, outlining the toys that are coming out in the current season. This is the spring issue, so look forward to lots of toys based on the hot summer movie properties, such as Hulk, Indiana Jones, Speed Racer (biiig reviews from me very soon), Iron Man, and Kung Fu Panda..
If you have a hard time watching long stretches of Dora the Explorer, you are missing out on the advertisements your kids are seeing. This magazine tries to sum up the stuff that’s coming out, but since its from a third party publisher, you’re getting an unbiased view. There aren’t reviews necessarily, more of a buffet presentation of what’s coming soon, prices, and appropriate age ranges.
I particularly liked the articles that both myself and a young child would enjoy about professional toy designers, detailing how they got started, what they did in school, and what they enjoy most now. There was also a thorough article about throwing sensible birthday parties that aren’t way over the top, or putting you in debt.
The magazine is nicely divided up into genres, such as Television properties, outdoorsy toys, action figures, and active toys (such as bikes and sporting equipment).
Think back to when that inch thick Sears Wish Book arrived, and there was a two page spread of Star Wars figures layed out with the Emperial Shuttle, or the AT-AT. Instead of directly selling you anything, it’s giving you a compact run down of what to look for. I do like how it’s appropriate for young readers, and their parents. There are some sweet massive Sweepstakes inside as well.
The bottom line is that, yes, they’re promoting the “buy-me’s” you’re going to receive as a parent this summer, but it’s not a catalog from one company or another, so you’re getting a more balanced view of what is out there.
You can pick up this magazine just about anywhere, but here is their official web site ToyWishes.com
Just a side note, Wizard Entertainment also publishes ToyFare Magazine, a journal of happenings in the toy collector world, and Wizard Magazine, the definitive comic book collectors’ magazine. I have written some freelance articles for ToyFare.
So this is Earth Day, and what have you done?Well I’m getting more and more worried about the BPA leaching into baby bottles issue, it not only seems more real, it seems more impossible to reverse, at least in our own family. My wife used Nalgene bottles for the better part of the last decade or so, all throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding. Even if we ditch all of our Avent bottles and go with something safer, is that enough? Is it too late? I’m all about being an informed consumer and making my own decisions, but on this particular issue, chemistry and babies, I’d like a little more assistance from the government.
Here is some reliable reporting, full of links Washington Post– 4/22/08- “The Plastics Revolution” (includes link to online discussion at 11am!) lots of links to other sources, and a quick guide to those recycling symbols, and a guide to limiting your exposure.
Consumer Reports – April 2008 -“Q&A: Baby bottles and bisphenol A”
SafeMama.com Nov. 2007 – “BPA Free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet”
Please leave comments on your feelings, and what have you done?
Posted in baby, how to, linky, news|Comments Off on Earth Day Reading- BPA baby bottles
This morning on Magic 106.5 we opened the line to callers who could offer me advice on their surefire ways to soothe a crying baby. Everyone has a remedy that they swear by. Listen to the recorded bit, and then leave a comment offering your own advice Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in advice, baby, how to, Magic106.5|Comments Off on Need Advice: Surefire ways to soothe a screaming baby
I wanted to point you towards the playmobil DHL truck that I customized into an ice cream truck. Check out the original article with lots of pictures, some tips, and a PDF of decals you can print out to customize your own truck. But I’m pointing out this article now because I’m working on another DIY project that uses Krylon Fusion, the spray paint for plastics, and will be referencing this soon.
Anyway, for now, here is my Playmobil Ice Cream Truck
Simply download and print this PDF (271K), write in some hours or address in the white bar with marker, and stick it to your coworker’s cube or office door.
If you do, send me the picture and I’ll put it up (or post a link in the comments)
Frustrated with the lack of options when picking out a diaper bag? Are the designer masculine bags just a little too expensive at $80? Here’s a cool, manly diaper bag you can put together with minimal effort, and about $30 in materials.
Here is a PDF of designs you can use to iron to the bag or burp cloth. I recommend dark color t-shirt transfer paper for this project.
I also referenced our original Robot and Ninja baby blankets, click here for more info on ordering one of these. Available in Boy, Girl, and neutral color schemes.
Both the manly diaper bag and robot baby blankets also make excellent gifts for new and/or expecting fathers.
