TheMommyBlog

Thursday, June 26, 2008 Fun Finds

I’ve been meaning to post about a DVD a reader sent to Daphne, knowing how much she likes princesses and…princesses. It’s called Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake, and is “a hip, fun forty minute show for kids…Cool new twist on learning ballet, featuring the Paris Opera Ballet and students from the American School of Ballet.”

You know how educational/artsy videos usually fall into one of three categories? Too silly and not engaging enough to hold attention for the amount of time you need to shower or make dinner; too advanced for them to grasp the fun and purpose; and just right, but so short you have to spend all your time rewinding (or skipping the self-promotion that seems to take up half the tape).

Prima Princessa cleverly navigates each of these issues and offers short bursts of actual ballet lessons, scenes from the Paris Opera’s performance of Swan Lake, and adorable clips of little girls running around in tutus, imitating the dancers. Very, very cute.

Here’s the interesting part: I thought Daphne would be all over the little girls and not as much into the professional performance. Boy, was I wrong. (Well, I was right about one thing: she had to run for her ballet outfit so she could be properly attired while watching.)

For starters, she would not sit down to watch it. She stood in the middle of the living room floor, right in front of the TV, and studied that video to get all the moves down. She liked the little girls, enjoyed the classes, but was absolutely riveted by the ballet performance. Several times in a row, which was a score for me, because that meant 120 minutes of rapt enjoyment of educational entertainment while I scraped Lord knows what off the kitchen floors. Actually, that’s not true. I don’t scrape the floors because I know exactly what’s on them.

So I’ve got to agree with Cool Mom Picks that Prima Princessa is “Swan Lake on a Budget.” Daphne has never expressed such interest in ballet before, and is now dying to go see a real performance. This is the ticket to getting your little ones to look forward to and sit still during The Nutcracker, or maybe even expanding their tastes so you can go to the ballet outside of the Christmas season.

One more thing to put on the list for Things To Do With Redeeming Social Value That Are Actually Fun!

Available at Amazon.

Monday, June 23, 2008 Fun Finds

As it were.

There is so much that is right and wrong with this site; just try to pick on something and you will soon see the genius behind it, so to speak.

I sent it to my ex upon learning that he’d booked a camping trip with the kids over Dylan’s birthday.

What? I was trying to be helpful!

The Brown Company

Meanwhile, unless I want to drive out to the campsite on the second day of the trip, I won’t get to see him.

Monday, June 09, 2008 Fun Finds

In honor of Father’s Day, I’m hosting a special sports photography giveaway! The winner will receive an 8x10 matted limited edition photo of their choice from Dick Druckman of Gold Medal Impressions.

Gold Medal Impressions is a great place to get special gifts for the sport-lovers in your life. Over the past two decades, Dick Druckman, founder of Gold Medal Impressions, has created an extensive library of stock sports images and he has one of the largest private collections of olympic images in the world. Also included in his library are numerous other sports images from Major League Baseball, Professional Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Tennis. Some of his most popular shots are include Michael Jordan’s final game in Chicago, Mark McGwire’s 70th home run, Wayne Gretsky’s final face-off in New York, and Pedro Martinez’s record all-star performance in 1999. Recent additions to the website include Michael Jordan returns, Cal Ripkin’s Final Game, Barry Bond’s 73rd Home Run, and numerous collegiate highlights. Also added are galleries for LeBron James, Professional Basketball 2003, and Super Bowl xxxvii.

Dick’s photography is currently on exhibit in numerous countries including the US, China, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. Dick’s work has been published in numerous publications including Sports Illustrated and the New York Times.

To win the 8x10 of your choice, simply go to Gold Medal Impressions to choose your print, and leave me a comment with your choice, and your name and email, and why you want this particular print. I will select the winner tomorrow in order to ship before Father’s Day, and will notify him/her via email. The contest is limited to the continental United States.

Friday, June 06, 2008 Fun Finds

I love when they supply the copy. Lazy blogging at its best!

Dabib was just chosen by the highly coveted San Francisco Daily Candy edition as one of only 5 items you MUST purchase for the new mom!

In order to celebrate, http://www.dabib.com is offering a coupon for 10% off purchase with code MOM2008 but it expires on June 30 so act fast.  Also, order 3 or more bibs and get free standard shipping (continental US only).

While feeding her baby, Shea Kelly began to realize that the bibs she was using didn’t do their job and like “Baby Boom’s,” Diane Keaton, Shea Kelly became an mompreneur by launching Chez Baby, LLC and creating DaBib. DaBib has already received in iParenting Award and Shea is about to expand the line to new products that are designed to help new parents clean up after their kids quickly, easily and effectively. 

Check out this incredible bib at http://www.dabib.com and don’t forget to enter the code.

Thursday, June 05, 2008 Other people who write, Fun Finds

I received an invitation to a Flickr Group this morning that really required me to feel as shitty as I do right now to actually accept it. What more could add to the sinus headache, allergies, nerve damage to my mousing hand, and general desperation for coffee?

Come As You Are

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Post a photo of yourself taken right now.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, grab a camera (photobooth obviously helps) and snap. No retouching, just the rawness of a moment in time. Then post your photo on flickr or your blog/site, and share the link in comments here.

Ready? GO.

In the name of God and all his backup singers, I solemnly swear that this is not more than 30 seconds old:

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Fun Finds

There is not enough time in the day nor room on this blog to describe the many ways I love this collection... or the entire site for that matter. And that’s not just because I learned about it when someone submitted this site for This Next.

Yep, it’s a bit macabre. But I have to keep the rings for posterity- or at least for the kids to pawn one day. So I may as well give them a fitting resting place.

From the site:
The Wedding Ring Coffin is made of solid wood and has a dark glossy mahogany finish. The coffin measures 6 1/4” long x 2 1/4” wide x 2 3/8” high . The interior is lined with black velvet and includes a ring insert to comfortably and securely hold your wedding ring.

Your Wedding Ring Coffin comes with an engraved brass plaque bearing a message which conveys your final thoughts about your marriage. Choose from one of our standard messages or create your own unique personal message.

Four metal handles which match the brass plaque provide the finishing touch. The split lid gives you the option for an open or closed casket.

Each coffin is tastefully packaged in a quality gift box.

Sunday, June 01, 2008 Fun Finds

Um, I think I just said it all in the title. But! How fun! Definitely putting this on the calendar.

TCM introduces a new showcase that gives parents the perfect opportunity to introduce their kids to classic movies, hosted by Chris O’Donnell and Abigail Breslin.

Friday, May 23, 2008 Fun Finds

Ahhhhh my god my blood pressure is finally back down and I’ve wiped all the tears away after watching this clip about Billy Connolly’s trip to Ibiza. I thought I was going to have an aneurysm, I was trying so hard to keep my monitor clean. I had Phil’s fleece jacket on (sorry, hon) and the sleeves bunched into my mouth, legs crossed, hunched over, and praying that the gardener wouldn’t think I was sobbing. Oh my head is still throbbing.

Thursday, May 22, 2008 Fun Finds

Fraud-prevention pitchman becomes ID theft victim

This guy BEGGED people to try to steal his identity, marching through crowded cities, bellowing his Social Security number through a bullhorn. He may as well have had his Social Security card made into a business card. I don’t even want to think about how much money he spent daring someone to rip him off.

Still, it took two years–TWO YEARS, mind you–for someone to do it. This man had mad PR skillz and really couldn’t have made it any easier for someone to steal his identity if so inclined.

Now will everyone please stop going on about mommy bloggers endangering their loved ones? Thank you.

[via Ben Bear]

Saturday, May 10, 2008 Family, Fun Finds

By now you might know that I’m a fan of SafetyTat.com, and not just because I’ve lost my kids once or twice and would LOVE for someone to have called me before I lost my mind completely. (We always got them back, now we have adopted the ancient but effective Chain Gang tradition.)

Warmer weather and lots of family outings make it a perfect time to “arm” your kids with SafetyTats. Enter code: MAY02025 at checkout to receive 15% off your order. Offer good May 10 - May 31, 2008.

May Safety TatTip:

Historically we have told our children if they are lost to seek a police officer. Not so.

According to Gavin de Becker, Child Safety Expert, and author of Protecting the Gift (Excerpt) “Teaching this to a young child ignores several facts: All identifying credentials, insignias, badges and nameplates are above the waist, but a young child sees a world of legs. In fact, many children get lost in the first place because of following legs (the wrong set): Legs aren’t that distinctive when viewed from two and a half feet off the ground.”

De Becker also states as an inflexible rule: Teach children that if they are ever lost, Go to a Woman. Why? De Becker says, “First, if your child’s selects a woman, it’s highly unlikely that the woman will be a predator; A woman is likely to stop whatever she is doing, doing, commit to that child, and not rest until the child is safe.”

Thursday, May 08, 2008 Me, Me, Me, Fun Finds

I love waking up to Google alerts, especially when I learn that I’m a felon.

Former Greer High School PTSA Treasurer Indicted

A former P-T-S-A treasurer was indicted on “breach of trust” charges Tuesday.

Melinda Roberts was arrested in October after Greer High School’s “Parent Teacher Student Association” president filed a complaint with the Greer Police Department. According to the incident report filed on August 13, 2007, President Jill Schneider believed Roberts had used up to $24,000 of the organization’s money for her own use. The incident report says $10,899.45 was unaccounted for and missing. It alleged the money misuse occured between August 2006 and May 2007.

Marcia Barker of the Greenville County Solicitor’s Office confirms Tuesday’s indictment alleges that Roberts was entrusted with more than $5,000 and that she did “feloniously convert and appropriate such property to her own use and purposes, with intent to permanently deprive the owner thereof.”

I think we’d all know if I had that $24,000, because then I’d be halfway SANE.

But only halfway.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Other places I write, Divorce.360.com, Fun Finds, Entertainment

This oughta show them! I’m so pleased to be part of such a powerful and insightful community as Divorce360.com. I’m syndicated there, and haven’t explored half the offerings. They’re ginormous.

Thursday, February 07, 2008 Fun Finds

No, not really. This is not about cooking artichokes. Though I could cough one up for you. *cymbals*

But it DOES involve cooking! Phil sent me this video of how real Italians cook and I hurt myself laughing. I swear that he and his father and brothers sound just like this in the kitchen.

Not safe for work, turn down the sound, there’s lots of swearing!

Thursday, January 31, 2008 Me, Me, Me, Other places I write, Fun Finds, Entertainment

My boss is a clever guy. His (other) company just launched a new service called Sprout, which allows you to build “living content.” I think that means you can build and publish just about anything you can imagine: slideshows, a promo for all your projects (cough), podcasts, movies. There’s no limit, really.

What does it mean for the Web? It means that the bar for flash development has just been lowered to—yes—my level.

That’s pretty amazing. And get this: it’s so easy, I created this Sprout in about twenty minutes. Give or take thirty.

Thursday, January 03, 2008 Family, Fun Finds

They just didn’t get with the program. I wonder if it’s too late to save my own offspring.

[via]