December 19, 2011
12 Days of Facebook
I am deactivating my Facebook account for 2012...my New Year's Resolution and hypothesis that I am not going to be missing anything by doing so. I am going to spend the time I spent on Facebook ACTUALLY connecting with my friends and being present when they are right in front of me instead.
December 15, 2011
iPad for Christmas
I am a bit alarmed at the number of "iPads for Christmas" I have heard for a child...a child under the age of 5 at that! Seriously, $600 on a Christmas present for a toddler. Ok...those big swingset things, tree houses, huge doll houses...well, anything from Pottery Barn! I guess it's not that out of the ordinary for some people but it is for me. I realize that some people are just using their toddler as an excuse to get an iPad for it's "educational" purposes and books.
Even if you do have $600 to spend on your toddler this Christmas, let me advocate for an iTouch instead. I "throw" my iTouch in my purse. I would never "throw" an iPad in my purse. Trevor has dropped my iTouch in the street...it got a mild response but nothing compared to how I would feel when that iPad hit the floor. I don't know about your toddler but mine would watch Thomas and Friends or Yo Gabba Gabba on a postage stamp if it meant he got to watch a video, so selling the screen size doesn't fly.
A good friend once advised to NEVER get the on board entertainment system in your vehicle. Her daughter would just want a video every single time she got in the car...and who wants to do that? Also, when on vacation...do you really want to sit in the car in your PJ's so that your little darling can zone out to Dora in the morning. The whole point of baby crack is so that you can actually shower or have a minute to yourself. You can't do that if your kid is watching a video in the hotel parking lot. The iTouch props nicely between the headrest and the seatback...you just need one of those grippy covers on it and leather seats help but...you get the idea!
If I really tried to convince myself that it would be so great to have award winning, color illustrated, portable and eco friendly books with me all the times....I would get a Kindle Fire for Trevor. The sustainability thing is an attractive incentive. But, what about growing up...going to the library? Having that book return deadline to spur on your passion for getting through a book and being responsible to bring it back...and they are FREE! How else can you spend an afternoon with your kid doing something totally free and walk out the door with something to show for it?
If you already bought your toddler an iPad for Christmas...that is really cool because the iPad is truly VERY COOL (not even being snarky here!). The Monster At the End Of This Book APP is really fun, totally worth $3.99. But, if you are like me and have an iTouch that you share with your little munchkin...that APP is available for you micro screen peeps!
Even if you do have $600 to spend on your toddler this Christmas, let me advocate for an iTouch instead. I "throw" my iTouch in my purse. I would never "throw" an iPad in my purse. Trevor has dropped my iTouch in the street...it got a mild response but nothing compared to how I would feel when that iPad hit the floor. I don't know about your toddler but mine would watch Thomas and Friends or Yo Gabba Gabba on a postage stamp if it meant he got to watch a video, so selling the screen size doesn't fly.
A good friend once advised to NEVER get the on board entertainment system in your vehicle. Her daughter would just want a video every single time she got in the car...and who wants to do that? Also, when on vacation...do you really want to sit in the car in your PJ's so that your little darling can zone out to Dora in the morning. The whole point of baby crack is so that you can actually shower or have a minute to yourself. You can't do that if your kid is watching a video in the hotel parking lot. The iTouch props nicely between the headrest and the seatback...you just need one of those grippy covers on it and leather seats help but...you get the idea!
If I really tried to convince myself that it would be so great to have award winning, color illustrated, portable and eco friendly books with me all the times....I would get a Kindle Fire for Trevor. The sustainability thing is an attractive incentive. But, what about growing up...going to the library? Having that book return deadline to spur on your passion for getting through a book and being responsible to bring it back...and they are FREE! How else can you spend an afternoon with your kid doing something totally free and walk out the door with something to show for it?
If you already bought your toddler an iPad for Christmas...that is really cool because the iPad is truly VERY COOL (not even being snarky here!). The Monster At the End Of This Book APP is really fun, totally worth $3.99. But, if you are like me and have an iTouch that you share with your little munchkin...that APP is available for you micro screen peeps!
Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE!
We had such a great time with our familiar friends. It was just like any other concert...you are so excited when they play one of your favorite songs..."I Love Bugs!" Click HERE for more pics.December 11, 2011
November 15, 2011
Gabrielle Giffords
I was inspired by her when I met her in Washington, DC...inspired doesn't even come close to how I feel about her today. http://abc.go.com/watch/2020/SH559026/VD55153303/gabby-giffords--mark-kelly-courage-and-hope
November 11, 2011
The Eagles
Darren and I both grew up with parents that listened to and loved the Eagles. Take It Easy is just an "easy" song to sing and remember all the words. Part of Darren's bedtime routine is singing a few songs (mine is books). Anyone who knows Darren knows that he is always singing! Trevor started to ask for the "Corner of Arizona" song a few months ago. It makes sense, Arizona is a place of much value in this house and a song about it is even better! Trevor has an ear for music and his Mom's knack of remembering the words to songs. He also LOVES to play the drums, thanks to Aunt Crystal...we don't mind if he plays these drums either! Enjoy some "standin' on the corner in Winslow, AZ"...he is such a fine site to see!
Rangers World Series!
Trevor loves watching baseball and Darren doesn't have cable so we watched the World Series together!
November 7, 2011
October 16, 2011
Stroller Mama
So, when you have to wait until you are 36 and watch everyone you know have a child before you...you learn a lot just by watching others. If you are like me, you also get an obsession for some things. "If I could only have a child of my own" is kind of depressing to think about, everyday. How about just obsessing about the THINGS that you would have IF you had a child, that seemed more fun. Diaper Bags and Strollers, those were my coveted vices! The diaper bag was Kate Spade, of course. But, I did a lot of research on strollers, a lot! I couldn't justify the cost of the Bugaboo to Darren for sure...but also, it wasn't easy to travel with so it was a problem for me too. Did I mention the $800 price tag! We settled on Maxi Cosi for car seats and our stroller and I was really happy with them and their customer service. But, when it came to traveling, it was a full sized stroller and was hard to fly with. More research....I found an umbrella Stroller Kooper by Joovy. Their company headquarters right here in Dallas-awesome, easy enough to fold and small enough you could get through security and gate check it- awesome, and it was actually functional and comfortable when we got where were were going- awesome! We love our Joovy and it has gone to CA, CO, the State Fair, the Arboretum, the Aquarium and Grandma-mas!
It is crazy that we have 3 strollers, each for different purposes. Consumerism at it's best. (Did I mention we have 5 different IPods in this family). Being a runner, something that truly brings me zen and joy...it is hard to find time to run being a single parent. On my "off" days from Trevor, I take advantage of the freedom to go for a long run. But, I kept saying "I would go running today, but I have Trevor". We went through a long process with another stroller company....I won't go into it, with our first jogging stroller. Loved the concept, hated the stroller. The only stroller that seemed fit for a true runner was the BOB and that one costs $450. That seemed excessive.
But, I kept wanting to go for a run...outside. I could go to the gym and put Trevor in the kids club and run on the treadmill but that is a lose, lose for both of us...not fun! Us both getting to be outside would be so much nicer. I got on Craig's List earlier this week to see if any BOB's were out there (there never are). But, then...I saw a post by the main Joovy office which is in Deep Elum in Dallas. *Warehouse Sale* by appointment only and they had jogging strollers for $99. I called and ran down during my lunch. They weren't quite sure about one of the wheels but I said I would try it out, he would only take $50 for it. Sure enough it pulled to the right, so hard that it was difficult to keep it on the trail. I emailed the guy who sold it to me and he apologized that he should have checked it out more before it got advertised. He felt so bad that I came down that he said he had a brand new, in the box stroller that he would sell me for the original $99 advertised (so, $50 more dollars but what I had originally planned to spend for a floor model for a NEW one). Sign me up! Talk about great customer service. Check out our new Joovy 360 Jogging stroller!
I haven't had a chance to really run with it yet because I have been so sick, but we did go for a long walk today and I can honestly say that I LOVE it! I would love to be able to just go running and leave Trevor home while I did it. That is just not going to happen during the week. If you have ever been on a bike trail and see kids in jogging strollers you will agree, they NEVER look unhappy. Trevor loves going "running" and being in the stroller, even at 2 1/2. He does tell me to go faster, which is kind of funny...a new kind of motivation.
It is crazy that we have 3 strollers, each for different purposes. Consumerism at it's best. (Did I mention we have 5 different IPods in this family). Being a runner, something that truly brings me zen and joy...it is hard to find time to run being a single parent. On my "off" days from Trevor, I take advantage of the freedom to go for a long run. But, I kept saying "I would go running today, but I have Trevor". We went through a long process with another stroller company....I won't go into it, with our first jogging stroller. Loved the concept, hated the stroller. The only stroller that seemed fit for a true runner was the BOB and that one costs $450. That seemed excessive.
But, I kept wanting to go for a run...outside. I could go to the gym and put Trevor in the kids club and run on the treadmill but that is a lose, lose for both of us...not fun! Us both getting to be outside would be so much nicer. I got on Craig's List earlier this week to see if any BOB's were out there (there never are). But, then...I saw a post by the main Joovy office which is in Deep Elum in Dallas. *Warehouse Sale* by appointment only and they had jogging strollers for $99. I called and ran down during my lunch. They weren't quite sure about one of the wheels but I said I would try it out, he would only take $50 for it. Sure enough it pulled to the right, so hard that it was difficult to keep it on the trail. I emailed the guy who sold it to me and he apologized that he should have checked it out more before it got advertised. He felt so bad that I came down that he said he had a brand new, in the box stroller that he would sell me for the original $99 advertised (so, $50 more dollars but what I had originally planned to spend for a floor model for a NEW one). Sign me up! Talk about great customer service. Check out our new Joovy 360 Jogging stroller!
I haven't had a chance to really run with it yet because I have been so sick, but we did go for a long walk today and I can honestly say that I LOVE it! I would love to be able to just go running and leave Trevor home while I did it. That is just not going to happen during the week. If you have ever been on a bike trail and see kids in jogging strollers you will agree, they NEVER look unhappy. Trevor loves going "running" and being in the stroller, even at 2 1/2. He does tell me to go faster, which is kind of funny...a new kind of motivation.
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