How to Teach Kids to Stay Safe Without Scaring Them

August 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Stranger Safety DVD for teaching kids 4 & up to stay safeFor the past year or so I have been trying to figure out how to teach my boys about stranger safety. In preschool last year they learned all about fire safety and how to call 911. Their teacher explained that if something happened to me - like I fell and hit my head in the shower – they would need to call 911 to get help. I was really glad they talked about it because I hadn’t really thought about teaching them any of that. For the next few weeks following their safety lesson, the boys would ask if I was going to fall and hit my head every time I got into the shower. So, even though I knew they need to learn how to stay safe, I didn’t want to scare them. However, I also realized that if something happened to them because I didn’t properly educate them on how to be safe — well, I would never be able to forgive myself.

Stranger Safety

I now realize that it is imperative that they learn about stranger safety – whether it scares them or not – so I decided to bite the bullet and just do it. But how? How do I explain the difference between strangers, people they know and the handful of adults who Chris and I would entrust them with? This is a tough concept for little ones, so I went in search of something that might help me to at least start the conversation.

The first item I had was a Winnie the Pooh book called Safe at Home with Pooh. I actually didn’t buy this book with the intention of teaching the boys stranger safety. I just bought a stack of with books from the consignment store and it wasn’t until they asked me to read it that I realized what the book was about. It teaches kids not to talk to strangers and never to open the door to strangers (something I have mentioned that I don’t even do). The book was easy for them to understand and it helped get the conversation started about strangers and being safe.

As I was researching materials that might help me teach the boys about stranger safety I happened upon the website: The Safe Side. I was delighted to see two familiar faces smiling back at me. The first was John Walsh, the host of America’s Most Wanted and one of the founders and key supporters of  the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The other face I recognized was Julie Clark — the creator of Baby Einstein. These are two people who I believe to have the best interest of children in mind and the experience to create a program that would give children the tools they need to stay safe and to do it in an entertaining way.

Checking it Out

Of course, I decided to watch the program before the boys did just to make sure I thought it was age appropriate for them. I was relieved to see that it was highly entertaining and really great at teaching kids about “Don’t Knows” folks who are strangers and “Kind-of Knows” pretty much everyone else your child might interact with such as coaches, teachers, neighbors, family friends, doctors, librarians, etc.
>N was actually very reluctant to watch the video, which made me hesitate a bit but I knew we really just needed to watch it and start discussing how to stay safe. I told him that if he thought it was too scary I would turn it off. Since I watched it before they did, I knew that they would think that “Safe Side Superchick” was really funny. She provides really important information and does so in a fun and completely goofy way. The boys both loved it and they actually asked to watch it again today. We had fun not only discussing what they should do when certain situations happen but acting it out as well.

Another thing the video recommends is that you pick three adults who you completely trust with the well being of your child and put them on a list. This way if something happens and you cannot get to your child, they will know it is okay to go with one of these people but no one else! Then there is a clear distinction of who it is okay to go with unless you (their Safe Side Adult) tell them it’s okay or they ask permission first.

Internet Safety

Internet Safety DVD for teaching kids 6 & up to stay safeThey even have a Safe Side video all about internet safety. This isn’t really an issue for us right now because the boys don’t use the computer but I will probably have them watch this once they are a little older. The only thing is it might be outdated because it’s from 2006 but I’m sure the basic tips are still relevant.

So my plan is to keep talking about how to stay safe, letting them know that they can come to their Dad or I if something doesn’t seem right or makes them uncomfortable and that it is okay to yell fight, hit, kick and whatever else they need to do if someone ever grabbed them. By teaching them about safety I hope that this will help the boys to be prepared if God forbid something did happen!

So what have you done to teach your kids about stranger safety? What books, programs or websites have you used? I’d love to hear what others have done or recommend!

Filed Under: Parenting, Product Reviews for Parents Tagged With: , ,

The Learning Tower, a Review

August 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Little Partners makes the Learning TowerI have been running this site for nearly a year and for some strange reason it has taken me all this time to review one of my wife’s favorite items; The Learning Tower.

I used to be a regular attendee to Toy Fair in New York for the eCommerce company I work for.  It’s an event for anyone in the toy industry (sellers, buyers, reporters, etc…) and my wife would typically take off for a few days and come with me.  She would help me navigate the huge convention hall, take notes, and just act as my assistant.   In the evening, I would take her out to a nice dinner and we would enjoy the city.  It was always a great couple of days for both of us.

Toy Fair is massive and there are things hidden away in aisles where you wouldn’t typically expect to find them so we would hit every aisle and every booth to make sure we didn’t miss anything.  That may not sound difficult but Toy Fair is HUGE!!!  It takes up the entire Javits Center in Manhattan as well as several other buildings down town.  The business I am in sells licensed and pop culture items so it’s actually a pretty small segment of the overall toy market but part of the fun was the challenge of hitting everything to make sure we didn’t miss anything.

The first time we went, my wife was pregnant with my oldest son, Harrison.  We had a lot of fun going through the baby and little kids sections even though it had nothing to do with why we were there.  We got to see stuff we might want for our son before a lot of it was released to the market.  We also got to see stuff that was already on the market that companies were trying to push to new buyers.  It’s a unique situation where you get to talk directly to the company and in the case of smaller companies, directly to the owner/creator.

What is the Learning Tower

One of the items that really interested us was the Learning Tower by Little Partners.  The product had been around for a year or so before we ran into it at Toy Fair but our excitement was fresh as we had never seen it before.  The Learning Tower is the perfect kitchen companion for anyone that likes to cook with their children.  It’s not just for the kitchen but that seems to be it’s most popular application.  It’s the ultimate step stool that brings your children up to counter height and keeps them there safely and securely.

Nothing at Toy Fair is for sale to the the general public, meaning, you can’t walk through, hand your card to someone and walk out with it.  Buyers can put in orders for their companies but the products are shipped to the company/store they were bought for and not available to walk out with.  I tell you this simply because if it was possible for us to leave with a Learning Tower that day, we would have.

Why we love the Learning Tower

My wife LOVES to cook and bake and always fantasized about cooking with our children.  In addition to loving to cook, she is also a safety professional.   Her job is to make sure the workers at the company she works at, work safely.  The need to keep everyone safe is a big part of who she is and one of the things I love about her.  The Learning Tower appealed to her need to keep her soon to be born child safe and her desire to have our little one active and in the kitchen helping Mom cook.

It’s so much more than a step stool, it’s an adjustable platform that safely brings your child up to counter height.  It’s most popular application is in the kitchen but it can be used anywhere.  It’s very well constructed and the platform can be adjusted so it continues to become useful as your child grows.  It can hold over 200 lbs and has plenty of room for a second little one if you have more than one child.  My 5 year old and 3 year old share it with no problems.

What makes this item even better is you can buy accessories that make it more functional.  You can get a kit that turns it into a puppet theater in minutes or a chalk board that hangs off the side for arts and crafts.  It comes in 9 different finishes so there is sure to be a design that matches your decor.

At nearly $200, it’s not cheap but we believe it’s a great investment.  We have had ours for 4 yeas now and it gets uses all the time.  It’s very common for used Learning Towers to sell on eBay and Craigslist for $100 so it holds it’s value really well.  When our boys outgrow our Learning Tower we plan on selling it on Craigslist to recoup part of the expense of buying it but even if we didn’t do that, we have have more than gotten our moneys worth with this item.

We recommend Heirloom Wooden Toys if you are looking to buy one.  You can check it out on their Learning Tower Page.

The Learning Tower got some media attention a few years ago when it was featured on the Rachael Ray show. Check out the video below

Have you ever heard of the Learning Tower? What do you think of it?

Filed Under: Furniture, Toys and Games Tagged With: , , ,

The Nitty Gritty of Cat Litter

April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sel-cleaning litter box with cat litterOkay, I know it’s not the most glamorous topic in the world, but it is important if you have a cat or are thinking of getting one. I adopted my very first cat less than 15 years ago. Before that time, I had decided that “I wasn’t a cat person.” I love all animals great and small but that doesn’t mean I want to own all of them.

Then - into my life - walked a cute little gray and white kitten, who I named Sadie. I was hooked. Two years later, I ended up adopting a precocious black kitten who I named Ozzie – aka The Million Dollar Cat. Now, I am a bona fide cat expert!

Well, maybe not quite but I do know a lot about cat litter. Not only have my cats tested just about every kind of cat litter there is — I also worked in the pet industry for two years. Because of this, what I lack in personal experience – I learned through the experiences of others.

How hard can it be to pick a cat littler anyway?

Here are some of the main types of cat litter. There is clay litter, clumping litter, corn, newspaper, pine, wheat, crystal, scented, unscented, natural (and not so natural), heavy and light weight. The main things people want to know are; which one lasts the longest, hides the odor and it the most eco-friendly? There are really so many things to consider. Who knew? I will explain some of the pros and cons of each and then reveal my MOST favorite cat littler in the whole world!!! :)

Clay Litter

Clay litter is probably the cheapest option, but it is heavy and doesn’t clump. This means it may need to have a complete litter change more often to prevent bacteria and odor. Clay litter may contain some chemicals to supress the odor. It also emits a lot of dust.

Found on Amazon.com

Clumping Litter

This can be made of any number of materials but essentually it clumps so it is easy to dispose of liquid waste. Most of these can help to supress odor and come in scented and unscented versions. The clumping clay litter still emits quite a bit of dust though.

Found on Amazon.com

Natural fiber litter

Corn, wood, newspaper, wheat, etc are biodigradable and most are natrual. You’ll have to check the pacakging. Some may be scented and some may contain chemicals for clumping purposes. I have used the corn, wood and newspaper varieties and the corn was my favorite for odor control. The pine litter I tried smelled great when I first put it in the box but it soaked up the liquid waste and got funky fast. Now, they offer a clumping version which I have not tried. I imagine it works much like the corn.

Found on Amazon.com

Crystal litter

Crystal litter has become popular in recent years. I have never tried it but people who have seem to like it. Many of them use it in their automatic litter boxes because it doesn’t get stuck in the tongs like some of the other litters can.

Found on Amazon.com

Scented or unscented?

This is up to you. Ozzie developed an allergy to one of the scented clumping litters I used when when he was a kitten. Sadie never had any problems but Ozzie’s paws got chapped and even started bleeding. It was horrible. That’s when I switched to an unscented version that the vet recommended. If your cat is prone to upper respiratory infections you should choose a low dust unscented cat litter.

Now for my VERY favorite cat litter! I absolutely adore this brand for many reasons…

Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Clumping Litter

This wondrous litter is made using corn cobs and baking soda. It contains a light fresh scent which I love and luckily, Ozzie’s paws haven’t had an adverse reaction to it. I tried another corn litter before but the fine particles stuck to my cat’s paws leaving dusting cat prints all over the house.

If you have a cat I highly recommend this litter. They aren’t even paying me to say that — but they should!!! :)

Found Amazon.com

Of course, not all litters work for all cats and owners, if your cat is having issues using their litter box, it is best to consult the vet. Cats are really good about going in their boxes, so if they suddenly stop doing that – it may be the sign of a bigger issue.

TIP: When switching litters, it is best to mix a little of the new in with the old and slowly make the transition. Cats can be finicky and if you totally switch it might throw them off and they may refuse to use the box all together.

If you have any questions or suggestions of your own – I would love to hear them.

Do you have cats? Why type of litter do you use?

Filed Under: Pets, Product Reviews for Parents, Random Musings Tagged With: , ,

Free-Range Parenting: Is it Too Scary to Consider?

March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Free Range Kids by Lenore SkenazyHow would you feel about letting your child go to a neighborhood park to play on their own? Do you allow your children the freedom you had growing up? I think we would all like to do that - but realistically speaking - isn’t it too dangerous? Some people say — no. As I was doing research for my last post, I stumbled upon a few articles that included thoughts and opinions, on Free-Range parenting. I had heard about it, but didn’t know the specifics.

What I did know, was that columnist Lenore Skenazy, made the decision to let her 9 year old son navigate the New York City subway all on his own. This of course was after she made sure that he knew about the subway system and could read a map. Skenazy then wrote about it in the New York Sun. Some people – I’m going to guess there were quite a few - thought she was crazy and that she was taking a huge gamble with her child’s life. At first, I thought so too and it had a lot to do with something that happened last summer.

When a child wanders off

While the actual event only lasted a few minutes, it felt like an eternity. It terrified me and left me shaken for the rest of the day. I took the boys – who had just turned 3 – to a nice park on the other side of town. It’s one of our favorites, has wide open spaces, and a really fun playground.

When we got there I heard music. There was a man playing a guitar and singing. He was located in the covered picnic area, which is right next to the playground. Right away my “mom radar” went off. I told myself that I shouldn’t be so judgmental and I just needed to relax a little. I sort of did —  but I was careful to kept an eye on the guy and an even closer eye on the boys.

The boys were playing and having a great time. There weren’t too many people there, so they had free run of the place. A. had climbed a little too high for his comfort and asked me to come help him get down – so I did. When I turned around to look for N. he was no where to be seen. No where!

I tried not to panic. I kept one hand on A. and began calling for N. I looked all over.  I looked on slides, on the swings, in tunnels and nothing. Then I saw something that made my heart sink and almost brought me to tears. The man – the one playing the guitar – was gone too. Suddenly, every episode I had ever watched of America’s Most Wanted and Dateline NBC - relating to abducted children –  flooded my mind. I imagined that man had grabbed my son, and slipped away unnoticed.  I tried to stop thinking about it, but I couldn’t. Now —  I was frantically calling. A. began asking where N. was and started to call for him too.

All of a sudden, from around a corner, came my sweet- faced darling boy. I’m getting teary just reliving this again; that’s how much it frightened me. I grabbed N. and hugged him and thanked God that he was okay.

Free-range parenters believe risks over over-stated

So after that experience - and the panic and fear that I felt – how could I even think of (eventually) giving them the kind of freedom Skenazy advocates? Well, she and others like her, think that shows – like the ones I just mentioned – are what keep us over parenting our children. Skenazy also notes in her book Free-Range Kids: How to Rise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (without going nuts) that the occurrence of children who are abducted, is actually quite rare. Rare or not, I think I would be a nervous wreck if I allowed the boys – at age 9 - to ride their bikes to the library all on their own. Would they be fine? Probably, but what if they weren’t? I would never ever forgive myself if something happened to them.

I have been reading Skenazy’s blog and I really like it. I didn’t think I would. I thought I’d be outraged by everything she posted, and I’m just not. She is right that hovering and trying to remove all of the potential dangers and disappointments in life – isn’t doing anything for our kids. So what if they fall down and get scraped knees or a broken bone? It’s going to happen but they will heal and they might learn to be more careful next time.

Look – I spent my summers climbing trees and riding my bike around the neighborhood (often times doing dare-devil maneuvers like standing on the seat). Sure I fell, but I have some really fun childhood memories – and impressive scars – because I got to do that. I don’t think I would ever be able to allow the boys to navigate the subway system at age 9 but I’ll be reading Skenazy’s book. I’ll probably still feel the same about a lot of things, but it will definitely give me some food for thought. I certainly don’t want to take anything away from my kids, but their safety is my first concern! I think the book is worth a read! I’ll keep you posted :)

So what are your thoughts? Are you for or against Free-Range parenting?

Filed Under: Books and Magazines, Parenting, Safety Tagged With: , ,

Throw a Party – Help a Friend – Get Free Stuff

March 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Pampered Chef is a direct sales companyHave you been wanting some new decor for your home? Is your candle supply running a little low? Need a new kitchen gadget or recipe ideas? Would you like to update your cosmetics, or get some new clothes? Of course! Who doesn’t — right? Well, if you are low on extra money; I have a great way to make you feel like you splurged, without spending too much.

Most of us have heard of Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Home Interiors, Party Lite, etc. Maybe you have a friend or two that earns extra money, or has built a successful business through one of these direct sales companies. You can support her  – and earn yourself some goodies in the process – by hosting a party. There is a direct sales company for just about everything!

Before we begin, I think it’s important for me to mention that I am not affiliated with these companies in any way, other than I have attended and/or had parties for one of their consultants. When I realized that I would be an at-home Mom I tried my hand at a couple direct sales businesses but it just wasn’t my thing.

Is direct sales for you?

First of all, I was my own best customer (a very bad thing if you want to make any money at all) and secondly, while I love attending these parties — but I didn’t really want to be the one running the show. I do however, know many people who are in direct sales and are absolutely fabulous at it.

Now, what was I talking about before I got all side tracked? Oh yes of course… FREE STUFF!

As I was saying, many of these companies offer their hostesses fantastic rewards for hosting a party. Sometimes free stuff, discounted items, hostess only specials and more.

So how do you host a direct sales party anyhow?

The first thing you need to do, is to decide which company you want to party with — and there are many to choose from. Next, you will want to find a consultant, if of course you don’t already know one. You can also book your own party during shows that you attend – which helps the host, the consultant and you.

Once you decide what type of party you would like to have – and you have booked a party – you need to start getting the word out to all your friends and family about the event.

Get the word out

Social media is such a wonderful tool for this. You can tweet about it, create an event on facebook to invite some – or all - of your Facebook friends, and of course mention it in your status updates. You can also send e-mails to people and of course, there’s always the good old postal service. Remember, the more people you tell about your party, the more successful it will be, and the more free and discounted stuff you will get!

Most companies even have the ability for people to participate in your party online and don’t forget about the catalogs! Carry around current catalogs and order forms wherever you go. You might get a few orders this way as well. Make sure you are aware of any specials for the month, so you can pass this information on. Don’t forget to send out reminders a day or two before the party!

The day of event make some treats for your guests. You don’t have to spend a lot, to let people know you appreciate their participation. Most consultants will also have drawings and giveaways for your guests as well.

I actually just had a party on Saturday for one of my friends who just became a Thirty-One consultant. She gave me a fabulous lunch tote (pictured above), just for hosting. Plus, I was able to order two items that I really wanted – for half the retail price. I also had a lot of fun, with some of my favorite ladies!

Have you hosted a successful direct sales event? What did you do to get the word out? What is you all time favorite direct sales company and what is your favorite item?

Filed Under: Money and Finances, Reviews News, Shopping Tagged With: , ,

Use Video Baby Monitors With Caution

February 20, 2011 By 1 Comment
Summer Infant Video Baby Monistor

via CPSC

On February 1, 2011, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in conjunction with Summer Infant Inc, Woonsocket, R.I., issued a warning about a strangulation hazard. Young babies and children are getting tangled in the cords of video baby monitors and two children have died.

Strangulation hazard from cord

There has also been a report made of a child becoming tangled in the cords but had been freed safely.

What the CPSC is advising that no cords be within three feet of the crib. If a baby or child can reach the cord it is too close. The report also states that the monitors had been placed on the rail, on the wall and on a dressing table attached to the crib.

Summer Infant Inc, has also started a campaign where the company is now putting labels on all of their video monitors. There has been over 1.7 million of these types of monitors sold.

We as parents always want to do the best for our children and of course we want to keep an eye on them when they are sleeping. Having a camera in the room is a great way to keep an eye on what is going on. But, on the other hand we do not want to risk having something terrible happen either. By using due diligence with anything that is placed near a baby crib risks will be lowered.

Best rule is to never put anything near a baby crib where the child can become entangled. Although there is only one company named in this report there are other brands of baby video monitors on the market. Anything with a cord should never be put near the crib.

Do you use this device or anything similar? How far away do you keep the cord?

Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Product Reviews for Parents, Safety, Shopping Tagged With: , ,

If I Could Do It Again — Must Haves for Moms-to-Be

February 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are a mom-to-be, consider these must have itemsThere is always something new and exciting coming out on the market. Since having the boys — I’ve seen cribs, toys, clothes, etc. and thought, “I would have totally purchased that for me (or the boys), if it had been available at the time!” Recently, I have stumbled upon a few items that I know I would have loved to have when I was expecting, and the days that followed — so I thought I’d share them with you.

The Baby Bullet

www.babybullet.com

I made all the boys’ baby food when they were little, and it sure would have been nice to have this little beauty. Of course, I did pretty well with my food processor, ice cube trays, and blender but the baby bullet would have made things much more simple. Especially when making smaller batches or to whip up something really quick without all the messy clean-up.

Since I was feeding two babies at the same time, this might not have been the best thing for me. I may have been working double time in the kitchen, but for parents of singletons it would be excellent.

The thing that impressed me most, were the containers. You can actually put the date the food expires on there. Way cool! I froze almost everything I made – since I made baby food in batches – but this would have been great for making oatmeal and rice cereal.

Designer Hospital Gowns

I was looking for something on line and I stumbled across designer hospital gowns. I had never heard of, or thought of such a thing but I thought they sounded like a neat idea. The first gowns I found were from Designer Mamas. These are the most stylish hospital gowns on the planet — no doubt. However — they are spendy for something that will probably only be worn a couple of times (about$130).

I’m sure they are made of very fine quality materials and worth every penny but at Kids Ain’t Cheap, we are all about saving money so I went in search of a less expensive version. I found some really cute styles at Labor Looks for about one-third of the price.

To many people, this may seem like a frivolous purchase – and perhaps it is – but I would have loved to have a cute hospital gown to wear after the babies had arrived.

Another option – if you have any craft friends that know their way around a sewing machine – is to see if they could make one for you (maybe in exchange for extra baby holding time, once your little sweetie arrives). Then you can even pick out the fabric.

Nursery Sanitizer — The Germ Guardian

Found on Amazon.comsale – $53.99 regular – $69.99

This is my favorite! I would have LOVED this and would have used it often. With one baby who used a pacifier – if for only that reason alone – this would have been fantastic. Plus, it works on bottles and toys and all kinds of things!

Is there a product you’ve seen that you think would have been great to have? Have you used one of the products I mentioned and if so what was your experience? Is there something you used as a new parent that you know you could not have lived without?

Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Product Reviews for Parents Tagged With: , ,

Product Review — Shark Steam Mop

February 10, 2011 By 4 Comments

Shark steam mopWhen I first saw the infomercial for the Shark Steam Mop, I froze  — eyes wide and just stared in amazement. ”What a glorious invention!” I thought to myself. Then another thought chimmed in, “Remember the Sea Monkeys.” What? Oh  yeah – the Sea Monkeys…

Found on Amazon.com

Sea Monkeys made me cautious

Anytime I see something on TV - that I think looks too good to be true - I usually find out that it is. I first experienced this when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I begged and begged and begged for some Sea Monkeys. If you don’t know what these are take a look. My Grandpa finally gave in and got them for me.

I was over the moon with excitement! I couldn’t wait to see them grow into the creepy alien looking things on the package, to watch them build cities and to do whatever else Sea Monkeys do. I was so disappointed to discover that after waiting for weeks for them to do something — anything, that they did absolutely nothing!

All they turned out to be were stupid little brine shrimp. No disrespect to brine shrimp of course, but they are super boring and look nothing like sea monkeys – or what I thought sea monkeys would look like. Lesson learned.

So, I was cautiously optimistic about the Shark Steam Mop. After all, if it didn’t do what I thought it should, I would just take it back to the store.

Deciding to buy the Shark Steam Mop

I asked my husband to watch the infomercial and he was on the fence about whether or not we really needed it. I explained that it would a be great thing for us to have. I would be able to get the floors clean, without having to worry about using chemical cleaners. This was especially important to us at the time, because the boys were getting ready to crawl and putting everything into their mouths. With the steam mop, it only uses steam to clean the floor. Before long, my husband was on board with trying this product as well.

We found one at Costco (it came with extras that the other ones we saw, did not have) and the rest is history. I love my Shark Steam Mop and I wouldn’t want to be without it. Here are some of my favorite features:

  • It’s light weight and really easy to use. I don’t have to lug a bucket, cleaner, or anything else with me. Simple!
  • As I mentioned before; there are no chemicals — just hot steam to clean your floor.
  • The floor dries in just a few minutes. This is fantastic! With 2 kids and a dog running through the house at all times, I don’t have time to wait for floors to dry.
  • If something gets spilled – and it usually does – I can just grab my steam mop and have it cleaned up in a jiffy! It cuts through everything including juice!
  • I never have to buy floor cleaner – so it saves $$$$. Gotta love that.
  • No streaks and the hot steam leaves the floors really clean.

I just acquired my second Shark Steam Mop. My other one lasted for 3 years. I’ll admit that my first one would have lasted a lot longer, if I had treated it nicer. It got used a lot and I never drained the left over water out when I was done, like the instructions told me to.

Getting my new Shark Steam Mop made me fall in love with it, all over again! It really is a great invention and it’s my favorite cleaning tool ever!

There are a couple of models and I just have the basic Shark Steam Mop (on Amazon.com for $59.85 Retail $99.99). They do have a Deluxe Shark Steam Mop (on Amazon.com for $99 – Retail $149) and they also have the Shark Vac then Steam (on Amazon.com $149.99). I can’t say how those work but if they are anything like the basic model, I’m sure they are wonderful.

Be aware that it is recommended for use on, “…sealed hard floors–including wood, tile, linoleum, and vinyl…”

Do you have the Shark Steam Mop? What do you think of it?

Filed Under: Green Living, House Keeping Tagged With: , , ,

Audible Review and How I am Using It

February 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Audible.comI have been seeing and hearing ads for Audible.com for well over a year now but always ignored them.  I love to read and audio books never interested me so consequently the ads never interested me.  Over this past year, a lot has changed.  I subscribe to a lot of podcasts.  Some are entertaining and some are educational.  I listen to a few podcasts every day at the office and love the portability of taking them with me on my iPhone and listening to them in the car or when I exercise.  For some reason I never saw being entertained or educated via a podcast as the same thing as listening to an audio book.

Why I considered Audible

Additionally, my favorite news radio station has suddenly become very  hard to tune into consistently.  It must be my car as it works fine in my wife’s car but I no longer have that as an option.  Sure, there are music stations that I like and I always have all of the stuff on my iPhone to listen to but I was still disappointed to lose that radio station.

Finally, I have a 30 – 35 minute commute to work every day and it just started feeling like more and more wasted time.  With two kids and a busy work schedule I don’t have nearly as much time to read as I once did.

One day this past November, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts and an ad came on for Audible.  It just somehow clicked this time.  They were offering 50% off their Gold membership plan for the first 3 months.  I will give you a run down of the membership plans a little later in this article.  With that initial trial I downloaded Stephen Kings The Gunslinger, it’s the first book in the Dark Tower series.  It’s a series I have always been meaning to read but never seemed to get around to it.   The audio book normally sells for $19.93 but with this membership offer I got it for $7.62.  It’s less than a hard cover book but a little more than the paper back would have cost me.  That seemed pretty reasonable to me knowing that they had to pay a voice actor to read the book.

This was my first exposure to an audio book and it did not disappoint.  The process of signing up with Audible was simple as was the process of purchasing the audio book and putting it onto my iPhone.  Audible offers a download manager that takes care of all of that.  The voice actor did an excellent job, his voice matched the tone of the story and it wasn’t rushed.  I looked forward to my commute to and from work so I could listen to the next part of the story.  It took me about 2 weeks to get through it which is a lot faster than it takes me to get through a regular book nowadays (mostly due to time).  I had joined with the intention of getting a book, trying it out but most likely canceling before the 3 month trial expired but I have changed my mind, I am an Audible and audio book convert!

Why I like Audible

After getting that first book, I decided that it would be good way to accomplish several goals:

  • Get caught up on books I have wanted to read just for the fun of it
  • Get caught up on the business and personal finance books that will help me improve my financial situation and grow as a business man
  • Find some books in the Audible for Kids section for my boys and see if works as a way to keep the kids occupied on long car trips

With what seemed like the makings of an actual plan forming, I got a new book in December called Freakanomics.  It’s a book that asks strange questions and really makes think you about the economics of life.  I decided that I would alternate.  My membership plan with Audible gives me one free credit every month that I can use towards the purchase of any book.  Since I can’t afford to spend more than I am already spending on the membership, I will get myself one book a month and alternate between pure entertainment and books that will also educate.  I enjoyed Freakanomics but didn’t learn as much from it as I had hoped.  It was more a collection of essays that got you thinking than it was a lesson in economics.  Still a worthwhile read/listen but probably not one I would recommend as a must read.

January came around and I got the second book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series but I also sprang for a second book (it was only $6.49).  The Audible for Kids books are pretty inexpensive if you are a member and I really wanted to see if my kids would enjoy listening to something in the car.  My son is in Dinosaur mode.  It’s all he talks about, thinks about and plays with these days so when I saw the Magic Tree House, Book 1: Dinosaurs Before Dark I had to get it.  It’s meant for longer car trips like the one we are taking in a week to see some family but I tested it out on the drive to day care and to my surprise, there wasn’t a peep out of either of my boys on the whole ride.  They sat there with mouths open listening to the story.  When we got to day care, they said they liked it but weren’t ecstatic about it nor have they asked to listen to it again so I got a bit of a mixed review from them.  I think the real test will come from that hour long cart trip we are taking next week.

Audible Membership Plans

Audible has several different membership plans and before you sign up it’s important to know what you are going to get with each one.

No Membership

This isn’t really a membership plan but it should be mentioned as an option.  You do not have to become a regular recurring member to buy from Audible.  If you only think you are going to want a few audio books a year, this is the way to go.  You will have to pay full price for that audio book but it’s better than committing to a monthly membership plan.  To participate, simply go to Audible.com and buy a book.

Audible Listener Gold

This is the plan I am on.  This plan costs $14.95 a month but with that, you get 1 free credit every month and with that credit you can get any book you want.  They key here is books on Audible range from $4.95 up to $35 so if you are going to subscribe to a plan like this make sure you are using that credit to buy a book that costs more than the plan.  It doesn’t make sense to spend $14.95 for the month and then use that free credit to get a book that would have cost you $4.95.  Most books are more than $14.95 so you will have plenty to chose from.  As a gold member, you also get 30% off anything that is not purchased with a credit, free audio programs and a complimentary subscription to the audio version of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal.  You can get the same deal I did and click the following link to get 50% off your first 3 months at Audible

Audible Listener Gold Annual

This is the same as the plan above but you pre-pay for the entire year.  When you do this, your cost per credit goes from $14.95 per credit to $12.46 per credit.  A worthwhile savings if you know you are going to stick with it for a year.  If you aren’t sure, it’s better to play it safe and go month to month.  You can still get the same discount on the first three months, just go to 50% off at Audible.

Audible Listener Platinum

This is similar to the Gold plan that I am on except it costs $22.95 a month and you get 2 free credits every month.  This brings the cost of those credits down from the $14.95 I pay to $11.48.  A better bargain if you think you will get through 2 every month.  I am not sure I can so I am sticking with the gold plan for now.  They don’t have any special offers that I am aware of with the Platinum level so sign up by going to Audible

Audible Listener Platinum Annual – This is the same as the plan above except you pre-pay for an entire year.  This will bring your cost per credit down from the $14.95 per credit I pay to $9.56.  Pretty cheap if you know you are going to go through 24 audio books in a year and can afford to lay it out all at once.  Sign up by clicking here to go to Audible

Summing it Up

Audible isn’t for everyone.  If you aren’t big on books or don’t have a lot of quiet time to spend listening to these books, it’s probably not worth it but for me, they make my commute into work a lot more enjoyable.

Do you use Audible? What do you think of audiobooks in general?

Filed Under: Books and Magazines, Shopping Tagged With: , , , ,

Basic Baby Tools Reviewed

January 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A crib is one of the things you need to buy when expecting a baby

Photo on CAPL

Funnily enough, 2010 seemed to be the year of the babies. I have so many friends who welcomed their bundles of joy last year and so many who got pregnant and are expecting this year. It really is beautiful to see the beginnings of a life, to see the joy in the parent’s faces, and to see all my new mommy-to-be girlfriends fret over all the baby things they think they need.  This is especially true (and fun to watch) with my friends who are going to be first time mom’s.

I remember very well what I thought I needed when I was pregnant with my first child.  I remember it was a few months in chaos listing all the things magazines and sites were telling me I needed.  And, being the anal person that I am, I got MOST of these items.  Only to find out later that I didn’t really need half of them.  Good thing was I was able to use them for my second child. Wonderful how some baby things just don’t go out of style.

Anyway, I thought about doing a list of things you really need after you find out you are expecting and a basic time chart for when to get them. It might be helpful for all the first time mom’s out there.

6 months before D-Day:

By this time, I think it is OK to start getting the big stuff. This is because you will have had enough time to save up for them and because you will still have enough time to pay them off should you decide to get these on installment.

1. Crib

OK, you can choose whatever crib you want here but I personally think that if you have no baby cabinets yet, then get the ones with the drawers and the ones with the bed that can take the baby into the growing years.  There are some cribs that are cute and may fit a little nook in your room, but for practicality and for budget’s sake, these are not the smartest choices.

2. Stroller/Car Seat/Bassinet

OK, there are sooo many choices in the market today and some ranging from the reasonably expensive to the outrageously expensive.  The things I would say to look out for are the material of the stroller and car seat, the quality of the belt and the fasteners, the padding around the bars, the size and quality of the wheels and the shocks of the stroller.  Any brand that presents above average standards for all these is a thumb’s up for me.

4. Bottles and sterilizer

Now, if there were many crib and stroller choices, there are even more bottle choices.  And the manufacturers have made these bottles so complicated that  it almost feels like you need a degree to choose the right one!  The rules I followed were two things: that they were designed to produce a non-colicky baby, and that they were made from material that does not leach BPA or bisephenol, which is a harmful byproduct of plastic that can go onto the liquid in the bottle if it is heated above 175F.  The thing is a lot of the really cute and popular bottles use Polycarbonate plastic despite this fact because it is lightweight to bring around and for the baby to hold and offers flexibility in design of nipples and bottle.  But there are a lot of bottles made from safer and greener plastic that are just as pretty. It really is personal choice here.

3 months to go:

1. Bedsheets, clothes, blankets

I cannot stress how many of these you will think you need in the first two months after the baby is born.  You will want sheet replacements in case you need to change the sheets, and change you will need to do often.  You will want clothes that can come off and go on the baby as easily as possible and these usually are the ones that you tie up front. For tropical countries, it is important to have cotton clothes to keep the baby cool and it is essential to have changes of clothing to keep the baby clean and fresh. I has a set of 6 tops that you tie in front, 6 that you button on the shoulder, and 6 wide neck ones.  I used them all.  Blankets and towels are equally important as they cover the baby, keep the baby warm, and is what the baby will be wrapped in for chnks of hours over the day.  I had 6 of these although I know of others who had a dozen to be safe.

2. Washing/changing station

If you are old fashioned like me, you will do with a regular tub with a dipper in the bathroom.  If you are more mod, you may want to use a changing table that can convert into a washbasin. This is entirely a personal choice.

3. Breast pump

Now, if you do not intend to breastfeed, this is a moot point. But, if you do, finding a good pump will be a lifesaver.  Like most things, a pump has a price range.  I didn’t try all but I have tried a few to be able to make some kind of recommendation. I’ve also thrown in comments from friends for good measure.

  • Medela- This range of breast pumps is, as far as I’ve heard, the Ferrari of breast pumps. It is strong but not painful and really gets the milk out. Plus it has some sort of suction imitation thing that keeps breast milk in production even if the baby is not breastfeeding from the breast all the time.  This is pricey though.
  • Avent- very very well known for quality bottles and pumps, I had the opportunity to use the manual breast pump. It was very good. No need for an electric pump at all. It was virtually painless to use, had good suction, and was easy enough to use for a few hours straight. The only thing I found a bit off putting was that it was rather large to use and hold (for me at least) but this really depends on the woman’s grip and hand size.  I would recommend this breast pump if your budget allows as this is also a bit on the pricey side.
  • Pigeon- this is the more budget friendly brand and I was able to use the manual and electric varieties. The manual one was great. It was small enough so it was not cumbersome, the pump was soft enough to use for a few hours straight, it was virtually painless as well. I would definitely recommend this pump. I used the electric one as well because i thought i could get a lot of milk minus the manual pumping. It was very painful. I stopped using it after two tries. I do not recommend this at all.

4. Diapers

You will need to change the baby around eight times a day in the beginning and will only taper off when the baby is well withing the first year so stocking up early is not a bad idea. Diapers do not have an expiration date but they do have sizes so stock up on some newborn diapers and small ones first.  Research on how often you need to change the baby and how fat they grow on average to get a rough computation of how many pieces you might need. If you want to use cloth diapers, you will need about 2-3 dozen of the small to medium ones first.  You will need some baby friendly soap and a good washing machine and dryer as well.  Have a basin with some water mixed with detergent handy so you can soak soiled diapers immediately.  This makes them easier to wash and prevents staining.

5. Diaper bag

You can have two to three of these ion different sizes.  You will need a variety as the amount of things you will bring around will change depending on where you are headed. make sure to have bottle holders, a changing mat, other dividers and an insulated area.  It would be great to have an outside or other pocket for your personal things so you don’t have to carry a handbag but this is optional.

These are the most basic things you will need to have before you welcome your new baby. Of course, there is a whole novel full of other things you will want to have but those you can stress less about.  Having these basics will at least get you through the first couple of weeks.

What are your favorite tools for caring for your baby?

Filed Under: Baby Stuff, Furniture, Product Reviews for Parents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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