Posts About ‘Gifts & Holidays’

Top 10 Tips, Tastes and Tidbits for the Best Thanksgiving Ever

Monday, November 21st, 2011

I have scoured the interwebs to bring you the most helpful links for planning and preparing your Thanksgiving Feast. They include recipes galore, wine pairings, shopping and cooking tips, and much more.

1) A comprehensive guide to planning, shopping and cooking, brought to you by Cooks’ Illustrated.
LINK

2) Is there a perfect Turkey recipe? Well known chef Jonathan Waxman thinks so. LINK

3) Some folks think the side dishes are the best part. Here are 10 Great Ones via Foodista. LINK

4) Even more side dishes from restaurant chefs via FINDEATDRINK. LINK

- Wait…you just love Brussels Sprouts? Check out this recipe and VIDEO how to. LINK

5) Having a large crowd over? Here’s a quick TIP.

6) What’s the best wine to drink (or bring) for the big meal? LINK

7) What to consider if some of your guests are vegetarian, vegan or “gluten-free”. LINK

8) For celebrity chef fans, here’s a look at WWBD: What Would Bobby (Flay) Do. LINK

9) Fair warning: DO NOT READ THIS if you don’t want to know what’s really in your Thanksgiving meal. (Hint: fat, sugar & salt – surprise, surprise.) LINK

10) Music for the meal? My suggestion is to sign up for Spotify and create your own jukebox for free! Plug it into your speakers and you’re good to go. LINK

Have the best Thanksgiving ever!

The Short Order Dad®

 

Photo Credit: Ryan Ozawa

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Posted in Featured, Food & Drink, Gifts & Holidays | 2 Comments »

Better Valentine’s Day Gifts

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Thankfully, my wife and I have never really celebrated the greeting card created Valentine’s Day. We started dating in March and always opted to celebrate that instead of some made up holiday with over priced chocolate and roses.

Now I know we are not the norm on this, so many of you do have to celebrate it and if you don’t do it right your going to end up with an upset significant other and certainly are not going to get any quality loving that night. But, you’ve probably already done the heart shaped anything and a funny card so I want to give you some ideas on how to break out beyond that to do something special.

I’m a die hard romantic and when you’ve been with a woman as long as I’ve been with my wife you learn to get creative. Hope that at least one of these helps you break out and have a great Valentines Day.

Send Flowers to Her Work

Everyone will be getting red roses so opt for something different. Whenever possible do a quick search to find a local florist rather than using one of the big chains as you’ll always get better customer service. You want to send them to work to get extra points from everyone she works with who will give you brownie points.

Make Dinner

Anyone can get a reservation at a fancy restaurant, but it takes real heart to make her dinner. If you have kids, ship them out for the night (makes dessert easier), or get them involved in the whole process. Don’t be scared of cooking. Heck, try one of our recipes or do a quick search online for easy recipes. Pasta can’t really be done wrong if you get stuck. Just don’t over due it or that dessert we hinted at might not happen.

Pajamas & a Movie

Don’t know what her favorite movie is? Find out and then buy her a copy of it and some comfy pajamas and have a date night on the couch. Keep in mind that when I say PJs, I’m talking about the fuzzy comfy kind, not the lacy sexy kind. Keeping her in mind when buying is always the key to success.

iPod Filled With Her Favorite Music

Sort of the modern day mixed tape, but cooler. Take it even further by making it a Product (Red) Nano and get it engraved for her. I did this one year for my wife and she loved it. If you are not sure of her favorite music (again, this is something you should know) give her an iTunes gift card with it so that she can fill it up. For extra credit, allow her to play DJ on the next road trip with her new iPod.

Vermont Teddy Bear

I’m a big fan of this company because I’ve watched them grow and survive after all this time. Trust me that these little guys are damn cute and come in so many varieties that your bound to find one that is a perfect fit for your wife. I took a quick look and they don’t seem to make the Jester one I bought my wife years ago when I was in college, but it was a perfect fit for us. Check their site for options and specials.

A Day at the Spa

Trust me when I say this is a gift that you can always give and she will always appreciate it. Ask other women you know about a good spa in the area and then work with them to put together something special. If you’ve never done it, a couples massage is always a great idea. I can already hear some of you thinking massages are stupid or not manly. Shut up and do it. Trust me, they feel awesome. If she has never been consider getting a package so her and a friend can go and make a day of it.

These are just a few options, but I hope at least one of them catches your interest and makes Monday a great day for you and your special lady.

What other ideas do you have for unique and special gifts? Leave them in the comments so that this post can become even better for guys lost on what to get.

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Posted in Gifts & Holidays | 11 Comments »

Digital Dads Holiday Gift Guide: Gaming

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Don't lie. You want one.

These days, you don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy video games. The casual gamer has taken over the industry, changing the demographics to include people of all ages, races & social economic groups. However, this is a dad blog so we don’t really give a shit what the chicks want. You want to know what you want. You want the latest FPS. You want a laptop powerful enough to handle WoW and your checkbook. You want headphones that deliver every minute detail of gaming surround sound, you want a controller that makes you feel like a gaming god.

The holiday shopping season has just gotten started and although Chanukah came early this year, the gentiles still have plenty of shopping days left until Christmas. So check out some of these great gaming gifts, and start begging the wife. Or, do what I do and just agree that I’ll buy my own present – if she buys hers. Trust me, clears up a lot of guesswork.

Lenovo Ideapad Y560d

We’re going to start big here with the Lenovo Ideapad Y560d. This laptop is near the top of the heap when it comes to entertainment. I don’t personally have one, but my friends at Microsoft suggested that I mention it. Really, if you’ve got the scratch (and it’s really not that expensive for a laptop) and love gaming and entertainment – this is the laptop for you.

First off, it’s rollin’ with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics card with 1 GB DDR3 graphics memory. That’s wicked fast HD rendering. Tack on a 500 GB 7200RPM HDD, Windows 7 (which makes start-up and shut down take about as long as it takes you to flick a booger) and freaking Dolby Home Theater surround sound with JBL designed speakers – this makes for a seriously awesome gaming machine. You can get it from Lenovo, or a seriously pimped out one at Amazon.

Logitech F540 Wireless Headset

You know those nights where you want to rock the Xbox or Playstation but you don’t have a game room, and everyone is in bed except for you, so you have to keep the sound way down? Well, that’s when you need a pair of these bad boys. Logitech was nice enough to send me a pair for review, and they did not disappoint. I slapped these babies on, turned them up and enjoyed the surround sound. I was hearing things in games for the very first time.

Open world games like Just Cause 2 literally opened up in the aural sense. I could hear plants rustling, the deep bass of explosions and gunfire and bullets whizzing by my characters head. Aside from gaming, the headphones made movie watching at night another great auditory experience. Not having to worry about how loud you are watching an action movie while your family is sleeping is a good thing. Mostly though, these headphones are perfect for late night gaming. Give you wife an ultimatum, “get me the Logitech headphones or I’ll turn the speakers on at night.” Good luck with that.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

What? You haven’t gotten the latest Call of Duty game yet? What the hell man? This amazing series of FPS games has taken us from WWII on multiple fronts, to modern warfare and now to the Cold War. Sure, why not? I bought this game two days after it came out and I was already way outranked in the massive online community. Which is where it’s at for these games. There is nothing like getting online with a bunch of friends and having a knives only match. The chaos, the smash-talking, the displaced aggression… what are you waiting for? Get it!

Microsoft Kinect

This one is a gimmie. I had to mention it. Not because I’m a shill for Microsoft, but because it’s a freaking awesome piece of technology. The Kinect uses full-body tracking to make you the controller. It’ll get your ass off the couch for sure, and is an easy sell to the family because it’s intended for multi-player use so you can get the whole family involved.

Of course, you could also use the Kinect as an excuse to get a brand new Xbox as well, since they are selling it as a bundle. If you’ve experience the red ring of death, you know that you could always use a new Xbox. The Kinect, in my opinion, put the Wii and the Playstation Move to shame for one major reason – there are no controllers. This is the future of gaming technology, don’t you want to be part of it?

Nintendo DSi XL Special Edition Bundle

Every gaming dad, even as our eyesight fails us, needs a portable gaming system. While our smart phones offer a semblance of gaming more reminiscent of cheap flash gaming, the Nintendo DSi (or as we like to still call it – the Gameboy) offers a full set of games that we still love. This special 25th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. edition bundle is the one to get for that long train ride into work in the morning.

The bundle comes with Mario Kart and several DSiWire titles, but the fact remains that the game library for the DSi is pretty robust. Yes, there is a lot in there that is clearly aimed at children, but for the discernible gaming dad there are still a slate of titles that will not disappoint in their playability.  Personally, I like the DSi XL because well – it’s XL. This makes it much, much easier to see.

Jinx.com

That’s right. The whole website. If you are a gaming dad and are still young enough to consider gaming wear stylish and fitting, then you need to head over to Jinx.com and put some of these awesome shirts on your wishlist. The premier website for gaming & geek related clothing, from World of Warcraft shirts to Call of Duty shirts, to just plain ‘ol inside gamer joke shirts. I personally like the Portal Potty one. There are a-lot of t-shirt sites on the internet, every Tom, Dick & Harry makes their own sites with custom made shirts but Jinx.com has always had the edge as far as I’m concerned, focusing on the hardcore & casual gamers with a pointed vengeance. Shirts from Jinx.com will also make great gifts for the younger gamers in your house as well.

Gunnar Optiks Digital Gaming Glasses

I was going to get a pair of these courtesy of Jennifer Michelson, co-founder of Gunnar Optiks. However, even though they offer many styles of these groundbreaking frames in prescription form – my script is so terrible that it would actually ruin the effect and experience of the glasses. The deal with Gunnar glasses is that they are specially designed for those of us who sit in front of a monitor or television screen all day long. Whether working or gaming, the i-Amp technology reduces eye strain by messing with the color spectrum and kills glare from the screens.

If you are really hardcore, you can go for the Call of Duty: Black Ops frames. Frankly, I like the MLG Phantom series because they are pretty damn stylish. I may just get them anyway, regardless of how thick my left eye lens is going to be. And oh yeah, if that brand new 3D TV is on your holiday wish list, you might want to check out Gunnar Optiks 3D frames.

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Book Review: The Compleat Gentleman

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

The Compleat Gentleman: The Modern Man’s Guide to Chivalry (Revised and Updated) by Brad Miner (Richard Vigilante Books, 2009)

In this wonderful book, Brad Miner rolls an incredible volume of history and research into a single reference about chivalry, then applies it to modern times and modern manhood.  The book generally has an academic tone to it, but not in a way that’s distracting.  In fact, for what is essentially a combination of history and what today would be called “self-help,” the book is definitely readable and held my attention throughout.

Miner works us through the picture of the compleat gentleman by discussing the medieval knight (often used to typify gentlemanly behavior), then examining three persons as models or types:  the warrior, the lover and the monk.  He also distills the essence of the gentleman into a single Latin concept: sprezzatura, which he thoroughly examines throughout the book due to its rich, deep and complex meaning.  On the surface though, it simply means nonchalance; Miner says that to today it would mean “cool.”  Toward the end of the book, he summarizes his work by saying, “if ‘honor’ is properly the one word that epitomizes the character of a gentleman, then ‘sprezzatura’ is the last work about the gentleman’s ‘conduct of life.’”  He goes on to say, “There are two ways to look at a fellow’s sprezzatura.  On the one hand, it means discretion, or, more grandly, prudence; on the other hand it means restraint, which may even be concealment.”

As you read, Miner will weave these concepts together with others, including the role of historic stoicism, and leave you walking away challenged and encouraged that no matter who you are or where you think of yourself relative to gentlemanly conduct, you’ll can make more of yourself.

At the end of the book, Miner quotes Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” (available through The Kipling Society) as his closing and as “the best short summary of the compleat gentleman’s profession.”  It’s a short, fantastic poem and worth taking a look at.

Finally, a note for those who might mind, the author clearly writes from a Catholic perspective and defines himself as a classic liberal.  Even so, he’s never in your face with either and the points about being a gentleman don’t conditionally rest on either.  No matter what your religious or political persuasion, the book is informative and useful.

The Compleat Gentleman is definitely worth the time to read.  If you have an interest in the history of gentleman and chivalry, the book is a great anchor point for additional research, with plenty of references and a healthy selected bibliography.  I recommend this book to any man whether he’s a father or not, think it would make a great gift at the appropriate time for any young man, and will definitely be on my son’s reading list.

It’s great to be a dad!

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Posted in Books, Gifts & Holidays | 1 Comment »

Gift Ideas for Big Daddy (a Little Help for the Ladies)

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Unless your guy goes commando or is part of the 3% of Y chromosomes who love to shop, chances are he’s in desperate need of some new skivvies. But who wants to unwrap unmentionables next to grandma or the cousin who photographs the unwrapping of every damn present? That’s why there’s Manpacks, a subscription mail service for men’s basics. Manpacks will send a customized care package of his favorite underwear, socks, and undershirts to his door every 3 months. That means that he’ll no longer have to refer to the socks with only one hole as “the good pair”. With packages starting at just $14 there’s no easier way to grant his mother’s wish that he sports clean underwear in case of accident. As an added bonus mom will be even happier to know that when her boy submits to the new, improved airport screening processes he will be putting his best nut forward for the TSA.

Go Custom

Men’s holiday wishes don’t differ too much from their year round wishes,  but if you’ve been hesitant about getting him his most fervent wish (a Threesome) or his close second (Laser shooting & beer fetching pet monkey), there’s always every man’s third wish -  custom made clothes. Sewn to their exact measurements, preferences and secret stylistic desires, these gems are fit like a second skin.  Truly nothing (except maybe a Threesome) will bring him as much joy as a garment that’s been made only for him. That can be especially meaningful for the guy whose has difficulty finding shirts that fit well. Giving your man a taste of custom won’t require a second mortgage either; you can start out with a shirt for less than you’d spend for an off the rack shirt from any fine sportswear designer, between $100 – $150. When it comes to custom you can even choose the method of selection that better suits your guy.  If he likes the DIY approach he can design his shirt online with Blank Label, or if he prefers that a tailor come to his office or home to assist with selections and measuring, check out Astor & Black.

Commanding Carriers

Let’s face it, one upping friends and neighbors at clever ways to be green is the new way of keeping up with the Joneses. That raises F. Rock men’s carry-all coolness factor above the bar. Made from 100% reclaimed leather and fabrics, repurposed hardware and constructed in good ole’ USA, these men’s bags couldn’t be more socially conscience or handsome. If your guy is one of the many using an old & busted backpack or corporate branded nylon messenger bag, it’s time to upgrade him. He can choose his own fabric and leather combination or select from the existing wide assortment of versatile carry-alls that go from work to weekend. Available in five sizes, including one for the iPad, F. Rock bags start at $195.

Razor Relief

For the guy who hates taking a blade to his face or suffers from dry skin in cold weather, winter can turn his morning routine into a dose of daily torture. Even if you slept through medicinal potions class at Hogwarts, you can still give him the gift of relief by stuffing some pre-shave oil by the Art of Shaving into his stocking. Whether he uses a regular or electric razor, pre-shave oil is so effective at softening skin and creating a more comfortable shave with no oily residue, you can tell him it’s made from unicorn horns and virgins and he’ll probably believe you. A 2 ounce vial of kissable face happiness costs $22, available in stores or online at The Art of Shaving.

Merry ChristmaHanukKwanSolstice!

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Posted in Fashion & Style, Gifts & Holidays | 1 Comment »

Foodie Holiday Gift Guide

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

The holiday season is upon us and so begins the annual ritual of figuring out what would make the perfect gift for that someone special on your list. If that someone happens to be a foodie, then we’ve got you covered with a host of ideas from kitchen gadgets to cutlery to enthusiast programs. And, when you get your shopping done early thanks to Digital Dads, don’t forget to reward yourself as well.

001. Just for fun – Star Wars Pancake Molds

Treat your young younglings to these Star Wars Pancake Molds available at Williams-Sonoma. These are a great way to mix up pancake morning (or brinner) to power them up to learn the ways of the force. They also have Stars Wars cookie cutters, sandwich cutters, as well as Jedi and Padawan sized aprons for hands on training.

002. Cutlery – Shun Knives

Until recently I was an unbashed fan of Wusthof knives. Then I got a hold of my first Shun and haven’t looked back. Originating from Seki City, Japan’s historical center for manufacturing Samurai swords, Shun knives are heirs to a seven-century tradition of superior workmanship. What struck me the first time I used my Santoku was how incredibly well balanced the knife was and how it practically became an extension of my hand. Sur la Table has a great special running on Shun’s classic 7 inch chef’s knife where you can get a fine piece of cutlery for less than a hundred dollars.

003. Appliances – Vitamix Professional Series 500 Blender

Most blenders available for home use are underpowered and, in my experience, burn out rather quickly. When it comes time for me to replace my current blender I’m going to splurge a bit and step up to the plate for a Vitamix Professional Series 500 Blender. At $600 it isn’t cheap, but with 2 peak HP motor that runs at 240 MPH it is a commercial quality piece of equipment that is durable enough for most restaurant kitchens.

004. Cookware – Le Creuset 9 Quart Signature Oval Dutch Oven

Low and slow cooking is how I roll and there is nothing finer than the enameled goodness of Le Creuset cast iron cookware. At nearly $350 there are less expensive alternatives, but this is the type of workhorse that can pass down to future generations of home cooks.

005. Cookbooks – Braise by Daniel Boulud; Ratio by Michael Ruhlman

Even in the internet age where recipes can be had online for nothing there is still something special about owning a few staple cookbooks. Continuing with the low and slow theme we have “Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine” by Daniel Boulud. The renowned chef and restaurateur details the techniques, key equipment, ingredients and helpful tips while offer 100 recipes for you to try at home.

At the other end of the spectrum is “Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking” by author and Clevelander Michael Ruhlman. I actually received this book for Christmas last year and it is designed to help free you from the memorization of recipes. One of my favorite things that I learned how to make from this book is Pate a Choux, which is a highly versatile pastry dough that can make a number of things from delicate cream puffs to enhancing a staple like meatballs.

006. Kitchen Gadgets – Microplane 38000 Professional Grater Set

You’d probably wondering why in the world I’d add a bunch of hand held graters to a list like this. Well, I’ve been using Microplane’s products for about four years now and you can have them once you pry them from my cold, dead hands. They are really that good. Microplane got its start nearly 20 years ago as a woodworking tool and thanks to a happy accident discovered how great their products would be in the kitchen. This set has five different graters ranging from coarse to ribbon to super fine and even makes quick work of whole spices like nutmeg.

007. Spices – Penzeys Spices Gift Boxes

With all the cooking I do we go through a lot of spices. There are probably a dozen staple spices I like to have on hand at all times including different salts like sea salt and fleur de sel, which is a finishing salt. For years I’ve been buying my spices directly from Penzeys and have never been disappointed. Compared to what you would pay in stores, buying in bulk from Penzeys is also more economical. They offer a number of different spice gift boxes that would be great for the baker, barbecue master or hot chocolate lover in your life.

008. The gift that keeps on giving – CSA Memberships

A great idea for a gift that will last for a few months is to purchase a membership to a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. A local farmer will offer a number of “shares” in their upcoming crop, which may consist of a box of vegetables and other farm products. After purchasing a share, membership or subscription you will receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. It is a great way to eat local and fresh. These shares run anywhere from $20 per week and up depending on the season and the crops being offered. To find a CSA in your area, check out the Local Harvest website.

009. Enthusiast programs – CIA Bootcamp

A few times after I have cooked for friends I’ve been told that I should open my own restaurant. As incredibly flattering as that is, the truth is I have neither the skills nor the capacity to pursue cooking as a profession. Fortunately, there are programs out there like the Culinary Institute of America’s Bootcamps to help satiate any desire I may have as an enthusiast to pursue such a thing on a limited basis. The CIA offers programs ranging from two to five days in a range of disciplines. Whether you want to hone your skills or learn more about subjects like barbecue, baking or healthy cooking there is an enthusiast program for you. The tuition on these programs starts at about $850 and doesn’t include travel and accommodations to where the classes are held.

Photo by thebittenword.com

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Posted in Food & Drink, Gifts & Holidays | 4 Comments »

Win a Kinect Prize Pack

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

One of the hottest toys this holiday season is the Microsoft Kinect and thanks to the folks at Burger King (they are supplying us with the prize pack to give away to one lucky winner), we’ve got a prize pack of awesome give to you.

Burger King sees themselves as the perfect holiday shopping pit stop. So when you are out running around the malls, driving from this store to that, consider swinging into the nearest BK to fuel up with a hot, flame-broiled Whopper. While I haven’t had one in years, I know plenty of you have so let them know that Digital Dads sent you.

So what do you win if you are the lucky name picked out of the hat? The Prize Pack includes:

  • An Xbox 360 4GB console
  • Kinect Sensor
  • 2 Games – Kinect ADVENTURES and Kinect SPORTS

Along with the Kinect, Burger King will also be giving you a $20 Burger King Crown Card (BK’s gift card) to spend on your next visit.

Ok, so how do you get entered to win this awesome prize?

Because it is the holidays and you’ve got enough to do already we want to make it simple. Before December 20, 2010 at 9 am, like Digital Dads on Facebook AND leave a comment below sharing how you deal with the stress of the holidays.

On the December 20th episode of Digital Dads TV, we’ll pick a name out of a hat and announce the winner live on the show! We will need to provide a mailing address for you to Burger King in order for the prize to be delivered.

Thank you again to Burger King for giving us this awesome prize to give away.

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Posted in Entertainment, Gifts & Holidays | 60 Comments »

Military Dad’s Holiday Gift Guide

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

As the military dad on the site I’ve given some thought to some related gift ideas for the holiday season.  Here are my recommendations for 2010: a “toy,” a book, two movies, and a briefcase.  I’ve linked to vendors but where you have a choice, support the one(s) you prefer.  Enjoy, and as always, it’s great to be a dad!

The Parrot AR Drone

This awesome remote controlled helicopter looks like great fun, indoors or out.  Yes, I said indoors (but ask mom first–it’s probably her stuff you’re going to break).  It comes with a styrofoam bumper to shroud the quad rotor blades to protect the machine as well as the people and other expensive stuff you or your child will fly it into.  There are lots of videos on the site!  ($300)

The Compleat Gentleman: The Modern Man’s Guide to Chivalry, by Brad Miner

I’m just finishing this book and can’t think of many books better to give to a husband, father or son to add to their collection.  The book is classed as history or self-help, depending on where you’re looking, but written in a way that’ll feed and entertain your mind.  I’ll post a review of the book soon.  ($19)

“12 O’Clock High” (Special Edition), 1949 starring Gregory Peck

This is one of a small number of movies I constantly go back to, and often recommend to others for a variety of reasons.  While clearly a war movie, there are lessons learned that apply more broadly to leadership, loyalty, courage, and valor.  The film chronicles the struggles of the fictional 918th Bomb Group, based in England during World War 2.  Rather than emphasizing the combat missions themselves, the focus is primarily on the leadership and men of the Bomb Group as they’re transformed from an ineffective into a powerful combat force.  This may be one of Gregory Peck’s best performances.  ($15 for the DVD)

“RESTREPO: One Platoon, One Valley, One Year”

I recently reviewed this 2010 documentary by National Geographic’s Outpost Films on Digital Dads.  You can pre-order it on DVD or Blu-Ray now; it releases on December 7th.  The film is a very well done, visually stunning, and a gritty look at the life of a combat platoon while deployed to the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan for a year.  The combat scenes are minimal with emphasis placed (much like with “12 O’Clock High”) on the deployed members of the platoon.  Even so, it’s an emotional and intense film.  It’s an amazing peek into a small unit, how it functions, how the members bond, and how they deal with a year of combat to include the death of one of their own.  If you’re military, you’ll appreciate it.  If you’re not, you’ll definitely gain an appreciation for what our military, specifically a small unit in the Army, trains for and does today.  ($21 for Blu-Ray or $15 for the DVD)

The Classic Briefcase by Saddleback Leather Company.

I travel a lot and can destroy luggage like nobody else–it’s my blessing and my curse.  This bag is indestructible, comes in three sizes and has a 100 year warranty.  My dad gave me the large in chestnut brown as a Christmas gift, and now I won’t travel with any other briefcase.  It comfortably holds my 17 inch MacBook Pro and weighs about 7.5 pounds empty.  It’s a bit pricy but as with all things, you get what you pay for.  And don’t miss out on the side benefits:  the more you beat it up, the better it looks; people will think you routinely conquer hostile lands and walk away with the treasure tucked safely inside in this baby (take a seat Dr. Jones); and if some loser gets on your plane and tries anything funny, just clobber him with the bag.  I promise he’ll end up on the floor and you’ll be the hero.  ($519 to $607)

Posted in Gifts & Holidays | 1 Comment »

Hot Holiday Toys

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Having children, I know how hard it can be to sift through the onslaught of ads from toy companies to figure out what your kids will want under the Christmas tree.

So, this week’s Digital Dads TV has special guest Keri “Toy Queen” Wilmot on to share her expertise on the subject.  We highly recommend adding her site ToyQueen.com to your list of must check out sites this holiday season.

Don’t forget that Digital Dads TV is live every Monday from 2-3 PM Eastern on The Pulse Network and then we post the show recap right here on Wednesdays.

As always, here are links to other items we talked about on the show:

You never know what next week might hold. Interested in being a guest or want to sponsor the show? E-mail us and we’ll see what we can do together.

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The True Gift of Father’s Day

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Holy smokes! I’m not lazy by any means, but for once I’d like to be woken up by my alarm instead of being made to get up in order to figure out what chaos has my seven year old started in the kitchen. Hearing pans shuffling, my gut wrenches and I hope that I don’t have to wake up like this on Father’s Day.

In fact, I’d be thrilled to have a magazine subscription where I could luxuriously spend time on myself, but for now I’m hoping to avert a crisis – which I do, just in time. Granola pancakes with a touch of syrup happened to be on the menu this morning, the little chef being considerate of my diet to control my blood sugar, but adding sweetness to my ever bland breakfast he often gets. I thank him, but then I give a quick bark to get ready for the day – boy, how times flies.

As he runs off, I let out a deep tired sigh and think back to when I could hold my one year old world in my arms. It was just as exhausting and exciting, and I only had enough time to record his developmental milestones in bullet point form, in my handy red Moleskine journal meant for him.

You see, it’s a place where I record my thoughts for him, so that someday he’ll read them and come to find out what I was thinking throughout his young years. What it also is, is my quiet way of reminiscing of my boy. I’m terribly sentimental with him, so I often keep the things he’s made up for me – a lego garden, a handmade card, a bottle of our shared collected shells, rocks, and beach washed glass collected between the skipping of rocks. They are tokens that tell me I’ve done something right, reminders of our shared experiences, the highs and lows, which often soothe my momentary anxiety when I question myself and wonder if I’ve been a good enough of a father. Wondering, how will he turn out when his childhood is done?

Thanks to the task master, Papa, the morning moves like clock-work, and we’re all finishing at the breakfast table. Showered, shaved, and ready to start the day, I call my son over to get ourselves out the door. Per my routine, I pile on to my person my wallet, keys, change, phone, and note pad…except something is missing. I look around to no avail, and then my son calls my name, reaches into his pocket, and tells me, “Here’s your pen, Papa.” It’s my little chrome Space Pen that I carry with me wherever I go, so much so that people in shops do not offer me a pen anymore but simply wait for me to pull out my own. It’s small and novel, and something that has become a part of my identity –my son recognizes that! It makes me smile to think that he was trying it out in his own little pocket – yes, he will turn out to be like me, and more.

So, I’m reminded that the best Father’s Day gift I have ever been given has been the honor to be called, Papa, followed by the asking to come out and play. Someday, he’ll learn that his father never needed chocolate syrup, for as sappy as I get.

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