Stories | Digital Dads

Be Ready For a Disaster

March 3rd, 2010

The world seems to be going through a whole lot more natural disasters and devastating weather events then ever before. Blame global warming, the approach of 2012 or whatever you want. But, I can assure you that the minute you have kids the idea of any disaster striking the family instantly becomes a whole lot scarier!

On Episode 11 of Cast of Dads (listen), this was the topic of discussion. As we got ready to record the episode the news was breaking about the earthquake in Chile and the tsunami headed towards Hawaii. After talking with all the other dads, I was a little shocked to learn that out of all of us, I might just be the most unprepared. Then again I also hadn’t planned on the fact that we had dads in areas that are highly prone to earthquakes, wild fires and hurricanes. When you live in a place like that you MUST be prepared. Guess I’ve let those thoughts of buying a generator for the next big ice storm or blizzard slide for too long.

When I was in college we went through a disaster. The apartment complex that my then girlfriend (now wife) lived in when I was home was completely destroyed by a fire. We lived on the third floor and after the fire started on the 4th floor we ended up with skylights in our apartment. Everything was destroyed. An event like this really drives home the point of what we really need and don’t need. It was a bit of a reset button for us and I know it is in the back of our mind always.

So, no matter where you live, here are some basic things that every family should keep in mind. Take some time this weekend to talk about it with the family and make it a fun family activity to get it done and out of the way. Review often.

Emergency Call or Email List
This is important for your extended family. If something goes wrong, how do you let everyone know. This could be someone who has everyone’s e-mail address and phone number or something as organized as a Google Group or calling tree. Whatever it is, make sure you know how to get a hold of the most important people to let them know that you are ok if something goes wrong. Keep in mind that your cell phone may not work, so figure out another way as a backup.
Extra Food & Water (and a way to cook it)
Having a well stocked pantry with canned or dehydrated food is always a good idea. Don’t forget that if you have an electric stove that you are going to need a way to cook the food as well. We are avid campers so there is always a Coleman stove in our garage. They are cheap and easy and not a bad idea to have even if you have no plans to ever go into the woods. Don’t forget to have at least a case of bottled water. Buy it now, it isn’t going to go bad on you.
First Aid Kit & Training
If you are reading this and you’ve never been through a basic first aid & CPR class then stop reading and find one in your area immediately. I first learned in the Boy Scouts how to do the basics and refresher classes are never a bad idea. In is inexcusable not to have a basic kit with band aids, disinfectants, Tylenol, tape, scissors and a mini sewing kit. You can buy these pre-packaged at any pharmacy or put your own together in a shoebox or other container. Just make sure that everyone knows where it is and teach your kids the basics.
Cash
I’m not advocating you stuff your mattress with money, but you need to have some cash on hand. Make sure it is a mix of bills. When (not if) we go through a cyber attack or any disaster where power is cut, your debit cards are not going to work so cash will be king. Keep at least a few hundred dollars in a safe location. This will be enough to get you gas or food in case of an emergency.
Data
Most people I know don’t back up their data. This makes me want to slap them anytime. Talk to the majority of people who DO back up their data and they will tell you a horror story about when they suffered a crash and “lost it all” as the point that inspired them to begin doing it. I have a Drobo in my house and love it. It backs up any changes in data every hour to it and the family knows to “grab the black box” if we have to evacuate the house because it has everything on it. GO out today and pick up a hard drive from your local electronic store and most come with a basic back up solution. You should be doing this now. There are many off site, in the cloud, solutions as well but to date I haven’t found one that I like and trust. I need to though because they make great sense.
Evacuation Plan
We all ran fire drills in schools as children, so have you done the same at home? Our family knows to get out of the house and meet at a specific location. They also know that if they ever need help which neighbors to go to. An important part that many families forget is to actually let the neighbors know about this as well. A very key piece of the equation. If you haven’t talked about this or tried it with the kids, why not do so tonight.

These are just a few of the things you should be keeping in mind, but all are important and I hope each of you reviews with your families to make sure you have them.

What did I miss? What have you done with your families to be ready for something bad? Please leave a comment and let us know.

Also, I plan on writing a column to coincide with each topic we cover on Cast of Dads. I’d love if you subscribed in iTunes or hit up our feed directly if that is how you roll. New episodes come out at the beginning of each week and we are actively looking for sponsors and guests.

Tags: disaster, earthquake, emergency, family planning, fire, first aid, hurricane
Posted in Emergencies | Comments

Dealing as Dad in Divorce PT 2: THE CONVERSATION AND THE SECOND HARDEST THING YOU WILL DO IN YOUR LIFE

March 2nd, 2010

In Part 1 (all those months ago – sorry!), I talked about some of the emotional stages many men experience when making the final, gut-wrenching decision to move on from a failing relationship and how the crippling thought of breaking this news to your children can effect that decision. After months, sometimes years, of traveling down this path, you have come to the decision that two happy parents in two different places will be a better quality of life for your kids than two miserable parents under one roof.

Now, how do you approach the single hardest thing you will ever do in your life? How do you tell your children that Mommy and Daddy will no longer be living in the same house?

Before we get to that, let’s talk about the second hardest thing you will ever do in your life… putting aside your feelings of hurt/betrayal/anger and talking sensibly and with sensitivity with your soon-to-be-X about what is truly best for the kids and how you will BOTH calmly sit down and talk to them.

Swallowing your male instincts to react to “hurt” by being aggressive and stubborn is a big enough pill to swallow for most men. We all do it. Either in a Passive-Aggressive manifestation or in a case such as mine, reverting to my Italian heritage and yelling at everyone.

This is a crucial, defining moment in your child’s life. You do not get to be selfish about it.

This is not about you.

It’s not about her.

It’s not about the myriad things you’ve done to each other that brought you to this.

As obvious as this may sound, please take a moment to absorb these words… the way you handle this approach will become part of the identity and attitude of the person your children will grow to be.

This is a milestone in your child’s life that (assuming they’re older than a toddler) they will remember until their dying day. It will shape their overall ability to “adjust” and their emotional response mechanism to relationships, in general. It will inform their instinctive interactions with their own children. Think about how often you’ve heard your parent’s voices coming from your mouth?

Find the strength, some might say, the TRUE strength of being a man, to be a father first and find that common ground with your child’s mother. Regardless of all the pain you’re causing each other, being parents to your children will always be the one thing you have in common. Long after the divorce proceedings have passed and you have both moved on, possibly even to a new marriage and family, you will STILL be a “Parenting Team” for the children you have together. Divorce does not mean you are getting rid of each other. The sooner you get that out of your head, the easier it will be to focus on how you will both manage the immediate conversation with the children and all of the arrangements that follow.

One quick thing I’d like to address with regards to “arrangements”. Kids need their dads. PERIOD! Do not let anyone ever make you feel like it’s acceptable to be the “every other weekend and two weeks in the summer” part-time dad. This notion is archaic and will do unspeakable damage to your children emotionally. If you’ve been following along with this series since Part 1 and laboring similarly, chances are you would fight tooth and nail against this dated mindset anyway. Still, it’s important to be said. Say it to yourself now – my kids NEED their Dad. Believe it buddy!

Your wife and yourself have somehow managed to come to a calm consensus that truly represents the best thing for the people you love most in your life. It may have taken weeks or months but you have both arrived.

First of all, take a moment to acknowledge this in each other. It’s OK to give each other credit. I guarantee it was as difficult for her as it was for you.

The literal moment of truth – you and your spouse sit your children down. This will be emotional and that’s OK. You’re allowed to feel. Just tread lightly between representing emotion and exuding a sense of confidence in what you’re saying. Too far to either side and your incredibly intuitive little people will feel like you’re selling them a line. Just be Dad.

A few bullets to consider:

• Decide, prior to the talk, which of you will open the conversation.

• Let each other (spouse) talk. Don’t talk over each other.

• Use “we” when talking about the decisions that have been made

• Physical contact with your kids (holding a hand, rubbing the back, etc)

• Make it absolutely clear that they are the best kids that have ever walked the face of the Earth and tell them how loved they are and how proud you are of them

• Show respect for your spouse (even if you sense it isn’t returned)

• Make it clear to them that you will always be there and lay out your plan “how”

• Answer every question with honesty but remember who your audience is. Find a “glass half full” way to answer them.

• Make eye contact

• Get physically down to their level (kneel or sit)

• Acknowledge and validate their feelings

• Let them know they can talk to both of you ANYTIME and the conversation doesn’t have to end after this talk if they have questions.

• I know this is about as uncomfortable as it gets but don’t rush through this

• Tell them how much you love them

All I can think of when I remember back to this moment in my life is the lyrics to Sarah McLachlan’s “Hold On”. “Hold on to yourself, this is gonna hurt like hell”. It will be hard — plain and simple. Doing everything you can, ahead of time, to eliminate the potential for “regrets” will pay dividends throughout the lifetime of your children.

Support: Don’t be too proud to ask for help going into this and again on the other side. Having a positive support system that understands and accepts your decisions is key. The “one-sided sympathizers” are frequently really unhelpful, though their intentions are good. “Your wife is a bitch” is not a constructive comment or demonstration of support.

KNOW that you are doing the right thing and best of luck. You can do this.

Posted in Children, Emotions, General Parenting, Internet Advice, Life Lessons, Relationships | Comments

Olympic Reflections

March 1st, 2010

Living in downtown Vancouver, the anticipation of the Olympics was incredibly palpable, knowing that thousands and thousands of people were arriving, and the rest of the world would be watching.

Since receiving the ok to host the Olympics, Vancouver has been in immediate action, spending billions of dollars building new sites, transportation options, and renovating city streets, which have all been in continual upheaval up to the very last moment and into the opening ceremonies. That the final run included the dodging of protesters aiming to extinguish the flame was no accident, because life is full of such people, but Canada’s sports hero arrived at the cauldron, and the Olympic cauldron was lit, finalizing our preparations, propelling us forward into the games.

A burning fire in the midst of darkness and upheaval, at that moment I felt it represented hope, triumph to the indomitable victor, and a call for the best of the human spirit to come forward – in many respects, it burns for us all. The following day, my partner and I took a proud stroll along the Vancouver waterfront with my son to enjoy the view of the magnificent cauldron under sunny skies, but when we approached the cauldron we were struck with disbelief and tremendous sadness to see cement barriers and a tall chain link fence surrounding the cauldron and keeping the public nearly a hundred feet away.

Being held back by the fence was an awakening, one of those moments where your past, present, and future collide, because the old grey fence holding us back from approaching the beautiful new and vibrant burning cauldron was a moment of regret, and a reminder of my youthful dreams that are now forever out of reach.

I recalled my memories as a youth, growing up in San Diego, watching the Olympics on television and dreaming of being one of those guys on a bob sled swooshing through the ice rollercoaster, or leaping off the mountain side ramp into the sky blue and landing tenderly on white cheering snow. I imagined that no one could hold me back; no one could hold back my dreams. Since then, I became stronger, more agile and more involved in wrestling and football, but no sports that ever introduced me to the snow. Then came graduation, work, relationships, a son, and grey hair.

Yes, that moment behind the fence was a reminder of lost opportunities, a forever fleeting youth, as well a reminder that the future may be uncertain but what is certain is the present now. Now is the time to pass the torch of dreams to my son, and I’ll be the barrier, the chain link fence, that holds back the protesters and keeps his world intact as he develops into a young man with is own burning cauldron of dreams.

The end of the Olympics is soon approaching. Olympians are called daily to perform at their best, on the spot, in the now, and all of this will be over by next week.

So here am I, with my son, and my moment to present my best to him is now. I don’t know if he’ll be a future Olympian, but I just signed him up today for ice skating lessons. He’d prefer speed skates (and, secretly, so would I), but he’ll still be happy for simply being given the opportunity, the experience. Our anticipation for the first lesson begins, and our schedules will be in a bit of an upheaval, yet we’re excited and proud. There won’t be thousands of people at this event, or people telling him ‘no,’ but there will be me and my partner that will show up and cheer him on.

Looking at his indomitable smile, you’d think he’s won gold already, and in many respects he has.

Tags: life goals, olympics, reflrections, Sons
Posted in Life Lessons, Sons | Comments

Wow

February 23rd, 2010

Holy Moly, I did it!

Wait, she did it. But, hey so did I! Wait, WE did it!

*This is a long article; plan your life accordingly* Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Labor, pregnancy, Tips
Posted in General Parenting, Sons | Comments

Cast of Dads: Are You Listening?

February 23rd, 2010

Cast of Dads is a new parenting podcast featuring myself and a variety of other dads who have kids ranging from the littlest of babies up to full grown, going into college children. You should be listening. Are you?

We are actively growing our audience and as we just published the tenth episode, I wanted to catch you up on some of the topics we’ve recently covered so that you can check out the ones that interest you and hopefully subscribe to the show so that you get all the upcoming episodes. We’ve been recording every weekend and plan to continue to do that going forward. Thirty minutes every week talking about the things guy’s need to know about being a dad.

Here are some recent episodes:

As you can see, we talk about a bunch of different things and the great thing is that because we are doing it weekly we can talk about current topics as well as over arching parental topics that are important at any time.

I’m really glad that this show has taken off and that people are enjoying the content. If you are a reader of Digital Dads then I believe you’d like this show as well and I hope you give it a listen.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments or better yet leave it as an iTunes review as well.

Tags: cast of dads, online content, parent podcast, podcast
Posted in Online | Comments

Save Reading Is Fundamental

February 19th, 2010

I love books. Ever since I was a young child I’ve spent hours escaping into the pages of a good book. Even though I do more reading on the screen of my Kindle now, the experience is just the same and I’m making sure that my children are avid readers as well.

That is why when I heard that President Obama’s 2011 Budget cuts all funding for Reading is Fundamental (RIF) I was saddened.

Do you remember RIF? I do. It was always a great day at school because we’d go down to the gymnasium and have the power to pick out a single book for free. It was so hard to choose just one book to take because they always had so many good ones. Buying books was something of a luxury for me and while I’d check them out of the library at an alarming rate (we lived across the street), I cherished the days that RIF came to school.

Founded in 1966, RIF distributes 15 million books annually to children. Funded by Congress since 1975, RIF maintains programs in schools, community centers, hospitals, and military bases. They have roughly 400,000 volunteers that maintain their 17,000 locations. They do a LOT of good for the country.

But, with the proposed budget all of their funding will be cut and their program will more then likely have to shut down. I don’t want to see this happen and I have a strong feeling that many of you don’t want it to either.

There is a letter writing campaign going on and they’ve made it as easy as a few clicks to e-mail your government officials about this.

To show your support please go to www.Rif.og/SaveRIF

Tags: Books, government, reading
Posted in Books | Comments

Wii Sofa King

February 16th, 2010

Yesterday on Twitter, I mentioned,

“I am not completely sold on gesture gaming like the Wii being the future. It definitely is changing the scope of gaming, but not for me.”

Having recently sold my Wii, I had been reflecting on my motivation for purchasing it in the first place — because I had bought into the idea of interactive games, believing it to be the future of gaming.

I should mention, I am an avid (read: hardcore) video game enthusiast and like a large number of fathers my age (or expectant fathers like myself) — I have been playing for most of my life.

All of which is to say that any technological advance in the video game industry is quite likely going to pull at my game playing heartstrings with some level of success. But with motion and gesture gaming as part of the mainstream, where children, parents, and grandparents alike are now active gamers, I find myself dissatisfied with the prospect of this new frontier being acknowledged as the future of gaming.

Especially where children are concerned.

Photo by Scott Richard’s Photography

Continuing my rant online, I followed-up by suggesting that,

“Many parents would argue to the contrary — but i’d guess they are allowing video games to replace the power of imagination for their kids.”

While I am just over a month before leveling-up to full-blown status as a father, I feel compelled to highlight the fact that parents would argue that gesture and motion gaming like the Wii or Microsoft’s Project Natal for the XBOX 360 are the future because it raises their activity level by putting them in motion.

Concluding my entitled and unsolicited opinion slinging on Twitter, I declared,

“The argument that gesture/motion gaming gets kids off the sofa (to me) implies that parents weren’t doing it right in the first place.”

I did receive some honest commentary that suggested,

“Here’s what many parents don’t like to confess; you let kids play video games b/c it buys peace and quiet. Uncomfortable to admit.”

I don’t doubt that what was mentioned is true for a large majority of parents whose children actively play video games. My contention is with the fact that this passive escape could be the reason parents agree that gesture and motion gaming is the future; because it gets them off the sofa (and affords the parents a brief reprieve from, you guessed it — being a parent).

As a professed hardcore gamer, and someone who is likely to allow my own son to play later on in his life, that notion is one I have difficulty understanding and agreeing with 1) because it still somehow implies that playing video games are bad unless 2) they get your kid off the sofa and 3) it removes accountability for the parent, normally charged with encouraging an active lifestyle for their child (out in the world).

I am sure there are many of you who struggle with the same thing. It is an interesting conversation I hope to see take place here on Digital Dads. There is nothing wrong with your child being a sofa king. A little hand/eye coordination never hurt anyone.

There is something wrong with parents, however, who allow their children to forego a little imagination off the sofa, away from the console, and out in the world. Perhaps you disagree? If so, why?

Tags: active, gesture gaming, lifestyle, motion gaming, parenting, sofa, video games
Posted in Gaming, General Parenting, Rants, Technology | Comments

My Name is Chance

February 16th, 2010

Hi. My name is Chance. I think it’s fair to say that introductions are in order.

I am an independent solo artist based in Los Angeles, CA, and, through a certain mix of alchemy, diabolical processes & nefarious actions, I am now a Dad.

Yea, I know.

I met C.C. many moons ago, online and most virtually, when one of us contacted the other about music (mine) being played on a podcast (his). Since then, we’ve become great virtual friends — even meeting at one time, all old school and in the flesh (Full disclosure: C.C. even bought my son his first baby swing!). So, when he mentioned Digital Dads was adding more writers, and asked if I would be interested, I put it thusly:

“Sure!”

Plan on this Dad writing from this Dad’s perspective. You will probably hear passioned —with occasional bits of reasoned— observation, but don’t mistake or misjudge my enthusiasm for proselytizing. Things that work for me (or don’t) may not work for you (or will).

One thing is true: Being a Dad is a puzzle. One big puzzle; like the ones you used to check out at the public library and has 4 pieces missing.

And guess what our job is?

Well, coming soon, my first article, entitled: “WOW.”

Posted in General Parenting | Comments

Family Vacations: Atlantis

February 13th, 2010

When families think of where to go for a family vacation, places like Disney and the Grand Canyon pop to mind. But, now with the addition of an all new focus on families at The Atlantis Resort, I have a feeling that the calm trade winds of the Bahamas might start coming up as well.

In full disclosure, you should know JetBlue, Lego and Atlantis held a press event known as the Jet Adventure over a weekend in January on site in the Bahamas. They flew me and the family down, put us up and made sure we had a great time on site and got to check out a variety of the activities that Atlantis has to offer for a family vacation. A special thanks to JetBlue who told me originally they were going to call the outing “Jet Mommies” but wanted to be sure dads like me felt welcomed so they changed the name and it was great to see several other dad writers on the trip. Since I’m also an avid photographer you can view my entire photo album online if you’d like.

This was our first time in the Bahamas. I’m not much of a sit on the beach and do nothing all vacation type of guy, so the idea of heading to the islands had never really been on my radar.

I do a lot of flying and have always loved JetBlue as an airline. Their in seat televisions make any flight feel shorter and I value that. The kids of course love it as well because they get to control their own TV and that empowerment keeps them happy. While we flew out of the funky new JFK Terminal 5 in New York, it was good to see so many direct flights to the Bahamas on JetBlue. It is a quick 3 hour flight from New England.

As we rode the hotel shuttle from the airport to the resort, I took in how blue the water was and how colorful all the buildings are. Instantly I wanted to take out my camera and go on a photowalk around the town center to capture all the faces and culture that it had to offer. We wouldn’t have time on this trip for that, but just from driving through it I could feel a vibrant energy that you should make time to take in when you visit.

I can confirm that Atlantis is as beautiful and majestic as it looks in all the commercials. From the Pegasus filled fountains in the main entrance, down to the littlest light fixture in the hallways, they want it to be an experience. In fact the entire grounds are absolutely beautiful with lots of nooks and cranny’s to explore. One morning we got up early and just walked around before most of the resort woke up. We even filmed an episode of Emily Explains It that morning on the beach.

They play up the Atlantis theme everywhere. This is done in grand fashion in The Dig which is a series of caves, rooms and tunnels all surrounded by massive fish tanks and an amazing variety of sea life. Make sure to explore it at night and during the day because the experience is very different and equally impressive. We had a guided tour which was great so that we could learn about all the different fish we were seeing swimming among the ruins. Seeing the fish that close up and in such a large tank was something the kids, or I, won’t soon forget.

Everywhere you look is water. Make sure to take a walk to get to an actual beach instead of only hanging out by one of the many pools. Also, be sure to check out the many little lagoons and other water areas to look at the water life. On the way to breakfast one morning an Eagle Ray came up and “waved” to us.

For families there are pools with varying depths of water which make it great to just let the kids play in one of the shallow pools while you watch from a nearby deck chair. Towels are provided for you for free and there are lockers to put your stuff in while you enjoy the sunshine. There are plenty of little snack shacks everywhere to fuel your munchies. Just be sure not to forget to try the conch fritters!

Built into the resort is a top notch water park. It isn’t separated, but rather integrated right along side the fish and the fun. With both a lazy river that takes about an hour and a more fast paced rapid river that runs about thirty minutes, both river rides are something to enjoy with the kids. Emily and Dylan both loved the rapids and we enjoyed them more then once. The water slides will appeal to every age with short little ones for toddlers all the way up to an almost vertical plunge that actually flies through the shark tank before dumping you out at the end.

If you like water slides, the one not to miss starts in one of the temples and you ride in a tube down through a few swirls but then proceed slowly through the shark tank. Cruising along at a gentle pace and having sharks and other fish swim by you on the other side of glass is an amazing feeling. If you go to Atlantis you can’t miss this above all else. Kids of all ages will enjoy it. I promise.

The Atlantis Kids Adventure was the main reason we were brought down to the resort and it is nothing short of a kid wonderland. Parents are not allowed (although we were of course) and the goal is that you drop the kids off for a half day block of time and they can take part in a variety of experiences while you have some quality parent time. With rooms dedicate to crafts, cooking, video games and even a grocery store there is something for every kid. They have a secured check in so there are no worries about the safety of your kids and the staff were overly friendly and helpful. It was obvious that they were ready to take care of the kids and make sure they had a good time.

In addition to the AKA there are other fun activities for the kids to take part in. Our kids got to make their own stuffed animal at Atlantis Pals, build and race their own cars at the Atlantis Speedway and painted their own pottery at the Earth & Fire Pottery Studio. The parents all got to try these out as well and all of them were more fun then I imagined.

The highlight of the entire experience for all of us and something you should not miss out on is swimming with the dolphins. I had done this before at Discovery Cove and can say that the second time around it is still an amazing activity. The entire family loved the experience and if I were to ask the kids about it right now I’m sure they’d get a big grin on their faces. Even if you don’t have the time or money to swim with them, be sure to at least swing by the Dolphin Cay to watch them at any time during the day for free.

Lego was involved in this trip because this summer your kids can begin attending Lego Fantasy Camp on site at Atlantis. We were even accompanied by a Master Lego Builder to celebrate the launch. He traveled with us on the plane and had projects for the kids to do. Dylan is a huge Lego fan and Emily enjoyed it too. I hope they keep the scavenger hunt that we took part in as part of the experience at the resort because it forced us to check out locations that we might not have gone to including the Atlantis Library.

The trip exposed us to the variety of buffets that the resort offers. There are also a variety of sit down restaurants such as Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill (which Emily & I really wanted to check out), but none of them were on the itinerary so I can’t speak to how good they are. Your kids will not have any problem finding food to eat. There is plenty of options that they will recognize and love.

Personally, I was severely disappointed in the lack of fresh seafood and local flavors at the buffets. We did sneak away one lunch to check out Mosaic in The Cove section of the resort and it was the best meal we had during the entire trip including a made to order bowl of seafood soup that left me with a perma-grin on my face. The food is not cheap, but they do offer a variety of dining plans that you will want to look into for sure.

While Atlantis has certainly transformed from an adults only escape to a family friendly environment they do have a few things that I hope they change moving forward. All of the pools close at 5pm which is far to early. If I were to spend the money to have a night alone from the kids, I want to be able to take a dip in the pool. In addition, while the grounds are beautiful, the pool areas are not kept as clean as I had hoped for. Cups, napkins and other snack remains could be seen floating on the edge of most of the pools and under the deck chairs everywhere. The seagulls certainly don’t go hungry.

Finally, this is not a cheap vacation, but neither is a full on Disney experience or other resorts. As with any family vacation I suggest you look for package deals and special trips to save money. Upon return, I’ve been seeing banner ads for Atlantis everywhere offering special deals so be sure to take advantage of those.

Atlantis is not an all inclusive resort and there are no options really to get food and bring it in so you have to pay the high prices for everything on site. The resort is invisibly sliced into different price points meaning on one end is the most value and on the other the most expensive. As with any vacation, be sure to do your research before leaving so that you are fully aware of what to expect before arriving on site.

The resort is top notch and we had an excellent time. We loved the weather and enjoyed that while we were told it was a busy time of year for the resort, it never felt over filled or as if there were too many people there. Because of just how vast the resort is, there is plenty of room for everyone.

Everything shared here is one family’s experience of this trip. If you’d like to read some other review from people on the same trip I was on then check out the reviews posted on Yummy Mummy, Boston Mamas, Cool Mom Picks and The Mother of All Trips.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

Tags: atlantis, bahamas, destinations, family vacation, jetadventure, jetblue, lego, lego camp, Travel
Posted in Events, Reviews, Travel, Vacations | Comments

Not the Normal Valentine’s Day

February 11th, 2010

I’m going to tell you right up front that I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day. I’m a romantic in every sense of the word and I think that is why I don’t like a Hallmark Holiday like this to exist. People shouldn’t need a single day with over priced flowers and cards that will get thrown away to show their love. Call me old fashion like that, but I’m ok with it.

If you really must do something this weekend, then at least be original about it.

This picture is what is on my white board right now in the office. My daughter made it out of my Buckyballs (the coolest birthday gift I got last year BTW) and when I saw it I couldn’t stop smiling. The fact that it is original and from the heart is what matters the most and the same goes for anything else you are thinking about doing on February 14th.

So here are some personal suggestions on how to move beyond the same old, same old:

Chocolates & Flowers
This is Grade A boring and what everyone does. BUT, if you are going to do it then at least be original about it and have some fun with it. I’m a pretty big hater of the major flower chains because I’ve had bad experiences with them all. Instead why not get your flowers from a local florist that will make you a custom order and you know it’ll come out right. Every town has one so ask around.

On the sweet side there are boutique chocolate shops popping up all over and many of them are now online. Two personal favorites of mine are Lake Champlain Chocolates and 5th Avenue Chocolatiere. Both are better then any heart shape boxed of boring that you are going to pick off a store shelf.
Cook Dinner
I once heard someone say that there was no faster way into a woman’s pants then through her stomach and they were right. Unfortunately, this years Sex on a Plate has been postponed (put it on your calendar now for next year), but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a romantic meal. Even if you don’t know how to cook there are tons of great and simple recipes out there. When in doubt go with some pasta and a good bottle of wine. Yes, it may be overly simple, but again it is the thought that counts the most. Just don’t over eat because that will get in the way of other things.
Get Offline
This may sound like an obvious one, but seriously, turn off the cell phones, unplug the router if you need to and get away from the screens. Spend time together! Go for a long walk. Play cards. Get naked. Whatever it is, just don’t involve anyone else for a while. The few hours of dedicated YOU time will be well worth it and your partner will appreciate it.
Make Something
I’m not much of the crafty kind of guy, but anyone can make a home made card. Think beyond the obvious. Make a photo collage, write a poem or go over the top and buy and MP3 player and fill it with a “mixed tape” of tunes that you love. Have fun with it, but don’t do it at the last minute just because you forgot everything else. Homemade needs to show you put some love and thought into it for it to really shine through.
Pampering
I’ve met many women who say they are not into the spa treatment, but after they go for their first time I’ve never heard them ever say that again. Look for a local place that she can get her nails or hair done and better yet can get a massage. If you have no idea where to look ask some other women around the obvious or go online. You are sure to find someplace within driving distance of you. This doesn’t come cheap, but is well worth it. I still remember the first time I gave my wife a 6 Massages gift card. She told me I could give her one again anytime.
Get Unique
Two of my favorite companies to get unique but awesome gifts from are Uncommon Goods and RedEnvelope. I’ve ordered from both a number of times and have never had a bad experience. The best part is that your bound to find something that will make her go “wow” over and over.