The Monster at the End of this Book – Read it to your kids

The Monster at the End of this Book - Read it to your kids

For those who haven’t noticed, I actually have a YouTube channel running. Over there, I read kid’s books out loud. In my head, the content is for two distinct groups. It’s for the parents who are curious about which books are worthwhile, or perhaps might be wondering about some best practices when reading aloud to a kid. It’s also for kids, to be able to watch a video of their new favorite book read out loud. Go subscribe. Please. PLEASE!

I realized that I might not have mentioned this to you all enough, so I figured I’d tell you a bit more about the book I read in the video that went live this past Sunday. It’s called The Monster at the End of this Book, and it was one of my all-time favorites when I was a kid. It’s also one of Harley’s favorites, so it was an easy choice to share. There are even apps for it, where it becomes an interactive storytelling experience.

(Full disclosure: Yes, links to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click them, I could earn a small commission.) Continue Reading

Comment Books, Rambling, USA

Your Best New Year’s Resolutions – 5 Tips for Great Goals

Best New Year's Resolutions

It’s almost that time of year. You know, when everyone starts looking to the coming year and making grand plans. This is the year to lose weight. This is the year to finally quit some bad habit. This is the year to… fill in the blank. I’ve written before about how I’m not always a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, mainly because I think someone can choose to change any day of the year.

But there is something helpful about using the new year as a marker. Just as you might decide to always hit the gym on a Monday to set a good tone for the week, starting your year on a high note can really get the ball rolling. Too often, though, people make bizarre resolutions that are built to fail. No one means to, obviously, but it’s still so common that it’s a cliche to ask someone about their resolutions a few days, weeks or months down the line. This year, I’m setting some resolutions for myself, and I want to help you make amazing goals that you WILL attain. Continue Reading

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Second Baby Answers – Our decision about baby #2

Second Baby Answers

(Photo credit: Becca Gutierrez with Rusty Metals Photography  // @RustyMetalsPhotography) 

I’ve written about this question a couple times. First I wondered when we should start thinking about a second baby, and then I went on a whole ramble about second baby questions and concerns. The reality is, that there is no right answer. I know that some people dream of having large families while others never want kids. Some people fall into second pregnancies while others struggle to conceive once. We were going to wait until Harley was three to even have the conversation, but I sorta jumped the gun with Dean, which ended up being a good thing.

I promise I’ll share more with you below, but the main thing that I took away from the conversation and reaching a conclusion about it is realizing how big the topic was becoming in my head. Did I want another baby? If so, when? And what about all the worries and concerns? Even when I was busy with other tasks, I’d find myself thinking about a baby, or not a baby, or the impact it would have on our family, and how much time did I have left, and what impact it would have on my body. Well, now we have a decision, and it feels like a weight has been lifted. Continue Reading

Comment Parenting, Pregnancy

Top 7 Geeky Gift Ideas in 2018

Top 7 Geeky Gift Ideas in 2018

2018 is nearly over. I honestly can’t believe it. Each year goes faster than the one before. This means that it’s time to get the holiday shopping done. If you love someone with geeky tastes, it can be tricky to know what to get them. Here are my top 7 geeky gift ideas in 2018 that might help. Also, if you want to buy me any of these things, I’d be pretty pleased.

Okay, so I know I’m calling this a top 7 list, but actually, there’s a bit more in here. I’ve just divided it into 7 categories, with a few top picks in each one. So you’ll get even more ideas than you imagined!

(Full disclosure: Yes, there are affiliate links below. Click on them to when you buy stuff, and I could earn a small commission. But the products are still things that I want, regardless.)

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Comment Gaming, Geek, Products

Develop a kid’s inner scientist – A week in LA with a toddler

A week in LA with a toddler

LA has never been my favorite city. Maybe it’s because I grew up in NYC and there’s some east coast vs west coast rivalry ingrained in me. Maybe it’s because it’s a driving city instead of a walking city. Or maybe it’s that ridiculous pollution that meant I always got sick on every visit I made there. I’d been to LA numerous times for work, and while I had found parts that I liked about it, it simply wasn’t my favorite place.

But the hubster’s best friend is from Iceland (the same one who went with us to Knysna), and he gave us a list of cities where we could rendezvous, and LA was the one we could drive to that seems intriguing. So we agreed to a week in LA to hang out, catch up, and maybe take in some of the sights. Of course our almost 3-year-old was along for the ride. I searched every guide I could find on the internet, claiming to have the best places in LA for a toddler. We went to most of them. So now, here’s MY guide on the best things to do for a week in LA with a toddler. Continue Reading

Comment Parenting, USA