droolicious : mdd

Lullaby Versions Of Rock Songs At eMusic

Chris Ford — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:30:00 GMT

We've told you before about the oddball lullabies from Rockabye Baby. They're the company that takes famous rock songs and turns them into lullabies. Well, if you're interested but don't want to necessarily commit to an entire CD, there's a great new option.

All of the music from all of the (many) Rockabye Baby CDs are now available on music download service eMusic. There are 21 compilations in all, each focusing on the music from rock icons as diverse as U2 to Led Zeppelin. I'm kind of a big fan of the Lullaby Renditions of the Pixies myself (hasn't Monkey Gone To Heaven always been kind of a lullaby anyway?), but you don't have to stick with one artist. At eMusic you can make a mix and download the tracks - DRM free and ready for any MP3 player.

And to boot - there's a promotion going on at eMusic that if you sign up for a free trial you get 25 free downloads. Which means you'll have plenty of free music that will put your baby to sleep without you pulling your hair out over too.

Check it out at the Rockabye Baby page at eMusic.com

Stamps Of World Famous Structures From Muji

Chris Ford — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:30:00 GMT

My girls are big fans of the New York City In A Bag from Muji, so I recently checked out what other cool stuff they might have for kids, and these stamps jumped right out at me. Kind of like the CIty In A Bag, each stamp is of a different famous structure around the world.

My favorite is the Eiffel Tower (pictured), but there are seven others to choose from - including Tokyo Tower, BIg Ben, The Statue of Liberty and (of course) the Empire State Building. The actual patterns the stamps themselves create are kind of a simple outline of a skyline view of the building, which I happen to like much more than any sort of individual representation of the building would have been. And the best part is each are only $5.75, so if your kids are into artwork and crafts it's definitely something to check out.

Famous building stamps (various), $5.75 from Muji.us

ABC-Shaped Tater Tots From Ore-Ida

Chris Ford — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Getting kids to eat tater tots isn't exactly a chore, but these were such a big hit at dinner-time in my house last night I had to recommend them. Ore-Ida ABC Fun Shapes are exactly what you think they are - tater tots shaped like letters instead of the typical cylinders. And for the record, they taste exactly like regular tater tots.

They'll cost a little bit more than a bag of regular tater tots (actually, the cost is the same, but you get less in the bag) but they're fun for a change of pace around dinner.

You can't buy them at Amazon (probably because they're frozen), but check them out in your local grocery store for around $2.99.

The Babble Review - Kata 3N1 Camera Bag

Chris Ford — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Taking photos with my DSLR camera - especially taking photos of my kids - has become one of my passions. But the problem for me and most parents is, how do you deal with carrying a big expensive camera while still dealing with kids and all of the stuff that they require? In fact, I've spoken with many parents who have complained of this same problem. So I've been searching for the perfect camera bag, and although I think ultimately the idea of a "perfect" camera bag may just be an illusion - I might have found a pretty close one - the Kata 3N1 Camera Bag.

My complete review after the jump.

At the bare minimum, my requirements for a great camera bag are it needs to hold my camera, two additional lenses, a flash and have a space for some personal items (cell phone, keys, water bottle etc.). Also, I was really looking for a bag that would work as a sling, so I wouldn't have to constantly be taking the bag off to grab my camera to take a picture. This part is especially important for parents trying to deal with kids and a camera at the same time. The great thing about the Kata 3N1 is that it met all of those bare requirements, plus had a lot of features that, while I wasn't specifically looking for them, have proven to come in very handy.

The Kata 3N1 holds my Canon 50D with a lens on the body, as well as a medium telephoto and 50mm lens in the bag. It also holds my external flash as well as all of the other normal stuff you'd want to carry in a camera bag (memory cards, extra batteries, remote trigger cords etc.). It also has a decently sized compartment at the top for personal items. But the best part about the bag is that it works as a sling as well as a backpack. The bag can be configured to be a right-handed or a left-handed sling, as well as a backpack for when you're hiking or know you won't need the camera at a moment's notice. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's the only left-handed sling camera bag on the market.

When taking pictures with kids, this sling feature is immensely helpful. I took the bag to birthday parties, to the park and other outdoor activities; and whenever they did something cute or spontaneous that I wanted to take a picture of, I could just twist the bag around my body, pull open the top and have the camera ready in a matter of seconds. In fact getting to most of the other stuff in the bag was equally easy - but it will depend on how you set up the bag for yourself.

The other great thing about the bag that I love is that while it holds a lot of stuff, it really isn't that big or bulky. I tested the Kata 3N1-20 which is the medium-sized bag in the line, and it seemed there was a place or a pocket for every piece of gear (memory card pocket, easy access external pouches for filters or batteries etc.). And to me at least, the look of the bag doesn't scream "I've got an expensive camera over here! Check me out!" It really just looks like a small black backpack, which is important not just for modesty's sake, but also safety (cameras in bags that don't necessarily look like camera bags are less of a target for thieves).

Besides all of that, it's got all of the things you'd expect in a camera bag from a company like Kata. There is a waterproof cover for the bag in case it rains, a great handle on the top of the bag and very sturdy construction. Oh, and it also has the signature Kata yellow interior lining - which might not seem like that big of a deal, but anyone who's dug around the bottom of a black camera bag looking for a black camera accessory can understand how cool this feature is.

In fact, I tried very hard to find a problem with the bag, but ultimately I came up short. It's not even that expensive, especially considering how expensive the camera and gear you're putting into it likely is.

The bag won't hold a laptop or every last item of your camera gear (like a tripod) so it might not be great for long vacations or trips. It also won't hold a lot of the kid-stuff that parents sometimes have to lug around so it won't work as a camera/diaper bag combo, but it has become my personal day-to-day camera bag and is my absolute recommendation for parents with a DSLR camera.

You can check out the Kata 3N1 camera bag line at Kata-Bags.com.
Or purchase the Kata 3N1 20 for $99.95 at Amazon.com.

Big Deal: notNeutral BB2 Twin Bed With Free Night Stand Ends Today

Chris Ford — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:30:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of the children's furniture by notNeutral. The stuff they make looks great and as I can personally attest, it's really quite functional. The BB2 bed is one of my favorites, not the least of which because it's a children's bed that fits a twin sized mattress. So here's a great deal you should know about - right now at Design Public, if you get the bb2 Twin Bed at it's regular price they'll throw in the matching night stand for free.

The deal ends today, so jump on it now.

notNeutral BB2 Twin Bed, $960. Night Stand FREE (regularly $140) with Free Shipping at DesignPublic.com (put the bed in your shopping cart, and the nightstand will show up there for free).

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag: And I Thought They Felt Cozy On The Outside

Chris Ford — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

April Fool's Day has come and gone, and in it's wake we might just have the coolest kid's product I've ever seen. Too bad it's fake (for now at least).

Apparently every April Fool's Day online nerd product purveyor ThinkGeek comes out with a list of fake products, and at the top of the list this year was this fake sleeping bag for kids in the shape of a Tauntaun from The Empire Strikes Back. For those that don't remember (and at the risk of letting my geek-flag fly) - the Tauntaun is what Han Solo puts the nearly frozen Luke Skywalker in to keep him warm over night. While they're on the ice planet Hoth. After the Tauntaun dies from exhaustion. Before the Empire finds them.

Well, this idea has had such a tremendous positive response, ThinkGeek is now taking names from interested buyers in the hopes that they can one day bring this to market. I for one am sure hoping they do.

(Oh, and if you haven't noticed yet, check out the pattern of the lining).

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag, ThinkGeek.com (via The Consumerist).

Boy-rettes - Hair Accessories For Long Haired Boys

Chris Ford — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:00:00 GMT

I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. As a father of girls, I fully appreciate the need to keep the hair out of my kid's eyes. So I can understand how you would want to keep it out of a boy's eyes too. The Boy-rettes from Kidcosmic.com will definitely get the job done, but a barrette for a boy? I think you will have to be the judge.

Kidcosmic.com not only sells Boy-rettes, but another hair accessory for boys called "Boy Bands" - a kind of a hair band for boys. The Boy Bands look kind of cool to me, but honestly I just can't get behind the Boy-rettes. All I can think of is the sixteen year old boy of the future mortified while looking at pictures of himself in barrettes.

The Boy-rettes come in a skull design (pictured) but there are more designs coming soon.

Skull Boy-rette, $8.50. Boy Bands (various), $13.00 from Kidcosmic.com

Get Ready For Summer With Threadless T-Shirts

Chris Ford — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Pretty soon, summer will be here. And for a lot of us, summertime means transitioning our kids from school uniforms to t-shirts, shorts and play dresses. So if you've also been thinking about your kid's summer wardrobe, then check out the freshly revamped Threadless Kids! web site, with hip t-shirts starting at $9.

They've got a ton of great shirts and new designs, but my favorite $9 shirt has to be The Scr-Emo. Your kids probably won't get the joke, but the other parents on the playground will.

Check out all of the shirts at ThreadlessKids.com

The Melio Step Stool On Sale At DWR

Chris Ford — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:32:00 GMT

My kids are at that age where they are old enough to wash their hands by themselves, but not old enough to reach the sink and soap without a step stool. For a while now we've been using a stool we bought at Target, but it's not as steady as it used to be and I've recently been looking for a replacemnet. Thanks to the warehouse sales currently going on now at Design Within Reach, I think I might have found a great replacement, the Melio Step Stool.

The Melio Step Stool is just like those rolling step stools that libraries have been using forever. The stool rolls around on the floor, and when you step down the "retractable casters" lock into a stable position. It even has a rubber guard around the edge to help prevent dings to your furniture.

It's available in Red, Grey or black, and the best part is it's on sale now for $20 off.

Melio Step Stool, $47.60 from Design Within Reach

Amazon Deal Alert: Epson Perfection V300 Scanner On Sale

Chris Ford — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Saving digital memories is a job for parents that (either thankfully or not) our parents never had to deal with. But what's the best way to save those non-digital memories, digitally? The Epson Perfection V300 Scanner is the same scanner I've used to convert many photos and negatives of my family's memories with great success - and it's on sale now at Amazon.com.

The Epson Perfection V300 Scanner is a basic flat-bed scanner that will scan any flat piece of paper (photo, kids' artwork, written document) as well as photo negatives and slides. It also comes with Epson's software that will take your scanned image, correct the color and remove dust and other imperfections. The software suite you get also comes with something called "optical character recognition" software, making any documents you scan readable and (more importantly perhaps) searchable by your computer.

In my experience it worked very well under all conditions. I was able to scan many, many negatives as well as photos without hardly any hiccup.

But the most important thing about this blog post is that it's available now from Amazon.com for only $93.24, which is 33% off the regular price. So if you've been putting off this chore, now might be the right time to start archiving. (Oh, and once you do, don't forget to back up your hard work - but that's another blog post.)

Epson Perfection V300 Photo Color Scanner, $93.24 from Amazon.com.

Finally, A Sleeved Blanket For Kids Too - The Snugglette

Chris Ford — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:00 GMT

If you watch TV, then chances are you've seen the Snuggie advertised. Basically it's a blanket with sleeves, and although it's not exactly the caliber of "Where's the Beef?" or "I've fallen, and I can't get up!", the commercial is pretty memorable. Well, I suppose a rolling stone gathers no moss in the world of sleeved blanket making, because the Snuggie people are now selling a sized-down version for kids - the Snugglette.

The Snuglette is made of "Super Soft, Luxurious Fleece", is machine washable and is available in "Royal Blue" or "Pretty Pink." It even comes with a free pair of matching "Slipper Socks." And guess what? If you act NOW you can get a second one FREE (just pay an additional $7.95 P&H).

Huh? So, uh, what does that all come to?

Basically, for a pair of Snugglettes and two pairs of Slipper Socks (all of which you have to buy together) you'll be paying $35.85.

Oh, and beware of the link below. The TV commercial for the Snugglette starts the moment the page loads. But if you've got headphones on, then click away.

Check it out at Sungglette.com.

Pink Plastic Octomom Sculpture Too Freaky For Words

Chris Ford — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

To simply say "file this one in the 'Bizarre' category" might be the understatement of the year - but then again, who am I to judge what art is? If you're even more fascinated by the Nadya Suleman "Octomom" story than NBC News and the Today Show seem to be (and that would have to be pretty damn fascinated) then this limited edition sculpture might be for you.

The sculpture entitled "String of Babies" is made of pink flexible polyurethane, is 9" x 12" x 12" and is signed and numbered by the artist, Guy Hepner. For a mere $199.00 you can get one of the limited edition 200 pieces. According to Mom Logic (where I found this little gem) the price will go up after the first 50 are sold. So if a pink plastic Angelina Jolie look-alike head holding eight baby-heads and a bottle in octopus tentacles is something you might be interested in - then there's no time like the present.

"String of Babies", sculpture by Guy Hepner. $199.00 from GuyHepner.com [via Mom Logic].

iWave Cube Portable Microwave

Chris Ford — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

When I went to college the closest thing to a kitchen appliance you could bring to a dorm room was a "hot pot." It was OK for hot chocolate and ramen noodles but not much else. I suppose the iWave Cube from iCubed is the modern day equivalent. The "world's smallest and first personal microwave" seems like it would be perfect for your kid's dorm room, but I can't imagine what else.

The iWave Cube takes up less than a foot of cubic space and is under 12 pounds. It also comes with a handy carrying handle for all your portable microwaving needs. It also will come in seven colors (in addition to the silver).

According to their web site, it will apparently be available in 2009, and no price point is given. But if you've got a kid who will be in the class of 2013, you might want to check it out at the insanely long URL: http://www.iportablemicrowavepopcornandfridge.com

Big Deal: Fauna Clothing And Pillows On Sale

Chris Ford — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:04:00 GMT

Fauna is the NYC-based company that makes pillows and clothing with animal prints that use photos of actual animals. They're kind of one of those things you either love or hate, and for those that fall into the former category, I just discovered a bunch of their products on sale over at Design Public.

You can get some of the Fauna pillows for as low as $31, but my favorite are the Baby Onesies and Kids T-Shirts. The Cat T-Shirt is $10 off the regular price as well as the Cat Onesie. But there are also bunnies, squirrels and even pigeons to choose from too. All are perfect for your little hipster this spring.

Check out products from Fauna, on sale now at DesignPublic.com

Amazon Deal Alert: Elmo Live 32% Off

Chris Ford — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Elmo Live (or as my two-year-old calls him, "Hard Elmo" because he's not squishy), is a big hit in my house. He talks, sings, dances and is one of those toys that as a child I imagined toys would be like in the future. Well, if you didn't find Elmo Live under the tree a couple of months ago, now is definitely the time to pick one up. Elmo Live is available at Amazon.com for $44.99 - that's $21.00 off the regular price.

Fisher-Price Elmo Live, $44.99 from Amazon.com

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth

Chris Ford — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:30:00 GMT

I almost never write about books on Droolicious (which should probably change come to think of it), and with this book I am probably late to the party, but it is so great I had to evangelize it a bit more. Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth is the story of a panda named Stillwater, and the three short tales he tells children.

The book itself is beautifully illustrated in watercolors, with each of the individual stories illustrated with sort of asian brush-strokes. The stories are simple, peaceful tales not meant to teach as much as show different ways of looking at situations that kids find themselves in all the time. It's rare that my kids and I actually discuss a book after reading it the previous night, but with Zen Shorts we ended up talking about examples in our lives where the stories apply.

It is easily the best book I've bought for my kids in the last year, and I highly recommend it. In fact, the newer book from Jon J. Muth is out now too - Zen Ties. Read about that one on Babble here.

Zen Shorts, $15.23 for the collector's edition from Amazon.com

The Babble Review: Mighty Buggy Hooks

Chris Ford — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Bugaboo (the stroller company) used to make something they called "bag hooks" so you could hang shopping bags to your stroller. But then I suppose some idiot must have loaded down the stroller with too much stuff and flipped the stroller, because a while ago they stopped making them. Mighty Buggy Hooks from Think King work just as well (if not a little better) than those original hooks - and you don't have to keep them attached to strollers.

I've had a set of the Buggy Hooks for a while now, and they've been working great on my Bugaboo. They stay on the stroller well and they are really lightweight. They should work on any type of stroller (not just a Bugaboo) and will fit all sizes of shopping bag and purse handles.

So if you're looking for a good way to attach your diaper bag, purse or shopping bag to your stroller, you should definitely check them out.

Mighty Buggy Hook, $14.99 for a two-pack from Think-King.com

Toy Microphone For Your Future Performer

Chris Ford — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

One of the things that has proved to be a favorite from Christmas this year in my house is this toy microphone. The stand is a speaker that amplifies your kid's voice, but the best part about it are the three foot pedals. One provides instant applause, one a hip-hop (more jungle really) beat, and the last has a stand-up comedian's rimshot and cymbal.

Keep in mind that it is a toy, so the overall construction of the thing is pretty flimsy. Consequently if your kid is prone to destroying stuff than you'll need to pay extra attention. But my girls love getting on the mic and singing, making noise and especially introducing one another. And I honestly don't mind a little extra noise around the house - it's when they're being really quiet that I seem to get really scared.

The Electronic Stage Microphone, $27.95 from ImagineToys.com

Remote Controlled Solar System Perfect For Junior Astronomers

Chris Ford — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Most kids go through a period of fascination with outer space and the solar system (I know I did), and if you've got one that has more than a passing fancy, this might be for you. The R/C Animated Solar System Mobile hangs from your ceiling and has a Sun that lights up with nine planets that orbit around it. Well, eight planets really, plus Pluto.

Poor Pluto.

The mobile runs on batteries and has a remote control that operates it. The remote also doubles as a light-pointer which (according to the web site) your kids can use to "make comets and meteors streak through the night sky." It even comes with a companion CD that explains and describes stuff.

It looks pretty cool to me, though it would be cooler if you could wire it directly into a ceiling light fixture. Now all I have to do is figure out when my daughter will start learning about the planets in school.

R/C Animated Solar System Mobile, $39.99 from ThinkGeek.com

New Lunch Bags By Jane Jenni Just In Time For Spring

Chris Ford — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Winter weather got you and your kids down? Designer Jane Jenni has a new item that might bring the springtime just a little early. The Birdhouse Lunch Bag is colorful and cute and chances are your daughter probably will be the only one in school with one.

The lunch bag comes in two designs (the other is a little more autumnal actually) and is PVC, lead and phthalate free.

Jane Jenni Custom Fit Lunch Bags, $20 from Unicahome.com

Classic Wooden Toys Collapse and Spring Back To Life

Chris Ford — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:30:00 GMT

You know what they say, "What's old is new again." I'm not that old, but when I was a kid I used to be fascinated with these types of little wooden toys - the kind that seem to collapse when you push the bottom but then spring to life again when you let go. Now you can get a few of them for your kids too - and at a price that won't break the bank.

The Petra Toys Press Puppets come in a Rhino, Giraffe, Red Dog and Elephant version. They would be great for an inexpensive little gift or even a party favor. Actually, it's kind of a pricey party favor, but they're cool nonetheless.

Petra Toys Wooden Press Puppets, $18 from BlackWagon.com

Re-Stickable Decal Photo Frames

Chris Ford — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

My daughter's new favorite thing is to draw a picture and then scotch tape it to the wall - any wall she can find. Her room and playroom are covered with her creations. Although she's not printing out her own photos yet, I'm guessing that in the future her obsession with displaying her work will continue. Which is why these re-stickable photo frames are so cool. When you get bored with your picture, you just pull it down, replace it and put it back up on the wall.

An 8 pack of Wall Decals costs $20.00 (or two for $36.00) and are made of "pliable, premium vinyl". I'm doubting I'll be able to get my daughter to use them now, but it looks like the sort of thing that she'll really be into when she's older.

Re-Stickable Decal Photo Frames, $20 from Photojojo.com

The Sam Collection From Muu Is Officially Released

Chris Ford — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:00:00 GMT

We've already told you about some of the nursery and kids furniture on the way from Muu (the storage unit and crib), but the full line of furniture has now been "officially" released. In addition to the other pieces, they also have a dresser, nightstand and twin bed to check out. And like the crib and storage unit, all of the pieces are customizable to your taste.

All of the pieces from Muu are made from sustainable wood with non-toxic finishes right here in the USA. There are a lot of different panels to choose from, and I think the graphics themselves look pretty cool. I'm not sure I'd be happy with having furniture with such graphic elements on it, but you can change out the panels if you get bored with what you've selected (or your kid's taste changes) which is nice too.

What I really love about Muu is the twin bed. There really aren't a lot of great modern twin bed options for kids out there, and if you've got a little extra cash the twin bed looks like something that your son or daughter will enjoy at least until they go to college. Wether or not you let them enjoy it after they're done with college is entirely up to you.

The Muu Sam Collection is available at MuuKids.com.

Amazon Deal Alert: Save Up To 20% On Britax Car Seats

Chris Ford — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Right now through February 15th, Amazon is having a massive sale on almost all of their Britax car seats. If you've got a baby on the way, or you're just now realizing your infant isn't going to be an infant much longer and will need a proper car seat soon, then you definitely want to check this out.

I've had a Britax Marathon car seat in my car for over four years now, and the thing is a workhorse. This sale doesn't happen often, so take advantage of it while you can.

Check out all of the seats from Britax on sale (some seats are $60 off) at Amazon.com.

ModoPocket Portable Tripod Is Perfect For Budding Photographers

Chris Ford — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:00:00 GMT

I saw some great cameras that would be great first cameras for older kids at CES (including one that prints photos right out of the camera), and I even found a great starter camera bag. And the ModoPocket mini-tripod is a great little accessory for that first camera too.

The MondoPocket (from tripod experts Manfrotto) is a small table-top tripod that folds up underneath the camera. It's about the same size as a business card, and raises the camera off of a table, ground or almost any other surface. The other cool thing it has is a mount for another tripod underneath, so you can keep it attached to your camera full time - even when you want to attach your camera to a bigger tripod.

If your kid is interested in photography, this would be a great way to get them to start thinking about their camera as something that can do things besides just taking snapshots.

The MondoPocket 797 is available now for around $30. Check it out at Manfrotto.com.