tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78214002122765143852024-03-17T02:53:02.095-04:00Fatherly StuffKylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012500481046373323noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-34680170315107289122019-05-13T08:41:00.000-04:002019-05-09T22:15:42.159-04:00An Open Letter to My Sons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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5/9/19- Since this was written, there have been so many senseless killings of black citizens that it's easy to almost become desensitized to it (Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Philando Castle, Tamir Rice, to name a few). However, I as a father I don't have to luxury to go numb. I have 3 children who are still blissfully naive to the current state of the world. Unfortunately, this poem is more relevant than ever. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The following is a poem to my sons that was inspired by the
reactions to the death of Treyvon Martin and the subsequent trial and acquittal
of George Zimmerman:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Before I continue, I want to establish a few things:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I personally do <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</b> believe that the Zimmerman verdict was a result of racism. I believe
it was due to the defense doing a better job proving their case than the
prosecution- that to me is such a shame, because justice was not served that day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it
is not clear exactly what happened on that fateful night, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do think that the root of those events
stemmed one person’s ill-fated judgment of another<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>based on the color of their skin and the
clothes on their back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wildly
polarized reactions of this case across the span of social media, shows the
issue of race is not only alive, but it is a <b><u>growing </u></b>pressure cooker that has once again come to a peak<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My Sons,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Let me tell
you a story…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One day when
I was a young man, I met your mom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
She was
smart, beautiful and most importantly, she thought my jokes were funny. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
And so, I
asked her to be mine. She said yes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And our love
grew. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It grew so
much that it made God smile. He smiled so much that he decided to give us two<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">special</b> gifts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And those
gifts were you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
HE made you
in our image <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
HE gave one
of you my nose, the other her smile <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And he gave something
very unique to the both of you: Our color<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Oh yes, that’s
right;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should probably mention:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That I’m
what they call Black<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Your Mother,
she’s something that they call White<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We never mentioned
this to you because it doesn’t matter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And besides<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That’s not
how we teach you to see the world<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And that’s
not how we saw each other<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The only thing
we saw when we looked at each other was Love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We never
noticed silly things like that<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Unfortunately,
there are people in this world who don’t see Love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
They only
see color <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And those
same people think that it’s wrong for me and your mom to be together<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Those same
people will look at you, my sons <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And not see you
as precious gifts from God<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
They will
only see you as color<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And so, to
no fault of your own<br />
<br />
Before they even get a chance to get to know you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
They will
try to disrespect you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Try to
define you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Try to
deprive you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Try to
demoralize you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And try to
defeat you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
They will
try <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And Try <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And Try<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But they
will fail.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Because you
both are stronger than that<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And not only
will you persevere<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But will
triumph!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Because Love
transcends color<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And ignorance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And prejudice
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So go forth,
my sons<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The torch
has been passed<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And show the
world <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Love is
the future<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That Love is
an unstoppable force<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That the
Love within you will one day change the world<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Love Always,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">D</span>ad<br />
<br />
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-49818734334773928772019-05-09T22:00:00.000-04:002019-05-09T21:57:20.206-04:00Pink: How a Color Taught me a Priceless Lesson about Gender Bias and Fatherhood<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is a republished post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<o:p>
</o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve always considered myself a pretty progressive dad,
riding the wave of modernity in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century. In
our household, the lines of the past that steadfastly identified what was
considered “man” and “woman” responsibilities were more opaque and everything from
diaper changing, feeding, paying bills and getting up late at night to tend to a sleeping
baby is divided based on whoever’s hand is on deck at any given time. It’s not
the easiest job in the world, but to be honest I felt pretty good about being
what most people would label a “modern dad” and I wore that title like a badge
of honor. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My title was put to the test however the day my wife brought
this home for my son:</span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The first thing I said to my wife was: “Um that can’t be for
my son. That thing is wearing a skirt”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">“So?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Well, skirts are for girls, and he’s a boy so we have to
return it for a monkey with a pair of jeans or something”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My wife rolls her eyes, calmly asserts that I am being silly
and eventually the toy is given to my son. That little hula monkey ends up
being one of his favorite toys as an infant and I realized that I indeed was
making a big deal out of nothing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fast forward to his toddler stage:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My son is asked what his favorite color was and he
emphatically replies that it is pink. Deep down his answer made me a bit uncomfortable, but I didn't show it: I gave him a hug and told let him know how awesome his selection was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But why did I have that reaction? What hell was I afraid of?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Well for starters, pink is a girl color. It’s not just “a”
girl color, but the international spokescolor (yes, a made up word) for the female
gender. You see it on every dress, tutu and Barbie convertible that is marketed
towards little girls. So how could it be that my son, who loves to collect bugs, do
karate and play with race cars would actually like something that is so obviously... "girly"? When I was a
kid, if you we're a boy who admitted you were a fan of pink, you’d instantly be
labeled a sissy and be the object of ridicule of every bully in a three classroom
radius. I suppose my fear stemmed from a misguided desire to protect him from that kind of scrutiny. (I also believe that it is more frowned upon for little boys to explore activities outside the perceived gender role, than it is for girls to do the same. But this is subject matter for another post!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After some reflection however, I began to understand that
the issue was not with him liking this color, but with the fact that I had a
problem with it at all. I then realized that maybe I’m not as much of a forward-thinking father
as I had thought. Maybe I'm just as guilty of the same male chauvinistic stereotypes
that were the norm during my father’s generation and the generation before his.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After I accepted this reality, I then decided to explore
these feelings in order to understand, then overcome them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And so began my journey...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, who decided that pink was a “girl” color anyway? After
doing a little research, it turns out that the practice of associating colors
with gender is a fairly recent concept.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WQteO9Lmwy8sFIiaC8Xzv3JOTEgpdt7vOw9jtee1d_OoTFSzWrISGdnT76qkiVV9HJuCbJSw2IGWDfJjEtCGVhYyYW6kB84P52ukmiSeGkKxcVocr-HM4dzywjMoPg0MXts7Q9n2fs78/s1600/Roosevelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WQteO9Lmwy8sFIiaC8Xzv3JOTEgpdt7vOw9jtee1d_OoTFSzWrISGdnT76qkiVV9HJuCbJSw2IGWDfJjEtCGVhYyYW6kB84P52ukmiSeGkKxcVocr-HM4dzywjMoPg0MXts7Q9n2fs78/s320/Roosevelt.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html?c=y&page=1" target="_blank">Photo Credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you look at the above picture, what do you see? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you said girl, you would be wrong. Not only is this frilly
young lad a boy, he is none other than Franklin D Roosevelt, one of the
greatest US presidents who ever lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This picture, which was taken in 1884 is a reflection of the views of that time period. It was actually a normal practice for parents to
have both boys and girls wear gender-neutral white dresses throughout their early childhood. By age
7, boys would finally start wearing pants and would get their first haircut. If
I had to guess, I would suspect that this was done as more of a cost saving
measure by the parents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p>A<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ccording to an article posted on the <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html" target="_blank">Smithsonian Magazine’swebsite</a>, there was a time as early as 1918 when pink was considered the primary color for boys and blue for girls. The public perception began to change around the time accurate
prenatal testing had become standard practice. Child and infant clothing
retailers, looking to make money, capitalized on this trend began to shift their
products and advertising campaigns toward gender specific colors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 265.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then the cycle is perpetuated: as
these gender specific colors become more defined, as parents and as a society,
we tend to push these values onto our children and an earlier and earlier. I’m
almost certain that my perceptions were directly influenced based on this
trend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 265.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So basically, the wool was
systematically pulled over my eyes to believe the pink is a color exclusively
for the female sex from the moment I arrived on this earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
Despite this however, there's already evidence of the tide beginning to change.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8_c6bGdhV4cmqLZ-_vR3TRZbrGExp1FMbjOHrMVV-IGRKNcyaNdztyYh2oaU1j8qtrGX-Cv3DsMKv6Pl6XW6IpEri2ET8nxVoDW5f_YiNAkdTk10rt1BkUTWBbk1cwJQc3RLB2QCWk86/s1600/Toenails.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8_c6bGdhV4cmqLZ-_vR3TRZbrGExp1FMbjOHrMVV-IGRKNcyaNdztyYh2oaU1j8qtrGX-Cv3DsMKv6Pl6XW6IpEri2ET8nxVoDW5f_YiNAkdTk10rt1BkUTWBbk1cwJQc3RLB2QCWk86/s320/Toenails.png" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/crew-ad-boy-painting-toenails-pink-stirs-transgender/story?id=13358903" target="_blank">Photo Credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This picture of a mother and son with pink panted toenails, was taken for the 2011 J. Crew spring catalog and caused quite the controversy, but it is also an indicator that the mainstream is once again evolving and pushing boundaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For me, the picture didn't bother me at all. I figured, whatever that little boy's parents choose to do with their child is their business. Little did I know that my son would once again unknowingly push my personal boundaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I came home from a long day's work to a giggling wife. Perplexed, I asked her what was up. She sheepishly opens up her phone and shows me this picture:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxBEqOPpNMiwwMcktDMzIf94EN7AfS7yJpF_nXMyHRcdQ9Yl6IXLHqJR5x60XSiYXUT65luFnNaYhbFH9-nkCudv0c_ApTsi0UmVD91EtN0A_uOwnkQpp4hbsBGc0LWDo20wq5SCGc1E/s1600/Toenails.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxBEqOPpNMiwwMcktDMzIf94EN7AfS7yJpF_nXMyHRcdQ9Yl6IXLHqJR5x60XSiYXUT65luFnNaYhbFH9-nkCudv0c_ApTsi0UmVD91EtN0A_uOwnkQpp4hbsBGc0LWDo20wq5SCGc1E/s1600/Toenails.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Apparently, he saw mommy painting her nails and thought it would be cool to do copy her. He then grabbed his marker and proceeded to color his toes. My wife thought it was hilarious. I'm ashamed to say that I blew it out of proportion and was pretty upset. I considered scolding him or at least explaining why what he did was wrong. Thankfully my wife brought me back down to earth, just like with the hula monkey situation and reminded me that I was being ridiculous. He was only a toddler and if I did end up confronting him with negative reinforcement, it would have likely done more harm than good. It has been about a year since that ordeal; he has never brought it up nor attempted to do such a thing again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So going through all of this, what lessons have i learned?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p> I've learned by understanding the false stereotypes that were taught to me in my youth, I am able accept the past without compromising my future. <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">All
that matters is the fact that I love my son and as his father, it is my job to
ensue he is raised in an environment where he feel safe to express himself. And that includes him deciding to like pink, purple, blue or any other color he so wishes. Or if he ever wanted to try on his mommy's shoes. Or any other thing that someone might consider "girly". I will almost bet you that in the eyes of a child, most activities that we as adults tend to categorize with a gender are completely neutral to them.</span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Plus, who knows? Maybe in 50 years, pink will be the "it" color for boys once again.</span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><strong>Question: Have you ever been confronted with your own gender biases with your child(ren)? How did you react?</strong></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-71084926450815663762015-08-11T08:01:00.001-04:002015-08-11T20:14:19.852-04:00Battle Dadbod with EAS Myoplex!<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerInProtein #CollectiveBias</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBqi3o029WC4Vku7bN-AqmWtqbv4yD-O5PIGyJ8-w6jJxVG0sciuHbqnPA_DX1q2kXB-VT3k9AVuJYkPYSyFf-j1YS-wBjeJtTBBO19lWdhk90ZrJDg3A6wB00_6kfEfag7sT1GQQwb0/s1600/%2523powerinprotein1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBqi3o029WC4Vku7bN-AqmWtqbv4yD-O5PIGyJ8-w6jJxVG0sciuHbqnPA_DX1q2kXB-VT3k9AVuJYkPYSyFf-j1YS-wBjeJtTBBO19lWdhk90ZrJDg3A6wB00_6kfEfag7sT1GQQwb0/s640/%2523powerinprotein1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">efore I became a parent, I was in pretty good shape, but it
wasn’t because I was health conscious. During college, I was certainly no
stranger to a late night pepperoni pizza or two, or the occasional Dixie cup filled
with Bud-Light tapped from a keg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
between being on the football team for a time and joining the school’s martial
arts club, I led such an active life style that my high metabolism incinerated
all of the bad calories that I took in. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward to the present; Now that I’m a full time
parent, my priorities have shifted. The time that I used to spend training is
now dedicated to caring for my two boys. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the habit that I carried over
from college for sure was my poor eating. The beautiful 6 pack that I so foolishly took for granted was slowly being replaced with an industrial sized keg. I knew I needed a change, but I would
often use the kids as an excuse and convince myself that I simply didn’t have the
time to work out anymore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wakeup call for me happened one morning when I was late
for work. I was rushing through the house trying to get ready. I put on my
pants and noticed that they were a little snug, but I didn’t pay it any mind.
That is, until I bent over to tie my shoes and heard a ripping sound. I looked
behind me in a mirror and saw a huge split all the way down the back of my
pants. I couldn’t deny it anymore: I had “dadbod”. While the whole dadbod
movement is primarily about self-love and acceptance, I didn’t like the flabby figure
that I saw in the mirror. It was right then and there that I decided to take
control of my life (and my waistline). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the first things I did was head down to my nearest
Walmart to the Sports Nutrition aisle. It was there that I picked up a couple
of EAS Myoplex ready to drink shakes. Since I’ve been on such a haiatus, I knew
that my body was going to be depleted after going through my exercise routines.
The protein and complete nutrition in EAS Myoplex gives me the boost that I
need to help my body recover and rebuild to its best. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_7EjsRnmdiztNJMVLY65uOVarDNN59Qa-lyVdy4n7VXE6QpV5kpBDcn0O5QjUfjEoQ79NpcRlFtcVoYucsmEEDLM73CLbqJ5wsaALv-9mJWOya0P83pNeSJy-zwk2yk10pP8K_ge5sc/s1600/%2523powerinprotein2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_7EjsRnmdiztNJMVLY65uOVarDNN59Qa-lyVdy4n7VXE6QpV5kpBDcn0O5QjUfjEoQ79NpcRlFtcVoYucsmEEDLM73CLbqJ5wsaALv-9mJWOya0P83pNeSJy-zwk2yk10pP8K_ge5sc/s400/%2523powerinprotein2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since my free time is scarce, I’ve been making more of an
effort to be as efficient with my time as possible. I’ve worked out my schedule with
my wife so I can have at least two gym days per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though, there are things that come up that
might prevent me from going to the gym, on the days that I can’t, I try to incorporate my kids into my
workouts by taking them out on walks, bicycle rides and playing tag in the
backyard. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbk40QcgnYL_PZnf3wT_UMqJCJ9O_kJdaf3gkmvvrOsP7KgFOFjGt9eD4xShiR9stsN8whBbUJHNRMAGdUbwo60dq-_0i37_lJNPS5uXVeWJ7wLtv6osIfxIhs-KyHmv3tjvgahbgHU4/s1600/%2523powerinprotein4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbk40QcgnYL_PZnf3wT_UMqJCJ9O_kJdaf3gkmvvrOsP7KgFOFjGt9eD4xShiR9stsN8whBbUJHNRMAGdUbwo60dq-_0i37_lJNPS5uXVeWJ7wLtv6osIfxIhs-KyHmv3tjvgahbgHU4/s640/%2523powerinprotein4.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve even decided to get back into a little bit of martial
arts training!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb1idJWRhl2U1YoS_5ZyccTU2AQ4KCux50A8O9yXNWDZnUg_ywo5AI4OM4OsNfoWp6syGIZYG0eG4162HfhsdfojRzaAJZKVFqmYHxFRBefUIvh5g4dGE0NqSS_1qOGyq27PG2NQkKEs/s1600/%2523powerinprotein3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb1idJWRhl2U1YoS_5ZyccTU2AQ4KCux50A8O9yXNWDZnUg_ywo5AI4OM4OsNfoWp6syGIZYG0eG4162HfhsdfojRzaAJZKVFqmYHxFRBefUIvh5g4dGE0NqSS_1qOGyq27PG2NQkKEs/s640/%2523powerinprotein3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the workplace, even the seemingly minor changes have made
a huge difference. For example, there are five floors in my office building.
Instead of taking the elevator every time, I’ve been using the stairs. Also, if
I wanted a coffee, I could always go to the cafeteria that is located in the
building. As opposed to doing that, I’ve been walking the half mile downtown to
the nearest coffee shop for my fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_V_7m_pZHyR1HDsAJ73G-eFdk_K-bh1aSHBhd9Yg05wvpevO66dKX_xS4VCFxMeGT97EsjeqeLG-b5HHbOLZsg5gfMwIdEoATIm_TXXIWz7NimkYhwqfO2_CpbzfgneLUWc3gtm7Pd0/s1600/%2523powerinprotein6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_V_7m_pZHyR1HDsAJ73G-eFdk_K-bh1aSHBhd9Yg05wvpevO66dKX_xS4VCFxMeGT97EsjeqeLG-b5HHbOLZsg5gfMwIdEoATIm_TXXIWz7NimkYhwqfO2_CpbzfgneLUWc3gtm7Pd0/s640/%2523powerinprotein6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After going through all of this, I’ve come to a realization.
Sure, I want to look good, but I’m no longer concerned with results. Adopting
the healthy, active lifestyle has given me more confidence and the sense of
satisfaction I get from accomplishing the goals I sent for myself has me
feeling better than ever! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaldbkW7_a6VkDtzFSl2_57P3uvMcfyFszxzlWIs3LQtFEyriLgbjiCJdd5Q3Zbt0kjMAsBPPKL-2qH1Ty8TFwqmbf9akAWeouhhFwv0MzVbYEv1J2RBYXRY8dFiAplVX94oEomh5_5Dc/s1600/%2523powerinprotein5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaldbkW7_a6VkDtzFSl2_57P3uvMcfyFszxzlWIs3LQtFEyriLgbjiCJdd5Q3Zbt0kjMAsBPPKL-2qH1Ty8TFwqmbf9akAWeouhhFwv0MzVbYEv1J2RBYXRY8dFiAplVX94oEomh5_5Dc/s640/%2523powerinprotein5.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I want to hear from you: What kind of workout routines
are you guys into? Comment below!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-51025891677638125822015-07-28T19:25:00.000-04:002015-07-28T19:25:37.962-04:00Dreams and Nightmares<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I was lying on the couch feeling exhausted from a long day
in the office, which was then followed by a hectic evening getting the boys
through their nighttime routine and eventually off to bed. The living room was
dark, except for the dull glow of the screensaver on the TV, which permeated
from its screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, even that
little bit of light would be enough keep me awake, but my tired body stubbornly
refused to allow any distractions from allowing it to reach its goal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too tired to even make the trek from the
couch to the bedroom, I rolled on my back, slung my forearm over my eyes and
slowly began to let myself drift away. Right before I started my REM cycle, a
small, familiar voice pulled me out of my trance. </div>
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<br /></div>
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“Daddy?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I rolled on my side and straightened my neck upwards with
squinted eyes to find my 6 year old son peering back at me. </div>
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“Oh hi, kiddo.” I whispered. “What are you doing up so late?”</div>
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“I can’t sleep because there’s a monster in my room.” he
said with a pout, arms crossed. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was silent for a
moment as he stood there in front of me. My wife and I have been dealing with
this “monsters” phase for a little while now and quite frankly, I was feeling a
bit annoyed that he woke me up once again because of it. Occasionally, I would
take the “tough love” approach by insisting that he had nothing to worry about
and he needed to get back into bed. But today I decided to handle it with a
little more empathy. I brought him into his room, adjusted his nightlight and
checked each closet, corner and space beneath the bed until he was satisfied
his room was 100% monster free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laid
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As I tiptoed back out his room and walked down the hallway
to mine, I felt a sense of guilt come over me. Even at the age of 6, I try to
be honest with my son as much as possible, but I had just spent a better part
of 15 minutes lying to him with a completely straight face. I assured him that
monsters didn’t exist, but in reality I knew this was far from the truth. The
monsters that I had in mind don’t come in the form of apparitions or creatures
with glowing eyes and sharp claws. The type that I’m referring to wear badges,
and are seemingly so drunk with power that they regularly take the lives of
young Black men and women with reckless abandon and without repercussion. </div>
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Just ask Tamir Rice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or Michael Brown.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or Freddie Gray.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or Eric Garner.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or Sean Bell.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or Oscar Grant.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or Treyvon Martin.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or Sandra Bland.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both of my children are biracial, and there is nothing that
I would love more than to sit them down one day tell them that race doesn’t
matter. The sad reality however, that is not how the world as we know it currently
functions, and when they become adults, they will need to learn to navigate it
with a layer of hyper-awareness that all Black males are required to possess as
a default in order to ensure their safety. This awareness comes with the understanding
that not all police officers are bad people, but also knowing there are enough
bad ones out there for them to be on guard. But even that might not be enough. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They’re still young, so I decided to hold off on having
these discussions. But one day, as we’re skipping rocks in the pond, I might use
that moment to talk to him about the proper way he should conduct himself when
he gets pulled over by the police. Or perhaps as were eating ice cream on a
park bench, I can instruct him on how to respond if an officer wants to frisk
him. One day, when we’re working in our garden, I might even explain ways that
he might make himself “less suspicious” and why these skills are so important
for him to know. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day, before he finds out the hard way, I will reveal to
him that monsters do exist. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These were the thoughts that swirled in my head as I lay in
my bed that night, trying in vain to fall asleep. </div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012500481046373323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-69931397336848144692015-06-01T06:04:00.000-04:002015-06-01T06:04:08.593-04:00A Pet Puppy Would Be Great For Your Son’s Birthday Gift<b>*The following is a guest post. Please enjoy!*</b><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Do you
have your son’s birthday coming up and you are planning a special gift for him
this year. It could be that it’s his 5<sup>th</sup> or 10<sup>th</sup> birthday
and you are looking for a remarkable presentation this time. So, what is it
that will make the tiny one jumping in joy with “Oh daddy, I loovvvee you soo
much”? While there is no dearth of cutting edge toys and gizmos for little boys,
a special gift is something that will bridge a cherished emotional bond between
you two for life. A cute puppy can definitely mark a phenomenal gift for your
son’s upcoming birthday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Men and
dogs always share a special connection. To know more about it </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-willens/face-it-what-is-it-about_b_5698230.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">visit
this link</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">There
are various benefits of letting your child play and grow up with a dog.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Unconditional love</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">First of
all, a puppy can be the cutest and most loving gift ever. Your kid would get a
constant companion whenever he is at home- who will never be tired of showering
affection to him with constant hugs, licking and snuggling. Unlike teachers or
parents, the puppy won’t ever be critical & dictate orders to your little
master. They would always love him, unconditionally- & the very presence of
the pup would provide a feel of security for the kid.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Positive self-image</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This very unconditional love
& companionship from the pup would make the kid feel important that further
helps in developing self-confidence and positive feelings about oneself. The
very fee that there is somebody to who I am really significant is an excellent
mood booster.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Better relationships</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has been found that kids
attached to their pets are better at building and maintaining relationships.
It’s because companionship with the dog would help to develop feelings of
empathy, love and responsibility as well as gratitude among the kids- the crucial
ingredients of any successful relationship. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Physical well being</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Studies say that children who
grow up with pet dogs are lesser prone to asthma and allergy. Moreover, dogs
are usually active and prefer running and jumping every now and them. The play sessions
with the puppy would assure good exercises for your child as well since his
growing years- which is very necessary for his growth, development and physical
well being</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Calming effect</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If your son is too energetic and
if you often struggle to keep pace with him, a pet puppy would be the right
gift him this time. According to studies, dogs could help to calm down overtly
aggressive or hyperactive kids.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">To know
why every man must have a pet dog,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><a href="http://www.menshealth.com/dogs/why-every-man-should-own-a-dog.php"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">click
here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Now,
when it comes to buying a dog, you must be careful about the breeder. You can
visit </span><a href="https://www.k9stud.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">https://www.k9stud.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> as the
site offers you to interact with some of the most qualified breeders here in
America- irrespective of the breed you are looking for. This portal also holds
basic data about almost every type of dog breed.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-42897041295633072672015-04-07T23:39:00.002-04:002015-04-12T20:12:29.472-04:00Fatherhood From a Point of ReferenceWe all know that that being a good dad isn’t easy. In fact,
I think it’s safe to say that we all tend to suck at it from time to time.
Despite this information, there are scores of men-including myself- who wake up
each and every morning and become the horse for their children’s piggy back
rides, the kisser of their boo-boos, the wiper of their tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, many of the decisions we
make are with the happiness of our kids in mind. On the other hand, there are
just as many men who are selfish, neglectful, or abusive towards their kids.
Those men, although being the individual who managed to fertilize an egg that
produced a life, in no way deserve to be called a father.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment a man
finds out that he is going to be a father, he will immediately find himself in
front of a road which diverges into two paths: The road of becoming a good dad
is the more difficult path, but the rewards earned by the journey are worth
their weight in gold. The other path on the surface is seemingly the easier,
but the end of the journey is riddled with nothing but bitterness and
resentment and regret for all parties involved. You would think that the
decision to walk the “good dad” path would be a no brainier, yet so many men
make the choice to go the other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
herein lies my question:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the
determining factors that make a man choose to walk one path of becoming a good
dad versus the other? It sounds like a complicated question, but when you peel
back the onion, you'll notice that while the answer might vary based on the
circumstances of each man, the common thread between them is their point of
reference for fatherhood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For better or worse, we are all products of the way that we
were raised. The person who I am, who you are today is the direct result of how
the people who brought us up treated us as children. If you were brought up by
a father figure who gives love and support, you're more likely to use that
example to become the type of father who provides this for their kids. However,
if your fatherhood point of reference is that of someone who was absent and
neglectful, then there is a chance that you will also follow suit when you
become a father yourself. On the flip side of that, your destiny is not set in
stone. There's also the opportunity for growth and evolution if you use those
negative experiences to resolve to become the father that you did not have
growing up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How that father figure treated you as a child had shaped
your mind and has set you on a path which dictated how your decision making
skills will guide you in your life. The inner workings within our character, in
our personality that we innately use to choose who we surround ourselves
with-be it friends, our significant others, etc., - is either directly or
indirectly derived from that point of reference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quite often, I have friends and colleagues who compliment
me, who look at the fun Facebook and Instagram pictures, assume that this
fatherhood thing is all jellybeans and unicorns and will tell me that they look
forward to the day they will become a dad. However, they have a very little (if
any) of an understanding of the hardships, sacrifices and personal doubts and
anxiety that I went through that got me to be where I am today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please understand though that the purpose of this exercise
is not to give you an excuse for crappy behavior in any shape or form. By
reflecting on, and acknowledging your past, you will put yourself in a position
that will help you make better decisions in the future. We don't have the
ability to choose our environment and role models as a child. But as an adult,
we can start to surround ourselves with healthy relationships.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The point of reference doesn't just affect your parenting ability;
it can also shape how you interact with other people. For example, if your
parents were married for 30 years, your point of reference as an adult will
guide you in a direction where you will be more than likely to seek out someone
that you can see yourself with for the next 30 years. If your point of
reference is more volatile than that, you're more prone to seek out someone
that might not workout in the long run.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although my parents divorced at 4, I don’t remember it
really affecting me as a child. In fact, it wasn’t until later in my adult life
that I realized what a profound impact that point of reference had on me. Most
of the relationships that I had before getting married have been short lived, which was mostly due to my efforts. The instability that I witnessed growing up
resulted in me unwilling to make meaningful connections with people. Looking
back, I now understand that I constantly kept them at arm’s length so I could
avoid being hurt. These superficial relationships caused me to unintentionally
push people away. When I finally came to an understanding of this, I found
myself at a crossroads and was faced with two choices. Either shrug my
shoulders and continue my behavior, using my past as a crutch, or I can use my
newfound awakening as a learning opportunity and focus my energies to evolve my
way of thinking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it is import to reflect and ask yourself this question:
What is your fatherhood point of reference? Based on your answer, will you
choose to become a better dad/husband because of that reference, or despite of
it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012500481046373323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-37468626408785684182015-04-07T05:35:00.001-04:002015-04-12T20:33:32.114-04:004 Quick and Easy Ways to Save Money Right Now: #IAmProtectiveThis shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its
advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #IAmProtective #CollectiveBias<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyJo3uuuZXloPRwc2EuhX3Esc-2o0aWdYh3iT-kuDjj5t62p_ZE0O-aBX_94Ol2ltayZIli1TzDvfPofsKvE8wSbfzu1j6ITUZF_Qk2qVDX3iPhkDIGL3_px0ONwgOGxNXL4TaRYZfr4/s640/20150405_105520_20150407054624037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyJo3uuuZXloPRwc2EuhX3Esc-2o0aWdYh3iT-kuDjj5t62p_ZE0O-aBX_94Ol2ltayZIli1TzDvfPofsKvE8wSbfzu1j6ITUZF_Qk2qVDX3iPhkDIGL3_px0ONwgOGxNXL4TaRYZfr4/s640/20150405_105520_20150407054624037.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you randomly walked into an economist’s office and
demanded that they tell you whether or not the US was in a <br />
recession, they
would (besides call for security because a stranger just barged into their office
and started asking questions) probably say no. And if you measured the growth
of the economy by using indicators such as our GDP or the stock market, they’d
technically be right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, pose this
same question to the average American family who is scraping by, they’d almost
certainly say the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality
is that there are many people who are still reeling from the effects. And I
should know, since I’m one of those families. With two young children, I’ve had
to figure out creative ways to keep our budget on track by being protective and
by doing more with less. Here are four simple ways to help ease that pain by keeping
more money in your wallet. Of all the different things you can do, the methods
that I’ve outlined have very minimal effect to quality of life and the impact
will also be felt in the short term (2-4 weeks).</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brown Bag It</b>-
With the rising cost of eating out, this is one of the first things that should
be instilled in your regimen if you’re serious about saving. If you work in an
office environment like I do, you might feel some peer pressure to go out to
lunch with your colleagues. However, keep in mind that if the cost of lunch is
$8 (this amount is on the conservative side), doing this every day is costing
you a whopping $160 per month! Instead, consider bringing lunch from home by
using techniques such as prepackaging leftover dinner for the following day. I’ve
found that the benefits of doing this had gone beyond just fiscal: Since I’m
directly controlling my portions, I’m taking in a lot less calories, so I’m
feeling healthier as well! </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cut the (Cable) Cord</b>-
These days, having a cable service is considered an expensive and outdated
luxury. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my wife and I decided to
get rid of cable for good, we went through all of the channels we had through
our service and realized that out of the 100+ channels we had, we only watched
about 10 of them. In lieu of cable, we picked up a streaming service (i.e.
Netflix, Hulu, Prime, etc.), so we could have some entertainment when we
needed, but for only a fraction of what we were paying before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we cut the cord, we have found that we
have found more productive ways to spend our time together as a family.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyp-KQFrAMijHcGnqEACL8EwCigvmuFWs-8TvbDAke49zETdyQt4jCR1Ds0oU8Oasu0gEawYHnnRR1fdwH24ZbxQCPnTB2PjZXtmS6X9_HfPakkc0igv_bi8o55Hy7HEUR0pX1x2dlaY/s640/20150409_185443_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyp-KQFrAMijHcGnqEACL8EwCigvmuFWs-8TvbDAke49zETdyQt4jCR1Ds0oU8Oasu0gEawYHnnRR1fdwH24ZbxQCPnTB2PjZXtmS6X9_HfPakkc0igv_bi8o55Hy7HEUR0pX1x2dlaY/s640/20150409_185443_HDR.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Semi) Extreme
Couponing- </b>You don’t have to have cable to know about America’s latest
sideshow, extreme couponing. This hobby consists of men and women who dedicate
copious amounts of their time and energy in order to obtain the most insane
deals ever. These are the people who get $100 worth of items for only $10.
While some of these feats are admirable, most people just don’t have that level
of <s>insanity</s> time to put into in. However, there are some couponing
strategies that I’ve observed, which I employ in my own life. For example, if I
have a coupon for cereal, I will try to combine it with an in-store sale in
order to optimize my savings potential. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play Hard to Get- </b>It is a great time to be
a customer. With ever increasing competition, companies are doing everything
within their power to keep your business. In fact, some companies even have a
special department (usually call retention) whose sole existence is dedicated
to doing just that. A great example of this is with our car insurance. We were
paying $200 per month, and we felt that was way too high. So, we called our
carrier and let them know that we were considering switching providers. By the
end of our phone call, we ended up with a monthly charge of only $120. Be
smart, do your research before calling and you will ensure that the odds will
remain in your favor. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
While researching saving techniques, I came across this<a href="http://www.protective.com/learning-center/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> learning library</a> by Protective Life. This is a great resource that covers a variety of topics, such as money management and life insurance.</div>
<br />
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
This
shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.
All opinions are mine alone. #IAmProtective #CollectiveBias - See more
at:
http://spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com/blog/2015/03/boyish-charm/my-new-adventure-blogging-full-time-iamprotective#sthash.j1l15pA8.dpuf</div>
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and tell me what other tips and tricks work for you. Thanks for reading! </div>
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<br />
When you first think of solutions for "women's equality", what are the things the pop into your head? Equal pay? Breaking glass ceilings?<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/06/ronda-rousey-100-percent-men_n_6816204.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Ronda Rousey</a>?<br />
<br />
Whatever you were thinking, I'm willing to bet my grandpa's jazz vinyl collection that paternity leave was not very high on your list. According to a<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2015/03/14/392632777/new-dads-in-togo-are-guaranteed-something-that-u-s-dads-arent" target="_blank"> recent NPR article</a> however, providing paid leave to men in order for them to stay home with their children just might be another tool for forward progression. The article states:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Granting paid days off to a new dad sets a pattern for both parents to share the caring from the get-go and boosts chances for women to stay in the work force because they're not the sole caregivers.</em></blockquote>
<br />
Which totally makes sense. Looking back to the births of both my children, I remember being told by my respective supervisors (different jobs, with no paternity leave) to "take all the time I need". But reading in between the lines, there was an unspoken expectation that I should be back at work after only a few days, which in retrospect was not nearly enough time. Those early stages of life are critical for bonding and also for establishing the precedent for how the co-parenting duties will be handled between mother and father:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>"when men fail to become active co-parents in the first few months of the child's life, it sets up a pattern that is difficult to change."</em></blockquote>
The United States certainly seems to be behind on the trend. Currently, there are 92 countries that offer paid maternity leave and 96 which offer paid leave for both mothers and fathers. Of the remaining 9 countries that have neither, the US is the only developed country. While the US does have <a href="http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/" target="_blank">FMLA</a> that is available, it is not paid and in the scope of baby bonding, only moms can take advantage of it. <br />
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We're basically that awkward dude at the wedding who sits arm-crossed at the table while all of his friends are on the dance floor, all because he thinks he's too cool to do the funky chicken. Come on, America. Let's not be "that guy". We're definitely not too cool for the funky chicken. So get your ass up out of that seat and get down with the rest of your buddies. <br />
<br />
In the end, establishing (and normalizing) paid paternity (and maternity) leave in the US will encourage men to take on the primary caregiver role. This will in turn afford more women the freedom to pursue personal/professional goals without guilt or social pressure. So, you can say that the road to gender equality is paved with diapers, bottles, and baby wipes.<br />
<br />
You can read the full article <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2015/03/14/392632777/new-dads-in-togo-are-guaranteed-something-that-u-s-dads-arent" rel="" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its
advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MySignatureMove
#CollectiveBias</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlSqS7lu9M52VehtUsTSbKuN8cr2WBNkD7ucXfcTIqR3_iGXgbDWMVorOVxQ5nlCGfc7Mgxn-zzuk_2P4Xa-6vyT4sSPG4QMlJzasiKlhIQuspT6ahcKNWN45Vj2A4RgOgMKd7vRYXTs/s640/20150310_041816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlSqS7lu9M52VehtUsTSbKuN8cr2WBNkD7ucXfcTIqR3_iGXgbDWMVorOVxQ5nlCGfc7Mgxn-zzuk_2P4Xa-6vyT4sSPG4QMlJzasiKlhIQuspT6ahcKNWN45Vj2A4RgOgMKd7vRYXTs/s640/20150310_041816.jpg" /></a></div>
With the exception of a slice of New Haven, CT pizza, here isn’t
anything on this earth that I love more than my kids (kidding!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But seriously, as much as they mean to me,
I’m not afraid to admit that they can really drive me up a wall every now and
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be because I’ve had a
particularly rough day at work, or maybe I didn’t get enough sleep the night
before for some reason (curse you, House of Cards!). Whatever the cause, being
able to identify when you need to take a moment to yourself to decompress is a
very critical skill to have as a parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My wife and I use this skill all the time to communicate exactly when we’re
in need of one of our “moments”. During this time, one of us will keep the
kiddos occupied while the other gets the opportunity to remove themselves from the immediate proximity of the area in order to go do whatever they want in order to unwind. Now, the specific activity that I like to do during my particular “moment” depends on how much time I’ve been allotted.
Usually, my time is limited. And in those cases, my favorite thing, or My
Signature Move to execute, is throwing on my robe, heading to the bathroom
and taking a nice, hot shower. This might sound crazy, but hear me out:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in a hectic home like mine, the shower is one
of the few places that I can find peace and quiet and be alone with my thoughts.
It's like my own little fortress of solitude. Sometimes, I'll even play a little music while my worries wash away like the water rolling down my back. During my shower session, are two constant companions that I bring with me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Irish Spring Signature Body Wash and/or Bar
Soap. I love the scent because it relaxes me and my wife loves the way I smell when I'm done. I always feel like
a brand new man afterward who is refreshed and ready to face whatever is thrown at me (even if it’s a giant
Lego from the kids).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22oY9WvgUESkLHzCVMicUbKKBvgYrGqmkCbxgzR6n4niGE2Kp0XRzJ-i5SBfhWHX7UT9VJGrt5T8zgrArpmi_YGLx8ShFVXOqXBxg2AMVoD0rT4ae6bNQ2ttMUHlVB7OmhmKb4Uw83zU/s640/20150308_212845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22oY9WvgUESkLHzCVMicUbKKBvgYrGqmkCbxgzR6n4niGE2Kp0XRzJ-i5SBfhWHX7UT9VJGrt5T8zgrArpmi_YGLx8ShFVXOqXBxg2AMVoD0rT4ae6bNQ2ttMUHlVB7OmhmKb4Uw83zU/s640/20150308_212845.jpg" /></a></div>
The other day I had to run to Walmart to grab a couple of
groceries. Since I was running low on Irish Spring body wash, I made sure that
I stopped by the health and beauty isle in order to restock my supply.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyQc53N8DmFhcjfSHPwyOhGxfhftzFPegRE_DX83sLmRxsxw4PWLd4vXpu0sjQj0bh8rER8c6kaJH_5bdb4J0Hkq-_zdSRLpzs7iAbehHwia-YPvvHZIsz3MNzRForqLEvHwsuEepv_g/s640/20150308_212957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyQc53N8DmFhcjfSHPwyOhGxfhftzFPegRE_DX83sLmRxsxw4PWLd4vXpu0sjQj0bh8rER8c6kaJH_5bdb4J0Hkq-_zdSRLpzs7iAbehHwia-YPvvHZIsz3MNzRForqLEvHwsuEepv_g/s640/20150308_212957.jpg" /></a></div>
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Purchase one of the new Irish Spring Signature products and get $5 off a
VUDU purchase! Take a picture of your receipt and then go to <a data-original-title="" href="http://cbi.as/3boj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">http://cbi.as/3boj</a> to upload your receipt. Next step, enjoy watching!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've talked about the ways that I like to get rid of stress, now I want to hear from you! What other ways do you battle stress? Let me know in the comments! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Marlin</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;">: I
promised I'd never let anything happen to him!<b> </b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Dory</b>: Hmm. That's a funny thing to promise.<br />
<b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Marlin</b>: What?<br />
<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Dory</b>: Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would
ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4mp-fdJ6foAuIQG40uyxasCHkfgtD7NCrN51Yuw2nWDQZ-NroDh7-mHcs_WEBUXi-Jnt88HXzOxtGTPhtLrcqtBGVn0ZRKbYdkC1M_YOR7vazf72UnCzSLPVEdVzQGBd-pSeg_fkUFc/s1600/Marlin-and-Dory-finding-nemo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4mp-fdJ6foAuIQG40uyxasCHkfgtD7NCrN51Yuw2nWDQZ-NroDh7-mHcs_WEBUXi-Jnt88HXzOxtGTPhtLrcqtBGVn0ZRKbYdkC1M_YOR7vazf72UnCzSLPVEdVzQGBd-pSeg_fkUFc/s1600/Marlin-and-Dory-finding-nemo.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;">Truer words have never been spoken by a Blue Tang
fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time however, I completely
empathize with how Marlin was feeling at the moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, he wants
to do is keep his son safe from all of the bad things that he knows (from
firsthand experience) the ocean is capable of. And I (and presumably most
fathers) totally get that feeling. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.75pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was Sunday morning and we were en route to the doctor’s
office. What started out as a low-grade fever on Friday by now evolved into a dangerously
high one, followed by shallow rapid breathing. The breathing thing is what the
doctor told us to look for, so our concern was peaked. We pulled up and the parking
lot was almost completely empty. We arrived before the office officially opened
and we were seen almost immediately. The pediatrician arrived and we joked that
we had to stop seeing each other like this (the 5 year old had second round of strep
last week, the toddler had an ear infection before that, the other had pink
eye; both had stomach viruses-all within a 4 month span). He gently looked our
son over and decided that the best course of action would be for us to head to
the children’s ER for chest X-Rays.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“For precautionary reasons”, he claimed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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His reasoning made sense. But nevertheless, I fidgeted
nervously as he broke the news.</div>
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At the ER, we were once again seen pretty much right away
(side note: if you plan on having an emergency, try to do it on a Sunday
morning. The service is amazing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
he was tagged, weighed and given a syringe full of Motrin, we were whisked off
to a room where a very pleasant nurse brought in a few toys for the kids and
checked all over the baby’s body for any rashes and took his temperature. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all of this was done, the orderlies came
in and transported my wife, who had our baby in her lap, to get the X-ray
performed via hospital bed. Seeing his little brother get carted off was too
much for my 5 year old to bear, and he held me tight and shed tears. I assured
him that everything would be okay, and even took out my phone to show him a
YouTube video of the X-Ray process to put his mind at ease. But inside, I was
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Not too long after, the orderlies brought my wife and son
back in our room. Apparently, he slept through the entire thing. The doctor had
confirmed that he had pneumonia. As I watched my baby boy sleep, exhausted and rosy-cheeked
in his mother’s arms, I felt a lump materialize in my throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m the poppa bear, his protector. I’m
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but quietly turn inward and beat up on myself for not washing his hand before his
meal last week, or forgetting to apply a dollop of hand sanitizer after he
wreaked havoc in the playpen the other day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I wanted to do in that moment was take
away his suffering, and I would have traded places with him in a heartbeat if I
could. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri7LCiKzlj9frDdYKlGU2ov-8H14XXvZynfzP1EFek1QsqlFRhw7n5mkGOcJUkCRt7FraDHppMQ7pMQfDN_2Ia-px27yDoSukpKkLyvlatm3YSNL7qg-2zq_ksf1LEmGpZBTRXUFhxDQ/s640/20150308_100432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri7LCiKzlj9frDdYKlGU2ov-8H14XXvZynfzP1EFek1QsqlFRhw7n5mkGOcJUkCRt7FraDHppMQ7pMQfDN_2Ia-px27yDoSukpKkLyvlatm3YSNL7qg-2zq_ksf1LEmGpZBTRXUFhxDQ/s640/20150308_100432.jpg" /></a>The kind nurse gave him one more syringe of medicine, gave
us a prescription for an antibiotic and answered our questions. We thanked her
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure every parent feels that same lump, that sense of
helplessness when they witness their child going through something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just like Marlin, we eventually come to a
point we’ve done all that we can, and all we can do is hope that their child is
strong enough to weather the storm. My kid is a fighter, so I know at the end
of this battle he’ll come out on top. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But that won’t ever stop me from trying. And if either of my kids ever need me, they will never have to question if I'll be in their corner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F-mD9VtRTRjos%2FVP0T0anRqQI%2FAAAAAAAAJx4%2Fd0yawNbphjY%2Fs640%2F20150308_100432.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri7LCiKzlj9frDdYKlGU2ov-8H14XXvZynfzP1EFek1QsqlFRhw7n5mkGOcJUkCRt7FraDHppMQ7pMQfDN_2Ia-px27yDoSukpKkLyvlatm3YSNL7qg-2zq_ksf1LEmGpZBTRXUFhxDQ/s640/20150308_100432.jpg" -->Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-40172198772152034612015-02-27T05:39:00.001-05:002015-04-01T23:18:24.271-04:00Save Money and Stay Connected with Simply Prepaid from T-Mobile<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and
its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ChangingPrepaid #CollectiveBias</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a toddler in
the house is an interesting experience. With his newfound dexterity and
mobility, our 19 month old regularly would run me and his mother up a wall as
he laid waste to our happy home. His “extracurricular activities” came to a
climax the other day when I unexpectedly heard a flush coming from our bathroom
followed by a maniacal giggle. That was when I discovered my phone in the
toilet. Once I recovered from the shock, I began the process of searching for a
replacement. I went to a mall kiosk to sort out all of my options, and that’s
when I was hit with a bomb; not only would I have to shell out hundreds of
dollars in order to get my phone replaced, but when the service rep showed me
exactly what I was paying for, I realized I was definitely not getting the most
of my money. Luckily, I was already at the end of my contact, so I was able to
break free and find a smartphone that met my needs and was also affordable. At Walmart of all places, I’ve found everything that I have been looking for .</div>
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Introducing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://see.walmart.com/t-mobile" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SimplyPrepaid™ from T-Mobile</a>. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrOwfVnqFP98gOdBdarakQBmv-DNj7rJfY50TFaTvMBVC-J1j2a8XYdtUoB2roul9yAee_sbY83yVcvEZZ_Nf1Ptmzk2Ea-fat62efJFDlI8N50AHBqKw0vPyNz9-65M1rTMkOGxQC1c/s640/20150225_164719_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrOwfVnqFP98gOdBdarakQBmv-DNj7rJfY50TFaTvMBVC-J1j2a8XYdtUoB2roul9yAee_sbY83yVcvEZZ_Nf1Ptmzk2Ea-fat62efJFDlI8N50AHBqKw0vPyNz9-65M1rTMkOGxQC1c/s640/20150225_164719_HDR.jpg" /></a></div>
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It didn't take long for the helpful customer service rep at Walmart to convince me that Simply Prepaid was the right plan for me.</div>
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With <a href="http://see.walmart.com/t-mobile" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simply Prepaid</a>, everything you know about wireless and
prepaid is turned on its ear. You can get unlimited talk, text, and data with your choice of a
high-speed data amount (*with a max speed of 8Mbps) starting at $40/month. Because of those savings, I was able to literally slash my costs in half.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IoTDN57K7cUENYKNz_5fzKPubdTBH31JXlUWQ8sORwa-Chtn81JPdTJ5b2JMSdb-Kf4vsd6oVqpNQyiDJhbmadRt9YwucYJzsms2Ti8Tam61-QCf8jDARIDyKIQ1hFLpaKNXYkhAruw/s640/20150225_164734_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IoTDN57K7cUENYKNz_5fzKPubdTBH31JXlUWQ8sORwa-Chtn81JPdTJ5b2JMSdb-Kf4vsd6oVqpNQyiDJhbmadRt9YwucYJzsms2Ti8Tam61-QCf8jDARIDyKIQ1hFLpaKNXYkhAruw/s640/20150225_164734_HDR.jpg" height="400" width="321" /></a></div>
With
a plan so cheap, you’d probably assume that the data would be slower than what
you’d get from a prepaid plan. On the contrary, since the data plan is on
T-Mobile’s Nationwide 4G LTE Network, so you’re guaranteed to have fast
internet. The historical “pain point” that the wireless industry has decided
prepaid customers should have to settle for because of how they choose to pay
has completely been decimated.<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Prepaid often has
slow data, a spotty network, and second rate phones /less of a selection of
phones. However with Simply Prepaid you get 4G LTE data on T-Mobile’</span>s
network. T-Mobile is bringing the best of wireless into prepaid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t settle for scond-rate wireless prepaid
.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQrB8CIjLhT5W_w3m70NhQowj7IsGaX6GAKxlPGncgl8MXV4Fs7DUSccg6u9VZD1AVQC8cyl0abBmGnKsghF0alyEhJ04DJgLJ9nV9KiAnI_eWFbY4SHcae8ZjvM0kUroI1TjYj7KMes/s640/20150225_164850_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQrB8CIjLhT5W_w3m70NhQowj7IsGaX6GAKxlPGncgl8MXV4Fs7DUSccg6u9VZD1AVQC8cyl0abBmGnKsghF0alyEhJ04DJgLJ9nV9KiAnI_eWFbY4SHcae8ZjvM0kUroI1TjYj7KMes/s640/20150225_164850_HDR.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I picked up the Samsung Galaxy Avant
smartphone and I’m satisfied. It’s not exactly the most top of the line phone
out there, but for only $149, it has nearly all of the features that I need. I
honestly don’t miss my old phone (or plan) at all. However, I'll probably make sure that I do a better job of keeping this phone out of my toddler's hands. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnK95yntn7B3jCeSL8al6j_SRVGQMnwxXY5lgKXJHYmj1T-Ryr9c1FQYfIlOwFTZZNKpPsUq9RPfkXB7KJXRnbE_V6_9Rw2fqwBX__ZByKO49Z-ct9P7Dv96J9i-Y0_xOLVXkC7VbUpg/s640/20150227_065330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnK95yntn7B3jCeSL8al6j_SRVGQMnwxXY5lgKXJHYmj1T-Ryr9c1FQYfIlOwFTZZNKpPsUq9RPfkXB7KJXRnbE_V6_9Rw2fqwBX__ZByKO49Z-ct9P7Dv96J9i-Y0_xOLVXkC7VbUpg/s640/20150227_065330.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, if you’re sick of paying
ridiculously high amounts for your service, consider taking a trip to Walmart
to make the big switch over to<a href="http://see.walmart.com/t-mobile" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a></span><a href="http://see.walmart.com/t-mobile" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simply Prepaid™ from T-Mobile</a>.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/tcvuXaD2E7w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tcvuXaD2E7w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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"He doesn't look too good", my wife said to me as we stood there in our bathroom peering over the fishbowl.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"...Nope"</p>
<p dir="ltr">We looked at each other and our thoughts immediately went to our 5 year old. It suddenly occurred to us that this experience, something that my wife and I have been through many times as children, was completely foreign to him.  </p>
<p dir="ltr">Fishy Face, our betta, once had scales that boasted a brilliant red hue, which was highlighted with streaks of blue and purple. At that particular moment in time however, Fishy looked grey, dull and listless as he was barely managing to float above his pebbles.</p>
<p dir="ltr">3 years ago, my son, who was 2 at the time, picked Fishy out of an intricate multi-shelf display at the pet store. It was then there the fish was given his name. Over time, between the feedings, where he would learn to come to the surface whenever we grabbed the fish food, and the delight we got in watching his gills flare up at the sight of his own reflection, we fell in love and Fishy became part of our family. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Eventually, like all good things I guess, Fishy Face quietly passed away. My son's reaction once we broke the news to him was as heart-wrenching as we could've expected. Pangs of grief racked his body as he sobbed over losing his friend. As he expressed his grief, I held him tightly and did my best to support and comfort him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He watched as I scooped Fishy out of the bowl and he asked if he could hold him. Unfortunately, Fishy smelled really bad by the time we got to him, so we made a compromise: Instead of holding him, he got to flush the toilet instead. We said a few words and he pulled the handle, teary eyed and all. As I watch him stand there there firmly like a viking sending off his comrade on a flaming pyre into Valhalla, it felt like he was growing up right before my eyes. My little boy is not so little anymore.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As hard as this was for him to go through, the sad reality is that this experience is barely a drop in the bucket compared to the losses that he will ultimately endure in his life. Relationships will end, friends will turn their backs on him and eventually, he will one day come to grips with the loss of his parents. These inevitable losses are unfortunate, but a necessary part of life that makes all the moments that we share on this earth all the more beautiful.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If he's lucky, none of that will happen for quite some time. Today, his first pet is gone, and he misses him alot.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Goodbye, Fishy Face.</p>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-38400049642627386562015-02-10T14:09:00.000-05:002015-02-15T09:08:31.302-05:00Get your #DropShopAndOil on with Pennzoil and Walmart!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Out of all families we know, I’d definitely say that we
travel the most. We live in Connecticut, but I’m from New Jersey and my wife is
from Maine. This means that we are always making plans to go to and from our
respective home states to visit family so we can be there for as many
birthdays, weddings and other assorted celebrations as possible. Our boys are
still young, so our favorite strategy for getting a leg up on our excursions starting
our trips at night around their bedtime, so we can reduce the amount of
crankiness that could potentially sidetrack us. Another tool we use to keep the kids upbeat is our portable DVD player. If the kids aren't sleeping and we have a ways to go, we'll simply pop in one of their favorite movies to keep them thoroughly entertained. Since we spend so much time
together on the road, having a car that's safe, reliable and well maintained is
super important for us. Sometimes however, the hectic demands of family and
work can make it difficult to get the things that we need done before our big trips.
Fortunately for me, Walmart has figured out a way to make life a little easier
with having their Automotive Care center attached right to their store.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-uNhJggo4HA4oCBdd-jJOMtIOgRK6pQmqZIOu8m4ilPnpKSe2Ke002xkE3hCjb9PRrlPbIh4vdd-7ldjD4XlzcG-l-yBbq1HN1qgwByo9IPcy0_MUdhbNGnkaFDbQRv5S7OwUTskWy0/s640/20150209_100234_20150213055115996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-uNhJggo4HA4oCBdd-jJOMtIOgRK6pQmqZIOu8m4ilPnpKSe2Ke002xkE3hCjb9PRrlPbIh4vdd-7ldjD4XlzcG-l-yBbq1HN1qgwByo9IPcy0_MUdhbNGnkaFDbQRv5S7OwUTskWy0/s640/20150209_100234_20150213055115996.jpg" /></a></div>
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These days, Walmart has truly become a one stop shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really enjoyed the fast and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>super friendly service at the Auto Care
center. As an insanely busy parent, I really appreciate the fact that I was able
to hit 2 (or 3, or 4) birds with one stone because not only did I get my oil
change before our next<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trip to Maine, I took
care of all our food shopping and other miscellaneous errands as well. </div>
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The brand that I chose for the oil change is Pennzoil, mainly
because their products are known to help clean out sludge lesser oils leave
behind. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Penzoil is designed for complete protection and will allow
you to drive an extra of 550 miles per year vs. a dirty engine. Indeed, no
other motor oil provides better protection from friction.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The specific type of Pennzoil<a href="http://www.dropshopandoil.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>depends on
the condition of your car:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYlq-kvfmRoeOI2-NKHu0llcUVeE5Oe50JRE8yDK50otHwc25Et1wA5e4daED7WbCrMY2dac7rNd6QfHNneU1KtGrs71BqLYObbymgeaEqZVPA_jgb-loe9Xc7pBU2FYmKoSGe5_BJPE/s640/20150209_100219_20150213212313279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYlq-kvfmRoeOI2-NKHu0llcUVeE5Oe50JRE8yDK50otHwc25Et1wA5e4daED7WbCrMY2dac7rNd6QfHNneU1KtGrs71BqLYObbymgeaEqZVPA_jgb-loe9Xc7pBU2FYmKoSGe5_BJPE/s640/20150209_100219_20150213212313279.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDk_ZJ7oOerrfQE7a8siLvE_PJKxXnEGKI9vLoj94pb7cBG-nQ18jyzryiiyAsDZQAD02M1aYomFjlr__tDqSQr7zDtEVBDaf_c5d4ftv5JfWOebPggxasjSUpFknttx6udyWPlOH9Jc/s640/collage_20150210135804439_20150213055429265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDk_ZJ7oOerrfQE7a8siLvE_PJKxXnEGKI9vLoj94pb7cBG-nQ18jyzryiiyAsDZQAD02M1aYomFjlr__tDqSQr7zDtEVBDaf_c5d4ftv5JfWOebPggxasjSUpFknttx6udyWPlOH9Jc/s640/collage_20150210135804439_20150213055429265.jpg" height="640" width="161" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<u><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Platinum</span></b></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u><b> (synthetic motor
oil)</b></u> – Best cleanliness and protection in the Pennzoil line-up. With
PurePlus™ Technology, the Platinum® motor oil is proven to keep pistons up
to 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standard. PurePlus™ Technology
is a revolutionary process that converts natural gas into a 99.5% pure
base oil. </span><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>High Mileage Vehicle</u> </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Helps to
reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage engines. It's a
motor oil that is specifically designed for new or late model vehicles
with over 75,000 miles, to help keep the engines running clean and going
strong for a long time.</span><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>Conventional Motor Oil</u> </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– A traditional oil base, fortified with Active
Cleaning Agents™ to continuously prevent dirt and contaminants from
creating performance-robbing deposits.</span><br />
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Over the years I’ve definitely put quite a few miles on the
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7LhvhxalqQd7_KHPTBgqtC2SSN3-qiyQe2Piq3n21Tt1ZR8Fj0SbFSRSR7NSJCFnPg4RUSpHHxZ4uqP93UeIO4pzxCcj_93XgUUUCkB-eJS3acI5Q1BJg6FW8sHyfLj9aNABk6AdZnA/s640/20150209_100256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7LhvhxalqQd7_KHPTBgqtC2SSN3-qiyQe2Piq3n21Tt1ZR8Fj0SbFSRSR7NSJCFnPg4RUSpHHxZ4uqP93UeIO4pzxCcj_93XgUUUCkB-eJS3acI5Q1BJg6FW8sHyfLj9aNABk6AdZnA/s640/20150209_100256.jpg" /></a></div>
When were on the road, it’s great to know our car that is
carrying our peacefully sleeping children is in tip top shape, thanks to Pennzoil<a href="http://www.dropshopandoil.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>and the Automotive Care center at Walmart. Knowing that my car is well
taken care of is a huge weight off of my shoulders and allows me to focus of
the awesome trip that’s ahead of us. </div>
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So, I've told you guys about a couple ways that I keep my kids occupied during road trips, now tell me about yours! </div>
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Of the numerous storylines that prefaced the big game, the most intriguing for me was the contentious rivalry between Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady. Back in 2012, the internet went bananas over this picture that Sherman posted which shows him taunting Brady after their come from behind win:<img height="358" id="irc_mi" src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AP5J0xBCTf6HFyMn73sC7O_XEMk=/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3349746/umadbro.0.jpg" style="margin-top: 41px;" width="640" /><br />
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...and it's been downhill between them ever since.<br />
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This time however, things were different. In an eerily familiar reversal of fortune, Brady managed to rally the troops and overcome a hefty point deficit to win the championship. <br />
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After the game, Sherman immediately approached Brady and in an completely unexpected move, extended his hand to congratulate him:<br />
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<img alt="Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (left) shakes hands with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) after Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)" class="lb-img " src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/T2et39XzyukPN2a.jkrBvA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/USA_Today/20150202_jla_su5_294.jpg-067b990d60af884d72db4483d21161d2" height="429" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422909536487_4636" style="max-height: 526.667px; max-width: 790px;" width="640" /> <br />
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This moment of sportsmanship between two athletes is significant because it sends the message that no matter who your favorite team is or which organization you play for, the ability to be gracious and show respect to the man on the other side of the line of scrimmage is what's most important. In other words, competitiveness is a good thing, but don't be a jerk about it. <br />
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These are the types of lessons that Brady, a proud father of three and Sherman, a newly expectant dad will likely seek to instill in their children. And it will be experiences like the once that they shared during this Superbowl that will be the example, for their kids-and for us all. <br />
<br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-5375481658373902402015-01-25T23:12:00.001-05:002015-01-25T23:12:18.268-05:00Why Deflategate (...and Candyland) Matters<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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By now, even the most uninformed individual in the world of
football is aware of the DeflateGate controversy that’s swirling around the NFL
right now. Despite being only one week away from the Super Bowl, it seems as
though the world can’t stop talking about whether or not <a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12228524/tom-brady-new-england-patriots-says-expects-talk-nfl-deflategate-super-bowl" target="_blank">Tom Brady,</a> Bill Belichick
or anyone else within the New England Patriot’s organization <a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12222029/bill-belichick-says-new-england-patriots-followed-every-rule-preparation-footballs" target="_blank">purposely deflatedtheir footballs</a> in order to gain a competitive advantage during their 43-7 rout
of the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship. </div>
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Like I said before, practically everyone and their great grandma
have some kind of opinion of this scandal. <a href="http://www.today.com/popculture/saturday-night-live-tackles-deflate-gate-press-conference-parody-2D80448322" target="_blank">Saturday Night Live did a hilariousskit about it. </a>Even Bill Nye the Science Guy has stepped out of the laboratory
and into the arena to weigh in on the situation (for the record:<a href="http://mashable.com/2015/01/25/bill-nye-bill-belichick-deflate-gate/?utm_campaign=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss" target="_blank"> he thinks they’re full of crap</a>). </div>
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Despite what side of the fence you were on, one thing that
everyone can agree on is that the Patriots would have defeated them easily,
regardless of any type of “advantage”, perceived or otherwise. Despite that
fact however, that’s not what matters. If it turns out that the Pats were
guilty of trying to gain an edge, you can’t just shrug that off just because they
were ultimately the better team (sorry, Pats fans). </div>
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Being only 5 years old, my son has no clue about deflategate
or any other scandal that might be going on in the world of sports right now.
He does however, know all about Candyland. And Yahtzee. And Sorry. While
playing those games, there have been moments where he’s attempted to cheat his
way through a game if he thinks that he’s losing. Whenever I catch him attempting
to slyly switch a card, or suddenly advance his game piece further, I don’t get
upset. I try to use those moments as an opportunity to teach him about the
importance of fair play and sportsmanship. To help him understand that there’s
greater satisfaction in winning without using underhanded tactics. And most
importantly, that it’s okay to hate losing, but if it happens, you lose with
grace and come back stronger the next time. These are crucial to teach now, but
these principles don’t just simply go away when you become an adult; if
anything, it’s during this time that you’ll need them even more. Millions of
children look up to these NFL players and put them on a pedestal as idols for
them to emulate. They are watching these players and the sport owes it to them
to maintain their integrity and not allow players, coaches or owners to get away
with any kind of wrongdoing whatsoever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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That’s why deflategate matters. It matters because our children need to know that in
football, in Candyland and just like everything else life, cheaters should
never be allowed to prosper. </div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012500481046373323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-31557944606657812322015-01-20T23:19:00.002-05:002015-02-07T15:42:47.353-05:00Try Kickin' Buffalo Chicken Wraps as your New Football Party Favorite!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#PartyWithBigY #CollectiveBias </span></div>
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The rest of the world is still reeling from the
heart-stopping action of the playoff championships on Sunday night.
During the first game, my friends and I dropped our jaws in shock as a Russell
Wilson and his team stubbornly refused to roll over and came back from behind
to defeat Aaron Rogers and this team. The second game, while not a thriller
(unless you’re a Brady fan), was also surprising, as Tom Brady and his team completely routed Andrew Luck and this team. Both games, while different,
were thrilling to watch. And now we get to see who will reign supreme during
the Big Game in Glendale, AZ in a couple of weeks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Whether it’s for the playoffs or the Big Game, a top notch
game watching experience isn’t complete without good friends, great drinks and
most importantly, delicious food. And I for my part, I was definitely up to the
task with my fan favorite buffalo chicken mini wraps.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkEjZihITus1RNZSMgK-OC2YYliwoJcUsgVbIoWsKQxVPVIaWo3rbhEQydYEmWVVz5P6BbYcG3wnUie8SfODympQYkjhS9NlH1e4VIvg_Ra5AxfYTuzjWw0RqSmvT5YapNnRwo-v6d6w/s1600/%23PartywithBigY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkEjZihITus1RNZSMgK-OC2YYliwoJcUsgVbIoWsKQxVPVIaWo3rbhEQydYEmWVVz5P6BbYcG3wnUie8SfODympQYkjhS9NlH1e4VIvg_Ra5AxfYTuzjWw0RqSmvT5YapNnRwo-v6d6w/s1600/%23PartywithBigY.jpg" height="640" width="600" /></a></div>
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What I like most about
these wraps (besides the taste, of course!) is that they’re quick and
ridiculously easy to make. To get everything I needed, I took to quick trip to
my local <a href="http://bit.ly/1wkd2by" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Y Supermarket</a>. As New England residents, my family has been a long time customer of Big Y and I've always been a fan of the
price of their quality products and their friendly customer service. <br />
I love how I can always count on them to have the freshest
ingredients along with reasonable prices, especially since I’m a Silver Savings
Club Card member.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5NTosxX7kjHJWPAkl65x6hwZiAkDTD2fKIxscrNlLRGEn9Gm_wTq_F5SjdNsUPwTCqDLHV96HiBNifWrnKHZUjMpYvdjU2N1WtYbolwkqRbhrVrwvMQJzzYnSceeMsIAVv4TfTznbZc/s1600/%23PartywithBigY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5NTosxX7kjHJWPAkl65x6hwZiAkDTD2fKIxscrNlLRGEn9Gm_wTq_F5SjdNsUPwTCqDLHV96HiBNifWrnKHZUjMpYvdjU2N1WtYbolwkqRbhrVrwvMQJzzYnSceeMsIAVv4TfTznbZc/s1600/%23PartywithBigY2.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's the recipe:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-1 pound of skinless, boneless chicken breast (Cut into bite sized pieces)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-1/4 cup of hot sauce (I used Texas Pete's Buffalo Sauce)</div>
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-Bag of flour tortillas (Cut into 4 halves)</div>
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-1 cucumber (Cut into 1/4 inch thick semi circles)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Bag of lettuce</div>
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-Blue cheese dressing</div>
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-tbs olive oil </div>
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-toothpicks</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Once hot, throw chicken pieces in and cook until all sides are thoroughly cooked.</div>
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2)Turn off heat, pour in hot sauce and stir</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3)Wrap chicken inside tortilla piece, along with a cucumber piece and piece of lettuce. Use toothpick to keep closed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4)Put blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N3TX7dgWuGgRpu1gi-EAKqi8t8y0iUVsea0R4y7Kvp1SGaULjSr_MQBZLKVouUovQHKB7Kf_zOaOlSOxAhg_1oQELTavm_OYMuTLiZwpSPe2GTt1MHguA4p3MoJTdncNVx89njuZymQ/s1600/20150120_191717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N3TX7dgWuGgRpu1gi-EAKqi8t8y0iUVsea0R4y7Kvp1SGaULjSr_MQBZLKVouUovQHKB7Kf_zOaOlSOxAhg_1oQELTavm_OYMuTLiZwpSPe2GTt1MHguA4p3MoJTdncNVx89njuZymQ/s1600/20150120_191717.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dipping sauce is your friend!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
You can mix and match your own ingredients to keep in line with your own taste. I can tell you first hand that it was a hit at the party. But if I didn't feel like cooking, it's nice to know that <a href="http://bit.ly/1upX63f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Y has convenient game day selections</a> that you can take advantage of. For example, there's the Power Party Pack, which comes with two 30 inch super subs (roast beef, ham or turkey), party size pizza
(one topping), 4 pounds of super tenders, InVinceIble Pizza (more info
here: <a data-original-title="" href="http://www.bigy.com/OurStores/FoodService/InVinceIblePizza" title="">http://www.bigy.com/OurStores/FoodService/InVinceI...</a>)
InVinceible Sandwich (We start with a loaf of our famous LaCrosta
Italian Bread, layer in a pound of meat (Ham, Pepperoni, Hard Salami and
Capicola Hot Ham), add Provolone Cheese and top it with Lettuce,
Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Onions, Banana Peppers, Mayonnaise and
Basil Pesto.) Game Day Seasoned Wings: in the butcher shop – Buffalo,
Teriyaki, Beer Can and honey BBQ. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-14745346726725415642015-01-19T20:44:00.000-05:002015-01-19T20:44:15.056-05:00Explaining MLK Day to a 5 Year Old<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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As most of us know, the third Monday of each January is the
day that is meant to honor and reflect upon the legacy of the great Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. His life and teachings have provided us with a blueprint on tolerance, love
and finding courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Being the proud
father of two biracial children, I am especially grateful to Dr. King and the
others who fought for our basic right to freely live and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as such, I’ve always felt a particular
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So the other day I sat my 5 year old down in order to discuss
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Son:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brought all of the White people and Black
people together.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right! It’s because of him that I was
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that time who realized that it wasn’t right to keep people apart like that, I probably
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Son:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, so that just means I wouldn’t be tan
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, it means that you wouldn’t have
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Son: (pauses in
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me: Well, when a man
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God puts a baby is put into the woman’s belly.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Son: But HOW?? It doesn’t
make sense.</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me: ...You’ll understand
when you’re older. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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After some persuading, he was eventually satisfied with our
conversation and (thankfully) I narrowly averted giving him the “Birds and the Bees”
speech to my son about 10 years too early. The important mission however, has
been accomplished. He understands that Martin Luther King is more than just an
extra day off of school. It’s a day to think about those who came before us
with dreams so precious, they were willing to lay down their
lives in order to make them a reality. </div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-20441242953057438322014-09-08T05:46:00.000-04:002014-09-09T21:38:21.504-04:00Make Every Birthday Special with Hallmark Poster Cards for Kids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><i>I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper
amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #KidsCards
#CollectiveBias</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nhB_lxqMLNeMdR6VIcTYzbwQ6E55hQiPK0dxqGwEmSayir9is2T5lw-z_LNSNxWquXwz0ubaMr-va8dh5LhF53ctpvWMCusTwpLMG0TJPrLsaFxCxiO9ESQwgKDPF_6MoF0EDimMH0o/s640/20140907_195720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nhB_lxqMLNeMdR6VIcTYzbwQ6E55hQiPK0dxqGwEmSayir9is2T5lw-z_LNSNxWquXwz0ubaMr-va8dh5LhF53ctpvWMCusTwpLMG0TJPrLsaFxCxiO9ESQwgKDPF_6MoF0EDimMH0o/s640/20140907_195720.jpg" /></a></div>
Although my oldest is only 5, he has somehow managed to
create quite the social life for himself. Between classmates at school, the
kids in the neighborhood, and his peers from his extra curricular activities such as karate and swim class, he has
gained a mini network of friends with whom we do our best to help him stay connected with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he does enjoy a steady flow of healthy, social
interaction, an unforeseen consequence of this is he tends to get invited to
quite a few birthday parties. To my 5 year old, this is an awesome way to live
your life, since he gets to eat cake and play games to his heart’s content. For
parents however, it not as enjoyable for us as it is for them. The burden of
finding the right gift that is both tasteful, yet not too expensive falls
squarely on our shoulders. Our already busy, exhausted shoulders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, since we’re crazy enough to actually
attempt to keep up with all of these birthdays, the number of gifts that we end
up buying over the year can get pretty expensive. My frustrations were soon alleviated
during a fateful trip to Walmart. I was searching for a card for yet another
birthday party, when I came across an intricate display for <a href="http://connectionsfromhallmark.com/?utm_source=cbias&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=kidscards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hallmark PosterCards for Kids</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2-BKtIS8l_JAbisB_du7-IHRsmQdVmRC9Ujg5N9k3f6Ce4L2MgR7wdd0Ry7nVGps2wd7JlIdW0bckOV_gHGxdAJrKY7LRcyvKZdyiAqt62JyODp78gPiIUFn9FpRbCLKJkR33gWz00o/s640/20140907_120348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2-BKtIS8l_JAbisB_du7-IHRsmQdVmRC9Ujg5N9k3f6Ce4L2MgR7wdd0Ry7nVGps2wd7JlIdW0bckOV_gHGxdAJrKY7LRcyvKZdyiAqt62JyODp78gPiIUFn9FpRbCLKJkR33gWz00o/s640/20140907_120348.jpg" /></a></div>
At the Hallmark display, there was a wide array of cards
that share positive, encouraging messages meant to uplift and child’s spirts
high. The characters ranged from The Avengers, to Mikey Mouse, to even
Tinkerbell. What sets Hallmark Poster Cards apart of the average, run of the
mill birthday card is the surprise inside. Each card can be unfolded into an
awesome poster that is over 4 feet tall! It’s a card and the gift in one fell swoop.
It’s pretty ingenious if you ask me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmDvM6TamFudzqveMSyO5Yy_KjkU0esFZVSU8yKcqJ87kkuksSi126fv1PbFFYWiNgKGW-77LUtW2FKdZTJVHZwgTeB_bpk2ITW8oR36Ko5CGoBizYSJrZN9A7pfN3Cni8V2P595WUR4/s640/collage_20140908052542485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmDvM6TamFudzqveMSyO5Yy_KjkU0esFZVSU8yKcqJ87kkuksSi126fv1PbFFYWiNgKGW-77LUtW2FKdZTJVHZwgTeB_bpk2ITW8oR36Ko5CGoBizYSJrZN9A7pfN3Cni8V2P595WUR4/s640/collage_20140908052542485.jpg" /></a></div>
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I grabbed a few Hallmark Poster Cards because I knew that
there were a couple of birthdays coming up this fall. And although his birthday
already passed a couple of months ago, I decided to grab an extra special
Planes Poster Card for my 5 year old because I know how much he loves Dusty
Crophopper. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I handed him his card,
his reaction was that of slight confusion to sheer elation. It was priceless.
Well, it was actually $4.97 plus tax, but you get the picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZBv3_b1xXY2fdSj0xo4yhztr8hpusKPsj9A_z0KC1u5dk__E7nVW8Wu4r1wElVvNJO4uHMJY01ZMIlI9K7fPo7sEsD7rRRgRyVb2jK3J2MXiLVZ3J51DrLmSPNPSqC8ApoHXCNr_69w/s640/20140907_195825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZBv3_b1xXY2fdSj0xo4yhztr8hpusKPsj9A_z0KC1u5dk__E7nVW8Wu4r1wElVvNJO4uHMJY01ZMIlI9K7fPo7sEsD7rRRgRyVb2jK3J2MXiLVZ3J51DrLmSPNPSqC8ApoHXCNr_69w/s640/20140907_195825.jpg" /></a></div>
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To take advantage of even bigger savings, check you the <a href="https://account.hallmark.com/signup/card-rewards/?mc=T_D_BNR_ED_HCR_Walmart_BNR_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Hallmark Card Rewards Program</b></a>. For every 4 cards that you buy at Walmart, you earn a reward!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-eec72950-5d34-9680-75d3-12c28cc8e0fb" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make sure you check out </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.connectionsfromhallmark.com/?utm_source=cbias&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=kidscards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Connections from Hallmark </a>to sign up for Hallmark Rewards, and to see great content from other bloggers. Join in the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#kidscards </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">conversation on Twitter! </span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much thought have you given to the amount of STEM
education that your child is receiving? As our world advances further into the
21<sup>st</sup> century, possessing knowledge in STEM fields (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is becoming increasingly important in
order to actively compete on the world stage. Children tend to be precocious,
curious and creative by nature. These qualities tend to go hand in hand with the
fundamental concepts of STEM, so it is not a far-fetched idea to conclude that in
order to get them interested at an early age, those innate qualities must somehow be
tapped into. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amazon Studios seems to have found the perfect formula to accomplish
this with their third original kids series, <a href="http://clvr.li/1xYY9eU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Annedroids,</a> which is now available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Instant-Video/b?node=2676882011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prime Instant Video.</a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6RFQTtGoZerUW5awubivq1sOwO-glsfz9y3Jy7RtO6uwslQj1Zj3mnlpCXS8A3bcynh0FtXlYC1UI_DHwYqcdBxc_ib20Ob5Up1pzHdfCh9l8NCEl5t8N30fZMDeRQkRM2Rf4Ccj4Mw/s1600/Annedroids_102_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6RFQTtGoZerUW5awubivq1sOwO-glsfz9y3Jy7RtO6uwslQj1Zj3mnlpCXS8A3bcynh0FtXlYC1UI_DHwYqcdBxc_ib20Ob5Up1pzHdfCh9l8NCEl5t8N30fZMDeRQkRM2Rf4Ccj4Mw/s1600/Annedroids_102_5.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Created by Emmy-nominated</span><span style="color: black;"> <span style="background: white;">JJ Johnson (</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Dino Dan</span>) and Sinking Ship
Entertainment, and aimed at children aged four through seven, <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Annedroids</span> is a live-action
adventure series following a young female genius, her human friends, android
assistants and the amazing scientific discoveries they make while undertaking
the biggest experiment of them all: growing up. <span style="background: white;">Addison Holley (</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Daniel
Tiger’s Neighborhood</span>) stars as “Anne,” <span style="background: white;">Adrianna
Di Liello (</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Stage Fright</span>)
plays her friend “Shania,” and Jadiel Dowlin plays “Nick.”</span></i></div>
</blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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I was recently given the opportunity to review this show with
my 5 year old and we found it to be an enjoyable experience. Annedroids centers
around four primary characters:</div>
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<u>Nick</u>- The first character to be introduced in the show, not
only was he very unhappy to be moving away from his best friend, he was less
than thrilled at the prospect of living across the street from an old junkyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He soon discovers however, that the so called
junkyard holds the key to more adventures and excitement than he could ever
imagine. Something that I appreciated about this character is that he was cast
as a person of color; a demographic that I feel is not represented on TV as
much as it should be. Furthermore, while it is obvious that Nick’s mother is a
single mom, her loving and caring presence is a subtle undertone that further adds
to the show’s realism. </div>
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<u>Shania</u>- She is Nick’s neighbor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The two words that best describe Shania would
be: “comedic relief”. She is fun loving, enjoys rhythmic gymnastics, is
allergic to rabbits (“booger central”) and is often getting herself and her friends
into- and out of-and back into trouble. Her unapologetic, eccentric personality
makes her a favorite of mine. Shania and her younger brother live with their
grandmother, and that again is a reflection of the show’s efforts to recognize that families
come in all shapes and sizes aside from the traditional, nuclear model. </div>
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<u>Anne</u>- A young scientist, Anne is the creator of all of the
androids on the show. She lives in the junkyard and once she is discovered by
Nick and Shania, they all become fast friends as well as her assistants. As a
scientist, Anne it always on the lookout for new and exciting discoveries and
encourages her friends to do the same. As a female, this character has the
potential to inspire an entire generation of girls to get interested in the
STEM fields.</div>
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<u>Pal</u>- Created by Anne, Pal is an android (not a robot, there
IS a difference!) who can walk, talk and think for itself. Almost infant-like
in its thinking, Pal continuously develops from listening to others’ speech as
well as from its surroundings. Pal is introduced as being neither male nor
female and it is programmed to decide on its own which gender it will eventually
lean to. This may be a stretch on my part, but that may be a veiled message
about gender bias. If that is the case, I think that is pretty awesome!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf96GiQSByX8TccIrQt_SxIfKIHardEsko2abxNQOUPiec0BtCy4Fb2fABt_vZ8x4yXtdX09aJ3GVSj8bO3U38qGTq2Gd0QC7pWhX7EFGKy_dzKozbMIqjDzfpBDJGcLDyjVTJKLhwn8/s1600/Annedroids_102_4.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf96GiQSByX8TccIrQt_SxIfKIHardEsko2abxNQOUPiec0BtCy4Fb2fABt_vZ8x4yXtdX09aJ3GVSj8bO3U38qGTq2Gd0QC7pWhX7EFGKy_dzKozbMIqjDzfpBDJGcLDyjVTJKLhwn8/s1600/Annedroids_102_4.tif" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
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Throughout the show, the characters (and viewers) learn
about various scientific principals such as developing a hypothesis, observation/note
taking, chemistry, mechanics, physics and critical thinking. They use all of
these skills to turn problems into what Anne likes to call an, “engineering solution”.<br />
<br />
As a parent, this show receives high marks from me due to its originality, diversity and its educational value. My 5 year old is definitely a fan too because lets face it; a walking talking android is just plain cool. <br />
<br />
Be sure to catch <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-HD/dp/B00CB6P4DY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Annedroids</a> exclusively on Amazon Prime.<br />
<br /></div>
<i>I was selected for this opportunity as a member of <a href="http://clvr.li/OHjC82" target="_blank">Clever Girls Collective</a> and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.</i>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-11707887447971908442014-07-17T22:29:00.002-04:002014-07-17T22:29:28.794-04:00Stuart Scott Discusses Fatherhood in an Emotional Speeh at the ESPYSLast night's ESPY awards ceremony was a star studded event that celebrated some of the greatest individual and team athletic achievements for the year. There were many great moments and many awards were handed out to the most deserving people, but the one that stood out to me the most was the speech that Stuart Scott delivered after winning the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. <br />
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Scott, a long time anchor for ESPN, has been battling a rare form of cancer since 2007. Instead of making excuses and allowing his illness hold him back, he has made the commitment to continue to live life to the fullest. During his speech, he credits his desire to be there for his two daughters for giving him the strength to fight on and endure rounds of surgeries and treatment. <br />
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The courage and humility that Mr. Scott has displayed throughout his ordeal is truly inspirational. It is a reminder to celebrate life and the people that are in it, each and every day. <br />
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The entire clip is approx. 15 minutes, but it is well worth your time. I can almost guarantee that anyone who watches this video cannot help but become a better human being afterward. <br />
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-18644573552142471642014-07-15T22:26:00.001-04:002014-07-15T22:26:10.402-04:00Out of Tragedy, Two Fathers Come TogetherOn Friday, May 24th, 22 year old Elliot Rodger went on a killing spree in Santa Barbara that injured 13 people and took the lives of 7 more, including his own by suicide. The aftermath of this tragic event added more fuel to the fire of a fierce, decades-long debate about mental illness and gun control that has once again been pushed to the forefront of the American consciousness.<br />
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From Columbine, to Sandy Hook and now to Santa Barbara, these horrific events continue to occur, yet because our nation is so polarized on the issues, that the effort from our political and business leaders to actually solve them is virtually non-existent. As a result, it seems as though no meaningful laws or regulations have been able to get passed.<br />
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But there's a sliver of hope. A few weeks after the event, Peter Rodger and Richard Martinez, the fathers of Elliot Rodger and one of his 20 year old victims, respectively, met with each other. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedYhA30SFxpqSuTfVA5LFcBd7jFMnmlLuo3_qalyueqSG1IhuXBg2ulJar98gMXlUTtGxrxZImNmlCCnIlnI0fsdD1juPr-pwDuXHBjLzq5ndZ_6pZ7CCmHQwZHUQ43HlikQOMCjxjbY/s1600/RichardMartinezPeterElliotNPRpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedYhA30SFxpqSuTfVA5LFcBd7jFMnmlLuo3_qalyueqSG1IhuXBg2ulJar98gMXlUTtGxrxZImNmlCCnIlnI0fsdD1juPr-pwDuXHBjLzq5ndZ_6pZ7CCmHQwZHUQ43HlikQOMCjxjbY/s1600/RichardMartinezPeterElliotNPRpic.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/06/16/322592320/photos-father-of-santa-barbara-killer-meets-victims-dad" target="_blank">Photo Credit</a></td></tr>
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Martinez gained notoriety due to his emotional outcry condemning gun violence, the inaction of our government and his desire to meet with Rodger:<br />
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"I've been told that the shooter's father has said he wanted to devote his life to making sure that doesn't happen again. I share that with him," Martinez said. "He's a father. I'm a father. He loved his son. I love my son. His son died. My son died."<br />
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While we don't know what conversation took place between these two fathers who seemingly formed a bond out of terrible circumstances, we can only hope that the end result will inspire our nation to finally enact change within our broken system that have so many fall through the cracks. Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-83175061444225035802014-07-02T05:00:00.000-04:002014-07-07T23:15:51.362-04:00Playgrounds, Jungle Gyms and Disney Values of Courage <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqijC7JvobIqdjdcaJavasqy-ald3of4_-qc8eIo7EcEO32aHTBO6qmyxPA3473UdF6Gy1M0I45TxpyG-gWdDQ_h_eT_qEfCrhndjoWnVetE6oO6aHeEtGWBh5OsmQkmX7CEGGPjWBqyk/s1600/20140701_223145_20140705125348734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqijC7JvobIqdjdcaJavasqy-ald3of4_-qc8eIo7EcEO32aHTBO6qmyxPA3473UdF6Gy1M0I45TxpyG-gWdDQ_h_eT_qEfCrhndjoWnVetE6oO6aHeEtGWBh5OsmQkmX7CEGGPjWBqyk/s1600/20140701_223145_20140705125348734.jpg" height="314" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a parent, I think that it's important to be on the look out for ways to take the seemingly simple moments in life and turn them into important lessons. For instance, there was a time that such an opportunity presented itself and I was able to help my 5 year old learn about courage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My son’s lesson in courage took place at the local
playground. With the way that it’s set up; with its slides, swings and
obstacles that start off basic, but gradually become more challenging as you
move higher in a particular age group;, it is the perfect breeding ground for
self-exploration and discovery. Up until this point my son has managed to
conquer all of the equipment, with the exception of one. Far on the other side
of the playground territory lies a jungle gym that is approximately 30 feet
high and made almost entirely out of stretchy rope which interconnected into a
pyramid-like structure. The first time that he tried to climb it, he grabbed
hold of the bottom rope, looked up and froze with fear. Seeing how high it was
along with noticing that the only kids that were climbing the jungle gym were a
bit older intimidated him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK92Lkb581s_etVM6Z9Kwwnw369GFYohidMbnqpe4Aju8D_0Qo7SwupBVBvW78gShVh_R_OJphB2fLHql0UMc6bmv2NCGXjwSvY7gSs8nskfQLz7Y6_1NC86ioqMjNrqb7p4jwe_W_fw/s1600/20140428_115835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK92Lkb581s_etVM6Z9Kwwnw369GFYohidMbnqpe4Aju8D_0Qo7SwupBVBvW78gShVh_R_OJphB2fLHql0UMc6bmv2NCGXjwSvY7gSs8nskfQLz7Y6_1NC86ioqMjNrqb7p4jwe_W_fw/s1600/20140428_115835.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Usually, I try to make it a point to occasionally take a
back seat and simply observe in order to allow my son the space that he needs
to develop his independence, but this was a moment where I knew that I needed
to step in. I came over, took him by the hand and listened while he told me why
he was so afraid to climb the jungle gym. I smiled and let him know that it was
perfectly normal to be afraid; But not allowing that fear to keep him from
doing the things that you want to do? That’s the meaning of courage. I even
invoked the memory of one of his favorite characters, Dusty Crophopper from
Planes the Movie. My son has a special connection to Dusty because this was the
first movie that he saw in a theater and he's been hooked ever since. In the first movie, Dusty is faced
with a number of hurdles that stand in the way of his goal, including fear.
However, he digs deep and finds the courage to win the race. Now that the sequel,
Planes: Fire and Rescue is coming out really soon, it was the perfect time to remind my son
of Dusty’s display of courage and it definitely seemed to motivate him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All Planes: Fire and Rescue merchandise can be found at your local Walmart. My son was particularly fond of the bedding (shown in the first picture) and now he gets his daily dose of courage every night as he pulls his comforter over himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After we finished
talking, he was determined to try again. As he hoisted himself on the first
level, I shouted words of encouragement and coached him along the way as he climbed higher and higher.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRFoESKRrmEAOITIeUIxygb39TNOzNSaKh1M4UXAdZ4rsh7MZiKrRtNZ5AvuRUuHLwBFcTCUB4kLvz6wSbhKngpGNxqUgYtZ1sYXLEA4xwn4sBr8KzvqkAw3F3NcsrSat5QOUFkbopHU/s1600/collage_20140630222412533_20140630222515800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRFoESKRrmEAOITIeUIxygb39TNOzNSaKh1M4UXAdZ4rsh7MZiKrRtNZ5AvuRUuHLwBFcTCUB4kLvz6wSbhKngpGNxqUgYtZ1sYXLEA4xwn4sBr8KzvqkAw3F3NcsrSat5QOUFkbopHU/s1600/collage_20140630222412533_20140630222515800.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's #PlanestotheRescue!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once he
finally reached the top, he looked down and yelled, “Daddy look. I did it”.
Seeing him up there feeling accomplished was one of my proudest moments as a
father. He confronted his fear and did not let it deter him from reaching his
goal. I can only hope that teachable moments such as these will continue
throughout his life, so his character can develop even further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nowadays, there is a different tone at the jungle gym, fear
and apprehension has been replaced with confidence and excitement as he attacks
the obstacle with the agility of a spider monkey. He has even gotten me into
the act by challenging me to climb alongside him. I do my best to keep up, but
I don’t want to get myself stuck, or else I’ll have to get Dusty to come to my rescue!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KFwbEgB_xGyl9WBdMcQMv9LpRZgaOKWFzya05XVyKWqe3c24WGZ3iBgOI4Gjfv8thW0SSolKUE85W1oltO9tA-aJS3y8YLOMHRLHoiXm3EJWk24sMbRPu1-0BdhgMFIWEz5j5hyphenhyphenviPY/s1600/20131016_171612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KFwbEgB_xGyl9WBdMcQMv9LpRZgaOKWFzya05XVyKWqe3c24WGZ3iBgOI4Gjfv8thW0SSolKUE85W1oltO9tA-aJS3y8YLOMHRLHoiXm3EJWk24sMbRPu1-0BdhgMFIWEz5j5hyphenhyphenviPY/s1600/20131016_171612.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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And it's all thanks to his good buddy, Dusty Crophopper !<br />
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-46397001882665679112014-06-30T05:56:00.001-04:002014-06-30T05:56:35.672-04:00Crafty Dad: Make your Own Paint<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Painting is the universal tool that children have used for
years to set their imaginations free on paper and unfortunately on the
occasional wall. I love doing all sorts of projects with my kids involving
paints, so when I noticed that were running low; we decided to do something a
little different by actually making homemade paint from scratch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure you can go to the nearest store and pick up your own
paint, but where’s the fun in that? Making it with your kids is not only eco-friendly;
it's cheaper and it’s a great hands-on project that your kids will love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here's what you'll need:</span><br />
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Some flour <br />
Some water<br />
Some food coloring<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLtzk47bjskRzlmjuysWy51DrWgoTtQaBxpQ6DIDTqNab1rjuDLLcoLHWolg7A2UJlpmrPrSx0EQ5Lpj4aFMOQ1UvKVQDPGHzF6V3HXDF7OTLa3ZyVi1emQI5WQmuXFa0VWnA7JUmS_w/s1600/20140625_091409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLtzk47bjskRzlmjuysWy51DrWgoTtQaBxpQ6DIDTqNab1rjuDLLcoLHWolg7A2UJlpmrPrSx0EQ5Lpj4aFMOQ1UvKVQDPGHzF6V3HXDF7OTLa3ZyVi1emQI5WQmuXFa0VWnA7JUmS_w/s1600/20140625_091409.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>For every 2 tablespoons of flour, add 4 tablespoons of water, along with 15 drops of the food coloring of your choice.</o:p></span><br />
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Encourage your children to get involved and be helpers by allowing them to mix the solution. Just make sure that it's mixed well. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O7M64rNeRwRWPJ3TaI85x5MPmQpExFk8CJF4JlJJCgR7AcQhFJRo5RpviNpC_GDMesCVv2Sf5Mu91o3z0sRlv65eVHNDjQokd3D5PPHpjnG5CAH0OGJajtxXje95-HWSQqdlJw9ZAwc/s1600/20140625_092252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O7M64rNeRwRWPJ3TaI85x5MPmQpExFk8CJF4JlJJCgR7AcQhFJRo5RpviNpC_GDMesCVv2Sf5Mu91o3z0sRlv65eVHNDjQokd3D5PPHpjnG5CAH0OGJajtxXje95-HWSQqdlJw9ZAwc/s1600/20140625_092252.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>And that's basically it. Of course, make sure that the proportions are equal to the quantity of paint that you're making. Once you're complete, you'll have your very own paint that you can do all sorts of fun things with. </o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5pdBu2WzDZkBEUawvB7_TAH_p3WqI4j-Dbpucb_1u-FunThP8KCvDrKNoe4KJxnNqWBGu3n43PzVoEYmKc3n5Lw5tb7teOw4V2aElmclGDnSN44F3mDpRNsqpnoFtG6xvAYWIaJe79E/s1600/20140625_092926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5pdBu2WzDZkBEUawvB7_TAH_p3WqI4j-Dbpucb_1u-FunThP8KCvDrKNoe4KJxnNqWBGu3n43PzVoEYmKc3n5Lw5tb7teOw4V2aElmclGDnSN44F3mDpRNsqpnoFtG6xvAYWIaJe79E/s1600/20140625_092926.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Here's a fun little project that we did with our homemade paint using coffee filters and a salad spinner. </o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjprkY8IQz1GvMX09xg1ptKXtM2Utk80BuhYw6DihwAOnfzxkhFf2l56OVMAj3rC3xnDaY75G5enGpjrP0vafi5jqb7Bdrx-xdzZpITsk7eBEWUozaBp8WJ1A5FHMp6TpL6ZpS8tNddhc/s1600/VID_20140625_095208.mkv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjprkY8IQz1GvMX09xg1ptKXtM2Utk80BuhYw6DihwAOnfzxkhFf2l56OVMAj3rC3xnDaY75G5enGpjrP0vafi5jqb7Bdrx-xdzZpITsk7eBEWUozaBp8WJ1A5FHMp6TpL6ZpS8tNddhc/s1600/VID_20140625_095208.mkv" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>If you tried this recipe yourself, I'd love to hear how it turned out!</o:p></span></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-69645277643645536552014-06-15T14:48:00.003-04:002014-06-15T15:36:05.988-04:00Happy Father's Day<br />
2014 marks not only my 5th father's day that I get to celebrate, but it is also my first as a father of two. I could go on to write about how wonderful/challenging/stressful it's been, but instead, I've decided to compile a few of my most popular posts that were inspired from all of the moments that I've been privileged to share with my boys.<br />
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Please feel free to read and share with any dads you think might enjoy them. <br />
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Happy Father's Day, from my family to yours!<br />
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<a href="http://fatherlystuff.blogspot.com/2013/07/5-ways-fatherhood-makes-you-better.html" target="_blank"><strong>5 Ways Fatherhood Will Make you a Better Man </strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://fatherlystuff.blogspot.com/2013/11/16-ways-you-know-youre-dad.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>16 Ways you Know you're a Dad</strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://fatherlystuff.blogspot.com/2014/01/3-roadblocks-to-fatherhood-and-how-to.html" target="_blank"><strong>3 Roadblocks to Fatherhood (and How to Overcome Them)</strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://fatherlystuff.blogspot.com/2012/02/stress-management-tips.html" target="_blank"><strong>Stress Management Tips for New Dads </strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://fatherlystuff.blogspot.com/2012/03/awesome-fathers-in-animal-kingdom-that.html" target="_blank"><strong>Awesome Fathers in the Animal Kingdom </strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://fatherlystuff.blogspot.com/2014/01/3-things-moms-need-to-know-about-new.html" target="_blank"><strong>3 Things Moms Need to Know about New Dads</strong></a>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821400212276514385.post-50155819961899309342014-06-13T07:02:00.001-04:002014-06-14T19:23:47.586-04:00Dad Bonding at Bathtime with Aveeno Baby<span id="goog_432374200"></span><span id="goog_432374201"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of <a href="http://www.dadcentralconsulting.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dad Central Consulting</a> for AVEENO. I received product samples to facilitate my review a promotional item to thank me for participating.”</span></em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a working dad, sometimes I feel as though I don’t get enough
time with my boys. The hardest part of my day is kissing my kids goodbye as I
leave in the morning because I know that all the time that I am spending in the
office means that I’m missing out on a lot of their special day to day moments. Also, s</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ince my wife became a stay at home mom last summer, she
has naturally taken over a lot of the caretaker responsibilities that we used
to split down the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this, I
try to make the most of the time that I am home by doing as much as possible with my family. This includes eating our meals together, playing games and even being apart of their bedtime routine. Of all of the activities that we do together, I’d have to say
one of my absolute favorite is when I give them their bath. Both of my kids
have always taken to water like little fish, and during bath time it’s so
much fun to watch their creativity run wild as they splash, make shapes out of
the bubbles, and compose silly songs as their voices echo off of the bathroom
walls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9k3nf_q6YCk0VIXs9DgrdTW-LBbORxtJ_W8akBGDRSyviNT2w3xmg1hiWdtl51wjHznXlCZI_USkvq9wB832txXPnEgvO2hZxlRcKU0mehz-JVXW82cbqTkwEOJYnLS1boQ52NFDZUw/s1600/2014-06-12+18.32.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9k3nf_q6YCk0VIXs9DgrdTW-LBbORxtJ_W8akBGDRSyviNT2w3xmg1hiWdtl51wjHznXlCZI_USkvq9wB832txXPnEgvO2hZxlRcKU0mehz-JVXW82cbqTkwEOJYnLS1boQ52NFDZUw/s1600/2014-06-12+18.32.17.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since our oldest was an infant, my wife and I have always
been a fan of <a href="http://www.aveeno.com/category/our+products/baby-skin-care.do" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aveeno Baby</a> products. We are very conscious of the products that
we use on our kids, and it’s great to know that Aveeno<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby’s Wash & Shampoo is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tear free and made with all natural oat
extract. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During bathtime, I like to use
it to make bubbles and it keeps the kids' skin feeling and smelling great. We also love the Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, it is the perfect lotion for my little ones' delicate skin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Balancing work and family life is certainly a challenge. Over the years, I have found that the most important thing is being able to not worry so much about the time that you cannot spend with your children, but rather appreciate all of life's little moments that we do get to share with them. This includes splashing around with baby during bath time. And of all the things that I have to worry about as a parent, my mind is at ease knowing that when using Aveeno Baby, I am providing them with one of the best products out there. </span><br />
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172356082019574367noreply@blogger.com0