About Author: dadofdivas

Website
http://dadofdivas.com
Description
I am a father of two girls who everyday works to regain control of my kingdom. Is this even possible in a divadom? This blog is dedicated to chronicling my experiences and challenges in being a father as well as providing some food for thought to other dads. History of this Blog - I started writing this blog full time in January 2008 prior to my second daughters' birth. Since then, the blog has exponentially grown and I have continued to find my groove through both reading and networking with other bloggers as well as writing on a myriad of varying topics. Outside of home I am a Student Affairs Professional who has been working in the field of College Administration now for 12 years with extensive experience in precollege planning, admission, advising, and other areas.

Posts by dadofdivas

0

Dads in the Limelight ( #limelightdads ) – Torkona Exon ( @Torkona3 ) #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– May 17, 2012Posted in: Dads in the Limelight

Our 231st Dad in the Limelight is Torkona Exon. I want to thank Torkona for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

 

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

I am a rare beast in Australia, I own a Dad blog.  There really are only a handful of us.  I am a working dad, bringing in the bucks in the day and playing with my son at night.  With my blog, I throw in a few things about gaming, jokes, gift ideas for dads, my strange views, that’s me in a nutshell.. (no this is me in a nutshell: Argh! I’m in a nutshell!).

Oh yes, and I say strange things that usually only I find funny!

2) Tell me about your family

My family consists of 4. My wife, myself, my 1 year old boy and my smelly dog that licks things and is well overdue for leaving the house and getting a job.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?


When my child stopped breathing on me.  It is easily the most dreadful moment any parent could ever conceive. The days/weeks afterwards of tests and overnight hospital stays to why he had trouble breathing is included in this challenge.  How I got through it I will always have trouble explaining, but the one thing I now have is a growing baby that now breathes normally like any other. He was found to have a condition that he simply grew out of.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

If you are away in the day, always be the one to put your children to sleep.  It’s a time you’ll always cherish throughout the years, even during the screams.

5) Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.

Well, to me, Parenthood and outside life are the same thing.  There is no difference.  I am the same parent behind closed doors and in front of them. Sure my wife and I might organize a baby sitter whilst we have a few drinks with friends or have a dinner date, but I’d never separate myself from being a parent now to what life used to be like before being one.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

Wow, this is a great question. I honestly don’t know if I have learned anything. That sounds bad, but the time spent with other dads we’re mainly whining about how annoying our wives are or talking about that local sporting team we support. Wow, that’s even worse hehehe.  I’m not saying I know everything or that no other fathers could ever teach me anything. I guess it’s just being wrapped up in my own kid to notice other fathers raising their children different to mine. Probably once my boy is older, as he is still very young, I would suggest my learning from other fathers would increase dramatically. It’s a good point and something I think I should improve upon.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

What this father that works during the day waits for is that massive smile on their kid’s face when he returns home from work. I know this is probably obvious, but nothing gets me down when I see my boy smile.  After having the worst day possible, my kid will make me wonder “why worry?” as soon as I step through that front door.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

The moment my boy was born.  I remember looking down on him only a few minutes old and even though he couldn’t speak a word, my boy looked back up at me and mouthed the words “wow”.  I’ll never forget it.  Wow yourself little champ ;-)
If you have any questions for Torkona, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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29

Chicken Soup for the Soul ( @ChickenSoup4TheSoul ): Stay-at-Home Moms #Giveaway

By
dadofdivas
– May 14, 2012Posted in: giveaway

About the Book

101 Inspirational Stories for Mothers about Hard Work and Happy Families

With stories by famous moms, including Jane Green, Melora Hardin, Liz Lange, Jodi Picoult, and Jill Kargman, and stories from other moms who elected to stay at home or work from home. Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom will view this book as having been written just for her! A reissue of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms, this book contains 101 great stories from mothers who have made the choice to stay home or work from home while raising their families. These multi-tasking, high-performing women have become today’s power mom. This is perfect for book groups as it contains a reader guide.

Purpose of the Books

After 15 years of bringing real people and their stories together to touch the lives of others, Chicken Soup for the Soul® has gone beyond the bookstore to become a world leader in life improvement. Chicken Soup for the Soul is home to the largest catalog of user-generated, life-changing stories. Through books, movies, DVDs, online resources and other partnerships it brings hope, courage, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Chicken Soup for the Soul authors and readers belong to a one-of-a-kind global community that shares advice, support, guidance, comfort, and knowledge.

About the Company
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which are distributed through Simon and Schuster, Inc. Since 1993, books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series have sold more than 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages. Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing also licenses the right to use its famous trademark to high quality licensees through IMG, the world’s premier licensing agent. The company is currently implementing a plan to expand into all media, is working with TV networks on several TV shows and is developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support and inspiration. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information visit: http://www.chickensoup.com/.


Facts About The Reach of The Books

  • Total retail sales of Chicken Soup for the Soul branded merchandise have topped $1.3 billion.
  • The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series of over 200 titles has sold over 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages.
  • In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the world’s most well-known brands– 88.7% of the US public not only recognizes the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, but knows what it is (source—Harris Polls).
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul holds the world record for having the most titles on the New York Times bestseller list at one time.
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul receives millions of monthly media impressions, with cross-promotion relationships in place with top media brands like King Features, Woman’s World, BeliefNet and others.
  • Many of the world’s leading consumer brands have looked to Chicken Soup for the Soul for co-branding opportunities, including American Idol®, Coke®, NASCAR®, Marriott®, Campbell’s®, Arby’s®, Golf Digest® and others.
  • Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup for the Soul series the “Publishing phenomenon of the decade.”
  • In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
  • In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul and dick clark productions entered into an agreement to develop a television series based on the brand.


My Take On The Book
This was a great book that brought together some wonderful stories of moms making it work on a day to day basis. Many of the stories were heartwarming, but you really go to see some of the wonderful reasons and emotions of being a stay at home. You get to see the joys, highs and lows of this and I have to say that I can tell that any stay-at-home mom will love! This was a great book that I would recommend to all!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 3 copies to lucky readers! All you need to do is subscribe to Dad of Divas OR Follow on Google Friend Connect. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 21, 2012.
Bonus Entries
  • Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)
  • Grab my badge to your sidebar

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  • Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site
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  • Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
  • Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away 3 @ChickenSoup4TheSoul Stay-at-Home Moms Books -http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway #win” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
  • Like Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

 

 

This contest will run until May 21, 2012 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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25

Dads in the Limelight ( #limelightdads ) – Jared Miller ( @WingDaddyHood ) #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– May 13, 2012Posted in: Dads in the Limelight

Our 230th Dad in the Limelight is blogger, Jared Miller. I want to thank Jared for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

 

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

I am a 26 year old husband and father of one. I work as an account executive for a marketing communications firm out of OKC. I am an amateur photographer, TV show enthusiast and founder of WingingDaddyHood.Blogspot.com.

2) Tell me about your family

My wife and I have been married for 2 years. Our goals in our marriage is to focus on each other’s happiness and to always put each other first, even over our kids. We were high school sweethearts and are determined to make our marriage work.

We have an 11 month old son, Paxton. He’s pretty much the coolest thing ever.


awhata3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Patience. It’s always something I’ve struggled with, but as a parent you have to master it quickly. The baby is crying, not going to sleep, or he’s slapping the food out of your hands while you’re trying to feed him. It can be very frustrating, but you have to be patient.
This is still a hard principle for me. I think I have come a long way, but I still have a long way to go. It sounds silly, but I just constantly remind myself, at those particular moments, that he’s just a baby. He doesn’t know better. If I can take the time to remind myself of that then I can usually put my patient pants on.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

The whole point behind my daddy blog is to express my experience and observations. Each kid is different and each life stage brings different challenges. There are some great books and resources to help you prepare for these challenges, but you soon find out that nothing can fully prepare you. Just accept that there will be situations where you don’t know what to do. You’re concerned because you are making decisions about what to in those unpredictable situations and don’t feel qualified. Just remember that we are wired to be parents. Trust your instincts and educate yourself with some of the material that’s out there and you’ll be fine.

5. Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.

I’m not in the limelight per se, but I work in a fast pace field that can be very stressful at times. I have to disconnect when I’m at home. I stay away from work email, make it a point to not bring work home and make sure that I am focusing on my family when I’m at home.
May commute is usually about 25 minutes. I use that time to turn the radio off and separate myself from the office. I slow down and start visualizing what I’m going to do when I get home. I come home focused on my wife and son and not on work. Some days are harder to do this than others. However, I make the effort everyday. Luckily, I have a wife who supports me on the days that are harder.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I’ve learned to become more aware of my role as a dad. That I can admit fault, be emotionally vulnerable, connected, interactive and nurturing to my family and not feel emasculated by doing so. I have learned that the mom’s role and dad’s role are less defined. The focus is more on being a parent. I can be a good caregiver to my son (even though my wife beats me out on a daily basis).

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Not only am I trying to be aware as a father, but I’m trying to focus on being aware as a husband. Having a kid takes lot of work (I should rephrase). Raising a kid takes a lot of work. From mom AND dad. It puts a strain on a marriage. If you don’t recognize that and do your part then you are putting your marriage in jeopardy. Never make yourself a victim. If you’re a victim then you’re assigning blame. This is very easy to do. When plant a seed in your head that you do more work and that you need a break to, then you are making someone out to be a bad guy (usually your spouse.) Refrain from doing that. It’s not healthy. Be aware that your spouse is also making sacrifices and working hard. If you focus on working hard (physically and emotionally) for your family and your significant other does the same, then you will have a much easier time and will be much happier.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

Number 1 is when “da da” came barreling out of his mouth. Not the first time he said it in  general, but the first time he said it when I walked in the room. When he associated that with me- my heart melted.
Other than that? I love watching him interact with my wife. The connection they share is an amazing thing to witness.
If you have any questions for Jared, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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New to the Divadom?
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Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

23

Epson Workforce WF7520 ( @EpsonAmerica ) Gives You Everything In One Printer

By
dadofdivas
– May 11, 2012Posted in: product review

Epson America, Inc., a leading provider of superior performing printing solutions, expands its robust line-up of business-class printing solutions with the introduction of three new WorkForce® wide format products. The WorkForce WF-7520  delivers the world’s fastest single- and double-sided print speeds in their class[1], high productivity features and brilliant quality prints. Engineered to accommodate both everyday and specialty printing, the all-in-one models offer creative professionals a unique and versatile solution with the inclusion of both professional quality 13” x 19” printing and 11” x 17” scanning capabilities.

 

“Epson is excited to expand our business-class product offerings with new wide-format solutions that allow small businesses to deliver top-quality materials but also ensure a speedy and efficient workflow,” said Rodrigo Catalan, senior product manager, Business Ink Jets,Epson America, Inc. “As with all Epson WorkForce printers, the new wide format line delivers unprecedented quality and speed, with the added versatility to accommodate larger documents.”

 

Versatile Printing and Scanning Features Keep Small Businesses Productive

The WorkForce wide format printer line is ideal for small businesses such as architecture firms, engineers and other creative business professionals that require large-format printing, superior dependability, performance and speed. All three models deliver high quality and productivity features including fast single- and double-sided print speeds – 15 ISO ppm black and 8.0 ISO ppm color single-sided; 7.8 ISO ppm black and 5.2 ISO ppm color two-sided. The all-in-ones are the only devices in their class to offer both 13” x 19” printing and an 11” x 17” scan bed[2], allowing businesses to maximize efficiency and streamline workflow and utilizing one device for all printing and scanning needs, from specialty large-format jobs to every day printing and scanning, such as email and documents.

 

The all-in-ones also offer Epson Connect for hassle-free printing on the go. With EpsonConnect, mobile device users can print web pages, photos, documents, and e-mail attachments directly from tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices[3].

 

Replacing the popular WorkForce 1100 model, the WorkForce WF-7010 printer offers built-in Ethernet networking to easily connect and share with workgroups, as well as versatile paper handling, allowing business users to print everything from index cards to 13” x 19” layouts.

 

Additional Features of the WorkForce WF-7520 

  • Great for Preview Layout: Print single- and two-sided design layouts, spreadsheets and drawings up to 13” x19”
  • Large Scan Bed: 11” x 17” scan bed ideal for scanning large documents, such as spreadsheets and design layouts
  • Robust Paper Handling:
    • WorkForce WF-7520: two 250-sheet paper trays for storing different paper sizes and types; and 30-sheet two-sided automatic document feeder (ADF)
    • Workforce WF-7510: 250-sheet paper tray and 30-sheet ADF
  • Saves Energy: Uses up to 70 percent less power than laser printers[4]
  • Built-in Networking: Users can easily connect and share with others in their workgroup via wireless or wired networking[5]
  • Easy-to-read Display: 2.5 inch LCD screen to quickly access all printer functions
  • Professional Quality Color:
    • Includes DURABrite® Ink for water, fade and smudge resistant output
    • Maximum print resolution 5760 x 1440 dpi and 2400 dpi scanning resolution

My Take on This Printer

This was an amazing printer that can do pretty much anything that you ask it to do. I’ve tried many different printers in my day but this one has many benefits that the others did not. Below you will see a few videos with my perspectives on this but here I want to say first and foremost that the paper capacity alone is something that is a huge benefit that most printers will not afford you.

On top of all this you have a printer that is easy-to-use and provides high quality beautiful images in the printing itself. So no matter whether you are printing off brochures, documents, photos or anything else you can rest assured that you will receive high-quality in return.

 

Finally, I am always looking for products that will save me money, and this printer claims to printing expenses. I have only used this for a few weeks, but I have found that the printer tends to quite a bit of its ink and only time will tell whether it lasts longer than some other printers that I have had in the past. If it does live up to expectation, I don’t know if I’ll ever replace unless I have to.

 

If you are looking for a great machine that can do a little bit of everything look no further than this Epson All-in-One Machine, you will not be disappointed!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

21

@Brookstone Pocket Projector for IPhone 4 is Amazing

By
dadofdivas
– May 11, 2012Posted in: product review

About the Product

Recently, Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) DLP® Products and Brookstone announced the availability of the iPhone 4/4S miniature projector accessory case which includes TI’s DLP® Pico™ projector technology. As the first projector of its kind, the accessory acts as a thin sleeve that will allow iPhone 4 and 4S users to project video content from their phone or any app that allows for video output such as Netflix®, YouTube® and more on to any surface at a size of up to 50 inches. With this iPhone accessory case, DLP and Brookstone are showcasing the potential future of Pico as add-on or embedded within products, giving mobile phone users the power to show video content on-the-go, anywhere.
“With this accessory case, Texas Instruments DLP Pico technology continues to show incredible flexibility in enabling compelling applications of all shapes,” said Frank J. Moizio, manager of DLP Pico Projection. “This is just the first step in giving consumers the ability to

showcase video content to family and friends and create a movie theater in the palm of their hand.”
Building on DLP’s foundation of creating the best images in the world, DLP’s Pico chipsets have the same technology genetics as leading digital cinema projectors. Pico-enabled devices are already being used to watch saved and online streaming videos, play games, project business presentations and files, and do much more, all with the convenience of being truly mobile. The entire DLP Pico family of chipsets offers solutions for creating an ever-growing array of product applications, including embedded cell phones, cameras, and camcorders, mobile projectors for consumer entertainment, notebook companions for mobile warriors, toys, AV docks for iPhone, iPad, iPod devices and other compatible smartphones, and more.
“The partnership between Brookstone and Texas Instruments resulted in a remarkable accessory case that turns one’s iPhone 4 and 4S player into a mobile home-theater unit,” said Ron Boire, President and CEO of Brookstone. “Brookstone’s mission is to find smarter, better ways for people to do the things they love, and the Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 embodies that spirit by marrying great technology with entertainment,” added Boire.
Product and pricing information about the Pocket Projector for iPhone 4/4S accessory case is included below:

  • Price: $229.99 U.S.
  • The projector includes super-bright, 15-lumen LED illumination
  • 640×360 native display resolution projects video content from the phone up to 50″ images
  • Built-in 2100mAh battery charges via USB connection
  • Integrated 0.5W speaker delivers audio from video content

 

My Take on the Product



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?

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19

Fun Olympus OM-D and TG-1 Video Content @GetOlympus

By
dadofdivas
– May 11, 2012Posted in: announcement

With the photo world buzzing about the recently announced Olympus OM-D EM-5 and TG-1 I thought you might be interested in some cool video content featuring each product shot by emerging filmmakers Austin and Maitland Lottimer.

 

Note the OM-D video was shot with the OM-D and the TG-1 content was shot with the TG-1.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?

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27

Raising Lily – Guest Post by Heather Von St. James

By
dadofdivas
– May 10, 2012Posted in: Guest Post

Though of course I had heard the phrase that it takes a village to raise a child before, I never really knew what it meant until my daughter Lily was born on August 4, 2005. When she was born, our family and friends surrounded us, and I could see the village that surrounded us. I was so happy then, and I had no idea what was to come.

Shortly after I returned to work, I could tell that there was something wrong. I was frequently breathless and I had no energy for anything. While plenty of people suggested that I was just tired from having a baby, I knew that there was something else going on. On November 21, 2005, I got the bad news.

I was diagnosed malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer caused by my accidental childhood exposure to asbestos.  This news was devastating, but in my panic, I focused on my beloved family, which suddenly felt so new and fragile.

My thoughts were whirling around me, but when I looked at my daughter and my husband, my resolve firmed. I knew that I had to fight this for them, and I knew I had to fight it as hard as I could. Because this cancer is so aggressive, we decided on one of the most drastic mesothelioma treatment options. My husband and I flew to Boston, where, on February 2, I had my lung removed in a procedure known as   extrapleural pneumenectomy. I had 18 days in the hospital to recover from this procedure and then, 2 months later, I started up on the round of chemotherapy and radiation.

During this time, Lily was being lovingly cared for by her grandparents, my parents. They both had fulltime jobs, but their church group came to the rescue. When they couldn’t be with her, Lily was cared for by a wide range of loving people. Some of them were girls that I had once babysat in my hometown! Even if I missed her every day, I was confident that Lily was receiving the best care that she could possibly have, given the circumstances.

The people who came through for us during this dark time truly surprised and humbled me. The people who I would have expected to be around were no where to be found, and other people, who I never would have expected to help in a million years, were right by our sides. Whether we were in Boston or our own home town, we had friends who asked after us, who helped where they could and who kept our spirits strong. It was truly humbling the reaction that we got from our local community.

Cancer taught me many things, and I realized that even on my darkest day, there was always someone there to pull me out. Life has since gotten easier, but I still occasionally look back on that time with wonder and awe. I will never forget the love and support that was so generously given to me at that time.

 

32

What’s Your Ista? I Love These Shirts! ( @whatsyourista )

By
dadofdivas
– May 10, 2012Posted in: product review

About the Product

Marlee is a school guidance counselor and a designer, who wants to save the world and make it more beautiful at the same time (peaceista). Amy is a special education teacher, who is a self-described word nerd (wordista or nerdista?) who loves the idea of creating new words with a clever sounding suffix. Between us, we have 5 children to put through college, I mean, who we are raising. Marlee and Amy have been friends since they met in the “transfer student” line at Clemson University in 1986.

Their kids are tennisista, zombieista, spikeista, artista, and pizza-ista (which is just fun to say—try it).

How It All Started

Dig if you will this picture, over a glass or 2 of the house merlot, the two founders lamented the current state of the economy and our husbands’ job prospects. Someone said something like “Forget fashionista, I’m a recessionista.” Next thing you know, they were all throwing out other ista ideas. They got to thinking that it would be fun to create Ista T-shirts.


Part of their mission is to be generous with others. They know that many organizations have been suffering from a lack of donations. They know that passionate people like their customers will have their own pet charities. They want their customers to suggest charities and they will donate a portion of their profits.


My Take on the Shirts

What I love about the shirts is that each one is unique to the person is wearing it. So no matter if you are a bookista (my wife) or artista (my daughter), you can have assured that is perfectly aligned with your personality. My wife and daughter loved it there shirts as you can see in the pictures and I can say that it was fun giving them the gift as well. The website for the company is well laid out and there is so much there for someone to choose from. On top of this if you can’t find something the company states that you can even make your own ista as well. I highly encourage everyone to check out this company and the shirts that they provide and find your own unique ista!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?

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Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

33

Dads in the Limelight ( #limelightdads ) – Jason Ross ( @ordinaryparent ) #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– May 10, 2012Posted in: Dads in the Limelight

Our 229th Dad in the Limelight is Ordinary Parent Blogger Jason Ross. I want to thank Jason for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

 

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My Name is Jason Ross and I became a first-time father in 2011 when my wife and I welcomed our daughter Abby to the world.  I’ve been dating my wonderful wife Lauren for 11 years and married for almost 5 of those years.

 

Why am I in the limelight? I decided to start blogging on ordinaryparent.com as a creative outlet for all the adventures parenting has brought to my life.  Balancing running the blog along with my full-time job and full-time parenting is a new and fun challenge I look forward to continuing for a long time to come.

2) Tell me about your family

I’m 28 years old, and my daughter is turning 1 in March.  I’ve been married for almost 5 years to an amazing woman and mother.  I look forward to welcoming more children in the future, but I’m thoroughly enjoying time with my only daughter right now.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

The biggest challenge for me would have to be knowing what to do in different situations.  It is amazing how a parent can’t differentiate between different cries and pouts, but knowing how to help my daughter isn’t always easy.  I’m very lucky to have a wife who is a great mother and is constantly researching about the next phase of our daughter’s life and how to handle the various situations that come up.  I don’t want to say that I’d be totally lost without her knowledge, but I certainly wouldn’t be doing as good of a job without her.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

The main piece of advice I would offer to other fathers is to just get involved.  Get involved with the diapers, the dishes, the comforting, the learning…really anything that you can think of.  As the father of a young daughter I’m happy to have alone time with her to figure things out on my own, and elated when I see her learning new things.  But that elation is only possible when I’m involved enough to know what she’s doing for the first time and see how much she is growing.

 

5) Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.

It’s been a surprisingly easy transition from married-life into married-with-children life.  My wife and I are fortunate to have several other friends who have had children recently, and that certainly helped the transition.  We continue to hang out with friends and go out to dinner regularly, and still manage to go out on our own form time to time.  When I want to go play a round of golf, my wife will stay with Abby.  And when my wife want to go hang out with some old friends, I have daddy-daughter time.   Working together with my wife and our family, we are able to be full-time parents in addition to our jobs and hobbies.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

One of the things I learned from other fathers is to try to take it all in.  Everyone always says “they grow up so fast,” but seeing it first hand and being able to share in this parenting journey with my dad, father-in-law, and granddad is incredibly rewarding.  I get to hear about not only my childhood a little more, but about the childhood of my parents other relatives.  I hear about their memories of early parenthood and it helps me to appreciate my own experiences even more.

 

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

The first couple months were the biggest adjustment I think I had to make.  After that, I think you really start to pick up on things and know how to handle different situations.  It’s true that you will be able to distinguish between the various cries of your child, and little things like that can’t be read in a book or on a blog.   It has been an incredibly rewarding experience so far, and I look forward to being just as involved, if not more involved, than I’ve already been.

 

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

The thing I remember the most is the joy on the faces of family and friends as they met our daughter for the first time.  My family had only boys in the family for 50+ years, and a daughter/granddaughter/great-granddaughter/niece was not only a welcome change, but a wonderful blessing.  Being able to share her pictures as she grows and seeing her interact with her grandparents and great-grandparents always brings a smile to my face (and a camera to my hands).

If you have any questions for Jason, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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25

Challenge Your Brain With Some Great @puzzlebaron and @IdiotsGuides Books #Giveaway

By
dadofdivas
– May 10, 2012Posted in: giveaway

I have partnered with Alpha Books to offer a winner three books that will challenge and delight you! The three books that the winner would receive include:  The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Picture Puzzles, Volume 2 , Puzzle Baron’s Sudoku and Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles, Volume 2. These three brain-challenging books include a variety of puzzles for beginner through expert solvers. If the puzzles prove too difficult, there’s an answer key in each book to help.

These books are great and whether you are on the road or simply sitting back in your own living room, you will enjoy the challenge and the skill that it takes to tackle these (at least some of these).

Giveaway

How would you like to win these books for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is Subscribe to this blog  OR follow on Google Friend Connect and answer the question: When do you like to complete puzzles and what kind of puzzles are your favorites.  The contest will run for one week and will end on May 17, 2012.

 

Bonus Entries
    • Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

 

    • Grab my badge to your sidebar

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    • Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)

 

    • Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away 3 @puzzlebaron & @IdiotsGuides #Books that will Challenge Your #brain -http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway #win #giveaway” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)

 

 

 

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until May 17, 2012 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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