It’s blockbuster season, which means lots of big movies in the theaters – like BATTLESHIP, which officially hits theaters nationwide on May 18th. So, to celebrate its release and Subway’s partnership with the movie, they are offering one of my readers dinner and a movie for two! The winner would receive a pair of movie money vouchers towards a purchase of tickets for BATTLESHIP at their local theater and a $25 SUBWAY gift card!
Subway has also partnered with Universal Studios and COKE ZERO™ for their latest Sweepstakes and Instant Win Game. Until June 13th, be sure to stop in your local Subway Restaurant for a chance to win $100,000 from the Subway Battleship online game. Visit battleship.subway.com for more info, too.
Giveaway
How would you like to win this for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is Subscribe to this blog and Sign Up for the Ultimate College Preparation Blueprint Newsletter. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 15, 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)
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 Dinner and a #movie thanks to @subway -http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway #win #giveaway #subway” (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 15, 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.
Our 228th Dad in the Limelight is author Rick Kamal. I want to thank Rick 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)
Until a few years ago, both my wife and I had successful careers as executives in large companies. But one troubling trend we saw was that students entering the workforce just weren’t prepared. They lacked the skills and strategies to compete in the new economy. So we decided to leave our former careers and found EduNova [link to www.edu-nova.com] to help reverse this trend and prepare middle school, high school and college students to excel in school and succeed in their careers. We leveraged connections with leading university education experts and successful senior executives in developing systems and resources to help students to lead and thrive in the global economy. We then created www.HowToStudyBest.com to give students and their parents a place to go to find the tools, strategies and resources to help them succeed. It has been very rewarding and exciting to start something that we believe can make a real positive impact on the lives of young people and the direction of our nation.
It is somewhat ironic that life has taken us here. Prior to EduNova, one of my favorite and most prominent roles was an executive position managing the nations largest online retirement system. It is used by over 20 million Americans and serves as a gateway to nearly a Trillion dollars in retirement funds. The mission was to prepare Americans as they leave the workforce so they can enjoy a prosperous retirement. EduNova now has completely changed the focus. Now the mission is preparing young people to enter the workforce with excellent skills and succeed in their careers.
On the personal front, I love to play piano with my daughter, workout at the gym with my wife, travel with my family, and compete with neighbors for the best landscape and garden on the block.
2) Tell me about your family
I was born and raised in theU.S., but had a lot of ties to the traditional values of my parents who were fromIndia. So I opted for an “arranged marriage” when the time was right. The way arranged marriages work for us is that a matchmaker, usually a friend of the family who knows about the girl and guy, will suggest the possibility of a match. The girl and guy meet and if they like each other they decide to join for life. My personal version of the “arranged marriage story” took place I was in my early twenties. One day I told my parents I was ready for marriage so they went ahead of me toIndia. A few weeks later I followed them there for a two-week trip. On the third day there I met my future bride, Teena. She was the first girl I was introduced to on my trip, and from the moment I saw her I knew I really liked her. I could see that she was a very deep person, and she was unbelievably beautiful too. A few days later we met one more time and during that encounter we decided to say yes. Long story short, within a week we tied the knot!
We enjoyed being together so much that we didn’t think we would ever have children. We didn’t see the point and neither of us could relate to it. But after a really enjoyable decade of marriage a light switch went off in both of us, and we felt like we should. And then came our lovely daughter, Arianna, who we are both crazy about.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
Our daughter Arianna, who is now six, had some particularly unique qualities from the start. She exhibited signs of being able to read at 7 months old – before she could even fully speak! When she finally could speak a few months later, we found that she was in fact able to read extremely well. It was somewhat bizarre. Based on the recommendation of some friends, when she was four we had her tested and found out that she was classified as being profoundly gifted across a very wide spectrum. Though many view it as a blessing, and it certainly is, it comes along with a great number of challenges and responsibilities. We’ve had to spend lots of time finding the right schools, programs, and activities to keep her challenged and growing at an intellectual level. All the while, there is a need to balance that with developing her socially among peers her age.
As parents we often have to remind ourselves to be patient when certain situations arise. Her focus is still that of a six year old so it can be a particular challenge for us as to why she doesn’t do certain things that she can “intellectually” understand that she should do. Fortunately, she is very patient with us.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
As dads we all have so many lessons we’ve learned. These are two of many thoughts that I daily remind myself.
First – Cherish your child as much as you can in the present moment. Life is too short and the years pass before you know it. Don’t waste one day. Express your love to your child today, and as often as you can. Tell them you love them, hug them, play with them, listen to them, and talk with them. Show them you love them by spending as much time as you can with them. It will mean giving up certain things, but it is definitely worth it.
Second – Always remember that everything you say or do is a lesson to your child. You are their most important teacher and model. The ways in which you act or react are the ways in which they probably will act and react. So be (or become) the person you want them to be.
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 comes down to managing priorities. I believe that most of our worldly pursuits will ultimately pass away. The only thing that will last is the love and connection we have with loved ones. If my loved ones really matter, it means you I need to put some things on the back burner to make time for them. So rather than have my Arianna travel in a carpool to school, I spend the time to drive her to school so we have some 1:1 in the car where just the two of us can talk. It means rather than reading the paper, spend time with Arianna doing homework or practicing the piano together. In the evenings it means spend time with her at sleep time to tell a story or read together. The impact and joy of those times together will last forever. The rest will fade.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
Two fathers really influenced me – my dad and my father in-law. Both have been really strong examples. They have demonstrated how patient a parent should be with their child – they never lose it. They have shown me how the pride of a parent in a child can positively motivate the child. Also they regularly exemplify how a parent’s encouragement can make their child a better person. Even at this age, if I ever need a dose of inspiring energy, I go to them and tell them a small personal accomplishment and watch how they beam and express amazing joy. Their energy then energizes me to achieve more. Their strengths are an inspiration and are attributes I try to emulate with Arianna.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far
I never imagined the amount of influence my actions and attitudes can have on my child. She soak up everything, even the subtlest things I say or do. Kids digest it all and develop their own view of the world. On the one hand it means we need to be really careful to not let our shortcomings negatively impact our children’s worldview. But on a more positive note, it means we have tremendous leverage to inculcate the types of values we want in them by positive reinforcement at an extremely young age. With just a few regular comments and actions I can see my daughter is so aware of being sensitive to the needs and feelings of others, taking care of the environment, having a balanced view of money, etc. In fact, as her positive worldview has developed, it has started working to influence me as parent to become a better person. I have become much more concerned about my neighbor and our environment because of Arianna’s comments and attitudes. It really is a virtuous circle.
What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
The most powerful and memorable experience was the birth of Arianna. It was absolutely miraculous. My wife, Teena, had to push only three times and our daughter, Arianna, suddenly appeared in the world. She didn’t cry at all and when she was placed in Teena’s arms she was amazingly alert. She locked her eyes into Teena’s and then locked onto mine. Arianna would look back and forth at us making unbelievably deep eye contact. It was as if she was connecting with us at a very deep level from the moment she entered the world. It was unbelievable. Her eyes and attention didn’t wander anywhere else. I think about that experience at least once a week. By God’s grace, since her birth the three of us have remained so close and connected as a family. I am very grateful to have our home be a real haven of joy. Certainly life has its challenges, but they are all worth it for the blessings of a peaceful home.
If you have any questions for Rick, 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!
With the new “PEN mini” series, Olympus is bringing the concepts of ultracompactness, simplicity and stylishness to SLR photography. Aimed directly at first-time interchangeable lens digital camera users.
The first in this new line of new generation system cameras, the OLYMPUS PEN mini E-PM1 is an interchangeable lens type digital camera that conforms to the Micro Four Thirds System, which is targeted at the fashion-sensitive younger generation.
The E-PM1 represents the culmination of Olympus’s quest to maximize the size/weight reduction advantages of the Micro Four Thirds System standard. The ultra compact and light interchangeable-lens type camera, the camera body alone weighs just 217 grams, while the total in actual usage (with the standard zoom lens, flash, memory card and rechargeable battery) is still the world’s lightest at 401 grams. Available in a choice of six different colors, this model will appeal to a wide range of users with many different needs and requirements.
This camera also boasts sequential shooting performance of 5 fps and image quality built on the same advanced technology that powers the E-P3, the just announced new flagship of the PEN series, continuing with Olympus’s policy of “providing the maximum image quality performance to all PEN models”. Better-than-ever image quality is made possible by the new 12.3-megapixel High Speed Live MOS Sensor with 1080i HD movie compatibility and the new TruePic VI image processing engine. High-sensitivity shooting at ISO12800 is also possible.
This camera also features the Art Filters well acclaimed with other Olympus cameras so that anyone can easily enjoy photographic expressions that used to require complicated image processing. The E-PM1 incorporates six of the most popular Art Filters, allowing users to express their unique creative vision with both still images and movies.
Another example of Olympus’s commitment to relentlessly enhancing and advancing its line of new generation system cameras, this new camera is certain to expand today’s fast growing market for lens interchangeable type digital cameras.
Other Features
New control system for easier operation
Ultrafast autofocus using new FAST AF system inherited from the E-P3
35-area multiple AF with group area selection
High-performance 5.5 fps* sequential shooting
High image quality inherited from the E-P3
- New 12.3-megapixel High-Speed Live MOS Sensor with full HD movie compatibility
- New TruePic VI image processing engine
Advanced movie recording
- Incorporates full HD movie shooting (AVCHD)
- Built-in stereo microphones
Built-in sensor-shift type image stabilization plus electronic movie image stabilization using the multimotion-compatible movie IS system
High capability removable flash
Tone control for individual variations of the tones of bright and dark sections
One-push digital teleconverter function
Menu Guide to clarify menu items
New scene mode: 3D Photo Shooting
Proven, reliable dust reduction system
My Take on the Camera
The E-PM1 was an amazing camera! Hands down I was impressed. If you’ve been reading my blog for sometime you’ll notice that I am a camera person and I enjoy taking pictures to capture not only my family and life experiences but also the world around me. Recently I purchased a Nikon 5102 to aid in my photography endeavors. I have to say that I love my Nikon, but at times it is a bit large and bulky. With that in mind it was nice to receive the E-PM1 for review.
What I love most about the camera was it was so lightweight and small. Yet on top of this it offers so much to the consumer. There are so many different settings and artistic ways in which you can create memorable images. It took me a little while to get used to using this camera but once I did it was great.
The overall quality of the images and videos that were collected are of such high quality! All of the images that you see here are the ones that I took with the camera itself. I tried a number of the art filters and found that they made the images just pop and that they were always very fun to use. Also, with the flexibility of the lenses, you have a lot of opportunity to try new things as well. I tried two different lenses, and found that each gave my photos and the camera different possibilities, which was great.
As I mentioned before, the fact that this camera is as light as it is lends some great add-ons for the consumer. I have a Nikon 5100 and while it takes great pictures, it is much larger and heavier and tales up a lot more space in the long run than the E-PM1. I loved the fact that you could carry this in the palm of your hand as well as the fact that you only needed a very small bag if you were to have one at all. All-in-all I was very impressed with the functions and the flexibility of this camera, and I would recommend it to anyone that was looking for a reasonibly priced SLR that offers great results!
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.
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.
We’re in the midst of Spring and that means that it is time to celebrate with the Blog Pop Team’s Spring Fling! Between May 4-6 the 9 bloggers from Blog Pop are working together to bring you some awesome giveaways! So go and check out the following blogs for some other great prizes, and remember to come back here a lot over the next few days to enter for some great prizes! The nine blogs that are a part of the Spring Fling include:
BombayFashions.com will provide winner with 1 item of their choice, valued under $25, from the 2012 Collection or Bohemian Gypsy Skirt Collection available at www.bombayfashions.com
About BombayFashions.com
BombayFashions.com is the premier online retailer for affordable fashion accessories and clothing headquartered in Michigan. It is a one-stop online shopping boutique that caters to the fashion needs of women. Since its inception, Indian-inspired jewelry has been the backbone of the company and is the first original jeweler from Bombay. Today, BombayFashions.com offers the largest fashion jewelry collection available online.
The company recently launched its 2012 Collection & Bohemian Gypsy Skirts Collection. The 2012 Collection boasts the seasons’ tribal aesthetic trend, juxtaposing earth tone pieces against metallic hardware. The Bohemian Gypsy Skirt Collection can take a woman from a day by the pool into the evening hour with just a few simple accessory updates. The new items beckon the spring and summer seasons with pastels, neons and colorblocking in unexpected hues. The 2011 Bella Collection & Bella Couture Collection feature a large selection of cuffs, bangles, earrings and necklaces that enliven any occasion.
BombayFashions.com offers on-trend fashion forward accessories and one-of-a-kind pieces at prices everyone can afford. For more information, please check out www.bombayfashions.com
The Bar Method (www.barmethod.com) will provide winner with 1 Pregnancy DVD (valued at $20) and 1 onesie (valued at $17).
About The Bar Method
Burr Leonard is the founder and creator of The Bar Method, a full-body exercise workout that utilizes a ballet bar technique. The method draws from the principles of isometrics, dance conditioning, interval training, and physical therapy. With 19 years of experience in the fitness field, she and her business partner have turned their one Bar Method studio into a franchise operation with 30+ studios and a media company selling exercise DVDs and accessories.
Pirri Elements & Elemental Toolswill provide winner with one of each of the products listed below (valued at $88 total). The Pirri Elements line was inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean “crystal blue” Sea, pure air, rich soil and fiery volcanoes. Each product consists of Bergamot, an essential oil that comes from a fruit native Calabria, Italy, the hometown of the Pirri brothers. The oil along with other essential and natural ingredients is used to nourish the hair and lock in moisture. Daily Shampoo: Mediterraneo
o Contains essential ingredients to cleanse the hair while maintaining balance and moisture in all hair types. The product normalizes the hair, scalp and PH balance while keeping the hair looking healthy and shiny. Cost: $20/12oz.
Daily Conditioner: Earth’s Balance
o Restores moisture and smoothes the shaft of the hair while helping to combat humidity and static electricity. The product works to coat the hair and protect it from the damaging effect of heat styling. Cost: $22/12oz
Smooth & Relaxing Serum: Lava Glaze
o Relaxes the hair for a straight style or reduces frizz for a great natural air-dried look. The combination of Aloe Vera along with other essential products, work to eliminate dead ends and protects hair from the damaging effect of blow drying and UV rays. Cost: $24/8oz
Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner: Nature’s Breeze
o Smoothes tangles and mends dry ends while protecting the hair and reducing fly-aways. The product is a must-have before heat styling. Cost: $22/8oz
About Pirri Hair Group Pirri Hair Groupis designed and managed to best capture the essence of European culture. Everyone that enters the salon has their choice of selecting from fashion forward vibrant hair colors and precision hair cuts – always leaving looking their best. The Pirri brothers pay close attention to the current fashion trends to sculpt couture and constantly evolving styles. For a full menu of services and products, please visit: www.pirrihairgroup.com
SwimsuitsForAll.com will provide winner with an exclusive site-wide discount code: “SAVE” (to be provided after selecting winner); winners will receive UP to 50% off site-wide.
About SwimsuitsForAll.com
Taking inspirations from sun, sand, and sea, SwimsuitsForAll.com offers swimwear and related apparel & accessories that work for real women sizes 8 & up. SwimsuitsForAll.com strives to offer quality swimwear that will fit your unique body, style, and budget and fashionably flatter your next escape. SwimsuitsForAll.com is committed to making your online swimsuit shopping experience easy, so you can shop worry-free. In business since 2004, SwimsuitsForAll.com takes pride in its customer service. With toll-free, e-mail, and live support, we help guide you through your shopping process. We offer easy exchange & return policies, express & international shipping, and a low-price guarantee, so your next swimwear purchase will be hassle-free!
As your swimwear oasis, SwimsuitsForAll.com sells swimwear 365 days a year and helps you get into the right swimsuit for your body & taste. Shop confidently with our detailed images, sizing charts, and fit information on each product page. If that’s not enough for you, we offer free consultations where our swimsuit specialists can personally advise you on finding the right swimsuit for your body!
Escape the norm with a dedicated, personal customer service staff and swimwear that offers you coverage & comfort, classy styling, classic fits, and competitive pricing. So whether you’re going to enjoy sun, sand, sea, or pool, flatter your next escape with SwimsuitsForAll.com!
Adesign will provide winner with “The Eye Set” (valued at $45)
The defining and detailing eye set in a travel-friendly pencil case. This set contains the following brush styles: All Over Eye, Eye 2 (basic soft eyeshadow brush), Eye 4 and Eye5.
About adesign brushes
Adesign (adesignbrushes.com) is the consumer brand and product incubator for Anisa International, the leading global designer and manufacturer of makeup artistry tools, founded by Anisa Telwar. The brand was initially established in 2006 by makeup artists for makeup artists, but has expanded to cater to the everyday woman’s needs when it comes to cosmetic tools. The company eventually grew into a community for collaboration with makeup artists and consumers. adesign’s approach to development is a team effort, as the brand engages beauty experts and consumers throughout the process, and the end result is a product that is unparalleled in terms of meeting the needs of the industry. In this way, adesign is constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of cosmetic tools by introducing new and exciting shapes and textures, making them superior in terms of performance, head shape, function, and design.
With utility and beauty top of mind for all the brand’s inventions, adesign is able to remain ahead of the curve in product creation. The company also owns and operates its own manufacturing plant, allowing a level of control and speed to market that has been largely unrivaled in the cosmetic world. adesign also shows a strong commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices, creating a culture in which new ideas can come to be while maintaining ethical and charitable conditions.
Giveaway
How would you like to win this for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is Subscribe to this blog OR follow on Google Friend Connect and Sign Up for the Ultimate College Preparation Blueprint Newsletter. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 11, 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)
Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
Share this giveaway on Twitter, 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 and @kmrpr is giving away the mother of all giveaways #giveaway worth over $200 #bpop -http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway #win” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day
Enter any of the giveaways below (+1 per giveaway entered)
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 11, 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.
As required by the FTC: Blog POP! received no monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are those of the writer’s alone.
THE FINE PRINT: All entrants must be 18 years of age or older. Please read each giveaway’s directions carefully as entry methods may differ, and giveaways may be open to different world areas. Please make sure you leave a way (valid email address) with your entries to be contacted if you win. Please note that Dad of Divas, Blog POP! or the Blog POP! bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. We will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor please notify the blog you won a prize from within 30 days for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you. Good luck!
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.
For more than 25 years, American Girl’s award-winning books have helped millions of girls discover the joy of reading and have earned the trust of parents and educators. This summer, to celebrate books and encourage girls to keep their reading skills sharp while school is out, American Girl is introducing Read-a-palooza, a summer reading program created for girls ages 8 to 12. Packed with fun activities and incentives that encourage literacy, Read-a-palooza will run from May 1 to September 3, 2012, and also will include a charitable partnership with Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program.
To participate in Read-a-palooza, girls can visit americangirl.com/reading, where they can download colorful bookmarks and free book-related content, such as tips and materials for starting a book club. They’ll also be able to do reading challenges and take fun, interactive quizzes. Starting in June, girls can participate in Read-a-palooza by visiting an American Girl retail store, where free reading events will be offered all summer long.
To further emphasize the importance of reading and to help a great cause during its Read-a-palooza campaign, American Girl is partnering with Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program. From May 1 through September 3, 2012, $1 of every book purchased through American Girl (up to a maximum of $100,000) will support Save the Children’s efforts to raise literacy rates in impoverished communities by providing basic education and equipping schools and teachers with reading materials. In addition, American Girl will make its third donation of books to Save the Children this fall, bringing the value of the company’s total book donation to nearly $1.5 million.
For more information about Read-a-palooza and American Girl’s partnership with Save the Children, visit americangirl.com/reading.
Giveaway
How would you like to win 5-6 American Girl Books for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is Subscribe to this blog and Sign Up for the Ultimate College Preparation Blueprint Newsletter. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 11, 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)
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 5-6 American Girl #Books -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 11, 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.
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.
We’re in the midst of Spring and that means that it is time to celebrate with the Blog Pop Team’s Spring Fling! Between May 4-6 the 9 bloggers from Blog Pop are working together to bring you some awesome giveaways! So go and check out the following blogs for some other great prizes, and remember to come back here a lot over the next few days to enter for some great prizes! The nine blogs that are a part of the Spring Fling include:
Now it’s easier than ever to grow and enjoy luscious, homegrown tomatoes. Our lightweight, portable tomato planter is self-watering with built-in overflow, so your tomatoes always get the proper amount of water. This Tomato Tower provides sturdy steel support for heavy vines. Just add potting soil and Plant Food to the polypropylene tub. Roll the tub wherever it’s convenient or where plants can get the most sun. Tower is rust-resistant powder-coated solid steel.
Size
Tub 25-1/2″L x 13-3/4″W x 14″H
Tower 20″L x 10″W x 40″H
My Take on the Product
This is an amazing product that is so easy to use and looks amazing on your own porch(or at least it does mine). What I loved about this was not only the quality of construction, but also the ease in which the product went together and how well the tomato plants are working with the cages. I have tried to grow tomatoes in pots before and it has not been very successful, but with this, at least so far, things are working quite well and the tomatoes seem to like their new home (though it is pretty early to tell what type of crop I will have). The wheels on this make the planter easy to move and even when you have dirt in the planter, it moves well on a smooth service or even on a deck. As you can tell I am quite impressed with this and I have already recommended this to other gardeners that I know as it provides you with both a great planter that is very aesthetically pleasing, but also provides a great home for the tomatoes you want to grow when you don’t have room to grown them in your yard.
Giveaway
How would you like to win this? All you need to do is subscribe to this blogorbe a GFC follower of Dad of Divas. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 11, 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) (+4)
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 a @plowandHearth Rolling Self-Watering Tomato Planter - http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway #giveaway #blogpop” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day) (+1)
Enter any of the giveaways below (+1 per giveaway entered)
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 4, 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.
As required by the FTC: Blog POP! received no monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are those of the writer’s alone.
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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.
Our 227th Dad in the Limelight is Stephen Budd. I want to thank Stephen 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 single father of three beautiful girls. I am also a teacher,which was perfect becausewhen my daughters were younger my hours would mirror theirs, and because I love teaching. I am also an author. I wrote three books. The latest is in editing with the publishing company. They published the Chicken Soup series and numerous other best sellers. The book is titled: Stand Up Boy, it tells about my abusive childhood and how being a single father helped in my healing. I am forever grateful to my daughters for the lessons they taught me about love and life. Their innate ability to love unconditionally taught me how to love…and heal. I also started the blog Life Skills Today in early Nov. of 2011. It has taken off beyond my belief.
If I am in the limelight it is because I was fortunate enough to love three beautiful kids that returned that love 1,000 fold. They are all young adults now and finishing college and beginning their careers. I now have the time for my writing and teaching beyond the classroom.
2) Tell me about your family.
I am one of seven in my biological family. In my own family, it has been just me and the girls since 1990. The two oldest girls were both born on Valentine’s Day, five years apart and the youngest was born in March. The bulk of raising those girls took place in the 90’s when single fathers were not that prevalent. I never received child support. You can imagine on a teacher’s salary the financial struggles we went through. That served to bind us even closer as a family. Now that they are all adults, we constantly get together to visit and just be with each other. My relationship with them seems to have evolved into a wonderful friendship now.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
The most obvious earlier on was financial. But I always knew we would manage and we did. Another challenge I faced was being a father to girls. I never knew or dealt with some of the things teen girls go through. There were many times I felt like an alien. I would often tell them, straight up, that I hadn’t a clue about whatever the feminine issue was they were having but that I wanted to help. This caused a lot of interesting conversations. I learned on the fly. Certain times during the month I knew not to push an issue. I also learned that chocolate goes a long way in soothing a teen girl’s mood. The other challenge I faced was dating. I basically reached a point early on where I decided bringing a new woman into this situation created dynamics we didn’t need. I spent my time and energy on my relationship with my kids and making sure I didn’t repeat with them the dysfunction I went through as a child.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
The biggest advice is to love them. Love undoes a lot of mistakes fathers tend to make. I know that sounds like a simple, obvious answer, but if you are really loving your children there is no challenge that can come up that can’t be faced. From day one, I had this motto that I oftentold the girls. I would say, “No matter what happens, we are a family and as a family we can make it through anything.” This was tested numerous times. Love always won. The best thing about this is that now I hear my daughters saying that to their kids. By loving them I don’t mean spoiling them. I mean always coming from a place of love and respect when with them. That meant there were times they didn’t like me but there was never a time I felt they didn’t love me.
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.
Balance was tricky for me especially in the beginning. As a single father I really didn’t have time to have much of a social life. Three kids keep you pretty busy. They were all involved in extra-curricular activities too. I found the balance not in the amount of time I had but in the quality of time I had. When I was with the girls, I was with the girls. I made sure I was present to them and not focused on work. When I was at work, I made sure I focused on work. I tried not to let the areas blend too much. For me, balance was more internal than any external factor. I really loved being a father and took that joy with me everywhere I went. So when I felt pressure from a difficult schedule or a demanding work responsibility, I would think of that joy and feel it like a little gift I was privileged to carry inside. It helped ease the stress and made for a happier day.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
I really only met a few single fathers during the time I was raising my daughters. I have met hundreds since then. But a father is a father, singleormarried. I learned a lot from all of them. The happiest ones seem to be the ones that truly love their children and are not afraid to show it. I think I have been most touched by the little things I see fathers do, like carry their child on their shoulders, or wipe their mouths. When I would notice Dads doing the little, caring things without thought, I was most touched. I remember I took my daughter to see a play and the father in front of us had his daughter with him. Throughout the play he would occasionally take his hand and rub the back of her head. She always would look at him so lovingly. It was beautiful, and yet a very simple gesture. Those are the things I believe fathers can teach others through their examples. The big things like teen years and boyfriends, etc. seem to lessen in impact when a child was raised by a man who was gentle and loving.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
For those Dads who wonder if their child will ever grow up…. show patience, they will and they will before you know it. Remember they may be parents some day and your example is their first and most important lesson on parenting. I use to always fast-forward and think of my kids as someday being parents. I would think how I would want them to have remembered how I acted, and then I would do exactly that. It is OK not to react and take some time to think first. Kids respect that because it shows discipline and thoughtfulness, two great lessons for them.
What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
My relationship with my children! Even though they are grown, it continues to grow and provide joy in my life. Not to promote my site, but I do share several little stories of raising them that were memorable on the site. If you have any questions for Stephen, 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!
What can unite a blue-haired, roller derby jammer; a crash expert; an organic gardener with specially trained hearing skills, and a Harvard master’s degree candidate with a patent for lighting technology?
In addition to being engineers and moms, they all bring expertise and unique perspectives that make the 2013 ChevroletMalibufuel-efficient, safe, extremely quiet and available for purchase today.
Malibu moms Suzanne Cody, Julie Kleinert, Kara Gordon and Tracy Mack-Askew also help demonstrate the important role women and mothers play in engineering today’s family vehicles.
The Malibu is Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan, and will be sold in 100 countries on six continents. Though based in Metro Detroit, the Malibu moms’ work will be felt from Birmingham to Bulgaria, Ann Arbor to Austria and from St. Clair Shores to Seoul, Shanghai and beyond.
“People spend a lot of time in their vehicles,” said Gordon, the Malibu’s lead acoustic noise engineer and mother of two active young boys. “It’s really important for me to spend that time with my kids in a positive way. If your car isn’t quiet, you can’t hear your kids talking to you in the background, and you can’t hear how their day went.”
Gordon recalls an incident that drove home the importance of her work.
“We were about to get on the freeway and my younger son was mumbling something I couldn’t hear. I kept asking him over and over what he was saying and my older son finally yelled, ‘His seat belt isn’t buckled.’ So I pulled over – luckily – before we actually got on the highway.”
Involving more engineer moms in vehicle development is happening as women continue to take a bigger stake in the market. Women buy a little over half the cars sold in the United States, and take part in 80 percent of all family car buying decisions, according to traditional industry statistics.
Recognizing this need, General Motors and the GM Foundation support several programs aimed at encouraging women to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, including high school robotics programs and college scholarships.
“Women are major automotive consumers, and automakers that want to appeal to them need to understand what their needs and requirements are,” said Rebecca Lindland, director of research at IHS Automotive. “Women engineers can provide a unique perspective to the design and engineering process. For example, women are generally smaller than men, so ergonomic needs are different. We also have a heightened awareness of safety, and tend to be more sensitive to the needs of family.”
“We need to encourage more young women and girls to venture into engineering and show them it’s not just numbers, but it’s color and style and design,” she said. “Women add a necessary element to enhance a vehicle’s appeal and the entire development process benefits from that added dimension.”
Meet the four accomplished women engineers and moms behind the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu:
The Malibu moms
Suzanne “Suzy” Cody, aerodynamics engineer – Cody is a rocket scientist – literally – with a degree in aerospace engineering. Known for her “GM blue” hair highlights, she is also a force to be reckoned with in the wind tunnel and on the roller derby track.
A mother of two young boys, she has been responsible for the aerodynamic performance of the new Malibu, and her work has resulted in a vehicle with a superior wind drag rating – close to that of theChevrolet Volt electric vehicle – which means increased gas savings for Malibu drivers. In fact, aerodynamic improvements on the new Malibu provide up to 2.5 mpg more on the highway.
“I’m a single mom, and every dollar I spend on gasoline is a dollar I’m not investing in my boys’ futures,” said Cody. “So this is personal to me.”
Her knowledge of wind drag also helps her on the Bath City Roller Girls roller derby team, where fans know her as Shovey Camaro, after her passion for the Chevrolet Camaro sports car. Cody is also a passionate leader of a local moms club that helps support local charities.
Julie Kleinert, child safety technical lead – As the lead engineer responsible for child occupant protection, Kleinert’s job is to evaluate and develop the safety performance requirements for the vehicle restraint systems that will protect children who ride in the Malibu and other GM vehicles.
“Knowing that the work I do helps protect other people’s children is very rewarding,” said Kleinert, a mother of four and grandmother of two. “I love to be able to tell people what I do, and how much work goes into the safety of every GM vehicle.”
Kleinert relies on her 27-year engineering career and extensive knowledge of restraint system performance and vehicle safety integration, along with her real-world experience and perspective as a mother and grandmother. Her commitment to child passenger safety doesn’t stop at the end of the work day.
As a certified child passenger safety technician, she volunteers with Safe Kids USA’s Buckle Up educational programs to teach parents and caregivers about proper car seat installation and about child safety in and around vehicles. She utilizes her experience from working in the field with parents and caregivers to help drive interior designs that make child safety seat installation easier in the Malibu and other GM vehicles. Because three out of four child safety seats are incorrectly installed, Kleinert said, she urges parents to take advantage of local check-up events, even if they believe they are using their child safety seat correctly.
“When my kids were teenagers and learning how to drive, they didn’t always appreciate having a mom who was a safety engineer,” said Kleinert. “Now that one of my sons has two children, I put my child passenger safety training to good use by teaching him and my daughter-in-law how to properly install car seats in their vehicles.”
Kara Gordon, lead acoustic noise engineer – Gordon is a specially trained audiologist whose sensitive hearing skills – always a tactical advantage for a mother – helped her identify where certain noises may have originated, and how to reduce, block and absorb the noise from entering the cabin of the new Malibu. She is key part of a team that eradicates the main sources of noise – wind, road and tire – from entering the interior of the new Malibu.
Her work has helped make the new Malibu the quietest Chevrolet ever for interior cabin noise and, as a result, customers around the world can expect a quiet ride.
With two young boys, Gordon’s home isn’t always as quiet as the Malibu, but she adds a little serenity with yoga and enforces a house rule of quiet time until 9 a.m. on weekends.
“At 9, all bets are off and the house becomes a circus!” she said.
Gordon is also a passionate environmentalist who hopes to live “off the grid” soon and loves tending to her organic garden and remodeling her 100-year-old home.
Tracy Mack-Askew, vehicle line manager – Mack-Askew’s passion for science and math was sparked during a high school field trip to view a vehicle crash test. That experience led her to pursue an engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an engineering career at GM following graduation.
Today, Mack-Askew serves as lead engineering manager responsible for the timely development and launch of the Malibu, a role with great challenges and responsibilities – and one typically held by men. She also has a patent in lighting technology that helps prevent premature lamp burnout.
As a wife, a mother of two young children, and a Harvard University master’s candidate (she already has a master’s degree from Purdue University), Mack-Askew is also an accomplished multi-tasker.
Ultimately, she says, it’s her commitment to cultivating and nurturing a strong family that drives her. Mack-Askew won’t travel on her husband or children’s birthdays, and despite a hectic travel schedule that saw her log about 40,000 miles in less than a year in support of the Malibu launch, she is adamant about picking up her children from school on Fridays.
“The Malibu is a vehicle that is very kid-friendly, that’s easy for you to use to transport your kids to their activities – whether it is soccer or swimming – and that makes you look good and stylish while doing it,” said Mack-Askew. “So not only are you a mother, but you are mother with pizzazz.”
On sale now
The 2013 Malibu Eco is Chevrolet’s most fuel-efficient Malibu ever, delivering an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway.
The Eco is the first model of the all-new Malibu lineup to launch in the United States. It went on sale earlier this year and starts at $25,995, less than competitor full-hybrid vehicles.
Other Malibu trim levels, including LS, LT and LTZ, are scheduled to begin production this summer at plants in Fairfax, Kan. and Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich. The 2013 Malibu will serve as a flagship Chevrolet midsize in many parts of the world. The Malibu is also built in China and Korea.
To learn more about the all-new Malibu, visit the Chevy Facebook page; follow on Twitter at @Chevrolet and #MalibuMoms, or check out chevy.com.
Time to plié, pirouette, and jeté! Practice Angelina Ballerina’s moves step by step. Then turn on the music (audio CD included) and take center stage! Every time you play, it’s a new ballet routine.
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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.