Mommin' It Up!

November 23, 2009November 23, 2009

Disinfectant, Trash Cans, and the Mayor’s Ear

This past Friday, I was already in a bad mood when I got this email from the person who has the unfortunate task of doing PR for Clorox.

jenny clorox wipes
(Thanks to MattressPolice for the enhanced Clorox picture!)

Hello,

I wanted to privately respond to your Nov. 9 “The Great Donut Debacle” post where you mentioned using Clorox wipes on your toddler’s hands and face.

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes should only be used on hard, nonporous surfaces, as directed on the label. They should be kept out of the reach of children. For more information, please visit www.Clorox.com.

Thank you,
____________, on behalf of The Clorox Company

Needless to say, I was grossly offended. I am not an idiot and I think I made it pretty clear in my post that using Clorox wipes on Sophie’s face was an act of desperation and not something I would normally do.

(Because normally, I would use LYSOL wipes, because that’s all I ever buy because THEY actually put out coupons for their products, have good sales, and incidentally, have never sent me an email asserting that I am STUPID. BOO-YAH.)

No one send me an email about using Lysol wipes, either, please, I swear I only wipe Sophie’s face with baby wipes or good old PAPER TOWELS.

*Anyway* thank you Clorox for reading this here blog.

After that comment on Friday, I was super-excited to get THIS comment on Saturday:

Gary Leitzell says:
November 21, 2009 at 2:23 am

I read your comment. Call 333-TRSH and report the damage to your tote. Let me know if it is not replaced. You can contact me through my blog http://www.daytonmayor.blogspot.com

That’s right, y’all, the newly-elected mayor of Dayton read this blog!!! And commented! I’m guessing he saw his name pop up on a Google Alert which lead him to my rambling, insomniac post about how my trash can was broken and since I voted for him and all, could he please see about getting it replaced? Now, I gotta say, if this is a sign of his concern for the citizens of Dayton in general, I am impressed! But I do have a couple of things to say to him.

jenny and gary copy

*Ahem*
Dear Mayor-Elect Gary Leitzell,
Thank you for reading my blog. I was super-excited to see your comment. Sorry you had to read the part about how I only voted for you because you were the only alternative to the incumbent. But hey, I figure you were happy to take any votes you could get! And normally, you know, I research all candidates more thoroughly, but you NOT being *her* was plenty enough for me on this one.

Now, if I had known before what I know now, that you are a BLOGGER!?! I might’ve campaigned for you even. How cool is that?

Also, sorry that you had to read THAT post. I was having an insomniac moment. I really am a better writer than that. And so is Emily. You MIGHT wanna check out our “Greatest Hits” page next time you stop by. I mean, there are some good posts on there about poop, snakes, coupons, pregnancy, and inbreeding. MUST-READS!

Oh, and, the trash dudes came and looked at our trash can on Wednesday, and they couldn’t fix it. So, we are on a waiting list for a new one. I know you’re not in office yet officially, but if you could somehow shoot us to the top of that waiting list anyhoo, you’d have my undying affection. I might even borderline-stalk you like I used to do to Mike Turner when he was mayor.

Cheers,
Jenny

_____________________

So, moral of the story: sending me an email about how to use your product? BAD! Elected officials responded to citizen’s needs via blog comment? REALLY GOOD!

November 20, 2009

This week in the blogosphere

On Tuesday, we found out (via twitter – you see, it is used for good and not for evil) that our friend Anissa Mayhew had suffered a stroke and was in the ICU. Her second major stroke, at the ripe old age of 35. Twitter was immediately overloaded with messages that included the phrase #prayingforanissa, and I know Jenny and I are among the thousands of people who have had her on their minds all week.

Anissa, her husband and their three children have been through way, way too much already. Since Anissa’s recovery from her first stroke, their youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and just recently celebrated having been off chemo for one year. They seriously didn’t need this.

While the latest reports on Anissa’s condition are encouraging (she has attempted to open her eyes and has had some response to familiar voices), her condition is still extremely serious, and she and her family could really use prayers and positive thoughts.

Here are some relevant links:
Anissa’s husband’s updates on her condition.
More updates can be found on Anissa’s website, Aiming Low.
Anissa’s famous post about recovering from her first stroke.
Anissa’s twitter feed and the official twitter feed for updates on her.

Take a minute to read some of her posts. In spite of the serious nature of her blog, she is the funniest person ever. And we really, really want her to wake up.

November 19, 2009November 22, 2009

Our Holiday Gift Guide – Big Kids Edition

Are you ready for part 2 of our Holiday Gift Guide? This time we’re bringing you gifts for “big kids” – school-agers if you will. Hope you find something that would be perfect for your kiddo! Once again, either Emily or I were sent one of these to review and this guide is full of stuff we liked and think would be a great gift for your big kiddo.

Gifts for Big Kids

Heelys

heelys

Heelys Skate Shoes are the super-cool roller skates-and-shoes in one. They are an awesome gift for big kids who want to get around a little faster. Joshua saw my niece with a pair of these on a couple of months ago and about died from envy. These are a super-hot and fun gift your big kid can enjoy all year round.

I Spy with My Little Eye

I spy

This is truly an ingenious idea! There are dozens of objects hidden in this bag for kids to find. Great to occupy your school-agers in the car, a waiting room, or anywhere you need to entertain them – quietly. And Emily’s daughter Kate LOVES hers. (Oh hi, Emily here. I just had to jump in and say that this is the best invention EVER for church, the doctor’s office, anywhere you need to keep your kids occupied and quiet. It’s challenging and fun, even for adults! And based on our experience sitting next to one of Kate’s friends at church on Sunday – buy one for every kid in your pew!)

Learning Resources Funny Phone

funnyphone

The Funny Phone is another game to keep big kids busy. It has 9 different challenges and over 300 questions to encourage silliness and learning at the same time. The Funny Phone will always be asking something different so it never gets boring. This is a great activity for your kids to do together or with friends! (Or even with YOU!)

R2D2 Play-Doh

playdohr2d2

For any budding Star Wars ~~nerds~~ fans, this R2D2 Play-Doh set is the perfect mix of creative play combined with a favorite Star Wars character. (How can you not love R2D2? Come on!) Kiddos can make a light sabre, smush Play-Doh through R2’s head, and much more! It comes with several cool tools as well.

Easy Bake Oven and Snack Center

easybake

Another classic toy that brings back great memories, but it updated for today, is the Easy Bake Oven and Snack Center. Your kiddos can learn the joy of baking – and – this is what I like – it makes such small, appropriate-sized portions, so the whole family does not have the opportunity to gorge themselves on cake. PLUS it’s really fun to feel like a big kid and bake REAL snacks and learn about safety while baking!

Candy Land Sweet Celebration
candy land sweet celebrations
We love family game night, and Candy Land is a classic that is always a hit. This new version is no exception. A 3D board, new characters, and new adventures give one of our favorite games an exciting twist.

Spongebob Cranium

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob Squarepants! Everyone’s favorite sponge now has his very own board game – Spongebob Cranium! It’s designed for older kids (8+) and combines the multi-activity fun of Cranium with the hilarity of Spongebob. And it even comes with Crabby Patty clay.

Scatterpillar Scramble

This game is new this year (or at least it’s new to me!) but I think it’s going to be a popular gift this year. The object is to get the marbles in the caterpillar’s (or callapitter, as Kate likes to say) hands, as the bug wiggles and dances. It’s not as easy as it looks! This game is fun for the whole family.

Giraffalaff Limbo

How low can you go?? If you’re me, the answer is “not very.” But my kids, they are seriously flexible! This is another new game from Hasbro. The spinner will tell you if you can do a regular limbo, or if you have to get creative and go under the giraffe doing a crab walk or backwards, or some other crazy way. This one is definitely for the kids, but if the grown-ups insist on playing, make sure you’ve got the video camera handy.

FashionPlaytes

This is one of the most creative gift ideas I have seen in a long time! Give the little fashionista in your life the chance to design – and wear – her very own creation. Start by choosing a garment (they have everything from jean jackets to dresses to headbands) and pick a pattern, adorn it with ruffles, lace or jewels, and your very own creation will be delivered to your doorstep in about three weeks. How fun is that? Fashion Playtes gift certificates make fantastic presents!

i-Dog Soft Speaker

idog

The i-Dog is a toy that delights kids and cracks parents up. This cuddly pooch can be plugged into any music player or headphones and will groove to the beat of the music, while amplifying it through its built-in speakers. He’s got lights, jacks for your devices, and a even a little pocket to hold them. This is a very fun toy for your music lover.

Crayola Camcorder

crayola camcorder

The Crayola Digital Camcorder is perfect for your budding movie-maker. It’s sturdy design can handle a kid’s touch while he or she learns to take video. It has a 1.5 inch LCD screen and comes with editing software to turn videos into movies. This is a great big kid learning toy!

Hello Kitty MP3 Player
hellokitty
My daughter loves her “iPod,” and it’s a great way for everyone to listen to what they want to in the car! This Hello Kitty MP3 Player has three changeable face plates, so your big kid can show her own personal style, and hold up to 1360 songs or 64 hours of music! It also comes with super-cute heart-shaped ear buds.

That wraps up our BIG KID gift guide. Did you see anything you like? Stay tuned for gift guides for Mom, Dad, and baby as well as some awesome giveaways in the next week!