The Family Dinner Box of Questions

I think I’m in love with the “Box Girls”: Cece Feiler and Heidi Haddad. They came up with this idea of having a box of conversation questions (not trivia but actual conversational questions about ethics and other deep stuff) to help amuse the whole family while waiting for dinner whilst dining out (I used “whilst”—that’s got to be worth some points!). Yes, it’s possible to do this without the cards, but having cards makes it into more of a game for kids while getting them to learn the fine art of conversation about something other than the newest Miley Cyrus video or XBox game. It also keeps kids from getting bored and disruptive while dining out at restaurants where crayons and a kids’ menu aren’t provided the minute you’re seated.

Posted on 28 Jul 2008 by admin

Gifts That Don’t Suck: A Small Gift-Giving Lens on Squidoo

It’s been rather busy around here this holiday season. In an attempt to make amends for the lack of posts, I’ve been trying to be a good blogger and provide some useful (and sometimes ranty) information about gift-giving. In addition to the posts here, I’ve also been turned onto a little web service known as Squidoo. It’s actually rather nice: you compose lenses, which are rather like small guides to a certain subject. The first lens I ever made was on gifts that don’t “suck”.

It’s not about being ungrateful, it’s about giving gifts that the recipient will genuinely appreciate, regardless of budget constraints. Check it out over at www.squidoo.com/giftsthatdontsuck.

Posted on 10 Dec 2007 by Tina V.

Really? A “Push Present”?

Ok, so we’re deviating from the holiday format for a post to bring you what I think is one of the most ludicrous things I’ve ever heard of: the “Push Present”. Blame it on the New York Times: they ran the story that just made me gag a little bit.

Posted on 7 Dec 2007 by Tina V.