We have to start off by saying the holidays for some started super early and adding a little delay to my posting has really held this up… Sorry if you’re shopping done (dont worry you can return it and get some of these! – LOL I kid I’m sure they’ll love it – maybe)…
This camera can do it all! its got the benefits over others that it has exchangable batteries & memory cards. Plus it can go up to 10 feet under water. Just remember to pickup that SD memory card so they can record right away with it! Also a good note is if you know they’ll keep it open it up precharge the battery and put in a memory card so they can film the kids opening their gifts too.
Canon PowerShot D10 (Bonus can go under water) [Link: http://amzn.to/8XnD3v ]
Ok sooo you really dont want that wonderful DSLR this is a great pocket camera plus you can take it swimming to capture images of those little feet learning how to swim! or the fish on your next snorkeling trip
Apple iPad 64gb [Link wifi: http://amzn.to/cgNopz or Link wifi+3g: http://amzn.to/dxnvzS ]
Its Apple, its an oversize iPhone but its seriously awesome! Just remember you toddler will want this just as bad as dad! The other thing to note is that there are no upgrades, so whatever size you buy you’re stuck with so I recommend go large those HD videos take up space!
Vacation together [Link: http://travelybyjen.com ]
Nothing says i love you then planning a getaway! Book a getaway for you and your partner and arrange for some child care or take the whole family.
Denali 115-Piece Home Repair Tool Kit [Link: http://amzn.to/cHCNUQ ]
Having a handy man around the house without tools is like a cop without a gun. This certainly is a starter set but it’ll make do for any apartment or home with a light handy man around the house.
Golden Eye for Wii [Link: http://amzn.to/cEs0gp ]
By far one of the most popular games when I was growing up was golden eye this new release for Wii is awesome and will totally melt you video game playing dad into a little boy when he starts to play this again.
Spa
Yes men need a backrub and some pretty time too.
BeerTender from Heineken and Krups B90 Home Beer-Tap System [Link: http://amzn.to/aIdsaL ]
Who doesnt love beer – this personal kegerator goes great next to the instant coffee maker and you can buy refills at most any supermarkets.
Bacon of the month [Link: thepignextdoor.com ]
See above because with Beer goes Bacon
Books for dad to read to kids [Link: barefootbooks.com or scholastic.com ]
Reading for themselves is good but reading to the kids is priceless.
All-Clad BBQ Tool Set in Carrying Case [Link: http://amzn.to/au1HDY ]
Most city dads dont have a BBQ but any where else its one of the staple food groups to grill! When I wasnt in the city I grilled year round – even in the snow. its truly part of the man laws! So having the tools to grill with is key, buying quality gear that lasts years will save in the long run!
Super Dad T-Shirt [Link: http://amzn.to/aoKOC9 ]
Do you have a proud dada on your hands, have them rock a shirt that lets everyone know they’re a super dad.
Mont Blanc Starwalker Black Resin Ballpoint Pen [Link: http://amzn.to/csLXFr ]
High end pens might be useless for some dads but those executives whose signatures matter are worth it. Nothing says done deal like a pen from the kids that cost more then some people make in a week! No really impressions are always a first in business and sometimes a bic wont cut it!
Callaway Golf Solaire 14-Piece Complete Club Set [Link: http://amzn.to/allXnN ]
Some guys already play and some guys are dying to learn. This is a great set as it isn’t a true starter set but its not a professional set either. Picking this up with some lessons from the pro shop at a resort will give you 4-5 hours of alone time at the spa.
Quagmire Colorfusion golf shirts [Link: http://store.quagmiregolf.com ]
Not your average golf wear! for sure… for those that remember hypercolor in the 80’s its back but this time made for the golfer. If he’s playing golf in tshirts this is the perfect gift – it still says I’m too cool for those plaid pants but has some funk to it.
Ties [Link: Nordstrom http://bit.ly/9AKil6 ]
Really its not original but its sure needed! (along with socks and underwear – we’re guys we’ll wear them with holes in them :P)
Photo Calendar [Link: Snapfish by HP http://bit.ly/8WWyLH ]
Remember the times that were, and the times that will be with a great photo calendar that can go on the wall of an office or at home
Family Photography Session with Suzanne Cohen [Link: http://suzannecohenphotography.com ]
Someone will always be behind the camera and miss out on those amazing family shoots, book a session for the family and capture amazing moments in time because these kids dont stay small long.
The Dapper Dad’s watch Skagen Men’s 331XLSL1 [Link: http://amzn.to/9fHI8Z ] or Skagen Men’s 809XLTTM [Link: http://amzn.to/9S1hVJ ]
While you can get an omega or rolex sometimes you want a watch thats screams style but doesnt cost an arm and a leg. I consider this a great family time watch as who knows the pitfalls that might happen while tending to the kids.
Donate in their honor [Link: JDRF http://bit.ly/9Cb3K1 ]
Sometimes its better to keep giving then it is to receive, while its the thought that counts putting that together with charity is double nice points!
The title might have you thinking that this post might be about something else but its really about the testament about being away from home at seven days. To some that seems like just a moment for me it was like pulling away my oxygen. My wife is my counter balance and my son is my world being away for such a long period was sooo incredibility hard.
Of course I stayed in touch over phone, text, email, and one time was able to get facetime up and running over a Sprint MiFi *dear at&t please let facetime over 3g!* but it was not being there watching my son change that kills me. I know many don’t believe how much a 25 month old can change in the course of the week but change has come. My son has new words, new phrases, is a much better dancer (lol).
I arriaved home after he was asleep so I really didnt get to see him till the following morning when I was awaken by “Da Da?! DA DA!!!!!” ohhhh it was sooo great – followed by a little baby hug. It made my day, then having to go to work and leave him again was tough and being at work was slightly more then distracting. Some of it because I might have had 3-4 hours of sleep, some of it because I was thinking of hanging out with my son again.
Why I was gone seven long days is all work, its social media where I spent 4 days at BlogWorld Expo and another 3 days before that at the ABCKids Expo. Both events were great and you’ll see the effects of attending both events in the near future. The key to the success of this time away, was my mother in law… because without her coming to NYC I’m pretty sure there wouldnt be another dadarocks post as my wife would had killed me.
Of course I can highlight all the amazing people I met – or all the session I attended – or the old friends that I got a chance to catch up with… its times like those that I really appreciate my wife for going above the call of duty and let me do something like that.
I look forward to catching up some sleep and getting some more time with my son over the next few days.
Whats the longest you’ve been away from home? What did you miss?
In the city that never sleeps – these kids might never get a nap…
Here are a few of the highlights of the weekend…
Oct 1st – Meet and Greet with Yo Gabba Gabba Cast at Best Buy Union Square
You need to be there at 9am to buy the volume 2 CD First 200 get a bracelet for a 4pm meet and greet with the cast. Details are a little iffy but thats what I got from Best Buy and Yo Gabba Gabba sites.
Oct 2nd – Dag Hammarskjold Plaza hosts its 7th Annual Oktoberfest and Children’s Jamboree TIME: 1-4PM WHERE: its 47th street and 1st ave.
iOct 2nd & 3rd – Yo Gabba Gabba Party in my city stops by Radio City music hall. There is also Boo at the Zoo where the Bronx Zoo is ready for some spooky fun.
Oct 3rd – Laurie Berkner has a concert in the city TIME: 11am & 3pm WHERE: The Town Hall 43rd St @ 6th Ave & Broadway. LEGO will be celebrating ‘Play’ in Central Park with Ultimate Block Party TIME: 11am to 5pm WHERE: At the Naumburg Bandshell in NY’s Central Park (enter at 72nd St & 5th Ave) WHY: To ensure that all children are provided with competitive skills for the 21st century global world and to build a public groundswell about the value of play for fostering lifelong learning. WHAT is it?: Families can build and contribute their own original designs to our LEGO imagination construction zone. They will choose from 250,000 loose green bricks to construct a model for a creative landscape designed and built by Ultimate Block Party attendees.
Are we sums of the parts of our lives? Are we the jobs we take on to earn a living? Are we our children? I love to think that i can fix myself by making my child better, and i wish that was true and i know my last post touched on lifestyle and money and really thats not what this is about either. Its really about what defines us.
For a better part of my life I’ve wanted to give back; work for NGOs, nonprofits, find a balance of peace inside my brain that has been programmed to always think money. Everything I’ve learned since I was a child was to push myself for success. Must of us had this instilled in us as part of the American education, some of this was true, some i feel now was a twist on the shoulders of the education of our grandparents.
This has been on my mind for the better part of two months since the evo conference where Liz Strauss gave some homework to think about your voice. Since evoconf this blog has never been the same I’ve limited the giveaways to products I use or truly believe in… I’ve posted less about my family some of that is about dynamics of what should i post verse whats a good read verse what is private and trying to find the balance… But mainly its because I wanted to think about the direction of dadarocks.
Ive finally figured it out I’ve always wanted to inspire other dads to be better. I believe that men need examples of other men to be better men, it doesn’t happen overnight it sometimes happens when you hold your child for the first time but usually it’s a learned process… So there are less giveaways (don’t worry soon enough you’ll hear news about were they went… There are less NYC postings that I can say is about to be announced, there will be a special NYC dad blog for upcoming events and local giveaways URL coming soon.
We are pieces of all the people who have influenced and who have made us better, who have given us knowledge for better or for worst…. We all everyone we come in touch with and when you live in New York City that’s a lot of people. and so I’m trying to be a better husband, a better father, a better man, and to you a better blogger.
BlogHer is by far one of the largest social media events in the nation, it started with a primary focus “Her” the social media revolution was truly a women’s movement. Sure, I heard such things as Dad is the new Mom (I laugh cause I think about the great SNL sketch where it was Black is the new bitch! [Link]) and of course I was asked (more then once) why do I feel like its proper that I would attend a women’s conference (this one usually I had a friend in earshot come over and assist with the defense and once or twice I just walked away). Stuff like that happens its life… its a new paradigm in the parenting social space where there was once just a handle full of dad bloggers over the last two years there have been an explosion. Which I am part of… I clearly admit that this website is less then a year old, but the success that it has received in terms of viewership, readers, interactions is nothing but impressive.
While at blogher I met tons of famous faces in the social media space…
Then I meet some famous real social media people…
I’m sure there are tons of people who I’ve should have taken pictures with… and really this was just tongue and cheek at who’s really famous – clearly my son knew the first few 😉
This is one of my favorite parts of what blogher is about sure every conference has sometype of end of conference party – not a social media conference they party everynight, but the last night they go for the gold with a brand sponsored party to end all parties SparkleCorn & Cheeseburger (the latter is sponsored by McDonald’s)
SparkleCorn Cake - Ace of Cakes
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if you’d like a picture in high-res just send me an email with the file name (from the low-res version!)
