Photo-A-Day #2485

I saw on the news today that two teens from Canada used a weather balloon, some smartphones and a LEGO minifig to send the figure into space. That is pretty amazing seeing as these kids are 17 years old. I know that there have been other people who have used Weather Balloons to launch things up into space, like an iPhone. But this is cool because they are teens. I find it very inspiring and love the little video that they made.

Here is the full article on the LEGO Man space flight.

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Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

We’ll Send Him into… SPACE!

Photo-A-Day #2484

Earlier this year Eva got a guitar from First Act. She had, had a guitar that her Auntie Tara gave her back when she was 2 years old. Eva loves music. She loves to sing. She loves to play around on the guitar and she loves watching other people make music. Recently she was introduced (by me) to Lindsey Stirling, she is a violinist who is amazing. Lindsey made a video about how to make her peacock hairdo. Eva saw that and wanted to have her hair done up like that too. So I figured that with her hair up like that, inspired by a musician, she could wear her Slick Sugar “Keep the Music Alive” Tee and rock out on her guitar.

I love the Tee, it is very cute and it is doing good. The proceeds from the sale of this T-Shirt that can be found at Target and online go to the charity Little Kids Rock. Little Kids Rock helps with underprivileged public schools that have had their music education funding cut. Here is more information about the Tee and the program.

KIDS LOOK GOOD AS THEY DO GOOD
WITH SLICK SUGAR’S KEEP THE MUSIC ALIVE TEE

SlickSugar.com Joins Little Kids Rock To Raise Funds and Awareness For Underfunded Public School Music Programs

Plainfield, IL (January 9, 2012) – The 1980s expression from a jaunty Saturday Night Live skit with comedian Billy Crystal, “it is better to look good than to feel good,” was a quirky mantra by fashionistas. Today sassy online retailer SlickSugar.com offers parents a chance to teach their children to look good as they do good. They’ve joined forces with non-profit Little Kids Rock to create a special edition children’s tee whose proceeds keep the music alive in underfunded public school classrooms.

Available online at Target.com and SlickSugar.com, the adorable tee for boys and girls features a guitar and a little birdie singing around the slogan of Little Kids Rock, “keep the music alive.” The special edition top, in sizes 6 months to 5/6, makes an important fashion statement and a social statement to fund public school music lessons, classes and instruments that have been downsized due to growing budget cuts.

“We love the idea of partnering with non-profit Little Kids Rock,” explained Jennifer Mills, coowner of SlickSugar.com. “We share the same passion for children, music and the arts. It was a natural fit!”

As music programs across the country have been reduced or even eliminated, Little Kids Rock fills the void by restoring and revitalizing music in underfunded public schools. Founded in San Francisco in 2002, the charity was started by an elementary school teacher who was frustrated at the lack of music funding in his own school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and free instruments to underprivileged children in public schools in 25 cities numbering an astounding 160,000 students. Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King and Ziggy Marley are among the charity’s famous friends and supporters.

“Children’s music lessons across the country are suffering,” continues Mills. “It is really fulfilling as a company to help revitalize music programs and create awareness for public school kids everywhere.”

According to Little Kids Rock, the program focuses on popular music styles that the students already listen to, including rock, blues, rap and hip-hop. Heavy emphasis is put on composition, improvisation and recording. Kids regularly record their own music, create CDs even make their own rock videos. One reason Little Kids Rock is so successful is that once teachers are trained in the foundation’s philosophy and techniques, a new local program can be up and running quickly.

There is absolutely no cost to the school. Little Kids Rock builds on the expertise and skills of music teachers and gives schools the flexibility to offer classes within the school day or as afterschool enrichment. As the foundation proudly proclaims, “all instruments are donated so every child has the chance to learn, play and rock out.”

Visit the Little Kids Rock website at www.littlekidsrock.org for more information on their organization.

Keep The Music Alive Tee • Sizes 6 months onesie to 5/6 shirt • $26

Available nationwide at Target and SlickSugar.com, this white tee features a brown guitar, red singing bird and blue and white lettering. A tiny message in red reads, “a collaborative effort” with SlickSugar and Little Kids Rock circular logos and is sure to start a conversation with friends and relatives. Choose from 7 different sizes: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 2, 3, 4, 5/6. A percentage of proceeds from every “Keep The Music Alive” tee supports the Little Kids Rock organization.

Every day is a free shipping day at SlickSugar.com. Keep up with the hottest children’s goods and fashions by signing up for their email newsletter, Like them on Facebook at Slick Sugar or follow them on Twitter @SlickSugartees.

ABOUT SLICK SUGAR
SlickSugar is an online children’s clothing retailer with designs and products that aim to inspire and define individuality. The exclusive designs are fashioned with music and vintage themes with a mantra to inspire children to pick up an instrument, embrace the arts and march to the beat of their own drum. The online boutique also offers unique gifts, toys and accessories, along with the company’s Belly Banter sticker line, designed to help document a mom’s pregnancy or child’s first year of growth month by month. Their partnership with non-profit Little Kids Rock allow them to be socially responsible with the sale of the special edition Keep The Music Alive tee. To browse their entire collection, visit www.SlickSugar.com.

Disclosure: I was provided with a kids Tee to review. Opinions about the Tee and the program are 100% mine.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Eva Rocking the Keep The Music Alive Tee from Slick Sugar

Photo-A-Day #2483

Andrew is such a smiling little sweetheart. That is when he isn’t spitting up a ton or screaming like a demon. When he really lets it rip it is chilling. But when he is in his quiet times he is the sweetest little boy ever. I got up with him this morning at 3 or 4, can’t remember. He’s already eaten but I tried to settle him down so Allison could sleep. I rocked him, cuddled him, talked to him but finally it was me putting him in the bouncy seat while I played Skylanders. He watched me play and passed out.

I stayed up from then on the rest of the day. I completed the Skylanders game and also upgraded two characters fully. I upgraded Drobot (We nicknamed him “Droby”) and I also upgraded another character but for the life of me I can’t remember which one. We are now up to 22 characters and there are 10 more to collect. Eva loves the ones that are girls. So I played through and completed the game but the game is so immense that I only completed fully 42% of the game. I need to go back through the levels and complete them to get 3 stars on each one.

Today we installed a cat door on the basement door. Actually Dad installed the cat door. I held the door and helped him flip it and got myself a splinter. That was my contribution.

After that Dad and I went to Precision Harley-Davidson because I had some Harley Chrome Cash that was burning through my pocket and I wanted to get some things for my “Man Cave” that will eventually be in the works. I’m thinking of making that into a video series as I get it cleaned out and start putting it together. I got him a new battery and then I spent the rest of the money on things for the kids. I got two great jackets that are reversible. One side is like a raincoat and the flip side is fleece. Andrew will grow into his and Eva can wear hers now. I also got some nice frames for when they pose with Grandfather on his Harley and I also picked up a play mat called Cycle Town. I think Andrew is going to love that as he gets older.

I also did a major shopping and picked up a steak for the grill. I wanted to go out and grill ever since it snowed for the first time this season but now the snow is gone but I still got out there and grilled a great T-Bone. Oh I miss the summer and grilling.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Things are Looking Up

I started as an Isis Parenting Fellow today. I went to the Needham store to have a meeting with other Isis Parenting Fellows and to discuss the strategic plan for what we are going to do for the coming year. I’m pretty excited for this new adventure and look forward to introducing you more to the Isis Parenting brand which is pretty amazing. Isis Parenting is not just a Baby Store it is so much more than that. There is a whole education and classroom component to the company. There are Prenatal classes, New Moms, 2nd Time Moms, Breastfeeding, Fitness & Massage and even Sleep Consults.

I stuck around after the meeting and I learned more about the store and the company and toured the place. I’m really looking forward to working more with Isis Parenting in the coming year.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

I am an Isis Parenting Fellow for 2012

Photo-A-Day #2482

I was watching GeekBeat.tv and catching up on past episodes. Episode #331 mentioned a site where you could make a custom robot. The company is MyRobotNation. The robots are created through a 3D printer. I thought that they used a makerbot 3D printer but this is an industrial one that is more complex. The interface is really sweet too. You choose all sorts of parts for the robot as well as colors and then you also position the robot arms and legs. So I made one and it arrived yesterday. Eva saw it and now she wants to make one for herself.

So I ordered more RAM for the iMac. I received that RAM today and was all excited to install it. However both of the Computer Toolkits that I have do not contain screwdrivers that are so incredibly tiny that I’d have to be the size of the BenSpark Robot to use them. I used to have a set of these type of screwdrivers, actually they were my Dad’s but I “borrowed” them all the time to take apart my Transformers and put them back together. I used to also take parts off one Transformer and attach them to another Transformer. Like I would take off the front of Sideswipe and the Front of Red Alert and swap them because those guys were from the same molds. I’m pretty sure I stripped the screwdrivers as well as the screws in all the disassemble/reassemble work that I did on my bots. Well, I need to got get me a set of these type of screwdrivers so that I can install the RAM.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.com. If you do please buy through our links and help support BenSpark.com. Thank you.

Copyright (c) 2010 Blog Consultant, Photo-A-Day Photographer & Daddy Blogger - BenSpark.com - Everyday Pictures... Every... Day

Meet the BenSpark Robot