Dad of Divas' Reviews

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Book Review - You're Not The Boss Of Me

About the Book

What parent hasn’t thought her child was a brat at one point or another? Whether your child really is a brat, is at risk of becoming one, or is simply trying to grow up in a world filled with temptations and distractions, Betsy Brown Braun, bestselling author of Just Tell Me What To Say, has written the ultimate hands-on guide to cultivating, character traits that are tried and tested brat busters including gratitude, respect, honesty, independence and self reliance, among others.

Betsy’s down-to-earth advice and no-nonsense practical “tips and scripts” are derived from her expertise working with thousands of children (from toddlers to teens) and parents for over three decades. With Braun’s humorous, supportive and authoritative voice as a guide, parents can navigate some of the more difficult aspects of these formative years and lay the groundwork for their child’s future with confidence.

About the Author
Betsy Brown Braun, best selling author of the award winning book Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents (HarperCollins, 2008), is a child development and behavior specialist, parent educator, multiple birth parenting consultant and founder of Parenting Pathways, Inc.

Betsy leads parenting groups, seminars, and offers private parent consultations throughout the nation. With over 35 years of experience in public and private early childhood and elementary education, Betsy has directed and founded school programs, taught in both public and private schools, has been a school director, and was the founding director of Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Early Childhood Center. She holds an MA in Human Development and teaching credentials from Pacific Oaks College.

In 2001 Betsy founded, Parenting Pathways, Inc. to provide guidance to parents seeking the skills and confidence needed to negotiate the often-challenging parenting pathway. Her bestseller now in its 4th printing, Just Tell Me What To Say, presents the tried and true tools her clients use daily to handle situations that inevitably accompany raising children ages 2-6 and beyond. Just Tell Me What To Say has been translated into Greek, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian. Her second book, You’re Not
The Boss Of Me: Brat Proofing Your Kids will be released in April 2010.

Betsy’s parenting expertise has been featured in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Cookie, Family Circle, Nick Jr., Parents, Parenting, Pregnancy and Newborn, Toddler, Twins, and Woman’s Day, among other publications. She has shared her expertise on the Today Show multiple times. Other television appearances have included The Early Show, Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, KNBC, and Fox News LA. She contributes to KNX news radio on child development, and has been a guest on countless radio programs nationwide, including NPR. Betsy is a frequent speaker at educational conferences, schools, and businesses.

Betsy and her husband Ray Braun are parents of adult triplets.

My Take on the Book
As a and parent I am always looking for advice on how to do better and be a better parent for my girls. As any parent knows, there are definitely no true guidebooks to being a parent, and much of what we learn is hands on, which means that at times we make mistakes (but isn't that how we learn?).

This book is a treasure trove of resources that were very down to earth. I enjoyed how easy this book was to read and how user friendly the advice was. I found myself taking bits and pieces of each chapter and trying to implement them within my own family with positive results.

What I loved most about the book was that in every section of the book there were numerous examples of how a parent could implement the strategies, this alone was worth the read!

I completely recommend this book to any parent trying to get a bit more help with their child, you will not be disappointed, I know I wasn't!

If you you would like to have this book as a part of your own collection, you can find it on Amazon!

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Product Review & Giveaway - Just Eyewear

About The Site (In Their Words)
We are direct sellers of prescription glasses. When you buy from us you'll save 70%, 80%, even 90% over a brick-and-mortar store. That's an average savings of $150 dollars per pair! We can do this because we don't have the overhead they do: no expensive retail store, no overpriced designer brands and no expensive equipment. Plus, not only will you save tons of money, but you'll be protected by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. You can return your glasses, for any reason, and get all of your money back. Simply put, we sell great glasses, have great service, back it all up with a powerful guarantee, and we do it all for hundreds less.

My Experience With The Site
As many of you know I have been wearing glasses for quite some time. As a member of The Product Review Place (TPRP), I was given the opportunity to work with and review Just Eyewear and a pair of single vision glasses from their site.

One of the first things that I noticed was how easy the site was to use. I liked the videos and how to's that they had on the site which made it easier to navigate. For example there was a step-by-step video guide, “How to Order From JustEyewear.com” and two other articles “Guide to Buying Glasses Online” and “How to Choose a Frame.” that I found extremely interesting and informative. The articles explained the basic process of ordering prescription glasses online. The frame article helps you find frames that will suit your lifestyle and appearance.

The site itself was easy to use and I was impressed by the searching features that the site provides. The site itself provides you with the opportunity to search for glasses based on the shape of the frame; frame type; frame material and frame size. The glasses range in price between $0-$93.00. When I was looking for glasses to try out I found a number of glasses under $50. I did find that if you were looking for specialty frames such as flexon or titanium, you then will need to pay more than $50. Also, if you want anything beyond the single vision, you will need to pay a bit more. So while the single vision lenses might cost under $100, much like you will find in block and mortar stores you will find that anything beyond this is an add on.

When I received the glasses that I ordered I was happy with the results and they came out perfectly. The frames were high quality and the prescription was correct. It took about a week and a half to receive the glasses, but this was no longer than you typically wait in regular stores, so I had no problems with this. I couldn't have asked for an easier process.

Giveaway

How would you like to win a pair of glasses (up to $50.00) for yourself or someone else? I will be giving away one pair of glasses to a lucky reader! All you need to do is go to Just Eyewear's website and tell me what frame you would pick to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on April 17, 2010.

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

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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 pair of glasses (up to $50) from @justeyewear - http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/" (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
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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 April 17, 2010 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 Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Nuddle Blanket is Giving away $450 in FREE Blankets

Next to a hug, there's noting cozier than Nuddle^TM, Nuddle Kids^TM , and Nuddle Baby^TM (Nap + Cuddle = Nuddle). Plush, comfortable, and cleverly functional, this lounging blanket will wrap you in pure plush happiness year round. The double-sided design features an exclusive foot pocket, outer hand pouch, and openings to keep hands free for reading, snacking or just napping!

This Mother's day, 20 lucky moms will win $25 each in Nuddle money to purchase a blanket of their choice

Here's How:

From now Until Mother's Day Just log on to "Nuddle Blanket" on Facebook and become a "fan" and tell us your perfect way to get cozy - you will be automatically entered in the Mother's Day Raffle.

Book Review - Unleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids

About the Book
A child's need to feel loved is as basic as a child's need for food! Yet surprisingly, many parents don't fully realize this. While a child may actually be loved by their parents, not all children feel deep down that they are loved. And when a child doesn't feel loved, they act out in many ways that can build stress in the best of families.

In Unleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids, Gary M. Unruh, MSW LCSW, an experienced child and family mental health counselor, presents solid parenting advice in a step-by-step, easy-to-use-right-away fashion. Based on his nearly forty years in clinical practice, Unruh has observed that for a child, truly believing "I'm lovable" is an essential life-sustaining need. According to Unruh, this "lovable" belief is acquired through the child feeling fundamentally good throughout his or her development -- particularly when differences occur between parent and child.

"The real power of parental love is to consistently focus on your child-s fundamental good -- the good within your child that is so abundantly apparent at birth," says Unruh. Although this is not always easy, especially when you are upset with your child, this is a critical moment. This is when a parent needs to focus first on the child's emotions and then on their behavior.

To successfully do this, a parent must first learn to keep their own emotions in check. That is step one in Unruh's 4 steps to raising joyful and self-confident kids.

Step 2 is start with your child's feelings first and the behavior second. Step 3 is establish behavioral expectations that will enable your child to be successful. And Step 4 is talk to your child, not at your child; avoid judging and negative comments; be calm; talk less and listen more; be brief; and acknowledge your mistakes.

A parent can feel triumphant when their child truly knows "I am a good, joyful, worthy person, able to attract caring, love, and acknowledgment of who I am from others."

Unleashing the unlimited potential of parental love through specific parental love behaviors equals your child establishing abounding joy and self-confidence. And isn't that what loving parents want for their children?

My Take on The Book
I know that children tend to look highly for the approval of their parents in all that they do and this book examines a number of tested ways which provides parents the opportunity to raise children that are not only happy, but also well adjusted and that hold high self-esteem.

In all that I do as a parent, I try to let my children know that they are loved. This is not always easy in any sense. On the contrary, especially when I am disciplining my kids, I wonder whether they feel the love that I have for them. There also are other times when I completely feel overwhelmed and know that I need to be able to continuing showing this love, but again, it is not always easy.

I truly enjoyed how straight forward the book was and how full of great information and resources the book was filled with. This book is definitely one that I plan to read a number of times to make sure that I am taking the most out of it!

If this book sounds like one that you would like for your own collection, you can find it on

Friday, April 9, 2010

CD Review - Ballad on Third Avenue by Ed Hale

About Ed Hale
Ed Hale stirred up a great deal of controversy in 2005 with the Transcendence album Sleep with You that explored relationships, sex, women, romance, drugs, and life on the road. Anyone who knows him best appreciates his deep passion for music, writing, and his unyielding frankness when it comes to matters close to his heart; however, unknown to some, he is also the author of an award-winning screenplay and a pop-culture/ sociology non-fiction book, about to hit the market, as well as being a guest columnist on the Sundance Film Channel Website covering how "green" peace on earth really is.
Music is in the blood for this man who released his first album at the tender age of 17 and whose great-uncle was none other than the famous musical conductor and arranger, Antonio Morelli, well known for his many years at the infamous Copa Room in Vegas during the ‘Rat Pack’ years. After having received a guitar from his mother at a young age to ‘vent his creativity and keep him out of trouble’ – the rest, as they say, is history!
The songs on Hale’s latest impressive new album Ballad on Third Avenue are said to be the most personal and intimate collection of songs he has ever recorded. An eleven song acoustic singer/songwriter venture, it is said to be reminiscent of Bright Eyes, Kings of Convenience, Rubber Soul era Beatles, Belle and Sebastian, and Simon and Garfunkel. Not surprising that his latest album debuted on the CMJ Most Added Chart at #14 and then climbed to #140 on the CMJ Top 200, along with the release of the first single, I walk Alone, which became a staple on Triple A radio stations all over the United States and Canada.
Hale’s respected and tireless efforts in social and political activism may also be something in the family blood since Hale is the nephew of Eleanor Cutri Smeal, former president of the National Organization for Women and one of the leading American feminists of the 20th century. Named a Civilian diplomat, he represents the United States around the world and never tires in his efforts for world peace, earning him the nickname ‘the Ambassador.’ Not content simply working with Habitat for Humanity in providing homes and a new beginning for those less fortunate; he strives daily to make the world a better place in his honored role as one of this country’s civilian diplomats. In fact, it was in this role that he first visited Iran in 2008 to discuss peace between the two countries, and later met directly with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations in an effort to promote world peace.
Alongside Hale’s incredibly talented music, openly public spirituality, and activism for human rights and world peace, there is an ambitious entrepreneur who has founded numerous multimillion-dollar companies over the years that include a chain of health food stores, real estate, a clothing line, a multi-media company, and his latest venture in a New York based business consulting firm with offices worldwide.
Fans of this rock star extraordinaire will be happy to learn of his national tour this Summer promoting Ballad on Third Avenue (dates have already been announced for Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver), plus the upcoming release of another new Transcendence album, the long awaited All Your Heroes Become Villains, only this time Hale will surely be accompanied by his lovely new wife, Nahal Mishel-Ghashghai, who was the inspiration for the band’s alterna-rock smash Superhero Girl on the controversial album, Sleep With You. To hear songs from the new album or connect with Ed Hale online, visit www.edhale.com or his official fan-pages on Facebook or MySpace for more on this diverse artist. Promo copies of Hale’s new CD Ballard on Third Avenue are available by request for review or article purposes.

My Take on the CD

Book Review - Sugarmilk: What One Dad Drinks When He Can’t Afford Vodka

About the Book
The rigid family roles when “mad men” ruled supreme fifty years ago seem almost ludicrous by today’s standards where mothers now direct boardrooms and fathers manage playrooms. While many families have consciously made this choice, many more were forced to do so as a result of the economy. In his book, SUGAR MILK: What One Dad Drinks When He Can’t Afford Vodka (March 30, 2010), writer Ron Mattocks shows that he understands the personal impact of this situation as well as any man in the same position—and there are many.

In July 2009, the number of unemployed men jumped 77% year-over-year
Of the 11.3 million preschoolers with working mothers, 25% are cared for primarily by the father
Reuters reported that in July 2009, 1 million families had a working wife, a child under 18 years old and an unemployed father.

As an executive in the homebuilding industry, Ron sees the coming economic downturn and, as a precaution, relocates away from his three sons to take a more secure position. En route, he meets his eventual wife and her two little girls through an odd internet experiment. But, when he unexpectedly loses his new job and can’t find work, Ron suddenly finds himself thrust into the unfamiliar role of a stay-at-home dad to his stepdaughters while living apart from his own children.

In Sugar Milk: What One Dad Drinks When He Can’t Afford Vodka, Ron combines, honesty, insight, and wit as he recounts his journey from the comfortable corporate world to a new world full of financial stress, lonely afternoons, and subversive Care Bears as he gains a new perspective on fatherhood.

Jeremy Adam Smith, author of The Daddy Shift: How-Stay-at-Home Dads, Breadwinning Moms, and Shared Parenting Are Transforming the American Family says of Sugar Milk,

“I laughed aloud every three pages or so. But underneath the jokes, Ron Mattocks has a serious story to tell about men and fathers in transition, trying to hold their spirits and families together in an economy and society that is shifting under their feet.”

Sugar Milk has already received attention from among others, Reuters News, The Globe and Mail, The Bund-Pic Magazine. For more details visit www.SugarMilkBook.com.

About the Author:
Ron Mattocks is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Houston Family Magazine. His work has been read on public radio and can be found in various parenting-related publications. He lives in Houston, Texas.

My Take on the Book
I have been following Ron's progress on this book as well as following his blog posts in general for a while now. I have been impressed by his free thought as well the humor that he infuses into anything that he writes.

This book was no different than the writing that I have seen him work on in the past. The writing itself draws the reader into the story and let's the reader better understand and show empathy to many of situations that the author finds himself within.

I found this book to be hilarious and personal. The reader is drawn into the stories and can see how caring Ron is and how his new role as a stay at home dad has transformed him. I truly believe that if you are like me you will find yourself laughing on the floor at points in this book, as well as not wanting to put the book down until the very end.

More and more today I am meeting dads who are now at home with their kids, thus this book and the content within is very relevant and the humor that Ron uses is just icing on the cake!

If your book sounds like one that you would like to have as a part of your own library, you can find it on Amazon!

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 Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Book Review & Giveaway - Exit Blue

About the Book
In his third novel EXIT BLUE(Black Heron, March 2010), best-selling author and former Washington Post writer Ivan G. Goldman crafts a roman à clef depicting the return of a persistent but not terribly talented dynasty out of Texas. The family's latest Oval Office occupant, the oblivious Bunny (not to be confused with her twin sister Beanie), launches a disastrous invasion of Denmark, labeling it the central front in the war on terror.

Preceded by the carpet-bombing of Copenhagen, the attack on a NATO ally is the brainchild of the infamous Magoo, a perennial vice-president whose personal scientists make him younger and healthier month by month. The war, one of several being waged by Washington, triggers outright secession by the fed-up Blue States, which form their own union. Meanwhile, in Denmark, the invading Marines hit the beaches short of ammo and end up watching the NFL playoffs in a Danish POW camp. Undeterred, the zealous Red Zone government dispatches press gangs to fill depleted military ranks.

As Red Zone citizens flee their imploding, trickle-down economy seeking humble work in Mexico, down-on-his-luck ghost writer Delmore LeCorte discovers all is not well in the Blue Zone either. LeCorte is thrust into a love triangle with the Red Zone President and her more astute twin, running afoul of Magoo. Operating from a secret underground bunker, the deranged vice-president has already imprisoned the Dalai Lama, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sean Penn and Alec Baldwin as enemies of the state while the Dixie Chicks and Bruce Springsteen hide out in Ireland under Bono's protection. For the sake of both Americas, LeCorte must dodge Magoo's wrath as he tries to persuade Bunny to steer her foundering ship of state toward a saner shore. It's left to the reader to decide whether EXIT BLUE is in fact satire or perhaps a prescient look at more divisive times ahead.

About the Author
Ivan G. Goldman, who covered the Congress for The Washington Post and worked at the National Desk of The Los Angeles Times, is the author of three novels. A Fulbright Scholar and a columnist for The Ring magazine, his writing has also appeared in Columbia Journalism Review, Utne Reader, The Nation, National Review, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, andelsewhere. His previous novel The Barfighter has been nominated as a 2009 Notable Book by the American Library Association. Booklist calls it "a fine book" that "illuminates a largely unknown world and tells an engaging tale of redemption filled with vividly drawn characters." Kirkus Reviews says his first novel, Where the Money Is: A Novel of Las Vegas is "an impressive debut . . . a stylish twisty first novel."

Goldman was born and raised in Chicago and now lives with his wife in Southern California. You can find out more about his background in his article "Caste and Class on The Washington Post." It appeared in Columbia Journalism Review and is online at http://www.coliserv.net/swm/goldman-caste.html.

My Take on the Book

I am always interested in reading books that stand out in their satirical nature and this book definitely fell into this genre. I mean, what other book would place Denmark in the lead role of fighting terror on the world scene.

There were many scenes within the book where I just stood back in awe, laughing at times and at others just being dumbfounded that a character could get away with what the author was having him get away with.

The book is filled with twists, turns and endings that you would not expect, which makes for both an easy and enjoyable read.

I can honestly say that I got through the book in a short amount of time and know that you will as well.

If this book sounds like one that you would like in your own collection, you can find it on Amazon!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book for yourself? I will be giving away one book to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on April 14, 2010.

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)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

Subscribe to this blog either by RSS or email for one entry (top right hand corner, if you already do leave in a separate comment)
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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 Exit Blue by Ivan Goldman - http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/" (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
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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 Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Dad of Divas' Reviews

Pages

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Book Review - You're Not The Boss Of Me

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Product Review & Giveaway - Just Eyewear

Nuddle Blanket is Giving away $450 in FREE Blankets

Book Review - Unleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids

Friday, April 9, 2010

CD Review - Ballad on Third Avenue by Ed Hale

Book Review - Sugarmilk: What One Dad Drinks When He Can’t Afford Vodka

Book Review & Giveaway - Exit Blue

Reviews & Contests