Posts Tagged ‘heck’

Amazon Frustration Free Packaging

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Amazon, if I could, I would seriously make out with you right now.  Yes, I said it.  Whoever came up with frustration free packaging is a genius.  They deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.  I also have to give a shout out to 37 Signals and Remarkable Parents for letting me know about this.

Now, you can see from this picture how the packaging is different.  The one of the right is what it looks like now.  The one on the left is the new packaging.  I find it weird that a lot of bloggers find this wrong.  However, as a mother of a 4 year old and a 1 year old I find this genius.  I remember when Madison turned one.  It took 6, yes I said 6, adults over an hour to open her toys.  Now, that is crazy.  I remember my fingers hurting from the twisty tie things and just the waste and the mess.  How would you like to get just a brown box, and all you have to do is open it?  Sounds much better, doesn’t it?  How many of you have had kids whining “do you have it out yet??!!??”?  I know I have that here.  They don’t have the attention span while you find a screwdriver and everything else you need to get some of these toys out of their packaging.  Heck, I remember cutting my arms on the clamshell packaging when you are trying not to saw the entire top of the packaging off.  Plus, this new packaging is so much better for the enviroment.  I would love to be able to recycle that box (where I live, the more the community recycles the less we pay for our garbage to get picked up).  Now, this packaging is done right at the factory too, and only effects Amazon.  You will still find normal packaging at your favorite brick and mortar store.

The main argument against this is that the kids can’t see what they are getting.  My response to that is what is worse — they have to actually open the box or have the toy stuck in packaging so the kids can see it but can’t play with it because it will take me 20 minutes to get it out?

I am interested — what are your thoughts on this?  If you can’t tell, I give Amazon two thumbs up on this move!

Vat19

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

I have often posted on here about the different products that Vat19 has that I just absolutely love. They have everything you could ever need like giant remote controls, instasnow, and remote control forklifts. Watch this video if you want to know what I am talking about:

You can tell that these guys have a warped sense of humor (like me!). You can learn how to operate the forklift and learn how helpful it would be in your home or office. Make sure you watch the video till the end where they blow up food! If you need a unique gift for someone, make sure you check Vat19 out!

Wednesday’s Hero

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Mary Ann

Wednesday Hero was started to put a face to the men and women of the American Armed Forces and what they do for us. Vary rarely has there been a member of a foreign military profiled. In fact, in the two years Wednesday Hero’s been going on it’s only been done once before. Here’s the second.

Lance Corporal Matt Croucher
Lance Corporal Matt Croucher
24 years old from Birmingham, England
40 Commando Royal Marines
Royal Marines

L/Cpl Matt Croucher is not only one of the bravest men alive, he’s also one of the luckiest men alive. On the morning of February 9, 2008 L/Cpl. and his unit were searching a compound near Sangin in Afghanistan that was suspected of being used to make bombs to be used in attacks on British and Afghan troops. Walking in the darkness among a group of four men, Croucher stepped into a tripwire that pulled the pin from a boobytrap grenade. His patrol commander, Corporal Adam Lesley, remembered Croucher shouting “Grenade!”

As others dived for cover, Croucher did something nobody expected. He lay down on the grenade to smother the blast. Lesley got on the ground, another man got behind a wall, but the last member of the patrol was still standing in the open when the grenade went off.

“My reaction was, ‘My God this can’t be real’,” said Lesley. “Croucher had simply lain back and used his day sack to blunt the force of the explosion. You would expect nine out of 10 people to die in that situation.” L/Cpl. Croucher was that 1/10. Not only did he survive, amazingly he only suffered shock from the blast and a bloody nose. He was saved by the special plating inside his Osprey body armor. The backpack he was wearing was thrown more than 30ft by the blast.

“I felt one of the lads giving me a top to toe check. My head was ringing. Blood was streaming from my nose. It took 30 seconds before I realized I was definitely not dead,” said L/Cpl. Croucher.

For his actions that day, L/Cpl. Croucher was in line for the Victoria Cross, the highest award for a British Serviceman, but it has yet to be awarded.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here

Sony Mommy Blogger Event

Monday, April 14th, 2008

I leave on Wednesday for this. I am starting to get super excited. Granted, it isn’t going to be as good as going on a royal caribbean cruise. However, a couple of days of no husband and kids is a good thing, right?  :)   I checked the hotel out online, and it looks awesome.  This whole trip just looks like it is going to be a ton of fun.  I have already emailed and talked to several of the other moms who are going to be there.  Everybody sounds really cool.  I love that they are giving us time to blog while we are at this event.  Now, do I bring my Kodak camera?  LOL

Sheryl Crow anyone?

Monday, April 14th, 2008

I love when the artists that we know and love come up with new ways for us to enjoy their works. Sheryl Crow is the latest. Bill and I are both fans (yes, even though I do listen to Nine Inch Nails, I do like more mellow stuff like Sheryl Crow). I have lots of great memories of the summer of 1995 and her music (did I just date myself?). When I found out she was working with Soundcheck, we immediately had to go check it out. I have to admit that what they have done is super cool. Soundcheck allows you to get up close and personal with her. You are able to view her live performances and see exclusive behind the scenes stuff. All of this is filmed in HD. She is such an interesting person that you have to enjoy this. I would love to see how she manages to be an A-list superstar and being a mom. Both are full time jobs. She also talks about leaving LA and her new album. It is always interesting to hear what the artists think and feel when they don’t have a PR person whispering in their ear. I hope you enjoy watching this as much as we did.