Gearhead Mom

Review: Slabang Alarm Clock - Going Cuckoo for This Clock

2009-11-06T13:15:56+00:00

IKEA is now selling one of the best kid clocks on the market. I don’t think they realize it—because it’s not in the kids’ section—but it’s perfect for my son, Max, and is saving my marriage.

Edward Cullen

2009-11-04T15:53:49+00:00

I stayed up far too late last night with Edward Cullen to write anything interesting about kid gear. I think I’m in love with a vampire.

Apple Brown Betty

2009-11-04T05:15:04+00:00

In a crockpot? OK!

Buttercream

2009-11-02T13:49:53+00:00

We were busy painting our master bedroom yesterday. We took it from depressing greige to delightful buttercream. I used the color from Restoration Hardware. I’m not a huge fan of the RH paint quality, so I just had it color-matched. My goodness, it’s such a cheery color. Subtle enough to look, well, buttery, but enough color to remind you of a sandy beach.

Ravioli with Pumpkin Sauce

2009-10-30T13:06:04+00:00

I honestly can’t remember who gave me this recipe or idea, but it’s been an autumn favorite of mine for years: Ravioli with Pumpkin Sauce. The beauty is it can be vegetarian or not, and there are lots of possibilities in terms of making the recipe your own. Here’s how I made it last weekend:

Review: Flip MinoHD - A FLIPpin’ Update: The MinoHD

2009-10-29T13:57:45+00:00

Since last holiday season when I bought my husband the Flip camcorder, Pure Digital has released two updated HD models, the most recent, the MinoHD 2nd Generation, which made its debut on October 15 (I reviewed the earlier HD on GHM in July). Nice timing, Pure Digital (disclosure: a friend works for the company and sent me the latest model to use and review). The MinoHD is perfectly sized and I predict it will be a winning gift this season. You may recall that I had some gripes about the Flip UltraHD, among them that the editing software (plug in your flip-out USB port to your computer, and voila! it’s there) didn’t allow for subtitles mid-movie. I still have that gripe, although the updated FlipShare software for the Mino makes “Magic Movies” using highlights from the videos you select—a sort of automatic video collage that saves time editing. You can now capture still photos from video, a plus if you’re at the pumpkin patch as I was this morning, trying to juggle camera and camcorder. Flip’s new Facebook interface (direct uploads to all your friends and family) will win over many users, too.

S and G’s Play Nook

2009-10-28T13:58:18+00:00

I’m thinking about sending some pictures of Sy and G’s play nook over to the color contest at Ohdeedoh. This room used to be G’s nursery (it’s the official dressing room off of our room), but now that the kiddos share a room, we just moved the Ikea shelving unit in there and it’s a sweet little play nook. We still have G’s dresser/changing table in there, too. It’s one of my favorite places to be. So cheery!

Fun Pumpkin Templates from Method

2009-10-27T03:25:01+00:00

Need some pumpkin-carving inspiration? I know I do. Sy is begging me to do the Belle princess pumpkin for her. I know I will cave (and carve), but dang. Really? Where did my little girrrrrrly girl come from? I wear nothing but black and she wears nothing but purple lace! Anyway, there are some fun (non-princess variety) downloadable templates over at Method. Thanks for the tip, Whitney!

Crafty Cookie Tins

2009-10-19T14:07:21+00:00

My friend Micky is wicked crafty. At last year’s school auction, she donated some of her off-the-hook cookies. The mom who won them figured they’d just be delivered under some foil, but Micky got her craft on and went a few steps further. She got clear paint cans at the Container Store*, lined them with some beautiful paper and Bob’s your uncle, you have one super cute cookie delivery system. *I can’t find the paint cans online at the Container Store, so here there are over at Stampendous. I think Paper Source has a very beautiful selection of decorative papers. More pictures after the jump.

Family Fun Bat-O-Lanterns

2009-10-17T04:41:23+00:00

My cousin just saw these super sassy Bat-O-Lanterns over at Family Fun. I’m totally going to make one of these with Sy. It totally won’t look anything like the picture.