Every week both Michael and I post our "Thursday Tunes" which is just a song we've been feeling lately and that we want to share with you. It seems every week our songs couldn't differe more his usually something you can shake your ass to and mine something on the softer side. This week is no different. While he brought you Cut/Copy I bring the newest single off Tom Waits forthcoming record "Bad As Me". The song is called "Back in the Crowd" and according to the official @TomWaits twitter it is a "romantic ballad" so grab your lady, some candles and get down people. -Craig
Thursday Tunes v4
Only one track this week, but the video is dope so its ok! New cut copy - Blink and you'll miss a Revolution, enjoy!
Cut Copy - Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution from Cut Copy on Vimeo.
Ok maybe one more video, I just purchased the camera that this was shot on and I CAN NOT wait to use the time-lapse feature! How is it the world around us is this beautiful and we allow ourselves to get buried in the mundane stresses of daily life? Crazy.
A Timelapse Journey with Nature: 2009-2011 from Henry Jun Wah Lee on Vimeo.
***EDIT!!! I just stumbled upon this video from Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - "Garden"
Cut Copy - Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution from Cut Copy on Vimeo.
Ok maybe one more video, I just purchased the camera that this was shot on and I CAN NOT wait to use the time-lapse feature! How is it the world around us is this beautiful and we allow ourselves to get buried in the mundane stresses of daily life? Crazy.
A Timelapse Journey with Nature: 2009-2011 from Henry Jun Wah Lee on Vimeo.
***EDIT!!! I just stumbled upon this video from Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - "Garden"
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs 'Garden' from Lily Smith on Vimeo.
Why dont you take a picture, it will last longer!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
I just uploaded a little under 4gbs of photos and videos to my imac, adding to the over 500gb's we already have (before you start to judge, 1080p HD video takes up a lot of space!). What was I shooting most of the time? My kids and my wife, the subjects of choice 99.9 percent of the time. Have you ever gotten shit from friends or heard someone complain about people with children taking too may photos of them? Especially with newborns, they just sit there, why take photos over and over again?
I had never really thought about this until about an hour ago, while I was putting Hendrix to bed. He was nose to nose with me, hands clutched behind my head. His soft breath was tickling the side of my face but he had JUST fallen asleep so moving was not an option. I was thinking I wished I could capture how I felt right then and there, how I did not want to forget how I felt at that moment.
Adriana was away for three days this week on a buying trip to Manhattan with Tina from Stels/Monkey and the bug. Going into her being away I had a lot of anxiety over putting Hendrix to bed without her, without breastfeeding more then anything. The end result: tons and tons of bonding time with just me and my baby boy, in the midst of which I ended up buying a new camera, lighting rig, and grip. This meant, more photos, more video!! Which brings me back to my point, why do we take so many damned pictures of our kids? The answer is simple, its not because we are trying to capture a moment, an image, a perfect combination of shutter speed and apeture, its a feeling, a perfect feeling. We are pointing that camera and trying to grab a visual reminder of how we felt in that moment, which is damned near impossible. Modern cameras create massive images that can be blown up to epic proportions, not nearly as epic, as massive, as all consuming as our love for our children.
So thats it, the reason why I have thousands and thousands of photos of my kids that may evoke an "awww he is adorable" or a "your son is so precious I could look at photos of him all day" but to me, to us, to parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, step mothers and brothers, these images represent a feeling inside of us, a common bond that we all share. Chances are its that very same bond that brought you to this blog, well that, or the fact that its run by two damned handsome men. Either way, feel free to shoot away, post your photos and spread the love, especially here, this is a judgment free zone because Craig and I are as guilty as you are!
here the boys are kicking it in their bathing suits after a long beach day.
Adriana was away for three days this week on a buying trip to Manhattan with Tina from Stels/Monkey and the bug. Going into her being away I had a lot of anxiety over putting Hendrix to bed without her, without breastfeeding more then anything. The end result: tons and tons of bonding time with just me and my baby boy, in the midst of which I ended up buying a new camera, lighting rig, and grip. This meant, more photos, more video!! Which brings me back to my point, why do we take so many damned pictures of our kids? The answer is simple, its not because we are trying to capture a moment, an image, a perfect combination of shutter speed and apeture, its a feeling, a perfect feeling. We are pointing that camera and trying to grab a visual reminder of how we felt in that moment, which is damned near impossible. Modern cameras create massive images that can be blown up to epic proportions, not nearly as epic, as massive, as all consuming as our love for our children.
So thats it, the reason why I have thousands and thousands of photos of my kids that may evoke an "awww he is adorable" or a "your son is so precious I could look at photos of him all day" but to me, to us, to parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, step mothers and brothers, these images represent a feeling inside of us, a common bond that we all share. Chances are its that very same bond that brought you to this blog, well that, or the fact that its run by two damned handsome men. Either way, feel free to shoot away, post your photos and spread the love, especially here, this is a judgment free zone because Craig and I are as guilty as you are!
The Great Stroller Chase!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sierra prefers to be chased by her stroller to daycare instead of sitting in it. It's a fun game and it gets us where we're going a hell of a lot faster! -C
Thursday Tunes v3
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Hey! Michael here back with a third edition of Thursday Tunes! This week I have 3 tracks that are in heavy rotation right now, the first two are on the grime/uk tip and the third is an absolutely ethereal track that I GUARANTEE every one of you will love, if you dont already. I am obsessed with the vocals and the thick, warm bass-line in this one. Actually, screw it, I am posting that track first!
This video is badass, aside from the fact that HER BAND IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND! I have seen live videos with the full band and they are fantastic, not sure whey she is the only one featured, aside from the fact that SHE is the focus and maybe her band is a bunch of sessions musicians? Someone google that quick! Regardless, they remind me of a more mature version of Shiny Toy Guns who, by the way, got Carah Faye back!
This second track comes from D Double E and is called Lyrical Farda, his flow is always on point and I have been rocking his stuff in my sets since the release of Street Fighter!
Ok the third and final track, 'Streets So Warm', is from another UK artist, Toddla T featuring Wayne Marshall and my all time favorite dubstep artist, Skream. I swear I should have been born in East London! This track comes at you with some heavy claps, thick stabs, and jumps off with that type of swag that makes you do that shoulder sway, enjoy because the streets so warm!
Here is a little bonus from Ellie Goulding, the Tonka remix of Guns and Horses, heavy rotation in my sets at fashionably late!
Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses (Tonka remix) by bangnmash
This video is badass, aside from the fact that HER BAND IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND! I have seen live videos with the full band and they are fantastic, not sure whey she is the only one featured, aside from the fact that SHE is the focus and maybe her band is a bunch of sessions musicians? Someone google that quick! Regardless, they remind me of a more mature version of Shiny Toy Guns who, by the way, got Carah Faye back!
This second track comes from D Double E and is called Lyrical Farda, his flow is always on point and I have been rocking his stuff in my sets since the release of Street Fighter!
Ok the third and final track, 'Streets So Warm', is from another UK artist, Toddla T featuring Wayne Marshall and my all time favorite dubstep artist, Skream. I swear I should have been born in East London! This track comes at you with some heavy claps, thick stabs, and jumps off with that type of swag that makes you do that shoulder sway, enjoy because the streets so warm!
Here is a little bonus from Ellie Goulding, the Tonka remix of Guns and Horses, heavy rotation in my sets at fashionably late!
Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses (Tonka remix) by bangnmash
Guest Dad: Luke Garro (Antler Agency, Sweet Local Farm) on "Home Grown Food for Babies"
Have you ever thought about making your own baby food?
Growing and preparing food for your baby is quick, easy and a great way to save some pennies while at the same time guaranteeing what you are putting into their body is healthy and natural. Below is a quick guide on how to whip up a tasty and nutritious meal for your child utilizing veggies from your garden or sourced directly from your local farmers market.
But first, a little background.
I love growing food. What started out as a hobby quickly became a full-blown obsession to see just how much food I could grow. In 2010 I launched the Home Grown Food Challenge (http://www.antleragency.com/home-grown-food-challenge-2011/), a month long attempt to eat only things grown, harvested and preserved from one's garden. As I gear up for this year's challenge, I can't help but think about what a home grown meal would like like for my child, 11 month old baby Olive. Like all new parents, I'm obsessed with every little development my child makes and I'm willing to go the extra distance to help make each and every new experience for her as best as can be.
OK, now onto everybody's favorite subject...Food!
What to choose
There are plenty of vegetables that babies love to eat, both on the savory and sweet side of things. I suggest choosing a variety to really let them explore the flavor cornucopia that mother nature has to offer. After all, the tastes we develop at a young age can stick with us for the rest of our lives, so why not expand that palate as much as possible.
Some suggested favorites to start with include butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, sugar snap peas, yellow squash, apples and pears...all the New England staples.
How to Make
The quickest way to prepare the vegetables is to steam and puree them. You want to steam them for just long enough that they become mushy. Some vegetables, like potatoes, may take longer than others, but on average it should take 5-8 minutes. To puree, run through a food processor or blender until smooth. If you want, you can add a little bit of olive oil, which gives flavor and helps it blend smoother. Also, a little fat from nature is good for growing babies.
Once you've got the basics down, don't hesitate to explore interesting culinary combos to start fine tuning your child's potential to be the next food network star, such as butternut squash and apples, potato + kale, carrots + pear and carrots + yellow squash.
Babies can certainly eat strong flavored things, such as onion and garlic. Whether they actually will without giving you the ol' sour face is the question.
Babies should, however, avoid eating honey, strawberries and nuts. It's recommended that they wait until they are at least 12 months old, and even at that point, should consume these in moderation. I'd like to point out that I'm not a doctor so please consult the experts to get all your professional advice on potential food allergies for babies.
How to Preserve
Given the small portions that babies tend to eat, it's doubtful that your child is going to consume everything you made in one sitting. Fortunately, storage is easy. Spoon the excess food into an ice cube tray, freeze, and then pop out the frozen food cubes into a zip lock bag. Simple thaw out the cubes and feed to your child for future meals.
If you aren't keen on using ice cube trays, I suggest using Ball freezer containers. They are BPA free, dishwashwer safe, stackable and can be easily ordered online (link).
Well there you have it! What interesting food combinations are you excited to try for your child?
Please share your adventures in making home grown baby food (or adult food) on the Home Grown Food Challenge Facebook page (facebook.com/homegrownfoodchallenge) and Tumblr page (http://homegrownfoodchallenge.tumblr.com/). Or better yet, take the pledge (http://www.facebook.com/homegrownfoodchallenge?sk=app_226629927350861) yourself to eat home grown or locally for 1 day, 1 week or the whole month of October.
Author's note:
Luke Garro is a partner at Antler Agency (antleragency.com) and Gentlemen Farmer at Sweet Local Farm (sweetlocalfarm.com)
Growing and preparing food for your baby is quick, easy and a great way to save some pennies while at the same time guaranteeing what you are putting into their body is healthy and natural. Below is a quick guide on how to whip up a tasty and nutritious meal for your child utilizing veggies from your garden or sourced directly from your local farmers market.
But first, a little background.
I love growing food. What started out as a hobby quickly became a full-blown obsession to see just how much food I could grow. In 2010 I launched the Home Grown Food Challenge (http://www.antleragency.com/home-grown-food-challenge-2011/), a month long attempt to eat only things grown, harvested and preserved from one's garden. As I gear up for this year's challenge, I can't help but think about what a home grown meal would like like for my child, 11 month old baby Olive. Like all new parents, I'm obsessed with every little development my child makes and I'm willing to go the extra distance to help make each and every new experience for her as best as can be.
OK, now onto everybody's favorite subject...Food!
What to choose
There are plenty of vegetables that babies love to eat, both on the savory and sweet side of things. I suggest choosing a variety to really let them explore the flavor cornucopia that mother nature has to offer. After all, the tastes we develop at a young age can stick with us for the rest of our lives, so why not expand that palate as much as possible.
Some suggested favorites to start with include butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, sugar snap peas, yellow squash, apples and pears...all the New England staples.
How to Make
The quickest way to prepare the vegetables is to steam and puree them. You want to steam them for just long enough that they become mushy. Some vegetables, like potatoes, may take longer than others, but on average it should take 5-8 minutes. To puree, run through a food processor or blender until smooth. If you want, you can add a little bit of olive oil, which gives flavor and helps it blend smoother. Also, a little fat from nature is good for growing babies.
Once you've got the basics down, don't hesitate to explore interesting culinary combos to start fine tuning your child's potential to be the next food network star, such as butternut squash and apples, potato + kale, carrots + pear and carrots + yellow squash.
Babies should, however, avoid eating honey, strawberries and nuts. It's recommended that they wait until they are at least 12 months old, and even at that point, should consume these in moderation. I'd like to point out that I'm not a doctor so please consult the experts to get all your professional advice on potential food allergies for babies.
How to Preserve
Given the small portions that babies tend to eat, it's doubtful that your child is going to consume everything you made in one sitting. Fortunately, storage is easy. Spoon the excess food into an ice cube tray, freeze, and then pop out the frozen food cubes into a zip lock bag. Simple thaw out the cubes and feed to your child for future meals.
If you aren't keen on using ice cube trays, I suggest using Ball freezer containers. They are BPA free, dishwashwer safe, stackable and can be easily ordered online (link).
Well there you have it! What interesting food combinations are you excited to try for your child?
Please share your adventures in making home grown baby food (or adult food) on the Home Grown Food Challenge Facebook page (facebook.com/homegrownfoodchallenge) and Tumblr page (http://homegrownfoodchallenge.tumblr.com/). Or better yet, take the pledge (http://www.facebook.com/homegrownfoodchallenge?sk=app_226629927350861) yourself to eat home grown or locally for 1 day, 1 week or the whole month of October.
Author's note:
Luke Garro is a partner at Antler Agency (antleragency.com) and Gentlemen Farmer at Sweet Local Farm (sweetlocalfarm.com)
"Morning Guy" vs. "Night Guy" a.k.a. A Severe Case of the Mondays
Monday, September 19, 2011
DISCLAIMER: This post is a whiney one. Most likely I should have posted to my LiveJournal (I seriously still have one, judge me) or just kept it to myself but I figured why not bitch about my Monday online for all to see instead? Perhaps it will make you feel better about yours.
I am having a severe case of the Mondays. Ever consider having a few buddies over for some drinks and a friendly game of monopoly on a Sunday night? Well throw that idea right out the damn window if you have a toddler and/or job. Monopoly quickly went from friendly to a kaniving, back stabbing, wheeling' and dealing game of strategy (like it always does). Of course we never finished (like we never do) and we had more drinks than acceptable on a Sunday night. Somehow we then ended up all over the city on a photo shoot? I'm not talking Instagram© either, we had tripods, multiple cameras, etc.
After a trip to Newbury St, South Station and of course the South Street Diner for some late night coffee and food we got back well past 3:00 AM. Now a few years ago (pre-Sierra) I wouldn't have blinked an eye, I would have been up at 8 or 9 AM ready for the day. Well nowadays its more like up at 6AM and ready to rip somebody's head off! Ever see the Seinfeld skit about "Night Guy" and "Morning Guy"? Well right now I am Morning Guy and "I hate that Night Guy!"
“I never get enough sleep. I stay up late at night, cause I’m Night Guy. Night Guy wants to stay up late. ‘What about getting up after five hours sleep?’, oh that’s Morning Guy’s problem. That’s not my problem, I’m Night Guy. I stay up as late as I want. So you get up in the morning, you’re exhausted, groggy… oooh I hate that Night Guy!" - Jerry Seinfeld
Unfortunately when you're a daddy, ripping somebody's head off is not an option. Your only option is to suck it up and wake up, get dressed, get your toddler dressed and get your ass out the door by 7AM or else. Sierra decided to punish me for my ridiculous antics from the night before. First she refused to get dressed until she was tempted with a Halloween themed outfit including and orange tutu with cats on it. Then once finally outside she became hysterical when asked to sit in her "roller" (stroller) until she was temped with a bag of animal crackers (judge me). The punishment did not stop there, once we got to the coffee shop where we were given the wrong flavored bagel (#firstworldproblems) Sierra refused to eat even a bite. She did however chew it up to a nice sticky paste like consistency and then allow it to seep from her mouth between her teeth creating a lovely bagel colored stain on the front of her clean shirt (and on her elbow somehow?). From our seat to the door she realized Mama wasn't with us anymore and proceeded to lie on the floor and cry. After consoling her with hugs, kisses and animal crackers (judge me) she refused the stroller yet again and I had no will to protest this time around. It was actually for the best as we had a very pleasant and happy walk to daycare, where the punishment resumed. WE HAD A HORRIBLE DROP OFF. Tantrums galore. I'll spare you the gorey details but it wasn't pretty. To top it off? I missed my bus and am now typing this on the later bus which will get me to work a good 30 minutes late.
Although the morning was rather dreadful I honestly did have a great time last night. I don't get to see my friends from back home often and it was nice of them to drive all the way into the city and spend the day with my family and I. Thanks for reading, as a reward here are some of the photos I shot. -Craig
Happy Monday!
Good morning everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and that your coffee is helping fight off the monday blues! I know mine is...
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His & Hers |
September Giveaway: 3 Mustache Pacifiers from Stache Bash!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
As some of you may know Lauren and I have weened Sierra of her “beebee” a.k.a. binky. We decided to ween because she is talking a lot more now and we were worried always having the thing in her mouth may stunt her development, not to mention it was making it difficult for us to understand her! When she stopped it was a bitter-sweet moment. I was glad I could make out what she was saying but it was a little piece of her “baby-hood” that went away. The second the big green Soothie© was not around she began looking more child like instead of like my little baby.
So although my little baby is now a grown up talking big girl I’m sure some of you lucky bastards (i mean wonderful readers) have tiny little babies who would love these! They are hand made by a small company in Cleveland, Ohio, started by our pal Amanda Bowen, called STACHE BASH. She just opened her Etsy store a few months ago and these things have been selling like hot cakes! They are hand-knit little mustaches that are stitched right onto the binky! Now your baby too can rock the “Hulk Hogan” or the “Goatee”. We have three of these adorable guys to giveaway even if your child is too old they make a great finishing touch to a baby shower gift or birthday present!
We have three of these bad boys to giveaway so for the first time on our blog there will be multiple winners! You can enter up to two times for the chance to win either the “Classic”, the “Goatee” or the “Folk Singer”. Good luck everyone!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
- Three different winners will be picked at random 2 weeks from today.
RULES FOR ENTERING:
- You must be a follower of our blog if you aren’t already (follow button on right)
- Comment this post with your name and why you want to win!
WANT TO ENTER A 2nd & 3rd TIME?*
- Like our blog on Facebook and comment with why you want to win!
- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : “Win a mustache binky from Stache Bash and @TheHipsterDad! Check out the awesome & free #giveaway here:
*optional but does up your chances of winning!
LINKS:
Come kick it with The Hipster Dads at Family Swap Day!
So we are super stoked to be co-hosting a family swap
with the fabulous ladies from The Swapaholics. On October 8th in
Sommerville The Hipster Dad(s), JustByLiving, Boston mamas and Before I was a
Mom are joining The Swapaholics and Green Halloween to host a family
swap. What is Green Halloween? Who are The Swapaholics?
Well...
Green Halloween is collective of like minded folks trying to create an awareness for a more healthy and eco conscious holiday. It was started in Seattle and is in partnership with Ecomom (LOVE THEM!)
The Swapaholics are Melissa Massello and Amy Chase. Two lovely ladies from the Boston area who run swaps all over the country.
This is how it works.
(these words are from the Swapaholics site)
Donation Drop-Off:
10 am to 12 pm
10 am to 12 pm
Family Activity Room:
10 am to 2 pm
10 am to 2 pm
Swap!
12:30 SHARP
12:30 SHARP
Bring a bag full of all those like-new and gently worn kid's & maternity clothes, Halloween costumes & props, children's books, toys, games, gear, and other family-friendly items just taking up space in your home. Take home an official Swap bag stuffed full to the brim of new finds donated by fellow Boston-area families — all for just the cost of admission!
Easy-to-Shop Sections Curated by Favorite Local Family Bloggers:This ain't your grandma's swap meet! Each section of the swap will be carefully sorted and curated by special guests:
Christine Koh of Boston Mamas
Adriana Mancuso of Just By Living
Michael & Craig of The Hipster Dad
Lauren of Before I was a Mom
Have Some Pre-Swap Fun as a Family:While we (and our special guest stars, along with a small army of volunteers) sort all your collective donations into a pop-up store where everything is free for the taking, you and your kids can enjoy some super fun on-site activities, like a bag design contest for next year's Green Halloween tote bag from ChicoBag®, face painting, a fun photo booth, and more wholesome activities.
Sample FREE All-Natural Snacks:Fuel up for your free-for-all treasure hunt with eco-friendly nosh from Larabar, Stretch Island Fruit Company, and Honest Tea's new line of organic, low-sugar, fruit-flavored thirst quenchers: Honest Kids.
Feel Good & Do Good:
All the clothing left over at the end of the swap will be donated to Goodwill Boston, helping to support their mission of transforming lives & communities through the power of education & employment.
Members from the Goodwill team will also be on hand in the family activity area to give tips on creating clever Halloween costumes with unique themes from thrifted and swapped pieces! How fun is THAT?!
I am very very excited about this event. I'd love to see you all down there. As a little special treat I would like to offer all my lovely readers 25% off ticket prices with the code THEHIPSTERDAD.
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!
For more info including location, directions, and to purchase tickets go HERE
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