Top 5: Silver Linings in the Financial Crisis

We know a lot of people are struggling in this financial downturn, especially if you are one of the many who have lost their job. It's helpful, though, to look at the bright side in difficult times. Here is our Top 5:

1. A Buyers Market -- Housing prices were inflated prior to the crisis. Now they're coming down to a reasonable level. This is positive news for hopeful first time buyers like us. Since we would like to buy a house in the next two to three years, we will benefit from the downturn.
2. Lower Credit Rates -- Credit card rates are going down. This will help us pay off our credit card debt quicker.
3. Lower Gas Prices -- Lower gas prices lessens the strain of traveling to visit families and loved ones.
   
4. Retirement Planning -- This one benefits us as well as those who are not close to retiring. We will be "buying low" for retirement. To make money in the stock market, you have to buy low and sell high. For our retirement funds to work to our advantage, we're thankful for every bear market before retirement.
5. Education -- With every financial crisis comes opportunities to learn from mistakes. In particular, we learn to be thrifty when cash flow is low. Now, we will understand the frugality of our Depression-era grandparents..
   

What are some ways you have benefited from the financial crisis?

Top 5: X-Factor and Z-Man Differences at 18 Months

Z-Man turns 18 months old today. He differs from X-Factor at 18 months in many ways. Here are the Top 5.

1. If you scold them: X-Factor would fall on the floor crying. Z-Man will laugh at you and run away.
2. When you read them a book: X-Factor would actively participate, turning the pages, often before you're ready. Z-Man will sit quietly in your lap and listen.
3. When they play: X-Factor would excel at imaginary play. Z-Man will excel at stacking blocks.
4. At the playground: X-Factor would climb on the playscape, with a little help. Z-Man will find the highest point in the playground and climb to it--unassisted.
5. At mealtime: X-Factor would eat anything you put in front of her. Z-Man won't eat anything green.
   

Top 5: News Stories You may have Missed Because of the Election and Financial Crisis

To see my answers, go to my political blog.

Top 5: Myths Assumed by Presidential Candidates

If any of you have missed my Top 5 lists recently, you can check out my newest one on my political blog:

Top 5: Myths Assumed by Presidential Candidates

Top 5: Best Things About Moving

Moving stinks. I hate it. There are, however, some benefits. This is my attempt to look at the silver lining as I sit here with a terribly sore back, surrounded by unpacked boxes.

1. I get to drive the truck. I'm one of the guys who likes to watch those shows on the Discovery Channel about real masculine jobs, where they get to operate heavy machinery. I may never get to work on an oil rig, but at least I can drive a moving truck every once and a while.
2. I appreciate good friends more. I've moved 8 times since 1999. In all these moves, we've had incredible friends who helped out in amazing, selfless ways. This move was no exception.
3. I get rid of a lot of useless stuff. Since I want to move as little stuff as possible, I always end up getting rid of stuff that hasn't seen the light of day since, well, the last move. So, looking at it this way, moving is a very cleansing experience.
   
4. I clean parts of furniture that normally don't get cleaned. Moving is an excellent opportunity to clean behind desks, the tops of bookshelves, and such.
5. I get to eat out more. Since I don't have access to cooking facilities for at least several days during the move, it's a convenient excuse to try some dining establishments that I otherwise would not be able to justify because of the cost.

Whew! That was tough. Mostly, moving just plain stinks. I wasn't sure if I would be able to come up with 5. Can you think of any others?

Top 5: Our Favorite Cereals

As I mentioned in my Top 5 Cereals that are Marketed as Health Food, But Really Aren't, we only buy cereals with 6 grams of sugar or less. Also, cereal can be expensive, so I try to buy cereals that are less that $.20/ounce. Even with these restrictions, you can find some tasty cereals. Here are the five you are most likely to find in our pantry.

1. Honey Bunches of Oats: The regular and the cinnamon clusters are our favorite. Avoid the chocolate one. If you're really in the mood for chocolate, you'll be disappointed. [Dkay, I bet you're happy that this one passed the low sugar test.]
   
2. Life: Again, both the regular and cinnamon are yummy.
   
3. Cheerios: This one does double duty as a top 5 toddler finger food.
   
4. Rice Krispies: Could anyone not love that "snap, crackle, pop" in your mouth?
   
5. Kix: Probably the least healthy one on the list. Mrs. N. and the kids enjoy this one more than I.
   

Any others you recommend?

Top 5: Cereals that are Marketed as Health Food, but Really Aren’t

I’m one of those people that clog up the lane in the cereal aisle because I’m studiously reading all the nutrition labels. One of my pet peeves is all the cereals that are trying to sell you on their health benefits, but have way too much sugar to really be healthy. I think that is deceptive. Maybe they had to add a lot of sugar to make all the healthy stuff in there taste good. Here are my Top 5, with their sugar content.

1. Healthy Choice (28g): Twenty-eight grams of sugar is a “healthy choice”?
2. Smart Start (28g): How smart is consuming 28g of sugar in a single serving?
3. Multi-Grain Cheerios (20g): Multi-grain sounds good. Twenty grams of sugar does not. Regular Cheerios only has six grams.
4. Wheaties (14g): How could a cereal with an athlete on the box be unhealthy? I guess if I were going to be in the Super Bowl or the Olympics, I could use a little extra sugar.
5. Kashi GoLean Crunch (13g): How about "GoSugarHigh Crunch." Kashi is an organic brand. Organic is usually associated with healthy, but many of the cereals they make have a whole bunch of sugar.

This is in no way a complete list. If you see a cereal with any of the following words in their name, chances are they’re going to have a lot of sugar: raisin, granola, fiber, nut.

As a general rule, we don’t buy any cereals with more than 6 grams of sugar. Would you like to see a list of our favorites next?

Top 5: Baby Stuff that You Shouldn't Skimp On

In previous posts on this topic, I discussed the Top 5 Useless Baby Stuff, and Top 5 Baby Stuff that you Shouldn't Spend a Lot of Money On. Of course, there are also some products that are worth paying top dollar for. Here are my Top 5.

1. Baby Carrier: Baby Bjorn makes the best carrier on the market. I used it a lot when X-factor was a baby. Since we lived in a 2nd story apartment, it was often more convenient than a stroller for short trips.
   
2. Crib Mattress: With X-factor we got a cheapest one we could find. By the time she transitioned to a bed, it was very worn and, I assume, difficult to sleep on. So, for Z-man I'm glad we got something better (thanks to Nannie).
   
3. Car Seat: This one should be obvious. When it comes to the safety of my little ones, I don't skimp.
   
4. Changing Table: Dkay thought this should be in the Useless Baby Stuff list. There are two trains of thought here. 1) Go really cheap, or no changing table. Use the floor or a bed. 2) Get a nice changing table that becomes a dresser when you're done using it as a changing table.
   
5. Breast Pump: For working mommies, you need the convenience of a good breast pump. I was a stay-at-home daddy for five months. It was really important for getting X-factor a steady supply of the good stuff.
   
   

Top 5: Baby Stuff that We Shouldn't Spend a Lot of Money On (But Usually Do)

The "baby stuff" industry does a pretty good job convincing us that we need to spend a lot of money on this and that. Thanks to everyone who left comments on my Top 5 Useless Baby Stuff list. I like hearing about other parents experiences with these products. I've found that a lot of the expensive baby stuff adds a lot of features that are really unnecessary and rarely, if ever used, so the cheap stuff works just fine, or in some cases, better. So here's my list of baby products that you shouldn't spend a lot on.

1. Strollers: Expensive strollers usually add a lot of features that just add a lot of weight. Since you often need to take strollers in and out of car trunks, closets, and such, I've found the cheaper, lightweight ones to be more convenient.
2. High Chairs: The main thing I'm looking for in a high chair is something that is easy to clean. The fancy high chairs add a lot of little nooks, cup holders, and such that just make it harder to clean. If high chair manufacturers really wanted to make me happy they would make it with a tray that would fit in the dishwasher.
3. Bottles: Here again, easy to clean is the priority. As a general rule, the more expensive the bottle, the more parts it will have to clean. (If you've ever tried Dr. Brown's, you know what I mean.) The simple, cheap ones work just fine for me.
   
4. Swing: Mostly, you just need the swinging motion and the kind that takes batteries instead of the manual crank. Sadly, we discovered (the hard way) that while the swing may work wonders for your firstborn, it may cause the second to just scream louder.
5. Bassinet: You're only gonna use this for about 4 months, so why spend a lot of money on it? With X-factor we just used bassinet that came with the pack and play. I liked it because it also had the changing table right there.
   

Any others you would add? Any suggestions for a "baby stuff you shouldn't skimp on" list?

Top 5: Useless Baby Stuff

1. Pockets on Baby Clothes: Huh? Have you ever heard of a baby needing a pocket? "Uh-oh, wait Mom I forgot my wallet!" Yeah, right.
2. Baby Monitors: I'll probably get a lot of folks disagreeing with me on this one, but this is the way I see it. Babies are LOUD. If they really need you, you will know, even without a baby monitor. Plus, what parents of newborns need more than anything is sleep. Being able to hear every little coo coming from the baby room won't help you get the good night sleep that you need.
3. Wipe Warmers: Let's see. Wipes need to be moist. Add heat, what do you get? Dry wipes. Brilliant.
4. Bibs that Tie: Attention bib manufacturers: there's this nifty invention that's been around since 1941. It's called VELCRO!
   
5. Walkers: Crawling is a perfectly acceptable developmental stage. It builds coordination and upper body strength, so there's no need to rush the walking thing. I've even heard of parents knocking their young-uns on their bums whenever they start to walk just so they won't walk too soon.

Any others that you think deserve an honorable mention?

Top 5: Ways that my Daughter is just like my Wife

1. Appearance: I know it's romantic to tell a loved one, "when God made you he threw away the mold." But when you look at the X-factor, you can tell that's not the case for Mrs. N. God kept that mold and reused it.
2. Passionate: X-factor, like Mrs. N., doesn't do anything halfway. When she has a task before her, all her emotional energy will be devoted to it.
3. Cute When Angry: I saw this on a t-shirt once. It would be perfect for Mrs N or X-Factor. If you smile when they're angry because you're thinking "how cute," they just get angrier, then you smile more, because they're cuter, then they get angrier, cuter, more smiles.... It's like a never ending spiral of conundrums.
   
4. Good Communicator: For those of you who read this blog, or Mrs N.'s other blog know, she has a way with words. X-factor is already showing signs of these same skills. When adults comment on how well spoken she is, my usual remark is, "she gets lots of practice because she talks nonstop."
   
5. If you tickle her, she will bite you: I discovered this the hard way recently. It reminded me why I have to be extra careful when tickling Mrs. N.

Top 5: Things that Would Make us Millionares if You Could Get A Lot of Money For Them

5. Crayons: I find these in every nook and cranny of every piece of furniture that we own. I think they procreate when we're not looking.

4. Dog Hair: Especially in the Spring, C-mae sheds like crazy. She thinks we don't know when she's been on the couch, but the circle of dog hair gives her away.

3. Toy Ducks: Somehow the word got out that we had a duck-themed bathroom and now it's overrun with the little suckers. If you were to reach in the tub to get one of our kids out, there's a 9 in 10 chance of grabbing a duck instead.

2. Boo-Boos: We keep a "boo-boo pad" in the freezer that gets used five times a day. (Child Protective Services: if you are reading this, these are accidents. I promise.)

1. Drool: Z-man produces his weight in this stuff every day.

Top 5: Most Annoying Kid Shows

Here is my follow up to the Least Annoying Kid Shows list. Except for number 1, these are, I think, decent shows for kids, I just hate to sit through them.

1. Telletubbies: This one would also qualify for a "So Annoying My Toddler Won't Even Watch It" list. After watching a little bit of an episode, Pumpkindoodle said, "they're kinda creepy." Well said, little one.
2. Barney & Friends: "I love you, you love me." No, Barney, I don't love you. You're annoying.
   
3. Caillou: That voice, ugh! I rather listen to fingernails on a chalkboard.
   
4. Dora the Explorer: This was also on the "Pumkindoodle's Favorite Kid Shows" list. I love that she helps her learn Spanish, and there are some great lessons. But that repetition can drive an adult nutty.
5. Sesame Street: I appreciate the celebrity appearances, such as R.E.M. singing "Furry, Happy Monsters" (which I love, see below). This might even make the Least Annoying Kid Shows list if they were to get rid of a certain giggly red furry monster that will remain unnamed (rhymes with Melmo).

Any shows that you think deserve an honorable mention?

Top 5: Least Annoying Kid Shows

With a preschooler in the house, I occasionally find myself watching TV with her. You've already seen X-factor's favorites. For some shows, this experience is less painful than others. Here is my list of the least annoying kid shows, in order of preference:

1. Veggietales. This would actually belong on a "non-annoying kid shows" list, but since it would be the only show on the list, there wouldn't be much point. I look forward to watching these when a new one comes out. The characters are hilarious. I particularly like "Silly-songs with Larry."
2. Bindi the Jungle Girl. At least I learn something about animals in the process.
3. Wordgirl. Some of the humor in this show causes me to laugh out loud at times.
4. Between the Lions. Some of the silliness and cultural references (Gewayne's World instead of Wayne's World) make it slightly bearable.
5. Diego. Occasionally, I learn something about an obscure rain forest animal that I never heard of. (Diego, if you read this blog, let me apologize in advance--your cousin could appear on my upcoming "Top 5: Most Annoying Kid Shows" list.)

Any other shows that you think deserve recognition?

Top 5: Best Toddler Finger Foods

Here is the much anticipated sequel to my Top 5: Baby Foods post. So what are my favorite finger foods for a toddler?

1. Peas: Nutrition packed and just the right size, it almost like God made them especially for toddlers. I've noticed that toddlers don't like these overcooked, though. We buy them frozen, plop in boiling water. As soon as the water comes to a boil, we strain them and douse them with cold water to stop the cooking. I've noticed that you don't have to reheat the leftovers. Toddlers like them cold, too. An even easier way to prepare peas is to buy the steam-fresh frozen variety.
   
2. Goldfish: Dkay guessed this one correctly. I must admit, the first time I saw toddlers eating goldfish, I was horrified. But then I read the nutrition label and realized it wasn't too bad. They come in whole grain now, which is even better. Plus, I was delighted to find that they now sell the whole grain version in the big 'ole humungo box. The only nutritional concern is the high sodium, but high sodium may not be as bad as once thought.
3. Cheerios: This one should come as no surprise. Is there a toddler today that doesn't get half their calories from cheerios? There are some organic brands that are slightly better nutritionally, but some of those are too hard for toddlers to chew.
   
4. Bananas: The only carryover from the the Top 5 Baby Foods, instead of mashing we cut them into bite-sized pieces. It won't take long before you can just put half a banana in their hand and let them chomp down on their own. Pumpkindoodle used to "double-fist" a banana every morning. Also a great snack for adults and they even come in their own wrapper (ever notice someone put bananas in their own little plastic bag at the grocery store, what's up with that?).
   
5. Raisins: Like peas, just the right size, and like Goldfish and Cheerios, they travel easily.
   

What would you add to the list?

Top 5: Pumpkindoodle's Favorite TV Shows

1. Mister Roger's Neighborhood
2. Sesame Street
3. Word World
4. Super Why
5. Dora the Explorer
   

Top 5: Baby Foods

My top 5 baby foods meet all of these criteria: they're healthy, they're easy to prepare (the first 3 take no preparation and the last 2 you can just mash with a fork), babies love them, and they are cheap (at least compared to those little jars of baby food).

1. Plain, whole milk yogurt (and plain does not mean vanilla). Stonyfield Farm is particularly yummy, but hard to find. (BTW, I don't understand the "baby yogurts" that are on the market now. They have added sugar and babies love the plain stuff.)
   
2. Cottage cheese
3. Applesauce
4. Bananas
5. Avocados
   

Would you change anything on the list?

Hmmm? Should I do a top 5 toddler finger foods next?