Duck me!

Aaron Johnson, creator of the webcomic, What the Duck, is inviting everyone to "Go Duck Yourself." How could I resist? But what to do ....

This isn't "me" so much as anyone who's ever parented a toddler.



What are you waiting for? Go duck yourself!

Did you ever have to make up your mind?

With apologies to the Lovin' Spoonful

Did you ever have to make up your mind
Pick up on one and leave the other behind
It's not often easy and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind

When you're short on time, do you read, post or comment? (Or do a little of each?)

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Can anyone recommend a hand-held video recorder?

Do any of you have a hand-held video recorder you can recommend? If so, I'd love to know the brand and model and about how long you've owned it.

(Also useful would be knowledge about any hand-held video recorder that you DON'T like and why!)

Time management truisms

The Urgent puts the squeeze on The Important.

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

London fridges

Moreena doesn't have the market cornered on mondegreens. I bring you "London Fridges Falling Down."

(Who knew you could actually get a fridge with the Union Jack painted on it?)

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Cake slate

It's easy to make a special cake for the young budding film-maker in your life!

references: Flickr: downloading video and images in bulk

I was very excited to see that Flickr has added the ability to upload and share "long pictures" (video). However, it took me a long time to figure out, how as the owner of said video I could download the original file.

From the Flickr Help Forum, here's how:

"Click the Embed link above your video, the download link is on that page."
(At the very bottom)

Interested in downloading files from your Flickr account in a batch? Apparently Flishr did that for a while. (Not sure if it still does.)

Juan Pablo has a interesting sounding solution involving Firefox and some extensions.

From his blog:

It involves:
- firefox
- greasemonkey extension installed
- DownThemAll! extension installed
- Flickr - Link Original Image script for greasemonkey
- and of course, a flickr account

So, go to a page in flickr for where you want to download the photos, the best is a set page photo or a tag one, where all the photos are displayed.

In the page, right click and select DownThemAll!..., and then in the links tab select "Images" in the Inclusive Filters section.

Then, click Start and wait for the downloads. That's all.

Thanks Juan!

Pipe cleaner caterpillar

(This idea came home from school.)

Instructions for creating this Pipe Cleaner Caterpillar can be found at Craft Day.

Why I blog (in 6 words or less) - The pack rat

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

MLF&H: Help! I've got more than one child!

What do you do if you have more than one child and don't want to spend a fortune on personalized labels for each one? Here are some ideas for you:

Solution A: Family name

From the FAQ on the Mabel's Labels website:

I have 2 kids, could I have half my order as "Jenny" and the other half as "Kate"?
Unfortunately we can’t split orders. But you might consider going with the family name, so everyone can share the labels.

Should you order the Classic Stickies you'll be able to give each kid their own colour (assuming you've got no more than three children).

Solution B: Give children have same initial

If your children all have the same initial (such as Nicole, Nancy, Nathaniel and Ned) you're all set. Get the initial with your family name!

What's that? You didn't name your children with the same initial and you don't want to rename them? No worries.... we have more ideas below!

Solution C: Two children -- icon / no icon

If you've got two children with a large age difference, you may be able to convince the older one that icons on the stickers are for little kids. Then order your labels with the family name and cut off the icon for the older child to use. The younger child will identify anything with the name and the icon to be theirs.

Be sure to round the corners when you cut as approximated by the red lines in the image to the right.

Solution D: Two initials

If you need labels for two children, Nicole and Mabel, you could order the label as shown to the right.





Then for Nicole, cut off the ",M" and the icon. Be sure to round the corners when you cut as approximated by the red lines in the image to the right.




For Mabel, you cut off the "N." Again, be sure to round the corners when you cut as approximated by the red lines in the image to the right.

Solution E: Two initals, short family name

If you have a short family name and need labels for two children, Nicole and Mabel, you could order the label as shown to the right.




Then cut the label in half, one for each child. Be sure to round the corners when you cut as approximated by the red lines in the image to the right.

Solution F: Multiple initials

Use all the initials separated by a "/" for Nicole, Mabel and Tricia. No cutting required!

I hope you've found an idea in here that works for you. If you have other solutions you'd like to share, please let us know!



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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®




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Share this!

The Savvy moms at Savvymom.ca recently launched ShareSavvy.ca a lovely site for SavvyMoms to share. From their site:

"You can post or search for local favourites shared by moms in neighbourhoods all over Toronto (and soon in every ‘hood across Canada). It’s the local guide built just for moms, a virtual Rolodex of all the best stuff, places and services in and around town."

MLF&H: End of year gift for teachers

The end of the school year is approaching and it's time to start thinking about gift giving for your child's teacher or caregiver.

Moxie has some great posts with terrific comments about gift giving to teachers. Some of my favourite points include:

• "If you really want to buy a gift, please please please no cheese balls and teacher mugs or tchochkes or ornaments. The most appreciated gifts I ever got were books, office supplies, or gift cards to Borders and Staples."
• "The greatest gift your child can give is a handwritten letter -- something like, 'Ms. Maura, this is my favorite class. I really loved the project we did on X. I'm always going to remember you because of X. Thank you for teaching me X.'
• "So, the best gift is cash on the barrel, closely followed by gift cards to retailers so large and ubiquitous that they are cash equivalents. So cash it is for daycare providers. I don't know what we'll do for teachers once we hit elementary school. Gift certificates to places school supplies are found, plus other stuff, sound great."
• "Both schools I worked at had policies about accepting checks/cash."

If you feel like you want to send a tangible gift along with your child's handwritten note and / or gift certificate, add a Mabel's Labels Classroom Pack! For years, teachers have been telling Mabel's Labels that they need labels for the classroom.

6 words or less - why I blog

Earlier this year, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure was making a buzz through the internets. Which started a myriad of like-themed projects such as Novels in six words or less and Share your birth story in six words or less.

So when Laura asked her readers why they blog it seemed a good fit to try and answer in six words or less.

Why do you blog? Tag, you're it!

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

At-home parent

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Craig Ferguson and Hugh Laurie

How wonderful to have a job that is so much fun! Watch the interview of Hugh Laurie by Craig Ferguson (dated May 5 of this year).

Part one:


Part two:

Happy Mother's Day!

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Mark the date! June 7 is Drawing Day.

"Drawing Day is a worldwide drawing event encouraging everyone to drop everything and draw for the sake of art. The internet is an open canvas. Help us create 1 million drawings online this day and boost online art communities."

Read all about it at drawingday.org

[h/t: drawn.ca]

Who is Brad Pitt?

(It would appear that I'm making a habit of doodling posts using Brad Pitt as an example.)

This is based on a post by Seth Godin which uses Brad Pitt to illustrate the brand lifecycle. (Which is apparently quite similar to "The Life of a Jingle Singer" as described at waka waka waka and in the comments of a post at Leon Bailey Green.)

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Ever have one of those days?

Bliss Notes: your guide to abundant living

Jen Lawrence, founder of (the now defunct) T.O. Mama and Dwell on These Things has just launched Bliss Notes ~ an online guide to abundant living.

Today marked the inaugural issue of Bliss Notes, discussing how to bring a little spring zen to your nest. (For those of you who missed it, apparently archives will be available on the Bliss Notes site on May 15th.)

What are you waiting for? Sign-up today!