Heather Recommends
htristan recommended this 1 year, 4 months ago
Best value out there for an all-purpose lens. The 50mm will go anywhere you need it to, and the f/1.8 will give you great image quality for about $100.00. I have several lenses and this is the least expensive one - it is also the one I use the most. If I want an image that will print well, I use my feet to zoom and go to the standard. A great prime at a great price.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 4 months ago
I've used this product with both of my children and for us it has been the baby item we could not do without. Versatile and easy to clean, it washes up well, folds for travel, and provides hours and hours of entertainment for babies from two months to about a year. There are lights to watch, little figurines to bat at or pull on or chew on (or take off and bring in the car)- everything you need.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 4 months ago
Best book I've read in years. This one is fresh and long enough for you to feel like you got your money's worth. So far there are two books in what is projected to be a trilogy but this (first) one is the best of them. Don't let the slow start get you down - there's plenty of action and intrigue and yes, magic waiting for you between the covers. This is one bildungsroman you won't want to miss.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 4 months ago
I have had many diaper bags ranging from Petunia Picklebottom to Eddie Bauer (ugh) but this one is the best. Beautiful patterns, ultimate organization and flexibility, machine washable, and antimicrobial agion technology. Don't forget the awesome crumb drains! The BFF is the perfect size - big enough for a newborn's endless train of stuff, small enough to carry around everywhere. Perfect.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 4 months ago
I have this baby carrier and I absolutely love it! I never used baby carriers with my first because I had the baby bjorn and it was awful. Uncomfortable, unsightly, and my baby hated it. The Petunia Picklebottom ERGObaby carrier opened up a whole new world of beautiful baby carrying comfort for me with my second baby. She is now four months old and we use it every day and get so many compliments.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago
A profane, blinding whirlwind of well-written fantasy so gritty and grounded you will wonder what genre you are reading. Like Harry Potter with sex, drugs, alcoholism, and a general malaise, this book spans a disconcerting six years or so in the life of a young magician. The content leans toward Catcher in the Rye, but the writing is so good that you will find it compelling and irresistible.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago
Quite possibly the best series ever written. Tolkien is great, and C.S. Lewis can be whimsical, but Harry Potter is the gateway drug that gets your foot in the door. Fun for all ages, even adults can't resist the spell - my husband and I fought furiously over whose turn it was to read The Deathly Hallows when the seventh book finally came out just days before our first daughter was due. I won.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago
Light, un-demanding viewing for the whole family. Children enjoy seeing babies on screen, and who doesn't enjoy stopping for a few minutes to enjoy some unmitigated cuteness when your day is going wrong? Bonus points for Mari's awesome tantrum that will not end and for the ridiculously catchy theme tune.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago
Looking for an entertaining read to enlighten your day? Check out Rage Against the Minivan's blog. It details the experience of a family that has grown through both domestic and international adoption and addresses humorous daily anecdotes as well as serious issues regarding orphan care around the world.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago
Etsy is an online miracle. It's as though someone lives in my head and creates physical manifestations of all the things I can think of. My daughter asks for a pink and purple tutu for her birthday and dance stores say no dice - voila etsy! Need custom designed hair jewelry for a ball? Thank you, etsy! If you can dream it, etsy is already doing it.
htristan recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago
Best periodical on the market - and not just for technophiles. Gripping journalism on a wide variety of topics entertains and informs. I look forward to each issue like a monthly Christmas! Especially great for those who relish the geeky side of life.