K-Cup of the Moment: Peets Coffee and Tea - Big Bang

It's time again for another installment of your favorite internet read of the week -- K-Cup of the Moment.  My 7-month old is teething and waking up periodically throughout the night, which translates to give me coffee now .  If you recall, I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories: (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup. My K-Cup of the Moment is another dandy from Peet's Coffee and its called Big Bang.

Aroma:  7

Perhaps its that time of the year when my sinuses give me the middle finger, but the aromatics of Big Bang are not as noticeable as one of my favorite K-Cups that Peet's Coffee produces -- Major Dickason's Blend (see review here).  

Strength: 8

With a name like Big Bang you would expect your head to explode after having a few sips of this medium roast coffee; however, the caffeine jolt in this coffee is fairly normal for a medium roast coffee.  I always add a second cup to get that extra boost.

Taste: 9

Peet's knows how to make a delicious coffee and Big Bang is no exception.  This is a smooth roast that has a rich taste to it.  

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  10

The coffee is called Big Bang which instantly made me think of one of my favorite shows on TV -- The Big Bang Theory.  More importantly, Big Bang was crafted to celebrate Peet's 50th anniversary -- so you know its got to be good. Unfortunately for my co-workers, I am a terrible sharer and did not bring any for them to try.

Overall:  9

Another great coffee by another great coffee institution.  In honor of Peet's 50th anniversary, I am going to have 50 cups of coffee tomorrow.  

The Halloween 'Circle of Life'

If you have your Lion King soundtrack handy, I recommend listening to 'Circle of Life' (Elton or no Elton - your choice) while reading this post.  When I was a young lad my parents use to order us Halloween costumes from mail order catalogs.  I'd dress up as a pumpkin, Superman, a mad scientist (to name a few) and my parents would walk me around the neighborhood. I would shyly ring a neighbor's door bell, wait for a the neighbor I had never met to answer, say trick or treat in a monotone manner, receive some candy, say thanks , and repeat. This process could continued on until my late teens (my parents still walked me around).   

Now that I have a child of my own, I have made it half-way around the Halloween 'Circle of Life'.  Who would have thought dressing a six month old up for Halloween would be a thing -- but it is.  My daughter has two teeth - the doctor says she won't be eating candy anytime soon.  So for Halloween I get to dress up as Papa Bear, and walk around with my wife, Mama Bear and daughter Baby Bear, and collect candy for us to eat (see "costume"  and above ).  I'm sure there are some families out there who find themselves in the same spot but perhaps don't have a costume plan yet -- it's not too late -- here are a few ideas:

1.   The family in the stock photo used in most picture frames.  This one is a classic and inexpensive too.  Just throw a white shirt and khakis on the whole family and get ready to get some ooos and ahhhs around the neighborhood. 

2.  The family that just got back from a day at Magic Kingdom at Disney World.  Blood, sweat and tears -  this Halloween costume makes Friday the Thirteenth look like Freaky Friday.  

3.  The family waiting for a table at Outback Steakhouse.  Get yourself a boomerang, a big bloke for Daddy-O and a restaurant pager and your all set to go down under with this Halloween classic. 

4.  The family who sings Christmas carols all year round.  Break out your best holiday sweater and take the kids on adventure like no other. Forget Trick or Treat - give your neighbors a Trick and Treat with a beautiful family rendition of Deck the Halls this Halloween.  

5.  The family who lets their children cut in line and the doesn't say anything.  This is probably the cheapest option.  Just let your kids push their way to the front of the line at your neighbor, Jim's place to collect some more delectable mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups while you stand in the back and nod in approval. 

I hope these options help your family celebrate Halloween this year and put you one step closer to winning best costume at your neighborhood party.  

Six Things for Six Months

Well, I survived a whole six months of fatherhood.  Time flies by when you are changing diapers, replacing pacifiers two or seven times per night, researching various infant health concerns on parenting message boards, researching various adult mental health concerns on parenting message boards, and putting all five pieces to a baby bottle together so your child can eat -- to name a few things. 

My wife posted a six month update on her blog last week (you can check it out here).  To celebrate the six month mark I wanted to do something different.  As I described in my initial Dad Things post I am fascinated by the gadgets and gizmos that are available for babies -- and as I mentioned before, you will do (sing songs, read books about animal tails, shush until your lips fall off) and buy anything to survive.  For this post I am sharing six things (one for each month) that I found essential to surviving the first six months of fatherhood.  

1.   One Month.  Fisher-Price, Newborn Auto Rock-N-Play Sleeper

Like most expecting parents, before the baby was born we went furniture shopping.  Crib, dresser, nightstand, glider -- the works.  We had to have a theme because apparently mommies on Pinterest said so (Dylan's room is a book theme).  The baby is born and a remarkable thing occurs -- the baby doesn't sleep in her room (or sleep at all).  Enter the Rock-N-Play.  Yes, this life saving rocking machine that plays white noise lulls most babies to sleep in the early weeks of their existence on planet Earth.  In addition to white noise, the rocker plays other musical lullabies as well as automatically "rocks" back and forth.  You can set the Rock-N-Play for a specific time (30 minute intervals) to shut off.  It's a lovely item.  Thank you to Mr. Fisher and Mr. Price.  You are kind.

2.  Two Months.  Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher

Baby formula comes in a variety of brands, stomach intensity levels, GMO, Non-GMO, etc.  You can buy premixed formula, powders, to-go bottles, jugs, etc.  If you are like us, and buy the powder, you understand that trying to make each individual bottle is quite tedious.  Trying to calculate the amount of scoops for a 3.75 oz bottle (which requires putting together five different parts per bottle) is not easy when you are running on fumes.  Enter Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher.  Here, Dr. Brown realized that by producing a pitcher that parents can fill with a days worth of formula which mixes the formula with a unique blade system that ensures no clumps in the bottles, he will have saved the world.  Yes, yes, he did.  If you are on the formula plan with your child, check this pitcher out. 

3.  Three Months.  BABYBJORN Bouncer Balance Soft

There comes a time as a new parent where you are faced with a dilemma:  You need to go to the bathroom, take a shower, get dressed (you get the point) but you have a baby -- that can not be left alone.  Rather than put the baby on the floor alone and dash off quickly to handle your business convincing yourself that it will only take a minute, you can place your child safely in the comfortable BABYBJORN Bouncer Balance Soft Chair.  The chair is lightweight and extremely portable -- which makes it great for carrying it around your house or on-the-go.  The chair bounces with the baby's movement -- which sometimes can lull the little one to sleep (a bonus feature).  

4.  Four Months.  Jellycat Softbooks, Jungly Tails

I previously wrote about this "novel" on the blog, however, it has been such an essential item, I felt the need to share it again.   This book has it all:  

• It's a book about animals' tails.  
• It's soft so when your child starts chewing on it or slamming it up and down it has a lower likelihood of causing injury
• It makes a crinkly noise
• It's colorful

Jellycat makes a variety of other books in this series including Pony Tails, Puppy Tails, and Dino Tails.  

5.  Five Months.  MAM Orthodontic Glow in the Dark Pacifiers

Babies suck.  And when they do they need a pacifier.  The problem with the dozen pacifiers you grabbed from the hospital before getting discharged is that they are difficult for your child to find (and grab) in the crib after falling out of their mouth seven or eight times a night.  Around the five month mark is when Dylan started being able to put the pacifier into her own mouth.  It makes it even easier for her (and us) when the pacifier glows in her crib so she can easily locate it to return it to her mouth.  This is where the nifty MAM pacifier comes in.  Sure they have other benefits but most importantly -- they glow-in-the-dark -- so if I have to enter the dark abyss (the nursery) to locate the pacifier to soothe the baby -- I can easily find it.  Thank you, MAM.

6.  Six Months.  Baby Brezza Glass Food Maker

After months of eating the same thing every day, Dylan graduated to "solid" foods.  I assumed that when Dylan was ready for solid food, we would go to the grocery store and purchase some of jarred baby food.  Well, now parents around the world are doing the unthinkable -- making food for their babies.  Finding the time to make food for yourself can often be a challenge.  Add the chopping, dicing, peeling, steaming, blending, cleaning to make some baby food to your schedule and you start having a nervous breakdown.  We recently purchased the Baby Brezza Glass Food Maker.  Many reviewers will tell you that this contraption is a glorified food processor with the word "baby" on it.  While those reviewers are technically right, however, this processor also steams the food in the blender.  After you have prepped the fruits or vegetables all that is left to do is drop it in the glass bowl to steam and blend.  The key is ONE BOWL.  This makes cleaning up less of a chore. 

---

Of course there are other gadgets. gizmos, and products that have been essential to my six month journey, but I created a gimmick -- 6 things for 6 months -- and I had to stick to it.  

On to the next six months.  

The At-Home Workout Shopping Guide

I get a lot of questions (basically 2 or 3 total) about the equipment I use to do my at-home workouts.  For the past several months, my workouts have exclusively been Beachbody workouts (T25, 21 Day Fix Extreme and P90X3).  Thus, the gear outlined in this post compliments these programs well (and I imagine other Beachbody programs as well).

1.   Dumbbells.  You need at least one set of dumbbells to complete many of the at home DVD programs.  We have a set of Reebok adjustable dumbbells which, with the turn of a dial, can be adjusted from 10, 15, 20, and 25, lb dumbbells.  Hopefully, as you progress through your workout program you become stronger and can lift heavier weights.  I moved up to 10 lbs recently (from 5 lbs).  We also have multiple sets of traditional dumbbell pairs for quick access, as some of the workouts move quickly, so it is helpful to have the dumbbells ready to go.

2.  Mat.  Our workout area is carpeted.  Rather than ruin our carpet by covering it in sweat, we decided to purchase a nice area mat for the workout room.  After extensive research, we decided to purchase a cardio mat from Square36.  Based on their FAQs and reviews on Amazon, a lot of people use their mats for completing Beachbody workouts.  The mat is 6' x 6' (Square 36 sells a 8' x 6' extra large mat).  The mat is constructed with high quality materials and is made in the USA.  The mat helps reduce impact on your knees when you are trying to do jump-knee-tucks or some other crazy exercise during one of the workout programs.

3. Pull-up bar.  For some readers, pulling themselves out of bed is an accomplishment.  If you are looking to get a workout in using one of Beachbody's programs, you will likely need a pull-up bar.  You can purchase a pull-up bar that hangs over your door frame.  I previously purchased one from Perfect Fitness, but our door frames are too high to use it (plus over time the door frame bars will likely wear on the door frame).  We purchased an ingenious device made in the U.K. called Pull Up Mate.  The Pull Up Mate is well constructed and is easy to assemble and disassemble.  We hang a pull-up assist on it as well (because doing an actual pull-up is hard). 

4.  Push-up bars.  If you sit at a computer all day, your wrists likely hurt.  Doing push-ups doesn't help your cause.  I purchased these CAP Barbell Push up bars which add more stability to the push up and take strain off of the wrists.  

5.  Resistance Bands.  Although I do not use them as often as the items above, we purchased a set of Bodylastics resistance bands.  The bands range in resistance (in lbs).  In many cases you can substitute a band for dumbbells.  The Bodylastics set also comes with a door anchor to exercises like a pull-up.  

Now just make sure that you spread out the purchases;additional research of these items while you are at work.  You don't want to appear as though all you do all day is surf the internet.

Coffee of the Moment - Kimera Koffee

Fellow coffee addicts - I am back with a new coffee post.  As you know (or maybe don't know) I like to use my Keurig machine to brew several fresh cups of coffee per day.  I also like to share my love of K-Cup coffee with you through my review of a K-Cup - THE K-Cup of the Moment.

If you recall each week I reviewed a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories: (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup. This post is different, however.  

This week I would like to share my experience with ground coffee that I brew in a travel French Press that I received via a "Man Crate" (which deserves its own post) which my wife purchased for me.  This week's Coffee of the Moment is Kimera Koffee. 

A little background is needed before we dive into any reviews.  Kimera Koffee isn't any ordinary cup-o-joe.  "Kimera is packed with premium-grade Nootropics, proven to help you increase focus, power output and cognition. Nootropics are powerful cognitive enhancers that improve some aspect of mental function. The Nootropics in Kimera Koffee are all-natural amino acids typically found in protein-rich foods but not always easy enough to get from diet alone."

After settling with regular coffee for several years, I needed a change of pace.  Additionally, I drink a cup of coffee before my workout in the morning.  If you take a gander at Kimera Koffee's website and social media posts, you will see pictures of athletes who also partake in a cup of Kimera Koffee before their workout (actual athletes -- not unathletic humans - like myself).  

Aroma:  9

Pop open a bag of Kimera Koffee and you are immediately greeted with the glorious scent of a deep rich coffee roast that will have you grinning from ear to ear.  

Strength: 10

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be a lion?  Well,  have a cup of Kimera Koffee and you'll see.  Check out my before and after photos after having my first cup of Kimera Koffee.  

In all seriousness from a workout performance standpoint,  I felt like I was able to push through cardio moves with more focus and intensity than I normally do with just a dark roast K-Cup.  

Taste:  10

I really enjoy the taste of Kimera Koffee -- especially in a French Press.  The coffee is very smooth and that rich coffee flavor that I really enjoy.   

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said Coffee:  10

Not a chance that I share this coffee with my co-workers.  Also, I do not want to be responsible for what happens if they try and do a back flip off of their desk chair to try and get to the printer.  

Despite not treating my office to heart palpitations and a transformative experience that will turn you into an animal from Jumanji,  I was very much intrigued by Kimera Koffee's approach to coffee and was not disappointed. 

Overall: 10

I am a big fan of floating above my body and therefore I am a big fan of Kimera Koffee.  I use it as a pre-workout drink and have found it very beneficial to my workout routine.  If you are looking for something a little different with natural ingredients to help increase focus and intensity - give Kimera Koffee a shot. 

Dad weirdness

Shit gets weird when you become a new parent.  

I wish there was a chapter explaining the weirdness and oddities that occur on the parenting journey in the dozens of books my wife gave me grief about not reading.  The closest thing is Phil's-Osophy which unfortunately for us dads, is a fictional book by one of the greatest dads out there - Phil Dunphey.  Below are 5 examples of how shit gets weird. 

1.   Every object is a "Mr."  Mr. Fan, Mr. Light, Mr. Happyface painting, Mr. Penguin.   For whatever reason, when I am describing something to my daughter or pointing out something to her the object becomes a person with a prefix.  

2.   Conversations in Questions.  Some of you may be use to this when you are trying to decide what to do for dinner (i.e. The what do you want to eat, I don't care, what do you want to eat conversation), but it is elevated during new parenthood.  

 Me: Should we feed her?

Wife: Did you look at the app?

Me: What app?  

Wife:  When did we feed her last?

Me: Should I just give her the pacifier?  

This mode of communication would be great if we were on Jeopardy! instead of actually being in jeopardy. 

3.  All Rhyme; No Reason.  For some reason I suddenly feel the need to be mother goose and make a nursery rhyme out of my sentences.  For example, if my daughter looks like she is enjoying her food I'll say "yummy yummy in my tummy tummy." Why? Why do I need to say that? 

4.  DJ Dad.  If you have read prior posts you may know that I am a listener of rock music - some of which is labeled with a parental advisory mark. Now I am "spinning" every morning at 6:30 am some of the top children's music from the 80s, 90s, 00s and today.  I also spin classical music because science has proven that if you play Mozart or Beethoven enough that your child is less likely to join a gang. 

5.  Story time.  Children's books are pretty much all the same:  There are a bunch of animals, they make a noise of some sort, and at the end a baby appears.  So daddy is left with a choice - make the animal noises in the same voice or create a slightly different voice for each animal. Because you don't want to disappoint your family and so your child will get into college you attempt different voices.  

In all seriousness, you should check out the book Jungly Tails.  It will likely bring happiness to your child's life.  If it doesn't, well, I'm sorry.

To recap:

• Your ceiling fan is transformed from an ordinary fan to Mr. Fan
• Conversations turn into a nightmarish game of 20 Questions.
• You become Mother Goose.
• You create mixes that include Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider.
• You read stories about animals in different animal voices.

PARENTING GETS WEIRD! 

Office Snacks: The Current Landscape and the Need for Change

Unless your office is Chick-Fil-A, Dunkin' Donuts, Krystal or some other fine dining establishment, the food offerings at the office may be less to be desired.  Some employers offer their employees the opportunity to pay for snacks via a vending machine.  These lucky employees get to spend their hard earned dollars eagerly pressing "E3" or "D4" on the vending machine and watch a "claw" grab their package of Grandma's Cookies and it drop down to the opening at the bottom of the machine.

Other employees are a little more spoiled.  Their employers stock on site kitchens with goodies such as Nature Valley Bars (likely Oats and Honey) -- take one bite of these succulent snacks and three quarters of the "bar" is gone because its all over the floor of your office.  Maybe there is some communal trail mix sitting on the counter which "Dan the IT Guy" dips his hand in three times a day after changing toner cartridges all day on your office's malfunctioning printers.   Perhaps your assistant is the designated person who keeps a glass dish near her desk or cubicle stocked with Halloween candy so you can scarf down two or six mini Snickers as a satisfying snack.  

My office certainly meets some of the criteria above; however, I don't partake in such snack shenanigans.  No, thank you.  I bring my own snacks and you should too -- the snacks taste better and they are less likely to cause your ass to outgrow your desk chair every six months. Snacking will also help curb that loud awkward stomach growl that interrupts every meeting you have between 10 and 11 am and 3 and 4 pm and save you from having to say excuse me because it's awkward that your stomach made a loud alien noise. Here are some of my go-to snacks I like to have available in my office at all times.  

1.  Field Trip, Turkey Jerky.  First of all, as you can probably imagine, having a large bag of turkey jerky sitting on your desk is a wonderful conversation starter.  Second, this meaty snack is delicious. Third, its a healthy snack (1 oz = 70 calories).  Field Trip is sold at wholesale stores such as BJ's -- so you can purchase a large bag -- which can last you while.  I am currently munching on the cracked pepper flavor.  

2.  Larabar, Cashew Cookie.  Snack bars are a favorite among attorneys.  If I had a billable hour for every snack bar I watched an attorney consume, I'd finally get that bonus I was told I would be eligible for.  I enjoy a good snack bar; however if you look close enough at the nutrition label (or bother to look at all), you will see many ingredients that look similar to the names of items you listed on the product liabilities complaint you just filed.  Larabars, however, have all natural ingredients.  My favorite is the cashew cookie flavor.  Here are the ingredients of the cashew cookie Larabar:  Cashews and Dates.

3.  Apple.  How about them apples?  Yes.  I bring an apple to work everyday as a snack.  Not only do they fill me up for a little afternoon snack, but apples have lots of health benefits including lowering cholesterol, boosting your immune system, and helping increase brain function (not sure about this one).

So next time you find yourself scrolling through Facebook and suddenly juking your eyeballs out of their sockets as you try and catch that Tasty video showing you how to make Mozzarella Stick Onion Rings, you can just keep on scrolling as you now have a few delicious snack options for your office snacking pleasure.  You could also watch the Tasty video.  It's really up to you.  

An unathletic human takes on t25

Photo of me after Speed 3.0 using Lamaze toy "Tomy" for comfort. 

Unfortunately, I was born with very little athletic ability.  Growing up I played tee-ball because that's what all the other kids did, but I wasn't very good. In fact, I focused most of my attention on not getting yelled at by the coaches.  After a few "Hey kid you stink!" moments I decided my tee-ball days were over and shifted to something a little more up my 'alley' -- bowling.  Yes, I joined a youth bowling league. A/C, chicken wings, second hand smoke -- now we're talking.

In high school I joined the wrestling team and got into respectable physical shape.  In college,  I'd head over the gym and just walk around with my towel and wait in line to do some chest flys on a bench or go run on a treadmill and then leave after 30 minutes or an hour.

Fast forward a few years (I use few loosely) and your not playing Guitar Hero in your sweatpants anymore.  No - your changing diapers, going to work to drink coffee and absorb stress, and coming home to set up for the next day -- there isn't much time to head over to the gym to walk around and pick up a few weights.  

After starting my first job as an attorney,  it only took a few months of eating out everyday and going to happy hours regularly that I was starring in my own version of 'Fat Guy in a Little Coat.'

 I turned to P90X and Tony Horton to help shed the extra pounds.  To my surprise, I lost 20 pounds doing the workout DVDs at home for 90 days.  It was a huge achievement for an unathletic human like me.  

Laney and I decided a few months ago to try another Beachbody program called T25 - created by Shaun T.  We were drawn to the program because the workouts are only 25 minutes which made it easier to fit into our schedules (checkout her review at her blog which now has a 'meatier' title - Bibs and Burpees).

Here is some basic information on the program.  There are two phases: Alpha and Beta.  Alpha builds the foundation for the Beta workouts and requires no equipment to complete the workouts.  Beta introduces new workouts which add intensity and weights to the routine. There is a bonus series called Gamma which adds another layer of intensity and new workouts to the series.  We did all three rounds.  After, completing 14 weeks of T25 here my overall thoughts and results.

1.  The time is real; the intensity is real.  These workouts are really only 25 minutes; but you work your [fat] ass off for all 25 minutes.  Like I said I'm not athletic - I made it through the workouts, but it's not easy.  There is a modifier for every workout which helps if you are uncoordinated like me.

2.  Your work out 5 days a week - day 5 is a double day.  It's nice recovering on the weekend, but Friday is a bear when you attempt two of these workouts back to back.  

3.  You need to stretch.  After all the jumping and moving around in the speed workouts,  my hamstrings, quads, and hips were shot.   My hips were so tight I couldn't even do 'Da Dip'. Luckily there is a stretch DVD included. 

4.  Follow the calendar.  Wake up, look at the calendar, and play the workout listed for that day.  It's that simple.  No need to bring your notebook scrap paper to the gym that says bench press,  biceps curls, and abs on it.  

5.  Hardest workout of T25.  Speed 3.0. 

6.  Easiest workout of T25.  None were easy you fool.

7.  Do the program with a someone. Having someone who is also doing the workout with you, not necessarily in the same room but on the same schedule, is helpful.  It keeps you motivated and accountable.  

8.  Results. Yes.  I lost 10 lbs in 14 weeks.  I feel healthier and somewhat athletic.  To the right are the before and after shots (top row -before; bottom row - after).   8x10s are available for printing.  Framing options are available too.  Just email me at the contact page.  

*Note -- I am not a Beachbody Coach.  I'm the 'Peter LeFleur' of fitness blogging.  I like you just the way you are, but if you are like me, and want to lose a few pounds, try something that works.  

Music for Your Office Moods

It's easy to drift into different moods during the day at the law office.  One minute your stressed and anxious about the work that was due yesterday, the next minute, your a little more stressed and anxious.  I like listening to music to shift my mood to something a little more desirable.  Here are 3 Albums/Songs you should check out depending on your mood.

1.  If you are in the mood to jump at a rock concert (or pull the lever on your chair so you can move up and down) listen to Radkey, Dark Black Makeup

I discovered this band and album only recently and boy, am I glad I did.  This Missouri band formed by three brothers in 2010 really know how to rock.  The album is a great mix of hard-hitting fast punk rock and classic rock riffs (with some guitar solos scattered).  Bonus - If you listen on Spotify there is a live album for your listening pleasure.  

2. If you are in the mood to put your head down and possibly cry because your carpal tunnel is acting up listen to Dashboard Confessional, The Swiss Army Romance.  

This album was released in 2000 (yikes).   Nonetheless, the message is still the same:  Your carpal tunnel hurts,  your start feeling emo, and you need to scream -- maybe 'Screaming Infidelities'.  So you do what a reasonable person would do, you turn to Christopher Carrabba.  You start to feel nostalgic and conquer the rest of your day. 

3.  If you are in the mood for motivation listen to Pokémon, Pokémon Theme Song.  

I don't play Pokémon Go.  I didn't play with Pokémon cards growing up.  I happened to stumble on this song listening to a children's music playlist on Amazon music while applauding my daughter during "Tummy Time" and I will admit - I was pumped up.   It may have been that I hadn't my coffee yet, but when I heard the first line -- "I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was" I was motivated. If you can get over that the song is about catching fictional creatures, it's worth a shot.  

Oh Snap: The Current Landscape of Baby Clothing and the Need for Change

Leading up to the arrival of our daughter, Dylan, my wife would proudly show me all of the tiny outfits Dylan was going to get to wear.   There were outfits for 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6 months etc. There were shirts, shorts, jumpers, onesies and more - which snapped or zipped (or neither). I was just happy that she had clothes which was one less thing for us to buy (that statement held true -- for about never -- it was never a true statement).

I always thought that changing the diaper was going to be the most frustrating,  traumatic part of fatherhood.  Nay.  Snapping the pajamas of an infant/baby is the most frustrating, traumatic part for the following reasons:

1. There are a lot of snaps to snap.   Snaps are everywhere.  There are so many silvery snaps that I feel like I am dressing my daughter for a Sons of Anarchy themed Daddy and me class.  
2. The snaps are not easy to find in the dark. I have been instructed by my wife that the lights should be off while getting the baby ready for bed.  This makes snapping little snaps even more challenging.  
3.  Miss a snap.  Miss the snap tucked underneath the right thigh of your baby, start over (for you Monopoly players = go to jail, don't pass go, don't collect $200).  
4. The process repeats itself.  Diaper after diaper; snap, unsnap, snap, unsnap. 

I plead with my wife to choose more zipper outfits.  Apparently snaps are better.  I tell her my fingers hurt.  She proceeds to recite the following  Ben Stiller monologue from Happy Gilmore (which by the way is a 20 year old film):

Baby clothes designers of the world (I believe that is an official title) -- Why not --

• Less snaps? 
• Glow in the dark snaps? 
• Magnets?  

If one of the above exists, I need to know about it immediately.  

Time to sanitize some bottles.  

K-Cup of the Moment: Death Wish

Coffee addicts rejoice -- It's K-Cup review time. One reader emailed me recently that reading these posts is the difference between having a K-Cup and an OK Cup. If you recall each week I reviewed a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories: (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup. I concluded each review with an Overall grade.  Because I'm unreliable piece of shit,  the posts may or may not be weekly anymore -- hence the change in the name of the post to K-Cup of the Moment.

Nonetheless I've been dying to review this one for you (pun).  This week's K-Cup (or Death Cup) is from Death Wish Coffee Co.  And it's called Death Wish.

Aroma: 10

When you pull open the bag containing the capsules of joy for the first time you get smacked with a wonderful aroma of a deep rich coffee roast.  The aroma continues once brewed as well.

Strength: 10

The coffee proclaims to be the strongest coffee in the world.  I've spoken to others that have had the coffee and they told me they experienced an added jolt to their day -- others felt that they were having extreme heart palpatations.  I felt an increased jolt as well.  I actually had two cups of Death Wish in one day.  It was neat having an out of body experience.

Taste: 9

This is an extra bold coffee.  It's called Death Wish.  Not sure if that was an indication of boldness.  Despite being extra bold, the coffee doesn't taste bitter at all -- and I drink my coffee black. 

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup: 10

Since death is often a wish of many employees of a law office - this K-Cup is a natural fit for a law firm.  From a packaging standpoint - this K-Cup really stands out.  It comes in a bag and the cups are environmentally friendly -- the coffee spares the environment but not the drinker.  

Overall: 9.5

I really enjoyed Death Wish.  It's to die for (if I lost a reader or two here I understand).  The coffee has a lot of the characteristics I look for in a great cup of joe. It's a little pricier than other K-Cups out on the market -- but worth a try. 

Anything But Anything But Law

Once again, I have taken a blogcation -- failing to publish a post in almost a year.  One fan of the site wrote me an emotional email several months ago about how he was struggling being productive at work without a new K-Cup recommendation.  Another fan emailed me everyday for 3 months begging for a new post.  As you probably know, those two previous statements were both lies.  

Although there are no posts to show for it, I have had my fair share of beer and K-Cups over the last year.  In addition to indulging in beer and K-Cups, one very important life-changing event occurred during my blogcation -- I became a Dad.  Laney and I welcomed our daughter Dylan Sage into the world on April 7, 2016.  If you are interested in catching up on my daughter's journey so far, head over to Laney's blog.  

Parenthood is a lot of things.  Sure there is the lack of sleep, diaper changes, crying (baby and parent), whining (baby and parent), swaddling (baby -- stray jacket for parent) and feedings (baby and if there is time, parent).  Those things I expected. 

What I have found fascinating is the business of babies -- and it is a big business.  The conversations I have had with other new Dads is quite amusing.  "Hey -- What stroller are you guys going with?"  "We are going with the Citi Mini GT because its lightweight."  "Yeah, we liked that one too, but went with the UPPAbaby because our friend said it was easier to store things."  

There is a chair for this and a toy for that.  We have four different chairs that bounce, rock, swing, and do a combination of all of the above.  Dylan is four months old.  This may seem excessive, but all purchased/acquired out of desperation.  The baby industry knows that parents will buy what is necessary to survive.  Imagine the Discovery channel's Naked and Afraid but the producers give you a Buy Buy Baby gift card and let you buy one thing to keep your baby happy.  

With a newfound motivation to creatively write more, I have added a new category to the site -- Dad Things -- where I will share reviews of products purchased for baby Dylan, stories, and more.  

See you next year.  

Josh

My 3 Go-To 'Beachbody' Workouts

As I have mentioned in earlier posts about my fitness level -- I am not an athlete.  Far from it.  However, I am a big fan of Beachbody programs.  Over the past few years, I have sweated through 90 days of P90X and P90X3 and I am currently working on a 21-Day Fix.  What I like about these programs is simplicity.  The programs take the guesswork out of what you should be doing on a particular day, leaving you just having to "push play."  While I have yet to try it, Beachbody announced an on demand version of their programs.  Now you can log-in, pick a program, and push play as opposed to buying one program at a time. 

I like to mix things up now that I have gone through a few of these programs.  Below are my 3 favorites.  Note that some equipment is necessary (dumbbells, a mat, etc) for these workouts.  

1.  Plyometrics, P90X

"Man, O' Manishewitz" this is an intense workout, but well worth it.  Trainer and living legend, Tony Horton, leads this hour workout of jumping, squatting, taking air basketball shots all while burning a ton of calories.  Plyometrics is referred to as "jump training."  There are four blocks in this work out with 4 exercises in each block.   Each exercise is done for 30 seconds (except the last one which is done for a minute).  You get to rest after each block is complete.  The final block is a "bonus round" where you get to try sport specific moves, like throwing a pitch and shooting a basketball.   Not only are you getting a great workout, Tony has some great one-liners for you.  

2.  Total Body Cardio Fix, 21-Day Fix

This 30 minute workout gets it done.  Like the name for the workout suggests, the exercises aim at hitting multiple muscle groups at one time.  Take the first exercise for example:  Surrenders.  (See video below).  After one minute of doing this exercise you may question finishing the rest of the DVD; however, as trainer Autumn Calabrese says at the very beginning, its the hardest move of the workout.  The workout consists of 4 blocks.  Each block has two exercises that last a minute.  You complete each exercise twice with a short break after each exercise.  

3.  MMX, P90X3

As a former white belt in karate, I was excited about this workout when I first got the P90X3 program.  This 30 minute workout has you kicking, punching, jumping, and sprawling the whole time.  You will sweat a lot during this workout.  Again, trainer, Tony Horton, brings some of his better one-liners to the workout.  After a long day at work, there is nothing better than suiting up, and kicking and punching the air.  

K-Cups of the Week: Starbucks Rift Valley & Laguna de Ayarza ('Single-Origin' Coffees)

Each week I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories:  (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup.  I conclude each review with an Overall grade.   Due to the lack of a K-Cup of the Week last week, I am throwing down two K-Cups this week.  They are both from Starbucks and are part of their 'Single-Origin' blend series:  Rift Valley (Rwanda) and Laguna de Ayarza (Guatemala).  

Aroma:  Rift Valley (8); Laguna de Ayarza (8)

I find that each time I walk into a Starbucks (excluding "We Proudly Brew" locations), I am greeted by a consistent and familiar coffee scent -- one that is different from that of Dunkin' Donuts or other coffee roasters.  It's the smell of a deep coffee roast mixed with hardworking Apple electronic products.  Somehow, even hailing from single-origins, these coffees emanate that same familiar Starbucks scent that keeps me coming back for more coffee.  

Strength:  Rift Valley (8); Laguna de Ayarza (8)

Starbucks characterizes both K-Cups as a "Medium" roast profile -- one that is "balanced, smooth & rich."  I find that Starbucks blends give me the proper surge I am looking for in a coffee.  These coffees are no exception.  

Taste:  Rift Valley (7); Laguna de Ayarza (8)

Starbucks explains on its packaging that "[s]ingle origin coffee gets many of its distinguishing characteristics from the terroir- the soil, climate, and elevation particular to where its cultivated.  And like fine wines, the resulting flavor is unique to its origin, with a taste all its own."  I have never been to Rwanda or Guatemala.  I am not sure what the soil tastes like there. However, I did find the Laguna de Ayarza cup to be a bit smoother than the Rift Valley.  The Rift Valley K-Cup had more of a cocoa flavor, than the Laguna de Ayarza -- which is not a bad thing necessarily.  I just prefer a more pure coffee taste -- which is what I got from the Laguna de Ayarza.

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  Rift Valley (10); Laguna de Ayarza (10)

Starbucks.  Single-Origin.  Rwanda.  Guatemala.  Enough said.  

Overall:  Rift Valley (8); Laguna de Ayarza (9)

I really enjoyed drinking both K-Cups.  Starbucks already produces one of my favorite go-to K-Cups in Pike Place.   I put the taste of these K-Cups on par with Pike Place. However, these single-origin K-Cups are going to run you  a few extra bucks.  If you find them on sale (like I did at Publix), I recommend you give them a shot.  

3 Bands You Should Listen to Right Now

I was the kid at bar/bat mitzvahs that waited until the DJ played Come Out and Play by The Offspring or Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana to approach the dance floor.  Although I was called a "poser" a few times in my day (and to this day), I have always identified as a "head banger".  If you like head banging to good ol' rock n' roll, then you should check out these 3 bands.

1. Crobot, Supernatural

On Supernatural, Crobot blends funk, blues, metal and good old-fashioned rock and roll into an amazing album.  Good luck sitting still during "Legend of the Spaceborne Killer" and "Skull of Geronimo".  You can't do it.  Every song on this album has great energy sparked by loud guitars by Chris Bishop, funky bass lines by Jake Figueroa, solid drumming from Paul Figueroa, and "howling" vocals from Brandon Yeagley which are vintage classic rock.   If you want to listen to a fun, riff heavy, good time album -- check this one out. 

2.  Datura4, Demon Blues

Put the Bloomin' Onion down and take a listen to these rockers from Western Australia.  Their new album, Demon Blues, blends progressive blues with psychedelic rock that takes you back to the great rock sounds of the 60s.  Classic guitar riffs and blusey guitar solos litter this album.  "You Ain't No Friend of Mine" is my favorite track and it will probably be yours too.  

3.  Royal Blood, Royal Blood

This band is not really a best kept secret anymore.  Hailing from Brighton, U.K., Royal Blood is now sharing the stage with legends of rock, Foo Fighters, as their supporting act on many of their U.S. Tour Dates.  When I first listened to the opening track of their self-titled debut album, I was shocked that their were only two members of the band:  Bassist/singer Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher.  These guys take on the responsibility of being the only two musicians in the band by playing harder and louder.  With Royal Blood, you get heavy blues and rock riffs mixed with ferocious drumming.  If you haven't taken a listen yet, you need to do so right now.  

K-Cup of the Week: Caribou Blend

Each week I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories:  (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup.  I conclude each review with an Overall grade.   This week Caribou Coffee's Caribou Blend. 

Aroma:  6

As you know, I have been smelling a variety of K-Cups as of late.  It may just be that my sense of smell is dwindling, however, Caribou Blend does not have the powerful aroma that other K-Cups I have reviewed permeate. 

Strength:  6

 This is an easy going medium roast coffee.  If you are looking to take your day next-level, I suggest drinking another K-Cup.  I usually give this K-Cup to clients when they eagerly ask for a cup of coffee so they feel they are getting "value" out of their visit to our office.   Some attorneys may prefer to meet with their clients while they are having an "out of body experience" due to a cup of Black Tiger.

Taste:  7

I enjoy the taste of Caribou Blend.  The coffee is smooth, without an aftertaste that some bolder coffees produce.  

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  8

I like buying K-Cups from coffee retailers that I am unable to frequent regularly (i.e., Peet's Coffee and Tea).  Caribou Coffee is no exception.  

Overall:  7

Although I am a fan of bolder coffees, I like Caribou Blend.  If you are looking for an easy drinking coffee, or if you need a good "regular" cup of coffee the office, I recommend Caribou Blend. 

Introducing SnarkTees

I'm snarky.  I like tees.  I created some SnarkTees.  

Purchase one of these fine tees by clicking on a shirt below, clicking the link in the menu above, or vising my Teespring Storefront.  Use promo code ANYTHING to get free shipping.

K-Cup of the Week: Lavazza Classico

Each week I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories:  (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup.  I will conclude each review with an Overall grade. This week I review a blend from Italian coffee institution, Lavazza:  Classico.

Aroma:  9

Classico's richness permeates nicely into the office air (which generally smells like the elderly and paper).  If you happen to spill some Classico on yourself, have no fear, this roast doubles as a nice perfume. 

Strength:  7

Classico is a medium roast, which generally translates to a medium strength coffee.  If you are looking for a caffeine jolt, you may want to try something stronger (a la Black Tiger).  

Taste:  8

I really enjoy the richness of Classico.  The taste brings me back to the good ol' days of brewing an entire pot of coffee for myself.  

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  8

Anytime I see the word "New" slapped on a K-Cup box, I am immediately intrigued.  The newness coupled with the international flavor forced this purchase.

Overall:  8

Classico is an excellent daily coffee, especially on a weekend morning.  

3 Books On My Summer Reading List

My day job requires me to read.  Not only does it require me to read, but I find myself having to re-read information that I read a minute or two earlier.  During the summer I try to read a few books for leisure.  Below are 3 books that I could hardly put down.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff

I love cookies, but hate mice, so I was a little apprehensive about reading this novel.  After spending some time (a week or so) reading it, I'm glad I did.  I was a little concerned, because the story starts with what happens if you give a mouse a cookie.  I thought it was a little early for the punch line, however, as the story builds you are introduced to the chain of events that occur if you give a mouse a cookie.  I won't go into any further detail here to prevent any spoilers, however, I highly recommend you pick this one up for your summer read.  I can't wait to dive into the sequel, If You Give a Moose a Muffin.  

 

Choose Your Own Adventure, The Trumpet of Terror, Deborah Lerme Goodman

When I picked this book up I thought it was a biography about my twin brother's middle school years playing trumpet.  There are some similarities in the book, for example, the character (which in this book is played by the reader) is the only mortal.  In the book you meet Odin a one-eyed leader of Norse gods.  At the bottom of each page you are required to make a choice.  If you choose option one you are directed to turn to a certain page in the book; if you choose the other option, you are directed to another page in the book.  Although oftentimes difficult to navigate, this book was very entertaining.  I did cheat a few times when I realized that I made the wrong choice on an earlier page and went back to correct my mistake.  

 

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business, Esphyr Slobodkina 

This classic really requires only two remarks:  (1)  This main character wears a lot of caps; (2) Monkeys cannot be trusted.  There are plenty of life and business lessons to be learned by reading this one all the way through.   

K-Cup of the Week: Major Dickason's Blend

Each week I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories:  (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup.  I will conclude each review with an Overall grade. This week I review a blend from west coast institution, Peet's Coffee and Tea:  Major Dickason's Blend.

Aroma:  9

Let me first start off by saying, why Peet?!  Why no stores in South Florida?!  I love flying to the West Coast and stopping off at a Peet's Coffee and Tea location.  I love the coffee and the smell really draws you in.  Dropping a K-Cup into your Keurig (although not nearly the same experience as being at the store) provides the similar aromatics of a rich coffee roast.  

Strength:  8

If you have read my earlier K-Cup of the Week entries, you know that I like my coffee strong (See Black Tiger and revv®).  For example, I had two Black Tigers yesterday morning and thought I transformed into a samurai ninja.  Peet's is strong, but not as strong as the tiger herself or revv® -- which may be a good thing -- for society. 

Taste:  10

I salute you Major Dickason.  You are smooth and consistently one of the best tasting K-Cups I have ever had.  Thank you, sir. 

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  10

First, its Peet's Coffee and Tea.  Second, the blend was named after loyal customer Key Dickason.  The Major himself walked up to the original Peet's and brought his own blend to the store.  Mr. Peet "tinkered" with the blend and there you have it, the Major's blend was born.  A great story; a great coffee.       

Overall:  10

If you are looking for a reliable, great tasting dark roast, look no further, than Major Dickason's Blend from Peet's Coffee and Tea.