MissAdventures

Five Reasons Why I’m Returning My Kindle

On Christmas morning, I was one of the thousands of people who awoke to find a Kindle, Amazon’s e-book reader and the company’s “most gifted” product ever, under the tree. As my family’s gadget geek, I was definitely excited to test out the holiday season’s most talked about toy, even though I hardly have time these days to read traditional paper books, much less digital ones.

But now that I’ve had a couple weeks to play, I can definitely make a case as to why I should return my Kindle.

1. No Backlight
I shudder to think of life before my iPhone. I can use the iPhone anytime, anywhere. Often, this means catching up on tweets or the latest headlines under the covers while my husband thinks I’m sleeping. My midnight rendez-vous with the iPhone would not be possible without its backlight. In fact, the phone’s incessant glow has become so ubiquitous as to inspire a New Yorker cover.

To my knowledge, the Kindle does not have a backlight (though I understand that the Sony Reader has an LED that you can switch on or off). Kindle uses EPD (electronic paper display) technology for its e-books. This technology is said to reduce the glare on the Kindle screen and “provide the contrast and resolution of traditional ink on paper.” (Computer World article) That’s great if you want to read your Kindle in the bright sunlight. But I want to read in bed and it sure would be nice not to have to turn on a separate light to do so.

2. “Experimental” Features
If you click on Kindle’s “menu” button – one of several buttons on the ergonomic, yet slightly cumbersome device – you’ll see a list item titled “experimental,” whose name already suggests to me that my Kindle 2 will soon be obsolete. The experimental features in question are a web browser, an MP3 player, and a text-to-speech component. In theory, these are excellent additions to the device. In practice, however, they leave much to be desired.

For starters, the web browser is a mess. If I go to a site that is not retro-fitted for text-only viewing, it feels like I’m surfing the web using Netscape circa 1993. The layout is disjointed and all the eye-catching graphics I’ve come to expect from my favorite sites are non-existent. What’s more, typing in a URL using the Kindle keyboard feels less like texting and more like using a scientific calculator.

Likewise, the MP3 player is a good concept, as it allows me to play Amazon MP3 purchases in the background while I’m reading. Unfortunately, I can’t add these items to Kindle using its wireless “WhisperSynch” technology. Rather, I must upload the MP3s by connecting my Kindle via USB to my computer. That seems so antiquated, especially in light of the fact that most smart phones – gadgets that the Amazon Kindle no doubt wants to emulate – allow wireless uploads via wifi or 3G networks.

I’ll admit that I haven’t tried the text-to-speech yet. But judging from the other two components, I am sure that I wouldn’t be impressed.

3. Amazon as Gatekeeper to Your Reading Material
The whole reason Amazon invented the Kindle was to create a market where there was none. Indeed, when all those Kindle giftees opened up their new toys on Christmas morning, they began downloading e-books from Amazon, the only store that sells digital books in the Kindle (.AZW) format. To be fair, many of these books sell for a fraction of their hardback versions. For example, the hardcover edition of the Edward Kennedy memoir True Compass retails new for $21.00 on Amazon, but costs only $9.99 on the Kindle. Amazon also offers a lot of Classics, such as Gulliver’s Travels and Machiavelli’s The Prince for $0.99 or free, and also allows you to download short samples of any of its digital books.

Still, at a price of $259, you’d think that Amazon could throw in a few free books. Better yet, why not allow users to download the digital versions of books they’ve already purchased through Amazon? Having the option to download and read, say, five of the books I already own would be not only a generous gesture on the part of Amazon, but an incentive to get me to buy more books.

Another cool feature I should mention is that you can email personal documents in the txt or PDF formats to a specially assigned Kindle email address. So, if you need to catch up with reading a brief for work or are a writer who wishes to peruse the latest draft of your article while you’re on the go, you can send it to yourusername@kindle.com. I love this idea, but I don’t love the price. Yes, Amazon charges U.S. customers $.15 per megabyte to use Kindle’s Personal Document Service via Whispernet ($.99 internationally). Or, you can go the free but more complicated route by emailing your document to yourusername@free.kindle.com, where Amazon will convert your docs to its Kindle-compatible format.

I think I’ll just stick to reading documents on my iPhone, either by emailing myself or using one its apps, such as Evernote.

4. Kindle for iPhone
Speaking of apps, I downloaded the Kindle for iPhone long before I had any inkling I would receive the real deal. The app is free – surprise, surprise! – and allows you to shop in the Kindle store just as you would if you had a Kindle. You can even synch your app with your device. So, if you forget your Kindle but have your iPhone, you can pick up in your book where you left off. Sadly, this only works for books: “Periodicals such as newspapers, magazines, and blogs, and personal documents cannot be viewed on the Kindle for iPhone.”

The real Kindle has the iPhone app beat when it comes to the on-screen appearance of books. On the other hand, when I’m reading on my Kindle, I have to unlearn that swipe-scroll motion that I’ve become accustomed to while using an iPhone touch screen. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Amazon roll out the Kindle 3 with a touch screen and built-in, on-screen keyboard.

5. Magazine Subscriptions
Finally, I’m dissatisfied with the Kindle’s magazine subscription service. Amazon currently stocks only 43 magazine titles, including PC Magazine, The Economist, and Shape. While I do like the idea of saving trees and getting my periodicals wirelessly, I don’t like the fact that I can’t synch up with subscriptions I currently have. For example, as part of my New Yorker subscription, I can read that magazine online. But if I want to read that magazine on my Kindle, I must sign up for a completely separate subscription. What’s more, “The Kindle Edition of The New Yorker will usually include all articles, fiction, and poetry found in the print edition and a selection of cartoons, but will not include other images at this time.” A New Yorker without images and minus some of its articles?? What kind of BS if that? I think both Amazon and magazine publishers would be well-served to come up with a solution to this.

The Kindle does allow users to sign up for a 14-day free trial of any of its magazines. Though, if you want to cancel that subscription within those two weeks, Amazon does not make it easy to do so. One has to manage his magazine subscriptions through his Amazon account online, and you can’t even use Kindle’s “experimental” web browser to see or update your account information. That to me is an epic fail.

Magazines aren’t particular cheaper on the Kindle, either. As one subscriber to Shape commented, “I like the Kindle, but I also like my money. I got 2 years of Shape delivered to my home for only $10…why so much on the Kindle?” I have to ask the same thing about Slate, for which Amazon charges $2.49 per month for the privilege of reading “most of the articles from the online edition.” I’d rather get my Slate with ads and all of its articles rather than a lesser – but more expensive – Kindle-ized version.

And A Sixth Reason…
Don’t get me wrong, the Kindle is a fine toy, especially if you are an voracious bookworm. But I still think much work needs to be done before this e-reader becomes essential. Besides, the one thing that Kindle doesn’t do for this mother of two boys under 4 is find more time to read. When the Kindle figures out how to do THAT, then I may reconsider.

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More Great Gifts for the Sensory Kid

Looking back over my last post Gift Ideas for the Sensory Kid, I know I could’ve included even more gift ideas. So here I am – back with some more tips.

Crayola Color Me a Song
I am pretty excited about this product, which I bought a couple of weeks ago to put under the Christmas tree. Crayola has come out with lots of new products lately, and not just crayons. This Color Me a Song contraption plays music as your kid scribbles, almost like free-form, colorful jazz. You can actually set the item to four different instruments and four different music types, including salsa and country. I haven’t completely figured out how it all works yet. But I do know that my son, who loves music and loves to color with REAL color (not just aquadoodle!) – will dig this. I think you may also be able to “record” your little one’s masterpieces, or at least play them back. Hopefully, it will also encourage my son to color within the lines of the Color Me A Song toy and not on the carpet or walls.

Melissa and Doug Sandwich Making Set
Many many kids with spectrum disorders also have feeding sensitivities. I’m not talking about the whole GFCF diet, but issues with texture and color. One of my son’s past therapists used to come by with a different Melissa and Doug fake food set, which she said was good for pretend play. The thought is that making eating and playing with food fun will make your child warm up to the idea of trying a green bean or something with sauce on it. This little set is really cute and comes with fake buns, lettuce, cheese, tomato, sandwich meat and a wooden knife to cut through the sandwich when you’ve finished making it. Of course, the knife is good for promoting fine motor skills. Yes, this is a good starter set of fake food and I like that it’s wooden and not plastic. If you want to get a little crazier, you can also get Melissa and Doug’s Sushi Set.

Sassafrass Animal Band
I know that some kids on the spectrum are sensitive to noise while others relish it. My son’s in the latter camp and loves music (as I noted in the description above of the Color Me a Song from Crayola). This little animal band was something his speech therapist would bring to play with a lot when we were just starting out on some early intervention tactics. There are wooden finger symbols,; a percussion instrument shaped like a fish that you strike with a small mallet (not quite a drum); maracas; a clapper; and animal bells. The cute little critter band is good because it helps with fine motor skills, coordination, learning rhythm, and learning songs and speech patterns to the sounds of self-made – and not battery-operated – music. I’m no therapist myself, but I bet that regular exposure to music using this band would also benefit kids for whom loud noises are difficult.

Edushape Sensory Balls
These are kind of a no-brainer as they’ve already got the word “sensory” in the title. These knobby, nubby balls are better than the regular rubber balls you get at the drug store. My son loves to play with his sensory balls – picking them up, rubbing them on his skin and on his head. His little brother also likes them as they’re easy to grasp.

Table and Chairs
For kids who like to run around all the time, a table and chair set seems counter-intuitive. But here’s another thing I’ve learned from the special education professionals: it helps to have a dedicated spot where kids can sit and play quietly, either rolling out play dough, building block towers, coloring, or reading a book. At first, it’s really hard to get a sensory kid to want to stay still and sit down, and you may only get them to sit there for 15 minutes at a time. But that’s part of the process of learning how to stay on-task and concentrate. If you get a table and chair set, this table and chair set from Lipper is quite handsome. If you plan on making more messes, you may want to consider a Little Tikes plastic table and chair set. This Ready, Set, Art Table is a colorful option with an art caddy, but I prefer seats with backs. At any rate, getting your sensory toddler used to sitting at a table will definitely help transition him or her for the type of quiet play typical of preschool or kindergarten.

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Gift Ideas for the Sensory Kid

Since my son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (aka “atypical autism”) and Sensory Processing Disorder, I’ve had a tough time figuring out suitable toys and games to get him. Sure, he’s happy with just about the same stuff any other kid is – blocks, mind-numbing, battery-powered toys, ride-on toys, etc. But I know that a lot of the things we have don’t always meet his needs for educational play.

There are lots of learning gadgets out there, like kid-targeted laptop computers. But my son will just “stim out” on his laptop for hours, memorizing answers to letter and number games and learning scripts from the computer itself. Dante’s brain works differently. Although he has some minor delays in speech and some motor skills, he has a photographic memory and can memorize entire scripts, the order in which songs are played, and entire books. It’s so bad that he even knows when I take a wrong/different turn if we’re going to a known destination.  (He’s only 3 years old and knows these suburban streets better than I do!)

So I wanted to write this blog post to make a list of a few of the toys that have either a) worked for us or b) seem like promising acquisitions. If you’re also shopping for a toddler with SID/SPD, PDD-NOS, or other spectrum symptoms, I hope this list will come in handy. I’ve also added a small list of stocking stuffer ideas at the bottom of the post. Please note, however, this disclaimer: I am not a doctor and can not assure that these toys will work for your kid.

Fisher Price Smart Cycle
This is one of the hot toys of the season, and it’s no surprise why. It combines two things that kids love: TV and exercise. The idea of the Smart Cycle is that kids learn from playing games that are controlled by the pedaling kid hooked up to the TV via interactive audio-video outputs. I don’t advocate just popping your kid in front of the TV for hours at a time, but sometimes moms need a break. I like the Smart Cycle for my sensory kid because he hasn’t mastered the gross motor skills of balance of pedaling, and this will allow him to learn those skills safely and warmly inside our home. Past occupational therapy experience has also taught me that my son is really revved up to learn during or shortly after being physically active. By the way, the “Extreme” version of this toy has “rumble action,” which may be even better for a sensory-seeking child.

Blooming Kids Learning Software
Last summer when we were on home leave, Dante made excellent progress with vocabulary and speech by using Blooming Kids. This software is geared toward kids on the spectrum and has, at this writing, 37 programs which teach kids new vocab, social cues, telling time, and tons of other things. The drawback to Blooming Kids is also its asset – nothing to unwrap on Christmas Day. But you can download the software onto your PC or Mac, install, and be ready to go with new software in just a few minutes. If your kid likes those toy laptops but is not really learning anything from them, you may enjoy Blooming Kids because you control what and how your kid learns. It is helpful to use this software on a computer that has a touch screen or you can get a wireless mouse, which also helps with fine motor skills.

Urban Rebounder Trampoline
Yes, this is an item from the adult sporting goods shop, but the Urban Rebounder is an excellent exerciser for your tireless kid. Anytime Dante is feeling a bit out of sorts – running around in circles in the room, seeming bored, wanting to go to the park but it’s pouring rain – we tell him to go bounce on the trampoline. This particular model is helpful because it has the handle, allowing kids with balance problems to hold on a little tighter and the legs also fold down to make for easy storage – if you want to store it. My son will jump on this for 10-15-30-minutes at a time non-stop. But when he is done, he seems a bit more focused. I get in on the action by singing “Jumpy Jump Jump Jump Jump” from Yo Gabba Gabba while he bounces and we all have a good laugh.

Leapfrog Tag Reading System
I’ve been checking out all sorts of kids learn-to-read devices and this one seems the most helpful and least annoying. My three year old loves books and has really learned to read – and spell! – a lot of words. But I also know that when I read to him, he doesn’t so much focus on the words as the cadence. A lot of children’s books are so sing-songy that it’s easy to memorize the sound of them and not the words within. For better or for worse, this Leapfrog wand takes the melodiousness out of reading – the friendly, computerized voice is monotone. But it does let you read word to word, holding memory for up to 10 books at a time. Leapfrog Tag currently works with 30 books (that cost extra but at about the same price as a regular storybook), and there are phonics books as well as ones that feature licensed characters (Dora, Star Wars, etc.) Kids can further interact with their books by going online and collecting rewards by playing games associated with the books.

As far as stocking stuffers, I have several suggestions: mini-massager (my son loves the extra vibration input); Moon Sand and Play Doh; motorized toothbrush; koosh ball; exercise ball (good for balancing and bouncing); Melissa & Doug Wooden Sandwich Making Set.

Have you seen other toys that you think would benefit a sensory kid? Please let me know by commenting below!

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Fashion Tips for the Mom Who Has Let Herself Go

When I was in high school, I used to be obsessed with fashion. Instead of doodling flowers or names of bands on my notebooks, I wrote names of fashion designers and models. After all, I did grow up during the age of the supermodel and CNN’s Style with Elsa Klensch. I never missed an episode of the latter and was up on the names of all the hottest designers – Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Sonia Rykiel, Moschino. I couldn’t afford the clothes, but I knew the designers’ names and I could also do a killer Elsa Klensch impersonation.

Although I was a teenager of limited means, I could usually put a pretty good outfit together. At least, I had the confidence to do so. Clothes were fun and getting dressed for the day was a treat.

Today, I have two kids and am a total mess. This transformation from fashion savvy to slob didn’t happen overnight, of course. It was a slow, sickly process. Then, the other day, I hit rock bottom. As I was slipping into a crimson-colored, shapeless Land’s End turtleneck – LAND’S END! – I knew it was time to seek help. I quickly packed up the turtleneck, which I had just received by mail-order, and sent an email to my friend Rosana who is also a mom and a fashion stylist. I implored her to give me some tips for getting myself back on track. And that resulted in the very first guest post on this site.

Mommy Fashion Tips
Yes, I am a professional shopper and stylist. But, I’m also a mom — of two kids under five. So, I know. I know how challenging it can be to get them up and dressed, teeth brushed, lunches ready, breakfast on the table and out the door in time for school without looking and feeling like a bus ran over you…twice.

I am here to tell you, though, it is possible. Clothing-wise, there is an easy, comfortable life beyond sweats, running shoes and hoodies. Suspend disbelief for a moment, and take in these simple tips that are guaranteed to have you workin’ your MILF mojo in no time.

Dark Slim-Fit Denim. Skinny jeans, once a trend, is now a staple. And there is no easier way to update your look than with a good pair of dark skinnies. I know what you’re thinking. Comfort is king when you’re chasing Little Johnny around the neighborhood playground. Believe it or not, though, skinny denim is comfy. Most jeans these days are a mix of cotton and spandex, which helps denim retain its shape over time and also provides the all-important ease and mobility factor to moms everywhere.

Universally flattering is a straight-leg fit (as opposed to a narrower taper toward the ankle) with a slightly higher rise. Perfect with boots, non-athletic sneakers and heels (date night!). Pair with a fitted jacket, white-collared shirt, and heels – presto! You have a modern business casual look.

Shirt Dresses. Today’s wrap and shirt dresses are flattering to pretty much any body type, and although classic and sensible, can easily be young and chic with the right shoes. For a busy mom, it’s a no-brainer, one-piece ready-to-go outfit. No need to coordinate a top and a bottom. Just throw that shirt dress on (usually cotton or viscose) and wear with your favorite knee-high boots, flats, or wedge sandals when the weather warms up. A little chilly? Pair with a cardigan and accessorize with a scarf (see below).

For petite ladies, make sure hemline is above the knee. Curvier ladies, hemline right below the knee.

Scarves. Accessories are an easy and inexpensive way to update any look. Scarves, in all manner of shapes, sizes and patterns, have been on-trend for several season now. Stripe scarves (black and white) are youthful and modern — with a touch of edginess. Floral silks scarves add femininity to the most basic jeans-and-t-shirt ensemble. Geometric patterns can bring your look up a few notches on the sophistication meter.

And, bet you didn’t know there are about a million-and-one different ways

to wear a scarf without spending a whole lot of time or effort. You can loop that scarf around your neck as your running out the door; tie it as shawl; or wrap it around your neck several times for a celebrity-inspired “undone” look.

Tailored Jacket. A tailored corduroy, cotton, wool, etc. jacket gives any outfit shape. Start with a neutral like charcoal grey, camel or chocolate. Jeans, dress slacks, you name it; it goes with. Petite ladies stick with one that hits right above your hip. Curvier mamas, do one with three buttons for more support.

Daytime metallic flats. No better way to add a little shine to your everyday look. Metallics are a neutral and go with everything. So forget beige, brown and grey. Add a little gold and silver to your life. For colder weather, wear with tights (and don’t be afraid to do color). Warmer weather, pair with dark skinny jeans and a white t-shirt for no better example of a less-is-more chic look.

Great leather bag. You can literally walk out the door in your sweat pants and a hoodie. If you have a great bag, all wrongs are suddenly right. Stick with leather and go slouchy hobo for a fun, young look.

Rosana Vollmerhausen is owner of DC Style Factory, a personal shopping and styling business. She spends her days stylishly chasing after a preschooler and toddler.

Photos © Extra.tv, Shopbop.com, Anthropologie, Rosana Vollmerhausen

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Perfect Summer Salad

My staple during this hot Turkish summer has been kisir, what some call Turkish Tabbouleh. It’s not really a salad, but it makes the perfect cold side for stuffed peppers or karniyarik (another Turkish dish I’m making a lot lately).

I learned this recipe from my maid, but you can also find a perfectly good version in Claudia Roden’s Arabesque. Her book shows kisir served in traditionally in lettuce leaves, but you can easily leave it in a bowl if you feel like skipping the presentation. (more…)

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Beypazarı and the Food of Anatolia

Last weekend we went to Beypazarı, a small village an hour and a half by bus from Ankara. Located on the old “Istanbul to Baghdad route,” Beypazarı has been inhabitated by various tribes and peoples, including the Seljuks, who left behind a 12C mosque, and the Ottomans, whose “konak” houses dot the town’s hillside. Beypazarı is known for its silver, especially filigree work, and is responsible for 60% of Turkey’s carrot (havuç) production.

Beypazarı, whose name translates roughly as “gentleman’s market,” struck me as a typical Anatolian village. Off the hot, dusty (but tidy) cobbled streets, old men huddled, drank tea, and played backgammon. A majority of the native women covered their hair with broad, patterned silk scarves that fell to about waist-length. Meanwhile, during the festival, young men wearing finger cymbals danced two-by-two to music that was part Turkish flute (ney) and part techno drumbeat. Near the town’s Ottoman Müze, what appeared to be a high school woodwind quartet played the requisite “Rondo alla Turca” from Mozart’s Sonata No. 11.

While more cosmopolitan parts of Turkey, such as Istanbul, like to play up their historical and geographical connection to mainland Europe, Anatolia looks to its pan-Turkish heritage. And, Beypazarı being the Turkish heartland, it wasn’t a surprise to find a large mosaic map in one town square which highlighted the “Turkic” areas of the world: Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaristan (Bulgaria), Turkmenistan, Uighur Mongolia, etc. Groups of beautiful, dark-haired, light-eyed girls wore the traditional costumes from these regions.

But back to the food. Those famous carrots were a central theme at the Beypazarı Festival. Multiple vendors offered bottles of fresh carrot juice, while others sold carrot helva. Further along, there were stands overflowing with dried fruits (including incredibly sweet sun-dried tomatoes) and nuts, packages of grape leaf dolmas and walnut baklava, and ayran, a yogurt drink not unlike a lassi. We stopped at a döner kebap stand and later watched village women rolling out and cooking gözleme (a bit like a pancake) filled with a hard, white cheese (beyaz peynir) and parsley (maydonoz). Beypazarı’s classic dish, which we didn’t get a chance to taste, is a casserole of lamb, rice, eggplant and earthy, easily attainable ingredients. The village also makes good use of a copious amount of walnuts by preserving them in a “walnut sausage,” a confection that looks exactly like the meat product but is flavored with nuts and sweetened with grape jelly. In addition to ayran and carrot juice, Beypazarı residents wash down their meals with mineral waters from the Inözü Valley.

Only an hour and a half from Ankara, Beypazarı is probably a sleepy town for 364 days per year. But it still merits a visit for its lovely Ottoman houses, gorgeous silver, and honest food. And even though the village is not quite on the tourist route, it has a surprisingly sophisticated, English-language website, helpful for planning a daytrip.

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Evacuation Plan

Earthquakes. Forest fires. New Orleans. Iraq. So many natural and man-made disasters are in the news lately that I keep hearing about “evacuation plans.” As serious as such things may be, I couldn’t help thinking about using the phrase in a humorous way on a baby onesie. Click on the photo above to see the finished product. Forgive me for going off on a tangent, but sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

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Why I Love Shoes

I just stumbled across this poem of sorts that I wrote last year for some shoe-loving jingle contest. Not quite sure why I didn’t win. I still think this is kinda cute:
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Jonesing for a Burger

Okay. So I did it. I haven’t been here more than three weeks, and I got this outrageous craving for a burger today. I think it’s because I was emailing my former colleagues at the Diner and it got me thinking back to the hundreds of burgers I ate and/or served while there.

I hate it. It’s terribly American – aka gauche – of me to order a burger in the land of the Holy Cow. And, for god’s sake, it’s Friday. Then again, I’m not Hindu, nor am I Catholic. And, my many attempts at pure veg eating have failed because of my weakness for hot dogs and cured meats.
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Fahrenheit 9/11

Saturday I went to see the 10:30AM showing of Fahrenheit 9/11, and I cried and cried throughout the entire two hours. I don’t know if that’s what Michael Moore was going for when he made the movie, but it really hit me like a ton of bricks, starting with the scene when you hear – not see – the planes crashing into the towers until the scene when Lila Lipscomb visits the White House.

A note to the heartless woman who thought the latter scene was staged: that poor Middle Eastern lady has lived under that yellow tent in front of White House for years. I’ll go down and snap a pic of it some time this week. That scene really angered me.

Anyhow, the film is definitely worth seeing.

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