Wacky Takes A Night Off - Grilling Steaks With Longhorn Steakhouse!
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Dad Central Consulting for LongHorn Steakhouse. I received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”
In my house I do ALL of the grilling. Much to my chagrin sometimes. There are days when I walk in the house an I see my wife murdering perfectly good pieces of beef under the broiler. I instantly panic and see if she wants me to finish them on the grill to try to give them some life support. That usually elicits a scowl that makes me back off rather quickly, and I enjoy the shoe leather as much as possible! (Its great shoe leather Cathy!)
Enter Longhorn Steakhouse. I recently received an offer to dine out at Longhorn Steakhouse and to write a review about my dining experience. Tough right? If anyone wants to take the grilling off my hands and do it for me, than I'm all for it. I love a good steak! We went last night, and I must say I was impressed! I considered it an early Father's Day present, and was really excited to try a steakhouse that I hadn't been to before. Longhorn is relatively new to our area, and with 3 kids we don't always get out to eat as much as we would like to.
You can see my deprived daughters are ready for a night of meat eating too!
We were greeted warmly when we walked into the restaurant and even though they told us we'd have a 5 minute wait, we were able to sit right down after about 2 minutes. A good thing, because my 5 year old Mia was starving! Our server was great, she instantly made friends with my hungry little daughter, and got her some Crayons and Kids Menu to play with to give mom and dad a break.
I believe Mia mentioned something about me having big nostrils. That is her likeness of me!
We all ordered up our meals. I picked out the 20 oz. porterhouse steak with a one of those decadent butter and cinnamon sugar covered sweet potatoes to go with it and waited with bated breath for it to come out. The salads were great, and I was thrilled to hear that they had Italian dressing. That is an instant negative if a restaurant doesn't have Italian dressing. I mean come on! The food came out quickly, especially for a steakhouse, and it wasn't like the place was empty, they were actually pretty packed for a Thursday night. Here's what they presented to me. Can you see why I was happy?! It tasted great, perfectly seasoned and tender as can be!
Nice presentation - Here's the meat!
Everybody else's food looked great, and even the 5 year old was raving about her chicken fingers (they were really good, dad snagged a taste).
I was impressed that I actually got a perfectly "Medium" steak like I asked for!
What can I say. It was good times all around, everyone was happy with their meals, and we got in and out in probably about an hour which is great when you have young kids. I would recommend Longhorn Steakhouse to any family who is jonesing for a good steak, but just doesn't feel like firing up the grill that night! Oh one last thing. I always love the huge steak knives that are available at steakhouses, but the ones at Longhorn were really extra sharp, and heavy duty, and they actually have a signature set available for all of you Longhorn loving dads out there. Here's a pic of what they look like. They are very heavy in the hand, and I'm confident you might be able to saw through an oak tree with one!
And for any of you grill challenged folks out there, I have a nice grilling fact sheet to provide you with. Next time you even think about firing up the broiler, remember Wacky Dad, and break out this hand guide!
Here are a couple photos of our experience!
Enjoy and happy grilling!
Wacky Dad
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Dad Central Consulting for LongHorn Steakhouse. I received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”
In my house I do ALL of the grilling. Much to my chagrin sometimes. There are days when I walk in the house an I see my wife murdering perfectly good pieces of beef under the broiler. I instantly panic and see if she wants me to finish them on the grill to try to give them some life support. That usually elicits a scowl that makes me back off rather quickly, and I enjoy the shoe leather as much as possible! (Its great shoe leather Cathy!)
Enter Longhorn Steakhouse. I recently received an offer to dine out at Longhorn Steakhouse and to write a review about my dining experience. Tough right? If anyone wants to take the grilling off my hands and do it for me, than I'm all for it. I love a good steak! We went last night, and I must say I was impressed! I considered it an early Father's Day present, and was really excited to try a steakhouse that I hadn't been to before. Longhorn is relatively new to our area, and with 3 kids we don't always get out to eat as much as we would like to.
 |
| You can see my deprived daughters are ready for a night of meat eating too! |
We were greeted warmly when we walked into the restaurant and even though they told us we'd have a 5 minute wait, we were able to sit right down after about 2 minutes. A good thing, because my 5 year old Mia was starving! Our server was great, she instantly made friends with my hungry little daughter, and got her some Crayons and Kids Menu to play with to give mom and dad a break.
 |
| I believe Mia mentioned something about me having big nostrils. That is her likeness of me! |
We all ordered up our meals. I picked out the 20 oz. porterhouse steak with a one of those decadent butter and cinnamon sugar covered sweet potatoes to go with it and waited with bated breath for it to come out. The salads were great, and I was thrilled to hear that they had Italian dressing. That is an instant negative if a restaurant doesn't have Italian dressing. I mean come on! The food came out quickly, especially for a steakhouse, and it wasn't like the place was empty, they were actually pretty packed for a Thursday night. Here's what they presented to me. Can you see why I was happy?! It tasted great, perfectly seasoned and tender as can be!
 |
| Nice presentation - Here's the meat! |
Everybody else's food looked great, and even the 5 year old was raving about her chicken fingers (they were really good, dad snagged a taste).
 |
| I was impressed that I actually got a perfectly "Medium" steak like I asked for! |
What can I say. It was good times all around, everyone was happy with their meals, and we got in and out in probably about an hour which is great when you have young kids. I would recommend Longhorn Steakhouse to any family who is jonesing for a good steak, but just doesn't feel like firing up the grill that night! Oh one last thing. I always love the huge steak knives that are available at steakhouses, but the ones at Longhorn were really extra sharp, and heavy duty, and they actually have a signature set available for all of you Longhorn loving dads out there. Here's a pic of what they look like. They are very heavy in the hand, and I'm confident you might be able to saw through an oak tree with one!
And for any of you grill challenged folks out there, I have a nice grilling fact sheet to provide you with. Next time you even think about firing up the broiler, remember Wacky Dad, and break out this hand guide!
Here are a couple photos of our experience!
Enjoy and happy grilling!
Wacky Dad
MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013
The Energizer Bunny Goes Nightcrawling
Recently, I was presented with the opportunity to write a
post about an Energizer Night-Headlight.
My Night Headlight!
Being the meathead that I am, I was super excited at the opportunity and jumped at it. I am a total flashlight junkie! While shopping at Wal-Mart for the light, I opted for the 70 Lumens Trailfinder. As every self-respecting meathead should know, it all comes down to lumens when talking about lighting. I always opt for the most power, and I snagged the biggest, baddest version on the shelf. I have a graveyard of flashlights that I have beat up and destroyed over the years, and that included my previous headlight that my mother-in-law gave me when headlights first became popular. If you read my blog, you'll know that I am always up to some manner of activity that requires lighting. Cleaning a carburetor at dusk, working under the truck, climbing in crawlspaces and attics, you name it, I do it. I had something a little more fun in mind for my new, night headlight this time though.
NIGHT-CRAWLING!
Mia, The Fearsome Worm Hunter
As a kid we never bought worms for fishing. We all had "worm boxes". We went night crawling after every major rain storm. Those big, fat, juicy worms would be up, out of their holes, soaking up the moonlight, and we were there to grab them! My worm-box was an old wooden box I found somewhere that I re-purposed and turned into a worm-box. But a worm-box can be pretty much anything. The plastic container that Mia is holding in the picture above is just fine. It's been a while since I had taken the kids out night-crawling, and I had never tried a headlight to hunt for them so I was totally into the idea of freeing up one hunting-hand and trying the "two handed" approach!
Fashion Diva Meets Worm Hunting
So basically, there isn't any brain surgery to hunting night-crawlers, except that you need to be very stealthy, and you need to be mindful of your light and where you point it. Night-crawlers can sense you coming at them. It must be the vibration of the ground that they feel because you need to tread very lightly. Also if you shine a light directly at them, they "scram" back into their holes as fast as can be. One thing I was intrigued by on my new beam headlight was it's ability to operate with "red light". My daughter Ailey and I hypothesized the red light would probably allow us to sneak up on the worms without scaring them away. It turns out that we were right on the money with that guess! The red light mode on our night headlights was a "killer" for sneaking up on the worms. It was almost as if they couldn't sense it at all. It allowed us to get right up on top of them and grab them before they knew what was coming.
Ailey Showing Off Our New Secret Weapon - Red Light!
Note The "Two Handed" approach and the fabulous head-light quality and brightness!
This time of year you often find two worms snuggled up next to each other, which can only be some sort of worm mating ritual. Kind of gross if you ask me but invariably, you only catch one of the worms when you're holding a flashlight since you only have one hand free. Last night was the first time I was able to "Double Fist" and actually catch 2 worms at a time! Having two hands free, and the red light mode made us unstoppable! We probably pulled in about 2 dozen worms of assorted sizes. Below you can check out the big bruiser that Ailey spotted!
All in all, I was super impressed with my new night headlight from Energizer. The build-quality seemed good, the water tight case impressed me, and the battery compartment was easily accessible as well as watertight. All things that are a must for any true outdoors-person. I am certainly a happy customer. I'm also glad that my kids and I were able to enjoy a night out, night-crawling, and reliving some of my childhood memories, while also helping them to hone their night-crawling skills!
Note the red waterproof gasket surrounding the battery compartment. Very cool.
For all of my fellow meatheads who are going to run out and pick up a headlight for their next worming excursion, I highly recommend the Energizer Trailfinder. Be sure to check out Energizer at www.energizer.com and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/Energizer
Don't forget when you store worms, you'll want to keep them in a very cool place (I prefer the refrigerator). We like to feed our worms old coffee grounds. It makes them fat and juicy, as well as super energetic (maybe the caffeine?)!
.jpg)
Just A Teaspoon full Of Coffee Grounds!
Disregard the messy kitchen in the background!
OH, AND BY THE WAY...
.jpg)
And Always put a warning sign on your worm box!
Happy Hunting!
Love,
Wacky Dad
The Outback Steakhouse : Dinner With Dad Giveaway
I was thrilled when I was contacted by a representative of the Outback Steakhouse to do a giveaway for an Outback dinner. I have always loved the Outback, even from when it first opened. I remember marvelling about the beauty of the Bloomin' Onion, both in appearance and taste, and I don't even eat onions on a regular basis! Also since I am on a low carb diet right now, the complimentary steak dinner that comes with this post will be most welcome! Of course I am always interested in promoting a product that I believe is good, and there is no question that Outback is a quality meal and is family friendly as well.
My three daughters have been to countless dinners out with us in the eleven years we have been parents. For the most part they are pretty darned patient while waiting for their food at the restaurant. There are a couple of meals that stand out in my head as over the top in one way or another. The first was at a restaraunt called the Sugar Shack in Thornton, New Hampshire. This is truly one of the best breakfast places I have ever attended. If you are lucky enough to make a trip to the Sugar Shack when maple syrup season is going on, you are able to watch the boiling maple sap while eating your breakfast. My kids loved reading the placemats on the table that explain the whole process of maple syrup production. Also the place is basically a "sugaring" museum with all kinds of old photos, and artifacts on the walls pertaining to maple syrup season. Watching the steam billowing out of a 500 gallon vat of boiling maple syrup is bound to make any kids chocolate chip pancakes taste a little bit better, even when they are loaded up with fresh maple syrup!
I also remember a time when we only had 1 daughter, Abigail. She is our first born and was always a little tentative with fire and loud noise and the like, still is actually, eleven years later. Well one night we decided to go out to a local hibachi style Japanese grill where they cook the food right in front of you. We never thought about the repercussions of bringing our fearful little Abby to a place like this. Of course everything was fine when we sat down. They sat a couple of young couples next to us, God bless them! Everything was fine until the chef came out and started winging kifes around, spraying fire on the grill, and the whole nine yards. Abigail was horrified. That kid was howling with fear, and the young and hip couples sitting beside us got a true lesson in birth control! I think we ended up letting the cook finish up and we ate our meals at home much to Abby's delight!
Also something I remember from my own childhood at meals was the fighting over the bill. In an Italian family it is basically tradition for the patriarch of the family to pay for the meal, but it is also tradition for the son to fight like hell about paying the bill. This was our tradition anyway, not to stereotype or anything. As a kid I was always a bit of a wiseguy. I used to sit patiently waiting for the bill to come so I could watch the battle royale that was going to take place. I remember some real beauties when my grandfather said he would never eat with us again, etc, unless he was allowed to pay the bill. Of course in the end he almost always won, since he used to make such a scene that the police would have been called if my father hadn't acquiesced. I silently delighted in this ritual, and still enjoy doing it today. Now my father is the one making the noise, and I am the one trying to pay my fair share. I love it! The great thing about this giveaway is there doesn' have to be a brawl over the bill. Outback is willing to give you a $45 gift card to Outback Steakhouse for a night out with the family. Why not give this contest a shot and make some new memories Outback style!
Here are the rules:
1. To win the gift card you must share your wacky, fun, whatever, dinner moment as a comment on this blog. I reward people with the wackiest story as a rule so make it a good one!
2. Every tweet you make about this contest will help you win the prize. More tweets = more chances to win. You can cut and paste the following tweet the following.
Visit Wacky Dad to Win a $45 gift card from @Outback & @Wackydad http://goo.gl/nc2Jt #DinnerWithDad #dadstalking #giveaway
3. The contest ends on July 7th at midnight and the certificate will be awarded within 24 hours of the contest closing.
***Please note that this gift card does not cover alcohol, gratuity, or, tax.
Good Luck!
Wacky Dad
__________________________________________________________________
Wacky Giveaway - $50 toward a www.localpages.com purchase!
How does $50 toward an electronics purchase at www.localpages.com sound! This giveaway opens 9 pm on May 26th and closes at 9 pm on June 2nd. Good luck!
Once again Wacky Dad is delivering for my readers! $50 toward an electronics purchase through www.localpages.com. Local Pages is the leader in local coupons, discounts, and advertising. Local Pages has a ton of shopping deals available at your fingertips. Plus they want to give you $50 to make it more fun! All you need to do is comment on this post and say why you are most proud of your son or your daughter. Make it wacky because I am the judge on this one!
*Eligibility requirements: In order to be eligible to win, commenters must be at least 18 years old, reside in the U.S. and must not have won any Local Pages giveaways within the past 30 days. There is a one prize per household limit per 30 day period.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*A Pillsbury Doughboy For Mothers Day?
Recently, I was presented with the opportunity to write a
post about an Energizer Night-Headlight.
post about an Energizer Night-Headlight.
 |
| My Night Headlight! |
Being the meathead that I am, I was super excited at the opportunity and jumped at it. I am a total flashlight junkie! While shopping at Wal-Mart for the light, I opted for the 70 Lumens Trailfinder. As every self-respecting meathead should know, it all comes down to lumens when talking about lighting. I always opt for the most power, and I snagged the biggest, baddest version on the shelf. I have a graveyard of flashlights that I have beat up and destroyed over the years, and that included my previous headlight that my mother-in-law gave me when headlights first became popular. If you read my blog, you'll know that I am always up to some manner of activity that requires lighting. Cleaning a carburetor at dusk, working under the truck, climbing in crawlspaces and attics, you name it, I do it. I had something a little more fun in mind for my new, night headlight this time though.
NIGHT-CRAWLING!
 |
| Mia, The Fearsome Worm Hunter |
As a kid we never bought worms for fishing. We all had "worm boxes". We went night crawling after every major rain storm. Those big, fat, juicy worms would be up, out of their holes, soaking up the moonlight, and we were there to grab them! My worm-box was an old wooden box I found somewhere that I re-purposed and turned into a worm-box. But a worm-box can be pretty much anything. The plastic container that Mia is holding in the picture above is just fine. It's been a while since I had taken the kids out night-crawling, and I had never tried a headlight to hunt for them so I was totally into the idea of freeing up one hunting-hand and trying the "two handed" approach!
 |
| Fashion Diva Meets Worm Hunting |
 |
| Ailey Showing Off Our New Secret Weapon - Red Light! |
 |
| Note The "Two Handed" approach and the fabulous head-light quality and brightness!
This time of year you often find two worms snuggled up next to each other, which can only be some sort of worm mating ritual. Kind of gross if you ask me but invariably, you only catch one of the worms when you're holding a flashlight since you only have one hand free. Last night was the first time I was able to "Double Fist" and actually catch 2 worms at a time! Having two hands free, and the red light mode made us unstoppable! We probably pulled in about 2 dozen worms of assorted sizes. Below you can check out the big bruiser that Ailey spotted!
 |
All in all, I was super impressed with my new night headlight from Energizer. The build-quality seemed good, the water tight case impressed me, and the battery compartment was easily accessible as well as watertight. All things that are a must for any true outdoors-person. I am certainly a happy customer. I'm also glad that my kids and I were able to enjoy a night out, night-crawling, and reliving some of my childhood memories, while also helping them to hone their night-crawling skills!
 |
| Note the red waterproof gasket surrounding the battery compartment. Very cool. |
For all of my fellow meatheads who are going to run out and pick up a headlight for their next worming excursion, I highly recommend the Energizer Trailfinder. Be sure to check out Energizer at www.energizer.com and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/Energizer
Don't forget when you store worms, you'll want to keep them in a very cool place (I prefer the refrigerator). We like to feed our worms old coffee grounds. It makes them fat and juicy, as well as super energetic (maybe the caffeine?)!
.jpg) |
| Just A Teaspoon full Of Coffee Grounds! Disregard the messy kitchen in the background! |
OH, AND BY THE WAY...
.jpg) |
| And Always put a warning sign on your worm box! |
Happy Hunting!
Love,
Wacky Dad
The Outback Steakhouse : Dinner With Dad Giveaway
I was thrilled when I was contacted by a representative of the Outback Steakhouse to do a giveaway for an Outback dinner. I have always loved the Outback, even from when it first opened. I remember marvelling about the beauty of the Bloomin' Onion, both in appearance and taste, and I don't even eat onions on a regular basis! Also since I am on a low carb diet right now, the complimentary steak dinner that comes with this post will be most welcome! Of course I am always interested in promoting a product that I believe is good, and there is no question that Outback is a quality meal and is family friendly as well.
My three daughters have been to countless dinners out with us in the eleven years we have been parents. For the most part they are pretty darned patient while waiting for their food at the restaurant. There are a couple of meals that stand out in my head as over the top in one way or another. The first was at a restaraunt called the Sugar Shack in Thornton, New Hampshire. This is truly one of the best breakfast places I have ever attended. If you are lucky enough to make a trip to the Sugar Shack when maple syrup season is going on, you are able to watch the boiling maple sap while eating your breakfast. My kids loved reading the placemats on the table that explain the whole process of maple syrup production. Also the place is basically a "sugaring" museum with all kinds of old photos, and artifacts on the walls pertaining to maple syrup season. Watching the steam billowing out of a 500 gallon vat of boiling maple syrup is bound to make any kids chocolate chip pancakes taste a little bit better, even when they are loaded up with fresh maple syrup!
I also remember a time when we only had 1 daughter, Abigail. She is our first born and was always a little tentative with fire and loud noise and the like, still is actually, eleven years later. Well one night we decided to go out to a local hibachi style Japanese grill where they cook the food right in front of you. We never thought about the repercussions of bringing our fearful little Abby to a place like this. Of course everything was fine when we sat down. They sat a couple of young couples next to us, God bless them! Everything was fine until the chef came out and started winging kifes around, spraying fire on the grill, and the whole nine yards. Abigail was horrified. That kid was howling with fear, and the young and hip couples sitting beside us got a true lesson in birth control! I think we ended up letting the cook finish up and we ate our meals at home much to Abby's delight!
Also something I remember from my own childhood at meals was the fighting over the bill. In an Italian family it is basically tradition for the patriarch of the family to pay for the meal, but it is also tradition for the son to fight like hell about paying the bill. This was our tradition anyway, not to stereotype or anything. As a kid I was always a bit of a wiseguy. I used to sit patiently waiting for the bill to come so I could watch the battle royale that was going to take place. I remember some real beauties when my grandfather said he would never eat with us again, etc, unless he was allowed to pay the bill. Of course in the end he almost always won, since he used to make such a scene that the police would have been called if my father hadn't acquiesced. I silently delighted in this ritual, and still enjoy doing it today. Now my father is the one making the noise, and I am the one trying to pay my fair share. I love it! The great thing about this giveaway is there doesn' have to be a brawl over the bill. Outback is willing to give you a $45 gift card to Outback Steakhouse for a night out with the family. Why not give this contest a shot and make some new memories Outback style!
Here are the rules:
1. To win the gift card you must share your wacky, fun, whatever, dinner moment as a comment on this blog. I reward people with the wackiest story as a rule so make it a good one!
2. Every tweet you make about this contest will help you win the prize. More tweets = more chances to win. You can cut and paste the following tweet the following.
Visit Wacky Dad to Win a $45 gift card from @Outback & @Wackydad http://goo.gl/nc2Jt #DinnerWithDad #dadstalking #giveaway
3. The contest ends on July 7th at midnight and the certificate will be awarded within 24 hours of the contest closing.
***Please note that this gift card does not cover alcohol, gratuity, or, tax.
Good Luck!
Wacky Dad
__________________________________________________________________
How does $50 toward an electronics purchase at www.localpages.com sound! This giveaway opens 9 pm on May 26th and closes at 9 pm on June 2nd. Good luck!
Once again Wacky Dad is delivering for my readers! $50 toward an electronics purchase through www.localpages.com. Local Pages is the leader in local coupons, discounts, and advertising. Local Pages has a ton of shopping deals available at your fingertips. Plus they want to give you $50 to make it more fun! All you need to do is comment on this post and say why you are most proud of your son or your daughter. Make it wacky because I am the judge on this one!
*Eligibility requirements: In order to be eligible to win, commenters must be at least 18 years old, reside in the U.S. and must not have won any Local Pages giveaways within the past 30 days. There is a one prize per household limit per 30 day period.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
These are the items being given away!
I was recently contacted by someone who represents Pillsbury to see if I wanted to do a Pillsbury giveaway. My response - Why the heck not? They send me 2 of these neat little care packages to give away with the Pillsbury Doughboy plastered all over everything. Since my weight has escalated in the past few months I feel like I have quite a bit in common with the fat little dude! They included a cool survey that I thought all of my dad readers might be interested in reading. Check it out - this is a survey that shows how most dad's handle mothers day. Our yearly routine is to make mom breakfast, then we take her to her favorite greenhouse to pick out annuals and perennials to plant in the yard. Generally we spend the afternoon cooking out with my mother and father. In between I try to let my wife do as little work as possible. Simple I guess but it seems to work. I am truly blessed to have Cathy as my wife and my kids don't know how lucky they are to have such a great mom. Happy Mothers Day Cathy! Enjoy the survey and comment to win the package. The 23rd comment will win, and your Doughboy package will be mailed to you!
Survey Finds Dads Putting Moms First for Mother’s Day:
· The survey found dads agree that small, meaningful gestures on Mother’s Day (94%) are more important than buying expensive presents (55%). Starting the day with Pillsbury Sweet Rolls is a great way for the whole family to show mom how much she’s appreciated. Quick and easy to prepare, a memorable beginning to Mother’s Day can be created in just minutes.
· Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to create unforgettable experiences, say 84 percent of dads, and seventy-nine percent of dads agree that one way to start of the memory-filled day is by treating mom to breakfast in bed.
· The survey also found 91 percent of dads agree having a wonderful Father’s Day isn’t as important as ensuring their wives have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Tips for Making a Perfect Mother’s Day:
· Breakfast in Bed: Surprise mom in just minutes with Pillsbury Sweet Rolls. Quick and easy to prepare – simply place and bake for an impressive and delicious addition to your weekend breakfast – it’s an easy way the whole family can start Mother’s Day with a sweet surprise.
· Family photos: A very thoughtful and sentimental gift is framed photos of the entire family. Capturing memories that can be displayed for a lifetime.
· A homemade card: A great gift to get the kids involved with, making a homemade Mother’s Day card is a sentimental gesture that gives mom a unique memory!
· Find a mom-centered event the whole family can enjoy: Plan a family fun day around one of mom’s favorite activities, such as a concert, hike, picnic or dinner at her favorite restaurant.
· Give Mom the Day Off: Have the family all pitch-in to take care of mom’s chores and then get the kids out of the house for the day to give mom some time to herself to relax and unwind! Our survey found a full 94 percent of dads say it’s important to let their wives relax and forget about responsibilities for one afternoon, and 83 percent will even take over their wives’ responsibilities for the day just to show they care.
Happy Mothers Day!
Wacky Dad
* Green Lantern Toys - Wacky Review!
Green Lantern Action Figure
I was recently asked to review the new Green Lantern Colossal Cannon and Green lantern action figure forMattel Toys. I guess they have realized that I am still a big kid! The only problem with this review was that I they wanted the review to be done by boys. I had an elaborate plan to dress my girls up like boys and sneak it through that way. My wife had the more grounded idea of just inviting boys over to play. Damn she is smart!
Owen, Ainsley, and Mia with the Cannon
We ended up inviting some good friends over to play with the toys and it went incredibly well. I was a little skeptical. After being a father of girls for almost 11 years I have kind of forgotten the way that boys love playing with action figures, and the pretend weapons of their action figure heroes. When Owen opened these toys up he was totally into it. He carried the action figure around with him, wore the ring and "zapped" us all with it several times!
Green Lantern Colossal Cannon
Ainsley plying her trade!
The biggest hit was definitely the Colossal Cannon though. This baby has universal appeal! As you will see in the video even the moms and dads loved the cannon. It must be cursed to only work for kids though, since I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it, while the kids nailed everything they shot at. I think the biggest hit was setting up a shooting gallery of cans and plastic bottles and the kids would lay down in front of it sniper style and try to plink out each bottle. Ainsley was incredible - she has a future as a U.S. Marine Sniper or a super hero or something (don't tell her mom Michelle I said so!).
Owen nails a can with the cannon!
It really is fun though. You're able to preload 10 little half dollar sized discs into the gun and it sends them winging out frisbee still into the air. It also lights up and flashes and makes gun noises. What could be better than that? This thing is reminiscent of a real gun that I used to fire while in the Marine Corps called the Gau-17. 6 Barrels and 2000-4000 rounds a minute. Now that was fun! This little toy definitely brought back some of those old memories though! I tested out the pain factor of these little discs hitting you and you barely even feel it. Actually I tested it on my wife Cathy instead of myself just to make sure it didn't hurt!
I finally hit a couple!
Wacky Dad rates these toys with 2 thumbs up. Although Mattelrecommends these toys for 3-11 year olds I believe that they are just fine for 30-90 year olds too! Get a couple of these things and you'll have a blast! Take a few minutes to watch the video I took and you'll see just how much the kids really enjoyed these toys.
They probably played for a good 2 hours and only stopped because it got dark out and was time for bed! Nice job Mattel. These are good old fashioned type toys that encouraged a lot of running, exercise, and plain old kid play. Keep up the good work!
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of Mattel and received Green Lantern toys to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Playfully,
Wacky Dad
* Review of upcoming television movie for Fox Family Night called "Truth Be Told
Premiere night - Saturday, April 16th on FOX at 8pm/7ct.
Hey all! I was asked to review an upcoming television movie for Fox Family Night called "Truth Be Told". I am not a huge fan of television but I figured it would be fun to give it a try. Of course I was pretty psyched that someone even cared what a knucklehead that calls himself Wacky Dad thought about a movie! I was pretty skeptical about the movie though. I am really a tough critic. My wife can't even stand to watch television with me since I am always complaining about the programming.
Ok though - back to the movie. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the plot was very well thought out, the roles where very well acted, and the characters fully developed. For me to make it all the way through a TV movie, it has to be something worth watching! And I have to say, this was. I don't want to give away the story but basically the movie comes down to the fact that two adults told a lie that they thought would better their lives and other peoples lives. In the process they involved children as conspirators in the lie. The movie has plenty of love, drama and humor and I believe it would appeal to everyone in the family, including the kids. One of my favorite things to do with my kids is to snuggle up, pop some popcorn and watch one of our favorite flicks. I will definitely be watching this movie with the kids on premiere night - Saturday, April 16th on FOX at 8pm/7ct.
(Plus, the promise from FOX that the commercials during their Family movie nights will be kid friendly sure allows this Wacky dad to relax a little more. I won't have to answer any questions like, "Hey dad, what is Viagra? or "How do you get this herpes thing?" - AWKWARD is right and so not a discssuion I want to have with an 8 and 3 year old)
Click here to watch the movie trailer.
While watching I started thinking about what Fox named the movie "Truth be Told' and how I feel about lying and just how important it is for us to teach our kids the importance of telling the truth. Many of my blog readers have heard about "The Treatment" (click the hyper link and read Wacky Tip #1 for an explanation). Lying is an offense that definitely earns my girls the treatment. The best way that we can teach our kids not to lie is to follow my old Marine drill instructor's method and lead by example. Lets face it - if you lie, your kids will follow suit. Any time I have lied in my adult life, whether it was professional or personal, it has come back to bite me in the butt. There are many things that I consider lying. One of the ways we can lie to our kids is to say we are going to do something with them and then not follow through. In our busy lives it is easy to make promises and then get busy and not fit it in. I really try to make a point to follow through on the promises I make to my girls. Following through on these little promises builds trust. I'm not a big proponent of the white lie stuff either. Either it is or it isn't. Truth is generally black and white. Hell I'm not perfect but I try to convey these facts to my kids in my own simple way - and that is by maintaining an honest relationship with them. They may not always like the truth that dad represents but they sure seem to respect it. Aside from the little slip ups every now and then my girls have become truthful little buggers and that makes this old Marine a happy camper.
Ok I'm off my high horse now! Take 2 hours out and watch a movie that will entertain you as well as emphasize the fact that to you and your kids that honesty is always the best option! You can also check out "Truth Be Told" at www.facebook.com/familymovienight.
I think all of my readers know me by now. If the movie sucked I would tell you! And of course now you know I never lie!
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a movie kit to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Honestly,
Wacky Dad
Family Movie Night is Back
Join the Movement!
- Great quality movies
- Good for the whole family
- Teachable moments
- Even family friendly commercials!
Millions of families are rediscovering their family rooms and actually watching TV ... together. Thanks to Walmart and P&G, great family movies are now being broadcast FREE on network TV.
Want to get involved?
These are the items being given away!
I was recently contacted by someone who represents Pillsbury to see if I wanted to do a Pillsbury giveaway. My response - Why the heck not? They send me 2 of these neat little care packages to give away with the Pillsbury Doughboy plastered all over everything. Since my weight has escalated in the past few months I feel like I have quite a bit in common with the fat little dude! They included a cool survey that I thought all of my dad readers might be interested in reading. Check it out - this is a survey that shows how most dad's handle mothers day. Our yearly routine is to make mom breakfast, then we take her to her favorite greenhouse to pick out annuals and perennials to plant in the yard. Generally we spend the afternoon cooking out with my mother and father. In between I try to let my wife do as little work as possible. Simple I guess but it seems to work. I am truly blessed to have Cathy as my wife and my kids don't know how lucky they are to have such a great mom. Happy Mothers Day Cathy! Enjoy the survey and comment to win the package. The 23rd comment will win, and your Doughboy package will be mailed to you!
Survey Finds Dads Putting Moms First for Mother’s Day:
· The survey found dads agree that small, meaningful gestures on Mother’s Day (94%) are more important than buying expensive presents (55%). Starting the day with Pillsbury Sweet Rolls is a great way for the whole family to show mom how much she’s appreciated. Quick and easy to prepare, a memorable beginning to Mother’s Day can be created in just minutes.
· Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to create unforgettable experiences, say 84 percent of dads, and seventy-nine percent of dads agree that one way to start of the memory-filled day is by treating mom to breakfast in bed.
· The survey also found 91 percent of dads agree having a wonderful Father’s Day isn’t as important as ensuring their wives have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Tips for Making a Perfect Mother’s Day:
· Breakfast in Bed: Surprise mom in just minutes with Pillsbury Sweet Rolls. Quick and easy to prepare – simply place and bake for an impressive and delicious addition to your weekend breakfast – it’s an easy way the whole family can start Mother’s Day with a sweet surprise.
· Family photos: A very thoughtful and sentimental gift is framed photos of the entire family. Capturing memories that can be displayed for a lifetime.
· A homemade card: A great gift to get the kids involved with, making a homemade Mother’s Day card is a sentimental gesture that gives mom a unique memory!
· Find a mom-centered event the whole family can enjoy: Plan a family fun day around one of mom’s favorite activities, such as a concert, hike, picnic or dinner at her favorite restaurant.
· Give Mom the Day Off: Have the family all pitch-in to take care of mom’s chores and then get the kids out of the house for the day to give mom some time to herself to relax and unwind! Our survey found a full 94 percent of dads say it’s important to let their wives relax and forget about responsibilities for one afternoon, and 83 percent will even take over their wives’ responsibilities for the day just to show they care.
Happy Mothers Day!
Wacky Dad
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| These are the items being given away! |
Survey Finds Dads Putting Moms First for Mother’s Day:
· The survey found dads agree that small, meaningful gestures on Mother’s Day (94%) are more important than buying expensive presents (55%). Starting the day with Pillsbury Sweet Rolls is a great way for the whole family to show mom how much she’s appreciated. Quick and easy to prepare, a memorable beginning to Mother’s Day can be created in just minutes.
· Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to create unforgettable experiences, say 84 percent of dads, and seventy-nine percent of dads agree that one way to start of the memory-filled day is by treating mom to breakfast in bed.
· The survey also found 91 percent of dads agree having a wonderful Father’s Day isn’t as important as ensuring their wives have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Tips for Making a Perfect Mother’s Day:
· Breakfast in Bed: Surprise mom in just minutes with Pillsbury Sweet Rolls. Quick and easy to prepare – simply place and bake for an impressive and delicious addition to your weekend breakfast – it’s an easy way the whole family can start Mother’s Day with a sweet surprise.
· Family photos: A very thoughtful and sentimental gift is framed photos of the entire family. Capturing memories that can be displayed for a lifetime.
· A homemade card: A great gift to get the kids involved with, making a homemade Mother’s Day card is a sentimental gesture that gives mom a unique memory!
· Find a mom-centered event the whole family can enjoy: Plan a family fun day around one of mom’s favorite activities, such as a concert, hike, picnic or dinner at her favorite restaurant.
· Give Mom the Day Off: Have the family all pitch-in to take care of mom’s chores and then get the kids out of the house for the day to give mom some time to herself to relax and unwind! Our survey found a full 94 percent of dads say it’s important to let their wives relax and forget about responsibilities for one afternoon, and 83 percent will even take over their wives’ responsibilities for the day just to show they care.
Happy Mothers Day!
Wacky Dad
* Green Lantern Toys - Wacky Review!
| Green Lantern Action Figure |
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| Owen, Ainsley, and Mia with the Cannon |
| Green Lantern Colossal Cannon |
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| Ainsley plying her trade! |
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| Owen nails a can with the cannon! |
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| I finally hit a couple! |
They probably played for a good 2 hours and only stopped because it got dark out and was time for bed! Nice job Mattel. These are good old fashioned type toys that encouraged a lot of running, exercise, and plain old kid play. Keep up the good work!
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of Mattel and received Green Lantern toys to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Playfully,
* Review of upcoming television movie for Fox Family Night called "Truth Be Told
Premiere night - Saturday, April 16th on FOX at 8pm/7ct.
Hey all! I was asked to review an upcoming television movie for Fox Family Night called "Truth Be Told". I am not a huge fan of television but I figured it would be fun to give it a try. Of course I was pretty psyched that someone even cared what a knucklehead that calls himself Wacky Dad thought about a movie! I was pretty skeptical about the movie though. I am really a tough critic. My wife can't even stand to watch television with me since I am always complaining about the programming.
Click here to watch the movie trailer.
Wacky Dad
Family Movie Night is Back
Join the Movement!
- Great quality movies
- Good for the whole family
- Teachable moments
- Even family friendly commercials!
Millions of families are rediscovering their family rooms and actually watching TV ... together. Thanks to Walmart and P&G, great family movies are now being broadcast FREE on network TV.
Want to get involved? 
Power from trees? Of Course, you cut the sucker down and burn the wood, how's that? Screw that swaying stuff. Start a fire and get warm, then you can get some sleep instead of thinking about that crap.
ReplyDeleteDad
Dad,
ReplyDeleteThats what the pilgrims did you dolt. Pretty soon there were no trees left and they had to move west until all of those tress ran out and they were across the damned country. I think I'll stick with the swaying! For everyone that doesn't know us, dolt is an endearing word in the Costantino family!
He calls me all time of the day and night when he gets one of these wacky ideas. I've been listening to harebrained stuff like this since he was 8 years old.
ReplyDeleteYou rig a wire from a stationary point near the top of the tree, then you go to a 1:4 tackle that goes from the ground to the swaying tree. That's a reverse tackle, so for every foot the tree sways the bottom of the tackle, which is at ground level, lifts 4 feet. You link this to a ratcheting flywheel and use that to drive a generator.
Now get some sleep.
That is pretty much what I thought too. Only problems is climbing up to the top of thos suckers! I can't get a bucket lift into my yard! You are still pretty sharp for an old man!
ReplyDeleteBetter than windmills, use the weight of cars on the highway. Make a section of a highway a large platform that can move an inch or two so when a car or truck goes over it. The movement can be converted into hydraulic pressure that can drive a generator. If you place the platform just after the rise at the top of a hill the vehicles weight will be increased by a g or so when a car goes over the rise and settles down on the platform.
ReplyDeleteSounds good! Your not smart enough to come up with that on your own. Stop googling my ideas!
ReplyDeleteI beg your pardon, that's my idea.
ReplyDeleteOk.
ReplyDeleteWith all that hot air blowing around your house you should be able to power half of Warwick.
ReplyDeleteAnd just for the record, you are weird.
Chip off the old block!
ReplyDeleteI got to you guys thru Mike Hamel, if that means anything...
ReplyDeleteYou can get smallish "windmills" that fit on the roof in a Cupola so it all looks like it was intended to be just so.
And I'd vote for the high windmills too.
Lastly-Google the Good Show if you want to improve yer weird factors. 1950's British radio comedy. Makes Monty Python look like a Pilgrim priest's Sunday sermon
cheers
Joe Cooper
Thanks Joe. I met Mike this past weekend at a walk we did for the Wounded Warrior Project. Great guy! I like the cupola idea but my wife would be way to happy with that! I was thinking of sticking an old sailboat mast on the side of the house and really going for the gusto! Don't want to ruin my reputation as a class "A" meathead!
ReplyDeleteBack to the road idea. Why not the platform at the bottom of a hill so that vehicles from both directions would potentially have increased g at the same location?
ReplyDeleteKlahmers that is my old man's weird idea. We better ask him! I still think windmills are easier...
ReplyDelete