Family | Page 4 of 29

Health terminology 101 with UnitedHealthcare and win prize money

This is a sponsored post. All thoughts are our own. Three years ago I put off seeing a doctor because of the hassles and issues involving the process. When I finally saw them, they snipped, sampled, rushed it off to a lab and called me less than 48 hours later to let me know I had Melanoma. Well, hello Wednesday. It was caught early, but let that be a lesson that burying your head or saying that you’re too busy because it only hurts you. Healthcare education has evolved and UnitedHealthcare has a couple of options to make learning about it much more interesting.

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Win tickets to #JapanFest at Infinite Energy Center, September 17 &18

JapanFest has become one of our annual go-to events for the family. It wasn’t always that way. I’m skeptical of anything that has ‘fest’ or ‘apalooza’ at the end of it, as I channel my inner Heinz Doofenshmirtz and create a JapanCulture-inator. JapanFest is great fun for the entire family on so many levels and it happens at Infinite Energy Center September 17 and 18.

This is a festival designed to celebrate Japanese culture. What is great about JapanFest, and quite surprising from our perspective was how accurate it is as presenting it. I was also surprised at how much fun my wife and children had. It was kind of a given that I would love it, having lived in Fukuoka, Japan for two years. The curve ball was how much fun the kids had, interacting with some cosplay, watching the presentations or looking at the various things for sale.

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At JapanFest 2016, for the first time ever they will have a Kabuki exhibition. Anime and voice over legend Kyle Hebert will also be present for questions and autographs. Hebert’s vocal work in Naruto, DragonBall-Z, Pokemon and others is well known by American audiences.

Do you like Samurai or sumo? They’ll be represented at JapanFest too. We’re most excited about a presentation called Shimasen Rock. This instrument is a three stringed wonder that makes the most magical sound. A close second is watching people play the Koto, which is the large ‘harp’, that is lying down. There is also a very large Anime area with product that you’ll only see at conferences or trade shows like this.

JapanFest has the best food court for Japanese food you will ever find. Ever. Walking through the food court is as close to eating at a yataii that you’ll come to in the U.S. We ate okonomiyaki, a dish that’s rarely served at most Japanese restaurants, and this fast version was as good as we’ve eaten.

They’ve got vendors from lots of Japanese companies, tractors (hello Kuboto!), a stage where they’ll introduce festivals or traditions and lots more. If Japan is Greek to you you’ll be OK at JapanFest. It’s fun, accessible to everyone and a real hoot for the entire family.

Denny’s, talking Pancake and free swag

Hey, we’re a Denny’s Ambassador and were compensated. All thoughts are our own. Take Facebook Live, Denny’s, free swag, their hit web series “The Grand Slams”, add more talking Pancake and you’ve got something to really flip over. It was an interactive chat with Pancake, the sometimes smarmy, perhaps a little vain, entertaining-and now fluffier flour treat from Denny’s. Pancake was all digital, but the humor and quips were in real time and a great example of creative outreach without the knife and fork.

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Pull-Ups Potty Partnership #BPopEvents toilet training 101

As a stay at home dad I’m thankful for the little things. For our second child I’m very thankful because potty training him was relatively easy. Having said that, time heals all wounds and he’s been potty trained since he was three and a half. In our family time machine I’m sure that it was fraught with dashes to the potty, accidents and wet pants. Huggies has a new program (and it’s free!)to help you allow your child to be potty trained more readily by working with the strengths of your individual child.

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Digging in Monopoly Empire for World Monopoly Day, March 19

Like most kids I played Monopoly growing up. My older sister or my dad usually won, except for the rare occasion where I did-and celebrated too much, which caused more space between the games. World Monopoly Day is March 19 and to honor the board game that’s been wheeling and dealing since 1935 we played Monopoly Empire with our oldest. I was hesitant to do so for two reasons, which I’ll explain in a moment.

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Easter basket ideas for boys

Boys are different than girls. Certainly, both a 6 year old boy and girl would love a good Easter egg hunt. However, when it comes to Easter basket ideas for boys you should plan accordingly; lest you have egg on your face. Sure, some of the items below will cross over to the girl Easter baskets and vice versa. Being the dad to a 4 and 6 year old boy we know what they’re asking for in their Easter basket and here are a variety of ideas that range from bigger items like the Star Wars throw to a trip to your local $1 store.

We were provided with the Star Wars throw and National Geographic books for the post, but, it’s Star Wars and Nat Geo. Everything else was paid for by us and all of the items would rock a boy’s Easter basket like nobody’s business.

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A #Heart2Heart with Pop, wishful thinking and lifestyle choices

Hey, I partnered with Life of Dad and Meta Wellness for this promotion. My dad is not a talker. I’m not a talker either but compared to him I’m Leo Getz. It’s an exercise of patience just to get him to tell me anything beyond how the weather is. Mind you, it is not because he’s not of sound mind, he is just not a talker. Our average phone call lasts about 5 minutes. The Heart 2 Heart campaign is all about men having health conversations with their loved ones. Knowing all of this I called my dad to talk about his health.

My health is better than average; thanks to my wife and my father, both of whom assisted me using opposite methods. My wife is more of the conversationalist, let’s talk-figure out the problem and not repeat it in the future. I love to watch her and my father talk. He squirms like a worm looking for a wet pile of mud to go hide in.

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Taking time out at Denny’s for dinner with the kids

Hey, we’re a Denny’s Ambassador and were compensated for this post. Having said that, bacon. Manic chaos. Life is like that. During the holidays more people than usual are like that. This week on one of our many, seemingly countless errands we stopped by Denny’s with the kids. It was a chance to, dare I say, relax during the holiday season, recharge and then head back out. I saw their Tastes of the Holidays and it spoke to me.

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