Hot Dad Essentials...and Giveaway

After being asked to take a look at a bunch of products for men, I decided that I should post a review of the few products that really stand out to me. Now I know that many of you are going to think I am weird(er) due to the product mix…but keeping track of the time while you rub lotion all over yourself and then slip into a snug pair of boxer briefs…can be an important thing for us Hot Dads.

The first product that I will tell you about is one of fashion, strength, functionality, durability and manliness…Casio’s Waveceptor watch. This stylish timepiece is rugged, yet fancy enough to wear with a suit. Among its many features, the:

Atomic Timekeeping, offering pinpoint accuracy, allows the watch to automatically receive time calibration signal updates on a daily basis from transmitters based on the user’s home city setting.
Solar Power technology features a unique power saving function and allows Waveceptor timepieces to energize themselves through even the lowest level of illumination including natural, solar or artificial light. Approx. battery life: 6 months on full charge (without further exposure to light)
…are two of my favorites.

Other features include; Solar Powered, 100M Water Resistant, Auto LED Light w/Afterglow, World Time (30 cities), 1/100 Sec. Stopwatch, 3 Daily Alarms / Daily Alarm and Hourly Time Signal.

For all of you ladies out there…if your man (or men for those of you who have not settled on one yet) is in need of a new watch…this is the one.

Available at my.casio.com for $200.00 – your Hot Dad will be that much hotter!!

****I am happy to announce that Casio is going to send one of these beauties to one of our lucky readers. All you have to do is comment that you want to enter to win the Waveceptor. (and let me know what you thought of the entire post.) The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, February 10th. Let the commenting begin!!!!


As for the underwear that I mentioned above, I don’t even know where to start. Well…OK, I do. I’ll start by saying that I had no freakin clue that there were so many different choices when it came to men’s underwear. I thought the choices were; tighty whities, loose boxers, boxer briefs and …commando.

I was sent a few pairs of underwear by Baskit and they were all very different. I liked two of them and out of those…LOVED one. I don’t know if I am going to turn into some freaky underwear snob or what but I don’t think I will ever buy anything other than Baskit’s Pure Boxer Brief.

In this snug, but not constricting, work of art, made my ‘control panel’ felt like a king. Like a Condor safely tucked away in its nest…or a cobra gently coiled up in it protective ‘baskit’.

I really don’t know or don’t have the education to talk about the technical aspects of undergarments’ manufacturing, but I will say that these babies will make any man feel like a Hot Dad.

Baskit’s Pure Boxer Brief is the epitome of Earth friendly attire. Available in three different colors: black, white, and natural white. While all of Baskit’s Pure products are made of 100% certified organic cotton, the natural white is slightly different in that the material was not chemically treated or bleached. Each design features palm green piping and waistband accents. A hot pair of underwear for the pure (and not-so-pure) underwear shoppers out there.

Available at their website, these masterpieces sell for a mere $24


Now…we are to the lotion part of this review. I know that generally speaking men like anything with aloe in it. That being said…there are right lotions for different situations. Some lotions are good for …intimate situations and stay slick and smooth…and then there is the every day lotions that you put on after a shower.

We are going to talk about the every day lotions here.

The skin on my legs, elbows and hands tend to get pretty dry. I have tried many different lotions and have, over the years, begun using lotion less and less. I have found it too bothersome and frankly not all that important to have baby smooth skin. I hated applying lotion and then not being able to get out of my bathroom…as the handle was too greasy. I hated pulling up my pants or putting on my shirt to find greasy marks from the lotion on my hands. I hated the irritation and stinging after forgetting about the lotion and rubbing my eye with a lotion covered finger. So…I pretty much gave up.

That is when the good folks over at Vaseline contacted me about their new men’s line… Vaseline® MEN Body & Face lotion.

Vaseline teamed up with former NFL star and current FOX NFL Sunday co-host Michael Strahan to promote the line of lotion designed especially for men. The Fast-Absorbing formula is great for guys who don’t want to spend a lot of time on grooming because it dries in just 15 seconds. In spirit of that, Michael is sharing his 15-minute, quick workout routines on www.strongerskin.com.

As a New York Giants fan…anything that my buddy Mr. Strahan endorses…I’ll take a look at. It turned out that I really loved the products. The lotion dries faster than anything I’ve tried before, has a great ‘manly’ scent and…actually has been really helping my dry skin areas.

Now I know that most of us men want nothing more than to roll out of bed, shower (if we smell bad), throw on some clothes, have some coffee and then get off to do whatever it is that we do…all without adding to our morning schedule. With the exception of maybe some of the less manly guys out there, I know that the last thing we want to do is add things that are found in the “health and Beauty” section of the store.

GO GET THIS PRODUCT!!!!! I guarantee that you will all feel like the Hot, Musky, Smooth-skinned, Manly, Kings that you know you are.

You can find this new line pretty much anywhere and retail for anywhere from $3.00 to $7.00 per bottle.

Hottest Tech Products of 2009

As a tech savvy, non-geeky, Hot Dad...if that can be used as a title, I thought I would bring to you all a list of some of the best hottest tech product for this past year. I looked for products that would be suitable for Moms, dads and families. The following is a list of some of the items that I found to be the hidden treasures of the tech arena.

One of the coolest tech toys this year has to be WowWee’s JoeBot. I was kind of skeptical, as I am with many of these robot things that either don’t work or break in a day or two.

After receiving the JoeBot and unpacking it with my son, I was fearful that this guy might me a bit too technical or breakable for our household. As we pulled this sturdy guy from the packaging, I realized that Joe seemed to be a solid little guy.

Standing up, JoeBot is about a foot tall and weighs about 3 pounds. At first glance into the user manual, I instantly thought this was going to be a daddy and son toy as I did not think there was going to be any way that my 8 year old would be able to lead this sleek, technological robot all on his own. After going through a few of the touch and voice commands, my little guy took JoeBot by the arm and brought him into a room with a bunch of people…to show off all of his robotic talents.

Between his dance routine, battle mode, conversation mode, protection mode and his general voice commanded roaming around…this masterpiece can be hours of fun for both kids and adults. The touch commands are a breeze to master and in the right environment and with the right tone…the voice commands are a blast to play with.

I, without a doubt, believe that this robotic sensation is one of the Hottest Tech Products of 2009.

The Joebot robot is a content-packed, walking, interactive buddy with a sense of humor and
rhythm. Featuring voice command control, the Joebot robot is capable of responding to key phrases via sound sensors; he can also be controlled by his responsive hands or by the Robosapien™ robot's remote controller.

The Joebot robot is not your average Joe – in fact, he can beatbox and dance – just tap out a beat and he will repeat it perfectly while grooving along. His movements are fast and fluid, and he is able to avoid obstacles via infrared sensors or detect if he falls over with tilt sensors. Various modes include wandering, patrol, talk, guard and battle. In battle mode, for example, he will wander freely while tracking and blasting objects with his hand LEDs; you can even challenge him to a "duel" using any TV (IR) remote controller. Ages 8 and up. Available at www.discoverystore.com.



The CEIVA Digital Photo Frame (http://www.ceiva.com), is the one gift that can truly bring families together. With its easy set up and wireless (or hard wired) connectivity, this digital photo frame is one of the best that I’ve seen to date. With access as easy as the click of a mouse …or hitting send on your smart phone…this frame allows friends and family to keep even the most technologically ‘slow’ relatives hip deep in the latest family photos.

When I began the set-up of this photo frame I walked through the wireless set-up and before I knew it…it was up and running. The whole set up only took me about 10 minutes and then I began uploading photos to the online photo server. The process is simple and can be done by simply emailing images to the frame’s individual email address.

I instantly raved…to all who would listen…that this frame was definitely the best of its kind on the market. Even though there is an annual membership fee…I think that it is well worth it…especially for those of us with family spread all over the country.

The frame accepts photos DIRECTLY from iPhones or BlackBerries and INSTANTLY displays them. The frame connects through Wi-Fi or simply through existing phone lines. You don't need to upload anything and it is as easy to use as it is to send an email!

Through the CEIVA PicturePlan membership, your friends and family can email you photos as soon as they are taken so you don't have to miss out on any of the fun. You can wake up to new photos daily next to your bed, or walk by new pictures that are hanging on your wall -- you don't have to be tied down to your PC or laptop to look at new photos that have been emailed to you anymore. Even if you aren't tech-savvy you can use it!



V-Moda’s Faze headphones make my Hottest Tech Products list this year due to their amazing comfort and sound quality. I know that there is not much one can say about cell phone headphones, but these are definitely my favorite so far. The buds fit perfectly into my ears and seamlessly block out all background noise…so that I can hear the digital stereo sound the way it is supposed to be heard.

With so many choices on the market today, I recommend that you all go out and pick up a pair of these as I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. If you are not into Bluetooth…go V-Moda!!!!

The Faze headphones include a fashion-forward design and an upgraded listening experience at an affordable price. Universally compatible with all iPhone and iPod products, Faze provides a hands-free microphone and call/music control button that allows users to transition between answering calls and listening to music. At $49.99, these headphones will give consumers a high quality, fashionable headphone without breaking the bank.



Plantronics’ Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset is the hottest choice for those of you who like to sport the coolest Bluetooth headset. Its sleek design and amazing level of comfort and sound quality put the 975 at the top of the list when it comes to Bluetooth. Along with its cool little charger/carrying case, this little tech wonder should be the envy of Bluetooth makers world-wide.

Its very stylish and extra light design allow users to feel as though they don’t have some big clunky thing hanging from their ear. I can barely tell that I have it on when I am using it and it being so slim and sleek makes it less of an eye-sore for those ‘anti-Bluetooth’ folks out there.
Boasting more than 15 hours of talk time per charge…I don’t know if there are any other units around that can match that. There is nothing worse than forgetting to charge your Bluetooth…other than using it and having it run out of power…That just won’t happen with this little miracle from Plantronics.

The Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset ($129) was designed to be sleek and stylish. Voted Editor's Choice by CNET in August, the 975 allows you to stay connected on the go without sticking an obtrusive gadget to your face.

The Discovery 975 is available at Best Buy, Verizon stores, Apple stores, AT&T Stores, Radio Shack and Sprint stores as well as online.


Epson's WorkForce 610
This machine boasts a sleek black look, is no bigger than a typical toaster oven and does absolutely everything. Besides printing about 40 pages per minute, the WorkForce 610 also serves as a fax machine, scanner, copy machine and digital media card reader. Designed brilliantly to connect via USB to any computer or independently onto a network via WiFi or Ethernet, the WorkForce now services many of our technological needs…all in one place.

Scanning the directions and knowing the delicate state of our home network…I had some concerns about trying to set it up wirelessly. I decided to try anyway. After all was said and done…it was a snap! The whole thing was set up in about 15 minutes and there was no (typical) trial and error. It just ran through the set up and we were all printing in no time. It amazes me how something so technologically advanced can be so simple to operate.

One of the really cool things is the fact that our daughter, who lives out back in the guest house, can use her wireless laptop and print things straight to my desk.

The printer retails for $199 - but if you go to the Epson store today you can pick up one of these bad boys for only $99.
*see my full review here!

OhMyBod’s Freestyle ‘personal massager’ is a dream come true. Either for a couple or a woman with a sense for good music and a gentle touch…this little guy is simply amazing.

When we tried this sleek vibrator for the first time, It was both simple…yet packed with choices…designed to suit anyone’s intimate desires.

Freestyle is the world's first wireless iPod "massager". It vibrates wirelessly to the beat and rhythm of the music on your iPod or other mp3 players.

Not having an iPod of my own, we had to swipe one of the kid’s iPods for this test. The music packed on the iPod was…not the best for what we had planned, but none the less, we easily achieve the g’O’al. We took turns at the controls of this vibrator as it can be used wirelessly or plugged into an iPod.

For those of you who like to add toys to your bedroom activities…and even for those of you who won’t admit it…log on and get yourself one of these technologically advance sex toys…you won’t be disappointed!!!!

This latest wireless release is pure luxury. Freestyle comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect in a luxury pleasure product. It is rechargeable, splash proof, has a custom travel case and adapters so that you can take it with you anywhere you may travel. Freestyle is available for $130 at OhMiBod.com and select retail outlets/retailers worldwide.




TuneUp Utilities 2010 is a product that came to me just at the right time. I was on the fence about throwing my entire computer out of the freaking window. To give you a bit of the back story…My computer was once an office computer, then a kids’ computer…then became mine. Needless to say there has been a ton of junk downloaded onto this machine, a bunch of re and uninstalls and mountains of garbage stored within its weak walls.

I go through phases where my computer is so sluggish that I can literally click a button to open Word, walk away, get some coffee, go to the bathroom and still have to wait for the program to open. This has all changed now. Once I installed TuneUp Utilities 20100, I no longer have to take anti-anxiety meds before sitting down at my computer.

It performs regular check on my system, allows me to speed things up with the click of a button…in Turbo Mode, and lets me know what system issues need to be fixed to keep things running fast.

This one little program saved me from having to go out and buy a new computer…and saved my ancient beast from going to the computer graveyard.

I have to say that as far as software is concerned…this version of TuneUp Utilities is by far the Hottest of its kind.

New to the 2010 version, TuneUp Turbo Mode allows users to temporarily switch off a large number of unnecessary background processes—with a single click. Consumers will see fewer program interruptions and an increase in the frames per second (FPS) in games.

TuneUp Live Optimization monitors and prevents background programs from using up too much of the PC’s resources. The function helps improve programs’ startup and response times, even when computers are bogged down with a number of applications running simultaneously. This is a great way for busy parents to keep their computers in shape and it's cheaper than purchasing a new PC.

TuneUp Utilities 2010 can be purchased via download at www.tune-up.com and also as a box in stores. The software, which can be used on up to three computers, costs $49.95, and users of previous software versions can upgrade to the latest one for a discounted price of $29.95.

Hot Product - All-In-One Giveaway

As most of you know, Mariah and I have what you might call a ‘busy’ house. With 4 of the six kids here full time, and a continuous stream of friends coming through to work on school projects and assist in the demolition of the home that we are trying to maintain, along with the schools all requiring the kids to present technology-assisted projects and papers…our old-school little HP printer was on its last leg.

This is where the good folks at Epson come in. I was offered one of their very cool all-in-one printers to test out for review. When the printer arrived, I was blown away with both its look and the list of primary features. I knew that this was going to allow3 me to save face with the kids and I’d be able to get rid of the “so 2005” printer that I have been trying to make do with.

Pulling the WorkForce 610 from its box, I began to think that it might be a bit tough (even for me) to get installed on our network.

This machine boasts a sleek black look, is no bigger than a typical toaster oven and does absolutely everything. Besides printing about 40 pages per minute, the WorkForce 610 also serves as a fax machine, scanner, copy machine and digital media card reader. Designed brilliantly to connect via USB to any computer or independently onto a network via WiFi or Ethernet, the WorkForce now services many of our technological needs…all in one place.

Scanning the directions and knowing the delicate state of our home network…I had some concerns about trying to set it up wirelessly. I decided to try anyway. After all was said and done…it was a snap! The whole thing was set up in about 15 minutes and there was no (typical) trial and error. It just ran through the set up and we were all printing in no time. It amazes me how something so technologically advanced can be so simple to operate.

One of the really cool things is the fact that our daughter, who lives out back in the guest house, can use her wireless laptop and print things straight to my desk.

Once again, the folks at Epson have agreed to give one of these technological masterpieces to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave a comment and for an extra entry, tweet the contest with a link (make sure to let me know if you tweeted- in another comment) Contest ends and winner will be chose on Sunday December 20th.

The printer retails for $199 - but if you go to the Epson store today you can pick up one of these bad boys for only $99.

I like this printer so much that I am also adding it to my future article which is going to showcase my picks for the top tech products for 2009.

Trust me…EVERY HOUSE NEEDS THIS PRODUCT!!!!!!

The WorkForce 610 is designed to deliver reliable printing, scanning, copying and faxing capabilities in a sleek design that complements any workspace. The all-in-one offers built-in Wi-Fi and wired networking1, a 2.5” tilt LCD screen and an automatic document feeder to increase productivity and efficiency, enabling users to quickly get back to the business of profits. The WorkForce 610 delivers the fastest laser quality on record, up to two times faster than the leading competitive ink jet all-in-ones2. The WorkForce 610 offers maximum print speeds up to 38 ppm black and 38 ppm color and laser quality speeds of 15 ppm black and 9.3 ppm color3.

Pleasure Objects...Plain and Simple

As most of you know…I am the better half of luckily with ManicMariah. Now earlier this week she won TWO contests for which the prizes were sex toys! We have always been all for the sex toys, so I was almost as thrilled as she was to learn of the new additions to our bedroom family.

After receiving the packages from Eden Fantasys yesterday…we ripped them open while running up the stairs (kids were due home in about 45 minutes!) With box scraps, packing materials and tape littering the floor and stairs we spread out the contents on the end of the bed.

We have used cock rings before…and have had mixed feelings about them. I like them and the way they feel and all, but if they do not vibrate strong enough or don’t fit right…they suck. I had found one that I liked, but then the batteries ran out and what a pain in the ass it was to run to the store every week to get new mini batteries for it.

That being said…The cock ring that was sent was perfect, it came with its own little carrying case, vibrated like I was holding a running chainsaw and ….is rechargeable!!!!

I won’t bore you with all of the details here, but after both of us stripped down I stretched the cock ring over the shaft of my monster manhood while Mariah watched, with a big smile on her face. We dove into the bed and ‘tested’ out our new family member.

I have to say that I really like this one. It is comfortable and produces a great vibration. The vibrating part of the ring is designed in a way that makes it easy for both partners to ‘enjoy’ the …buzzing. I can definitely say that Mariah really liked it ….several times.

So, to all of you who are into adding some ‘good vibrations’ to your sex life…click your way over to Eden Fantasys and get yourself the 'BO pleasure object' by LELO – It gets a BIG thumbs up from this Hot Dad!!!!