Cheap Activities

HTGYG Show #95: Kids’ Books and Sports with Gary!

Posted on February 7, 2011 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

HTGYG Show#95 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here’s the second part of our discussion, covering the topics of books and sports for kids plus some other fun stuff – check out the links below. Thanks so much to Gary for chatting with me, and for all he does for us at HTGYG!

Origami Yoda

Wimpy Kid Books

Owly

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls

The Elements

Girls on the Run is the program that Amanda is joining again to train for running a 5K! Check it out for your girls!

And check out the last two Space Shuttle flights – happening this year! Check the NASA Human Spaceflight Site for info and NASA TV!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Dragon Page Cover to Cover and Podculture

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows, Special Topics Tagged: Books, Sports

HTGYG Show #93: Why Cooking With Your Kids Is Important!

Posted on January 21, 2011 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

HTGYG Show #93 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

While still recovering from the Snowpocalypse here in ATL, I wanted to give your guys my thoughts on cooking with your kids. Not only is it a skill that everyone needs, it also gives you an opportunity to teach math, science, history, culture and good old common sense about how the world works, while also giving you a great experience with your kids. Here are some great references for cooking information to help your adventure! ( I referenced the Betty Crocker cookbook in the podcast, but I actually meant the Better Homes and Gardens New CookBook pictured here!)

Alton Brown’s Good Eats, on the Food Network

The Joy of Cooking

The Better Homes and Gardens New CookBook

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: The Babylon Podcast and Marc Gunn’s Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows, Special Topics Tagged: Books, Crafts, TV Shows

HTGYG Show #80: Back to School, Parsecs and Pertussis!

Posted on August 20, 2010 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

HTGYG Show #80 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

Oh boy, finally the kids are back to school! In honor of this “most wonderful time of the year,” I talk about some of our mini-vacation outings to the water park and the Tellus Museum planetarium. Then I discuss back-to-school shopping and the benefits of our school’s uniform policy. Then I gush about the Parsec awards coming up at Dragon*Con -I urge everyone to visit the Parsec Awards site to check our our newly posted list of finalists! These are some of the best offerings out there in speculative fiction podcasting! And finally, I highlight the pertussis outbreak and encourage us all to get our booster vaccines, and give info about the free pertussis vaccine clinic at Dragon*Con, thanks to the Skepchicks!

Two special treats in this week’s cast -the first being Ben Stirling’s “Precious Moments”-style Cthulhus, hand made for his children. You can get your own, plus other adorable Lovecraft-inspired figures at his site!

The second treat is the song “Close Your Eyes,” by Marc Gunn, from his new albumn “Kilted for Her Pleasure,” which are Celtic-style geeky songs.

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at 206-337-8533 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promo: Marc Gunn’s Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows, Special Topics Tagged: Education, Travel

HTGYG Show #77: Voicemails – Recycling and Gaming

Posted on July 5, 2010 Written by susiethegeek 5 Comments

HTGYG Show #77 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

Happy Independence Day to the U.S.! I hope folks had a great holiday weekend! We have a number of great voicemails from Tim, highlighting Darcy’s awesome reviews here on the blog, and reinforcing my discussion on recycling and reusing stuff! Then Lizzie calls in to tell us about her babysitting gig and how the parents are cool Brits who let their kids watch old Dr. Who! Then Tim gets me going again on role-playing online, so I gush about DDO again. Finally, I pipe up about our love of Steam for downloading PC games, and Wyatt calls in about GameStop for console games. I hope you guys love the mailbag stuff! I’ll be back next week with another topic after my week at my folks’ home down on the farm.

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Jesus Geeks (Now Twisted Geeks!)and What The Cast

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows, Special Topics Tagged: Video Games

Future Astronaut hard at work training!

Posted on June 7, 2010 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

This adorable astronaut-in-training is the offspring of the talented @ageekmom on Twitter! If you want to go to a NASA Tweetup, let her know! And don’t forget to check out NASA’s Kids Club website for cool info about all of their programs for kids!

Filed Under: Cheap Activities

HTGYG Show #74: Soapy Goodness!

Posted on June 5, 2010 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

HTGYG#74 [ 35:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

In this episode, we tell you our soap-making adventure, inspired by Geeky Clean, and recommend this as a great easy craft! Here are some pictures of our starting kit and our lovely results! The kids had a blast, and can’t wait to do it again!

Next, we have a voicemail from Mark with the Tickle Me Plant Company, presenting his great product for kids and plant lovers of all ages. I am familiar with these plants, and think that they are very cool and interesting, especially for kids! Then, Doug from Alaska calls in to tell us what he thinks kids are good for, and I agree!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: Dragon Page Cover to Cover and Podculture

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows, Special Topics Tagged: Crafts

HTGYG Show #73: Voicemails – Gardening, Girl Genius and Jacques Cousteau

Posted on May 28, 2010 Written by susiethegeek 2 Comments

HTGYG Show #73 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

Hi everyone! This time, I have a whole lot of great voicemails from Gary and Tim about a lot of recent topics. Gary tells us about his gardening experience with his kids, bemoans the popularity of SillyBands, and calls me out on using the kids as an excuse to collect American Girls stuff and Galactic Heroes figures. Then I compliment Darcy on the great batch of stuff she sent the kids for Amanda’s birthday, and let her know I swiped the Girl Genius comic (It won a HUGO!).

After that, Tim discusses what kids are really good for, and thanks Darcy for reminding him of his and Jenny’s first wedding anniversary (Congrats to you!). After I wistfully discuss the oil drilling disaster in the gulf, Tim lets us know of a great opportunity to catch Jacques Cousteau’s great documentary on the oceans, “Under the Sea,” on June 11.

Call or email me if you have any opinion on which video game franchises you think need a break, or just need to die. Wyatt has a rant on this subject that I am going to do a special episode on soon, and we would love your opinions!

Don’t forget – you have until June 1 to nominate your favorite podcasts for a Parsec Award! I’m not eligible, so I’m not asking for me – I’m asking for all those other great shows that you listen to and love!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: MilkCartonTV and The Parsec Awards

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Special Topics Tagged: Books, TV Shows

HTGYG Show #71: Gardening, Tye-dying, and Voicemails

Posted on May 7, 2010 Written by susiethegeek 1 Comment

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

This week I present a couple of cool activities you can do with your kids – tye-dyed t-shirts made easy (see pictures for example and the dye used, SEI TumbleDye, which I got at Hobby Lobby ), and gardening in a pot or a spot! Then we have some voicemails from Gary about Legos and Tim about games and the Nintendo Power Glove. Finally, Wyatt calls in again to give us another Xbox Live update!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Parsec Awards and Podculture

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows Tagged: Crafts, Video Games

HTGYG Show #68: Darcy’s Reviews, Legos, IKEA, Vintage Gaming and new games for the Mac! (Voicemails)

Posted on April 2, 2010 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

HTGYG Show#68 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, we had a ton of voicemails that I wanted to let you all listen to! First up, we have Tim, reminding us of Darcy’s wonderful reviews here on the blog! Next, we have a few from Gary, who is catching up listening. He has great ideas and comments about the IKEA store, ear piercing, and science education in elementary school. He also has some comments and questions about Legos and how kids in general play with them! Don calls in with a great source for hypoallergenic earrings and parts, for us sensitive-skinned folks and crafters (like me!). Then Wyatt calls in about Jonathan Coulton on the Rock Band Network, vintage gaming and collecting, news about games on the Mac and an XBox Live update.

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Chronic Rift and The Seeker Cast

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows Tagged: Movies, Video Games

HTGYG Show#67: Cheap Vacation Ideas -Small Museums and IKEA?!?

Posted on March 25, 2010 Written by susiethegeek Leave a Comment

HTGYG Show #67 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In thinking about educational activities for you and the kids this spring, I present a couple of unusual options. The first, the Tellus Museum, is a small museum with a lot of fun stuff to offer for kids. The second is the IKEA store in Atlanta. Both places were interesting, educational, and best of all – FUN!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: Technorama and Slice of SciFi

Filed Under: Cheap Activities, Shows Tagged: Travel