HOLIDAY STAIN REMOVAL TIPS

The holiday season is always a great time for enjoying delicious dinners and deserts.  Unfortunately, in addition to ending up in our bellies the food and drinks from Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas parties and other seasonal gatherings can result in some pesky stains on clothes. Here are some stain removal tips for cleaning up holiday mishaps with some help from BIZ Stain Fighter:

CRANBERRY SAUCE

Soak for 15 minutes in a mixture of cold water with 1 tbsp each of white vinegar and BIZ. Blot any stain that is remaining with a cloth and rubbing alcohol until the stain disappears.

COFFEE

Add one tsp of BIZ to a bowl of hot water and blot with a sponge. Afterward wash in the laundry machine with warm water, your normal detergent and a capful of BIZ. Hang dry to see if the stain is gone as using the drier can permanently set the stain in the clothes. If the stain is still there try cleaning it again.

CHOCOLATE

Wipe off and pre-treat with BIZ. Rub gently before placing the clothing in the washing machine using hot water and fabric-safe bleach.

CARAMEL

Soak the stain for 30 minutes in 1 quart of warm water mixed with 1 tsp of BIZ and 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Blot to remove any leftover residue.

CANDLE WAX

Scrape off as much of the wax as you can with a dull knife. Place a paper lunch or grocery bag between the fabric and an iron set to low heat. Ironing over the bag should have the wax pull off the clothing and stick to the paper.  Treat the spot with hydrogen peroxide then wash with your normal laundry detergent + BIZ.

CANDY CANES

Soak for 30 minutes in cold water with a few drops of ammonia. Rinse then soak for another 30 minutes in cold water with 1 tsp of BIZ and 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Then rinse again.

SUGAR COOKIE ICING

Add white vinegar directly to the stain and allow it to soak in thoroughly soaking the spot. Wash in the washing machine with warm water, your normal laundry detergent and BIZ.

EGG NOG

Blot stain with a cloth. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes with a tbsp of BIZ added in. Then wash normally in the washing machine.

GRAVY

Pretreat with BIZ. Soak overnight in the washing machine with more BIZ + fabric-safe bleach. Machine wash in the hottest water possible.

PUMPKIN PIE

Mix together 1 cup of cold water with 1 tbsp each of white vinegar and BIZ. Soak for 15 minutes before hand rinsing.

YAMS

Soak the spot with water. Mix 1 tbsp of BIZ with 2 cups of warm water. Apply to the stain in a scrubbing circular motion. Rinse out and pat dry.

RED WINE

Cover the spot in boiling water. Using a mixture of 1 tbsp BIZ + 2 cups of cold water blot the stain with a cloth. Air dry and repeat the process if the stain is still there.

My family has put BIZ to the test throughout this year so I know it will be great to turn to for fighting holiday stains. For example, my daughter loves spaghetti but has a problem when it comes to dripping sauce down the front of her shirt. We poured some Biz Stain Fighter into the washing machine plus rubbed some of it directly onto the stain to pretreat the shirt before throwing it in to wash. Abracadabra! After washing and drying it, the shirt came out stain free!



BIZ is a great addition to any holiday stain removal guide because it is specially formulated to tackle tough stains. Different stains require different elements to eliminate them: detergents, whitening ingredients, peroxides and enzymes. BIZ incorporates all of these stain fighters into its ingredients. Plus because BIZ Stain Fighter is the only brand with Enzamix™, a unique blend of enzymes designed to quickly dissolve bacteria causing stains and odors from grass, sweat, blood and more, it has an edge in fighting stains. That combined with Biz incorporating all four key elements to treating stains together in one mixture is why BIZ works better than other brands.

A Geek Daddy is a BIZ Stain Fighter brand ambassador receiving complimentary products and a sponsorship stipend. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. For more information head over to bizstainfighter.com

HOW TO AVOID PICKY EATERS RUINING HOLIDAY MEALS

At some point every parent is most likely going to have to deal with a child being a picky eater.  This can be an especially trying situation to deal with during the holidays when family's are taking children to parties and family gatherings.  So what do you do when kids don't want to eat anything off the menu at a Christmas party or the home cooked meal prepared for a family's Thanksgiving dinner? Chef Gigi Gaggero has provided ageekdaddy.com with some tips for handling these situations.

Chef Gigi, the author of FOOD FIGHT: FOR PARENTS OF PICKY EATERS, has a 35 year career where she has coached thousands of children and adults about how to cook and eat better as a nationally recognized expert in children's culinary education. Gaggero is the founder of Kids Culinary Adventures, a professional cooking school for children and teens, and is a frequent guest on Radio Disney as well as contributor to parenting and health magazines. Here are Chef Gigi Gaggero's tips for dads and moms when it comes to handling picky eaters during the holiday season:

• Let your child get involved with the menu creation. When it comes time to cook a meal, involve the whole family. Kids are more likely to eat what they help prepare!

• Expose your child to upcoming holiday flavors in advance, so there are no surprises. Our taste buds disappear as we get older. Children have thousands of additional taste buds compared to adults, so flavor sensations, especially bitter flavors, can be extremely overwhelming.

• Children, like adults, have a natural aversion to bitter foods, which may be a survival measure. Most naturally-occurring poisons taste bitter and initiate a gag reflex. Bitter foods can be made palatable to children by enhancing them with umami.

• Bribing and coaxing backfire. They teach children to create lists of negative and positive foods, where healthy foods are only viewed as a means to a dessert.

• Hiding or disguising vegetables in children's favorite meals has negative consequences, with children later rejecting the food they once enjoyed and becoming suspicious of all home cooked meals.

• Avoid negative comments about food and eating habits. Also don't threaten consequences for not eating food served to kids. This is a surefire way to foster an unhealthy relationship with food and eating.

• Parents must learn to tell the difference between "food aversion," (ie: picky eating) and "food intolerance," which can be a sign of allergies or other health issues

• Simple techniques like offering closed choices, understanding the science of flavor, and avoiding negative comments about food choices can create a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

For more information on smart cooking and eating choices when it comes to kids, visit chefgigigaggero.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. While on social media make sure to follow the ageekdaddy.com on Instagram and Twitter at @Geekdad248. You can find Chef Gigi's book FOOD FIGHT: FOR PARENTS OF PICKY EATERS on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.

Okee Dokee Brothers Winterland

The GRAMMY® Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers kindie rock duet who perform songs that aim to inspire families to get outside and have fun together just released a new album titled WINTERLAND. This collection of 16 original songs proclaims the wonders and beauty of winter. These are the type tunes that are perfect for families to enjoy together while cozying up around a fireplace as the weather outside gets cold. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow … because the Okee Dokee Brothers are advocating for kids and their parents to have family fun outside in the winter weather through their catchy, energetic songs.

WINTERLAND's Howl will have you wanting to participate in a sled dog race and you'll be hankering to grab a rod and reel along with a tackle box after hearing Ice Fishin' Shack. The Okee Dokee Brothers goal is to encourage listeners to enjoy spending time in the outdoors no matter what the season. I have to say their exuberant attitude rubs off on you! Whether it is making snow angels in a Blankets of Snow or exploring an icy forest for an elusive The Abominable Yeti, this album will warm up your attitude Ukulele in a Snowstorm about being active outdoors in the winter.



Join The Okee Dokee Brothers as they provide a refreshing, wide-eyed view of winter as being the most exciting time of year. They portray winter not only as a season, but a feeling, like the wonder experienced when seeing a snow covered landscape at dawn, that we can carry within ourselves all year long. WINTERLAND promotes this time of year as a season to appreciate rather than dread.

WINTERLAND can be streamed on Spotify or the album can be purchased through Amazon, Google Play, iTunes and OkeeDokee.org. To help ensure that fans of The Okee Dokee Brothers can enjoy a lifetime of snowy winters, they duet is donating 10% of all WINTERLAND compact disc sales  to Askov Finlayson’s Keep the North Cold initiative. To learn more about Askov Finlayson’s important mission, visit: askovfinlayson.com/mission.

To welcome winter, ageekdaddy.com has an Okee Dokee Brothers Winterland CD to giveaway.  One random winner will be selected from all eligible entries submitted through the form below by 11:59pm ET on November 25, 2018. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate. The Okee Dokee Brothers publicist will be responsible for mailing out the CD to the selected winner. Good luck!

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LIGHTNING THIEF PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL

A musical based upon Rick Riordan's novel The Lightning Thief, which has sold more than 1.2 million books and been included on the New York Times' children's Best Seller List, is coming to Detroit.  The novel and musical portray the adventures of modern-day twelve-year-old boy named Percy Jackson who discovers he is the demigod son of a mortal woman and the Greek god Poseidon. Percy along with his best friends Annabeth and Grover embark on a quest to find Zeus's stolen lightning bolt in an attempt to prevent the gods Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades going to war against one another.  Part of the Broadway in Detroit theatrical series, THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL will be playing at the Fisher Theatre appearing February 26 - March 9, 2019.

Tickets for THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL start at $49 (includes facility and parking fees) and are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com, as well as by phone at 800-982-2787. I'm looking forward to having a father-son "guys night out" with my ten year old to go see this fantasy adventure show.



Performance times for THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL appearing February 26 – March 9, 2019 at the Fisher Theatre, located at 3011 West Grand Blvd., in Detroit are:

· Monday, March 4 performance at 7:30 p.m. 

· Tuesday – Saturday evening performances at 7:30 p.m. 

· Sunday evening performance at 6:30 p.m. 

· Thursday, March 7 matinee at 1:00 p.m. 

· Saturday matinee at 2:00 p.m. 

· Sunday matinee at 1:00 p.m.

 · Special open captioned performance on Monday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL check out the show's website, www.lightningthiefmusical.com, or its social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram. By the way, are you following A Geek Daddy on social media? You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook too!

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Watching the iconic 1966 animated television special Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! has become a holiday tradition for numerous families including my own.  Every year we keep an eye on the scheduling for television shows as Christmas approaches to make sure we don't miss when it airs. This holiday season though, we can watch it whenever my kids want thanks to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment who provided us with a DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: THE ULTIMATE EDITION Blu-ray + DVD + Digital combo pack.

This ultimate edition for your home entertainment video library includes the classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon along with two other remastered Dr. Seuss television specials The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat + Halloween is Grinch Night. With this compilation your family can enjoy the Grinch's antics from Halloween through Christmas with these Dr. Seuss themed stories:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!:

Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy) and directed by animation genius and cartoon legend Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes, What's Opera, Doc?), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! tells the story of the miserable Grinch, who wants to sabotage Christmas for all the Whos in Who-ville.

The Grinch thinks that by stealing the Whos Christmas trees and presents, he’ll succeed in stealing their joy. However, when Christmas morning arrives, the Grinch is taken by surprise when he notices the Whos greet the day joyously singing Christmas carols regardless of the fact that their village has been completely stripped of holiday gifts, decorations and treats. The cheerful attitude of the Whos prompts the Grinch to ponder the true meaning of Christmas and he slowly comes to realize the spirit of the season is not generated by material possessions. Will the Grinch have a change of heart and consider returning the Whos’ Christmas gifts?

The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat:

The Grinch is up to his old tricks again in The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat, the Emmy® Award-winning special directed by legendary animator Friz Freleng. In this special, the Cat in the Hat encounters the Grinch while picnicking one day. He refers to the Grinch as Mr. Greenface, which the Grinch takes an as insult, prompting him to retaliate by building a series of outrageous devices designed to cause all sorts of disruption. First, he creates a “Vacusound Sweeper,” which distorts any and all of the sounds within a 50-mile radius of the Cat in the Hat. Then he creates the “Dark House,” which is the direct opposite of a light house and puts the Cat in the Hat into complete darkness. He then uses the “Flummox Deluxe” to further warp the Cat in the Hat’s surroundings, which sends him and everything around him into complete chaos. Will the Cat in the Hat figure out a way to stop the Grinch and outsmart all his crazy devices?

Halloween is Grinch Night:

When the Sour-Sweet wind starts to blow in Who-ville, all the Whos take cover because this signifies the beginning of Grinch Night, an evening in which the Grinch descends upon Who-ville to terrorize all its citizens. As the Grinch sets out on his journey to Who-ville, he encounters a courageous young Who named Euchariah, who attempts to stall the Grinch from reaching Who-ville. The Grinch however puts Euchariah into a trance in which he encounters all sorts of strange creatures who try to intimidate him. Will Euchariah manage to snap out of the trance in time to stop Grinch from reaching Who-ville?

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: THE ULTIMATE EDITION also includes a number of featurettes including:

Making Animation and Bringing It to Life:  Audio commentary with animator Phil Roman and June Foray, the voice of Cindy-Lou Who

Dr. Seuss and the Grinch -- From Whoville to Hollywood: A Rapping, Rhyming Chronicle of the Original Book and This Beloved Animated Adaptation

Songs in the Key of Grinch: Interviews with Composer Albert Hague and Vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft

Who's Who In Whoville:  Biography about your favorite Grinch team with Creator/Writer Dr. Seuss, Director Chuck Jones, Narrator Boris Karloff, and the Voice of Cindy-Lou June Foray.

Grinch Song Selections: Sing along to your favorite songs from Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

 Head over to wbshop.com to pick up this collection of Grinch cartoons for yourself. These Dr. Seuss inspired shows are a great way to add some cheer to your holidays and are a sure fire way to put smiles on the faces of kids and kids-at-heart.

PARTY LIKE A GRINCH

Have yourself a WHO-bilation and throw a GRINCH PARTY to spread some holiday cheer this year. No one has the ability to turn frowns upside down like the Grinch with his endearing story that evolves from attempting to steal all the Christmas celebrations from the people of Whoville to becoming a symbol of holiday cheer himself.  From the iconic 1966 television special to this year's new feature film by Illumination Studios, enjoying stories about the Grinch have become synonymous with celebrating Christmas for many families.  My friends over at WHOLESALE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES shared with ageekdaddy.com some great suggestions for hosting a holiday gathering that will allow your guests to party like a Grinch themselves.

Costumes don't have to be just for Halloween! Pick yourself up an outfit so the Grinch himself can make an appearance at a themed party. WHOLESALE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES also has numerous Thanksgiving and Christmas costumes ranging from turkeys to Santa Claus to get you into holiday character for parties and holiday get-togethers.

Craft creative do it yourself decorations like a Whoville Christmas Tree for a Grinch themed party. Not crafty? You can find all sorts of props and decorations all year long from WHOLESALE PARTY SUPPLIES.  Create a selfie photo booth with a Grinch stand up display. Set out Grinch table settings completed with a character balloon tied to the back of each guest's chair. There are a lot of fun things you can do to make your guests feel as if they've been transported to Whoville.

Let's not forget about food too. Make some deserts that look like the Grinch's face using plastic cups filled with Jello. Turn store bought chocolate donuts into the Grinch's dog Max, using candy complete with his reindeer ears made from pretzel bits. Make some charming party favors by filling Christmas Tree ornaments with green jelly beans.

CLICK HERE for more tips and suggestions from the folks behind WHOLESALE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES and WHOLESALE PARTY DECORATIONS on hosting your own Grinch themed party.

MODARRI TOY CARS DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE

Today we're taking a look at the DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE for Modarri toy cars.  The Modarri brand is known for its customizable toy cars that feature real steering and suspension mechanics that provide a realistic mock driving experience. They are also very durably built with real metal frames, heavy duty plastic, and strong mechanical linkages. While each car has 10 or more interchangeable pieces these toys are very sturdy because the screws that connect them are retained in the components for a tight fit and they don’t fall out. These finger-driven cars have won a number of toy industry recognitions including Popular Science -- Best of Toy Fair, Family Choice Award, Parents Choice Award, and Best Toys for Kids Astra Award.  Plus they get A Geek Daddy nod of approval for just being awesome to play with.

Up until now though there wasn't a play surface that did justice for taking advantage of the finger driving steering and suspension features of these toy cars.  Rolling a Modarri along a cement sidewalk is the equivalent of hot rodding a Dodge Challenger Hellcat on a pot hole speckled road. Just like you want to take a sports car to a race course like the M1 Concourse near my home for the best driving experience, you'll want to utilize the DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE to get the most out of playing with Modarri toy cars.



With the Modarri DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE you can build your own street-styled race track! It includes 20 pieces of soft yet durable EVA foam track that were constructed specifically to provide an incredible surface for enjoying the steering and suspension mechanics of Modarri cars. Vroom! Vroom! You'll understand why Modarri toy cars stand out when finger-driving one on laps around race courses you've constructed with these foam track pieces.

Just as Modarri's cars are customizable so are the layouts you can put together with these track pieces.  The DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE includes 12 curved foam track segments, 4 straightaways, and 4 pieces of Y-shaped foam track allowing for a variety of layouts for Modarri cars to drive around. These pieces quickly snap together with a tight interlocking fit making it easy to design your own costume track that provides a smooth ride for Modarri cars.

In addition to the street-style track pieces, this delux bundle also includes a Modarri car with 13 interchangeable parts (4 wheels / 2 suspensions / 1 chassis / 1 seat / 2 fenders / 2 hoods / 1 metal frame + 1 swivel-tipped hex screwdriver). It also comes with 11 race course accessories ( 4 orange racing cones / 4 hard interlocking racing barriers [2 orange & 2 white] and 3 tire stacks). The playset has everything you need for some race car fun!

My son has been having a great time playing with the Modarri DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE. I have to admit enjoying playing around with it myself as much as he has. Building and racing Modarri toy cars around on these street-styled foam tracks is a nice bonding activity for fathers and sons to do together. To share in our fun, A Geek Daddy has been provided a second Modarri track set to giveaway.

One lucky winner will receive a Modarri DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE similar to the one pictured in this toy review courtesy of Thoughfull Toys.  For a chance to win, complete the entries in the form below before 11:59 pm ET on November 25, 2018. One randomly selected winner will be drawn from all eligible entries. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate. Thoughtfull Toys will be responsible for mailing the prize to the selected winner. Good luck!

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A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review and is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to ageekdaddy.com readers and social media followers. I have received no other financial compensation. Opinions expressed in this post are my own.