Surfer Hearts

(Via Businesspundit.)  Skeptics are going to have fun with this one. Read what happens when you "outsource your lifestyle." A.J. Jacobs, ESQUIRE magazine editor,  decides to outsource boring duties like an apology note to his wife and finding a toy for his son.  It only cost him $4 per hour to have an Indian outsourcer complete the tasks. In the end, both his son and wife were happier.  He also outsourced plenty of his own work from his day job involving tedious research.  Let's not forget that the people completing the tasks in India all have MBA degrees.  So you essentially can have an army of MBAs completing boring tasks for you all for $4 an hour.  The quality of the work is amazing.

Read My Outsourced Life (a free, chapter excerpt) from The 4 Hour Workweek website.
Listen to a presentation the author gave. [MP3 sound file.]

Fun Fact: The author wanted to call this book, "The 2 Hour Workweek."  Publishers thought people would not believe it so they added an extra 2 hours. 

(Via the MyMomShops newsletter.)

Adorable selection of wall art reproductions to help your little boy dream of sweet adventures.  Reproduced from the artwork of Sherri Blum, they come in 16”x20” or 24"x36".

Don't forget to check out their customer gallery to see photos submitted by satisfied customers.

Buy one @ SherriBlumDesigns.com.

(Images copyrighted by Sherri Blum Designs.)

(Via KidPoop.com)  Baby Loopies designs these cute socks for your baby.  They have designs for sports, musicians, and sneakers.  See their entire collection over @ Amazon.com. 

(You can sign up for new product announcements over @ their company website.)

Not only can you get knees highs for yourself, but you can also pick something up for your baby nieces and cousins. These pom pom baby booties come in 4 different colors for 0-6 month olds.

See more @ Sock-Dreams.com.

Coming to you from one of the world shopping meccas (NYC), it's the MyMomShops blog.  Just about everything on there can be found online.  Cute, colorful, and plenty of fun!  Don't forget it's written from a mother of two who loves to shop online, so you'll find plenty of reviews and real-world experiences.

Read more @ mymomshops.blogspot.com.

Here are some of the cute things you can find there. Pictured from left to right:

• "wowie cowie" handpainted toddler shoes.
• personalized baby hats.
• PlaydateNYC - adorable clothing for little ones.
• T-shirts from Little Showoffs.
• shoes for little girls from Lillian Vernon.
• CHOW baby food organizer.

(Images copyrighted by Luxury Lab Linens.)

(Via IndieFixx)  It's not every day a company gives you the option to add skulls, chandeliers, or lovely archers right on your bed.  Luckily, Luxury Lab Linens is there for you.  All of the company's designs are made with 300-thread count, Egyptian cotton, and are machine washable.

Pictured left: Elegant Mayhem
Pictured right: Your Best Shot

See all their designs and buy online @ LuxuryLabLinens.com.  (Some California residents can also check out in physical stores.)

You can also read more about how they make their handscreened product line.

Launched in Dec. 2006, the site directs you to some of the best places for kids+parents on the Web.  They've already got some of the best and most delicious foods up there, the coolest toys for every age, and the most colorful clothing for kids on the Web.  Did I forget to mention it is run by a dad and daughter? They know what they're writing about!

Visit KidPoop.com and sign up for their newsletter.

Here are some of my favorite finds from them:

• Kidskey Child-sized Keyboard
• Fly For Fun (3D MMORPG)
• Wii Skins from DecalGirl
• Boujie Baby (designer diaper bags that rock!)

Most of the following links came via LewRockwell.com, digg.com, and Flickr.com.

Fun links for women and mommies:

• "When it comes to chocolate, give in to the dark" - MSNBC.com tells the best type of chocolate for your health.
• "11 Tips To Boost Your Metabolism"
  
• "Reflecting on 35 Years of Marriage" - Economist and author Gary North on a happy marriage.
• "Toad of Toad Hall" - Why William Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, created him.
• "Water feature Riverfront Park" -> Spokane, Wash. knows beautiful architecture.
• "introducing the baby poop decoder!" - New mommies can finally find out what their baby's poop can tell them about their baby's health.

Update: Some more sites for new mommies and wives

• iDo: Utilizing the iPod for Wedding Planning
• What to Exclude When You're Expecting
• more of what to exclude when you’re expecting
• Sweet marriage proposal using TV ad.
• Feel Safer with the Taser C2
• Field Guide to Meat: How to Identify, Select, and Prepare Virtually Every Meat, Poultry, and Game Cut
• Business meetings lead to poor decisions
• Candy Myths - some good news from the National Confectioners Association

For Cute Addicts:
What better way to start the day with some of the cutest photos around Flickr.com.  The following links are guaranteed to make you "Ooooo...." and "Awwww....." for the next 10 minutes. 

• Baby girl rocking to some tunes over @  yorkd's Flickr photo collection.
  
• "nya nya nya nya nya" -> this little sweetheart is questioning authority at an eigth-grade level.  Good for her!
• "Eight weeks old" -> and already staring into the infinite future with eyes wide open.
• "I Love Baby Ducks!" -> 26 photos of these babies in action.
• "Animals" -> some nice modeling by cats, dogs, and a penguin.
• "Playful baby" -> baby elephant @ the Indianapolis Zoo.
• "Henke" -> kitten reaching out for your attention.
• "Exotic blue bottle" -> umm... ya.
• "Smooching Penguins" -> hiding behind a tree to steal a kiss.
• "Baby" -> look at the little outfits this sweetheart models just for you.
• "Leopard Winter Baby" -> this little leopard in training looks suspicious.  Better check under the hood.
• "23.baby_dream" -> Where fantasy, dreamland, and cuteness gel together.
• "Baby Euan" -> Every second with his mommy is pure happiness.  This photo proves it!
• "Baby Luke" -> You can't miss this little bundle of joy.
• "My wittle babies" -> A baby sister has to look out for the family.
• "Mohawk" -> Little dude, Thor, is bringing back the Mohawk!
• "Crochet Animals" -> If you want one, buy them over at www.pepika.com
• "Bird Bath Baby" -> Nicely put together.  Don't forget to check out the angel too.
• "Lovely baby pandas 5" -> It's a baby panda nursery!
• "Feeding My Baby Brother" -> Guaranteed to make you go "That is so adorable!!!!." for 30 minutes or more.
  
• "Baby Sleeps, again" -> Renaissance model in the making?
  
• "Baby Daddy" -> Every woman's fantasy?
  
• "It's tiring being a baby" -> That's a yawn, not a scream :)

( I think this is the last time I will post photo links.  Most parents are not interested in the publicity ;)

These Petit Pan Dragonfly kites should entertain kids and their parents alike. Each is 19 inches wide and 16.5 inches tall with a bamboo frame.  The pink one is already sold out, but blue and white are still available.  Each sold separately.

Some of the other Petit Pan Kites are quite small, so it might be better to just keep them safe on the wall or hanging them on a chord like they are shown in the picture.  They just seem too precious to take out flying. The writers of BabyGadget.com seem to agree with me.

Buy one @ RoseAndRadish.com before they are all gone ;)

These hampers from The Lambs & Ivy Company have so many things going for them.

• No assembly required. "Unpack and unfold."
• Mesh lining/bag for easy emptying.
• Free shipping (from Amazon.com).
• Adorable designs with a wide selection to choose from.

Read a review for the Froggy Tales Hamper (right) and the  Dream Teddy Hamper (left).

View all the designs to choose from @ Amazon.com.

(Image copyrighted by Paper-Source.com.)

I've been a fan of robots back before it was cool to be one.  That is why I love the design of this gift wrap designed by Paper Source.  They've been in business since 1983 and have their own online shop where they sell cool stuff like this gift wrap.

You can buy a roll or you can buy it as sheet wrap. 

Don't forget to get some sparkly metallic cord from them to really bring out the techno-cool.

The Moncalin Company manufactures these stuffed animals to be sold in various stores and online shops.  Each is machine washable (gentle cycle), handmade in Los Angeles, and ultra soft. You do not have to worry much about pieces falling off since all the features are embroidered.  (They're cute & safe... but not cheap :(

This pink pig pictured here can be bought @ The Modern Nursery ($52 + $15 s/h) for the special someone your life.

Learn more about the manufacturer and view the entire collection @ Moncalin.com.  Fun fact:

In French, mon calin (in two words) literally means “my cuddle”, and indeed our toys are very cuddlesome!

Even their name is cute! 

This modern design of the classic piggy bank still manages to retain it's cuteness.  The coin slot is wider than regular banks, making it easier to drop that loose change inside.  Made with porcelain, it stands 8 inchess tall and 6 inches wide.  Buy it for $30 @ Modern Nursery.

(Yeah... a bit pricey, but I believe the point is to save your dimes and nickels, not your dollars :)

I first heard about this @ Slashfood.  On sale for $6. "Made in France of nonstick silicone, the mold bends to release your homemade creations effortlessly."

Buy one @ Williams-Sonoma.com.

Read a review @ Slashfood.com.

This is an old favorite.  I first heard about it on Reading Rainbow.  David Wiesner tells a story through pictures of fruits and vegetables dropping down from the sky.  Of course they are all the size of skyscrapers. 

• Cucumbers circle Kalamazoo. 
  
• Lima beans loom over Levittown.

No one gets seriously hurt and it has a pretty funny ending.  For $6, pick up a copy for your child @ Amazon.com.  You can also see more pictures @ the publisher's website.

I found these over @ Stylehive.  Five different colors to choose from for only $13 each (+ s/h).  Fun fact:

The Guatemalan snuggle bunny is filled with rice and can be heated in your microwave to make for a warm and cozy snuggle.

Go and buy one @ The Two Hands Worldshop.

I first read about this over at BabyGadget. According to the official Cupcake Courier website:

The CUPCAKE COURIER is able to transport and/or store up to thirty-six cupcakes or muffins all in one easy, great looking container! The CUPCAKE COURIER's 3 trays can be removed, and the unit can double as a cake courier.

It costs $33 + $13 for s/h. Ouch! Learn more @ The Official Cupcake Courier Website.

Update:  This idea is going to be big.  People are loving the quantity of cupcakes you can take with you (3 dozen) with a cool, retro look.  People will be asking you, "Wow! Where did you get that cool cupcake box?!"  Read more reviews and comments here:

• Slashfood
• Freakgirl.com
• TheFixChicks.com
• ThisNext.com

Update:  Of course, if you want something smaller and cheaper, check out the 2-dozen capacity Cupcake Carrier @ Crate & Barrel. I first heard about it @ Slashfood.  It's a strong competitor to the bigger Cupcake Courier.  Great news for the baker in your family!