Stash Studios

Someday when I am president...

I'm Stash's daughter. You can call me Stash jr. I figured it is about time we get this guest blogging going. I am in charge of philanthropy and environmentalism in the studio. I also participate in helping find new tunes to keep things fresh. I plan to become president (of the United States) someday.

Now, I'm a Texas girl but I have family from Iowa and if you've been sleeping or on vacation, you might not realize that Iowa has been u-n-d-e-r-w-a-t-e-r. If you would like to help out in some small way, you can get your 2008 Iowa Flood Relief T-shirt here. There are a couple of other interesting t-shirts but my mom pulled the plug on my browsing - something about being age-appropriate and not having time to explain them.

While we are on the subject of helping out, I thought I'd share an idea that I had the other day, you know, for when I become president. I think we should move toward a barter system. The day after I pointed this out, my dad found this really interesting article titled Swapland in the New York Times Magazine. Read more here...

And finally, I wanted to share one of my new favorite musicians - Andrew Bird. He's not exactly new. My mom knew of him from back when he did stuff with a group called the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Anyway, check him out. I included a link to his recent video - Imitosis - and in it he has an interesting new use for an old thing - vintage broaches. Cool!

All for now. Next time I hope to get my hands on the camera and take you on a tour of our garage and give you the inside scoop on some of my mom's crazy ideas for old things. I know that it is difficult to believe that a seven-year old could come up with all of this and I might have had a bit of help typing but the subject matter is all mine.

Cheerio,
Stash jr

Parenting Tricks

I'm really excited about this little parenting trick that I stumbled upon last weekend.... I just figured out how to clear the room of glassy-eyed Wii-addicted 7-year olds.

You need to rent one of those sing-a-long games for your game console - High School Musical or Hannah Montana will do.

Patiently wait your turn (remember, they learn by example).
Then grab the microphone and launch into your very best and boisterous version of What I've Been Looking For or Best of Both Worlds. Really any song would do the trick.

You finish the song, wipe the sweat from you brow, and wait for praise from your adoring fans.

Silence.

You look around and the room is empty.

"Hey, I unlocked another level here. Helllllooooo? We can sing on the rooftop garden now. Anyone?"

They're gone. Probably in the back yard where they should have been all along. Now reward yourself and sing on the rooftop garden stage. Go ahead you earned it.

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Now, what I will be waiting for is the sing-a-long game with the Chicks and Van and Harris and Krause and the Spree and Lang and Carlyle and Hem and Stipe and Picott and Green Day and....... I think I'll be waiting a while.

It could be the Shower Sing-a-long Wii game for crusty old adults like me. And instead of an audience (we are singing in the shower after all), you have to sing for your life so the game doesn't launch into the Psycho shower scene.

Hey, I'm just thinking out of the box here.
It might be the next big thing.

Cheers,
Cheryl

the Future is Now

Thanks to Chelsea at Frolic for sharing this little gem by Matt and Kandace at MNKR Clothes. My daughter is a born activist. Just the other day, a fellow parent commented that she is on track to be president. Since she expresses the sentiment on this shirt weekly, I am getting it for her for Valentine’s Day.

Speaking of activism, my little activist is participating in the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart with her school. If you would like to do a little good, visit her website and make a donation by Valentine’s Day, next Thursday, February 14th. She has set her goal at $500 - this is approximately one-third the cost of a defibrillator.

If you cannot reach the website or would like to make a smaller donation, just email me and I will give you the address to send your donation.

Cheers,
Cheryl