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Celebrating Dads
Favorite Quotes About Fathers
When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them. A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection. It is a wise father that knows his own child. Like all other children, my five have one great talent: they are gifted beggars. Not one of them ever ran into the room, looked up at me, and said, “I’m really happy that you’re my father, and as a tangible token of my appreciation, here’s a dollar.” Any man can be a father but it takes a special man to be a dad. Composting 101
Compost bins can be purchased at most big box home and garden stores and can range in price anywhere from 30 to 200 dollars. This is the route most busy people choose, but it is also possible to create a bin on your own by using scrap wood and chicken wire. An even simpler solution is to use an old garbage can that has air holes punched into the side so that moisture and air can get at all the different layers. We are all for encouraging our readers who are following a DIY philosophy, but offer one caution, if you do make your own bin, think about the different types of animals that live in your neighborhood. You’ll want to make sure there is a tight lid that will keep the larger creatures from looking to your compost bin for their next meal! Layers are what make composting work. Broken down into the most basic ingredients, compost is made up carbon, nitrogen, water and air. Carbon can be found in things like dried leaves, newspapers and even sawdust. These things are often referred to as the “brown stuff” and are an important ingredient for any composting. Nitrogen is often referred to as the “green stuff” and can be anything from grass clippings to vegetable scraps. Coffee grounds are also a good source of nitrogen, and if you use natural, bleach-free filters, the whole filter can go right onto the compost pile. The last two ingredients are water and air. Air will come naturally to the compost bin, as long as there is enough ventilation, but you may need to add water occasionally in order to keep everything moist. Adding water is an important step that people have a tendency to forget about. Without additional water, the process can take an extra-long time, especially if you are living in a dryer climate with less natural rainfall. One important thing to know is what NOT to have your family adding to the compost. Meat and bones will attract unwanted animals to your yard. Cheese and other milk products should also be avoided. Be sure to keep any diseased plants from your compost bin. Even though the plant will decompose and turn into new soil, there is a chance that the disease will also pass into the new soil and could be transferred back to your garden. One aspect of composting that many children will find fascinating is the creatures to be found inside the bin. Don’t panic if you open the bin to find bugs. These are a natural part of the composting process and are actually helping things along. NEVER make the mistake of spraying any type of insecticide in your bin. This will kill not only the visible insects, but also the microscopic creatures that are turning your scraps into usable soil. Mixing your compost occasionally will help it to turn into usable soil faster, but this is not necessary. Many folks have two compost bins and switch back and forth between them every other year. This interval is usually plenty of time to get good compost that can be used in your garden as potting soil for springtime container planting or mulch around established plants. Compost is also a good thing to mix into the soil when you are planting new things in your garden. As an added benefit, you can use some of the money you save on expensive plant fertilizers to buy extra plants for your garden! Featured ProductsWe are featuring free shipping throughout the month of June! Any product you purchase through the Safety 1st, Cosco and Eddie Bauer Shop sites will come to you with no shipping costs. It’s our little way of saying thanks for being a loyal customer. EuroStar Travel System
The EuroStar Travel System by Safety 1st makes it easy to get around with a stroller and car seat in one handy package. Your little one can stay snug in the car seat while you transition from car to stroller. The included infant car seat features a convenient adjustable base, up-front harness adjustment and Side Impact Protection. The stroller has a storage basket with easy, spring-down access to keep all the things you need while you are out and a 1-hand fold ‘n stand feature that makes storage a breeze once your journey’s done for the day. Click here for more information. Available online at shop.safety1st.com Available at Babies “R” Us Available online at www.sears.com Available online at www.target.com Available at Walmart and online at www.walmart.com Acella™ Alumilite Convenience Stroller 
The lightweight aluminum frame of this deluxe amenities stroller makes it a breeze to push and carry. The Acella™ Alumilite stroller features an infinite-position reclining seat and a 3-position canopy with sun visor and cell phone pocket. The parent tray has three cup holders for drinks or as a convenient space to hold your cell phone. The spring-down storage basket has space for the larger gear you want to take with you. When folded, the stroller stands easily on its own so there’s less work for you! Click here for more information. Available online at shop.safety1st.com Available at Sears and online at www.sears.com Available online at www.target.com Avenue™ Convertible Car Seat 
Family rides are easy with the Safety 1st Avenue™ Convertible Car Seat. Infant head support and soft harness covers allow your baby to rest comfortably. The 5-point harness with up-front adjustment makes it easy to get a snug fit and the four different harness heights make it simple to adjust the car seat for your growing child. The removable cup holder can be used on either side of the car seat and is the perfect place to keep your child's drink or a small snack. As an added benefit, the removable and washable pad makes any clean up as easy as A-B-C whether you have arrived at your destination or are just stopping to enjoy a break during your travels. Click here for more information. Available online at shop.safety1st.com Available online at www.amazon.com Available online at www.sears.com Deluxe Play Yard 
The Safety 1st Deluxe Play Yard is perfect for playtime and naptime! The play yard features a full-size bassinet for naps as well as a built-in changer with an easy-to-clean surface. There’s a handy side storage compartment for diapers or other items and the wheels on one end make it easy to move from room to room. Click here for more information. Available online at shop.safety1st.com Available online at www.sears.com Available online at www.target.com Recline & Grow 5-Stage Feeding Seat 
The Recline & Grow 5-Stage Feeding Seat grows with your child from newborn to toddler. With five distinct stages, the feeding seat can be reclined to accommodate an infant, adjusted upright to accommodate an older child (with or without the tray), and as a restaurant style booster seat with no backrest for toddlers. The tray is fully dishwasher safe and features an easy 1-hand release which helps keep cleanup simple. Click here for more information. Available online at shop.safety1st.com Available online at www.kmart.com Available online at www.sears.com Congratulations to Last Month’s Winners!Each winner will receive one of our fantastic Safety 1st® Perfect Fit Gates! Click here to check them out and buy one! Treva Scholl Heba Mourad Lizette Wilder Tonya Berrios Spotlight On Safety 1st Dad: David Amirault
David has long held a passion for child passenger safety and brings this to his job here at Safety 1st and his volunteer work as a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. “My favorite part of the job is that I’m able to help make the world a safer place for kids. That’s extra important to me since I’m a parent myself.” He’s happy to have both Colin and Regan riding in the Maxi-Cosi® Rodi™ booster seats. (Maxi-Cosi is a European sister brand to Safety 1st.) David works closely with his European counterparts to make sure that we are all getting the latest and safest innovations. In the spirit of Father’s day, we asked David to tell us what he likes most about being a dad. “There are a number of favorite things I love about being a dad. Helping and watching them grow and learn through the years… But probably my favorite thing is our nighttime ritual. We wind the day down, or at least try to, with some book reading and just talking about what’s going on at school, gymnastics, baseball, vacations, things to do, you name it.” We asked David about the different activities he enjoys sharing with his children. “With Colin right now it’s playing catch. It’s something I did with my dad when I was Colin’s age, and it was something that my Dad did with my Grandfather when he was a kid. I guess it’s a family tradition.” He went on to talk about quality time with his daughter Regan. “She has a few stuffed animals, few hundred that is, and she has quite an active imagination. So, we play school, house, or whatever she comes up with using all of the stuffed animals. We also do a lot of crafts and coloring. The shopping thing comes naturally to her, so we’re in big trouble!” David also let us know about an activity the whole family enjoys together. “We are a Rock Band family, so Colin and I take turns on Bass and Guitar, and Regan is our Rock Band singer…better her than me!” We wish David and all the dad’s out there, a rocking Father’s Day! If you have any questions regarding Safety 1st products please contact Dorel Juvenile Group Consumer Relations at consumer@djgusa.com. Top |
June 2009
Most of you know that June is a month to celebrate Dads, but did you know it is also the month the United Nations promotes environmental awareness with World Environment Day? We’ll honor both Dads and the environment in this eNewsletter by giving you some of our favorite quotes about fathers and then giving you some handy hints on an environmentally friendly activity that the whole family can participate in; composting! Our featured products in this letter range from 
We’ve gathered together several of our favorite quotes by and about dads and listed them out below for your enjoyment. Feel free to share them with the fathers in your life!
Composting is a great way to help the environment while helping your garden at the same time. By saving food scraps for the compost heap, we eliminate refuse that would go into the trash stream. Composting is also an activity that the whole family can participate in which makes it a great way for your children to get involved in gardening.
This month we talked to Safety 1st Director of Research and Development, David Amirault. David and his wife Maureen are the proud parents of two children; Colin, 8 and Regan, 7.