Lisa Wong

Pretend Dim Sum

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:39:55 -0700

This is so adorable I could just eat it.

Me Wee Tree (iPhone & Android)

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:41:14 -0700

Okay, I admit I spend my fair share of time on my iPhone, between the Total Baby app, Facebook, email and Words with Friends. But I have just found a new addiction… which could pay off in terms of a new stroller, toy box or bike!

Me Wee Tree is Babybot’s newest app for iOS and Android. The concept is simple: take care of a Christmas tree by watering, feeding and loving it. Kind of like a holiday Tamagotchi.

There are six adorable trees to choose from, and you can name your tree(s). Mine are called Merry, Jiminey and Beyonce. At first, it’s just a little hole in the snow, but before long, you have the cutest little trees to call your own.

After 12 days, you can start decorating. Each ornament will cost you points, which you accumulate with all the watering and loving each day. This is where it gets really interesting.

Starting December 1st, Babybot will give away 25 free prizes a day for 12 days. You shake your tree, and see if you’re a winner!

Then on Christmas Day, you shake your tree to see what “Santabot” left for you! It may be a promo code for babybot.com, or if you’re lucky, it could be a new stroller! (You do have to earn enough points to get the Bugaboo ornament, so this is where your addiction could pay off.)

See more details and download here.

Fairy Tales 2.0

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:42:39 -0700

Square Inch Design has created the most gorgeous, minimalist posters of classic fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and others. I would love a collection of these in my house!

Babybot Blik Decals

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:59:53 -0600

Here are some gorgeous wall decals that Babybot and Blik are cooking up right now! Can’t wait until they come out!

The cutest cardboard house ever

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:14:15 -0600

I can just imagine hours of pretend play in here…

[LOVE] When My Baby Dreams

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 22:22:02 -0600

Remember that awesome blog, Mila’s Daydreams? While on maternity leave, this mom created the most amazing photos while her newborn Mila napped during the day. The result was the most beautiful and creative photos I’ve ever seen anyone take of their baby.

The blog’s popularity skyrocketed, and the mom ended up taking all her photos down after countless people started abusing usage rights, using her daughter’s image for things without asking including banner ads!

I don’t blame her. What started out as fun hobby spun out of control, and she removed the photos to protect her baby.

Now she has decided to publish a book called When My Baby Dreams containing all the photos. What a great idea, and I’m so glad something good came out of it for them!

How to be a better Scrabble player

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:25:24 -0600

How to be a better Scrabble player:

Learn a bunch of words you don’t know the meanings to… :)

10 Ways Scrabble is a Lot Like Poker

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:22:00 -0600

Photo by williamhartz

When I was young, I loved playing Scrabble. I would beg my younger brother to play with me, even though he would win the majority of the time. I loved words and I loved puzzles, and Scrabble was the ultimate word puzzle.

After we grew up, Scrabble games were few and far between. Then a fun little Facebook app called Scrabulous was created and became hugely popular. People that hadn’t played Scrabble in years were now playing online with friends with the click of the mouse.

And so, I’m obsessed again. I’ve been playing around the clock on my iPhone whenever I have a spare moment. And the more that I play, the more I realize Scrabble is very similar to another game I enjoy - poker.

Both games have become recently popular. Poker’s interest skyrocketed when networks began showing players’ hole cards on television, allowing the home viewer to “play along” with the professionals. Sales of Scrabble board games increased significantly with the launch of the Facebook app Scrabulous (who was later sued by Hasbro, go figure).
Both games are simple to learn, but take a lifetime to master. With education and experience, you can improve your ability and become a winning player.
Anyone can play. A young child can play Scrabble with his grandfather. A novice poker player has the opportunity to play with professionals, if they have the bankroll.
Luck is a factor. The worst poker player can have great cards and triumph over a seasoned player. Likewise, sometimes you get all Qs and Xs in Scrabble and sometimes you’re stuck with the vowels.
Sometimes, it’s more than just luck. Professional poker players will “play the player” instead of the cards. They will play based on what they think their opponent is holding, and how they are feeling. Scrabble players can win with the worst letters by making strategic plays with what’s already on the board.
There are different angles and approaches. With poker, you can play conservatively or “loose,” passively or aggressively. With Scrabble, you can aim to create one long word for high points or lots of little ones. There is no right or wrong approach; you may need to mix it up sometimes for both.
You can manipulate. In poker, you can have a very strong hand, yet play it slowly, “trapping” your opponent into making the wrong move. In Scrabble, you can provide a red herring by revealing what appears to be a great space on the board while actually thinking two steps ahead.
You can anticipate. To be successful at both games, you need figure out what your opponent is going to do. What is their personality and style of play? Can you guess their cards or tiles? Knowing key details about your opponent will improve your game greatly.
You can play both games at home or at a tournament level. At the World Series of Poker, thousands of players come out each year in the hope of winning millions of dollars. The National Scrabble Tournament is a bit more low-key, with hundreds of entrants and a top prize of $10,000.
Both are immensely challenging and fun. There’s always something new that I can learn, so my love for both games just gets stronger with time. I’m also highly competitive, which makes both games that much more fun!

If anyone is up for a game of Scrabble, I’m “wonglisa” on Words with Friends.

[LOVE] Wooden Teething Guitar from Etsy

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:28:07 -0600

Finally… an alternative to Sophie the Giraffe. Organic, natural and a little hipster.

[LOVE] Felt Food from Etsy

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:25:11 -0600

There’s something so adorable about fake felt food.

[LOVE] Vintage Barbie Clothes

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:57:47 -0600

Wow, Barbie clothes have come a long way… now you can shop vintage for your impossibly sized friend!

Calgary Deals Today

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:57:11 -0600

Calgary Deals Today:

A lot of new deals today!

[LOVE] The Jools

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:01:38 -0700

Behold the Jools, the prettiest diaper bag I’ve ever seen.

A new style this season, the Jools is a small, lightweight bag perfect for quick trips. Made from satin nylon and with chunky gold signature rings and hardware, it comes in Black and Moss. It features two large outer pockets including a front zipper pocket, thermo-insulated bottle pocket, padded changing mat and detachable inner sak. It also boasts an adjustable shoulder strap and wipe clean linings throughout.

Baby Books, Part 4

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:30:34 -0700

Okay, I admit it. I’m kind of obsessed with kids’ books right now. I was back when I was a kid, and I think I love them even more now as a parent.

Spring Is Here by Taro Gomi. This guys is best known for “Everyone Poops.” I haven’t read that one, but his other books are so beautiful and poetic that you want to cover them in plastic and keep them forever.

Charley Harper ABCs: Skinny Edition by Charley Harper. Not your typical alphabet book. Beautifully illustrated, this is one you’d want to keep on your coffee table.

Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I think this makes everyone’s list. It’s the story of a hungry caterpillar that eats his way to becoming a butterfly.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers. Henry love books. Not reading them, but eating them! A great, fantastical story that captures kids’ and grown-ups’ imaginations.

More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt. The writer of this story is not anti-bear, but the audience seems to demand more furry creatures than he is wanting to write about.

One by Kathryn Otoshi. Another gorgeous book that you can’t imagine is a kids’ book. Beautifully colours, moving story and a simple lesson for kids to learn.

I’ve really been interested in the more beautiful, simple books for babies. Are there any design-y books that you love and recommend?

The Best Times to Buy Anything in 2011

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:16:57 -0700

The Best Times to Buy Anything in 2011:

When should you buy a TV? Laptop? Chocolate? Find out here.

Baby Books, Part 3

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:29:32 -0700

Adding to my list of favorite kids books:

Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard. I love Jeremy Tankard! The illustrations are beautiful and his writing is simple, funny and relatable.

Me Hungry! by Jeremy Tankard. Another great book! Edwin the caveboy is hungry, but must fend for himself when his parents are too busy.

Russell The Sheep Board Book by Rob Scotton. Russell can’t sleep… so he counts sheep.

Grandpa and Me: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz. You’re baking pizza with Grandpa, but have to find everything to make it!

Where Is Baby’s Birthday Cake?: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz. In this story, Baby is looking high and low for her birthday cake. Where has it gone? ;)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: 25th Anniversary Edition by Eric Carle. A lovely book to learn the colours and names of different animals.

My Friends by Taro Gomi. I love this illustrator. In this story, a little girl learns all of life’s important things from her friends.

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na. A lovely book about all the animals in the forest and how they sleep at night.

Where’s Spot by Eric Hill. In this story, it’s Spot the dog that’s missing.

Car + Doodles = Magic

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:59:33 -0700

This is not just for kids! You draw a line, and then the car follows wherever you draw! So cool!

Daily deal: Choklat

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:04:00 -0700

Daily deal: Choklat:

Today’s LivingSocial deal in Calgary is at Choklat: $10 for $20 worth of truffles. If you’ve never had these before, you are missing out! I received them as a birthday gift one year, and they were delicious! Super creamy and decadent, they are better than Bernard Callebaut any day.

When I went to return the favour, the shopping experience was even more amazing. When you enter the shop, all you smell is chocolate. It fills the air so much you almost don’t have to eat any to experience it.

While they have some bars on hand, all of the truffles are made to order. You choose the filling (like milk chocolate), a dipping (say dark chocolate), and then they roll the truffle in the topping of your choice (say hazelnuts). You can get them placed in a bag or a lovely box for a gift.

(If you are able to resist eating one before leaving, then your willpower is much stronger than mine!)

[LOVE] Lola the Rabbit

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:37:53 -0700

I come across all these cute stuffed animals and wonder, are they for my daughter, or really for me?

Baby Books, Part 2

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:23:00 -0700

I’ve been raiding the local library and placing tons of holds on baby books. If you’re gonna be reading a book a zillion times, it better be a good one, right?

Here are some more favourites:

Sing a Song of Mother Goose by Barbara Reid. A compliation of old school nursery rhymes. Do kids even learn these anymore?

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. A great little story about a Grumpy Bird who finds solace from some good friends.

Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek. I admit it, I’m a sucker for books that rhyme.

Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton. Simple in concept: what sounds do all the animals make?

What do you look for in a good baby book?