Posts Tagged ‘Splurge’
For your pee wee’s big adventures: It’s a bike! It’s a stroller! It’s a bike! (Okay, technically a trike…)
Photo Credit:www.taga.nl
The Dutch have a way with unlikely combinations. Pancakes made out of babies… Paint made out of boys… And now, Taga: the world’s first safety-standard-approved bicycle that converts to a stroller – in just 20 seconds!
Taga isn’t just another take on the baby bike carrier – – it’s “a new transportation modality.” It’s “emotion in motion” – – “transforming a typical daily journey into an exciting adventure.” Taga’s award-winning design (by a Dutch/Israeli team) successfully avoids the robotic look of most Transformers – it’s kind of a plush modern rickshaw that actually looks fun to ride, with stroller lines to rival Bugaboo.
Photo Credit: gadgetreview.com
Just take a look at these pictures– I want to be her.
Still skeptical? Here’s some purely functional rationale in Taga’s favor.
With a traditional back- or side-mounted bike carrier, the transportation experience is perhaps on par – maybe even safer with a top producer like Chariot or Burley. But consider what happens next. If you live in a bike town, locking up close to your destination may not be an issue. Once off the bike, however, you’re stuck with transport mode #2 – perhaps an Ergo-like carrier, baby backpack, or *gasp* toddler on the loose. 20 seconds later, Taga keeps you rolling (see movie here). Yes, you can convert your Chariot or Burley with the right add-ons, but you’ll have to leave your bike behind.
With a base price around $1,500 and only coming soon (April 2010) in the U.S., Taga could qualify as a splurge, although it does pencil out as a one-fits-all vs. a single high end stroller and bike carrier. For serious bicycling families considering Bakefiets or similar kid cargo contraptions in the same price range, it’s certainly worth a test ride.
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Update 8/6/2010: Giggle.com is now carrying Taga! It’s a little odd that you have to first buy the chassis, and then add the seat material, but we’ll forgive them. Basic package retails for $1495.00 + $99 shipping (to Oregon, anyway).
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Update 8/8/2011: Rumor has it, Taga has suspended operations and is awaiting new investment/buyout…read more here.
Graphic Credit: oregon529network.com
OK – full disclosure: today, we had our annual review with our financial advisor. I’ve got money on the brain. So here’s a gift idea that can reap big dividends – a 529 College Savings Plan.
What’s a 529 College Savings Plan? From the Oregon 529 web site: “a 529 plan is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged investment vehicle designed to help and encourage families save for the future higher education expenses of a designated beneficiary.”
Although most of us probably think of it as little Junior’s future college fund, a 529 plans has no age requirement, is fully transferrable within a family once established, with no penalty. Even if Junior gets a full scholarship for tuition at a qualifying institution, 529 dollars can be used for books, supplies, equipment, room and board.
No kids yet? Use 529 to drop a major hint: a 529 can be established in mom or dad’s name, and reassigned as appropriate when the time comes.
While 529 plans are offered by nearly every state (and you don’t have to go to school in, say, Oregon just because you have an Oregon 529 plan) the plans do vary in their details. So read carefully, and consult an expert for help with any questions. Some plans may be purchased directly through the state, and others must be purchased through licensed financial advisors.
Oregon529Network.com provides an excellent top-level FAQ however, this should not be viewed as a substitute for professional advice from an accredited financial advisor.
Disclaimer: Mama Gaga is not a licensed financial advisor, just an enthusiast. You are responsible for verifying any of the assertions above, which are based on the Oregon 529 Plan alone as described on the web site.
Here’s Looking At You, Crib
Posted on: January 14, 2010
Photo Credit: spotonsquare.com
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a nursery with a view? Innovative design team Spot on Square suggests an answer with a beautiful modern crib that looks more like a bed than a baby cage.
Thanks to smart use of clear acrylic for the front panel, the Roh Crib gives you and your babe an unprecedented view for playing, bonding, or just making sure baby’s still breathing.
It also looks as though the slats might be spaced just far enough apart to rub noses, but not so much that tiny exploring arms and legs would get stuck as in other cribs.
We’re curious to see this one in person, but until we can find it locally, Oompa Toys is offering Roh Crib and all other Spot on Square products for double points this month + free shipping. Of course, there’s a premium placed on this clarity of vision – Roh Crib retails for $1589.99.
GaGaGear 