I'm a huge fan of Barefoot Books. I love the commitment to beautiful artwork, global connection, and community. Did I mention that these are children's books?
To celebrate the new, improved website, Barefoot Books is giving away a free mp3, "If You're Happy and You Know It..." sung by Susan Reed.
Go, download, sing with your kids. You'll love Barefoot Books as much as I do, I just know it!
If you aren't a fan of the Beatles, well... I just don't know you anymore.
No really, you cannot deny their incredible, indelible mark on pop music. Paul McCartney is a musical genius, 'nuff said. Anyhoo, I just wanted to fill in the people who care (which should be you!) that an excerpt from the new mini-documentary about the making of the album Revolver is available over at thebeatles.com
The documentary is actually 13 short films, divided into particular albums, each one discussing the making of the corresponding album and they are narrated by Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul & Sir George Martin.
BTW, last month iTunes released "Let it roll: Songs by George Harrison," which I highly recommend, mostly because Eric Clapton would, and well, if you don't like Eric Clapton, then we are really gonna have a problem!
(Also, did you know about the new Beatles Rock Band video game? I really have to get that Guitar Hero!)
Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World is a book about orphans
in Swaziland.
The book's author and publishers are giving away the full length
digital copy in the hope that you will be compelled to purchase hard
copies of the book because the author hopes to raise $1 million for
the childrens' education.
To get the electronic copy you will need to enter the names of three
friends to help spread the word about this promotion. They will only
receive a one time copy of the email and will not entered into any
mailing list. For details and to get your copy, visit this page. But hurry,
this promotion will only be available until July 15th!
This post was contributed by Lynette Chandler from
MomsGadgets.com.
You all know that I love to enter giveaways. I'd kinda backed off for a bit, mostly because of the move, but they are still out there, and summertime giveaways are especially awesome! Here are a few that I eyeballed (and entered, of course!) today:
Sweeps4bloggers (which is a one-stop-shop for goodies, btw) is running one for Eureka kids sleeping bags. My daughter loves her Lightning Bug bag with it's special pocket, but my son sure could use the Minnow bag!
Another one of my fave sites, The Giveaway, is hosting one for the Keurig Platinum Brewing System. Very fancy, and I love the fact that there are soooooo many beverage options. It's so fast and perfect for entertaining.
Steals & Deals is giving away a Joey Junior Purse organizer, and in a separate giveaway, a Timi & Leslie bag. A diaper bag that does double duty as a trendy purse? Love it!
A new find is the very intriguing Ascending Butterfly, where the current giveaway is for Tres Sleek's compression garments, either the Bradigy Cami, or the Shrinx. (Um shrink me, please, please!)
Another fun giveaway, (and blog, too!) is A Hook...A Line... and A Girl...'s Organizer giveaway. These super-cute cash/coupon pocket organizers with the incredible fabric covers from Crunchy Cute are pretty awesome.
I'm all about ways to prevent waste, and help our Mama Earth, and I'm very intrigued by The Mom Buzz's giveaway for EcoTouch's Waterless Car Wash. Saving 100 gallons of water is more than reason enough!
Darlin's there are always more, but Blogger is being funky today, so I'ma take a break, lol. Have a lovely Sunday, & go for some goodies.
I hope you all had fun on the Fab Fourth! As you know, my little family was re-assigned and we are no longer attending B-More festivities. But Staten Island didn't disappoint! The best part? Everything was free! (yay, free!)
DH & the kidlings. Notice the cotton candy? The Travis Parade gives out free cotton candy, popcorn and sno-cones. Awesome, right? (I promise that she ate less than half of that giant thing!)
Here are those Feathered Guys!
They were magnificent, and we loved the program.
Here's DH with NYC behind him.
On July 17th a new film is premiering here in New York... and I strongly urge you to check it out, either here or when it comes to a city near you.
The Way We Get By, an award winning documentary about the military greeters at the Bangor, Maine airport features three senior citizens who wait at the tiny airport in order to greet every arriving soldier, and their stories make for an incredible, moving, inspiring glimpse into a little known aspect of American life.
The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.
You've heard it on the morning talk shows, bandied about near the coffeepot at work ('cause hello, who even hangs out by the Sparkletts bottle, am I right?) discussed at length at those playdates, etc, etc.
The current push for American families to conserve their resources, both financial and global has resulted in a new buzzword. The Staycation. It's a nice way to think about staying at home and saving some dough.
But you and I know what that really means. With everyone home all summer long, you're looking at way more in-house time. (It's not like the old days, where your parents would toss you out at first light and you stayed out all day, possibly grabbing a bologna sandwich around lunchtime, and coming home at dusk, 90+ degrees outside, with no hat, sunscreen, or personal electronics!)
More home-time means more clean-time (groan.) According to a recent Clorox survey, over 60 percent of the Moms surveyed reported an increase in cleaning around the house as their families now spend more time at home.
(Told ya.)
But the folks at MommyDocs and MomCentral (I love them!) got together to help us out with some Summer Staycation Safety and Savings Tips. You ready?
Staying Safe at BBQs. According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are likely switching up their meal routine with an outdoor BBQ. Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping them away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don't forget to check that your child's hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.
Keep the Pool Cool and Clean. If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach* to one gallon of water. Don't forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning (never leave any water in the pool). Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)
Staying Healthy and Hydrated. Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours. Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.
Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds. Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts. As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!
Saving on Spills. Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don't have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink. Don't forget to rinse and dry when done. A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)
Well, now. Don't you feel all informed? Stay home. Save some money, play with your kidlings. But do it safely, alright?
For more Warm Weather Tips, check out this info packed pdf from the MommyDocs.
Chicago's Sears Tower is premiering it's newest tourist draw, The Ledge today. It's more or less a glass box that juts out 4 feet from the main building, 1,350 feet above the street (one thousand! gah!) and purportedly able to withstand 50 tons of mass.
Hah! I've seen that movie , and let me tell you, there just isn't enough money in the world to make me stand on some glass that high up in the air. So I will repeat: No. Nuh-Uh and Not Me. You on the other hand may find this thrilling, perhaps you say, "Oh wow! How cool," or some other less-dated slang word for, uh, cool. I assert that you are out of your mind. I hope you will still be my friends, but folks, just looking at this picture makes my knees quiver, my stomach churn and my jaw to tingle (that's from the clenching.)
Maybe you've guessed some new factoid about me. That's right, I've got a wee bit of height vertigo (it's a real term! she says defensively.)
If you're planning a trip to The Windy City, you may want to check it out, just remember that you're completely bananas. Just saying.
This is so cool...
Sarah Smiley is pretty awesome. Some day, when I am all growed up, I hope I can be just like her. (Except for the Navy-wife part, hello? We're Coasties 'round this way.)
Okay, she's a novelist and syndicated columnist and last week she hit on something very dear to DH's heart. Baseball. And if I can hold onto her words, I just might get through this mom thing...
Here's the article, Standing By No Snacks at Baseball
Read it, let me know what you think!
I want to talk about another (possibly even better than mine!) Father's Day Gift Guide, created by the amazing folks over at Mom Central.
With under $25 gifts that include grill charms and Uncle John's Bath
room Puzzler: 365 Logic Puzzles and Rosetta Stone software in the over $100 section, there's a little something special for every Dad. If he camps or flies or fixes or drinks or westerns (really!) your Dad is covered by the superfab MomCentral Father's Day Gift Guide. So get over there and get something!
(Psst, there are giveaways, too!)
It's that time again, folks! Another O'Joy Recommends! As Father's Day is looming on the horizon, I thought I'd do a list of gifties for Daddies that you can get, pronto. Remember, Father's Day is on the 21st, and O'Joy only Recommends stuff I'd actually lay money down for!
To begin:
Check out the Scosche Bluetooth Visor Mount w/ Caller ID, for $99 You can pick it up @ Best Buy, and keep the Dad in your life feelin' cool, but not too much like he's calling for Scotty to "beam him up."
A great last-minute but personalized gift for the guy who's got it all is a Create-Your-Own Gift Card $25 - 100 from Fandango. Send him with enough for a show and some treats!
The G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch, $119 at National Geographic is pretty dang awesome. (I should know, I wear the ladies version every day.) and you can have it in time if you order by 1pm EST on June 19th with an express shipping option.
Two places where you can find any perfect gift are ZGallerie and 826 National. Here are my recommendations, but please feel free to browse. (Just remember, the clock is ticking!)
The Meaning of Life by Esquire Magazine, $19.95 from ZGallerie is definitely Dad-worthy:
Even a walk through 826NYC's Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company @ 372 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY is a pretty amazing gift, but my fave item has to be the Index of Good And Evil, $15. ('Cause that's pretty handy information.)
I'm a huge fan of ThinkGeek. Don't get me started on the t-shirts, there's too much awesomeness there, but this is for the dad in your life, right? Well if he's handy and lazy at the same time, (oh, and they so are!) the Digital Measuring Tape, $24.99 is your best bet. No silly pencil and paper needed here!
With ten different categories, a Circle Choice package, $75 - 500 from Excitations is pretty much a no-brainer. With everything from Wolf Watching to Stock Car Ridealong to Indoor Skydiving to a Pool Lesson with a Pro, Dad can pick his own gift and you can be a rock star. (Or maybe he could!)
That's all folks! I hope you've gotten some ideas. I hope you get to the store in time (or express ship like nobody's business!) and I hope the Dad or Daddy or Papa or Poppy or whatever has a great day. 'Cause -like us moms- they know it's the thought that really counts. (But hide the price tag anyway!)
It's my 100th Post! In celebration, I'm going to do one of those lists we all love so much. This one is...
3. I sing to myself through-out the day. This is not just at home. I do it at supermarkets, banks, doctors' waiting rooms, et al.
7. I hate reconstituted eggs, Spam, and processed cheese. Together, separate, whatever! There is a great deal of childhood trauma attached to those "food" items; and I will never, never, ever eat them; and you can't make me.
Momma's Review is giving away a new dining set courtesy of Bob's Discount Furniture, and I totally, totally want it.
This is the giveaway set.
Cute right? and hello, love that folding action! Aren't the benches neat?
This is mine.
Why, yes - those are mauve-tweed waiting room chairs. The whole set was purchased at a thrift store for eighty dollars, back when DH & I were first married. And I had to do some pretty serious sweet-talking to get those chairs. The originals were beyond hideous. I promise you that these large, unwieldy, ugly things are/were a much better alternative.
Still, it's pretty darn functional. Of course, we occasionally find random hardware underneath the table, (but can never figure out the origins), and I promise that boosters just aren't possible on the cushiony chairs. (I really want to pass on the high chair and get a super cool booster, yet another reason why I need the set from Momma's Review!)
You can enter, too, but you have to hope that I win! Okay, you can hope for yourself, too.
Check it out at http://www.mommasreview.com/?p=1922
The winner of the O'Joy Recommends: Mother's Day Gift Guide & Giveaway is none other than:
Smart Solutions for Everyday Moms
