There are no boundaries in motherhood!
Books have always meant the world to me. As a young child, my family always read to me and as I got older, we continued to love reading together as a family. It is so wonderful to share the stories with others. In grade school, I wrote a book and made copies to share with my classmates. My love […]
I am, and always have been, a “people pleaser.” I cater to other peoples’ needs at the expense of my own, and I give other people power over my choices, whatever they are. I also struggle to set boundaries, take on far too many commitments and responsibilities and treat others with greater respect than I give to […]
Author Sara Broers has free presentations and book signing events in November for 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die, published by Reedy Press. With Iowa’s dozen-plus scenic highways and byways, and this book as your guide, your next road trip will be an epic one for the record books. Join author and Iowa native Sara Broers […]
What do you get your child for their birthday this year or if they have another special event? It can be tricky to choose what is suitable. In years gone by, you may have given them a book or a DVD. But technology is now more mainstream. So, children want things like iPhones and laptop […]
Last minute shopping is one of the glorious moments of the holiday season. The stores are filled with those of us still on the hunt for the best gifts to place under the tree. While it is a right of passage that my family enjoys every year, it can also be stressful. The Motherhood Defined […]
Celebrate Christmas with a collection of funny and festive poems from the author of the hugely popular Kindergarten, Here I Come! There’s better to celebrate Christmas Eve than with a SIGNED copy of the newest installment in the bestselling Here I Come series: Christmas, Here I Come by D.J. Steinberg! My sweater’s just ridiculouswith pictures of Saint Nicholas.The right sleeve sports […]
As the family gathers around the holidays, conversations concerning what the outside world has become and our feelings always arise. As my children age, they become more vocal about issues that concern the health of our aging planet. We are excited to share a series of timely children’s books that validate anger as an agent […]
Two new picture books from authors with down syndrome make heartwarming holiday gifts! From Flower Pot Press: Born to Sparkle: A Story About Achieving Your Dreams by Megan Bomgaars and illustrated by Peter John Olczyk and The Book of Hugs by Tim Harris and illustrated by Charlie Astrella. Born to Sparkle by Megan Bomgaars Uplifting, encouraging, and quite lovely. […]
Say hello to My Moxy Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner. A hair product that knows how to let its hair down and have a good time while battling the dry brittle hair and fizziness that the Midwest winter has in store. With snow already peeking its head out and temperatures that one could only guess will be from day to day, my hair takes a beating this time of year. Not to mention, I have put it through a mess of color treatments and heated styles over the years. This puts a lot of pressure on my shampoo and conditioner. It has to come in strong and ready for battle to be able to tackle the dryness and frizz issues I have going on. While I have tried a lot of brands over the years only a few have scored that repeat buyer status. @my_moxy is definitely one of the winners for my family`s continued business.
#winterstyle #winteriscoming #beautytips #hair #mymoxy #holidayseason #holidayguide
Here are 5 great ways that you and your children can celebrate the fabulous characters created by so many talented authors during National Children’s Book Week:
#1. Have your child dress up as their favorite children’s book character. This does not need to be elaborate or entail purchasing anything. Simply recreate the character’s dress as best as your costume box (or closet) allows. Maddie and Albert go on so many adventures that recreating one or two of their looks (safari outfits, summer clothes, square glasses or a red hat) should be easy enough. Children love to emulate the dress and mannerisms of people they admire. Then let them tromp around town all day dressed like this.
#2. Have a favorite book swap with other children from school, play group, daycare or the neighborhood. Encourage each child to bring their favorite book (of the moment) either from their personal library, the school or the local library and put all of these in a box. Have each child pull out a new book to take home and read. Get together again to return everyone’s book and let the kids talk about the characters. Did they like them? Relate to them?
#3. Write a letter to a favorite author. Authors like myself love to hear from young fans, especially about characters that they have created and that readers have connected with! Writing letters also helps young readers learn the format for letter writing, practice writing their own (and the author’s) address and feel quite “sophisticated” as they take the letter to the nearest post office. Sometimes they even get a reply!
#4. Act out a scene from a favorite book. Find props around the house and find siblings or other kids to play parts. For the truly creative book lover, scenery is fun to create. And you can always bring out those costumes they created earlier to make it an (almost) official play. Off, Off, WAY Off Broadway here they come.
#5. Create a life-sized favorite character from a book. Get a roll of (cheap) printer’s paper. Trace your child’s form and then have them add clothes, hair and accessories for a favorite character. These can hang in your child’s room later.
#bookstagram #nationalchildrensbookweek
Known for its delicious bars of chocolate goodness, @milkboychocolate has launched its newest product, Milkboy Swiss Chocolate Drink. With a rich, velvety mouthfeel, the decadent Swiss Chocolate Drink is a dairy-free, gluten-free, GMO-free cacao powder. Making it a hot cocoa selection of joy and warmth for those colder days which have already begun in the Midwest. Even Nat loves it!!! #joyful
#millboy #milkboychocolate #hotcocoa #chocolate #coldweather #holidaycheer #holidayseason
Updates- I know I`ve been away for a while from social media. I miss it for sure. About 6 weeks ago my daughter started getting extremely ill, we`ve spent a lot of time back and forth with children`s hospital and are very close to having a final diagnosis. She are colonoscopy and enteroscopy on Monday. Initial findings were not good but we are really holding out hope that the biopsies come back okay. So, we might be more taking time off from traveling and our online presence. But.... We will be back when Nat is doing better. Thank you all for your support and just following our journey for the last 13 years.
#missyou #wewillbeback
