Dad of Divas' Reviews: July 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Book Review - Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman

About the Book

Horrid Henry continues his reign of mischief in the

U.S.

with the release of the award-winning Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman (ISBN 978-1-4022-4256-4; AUGUST 2010; $4.99 U.S./$5.99 CAN; Juvenile Fiction/Chapter; Trade Paperback) by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross.

Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman was the Galaxy British Book Award’s Best Children's Book of the Year in 2008 (the “Oscars” of the book world). Francesca Simon is the only American author ever to have won; past winners include JK Rowling.

The book includes four hilarious stories that detail Horrid Henry’s creation of a monster snowman, the writing of his own will (but more interesting is what others should be leaving him), his competition with Moody Margaret in the makeover business, and how Horrid Henry finagles his way out of detention to listen to his favorite author read his new book.

The Horrid Henry books are aimed at children ages 7–12 and are particularly popular with reluctant readers who revel in the misadventures of Horrid Henry, enjoy the comic illustrations by Tony Ross, and, most importantly, gain a sense of accomplishment when finishing each story.

Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman marks the 10^th book in the global bestselling Horrid Henry series that Sourcebooks has introduced since launching the series in the

U.S.

in April 2009. To date, Horrid Henry has sold nearly 15 million copies in 27 countries.

About the Author

FRANCESCA SIMON is the creator of Horrid Henry and author of the series and one of the world’s best-loved children’s authors. Francesca was born in St. Louis, raised in Los Angeles, attended Yale and moved to the UK to study at Oxford. She then moved to north London, where she now resides with her husband and son, Joshua.

Francesca first worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue. After her son was born, she started writing children’s books full time. She has been invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the queen in celebration of children’s literature. The Horrid Henry series was made into a popular UK television show and there’s now a Horrid Henry stage show at the West End.

TONY ROSS is a prolific illustrator of books for children, including Francesca Simon's Horrid Henry series, Martyn Beardsley's Sir Gadabout stories

My Take on the Book

My eldest daughter and I have read a few other Horrid Henry books and I can say that I am glad to not be his parent. The things that he gets into and the trouble that he invokes makes me happy to have the children that I have! Though I say this, the things that he Henry does do provoke laughter and I can honestly say that I and my daughter truly enjoyed the story itself and the characters within.

If you want to have this book as a part of your own collection you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Save While Shopping for School and Office Supplies

Notebooks, Post-it notes, pens, pads – it’s that time of the year again. Waiting around for those crazy, last-minute, 10-notebooks-for-a-dime specials could slash your spending, but there’s lots more you can do to save big. ShopSmart magazine shares their list of nine tips to make the most of back-to-school sales this August:

Save While Shopping for School and Office Supplies

1. Take inventory: Chances are, you already have some of the things you need in your home office.

2. Stick to your list: It makes sense to get a jump on the stuff you know you need (think filler paper and pencils), but wait for the school’s list to do the bulk of your shopping.

3. Consider swapping: If the search of your desk drawer turns up things you no longer have use for, swap them for things you do need. Call other moms, or go to Swapmamas.com. Click on School & Office to see listings from people who have stuff and people who need stuff.

4. Skip taxes: Many states offer tax-free shopping days in August to encourage spending on clothes. You might find information about your state by searching the Internet with your state and “tax holiday 2010.” Some states extend the discount to supplies and computers.

5. Buy in bulk: Warehouse clubs are great places to load up, but so are online stores like RaymondGeddes.com and DiscountSchoolSupply.com – just remember that shipping costs can add up if you don’t order in bulk.

6. Consider refurbs: Whether you need a laptop or your kid needs a fancy graphing calculator, refurbished or opened but unused products can save you hundreds of dollars. Check Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com/outlet, and SonyStyle.com/outlet.

7. Automate savings: Sign up at ShopItToMe.com to get an alert sent to you when there’s a sale on those expensive sneakers your son just has to have or those shoes you need for work.

8. Be strategic: Shopping the sales at a lot of stores could save you big bucks, but it’s a huge waste of time. Instead, search circulars online at YahooCircularCentral.shoplocal.com and SundaySaver.com. Then shop at stores with price-matching policies, such as Staples, Target, and Walmart.

9. Go to school: Ask whether your child’s school has a supply program where you buy one box with everything your kid needs for the year. Staples claims its SchoolKidz program offers savings of 20 to 50 percent.

Thanks to ShopSmart for these great tips which can be found in the September 2010 magazine.

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Book Review - Sex, Drugs and Bon Jovi

About the Book

Bon Jovi has sold more than 130 million records worldwide and performed in front of more than 34 million fans but little is known about how Bon Jovi rose to superstardom as he doesn’t often talk about the early years.

For the first time, take an all-access backstage ride into the early years (1983-89) through tour manager Richard Bozzett’s eyes in Sex, Drugs and Bon Jovi. This book visually takes you from the group’s first performances in front of a few hundred fans through being an opening act to touring on their own and becoming Rock Legends.

Some items in the book of particular interest include:

Bon Jovi’s managements connection to the largest cocaine and marijuana trafficking operations of their time, which led to multiple run-ins, while touring, with the DEA.
Details on Bon Jovi’s use of speed prior to shows to get “amped up” and Halcion after shows to allow him to sleep
Details on how the Living on A Prayer tour saved the band for financial chaos
Never-before-released photos of the band touring, partying, family get togethers shedding a new light on the early days of these Rock Legends and a “Sex Scandal” that never leaked.

Since its very beginning, there has been an impenetrable "CIRCLE" of secrecy surrounding Bon Jovi that no outsider has ever been able to penetrate. But now there's the inside story of Bon Jovi - from their very first gig as an unknown opening act, through their ascent to unimaginable superstardom, told by the only person who was inside the circle with them every minute of the time-Bon Jovi tour manager Richard Bozzett. Whether you're a die-hard Bon Jovi fan, grew up listening to their music or have ever attended one of their concerts, this is the ONE book that will actually take you inside the circle and bring you closer to the band than ever before!

My Take on the Book
I have to start by saying that I have enjoyed most of the music of Bon Jovi over the years, but really did not know a lot about the band. From an outsider looking in, it looked like they rocked hard and played hard, but I did not know the half of it, or so it seemed in reading this book.

This book truly opened my eyes to the world that this band lived within. The book is very explicit and has some pictures that are very telling (and not for the eyes of young readers). When looking online I did notice some Bon Jovi fans saying that this was old material and told before. I have to say that if it was, I was not aware of it, so as a person that grew up with the music of the band, but was an outsider to the culture, this book opened my eyes to the calmer existence I had in a not rock world.

So, I would say that I would recommend this book to others, as it will open your eyes to the band itself and the world that they lived in. Be ready to have your world turn upside down!
If this book sounds like something you would like to have as a part of your library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Fun, Educational Activites for You and Your Kids from Verizon's Thinkfinity.org

Summer vacation is in full swing, but before you know it, it’s back to school time. We would like to introduce you to Verizon Thinkfinity,Verizon Foundation’s nationally recognized free digital program in support of education and literacy. This online education tool provides comprehensive teaching resources for teachers, but also provides parents and kids with at-home activities you can do together. This includes practice, play, projects and reports, search for a specific topic, or choose from recommended activities, maps, games, reading lists and homework help.

Thinkfinity is a fun and engaging way to get a jump start on back to school lessons!

Below you can find their official site, direct link to the parents and kids section, an intro video and an image as well as further information on Thinkfinity.org.

Official Thinkfinity Site:

http://www.thinkfinity.org/

Section for Parents and Kids:

http://www.thinkfinity.org/parents-and-kids

Verizon Thinkfinity is the Verizon Foundation’s nationally recognized free digital program in support of education and literacy. Recognizing that teachers are pressured to teach to standards in an increasingly unfriendly economic environment, Verizon Thinkfinity creates teacher-friendly resources and lesson plans designed to meet the standards of each state. Thinkfinity and its educational partners produce nine discipline-specific Web sites. Each site includes games and activities for use both in and out of the classroom by students, teachers and parents alike. From Reading comp to math, volcanoes to film, each K-12 grade-specific resource is engaging, fun and readily available.

Part of Thinkfinity’s goal is to help educators inspire their students to successfully navigate and engage with the world while furthering their own development as teachers. There are adult literacy resources and reference materials for educators, parents and afterschool practitioners.

By providing free online tools, Verizon Thinkfinity is taking an active role in furthering achievement and helping kids and adults reach their goals within a powerful educational community. Engaging with Verizon Thinkfinity is a fantastic way to protect and support children and teens, whether they’re online, on the phone, or watching television.

Take Advantage of July's Juicy Fruit with Wellspring's Recipes

Everybody knows that fruits are essential to any healthy lifestyle- they are low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Wellspring Camps, the leading weight loss organization for young adults and families across the U.S. has come up with recipes to help you and your family gets your daily dose of fruit. So head out to those farmer’s markets and fruit stands and purchase the season’s freshest ingredients to create these healthy and delicious summer eats.

Ø Ginger Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry with Snow Peas: Pineapple helps burn fat, reduce cellulite, and it has detoxifying and purifying properties. Pineapple boosts tons of flavor into this recipe that only has 243 Calories and 3.68 grams of fat per serving.

Ø Roasted Cod Fillet with a Blueberry & Black Cherry Salsa: The blueberry and cherry season are short so find the best tasting berries now! Blueberries help with digestion; they contain excellent antioxidants that help reduce bad cholesterol and they stimulate visual perception. Blackberries are a revitalizing fruit that aid kidney function. This refreshing fruit combo recipe is only 190 calories and 1.75 grams of fat.

Ø Strawberry Cantaloupe Soup: Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and will keep your immune system strong. Melon is the perfect fruit to quench your summer thirst and it helps your skin maintain moisture. This delightful summer treat contains 146 calories and .4 grams of fat.

Keeping your family healthy and happy is important, and at Wellspring they make it easy to include the season’s luscious fruit into satisfying meals. This July, try these low-fat and fruity recipes, or visit the Wellspring website for more family friendly recipes!

Ginger Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry with Snow Peas

Servings (4)

Ingredients:

1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast
1 red bell pepper
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
2 cups fresh snow peas
3/4 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
1 red onion rough chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
½ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Method:

1. Spray non-stick frying pan with a non-fat cooking spray. add to pan sesame seeds, chopped garlic, and chikcen strips. saute for two minutes.

2. Add red pepper, onion, ginger, and mushrooms. continue to saute for 1 minute.

3. Add soy sauce, pineapple, red pepper flakes, and snow peas. cover and let cook for 1 minute.

4. Uncover and stir until chicken and vegetables are covered with sauce and chicken is fully cooked.

Roasted Cod Fillet with a Blueberry & Black Cherry Salsa

Servings – (4)

Ingredients:
4 – 4 oz. atlantic cod fillets
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 pint black cherries. pits removed / quartered
2 tablespoons diced red onion
½ cup raspberry vinegar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh chopped garlic
1 medium yellow tomato diced
1 medium orange bell pepper diced
4 slices of lemon
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
½ teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Method:

1. To make salsa, combine sugar and vinegar in a bowl and whisk until sugar is dissolved. in a separate bowl add blueberries, black cherries, red onion, yellow tomato, orange pepper basil, salt, and black pepper. Pour sweetened vinegar in bowl and allow to marinate for thirty minutes.

2. Next preheat oven to 400 degrees. arrange fish on a nonstick baking sheet and place a slice of lemon on each fillet. Roast fo 12 - 15 minutes or until done.

3. Remove lemon slices, top with salsa, and serve.

190 Calories
21.23 grams Protein
1.75 grams Fat

Strawberry Cantaloupe Soup

Servings – (4)

Ingredients:

1 medium cantaloupe
1 pint strawberries
1 cup skim milk
1 cup fat free plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh chopped mint

Method:

· Peel cantaloupe and cut in half. Remove seeds and cut in chunks.

· In a blender or food processor add cantaloupe, strawberries, skim milk, fat free yogurt, sugar, and vanilla.

· blend on medium high for about two minutes or until consistency is smooth.

· remove soup from blender or processor and pour into a bowl.

· next add cinnamon and chopped mint. whisk in until evenly throughout the soup.

· cover and place in refrigerator for one to two hours.

· serve chilled.

Calories – 146 .25
Protein – 6 . 48 grams
Fat – 0.4 grams

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Book Review - The Birth Partner Handbook

Women frequently report that they could have never gone through labor as confidently without their husband, friend, or other childbirth companion. When certified birth educator Carl Jones asks new mothers what helped most during labor the answer is always “my partner.” His latest guide, The Birth Partner Handbook: Everything You Need to Know for a Healthy, Positive Birth Experience (Sourcebooks; ISBN: 978-1-4022-3779-9; TP $16.99; July 2010) will give you all the tools you need to support a mother.

Today 98% of fathers attend the birth of their child. With an increasing number of family and friends attending births, the need grew for a contemporary step-by-step plan written specifically for birth partners. Carl Jones understands just how important a confident and prepared birthing partner can be. Having a well prepared partner not only comforts and soothes the mother during the painful experience of labor, but also reduces her anxiety, reduces the actual length of labor, minimizes the chance of complications, increases the level of joy and elation for the mother, helps to initiate breastfeeding, and even reduces the chance of postpartum depression.

This book is a concise, contemporary guide for today’s birth partners, showing them exactly what they can do to help create a positive birth experience, whether the mother gives birth naturally or with medication, at home, in a childbearing center, or in a hospital.

The Birth Partner Handbook gives birthing partners all the tools they need for experiencing labor alongside the mother, including:

Understanding and preparing for every stage of labor
8-Step method to help make childbirth less stressful
Actively helping the mother through labor
Massage and breathing techniques to manage stress
Supporting with family and friends
Ways to give continued support after the baby is born

About The Author

Carl Jones is a certified childbirth educator who has attended hundreds of births and is a popular speaker who organizes childbirth workshops nationally. In addition to his international bestseller Mind over Labor: A Breakthrough Guide To Giving Birth, he has written dozens childbirth books such as Sharing Birth and From Parent to Child. He lives in Whitefield, New Hampshire.

My Take on theBook

This book is a great resource for any birth partner to a mother to be. Filled with ideas for handling any situation, this is the type of book that any father or any other support person should read through at least once to give you an idea of some of the situations and issues that you may have to deal with in being a support for the mother to be.

As a father of two, I would have loved to have read this book ahead of time to assist J-Mom more along the birthing process (though I do think I helped in my own way). I highly recommend you take a look at this book if you are looking for a great hand on resource for step-by-step guidance on how to be that great partner!

If this book sounds like something that you would like for your own collection you can find it on Amazon!

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Children’s Literary Sensation Horrid Henry Heads to the Big Screen in Live Action 3D

Independent publisher Sourcebooks is thrilled to share the news that Horrid Henry, the title character in the global bestselling children’s chapter book series which has sold more than 16 million copies in 27 languages, is set to star in a 3D live-action film.

Vertigo Films and Novel Entertainment have announced the production of a 3D live-action movie based on Novel’s hugely successful children’s property Horrid Henry. Vertigo, producers of Europe’s first 3D feature film and box office smash Street Dance 3D, will producer the live action feature with the same 3D team Paradise FX Europe. The film will be a co-production between Vertigo Films and Novel Entertainment.

Nick Moore, the highly respected British director and editor, has been signed as the film’s director. Casting has already begun, with filming scheduled to take place during October and November this year. The film, to be shot entirely on location in the UK, is slated for release in 2011.

Sourcebooks is the North American publisher of the bestselling Horrid Henry children’s chapter book series, created by American-born author Francesca Simon. The company introduced Horrid Henry to U.S. readers last April and it was the #1 children’s chapter book launch of 2009. The latest release, Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman, is slated for publication in August 2010. Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman was the Galaxy British Book Award’s Best Children's Book of the Year in 2008 (the “Oscars” of the book world). Francesca Simon is the only American author ever to have won; past winners include JK Rowling.

The live-action 3D adventure stars Horrid Henry, Lord High Majesty of the Purple Hand Gang, as he wages his ever constant battle against the tyranny of adults. Although this time, it seems the adults are really out to get him, forcing him into an unlikely alliance with his irritating brother Perfect Peter and the infuriating girl next door, Moody Margaret.

Lucinda Whiteley, co-producer for Novel Entertainment and screenplay writer for the movie, says “We’re delighted to be bringing Henry to life, in the truest sense of the word-for so many kids Henry already exists, but seeing him up on the big screen gives them the chance to meet their hero face to face.”

Nick Moore’s directorial debut came on the teenage film Wild Child (2008) and he just finished working on the new Harrison Ford movie Morning Glory, to be release later this year. Moore received a Bafta nomination for Best Editing on The Full Monty, and has since edited a number of iconic British films including About A Boy, Notting Hill, Love Actually and Nanny McPhee.

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Summer Skin Tips for Kids and Parents!

With temperatures continuing to rise and children spending even more time outdoors enjoying the sun, parents should remain cautious of the effects the intense heat and harsh sun rays can have on the skin. As the summer winds down, many families are preparing for their last summer vacation. Whether you plan on spending time lying on the beach or exploring the outdoors, Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr. offers some essential tips to help parents keep their children’s skin safe and protected from the sun.

Summer Skin Care 101

Know your sunscreens. Every parent knows that the best way to protect your child from sun exposure is to lather on the sunscreen. With hundreds of brands out there all advertising that they are the best, how can you be sure the lotion you are applying is really protecting against harmful UVA rays? According to experts, the best sunscreens should always contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These two chemicals don’t irritate or get absorbed into children’s sensitive skin but still act as a powerful shield. Sunscreens should also always be broad spectrum, which means that they block both UVA and UVB rays protecting not only against sunburn, but wrinkles and aging of the skin.

BEENS. When it comes to favorite foods, parents know that beans are not on the tops of many kids’ lists. However, in the case of sun protection, BEENS is the best way to keep your child safe. An acronym for the most sensitive parts of the body, BEENS stands for back of the knees, ears, eye area, neck and scalp. If these body parts are properly covered, sunburn is 50% less likely to happen!

Cover Up. Even with sunscreen, the best option to fully protect against damaging skin is to wear dark, tightly woven clothes. Forget throwing on a white t-shirt. The light color absorbs more of the rays than it reflects. Instead, purchase sun protective clothing such as a kid’s full swimsuit or rash guard shirt which offers an ultra violet protection factor.

Don’t want to buy new clothes? The Skin Cancer Foundation recently did a study which found that simply using Tinosorb FD in your next load of laundry will instantly leave your clothes with 30 UPF. A laundry addictive that contains sunscreen, Tinosorb FD creates protection that lasts for as long as 20 washings!

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! The National Safe Kids Campaign estimates that every year one in four kids under the age of 14 will suffer from dehydration and heat stroke. The best way to keep your child completely hydrated during the summer months is to have him or her drink at least four glasses of water each hour. Liquids with electrolytes, such as Gatorade, are also very beneficial in balancing the still developing nervous system in children. Early symptoms of heat stroke include dry mouth, fatigue and irritability. These signs should be immediately addressed by the parent.

Parents – Don’t Forget About Your Skin!

It can become easy to forget about your own health needs after fretting all day over your child’s well-being. In addition to following these tips, parents must also remember to protect their skin as well. No time to go to the spa? Dr. Bitter highly recommends Clearly Beautiful’s line of collagen masks for the face, neck, and hands. “Each mask contains essential nutrients that reveal a fresh and radiant glow while hydrating the skin and reducing the signs aging,” says Dr. Bitter. Clearly Beautiful masks not only show instant results, but are the perfect size for traveling and packing. For more information on Clearly Beautiful products, please visit www.ClearlyBeautiful.net.

Clearly Beautiful Facial Mask: Retail value $10

About Board Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr., MD

Patrick H. Bitter, Jr. M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in non-surgical treatments to improve skin health and delay ageing and anti-aging medicine. He is founder of Advanced Aesthetic Dermatology and maintains practices in Los Gatos, CA and Beverly Hills. He graduated from the University of California with highest honors and received his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his dermatology residency at Stanford University Medical School. Dr. Bitter is regarded as a pioneer in the use of pulsed light energy and is the developer of the internationally acclaimed FotoFacial procedure. He is author of several groundbreaking scientific papers on the use of pulsed light for skin rejuvenation. He is a noted international lecturer and teacher. He is a member of numerous professional societies including fellowship in the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He consults regularly for medical and pharmaceutical companies and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Isagenix International, a leading nutritional company. Dr Bitter is team dermatologist for the San Jose Sharks NHL team. Dr. Bitter has evaluated extensively the Clearly Beautiful Collagen Masks.

About Clearly Beautiful

Launched in March 2010, Clearly Beautiful is an all natural skin rejuvenation line that contains exclusive formulas in the form of masks and serums to combine effective ingredients with pure plant collagen delivery system. Active ingredients in the products work to transform the skin by nourishing the epidermal layer and penetrating deeply into the skin to aid in increased collagen production, cell renewal and total skin hydration. Clearly Beautiful products provide immediate smoothing and firming of the skin to revive, restore and rejuvenate each layer. With continual use on the face, neck and hands, the skin will experience optimal hydration, the pores will be dramatically reduced and wrinkles will vanish. For more information, please visit www.ClearlyBeautiful.net.

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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Projects to Save Money & Show Creativity

Do it yourself craft and gift expert Sandy Sandler, founder of non-profit http://www.c4k555.org/ and creator of the best selling Bowdabra provides simple, budget friendly tips for preparing to go back to school.

Between new clothes and backpacks, supplies and shoes, back to school time can really put a dent in your budget. Fortunately, with a little forethought and creativity, you can save money on your back to school supplies and still start the school year off right.

Shop Ahead
School supplies are often at their cheapest in mid summer. Call your child's school and find out if you can get the supply list a little early and take advantage of those sales. Find out when your state has its tax-free days and plan your shopping around it for extra savings.

Buy Simple
When you do hit the stores, keep an eye out for the simpler alternatives. Instead of glossy, photo covered folders and binders buy plain white and then let kids decorate them with magazine photos, fabric and paper scraps. Cover blank notebooks and journals with fun fabric and make your own book covers out of wallpaper or contact paper. Decorating their own school supplies isn't just a cost cutting measure; it will also boost confidence when they can show off their own creations to their friends.

DIY
Take advantage of all the online tutorials out there and make your own pencil cases, gym bags and even back packs. Look around the house, at thrift stores or even in the recycling bin for items you can reuse for interesting projects like this fun pencil bag - http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/08/13/a-recycled-pencil-bag-for-the-first-day-of-school/

Clothing Face Lift

Before you spend any money on back to school clothing, go though your children's closets and drawers with them and find items that could use a little face life to give them new life. Patch the knees of boys' jeans with rough and rugged camouflage fabric, add length to a skirt or T-shirt by stitching ribbon or fringe to the hem, make your own freezer paper stencils and paint over stains with fabric paint. Even younger kids can get in on the action with this no-sew blue jeans spruce up.

You'll need:

An old pair of jeans
Roll of rickrack or fun ribbon
Permanent Fabric Glue
Scissors

Wash and dry the jeans and lay them out on a flat work surface. Using the ribbon, measure around the ankle of the jeans and cut four pieces just slightly longer than this length.
Using the fabric glue, fold over one end of the ribbon and attach it along the bottom hem of the jeans. Glue another length of ribbon onto the jean about two inches above the first. Repeat with the other leg. Be sure to fold over the other end before gluing it down.
Cut four more pieces just longer than the width of the back pocket. Following the same procedure, glue the ribbon down along the top of the pocket.
Allow the glue to dry completely before wearing. Wash according to the instructions on the glue.

Plan No-Waste Lunches

One of the biggest cost cutting measures you can take is to move to homemade reusable lunch bags and sandwich wraps. Over the course of the year, the cost of sandwich baggies and brown paper sacks can really add up, but creating your own reusable lunch packing items is easier, and cheaper, than you think. For sandwich wraps cut 12-inch squares of canvas using pinking shears. Lay the square on your work surface point side up and, with a piece of bread in the center for sizing, fold first the side corners and then the bottom and top corners down. Find the point where the top and bottom corners meet and attach stick on Velcro to each side. Kids can use fabric markers to decorate their sandwich wraps and they can easily be tossed in the laundry when they need a wash.

A reusable lunch bag is a great first sewing project that children can feel proud of every day when they sit down in the cafeteria to eat. But before you rush out to the fabric store, look through your sewing bin and check outgrown clothing. An old cotton shirt and a fleece sweater can give you all the fabric you need for this fun project.

You'll need:

(2) 12x24 inch pieces of cotton fabric
(1) 12 x 24 inch piece of polar fleece
Thread
Velcro dots
10 inches of ribbon
Scissors

On your work surface, layer first the fleece, then a cotton rectangle, right side up, and finally the last rectangle, right side down. Pin across one of the long sides and sew using a straight stitch.
Fold the top layer of cotton up and press the seam open with your fingers.
Now fold this new, larger rectangle in half the other way. Pin and sew along the edge.
Fold the cotton only side down over the fleece to create a shorter tube. Trim the raw edges of the fabric to be even and sew across the bottom of the bag.
Turn the whole thing right side out. Fold the corners of the bottom in and stitch into place. Add a handle to the top using the ribbon and attach the Velcro dots along the top edge of the bag to hold it closed.

For more creative ideas, visit http://www.c4k555.org/ to download free projects at Crafters 4 Kids.

Monday, July 26, 2010

New Game for Nintendo DS - Galactic Taz Ball

I'm excited about this new game from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment; with technology changing rapidly, parents and children are finding new and exciting ways to spend time together, including video games. Galactic Taz Ball comes along at a time when WBIE is making a renewed push to bring back classic “Looney Tunes” characters that we grew up with: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and of course, Taz himself. Now with Galactic Taz Ball, today’s kids can experience some of the joys of Looney Tunes that we used to appreciate – and with the most interactive and entertaining Taz yet!

The plot is wacky and lovable: When Taz gets caught up in an evil plot by Marvin the Martian, he finds himself in a whirlwind journey of exploration, platform challenges, and puzzle-solving. The game will use the unique abilities afforded by the Nintendo DS’ dual screen display and touchscreen controls, inviting kids to use both the Overworld and Underworld to help Taz reach his goal. There are other cool features too that we can fill you in; kids are really going to love Galactic Taz Ball, which is available on August 10 - exclusively on Nintendo DS.

Check out the game’s official website at: http://games.kidswb.com/official-site/galactic-taz-ball/.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

TURN UP THE HEAT SUMMER CONTEST!

St. Francis Winery is challenging grillmasters like you to:

· Get behind the grill

· Videotape yourself demonstrating your favorite and most impressive grilling recipe

· Pair it with a St. Francis wine

· Tell us why the pairing works and why YOU should be the next St. Francis Grillmaster!

Want to win, but not sure where to start? Here’s some handy notes on St. Francis to get you thinking. You can also see what grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel has to say on the pairings at www.stfSavortheFlavor.com.

WINE	WHAT IT TASTES LIKE	PAIR IT WITH …
St. Francis Chardonnay	Rich, yet crisp! Flavors: melon, citrus, and vanilla	Lobster, seafood, and herbed chicken
St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon	Strong , firm, and full! Flavors: berries & currants, vanilla, tea, tobacco and oak	Steak, lamb chops, and swordfish
St. Francis Merlot	Lush, ripe and multi-layered. Flavors: dark plums, chocolate and spiced vanilla	Beef, tuna steak and veal chops
St. Francis “Old Vines” Zinfandel	Deep, full and lush. Flavors: ripe black cherries, licorice, coffee and blackberry	Ribs, barbecued pork, steak and lamb

Once you’re sure that you’ve got a winning video, here’s what to do:

1. Before August 31^st, upload the video to YouTube. Be sure to tag it with this phrase: StFrancisSavortheFlavor

2. Go to www.stfSavortheFlavor.com/index.php?p=contest. Click “Enter Now,” fill out the form linking your video to our site & your contact information (so we can notify you if you win!), and recap your pairing in a sentence or two.

3. Click Submit – you’re done!

On September 15^th, we’ll announce the finalists. You’ve got 1 month left to Turn Up the Heat – so get sizzling and smoking, and show us all you’ve got!

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Saturday, July 31, 2010

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Monday, July 26, 2010

TURN UP THE HEAT SUMMER CONTEST!