Tessy & Tab offers TV Turnoff and Money Manager Kits
A while back, I wrote up Tessy & Tab. A Reading Club, if you sign up for their service, your child will receive two books a month in the mail from Tessy & Tab. The books are for early readers and children ages 2-5. It's a pretty neat little service - Nate loved getting his in the mail and finding out what books had arrived for him. Each book teaches a couple of words and the illustrations are colorful and fun. It's $48 for a year subscription (24 issues).
Now, in addition to the book subscription, they offer themed kits you can order as a bonus. Of particular interest that I thought was cool were two kits in particular - the Money Manager Kit and the TV Turnoff Kit.
The Money Manager kit is $24.95 and comes with three Tessy and Tab books (about money), a Parents Guide to building early financial understanding in your children and a 3-part Save, Spend and Share MoonJar bank. We love the last one and we practice dividing money into each section often.
The TV Turnoff Kit is $19.95 and comes with four books with Tessy and Tab being active, a Parents Guide to managing your kids TV time and a chart on the effects of TV.
Order the kits, the subscription or both on the Tessy and Tab site. Enter MWS408 in the "Referral Source” box when you place your order for the TV Turnoff Kit before 5/31/08 and receive a free Tessy & Tab book called Fire Station Trip. Visit www.tessyandtab.com/firestation to see the real-world inspiration for this book and to print fire safety posters.
Healthy Child Healthy World: a guide to safer family living
Definitely worth a mention is the release today of Healthy Child Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan, the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, a national non-profit dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of children and families through cleaner, greener, and safer lifestyle changes.
I'm only part way through the book but it's already making me change the way my family lives. Each year the number of children with autism, ADD, allergies and other ailments only seems to grow. As much research points towards environmental causes, organizations like Healthy Child Healthy World are taking steps to increase awareness and teach parents today how to live safely and eco-friendly. From what food you eat to what cleaning supplies you use, the book gives a parent ideas to improve the lives of their family. It's definitely worth a read by any parent - and it's endorsed by tons of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, although I find the endorsement by Dr. Harvey Karp (Happiest Baby/Toddler on the Block) even more impressive.
It's now for sale on Amazon for $17.13 (retail 25.95) and ships for free when you purchase $25 worth of eligible items. It's also timely with Earth Day and Week coming up next week - check it out.
Seriously, this is reason to celebrate. Tonight my 4-year-old sat and listened to an audio story for 30 minutes, never moving. He was captivated.
Billy Brown stories are produced by Giddio, a children's entertainment company. Using several actors they tell adventurous stories filled with educational facts about the characters and plots. In the story we listened to, Billy Bear Goes Camping, we join Billy and his best friend Emma on an educational hike. At the same time, the Wilson family of humans are on their own canoeing/camping trip when adventure strikes.
The sound effects are wonderful. The sounds of nature had me looking outside for a crow or a hawk. The river took me back to white water rafting trips. The story is a bit farfetched, as Billy Bear communicates with both humans and animals, and explains that some animals only speak the sounds of the forest. But, don't tell my 4-year-old, who held onto the CD and plans to listen on our next car trip. I was a bit surprised by some of the conversation in the story, like the mentioning of a dirty diaper which seemed off topic, or the gasp of the mother saying, "Oh G-d!" Both were true to life, but not something I expect in audios or videos for 3 year olds.
For a limited time, receive free shipping when you order any Billy Bear adventure. And save $5 when you buy the set of 3. You can also download Billy Brown and the Mystery Package for free.
So I recently had a chance to flip through Serena & Lily's book, "Nursery Style" book. Seriously, these women need to come to my house and take over my boys rooms. The rooms photographed and shown in these book are so elegant enough to make any Mama drool.
I'm actually planning on taking some of the tips from the book and applying it towards Cole's "big boy room," which I've started thinking about and will probably start working on in the fall when he turns 2.
For all you pregnant and first time Moms who actually still have nice coffee tables sitting in your family room, this would make a great coffee table piece as you consider your options for your baby's nursery. (Until your little one is old enough to spit up on it, grab it with poopy hands or toss some mashed peas onto the cover.) Also worth mentioning, Kate Spade wrote the foreward to the book.
Serena & Lily are the brains behind a gorgeous nursery design shop that makes nursery furniture, bedding and more. (Use coupon code MWS15 if you shop on their site.)
You can buy it on Amazon (marked down to $19.77 from the $29.95 list price)
My favorite "baby" books are from Usborne's Touch & Feel line. I had them for Nate and I read them daily to Cole - they're just great baby and toddler books. Each page is simply illustrated - fun - and the colors pop on each page, making reading these books engaging to little ones. And of course their favorite part are the "touch" aspects of the book - each page has some sort of different patch of fabric or fur that they can explore with their hands. These books have been favorites of both of my children.
Blooming Babies recently wrote me to say they are carrying them and they have quite a collection! I hadn't seen several of the newer items from Usborne and had to share the link. Specifically the "Luxury" line was new to me, which I guess, ya know, has higher end touching you can do. (lol) Seriously, shinier and more detailed fabrics adorn these pages and they are fun for something different. Use coupon code "mommies10" for 10% off all orders over $30.00. Expires March 31, 2008.
And check out the "That's Not my Bunny" as a great Easter basket addition.
Inca Kids offers Adorable, Fair Trade Toys and Clothes
Looking for a gift that stands out? Sick of the mass market and want to give a gift that feels a little more personal, hands on and earth friendly to boot?
Inca Kids offers fair trade, hand made and fashionable apparel, accessories, and artisan toys. Their products are made of natural fibers and materials such as the 100% alpaca or ovine wool and 100% cotton that are their trademark in apparel and accessories.
Their line of toys include more than 25 hand knitted finger puppets characters (from a butterfly to a fireman, a llama to a clown fish), traditional musical instruments. Their charming line of "Arpillera" items include a storybook, a mobile, a backpack, a small bag and tapestries.
The "Arpilleras" are exquisitely detailed hand-sewn three dimensional textile pictures that illustrate the stories of the lives of the people in Peru: Stories of planting and harvesting, stories of spinning and weaving wool; stories of country life, of tending llamas, sheep and goats; stories of weddings and fiestas. Their artists painstakingly handstitch every single detail.
All the Inca Kids products are crafted by unprivileged Peruvian artisans in different parts of the country. Many of them work in cooperatives located in the dusty shantytowns of poor and displaced families that ring the capital city of Lima with unemployment near 80% and few sources of income. Their project, provides a fair wage to artisans allowing them to support their families and educate their children, providing a little better living standard.
I was extremely impressed with the gorgeous quality and craftmanship of the items I received from Inca Kids. They are heirloom items and the hand knit items are incredibly soft to the touch. The finger puppets are just adorable!
Mommies with Style Save 10% when you enter the Coupon Code STYLE. Additionally, orders over $100 will receive two free finger puppets!
As Nate gets older, I find myself entering familiar territory from my own childhood now and again.
So I had one of these nostalgic moments recently when Nate pulled Sylvester and the Magic Pebble out from his bookshelf. One of my close friends from college had given us "10 great books from childhood" at my baby shower back when I was pregnant the first time. This was one of them and I hadn't read it in years.
Do you guys remember this one? It's a creative story with a happy ending and was very enjoyable for the 4-year old in our house. They have it on Amazon.
We just can not get enough books in this house. I've always loved to read, and it's clear that my 4-year-old is steering in the same direction. He'd pick up a book any day when given the choice of being read to or to watch tv.
So as a result, we already have an entire full size bookshelf full of various books, many of which are from Barefoot Books. Our favorite is still I Dreamt I was a Dinosaur, which is one of the Barefoot Books. They used to carry it at Pottery Barn Kids- I don't see it there anymore but you can get it on Amazon or find it directly on the Barefoot Books site.
What's nice too is that so many of their books are offered in different styles, board book for the babies (chew, chew) and paperback and hardcover for the older kids who don't want to rip the pages out as you read to them.
Other books from their line that we love include: Bear About Town, How Loud is a Lion?, Elusive Moose, and Alligator Alphabet. Order many of the books in Spanish!
Their stories are really fresh and imaginative, great for young kids. Check them out - they seem to always have great prices with ongoing sales so be sure to visit the sale page to see what deals are going on today.
Getting organized with your child's health records
I was so good the first time around. Nate's baby book has his height, weight, head circumference and whatever else I could record, recorded. I was so detailed I got down to his height and weight on sick visits. I even have a first for random things like the first time he had scallops. Or the first time he had water ice. Of course poor Cole is the typical second child - I do my best but I'm lucky to get the standard info in at each well visit. And even then I think I've fallen behind.
A neat way to keep track of your child's health - easy for both first and subsequent children - is this book from HealtheTracks. It's a hardcover book that does all the organizing for you - there are spaces to record the important information, but if you can't even get to that, simply put the pediatritian's sheet into one of the provided folders until you have more time to fill things out.
Some other features include:
A little window in the front for you to insert child's photo
A section for immunizations and allergies
Sections based on age. Birth-5 years, 6-12 years, 13-18 years and Growing up.
Growth charts from the National Center for Health Statistics. (the same chart your doctor pulls up at well visits to tell you what percentage your child falls in)
A section for teeth
A section for eyes and ears
several more related sections
You really have to bang me over the head to keep me organized these days. I know so many Moms out there who are the same way. That's what it's just so helpful when someone puts it all together for me in something like this.
The book retails for $19.95. Use coupon code mwstyle for $3 off and get the book for $16.95. The coupon is good for a limit of two books.
I did everything I could to mouth and play with my TyBook that a baby would. Everything. I even asked my 2 year old to "play baby" with it. Yet nothing we did could tear, rip or moisten these oh-so-beautiful reads.
TyBooks were created for babies and, quite obviously, by Mommies. A series of vibrant images, the books are waterproof and tear resistant. No kidding, you can even put the book in a fishbowl or the bath. Yet, unlike typical bath books, these feel and look like real paperback books (i.e. fantastic for carrying in the diaper bag!) And, because it can be cleaned, (and as the mom of a reflux baby I love this) the book won't be ruined when drool, slobbered and, ugh... the memories, spit up on.
Early Educational Research shows emergent reading starts young, really young. I recall from grad school learning that instilling a true love of reading starts in the womb, and continues all through youth. The best way to encourage reading at an infant age? Let Baby mouth and hold--exploring with all of her senses. These wordless books do just that. Parents have no fear of ripping or mushiness when baby's enjoy the books. (Taste, check. Touch, check.) The gorgeous images capture baby's interest (Sight, check.) And while there is no distinct smell and no words, parents are encouraged (as with all books) to "read" TyBooks by identifying pictures, talking about what you see, making up stories. (Hear, check.)
Use code style08 for 20% off your purchase through February 2008. And if you don't believe the survivable hype, check out the YouTube video.
If you haven't noticed yet, we've added a little Amazon book widget to Mommies with Style. I love to read. This is probably the time in my life where I find I have the least amount of time to do so, but I always try and keep a book or two going at once. At one time in my life I was reading several books a week. Julie's also an avid reader, as are some of our other writers.
Always curious what others are reading, and in search of my next book, I've added this book widget so we can share with you what we're reading and our thoughts. If you haven't yet seen it, you can scroll down and it's on the left hand nav bar below our category list. It's kind of neat to see - all of Ciaran's books lately have surrounded naming her new baby (or knitting, hey, gotta do something while you're stuck on bedrest, right?) and some of us have been reading Skinny Bitch and some other health/food related books.
Come visit our Message Boards - join if you haven't yet - and chat with us in the Cooking & Books section about your latest read. I'd like to feature not just our writers on our book widget but our readers too! So post or drop us a line if you're reading something good you want all to see!
Written by a breastfeeding mama who's been there done that, Mama Knows Breast, a beginner's guide to Breastfeeding, is a great gift for expecting Moms, or first time Moms who will be breastfeeding. It's full of breastfeeding stories and tips on all sorts of breastfeeding techniques and issues.
It's small and short, the perfect size when you're sleep-deprived and don't have much time to read. And I love this kind of thing for a baby shower - stick it on top of the present or tuck it away in a diaper bag (love the diaper bag gift, stuffed full of lots of small, useful products)
You can find it on Amazon for $10.17 plus free shipping. And check out the book's website - there's a blog with regular breastfeeding tips.
Though it seems to defy the laws of space and time, you can still place an order online for delivery prior to Christmas. And in that spirit, I wanted to suggest a new book written by Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking.George's Secret Key to the Universe is a science fiction adventure, packed with charming illustrations and fascinating cosmic info throughout. Perfect for the young imaginative scientist in your life. Impress them with your ability to defy the law of holiday physics (or at least the probability of last minute shopping) by getting this gift book today!
We tried out a bunch of their games, including Word Chase which my son loved. This game helps children learn the most common sight words, in lower case letters, which is the way that they will see them the most. As a blooming reader, this was right up his alley. My eleven year old daughter brought Hail to the Chief to school to share with her class. Her Canadian teacher in particular, was impressed with how this game made learning about the US electoral system fun for all the students. And finally my husband and I had a blast playing Jabber Jot. This game gives you random story elements from which to construct a humorous tale - in about a minute. The funniest story wins the round. It's a game that would be great to play with adult family members at a holiday gathering. One other product that they sell - the Multiplication Rap DVD - was completely responsible for finally making it easy for my dyslexic daughter to learn her times tables.
Learning is an Art embraces the philosophy that kids learn best when they are doing something fun, especially with family. Playing games is a natural and effective hands on way to teach that is especially effective for kinesthetic learners. And we all know we remember things better when we enjoy them. The games from Learning is an Art have all been carefully chosen by educational experts. You won't find a dud amongst them. I've bookmarked this site for future use. I know I will be shopping there again and again over the years!
Here's a cute little book and site to help you with your upcoming kids party: Dear Peppers and Pollwogs. This book is written by a kids' party planner. She includes all sorts of tips and ideas for various themed birthday parties and seasonal parties.
Check out the Peppers and Pollywogs website for some great wintertime tips like for your kids' holiday party menu - how to make a snowman pizza or a jingle bell necklace. Or for entertainment, a Holiday Treasure Hunt and painting the kids' noses red like Rudolph.
We've all been there. At a restaurant, the grocery store or the doctor's office when our kids get impatient and restless. Maggie Tales offers a new, fun way to keep your kids occupied -- even when you're out and about.
The website offers books that have been converted into digital media files. The books are "read" by professional voice talent and have music to accompany them, too. Your kids can view them online, or you can download them in a variety of file formats for your cell phone, iPod, Sony PSP, iPhone... you name it!
The site currently has a handful of books geared toward kids ages two through eight. They are adding new books each week. Check it out and download a few books for the next time you're out with the kids. The best part? It's completely FREE!
The featured book is These Little Hands. Click on "Other Maggie Tales" to view all of the books. MaggieTales.com.
For the past year or so, one of my almost four year old's obsessions has been to do Hidden Pictures. We have a subscription to High Five (Highlights for the under-5 crew), he has several iSpy books we do repeatedly, and we recently got several more of the "Look and Find" books.
So when my Mom found a Hidden Pictures book from School Zone one day, she bought it and sent it over. We were really impressed with the book. And the next time I was in Target, I found more School Zone books. They make products that support early education for baby through sixth grade. They basically make all sorts of workbooks for at-home schooling and education. But what's neat about them is how fun they are.
We've now gotten several of the preschool workbooks and playing with them isn't a chore but fun for my son. They've got everything from books to help teach the ABCs, learning phonics, early math and more. They pages are colorfully illustrated and definitely hold the interest of a young child (at least they do for our young tester - and it takes a lot to hold his interest)
You should be able to find them at your local Target. If you don't have one, or want to see a larger selection, check them out directly online on the School Zone website.
As a knitter I am always looking for books to inspire me. As a busy impatient person, I am also always looking for books with patterns that I can actually accomplish. Let's just say, skill and attention span are not my forte. But when I found the book Knitted Babes by Clare Garland, I knew I was onto something.
Now I know some of you are thinking "It looks too hard!". I'm here to tell you, that the patterns for the dolls in Knitted Babes are not too hard. In fact they are shockingly easy, even for a totally novice knitter. Not to brag, but I can knit up an entire doll in a weekend. Note: I can only be descibed as an advanced novice knitter at best. You really only need to know basic knit and purl stitching, which makes the yarn babes a wonderful and satisfying (fast!) project. I love using up the spare bits and pieces of my stash on these dolls. But if you would like to try making a yarn babe and do not know where to start or what yarn to buy, the author sells pre assembled kits from her website - Dot Pebbles.
For more ambitious knitters, Clare Garland has written a sequel. Dream Toys includes the basic doll patterns as well as slightly more challenging ones for a gorgeous unicorn with flower saddle, cowboys and mustangs, a fairytale castle, fairies, mermaids and a pirate doll and boat. All the items are utterly adorable.
Even if you gave up on knitting years ago, buy these books for your friend, mom or grandma who loves to knit. Sure it's a little selfish of you to drop such an unsubtle hint. But any knitter is sure to be completely thrilled with the charming projects and fabulously creative inspiration in these books. And hey, if you happen to get some utterly amazing handmade gifts for your kids in the years to come... that's ok too!
Signing with Baby? This book will assist you along the way
A parenting trend of the 2000s, signing with your child offers wonderful opportunities for your family to learn something together.
We've been signing with our children for years. Carson started when he was 8 months, and with Wesley we were already signing--so he's been exposed since birth. I attribute Carson's awesome strengths in vocabulary to his early exposure to ASL. With Wesley, who was slower to verbalize, we thank signing for the many times we were so unclear on what he was saying. If he couldn't say it, we'd help him to sign it. For our family, signing helped us to communicate, and it also gave us something we could all learn together. Even today we find ourselves signing words for emphasis, or to converse with each other across a room or space.
Recently, I had a conversation with a father of 2: a 7 year old cub-scout who was racing up and down the stairs at the local university football game, and a 4-year-old who was born with a partially closed heart valve, suffers extreme reflux, and suffered a cardiac arrest at only 4 days. Oh, and he's mentally retarded (which the father said is the least of their problems.) He attends a state-based daycare that teaches him life-skills, and, not surprising, they teach him to sign at his school. The family has slowly been learning to sign as well. They're finding that their 7 year old is picking it up with ease and loves to learn it. The parents are finding more and more uses for signing in their lives, even communicating in their workplaces.
What was interesting in our discussion is that there are so many resources out there to teach this skill. We've always been huge fans of Signing Time, he had never heard of it. His family relied on the curriculum materials shared by his son's school, as well as resources found online, but they were without clear instruction... and didn't want to "buy into" a program.
If only I had already read the book Baby Signing 1-2-3 when we had this discussion, I would have recommended it to his family. This easy to follow book leads families through a baby's development through age 2, and how signing with your baby is likely to contribute to the growth and development of your child, as well as a special section for signing for children with special needs. It also describes what can be expected, and what your baby is learning. The book suggests activities to do with your child that incorporate signing (such as mixing simple nursery rhymes with sign language.) And there's a section beyond the baby years, which describes how signing can help your children later in life and includes strategies for using sign language to teach your child to read.
I love that the auhor, Nancy Cadjan, separates which signs to teach at which stage of development. A 9 month old need not know the signs for "egg" or "french fries", so those are introduced later in the book. Additionally, this book includes a very handy sign language dictionary, listed by category (as in bedtime signs, diapering signs...) rather than alphabetic. The images of the signs are straight forward, with short descriptions. The dictionary and the appendices which list and describe fantastic resources for signing families are worth the purchase of this book alone.
There's no better way to teach your child than one-on-one time. While I continue to recommend a complimentary video series, Baby Signing 1-2-3 will be a tremendous resource for your home while you teach your baby to sign and while your baby develops. IIts a keeper for my bookshelf.
Yesterday while shopping at Barnes and Noble I came across, and bought some books that were so great, I had to share.
For me: Pam Socolows Family-Facts Life Organizer. I have searched high and low, for years and years, for a single binder organizer that does it all. I had all but given up when I stumbled on this one, stacked next to the bookstore coffee shop. Halfway through my decaf latte, I was sold. This binder truly helps you keep track of it all. From calendars, school, afterschool activities, doctors (for you, kids and your parents), local food delivery, insurance, auto repairs, banking, bills, home maintenance and repair/improvements, local contractors, summer camp packing lists, you name it and there is a space in this book for it. There are tons of pockets, biz card organizers, and internal folders to keep your papers straight. And get this - it was only $19.95! Bonus points for the calendar which goes through 2010. Despite being so comprehensive this binder is not intimidating. So I think I may actually fill it all out. Buy yours online or at your local Barnes and Noble store.
For the Kids: You may be familiar with artist Taro Gomi's books "Everyone Poops" and "The Gas We Pass", But have you heard about his "Doodles", "Squiggles", and "Scribbles" books? These ingenious books let your child be the artist and story teller. Each volume is chock full of incomplete pages that your child must take over and illustrate. What I love about it is the wit and creativity of the jumping off points. Some examples: drawing the contents of the shelves of two competing stores, designing the flags of the bunnies and field mice, creating "wanted" posters, filling in the speech bubbles of two arguing people, drawing the missing "front" end of imaginary animals and filling in the other passengers sitting next to a couple of kids on the subway. This is merely the tip of the iceberg as each volume is hundreds of imagination stimulating pages long and each page is more fun than the last. The books are works of such infectious creativity that it is all I myself can do not to start coloring in them before I give them to the girls for a holiday gift. I am humbled to think of everytime I have heard the question " Mommy, what should I draw?" and I myself drew a blank.
For me, the books will be even more of a gift when they are all colored in and I get to see the fruits of my kids' creativity. Doodles, Squiggles and Scribbles by Taro Gomi are available at Chronicle Books or your local Barnes and Noble book store. This book is rated for kids from 3 to 99 yrs old and I think makes a great gift for 7-11 yr olds who are in a rather tricky gifting category.
I'm so disorganized, this book sat on my desk for almost two months before I got a chance to flip through it. How's that for irony?
The Get Organized Guide for Busy Moms by Stacey Crew offers helpful hints on how to stay on top of your life once a baby and family is thrown into the mix.
Time Management tips, organizing a mission statement for your family and etiquette tips for new Moms are all included within the pages of the book. If you can make the time to read it, it has some helpful hints and can save you time in the long run.
You can buy it on Amazon for $12.91, eligible for free shipping with a purchase of $25 or more.
She also has a blog with regular tips with everyday solutions.
Inspirational blanket and book bundle: Breast Cancer Awareness
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and throughout the month we'll be bringing you reviews and information about products and info you can check out in support.
Here's a bundle of inspiration from company Affirmagy: they're selling a soft blanket with words and phrases of encouragement and a Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul book for $39.95. $7.99 of each purchase of this product is donated towards breast cancer charities.
And they have a wonderful suggestion on their site - click "Please Pay it Forward" at checkout and you can have this shipped as an anonymous gift to a woman you know who is facing breast cancer. View the gift pack on the Affirmagy site.
I recently attended a cousin's wedding. A beautiful weekend, our family enjoyed catching up through the various events.
During one of those catch-up sessions, my uncle shared some family history that I didn't know, and it made me realize just how much I don't know about the generations before me. Allow me to share a bit of the conversation:
"Wait," I interrupted, "but, how did Pop-pop and Phyllis [my deceased grandmother] meet?"
"You know," Uncle Hank sighed, "I'm not entirely certain. I know Aunt Jean and your Pop-pop were in enrolled in a ballroom dancing class together, but I'm not sure if they met through Aunt Jean, or elsewhere?"
"So, did Aunt Jean and Pop-pop, you know, date before Pop-pop dated Phyllis?" I wondered aloud, deceptively, of course, because my mom dated Uncle Hank before my Dad (Hank's brother) swept her off her feet.
"Hey! Watch it!" Uncle Hank teased as he rolled his eyes. "You know, I don't think so. But I really don't know the story." We both looked over at Pop-pop, who sat smiling while taking in the lively scene.
"I wonder if he still remembers," I thought.
Later that weekend, I retold the conversation to my mom. It was still bothering me, because there is so little I do know about Pop-pop's generation, and, sadly, so little time left to really learn. We discussed that the memories that last longest are long-term. Its the short term memories that go first; those that our generation still does remember.
All of this led me to the series, between me and you. Its a series of journals for families to share. Questions you've been wanting to ask, but never had an opportunity. A spiral notebook, with a variety of volumes made for Grandma, Grandpa, parents, siblings, even family reunions, there's space to answer questions like:
-For you, what was the most rewarding aspect of your life as a young woman?
-What really, really makes you happy?
-What was your brother like when you were growing up?
Designed to be given to someone you want to learn more about, you can also share the experience by conferencing with the important person and completing a volume together. (As I hope to do with Pop-pop.)
Memories of the past are priceless. Unlike photos, they'll only last so long. Take the time to get to know your family a little better. Through October 8, 2007, save 10% on each journal when you enter code MWS001.
Should you be looking for classic books for art lovers, and their children, make sure you check out the "How Artists See..." series, published by Abbeville Press. The beautiful books describe the work of photographers, painters, muralists, and other artists by separating them into categorized volulmes.
In the "How Artists See ... " series, author Colleen Carroll explores a variety of famous pieces, telling the story of each image, identifying characteristics that determine the meaning of the piece. She connects children's everyday life experiences (cities, America, sports, animals, etc,) with the more abstract world of art, introducing the children through the familiar to pieces they will soon identify; connecting the readers to a famous piece most children won't learn about until High School or beyond. Her elementary text engages young readers, as well as their parents and teachers, and promotes further conversation through related, conversational questions.
The series is above the ages of my children, but my four-year-old was able to quickly select a favorite, How Artists See Heroes, which explores photos of heroes such as Muhammad Ali (Neil Liefer). It introduces sculpture with reading and photo of Michealangelo's David, and discusses 14 other great heroes of centuries past as well as present. Just today we read about Ruby Bridges as we explored Norman Rockwell's The Problem We All Live With. While some of the terms discussed in Carroll's writing were above the pre-school level, it gave us great discussion points as I skipped along through the reading. Each volume contains 16 pieces from a variety of time periods, all connecting to the child through the books' theme.
Ideal for late elementary through middle school age, Carroll's series will introduce or reinforce a love for art. Children will delight in later recognizing pieces they first learned of in "How Artisits See..." MWS readers can save 40% off all How Artists See titles through Oct. 31 by entering the coupon code “mommies.”
There are a lot of "customized" books available out there. Here's one that my son has taken a liking to -- Custom Made for Kids' "The First Adventures of Incredible You." What's fun about this one is that not only is the name customized, but little details throughout the book that you have chosen.
For example, you can put in your favorite sports team -- and who in that child's life will be attending. ("Mommy and Daddy" go to a "Philadelphia Eagles" game in our book.) You can also pick favorite zoo, who your child is most likely to gaze at the stars with, bake cookies with and more. Each page had some sort of personal tidbit and no one's forgotten, from siblings to pets to grandparents, there's a mention for each in the space of the pages of this book.
It makes a neat gift too. It retails for $32.95, but you can use coupon code mws15 for 15% off your order through November 15, 2007.
Okay, well not really. But we've been showing him some products from Your Baby Can Read! to see if it'll help advance him in any way. We're using this Starter DVD and word card set. And both the boys are big fans of the cards. In fact, I actually think it's helping my 3-year-old more than the baby as the word recognition matched with the picture is quite helpful at his age. But in any case, the baby's having a fun time looking at the words and watching as we slide out the matching pictures.
According to the materials, studies show that infants and toddlers can learn the written word at the same time they are learning the spoken word if they are taught at an early age.
Growing up in a house full of boys boys boys I always worried that I was doing the girly things all wrong. My mom wasn't a ton of help - a self professed tomboy kind of girl, she never fussed with make-up or had patience for heels. When it was time for me to learn how to shave my legs she scoffed that like her, I was so hairless that there was no point (and she may have been right, but it was the ritual that I wanted to take part in).
Oh how I longed for a sister, a really cool one. The kind that told you where to spritz your cologne for maximum sexiness, how to pluck your eyebrows, the difference between a regular and brazillian wax and what purse designers really mattered. My imaginary cool sister knew where to get a drink in Marrakech and where to get a bagel in Manhattan. She wrote out my packing list before I left for Paris for the first time and she told me how to get into the best nightclubs. And of course she told me what to wear. When I got too tipsy and spilled red wine on a silk dress, she knew how to get it out and also what to do about that hangover.
Later in life I gave up on the notion of the dream sister, but I still subconciously emulated her. I'd catch a glimpse of her in a magazine article or on the internet, in some humorous and incredibly wise advice column I'd scanned. I'd think maybe I saw a little better version of myself in her, and I'd adopt her ways.
Little did I know my sister was out there all along. Proof of her existence landed in my mailbox recently, in the form of a lovely little velvet flocked tome called The Goddess Guide. Her name is Gisele Scanlon and she is much much hipper than me, but that's ok, because she is willing to share and she is never pretentious. She has chatted with Christian Louboutin (and reveals why the soles of all his shoes are that heart stopping crimson). She has notes from Heidi Klum's trainer. She knows where to stay in Finland.
This book is more than a guide to the girly perplexed. It is a reference manual for all aspiring fashionistas. From how to decorate your first apartment to insider info about how to get a famous artist to paint a portrait of the contents of your purse, you will find yourself turning to this book again and again. The artful illustrations, embroidery and photography throughout the book are a visual feast in and of themselves. I'd say to leave it out on the coffee table but then your friends might try and nab it, along with all your sister's secrets, and we can't have that can we?
If you don't get this book, you may never learn the 8 main kinds of bra, and which one you need. Seriously, every time I pick this book up I learn something new. Who knew there was a restaurant in Switzerland where you can experience blindness by eating in complete darkness? My sister did!
...and you'll need not go further. The Complete Book of Baby Names by Lesley Bolton features "The 100,001 Best Baby Names" and we're not kidding. This 675 page book features everything you could need in a baby name book--everything you usually buy several volumes to learn. Included are the parent-to-be requirement of a listing of names with origins and definitions (100,001 of them). Then there are the lists. 276 lists of everything from popular twin names to literary names to famous Bull Rider names. There's a description of modern naming trends as well as tips for naming, like cultural names, using your family history and mother nature. In The Complete Book of Baby Names, readers will even find a chapter titled "What Not to Name Your Baby."
The book is organized in an easy to follow, easy to skip around to the parts relevant to you manner. The author writes objectively, keeping most of her opinions to herself. Even in "What Not to Name Your Baby", Ms. Bolton suggests some names are too inappropriate, but the reader is still left to feel that she can select it. "Keep in mind," Ms. Bolton writes, "that your hormones are running rampant ... names such as Sugar, Cookie, or Snookums should be thought through and cleared with others before being set in stone..."
I recently got a shipment of books from Lets Read Barefoot, a stallholder for Barefoot Books. They're currently having a great sale through July 31st that I thought was definitely worth a mention. Some of our favorite books like Alligator Alphabet is marked down (from $7.95 to $5.35.).
One of my son's all-time favorite books, I Dreamt I was a Dinosaur (you might recognize it from Pottery Barn Kids, where it was sold for awhile), is also a part of the big sale.
Be sure to check out the entire summer sale line, the prices are great and some of the stories are precious.
I'll never forget lunching with a friend, when my first son was about 3 months old. I was still breastfeeding, and had just made it through 41 weeks of pregnancy.
One of her first questions, as she enjoyed a glass of Pinot, was "wasn't it hard for you? I mean, how did find giving up drinking for so long?" (ahem, little did she know that I would breastfeed for another 10 months!)
In truth, for me, it wasn't too hard. I just accepted it. But then again, I'm allergic to chocolate, and at age 18, I had to accept that, too, and never eat an M&M again.
But for a lot of us, when we give up that happy hour beer or casual wine with dinner, we're giving up a lifestyle. Especially those of us who are accustomed to the partying lifestyle. What to do? And do I have to?
The answer to the second question is, simply, yes. Both questions are expertly answered and explained in The Newly Non-Drinkring Girl's Guide to Pregnancy. Written a little tongue-in-cheek, this book spells out the medical necessity of "no alcohol lifestyle." You don't simply read pages and pages of medical discipline; its 224 pages of friendly discipline. Sure, the authors included the medical repercussions of what could happen if you choose to indulge while pregnant, but they also give you great options and tactics.
When you learned you were pregnant, did you have to hide it from the boss, at the holiday party? (I did!) Did you have to attend that dreaded extended family reunion--where a beer seems like it should be a medical necessity? (I did!) Authors Caroline Angel and Jackie Rose present strategies to get around the drinks, and the truth, and make it through the events.
In The Newly Non-Drinking Girl's Guide to Pregnancy, you'll gain a lot of how-tos. But you'll also gain a bit of wealth: Mixology wealth. The book includes 50 Mocktail recipes that are certain to get you through the 40 weeks, and beyond. I'm holding on to the book, just for the innovative recipes!
There's rarely a more intimdating challenge in parenting than Potty-Training. True, my oldest is only almost-4, but as far as I've exprienced, this has been one of the most daunting events.
For months, you worry, you plan, you hear dreadful stories of the times it doesn't work. And, for some of us, it does... others, it takes a few tries. And while its common to turn to the internet, friends and, sometimes, family, for advice, even easier would be having a handy potty-training book.
No, The Potty Training Answer Book won't magically train your toddler, but it does answer every question I've ever heard asked. Written by Karen Deerwester, a family coach and well-known speaker in South Florida, The Potty Training Answer Book gets down and dirty offering real-world questions like "What can I do if my child is withholding poop?" and "Can I help my child become ready for potty training?"
Divided into 9 chapters with 4 appendices, The Potty Training Answer Book offers a variety of strategies, sets you up with a Potty Plan and introduces a list of activities, books and videos for you and your children to ease the Potty Training moments.
I love her improvised Potty Songs so much, that the book is sitting in the kids' bathroom, so I can pull it out anytime we're sitting for a while. (Which, ummm..., happens a lot with 2 boys: one Potty Trained and one Potty Training-in-Progress.)
A while back, I wrote up Tessy & Tab. A Reading Club, if you sign up for their service, your child will receive two books a month in the mail from Tessy & Tab. The books are for early readers and children ages 2-5. It's a pretty neat little service - Nate loved getting his in the mail and finding out what books had arrived for him. Each book teaches a couple of words and the illustrations are colorful and fun. It's $48 for a year subscription (24 issues). 
It's now 
Seriously, this is reason to celebrate. Tonight my 4-year-old sat and listened to an audio story for 30 minutes, never moving. He was captivated. 
Looking for a gift that stands out? Sick of the mass market and want to give a gift that feels a little more personal, hands on and earth friendly to boot?
I did everything I could to mouth and play with my 
If you haven't noticed yet, we've added a little Amazon book widget to Mommies with Style. I love to read. This is probably the time in my life where I find I have the least amount of time to do so, but I always try and keep a book or two going at once. At one time in my life I was reading several books a week. Julie's also an avid reader, as are some of our other writers. 
Always curious what others are reading, and in search of my next book, I've added this book widget so we can share with you what we're reading and our thoughts. If you haven't yet seen it, you can scroll down and it's on the left hand nav bar below our category list. It's kind of neat to see - all of Ciaran's books lately have surrounded naming her new baby (or knitting, hey, gotta do something while you're stuck on bedrest, right?) and some of us have been reading Skinny Bitch and some other health/food related books. 
Come visit our Message Boards - join if you haven't yet - and chat with us in the 
Though it seems to defy the laws of space and time, you can still place an order online for delivery prior to Christmas. And in that spirit, I wanted to suggest a new book written by Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking.
I've got a new favorite site to shop for all my educational games. It's called 
Learning is an Art embraces the philosophy that kids learn best when they are doing something fun, especially with family. Playing games is a natural and effective hands on way to teach that is especially effective for kinesthetic learners. And we all know we remember things better when we enjoy them. The games from Learning is an Art have all been carefully chosen by educational experts. You won't find a dud amongst them. I've bookmarked this site for future use. I know I will be shopping there again and again over the years!
As a knitter I am always looking for books to inspire me. As a busy impatient person, I am also always looking for books with patterns that I can actually accomplish. Let's just say, skill and attention span are not my forte. But when I found the book 
For more ambitious knitters, Clare Garland has written a sequel. 
A parenting trend of the 2000s, signing with your child offers wonderful opportunities for your family to learn something together. 
For me: Pam Socolows Family-Facts Life Organizer. I have searched high and low, for years and years, for a single binder organizer that does it all. I had all but given up when I stumbled on this one, stacked next to the bookstore coffee shop. Halfway through my decaf latte, I was sold. This binder truly helps you keep track of it all. From calendars, school, afterschool activities, doctors (for you, kids and your parents), local food delivery, insurance, auto repairs, banking, bills, home maintenance and repair/improvements, local contractors, summer camp packing lists, you name it and there is a space in this book for it. There are tons of pockets, biz card organizers, and internal folders to keep your papers straight. And get this - it was only $19.95! Bonus points for the calendar which goes through 2010. Despite being so comprehensive this binder is not intimidating. So I think I may actually fill it all out. Buy yours 
For the Kids: You may be familiar with artist Taro Gomi's books "Everyone Poops" and "The Gas We Pass", But have you heard about his "Doodles", "Squiggles", and "Scribbles" books? These ingenious books let your child be the artist and story teller. Each volume is chock full of incomplete pages that your child must take over and illustrate. What I love about it is the wit and creativity of the jumping off points. Some examples: drawing the contents of the shelves of two competing stores, designing the flags of the bunnies and field mice, creating "wanted" posters, filling in the speech bubbles of two arguing people, drawing the missing "front" end of imaginary animals and filling in the other passengers sitting next to a couple of kids on the subway. This is merely the tip of the iceberg as each volume is hundreds of imagination stimulating pages long and each page is more fun than the last. The books are works of such infectious creativity that it is all I myself can do not to start coloring in them before I give them to the girls for a holiday gift. I am humbled to think of everytime I have heard the question " Mommy, what should I draw?" and I myself drew a blank.
I recently attended a cousin's wedding. A beautiful weekend, our family enjoyed catching up through the various events. 
Should you be looking for classic books for art lovers, and their children, make sure you check out the "How Artists See..." series, published by 
Oh how I longed for a sister, a really cool one. The kind that told you where to spritz your cologne for maximum sexiness, how to pluck your eyebrows, the difference between a regular and brazillian wax and what purse designers really mattered. My imaginary cool sister knew where to get a drink in Marrakech and where to get a bagel in Manhattan. She wrote out my packing list before I left for Paris for the first time and she told me how to get into the best nightclubs. And of course she told me what to wear. When I got too tipsy and spilled red wine on a silk dress, she knew how to get it out and also what to do about that hangover. 
I'll never forget lunching with a friend, when my first son was about 3 months old. I was still breastfeeding, and had just made it through 41 weeks of pregnancy. 
There's rarely a more intimdating challenge in parenting than Potty-Training. True, my oldest is only almost-4, but as far as I've exprienced, this has been one of the most daunting events.