Read. Write. Mom!

Quality Time at Home

Posted on February 4, 2013January 10, 2016 by Mandy

It can be a challenge to come up with new, exciting activities to keep the kids busy in their free time. While there’s no shortage of computer games and television shows, sometimes the digital world isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to spending quality family time together. Here are a few fun ways to pass the time at home.

Most kids love to show their artistic side, and what better way to do that than to hold a mini craft workshop with them? These days, the sky’s the limit when it comes to art supplies, so there’s no shortage of activities to try out. Maybe there’s a special event coming up that you could make cards for – or how about making bracelets or necklaces for your kids to show to their friends? Older children might also like to work with clay or paint to produce a special keepsake.

Role play is always a great way to get your kids’ imaginations running wild. You could turn the sofa into a pirate ship, or the dining table into a secret spy cave. Why not have them draw up some menus and play cafés out of the kitchen?

Remember how great it felt when you were a kid and the adults in your life came to play a game with you? Playing games as a family is a fantastic way to bond. Board games are as popular as ever, with game makers constantly striving to come up with something new. A classic game of Monopoly can now include a 3D jail, or an electronic banking system, while Jenga has taken on a new twist with the dawn of Angry Birds Star Wars. Challenge your kids to knock out Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers to earn points.

Finally, for a new game with a unique twist to it, why not try Doggie Doo? The Doggie Doo Game is a fun and often hilarious game in which the players have to scoop the dog’s poop! Players squeeze the dog’s lead and a plasticine poo emerges at the other end. The first player to collect three poops is the winner. This game is a great way to teach kids about the responsibility of owning a pet and cleaning up after them, and goes to show how much fun there is to be had in trying something new. Definitely one that will have you all rolling around in fits of laughter!

This guest post is brought to you by Tesco Direct. All opinions are my own.

Watch LEGO® Videos On The Official LEGO® Channel- $1000 Gift Card Giveaway

Posted on February 4, 2013February 3, 2013 by Mandy

Do you have a LEGO®-loving kid in your home? Our son became obsessed with them when he was around four years old. He will be eight on Sunday and I figured by now his obsession with those multi-colored bricks might be a memory at this point, but I was very wrong. He’s even asking for more sets for his birthday.

My son has been a long-time watcher of LEGO® videos on YouTube. He enjoys watching other kids build sets and loves watching the “pros” build elaborate LEGO® structures. It was an activity I had to constantly monitor while he was on the computer because not all videos on YouTube are appropriate for children. However, LEGO® recently launched the Official LEGO® Channel on Youtube and I feel so much better knowing that he is watching the playlists that we created together where I have control of the content.

Creating the playlist was easy. Just visit Youtube.com/LEGO and watch one of your favorite videos.

· Click “Video Options”

· Select “Add To Playlist”

· Sign-In using your YouTube Login

· Add your selected video to an existing playlist or create a new one

· To prevent non-LEGO® videos from being recommended, build your playlist using only Official LEGO® Channel videos.

We’re pretty partial to the LEGO® City sets in our home, so my son was thrilled at the awesome LEGO® City videos offered on the Official LEGO® Channel. I was seriously impressed with the quality of the videos, which are very sharp and appealing to children. Here’s a sample of one video on our playlist:

These videos will keep your child entertained no matter where you are. They’re perfect for long car rides, grocery shopping, and waiting rooms if you have a laptop, tablet, or smart phone. My son simply watches these videos at home, but I’m glad this is available now for when we take our next road trip. I also love the fact that he is so inspired after watching some of these videos. He often builds what he sees right on the spot!

There is a lot of content on web; creating a playlist on the Official LEGO® Channel is a great way to ensure your kids are entertained and watching videos you can feel good about.

Visit the Official LEGO® Channel to build your own playlist to watch with your kids and then reply below for a chance to win one (1) $1,000 gift card to buy your family’s favorite LEGO® products!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LEGO. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Evolution Homeschool

Posted on January 29, 2013January 10, 2016 by Mandy

If you’re thinking of homeschooling but aren’t quite sure which curriculum you should use, Evolution Homeschool is definitely worth checking out. There are so many homeschooling curriculums on the market, which can make committing to one program a tough choice to make. However, Evolution Homeschool combines the Classical, Montessori, and Unschooling approaches to make for a highly enriching homeschool experience that prepares your child to be successful in a highly competitive job market.

Tailored for children in grades Kindergarten through Sixth, Evolution Homeschooling provides 30-60 lesson plans for each subject area in each grade level, as well as assignments, interactive activities, and readings.

Glancing over the curriculum for each grade level, Evolution Homeschool covers all of the basic subjects your child will need to be successful and presents each lesson in a fun and engaging way. The Kindergarten curriculum includes Math, Language Arts, an Early Reading Program, Phonics, Science, and Social Studies. Your child will love the fact that they get to select their own reading material and will be excited about the hands on activities in math. The Second Grade curriculum covers Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Just from working with second graders, I know this is an age where they really become curious about the world around them, and the Science and Social Studies lessons will fascinate them and have them wanting to learn even more.

As an educator, I love the fact that Evolution Homeschool is based on national Common Core Standards, something that I think parents will appreciate because most schools are following the Common Core Standards, which are very rigorous and really challenge students to think on higher levels. I also think that their price is very reasonable for a full year’s curriculum with everything you need. When you start adding up the costs of curriculums, workbooks, and all of the other extras some programs require, it doesn’t take long for the cost to homeschool to become very expensive. It can also be very time consuming to piece together all of the materials you need with other programs. Quite simply, Evolution Homeschool will save you time and money.

This post brought to you by Evolution Homeschool. All opinions are my own.

Reading Fair Project Ideas for School Reading Fairs- Part Two

Posted on January 28, 2013January 23, 2024 by Mandy

Things got a little busy last week, so I never got around to putting up part two of our district reading fair projects, but these reading fair project ideas are just awesome.

Reading Fair Project Ideas

The Princess and the Pea– As you can see, this was a first place winner. I thought the use of the peas in the title was perfect and her bed….well, you just have to see the details:

Kitchen sponges! Which, if you can see the book cover in the first picture, was absolutely perfect!

Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis– Another first place winner in the division I judged (groups). Loved all the bright colors!

Ladybug Girl– This was a second place winner in the first grade division. Precious!

Copper Sun– This was a first place winner in one of the high school divisions. I thought it was awesome. It really had a lot of detail that you had to see in person and up close.

The Hunger Games– I know this one placed, just can’t remember exactly what place. I know as a librarian this is probably blasphemous to say, but I just never got into that book. I couldn’t even finish the first one. I know. However, this project is great!

Socks– Each time I looked at this reading fair board, I just smiled! It was so cute!

How To Be A Girl In Just Ten Days– I was crazy about this one, too! Loved the little shopping bags and girly stuff glued onto the board.

I do have a a few more pictures, but I hate to overload a post with so many. I hope these reading fair projects give you a little inspiration. I’ll save them for another day. Want more great reading fair project board ideas? Start here! Follow me on Pinterest and never miss any reading fair news!

Samsung ST76 Digital Camera

Posted on January 27, 2013September 27, 2017 by Mandy

I love digital cameras simply because they have made taking and immediately sharing pictures so easy as compared to the cameras I grew up with where you inserted film and had to wait a week to get your pictures back.

I recently had the chance to try out the Samsung ST76 Digital Camera thanks to Staples. I was really excited because I have been frustrated with my own digital camera and wondered if another point-and-shoot camera was the way to go.

The Samsung ST76 Digital Camera is 16.1 megapixels, has a 5x digital/5x optical zoom, the ability to record video, Perfect Portrait System (Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Shot, Beauty Shot, Self Portrait, Red-eye Fix), and a host of other great features. My current camera only has 10 megapixels, so I couldn’t wait to see the difference.

I needed to take some pictures of my library at work, so I decided to test out the Samsung ST76 for this very purpose. Here are a couple of the shots that I took:

Compared to my usual camera, the Samsung ST76 just didn’t take very clear shots. I found the settings were a little awkward to achieve and it seems like the colors look more brilliant on the camera than what actually appears on the computer screen. There also seems to be a slight delay from when the camera actually flashes to take the picture from when you press the button. If I wasn’t taking a picture of something still, then most of the shots came out blurred. I discovered that this was due to a setting, so I adjusted it accordingly, but a slight delay was still there. Of course, I know it takes a while to get the feel of a new camera, and perhaps that’s why these shots aren’t the greatest. Maybe it was the lighting. I’m still playing around with it.

On the positive side, this camera is very light-weight and small, which was a pleasant surprise from what I was used to. I like the fact that it had some fun features (the beauty shot mode) I had never seen on a digital camera. I love, love, love the fact that the camera came in purple! It also comes in black and red. Transferring the pictures to my computer was a snap. I simply plugged it into a USB port and it practically did all the rest. I like the fact that there was no CD to download and install on my computer.

One big thing definitely worth mentioning is that this camera takes a mini SD card, not the regular size you find in other cameras.

I’m not ready to give up on this camera because I know with a little more practice I can perfect the pictures I take with it. I think it makes a good starter camera for someone looking to learn how to use a digital camera or even a first digital camera for kids.

Staples provided me with this Samsung ST76 digital camera . The words and opinions express in this review are strictly my own. To see the full line of digital cameras visit Staples.com

Help Your Child Swim With Konfidence

Posted on January 26, 2013January 10, 2016 by Mandy

If you are a parent, introducing your child to swimming can be fun and a little scary all at once. From the time my son was about a year old, he has loved swimming and playing in the water. We started out with the standard kiddy pools until he was about six years old and then we joined our local recreational association that has a huge pool. By that time he wasn’t interested in just staying in the kiddy pool. The big pool is where he wants to be now. He has taken swimming lessons and does very well, but we did use the buoyancy jackets and arm floats in the beginning. I wish we’d have had the great selection of children’s swimming aids from Konfidence to choose from back then.

After checking out Konfidence, I was pleasantly surprised at how stylish buoyancy jackets and suits can be for children. However, they offer so much more, like sun protection suits, swim nappies, and even fun water toys. For the littlest ones, the Warma Wetsuits, which are terribly cute, offer some warmth from cooler waters. As your child is learning to swim, Konfidence swimming aids help them become more confident in their swimming abilities. The removable float systems in the in the float suits are such a great idea, allowing children a little more freedom as they increase their swimming capabilities.

Warmer weather is just around the corner and Konfidence has some great winter savings going on now to get you geared up for summer.

This compensated post was brought to you by Konfidence.

Valentine’s Day Cakes From Shari’s Berries

Posted on January 24, 2013January 10, 2016 by Mandy

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and if you’re looking for something sweet and decadent for the special people in your life, Shari’s Berries has such a great selection of treats that are sure to bring many smiles. If you’re looking for unique cakes, chocolate hand-dipped strawberries, or even fun cake pops, this is your online one-stop shop for all things chocolate and more.

To get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I had the opportunity to try out the Three Layer Chocolate Happy Valentine’s Day Cake from Shari’s Berries. It was tough trying to decide exactly what I wanted to try out because all of the Valentine’s Day treats offered on the site looked so amazing.

This is the cake featured on the Shari’s Berries website that I ordered. However, when it arrived, it wasn’t exactly the same cake pictured. This wasn’t something that concerned me as we were only trying the cake, but it might be a huge concern for someone placing an order and expecting what was pictured above.

The cake was packed very well and kept cool in its packaging, but it did arrived slightly damaged. I feel strongly that this is not a reflection of the packaging, but most likely poor handling in delivery. It’s bound to happen with food products like this. Again, not a huge concern for me as it was still edible.

This is a slice of the cake we received. You can see that it had colored sprinkles on it, but it did say “Happy Valentine’s Day”, so I still think it was appropriate for the occasion. It was very moist, delicious, and very rich. If you’re a huge fan of chocolate, this is definitely your cake.

Shari’s Berries has some great coupon codes available to help you save on your orders. Placing my order was very easy and I was very pleased with the ordering process and shipping updates I received while waiting for the cake to arrive.

I was given the chance to review a complimentary product from Berries.com. All opinions are my own.

Dollar General/P&G Everyday Heroes Prize Pack Giveaway #ad

Posted on January 22, 2013January 10, 2016 by Mandy

One reason I love shopping at Dollar General is because they give so much back to programs that help others in need. One such program that I am so excited they support is literacy. I know as a lover of books and a children’s librarian that it only takes one book to open the floodgates of learning and discovering a whole new world through words. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation can help put people in touch with local agencies that can help them learn to read, get their GED diploma, and learn English.

This February, Dollar General and Procter & Gamble are honoring everyday heroes who make sacrifices for their families and make a difference in their communities. One such hero is Sabrina in Chicago.

Sabrina is a driving force in the community of North Lawndale, on the west side of Chicago. In addition to raising her own four children in the neighborhood she grew up in, she also became a valued community leader and volunteer. She was the Chair of the Parent Committee at her children’s elementary school and continued to work with a national after-school literacy organization, America SCORES, as a writing coach for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade boys, even after all of her own children went on to high school.

We are so fortunate to have those like Sabrina who give of their time to make a big impact on those who need it most. You can learn more about this wonderful program Dollar General supports by visiting this page.

On Sunday, January 27, 2013, be sure to check your newspaper for the Procter & Gamble brandSAVER coupon insert and use them at Dollar General to get some great savings on the high quality P&G products you and your family use most.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win a Dollar General/P&G Prize Pack that contains a $10 Dollar General gift card, as well as samples of Dawn® dish soap, Gain® laundry detergent, TIDE® PODS, Downy® Unstoppables and Head and Shoulders® Endurance shampoo.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends February 17, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST. US Only. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with the prize pack above from Procter & Gamble to facilitate my review and also with one prize pack to give away. All opinions are my own.