Happy New Year from Florida Vacation!

Hi everyone! We are still in lovely Florida with my husbands family and having a wonderful vacation, so I’m not posting much, but I have some great giveaways and plans coming for the New Year hopefully!  The pictures above were taken at Sea World. Our favorite was petting the Stingrays and of course the Dolphins. I have video that I will post when we get back. Miss you all, and I am behind on reading your blogs, but I will get to you all when we get back. I am not missing the snow and the ice from Iowa!  Have a safe and blessed New Year!  Hugs!

The Duchess DVD Giveaway!

A young noblewoman marries into one of Britain’s most powerful families and becomes the toast of London in The Duchess, arriving on DVD and Blu-ray fashionably timed for the new year and holiday entertainment on December 28th from Paramount Home Entertainment.  Keira Knightley (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean), Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges, the Harry Potter series, The Constant Gardener) and Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!) star in the true story of the Duchess of Devonshire and “Empress of Fashion” who must face an agonizing choice between responsibility and love.  Captivating audiences and critics alike with its gripping and passionate tale of a young woman and direct ancestor to Princess Diana who became a fashion icon, a devoted mother, a voice for the common man and an unforgettable symbol of glamour for the ages, “The Duchess is feisty, cool, and scandalous” (Richard Schickle, Time).  Showcasing rich and in-depth special features, The Duchess will be available for the suggested retail priced of $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada on DVD and on Blu-ray for $29.99 U.S./$36.99 Canada.

One of history’s most beguiling leading ladies, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley) was married at 17 to the wealthy and influential William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes), the fifth Duke of Devonshire — and into a lavish world filled with shocking deceptions, decadent scandals and stifling demands of duty.   As Duchess of Devonshire, she first indulged her considerable energy in high society — outshining most of the aristocratic men around her with her incredible wit — only to become one of the most impassioned political voices in all of 18th century Britain.   Beloved by a nation but betrayed by her husband, Georgiana’s charisma, political savvy and distinct flair for  fashion would make her the “It Girl” of her era… but a chance for personal happiness would remain elusive until she dares to discover love on her own terms.

* (2005): Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Pride & Prejudice
** (1996): Best Actor in a Leading Role – The English Patient; (1993): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Schindler’s List

The Duchess DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English, French and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. Total run time is 109 minutes.  The Duchess on Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition English 5.1 Dolby True HD with French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  Total runtime is 109 minutes.  Lavish bonus features on the DVD and Hi-Def features on Blu-ray include:

•    How Far She Went…Making the Duchess – A fascinating documentary featurette explores the life of Georgiana Spencer Cavendish and the era that she came to define.

•    Georgiana In Her Own Words – Amanda Foreman, author of the award-winning biography Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and producer Gabrielle Tana hold a roundtable discussion at the archive of Chatsworth House—home of Georgiana and her family—reviewing letters, diary entries and artifacts that helped shape the historical landscape of Foreman’s biography, the inspiration for The Duchess.    •    Costume Diary – A darling of high society and a fashion trendsetter, the Duchess was well known for her extravagant wardrobe. Costume designer Michael O’Connor talks about creating the outlandish and beautiful costumes that would become some of the film’s most flamboyant characters.
•    Theatrical Trailers

You can read the review at my movie reviews partner website Movie Room Reviews and buy THE DUCHESS at store everywhere and at Amazon.

I HAPPEN TO  HAVE ONE COPY OF THE DUCHESS TO GIVE AWAY!  YEAH!

TO ENTER:  LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING ME YOUR FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION MOVIE. ( I LOVE TO GET MOVIE TIPS!)

FOR SECOND ENTRY: STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE THE LINK IN A SEPERATE ENTRY!

THIS CONTEST WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON JANUARY 11TH AND RANDOM.ORG WILL CHOOSE THE LUCKY WINNER!  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING AND KEEP COMING BACK!

Merry Christmas!

Here are some of the geese that stopped by our pond on their way South for the Winter.  We are heading South ourselves to meet up with my husband’s family in Florida.  We are used to cold and snow in December, so it will be great to feel some sun again.  It has been miserable here already this winter.  I wanted to thank all of you for visiting my blog.  It means a lot to me and I am truly humbled and thankful for meeting all of you!  Have a wonderful Holiday and hopefully a few days off.  God Bless.

Beethoven’s Big Break DVD Giveaway!

Bring together one mega-popular pooch, an all-star cast, some of today’s hottest music and a barrel of bouncing baby St. Bernards, and it all adds up to Beethoven’s Big Break! The all-new adventure comes exclusively to DVD on December 26, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. This full-length comedy stars Moises Arias (Rico on “Hannah Montana”), Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”), Daytime Emmy ® winner Jennifer Finnigan (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”), Joey Fatone (“Dancing with the Stars,” ‘N Sync), Stephen Tobolowsky (“Heroes”),  Oscar Nunez (“The Office”), Eddie Griffin (Undercover Brother) and Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”) in his feature film debut—and introduces Pete The Lizard!  A fresh and funny re-imagination of the hugely popular franchise, Beethoven’s Big Break is jam-packed with more action and laughs than ever before.   Featuring an exciting array of bonus materials,

BARKIN’ HOT BONUS FEATURES

ON THE SET OF BEETHOVEN: Experience how the cast and crew made this film in Orlando, F

MOISES STEALS THE SHOW:  Filled with direct-to-camera hijinks, this piece features Moises Arias acting, joking, and playing.

HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!: Animal trainers Mark Eschevarria and Dave Sousa tell us how they trained three dogs for the role of Beethoven while Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan explains the keys to working with animals

HAIL CESAR!:  In this piece, we’ll spend some time with Cesar Millan who reveals that, having grown up in Mexico, he left for the United States in hopes of working with famous movie dogs including Beethoven!

TEACHING YOUR OLD DOG NEW TRICKS:  In a special shoot with Beethoven and key animal trainer Mark Eschevarria, we give a step-by-step explanation of how you can teach your dog to roll over.

GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL ACTORS: Featuring an introduction by Moises Arias, this entertaining and educational feature will give kids at home a chance to learn more about the wide array of animals used in this film.

TRAINING BEETHOVEN: Viewers train the real Beethoven to do tricks, including shake, sit, and roll over.

OWN ALL YOUR FAVORITE BEETHOVEN FILMS IN BEETHOVEN’S DOG-GONE BEST MOVIE PACK  For viewers in need of even more puppy love, Beethoven’s Big Break will also be included in the new Beethoven’s Dog-gone Best Movie Pack, available on December 30. Six hilarious full-length movies for one great price, Beethoven’s Dog-gone Best Movie Pack includes every chapter of the hugely successful dog franchise. With over 8 hours of action, laughs and surprises, Beethoven’s Dog-gone Best Movie Pack will satisfy the most devoted fans of the big-hearted, wet-nosed Beethoven and his adorable puppies.

Beethoven’s Big Break DVD is available at stores everywhere on December 26th and also at Amazon. You can read the DVD Review at Movie Room Reviews.  You can also go to www.kids.yahoo.com/Beethoven for some children’s activities.

YOU CAN WIN A COPY OF BEETHOVEN’S BIG BREAK DVD RIGHT HERE!

TO ENTER:  LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING ME YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION:)  I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME TO MOTIVATE MYSELF AND GET IDEAS!

FOR SECOND ENTRY:  STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE AND LINK IT HERE IN A SEPARATE ENTRY.

THIS CONTEST WILL END AT MIDNIGHT ON JANUARY 1ST AND I WILL E-MAIL THE WINNER THAT RANDOM.ORG CHOOSES.  GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Holiday Guide For Kids

Kiddesign is a fantastic company that makes interactive educational toys for children.  KIDdesigns is a leading manufacturer of cutting edge, interactive electronic toys, learning aids, and real electronics for kids of all ages. We understand and respect the importance that toys play in kids’ lives. With that responsibility in mind, we combine state-of-the-art technology with old-fashioned fun to create innovative, exciting, and enjoyable products that kids will love and parents can trust.  KIDdesigns is dedicated to creating products that help boys and girls grow, learn, and have fun.

KIDdesigns has received some of the most prestigious awards and honors in the industry, including Family Fun’s “Toy of the Year” award, “Top Toy” recognition from the Great American Toy Test, and the “Best New Product Innovation” award from Toy Wishes Magazine. Our most-treasured honors, however, have always been the smiles and laughter from millions of boys and girls when they play with our toys and use our products.

They are must have on your Christmas list.  We loved playing with the following toys and highly recommend them!  You can buy them at www.kiddesigns.com and Toys R Us.   Free shipping for orders over $30.
Growing Smart Laugh With Me Botley (Isn’t he adorable!)
An Interactive Learning Friend

Botley is loaded with fun and games and he’s eager to help kids learn words, numbers, logic, and more! Watch as Botley comes to life with moving head and mouth. Join this lovable laughing robot for hours of teaching entertainment.

Logic Circuits
Logic and Reasoning skills keep young minds sharp and focused

Letter Circuits
Letter Identification and recognition is fundamental to language and reading skills

Word Circuits
Recognizing and understanding words is an important component to reading comprehension

Math Circuits
Teaches basic math skills

Game Circuits
A variety of challenging games help sharpen strategic thinking

Custom Game and Data Circuits
Customization of content creates a personalized challenge

Growing Smart Learning Laptop (Spiderman Design)
Your child will want to look just like you with his or her own laptop!  This one is the perfect size and teaches them e-mail even!  So cute and educational.  There is a Barbie laptop just for girls.

* 8 learning zones with 48 different activities, including great games like hangman, snake, word jumble, word matching, letter matching and more
* Spider-Man® speech and exciting sound effects
* S.M.A.R.T. Chip™ Technology will automatically adjust quiz levels that are appropriate for each child
* Translate button translates select words into Spanish instantly
* “My Zone” feature allows custom spelling lists, instant messages to Spider-Man, Email and more
* Backlit display

Barbie™ Pet Doctor

We have so much fun being a doctor to this adorable dog.  He makes sounds and lights up to show your child where he is hurt and where they can treat him.  A great toy to teach empathy and inspire your child to help animals.

* Interactive pet with pressure sensitive pads in head, back, and all paws to activate different exciting doggie sounds
* Dog responds to bottle and bone
* Realistic dog sounds such as barking, panting, yelping, chewing–even a heartbeat
* Includes a carrying bag to store doggie and accessories
* In store “Try Me” plays sound effects from paw
* Accessories include carrying bag, stethoscope, thermometer, milk bottle, syringe, bone, certificate, and a prescription pad

Be Fire Smart

Every year I love to decorate our Christmas tree with my sentimental ornaments and lights.  But we must also remember to keep our family safe, because Christmas Trees and other decorations can be a fire hazard.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 47,000 household fires occur during the holidays each year. Misplaced or dry decorations mixed with fires and candles can lead to injuries, the loss of property, and even to lost lives, a tragedy which most families fail to consider amidst their festive holiday planning.

In preparation for this year’s holiday season, Liberty Mutual Insurance and Holly Robinson Peete, actress, philanthropist and mother of four are teaming up to raise awareness and spread simple tips to keep families safe this holiday by encouraging moms to set aside a few moments before the holiday rush to review fire safety precautions and response plans with their family at BeFireSmart.com.

Here are some safety tips from their website:

1. Keep decorations (trees, wreaths, etc) at least three feet from heat sources. Candles, heaters, etc.

2. Inspect holiday lights each year for things like frayed wires. If you didn’t do this when you decorated, I really urge you to go ahead and do this now.

3. Do not overload your electrical outlet(s). Please change it  if you did.

4. Do not leave holiday lights or candles unattended. I know your tree is beautiful and you want to come home after Christmas Eve service to your beautiful tree. But unplug it when you leave and turn it back on when you come home.

BeFireSmart.Com acts is a resource for parents and educators that offers tips for talking with children about fire safety, how to prevent fires, and how to create a family escape plan should a fire break out. Games and activities such as a free downloadable coloring book further engage children as they learn how to spot potential fire risks and help to keep their families safe.  I love their interactive childrens activities.

Be sure to enter the Liberty Mutual Fire Smart Sweepstakes for your chance to win a 4-day/3-night trip for four people to the Walt Disney World® Resort. You can visit “Where’s the Fire?” — the nation’s largest interactive fire safety education experience — at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.

Thanks so much to Mom Central and Liberty Mutual for reminding us about these holiday fire safety tips!

Dysfunctional Family Holiday Movies!

Why do we love movies about dysfunctional families at Holiday time?  There are tons of them and they are all basically the same, with the climatic scene at the dinner table.  Saturday Night Live even made fun of the stress of the Holidays on families, with a scene at (where else) the dinner table, last week.  Christmas is almost here, and that either means spending time with your dysfunctional family, or watching movies about dysfunctional families to escape from yours.  Here are my top five that I love to watch every year!  They aren’t a exactly warm and fuzzy Christmas movie like “It’s a Wonderful Life, but they make me laugh, make me relate to them, and even realize how much I love and appreciate my own “dysfunctional” family.  Because basically aren’t we all dysfunctional?  Spill it, what’s your favorite dysfunctional  movie or holiday story?

P.S. Wanna win a months worth of Orville Redenbachers popcorn?  I know I do!  Just visit My Friend Amys blog (one you need to bookmark too!) to enter to win.

5. One True Thing(1998)
Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger and William Hurt, what else could you ask for?   It occurs over the Holidays and deals with a daughter coming home to help take care of her dying mother and learn to heal her relationship with her father.
DYSFUNCTIONAL ASPECTS: Absentee self important father, dying perfect mother, angry daughter.
“One True Thing” is an observant, unsentimental family drama in which the tears at the end were well-earned and be prepared to shed tons of them.  P.S. Read the book first!

4.  Pieces of April
Hmm I see at theme occurring here.  But this one is a dark comedy that deals with a mother dying of cancer.  Stars Katie Holmes (pre-Tom Cruise), Patricia Clarkson( who I love!) and Oliver Platt.
DYSFUNCTIONAL ASPECTS: Sibling rivalry, estranged daughter, and an abrasive dying mother.

3.  Four Christmases

Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall,

I just watched this the other day, and laughed till I cried.  This is now a classic for me, I was completely surprised at how much I liked it!  My favorite scene: When they all played a game together.

DYSFUNCTIONAL ASPECTS: Basically, after 3 years of avoiding spending time with their families on Christmas (remember, you can’t spell families without “lies”) they are forces to visit all four divorced parents.   Hilarity ensues.

2. Home For the Holidays
Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Bancroft, Dylan McDermott
What can I say about this classic movie?  Fantastic acting, hilarious scenes, the aunt, the sister.  What an amazing movie.
Dysfunctional Aspects: Jodie Foster did an incredible job of showing the humor, drama, poignancy, frustration, love, loathing, fear, and comfort found in families. As exhausting as these two days were for this family, you know they’ll be back next year. Or, as Charles Durning’s character says, “There’s always Christmas”.

1.Parenthood (1989)
Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Weist,  Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards Joaquin Phoenix
I watch this movie every year and laugh so hard every time.  And then I cry.  The ending has me sobbing like a baby.  It’s the best comedic drama about the realism and heartbreak of being a parent.
Dysfunctional Aspects:  workaholics, divorce, “super”parenting, self-promotion., fathers and sons.
Best Line ever: From Grandma to (Steve Martin): she explains life to her joy of a roller-coaster over a merry-go-round… “that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited and so thrilled all together… some didn’t like it… they went on the merry-go-round… that just goes around… nothing… i like the roller-coaster… you get more out of it”. life is seen as it’s best understood… an amusement park that we all are going through. our perspective and our faith are the important factors.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Retro Cinema: Home for the Holidays
• Remake of ‘Earth’ rockets to top of box office
• In Real Life, Tom Cruise Foils the Saboteurs [Gossip Roundup]

Get Angry!

Paw Paw books are a set of charming books  about a traveling dog  that are designed just for young children.  The Adventures With PawPaw series features a little dog who travels to a different country in each book, introducing young kids to other countries and cultures.  So far PawPaw has visited China, France, and Costa Rica (and is packing his bags for Kenya, Italy, Egypt, Israel, and other spots).

The books are absolutely adorable and the illustrations engaging.  Paw Paw is definitely popular in our house.  The series is educational at the young childs level.  The rhyming words will keep them entertained and open their eyes about different place and people in the world.  Plus the books are just the right size for little hands.  You can buy the PawPaw Series on the Adventures With PawPaw Website.

Here’s the best part: They will give a portion of all profits to help stop child trafficking around the world — through www.born2fly.org.  They will not only make a wonderful Christmas gift, but will help to change a child’s life.

Paw Paw books were written by Diana Scimone, a journalist who’s been to 40+ countries writing on issues of human rights.  She wrote the books to introduce kids to some of the many wonderful places she’s been and people she’s met.   Diana also launched the foundation to give back to the kids she’s met in desperate situations all over the world.  Below is more information about the Born To Fly Foundation and also at their website www.born2fly.org.

I’M ASKING YOU TO WATCH THIS POWERFUL VIDEO, GET ANGRY, AND READ THE 21 STEPS BELOW AND TAKE ACTION!    WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WE CAN CHANGE LIVES.  COME WITH ME ON THIS JOURNEY.

Can we do anything to stop child sex slavery?

YES WE CAN! Most kids get lured into the dark world of sex slavery because they don’t know the deceptive tactics of traffickers. Someone shows up in a village and offers to educate the girls. “Just sign here,” he tells the parents, who never see their daughters again.

A trafficker offers a teenage girl a job as a model, waitress, or nanny. She has no idea she’ll really be forced into sex slavery. She’ll be threatened, beaten, and raped over and over, night after night, until she dies of AIDS.

How to stop the traffic

Wherever kids receive awareness training, the rate of child sex trafficking plummets. Unfortunately there’s not enough training—nor is it available to kids who are most at risk.

That’s why we’ve launched a global campaign called the B2F Project to create awareness about child trafficking—with the ultimate goal of ending it. Our mission is to educate girls and their parents about the dangers of child sex trafficking through a strategic, far-reaching multimedia campaign. The B2F Project has the potential to reach millions of children no matter what their language or country, nor how remote their villages.

Our goal is not just to prevent kids from being trafficked, but to help them fulfill their dreams. B2F sets kids free to soar so they can dream big dreams and make a difference in the world around them.

21 WAYS YOU CAN STOP CHILD TRAFFICKING (from the born2fly website)

Want more ways to get involved? Click here and join the conversation as people all over the world share ideas about how to get involved with the effort to stop global trafficking.

1. Learn about what’s happening. Child sex trafficking feeds not just on lust and greed, but also on silence and ignorance. One of the most effective things you can do is what you’re doing now—get informed. The stories aren’t pretty, but they must be told if we’re ever going to stop the epidemic.

2. Read about modern-day abolitionists and learn what they’re doing to rescue children, counsel them, and prevent others from being enslaved.

3. Find out what’s happening in your own community. Research if your state or county has a human trafficking task force.

4. Host a house meeting or dorm meeting to watch a documentary such as “Sex Slaves in America,” “Born into Brothels,” “China’s Stolen Children,” or “How to Buy a Child in 10 Hours.” Talk about ways you can stop child trafficking in your community.

5. Start a book club and have everyone read Terrify No More or Good News About Injustice both by Gary Haugen, Not For Sale by David Batstone, or Beyond the Soiled Curtain by David and Beth Grant. Brainstorm how you can become further involved.

6. Pick a country and take an immersion trip to acquaint yourself with what’s happening in the child trafficking industry. Make appointments to meet with community organizations working to stop the traffic.

7. Set aside part of your vacation to volunteer with an organization that works to stop trafficking or helps victims. Whatever your skills—medical, counseling, administration, legal, or education—they’re needed somewhere.

8. Organize a fundraising party for the Born to Fly Project and invite your friends, family, and co-workers.

9. Forgo birthday, Christmas, holiday, or wedding presents. Instead, ask guests to give gifts in your name to the Born to Fly Project.

10. Flex your political muscles. When you learn about proposed legislation, such as the annual bill in the US Congress to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, contact your congressional representatives. (Click here to find email and phone numbers for US senators and representatives.)

11. Donate to organizations that work to stop child trafficking, such as Born to Fly.

12. Introduce Born to Fly to a foundation or corporation that might like to support our work.

13. Educate yourself on what’s happening in countries where you travel, study, or do business. The U.S. State Department TIPS (Trafficking in Persons) List ranks 150 countries according to their efforts to end trafficking.

14. Display an anti-trafficking poster in your school, church, or office. Download posters (in English, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Chinese, and Korean) here.

15. Blog about child trafficking.

16.  Forward the “Get Angry. Please” video to your friends.

17. Write about the realities of child sex slavery in an article or letter to the editor for your local newspaper (print or web edition).

18. Email your state or federal legislators asking what they’re doing to stop child trafficking. Click here for senators and representatives.

19. Post instances of human slavery around the world—including child sex slavery—on the Slavery Map.

20. Talk to your school, university, church, or community organization about sponsoring a Born to Fly day, and invite a local child advocate to speak.

21. Pray. Never underestimate the power of one person’s prayer. You are the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13 NKJV). Just as salt changes what’s around it, God gave you the power to change what’s around you.

Want more ways to get involved?  Click here — and join the conversation as people all over the world share ideas about how to get involved with the effort to stop global trafficking.

STUMBLE THIS POST OR TWITTER THIS POST

Related articles by Zemanta

• ‘Sex slavery’ gang jailed for child prostitution

The Longshots DVD Giveaway!

The Weinstein Company and Genius Products score a touchdown with the DVD release of the hilarious and heartwarming comedy, THE LONGSHOTS, rushing into stores December 2^nd.

Based on the real life story of Pop Warner’s first female quarterback, THE LONGSHOTS follows Jasmine Plummer’s journey from misfit to football hero under the coaching of her uncle, former high school football star Curtis Plummer.  Blowing away the skeptics and the competition alike with her skills on the gridiron, Jasmine takes control and leads her team to the league’s Super Bowl.

With Ice Cube (Are We There Yet?, Barbershop) starring as Curtis Plummer and rising star Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee, Madea’s Family Renunion ) as Jasmine Plummer, the cast makes this film a must-see.  An entertaining film for the entire family, directed by former Limp Bizkit front-man Fred Durst, THE LONGSHOTS is sure to score this holiday season. You can purchase THE LONGSHOTS on Amazon.

You can also read a review and WIN a copy of THE LONGSHOTS on my movie reviews partner site Movie Room Reviews through December 20th!

Holiday Gifts of Childrens Books

Rutherford B. Hayes Middle School will never be the same. Danika is in deep trouble for hitting Mrs. Hefty’s right temple with her brown bag lunch. Toni is trying out for the boy’s football league…against her dad’s wishes and the school rules. Kaitlyn is completely boy-crazy and will stop at nothing to express her love for her older brother’s best friend. Yuzi is the new kid at school whose name nobody can pronounce, and in a valiant effort to fit in she is traumatized by being invited to dress up like a stalk of corn at the town’s annual Popcorn Festival. Their worlds collide one afternoon when they all end up in after-school detention and the Secret Keeper Girl Club is formed to save the day. Full of comedy, action, emotion, and life-transforming lessons, each book includes a mother/daughter Girl Gab assignment in an appendix.

I love the fact that girls can read about such a wonderful character as Danika and the other girls to identify with.  Told with Christian values about how to be a true friend and make wise choices, the Secret Keeper books are much more valuable for young tweens then those other books that stress looks and boyfriends.   Packed with quotes about friendship, the girls’ insights into what true friends are, and “secret” keywords you can plug into the Secret Keeper Girl website www.for recipes and fun tips, this is a book that will be a blast for girls to sit down with. Secret Keeper Books are available at book stores everywhere and Amazon.

I LOVE Barefoot Books!  They have such a terrific selection of unique and beautiful books for children.  The drawings and imagary in them is incredible.  They would make great gifts for any occasion.  And they have made it easy for Christmas, they have many wonderful gift collections available right now.  You can purchase their books at BAREFOOT BOOKS WEBSITE. Below are some of my favorites.

Alligator Alphabet - Hardcover
“A is for Alligator! B is for bear! C is for Camel!
Chase us if you dare!”

Can you think of an animal for every letter of the alphabet? In this delightful ABC book, young children will learn the upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet as they meet a parade of exotic and familiar creatures – from alligators to zebras, and impalas to quails.

Colorful drawings and cute words will make your little one giggle and love reading about all the animals.

Counting Cockatoos - Hardcover
Count all kinds of creatures as they tumble, rumble, slink and flap across the pages of this playful book!  Count to twelve with help from tumbling tigers, winking owls and more, while you search for the two cockatoos hidden on every page.  This clever counting adventure makes the perfect gift when paired with Alligator Alphabet.

My four year old loves to count and learn about numbers and Counting Cockatoos makes it even more enjoyable.  I love the illustrations too!

Little Leap Forward - Hardcover
As featured in the New York Times Sunday Book Review!

The first in Barefoot Books’ Young Fiction line, this sensitively written, real-life story focuses on growing up in Beijing in the 1960s, at the time of the Cultural Revolution. Little Leap Forward offers children an intimate and immediate account of a child’s experiences as Mao Tse Tung’s Great Leap Forward policy tightens its grip on China.

Yoga Pretzels

50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids & Grownups

What a fun and healthy activity to do with your kids!  We love the cards and feel great after we practice them.  Our four year old is so good at the poses!

Practice bending, twisting, breathing, relaxing and more with Yoga Pretzels, a vibrant and colorful set of illustrated cards that provide a healthy dose of fun and education while teaching all the basics of yoga to help your head and heart.

My Daddy is a Pretzel – Hardcover
Yoga for Parents and Kids

Daddy actually did this with our four year old, and they had so much fun.  It is great to read a book and have it be so interactive and educational at the same time. The pictures are fabulous!

Limber up with this unique, child-friendly yoga book! Created for parents and children to share together, but also suitable for adults and older children to use alone, My Daddy is a Pretzel not only introduces a range of postures, it also connects the practices to everyday life, showing how families can integrate their yoga with their activities in the world. A light-hearted look at yoga, yet one with a lasting message, My Daddy is a Pretzel is a wonderful introduction to yoga for readers of all shapes and sizes.

Whole World – Hardcover & CD
Featured in Oprah’s “O List”!

“Printed on forest-friendly paper, this sweet children’s book includes a sing-along CD and eco-tips for preserving the planet”—The O List
I would agree with Oprah!  This was our four year olds favorite!  The music and song was so fun to sing along to and read the book as we sang.  We sang over and over!
Share the message, hear the song, and see Whole World come to life! We are donating ten percent of sales from Whole World to benefit global conservation. To learn more about our environmental partners, please click here.
Sing around the planet, from high in the mountains to low in the valleys, in every town and every city, and with all the fish and birds, trees and flowers! Includes eco-tips on how to live green and a catchy singalong CD, sung by Fred Penner.

Learning a new language used to require tedious  translation, mindles memorization and grueling grammar drills. But learners want faster, easier and more effective language programs as they increasingly intermingle with other cultures both at home and abroad. Rosetta Stone Inc., creator of the world’s No.1 language-learning software, has introduced Rosetta Stone® Version 3 Personal Edition, the next generation of an interactive software program that uses technology to create an environment of complete immersion in the language — the fastest, most effective way to learn a new language. Rosetta Stone Version 3 is now available for U.S. consumers in the 10 most popular languages offered by Rosetta Stone. An additional 20 languages are available in Rosetta Stone Version 2. The Rosetta Stone product is backed by an unconditional six-month money-back guarantee for all purchases made directly from the company.  The website is www.rosettastone.com

This complete software package, enhanced with Audio Companion™ CDs, includes everything you need to learn Spanish at home and on the go.

Begin by building a foundation of essential language skills. Gain confidence and learn to share your ideas, opinions and feelings when you immerse yourself in Spanish with Rosetta Stone.    *  Version 3 Personal Edition CD-ROM software for Levels 1, 2 & 3 (Windows/Mac)
* Headset microphone
* User’s guide
* Audio Companion, a multiple-CD set to play or download to your MP3 player

This set will help you:

* Build your vocabulary and language abilities.
* Spell and write accurately.
* Speak without a script.
* Retain what you’ve learned.
* Read and understand your new language.
* Share ideas and opinions, express feelings and talk about everyday life.

Sample topics include:

* The basics, such as age and family relations
* Questions, greetings, introductions
* Times of day, calendar terms, the weather
* Directions, locations, telling time
* Present, past and future tense
* Apologies and polite requests
* How to order at a restaurant and give and receive directions
* Emotions, opinions and ideas
* Political, media, business and religious terms

Next Page »