Saturday Monday Special: March Usborne Specials

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One of my favorite things about Usborne is that there are always specials going on. There are internet specials that change every month, hostess specials, and also book specials, too, that go in a rotation at a wholesale 50-60% off price. There is no reason that you can't include a sweet board or story book along with that baby shower gift for just $3.84!

The internet specials this month are especially sweet. Suzy Lee, one of my favorite illustrators and published by Kane Miller Books (a company aquired by Usborne a few years back) has one of her most recent books, The Zoo, on sale for half price in March.

The Zoo, like all of Lee's books, are beautiful play in color and aesthetic, and void of any narration, but full of imagination. This is an excellent book, one of my favorites from the artist. This story paired with a tub of side-walk chalk could be the perfect gift for a child with a birthday, and just under $10.

A couple of other really good deals going on in March are from the "Customer Specials" selection. If you purchase $40 with Usborne, and are looking to stock the gift bin or the home-school library, you have to take a peek at these steals. They are new books slashed half off or more. I already have plans to buy 2 of the "Wind Up Plane Book" at $13.00 a piece (reg. $29.99!). They are great for the kid who loves motion, as they have a couple of tracks throughout the book where the plane stays on.

Another awesome board book for a steal--for all of those people looking for an inexpensive Easter gift "That's Not My Bunny" at $4! (reg. $8.99) These touchy-feely books are some of Usborne's best sellers, and my children still read theirs!

Lastly, the See Inside series has a special in the customer section this month, also one that we recently acquired: See Inside: Math. Perfect for the Math classroom, a student who finds numbers thrilling and interesting, or for the visual child who needs a bit of extra help and inspiration in the subject. Normally the See Inside series are $12.99 and up, but you can get See Inside: Math this month for $6 when you spend $40 or more.

As for hostess specials in March, I'm not taking any current March dates as I'm maxed out, but I'm still in my incentive period and it lasts until mid-April. If you'd like to host a book show to earn double free books (only offered 1 time--during my incentive period of 12 weeks), please let me know asap. The period for the double free is within the first 2 weeks of April. I even give tangible hostess bags which includes invites, drink mix, cookie mix, and catalogs so you have it easy having a party!

{This Moment}

photo taken via Stefan's iphone

Join others by savoring a moment from the week.

Why did I savor this one? Rain garb means a walk in the wet with dad...and mom stays home ;)

Linky Love

Source: weddingchicks.com via Sarah on Pinterest

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Again for another round of links that I love. I hope you find something interesting, encouraging, or that you enjoy as well.

• As someone who is heavily involved in a mercy ministry at our church (Mercy Meals) I found this article on 100 Ways to Encourage New Moms so awesome and helpful.
• The newest social media outlet craze in Pinterest, and here is an overview as to what pinning etiquette is (giving credit where credit is due) and what laws govern it. Very insightful read for everyone who pins! Thanks Julie, for the heads up.
• Nebraska is one of the only two states in the US that bans midwives from attending home births. It's an exciting time as there have been huge rallies for the state to pass laws fixing this. But as my pediatrician friend says, there's reason to worry about safety, too.
• One of my favorite new blogs. I'm starting to hone down my blog reading to once daily, and categorizing (and thinning) into major categories: food, inspiration, home school, humor. This one definitely falls into the last category. Adulting, how to behave when you're 18+. Put it in your reader, I'll wait.
• I absolutely loved this post on 39 Ways to Use Playdoh. Some of them are so unique, my little dude will love putting together a play-doh maze!
• I'm supposed to be getting a preview issue of Taproot in the mail (long story) and I can't wait to read it. I hope it comes today!
• Downton Abbey online. I have 2 more episodes from season 2, and hopefully they'll be watched within the next 24 hours. They only last until March 6 people. Get a move on!
• There have been so many amazing DIYs on A Beautiful Mess blog lately. Some of my favs have been : Victory Rolls, Making Stationary, and Cake Batter Milkshakes.
• Loved this list of making Lent more meaningful. A good list of crafts, books, and activities to help your children learn the meaning behind Easter Sunday.
• Good night I can not stop listening to my guurrl singing! Love her new album, Which Side Are You On? (And, no, for those of you who've heard it, I don't always agree with her politics, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy her creativity, either.) It is so so so so good.
• The travel bug hits me--hard--about twice a year. I'm ready to get out of a dodge with a backpack and passport and this series called Mini Travel Guide helps me live vicariously when my responsibilities are not daydreaming, but help children go to the bathroom and keep themselves clean.
• So close, yet so, so very far away. Metaphorically. Physically. Financially.

*****

And what have you found, dear reader, that you can barely contain?

Photo Dump: The Extras

The last few months in pictures...that didn't make the cut. Lots of playing with teddies (even a Lukka shot, can you guess which one?), Children's Museum, crafts, and outdoor time.

Movie Review: The Illusionist

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I try to watch a French film or two every year, not only because I love, generally, the aesthetic of French films and the music, but because they're usually really good stories, too. I had heard about The Illusionist from a friend online and immediately put it on my netflix queue, as it reminded me of the story The Triplets of Belleville, of which I own the soundtrack and loved. It was directed by the same person, Sylvain Chomet, and shares a number of similar qualities like animation style, somber color palette, and satirical characters.

This is the story of an aging magician and his dying art. As he is renting a flat above a pub, he entertains a curious barmaid who thinks he really can do magic. As he's encouraged by her surprise, she begins to use the flattery (magic?) to her own benefit, having him dwindle his savings account to buy her new clothes, a trip to a different city, etc. Whether this young woman knows the truth is not revealed, but their odd relationship is strained and eventually broken. It mirrors the relationship between a single/widowed father and his older daughter, although the ending is a bit more neutral than one would expect.

Although I loved this movie for it's finer qualities of whimsy and eclectic nature, it's not as good as Triplets. The music is sweet, but there is almost no talking and without subtitles for the few phrases spoken here and there, most viewers probably wouldn't like the fact that they can't understand it. Just like The Artist is doing currently, it's an experience in body language (and yes, animated body language at that) and patience in figuring out the story by visual [almost] alone. I would give this movie 2 out of 5 stars for the average movie watcher. Your time is better spent getting to know the Belleville songs, or better yet, Micmacs.

Visual Monday: March

March is one of my favorite months of the year. Springtime-birthday-green-and mild warmth. Bring it on, week! The fresh month is coming.

Source: dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com via Mari on Pinterest

Source: m.neatorama.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: ripegreenideas.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: shopruche.com via Elise on Pinterest

Source: lilyviewlands.edublogs.org via Sarah on Pinterest

{This Moment}

A birthday girl treat at Paint Yourself Silly. Join others in remembering a sweet moment from the week.

Usborne Bookshelf Giveaway: 1000 First Words in Spanish

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Every month I will be doing an Usborne Bookshelf Giveaway, and this month is a great chance for those of you who love your children to learn about other cultures--namely the Spanish language. This is from my own library and it's a gently used edition of First Thousand Words in Spanish. I bought this book at the last library book sale because it's in such great condition and because I have a lot of friends who will be teaching (or are teaching currently) their children the Spanish language.

These books are awesome. Our children are learning French at home and I own the First Hundred Words, and bought a new copy of First Thousand Words, both in French, for our personal library. At over 60 pages, these books are great 'first reference' books for young learners, and engage children between the ages of 2-10. I know that's a large range, but the way they are broken up can be easily captivating for the smallest audience (with the Usborne/Cartwright duck on each page spread), easy reference in the back including numbers, shapes, and colors, and engage advanced learners or mid elementary because of the breakdown of the language concepts.

The pages are 2 page spreads and have a large picture, with the vocabulary words, and a matching picture that fills the border on all sides. For example, the first page in the First Thousand Words in Spanish is 'La Casa' (home) that has a picture of inside 4 main rooms in a house, with all the lovely Cartwright illustrations (Stephen Cartwright was a prolific illustrator who created many of the lovable and recognizable characters in Usborne books like Poppy, Sam, and Rusty from Apple Tree Farm) doing different activities throughout the house. On one of the side borders the pictures and Spanish words, "la cama", " la silla", "el edredon", "el peine", etc. are there to not only match to the picture, but also to give the reader an individual knowledge base of the Spanish word, and what it relates to.

The other great thing about these books is that they are now internet linked. This is one of my favorite points on Usborne books, and why we keep so many handy for elementary school. The internet link page is here. When you get to the page, you type in the title of your book, and then the page number that you'd like to look up. With all different types of IL (internet linked) Usborne books, science, art, language, whatever, there will be activities, worksheets, audio, etc. that add to the experience and the knowledge the child is learning. These language books are no different. Unfortunately this is an older version so it is not advertised as internet linked, but going to the quick links page can easy get you one of the 1000 words spoken so your child can practice saying the word properly (they just might not be the exact same pages as the most current edition).

So...which one of you lucky readers wants it for a child in your life?

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To be entered in this drawing for "First Thousand Words in Spanish", please leave me your name and email address so I can contact you. You can get an extra entry for all of the following:

2) become a follower of this blog on Google reader, RSS, etc. and tell me in an extra comment

3) Become a twitter follower and tell me in an extra comment

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This giveaway is open to continental US , and will be drawn by random generator on the evening of Thursday March 1st. The next giveaway will be March 22nd.

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Giveaway closed--Out of 2 people, random.org picked #1, Kylee Brock

Pin Dump

I do love Pinterest for all the wonderful ideas, recipes, color palettes, and general inspiration found there, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the most frequent pins I've saved. Usually I find stuff I love on blogs and 'pin it' to my boards externally, instead of found within the site itself, as it's getting fairly crowded and hard to sift through, with a lot of repeat things. I have a number of friends I follow (and a few strangers who just happen to have similar taste) and I'm happy to check it once a day or so. I have found some excellent 'keeper' recipes that I've printed to my binder, and plenty of go-to gift ideas, party themes, and TONS of home school references/pictures for the back pocket. Here are a few of my favorites that I've pinned recently. Think of this as a Pinterest linky <3 post. Enjoy!

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: totokaelo.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: blog.imaginechildhood.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: cannellevanille.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: twomenandalittlefarm.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: ashleyannphotography.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: citified.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: hellohanna.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: howwemontessori.typepad.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: soulemama.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: okkokko.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Book Review: Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett

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A friend of mine who I often trade books with handed me this a couple months ago and said, "I think you'll really like it". I had never read an Ann Patchett book and since Bel Canto was on my list, which I've heard such amazing things about, I decided to add this title, too. If I can remember correctly the first 40ish pages took awhile to get into; after that I finished quickly.

Truth and Beauty is a memoir of friendship between the two writers, Ann, and her best friend, the late Lucy Grealy of Autobiography of a Face fame. The story isn't a typical book broken into chapters of episodes, but more like chapters of emotions...and surgery. A lot of the chapters either start or end with a letter from Lucy, setting the tone, or rather closing the state of emotion out, with her poetic words and battle with loneliness.

The story is set over a couple decades, starting with college and ending sadly without Lucy about twenty years later. It's a recap of both authors' fame, awards, trials, moves, and teaching positions, and it's written so well. Ms. Patchett, more of a type A 'square' is always trying to save Lucy from her demons and Lucy is trying to smother her loneliness by anything and everything including men, art, shopping, and writing. The story has a sad ending but so many wonderful lines about friendship and the human heart, the human condition.

I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5, and not because it wasn't written well. It was written beautifully. I simply grew frustrated with Lucy's character and her mind-numbing behavior that was destroying her life. I think you may give it a better mark, reader, but there's only so much sadness a character can ooze out onto the audience, and after awhile I chose to turn a deaf ear and fall behind a wall of less concern for the tragedy. It is a true story, and it is a very sad thing, but there is only so much help a person -a human friend- can do for another. In the end, one has to take responsibility for their own actions, including those that turn a deaf ear to the One who has given His life over for our mess, the only thing making us whole.

Visual Monday: Birthday Recap

Friday was Miss Anikka's 3rd birthday, and we let her live it up all weekend. On Friday we went with Grammy to a cafe where she was given a birthday gift (lots, actually!) along with a happy face pancake for lunch. She wore her little fairy birthday crown all day Friday and Saturday, and loved it! Friday evening her and dad went on the traditional 'dad date' (out to breakfast or dinner, depending on the day, with just that child) and she picked Runza...of all places. She ate two measy mini corn dogs and had a big ice cream cone. I think from the above pictures you can tell she didn't mind that horrible diet one bit ;)

After dinner they came back and we all opened up presents with her. We get our children three items each birthday (or Christmas) and her something to wear was this sweet Tea dress, her something to read was this fabulous 300+ Usborne sticker book and her something to play with was a 70 piece wooden train set (not the exact same), of which she has.not.stopped.playing.with.

Saturday morning was our family time, since we only give each child a birthday party with family every-other year. Since she had a party last year, she got a special family date this year. We chose to take her to Paint Yourself Silly and her and Lukka loved it, but mom and dad practically gasped out loud when the total amount of $$ was handed over. BUT...it's a treat and we were glad the kids enjoyed it!

Our little bean brings us so much joy and she has as many personality quirks as nicknames. She is a joyful child who rarely cries unless she's ready for a nap, eats her weight in yogurt and is a very helpful chore-mate, especially with doing the dishes and tidying up. She is smart as a whip and loves cutting, pasting, puzzles, coloring, and stickers. She is healthy and happy and is our 'sleeper child'...she's not really a morning person and definitely isn't a night owl, she just likes to sleep a lot.

When not playing with her new train track and designing it into ever more complicated tracks, she can be found strolling her babies, playing dress up with a few particular items including a pink tutu, and her home made monster headband, or getting into the craft box. We love you Nans and we pray you have a healthy year ahead of you where you learn even more about who God is and how much He loves you. MUAH!

{This Moment}

A little fun left over from last week, working on Valentine's with a friend. Crafting is so much sweeter with more. Join others to remember a moment from the week.

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes II: Game of Shadows

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Every Christmas one of Stefan and my favorite gifts that we receive is movie gift cards. Going to a movie is extremely expensive for those of us on a tight budget, and frankly, I'd rather spend $18 on something that I can hold in my hand, like a book, some yarn, or some new fabric. We are also Netflix DVD/streaming subscribers, so there's always the option to watch it at home in a month or two anyway. However, once New Years rolls around we are itching to get out of the house, drop the kids off at one of the grandparents, and go to the movie theater, where we can enjoy the night completely guilt free with our gift card (thanks Oma, Opa, and Grammy!). Going to a movie is a really fun experience, and so we are tedious in our options. What usually happens is Stefan picks out his top 5 choices, and I narrow it down once I've seen all the trailers.

We fixed our eyes on Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows after seeing the first one at home a year ago. We both loved the humor, the action, the plot, the music, and the artistic license director Guy Ritche took with Sherlock Holmes. I am not, I repeat NOT someone who loves a good beat 'em up movie (i.e. you will never find me watching Rambo), but these movies are just plain fun and enjoyable to watch.

Game of Shadows starts where the first one left off, with Watson about to be married, and Holmes obsessing on a new mystery while experimenting with some crazy scientific solution. The acting is great in these movies--they are all star casts with Jude Law and Robert Downing Jr playing very convincing roles of the mastermind and his brilliant but more cautious side kick. The plot of both movies are finding criminals who are at the edge of the world and yet not as cunning as Sherlock. The dialogue is smart and funny as House sarcasm, which is why Stefan and I find it so appealing.

We gave this 4 out of 5 stars because of the sheer entertainment value. Go ahead and watch the trailer. Thrilling, hilarious, and a great mystery...tell me you're not excited after a teaser like that?

Pocket Poem

Source: thrilld.com via Amy on Pinterest

Pocket Poem

Ted Kooser

If this comes creased and creased again and soiled

as if I'd opened it a thousand times

to see if what I'd written here was right,

it's all because I looked too long for you

to put it in your pocket. Midnight says

the little gifts of loneliness come wrapped

by nervous fingers. What I wanted this

to say was that i want to be so close

that when you find it, it is warm from me.

~Poem from his book, Valentines.

Visual Monday: Valentine

Source: Uploaded by user via Mia on Pinterest

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Source: a-ladys-findings.tumblr.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Ishara on Pinterest

Source: iamjenna.tumblr.com via Jenna on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Amy on Pinterest

{This Moment} brought to you by Stefan's phone. Snowmen guard this house! Join families from around the world remembering a sweet moment from the week.