We were thinking, even though we just had a very long vacation in Dallas, that we might go on one more vacation before the school year started. And really, although the kids and I relaxed quite a bit in Dallas, Daddy Bookworm was working every day while we were there. So it would seem totally reasonable that he would want to go somewhere. It would be so awesome if we could go to Florida and maybe get a Orlando vacation rental, but, I think that would probably be out of our price range. It would definitely be fun, and we are so much closer now. But we’ll probably just keep talking about going down to Gulf Shores. I know we could do that for a lot less money. One of these days, though, we are going to have to make that Florida trip! Daddy Bookworm spent most of his childhood in Florida, and I’m sure he would love to visit, and the kids would just about die to go to Disney World!

GO READ A BOOK!

My husband and I are very strict scholastically with our children. I come from a brainiac family and just really want them to do their best and not slack off, and my husband wants them to have a better position in life than he feels he does. We want them all to go to college, but, we know how unbelievably expensive that can be. So that is where studying hard can really pay off in another way. If they study hard enough, they can apply for scholarships. That would be so awesome if they all got scholarships because that would make life easier on not only us, but, also - them! I think my brother is still paying off his loans - and we’re almost forty! (Not that we’re twins, he is two years older than me, but, we are both almost forty!) It would be so awesome to get that awesome college education and not have to struggle for years paying back loans, have to try to deal with student loan consolidation and every other method possible to just get ahead and keep paying on your loans! Another awesome way to get scholarships is through band. Our elementary band teacher is so encouraging of the children working hard and letting the music take them through college! And so she should be, she never paid for college at all! She was on full scholarships thanks to band! I love hearing her talk about it, she makes me feel hopeful and like there really is a way to make it happen!

GO READ A BOOK!

Life insurance is like one of those necessary evils that we all have to deal with. There are so many different options and so many different terms, that is can really get confusing. I found a book that might help me understand some of those details better. It’s called The Life Insurance Handbook, by Louis S. Shuntich. I mean, I think I pretty know how life insurance, and our policy, in particular, works, but, there is so much complicated jargon that goes along with it that I sometimes think people are just talking in circles when they are trying to explain it to me. And I’ll just get to the point where I think I understand our term life insurance, and my mom goes and tells me where her policy is, in case something should happen to her! She was flying to Spain, and I think everyone gets a bit nervous when a loved one is traveling so far! So that meant I had to mentally deal with two policies! After trying to absorb all that, I just need to put my feet up with a good book!

GO READ A BOOK!

Our bed is so old - in fact, we got it right after my daughter was born, and she is almost eleven. Now, had those been those fancy-dancy, mega-expensive mattresses, they might still be good. We didn’t have much money back then, being new parents of three kids three and under, so I don’t think we spent very much on it. And my back is confirming that fact today. My back is killing me and it hurts every morning when I get up out of that old bed! I’ve heard that shopping for north carolina furniture is a really good idea, since they manufacture much of the world’s furniture and have some good outlet stores. I do have a few friends up that way now, so it could be a good excuse to go finally meet Cass and Marcus! I found a book that is a guide to shopping up there called, Shopping the North Carolina Furniture Outlets, by Ellen R. Shapiro. That would be really helpful to have that guide before heading out there!

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I buy all of the stuff for My Very Own Mail from Oriental Trading Company, and once you get on their mailing list, they send you lots of catalogs. The kids and I love looking through them! We even got a Christmas one the other day - in July! Two of my kids were begging me for a jar of old-fashioned peppermint sticks they saw in the catalog - silly kids! And yesterday, I got one full of promotional items for businesses. I love looking at that catalog, too, and I always pick out a million different doodads that I can have ‘My Very Own Mail’ printed on! There are frisbees, backpacks, stress squeeze balls, and all kinds of things. And one thing that I really want, is some more imprinted pens. I bought some a few years ago, and I really loved them and I’ve wanted to buy some more for a while now, and I just haven’t done it yet. I am leafing through that book, though, and thinking of getting some soon! It’s neat and kind of funny, that I can buy promo items for my business from the same place where I get the craft projects and goodies for the children’s letters. Now if only they sold business cards and printing materials, that would really make it a one-stop-shop for me!
GO READ A BOOK!

I was going to start telling you about some of the great family and education newsletters that I get in my email every day. And I had started, and then I just stopped. Silly me!

I got one in my inbox the other day that just made me yell at myself for not continuing this conversation with you! The newsletter comes from a great lady named Aurelia Williams, and her site is called Real Life Solutions. She is a life coach, but, a lot of her content is heavily focused on parenting - and is very helpful, I might add! The subject of her newsletter this week was ‘Free summer crafts and activities for children’, in which there were links to some great ideas for keeping your kids busy and happy this summer!

If you’d like to sign up for her list, go back to her homepage, Real Life Solutions and you will see the sign-up box in the top left corner. And right now she’s giving away a free ‘You Deserve a Break’ report with every sign up!

GO READ A BOOK!

It is very important for children to keep reading, even during the long, lazy days of summer.

One way to keep your kids reading is to find books on topics about which your children are obsessed.

We all know that children go through phases of obsession - with dinosaurs, race cars, Pokemon, and all kinds of things!

If you will help your child to find books on their ‘topic de jour’, you will have a child much more eager to read.

I know that the teachers feel the difference, in the fall, between the children who continued to nourish their brains and those who didn’t.

I’ve often heard teachers complain that the first month is just getting the children’s brains ‘revved back up’.

If our children can start back to school in the fall ready to jump into the curriculum, it will make for a much more successful year.

For me, though, the most important thing is that children learn how utterly enjoyable reading actually is.

And when we help them find books on their very favorite subjects, even if that is truck engines, or electricity, or makeup techniques, we are much more likely to have a lifelong reader on our hands!

I fully understand that summertime is a time for fun, sun, and play. I am actually against the concept of all-year school - so trust me, I adore the idea of children fully enjoying their summer. And I dearly hope that some of that enjoyment involves reading!

GO READ A BOOK!

I have always wanted a cozy, comfortable corner all my own for reading and relaxing. I blame my mother’s dear friend, Patricia. You see, she and her husband have this lounge-y type room that is part of their master bedroom and I used to think that was the coolest thing, even as a kid. And as a grown-up, I’ve always wanted one for myself. We almost built one in one of our houses, but, you know as well as I do that contractors don’t work very much on their own homes. That plan was out the window like so many others! Well, now I have a corner that could be used for just this purpose. I don’t have a whole separate room, but, I do have a corner of my office. And my office, is, after all, my favorite room in the house. It’s the one part of the house that is all mine and I have a nice, empty corner in it that is going to be just great when I get done with it. I have to get some boxes out of the way and I’m going to find a nice, comfy chair to put there. And I think I will get a floor lamp, unless I can actually fit a small end table there. I will need to change out these curtains in here, because they are completely awful. It’s really just a sheer under-curtain, and it is falling off of the wall. That just won’t do. I might like some wood blinds in here, because I would like more versatility with the amount of light in here. On days when I have a headache and just want to cozy up in my chair with a good book, I’ll want it a bit dark in here, except over the book, of course. But that is what the floor lamp will take care of. I think I might get a shaggy rug for under the chair, too. Oh! You know what I could do! If I have enough room, I could put a dog bed next to the chair, and then when I cozy up in here, Lucky can, too! This is sounding better by the minute!

GO READ A BOOK!

I know this book is not new and it was really over a year ago that everyone was talking about it, maybe even two years. I have finally read it, though! And I am so glad that I did! And really, this book is timeless - it should continue to be talked about. It was so good. I can easily see myself reading this one again and again! If you haven’t read it, you should really check it out! I was kind of sad when I got to the end because it was over. I just love it when a book touches me like that!

GO READ A BOOK!

I am the queen of locking myself out - of my car and the house! It’s such a rotten feeling, but, locksmiths have always been available to help me out - thank goodness! And I never really thought about it before, but, locksmiths can restore your peace of mind in a number of ways. They are security professionals and they can install and maintain all kinds of things to make us safer and make our homes and offices run smoother. They obviously can do anything with any locks or safes you may have, but, they also can install burglar and fire alarms, surveillance systems, intercom systems, and even phone systems. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, Locksmith Pittsburgh has the best prices and products in the industry, using state-of-the-art technology for your security. With a polite and friendly staff, they are fully licensed, bonded, and insured. They have a contact form right on the site where you can fill in your contact information and list what kind of help you are needing to get a free estimate. But you will also find the 1-800 number all over the site, should you need emergency help. They are continually upgrading their knowledge, expertise and equipment; and are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to assist you with your needs. Their goal is to know that their customers are 100% satisfied, declaring that they are not happy unless their customers are happy! When someone helps me out of my Lucy Ricardo-style jams, I’m definitely happy!
GO READ A BOOK!