Support Your Local Bookstore (and have fun doing it!)

Today was a great day to take my two grandsons to a place they really love visiting, our local bookstore. I really believe in spending my dollars here because I don't want to see all of the small, independent bookstores go out of business. Amazon and the other giants have their places, but my heart belongs to all the little bookshops that sometimes struggle to stay in business.

There is so much more than just books to read. Trains, games, puzzles and more!

Our local bookstore offers a great selection of children's books of all kinds and for all ages, from babies to teenagers. We bought all of our Harry Potter books here and they even had Harry Potter parties here at midnight, when the books were released. The staff is very patient and helpful, too. Don't worry, that's not a real skunk! It's one of the many cute puppets they have for sale.

I love encouraging the boys to look at books, even at this young age.

I very much appreciate this bookstore in my community. It's a gathering site for local book lovers. We have author readings, book club meetings, guest lectures and much more. This is the entrance to the children's section. I love how everything is so bright and cheerful. Please support your local bookstore. They need our business to stay in business. And reading is fun!!

HP launches eSmiles for Ronald McDonald Houses

Today, HP launched eSmiles, a project that will build financial and emotional support through HP’s ePrint technology for children and their families staying at five participating Ronald McDonald Houses in the U.S. For every well wish or “eSmile” sent, HP will donate $1 and is committed to help raise $10,000 for each House.

Through pilot programs around the world, the HP eSmiles program has already raised over $120,000 for participating Ronald McDonald Houses in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. The program will help drive further awareness and support for participating Ronald McDonald Houses – globally and in their local communities.

The Ronald McDonald Houses that will participate in the U.S. launch are San Diego, Orange County, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City. HP has donated a Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One to each House, which allows the families to receive eSmiles from around the world. Each participating House will have its own customized ePrint address, allowing you to select exactly where you want to send your eSmile. 

How it Works:

HP ePrint technology enables people to print on the go by securely sending photos and documents directly from a mobile device to a printer’s unique email address – from virtually anywhere. Each participating Ronald McDonald House has its own HP ePrint enabled printer with customized ePrint address, allowing you to send an eSmile to a Ronald McDonald House down the street or around the globe.

• Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities: RMHAtlanta@ePrinteSmiles.com
• Orange County Ronald McDonald House: RonaldHouseOC@ePrinteSmiles.com
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego: RMHCSanDiego@ePrinteSmiles.com
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana: RMHChicagoCNI@ePrinteSmiles.com
•  Ronald McDonald House New York: RMHNewYork@ePrinteSmiles.com

Ways to Participate:

To find out more about the program, become part of the global community and to see the donation updates, visit hpesmiles.com and find a participating house near you!

Eyes, Ears , Mouth and Noogie?

He is wearing socks and shoes on his hands lol

My son makes me laugh so much. He has been mastering nose, ears, eyes, hair, mouth, feet, hands all the stuff he needs to know. So much so that he points it out on other people. He poked a kid in the eye (so sad) then stuck his finger in another kids nose (so gross!) He tells me everyday about where all of mine are too. Its very cute. In the process of learning all these he also learned boogie.

Now he calls his nose a "Noogie" its a cross between nose and boogie lol.

He makes me laugh and I love it!

Our Valentine's Day Gift List

Happy Valentines Day to everyone. We are planning to spend the day with our families. We hope everyone enjoyed our gift guide. We still have the giveaways going until Feb 20th so be sure to enter. There are extra entries for daily FB shares and Tweets.

If you have not purchased a gift there is still time. Plus who does not love a gift any day of the year!


Here is our Valentines Day Gift Guide List:


Video Games:
-The Adventures of Tintin  
-The Black Eyes Peas Experience
-ABBA You Can Dance 
-The Price is Right Decades
-Rayman Origins   
-Skylanders Spyro's Adventure 

For Kids /Toys:
-Barbie Mermaid Tale 2 Doll
-I Love You More Than Chocolate
-I See Me My Very Own Name Book

Gifts for Women:
-Shop-Tuile.com
-MK Totem Leather Hobo Bag  
-Sibu Beauty Products 
-Eco-Artware Earrings 
-Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat
-Emerson Creek Pottery Bud Vase 
-Hard Candy Makeup

Gifts for Anyone you Love:
-Hallmark Blooming Expressions and Recordable Storybooks 
-Creative Walls: How to display and enjoy your treasured collections Book by CICO Publishing
-Gift Cards Rock Applebees Gift Card

Food and Treats:
-Organic Wacky Apple
-Marie Belle Frangelico Truffles 

We hope you have a wonderful day with your Valentine! 

Thanks for being a reader, we appreciate every one of you!

Upside Down Kitchen

Well its not literally upside down but all the chairs are. It seems no matter what I do with the nos, time outs and explanations my son could care less as to why he should not jump from kitchen chairs or use them to get on top of the table to try to leap from there. He thinks it "cool" as he says to leap from everything he can. He worries me and I try to stay calm asking him nicely to get down. I know hes a boy, they are wild but oh my the time I came into the kitchen and he was standing on the kitchen table with the biggest smile on his face like he climbed Mount Everest I nearly passed out. He leaped as soon as he realized I had seen him. Thankfully I caught him but then he giggled and now thinks its a really fun game. My solution has been to turn the chairs over. He can almost pick them up but I tell him its not time for chairs and he seems to be satisfied with that answer, for now.

I hear from Sam her younger boy has the same love for chairs and leaping from things. I am not sure if it their genes or their love of the thrill of making Mom freak out. I used to blame my husband for our sons wild streak but now it seems to be a trend on my side. lol

I dont want to give fear to my son. I love his fearless nature. He is a mini explorer and very energetic. I want him to be careful but not fragile. I just tell myself, well when I am not saying no-no or get back here, that I am sure people that are in extreme sports or stuntmen probably were like this as kids, right?!?