Nick Bland Kids' Books From Scholastic: Giveaway

Your kids would love Nick Bland's books. An Australian author and illustrator, he does fantastic work, with stories appealing to a range of ages. Three of my favourites, courtesy of Scholastic Canada:

A Monster Wrote Me a Letter:

This is a great resource for teaching point of view. We can easily relate to the little boy's anxiety about a monster's upcoming visit...but did you ever stop to think what the monster might be feeling?

The Very Cranky Bear (hardcover):

"When four friends encounter a very cranky bear, Moose, Lion and Zebra all think they know how to cheer him up. But in the end it is plain, ordinary Sheep who might have the answer."

With Bland's trademark engaging illustrations and rhyming verse, this story is sure to be a hit with younger readers.

The Wrong Book:



While my daughters loved all three books, this one entertained and inspired my Grade 3 class the most. In fact, they each wrote their own version of "The Wrong Book" - the story of a child who keeps attempting to share his story, but getting interrupted on every page by unwanted characters!

With complete credit to Nick Bland (since the format is all his), here is our class version of "The Wrong Book":

My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...garbage? Why on earth would this book be about garbage? You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...a horse? Seriously? How did that even get in here? You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...parents? What is this world coming to? I don't want to be bossed around in my own story! You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...snacks? Why would anyone want to read a book about snacks? That would so not sell! You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...erasers? What the heck? You're in the wrong book!

My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...magic? No, this book isn't about magic. Why don't you just poof away and be gone? You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...school? No, this book is more interesting than that! You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...grandparents? I'm sorry but you're just going to slow me down! You're in the wrong book!


My name is Sally Student and this is a book about...over.

*******************

Of course, Scholastic is going to send one lucky This Mom Loves reader ALL THREE of these terrific Nick Bland books (retail value $37), and all you have to do is fill out the form below and click "submit". Your email address is required (if I can't contact you, you can't win!) with bonus entries if you follow This Mom Loves through GFC, email or Twitter, or follow ScholasticCDA on Twitter.

I have recently started using forms from Google Docs for my giveaways, which has increased the responses, and also provides privacy to entrants, as other readers are not privy to their email address or other information. All submissions are accessible to me through spreadsheet form, which I use to find the winner.

The contest will run until July 20th at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, after which time a winner will be chosen through random number generation.

Good luck!



Disclosure: Books were provided to me for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Moms Deserve Options: The Business of Being Born

Executive Producer Ricki Lake and Filmmaker Abby Epstein follow their landmark documentary, The Business of Being Born, with an all-new, four part DVD series that continues their provocative and entertaining exploration of the modern maternity care system. More Business of Being Born, available on October 18, 2011, offers a practical look at birthing options as well as poignant celebrity birth stories from stars including Alanis Morissette, Gisele Bundchen, Christy Turlington-Burns, Cindy Crawford, Molly Ringwald, Ali Larter, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Melissa Joan Hart.

Inspired by their own unique birth experiences, Ricki and Abby teamed up in 2007 to provide a nation of mothers-to-be with insight into the process of childbirth and the various options available when preparing for life’s most special event. More Business of Being Born will be presented in four parts, each containing subject matters ranging from doulas and midwives to celebrity birth stories – all developed with the goal of empowering women by providing the necessary information to make the best birth decisions possible.

Ricki and Abby are proud to announce that they are using Kickstarter, the world’s largest crowd-based fundraising platform, to raise money for the completion and marketing of this upcoming, self-released documentary. Link to the Kickstarter directly at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/211982196/more-business-of-being-born-ricki-lake-and-abby-ep 

(At the time of this post, they had reached $62,000 of their $100, 000 goal, with a deadline of July 14th.) There are some very cool rewards depending on your level of contribution, including your name in the credits, signed DVD's, books, t-shirts, phone call with Ricki, Skype session with Ricki and Abby, two tickets to a private screening of the film with Ricki and Abby, and more!

"Every dollar raised through this Kickstarter campaign will help us pay for the release of the film,” says filmmaker Abby Epstein. “More important, however, is that all of the money contributed to the campaign helps spread the word about the various options expectant women have when planning their births.” Simply, by pre-ordering your DVDs, you can be part of the movement.

For more information, click here to check out Ricki's article for The Huffngton Post.

If you've been around since last summer when I wrote "In Praise of Epidurals" for Ingenue Mom's week of birth stories, then you know that I don't take huge issue with what Ricki calls the "highly medicalized climate of hospital births" (also important to note that I'm in Canada, and she's in the States).  However, I'm definitely all on board with "honouring and empowering mothers" and enabling them to choose birth options that work for them.

Winners: Cars 2 and Hallmark Recordable Frame

Congrats to my latest winners:

Virginia of Barrhead, AB will be receiving the Cars 2 Prize Pack, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Canada

and

Holly of Vankleek Hill, ON has won the recordable frame from Hallmark.

Enjoy your prizes, ladies, and thanks to all who entered! More fantastic giveaways coming up!

Shian Naturals: Review and Giveaway

Contest open to Canadians.

I was recently introduced to a fantastic new Canadian company: Shian Naturals Health and Beauty Products, based in Burlington, ON. They make premium quality, all-natural, unscented, skin hair and body products sold exclusively in Canada.

They sent me a trial pack to sample, and I was very impressed. A few highlights:

Just...Massage and Body Oil: How very clever of a company to include an item which will put the reviewer in a relaxed, positive frame of mind...how can you find fault with a product then? A great foot rub was enough to prove to me that the oil works just perfectly! (Note to companies: no matter what you sell - books, clothes, whatever - throwing in some massage oil when sending your product out can't help but improve the review!)

Just...Shampoo: The product feels a little different in hand (more of a gel consistency) but lathers up nicely and rinses well. 

Just...Conditioner: Excellent

Just...Organic Body Wash: Nice texture, leaves that squeaky clean feeling

Just...Moisturizing Lotion: I used this as a hand/foot cream, and put on after my mani/pedi. It's not at all sticky or clumpy, and did the job well.

And by the way, when they claim to be unscented, they mean it. I have used other "natural" products with rather "unnatural" scents (in fact another brand that I didn't end up reviewing, because I told the company my overall take wasn't positive), but if you're someone who requires or prefers scent-free products, this is definitely the company to go with.

Shian also makes (and their trial pack contains) Lip Balm, Body Butter and Glycerin Bar Soap, which I haven't gotten around to using yet. 

Something else that really impresses me about Shian is their prices. Usually you have to pay substantially more for the clear conscience of "going green", but their products are quite reasonable. Full-sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash, moisturizing lotion or massage and bath oil retail for only $13 each...much less than other "natural" products.

Now is your opportunity to win the same "Just...Trial Sample Pack" (pictured above) that I received, containing a trial-sized version of every Shian product. These items are great for overnight bags, purses, or beach bag...and also an opportunity to sample the wares and decide if you want to invest in the full-size versions. The items arrive in a pretty gift bag, with a bath scrubby thrown in for good measure. The prize is worth $25 (before taxes and shipping, which of course are covered for the winner).

All you have to do to enter is leave your email address in the form below, and click "submit". That's it! (Do not leave a regular blog comment.) For additional entries, click "yes" if you:

• follow This Mom Loves publicly through Google Friend Connect (see sidebar)
• subscribe to This Mom Loves through email (see sidebar)
• follow This Mom Loves on Twitter (see sidebar)
• follow Shian Naturals on Twitter

The contest will close on July 18th, 2011 at 11:59 p.m., after which time a winner will be chosen through random number generation.

Check out the Shian Naturals website for more information or to place your order! You can use the code "momloves" to save 15% on all purchases between now and July 31st, 2011!

I'd Like To Kiss the Inventor of the Shellac Manicure

I love nail polish, but I hate chipped nails. All year long, my ritual has been to sit down on Sunday nights in front of Desperate Housewives and give myself a manicure. And all year long, by about Wednesday or Thursday, the colour is chipping and I have to remove it.

Doesn't matter what I try: different brands, base coat, top coat, magic potions. I get four good days, tops. And I can't stand walking around with chipped nails. (Of course I can't. You know I'm weird about stuff like that.)

Then, a few months ago, a coworker showed me her incredible looking nails, and bragged that she was on week two of her manicure, with not a single chip! I was intrigued. She told me it was called Shellac, which I had heard of, but never actually seen in person.

Finally, for Mother's Day, I asked for a gift certificate to go see the same nail technician, and my husband obliged. It took me almost a month to get an appointment, but the results were so worth it.

What happens is this: a special type of polish is used (our technician uses the "Creative" brand; I've seen it described as a polish/gel hybrid) and after each coat, you stick your hand into a little UV light box. The light seals the polish, and it is virtually bone-dry after the last blast of light (not requiring evaporation time like regular polishes). Reach right into your pocket for your keys; your colour won't budge!

You still have your natural nails, but with a gorgeous, shiny polish that will last at least 14 days! (I made my next appointment for three weeks' time. Once you get new regrowth by your nail beds, it starts to look messy.)

The most stressful part for me was choosing a colour, since three weeks is a big commitment! Although I'm much more of a red girl, I went with a gorgeous pink that I couldn't resist. I've been pulling all the pinks out of my wardrobe for the last few days to go with it.

Here are my hands on Day 10 of the manicure...not a single chip or sign of wear! You can see a bit of regrowth, but that's it. (There's a bit of glare at the tips from the light, but in person they still look perfect.)

Some people wonder if the UV lights are dangerous, and while the power is very minimal, there is no real research to answer one way or the other. Wearing sunscreen on your hands couldn't hurt.

It's possible to take off the Shellac at home by soaking in acetone, but it's recommended that you return to the salon. Removal takes about ten minutes and most of the time is free (of course, the technician is hoping that you're back for another treatment). There is no damage to the nails.

How much would you expect to pay (or be willing to pay) for the Shellac experience? Personally, I find it a bargain at $35. Now, to keep it up permanently would be a bit of a luxury (which at this point I intend to indulge in), but for any occasion that would normally send you scurrying to the salon, this would absolutely be worth it.

To steal from an old (if slightly inappropriate) expression: once you go Shellac, you never go back.

Note: In case this post sounds suspiciously like a paid advertisement, I'd like you to know that I'm not receiving a cent, just sticking with the original theme of my blog: sharing the things This Mom Loves.

Am I Normal? Wait, Don't Answer That...

This is not meant to be humorous. Now, if my self-deprecation amuses you a little bit, that's an acceptable by-product, but I am actually dead serious.

I have had people remark (especially after seeing my home or classroom) that I seem to have it all together. And while I know that is of course untrue, I've been okay with that misperception being out there.

But you know how some stars will show themselves without makeup to prove that they're just like us? Well, here I am without makeup. So to speak. (I don't think there is a great need out there for me to prove that I'm not always red-carpet ready from head to toe. My physical have-it-togetherness doesn't seem to spark as much discussion.)

Deep breath...here it is:

If you don't get the point, then you may not know me very well, or perhaps you're all set to answer the title question in the (h - - -,  no!)  negative.

You see, these are photos of my daughters' rooms. And this isn't a "ha ha, kids cause clutter" kind of moment. Instead, I am going out on a limb and sharing with you that when I walk in each of their doors, my blood pressure spikes and my heart races. I'm really not kidding.

At this point in life, despite my (or perhaps because of my) neat-freak role modelling, Frannie is clearly a hoarder. I used to think that Maggie was more like me, however this is what her room now looks like, thanks to her birthday haul:

I'm sure there are moms out there who could not care less about such things. However, even at work, when somehow my mind drifts to the state of my daughters' rooms, it stresses me out.

Why don't I just clean them? Well, here's the thing: I can remember reaching a point as a child (and I wish I had an age reference to help me out) when my parents no longer touched my room, and in fact did not enter without permission. That said, I was obsessive-compulsive about clutter from an early age, so it was probably easy for them to relinquish that control.

I want my girls to have the same privacy and ownership of their space and "stuff" that I valued as a child, but at this point I can't get it to surpass my (excessive?) need for order in my home.

I cannot wait for summer holidays to start next week, when we will have the time to devote to the sorting, storing and donation of toys. (I'm thinking a movie afternoon may be the carrot I need to dangle to get the girls feeling energized and generous enough to be of assistance here.)

There was once a blogger who wrote about letting go of her need to keep the toys sorted, and that perhaps it infringed on her child's creativity. My (convenient) theory is: if the Littlest Pet Shop animals want to have tea with the little rubber Princesses, or the Barbies and Strawberry Shortcake are remote-control-car cruising together, that's fine by me. As long as they all go back to their own homes at night like civilized people do. (This isn't the place to discuss exceptions to that rule.)

By the way, why do kids have so much freakin' STUFF anyway? I would swear on a bible that we do not spoil our girls with material goods...but between Santa, two sets of grandparents, and more aunts and uncles than they can count, even Christmas and birthday gifts accumulate pretty quickly. I've heard of philanthropic little children who give away their presents, or ask for donations to charity...but if your child isn't suggesting that, wouldn't it be mean to put it on her? What sorts of gifts can be requested that actually make kids happy (as the giver always wants the gift to be well-received) but don't just end up in the pile with all the rest? (Note to Frannie's future gift-givers: Cineplex gift cards will be a huge hit. She does take after her mother in that regard.)

Oh, and if you have any tips or suggestions for what to do with the accumulation of Frannie's first year of school products, I would LOVE to hear them. I want to save the really few important pieces, and sneak the rest into the recycling, but I know there are cool ideas out there for amalgamating such things.

(On a related note, as a teacher, I would like to humbly say to every parent of every student I ever sent home with a whole bunch of crap: I'm sorry. But it had to be done.)

I know when people have two storey homes, it's easier to just let the kids' rooms be as they are, but guests at our bungalow frequently walk down the bedroom hallway where they can be affronted by the mess...and just closing the doors makes the hall too dark and suspicious looking.

So, am I the only one with these issues? Are others just mildly annoyed by (or oblivious to) clutter, or do some of you share my physical and mental reactions to all of the "stuff"? When do you start allowing your kids to have responsibility? I know I am teaching them all sorts of organizational skills which will benefit them in the future...but am I stifling them by choosing the "hows" and "wheres" of their systems, and passing along my own slightly unhealthy practices?

HELP ME!!!

Kids Books: Anastasia's Newest Picks

My nine year old niece "Anastasia" (her self-chosen pseudonym) has both the honour and the responsibility of reading and reviewing books that come my way which are geared to kids in her age bracket. Here she shares a few of her recent favourites:

Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry

Summary: Hildegarde, a mouse, sent all of the mice to the church cemetery in fear of the Great X. However, Hildegarde figures out  a way to stop it from happening. When they enter the church, the blessing of the animals has begun and Hildegarde, after saving a friend, gets saved as well.

Favourite Part: I liked the part when Hildegarde is blessed by the priest.

Non-Favourite Part: I did not like when the mouse friend is trapped! It was scary!

Age group: I think this book is for 7 to 11 year olds.

(This Mom's note: Who doesn't love Lois Lowry? Sure, she's written some classics, but when I was a kid I devoured her Anastasia series. I bought them with my own money and read them over and over. They rank right up there for me with The Babysitters' Club, Nancy Drew Files, and Sweet Valley High.)


World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky

World Without Fish is abook that inspired me to help stop overfishing and pollution as much as I could. It gives a detailed look at what could happen if we stop caring for our planet. I recommend this book for kids 10 and up. If you care about our planet, then World Without Fish is perfect for you!

From the publisher: Written by a master storyteller, World Without Fish connects all the dots—biology, economics, evolution, politics, climate, history, culture, food, and nutrition—in a way that kids can really understand.

World Without Fish tells kids exactly what they can do: Find out where those fish sticks come from. Tell your parents what’s good to buy, and what’s not. Ask the waiter if the fish on the menu is line-caught. And follow simple rules: Use less plastic, and never eat endangered fish like bluefin tuna.

Trouble at the Zoo and Rescue! (Bindi Wildlife Adventures) 

(These titles are from a new series based on the fictional adventures of Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin.)

Says Anastasia: "Trouble at the Zoo" teaches us that sometimes what you want isn't best for everyone. A teenage boy tries to steal a Komodo dragon from the zoo! However Bindi catches him and uses her parrot to retrieve it. Zac realizes that he would npot be able to care for the Komodo dragon and apologizes. This book is for kids aged 7-8.

In "Rescue!", Bindi goes to Africa and discovers tha the place she is staying is where tourists hunt big game! It teaches us that you shouldn't be dishonest, and the person who owned the park was caught. This book is also for 7 and 8 year olds.

Rebecca's Rashness (Book 7 in the series called "The Sisters Eight") by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Rebecca's time has come! She is to receive her power! If you like magic, friendship and wisdom then this book is just right for you. I liked when Rebecca received her power. This book is for 8-10 year olds.

And finally...

Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects For Kids by Michael J. Caduto

This book teaches that there are many ways to destroy and save the earth, and you are a part of it. You can destroy the earth or save it. Of course, the book encourages you to save it, because it includes 22 science projects to help save the earth, and is packed with ways to avoid our earth being destroyed. I tried an experiment myself and loved it! This book is for 8-13 year olds.

Thanks, Anastasia! Always a pleasure to have my talented niece sharing her thoughts here on my blog.

Great Canadian Blog Bash and a Hallmark Giveaway!

Perhaps I'm biased, but I feel confident saying that Canada is the best country in the world. I enjoy visiting elsewhere (the sunny south, or incredible New York City, for example) but I could never imagine living anywhere else.

As a teacher, I am well aware that many of our systems (e.g. education, health care) are models which other countries strive to follow...or should! How lucky we are to be able to enjoy such a high standard of living and offer it to  our children!

I appreciate the beauty of the four seasons...although one season I enjoy much better from the inside looking out. Where better to enjoy a fire, a hot tub, or a steaming mug of hot chocolate than right here in Canada?

I'm also proud of our Canadian talent, particularly the moms I've had the opportunity to speak with for my Momterview feature. Click here to read my interviews with Canadian celebs like Dr. Marla Shapiro, Debbie Travis, Tracy Moore, Marci Ien, Sarah Richardson, Hayley Wickenheiser, Jamie Sale, Laurie Gelman and Jessica Holmes. (This has been my absolute favourite part of blogging, in case you couldn't tell.)

So, welcome to my Canadian blog. I come with the perspective of a teacher and freelance writer, as well as a mom to two girls (ages 5 and 3). I blog about parenting and education, offer reviews and giveaways, and sometimes just editorialize...which is the luxury of being your own editor! See the sidebar if you'd like to follow through GFC or Twitter or subscribe through e-mail to catch all the action.

To celebrate the Great Canadian Blog Bash, and since I'm a member of their Press Pause Panel, Hallmark Canada agreed to give away a fantastic prize to one lucky Canadian reader: their recordable "Life Makes the Best Story" picture frame.

It comes in a wood finish, large enough to hold a 4 x 6 photo, and the best part is that you can record a 10 second personal message...or leave it to the recipient to record their own. O Canada, perhaps? :-) The frame retails for $29.99 at Hallmark stores across the country.

This would make an amazing gift for any number of Canadian summer occasions: baby shower or birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary, graduation, retirement...what moment would you use it for? Standing in front of one of our country's monuments on vacation? Enjoying the Canadian wilderness? Or just to show off your favourite little Canadian(s)?

This giveaway is open to Canucks only, and is shorter than usual to wrap up at the end of Blog Bash week. I'll choose the winner after 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 1st.

I just started using Google Docs for my giveaways, so please DO NOT leave a comment below as your entry. Instead, fill out the following form and click "Submit". That's it!



Just to recap: The comments section for this post is not connected to the giveaway. Please complete the form to be entered to win the Hallmark frame. If you have anything else you'd like to share, then feel free to comment away below! A note to GCBB visitors: this is the last week of school, so I won't be able to return too many visits until the final bell rings...but then I'll hop away!

Enjoy the Great Canadian Blog Bash!