Get Your Kids Hooked on Books

Young people now spend an average of only seven minutes a day reading for pleasure, reports the National Endowment for the Arts. That is one reason 12th grade reading scores are declining.

These web sites can get your kids excited about books -- and help them think outside their required-reading lists.

Book Adventure - Created by Sylvan Learning, this site's Book Finder matches kids (grades -8) with reads they will enjoy. Acing book quizzes lets them win prizes, like Highlights subscriptions and free access to e-books.

Guys Read - Author Jon Siezka (The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs) launched this site to connect boys of all ages with literature relevant to them. Siezka encourages reading which includes non-fiction, comics, and magazines.

Reading is Fundamental - Kids can rate and review books they have already read. Each month there is a featured book and a featured author.

Teen Reads - This site posts extensive lists of upcoming books and interviews with popular writers. There are also tips on how to start a reading club.

Happy Election Day!

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

13 Days of Halloween

Check out my 365 Days of Memories blog for a countdown to Halloween using vintage Halloween postcards.

Mommy Test

I was out walking with my then 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and asked her not to do that. "Why?" my daughter asked.

"Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs," I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked,
"Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart."

I was thinking quickly and said. "All moms know this stuff. It's on the mommy test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a mommy."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, as she was evidently pondering this new information.

"Oh...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy." "Exactly," I replied back with a big smile on my face.

What Does Your Birth Month Mean?

Your Birth Month is July

Introspective and intense, you tend to be a deep thinker. You are quiet and spiritual - and you have a unique perspective on life. Your soul reflects: Lightness, luck and an open heart Your gemstone: Ruby Your flower: Larkspur Your colors: Green and red

What Does Your Birth Month Mean?

Thought of the Day - 10/14/08

With a compassionate state of mind, your actions will always carry a tone of kindness ands oftness, which is useful inovercoming difficultly with anyone, child or adult.

Make Me Laugh Monday - Getting Into Shape

I am going to get into shape in no time! I thought you would like to try the program that I am on to "tone-up." I really like it.

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface where you have plenty of room at each side. While holding a 5-lb potato sack in each hand extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold your arms out as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute and then relax. Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks. Then, move up to 50-lb potato sacks and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level now.)

After you feel confident at that level, put one potato in each sack.



Share something funny with us by adding your link to the post (not to the front page of your blog).

Thought of the Day - 10/10/08

Fall Decorating

Wordless Wednesday #20

First day of school.

Thought of the Day - 10/6/08

The greater the difficulty . . .
the more glory in surmounting it.

Make Me Laugh Monday - What Will They Sell Next

I wonder how many they sell.

http://treedroppings.com/air.php




Join me in the fun and post a joke, a riddle, a video, anything funny to get us all through our hectic Mondays. Share the link to the actual post and not to the front page of your blog. Thanks.

Works for Me Wednesday #9

For icy steps in freezing temperatures get a bucket of warm water and add a squirt of Dawn dish washing liquid. Pour the mixture all over the steps. They won't refreeze!

Wordless Wednesday #19

Last day of school (6/2008).

Thought of the Day - 9/22/08

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows by Kris Radish

"For eight women, friendship is the first step of the most remarkable journey of all . . .

Just after midnight in a small town in Wisconsin, eight woman begin walking together down a rural highway. Career women, housewives, mothers, divorcees, and one ex-prom queen, they are close friends who have been meeting every Thursday night for years, sharing food, whine, and their deepest secrets. But on this particular Thursday, Susan, Alice, Chris, Sandy, Gail, Mary, Joanne, and Janice decided to disappear from their own lives.

Their spontaneous pilgrimage attracts national attention and inspires other women from all across the country. As the miles fall away and the women forge ahead on their backroads odyssey -- leaving small miracles in their wake -- each of their histories unfolds, tales of shattered dreams and unexpected renewal, of thwarted love affairs and precious second chances.

In luminous, heartwarming prose, Kris Radish deftly interweaves the women's intimate confessions into the story of their brave history-making walk."


A rallying cry for the empowerment of women and a celebration of the strong bond that exists between female friends.

Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 5

Make Me Laugh Monday - CDC Alert

Sorry for being MIA this past week for Make Me Laugh Monday. We lost electric due to 80 mph wind. The biggest surprise was that we were not expecting a storm in this area.


Subject: CDC Alert

The Center for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally, by hand, and even electronically. This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from anyone, or any of your colleagues, or anyone else via any means whatsoever DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely. If you should come into contact with WORK you should immediately leave the premises.

Take two good friends to the nearest grocery store and purchase one or both of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) and Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER). Take these antidotes repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.



Join me in helping others get through the manic Mondays by sharing in the laughter of funny posts. Share your link to your Make Me Laugh Monday post (and not to the front page of your blog).

Around the 'Net - Going Green

Going Green

At their 74-year-old home in Los Angeles, the founders of the eco-awareness website Low Impact Living have been practicing what they preach, making energy-saving improvements and incorporating sustainable and organic materials. The results? Lower bills, a healtheir house, and proof that you can live green without sacrificing style or comfort.

Family Minute #46

K-I-N-D

When you can’t be anything else, you can still be kind. No matter how you’re feeling, or what you want to communicate to your friends or spouse, there is always the option to say things kindly and treat them kindly.

Here’s a simple tool for remembering what kindness is all about.

K – Keep a soft heart. If your heart is hardening toward your friend, examine the way you’re choosing to think about their faults and weaknesses.
I – Indulge your friend or spouse every once in a while. Let them have their way.
N – Notice what’s going on in their life. Be attentive and supportive.
D – Decide to be kind, even when you don’t feel like it.

Kindness is like a spa treatment for your friendship, it soothes and calms. It can also improve your friendship.