Tag Archives: How to

DIY Chocolate Box

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Heart Shaped Chocolate Box Craft for Valentine’s Day

Have you noticed the seasonal aisles are already stocked with treats for Valentines Day?!

And based on the shelf space dedicated to to them, I think it is safe to say the heart shaped box of chocolate reigns supreme.  I always bring one home for the family on Valentine’s Day.  It’s a classic!  This morning though, I was noticing how much of a premium you pay for those chocolates in that heart shaped box.  And after thinking about it for a while it also occurred to me how ordinary those mass produced symbols of love really are.

So I decided to make my own!   Continue reading →

Bob Books Giveaway

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Update:  MaryAnne from Mama Smiles has won this giveaway!  Congrats MaryAnne and thanks everyone who entered and shared their books!  

My daughter learned to read in preschool thanks in large part to Bob Books.

I am not saying that all kids are ready to learn to read in preschool (my son isn’t) or that Bob Books are the only way to learn.  I am not even saying it was the only tool we used but I am saying Bob Books were THE tool that took my daughter from pre-reader to reader!  Bob Books gave her quick success and confidence.

Read on to learn why I recommend them so strongly and for a chance to win Bob Books (Set 1)!   Continue reading →

Meet the Hills

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Got Book Love?

Are you familiar with Melissa Taylor’s Imagination Soup?  It is a cheerful and insightful place to discover the best new children’s books and fun activities.  I really love this site and am passionate about literacy which is why I was so excited to recently have the privilege of pre-reading Book Love by Melissa Taylor.

Click on cover to see more reviews at Amazon!

Here’s my Amazon review…   Continue reading →

DIY Microphone for Kids

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Do your kids like to sing, perform, or generally just like the sound of their own voices?  Are you into upcycling and eating almonds?  Yes?  Well then do I have a project for you!

Are you familiar with Magic Mic?  It doesn’t actually amplify your voice but rather adds reverb with an echo chamber and spring.  We have one and it is super fun even for adults.  It’s in the toy basket and has survived many toy purges over the years because it never seem to lose its play value nor does it run out of batteries!

Turns out an echo mic is a pretty simple device to make!  Want to make one?  Here’s how…   Continue reading →

I ♥ Animation

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When I was a little kid I wanted to be a Disney animator.  I loved fairy tales and Disney art.  Plus I was fascinated by the process of animation.  We had a set of Golden Book encyclopedias and I loved looking at the animation entry, especially the pictures, of course.  This childhood dream of mine did not come true but I am still as fascinated by animation as ever!   Continue reading →

Give to the Red Cross

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Things are bad in New Jersey and New York.  I didn’t really know.  I was preoccupied by my own minor Hurricane Sandy experience.  On Cape Cod, school was cancelled but we didn’t even lose power.  A few downed limbs and pine needles on the roads.  Nothing even to clean up.

Then I started seeing the pictures on TV.  People died.  Damages in the $50 billion range.  Neighborhoods burned down, other ones flooded, subways flooded, New York City building without power, people unable to flush their toilets, and there are mile long gas lines.  When people go without these resources, problems get much worse before the get better.

If you haven’t already, please consider donating to the Red Cross.  Donate now here.  They also need blood donations.  Enter your zip code to learn about blood donation opportunities here.

 

Pinwheels and Windmills

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Wind sure can be powerful!  Many on the east coast witnessed this in the extreme this week with Hurricane Sandy.  We didn’t even lose power but I know many weren’t so lucky.  It got me thinking about wind and harnessing that power.  We don’t live near any operating windmills but I was wondering if they were generating crazy amounts of power Monday!  Personally I am all for windmills.  They had me at generating-renewable-energy-without-producing-greenhouse-gases!   Continue reading →

Cold Hands, Warm Science

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This morning I have cold hands.  How very fitting that the weather has turned very fall like on the eve of the first day of fall.  I am sure by the time my summer clothes are just about buried beneath sweaters and jeans it will warm up again but in the meantime I am rubbing my hands together!  And as I am doing this I am thinking about how cool this little scientific principle is.

It is why you can make fire by rubbing two sticks together.  Pretty cool right?! Continue reading →

Flexible SEO Course

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Exciting Update: The Google Luv Course is now a membership site!  That means anytime access to an extensive library of blogging resources!

Are you planning holiday affiliate posts and want more than just your bloggy friends to see them?  Then this course is a must!  

Click on the course button for more info and enter the promo code “doodles” for $15 dollars off!

My blog is getting lots more hits since I took this course and I love having unlimited access to course videos and materials!  Read on for more about my experience with the Google Luv Course…

Learn About SEO From a Wiz and Fellow Mom Blogger

Today I am going to tell you about an online course I took with Vanita Cyril who is an SEO wiz…

It is called the Google Luv Course.

Would you like to reach a wider audience than you have been able to drum up through social media?  Does it frustrate you to know people are searching for what you write passionately about and they never find your blog because it is buried in the Google search results several pages down?  Would you love your link to land on page one?  Is search engine optimization a mystery to you?

Why not do something about it?!

This SEO stuff I find a bit tricky.  Vanita will walk you through it one step at a time.  I found the course material to be clear and easy to implemented.  Want more personalized support?  With the premium option you receive 4 weeks of individualized email assistance from Vanita and trust me, with this service, she is THERE FOR YOU!

With all that is on my plate I really appreciated being able to view the video lessons anytime. Many times I would start one and have to come back to it later.  And the assignments can also be done when you can squeeze them in.  I found this to be so important because a a working mom, blogging is not my first or even second priority.

How did she know to make this course so flexible?  Because she is a busy mom blogger too!  I love learning from her because she is so relatable!

This is truly fascinating stuff!

Vanita will teach you to THINK like Google!

Click on the Google Luv button to learn more about the course and membership pricing options.  And don’t forget, to receive $15 of enter the following promo code: doodles

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I am an affiliate for this course and membership.  If you sign up for it through my link I will earn a commission.    

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Vanita wants to get the word out about the Google Luv Course.  Please help by sharing this post!

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This post is linked up with the Blog Help Blog Hop over at Frankly My Dear.  Check it out for helpful blogging links and/or add your own!  And at What’s the Word? Wednesdays? also at Frankly My Dear…

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