MOVE OVER KINDLE Sylvan Dell’s innovative eBook format promises to improve reading speeds, comprehension, and language learning skills MT PLEASANT, SC - Sylvan Dell Publishing goes LIVE this week with its next generation eBook, proving the company represents “so much more than a picture book;” it represents a full-fledged campaign for literacy in America. From Sylvan Dell publisher and co-founder Lee German: “These are the most technologically advanced eBooks in the world today, featuring Au... Read Full Story

Well, I never did get around to posting the “follow-up” final review after finishing the first Daniel X book. We DID finish it and loved the story - from beginning to end (minus the mild profanity, mind you :). So when MotherTalk sent out information about a second Daniel X book, I was quite ecstatic. I signed up, all giggly that I could surprise my 9 year-old with the next book. (He was quite disappointed upon finishing the first book that the second book wasn’t available... Read Full Story

When I was pregnant with our 4th and lounging the summer away at the water park trying to stay cool, another mom of four welcomed me to the “freaky four club.” We discussed how people think you’re weird for having four kids, you know, ‘cuz two is normal. Yes, we get weird looks and see people counting and wondering if they are all ours. Lots of comments about “how do you do it?” and “I can barely manage the two we have” and “do you know ... Read Full Story

When I was a little girl, I drove my mother nuts by rearranging my room every week or so. I wasn’t trying to bug her; instead I was seeking some sense of “newness” in my life. ‘Course I didn’t figure that out until MUCH later! Later, as in after you’ve run up all your credit cards buying “new” stuff ’cause you’re out on your own and have the freedom to go do stupid things like buy everything you want . . . on credit. So thanks to... Read Full Story

I love it when I come across a great idea, don’t you?  You just can’t pat yourself on the back enough!  I’ve been struggling to find an inexpensive ball rod set for the double window in the girls’ room (I’m still converting it from the nursery now that the caboose is turning three). As I was sitting at the dining room table this evening, the rod over the bay window in the living room caught my eye.  I stopped talking mid-sentence as my wheels starting turning . .... Read Full Story

When I have the time, I keep the house pretty clean, rotating those big tasks (like cleaning the oven, scrubbing baseboards, washing windows, and dusting ceiling fans) periodically throughout the year. As such, my spring cleaning is more of a de-cluttering. I’d like to say that I have an organized way to attack all the accumulation from the previous year, but I don’t. Whatever mood strikes me is where I choose to attack. Today it was the garage. Our garage, like most, lacks ai... Read Full Story

One day in the midst of feeling overwhelmed about all the things around the house I needed to do, I stumbled across a great blog post that really spoke to me (because catching up on blog reading is the thing to do when no one has clean underwear). Her feelings about Christmas - honey, I’m all there. Ahem . . . ‘course we still have an Easter basket and a bag full of empty Easter eggs cluttering the countertop. So what is my problem? If it feels so good to get rid of the clutter... Read Full Story

You know all those little pre-packaged fruit snacks? They come in all shapes - princess, Dora, smiley faces, and on and on - the manufacturers make these VERY appealing to little people! I don’t buy them, however, citing to my kids that “it’s not on the list so we’re not buying it.” These little packages simply don’t provide any snack-worthy benefits, and the dentist says they are awful because these little sugary “snacks” stick to kids̵... Read Full Story

Can you guess what this is a picture of? A) A turtle that died eating Easter basket grass B) A collection of rocks and trash found in my yard C) Evidence to clear my name The correct answer is C - this is really gross. Just looking at this picture, I doubt your first guess would have been dried dog poop. Great Dane dog poop. Great Dane-that-finished-my-youngest-child’s-chocolate-Easter- bunny-out-of-her-Easter-basket poop. The kids thought I ate the last bit of it (which I was tem... Read Full Story

Summer boredom busters . . . well . . . . our favorite is the waterpark. The best part is, I have my mom give us all season passes as a Christmas present - mind you it’s not very exciting to open (unless you’re the one who has to find a home for all the new goodies delivered on Christmas Day), but an awesome gift come the 90o mark! So plan ahead and ask for waterpark passes so you can splash down all summer when everyone is bored. Read my original waterpark post for tips on how ... Read Full Story