holidays | The Angel Forever

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What Love Means to a Child

Posted on January 31, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Red, pink, and all of the hues in-between are all around right now. Tuesday begins the month of love, with Valentine’s Day right in the middle. We do not typically do a lot on this day, but try to do a little something extra for the kids to let them know how much we love them and each other.

So what does love mean to a 7 year old boy? I asked this question to NHL and his initial response was that he did not want to answer this question. Hmmm. . . me thinks he is officially at that point in second grade where things change. Then, when asking his little brother he chimed in: “It means you are dating someone." Oy, are they already talking about dating people?!

Next, I asked JSL, my 3 year old, what love means to him. His reply is really telling: “It means love”! Of course, he then rattled off a list of random people, places, and things that he loves. Hey wait, was I on that list? Oh that’s right, he said everybody – guess that includes me.

I do believe that boys see things a bit different. To me, love is family, friends, and special memories made with these people. Love it being able to see through the tough times and recall those special moments to keep you going.

Love means letting those that you care about know how much they mean in your world. For me, this could be with a hug, a note to say I’m thinking about them, or a special day together.

How do you tell someone you love them?

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to send someone you love a card to let them know you are thinking of them. Tiny Prints can help you with this. They have Valentine’s Day cards that you can personalize. There are greeting cards, Valentine’s cards for kids, stickers, gift tags, and many other items to pick from.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Valentines Day cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars.

Don’t mind me, I’m heading off to figure out some cards to make for the kids, TechyDad, and other special people in my life.

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a Global Influence campaign for Tiny Prints. By sharing this information with my readers, I will also receive a Tiny Prints gift code to thank me for my participation. No other compensation has been given.

Global Influence Network

Categories:
holidays kid talk shopping Web business

Tuesday Tales – Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox

Posted on January 25, 2011 10:43 am by TheAngelForever

Do you know the importance of next Wednesday, February 2? Well, it is the day that eyes all over the United States will be watching a little critter named Phil. Actually his full name is Punxsutawney Phil and he lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Each February 2, the town of Punxsutawney has a celebration. In the early morning, Phil emerges and we all wait and watch to see what he sees. According to the legend, if Phil sees his shadow and returns to his hole, the US will have six more “lovely” weeks of winter (please note the extreme sarcasm). If Phil does not see his shadow, spring will arrive early. Anyone want to get the word out now and bribe Phil?!

In our large book library we have a lot of books for various holidays. Last year I noticed that we did not have any for Groundhog Day and wished that we had. The other day we received a copy of a new book from Sterling Children’s Books called Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox. I read the book, but am saving it to read with the kids for the holiday since it will be special on that day.

About Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox:

In Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox, author Susan Blackaby elevates the familiar story of Groundhog Day to that of a delightful tale about two mismatched characters and the start of their beautiful friendship.

Brownie Groundhog wakes herself on February 2nd to see if spring might soon be arriving. But when Brownie steps outside, there’s not even the slightest sign of spring – just her shadow, a frosty field, and a very hungry fox. Like the familiar trickster tales of old, Brownie cleverly and consistently delays the fox’s anticipated lunch. Using all her wiles – and some delicious hot cocoa and cinnamon toast – Brownie finds a tasty way to sate Fox’s appetite and find a new friend in the process. Together, Brownie and Fox enjoy a friendship that helps to make the wait for winter’s end a little warmer.

Susan Blackaby’s deliciously witty writing and Carmen Segovia’s adorable animals and stunning landscapes combine to create a picture book filled with warmth and joy.

Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox – Written by Susan Blackaby – Illustrated by Carmen Segovia – Sterling Children’s Books – On sale January 2011 – ISBN 978-1-4027-4336-8 – $14.95 – Ages 3 and up

What I Thought:

The tale of Brownie Groundhog and Fox is unique. It begins with both Brownie and Fox wanting something that they can not have. Together, they learn about patience, passing time while waiting for something that they want, and working together. The two are unlikely friends, we read along and see how Brownie works in a clever way not to be lunch and keep Fox busy. When Brownie outsmarts Fox and tries to leave, we realize that a friendship is forming. The two bond over a snack and learn to trust one another. In the end, they learn that is is best to wait for what they want together than alone.

I really enjoyed this book and like the lessons that it teaches. Problem solving, tolerance, and friendship are all seen throughout the story. I am looking forward to sharing this book with my boys next week. I think I will even see if their teachers would like to have it to share with their classmates.

So what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary of Sterling Publishing in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. One widget within the review is for my Amazon Affiliate where I will receive a percentage of money for the sale of the books should you opt to buy the book mentioned.

Categories:
books holidays Product review Tuesday Tales

Happy Birthday Trees – Tu B’Shvat 2011

Posted on January 20, 2011 8:27 am by TheAngelForever

When you look outside, it is hard to believe that warm weather will ever come back to the area.

Last night, they mentioned that it has now been 14 straight days since we have had temperatures over 32 degrees. I guess that would explain why the mounds of snow are not changing and it keeps adding up.

Did you know that today is a holiday?

Today is Tu B’Shvat. What is Tu B’Shvat you ask? It is the New Year of the Trees, when new fruits are beginning to form. Kind of hard to believe if you live in certain parts of the world stuck in winter, but it is true. In Israel, spring has already started. On this day in Israel people will plant trees outside. In the United States, we often create fun projects for children to plant some seeds. Around here we often grow parsley inside to use for our Passover seders in a few months.

In addition to planting trees, we also taste new fruits during Tu B’Shvat. Items like almonds, figs, carob, and dates that are native to Israel are common. On Tu B’Shvat we also spend time thinking about ways to help our planet like with recycling and saving energy.

I know that JSL will be celebrating the holiday at nursery school tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what they do.

What are your plans for Tu B’Shvat? Even if you do not celebrate, I would love to know.

Categories:
holidays nhl photos weather

The year that was 2010

Posted on January 1, 2011 11:30 am by TheAngelForever

Happy New Year everyone! It is really hard to believe that 2011 begins today. This past year seems like a whirlwind of events that just blows me away. Here are just a few of the highlights from the year that was 2010.

January:

JSL fell in love with Piggy Oink-Oink. A year later and he is still going near and far with us.
Disney was on my brain a lot in January. A quick invite to Disney Social Media Moms Celebration required planning a Disney trip in just about a month and a half. As a Disney planner, this was fun and challenging. A lot of Disney posts followed with Dining plans, stroller rentals, and more!
I realized that knitting and reading is possible. Thanks to audio books, I was able to knit and listen to books on my MP3 player.

February:

TechyDad bought a new scanner to capture photos from his Grandma. While he was doing that he scanned a few from my childhood. A lot were from Disney in the 80’s.
Lots to share from our Disney Social Media Moms Celebration trip. It truly was a magical experience and I can not wait to head there again for the 2011 event.
My little brother and his wife welcomed their son into the world. He was sweet enough to wait until we were back from Disney so we could be there for his bris.
I wrote about the importance of a formal Technology Education program in schools. With budget cuts in most schools, this seems to be something that was never there, or first to go.
NHL learned the fine art of wearing your PJ’s inside-out to bed.

March:

We traveled between winter storms at the end of February to be there for cousin BA’s bris. It was a fun time being with lots of family.
My bloggy shell was really starting to crack and let me spread my wing. After DisneySMMoms, I realized that it was a necessary step.
Once back from Disney, we decided it was time to push the envelope with JSL. He was almost 3 and had to ditch his binky. We finally said Bye-Bye to Binky and celebrated with some fun.
Threats to close NHL’s school dominated a lot of time. The unknown, getting the word out, interviews, and rally’s filled much of the month.

April:

Much to my horror, NHL became his own barber at six years old. The scissors are now kept where I have to get something to reach them.
TechyDad and I finally managed to have my December birthday dinner. I really enjoyed going out and celebrating without having to worry about snow and ice.
The weather was gorgeous one day and we went to get supplies to plant some fruits and veggies. Everyone was excited about the prospect, but in the end we know it was a bust.
I wrote a post to bloggers to beware of content scrappers. This continues to be an issue and getting more and more difficult to stop and track.

May:

A freak storm literally blew a section of our roof off. I never heard it happen and noticed it several hours later.
More of my bloggy shell came off in May. Christina (from CutestKidEver) and I were interviewed by Elaine Houston for a local news segment. I wrote about Elaine coming here and then about the actual segment.
Lots of time was focused on finding Winnie the Pooh items for JSL’s 3rd birthday. The weekend of his birthday was filled with family, fun, and a fire!

June:

The boys love to see live shows. We won tickets and took them on an adventure to see Curious George Live and had a blast.
If the roof flying off in May was not bad enough, our house tossed another one our way. I went down to start a load of laundry and was greeting with a river flowing in our basement. A burst water pipe changed our world for several days and beyond.
We traveled to a family wedding and the boys had a blast. Both declared that they needed another wedding to go to since they had so much fun.
Father’s Day weekend was filled with lots of fun memories, including a trip to bowl.

July:

To celebrate the 4th of July we took the boys to see Toy Story 3. This was also JSL’s first time seeing a movie in the theater. We had a fantastic time.
We went to see Uncle I, Aunt M, and cousins SG and BA for a fun filled family weekend. We went cherry picking and did a lot more during the time together.
While our roof was finally getting fixed, we became potty training central. Thanks to NHL helping out – JSL was using the potty after a few days. Good bye diapers!
I also wrote about how not all Amusement Park First Aids are created equally. To update this, nobody from The Great Escape (a Six Flags Park) has ever gotten back to me about my son’s injury, the safety of the ride, or their horrible response time. Numerous e-mails, phone calls, and Tweets were sent with no reply from the powers that be. Sick, sad, and not a good PR day for Six Flags.

August:

Growing up I spent most summers with my neighborhood best friend J. After going way too long without getting together, we finally met for an afternoon of chatting.
TechyDad and I went away without the boys for the first time to BlogHer 2010 in NYC. We had an amazing time learning, laughing, and meeting many people over the long weekend.
Time refuses to stop, so NHL turned 7 in the middle of the month. No fires at his party, thank goodness. We had a fun weekend with family going to a fair and celebrating.

September:

We spent Labor Day weekend at the lake with extended family celebrating Mimi’s Birthday. We had fun playing games, running outside in the rain, and driving the boat.
Back to school was a lot different this year. NHL went off to second grade and JSL started nursery school three days a week.
TechyDad and I went to open house for both of the boys. The one for NHL brought back a lot of memories.

October:

The sun came out for a beautiful Fall day, so we had a Hexbug party with the neighbors outside. Fun was had by all – including the adults as the kids played for hours.
The world of children’s book had a controversy. Some were saying that picture books were not needed. I weighed in on the subject for one of my Tuesday Tales.
A new adventure began. The KidsFunPlaza NENY magazine was launched at the end of September. Such an amazing experience that just keeps getting better each month. Now available at Price Chopper stores across the Capital District, there were over 20,000 magazines published in November!
With almost no time to go, we took the boys apple picking. The day was perfect as we managed to get 29.5 pounds of sweet fall goodness.
The boys were healthy and had a fun filled Halloween. We went to the party at NHL’s school, walked around the mall, and did a few houses around the neighorhood. I think Luigi and Tigger enjoyed the Halloween weekend.

November:

TechyDad and I went on a date early in the month. It made us realize the importance of getting out without the kids from time to time.
The beginning of snow falling rekindled my need to knit. One project was frogged for a time, another picked up, and more started soon after.
My brother and his family came into town to have Thanksgiving with us this year. It was so great seeing them and other extended family. We did an early Chanukah with them as well.
After several months of keeping it quiet, TechyDad and I told our readers about some serious things going on behind the scenes. Cyber bullying is serious business and we are not going to back down.
November 30 marked sweet angel Cora’s first birthday. I have written many times during the year about Cora and her parents and their mission to save lives.

December:

Chanukah came early this year. We lit the candles each night and down played the present giving as much as possible. We also had a nice family dinner with Nana, Papa, Mimi, and Aunt T.
With two digital cameras that were not working, TechyDad and I bought new ones. It had been so much fun having a camera that cooperates and takes gorgeous photos.
My birthday came and went without a trip to the ER or snow storm. A new Vera Bradley bag, lunch out with Nana and JSL, dinner out with TechyDad, and cake with the boys made it a wonderful day.
I won a Keurig machine and no longer had an excuse to leave the house to get coffee at my parent’s house. Thanks to a little caffeine each day my headaches have mostly gone away.
We scored some tickets for Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3. It was a magical night for everyone. This was the first Disney show for JSL, so he was a bit overwhelmed with everything. Everyone loved the show and even watching the video I took.
The end of 2010 was filled with sickes and snow. A massive blizzard hit the northeast and we got at least a foot of snow that trapped us in after being sick all the weekend before.

Of course, these are just some of the major events that took place here in my world. Thanks to my blog, I have many other moments captured for our family. Thank you to my family, friends (both IRL and online) who have supported me this year. Another thank you to the wonderful PR people and companies that I have worked with this year. Everyone’s interest has been crucial to helping TheAngelForever.com to be a success. I look forward to 2011 and beyond with all of you.

Happy New Year to all of you and your families.

Categories:
Blogging Conference bloggy friends BlogHer cousins Disney DisneySMMoms family holidays jl jsl looking back me moments nhl photos TechyDad

Setting goals and making them happen

Posted on December 31, 2010 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Several years ago I fell in love with a knitting project. I found it when looking in a book. What book you ask? This pretty well known knitting book:

The knitting project that I craved to try is called a Log Cabin blanket. I understood the concept, but for the longest time I could not figure out how to change colors with this technique. I kept waiting to try this out myself and had it as a goal.

Wednesday night I did a search on You Tube and found a video showing how to do exactly what I needed. It seemed easy enough to follow. So, I took out a bunch of my old scraps of cotton yarn.

Next thing I knew, I had a small little Log Cabin square going. It isn’t perfect – I think I added a stitch in my original color change. Still, I am quite proud to say that I figured it out and can eventually try some larger projects with this technique.

Here are some photos of the mini Log Cabin as I worked on it.

This is the finished piece. I put it on my laptop to give you an idea of the final size.

My knitting goal helped me to come up with my final Aloha Friday question for 2010:

What are some of your goals for 2011?

I like to set goals to accomplish, rather than resolutions that quickly get crushed or forgotten. Happy New Year to everyone. May the coming year be filled with good health, magical memories, and fun times!

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.