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Tuesday Tales – The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook

Posted on June 26, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a little girl, my father introduced me to the joys of cake batter. I enjoyed that, even if we were warned about the danger of raw egg. Then something else came into my world. Cookie dough was even better to me. I loved the taste, the texture, and the flexibility. I was obviously not the only one that enjoyed cookie dough, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and then others added cookie dough to their repertoire and it became an instant hit.

One year, for my birthday (before kids), I asked TechyDad for a tub of cookie dough for my cake. Skip the other items, I wanted something that really called my name. Much to my surprise, he did this. It should not be a surprise that I have a Cookie Dough World board on Pinterest.

Recently, a lot of my pins were focusing on recipes by Lindsay Landis and her new The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook: Cookies, Cakes, Candies, and More. I have to admit, just looking at the beautiful photos in the book kept me happy and content. One day, TechyDad made a batch of the egg-free raw cookie dough for us to try. It was delicious and I was thrilled. Then, for our anniversary, he bought me the book.

I am definitely intrigued with a lot of the recipes. A few that sound fun to try sooner, rather than later are:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge <—Hello gift making!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookie <— Best of both worlds
Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Layer Cake
Cookie Dough Mosaic Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bread Pudding
Malted Cookie Dough Milkshakes
Invisible Cookie Dough Ice Pops
Cookie Dough Oatmeal Pancakes
Cookie Dough-Stuffed French Toast
Cookie Dough Crispy Treats
Cookie Dough S’Mores

If you love cookie dough, or know someone that does – this is a great gift for them. Lindsay has a great variety of treats that play on old favorites with a splash of cookie dough. Oh and FYI – you can check out other recipes and goodies on her website Love & Olive Oil.

If you love cookie dough, what would be your dream cookie dough recipe creation? As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: TechyDad bought our copy of The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. One Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links.

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Tuesday Tales – 2012 Summer Reading Programs

Posted on June 19, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up, I remember spending a lot of time at the library. We would go there to check out new books and sign up for the summer reading program. These days, most local libraries have some kind of reading program for children of all ages to participate in. If you are unsure about programs near you, please contact your local library. In addition to these, many libraries offer enrichment activities for kids to enjoy at little or no cost during the summer months.

Last year, I wrote about going to several events including:

This year, the New York State Libraries are all working around the theme Dream Big READ. More information can be found on the Summer Reading NYS website. Here, you can find booklists, videos, games, crafts, coloring, and more items for elementary aged kids, teens, parents, educators, and even for infant to preschoolers. They also created this video as a PSA:

This summer, both of the boys will be eligible for the same program since JSL will be heading into kindergarten and NHL fourth grade. JSL and I will continue to read Magic Tree House Books together and work on his reading readiness with some picture books. Meanwhile, NHL will probably explore different genres of chapter books. I secretly hope that he will think about reading The Series of Unfortunate Events or perhaps Harry Potter. I do know that we will reinstate the “Reading Ultimatum” that eventually fizzled out some during the homework months.

So, will you be participating in a summer reading program with or without your local library? I would love to know what you do with yours, so please share in the comments below. As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Categories:
arts and crafts books Educational fun interesting jsl local event looking back nhl photos summer Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – Pinterest For Dummies

Posted on June 12, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Alright, it’s time to confess – have you gone to the dark side yet? I am not talking about Star Wars, although a lot of pins for related items will be found there. I am referring to Pinterest. As I have mentioned before, I joined Pinterest at the end of December and have written about it multiple time.

What I never mentioned was how I was hooked. Back in September 2011, I went to SheStreams in NYC. One of my roommates happened to be Kelby Carr.

While in our hotel room one evening, we got talking about Social Media. Yes, we are geeks at heart. Kelby, @Typeamom, was trying to sell Shannan and me on Pinterest. It was just a whisper at the time. I kept saying that I just did not have time to devote to another something. I was clueless and Kelby should have slapped me.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve. I was bored and mentioned something on Facebook. Kelby immediately told me that I should just join Pinterest and go to the Dark Side already. I made an excuse about not having an invitation. Seconds later, I had one in my e-mail from my dear friend. Yes, I was the Jewish girl learning, exploring, and pinning her way through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Kelby Carr, the evil one that hooked me on Pinterest, is now an author of a book all about Pinterest.

Why yes, Wiley knew the real deal and asked Kelby to write Pinterest For Dummies which was released May 8. I was even in Florida when she received her first copy from Ellen.

Like other books from the Dummies line, Pinterest For Dummies really does take a new user step-by-step and explain the ropes. You learn what to do to get started, including getting an invitation, linking profiles, and adding a bio. Once that is settled, you venture into creating board. I love that Kelby shows how to name, pick a category, and then walk you through how to rearrange and edit things later on. The other chapters include:

Pinning and Repinning <—Beware this can become addictive, but great to organize
Socializing on Pinterest <—Always fun to see what friends have pinned.
Using Community Features
Finding Ways to Use Pinterest <— I think it is a great tool for parents/teachers!
Going Mobile with Pinterest <—Still sad it is not Android friendly.
Understanding Pinterest Etiquette <—Hot topic within the social media world.
Controlling Privacy and Other Settings
Self-Promoting on Pinterest
Ten Companies Using Pinterest Effectively
Ten Power Pinners to Follow

What I really enjoyed while reading and browsing around Pinterest For Dummies was the Where’s Waldo effect within the book. Seriously, Kelby’s use of photos for examples in each step show cases some pretty cool people. Check this one out from page 68 in the book.

If you are new to Pinterest or really want to learn how to maximize the power behind it, I highly recommend this book. More related to the book can also be found on the Pinterest For Dummies board on Pinterest of course!

Are you a fan of Pinterest? Do you have thoughts on Pinterest For Dummies? Let me know where to find you on Pinterest and I will catch you there.

As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books and learning. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something that you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: I received Pinterest For Dummies from Wiley in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. One Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the book mentioned and another is coming next. Kelby Carr’s second book Pinterest Marketing For Dummies will be coming out July 24, 2012 and you can already preorder it from Amazon. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links. I know I am looking forward to the next book.

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Blogging Conference bloggy friends books interesting looking back me moments photos Pinterest social media Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – Walter Foster Disney Drawing Books

Posted on June 5, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Summer is almost here and while I hope to spend a lot of time outside with the boys, the weather can be unpredictable. We love to read and explore location destinations, but I also want to let my little artists express their creativity. I love to have art supplies and items to use inside the house for just this reason. NHL and JSL both adore drawing. For Chanukah, we bought NHL a Walter Foster book that teaches how to draw Phineas and Ferb characters. He adored it and it made us pull out another book that we had purchased while visiting Walt Disney World before that.

My post about NHL drawing caught the attention of the social media team at Walter Foster. They wanted to send him some more items to work on his new found love. It was an absolutely sweet gesture, with no strings attached. A bounty of new Disney drawing books arrived.

One of the items was a Learn to Draw Disney Mickey Mouse and His Friends Drawing Book & Kit. This kit had everything that you need to draw favorite Disney characters. This book would make a great gift for a child that likes to draw because of the items included. Of course, the book is also fantastic with great step-by-step instructions to help budding artists.

NHL wanted to dive right into this book. He decided to start with Mickey Mouse of course.

While NHL was busy with this, I checked out the other books that came. They included (links to the Amazon affiliate page with these books):

One of NHL’s favorite characters is Piglet. On a past trip to Walt Disney World, he bought a little stuffed Piglet doll. Thanks to this, I jumped right to the Piglet page in the Winnie the Pooh book.

Of course, once JSL saw that I made something for his big brother, he had a request. He immediately picked a character from the same book (I wasn’t up to trying Buzz Lightyear just yet). So here is the bouncy friend that I made:

I know I am looking forward to more drawing time with the two boys. We have colored pencils, crayons, markers, and other items to make our Disney friends come alive. No doubt, we will be adding more Walter Foster books to our collection. Do you have any drawing books from Walter Foster?

What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments 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: My kids received these four books complimentary of Walter Foster with no strings attached. No compensation was given and no review expected. We enjoy these books and wanted to share them with others. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Four Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post for the books mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links.

Categories:
arts and crafts books Disney fun jsl nhl Product review Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – Magic Tree House Books Take 2

Posted on May 29, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It is hard for me to believe that my baby has already turned five. This September, JSL will be heading to kindergarten. He loves to learn. I believe that with a little help from his big brother, he may be ready to try reading this summer. JSL adores being read to, but I can tell he wants to take off with a book and try to do it on his own.

The summer before NHL started kindergarten, we spent a lot of time at the library. It was a place to explore, keep cool, and find books to read with both of the boys. This was also the time that we first read The Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne. Although I began reading these early chapter books to NHL, TechyDad eventually took over since I was busy with the little guy. It was sad not hearing the stories, but in the back of my mind I knew I would have another chance.

By the time NHL was almost finished with kindergarten, he had read the 40 Magic Tree House books that were already published! The first book was published in 1992 and the 48th book with Jack and Annie will be coming out this July for the 20th Anniversary of the series. It only seems right that JSL and I started reading these books now.

JSL and I sat down over two nights and read Dinosaurs Before Dark and he loved it. He already has demanded to keep reading more about Jack and Annie. I am certainly not going to say no. As a parent and educator, I love the positives in the book. The characters do not give up, they help each other, they think about their surroundings, and they are chock full of educational items. From dinosaurs, to knights, to pirates, and onward he will be learning about literature, people, places, and things from history and the world of science.

Although the books are made up of ten chapters, they are the perfect length to introduce children to longer stories. They are filled with just the right amount of writing and pictures to keep the attention of younger children. In addition to that, the stories connect with one another and will allow kids to really get to know characters and their adventures.

I know that JSL and I will continue reading these books. Even NHL has joined in to listen since it has been a while since he enjoyed them. Before I know it, the little guy will probably be reading the books to me. For now, I will enjoy our time together as we see where Jack and Annie are off to next. Who knows, maybe we will even be able to check out the Magic Tree House play one of these days.

Are you a Magic Tree House fan? I would love to know what other books you like to read with your preschoolers that are getting ready for school. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.