Christmas Is Coming

One of the sure signs that Christmas is getting nearer is the appearance of the Christmas Book Box.

We have been collecting Christmas books since the kids were little and each year add at least one new one to the collection.

The box comes out after Thanksgiving and goes back into hiding on New Year's Day. In between, bedtime stories are given over almost completely to the exploits of Santa and the reindeer.

We have the classics, this AMAZING Pop-up version of The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman...

But even more fun are the lesser known stories:The Christmas Crocodile ,
The Chicken Who Saved Christmas, How Santa Got His Job, and Olive, the Other Reindeer.

Now that the kids are getting a little older, they like more involved stories, especially if they have "extra" features. One that they have enjoyed for the past few years is Dear Santa Claus, which has actual letters from Santa in little envelopes. They fight (of course) over who gets to read which letter and who gets to hold the tiny advent calendar and "Reindeer Guidebook" while we read.

Today, after we got the box out and placed it in its place of honor by the fireplace, we went out and found the book for this year. Santa Claus is a very impressive book with lots of fold-out sections that give lots of hard-core factual information about the North Pole and the "magic portal" that leads to Santa's headquarters. We only got through about four pages tonight, but we are all set to work on it for the next few nights!

The kids spent part of the afternoon sprawled out on the floor revisiting their old favorites. They love the tradition of getting the books out each year.

This made me think of the kids that First Book is helping, who don't have collections of books to bring out each year and pore over. I can't even imagine a life without more books than we know what to do with, but I know that there are lots of kids who aren't as blessed as we are.

It is easy for you to help kids get access to books. During this holiday season, as always, 2% of any on-line orders from Stuff for Sprouts are donated to First Book. In addition, you can add extra donations to your shopping cart. While everything is on sale (40-50% off!) you could consider donating some of those savings to helping make books available to needy kids.

You could also click through on any one of those links up above. Any purchases from Amazon through a link will result in a percent of the price of the book going to First Book.

If you don't want to do any of those things, and are donating gifts for children through some other organization, consider making books part of those donations. Kids who learn to love reading can learn anything.

And that is the best gift there is!

Are you doing it?

Today, in honor of Feel Your Boobies Week, I am giving a shout out (well, a whimper out to my imaginary audience) to Feel Your Boobies.

I know the founder, Leigh Hurst, from Ladies Who Launch. And I proudly have a FYB magnet on my car (which attracts lots of attention!)

Leigh started Feel Your Boobies when feeling her own helped her detect early breast cancer when she was only 33 (!) She made t-shirts for her friends with the irreverent statement "Feel Your Boobies" and they took off. Now she is spreading the word and encouraging young women (and those of us who wish we were young enough to be in her target demographic) to be familiar with their own bodies and know when something is not quite right.

I love all of her marketing tactics including the great graphics, cool t-shirts, and my favorite, The Boobies Bus. She even did a Boobies at the Beach tour this summer including planes flying along the beach with FYB banners. Too cool.

FYB is currently in the running for a MySpace Impact Award - so if you are a MySpace member (I became one so I could vote) please give a click to Leigh and her great cause.

Charitable suggestions?

I am looking for a shelter for women with children or a children's home where I can donate some of the older stock of Stuff for Sprouts (perfectly good, the labels just changed). I have contacted one, but they might not be able to take it...

Any suggestions?

UPDATE: We will be sending our excess inventory to the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Rock Pointe, Arizona. Those little desert kids are going to be happy!!

Sweet!

Congratulations to the Sweet Life in the Valley Give-Away winner - Pamela White of Marysville, WA!!

Your Lip Stuff is on its way to you. Pucker up!

The Name Game

When I was growing up I was seldom called by my first name. I was Wemmie, or Pinkie, or Ace. The neighbors actually thought for some period of time that my name was Petunia, and they felt sorry for me.

My brother was Jake the Snake (and no, his name isn't Jake), and Moo. He briefly had an alter ego called Skippy.

And now I have a daughter that I call Sprout or Lou, or Louisa, or Fredericka (the female of "Ready Freddy") or Julia (as in "Jump in Julia"). And a son that I call Tater, or Bear, or Mr. Bear, or Mr. Potato Head.

And they answer to them all.

My mom used to make up words (probably still does) and I didn't realize they were made up words. Ever heard of "greeblies"? I have.

And now I have perpetuated this made-up language legacy into my business. Stuff for Sprouts. Crunchy Kids.

Welcome to my world. Fun, isn't it??

Very Cool Idea

I just found this. What a completely awesome idea.

I am always worried about losing my Sprouts in a crowd.

I think I need to buy some!

New Stuff

I got my new phone!

YAY!

Isn't he cute? Or, because I got a silly pink cover for it, she?

I am still trying to figure out what to do with it. And I guess I now have no excuse for not knowing where I am supposed to be when.

My favorite events are (in roughly descending order):

• Getting a new baby (done with those)
• Getting a new car
  
• Getting a new phone or other gadgety thing

New stuff ROCKS!

Back to School

Does it horrify anyone else that the stores are already talking about going Back to School?

We just got an entire catalog from Land's End of backpacks and lunchboxes (of course Sprout and Tater were all over it...picking out high-end versions of each).

The displays are starting to go up in my beloved Target of school supplies and fall clothes.

Um...it's July. Early July.

School doesn't start for 2 months!! I haven't even psyched myself up to buy a new bathing suit and they will be all gone. What's the rush?

But there is a good school-related summer activity that you can participate in and potentially make a big difference for your school (when school is back in...months from now).


I am sure you are familiar with the Boxtops for Education program. Our school collects the boxtops every year. I have to admit that I am not a full-on participant...I want to be, but I am not paying attention to the details when I am throwing things away and I hardly ever remember to take the little box top things off. I am thinking that one of our summer projects could be to make some sort of box to collect the boxtops in...so I will remember in my haste to get rid of the trash and rescue those little box top logos...

Anyway...collect the boxtops and your school gets cash for lots of good stuff.

BUT - this summer/fall it gets even better! Kimberly Clark is doing a big Sweepstakes and the winning school will get 100,000 boxtops of credit (equivalent to $10,000!) AND a concert by Jordan Pruitt (who I only know because my kids were mildly obsessed with "Jump In" for a while and her name is on several songs on the soundtrack).

You can register and vote for your school here. You can come back and vote daily until September 15th. The winner will be chosen at random and their school will get the big prizes.

And then who would be the coolest mom in town?

Well, still me. But you'd be good, too. :)

Fireworks

I love fireworks.

They are the one thing I (sort of) don't mind having to wait around for.

I will sit out in the humid hotness, or the windy chill, or the bugginess.

I will endure the lack of bathrooms and knowing that the traffic to get home is going to be horrific.

I will let my children stay up WAY too late.

Because when else can you just sit there and ohhhh and ahhhh...and be amazed? Every time.

They are so dangerous and so beautiful at the same time.

I am not one to set them off myself, way to chicken for that. Sparklers have me all nerve-wracked and imagining the sparkler-shaped burn marks they will leave on small round faces.

But sitting out there in the grass, curled up in a blanket with the whole clan. Ohhhhh. Ahhhhh. Magic.

Day Three of the SAHM Experiment

Today we went to the Historic Vehicle Museum in Boyertown, PA. Tater was quite disappointed that they were all OLD cars and quite freaked by the automated lights that only came on when you approached a display (while the rest of the warehouse-like space was dark, and admittedly, creepy). So my darling children whined and complained about how loooong it was taking to look at everything (grand total - 20 minutes) and that there was nothing to DO there (except, you know, look at the old cars...)

And yet, they wanted something from the gift shop (no, we didn't get anything).

We came home for lunch.

We did a craft project where we made fingerprints and then drew faces and silly hair on them. We each made our entire family. Very cute results.

We took Sprout to her viola lesson (she also practiced quite obsessively throughout the day). I made the HUGE mistake of taking Tater to the toy store to "look around" to kill time during the lesson. He found a stuffed dog (to add to his collection of about 20 KABILLION stuffed dogs) that he felt he must have. I told him that if he still wanted it next week he could bring birthday money and buy it. This resulted in him asking every 30 seconds or so if he could just borrow the money and pay me back later. All night. Even at bedtime. Apparently he really wants this dog. And isn't going to forget about it (as I had hoped).

We went and played at the playground.

We went out for dinner (because we stayed too long at the playground and there was no way to make anything for dinner...).

I read 4 chapters of Harry Potter to two different children (Tater just started book #1, Sprout is finishing up #6).

I am exhausted. How do people do this EVERY DAY? Kudos, ladies (and gentlemen).
My hat is off to you.

Scramblin'

I am a time optimist.

I see no reason why I can't go to the pool at 5 and have dinner ready by 6:30...and yet...if we don't get home until 6:30 - how is that happening?

Luckily I have settled into a "system" where we have dinners planned out for the week. And although I don't always follow the plan exactly (we had Wednesday's dinner tonight because it was quicker to put together), it is hugely stress-reducing to know that I have all of the "stuff" to make dinners all week. Also money-saving, as the lure of take-out is somewhat blunted by the fact that I have already purchased the ingredients for dinner.

My mom always did this when I was growing up...and at the time it seemed so bizarre to decide a week ahead of time what we would be hungry for next Thursday. Now, it just makes sense.

I was spurred to realize the wisdom of my mother's ways (Hi Mom!) a couple of years ago when my friend recommended The Six O'Clock Scramble to me.

This is one of the best services ever. I freely recommend it and others who have tried it rave as well. I also have their cookbook and use it extensively!

Anyway - The Scramble sends you five easy, healthy recipes every week. Along with a shopping list, suggestions for side-dishes, health tips, etc. Very straightforward. Very focused. Very yummy.

Tonight I pulled out a recipe from one of their old newsletters that we had liked: Tortellini with pepperoni, gorgonzola cheese and artichokes. Quite delish - and took about 15 minutes to prepare - including boiling the water.

So that whole pool thing didn't seem so silly!

Now if only I could have a similar system for getting the rest of the things done that are stressing me. Could someone send me five stores to contact? Five huge press opportunities? Five big fat checks?

Vacationing in SAHM-land

I am playing at the whole SAHM thing this week. We have 4 weeks of SAHM-ness for me this summer. I have to say, so far, I am digging it!

My friend, Nancy, from college came to visit with her very cute children. Her son is 7 days younger than my Tater, and her daughter just turned 4. Much fun was had by all. My basement has the toy-strewn wreckage to prove it!

We spent the morning hanging out on the porch while the kids played. Took a picnic lunch (of expertly prepared PB&Js, if I do say so myself) to the pool. They hit the road back to NJ around 3. Then we went to Tater's piano lesson, home for dinner, and now I am getting ready to start the bath/bedtime events.

AND today was my first day of being caffeine-free!

When I had a hard time convincing myself that I COULD give it up, I decided that was a pretty strong sign that I SHOULD.

I had a little headache around 3...and I have to say Diet Sprite is nowhere near as enjoyable as my old friend Diet Coke. (Ah...my friend...I miss you already...) But so far so good.

The caffeine-hiatus is probably as close as I am going to get anytime soon to the whole "cleansing fast". I can't quite imagine doing the whole hog thing (unfortunate choice of words since I just read the chapter in Quantum Wellness on "where does your meat come from") with kids around who are not up for relentless experimental eating.

Now if I can just squeeze my workout in tonight and keep myself from getting sucked into the wasteland of People.com...

Mood Swing

HOORAY!! The lady at Comcast had NO IDEA what she was talking about!!

I HAVE OUTGOING MAIL!!

WOO HOO!!!!

I have renewed faith in the goodness of the world.
And the cluelessness of Helpless Desk workers.

What things cost

Some things I found out today:

Cost of a personal trainer - around $60 per session X 3 sessions per week. Yikes.

Cost of a retail distribution consultant - $1800 per day. Holy cow.

Cost of a night out with the kids watching a "free" concert - $40.

Seeing my rock star husband do his rock star THANG - priceless!

The Funnest Newsletter Ever

Well, next to mine. I win. But this guy is second.

Help a Reporter Out

Several times a day you get an e-mail listing a bunch of things that reporters need help with. You HAVE to eventually be able to fit one of these descriptions. I am forwarding them to people I know as I see a fit for them.

Female Dentist 20-40 with two kids between 3-13 for a toothbrush commercial?? MELISSA!

Someone who can comment on wedding trends? JAMIE!!

Someone who was in a flexible work arrangement that went wrong?? ME!!

Someone who runs a windfarm?? Well, no one I know - but how fun!

Interesting to look through even if it doesn't ring any bells...and your name in lights (well, type) if it does! What could be funner than that??

Hooray!

I just for fun checked the Google results for "natural skin care for kids" and Stuff for Sprouts is 3 of the top 10 listings - including # 2 and 3!

I just re-arranged the Press Page to be prettier. Quite an impressive list of reviews I think.

So why is no one coming and buying things? Help me understand...

I also loaded the "Manifesto" of the Campaign to Conquer Crunchiness.

I am still brainstorming the big pitch for the "campaign". The idea is to do something big and attention-getting. To, well, get attention.

Some ideas (although costs play a role in some of these):

• Send me products you have tried for persistent dry skin, that didn't work and I will send you something that will work.
• Write to me about what you have tried and I will send you a sample and coupon.
• A contest of some kind?
• Any ideas out there in imaginary reader land? Something we could get attention for...something themed to "our version of No Child Left Behind"??

Movin' Along

Today was a day for getting started on new projects.

Brushing myself off and starting to look for a new manufacturer to work on suncreen for next year.

Starting a new advertising/PR idea that I think will be very fun to work on...still in the brainstorming stages...but it starts here: www.endcrunchiness.com.

Reordering the corrected labels.

Moving forward. Optimism and positivity all over the place.

Three more days of full-day child care and then the summer juggle begins.
All kinds of new beginnings. I'm kind of excited!