Higher, Higher

by Monkey Moon PhotographyHigher, Higher mommy....I want to touch the sky. I hear these words echoed as my two daughters take turns reaching their dreams as they fly through the sky on their swing; dreaming of, well anything!

I was first introduced to the author Leslie Patricelli when a family member gave us Yummy Yucky!

This book quickly became one of our family favorites. The images are so funny and I still use the visual image given to my girls by author Leslie, describing what happens when we have too much of a good thing.  "Ice cream is yummy,Too much ice cream is yucky."  These have been the magic words spoken in our home when the girls ask for more sweets! I simply look at them and say "Ice cream is yummy BUT.....they tilt their heads, and say, “too much ice cream is yucky." Works like a charm...no arguing. I love Leslie Patricelli!

Ok now on to Leslie’s new books. When Team Mom asked us to review Leslie’s two new favorites, I was thrilled! We received them in the mail and honestly the girls ask for them every night for their bed time story. Higher, Higher is about a little girl who lets her imagination take her to higher places as her Daddy pushes her in the swing. She meets a martin, says hi to the clouds above the high rise building....saying Higher, Higher.

Today when we went for a swing; my daughter could not wait to use HER imagination to bring herself to higher places. She giggled, said "Higher, Higher” and imagined herself saying hi to the clouds, birds and even a martin….”just like the book momma!”

Baby Happy, Baby Sad is an adorable board book by author Leslie Patricelli. On each page, it simply shows a picture of either a baby who is happy or sad with a comical image adding to the description of Happy or Sad baby. Again, a very unique, witty and educational approach explaining to children the many ways baby can be happy or sad throughout her day. I find my six year old reading to her dolls and describing why baby is happy or sad. So darn cute!!

"Whether it’s the witty picture book about a child’s adventure on a swing or the tale of a baby and an ice-cream cone, it’s no wonder Leslie has received glowing reviews from magazines such as Scholastic Parent and Child and School Library Journal."

Love, To the moon and back

Earth Tales~ Barefoot Book Giveaway

Contest closed- winner has been notified and I will post in the next couple of days-

Rebecca at Barefoot Books has generously sponsored another great book giveaway!

Discover How the rest of the world is going green in Earth Tales 

Written by: Dawn Casey
Illustrated by: Anne Wilson
Read Alone: Ages 6-10
Read Together: Ages 4-8

In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story

The perfect gift for any earth-conscious child!

Barefoot Books is working with Eco-Libris to plant trees- Plant one tree for every book you read! It's that simple-

Eco-Libris is a green business that enables people to do something reasonable, affordable yet with an impact: plant one tree for every book they read. By working with individuals and publishers to plant trees in developing countries, Eco-Libris makes sure that each tree is planted where it provides significant value for both the environment and the local communities.  To learn more about Eco-Libris, visit their site here

To Enter Giveaway please answer both questions 1 & 2, blog. Twitter or Facebook for an extra entry.

After visiting the Barefoot Book site come back and leave answers here on our blog.

1.        What is your favorite Barefoot Book?

2.       What are you doing to conserve?

3.       Post about this giveaway (or Twitter or post on Face Book) Leave link to post in comments. (optional) extra entry!!

If you do not blog please e-mail a few friends and tell them about the giveaway.

Questions ONE AND TWO NEED TO BE ANSWERED TO QUALIFY. # 3 IS FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY AND OPTIONAL.

Rebecca has been wonderful and has sponsored several of our giveaways. Barefoot Books is a wonderful company, made in the USA . Thanks for supporting them as well.

As a thank you please use the following discount code  (SCETALES) for 10% off to shop click here

offer expires April 30th 2009

Giveaway closes April 2nd 12:00pm EST

Love to the moon and back,

Donna

Vote For Blessed Nest~Start Up Nation~Leading Moms in business 2009 competition 

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

Todays post written by Jill at Home Grown Life

I pretty much spent the entire Fall reading (and yes, again re-reading) Michael Pollan’s book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto. In this book, Pollan attempts to answer some of the questions raised in his book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and focuses on defining what real food is, how we can find it, the need to defend it and the case for such an argument.

I found myself nodding yes, yes in agreement with nearly every line in this book and particularly love the fact that Pollan keeps it simple with guidelines like, if your grandparents wouldn’t recognize it as food, then it probably isn’t and his cover-page sub-title of Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.

This book was very freeing for me as a nutrition educator and allowed me to follow my gut instincts what it comes to nutrition advice. It’s not about counting calories, breaking food down into it’s component parts or even a food guide pyramid. It’s about eating real foods that nourish the body, mind and soul, eating them with full awareness and enjoyment (while sitting at the table, yes, the actual table, not the car, sofa or office chair!), about bringing the lost art of preparing and cooking foods back into the civilized world, about actually putting some time, energy, money and planning into choosing our family’s meals and keeping the hope and knowing that there is more to food that what our grocery stores center aisles tell us there is to eat.

For some, simply choosing to eat food instead of food-like substances (as Pollan refers to most of our modern foods as) will pose a huge lifestyle change. Many have grown used to eating, and thus have trained their taste buds and their stomachs to expect, all that processed foods have to offer. Some may have even become addicted to things like soda, cookies, chips, fast food meals, 100 calories snacks and easy frozen dinners devoid of nutrients.

I think that it is important to return to our roots and begin eating with dignity and purpose as we choose foods that will not only fill our bellies, but will bring joy back to the dinner table, strengthen our bodies and minds and sustain our health as humans and that of the planet.

Some practical tips for feeding our families food:

Choose foods from the perimeter of the grocery store, which is usually where the produce, meats, dairy and bakery items are. Notice what those center aisles are filled with.. is it food?

Get connected with your local farmer’s markets. It is so simple today to support local farmers and bypass the grocery store as we take matters into our own hands and buy local produce, dairy, meats and even bakes goods. One of my most favorite times is taking my children with me on Saturday mornings to the farmer’s market!

Let your children get involved in the process of choosing and preparing the foods your family eats. It is a fact that the more children are invested in the food process, the more likely they are to not only try eating a new food, but actually enjoy the experience!

Plant a garden with your family and allow even small children to have their own “plot” of land. They will be eager each day to tend their plot and eventually harvest and eat the foods they have worked so diligently to grow!

Make it a family pact to avoid fast foods. I have a friend who when asked about fast food restaurants by her children told that that it was “strictly for emergencies”!

Related Post:

Food In the New Year