Mama's Musings

The Lessons of History and Imagination

If you are looking for a really great gift for your tween, look no further. I just read two adorable books, Miss Trimble's Trapdoor and Miss Trimble's Trapdoor: The Perseverance of Christopher Columbus by Lori Jordan-Rice. Geared towards fourth-graders, the book has an engaging protagonist, Tyler, and his canine friend, Barnabas Bailey, to guide your child through the anals of history. Tyler has a hard time concentrating in school, making his time there rather stressful. On a particular hard day, he goes to his 'quiet place' in the room and starts tapping his feet, which magically opens a trapdoor through which he falls. He literally falls into his history lesson, meeting his benevolent guide dog Barnabas Bailey to help him along. Lori has a series of fun history books for kids coming out that you won't want to miss. A real treasure for the holidays and beyond!

One more thing: Kids can visit www.MissTrimblesTrapdoor.com to write to main characters Tyler and Barney, as well as for helpful educational links, crosswords and word searches. The books are perfect for kids ages 6-12.

Back to School Blues

I have creaky brain. I mean really creaky. Lord help me if I lived in the States where the kids are off for almost three months. I wouldn't remember how to tie my shoes because I wouldn't be wearing any all summer.

It's back to school here in the Hohlbaum household, and I'll tell you I've worn a mask of jovality all day. Okay, at least when the kids were around.

"Isn't this great?" I rejoiced at breakfast, pretending to ignore the grey-stoked sky. "You get to learn new things, meet new people, have great experiences and wear new clothes!" I expounded. The kids got riled up (they resemble Cocker Spaniels -- easily excitable and all over you in a second if you let 'em). I tucked their tongues back in their mouths and drove them to school in the driving rain.

"Have fu-hun!" I sang, waving them into the building. I stroked a tear from my cheek. Back to life. Back to real-i-ty...sadness washed over me like the Adriatic waves we had just visited.

Dag. Back to school sucks.

Getting into the Zone

If you like workbooks, you'll love Schoolzone. It is a fabulous company that introduces learning in a creative way. The colorful graphics and age-appropriate directions have always made Schoolzone my kids' favorite workbook series.

As the summer unfolds, kids still like to learn. Worried that your son won't remember  how to hold a pencil? Take the Big Science Workbook on your next camping trip. It'll make the ride seem shorter and help tie in what he sees with basic science. What about your third grader's geography? Bring along the Travel the Great States workbook as you see the sights. My kids love them. We've got a seven-hour car ride to Italy ahead of us. We won't be without these!

And in case you didn't know:

School Zone Publishing Company (www.schoolzone.com) is a leading publisher of children’s educational products and a privately held family company located in Grand Haven, Michigan. In 1979, School Zone debuted their original children’s workbook, an industry first. In 1996, they were also the first to combine interactive software and their prestigious workbook line. Today, they add the unique 3D Animal Alphabet Flash Cards to their 600+ educational products for children. School Zone has garnered over 120 prestigious industry awards to date including: Teacher’s Choice, Parent’s Choice, EDDIE, and Bessie awards.

Camp Tag Giveaway

Poison ivy and mosquito bites. Marshmellows and fireside songs. Life at camp is a great adventure. For parents, it often means lost clothing and dirty laundry.

STUCK ON YOU is offering you fabulous readers an amazing giveaway to say bye-bye to lost items and hello to personalized name tags to ensure what goes to camp comes back, too!

Today we're giveaway away one Day Camp pack**.

The Day Camp Pack consists of 25 small vinyl labels, 25 vinyl shoe labels, 25 clothing tattoos & 1 bag tag. (One full name, icon & bag tag design per set). The pack has a $49.95 value. The labels are able to be personalized any way you'd would like!

To enter please leave a comment and subscribe to my parenting newsletter below.

Deadline is Tuesday, May 13th. The winner will be notified via email same day.

Fill out your e-mail address to receive our newsletter!

We promise never to rent, sell or giveaway your information. Ever.

**North America only.

CONGRATS TO AMANDA!!

Mama's Musings Holiday Giveaway #1

Every Tuesday and Friday until Christmas, we're giving away the coolest prizes, holiday gifts, and fun mom stuff because, well, we love you.

Here's how to play. Leave a comment and subscribe to my parenting newsletter (if you don't already). Each week we'll pick a name from a hat. We promise never to sell, rent or give away your personal information to anyone. Ever.

***

How many times have your kids left their jackets at school? On the bus? At a friend's house? Then months later, after they've grown out of it, you find the item again.

I'm a big fan of labeling my kids' stuff and have found Mabel's Labels to be an adorable solution. The folks there are offering (worldwide) one Big Combo pack gift certificate  worth $55 so you're kids stuff doesn't go missing.

Simply leave a comment and subscribe to my parenting newsletter to be eligible.

Fill out your e-mail address to receive my parenting newsletter!

The winner's name will be drawn out of a hat (labeled with my daughter's name, no doubt) on November 1st. Notification via email on the same day.

CONGRATS to Hjordi for winning!

Attention all Back-to-School Moms!

Before we left on our mega trip to the US this summer, I rushed out to buy my kids’ back-to-school supplies. Wrapping my son and daughter’s names around their new pencils wasn’t how I had envisioned spending the first few days of our summer vacation, but I knew if I didn’t label them, they’d be gone quicker than you can say "How wants another s’more?" once school starts.

But I’ve got great news. Stuck on You ("Labels for every Tom, Dick and Harriet") creates personalized school supplies every mom would love. Not only do they personalize your child’s pencils, they also have iron-on clothing tags to mark those expensive gym shorts your kid insisted on having.

My personal favorite is the Tools for School pack customized for boys and girls. It includes 12 colored pencils, 10 markers, 2 regular pencils, an eraser, pencil sharpener, pencil case and safety scissors. Had I known about Stuck on You sooner, I would have saved a lot of time wrapping my child’s name around all those darn pencils. At least now I have back up in case some wise guy unravels the tape and claims it as his.