Cafepress Review and Giveaway

Most everyone has heard of CafePress. They are well known for their entertaining T-shirts, but they have so much more! When I was asked to review their products I knew I had to choose something other then just a shirt! Once I got to looking, even I was amazed by the variety of products they offer! From shirts to shoes to shower curtains! I finally settled on a throw pillow with a fencing couple on it (which I received free for this review). Weird....yes, but my husband and I met fencing in college, so for me it was perfect!

Of course we had to order a couple shirts too (which we paid for).

When we received our order we realized Nathan had ordered the wrong size of shirt; totally our fault, but the customer service at CafePress was so incredible to work with in order to get the correct size! 

On to the pillow, it is super fluffy! A little fluffier then I would normally like, so I probably won't sleep on it, but it does look pretty cute in my chair. And I suppose if you don't know our history; it would be a good conversation starter. It is well made, and the cover is removable for washing. I made sure to wash it before writing this review too. It washed well, and was only a little wrinkly when it came out. Once it was back on the pillow, you really didn't notice the wrinkles either. It could probably be ironed, but I really didn't think it was needed (and I hate ironing). 

Out of the case.

Back in the case; wrinkles not noticeable!

I should also say that we are quite pleased with our shirts as well. I was surprised that the women's sizing chart was so accurate, if even listed when a shirt ran small! They have washed well with no fading of the shirts or the design, and they are currently some of our favorite shirts! 

And if you are feeling creative, you can even design your own product! So there really is no reason for you to not find something that works for you!

The wonderful folks over at CafePress have also offered a $25 Gift Certificate for me to give to one of my readers!!!

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Thank You (June 2013)

If you follow along on social media (which I really appreciate by the way), you may have noticed that I haven't been post where I have been featured for the past couple weeks. It isn't because I haven't been featured; just because I thought I might be overwhelming you with so many posts! I still wanted to thank everyone who sends traffic my way though, so I have decided to start a monthly thank you post.

Great parties I have been featured at the past couple weeks! (Click them to see all their wonderful features!)

Fun-a-Day - Upcycled Projects for Kids
Here Come the Girls - Let's Play
Adventures-in-Mommy-Land - Hey Mom, Look What I Did
Growing a Jeweled Rose - Alphabet Activities
iGameMom - Water Play Ideas
Ready-Set-Read - Mom's Library
KC Edventures - Family Friendly Zoo Visits
Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - Hearts for Home Blog Hop
Reading Confetti - Summer Activities Boys will Love
Kids Activities Blog - Sensory Bins
Tumbleweed Contessa - 4th of July Dishes
Highhill Homeschool - Hobbies and Hadicrafts
Weekly Kids Co-op - Summer Reading and Writing
I Can Teach My Child Show and Share Saturday Link-Up
Sugar Aunts - Playful Learning
Here Come the Girls - 4th of July
Inspiration laboratories - Alphabet Activities
Preschool Powol Packets - Alphabet Activities
Mum's Make Lists - Empty Your Archive Cooking with Kids
Adventures-in-Mommy-Land - Hey Mom, Look What I Did  (yes again!)
KC Edventures - Great Building Materials for Kids
Homeschool Creations - Fourth of July Round Up
Reading Confetti - Nature Ideas

These blogs featured one of my posts on my blog or a guest post on my blog or my guest post on another blog! 

I appreciate ALL of you! 

*If I missed anyone I'm sorry; please let me know when you feature me, so I can be sure to see it!

I also appreciate all my readers! Without you I wouldn't have a reason to share!

Steady Beat Parade

Independence Day is almost here (for those of us in the United States at least), and we celebrated by practicing our beats and rhythms in our own little parade! Visit Gummylump to read more!

Sixty Years After the End of the Korean War

On July 27^th, military veterans around the world will mark the 60^th anniversary of the cease-fire in Korea. The agreement, which took two years and hundreds of negotiating sessions to reach, ended the fighting between United Nations forces and their opponents, the communist forces of North Korea and the People’s Republic of China.

In retrospect, that agreement seems based largely on good fortune, most notably the March 1953 death of Soviet premier Joseph Stalin, whose enthusiasm for the war ignored the horrific casualties endured by his Chinese and North Korean allies. Had the war continued, the possibility of a nuclear exchange and an ensuing third world war loomed large. In that sense, the end of the fighting deserves some celebration, if only to mark the anniversary of a global disaster averted.

The date should prove especially poignant for those Americans who survived internment in communist prisoner of war compounds along the Yalu River. When Chinese officials announced the end of the war, some broke into tears, while others sank to their knees and gave prayers of thanks. Many simply shouted for joy. At Camp One, recalled marine private Nick Flores, “Plenty of men were jumping around telling the world that the war was over and they would be going home.”

Other camps reacted differently. When the Chinese assembled their United Nations prisoners on the soccer field at Camp Four, the noncommissioned officers knew something was up. When a camp official announced the armistice, all 600 prisoners stared back in silence. “We all got up and marched back to our compound,” recalled Jim DeLong. “It really hurt them that we didn’t holler and hoop and hurray that the war was over. When we got back to our compound we celebrated, but we didn’t let them know that we were happy.”

Prisoners at Camp Two responded in similar fashion. Knowing a cease-fire was imminent, the senior prisoners put out the word: “No celebrations whatsoever.” Chinese photographers were at the compound to film the festivities, but they went home disappointed. Like the sergeants at Camp Four, the Camp Two prisoners received the news in silence, saving their celebrations for the privacy of their quarters.

At Camp Three, Private First Class Raymond Mellin responded with quiet gratitude.  The young medic from Hartford, Connecticut had been captured during the first American battle of the war and had survived three years of horrific treatment, including a hundred-mile death march. Upon hearing the news, he opened his Chinese-issue notebook and wrote the following:

On the 27th of July, the Korean War was officially over, to the amazement of many who were pessimistic, and happily accepted by those who were optimistic. As if coming out of a dark room into the sunlight, radiant smiles crept across the many faces upon hearing the wonderful news, and now to wait patiently for repatriation and our loved ones once again, which will be the greatest moment of our lives. R. V. Mellin, July 27, 1953.

A higher percentage of American prisoners died in captivity during the Korean War than in any other war in our history. Of the 7,140 Americans captured, only 4,418 came home after the fighting. For many of those survivors, repatriation remains one of the greatest moments of their lives, and survivors still recall the exact moment they crossed Freedom Bridge back into United Nations control.  At least 2,700 more Americans, however, did not return from captivity. Instead, they died of starvation, exposure, disease and neglect amidst the desolate mountains of North Korea. Another 7,900 Americans are still listed as missing in action, although the Pentagon continues to recover and identify remains.

On July 27^th, we will remember the Korean War as a critical moment in the Cold War, and we will reflect on the diverging paths taken by North and South Korea in the six decades since its end.  Amidst these reflections on geopolitical strategy, however, we should take a moment to recall the liberation of American prisoners and the sacrifice of those who didn’t come back.

--William C. Latham, Jr., author of Cold Days in Hell: American POWs in Korea

O is for Optometrist

Our Community Helper is Optometrist or Ophthalmologist! To be honest neither of my girls have been to an Optometrist yet; their doctor does use a simple eye chart with them each year, and there has never been any cause for concern. But since they have never been they had no idea what one was! I couldn't easily set up all the equipment they use, but I could set up a little eye chart for them. The first one I set up for Bria to practice reading.

Then she made one up for Nadia that would be a little easier.

After one of them read the chart they came over and picked out a pair of glasses with the help of the pretend Optometrist.

They really enjoyed taking turns making new eye charts. We easily could have practiced sight words or letters or numbers.

Then we made some eyeballs to introduce them to some of the parts of the eye.  We started with white balloons and milk cartons. I cut a small circle out of the concave circle on the side of the milk jug (about an inch in diameter).

We stuck the circle in the balloon pressing the convex side down into the balloon as far as it could go to act as our lens. (I know you can't see it in the picture, but I promise it is there!)

Then we filled the balloons with hair gel.to act as the vitreous. (Sorry no picture; the gel was too hard for the girls to squeeze.) We tied the balloons and the tie was our optic nerve.

Then the girls drew on an iris, a pupil, and some blood vessels in the sclera (white part of your eye).  Just make sure not to use washable markers like we did (or your eye will be all over your hands)!

  

We also talked a little about how what we see is turned upside down on the retina and the optic nerve takes it to the brain where it translates the image right side up. Then we looked into spoons to see what our image would look like on the retina.

I am sure they won't remember all the big names, but hopefully they remember a little about how the eye works, and it gave them some insight into Optometry!

Mom's Library with Creature Features

Welcome to Mom's Library!

Filled with parenting tips, activities for young children, devotionals, crafts, recipes, and more!

Check back again and again to see the new posts!

(We have a great Giveaway too!)

 If you enjoy the link party, please follow Life with Moore Babies by email or RSS feed.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, or Pinterest!

My Creature Features This Week! 

Like Mama ~ Like Daughter has been learning about Frogs!

Fantastic Fun and Learning has a great collection of Zoo Sensory Bins as well as a super cute Lady Bug Activities!

Gift of Curiosity is buggy for bugs with this cute Insect Sensory Bin!

The Chirping Moms show us how to make lots of fun crafty creatures! 

Crafty Mom's Share

Campfires and Cleats shows us how to make a Balloon Animal (not a real creature, but still a fun one)!

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom and Life with Moore Babies (that's me) collaborated on a FREE Caterpillar pack! 

If I have featured you please feel free to grab my featured button!

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For more great features visit my fellow Librarians (Please follow them too!):

True Aim Education 

Ready-Set-Read

Crystal's Tiny Treasures

iGameMom

Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

More Fun, Mom

Sara Ella

Want to see all the great posts added last week? Click HERE to see the whole collection!

Want to see even more featured posts? Follow the Mom's Library Pinterest Board!

This week we are giving away a Kiwi Crate a service that provides complete crafts for kids through the mail!  For more information visit True Aim's Review!

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Would you like to Participate?

If you are new and would like to link up please checkout the Mom's Library Page.Support your fellow bloggers and comment on at least 2 other links.

Thank you for participating; we love to see your ideas! Please grab the button and share!

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Letter O Sensory Bin

Back to our regularly scheduled programming and on to the Letter O! Our Letter O Sensory Bin consisted of an Orangutan, an Owl, an Orange (slice), an Ox, an Octagon, an Oval, foam O's, an O book, and the singing O magnet.

When presented with it, Eli instantly grabbed the stuffed animals to hug them!

Then he found the shapes that are actually pieces to our shape puzzle. He ran off to find the puzzle and put it back together!

He finally settled down and let me read him the book! Then he amused himself with the magnet for what seemed like 15 minutes. He would play the little song and then make the sound it said (it says both short and long vowel sounds) over and over and over!

Is the Blog Tour Dead?

Lissa Warren, Senior Director of Publicity for DaCapo Press, stirred up members of the Association of American University Presses Friday when she declared the blog tour dead.

Speaking as part of the Book Tour 2.0 panel at the 2013 annual meeting of AAUP held last week in Boston, Warren said the Boston commercial publisher tried blog tours 10 years ago but were dissatisfied with the results, when looking at resulting sales.

With a blog tour, authors "travel" from blog to blog, rather than event venue (or city) to event venue. Many publicists consider the blog tour a virtual and more cost-effective alternative to sending authors on a multi-venue tour in order to promote their books.

Sparks flew across the #aaup13 Twitter hashtag, as AAUP members debated whether the blog tour was, in fact, "dead."

Jessica Pellien, Assistant Director of Publicity for Princeton University Press, who, coincidentally, had just wrapped a blog tour for The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors, quipped, "Blog tours are dead. We hardly knew ye."

In a later panel, Pellien declared her blog tour for the immensely popular birding guide a success.

In follow up to her remarks on the panel, Warren offered some additional thoughts on blog tours.

"It does seem that the tide has really turned from blogs to social media. I still think blogs have their place in a book's campaign -- that getting people to review books on blogs is important. But guest-posts by our authors on other people's blogs (in other words, blog tours) don't seem to generate much in the way of sales.

I'd much rather our authors post on places like the Huffington Post or the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog or Psychology Today's blog -- in other words, places that get great traffic. Posting to people's BlogSpot or Wordpress blogs doesn't seem to be the best use of an author's time. I'm honestly not sure it ever worked, but it definitely doesn't seem to now."

One point Warren and fellow panelist Rachel Ewen, publicist for Cambridge University Press seemed to agree upon was that the days of sending authors out on expensive book tours through Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and beyond are mostly over.

Below are some of the Tweets:

John P. Hussey (@BookHussey): Warren: the virtual blog tour has been replaced by twitter chats or Facebook chats. #aaup13

U. of Michigan Press (@UofMPress): Blog tour replaced by FB and Twitter chat. #aaup13 Also, Reddit etc.

Mandy Clarke (@booking_it_fast): Audience: Have you had success with blog tours? Da Capo Press: That was 10 years ago... It's all about Facebook and twitter now. #aaup13

Univ Nebraska Press (@UnivNebPress): The Blog tour is dead! long live the Facebook and Twitter Chat! #aaup13

Erin Rolfs (@erinrolfs): Blog tour so 10 years ago. Really? #aaup13

Dennis Lloyd (@dlbookman): @erinrolfs: Is that good or bad? #triedandtrue #outdated

Ivan C. Lett (@icylett): @erinrolfs Yeah, I'm not convinced

Bryan Shaffer (@bryanshaffer): @icylett I think bloggers would disagree

John P. Hussey (@BookHussey): @booking_it_fast @icylett @erinrolfs @jessicapellien seem to be disagreeing with the "Blog Tour is dead" edict.

Poppin's Book Nook #4 - Flat Stanley

The Poppin's Book Nook theme for June is Travel or Transportation, and who better to travel with then Flat Stanley! In fact, this was the first book I chose when we got our list of themes!

And it sure was a good thing we started fairly early with this one because I had the idea to send out Flat Stanley's! (I have since learned this is actually a common project in public schools, but I didn't know at the time, and the girls had a great time with it).

I found some card stock cutouts of people at Hobby Lobby that I let the girls decorate; they even included a sandwich with some of them.  We had to mail them out a couple months in advance to allow people time to get their stories and pictures back in!

Of course, we didn't get them all back, but we still got a good variety, and the girls really enjoyed all the pictures. They even got some little gifts from those sending stories books, stickers, and even a Flat Sally! They really appreciated all of them and wanted to write everyone back! 

This is Nadia posing with Flat Sally!

Here is a sample of the adventures Stanley went on! 

When Stanley headed out to Colorado it was the middle of the blizzard! Luckily he was still able to get out and see the mountains and some big horned sheep! he met lots of kitties and some kids at school too! 

On a visit to Utah, Stanley got to go to church, go shopping, and do some spring planting!

Looks like he got to relax with the adults a bit too! 

In another area of Utah, Stanley was enjoying some pretend play with Barbie (he may have had a bit of a crush) and visiting penguins at the aquarium!

While visiting California, Stanley got to experience a swimming pool and roasting marshmallows!

In Pennsylvania, Stanley made friends with a friendly pooch and got to go hiking on a trail that used to be a railroad. He also got to tour some neighborhoods and some countryside!

His hosts in Pennsylvania also took him on a trip to Washington DC!  While in Washington DC, Stanley got to visit many famous monuments as well as some gorgeous cherry trees!

Here is Stanley visiting the ocean on the shores of South Carolina! He also got to see some interesting animals at the aquarium.

On a trip to Georgia, Stanley got to visit an Aviation Museum and attend a Civil War event. He even got to see them fire a cannon!

Stanley had a great time meeting some horses in Mississippi! He got really lucky on this visit because he also got a couple side trips to more new states.

He stopped in Tennessee, but didn't get to see anything other then the airport.  Still it was an interesting airport and a new state!

He was on his way to Illinois where he visited the Illinois State Capitol as well as the Lincoln Home.

 

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He got to visit Kentucky too! In Kentucky, Stanley got to visit the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event.  He even got to pose in front of the giant goose jump!

 

He visited a few places here in Missouri too.  He got to meet a kitty and a snake and then he got to exercise at the nursing home. 

He got to visit the places we work too. The girls really enjoyed seeing Stanley at their Daddy's desk although they didn't know where their daddy had gone (guess they didn't think about someone having to take the picture). Stanley got to host a meeting there too!

I guess Stanley also had to have an inspirational talk with one of the employees.

Stanley also got to visit my work! He helped trim nails, vaccinate dogs and cats, work on a cows hoof, and look at a monkey (the owners requested no pictures on the monkey on the internet....boo).

We sent Stanley other places in the United States too including Oklahoma, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Texas, Maine, and North Dakota! Some we only have printed pictures (I am scanner illiterate) and others haven't been returned, but I know Stanley had a good time! 

Stanley also got to leave the United States to fly across the ocean to Austria! (No passport needed!) He saw some beautiful scenery, met some Austrian kitties, and played some board games!

I have word that one of our Stanley's is on a mission trip to Ecuador as well! 

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to fit our little Stanley's in! The girls just loved getting back pictures and letters and all the wonderful things you sent along!  If any of you are looking for pen pals I am sure the girls would quickly volunteer!

P.S. If you are reading this and have a Flat Stanley that hasn't written to us, please do as soon as you think of it; I know the girls would still love it!

The girls had a great time making their Stanley's and then looking at all the pictures and matching the letters up with a map to see exactly where he had visited and how far it is from us! They also had a good time reading some of his adventures (although our library didn't have them all)! 

Make sure you stop by the other Poppin's Book Nook bloggers to see their fabulous posts! Then come link up your own Moving, Grooving Fun!

Next month we are beating the heat with some beach and ocean books!

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - Royal Baloo - 3 Dinosaurs - Monsters Ed - Chestnut Grove Academy - Growing in God's Grace - Royal Little Lambs - Life with Moore Babies - Teach Beside Me - The Usual Mayhem - Mum Central - Fantastic Fun and Learning - Kathys Cluttered Mind - Play Create Explore - Toddler Approved - Growing Book by Book - Adventures in Mommydom - B-Inspired Mama - The Fairy and The Frog - Edventures with Kids - Learning & Growing the Piwi way - A Gluten Free Journey - Mom to Crazy Monkeys - No Doubt Learning - Preschool Powol Packets - To The Moon and Back - Our Craft ~N~ Things - Farm Fresh Adventures - Proverbial Homemaker