Craft Failing...Online *and* in Print!

It's a double craft fail day here at Random Handprints!

First, my advent calendar gone wrong was featured on Monday on CraftFail.com! Check it out in all its imperfect glory in Unattractive Advent Calendar Adventure.

Also, just when you thought my craft failing couldn't get any better (or would that be worse?) I'm featured in the newly released Craft Fail book! Check out CraftFail: When Homemade Goes Horribly Wrong.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has crafts that don't turn out exactly as planned.

Thanksgiving with Kids: Two Great Holiday Books

It's almost Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays. I also like to think of it as a holiday with a feminist bent, even if that seems a bit of a stretch. However, it's not that far-fetched.

In fact, it was thanks to Sarah Hale that Thanksgiving ever became a national holiday to begin with. It took her 38 years to make this happen, with the first "official" Thanksgiving taking place in 1863. To share this fascinating story with your kids, read Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving written by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by Matt Faulkner (Simon & Schuster, 2002). The book is $17.99 hardcover and $6.00 paperback, and is recommended for ages 5 to 10.

I'm also a big fan of  the classic Thanksgiving children's book Over the River and Through the Wood: The New England Boy's Song About Thanksgiving Day.

It's a great read for kids ages 4-9 who will enjoy seeing how things once were - they're taking a horse and carriage ride to Thanksgiving dinner, that's so cool!  Even better given for our feminist theme, there are historical notes at the end of the book that tell more about the author's commitment to issues surrounding women's rights. You can also read a biography of Lydia Maria Child here, which goes into more detail about her life, and her activism on issues related both to women and Native Americans.

For even more about the fascinating connection between the suffragette movement and Thanksgiving, read this post from last year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Three Best Children's Books for Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and while I'm not sure if I completely agree with the direction this month of recognition is taking at my kids' school (more on that later), I do think it's a great opportunity to share with kids some of the many books that focus on the contributions of people of color throughout history. Here are my picks for the three best children's books for Black History Month:

Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George (Random House, 2011).  This book, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome, tells the amazing story of Joseph Boulogne, who was born in the early 1700s the son of a white plantation owner and a black salve. Joseph Boulogne traveled from his home in the West Indies to France when he was nine, eventually becoming one of the finest musicians in Europe.
I loved the story, which was completely new to me, and had a lot of surprising twists and turns as it traces Joesph's life from birth to world-famous violinist. I thought it was beautifully told, and that it explained the prejudice Joseph experienced in a real but not overwhelming way that kids could understand. Joseph was also an inspiration for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his contemporary, although they never met. Recommended for ages 5-9, though with a somewhat complicated storyline, it's best for kids on the older end of the age range.

I Have A Dream: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Random House, 2012) This over-sized picture book also comes with a CD recording of King's historic speech. The book itself is the speech printed against the backdrop of illustrations by Kadir Nelson, a two-time Caldecott Honor winner. This book is recommended for all ages, and my three kids all enjoyed (ages 3-9) as did I - that speech gets me every time.

What Color is Your World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors (Candlewick Press, 2012) This book cleverly intertwines the story of a brother and sister learning about famous African American inventors while having a discussion with a well-read/historian handyman with mini bios of inventors and scientists. Inventors covered include the men behind the potato chip and the ice cream scoop, as well as the more modern innovation of the Super Soaker. One observation, uttered by my 7-year-old daughter, "uh, there's only one woman in this whole book." I see a clear opportunity for a follow-up book, this one focusing on the contributions from African American women.

I received review copies of these books. My opinions were not influenced, nor were my kids who don't really even know the difference between a regular, a review and a library copy.

This post is a re-publish from last year.

Funny Amazon Reviews - Wood Toilet Seats (in Greater China)

After discovering the hysterical reviews of Haribo Sugarless Gummy Bears, I wondered are there more funny Amazon reviews?

The answer is yes.

I present in this edition of Funny Amazon Reviews, the reviews of The 2009-2014 Outlook for Wood Toilet Seats in Greater China.

I know what you're thinking, eh sounds kinda dry. But trust me, while the actual report might be (and I'll never know because it's over $400), the reviews are not.

Click here to read them in all their snarky glory.

The Best Hanukkah Books for Kids

Oh how I wish there some Thanksgivukah books for kids! But alas, there are not. So regular ol Hanukkah books will have to do. Here are four of our favorite kids books for Hanukkah.

Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah (Sammy Spider's First Books)
Written by Sylvia A. Rouss and illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn

My kids love all the Sammy Spider books (because what kids don't love cute, cuddly spiders?), and the Hanukkah story is no exception. The over-sized book is full of fun illustrations and a lovely retelling of the traditional Hanukkah story. Great for most ages, but especially for preschoolers. Paperback; $7.95.





Chanukah Lights
By Robert Sabuda and Michael J. Rosen
My seven-year-old spends hours exploring the amazingly intricate pop-up displays found in this gorgeous book, which retells the story of Chanukah in eight scenes, all which include a festive menorah. Ages five 
and up; $34.99.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
Written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
My nine-year-old has been captivated by this book since I started reading it to her a few years ago, and now, she can read it herself. This Caldecott Honor winning tale will engage kids as they follow Hershel and his quest to banish the Helmsbergville's goblins, who have prevented the townspeople from celebrating Hanukkah. Possibly scary for younger kids, so best to share with those ages six and over. Paperback $7.95; hardcover $17.95.

The Golden Dreydl
Written by Ellen Kushner and illustrated by Ilene Winn-Lederer
Based (loosely) on the Nutcracker, this mystical story tells what happens when Sara receives a magical dreydl from her Aunt Miriam.This story is seeped in fantasy and has wonderfully whimsical imagery, like when they travel to the world of magic via the family’s broken television. If only. Recommended for ages 8-12 but it could be read aloud to younger children as well. Kindle $5.95, paperback $7.95, and hardcover $15.95.

Next up in our Hanukkah celebrations: setting-up the spinning light-up dreidel.

Happy Hanukkah and Happy Thanksgivukah!

Disclosure: I received Hanukkah Lights and The Golden Dreydl to review, the others are from our personal book collection. I also have amazon affiliate codes within the links to purchase the books above, although I'm a big fan of buying from my (or your) local book store.

This post was first published last year, but good Hanukkah children's books are timeless.

Join Us This Thursday, October 17, for Girls Night Out in Westfield, NJ!

Jersey girls! Come join the fun at Westfield's Girls Night Out!

Come sip champagne while the experts help you find the perfect shade of lipstick!

We'll also be signing copies of You've Got Lipstick on Your Teeth and reading our favorite (and funniest) essays at Blue Mercury (82 Elm Street) from 5pm to 8pm.

I'll be there with my co-authors:

Kim Bongiorno of Let Me Start By Saying
Kim Forde of The Fordeville Diaries
Dawn Weber of Lighten Up!

And the anthology's editor, Leslie Marinelli of The Bearded Iris will also be there all the way from Atlanta!

Can't wait, and hope you can join us!

"You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth" is an Amazon Hot New Release - and I'm In It!

Congratulations to Shannon S. the winner of a copy of "You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth!" Email me: anna at randomhandprints.com for details and to claim your prize!

I'm in a book. In a book with some of my most favorite bloggers.

 

And as if that wasn't enough - and it's totally enough - the book is a Hot New Release on Amazon.

 

You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth is an anthology of 39 hilarious, mostly true essays compiled by the folks from the website In the Powder Room and edited by the one-and-only Leslie Marinelli - who you might know better as The Bearded Iris.

My contribution to the anthology is "The Last Nice Jewish Boy in Boston" which tells the story of how I met my husband. It takes place in the 1990s, a simpler time when the Internet was just a bitty little thing and texting was something you heard about people doing in Europe but were pretty sure was never going to catch on in the U.S.

For those who watch Princesses Long Island, my story is pretty much Season 1 condensed into 1,500 words without the Long Island accent.

"You Have Lipstick on your Teeth" is available on Amazon for Kindle and in old-school paperback.

To purchase from Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Kobo, Diesel, Apple, Sony Reader, Nook or wholesale quantities... click here.

AND IF YOU'RE LOCAL IN NEW JERSEY...  we'll be holding a book signing for "You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth" and I Just Want to Pee Alone at Kidville Westfield on Thursday, September 12.  Come join us for refreshments and lots of laughs and fun.

Last but not least, I'm giving away a copy of "You Have Lipstick On Your Teeth" to one lucky winner!

To enter, just leave a comment with your favorite shade of lipstick! Giveaway closes on Monday, September 16 at 8:00pm EST.  {Giveaway now closed.}

And if you want to know how things between the Nice Jewish Boy from Boston and me turned out, head over to Facebook where I chronicle the joys of marriage to my beshert at Instructions for My Husband.

Winner announced on Tuesday!

The Best, Most Amazing Summer Reading Giveaway EVER... and there's more, too!

Picture yourself poolside, or lounging on the beach. It's nice, right? But it could be better. What you need are some great books to make you laugh, and some seriously stylish summer accessories. Well, we have you covered. First up, we're giving away six (count 'em, SIX) funny books that you probably already own because you have such great taste. But if, by chance, you've been busy reading the dictionary cover to cover or you tried to buy these and Amazon was all like, "Sorry, too slow, sucker. Sold out!" today's your lucky day!

 

 

At Least My Belly Hides My Cankles: Mostly-True Tales of an Impending Miracle is the debut novel of the amazing Paige Kellerman, of There's More Where That Came From. In it, she props her cankles up on the coffee table of your heart and tells the tale of her pregnancy with twins, from the reluctant announcement of the pregnancy test results to the experience of being hoisted awkwardly (is there any other way?) onto the delivery table. You'll be able to relate to every word, and Paige's unique storytelling style will keep you laughing, guaranteed.

Abby Still Has Issues is the second book by Abby Heugel of the award-winning blog, Abby Has Issues. It features a ton of laugh-out-loud essays that could only be plucked from that wonderfully neurotic head full of issues we all love so well. Laugh along as she admits to being smelly (it's not what you think), converses with her pants, and reveals why other countries hate us (hint: it's our eyelashes). Intrigued? YOU SHOULD BE. Because it's full of awesome.

I Just Want To Pee Alone, a hilarious collection of hilarious essays about motherhood by 37 hilarious mothers, covers every parenting topic from planning for your baby, to being driven insane by your children, to... wait, are there other parenting topics? Yes, don't be silly, of course there are. There's something for everyone in this #1 best selling humor anthology which, I don't mind saying, at one point ranked ahead of Tina Fey's Bossypants - a fact that many of the co-authors plan to have engraved on their tombstones.

Ketchup is a Vegetable: And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves by Robin O'Bryant of Robin's Chicks is full of funny stories about motherhood, sex talks, the terror of car trips, and all those eye-roll inducing, forehead-vein popping, laugh-out-loud things that bond parents together under the flag of Oh Thank Heavens, It Isn't Just Me.

Also win a copy of Adrian Kulp's hilarious book Dad or Alive: Confessions of an Unexpected Stay-at-Home Dad, which is based on his popular blog DadorAlive.com. With chapters like "She's Gonna Have Daddy Issues" you know this book will be funny, relatable and just a little bit twisted (in the best possible way).

 

And we understand that you'll need to keep the kids occupied if you're hoping to get enough time to yourself to read a book with more than eight syllables per page. That's why we're also giving away 75 Ways To Have More Fun At Home, a fantastic e-book by Anna of My Life and Kids that's absolutely bursting with activities for your kids. These are cheap-to-free, unique, realistic ideas for things that real people could and would actually do. You don't want another summer day to go by without it!

I can say, without fear of hyperbole, that you're entire summer will be a complete waste of time if you don't read these books - so in the event that you don't win this amazing prize package, check out the links and buy your own copies. You'll be glad you did.

Now, while you're enjoying these fabulous books, you want to look fabulous too, don't you? Never fear, we have that covered, too! To keep the hair out of your face while you're reading (or while you're serving up a wicked ace on the beach volleyball court), you'll need headbands and hair ties from A Girl and Her Band.

These suckers are nonslip, moisture wicking, antimicrobial and machine washable, not to mention cute as all getout. A Girl and Her Band is a company started by regular (but fantastic) mamas who support and empower active girls, and give back to the community by donating a portion of all website sales to a different charity each month. They've generously offered up three headbands of your choosing, and they're throwing in a 5-pack of matching hair ties, too! Their company makes your heart feel as good as your hair will with this essential set of accessories.

As if that weren't enough to make you look like a million bucks while you're enjoying your summer reading, you'll also get a Vera Bradley Summer Pack, which includes a Vera Bradley sarong, a small mesh tote, and a beach towel in the gorgeous Go Wild pattern.

 

AND, just in case we missed anything, we're throwing in a $125.00 Amazon gift card so you can treat yourself to something special (I don't know if Amazon sells fruity drinks in coconuts with little umbrellas in bulk quantities, but I'd look into that if I were you). ENOUGH ALREADY, you say! I'm interested, so how do I enter?!?

To qualify: You must be able to read, or know someone who is willing to read to you, and live in the United States. Recommended: Tissues, for laughter-induced tear blotting. Large-rimmed Jackie O sunglasses for increased mysterious cool factor. A few seconds of free time here and there for reading.

Required: Do the little Rafflecopter thingy. Winner will be chosen at random and notified after the giveaway closes on Sunday, July 21. If there's no response from the winner within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen and so on until I decide just to keep everything for myself. (I'm kidding, of course. OR AM I? Yes, I'm kidding.) a Rafflecopter giveaway

Week in Review: New Jersey Farmers' Markets, A Fantastic Cookbook and A Boonton Book Signing

Much like last week, I don't have much to report.

For Wonders of Westfield I wrote about where to find Jersey Fresh produce, farmers' markets and CSA farm shares.

Pictured above: my kids enjoying a farm share hat, the healthiness which is clearly somewhat mitigated by the booze and ice cream cones in the background.

For New Jersey Family, I got the chance to interview Kelsey Banfield, who wrote The Naptime Chef, which is one of my most very favorite cookbooks. You can read the interview here, as well as her recipe for Sticky Orange Drumsticks.

So while I have not have written much, I have had lots of fun afternoons with friends and family.


Photo by American Vernacular Landscapes

Oh! And I almost forgot - for those of you near Boonton, NJ we're having a book signing and reading for I Just Want to Pee Alone, this Friday, from 5:00 to 8:00pm.

Thursday is also the opening of Boonton's outdoor arts installation, Dogs on Parade, so it should be a fun night. If your Jersey-local, please come!

 

 

What do you have going on this week?

 

My son has his last day of preschool, and my older ones are in the final countdown for summer to begin.

 

And me? I'm looking for the perfect Pinterest ways to celebrate the first day of summer (totally wish that I was kidding, but I'm not) and my efforts at being a grown-up are still going strong. I'll be back with a full report on that soon.

Week in Review: Sea Lion Exhibit at Turtle Back Zoo, A Book Signing in Princeton and A New Facebook Page!

This was a fun week.

For Barista Kids I covered Blueprint Studio, a new place for kids fashion design and photography classes, camps and parties in Millburn, as well as the new Sea Lion Sound Exhibit at Turtle Back Zoo:

For New Jersey Family, I covered clever temporary tattoos, a whimsical children's book, ideas for old-fashioned picnics, how to have a fancy day with your daughter, and more. You can read about it all here.

Thursday night I met up with two of my co-authors from I Just Want to Pee Alone to sign books and talk motherhood and mayhem as part of Girls Night Out in Princeton, NJ. The Farmhouse Store was gracious enough to host us, and we had a fantastic time.

 



I'm above in the middle, with Amy of Funny is Family on the left and Kim of The Fordeville Diaries on the right.

And last but not least, I've started a new Facebook page.

It's called Instructions for My Husband, and it's a place not only to lovingly mock our husbands, but to poke fun at children, pets and roommates of all kinds. Come say hi at facebook.com/InstructionsformyHusband and share your stories!

Week in Review - Gun Sense, Mother's Day and a Book Signing on Thursday

I'm not gonna lie, it was nice this week returning to my social social media using ways. If you want to hear about my week (semi) unplugged, I wrote about it for Barista Kids: Reflections on a Week Spent (Semi) Screen-Free.

On Saturday, I joined gun sense advocates for a march in Verona Park. (You can read more about it on the The Alternative Press - West Essex.) It was by far the most meaningful part of  my Mother's Day weekend. Participants carried eight flowers, representing the eight children who die every single day from guns and gun violence.

I urge anyone who believes in enacting common sense gun laws, to go from just thinking yes, I support that! to yes, I will volunteer, write letters to the local papers, and email my elected officials!

I do all of those things through the group Moms Demand Action, and I feel like my contribution is making a difference. But we could make a much bigger impact with your voice.

So please, if you have time, or can make time, join a group in your area or participate in the national campaigns sponsored by Moms Demand Action.

If you're here in New Jersey, consider following the Moms Demand Action -  New Jersey Facebook page to stay up to date with events, legislative updates and other campaigns for gun sense in New Jersey.

And last, I'll be at Princeton Girls Night Out with two of my co-authors from I Just Want To Pee Alone: Kim Forde of The Fordeville Diaries and Amy of Funny is Family. We'll be signing books and reading at The Farmhouse Store, as well as sharing laughs and exchanging our best tales of modern motherhood. Oh, and there will be wine.

Here are all the details:

Hope to see you there!

What are your plans this week?

Week In Review: Other Stuff I Wrote and Reflections on Being (Semi) Screen-Free for Seven Days

Last week I went (semi) screen-free as part of Screen-Free Week, presented by Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, which is one of my very most favorite organizations.

And while I didn't spend the week completely screen-free, it was 100% Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram free, which alone is a pretty big accomplishment for someone like me who (I now realize) spends a lot of time on social media.

I did keep-up with my writing day job, which was part of why I didn't go completely screen-free.

For New Jersey Family, I wrote Seven Cinco de Mayo Activities for Kids. I found a bunch of unique ideas, like build-your-on Mayan pyramids, so if you're looking for some inspiration check it out

For Barista Kids I shared Five Great Books for Mother's Day -- and we're giving away copies of all of them, so go enter!

For Wonders of Westfield, my son and I went on assignment and covered 6 Great Playgrounds in Westfield.

 

As for this week, I think I'm going to take what I learned from my (semi) screen-free week and remember the world really does keep going just fine even if I'm not photographing what I ate for lunch on Instagram or sharing my latest ridiculous story about my kids on Facebook. That being said, I'm also pretty excited to go back to my old ways this week. Get ready for a photo retrospective of my garden!.

Have a great week everyone! Who has good plans?

Lies, Scary Mommy and a Giveaway! {Giveaway now closed.}

Jill Smoker (a.k.a. Scary Mommy) has a hilarious new book out: Motherhood Comes Naturally (and Other Vicious Lies) and it got me to thinking what was the biggest "mommy myth" I was told?

For me, the most vicious lie was from the numerous people who told me:

"It will be no problem for your toddler to share a room with the new baby."

To which I now know I should have replied to with a maniacal "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha" laugh.

When my not quite two-year-old daughter Magpie was given her new roommate, Baby Kay, it was a disaster from Day 1.

We had a small two-bedroom apartment in New York City, and we were determined to make this work. There weren't exactly a lot of alternatives. Our bedroom was too small to include a crib, which left the hall, the living room, and the kitchen as the only other options. (Yes, I do know New Yorkers who have utilized all of the above, as well as the bathroom and the closet, but I didn't want to be one of them.)

So we tried everything to make the little ladies work out as roomies.

We put the baby to sleep, and snuck the toddler in.

We put the toddler to sleep, and snuck the baby in.

We put them to sleep simultaneous, each parent with their assigned charge.

Nothing worked. You know what our kids thought of sharing a room?

Maniacal "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha." laughter.

Eventually, when every bed permutation had been explored, every partition option from hanging sheets to folding screens to strategically placed bookshelves did not work, we just moved the baby's crib into the living room, and took to spending the evenings in our bedroom.

And when the baby woke-up every time we tried to walk thought the living room to the kitchen, we moved the baby's crib back into the girls' bedroom, and moved the toddler to the sofa. It sounded so tacky to say our kid slept on the sofa that we tried to put a high-class gloss on it by referring to the sofa as "slumby." For a year, Magpie slept on slumby and peace reigned in our apartment.

Eventually the girls did learn to share a room, but it was never at any point in the transition "no problem."

And that's not the only vicious lie! Head over to Keesha's awesome blog Mom's New Stage and find out how disciplining her kids is getting the better of her, when uh shouldn't that part of motherhood come naturally, too? Apparently, not so much.

We have two copies of the very funny Motherhood Comes Naturally (And Other Vicious Lies) to giveaway.

To enter, let us know in the Rafflecopter form below what was the most vicious lie you were told about motherhood?

You can also earn extra entries by following Mom's New Stage, Random Handprints and Scary Mommy on Facebook and Twitter.

And don't forget to visit ScaryMommy.com for your regular dose of Jill as well as hilarious guest posts like Kim Forde's Stranger in a Strange Land (Having A Baby is Just Like Being a Clueless Tourist) and Anna Luther's 10 Unrecognizable Post Baby Parts.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

US Weekly - Suitable for A Seven-Year-Old?

We got my daughter Kay a subscription to US Weekly for her seventh birthday.

She loves US Weekly.

She taught herself to read with US Weekly, which makes sense because it's probably written for a second-grade reading level, and I'm not even joking.

But a few recent headlines in the magazine have made me wonder, is seven too young to be reading US Weekly?

And if I have to swap her subscription, what magazines do you recommend?

Disclosure: Totally not compensated in case it looks like I was, I don't even like US Weekly. Except of course, the Fashion Police section, which I kinda sorta love.

The Good and the Bad on Pinterest and the Winners of the Book "I Just Want to Pee Alone"

Huge thanks to everyone who entered to win a copy of the book I Just Want to Pee Alone!

I loved reading your stories of Pinterest success and failure, and it's good -really good - to know I'm not the only one who often finds my Pin-reality falls short of my original Pin-spiration.

Here are the five book winners and their Pinterest tale:

Di: I tried, and failed, to recreate a "sock bun." I mean, what the heck lol...how could I mess that up, right! But alas, I did and my hair fell. Beautiful!

Monica: I've watched many Pinterest tutorials on curling hair with a flat iron. I can't do it!

Kathy: We tried making these SWAPS that look like cupcakes that we found on Pinterest but clearly I was doing something wrong because they came out a big gross glue mess.

Amanda: The best AND worst thing I ever tried from Pinterest was a 3 tier fondant covered Mickey Mouse cake. It was a 6 hour nightmare, cute but a complete nightmare. I will never make anything like that again. I wanted to smack the person who made Pinterest that day.

Jenny: My worst was this Dr. Seuss thing called Oobleck. It's this gooey play-stuff from mixing corn starch and water. Mine turned into disgusting soup and then hardened in a big chunk.

Thanks to everyone for entering and sharing your hilarious stories of Pinterest gone wrong!

Winners: Please email me at anna@randomhandprints.com and let me know if you'd like a signed paper copy or a digital copy.

Enter to Win One of Five Signed Copies of "I Just Want to Pee Alone" - The Funniest Book Ever About Being a Mom! {Giveaway now closed}

{Giveaway now closed.}

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am one of the contributors to I Just Want to Pee Alone, the funniest book ever about being a mom -- and I'm not saying that because, uh, I'm one of the contributors. The book really is hilarious. But you don't need to trust me, read the reviews of I Just Want to Pee Alone on Amazon here.

There are thirty-seven hilarious essays from  mom bloggers included in the book, which when arranged not in alphabetical order but in pyramid order, looks like this (Thank you Baby Sideburns for this perfect solution for sharing all the contributors in a way that is so fair, even toddler twins couldn't find complaint.)

 

RachRiot
Snarkfest


Momaical


Ninja Mom


Honest Mom


HouseTalkN

Naps Happen


My Real Life

Frugalista Blog


Baby Sideburns


Funny is Family


My Life and Kids

Toulouse & Tonic


Mom's New Stage

Random Handprints
Nurse Mommy Laughs

Cloudy, With a Chance of Wine


People I Want to Punch in the Throat


The Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva


You Know it Happens at Your House Too


I Love Them Most When They're Sleeping


The Underachiever's Guide to Being a Domestic Goddess


GIVEAWAY - ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF "I JUST WANT TO PEE ALONE"

In honor of I Just Want to Pee Alone holding down the #1 spot in the Humor category on both Amazon and iTunes, I'm giving away five signed copies of the book - winner's choice of paper copy (emblazoned with my signature as well as those of Kim of the Fordeville Diaries, Kim of Let Me Start By Saying and Amy of Amy's Real Life.) Or if you don't want our awesome autographs, you can choose to get the book via Kindle download, too.

My essay is entitled: A Pinterest-Perfect Mom, I Am Not. You probably already figured this out from the title, but my chapter looks at a Pinterest project at my house that goes very, very wrong.

To enter to win a copy of the book, just leave a comment with the best or worst thing you've ever tried to craft, create or bake or share the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen on Pinterest.

For three additional entries leave a comment that you did the following, or that you already:

• Like Random Handprints on Facebook
• Follow @Anna_Sandler on Twitter
• Follow /AnnaSandler on Pinterest

Good luck! Enter now! Giveaway closes on Wednesday, March 20 at 10:00pm EST.

I'll announce the winners here on Thursday, March 21! WINNERS ANNOUNCED TOMORROW

Giveaway small print: Contest open to U.S. residents age 18 and over. Contest ends at 10:00pm EST, Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Winners will be randomly selected via Random.org and announced here. Winners must email Anna (anna@randomhandprints.com) to claim their prize or entrants must provide contact information in their comment, and Anna will contact them. If winner does not respond within forty-eight hours, a new winner will be selected.  I was not compensated for this post or for promoting this giveaway.

For more information and full giveaway rules, please contact anna@randomhandprints.com.

Good luck and happy reading!

For more about I Just Want to Pee Alone, click here.

What I Wrote Recently and... I'm in a Book!

I've written about a lot of fun stuff lately.

For New Jersey Family magazine I wrote about where to find Easter Bunnies all over New Jersey, Pi Day (it's March 14, get it?), and Leprechaun Tricks you can play on your kids for St. Patrick's Day.

And for Barista Kids, I checked out Grug, an amazing kids show in Manhattan, as well as two new exhibits at the Liberty Science Center.

I also survived four playdates, 3 half-days of school, and two school conferences. Oh, and a surprise snow storm.

And yet... I've saved the biggest news for last. I'm in a book! A best-selling book!

Here we are hanging out on iTunes right behind the lovely Tina Fey.

My essay is in an anthology of funny stories about motherhood, I Just Want to Pee Alone, put together by Jen of People I Want to Punch in the Throat.

You can read more about the book here, as well as how to order I Just Want to Pee Alone online.

 

Later this week I'll be having a book giveaway, too. Because you know you want to read this book.

This week, we've got the aftermath of the time change, but other than that I'm hoping for spring weather and good times ahead, even if I don't know where we're going.

Have a great week everyone!

Three Great Kids Books for Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and I read some great children's books with my kids that focus on the contributions of black Americans. Here are three top picks:

Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George (Random House, 2011).  This book, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome, tells the amazing story of Joseph Boulogne, who was born in the early 1700s the son of a white plantation owner and a black salve. Joseph Boulogne traveled from his home in the West Indies to France when he was nine, eventually becoming one of the finest musicians in Europe.

Personally, I loved this story - which was completely new to me, and had a lot of surprising twists and turns as it traces Joesph's life from birth to world-famous violinist. I thought it was beautifully told, and that it explained the prejudice Joseph experienced in a real but not overwhelming way that kids could understand. Joseph was even an inspiration for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his contemporary, although they never met.

But my kids? Not so interested. Their loss. I'm not sure if they represent a universal kid-reaction, but there you have it. Recommended for ages 5-9, though older might be better suited to the somewhat complicated storyline.

I Have A Dream: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Random House, 2012) This over-sized picture book also comes with a CD recording of King's historic speech. The book itself is the speech printed against the backdrop of illustrations by Kadir Nelson, a two-time Caldecott Honor winner. This book is recommended for all ages, and my three kids all enjoyed (ages 3-9) as did I - that speech gets me every time.

What Color is Your World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors (Candlewick Press, 2012 This book cleverly intertwines the story of a brother and sister learning about famous African American inventors while having a discussion with a well-read/historian handyman with mini bios of inventors and scientists. Inventors covered include the men behind the potato chip and the ice cream scoop, as well as the more modern innovation of the Super Soaker. One criticism, uttered by my 7-year-old daughter, "uh, there's only one woman in this whole book." Maybe an opportunity for a follow-up book focusing on the contributions from African American women?

I received review copies of these books. My opinions were not changed, and I'm pretty sure my kids don't really even know the difference between a regular, a review and a library copy.

Great Kids Books for Presidents' Day

Looking for some great Presidential reads to share with your kids for Presidents' Day?

Here are a few picks:

First Mothers
Beverly Gherman (author) and Julie Downing (illustrator) tell the stories of the moms who were responsible for raising the nation's future presidents in their whimsical book, First Mothers (Clarion, 2012).

I love this book: the illustrations are hilarious and the writing is filled with funny anecdotes and weird factoids it's unlikely you would ever know if it were not for this book.

However, it's best to be a little careful with younger or sensitive readers, as a surprising number of these moms died young, or if the moms didn't die young, than the dads died young.

You would not believe how many U.S. presidents were raised by single mothers. All the more reason First Mothers is a fascinating study of amazing-in-their-own-right women, as well as in how they raised the men that they did.

Woodrow: The White House Mouse

This charming book from Cheryl and Peter Barnes will delight kids, because honestly who doesn't want to imagine this great nation being led by an endearing mouse?

Woodrow: The White House Mouse (Little Patriot Press, 2012) teaches kids not only about the famous inhabitants of the White House, but about the home itself - including that it wasn't even known as The White House until 1901.

For more political study, Cheryl and Peter Barnes also tackle the legislative branch in House Mouse Senate Mouse and the judiciary in Marshall, The Courthouse Mouse. All books best for ages 5 to 10.

Do you know any other titles that are good for teaching kids about government and the presidents? Would love some new reads - please share in the comments!

I was not compensated for this post. I did receive the books for review purposes.