Reader's Favorite Gold Medal Children's Picture Book Award Winner - Isabella Babysits Baxter

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 "Isabella Babysits Baxter" is a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Children - Picture/Pop up category! 

Readers’ Favorite is proud to announce that "Isabella Babysits Baxter" by Melissa Perry Moraja is a Gold Medal Winner in the Children - Picture/Pop up category in our 2015 International Book Award Contest.

"Funny, entertaining and educational!"

Tween Children's Book Review and Cash Giveaway - Miss Priss: One and Off the Court

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the tween chapter book "Miss Priss: On and Off the Court" by Judy Phillips and Brenda Nichols from September 15 to 21, 2015.

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MISS PRISS: ON AND OFF THE COURT is book one in the new tween chapter series by Mom’s Choice Award winning writer-illustrator Team, ‘Brenjudy’. On and Off the Court introduces Priscilla Penelope Paxton (Miss Priss), a ten year old whose interests and curiosity land her in, sometimes, sticky situations. A unique coming-of-age story bound to bring giggles and enjoyment to all its readers as Miss Priss encounters and overcomes a slew of challenges, even the one that will continue to grow—self-awareness. The book features full color illustrations.

About the Book

Title: Miss Priss: On and Off the Court | Author: Judy Phillips | Illustrator: Brenda Nichols | Publication Date: August 20, 2015 | Publisher: Tadpole Press ...4 Kids (a division of Smooth Sailing Press) | Pages: 230 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12 Summary: Priscilla Penelope Paxton is a witty ten year old whose inter-ests and curiosity land her in, sometimes, sticky situations. Dance classes, Girl Scouts, school assignments, friends and hanging out at her family's drug store, and the local Piggly Wiggly would leave any other person with no time for any-thing else. Yet, the thrill of basketball and joining the Little Dribblers finds its way into Miss Priss' heart. Though this interest will prove to be a dream that requires overcoming the greatest of challenges; Mom’s opposition. A task that will require ingenuity, perseverance and a little help from some loved ones.

Amazon *  Smooth Sailing Press *  Goodreads

Book Preview

Book Review

Simply a delightful read! My 11 year old and I chuckled quite a bit throughout the story. The illustrations were entertaining as was the story. My daughter loves basketball, so was immediately anxious to read the story. And Miss Priss, one busy 10 year old girl, didn't disappoint her. Judy Phillips did an amazing job with keeping the reader engaged and the illustrations by Brenda Nichols complimented the story.

My daughter and I highly recommend this story. Miss Priss: On and Off the Court is packed with lots of humor and plenty of kid growing moments.

About the Author: Judy Phillips

Judy Phillips is an educator with over twenty years of experience and is currently a counselor at Samuel Houston Elemen-tary School in Huntsville, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and a Master of Education degree in Coun-seling from Sam Houston State University. Phillips volunteers locally with university students through local ministries and mentor programs.

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About the Illustrator: Brenda Nichols

Brenda Nichols was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and is an educator at university level, with over twenty years of experience. She is currently the Head Women's Basketball Coach and Professor of Kinesiology at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Nichols holds an Associate of Arts degree from Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas, a Bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and a Master's degree from The University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. Nichols volunteers locally by mentoring students and through motivational speaking engagements at schools and various civic organizations.

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Miss Priss Blog Tour Schedule (2015)

September 15

Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Author Interview)

Cherry Mischievous (Excerpt)

Blooming Brilliant (Book Review)

September 16

Girl of a 1000 Wonders (Book Review)

BeachBoundBooks (Guest Post)

Sher A Hart: Written Art (Book Review)

September 17

Don't Judge, Read (Book Review)

Not Your Ordinary Psychic Mom (Book Review)

September 18

Rockin' Book Reviews (Book Review)

K&A's Children's Book Reviews (Interview)

Icefairy's Treasure Chest (Book Review)

September 19

Bookworm for Kids (Excerpt)

Brit Bear's Book Reviews (Book Review)

September 20

The Blended Blog (Book Review)

Bookroom Reviews (Book Review)

September 21

Crystal's Chaotic Confessions (Excerpt)

Tea Time and Books (Guest Post & Book Review)

Heart of Philanthropist (Book Review)

* Blog Tour Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choiceGiveaway ends: September 28, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, SmoothSailing Press and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Review

Legends of Zelda Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is one of the coolest instruments I've seen and played. I actually thought it was just a toy that I was going to be reviewing. But as I continued researching it, I learned that people actually take lessons to learn how to play an Ocarina.  

My 11 year old son helped me test the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. He's a huge Legends of Zelda fan, so was thrilled that I asked him to help me review it.

The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time instrument is made of high-quality, kiln-fired ceramic. It has 12 holes that allows you to play sounds ranging from A4-F6 including sharps and flats. 

My son and I have never played an instrument like this before. However, within minutes he was able to play notes.

My only concern with the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is that it is made of ceramic. Every time my son picks it up and holds it, the first thought that runs through my mind is, "Please don't drop it." I can just see it shattering on the floor and tears flooding his eyes. Other than that, I highly recommend it, especially if you have a Legend of Zelda fan in your house.

Price is reasonable and seems to be discounted on Amazon, making it a great gift for kids. 

To order go to

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time available on Amazon

I was given the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time for free without compensation for my honest opinion.

Psychological Affects of Color and Cultural Differences

 

The psychological and behavioral affect of color has been studied for centuries by color theorists. Color theorists believe, and set out to prove, that color does have a direct psychological and behavioral affect on us. 

Today there are no standards on this subject. This is primarily due to the symbolic and psychological use of each color within various cultures. Critics claim that if color has the same psychological and behavioral affect on everyone, then why does it have different symbolic and psychological association within different cultures? 

Simply put, colors do have several meanings and personalities allowing for various countries to utilize it in different ways. This difference exists for several reasons. First, there is a positive and negative side to each color. For instance, the positive side of green is that it’s a healing color. It’s a great color to wear to ground someone. Its also a color that creates calmness. It’s the color of balance. The entertainment industry has guests sit in a green room prior to coming on their show. They do this because the color green has been found to relax and calm people. Green is an excellent color to incorporate in your home color scheme.

However, there is a negative side to the color green. Green also represents wealth. Quite often when one thinks of wealth they think of financial wealth. If that is the only goal of the individual, they may begin to experience the more negative side of green which is greed and envy. People can achieve a wealthy life in many other ways such as having family around and just being happy with what they have at that moment in time. It’s the greed of green that can consume a person and throw them into an energy vibration that isn’t healthy.

The personalities of each color also change when you begin mixing the colors together, or adding black and white to a color. For instance, red is a color that represents passion because of its intense energizing nature. When you deepen the color of red by adding black to it, it changes the feel of the color bringing to it a sense of mystery and depth. As such, it takes on characteristics of passionate love on a physical level. Pure red, especially bright red, creates a totally different feeling and sensation. It is a color that you notice. It stands out. This is why Americans use it as the color for stop signs and the fire department. You want to be able to recognize danger and take action. The color red does just that.

Every culture uses color in different ways. For instance, in China, white is used to represent mourning such as death. (Color Me Confused: Colors and Meaning in Chinese Culture) White is a color that comprises all colors. It’s a color of rebirth. It’s a color that brings truth and clarity. It is a color that can effectively represent mourning and death because with death comes a new beginning. It actually is a much more suitable color for death because it represents the vibration of truth and clarity. American’s use black to represent death and mourning. Black represents the unknown. When Americans wear black, it says to others that we are hiding ourselves from the truth. Essentially, we’re communicating to the outside world that we are afraid of seeing what lies beyond death. With tradition, many cultures will continue wearing certain colors to represent certain emotions and events even though perhaps they aren’t the best color in the overall spectrum. 

Colors do affect us on a psychological, emotional, and behavioral level. The colors you paint your home are going to trigger a certain feeling and therefore attitude. The colors you surround yourself at work again will produce a certain feeling within you which will eventually play out in some manner in your life let it be in your attitude and productivity.

Take a moment to think about the colors you surround yourself with. When at home, does one room feel more comfortable than another? Do you feel more motivated when wearing a certain color over another? When you are at work, have you found that you are more productive versus working at home?  

Discover how to use color, music and positive thinking in

Get the Vibe: Achieve Your Goals, Increase Your Productitivity and Improve Your Relationships

How to Use Visualization Strategies for School, Sports and Creating Your Dreams

Visualization is the ability to use your imagination to picture images of what you would like to manifest. This is a powerful tool when you add to it feelings, intention, and action. Visualization can bring changes into your life sometimes immediately! And kids can use it when studying and playing sports! (Reading Strategies Using Visualization)

This great mind power has been used for centuries because of its success in altering thought processes, causing events to happen, attracting money, and changing habits to improve one’s health and life. In fact, visualization and meditation are techniques used often by elite athletes. For example, a major league baseball pitcher uses visualization exercises before a game by seeing himself on the pitchers mound throwing the ball, where it goes over the plate resulting in a perfect strike. The pitcher practices visualizing this scene in his minds eye over and over again. The day of the game, the pitcher throws a perfect pitch one after the other.

The medical community also has had great success with using visualization techniques. For instance, people who were told they would never walk have walked. Why? Because they believed! They visualized themselves walking, and after months and sometimes years of physical therapy they accomplished their vision. Cancer victims such as Lance Armstrong and Louise Hay used positive visualization during cancer treatment and have successfully become cancer free. But it wasn’t only visualization that led to them becoming cancer free. As Lance’s coach, Chris Carmichael said in a letter, “Lance beat cancer because he had great doctors, a positive attitude, and a lot of luck.” Visualization techniques combined with other healing modalities are a powerful tool. (Visualization Techniques for Athletes)

What do you do if you can’t visualize? Easy all you have to do is use your other senses–feel, touch, smell and sense. For instance, if you are looking to take a vacation to Hawaii feel yourself relaxed with sand touching your toes and the wind blowing across your face. If you still are having trouble using your other senses, there is another way to accomplish the same objective–use affirmations and create visuals!

For instance, if you’d like to purchase a vacation home in Florida, find images of scenes from Florida in magazines, newspapers, and brochures. Cut the images out and paste them onto a calendar or a goal notebook. If you don’t have the time to create your dream collage, you can also write-out affirmations that state exactly what you desire—“It is the year 2010, and I am sitting by my pool in West Palm Beach, Florida sipping on a nice cold Pina Colada.” By doing these simple exercises, within a matter of days to weeks, you will find that you are a magnet for attracting friends and even strangers who are planning a trip to Florida, have just recently visited Florida, or are living in Florida. The more positive and focused you are the closer you will be to purchasing your vacation home. The key in fulfilling your dream is to not give up! Believe that you have the ability to manifest everything and anything you want. 

You may want to check out Jack Canfield Visualize and Affirm Your Desired Outcomes: A Step-by-Step Guide too!

Like everything in life, it takes time. The more you practice the better you’ll become with creating the life you desire with fewer trials and error.

Paula's Choice Skincare Product Review and Get 20% Off

Get 20% off plus free shipping off your next order of Paula's Choice Skincare Products with coupon code: PRBZZ20, and build a skin care routine that’s right for you!

I love testing skincare products! Especially ones that can help reduce those fine lines. As a BzzAgent I had the opportunity to tryout Paula’s Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster. I received this product for free for my honest review.

Paula’s Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster is an anti-aging product with hyaluronic acid that binds with skin to hold in moisture and plump up those wrinkles while also hydrating your skin.

I used it for almost 4 weeks. I love the feeling of it when applying it to my skin. It came in a small trial sized bottle. The trial sized drop applicator didn't really work. The directions said to apply two drops directly to your face or mix it with any serum, moisturizer (without SPF) or eye cream. I wasn't able to easily get many drops out of the applicator so instead I smeared the outside of the drop applicator against my skin. 

Upon first use, my skin looked healthier and hydrated. I used it every day in the morning and evening, mixing it in with a moisturizer. I'm very impressed with how m y skin looks and feels. However, it took about 3 weeks of use for me to start noticing some of the fine lines fading. Nothing drastic, but I am noticing a difference.

Additional information about Paula's Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster:

• It can also be used before or after AHA or BHA exfoliants, retinol treatments and other anti-aging products. 
• The formula is suitable for all skin types — even breakout prone skin 
• Like all Paula’s Choice Skincare products, the ingredients in this formula are proven effective by published, scientific research 
• It’s also 100% fragrance- and colorant-free, with no added dyes or irritants
• Paula's Choice skincare products are never tested on animals

Father's Day Gift Guide - The Best For Dad

My kids and I are already planning a special Father's Day celebration! Breakfast in bed, then off to the park for a picnic if it's sunny. If rain is in the forecast, we'll be enjoying Bloody Mary's at his restaurant of choice. And to end the day, we'll do a fun activity like miniature golf or bowling or catch a movie.

Now for this years special Father's Day gift for my husband. Like every year, my hubby gives lots of hints to what gift we should get him. This year it's a bike computer called the Cateye. Pretty amazing little electronic gadget!

My hubby has really gotten into biking over the past two years, focused on raising money to support JDRF. Our 10 year old daughter was diagnosed with type one diabetes 3 1/2 years ago. 

The following are other Father's Day gift ideas that I have sent my dad and considered getting my hubby!

1. Omaha Steaks
   
2. Day of golf
   
3. Fit Bit
   
4. Beer of the Month Club
• The Original Craft Beer Club
• Beer Month Club
  
5. Watch for Dad
   

Other Father's Day gift ideas include golf accessories, electronic gadgets such as iPhone and iPad, tailgating games like bean bag toss, new grill, Father's Day shirt, baseball hat, grilling accessories, tie, universal remote control and cologne. 

Please share how you are spending Father's Day and the special gift you are getting for your hubby or dad!