Celina Penovi's Paperbacks

A few months back I received a few copies of Celina Penovi's Spanish to English paperback storybooks. I had meant to review them within that week but they got buried away and I completely forgot about them—that is, until today.

While my Spanish is rusty at best, I remember what it was like growing up in a bilingual area and struggling to learn the language just so I could understand what was being said around me.

That's why I was excited to discover Celina's three storybooks: Guess It If You Can!, Scrambled Breakfast, and The Clumsy Stork.

In each storybook your children can learn to read Spanish by comparing words in one paragraph with words in another paragraph.

The stories are simple and entertaining (often in rhyme) and the illustrations, by Dario Salvi are both light-hearted and comical.

That being said, I really believe these books are best for children who already have a basic understanding of their second language—whether it's Spanish or English.

Your children won't be able to learn proper pronunciations with the books and from what I can tell, some of the translations are loosely translated so it's best to have someone with a basic understanding of the language to read along with the kids.

For instance, in one introduction she says "To my four boys, blah blah" but when translated into Spanish, she left out the number four altogether. It's nowhere to be found in the translated paragraph. Another thing is that like English words, some Spanish words have dual meanings which can be confusing for children just learning the language.

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Do you Netflix?

Years ago, when Netflix was just branching out nationwide, I subscribed. I liked the idea of being able to watch old episodes of televised series, but you couldn't pick and choose which episodes you wanted to watch so you had to go through the entire series—even if what you wanted was somewhere in the middle or end.

Then there was my husband and son to contend with. They always wanted the latest film to DVD releases and the wait was simply unbearable—weeks, sometimes months.

Eventually we cancelled the plan and moved on to Blockbuster Online because they had a local store 45 minutes from us. In time, however, we found Blockbuster Online to have similar problems.

About that time, Hollywood Video began selling yearly calendars. In each calendar was a "rent one get one free" coupon for each month of the year, plus two bonus coupons. The only drawback was the 45 minute trip into town to get the movies and then the drive back to return them.

Yet, we contended with Hollywood Video because of the coupons and because we hated our town's cable television service.

This year, Hollywood Video cancelled their calendar program and a few months later, they closed up shop.

Next thing I knew, I was checking out the local library and visiting Best Buy and Wal-mart in search of $20 television series. (Some we kept and some we sold to the local "used" shop so we could purchase more.)

When we weren't watching DVDs we were watching streaming movies on network websites and places like Hulu and YouTube and trying to get our TV antenna to bring in local channels.

Seriously folks, we were getting downright irritated at how difficult it was to simply watch a good show and I wanted my Big Bang Theory fix and my husband wanted his NCIS fix.

We'd given up on Internet streaming and finally broke down and got cable television when my son came home from college and informed us that Netflix had streaming video.

His roommate subscribed and he thought it was the greatest thing since the invention of cable television.

I assured him that we wouldn't be able to watch a single episode without a ton of lag time because our Internet connection was crap.

Determined to prove me wrong, he signed up for the 14 day free-trial through X-Box.

I couldn't believe how well the connection was. The streaming video buffered the entire movie in under ten minutes and the only time we experienced problems with connection was when my daughter tried to watch YouTube while we were streaming.

After his trial was up, I signed up under my old account. I didn't get the luxury of the 30-day free trial, even though it had been years since I used Netflix and I had never used the streaming video but I didn't mind. I was hooked!

We ordered a disc for the Wii to view the difference between the X-Box 360, Wii, and computer viewing. From what we can tell, the video and sound are the same on all three devices. (Though on my daughter's much older computer, we did determine that the older graphic card was not as favorable as the newer graphic card on our $400 laptop.)

Next, I ordered a DVD. To my surprise it came within a day; turns out that our nearest distribution center in 45 minutes away (instead of another state like before).

After using the service for nearly a month now I have determined that instant streaming is great for older movies and television series but don't count on it for new "film to DVD" releases.

So what do I like about Netflix's streaming videos?

• Instant gratification.
• Don't have to worry about DVDs getting lost in the mail.
• Thousands of dollars saved because I get unlimited viewing.
• The ability to watch films, documentaries, and TV series that I may not have otherwise spent money on.
• My children can watch a show on their computers while I watch a show on the television via Wii—though we do experience a little lag time due to our Internet service when more than one person tries to stream.
• As long as I have my laptop, I can watch movies anywhere! (This is actually a great feature for road trips or people who do a lot of company traveling.)

What I don't like about Netflix's streaming service?

• No parental controls.
• Connection depends upon my Internet provider which means that some days I get pixilated video streams.
• Video quality depends upon my computer's video card or other device.

What do I like about Netflix's DVD rental service?

• No late fees.
• Saves time.
• Saves gas and car mileage.
• Cheaper than local rental stores.

What I don't like about Netflix's DVD rental service?

• No parental controls.
• Having to pay extra for Blu-Ray. (Which I don't because I refused to sign up for it.)

Seriously folks, I love the service and the price! I pay just $8.99 plus tax for unlimited streaming and 1 DVD out at a time.

We currently have 100 films in the que and I've been getting my "Murder She Wrote" fix every night for the past week. I have not seen the series in years and just couldn't justify the $89 per season price—or the latest $49.99 price. I've been impatiently waiting for the series to drop down to $14.99 or at least $24.99 a season for years, but now I don't have to wait!

Over all, I am pleased with Netflix and will be cancelling cable, or at the very least dropping it to the very basic plan by summer's end. I have to get my Big Bang Theory fix, after all.

Disclosure: I purchased the service used in this company. This is "my opinion" of the company, its service, and its product. I was not paid to give a positive review.


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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards busy parents, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Just Add S.P.I.C.E.

Do you like reality television shows that focus on healthy lifestyle changes but find yourself yearning for more information on how those transitions took place? Then you'll enjoy Just Add S.P.I.C.E. because it picks up where reality television shows leave off.

Just Add S.P.I.C.E. is a documentary geared towards families with children between the ages of 3 and 6. But unlike Super Nanny or The Biggest Loser, you won't find clips of melt-downs and chaos in the home. Instead, the show is monotone in nature and focuses on in-depth instruction with visual follow-up.

The video showcases four families.

The narrator (a soothing male voice) gives a brief overview of what's going on with each family as we watch the families move throughout their days.

Then Ronnie Leiderman, the show's host, takes the time to explain her S.P.I.C.E. program and what steps are needed to implement her program into that family's specific lifestyle.

Once we see the families grab the basics of Ronnie's program we fast forward two months to see how the program has changed the way the families see food and interact with each other.

One thing that will be instilled in your brain is the acronym S.P.I.C.E. While I found the explanation of the acronym valuable, I have to say that after hearing it once, it could've been edited out with the other families. It's too repetitive to share the complete explanation with each family within such a short video.

Another thing I found annoying about the video is that it doesn't transition easily from one segment to the next. You literally have to hit the "play" button for each section. And the bonus sections don't feel like bonuses at all; they're more like clips that were edited out of the main features.

That being said, there is a lot of valuable information within the video. Information like:

• Eating together allows parents to model healthy eating habits.
  
• Eating together as a family increased healthy communication and builds stronger family bonds.
  
• Increased physical activity will help remove negative behaviors.
  
• Keep healthy snacks within your child's reach at all times and allow them to snack on these items without having to ask permission which teaches children to make healthy decisions on their own.
  
• Keep unhealthy snacks out of your children's reach and require them to ask permission to eat these items.
  
• Increase positive behaviors by encouraging children. Notice the good behavior and acknowledge that behavior.
  
• Ignore children's negative behaviors when it's safe to do so by distracting and redirecting.
  
• Organize physical environment and remain consistent to avoid power struggles.
  
• Respond to your children, the same way, under specific behaviors.
  
• Make food preparation fun by creating structured activities that focus on both ingredients and cooking.
  
• Limit the amount of junk food in the house. A well-stocked junk food cabinet is only going to reinforce their desire for that type of food and make it difficult to reinforce the healthier choices.
  

Aside from seeing the families eating healthier, you see a positive change in how the children interact with each other and with their parents. And though we don’t see a whole lot of fighting amongst siblings or between the parent and the children in the film, both the narrator and Ronnie make it a point to state that there is far less fighting and that behavioral change is due to the choices the parents made based upon the S.P.I.C.E. program. In case you're wondering, here's what the acronym means:

S – Structure = Physical Environment
P – Praise = Encouragement
I – Inspire = Role Model
C – Consistency
E – Enjoy = Time Together

Ready for a lifestyle change? Order Just Add S.P.I.C.E.: A Recipe for Happy Healthy Kids 3-6 today.

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Review of Make A Real Living As A Freelance Writer

Have you longed to quit your day job and become a full-time, self-supporting writer? Have you dreamt of finding your byline in highly coveted print magazines? Are you tired of putting in so much work with so little return?

I Recommend Your purchase supports this site.

Thanks to Glatzer’s book, "Make A Real Living As A Freelance Writer", you don’t have to feel like a failure. In "Make A Real Living As A Freelance Writer", Glatzer gives you an insider’s look into her life as a well-paid freelance writer and shares tips for getting those top paying assignments.

You’ll learn why having a good grasp of grammar, punctuation, and style guides are only half the battle. In 17 chapters you will discover 34 tips guaranteed to take you from zero dollars to your desired monthly income—if you’re willing to take the time to put her tips into action. Tips like:

1. Obtaining the necessary tools to complete your assignments—once you begin receiving them.
2. How to set writing-related goals.
3. What you need to know to treat your writing like a business—not a hobby.
4. How to come up with ideas editors want to use.
5. How to turn one idea into several paying ideas.
6. How to find ideas when your “well” has run dry.
7. Understanding the difference between print markets and web markets.
8. Where to find writers’ guidelines.
9. How to analyze freelance writing opportunities.
10. Why different departments, in magazines, might be the best way to break into the publication.
11. Why query letters don’t work when trying to sell an essay to a publication.
12. How to write a great query letter.
13. How to create a lead that gets noticed.
14. How to present samples of your writing without mentioning that you’ve never been published before.
15. What clips work best for the publication you’re pitching.
16. Finding your query style.
17. What not to do with your query letter.
18. Why generic query letters don’t work.
19. Overcoming your fear of rejection.
20. Understanding the different rights you’re selling to your article.
21. How to build on your experience.
22. How to properly handle simultaneous submissions.
23. How to keep track of your submissions.
24. When and how to follow up on submissions.
25. Understanding payment terms.
26. When writing on spec can be a good thing.
27. Understanding your worth and value as a freelance writer.
28. Properly interviewing your sources through phone, email, or in-person visits.
29. How to practice and prepare for an interview.
30. Understanding what editors really want and how to get them to assign you another article.
31. When and how to contact an editor after you’ve received the assignment.
32. How to build relationships with editors.
33. How to get paid money due you.
34. Why networking is essential to your writing career.

But that’s not all you’ll learn! You’ll also discover:

1. How Glatzer handled certain situations,
2. What other full-time freelance writers have done in certain situations, and
3. What you need to do to keep in the IRS’s good graces.

And if that isn’t enough, Glatzer also includes four sample query letters that earned her writing assignments. Finally, Glatzer includes a hands-on assignment at the end of each chapter geared towards helping you put what you’ve read into action. Whether you’re new to freelance writing or simply want to up the ante, "Make A Real Living as a Freelance Writer" offers real-life advice, tips, and hands-on assignments sure to get every writer headed in the right direction—to a profitable, successful career as a published freelance writer.

Order Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments Today!

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Living With Less So Your Family Has More

Have you heard of Jill Savage's new book, Living With Less So Your Family Has More?
It's 209 pages and for the most part doesn't offer any new insights. However, if you've never considered cutting back on your expenses, have never read a reduce your debt type book, or have never thought about living on less than you make so that you have more money (and time) at the end of the month, then this book is for you.
In 18 chapters you will discover that living on less means:
• Less stress, less anxiety, and less work,

• Less tension and marital strife,

• Going against the American norm,

• Discovering a new source of energy, and

• More time to connect with the people in your life.

It also means constantly having to re-evaluate your decision so that you can stand your ground and not give in to the pressure advertising and marketing firms.
You'll also discover that as you cut back on your current obligations and choose to live on less, you will have more of so many things. More…

• Availability for the things and people you treasure most,

• Peace of mind as you realize that you're no longer running around like a chicken with its head cut off,

• Patience for the world around you,

• Kindness towards your loved ones (there's a really cute story in the book that brings this point home beautifully),

• Joy because your life finally feels as though it is in proper balance, and

• Energy to intentionally change the direction of your life and improve your relationships.

The first half of the book includes a lot of personal insight into why the couple made the decision to live on less. This is probably the best part of the book because it gets to the heart of the matter, shows you how difficult a decision it was to make at times, and how empowering the decision ended up being over the long run.
The second half of the book includes the basics of making the transition from living with "more" to living with "less". There is a section devoted to being thrifty, a section on learning what areas to cut back on, and a section on what areas are a necessity or non-negotiable. To be honest, I wasn't impressed with this half of the book. I feel that it was just thrown in as filler and didn't offer anything new or riveting or truly meaningful.
Each chapter ends with a "Let's Talk About It" section. It's essentially a conversation starter for couples, so that they can talk about what they've read and what they really want to do.

Order Living With Less So Your Family Has More today.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of this book to review.

Toy Story 3 Was Great

Took my daughter to see Toy Story 3 today. We opted to not see it in 3-D because it really plays havoc on my eyes, though I am sure my daughter was a tad bit disappointed as she loves 3-D movies.

After watching Toy Story 1 & 2 for a review over at The Dabbling Mum last month, I was hyped and ready to see the new film. But for some reason when it finally hit the theatres, it felt like I was kicking and screaming all the way to my seats.

Even today, on our designated "Girls Date", I kept thinking, "I really don't want to see another child's film. I'd like something more 'adult'--more romance or action-packed."

Then the curtains rolled, so-to-speak, and I was entranced.

Right away the film captivates the audience with a fast-paced action sequence involving the main characters.


The film starts out with the Toy Story characters pitted against one another in a good versus evil campaign. All of Buzz's equipment works, including his ability to fly. Hamm, the piggy bank, is the evil villain complete with flying ship. And Slink, the dog, has the ablity to create a forcefield around his partners--the bank robbers, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.

Then you see a young Andy playing make-believe with his toys and you realize that everything you've just seen is in Andy's head.

Next thing you discover is that Andy is all grown up and ready to leave home and start a new life at college. His mom insists that he pack up his belongings, toss what he doesn't want, and store the rest in the attic. Andy acts like he doesn't care about the toys in his toy chest--as though he's far too old for such things.

The toys' feelings are so hurt that they decide it's better to be sent to a daycare than to be stored away and discarded--or worse, thrown away.

But first impressions can be deceiving, as they are about to discover and thus a new story begins...

Will the toys find a happy ending? Will they ever be played with again? That's something you'll have to discover for yourself.

I will tell you this much though, the ending isn't anything like you expected and you'll find yourself a bit teary-eyed.












You can see a trailer of it over on Youtube. Just click here or here.

Review of Book Proposals That Sell

Have you dreamt of becoming a published author only to find your manuscripts rejected time and time again? Do you long to hold a bound copy of your manuscript in your hands or sign copies for adoring fans? Are you tired of feeling like a lost sheep?

I Recommend Your purchase supports this site.

Thanks to Whalin’s book, "Book Proposals That Sell", you don’t have to wander around the wilderness alone. In Book Proposals That Sell, Whalin takes you by the hand and gives you an insider’s look into the world of publishing.

You’ll learn why writing the next American novel, or the next best seller, is only half the battle. You’ll discover 21 secrets guaranteed to get your book proposal looked at by the publisher of your choice; secrets that appear to be common sense, but are often overlooked by amateur writers in a hurry to see their work published. Secrets like:

1. Knowing the topic of your book so well you can write a concise overview and pitch it three different ways.
2. Understanding who your book’s audience is and why it’s reachable.
3. How to write a chapter-by-chapter summary that helps editors understand the overall flow of your book.
4. Explaining why you’re the perfect author for this book. In other words, why you have the credibility and authority to speak on your book’s topic.
5. Understanding why your book has competition, even if your idea is completely unique and untouched.
6. Determining the vision of your book: page count, forms, completion date, etc.
7. Creating a marketing plan.
8. What your sample chapter should really consist of.
9. The importance of choosing a title (and a few alternatives) that catches the attention of editors and bookstore browsers alike.
10. Getting endorsements that will actually sell your manuscript, not just your printed book.
11. The importance of the return envelope, also known as SASE.
12. Why spellchecker shouldn’t be your only editing tool.
13. Why your first draft is really your rough draft and how to make that draft more saleable.
14. Keeping track of your submissions so you don’t send the same manuscript to an editor who rejected it in the past.
15. Building relationships with editors through key events designed to bring both editors and writers together.
16. Why including hype in your proposal could actually destroy your chances of an acceptance.
17. Using your proposal to find the right agent for your manuscript.
18. Understanding why proposal can be as much work as the manuscript itself.
19. How to submit your proposal to different agents and/or publishing houses simultaneously.
20. How to not become a one-hit wonder by getting more proposals out the door during the waiting game.

But that’s not all you’ll learn! You’ll also discover:

• What publishers really want from authors,
• How they make their final decisions, and
• How you can improve your chances of getting not one, but several book contracts.

And if that isn’t enough, Whalin also includes a sample book proposal that sold for six figures! Finally, Whalin includes resources and websites throughout the book to further your education and the understanding of the point(s) he’s trying to make. If you’re serious about making a living as a book author or you simply want to be a one-time wonder, you can’t go wrong with "Book Proposals That Sell".

Order Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS Today!

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Review of How To Publish Your Articles

Have you ever read a magazine article and thought, I can write that? Have you attempted to get something published only to find you scratching your head in complete and utter confusion? Are you ready cut through all that confusion and finally see your name in print?

I Recommend Your purchase supports this site.

Thanks to Jump’s book, "How To Publish Your Articles", you can stop the endless confusion-induced headaches and get your name in print. In "How To Publish Your Articles", Jump not only covers the basics of how the publishing industry works, but she guides you towards publication.

You’ll learn why having a solid understanding of the publishing industry can make the right publication say, “Yes! I want to publish your work.” In 12 chapters you will discover 28 points designed to launch your freelance writing career. Points like:

1. Why having a clear destination in mind can help you develop achievable goals.
2. Why you must be realistic with your reasons for becoming a published writer.
3. Finding space to work as a writer.
4. Understanding the differences between various publications: trades, consumers, journals, newspapers, etc. and how they work.
5. The steps an article takes from idea to publisher’s desk to printable form.
6. Developing an article’s topic.
7. Understanding the difference between first, second, and third person.
8. Understanding the difference between various article types: a commentary, a filler, a featured article, a side bar, an op-ed piece, a profile, a round-up, a review, etc.
9. Why narrowing down the publication’s audience can make a better fit for your article.
10. Finding the right publication for your article.
11. Creating your own market list.
12. How to request writers’ guidelines when not are listed on the publication’s website.
13. How to determine if you have the correct contact information for your submission.
14. Composing a cover letter.
15. Writing a query letter.
16. Formatting your articles so they look great upon first sight.
17. How to keep both assignments when a simultaneous submission results into two buying editors.
18. How to use a submission tracking chart.
19. How to use a self-addressed stamped postcard instead of a SASE.
20. Understanding copyright law.
21. How to properly handle a request to rewrite your work.
22. What to do when you receive several rejections for the same query or manuscript.
23. How to use a critique service or group.
24. How to develop your ideas and turn them into articles.
25. What to say to your editor during the initial contact.
26. How to interview your source under different circumstances.
27. Using copyrighted material in your article.
28. What to do when you’ve gotten in over your head and don’t understand your subject.

But that’s not all you’ll get! You’ll also receive:

• A sample tracking chart,
• Six sample cover letters designed to cover various submission situations,
• Two sample withdrawal letters, and
• Six sample query letters including one for the unpublished writer and a side-by-side comparison of a query letter that didn’t work and one that did.

And if that isn’t enough, Jump shows you how to outline your article before you actually write the piece. Finally, Jump shares valuable insight on freelance writing contracts.

Whether you’re new to freelance writing or ready to take your writing to the next level, How To Publish Your Articles offers practical, useful hands-on advice designed to advance your writing career.

Order How to Publish Your Articles: A Complete Guide to Making the Right Publication Say Yes (Square One Writers' Guides) Today!

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Family Matters Review

After 20 years, Family Matters has found its way to DVD and my kids, though now teens, couldn't be happier. Yes, it's corny. Yes, some of the jokes are now "lame" in their eyes. But they have fond memories of the show that essentially grew up with them.

I can still remember my kids pulling up their pants far above their hips, tilting their backs slighting, squinting their eyes, and saying, "Look Mom! I'm Urkel!" Or saying after a mishap, "Did I do that?!"

During the early years of the show, Urkel was hillarious, heartwarming, and in some way made nerds seem cool.

Check out the clip below, then head over to my full review at The Dabbling Mum.