Saturday

I woke up this morning around 8:30. None of my kids were awake yet and no children were in my bed. (Score!) By 9 everyone was up, and I was making pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast. Then guess what happened. My son asked what he could do to help. (I think he was really hungry.) So he learned to make pancakes this morning.

I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon wandering from room to room reading my book. Guess why I kept moving. Kids kept following me. I finally finished my book though. Then I took a nap. Sadly it kept getting interrupted, and after an hour I got up to find toys everywhere. Yes they were probably there earlier, too, but I was reading so I didn't care. But because my book was done, it was time to clean up. It's amazing how much cleaner the house looks when the kids pick up all the stuff they have left in every room of the house.

That inspired me to sweep and that inspired to wash the dishes. I think this particular inspiration draws a line at cleaning the bathroom though. Another book is calling my name. So I think I will feed the children dinner, as they were on their own for lunch, and go find a quiet spot to read until they find me again.

Why didn't I think of that?

I should be in bed. I have been yelling for my kids to go to bed to over an hour. I still hear them whispering in bed. So while I wait for them to settle down, and not sneak downstairs for candy, I am up playing on Facebook and looking through some of the files other Usborne consultants nationwide have posted.

I am happy that other Uzzies (as we call ourselves) are so helpful and willing to share. I think it's one of the things that makes the culture of our company great. And because I have plenty of time to spend looking through the hundreds of files, as my kids are still whispering and planning a candy raid, I am bound to find a few gems.

Under the category of "why didn't I think of that," we have a lovely $100 challenge that I am gleefully borrowing/stealing. The gist: collect $100 in orders and receive $100 in free and discounted books. Yep! You and I can so do that, right?

The breakdown on the free/discounts:

$15 free (more for sales over $150)

$20 at 75% off

$25 at 65% off

$25 at 50% off

$15 at 25% off

I would love to have 4 people (anywhere in the U.S.) to try this out for me this month. What do you have to lose? That's right nothing to lose and free and discounted books to gain. And it would help me out because honestly with vacations and the like my business calendar for August looks pretty lame.

Who's in?

But is it goal-worthy?

I am trying to pick a goal...something concrete to work toward. I am having an issue deciding though.

Technically, I have a goal to promote to team leader with Usborne this fall. And while I want it and believe in the company, I have trouble with goals that involve other people. I know that I should look at it as helping others. Usborne may be just thing someone needs in their life. I get that, but depending on others doesn't really sit well with me. Nope I was never a fan of the team projects in school either. You might have guessed that.

So I still need a goal. Last year I had the goal to earn the iPad. I did. Then I had the goal to use my Usborne earnings to pay for my 40th birthday trip to Vegas. I did. But all this year I have been struggling to come up with some proper motivation.

This lack of motivation goes beyond business, of course. I have no motivation to eat right or exercise either. And the motivation to be a domestic diva has never been there. Shocking!

While I know no one can determine my goal for me or even motivate me when I stubbornly refuse to be motivated, I am interested to know what my friends are working toward right now...professionally, personally, whatever. Share!

3 Mini Book Reviews

While sorting orders recently, I took some time to read two of our Kane Miller books that I'd never seen before as well as to refamiliarize myself with one of my Usborne favorites. Here are my mini reviews.

The Dog Who Loved Red

By Anitha Balachandran

Raja has a super red-sensing ability, which he uses to chew all manner of red things. Until a trip to the park takes him on a colorful, heroic adventure to find a lost red ball. Love the story, love the fun color exploration, love the ending.

Half of an Elephant

By Gusti

Find out what happens when the world splits in half and all the animals lose half of themselves. Most noteworthy in this book are the illustrations. Gusti used digital images of discarded objects "to show children that art can be created from objects that usually end up in the garbage can."

Art Treasury

Learn about a famous piece of art and its artist then follow the 6-step (or fewer) instructions to create your own piece in the same style. Steps include words and illustrations. Book includes 22 different artists/projects. It is a must have for all art lit programs. Artists include van Gogh, Rousseau, Kandinsky, O'Keeffe, and many others.

Summer reading challenge idea

I just listened to a training...yep crazy ideas come out of those things! So I thought I'd put this idea out into the universe and see what response I got. Who would be interested in a summer reading challenge?

Yes I know the library does one, and yes I always sign my kids up for that one. But that doesn't mean I can't do one, too, right?

Similarities to the library's summer reading program: Read! Track it! Get some prizes (TBD)!

Goal: 600 minutes read in 6 weeks (and yes reading time for the library challenge counts for this)

Differences: Collect pledges for time read. Use 75% of your personal pledges to order fabulous Usborne books for your home. Donate 25% of pledges locally so that kids with few books at home can benefit. Yes that's 100% of funds going toward quality books. (Collecting pledges is not mandatory but a cool way to reward reading and help others at the same time.)

Program would run July 1 to August 12 and would include 4 park play days (not mandatory but fun)

• kick-off day- July 1
• science day- July 22
• art day/pledges & book selections due - August 12
• celebration day - August 26

Do I have 10 or more local-to-me families willing to go on this journey with me?

6 More Party Themes w/ Book Favor Ideas

As promised, here are more popular party themes with affordable ($6.99 or less per favor) Usborne/Kane Miller books or activity cards as favor options. Activity cards are always the most cost-effective option as the 50 cards can be split up, tied with a ribbon, and paired with a Dollar Store dry-erase pen for an easy favor. When you have 10 or fewer guests, any of these options can really make sense. And hosting a book show and earning your book favors for free is always a smart way to go. You can order any of these titles or find out about hosting at http://www.enjoygoodbooks.com.

Pirates

Transportation

Most cost-effective:

   

Other options:

Under the Sea

Most cost-effective:

Other options:

Secret Agent

Most cost-effective:

Other options (best for 8-10 year olds):

Space

Most cost-effective:

        

Other options:

Wizards & Magic

Choose any of the eight Oliver Moon titles for $4.99 each. Great for the budding Harry Potter fan who's not quite ready to tackle those large tomes, but has an interest in the magical world. For ages 7 and up.

5 Party Themes w/ Book Favor Ideas

I hate little plastic party favors. I feel bad giving them because I know they are junky and will go in the trash as soon as the kid turns his or her head and mom can swipe them off the kitchen counter, at least that's how it goes in my house. Here are some suggestions of affordable ($6.99 or less per favor) Usborne/Kane Miller books or activity cards that can be paired with popular party themes. Remember these are favors that will not be broken or trashed almost immediately and moms will actually like you for giving them. :-) You can find them all at http://www.enjoygoodbooks.com. Keep an eye out for "6 More Party Themes w/ Book Favor Ideas."

Animals

Most cost-effective:

        
Break up these packs of 50 activity cards into smaller groups. Bind with a ribbon and attach a Dollar Store dry erase pen. Great for ages 6 and up. Card sets are $9.99.

Other options $6.99 or less:

Circus/Carnival

This is one of our newer books. It's $6.99 and great for ages 4 and up.

Dinosaurs

Most cost-effective:

Set of 50 cards for $9.99. Break them up and bind them as described above.

Other options for $6.99 or less:

Fairies

Your 7 to 9 year old fairy fanatics will love these Silverlake Fairy School chapter books. At $4.99 they are a   good deal. And there are six in the series to choose from.

Options at $6.99 or less:

Princesses

A great choice for an older princess. This book is for the 10+ princesses, and is $4.99.

Other options more for the ages 4 to 7 crowd, and all $6.99 or less.