Rocket Town - A New Board Book for Toddlers - Just as the NASA Shuttle Programs Winds Down

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Book Review

Rocket Town by Bob Logan
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Rocket Town by illustrator/author Bob Logan, $7.99, Sourcebooks.  What a perfect book to be reviewing, just as the U.S. space shuttle program is coming to a close with the return of the Atlantis Space Shuttle. 

By way of introduction, Bob Logan is a Southern California illustrator and artist.  Recently he appeared and read Rocket Town live at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books an event my own family loves attending each spring.  Logan is also the author of another cute young children's title called The Sea of Bath.

From a mom perspective, I know this book is really meant for today's toddler.  But I have to admit it's got magnetic old-fashioned appeal to baby boomers like me, too, because of the retro pop art style and storyline.  In fact, it seems to bridge time.  It's a celebration of the pre-shuttle days, ala The Jetsons family, the TV cartoon series from the 1960s that I grew up with, as it is much in tune with the modern times we live in today.

In this tale an astronaut, along with his doggie friend, venture off in a bright yellow pickup truck that might have time traveled right out of the mid 1950s.   Their destination is Rocket Town and along the way they'll pass every imaginable kind of rocket and space craft in search of the one they like most.  The different rockets are big and small, in all kinds of shapes. Care for a shark-shaped rocket?  That is only the beginning of all you will see in this book.  For sure, you never know what you'll find on the next page!

Finally, this unlikely duo finds the perfect rocket ship for their journey into space.  You and your child will laugh together as you discover that this rocket actually looks just like their pickup. Then, together you'll count down and blast off at the end of this charming story.

The colorful pictures throughout this sturdy board book are sure to inspire little kids' imaginations to reach for the stars -- figuratively and literally.  Whether Dad, Mom, Grandma or even Great Grandpa is reading this to a lucky child, it will certainly delight multiple generations.

Rocket Town by Bob Logan and published by Sourcebooks, Board Book $7.99,  is also available for the Kindle for $6.39

FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of the book to facilitate this review.  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

Brady Bunch 's Sherwood Schwartz - May Your Memory Be A Blessing to Everyone You Touched

Remembrances

This Post is Dedicated to the Memory of

Sherwood Schwartz

November 14, 1916 - July 12, 2011

Today I attended the memorial service and traditional Jewish burial of Sherwood Schwartz, the father of Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch among many other entertainment creations.  Almost everyone growing up in the 60s watched at least one episode of one or both of those unforgettable TV series, both which he created, wrote, and produced.

When I was a child, Mr. Schwartz wrote me a very kind letter which expressed his great kindness and care about children.  I was head of my local Brady Bunch Fan Club on the East Coast then.  I have always treasured that precious letter on Paramount stationery and I always will.

As a grown up today, I was feeling over run with sadness when I first arrived. But that soon evolved into remembering how this man has given so much joy to so many people with his talents in television and writing.

At the memorial service preceding burial, Mr. Schwartz's love of family was apparent as each of his 4 children spoke.  Several of his very talented grandchildren sang or recalled what they loved best about him, too.  A few beautiful songs were sung by family and many jokes were told during the family member's eulogies.


Mr. Schwartz would have wanted this send off no other way.  This truly was an event celebrating a life lived well.

I also was quite struck by the warmth and kindnesses that he extended to and that were returned by many of his friends who came to give their final respects -- Monty Hall and Robert Young, to name a few.  

There were also many members of his Brady TV family -- close in age to Schwartz's own children -- there to celebrate this entertainment industry legend. Among those who came to mourn this great loss were: Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Mike Lookinland, and Susan Olsen.  And other luminaries from the Golden Age of television in the late 1950s-70s. In the crowd, I even noticed a few of Mr. Schwartz's most devoted fans who came to say goodbye.

Mr. Schwartz touched many: his family, friends, and fans -- he certainly made an impact on my own life.  May his family find solace now as we all bid farewell to him for the last time.  Most importantly, may his memory live on in each of us who knew him.

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

Perfectly Timed Hasbro Clue Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition Game Might Outlast Film

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Family Games

Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition Game by Hasbro
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The Harry Potter excitement has been building up for months.  Most recently on July 10 there was the world premiere of a CNN Larry King  sneak peek special behind the scenes of quite possibly, the biggest release of a movie in this century thus far.  

Larry King & Daniel Radcliffe, stars in the title role as Harry Potter
Image provided by CNN

According to all the billboards, advertising and web speak about the impending release of  Warner Bros epic Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part II, "It all ends on July 15th."  This is when the last movie of the seven picture series is released.  Well, I'm going to dare to challenge that statement.  

I'm a mere mommy blogger with no special magical powers of my own.  Just the same, I'm predicting that Harry and all his important friends and foes will live on long after tomorrow.  Perhaps have an even longer after-life than Star Trek and Star Wars have.  Precisely, I wouldn't be surprised if the Harry Potter saga continues into the future, through the imaginations of kids and adults who play the new game Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition Game from Hasbro.

My kids (triplets, 14 and big brother, 15) are all huge Harry Potter fans, having read all 7 books and seen 7 of the 8 movies released.   They're hoping to get to see the last film, which is actually based on the second half of Rowling's final book in the series this weekend.

They also happen to own an excess of Harry Potter memorabilia already ranging from Pewter Bookmarks to an assortment of other things.  So, when I told them that Hasbro was giving our family a rare opportunity to review this game ahead of the movie's release -- they simply couldn't believe their good fortune. 
My son assembles the Clue Harry Potter Edition Game
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com


From the minute UPS delivered the package from Hasbro's PR firm they couldn't wait to try it out.  My youngest triplet (a boy) is indisputably the most devout Harry Potter fan in our household.  So, it was he who got the honors of opening the box and setting every thing up for the family to play at the kitchen table.


As my son knows first-hand, be forewarned that there are a lot of things to punch out of cardboard and assemble before you play this for the first time.  In fact including all the cards, tokens, pieces, place marketers and dice, there are more than 100 parts that make up the game.
Front & back of a Dark Deck card from this special Harry Potter Clue game
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

So, if your kids are impatient (come on, what kid isn't?), you may want to either set everything up for them before you call them over to play or at least tell them ahead of time what to expect before they tear into the box.   That's because it takes about 30 minutes minimum for one able person to get the board and all the pieces ready for play.  Reading the rules takes some thought and time to get through, too, but they are well-written to ensure that game play runs smoothly. 

Some additional thoughts.  My most intelligent, articulate teen game assembler advises to take your time punching the different elements out and follow the directions for putting this together.  These are easy to understand as long as you do exactly what they tell you.  Pay particular attention when attaching the four spinners under the designated spots in the board because they look very similar, but each belongs in a specific location.

"The assembly time required before you start is well worth the wait," my son said after everything was ready to go.  "I think this board game is beyond cool. Particularly, I really like the spinners because they create the effect of being able to turn the fireplace 'on' and 'off' and make doors 'open' and 'close' when turning them." 

"Besides that," he continues, "the playing cards and pieces are really awesome as they're really colorful and creative.  If you're as big a Harry Potter fan as I am, you'll recognize each of the characters on the game's identity cards which I think really brings the important people in the story to life.  This certainly can stimulate your imagination and only add to the fun as you play this game."
My son is all smiles after setting up the game, ready to play
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com


On a scale from 1-10, our family gives this board game a perfect score for fun and function.  We might be biased because we follow everything Harry Potter avidly and are also lovers of the original Clue Game, but we also have extremely high standards on what makes such a great game -- and this one definitely fits the bill


Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition Game by Hasbro carries a retail price of $24.99.  The board game is designed for ages 9+ and 3-5 players can play at a time.  This is a special edition that is loosely based on the original and popular Clue game concept that has been enjoyed by multiple generations.  Available at most major retailers nationwide, see the store locator for where to buy.

Who's your favorite Harry Potter character and why?  Which Harry Potter movie do you like the best?  Looking forward to seeing everyone's picks!

FTC Disclosure:  As mentioned in this post, I received the game highlighted to facilitate this review.  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

10 Tips for Making Life on the Go A Little Easier & More Efficient

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Family Life

My newborn triplets and their "big" brother -- all born within a year
Vintage photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Life with one's first baby is certainly busy enough.  But when the number of children quickly goes to 4, all within a year like it did for me because I had triplets, things potentially can get a little hectic and out of hand.  That is -- if you let them.

I survived with four babies in diapers at once while my hubbie worked long hours as a doctor at a busy hospital, so my logic holds that you too can manage your family's on the go lifestyle.  That is, if you have a system in place to handle all the peaks and valleys that having kids always entails whether you've got just one child or multiple kids.

Top 10 Tips to Simplify the Crazy Busy Lives
We Moms Live That Worked for Me

1. Always allow extra time for any task or any errand.  Murphy's Law almost always hold when you have kids: If something can go wrong, it likely will go wrong.  Plan for a cushion of time so that you don't always get stressed out by rushing around the house before going somewhere with the kids or alone.

2. When getting ready for a trip, start packing several weeks in advance -- and have the kids try EVERYTHING on.  This way you'll find out which things you need to replace or buy in a larger size way ahead of your vacation's departure date.

3. Teach kids while their young how to take responsibility for making sure that they have everything they need when leaving the house for school each day.  Just about every mom who has survived elementary school car pool driving, knows how often kids forget stuff that you end up having to go back home and retrieve and bring to them at school.

4. Set up an organizational system that works for you.  For me, I learned from a mother of quintuplets how to use a laundry basket by the front door where everyone in the family would leave their shoes when they walked in.  This helped us avoid having to search the house on so many occasions for a missing sandal or Croc.

5. Start kids doing chores when they are as young as possible and increase the complexity of their duties as they grow older.  Inspiring the children to pick up after themselves, by having you set the example by letting them see you  cleaning up your own things.  Rotating chores if you have more than one child keeps it fair so the same kid isn't always stuck with the same duty; it also will bring more peace among your household.

6. Let your children start making choices early by presenting them with two or three options they have to pick from.  Then, before you know it your kids will be able to make decisions on their own without having to ask you for every little thing.

7.  Stock up on staples in your kitchen such as can and dry goods as well as things that can be frozen.  If you have a big variety of foods in your stash it will be very easy for you to create a simple dinner just with the ingredients you have on hand instead of having to go out grocery shopping when the kids are grouchy because they're hungry.

8.  Get lots of rest, always.  If you have little kids, nap when they're napping.  If your kids are older, but you feel you need to rest quietly for awhile, teach the children how to entertain themselves and keep the noise down while you are resting.  If everyone is well rested, you'd be amazing how much easier and smoother everything will run.  If you're tired, you will be prone to accidents and make errors which can be dangerous and waste time, now to mention costly.

9.  Keep a dry erase board or magnetic clip board in the kitchen so family members can add items to the shopping list as you are getting low on them rather than waiting until you're all out.  This running to buy list will always be there when you decide you're going grocery shopping even if the kids aren't around.

10. Slow down and enjoy your children while they're young.  Before you know it they'll be going off to college and getting married.   Right after morning carpool, why not reflect on the family you've been blessed with by treating yourself to some quiet time to take it all in with one Seattle's Best Coffee Iced Lattes in a can?

I know I can't think of anything more refreshing than thinking good things about my children while sipping an SBC Iced Latte this summer.   Follow Seattle's Best Coffee on Facebook so you'll stay up to date on everything they're doing as well as to learn about this brand new product offering.

Image provided by Seattle's Best Coffee

FTC Disclosure:  I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seattle’s Best Coffee blogging program for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables is as Easy as Stirring Up a Little Creativity in Your Kitchen

Good Food

Have you ever had trouble getting your child to eat their vegetables?  If you roll your eyes and think, "duh," you've come to the right place!  That's because you're likely to be reading a blog post that might actually help you and your family start enjoying vegetables -- even some of the most despised green ones like asparagus -- a whole lot more.

MommyBlogExpert.com

Vegetables in general: it's not too hard to find more than a few children who hate them all.  But asparagus?  Most kids won't even try it, never mind go near it, and adults have been known to be really finicky with this particular green veggie, too. 

I know I couldn't stand asparagus and wouldn't even cook it for my hubbie who has always loved it.  Then, I started to crave it after I learned a few secrets about how to prepare this sometimes intimidating vegetable.  In fact, a lot of us are clueless about cooking this and even have trouble knowing how to spell that strange word for an even stranger looking vegetable.  

As you read on, keep an open mind because I'm hoping it might change your opinion about this too.  That's because I'm going to tell you that you and your kids may start appreciating unsung vegetables, like asparagus and other unloved vegetables.  The secret is in the cooking process and the herbs and accent flavors that they are combined with, as well as in the presentation of a colorful dish with texture and interesting shapes.

Here are some general tips about cooking vegetables, especially green ones.  This post is specifically about asparagus but the same basic tips ahead of preparing it apply for just about any vegetable of any color.

First -- Be sure the fresh asparagus you buy is indeed fresh.  If you're not sure, ask the produce department guy at your supermarket for advice to help you choose the best bundle you can.  Never buy frozen or canned asparagus if you really want your family to grow to love it, because like most vegetables this one is best prepared from fresh produce for maximum enjoyment of color, texture and flavor.

Second -- Make sure you wash well with cool water and slightly trim the white end of each asparagus spear before starting to cook.

Third -- Try the original and EASY recipe below that I've developed -- it REALLY is so simple if you follow the directions exactly.  My kids help me make this, and depending on their age and motor skills, your child can make part or all of this themselves.

Ever since the first time I served asparagus in the following way, my kids are demanding that I make it more.  Even the kid I have who I can't force feed lettuce to likes this.  The secret is to NOT OVERCOOK these, otherwise they'll be bitter and soggy.  You're after a very light, nutty, fresh taste that leaves your palate wanting more.


Roasted Fresh Asparagus With Nut & Fruit Vinaigrette
Original Recipe by MommyBlogExpert.com


1 bundle of fresh washed & trimmed asparagus
1 T. olive oil


Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with wax paper or foil.  Arrange asparagus spears in a single layer in pan and drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over them all and season lightly with salt and fresh ground black pepper.  Roll the asparagus gently to coat entirely in oil.  Place in oven for about 12-15 mins and remove as soon a fork easily pierces the vegetable. This is called al dente and will have a slight crunch to it when you bite in.


1/2 c chopped nuts (your choice: cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc)


Step 2: Place your choice of chopped nut (my favorite is pecans) on a cookie sheet covered in foil and bake on another rack in oven while asparagus cooks. Remove after they are toasty brown with a nutty aroma.

3 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
1 T. fresh thyme or 1 t. dry thyme
3 T. balsamic vinegar
3 T. olive oil
1/2 c. chopped dried fruit (your choice: cranberries, pears, apricots, plums, etc)
salt & pepper to taste

Step 3: Combine garlic, thyme, vinegar, oil, dried fruit, salt & pepper in a small bowl and mix well.  Set aside.


Serving:
Arrange asparagus on a colorful plate then carefully spoon the vinaigrette fruit-nut mixture and all liquid equally over asparagus.  Sprinkle with toasted nuts.  Serve immediately and enjoy asparagus like you've never had before.

What vegetables do you hate or love?  What about your kids, what are their favorites and the ones you can't seem to get them in the same room with?  What ideas do you have to contribute for preparing vegetables that we can all enjoy more?


FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.