Google+ Hangout | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is WONDERFUL.

Sharing a WONDERFUL picture book with a WONDERFUL group of children is a WONDERFULLY magical experience.

Cuddling with a WONDERFUL child and reading a WONDERFUL picture book provides a never-to-be-forgotten WONDERFUL experience for both reader and listener.

November is children’s author Dianne de Las Casas Picture Book Month…a time to celebrate the importance and WONDER of picture books in the lives of young children.

So this past Sunday was a WONDERFUL time to kick off my new Google+/YouTube series: Show Me How: Picture Books and Crafts for Kids.

http://youtu.be/8hqUZBSSMN8

I’d love to know what you think of it…and welcome suggestions that will help it be better!

I plan to present a different story and craft each week. I had a lot of fun and I am hoping to provide a quick and easy fun-filled educational self-esteem building activity for parents to do with their kids. Most of the stories and crafts I will use come from my award-winning book, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking.

I just checked the Amazon site for the book and there are three sellers who are offering the book USED for $60+…we are selling the brand-new copy, signed (and inscribed for the holidays if you wish) for just $19.95 on Amazon. I think that is pretty WONDERFUL!

Parenting is a difficult job…and many parents these days are overwhelmed and tired.

But just 15 minutes a day is enough time to read a picture book story.

And just 15 minutes a day is enough time to do a quick and easy craft project.

In fact, the entire video with both story AND craft is just 12 minutes.

Do you have 12 minutes to give to your child? Do you read to your child every day?

Now THAT would be WONDERFUL!

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

By the way, I had to reinstall the flag counter on my right sidebar and start from zero…something strange happened a couple of weeks ago and the flag counter (with over 110 flags and over 14,000 page views) disappeared, along with my blogroll and a bunch of ‘buttons’ I had from blogs I follow. You’ve gotta love computers, right?

Celebrate Picture Book Month (misshelenwrites.wordpress.com)
Perfect Picture Book Friday: Norman the Doorman (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Halloween Hangouts on Google+ (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)

Mommy, can I help in the kitchen?

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is DELICIOUS.

Fresh fruits and crisp veggies make some of the best snacks your child can eat. It’s important to make every meal as nutritious as possible and snacks are a great way for kids to get important vitamins, minerals and fiber into their diet.

When my children were young, one of their favorite places to be was in the kitchen, helping me prepare meals and snacks. Even though there might have been some additional cleanup…it was definitely worth it…for me and for them.

Here are two simple healthy snack recipes from Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking.

Overnight Cookies (Gluten-Free)

You will need: 2 egg whites, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 cup ground almonds, 1 cup raisins, 1 large bowl, 1 mixer and 1 greased cookie sheet.

1. Beat egg whites in bowl till stiff peaks form. Your little ones will LOVE watching how the runny egg whites turn to mountains of cream.

2. Add 1/4 sugar and fold in gently.

3. Add ground almonds and raisins and fold in gently.

4. Drop by tablespoonful onto the greased cookie sheet…I use a canola oil spray. If you want a smaller cookie, use a teaspoon.

5. Place the cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven and bake for 5 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the cookies in at least 15 minutes…or overnight if you wish. If you have a hot oven, you might want to check the cooling cookies at 15 minutes and remove them then…otherwise the raisins will taste burned.

6. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen, more or less, depending on the size cookie you make.

Traveling Trail Mix (Nut-Free)

You will need: 2 cups Corn Chex, 2 cups Wheat Chex, 2 cups Rice Chex, 2 cups mini-pretzels, 1 cup raisins, 2 tsp Braggs Aminos or low-sodium soy sauce and a 13x9x2 inch microwave-safe baking dish.

1. Melt margarine, mix with Braggs Aminos or soy sauce and pour into baking dish.

2. Add the cereals and pretzels and mix thoroughly to coat.

3. Microwave on high for 3 minutes.

4. Stir and continue to heat in microwave, one minute at a time, until evenly toasted.

5. Add raisins and mix.

6. Store in an airtight container.

You are invited to a Google+ Hangout! This coming week you can check out ‘the parents that make Halloween happen’ on Google+ Hangouts. On Thursday, October 11 at 2:30pm Mountain Time, I will be joining long-time educator and blogger, Susan Case, author of The Happy Mommy Handbook. Susan is going to be reading a special Halloween story and I will be doing a simple craft. We’ll chat about children and picture books and why reading with kids is just about the most important thing you can do with them. I’ll post a link here and on my FB page as soon as I get one.

PARENTS MAKE HALLOWEEN HAPPEN ON GOOGLE HANGOUTS

This week celebrates “the parents that make Halloween happen”
A full line up of HOAs celebrating
#parenting , #kids , and all things #Halloween

Monday
+ Join +Angelique Felix at 2:15 PM CST for a Witches story and cupcakes

Tuesday
+ Join +Angelique Felix at 2:15 PM CST for a Monster song and craft
+ Join +Susan Case and guest +Rachelle Doorley at 5:30 PM CST for Spooky Simple Science Recipes

Wednesday
+ Join +Holly Homer at 9:30 AM CST and guests as they discusses Candy Control
+ Join Kimberley Blaine and guests at 1:00 PM CST as they discuss children’s age differences and participation in Halloween
+ Join +Green Kid Crafts at 2:00 PM CST for Greening Your Halloween
+ Join +Angelique Felix at 2:15 PM CST for a Ghosts! story, song, and craft

Thursday
+ Join +Angelique Felix at 2:15 PM CST for a Black Cat! story and song
+ Join +Holly Homer at 9:00 PM CST for a discussion on Homemade Costumes
+ Join +Susan Case and +Vivian Kirkfield at 3:30 CST for Halloween book reading, craft and discussion on how picture books help children deal with their problems

Friday
+ Join +Angelique Felix at 2:15 PM CST for a Pumpkins! rhyme and song

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?