Tag Archives: reading

Thinking Fast And Slow

What is really going on in your head… Thinking Fast and Slow is a concept I never really thought of trying…


It’s quite a challenge…  Thinking, Fast and Slow may be worse than trying to multitask.  Decisions need to be made, sometimes quickly.  The decision maker needs to work fast and make a determination.  Without much time, the decision maker’s mind needs to process a few things… First, whether they should trust their intuition or not.  Second, whether they should take a step back, allow for some rational thinking to make the final determination which could in fact result in not making a decision fast enough.

Imagine having the ability to think fast, using intuition and emotion, and still incorporate a slower, more logical and deliberate manner of thinking to come to a decision. Our lives are filled with making various decisions daily.  Whether these decisions relate to work, home, or even day-to-day activities or relationships, making the right one is ideal. Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow is a phenomenal explanation of the different ways we think and make important decisions.  His years of research are clear throughout the book, showing how both systems, Thinking Fast And Slow, complement one another and how each shape the choices we make in life and different aspects of decision-making.  This book will give the reader new and great insight on how our brains work.  It will change the way you think about thinking.

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Celebrity Gossip -WONDERWALL

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Celebrity Gossip – WONDERWALL – Mindless Entertainment Consumption In 5 Minutes Or Less

Did I really just spend 5 minutes going through a Q&A about celebrities regarding whether each couple would last or not? YES. Am I embarrassed to admit it? YES. Why am I writing about it? I DON’T KNOW!

WONDERWALL is one of the best celebrity websites. Why, you ask? You get all the celebrity gossip and news you need in short, quick spurts. It is quite literally a wall of wonder! Although I consistently make claims that I am not a fan of celebrity gossip, I admit, when I turn my computer on, and the first thing that pops up on the internet regarding “anything celebrity” is screaming my name, I have a tendency to click on it. If it takes me to WONDERWALL, I usually spend at least a few minutes staring at my computer screen while multiple images pop up, move around, appear and disappear in front of me with each click. Every image displays another celebrity or juicy story just waiting to be consumed by readers just like me.

Mindless entertainment is not a bad thing every so often. Reading celebrity gossip is NOT my idea of a great internet session but… it sure takes the edge off of most front page stories considered newsworthy… You know what I mean… A typical newsworthy story may cause feelings of sadness, anger, frustration and even bad dreams. These are the moments when websites like WONDERWALL are worth the read.

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Macy’s 7th Annual Spelling Bee!

Calling All Kids Age 8-11!  Join me this Saturday, September 8th, 2012 – Braintree, MA – Braintree Mall @ 2PM (Kids, 2nd Floor) at Macy’s!

This year, Macy’s is celebrating their 7th Annual Spelling Bee!  Recently, I was asked to be a part of this wonderful event!  Of course I could NOT say no!  Macy’s has been a part of my life since childhood.  Between the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade (yes, I watch it every year), to the Macy’s Fourth Of July Fireworks (I watch those too), and everything that Macy’s does to support amazing charities, both locally and nationally, I didn’t need any convincing to say yes with a big smile!

During my youth, I remember begging my parents and their friends to ask me how to spell different words.  I would sit at our kitchen table, my piggy (really a dinosaur) bank in front of me, and expect coins in return for properly spelled words.  Most of the time, they complied.  Whether they went along with me because I was cute, or because I sounded like a broken record until I got my way, didn’t matter one bit.  The result for me was simple… I would spell words correctly and they would pay me.  Regardless of whether they gave me a penny or a quarter, I just loved the way my piggy (dinosaur) bank sounded after I depleted their wallets.

In today’s world, instead of Spelling Bee participants answering questions with a piggy bank in front of them, the prizes they will receive are a little more in tune with today’s times. That said, clearly you cannot have a contest without prizes!  Macy’s is awarding 27 fantastic prizes, for the 27 stores participating!

The winner from each store will receive a prize which includes… drum roll please… one (1) year of online learning from Kaplan Tutoring, a $150 online gift card from Scholastic, and $100 Macy’s Gift Card, and an Apple iPad 3.  The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) for each Prize is about $1,650!  It would have been so dreamy If Macy’s sent representatives to pose as my parent’s friends during my youth with goody bags similar to the ones that competition winners will receive!  I would have forgotten about my piggy (dinosaur) bank for certain!

For more information about Macy’s Spelling Bee, how you can enter, contestant rules and regulations, as well as spelling bee locations and times by accessing this link!

Don’t forget to join @macys and @trendingmom using (hashtag) #MacysBee as we live tweet during the event!

Hope to see you at the Spelling Bee this Saturday, September 8th, 2012 – Braintree, MA – Braintree Mall @ 2PM (Kids, 2nd Floor) at Macy’s!  If you cannot make it, connect with @macys and @trendingmom on Twitter using #MacysBee during the event!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s Spelling Bee.  However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

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Top 10 Reading Apps For Kids

Reading Apps For Kids… With the amount of apps available today, one would think that finding great reading apps for children would be easy. Unfortunately, it isn’t. Over the past few years, I have downloaded at least 50 different apps specifically to help my girls learn to read. Out of the 50 or so, only a few made the cut.

Below are a list of our families “Kid Tested, Mother Approved” apps that not only work, they keep my daughter’s engaged.

Our Top 10 Reading Apps For Kids… in no specific order!

#1  Word Wizard – Talking Movable Alphabet & Spelling Tests for Kids


The Word Wizard app is geared towards children who are just learning to read through 5th graders!  Talk about an app that grows with your child!
Key Points: Learn To Write – Learn To Read – Letter Sounds – Voice Transformer With Speed Tone = FUN – Phonics – Voice Recognition – Hints Available – Colorful Animation And More!

 

#2  Bob Books #1 – Reading Magic HD

If you do not know about the infamous Bob Books, here is your chance to learn more!  Bob Books are one of the most talked about books for children who are learning to read!
Key Points: Phonics-Based – Interactive – Full-Color Animation – Spelling – Sounding Out Simple Words – Connecting Letters And Sounds – 12 Scenes – Four Game Levels – Simply Fantastic!

#3  Bob Books #2 – Reading Magic HD

 Another Bob Books app which is a great introduction to reading and phonics!  The Bob Books apps are for pre-school children through early elementary readers.
Key Points: 12 New Scenes – Phonics – Reading – Animation And More!

#4  First Words Deluxe

First Words is an amazing app with a fun and interactive approach to teaching letters and words to readers!  It is a word-building game which not only helps children learn to read, it even helps them learn to spell.  First Words will help your toddler or elementary age child recognize letters and spell words up to 8 letters long!
Key Points: 174 Words – Animals – Vehicles – Shapes – Colors – Around The House – Settings Which Allow You To Control The Difficulty For Each Child – Great Games – Rewards For Children And More!

#5  Fish School HD – by Duck Duck Moose

 The Fish School app is an interactive learning app!  The app combines education with imaginationcreating a playful and colorful environment for children to learn in.  Fish School is geared towards toddlers, pre-schoolers and early elementary age children.
Key Points: Learning Made Fun – Letters – Numbers – The ABC Song – Matching – Differences – Hand Eye Coordination – Mozart – Nursery Rhymes – Creativity And More!

#6  DotToDot numbers & letters

DotToDot Numbers & Letters is fantastic!  Rather than focus on numbers or letters individually, this app combined the two.  What a concept right (insert sarcasm here)?  Connecting the dots has been a old favorite for many.  Let your children get back to basics by learning how to write their letters while understanding numbers as well!  DotToDot Numbers & letters is for childred between 3 and 6 but kind of fun for this mom too!
Key Points: Learning Fun – Puzzles – Phonics – Letter Names – Extensive Settings Available – Timers For A Little Competition Between Siblings Or Personal Scores – Rewards For Puzzle Completion And Much More!

#7  Martha Speaks Dog Party

If you have not seen Martha Speaks on PBS kids, you are missing out (yes, I mean that for adults too)!  Martha Speaks is a witty and educational show with fantastic lessons.  Ever since my daughter’s and I first watched the show, we became hooked.  Having an App that stars Martha from the TV show makes this app an easy sell initially!  Once you delve into it though, it becomes a fan favorite!
Key Points: Martha Martha Martha (almost sounds like “Marsha Marsha Marsha” From The Brady Bunch Huh?) – Self-Leveling Game – Builds Listening Skills – Teaches Children How To Take Direction – Introduces Some Fun And Interesting Words Which Are Not Typical Of Early Learning Apps – Balloon-Popping Quiz – Vocabulary – A Doggy Dress Up Game With Pictures That Can Be Saved And More!

#8  Word Wagon HD – by Duck Duck Moose

Word Wagon!!!  Hop Aboard this app for sure!  The educational content offered in Word Wagon is phenominal!  The Word Wagon app is simple to understand, has amazing illustrations, fantastic animations and sounds which make this app pretty great!  Unlike many apps I have purchased for my children, Word Wagon is one of the few that do not require parental guidance during game play.  Word Wagon has 4 levels for Preschool through first graders.  The recommended ages are 1-7.
Key Points: Letters – Phonics – Words – School Readiness – More Than 100 Words – Play Hide And Seek While Learning – Dress Up Games – Drawing Picture – Talking On The Phone… Did I Mention All Of This Is Done While Your Child Is Learning!

#9  Montessori Letter Sounds HD – Apprendre l’anglais avec Tam et Tao

Montssori Letter Sounds for pre-readers!  This is a fantastic app for children who are learning their letters.  It is based on the Montessori methos which works in 4 steps.  First, “i spy” to play sound games.  Second, letter sounds and memorization.  Third, bringing the first to steps together with a little mix and match.  Fourth, learning to write their first words by sounding them out.  Montessori Letter Sounds is yet another fantastic approach to early learning which works!
Key Points: A Phonetic Alphabet – A Notebook – A Sandbox For Tracing – An Image Box For Vocabulary – Sensory Learning – Progressive Learning And More!

#10  Phonics Easy Reader 1 HD

Phonics Easy Reader offers stories in Rock ‘N Learn phonics!  Music, fun, reading and great stories make this app another favorite!  The use of sight words, memory words and great stories never grow dull!
Key Points: Read To Me – Let Me Try – Sight Words – Memory Building -Great Tunes – Animations That Excite – The Option To Read Yourself And Then Press The Play Back Option For Accuracy – Moving Through Each Story At Your Child’s Pace And More Make This App Another Great Learning Tool! 

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Not Just A Book By Jane Austen

Outside, it’s raining heavily.  The sky is dark and it’s too dreary to think of going anywhere.  Inside, there is a warm cup of tea next to a comfortable chair with a cozy blanket on it.  The cup of tea is sitting on an end table… next to the cup, a book…Pride and Prejudice.

If you have never read a book by Jane Austen, you are missing out.  The best way to describe her writing is this… Classic romance with a feminine flare.  Her writing makes the reader want desperately to jump into one of her book’s characters and go back in time.  Although I have the complete works of Jane Austen, and have read each book of hers on a few occasions, I could not help but share this version with you!

This book, specifically, is not just a book by Jane Austen.  The book is a perfect complement to any room in your home. The cover is beautiful, decorated in swans.  It’s the type of book you want to pretend like you are reading in public even when you aren’t… really… it even feels good when you hold it!  See below!
Simply beautiful!

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Free Audiobooks

Get 1 free audiobook credit at audible.com!

No Longer Missing The Days When Mom Would Read To Me… All It Took Was A Free Audiobook…

As much as I love to sit down to a good book, I still miss being young, snuggled up in bed and listening to my mother read me a magical story.  I may not be able to get my youth back but I can surely let someone else do the work for my tired eyes once in a while.  I used to stick my nose up at people that purchased audiobooks.  As if there is a difference between reading yourself and listening… clearly, I was a book snob (or should I say idiot).

For years, I took pride in the fact that I would read 1 to 2 books a week.  Now, I take pride that I am absorbing 1 to 2 books per week.  Some which I read with my very own eyes, and some which I let someone else get parched while recording multiple pages filled with words for me.  The benefits of listening to audiobooks are fantastic!

  1. I can listen to a book late into the evening without getting tired eyes.
  2. I can listen to an audiobook and still spend time around my family while they watch tv shows I have ZERO interest in.
  3. I can listen to an uplifting audiobook while driving to work every morning and night.
  4. I can listen to an audiobook while doing my groceries.
  5. I can listen to an audiobook while cleaning my house.
  6. I can listen to an audiobook while lounging by a pool… The list just goes on…
Besides finding a cure for a deadly disease, or in my case, cooking, there aren’t many things that I would not do while listening to an audiobook.  I only mention cooking because I may be one of the few people in the world that is able to burn broccoli in a microwave…
Try Audible Now and Get A Free Audiobook Download with a 30 Day Trial. Choose from over 100,000 Titles.

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Learning To Read With Rusty And Rosy

Save $50 on Rusty and Rosy Reading Software
Learning To Read With Rusty And Rosy?

The first time I heard about the Award-winning Rusty and Rosy Reading™ software, my first thought was… Oh great, another learning to read software program that claims to be better than all the rest. The past two years, I have spent ample amounts of money on the “next best” software programs for my children, only to be disappointed. After learning my lesson (for the 10th time), I was not about to jump into yet another educational tool that would be used one or two times.

This time around, before making another bad decision, I decided to do my research. After reading many parent testimonials and watching different demo videos, I realized that the Award-winning Rusty and Rosy Reading™ software not only had great reviews, it even kept my attention.  It seemed like a great tool for learning to read.

The next test… my little girls. I had them view the demos to make sure the software would hold their attention. Fortunately, they both loved it!  I just bought the software and cannot wait until my girls try it out!  They are both determined to learn how to read.  This software just might do the trick!

Give the gift of learning. Save $50 on Rusty and Rosy Reading™ software.

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How To – Mobile Photography

Yes folks, as much as I cannot stand admitting this, but… Photography has gone mobile and that is not going to change!

Mobile photography goes against everything I have preached… I love my Canon Rebel!  My pictures have never looked so wonderful.  Unfortunately, I cannot carry my Canon with me all the time.  On most occasions, my iPhone is my primary go to for capturing memorable moments.

This evening, I hit the JACKPOT!  I found my next purchase!  SnApp Shots, the book, written by Adam Bronkhorst. SnApp Shots is the ultimate guide for creating great photos using your mobile device.  Although the emphasis of the book is on how to take great photographs with a mobile phone, it also covers the wonderful world of photography apps, accessories and more. Fortunately, SnApp Shots is such a good-looking book, that once you have mastered the mobile photography world, it can be showcased as the “perfect coffee table book” for your living room!  :)

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Books For Summer Reading And More!

468x60 - Books

Summer reading in 2012, the best books and more… There is nothing like being engrossed in a great book!  If there was one thing I could do to relax, it would be to pick up a great book, cuddle up on my couch and read.  Unfortunately, having a full-time job, a love of writing and of course, a family… somehow, reading any book is a challenge.

An average (summer vacation) day for this momma…

  1. 6:45am – morning alarm goes off
  2. 6:45am – hit snooze on my alarm clock
  3. 6:55am – morning alarm goes off
  4. 6:55am – hit snooze on my alarm clock
  5. 7:05am – morning alarm goes off
  6. 7:05am – hit snooze on my alarm clock
  7. 7:15am – morning alarm goes off
  8. 7:15am – hit snooze on my alarm clock
  9. 7:25am – morning alarm goes off
  10. 7:25am – get up…

Next, I wake up the dogs, let them out… then, the little ones… put breakfast on the table… time for me to get ready.  A kiss for the dogs, a kiss for the kiddos, a kiss for the hubby and off to work I go.  At work, I do what most people do… work. Around 5:15pm, I generally start thinking of wrapping it up. Unfortunately, I rarely leave the office before 6:30pm.  Finally home, it is time for some quality time with the family.  Cuddled on the couch, a bit of reading to the girls and then it’s time to tuck the little bugs into bed.  After giving them their goodnight kisses, this mom generally eats a quick bite followed by some writing.  Once finished with my writing, I can begin my reading…

Page one – check √

Page two – check √

Page three – ch… ch… ch… not so much… unfortunately, at this point, it is usually lights out for me… although, it is usually D putting out the lights as I rarely make it that far.  Regardless, I thought I would share this list of Best Selling Books This Summer!  Oh how I wish I had the time to read a few…

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