I love to take my kids to the library to borrow books and also to the bookstore to look for new favorites. I’m always on the hunt for new books to add to their library or give as gifts to other children. This past weekend we visited the local bookstore which has a great children’s section. There were so many great books, we stayed for two hours!

I’m really picky when it comes to children’s books, they have to well written and wonderfully illustrated. Great pictures are a must for me, if I don’t love the illustrations I won’t buy the book! Quite a few new books caught my eye while I was at the bookstore, so I thought I’d compile a list with my quick synopsis of the tales within. 

All of these children’s books include either a heartwarming story or a fun adventure combined with great illustrations. I’ve read and love them all, and even bought a few to tuck under the Christmas tree. If you’re looking for a charming gift for boys and girls this holiday season, I highly recommend these for children ages 4 to 9.  Listed in no order of preference.

#1  Kiki & Coco in Paris, Stephanie Rausser and Nina Gruener

Hot of the presses, and perfect for fans of the famous city of Paris.  Kiki is a girl, Coco is her handmade cloth doll, and the two are inseparable. Together they travel to the City of Lights but Coco gets lost!  This tale of friendship will delight, and is filled with gorgeous photography of Paris seen through the eyes of Kiki & Coco.

       #2  Fandango Stew, David Davis

Two penniless and famished cowboys ride in to Skinflint and try to convince the stingy townsfolk to help them cook up some fandango stew. Cooperation leads to a tasty concoction everyone loves in this humorous take on the folktale Stone Soup.  It’s as fun to look at as it is to read out loud, filled with all the best of the Old West slang.  

#3  E-mergency!  Tom Lichtenheld & Ezra Fields Meyer

The alphabet all lives together in harmony until one day the letter E takes a tumble down the stairs.  Chaos ensues!  How will the world function without the letter E?  While E recovers, the letter O fills in, and the jokes and puns keep readers laughing throughout.  

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‘Tis the season, right?  Not only for holiday decorating but also for giving back. Last Friday (on Veterans Day) I was honored to be invited to be part of the The Home Depot Foundation and its continuing mission to improve homes and lives for military families.

For the next three years, the Home Depot Foundation is placing special emphasis on serving U.S. military veterans who are facing growing financial and physical hardships at home as they return to civilian life.  Were you aware of this?  The Home Depot Foundation is investing over $30 million (yes, $30 million dollars!) to help ease the burdens of this deserving group by repairing and renovating homes for military veterans. 

Have several extended family members in the service including my own brother, this was my way of showing my appreciation and giving back, so I flew to Atlanta to meet up with several other bloggers (both military and DIY) in this mission to complete 200 service projects within 60 days. 

On arrival, three of us were directed to four piles of wood, a collection of power tools, and one set of plans to build four benches for a community outdoor space. 

Bring. It. On!  Time to bust out a Charlie’s Angels theme, DIY style…

Give us some safety goggles, gloves, and power tools and things will happen. 

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G’day all, hope all is well! I got back from Atlanta very very late Friday night, and it seems it took until this morning to recover!  Whew, travel wipes me out these days, and I felt like being lazy with my family for the last 36 hours. I’ll share more of what I did back east tomorrow. 

Now I’ve got my coffee and I’m ready to talk DIY!  People, you are amazing, I mean really. I just love love love reading about all of these incredible projects, what did we ever do without the blogosphere before?  Consider me completely inspired yet again this week. Amanda and I are back, teaming up to bring you our favorites in this continuing weekend series, enjoy! 

No this is not an image from a catalog, these are the newly transformed bookcases by Jilly and Mia trimmed out with new arches, aren’t they completely gorgeous?

Have you toured Julia’s sunroom this season?  What a wonderfully cozy space!  Pay a visit over at Hooked on Houses.

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Hello hello and happy Friday everyone!  If you follow me on Twitter, you know I’m in Atlanta, Georgia today.  I’m here because I’ve partnered with a big team of people who are joining forces for an honorable cause, we’re spending the day building housing for veterans. It’s an event I’m very proud to be a part of and I’ll share more details soon!

Meanwhile, it’s giveaway day and this weekend’s is brought to you by one of my sponsors, The Vintage Pearl, a wonderful source for personalized stamped sterling silver jewelry.

 The Vintage Pearl offers neckaces, bracelets, earrings and other keepsakes, including choices for men too.

And introducing a new collection of ornaments, perfect for gift giving for this holiday season!

Up for grabs this weekend are two $75 gift cards to The Vintage Pearl, just in time for ordering for Christmas!

Eligibility to win one of two $75 gift cards to The Vintage Pearl:

1) Hop on over to The Vintage Pearl and pick a favorite item, then name your choice in a comment.

2) For a second chance to win, link to this giveaway on either Facebook or Twitter, then leave a second comment telling where you linked (FB or Twitter).

Giveaway ends Monday November 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. PST, two winners chosen at random, US and Canada only, free shipping.  By entering this giveaway, you agree to this site’s giveaway policy and Official Rules of Entry.

Sending out a heartfelt thank you to our veterans and  military families on this Veteran’s Day.  Words cannot describe how appreciated you are for all you have sacrificed and all you have given to our country.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Winners:  #144 Camille; #661 Destiny; #953 Clover.  Winners notified via email!

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Greetings all!  Today I have the best conversation for you to savor. Settle in with your beverage of choice cause it’s just like a group of your favorite gal pals are here with you and we’re all sharing our opinions on trends in design for 2011!  Michelle of Ten June is back for her monthly contribution and she has asked six experienced DIY and design bloggers (including me!) our thoughts on design trends, including what we’ve observed over the past year, and our predictions for the future.

So glad to have you back this month Michelle, take it away!

“Believe it or not, 2011 is coming to a close. Before we get too wrapped up in all things holiday, I thought it would be fun to chat about design trends in 2011- the good, the bad, and the ugly. And I’ve got a little surprise, as I’ve lined up six of our favorite shelter bloggers to discuss the highlights of design in 2011.

Everybody give up a big welcome to Sherry from Young House Love, Mrs. Limestone from A Brooklyn Limestone, Cristin from Simplified Bee, Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms, Jennifer from Rambling Renovators, and our very own Kate from Centsational Girl.

I know, right? This is a superstar team of DIY and design bloggers! So without further introduction, let’s get started and dive into the world of design in 2011!

What was your favorite interior design trend in 2011?

Sherry: Hmm, it’s a tie between Ikat and chevron I think. I love everything from tone-on-tone chevron curtains to brightly painted furniture with those playful zig-zig patterns worked in there. And anything Ikat = love for me. I like to say that I’m happy to hang out behind the trends. Ha ha. I’m rarely ahead of that sort of stuff and I usually love it far longer than most trend forecasters do. But it works out because if I work something "trendy" into my house I’m not over it a season or two later – I tend to enjoy things for a nice long time. Like my Ikat curtains in the dining room. Here’s hoping I still love those babies in ten years. So far, so good.

Mrs. Limestone: I tend to think the best trends last way longer than 12 months, so while this isn’t particular to 2011, my favorite just might be using maps in decor.  Everything from turning a globe into a light to map patterns showing up in all kinds of small accessories to repurposing old pull down school maps as art – the world is hot!

Better Homes & Gardens

Cristin: Wallpaper and wall coverings have been trending. I found that more and more of my clients were willing to take the plunge to commit to wallpaper in 2011. All different types of wall coverings are popular, but I am finding that coverings made of natural fibers such as sea grass, hemp, or arrowroot are leading the pack.

Natalie Clay Design

Janell: Even though the term is becoming overused, I love the trend of embracing eclectic design. I think it helps dispel the idea there is a right and wrong way to decorate and gives people the freedom to explore and embrace their own unique mix of favorite items, both new and old.

Jennifer: The use of paneling/molding/trim. It’s a great way to add architectural detail and is a classic look that will never go out of style.

Kate: My most favorite trend is the growing use of reclaimed wood, especially when the designer makes efforts to truly showcase the beauty of the wood itself.  Whether polished, whitewashed, stained, or rustic, exposed wood is back and it’s looking fabulous!

House and Home

 

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