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November, You're Not So Bad
As I boxed up our Halloween decorations this past weekend, I could not help but think about poor, underrated November. Smack between October with its brightly colored leaves and pumpkin patches and...
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I'll Have a Peppermint Mocha With a Side of Outrage
This morning a news article popped up on my Facebook timeline about how people are upset about Starbuck's 2015 Red Cup design. Like a total Internet dummy, I clicked on that link.There I was...
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Paris, Art and Holy Ground
Last night, I went to the theater with two of my oldest and dearest friends and two of our children. We arrived at the restaurant we had agreed upon for a pre-show dinner, Paris unspoken (as the...
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Read These Books! (Because I Said So!)
Remember how I used to love children's books and I'd talk about them all the time and then suddenly I just stopped reviewing them on this blog?Yeah, me too. So, here's the deal. I'm still reading a...
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One Year Later ...
A year ago today, I wrote this post and hit publish. I really had no idea what to expect, I only knew that if I didn't start sharing some writing in a public forum in some capacity, I would never grow...
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Family Feud - 2015 Holiday Edition!
Photo Source: familyfeud.comEvery year at Christmas, we get together with my husband's family for a day of food , family and fun. We always try to come up with a game or activity that can include...
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What We've Been Reading This Week
We've picked up several fun picture books at the library these last couple of weeks and I finally read two kidlit novels that have been parked on my "To Read" list for far too long. Here's a quick...
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My Favorite Children's Books of 2015 (and a Giveaway!)
Confession: I love end of the year lists. I love reading your favorite memories, looking at your #2015bestnine collages on Instagram, hearing your favorite songs of the year, watching your year in...
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The Measure of a Year
I have thousands of photos sitting on my computer and a decade old abandoned promise to myself of making digital photo books out of them. I have this pipe dream of sitting down in front of my computer...
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Every Step You Take
Dear Fitbit,We need to talk. I know it’s totally cliché to start a letter that way. And unfair really, given that you can’t even talk back. But I have a few things I need to get off my chest.When you...
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Swimming in Picture Books!
It's been a week since I put the brakes on my hot and heavy relationship with my Fitbit, and one unexpected outcome has been more time spent writing. Until I manage to procure one of those fancy...
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Misadventures in Gardening
Once upon a time, there was a mama and a glass of wine and a simmering pan of roasted garlic. It was witching hour, that crazy hour of the day when the children are hungry but it’s too early for dinner...
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Stuff (Mis)Management
A few weekends ago, I spent five hours in my basement, moving shelves and rearranging storage to clear out space for a renovation project. I also carried seven bags of trash and four boxes of...
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Rules of Play
Playing games with Ronan while many months pregnant with Liam. Also, see that Blues Clues notebook? I cannot count how many hours of my life were spent hiding blue paw prints around my house.“Mama,...
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Mid-Life is Not a Crisis
"And then my doctor told me that this is just one of those things that happens to you when you are middle-aged," my friend said, staring wide-eyed at me and our other friend, "Middle aged!" We all...
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Perfect Picture Book Friday - Lily & Bear
Hello bookworms! I'm excited to introduce you to Perfect Picture Book Fridays, hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill. Susanna has been hosting this picture book round-up for years, but this is my first...
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Eleven Books for Eleven-Year-Olds (Recommended by an Eleven-Year-Old)
Some of you may remember when my oldest son Ronan became my first guest-blogger last year with his Ten Books for Ten-Year-Olds (Recommended by a Ten-Year-Old). I'm excited to welcome this voracious...
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Three Things the Presidential Candidates Can Learn From Children's Books
It's voting day in Missouri. In a couple of hours, I'll head up to the polls to cast a vote in the presidential primary, after what felt like the longest campaign on record. And it's not over yet....
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Meet Emily Arrow + a Giveaway!
I love introducing readers to new books for kids, and today, I'm excited to introduce you to someone whose own love of children's books inspires her music. Meet Emily Arrow! Emily Arrow is a music...
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Finding Courage in Raymie Nightingale
My very first post at All the Wonders is up today, and it's been such a joy to work with this team of talented and creative people who love to talk about children's literature as much as I do. Today,...
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Team Love Warriors
Over the course of the last year, I've watched the discourse around the global refugee crisis expand. I've watched as we've divided ourselves onto tidy teams.I've shared my opinions and perspective,...
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Pick a Lane
Our family has a brand-new swim team member this summer, and it is the highlight of my day watching him and his teammates practice. This morning, those little fish were all lined up on the bright blue...
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Bring a Book!
I'm delighted to be featured at All the Wonders this week talking about one of the most often heard phrases in our home - bring a book!Summer has always been analogous with reading for me, as far back...
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Carnation Days
“IMAGINE YOU HAD ONLY ONE DAY LEFT ON EARTH. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?”I read Ms. Bixby’s Last Day in a single sitting, on an airplane en route to California for vacation. My mind, filled with...
View ArticleA Confession and a Promise
This is a confession and a promise. I’ll start with the confession: I’ve spent the last couple of days in serious judgement of women who are defending the words and actions of Donald Trump. Here is...
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