New (and completed!) lapbook!

First I want to give mad love for Alison at http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/!! Kaelyn has been begging to have more "schoolwork" since her sister became homebound and with college, I haven't had time to create her packets the way I wanted..

I started a "B is for Butterflies" packet.. it was huge and un-fun (for me). I had  worksheets that she colored a few of traced some letters, and the only thing she really used out f it was the Butterfly Life Stages matching game... (Note: the kid LOVES matching games!)

Here is our original lapbook:

See? not pretty! So I was surfing facebook at an ungodly hour....(3am) and tater tots and jello put up a status about these mommy packets at Oopsy Daisy.. that is http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/ if you can't click the link. I want that clear because this mommy is our new best friend!!!!

Did you get the link: http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/ :D

She has what she calls mommy packets for her toddler. I can use them by adding a few "older" things for Kae. She obviously spends an amazing amount of time gathering all this info and shares it with the blogging community. FREE!!! Pure love!

I printed the Mommy Packet "Z is for ZOO" as 2 pages per sheet, cut it in half and stapled what was for Mom in one packet, divided some other stuff up to add later (more songs, "play-a-longs" to go with fun kid books about animals & zoos, AND MORE! Another Note: I need a felt board.), and created a smaller, usable, and PRETTIER lapbook using 1/2 a manilla folder, by cutting out things to fit into the LB, like: 

• the zoo animal matching game (Kae is gonna love that!!)
• the "Z" and "6" templates
• a song for each side
• the mini "Z is for Zoo" coloring book 
• a tiger puzzle (in 6 pieces to match the theme)
• and her tracable "Z" pages
• then I went & found a few traceable "6" pages.

A little glue, a few paper clips, and I'm done. yes, D-O-N-E! (Other than I still have to find room for the circle activities!)

I'm so excited I'm almost masochistic enough to go wake Kaelyn up.. but not quite.. I'll finish this quiet cup of coffee first.

THANKS AGAIN, ALISON!!!

eBook Review: "How To Earn Money With eBooks" by Robert Wilson

 I first put this review on the B&N website (read - and/or purchase - here) after purchasing the download for my nook. After a wonderful comment on an old blog from the author, I decided to put it here as well. After all.. that's what this blog is about, isn't it??

Here's what I first said:

"Robert Wilson has taken something so head scratching as ePublishing and condensed it into 19 pages if easy to understand information. I decided to stop publishing my first eBook - based on his information - to write a review because he deserves one! I downloaded this at 9:30 and here I am at 10 ready to fine tune my writing and publish. YES, he makes it THAT easy!"

I am chagrined to say that I am STILL fine-tuning because I decided if I am going to publish (the first is a calendar with table of contents for monthly and weekly views as well as having holidays and forecasted moon phases) then I am going to use Smashwords but aim for their premium publishing that distributes to all the major sellers, so that (at Robert's advice) I only have one book count to keep track of.  Unfortunately this means a strict publishing standard so it may be a while before I announce my publication! LOL!

None of this is Robert's fault, by the way... his "How-to" book is a much easier and more understandable read than the Smashwords Style Guide.

Until next time...