CURIOUS GEORGE 2:
Follow That Monkey

Available on DVD March 2, 2010

Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, the new feature-length animated release from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and the followup to Curious George, released in 2006, delighted my three year old, and yes… I admit it… me as well.

Curious George is known for always getting himself into messes, and though he doesn’t dissapoint in his newest feature, it is as heartwarming as it is hilarious.

Curious George makes instant friends with Kayla The Elephant during a magic show, and upon learning Kayla’s elephant family is in California, George decided to help them reunite! The antic-filled adventure ensues… Ted , aka The Man With The Yellow Hat, just does catch up with George and Kayla before the train starts rolling away. Hot on their heels is an over-eager and clumsy detective that means well, but seems lacking in people skills; after them for what he thinks is elephant theft.  Along the way they meet new friends and The Man With The Yellow Hat learns alot about priorities and what is most important.

All-Star Voice Cast: Tim Curry, Jamie Kennedy, Matt Lauer, Frank Welker, and Jerry Lewis. Music from legendary songwriter Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. 

BONUS FEATURES:

Two Never Before Seen Bonus Shows from the all-new TV season.

Curious George’s Cross Country Caper Game – Exciting puzzles lead the way from New York to California so Kayla can visit her brother and sister.

Hold On, Here We Go – Exclusive Music Video

Coloring Pages and Wallpapers

This DVD was provided to Shake The Salt by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  All opinions are my own.

Well, it seems yesterday wasn’t punishment enough, so I went back for more!  I didn’t dig deep, but I did turn over the entire top layer today.  It makes me feel accomplished, lol, but there’s a heck of a lot of digging left to be done.  I need to spend more time reading and researching, so that when I’m ready to move past just digging, I won’t go about it all the wrong way.  Remember, this gardening thing is all new to me.  My thoughts are after I get it dug to the depth I want, I’ll put down shredded newspaper, bits of lint I just started collectecting from the dryer, possibly some egg shells, dirt, and a nice large family of earthworms.  Then add the other dirt back in (that I dug out), wel turned of course.  That’s as far ahead as I’ve thought it out.  Even here in Florida, we are still having nights at the freezing level, so not sure when it’ll be safe to start actual planting or even what I want to plant.  Wonder if I should plant a banana tree nearby? 

Kiki’s Fashions Maternity offers stylish threads that are actually affordable.  There’s even an “Under $10″ section! I’m frugal (if ya didn’t know, lol!) - I like to spend wisely, but I want what I want.  We aren’t planning yet for #2, but I could see some of those cute tops and such on me when that time comes around again to buy maternity clothes.

Let’s see, cute & trendy? Check. Low, realistic prices for the non-celeb amongst us (especially for those who are feeling the economic crunch)?  Check.  New styles (they rotate the stock to keep it fresh)?  Check.  Coupon Code?  Check. I especially love the latter! Use code blogfriends to score 20% off!

cute maternity tank top

 This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are 100% my own.  Thxkbai.

I love couponing and getting the deals.  I buy 6 papers each week for the coupon inserts (if you get coupons & don’t want them, feel free to send them my way, lol!), which means I’m able to stock-up on great deals.  That stockpile has to go somewhere, preferably somewhat organized. That presents somewhat of a challenge for me because space, especially storage space of any kind, is very much at a premium here.  Confession: I do not have a pantry.  My cabinet space is sparse, but admittedly not as well utilized as it could be. 

I have a goal this year (well, not a goal persay, but I’m taking little steps in all areas making improvements) to really get all the “stuff” organized.  I discovered Sterlite’s clear bins (lid colors vary by season) in 3 sizes that are really working for me: shoebox size, 16 qt, and 56 qt.  I love that the clear bottoms helps me know exactly what is inside & the lids are very flat and simple, no extra bulk. 

I discovered that the 16 qt fits nicely between the dryer & water heater in the laundry room, which is just off the kitchen.  We put in a few shelves in the laundry room, some of which I’m using for food items (need to add more to maximize the space).  Putting like items together in a bin makes it very easy when looking for something specific and I’m loving the organization. It is a small step, but it is working for now. Still have much to organize, even with just the food items.

The bottom bin is full (crammed full!!) of different types & brands of cookie mixes.  The next bin up holds a wide variety (also crammed full) of Homemade Gourmet mixes. Bin #3 from the bottom has 12 bags of Chex Mix (and there are another 7 bags that wouldn’t fit - what can I say? It was an awesome deal!). On top of the Chex Mix bin, there are 3 shoebox size bins: (1) packets of seasonings, gravy, marinades, etc; (2) (can’t see in pic) unopened spices; and (3) cornbread mixes and Crystal Light packets.

I am using the spare room’s (was the office when my computer was in there, but is basically a storage room / dump zone) closet for stockpiling all the non-food stuff, but it is in need of desperate reorganization, so I hope to work on it soon and possibly add in a few more shelves.

For more Tackle It Tuesday, click here.  For more Tuesday Toot, click here.  For more Works For Me Wednesday, click here.

I did it.  I bit the bullet, jumped in with both feet and did it.  I’m starting a garden!!  This afternoon I marked off an area and started digging!  I dug around the perimeter as a start.  This is hard work, folks.  I had a helper though!  I’ll continue to post my progress… feel free to jump in anytime with advce or suggestions.  I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m going to fake my way through so don’t tell anyone, mmmmmkay?  It is fun to know I’m not going at this alone, though. 

I’M COMPOSTING!  Last night I started my composting pile…. it is a plastic container on my dryer consisting of LINT, but it is a start! 

  (If you are starting your garden, or having any gardening or composting posts, I welcome a full onslaught of linky goodness, heehee.)  

The “before” pic…. 

I’ve been thinking about starting a garden.  I was reading a friend’s blog about her garden prep and talking to her and another friend (who is promising some composting instruction on her blog soon) and the more we talked, the more excited I am about this possibility.  Understand though that I have a black thumb.  There’s nothing green about it, LOL!  Guess one of my first steps would be dealing with the soil.  I have a spot in the yard in mind, and I’m thinking the shovel and I may spend some quality time out together there tomorrow! 

Ideas for the soil…..

Shredded newspaper
Lint
Egg shells
Store bought fertilizer
Coffee grounds (I don’t have these, but still great to know, lol)
Earth worms!

Do you garden? Got any advice for me?? What’s the easiest thing to grow / maintain?

 UPDATE: Added link to composting info above.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Breast is best, it goes without saying (though the catchy phrase makes it easy to convey the message). It was my first choice when Lil Roo was born, but certain circumstances prevailed and by several months old, he was completely on formula. 

We then used Enfamil until whole milk became the drink of choice.  We used formula checks and coupons, sometimes stacked together, to help offset the high formula cost. Wanting the best of the options that were on the table (as the absolute best was now off the table), we chose a well-trusted name brand.

I’m frugal and not always brand loyal, but like many parents I did not even think of considering a more frugal, non-name brand, option.  As a first time mom, I took my responsibility of this very precious person very seriously and believed there was a quality difference in brand and “generic” formula and wasn’t taking any chances. 

I’ve since learned a little bit more on the subject of baby formula and that while store-brand infant formula may be gentler on your budget, it is not at the expense of quality.  Whether name brand or store brand, there are standards that must be met before it could ever land on the store shelf.  Recently, advertising by a name brand infant formula company claiming store-brand infant formula was a lesser quality was proven false, so the facts show they are of an equal quality.

We know there’s a substantial savings to be had by purchasing the store-brand option, but were you aware there were also coupons available for store brand infant formula to sweeten the deal? 

Get a $3 coupon by taking a Baby Formula Quiz (seven random baby formula questions). You can also get a store-brand formula coupon by completing the name-and-address form. 

Personally, if/when we have a younger sibling for Lil Roo, and if breastfeeding was again taken off the table, I would give serious thought to store brand formula. Knowing I can make an affordable choice without sacrificing quality makes all the difference in the world to me. 

What’s your thoughts? If breastfeeding was not an option for you or not your first choice, would you give your baby store-brand formula over the name brand formula? 

It has been awhile since I wrote a more “personal” / daily life kinda post, so this is much overdue.  Unfortunately it’ll probably come across as blah as I feel.  Today has just been “one of those days” and not just any “one of” but a real gloomy, not at all feeling it (it being just about anything and everything) kind of day.  Have you been there?

My house is in a state of what I consider shambles. Kitchen needs some attention, dishes to be done, laundry to be washed, general straightening up needed, but I can’t even talk myself into caring.

It could be the weather. We had a harsh January winter and February isn’t looking much better.  I know there’s harsh winter going on everywhere, but for Florida it just isn’t how we do the winter months.  February is our “winter” and we usually suffer through several days or so each year of a harsh, cold freeze.  We aren’t known as “The Sunshine State” for nothing, but it was nowhere to be found today.  So, maybe the overall, non-typical gloominess of today played a part in this overwhelming blah feeling today.

Perhaps a poor night’s sleep could have lended to it as well.  I went to sleep at a decent time for me, but was awakened by the little guy during the wee hours.  Technically hubs unconsciously nudged me because of the little guy calling out for me, which meant I was really out cold because I tend to stir at any whimper he may make.  After waking to discover he was still asleep, I couldn’t go back to sleep for a couple or so hours.

And there’s a chance that my Dad going to the ER yesterday and currently being in ICU (should be moved to non-ICU room tomorrow though) may be weighing on my mind and heart even more than I realize.

We went outside this afternoon for some fresh air (mainly wanted to let Lil Roo run wide open and burn off some energy, lol) and even that didn’t shake me out of this.  Hopefully it passes during the night and tomorrow I can wake with a better perspective, some energy, and shaken from these blahs.  

Snores come in many varieties: there’s the snorter, the whistler, and of course the freight train. But all of them have a common denominator – they keep their partners awake. A National Sleep Foundation survey showed 23% of married Americans sleep alone, an increase from 12% in 2001. I wonder how many married Americans opted to sleep alone because their partner snores. Below is a way to overcome snoring for a better night’s rest for you and your partner.

Snoring
According to Sleep Expert and Select Comfort’s Vice President of Sleep Innovation and Clinical Research, Pete Bils, nearly forty-five percent of adults snore on occasion and about 25 percent snore habitually. It’s a problem that can affect both the snorer, and the partner. It’s more predominant in people who are overweight. Exercise and weight loss can make quite a difference. It’s also exacerbated by alcohol use or relaxants taken near bedtime, so avoidance of these can lead to improvement.  Sleeping on one’s back also contributes to the problem. A somewhat softer mattress and a carefully fitted pillow designed to encourage a better sleeping posture have helped many. Or use a pillow that promotes natural head and neck alignment to open the airway. Actively dealing with allergies, colds and other respiratory problems may also help reduce snoring. There are more invasive remedies including dental appliances that hold open the airways, and various surgeries to correct defects in the affected areas of the collapsed air passage.* If your partner’s snoring keeps you up at night, try going to bed first and have your partner come to bed later. This will allow you to fall into deep sleep while your surroundings are quiet.
 
*Snoring accompanied by a cessation of breathing for prolonged periods of time could be an indication of a more serious issue, such as sleep apnea, and should be discussed with your physician.

What does your partner do that keeps you from getting a restful sleep? Please share it as a comment here, on Beds.com , on the Sleep Number Facebook page, or on Twitter @SleepGeekPete & @SavvyFrugalista.

Plus, check out this 50% coupon from Sleep Number in honor of President’s Day:

 
Code: 20379

Content provided by Sleep Number. No compensation was provided for this post.  Sleep Number / Select Comfort was featured in Shake The Salt’s 2009 Holiday Gift Guide.

Valentines Day Gift Guide 

For Men

Baskin Robbins Cakes - Shown: Raspberry Fudge Truffle a la mode: mini raspberry filled chocolate cups and vanilla crips pieces top a decadent layer of chocolate fudge ice cream, a layer of raspberry filling, and a crunchy base of crushed chocolate cookie.

Febreze Flameless Illuminaries - Break away from the winter blues with some romance and mood-setting for “that special someone.” The flickering glow and inviting scents make it the perfect accessory to boost libido, enhance candle-lit dinners and accompany stress-free bubble baths. The luminaries are available in Pomegranate Mango, Cranberry Pear or Willow Blossom scents and are the perfect additions to any Valentine’s Day celebration or romantic night at home.

Grill Charms Spicy Collection - For a spicy little Valentine, give him Grill Charms: The Spicy Collection.  If you like it HOT, you charm your meat with the pepper on FIRE before you cook it.  With Grill Charms™ grillers can now offer Mild, Medium and SPICY sauces and rubs without any confusion or worry about mixing them up.  This is a great “tongue-in-cheek” guy gift. 

NECCO Wafer Candies - Sugar treat with eight pastel colors and flavors–Chocolate, lemon, lime, orange, clove, wintergreen, cinnamon, licorice

Sweetheart Candies - What is Valentine’s Day without this delectable favorite? For the first time in 145 years, Sweethearts have completely changed – new colors, new flavors, new packaging and new sayings generated by the American public.

Zen Rabbit Cookies & Chocolate Sauce Gift Package includes one box of the original, world-famous Gratitude Cookies and a jar of Somebody’s Mother’s Chocolate Sauce. Gratitude Cookies are a super-delicious, thin, crunchy cross between a butter and a sugar cookie. Made from all-natural ingredients, (like real butter and pure vanilla), they’re called Gratitude Cookies because you’re encouraged to think about something you’re grateful for as you’re eating them. Plus, if you’re giving a box to someone, you’re showing love and appreciation.  Paired with a 9 oz jar of the also all-natural chocolate sauce from Somebody’s Mother, this is a Valentine’s gift that shows you have great taste and really care about the person you’re giving it to.

For Women

Adam & Alix trendy handbags - style #18370 with multi-row “ruching” detail on the face of bag pictured, $10.00 - Oh, so stylish and uber affordable, these are great for women of all ages, including tweens and teens.  Buy one (or more at this price!) for yourself, a friend, your girlfriend or wife (though hopefully you don’t have both, lol)… Gift idea: with this great price, you can afford to stash some goodies inside too!  These are especially great if you like to switch up the handbag with each outfit but are trying to be economically responsible.

Britney Spears Circus Fantasy Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 fl oz - Blue peony, waterlily and addictive red sweetheart orchid take the limelight with delicious sensations and exhilarating temptations. vailable at department stores such as Macy’s, as well as Macys.com.

Chewylou H.E.A.R.T. Acronym Tee: Hope, Empathy, Appreciation, Resilience, Trust.  A portion of the purchase of this shirt goes to the American Heart Association.  Chewylou shirts are meant to inspire through positive thought and promote physical and spiritual strength.  Other acronym tees also available.

Evan Healy Green Tea Clay - A gentle but effective treatment for all skin types. Reduces inflammation and produces a softer more refined skin surface. Clay will absorb and balance excess oil, draw pimples and blackheads to the surface and detoxify the bacteria that contributes to infected skin. Refines skin texture minimizing the appearance of large pores. This 7-10 day trial size is great for travel!

Mariah Carey’s Luscious Pink Deluxe Edition Parfum Spray, 1.7 fl oz - An ethereal harmony of sparkling Bellini accords, velvety pink peony and warm sun-kissed wood, the fragrance is a luscious blend of accords as enveloping as Mariah’s voice.

Roses by Leila Meacham is a classic novel in the best sense–a big, juicy read with a riveting plot and characters that leave a lasting impression. Spanning the 20th century, the story of ROSES takes place in a small East Texas town against the backdrop of the powerful timber and cotton industries, industries controlled by the scions of the town’s founding families.

Scandle Essentials Travel Candle - Experience the ultimate spa massage with the aromatherapy effects of our Scandle Essentials with pure essential oils. Scandle is in a square lightweight tin for easy application. Silicone band can be removed after use and used as an eco-wrist band reminder to “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” Burn time 15-30 hours. Available in Chocolate Dipped Strawberry scent for Valentines Day, as well as other scents. 

Searching For Tina Turner by Jacqueline E Luckett - In this breathtaking debut novel reminiscent of early Terry McMillan, Lena Spencer is going through a mid-life crisis and looks to singer Tina Turner for strength.

Wrapped With Love From Hilary Duff Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 fl oz - The notes in Wrapped with Love were inspired by Hilary Duff’s fun and flirtatious side.  The result is a delectable fragrance with a signature scent –a creamy backdrop showcasing juicy and succulent notes.  Available at ElizabethArden.com  

XOXO Clothing & Accessories  - Founded in 1991 as a day-to-evening lifestyle brand, XOXO was one of the first Juniors contemporary brands to design and sell “runway to realway” fashion apparel and accessories at affordable prices. XOXO’s success has been solidified by constantly delivering truly feminine, sexy, trend conscious looks within the fashion spectrum. XOXO offers a variety of designs including sunglasses, leathergoods, handbags, lingerie, and much more! What is Valentine’s Day without a little XOXO?

For Kids

360 Chocolate Chip Flip, chocolate chip bar baking mix from Kids Central Kitchen - One taste of these gluten-free & wheat-free chocolate chip bars will have you doing a 360! Fresh from the oven, these irresistible treats will compete with the best skateboard tricks around. Made with natural ingredients, this chocolate chip bar will make you flip!

Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine by Herman Parish - Amelia Bedelia is sure she will love everything about Valentine’s Day.  The sweet surprises, Cards to give and receive, A party at school, A big, long family hug.  Amelia Bedelia can’t wait. What could be better? Valentine’s Day! Hooray for Valentine’s Day!

BabyLegs (pictured: pink & red flames) - the original baby leg warmers for infants and toddlers - has a collection of loveable designs for this Valentine’s Day. Sweetheart, Soul and Pop Heart (all pictured on the attached sheet) will warm babies hearts this February 14th. The Flame is pictured below.

Curious George: Colors, a LeapFrog Tag Junior board book for ages 2-4. A fun read even without the Tag Junior system, but the system really brings the book to life.  Discover all the colors of the rainbow with the world’s most curious monkey.  Curious George!  This Tag™ Junior board book springs to life when you touch the Tag Junior book pal to any part of any page.  More than 24 playful activities and 150 audio responses encourage little ones to explore while helping build confidence with books Free shipping at LeapFrog.com through 2/15 on orders $30 & up - use code LOVE2SHARE. 

Disney’s Winnie The Pooh: A Valentine For You Special Edition DVD including FREE Winnie THe Pooh Valentines and a new-to-DVD bonus episode.

Fancy Nancy: Heart To Heart, based on the creation of Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser - Mystery is in the air when Nancy receives a valentine from a secret someone. Join Nancy as she follows the clues to find out who it is—all in her trademark fabulous style, of course. Gorgeous stickers included!

Funky Monkey Snacks (”Fruit That Crunches”) are perfect addition to any Valentines gift for kids and a great alternative to candy.  My three year old LOVES them and they are now available at Target!  Available in Purple Funk, Carnival Mix, Jivealime, and more. Available in these stories. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! An “If You Give…” book by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond - Join Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as he celebrates Valentine’s Day with all the friends he loves.

Henry In Love by Peter McCarty - Henry is a bit of a dreamer and not much of a talker.Then there’s Chloe, who says what she thinks and knows how to turn a spectacular cartwheel. This is the story of how one blueberry muffin makes all the difference.

KangaRoom 7 Pocket IM Text Shower Tote - So many bath items, so little room!  Now you can have your own personal shower tote designed with 2Cool2Btrue IM & Text emoticons.  Whether you need to carry your bath essentials down the hall in the college dorm or there are just too many people sharing one shower at home, this water resistant tote keeps your personal items, well. . . personal. Fill with bath & body products to take the gift over the top!

KangaRoom Foldup Hamper - Kangaroom has everything your tweens and teens need to get organized.  Whether making that middle to high school or high school to college transition, our Room Essentials, decked with IM and Text emoticons and made out of sturdy, 100% recycled materials, are a must have!  Our Room Essentials Hamper keeps clothes off your bedroom floor, eliminating dirty clothes piles and making it easy and stylish to do laundry. Complete the gift by including laundry, ie: a couple of cute tops!

Mead offers fun & trendy spiral notebooks, planners, and other accessories (many available exclusively at OfficeMax) that are perfect for Valentine ’s Day (plus it is a great time to update the school supplies).  Shown here: Sweet & Sassy I Heart Recycling Planner, featuring recycled paper & covers, recycled wire, vegetable-based ink and daily green tips.  One I love: “Do You Like Me”  spiral notebook (even has the yes and no checkboxes, too cute!) from  - Lots of fun designs are available.

Money Savvy Pig - The product is intended for children ages 4-12 and comes in 6 vibrant, fun colors.  It has four separate chambers for kids to deposit their money into and each chamber empties through a different foot on the bank.  The banks are a great educational toy that helps kids to begin thinking about money choices and setting short and long term goals for their money. Also available: Money Savvy Kids @ Home Kit.

My Heart Is Like A Zoo by Michael Hall (I love that the lion’s face on the cover is made up of heart shapes!) -  heart can be hopeful, or silly, or happy. A heart can be rugged, or snappy, or lonely. A heart holds every different feeling, and debut author-artist Michael Hall captures each one with a delicate touch. For each feeling, the bold, graphic artwork creates an animal out of heart shapes, from “eager as a beaver” to “angry as a bear” to “thoughtful as an owl.” An accessible and beautiful debut, My Heart Is Like a Zoo is everything a classic picture book should be: honest, sincere, and speaking directly to even the very youngest child.

Sunsweet Gold Label Pitted Prunes (Dried Plums) are another great snack to add to a child’s Valentine gift. Available in a 8 pack (individual packaged), you can divvy them out or include the whole 8 pack. Shocked to think kids may actually LIKE prunes? My three year LOVES them.  They are sticky and have a gooey feel to them, which may make them more fun to kids (boys anyway!), LOL.  Each individual pack is only 60 calories and has no fat, cholesterol, or sodium.  They are loaded with antioxidants (more than blueberries) and are an all around good for you snack.  I haven’t tried them because I have preconceived notions about prunes I’m not yet ready to lay down, but I try very hard to make sure my son has an open mind on all food, and it really paid off with these. 

VeggieTales: Silly Little Thing Called Love - a fun-filled 80+ minute compilation that includes three classic stories of “true” love—with lessons in Loving Your Neighbor, Loving Your Family and Loving God!  Between each story, brand new animation featuring the “Veggie Kids” (as voiced by real children!) share their thoughts on love as only kids can!  Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Easter and throughout the whole year!

Webkinz Love Lion - The cute plush is only available for a limited time but can be purchased in most stores selling Webkinz.  Webkinz pets are lovable plush pets that each come with a unique Secret Code. With it, you enter Webkinz World where you care for your virtual pet, answer trivia, earn KinzCash, and play the best kids games on the net!

Where Is Love, Biscuit? A Pat & Play board book by Alyssa Satin Capucill - Biscuit is a lucky little puppy. He loves his bones, his bed, and his best friend.  The little girl teaches her yellow puppy that love is sharing and helping and learning. And it’s also having a sweet puppy like Biscuit. Woof!  Children will enjoy this valentine of a book.

Woof: A Love Story by Sarah Weeks - A dog is a dog, and a cat is a cat, And most of the time it’s as simple as that. . . . Or is it?  What’s a dog to do when he falls in love with the cat next door? Bark? Chase his tail? Dig up a “brass bone” and hope that the universal language of music will help him to express his feelings? This humorous and heartfelt story is about the power of love and the power of music, told through the eyes of a lovelorn dog and the cat he adores.

All books and products, unless otherwise noted, were provided to Shake The Salt by their respective author, publisher, brand or shop. Although my opinions may be interspersed throughout this guide, the purpose of this guide is only to provide a basic book or product description for each item, many of which descriptions were provided by the author, publisher, brand or shop.  Shake The Salt urges all consumers to make wise, researched purchases and makes no claims or guarranties on behalf of any book, product, or company.

If you would be interested in having your book or product in this Guide, please contact me.

2010 Book & Resource Guide

MAKING 2010 THE YEAR OF GRADUAL BUT STEADY IMPROVEMENTS IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE!

Instead of the traditional New Years Resolutions - that are often discarded before February - I am opting to make gradual improvements, baby steps if you will, across the board.  There’s nothing that cannot be improved or tweaked, but instead of becoming overwhelmed or biting off more than I can chew, I’ve decided to take it step by step.  Make a little improvement here and there.  Then another one.  Then another.  At the end of 2010, I want to be able to look back and see the path that all those little steps have taken me on and all the improvements that I’ve made.  This Guide is a collection of books and resources that I will be using and referring to throughout the year.  I hope it will be a great reference guide for you as well. 

HEALTH / FITNESS / MENU PLANNING

30 Day Shred DVD - Jillian Michaels: I purchased this last year evidently as some sort of home decor item because I never used it prior to 2010. I’ve done it a few times here and there throughout January - Jillian is tough! There are 3 levels and all I know is she kicked my butt on level 1 so I haven’t yet to venture to levels 2 and 3.  She does a 3-2-1 (3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute routines then repeats 3 times) technique that accomplished a full body workout in 20 minutes.  If you are not familiar with Jillian Michaels, she is one of the trainers on Biggest Loser and I believe the season winner has been from her team 8 out of 9 times.

Cool Waters (50 Refreshing, Healthy, Homemade Thirst Quenchers) by Brian Preston-Campbell: I haven’t tested any of the recipes in this book yet but I am excited to!  From Agua de Jamaica to Workout Fuel to flavorfull ice cubes and everything in between, Cool Waters has an awesome selection of beverage recipes that will take your water from blah to wow!  A few recipes that sound especially yummy to me - Honeydew Mint Mist, June Fields, Blueberry Twist, and Peach Thai Basil Cubes. 

Hyp-Yoga 6-Week Weight Loss DVD Program: I am a little intriqued yet cautious of this one. I don’t do the hypnosis deal, but I am interested in checking it out and seeing how it may still be beneficial.  More details: combines yoga and hypnosis to help individuals change their mind to change their body. Hyp-Yoga begins with a yoga session, opening up the body and calming the mind with expansive, full-body poses and deep breathwork. The resulting relaxation and openness make the gentle hypnosis (weight loss program, written by a certified hypnotherapist and RN) that follows incredibly effective.

Kids Choice Baking Mix Variety Pack from Kids Central Kitchen: We received this variety pack of seven baking mixes and will be trying them out over the coming months - I’m seeing lots of yumminess ahead.  Homerun Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Mix, Slam Dunker Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, Snow Angel Sugar Cookie Mix, Mudslinger Chocolate Brownie Mix, Swinging Monkey Banana Bread Mix, Flip Flop Flap Jacks Pancake Mix & Propeller Chocolate Chip Energy Bar Mix. 

Melt It Off with Mitch Gaylord is a comprehensive exercise and nutrition program designed by American gymnast and four-time gold medalist Mitch Gaylord. The Melt It OFF! program consists of a three step guide using Gaylord’s unique calorie melting weapon, the G-Ball, which engages the body’s core to sculpt lean muscles and build strong abs. Melt It OFF!features a three-day kick-off program, a healthy diet blueprint for planning meals and exercise DVD programs providing four intense workouts.

Mom’s Big Book Of Baking (200 Simple, Foolproof Family Favorites For Birthday Parties, Bake Sales, and More) by Lauren Chattman: This is another book of recipes I cannot wait to really dig in to!  I am planning lots of kitchen time with my little chef this year.  He loves being hands on and especially loves to eat the yummies!  He will be starting Pre-K this fall {gasp!} so I foresee needing creative ideas. Details: Chattman has created streamlined recipes that produce the highest quality baked goods with the least amount of fuss, striking a balance between familiar favorites and new twists. Caramel Swirl Brownies are perfect for a rainy afternoon. Strawberry Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream will be a hit at the next school bake sale. Chocolate Milk Pancakes will feed a gang of hungry kids the morning after a slumber party, and Thin and Crispy Pizza the night before. Each recipe has advice on when and how to let kids participate. There are loads of tips on vital topics including how to mass produce cupcakes, how to make the most Christmas cookies in the least amount of time, and how to make a birthday cake your child will remember forever without losing your mind.

Pillsbury’s Pot Pies & Casseroles, September 2009 (Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks #336): General Mills / Pillsbury publishes recipe booklets (mini-magazines) on a regular basis.  The theme changes each time, but I chose this one to use as I work on menu planning, especially dinners. You can order a subscription or find them in the checkout aisles. I also love that they have great coupons with long expiration dates.  My copy was provided by General Mills & MyBlogSpark.

The Sneaky Chef (Simple Strategies For Hiding Healthy Foods In Kids’ Favorite Meals) by Missy Chase Lapine: I evidently purchased this one as even more home decor, because it too is unused. That’s changing! Hubs is pretty particular, so I may be using this on him too, haha!

BUDGET / FINANCES / INCOME / CAREER

Career Comeback (Repackage Yourself To Get The Job you Want) By Lisa Johnson Mandell: Unfortunately, getting older can be a career killer. That’s what entertainment journalist Lisa Johnson Mandell discovered when she sent out a resume that made her sound like an aged veteran. Her new career makeover guide-expanded from the Wall Street Journal article about revamping her “older” image to land her dream job-acknowledges that experience matters, but looking and acting up-to-date matter just as much. Mandell provides ten strategies for putting a youthful spin on resumes, Web pages, and personal presentation.

Career Renegade (How To Make A Great Living Doing What You Love) by Jonathan Fields: I purchased this book in 2009 but never really got in to it.  I’m going to give it another crack in 2010!  Details: There’s a revolution brewing across the nation–a movement that’s changing lives and revealing little known paths to passion and prosperity. It’s about building a great living around what you love to do most. Once you’ve been touched by it, you’ll never be the same. This book is your way in, your admission ticket to the world of the career renegade.

Money Savvy Kids Club Book Series - This series of four books includes: Garage Sale Riches, Putting The “Do” In Donate, Home Sweet Home, and Penny Power, and follows a group of kids as they learn about money.  Interesting fact about compound interest from Penny Power: if 12 year olds deposit $4 every day into a savings account that pays 5% interest, they will have $427,025 at age 67, with only $80, 352 being from those deposits.  Geared for 7-12 year olds, these books shed a fun and interesting light on money matters for kids.  Let’s face it, kids don’t typically get enough working knowledge about money and many parents don’t know exactly where to start or what they need to know and when.  Learn more about this series and other related projects at Money Savvy Generation. 

One Year To An Organized Financial Life by Regina Leeds offers a simple week-by-week, month-by-month plan to manage your money effectively and live more calmly and richly on less. In this unique guide, you will find everything you need to bring clarity, simplicity, and order to your finances, helping you feel secure for the future no matter what life throws at you (or your bank account).

 LIFE

Add More ~ing To Your Life (A Hip Guide To Happiness) by Gabrielle Bernstein - Designed for the dispirited millennial, this fiery, transformational book provides a new formula for a life you’re psyched to wake up for.  Gabrielle honed her approach from personal experience – she put the brakes on her unfulfilling and empty fast-paced New York lifestyle and looked within to find ~ing, a method for clearing the mind and opening a pathway for inner guidance. She is a sought-after life coach, speaker and ~ing-master.

O’s Big Book Of Happiness (The Best of O The Oprah Magazine: Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration) addresses three major avenues to a fuller life: “Your Mind/Your Body” focuses on emotional and physical well being; “Dating, Mating, Relating” provides the tools and insights needed to forge better connections with partners, families, friends and co-workers; “Dreaming Big” offers inspiration and practical advice to aim high and realize aspirations on all aspects of life, from work to money to heeding your inner voice. O’S BIG BOOK OF HAPPINESS is a boost of inspiration every time you open it.

The Attitude Girl by Mila Bernadkin: Jam packed with emotional conflict, trials and tribulations, romance, and humor, The Attitude Girl follows outspoken, materialistic 17-year-old Vicky on her rocky road to becoming an adult as she struggles with bullying, financial setbacks, idealism, loss and forgiveness along the way. Her attitude is her rock! Author Ludmila “Mila” Bernadkin draws on her experience as a teacher, mother and advanced graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature to create this compelling, award-winning story, which identifies with the tremulous world of confusing emotions and mixed messages of “maturity” today’s teens live in as they feel their way through the process of becoming young adults.

 
Show Me How (500 Things You Should Know: Instructions For Life From The Everyday To The Exotic) by Derek Fagerstrom, Lauren Smith, and the Show Me Team is a revolutionary reimagining of the reference genre, one part how-to guide, one part graphic art showpiece, and one part pure inspiration. In a series of 500 nearly wordless, highly informative step-by-step procedurals, readers learn how to do hundreds of useful (and fascinating and important and sometimes downright bizarre) tasks, including: Perform CPR, dance the tango, pack a suitcase, win a bar bet, play the blues, make authentic sushi rolls, fight a shark . . . and 493 more essentials of modern life.

The Happiness Project (Or Why I Spent A Year Trying To Sing In The Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun) by Gretchen Rubin: Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project. With humor and insight, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lesso ns from popular culture about how to be happier. Read Gretchen’s blog and take the 2010 Happiness Challenge.

The Vision Board (The Secret To An Extraordinary Life) by Joyce Schwarz describes a transformative exercise that offers a simple way to change your life for the better. As featured on the Oprah Winfrey show, vision boards are a practical, effective approach to identifying and achieving your goals. With a foreword from Bob Proctor, featured teacher in The Secret, and an afterword by Jack Canfield, co-creator of the hugely popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, The Vision Board offers concrete advice and motivation anecdotes designed to help you utilize vision boards in your own daily life.

 HOME & ORGANIZATION

It’s All Too Much DVD from Peter Walsh - Your personal, at-home organizational coaching session with Peter Walsh! With more than an hour of Peter’s tips, techniques and guidance this compelling DVD - based on his NY Times best-selling book - will provide the encouragement and direction to the fuller, richer life that you imagine for you and your family. Peter Walsh is an international clutter expert and organizational consultant best known for his tough love approach on the hit TLC series “Clean Sweep” and his regular appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Part therapist, part contractor, Peter brings his clutter-busting tips and organizational know-how into your home with this DVD version of his international best-seller “It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff.” 

One Year To An Organized Life by Regina Leeds is a unique week-by-week, month-by-month plan to forever streamline all aspects of your life. Regina helps you break down tasks and build routines over time so that life becomes simple, not overwhelming.

The Home Book (Creating A Beautiful Home Of Your Own) from House Beautiful is the ultimate handbook for anyone looking to start from scratch, redecorate, or just modify what they already have- it is truly a must-have. THE HOME BOOK appeals to many different design aesthetics and is the perfect holiday gift, or a fantastic accessory to any home.

 THE CHRISTIAN WALK

How To Hear From God (Learn How To Know His Voice And Make Right Decisions) by Joyce Meyer - In the hustle and bustle of today’s busy world, sometimes it’s hard enough to hear yourself think, much less take a minute to stop and listen for the voice of God. But learning to recognize God’s voice and the many ways in which He speaks is vital for following His plan. In How to Hear from God, Joyce Meyer shows readers that God reaches out to people every day, seeking a partnership with them to offer guidance and love. She reveals the ways in which God delivers His word and the benefits of asking God for the sensitivity to hear His voice.

PARENTING / KIDS / HOMESCHOOLING

I have been doing a little bit of casual, unstructured homeschool preschooling with my three year old, but will be sending him off to Pre-K this fall.  It is a couple hours each morning M-F.  This will give him interaction with kids his age while still allowing us to complement his learning at home.  After Pre-K we will decide whether we’ll do homeschool, private school, or public school.  I’ve heard of half home and half school options, but have been unable to locate any in our area.  

Boca Beth Beginner Backpack -Get your Spanish on with Boca Beth!  Move over Dora and Diego and meet Boca Beth, bringing you fun DVDs and music CDs, plus more that the little ones will love.  If you are trying to teach your Spanish speaking child English (or just want them to learn both languages), this is also for you!  The Boca Beth Backpack includes:

Kids Choice Baking Mix Variety Pack - see info under HEALTH / FITNESS / MENU PLANNING

  
LeapFrog Tag Junior Books - Sesame Street / Elmo: Monster Faces teaches all about emotions through monster face making fun and Disney/Pixar CARS: Shapes All Around explores teaches about shapes with the favorite wheeled characters, Lightning McQueen and Mater. Other titles available. The Tag Junior books come to life with the Tag Junior system, but are great educational reads even without it.  Check out the LeapFrog site for current deals, including free shipping through 2/15 on site-wide orders over $30 when you use code LOVE2SHARE. 

Money Savvy Kids Club Book Series - see info under BUDGET / FINANCES / INCOME / CAREER

    
True Stories About Saving Animals book series by Samuel Lopez features The Miracle Of The Little Kitten, Stinky Little Scroungy, The Three Legged Kitten, and Our Orphaned Owls.  In four fascinating stories, Samuel helps young readers understand both the joy and the responsibilities that come from having a pet. Children will read the inspiring tale of a three-legged kitten, about orphaned owls, a smelly little puppy, and how Samuel’s own dog rescued a scruffy little kitten.

VeggieTales is a great source of teaching morals & life lessons and kids LOVE the adorable characters.  (I LOVE the adorable characters, but ahem… we aren’t talking about me here, LOL!)  Soon to be released: PISTACHIO: THE LITTLE BOY THAT WOODN’T on February 27, 2010. Features a helpful lesson in listening to your parents, as well as “honesty” (telling the truth) and the importance of family. Brings awareness to the outside influences that affect children and the importance of a strong family unit in helping children learn to be honest and respectful of their parents and others.

 LEISURE & HOBBIES

Going Rogue (An American Life) by Sarah Palin: Look, Sarah Palin intriques me, well beyond the politics.  She seems to have it all - a great career, a solid marriage, a large happy family, unshakable faith in God, one who is known for getting things done - and keeps it balanced.  Love her or hate her (and most people feel strongly one way or the other), she’s now a household name and gets mega crowds wherever she goes.  Looking at the book, it isn’t a weekend read (unless you hole yourself for the weekend and skip sleep).  At 413 pages it will take me a little while to work through it, but that’s ok.  It is right where it needs to be in the LEISURE category, as it’ll be a leisurely read for me. 

Serif Digital Scrapbook Artist: Two things I want to work on in 2010 where this will come in handy is learning to create blog graphics and working on my son’s baby book and scrapbooks.  It is an impressive little program that I think I’ll get a lot of use out of.  Be warned though - y’all will be my guinea pigs as I try my hand at the blog graphics. 

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Eco Discoveries Airzyme Air & Fabric Deodorizer tackles odor molecules both in the air and on surfaces with natural enzymes. Eliminate pet odor, kitchen odor, and create a fresh environment with a safe spray.

All books and products, unless otherwise noted, were provided to Shake The Salt by their respective author, publisher, brand or shop. Although my opinions may be interspersed throughout this guide, the purpose of this guide is only to provide a basic book or product description for each item, many of which were provided by the author, publisher, brand or shop.  Shake The Salt urges all consumers to make wise, researched purchases and makes no claims or guarranties on behalf of any book, product, or company.

If you would be interested in having your book or product in this Book & Resource Guide, please contact me.