Netflix for Books?

I love movies so my household was into Netflix very early on.  We eventually switched to Blockbuster, though, because of the option to use the store as well mail.  You know what else I love to do?  Read.  And I recently learned of a Netflix-like program that allows you to rent books to read. 

I suppose I watch movies more than I read just because I sometimes plop down on the couch exhausted with the tube in front of me.  It’s easy to drift off into sleep watching TV.  It’s even cozy.  Whereas falling asleep with a book means the lights got left on and you are going to wake up with paper cuts on your chin from where you were rubbing up against the pages. 

Nonetheless, I like to have books on hand to read.  For $15 a month you can have 3 books checked out at a time.  Bookswim pays for the shipping both ways and provides easy mailing supplies for your return. Bookswim also has that cool feature where you can build a wish list of books in your cue and the company automatically sends out the next one on the list upon return of the last book.   Fun, right?

I just bought some books to keep me busy for a month or so on our last Friday night outing to Waldenbooks but I put it on my calendar for November.  If you get a chance to try it first, please let us know what you think of the service!

I am curious how many people use the Netflix or Blockbuster movie rental service.  How do you feel about having the option available for books, as well? 

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I don’t know about you but it has been a crazy busy week. I am loving back to school but getting up so early is a killer. You know I stay up way too late surfing and blogging! In honor of kids, moms, and playgrounds, as well as me being too pooped to ponder tonight, I’ll share with you a video of a very unexpected portrayal of a Mom at a park by Brooke Shields as shown on Will Ferrell’s website Funny Or Die. Her performance of a Mother engaging in conversation with her daughter at the park is riveting.

I am crazy about Will Ferrell. Have I told you that before? The mere glimpse of his picture can cheer me up on the darkest day. Anyway, in case you do not know already Will set up a website, similar to YouTube, where people can submit funny videos to be rated and shared. It’s for regular peeps and celebrities. The whole site is very “not mommy” as you can imagine. Will has a hilarious video on there about his toddler landlord coming to evict him. The language is bad so you’ll have to look that up yourself. I am sharing something much more classy with you today. (classy by FUNNY OR DIE standards… not necessarily in the classic sense of the word.)

When I was a kid I thought Brooke Shields was the most boring and overrated actor. Then one day she showed up with a personality on “Friends”. She’s been making me laugh ever since. I know we’re all familiar with her role on Hannah Montanah as Miley’s Mom, but have you seen her pimped out at the park? I know it’s silly, but hey! It’s Friday! Enjoy!

The Where’s Waldo books have been a favorite between Drew and me for as long as I can remember.  In the earliest days we snuggled up looked for the red and white striped illusive one before bed each night.  Later, when we had weekly doctor appointments we were thrilled to find a huge Where’s Waldo book in the waiting room.  Week after week the book calmed his nerves as we looked for Waldo and waited for our appointment. 

I was recently reminded of Waldo when I heard Drew yelling “Where’s Andrew?!” from his bedrom.  When I went to his room to see what was going on I was greeted by what you see in this picture.  He was immediately sorry for his genius when I ordered him to stay put while I found my camera.  Apparently his position was not very comfy.

I know everyone knows the Where’s Waldo series but  have you actuallly spent any time looking at any of the books.  They provide endless quiet time and wind down time for kids at the end of the day.  Kids love them alone or in your company.  You will get addicted too because unless you are familiar with them, you don’t realize how hard it is to find Waldo!

Well as luck would have it Waldo is easy to find today.  The newest book came out last week.  Here’s a link to it and some of the previous issues too. Good luck!

How do you draw the line when it comes to scaring your kids?  And just how damaging is it if you cross that line?

I grew up next door to a crazy Aunt who was constantly pulling pranks and lurking in her lilac bushes to jump out and scare me as I walked across the path from my house to hers.  Both she and my Mom enjoyed scary movies so I started watching those pretty early.  

The first book I ever checked out from the public library was Stephen King’s THE STAND.  I have to think I developed my love for the creepy from the early exposure from Mom and Aunt V.

As much as I  loved the scary stories I also became a total scaredy cat!  When I lived alone in my tiny apartment I had to fall asleep before midnight or I’d be up all night afraid.  By the time I was married with a husband working third shift I was sleeping with a butcher’s knife and a gun on my night stand.  The knife was dull and the gun was not loaded but they were to me as that dust cloud blanket was to PigPen… comforting.

Mom’s favorite holiday was Halloween.  I  never liked it because I didn’t get to go trick or treating much because Mom was a worrier.  AND she enjoyed dressing up so much to pass out candy that THAT became our tradition.  Now that she is gone I have taken her place.  I LOVE Halloween now.  Before I had kids I dressed up and scared the glow sticks off our trick or treaters.  MuAH Ha HA!

Recently, with the change in the weather and thinking of fall, I was trying to come up with article ideas about Halloween and I remembered about the time a family friend showed up frantic at our door with a small box in her hand pleading for help.  I was just a little girl but I was worried about her.  When she opened the box there was a bloody finger in it.  I screamed and ran.  Mom and Friend (Aunt D were you there too?) thought it was so funny.  How cruel. 

So I decided to try it out on my 8 year old the other day.  Hee hee.  Well if I was going to write an EHOW how-to article about it I had to make sure it worked, didn’t I?  Poor Sari.  She positively flipped her lid and ran her little body faster across the house than I have ever seen her move.  I wasn’t AS successful with my 12 year old Son… he didn’t quite buy into the prank but he wouldn’t come close to me either. 

It became a gag around our house for a couple of days and everyone seems to have recovered.  If you would like to know how to orchestrate the bloody finger in a box prank click  here to go to my instructions at EHow. 

With Halloween just around the corner I would LOVE to hear some of your best spooky family pranks.  I need some fresh ideas!

 

 

Welcome to the September 2, 2008 edition of Everything Family.

David Cassell presents GED Scam posted at selectcoursesblog.com.

Tiffany Washko presents Natural Toys and Creative Play posted at Natural Family Living Blog.

Concerning Kids presents Choosing The Right Pediatrician For Your Baby posted at Concerning Kids.

David Cassell presents Free College Textbooks posted at selectcoursesblog.com.

Concerning Kids presents 10 Back to School Safety Tips For Brown Bag Lunches posted at Concerning Kids.

Jennifer Johnson presents Surviving the PTO posted at MommyABCs.com, saying, “PTO, Kids’ school”

David Cassell presents Get Qualified To Protect Your Nations Secrets posted at selectcoursesblog.com.

Michael Snyder presents 15 Things That Are Wrong With America posted at The Moral Collapse Of America.

Concerning Kids presents Tips & Ideas To Help Child Proof Your Home posted at Concerning Kids.

Family

Aparna presents Home Remedies for nose bleed posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming.

Nara presents Helping Children Cope with Infidelity and Divorce posted at Surviving Infidelity, saying, “Children suffer an enormous amount of consequences when a
  parent commits adultery ?C aside from losing the stability of a two
  parent home, children may also need to cope with the new partner and
  the restructuring of their lifestyle.”

Laura Tamayo presents Scribble Pad: Lost posted at Scribble Pad, saying, “I have a funny marriage that I love to share with the world.”

Nara presents Seeking Divorce Due to Infidelity posted at Surviving Infidelity, saying, “Although some faithful souls try to work out the problem of infidelity through marital counseling, many people choose to end their marriage as a result of adultery.”

Loren Christie presents Baby Big Foot posted at Dude, Where Am I?, saying, “Stand back, bullies, here comes Baby Big Foot!”

TherapyDoc presents Why it’s Good to Enmesh Your Children posted at Everyone Needs Therapy.

Nara presents Meeting Your Spouse?s Partner Following Infidelity posted at Surviving Infidelity, saying, “Meeting your spouse’s new lover can be painful and embarrassing”

Jeff Sullivan presents Noah The Musical - Branson Shows posted at Branson Travel Attractions.

Sarah presents Female Poker Player » Blog Archive » Planning a Women’s Poker Night posted at Female Poker Player, saying, “It can be quite difficult to find enough interested ladies to put together a women’s poker circle, but once you have four or five ladies who are serious about sitting down and playing some cards, it’s time to start planning your event.”

GP presents Cant We all Just git ?along posted at Innstyle Montana- Come on Inn, saying, “The rules for being human.. enjoy”

Angelawd presents Cinci Scene posted at angelawd, saying, “Sometimes it’s hard to know the best way to support your spouse.”

Lin Burress presents Toxic Relationships - Toxic Family Members posted at Telling It Like It Is.

Alex Smith presents What Self-Defense Weapon to Use? posted at TBO-TECH.

Alex Smith presents Self-Defense Courses or Lessons posted at TBO-TECH.

Moms

Jennifer Johnson presents Tips for a Great Relationship posted at MommyABCs.com, saying, “Tips to improve Mom and Dad’s relationship.”

Paige Rodgers presents Packing a Waste-free Lunch posted at Fabkins.

mom2my9 presents Child #5 of 9 folds a fitted sheet posted at 11th Heaven’s Homemaking Haven, saying, “Want to learn how to fold a fitted sheet like the pros? Learn, step-by-step, from this adorable little boy!”

Autumn Beck presents How To Start Cloth Diapering on a Budget posted at All About Cloth Diapers, saying, “Autumn Beck posts about how to get started with cloth diapers for less than $125.”

Other

Madeleine Begun Kane presents My Confession posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog, saying, “family humor”

John McKeen presents Best Rice Cooker - Top 4 posted at Rice Cooker Review, saying, “Looking for a best rice cooker for your family, you might want to check out this post.”

Toni presents When was the last time you did something new with your spouse? posted at Wifely Steps, saying, “Settling down doesn’t have to mean settling into a routine. Keep the love burning and the happiness flowing with newness injected into your marriage. Who knows, even after all the years of togetherness, you may still discover new things about each other. ;)”

Peter Smith presents Chef Peter’s Guide to Slow Cookers: What do I look for when I want to buy a slow cooker? posted at Slow Cooker Reviews.

travelcat4 presents Travel with Kids - Preparation Has Great Benefits!!! posted at Ultimate Vacation Guide.

Rose presents Won’t you keep our neighbor? posted at Learning at Home.

Larry Russell presents Financial Planning Reading List posted at Pasadena Financial Planner.

MandyGrenier presents Are You Searching For Places to Bring Your Kids This Summer in New England? posted at Travel and Leisure: Destination Tips Articles from EzineArticles.com, saying, “Places to bring children in New England with Reviews!”

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Being A Courteous Supermarket Shopper posted at Tip Diva, saying, “Not many people like grocery shopping - Tip Diva included. But she mostly dislikes it for the rude shoppers she encounters every time she goes. Don’t be one of them:”

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Throwing A Decade-Themed Party posted at Tip Diva, saying, “Decade-themed parties are a nostalgic, fun way to celebrate something. Here are ways to bring back the good old days.”

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Staying Safe At The Beach posted at Tip Diva, saying, “There’s nothing like a day at the beach - unless you aren’t careful. You should be coming home smiling and relaxed, not sunburned, stung and hurting all over. Here are ways to stay safe at the beach”

Yvette Nietzen presents Getting a Direct Power Charge posted at Fresh Wind Ministries, Int´l.

Brent Bond presents XBox Ring Of Death - Does Extended Play Increase Risk? posted at XBox Ring Of Death Blog.

Tammy presents Halfway through the recipe and…………. posted at Mrs. Mother Necessity!, saying, “I am a stay at home mom of 2! This post is just a peak into a day in the life of mom! While cooking dinner!”

Matt M presents Keep a First-Aid Kit posted at The Pet Haven, saying, “It’s important to have a first-aid kit handy, but don’t forget to keep one for the family pets too!”

Carole Gold presents Adversity Alert posted at McKay Today, saying, “How to take personal responsibility for what’s going on and not blame others…even if it’s divorce.”

Parenting

Reina presents Teen Pregnancy posted at BestForYourKids.com.

PlanningQueen presents Getting Hands On posted at Planning with Kids, saying, “Discussed the importance of children creating and exploring with their hands on their brain development.”

Reina presents Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Hot Vehicles posted at BestForYourKids.com.

Talula presents Be a Man posted at The Long and the Short of it.

Kevin Heath presents Motivating Kids to Excel posted at More4kids.

Linsey B. Knerl presents Teach Your 5-year Old to Clean His Own Room posted at Parenting Squad.

Chrys Unrau presents The Mommy Chronicles posted at Moms In A Blog, saying, “Some great reflections for moms who blog. What do you blog about? If your daughter found your blog when she was older, would you be ashamed of what she would find there?”

Camille presents Parents Don’t Even Recognize Their Children are Obese posted at Sixwise - Health Family Articles, saying, “I am a subscriber of Sixwise Newsletter and I find it articles helpful for a mom like me.”

Concerning Kids presents Helping Your Children Stay Fit For Life posted at Concerning Kids.

Anmol Mehta presents 3 Easy Kids Meditation Techniques with Videos posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment and Kundalini Yoga, saying, “Guidelines and techniques to help your children learn and benefit from the profound science of meditation.”

Kathy Sena presents The YouTube Potty Dance Craze: I Think I’ll Sit This One Out posted at Parent Talk Today, saying, “The YouTube Potty Dance Craze: I Think I’ll Sit This One Out”

Nursery Admin presents An Introduction to Working as a Nursery Officer posted at Nursery Jobs, saying, “As a nursery officer, you’ll have a sizeable number of administrative duties, as well as direct contact with children, while you work to maintain order in a child care setting.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of everything family using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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