Friday, August 4, 2017

Hello Goodbye Dog - Literary Lunch + Giveaway


It is LITERARY LUNCH time today and I have a wonderful book for you today! PLUS, you can win a copy at the end of my post!!
I am pleased to review HELLO GOODBYE DOG by Maria Gianferrari today:


Meet Moose, Zara's dog, she loves hellos and really hates goodbyes. So, when it is time for Zara to go to school, Moose keeps escaping to find her favorite girl at school.


My kids love reading this book and they always giggle at all of Moose's antics. I am sure if we had a dog she would be just like that. Because really, who doesn't hate goodbye's.


 My kids loved the fact that Zara did not try to change Moose but found the perfect solution for both of them.


Our favorite page in the book was this one which also inspired our Literary Lunch. Those eyes get me every time!


Our Literary Lunch is packed in Easylunchboxes and contains:
  • a bone for Moose banana
  • a sad goodbye faced Moose sandwich filled with cream cheese and jelly
  • a field of strawberries and blueberies with Moose hiding in them and
  • Zara's lunch which is an apple sauce wrapped in wax paper

a Rafflecopter giveaway
For more awesome Hello Goodbye Dog book reviews and more chances to win your own copy, check out the BOOK TOUR:


HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!
GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24th:                            Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!
*Two for Tuesday, July 25th:           Librarian’s Quest

*Wednesday, July 26th:                    Homemade City
*Thursday, July 27th:                         Kid Lit Frenzy
*Friday, July 28th:                              Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook
*Monday, July 31st:                            Picture Books Help Kids Soar
*Tuesday, August 1st:                        Bildebok
*Wednesday, August 2nd:                  The Loud Library Lady
*Thursday, August 3rd:                      DEBtastic Reads!
*Friday, August 4th:                           Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love
*Monday, August 7th:                        Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)


EXTRA: August 25th:                         Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton 


For more reviews and more chances to win a copy of Hello Goodbye Dog follow the Book Tour:

HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!
GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24th:                            Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!
*Two for Tuesday, July 25th:           Librarian’s Quest

*Wednesday, July 26th:                    Homemade City
*Thursday, July 27th:                         Kid Lit Frenzy
*Friday, July 28th:                              Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook
*Monday, July 31st:                            Picture Books Help Kids Soar
*Tuesday, August 1st:                        Bildebok
*Wednesday, August 2nd:                  The Loud Library Lady
*Thursday, August 3rd:                      DEBtastic Reads!
*Friday, August 4th:                           Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love
*Monday, August 7th:                        Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)


EXTRA: August 25th:                         Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton 



Find out more about the amazing Maria Gianferrari:



Maria writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books from her sunny, book-lined study in northern Virginia, with dog, Becca as her muse. Maria’s the author of the Penny & Jelly booksCoyote Moon, an ALA Notable Book, and a Junior Library Guild Selection, Officer Katz & Houndini and Hello Goodbye Dog. She has additional titles forthcoming from Roaring Brook Press, Boyds Mills Press, GP Putnam’s Sons and Little Bee. To learn more about Maria, visit her website:mariagianferrari.com, on Facebook and Instagram.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

milkdot Lunchbox REVIEW


Back to School for my kids is not until September but I am already busy planning and shopping for the things we will need. I came across milkdot and their amazing Stöh insulated lunch bags. If you have never heard about milkdot, you need to check out their website! I love how many colors they offer!! They offered to send me an insulated lunch bag and I can tell you that it was hard to choose!

I love stripes, so I picked the Green Apple Stripes Stöh and I am so happy I did! EVERYONE in my house loves this lunchbox and this color is so versatile (kids, adults, boys, girls).



The lunchbox is really well made, the colors are vibrant and fun and I love how much room it has!


Do you hate writing on your newly purchase lunchbox with permanent marker to be able to find it again at the school's lost &found 2 weeks after school starts? Me, too. But, milkdot though of that and the back of the lunchbox has a little tag for either a name, picture or sticker!!


Perfect for my family! We label everything!! (that is not actually my son's name but you know privacy and all that, so I photoshopped it in, so you can see how cute it will look ;)

Also, that little pocket can hold lunchbox notes, napkins or when you take the lunchbox to work the little name tag.


Another huge plus for me is that it folds flat for storage. I have four kids and about 48 lunch bags and one small cabinet in the kitchen. So, huge bonus for me!


The other space plus: it is roomy! and you can keep water bottles or shakes upright which will prevent at least some of my kids from spilling theirs when they don't close the bottles after lunch completely!


Here is my daughter's lunch for today and it all fits: I used a Planetbox Shuttle, stainless steel 10 oz water bottle and...


...there was room for a placemat, cereal bar and there would have been room for a snack box as well!



Still on the fence? Here is the same lunchbox with my 24oz coffee tumbler and a snack bag with almonds.


Same lunchbox again, plus a protein shaker, cereal bar and snack bag.

I LOVE this bag and have taken it already many times on the go for myself. I really love that drinks stay upright, it is fun and bright (I have gotten a ton of complements) and there is enough room for an adult lunch, kid lunch and high school lunch.