When they ended the program in November 2007, they were nice enough to let me take my content with me. I moved it over here to My Readable Feast hosted by the nice folks at One By One Media and quickly built up traffic, readership and page rank.

But now I’m so busy with other opportunities and blogs, that I feel it’s time to take a break. It’s the best course of action since I’m not too passionate about children’s book and cooking activities these days. Sort of like my kids – we must be close to summer vacation.

Looking to buy a blog?

I’m also considering selling this blog. Yes, this blog may be for sale if the right person or opportunity comes along. So, if you’re interested in acquiring My Readable Feast contact me at am@the-write-spot.com and we can discuss.

Until then, here’s where you can find me:

• A Mama’s Rant – my mom review blog
• This Mama Cooks! On a Diet – my personal journey of weight loss, getting healthy, cooking and dieting
• This Mama Cooks! Reviews – my food, diet, health, weight loss, and fitness review blog
• The Write Spot – my social media consulting blog

And elsewhere:

• Rocky Mountain Mom’s Blog
• Mom Central Food
• Mom Central Goes Green
• Mom Central Technology
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

As a handyman at the hotel his father used to own, Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) spends his days changing light bulbs and competing with the hotel’s smarmy manager (Guy Pearce) for the attention of the new owner’s beautiful, hard-partying daughter, Violet (Theresa Palmer). When his sister Wendy (Courteney Cox) asks Skeeter to babysit her kids for a week while she’s out of town, Skeeter entertains his niece and nephew with elaborate, original bedtime stories that transport them to exotic locales. When he tries to help his family by telling one outlandish tale after another, it’s the kids’ unexpected contributions that turn all of their lives upside down.

A preview: space story

Disney releases movie three ways

• The 3-Disc Combo Pack of Bedtime Stories includes a Blu-ray Disc™, a bonus standard definition disc, plus a special DisneyFile Digital Copy that enables viewers to enjoy the film on an array of mobile devices in their choice of iTunes or Windows Media formats. The 3-Disc Deluxe Edition is available for a limited time only. If you don’t have Blu-ray but a friend does, go in on this version together and split the costs.
• Bedtime Stories as a single disk DVD
• Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy of Bedtime Stories

What is your favorite bedtime story?

In Bedtime Stories, Skeeter takes his niece and nephew to places like ancient Greece, the Wild West and outer space. Growing up I loved D’aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths, The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh, and The Three Bears.

What are your and your children’s favorite bedtime stories?

I love the Harry Potter books, and am so thankful that J.K. Rowling got kids (and their parents) reading again!

Introduce the youngsters in your life to the first book in this remarkable series – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – and get them started on the reading adventure of a lifetime by entering my Share the Magic Book Giveaway!

The Share the Magic Book Giveaway

Five winners will receive TWO copies of the paperback book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – one to win and one to share!

Here’s how you can win:

This contest is closed. Congrats to the winners:

• Judy B.
• Ally M.
• Heidi V.
• Lethea B.

Leave your name, email address, and blog address (if you have one) in the comments below for ONE entry.

1. If you have a blog, feel free to post about this contest on it for ONE entry.
2. Sign up for my RSS feed for ONE entry.
3. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE entry.
4. Post about my contest on your Twitter account for ONE entry.
5. If you have already signed up for my enewsletter or RSS feed in a previous contest, let me know. I will count those as entries in this and all future contests.
6. If you have signed up for my RSS feed and/or enewsletter and/or posted about my contest on your blog and/or tweeted about it, come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!
7. Maximum amount of entries at My Readable Feast is FIVE – leaving an email here, posting about it on your blog, signing up for my RSS feed, tweeting, and signing up for my enewsletter.
8. You have until midnight MT on Monday, April 20, 2009 to enter.
9. You must be willing to send me your full name and mailing address so I pass it on to the people at Big Honcho Media, the PR firm for Scholastic.com. If you’re uncomfortable with that, please don’t enter the contest.
10. If you win, I will contact you on April 21, 2009 to get your contact info.
11. I will announce the winners by April 13, 2009 on this blog. I will not share winner’s’ mailing info with the public, just their first name and last initial. If they have a blog, I will link back to it when I announce the winners.
12. Five winners will receive two copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
13. Prize valued at $22 or less. Open to legal residents of the United States 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. Up to FIVE entries per person via My Readable Feast. Void where prohibited by law. By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from My Readable Feast in compliance with our privacy policy and giveaway rules.

Rachel was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, and earned her bachelor’s degree in art and graphic design from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She lives and works as an artist in the Southwest. Beyond design and fine art, Rachel holds a special interest in ecology, evolution, and extinction.

5% of all of her book and art profits are donated to the World Wildlife Fund and the Folsom Zoo Animal Sanctuary. You can purchase the original artwork, note cards and prints from the book at her website – Dillon Design, visit her blog, Children’s Book of Endangered Animals or see her work at Artists for Conservation.

Why a children’s book?

I asked her how her concern for animals prompt her to write a children’s book. Here’s Rachel’s reply:

I have always been an animal lover. I had cats, dogs, and horses growing up. My mom would just smile and laugh every time I brought a new cat home form the stables I kept my horses. I think animals became what I relied on for comfort. Often, growing up, I felt more connected to animals than I did to people. They were there for me to laugh with, cry on and talk to.

When I was around 16, my Aunt and Uncle from Australia sent me a book called “Endangered Animals of Australia.” I had already travelled twice to that country and loved it very much. To see a book of animals from Australia that were all endangered, really heightened my awareness of the issue.

I went in a creative direction for my degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Graphic Design and fine art projects allowed me freedom to focus on what I cared about. So, I painted animals, and my designs almost always featured nature.

In my last year of college, I had an independent study. My project choice was to photograph, research, write and design a book about the endangered species at the Henry Vilas Zoo, a free local zoo. I had no idea how big the project was and only completed a draft of the booklet. In the process of making the booklet, the zoo allowed me to get up close to some of the animals to photograph them. I climbed in the ringtail lemur’s cage; got hissed at by an angry lioness; felt the size and power of a tiger as I stood next to its cage; and quietly took a peak at a day-old giraffe baby. I treasure all the special moments I had and will never forget the feeling of awe I had for those incredible animals.

All of these experiences have molded and shaped my love for and desire to help animals. I feel such heartache when I hear of the problems so many animals face. When I became a mother, my passion for animals shifted to a question, “how can I help these animals, so my children can live in the same world as them?”

My daughter was just a baby when I started writing and painting my children’s book, Through Endangered Eyes. I didn’t even know I was starting a book when I sat down and wrote a poem about an elephant. That poem was so fun and lyrical, I decided to write one about the Green Sea Turtle, and then the process continued as I picked seven more species. I had already painted a Green Sea Turtle and Tiger and felt perhaps I had a real book shaping up.

I have hope when I look at children. They are filled with wonder and passion and immediately want to fix a problem when they hear it exists. It is hard to share with the children I read to about the issues endangered and threatened species face, but I don’t want to sugarcoat it either. I want children to know there are many things we need to change in our habits, or we will continue to create a more unbalanced planet.

Frecklebox

I recently tried out the Frecklebox service and ordered a Princess coloring book for my daughter, Lucie. It took me a second to type in her name and then I could preview the book to see exactly what each page looked like.

We received the coloring book a few days later. I was very impressed with the quality of the cover, a thick, glossy stock and the paper. No cheap newsprint here. Lucie loved the book and immediately started coloring away. The Princess coloring book sells for $6.95 and comes with a small set of crayons. This would make a terrific birthday present or holiday gift.

Win a Saves the Planet Book for Earth Day!

Teach your child how to really make a difference in saving the planet. Frecklebox’s newest personalized book – Saves the Planet – offers up several ideas to get them started, from riding their bike to school to remembering to turn off the light switch. Help them become a super kid that protects the Earth!

So many kids are into Earth Day, so I know a book like this will be a special treat for any child. Even better, enter my giveaway to win either a hard cover or soft cover of Saves the Planet.

Here’s how to enter to win a free customized copy of Saves the Planet:

1. Leave your name, email address, and blog address (if you have one) in the comments below for ONE entry.
2. If you have a blog, feel free to post about this contest on it for ONE entry.
3. Sign up for my RSS feed for ONE entry.
4. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE entry.
5. Post about my contest on your Twitter account for ONE entry.
6. If you have already signed up for my enewsletter or RSS feed in a previous contest, let me know. I will count those as entries in this and all future contests.
7. If you have signed up for my RSS feed and/or enewsletter and/or posted about my contest on your blog and/or tweeted about it, come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!
8. Maximum amount of entries at My Readable Feast is FIVE – leaving an email here, posting about it on your blog, signing up for my RSS feed, tweeting, and signing up for my enewsletter.
9. You have until midnight MT on Friday, April 10, 2009 to enter.
10. You must be willing to send me your full name and mailing address so I pass it on to the people at Frecklebox. If you’re uncomfortable with that, please don’t enter the contest.
11. If you win, I will contact you on April 11, 2009 to get your contact info and to get your ordering specifics (name of child and if you want a soft or hard cover version of the book).
12. I will announce the winner by April 13, 2009 on this blog. I will not share your mailing info with the public, just your first name and last initial. If you have a blog, I will link back to it when I announce the winner.
13. Only one Saves the Planet book will be given away.
14. Prize valued at $19.95 or less. Open to legal residents of the United States 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. Up to FIVE entries per person via My Readable Feast. Void where prohibited by law. By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from My Readable Feast in compliance with our privacy policy and giveaway rules.