BusyBodyBook: Personal and Family Organizers

Congratulations Emerald, Lindsey and LoriAnn! You were the random winners chosen. Watch your inbox. I'll be contacting you shortly!

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I admit it, one of my favorite parts of the arriving new year is the excellent excuse to purchase a new planner and calendar. Some girls have a weakness for shoes...mine? It's planners. 

A few years ago, I discovered Joan's BusyBodyBook family organizers in the form of a magnetic family grid organizer. I immediately put it to use on our refrigerator to dole out daily chores for the girls. Each Sunday night, I sat down with the organizer, swapped around names and jobs, and posted the chart for week. After months (years?) of whining over who had to feed the barn cats, and who collected eggs, and who did it the day before, and isn't it someone else's turn today? ...the simple grid system wiped out the whining. Bingo.

And then this year, I discovered Joan's BusyBodyBook wall calendar that utilized the same grid system. I immediately sent her an email and I asked if I could try it out. I was feeling frustrated with my lesson plan system for homeschooling. I wanted to simplify and I wanted to see the whole week laid out in front of me. Joan's calendar, with its grids and plenty of space to write has been the perfect thing. I can keep track of each of the girls' assignments and even have room for a column of any appointments or "out and about" activities. It's been just the system I was looking for. 

Using Joan's designs, and family and personal organizing systems, is like getting advice from a friend who's got it all together. For me, the calendars and grids are simple, functional, but easily personalized to whatever your lesson-planning or appointment-making or meal-planning or chore-doling needs are. 

Joan is graciously giving away one product (winner's choice!) from the BusyBodyBook shop to three MommyCoddleLikes readers. (US Only)To be entered leave a comment letting me know what you love most about the fresh start of a new year, or which of the BusyBodyBook planners and organizers would be the most helpful to you and your family. The 3 winners will be randomly chosen and announced at the top of this post on Sunday.

Also, be sure to check out the BusyBodyBook website, where you can download a free copy of the grids to see how they can work for your family. 

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Note: Right now, Academic and Wall Calendars are 50% off with code: BBBACA.

And all 2012s are 10% off with code BBB2012.

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Joan sent me a copy of a Wall Calendar and a fresh magnetic fridge grid in order to write this review. 

Alphabet Glue : e-magazine for children

The winner is Amy, who said:

Love all the project ideas in these. Thanks for sharing about them and for the giveaway!

Congratulations, Amy. I'll be in touch shortly. 

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I'm convinced that Annie, who writes at Bird and Little Bird, and her e-magazine for children is one of blogland's best kept secrets. Annie has been quietly working away on Alphabet Glue, a seasonally inspired e-mag for "children who love books (and their grown-ups)" Currently on her third volume, each issue is full of activities, ideas and crafts that help children interact and egage with literature. 

The teacher in me was pretty geeked-out when I got the chance to preview Annie's latest Volume 3 of Alphabet Glue. The issue is packed with Annie's carefully curated list of literature from picture books to chapter books (she even notes the reading levels, which I appreciate) and covers Reading, Math, Science....Her ideas for engaging with literature are inspiring and completely do-able. A story bunting, a question box, a list of her favorite non-fiction resources, a story excitement graph, beautiful book-making ideas. I could go on, but part of me kind of hates to ruin the surprise. 

My words fall short in describing Alphabet Glue, for every page is carefully and mindfully put together and bursting with inspiration for young, creative minds. 

Whether you want something seasonal for your homeschooling days, want inspiration for the upcoming holiday vacation, or something to keep hands and minds busy while you bake the turkey, I highly recommend the budget-friendly download of Alphabet Glue. 

Annie is graciously giving away a copy of her children's e-magazine Alphabet Glue to one MommyCoddleLikes reader. Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered. The winner will be chosen and announced on Thursday, November 17th.