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May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

I saw this book at the library and promptly checked it out.  I didn’t even look at anything other than the puppy on the cover.  Yet again, my cover blinders dictated my reading material!  I wanted to see what the author had to say about Rotties, because I already know that they are the best dogs ever.  Even slightly socially awkward specimens like mine.  He has so many good qualities that I don’t mind occasionally overlooking the few bad ones when they rear their very ugly head.  But then again, I love my family dearly, and they aren’t always fun to hang out with, either!

This book covers basics about the breed; history, temperament, characteristics.  I agreed with everything mentioned, though I found that there is some information that is lacking.  Sadly lacking, in fact!  It brings up their thick double coats, but doesn’t mention how they slobber and drool on hot days, as they swelter in their fur.  We have to run the air conditioning when it gets too hot, because Buu becomes a moist ball of fur.  Especially around his neck.  If he leans on you and demands pets, you get soaked.  It’s kind of gross, but I must have gotten used to it, because I don’t even squirm when I end up with slobber pools on my clothes.  With that double coat, they also shed non-stop, even with frequent brushing. 

I like that the book stresses the importance of early training.  Every dog needs to learn basic commands, but it’s critical with larger breeds.  My Rottie is 120 pounds.  That’s a big, strong dog!  He needs to understand that he can’t just run around and do whatever he likes.  Getting tackled hurts.  Getting dragged across the lawn is embarrassing.  Buu has pretty good manners, but he gets a bit overprotective. Our house is his castle, too.  He hates when the UPS driver puts packages on the back deck.  That’s his deck!  How dare he put boxes on his deck!!  At least I always know when I’m getting a delivery.  Buu starts barking as soon as the truck stops.

The photographs are wonderful!  There are some great action shots, and some very cute cuddling shots.  For a big dog, Rotties love cuddles.  I don’t think people understand the awesomeness of Rottweiler cuddles.  This is a dog that is made to be hugged!  Solid, sturdy, just the right size for a hug and a kiss on the head.  Almost every picture portrays the dogs panting, with their tongues hanging out.  Yup, that is a Rottie, all right.  They are always panting, even with the A/C blasting solely for their benefit.

I enjoyed t

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Wow, I enjoyed this book so much!  I don’t like the cover at all, though, and it turned me off of the book at first.  Then I read the synopsis again, and decided that the cover didn’t really matter anymore.  I loved the premise of Everything I Was, and I was curious to see if it had any similarities to Where I Belong.  Both books have protagonists who are forced to re-evaluate their lives after their fathers lose their high paying jobs.  I liked Irene from the beginning of the book, whereas Corinne, from Gwen Heasley’s story, took a bit for me to warm up to.

Everything I Was is a very understated book, and it has a slice of life vibe.  It is more suited to MG readers, though, than YA, and the cover does not adequately reflect the age of the protagonist.  I thought the heroine would be an older teen, but Irene is thirteen, and from the first page, she proved to be level-headed and practical.  It’s her mother who hungers for the finest things in life, and when Irene’s father is laid off, they are forced to give up their fancy apartment in New York City and move in with her grandfather. 

One thing about Irene that I liked was how down to earth she was.  She didn’t come across as a spoiled rich kid, but instead tried to find the bright side to her change in scenery.  It’s difficult for her to leave behind her friends and her old room, and the thought of having to go to another school is very upsetting to her, but she doesn’t let it color her life.  She adapts, she adjusts, and once she meets the kids in the large Fox family, she settles into her new surroundings with a contentment she didn’t have in the city.

Irene isn’t a perfect kid, but she isn’t a self-indulgent brat, either.  She has the loving support of her grandfather, which helps her through this difficult period in her life.  Her greatest conflict occurs with her mother; while Irene takes her new circumstances in stride, her mother is bitter about it, as well as ashamed.  She lies to her friends about the move, and Irene, confused by her mother’s behavior, begins to do the same.  She won’t confide in her best friends in NYC, and she is embarrassed at the thought of attending her old school on a scholarship.   Like her mother, she is afraid of the stigma attached to the scholarship, and would prefer that her old friends not know that her father, once a high earning executive, is currently unemployed.

I read Everything I

While looking for cute Valentine's Day ideas I came across directions for a candy airplane valentine on the Family Fun website. I remember making similar airplanes when I was a kid and, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe that I first learned to make them in Girl Scouts.


The candy airplanes are made out of a roll of Smarties, a couple sticks of gum, and two Life-Saver candies for the wheels. A rubber band holds all the pieces of candy together to form an airplane. (Visit Family Fun for instructions on how to assemble.)

I created and printed a special heart Valentine themed gum wrapper cover like the one shown on the Family Fun site to add to our airplanes (click on the image to see the jpg and print). I think the decorated wrapper helps the airplane look prettier for Valentine's Day. The airplane is a little tricky to assemble and is probably a project suited more for older kids, but my kids enjoyed watching me make them and they really, really had a blast playing with them! I think I'll make a few more so my son can give them to his friends for Valentine's Day.

Some of the variations of this craft show it with a little message on a banner attached to the back of the plane. Here are a few cute Valentine airplane themed sayings:

It's plane to see - I want you for my Valentine.
Up, up and away! Happy Valentine's Day!
Above all, I want you for My Valentine.
You're just plane cool!
Have a high flying Valentine's Day!
Love is in the air!
Valentine, my heart soars for you!