Half Price Books summer reading program prizes Summer Reading Programs Ending for the Summer
Ramblings

Summer Reading Programs Ending for the Summer

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. Thank you!

My daughters absolutely love reading! In the past, they have been a part of a library summer reading program. This year, they decided to take part in the library’s summer reading program, Barnes and Noble’s summer reading program, and Half Price Books’ summer reading program. Now that the summer is coming to an end, the summer reading programs are also coming to an end. We have turned in all of their reading logs and tracking sheets, and they were able to get a lot of wonderful prizes due to their love of reading.

They each chose a free new book from a selection of books through Barnes and Noble’s summer reading program.

Barnes and Noble summer reading program prizes

Half Price Books offered a $5 coupon to each of them for completing their summer reading program. Since the coupons were not allowed to be combined and required a minimum of a $5 purchase before tax (no $4.99 book), we spent well over an hour searching through Half Price Books for them to choose which books they wanted. They also wanted to make sure that the books they brought home weren’t books that they could easily get from the library, so we spent quite a bit of time on my phone searching the library’s book catalog online to see what books were/weren’t available. I told them that I would pay up to $1 each beyond the $5 for any books that they chose, and they would have to pay for anything beyond that. It turned out to be a fun math lesson. They were excited to find a stack of clearance books for only $0.50 each that they were interested in. They ended up coming home with a total of 12 books, and I only had to pay $0.52 for one and $0.49 for the other (so they both kept it under the $1 each over the $5 coupon).

Half Price Books summer reading program prizes

The library summer reading program was a lot of fun! In addition to two free books, they received free tickets to a zoo, free tickets to a children’s museum, free tickets to a baseball game, free tickets to a local pool, free kids meals at various restaurants, and a few small activity packs. We won’t be able to use all of the tickets since some of the activities are hours away and only on certain dates, but we will definitely enjoy many of them.

summer reading program prize

We were also entertained during numerous programs that the library offered for free throughout the summer. We learned about places to visit, science experiments, bubbles, various animals (even touched a snake, a lizard, and a guinea pig), and more.

Did you know that if you put Pyrex glass inside of vegetable oil in a clear container, the glass is practically invisible? This reminded me of my book Jobs of a Preschooler when the preschooler is a magician trying to make things disappear.

The biggest problem with all of these wonderful summer reading programs is that I need to find a place to put all of these great books! We have become rather creative in our house using half walls and random places as book shelves (in addition to the books cases that we do have). With all of the books that we already have in our house, it amazes me that we still end up at the library at least once a week!

Now that the summer reading programs are coming to an end, we may sign up for the Pizza Hut reading program that they offer throughout the school year. (If you are interested, you can find more information here.) We did this last year, and my daughters were each able to get a free slice of pizza each month during the school year.

It seemed as though yesterday was “book day” because after we visited Barnes and Noble and Half Price Books (to collect my daughters’ books from the summer reading programs), we stopped at a book signing event with multiple authors in various genres. It was a free event open to the public nearby, so I really wanted to check it out. I didn’t go as an author to sell any of my books (they did pay a fee to be there), but we went simply to walk around the various tables, talk to authors, and see the books that they had to offer.  All of the authors that I met were very friendly, and I was able to ask a lot of questions. I received a lot of information and came home with a few new ideas.

Have a wonderful day!

 

cats in a basket Kitty Inspiration
Jobs of a Preschooler

Kitty Inspiration

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. Thank you!)

In my book Jobs of a Preschooler, the main character becomes “a veterinarian examining Kitty’s ear” on one of the pages. I have two cats and two daughters who were an inspiration for this particular job.

Although my cats, Sarge and Chase, hate going to the actual veterinarian’s office, they don’t seem to mind being patients for my daughters’ pretend veterinarian clinic.

Jobs of a Preschooler...veterinarian

Sarge and Chase have become a very important part of our family. I recently entered my furry boys for a pet contest. You can see more pictures, read more information about them, and give them a thumbs up (if interested) by clicking on http://www.thriftyfun.com/Sarge-and-Chase-Domestic-American-Shorthair.html through the end of August 2017.

cats named Sarge and Chase

Can you find them in the pile of stuffed animals?

 

Ramblings

Reaching my Dreams

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. Thank you!)

I have always wanted to publish at least one children’s book. In the course of just a few months (thanks to the encouragement of my family), I was able to reach my dream and publish two children’s books – Jobs of a Preschooler and Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles.

I had a lot of fun putting these books together, and I look forward to (hopefully) publishing many more children’s books in the future – I have many ideas! The interesting thing about reaching one goal is that it sometimes leads to another goal. I would love to publish a children’s book series through a traditional publisher in the future – a lofty goal that hopefully can be reached someday.

For the time being; however, I have decided to take a little break from publishing children’s books to pursue a different goal of mine – write articles and guest posts that will be published in magazines and websites. Last year, I started a blog called Thrifty Crafty Homeschool Mom, but (long story, short) I discontinued it earlier this year.

Maybe I will someday turn my love of writing into a career, but as of now, I am only writing for fun when I can. I am definitely learning a lot through this process! I have done some research, and I understand that having articles accepted in magazines and websites can be very difficult. I know there may be a lot of rejection, but I am eager to see what I am able to accomplish.

Last week, I researched and submitted a few articles/article ideas. I was excited to learn that one article will be published in a magazine in its September edition (I will post something when it is published), and another one of my articles was published on Money Saving Mom (you can read that guest post here).

Another article idea was approved, but I haven’t heard if the actual article was accepted. I was very honored that one magazine actually asked me if I would be interested in being a regular columnist for them. It was a very difficult decision for me since it would have been a wonderful opportunity for a great magazine (still praying I made the right choice), but I decided to decline.

Even though I will not be publishing any more children’s books right now, I do plan to still visit a few libraries this year to read my books and do some activities.  This past year, I have been blessed with many incredible experiences, and I am eager to see what the future will hold.

What dreams/goals do you have that you hope to accomplish?

Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles book cover Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles at The Pickle Guys
Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles

Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles at The Pickle Guys

Brigitte BrulzLeave a comment

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra charge to you if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. Thank you!)

There are a lot of people who love pickles, and I am excited that I have found some in New York who share a love of pickles. Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles will be available for purchase at The Pickle Guys store in New York, New York in the near future! You can learn more about The Pickle Guys on their website at http://pickleguys.com/.  Enjoy!