'My First Book' Series Review | Best Baby Gift!

It's no question that promoting early literacy leads to a lifetime of positive benefits. Now, let me preface this by stating that I'm not saying the younger children read, the better off they will be in life (in my opinion!). Every child learns at a different pace and reading will come with time. BUT, promoting literacy and understanding the connection between listening, recognizing, and interacting with all aspects of books/reading/writing in general in the early stages of life can only help encourage children to further their literacy development and fascination in all things book related as they grow!



I think I've made it known here, or at least those of you who know us, know we LOVE books! I have read to E since she was born. I'd point out things in books I knew she had no understanding of, but thought if I started then and kept going, surely it would make an impact at someee point! At 21 months now, I love watching her sit at her several reading stations throughout our home and flip through books while I wonder what she is thinking as she skims through each page.



So anyway, when award-winning author Sophie Helenek gave us the opportunity to explore her book series geared at babies and tots, we happily jumped on it and I was thrilled to receive them in the mail! Sophie is a kind and adventurous momma (yes, she was the youngest French woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest!) AND a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient, who is seemingly on a mission now to promote early learning via her fun and interactive picture book series.

The My First Book series, which includes Fruits, Shapes, Sky Wonders and Musical Instruments, is a series of books full of colorful pages created to encourage babies' imagination and desire for learning. Or, at least it surely does just that with my little one!





E has such a fascination with these books. The moment I opened up the mail while she was eating lunch, I sat down next to her and we started flipping through. I had never gone over musical instruments with her before (being that hubby and I are not very musically inclined) and after going through the book once, she had almost all the instruments down. The next day, my husband went through the book with her and she pointed out her current favorite page and said "Trumpet!" while making the most hilarious sound possible, and he was amazed. She also sticks her hand out and pretends to play the violin when she sees that page. And I crack up.

Yes, I'm a momma who is just enamored of her child's innocent love of learning and think everything is just the cutest that comes out of her mouth!



She's just about got the shapes down, however we're struggling with colors around here! She knows the color words (and for some reason, saying "yellow" is her favorite) but actually recognizing the colors is the main thing we are working on with her these days. These books are perfect for that, as each page shows an image in several different bold colors, where I can ask her to "show Mommy the yellow star," or the blue, red, etc. In every book, whether Fruits or Instruments, we can also go over colors at the same time, so surely I love it!



E's loving the Sky Wonders book and has gotten pretty good with it, aside from thinking the crescent moon is a banana -- but hey, we're workin' on that! Ha :)





Looking at the books has helped her recognize so many items and she's already increased her ever-growing vocabulary just from flipping through them. She can now recognize the difference between a pineapple and an apple, and can hand me the correct book depending on which title I ask from her.





She's getting pretty good over here, folks! And I'm so excited to have this series for her little sister on the way! The black and white images will really pop for a new baby and slowly introducing the pages to our newest little one will make me a happy momma - even if she isn't quite learning the items yet..it's a start and we have to start somewhere! This series is the perfect place to start - and makes a wonderful gift for moms-to-be, brand new babies, and growing tots alike.



So run on over (or click on over) to get yourself or your favorite new momma a discounted set of the My First Book series!! Just use this link to save 10% now as a Becoming the Barr's reader!! :)

It's never too early to promote literacy development in your favorite little reader's life! Do them a favor and encourage them as early as possible -- imagination sparks creativity and intelligence every day in all of us, right!?

the good ole days

It wasn't moving out on my own, graduating college, or even getting married that gave me that 'aha' moment of "Wow, we're getting older."



With each new phase that comes and goes, I do realize the time that slips ever-so-gently by without traces or clues of where it's going. While moving somewhere new or beginning a new job usually signals change in life, lately, it's been the small moments where I've been soaking it all in, taking a look around, and realizing it's official - we are 'grown-ups.'

I think it was the graceful approach of Valentine's Day that signaled all the changes around me. I'm the last minute type - I generally can't come up with any good ideas, nor properly execute a good idea unless it's last minute. Procrastination sometimes works to my advantage - teaming up with procrastination usually delivers results that I couldn't have done without it on my side. But this time, I came up with an idea ahead of time. I hadn't done anything too creative for J for the past couple years (or at least not that I can think of at the moment?), and with our 10 year dating anniversary approaching, I wanted to think like the old days. I loved when I'd get all creative for him and truly take the time to show how much I appreciate him. I know he doesn't mind when I don't do that, just as I don't mind when he doesn't, because for us, like many, it's usually the little things that take us really far. But for some reason, I just felt as though it was time...time for me to step outside the box and do something unusual. His gift consisted of memories. 10 small gifts to signify something of importance, something truly memorable, or something just plain fun for us that would happily force us to delve into our 10 years of memories together.



My point in saying this? Well, getting him 10 gifts forced me to look back - truly look back - and think of some of our favorite memories..memories that are usually overshadowed by bigger milestones in our relationship. And looking back brought more than just memories. It made me look around and realize all the different 'phases' we've been through as a couple, and just life in general over the past 10 years. Kinda like Saved By the Bell - we have 'The High School Years,' 'The College Years,' and now we are in 'The Med School Years' - except our cell phones have evolved to be a very minute version of the Zack Morris phone haha :) And it's all made me reminisce on all the events that brought us to where we are now.

"What do you want to do for Valentine's Day..Where do you want to go for dinner?" J asked. "I don't know, what about you?"

That's usually how our conversations go..oh, how indecisive we can be ;) We decided on PF Chang's. "But let's go early, like 5:30, so we can beat the crowds...oh, and that's happy hour!" to which J immediately went back and said "oh my gosh, listen to how old we sound!" And then he continued to mock himself in his best 80 year old man voice "oh, sha-lene, we gots to beat the crowds!"

"Well, 5:30 is good with me!"

We made reservations, and 2 days later, I found myself in the kitchen, apron on, mixing batter, crushing cookies, pouring batter into foil-lined cupcake pans - at the same time dinner was on the stove, I was toasting buns, and my husband walked downstairs to make a funny face at the sight he saw.



And that's when I looked down at myself (with a cute apron on at least) and thought, "Holy Betty Crocker! I really am getting old(er)..."



The very next morning at work on Valentine's Day, I found myself sitting at my desk on a conference call with about 10 board members. I spaced off for a quick minute. 10 years ago, I had no clue what my life would look like now. I had no clue that I'd be living in Georgia, working in a government position, getting ready to move again for my husband's med school career. My spacing out involved thinking about how much fun the sunny outdoor halls of Douglas High School probably were at that very moment that I was sitting on a conference call. I pictured teenagers giving each other their red paper hearts, tons of candy, flowers, balloons -- a sight you'd expect to see on Valentine's Day in high school. 'Oh, how things have changed!' I thought. I miss those dang days.



BUT, I am oh so happy to be in the moment I am now. It just all hit me at once how things have evolved, how our friends have all changed and grown up, trends changed, dreams have come true, family members created new families, etc. There have certainly been ups and downs, but the ups far outweigh the downs - and for that, I am thankful. I am thankful for the teenager-ish ways we have let go of, and how his thoughts have now turned to "take my car because it's foggy out and I have fog lights" or making sure there is a safety stash consisting of a tire pressure gauge, a flashlight, etc. in my car just in case of emergency, or making sure I always have a little bit of cash on me prior to traveling. But I am also thankful for the teenager-ish ways we hang on to, like making sure we always throw in some fun, immature touches on appropriate (or sometimes inappropriate) situations. We can say the stupidest things and crack each other up. Fun times, fun times. But in all actuality, I love looking back, even on the stupidest of times, because each little event has gotten us to where we are now, and I am content with that.



I am also content in knowing that some old habits or interests will always remain with us..

Like Publix chocolate chip cookies...


or being completely indecisive when it comes to life's toughest decisions..


or like Wings Plus, the icee shop, our pup...



or moving around and going through many of life's changes while remaining each other's constant.

I have been stopping to look around (don't worry, not enough for people to notice!) and thinking about how someday, these very moments will become 'the good ole days.'

And my favorite line from one of the gifts I got him - a piece of subway art to hang in the office with wise words of wisdom - couldn't say it any better:

Reminisce about the good old days but look with optimism to the future.

Indeed, I will!

Blogaversary & The Barrtique SHOP LAUNCH!

Happy Blogaversary to Becoming the Barr's!

I started 'Becoming the Barr's' exactly one year ago today. And what an adventure it's been for me!
Check out my first post here.

This was started to keep family and friends in the loop after moving out of state for my husband's medical school career, as well as to track our way through the wedding planning phase. I do miss that phase! Wedding planning was wonderful for me - and now we're sticking around the blog world so you can get a peek inside our newlywed life. I do hope you enjoy!

I've learned so much in the blogging world, and have become inspired by all the fellow bloggers. This past year has brought about a new love for writing, photography, baking, decorating, and creating more than I ever have -- and I am thankful for all the joy that this blog has in turn brought to my life. Let's hope for more years of blogging, creativity, and inspiration in all I do -- especially when we move to The W (pronounced The 'Dub-ya')!

~~~

And now for some exciting news ---

The BARRTIQUE has officially been launched.




It's a little etsy shop with personalized goods & handmade accessories.
Check it out, and be sure to tell your friends about The Barrtique.
www.etsy.com/shop/thebarrtique

I have many ideas for this, but all will have to come in due time -- ya know, because I have to work around this boring ole thing called a job ;)

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easy homemade peppermint bark gifts

Looking for a homemade gift idea for Christmas?! I made a couple of these for my bosses and they were so easy. Follow these instructions for easy peppermint bark in a mason jar :)



You'll need:

• 12 ounces (about 2 cups) of chocolate chips


• 12 ounces (about 2 cups) of white chocolate


• candy canes


• mason jars


• cute fabric (optional)

Note: I made 2 trays -- 1 using premium white chocolate chips, and 1 using vanilla almond bark. The white chocolate chip batch tasted better, but broke apart from the chocolate very easily. The almond bark was much easier to use, stayed melted/easier to spread longer, broke apart cleaner, and stayed connected to the chocolate layer.

Point is: If you're looking for less frustration, go with the almond bark!

1. Place candy canes in ziplock bag and crush them into small pieces

2. Melt the chocolate chips according to the package

3. Place foil on a cookie sheet and spread out melted chocolate

4.Place in refrigerator while preparing white chocolate (it hardens quickly)

5. Melt white chocolate according to package (I realized the hard way that white chocolate melts much quicker than milk/dark chocolate)

6. Spread melted white chocolate over the chocolate layer and immediately sprinkle candy cane pieces over

7. Set in the refrigerator for a little while and then break it into pieces

I cut squares of fabric and placed them under the lid, then tied twine around.

Enjoy! (or give as a gift to co-workers, teachers, etc.)