Fabulous or Not?

Book Review: 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny, Life Lessons From Teaching, a memoir by Phillip Done

This book will warm your heart and make your soul smile. Every child in this world deserves at least one Mr. Done in their school years.

Twenty-year veteran elementary school teacher, Phillip Done has written an awesomely heart-warming memoir about his years as a teacher.  

Within the first thirty pages I had two thoughts "... career change?"  and "I would give or pay anything to ensure that my son has 12 years of teachers who are THIS dedicated, THIS connected and THIS devoted to children."  Phillip Done is a funny man.  He is the teacher we all loved, the teacher we all remember forever, ...the teacher who made us believe in ourselves. 

Phillip Done paints a sarcastically humble and adoring portrait of his time in the classroom with children.  Many of us would not look back on the day a child released a bag of ladybugs into the classroom with humor, however, Done keeps tracks of the best Shareday (Show-and-Tell) stories, often relating them to his friends for extra humor value.  By embracing the utterly unpredictable nature of children, he allows each child the space they need to discover who they are as individuals, imagine within their world and grow into thoughtful people. He challenges, he engages and most of all he just ... loves what he does and it shows. He doesn't let a little spilled glue or glitter get in his way.  He teaches by practice that life is about the journey and that learning is fun.

At a time when all we seem to hear on the news is that another budget is being cut and class sizes are increasing, Done makes it clear that he adores teaching and makes efforts to think about how the children he teaches view him. He cherishes the childlike moments in life and speaks to kids in ways they understand.  

This is a great book for teachers, for one, but as a parent I think it is good to understand the way teachers think, especially the good ones.  I am more encouraged now to be involved and active in my kid's school, when my children go to school.

Phillip Done is to teaching what George Washington was to the Presidency.  The first; a model to which all who follow should aspire to emulate.

You can read more about Phillip Done on his website.

PURCHASE LINK: AMAZON

MilkBank Breast Milk Storage and Feeding System + GIVEAWAY

I was recently offered the opportunity to test out and review a MilkBank breast milk storage system and I jumped at the opportunity.  I am still nursing my son but he is 13 months old and nursing is just a brief winding-down activity before nap and bedtime as opposed to the total-life-sustaining activity it was for his first six months of life.

MilkBank is made by DexBaby. It is free of Phthalates, PVC and BPA. Insulated feeding bottles are great for newborns who eat slowly and often times the milk gets cold before they finish.  The storage system doubles as a feeding system allowing you to use the same containers, thus you don't lose or spill any milk (precious nutrients!) transferring it from storage to bottle and the vented bottle is great for all ages, especially older babies.

MilkBank is a breast milk storage system that allows for feeding directly from the storage container, thereby minimizing the loss of nutrients that occurs when you transfer from the pump to the freezer container or bag and then back into a bottle.  The storage containers have vacuum storage caps that fit with the vacuum pump to remove excess air which is believed to alter the taste and undermine the integrity of the nutrient-rich fatty material that often sticks to the sides of storage containers. Milk degrades when exposed to oxygen; this storage system removes the excess oxygen allowing for freezer or cold storage of the breast milk without exposure to air. 

So you pump some milk and use the vacuum pump to remove the air, you freeze for storage and then when it is time to use the milk you take the container out of the freezer and allow it to come to room temperature.  You fill the insulating jar with warm tap water which acts to maintain the temperature of the milk for the duration of the feeding.  The bottle-top-nipple attachment has an air valve to aid in the reduction of swallowed air.  All the parts are compatible so that the same container used for storage is also used for feeding, thus eliminating the need to transfer the milk back and forth.

While I was testing this product I thawed a few old containers of breast milk to use in the bottles and I was surprised to find that the plastic storage bags began to leak during the thawing time, rendering the milk useless.  That alone made MilkBank seem like a great investment.

 

Washing all the parts in hot soapy water.

Drying all the pieces and parts.

MilkBank products are available for purchase at Babies 'R Us or you can do a zip code search on the website to find a retail location near your home. 

I can summarize the pros and cons of MilkBank rather easily.  The storage system is far superior to any other I have used.  The bottles have multiple components, mainly the venting parts that make washing and drying a little more complex and time consuming than other bottles, but if your baby prefers these bottles and they reduce colic/spit-up/reflux, then the few extra minutes is well worth the benefit. 

MilkBank has generously offered to give away a FREE MilkBank system to ONE reader.  This contest will end at 11:59PM  Sunday February 15, 2009.  To enter, leave a comment with a valid email address telling me if you can confirm, first hand, that breast milk really will (or will not) cure pink eye. It's always good to have clear scientific research in our Mom Pockets, ya know?

*For an extra contest entry, please Twitter link to this page.

(My Twitter ID is Miss_S, please follow me!)

Valentine's Gifts For Everyone

Valentine's Day is the weekend and there are some great gifts out there that will not expand your thighs and waistline or wilt or get eaten by the cat.  I have pulled together some great gift ideas for the special people in your life. Valentine's Day can often be more for women what withthe flowers and the chocolates and the flowers and the bouquets of flowers, but I'm tellin' ya, flowers wilt, and they are messy and require maintenance.  I do love fresh flowers, but the cats eat them, so they are banned for now.  As much as I love this product, think a little sexier for this Hallmark holiday. If you need some ideas, keep reading....

For the Mother in your life:

I love these necklaces by Julian & Co.  Smaller than an inch in diameter these commemorative necklace charms are unique and hip and simple.  This style is $69 and others range from $59 to $89.  This is an ideal gift for a woman who does not want flowers or chocolate.  I have been coveting this necklace since my son was born over a year ago and I hope to finally secure it later this year.  (HINT to my family!)

For the Humorous Man in your life:

I love to browse this website almost weekly.  Snorg Tees has some hilarious and some potentially offensive t-shirts and I absolutely LOVE it. I bought one for Marc for his upcoming birthday but I won't tell you which one.  I love the vintage style and the stupid sayings.  I'm of the camp that thinks your clothes should tell a story, you know, just in case you are really boring.  But seriously, this shirt is great for a young guy, a teenager maybe, or your 30-year-old husband who has the humor and brain of a 13-year old. (love you honey!) The shirts are about $18.95.

For the Pet-Lover in your life

 

One of my all time favorite brands is Kiehls.  I only treat myself to products on seriously rare occasions and that is usually winter when my hands are split and I'm desperate for some serious moisturizing lotion, but, this little set of products for your little Fido or Spot will brighten up the day of he or she whose children are furry and four-legged.  The Pampered Pooch Collection retails for about $44.

For the Chef/Food Lover in your life:

Valentine's Day is an excuse as good as any to eat a few pieces of chocolate, so don't hold back, go for the best.  You can of course order something delectable like this ($8.50), or this ($19.95), or OMG, THIS ($45)! Of course, there is always organic fruit.

If homemade is really your style, consider personalized kitchen utensils, a steak brand and carving board - ideal for the man who tends the grill and loves his meat.  A foodie might even like this aged Balsamic Vinegar to add to an heirloom tomato salad.

What Mom can do for the kids:

As if Mom hasn't done enough for everyone every day all year ... yeah, I know.
A simple and inexpensive way to add some spice and cheer to the kids' Valentine's Day is to cut their toast or sandwich or cheese into heart shapes.  A sandwich cutter  will do the trick!