It's cold outside!  To warm things up, why not have your child host an imaginary tea party?  

Little girls love tea parties! Planning a tea party for friends and cotton-stuffed guests is so much fun. First, your child will create the guest list and menu. Then, she will plan the decorations. Setting up for the party, getting properly dressed and many other important things are valuable lessons learned in this personalized story. Your child will find out what it takes to host a perfect social gathering and learn the proper manners that go with it.

Features:

• For ages 4-10
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 32 pages

 www.kids-create-a-books.com

(Ages 6-12) Your child learns the true meaning of Easter by starring in the school play.  Include:  Child's name, age, gender, up to three friends, hometown, school name and grade.

Please note, the main character is played by a boy.

http://www.kids-create-a-books.com/ 

 

  

 

Kidscreateabooks is having an Easter Sale!  

Enter coupon code Easter at checkout and receive 20% off your order of personalized books.  

 Place your order now to help insure delivery in time for Easter!

http://www.kids-create-a-books.com/

Kidscreateabooks Video!

Kidscreateabooks has just gotten our first video!  Daughter number two has made a video just for us!

Create-A-Books ARE just the thing for bored children.  They are educational books, that include your child, up to three friends and his/her hometown.  

Whether your child is into nursery rhymes, trains, farm/dinosaur/fishing adventures or sports, we  have an assortment of titles in these areas.

For little girls, we have books about a tea party, ballerina princess. taking a magical adventure on an enchanted swan, etc.

Our religious books include God's Special Gifts to Me, My Book of Prayers, and Noah.  

We have books for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, school fun, new baby, potty training, the list goes on and on!

  

Check out our new video, then head on over to  to see which books your child will love!

We hope to hear from you soon!

http://www.kids-create-a-books.com/


                                                               

Super Quick Snack

Out of desperation for something to snack on the other day, we were looking around the kitchen for something to satisfy the munchies.  Daughter number 4 found a box of French Vanilla cake mix.  Hmmm, what to do with it besides making a cake?

I did a google search, and came across a recipe for cookies, called Super Fast Sugar Cookies (Cake Mix Sugar Cookies).  All it takes is the cake mix, eggs, oil, and VOILA!  Instant satisfaction!

                                          (Picture courtesy of Sweet Treats And More)


We didn't use frosting, just sprinkles. Boy, were they good!  The only problem with them is, for a family of five, they don't go very far.  I would recommend doubling the recipe.  This recipe is definitely a repeat in this house!

Here's the link to the recipe for the cookies and frosting:  http://sweettreatsmore.com/2012/02/super-fast-sugar-cookies-cake-mix-sugar/

Don't forget to tell them kidscreateabooks.blogspot.com sent you!
Check out our website for educational children's books:  
www.kids-create-a-books.com

Ants, Ants, Ants!

Whenever we get a lot of rain, or melting snow, we tend to get ants.  I have no problem with squashing a spider, because I know that will take care of him.  Ants, on the other hand, travel by the thousands.  At least at times it seems that way.  They usually travel with their friends and family members, for sure.

The other night I was getting ready to go to bed, and noticed a lot of "dirt" all over a plant pot.  I couldn't figure out why, as long as the plant has been in that spot in the house, all of a sudden it's covered with dirt.  However, closer observation confirmed something else.  It was, in fact, ANTS swarming all over the pot and the area underneath it!

I was absolutely horrified!  My first reaction was to clean it up.  So I did, in fact, start to do just that.  Then I remembered the homemade ant poison recipe from Pinterest.  I have used it before, and it works miracles!  But in order for it to work, you have to be patient and leave them alone.  The poison will do the work FOR you.  They carry it back to the nest, and in several hours (or you can do it overnight), VOILA!  Ants be gone!!

The recipe is simply boric acid, sugar and water.  You can go to their website for the exact recipe:  http://www.food.com/recipe/get-rid-of-ants-ants-ants-203233/


Please note:  I thought I was going by the recipe, when I realized I was using borax instead of boric acid.  It is this mixture that has worked wonders for me!  This is not to say the boric acid doesn't work, I just haven't tried that yet. 

You can try both recipes, and see for yourself which one works best for you. Don't forget to come back and tell us which one you prefer.

www.kids-create-a-books.com

Jimmy John's goes to Florida!

Jimmy John's fans take heart!  They have a brand new store that just opened up in January 2014!  It is conveniently located at 9308 U.S. Highway 19 in Port Richey, Florida.  It is right across the street from Gulf View Square Mall.

Whether you live in the Tampa Bay/Port Richey area, or are just visiting, once you try JJ's, you'll definitely want to go back for more.

They offer all the sandwiches JJ's is popular for, ie:  Big John (my personal favorite), Turkey Tom, The Veggie, the slim line of subs, and Giant Club Sandwiches.  If you're starving and feel like splurging, you might want to get the Gargantuan.

Here's a menu so you can make an informed decision before you get there.  :-)

So go shopping, play miniature golf at Congo River Golf (where you can feed live alligators) or whatever to work up an appetite.  Then go eat at Jimmy John's.  Be sure to come back here and tell us how it was.

www.kids-create-a-books.com

Simple Rules of Etiquette by Age 9

I came across this list one day, possibly on Facebook, I can't remember now.  Anyway, it has some very important tips on manners your child should know by age 9.  It's all common sense, but very helpful reminders for people with small children. 


 
The list comes from the 2011 issue of Parents Magazine.  Thanks to Stacey for posting this on her blog, staceyaltamirano.com.

Stay Warm with a Good Pop-Up!

With the frigid temperatures and massive snow we just encountered, weather like this is especially a good time to stay in and read to your child.  Pop-up books make the story more interesting by their 3-D design.  Children like how stories "pop up" every time you turn the page.  

Our pop-up books come with personalized stickers you apply to the books, and are for ages 4-7.

Kidscreateabooks offers Fairy Tale pop-ups such as Snow White, Peter Pan, Puss in Boots, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood.  We also have a pop up titled Six Brave explorers.  This title has no personalized stickers to go with it, but it makes a nice picture book.

We carry a full line of regular story books, as well as non pop-up sticker books.  Our personalized books not only include your child, but up to three of his/her friends, and their hometown in each one.

To see our other books and some of our interactive samples, check out our website:  www.kidscreateabooks.com. 

Our Spotlight Books this month center on being thankful

 Description

This inspirational book gives your child examples of the wonderful miracles around us that we sometimes take for granted. Presented thoughtfully by the Angel Gabriel, we are gently reminded of the countless reasons we should give thanks to God every day.
It is God who enables us to experience joy through our five senses, our life, and gifts like forgiveness and knowing the difference between right and wrong.  Every page of this personalized book mentions something we should pray about, and then offers a simple prayer.
Features:

• For ages 2-7
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 32 pages
  

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com

Description

We are all God’s children. He made us and loves us, and this personalized story reminds us of the many blessings we experience everyday using the five senses He gave us. This book also accounts for God’s gifts of wisdom, forgiveness, prayer and love and explains how we benefit from each. It is an inspirational story for all young children.
Features:

• For ages 2-8
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 36 pages
  

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com

Description

My Book of Prayers is a lovely, non-denominational book that helps children discover how easy it is to talk to God. Our personalized story will help your child find the words to say when he or she wants to thank God. Your child will learn that he or she can pray to God anywhere just by talking to Him. This inspirational book includes beautifully written prayers and is a wonderful gift for every young believer.
Features:

• For ages 2-11
• This is a quality hard cover personalized children's book
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 35 pages
  

- See more at: http://www.kids-create-a-books.com

Description

This inspirational book gives your child examples of the wonderful miracles around us that we sometimes take for granted. Presented thoughtfully by the Angel Gabriel, we are gently reminded of the countless reasons we should give thanks to God every day.
It is God who enables us to experience joy through our five senses, our life, and gifts like forgiveness and knowing the difference between right and wrong.  Every page of this personalized book mentions something we should pray about, and then offers a simple prayer.
Features:

• For ages 2-7
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 32 pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/let-us-thank-god-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.1bHYgAZy.dpuf

Fire Prevention Week 

Fire Prevention Week is October 6-12, 2013. 

 

A trip to the fire station is a personalized story that teaches the essentials of fire prevention and fire safety. If your child is ever in a fire, this book could save his/her life!

At the station, your child and his friends get to meet real firefighters and take a tour. First, they get to look at all the fire trucks. Next, they learn about the special uniforms and equipment firefighters use. They also learn what to do if their own clothes catch on fire: STOP, DROP AND ROLL!

Your child is taught never to play with matches or lighters and always give them to an adult, if found. He or she will also learn it is not safe to play near stoves, fireplaces and gas or electric heaters since clothing and paper catch fire easily.

Other lessons are taught in this educational book, such as how to contact the fire department, what to do if they see or smell smoke and why an escape route is so important. 


Features:

• For ages 4-10
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 36 pages
  

- See more at: http://www.kids-create-a-books.com

A trip to the fire station is a personalized story that teaches the essentials of fire prevention and fire safety. If your child is ever in a fire, this book could save his/her life!
At the station, your child and his friends get to meet real firefighters and take a tour. First, they get to look at all the fire trucks. Next, they learn about the special uniforms and equipment firefighters use. They also learn what to do if their own clothes catch on fire: STOP, DROP AND ROLL!
Your child is taught never to play with matches or lighters and always give them to an adult, if found. He or she will also learn it is not safe to play near stoves, fireplaces and gas or electric heaters since clothing and paper catch fire easily.
Other lessons are taught in this educational book, such as how to contact the fire department, what to do if they see or smell smoke and why an escape route is so important. This book can be used to store emergency names and telephone numbers for your child to keep close at hand. Don’t let your child go another day without this valuable book!
Features:

• For ages 4-10
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 36 pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-trip-to-the-fire-station-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.ZC0YG5I6.dpuf

A trip to the fire station is a personalized story that teaches the essentials of fire prevention and fire safety. If your child is ever in a fire, this book could save his/her life!
At the station, your child and his friends get to meet real firefighters and take a tour. First, they get to look at all the fire trucks. Next, they learn about the special uniforms and equipment firefighters use. They also learn what to do if their own clothes catch on fire: STOP, DROP AND ROLL!
Your child is taught never to play with matches or lighters and always give them to an adult, if found. He or she will also learn it is not safe to play near stoves, fireplaces and gas or electric heaters since clothing and paper catch fire easily.
Other lessons are taught in this educational book, such as how to contact the fire department, what to do if they see or smell smoke and why an escape route is so important. This book can be used to store emergency names and telephone numbers for your child to keep close at hand. Don’t let your child go another day without this valuable book!
Features:

• For ages 4-10
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 36 pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-trip-to-the-fire-station-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.ZC0YG5I6.dpuf

Welcome to the new school year!

A new school year for some children means the first day at preschool or kindergarden.  Make their special day memorable with a keepsake they'll treasure for a lifetime!

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!
This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.
Features:

• For ages 3-6
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!
This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.
Features:

• For ages 3-6
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!
This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.
Features:

• For ages 3-6
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!
This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.
Features:

• For ages 3-6
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!
This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.
Features:

• For ages 3-6
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!
This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.
Features:

• For ages 3-6
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

The first day of school is special for all children. This personalized book will show your child some of the exciting activities he/she may encounter at school, such as listening to stories read by the teacher, reciting the alphabet, counting, lunch, playtime, art, and making new friends!  This is the perfect keepsake for parents to remember this milestone event, and for children anxious about starting school. Give your child confidence as he/she begins this wonderful new phase in life.

For ages 3-6

This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.

Washable hard covers

Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

Features:  For ages 3-6
This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
Washable hard covers
Fully illustrated color pages

$12.95 plus tax (Illinois residents only) and shipping

This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.

Washable hard covers

Fully illustrated color pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-first-day-of-school-personalized-childrens-book#sthash.OSFD1Mqu.dpuf

 

Excellent for early child development, your child will have fun working with letters, numbers and colors in this personalized activity book. It also teaches positive behaviors such as exercising, staying healthy, smiling, and brushing your teeth. The end of the story also includes a page for your child to record some of their favorite things: book, game, song, food, color, movie, and friends.

This is a perfect gift for children in pre-K and kindergarten 

Features:  For ages 3-7

This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.

Washable hard covers

Fully illustrated color pages

$12.95 plus tax (Illinois residents only) and shipping

We have most titles in stock, and can usually mail out the same or next day.

www.kids-create-a-books.com

  

Excellent for early child development, your child will have fun working with letters, numbers and colors in this personalized activity book. It also teaches positive behaviors such as exercising, staying healthy, smiling, and brushing your teeth. The end of the story also includes a page for your child to record some of their favorite things: book, game, song, food, color, movie, and friends.
This is a perfect gift for children in pre-K and kindergarten
Features:

• For ages 3-7
• This is a quality hard-cover personalized children's book.
• Washable hard covers
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 36 pages

- See more at: http://www.kidscreateabooks.com/my-school-fun-book#sthash.LhryNLgw.dpuf

Scarecrow Festival 2013

                                         

We had a lot of fun at the 21st annual Scarecrow Festival at Ambucs Park in Urbana on Saturday!  We gave out lots of balloons, business cards, and brochures.

Our samples were viewed by many people interested in making their child "the star of the story".

The nice thing about these books is that they can be put together very quickly.  We have most of the titles in stock, and can usually mail out your order either the same or the next day.

They really do encourage your child to read it over and over again, and you won't see these personalized books at garage sales.  They will want to keep them forever!

It's easy to place an order.  Just go to our website at:
www.kids-create-a-books.com.  We hope to make your child a "star" soon!

You can also check us out at Kids Create-a-books on Facebook.

Happy Chocolate Milkshake Day!

It's Chocolate Milkshake Day!  And what better way to celebrate it than to make this Chocolate Milkshake Pie from the Mr. Food Test Kitchen...

Here's the link for the recipe:  http://www.mrfood.com/Pie/Chocolate-Milkshake-Pie#  And while you're there, be sure to sign up for their newsletter, check out their free ecookbooks and diabetic as well as tv recipes.

My absolute favorite Mr. Food recipe is "Talk About Easy! Lasagna".   This is the only way I ever make lasagna.  You don't need to precook the noodles, so it makes preparation time go much faster!


You've got to love  recipes from Mr. Food!  His recipes are always super easy and there's always a lot of as he would say, "ooh, it's so good"!

www.kids-create-a-books.com

Remembering 9/11

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag." -- Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

www.kidscreateabooks.com

It's Scarecrow Festival Time Again!

We're getting ready for this year's Scarecrow Festival!    It will be held in the 1200 block of  East University Avenue in Urbana this Saturday, September 14th, from 8 am to 3 pm. 

We'll have all of our samples on display, so you can browse through the different titles, to see which book(s) would be right for your child.  

We have books for all occasions!  Celebrate a new baby, a child's birthday or their first day at school. Make your child feel special as the big brother/sister of a new baby with the Sibling Book.

Encourage potty training with a book that includes their friend who is already out of diapers.  

Let your daughter host her very own tea party with her friends, ride a silver swan, be a ballerina...

Little boys will love going on a farm adventure or solving a farm mystery, meeting dinosaurs, going fishing, participating in one of our various sports books...

We also have religious titles.  Teach them about God's special gifts to them, things to be thankful for, the story of Noah,the Christmas story and the story of Hannukah.  They can even star in a school play as Peter in the Easter story with their friends.

Or you can let them author and illustrate their own story with our blank book.

We have a wide variety of titles to choose from , but you child is sure to find something he/she likes!

Come check us out!  You can also check out our Facebook page 
Kids Create-A-Books,  and our website, www.kids-create-a-books.com

Dog Bed Makeover

Our oldest daughter and son-in-law moved to Florida, so he could start up a brand new Jimmy Johns of his very own.  She was almost due with our first grandchild when they left.  :-(  It was really hard at first.  He was born around two months later.

This was our first grandCHILD, but we had four grandDOGS at their house. They took two of the dogs with them, and left the other two here with us.  They also left a kennel for the two dogs to share.  The dog bed that was in the kennel was getting kind of worn, so naturally the dogs would scratch on it, further tearing up the stuffing in it.

I thought for a long time about how to recover it, and not have to replace it.  We had a bathroom rug that was also starting to look pretty worn.  I put two and two together, and thought, why don't I use the rug to cover the dog bed??  After all, they were about the same color. This is what the dog bed looked like before:

I started out by having the rug right side down, then set the bed on top, right side up.  I pinned all the sides to the inside of  the bed using corsage pins (they're extra long and sturdy) until I got to the corners.  Then, take the corners and pull them together like this:

Sew up the corners on each side, unpin the sides, turn right side out, and voila!  An old/new(ish) dog bed cover!

Recently, our daughter, son-in-law, grandson and granddogs were here for a few days, and took another one of their dogs to Florida with them.  Isis, (the Bishon-Frise-Poodle mix) is the only one left here, with our dog, Roland.  I think they approve of the new, improved bed! 

www.kidscreateabooks.com

Sassy

                                                              Image courtesy of PCCrafter Hugclub

I was never a big cat person, but when a stray showed up at Grandma's house and stayed, it was all over with for me.

Sammy was a black and white shorthair, and adorable as all get-out.  He was from a litter of kittens born in the woodpile in my parents' backyard.  Growing up, my parents lived next door to my grandparents, so we were always back and forth.  He was a wild stray, but he stuck around and kept Grandma company.

Sammy would follow Grandma around everywhere she went outside, from the garden, to the chicken coop, to the clothesline behind the garage.  It was nice for my Mom, because all she had to do was look out the back window, and she knew where Grandma was, because she could see Sammy in the same area.

Years later, Sammy was found under Grandma's front porch.  He had died of old age.  Grandma moved to a home run by people from her church a couple of hours away, because she could no longer live alone.  I had gotten married, and had 4 children.

Two children wanted a dog, one wanted a cat, and the youngest wanted a lamb, but that's another story.  My husband didn't want any pets that weren't in a cage or tank, so I started taking the kids to the Humane Society. This way, they could interact with animals without having to deal with accidents, etc.

One day we went, and there was a black and white cat also named Sammy.  We talked about it, and we were considering adopting him, when my Grandmother passed away.  Because of all the sentimentality involved with this cat, I was unable to go to the Humane Society for awhile.  When I finally felt I could go back, Sammy wasn't there.  I asked if he had been adopted, and they said no.  Evidently, since he was 12 years old, and had ringworm or something like that, they didn't think anyone would adopt him.  So, they put him down.

Then SHE showed up.  Sassy was also black and white, only a long-haired cat.  Beautiful, just like the Sammies, and mean as she could be.  She was two years old, and her owner had had a stroke. That's why she was there.  I talked to hubby about it, and he wasn't going to say yes or no, just do whatever I wanted about it.  Well, that was a yes to me!  I went back,got the ball rolling, and the day after Mother's Day, she was ours!  I hadn't told the kids I had done this, so after school that day, we picked her up.  Boy, were they surprised!  

That was 7 years ago, and she has changed drastically for the better.  She is now a lap cat, loves to nuzzy up to us, and purrs out loud when getting attention.  Needless to say, I am now a cat person.  But with a cat this beautiful, how could I not be?

www.kidscreateabooks.com

A New Grandson in the Family!

 

Graphic courtesy of PcCrafter's Hugclub

We at Kidscreateabooks/You Name It Personalized Creations are praising the Lord for the safe delivery of our new grandson, Rowan Matthew!!  He was born April 19th, 2013, weighing in at 7 lbs 7 ozs, measuring 19 inches long!

Rowan was the lone survivor from a set of quadruplets.  His siblings passed away in the first trimester. 

He is such a blessing!  Looks like this grandma better get his baby Create-A-Book done!  But which one?? They all make great keepsakes...

www.kidscreateabooks.com