Crystal Marcos's Blog, page 19

The Itzel Library asked that I give my picks for the top 10 children's books not to be missed in my home. They are also hosting a signed book giveaway of my book BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale Open to the US, Canada, and Mexico. Please check it out. I may have some of your favorites listed.
http://the-itzel-library.blogspot.com...

I am so excited to have my very first school author visit next week. I am also tickled to find out from a fellow author that my reputation precedes me in the area school system! I was extremely flattered that a librarian had told him that she enjoyed seeing his name associated with mine and my book. This is great news seeing as how my book hasn't been out for a year yet. I am also being considered for a school visit next year for a school of 550 children. I hope to be selected and if I do, I better bring lots of water! That is a lot of talking.

Tuesday, April 19th, I will be participating in the Literacy Day Celebration held by Bethany Lutheran Elementary School with attendance of a neighboring school Christ the King Lutheran. They are celebrating 10,000 books in Bethany's library!

Candace at Candace's Book Blog has posted an interview and is hosting a signed book giveaway of my book BELLYACHE. She has also reviewed my book with her children and they had a great time with it. Check it out. April 22nd last day to enter giveaway.
Here is the link http://www.candacesbookblog.com/2011/...

Perfect Gift for Easter! Add this to someone special's basket! I am hosting another Giveaway here on Goodreads. Click the link below to enter. GOOD LUCK!

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Macaroni Kid Kitsap is a free Weekly Newsletter of Kid Friendly Events and Activities. Great Website for family fun.

"Mompreneur" Spotlight: Crystal Marcos, local author. All US Residents Welcome to Enter to Win Signed Copy of Book. Great Gift for Easter, features candy & forgiveness!

http://kitsap.macaronikid.com/article...

http://crystalmarcos.com/events.php

I am participating in the Follower Love Giveaway Hop this is my first giveaway I have run from my website. The follower love giveaway hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Over 200 blogs have signed up to host a book related giveaway and we are all linked up together so you can easily hop from one giveaway to another. The hop runs from Tuesday, February 8th through Sunday, February 13th. If you aren't interested in what I am giving away, feel free to hop on to another they may have something you maybe interested in. Also every giveaway has different rules to enter.

Jill Moore has interviewed me for her wonderful site called Simple Stories of Love.

Let The Phone Ring: My Simple Story of Love Read others. Have your story told.

http://simplestoriesoflove.com/2011/0...

Coffee for the Brain: Your daily dose of coffee for the brain with free refills AND Where Words Are Like Caffeine

Aaron Maurer recently interviewed me with fun questions and is giving away his copy of BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale he read for the CYBILS awards. Aaron is also a teacher who loves his students and you can tell. Please take a look. =)

http://coffeeforthebrain.blogspot.com...

I wanted to share some holiday fun we had as a family this year. Everyone always says the favorite thing babies get for Christmas are the boxes the gifts come in. I saw this project in Family Fun magazine and knew instantly this would be a hit, http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/cardbo.... It certainly was! Here are some pictures of a Recycled Kitchen we made from boxes that presents were delivered in.




My daughter Kaylee, Maxwell, and Alyssa love it. They have played with it every day they have been to Nana’s house. It was so worth the time and effort. The supplies to make it cost about $15 and it took a few evenings to construct. Many of the items we already had at home. The smile on the kids’ faces priceless! Take a look at how wide Kaylee’s smile is! It has been about a month with three babies playing with it on a regular basis and it has held up quite well. It just goes to show you that you don’t have to spend tons of money for your children to have a happy Christmas.


For the past couple years, on Christmas Eve, we play a super fun game we call “Recycled Christmas”. Everyone has something at their house in great or maybe even in new condition that they have never opened but it continues to sit at your home taking up space. The object of the game is very simple you bring a gift perhaps even 2 that someone else could use. (You will go home with the same amount of gifts you brought.) Some suggestions for wrapping your gift: in newspaper, recycled wrapping paper, or your children’s drawings. Have everyone draw a number to see who goes first. You could use a deck of cards to avoid wasting paper. (If you brought 2 gifts you take 2 numbers) The first person chooses a gift and opens it to show everyone, the next person has the choice to take that gift or choose a new gift. The play goes on until everyone has had a turn. A present can only be stolen 3 times until it is out of play. When the last person goes, anyone who agrees to trade a gift with another person can.

A few other suggestions for making your Christmas a little more green (both earth friendly and pocket friendly):

~Shop at secondhand stores or consignment shops-I picked up a cash register that just needed a little elbow grease and my sister didn't believe it was the same one when I was done with it. My daughter loves it! Books are great to buy there as well. Many look brand new.

~Reuse gift tags and bows

~If you buy wrapping paper, wait for the after Christmas sales and look for 100% recycled paper.

~Give someone a book you have already read with a special note inside about why you are giving it to them now.

If you are interested in reading more about me and my book writing experience, please take a look at this interview by Dina Santorelli from makingbabygrand.com
http://makingbabygrand.com/2011/01/18...
Crystal Marcos