Got AppleTV+ and looking for something the kids will watch. We are really enjoying some of the new shows premiering on AppleTV+.  In addition to movies for the entire family there are some great shows for the little ones.   Recently, we had the opportunity to check out prevew episodes of a new series on AppleTV+ titled STILLWATER .  Siblings Karl, Addy, and Michael have a very special next-door neighbor: a wise panda named Stillwater. His friendship and stories give them new perspectives on the world, themselves, and each other . Our Thoughts : The animation is epic!  Two thumbs up!! Five stars!!!  The storyline is cute.  It's ideal for preschoolers and early elementary aged kiddos.  They're sure to fall in love with Stillwater, he gives off a sensei kinda' vibe and the kids liked it.  STILLWATER is one of those shows you can feel good about letting your kids watch.  Each episode teaches a practical lesson in a way kids understand.  Viewers are presented essentially with

Books make GREAT gifts and now is a great time to add to your child's library.  About the book: In this hilarious gem from triple Caldecott winner David Wiesner, it's big sister to the rescue when a new baby is delivered to a family of robots and the adults are flummoxed by technical difficulties. A new baby's arrival is a big moment in any family, even a family of robots.  Award winner David Wiesner captures the excitement and fanfare when baby Flange appears—as a crate full of components. The adults bungle the process of assembling Flange, with catastrophic results. Big sister Cathy, with her handy toolbox and advanced knowledge of robotics and IT, hasn't been allowed to help, but in the ensuing chaos she calmly clears up the technical difficulties and bonds with her new baby brother. A shout-out for girl scientists and makers, Robobaby is an eye-opening and engaging blend of the familiar and the fantastic.  About the author: David Wiesner is internationally renowned

Make Christmas Magic with Portable North Pole Make this Christmas even more magical with Portable North Pole!  Without the chance to see Santa at the mall this year, Portable North Pole makes it easy to safely celebrate Christmas with Santa with up to 60+ messages ready to be personalized for your loved ones. Whether you're sending a message to a child, a teenager, or even a grown-up, Santa will amaze everyone on your list! Stay comfortable in your own home and explore our collection of calls, video calls, and video message scenarios that make the perfect gift for your friends and family near and far - or even for large groups like your employees!  Using Portable North Pole is easy: Simply visit the PNP website or download the PNP mobile app, sign up, fill in a short form, and upload photos of your loved one. In just a few seconds, Santa is ready to greet them with a personalized message, addressing them by name, showing their photo, and in some select scenarios, even offering int

  It's that time of the year again! I t's time for the annual Winter is Coming  Giveaway Hop!  Three Boys and an Old Lady has partnered with  The Mommy Island , The Kids Did It and nearly 70 blogs for a giveaway hop like none other. This year we are giving away an autographed Claris: Holiday Heist: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess The Fashion-Forward Series Takes a Little Mouse on a Big Adventure and hit bookstores nationwide in October. Join Claris on a holiday-themed adventure in the titular bestselling series by acclaimed fashion illustrator Megan Hess: Claris: Holiday Heist (ISBN 978-1760504953 Hardcover $17.99; Ages 3-8; 48 pages).  A sweet little mouse takes on a cheeky cat burglar with holiday cheer! Can Claris and Monsieur save the day – the New York way? With more than a million Claris books in print, this fourth Claris book from acclaimed fashion illustrator Megan Hess.  The best-selling Claris series follows an adorable mouse who moves to Paris to follow h

We are always happy to support small businesses and bookstores are one of our favorite small businesses.  Our favorite local bookstore has had to change a few things since the pandemic began, most notably the number of customers allowed in the store at one time.  We kinda like it.  It's like having the bookstore all to ourselves.  A giant world of books to call our very own. 😁 Looking for some great gift ideas?  Check out these book and gift ideas at your local bookstore or order online now to ensure delivery in time for holiday gift giving. Glass, concrete, windows, walls, roofs, and more—create your own metropolitan masterpiece.  Build a Skyscraper (Pavilion Children's Books; September 2020; ISBN: 978-1843654742; Ages 3-5; Set $19.69; 64 pages) by Paul Farrell is the second in a new series of graphic-designed cards that turn the image of a skyscraper into a work of art.  This pack contains 64 cards (4 x 2¾ inches) in a variety of graphic designs and bold, eye-catching color

Great TV happens when Dreamworks partners with Apple TV+ I am so excited to share with you that Doug Unplugs is premiering on Apple TV+. Based on the critically acclaimed children’s book by Dan Yaccarino, DreamWorks “ Doug Unplugs ” follows a curious six-year-old robot, Doug, as he ‘plugs in’ to learn new facts about the world every day. Sensing there’s more to life than just the facts, Doug journeys into the human world in search of experience. And to do that, Doug has to…unplug. With the help of his best friend, a human ball of energy, Emma, the two discover all the simple wonders of the world. Join Doug as he learns about the intersection of technology and humanity, and how they both keep us truly connected!  The series is ideal for preschoolers and early elementary kids.  Kids will enjoy the whimsical introduction of math and problem solving techniques with Doug and Emma.  I had the opportunity to chat with Dan, the creative mind behind the series, about his inspiration for

Looking for an inexpensive family getaway?  Then a visit to a nearby state park may be the perfect getaway.  Visiting a state park is a great way to explore the rich vastness of landscape and history in your state and contribute to your state's economy.   Recently, my family and I visited Petit Jean State Park.  It's one of our favorite state parks.  The kids love the legend of Petit Jean.  Legend has it that a young girl was so in love that she disguised herself as a cabin boy so she could join her lover.  She was known as "Petit Jean" (French for Little John) due to her small stature.  She became sick during the travels and it was only then that her true identity was discovered.  Her illness got worse and she eventually died and was buried atop Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas.  Besides the legend of Petit Jean the park is absolutely stunning with its cascading waterfalls, cliff side trails and native scenery.   The park is home to Cedar Falls, a 95-foot waterfall an

I was planning to grill some steaks for dinner but the rain started just as I was about to fire up the grill. it's a little humid and I didn't want to turn on the oven. I heard about preparing steaks in the air fryer and figured why not give it a try.  Grilled steaks are one of my husband's favorite meals and since I didn't want to mess this up I only cooked one steak. The tester. You know the tester. That recipe you try but you’ve got a backup JUST IN CASE. Seriously if this didn’t work I was prepared to fire up the grill, stand in the rain and cook him the best steak ever.  I love cooking in my air fryer and since being in quarantine I've learn to cook several foods using my air fryer, mostly chicken and veggies but STEAK? Nope, never thought of that.  Cooking in the air fryer is quick and easy when it comes to fried foods but I never imagined you could cook a steak in it alone behold at the top of my air fryer there's a button an image of a steak and

It's been a while since our last Bedtime for Babies book review but  I received a request from a friend asking for a couple of book recommendations.  Then a request from another friend and another friend and then well I decided it maybe, just maybe it was time to revive the Bedtime for Babies spot on the blog.   Thanks to my friends at Kalaniot Books for the opportunity to share The Littlest Candle:  A Hanukkah Story by Rabbis Kerry and Jesse Olitzky.  The Littlest Candle  is a great read for new readers.  It's an uplifting story of Little Flicker, the littlest candle in the box and how he earns the right to be the shamash thanks to all his good deeds he's done for others.   The story is sweet but it's the end of the book that I think most will love.  The end of the book shares more about the history of Hanukkah and some Hanukkah traditions.  I struggled about reviewing this book given Hanukkah is a few months away but truth is we could all use a little light right no

Apparently there's a coin shortage.  Signs are posted in the storefront windows everywhere saying "COIN SHORTAGE - EXACT CHANGE".   The pandemic has definitely affected our pockets and we are looking for ways to maximize our income without having to tap into our savings. Learning to budget can be a daunting task but knowing where you spend your hard earned money is the first step.  There are lots of books available to help get you started.  Currently, I'm reading The 30-Minute Money Plan for Moms by Catey Hill.  Financial expert Catey Hill shows moms how to spend less and save big in this savvy guide where each step is designed to take 30 minutes max.   Let’s face it, kids are expensive–in 24 states, daycare actually costs more than in-state college tuition! And the older kids get, the more you will spend. Every mom could use more money. But who has hours to search for coupons just to save a few dollars? And sure, you know you should learn how to get the most o

Quarantine baking is the latest craze.  Cookies, cakes, pies, casseroles and breads are coming out of ovens everywhere. I have gotten bit by the baking bug too.  I'm hooked on cakes and breads and getting the kids in on the action too.  We still have a sourdough starter that a friend gave me right before our staff starting working from home.  Three months in and Susie Sourdough - yes, we named it - is still in the fridge and we feed it weekly.   Lately, I've been seeing a lot of people baking banana bread. Bananas are always on our grocery list.  Hubby snacks on frosted corn flakes and bananas pretty much every night before bedtime.  How he manages to stomach milk after 7 pm boggles my mind, but that's a story for another day. Let's talk about the difference between him ordering bananas from the grocery store and me ordering bananas from the grocery store.  When HE orders them he orders a lot.  Me, I typically order a bunch of about 5 or 6 bananas.  I hate when bananas

  2020 is shaping up to be the craziest year ever.  A lot of us had to jump into homeschooling quick, fast and in a hurry.  Transitioning from long days at the office to setting up a home office.  Learning creative ways to keeps the kids occupied as we took those conference calls.  I was doing just fine and until the day my brother started working from home and I immediately became the family Tech Wizard. I can laugh about it now but trust me helping someone set up a desktop computer and modem over the phone is definitely a test of patience. Trust me. The year has us rethinking some things, changing a few things and tweaking our daily routines but overall we're doing okay despite the fact that our Spring Break vacation was cancelled, our Summer vacation plans tossed and looks like our Fall travel plans are in jeopardy as well.  2020 is definitely teaching me that I am stronger than I ever knew I was.  A positive attitude is one of the things that is helping me cope with the daily c

Come Out & Play  BUT Remember   To   Practice Social Distancing COVID-19, Coronavirus, Da Rona, whatever you're calling it has definitely changed all of our lives.  Families are spending more and more time together.  My husband teases me saying I've spent more time in the backyard since March than I have in the entire 15 years we've lived in our home.  Sad thing is... he's right. We planted a garden.  It was kinda by chance.  I bought these seeds and this starter compost.  Put them near the kitchen and after about a week or so, I started noticing gnats in my kitchen.  I figured it was some of the fresh fruit gone bad.  Tossed the fruit. Wiped everything down.  Gnats were gone.  A few days later... the gnats returned.  FINALLY figured out it that I had this dirt near the kitchen and remembered "Oh, you were going to start gardening."   Seeds planted.  Watered.  Now we wait.  It'll be a few weeks but I am so looking forward to cutting fresh spinach and

February is the month of Groundhog Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Valentine's Day, President's Day, Mardi Gras, my birthday and oh February begins Black History Month, a month set aside to recognize the contributions of African Americans.  One of my kids asked me why we still celebrated Black History Month, Asian History Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month.  "Mom", he said "it just seems like it separates people."  Poignant words from a kid but I knew exactly what he meant. 

There has been a lot of mention of Emmett Till in the news lately. A few months ago, a national news network ran a story on a sign marking the place where Emmett Till’s body was found. Most recently, actor and director Jesse Williams was dragged on Twitter for posting a meme of Till. Even Snoop Dogg got in the mix after the recent sentencing of 81-year old Bill Cosby saying perhaps it's time to revisit the case of Emmett Till. In 1955, Till, a 14-year old kid was beaten, shot and drowned for whistling at a woman as he his cousins were leaving a store. Till, a Chicago native, was spending a summer in Mississippi with family. His mother thought it would be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. One afternoon as Till and his cousins were leaving a small grocery store, Till whistled at a young lady. A few night’s later Till was abducted from his great uncle’s home and later killed. His crime, Till was Black… the young lady was White. Earlier thi