Surviving Middle School with Discovery Girls ~ Giveaway

I am the mother of a Middle School Girl.  Pray for me.

Everyday I am faced with something else to discuss with my daughter, and my one rule of thumb when deciding if it's necessary or not?  Do I wish my mother had, or was I glad that my mother did, discuss this with me.

While my Mom did a pretty good job raising me there are some things I wish I had known that I didn't.  Number one- getting fitted for a bra.  We never did that.  I think I was 25 and with my BFF the first time I found and bought a bra that fit me properly.  But you know- there are things we, as Moms, just don't think of  because we are too busy making sure everyone eats and has clothes that are clean.  So, for those times I am thankful for Discovery Girls and their Discovery Girls' Middle School Survival Guides .

I browsed each of these books before my twelve-year-old said "Mom can I take those to bed?"  Of course I let her and I haven't seen them since.  That could be because she has a loft bed and I'm just not climbing up there, but usually when she's done with a book it lands with a thud on the floor and scares the crap out of my husband and me, but there have been no thuds.  I think it's because each little vignette or story deals with a different situation that a middle-schooler may or may not encounter but at least it won't be completely foreign to them if it does happen, and this is why-

Discovery Girls', is an award-winning magazine aimed at tween girls, and they have produced four books packed with real-world practical advice. The books deliver their best strategies so girls can successfully deal with friendship troubles, embarrassing moments, life's toughest problems, body issues, school pressures and much much more. All of the books reinforce the power of girls to overcome disappointment, develop positive images about themselves, seek the right kind of help, talk to their parents and learn how to grow from failures.

Friendship Hardship shows girls how to deal with their toughest friendship problems plus how to make (and keep!) good friends Sticky Situations is all about the best ways to deal with more than 70 of life's trickiest situations and most embarrassing moments. Ask Ali: All the Advice You'll Ever Need gives girls sound advice on school, boys, family, friends and more, all from Discovery Girls' very popular columnist, Ali. My Worst Day is packed with amazing true stories...girls like you share their struggles and help you through your most difficult times.

I am comfortable sharing these with my daughter and I think you will be too.  And I have a set to give away!  Just comment on this post between now and Sunday, November 11 at 11:59 pm for a chance to win your own set of Discovery Girls' Middle School Survival Guides .  That's right one simple comment.  Below.  And you can share these lovely books with a middle school girl in your life, and then make a note to have her fitted properly for a bra.  Preferrably sometime before she's 25.

Disclosure: I was given a set of the Discovery Girls Middle School Guides to review as well as a set to giveaway.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.  Comment below to enter by Sunday, November 11 at 11:59 p.m.

Tuesday Tunes ~ Creepy Crawlies

OK, so this isn't my kid's band.  But she did have a concert tonight and she did play this song.  And the timing is perfect.  Enjoy.

Tuesday Tunes ~ Harmony

Harmony - /ˈhärmənē/
Noun:

1. The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions with a pleasing effect.
2. The study or composition of musical harmony.

What is is about Harmony?  A good harmony- live or recorded- can give me goose bumps.  So, when I stumble on a song featuring pleasing chord progressions I usually play it.  A lot.  And loud.  My kids must pay attention because Ryann just asked to download this song to her iPod.  She had heard it on one of my Spotify playlists.  Lucky for her I had already purchased the track, and all she had to do was log on to the cloud and download it to her own device. Happy kid.  Happy Mama.

Of Converse and Camelbaks

My girls don't take care of their sh... crap, and it's causing me emotional distress.

I like to "treat" my kids.  They don't have everything their friends do, and honestly they don't ask for much.  But growing up I went without a lot and it has caused me to spoil my kids from time to time.

But I want to preface this by saying that my 12-year-old has a laptop, an iPod and a pay-as-you-go cell phone.  She bought them all with her own money.  My eight-year-old also has an iPod.  I'm sorry, she had an iPod.  She bought it herself and she killed it herself.  With ice.  But that's another story for another time.

I've learned from my Grandma that sometimes quality is worth the price.  Yes, I could have endless plastic, BPA filled, water bottles in my house but I chose to get my girls Camelbak bottles for school this year.  I shopped around, and I found them on sale at Target for $12.  That was about 4 weeks ago.  My older daughter's is no longer in our possession.  She "must have left it in one of her classes".

I try to teach my girls responsibility.  You have to take care of your sh... crap.  I thought they were listening. 

Each of them has a desk drawer in their bedroom that I refer to as their "treasure drawer".  This drawer contains items they can't seem to part with.  A mini notepad from a birthday party last summer.  I flat penny form our trip to Bronner's.  A bouncy ball from Buffalo Wild Wings obtained in 2009.  All sh... crap in my opinion, but should any of it come up missing, hysteria would ensue.  But, a 10-inch-tall, purple, water bottle?  Well, it can be easily left on a desk for a student in the next class to say "Hey, this is a cool water bottle I think I'll keep it".  Oh yeah, no name.  It wore off.  hmmph!

My youngest has silly notes that she and her BFF wrote in kindergarten.  Three years ago.  They are "special".  But the design-your-own Converse she designed and I bought?  Those were special enough to leave by the door so our puppy could have one as a snack!  Yes, she is heartbroken, and yes I yelled at her.  But, I am heartbroken too.  She had them a week.  Look at the non-chewed one.  It's flawless.  And I've tried to encourage Converse to let me order one sneaker, but even though they are built from scratch and shipped from CHINA! I have to order 2.  Sigh.

So, I'm sad.  I budget our money and try to get ahead and in two instances I've lost over $50.  And my kids have their treasures but no cool water bottle and no cool shoes.  So I've resolved to only buy them food until they graduate.  No more cool stuff.  And no replacing the stuff they didn't take care of.  Ever. Anyone have a contact at Converse?

Ready or Not aka Tuesday Tunes

Ready or Not.

I've got one in middle school now, (post and a giveaway about that later this week) and another who makes me download songs like this to her iPod before bedtime.  **Shakin' my head**