As you can see by his expressive face, it doesn’t get any cuter than Skip! He’s a six-year-old terrier mix who’s super-happy and easygoing and absolutely loves people, as you can see. You’ll skip all the other choices when you meet our Skip! Because the shelter is closed to the public, adoption appointments are conducted through appointment, so call 562-570-PETS or email AnimalRescue@longbeach.gov to meet Puff. Ask for ID#A647402.
(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)
Although School has started at home this Fall, there are still school supplies that are needed! Here are a few of my favorites!
USA Gold and USA Titanium offers high-quality wood pencils sourced with American wood and finished in Tennessee. With almost 60 years of pencil making, USA Titanium continues a family-run legacy in Lewisburg, Tennessee and a vital part of an American community. These are a real must-have this school year!
· USA Titanium pencils are high quality, high value. Compare them to your favorite pencil and see what a difference American quality can make! With their satin-smooth black finish for enhanced writing comfort, USA Titanium pencils are available exclusively at Walmart in packs of 12, 24, and 36 pencils. These are sure to be a hit with all ages!
Looking for Felt tip Pens? I absolutely love the Scribble Stuff brand! I use these on a daily basis. They are great for journaling too! They are bold and bright so children will love them too! Children can add some pizzazz to drawing and art projects! And teachers will find they make paper grading fun. These long-lasting, vivid pens have a fine point tip for easy of writing and won’t bleed through the paper. Available in 24 bright colors and an awesome price make it easy to add some fabulous fun to your child’s school day. Scribble Stuff also makes popular gel pens and scented gel pens. Available in assorted packs at Walmart, Target and Amazon.com. Once you try these, you won’t want to buy any others!
OWC also has some great back-to-school essentials! I love the USB-C Travel Dock that I had the opportunity to try out! The OWC USB-C Travel Dock might just be the ultimate portable docking solution for Mac PC and Chromebooks. Drive an HD display, connect and charge two USB devices (like a phone or tablet…), and even access photos on an SD card. You can even add a USB-C power adapter and have a standalone charging station, so you can keep all your devices up and running. The Travel Dock transfers up to 100W of pass-through charging from a USB-C power adapter, ensuring users are powered up and ready to deliver a client presentation or download the day’s last shots. With five essential ports and just one cable, users are prepared to display, charge, connect, and import while on the move. The USB-C Travel Dock features an HDMI port for easy display connections up to 4K resolution and can be used via bus power when users don’t have access to a power outlet.
MSRP: $54.99
OWC also has some other great Used Macs that can save parents lots of money if they are looking to outfit the kids with a new laptop this school year.
Here are a few more of my favorites:
Chalk of the Town“I’m Reading” Chalkboard Tote Kit: A perfect back-to-school tote for the avid reader, book worm or teacher to carry AND share the book they’re reading! Use the included water-based chalk markers to write a title or topic on the tote or illustrate highlights from the book. Once dry, the ink will not smudge. Start a new book? No problem! Simply wipe the surface clean with water and design again. Available on Amazon.
Book Peeramid: This uniquely shaped pillow bookrest props a book, tablet, Kindle or iPad at the perfect angle for comfortable hands free reading anywhere – bed, at a table, desk, in your favorite chair, on the couch, on the floor and more! Available on Amazon
PLAYMOBIL School Carry Case: Perfect, portable, packable playset for even the youngest students; readies them for what to expect when the eventually do get into a classroom. Features iconic PLAYMOBIL attention to detail. Includes teacher and student figures, chalkboard, desk, chairs, books, more!
Looking to make learning at home for young children more fun? OwlCrate Jr. is a fantastic Subscription box!
Spark a lifetime love of reading with OwlCrate Jr.’s monthly subscription box for kids ages 8-12. What’s really cool about OwlCrate is that subscribers get more than just a book—they get a whole themed experience including 4-6 goodies, a hardcover book, at least one usable item or activity to encourage creativity, imagination and exploration, plus an exclusive letter from the author and a collectible monthly sticker. Each monthly box is curated for kids of all genders and the books are published within 45 days of ship date. The books are either standalone stories or the first in a new series. Past themes included Code Breakers, Bump in the Night, Rebels & Rulebreakers and more! Available for one time box, three or six month subscriptions. Starting at $27.99; https://owlcrate.com/owlcratejr
Face Masks are also a must this school year! I love that you can design your own!
Neon Earth equips non designers to create absolutely anything under three minutes with their easy-to-use design tool. All you need to do is select any item, add your designs, customize the designs, text, colors and more, and you’re done. You don’t need any knowledge of Photoshop or other designing tools because the in-built tool is extremely simple. What’s more, non-designers can also set up their own stores on the Neon Earth platform and earn royalty on any design that is sold.
These products make for great thoughtful gifts (cute coasters, totes, scarves, notepads and more to choose from!). The platform also empowers homeowners and interior designers to run with their imagination and have their ideas rolled out with perfection to create the look they have envisioned. Home décor items such as throw pillows, tapestry, wallpapers and more can be easily customized or made artistic with thousands of designs to choose from. They even have Halloween styles!
Happy Back-to-School! Stay tuned! Later this month I will be featuring some helpful educational apps!
Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.
Looking for a fun book for Elementary grade readers? Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night is a must-buy! This is a great reading choice for ages 6 through 10.
Peter and Ernesto are two sloths who are best friends, but total opposites. In their first adventure, A Tale of Two Sloths, they both learn to expand their horizons in different ways as they leave the tree for the first time. In book two, The Lost Sloths, their tree is blown away and they must venture into the jungle to find a new one! Now, in this third installment, Peter and Ernesto must brave the perils of the nighttime when their friend Bernard goes missing just before sundown.
From Oscar-nominated cartoonist and animator Graham Annable, this loveable, accessible series is full of humor and heart and illustrated in a fun comic book style. It’s perfect for kids who are just beginning to love reading, as well as those who need a little extra encouragement!
Find this one and many more delightful books at https://us.macmillan.com/mackids/
Need New Kids Activity Books? I love these books from Schiffer Kids! Cats: Fold and Play With this beginner introduction to paper folding, create a merry band of black cats, each in a unique pose and ready to pounce on the included paper balls of yarn. Precut and creased kitties are ready to pop out and play in just a few folds!
Insects: Fold and Play Bug enthusiasts of all ages as well as budding etymologists will flex their dexterity and creativity with more than 20 paper bugs. Precut and folded pieces require no scissors or glue!
Look! Dr. Goodview will be a hit with your kids!
Are you ready? Open your eyes! Look carefully! Look very closely, because things are not always what they seem. Dr. Goodview shows and explains more than 20 optical illusions to educate and entertain with amazing effects. From brightness and contrast, twisted cord, and color and perspective to motion illusions, see how these visual tricks can confuse and excite the eye!
Enric Jardí is a graphic designer specializing in editorial design and typography. His three published books have been translated into a number of languages. He has received many awards for his work, which he combines with teaching at art schools and universities.
Looking for a great book for the little older kids? Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth is a must for middle schoolers! It will introduce them to the evolution of life on Earth. Kids will learn that Biodiversity is found everywhere on the planet—on land, in the water, and even in extreme environments such as ice and volcanoes. Biodiversity is part of a set of four Build It Environmental Science books that explore the history and science of the planet and all that live on it through hands-on STEM activities and real-life environmental connections. Other titles in this series are Planet Earth, Garbage, and Biomes. Find out more here.
Ever thought of making your own Little Library? Now, just may be the time to do it! Little Free Libraries & Tiny Sheds: 12 Miniature Structures You Can Build is a must-buy book if you want to build your own little library! Produced in cooperation with Little Free Library, Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds is the builder’s complete source of inspiration and how-to knowledge. Illustrated throughout with colorful step-by-step photography and a gallery of tiny structures for further inspiration, Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds covers every step: planning and design, tools and building techniques, best materials, installation and 12 complete plans for structures of varying size and aesthetics. Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds even includes information on how to become a steward, getting the word out about your little structure once it’s up and running, and tips for building a lively collection. I hope to make my own soon! Find this book here.
Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Images were also provided. No compensation was received and I only feature books that I highly recommend.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill has announced that kids eat free every Wednesday in September in locations across California, Arizona and Nevada. Get a free kids meals with the purchase of any adult entree using the coupon. https://www.rubios.com/coupons/free-kids-meal-purchase-adult-entree.
“Quarantine and remote learning have been incredibly challenging for so many and we want to make it easier for busy families to enjoy a great meal as the new school year starts,” said Ralph Rubio, co-founder of Rubio’s. “Guests can get any kids meal on the menu free, with the purchase of an adult entrée, every Wednesday in September. Choices include the popular Kids Bean & Cheese Burrito, Kids Chicken Bowl and the recently added Build Your Own Tacos kids meal, all served with two sides and a drink.”
Operations at Rubio’s have shifted greatly due to COVID-19. While food safety and cleanliness have always been a top priority at Rubio’s, new initiatives include tamper-proof seals on all delivery orders, daily health checks for all team members, protective face coverings and gloves, extensive sanitizing and disinfecting of restaurants and patios, strict social distancing protocols inside and outside, and contact-free curbside or express pickup and free delivery, on all orders of $20 or more.
Guests are encouraged to order through the Rubio’s app and Rubios.com. For more information about Rubio’s Coastal Grill and to view the menu, visit Rubio’s, Facebook and Instagram.
Self Disclosure: Information and images were provided. Some form of compensation was received to post.
Cleo is 9 months old. She came to the shelter as a stray, likely looking for a real home that would appreciate her beautiful patchwork fur and her purr. Shelter staff describe that delicious rumble as “music to a cat lover’s ears.” Cleo is incredibly friendly and affectionate. As soon as you meet her, you’ll know how much love she has to give. Because the shelter is closed to the public, adoption appointments are conducted through email, so contact AnimalRescue@longbeach.gov to meet Cleo. Ask for ID#A647913.
(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)
