Holiday books to share with your children (ages 2 - 8)

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Do you have any special holiday books that you read every year? Here are some of my favorites from this year. Some honor the spirit of giving, while others tell traditional religious stories from a child’s perspective. All celebrate the warmth, love and togetherness we feel during this time of year.

Who Built the Stable? A Nativity Poem
by Ashley Bryan
Simon & Schuster / Atheneum, 2012
ages 4 – 8
Amazon or your local library

Award-winning artist Bryan combines colorful, vibrant illustrations in strong, bold strokes with a touching poem about the Nativity story from a child’s point of view. The rhyming text follows a young shepherd who builds a stable for his animals and then invites Mary and Joseph to stay on this fateful night.

Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama
by Selina Alko
Random House / Knopf, 2012
ages 4 - 8
Google preview
Amazon or your local library

Many families will relate to the way Sadie’s family blends different holiday traditions. They scatter Hanukkah gelt underneath the Christmas tree and hang candy canes from the menorah on the mantelpiece, focusing on the joy of spending time together.

The Christmas Quiet Book
by Deborah Underwood
illustrated by Renata Liwska
Houghton Mifflin, 2012
ages 2 - 6
Google preview
Amazon or your local library

San Francisco author Underwood teams again with Liwska to celebrate quiet, small moments, focusing on the many emotions that come with the holidays. “Reading by the fire quiet” and “listening for sleigh bells quiet” will bring readers back to those special moments we remember year-round. Here is a lovely preview of The Christmas Quiet Book from Google Books.



For more holiday books to share, head over to my article in this month's Parents Press. The review copy of Who Built the Stable came from our home library. Random House kindly sent a review copy of Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama. Houghton Mifflin kindly sent a review copy of The Christmas Quiet Book. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Red Knit Cap Girl - a beautiful, quiet picture book (ages 3 - 7)

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There are times I just want to run my fingers over a picture book's page, wondering in the beauty of its artwork. Red Knit Cap Girl, by Naoko Stoop, drew me in right from the start, with the beautiful grains of wood surrounding the sweet little girl. My 2nd graders and I read this as part of our Mock Caldecott unit, talking about some of the best new picture books this year.

Red Knit Cap Girl
by Naoko Stoop
Little, Brown, 2012
ages 3 - 7
Amazon and your local library

Red Knit Cap Girl wishes more than anything that she could talk to the moon. She and her animal friends wonder how she can reach all the way to the moon - no matter what they do, it seems so far away. But the wise old owl tells her, “The Moon is too far to reach, but if you want, she will bend down to listen to you … You will find a way.”

My students found Stoop's artwork enchanting in a quiet, soothing sort of way. They noticed the way she uses many different shades and gradations of color. Sometimes the grain of the plywood shows through the soft, transparent paint, and other times the color is rich and vibrant. The story spoke to them, reminding them of other stories they love, like Kitten's First Full Moon, by Kevin Henkes. Young children are enchanted by the moon, the way it changes each night but is always there. The way it seems so close and yet so far away.

I like the way Mrs. Heise notes the way Red Knit Cap Girl's friends all come together as a community to help her. I agree with her that the language is not as fluid as the artwork; the name Red Knit Cap Girl is a bit choppy to keep saying over and over again. Over at the wonderful Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Jules describes Stoop's artwork as "elegant in its simplicity," noting that she uses simple shapes, comforting curves and minimalist facial details to convey a magical, comforting tale.

This year, I am reading four different books to each 2nd grade class. At the end of the four weeks, they will vote on their favorite book. Then we will share our favorites with the other classes. Throughout the process we will talk about what makes wonderful picture books, how we need to think about the story and the illustrations.

In the meantime, our 1st graders are reading a wide range of Caldecott Medal and Honor books (you can see the whole list here). They are sharing with each other, practicing thinking and writing about books. Then our 1st graders will share their favorites with our Skype buddy class in Lynnwood, Washington through the help of Mrs. Valerie Stein. We're very excited to be reading such wonderful books and having an authentic way to practice our public speaking skills!

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers Little, Brown. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Goblin Secrets, by William Alexander - exciting, imaginative fantasy (ages 9 - 13)

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Children's books are full of orphans who set out on a hero's quest - and yet there is something fundamentally appealing about a young child who sets off on his or her own to battle unlikely odds. Rownie, a street urchin in Zombay, must outwit a tyrannical witch, the vigilant mechanical policemen and his own friends as he searches for his lost brother in Goblin Secrets, William Alexander's National Book Award winning fantasy for older middle grade readers.

Goblin Secrets
by William Alexander
Simon & Schuster, 2012
ages 9 - 13
2012 National Book Award Winner
Amazon and your local library

Rownie flees the custody of the tyrannical witch Graba to join a troupe of goblins who perform magical shows with masks, fire and giant puppets. In the fantasy world of Zombay, all performances by humans with masks have been outlawed, and so Rownie's decision carries tremendous risks. But he is determined to follow the footsteps of his older brother Rownan.

William Alexander's fantasy is both compelling, fast-paced and intricately layers. The setting is both unique and full of references to folklore. I loved the character of Graba, a Baba-Yaga inspired witch who is a "grandmother" for many orphans, with gear-work chicken legs. The writing was elegant and vivid - I was completely swept away by the story and the descriptions.

William Alexander narrates the audiobook version of Goblin Secrets, and he imbues the characters with specific, exciting voices. He brings his background as an actor and a folklorist to the writing and the narration of this story. Here is a video of Alexander reading a section from Goblin Secrets:



Goblin Secrets has many layers and themes that kept resonating with me, some successfully and others less so. I was intrigued by the sense that masks allow us to create a new personality but that they can also have power in and of themselves. I think children will really respond to the themes of choice, courage and the need to take action. I found that the end of the story whirled so quickly that I had trouble digesting and understanding all of the threads. This is definitely a book that I will want to come back to.

I look forward to sharing Goblin Secrets with students who like fast-paced but layered fantasies, like Jonathan Auxier's Peter Nimble or Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus.

William Alexander was awarded the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Goblin Secrets - a tremendous honor for his debut novel. Find out more about him at this interview at The Nerdy Book Club blog.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers Simon & Schuster. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Nonfiction Book Apps for a range of readers (ages 3 - 18)

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I am fascinated by the way that book apps can engage readers by integrating so many different ways of learning. You can look at vibrant photographs, manipulate charts and diagrams, watch videos, listen to narration and learn so much. I've been particularly happy to read several Nonfiction Book Apps during this Cybils season. Here are a few that really stand out to me:

Rounds: Franklin Frog
by Barry and Emma Tranter
developed by Nosy Crow
preview video
available on iTunes
ages 3 - 6

Young children love learning about the world around them. This app does a beautiful job introducing preschoolers and kindergartners to real facts about frogs, from their habitat to feeding to metamorphosis, through an appealing story about Franklin Frog and his offspring. It draws children into the story, as they guide the frogs with their fingers. Children make the frogs jump, swim, catch flies, avoid predators, find a place to hibernate, croak to attract a mate and more. This app always feels like an exploration of how a frog lives, and never feels like a game. As the Horn Book review says, this app presents the information in "an accessible way that’s respectful of both its subject and its audience."

National Geographic Adventure Presents The Greatest Stories Ever Told
developed by National Geographic Society
preview video
available on iTunes
ages 9 - 14

Every time I read and explore this app, I am utterly amazed at the adventures these stories share. This app features five amazing stories ranging from mountain climbing in Yosemite to crossing the Antarctic by dogsled to climbing down into a volcano. Each story hooks readers with a short video, but then encourages them to read beyond this initial video to learn more. Text is interspersed with high quality photographs and interactive graphics. Readers scroll in different ways, vertically and horizontally - this keeps readers stimulated and engaged. The interactive graphics let you discover more - for example, a timeline with a sliding bar lets readers explore the different types of climbing gear used over the past 100 years. But most of all, I was impressed with the way readers got a sense of the real people involved through quotes, video and audio. It conveys a first-hand point of view in an exciting, engaging format.

Wonders of Geology
by Michael Collier
developed by Mikaya Press/Tasa Graphic Arts
a "Top 10 App" from School Library Journal
available on iTunes
ages 10 - 14

The Wonders of Geology combines stunning photography, clear descriptions, and a combination of text and audio narration to teach tweens and teens about how the Earth's great mountains, valleys and other geological features were formed. Collier's breathtaking photographs draw readers in and convey a sense of awe at the wonders of these spectacular sites. The app switches between concise written paragraphs that introduce a subject and longer narrated segments as viewers look at photographs or diagrams. This helps tweens and teens who are curious about a topic but perhaps not determined enough to read in-depth nonfiction text to learn more about the subject. Collier shares his passion and in-depth knowledge of geology, as well as his stunning photographs. While some students may want more interactive features, I believe that others with an interest in the subject will be fascinated. It would make an excellent complement to a standard textbook for 6th graders studying Earth Science.

Animated diagram from Wonders of Geology

Brian Cox's Wonders of the Universe
by Brian Cox
developed by Harper Collins UK and The Other Media
ages 16 to adult
available on iTunes

Particle physicist Brian Cox brings astrophysics to a general audience with the amazing Wonders of the Universe app, bringing together his books Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe with his award-winning TV series produced by the BBC. The app uses all of the features of the iPad, drawing readers in with personable, engaging video, clearly written text and interesting diagrams. The journey up from the smallest particles, past the moons and planets of the Solar System, out to the outer edges of the known universe truly blows my mind. I find myself in utter awe that scientists can understand, test and prove this knowledge. As The Other Media's managing director George Crabb says in a Guardian article, "We threw out conventional thinking on multimedia experiences to instead come up with a revolutionary platform that can take complex narratives but deliver them with an intuitive clarity." This is an app for older high school students and adults who are fascinated by physics and astronomy, and who want to explore how multimedia technology can help us understand these subjects. I must admit that I do not understand all of what I am reading in this app, but I am fascinated nonetheless!

Wonders of the Universe combines text and video

Nonfiction Book Apps show that this media has great potential for drawing readers into interesting topics. I am glad that several were nominated for the Cybils Award this year. Tune in on January 1st to the Cybils website to find out which apps are chosen for this year's shortlist.

The apps reviewed here came from both promotional codes sent by the developers and our school app library. The Berkeley Public Education Fund has graciously supported our school as we explore how apps help children learn and engage with a range of books.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

The Guardians of Childhood - beautiful, magical picture books by William Joyce (ages 5 - 9)

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Children are fascinated by the characters of our modern mythology - Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny. And yet, there is no clear story that we all tell our children about how these characters came to be. William Joyce has created a wonderful series about these characters called The Guardians of Childhood. My students have loved the magical picture books that Joyce uses to launch this series - The Man in the Moon and The Sandman. Theses stories are now continued with the movie, The Rise of the Guardians.

The Man in the Moon
by William JoyceSimon & Schuster / Atheneum, 2011ages 5 - 9Amazon and your local library

As a baby, the Man in the Moon (MiM) was watched over by his guardian, the faithful Nightlight. When the evil Pitch, King of the Nightmares, decides to make this innocent baby one of his own, an almighty battle of good versus evil erupts. The valiant Nightlight swears to protect MiM, sacrificing his life in the process. The Man in the Moon does survive, but he is all alone - until he discovers that he can hear the hopes and dreams of the children of Earth.


William Joyce captures young readers' attention with bold, dramatic illustrations, alternating between saturated colors and stark grey tones. But what really struck my students was the message behind the story. There was a sense of awe and quiet as we ended the story with the Man in the Moon vowing to protect the children of Earth. This story resonated with the children on a deeper level - a sense that the moon is always there as their nightlight, reassuring them when nightmares might visit.

The book trailer below does a nice job of introducing the picture book in a dramatic way. I share this story each year with 2nd graders as they study a "good guy vs. bad guy" creative writing unit.


The Guardians of Childhood Book Trailer from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

The story of the Man in the Moon is continued with Joyce's newest picture book: The Sandman. This adorable little fellow sends us all to sleep, protecting us from nightmares and fear. Children have responded to his mighty battle with Pitch and to his promise to keep us safe. Again, Joyce's illustrations heighten the dramatic battles and the magical feel to the stories. But it is the heart and message that brings children back to these again and again.

The Sandman:
The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie
by William Joyce
Simon & Schuster, Atheneum, 2012
ages 5 - 9
Amazon and your local library

My children and I enjoyed the movie The Rise of the Guardians. The animation was wonderful, and the humor invested in each of the characters gave them depth and staying power. But the chase scenes dominated the storytelling, as so often happens in animated movies. I am sure that gives young viewers satisfaction, but it left me wanting a bit more.

I am looking forward to seeing how my students enjoy the novels based on this series. I am fascinated by the way Joyce has created a complete story-world, using picture books, novels and movies to tell different stories within the same series. Early reports indicate that the novels appeal to 4th through 6th graders who love detailed fantasies.
The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers Simon & Schuster. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Contest: Moonbeam Children's Book Awards

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Now is the time to enter your award-worthy children's books into the 7th annual Moonbeam Children's Book Awards honoring the year's best children's books, authors, and illustrators. The program accepts entries released since November 1, 2011 and is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children's books written in English or Spanish, appropriate for the North American market. These awards bring an opportunity for recognition to deserving authors and publishers who have a hard time breaking through to win library association awards like the Newbery and Caldecott. Entry fee is $75.

Shopping Savings: Jockey at Kohl's

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Instead of guessing at what the guy in your life wants, give him what he needs – new T-shirts and underwear.

Jockey recently launched a brand new line of men’s slim fit underwear and T-shirts featuring stay dry fabric. The underwear and T-shirts are available in 100% cotton and cotton-stretch fabrics along with unique stay dry fabric that helps pull moisture away from the skin so he stays dry and his clothes stay looking good.
Now to the good stuff: Through December 31, 2012, Jockey Slim Fit styles are 25% OFF at all Kohl’s department stores – no coupon needed to save.
To keep up with Jockey’s special offers, “Like” Jockey on Facebook and follow @jockey and @IWearJockey on Twitter.

Money Makers: Current Survey Panels Recruiting

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Here are some current survey panels recruiting that I have had success with in the past.

Join Opinion Outpost and start sharing your opinion.
Join the National Consumer Panel today to make your consumer voice heard and earn great rewards!
Join the Ipsos I-Say Panel & you will be entered into a draw for $5000.
Become a member of the Harris Poll Online. You will earn Harris Poll Online Rewards where you can redeem points for your opinions. Earn rewards that include a variety of merchandise and gift certificates.
InspiredOpinions members earn Opinion Reward Points for being active members of our online market research community.
GlobalTestMarket is a unique online community where consumers from around the world participate in online paid surveys. Canadians sign up here. Brits sign up here. USA residents sign up here.Aussies sign up here.
Join NPD and you can win cash or prizes for giving your opinions. (Canadians sign up here).

Fun Freetime: Jack and Jill/Planet DIY

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Roll up your sleeves, Jack and Jill magazine is going DIY. The award-winning U.S. Kids title, written for children ages 7-12, will be regularly featured on PlanItDIY.com in conjunction with the website’s recent relaunch. Maintained by the North American Retail Hardware Association, PlanItDIY.com is a consumer resource for how-to home improvement videos and step-by-step project guides. Jack and Jill will be featuring kid-friendly projects that families can complete together on the website.
 “PlanItDIY.com is rapidly becoming the go-to source for consumers to find how-to information and inspiration for their projects around the home,” said Dan Tratensek, Vice President with the North American Retail Hardware Association. “Because the site is brought to you by the same local hardware store home center and lumber dealers they go to everyday for the best service and advice, they know it's a source they can trust. Now with the addition of fun projects for kids from Jack and Jill the site will be better than ever."  PlanItDIY.com provides visitors with a truly unique resource for connecting directly to a community of fellow DIYers. Some of the first Jack and Jill projects to be published on PlanItDIY.com are “World in a Bottle,” a terrarium that teaches children about the fragility and importance of our planet’s ecosystem and a duct tape handbag and wallet. Future projects include a homemade compost bin, homegrown catnip, and a bird feeder.  For more information about Jack and Jill please visit JackAndJillMag.org or PlanItDIY.com.  About U.S. Kids magazines: Turtle, Humpty Dumpty, and Jack and Jill, are published by the nonprofit Saturday Evening Post Society, based in Indianapolis. U.S. Kids magazines encourage children to strive for excellence and are designed to promote academics, personal fitness, creativity, and artistic expression among all children in a format that is entertaining, engaging, and educational.  

Thrifty Thinking: Getting Honest About Money (Guest Post)

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5Money Secrets: InspiringNew Ways to Think About Your Money
One of the main reasons you and Iare working together is that you’re tired of being driven by fears and desires.Throughout this lesson, I’ve pointed out that identifying finance as a strictlyintellectual endeavor has not served your needs. My goal is to lead you towardliving your one best financial life.Although what money alone can do islimited, its power to create happiness or cause suffering is immense. Thefollowing 5 Money Secrets provide a powerful way to guide your decision makingso that you can take genuine control of your financial life.
1. Your life will be filled withtough choices.2. Your entire life is determinedby how you make decisions.3. Your biases will affect everydecision you make.4. You will be distracted by thingsthat really don’t matter.5. You must have a good process to make good decisions.Money Secret 1: Your life will be filled with tough choices.YouWant It AllPart of consumer culture is thatfrom early on, we’re taught to think big. Every American can dream of owning anicer car. We drool over bigger TVs. We vow to take more vacations. We fantasizeabout fancier shoes and jewelry. With a combination of envy and disdain, weread stories of the super rich with their mega mansions and private jets. Sometimesit’s a blessing; other times, it’s a curse. In either case, we humans have alimitless ability to dream bigger and to always elevate our aspirations. Thisis true whether you’re a schoolteacher struggling to make ends meet or you’re abillionaire, like Bill Gates, debating how to improve the lives of as manyimpoverished people as possible—and, for the moreself-interested super rich, how biga yacht they can afford! At some point, however, you must acknowledge thereality of your circumstances. Usually, you can’t have it all. Soyou have to make choices.Neglecting to make tradeoffs canlead to credit card debt, a persistent inferiority complex, and constantfinancial pressure. To reach your fullest potential requires you to identifythe intersection between two elements:• Your currentdreams and goals• Your finiteresources
Money Secret 2 Your entire life isdetermined by how you make decisions:
BigDecisions Can Be Both Scary and ExhilaratingMajor decisions can keep you up at night.They sometimes nervously walk the line between big payouts and failures of mythicmagnitude. Consider some of the most significant ones you’ve made in your life.I’ll list a few possibilities: • Who will be myprom date?• How will I tellmy parents about the car wreck?• What collegewill I attend?• Should I takethe job?• Should I quitand start a new career?• Should I launchmy own business?• Will I getmarried?• Will I havekids?• Do I want adivorce?• What’s the bestcancer treatment?• How will I livethe rest of my life?• What do I donow?These supersized decisions arestressful because we don’t have control over their outcomes. Despite this lackof control, however, we manage to spend an exorbitant amount of time runningthrough countless what-if scenarios.
Money Secret 3 Your biases willaffect every decision you make:
Everyone perceives his or herfinancial situation in a particular way. We each have our own perspective thatis shaped by our personal history and upbringing. I have already discussed thefact that money helps you do the following three things:1. Avoid pain—by protecting youand helping you to take care of what you’re afraid might cause pain in thefuture2. Feel good—by getting youthe things that provide you with happiness and satisfaction3. Take care of theones you love—by meeting your obligations to family, community, and society at largeWe all want money to take care ofthese things for us. But because of who we are and the life we have led, one ofthe three is usually more important to us than the other two. And when it comesto important or stressful financial decisions, we generally have a primaryfocus.I call this primary focus your Money Mind. There are only three Money Minds.They are as follows:1. Fear (The Protector)2. Happiness (The PleasureSeeker)3. Commitment (The Giver)Whenfaced with important financial decisions, you will revert to your dominantMoneyMind, which will always affect the way you make decisions.
Money Secret 4 You will be distracted by things that really don’tmatter:
 Your Two Worlds: External and InternalWith so much competing for your attentionevery day, determining where to direct your resources is a daunting task. Nodoubt, there are limitless ways to spend your time and energy. Unfortunately,you have a limited amount of both. In this regard, time is fair: Whether you’rethe president of the United States or a newborn infant, your daily dose of 24hours is the same. Therefore, to reach your goals, you must determine whereyou’ll direct your focus right now and what you’ll postpone until later. Inthis lesson, I’ll first describe what is competing for your time and resourceswhen it comes to your financial life. From there, you can determine how toseparate essential tasks from nonessential ones. Each of us lives in twofinancial worlds: external and internal. Our external world includes taxes,inflation, the country’s economy, the stock market, and more. All of these willaffect us, but we cannot control them. Meanwhile, our internal world consistsof our job, salary, spouse, and family—in other words, things we can directlyimpact.
Controlthe ControllableImagine that you’ve planned to loseone pound per week over the next ten weeks. You’ve made it to week three, andyou’ve proudly stuck to your plan. As a result, you’re three pounds lighter.Two activities havecaused your weight loss: You’vewalked three miles a day, and you’ve cut your total caloric intake.It’s now Monday of week four. Atthe start of your daily walk, you trip and sprain your ankle. The doctor saysthat you cannot bear weight on it for two weeks. Suddenly, an accident, whichwas out of your control, has presented you with two realities:
1. You can’t change what happened.2. You can only change how youreact to new information.
Money Secret 5 You must have a good process to make good decisions.1. Complete InformationThis means you have a comprehensiveunderstanding of all the issues related to a particular decision you need tomake. Complete information includes a decision’s possible ramifications,consequences, and long-term costs. You also need an accurate assessment of theresources you have available to pay for your decision.2. Objective AnalysisIn order to move forward in a waythat will help you avoid hazardous obstacles, you must remove all personalbiases that could cloud your judgment. This is why I had you complete the MoneyMind exercise. Now you must have a methodology to assess the costs, benefits,and tradeoffs required to move ahead with your decision objectively.3. Deliberate ActionSimply put, this will answer thequestion, “As far as going forward with my proposed decision is concerned, isit yes or no, or both yes and no?” Once you’ve come to a conclusion, you mustfollow a clearly defined and well-organized series of action steps in order torealize the best possible outcome. The most systematic way to do this is tohave a disciplined process that walks you through all the important steps you needto take.
Joe John Duran is CEOand founding partner of United Capital, which consistently ranks as one of thenation’s fastest growing wealth counseling firms. He’s fueled by his passion tochange the industry and improve lives by empowering people to make better, moreinformed financial decisions. From CNBC to CNN, Joe frequently providescommentary on TV. He has been profiled in numerous publications, including the NewYork Times and Smart Money.
Please check us outon:  www.mymoneycode.com

Comparing Licensing Requirements for Water Well Drillers Texas and New Mexico Well Drillers

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Article ContentAuthor NameArticle TitleHomeSubmit ArticlesAuthor GuidelinesPublisher GuidelinesContent FeedsRSS FeedsFAQContact UsComparing Licensing Requirements for Water Well Drillers Texas and New Mexico Well Drillers?? by Onyxlaserin Business / Small Business ?? (submitted 2012-11-02)

For anyone looking to dig a water well, careful consideration must be given to what company is hired to do the work, particularly since the laws for each state are different. Water survey and expropriation companies have to know all state laws for every state where they operate. As well, they need to have a valid drilling license before commencing work. If they don't, the cost of drilling mistakes can be astronomical. States want to ensure that only trained professionals dig wells, so they have put in place strict licensing requirements. Below we will discuss what New Mexico well drillers and water well drillers Texas have to do to obtain a license to demonstrate just how different the requirements can be, even if the states are adjacent to each other.
Water Well Drillers Texas aEUR" Licensing Requirements
To become a licensed water well driller in Texas, an extensive examination has to be taken and passed. As well, experience qualifications must be met before the test can be taken. The experience requirements are a minimum of two years with either hands-on drilling experience or registration as an apprentice under a licensed driller. Proof of experience must be provided with the application to take the exam. Additionally, Texas residency has to be proven for 90 days prior to the date of the exam application. Four letters of reference also have to be supplied by experienced people who work in the industry along with two reference letters from satisfied customers. The requirements may seem excessive, but they are in place to ensure quality work and safety for everyone.
New Mexico Well Drillers aEUR" Licensing Requirements
The state engineer's office of New Mexico has set out several requirements for becoming a licensed water well driller. Drillers have to complete knowledge and skills tests that cover licensing and environmental regulations for the industry and for drilling in New Mexico. Additionally, the test covers cartography, geology, well drilling techniques, GPS system knowledge, and other topics related to drilling.
A minimum score of 70% is required to be eligible for a license. As well, New Mexico well drillers must also pass the National Ground Water Association's general exam, post a bond of $5,000.00, purchase a minimum of $300,000 in general liability insurance, and prove that they have worker's compensation coverage. These requirements are also in place to ensure quality and safety.
As you can see, the states of New Mexico and Texas want to ensure that a high standard is maintained for companies drilling for water in their respective states and that those people granted licenses have the proven ability to do the job well. Although strict license requirements are in place, clients choosing a company to drill water in these states should carefully investigate the qualifications of potential companies they are considering hiring.About the Author

For more information Water Well Drillers Texas and Water Well Drillers Texas please visit: http://www.wefindwater.com

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author's information and copyright must be included.

Onyxlaser

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Government Contracts now made Hassle Free

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Availing a GSA Schedule contract is a must for companies who wish to get government contracts. It is highly beneficial for the firms as they can bring more and more customers. Several firms act as consultants delving deep into the various norms of the federal government. This is an important process since you need to adhere to all these regulations.
Small companies should get the advantage of GSA marketing to explore various untapped areas across domains. For some organizations, it is a key to survival in the current economic scenario. You will have to involve in a tussle to get the contract with other firms in your area of operation. Stringent steps are there to judge your business potentials, and after the entire process, you will be able to make the most out of your GSA contract.
This program requires you to update your account on a periodical basis. You will get all the details pertaining to the functionality from many knowledge sharing sessions conducted by the government. It is advised to do a lot of surveys in an ethical manner in order to grab all the necessary information. Hiring consultants who will advise you in getting acquainted with the government marketing tactics is a wise thing to do.
In most of the cases, a lot of paperwork is involved. So perseverance is the key to go along with the process. On your behalf there should be well documented information- contact details, area of operation, a brief profile of the company and other essential information which a user would like to know. Small business units have a huge advantage while seeking a federal contract.
Seeking the contract is also a learning process for the organizations. You can be in the business sans any plush accommodation or automated support systems. Always be aware of the changes in government policies so that you can modify all your papers whenever required. Properly licensed organizations gain a good deal in the highly competitive market.
A wide array of services is on offer under the GSA schedule. The Government pays strict attention on the small companies so that they can thrive on the contracts. These firms have been assured of hundred percent support and less snags in the application procedure. You should clearly state the products and services you will like to exhibit and sell.
Selling to government agencies gives an extra edge to your business. The time and money spent in getting hold of a contract is worthwhile as you not only maximize the sales but also expose your company to a wider reach. This leads to brand enhancement to the next level. Organizations should not miss this golden opportunity.
Keeping your potential customers abreast of the rates and delivery schedules is an essential job from your end. You can also state clearly the features or USP of your company that sets it apart from your competitors. It makes things all the more transparent. It also enhances the credentials of your company. Government contracting services puts you in good stead in the commercial market. You will be no longer deprived of any aspect essential for the trade.
Hence ethical application process is the key to success in the arena of government contracts. Adhere to all the norms under the guidance of consultants who see to it that you get the best deal in the contracts.

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The Money Factory Online

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Our website has a new article, all about how to make money out of youtube step by step:-Sign up at a CPA networki monetize the traffic that I get from Youtube by sending them to CPA offers. If you don't know what a CPA offer is, well its basically like an affiliate network where they pay you every time a visitor you refer fills out a form. Getting people to fill out forms in exchange for some kind of freebie that the advertiser is offering is real easy. If you have an account at these or any other CPA I personally use MillnicMedia network, that will suffice. If you don't then I suggest you signup at MillnicMedia.-Find a good offer to monetizeI usually find offers that give away something free and are in vogue. For example, a free iPhone. The iphone is a very hot product right now and people are crazy about it.Find such an offer with the network you have signed up for. Try and pick an offer that has a landing page that is well designed and has a "call to action"Typically a well designed landing page is designed in such a way that the only action the visitor can do is to fill out the form or close the page.Pick out two to three good offers and save the affiliate links to a file.
-Download the video conversion software
Download the video conversion software

Files that are stored at youtube and other video sharing sites are in the ".flv" format that youll need to convert to mpeg. So to do that youll need this freeware called RIVA flv encoder. Download it from here

I'll explain how to use it further down.
-Make the video
Go to youtube or any other video sharing site and type the keyword in the search
box. In our example type "iphone"
You will find several videos uploaded by people. Find one that's generic and doesn't have too much branding in it.
The next step is to download this video from youtube or any other video sharing site that you found it at.
To download it visit this site

-Upload the video to Youtube
Upload the video to youtube and use a catchy title. Example "Win a free iPhone" In the description add the URL to the blog. Do not write anything else in the description. Add descriptive tags based on the offer you are promoting.
-Make it popular with Tube AutomatorFollow these steps on detail in our website!

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The Money Factory Online our new website about how to make money from home

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All About Walk in Bath Tubs

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Are you planning to remodel your bathroom because you have some elderly people in your house? Remodelling a bathroom is not easy task especially when you want a new tub inside. You have some dream tub design in your mind that is used by all age group people, but do not know from where and how you are going to fit that. No worries, you can rely on walkintubshop.com whose expert designer will help you how to choose without getting soaked.

Bath tubs and shower were once stringently utilitarian fixtures which has now become more than just bathing functions items. If you are thinking to update it, it is important that you choose a quality shop to shop your bathing items. The walk in tub shop offers wide range of tub styles, sizes and colour. However; with the range of options, you may find it challenging to shortlist one for your bathroom.After spending a hectic day, the most desirable thing to do is slipping into a whirlpool tub that soothes away your tension and renews your aching muscles. However; you don't have such luxury, but you can practically have this at affordable price from walk in tub shop which is one of the most reliable one online. The company provides quality bath tub, and refinishing bathroom products and services to the customers in professional and prompt manner. Now you can enjoy worry free bathroom remodelling as it efficiently takes care of all your bathing requirements attentively.

If you visit the store at walkintubshopcom, you will be surprised with the collection that it has for you such as acrylic tub, laydown tub, wheelchair tub and much more. It is not just about selling vanity items, but it offers you the lifestyle to have for your elderly people who find it difficulty in moving. All these are offered at amazing rates. If you are looking for certain colour to match, it also offers you with customized option to which you will not feel your bathroom mismatched. The tub installations are done professionally and neatly and while taking appropriate care of all your personal needs. Your new walk in tub will never shed your pocket for the maintenance and will lasts for the years to come as it is committed to offer you a satisfied bathing experience especially for elderly people and for those who have mobility issue.

Here the author Delia Perez writes about Walk in Bath Tubs. You can visit our site at walkintubshopcom to know about Walk in Bath Tubs.

Here the author Delia Perez writes about Walk in Bath Tubs. You can visit our site at http://www.walkintubshop.com/ or http://www.walkintubshop.com/our-walk-in-tubs to know about Walk in Bath Tubs.

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Medical Consulting Firm - Why You Need Them To Hire?

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Once the individuals or even businesses in un-related areas discover the required information regarding the medical issues, in that case hiring healthcare specialists is often necessary.
The medical consulting business services has currently developed into worldwide. Health care consultants can be found around the world. If you wish to flourish in this industry here are few powerful elements to make a successful business.
Anyone appointing medical consultant's provider, which can be significantly advantageous. The health care administration organizations provide a comprehensive range of options, for example programming, clinical payment, insurance plan request as well as distribution of automated statements. The professionals will certainly insure a person that clinic workflow will never be disrupted in delivering individuals statements information as well as create databases up gradations. This consultants give trainings to the staff as a way to do the job independently with no supervision. The physicians ought to dedicate additional time on patient care as well as scientific research rather at work functioning.
medical consultants' who serves as skilled witness in public deals own dual functions. The most important duty of a medical professional is usually to assess the information. In cases of any accidents occur; the process of verification is carried out by medical experts about how this took place and the impact of damage on sufferer with regard to evidences.
The capability to communicate complex healthcare information to set persons is usually mandatory in the industry of health care. Producer offering medical products e.g. can not be expected to incorporate in detail knowledge of manufacturing procedures and treatments. As a result, these firms recurrently layout solutions depending on the information provided by medical professionals.
For high quality guarantee the industries delivering products and services associated with medical care will use these kind of experts. In the industry, of entertainment the firms consulting to health care television are used to incorporate believability/practicality to programs telecasted over a small screen associated with health intrigue.
If we are working with medical care professional, the providers of medical care find a lot of the issues solved. The health care professionals are the experts who put forward the valuable ideas and assistance with different facets, that include the exercise revenues combined with the earnings of health care providers as they provide superior standard care. The other functions offered by health care professionals contain assisting in terms of improving the levels of repayments, increasing the present records along with collection method of health care suppliers.
medical experts are generally aimed at the difficulties which are not settled by the health care providers, as they don't have much expertise. For example, the physicians, specifically from personal practice, have several issues about patient's wellness; here medical care professionals are extremely much in need. Most of the aspects manage hiring, queries linked to book keeping and other technical stuff that aren't been researched. Additional, the aspects related to medical and business features, which can be very difficult. Because of this cause, the health care consultants come in demand nowadays.

Hiring a medical consulting firm will greatly help you to maintain all the necessary data without any hassle. To know about the various benefits of outsource medical billing services, you can contact us.

Nancy Shevell is an expert article writer for various topics such as health, beauty, business, law, medical services etc. To know more about the medical billing management, you can contact us.

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Relieve Your Eye - Optics Lab #Giveaway ($50 value)

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Working in a sports bar for so many years, I have very dry eyes.   Well, I guess that is why they are so dry.  I really don't know why.  I used to wear contacts, but then I had to basically stop wearing them to work, as my eyes were so dry that it was miserable.  I actually had my eye doctor give me those artificial tears drops to try and help me...
Now, I hardly ever wear my contacts.  I normally wear them if I am going on a road trip (so I can wear my sunglasses) or if I am going out somewhere...   Other than that... glasses are 24/7.
I now also try and keep a bottle of eye drops in my purse at all times. 
We were at a going away party once and this girl needed eye drops... They were from out of town and there was no where near us to go shopping to buy any.  I gave her my bottle and told her I had more, so she could keep it... but, what if I had needed some on the way home? 
I remembered when I was younger my mom had these individual tubes that she kept in her purse..
I actually had some that I took with me to school.  Then, she never had them anymore, so I thought they must have stopped making them.

Now, I see they didn't!!!
OcuFresh is the name!!!
OcuFresh comes in these small vials that have a single "dosage" in there...
Perfect to have in your purse... brief case, suitcase, bookbag... get what I am saying?!
That way, you can use it if you need... and have plenty for if you need to share a vial for someone else to use later!
We were sent a great package full of OcuFresh Products..
I was so excited for the mini-drops...as that was what we used to carry all the time.

But then, I was totally surprised to learn of new to me products..  ( I say new to me, as my mom knew of it...)
OcuFresh Eye Wash The way most use Eye Wash is as remedy for urgent care situations. It is a fluid that can be used to safely and quickly wash harmful substances out of the eye, such as dust, irritants, or any other foreign matter that caused irritation or discomfort to the eye. No household should be without it. This is especially true, if kids are present. After all, most kids, at some point, get something lodged in their eyes. If you have OcuFresh^® on hand, the particles can be quickly and painlessly flushed out of their eyes. Eye wash helps your eyes to remove air pollutants or irritants and helps relieve your eyes from discomfort or itchiness.

OcuSave:

May help prevent or slow the progression of macular degeneration

May help reduce the risk of cataracts

Contains essential minerals to support ocular nutrition

Powerful antioxidants for healthy eye vision

With 50mg lutein and 10mg zeaxanthin

Now, one lucky winner will win a prize pack full of the products like what we received! 
Contest for US Residents Only

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Daris Howard Books for the Holidays - #holidaygiftguide

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Can you believe Christmas is almost here?
Wow... It really seems like this year has flown by!!!
Where does the time go?

Since the holidays are approaching, I wanted to remind you to take time to relax and enjoy the time, yes, life is hectic, but you can sneak a minute or two now and then!!
For me, I love when I have a few minutes to take a nice hot bubble bath! 
Especially when we do have cold weather (Not too much of that lately, but I don't want ice again, so I am not going to complain that much!)
When I DO get to enjoy a bubble bath, I love reading a couple pages of a good book and that is why I want to share a couple books for you to check out.

I have to admit, I have not read these yet...
Life, hectic.. remember?  But, I do plan on reading them soon!!!!

Until then ( I will post reviews when I actually do read them) I did want to share so you could see if this was something that might be of interest to you.


Super Cowboy Rides:
Meet six year old Tommy Johnson, Super Cowboy and Super Story-teller.  When Tommy explains why a boy needs a dog for a pet instead of a cat, he wins everyone over with his down to earth and humorous view of the world.  But once Tommy starts school, things get complicated.  He gets put in the lowest reading group and told to stay in the back of the classroom.  He is picked on by his teacher and mocked by classmates. 
When tragedy strikes, Tommy must carry a burden beyond what any first grader should have to face.  In the process of dealing with his grief, Tommy learns the meaning of true friendship.  

The Three Gifts:
 A beautiful Christmas story about three young men who are convicted of mugging little children for their Halloween candy.
Instead of sentencing them to jail, as is expected, the judge sentences them to 100 hours of community service babysitting at the Women's Crisis Center.
They were prepared for jail, but they were not prepared for what was in store for them as the children opened their eyes and hearts and changed their lives.

Show More Life's Outtakes:
52 stories, one for each week, from the popular story column "Life's Outtakes."  These stories are a humorous and inspirational view of community and family life. 

These all look like great books and I honestly cannot wait to enjoy reading them! 

FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. ow Less

@OriginalFanBand Affordable Sports Memorabilia

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We keep saying that we are going to exercise... but that is about it... We have a walking track near us that we have gone to a few times and I will officially start walking when Broxton goes back to school in the New Year. 
I have a Fan Band to wear, but to be totally truthful, I doubt I will wear it.
First of all...
What is a fan band? It is an armband for you to show your support of your team/player without breaking the bank!!!
I was excited to see that they had the Braves... Hey, I am from Georgia.. and I am not a bandwagon fan.  Good, Bad or Ugly, I am still a Braves fan.  (Marc is a SF Giants fan...) 
Well, they sent me a Braves one alright :)
But they did not just send any Braves fan band...
They sent me a CHIPPER JONES fan band.   So, this fan band is not going to be worn! 
He just retired... 
I wanted to put it up for safe keeping for Broxton, but I did not know if that was just me being crazy, or what.. I ended up asking Marc (he said to do what I wanted to do with it.. ) I then asked a friend of ours that is a big sports fan.  As soon as I was telling him about it, he was immediately like, you didn't open it, did you?  Keep that!
So.. it is not going to be opened.. it is up for safe keeping! 
If you are a sports fan, or know someone who is..
This is a great (and inexpensive) way to show their team pride and still have money left to enjoy a game!!!!
The fan bands are in MLB and NBA jerseys...
Head on over to look and see if they have your team!
Make sure you like fan bands on Facebook and Twitter. FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. w Less


Great Snacks With @FunnyFaceCran

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Let's get right to the point...
Broxton will try most anything, if you work with him on it...
If you try and force it, he will adamantly say no...
Kinda like his mom... except he is up for trying more...

I am not a fan of cranberries, but Marc is...
Then, I saw Funny Face Dried Cranberries... and get this.. they are flavored cranberries! 
They come in four fun flavors: strawberry, cherry, grape and raspberry! 
(No worries, they have fun names to add to the funny face of it all!)

So, when I had the chance to review Funny Face Dried Cranberries, I thought Broxton would be a perfect taste tester for me.... Lucky for me, I was able to have the honest truth by sending it in as a treat for his classmates!
They were able to enjoy (or not, whatever the case may be) them as a treat during school one day.

To get an accurate review, his wonderful teacher did a head count and here are the results:
For the rootin' tootin' raspberry, we had 5 out of 9 love them.  As for the goofy grape, 7 out of the 9 loved them!!! Since Broxton is such a fan of grapes, it was no surprise that the grape was his favorite!  His teacher said that all of the kids asked for seconds, so if you are looking for a great healthier snack... Look into Funny Face Cranberries!!! 

Make sure to follow Funny Face Cranberries on Facebook and Twitter.

FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

New Illustrations for Aesop's Fables #holidaygiftguide

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I hate to admit it, but I was sort of unfamiliar with Aesop's Fables.  Yes, I had heard of them, but other than that, I was none the wiser...
Then, we received a beautiful book in the mail!
Since the mid 1980's, Charles Santore has been working on illustrating children's books.  Lucky for us, he worked on Aesop's Fables!!
He arranged the tales based on each animal... and the tales and illustration are great!!!
This book includes 24 of the famous tales...
With probably the most famous of all... The Hare and the Tortoise...
Add to it, that particular illustration is a pull out spread!!!!!
If you are looking to add to your family library, I guarantee you will be impressed with the illustrations... and might realize you are familiar with more of Aesop's Fables than you give yourself credit for!!!



FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

Healthy Habits: Safe and Secure New Year's Eve (Guest Post)

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This New Years Eve keeping your plans inorder can be a hassle.Tons of questions comes up in what events you shouldpartake in to feel safe. guardNOW private security guard services has ways tomake sure your New Years Eve plans go accordingly.
Having a party? Hire a Security Guard! guardNOW offers 24hrs a day 7days weekcoverage to all kinds of events.
Why do I need to hire a guard?• Unwanted Guests• An ID Check, you never want to be caught with underageattendees• Unruly Guest (if you’re serving alcohol)• Help escort guest to cars or help call a taxi  You don’t want to bring in yournew year with unfortunate mishaps when all you needed was that second pair ofeyes making sure things are staying in order. New Years Eve is the perfect day forhome invaders; everyone is somewhere else for this holiday. Ways to keep yourhome secure:• Get To know your neighbors (if they are home let them knowyou will be out)• Avoid telling Social Media your whereabouts (as scary as itsounds you never know what your “friends” have in mind)• Make sure everything is secure i.e. windows, doors, doggydoors and fences• Finally as your leaving check your street to make sure noone is in their car watching you leave  Hiring a babysitter and letting themwatch your kids at your own house is also a way to keep your home secure forNew Years Eve, if you make your baby sitter aware of more than just thechildren you will have a great night. Here are ways to keep your baby sitter upto a proficient speed.• Let them know to NEVER let anyone in the house, theirfriends, your friends, a neighbor NOONE• If a window, garage door, back sliding glass door is open,never let it out of eye site. Once that open place gets out of eye sight it isopen to anyone.• Always have a phone in arms reach; you can never call fornothing. Any sign of weird noises or knocking at the door it is best to contactthe parents, security around the area or the police.• Trust and know your own babysitter and keep all valuableitems locked away. Nothing should be in eyesight for viewing from in or outsidethe home  What if I’m staying at home? Ishould be safe there! Staying in is the best way to avoid incidents happeningat parties or events and from your home being broken into. But why notcelebrate bringing in another year with loved ones and friends?! Payingattention to details of keeping your home a safe place will relieve you ofworrying about what’s going on when you’re gone. You never knowwhat your night has planned for you but at least you followed tips on how toavoid a disappointing ending. Enjoy your New Years Eve worry free. HappyHolidays From guardNOW!
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