Tudy Talk

Best for Last?

It's the final movie of the Harry Potter saga and although I haven't watched it yet, already I'm feeling forlorn!

But wait! J.K. Rowling's Pottermore promises to give us more wizarding magic! So re-read the books, watch the DVDs, watch the latest movie and register on Pottermore! Like magic, I think Harry Potter will be with us evermore!

Lost and Found (Not)

He's baaaack! Unfortunately, he's lost! Percy Jackson, that is. But that's not to say that Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero leaves us looking for something more. Because as sequels go, this has everything we love!

The Lost Hero is the first book of the Heroes of Olympus series and already I can't wait to read book 2! There's lots of the humor, adventure and Greek myths that made the first series so olympian, but there's more! Now we get to see how the Greek gods morphed into Roman ones. Mythology heaven, literally!

So, TudyGreeks, get lost in The Lost Hero and you'll find yourself asking for more!

What's the Buzzz...

If "Horton Hears A Who" then I hear it too!

Everyday is Earth Day, so here's another eco-friendly,Tudy Tip dedicated to the littlest farmers out there: the humble, ever-so-busy, honey bee! Plant a strawberry bush (real simple and easy to grow!) or a cherry or pear tree. The bees will do the rest and help pollinate your garden. Then buzz onto Help the honey bees! Mind your beeswax and learn more about these fascinating insects. (Oh, and dress up a honey bee for me too! Imagine that!!!) Get bee-sy, honey!

Earth Hour!

This March 26, Saturday, wherever in the world you may be, from 8:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m., switch off all your lights and join Earth Hour. This wonderful movement started in 2009 and was an illuminating success! So be part of it again this year. It's easy - all you have to do is turn off that switch! I'm sharing with all of you a Truly Tudy Lantern I made for Earth Hour. It's a symbol of hope and light and all things heart-felt! Make your own and pass it around! And check out what other amazing things you can learn and do for Earth Hour!

XOXO

"Most of the time, Dolores, and her sister, Faye, got along just fine."

But when Dolores breaks her promise to Faye to "never, ever" borrow anything from her sister's dresser (OMG... like that is sooo possible! Which is why I share everything in my closet!!!), things start spinning out of control! And all because of an adorable, froggie necklace! In matters of the heart Y, can sisterhood prevail?

This Valentine, curl up to this tale of two sisters (and one totally clueless cat). Happy Valentine's Day, Dolores is all about the hilarious trials and triumphs of sisterhood. How can two sisters be so alike and yet so separate and distinct, you ask? It’s all part of a charmed life, I guess.

Penned by famed novelist, Barbara Samuels, and peppered with whimsical heart Y art throughout, Happy Valentine’s Day, Dolores will have you (and your sisters!) loving out loud! So forget The Necklace. Forget The Frog Prince. Forget The Boy from Paris (Texas, that is!). This book is Tudy's charmed classic for this season of hearts Y!

Hop-py New Year!

Chinese New Year, that is! The new lunar year starts on February 3, 2011 and it's the year of the quiet and peace-loving RABBIT!

Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration, culminating in a full moon and the colorful Lantern Festival. To the Chinese, it's a truly special time for friends, family, and food. The young and old, married and single, gather to wish each other a healthy and prosperous New Year. In many ways, it really is everybody's holiday!

Each lunar year is welcomed with a respective shengxiao or zodiac. There are 12 guardian animals of the Chinese zodiac. (Think multiples of 12, Tudygirls! Work that abacus!!) They were introduced by Emperor Huang Di almost 5 centuries ago. They are: the Rat (1996, 2008), Ox (1997, 2009), Tiger (1998, 2010), Rabbit (1999, 2011), Dragon (2000, 2012), Snake (2001, 2013), Horse (2002, 2014), Goat (2003, 2015), Monkey (2004, 2016), Rooster (2005, 2017), Dog (2006, 2018), and Pig (2007, 2019). Depending on your year, certain animal traits reflect aspects of your personality. Do you know your shengxiao or animal zodiac? Remember, your guardian animal offers up happiness and luck. Go ahead, look it up!

So a Kung Hei Fat Choy to one and all! It's time to get hop-py!

How to Say Goodnight...

Losing a best friend is never easy. So it helps when you have a little book to guide you through it. No, this isn't a self-help book. Say Goodnight, Gracie is a bittersweet novella by Julie Reece Deaver that's been around for more than 30 years! And I think the reason why it's been around so long is because it really helps you understand grief and helps you deal with it. I know this isn't the usual kind of book I like, but sometimes, Tudy Girls, you've just got to face the hard stuff! And it's easier when you have a little go-to book like Say Goodnight, Gracie.

So read it, keep it or give it. There may be a time you'll need to say Goodnight...

Belated Happy Birthday, Peanuts!

Good Grief! How could I have missed it! Last October 2010, Peanuts, the beloved comic strip of Charles Schultz, celebrated its 60th birthday! We all love Snoopy, and you can imagine why he's Woofy's idol! And Kawaii only fluffs her feathers for Woodstock! Meowry has a purring for Linus (must be that blanket!) but me? I have a soft spot in my heart for Lucy! Always loved her sassiness!

So better late than never! Happy Birthday, Peanuts! You've come a long way!

Happy New Make-over Year!

Hats off! It's a New Year! It's time for a make-over!

Are you contemplating any new resolutions this year? If you are, do remember; the ancient Babylonians were just as quick to make or break those resolutions year after year. So I'm taking my cue from history. I'm keeping it simple and real. I'm looking forward,not backward.

As we welcome the make-over year, let me share a favorite poem of mine. It was written by Shel Silverstein, an American writer, poet, and cartoonist.

Here it is, so read on:

Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.

Listen to the shouldn'ts,
the impossibles, the won'ts.

Listen to the never haves,
Then listen close to me ....

Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.

Hat's off to the New Year! Have a Great 2011!

Jingle Bells, All Is Well!

Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May)

'Tis the season! And you're probably making your list, checking it twice, thrice even.

But before you get caught up in that gift-receiving frenzy, let that sassy, angst-ridden, first grader, Junie B. Jones, help you discover the true Spirit of the Season. (P.S. It's all about others too!)

Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So does May) is a hilarious take on the holiday, gift-giving experience. It's a laugh-out-loud book for all ages, no matter what grade you're in.

The book's 118 pages will fly off your hand in no time. It'll have you laughing all the way to the mall, or, for some, away from it. More importantly, it'll help you remember what the Season is all about. Think about it. Aren't the simple things the ones that matter most? Like a new friend in the least expected twists and turns? So read it, give it, keep it.

And, honestly, isn't that red ribbon sewn into the book's binding simply adorable? Stylish yet sooo Junie B.! It really is the "bestest"!

Trust me on this one. It's a wrap!

Pure Dead...

And finally, Frozen! What seems to be the last of Debi Gliori's Pure Dead series finds the Strega-Borgias in yet another storm, this time of the snow variety! It's the middle of winter, the devil is hunting them, so are hired assassins, there's a new baby, and a new demon baby too! The wolves are out, so are the bats, the ancestors can't be framed, and Damp is trying out her magic. It can get a little too confusing and convoluted with all sorts of mythical and magical creatures running loose (did Ffup really have to have that egg?) but one thing's for sure, it's all very amusing! So if you're chilling at home because of freezing weather, then Frozen's the way to go! And don't forget Magic, Wicked, Brilliant, Trouble and Batty to complete your Pure Dead fix.