I cannot stop thinking about how grateful the passengers on yesterday’s US Airways Flight 1549 were, when they were brought to safety after crashing in the Hudson River. Had I been a passenger on that plane, today  I would have already given most of my life savings to that heroic pilot.

Are you grateful? Are your kids grateful? If you are grateful, then your kids will be too. No matter what is going on in your life, there should be something to be grateful for. I have often read about people who live to be over 100, and the main factor they all have in common is gratitude. Here is a partial list of the countless things I am grateful for:

• having a supportive, hard-working, loving husband with a hilarious sense of humor for the past 20+ years
• my happy, kind, smart, motivated, beautiful and talented teenage daughter, who still loves to spend time with her parents
• having an unconditionally loving dog, Gigi, with an IQ that is higher than most humans’
• good friends
• extra time I got to spend with my Mom before she passed away
• health
• the constant sun and warmth of South Florida
• Lilly P Badilly and freedom of expression
• speaking to elementary and middle school students who are eager to learn and laugh
• loyal blog readers!
• memories of my late grandparents
• time to exercise every single day
• my Viking stove and oven
• my Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer (3.5 times the size of loads as my old machines!)
• my garden – especially the tomato plants!
• summer vacations
• family reunions
• books
• my new mattress (only it is hard to get out of bed now!)
• NOT being on Flight 1549

My daughter tells me that every day, she gets comments from other students about her lunches and how unfair it is that they do not have fresh, gourmet lunches like that. She has had several kids beg her to have me make their lunches at least one time before the school year ends. So now I find myself making birthday lunches for other kids once in a while.

After years of making lunches, I think most moms or dads get tired of the whole ritual, and let their kids buy lunch by middle or high school. What a shame. Making lunch is not hard and does not have to be time consuming.

I am a major cook. We enjoy eating at home more than going out, simply because the food is always better here.  It is not hard to be a great cook. Famous TV chefs would not be happy to hear me say that there’s no magic to cooking, and anyone can do it!

In our family, we save so much $ by not going out often that we can afford the finest freshest, organic ingredients. We do not consume any processed foods. And the truth is that even if your dinners out are very casual, whatever amount of $ you spend on those mediocre meals can be better spent on high quality ingredients for you to cook yourself.

Often I cook a bit extra for dinner so I can put it in my daughter’s lunch the next day. Examples:

• Make a big salad for dinner with tons of veggies and grilled chicken. Set aside a lunch portion before you put dressing on it. It will be fresh and delicious the next day.  Just put the dressing in a separate container and your child can put it n the salad at lunch.
• Roast a turkey breast for dinner. Make an incredible sandwich with the freshest bread for your child’s lunch.
• Leftover pasta dishes are fabulous for lunch. I even put leftover garlic bread in the bag as well.
• Mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwiches are awesome!
• Grill or saute some chicken for dinner, and make a basil pesto mayo chicken sandwich for lunch the next day.
• Make eggplant parm for dinner and then make a sandwich with the leftovers on crusty Italian bread.
• Grill a bunch of veggies and them put them in the lunch with a bit of salad dressing. Yum!
• Make spaghetti with turkey meatballs and then make a meatball sub for the lunch box the next day.
• Stir fry with rice tastes great the next day!
• Grilled pizza is amazing leftover!

Other items for the lunch box/bag:

• Matchstick sliced carrots
• Sliced apples with cinnamon and sugar
• Hummus with crackers
• Greek salad with tomatoes, cukes and feta
• Veggie sandwiches
• Yogurt

Tips for packing lunches:

• I found insulated disposable bags on line that keep foods cold or hot. Often gourmet grocery stores use these when selling prepared foods and ice cream. These are great, because my daughter does not have to bring a lunch box to school to lug around. She is in high school, and it is a bit embarrassing to have a lunch box at that age! I had to buy these bags in a quantity of 500, but that was a perfect amount to get my kid through high school.
• I keep plastic containers that Parmesan cheese comes in to hold pasta and many other prepared foods.
• I put salads in zip lock bags and then include a paper plate to put the salad on.
• I buy small bottles of water. Not the pint size, because it is too heavy and gets wasted.
• I recycle plastic forks and spoons we get from occasional take out.
• Always include a paper napkin.

If you are really savvy, you could write funny, creative messages on the napkins. It can really make your child’s day!

Thank you, curious young readers for asking Lilly Badilly your geography questions! We will answer as many as possible. It may take a bit of time, so we appreciate your patience. If you have not heard about “Ask Lilly Badilly,” check it out now:

Keep Those Great Questions Coming!

Using two negatives in one thought can create a double negative and a grammaticlly fatal sentence.

“Lilly is not going nowhere.”

One could argue that the double negative cancels itself out here, and this sentence actually means “Lilly is going somewhere.” Think about it. If you are NOT going NOWHERE, then that must mean you ARE going SOMEWHERE.

There are times when 2 negatives may be used correctly, particularly when emphasizing a point. These sentences are okay, but it will take the reader an extra minute to figure out what the writer is saying.

“Don’t think for one minute that Granny is not bossy!”

“I would not be shocked to discover that Ruth Less, the spider, is not going to back down.”

In my opinion, it is better to try to not use no two negatives in one thought. But I will not lecture nobody if they they do not listen to what I am trying to not say. Try to figure that one out!

Today I am interviewing Shiela Martina, author of Hannah and Dexter: The First Meeting and dedicated Children’s Librarian at Colleton County Memorial Library in Walterboro, SC. We’ve woven Sheila’s prose from her essay for children, “What Fiction Means to Me,” into the interview. . .

“It is wonderful to know that authors are people who look for ways to contribute to language and culture.  Authors provide valuable books about lifestyles, customs, and traditions.”

How long have you been a children’s librarian?
I became children’s librarian at the Colleton County Memorial Library in Walterboro, SC in 1996.

What types of programs do you have for kids?

• Literary Contests (Writing, Essays, Poetry)
• Illustrate-A-Book Program
• Illustrator’s Contest
• Poetry Workshop
• Book Jeopardy
• To Tell the Truth
• And lots of others

“…children should desire to be readers, if nothing else.  It is the foundation of any profession.  A local child advocate once said, ‘If you teach a child to read, he can do or make anything.’  Children should be given the opportunity to explore a variety of genres.”

What do you like best about your job?
I love the interaction with children – seeing their faces as I read to them, when they win a contest and when they check out a book for the very first time.

What are some of the challenges facing a children’s librarian?
One major challenge facing us is not having enough staff to help with the routine tasks associated with a busy children’s department.

“I know that you are young, but you can be an author too!  Don’t you have an idea or a story or a song that is in your head?  All it takes is a creative mind with an uncommon imagination.”

What do you think parents can do to encourage their kids to read more?
There are several things that parents can do to encourage their children to read.

1. Parents should set an example by letting their children see them reading.
2. Children should be taken to the library regularly to select a favorite genre or book of their choice.
3. Parents and kids should get to know the children’s librarian at their local library and find out what programs are offered for children throughout the year.

Tell us what inspired you to write your children’s book, Hannah and Dexter: the First Meeting, and what is the book about?
Working with children for as long as I have was inspiration enough to create a book that would encourage children to act better, think better, and get along better in society.  Hannah and Dexter: The First Meeting is about friendship, different cultures, tolerance and teamwork. Teachers and parents can use this as a tool to encourage self-esteem and acceptance of others.

“Perhaps the best genre to start reading is fiction. There each reader will find his or her like or dislike of the genre and will seek another. To get started on this exciting trek of reading fiction books, the young reader must assume that the author is truly being inventive and expressing or communicating an unusual voice on a subject matter.”

How has being a librarian helped you become an author?
Being a librarian helped prepare me to become an author, because I have had so many opportunities to enjoy reading good books to children. Observing and listening to children’s responses from a good book or a happy ending of a story is inspiring.

What advice do you have for other children’s librarians who are thinking about writing a book?
Don’t give up on your dream of becoming an author. Keep writing and keep pursuing the idea of getting published.

What would you say to a young person who is considering becoming a librarian?
Anyone interested in becoming a librarian should volunteer in a library first. This will give you an idea of which department you will want to work in and what areas you’ll be best suited.

“Thank you, young authors.  Remember these words. The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the smarter you grow. The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, when speaking your mind and making your choice.”

For more information about Shiela Martina and her books check out her website by clicking here. You can email her for more information: shielamartina@yahoo.com.

If you are visiting the Walterboro, SC area, her books are in the Artisan Center and Pandora’s Gift Shop and in the Allendale area at Salkehatchie Arts Center.

To learn more about the Colleton Library, please visit http://www.colletonlibrary.org/.

Last night the moon was the closest it will be to earth in 2009. Here in Miami it was a spectacular sight!

Cabin Fever is foreign to us here in Miami! It is so gorgeous outside! 78 degrees and pure sun. There is a snow storm in NY right now! But  I  am sitting in the grass in my backyard watching my husband and dog, Gigi, (great defense!) play basketball.

But if you are getting tired of the winter weather, and your kids are getting Cabin Fever, here are some ideas to keep them entertained:

• Set up indoor bowling. Be creative with the pins (cans, plastic bottles, etc.)
• Do some indoor exercises together with your kids. (Yoga, aerobics, climbing the stairs, etc.)
• At night play hide and seek with the lights out using flashlights. Each child should be with a parent, so he or she does not get too frightened. This is a blast to play. We have done it many times, and loved it.
• Set up a tent in the living room or basement and go “camping” in the winter.
• If you cannot drive due to the weather, get together with neighbors to have hot chocolate or play some board games.
• Have your kids write and illustrate their own book about winter.
• If you can make it to the library, find out what programs they have for kids.
• Suggest that kids put on a play for the adults in the house. Have them practice and tell them to be creative with costumes by using what you have in the house. This will keep them busy for hours.
• Go through photo albums with your kids. They’ll love to see their baby pictures and pictures of your life before they were born.

If all else fails, plan a trip to Florida where you can always go outside (except for hurricanes)!

You’ve heard me talk about the lack of geography knowledge in American students. Smart Poodle Publishing is determined to make a difference! That is why we are so excited about our new venture – Ask Lilly Badilly All About the World. It is a humorous and educational Geography program for kids. It’s simple. Just type in an interesting geography question about the world to ask Lilly Badilly. Lilly will read your question on video, and author Debbie Glade will answer the question. You can view our first two videos from this page.

Pass on the word about our new program, and tell all the kids you know to email Lilly a question!

After seeing today’s weather report for most of our country, I have to wonder why January would be named National Hobby Month. What if a person’s hobby is surfing, bicycling or sailing? January would not be a great time for those hobbies – unless you live here in Miami. (I apologize for rubbing it in that it was 84 here today and sunny!)

So what are your hobbies? And your kids’ hobbies? If you don’t have enough hobbies that can be enjoyed during National Hobby Month, then try something new! Here are some ideas for the cold winter months:

• Aerobics
• Badminton
• Baking
• Ballet
• Balloon animal making
• Baseball Card Collecting
• Basket weaving
• Basketball
• Bead making
• Belly dancing
• Blogging
• Bonsai Growing
• Bowling
• Cake making
• Calligraphy
• Candle making
• Checkers
• Chess
• Coin Collecting
• Collage making
• Composing music
• Cooking
• Coupon clipping
• Crocheting
• Crossword Puzzles
• Dominoes
• Dryer lint crafting
• Dusting
• Eavesdropping
• Felt making
• Fencing
• Glass animal collecting
• Guitar
• Historical Reenactment
• Ironing
• Jewelry making
• Jigsaw Puzzles
• Journal writing
• Juggling
• Knitting
• Laundry folding
• Letter writing
• License plate collecting
• Magic tricks
• Marble Collecting
• Martial Arts
• Meditating
• Miniature box collecting
• Model collecting (cars, trains, planes, etc)
• Needlepoint
• Newspaper or magazine clipping
• Old movie watching
• Origami
• Paper airplane making
• Paper Mache
• Paper Weight Collecting
• People watching
• Photography
• Piano
• Pin-back button collecting
• Poetry writing
• Political memorabilia collecting
• Puppet theater plays
• Quilting
• Racquetball
• Reading
• River rock collecting
• Robot building
• Scrabble playing
• Scrapbooking
• Short film-making
• Singing
• Snow Globe collecting
• Soapmaking
• Sock drawer organizing
• Spoon collecting
• Star Gazing
• Sitar playing
• Sterilizing bathrooms/kitchens
• Sticker Collecting
• Swimming (indoor)
• Tap dancing
• Vacation house hunting
• Video Games
• Weightlifting
• Wine collecting
• Woodworking
• Wreath making

The holidays are over, but it is not too late to write thank you notes for the gifts you received. As I’ve mentioned before, my Grandmother considered thank you note writing to be an unwritten law! Unfortunately, not writing a note will likely be remember longer than if you write one!

The best way to encourage your kids to get in the habit of writing thank you notes is for them to see you writing them as well. Both adults and kids can follow these easy guidelines:

• Always write out the note by hand and mail it. No emails please!
• Keep it short and simple.
• Say thanks for the gift.
• Mention the actual gift(s) you received.
• State why you love the gift or how you plan to use it.
• Mention how much fun you had getting together (if the gifts were exchanged in person).
• Sign off.

Sample Thank You Note:

Dear Aunt Jayne:

It was so nice of you to give me the beautiful flannel PJs for Christmas. Thank you so much! They are so so comfortable and warm. How did you know that red is my favorite color? It was so nice to have you and Uncle Jim over for dinner. The kids always love having you around. We can’t wait for our next get-together!

Thanks again,

Love, Debbie