Busy Body Books Review & Giveaway AND Storytelling Picnic Table Talk

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This week's picnic table talk is all about storytelling. We want to know your favorite read alouds, book related activities and art projects, your favorite authors, anything book related! Please link up below and then read on about a great giveaway we've got for you today!



To make this picnic table talk special we decided to bring along a book of our own to share with you, and while this one isn't a storybook it does in effect hold the story of your busy lives. In it you will find a great organizer and planner. BusyBodyBook's Personal and Family Organizers offer a way to keep track of the important schedules, appointments, and details that make up the story of a busy family all in one handy place.I received a grape academic calendar August 2009-August 2010 to review and I like many of its design features:

• Protective clear plastic front and back covers make sure it'll last through frequent handling and being put in and out of my tote bag.
• Front and back covers are laminated for extra durability
• Both covers also have a pocket for tucking the endless slips of papers and notes I seem to accumulate
• Spiral binding lets the book open fully and lay flat
• Movable bookmark so you can flip quickly to the current week

A suggestion I have is that there be more options for the cover design, both the apple and grape designs are gender neutral and neither really express my personality. While either would be fine for a man to carry around, I think a more feminine design would appeal to many of Busy Body Book's target demographic. I noted that for the 2008 year they did have a funky floral design, and I think something along those lines should be included each year.

Inside the book there is a lot more to like:

• A spot to list by month important events like birthdays and anniversaries for this year {and}
• A corresponding spot to jot these dates down for next year too
• Six months at a glance double page spreads so you can get an overview of the upcoming months
• Extra note pages at the back of the book
• Perforated To Do lists, these would be great for shopping lists
• Important people contact page
• Restaurant and take out contact page

My only other suggestion for BusyBodyBooks would be to include a double page spread monthly calendar page at the start of each month. The six month at a glance pages are nice but the space to write in is small. I'd like to be able to see an overview of each month quickly instead of having to flip through the weekly pages.

I really like how each week is given a double page spread with plenty of room to write. On the left hand side is a place to jot notes, lists, thoughts, or goals. Besides it is a place to put your to do list and check them off as you accomplish them.

The right hand side of the double page spread is a weekly grid with five columns that you can assign to each family member or even personal goals. Students could even use it to keep track of their subjects and assignments. I really like the large dates, because for a young gal I have terrible vision and need all the help I can get. I also appreciate the large boxes in the grid so I don't have to try and squeeze in my notes for each day.

Overall I think BusyBodyBook's Personal and Family Organizers can be an invaluable tool for busy families with multiple schedules to keep track off. I like all the features and how you can choose your own topics to keep track of and personalize it so it works for you. I know this will really help me organize my personal life, preschool, blogging, and appointments for the upcoming year and am glad to have it as a resource!

Organize Your Life!
Buy one today! BusyBodyBooks come in two formats

• Aug '09 - Aug '10 BusyBodyBook ACADEMIC YEAR Personal & Family Organizer
• 2010 BusyBodyBook Jan - Dec Personal & Family Organizer

Don't need a whole book to record things in or you want everyone to be able to refer to it? Then you need to check out the BusyBodyBook Wall Calendar. Everyone can see where everyone is or heading at a glance and use it to help them plan their own activities.Need to start using one today? They even have an undated weekly grid pad so you can start getting organized whenever you're ready!
Win a BusyBodyBook!
TWO, yes you read that correctly, TWO of our readers will win a product of their choice from Busy Body Books! You can choose a planner or a calendar, whichever fits your family's needs the most.

To Enter:
Visit BusyBodyBook's and take a look at their products, come back and tell us which one you'd pick if you won and why.

Extra Entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each additional method)

• Follow ABC publicly
• Add a link to this week's Picnic Table Talk
• Post about this giveaway linking to this post and our sponsor, leave us a link to your post
• Follow BusyBodyBooks on Twitter @busybodybooks, tweet about this giveaway and leave us a link to your tweet

Good Luck! Giveaway open now until August 12 midnight EST for US residents.

Disclaimer: We received our product from BusyBodyBooks free of charge for the purpose of writing a review for their shop and hosting this giveaway on our blog. However, it is important to note that our opinions are genuine and no effort was made by the company to influence our authentic review.

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