Diary of a Word Nerd

Improving grammar/Improving vocabulary/Recommended kid lit

Mindware: Activities to Stimulate Your Brain

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 2 Comments

It’s summertime, which means, in our part of the country, that kids have a few months off from school. But that doesn’t mean their brains have to rot.

Well, at least in my family it doesn’t.

Can I tell you how much I hate “the B word”? You know what I’m talking about… the one that starts with B and ends with D and implies that a child has nothing to do.

Here’s a passage from one of my favorite novels, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple:

Bernadette and I were driving Bee and a friend, both preschoolers, to a birthday party. There was traffic. Grace said, “I’m bored.”
“Yeah,” Bee mimicked. “I’m bored.”
Bernadette pulled the car over, took off her seatbelt, and turned around. “That’s right,” she told the girls. “You’re bored. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret about life. You think it’s boring now? Well it only gets more boring. The sooner you learn it’s on you to make life interesting, the better off you’ll be.

Go Bernadette! Nailed it!

To prevent “the B word” from contaminating my house this summer, I just ordered several books and activities from Mindware.com, a site with “brainy toys for kids of all ages”. The stuff at Mindware encourages kids to think logically and problem solve, something that, unfortunately, they don’t always do even within the school year. (I could rant about standardized tests and regurgitation here, but I won’t. Or did I?)

I don’t want busy work; I’m looking for things to keep their minds sharp. At Mindware, I can find games and puzzles to challenge each of my kids, aged 8 to 15. We’ve used Mindware products for years, and here are some of our favorites:

Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits – kids build electric circuits with child friendly parts. Teaches physics basics. Can be noisy-watch out for the alarm project!
Zoob Building Sets– an alternative to the ever-present Lego blocks. Zoob pieces fit together as ball and socket joints, which encourages a different approach to building.
Make Your Own Mask Kit– comes with mask forms and art supplies to create 10 masks. Promotes creativity, imagination, and drama. My daughter loved this during her “mustache phase”.
Wind Power Kit- Two of my boys used this kit to build their own wind turbine and learn about wind power. One turbine entered the science fair!
Tin Can Robot Kit – Turn an old soda can into a robot!
Q-Bitz – a game that works on pattern recognition and memory.
Puzzle books, leveled for various abilities. Myfavs:
- Analogy Challenges
- Word Roots
- Perplexors
- Venn Diagram Perplexors
- Multiplication Mosaics
- Addition Adventures
- Coin Clues: Making Change – because my kids shouldn’t need a calculator or cash register to do basic arithmetic

Do any of these sound fun to you? Hope so!

The weather forecast for our vacation looks a bit damp. Better pack up some puzzles and workbooks.

Word Nerd Note: Mindware didn’t pay me to write this post. I genuinely enjoy their products and wanted to share a nerdy tip. You can find a lot of these items at Amazon or other sites at cheaper prices, but I like using the catalog and the site to get ideas.

Where do you go to find books and activities to stimulate your brain and the brains of those you love?

Thanks for sharing!

Julia

Improving vocabulary

Does Yogurt Really Mean “Long Life”?

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

I recently found a display at my local “self-serve yogurt store” that intrigued me. Yes, I took a picture. Yes, my kids cringed with mortification.

I love yogurt, frozen or otherwise, and I had to know if one of my favorite snacks truly meant “longevity”.

Origin of yogurt

Yogurt: noun, from Turkish yogurt, meaning a tart, thick milk, from the Old Turkish root “yog” which meant to condense or intensify (BonAppetit.com)

Most scholars believe that yogurt has been around a long time… like 8000 years. Way back then, when herdsman in Central Asia milked their animals, the enzymes from the storage containers (animal stomachs) curdled and thickened the milk. The new food gained popularity because it stored well and tasted good.

Although I couldn’t find any evidence that the word itself means “long life”, Dairygoodness.ca and DownToEarth.Danone.com state that yogurt has long been associated with longevity and good health, and several studies support this.

Currently, yogurt is made by adding lactic bacteria to milk and warming it. The bacteria convert milk sugar (lactose) to lactic acid, which thickens the milk and gives it tart flavor.

Have you tried Greek yogurt? It’s made by fermenting milk and straining out the whey to create a product that is thicker and higher in protein. Greek yogurt holds up to heating well and is best for cooking.

I like Chobani Greek yogurt because Chobani sticks to the traditional method of straining, whereas some other companies make their yogurt “Greek” by adding starch and milk protein concentrate to thicken the product. This NPR piece explains the difference between the two methods of creating Greek yogurt.

Word Nerd Workout

What’s your favorite snack that comes from a foreign word? What’s your favorite yogurt?

I like making Overnight Oatmeal Yogurt Cups for breakfast. They are super easy:

1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup oatmeal
2 tsp sweetener (honey, brown sugar, etc)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp chia seeds
1/2 cup fruit (can be frozen)

Combine yogurt through seeds in a jar; shake. Mix in fruit and top with a teaspoon of oatmeal. Let sit overnight. Can store three days in the fridge.

Whew, all this food talk is making me hungry! Thank you to Dairygoodness.ca and DownToEarth.Danone.com for valuable yogurt info.

If you like to learn about words and word origins, join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme with Kathy at Bermuda Onion.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!

Julia

Book reviews/How to encourage reading/Improving grammar/News from book business/Words and Technology

Word Nerd’s Top Ten Favorite Podcasts

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

I’m in the “shuttle years” of parenthood- meaning, I spend an inordinate amount of time in the minivan delivering children to various activities. To keep my brain stimulated while adding miles to the Odyssey, I listen to podcasts. They’re also great for road trips. Since summer is the season of travel, I’d like to share my favorites with you.

Some emphasize “words” and include book reviews, writing tips, and bookish news. Others focus on “nerdiness”, with conversations about responsible use of technology and thoughtful commentary on life in general.

Wordy Podcasts

Books on the Nightstand Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness work in the publishing industry and share their thoughts on all things books. They recommend great reads and discuss things like “Why do some people like dark books?” and “Favorite books within books”. For summer, they are running a Book Bingo game that challenges listeners to read a variety of books. A must for all book lovers!
Helping Writers Become Authors K.M. Weiland is a published author who shares her expertise on writing. Tune in to learn about character development, outlining, or common writing mistakes. Last year she ran an excellent series on character arc that helped me with my novel revision.
The Narrative Breakdown Cheryl Klein is an editor who likes kid lit, among other genres, and James Monahan works in film. Together, they analyze topics like story structure and what makes a good character flaw. I’ve enjoyed many episodes, including interviews with YA authors Rainbow Rowell and E. Lockhart.
Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty packages her quick and dirty grammar tips into podcasts of 15 minutes or less. Sometimes she goes into extensive detail about word origins and the rules of grammar, more than my brain can handle in between soccer training and art class. But still, she has taught me a lot, especially a humble respect for the changing nature of language and the need to foster an attitude of open mindedness instead of prescriptivism.
Writing Excuses This podcast, hosted by a team of published authors including Brandon Sanderson, usually runs fifteen minutes. With humor and brevity, the hosts tackle important writing principles. Best of all, they encourage you to stop making excuses and start writing.

Nerdy Podcasts

Note To Self (formerly New Tech City) Manoush Zomorodi explores the impact of technology on our lives and helps listeners find balance in the digital age. I especially like listening to this one with the kids in the van; it sparks interesting discussion. Episode topics include how much screen time is appropriate for kids, talking to teens about tech, and the importance of spending time away from your phone to foster creativity. I’m not a huge tech geek, but I want to use technology in a thoughtful way, and Note To Self helps me do that.
The TED Radio Hour (Do you know what TED stands for? Technology, Entertainment, Design) In each episode, Guy Raz takes snippets from several TED talks and lumps them under one topic. For example, in “Framing the Story”, he included talks by a movie producer, an author, and a book cover designer. The variety of speakers keeps the episodes interesting and inspiring. I like listening to the TED Radio Hour while I run.
The Portfolio Life Author Jeff Goins believes that you don’t have to do just one thing with your life, but you should love what you do. He says it’s okay to be a mother and a writer and a photographer and a fitness expert. This concept of “A Portfolio Life” validates my existence. Jeff offers helpful tips for managing time and fostering creativity.
This is Your Life Michael Hyatt, a friend of Jeff Goins, is an entrepreneur who helps people with life goals and leadership. I don’t work in the business world, so not all topics apply, but usually Michael has something thoughtful and helpful to say about time management, personal interactions, and goal setting. Like this:

You must schedule the important things so they don’t get crowded out by the urgent things.

5. Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me Peter Sagal hosts this hilarious news quiz, my go-to podcast when I’m feeling sleepy on long car trips. I get to laugh and review current events at the same time! Note: this one isn’t always appropriate for the kids.

Do you listen to podcasts? What are your favorites?

Improving vocabulary/Recommended kid lit/Words and Technology

What Does Unctuous Mean?

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

One of my favorite podcasts is Note to Self (formerly known as New Tech City), a show that explores how technology affects our lives. In a recent episode, host Manoush Zomorodi used a recipe generator app to cook lunch with random items from her kitchen. The app suggested that she saute brussels sprouts with avocado. (Have you ever COOKED avocado before? Me either!) With heating, the avocado covered the brussels sprouts with a coating described as “unctuous”.

I had to look that one up!

To learn more interesting words, join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion.

Unctuous is an interesting word with multiple meanings.

Unctuous \’ǝn(k)-chǝ-wǝs\ adjective from Latin unctus, “act of anointing”

Fatty, oily
Smooth and greasy in texture
Plastic
Revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness

In Note to Self, the fatty or smooth and greasy meaning was implied. However, I know I’ve heard the “smug” connotation of the word as well.

Word Nerd Workout

Think of a synonym for unctuous. I’m going with insincere.

Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.

Nooks and Crannies Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the blog to enter the giveaway for Jessica Lawson’s new kidlit novel, Nooks and Crannies. I have to tell you, I got this for my 11-year-old son to read for a road trip, and he loved this mystery.
And the winner is…

Debbie Rodgers

Debbie, Jessica will be in touch soon to get details for mailing your copy of Nooks and Crannies.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today! Come back on Friday to learn more about Note to Self and my other favorite podcasts.

Julia

Favorite Authors/How to encourage reading/Recommended kid lit

Hidden Passages, Nooks & Crannies, and a Giveaway

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 11 Comments

Please welcome my guest, Jessica Lawson. She has just released her second middle grade novel, Nooks and Crannies. She’s here to talk about secret passages, fun words, and of course, her novel!

I just finished Jessica’s first novel, The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher, which is fun historical fiction set in the time of Tom Sawyer. Becky has a unique and humorous voice, and I truly enjoyed her adventures. I can’t wait to read Nooks and Crannies. Don’t forget to leave a comment so that you can enter the giveaway, and please spread the word!

And here’s Jessica:

In terms of a dream home, my husband and I are on the same page: if we had the resources to live in any kind of house, an old stone farmhouse would be our first choice. I’d prefer if it had a hidden passage, but if that’s not in the cards, maybe we could add one (in fact, this being a “dream” house, I’m sure we could).

I love the idea of hidden spaces and passages so much that when I started working on a manuscript featuring an old English manor home, I had to include a few sneaky hideaway spots.

That manuscript became my newest middle grade book, Nooks & Crannies (summary at the end of this post). To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment—feel free to share which hidden passage you’d like best from the ones pictured below.

But first, since this IS a word blog, I thought I’d share the origin of the words in my title:

Nook

1: chiefly Scottish : a right-angled corner
2 a: an interior angle formed by two meeting walls; b: a secluded or sheltered place or part- searched every nook and cranny; c: a small often recessed section of a larger room

Cranny

1 : a small break or slit : crevice
2 : an obscure nook or corner

Nook and Cranny:

I’ve searched for it in every nook and cranny, and I still can’t find it.

This metaphoric idiom pairs nook, which has meant “an out-of-the-way corner” since the mid 1300s, with cranny, which has meant “a crack or crevice” since about 1440. Neither noun is heard much other than in this idiom.
-via The American Heritage Idioms Dictionary

And now, here are some hidden spaces/passages that you could have built in your home. Which design do you like best?

Given the choice, I’d go with one of the last two options (though bending over to scoot through the fireplace might not be as much fun as I get older).

NOOKS & CRANNIES summary:

Tabitha Crum is a girl with a big imagination and a love for mystery novels, though her parents think her only talent is being a nuisance. She doesn’t have a friend in the world, except her pet mouse, Pemberley, with whom she shares her dingy attic bedroom.

Then, on the heels of a rather devastating announcement made by her mother and father, Tabitha receives a mysterious invitation to the country estate of the wealthy but reclusive Countess of Windermere, whose mansion is rumored to be haunted. There, she finds herself among five other children, none of them sure why they’ve been summoned. But soon, a very big secret will be revealed— a secret that will change their lives forever and put Tabitha’s investigative skills to the test.

Don’t forget to leave a comment! The giveaway is open until Tuesday, June 23.

Jessica Lawson does not live in a fancy manor house, but she does deal with mysteries on a daily basis. Most of those mysteries involve missing socks and shadowy dessert disappearances. She lives in Colorado with her husband and children. Visit her online at jessicalawsonbooks.com or connect with her on Twitter.

Improving vocabulary

What Does Ex Libris Mean?

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 20 Comments

I was getting ready to share my copy of Glitter and Glue with my friend Andrea. (She loves creative non-fiction. Check out her site.) Since I’m very fond of Glitter and Glue, I wanted to stick a bookplate in it to mark it as part of the Julia Tomiak library. As I pasted the “Ex Libris” sticker in the paperback, I wondered what “ex libris” means. A Word Nerd ought to know.

To learn more interesting words, join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion.

Ex libris \eks-lē-brǝs\ noun. Literal translation from Latin: “from the books.” According to Webster’s, ex libris is a bookplate.

I should have known; ex = “out of”

Do you use bookplates? Here are some links to some cool looking bookplates on Amazon. I need to order more!

Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.

Word Nerd Workout

Share another Latin phrase that we’ve absorbed into English, like “pro bono”. (Which literally means “for the public good”)

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Julia