Elephant Blue by Frances Gilbert

I can say without a doubt that Alice prefers story time to television time. ANYTIME!! Two year old Alice would rather cuddle up and read books almost more than a trip to the park. (Almost…) I was thrilled to be allowed to review Elephant Blue by Frances Gilbert. This is a fun rhyming, sing song journey of animals and colors. The illustrations are stunning!!

This book sends Alice’s imagination into overdrive!! Pointing at pictures, asking questions. AND wanting to hear the story AGAIN!  I LOVE that!!! By the way, if there were a chapter for Alice, she said she would be sparkle pink!

Granted, this book is meant for 3rd to 5th graders, but don’t tell Alice that! She loves the poetry of Elephant Blue. The description of the animals, the mention of the colors sparked her to ask questions. What color is chartreuse? What color is RUBY?  Alice loves rhyming books, she loves big book, small books, green books, orange books and she loves Blue Elephants by Frances Gilbert.

This is a soft cover book. There are 26 imaginative pages describing animals with colors that make you SEE them in your minds eye and on the pages.  Cyntia deHahn does a spectacular job with the illustrations.

If you are looking for a book that inspires your child’s imagination, this is it!  4 thumbs WAY up for Elephant Blue!

Along with Elephant Blue, there are tons of excellent books at Kabuki Helps.  Use coupon code Peanutbutter for 10% off!!

Disclosure: I have received complimentary/free products for the purpose of this review. The opinions are 100% mine. I have not been influenced in any way. I am disclosing this in accordance with Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials In Advertising. Peanut Butter And Whine.

Refreshing My Old Blog Posts: The Good, The Bad, and The 404s

Updating an old blog post is a lot like an archaeological dig. You head in expecting a quick “dusting” of the archives and end up unearthing a series of questionable life choices from 2014. From over-filtered photos to advice that didn’t age quite as well as a fine cheddar, the past can be… loud.

I recently opened a “quick update” on an old favorite, only to find a digital wasteland:

• Missing Images: Key tutorial steps that now require “extreme imagination” because the hosting site vanished.
• The Dead Link Graveyard: Half my former brand partners have apparently rebranded as “AI Crypto Collectives” or simply ceased to exist.
• Antique Fonts: We’re talking styles that haven’t been cool since the dial-up era and look like they belong on a Geocities fan page.

Why I’m Optimizing This Blog

It’s not just about vanity; it’s about SEO survival. While I might be cringing at my old writing style, fixing broken links and updating keywords is like whispering “Pick me!” directly into Google’s ear.

When I refresh this content, the site runs faster, the “404 Not Found” errors disappear, and the search engine gods are finally appeased. I’m not spiraling into a mid-blog crisis; I’m just clearing out the blog ghosts to make room for new traffic.

How I Am Giving My Content a Facelift

I’m sitting on a mountain of old posts, here is the “Peanut Butter and Whine” guide to a quick refresh:

1. Killing the 404s: I’m using a plugin to find dead links and point them somewhere useful.
2. Update the “Now”: If I mentioned a product from five years ago, I’m trying to swap it for the 2026 version.
3. Spruce up the Metadata: Making sure my Focus Keyword (like “blog”) is in the headers and the first paragraph.

While You’re Here…

Don’t let your visit be a “one and done!” Since I’m already tidying up the place, why not stay a while?

• Win Big: Check out the sidebar for my current giveaway—I promise this one is actually alive and kicking!
• Earn Cash: Some things never go out of style. Rakuten still pays you to shop, and in this economy, why wouldn’t you take the free money?