Flippy and Friends

Flippy is a whimsical little tadpole who encourages kids to use their imaginations to be anything they wish!  Four books and stuffed animals to go with them are just delightful! (all ages, Flippy and Friends, $6.99 – $12.99)

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity

Published by Klutz, this hilarious 410 page book is filled with hundreds of crazy tricks and goofy ideas for hours of laughter and silliness like:  how to bounce a doughnut, fake a sneeze and much more!  This book promises to amuse kids and grown ups, too! (Encyclopedia of Immaturity, $13.57)

Fancy Nancy Book and Doll  ( ages 4 to 8 )

Pick up this debut book and adorable cloth doll who arrives with red yarn hair that’s decorated with bows, butterflies, a crown and other fancy “stuff” and dressed in sparkles, glitter and glitz! (Book, Doll)

Knuffle Bunny:  A Cautionary Tale ( ages 4 to 8 )

Sure to amuse both kids and grownups, this story tells the tale of “knuffle bunny” and what happens when a special “lovey” is lost!  The bunny stuffed animal is a great tag along! (Book, Stuffed Bunny)

Other Favorites:

For Baby to Preschool

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

For 4 to 8 Year Olds

• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight
• Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
• Clack Clack Moo:  Cows that Type

For Ages 9 to 12

• The Silver Spoon for Children:  Favorite Italian Recipes
• The Dangerous Book for Boys
• The Daring Book for Girls
• The American Doll School Book (for playing school with American Girl Dolls!)
• Egyptology
  

  Do you have a favorite fun book for kids?  Please share!

Halloween Gifts for Grownups!

The hype around Halloween is so focused on the kids – with candy, costumes and even gifts like those I’ve recommended on Busy Bee (Halloween Gifts for Kids)! But just so the Halloween “staff” doesn’t feel left out, take a look at the fabulous, hand painted glasses offered at Wrapables!  No matter what you’re favorite “poison,” there’s a glass for you!

Choose a Fabulous Halloween Glass

• First is “Witches Stew Martini Glass”, complete with a cackling witch cooking a stew!
• If your beverage of choice is wine, “That Witch is Back” Wine Glass is for you!  This wine glass appears to be held by a witch’s hand and is trimmed with fanciful, black tulle.
• A pilsner glass for beer is embellished with mummy wrappings, (Mummy Pilsner Glass), and a mug for coffee or tea features dancing skeletons (Crazy Bones Beverage Mug)! 
• Each style also features a unique drink recipe on the bottom of the glass!

Treat yourself or a friend to one of these specialty glasses, perfect for whatever “poison” you prefer and perhaps the perfect reward for a hard night’s work!

You may also enjoy:

• Halloween Gifts for Kids
• Halloween Stockings for Kids
• This Halloween Try “Booing!”
• A Halloween “Booing” Poem
• Let’s Talk About Halloween – Clever Halloween Costumes for Kid
• Hot Halloween Treats for School
• Alternative Halloween Treats for School
• Host a Halloween Cocktail Party
• Halloween Night Buffet
• Halloween Candy for Grownups
• Why We Carve Pumpkins on Halloween

Although the First Day of School may not be a traditional gift giving occasion, there are some really cute and fun gifts that will send your kids out the door or onto the bus with a smile!

T-Shirts:  the sayings on these shirts will have you laughing – not cringing!

From Chasing Fireflies

“My School (or Preschool or Kindergarten) is Cool, Chasing-fireflies.com” $30

“First Grade (or Second, Third or Fourth) is Cool,” $30

From Silly Wagon

“Kindergarten (or First Grade) Rocks!,” $48.95

From Script and Scribble

“First Day” shirts feature mod school buses and your child’s name!

(Applique Shirt For Girls,  Applique Shirt For Boys)

Just for Fun

Personalized First Day of School Cones

Hailing back to a sweet German custom, these adorable cones from Chasing Fireflies arrive personalized and filled with all sorts of fun toys and games!  (Filled Girls Cone, Filled Boys Cone)  And if you’re feeling creative, purchase an empty cone from Magic Cabin and fill it with your own gift selections!  (Empty Traditional German School Cone, $7.98)*

And for more information about this charming tradition, take a look at Start a New Tradition for the First Day of School!

Monogrammed Water Bottles

Garnet Hill helps the planet with personalized water bottles!  These aluminum bottles are durable and lightweight, sporting either a name or initial and include two different screw tops and a carabiner. (Personalized Aluminum Water Bottle, $29)

Pocket Caddies

This is a terrific organizational tool for kids from Garnet Hill!  This tote, in four bright patterns, features six outside pockets, a removable four-compartment divider and nylon handles is just perfect for corralling pencils, crayons, tape, staplers and so much more!  Personalization will make this gift even more special!  (Pocket Caddy, $38)

Animal Alarm Clock

Start their mornings off on a good foot with these alarm clocks in either pink pig or white dog, feature posable limbs and a friendly face! (Animal Alarm Clock, $14.95)*

Wacky Birds Colored Pencils

This set of 13 colored pencils from Barnes and Noble is unique due to the square shape of the pencils, along with the fun scene that appears when the pencils are stored side by side! (Set of 13 Colored Pencils, $6.95)

String Dolls Back Pack Charms

No back pack is complete without an assortment of key chains and baubles hanging from the zipper!  Pick up a funky and funny addition from Kamibashi – these string dolls depict famous historical figures and impart their inspiration to your kids!  There’s Vincent (VanGogh) for creative genius, Marie Antoinette (so they can have their cake and eat it too!), Shakespeare (to help kids find their voice) and so many more! (String Dolls, $10 Each)

Lap Desks

Room It Up has a terrific assortment of lap desks for boys and girls with colorful, easy to clean plastic tops and cotton bottoms.  With this gift, you can encourage homework wherever your kids find themselves! (Lap Desk, $28*)

Desk Raft

I love this cute item modeled after a pirate ship! Haba’s clever raft will add organization and fun to your son’s desk! (Haba Corsario Desk Raft, Oompa Toys, $32.99)*

Robot Pencil Sharpener

Make a dull task something for the kids to fight over!  This funny robot winds up when you sharpen a pencil and then walks across the table!  Pencil shavings collect in his head! (Robot Pencil Sharpener, The Organized Parent, $7.95)*

Back to School Movies

My kids love adding to their DVD collection and a school themed movie might be just the thing for an older child!  Remember some of these “vintage” releases?

• Dead Poets Society (PG)
• Freaky Friday 2003 Edition, (PG)
• Mr. Holland’s Opus (PG)
• Never Been Kissed (PG-13)
• Akeelah and the Bee (PG)
• Sky High (Widescreen Edition – PG)
• Legally Blonde (PG-13)

Consider wrapping up one of these gifts and placing it next to your child’s breakfast plate on the first day of school! Lucky you when your child greets the new school year with a grin instead of a groan!

You may also enjoy:

• Clever Ideas for the First Day of School
• Host a School Year’s Eve Party
• Preparing for the First Day of School
• Pack a “Green” Lunch
• Have a Fabulous First Day of School
• Back to School with Vera Bradley
• Back to School Supplies for Moms
• Pretty and Preppy School Supplies from Lilly Pulitzer

It’s serendipity when the products we love are from the sponsors we love!

Please Share Our Gift Guide!

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So often when trying to think of a gift for someone, buying more “stuff” just doesn’t fit the bill.  If that’s the case for you, Smartbox has the perfect solution!  Smartbox is all about giving the gift of an “experience” that is specially chosen to suit the recipient.  The shopping process is so easy – just head to the website and fill in a few prompts such as state and price parameters (prices start at just $69) and then decide upon the perfect type of experience from three basic themes:

• Health and Wellness - includes massage, yoga, and spa treatments
• Sport Activity - such as horseback riding, plane flight, sailing, rafting, kayaking, parachuting
• Escape Getaways – offers bed and breakfasts and gourmet retreats

The recipient will be able to schedule the experience of their choice from a wide variety of activities or destinations within the Smartbox category you’ve chosen.  Other than any travel cost, there will be no additional expenses.

The next time that you just can’t think of a terrific gift, which may be as soon as this Father’s Day, give Smartbox a try!

And don’t forget to enter our contest for a Personalized Stationery Stamp from Invitation Jane!  Contest ends on June 20, 2009.

You may also enjoy:

• Top 10 Gifts for Father’s Day
• Homemade Father’s Day Gifts
• Father’s Day Gift Guide
• Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Handmade Gifts for Teachers

I’ve always believed that our children’s teachers deserve anything and everything that we can do for them!  They instruct, mold, encourage and entertain our kids for eight hours every day of the school year!  These early June days are the right time to be thinking about what we (and our children!) can do to thank them!  Without getting too complicated or requiring too much artistic talent, here are two ideas that I think any teacher will enjoy!

Super Easy Scrap Book!

The idea of putting together a scrap book can be intimidating, but the approach I’ve taken in the past isn’t bad at all.  Instead of giving kids (and their parents!) a pressure filled blank scrap book page, provide the children with an open ended sentence to complete.  Some good examples are:

• Mrs. Smith is a star teacher because….
• I’ll never forget the day that Mrs. Smith….
• My favorite day in 1st grade was….

Have one parent collect the replies and retype them on colorful paper using a fun font.  Cut out the individual answers and paste them onto individual pages in a small scrap book.  Decorate with stickers, class photos or rubber stamps.  Viola – that’s it!

This idea also works well for special birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and other milestone occasions!

Perfect small memory books can be found at Amazon.   The fabric covered 8-inch by 8-inch album is just right for this project and well priced at $12.99!

A Custom Quilt!

Not to fear, sewing is not involved in this project!  At Oriental Trading, clever kits are available to create a fabulous class room quilt!  The kit includes 24, eight inch, white canvas squares with pre-cut holes for tying the squares together with the included 96 pieces of multicolored ribbon!  Also included are 80 colorful fabric markers in 8 colors.

Over the course of a few days, send 8 quilt squares home, along with 8 fabric markers, for the children to decorate for their teacher as they wish.  Repeat the process until all of the students have had their chance to create their contribution.  When all of the squares have been returned, assembly is easy using the fun ribbons!
(Classroom Quilt Starter Kit, $39.95, pictured right)

I hope that these ideas inspire you to take the lead in creating a sentimental and well deserved thank you gift for your child’s teacher!

You may also enjoy:

• Making the Last Day of School Memorable
• Fun Last Day of School Party Plan
  
• Top 10 Gifts for Father’s Day
  
• Father’s Day Gift Guide