Have you heard about the Lands’ End Every Tee Tells A Story Contest?  I love these fun contests that encourage young people to express their creativity.  The theme this time around is arctic adventure and the two winning designs will be featured on tee shirts that will be for sale.

Each winner will get a $500 Lands’ End gift card and $1,000 for their school art program.  My daughter has already started working on some design ideas – she loves entering writing and drawing contests.  Do your kids like to enter contests too?

George Washington’s Teeth is a funny, yet informative book written in rhyming verse by poets Chandra and Comora.  They tell a part of our hero’s story that doesn’t usually get much attention.  While the General was fighting battles and leading the troops during the American Revolution, he was also fighting a much more personal battle. 

The drawings are lively and the verse is charming.  George Washington’s Teeth lets us see one of our nation’s greatest heroes from a different perspective, as someone dealing with an embarrassing problem - just like we all have to deal with sometimes.  I love witty children’s books!

Father’s Day is Sunday June 20th, only a little more than a week away.  My kids have been looking at some ideas of things to make for Dave.  They love making stuff for their Dad especially when they know he’ll use it or take it to work to put in his office.  I remember making a coin bank for my Dad out of a cleaned out lidded canister.  Wonder if he still has it?

Martha Stewart has come up with the best ideas for Father’s Day gifts and crafts for the kids to make or put together.  Here are some of our favorite ideas from www.marthastewart.com.  As always, Martha rocks!

Map Coasters
Cutout Frame
Photo Bookmarks

Belt Rack
Cardboard Frame
Car-Wash Kit

I have been looking for some pretty summertime accessories for my daughter, Miss J.  I adore this little Roxy handbag.  Miss J. has a birthday coming up this month and I think that she'd love this.  Here are some other pretty little things for summer girls.

Mini Boden Retro Sunglasses
Crazy 8 Floral Rosette Necklace
GapKids Woven Straw Headband

JCrew Crewcuts Beaded Silk Bracelet
Gymboree Organza Ponytail Holder
GapKids Butterfly Flip Flops

The Lion Who Wanted to Love was written by Giles Andrae and illustrated by David Wojtowycz.  These two have teamed up on many adorable stories for children, combining helpful or sweet messages with lively, distinctive illustrations.  This one is a rhyming story about how it’s okay to be different and that despite those differences we should all help one another and get along. 

The kids have been taking inventory of their summer gear lately.  We just got a couple of new tennis racquets and about a million balls but everyone needs new bikes.  If I was to by myself a new bike it would be this very pretty one by Liberty of London at Target.  But alas, I am not so good on a bicycle.  I have a history of running into things, how embarrassing.

One of our favorite things for outdoor play is the Olympic Jump Rope from The Jump Rope Store.  You can even build a custom Olympic Jump Rope which I did for Miss J. last year.  The Olympic Jump Rope is made to last and very reasonably priced.  It is much better quality than what might be found at the toy store. 

These jump ropes have been made in the USA for over 45 years.  They are the ones with the plastic beads that we all played with on the playground.  And, I never had any jump roping mishaps so unlike bike-riding, this activity is a safe one for me too!