Now Starring....

...your baby! I ran across these adorable baby posters yesterday at 5starbaby.com. When I saw these, ideas for movie-themed birthday parties and showers for all my expectant friends danced through my head.

And they just don't restrict their posters to babies, you can order posters for engagements, weddings, and child-adult birthday parties. 5starbaby makes announcements and posters for just about any theme.

Prices are reasonable, a 7.5 x 12 poster will only set you back $25.oo and 5 x 8 announcements start at $3.50 per card.

The Owl's Have It

Looking for an unconventional stuffed animal for a child? (Although I think many adults would love this too.) I spotted this Wooly Night Owl at Viva Terra. It's hand-spun and knitted by women in Kenya and dyed with plants grown in their gardens. Great gift for a great cause! ($79.00)

Reverting back to my childhood

This is going to be #2 on my list to Santa this year (#1 will be a tree to put it on)...Mighty Goods posted a link to a recycled tire swing in the shape of an airplane and I cannot think of a cooler gift for a kid. The swing is available at Best Price Toys (on sale for $210.95), which also has recycled tire swings in other shapes, like a kangaroo and and elephant. I agree with Mighty Goods on this one though, nothing is cooler than that airplane.

Name Cake

Saw this great idea for a cake over at Pyglet Whispers. The letters were carved out of butter cake. Not sure I could make such perfect letters, but I guess whatever I mess up I could hide with icing and an extra m&m. Yummy!

Teacher Rewards

Since gifts come in many forms, and since it is back-to-school week, I thought it might be nice to provide links for student incentive rewards. E.G., the sticker board with stars for every good deed done or the three checks next to your name = detention.

Teachers have come a long way from those days and some of these ideas are really creative, I'm sure they'd work at school or at home!

Here's a link to an article from Education World titled, "Reward Systems That Work: What to Give and When to Give It!" This site includes 35 "Reasonable Rewards" such as "sit with a friend" and "take a homework pass." However, I have to wonder if some of these rewards would really interest kids ("have a teacher make a positive phone call home," "enjoy a positive visit with the principal," and "assist the custodian").

Certificates are a great, and inexpensive way to keep kids motivated. Heck, I can even think of a few other people who would appreciate a homemade certificate. At 123certificates.com you can print awards and even matching sticker charts like these---for free!

Anyone else got a great incentive for teachers to motivate students?

Back to School Bonanza

Ah, the first day back to school. It always seems to be filled with mixed emotions: sadness for the end of freedom, of late nights roaming the neighborhood, and of no jacket and no socks needed; but also excitement to see old friends, to have new classes, and to be one year closer to never having to go to school again (bad idea kids, take it from me). Why not give a back-to-schooler a small gift to start his or her day on the right side of the bed?

How about. . .

• an updated lunchbox?

Let them build their own lunchbox. This kit is from lunchboxes.com and comes with a stickerbook for decorating ($13.95). No two lunchboxes are alike!

Or, what about one of these cute, over-the-shoulder lunchbags from Land's End ($35.00)? This bag would be great for a middle- or high-schooler.

This lunch/snack bag, which can be personalized, is available from embroideryandmore at Etsy ($15.00). I love the zebra print shown here, and you can even choose the style of embroidery.

• a pencil bag/box?

This pencil box comes in pink and blue ($14.50) and is available at limited too (I love unintentional rhymes, don't you?).

When I was in high school, I had a Union Jack obsession. Union Jack t-shirts, Union Jack stickers, Union Jack rugs and posters...the list goes on. So, it goes without saying that if someone had given me this Union Jack Pencil Sack available at Karmaloop, I would have cherished it...that is, of course, until my next phase came along ($22.00).

• or, the obvious, a hip bookbag?

It seems like the messenger bag is the only way to carry books these days. This puma bag on ebags.com is a definite keeper ($70.00).

This penguin pack from morriluggage.com is obviously meant for a certain age group (or maybe not), but just think of all the great pics you can get and use for those embarrassing photo album sessions 10 years down the line ($34.99)!

I had a Timbuk2 bag when I was in school (in fact, I still own it---those bags are tough!). This bag isn't cheap ($165.00) but it will last for your schooler's entire career, assuming they don't leave it in the bus. Bonus: This bag is made of HEMP. . . gnarly!