When I’m not with my family or obsessively shopping on the Internet, I’m an educational consultant. And I was just named one of Education.com’s JustAsk Experts. Education.com has some amazing resources, including a community, articles, and plenty of activities.

My daughter and I signed up for the Summer Activities Challenge–just complete 20 activities by August 31, 2009, and you’ll get a certificate of achievement and even be entered to win some prizes.

Look under a bush and high in the sky but you can’t catch all of the butterflies in the world–but along your adventure, you may just find something even more important.

Can’t Catch a Butterfly is a sweet book, illustrated in the style of children’s crayon drawings. I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Zimmerman, author and publisher of Rainbow Star Books, at a local wildlife center fair. As a speech-language pathologist, Zimmerman has written a book filled with love and help for pre-readers and children with special needs…

Kids love to design their own–customizing gives them sense of accomplishment, plus it is creative and fun. Why choose an ordinary gift that anyone can buy when you can make your very own unique CurlyQ Cuties plush monster?

CurlyQ Cuties gave my daughter an opportunity to design her own plush monster and my preschooler is delighted with the results!

Robeez are great little booties for babies, shoes for beginning walkers, and indoor slippers for older kids. And Robeez Tredz makes a perfect outdoor shoe for toddlers and preschoolers.

Receive 15% off any purchase of $35 or more at Robeez Footwear with code SUMMER15 (ends June 27, 2009)

Toddlers seem to just love to play in the water. In the bath, at the sink, or running through the sprinkler, getting wet is tons of fun.

Like many little girls, my daughter has also grown very attached to her dolls. She loves the cloth ones and does not want to put them away while she plays in the water.

So, the Tidoo Lutin Bright Doll Corolle sent us has become a favorite around here anytime we’re splashing around.

What if you combined a soft leather bootie with a fun knit sock? You’d get Nowali, the moccassin that comes in sizes from infant to toddler to big kid to even adult.

Barefoot is best for babies, but sometimes little feet need extra protection, warmth, or traction or mom just wants to add a shoe to make a cute special occasion outfit look just right. Nowali solves your baby shoe needs comfortably and looks adorable, too…

Here’s a trio of books about dads for babies and young children. Check these out of your local library or purchase at a bookstore or online to share a little bit about what makes dads special–just in time for Father’s Day!

Deal of the Day: Get 20% off on all Vincent baby, toddler and kids’ sandals through June 7, 2009 with promo code VIN-SAND

Candace and I are both fans of Vincent, a hip and high-quality children’s shoe brand. (See previous reviews.) Vincent shoes are made to be roomy since most children’s feet are wide. As a result, I’ve found them easier to get on and off than other brands.

Candace and I have both received free shoe samples from Vincent in the past. But we’ve since become loyal customers. We keep a look out for sales and buy Vincent shoes because we like the style, durability and quality of the brand.

Imagine a world where toys please the senses and stimulate the imagination. Now imagine a world where all of those toys are made in fair trade facilities from eco-friendly, sustainable materials.

It is easy if you try… just visit ImagiPlay. They make beautiful, clever wooden toys for infants, toddlers, and children…