Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Moms and kids alike share the common craving of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When left up to the kids, however, the making of this classic sandwich can experience some creative twists. And that's what the makers of Jif peanut butter wish to celebrate with a good old American competition.

The Seventh-Annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest kicks off August 4 through November 14 - and kids across the nation are encouraged to invent new creative peanut butter sandwich recipes for entry.

Sandwiches will be judged on the following criteria: creativity, taste, appearance, nutritional balance and ease of preparation. The grand prize is a $25,000 scholarship fund. Four runner-ups will each receive a $2,500 scholarship fund. (That's definitely something worth talking about!)

To submit your original recipes (such as the peanut butter and jelly sushi rolls pictured at right), go to the Jif Web site.

-Gretchen

"Save Some Green and Go Blue"

While drought-like conditions aren't as wide-spread this summer as in the past, The City of Dallas Water Utilities' "Save Some Green and Go Blue" water conservation program offers these tips for staying water-wise this summer:

Outdoors
-Fill a bucket of water to wash your dog or car to avoid leaving the hose running
-Cover your pool or spa to reduce evaporation
-If you use an automatic sprinkler system, be sure it does not water sidewalks, driveways or streets.

Indoors
-Fix leaky faucets.
-Take shorter showers, using low-flow shower heads.
-Upgrade your toilets (if installed prior to 1992) to a low-flow, water efficient model.

For more tips on how to save water this summer, visit SaveDallasWater.com.

-Gretchen

In the Cards for Stay-At-Home Mom

As you might imagine, we scroll through hundreds of parenting product ideas each week, and I'm not going to say we are jaded, but we are picky! Recently, a Rockwall mom sent something that caught my eye: original hand drawn greeting cards and labels with a twist. The self-described "Cute Card Queen," Courtney designs each card with colorful, whimsical cartoon characters to depict your family. I especially like her mommy business cards and her "send a card" service where you simply pick out a greeting and let Courtney jot a handwritten note and mail it for you! Plus, how could we not love a fellow mom (to a 1-year-old little boy) who confesses to being addicted to Cherry Coke Zero and LOST!

Check out her designs at Come Together Cards (hey, it's not too soon to be thinking about holiday cards & labels)!

shelley

A Man to Inspire All

In the spirit of Father's Day (past), I'd like to mention briefly a man I never knew in person, but only over the television waves. After this weekend though, it seems as the person America saw in front of the camera was the same as behind the scenes. I'm of course talking about Tim Russert, moderator of Meet the Press and Washington Bureau Chief of NBC, who passed away this past Friday as he was recording a voice-over for last Sunday's show. He was a man who above all was a great father and a great son, writing about both in his book Big Russ and Me. It's heart-warming to see a man that loved everything about his life, but especially his son and his dad, so outwardly proud of them both. Beaming when he spoke of them in interviews, and telling all of America how proud he was to be Luke's dad.

So, grab your Kleenex's and watch his only child, Luke, speak of his dad Monday morning on the Today Show with Matt Lauer. I only hope that Tim Russert's legacy inspires fathers to become even better parents, letting their kids know just how much they love them, and how their life wouldn't be the same without them.

Learning from his closes friends and colleges over the past weekend, Tim Russert is a man who truly inspires, both as a politcal journalist who loved every minute of his job, as a son who admired his dad ever so deeply, and as a father who let his son know just how much he loved him every day of his life.

Lauren

Celebrate Dads at the Nasher

Looking for a Father's Day event that the whole family will enjoy? Head over to Father's Day at the Nasher Sculpture Center — Dads can soak up the artistic atmosphere without hearing the begrudged exclamation "I'm bored!" from the kids.

First, pop into the NasherCafe for brunch prepared by the one and only Wolfgang Puck from 11am-3pm ($30 per person, $15 per child). After filling your bellies, head to the family scavenger hunt in the Nasher's garden. While the kiddos are scrambling to find hidden treasures, Dads (and Moms) and take a moment to check out Mark di Suvero's Eviva Amore (shown in photo).

After the kids have had their fill of adventure, get your picture snapped by James French Photography, which will be on-site to take your family's photograph in the garden.

At 2:30pm, relax to the soothing performance by the Arts District Chorale, which will be an all-Brahms program including "Come Dance With Me." The day's events commence at 3pm.

Enjoy! And, if you're still looking for an outing to celebrate dad, go here!

— Gretchen

Shampoos, Conditioners and Whoopie Pies (Oh My!)

The editorial team at DallasChild frequently receives various mom-centric (and kid-centric) samples of up-and-coming products and books for our testing and review. But rarely does a shipment cause so much stir as the recently received package from Suave — laden with tangerine-smelling lotions, shampoos and conditioners (just in time for summer!), as well as a box of One Girl Cookies' Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (shown in photo).

What the heck are Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, you say? Think (or imagine tasting) cake-like cookies flavored with all-natural pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, held together sandwich-style with a sweet cream cheese icing.

Now do you understand what all the stir was about? We highly recommend this treat! And, although the adorable bakery is located in Brooklyn, NY, you can order some for your own tasting: go here. The treats are handmade and will ship to your doorstep in two days time — a perfect gift for someone with a sweet tooth!

Thanks Suave and One Girl Cookies! Check out the new Suave products and real-life transformations of moms-on-the-go on the Suave Web site.

—Gretchen

Go Skateboarding

If you have any budding, young skateboarders in your house, I’m sure you know how infectious the sport is. Well, an eagerly anticipated event is approaching this month, and that’s Go Skateboarding Day (June 21). Enthusiasts from across the Metroplex will gather at the Edge Skate Park in Allen to celebrate the spirit of their sport, and maybe pick up some new fans.

In anticipation of this special event, skaters and artists can enter a deck design contest, sponsored by the City of Allen and SD Skateboards. (For the uninitiated, the deck is the part of the board you stand on.) We first learned about SD Skateboards almost two years ago when we profiled its owner, then-13-year-old Sean Dillon. Since then, Dillon’s brainchild has become the family business, and it seems to have really taken North Texas by storm.

Check out Go Skateboarding Day 2008’s website for more information on contest entry rules and procedures (entries are due by June 16). And, you can visit SD Skateboards’ website for everything else you might need from grip tape to trucks…but, you may have to ask a skater what those are, first.

-Liz

Rock On!

Mimic the moves of actor Jack Black — no, we're not talking Kung Fu — at the newest (and coolest) music school in town: Paul Green's School of Rock. Just like in the movie, this music school aims to save rock-&-roll "one kid at a time." (And have a little fun too, of course!)

Director Mark Warner, an active Dallas-area bassist, will teach students to play some of the most intricate and rockin' classic rock with a focus on performing the music for live audiences. This philosophy requires that students stage live shows every three months — what better way to teach aspiring musicians than with live concert experience?

The Austin-based School of Rock students will help make the June 14 Grand Opening official with an all-ages benefit concert for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, concluding the weekend's Open House at 4pm June 15 at The Loft in Dallas. The Open House hours are 10am-4pm Sat June 14 and 12-3pm Sun June 15.

In addition to the Austin School of Rock performers, the benefit concert will include performances by Judas Rising (Warner's top-rated Judas Priest tribute band) as well as Brian Brooks, a current Make-A-Wish child and aspiring rocker. 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the North Texas Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

If you've got your own aspiring rocker at home, check out the grand opening weekend at the School of Rock — I have a feeling you'll be nodding your head and singing along with the classic tunes before you know it!

Enrollment to the Dallas School of Rock is now open. Call 214/263-8325 for more information, or visit the school's Web site.

—Gretchen

Father's Day Finds

Since we’re always trying to be of service to you, it’s about time we provided you with some ideas for Father’s Day. Some dads are thrilled with gadgets of all kids, but, I think most are notoriously challenging to shop for. (“Just a card would be great; save your money!”)

Dallas’ Current Energy store may not sound like the place for off-beat dad gifts, but it may have exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for.

He’s got a soft side—you know that—but for a grooming gift, pick up the Man Can, containing organic spa products. Nothing too fancy, just soap, a cool back brush and hand cream. And, since he’ll need a can opener, or maybe a screwdriver, to open it, it really is one manly can of cosmetics.

I also like the Solio hybrid charger, which lets you charge all of your small electronics at once using solar power. It’s the only charger he’ll need, and he’ll probably get a kick out of using the solar power, since, you know, he does not own the electric company.

For more ideas on how to celebrate the dads in your life this month, be sure to pick up our June issue, where you'll find more gift ideas, large and small, and plenty of activities to have fun together.

-Liz

A Move in the Right Direction

Have you converted to re-usable grocery bags yet? No? If what’s holding you back is a convenience and/or style issue, I have good news. You’ll want to order a few new bags from Envirosax for yourself and the family. You can bypass all of the generic, grocery store brand-stamped eco bags on sale at the in the checkout lines, and you’ll be living the brand’s mission: A move in the right direction.

What makes these bags desirable? Let me count the ways. They’re inexpensive, durable and adorable, and they also wholeheartedly embrace their maker’s environmental message. From the organic materials, to the fair trade and fair wage standards of their China factory, this is one company that practices what it preaches.

Based in Australia (where toting green-colored sacks to the store is far and away the norm), Envirosax are now available in the U.S. You can also meander around their site to find easy tips for saving water and living a more sustainable life.

Greengrocer bags for mom and dad come in chic colors, and the new kids line features characters silly enough for your little shoppers to get excited about (pictured is “Baa, Maa & Paa”). Get the kids in the habit of using bags like these for toting library books, pool essentials and more, and you’ll all be making a move in the right direction.

-Liz

Moms, Martinis & Makeovers

Feel like getting a little bit pampered tomorrow evening? Leave the kids with dad, and bring your mom or your cosmetics-wearing daughter to Martinis & Makeovers, a fundraising event for the Collin County Ballet Theatre hosted by Neiman Marcus Willow Bend, Thursday, May 22.

Lancome's national makeup artist Tarek will be on hand to provide complete makeovers and demonstrations. And, the man knows a thing or two about make up. He has styled celebrities, models and music divas for their most important appearances.

Tickets are $30 per pair, or a $20 donation for individuals (meet up with friends!). While you're waiting for Tarek's expert advice, Neimans promises to keep the pink martinis and pink lemonade flowing.

Call Amy McMillin at 972/740-7123 for tickets, and check out our online calendar of events for more information.

-Liz

Oh, the Places They'll Go

Some travel experiences are just too good to keep to yourself. After all, who doesn’t have thousands of digital photos to prove it?

And the, then are those travel experiences that you haven’t had yet—the trip of your dreams, your top places to see in your lifetime or that upcoming summer excursion.

Well, your kids might have some travel memories (or fantasies) of their own. Challenge them to tell their story this summer, and, PS, there are prizes involved.

All summer long, kids can write about their travel adventures (real or imaginary) for the Youngest Travel Writer Contest. Sponsored by Smart Poodle Publishing (owned by a former travel writer), the goal of this contest is to keep kids’ minds sharp over the summer, as well as to inspire more great journeys.

To help your little voyagers get started, try asking questions like “What did you see or do that made this adventure unique?” or “What happened that was different or exciting?” Or, stage a family slide show of all those digital snaps and relive some of your favorite trips.

Email submissions to smartpoodle@comcast.net by Sep 1. Winners in three age categories will have their narratives posted on Smart Poodle Publishing’s Web site and win a prize package.

So, you can give your kids permission to let their minds wander this summer, just a little.

-Liz

Tea Time for Grannies

Calling all grandmothers, grannies, nanas...and their daughters and daughters-on-law: You're invited to a special event at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas next month. We don't have to tell you how important (and fun) grandmothers can be in the lives of young grandchildren (and the mothers raising them).

But science is looking at this relationship even closer to find out how grandmothers can best provide support to young families based on the years of mothering skills that they've aquired. (Hey, when there's so much love and advice on the line, not to mention the high-intensity of caring for a new baby, it's a good thing someone is studying this!)

So, if you have young children and a mother or mother-in-law in town, make a reservation to attend Presby's Grandmothers' Teas June 1 and 29. The events are free; you're only asked to take two anonymous surveys for research purposes. Then, meet and greet other moms and their moms, swap stories and discuss grandmothers' many roles in the family.

Call or email Jane Grassley, RN, to reserve your spot, 972/890-1515.

-Liz

Peeky Boo No More

Searching for a stylish nursing cover-up? (And not one of those blankies that will fly off your shoulder at the slightest hint of a breeze.) Look no further — two Frisco moms have come up with a solution: the Peeky Boo Baby Private Nursing Cover.

The Peeky Boo Baby nursing cover has a weighted corner that sits across a nursing mother's shoulder, insuring the security and privacy of the moment. The practical design doesn't fall short on style, either — the nursing cover comes in lots of adorable color and pattern combinations. And, moms can order matching bibs and burp cloths.

Check out the Peeky Boo Baby Web site to find a retail location near you.

—Gretchen

What If...

Who doesn’t love the clever, artistic logos that pop up on Google on various holidays? Well, did you know they are the work of artist and Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang? Hwang has been doodling these logos to mark certain occasions since 2000, and recently he got some help from some very artistic kids.

The Doodle 4 Google competition gives kids the chance to design a logo using the theme “What if…” This year, kids in all grades submitted variations on that theme for the chance to have their rendering displayed on the world’s biggest search engine May 22. The submission part of the contest is over, but the voting has just begun. Click to check out some of the phenomenal works that were submitted and vote for your favorites.

You can browse by age level, from the adorable K-3rd grade group to the seriously talented high school category. (In fact, a high schooler from the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts has made it to the voting round!)

Click through the submissions for an amusing mid-afternoon treat, and perhaps keep this idea under your hat for an art project for your own kids this summer.

-Liz

It's Your Day - Take a Break!

Mother's Day is an occasion to show appreciation to your mom or accept gracious (and humorously innocent) acts of kindness from your kiddos. The all-natural baby food maker Beech-Nut recently surveyed a group of new moms to see what their first Mother's Day means to them (and how their baby's firsts have affected their lives). Here are some of the endearing responses:

• For 83 percent of new moms, Mother’s Day reminds them of how happy they are to be a mom, while 62 percent appreciate their own mother more after becoming a new mom.
• When asked what they desire most on their first Mother’s Day, sharing a fun day with baby ranked highest (30 percent), although, many moms (28 percent) said they wouldn’t mind a little pampering with spa treatments.
  
• Not surprisingly, nearly all new moms (93 percent) warmed to baby’s first smile as the most popular, unexpected joy of being a new mom.

Have a happy Mother's Day!

—Gretchen

And the award goes to ...

Just another reason to call DallasChild an award-winner (besides being named the best parenting magazine):

The feature story “Diagnosing Joey: Unraveling the Mysteries of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder” by Jenny Davis (published in the Sept. 2007 issue of DallasChild) took the top honor at the Mental Health America 2008 Media Awards competition for Local and/or Regional Magazines.

Congratulations, Jenny!

To read Jenny's most recent article (on the heartbreaking condition of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia) pick up a May edition of DallasChild (or check it out online!).

—Gretchen

Law & Order

Here's a hot tip I just learned about. The Dallas Bar Association hosts its LegalLine twice this month to answer Metroplex residents' legal questions. Wednesday, May 14 and 21, Dallas attorneys will be standing by to take your calls and answer questions in this free community service.

Your calls are anonymous, so whether you have a large legal issue at hand, or just a brief question that could use some clarification, you can get trustworthy answers over the phone the second and third Wednesdays of each month. How is that for peace of mind?

Call the lawyers: 214/220-7476

-Liz

Double Vision?

If you’re a mother of multiples, we don’t have to tell you how busy life can get. And, although every family has its own strategies and procedures for managing day-to-day life, more help is on the way this fall from a local mom who has learned to succeed at parenting with her hands full.

Tonia Tomlin is a Plano mother of twin girls who will be releasing her book Chaos 2 Calm: The Moms of Multiples’ Guide to an Organized Family in September. What makes Tomlin’s book interesting is that it shares practical tips for things like baby-proofing (times two!) childcare challenges, traveling, organizing and other obstacles that seem insurmountable with two babies in tow.

The book isn’t on Amazon.com yet, but we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, moms of multiples can make use of our exhaustive resource list to find support and social groups.

-Liz

Be a Preppy "Yogini" Mommy

I found some exciting news in my inbox this morning… J.Crew now offers clothes for all those downward dog moves (and more). So exciting, especially since I’ve been on a quest for cute yoga clothes in colors and styles that I actually like. Perfect for hinting to your kids and/or husband for Mother’s Day!

Cheers!

Lauren