TRUE & WESSON Philosophy #71

Image found via imgfave

I'm looking for some good summer reading...I want to hear about YOUR favorite books...

Soo..post away...

LSW

The open road....

Image via Flickr

It's time....This weekend, thousands upon thousands of American families will be hitting the open road in search for the perfect getaway. Cars will be packed to the gills with clothing, toys, and children. There will be coolers filled with sandwiches, potato chips, water, chocolate chip cookies and fruit. There will be song singing, I spy games and finding license plates from every state. There will be laughter and there will be tears....The Art of War has been passed down by generations and perfected. The seat armrest has become the imaginary line between the two countries and if crossed there will be death...(or a huge bruise in the arm). So, I have found a couple of items that just might make peace between the two countries and have parents avoiding to go to a massage therapist for the classic back arm swat.

The first of my finds are these fabulous travel games that come in their own metal tin (brilliant packaging) and are completely magnetic. The small pieces are made of foam so no worries about sharp metal pieces being flung into someone's eye.

They can be found at Target, Michaels or AC Moore or even right here

It was the best $8.00 that I have ever spent!

Now my all time favorite has to be these box sets from Scholastic...Genius!! They are great for any age! They have taken classic stories new and old such as How do Dinosaurs say Goodnight, Corduroy, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Millions of Cats and turned them into animated shorts. Weston Woods Studios has done this brilliantly for Scholastic and I seriously have to tip my hat to them!

They can be found on Amazon but I just purchased the above library at TJ Maxx for $12.99...

They had tons of them there!!

So travel safe this weekend everyone...

We may never have peace in the Middle East but hopefully with a few tricks up your sleeve you may have it in your car...

LSW

Let your imagination grow..The Curious Garden

When I saw this post on one of our favorite blogs Oh Joy, my heart skipped a beat. Created by Peter Dungey as an

public art installation piece, it sends powerful yet inspiring messages to all of us who reside on this wildly spinning globe. One of my passions since moving into our antiquated farmhouse has become gardening. It is truly an art form unto itself. Not just about mixing colors, it's timing, weather and giving up control (which is extremely hard for me). But I'm learning and so is my little monster. His Momee (Grandmother) also shares in our passion and this Christmas she gave him one of the most beautiful books ever published. It mimics so closely to what artist Peter Dungey created that it gave me chills up my spine. The Curious Garden by Peter Brown is a must read! I won't even spoil the story, you just need to get it!

Easter is my favorite Holiday. It is all due to my mother who outdid herself every year. It's not just about the bunny but the change of seasons and getting into that Garden! In our house, the Easter Bunny brings way better gifts than Santa. So this year, I thought I would get an early start on those Easter posts. I found some amazing basket fillers that would make any Bunny jealous.

Getting into the Garden.....Kidstyle..

1. Sagaform Kids Gardening Tool Set: $9.95 at Wrapables

2. Kids Watering Can Garden Kit: $19.95 at Wrapables

3.Kids Garden Tools bag: $12.99 at Target.

4.Buzzy Kids 4 pc Garden Tool Tote Set: at Target

1. Insect pocket identifier..figure out what it is before you touch it! $10.95 at gardeningwithkids

2. Ladybug House. Now maybe they will get out of mine! $34.95 at gardeningwithkids

3. Butterfly feeder and Nectar $18.95 at gardeningwithkids

4. Praying Mantis Pagoda. What every Mantis dreams of...$21.95 at gardeningwithkids

1.Tickle me Plant seeds. The plant moves when you touch it! $9.95 at gardeningwithkids

2. Based on the Old fable Stone Soup: Stone Soup Garden Kit: $25.00 at Calliope

3. Personalized Garden in a bag: $16.95 at Wrapables

4. The Eggling (Check out their website!) Comes in various plants, herbs etc: $8.49 at Perpetualkid

So cheers to some new small green thumbs!

LSW

Easter Basket Inspiration....books

Easter is by far my favorite holiday, (not the religious one but the fabulous commercial one). The chocolate, the jelly beans, the colored eggs and most importantly the hunt. Growing up at the Smith house, the Easter Bunny put on an extremely serious hunt. The bunny did not discriminate in size or age and jelly beans and chocolate eggs were so well hidden that they were often found at Christmas. My favorite book at Easter is one that my mom passed down to me, "The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes". It is truly a book that was ahead of its time. Written in the thirties, (and written by a man), it is really the only book out there that sends the message to girls and women, that you can be anything you want to be. It is a book that I lovingly pass down to all my friends daughters. I have now passed it down to my son who is enraptured by the beautiful illustrations and that someone could have 21 children.

It makes a perfect addition to the Easter basket (or Birthday Gift) and can be found in hard cover at The Land of Nod.