With less than a week until most classroom Valentine's Day parties, avoid the Valentine rush and help your child give his or her classmates a memorable, unique card. Check out Red Stamp's adorable digital cards that you can personalize and print. For $5, you get your personalized design emailed to you and you can print out as many as you need on a 8.5 x 11 paper or cardstock. And here's a fun bonus: you'll also get a digital link to your Valentine, which you can easily post on your Facebook page, Twitter account and other social media sites. To see all the designs, start with the one above by clicking here: Red Stamp : Modern Alphabet Printable + Digital Valentine.

a la mode: sweet tip on the side
What did the stamp say to the envelope? Stick with me and we'll really go places! That's one of the silly jokes your kids may want to learn for Valentine's Day. Share others with your little cupid-inspired comedian by clicking here!

They're so ugly, they're adorable! Amazon has a large portion of its collection of Ugly Dolls on sale right now, with many characters available for over 30% off including Big Toe (above in teal), Little Poe (left) and Trunko (above in purple).

The descriptions of these little dudes crack me up. For instance, Trunko is said to "freak out over everything and overreacting is his hobby...where there's smoke, there's fire and there's Trunk using a fire hose to put out his birthday candles!"

Check out Amaazon's full assortment of Ugly Dolls; they all qualify for Super Saver Shipping. Oh, and if you want one for yourself, don't feel silly; about half of all Ugly Doll owners are adults!

mama's slice of the pie
I know you're stressed; you're a parent! By the end of the day, you're probably craving a sense of calm, even just a few minutes of relaxation. So, I thought you'd like to know about the free relaxation MP3 available from Real Subliminal, called Deep Calm. You can access it when you sign up for their newsletter. Check it out and find a little peace of mind!

I stumbled upon this beautiful video essay, written by author Katherine Center, about mothering a daughter and teaching her to feel beautiful in her own skin, in her own life and trying to explain the depth of their bond. I thought I'd share just this with you today, since it holds such meaning and magic (and btw, as the mom of two boys, it still twisted me up and spun me 'round).

What do Valentine's Day and the Super Bowl have in common? This magazine! To celebrate the Super Bowl, Sports Illustrated for Kids is available right now for 68% off at Magazines.com - just $14.95 for a year's subscription. The deal is only available through Feb. 8th. Order it now and give it to your little sports fan for Valentine's Day! By doing so, you encourage your kid to read for FUN about a topic he or she is passionate about. Literacy experts say that's the very best way to get kids engaged and excited about reading.

a la mode: sweet tip on the side
You can get a matching Valentine's Day gift for dear ol' dad, too. Magazines.com also has the original Sports Illustrated available for 85% off the cover price until Feb. 8th. And if sports don't float his boat, you'll find plenty of other inexpensive Valentine's Day gift ideas at Magazines.com. Get $5 off when you use code wintermags. Offer valid through 3.31.10.

I think every spirited kid needs a book bag - somewhere they can store trinkets, books, stickers, or whatever else they might need while on the go. They are often such busy-bodies that they need lots of stuff on-hand to keep themselves entertained! Douglas Toys is known globally for their wide variety of stuffed animals. But right now I'm loving their unique bags for kids - the patterns, shapes and accessories are so clever!

The Pirate Backpack above comes with two small plush figures - a pirate and a parrot - that can tag along in the outside pockets. It costs $27.70.

And check out this Purple Dazzle Horse Purse for $19.99. Can't you just see practically any little girl prancing around with this purse over her shoulder?

Also, perfect for horse lovers: the Western Knapsack, with a sweet horse peeking out from the closing flap. That sells for $32 at Douglas Toys. But never fear: there are plenty of Douglas totes featuring other cute animals, too, including dogs and cats.

a la mode: sweet tip on the side
Don't want to buy a brand new bag for your little one? Then make one! Or, better yet, have her make one! The folks at Artists Helping Children have compiled a bunch of cool purse projects that can be easily handmade by kids with a little adult supervision.

The best toys in the world are those that stimulate your child's imagination, can keep your kid engaged for hours, and are eco-friendly. It's rare to find all three in one - but Calafant cardboard toys truly fit the bill. These clever cardboard designs can be decorated however your child likes and unfolded to reveal a cool play set.

For instance, that totally cool treehouse is big enough for finger puppets or dollhouse figures to live inside. Same goes for the other structures Calafant makes, from a royal castle to this cute farm (complete with a stable). And they're all surprisingly affordable; most of the structures cost around $25.

Calafant also makes cardboard vehicles - trains, plans and automobiles. Of course, these don't have moving wheels, but they're fun for make-believe play. And when your child outgrows their cardboard structures, you're not left with a big pile of plastic. You can simply recycle them!


a la mode (sweet tip on the side)
Of course, you can also simplify things by making great structures and vehicles out of giant boxes at home. If you get a new appliance or piece of furniture, don't throw away that box! Challenge your kids to turn it into a boat, a truck or a castle! Or give that box nine lives. You can use a product like Rust-Oleum's Chalkboard Spray to paint the box black so your kids can make designs on it with chalk, then erase and start all over!
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