Michaels Passport to Imagination - Craft your way from Madagascar to the North Pole!

Visit 18 countries with your children this summer thanks to craft store Michaels Passport to Imagination event series. Taking place at every Michaels location, children explore different countries via flag-making, animal discovery and other arts & crafts at hands-on creative sessions now through July 28th.

This week, travel to China, Madagascar, and Canada. Make a fortune cookie, a rain stick, a "Moose Crossing" frame and more. The complete around-the-world itinerary including event dates and times is available here and pictured below.  Featured locales include the North Pole, Australia, India, and Brazil--every corner of the globe!

Savannah has been working with crayons, markers, paint, glue, glitter and stickers since she's been 14 months old. So far, all of her interactions with these materials have been 95% self directed. I believe in the power of self-directed creative play but I'm also very curious to see if she's mature enough to follow directions to make a craft. 

I will definitely make a trip to our Michaels on the Upper West Side this summer. Find your closest Michael's store here. Let me know which passport stamps you get!

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Joe Fresh Opens in NYC: Blame Canada

If these photos make you squint, you can blame Canada for my new ridiculously bright orange pants -- I bought them at the Joe Fresh pop-up shop on Madison Avenue for $49 a few weeks ago. In honor of the Canadian brand's flagship store grand opening, here is my first "typical style blog post" on how I wore my new pants for their first appearance.  Can't wait to check out their new space on 5th Ave at 43rd Street!

After looking at the photos my husband snapped before leaving for work this morning, I promptly removed the belt. What do you think?

Also, what are your thoughts on pairing these pants with a black top? Too Halloween-y or is that rule as old fashioned as the no-white-after-Labor-Day rule?

Shirt: Anne Taylor Loft  /  Belt: H&M /  Pants: Joe Fresh /  Shoes: Target /  Necklace: Topshop

Comfortable stretch

A billowy white shirt tucked in might be a better choice and more on trend for 2012.

Nude monkey wanted to pose too

Will my badonkadonk stop traffic in traffic-cone-orange?

Time to chug coffee and hit the town!