It's official! We've chosen our July-August 2008 Grand Prize winner!

And we've chosen: Amanda B. (age 5) of Quebec, Canada.

Miss Amanda will receive a $10 Store Gift Certificate, an official place in our Hall of Fame and she will be choosing what charity will receive the donation from our next 100% to charity auction.

Way to go Amanda! Your picture was beautiful!

Come see what all of the fuss is about and visit our Coloring Contest official rules and information here.

Our contest is ready to start accepting entries for September and October! We look forward to seeing your entry!

So, this morning my husband and I are sound asleep and awoken to the blood curling scream of our 7 year old. "THERE'S A LIZARD IN MY ROOM!"

My husband sprung out of bed over the bed rail like an Olympic hurdler. I swear his feet didn't touch the ground until he was already in the living room. I'm apparently not as quick as him as my red eyes cracked open and I stumbled my way over to her room.

By the time I get there I see my husband already sporting some elbow long cloth gloves, a small trash can and a bathroom towel. My 7 year old is standing in front of her door chewing her fingernails off with her eyes as wide as a scientist who just discovered cold fusion.

I calmly ask what "the big frickin' deal" is when I see this insanely large reptile scuttle across the floor under the activity center. At which point, I too discovered cold fusion. O.O

A quick Google search reveals that this reptile is known as what we believe is a "Skink" ~ Some kind of racing skink because he was faster than Kyle Busch crashing people out of his way to get to the lead lap.

After about an hour of chasing him all over in a fun game of "cat & mouse" and several botched "mouse trap" attempts. My husband proudly caught the little guy and we quickly escorted him outside to the empty lot next door.

So, what a fun morning cleaning up the aftermath of "Hurricane Skink" I truly wonder how he got into our house. Actually, I don't want to know. I'll be scared to do laundry for a week if I sit here and think about it.

Are these house pets that get lost or what?. Boy he sure gave my household quite the morning.

When I started my store back in Feb of this year. I had all the best intentions of having a real coloring contest for the store.

The contest started off it's first month with several entries. I chose my 2 winners, sent them their prizes.

Then I started slacking. I saved every entry that has come in since then because I had every intention of continuing the program.

Finally! Since the store design is about 90% completed, I made the time to put the contest page back up. I am now working with my daughter to pick our winners for the 2 months I was slacking and I should be back on track soon.

I also decided to add a little "free sample" for every child that enters. I wanted to do this in the beginning, but it was hard to try and figure out what wouldn't put me out of business giving away and what would be lightweight so I could send them with 1 stamp.

I decided on giving each child a special little cookie from a set I carry in the store called "Dozen of Tea Set Cookies" (which I am currently out of and restocking this upcoming week, with extras for the coloring champions) :)

I remember entering coloring contests when I was a kid. One time in particular I was up north visiting my grandparents for Easter. I colored this bunny picture. I remember taking my time, I wanted my grandparents to be impressed. I colored one bunny dark brown and light brown, and I colored a blue and yellow apron on her. I remember coloring each little part of the eggs with different colors. My grandmother (who just passed a few months ago) kept saying "They won't believe a child colored that" with a big smile.

Coloring contests give me such great memories from when I was a kid. I really wish more places still held them. They really give a child such a sense of pride and not to mention how it brings out the creative side of them. (Most schools don't even have art or music anymore! We need to bring more creativity to our kids somehow) It's so nice to see them having something to look forward to that they actually have to WAIT for. lol. In a world where everything is instant, why not take a minute and color with your child?

Hope to see some new entries soon. There is no fee to enter and I only charge exact shipping to the winner. The "free" samples are stamps and I won't charge for that. ;)

I'm still debating on what to offer as the Grand Prize.. I think since it's Summertime themed, I will offer my Ice Cream set! YUMMY!