I've learned a little bit more about Gymboree's plans for their new store concept, Crazy Eight, from their First Quarter 2007 Earnings Report.

The company hasn't released too much more than I've already shared with you, but there are a few new details:

• Crazy 8 will launch in August 2007 with a minimum of 10 stores opening in 2007.
• They will have a web presence with an e-commerce website.
• Crazy 8 will have a larger boy selection than Gymboree.
• The stores will be roughly 2,500 square feet.
• Gymboree is employing a separate design team for Crazy 8.

Gymboree wants to reach every mom in America with their three different brands: Janie & Jack, their European-inspired boutique brand, Gymboree, their mid- to upper-end mix & match brand, and the new Crazy 8 brand, which will serve customers who want cool, wholesome, age-appropriate fashion for their children at a great price. The company insists that the targeted lower household income bracket is "not necessarily the focus" of Crazy 8, but that consumers, regardless of income, view kids' clothes as "disposable" and tend to spend less money on them.

Here's something I can't wait to make with my 17-month-old son. He loves to draw, and I'm sure he would be very excited to draw all over the ground outside with chalk. Older kids can make the chalk themselves, but my little guy will have to settle for just helping me tear the chalk out of the molds and decorating our sidewalks.

Ingredients:
- Plaster of Paris
- Water
- Food coloring or tempera paint (powdered tempera works best, but liquid is fine)

Molds:
- Paper cups
- Egg cartons
- Toilet paper tubes (taped closed on one end with duct tape)
- Use silicone ice cube trays, candy molds, or mini muffin pans to make chalk in different shapes.
(If you use molds that aren't flexible (like a metal muffin pan), line them first with wax paper or foil to help the chalk slide out more easily.)

Directions:
1. Mix equal parts plaster of paris and water.
2. Add powdered tempera paint, liquid tempera paint, or food coloring until you get the color you want.
3. Pour the plaster mixture into molds, and let harden.
(Don't pour any extra plaster down the drain. Let it dry and throw it away in the garbage.)
4. Peel away the mold and use your new chalk!

Fun Variations:
- Try swirling togther a few different colors of paint to make marbelized or rainbow chalk.
- Add a bit of glitter to the plaster mixture to make sparkly chalk.

What: Skip Hop Dash Canvas diaper bag
Website: www.skiphop.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What: Skip Hop Expo Canvas diaper bag
Website: www.skiphop.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have been using the Skip Hop Dash diaper bag for the past year and a half, and while I'm pretty happy with it, I had a couple gripes and decided to get a new bag. I discovered one of Skip Hop's new models, the Expo, and couldn't wait to check it out. Here are my experiences with the two bags:

RC2 Corp. recalled around 1.5 million Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys due to lead in the paint. The recall includes train cars, buildings and other accessories that were sold at various stores across the country between January 2005 and June 2007. Some of the products have a manufacturing code on the bottom or inside their battery covers, and if the code contains "WJ" or "AZ," they are not included in the recall.

Following are the names of the products included in this recall:

• Red James Engine & Red James’ # 5 Coal Tender


• Red Lights & Sounds James Engine & Red James’ #5 Lights & Sounds Coal Tender


• James with Team Colors Engine & James with Team Colors #5 Coal Tender


• Red Skarloey Engine


• Brown & Yellow Old Slow Coach


• Red Hook & Ladder Truck & Red Water Tanker Truck


• Red Musical Caboose


• Red Sodor Line Caboose


• Red Coal Car labeled “2006 Day Out With Thomas” on the Side


• Red Baggage Car


• Red Holiday Caboose


• Red “Sodor Mail” Car


• Red Fire Brigade Truck


• Red Fire Brigade Train


• Deluxe Sodor Fire Station


• Red Coal Car


• Yellow Box Car


• Red Stop Sign


• Yellow Railroad Crossing Sign


• Yellow “Sodor Cargo Company” Cargo Piece


• Smelting Yard


• Ice Cream Factory

You can click the photo at the top of this post to enlarge it.

For additional information and to get replacement toys, contact RC2 Corp. toll-free at (866) 725-4407 (M-Th 8a - 5p CT, Fri 8a - 11a CT) or online at recalls.rc2.com.

Robert's American Gourmet Food, Inc. has recalled all lots and sizes of their Veggie Booty Snack Food because of possible contamination with Salmonella. 51 cases of Salmonella infection were reported across 17 states, most of which occurred in children under 3 years old.

Veggie Booty has been tested and so far has not been shown to contain Salmonella organisms in the finished product, but the company is taking the proper precautions and temporarily halting the manufacture and sale of Veggie Booty.

Veggie Booty is sold across the United States and Canada in a flexible plastic foil bag in 4 oz., 1 oz., and 1/2 oz. sizes.

If you have any Veggie Booty, discard the contents of the package and contact Robert's American Gourmet at 1-800-626-7557 for reimbursement or a product voucher. You can also return the empty bag to the store where you purchased the product, or send the empty bag along with your address to:
Robert's American Gourmet
P.O. Box 326
Sea Cliff, NY
11579