There is a product that is so perfect in every way to me, as a mom, that I keep it around the house at all times. That product is.....CRAYOLA MODEL MAGIC!

Allow me to sing the praises of Model Magic! Model Magic is a modeling compound that is lightweight; doesn't stain or crumble; can be joined to other surfaces, and dries completely to make a durable "finished product." My daughter Melissa and her friends are crazy about it...(me too, in case you couldn't tell)!

Model Magic far exceeds plain old Play-Doh, if you ask me. Melissa is less frustrated with Model Magic, since it doesn't get those big cracks in it like Play-Doh does. She has created adorable cats, and....well, okay, cats are just about all she likes to create right now....but Model Magic allows her to mold these cats into all different positions!

Model Magic is great for inspiring not-too-messy bouts of creativity. It's the perfect "boredom buster" on a rainy day, or during those long school breaks when I hear those dreaded words, "Mom! I'm bored!"

It's Model Magic to the rescue! Better to inspire creativity then mindless TV watching, right? Besides, actually making something with her bare hands is a nice "old fashioned" break for my daugter, as opposed to playing endless video games and CD ROMs.

Model Magic even has the power to turn a disastrous Play-Date around. This very occassion occurred just last week. Melissa's friend Fiona came over, and the girls couldn't agree on anything.

Fiona wanted to "pretend to be princesses." Melissa wanted to "pretend to be cats." Then Fiona wanted to watch cartoons. But Melissa wanted to play. Oh, it was getting ugly up there in my daugter's room! Luckily, I had some handy squares of Model Magic around.

"How would you girls like to make something?" I asked cheerily, poking my head into the room.

Melissa and Fiona looked at each other.

"Sure!"

I set them up at the kitchen table, where they happily molded things with Model Magic for over an hour. (No wonder they call that stuff "magic")!

Plus, making things with Model Magic is a fun way to bond with my daughter while creating Holiday crafts, since Model Magic is available in all different colors (orange pumpkins and red hearts,anyone? Or in Melissa's case, it would be an orange cat and a red cat)!

I'm even thinking of using Model Magic for the "craft portion" of my daughter's upcoming cat-themed birthday party. Everyone can make Model Magic cats!

So I just want to say, Thank you Crayola for creating the perfect, low-cost, most creative, most sanity-saving product, around. I can't imagine my life as a mom without Model Magic!