a cute clipboard + a candle! {back to school teacher gift}

Today I have another easy back to school teacher gift idea for you! 

Target has these cute clipboards and yummy smelling candles in stock right now! Every teacher can use a cute clipboard and after the first week, de-stressing with a candle and bubble bath will probably be on every teacher's list!

Add a cute (free) inspirational printable (hello, Pinterest!) to the clipboard and you're all set!

Clipboard: $4.79 
"Juicy Gossip" Candle: $12.99 
Free printable by brepurposed can be found {here}! 

Spread a little love everywhere you go! 
It's the best mood lifter in the world!!

Dr. Seuss Book {back to school teacher gift}

I don't know about you, but every Summer increases my appreciation for everything teachers do day in and day out to nurture little ones, so any chance I get, I want to let them know I appreciate what they do!

So today I have for you an inexpensive grab-n-go gift that doesn't require any making, just in case that's not your thing!!  Do you have a little one starting preschool / kinder / first grade??  How about picking up a copy of this brand new, just released Dr. Seuss book as a classroom gift for the teacher!  Add a cute nameplate dedicating the book to your teacher and include your child's name and the school year and you have a fun {and useful!} keepsake!

I'm in love with the story behind it!!  You can read more about it {here}, but in a nutshell...Audrey Geisel, Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)'s widow, found in her attic a box of papers she'd stashed away after his death.  In it was this and several other manuscripts he had finished and illustrated!

There's nothing like a Dr. Seuss book in my opinion, especially for those beginner readers!  I picked up a copy for Hudson's first grade homeroom teacher, along with a jar of my homemade {vanilla sugar hand scrub} and a cute beehive cookie cutter because they are the "Honeybees".

Giving doesn't have to break the bank!  A little heartfelt gesture goes a long way.

Do you love Dr. Seuss?  Find more party inspiration {here}, {here} and {here}!

vanilla sugar hand scrub {back to school teacher gift}

A couple of weeks ago during our family vacay to Tybee Island {pics coming soon!}, I fell in love with the hand scrub at one of the local restaurants. But it was pricey and I knew it wouldn't work with my budget for back to school gifts. So as soon as we got home, I started experimenting with different recipes and ingredients and finally came up with a winner!

Even better, it's made with all wholesome ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!! So what are you waiting for??! Put on a cute apron and let's get started!

Vanilla Sugar Hand Scrub

{fills 3 half-pint (8 oz.) mason jars with a little to spare!} 

 

1   1/2 cups light brown sugar

8 tablespoons coconut oil

4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons lemon juice

 

1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth and
    coconut oil has dissolved completely.

2. Resist the urge to taste it because it smells so
    good!

3. Store in an airtight container.

Now go treat yourself for all your hard work {Shhhh...no one has to know how easy it really was!} by using the little extra on yourself! I like to scoop out a little dollop, scrub for 1 minute, rinse with water and pat dry. Your hands will smell soooo good and feel soooo soft!

And if you're feeling fancy, spray paint the metal rings like I did and use a little fabric scrap or pretty paper to cover the circle lid. Add a little ribbon or baker's twine, a cute tag, and if you have it, a little wooden spoon for scooping and voila! You just made a perfect little gift for teachers, neighbors, girlfriends, hostesses or whoever needs a little extra I'm-thinking-of-you.

Now excuse me while I go back to being in denial that the littles start school in 1 week! *sob*

dance week...love jars...easter treats...firefighters...another tooth...whew!

Bunch of random phone pics! 

1. Dance
The little pumpkin L O V E S to dance! These pics are from a couple of weeks ago when we took recital pics...sharing now in honor of National Dance Week {2014}.

Best friends!

Natalie, Grace, Savannah...school and dance buddies!

2. Love Jars 
This year we did primarily school-wide {Teacher Appreciation} activities, as well as gift cards, but we still wanted to do something a little more personal to let our teachers know how much we love them. Enter the Love Jars. My friend Angela shared this great idea with me and I think it turned out so cute!

I did it twice. Actually 3 jars...Grace's homeroom teacher and both of Hudson's teachers.

I added chocolate bunnies and Easter paper grass to Hudson's teachers' jars because we gave them their jars the week of Easter, but basically, we just had each child in the class write/tell us what they love most about their teachers. Oh, the things that little ones notice!!!! Some were hilarious {"I love that she changes her clothes but always wears the same coat"} and others were just so sweet and heartfelt, like this one from Hudson's buddy Luke for Mrs. P...

3. Easter Treats
There is just something so sweet about Easter treats. The littles gave these to Noonie and Papa J at church on Easter Sunday...

Grace took this egg to her teacher just before Easter...

As parents I know we always try to instill good values in our children and I love getting my littles involved in spreading joy through small, random acts of kindness. Their little smiles make my heart sing!

4. Class Treats
Speaking of treats. My friend Emme brought the cutest treats for our class!! Her middle son Noah and Grace are in the same class. We have such a wonderful group this year! Thank you, Emme!!

5. Family Night
The azaleas were in bloom a couple of weeks ago so we made a mad dash on a Friday to snap {these} pics and then it just worked out that we decided to stop for {yummy, messy, what was I thinking letting them eat in these clothes!} subs at Firehouse Subs and then made it a family night with story time at Barnes & Noble.

Someone kinda loved his hat...

Adding a leaf to the tree...do I still have my hat??? Check!

A little girl bonding while brother enjoyed the story...

But who am I kidding, we only stayed for the mini strawberry creme fraps - ha!!

6. Tooth Fairy
Grace lost another tooth!! At school this time!! That calls for a special after school treat!

Her note to Isabella, the Tooth Fairy, was too cute not to share!!

Isabella came through in a big way with a My Little Pony instead of a dollar bill! {I'm thinking Isabella must have a gift closet, and be running low on change, don't you think??}

7. Dance Moves
And since we started with 'Dance', let's end it with the same, shall we?

Yep, Hudson has some unique dance moves of his own!

This picture is the result of those dance moves above and a little someone who had mama's phone at the time...

Oh, in all seriousness, I do hope they remember the silly, spontaneous moments and not the times when mama & daddy lose their patience and yell. We are all works in progress. Be kind to yourself and others today.

Teacher Appreciation Week Re-cap {2013}

I am so far behind!  Last week was one of those weeks.  You know the type, right?  Yes, it was Teacher Appreciation Week at BOTH littles' schools, Grace's teacher's birthday, my birthday, the week before Spring Break, I was judging a poetry contest, Hudson was sick with a lingering dry cough, and oh yes, our national re-accreditation site visit at work (happens every 5 years), so needless to say, I tried to update the blog 4 nights in a row and 4 nights in a row I fell asleep within minutes of sitting on the sofa. 

So how about a catch-up post?  Here goes...

Monday...Rise & Shine!
Sometimes all you need is a little pick-me-up to get your week off on the right foot! We took this little bucket-o-love to Grace's teacher last Monday.  I'm not sure if it was because it was Monday or because it was the week before Spring Break and you know how crazy the littles get or because teachers have to get to school so early or.......did I mention it was Monday??.........but her smile was priceless!  And you know what? Doing something nice for someone else AlwAYs makes you feel warm + fuzzy on the inside! It's true!

And yes, this is the same Rise & Shine breakfast bucket we did for Hudson's Mother's Day Out {Teacher Appreciation Week last year}.  To this day...and that's 4 years coordinating TAW for the littles' schools...this is still one of the most talked about gifts we have ever given teachers!!  Just goes to show you that it doesn't have to be expensive or fancy to make a difference. 

Oh and can I say I was not in charge of either TAW this year and Shhh...don't tell anyone, but it was SO NICE to have a little break and just concentrate on a few teachers!

All the kinders brought a card/picture to give to their homeroom teacher...this was Grace's.  Notice the strategic word placement...I sure hope Ms. V doesn't think Grace drew HER as the leprechaun!! hahahahaha

The PTA at the little pumpkin's school did a phenomenal job coordinating Teacher Appreciation Week with catered lunches for the faculty each day, fun prizes and games, and even a gift card to each teacher at the end of the week, but us Kindergarten Room Moms wanted to do a little extra to let our teachers know how much we love and appreciate them, so we gave them small themed baskets every day last week. 

Tuesday...Voted Most POPular!
Another mom in Grace's class took care of Tuesday, but we did a similar version to this one, with a movie gift card tucked in for a little extra treat...

Wednesday...Thanks a Latte for all You Do!
Wednesday was all about coffee!  Grace's BFF Savannah's mom...Alicia, who just happens to be super crafty, put together this sweet basket for Ms. V, and even tucked in a little Starbucks gift card.  Ms. V LOVED it!  Tuesday was also Ms. V's birthday...more on that in tomorrow's post!

Thursday...I couldn't have PICKED a better teacher!
I put together this little basket for Ms. V and I thought it turned out so cute!  The ceramic berry basket and the little birdie are both from Michael's.  The free printable tag is from {here}.

Bath & Body Works has the perfect "fresh picked" line of scents so that made it super easy!  The hand cream even says "hard working" - p.e.r.f.e.c.t!!

Since Hudson's preschool is only Mon-Thurs, Thursday was also the culmination of TAW for his preschool, so I made these baskets for his sweet preschool teachers...

The melamine baskets are from World Market. Here's Hudson giving Ms. Kelli her basket...

Mrs. Sandy's turn!

Hudson was feeling a little shy...

Friday...Box of Sunshine
Alicia put together this bright & cheery basket for Ms. V...she was so excited - sure made our day to see her so happy!

Basically we were going with anything and everything yellow and happy!

The sweet sentiment...

All the teachers LOVED their gifts and I think they truly felt appreciated all week long {and hopefully all year long too!}. That's what it's all about! 

So whether your littles' schools do something big or small, just remember to thank those sweet teachers for all they do.  A little handwritten note and a small token of appreciation go a long way toward making someone's day.

Happy Monday!