Whatever Wrote on Your Float...

I am always looking for bargains. So, I usually look at projects for the season that's about to end so I know what types of projects I want to do the following year and can stock up on the supplies. For instance, I make these floats every year. They are cute, functional and very affordable. I've used them as party favors or just little additions to birthday gifts. Walmart always has TONS and the regular price is $2. They come in pink, green and blue. If you start stalking them now you can usually find them on clearance for $1.50 or less. This is a very easy project that require little supplies. However if you are making several of them and plan to blow them up I would also invest in an air pump. These too are usually on clearance this time of year for 50% off at most stores. My Walmart has a large manual air pump on clearance for $10 and a small on clearance for $5 - and let's face it, it's always good to have an air pump around. The finished product looks like this - see so cute:)


Float Project Supplies
Float (deflated), Paint Pen (one that writes on plastic - check the label and it will tell you if the one you are looking at does - you can find these at any craft store or Walmart), Paper, Printer

So, the first thing you need to do is print the name that you want to embellished the float with. In this case I did the family's last name but I usually do a child's first name. You then need to print this name out on a sheet of paper (formatted to landscape). I do this in Microsoft Word.
Here I used the JUICE font and enlarge the font to 300pt. I usually just enlarge the font as big as I can go still keeping the word on 1 page. Then you place the paper under the float and begin tracing the name using the paper as a guide. That's it, it's as easy as that. Let the ink dry for about 5 minutes before you blow it up and do NOT stack floats on top of each other for at least an hour (otherwise the ink will transfer from one float to another). You can also do this same concept with beach balls or any other plastic inflatable toy. Enjoy!

Back to the "Grind" Gifts

Need a small gift for a friend, can't swing a "back to school survival kit" or have a teacher from last year (whom you know likes coffee) that you want to stop by and say "hi" to? Here is a clever and frugal idea. Starbucks sells instant "ground" coffee which is actually pretty darn good. You can buy a 3 pack envelope for under $3. They sell it for hot or iced coffee (if your recipient prefers one over the other). You can split the packets up to make a couple cards or put the whole envelope in one "Back to the Grind" card. You could even pick up one of those adorable large coffe mugs (they have the best ones at Hobby Lobby) and place the card inside it. As you can see below I can NOT cut in a straight line, please don't judge me - I'm extremely ashamed about it.

Now, I must admit I'm addicted to Starbucks. I have a problem. My brother in law (who's a Dave Ramsey specialist) would probably have a heart attack on the spot if he could calculate the cost of my addiction. But thankfully he has not tried to do so - yet. I just know one day I'll come home to a room full of family and friends and a camera from the INTERVENTION TV show but until then I'm living blissfully in the land of addiction. Because of this addiction I get these fabulous coupons, let's just say extremely often. So if you too have one of these coupons laying around the house you could possibly cover up the address with a "Back to the Grind" card and presto - your gift recipient can order ANY drink, ANY size on you (and might I add your addition;).

UPDATE: And THEN if you happen to know an extremely crafty chick (nursinmama@bellsouth.net) who owns the coolest die cut machine on the planet she might like your idea, come up with an idea of her own and whip out some things like these:

Back to School Supplies & Survival Kits

Well sadly, it's that time of year again! I've been school supply shopping now for a week or so and have almost all my kids items purchased. FYI, if any other parents need Primary Composition Journals (they are basically journals with space at the top of the page for children to draw a picture and then lines for d'nealian writing at the bottom) they do exist but they are extremely hard to find! Target has them but they are in the art supply section by the stationary - and NOT with the school supplies. I have also seen them at Walmart and Office Max. I thought I would save you trips to several stores, because it took me a week to find them.
One thing I do every year for my children's teachers is make and take a "back to school survival kit" at orientation. These can be as big or as little as you want. Items I usually put in mine are things like aspirin (for the headaches they are bound to have that 1st week of school;), shout wipes, a tiny travel sewing kit, mini lint brush, breath mints, chap stick, snacks, candy, soda, breakfast bars (in case they run late one morning), stationary, and whatever else I can think of. It's meant to be a small little supply kit for the emergencies that he or she are bound to run into those 1st few weeks. And to make their return a little more comfortable. I try to bring this kit in at orientation because it's better than sending it with my child (because who knows what might happen to it on the way) and also because the teachers have time to find a home for these items (unlike on the 1st day of school). Plus let's face it - it doesn't really hurt you in the first impression department. I usually include a Teacher Profile in this kit as well. I would always like my own even if I'm not selected as the room parent. It allows me to be aware of any special events for the teacher and also provides a great starting point if I want to purchase anything for the teacher. You can read about Teacher Profile here and use it to create your own.
What are your ideas for back to school?

PhotoStory

So it's that time of year when you are short on time and money and you have 1 day to thank your teacher for the countless hours she has spent with your child. My favorite gift to give teachers for Teacher Appreciation Day is a PhotoStory. It is meaningful and something they can always pull out on days they are questioning their job and their sanity. PhotoStory is a FREE Microsoft program that basically creates a slideshow from pictures you import. My friend "G" who is the BOMB when it comes to the coolest most meaningful gifts introduced it to me. You can add recording to the photos, text and music It's very easy to use and it creates a CD-ROM file for playback on a computer. If you want to burn a DVD you have to purchase a patch from Microsoft for about $20 in order to be able to burn the file as a DVD.

Below I have published the PhotoStory I made for my daughter's teacher this year (only out of respect and privacy I deleted photos of the other students). I try and do these every year and I have yet not to have a teacher in tears by the end. I usually ask the children what they love about their teacher or what their teacher has taught them this year and I LOVE the responses I get. My favorite this year was the little boy who said he loved his teacher because she was his best friend. Two years ago I had a Kindergartner tell me her teacher taught her four letter words:) You can just have pictures without recording the children's voices or you can have the children's responses without music. It took me about an hour and a half to complete taking the student photos and recording their responses for the CLASS. You could just complete a PhotoStory from your child with all the different things they love or have learned from their teacher. You could even take pictures of the different work or projects or books that they completed this year. ALWAYS get permission from administration at the school, permission from the parents as well as a media release. Below are the links to download PhotoStory yourself and the form that I use to send home.



Here's the link to download Photostory:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

Sample Letter to Class:
Hi everyone! Teacher Appreciation Day is fast approaching. This year Teacher Appreciation Day falls on Wednesday, May 5th. We are planning opportunities for both the children AND the parents to show their appreciation. I will be working with children that have signed media consent/release forms* on a slideshow for Ms. D. This slideshow will consist of either a picture that you choose and e-mail to me or a picture I take of each child. I will then come in sometime next week and record each child (that has a signed media consent/release form*) answering the question, “What do you appreciate about Ms, D?”. On Teacher Appreciation Day, the children will present this DVD slideshow to Ms. D.

If you are not sure that you have a signed media consent form or chose not to sign the school media consent form but would like for your child to participate in this project please sign the form attached and return it to school in a sealed envelope with my name on it. Thank you!!

MEDIA CONSENT FORM
I, __________________________________(print your name) do consent to allow _________________________________(print your child’s name) picture and voice recording to be used in the making of a slideshow DVD for Ms. D’s teacher appreciation gift.

________________________________ _____________
Sign your name Date

Hospital Stay Survival Kits

If I ever have a friend or family member spending time in the hospital I try to take them some sort of "survival basket". These will usually include snacks for the waiting room or for the patients room (to save money on vending machines), mints, card games or magazines. If you happen to have a teacher who is having a baby and you have no idea what to get them consider doing a Labor & Delivery basket. These have always been well received when I've given them and they are easily customized to each mom. The teacher I gave one to today is having her 4th baby and it's a scheduled C-section. She's been around the block and probably knows best what to pack herself so I concentrated on giving her little extras that she may not have time to pamper herself with.

For first time moms I usually include slipper socks, a shower puff, shower gel & lotion from Bath & Body works (because the first shower after delivery is the BEST one you've ever had) and some sort of prayer book for moms (with really cute prayers like "Dear God today I feel grubby and am still in my pj's at 3pm"). I usually ALWAYS include a pillow case, thank you notes, a notebook, a gift card to the closest fast food place near the hospital because these are always items that can be used! What items do you like to include in hospital gifts you give?

Granola Recipe

I decided this week to send in breakfast food for the kids to eat before they started the CRCT test. Sometimes children may have not had a chance to eat or are hungry once they get to school and this ensures they start the test on a full stomach. Today I sent in homemade granola. This is a very simple recipe, that's cheap to make, kids love it and it is sweetened with only coconut and honey. People are always very impressed that you can make your own granola (until they see how very simple it is;). Below is the recipe. It's possibilities are endless because you add whatever you want to it! I will say that my family, and myself included, are not big fans of coconut. When I say "not big fans" I mean my husband won't touch the stuff. However when you toast it as in this recipe, it changes the taste and texture. My husbands eats this granola by the fist full - reminding me how much he hates coconut;)

Homemade Granola
4 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups sweetened coconut
1 cup slivered almonds (optional - I did not use these for the batch I made today due to nut allergies)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk oil & honey together. Pour oil/honey over the dry ingredients and toss with you hands until evenly distributed. Pour out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 40 minutes stirring the granola every 10 minutes to make sure the top pieces don't burn and it gets evenly toasted. Let granola cool and then you have to break it apart. You can then add 1 bag of chocolate chips, or dried fruit or peanuts or whatever else you would like! It makes a ton so there's always some to share!! Ina Garten also has a great granola bar recipe if you are interested. Enjoy:)

CRCT Snacks & Treats

So for those lucky enough to live in Georgia we have the dreaded CRCT testing coming up over the next two weeks. Most room parents are asked to help with snack. I usually send a letter asking parents that like to help to send in breakfast items such as granola bars, raisins, bananas, clementines, etc. - anything that is NOT loaded with sugar or artificial colors (i.e. NO pop tarts, NO rice krispy treats, NOTHING to give the kids a huge rush of sugar right before the test). This gives the teacher a stash of items to offer children who may have missed breakfast (and also a stash of items if the picky eaters don't like snack that day).
Snack time during the CRCT is strictly timed and goes by fast. For snack each day I find that it's easiest on the teacher and the children if I "pre-package" a snack. This way less time is spent dispensing the snack and more time is allotted to the children to eat. I only send in foods that are natural - absolutely NO high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors or sweeteners. The children need a balanced healthy snack that will allow them to do their best. Also I try my best to pre cut or pre peel any fruit so they don't use their snack time trying to get their food ready to eat or worse have to sit and wait on their teacher to help them.

Below is my planned schedule of snacks next week. I will pre-package these items in 20 individual ziploc sandwich bags and the send these items in a large cooler bag to school each day with my daughter. Last year I sent my 1st grader on the bus every day like this and she had no issues (in case anyone is curious).

This year's snack:
Day 1 - Homemade Mini Blueberry & Mini Banana Muffins, String Cheese, Carrots and Clementines (peeled and sectioned)
Day 2 - Annie's Cheddar Bunny Crackers, Organic Yogurt, Celery Sticks and Strawberries (hulled)
Day 3 - Pretzels, Cheddar Cheese Squares, Apple Slices & Grapes and Cucumber
Slices
Here is how I packaged the snack so it was easy for the teacher to hand out quickly and easy for the kids to open:

Smarty-Grams
My SIL has been a Kindergarten teacher for the past 10 years and she is a great resource for ideas. She suggested I send in "Smarty-Grams" this year to the kids. Since I'm banning HFC from the snacks I'm sending in I will allow this minor infraction to be distributed at the end of the day (if SG's teacher does:). It's just a pack of smarties with a little encouraging note attached. Below I've listed what I'm going to write each day. My SIL's school actually let's the parents send in their own notes to attach but I'm too OCD and don't have time for that. You can cut out paper and make "SMARTY PANTS". You could also choose a different candy - but Smarties are small and inexpensive to do (I bought a bag of 65 for under$2.50 at Target today). Please post what testing treat ideas you have!



Testing is also extremely hard on the teachers and we rarely stop to think about that. To think that they are sitting there watching all these little kids who are basically holding the teacher's job performance indicator in their little #2 pencil holding hands!! This year I found an adorable sign that did break my "NO PENCIL GIFTS" rule - but it was so stinking cute I had to get it. I sent it in on the first day of testing and our teacher almost cried. She immediately hung it up so the whole class could see it all week! There are other signs with this same scripture that read "You believe in us so we believe in ourselves".