Thanks for helping us grow...Thinking beyond the gift card.

Seed Packets for a Teacher's Gift

I always get our teachers a gift card.  (Honestly, it's what I wish everyone would buy me. Hint. Hint.)    However, I do think it's nice to add a personal touch to the gift and the children enjoy the exchange.  Let's be serious, when children are younger they do not understand how something like macaroni artwork is not considered 100 gazillion times cooler then a rectangular piece of plastic.  A new idea I had this year was a "Thanks for Helping us Grow" end of year gift.  If you collect money from the class, spend the bulk of the money on a Visa type gift card that you label- For your Gardening Supplies.   With about $10-$15 buy a  garden planter or pot.  Then ask students to bring in a variety of seed packs with a personal note, quote or card with the title...Thanks for helping me grow.  Plan for the kids to bring in their surprise contribution on the same morning, maybe the day of the class party.  That morning, send in the planter and gift card with a note, For your Collection! 

Teacher's Class Cookbook

Surprise the teacher with a collection of class favorites!

Last year, as part as the end of the year teacher gifts, I asked the parents (several times) to e-mail me a copy of their favorite summertime recipe.  I compiled the recipes in a three ring 1/2 inch  binder and presented the teacher and assistant teacher a copy the day of the "end of year" party.  (In retrospect, I probably would not have given one to the assistant teacher as she floated between 3 classes and mostly just scowled at everyone .)   The cookbooks are a great way to have families contribute to a gift without sending any money.  I had amazing participation and everyone loved the final product.  Some tips-

Our Recipe

• Edit the recipes so the fonts and titles match
• Include a picture on each recipe re-sized to be the same size.  If one was not included, I just googled the recipes and added my own!
• I printed each recipe on a cream card stock and then cut each recipe to mount with double sticky tape on a decorative card stock.  I found a fabulous value pack of toile, striped and patterned cream and black card stock at Michaels. (Don't forget you can almost always download a Michaels 40% off coupon onto your smart phone.)
• I laminated each recipe with Avery laminating sheets.  If you don't want to to do this step, I recommend placing each recipe in a top closing page protector.
• I decorated the cover page with summer grilling type scrapbook embellishments from Jolee's Boutique.

End of Year Teacher Gifts- BBQ Buckets

The kids loved surprising the teacher with BBQ supplies to fill the bucket!

I cannot believe another school year is coming to a close!  It's time to start thinking about how to celebrate all the hard work of those wonderful teachers with end-of-year gifts.  (If you didn't like your kids teacher just skip this post.)  As a class mom  at various schools and preschools, I've had to become extra clever in getting around all those pesky "rules" regarding gift-giving.  I even told the teachers this year I may retire from class mom duties just so I don't have to follow the guidelines for room moms.  For instance, at my younger son's preschool, they have a NO goody bag at "class celebrations" policy!  Shouldn't you tell a girl this before she signs up.  (This year I just made my creations in non-bag form and handed them out the day before the parties.)  Anyway, creative class gifts are harder in some schools especially ones that do not allow cash donations.   Last year, for my son's kindergarten class, I bought nice beverage buckets and asked each family to contribute a BBQ themed gift.  I suggested everything from aprons, sauces, grilling tools, spice rubs, grilling mitts, etc. to bring in to school the day of graduation.  Almost every child participated and the teachers loved all their summertime goodies.  I even included a fabulous cook book that I'll talk about soon!  If you are allowed to accept cash, you could include 3 gift cards; one for the BBQ accessories (Target), one for the grilling food (grocery store) and a final one to their favorite restaurant (in case it rains).

The Perfect Cookie

Ribbitt!  Wyatt's Frog Themed 1st Birthday

I always believe that a party's success lies in the attention to details.  It's easy to make a batch of cookies, so why not order a cookie cutter matching your theme and take it to that next level.  A lot of  impact with a little effort!

After many trials and errors, OK basically store bought dough doesn't work, I found the perfect sugar cookie recipe that will produce a flawlessly shaped cut-out.  (I think I ripped it out of a magazine in a doctor's waiting room- sorry!)   This was before the days of online pin-boards and Facebook, so I still have my much loved original copy that's been getting  a little wrinkled and sticky over the years.  I must have used this recipe a dozen or so times and the cookies always turn out great and get plenty of compliments.


My Favorite Sugar Cookie Dough
Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups flour

1. Using an electric mixer at medium high speed, cream the butter gradually adding the sugar.  Beat in the egg until evenly mixed, then blend in the vanilla extract and salt. (I add coloring here)

2. With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the creamed ingredients, about one third at a time, until evenly blended.  The dough may seem soft, but it will firm up when refrigerated.

3.  Divide the dough in half, flatten each portion into a disk and seal in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate overnight.

4.  Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Cover cookie sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray.  Roll dough between 2 sheets of lightly dusted wax paper to a 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out shapes and gently transfer to baking sheet.

5.  Bake 8-10 minutes until cookies start to turn golden brown along the edges. Cool.  Makes 30-40

• Notes- Dumping sugar works just as well as "gradually adding".  I didn't own a wooden spoon for the 1st three years and freezing  for an hour or two is quicker than refrigerating overnight.   I did find it's easier to work in small batches.  The warm dough gets tricky to cut!

Rock On!  Cole's 4th Birthday

Under The Sea.  Cole's 1st Birthday

All Aboard.  Cole's 2nd Birthday