Teacher Christmas Gifts

Yes, it is that time of year again. Here I am scrambling to come up with a creative idea for my daughters teacher that is practical and also in budget. 

I did my Pinterest search and it lead me to some great links. I thought I would pass them on to you to save you the time of having to search. Instead pick and idea off the list and you'll have a gift ready to go to give to your child's teacher and a bonus it will be super cute and look like you are very creative and prepared.

Eveyone loves getting a Starbucks coffee with their own name written on it. This Starbucks Sleeve Printable gives you the chance to write you teachers name and a cute little check list on the side too!

I don't know many teachers that will pass up a free cup of coffee. So why not give them a Dunkin Donuts gift card on this little Thanks a Latte Printable card holder!

We all know teachers spend lots of their own money on classroom supplies. Why not help them out by giving them a few dollars towards that fund? This Target Gift Card Holder is the perfect way to thank a teacher.

Who doesn't need some extra lip balm? This  Reindeer Lip Balm Gift Holder is Adorable.

All classrooms are full of tiny hands with germs. Buy a bottle of hand sanitizer and add this cute hand sanitizer label.

Hope this helps! If you have more great teacher gift ideas pop over to my Facebook page and share you ideas and links!

BPA (not in your kids sippy cup but in your coffee?)

How many of 'us moms' drink coffee everyday? I know its a necessity to get me going in the morning…. 

Also, how many of you are concerned about BPA in your children's containers? 

Then take a moment to read this:
http://themommyilluminati.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/how-k-cups-might-damage-your-metabolism-reproductive-health-and-cause-cancer/

Although the doctor who wrote this article doesn't cite any scientific tests to backup his ideas, it is an interesting theory. 

I do not use disposable Kcups (except on rare occasion). I choose to use a reusable Keurig filter and use my own grounds. Much less expensive and more eco friendly! I hope that makes me a bit safer than the average person.

What are your thoughts on this?

"C" is for coffee

Need I say more?

"It's 7am somewhere"

Friendship mug (Pinterest inspired)

I was inspired by an adorable mug the someone pinned on Pinteest from an Etsy shop. I'm all about supporting artists but I wot pay $25+ for a mug when I have a blank mug and a sharpie in my house. 

So here it goes.... First I free handed the phrase and was rather pleased that my penmanship looked so nice. 

Next I searched the web for our respective states and tried to recreate th shapes the best I could. I thought I pulled it off pretty well. My husband was slightly more critical.

I added my own touch by adding the word' friendship' repeatedly around the base. 

Now I just need to bake this in the oven to set the sharpie and then mail it off to my friend. 

Kcup Elf Legs

I needed a quick gift for a coffee loving friend, but wrapping a box of K-cups just didn't seem festive enough. I used the fact that "Elf" is this persons favorite holiday movie and ran with the idea.

1.) use a small piece tape and make a mini roll and stack 4 cups together. Repeat so you have two stacks.

2.) Cut a 12x12 piece of card stock in half into two 6x12 inch rectangles. Use a Cricuit machine (or you can cut out by hand if you are really good) two elf shoes. These measure about 2" by 3 1/2"

3.) Lay the cuts on their side and roll them into a tube.

Wrap them so that the top of the paper is even with the top Kcup. The bottom cup should stick out.

4.) Tape the shoes onto the bottom of the 'pant legs'

5.) I taped the legs together so they would stand.

Here is my dog being very curious about these elf legs standing in the kitchen.

Here you have a fun set of Kcup Elf legs for the coffee lover in your life this holiday season!

Hot days call for iced coffee

In my early coffee days i just brewed hot coffee and dumped it over ice, but you just end up with watered down coffee. I have since learned how to make a much better tasting version. 

The bonus with this version is you can prep it at night after the kids go to bed and can easily finish it between getting the kids breakfast in the morning. 

Step one: gather supplies. 

Coffee (i prefer fresh ground but you can use pre-ground)

1/3 cup measuring spoon

Glass jar

Step two: Measure 1/3 cup grounds to 1 cup water. I do 1 cup ground to 3 cups water in a large jar so we have enough for my husband and I to each have a glass in the morning.

Step three: Give it a shake and stick it in the fridge for the night.

Step four: Use a mesh strainer to strain out the grounds. Dump out the grounds then put a coffee filter in the strainer and pour through again to strain out the fine particles. The second strain usually takes longer to drip through the filter so this is when I get my daughter breakfast.

Step five: Ice, coffee, creamer and sweetener if so desired, then drink and enjoy!

Do you have a different iced coffee technique or recipe? Please share!

YUMMMMMMM. Coffee.

If you asked me first thing in the morning to chose between coffee and my husband, I might have to think on it.

Of course I'm joking. I would chose my husband hands down, but coffee comes in a real close second!

After seeing a segment on GMA back in March about a new coffee called Death Wish. I squealed with delight telling my hubby that I must try it. I swore it was the only thing I wanted for my birthday. I figured it was a no go, but guess what the love of my life did!? He ordered it for me and just a few days after my birthday it arrived.

I am usually not a coffee snob, but  I do like good coffee. Dunkin Donuts usually makes me happy. But since i have tried this coffee I will go back to nothing else. Yes at $20 a lb it is pricey, but it is so delicious (especially fresh ground!) It makes cold brew and hot brewed equally good and the extra caffeine in it is an added bonus on those slow moving mornings.

Yes, you read that right, it claims to contain twice the normal caffeine as a regular cup of coffee. Scientist I am not, so I can't explain it, but I will sure drink it!


So cheers to coffee. Speaking of.... I'm due for another cup. :-)

To see the GMA video go to this link:
http://gma.yahoo.com/video/gma-death-wish-coffee-twice-080000306.html

To visit the Death Wish coffee site go to:
http://www.deathwishcoffee.com