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!

Heavenly Homemade Sugar Scrubs

Lets be honest moms, 5 minutes is about all the time was have to indulge, right? I take my 5 minutes in the morning and use my sugar scrub in the shower a few times a week.  

I have loved sugar scrub and sea salt scrub for years but have bought it very sparingly in the past due to the price in the stores. 

About a year ago I discovered homemade sugar scrub on Pintrest. 
I gave it a try and not only did I fall in love with it, I love it MORE than the store bought stuff. 

There are so many great things about it. 
~The ability to chose any sugar granule type and size. 
~Use any scent.
~Very inexpensive.
~Whip up a batch in a matter of minutes.
~Great as gifts for friends and family.

There is so much more but my favorite is that it leaves my skin softer than a babies bottom and I feel like i've just had a mini spa treatment!!!


Here are my 3 favorite recipes for sugar scrub. 

My favorite energizing summer scrub:

Ingredients

• 1 cup fine sea salt (course if you like a rougher scrub)
• 1 cup Sugar (raw or granulated)
• Orange essential oil or Orange extract
• 1/3 cup coconut Oil (add more or less if needed to achieve desired texture)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl combine the sugar and salt.
2. Add Coconut Oil and orange extract.  Stir until well blended. (this will require some mushing around if the oil is in a more solid state, if you want you can slightly heat is just enough to make it runny, then it will be easier to mix. Careful, it gets hot fast!)
3. You should try for a texture similar to damp sand.
4. Store covered in a tight container. (I recommend plastic container if you are keeping it in the shower.)

Inspired by the recipe at:
http://www.deliciouslyorganized.com/2011/07/diy-summer-scrub.html

My favorite scrub to use in the fall:

Pumpkin Brown Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

• 1 cups Brown Sugar
• 1 cup White Sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/3 cup coconut Oil (add more or less if needed to achieve desired texture)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl combine the sugars and spices.
2. Add Coconut Oil and stir until well blended. (this will require some mushing around if the oil is in a more solid state, if you want you can slightly heat is just enough to make it runny, then it will be easier to mix. Careful, it gets hot fast!)
3. You may add more if your scrub is too dry.
4. You should try for a texture similar to damp sand.
5. Cover in a tight container. (I recommend plastic container if you are keeping it in the shower.)

Adapted from the recipe at: http://www.theidearoom.net/tag/pumpkin-spice-sugar-scrubs

My favorite winter time scrub:

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil

Red food coloring

Peppermint extract (you can use essential oil too, found at a local craft store, but a few drops of extract do the same thing and is much less expensive!)

Directions

Mix sugar and coconut oil until it resembles the consistency of damp sand.

Separate the mixture into two bowls

In one bowl add a drop or two of red food coloring and mix throughly until it is a nice pink color.

In the other bowl add several drops of peppermint extract and mix thoroughly.

Layer pink and white layers into a plastic jar. 

If you go to the original site you can get the free labels pictured above to put on the jar!

http://www.couponsandfreebiesmom.com/2013/11/homemade-peppermint-sugar-scrub.html

Frozen Sticker Playset

My daughter can't wait to see Frozen…. That will come soon enough. In the mean time, we were out picking up a few last minute things for the holiday meal when she spotted some stickers. I normally don't buy random items she wants, but for only a $1 I thought, why not? It was worth seeing the joy on her face. 

Being the creative me, just sticking them on plain paper wasn't an option. Thank goodness for the internet and a printer!

I did a quick search for "Frozen" on google and found images of the the Arendelle Castle and Elsa's Ice Castle and saved them on the computer.

Then I opened up a Word document and a few quick crops and a flip and I'm read to print on some sturdy card stock.

Here is one of her completed scenes- 

Homemade Watercolor Paint

Homemade watercolor paints!

Finding this was amazing because my daughter LOVES to paint. I prefer watercolors because they clean up so much easier than other paints. 

So here is my adventure….

Mix 4 Tbsp Baking Soda and 2 Tbsp Vinegar in a bowl (this is a fun for the kiddos to see the reaction)

Add 1 tsp of corn syrup and 4 Tbsp of corn starch.

I found this sweet little 8 compartment container at Michaels for only $1.99.

Pour the mixture into each compartment. You can also use a mini muffin tin, little plastic containers, or anything else you thing will work.

Add a few drops of food coloring into each compartment to make the desired color. I would recommend NO MORE than 3 drops. 

(If you put too much in or you feel that the mixture is too 'liquidy" you will have to add more cornstarch to make up for the extra liquid. I learned the hard way.)

Use a tooth pick to mix the cornstarch mixture and food coloring together.

After lots of drips and mixing and a bit of a mess you end up with this. 

Now comes the hard part. You have to wait 48 hours……WAIT….. WAIT….. WAIT……

I am not patient and my daughter was dying to use the paints. At one point I was not sure it would work. But low and behold, IT WORKED!!!!!

Now you can make beautiful watercolor painting for only pennies!

30 minute meal

I just got home.

It's 5pm.

"What's for dinner?" The family says.....

Ahhhh. I didn't plan ahead. 

Quickly I raid the pantry, fridge, and freezer. 

Here is what I grab….

Frozen chicken breast, rice, and Birds Eye Recipe Ready Fajita Starter.

I can make this work. For fun I are the timer for 30 minutes and see if I can pull a Rachel Ray...

Step 1

Thaw chicken quickly in the microwave. 

(Yes, I know this is not the best way to do it. I always get a semi cooked end and a frozen center but let's be a real, I didn't plan ahead,  I have a hungry family waiting, and I'll do what ever I need to do.)

Step 2.  

Two cups water and one cup of rice set to simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 3. 

Pull the (semi) thawed chicken out and chop it up into cubes.

Step 4. 

Throw some olive oil in the pan and brown the chicken. 

At this point I threw in some salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, garlic… and maybe some other random stuff to make it taste good. I prefer the wing it, add it if it sounds good, and taste as you go method. 

Step 5.

Add the frozen pepper and onion mix.

Looking at the cost of green and red peppers lately I'd say for a $1.98 this is a great bargin and not to mention super convent to have on hand.

Stir and admire the pretty colors….

…. and think of all the veggies and great nutrients that your family will be eating. 

Step 6.

 Rice should be done buy now. Toss in with the chicken mixture and stir.

Step 7.

Top it off with some shredded cheese because we know that everything tastes better with cheese!

YUMMY. 

Take that Rachel Ray. I did it myself with 15 SECONDS to spare!!!!!

A nice low fat balanced meal with protein, starches, and veggies. Serve with a bowl of pear sauce. 

(for a refresher on how to make pear sauce click here.)

Do you have a 30 minute meal? 

I'd love to feature some guests with recipes and pictures. 

Let me know if you are interested. 

Great Website For Printable Crafts

I love to craft but sometimes I need a little help. This is one of my favorite places to go.

Today I'm a little under the weather so I printed out a My Little Pony painting activity for my daughter. 

I poured a little but of Crayola washable paint into some Dixie cups, (contains the mess much better than dipping straight into the container, not to mention prevents mixing colors in the jar).

I cut the eye and decals off so she didn't paint over those and then let her have at it.
Now I have a little girl who is happy as can be!

The hardest part is making her wait till the paint is dry to cut it out. 😄

learncreatelove.com has many crafts. Not only girly crafts, they have lot so of "boy" themed crafts, as well as a good number of educational crafts too. I highly encourage you to check it out!

Easy craft Inspiration

Somehow I ended up on a certain 'trading' magazines mailing list. I don't purchase things from them (because I don't need a dozen or more of each item) but I do love all the great ideas I get from browsing through it!

The latest magazine has provided a surplus of inspiration….

GINGERBREAD MAN:

Cut a gingerbread man shape out of brown construction paper.
Let your child use stickers or puff paint to add decorations
Use a marker to make the face.

MITTENS:

Cut mitten shapes out of random colors of construction paper.
Use buttons, stickers, ribbon, and scrap paper to decorate them. 

TREES, SNOWMAN, REINDEER:

Trees: cut tree shape out of green constsucion paper and let your child decorate them with paint or markers.

Snowman: lay 6 sticks side by side horizontally. Glue them together with a vertical stick across the middle. let your child paint the bottom half wihite and the top half black. Once dry you can glue on goggly eyes orange scrap paper for a nose and draw on a mouth.

Reindeer: cut a rounded triangle our of brown paper, trace and cut out your childs hands for the antlers. Add goggly eyes, use red sparkle glue or red sparkle paper to make a nose. Add more decorations if desired.

BENDY SNOWMAN:

Use a white paper plate for the body. Cut a smaller white circle for the head. Add a hat made from black construction paper. Cut a piece of white construction paper length wise into 2" strips. Take 4 of those pieces and fold them accordion style. Cut boots and mittens out of scrap paper. Glue onto bottom of arms and legs. Add a face with scrap paper pieces or draw on. 

CANDY CANE MICE, GINGERBREAD PEOPLE, SNOWMEN IN STOCKINGS:

Mice: cut an oval out of card stock. about 1/3 way down add 2 slits wide enough to feed a candy can through. Add eyes, nose and ears.
Gingerbread people: See top craft
Snowmen in Stockings: Cut a basic stocking shape out of construction paper, cut a white circle slightly bigger than the width of the top of the stocking. Glue it to the top of the stocking. Add arms with scraps of brown paper. Add facial features to the snowmen and use paint or stickers to decorate the stockings.

REINDEER IN A WREATH:

Cut a large circle out of green construction paper. Cut a rounded triangle about 2/3rds of that  size to create the head of the reindeer. Use remaining brown paper to cut 2 small oval ears and 2 small rounded triangles for the legs. Use black marker to draw on antlers and add the bottom of the hooves. Use red paper, sticker, glitter, or a large craft gem for a nose. Decorate wreath with red paper or paint to create berries if you wish.

I will be making several of these with my daughter soon and will be providing more detailed instructions and temples.


HAPPY HOLIDAY CRAFTING!

Great smelling' house!

Ever have your house smell funny....

 but you don't want to walk around with a can of air freshener....

(fearing you may suffocate your child with the chemical cloud it would require to rid the house of the smell...)

Here is an all natural, low cost, and very easy way to make your house smell like fall.

Grab a few cinnamon sticks*, a tablespoon of cloves*,  2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and an apple.

 *both available in bulk food area of grocery store for a reasonable price

Slice the apple into a few pieces and place them in a 2 quart sauce pan with the cinnamon sticks, lemon juice, and cloves. Add 3 cups of water and set to simmer.

Wait for a bit and soon you will notice warm scent of cinnamon filling your kitchen and seeping into the rest of your home.  Check every 20 minutes or so. As the water evaporates you can add water and let it continue to freshen your home.

SAFTY NOTE: Never leave anything on the stove unattended. 

In other words: Watch carefully so that the water doesn't boil off and create a burnt applesauce.