Weekend Recap

This past weekend was PACKED with lots of my favorite things like these Mother's Day flowers from my sweet kids and Dave...

Happy (Belated) Mother's Day!

 I mommed HARD this weekend with birthday parties and dance recitals and all the things ;) I decided to give myself today (Sunday) off to do NOTHING, including the blog, so I'll be back tomorrow with all the fun things.  I hope your weekend was filled with lots of your favorite things AND a hefty helping of nothing as well! 

Friday Favorites

 Happy Friday, friends! Erika and I are so excited that lots of y'all are linking up with us every week.  Make sure that you're grabbing our graphic, linking back to us and sharing your own Friday Favorites post ;)

Happy Friday, friends! There is SO MUCH happening right now - this is seriously the craziest 3 weeks of the year - but so many of my FAVORITE things happening!

First up - we went to the art showcase earlier this week to see Mason's art on display.  

He placed first in one-point perspective...

... second in paper food sculptures...

... and had several other awesome pieces displayed.  I'm always SO IMPRESSED with our art department and students!

Luke had his last band concert EVER this week which was bittersweet for sure.  He's decided to leave a little more room in his schedule next year for some other academic classes and is looking forward to hanging out in the student section next year during football season.  He has LOVED percussion and will still be playing at church - end of an era!

When he knows we're taking a pic so he makes crazy faces ;) 

Last time in "concert black" - proud of him for all the work he's put into band - can't wait to see what he's up to next!

The middle school play was this week and we got to see LOTS of our FAVORITE people do their thing...

Another favorite from the week was this awesome rainbow...

... and dance photo night.  

Recital is this weekend and watching G dance is ALWAYS a favorite!

I chaperoned an 8th grade field trip this week to a super cool ropes course/adventure park place (Fritz's Adventure)...

... and wore some of my FAVORITES while on duty ;) 

shirt/bag/bag charm

Here's my FAVORITE grading partner telling me "that's enough" with his little paws. hahahaha

Super random because I've never really loved pickles - but I do love me some dill and have been coming around to GOOD pickles.  Like real crispy, real dilly pickles.  These are my current obsession and I seriously can't get enough.  I know I'm late to the game - but I'm making up for lost time now!

Happy Friday, friends!

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Teacher Gift Ideas

      Today I'm sharing gift ideas for teachers.  I get this question A LOT this time of year and I always hesitate to share since I don't have a ton of new and unique ideas - but with as busy as this time of the year is I hope this post helps out a bit! 

I know that this can be a bit overwhelming ESPECIALLY if you have a middle or high schooler (or both!) who have 7+ teachers and one idea is to find a few other parents in the same boat as you and pool your gifts together to get one gift card or other gift for each teacher. Keep that in mind as you're reading! ;)

 - NOTE/GIFT CARD -

I get asked a lot about what I like to receive as a teacher and people don't like to hear that it's gift cards - but as a 19-year veteran teacher please hear me - it's gift cards ;)  

 $5 to Sonic or Starbucks... A Baskin Robins gift card to take their kids out for ice cream or a Cinemark card to check out a movie with their kids over break.  A gift card for a local restaurant to enjoy a meal with their spouse or a gift card to their favorite store.  EASY!  Write a note, pop the card in the envelope and call it a day!  I know gift cards get a bad wrap for being impersonal but I think if you pick a place that you know a teacher loves or write a note about enjoying a meal with their family it can make it super personal and special.  

- OVENTURE RING AND ID HOLDER -

I use my  O-Ring every day and keep my teacher ID and key card in the  ID holder on the ring.  It makes my keys easily accessible (and identifiable if I leave them somewhere!) and the silicone are my favorite option for school because I can wipe them down with disinfectant.  

- HULKEN BAG -

I KNOW I've been a bogg bag advocate and I STILL AM... BUT there's a new bag in town that I just can't quit.  It's called a Hulken and it HAS WHEELS!!!  It holds EVERYTHING and it makes carting all the things back and forth so easy.  Honestly... if I had to pick one as a teacher bag I'd pick the Hulken.  I KNOW!!!  

- FLAIR PENS -

Listen, y'all.  Teachers. Love. Flair. Pens.  

This is a bigger gift BUT if you're going in with other families or if your budget allows and you want to give something extra special  a saranoni blanket would be a HUGE hit!  

Other random thoughts/ideas: 

For several years, we've bought breakfast tacos from Rudy's and put them in the workroom with a thank you note from our kids since they each have 7+ teachers.  Anytime you can feed teachers we appreciate it ;)  A hot breakfast or lunch goes a long way!  

I've had a mom email me and ask what I like from Sonic and drop off a drink to the office which made my day!  Same with Starbucks - you could email a teacher and ask for their order and have your student bring it to them at the start of the day.

If you are able to coordinate it, a group gift could be the way to go.  I LOVE it when a mom will post on our class facebook page that they're collecting money (venmo for the win) to purchase a teacher (or teachers) a larger gift card or gift.  It takes the pressure off of me and enables s to combine our efforts and show our appreciation in a big way.  It's the best!

Hoping this post got your wheels turning OR gave you the permission you needed to pop a gift card in an envelope (or in an email!) and cross something off your list!  HAPPY THURSDAY, friends!

Summer Doodle Town

  Short and sweet today :)  Here are some HAPPY coloring pages to use with your cuties at home and/or at school as we start to get excited about summer!  

Amazon Lately

I grabbed a giant bag of these magnesium bath flakes for Luke to use to help with his shin splints.  He does epsom salt pretty regularly and I read good things about magnesium flakes so I thought we'd give them a try.  I'll keep you posted on what he thinks.

Weekend Fun

This weekend was the 7th/8th Grade spring dance and I'm still wrapping my head around it being Mason's last middle school dance!  He and a few friends went out to eat before and I love how themselves they are ;) 

Friday Favorites

 Happy Friday, friends! Erika and I are so excited that lots of y'all are linking up with us every week.  Make sure that you're grabbing our graphic, linking back to us and sharing your own Friday Favorites post ;)

Happy Friday, friends! I'm going to be honest - this week was super disappointing as Mason's 8th grade class trip was cancelled last minute.  We were both so looking forward to heading out West but have tried to make the most out of being at home (and sleeping in our own beds! ha!).  

The Byron Nelson golf tournament is happening in McKinney this week and Mason and my dad headed over there yesterday to check it out...

Five Follows

I thought it would be fun to share "Five Follows" over the next few weeks to highlight some of my favorite accounts to follow on Instagram.  This is going to be random so buckle up but get ready to add some interest to your scrolling ;)

I love following Joel Scholten for all the kid art ideas.  I've saved SO MANY of his reels and have big plans to try some out with G this summer.  

What's Up Wednesday

     Today I'm linking up with  Shay and  Sheaffer to talk a little bit about what's been going on around here!

I can't stop! It's honestly becoming a problem ;) 

DITL

 I documented a day in the life a couple of weeks ago and then forgot to share! So here we are with what my day looked like two weeks ago ;)

It was an "up early" morning for me since I needed to wash my hair.  THE WORST!!! You better believe that I slept in until the very last possible minute.  

Carne Asada

We were craving some fajitas a couple of weeks ago and so I decided to try my hand at carne asada and MY WORD this was just as good (if not better) than any restaurant carne asada I've had.  SO GOOD and so easy and I really liked that the marinade was quick and the meat didn't have to sit overnight.