Grad Money Card

Tis the season for lots of Graduation Announcements in the mailbox.  This year I needed ONE idea for the masses.  This was it!  

Every graduate appreciates dollar bills rolled up on a clever card, right?

Skip to My Lou created this one for 2017.  

I personalized it just a bit and turned out perfect!

Just print, punch a few small holes for the money diploma, add the cash and tie it up.  Quick and Easy.  

And the Adventure begins now!

Teacher Thank You-Gourmet Apple and GRAD Brochure

I made a SPECIAL DELIVERY yesterday, right before Graduation.  My son's teachers deserved a huge thank you and instead received a Gourmet Fudge Caramel  Apple.  I think they were pretty surprised and happy with the apple.

They also received this HOW TO SUCCEED IN 12th Grade Brochure.

It's a pretty sure bet that Jake's teachers will remember him for quite some time.  We heard a loud cheering roar when Jake received his diploma, from parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, friends and TEACHERS.  

He did it!

Congratulations to all the 2017 Graduates!

Back to School Locker Box Emergency Kit

Ever needed a safety pin (or two) at school?  A mint or a band-aid?  Or just a big ole' chocolate bar!

This mini school-locker-box includes all that and more.

I usually create a fun, yummy, basic emergency type kit each new school year for my daughter's locker.  Many of her friends have come to know that Kate's locker is the place to go in an emergency.

  

This year we made one for Kate AND her young women's group.

Flip boxes, ribbon and owl brads found at Hobby Lobby.

Much to the girls delight the little flip boxes held a lot more than I thought they would.  

Find the Back to School tag here

Slipped the FULL box into a large cello bag and attached the tag and ribbon.

All ready to place in their lockers!

For another fun idea check out last year's locker box here

Hope it's a great school year!

Back to School!!!

Back to School pop top treat cans!

It's time of year again!!! Summer's over and school is back! It's bittersweet. No more sleeping in, but mostly sweet because who are we kidding, it's tough entertaining these kids all summer. I'm glad to be back on a schedule, even if that means more work for me and no sleeping in for a while. So this year I have a freshman and a 5th grader. I only needed to make teacher gifts for the 5th grader. It was strange not making more so I made some extra for the office staff too! I got the idea from Our Best Bites here. I have made these several times before. Mothers Day, Halloween & Birthday parties. So very easy, inexpensive and fun!

 My friend Candice made them with these adorable papers!

High School Parking Lot Spaces=Artwork

 Isn't this the coolest thing ever!  Parking slot artwork!  

Evidently this high school in San Diego county invites their senior students to invest in a little property.

For a small fee the student can purchase a space to call their very own for their last year of high school.  The seniors come very early in the morning a couple of weeks before the beginning of the new school year and stake out their parking place.  First come, first choice.

They are given specific instructions of what can be used to "paint" their place.  Once completed and approved they are responsible for the upkeep throughout the year.

The spot is theirs to park in every school day.  

As we parked our car it felt like we were covering up great works of art.  BTW-we were there on a Saturday.

  So many talented seniors.  

I thought it was a great way to encourage responsibility and pride of ownership...at least for one entire school year.

NOW PLAYING-Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

I was asked to be in charge of our Jr. High School's Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week.  Of course I said YES, along with a huge committee of very capable, creative people.

As our committee was searching for fun TA week themes and ideas, we had a hard time coming up with older student events.  Most of the ideas online were for elementary aged kids.  We tweaked those ideas a bit and came up with what we thought could be a great Jr. High fun-filled week.

We love our teachers and think they deserve much more than just one week...  

But like the brochure advertises--

Be prepared to experience the week of a lifetime...or at least four days of great food and fun.

Brochure outside  

Brochure inside

The brochures were folded and then slipped into a cellophane bag with a movie treat inside.

They were delivered the Friday before TA Week so all would know what to plan for the next week.

The school teacher/staff lunchroom was set up on that same Friday.

To avoid unnecessary spending we borrowed "decor" from several of our parent's home theater rooms.  The decor set a perfect stage for the week.

One of our moms made gigantic signs to remind the students of the fun they were invited to participate in, with their teachers.

Day ONE

Vader Taters and More

Star Wars themed lunch

The teachers had a visit from Mr. Vader.  They also packed their own sack lunch with all kinds of options (see brochure).

The teacher movie quiz was introduced.

We also displayed all the movie trivia questions for the students to try and guess as well. 1-15

Disney Scene It

Students vs. teachers during lunch break was awesome!

Day TWO

Breakfast Club Awaits You

Entry into the Breakfast Club was by Detention slip only

The detention slip was stapled to a little cello bag of Captain Crunch and a Pixie stick.  Put in the teacher boxes the day before to remind them to come a bit early for breakfast.

We served breakfast casseroles, fresh pastries and orange rolls, fruit, OJ and milk.  And by the way...All of the food for each meal was donated by local vendors and our wonderful parents.

The students and teachers participated in a TOP GUN Paper Airplane contest at lunch time.  We definitely had some crazy flight plans.

Day THREE

FROZEN Ice Cream Parlor

After school ice cream sundae bar

Olaf was there.

Along with some beautiful snowflakes and FROZEN banners.

The invite/reminders for the teacher boxes were snowman parts.

And then of course all the gourmet ice cream and fixins.  

The lunchtime activity with the students was a Napoleon Dynamite dance-off.  It was HILARIOUS!  I wish I could show you the pictures.

Day FOUR

NACHO Average Salad Bar

Wear your “stretchy pants” for an authentic lunch time fiesta.  Mucho food to eat. No Lucha Libre wrestling, please. 

Because it was St. Patrick's Day we also served delicious Mint Brownies and other homemade finger desserts.

The Movie Quiz contest winners were announced and awarded Movie Pack Prizes.  All of the candy was donated by our local Nestle company.  Nice!

The packs also included local movie theater tickets, popcorn and RedBox Gift cards.  There were even a few grand prizes that had restaurant gift cards, hair stylist coupons, gym memberships, etc.  (Containers came from Oriental Trading)

Find the RedBox template here 

The week ended on day four...teachers (and students) were calendared to have Friday off from school.  I'm sure that was the best treat of all!

Friday was rest day for the Teacher Appreciation Committee.  We don't know how teachers do it every single school day!