It’s that time again. Time for Another Amazing Giveaway. We are so excited to be included in this Giveaway. Summer is coming and who couldn’t use a little extra cash and a Custom Stamp.
Entries are already flooding in. So….Run Go Enter!! Good Luck to All.
As the parent of a child with Special Needs letting her go out into “the world” aka Elementary School was no easy task. Under the protective umbrella of Day Care, I grew to expect a certain level of care that I was not sure if I was going to receive in Elementary School. I was beyond nervous and apprehensive while trying to appear confident and excited about the transition. My oldest is 18 years old, so I had an opportunity the deal with all kinds of teachers. So, I felt like I knew what to expect.
But, nothing could have prepared me for the team that I would encounter at her school. I can only say that I was blessed. Right out the gate her Speech Therapist fell in love with her. I got the immediate feeling that she would care for her like her very own and she did. We have had 5 years of amazing teachers, and specialist. Each going the extra mile to make sure that our girl got the care she needed in order to successful. That is no small feat, trust me. When she gets out the car in the morning, I am truly comfortable and at ease.
For this reason, Teacher Appreciation Week is extremely important to me. After all who else spends as much time with your little ones as you do. These ladies and gentlemen are the next line of defense and are instrumental in helping to mold their young minds. So every year, I try to put a little thought into giving them something that shows just how much we appreciate their efforts.
This year I wanted something both cute and quick. So, I decided to go personalized. We ordered these Super Cute Laura Kelly Personalized Note Pads from Expressionery and coupled them with our Printable Teacher Gift Tags and some Ribbon. And, just like that we had a Gift Any Teacher would appreciate.
To Download your Own Copy of the Printable Teacher Gift Tags featuring #myteacherisbetterthanyours Click Here.
What is your Go To Gift for Teacher Appreciation Week?
As a little girl one of my favorite past times was reading. I was always excited when my Mom announced a trip to the local library. So, it’s no big surprise that it was something I wanted to share with my own children. My oldest shared my love for reading very early on in life. But for my middle child, reading was a little harder. She has a significant Speech Delay, so we had to work harder with her. It was very important to me that we not frustrate her so much with the process, that it became a chore instead of a joy. So the whole family got in on the action.
My oldest would read to her when she was younger. We(hubby and I) would read to her, and we would let her read to us. We were patient with her and we let her take her time, which I admit was not always easy. As she progressed, we let her read to her little sister. This was quite the bonding experience for them. We always have a lot of discussion after reading, this was just as important to me, as the reading, because it was a way to determine how much she actually understood and comprehended.
One of the most important aspects of getting your little ones to enjoy reading is to keep their interest. So we let the kids pick out their own books. I shared with them some of my favorites from back in the day like “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? by Judy Blume and the Sweet Valley High Books and for my youngest, “Curious George” and “Paddington Bear”. And, yes they have been around that long. And, to my surprise they fell in love with them too.
Keeping them reading during the school year is a breeze but during the summer it gets a little harder to compete with the park and the swimming pool. So every year we get involved in a Summer Reading Program. The great thing about the Summer Reading Programs is that you can find them at most local libraries. Most of them come with lots of added perks and bonuses for the kids such as coupons from local sponsors, special events, free books and a chance to win great prizes.
Here’s a link to one of my favorite programs the Collaborative Summer Library Program.
You can open new worlds to your children, by simply sharing a book with them. Happy Reading!! What are your favorite children’s Books? What books were your kid’s favorites? Consider leaving a comment.
Since deciding to add Wedding Invitations to Our Etsy Shop, I have found myself immersed in the 2015 Wedding Trends. Some of them, I could get on board with, and some I could do without. So just for fun, I enlisted my hubby to get both a male and female perspective on the latest crazes.
Hers – You know the Control Freak in Me Would Never Go For That. You are also talking about the woman who gave her photographer a Definitive List of Must Have Shots.
His – I am a photographer. NEVER. And besides, drones are too noisy.
Her – I would go for it as long as I felt like I had mastered it. I would hate to get out there and fall. Not to mention how much I was shaking like a leaf that day.
His – No, I don’t dance and think they have been overdone. They novelty has worn off. Time for something new.
Her – No, I think it works for some people. But, Burlap and Lace at a wedding are a bit too casual for me. Maybe, I would consider it, if the wedding was outside.
His – Yes, I am all for anything that is different. A rustic wedding allows you to use non-traditional materials that are cost effective and in some instances free.
Her – Nope
His – Depends on What Kind of Restaurant We are Talking About.
Her – No, The Dress is Half the Fun. I can’t imagine not going through that process.
His – The Bride Needs Her Dress.
Her – It was all I could do to put on one. I can’t imagine having to manage a wardrobe change.
His – Just Seems Extra…
Her – It would cut the cost of the food, but I would worry about people getting too drunk.
His – NO, too expensive and I wouldn’t want to create an Uber tailgating party outside.
Her – NOPE. I am not opposed to them at Carnivals or Fairs but umm… Not at my wedding.
His – YES. Goes hand in hand with a rustic wedding.
Her – Yes, I would love that. I love the look of gowns and tuxedos.
His – NO. You want to be the best dressed at your wedding.
Photo Source: Malindyelene.com on Wedding Planning 101
I can’t believe that we are already nearing the end of the First Quarter of the New Year (if I can still call it that). Four months in seems like a good time to go back to the drawing table and re-evaluate the goals that you made at the beginning of the year. Often times, we get married to the goals that we set, so much so that even if they are not serving the purpose we intended, we do not want to let them go. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong in making changes. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you take stock.
1. What were your goals for the New Year? Did you write them down? Can you quantify them?
2. If you feel like you did a good job of planning your goals for the year, then the next step is to Evaluate. Where are you in comparison to where you want to be at the end of the year? Are you making progress at a rate that you are comfortable with? Do you feel like you are developing your brand and your business in a way that makes you proud? If you set smaller goals quarterly or monthly? Did you meet those goals? If your goals were not clear for the first quarter, you may find yourself working backwards. The good thing about that is by now you should have accumulated some data for yourself. You know how much buzz has been created about your service or product, what kind of Social Media Following you have developed, and even what does or does not work for you.
3. If things are going the way you intended and even if they are not. It’s time to recreate and fine tune the next steps. For example, ABC worked for you at this rate. But, if you tweak it how can you make things better? Are you spending more time advertising than you are creating? Do you think that you need to spend more time networking or on your craft? In setting up your plan for the next few months, consider this Are you Setting SMART Goals? This is a tool that has worked for me in both my Personal and Business Life. Are Your Goals Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Based? These questions tend to bring you back to exactly what you want your focus needs to be. For more information about the process click here:
4. Now that your New and Improved Action Plan is in place, what do you need in order to reach them? What tools are necessary to achieve your goals?
5. Are you ready to put your Plan in Motion? Ready Set Go.
What steps do you take when planning out the next steps for your business or your life? What are some tools that you find invaluable?
The Right Tools are Essential in Every Area of Life. Check out my Go To List of Tech Tools that Run My Life.
1. Google Calendar. Even though I am still very much a Pen + Paper Girl, I keep my appointments in Google Calendar, as well. Mostly, because of the Reminder Feature. I like the option of being able to set (2) reminders for myself. I also like the option of being able to share my Calendar with my Hubby and share appointments or events with others. When my Sissy was pregnant with the twins, she shared all her appointments with me and it helped to keep me on track. Plus thanks to Google Calendar, I very RARELY forget a birthday or important event. If you made it on to my Google Calendar, you have ARRIVED (jk, sorta).
2. Notes: The Note App on my iPhone could very well hold the secrets to TAKE OVER THE WORLD. Or maybe, I just use it because my 38 years are starting to catch up with me. We all know that my Phone goes every where I go. So, whenever creative genius strikes, or I get a blog idea, think of something I think I need to remember later. I will whip it out and type it in. Not to mention, that I use it to make impromptu grocery lists, or plan out my To Do list, before I leave the house. It is the ultimate tool to keep me from being a hot scatterbrained mess.
3. Sell on Etsy App: I am sure this one is NO SURPRISE. I love being able to see my orders come in for my Etsy Shop, no matter where I am. Also on shipping days, I can just sit in the car outside of the Post Office and send all of my Tracking Confirmations. It also affords me the luxury of being able to have immediate conversations with customers, see what the traffic is to the site each day, and know what items are popular. I almost forgot the most important thing the Cha-Ching!! **Every time you make a sale the App makes the Cha-Ching aka Cash Register Sound. The high that you get from that sound if enough to make the APP worth it, even if it did nothing else.
4. Facebook Pages App: For those of you who don’t know, this is where you can Manage your Business FB Page. I do at least half of my FB Posting & Content Creation from my phone or my iPad. Even though admittedly I still spend a lot of time in front of the computer, this still keeps me functional when I can’t be. When we add new items to the Shop I can post them directly from Etsy to the Business Page with ease. I can also respond to Messages and Comments.
5. Instagram & Pinterest: I am going to combine these two, because for me their purpose is similar. I find inspiration there in droves, not to mention that I have met some amazing like minded people, fostered great networking relationships and have been directed to some phenomenal blogs, websites, and local events.
6. Bank of America App: I think this one is self explanatory. I like to keep a close watch on whats going on in our Accounts, especially with Identity Theft being soo rampant.
7. Threadflip, Groupon & Living Social: Retail Therapy…Retail Therapy…Retail Therapy (all clickable links)
8. SIMS Freeplay & Word With Friends: Stress Relief… It can’t be business all the time, sometimes you need a little play.
9. TweetCaster: This is the app that I use to manage my Twitter Page. There are a million different kinds on Twitter Type Apps. But, this is my favorite. Very User Friendly.
10. Kindle App & Feedly: I’m a Book Worm. I LOVE to read, I always have. If I don’t know about something I will try to find out about it. I am not a fan of paying for books, even though I do. So, I also love all the Free Kindle Books. I try to post the links to them on our Facebook Page, whenever I can. So if you are an avid reader as well, follow us on Facebook. The only thing I enjoy reading as much as books, are good blogs. There are soo many I couldn’t possibly share or read them all. But, the Feedly app combines them all in one place, and whenever I get some time I indulge.
What are some of the Tech Tools or Apps that you just couldn’t do with out?
Confession Time. I live with a Rolling To Do List that is totally separate from my Daily To Do List, My Monthly To Do List, and My Quarterly To Do List, I’m not proud of this of course. But, I call it rolling because it literally rolls from Month to Month. In my defense, although it is a rather large list, it is made up a ton of small things and projects. I am constantly seeing different things that I want to change or get done around the house.
So, I got the bright idea, since it was Spring Break and I wasn’t playing full time taxi driver, tutor and short order cook, that I would try to mark some of these items off of my list. Always the over achiever, the things that I thought I could get done over the break vs. what I actually got done, well… lets just say there was a marked difference.
But, I did manage to make a dent in my list…
1. I completed Our Family Photo Book for 2014. (I’ve been working on this since January 1st, I’m kind of a perfectionist & literally tried to fit as many pics as I could on each page.)
2. I printed out one of Our Own Printables, found here in Our Etsy Store and Framed it to go in the Master Bathroom. (So to answer a question many have asked, I do sometimes decorate with my own Stage Presents Stuff.)
3. Completed the Teacher Appreciation Gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week in May. Just one less things I will have to do next month. I saw this EOS Lip Balm Spring Printable Idea on the TaterTotsandJello blog and knew I had to have it. Click the Blog Name to go directly to the site.
4. Greenery of some sort in my Kitchen Window is a must during the warmer months. I have had the basil for a couple of weeks now, but wasn’t sure what to put in the second pot, I eventually settled on some succulents. I had some of these a while back, and didn’t do so well with them. So we will see how they fare this go round.
6. Lastly, my Pinterest Board is full of Cocktails and “Mock”tails that I always want to try, but never get a chance to. My original thought was to make a Bellini with Orange Sherbet. But, decided to try my hand at a “Mock”tail that I thought would work, and it was a Score. It only called for two ingredients, Mango Sorbet and Welch’s Sparking White Grape Juice, which doubles as Non-Alcoholic Wine. It was the perfect combination and a Good Idea for a Baby Shower, where you want a fab drink that is Alcohol Free.
Well, today is the last day of Spring Break here, so I am off to enjoy the little time we have left. Hope you had a Great Spring Break and have a Fabulous Weekend!!
Spring Break always brings to mind visions of warm weather, beaches, vacation homes, hotels and lots of sun. But, what do you do when your budget doesn’t make those things a possibility. The change in the economy some years back brought to the fore front the concept of Stay-cations (vacations spent at home). I am sure most people, don’t find that idea to be too appealing, myself included. This year I had grand plans for Spring Break, but due to unforeseen circumstances they fell by the wayside. So, I was left scrambling to find something to do with the kids to occupy their days while not graying anymore around the temples.
Luckily for us, the beginning of Spring Break happened to fall on Easter. So we decided to go visit family deeper South. Yep, that means a Road Trip with young kids. That is about as terrifying as the whole idea of the Stay-cation. Check out our post back in October 2013 on Road Tripping with Kids. Well our kids aren’t that small so you would think, no big deal, but we have a 5 year old, who NEVER has to go potty until we are on the road, with no Rest Stop in Sight. That lead to two unplanned stops both going and coming, much to the dismay of our less than sympathetic chauffeur aka Daddy. But, we made it there despite the added time to our trip. Our Trip meant at least one night of hotel stay, and for the kids that was equivalent to heaven. We were also excited to find out that their was a Fair in town. They got a chance to experience a good old Country Fair in all its glory. So we were still scoring, as far as the kid’s were concerned.
The hard part of course was still to come. We were headed home and needed to figure out what to do with them for the remainder of the week. So, I pulled out my trusty planner and decided to put together a Pseudo Schedule/Plan so that we wouldn’t drive each other batty. I penciled in Day Trips to the local kid’s museums, the local zoo, and even some Ferris Wheel and Water Park Fun. Add to that some Easy Craft Projects, and a few inexpensive trips to Local Fast Food Joints, the Farmer’s Market, and Ice Cream Shops. And, you have a week filled with entertainment and joy for all parties involved. Or at least that’s what I am hoping. Keep in mind that you have to take into account that you are planning around the weather, temperaments and time constraints, but it will all be worth it in the LONG RUN. What are you doing or what did you do this Spring Break?
Are you amazed by how fast this year is flying by? Easter is this weekend. Looking to dress up your Easter Basket. Print and Use our Free Printable Easter Tags. It couldn’t be any easier.
Just Right Click (on the image above) Save and Print, Cut your Easter Tag, Punch a Hole In It and then String it Up with the Twine or Ribbon of Your Choice and there you have it.
Enjoy them!!
Spring is here, finally, and you couldn’t be happier, but you still haven’t adjusted to the Time Change. At least, I know that I am still struggling.
I am still craving that hour. I am not sure if it’s Mind Over Matter. But, for me moving into the New Season calls for some change to my routine.
Here are some things that get me back on track, and psyched for the new season.
1. Bring the Smell of Spring inside by throwing open the windows and letting the Fresh Air In.
2. Fresh Flowers – I would have fresh flowers in every room, if it wasn’t so pricey. So I try to keep Fresh Flowers in my Kitchen.
3. Hit Up a Local Farmer’s Market.
4. Indulge in some Fresh Fruit and Vegetables.
5. Get Out in The Sun. Take your kid’s to the park. Get outside and talk a walk. Hibernation Season is Over.
6. Get Your Hands in the Dirt. Whether you are planning a full fledged Garden or just some Flowers for the Front of the House. Feel that Earth.
7. Indulge in a Warm Weather Treat. Get An Ice Cream Cone or Buy Some Ice Pops. (That should score you some Mommy Brownie Points.)
8. Retail Therapy. It’s almost time for Sandals, Sundresses, Sunhats, Sunnies, Etc. (And, have you purchased your Easter Outfits yet?)
It’s Spring — Embrace It!!