Energy and Sanity In A Jar

Teacher/educator/camp counselor thank you gift

It's becoming more challenging each year to stay original in my thank you gifts to teachers, educators, and camp counselors. Some may say gifts are not necessary but I find it's important to give recognition where efforts are made. Especially if it involves your children's well being. This year, our summer camp G.O.'s will be getting a little energy and sanity in a jar. I figure, that's what I would want if I spent the summer with a hundred screaming kids...ISH! 

The kit includes whatever fits the theme and fits in the jar you've picked. Here's what these contain:

- a jar

- instant cappuccino mug

- Hershey's kisses

- mini snickers bar

- mini M&M pack

- mini Twix bar

- sleeping blindfold (this one says "finally...peace!")

- herbal teabag

- bath beads

- bag of Reisen candies

- pocket kleenex pack

Use your imagination...fill it up with other goodies too!

Of course, this is to wipe the tears that will be shed from saying goodbye to your kids... So, imagine this: the counselor, a few weeks later reaches for a tissue from her purse or his pocket and a little reminder of camp surprises them...one last time... (go to next picture) ;)

I've printed a picture of my kids and left a caption as well: " Don't cry! We'll be back! Mickey & Victor xoxo

That will result in an instant smile and this camp employee will surely remember and maybe even keep an extra eye on your kids as camp next year... (Hey, you've got to keep the odds on your side). 

Finishing touch to your jar - A note from your child! Attach it to the jar and voilà

RainDarkSuper herowineEyesWires -mixed mediaCanvas printsCanvas acrylic prints

jazzy feel canvas

Black Acrylic prints link
http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/lips/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">lips art</a>
African Art
 Reds
Blues
Zen Art
Flowers

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/michael+jackson/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">michael jackson art</a>

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/Dance/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">dance art</a>

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/Africa/all" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">africa art</a>

<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/abstract/canvas+prints" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">abstract canvas prints</a>

Bake Sale - So Sweasy!

BAKE SALE 

Chocolate / Peanut Butter / Marshmallows

My office has made a new tradition by having a bake sale fundraiser for a different foundation each year! This year it was for breast cancer.

I'm not a baker...at least not a great one so, I like to make simple crowd  pleasing sweets and make them look pretty :)

Recipe :

1 cup peanut butter

1 250g chocolate chips (milk or dark...your choice)

1 tablespoon of softened butter or margarine

2 cups of small marshmallows (white or colored)

- Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine for about 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave.
- Add marshmallows and mix. 

- * Pour in a greased 8inch pan and put in fridge for about 2 hours.
- If you need this quick, put in freezer for about 45 minutes.

* You can substitute to 8inch pan and use a muffin pan instead and using the cupcake liners of your choice.

I spruced mine up by adding a marshmallow on top and sticking a theme appropriate flag on top. I got my flags on this helpful website: http://www.chickabug.com/free/breast_cancer_printables.pdf .

NOTE: This recipe allows you to use your creativity...why not replace the marshmallows by almonds?

Prep Time:  10 mins

Cook Time: 1 min
Total Time: 11 mins

Makes 12 cupcake size...

Doubled recipe gives 24

Baby Shower Wishes

Baby baby...I wish...

There's a new Mom-to-be in town and you're invited to the shower? Or maybe even ...throwing the baby shower? You want to leave that new Mom with a lasting memory of the day...don't you? Yes, you can buy her a high chair, a stroller and cute little booties all of which the newborn will eventually outgrow. So, why not go a baby step further and add a wish book for the baby to keep...forever! This is a simple idea and one of the most precious ones I've come across (on pinterest).  It's a simple fill in the blank questionnaire of hopes and wishes that you have for the baby. There are many versions of the wish book and here's mine:

 It's a priceless keepsake...hopefully you know some of the guests that will be at the shower and you can get them to fill out the little sheet ahead of time.

I hope you love: ____________________
I hope you learn: ____________________
I hope you laugh: ____________________
I hope you never forget: _______________
I hope you become: __________________
I hope you aren't afraid: _______________
I hope you have: ____________________
I hope you grow: ____________________
I hope you experience:________________
I hope you ignore: ___________________
I hope you smile: ____________________
I hope ____________________________
Love,
_________________________________

I printed the word document directly on 8"1/2 x 11"scrapbooking paper (Michael's) two copies per sheet and cut them up...et voilà!

 Easy and fun...my daughter helped me out with this!

 Use your imagination to create a different look for every page...

 Print extra sheets for guests to fill out while at the shower!

Warning: you will get all teary eyed when reading all the witty wishes... just have a kleenex box nearby and you'll be fine...

SWEET NOTHINGS

  Sweet gifts - inexpensive goodness in a jar

What you need:

 Candlestick 

Interesting jar 

Glue

How to:

 Nothing more simple...glue jar and candlestick  together and voilà! Instant gift or keep it for yourself. Mine, it on my desk at work...attracts friends like, well, you know!

Other versions:

 Vintage feel

Both the jar and candlestick are from the dollar store. Including contact glue for glass.

Fill with your favorite treat! How swell is this?!

 Contemporary feel

I LOVE LUCY - LUCILLE BALL COSTUME

Every year the law firm I work for holds a Halloween Costume Contest. In the past I've always done "original" costumes such as ghoulish monsters, the bat outfit...I could name a whole bunch. From years of not winning the "prizes" I've learned that in my working environment that what wins is more often than not "corny"... Last year I took first prize with my Elvis Costume and first for the second consecutive year with my Lucille Ball outfit...which, of course, was not store bought and already made. This is how I did...

I looked through my closet for a 50's like dress.      

What screams 50's more than polka dots? I found this dress but it needed sleeves (Lucy always had sleeves) and it also needed frills.

I found my black bolero int the closet at well. Figured I could wear it under the dress just to get the sleeves I wanted. But it needed to look more "50's" still... (the right side is the original look of the bolero)

 I still needed frills and a red wig. Obviously due for a trip to the dollar store. I found some doilies...they were two for $2. Perfect...that's all I need to create a collar and cuffs. I didn't want to sew it on the dress and bolero though so I used my friend Velcro. He worked out fine...and I can easily take the collar and cuffs off ...or back on.

The doily in its original state...just so that you know what to look for...

Had this apron handy too...and although the flower details are beautiful, I've opted to fold it in as to not take away from the polka dot dress and frills ;)

 Now, for the hair...I searched online for a Lucy wig. Found many but the shipping costs were more than the wig itself...So I decided to make one. It didn't turn our perfectly but it ended up costing me $6.00 instead of $40 give or take with the shipping fees. I found this wig at the dollar store (yes, again) and bought two of them. Why two? Dollar store wigs are usually skimpy on the hair thickness and since it wasn't a genuine Lucy wig I knew I would have to modify it...and I did! To my surprise the hair was already curled (unlike its presentation picture)...yay, one less thing to worry about. Now I just had to pin it up like Lucy's. I ended up cutting the second wig in pieces and sewing them to the sides so that it would "sort of" look like Lucy's. I've  also cut the bangs really really short in front. Used hair combs to hold the hair up in the back and also added a Lucy-like bow in the hair.

 

The accessories are easy to find - Fake pearl necklace and earrings. On hindsight, I really should have taken off my modern looking watch...yeah. Also, talked my friend Monette into dressing up like Ethel (she took in third prize)

 Here we are...the three prize winners. Looks like a retro year at the firm...20's and 50's are new again... The Flapper girl is Angela...seriously, I would were that to a X-mas party. She looked amazing!