Halloween Teacher Treats

I put together small bags filled with mini chocolate chip pumpkin muffins. So easy to make with this recipe. 

I attached an antibacterial container from Bath & Body Works to each bag. The key to attaching the small bottles is a (new and never used) clear tiny ponytail band. They slip around the bottle and onto the bags. Easy!

Each bag has a little gift tag that I created and threaded with a black and orange ribbon to attach. 

Easy and fun little treats for Lily's six teachers and Shelly's three teachers. 

Shelly Room Decor

We take our time adding the decor to the girls' rooms and Shelly's black, pink, and white room has been awhile in the making.

Just sharing some of the little touches we have added. She is leaning toward a little Paris flair in her room.

I was struggling with what to put over Shelly's bed. She has a large wall and finding the perfect thing was difficult. So, I created my own thing...foam core board covered with Paris inspired fabric from hobby lobby and a large wood "S" painted black and adhered to the fabric. It is a light piece of art that cost me $18 to make and ties in with her room theme.

Shelly's desk corner

A cool bulletin board (actually a framed ceiling tile) that we bought her when she was a baby and I repainted it black with the pink squiggle.

A cute little piece that she made this summer. It sums up her philosophy in life to a tee.

Cute kitty cats over her desk.

A vinyl image of the Eiffel Tower on one of her walls 

A black and white mannequin for the corner of her room. She enjoys dressing up her mannequin and the height adjusts to grow with her!

Her room is still a work in progress and it is so fun to create a space that she loves.

The Real Babies

I mentioned the other day that I named my new phone, Karol's Baby. I just want to go on record to say that these are my real babies:

Technology---

I frequently hear parents talking about the perils of today's technology and no doubt those concerns are real. But, this past weekend Lily and my sister proved that technology is a valuable educational tool.

Lily was having some questions about her math assignment and after some failed attempts on my part, we decided to call in the professional. My sister is a Calculus teacher and we knew she could help Lily with her math.

We called her up via Facetime and they went to work solving those Algebra problems. It was a great way to use the technology for good. And, I loved the interaction between my very smart sister and my very smart daughter. So great! 

Mom & Daughter Journals

A few years ago I read an idea about leaving a journal for your children and sharing your thoughts with one another. I thought I would give it a try with the girls.

I love to communicate with the written word and have always found it to be the easiest way for me to share my thoughts. So, I thought this might be an interesting way to find out more about one another. 




We are leaving the notebooks on their beds and sharing entries with one another when we want to share something. It might be something serious or funny or just an everyday item.



Hoping that as the girls get older and their independence pulls them away from us we can still find ways to connect.

Karol's Baby

The story of the iPhone begins in 2007. I was so eager for the keynote speech by Steve Jobs and I vividly remember following along to see the big reveal (see video below):




After watching the keynote (it still gives me chills to watch this), I was hooked! When and where could I get my hands on this cool new iPhone?! With the new phone came a new hefty price and we weren't in the market for that expense at the time.

One evening John came home from a golf tournament that had a silent auction. At the auction he bid on and won the new iPhone. He got it for a great price. He brought it home and ceremoniously handed me my new phone. But, seconds later he took it back and requested that I check on eBay to see if we could sell it for a higher price than he had paid. Sure enough, I could sell it and make about $100 on the deal. So, that's what I did! And, within just a few days the iPhone (which was still in the box and never opened) was no longer mine. 

Fast forward to 2013---several new iPhones have been introduced and still I sit without one using a non smartphone for my communication. I have waited, sometimes patiently and sometimes not so patiently, to one day own my very own iPhone. A device that I am well versed in its operation and have helped many friends and family learn how to use (ironic? yes.). 

But, October 17th, 2013 will go down in history (right along with that date in January of 2007) as the date that I finally got my shiny new iPhone!!!!!!!!!!! It was a beautiful moment. It arrived at my doorstep and I carefully opened the box. And, as I looked at that phone I think I might have heard angels singing above me (or was that just my mom---a lover of electronic gadgets!).



This may all sound a bit dramatic, but waiting to receive this piece of incredible technology has felt dramatic.

I have even named her and I think it's only fitting~

Karol's Baby

And now, I must go...my phone is calling me!

F I F T E E N Years!

Today is our wedding anniversary! So grateful for fifteen years together. We have had an exciting marriage filled with new jobs, new cities, new houses, two children, a total of four cats, and lots of love and laughs. 

Thanks Pinterest

So about a week ago I was looking at the stats for my blog (how often my blog is visited, where visitors are located, what people Google to get to my site, etc.) and I noticed a huge number (like over 100) of people had been to my blog in one day. I was shocked. This is just a little ol' family blog meant to keep my family and friends updated with our comings and goings. 

As I dug deeper into the blog statistics, I realized that the large numbers of people were visiting from Pinterest. And, specifically they were stopping by to see some of my teacher gifts that I put together for my girls' teachers. 

The teacher in me was thrilled. The crafty part of me was overwhelmed. And, the blogger in me was stunned. 

But what happened next got me even more excited. I checked out my stats once again and on yet, another Friday, my blog had over 100 visitors. I can't get over it. 

So with this new knowledge I am thinking I might need to do a little something more with the teacher gift section of my blog. Not sure how it will manifest itself, but stay tuned as I work on more teacher inspiration. 

And to all of the new followers...welcome and thank you!