4/24/15

Staff Appreciation: Lego Theme


Last year for Staff Appreciation Week, our hospitality chair organized the week around a 'Super Hero' theme (you can read about it here). I think both the kids and teachers enjoyed the week and the fun theme made for better participation. So this year, I am the hospitality chair and it's my turn to plan Staff Appreciation Week. (I have to be honest, I was feeling a little self-imposed pressure. Our school staff is amazing and I wanted to make sure that I didn't let them down!) So I decided to pick a theme would be popular with the kiddos and get across the point that we all think our staff is awesome.

Which led me to The Lego Movie! If you haven't seen the movie, go rent it! Adults and kids will get a kick out of it. And it has some really funny and touching moments. The theme song for the movie is "Everything is Awesome, Everything is Cool when you're part of the Team". Those words perfectly capture exactly how the kids at our school feel about their teachers. They are all awesome, and they make our kids feel cool to be part of the team.


So with a theme decided, I began working. Our Staff Appreciation Week has several parts. First, up I collected donated gift cards from the parents to award to the staff. The gift cards will be used in a drawing every morning during that special week. I publicized the collection of gift cards in our school newsletter with this graphic.


Next, I chose different activities for each day during Staff Appreciation Week.  That way the kids could get involved with making our teachers feel extra 'awesome'. Here is the flyer that I sent home to all the kids that details 'The Plan'. (If you have seen the movie, you know all about following 'The Plan'. )

For the first day, you see that it says 'Draw your teacher as a LEGO figure'. I made this template for the kids to use on that day. The pages can be put together to make a book for the teacher or they can be hung about around the room. I think it is a thoughtful way for the kids to creatively tell their teachers how awesome they are. Making a gift is just as special as buying one.


The next several days give the kids a chance to bring their teachers something. (At the beginning of the year I had each teacher fill out a 'favorites' list. All the homeroom moms have them on file and have emailed copies to the classroom parents.) 


On Friday, it is our school's field day - as well as the last day of Staff Appreciation. So PTA purchased these cute hats for each teacher to wear. The kids can bring buttons for the teachers to pin on their hats to add a bit of flare! The buttons can be store bought or made. Here are a few of my favorite buttons that I am collecting for my daughter's teachers.


Here
Here
Here
Besides "The Plan" and the daily gift card drawings, our teachers will be treated to 'off campus' lunch at Rio Mambo by the PTA. I have organized parent volunteers to cover the classrooms for about 2 hours while the teachers and staff go to lunch. The lunch is spread out over three days, so not everyone is gone at one time. This is an annual tradition that our staff loves-- off campus lunch is always a favorite!
After the week is over, I will be back to share some photos. I am really excited to spoil our staff. They really are awesome!



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4/20/15

Designer Insights- Featured on Terry's Fabrics

I am so honored to be the featured 'designer' on Terry's Fabrics! I was contacted about the design work I have done in my home. The interview, featured on Terry's Fabrics, can be seen below. Be sure to check out their site and blog too-- lots of beautiful ideas for transforming your home.

Courtesy of: Terrys Fabrics UK

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4/17/15

Ideas for Earth Day Hats- 2015

Every year my daughter's school celebrates Earth Day with the making of a hat out of recycled materials. It's a fun way to be creative and think about recycling. Each class votes on a winner and small prizes are awarded. The kids really get into it :) Since we have STAAR testing on 'the real Earth day'- the school is celebrating a little early this year.

Here is my daughter's entry for the Earth Day Hat Contest.


She also made a giant cupcake from recycled material to give to her teacher. She is getting so crafty! 



And here are a few of her past hats.

Earth Day Hat 2014- click here for directions. 



Earth Day Hat 2013- Click here for directions. 



Earth Day Hat 2012- Click here for directions. 



Happy Earth Day! Make a recycled hat and celebrate the Earth!


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4/15/15

Pop Star Birthday Party

It always starts out small---my ideas for birthday parties. But then I get really excited and my kids get really excited and all these ideas start popping up. So with that said, here is my Afton's 9th Birthday Party. She wanted a 'Pop Star' theme. And that's what she got!


I made the invites myself using PicMonkey.com.


Both my girls dresses up like Pop Stars and I even broke out my sequin pants. (Because how often can you really wear sequin pants?!)


When the guests arrived, they walked the "hot pink carpet" to the front door. They were presented with a 'backstage pass' to wear. Then they visited the 'hair/make-up' table for a little rock star treatment.






Next they took turns posing in our Barbie Rock Star Box. I saw this on Pinterest and Afton begged me to make it. I used two short wardrobe boxes that we had in the attic and taped them together. Then we cut the shape and painted the exterior with hot pink paint. The interior is lined with wrapping paper. I had a few props sitting near the Barbie Box- sunglasses and inflatable guitars. The girls knew just what to do! (I later printed off these photos and enclosed them in the thank you notes that we mailed to each girl.)







After pizza and fruit kabobs, the party entertainer arrived.



We had her for an hour and half. She played games, did glitter tattoos, and made balloon wands for each girl. The girls spent a lot of time signing on the microphone and dancing too!







At the end, we sang 'happy birthday' and ate cake.


Each girl went home with a 'swag bag'- it contained a glitter microphone, a Ring Pop, and a Rock Star slap bracelet. The girls also took home their neon hair extensions and backstage passes :)


It was a fun party for all and at the end, my Pop Star Barbie even found her Ken!


Party Sources
Entertainer: Fun Time Parties
Invites: Made my own using Picmonkey.com
Backstage Passes: Free printable- via The Curriculum Corner
Glitter Microphones: US Toys in Plano 
Hot Pink Carpet: Bulletin Board Paper from US Toys in Plano
Neon Hair Extensions: US Toys In Plano
Cake: Nothing Bundt Cake in Southlake
More Ideas for a Pop Star Party can be found on my Party Pinterest Board here. 

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4/13/15

DIY "Birthday Girl" Shirt

For my girl's birthday, I wanted to make her a fun shirt to wear to school on her special day.


I found this hot pink Gildan tshirt at Hobby Lobby and paired it with iron-on letters. I changed the shape of the shirt a bit by cutting off the 'binding' at the neck. Then I cut the sleeves too.


Cutting the shirt and ironing-on the letters took maybe 20 minutes. I love a quick craft!



Love this Birthday Girl!

Sources for Shirt Supplies:
-Gilden Tshirt at Hobby Lobby (similar click here)
-Iron on Letters at Hobby Lobby (similar click here)

Stay tuned- I will be sharing her Pop Star Birthday Party in post here soon ;)

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