Party Like It's - 1984!

What's up with 1984 you ask? Let me tell you!

Some of my favorite bloggers are starting an awesome monthly link party!  It's called "A Look Back" Your wonderful hostesses for this party are Shaping Up To Be A Mom, Houtz House Party, Absolute Mommy, and Covered In Grace.  You can read all about this linky party here.  It's all about flashing back in time each month. June is starting with.... {are you ready?}

{1984}

  They even gave us a fun survey to fill out! SO, here is "All About Me" circa 1984:

Age: 7Where you lived: Harbor City, CAFavorite activities/pastimes: I was in 2nd grade; I remember liking Gymnastics, playing with dolls {barbies and Cabbage Patch Kids!} and reading.Vacations taken: Almost every year we would go to Disneyland! My favorite time to go was around Christmas! I also remember lots of looong road trips to Nevada and Washington to see family.Best friend(s): Kelli with an i and AnaFavorite book: I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Beverly Cleary. (Give me some Ramona and Beezus please!)Favorite movie: Any Disney movie!!!Favorite TV show: I don't recall being allowed to watch too much TV at that time so I can't say.Favorite place to be: Other than home (Hey, I was 7!) at church with my friends or hanging out at my friend Kelli's house. Favorite outfit/Fashion trends: I remember liking dresses and the color purple. That probably explains the outfit below. There is no explanation for the animals displayed on my shirt though. ;-)Did you have any "firsts" this year? I think I learned to ride a bike that year - and really learned to swim! (Before that, I remember being afraid of the water.)What did you do for your birthday or a special holiday? I remember having a slumber party around this age... and the 4th of July!! We would go to Wilson Park, lay out a HUGE blanket and watch the fireworks display as a family!! Maybe that's why I like the 4th of July so much!

Oh, and the only proof I have on my computer from 1984 is a picture of this shy little girl :)
 

 
It was so fun to think back to this time! I have an 8 year old now and it is so interesting to reflect on how times have changed since I was that age! How about you? What were YOU doing in 1984?  

End of the Year Teacher Gift

Woot! Woot! There are only 18 days left of school here until Summer!

{But who’s counting?} ;-)

If you need one last little something 

to thank that special teacher in your child’s life for the end of the year,

I have just the gift for you! 

This year we are making these Flower Paper Clips!

As a teacher myself, I am constantly clipping together assignments and papers I need. But there are SO many more uses for these little cuties!

They are perfect for bookmarks…. {I'm ALWAYS marking pages in books!}

for holding a thank you card, or drawing

or clipped to a gift card!

I love using mine as a bookmark the best!

~~~~~

Want to make your own?

All you need is…

• a set of 2” flat topped paper clips (I bought mine at Pick Your Plum but you can also find them on etsy; for example here!)

• AND any embellishments you would like to adorn them with! (I also bought the flowers from Pick Your Plum! LOVE that place! Is it a place?? lol)

• Other embellishment ideas are: buttons, ribbons, fabric flowers and scrabble letters, you name it! The possibilities are endless!

I also like the vintage look of these rosette clips. These rosette flowers I found at Michaels and were the perfect size for the tops of these paper clips!

Don’t have flat head paper clips? No worries!

Regular large paper clips tied with colorful ribbon are just as fun!

The good news is, they’ll ALL hold a card for your teacher equally well!

How about you?  Which version would you make?

{Seriously - I can't believe we're talking end of the school year already!! Crazy! 

When do your kids get out of school??}

PS -- if you need more inspiration, I posted even more Teacher gift ideas HERE!

Joining the fun at tatertots and jello

Lies Your Mama Told You

OR "Part truths your mama told you." We've all done it, {haven't we?}  

Or is it just me and I'm a horrible mom for even suggesting this in which case stop reading now and read my Mother's Day post instead!

Those little lies to get us through the day with our child. To avoid the arguments. Or, when the whole truth and nothing but the truth might be too much for your kiddo to handle. WELL, here are just a few untruths I may {or may not} have told my children. And a few that my mom actually told me! ;o)

1. McDonald's is Closed on Wednesdays

This worked great when my children were little. KID: "Mom, let's go to McDonald's!" ME Random MOM: "Oooh, that sounds like a great idea!!! Wait, what day is it?" KID: "Wednesday." MOM: "Bummer! McDonald's is closed on Wednesdays! Maybe next time!" {This trick also works on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Just not usually in a row.}

 {Source}

2. Wait an hour after eating before you go in the pool or you might cramp up and DROWN

 Well, I have broken this rule many a time. {Sorry, mom.} And truth be told, it's an old wive's tale. Eating before swimming won't cause cramps. {At least that's what the internet says. Consult a real doctor for your own personal water needs. wink} But I still find myself saying this to my kids, although I've shortened the time to half an hour. Now that my kids are older, I'm just happy they are taking some time out of the pool to eat, period!! :)

{source}

3. Gay Means Happy

 Well, what can I say to this one? It IS true. However, when my mom told this definition to a friendly girl of 6, she went and told several students in her first grade class that they were gay. They replied, "YOU'RE gay." She said kindly back, "Thank you!"

4. Driving a Stick Shift is Just Like Dancing

 Um, what??? I used to dance, so I'm sure this explanation was used as a metaphor to help me learn how to drive my first stick shift. However,  I eventually took lessons and learned how to drive said stick shift and it's really NOT like dancing at all. Unless there is a dance called the "Stick Shift Cha Cha." -- "Right foot, Right Hand. Left foot sits tight. Now switch pedals. Down shift, that's right."

And the last "lie"...

5. The Largest Part of the Underwear is Always the Back 

 I really hope I don't have to explain this one to you. It's only sometimes true. But if you still need an explanation, go ask YOUR mom. 

Thanks for indulging me in this list! I'm sure there's more! 

Can you think of any "lies" YOUR mama told YOU?

 

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

We sure do love our teachers over here! Being a teacher myself, I make an even bigger point to ensure we give a little something to my boys’ teachers on this special week! My elementary son’s school actually celebrated TAW a couple weeks ago. They do something cool at their school where they have the kids bring a flower and another item that week, but most of the appreciation is in the form of parent volunteers – covering all the teacher’s duty that week and bringing food for lunch each day and other room celebrations that week. It’s nice to have things so organized and planned out for us that way – and it’s helpful to the teachers!!

My middle school son’s school celebrated THIS week. There were some themes assigned this week, but not every day. The challenge with middle school is that he has 5 different teachers! 5 teachers means 5 gifts and keeping it cost effective for a week’s worth of giving was a challenge. Here is what we came up with!


Monday {School Supplies}:

{Silly me forgot my camera at home so had to use the phone camera for this one!}

Tuesday {Flower}:

The chalkboards were from JoAnn’s the flowers were from a store bouquet. The rest of the chalkboards ended up saying “Thanks for helping me GROW” because he thought it sounded more like a boy.

Wednesday {Coffee!}:

• Coffee sleeves I’ve saved since Valentine’s Day!! {Seriously feel like I deserve mad props for not losing these things for 2 months like I normally do when I buy things far in advance!} lol
• The Starbucks coffee sleeve is keeping the outer sleeve firm and stretched out. {Coffee sleeve holding the card inspired by Four Marrs One Venus}
• The coffee stopper I used as a flag for the sign – “Thanks a Latte!” {Inspired by the girls at eighteen25}

Thursday {Treat}:

{Tag inspired by Oopsey Daisy}

Friday {Misc. – no theme assigned so we brought these cuties!}:

{Tags printed from here and come in many fun colors – in case you’re not dealing with black and white printing like me!!}

I think we’re ready for the rest of Teacher Appreciation Week!! How about you?

Looking for more inspiration? Some of my friends have been posting Teacher Appreciation ideas this week too – check ‘em out!

Boerman Ramblings

Gallamore West 

Four Marrs and One Venus

Tip Junkie {30+ gift ideas issue}

Skip to My Lou

To read my thoughts on what it means to be a teacher click here.

Have a great week! I hope you had fun appreciating the teachers in your life!

Linking up at The CSI Project
 Tidy Mom and Tatertots and Jello

Lemon Cheesecake Soirées

 Hello friends!! I am soooo excited to share this new recipe with you today!!! I've been anxious for summer, fresh fruit and lemonade stands and this dessert has just the right amount of sunshine to brighten your day and bring a little summer to YOU! 

This treat originally came about because two awesome ladies - Jen at Four Marrs and One Venus and Julie at White Lights on Wednesday are hosting a fun “Get Your Chef On” cooking contest!
{Think Iron Chef for bloggers!}

The secret ingredient: LEMONS!

Yikes! When life gives me lemons, I only know how to make lemonade {or get the tequila and salt!} So this contest was a real challenge for me! BUT I am so excited, because after some experimentation and thought, I now have a new favorite summery LEMON dessert!!

I call these lovelies “Lemon Cheesecake Soirées” because they are made with lemon, my favorite flavor: cheesecake, and soirées, because it means party!

SOOO, let’s get this lemon party started!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-2 lemons {More if you're putting them in the little lemon cups shown above!}
• A 1 oz. package of cheesecake Jell-o pudding
• Nilla Wafers
• Cool Whip

{Yeah, really. That’s it!}

STEP – BY – STEP

1. Make the pudding according to the package directions.

2. Squeeze one lemon into the thickened pudding.




3. After you squeeze out the lemon juice from your lemon, cut out the inner pulp so you have an empty lemon shell, like so:




4. Place one nilla wafer at the bottom of your lemon shell.




5. Spoon the lemon cheesecake pudding right to the tippy top of the shell!! Then place in the refrigerator to, you know, CHILL-ax. ;o) {Can make about 12-16 of these lemon treats in the lemon shells or 8-12 servings if placed in a pan.}



6. Now, this baby is ready to eat after about 5 minutes in the refrigerator. HOWEVER, I’ll let you in on a little secret… Let this dessert set in the refrigerator for about 2-3 hours - or more. This lets the nilla wafer inside soften to the perfect soft crust-like texture and blends oh so deliciously with the lemon cheesecake flavor! {And the flavor from the lemon rind gets a chance to sink in even more!} If you want the wafer crunchy – 5 minutes to an hour and ta-da! If you want a softer wafer, let the dessert sit in the refrigerator longer. But either way, you can’t lose! This treat is a winner!!!

Putting this treat in the lemon shell really adds a special touch, but if you want to make this for a group or party {or Mother's Day! Hint hint}:
line the bottom of a 2 Qrt. baking pan with a single layer of nilla wafers, pour the the pudding mixture evenly on top of the wafers and frost with cool whip!

I know I’ll be making this treat at many friendly gatherings in the future!
My 11 year old son even said, “Mom, these are so good you should open up a dessert shop next to Sprinkles Cupcakes!” Well now, either he loves me THAT much – or they’re THAT good! I’ll let you be the judge! ;o) 

And I hope next time life hands you lemons...

 you turn them into Lemon Cheesecake Soirées! ;o)

Check out the rest of the "Get Your Chef On" recipes here!




These lemons are joining other soirées at Tip Junkie; Delightful Order; Tidy Mom and Tatertots and Jello

Cinco de Mayo {Free Printable}

Feliz Cinco de Mayo mis amigos!

I know Cinco de Mayo isn't a formal-day-off-from-work holiday, but it is still a fun day to celebrate! Especially since it is an excuse to eat my FAVORITE food! {Mexican!} I pretty much make every Tuesday in my house a "Taco Tuesday" night but I know tomorrow we will be kicking it up a notch with the Mexican food - for dinner, lunch and maybe even for breakfast! {Do I hear Juevos Rancheros anyone?}

For your super duper party, low key bash or personal enjoyment - here is a FREE {woot! woot!} printable! Ready to hang up or frame!! This is the first year I've made this printable, so I don't have lots of decor pictures yet! I'd love for you to share your photos if you end up printing and using her! Wouldn't she be cute as the center of a colorful bunting or framed for on a mantel? 

{Just right click, save and print!}

Isn't she cheery!?! :o)

Oh, and if you're like me and sometimes get behind on holidays and celebrations and are seeing this post too late, don't worry. I've got ya covered! ;o)

You're welcome. {wink}

Have a great weekend!!