Gift Ideas for Teachers this holiday season...

 



I snapped this photo of a very special angel ornament of mine because it is what I think best represents the teachers I've known and worked with, as well as the ones I've gotten to know at my son's school the past two years.  Having taught myself for 5 years, I've had the chance to be in their shoes, and it is quite a job to do! After all, they have our children for 7 hours of the day, 5 days a week for 10 months out of the year.

 

So from this experience I can tell you that when Christmas came around each year it was very exciting and special to receive a gift from one of my students. Some gifts I still have -like a waffle knit robe with my intials on it- others were tangible, like a Starbucks gift card, (which were immediately used because I am the person who considers coffee a food group of its own), or a gift certificate for a manicure.

 

It was never expected... to receive gifts during the holidays, teachers are teachers because they truly love to teach, but it was greatly appreciated to know that my students and their families cared enough to take the time to think of me.

 

With all that said, let's get on with the fun stuff! What do they love? What are their favorites? With help from several teacher friends I'm excited to share these gift ideas with you and hope it helps you cross off one more thing on that to-do list this holiday season!

 

- manicure and pedicure gift certificates

 

-gift cards to their favorite restaurant or store

 

-tote bags ( can never have enough totes to haul all those lesson plans & papers back & forth!)

 Check out the Scout brand totes here! 

 

-warm fuzzy blanket or throw with hot cocoa mix

 For locals stop by All About Her on Gunter Ave. for super cute Vera Bradley fuzzy throws!!

 

-gift certificates to spa, or for massage

 

-personalized stationary or note cards

 Check out Expressionery for super cute personalized notepads and cards

 Swoozies is also a GREAT shop for gift ideas (located at The Summit in Birmingham or online here.

 

-special ornament (you could put your child's name /year on it to personalize for them)

 

 And if you're on a budget, or have several teachers to give to, a homemade card with a candy cane or chocolate bar is a super sweet gift!

 

One last note, in my talks with friends it came up that sometimes parents don't think about the older grade teachers in middle or high school....they are teachers too who take care of our kids everyday just like the elementary ones!! They love to be acknowledged as well :)

 

Hope this helps! I would love to hear any other suggestions that you've done in the past for  teachers!

 

Happy gifting!

 

 

 

 

Hello December! ...sharing a tradition today

There aren't enough words to use to tell you how much I truly love this month! There is something about the days in December that make me feel like I have a "skip to my walk" if you will. I think a lot of this comes from memories in my childhood. My mom was always playing Christmas music, from Gene Autry & Bing Crosby to Tony Bennett and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The music was always playing, and she and I would be making cookies for friends and neighbors. (mom's gift to everyone at Christmas was a plate of homemade decorated cookies) If music wasn't playing, the musical White Christmas was on the T.V. I've seen that musical over 100 times by now and I can still watch it endlessly each December.

So now as a mom myself, I too have carried on the love of the Christmas music and baking, and while my son isn't quite to caring about the White Christmas movie, he is a  loyal lover of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty, and The Grinch (maybe he'll get White Christmas one day- I won't hold my breath though!)

I've also looked for new traditions to have with my own family, and that is what I'm sharing with you today. This Christmas tree advent calendar has been with us since the first year in my children's shop. I had grown up with the paper advent calendars that you opened the perforated door and got the waxy chocolate out of for a treat- this advent calendar ups the ante for sure!

This is made of solid wood, with doors that open for each day....and there is some pretty decent room inside for stuffers. I know what some of you are thinking...one more thing for me to do each night before bed! And I confess, I hear ya ladies, but it's worth it to see how excited my son gets when he sees me pull out the advent calendar box each year, then he carries it to the spot he wants it "displayed" for the month, and is beyond excited to see what's been left each morning.

I've become quite the "advent calendar stuffer" professional -now that we've been doing this tradition for 3 years! I'm always seeking out the good "tiny stuff" to have ready to put inside. You can get as elaborate as you wish, or keep it simple. I usually do a mix of both. I'll put a Hot Wheel car in one day, a small chocolate the next, Silly Putty, stickers, bird whistle, and on and on! Learning Express has an entire wall of cube shelves filled with tiny stuffers, Walgreens & CVS always have good things too!

The brand is called Traditions by Byer's Choice Ltd. -  there are several styles...it was hard to pick! And there's even a place on the back to write who it's to and from....GREAT gift for grandparents to give grandchildren, or to just surprise your children with!

What traditions do you do in your family? I'd love to hear!