blog 9: teacher gifts

*Here's my poor excuse for a disclaimer: Teachers in NO way expect their students/ student's parents to buy them gifts for any occasion at all.--that being said, they are greatly appreciated. I am only writing this blog entry on this topic because quite a few people have asked me for ideas on teacher gifts*

 I don't think it is any surprise that most people love to receive gifts, small tokens to show that you are loved or appreciated. Teachers are people too, believe it or not, and appreciate (but do NOT expect) receiving things from their students.

 I know the holidays are such a busy time, and we are living in rough economy, so i thought i would give some quick, easy, and inexpensive ideas and what to get (and not to get) your favorite teacher.

1- Handmade is always refreshing- I just recently received the most BEAUTIFUL frame, made by a mother of one of my kiddos out of reclaimed wood, and it is probably one of favorite "teacher gifts" ever. Now I know most people do not have the time, patience, will power, creativity, etc... to accomplish something like that, but (in my opinion) handmade gifts are so great. If you have never heard of pinterest.com, please slowly crawl out from under your rock and take a peak- search something like "teacher gift ideas" or "handmade gifts." Who knows, you may even surprise yourself!

2- Never underestimate the power of a gift card!- I know so many people (myself included) fall into the whole idea of "I don't want to give a gift card, it's not personal enough" however just think about how excited YOU are to receive gift cards?! huh, huh, ammiright? I especially love getting gift cards to places like target, so i can spend them on stuff i need for the house but hate buying with my own money (toilet paper, lady products, cleaning supplies) so i can spend what i would have spent on those things on myself...i know, it totally makes no sense, it works out to be exactly the same, but it makes me happier to think of it that way. -- It's nice to get them to places that sell a variety of stuff, but restaurants, mani-pedi places,iTunes, the movie theater, or boutiques are great too.

3- Candles, Lotions, other scented items- I am going to put these in the don't category. Unless you know for a fact the teacher you are buying for is OBSESSED with candles, and is looking for a specific scent, or only wears a specific body splash and is running low, just avoid them all together. Scented gifts are so hard because everyone is partial to their own flavors. Kiddos in the past loved to give me vanilla scented lotions, or candles, but one whiff of vanilla for me is an instant headache. I know it's such an easy go-to gift, but please just go-to something else :)

4- Stationary- Being from the south, it is pretty much expected of you to write a thank you note for everything you receive. ever. I am told this is not the norm elsewhere, so disregard this if so. One year i conveniently received personalized blank notes as one of my gifts, and was relieved that I didn't have to use my shiny new Target gift card to go buy any. That same year i received 4 ( yes FOUR) different styles of personalized notepads...so i say approach this one with caution. 5- Organize "One Big Gift"- I have heard of "room moms" asking if the whole class would just like to go in on one big gift, they ask everyone to give what they can, and then ask the teachers to fill out a wish list, and with that money either buy them somethings off of their list or gift cards to the places they can get the items.

 Honestly, no matter what you get, any teacher will appreciate the fact that you took the time and effort to show you appreciate them! But i hope this helped some.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

blog 8: this...

This is something my best friend wrote: "I was really hoping this would be over now so that I could go back to talking about the Olympics and looking at pictures of Boo without everyone’s hatred all up in my face, but I logged on to more comments and I just got invited to a second CFA appreciation day so obviously it isn’t. I am going to continue eating at CFA, because I really feel that it would be silly not to when half of my stuff was most likely made from poor “9 year old Filipino kids who work their fingers bloody for 12 cents an hour” (Chandler Bing… Friends is educational, y’all) but now I feel like if I do I am supporting a movement I feel very strongly against. Freedom of speech is great, but that’s not what this is about. Lord knows everyone’s been exercising this right for the last two days; it’s not in danger. What this is about is letting everyone know that you do not agree that homosexuals should have the same rights that you have. It still blows my mind that this is even an issue in a free country. Is tradition more important to uphold than equality under the law? The country would look much different it we were still operating under the traditions of a century ago. What I really want to say is this: Whether or not you agree with gay rights, please think about the effect your words have on others. Think about the message you are sending. If you want to tell gays that they do not deserve to be treated the way that you are treated, keep it up. If you want to contribute to the movement that is causing gay kids to be bullied, to be beaten, and to commit suicide, then by all means continue. But if you want to stand for love and acceptance, think before you throw your chicken in someone’s face." and this is why we're best friends. When will the day come that we can eat or not eat chicken, and it not be a political statement?

blog 7: something's different...

So! in hopes of making myself blog more, i gave my blog a little make-over. isn't she a beaut?

Here's to another go at it!

I need some accountability partners, who's in??

Any-who, it was a lovely day today! It is very rare you will hear me say that around this time of year. I am NOT a fan of Georgia heat, typically in the time frame of May- Septemberish, but today was just plain lovely. I think there's a storm a brewin', so we had this breeze going that was just cool enough, and the humidity was pretty low. perfecto!

Mom and i set out early this Saturday morning to a yard sale at The State Theatre of Georgia -The Springer Opera House. They were cleaning out their storage and had tons of prop furniture, and fabrics and etc. I scored a roll of really nice fabric (that PERFECTLY matches my plans for the color scheme of my living room) for $10!! Not.too.shabby.

After the Springer yard sale, we ventured down to the Markets on Broadway. I just love that i live in a place that celebrates locally grown and handmade! Mom and I had a great time strolling through the different vendors, listening to the band, sampling locally grown fruits (yum!), buying locally- handmade jewelry (Swallows Heart- check her out she's awesome! and very affordable!!), and sipping DELICIOUS fresh squeezed lemonade. I mean, how much better can it get?!

Then we went to Petsmart...on adoption day, sigh...
I want them all!! Can i just live on a farm and rescue dogs? please?

I had plans to go out with the girls tonight but when i got home from all of my adventures today, i dozed off on the couch and woke up with a killer headache. Do naps do that to anyone else? Sometimes they are refreshing, but sometimes i wake up feeling worse than before- bummer! --So instead i am ending this day listening to Dispatch via YouTube's livestream from Bonaroo, and watching Mean Girls for the 23644th time. I can't just NOT watch it if it's on TV...

Lots of hometown love,
-Kat

Blog 6: Wordless Wednesday - m new obsession

blog 5: Song of the day Sunday: Songday?

So this is going to be one of my ways that i make myself blog more. By making it easier to post, and giving myself a little challenge! haha- So it's song of the day Sunday....it needs an easier name. Songday? Songday Sunday? I don't know i'll figure it out.

So my first Sungday (?) goes to Biebs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoFXbt2tfbU&feature=related

i don't know how to post the actual video on here..lame :/

blog 4: twenty-four on four-twenty

So, it's my birthday. I am one of those "obnoxious" people that celebrates the whole month, because i think birthdays are really special.

 Everyone always tells me that as i get older i won't find my birthday to be all that exciting, and won't look forward to celebrating it as much, but honestly, i choose not to believe that. To me birthdays are about more than adding +1 to your age. Birthdays are about celebrating the day you entered the world, and everything you've overcome since. Birthdays, to me, are sort of like my own personal

New Years Eve. The actual New Years Eve/ New Years Day, is for everyone in the US (and where ever else that celebrates on the same day as us) celebrates the fact that we all made it through the year alive. But my birthday is my own personal "I made it!" kind of day. I get to look back at myself, and the struggles and ups and downs of my past year, and years. I get to decide to change, or be a better me for my next year to follow.
So that's what I'm going to do. I am going to be a better me. And i AM GOING TO BLOG MORE OFTEN! it is going to happen.

 Side note: I'm part of a group on Google+ that does a question of the day every day.It basically turns into a wit-off, but it's really fun! Any who- on Fridays you have to answer in the form of poetry, preferably haiku, but any is accepted. Amber (the QOTD decider) made today's (Friday, my birthday) question be what would you give me and a fellow QTOD'er for our birthday, this was by far my favorite answer:
 kat-
here’s your shout out, like a sunny shining ray,
enjoy it girl, cause it’s your birthday!
i don’t know much, cause you’re new to me
but have no fear, googling you was free!
 i’m not sure what you look like,
there’s three peeps in your photo,
you must be the pretty one, you shop in soho?
 and you’ve got pictures of your feet, a little creepy(my fb pic is of me and a friend's feet in the sand on the beach)
i don’t judge though, I like pee pee
 i heard from you, that you like tv jingles
you want some beer, cake or maybe pringles?
happy birthday, or actually happy four twenty
enjoy your rhyme, hope it was funny!


 Thanks for stopping by :)
-kat

blog 3: Oh Hi!

Hello there! Happy New year- Sorry i'm a bit late, but computer was highly infect with an intense virus and sadly passed on. (R.I.P Odell) -But i'm happy to say I am blogging this blog from my brand new MACBOOK PRO!! YAY ME!
 I've known since about September what i wanted to make my New Year's Resolution be. In short it was to "Blog more." I knew if i made a really difficult resolution i wouldn't stick to it. Last year i had a great resolution, but wasn't able to go through with it because of certain financial issues that came up. But this year i fully INTEND (key word) on sticking to it. Does it mean i will have a really meaningful piece of literature written everyday? NO! I've already thought of things like "Wordless Wednesday" where i just simply post a picture, or something else that doesn't involve any sort of obligation to a long post. I had some ideas for a few other ideas too, but I don't want to give away all my secrets yet! haha. I honestly am not blogging because I think people want and or need to read what i have to say. I don't think i am any sort of brilliant writer by any means. I know i'll have grammatical and spelling errors all up in here. But i know, that in the future when i stumble upon my old posts- i will be SO GLAD that i took the time to document any part of my life. It's time that i'll never get back, and memories i know i'll forget. When we were moving into our new house, i found my old diary from high school and i just grinned from ear-to-ear reading all about my crushes, and the "life ending" tragedies i was going through, and realizing i totally was one of those high school girls i make fun of now! So here we go...again... (i should probably find an accountability partner, any takers??)