Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Great Gifts to Give Teachers from Goodwill



As the school year draws to a close, it is a great time to think about honoring all of the hard work that your kid's teachers have put in for your family. This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week and I couldn't wait to deliver our fun gifts to our hardworking teachers.  Both of my children have been so blessed this school year to have teachers who love and care for them each day. It was such an honor to get to give a little love back to them for all they do.

End-of-year gifts are a thoughtful way to say thank you to your teachers who have dedicated their time to helping your children grow and learn. Here are a few of my favorite gifts to give and how you can make Goodwill a part of those gifts!


Frame a Fun Printable- Head to your local Goodwill and find a frame that you can use to frame a fun free printable for your teacher. I love to hunt for these inexpensive frames and then give them a fresh new look with a coat of spray paint.

I made these, "Raise Your Hand if You Mustache a Question," printables for our teachers for the holidays and they loved them with spray painted red frames. They coordinate perfectly with a white thrift store mug adorned with a painted mustache.  I also really love this fabulous printable from eighteen25 that reminds the class to listen to their teachers. What teacher would not love that?

Create a Pretty Pin- This year I have become obsessed with making cute pins and have found a way to incorporate these pins on everything from bags to belts to jewelry. Teachers will love these fun accessories and it is an easy way to say thank you without spending a lot.  Pins can be created from recycled Goodwill t-shirts or you can create elegant roses from a felted Goodwill sweater or use fabric from a cute shirt you can snag on their sale rack.

Bake a Treat- One gift that I think says I truly appreciate you is spending time in the kitchen baking something special for someone you love. Visit Goodwill to find cute tins, plates, or even bake them right in the baking pans you find at your store. The best part about packaging these delicious treats with Goodwill packaging is that you don't have to worry about getting your dishes returned back to you. I highly recommend these Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Brownies for a treat that will knock your teacher's socks off!  Just be prepared to have to share the recipe once they have tried them.

Give a Gift of Pampering- If there is one thing that you can find at Goodwill, it is a plethora of mason jars that can be used for all of your craft projects. Consider giving your teacher a gift to pamper herself and packaging it in a Goodwill mason jar and attach a spoon, that you can also find there.  Mix up some easy bath salts or a hand scrub that she can use to treat herself.

Give Them Something They Can Use- This year I decided to give our teachers a fun teacher supplies cake that I made with school materials I knew they might be missing in their classrooms. Check the office supplies at Goodwill to see if you can find items you can weave into a school supplies cake for your teacher. You will often find great folders, binders, and new office supplies that could easily create tiers for a cute school supplies cake to replenish their supplies for next year. Simply configure your supplies and stack them on top of each other, securing with a little packing tape to hold everything together. Half of the fun in this craft is in the creating of your cake. Adorn it with a little ribbon and a picture of your child with a thoughtful message of thanks.

What is one gift you love to create with Goodwill supplies for your teachers? We would love to hear your ideas! 


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

The 10 Days of Goodwill Challenge

I can't tell you how many times I am asked if I REALLY shop at Goodwill.  The answer is always "Of Course I do!".  I love when I am at a meeting and someone compliments me on something I am wearing, and I get to boast that I found it at Goodwill.

To prove my point...that I do shop and wear things from Goodwill...every year I institute a '10 Days of Goodwill Challenge".  So...are you ready?  Here we go!

 This is a cute little number I wore to the Fashion Days event at the Goodwill in Goshen.  I paired it with a nude colored crazy sassy stiletto.










Love this dress.  Banana Republic. Perfect for summer.  I put some of my style on the look by adding a brown leather braided belt and turquoise beads. I am LOVING this bright pink color with Turq accessories this season. Then I finished the look with a leather Kate Spade shoulder bag.
 Tunics, leggings and boots...all are a few of my favorite things.  I love this tunic. I think it could also be worn as a dress with flip flops in the summer. I had the boots, leggings and sweater...but those pieces would be DULLSVILLE without this great tunic!
 Wore this to speak at a ladies group at a country club.  I wanted to 'dress the part' for the country club (and I resisted wearing plaid golf shorts). Banana Republic white trousers and that beautiful 3/4 sleeve bright blue jacket. I played up the gold buttons on the jacket with gold accessories. 
 And what is Goodwill good for if not to pick up some great handbags?  This LV Inspired cutie I used for a night out on the town.  It is the perfect size to hold my money, ID, cell and of course...a few lipsticks!
Then I decided I needed a new wallet. Ideally I wanted something that was water proof for the lake and the beach this summer.  Well, whadda know!  Found it at Goodwill!
 Skirt and tank from Goodwill!  Love these pieces, I wear this Gap pull-on skirt a TON.  As a matter of fact, I'm wearing it now!

If you went to the Little Black Dress luncheon, then you saw me in this...and yes, it's my new fav color combo (turquoise and bright pink).  


 This was for a working day at Goodwill.  Cute Ann Taylor flippy skirt and a black tee.  What could be better?

So I am in this "work out" phase.  Well, not as much work out as I need to get off my lazy butt and move around a little.  I don't want to spend a lot of money on workout wear, but of course I am convinced that if I look the part, I will be in top physical shape. Basic black tank and Nike cropped workout (yoga) pants.

And for the Go Red luncheon for the American Heart Association, I had to wear red.  I emceed the Fashion Show for the event - so dressing the part was critical.  Finding a good red dress is hard!  And...guess where I found this one?  Yep - GOODWILL!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

SO YOUR DAUGHTER IS GOING TO PROM


Prom night might possibly be the most horrifying night a parent can experience. Everything from the right-of-passage that prom night represents, to what our kids are wearing to prom is horrifying.

I remember shopping for my first prom dress. I knew what I wanted; but my Mom had a different idea what she was going to allow me to wear. Let’s just say that what our high school girls are wearing to prom “ain’t your mama’s prom dress”!

What happened to the demure dresses with lace up to your chin, 3 or 4 layers of tulle on top of a hoop skirt? Ah yes, the good ‘ol days!

According to a leading family psychologist, the best tactic with the prom dress debate is compromise. Here are some ideas to keep in mind when you hit Goodwill searching for the perfect prom dress and accessories:

  • If your daughter is busty, don’t allow her to wear something that is strapless. Compromise by allowing a side slit in the skirt.
  • If your daughter wants something that is low cut…in the front and the back – compromise with a higher cut front (maybe a nice drape) and the lower cut style in the back. 
  • Hollywood Fashion Tape (Google it). This is amazing stuff that will affix itself to skin and fabric. If you are worried about something falling off – tape it down!
  • If your daughter’s dream dress is something that is on the short side, compromise in looking for something that is at least knee length, but form fitting, or a shorter bubble-skirt style. 
  • Is your daughter self conscious about her arms? Look for a wrap, pashmina, or scarf to put over her shoulders.
  • Is your daughter’s belly what she doesn’t like? Find a dress with a definite separation between the top ½ and the bottom ½. Better yet, look for a dress with interesting rouching through the bodice. 
  • Make sure your daughter wears the right undergarments; it will make her look like a svelte super model in her prom gown! 
  • Shoes…if your daughter isn’t used to walking in 3” stilettos, leave them at the store. She will look (and feel) much more graceful in a lower heeled shoe. 
  • Your daughter’s dress is going to need to be altered (99.9% of all formal wear will need some alterations). A perfect fit is always the most flattering look!
  • Perfume. Make sure your daughter sprays her body, not her dress. The alcohol in some fragrances will stain delicate fabrics – and ruin her prom dress. 

Make sure your daughter knows that the secret to looking great on prom night is more about how she feels, than the actual dress. If something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right. Beauty starts on the inside; the most beautiful women in the world are self confident, self assured intelligent women…who probably had a great prom dress!

PHOTO CREDITS:

http://www.tonganoxiemirror.com