Goodwill Success Story - Scott found employment with Lowe's!

We would like to introduce you to Scott.
He is another one of our many Goodwill Success Stories. 

Scott came to the Goodwill Community Career Center for a job fair in October, 2014. Initially, Scott used the Career Center’s computer lab to search for jobs online. He was struggling to get an interview, and asked the career counselor for help. After some edits and suggestions on format, Scott’s resume was ready to be passed along to potential employers.

Scott attended the Job Club at the Mishawaka Career Center. This group helps, encourages and supports those who are in the process of a job search. Joining this group allows participants to build confidence talking about their skills, wants and needs in a career.

In February of 2015, Scott attended a job fair and was able to get an interview with Lowe’s. He was well prepared for the interview. He spent time practicing interview questions with his career coach and attended workshops that helped him understand proper attire, etiquette and protocol. Scott’s hard work and dedication to finding employment paid off. He was offered a job at Lowe’s.

Today, Scott continues to build his skills and hopes his position as a seasonal-employee becomes permanent. He is living proof that dedication and hard work will pay off. He overcame insecurity and stepped outside of his comfort zone in order to achieve his goals. WAY TO GO SCOTT! We are all so proud of what you have accomplished!

Great Teacher Gift Ideas (On Small Budgets)

I am a firm believer that it's a great idea to start your year off right with a little treat for your teachers. When my kids were small and I was tired, the gestures were small like a shiny apple on the first day and a handwritten note of thanks. Through the years, I try to do grander gestures like knitted cozies and cakes made from school materials. 

When talking to teachers about what gifts they love though, I am told that the act of thankfulness can be a rarity in this harried world and that is why even something as small as a note to say thanks can mean so much.

Today I want to talk about small gestures that don't cost a lot, but could mean a lot to a teacher. These are budget-minded projects created with a few items you can find at your local Goodwill store! 

Craft Bookmarks From Jewelry & Buttons

Oh, I do love a good book craft and these button bookmarks are absolutely precious from peanut & olive. The great thing about this craft is that it would be so fun to hunt for unique materials you could use whether it was from a sweater, a pretty button on a coat, a bag of odds & ends jewelry, or a pair of pretty earrings. 

Pair it with a beautiful vintage school book or a stack of classic reads for the classroom for a thoughtful and inexpensive gift. 

Create a Teacher Emergency Kit

If there is one thing you can always find at Goodwill it is jars for crafting. How adorable would this back-to-school emergency kit be for the first day of school. Paint the jar lid in your favorite color, attach the free printable from Crafts Unleashed, and then fill it with a variety of emergency supplies (headache medicine, lint roller, mints, hand cream, chocolates, etc...) to get your year started off on the right foot with your child's teacher. 

Frame a Book Page

How simple and beautiful would it be to find a classic book and simply blow it up and frame it for a teacher. As a book lover myself, I'd love a book page with the vintage illustrations like Little House in the Big Woods or Charlotte's Web framed. 

Julie Blanner shows you how she created this simple gift of a framed book page. Placed in a simple black frame (spray painted or purchased that way) from Goodwill, this would make a thoughtful thrifty gift. 

Craft Some Pretty Pencils

I am a big fan of Modge Podge projects and this one is adorable. Who knew you could wrap pencils in simple scrapbook paper to achieve such beautiful results? Crafting Chicks shares this cute Write On printable that you could attach to a jar from Goodwill and fill with beautifully patterned pencils for a special teacher.

Add a stack of pretty notebooks (bought from those back-to-school specials) to pair with this pretty jar for a gift that your teacher can use and share with students in need.

Make Some Book Page Posies

Over the years, one of my favorite gifts to create and share are my book page flowers. These look complex, but are so simple to make and they couldn't be more inexpensive to create either. With a book from Goodwill, you have all the materials you need to craft a beautiful bouquet of posies; or you can pair one flower with a shiny apple for a great first day for your teacher. You can download the free printable petals over on my site, MomAdvice!

I hope these budget-friendly ideas have you dreaming of a fun way to start your year out right with your teachers. If all else fails, a thank you note periodically throughout the year or time spent volunteering is always a beautiful thing for your teachers! 

The smallest things really do mean SO MUCH! 

What is your favorite budget-friendly teacher gift to give? Share in the comments below! We would love to hear about it! 

Easy Boho Look in 2 Minutes or Less

Nothing says summer, a day at a craft fair, outdoor concert or beach staycation quite like the trendy Bohemian look.  That Boho trend is a big one this season, and is super easy for you to implement into your style repertoire.

In this video, you will see what key pieces you will need to look for at your local Goodwill Store to create a simple Boho look. 

I would love to see what your interpretation is of this trend!  Post your photos here, or hashtag them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest #GoodwillBoho.