WFMW- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teachers

Money is still tight with everyone this year so I was trying to think of some inexpensive but nice teacher gifts.  First of all, I have some teacher friends and they all say- no coffee mugs or apple-themed items please!  They get a lot of those.  Most teachers would really appreciate a handwritten note from your child more than anything.  Homemade ornaments or crafts are nice too.  In my opinion a gift card, even in a small amount like $5, makes a really great gift.  You can pair it with a candy bar or mints or gum.  I usually save some $5 Target gift cards throughout the year to use as gifts.  There was also an iTunes promotion on $10 gift cards a few weeks back.  In addition to her regular teacher, my daughter also has some other helpers, bus drivers, etc.  I usually give them candy or mints.  You can usually find stuff on sale around Halloween time- just don't get Trick-or-Treat packaging!  Different color M&M's look really cute in a plain jar with a bow.  A really easy treat to make is pretzel-kisses-melts.  Just put one layer of mini pretzels twists on a cookie sheet and top with one Hershey's Kiss (any flavor).  Melt in the oven on 250 for a few minutes until soft (watch closely).  Immediately top with one M&M- I use red and green.  Cool and store in a Ziploc bag or other container. Very yummy salty and chocolate snack!

More WFMW at We Are That Family.

Menu Plan Monday August 30

Here's what I have planned for this week- but you know it doesn't always work out!

Monday: Stuffed Pepper Casserole (I had in the freezer) with Field Greens salad
Tuesday: Crescent roll hot dogs (ok I know, I have to use them up)
Wednesday: ??? (I don't know yet)
Thursday: Macaroni & Beef (grass-fed beef), local green beans
Friday: Slow cooker chicken taco meat
Saturday: left-over buffet

More Menu Plan Monday here!

(My new blog starts Wednesday September 1st)

What to do with extra school supplies?

The stores are still practically giving away school supplies this week. Here are 3 things you can do with the extra school supplies you bought.

1. Donate them to a food pantry. Food pantries often give out school supplies this time of year.
2. Donate them to a local school. Each year teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to buy school supplies for their classrooms.
3. Save them to put in a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child- coming in November.

Changes are coming!

Look for my new blog 90 Days of Change starting September 1st!

Find a Farmer's Market near you

Use this website Local Harvest to find a farmer's market near you. Some farmer's markets we have visited this summer:

Munroe Falls Brust Park Rt 91 Tuesday 3pm-7pm
kind of small, found some good tomatoes here

Green YMCA Summa Health Parking Lot Tuesday 3pm-7pm
lots of Amish stuff, found good strawberries in June

Brimfield Town Center Rt 43 Wednesday 3pm-7pm
great eggs from Bowers farm

Twinsburg Rt 91 behind the Post Office Thursday 3pm-6pm
grass fed beef from Sirna Farms

Cuyahoga Falls 2nd Street next to City Hall Friday 3pm-7pm
kind of small, found some good corn here

Hudson Main Street Green Saturday 8am-12noon
kind of upscale- found good garlic here

Make your own daily shower cleaner

Homemade shower spray cleaner- I've made this before- it's pretty easy and it works ok (not spectacular but ok). Save an old spray bottle- rinse it out well.

1 c rubbing alcohol
1 c hydrogen peroxide
6 drops Dawn dish detergent
1 tsp Jet Dry
fill rest of bottle with water
you can also add a few drops of a scented oil- I like Tea Tree Oil
spray daily after each shower

More WFMW at We Are That Family.

$1 clearance girls clothes at Walmart

I got a bunch of cute girls back-to-school clothes at Walmart today reduced to $1 each! One hooded tunic top, one pair black pants, two dresses, one 3-piece outfit (top, skirt, pants) for $5 total (plus tax)!