National Teacher Appreciation Week

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week (coming up May 7th - May 12th), I thought I'd do a little roundup of ways you can show your child's teacher some love. If you're a homeschooling mom, take yourself out for dinner :)!!

I would love to get this gift!

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Extra points for the adorable factor here!

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Teachers always need more Post-its. ALWAYS!

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Beach towel, magazine, and candy!

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So easy and such a cool gift!

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Display stuff in style!

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This one is the most versatile. You could clip Starbucks Via coffee instead, or thank you notes on index cards, or instant lemonade, or gift cards, etc!

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And of course.... don't forget the card {wink!}

Find this one and more here!

Notes from the lunch room

I'm the kind of person that likes to have everything prepared ahead of time, and lunch is no exception. I hate the thought of making a sandwich every night (or morning). So much prep work. So much clean up. Plus, I'm not a big sandwich fan.

A few years ago, I came across this Make Ahead Lunch Wrap recipe and it totally changed my life! Now I only spend an hour or two every three weeks cooking up a big batch of these. They freeze really well, and they actually taste very good when reheated in the microwave.

A problem I hadn't yet solved was how to take my lunch to school. I admit, I'm a bit of a cheap-o, so I usually just ended up bringing my food in a plastic bag. Other teachers bring brown paper bags, gift bags, or practical-looking-cooler-type bags. I'll admit.... there were lots of days where I kinda felt like white trash walking into the lounge with my plastic bag from Kroger.

But not anymore!! Last week, I received a BEAUTIFUL lunch box from Apey Lee's Homespun Designs. I literally gasped when I pulled it out of the box (oh, and I was impressed with the really fast shipping too!). The fabric was so pretty and the inside is made from that wipe-downable material for easy cleanup!

 I'm just learning how to use to my sewing machine -- it takes me all afternoon to make a cloth napkin -- so I was really impressed with the quality of the stitching. That's some serious talent right there, folks!

I've been using this as my new lunch box for about a week now, and I can tell you a couple of things:

1. You can fit a lot of lunch in there: I put in a wrap, a pear, a bag of pretzels, and a small plate, with no problem!
2. It's super sturdy.
3. The velcro helps it to close well.
4. I like that I can hang it on the peg in my pantry and it doesn't have to take up space on the floor or on one of the shelves.
5. It's got little pockets on the front to stash my "emergency" chocolate!

And.... most importantly... I can feel all good about myself when I walk into the teacher's lounge with my pretty new lunch box!

If you're ready to tote your lunch in style, head on over to Apey Lee's Homespun Designs! She's got several beautiful options that will make you the envy of your lunchroom!

Take a peek:

Teacher Appreciation Week

Today marks the end of Teacher Appreciation Week. If you missed it, don't worry! Teachers love to feel appreciated at any time of the year!

And with the end of the school year almost upon us, I thought I'd do an Etsy roundup of some beautiful handmade teacher gifts.

First up is this hand stamped teacher necklace from Chipmunk Hollow:


Next, I love these reusable snack bags from Bells and Unicorns. Did you know that the students aren't the only ones who need a midday snack?


Or how about this Teacher Jar filled with questions from Joyful Jars? No more scrambling for last minute time fillers before the next activity -- these questions would do the trick beautifully!


I'm loving these custom teacher bookplates by Modern Classics: Kids. It would be perfect, paired with a children's book!And this handmade dish from Mud Hutt Studio would make any teacher smile!


There are so many other wonderful handmade items on Etsy that would make great teacher gifts as well. Happy shopping!

Oh! And don't forget to pair your gift with a lovely card from my very own Yes Teacher Crafts: