Say What?!?

Before you glance at the picture below and think I've lost my mind, it is NOT what you think!!

I read a lot of hype about this product recently so I thought I would check it out.  It is a powder gel that is inteded for chafing on your thighs and other girly areas.  HOWEVER - what some people have discovered is that it also works as a make-up primer!!  It comes out as gel but dries like a powder.  Make-up primers are typically one of those "would be nice to have but won't spend $45 on" type of items for me.  So needless to say, when I read about this, then saw it at Target for $5.99, I jumped on it!
Now the real question is, "Does it work?".   The answer is a resounding "YES!!!!"  I put it on after my moisturizer but before my foundation ( I use Bare Minerals)  I made sure I got some on my eyelids as well to help with eyeshadow.  I spent my day at the park with a bunch of 6th graders, playing kickball, running around, sweating.  And get this.....my make-up is still on girls!!  I'm not kidding, you can still see the different colors of eyeshadow I have on!!
So thank you Monistat, even though it wasn't your intent, it is fabulous!  If you try it, let me know what you think too!

Teacher Gifts Pt. 1

I'm not sure how they do it in your neck of the woods but around here, you send a gift to your child's teacher at least Christmas and the end of the year.  If you're really on the ball you do Halloween, Valentine's Day and Teacher Appreciation Week.  That being said, I have been brainstorming what I would like to do this year for my kid's teachers.  I really like to hand make them something but that usually depends on my time and sanity!  :)  Here are a couple ideas I have done in the past that I thought were fun!

These are some mini clipboards I made that were super easy.  I bought some cute scrap paper and used Modge Podge to put it on the front.  I then sealed it with some craft sealant and added some ribbon.  It can get tricky smoothing out the wrinkles sometimes.  I used a smoothing tool that you use for spackle. (I don't know what they are actually called)  I also attached a green little flower in the bottom corner for some depth but it's hard to tell in the picture.

I bought these cute pink buckets in Target's Dollar Spot and cut out each teacher's initial from scrap paper and again used Modge Podge to seal it on the bucket.  Then I filled them with homemade goodies.  These were really fast to make.

These monogrammed bags were a little more time consuming.  I have done these a couple years now and the material I buy is based on the bag I find first.  These had the light green handle so I decided to go with a green and gold fabric.  However one year I found some with black handles and did black and white polka dot fabric and outlined in lime green and they were way cute!!   So you print off the initial on paper from your computer using 600 font.  Then cut it out and attach it to your material using straight pins.  Now if you can sew then you could just sew the letter on the bag but I unfortunately do not so I used fusible web to attach the letter then outlined it in corresponding puff paint.  I attached a tag onto the handle using a strip of the fabric for the ribbon.

All these are fairly cheap and simple.  And there are more to come so stay tuned!  Oh, and I would love to hear your ideas!!

Au naturale

This is my beautiful 12 year old daughter with her uncle Paul.....

This is my beautiful 12 year old daughter with make-up on before her first school dance....since I would rather her look 12 instead of 15, we are going to stick with the natural look for now! ;)

Better late than never

I realize that Valentine's Day was a couple months ago but since you could make these gifts for just about any holiday, I thought I'd give you a peek.

Now these were sooo easy you wouldn't believe it!  Just take a 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper.  Whatever color or pattern fits the holiday.  Wrap it into the shape of a cone and staple - you could staple on a ribbon if you wanted also.  I just stapled the tag on over the original staple.  Fill with some yummy treats and give away!  The popcorn I put in them was covered in melted white chocolate mixed with crushed up peppermint candy.  Since it was so soon after Christmas I used candy canes but you could use mints anytime.  It was delicious and my friends loved it.  You could also fill them with fresh flowers.  I would love to hear what you would put in yours!

School wasn't this fun when I went.....

So for those of you who don't know, I am the crossing guard and library assistant (or librarian jr. as my son calls it) part-time at my kids elementary school.  Now we did alot of fun things when I was in school but it's even more fun now.  Probably because I get to go in the teacher's lounge ;).  Last week was CRT state testing for 3rd-6th graders.  In order to prepare and get the kids pumped up they had a theme called "Rock the Test".  The staff got these great t-shirts and we had a different 'musical era' dress up day all last week.  After the first day it was clear the teachers were having way more fun than the students.  My two friends, who are first grade teachers, and I planned our outfits together every day and had a morning photo shoot.  You can definitely tell we are in school by the word wall in the background, ha!  I know, sounds crazy but it was so much fun!  Here are a few of the pics from our morning meetings:

Monday was Hip-Hop Day

Tuesday was Country Western Day

Wednesday was 60's Day

Yes that's me with the blonde fro.  Even more proof that I am meant to be a brunette!!  Thursday was Disco Day and we tried to be Charlie's Angels but it flopped...none of us could get our hair to feather!  And Friday we all wore our t-shirts.  It was a great week and the kids loved seeing their teachers dressed all crazy.  Who says you can't have fun while learning?