Savvy Teacher Gift

Back to school!?!?  I'm not sure where the summer went, but it is quickly coming to an end.  My daughter is starting 2nd grade at a new school, and between buying all new clothes (how does nothing fit?!), shoes, and school supplies we are almost ready - and broke. lol

One important thing I wanted to do was to show her teacher how much we appreciate all of the work she has done already.  As a teacher, I know there's plenty of work to be completed before the 1st day.  I can only imagine how much work an elementary teacher has to do.  I teach high school, so the amount of decorating and labeling I do is far less than an elementary teacher.  (I doubt my teenagers would enjoy their names proudly displayed on their assigned desk)

Since we are new to the school, all I know about her teacher is that she's female.  I tried to pick simple, inexpensive items that most people would enjoy.  I made sure it was items just for her and not for work.

Items I used:
Mason jar - 50% off at Hobby Lobby
Magnetic To Do List - Target
Lint roller - Target
Tic Tacs - Target
EOS lip balm - Target
Ribbon - Hobby Lobby

The most important item inside the jar was a handwritten thank you card expressing our appreciation for her hard work and our excitement for the school year.  I hope this helps start your school year off right!

XOXO

~ A. Savvy Mom ~

Fancy Planner

The school year is almost underway (yikes), and I've just recently purchased the item I use the most: my planner.  My planner is my world.  I use it to organize not only my own schedule, but my husband's and kids' as well.  In previous years I've purchased planners that were "designed for moms," but once they arrived they seemed to be geared more towards my kids.  They would have stickers and silly drawings, but I have enough kid stuff and I looked long and hard for something designed for myself.  I wanted something that small enough to fit into my purse, but big enough to accommodate my bubbly handwriting.  Oh and did I mention I needed to feel fancy carrying it?  Obviously.

My DREAM planner just arrived yesterday from May Designs, and I couldn't be anymore excited.  The wonderful thing about May Designs is that you are the designer.  You get to choose the pattern, monogram or name, and the interior pages.  In addition to helpful calendar options, there's cute gift ideas such as pregnancy diaries and children's lined paper.  With so many options and new designs being created, you'll always be coming back for more.

Happy Planning!

XOXO

~ A. Savvy Mom ~

Family Beach Pictures

Family picture time!  It's can be an exciting time (if you love coordination as much as I do), but it can also be a daunting task to organize.  Hopefully this post will simplify the process for you :)

First:  Schedule the picture session based on your children's needs and routine.  If they are cranky every afternoon, schedule a morning session or possibly something after dinner.  We wanted our pictures on the beach, and our amazing photographer Ashlie Otis recommended the evening in order to achieve the best lighting.  At first I was nervous because our kids are normally in bed no later than 7:30, so I knew I had to plan ahead.  We planned a busy morning that day, so that our youngest (2) could take a long, late nap.  My hope was that the late nap would push him to give us some of his adorable smirks even when it was past his bedtime.  Luckily, it did!

Second:  Start planning outfits.  An often skipped step is deciding where these pictures are going to go in your house.  What?!?  Yes, it may seem a little premature, but the room(s) you plan on displaying these pictures should have an impact on what you wear.  For example, if you have living room with a lot of red and warm colors; a collage of pictures of you all dressed in bright spring shades might clash.

Third:  Choose 3-4 colors for your scheme and start shopping!  You can begin by checking for basics in your closet, but pictures always seem extra special with a new outfit :)  You don't all have to match, but you don't want to clash either.  I chose to focus on coral, turquoise, and white as my color scheme.  I love the way it all looked on the beach.  Remember, we aren't in the 90's anymore so forget about putting everyone in a white polo and khakis.  Embrace a pop of color and have fun with it!

My outfit
My husband's polo
Bella's Dress
Jack's Shirt

Here's how they turned out!

xoxo

~ A. Savvy Mom ~