Gifts for teachers and classmates

It is the last day of school here in San Antonio! Depending on how ambitious I am, I try to give my kid's teachers something to show my gratitude for putting up w/ my kids all year.

  I made Supermom Apron's for Mother's Day and decided to make my youngest son's teacher one too. She is crafty and I thought she'd appreciate it.  I figure she could use it for messy stuff around the classroom. I also think it will look much cuter on her than my carpet.

UPDATE:  She loved it-or is a very good actress.

Tutorial 

My other son has a man teacher, so I think I'm just going to get him a gift card.  I don't think he'd like an apron much.

Here's some one's I've used in the past.

Gift Card Holder

What to get teachers as thank-you gifts (hint: not mugs or lotion)

Middle school teacher gifts

Wish Bracelet

Another mom made this for my son last year and I thought it was a clever gift to give out to class-mates.  My son was too cool to wear his, but might of if she'd use a bead instead of blingy star.

HAPPY SUMMER!

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Linky Party #43: Will craft for fun

I'm taking a little break from give-a-ways for the summer, so instead of telling you about this week's sponsor, I'll share some of my favorites from last week's party?

Visual Eye Candy-so pretty


Crystal and Co -80 things to do w/ your kids in the summer

(for some reason we keep signing our kids up for swim team and that pretty much eats up all our time)

Last week's most viewed linky was Tousled Day's Maxi skirt to dress. (she keeps telling us she's not a seamstress)






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Now it's your turn to link up and I could really use some inspiration.    I've got the summer lazy's and haven't been super productive.  I really need some good vegetarian recipes (I'm starting a 30 day vegetarian challenge on Friday).

As always you only need to leave your e-mail if you're new and would like to be added to my weekly linky reminder e-mail.

Winner!

Random.org chose #18: Gramma Luvlee's buzz Light year party!


If you haven't checked out her site: you really should.  She puts on the world's most amazing camps every year for her grandkids.


Please contact Precious Patterns directly at their shop to claim your 3 patterns.

Patriotic Round-up

Even though my kids have another week of school left and the calendar says it is still spring for another month, I am declaring it summer. 

It's going to be 95 today, my legs are covered in mosquito bites, and it is the first day of summer swim team so it can not possible still be spring. 

 Here's some fun summer projects I did last year:

Pinwheel Wreath
Summer Mantel
Stars and Stripes Pillow
Firecrackers
10 minute painted T
Patriotic Button t and headband

Here's some stuff I've pinned to add to my stash this year.




I need your help. We have an annual day at church where we do crafts all day and I'm in charge of coming up w/ a craft.  Which do you think is cuter:

#1Unknown   

#2 Etsy   

#3Brown Paper Packages

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Linky #42 Will Craft for Free Patterns

Welcome to the party, I'm so glad that all of you showed up. Let me introduce you to this week's sponsor:




"We are a creative mother/daughter team from the Sunshine State. We're always working on new and unique patterns for you!
Mary Ayres has designed all of our patterns. She is a nationally known craft designer and has sold thousands of her original designs to numerous national craft, sewing, and quilting magazines."

Here are some of my favorites from the shop:


Precious Patterns is generously giving away 3 patterns from their shop. Since each pattern is e-mailed to you in PDF form this give-a-way is open to everyone with an e-mail address.
To enter:


1. Visit Precious Patterns and tell me which patterns are your favorite.
2. Link up a project (one entry/ project)
3. Follow Tales of a Trophy Wife :    

Good Luck!  Remember you only need to add your e-mail if you'd like to be included in my weekly reminder e-mails-otherwise skip that step).

winners and features

 I so enjoy visiting your blogs every week and seeing all of your creative genius at work.  Here are some of my favorites:



by My 1929 Charmer


by Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!


by Sewing Miles of Smiles


by Seriously Handmade


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Random.org picked #27 Annie's Antics lovely lace skirt. Congrats please contact her directly at her shop to claim your prize: http://www.emmalinebags.com/#/the-pattern-shop/4562442005

Freshly Glazed Kitchen Island

I painted my kitchen cabinets last year. (read about it here).  I really wanted to paint them a color. Since we move every few years, I chose a nice safe espresso brown. I really love color, and I decided that if I  just painted the island and I could always paint it brown again before we sell.  

 If you've never used glaze before it is super easy and very forgiving and it only took about 1 1/2 hours. 

  Paint the base coat and let it dry. I spent the drying time on the phone w/ my hubby who was of course out of town, discussing whether or not my son broke his arm and whether or not I wanted to spend the night w/ 3 kids in the ER, but I recommend you skip that step.  

(like my stencil project)

Then mix the glaze according the mixing directions on the can (mine was 3 parts glaze 1 part paint). 

Tip: you don't need very much so just mix up a little bit.

 Then just brush on the glaze and then wipe off the glaze until you like the look.  Easy Peasy.

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.

Who Needs a Vacation?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Newport Beach for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

After all the tests are taken, the teacher appreciation gifts are given, and the year books are signed, there is only one thing left to do-plan your family's summer vacation.  Do you need some help picking the perfect place to go?The very nice people from Newport Beach, California would like to invite your family to spend your vacation with them. They've even a made you a short video telling you why you should go:

Newport Beach has got everything your family needs for a great vacation: Shopping for the girls and  world class golf for dad.  You can spend the day on some of the cleanest beaches in California or rent a small boat to explore the coast.  You can work up an appetite surfing and then dine on fresh sea food.  My sister-in-law's family loves it there so much, they hold their family reunions there every other year.

There are even several award winning summer camps available. Check out the hundreds of options here: http://www.visitnewportbeach.com/camps/

The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Hotel is offering a great deal for families.  Buy one room at full price and get a second connecting room for the kiddos *18 and under) for 50% off.  (The Hyatt must understand that sharing a hotel room w/ your kids is not much of a vacation)  Call them at 1-800-233-1234 and tell them that you are interested in the "family plan"  The Hyatt is a wonderful bayside resort hotel featuring 3 swimming pools, whirlpools, shuffle board, ping-pong, and a 9 hole, par 3 golf course.  Sounds like heaven.

 

So do you need a vacation?  What would your perfect family vacation be like?

Red and Turqoise Bathroom

I was super excited when I won my choice of a  Cuting Edge Stencil from Cherished Bliss (thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!).  I chose the Outside the Box for my 1/2 bath.  


I was worried it would:
a. take forever
b. that I'd have to ton a ton of touch up
c. none of my shapes would line up


It was way easier than I thought it would be.  It probably took me less than an hour to do the entire wall and I love, love, love how it turned out.


TIP: I added a little glaze to my paint.  It made the mistakes easier to wipe off.  I didn't touch up at all.  

Unfortunately, it is a room that is nearly impossible to photograph (I even got a ladder and tried to take some from outside through the window.  If you are ever in my neighborhood, stop by and I'll show it off in person.

 

This poor little planter has been brass, black and now has a white glaze.  

I found these little beauties at a junk swap @ church.  I sprayed painted them white and stuck them on this red thing I already had.

I still need to do some sort of window treatment, but I'm declaring it done for now.  I can now cross of #15 off my 40 by 40 list.