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Free Teacher Appreciation Printables

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These adorable printables are perfect for showing teacher appreciation any time of year. There are a ton of cute gift ideas, too!

These adorable printables are perfect for showing teacher appreciation any time of year. There are a ton of cute gift ideas, too!

Free Teacher Appreciation Week Printables

Did you know next week is Teacher Appreciation Week? It definitely is.

If, like me, you’re super grateful for everything your children’s teachers do and, also like me, you want to show them even a small measure of that gratitude, I’ve got you covered.
I made nine cute, fun printables that I’m giving away for free. I even added a list of inexpensive gifts to go along with each printable, as well as my best tips for getting prints for cheap.
All you have to do to get access to all nine teacher appreciation printables is subscribe to my email list below:

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Once you’re subscribed, you’ll get an email from me with easy-to-follow instructions for accessing the printables library.
Free teacher appreciation printables in a bunch of fun colors. Inexpensive gift ideas included!

But wait, there’s more!

I’ve got more printables on the way in the next few months. Subscribing to Winstead Wandering’s email list one time gets you access to all the printables in the library.

Not interested?

If tangible gifts aren’t in your budget, or if you don’t have the time to make them happen this year, know that you child’s teacher isn’t expecting to be showered with presents. Obviously being recognized for working hard feels good, but you can show your gratitude in other ways. As a teacher, the sweetest gifts I’ve received have been handwritten notes of appreciation from students.

If you’re child is old enough, consider having him write a thank-you note. If he’s too young (or even if he isn’t), you can write one yourself. Be sure to mention anything specific your child’s teacher may have done, like showing extra patience with a personality quirk or providing additional remediation or enrichment. Chances are your child’s teacher pours her heart into her work; recognizing that is one of the kindest gifts you can give her.

These adorable printables are perfect for showing teacher appreciation any time of year. There are a ton of cute gift ideas, too!

Free Teacher Appreciation Printable + Inexpensive Gift Ideas

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Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May — that’s so soon! Don’t wait until the last minute to get your act together. Just snag this free printable, pick up a few inexpensive gifts, and you’ll be all set.

Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

Free Teacher Appreciation Printable

Both of my kids love their teachers, which means I love them, too. In addition, we also love the teachers’ assistants, librarians, principals, counselors, secretaries… yup, we pretty much love everyone, and that isn’t even counting Sunday School teachers or daycare workers.

Basically, there are a lot of people I want to show appreciation to for Teacher Appreciation Week. With that in mind, I created a bunch of cute printable tags — complete with puns, because of course — that are ready to be paired with fun, useful, inexpensive gifts.

This printable is one of my favorites: “How Sweet It Is to Be Taught By You.”

Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

There are so many possibilities with this printable!

This is an example of when it’s convenient to know a bit about your child’s teacher. If possible, do some recon and find out her favorite treats or sweets. One frugal way to gift lots of different people is to bake the treats yourself. I have a ton of dessert recipes, but some of the easiest and most popular are: cinnamon roll bars with cream cheese frosting, double chocolate brownies, Oreo cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and homemade peanut butter cup bars. Don’t forget the cute bakery containers for your homemade goods!

Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

If you’re going the store-bought route, I don’t think you can go wrong with dark chocolate; this 12-pack from Amazon would allow you to show your gratitude to everyone who shows love to your children throughout the day.

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Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

Free Teacher Appreciation Printable + Inexpensive Gift Ideas

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Free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Inexpensive gift ideas included!

Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May — that’s so soon! Don’t wait until the last minute to get your act together. Just snag this free printable, pick up a few inexpensive gifts, and you’ll be all set.

Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

Free Teacher Appreciation Printable

Both of my kids love their teachers, which means I love them, too. In addition, we also love the teachers’ assistants, librarians, principals, counselors, secretaries… yup, we pretty much love everyone, and that isn’t even counting Sunday School teachers or daycare workers.

Basically, there are a lot of people I want to show appreciation to for Teacher Appreciation Week. With that in mind, I created a bunch of cute printable tags — complete with puns, because of course — that are ready to be paired with fun, useful, inexpensive gifts.

My first printable says “We’re in Good Hands with You.”

Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

I’ll be attaching the tag to a bottle of nice hand soap; you could go with hand sanitizer (I promise your child’s teacher needs some at this point in the school year) or nail polish. If you’ve got more room in your budget, a gift certificate for a manicure would be a sweet gift.

Many teachers say they’re inundated with more scented lotions than they can handle. Unless you know your child’s teacher has a specific need for a preferred scent, I recommend avoiding lotion as a gift.

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Snag a free teacher appreciation printable in a bunch of fun colors. Find inexpensive gift ideas from a teacher, too!

Gifts For the Foodie

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Gifts For the Foodie: the best gift inspiration for the person in your life who loves to cook, bake, and feed family and friends.

This post contains affiliate links. That means, when you make a purchase through one of the these links, I get, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. You can view my disclosure policy for more information.

Shopping for a foodie- someone who loves everything food-related, from cooking to eating to baking- can be tough. Often, it feels like those people already have most of what they need when it comes to kitchen tools and gadgets. Here’s a list of products the foodie in your life might not own, but would definitely love to.

I hope you find something perfect for your foodie!

Gifts For the Foodie

Gifts For the Foodie: the best gift inspiration for the person in your life who loves to cook, bake, and feed family and friends.

 

  1. Rectangular Baker, $40 | For someone who loves to cook or bake, you can’t go wrong with cute bakeware. Most of us have a kitchen full of bland white Corningware or glass Pyrex. It gets the job done, but it isn’t as fun as some of the adorable options out there now. If the piece in the photo isn’t the right style, you might consider this pie plate or these ramekins.
  2. Graze Snack Box Subscription, $12 a month or give a voucher | You can read all about my honest thoughts on Graze boxes, but the gist is this: your food-lover will get 8 individually-portioned snacks delivered each month. They’re all unique and will be a fun change from the norm.
  3. Flour Water Salt Yeast Cookbook, $20 | Bread is the Everest of the kitchen for a lot of home cooks. Whether your foodie has conquered that beast or not, there’s a recipe in this book that will be just the right skill level.
  4. Decorative Cake Stand, $32 | Is your foodie still showing off mouthwatering cakes on a regular platter? Put an end to that by gifting a beautiful cake stand. Bonus: he might just love it so much he finds the need to show it off immediately by baking a cake from scratch.
  5. Hand Blender, $34 | If your foodie is anything like a lot of the foodies I know, she probably has a running wishlist of kitchen items she’d love to own. There’s a good chance an immersion blender is on that list. This stick blender is a super convenient way to puree sauces, soups, or dips without dirtying up a big blender.
  6. Flour Sack Kitchen Towels, $4 | If you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with an adorable set of kitchen towels like this one. Flour sack towels are versatile and especially convenient for those who do a lot of baking. Target has an unbeatable selection.
  7. KitchenAid Mixer Attachments, $40-$100 | Your foodie very likely has a KitchenAid stand mixer– if not, I highly recommend hitting up a few other people for a group gift- but did you know simple attachments can turn the mixer into a pasta roller or a spiralizer, peeler, and corer or a food grinder? Gift an attachment that will make life in the kitchen easier and, if your budget allows, throw in a related cookbook, too.
  8.  Whisk + Scraper, $12 | Anyone who spends time in the kitchen will have a deep appreciation for this whisk that also scrapes the sides of the bowl. If you’re looking for an inexpensive gift, a life-changing whisk like this one is going to give you the most appreciation per dollar.
  9. Kitchen Apron, $26 | Target has dozens of aprons featuring everything from macarons to landscapes to inspirational quotes. There’s got to be at least one that perfectly fits your foodie’s personality.
  10. Beverage Dispenser, $33 | Part of being a foodie and loving to cook is loving to feed others, too. This glass beverage dispenser holds more than four liters and has a subtle honeycomb pattern. It’ll be your foodie’s favorite thing to show off at the next gathering. Throw in some adorable drinkware to complete the gift.

 

What’s your go-to gift for foodies?

Father’s Day Guide: Gifts For the Star Wars Lover

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He’s hard to shop for, and all the options out there can be overwhelming. Take the guess work out of gift-giving with this guide to gifts for the Star Wars lover.

This post contains affiliate links. That means that, when you make a purchase using these links, I make, at no extra cost to you, a small commission. See my disclosure policy for more information.

My husband has been a Star Wars fan for as long as I’ve known him. It’s pretty fun to watch his excitement over the new movies and, as a gift-giver, it’s awesome to see a resurgence in Star Wars-related merchandise. It’s a little overwhelming, though, too. You can buy everything Star Wars: from Easter eggs to toothpaste to chewing gum.

Sorry, you won’t find links to any of those products here. What you will find is a mix of useful and nostalgic gifts for the Star Wars lover in your life.

Gifts for the Star Wars Lover

He's hard to shop for, and all the options out there can be overwhelming. Take the guess work out of gift-giving with this guide to gifts for the Star Wars lover.

  1. Lightsaber Tongs, $30 | Is it not every Star Wars-loving dad’s dream to wield a lightsaber? Now he can, at the same time he’s manning the grill. Don’t stop there, though: outfit him with a Darth Vader apron, too.
  2. Millenium Falcon Graphic Tee, $13 | A distressed graphic tee with a subtle Star Wars reference is the perfect go-to gift for anyone who even remotely loves the franchise. Bonus: this red, white, and blue shirt means he’ll be ready for July Fourth, too. If this tee isn’t his style, Target has a whopping 31 other options to choose from.
  3. Darth Vader Tervis Tumbler, $18 | J owns no fewer than two Star Wars Tervis tumblers. We have three if you count G’s mini Storm Trooper that matches his Papa’s. Those things get used all the time, by everyone in the house. Your super fan should definitely own one, too. If Darth isn’t his thing, there are tons of other options.
  4. Trivial Pursuit DVD Star Wars, $75 | You can get Star Wars versions of pretty much all your favorite board games: Sorry, Operation, Monopoly. But if you really love your Star Wars fan, you’ll give him the chance to show off his extensive knowledge with a trivia game.
  5. Star Wars Glasses, $20 | Sure, it’s fun to see Star Wars mania perpetuated for another generation, but we all know the original movies will always be the best. These glasses are a fun throwback nod to the nostalgia of the movies we grew up watching.
  6. The Force Awakens, $17 | Duh, right? Any self-respecting fan already owns the first six movies, but maybe he hasn’t made time to buy the latest yet. If that’s the case, this gift should definitely happen.
  7. Star Wars Blueprint Tie, $24 | I’ve never worn a tie, so I can’t say for certain, but I’m thinking nothing makes wearing one bearable quite like knowing it features images from your all-time favorite movie franchise.
  8. The Force Awakens Boxers, $9 | For the first several years we were dating and married, I’d always give J a pair of boxers for holidays and special occasions. Somewhere along the line we both forgot about the tradition, but I’d say these boxers would be the perfect way to resurrect it.
  9. Star Wars Mural, $114 | Buying him Star Wars memorabilia that you then allow him to affix to your walls is pretty much the ultimate act of love. The good news is that it’s removable, but still, sorry J, you won’t be unwrapping this as a gift any time soon.
  10. Wood Wall Clock, $24 | This clock would be the perfect way for your fan to bring a little of his personality into his office or temporary work space. It’s cordless, which is convenient, and it has good reviews from people who’ve purchased it.

5 Frugal Ways to Show Love on Valentine’s Day

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February 14 doesn’t have to be a day of obligatory gifts and unmet expectations. Make the day special with these 5 frugal ways to show love on Valentine’s Day.

February 14 doesn't have to be a day of obligatory gifts and unmet expectations. Make the day special with these 5 frugal ways to show love on Valentine's Day.

Valentine’s Day is a polarizing holiday. On one side, you have Team “every day should be a celebration of love.” Those people argue that February 14, is a “Hallmark holiday”, a day manufactured by greeting card companies and chocolate makers to boost sales. They say that, if you really love someone, you’ll spend all 365 days each year showing it.

On the other side, you have Team “Valentine’s Day is a day for you to lavish me with all the presents I didn’t get at Christmas”. That team asserts that… well, I’m not sure what their reasoning is.

I fall somewhere in the middle. In no way do I think V-Day should consist only of the obligatory exchange of gifts. I also don’t think it’s necessary to skip the day altogether. I think that, like Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day should serve as a reminder to treasure the things and people we should be grateful for every day.

For those of us who want to find a way to our love to the special people in our lives without breaking the bank or giving into the commercialization of the holiday, I have 5 ideas to help you out!

Hop over to Money Saving Mom for the rest of the post!



February 14 doesn't have to be a day of obligatory gifts and unmet expectations. Make the day special with these 5 frugal ways to show love on Valentine's Day.

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Clementines

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Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

I’ve been having quite the love affair with Cuties lately. You know, the seedless, easy to peel clementines that are so popular this time of year?

I’m craving them like nobody’s business, eating at least four or five a day. Don’t get me wrong, I have zero complaints about craving something healthy and loaded with vitamin C. With previous pregnancies, I craved things like Burger King Whoppers and endless amounts of Juanita’s brand tortilla chips with my Granny’s homemade salsa.

That’s not to say I’m not craving anything unhealthy this time. I’ve got an unfilled hankering for some really good French fries, and I’ve been jonesing for some dark chocolate, which is where these guys come in.

It took just a few minutes for me to melt the chocolate, dip the little slices on, and sit back and admire my work. I sprinkled a few with sea salt and I added red or green sugar crystals to some others, because Christmas.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

Clementines are so bright and juicy; adding the swirl of dark chocolate gives you a perfect bite of flavor. These would be so great to whip up as a healthy treat for yourself, or to package and give away as a fun alternative- or addition- to traditional Christmas goodies.

If you’re not up for dipping (you should be; it’s totally easy) you could always drizzle the melted chocolate over the clementines. It would speed up an already quick process, and you could even use both white and brown chocolates. You wouldn’t get as much chocolate per bite, but they’d be healthier, your chocolate would stretch further, and they’d set up and be ready to serve or package quicker.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

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Homemade Christmas Gifts with Photos

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Homemade Christmas gifts are the perfect way to save money and add your own special touch to every present you give.

Homemade Christmas gifts are the perfect way to save money and add your own special touch to every present you give.

One of the best things about having children- aside from the unconditional love and the constant companionship and the general adorableness- is the endless gift-giving possibilities. You can get away with giving all kinds of presents that are unacceptable when you’re childless: crayon scribbles that will lovingly be referred to as art and photos that will be cherished for years.

While framed photos are nice, they’re also boring.  For just a little extra effort, you can create custom gifts that are both functional and sentimental. Because if there’s anything parents and grandparents love more than hanging photos of their grandkids on their walls, it’s covering every available surface with them.

Homemade Christmas gifts are the perfect way to save money and add your own special touch to every present you give.

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Father’s Day Gift Ideas

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A unique selection of Father’s Day gift ideas, perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for dad in your life.

 

A unique selection of Father's Day gift ideas, perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for dad in your life.

 

1. sandalwood shaving kit
Pampering isn’t just for women anymore. Give Dad the male equivalent of a bubble bath kit with this sandalwood -scented shaving kit.

If fancy oils and creams aren’t Dad’s thing, grab this Nivea aftershave– it’s my husband’s favorite.

2. team pride toolbox
Is Dad a handyman? Does Dad wish he was a handyman? Or does Dad just jump at any opportunity to represent his favorite team? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, a team logo toolbox might be just the gift you’re looking for.

If you’re buying for a dad who’s just starting his tool collection, this toolbox will help him get started.

3. darth vader shirt decal
Come on. Darth Vader? I am your father? Star Wars gear for Father’s Day is a no-brainer. This decal is an iron-on transfer, meaning you can put it on Dad’s favorite brand of t-shirt or sweatshirt.

If you’d like to buy something ready-made, this Star Wars Darth Vader t-shirt is my favorite.

4. periodic table “father” mug
Got a chemist in your life? J. teaches high school chemistry, so he appreciates all things periodic table. This mug is just the kind of thing a science nerd would appreciate.

For a dad who likes to cook or grill, this apron is an amusing choice.

5. grill branding iron
J. loves red meat. So does my dad. For a lot of guys, grilling is an art form. What better way to brag about your barbeque prowess than to stamp your steak with your initial?

If the dad in your life is a big sports fan, maybe a logo brand is more his style.

6. men’s messenger bag
Does your dad use a briefcase? Or does he still carry his old college backpack? Upgrade him to a hip messenger bag.

If you aren’t a fan of the Backcountry bag, this one from Fossil is a sharp-looking choice.

Don’t see anything that grabs you? A few months back, I wrote a post with Valentine’s Day gift ideas, many of which would make perfect Father’s Day presents, too.

Who is the most difficult dad in your life to shop for?

(note: this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)

how to make mom cry happy tears on mother’s day

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I conducted a poll on my Facebook page, asking my friends and followers what no- or low-cost gifts they would love to receive for Mother’s Day. The responses I received were creative and heart-warming, so I’m sharing my favorites here with you.

Mother's Day gift ideas that are so thoughtful, you'll have mom crying happy tears. Most of these ideas are inexpensive or even free.

1. Write her a letter

Most moms, even those whose children are grown, feel unappreciated at times. One of the friends who commented on my post suggested something so sweet and simple that I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it yet myself: a handwritten letter.

Your letter could discuss any number of things: favorite memories, special lessons learned, hopes or plans for the future. If you’re a parent yourself, you could mention all the ways your mom has influenced your own parenting. If you don’t have kids, consider telling her all of the best parts of your childhood that you plan to incorporate into your own family.

Bonus points: continue the handwritten letter theme with these placemats.

2. Create a photo book

Photo albums are so 1999. These days, it’s much more efficient and fun to create a photo book online. Use your digital photos, or scan your old prints, to create a book that you can customize with text and templates. My favorite site to create photo books is Shutterfly <– (this is a referral link, but if you use it, you get a free 8 x 8 book).

Bonus points: rally your siblings and do something wild, like recreate photos from your childhood.

3. Take care of something she hates

Maybe mom loves having a clean, detailed car, but she hates washing it herself. Perhaps she’s been dreaming of repainting a room, but hasn’t yet found the time and effort. Maybe mom constantly reminisces about a memorable meal, but she lacks the skill or equipment to recreate it.

To really make Mother’s Day special for your mom, think about the projects or goals she has and how you can help her reach them. Often, the tasks she needs or wants done require more time than money, so this is an especially good option if you’re short on cash.

Bonus points: create something with your own two hands.

4. Gather everyone together

If you have siblings that are spread far and wide, gather everyone together to celebrate mom. Even if it can’t happen right on Mother’s Day, having all of her kids in one place will definitely induce happy tears. Most moms of grown children would tell you the greatest gift you can give is to get all of her babies in one place.

Bonus points: get professional photos taken while everyone is together.

5. Make it Mother’s Week

I remember wondering, when I was a kid, why there was a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, but no Kid’s Day. I didn’t really get it when my mom replied that “every day is Kid’s Day”.

I definitely get it now. Moms are incredibly underappreciated, so this year, fake her out by turning what she thinks is a Mother’s Day celebration into a week’s worth of love. Get her seven gifts to open, or plan seven special meals. The work you put into a weeklong show of appreciation will tell mom just how grateful you are for her.

Bonus points: create a theme for the week and center every gift, meal, or act of service around that.

Need Mother’s Day recipe inspiration? Check out these simple and tasty brunch recipes.

What Mother’s Day gift make syour mom cry happy tears?

Mother's Day gift ideas that are so thoughtful, you'll have mom crying happy tears. Most of these ideas are inexpensive or even free.

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)