DIY Teacher Jean Jacket

I knew I wanted to do something special to celebrate the first year at my new school.  It felt like a big accomplishment to return to teaching after 11 years away.  I saw lots of ideas for dresses and aprons, but a jean jacket seemed like the best option for me.

I grabbed this jacket when Old Navy was having a big sale and bought all the paints/patches/supplies on Amazon to go with my school colors.  I tried to thrift a jean jacket, but they were all so stiff and not st stretchy.  Old Navy always comes through with soft, stretchy jean jackets.  Then one afternoon, I got my class list and worked my way through the list painting my student's little hands one at a time.

They thought it was so tickly and then I walked them right over to the sink to wash their colorful hand. 

Each student got to pick their paint color and hand print location.  I explained the project to the whole class and then we got busy stamping during brain break.  I let it dry on my back table.  Then I took it home to add the patches and the polka dots.

My students LOVED when I wore my teacher jacket.  I didn't add names or identifying details.  I just painted 2025 inside the jacket and will always remember my very first kindergarten class.  

It's the perfect jacket to wear on school spirit days or any teaching days, really.  I can't wait to wear it again this year and see my former students in the hall.

Another day, during brain break, I had my class make my assistant a personalized end of the year gift.  I found a big canvas bag on Amazon, used the same supplies from my jacket and helped them paint fingerprint hearts on one side of her bag.  She was a big crafter so she loved having a new craft bag from our class.

Teachers - you'll have to try to make something fun with your class this year!  I've seen dresses, head bands, aprons, skirts and jackets.  Find something that works for you and have your kids personalize it.

Back to School Favorties

Happy Friday!  We're ready for the weekend :)

I have some darling back to school favorites to share with you today.  Enjoy some teacher gift inspiration from my first two weeks back to school.

I never expect any gifts from my students so it's a big treat when they surprise me!  I was blown away by the creativity, cute tags and effort the parents put into their gifts.  The kids love to see me using/wearing/enjoying the gifts they give me.

This was my desk after back to school night!  It feels so sweet to be cared for so well.

Our team lead surprised our entire team with our own boxes of chocolates and treats to kick off the year with.  It was a yummy mix of teacher treats.

A sweet parent made us back to school cookies!

The cutest little girl brought me the sweetest tiny bouquet!  It stayed on my desk all week.

Another parent patined us personalized clipboards.  Isn't it darling!?

Going out to lunch with my team!  Chicken Salad Chick always sounds good to me.

Another cute student brought me this basket of apple cookies.

A teacher friend gave out fresh nail polish to start off the year.  Won't this color be pretty this fall?

I have this card hanging up by my desk.  I loved the message and sweet note inside.  Teacher gifts don't have to be expensive - a thoughtful note or email really goes a long way!

This family read my favorite list and surprised me with my favorite cookies.

This cookie on a stick was huge.  And so yummy!

We had lots of highlights this week, but it was fun to document all the teacher favorites :)  Have a great weekend!  See you back here next week!

Teacher Gift Ideas

Tis the season of teacher gifts!  Our school had their own teacher appreciation week.  Then it was national teacher appreciation week and the end of the year is quickly approaching.

I have gotten some really thoughtful gifts that I thought would make great teacher gifts for others.  And you could easily make them work for any budget.

1. A local bakery was offering personalized cookies sets.  So cute and so yummy!

2. A new cup that you know they'll love.  Maybe their favorite color or one ot match their classroom theme - smiley faces!  My kids get so excited when I drink out of the cups that they have given me.

3. Nothing Bundt Cake put together cute teacher cakes to gift.  My student grabbed my favorite flavor and added a gift card to a favorite local restaurant.  The mini bundts are such a yummy treat all by themselves and you can easily add on a gift card if it works for your budget.

4. This is especially true in elementary school, match your gift to the classroom theme.  Our team has four different themes - cactus, farm, woodland creatures and smiley faces.  I know we'd all enjoy getting gifts that match our vibes.  We have other class themes like Snoopy, jungle, a favorite team or a coffee shop.

5. An umbrella and local chocolates.  This gift came with a note that said Thank you for showering my child with love and learning this year.  The umbrella has smiley faces on it and the variety box of chocolates from a local chocolate shop is such a treat!  How clever and cute!

Look at this darling teacher assortment!  I love trying all the different flavors.

6. A plant!  Look at this pretty pot and pretty plant.  I'm excited to find the perfect spot for it at my house.

Each of these gifts came with the nicest notes and I think I appreciate those the most.  It just is so rewarding to hear about how you have impacted children and to hear about their favorite things about being in your class.  So no matter what your end of the year budget looks like, EVERYONE can send a thank you note or thank you email to your child's favorite teacher(s).  It will make their day!

Friday Faves

Happy Friday!  Our week was packed with lots of fun things.  We have 9 days of school left and a busy calendar for the rest of the month.  We were surprised to see a new Pope Leo since we have a Leo, hosted parties and enjoyed time at home this week.

Here are my favorite moments of the week:

1. We had big plans for an end of the year picnic with Kevin's department.  Then a huge storm rolled through.  There was lightning, flash flooding, cancelled plans, uncancelled plans, almost getting stuck on a flash flooded road (terrifying!!) and lots of pivoting.  We were bummed that it ended up being a challenging night, but shortly after we came home there was a giant neon rainbow in our backyard.  So even though the night didn't go as planned, we made the most of it.

A double rainbow!

2. Surprise strawberry party!  Olive learned that one of her good friends wasn't going to be able to have a birthday party this year because of some difficult life circumstances.  Her friend group got together and threw her a surprise party.  We are always happy to host.  It was fun to help her pull it all together.

Olive's cutest Canva invitation.  We texted it out to the girls and their moms and then just told the guest of honor that it was a regular sleepover.

Olive told me I've become famous for making candy salads for her friends.  Yay!  We had all kinds of yummy gummies to mix and spoon out into treat bags for all the girls.

Give me any excuse to use my vintage strawberry cookie jar!

The girls arrived early and planned a scavenger hunt for the birthday girl to find her gifts. I forgot how much excitement is involved when you plan a surprise party.

I rushed home from work to make some dessert.  Then we kept it super simple and ordered pizzas for dinner.

The hit of the night was the portable volleyball net.  The girls played for hours thanks to Kevin helping keep the games going.

I woke up early to make sure they had a yummy breakfast before they left.

3. I transplanted these cute flowers from Kevin's grandma's house last year and they have come back in full force this year!  I smile every time I see these sweet purple blooms.

4. I forgot it was stuffed animal day for Leo and was able to run a stuffed animal over to his school just in time for library.  I can't always fix things that I forget for the kids so when I do it feels great.  The kids had foam parties, pizza parties, fundraisers, signs ups and more.  It is so much to manage this time of year.

5. Olive has an amazing art teacher.  She brought home her 3D art projects this week.  They turned out so cute!

6. Fletch found me a giant 4 leaf clover in the backyard.

7. Kindergarten art is the cutest.

8. Leo + Penny is a close second.

9. I finally figured out why I'm finding dirt scattered all around the kitchen.  Bad Mr. Mittens!

10.  I got some of the sweetest teacher appreciation gifts this week!

11. It was a busy baking week making hundreds of cookies.  I love getting to bake for friends, Fletcher's class, events and baby showers.

12. Fletcher's water color art is on display at school right now!

13. Nothing Bundt Cake is always a good idea.  Especially lemon, with a gift card and a sweet note of appreciation.

14. The big kids say that they refresher drinks from Starbucks - strawberry & blackberry - are both delicious!

I hope you have a really wonderful Mother's Day weekend!  We have a packed weekend.  See you back here on Monday.  Linking up with Momfessionals