gratitude Archives - teach mama

host a FUNdraiser for schools or non-profits at Chuck E. Cheese’s: 3 reasons to do it

01 | 18 | 2016

Host a fundraiser for schools or non-profits at Chuck E. Cheese’s? I mean. Fundraisers are often difficult. Laborious. So time consuming.

Did I really want to try this?

I have to be honest.

When I was asked to take a look at hosting fundraisers at Chuck E. Cheese’s, I hesitated. I stared at my computer screen. I sighed.

Sure, my kids loved Chuck E. Cheese’s when they were younger, but they were older now–12, 10, and almost 9 years old.

Hadn’t they outgrown the place? Hadn’t I put in my time? Weren’t we past this stage? Wouldn’t my readers be turned off by mention of Chuck E. Cheese’s?

And then in that same few minutes, a new email popped into my inbox.

Join Our Team was the subject line.

I clicked.

The email read:

Hello to My Friends and Family,

I hope this email finds you all healthy and happy. We are starting earlier this year to raise money for Relay for Life and Randi’s Tough Guys. Last year we raised $17,000 and we are trying to raise even more money this year. All of the proceeds go towards finding a cure for cancer. Please consider a donation to our Relay Team during this holiday season. We hope you can join our team either in person or in spirit. The race this year is on Sat June 4th. I attached a picture of all of us from last year.

I hope you all enjoy your holidays.

Click Here for Our Team Page

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY16SA?px=38961347&pg=personal&fr_id=70906

I took it as a sign.

Of course I would take a look at hosting a fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese.

And all of the money we earned would go to my pal Ilene’s Relay for Life team which honored her twin sister, Randi. Randi was a totally awesome gal and mom of two little boys who was taken way too soon.

If Ilene and the Randi’s Tough Guys team was game, I was game.

She was and they were, so I was.

And from there, I had a firsthand chance to experience just how easy hosting a FUNdraiser at Chuck E. Cheese’s was. And I had a chance to see how fun, how easy, and how worthwhile this fundraiser would be.

I’m anxious to share, because I truly think if more people knew about it, more people would host them.

And more schools would make money and more non-profits would make money and more kids and families would have fun at Chuck E. Cheese’s.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Host an FUNdraiser for Schools or Non-profits at Chuck E. Cheese’s: 3 Reasons To Do It:

The quick facts you need to know:

Chuck E. Cheese’s has donated almost 13 million dollars to schools and non-profits through their fundraising events. That’s a lot. I had no idea.
15% of all sales generated by friends and family members participating in the fundraiser will be donated to your school or cause.
You get posters and flyers to promote the event.
Chuck E. will actually visit your school on the day of the event if you want him to. (Kids, I’m sure, would LOVE this.)\
Teachers in attendance get a free meal. Yay!

Now, here’s why you should check this out for yourself. The three reasons to do it.

reason #1: FUNdraisers at Chuck E. Cheese’s are just that– fun.

Kids have fun at Chuck E. Cheese’s, they really do.

My kids were over the moon thrilled when I told them what we were doing and why, and they had a blast.

Not only does Chuck E. Cheese’s have activities for the little guys and bigger guys, but one thing that the parents in our group talked about was that it was really a good chance to catch up with adult friends as well. Our Friday night FUNdraiser was really, truly fun.

We could eat dinner with our families.

We could play games with the kids.

We could chat with our friends.

We could relax, knowing our kids were in a safe environment.

Even those families with special dietary needs were happy. A gluten-free pizza arrived at the table in a sealed bag, with its own, brand-new pizza cutter. I’d say that’s pretty cool for those with celiac’s.

And the new menu? Friends. There’s a ton more to Chuck E. Cheese’s than pizza. They’ve come a pretty long way.

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reason #2: FUNdraisers at Chuck E. Cheese’s makes hosting FUNdraisers super easy.

Super, super easy.

Here’s what you do:

Visit the Chuck E. Cheese’s site and go to Birthdays & Events.
Click on FUNdraising Events.
If you are thinking about hosting a FUNdraising event for your school, click ‘School‘. If you are hosting a FUNdraiser for a non-profit, click ‘Non-Profit’.
Then fill out the online interest form and wait for someone to give you a call, or you can call 1-888-CEC-4FUN
You need to plan at least three weeks in advance for events, so plan accordingly. All FUNdraising events can be held Monday – Friday, 3-9pm.
After someone calls you to confirm your event date and time, you can print out the promotional forms–both in English or Spanish–that they provided. You can create invitations using Punchbowl, or you can make your own.
Then, show up at the event, have fun, and receive your check 14 business days after the event.

We made these little favors for our attendees — a little printout, a lollipop, and a few tickets — which took no time at all!

But you really don’t have to do much to promote your event. Chuck E. Cheese’s provides flyers and posters and graphic templates to use to customize your own.

We invited friends and family via an online invitation, and we promoted simply by:

sharing the invite link on Facebook;
sending individual emails to friends;
chatting up the event at the bus stop;
talking about the event with pals when we ran into them;
sending evite reminders closer to the event date.

It worked! We had more than enough people show up, and everyone had fun!

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reason #3: FUNdraisers at Chuck E. Cheese’s will make money for your school or cause.

Bottom line, many of us are in situations where our schools or a non-profit close to our hearts need money.

Our schools need money for books, for arts programs, for field trips, and more. And our non-profits need money to fund research, promotion, campaigns, and staff.

And most fundraisers that I know are either pretty boring or require buying tons of items that we don’t really need.

The way I look at it, if we can make money for our schools and non-profits while we’re having fun with our friends and family, it’s a serious win.

We just held our event last week, so we have yet to receive the check, but with the turnout and amount of pizza-eating and game-playing I saw, I’m convinced we made a good chunk of money. It’ll take about 14

I’ll definitely update as soon as I know.

15% of the profits from food, drinks, games, and tokens for a night full o’ family fun? And all for a good cause?

Awesome no matter how much we earned.

I’m betting we made Randi smile big just knowing friends and family were coming together in a place that kids love–all for her.

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a few helpful hints. . .

before you go:

Join the Chuck E. Club. [main site -> Deals & Offers -> Chuck E. Club] You’ll have access to coupons and more.

Let your kids earn tickets. [main site -> Kid’s Corner -> Games -> Skee-ball] Kids can play the games and then earn tickets to bring and use for prizes!

Print out some coupons. [main site -> Deals & Offers -> Store Coupons] If you don’t have time to sign up for the Chuck E. Club, these coupons are better deals than you’ll be able to grab at the store.

Make your kids earn some tokens. [main site -> Deals & Offers -> Rewards Calendars -> Calendars OR Awards & Rewards] You guys. These are awesome. You can download and print out calendars where you keep track of children’s good behavior or award certificates for accomplishments. When kids bring them to Chuck E. Cheese’s, they will receive 10 free tokens. So. Cool.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese’s. The opinions and text are all mine.

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advent activity calendar for kids and family: 2015

11 | 29 | 2015

We do this every advent season.

And the kids love it.

I actually contemplated switching things this year–finding another advent activity calendar that would get our family into the holiday spirit, but I decided against it.

Because in this quickly-changing world, sometimes I think it’s nice to keep things consistent.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Advent Activity Calendar for Kids and Family–2015:

I print out a copy of the calendar to keep on hand for myself, and then I cut each of the squares out of the calendar and place them in our felt Christmas tree–something I picked up at the store years ago but something that you can find just about anywhere.

(Check the bottom of the post for some ideas!)

You could make your own or do what several of my friends have done. They’ve cut apart the squares of each calendar day and

put each square in a numbered envelope that their children decorate;
wrapped each in a tiny box that kiddos can unwrap each day;
hidden the square under a place mat at breakfast;
taped the square on the bathroom mirror;
used the chocolate Advent calendar and stuck the squares in each of the windows so kids get chocolate and an activity.

Either way, here’s the calendar to download either as we have it here, or feel free to adjust as you see fit:

Advent Activity Calendar, download as a pdf here: advent activity calendar 2015

Advent Activity Calendar, download as a word doc here: advent activity calendar 2015

Please, if you choose to share, link to this post instead of the calendar attachment! Thank you!

Need a few more great holiday ideas?

Here are our 2015 gift guides:

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Want a few more holiday-inspired gift ideas or activities?

Click on the images below:

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Follow amy mascott @teachmama’s board christmas ideas for kids and family on Pinterest.

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. This small percentage of money helps offset the costs of hosting this blog, which helps me keep this content free for you. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.

the only black friday deals you need for kids and family

11 | 26 | 2015

Friends.

I’m not sure if you’re a wild and crazy Black Friday shopper or not, but in case you are, happy holidays!

Here are a few biggie sales that I’m taking advantage of and that you could, too, so that you are less stressed, closer to being finished with your gift-buying, and securing some pretty decent deals this holiday.

Just a few.

A few deals that will help you and will help me.

Bam.

Here’s the skinny. . .

The ONLY Black Friday Deals You Need for Kids and Families:

These are the only deals you really need to grab.

So grab them, and then eat all the turkey leftovers your little heart desires.

For kids:

Kiwi Crate, Kiwi Crate Black Friday Offer

LOOK at the deals I just scored:

Little Passports, Little Passports USA Edition: 1 year at $10.95/month

Little Passports, Little Passports World Edition: 1 year at $10.95/month

ISeeMe.com, Buy 3 Save $15 and get FREE SHIPPING! Use Code BUY3

ISeeMe.com, Black Friday Offers – Buy 2 Save $10. Use code BUY2

ISeeMe.com, Black Friday Offers – Buy 1 Save $5. Use code BUY1

The Land of Nod, Nod Chair: Originally $129 Now Only $99

The Land of Nod, Save $56 on The Land of Nod’s High Kids Adjustable Activity Table with Bins and Paper Roller!

The Land of Nod, design for kids and people that used to be kids

For tweens:

Zazzle, Up to 60% off on Zazzle.com – Use Code: ZWEEKOFDEALS

Customize iPhone cases, puzzles, bags, totes, waterbottles, and more.

For you (or me):

Craftsy, Pre-Black Friday Sale: Enjoy Big Savings on Yarn, Fabric & Kits

thread art online quilting class at craftsy.com

Love With Food, Black Friday Sale

‘

Mod Cloth, NEW arrivals at 50% off!

For fun:

Fanatics, Happy Fans-Giving Sale – 25% off plus free shipping on orders over $50

Huge Black Friday Savings at Fanatics.com

Cents of Style, Colored Tights $7.98 – 2 Pack Tights $5.58 & FREE SHIPPING

Do you subscribe to teachmama.com via email or newsletter?

You should! Often we do have fun perks for our subscribers like free printables and goodies.

This month? We’re trying something different: an only-for-teachmama.com-readers curated page full of super-special holiday deals page.

NO joke. Subscribe. Because I love ya. Subscribe to teachmama.com now

Want a few more holiday-inspired gift ideas or activities? Check out:

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.

syrian refugees: what families can and should do NOW

09 | 08 | 2015

What is happening in our world right now with Syrian refugees is insanity.

Absolute insanity.

Heartbreaking.

Awful.

Sad and infuriating.

Have you been following it? If you haven’t, you should.

Have you talked to your kids about it? If you haven’t, you should.

Just remember that a lot of the images are really, really disturbing.

Maddy, Owen, Cora, and I were talking about what is going on just recently, and I’ll tell you how we handled it.

It wasn’t easy. It’s a tough topic, and it’s a confusing topic. And honestly, I didn’t quite understand it all myself. But we learned. We watched. We read. We cried.

And we decided we were going to do something.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Syrian Refugees–What FAMILIES Can And Should Do NOW:

First of all, before you do anything with your kids, you need to do your homework.

Learn a little.

Visit MercyCorps for everything you need to know about the crisis.
Visit A Holy Experience for even more information about what’s happening.
Read about the Future of Syria which is full of information from the UN Refugee Society.
Visit this Wall Street Journal article for information about Aylan and his family.

——————————————

Then involve your children.

My kids were speechless and moved to tears when they saw that infamous photo of sweet Aylan, the boy who drowned off the Turkish coast.

If you think your children are at an age where they can handle this heart-wrenching photo, then let them see it.

Tell them that in another part of the world, far from where you live, life is very difficult. Check out this video which gives a bit of background on the situation in Syria and let them watch it with you:

Stop the video every few minutes to pause.

Ask:

What questions do you have?
What are you thinking?
Can I clarify anything?
What did you hear him say?
How are you feeling?
Have you heard this information before?
What does this remind you of?

It’s okay to admit that you, as the parent, do not have all of the answers and that you’re learning as you go. That you do not understand it all, either.

——————————————

Remember that it’s one thing to hear facts and figures and another to hear personal stories.

In fact, one thing I remember learning at the AYA Summit last year was that people are more likely to remember the personal over facts and figures. It’s the personal stories that resonate. What people remember.

Check out these personal stories:

The Washington Post has an incredible close-up of 18 refugees
Six Syrian Refugees: close-up on what has been the hardest part of the journey
Get to know several Syrian children who want to go to school
Zienab’s story
What it’s like to grow up as a refugee
Let them see what the refugees need

It’s hard, right? So hard to see and even imagine as a parent.

——————————————

So here’s what your family can do NOW.

Here’s what we’re doing now.

Though there are a million other things you can do, this is what we’re doing because this is what ‘fits’ for us:

We’re making things. Like lemonade and pompom pets. And we’re sending the proceeds to the Karam Foundation. We will start by raising $175 to send a Syrian child to school through the #Innovate2Educate “Learn Not Earn” program. The “Learn Not Earn” program sponsors a family so that the child can go to school instead of work.

We’re selling things we don’t need. We’re using GivingWorks on eBay. And we’re making Karam Foundation our charity.

We’re collecting things. Like stuffed animals, blankets, toys, shoes, books (Farsi, Arabic, & Greek are requested but we don’t have these), and warm clothing for “childhood bags” and sending them to: Melinda McCostie, The Captain’s Table, Molyvos, 81108, Lesbos, Greece

We’re signing things. Petitions that will put an end to barrel bombs and to resettle refugees in the US.

We’re trying new things. We’re going to learn how to help refugees and people new to the US at our local resettlement office. I’m not sure what it will involve, but our home is big and our hearts are open. We’ll see what they need and see how we can help.

So now what? What is your next move?

It’s overwhelming and disturbing and sad and unbelievable. But now it’s time to do something.

Let me know what you decide. I am no expert, and like I said, I’m learning as I go here. This is just what we found in a sea of ideas and suggestions from others. My mind is open. Let me know what you think.

Share in the comments below. Share this post with your friends.

Friends, it’s time to get moving and teach our children along the way.

Check out a few other posts that may help you develop strong and healthy habits for your family:

Or follow these two cool pinterest boards:

raising girls who rock the world

Follow amy mascott @teachmama’s board raising girls who rock the world on Pinterest.

raising boys who rock the world
Follow amy mascott @teachmama’s board raising boys who rock the world on Pinterest.

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teaching kids to say ‘thank you’ to everyday heroes

05 | 14 | 2015

Too often those important people who do everyday jobs are forgotten.

Even though they work hard to make our days brighter and lives easier, many times days go by when they don’t get ample thanks. And they deserve it.

So our focus this week is to to just that–thank our everyday heroes.

We’re teaching our kids as frequently as we are able to say ‘thank you’ to the people who work hard every day, around them.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Teaching Kids to Say ‘Thank You’ to Everyday Heroes:

Much like we did with our Surprise Notes for the Neighbors way back when, our Thank You Notes for Everyday Heroes will be the same: quick, easy cards of thanks.

Just simple tokens of gratitude for the people who do jobs all around us: the postal carrier, the delivery person, the newspaper deliverer, and the folks who work at our bank, dry cleaner, gas station, and grocery store.

Even though our teachers get recognized with Teacher Appreciation Week, our everyday heroes rarely get any regular thanks.

This is just one way that we, as parents, will do what we can to teach our kids workforce appreciation.

It’s simple. But it’s really powerful. Really!

The Thank You Notes for Everyday Heroes are here:

You can download the pdf here: thank you brighten day notes _ teachmama.com

(Please, if you choose to share this–and we hope you do!–please link to this post instead of the attachment page. Thank you!)

We will simply put these cards in a small plastic bag, sign them with a smiley face and a first name, and hand them out as we need them. Keeping them in the car may be the best way to do it!

Here are a few ways to get started thinking about our everyday heroes:

Check out the “1 in one hundred million” site–it’s a site created by Kronos that’s devoted to sharing the personal stories of people who do the many important and too-often unrecognized jobs upon which we all rely.

In these videos, ordinary people in the workforce share their stories. It’s a great resource to be used as a starting point for your kids.

Or depending on where in the world you live, the videos and resources may really give your kids a more clear sense of what kind of jobs are out there.

Each month “1 in one hundred million” site releases a new video profiling a person’s story. They’ve covered a firefighter, a trauma nurse, a produce manager at grocery store, a union electrician, a hotel front desk agent, a restaurant server, a teacher, and a baseball bat maker, who was a former MLB pitcher.

Want a bit more about how to teach kids workforce appreciation?

Check out:

fyi: This post was written as part of a partnership with Find Your Influence, and as always, ideas and opinions are all my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator. Find out more at 1 in one hundred million. Subscribe so you don’t miss any of their videos and follow #WorkforceStories and #1in100MM!

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teach kids workforce appreciation: celebrating those who make our day brighter

04 | 13 | 2015

We have always taught our kids to be thankful for each and every person who makes our day a little brighter.

And those people include family and friends, neighbors and teachers, but it also includes our newspaper deliverer, and the grocery cashier. Our dry cleaner and mail carrier and the folks who take away our recyclables and trash.

We could be pretty cranky if we had to cut the grass at our favorite playground, so we are thankful for the people who manage the grounds.

We’d be miserable if we had to cut Brady’s fur, but thanks to our groomer, we don’t have to.

When our garage door breaks? Thankfully, we have someone to call. If we need help adding a new light fixture? The electrician can come lend a hand.

All of these people help to make our day brighter.

All of these people are part of our workforce and deserve to be celebrated.

And it’s really something that needs to be explicitly taught–or modeled–to our children. Three easy ways, friends.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Teach Kids Workforce Appreciation–Celebrating Those Who Make Our Day Brighter:

Here are three easy ways that parents can help instill an appreciation for all those in the workforce:

1. Model gratitude and thanks for those in the workforce.

This is super simple: say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to those people who help you at checkout lines, who support you on the phone, who greet you as you walk into stores, and who perform service-related tasks.

So often I see people forgetting this simple act of kindness, acting as if the work that these folks do is not as important as it is.

Hopefully, we can change that by modeling gratitude.

2. Teach children about all jobs so that they know how hard others work.

When we know better, we do better, right? Take time to really teach kids about all different types of jobs so that they learn how valued each and every job really is.

This, too, is easier than you think.

Check out the “1 in one hundred million” site–it’s a site devoted to sharing the personal stories of people who do the many important and too-often unrecognized jobs upon which we all rely. Here, ordinary people in the workforce share their story.

I love it.

Created by Kronos, each month “1 in one hundred million” site releases a new video profiling a person’s story. They’ve covered a firefighter, a trauma nurse, a produce manager at grocery store, a union electrician, a hotel front desk agent, a restaurant server, a teacher, and a baseball bat maker, who was a former MLB pitcher.

I love that this series profiles just one of the one hundred million, often under-appreciated, people in the workforce. Hopefully this series will help everyone to better appreciate those people who often make our day brighter.

Find out more about this cool campaign here: 1in100million.com | #1in100MM | #WorkforceStories

3. Take some local, behind-the-scenes field trips.

I know this option isn’t always an option depending on where you live, but this is one of my kids’ fondest memories of growing up: take local field trips.

For years I wrote about how we took ‘behind the scenes’ tours of our local pizza place, fire station, flower shop, and recycling center. We visited so many places with our moms’ group that I truly believe it helped show my kids how important our community members really were.

Often, all you need to do is give the business a quick call beforehand, and the people there are more than excited to show a family around. Try it.

How do you help to show your kids that everyone in the workforce deserves to be appreciated? I’d love to hear it!

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finding time for what you love: The Fringe Hours

02 | 19 | 2015

It’s funny how things work out sometimes.

When I first started this blog seven years ago, I was creating, photographing, writing, and coding in the ‘fringe hours’ of my days.

All day long I was grateful to be with Maddy, Owen, and Cora, hanging out, playing, learning, and doing our thing, but when naptime came, I blogged.

When the kids went to bed, I blogged.

When I had a spare moment to myself, I blogged.

I was proud of the resource I was creating (I still am!), I was in love with the friends I was making (totally still am!), and I was in awe of the community I was building (you better believe I still am!).

But as my babies went off to school and my blog became my full-time job, things started to shift.

It was a natural shift, but a shift nonetheless.

Thank goodness for my dear friend Jessica Turner and a book she just published: The Fringe Hours– Making Time for You.

I love it, and I know you will, too.

I love it because it has helped me to rediscover–to reclaim–my fringe hours and to give myself a little more care.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Finding Time for What You Love–‘The Fringe Hours’:

The shift for me happened when writing and blogging stopped being a hobby and started being work.

Once I had to sit down and write, to meet deadlines, to organize finances, and to plan activities, I felt less ‘free’ blogging and instead felt more tied down, cranky, and frustrated.

‘Life isn’t perfect. It’s busy and messy. But living with intention and commitment to our well-being is a necessity.’ – @jessicanturner in The Fringe Hours Finding my fringe hour to take in this AMAZING book at the gym this morning. I have been looking forward to this ME time, and I totally need it. Friends. What are YOU doing for YOU today? #livefocused #FringeHours #love #healthy #happy

A photo posted by amy mascott (@teachmama1) on Jan 17, 2015 at 6:34am PST

I was always busy! Always.

Still, my fringe hours were spent blogging, but like anyone whose hobbies are put on the backburner for work, I felt. . . blue.

I needed to find time to do the things I loved: running, cooking, yoga, reading.

Over time, I have figured out a bit of a solution, but I always need reminders. I always need new ideas and new solutions to the age old problem: making time for me.

Why you need The Fringe Hours

I have waited for this book to be released ever since I learned that Jessica was writing it.

Having known Jessica for years, I always wanted to learn her ‘secret’ for being able to do it all. She works full-time. She has three kids (one is a newborn!). She runs a rockstar blog. She scrapbooks. She reads. She hangs out with her friends.

How did she do it all?

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You.

And? This book has not let me down.

Divided into four parts– Explore, Discover, Maximize, & Live Well–each section is filled with actual tangible ideas for living a fuller life and making more time for me. But it’s not about reaching toward a goal of living a self-serving life; rather, the idea is that by making time for ME, I am able to be a better wife, mother, sister, and friend.

It’s true.

It’s a liberating and exciting book that, with each turn of the page, hit me with bits of information that I really needed to hear. I realized that I am a tried and true ‘wasteful multi-tasker’, often engaging in two tasks at once that both require mental energy. For real. It’s not good, friends.

As soon as I read it, I realized that though I thought I was helping myself by fitting more into my day, I was actually creating more stress to an already packed and sometimes stressful life.

Now?

I’m all about being fully present.

I’m more inclined now to make time for what is important for me because doing so leads to ‘greater joy and peace’.

I have learned to be more efficient with my time.

I have learned to let go of a lot and to shift my perspective.

I have printed out The Fringe Hours Manifesto and have it taped to my bathroom mirror–it’s that full of truth for me.

This whole book is aligned with what we’re doing in our #livefocused in 2015 push, and I’m thrilled.

I’m thrilled because no matter how you look at it or why you begin, shouldn’t it be our goal to live each day more deliberately, with more focus and intention?

This book is a quick and easy read, and I’m sure that by the time you finish, you’ll find at least a dozen small ways that you can purposefully incorporate a little more ‘me time’ into your day.

And the great thing, my friends, is that you will do so without an ounce of guilt, thanks to Jessica.

Check out the book.

Check out some of the cool products that DaySpring is selling which in combination with The Fringe Hours, make a really beautiful and thoughtful gift for a friend, a sister, a mother–anyone.

I particularly love the The Fringe Hours Postcards and The Fringe Hours Notebooks. Both are super sweet.

Many thanks, Jessica, for your hard work on this project, and thank you, friends, for making some time for YOU this year!

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new year’s family plan: 100 good deeds

12 | 30 | 2014

I’ve long stopped creating New Year’s Resolutions because, well, they always seem to be broken.

Instead, we, as a family, try to make some positive changes at the beginning of each year.

We use the time to get refocused.

We use the time to check in with each other.

We use the time to start some healthier routines.

Not always easy–this I know.

This year, we’re all starting the 100 Good Deeds plan.

As a family.

And it’s a pretty cool way of kicking off the New Year.

Join us.

Here’s the skinny. . .

New Year’s Family Plan–100 Good Deeds:

We’re not alone in our 100 Good Deeds Plan; in fact, we’re part of a huger than huge campaign geared toward making some positive change.

The premise is that the wearer of the bracelet does good deeds–just put more good into the world.

The Rules of the Game?

A ‘good deed’ means you’ve gone out of our way to help someone, and it only counts if the deed remains anonymous.

Each time you do a good deed, you move the rubber ring one bead closer toward the 1GD button.

The 100 Good Deeds Bracelet was created by Mary Fisher – artist, author, advocate – who spent a decade partnering with at-risk women in Africa and around the world, designing jewelry made by the women to earn a dignified livelihood.

Fisher, a leader in global social change, launched The 100 Good Deeds Bracelet, a handcrafted collection that symbolizes a commitment to perform good deeds and bring about positive change in the world.

Fisher says,“The motivation behind The 100 Good Deeds Bracelet collection is to inspire simple acts of kindness around the world.

Each bracelet is a reminder to spread positive change through action and fulfill our mission to Do Good, One Deed, One Bead, One Act of Kindness at a Time.”

I LOVE this.

Don’t you?

Want to grab your own 100 Good Deeds bracelet? Yes you do.

Check it out: 100 Good Deeds site

And please remember, to join the #DeedADay movement, share one of these images on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest using hashtag #DeedADay and tagging the 100 Good Deeds Bracelet. That’s it.

These Bracelets are made by vulnerable women who’ve been trained for this work in Uganda, India, Indonesia, Zambia, South Africa, Rwanda, IniInand Haiti. This project gives a women a way to support their families through earnings, while empowering them to also contribute to good deeds around the world.

Join me.

Actually, have your whole family join us–and together, we’ll make some serious change.

Join the movement. Buy your bracelet. Make #DeedADay your plan for the year.

Imagine the example we’ll be setting for our kids!

fyi: I was gifted this 100 Good Deeds bracelet to review and share with my readers. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator.

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holiday traditions that make our family rock: what matters most

12 | 22 | 2014

One of my favorite parts of being a parent is establishing and celebrating traditions as a family.

And it’s funny because some things that we never really even intended to become traditions have become just that–expected, every year events that my kids eagerly anticipate.

Though I’ve written about them here and there over the years, this year I’m dragging them all out.

Each and every one of our holiday traditions.

All of the holiday traditions that make our family rock.

Or at least we think so.

These are traditions that make our family the unique and awesome and completely imperfect group that we are.

Because when it comes down to it, it’s all about what matters most, right?

Here’s the skinny. . .

Holiday Traditions that Make Our Family Rock–What Matters Most:

For us, it’s family time.

Time spent together, doing things that often don’t cost much money at all.

Our holiday traditions are pretty awesome:

Advent Activity Calendar: We do this every year, and it becomes the map for our December full of fun and tradition.

Breakfast with Santa: At our church each season, we have a chance to throw back some seriously awesome pancakes and sausage, chat with friends, and support our parish.

Find the pickle ornament: The ole pickle hides in our tree every year, and the first kid who finds it gets a ‘special’ gift.

Kissing reindeer hunt: Part of our Advent Activity Calendar, the kissing reindeer hunt is always a fave of my kids.

Cookie-baking day: Maddy, Owen, Cora, and I take a break from life and spend the entire day–start to finish–baking, baking, and baking!

Make candy wreaths for schools: Our school and my husband’s school always loves this gift that we try to deliver early in the month so that there’s time to eat it! Though by the end, everyone’s fingers are way tired of tying, it’s always a really fun family project.

Give shoebox gifts to less fortunate: Our local homeless shelter and church manage this event, which involves us filling shoeboxes with items for those less fortunate. We have organized events with our pals to make preparing, filling, and wrapping these boxes more fun and meaningful.

Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve: Each and every Christmas Eve, the kids get one present to open, and they always know what it will be: new pajamas.

Empty Give Jars for needy: Though we’re admittedly not as great with our Spend, Save, and Give Jars as I’d like, the kids do tend to keep a small amount in their Give Jar. We empty the contents in December and give it to a Salvation Army Collection point, near a local grocery store.

Homemade ornaments for family: We not only love unwrapping our homemade ornies each year, but we also really love giving our homemade ornies to friends and family.

Family photo album: The kids know that each year they’ll find one fun photo album under the tree. It’s my personal deadline, and I’ve really brought it down to a science, the whole creating of the family photo books. It’s a lot easier than you think to make these, and the payoff? Huge.

Look at holiday lights: Usually when the kids least expect it, we’ll have them throw on their shoes (maybe even over pjs!), jump in the car, and take a gander around our ‘hood, in search of the most beautiful holiday light display.

Holiday cards on kitchen door: We send a ton of holiday cards, and we are truly grateful to receive a ton of holiday cards. As we receive the cards, we tape them to the kitchen door. We all love it–as the season progresses, our door becomes filled with our friends’ and family members’ smiling faces.

Ugly Breakfast on Christmas morning: Ugly Breakfast is called so because the kids think it’s ugly. And it is. But it tastes oh. So. Delicious. More like a French Toast bake, it may be ugly, but man, it’s sinful.

Holiday card family assembly line: We do all of our holiday cards–well over 100–in one night. We have the family assembly line down to a science. One person adds address labels, another person stuffs envelopes. Another person adds stamps, another person adds the return address stamp, and the final person seals the envelope. Bam. There’s no actual handwriting. Don’t judge.

Holiday movies and hot cocoa: Our favorite way to spend an evening in December: Elf, Home Alone, or another holiday favorite and mugs of hot cocoa. Okay, or ice cream. Anything will do as long as it’s sweet.

Santa cookie tray and plate: Before the kid go up to bed, they put cookies on our Santa plate and Santa tray for the jolly ole guy. The we go grab our book.

Read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve: We have several versions of this book, as well as a reading of it from my parents. We read through them all, savoring each and every word. We listen to my crazy fun parents read their version, and then it’s off to bed!

Wrap gifts and watch Love Actually with my sweetheart: One–or two–or three nights before Christmas, my husband and I turn on one of our favorite holiday films and wrap gifts until we can no longer stand to keep our eyes open or see another piece of tape and curling ribbon. Yes, there are a boatload of holiday movies, but this is our absolute fave.

Have kids participate in the Gospel Drama for our church: We’ve gone from the sheep in the wandering flock to angels to shepherds to Angel Gabriel over the years, and each year is better than the next.

New Year’s traditions I’ve talked about before:

Bingo bonanza: Bingo every New Year’s Eve, and it must involve tons of tiny, inexpensive wrapped gifts for winners. Start saving scraps of wrapping paper because it’s great to use for Bingo Bonanza gifts!

New Year’s Family Interview: Love this. Simple, quick, and a fun snapshot into everyone’s year.

New Year’s Day fondue: A favorite of ours, we do fondue for New Year’s Day, and it gets easier and easier each year.

Want to download our happy little holiday traditions printable? You most certainly may: holiday traditions that rock teachmama.com poster

The coolest part of these traditions is that they’ve been taken from here, there, and everywhere. Some are ours–all ours. And others have come from my parents or my husband’s parents or from friends.

But together, they make our little, crazy family totally rock.

I’m biased, I know, but whatever.

Pin it for later:

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homemade ornaments for digital kids

12 | 15 | 2014

My kids are getting older.

At 11, 9, and 7, they needed a little something different this year in order to get them excited about ornament-making.

And I think I found it.

In all things they do they’re like most kids.

They want to have control.

They want freedom.

They want to know I have faith in their ability.

So I created ornaments for digital kids–ornaments that any ‘digital kid’ would totally dig because they combine their tech-savviness and some hands-on, old-school crafting.

I’m sure all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents will love them.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Homemade Ornaments for Digital Kids:

I love school pictures. I don’t care how ugly or funny they are, I just love them.

I think they’re classic in a nerdy and silly way, so I often try to use them for holiday gifts for family.

Sure, I love the natural, outdoor, casual shots of family, too, but there’s something about school pictures that have always made me laugh a little.

Plus I think they’re even more fun to edit than other shots.

So for ornament-making for digital kids, what you’ll need is:

a bunch of unpainted ornaments like the plain round one or plain tree (I got mine at the craft store for 50% off, so each came to $.50. Super affordable.)

paper to print your kids’ creations (I used white cardstock because our ornaments were flat, but if yours are round, regular paper would work)

mod podge (we used glossy mod podge and sparkly mod podge)

sequins

thin ribbon

black sharpie

a photo editing program (we use–and love!–PicMonkey)

And because Maddy, Owen, and Cora knew from the Advent Activity Calendar that today was the day to finish up holiday gifts for family, they knew from the start that they’d be crafting in some way, shape, or form today.

So when I said, Hey guys, let’s meet in the kitchen in five minutes to get our craft on, they were cool.

(This one did not pass the ‘okay for family’ test)

I said, So today we’re going to start–and finish–our photo ornaments for aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. But we’re not just going to slap some glitter on the ornaments and call it a day.

Instead, you guys are going to do some serious digital creating. You are going to be the ones to put together your photos in any way you’d like. All I ask is that you make it so that we can clearly see your faces on each one. And each ornament needs to have all three of you on them, okay?

The kids had worked with PicMonkey before, so they were pretty psyched.

Like I said, it always seems that my kids are game to do things like this when I give them control, freedom, and my faith in them.

So all I did was load PicMonkey on each computer–my laptop, the chromebook, and my husband’s computer. And I put all three of the kids’ photos on a zip drive, then I loaded them into each computer.

On PicMonkey, very simply, I set the kids up for success. I didn’t want them to frustrate, I just wanted them to have fun creating. To get them started, I:

Went to ‘Design’

Chose the square

Made the background white

Clicked on the butterfly (for overlays) on the left sidebar

Clicked ‘Your Own’ to add my own overlay

Added each of the kids’ school photos to the blank square

Let. Them. At. It!

I taught the kids how to use PicMonkey for their ornaments.

They simply went to the little snowflake for Themes and some highlights of each Theme. I showed them how to add Santa beards, hats, and snowflakes.

I showed them how combining elements (clicking the little stack of papers with the arrow pointing down, right next to the gear on the top right of the screen) allows you to use Touch-Ups (click the lipstick), Effects (click the wand), or Frames (click the frame).

They figured out how to add text and change color, font, and size. They figured out how to add elements, change the background, and do more than I probably know, even after two years of using the platform.

Owen really got comfortable using the Halloween-inspired overlays.

He begged me to let him make an ornament of his face all morphed and crazy, but I told him that he’d most definitely give his grandparents a heart attack and make his little cousins have nightmares for years.

PicMonkey is super-easy to use, and though you don’t need the ‘royal’ features, I use it often enough that the royal features are way worth it for me. And now that the kids are more fluid in it, they can use it for school projects, invitations, or fun. I love it.

After the kids finished, I saved their ornaments onto the zip drives and moved them onto my computer. Then I added each of them to one word document. I made two columns and resized each ornament to 2.1″ x 2.1″. Our ornaments were tiny, but I wanted the whole thing to fit.

We printed their creations on white card stock and then we got to the crafty-crafty part.

We grabbed our blank ornaments, divvied up the family members who we needed to create for, and got working.

Creating the ornament was super-simple.

1. We mod podged one whole coat on the blank ornaments.

2. We added the photo and all of the sequins and bling we wanted.

3. We let them dry.

4. We mod podged over top of everything. Sparkle mod podge added a bit more bling, so some went that route.

5. We wrote ‘Maddy, Owen, and Cora 2014’ on the back with black sharpie and mod podged over the whole back.

6. We added a fancy ribbon, and we were finished!

And that’s it.

Super cute, super exciting for the kids, and super-beautiful when finished!

The most important thing? Maddy, Owen, and Cora were honing their ‘digital kid’ photo editing skills at the same time they were making something really cool for family members.

It makes gift-giving all the more fun and meaningful when kids are excited to share this way.

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best books as gifts for kids and family

12 | 06 | 2014

I am so embarrassed about this, but I’ve talked about doing a post like this for years.

I think I’ve even promised one the week after each of my 2012 gift guide and 2013 gift guide but never did it.

Ugh.

But this year, finding books for Maddy, Owen, and Cora has been so, so, so much fun.

I’m not sure why.

Maybe because they all can read now?

Maybe because the book choices we have at our fingertips for our kids–and even extended family–are spectacular?

Maybe because

So I’m thrilled to share which books we have loved this year, which books are on our holiday wish lists, and which books will definitely be under our tree this year.

I’ll organize it just like I organized the Gift Guide for Kids and Family–by age.

That might be the most manageable.

So exciting.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Best Books as Gifts for Kids and Family:

For our littlest guys:

Ten Tiny Toes, by Carolyn Jayne Church: babies love the sweet illustrations in these books, and so do parents. And? there’s counting. Try Here Comes Christmas for the holidays.

Boynton’s Greatest Hits, by Sandra Boynton: love the rhythm and language in these books, and I still could recite Moo, Baa, La, La, La, The Going to Bed Book, Barnyard Dance, and Snuggle Puppy in their entirety by heart. Don’t sweat me.

God Made Light, by Matthew Paul Turner. Love this. Wrote about it here: must-read for raising confident kids.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, by Mo Willems. The complete series includes Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity and Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion. The books are funny–and I mean funny. Parents will appreciate them as much as their kids.

Flora and the Flamingo, by Molly Schaar. A wordless picture book, this story shows how Flora and the Flamingo become friends without saying a word. Cool way to talk about body language with kids. Pair it with a sweet flamingo stuffed animal for a really cute gift.

Locomotive, by Brian Floca. It’s a Caldecott Medal winner which means that this book totally rocks. I love the way this book brings to life the summer of 1869 when the first transcontinental railroad takes its journey from coast to coast.

The Book With No Pictures, B.J. Novak.
Remember Ryan Howard from The Office? Ever-changing dark haired young guy? He wrote this book, and it’s really fun and unique. It plays with language in a way that is engaging, exciting, and new.

Blizzard, by John Rocco. Rocco shares his own memories woven in a story that teaches the important lessons of helping others and celebrating the little things. Based on his experience in the Blizzard of 1978, which some of us may actually remember.

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole. I cannot speak highly enough about this beautiful, wordless picture book. A farm girl helps a young, runaway slave who hides in her barn.

Exclamation Mark, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. This book tells the story of Exclamation Mark, who never really felt like he fit in with all of the periods and commas out there. It’s so fun and a great way to play with language and life lessons.

Nelson Mandela, by Kadir Nelson. I love everything that Kadir Nelson writes, but this Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner is inspiring and enlightening.

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdös, by Deborah Heiligman and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. This book is an interesting reminder that we all are born with different strengths and that one is no better than the next. For math lovers and non-lovers alike, kids will find this book incredibly intriguing.

For the bigger guys:

Geronimo Stilton: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye, by Geronimo Stilton. Geronimo books have been around for a while now, but Cora has recently discovered them and has fallen hard. She laughs out loud at these. Owen does, too. Told by Geronimo, a witty and brave mouse, these stories always involve a mystery, and the engaging print and fonts makes them accessible for younger readers especially.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, by Jeff Kinney. It’s the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Kids love this series. Greg Heffley is every child. He says what’s on his mind, and he’s funny. And life doesn’t always work out in his favor. This book shares his family’s road trip, and it’s a riot. Want a chunk of the series? Get your young reader a Diary of a Wimpy Kid gift set.

Fantasy League, by Mike Lupica. Owen is pretty much obsessed with fantasy football lately, so when we discovered this book by talented sports writer, Mike Lupica, it opened up a world of reading for him. Lupica rocks when it comes to writing books that speak to young athletes. Love this.

Game Changers: Book 1, by Mike Lupica. Add this book to Game Changers: Play Makers and Game Changers: Heavy Hitters for a really sweet trio for middle grade readers.

Family Tree series: Better to Wish, The Long Way Home, Best Kept Secret, & Home is the Place, by Ann M. Martin. Maddy has read–no, devoured–the first book of this series and has begged for the final three books for the holidays.

Smile and Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier. And Drama. These award-winning graphic novels are written in Raina’s honest, funny, and engaging voice, are faves of my girls. They’re (shhhhh!) getting Drama this holiday.

The 39 Clues series, by Rick Riordan & co. This book series is still a fave of Maddy’s. The books are quick and clever, and they’re full of history. We listen to a 39 Clues audio book just about every time we drive to Pennsylvania.

The Spirit Animals series, by Brandon Mull & co. Maddy and Owen have really loved this series. And the cool thing is that there’s a ton of online gaming, support and extensions for each book.

The Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins. I’ve waited a bit to hand these to Maddy because the content is a bit mature; the Hunger Games are not the kind of game you ever really want your kids to play. It’s about survival and doing anything you can to come out on top in a dystopian society with a totally corrupt government. But Maddy asked and asked, and when I allowed her to read them, she literally read the entire three books in three nights. I’m not sure she slept much, and I had to literally pry the book out of her hands and turn off her lights so she’d rest. It’s a fantastic series if you haven’t read it, and it does allow for a ton of interesting discussion if you can read them alongside your tween.

Every family must-haves:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J. K. Rowling and the first Harry Potter movie. Or, go big. Go with the entire Harry Potter book series and the entire Harry Potter movie collection. Awesome. All of it. Awe-some.

Humans of New York, by Brandon Stanton. I have literally gifted this book to almost every adult family member, so of course I needed to add one to our list, too. I am obsessed with Humans of New York. Looking at the photos of everyday people and reading their stories helps me keep things in perspective. I love it, and I’m hoping that it becomes a good eye-opener for Maddy, Owen, and Cora.

Little Humans, by Brandon Stanton. Same as above. But all kids. All kids. Love times a million.

100 Places That Could Change Your Child’s Life, by Keith Bellows. Everything off the beaten path that you need to know is cool and worth visiting so that you are shaping your children’s lives in the best possible way.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Sean Covey. This. Totally worth reading. I loved 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Loved it. Covey really does well with this adaptation for teens, though–he adds comics, real-life anecdotes, breaks in the text that teens can appreciate.

Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors, by Rachelle Doorley. Written by the incredibly creative and awesome author of Tinkerlab, my friend Rachelle does an incredible job here providing really cool, thoughtful ways of creating hands-on activities for kids.

The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art and Creativity–Includes over 60 Art Projects for Kids Ages 1-8, by Jean Van’t Hull. Jean is an amazing blogger and the creator of The Artful Parent. I love every one of her projects and even used her spider web resist craft for our Halloween Class party this year.

150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids: The Very Best and Easiest Playtime Activities from FunAtHomeWithKids, by Asia Citro. Don’t we all want to provide fun activities for our kids? And don’t we really feel like we’re winning when the activity is screen-free? Yes and yes. Love these activities by my pal Asia, of Fun At Home With Kids blog, and you’ll love them too.

101 Kids’ Activities that are the Bestest, Funnest Ever: The Entertainment Solution for Parents, Relatives, & Babysitters, by Holly Homer and Rachel Miller. The creators of Kids’ Activities Blog put their heads together for this rockstar publication, chock-full of the bestest, funnest kids’ activities ever.

Playful Writing: 150 Open-Ended Explorations in Emergent Literacy, by Rebecca Olien and Laura Woodside. Whether you have 10 minutes or 20 minutes, there’s a cool writing activity that you can do with your kids. Love how easy it is to flip through this book and pick out something that is ‘just right’ for your kiddo!

Other cool books that kids love:

Sports Illustrated Top 10 of Everything in Sports. For real. Kids eat. This. Up.

All-Stars: The Big Book of WHO–the 101 Stars that Every Fan Needs to Know, by the Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids and What are the Chances? The Wildest Plays in All of Sports, by the Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids. Two books that I know my Owen would sit down and read repeatedly.

Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes, by Klutz. Really. paper airplanes to the max here.

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects that Kids Will Love to Make, by Andria Lisle. Maddy is way into sewing this year. She. Will. Love. This. Book.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2015. This should be a must-purchase for families every single year. It’s one of those books that once you pick it up, you cannot put it down. Full of fun facts from food to animals to planets, it’s awesome. It’s beautiful.

5,000 AWESOME Facts (About Everything!) 2, by National Geographic Kids. Not even kidding. There are 5,000 facts in this book. And each is cooler and more interesting than the next. The photos, layout, and topics? Super cool.

National Geographic Kids Cook Book — A Year-Round, Fun Food Adventure, by Barton Seaver. For foodies and non-foodies alike, this book is a hit. Seaver looks at recipes, crafts, and food rituals. So many of the National Geographic Kids’ titles are awesome. Check out 100 Things to Do Before You Grow Up or the Ultimate Bodypedia or the Big Book of Why? –all are the kind of books that kids will look at over and over and over and over.

Want a few more holiday-inspired gift ideas or activities? Check out: