High Five for Friday: Enjoying the Small Things

Amanda and I participate in the link party, High Five for Fridays, from Lauren Elizabeth's blog. Head on over to Lauren Elizabeth for more "High Five for Fridays." We're taking part in this fun reflection each week and hopefully you will too! 
 

1. It seems as if my High Five for Friday post wouldn't be the same without the mention of snow. We had 2 snow days again this week...Thursday and Friday... insane amounts of snow. We were supposed to sell Valentine's today. Boo!! :-( I'm also sad that I couldn't see my kids one last time before winter break next week. 

2. Sharing about the Olympics with my students on Monday. Almost every student watched the opening games last Friday and a segment on their favorite winter sport, too. We had such an engaging discussion... hands were flying in the air as they listened to one another share out. So cool! 

3. Buying a new computer and desk. I bought a new laptop when I started teaching 7 years ago and it's dying such a slow, awful death. I made do with having an iPad these past few years, but I really needed another PC. Next up on my to do list? Revamp my guest room/office!

4. Exchanging emails with our wedding photographer about our album. {goosebumps in full effect} I cannot wait to see what this gem looks like. I'll keep you updated and there will be posts to follow about who my photographer is and how she rocks. If you live in the NY, NJ, CT tristate area, you've gotta scoop her up!

5. And how could I forget... Oh yeah, Valentine's Day! Most of my posts this week centered around Valentine's Day. After sharing so many Valentine holidays together (we've been together since high school) this one was big because it's our first one married! We didn't go big, but boy was it fun shopping for a card in the husband aisle. :-) Enjoying the small things, especially as a newlywed! 

High Five for Friday: A Week Full of Love

This was an awesome week full of love and fun!  Here's my top five moments of the week:

1. On Sunday, I met some new friends through a new special someone in my life <3!  We had a late breakfast/early lunch, and it was a true highlight of my week!  We became quick friends, and I feel like they've been my friends for a lot longer!

2.  Snow Days....yes...we had MORE snow days!  Two more days off this week has put us over the edge.  We've lost two days in the spring, but these snow storms have been pretty intense!

3. The Valentine's Day party at school.  It is my least favorite celebration in school, because we have 45 minutes to complete a fun craft, exchange Valentines and have treats.  Without fail, every year, my students leave their homework in school on Valentines day by mistake.  Next year, I'm having my kids pack up BEFORE lunch! :)

4. While I was home on my snow day, I taught myself how to fold an envelope out of scrapbook paper.  It's a special someone's birthday this week, and I needed to attach a little present to his card.  So...voila! What do you think?  If you want to try it out, check out this step by step process: 

Click here!

5.   Tonight's Valentine's Day was perfect.  My special someone cooked me the most delicious homemade dinner.  I ate more than he did!  He thought of everything, from appetizers to dessert.  It's so nice to be with someone who has a kind heart.  The night wasn't full of hearts or frills (in fact, he was a little taken aback by my gift bag of little treats!).  Our whole night was full of love and kindness, straight from the heart.  Isn't that what we are all looking for?  I'm sure I'll eventually reveal more details, but for now, I'm being vague.  He's a great guy, and I'm one lucky girl to have found him!  Being with him made my Valentines Day super and extremely special.

I hope you had a lovely Valentines Day! xoxo 

10 Romantic Comedies to Watch with Your Honey on Valentine's Day!

It's the night before Valentine's Day and I'm attempting to wrap up the week of Valentine's Day posts. Today was a very snowy day and now we're getting hit with rain and thunderstorms. So weird! Honestly, all it makes me want to do is snuggle up on the couch and watch a good movie. So here come's the theme of this post... 10 Romantic Comedies to Watch with Your Honey on Valentine's Day!

I know that so many people celebrate Valentine's Day in so many different ways. Some decide not to celebrate at all, some decide to celebrate the night before or the day after, and some decide to go love crazy on the actual day and fill it with flowers, chocolates, teddy bears and all the other fun stuff in between.

We've celebrated Valentine's Day differently each year - we definitely celebrate on the actual day and I always receive a gorgeous display of flowers (my favorite), with a beautiful card and a box of chocolates. We've also decided to throw a movie into the mix. Last year, we saw Safe Haven in the movie theaters and we just might see a lovey-dovey movie tomorrow night, too. I happen to love romantic comedies and my husband (who pretends he doesn't) also enjoys them. He's actually said that P.S. I Love You is one of his favorites. He's one of those guys, a love sap, I tell ya.

 

So, if you consider staying in tomorrow night, create a movie night date basket and fill it with some of these Top 10 Romantic Comedies to Watch. There are obviously so many great titles to choose from, so these are just a few. Movies are also in no particular order. If you've seen these movies already, watch the original trailers. They're fun to watch! :-)

1. P.S. I Love You - This movie isn't a true romantic comedy, it's actually really sad in my opinion, but there's such a strong message behind it. It's a must-see at some point in your life.

 

 

2. The Notebook - Come on, how can you have a post about romantic movies and not include this one? I got chills watching the trailer. Swoon! Another must-see!

 

 

 

 

3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days - No matter how many times this movie is on TV, I stop to watch. I love Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey together.

 



 

 

4. Valentine's Day - Fitting for the actual day! You'll follow many storylines about friendship, relationships, and love. Great actors, too!

 

 

 

 

5. 50 First Dates - Very funny! Your man will love it because Adam Sandler is in it!

 

 

 

6. Dirty Dancing - Absolute classic. Need I say more?

 

 

 

 

7. It's Complicated - Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin. Divorced with benefits... fun to watch and funny!

 

 

 

 

8. Friends with Benefits - The title sums up the movie! Another fun one with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis!

 

 

 

 

9. Hitch - Will Smith is a dating expert with issues and attempts to pursue Eva Mendes. Funny and cute!

 

 

 

10. Pretty Woman - Another classic. Enough said.

 

 

 

And this is what's on top of the list for next year:

 

 

My First Valentine

This post is dedicated to my first Valentine, my Dad.  For the past thirty years, without fail, my dad has always considered my sister and I his Valentines. When I was a little girl, there was always a card and a small candy heart waiting on the kitchen table on Valentine's Day morning for each of us. My mom would always get an elaborate, romantic card with a large candy heart. He would usually leave a little present, too. One year, I got a beautiful bracelet. 

The thing is, my Dad didn't need to do all of those sweet things for us girls. He wanted to. Little did I know that thirty years later, I can finally realize why he did it. My dad is a man who knows how to treat a lady and put his family first. It wasn't the actual card or the candy that was important, but it was his way of showing my sister and I that if a man loves you, he'll let you know. 

I'll never forget those Valentine's Day mornings, when my mom would open her card and have tears in her eyes, sometimes running down her face, because of the beautiful words that were written in the card. My dad has this awesome talent for choosing cards that have a beautiful message.  My dad loves my mom...a whole lot. It's really an incredible thing to see two people care for each other after thirty-something years of marriage.

I guess my future husband can blame my father for showing me what true love is. 

Today, I had a snow day. I decided to take a trip to the mailbox. Turned the key, opened the door and there it was. Dad's Valentine. Took the elevator back upstairs and studied my dad's handwriting on the envelope on my way back up. Came back inside, ripped open the envelope, and read the card. My dad's message was all about how proud of me he is, and how much he loves me. It's amazing how when words are written, they mean so much. 

Even though the years go by, I'll never lose the memories of Valentine's day as a little girl. And my Dad will always be my first Valentine. I'm a lucky girl.

I love you, Dad!

14 Ways to Love your Kids on Valentine's Day!

We're preparing for a major snowstorm in the Northeast tonight.  We left school today wishing one another a Happy Valentine's Day because of the anticipated storm.  My class had our (always crazy) Valentine's Day celebration, which included two crafts, sharing Valentines, singing Happy Birthday to the kiddos who turned 9 this month AND having treats...all in 45 minutes.  The end of the day was nuts...but filled with love.  Who could complain when my day began with Valentine hearts and a scone from Panera...and ended with a GIANT "WE LOVE YOU" poster from 5 girls in my class?  I'm loved.  I feel it everyday in my classroom, but there is always something about Valentine's Day that makes me feel it a little bit more.

As I am sitting on the couch enjoying my night off, I was thinking about love and how it impacts my little 9 year olds.  They're getting bigger...and more curious.  They may be required to do a lot of work in school.  They have a lot of after school activities and other things going on (sometimes, they're over scheduled, over tired, over worked, and just want to be kids).  

Kids deserve love, too.  They deserve a lot of it.  I'm not a parent, although I hope to be someday.  I hope that I can do fun things with them like some of the things listed above.  I also hope I can enjoy their personalities in every stage, like the children in the video below.  Love is so important for kids to have.  It makes their hearts bigger, and it makes them kinder people.  If we all just take a little time to love the little ones in our lives, the earth will be a much kinder, happier, peaceful place.  If you have a little one at home, love them up tonight.  If they ask you to read with them tomorrow while it's snowing, do it.  Watch a movie together.  Make a craft.  Make memories!

If you need a little pick-me-up or just something to make you laugh, watch the video below.  These videos crack me up.  Kids talking about love and kisses is priceless and it never gets old.  

Have a Lovely night! xoxo

Home Decor: Primitives by Kathy

A few years ago, before moving in together, my husband and I fell upon a Farmer's Almanac store in New Jersey. Inside the store, each wall was covered with various sizes of box signs that had fun phrases on each (similar to what you see above). We laughed and giggled to each other, and pointed to ones that we loved the most. As we left the store, we both agreed that we would return when we had our own place. Sure enough, not long after that, we returned and began purchasing box signs that we wanted to decorate our home with.

Box signs were actually some of the very first items we bought to decorate our place with. We both love the power and meaning behind each sign; they make a statement and leave a mark on whoever visits our home. Words are powerful.

Little or big box signs can make you laugh, cheer you up, or perhaps, even make you cry. They're also very functional and easy to hang or stand in various places around your home. Place them alone, in groupings, with other decorations for the appropriate season, or give them as gifts. We bought three signs and have received four as gifts. As part of a bridal shower gift, Amanda gave us 3 box signs that I just love. Two are kept on shelves with picture frames and one belongs with my Valentine's Day decorations, as it says "Be Mine" in red, glittery letters. So adorable! Here are a few from our home:

Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realize they were the big things.

This one is found in our bedroom! So sweet!

Our box signs are made by: Primitives by Kathy. Ever since purchasing ours, I've seen them pop up everywhere...Barnes and Noble, Nordstrom, Francesca's Boutique. I can easily spot which one's are made by her and which one's aren't. My favorite part? The distressed look to them!

I researched Primitives by Kathy on Pinterest and Facebook tonight, and there are so many amazing box signs, pillows, and other home décor items available. You have to check them out! Even if you decide that these items won't fit in with your home décor, perhaps you can purchase one as a gift...sometimes reading words can eliminate the need to speak them.

Here are a few that I fell in love with tonight:

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were just a few of my favorites, there are SO MANY awesome signs though! You really have to look for yourself! Click over now! :-)

 

Valentine's Day in the Classroom: 2 Quick Ideas



 

 

 

These two ideas are easy to implement in any classroom. They're a fun add-on to your existing celebration, or they can be just the right touch for something simple and fun.

 

 

 

1. Bookmarks from Paint Chip Samples

 

 

 

My Social Action Club kids will be selling Valentine's Day cards on Thursday and Friday. I thought that these would be a fun add-on, as well. Grab some paint samples from a local hardware store, a heart-shaped hole punch, pretty ribbon, and you're good to go!

 

Punch a heart through each color on the paint chip and add one at the top for the ribbon. Kids can write a fun message on the back, too!

 

Source: Head on over to www.yesmissy.com blog to hear more about this idea and many others!

 

 

 

2. "Spread Love, Not Germs" Hand Sanitizer

 

 

 

 

I use hand sanitizer bottles as bathroom passes in my classroom. No, my students don't take them to the bathroom! They leave them on their desks. This helps me (and the kids) know who's out of the room, and the kids use a quick drop when they return back. I started this routine last year and really love it. When I came across Life Sweet Life Blog the other day, I immediately fell in love with this new post.

 

All that's needed is: a bottle of hand sanitizer, cardstock or sticker paper to print the design, and glue or tape. Download the label and cut them out. Either remove the existing label on the bottle, or cover it up with your new one! I love that she uses fun/fancy "washi tape" or paper tape to add an extra element of cuteness.

 

Source: Head on over to Life Sweet Life Blog to hear more about this idea and many others!

 

 

Planning a Baby Shower: Creating a Wish Tree

Creating a Wish Tree for my sister's baby shower was one of the easiest things to make.  Instead of a traditional guest book, guests were able to leave a wish for the baby on a tag, and tie it to one of the branches on the "tree." The poem that went along with the wish tree was very sweet, and encouraged guests to write heart-felt messages to the family and the brand new baby.

In addition to the wish tree, I also left cards where guests could write their best advice for the mommy-to-be.  Many guests told my sister to get as much sleep as she could before the baby was born.  Others told her to enjoy every moment.  The advice was taken, for sure, and will be looked back upon as the years go by. 

I bought decorative branches for about $8.00 from Michaels.  I anchored them in a vase with pink and clear decorative stones.  

I also bought white tags from Michaels, and tied pink and green ribbons to the end of the tags so the guests could tie them to the branches.

 At the end of the shower, we had an abundance of wishes for the new baby, along with advice for the mommy-to-be.  My sister kept each wish and sentiment.  The tags and advice were placed in a scrapbook to look at year after year.  One day, little Sarah will be able to read the words that were left for her, when she was just a dream waiting to arrive on this Earth.  If these wishes are any indication of what her life will be, she has a very bright future!

Happy Baby Shower Planning!

Love Notes: A Last Minute Valentine's Day Gift {Free Printables!}

Need a few meaningful ideas for Valentine's Day gifts this year? Romantically challenged?!

Here are two go-to ideas that will be sure to melt your loved one's heart.

Gift # 1: Love Notes!

My husband and I often leave notes for each other in the morning. We've done this ever since moving in together. Our work schedules used to be the complete opposite and there were days where I would go to bed without seeing him. So, we'd leave each other notes to read. Sometimes they were "don't forget" notes, or funny notes for a laugh or smile, or just a simple "I love you and can't wait to for the weekend." Some notes are so cute and sentimental that they're still kept on our refrigerator.

Love notes are such a cute way to tell your special someone that you're thinking of them. Although we left them in the kitchen for each other, you can put them anywhere -- like on the bathroom mirror, on the coffee pot, or by the door to catch them before they leave.

Consider trying the love note idea for Valentine's Day! You can exchange fun cards and gifts later, but start they day off with a fun and unexpected surprise. Here's a free printable from the Handmaden blog to get you started.

The printable has six cards for you to fill in. Print and have-a-go at it!
I love... I value... I respect... I treasure... I appreciate... I admire...

 

 

 

Gift #2: "I Love You because..." Frame!

A similar concept to love notes, but instead of notes around the house, pop this "I Love You because..." printable into a frame and fill in the blank with a dry erase marker. I'm in love with this free printable from Life{Sweet}Life Blog simply because of the chevron pattern! :-) The best part is that she offers them in a few different colors.

Visit her blog for more information, or just click on the link of the one you want to download. After you download it, print it out and put it in an 8x10 frame. Then use a dry erase marker to write messages on the glass. Click below and get started!

Pink 

 

Grey

 

Beige

 

Blue

 

 

I hope you enjoy these quick, simple, fun, and romantic Valentine's Day gifts! As always, leave a comment if you have any questions. 4 more days...!

Happy Monday!

Isn't it amazing how things just fall into place?  Tonight I wasn't really sure what to write about. Then I stumbled upon this video, and I couldn't help but pass it along to you.  As I was watching it, the words I inserted above the video came to mind, too.  I had the perfect idea for a post. 

It is so easy to get caught up in the every day routines, that we forget about what a gift today, and every day is.  I know Mondays are tough, but so is every other day of the work week.  While we're all working hard, there are babies being born, couples getting married, and the suffering taking their last breaths.  When I think about it this way, I feel like I have some nerve complaining about the usual "stuff" that is easy to get caught up with.  

What really matters in life?  The things Kid President mentions are pretty normal things we take for granted.  Breathing air, giving high fives and singing...things you and I are used to.

That little Kid President has some pretty wise words to share with us.  I'm going to be sharing more of his wise words with you in the future.  In the meantime, don't sweat the small stuff.  When you wake up in the morning, be thankful that you have another exciting day to live!  

Have a happy Monday!

Favorite Etsy Shops for Weddings

Today is our six month wedding anniversary! Time is flying and it feels like our wedding was just yesterday. In celebration of this exciting anniversary, I'll be sharing some of my "go-to" shops on Etsy.


Throughout my entire wedding planning process, Etsy was my best friend. As the wedding got closer and closer, Etsy became the goddess that answered all of my prayers; that website was my go-to spot for everything. There were so many shops that I bought from, but tonight I'll just blog about a few.

First Shop: Marrygrams

I know that making cards can be easy. I also know that many shops on Etsy sell them. However, once you've landed on Marrygrams, you'll look no further. They have everything you need. As you begin clicking away, you'll start gaining ideas for other little notes that you can pass along to even more people that make your day so special. I bought many cards from Marrygrams and was so pleased with the quality of each. The turn-around time was a matter of days. It shocked me that it was so fast. I loved that each card was so personal and the shimmer paper was beautiful. I can't recommend them enough!

Second Shop: L Rose Designs

 

 

L Rose Designs is a beautiful handcrafted jewelry shop. I was on the search for a unique, yet special necklace for my bridesmaids to wear. After searching Etsy shops for what seemed like forever, I finally landed on L Rose Designs and knew immediately that this was the shop to purchase from. It was extremely hard deciding on the final design for my girls... they're were so many beautiful pieces. Lauren Rose, the shop owner, designs and creates all of the pieces herself and makes it clear to brides that she needs at least 2-3 weeks to create and ship the items to you. Each necklace came in a special box with ribbon around it. It was so exciting watching my bridesmaids open them!

 

And if you're not getting married... stop by her shop anyway! I was just browsing around and found this item that I fell in love with:

 

Double strand initial necklace

 

Third Shop: Celebr8tions

My sister and my bridal entourage did such an amazing job decorating for my bridal shower and bachelorette party. They incorporated so many fun, unique, and meaningful touches as they planned each event. Being that we were all getting ready together in the hotel's Presidential Suite, I wanted to look for something fun to decorate the room with. I decided on this shop to help me with that. I purchased a few personalized cups for our morning breakfast festivities. My sister and I decorated the table with these "Keep Calm and Marry On" cups. We added fun straws to them and it added such a fun touch to the excitement of the morning. The shop's owner was able to personalize with any message and she sent an email with a preview of the sticker. The turn-around time was also extremely quick! Definitely check this shop out!

I hope you have fun browsing these Etsy shops! The wedding planning process can be a lot of fun, but also very stressful. Etsy will be your fairy godmother and help you along the way!

Dating 101: Getting Ready for a First Date

The inspiration for this post came from watching The Steve Harvey Show last week on a snow day.  Steve interviewed a girl who kept saying that she was going on dates, but it never worked out.  This girl spilled her guts and was completely intense on the first date.  She was telling the guy what she was feeling, and was putting him on the spot about how he felt.  She also brought up what she wanted for the future.  I wish I had a video clip to attach, because it was just so awkward!!! 

Dating is an interesting process.  If you want to find love, there are many different ways to meet people.  You can meet someone out, meet someone online, be set up with someone, or now you can even meet people on various apps.  However you meet someone, here are some tips to help you get ready for that first date:

1. Get to know that person through texts and phone calls before you meet up.  See if there's good conversation.  That way, when you actually meet up, you have a variety of things to talk about.  If you feel comfortable, check them out on Facebook.

2. Wear an outfit you feel beautiful and confident in.  Treat yourself to a new outfit!  You want to show your date your style!

3. Steer clear of discussing where you want to be in the future.  You're on this date because you're both looking to find a companion.  Leave the "marriage/baby" talks for when things get serious.

4.  Don't forget to laugh and smile.  You're both in a slightly nerve racking situation.  Make things fun!

5. Let your date know if you'd like to see them again.  Don't be afraid to text your date after you get home to say thank you!

6.  Only plan to do lunch/dinner/coffee together.  Don't have an entire day planned.  Go on your first date with no pressure.  Leave the whole-day dates for future dates.

7.  Trust your gut.  If something tells you that he or she isn't the one, trust it!

You'll know when you find someone who deserves more of your time...and if your date feels the same way about you, I can assure you that they'll be looking to make plans with you for a second date before the first one ends!!  In the meantime, look at this as an opportunity to meet someone new!  

Photo DIY Craft: Wooden Polaroid Gift Set

In my search for DIY crafts over the past few weeks, I fell upon cute ways to incorporate a Polaroid theme. Growing up, my grandfather owned a few Polaroid cameras and we thought it was the best thing that was ever created. We were captivated by the quick process in which the photos were developed. I now have a secret obsession with Polaroid's because of the special connection to my grandfather. Throughout my wedding planning days, I tried so hard to incorporate a "Polaroid photo booth" into my reception, but it never worked out the way I had envisioned. So, when I saw this project, I knew I just had to find the materials to execute it.

I was inspired through a blog post written by Sugar & Cloth to create wooden Polaroid magnets. The project is simple and inexpensive. Here's how she explained them:

These DIY wooden polaroids are simple, inexpensive, and a homemade gift your guy might not secretly want to throw away (no offense). You can personalize them by making them into magnets, writing love notes at the bottom, or just filling them with your favorite memories together.

Here's a photo showcasing her work. So adorable!

Here's the materials she listed:

• Wooden polaroid frames (made by Recollections sold at Michael’s Stores)
• Tacky glue
• Photos (at 2 3/4×2 1/4 in.)
• Scissors
• Mini circle magnets (optional)

Directions:

1. Print out your favorite photos. Keep in mind, you'll be using the dimensions of 2 3/4×2 1/4 inches. You can either size them down to those dimensions to include everything in the picture, or you can do what I did: use a regular 4x6 photo and cut/crop the part that you really want to use. :-)

2. Spread the glue on one side of the wooden polaroid frame. I used a glue stick, and then positioned it over the photo. Press firmly on all corners!

3. Turn them into magnets by gluing a magnet onto the back of the Polaroid. Use the bottom part where the wooden edge is thickest.

4. Include a fun sticker, embellishment, or write little notes from your adventures at the bottom.

5. Hang them on your refrigerator OR package them in a box... they’re ready for gifting!

I absolutely love these magnets! They are so cute against my black refrigerator! I think they would be a GREAT gift for Valentine's Day... or for any "just because" gift. You can make one or many! I can easily see these being a themed gift, with photos that tell a story about a particular adventure. In this case, I'm showcasing my wedding. Again! :-)

Let me know if you try these out, and please feel free to comment/leave a message if you have any questions. I'm here to help!