31 May holding appreciation
The trend of encouraging heartfelt, handmade gifts for teachers is a welcome one. As parents, we know the best gifts are those given with love and made the same way. You can keep it affordable and meaningful and still show a great deal of appreciation for teachers, coaches, Girl Scout Leaders, etc.
Design Mom Gabrielle offered the cutest idea to add a personal touch to a very practical (and super-useful) teacher’s gift. I love her idea and will keep it in my back pocket for when I need it. I think however, I’ll be using a CleanWell hand soap. Their soaps smell like heaven and the design of their bottles can’t be beat. Oh, and the labels on their bottles are made to peel off. Love that!
There was even a whole share-fest of DYI teacher gifts on The Motherhood the other day. I love getting good ideas from other moms!
In fact, these things got me inspired to share my own gift-giving favorite; garden flowers (whatever is blooming in the yard at the time) in a recycled jar. Easy-peasy and totally endearing. I have a cupboard where I stow away my favorite jars. One of the best vase jars I have found is from my favorite dressing in the world, Litehouse Blue Cheese. It works particularly well when you want to add a personalized band of construction paper around it. Did I mention I covet jars? And flowers? And my daughter’s handwriting? I will admit I sometimes have a hard time parting with these. And that’s when I take a picture.
On a holiday like Memorial Day there are many many people we hold appreciation for. Who or what are you appreciating on this Monday?
Puna
Posted at 16:37h, 31 MayOn Memorial Day, I feel the ones who need the most respect and rememberance are the ones who have passed.
in rememberance
Lis
Posted at 18:07h, 31 MayI am taking time to celebrate this precious life that I am so fortunate to enjoy … in no small part due to the sacrifices so many have made on our behalf:
http://dandelionseedsanddreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/from-where-i-stand-best-shot-monday.html
thanks for this reminder Tracy.
Lis
Posted at 18:41h, 31 MayTracy – thank you for your kind comments today! I wrote a piece awhile back that really is important to me … It plays into the theme of "I am Enough" (which has been a spiritual practice of mine for years now!) and it would mean so much to me if you could read it some time:
http://dandelionseedsanddreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/power-of-being-seen-or-why-i-take-so.html
again, thank you for all the inspiration you provide here and on Shutter Sisters!
have a beautiful day – lis
Lori Sanders
Posted at 19:52h, 31 MayOn this Memorial Day, I am appreciative of the men and women who have fought and died so that I have the freedom to enjoy the amazing blogs and sites I find (such as this one) on the internet. I know other countries are not as lucky, as some sites have been banned by their government. I am appreciative that in the USA, I can dream BIG and work to make those dreams come true. Thank you, thank you, thank you to soldiers past and present.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanderwood/3637246086/in/set-72157621230104156/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanderwood/3636429689/in/set-72157621230104156/
Michel
Posted at 02:15h, 01 JuneOh boy due to unfortunate SNOW this weekend I am so very grateful that the sun came up today. I also really appreciate your words today. I often make hand made gifts I have a hard time parting with. Your post has given me some ideas to set a few free!
I also covet jars & purple markers.
Leisa Hammettl
Posted at 12:51h, 01 JuneNASHVILLE’S 1,000 YEAR FLOOD — PHOTO DOCUMENTATION
Hello, Everyone! I’ve not posted here in a while and still don’t have the gist of hyperlinking here. But wanted to share a message of great import regarding my beloved city’s devastation. We feel largely forgotten by the national media. First up, is my post from last week (think that still counts for posting here) on Nashville’s tragic 1,000 year flood last month. (It’s lengthy & personal, describing the PTSD so many of us are suffering here.) This is huge. More than 9,000 businesses & residents have applied for FEMA. The damage is costing more the city more than 1 billion. All classes of people and all areas around town were affected. People lost their lives. Many of our precious downtown entertainment venues, including our relatively new symphony experienced extreme damage.
The first post below is my only photography taken of the flood that I’ve published. I know it’s not the best for here, but the point is the message. I hope you will also allow me to share four other posts, even though the photography featured is not mine–the essence is local women photography & the devastation of this flood. Also featured is this week’s post about a photography auction here this week featuring Nashville photographers, many of them women, and many others who are internationally acclaimed. Many have documented the flood or are donating their other best work to benefit flood victims. Thank you for your attention and graciously allowing me to stretch the boundaries here. Thank you for your good work. Namaste.
My photo coverage last week:
http://leisahammett.typepad.com/the_journey_with_grace/2010/05/a-personal-flood-of-tears.html
Photo auction:
http://leisahammett.typepad.com/the_journey_with_grace/2010/06/the-society-of-nashville-artistic-photographers-snap-has-organized-an-auction-of-highly-collectible-photographs-to-benefit.html
Work of Nashville photographer Tamara Reynolds:
http://leisahammett.typepad.com/the_journey_with_grace/2010/05/we-are-nashville.html
Work of Nashville photographer Wendy Whittemore, Aerial Innovations (aerial photographer)::
http://leisahammett.typepad.com/the_journey_with_grace/2010/05/eyes-to-see-ears-to-hear-nashvilleflood-post-20.html
Initial post before, I, like others really began to understand the extent of the damage Nashville sustained:
http://leisahammett.typepad.com/the_journey_with_grace/2010/05/bobbing-up-for-air-in-nashville.html
Jennifer
Posted at 12:20h, 05 JuneI covet jars! And flowers! And handwriting too! I love this gift idea. It’s perfect. Thank you for the inspiration.