Teacher gifts galore...and my pets

Teacher gifts galore…and my pets

This week has been crazy busy, but nothing extremely exciting. Just lots of school stuff, PTA tasks, monogramming orders, two Junior League events (more on that next week), and getting prepped for the holidays. There’s nothing I love more than Hallmark Christmas movies (hubs HATES this time of year because I have them on 24/7, except when Notre Dame football is on television), so I couldn’t resist adding a few touches of Christmas to the house. I know people feel VERY strongly about this touchy subject, but my rule is this: nothing outside or downstairs until after Thanksgiving. But, the kids and I simply adore our bedroom Christmas trees and falling asleep each night by a twinkling Christmas tree is magical. So, I usually do our trees in early November so we can enjoy them for a few extra weeks. I’ll post pictures of the trees next week. I even added a new tree this year. My “monogramming cave” now has its very own shark/scuba themed tree!

I received quite a few requests for teacher gifts and stocking stuffers this week. The top seller for teachers is definitely a personalized clipboard. Lots of fun colors and only $10 a pop, plus shipping.

*excuse the dog paws in the above picture. Gipper’s BFF, Sandy, spent an afternoon with us.*

This Lilly acrylic key chain started off as a sweet sixteen gift for our favorite babysitter, but then I started getting requests from my mom friends for themselves and also for their tween daughters. The tweens will most likely attach them to their backpacks as a bag charm. Love that idea! As for the sweet sixteen gift, I pair the key chain with a gift card to Quick Trip.

Another monogramming order I completed this week is actually for me! I’m meeting up with my college roomies for a much needed and long overdue weekend trip tomorrow. We’re hitting up the nation’s capitol. Full recap next week on “Travel Tuesday.” I want to bring a little sercy (surcy, cerci, searcy….what is the official spelling of this word? Help me, please!) for each of these amazing ladies and my thoughts naturally turned to wine. And since our love for Notre Dame runs deep, I decided to monogram fun wine tumblers with a shamrock. I’m packing a bottle of Notre Dame’s very own wine and cannot wait to indulge with my girls.

Emery and her good friend, A, both made a 100 on their recent math test, so we celebrated with Emery’s favorite treat: a caramel frappuccino. I let her get a venti (decaf) for the first time in her life because she studied extra hard for this grade. I don’t think I’ve ever even ordered a venti. The weather was nasty, but these kids simply refused to believe me when I told them rain and chilly (for us) temperatures were in the forecast. Needless to say, they were freezing. Sometimes they have to learn the hard way. But guess what? This morning they both opted to wear long pants and coats! Lesson learned.

By now y’all know how much I love my pets. Gipper makes regular appearances on the blog, but I don’t think I’ve introduced our cat yet. We have a hilarious gray kitty, Hunter. He showed up about three years ago as a stray and we immediately fell in love. He lets the kids carry him around and love on him whenever they choose. He’s kind of demanding at times, but what cat isn’t? I’m always happy to cater to his whims. Yesterday he refused to let me pay some bills.

And here’s Gipper enjoying his morning yogurt….so spoiled.

Cracks me up that he still manages to fit on the arm of the couch. Barely. He looks like a gargoyle. And yes, that’s a Hallmark movie on the television.