Saying Thank You with Flowers

Teacher appreciation week is coming up in April. As a daughter of a teacher I know firsthand how hard teachers work off the clock. I also know how much money they spend on supplies. Teachers get a small spending stipend to spend on materials. The other things they need come out of pocket. I love Noah's teachers. We were really lucky that his teachers are so awesome. I am definitely going to do something special for them.

I used to teach at different daycares. I was also a Montessori preschool teacher before I was a mom. I would occasionally receive gifts from my kids. One of my favorites was the year I received a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day. The child's mother told me that I was one of his moms. Of course that sweet gesture made me cry. I will definitely get Noah's teachers some flowers from our local florist. I love to send people flowers especially if they are going through a rough time. It is a nice gesture to let someone know you care about them if you can't be there. 

My best friend Brandy's talented daughter was in a play. We were texting each other the night before her daughter made her debut. I mentioned getting her a flower or a bouquet of flowers to give her after her performance.  I used to get a flower after choir concerts and performances  from my mom. Brandy thought I was awesome for coming up with the idea.  I used to love it. I am pretty sure they sold them at the concert.  I was an orphan and a couple other roles in Annie and I even received flowers then. Flowers may not last for forever but the gesture lasts a life time.

When was the last time you received flowers and why?

Bath and Bodyworks Teams up with Matthew Robbins

Two things I love are candles and Bath & Bodyworks. It is no surprise that I love Bath & Bodyworks candles. I remember when they first started selling candles. I was working there and when they opened up White Barn Company part my heart melted. I was addicted. I had all kinds of candles. They used to sell candles in my favorite scents. I could light a candle and use the lotion and be lost in a land of Juniper Breeze. I still have some of those candles that I have had for 8 plus years. My mom said that she was lighting my Bartlett Pear candle. She said she would replace it and I said that's not possible because they don't make it anymore. I don't think she ended up lighting it. I have had many different candles from Bath & Bodyworks through the years. My current favorite scent is Fresh Bamboo. I cried when they stopped selling it. If they would have warned me, somehow. They could have emailed or tweeted I would have gone crazy and bought a lifetime supply. They ended up bringing it back and I got a couple candles. I even gave my mom one.  She loves Fresh Bamboo too. I look forward to when Bath & Bodyworks comes out with new scents each season. I can't wait to smell the spring ones. Yesterday I received a flyer in the mail with some coupons.

Everyone knows how great the scents are but did you know that Bath & Bodyworks White Barn Candle Company sells candle decorations. The candles are in beautiful jars with silver lids but sometimes you wanna add something special.

Bath & Body Works partnered with celebrity event designer, Matthew Robbins, to create some fun spring décor ideas as well as provide a few tips and tricks. From setting a table for Easter brunch to a casual get together with friends, the new Bath & Body Works White Barn Candle Collection and Accessories are sure to bring the scents and colors of spring into your home.

Candles: $20 at bathandbodyworks.com
Accessories: $5.50-$44.50 at bathandbodyworks.com

For more information please visit Bath & Bodyworks

I am working with Bath and Bodyworks on this post. I am receiving some samples of the products. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Snickerdoodles

I love to make Snickerdoodles. I remember the first time I made them. It was in Mrs. Shrewsbury’s Home Economics class at Clay Jr. High.  She gave everyone a packet of recipes of things we were going to make.  I had eaten snickerdoodles before of course but, I hadn’t made them. It was a really good recipe and I lost my packet of recipes. I thought about going and asking for a new packet even after I was out of jr. high.  I was pretty sad that I couldn’t find the packet anymore.  As you might know I keep cookbooks for forever. I still have my 4-H cook book and my cookbook from when I was 8. I had to find a new Snickerdoodle recipe.  I found my new one on Crisco’s website. I think it was originally on the package of Crisco sticks, which are really convenient when you don’t want to mess with measuring shortening.   We have made these many times. We even made them in the shapes of fish and other sea life.

Here is the recipe from Crisco’s website:

Snickerdoodles

• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 cup Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• OR 1 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

PREPARATION DIRECTIONS:

HEAT oven to 400°F.

COMBINE 1 1⁄2 cups sugar, shortening, eggs, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended.

COMBINE flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Add gradually to shortening mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

COMBINE remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE 7 to 8 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheets. Place on cooling racks to cool completely.

What kinds of cookies do you like?