Ah December....an exciting and anxiety fulled month of gift giving, party planning and budget overload. Every year I attempt to start early with Christmas shopping, my intentions are always good and I'm always off to a good start. Then around September, it just kinda fizzles out....and before you know it, I'm scrambling around to find just the right gifts. And when I say just the right gifts, I mean it. I'm a really good gift giver, even my husband agrees. I try to remember when someone tells me about something they like or if they are admiring something in my home, and I try to get them something that they really want. I buy what you usually can't find in a store or when I do shop in a store, its a small store that they are not quit aware of. My gifts are heartfelt, original and usually way over budget. But its all worth the excitement and anxiety of finding just the right gift for my family and friends. My family and friends make me smile, they are my security blanket and I find comfort in doing what I can for those that I love.
And some special people in my life that I dearly love are my daughters teachers. Mary Kate attends a private Catholic school in our city. We are Catholic and in this world of crazy we want to give our daughter an education that also teaches her about her faith, love for others, kindness and most importantly following and listening to God in our daily lives. There are no Nuns as teachers, these ladies are Wives, Moms, Grandma's. They are Catholic Educators as well. Mary Kate has a total of 3 teachers, one being her actual teacher and 2 are aides. I don't think teachers aides get enough credit for all that they do. I've worked both sides of being a teacher and an aide and let me tell you that the teacher gets all the praise and glory and the aides certainly don't even come close. And guess what? The aides work more with your children then the teacher does because the teacher is over loaded with paperwork required by State so she can keep her job. So when I say my daughter has 3 teachers, she does....they all put in the work to see to her education and upbringing as well as myself.
Then we have her former teacher who is also the pre school director. She is a doll and we simply love her. She'll be Will's teacher next year and I'm excited for her to know our little guy more. In the mean time, Will does go to Sunday School and Library Preschool group, so we do consider these wonderful ladies his teachers as well. Again, they put in just as much planning, preparing and helping to teach my son as I do. And I feel its important to acknowledge them just as well.
This Christmas I wanted to do something special for these sweet ladies that we know and love. And it all started with a small store that barely anyone I know, knows of. Euna Mae's in Springdale, AR. Vintage, heirloom kitchen and oh swoon, my favorite part of Springdale (sorry Mom and Dad). It's a charming little store tucked behind a busy road and time just slows down when you enter Euna Mae's. You are no longer in a hurry and it takes you back to a simpler time of lemon aid, porch swings, crossword puzzles and Grandma's home baked cookies. It just gives you a warm, cozy feeling and memories of Grandma and Mom come flooding through your head and heart. Euna Mae's has things that other stores just don't or that you'd have to hunt on-line for. Plus when you enter the store, it gives you tons of decorating ideas. I've already started incorporating some of the stores decor into my own home, that's how much I love it so.
Euna Mae's is owned and operated by Amy Nelson Hannon. A local girl, wife and mother who makes you admire, love, appreciate and who you wish you could be a little more like. Everything this woman touches seems to turn to gold and the thing I think we all love about Amy is that she is humble and grateful. She is sweet, kind, warm and welcoming. Amy is who Christ made her to be and she is clearly thankful for her blessings and you can easily see that when meeting her. She is simply amazing and loved by everyone in the community. Euna Mae's is named after her Grandma and she carries out many traditions from her memories with Euna Mae and shares them with those of us who have been inspired by our Grandmas as well.
Recently Euna Mae's started selling these adorable ceramic plates that read Happy Birthday Jesus. And yes, while I do make my own melamine plates, having a ceramic plate is just more classic of a gift. I bought so many of these plates to give out, that my closet started looking like an Euna Mae's stock room. I'd buy some thinking that was enough, and then someone else would pop into my head and I'd buy another for that person. Then she had a sale....and then I ran out of money. Even as I type, I'm thinking of more people. And thinking of making that 15 minute drive into Springdale and buying just a few more.....the credit card can handle a few of those purchases...my husband would beg to differ, but its for Christmas! Hee, Hee, Wink, Wink:)
I mean look at this plate! How can you not love such a thing? It's festive and just what any lady would love for her home! Although Euna Mae's is sold out on-line, you can purchase a few at this link:
They measure 8.5" and cost is $14.95 and PS they have tons of other Happy Birthday Jesus gift ideas. Like these adorable ornament for only $1.99 each on their website!
Here is the direct link to take you to these ornaments:
Okay, so back to the blogging dets....so I purchased a ton of the Happy Birthday Jesus plates and of course you know I had to buy one for myself! Well, they come boxed and instead of wrapping with paper, which I am terrible at, I bought a festive flour sack tea towel like this one from Target, under $4.oo each and "wrapped" the boxed plate in the towel and just tied with ribbon.
And viola! There you have an adorable and much appreciated teachers gift!
Now for towels that were not as large to bunch up and tie as shown in the photo above, I did have to tape the dish towel to box as you would wrapping paper, but it was super easy to attach.
When I did open my plate, I centered ours in the middle our our Advent wreath. This imagine was taken from my Instagram page (@mysouthernsweetys)
But do whatever you want with yours...serve cookies for Santa to combine your faith in with children's holiday traditions. Use as decor, whatever you like. But you can't go wrong gifting a festive plate that your child's teachers with cherish forever. And that's one anxiety that you check off your Christmas shopping list!
Blessings,
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