Teacher Appreciation - Thanks A Latte!

Here's another fun, easy, and inexpensive teacher treat! 

I saw this on Skip to My Lou!  I knew I had to make something similar.  So I came up with this:

 I made a little graphic in publisher of a penguin holding a latte.  Under the Penguin it says, Thanks A Latte!  You make learning fun!  Isn't it the cutest?

I purchased the disposable travel mugs, mints, a Kashi bar (click the link, these are my faves!), and 100 calorie coffee  (these are yummy too!) mix.  Stuck those three treats in the mug. Closed the lid.  Wrapped the treat in a clear bag.  Tied a brown bow around the top!  Ta-da, an easy to make treat! 

For a printables similar to this one:

Check out our Teacher Appreciation Packet at
http://www.teachingheart.net/teacherappreciation.html

 

Go love a Teacher today and get them a Teaching Heart CDROM - Click here to learn more!!!

For more Teacher Appreciation Ideas found on this blog, click here!

End of The Year Ideas - Click Here!

Teacher Appreciation - Water Bottle/Popcorn Treat

You know my feelings about teachers and people who help educate our children...  WE ROCK!  Appreciate us and those who love your kids when they are learning!!!

The next few days I will share some neat-o teacher appreciation ideas.  A gift a day for Teacher Appreciation Week!!

First Up Water Bottle, Crystal Light Packet, and Popcorn all warpped up! 

I saw this at Stamps and Smiles and thought it was super cute and something teachers would enjoy to refresh their day!!!! 

I decided to tweak this idea.  I made a label for a bottle.  It says, Pre-K Teachers Quench our Kiddos Thirst for Knowledge.  I then got the individual popcorn bags and made a label on those.  The label reads;
You planted a kernel of knowledge this year
That in our hearts will keep on popping
We’ll try hard to share it with others
So it can grow without ever stopping!
Love, Your Students
I put those things and a Crystal Light packet in a clear baggie, added a little tag that read;
Here's a treat for a #1 Pre-K Teacher to enjoy!!!
 
Here is my bottle:
 

I used this template for the bottle label!  I just used regular computer paper to print these. 

Here is my popcorn

Here is the finished product:

For a printables similar to this one:

Check out our Teacher Appreciation Packet at
http://www.teachingheart.net/teacherappreciation.html

Need end of the year ideas?  Please click here!

Moooo.... It's Monday! (GW PARKWAY RACE REVIEW)

 

Sorry this is late...  I am having some issues with one of my computers.  So I am one day late on Moo...  Monday!

I wanted to use this post to share my race day with you.  At the end of the post, I will include other links to other reviews of this same race!

MY First Race Review - GW Parkway Classic 10 Miler!  (From a First Time 10 Mile Runner)

6:15 AM My sister-in-law and I boarded a bus near the Pentagon and we were off to our first 10 mile race.  We ate our mini bagel, strawberries, and drank Green Mountain Blueberry Coffee on the bus ride to Mt. Vernon.  It was raining when the bus dropped us at Mt. Vernon!  They literally drop you off at the start and there is no way back except to walk or run the 10 miles to the finish.  The Parkway is closed, so even if you wanted to hitch a ride you couldn't.  I think that was a good thing!  

I had read lots of blogs on running (thanks!) and learned that I should pack garbage bags to use as ponchos you could toss. Thank goodness, there was no cover as we waited over an hour for the race to start. We put on the grabage bags and plugged our noses (note to self, next time bring non-scented garbage bags). There were what seemed liked millions of people waiting there. There was a sea of porta-potties at the start! I hate pota-potties, I have been know to pee behind one instead of in one. I sucked it up and went in. Hey no rain! I actually thought about sitting in there till the race started. Ugh! Back to stand under a tree and listen to my hysterical sister-in-law... She wasn't half as excited as I was! As we stood under the trees she stated: "What the heck am I doing on my day off, standing under a tree with a garbage bag on waiting to run 10 miles!" She made the time go by quickly with her funny remarks.

So about 30 minutes before the start we decided to leave our tree and head to the bag drop off.  They take your bags on a truck to the finish line.  Since it was still raining I kept my $5.00 Walmart jacket on and packed up my other stuff in the bag.  After bag drop off we stayed in the large field in front of Mt. Vernon (happened to be where my sister-in-law was married about four years ago!)  Here I am ready to start:

BTW, that lady behind me...  that is her arms under her shirt not her chest.  I first looked at the picture and thought man why didn't I notice her. 

About 20 minutes before the run, they had a boot camp type instructor (not nearly as good as mine) lead us in a warm-up type of activity.  My sister-in-law was annoyed that I was into doing this...  But I needed to take it all in.  Her; "You are like one of those people that likes those ice breaker types of games, aren't you?"  YEP!

So jumping jacks, high knees, and some stretches were led by the boot camp type instructors....  I did most of it and decided I did not like his stretches and did my own. 

After that we walked our way to the back of the pack - way, way, back behind about 6,000 or so people.  At this time I had my first PowerBar Energy Gel and some of my electrolyte water to wash it down.  I took my last few pictures. Stuffed my baby berry into my running water bottle never to see again till the finish. (Sorry no race pics.  I was trying hard to make my time of getting this dine in 2 hours) 

About the water bottle (that I love and really worked well):  I was surprised...  I didn't see anyone else with one.  Lots of people had on hydration packs.  I thought a hydration pack was little too much for a 10 mile race - come on people, it's not a marathon and the temps were low.  Get a cool water bottle or just stop at the water stops.  Hee-hee!!!

Here's the pack ahead of me at the start.

I was a little bummed when I realized that by the time we would get to the start after the gun was shot it would be three-four minutes into the race.  As I expressed my concern for not finishing in 2-hours, the lady next to me said that she thought the same thing, but your time didn't actually start till you hit the start line.  O-GOOD!  We wore little race clips on our shoes that tracked our time. 

By the time we hit the start line, the rain had stopped and never returned!  Thanks God!  I read on other blogs that the race starts with a down hill and many runners take that too fast and poop out at the bottom.  I took it easy on the hill and saw many people start walking after the hill.  My goal was no walking...

As I am running down the pretty large hill, I am thinking... wow, I have to go to the bathroom.  I knew there would be one at 2.6, I will wait till then!  Of course through out the race you see men running into the wood and peeing.  They have it so easy.  I started to get warm and tied my walmart jacket around my waist.  I originally bought the jacket to toss on the course (like many people do - hopefully they collect all those cover-ups and give they to a shelter or something).  I didn't toss mine because I really like that $5.00 bright pink cover-up. 
The first mile was super easy. People watching kept me interested. I noticed that I was keeping good pace with two girls running together. One had on one of those multi-color  running skirts and her friend looked like a really good runner, running along side the skirt girl to keep her going. They would run and then walk. I spent the majority of the race running with them, passing them when they walked, and then they would catch up with me and start walking again... I just kept on running.

Around mile 2 I could see the potty's ahead. Once I got up to the spot I noticed that there were only three potty's and like 10 people (women) in line... Forget it, I will hold it. Plugging along and still feeling good, I cross the three mile line and I am ahead of where I wanted to be at this time.

The track itself is so far, great! Pretty flat with a few upgraded hills (which I am use to from our trail). It was a cloudy day, so the sights weren't as pretty as I hoped. Still, on a nice day I bet it is so pretty for a run. Lots of scenic overlooks and very shaded.
Before I knew it, I was on mile five with a time of 57:06! 
I was half-way there & three minutes better than I thought I would be at this point! No problem... still had to go to the bathroom! :( But for some reason, not as much as before. One time I was trying to decide if I should just run into the trees and then I looked over into the woods and saw a naked behind. Ugh! I didn't want anyone seeing my large behind.... plugging along.
Mile six and seven seem like a blur... I no longer had to go to the bathroom..... I remember my legs were bothering me and I wanted to walk; but I wouldn't let myself because I was afraid if I stopped I may not start up running again. It is funny how you feel like cardio wise you could go on forever, but your legs just want to stop.
My time at 7 miles was 1:20:03. I was still with skirt girl and her friend. I remember hearing her complain to her friend and her friend said that they only had "2.6 miles to the finish, wasn't that better than 10?" and the girl said, "No!" Hee-hee! I then decided I was done with having them pass me when they started running again... I told myself I needed to get farther ahead of them so they would not pass me for the rest of the race. That was accomplished.

Mile 8 starts to go into the town a bit. You start to see people cheering you on. One lady held a sign that said, "If your legs aren't burning badly by this point then you aren't working your ASS hard enough!" I had to laugh. I got a little teary eyed during mile 8 when I could see the mile nine marker and the crowd was banging cow bells. I had to stop thinking and crank up the music so I could focus on finishing strong emotionally. I had to take my focus off the cute crowd with the signs and the cheers of kids in the audience cheering on their mommies. That got me the most emotional. It really is something to see a little four year old yelling, go Mommy! Luckily, a killer hill cranked me out of an emotional state... I do hills pretty well (if you have seen my neighborhood hils - that may be the reason), passing up many people and staying strong! Turning a corner now and I can see the white finish line (which appears much closer than it really is)... I feel a little sick to my stomach at this point... I want to finsih with a sprint across. I know I have met my goal, wondering now how far under 2 hours I can get... About 30 seconds to the finsih line I hear my family cheering even with my music blasting. I also hear over the speaker the man say "anyone who can hear me, if you want to finish this in 2 hours you need to push-it!" Hands up, I am done and ugh... I feel sick.... walking for about 5 minutes to get out of the race and I see hubby, kids, and my parents. Yeah, done! Official time - 1:54:43 Waaaahhhhoooooo - under 2 hours! Much better than I thought I would do. I love this, what race is next?! I am hooked!

Here's me about 30 minutes after finishing and waiting for my sister-in-law to finish.   If I can do this... anyone can!  It such a great feeling to have finished something you really never thought you could or would.

I was never a runner, not even when I was younger.  That's the cool thing about running, it's a sport you can pick up at any age! 

Okay, now let's finish this weight loss game!

Through training for my first race I learned a few things;

-Follow a plan.  Make it happen.  As moms we let excuses get in the way.  We need to make time for not only to make our children's dreams come true; but ours too (big or small).

-You have friends that support you and you have friends that really don't want you to finish!

-Running is very much a mind game as well as a physical game.  Convince your mind you can do and your body will follow. 

-Food is fuel, if you use it right your body will get it done.

-Training for a 10 miler is time consuming.  Long runs on the weekends can take 2 hours out of your day and even some of the short runs are at least an hour.  I bow down to the moms that train for marathons!  You go girls!

-You hear God when you run alone.  Use the time to pray!

- Garbage bags should be packed in your race day bag, just make sure they are unscented.

Links to other reviews of this race!!!

Lesser is More Has a Great Review!

Blessed With Full Hands 2010 report!

See Mommy Run has a report from 2009!

Great Post with Pictures along the race!  (You can see the hill on mile 9 that I mentioned in my post!)

Here's a funny one!

Thanks for reading! 

What I am up to Today!!!

8+ weeks of training!  When I started three miles was about all I could do without stopping.  Today I will attempt to run 10 miles without stopping.  If you read regularly, you may be tired of reading about my race day!  If you are one of my everyday friends, I know I have been annoying about this race.  SORRY AND THANKS!  A special thanks to those who laced up their shoes and joined me in a run on the trail or through the neighborhood!  I promise after my Moo Monday post, I will stop talking bragging about the fact I am going to run in a 10 mile race.  Something I never thought I would do or want to do!   My parents are driving hours to see me race too.  I feel like I am back in high school playing in a volleyball tournament or swim meet!  Still, I am glad they will be there. 

Right now, Friday, they say thunderstorms on the list for Sunday's race.  I will be so bummed if with all this training this doesn't happen and I don't run the 10 mile race.  ugh!  (My girlfriend said that the I should think positive and remember that the thunder should make me run faster to get it over with. - Thanks J.S...  We should all take her advice and try turning negative thoughts into positive ones!)

Anyhow, thank you to everyone for the kind words and support!  How the heck can I be so lucky...  I run my first race and I am showered with cards, kind words, and even flowers and cookies!  I like this running thing.  If I ever run a marathon, gift cards will be excepted.  I am kidding!  Really!!!  I have the best friends in the world.  I am one lucky gal!  Thanks God!

Cheers!

"Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right."  -Henry Ford

"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."  -William Faulkner

"Anybody can be a runner. We were meant to move. We were meant to run. It's the easiest sport." --Bill Rodgers

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." --John Bingham

 

Spelling Words - No Problem!

It's the end of the year...  The spelling words are getting more difficult and your child is getting more difficult to convince to practice!  Sound familiar?  Below are great ideas and resources to help you make spelling practice fun!!! 

My favorite - Finger Spelling This activity is so much hands on fun! Place a plastic shoebox, a can of shaving cream, and a list of current spelling words at the center. A student sprays a small amount of shaving cream into the shoebox and uses her finger to write the spelling word she sees. Or a friend tells her a spelling word and she spells it without looking. After she is sure the word is correct she spreads the foam around to erase the word, then repeats the procedure until all the words have been spelled correctly. Your thinking "messy" aren't you. Actually, I did this with a life skills class using numbers and all you need to do or have the student do is wipe it up with a paper towel and the shoebox is ready for the nest student. You may want to have four or five shoeboxes in the center. If your students did not like to practice their spelling words before, they should after this!!!!

This is an awesome list of ideas - Click Here!!!

Must have Comprehension Books with Ideas to Match Them!

I first read, in a Literature Circle and I was impressed with the book and began using the terms with my students. Mosaic stresses that we need to teach children what good readers do when they read. Good readers make connections with the text. They make text to text connections, text to self connections, and text to world connections. Teachers need to model the connections they make while they read and encourage their students to do the same. This book really made me think about how I read and what I DO while I read. Mosaic of Thought redefines teaching reading comprehension in a workshop approach. Teaching comprehension as a strategic process enables readers to make connections and move beyond literal recall. This book will get you excited about teaching reading. After reading Mosaic, I suggest you read Strategies That Work.Mosaic of ThoughtStrategies that Work



One year later, I read . This book tells how to teach your students to think while reading (through think-alouds) and gives many minilessons for teaching comprehension. This book is divided into three parts: Part 1, THE FOUNDATIONS OF MEANING, explains how research based comprehension strategies support and enhance student learning; Part 2, STRATEGY LESSONS AND MORE, focuses on strategy lessons, response options, and assessment practices; Part 3, RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT STRATEGY INSTRUCTION, numerous resources listing picture books to use for teaching each of the seven comprehension strategies. Throughout the book, the author's talk about "anchor lessons" and the importance of using the first lessons as a way for students to remember a specific strategy and apply it. The idea of anchor lessons really assist the student in learning and applying the strategies taught! This book teaches us that we want our students to come to realize how important their thinking is when they read.


For more ideas for teaching that relate to these awesome resources, please click here!

Frog and Toad Ideas!

A few Ideas to use when teaching about Frogs and Toads!!!

Compare and Contrast Frogs and Toads!

Show your students the word amphibian written on a piece of paper. Share with them that the word amphibian means two lives. Tell them frogs and toads are amphibians because they live part of their life in water as tadpoles and part of their lives on land as frogs and toads. Talk about what frogs and toads look like, how are they alike, and different. Look at pictures to compare them. Make a chart like the one below with your class!

FROGS TOADS

Frogs lay their eggs in stacks Toads lay their eggs in straight lines

Frogs have smooth, slimy skin Toads have hard, rough skin

Frogs live in the water and on land Toads usually live on land

Frogs are skinny and have long legs Toads are fat and have short legs

Frogs move around by jumping Toads move by walking or making short, small hops

Frog Fun!

Some fun activities to use with a frog unit!

Lily Pad Hop - cut lily pads from green construction paper, write a numeral on each one, have the students hop from one to the next in numerical order.

Life Cycle Sequence - have the students put pictures of the life cycle of a frog in order and be able to verbalize the stages.

Stamp a frog pond picture, have out paper with lily pads and a pond drawn on it have the kids add frogs and toads to the pictures using rubber stamps. Count the number of frogs in everyone's pond.

Make some Jell-O (or pudding would work too) for the pond (grape works good!) pour into individual clear plastic cups, on top add some blobs of green whip cream (food coloring added to whip cream) and place gummy frogs on each blob (whip cream is the lily pad) add some flower sprinkles if you have them.

Want more Frog and Toad Ideas?  Click Here!

Moo... It's Monday!

Next week my race will be over with and my goal will be to keep on running to improve my time and loose some more weight.

Thought I would share my last LONG training run with you via pictures for this Moo Monday post!

Nine miles was on the list for this Saturday following my son's awesome soccer game where his team dominated the field and  he scored two goals and made some great passes!  Yeah, much better than baseball where I fear for his life when that hard ball comes at him (he has to be the worst player on his baseball team - poor kid!)  Anyhow, it was cold though and throughout the game I would ask my hubby if we could just do this run on Sunday...  Nope, he said about ten times until he almost yelled at me on my eleventh attempt at wimping out.  One reason I married the man, he doesn't let me give up. 

Home we went to change and layer the kids for the 40 degree weather. I wore my scary comfy pants (scary for those who have to see me in them and comfy for me who could careless after the 5th mile what the hell I have on as long a my legs aren't rubbing together.). Also, I had on a short sleeve shirt with a little jacket. I was cold at the start and finish, but perfect for the nine miles of fun! I also tried to convince my hubby again that this run might be too cold for my son on his bike and daughter in the stroller. That did not work, he just got them mittens and hats. Ugh, we were doing this!

Start time 3:58.  40 degrees and cold...  need to get running to warm up!!!

I'm off and a half mile into this torture.  See my bottle....  I love it! 

About mile three...  Should I turn around?  The trail was pretty badly covered with down trees from our micro-burst on Friday that killed our swing-set.

Passing the horse farm...

Heading on to the dirt path for about a mile and a half.  I have never gone past this point on the trail.

Hit mile five and I am heading back...  I feel really good and strong at this point.  It may be that about the last half mile was down hill a bit.  Look how far behind my hubby is.  Okay, he was doing 10 this day and doubled back before this point.  Let's just pretend I am ahead. 

Here he is passing me...  He finished his 10 miles in an hour and a half.  Jerk! 

Ya, Think?!?  No one said running wasn't a dangerous sport!

Passing my house...  I WISH!

At this point I have two miles to go and my legs keep telling me to just walk and maybe stop for a Gyro.  I was not doing good mentally here.  I kept thinking about the hill at the end of the run.  I was thinking how I hate this and would much rather be down there at the coffee shop having some gossip with my favorite gal pals!!!  Luckily I ran slower but did not walk.  I got a little energy back around Brusters and kicked it in from a 4.8 to about a 5.2. 

It is the home stretch now.  I am almost there.  Just have to get up this hill and around the bend. 

 

My legs are killing me.  My breathing and general energy is good at the end but my legs feel numb and so tired.  My end time 5:43!  That would give me about 15 minutes to finish the last mile to make my goal of 10 in 2 hours a reality next weekend.

Thumbs up!!!  Done with nine and on to 10 on race day. 

That's all for this Monday.  Next week stop back for my race report and the following week I will give a weight, diet, and exercise update. 

Thanks for reading!

Mother's Day Reading - I'll Always Love You

"Alex's mom says that she will always love him, no matter what. Alex still isn't sure. He doesn't want to get into too much trouble for the broken honey bowl! Even if Alex gets into a pillow fight, paints the baby all different colors, or pours oatmeal over his head, his mom says that she will always love him. Gentle text and sweet illustrations show the unconditional love a mother has for her son. This book will assure children that no matter what they do their parents will always love them. "

IDEA FOR AFTER READING THIS BOOK!


Cut out six heart shapes for each child.

Heart one say's: My Mom Always Loves Me

by: ______________

Heart 2 Says: One time I ____________________________ and my mom still loved me.

Heart 3 Says: My mom loves me and she also loves to _______________________________.

Heart 4 says: My mom loves me and she loves to eat ________________________.

Heart 5 says: I love my mom because __________________________

Heart 6 says: I am so lucky to be loved by my mom! (include a picture of the child here)

Need Mother's Day Ideas?  Click Here!

Moo... It is Monday!

Hey!  Thanks for stopping to read Moo... It's Monday!  I really appreciate your comments and your never ending show of support.  It is amazing how supportive and encouraging people can be.  Even if you don't comment, I appreciate you taking the time to read this.  Moo....  It's Monday has kept me accountable since I started posting about my challenges with exercise and diet! 

12 days till race day and I am happy to report that I think I can!  I think I can run this straight through without walking.  I think I can do something I never thought I would do.  I think I can finish this in about two hours!   In 12 days I think I will I know I will be able to say, "I ran in a 10 mile race !"

Hey you, if I can do it, so can you.  I think you can!  I know YOU can!!!  Get off the couch and start by walking.  Then do the couch to 5K.  That is how I started!  The program works and it really is what it says.  If you are not a runner, this will make you one.  Let's face it, if you want something bad enough, you can really do anything.  Put you mind to it, believe in yourself, and put your foot forward.  The internet is filled with tips, recipes, running schedules, and anything you may need to know to get it done. 

Steppping off my soap box - sorry!  When I loose all this weight, I will step back up...  Don't worry, that is many, many, many... months away!!!  

So, this week was good.  Hope yours was too.

Exercise - Monday 5 Mile Run
Tues.  Boot Camp (It was really hard this week.  One of the most difficult weeks since I started. When I say hard, I don't mean hard in a bad way.  I think I got killer workouts that really challenged me to work outside my box. )
Wed. Boot Camp
Thur. Boot Camp + 2 mile run
Friday - 3 mile run (I remember when I would dread a three mile run...  now these are my favorite!)
Saturday - 8 crazy miles with the kids and my husband.  My son rode his bike (he rocks) and my super fast running hubby ran with the crappy jogger stroller.  So if you are local, this is what 8 - 9  miles looks like ( start at where 19 meets Valleybrook and run to where the bridge is over McMurray.  Turn around there.  Run back to where you started.  Turn back around and run past Farmhouse, past Peterswood park turnoff, past the horse farm and go to where the trail splits.  Turn around at the split and run back (it's downhill back, THANK GOD!!!!) 

So the 8 miles was a slow run.  My hubby and kids finished 15 minutes before me.  My hubby is fast.  He's been a runner for a long time.  He was in the Navy...  I wasn't (ha-ha)! However, I felt great and only stopped once to go to the bathroom at Farmhouse.  I am still working on figuring out what to eat before a run so that I don't feel like vomiting.  This time I had a bagel and apple.  That seemed to work with my stomach. I also was telling my boot camp coach about how I wanted to try running gels, like GU.  I am a little nervous to give those a try.  She suggested I put Electrolytes in my water.  Well, I put some in my water bottle (which I love and linked to if you click).  It really helped me with energy.  I felt good all of the run and liked having my water with me.  The bottle is great.  I can fit my Blackberry in the pocket.

Diet:  This week was okay.  I am hungry with all these runs and get a little confused on how much I should eat on a long run day.  I blogged about my two awesome clean egg recipes, stop by if you did not see it this week.  I will give a weight loss update in about two weeks.  I have lost a few since my last loss update. 

Motivation:

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."  -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."   
-John Bingham, running speaker and writer
 
SHARE:
 
I got my new running pants that don't make my thighs rub together.  I look like a big whale in them... but they are comfy!  Check it out!  My water bottle is below too!
 
 

 

Activities for Five Minutes' Peace

'PreSchool-Grade 2 Mrs. Large determines to have just five minutes' peace from the mess and confusion of her beloved children. She fixes herself a tray, runs a tub of lovely warm water, fills it with bubble bath, and hopes for those precious moments alone before facing the day's activities. The ``activities'' follow her to the bathroom, where, one by one, they present her with their special talents of playing the recorder, reading aloud, and dumping favorite toys from the toy box into the tub with her. When all three children climb in, Mrs. Large decides, with a groan and resignation, that she will try for five minutes' peace in the kitchen. Cheerfully bright watercolor illustrations depict this endearing elephant family with distinctive humor and expression, totally complementing the text on companion pages. However, while the text is simplistic enough for primary readers, the humorous depiction of a beleaguered mother is adult-oriented. Some children may wonder why Mrs. Large wants to get away from her children. Nevertheless, a hearty chuckle can be experienced during a shared reading time between a mother and her childrenperhaps eliciting a bit of understanding.' Mary Lou Budd, Milford South Elementary School, Ohio

Activities to Match This Super Cute Story!

Ask your class why they think Mrs. Large wants to getaway from her kids. The answers are always fun to hear!

Now have the kiddos make a card. On the front of the card, have them draw their mom taking a bath.

Inside the card, put this poem!

Here's a gift for Mother's Day.

I try my best in every way.

But if you get upset with me...

Time to relax and soak!! Don't you agree?

For Mother's Day, I give you Five Minutes' Peace!'

Love,
(Author Unknown)



Attach to some homemade bath salts.

Click here to learn how to make bath salts

You could attach bath beads or bubble bath.

For more Mother's Day Ideas, click here!

Recipes to Use With All Those Eggs!

We boiled a ton of eggs this Easter Holiday.  I tried two healthy and clean recipes with the eggs.  They were yummy and I wanted to share incase you were looking for something to do with all those hard boiled eggs. 

Deviled Egg - Not Quite

This idea actually cam from Katie, my boot camp coach.  She said to take the yolk out of the egg and put hummus inside.  It is a  awesome!  You really should try it!  Just buy your favorite hummus and boil some eggs.  Mmmmm!!!  I also saw this recipe for Hummus Deviled Eggs.  I did not try this one, but it looks much better than the traditional recipe that includes Mayo!

Clean Egg Salad With NO MAYO!!!
I read online that cottage cheese could be used to make egg salad rather than mayo.  So I found a recipe and tweeked it a bit and came up with this.  I am guessing it is only about 90 calories a serving. 

.25 cup fat free cottage cheese
1/2 tbsp rice milk
1/2 tsb of RiceVinegar
1 tsp mustard
4 hard boiled eggs whites
1 hard boiled yolk
2 Tbsp chopped green onion or red onion
2 Tbsp chopped celery
dash curry powder
.25 tsp sea salt
dash of garlic powder

1. White cottage cheese, vinegar, and milk until smooth in medium size bowl.
2. Blend remaining ingredients except egg whites with cottage cheese mixture.
3. Add diced egg whites to cottage cheese mixture. Mix well

Number of Servings: 2  Mmmm, it was yummy!

Let me know if you give any of these a try and how you like them!

Here are tips on boiling the perfect egg!