Light The World for Yout

Light The World starts tomorrow, and I have been working all week on this Light The World Packet for Youth. I originally had thought to do just a couple of things to encourage my Young Women to participate. Then as I started creating, it just kind of took on a life of it's own.

When I started working on this there wasn't a program specifically for youth, and serving with and having my own youth, I decided it was a must. 

I am really happy with how this turned out and I really hope and wish that this packet is helpful to other parents, youth leaders, and youth themselves. I hope you will share it and use it.

Here is what the packet includes:

Light the World Calendar

Idea Sheet (Several ideas for each day.)

Scripture Cards

Printables (Coordinate with the stars on the idea sheet.)

                 - DIY Ornament

                 - Set of tags

                 - Sunshine Notes

                 - Memories of Mom and Dad

Here are a few sneak peeks--

I know it is the day before and some of you might see this after Light The World has already started. The good news is that you can start at any time.

Parents: You can download and print one set and go over it with your youth. Print tags, scripture cards, and calendar on cardstock. The rest can be printed on regular paper.

Leaders: You can download, print, and make copies. Same printing instructions as above. Assemble all the pieces in gallon resealable bags. Explain to the youth how to use it. You can even do several of the activities on the days they fall on youth nights.

I really hope you enjoy this and that it helps your youth get excited about this AMAZING way to celebrate Christmas.

Download Packet Here

You Drive Me Bananas Valentine

Contrary to much public opinion, my children like the banana flavored Runts. In fact, my youngest really likes them. So add that to the fact that PicMonkey had this ADORABLE monkey face overlay and I really couldn't help myself. I just had to design this banana classroom valentine.

It is a simple tag that can be attached to a small bag of banana candy. Did you know that you can buy bags of just the banana Runts? Well you can. Huzzah! I bought the bag of banana candy, and thank heavens there were enough for small fingers to steal some while we were assembling them.

They really are simple and perfectly sweet. My itty bitty is so excited to had these out at preschool.

Download the printable. Print on cardstock. Cut and attach to a small treat bag of banana candy. Easy as pie...a banana pie. Sorry, I had to. I obviously have a problem. Seriously though, these will come together so fast and are sure to be a hit. Remember, even if you don't like the banana flavored candy (insert hand raising here), most kids do.

Download HERE

Make sure to also go and check out my PL-IZZA Be Mine Valentine classroom valentine from yesterday. There is also a list of some of my other classroom valentine ideas.

PL-IZZA Be My Valentine

Classroom Valentine's are kind of a big deal at our house. I have said this before, but every year I think I am out of new ideas. In fact, I was pretty close to just using an old idea or one of the meeeellions of cute ideas on Pinterest. Then out of no where-okay not really no where since I have been obsessing about an idea all day every day. Anyway, I came up with this pizza valentine idea.

Seriously, "PL-IZZA be my valentine", I still giggle when I say it. Just ask my husband. I giggle and he rolls his eyes at my adorableness. These are my favorite for sure this year, if not of all the ones I have done. In fact, like I said on Instagram (@larissa_anotherday), I liked them so much I am making two of my kids use them.

I ordered these cute efrutti gummy pizzas (they came in a box of 48, just perfect for two of my kids to use).

Here is the available print off. Seriously, I know they might be "cheesy", but anything pizza is always a good idea. Oh gosh. I think I am so funny. Some one has too. Click on the link to download the file. Print off on cardstock. Last, attach a gummy pizza.

Download HERE

This is a great gender neutral valentine. Which is a big deal around these parts because boys don't approve of unicorns, hearts, and any thing too cutesy (unless they are being ironic). Look for my next classroom valentine idea tomorrow.

Also, be sure to look at my other classroom valentine ideas.

O-Fishally The Best

So Cool

Soda the Best

Love You Like A Love Song

All That and a Bag of Chips

Funny Valentine

Outta This World

Bubble Gum

Minecraft Be Mine

An Apple For Teacher

Some are already back in school. We have about three more weeks. I really like to show up to back-to-school night with a gift for our teachers. Last year I chose to go with the classic "apple for teacher" theme. I thought a little outside the box and went with little apple pies for the teacher. I used store bought pie dough and apple pie filing. I lined the inside of the smallest sized mason jar with pie crust. A couple of spoonfuls of pie filling was topped with a lattice top. To make the lattice I cut out strips, wove them together and then used the ring from the jar to cut out a circle top. Then I sealed the top to the crust in the jar by gently pinching around the edge. Bake at 325 until the crust is golden brown.

Once they were done and cooled, I printed off these tags...

Download HERE

I put the mini pies in a cupcake box. Then I wrapped the box with yarn, punched a hole in the tag, signed our names, and tied it to the box.

I am pretty sure my kids got all A's because of these pies. I feel like they owe me or something. Kidding, my kids are smarties and didn't need no stinking pies. However, I am sure the teachers didn't mind getting them.

You Are Gonna Do FANTAstic Tags

Every one needs a little pep talk once in awhile. They especially need it when they have a big event coming up.

In the last several months I have had quite of few beautiful young ladies I know taking college entrance exams. Do you remember those days? Were you cool, calm and collected? Or were you like me...a hot mess?

I wanted to cheer my girls on, so I made these FANTAstic tags and attached them to, you guessed it a colorful bottle of Fanta soda.

I made four different colors to coordinate with four different flavors of Fanta. You can download your very own sheet of good luck tags. Just click on the link below.

Download HERE

I know have a small stock pile of Fanta soda in my food storage just waiting for a moment to wish someone good luck. When the times comes, I can just print off a sheet of tags, cut them out, and tie them to the bottles with a scrap of fabric or yarn.

I am sure this "magic" Fanta good luck gave them the mental power they needed to ace their exams. In short, I am sure they did FANTAstic.

Good luck to you in all your endeavors today, and have a FANTAstic day!

Basket of Sunshine {with Printable}

Is anyone else ready for Spring yet?

ME! ME!

I actually don't mind Winter. However, here in Idaho Winter comes early, hits hard, and lingers. So about the middle of February I start longing for Spring. In fact, in these here parts of the woods if we have a day in the low 40's we leave our coats at home and some even brave a pair of shorts (mostly adolescent boys).

So yes, I am ready for some sunshine and Spring.

Speaking of sunshine, today I have this fun and easy Basket of Sunshine idea for you and there is a free printable.

We used this basket of sunshine as an act of service. We had a person in our neighborhood who was going through a tough trial. We wanted to let him know we were thinking of him. So we went to the store and gathered up a cartload of yellow things.

Some of the things we chose:

-box of Golden Grahams cereal
-snack size bag of Golden Oreos
-Lay's in a canister
-bottles of Fanta pineapple soda
-bags of microwave popcorn
-small bag of Peanut M&M's
-Lemonheads

I spray-painted an old crate we had bright and sunny yellow. Once it was good and dry, we loaded up the crate with our sunshine goodies. I tied a bit of fabric around it and attached the Sunshine tag.

Save the image of the tag to your computer and then you can print it off in the size you need.

This really is a fun way to brighten someone's day and to get out there and offer a bit of service. My kids really became invested in this little service project. I love service like that. Plus you guys know how much I love myself some color coordination. 

You're So Cool Valentine

It's is February.  Time for some more classroom valentines. Every year I stress that I am officially out of valetine ideas. One of my favorite ways to spark ideas is to hit my stores party aisle. I peruse around and just let my brain wonder. This year I found these sunglasses and immediately jumped on the emoji band wagon. I made these You're So Cool emoji valentines.

Whew. One more classroom valentine done.

I have four classroom valentines to make this year. It will be the first and only time I will have four to make. Next year Oldest will be in Middle School and will be too cool to hand out valentine's.  I have already shared his tweenage approved Valentine for this year over at Skip To My Lou.

But today it is all about this valentine, which Little is not too cool for. In fact, he is just the right amount of cool.

I found these sunglasses at The Mart (Walmart if you don't know my lingo) in the party department. They were super affordable.

I made up this valentine using PicMonkey, and made it available in a pdf.

I attached the sunglasses with a little thread and some tape on the back. These were super fun, super easy, and very kid approved. Short, sweet and to the valentine point.

Download You're So Cool Valentine HERE.

Two down, two to go.

Do you need more classroom valentine ideas? Check out this post of Boy-Approved Valentines.

Printable Lunch Bag Labels: Making School Lunch Fun

Back-to-School is right around the corner. A short corner for some of you. Thank heavens my corner is a little longer. Whatever the size of your corner, alas it is back to school time. Avert your kiddos eyes from this post if they are not ready to think about that yet.

I don't want a mob of school aged kids wielding torches and pitchforks on my front lawn.

Back to school means lots of things, but one of the things that always stresses me out a little bit is school lunches. I pack 90% of the lunches my kids will have during the school year. My kids just prefer home lunches. So home lunches they get.

I try to make lunches fun and to offer a bit of variety to what they might get. For this next school year, I am loving these individual milks from Shamrock Farms available at select Walmarts nationwide. The summer price on these milks is $1. A buck! That is great for lunch on the go now and it is a great price to add some variety to a school lunch with a fun a nutritious drink.

The fact that Shamrock Farms mmmmilk has 2%  strawberry, whole white, and 2% or whole chocolate milk just make the find even better. Shamrock Farms milks are pure, fresh, nutritious, and have no added hormones.

Plus how cute are these bottles?

I wanted to match how cute and fun these milks were by creating a fun lunch sack printable. I love printing on lunch sacks and, once you get the hang of it, it is really addicting. My kids won't have a lunch like this everyday, but on special occasions, like the first day of school, these lunch sacks are fun.

I created a few images and I am making them available for you to use.  I have given a tutorial on how to print on a lunch sack HERE. There is a little trial and error involved since every printer is different.

However, the basics are-

You need to save the images below to your computer as a JPEG.
Insert the image into a Word type document.
Adjust the size, and flip the image upside down.
Move the image on the page to where you want it.
Print on a paper lunch sack (every printer will allow this differently)

Once you figure out your printer, the possibilities are endless. Lunch can be fun forever more. Or at least on days you need to send a little extra love in their school lunch.

Like on the first day back to school. That first day can be rough sometimes. Nothing a cute lunch sack and some yummy milk can't fix.

We really love this milk. My boys just drink it right down with giant happy grins on their faces. Shamrock Farms milk is a great addition to our local Walmart. I totally think you will love it too. To celebrate the expanded distribution, Shamrock Farms is launching Roxie's Ultimate Back-To-School Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive nearly $5000 in gift cards to stock up on back-to-school supplies, groceries, and a new wardrobe. You can enter HERE.

They also have great collection of nutritious and protein-packed recipes that pair perfectly with these yummy milks. Some of Roxie's Midday Menu recipes are even perfect to go in a fun an healthy school lunch. Check out the Banana Rolls, the Fruit Kabobs, and the No Bake Energy Bites.
Tell me, "What do you like to pack in your child's lunchbox?”  Each comment will automatically be entered to win a $100 Walmart gift card.

Entry Instructions:
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4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher.com email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/27/15 – 9/4/15.
Be sure to visit the Shamrock Farms brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Strawberry Shortcake Thank You Basket

Strawberry season is closing in. Are you as excited about that as I am? Where strawberries are there is strawberry frozen yogurt, strawberry lemonade, strawberry pie, strawberry spinach salad, strawberry jam, and of course Strawberry Shortcake. I recently had a few friends do me the biggest favor ever. They watched my three older little men while my littlest man and I went on a week long trip. There is no feeling like not having to worry about where your kiddos will be during the day while you are out of town. That kind of peace of mind deserves a really a big THANK YOU. A BERRY special kind of Thank You if you will. Hahaha. We all have people in our lives who are BERRY sweet. There are teachers, neighbors, friends, moms, and so many others all awesome enough to be thanked with Strawberry Shortcake.

Making your own Thank You Strawberry Shortcake Kit is really easy.

Just gather up all the stars of the show. Starting of course with the leading lady. Strawberries.

Then we have whipped cream.

Now introducing the strawberry glaze and cakes of the shortcake variety.

Everything is store bought. I simply prettied everything up just a tad. I put the strawberries in a fun paper berry container. I added a paper doily and yarn to the whipped cream. The store bought strawberry glaze found a new home in a fun textured mason jar.

I printed out the Thank You tag and attached it to the basket with a cloths pin.

 

 

Download Berry Thank You Tags HERE

It has never been easier, prettier, and yummier to say thank you to that awesome person in your life.

Now I can say thank you to my berry special friends with a little Strawberry Shortcake Kit. I am pretty sure they will be my friends forever now.