I'm Stealing it #3

I stumbled across a blog and found this great idea. I think it is so cute as I struggle a lot with end of the year teacher's gifts. Luckily for me, our pre-school/mother's day out recently has started a deal where you just give money. You give what you are able to give, the amount is not disclosed. The money goes into a pool that is divided up by the percentage of hours a teacher works per week. The only issue with just giving money is that it lacks a personal element but for now I'll take it. I've been a much less stressed mom in the final days of each semester since this optional policy was instituted. No longer am I running around looking for a gift during my last few hours of freedom before they let my little maniacs out for break.

I'm sure once my children get into official school they won't have that gloriously easy group money gift option. Most definitely I would have reverted back to that crazed lunatic running around town looking for just the right thing that says "thank you for teaching my child his multiplication tables and oh by the way I'm sorry he put seven live frogs in your desk drawer" - but now I don't have to!

I found this on blogger Andi's site and she found it from another blogger. I'm new to this blogging thing but I think there is an endless world of bloggers out there, if you take some time to look you can find the most amazing stuff - but I'm rambling.

Anyway, I think it is a very personal and thoughtful idea for the person who spends so much of their time with your children. What makes it even easier for me is that my grocery store has an entire rack of gift cards from places all over, so you might be able to do this in one store!

Anyway the gift is a gift card booklet. You purchase a few $5 gift cards - to places like Starbucks, Borders, Bath & Body Works, Ice Cream Place, Movie Theater, or whatever. Then make a booklet with a themed page dedicated to each item. The booklet can be titled "What will ____ do for the summer?" (Insert the teacher's name). Then make a page for each gift card you purchased - i.e. "Go to a movie" and have a picture of some popcorn and candy and insert the gift card and so on.

It is a little difficult to explain, so to see how cute this can turn out you should check out Andi's page. Since I have not made one, I don't have one to show you but two years from now when I have to make one, I'll definitely post a picture. Until them I'm going to enjoy just writing a check and being done with it.