Back To School Decor

It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas....BACK TO SCHOOL!  It's been an amazing summer packed full of trips, lots of family time making memories, escaping to cooler mountain weather, and late nights.  But now we have to get back into early mornings and this year my little one is starting kindergarten!  I can hardly believe it.

I created a mantle to get me back in the mindset of learning and so we can hopefully ALL get excited about our new "big boy school" that I've been talking up all summer long.

 This table came together easily with things I already had in the house, and of course the giant ceramic apple from Target's dollar spot...which I may be planning on turning into a teacher's gift.

End of the Year Orange Treats

When I saw Eighteen25's "orange you glad it's summer" pun, I couldn't get it out of my head and knew I had to create my own version for some fun end-of-the-year treats.  Last year's treats were equally simple, but still delicious.  

 This time around, I took orange slices and dipped some in melted chocolate and sprinkled with just that tiniest amount of sea salt.  They taste JUST like those chocolate oranges you get around Christmastime.  Addicting as well.  I spray painted the tops green to mimic the orange on the tag stick on a simple tag to tie in the pun and boom!  Little effort, and big impact. 

Be sure you don't forget those bus drivers & aides, they deserve to be rewarding for dealing with your children all year, too!

Bus Driver & Aide Gifts (with printable!)

My son started his first year of pre-school this year (super late, but that's a different story.) And almost everyone in his class takes his bus and for the first 2 days I did his pick-up/drop-offs he was SO sad he couldn't get on the bus! So he started taking the bus & his thrill and excitement did NOT dwindle, friends! He could not get on that bus fast enough.

I cried his first day of school, and so of course I was anxious about sending him on a bus all. by. himself. But thankfully he had 2 amazingly sweet & kind drivers and equally wonderful aides that kept me as ease.  So on the last day of school I gave them each a special treat!

This free printable is available below, and has 2 "driver" and 2 "aide"s on each paper.  Before I cut them out,  I had my son write his name on each and then took a little water color to splatter them. I cut them, attached with glitter tape and tied with baker's twine. 

They were so appreciative for them and it made me so happy to give them just something little to show my appreciation for making the process so easy on my momma-heart!

PSST! If you want to see the end-of-the-year treats I did for 2016, go HERE.