that's a wrap

Today is my dad's 89th birthday!!!!  It's always hard to find presents for men, but especially for older men who don't "need" anything.  My dad has fond memories of his grandfather taking him into town to "paint the town red"  at the local five and dime, so that was the inspiration for his birthday gift. I filled a paint can with some gift certificates to local shops in town: one to the bookstore, one to the ice cream shop, and even one to the package store!  I used a paint sample as the card and I hope he has fun doing some shopping for things he wants. My dad is an amazing person, who at 89, still rows in a shell on the lake where my parents live.  This is a photo I took with my phone last summer of my children watching him row.  It's one of my favorites.

that's a wrap

This was a thank you gift I gave to a friend.  I found an adorable glass cloche that reads "Bon Appetit" etched on the cover. I decided it would be fun to give her something to put inside of it too, so I got some macaroons from a local bakery.  I put it all in a recycled clementine crate and tucked in a thank you note written on an Eiffel tower card.  I love using these crates to hold gifts.  One of my friends actually used them to place little treats for her out of town guests at her wedding.  So cute!

that's a wrap

Here's another fun summer gift.  I put a tie dye kit and plain white t-shirt (both found at Michael's) in a tie dye bucket!  I also tucked in a peace sign shaped lollipop just for fun.  Again, this is a great gift for kids of all ages.

summer sangria

I have a new favorite summer cocktail! It's made with a mint simple syrup, orange juice and Champagne!  You can find the recipe here.  I made the mint simple syrup but only used about a half cup in each pitcher.  The first time I made it I used the whole two cups and it was way too sweet.  Now I can make four pitchers with the one recipe for simple syrup, I just save it in a jar in the fridge and I'm ready to make it any time we have guests over.  I also don't zest the fruit, just cut it up and throw it in like Giada does in the recipe.  I hope you'll try it. It's very refreshing and great to serve at parties!

that's a wrap

My favorite gift to give this summer is a root beer float kit!  I have given it as a hostess gift and as dessert for a meal train. I included pretty straws, bottles of root beer, and some vanilla ice cream.  You can find pretty paper straws everywhere these days.  I found these chevron patterned ones at Marshalls! If you wanted to add a few more fun details you could include some root beer mugs and an ice cream scoop.  If you have a long distance to travel you could also give a gift certificate for the ice cream too. This is a fun and versatile gift for people of all ages.

thanks a melon

Last night I had my last board meeting for my son's preschool.  I was co-president this year and wanted to do a little something to thank everyone for all of their efforts to volunteer for the school.  As I have mentioned before I love to make sugar cookies.  I already had some dough in the freezer so I quickly rolled it and cut it into the shapes of watermelons.  I frosted them with two colors and popped a round black sprinkle into the holes for "seeds."  I packaged them in white glassine bags which I stamped with "thanks a melon." These would also make darling end of year teacher gifts too.
I am finally feeling like my school year commitments are over and I am ready to start enjoying the summer.  We are leaving on Saturday for a week at the Cape. Besides celebrating the 4th of July with lobsters and fireworks, the next day my husband and I will be celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary!  You guys helped me pick a great movie for our seventh anniversary "Seven Year Itch" and last year I got "Dinner at Eight." Any good suggestions for our ninth?!

that's a wrap

 Two major themes that my daughter's class studied this year were trees and family.  Her teacher also loves to garden, so I tried to think of a nice class gift that would incorporate all of these things.  I asked each of the students to decorate a puzzle piece to look like themselves and attached clothespins to the back which I used to hang on the branches of a hibiscus tree.  I also collected a monetary donation which went towards the purchase of the tree, pot, supplies and a generous gift certificate to the local garden center, which is hanging on the back of the tree in a red envelope.  A friend made the "rm 17 family tree" banner and I think it was the perfect final touch!  This would also be a fun project to do this summer for a family reunion.