Simple Solution Sunday: Ribbon Roll Call

I love wrapping presents and putting really awesome curly Q's on them! Don't you?!? However, I do NOT love how tangled all the ribbon gets sitting in a basket in my arts and crafts closet. Honestly, it is downright maddening. A while back I bought tension rods that were intended to help wrangle the ribbon in my sewing area. Unfortunately, the tension rod I purchased was waay to big. So, I set it aside, intending to use it for something else. But, I never could come up with a use for the thing. So it sat. Until I had to start wrapping Hanukkah presents!

Let me tell you, I do not even want to think about the amount of money that I may have wasted over the years just by cutting instead of untangling the curling ribbon. So, in comes the tension rod! Seriously, this may be one of the best and all-time greatest of my simple solutions!

Here's what I did...

First, I read the instructions that came with the tension rod about how it works. (Every brand is a little different, so be sure to read the instructions that go with the rod you choose.)

Second, I marked how long the tension rod would actually be in the closet.

Third, I put the ribbon spools onto the tension rod.

Fourth, hang it up! and enjoy knowing that your curling ribbon will never be tangled again.

A tragedy today

Today we as a nation experienced yet another tragedy inside a school. As a teacher, this is something that I try not to carry with me. I don't want to think that anyone would ever want to harm me or any of the children I teach. I don't want to think that anyone would want to harm any of the people within our school.

As a parent, it is scary for me to imagine how helpless those parents must have felt to not know what was happening to their children or the best way to help in such a scary situation.

As a citizen of our country, I simply don't want anyone to hurt others in such a way. Or any way for that matter. It saddens me that there have been so many challenges and traumatic events since my eldest daughter was born in 2001.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families connected to this tragedy. I know their grief must be unbearable. I'm choosing to believe that all of those children are now in art class with the best art teacher I ever knew, my mom.

New food Friday

Today, while in Walgreens looking for a snack I happened upon the kettle corn section. I have been a fan of kettle corn for a while now. In fact, my entire family is highly addicted to the kettle corn sold at our local Costco from the Angie's corn brand. It comes in a large yellow bag and is truly delectable.

But, Walgreens did not have such a brand. So I was required to try something new. I opted for the kettle corn brand and the cinnamon sugar flavor it's definitely a different flavor. Not one I dislike, but not what I was expecting. I really enjoyed the sweetness of the sugar. It reminded several teachers of the children's cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but better. I don't know how often I will seek it out. But, I do recommend giving it a try.

While at Walgreens I noticed that pellegrino water was on sale. Since I have never actually had it before, I decided to go ahead and give it a try as well. I drank it several times throughout the day and while I don't know if it will ever be the first choice I make over something else, it definitely was not bad.

All in all, tasty new treats.

It's here! It's here!

Some of you many already be aware of my obsession of all things Erin Condren.  If you are not familiar with this brand...be warned the following post may make you an addict....

I am so much of one that Annie has a planner, I have a planner for personal stuff and a teacher planner for school (with matching stickers and cell phone cover) and I give them at the end of the year for teacher gifts!

Well, this holiday season, I decided to get Erin Condren Gift Tags. They are so pretty and I wanted to do something that would make my gifts look special for our friends and family. This seemed like the perfect way to set our things apart from everything else.

But, there was a glitch in my plan. They weren't here! I have been waiting and waiting and waiting. My order was delayed and I was getting concerned about when they would arrive so that I would be able to use them on gifts for our friends and family. I had emailed back and forth with customer service and I was VERY concerned with when my order would arrive. In the meantime, I had also ordered Holiday Postcards and I was very worried that my holiday postcards had still not arrived either.

Needless to say, imagine my surprise when I got hope to see one of those awesome Erin Condren FedEx boxes sitting on my kitchen counter! Check out what was inside!!! My new planner with my "favorite things" and my name and my holiday gift tags!

Who can be upset with a thing of beauty like that?!? And who doesn't love sitting down and writing all their dates in their planner. I always feel like it keeps my brain attached for me!

As Erin likes to say....

~enjoy!