Back-to-School Already?!

Can you believe summer break is almost over? Are you ready? My summer is already over. I'm back in the classroom after 8 years. I've been working around the clock putting together a preK classroom. I'm plumb exhausted. 
I thought I'd share some super cute back-to-school ideas/projects I found on Pinterest. Now, if only I had the time to actually make them.... 
Super cute, easy-peasy gift for the teacher for the first day of school. FREE printable on Simply This and That! 

A-DOR-ABLE door hanger for your new teacher. This looks so do-able! Maybe one of my students will make me one?!? Yeah, I don't think so either. I may just have to give up some more sleep and make one for myself. Thanks for the tutorial, Warm & Fuzzy! 

O-Mmm-Gee! Look at how cute these apple pretzels are?!?! I'm not linking it because the link is showing to not be safe. Sorry about that Bake.Bake.Celebrate. I think this could be recreated fairly easily without having directions. 

I know my kids would LOVE this. What a cute way to gear up for the beginning of a new school year! Check out the directions over at Pen N' Paperflowers. 

LOVE, love this idea of a back-to-school dinner night with the family. The decorations would be easy to put together. Check out the cuteness over at Our Family Blog. 

If you're going to have a Back-to-School dinner, you're going to need a Back-to-School dinner recipe. Here's one of my family favorites - Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops. Thanks to One Day at a Time for having a great picture with the recipe. This is recipe I use and I've shared, I just can't find my picture. Bummer. No worries. You'll find other great recipes over at One Day at a Time as well. 

Have you found some great ideas to kick off back-to-school?! If I had hours to spend, I could find so many things to make.... if I had time. {sigh}

When do your kids start back? Ours actually start on the 15th. I, on the other hand, have been working for a week in my classroom. I report for meetings on Friday. Life for this housewife is drastically changing. 

~Mrs. Alright

Wishing I could do it all, like.... 

Always the Fool

It probably says a lot about our family when I tell you that April Fool's is considered an actual holiday in my house.  I'd like to blame the Doc, but that wouldn't be too honest.  This year, I forgot to really plan out some good tricks.

As a last minute lame attempt, I was going to show my kids the "road kill" I saw.
It was not the winner of the day.

Michael was a disappointment as well.  His best joke was the good old "your shoes are untied" standby.
No one falls for that anymore around here.

Doc had nuthin'.

Jacob was the winner.
Jacob came home with brownies that he made in art class.

Any of you who have read my blog in the past know that I am not overly thrilled with the art teacher at the elementary school.  She's often cranky with the kids and grades the artwork a little harshly.  If you want the back story, you'd have to go here. 
It's kind of funny if you ask me.

When Jacob announced he made brownies in art class and brought them home to me, I was filled with dread.  I think I started to break into a cold sweat.  I am soooooooo not kidding.  The germaphobe within me was having an absolute panic attack.

He was going to make me eat food made with a thousand little dirty nose-picking fingers.

I saw the foil and was completely grossed out by how flattened they were.
But... the joke was on me.

I had carefully unwrapped a bunch of BROWN E's.
I have never been so relieved in my entire life.
I even forgot to be embarrassed about being April Fooled.

Here is my clever little trickster.

I was so amazed that I told him his (typically cranky) art teacher was very clever and must have been in a good mood.

That's when I found out they had a sub that day.

Aha!

Did any of you get fooled this April 1st?

~ Mrs. Priss
Fooled by a 2nd grader like...

St. Patrick's Day Family Style

If you are like me, you have nothing green for this St. Patrick's Day. I will share the cute ideas I found with you. My girls wanted green nails. Found this polish at our corner Walgreens for 99 cents.

Saw this idea & thought it was cute AND easy. Great idea for lunch boxes or friends.

Free Printable Here
I love to do crafts with the kids. This idea from Parenting Magazine is just too cute. Cute to display for  future St. Patrick's Day decorations.

In our house poop is a popular topic. I even receive poop texts from time to time. When I found this idea I just knew I had to make  it for St. Patrick's Day. 

Free Printable Here On behalf of all the RHOK girls we wish you nothing but green this St. Patrick's Day. Here is a little blessing for you.

Free Printable Here

What do you do for St. Patrick's Day? Share your ideas with us. xoxo- Mrs. Montgomery Chasing that Pot O' Gold, Like...

Make Your Own Ornaments!

We get pretty excited about Christmas around here.  

My family started decorating Thanksgiving week - and we're almost done.  Our pace is killer - as in so slow it's killing me!  I start shopping early for extended family so I can hand them wrapped presents at Thanksgiving.  Yes, I'm so cheap that I refuse to pay shipping.  I even started baking (*gasp*) things that can be frozen for later in the month.  Yes, it's true.  I love having things done early so I can just coast and enjoy the season!

It's only December 5th and I'm curious how many of you are as immersed into the Christmas season as my family is.  Mrs. Albright, Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Sinclair are all either done or almost done with their shopping and decorating.  Only Mrs. Priss (that would be me) has started baking.  The other housewives have declared me insane on this one.  Most of the RHOK have only wrapped a minimal number of gifts.  Mrs. Montgomery is on a different track.  She has done very little for Christmas and plans to do a little each day to prepare.  I think she is just making sure the family celebrates her birthday first.

Over Thanksgiving break, I decided on a whim to put my boys and niece to work creating dough ornaments.  My mom used to make these with me when I was a little girl.  Sadly, mine have only slightly improved over the years - but they are still fun to make!

After you mix the dough, you begin making your ornaments.  Roll and flatten the dough into the shape want to make.  To attach other pieces, dampen your finger with some water and moisten the area you want it to go to "glue" it in place.

The "Before"

After you get your ornaments just right, put a bobby pin or a paper clip in them (so you will have a place to attach a hook later) and let them dry out.  I usually put mine in the oven on a baking sheet at about 200 or less.  I leave them in the oven overnight and keep going until they completely dry out.  If you aren't going to be able to check them every couple of hours, just turn the oven off but leave them in.

Once they are dry and they cool off, it is time to paint!  I use acrylic paint and a variety of paintbrush sizes.

Jacob is having fun with his creations!

Our crazy ornaments.

The "After" for my tree

It was fun to see what my boys would create.  Michael stuck with Nintendo themed ornaments.  Jacob stuck with his own creation - Evil Toast!  Believe me, it's going to be a hit someday.  No stealing his idea!

Eeeeeeeevil Toast King!

These are mine. Just plain ole Christmas.

Once the ornaments are painted and dry, spray them with that shiny stuff that makes them look all pretty and glossy.  That's what you call it if you are not really a crafty gal.

Those of you who are crafty would call it... I dunno.  Clearcoat? Spray Gloss? Varnish?

You decide.

Ready to hang on the tree!

If you want to try this at home, I am attaching the recipe for you.  And if you actually make some ornaments, please post them on our Facebook wall.

~ Mrs. Priss

Enjoying the Christmas season like...

My Own Little Antiques Roadshow

Are you a junker?  Do you like going to Antique stores full of garage sale items?

My friend Lisa always finds treasure in these places, but I just find some great things to point and laugh at.  Lisa has a talent that I don't have - she can make trash look like treasure!  I may not love these places on my own but I always have fun walking the aisles of the store with Lisa.

I know you're hoping I'm about to show off Lisa's treasure, but I'm not.  And as cute as Lisa is, she refused to be photographed.  

I'm going to show you what is trending at the junk antiques store in Jenks, Oklahoma.  I must warn you - I am not the iPhone-ographer that Mrs. Albright is.  I snap 'em and I show 'em - without the editing.  

Just keeping it real.  

Or being lazy.  

Whatever you want to call it.

Are you ready?

Doll collectors and makers - this is your place.  

And... your place is creepy.

This is where serial killers go to find ideas for body disposal.

baby in a bag

parts in a jar

I saw this in a 1980's horror film

peek-a-boo... I see you

This is where Cabbage Patch dolls go to die.

The "beautiful designer doll"

Never fear, junking is not only for doll collectors!  You can buy clothes appropriate for anytime from 1970-1985.  I am seriously coming back here for Halloween.  I did score a totally hot Christmas sweater for $4 with all of the bells and whistles.

I'll just show you a few more exciting things I found before I sign off.  Something has to get your mind off of those creepy dolls, right?

*** shudders ***

I should have tried this on.

toilet seat cover - complete with pee stain

silver arm

Can we have a crazy Easter sweater party?  

Satan called.
He wants his puppet back.

Everyone knows that old saying about manure.
And everyone wants it framed on their wall.

I think this was a Stephen King movie.

A wreath with a random girl's picture in the middle?

c'mon... vogue...
(picture Madonna's video)

Used toddler potty seat cover - I did not check this for pee stains

Now I will leave you with a wink and a smile.

Or a wink and a grimace by way of these evil babies.

Makes me think of a bald Chucky doll or The Shining.

I can almost hear them saying "RED RUM" while riding their tricycles.

Hey, hot stuff... wanna ride?

Are you a junk store aficionado?
Where are the good places to go and what do you find?

Mrs. Priss

Sorting through the trash like...

who narrowly escaped the serial killer who followed us through the store.