Best Gifts for Teachers

Twice a year, during the December holidays and at the end of the school year, parents have to think about whether or not to give their child’s teacher a gift.  Finding something that shows your appreciation for all of the hard work she does can be a challenge for several reasons.

What are the best gifts for teachers?  I have been teaching since 1987, and the following list is based on my personal opinion and those that my colleagues have expressed.

Read for more great gift ideas, and for what not to give!

Sofia the First Backpacks

Disney's Sofia the First is a pint sized princess who has captured the hearts of both preschool boys and girls everywhere.  Kids cannot get enough of her adventures, her music and her funny horse, Minimus.  Now fans of the hit Disney Junior program can go back to school with Sofia, as her face is on several different styles of backpacks.  There are small sizes for preschoolers and larger sizes for big kids.  There is even a Sofia the First
lunch tote!

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Lies and Liars: The Jodi Arias Lies

Lies and Liars: The Jodi Arias Lies: Few trials in the past few years have captured the attention of the American public more than the Jodi Arias murder trial .  Ms. Arias was accused and convicted of murdering her former boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in his home in Mesa, Arizona in 2008.

The trial system in Arizona allows for the jury to write out the questions they have, and the judge will ask those questions for them.  Among the questions they asked were some that indicated that the jurors were having difficulty believing the story she was telling, since she had told so many lies in the past.

It appears that Jodi Arias told a number of lies before and during her trial, starting with her very first police interview.  To make matters worse for her, she changed her story several times over the years.

If you want to learn more about the specific lies she told, read the full story at http://lies-and-liars.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-jodi-arias-lies.html

Facts About Tonto-The Lone Ranger's Right Hand Man

On July 3, 2013, Disney will be releasing a long anticipated Western-a remake of the classic The Lone Ranger.  It stars Armie Hammer as the Masked Man and Johnny Depp as Tonto, his faithful Native American sidekick.  Directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, it has been an ongoing project since it was announced that it would be filmed back in 2008.

This is not a typical Disney summer blockbuster like Monsters University, which is aimed at the kiddie market.  The Lone Ranger is for older kids and adults.  Filled with action, it only bears some similarity to the classic black and white television program from the 1950’s that starred Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels.

Much is know about The Lone Ranger, but what about Tonto?

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What Are the Symptoms of an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating do not happen overnight.  They occur because of a combination of factors, both environmental and biological.  Because this is a mental illness which has a high percentage of reoccurrence, it is challenging to cure.  In fact, it can takes years before the condition can be considered stabilized.

Many parents are unaware that their son or daughter has an eating disorder until it has developed into a full blown illness.  Because we as parents are unaware of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, many of the red flags that are waving right in front of our eyes are not seen.  We blame teenage hormones for the mood swings, testing the waters of different kinds of foods for dietary changes, and the desire to “get in shape” when they decide to start an exercise program.

However, when all of these things come together, it may signal that your child has an eating disorder.

But how can you be sure?

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My Favorite 1970's Bubble Gum Pop Albums

My favorite teen idols of the 1970’s were young and dreamy looking, with shaggy hair that was just the right length to be considered long and smoldering eyes that seemed to look right at you from the cover of their record album.  These guys had voices that made tween and teen girls swoon.  The boys whose albums dominated my record shelf during my girlhood did not look like bad boys, but the kind that you could bring home to mom and dad.

Catching them on The Mike Douglas Show, Merv Griffin or Dinah Shore after school just made my day.  Before VCR’s and DVR’s, if you missed an interview that included a “live“ (read lip synched) performance, that was it.

Here are some of my favorite bubble gum pop music albums that I listened to until I practically wore them out.

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Surprising Facts You May Not Know About Miss Kay from Duck Dynasty

The A&E hit program Duck Dynasty just completed their third season on the air.  Although the “beards” are the primary focus of most of the action, the woman standing in the background who has controlled most of it for years is Miss Kay.  As the wife of Phil, mother to Willie, Jase, Jeptha and Alan, and sister-in-law to Si, she quietly rules the roost in her mild and gentle manner.  Her daughters-in-law respect her, her husband reveres her and her sons will do anything for their mother if there is the promise of food at the end of the job!

But who is Miss Kay?  Is there more behind the apron that we realize?  Here are ten surprising facts about her that you may not know.

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Sofia the First Bathing Suits

I am lucky to have had two daughters who absolutely loved Disney princesses.  With my older daughter, she lived in her Ariel swim wear for many summers, only needing an updated and bigger size.  She had everything from one piece suits with a matching sarong to flip flops and cover ups that completed her look.



With the non-stop skyrocketing popularity of Disney Junior’s Sofia the First, combined with the warm weather now upon us, it is natural that bathing suits featuring Princess Sofia are now available.




Read more about where to buy your Sofia the First bathing suits here.