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Teacher Appreciation Gifts: Pool Your Resources Online
Date:May 23rd, 2013 | Category:Teachers | By Liana

Deposit a Gift recently rolled-out a new fundraising platform and there are so many creative ways to use it! As the school year comes to a close, one idea that comes to mind is for a group gift approach to Teacher Appreciation Gifts.

Make It Easy For Busy Parents to Contribute Online:

This mom created a site as a group-gifting tool so that the parents could easily contribute to this teacher’s gift. They are pooling their money online to get their favorite teacher a group gift card — so much easier than having to go from parent to parent asking for and collecting the funds via cash or check.

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Get the Word Out

Whether it’s offline via a flyer, or online via email, do what you can to let parents know that you’re raising money for a gift and who it’s for. Encourage them to check out the fundraising site where it’s easier to contribute money than sending your child to school with a check.

Create Specific Contributions

The great thing about crowdfunding is that the money you get can be used towards anything — think of it as breaking-up a big ticket item into accessible parts so that people can contribute at any level they are comfortable with. With a site like Deposit a Gift, you’re able to customize your fundraising site to show what you are raising money for and how you will use it. You can even give people the option to contribute to different items if you are raising money for more than one thing, whether it be tickets to a show or to fund part of a summer trip. Everyone likes to give personal, meaningful gifts and parents will feel great knowing that they are contributing towards something the teacher really wants, rather than another mug they don’t need.

Think Outside The Classroom.

These appreciation gifts aren’t just for teachers! They would be great for other faculty, administration, food services staff, and janitorial staff at your school. If there’s someone who has created a difference in the school and excelled in their work, then creating a fundraising page will help give them their well-deserved piece of gratitude.

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Say Happy Birthday with a Fabulous Kid-Friendly Theme
Date:May 23rd, 2013 | Category:Birthdays, Kids, Pinterest Inspiration | By Jessica

We know how time-consuming and stressful throwing a birthday party at your home for your child can be. The first step to organizing a great party  is to pick a theme. Once that’s decided, everything else will fall into place! Here are some cute themes to consider:

A little monster bash.

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A chevron rainbow art party tablescape.

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A girl’s Minnie Mouse party.

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A festive ladybug-themed party.

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New Baby, New Room: How to Create the Perfect Baby Room
Date:May 22nd, 2013 | Category:Babies, How To, Kids | By Kaity

If you’ve never created a baby room before, you might not even know where to begin. But with some creativity, you can put together a room that will create memories for years to come. As you anticipate the arrival of your little one, make this process fun by preparing a safe and playful environment.

Safety First

When it comes to choosing the products for your baby’s room, you must meet safety precautions. That means safety everything: from furniture to paint to accessories to bedding, you have to make sure it won’t be harmful to your baby. Don’t be blinded by the cute products out there, make sure you check reviews and the product before making your purchase.

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Color

Before you choose your color scheme, keep in mind you want a place that evokes peace and serenity for your baby. Choose palegreens, lavenders, or blues. Don’t forget to purchase safe, odor-free paint or those that are labeled as “eco-friendly”. You can add some visual interest to the walls with simple shapes such as diamonds, circles, squares, or moons. Or you can add wall decals with different animal figures.

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Floors

Purchase floor covering that’s washable, safe, and flows with your color choices. Open the windows and allow new carpeting and flooring to air out for at least a week before introducing your baby to the room. Add optional area rugs that are made of natural fibers and are washable.

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The Furniture

When shopping for furniture, give yourself plenty of time – six-to-eight weeks – just in case any pieces are back-ordered or you have custom needs. Look for the essentials: a crib, dresser/changing table, rocker and shelves at reputable baby stores. Don’t forget to check all the furniture carefully when it arrives. Look for defects, chipping, paint, and safety issues. Allow the new furniture to air out before the baby arrives for at least a week. Don’t forget to place the crib and other pieces away from windows and secure them to the wall with brackets and bolts, as recommended by the Home Safety Council.

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When you’re all done with the room, tour and inspect the room before your baby arrives. Consider hiring a professional safety expert to look things over for potential hazards you missed. And when that’s done, enjoy the special space you created for you and your baby.

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Wildlife, Travel, & Adventure: The Top Spots
Date:May 20th, 2013 | Category:Fresh Ideas, Travel | By Kaity

We had so much fun hunting down our favorite travel destination for the adventurous types, we just had to do it again! If you’re looking to travel, have an adventure, or snap some shots of wildlife, these are the spots you can’t miss.

Africa

If you want a true adventure, Africa is the place for you! Eyes on Africa offers the Ultimate African safari tours that bring you up-close and personal to the wonders of Africa. Africa offers views of towering dunes, dramatic mountain ranges, pristine beaches, and cast tracts of open plains.

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Alaska

If you don’t want to travel all the way to Africa, Alaska is another place that offers great wildlife adventures. Enjoy a day of guided hiking, rafting, kayaking, and then relax at wilderness lodges on the Kenai Peninsula and in Denali National Park. Alaska Wildland Adventures offers inclusive tours for those who share interest in the Alaskan wildlife and search for a little adventure.

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Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon gets your adrenalin pumping with arduous hikes along the North Rim and whitewater rafting trips on the Colorado River. After a day of excitement, you can relax around the flames of a campfire with fellow adventurers. This natural wonder is full of surprises for those that venture its trails.

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So get your hiking shoes ready and begin on your adventurous journey!

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Top Tips for a Professional Fireworks Display at Your Wedding
Date:May 17th, 2013 | Category:Guest Experts, Weddings | By Guest Blogger

One of the most important aspects of any wedding is the entertainment follows the ceremony itself. It keeps both the newly married couple and their guests partying long into the night! We all know about live bands, DJs, and dancers, but this new trend will really blow your mind. Any guesses? Fireworks! So, how can you ensure that your fireworks display is excellent and professional? Fireworks Crazy will tell you how.

Bring in the Pros

Weddings are perfect for DIY, but not when it comes to fireworks. Someone who knows what they are doing with fireworks and will take care of the display for you is what you want. This avoids the situation where you – on your wedding day, no less – or a family member has to take responsibility for organizing everything about your display. There are many professional display companies available to give you a memorable display that everyone at your wedding party will enjoy.

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Know What You’re Getting

Hiring a professional fireworks display person or company, on the face of it, sounds as if it would be an awfully expensive thing to do. However, you can get a spectacular 10-15 minute display without having to spend a fortune. Of course, if you want to go bigger and better, that’s your own prerogative. If you have specified a budget, it is likely that a company will have a selection of fireworks that fits into your price range and desired length of display.

Companies That Do Everything

You should only have to do two things when it comes to organizing a fireworks display at your wedding.

  • Find out from your venue whether holding a fireworks display is acceptable
  • Find a professional display company that takes care of everything

When we say everything, we mean everything, including liaising with the venue and setting everything up without you having to get involved. The only additional queries you may need to address are whether or not there are any specific fireworks that you want included in your display.

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Think Outside the Box

It might sound crazy, but indoor fireworks are totally possible! And we’re not just thinking sparklers. Popular indoor fireworks include exploding snakes, snow and ice displays, and bright swirls. These will probably need an additional consultation with your venue, but they are great for adding a touch of difference away from the usual things like confetti and bubbles in miniature plastic champagne bottles! Go professional, think beyond the norm, and do not be fooled into thinking fireworks have to eat into a large percentage of your wedding budget. Make it happen, and ensure your wedding is memorable for all.

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This article by way of Fireworks Crazy, an online and showroom seller with some of the finest collection of fireworks for sale.

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