May blew in and it feels like Christmas time again with gift season upon us. May brings many gift giving occasions like: teacher appreciation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, wedding season, graduation…May is the month to sing, Chic’s “Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic…” My head always spins in May, it’s the “freak out” month. 

For end of the year gifts for your child’s teacher, don’t freak out, remember it’s supposed to be a gift FROM your child. Why not make sure your child’s name is part of the gift? When pregnant with my first baby, I was reading Franny and Zooey and that’s how I came up with my daughter’s name, Zooey. The same is true for my son Quincy…I was reading about John Quincy Adams. You can find something with your child’s name in print and make your gift extra personal and memorable. 

I take a lot of pictures and the end results make a spectacular gift for my classroom volunteers…pictures of their children throughout the year. Pinhole Press is one of my favorite places to shop. I would love this accordion brag book as a mom because it’s like a parent’s version of the yearbook. Aren’t you always supposed to give gifts that you would love?

It’s almost summer and people always need new beach towels and sunglasses. ASOS has a fashionable and affordable selection.

I combined the ideas and put them in a cute “take-out” box from the container store. 

For the graduate, give the inspiration to travel with 36 Hours in Europe. The newly engaged couple should read The New-Fashioned Wedding. You can’t go wrong with books. I’m pretty sure my mother is featured in My Mom Style Icon and she would also love Domino, the book of decorating. For my dad, the Grateful Dead Father’s Day card is just too cool! The ultimate Mother’s Day gift would be Pino’s Close to my Heart Giclee canvas. 

My son recently had a classmate who had a going away party because his friend was leaving for Taiwan. We made him a personalized t-shirt at Cafe Press with a picture of his class. 

Has anyone ever written you an ode? I think of John Keats when I think of odes…romantic, heavy and emotional. Now imagine a child writing you an ode…sweet, innocent and the best gift ever! Those are the best gifts…the one that comes from your heart. One of my former students personally delivered this ode to me last week…what a treasure and again THE best gift ever!

Need more ideas for teacher appreciation see here. More gift ideas for May, see here.