Children's "Masterpieces"

Maybe it's the teacher in me, or just the proud parent, but I absolutely LOVE the things my daughter brings home from school! Only problem is..... where to put them ALL??? It's at least three things a day she brings home, and I can't put them all on the fridge, but I also want to recognize all the hard work she is doing, so I was in a predicament. That's when I saw this Pin on Pinterest:

I love it, but let's be honest, I've been out of wall space for a long time now. ;) Then the wheels started turning in my head.... I had also seen another pin for using picture frames on your fridge instead of just cluttered pictures. So I decided to combine the ideas and use the little display space I had left, my back door in the kitchen! We're in the kitchen all the time, and that big door just sits there, blank. Why not use it?

So first, I decided that at the top of the door I would write "Mary's Masterpieces." I typed it up in a few different fonts for my daughter to check out..... 

Of course, she chose none of the above. She wanted something "simpler" (She's 5!) So together we found one we liked. 

Then we went to Michael's and bought a few 8x10 frames that were on clearance, some super strong magnets. When we got home we took the glass out and I hot glued the magnets to the corners of the frames. Then, she chose art work while I applied the vinyl decal to the top of the door. Here's how it turned out..... 

Of course, we can't put everything up there, but she loves coming home from school with her favorite "treasures" and changing them out when she wants to. (Like on Saturday, when she changed them three times!) Yet another reason I love five year olds! :)

So if your children's masterpieces are taking over, try it... or something like it! And if you want a vinyl decal like mine (or you want to dream up a custom design) check it out in my Etsy Shop! 

Smart or Crazy?

One of the traditions we've carried on from my husband's side of the family is our annual Christmas cookie baking bonanza. I call it a bonanza because my daughter and I spend HOURS upon HOURS baking cookies in the weeks before Christmas. At least 5-10 different types, all in several batches. Crazy, yes. but also yummy. ;)

So what do we do with all these thousands of cookies? We bring them to all the people we know and love when we see them.... teachers, friends, relatives, neighbors, and even the UPS Man who we love. (My sister swears we are the only ones in the world who give the UPS Man cookies!) 

Every year shopping for tins to give them in is a challenge. They are always too cartoony or too expensive or just plain tacky. And after all that work baking, presentation is just as important as the yummy deliciousness inside. So this year I decided to buy blank tins (or mostly blank tins) and decorate them myself. 

So then the question became, on the small red ones, do I write "With Love From Our Home to Yours" or "With Love From The Januszka Family." If it has our name on it, people can't reuse it.... but do people really reuse them? If it does have our name on it, it seems more personal, but is it over the top?

What do you think? Am I smart or crazy to personalize my cookie tins? Would other people?