Flowers for a Teacher

Last week was a tragic week for educators here in the states when two teachers sadly lost their lives at school.  These events have especially saddened and frightened me because I am married to a teacher and am friends with many teachers.  I know the dedication that many teachers, counselors and administrators have to their students.  I know that teachers not only teach, but protect your children when you leave them in their care five days a week.  I know that teachers sometimes go home and worry about the well being of their students.  I know that teachers perform acts of kindness throughout the year for students, but are never thanked. 

Before the beginning of last week, my husband asked me to make a couple of arrangements for a counselor and a teacher at his school.  The staff at my husband's school doesn't have "secret Santa" during the holidays, but instead they do something similar in October and "boo" or surprise a fellow colleague with a special little gift.  These are the arrangements I created and this is how I was able to thank a couple of educators for all that they do.  Now, it's your turn!  Take some time and thank an educator.  You could donate your time and volunteer in the classroom or buy a teacher lunch - the simplest gesture can mean so much.  Don't forget the school's counselors, secretaries, principals, etc. too.  Often these key people in the school are overlooked because they don't have a classroom of children, but remember they too help to make your school a success and play roles in the success students.  Get out there and do something kind for a teacher and have an amazing week my friends!  I'll see you next week with some more pretty blooms!  

   

Dahlias + Fall Leaves

My sister-in-law's dahlias are blooming like mad right now and I couldn't let them go to waste.  I had to throw in some fall leaves for good measure.

Fall Inspired Table

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year.  I love the cooler weather, colors, smells and flavors.  Pumpkins and leaves are just my thing.  I got married in the fall and my first child was born in the fall, so I have several reasons to celebrate the wonderful season.

For my daughter's eighth birthday party we decided to just go with a fall theme.  I wanted punches of color with the flowers; which included zinnias, dahlias, roses and mums.  All of the flowers except for the roses came from a farm owned by a family friend.  For the foliage I added in crab apples, Japanese maple and smoke bush.  I had to put some gourds and pumpkins on the tables too.  I'm also obsessed with ornamental cabbage and kale for fall, so that found it's way onto the table as well.  

Sunflower Arrangement

I recently made a hand-tied bouquet for a friend as a house warming gift.  For some reason I forgot to snap a picture of the hand-tied bouquet to share with you and I loved the way it turned out too.  Anyway, I had some pieces leftover that I didn't want to go to waste, so I played with them and this is what I came up with.  I added in some sedum and ornamental grass from my garden to the leftover sunflowers, zinnia, gomphrena and tanacetum that were purchased from a local flower farm.  As you can see, it turned into one colorful, happy arrangement.  Have a fabulous week friends!