My Favourite Gingerbread Recipe

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopeattie/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Not made with my recipe, but looks similar.


I made a lot of gingerbread this holiday season! Once we tripled the batch and it wouldn't fit into the mixer anymore.

I thought I'd share the recipe that I've been using, and perhaps you can enjoy it next Christmas, or maybe 'just for'. :)

* Melted butter, to grease
* 125g butter, at room temperature
* 100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
* 125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup
* 1 egg, separated
* 375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour
* 1 tbs ground ginger
* 1 tsp mixed spice
* 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
* Plain flour, to dust


Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush 2 baking trays with melted butter to lightly grease.
2. Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the golden syrup and egg yolk and beat until combined. Stir in the flour, ginger, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Press dough into a disc shape. Cover with gladwrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.

3. Place the dough between 2 sheets of baking paper and roll out until about 4mm thick. Use cutters to cut out shapes (we used star shapes). Place on trays about 3cm apart. Repeat with any excess dough.
4. Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until brown. Remove from oven. Transfer to a rack to cool.
If you want to, decorate the gingerbread with icing.

Wreaths and Decorations

From Clayitagain

Resolutions for next Christmas

I want to make more decorations, particularly a wreath
I want to cook more foods. This year I made gingerbread!
Watch more Christmas themed tv and movies (this year I saw The Big Baby from Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, AD/BC and that's about it.)
Donate more things
Make presents for friends
Have a Christmas party for friends.


What are yours?

A Christmas Joke

In our bon bons, we, like every other user of bon bons, get bad jokes, and read them out to our families. We'd just finished reading out such delights as "Why are fish easy to weigh? Because they have their own scales!" when my brother said something about laughing at a joke about Tiger Woods the other day. My aunt asked him what it was.
And he launched right into it.

"Why is Father Christmas better than Tiger Woods? He stops at three hos"

Cue a gasp and a laugh, and my grandfather asking him to repeat it and then explain it, and my mother being horribly embarrassed. My aunt explained to him, and it went okay but my goodness I wouldn't have been brave enough to tell a dirty joke in front of my grandfather!

We had slightly upmarket bonbons, with such prizes as giant paper clips, round dice, little notebooks, tiny packs of cards, and nail clippers. And jokes on shiny paper. The other day my brother and his girlfriend had a Christmas party with their friends and had jokes like " Why are elephants not small, white and fluffy? Because then they'd be an aspirin".

One day I want to make bonbons with better jokes in them, and perhaps sell them on Etsy.

We also have a tradition where we must cross our arms to pull the bonbons. Fun times! How about you? Do you have any? What was your worst or best joke this year? Any particular traditions?

Santa Claus vs Father Christmas

When I was little, he was called Father Christmas, NEVER Santa Claus. Santa was, we were told, what children in America called him, and Saint Nicholas, what people in Europe called him. He was all the same person, but he was drawn and portrayed in different ways. Father Christmas usually didn't have a hat (when seeing him in real life. He did on cards and on the big statue of him in the mall), he had a wreath of holly or ivy on his head, he also often



wore a robe or a hood. He often wore glasses. Sometimes he had pants and black boots, other times an ankle length robe or coat. He seemed a bit more mystical though he was still jolly. Over the years, the increased American media, and the Internet, has led to people in shops calling him 'Santa' on signs, and children saying 'Santa' because of the tv shows they're watching which have him in it. My own brother is saying 'Santa', and he's 21. But he also insists on saying 'cookies' and 'candy' instead of biscuits and lollies just to piss me off- he likes saying the American words in a 'funny' way, like he's imitating a tv show.

This change makes me sad. I'm not entirely sure why, maybe because it's another example of us losing our uniqueness. A sign of commercialism, and mass media, and almost brainwashing.
'Father Christmas' puts a nice, calm image and feeling in my head. 'Santa Claus' somehow does not. It almost doesn't seem like the same person, though I know the idea is the same.
I will find it weird if my children eagerly await 'Santa' where I was excited for 'Father Christmas'. A weird culture shock in my own country and within 20 years. I guess I can still call him Father Christmas with my own children.

People right now are complaining that Santa is too fat, and is a bad example. Father Christmas (and Saint Nicholas for that matter) were never traditionally hugely obese (sure in some books they were, but the ones I saw in shops, were not). Maybe a bit of a belly but it didn't usually require shoving 3 pillows up your front. Maybe we should go back to the look they had in the 80s rather than the look they're having now. Then they still look Jolly, rather than like Gandalf dressed in red.



What did the Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, etc etc, look like when you were little? And do you still call him the same thing? (Especially if you're not American). What do you think about that?









































The actual Father Christmas of my childhood, from the John Martin's Christmas Pageant. I visited him in John Martin's every year.

































Somehow him not having a hat makes a difference. And though he looks reasonably similar to the American one here, except not having a hat, most of the Santas around the place that I saw as a kid had hoods, long robes (sometimes over the top of the belted suit), no hat, glasses, long hair (not just a long beard) and all sorts.

*sigh* I hate change.

Merry Christmas!

It's 11 pm on Christmas Eve and I'm ready to go to sleep. Tomorrow, we have to wake up at 7, as my brother is going to a Christmas Breakfast, plus two other Christmas engagements other than for our family- insane boy, and making our Christmas as full and early awake as it was when we were little.
I'm quite happy with the gifts I have chosen/made for other people, and something great is happening- my boyfriend is spending the day with us. :) I'm looking forward to it. The Christmas tree looks great, the weather will be nice (21 degrees celcius ish), I really think this year has a lot of potential.

I was going to try to write something awesome and profound, or rant about something, but I don't really have anything. I'm not very prepared am I? But I have a list of things that I'd like to talk about after Christmas. I'll take photos, I promise.

Have a wonderful and safe Christmas everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!

Merry Bloopy!

One of my favourite shows is Maid Marian and Her Merry Men.

It is a musical, historical, comedy/parody show that I believe is great for all ages. It has Tony Robinson who is currently doing many historical documentary shows like Time Team, but was also Baldrick in Blackadder.

MMMM is a parody of the Robin Hood legends that is saturated in historical anachronisms. Marian is the leader of the gang rather than Robin. But more about that another day.

Since it's almost Christmas I thought I'd share one of my favourite songs from it! Father Bloopy. From the episode "The Big Baby".

The Sheriff is trying to get out trouble for having a parcel stolen by the Merry Men, and so he and the two guards, Gary and Graeme, invent the holiday of 'Bloopy'- which means deliveries can't be made! They get a bit carried away with their invention of it, and invent Father Bloopy, a man who is supposed to bring presents to everyone on Bloopy. The King is outraged- why isn't HE getting any Bloopy presents?? They then invent the 'tradition' that all the villagers must give presents to Father Bloopy (the King in disguise) in order to get a present in return. So they head off to the village to convince everyone (and Robin who happens to be passing) about Father Bloopy and how great he is.

My favourite quotes "And in his stable he has got sixteen hippopotamuses, and he harnesses them to a silver sleigh, cos he doesn't like using buses!"

"He'll climb right down your chimney stack, but if you haven't got one, he'll crawl right out of a radiator valve, unless it's a very hot one, then his hippos will come and smash down your door, and if you've been good he will thrill you! To good girls and boys, he gives presents and toys... but if you've been bad, he will kill you!"

Watch it, and have a Merry Bloopy, everyone!

If you are or were a fan, make sure to join the fanforum! And if you want to watch it, it IS available on dvd! (and much better quality than this video)

Gobsmacked

At last year's Lobethal Lights, (see previous entry) we witnessed something that totally shocked us. My Mum, brother, his girlfriend and I were walking along the main road. There's a house there with a verandah, and it had these toys that were moving up and down on a mechanism, attached to 'parachutes' I think it was. All these different toys were clipped onto it. There were people all over the place even though it was dark.

Suddenly, a car pulled up. It was full of laughing teenagers. One jumped out and ran up onto the porch. I don't know what we were thinking, maybe that she lived there. She grabbed one of the toys, ripped it off of the clips that were holding it, and ran off back into the car.

We just stood there, totally shocked. Our minds had all gone to about five different assumptions before we realised what was going on, and by the time we had, it was too late for anything but my brother's girlfriend to call out something telling her off.

Sorry, Lobethal people, that we couldn't save your bear. :(

When have you been gobsmacked?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lapstrake/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Lobethal Lights and the Beach

This post contains random parts of my life, a date idea, and tourism in Adelaide ideas. Plus probably other stuff.


Yesterday was a hot day, almost 40 degrees, and my boyfriend and I decided to go to the beach- one of the many things on our Making The Holidays Great list we've made. We went to Semaphore Beach, which I highly recommend if you want a very safe swimming beach in the Adelaide area. We went with my pool noodles, were laughed at by a drunk/weird man who thought I was a boy (seems you're a boy if you're not in a bikini!) who said we looked as ridiculous as his three legged dog, and threw a ball for his dog. Drunk/weird but at least funny. The water was beautifully warm, and so we sat in probably waist deep water enjoying it for hours. We got out, and then went to get some chips with chicken salt and tartare sauce... mmm. Met some seagulls, felt sorry for another 'gimpy' one that was missing a foot, and fed that one 6 chips. The other seagulls were so angry with that seagull by the time we left- they actually came up and pecked it in the back of the head a couple of times! Whoops.

As we sat on our towel at the edge of the dunes, big black clouds were rolling in on the horizon. Instead of making a run for it, we decided we'd stay and watch, as huge bolts of lightening were shooting across the sky in the distance, and it was still warm. We stayed until it started to rain, but it didn't bother us as we were still in our bathers. I think we got the better deal than the people who ran home!

We then decided a bit randomly, that we'd drive up to see the Lobethal Lights. Lobethal is a town in the Adelaide Hills that has a huge reputation for its Christmas Lights on most of the houses. They get many thousands of tourists yearly. We're going to see their Pageant on Tuesday, but that gets so crowded we thought we'd get an early look in.


So, we made the 30 or so minute drive up through the twisting Hills roads through a short cut that my boyfriend knew of because he used to live there. We originally intended to just drive around, but we changed our mind and walked around, still embarrassingly dressed in bathers (though I'd put on a sarong and a tshirt) and with our hair looking like we never wash it. We explored many of the places that he used to hang out in as a child, even though it was dark. This whole thing was a lot more spontaneous than I usually do, and I greatly enjoyed it. We explored one of the Christmas markets they have, saw many lights, laughed at bogans, ate a boysenberry icecream, drooled over the pancakes that we couldn't afford as we'd only brought enough money for chips, and were rained on in a humid, huge drops, sort of way.



Then came home and played Sims3.

All in all a fantastic afternoon/evening/night out! :D

Christmas Decorations

Danish hearts by ViolinKeri
I want to make Christmas decorations. Now that I have dexterity in my fingers, unlike when I was in junior primary school and making popstick stars, I can actually make some decent things. Even simple things look nice.
I'd like to make some bead angels, make some polymer clay ornaments, and whatever else I can find. They'd be great to give as random presents to brighten people's day.




Link

(our tree is just a tree, no animals. And our candle thing holds two tiny candles, one at each end, and has people in it, not a town scene).

I'd like to make some from different cultures to remind me of our travels. In our house we've got some little ornaments from Germany- some wooden deer, and a tree made with curled shavings, and a little candle arch thing. They had them all over Germany and we loved them. Several years later my mother's penfriend sent us a tiny one. Getting the wooden tree was an 'ordeal'. We were in a Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas market) and I pulled myself together, got brave, and asked in a pretty good attempt at German, how much the little tree was. The woman answered me in German, and I asked her a few more questions. Until she said "Oh, let's just speak in English. I'm American!"

It was my first night in Germany and my first attempt at German too.

I'd also like to make some Danish paper hearts, as pictured above. I didn't see any, because I didn't go to Denmark, but when I was student teaching my mentor had one pinned to her noticeboard near her desk. It seems like a great project for kids either at home or in class, and you could teach them about different cultures and traditions while you do it, or you could buy them to give as cards or to put in your windows, if you're not in a making mood like I am.

I think I'm going to make it a tradition that every year, I'll make some more ornaments.

Hi, I'm a Gravy Addict

(not my gravy boat)

I am a major gravy addict. I love it. Absolutely love it. People tell me 'do you want some roast with that gravy?' I'm exactly like this kid. (except for the something sweet) I'll eat leftover (and refrigerated) gravy from the roast the day before, heated up, and then with toast to mop it up with. So. Good. I love gravy so much that I was given a 1920s gravy boat for my 18th birthday. I thought it was brilliant. I was given a little green one shaped like lettuce leaves for my 21st. Also brilliant. I have a beautiful silver one somewhere too. Usually it's just put in a jug, and it doesn't stay there long. But it's nice to know I could present it prettily if I wanted to!

My Dad is the Gravy Maker in this family. He is also the Roast Cooker.
So you'd think, that at Christmas, I'd be able to get lots and lots of delicious, wonderful, gravy. Most important meal of the year, involving roasts too.
... nope. :(
Because my Dad cooks the turkey on the webber.
How Australian is that? We *barbeque* the turkey.*

(not our webber or turkey. Imagine this, but with a whole turkey, not just legs)
So I have to make do with fake, powdered gravy that does not taste at all good on turkey.

Okay, I know that part of the 'issue' to do with this is space. We have fish on one tray of the oven, and vegetables on the other. So it's a great additional cooking space. Barbequed turkey still tastes good.
It means that Dad and my grandfather, and when my uncle is over from Scotland, and occasionally my brother, can enjoy standing around outside in the warm weather. At least, they seem to enjoy it.

But. No. Gravy. Happens. :(

This year I think I need to put a plan into action. Because after over 10 years of this no gravy travesty happening, I am fed up with it.
I asked online, and people recommended 'Gravy in a Jar'.

It certainly looks more appetising than the powdered gravy. But I don't know if it exists in Australia.

Many foods don't exist in Australia. (and in other countries, and visa versa).
I've been talking about camping lately, asking for advice on what to take. Not only can people not understand that we're not allowed campfires at this time of year, they also insist on me taking freeze dried foods (only available in very expensive camping shops) or things like 'tinned mashed potatoes'. ... ew. Does not exist. Or they talk about making 'dump puddings' (ignoring again that we have no campfires. :P) which require 'yellow cake mix'. I have no idea what that is! And it goes on.
So apparently the USA has vast 'fake' gravy options.

Please tell me someone if those gravies in a jar exist, because I'd totally give them a go!

... I'm thinking of trying something like getting Dad to make a bunch of roasts, and then I don't eat much gravy, and then we freeze it, and Christmas will be Saved for me!

Or I could go to takeaway shops and buy containers of gravy a few weeks previous to Christmas.

I'm taking charge this year of this gravy situation. No more!

You might see me on the streets this Christmas, trying to score gravy.





*well, slow barbeque. Over coals. For hours. Not quite the same as chucking it on the barbie.

Gifts To Give To Teachers

Now that you've read my 'Gifts Not To Give To Teachers and Why' series (which might be added to later!)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
and left me some lovely comments, I'm going to start on 'Gifts To Give Teachers and Why'. Like the What Not To Gives there will be exceptions to my comments (for example, the teacher might be very prepared, or a brand new teacher who needs a lot of stuff), and I truly believe the best thing you can do is get to know the teacher a little, or ask your child if you are the parent. Like before, feel free to argue.
This list is also not in any particular order.


Magnets by magnolyadesigns, $5.50


Bippityboppityglue, $3.50


I Heart Grammar Magnet $3.50 Vozamer does some AWESOME ones that I certainly wouldn't turn down as a geeky teacher!




1. Good, Strong, Non Tacky Magnets, or awesome pretty/cool pins.




I've seen some LOVELY strong magnets that are little and tasteful, and often could be themed to the teacher's interests, and can be very masculine or very feminine or very themed (I love Victoriana stuff!). I know we'd appreciate them at school *or* at home on the fridge. From my experience it's only when teachers get ones with apples on them or 'world's best teacher' or an owl, or they're really flimsy, or really huge, that it's not wanted. There are some wonderfully crafty people out there, and also kids can make some really professional looking things, using strong magnets you can get from craft shops and some really pretty big buttons. And if the hand made ones break after a year, at least they were used.
Try to keep them small and strong. If the teacher is using them to put a note on the fridge or the magnetic whiteboard, he doesn't want them covering up whatever they're attaching.



Really awesome pins: I've seen some hilarious or awesome ones in shops and online. Ones that *I* would like involve little animals, flowers, etc. By 'pins' I mean ones for noticeboards. Thumbtacks with pretty things on them. You can make your own!



2. Really attractive split pins, paper clips, useable but pretty erasers, pens, etc.

Like the pretty thumbtacks, have you seen those little paper clips that look like feet, or flowers? *wants*. Useable though attractive erasers could be cool, as would pens- they always go missing in class! For male or female teachers.


3. Notepaper
I know I'm always writing down notes, and I can't imagine I'll be any different as a teacher. There're some really pretty/appropriate funny post its out there too. I *always* use post its.
Along with this goes really pretty/attractive printer paper. (note, I've made an exception about apples in the above case! See, I *told* you there were exceptions!)



4. Something from your travels, or your culture

Are you an ESL student? Do you travel a lot? Find something from that culture to give. Particularly if it's *from* or *of* that *culture* rather than being a tourist item. (Unless the teacher has always wanted to go to that particular place and would get a kick out of a snowglobe from [town]!)
For example, some chopsticks and a chopstick rest, a recipe book, a tourism dvd, a small traditional piece of artwork, or even something that could be used in a unit of work in class!


5. A book

A book that you particularly like and want to recommend, a book for the classroom, a non fiction book, a book that you feel the teacher will enjoy, a book of crossword puzzles, a book that would be a good resource for the class, a teaching type book, a book on one of the teacher's interests, a joke book to make her laugh, anything. If it's not to his or her exact taste, I can almost guarantee that it will go to good use somewhere! This might be one of those 'ooo, not sure about that one, Chiara!' things, but I personally would even love a second hand book.


Message in a Bottle

6. A letter.
This has often been quoted as the best present ever from a student or parent. A letter or note or card expressing gratitude, revealing that the teacher has helped, or whatever you'd like to write. Teachers treasure this sort of sentiment, they almost never get closure from students. This is particularly poignant if the student is a 'troublemaker' or 'difficult', or the teacher has spent a lot of extra time on that student, or if the student just sits quietly and doesn't ever cause a fuss or attract attention.
It could be written hastily on a piece of computer paper, or on a gorgeous hand made card, or typed up, or even emailed. Better yet, it's practically free!
I've seen some examples of this being done as a 'note in a bottle'.

You will warm the cockles of the teacher's heart. Once I made one of my male high school teachers cry by giving him a Christmas card and a (shame) christmas pudding. He was the art teacher and many people found him very difficult to deal with as a student.
Imagine working day after day, doing your best, and being unappreciated by hundreds of teenagers, or dozens of pre teens. This is why I gave gifts to mine, even in High School.



To Be Continued...

Which presents not to give teachers and why: Part 3

Want to know what not to get your child's/your teacher this year? Read on, and make sure you check out the first two parts of this! Arguments are welcome.



10. Fruitcake or shortbread.

I've been guilty of this before. It's probably not so bad, and since it was suggested by my teacher mother, it can't be too horrible, right? But I just realised that we have two old fruitcakes in the pantry right now. Hmn. At least you're usually fairly sure that it's clean, and it does last for a long time and won't go off! But it's another of those 'teachers get a lot of this at Christmas' things. So proceed with caution! When I got it for teachers, it was for high school teachers, who don't get many presents in the first place, so hopefully they didn't get 20 that year.



11. Bad Smelling Candles

Smell the candle before you buy it. Is it something you'd want burning or sitting around in your house? If yes, proceed! Candles, though generic, are one of those 'quite often greatly enjoyed' generic presents (Though some years you might get dozens of them, like what happens with chocolates). If not- please, choose a different one or something else entirely.



12. Giant Candle Holders

It goes in the 'where are they going to put it' category. Especially if Christmas themed. Keep it small, and try to keep it tasteful.


13. Bad smelling/cheap lotions and toiletries.

a) because teachers get too much of it.
b) because well, it's often really gross, and will not be used.
c) I have an issue with people assuming "She's female! She loves toiletries!!!" I do appreciate the sentiment behind bubble baths and things like that, that imply that the teacher can go and relax now, but most women after a certain age have a brand of hand cream, body lotion, etc, that they use already, so I've always been wary of getting it for anyone past their teens. But ah, forget it, can't get people to change years of traditional thinking just like that. :) Just make sure it smells nice, okay, and is decent quality? ... and please not Lavendar, even if I do like purple. An example of 'please use common sense when you buy'.

P.S. If you're getting chocolate AND a strong smelling soap- beware! Soap smells soak into chocolate SO fast.

And try to keep it age appropriate. My Mum keeps getting some that's clearly marketed at tweens- complete with cartoon 11 year olds, and glitter. You might be able to get away with that (and bath toys!) for me, but for 50 year old ladies? I've always found that odd. Though, some does smell really nice, or if it has cartoon animals on it, or has a theme like frogs, I can see teachers thinking that's cute. :)




14. Things that might be implying that the teacher is getting old, or that she/he's ugly or fat.

In conversation about this topic, several people have talked about getting anti aging cream. When they were in their 20s. (was it a joke? Were they saying the kids were stressing her out and she might need some anti wrinkle cream?) Similarly, makeup goes into that category, unless you have a decent reason (you're an Avon lady and you have some awesome lipstick that you really think the teacher will like, and the teacher wears lipstick generally), it will seem like you're saying she's unprofessionally dressed, you think she has bad makeup now, ugly, or that she should 'go out on the town' or something. (Though that could be a nice sentiment since teachers should go out and have a life. That would go into the 'if you have a decent reason' category). It is also inappropriate to buy things like a weight watcher's membership.


15. Inappropriate Jewellery or Makeup
Are their ears pierced? Check before you give.
Are they over the age of 14? Please, no play makeup for kids!



16. Totally random crap. Glitter or fake snow does not make it better.

"Unless you were the class mom of my 3rd grade class. With $30 she bought the teacher this mini mailbox looking thing, stuffed with pinecones, some fake snow, and a drawing made by her son.

I'm sure that got a prime spot in the teacher's house!"

I think that says it all, from this Etsyer!
If it's dusty things from your own house, please try to pick things that are awesome that you think she'd like. Or at least dust it off. Thanks!


17. Gifts assuming that the teacher is exactly the same as any other woman or teacher.

This is a hard concept. People assume certain things about teachers. That they all like to read. That they all like bubble baths. That because they're female they like crotchet or craft. That because they're male they don't! I don't expect many people to 'get this right', but I thought I'd throw it out there- teachers are people. Try to get to know the teacher and aim for that person as an individual, rather than 'she's a teacher.' 'he's a man'.


18. Clothes.

Mum once got a skirt, and a top, from one of her students parents.
... both about four sizes too small for her. Had this parent never seen my mother? The parent was Chinese, ESL, and I'm wondering if she just bought a 'large' size and forgot that Asian sizes are not 'large' for us fat Australians.

19. Underwear.
In what world is this appropriate? I've heard several anecdotes while researching this list saying that underwear was bought by parents or students. CREEPY. Do NOT do it. EVER. Unless maybe you're a lingerie sales woman. Even then, you'd still not know what stuff the teacher likes, and she also probably doesn't want the child (or you) thinking about it. *shudder*.



20. Anything at all wink wink, nudge nudge.
Yes even if the teacher just got married.
Unless you as a parent are so close to this teacher (friendships happen) that you were invited to the Hen's Night.

Feel VERY free to add to this list, and I'll make another post when/if I think of more things not to give teachers for optimum present giving!

As before, I'd like to emphasise that all gifts are received knowing the kind intention, particularly if it's from a student. These lists are merely to help you in your decision making.
Please check out the first two parts of the list!

Gifts Not To Give To Teachers and Why Part 2

Here's the second part of my posts about what not to give to teachers and why!



5. Artwork created by your child.

I don't mind if the child decides to give their hand made artwork. But as a parent- the teacher does not want your child's art work if *you* chose to give it to them. He or she is NOT your child's aunt or uncle or grandparent. What do you think the teacher is going to do with the collage? Stick it on their fridge?



6. Something that is just going to gather dust.

Is it something that you feel the teacher likes? Is it useable all year round, or really really awesome and seasonal?Do you mind if she uses it once this Christmas, and then gives it away? Or if the ornament is given to her child? If so, great! Carry on! If not... why are you giving it?




7. Chocolate
Bear with me!!
I'm NOT saying 'do not get him or her chocolate'. I love chocolate. Most people love chocolate. But if you're going for something unique, chocolate is not the way to go. It is fairly generic. (but tasty and generic!). Also your child's teacher will get about 10 boxes of it or more. Be aware also that many teachers are on diets, or are concerned about their weight. This may mean your chocolate is not eaten for a year (as she's rationing it out) like my mother does, or, it might be given away. Make sure that he or she doesn't have diabetes, and isn't allergic to nuts or other ingredients like that. But it will almost always be appreciated anyway, and as generic, default gifts go, it's one of the best. :)



8. BAD chocolate

This one isn't excusable!
Really cheap, gross tasting chocolate. It will not be eaten at all, and you have wasted your money and just made yourself look cheap and without taste, without care for the teacher. That said, no one is expecting $30 truffles. There is usually plenty of cheap, TASTY chocolate for sale in supermarkets. Even in GoLo there is quite nice chocolate for a lot less than usual.




9. Are you from a trustworthy family? If so, skip this part!

Home made food.

This is a touchy area. I LOVE home made food. Biscuits, cakes, awesome!
But ... foods that the *kids* made are often looked at with scepticism. Or foods made in dodgy households. My mother came home with cupcakes and said "Don't worry, they're safe, [student teacher] made them!". I've heard many teachers say that they don't eat food given to them by students or their parents, but I also know of many teachers who do, and love it. Mum often gets given sushi, or spring rolls, or cold rolls, or cakes, biscuits, etc, and if it's from a trustworthy family, she'll eat it.
Of course no one reading this will admit or realise they're from a dodgy family, so I guess, just try to present it so it looks nice, not mashed up or in a gladwrap ball, and is covered, and don't let the kids do it all themselves! And make sure hands are washed, pleeeaaaase.

More posts to come!


Disclaimer: Teachers like the sentiment, no matter what it is. This is simply supposed to be a guide about how to improve the gift giving for the teacher's end of it.

Gifts For Teachers: What not to give and why Part 1

I've been talking with other teachers and parents in the past few days about what not to give to teachers. All of the following gifts have been given to teachers. As with anything, there may be exceptions to these 'do not gives', many of them are just due to the number of times these are given rather than the whole idea of it. My overriding advice to anyone trying to buy a present for a teacher is a) know the teacher. b) use common sense.

1. Apple, owl, or pencil themed things. Particularly if they are tacky.
(Though the one above actually looks quite nice, I still don't want an apple decor in my house thanks).

As I explained in my previous post, teachers get this stuff a LOT. For some reason people have attributed 'teacher' with 'apples' and 'wise owls', and stationery. And apparently this means the teacher actually wants gifts with those things on them. From everyone. Imagine how often people have given him or her presents with apples, owls, or pencils. Then imagine he or she has been teaching for over 10 years. That's a whole lot of apple themed stuff. Where is she supposed to keep them all? And if you were an accountant, would you want to constantly get earrings with calculators on them, bags with bank statements on them, or little abacus ornaments? For years and years, not just a one off? No.
Your gift may be perfectly nice, (though from what I hear they're often tacky and also forced upon the consumer by catalogues and shops saying they're 'perfect for the teacher!') but everyone else is also being influenced by the market and also tradition- it's not just you. It's everyone! So please, try to be more original, unless it is an absolutely STUNNING teacher themed gift.

Please also avoid anything with the word 'Teacher' emblazoned on it in any way shape or form. Teachers have their own identities, and they also get hundreds of these things over the years.

Similarly: Things with "Miss Surname" on it, that are intended for use at home rather than at school. Um, do you want things with Mrs Jones on it, all over your house? Rather than Mary?


2. Mugs.


All teachers loooove drinking coffee, or tea when they're relaxing from the kids!
... I don't. I hate coffee. Please, get to know your teacher before you assume that teachers love coffee. (So this goes not only for mugs, but for any coffee or tea related items). Unless you're okay with the fact that the coffee or tea themed things might be redistributed to other family members or to Goodwill.
The other issue with mugs is similar to the issue with apples.

I like mugs. I do! But my mother and father, both teachers, have been teaching for about 35 years each, and each of them are given 10 mugs a year... those mugs don't get worn out. Each of those kids and their parents thought that teachers like mugs, that they drink lots of tea and coffee. Which is often correct. But everyone else thought that too!

Teachers get hundreds of them. We've got a giant cabinet full of mugs, and I don't think any were bought by us ever, except the fancy ones from overseas that came in a set.
Sometimes the mug is filled with something- this is nice! But, teachers will probably dispose of the Cadbury branded mugs after they eat the chocolate that was sitting inside it. If you'd like to give them anyway, know that the teachers did like the sentiment, and accept that teachers often don't have enough room to keep all mugs.

There are exceptions to the mug rule: Really REALLY nice mugs.

3. Framed photos of your child.

I suppose the sentiment is that we won't forget your child. But as with the mugs and the apples: Where are you expecting us to put this? On the mantlepiece along with the photos of our own biological children, nieces and nephews, husbands and wives, parents, grandparents, cats, dogs, boyfriend, girlfriend, holiday snaps with friends?
Don't you think it's a little out of place? A little self centred to think your child goes into that category? Your child is not our beloved little cousin or our baby, no matter how sweet he or she was. We're not running an orphanage or teaching the same group of kids for a 12 year period, nor are your children our friends or youth group members. Perhaps some other teachers can help me explain this concept.

Gifts like framed photos come across as a bit odd coming from parents. If it came from a child themselves because they want to be remembered by you, because you made an impact for them and you were really special to them, that is the exception to the rule. But sorry Jane, I probably won't be displaying it on my wall. (But feel free to send me photos of you as you grow up! :D I'd love to know how you went).

In the future if I ever get one like this, I might put the photo in a scrapbook along with class photos, and use the frame for something else. :) Thanks for the frame, Mrs Jones and Timmy!

4. Ornaments with your child's name on it, or worse, face.




Again, pretty self centred. If it's pretty, it might be kept anyway. If it's horrible and tacky, it might be displayed for one Christmas and then weeded the next year. But that goes for any Christmas Decoration given as a gift! And please use caution when it comes to religious gifts. Many teachers are not Christian (they might be another religion, or not religious at all). I think angels are pretty, but if it says something about God on it, I will feel uncomfortable displaying it.




Disclaimer: I will always appreciate the sentiment, as I'm sure will all teachers. I'm merely trying to advise for better gift giving, so you have more luck that the teacher will like the gift too.