Christmas treats for teachers & friends...and some fun Lulu & Co. hats!

This year my motto was simply SIMPLE {pun intended!}.

With us going to Disney mid-November, I felt like I didn't have as much time to shop around and pick "just the right gift" for everyone on our list. At the beginning of the year I had dreams of a handmade Christmas, but as the months passed, I realized that dream would NOT come to fruition this year! ha!

We still had fun picking out a couple of favorite things that reminded us of certain teachers, like this chevron frame and coordinating Santa ornament {both Hobby Lobby, they had these adorable ornaments last year too!}.

But the reality is most ended up with a gift card...I know, not very personable. But we did try to pick a place that we felt the recipient would really enjoy, like James Avery for Grace's kindergarten teacher Ms. V, who collects JA charms, a trendy local boutique for Grace's gifted teacher Mrs. L, who dresses a-dorable, and well, Target gift cards for Hudson's teachers, Mrs. Sandy and Ms. Kelli, because they both mentioned they like to shop there...and who doesn't, right??!

The littles get super excited about passing out gifts - I love their spirit of giving. They're usually eager little I-can-help-you-open-it helpers...yours too, yes?

This year we even ended up with gift cards for a lot of our special little friends who we give gifts to during the holidays. I tried to make it a little more fun with a special note and a "Do Not Open Before Christmas" tag...but next year, I'm shopping in July! Ha! I'm just not a fan of the December crowds, sigh. I hope they find the humor and are not like, "Whaaat? A plastic card? Junk!"

I did a little better with classmates' treats...

...probably because I bought the books early in the school year during one of the 886,732 Scholastic Books flyers that seem to make it home in Hudson's backpack. But I love giving books and at $1/each they were a steal!

Of course, I couldn't just send the book by itself...I baked yummy chocolate chip cookies and added a little stack to our treat bags. Hmmmm, now that I think about it, I should've added a little container of milk too! :)

For Grace's classmates, we went with a little simple treat that I thought was so cute!

We actually used this same little poem in our Sunday School class this past week and when I saw the free printable from Kari of Ucreate, I knew it was just meant to be. I like that we were able to keep the focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas...our Savior's birth!

One of my favorite mom friends {hi, Angela!} had a super awesome treat idea she shared with me that I wanted to do, but I wasn't able to find what I needed at a reasonable enough price to justify 18 for Grace's classmates, so I'll have to keep that one hush-hush for now and maybe use it next time! :)

These have all made it to their destinations by now so this is sort of a "post peek", instead of a sneak, but these were the final Lulu & Co. hats of 2012 {yay for a little etsy shop break!}...aren't they fun??! Thank you to everyone that ordered hats from me this year - I loved making them for your littles!!!  Find more {here}.

Batman inspired hat...

Toy Story inspired hat...

And a sweet coral/navy/mustard yellow little hat for a preppy first birthday...

So what about you? Do you have any super fun treat ideas for classmates or teachers??? I'd love it if you would share!

Now, let's hope I can find the gifts I've hidden all over the house!!! :O