Teacher Gift

Each year, we give the kids' teachers end-of-the-year gifts as a thank you for all that they do. I try to stay away from "teacher themed" gifts and go for something FUN for THEM as a start to their SUMMER!! This year, I found these adorable SNACK tins at Wal-Mart. Don't you just love them!!!?? So cheery!!! I wanted to buy some for my pantry, but I resisted and got them for the teachers instead!!! My kids favorite Summer snack is S'mores...they LOVE them...could have them EVERY night if we would let them!! So, we packed the snack tin with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate candy bars...wrapped it in cellophane and tied a pretty bow!!! They were excited to give them to their teachers, along with a note telling them what they were thankful for. My Kindergartener wrote, "Thank you for teaching me about monkeys!" :) WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!!!

Another Giveaway...

from PamperingBeki!!!!! She is celebrating her 1000th post...can you believe it!!!?? 1000 posts!!!??? When that day arrives for me, I will definitely be having a giveaway of my own!!! At the rate I've been going, maybe Maple Memories should celebrate at 100 instead!! HA! OK, back to PamperingBeki's GIVEAWAY!! She makes the most beautiful hand stamped jewelry (I know because I just bought one and can't seem to take it off) and she is giving a custom necklace away to one lucky winner. Visit her blog for more information and just to snoop around...you'll want to be her friend. ;) You should also visit her Etsy store and look at all of the amazing things she has for sale!! Here's one like I bought.

I had the dates of the FOUR most incredible days of my life stamped on them...my wedding date and the birth dates of each of my 3 kids. I LOVE IT!!!! OK, now GO ENTER!!! Oh, and did I mention she is a KANSAS girl!!?? I love supporting the "locals"!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations to SARAH B.!!!! You are the winner of the $100 Gift Certificate to Maple Memories!!!

When we started Maple Memories, our main goal was to provide a place for women to get away from it all. To relax, to spend time doing what you love, to create new friendships or build on existing ones, to spend a few days making time for YOU without thinking of all the other "stuff" that often consumes us. After reading your comments, I would say Maple Memories is doing just that!!! Thank you so much for your kind words...we feel truly blessed by each of you.

IT'S A GIVEAWAY!!!

Who doesn't love a good giveaway!? We are giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to Maple Memories. You can apply it to any group reservation...weekend, week, day...whatever you choose. ALL you have to do to be entered in the drawing is leave a comment with the answer to ONE of the following questions (feel free to answer more if you wish).

1. If you've been to Maple Memories, what is your FAVORITE thing about being there?

2. Why do you NEED a weekend away with your girlfriends doing your "thing"?

3. Who is your favorite scrapbooking/quilting/beading "buddy"? The one that you just can't go away without out. How long have you been friends and what is it about her that you love the most!?

4. Add a link to our post AND/OR our website http://www.maplememories.com/. Make sure you leave a comment with the link.

A random drawing will be done in order to pick a winner. You MUST answer one of the questions to qualify. The winner will be drawn on Sunday, May 31st and announced shortly after. GOOD LUCK!!!

Quilts of Valor

Maple Memories is supporting Quilts of Valor by becoming a collection spot for them. For those of you that may not have heard of QOV, it's a foundation with the mission to cover ALL war wounded and injured service members and veterans from the War on Terror, whether physical or psychological wounds, with Wartime Quilts called Quilts of Valor (QOVs). There is also a Kansas Chapter that has set out to provide a means to get more people involved in making QOVs in Kansas and to cover all wounded Kansans with a QOV. We would like to support this effort by letting you know what you can leave in the donation basket at Maple Memories. Once an item is left in the basket, we will take care of getting it to the Kansas Chapter. For more detailed information, monetary donations (please DO NOT leave monetary donations at Maple Memories), or to find out how else you can get involved, please visit the QOV website.


1. Material Donations - Donation of high quality fabric, batting, quilt blocks, backing material or even an entire quilt top (minimum size 50 x 60, maximum size 72 x 96). They are in great need of YARDAGE and BACKING MATERIAL.


2. Handmade Card Donations - When a Quilt of Valor is delivered to a soldier or his/her family, the group likes to make sure that a card is sent along with it. Below you will find a few examples of what they have given out in the past. Just think of how many cards we could collect if each person staying at Maple Memories took a few minutes to make one or two!

If you are interested in joing the local QOV group (known as Kansas Bee), they meet once a month in Wichita to work together to complete the quilt and get it to it's new owner. For more information on joining this group, contact the Regional Coordinator, Katy Vickers at katy@qov.org or 316-773-2945.

Friday Feature - Lakeside Park

Lakeside Park is one of my favorite places in McPherson. It has the most beautiful scenery! There is a really neat bridge that goes over the lake and leads to a fountain. If you're lucky, you might get to witness a wedding taking place here.

Lakeside Park has walking paths and a frisbee golf course for those that want to get outside and enjoy some fresh air while they exercise.

Something new and exciting is happening at Lakeside Park!! The McPherson CVB has decided to have free movies this Summer at the bandshell. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and come out for the evening! Concessions will be available. For more information on movies and showtimes, contact the McPherson CVB. While you're waiting for the movie to start, you can have dinner on one of the many picnic tables and then feed your crumbs to the ducks! There's also a large playground for the kids.

There are so many beautiful things all around Lakeside, so be sure to grab your camera...

and capture those precious memories!!!

GRADUATION LAYOUTS

It's hard to believe that it's already the middle of May and Graduations are just weeks or days away. Preschool Graduations...Elementary School Graduations...Middle School Graduations...High School Graduations...College Graduations...it's such a wonderful and exciting time for students and their families!!! CONGRATULATIONS to all of you!!! Here are a couple of layouts to inspire you when you are scrapbooking all of these special memories.

In a CLASS of Her Own
by Micupoftea
Scrapbook.com

Friends
by -Robbie-
Scrapbook.com

Maple Memories Gift Certificates make great gifts!! Get one for the graduate on your list (or for the Mom that needs some rest after it's all over)!!!