9th Day of Christmas Giveaway with Tracie Miles
Published December 9, 2010Christmas Sale: If you’d like info on getting any of my books (tax-free & with no shipping costs!) for you or as a personalized gift for someone, click here.
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Welcome to the 9th Day of Christmas Giveaway!!
Each day, December 1-12th, I am featuring a fellow Proverbs 31 sister and an aspect of Christmas. You’ll get to know her and she, in turn, will offer a fabulous giveaway! Simply leave a comment on her post to be entered in the drawing.
And, one soon-to-be-very-giddy gal who comments on all 12 posts will win the GRAND PRIZE! You may comment on all posts until Monday, December 13th at 5:00 pm EST when the winners will be announced. (to see the grand prize and get caught up on the posts click here)
Now, for our P31 sister of the day, the lovely Tracie Miles!
Tracie Miles has been married to her husband Michael for over twenty years, and has three wonderful children, Morgan age 16, Kaitlyn age 14, and Michael age 10.
Tracie’s first love is being a mom and a wife. She is a member of the Proverbs 31 speaker team and also a contributing writer to the Encouragement for Today devotions and the P31 Woman Magazine. She has been working in ministry with Proverbs 31 for over five years.
In her spare time, Tracie loves playing tennis several days a week, writing on her blog, spending time with her family, and enjoying shopping while sipping hot Peppermint Mocha or Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks.
Favorite Teacher Gift Idea
My sister used to be an elementary school teacher, and every year she would get dozens of little knick knacks, apple ornaments, sticky note pads, door hangers and other miscellaneous items that were “teacher-oriented”. Although she appreciated the thoughtfulness of the children in her class, she always came home with an abundance of “presents” that she had no idea what to do with. After years of teaching, she had an attic full of little!
After years of discussions with her about what gifts and goodies that she appreciated most, we began a tradition in our family of giving holiday baked goodies for teacher gifts, instead of inexpensive store bought gifts that the teachers really had no use for. Our annual gift baking sessions quickly became a fun family experience, and has evolved into a tradition that we look forward to every year.
Even now, that my girls are both teenagers, and my son is turning a young man at the tender age of eleven, everyone still willingly participates in the baking and preparing of the goodie bags.
Not a year goes by without a huge smile from our teachers (and other special people in our life) followed up by a thank you note letting us know how thoughtful, and delicious, their gift was!
We pack our individually wrapped baked items into festive holiday gift bags with sparkly tissue paper, and tie them up with curly ribbons. Another great addition is to pick a meaningful Bible verse, and attach it to the curly ribbon, so you are in essence, giving a gift for the body and the soul!
Every year we have a variety of sweets for the gifts, but there are two recipes that have become a main staple in our teacher goody bags – homemade caramel popcorn and pretzel candies. Below are these two oh-so-easy recipes, that make a great impression, and are oh-so-yummy! Enjoy!
Caramel Popcorn:
1 cup unpopped popcorn (pop before putting caramel on)
2 cups brown sugar
1 stick of margarine
½ cup White Karo Syrup
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
(add peanuts or mixed nuts if desired)
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Heat sugar, margarine, syrup and salt, stirring constantly (watch carefully, it will burn easily). Boil for 3 minutes until sugar is dissolved and remove from heat. Stir in baking soda until foamy and mixed. Pour over popped popcorn in a baking pan, stir until all is coated. Bake for one hour, while continuing to stir every 15 minutes. Let cool and transfer to large bowl or container.
Pretzel Candies:
1 -2 bags of Rolo candies
1 bag of mini-twist pretzels
1 package of halved pecans
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Very lightly spray the pan with Pam, and place as many pretzels as possible on the baking pan. Then place an unwrapped Rolo candy in the center of each pretzel.
Put pan in the oven for a few minutes, just until the chocolate is soft, but not completely melted. Remove from oven, and press one pecan half down on top of each Rolo, flattening it to the pretzel. Allow to cool and remove very carefully with metal spatula so as not to break the pretzels, and transfer pretzels to another dish or container. Yum!!!
Tracie’s Giveaway
For her giveaway, Tracie will send the winner the following:
~A DVD of her Christmas message “Angels In Training”
~A DVD of the classic Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life
~And, to munch on while watching the movie, a bag of popcorn. 
To be entered in Tracie’s giveaway, leave a comment with your best teacher gift idea. Or, if you have shopping to do, gifts to wrap or other holiday duties to attend to, just say, “I’m in!!!”
Sweet Blessings,
185 Responses to 9th Day of Christmas Giveaway with Tracie Miles
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My Family
We usually give some kind of hand lotion for the hands that cared for my daughter, and because they’re wahing their hands constantly, or a $10 gift card to a favorite store depending on the teacher. We also give a jar of homemade blackberry jelly and a loaf of bread.
I’m in.
I’M IN
Count me in . Thank God for teachers!
Oreo Balls
Crush one package of oreos in food chopper
mix in one package of cream cheese (softened)
Roll into balls
dip into melted white chocolate (Almond Bark works best)
Enjoy!
It’s been way too many years since I had to deal with teacher gifts! My daughter and her daughter are making chocolate covered pretzel rods for her daughter’s teachers! You just dip the large pretzel rods in chocolate almond bark and then roll them in nuts or crushed candies–very pretty and very yummy!
I loved Karla’s idea about hand lotion for teachers. Wish I’d thought of that years ago.
Like Leona, it’s been so many years that I don’t remember what teachers’ gifts I gave. So far my son (who is in his first year of teaching) has received pumpkin bread, a Goofy pen from Disney World, and a gift card to Cold Stone Creamery.
As a teacher, I have received all of the things mentioned. And I agree, while the thought is appreciated…you can only use so many ornaments that say, “World’s Greatest Teacher” I have put a lot of thought into teacher gifts since I have had children. I have done a summer relaxation bag with a bookmark and a giftcard to a bookstore and a sweet treat and I have done a popcorn night “bag” with a popcorn bowl, microwave popcorn and some sodas and sweets and a gift card for the Movie store, but my favorite and probably most appreciated was a dinner in a bag. I got reusable grocery bags and filled them with homemade meatballs, spaghetti sauce, noodles, french bread and some home made brownies. They had everything they needed for a supper at home and most of the work was already done for them.
I’m in.
Great ideas! Thanks!
I’m in!
In the last few years, I have done gift cards to Starbucks. I figured the teachers were full of little knick knack stuff so I wanted to treat them to a great cup of coffee!
I usually give gift coupons – can be used anywhere and anything – helpful for the teacher.
Homemade hot chocolate mix or hand sanitizer. I actually have a spray painted pinecone that was given to me 10+ years ago by a student. It was so special that this little girl whose family didn’t have a lot of money wanted to honor me with a gift. Every year when I hang that ornament I wonder what Lauren’s doing now, and say a prayer for her.
I’m in!
We often bake banana bread or gift cards (like Blockbuster) for teacher’s gifts. My son’s school sent home a list of books that they would like to buy for the library-they are asking parents to buy a book on behalf of a teacher instead of gifts. Great idea if you ask me!
When our daughter was in preschool, I knitted scarves for all of the teachers and staff that she encountered on a regular basis. In the end, it was nearly 20 scarves. Every few days, she would ask a few teachers what their favorites colors were. Each teacher received a scarf in his or her favorite color. Each one was different and they all really seemed to enjoy them.
This year we are giving little felt bags that are smores packets. It comes with everything you need to make some yummy smores.
I’m thinking gift cards are a hit because they can buy what they want to…also baked goodies!
Gift cards. Thanks for the other great ideas!
We like to make candies as gifts-pralines, peanut butter balls and fudge or sweet breads and a gift card from a book store.
Merry Christmass all!
I think gift certificates are good even 5.00 gifts for coffee, drinks, etc.
Last year I wrote a poem called “12 days until Christmas Break.” Each day we took our teachers something small and then on the 12th day we gave them an embroidered Christmas hand towel. They loved looking forward to their gifts each day. They were simple…one day homemade cookies, another day a bouquet of pencils, an ornament, a candy cane, bag of coffee. We just got creative, but it made the holiday special for them.
What a great idea! My kids are grown, married and gone, so I do not buy gifts for teachers anymore and I always tried to pick up a “teacher” gift. Making them goodies would have been so much better!!!
I’m in!!!
I’m in
Baked goodies!!!yum yum!
We always gave teachers gift cards to various places. They always seemed to appreciate them.
I’m in!
I love that idea Monica posted about the “12 Days Til Christmas Break!” Too cute! We’re homeschoolers now, but when our daughter was in school we usually did gift cards, movie night goodie bags with gift cards to rent a video or two, or baking goodie bags.
Teacher gifts we have done…
Mugs with Candy, Crosses….. they have only been in school a couple of years with preschool.. now oldest are in 1st and Kindergarten with one in preschool.. so haven’t done too much yet.
I’m in! I like to give a gift card to my children’s teachers. I try to figure out whether they’d prefer one to a bookstore or one to another favorite store.
This is really my 1st year needing a teacher gift, so yay for ideas! I love to bake, so we’ll probably go with that idea. And I’m a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant, so that’s a fun way to bless teachers – with pampering products! Thanks for a great giveaway!
im in
I don’t need teacher gifts, but these are great ideas for co-workers, too!
A Starbucks gift card. A winner every time!
When my children were in school, we also gave baked goods to their teachers-usually cranberry bread!
Although we are homeschoolers, and do not have class teachers, we do have Sunday School Teachers. And every year I give THEM a gift. One year I wrote a poem, copied it, framed it, wrapped it, and gave it as a special gift. The wife of one of these teachers told me that her husband keeps it by his Easy-Boy chair to read for encouragement. It is entitled: “Teaching for God’s Glory”
Teaching for God’s Glory
Sincerely we appreciate
Your studying each week,
To bring a Sunday lesson,
And challenge us to seek,
The message that is in God’s Word;
To help us everyday,
To live a life that’s pleasing,
To Him in every way;
Please know your efforts aren’t in vain,
Though quiet we may be,
God’s Word returns not empty,
Rewards you’ll surely see.
So we express our gratitude,
And thank you that you bear
Concern for our souls spiritually
And teach, to show you care.
copyright 2005, Maribeth Spangenberg
As a teacher myself, I can relate to the little “knicknacks” and apple items! Things that meant the most were gifts that I knew students took their time choosing. These didn’t have to be expensive gifts. For example, some parents really got to know ME-not just as a teacher, but my likes-fav. restaurant, bookstore, bakery, etc and would give me gift cards or gifts from those places. Perhaps a favorite movie or coffee mug.
I’m in!
This year we are doing gift certificates to the local pizza place.
I love to give ornaments that have some special meaning…it’s a small and inexpensive gift but is something they will have year after year and brings memories of the student it came from (hopefully good ones..lol!!)
By the way, those Rolo treats are ones I make every year too!! East and good!
I’m in
I’m in!
Last year I made 20+ batches of hard rock candy, and all the teachers & others we gifted it with loved it! I don’t have as much time to work with this year, so we’re going to make pretzel treats w/ Hershey hugs & M&Ms. Of course after reading Tracie’s idea above, we may have to try the pretzel w/ Rolo & pecans idea!!
Great giveaway item! Thank you for the opportunity.
We like to give little goodie bags with an individual (special holiday) hand sanitizer, pack of mints or gum, and gift card to Starbucks for a splurge.
My daughter is not old enough for school yet, but I really like the idea of giving sweets instead of a trinket. And the pretzel candies sound wonderful! I’m in! Thanks.
I’m in.
I would have to say I think baked goodies are a nice little treat, and it seems to be a teacher’s favorite thing when the kiddo picks out the gift. Nothing something the parent encourages, something that you can tell the kid decided the teacher would need or want.
My son is a young adult of 20 attending our local community college, but this brings back memories of teacher gifts from pre-school through middle school. Our favorite gifts to give were gift cards for the teachers to treat themselves: bookstore, movie theatre, bath and body works, restaurant. Or we would include a baked item along with the card. This was always an enjoyable time for us to give back to them for the many hours they gave of themselves. We did this with his Sunday School teachers as well.
I’ve been told the greatest teacher gift we gave was a car wash gift card.
I have given a lot of different things to teachers throughout the years and usually try to make them practical and enjoyable: altered clipboards, gift cards, bag of post it notes & good pens, mini scrapbooks, homemade cards, etc.
I’m in!!! Love the 12 day getting-to-know-yous!!!
I’m in!
No kids yet, so no teacher gifts yet, but I will pass on the recipes and ideas to my mommy friends. I have lots of teacher friends, and I know that they like the practical and useful gifts, rather than the apple figurines!
I’m in!
Thanks for the wonderful gift ideas. I will try them this year with my kids.
One thing that we like to do is to find out as much as we can about our children’s teachers. Then we get them gifts that correspond with their likes. Some gifts to think on would be a gift card to a favorite store or restaurant,or even a visa gift card to use as they wish. There are so many cute ways to package these too.
Another way to make the pretzel candies is to put the pretzels with the Rolo on top in the microwave for 30 seconds and then put the pecan on top. It might save a little time if you are in a big hurry!
I’m in! Thanks for sharing the recipes.
I can’t wait to try the caramel popcorn – we do the pretzel candies for EVERY event throughout the year and in different versions. At Christmas we get the hershey’s kisses (sometimes the pepper mint ones) and the red and green m&m’s, but you don’t cook as long – the chocolate melts faster. We buy ornaments for our teachers every year and at the end of the year, we do a gift certificate for a local dining place here in town. Merry Christmas!
Our school has a giving tree where each teacher has a different color tag with ideas that they need for the classroom.
We struggle with the teacher gift idea and often give consumables too. We always make a tin of cookies/candies for the bus driver.
As a former teacher, I appreciated gifts that could be used at school.
I like to give everyday snack items. IF I know what the teacher likes, I provide that, but IF not, provide variety….they can share with fellow teachers.
Candy bars, packaged snacks, sodas, water, hot chocolate mixes, popcorn, etc., etc.,
Other appreciated items for elementary, preschool teachers are:
items that can be used in Center learning activities such as puzzles, books, etc.
All small items for “treasure box” use….all those little items that end up at the bottom of the toy box and that need to be “reduced/cleared” out before Christmas arrives.
My teacher friends love when I clean the kids rooms out!
Our teacher gifts this year are along the same line…Rolo pretzel treats and the one using Hershey’s Hugs and a Christmas M&M’s on top. I love them because there is no mess of flour! There have been a couple of years that the whole class pitched in to buy a gift card for the teacher, too.
I’m in!
I’m in!!! I taught pre-school for 13 years–homemade goodies or gift cards were the very best!!! Thank you for the recipes!!!
I’m in!
I taught jr. high for a couple of years, and as a teacher, my favorite gifts were gift cards and homemade goodies (or sparkling juice) too. Since I homeschool my children now, I don’t have to worry about coming up with teacher gifts each year (or maybe I should get the teacher gift, smile).
I always gave a homemade ornament, but after reading this I’m thinking some kind of school supplies would be a much better idea. Thanks for the insite.
We often make special treats for our teachers. As a room mom, sometimes I get the whole class involved in making a recipe book. I use an 8X8 scrapbook with top loading pages and give each student a page. They are to include a favorite recipe and small picture of themselves and their signature. They can also decorate the page however they like (front only). Then we drop them in the plastic sleeves back to back and wrap it up. The teachers love these books and many have commented on the recipes they have tried.
I no longer have kids in school, but when I did I liked going in with the rest of the class (or several families) and giving gift cards. Also, when the school hosted a book fair I would buy a book that would be appropriate to add to a classroom book collection and give the book as a teacher gift. That way you benefited the PTO and the children in the classroom!
A parent or student to get the whole class to just donate a dollar to 5 dollars a person towards one gift card. Or to have students donate money to a specific cause or charity in your name. Donate a book to the school library in your name, etc.
I’m in
I’ll get them coffe or book store cards
My kids are all grown and out of school now but my sister-in-law is a teacher and she really appreciates gift cards to various stores and restaurants. My aunt, who is a retired teacher, always appreciated the baked goodies but had to be careful which ones she ate due to food allergies. I like the ideas of the hand made scarves and hand lotions. I will be sharing these ideas with others I know who are still buying for the teachers in their lives.
I like the idea for the pretzel treats. Also have made the ringed (round) pretzel with the Cherry Cordial Kiss with assorted colored M&M’s for the top.
I’m in; out of the teacher phase.
My husband one year came home from teaching high school at Christmas break with a huge bag of brand new socks. I asked him why in the world his students would give him such a gift. He sheepishly replied that he told his students that the reason he occasionally didn’t wear socks was because they were all in laundry needing to be washed. Wow, I felt like the wife of the year.
I work in a school district office (business person) and we have had people bring us some homemade goodies which we thoroughly enjoy. One yearly favorite is homemade Chocolate Bread! My daughter can’t wait for it to arrive every year – one of her favorites! Since I am a school business person, the idea of helping with school supplies is a GREAT idea! I’m sure teachers would appreciate that – and food is ALWAYS a welcome gift!
Get a mason jar and make or buy a monogram sticker with the teacher’s letter from her last name on it and fill the jar with pencils. Tie a ribbon around it for added cuteness. She can use it for years and use it for other things like candy canes, erasers, whatever. Useful and cute.
My daughter is just 11 months old, so I don’t know of any creative teachers gifts, so I’m in!
im in
I’m in!
Love these ideas! As a teacher, it was special to get a note of encouragement.
My eldest daughter is a teacher and still lives at home…so I get the extra blessing of sharing in the homemade goodies and scented candles she brings home for the holidays!
Before reading this, I made your pretzel recipe using small waffle shaped pretzels and kisses and an M&M…I was thinking of trying Rolos next.. Thanks! I think I will try it!
Merry Christmas!
One year for my daugther, I got a copy of each of the kids’ school picture from the teacher and we made a wreath with all the kids’ pictures attached for a keepsake for her to remember that particular year she taught. It was a big hit. Thank you for the giveaway.
koinonia572001@yahoo.com
As a high school teacher we were not allowed to receive gifts so when I had children and lived in another community I was surprised that our school district allowed it.
Our teachers appreciate coffee gift cards and gift certificates to an educational resource store so they can supplement their classrooms.
Thanks for the great ideas! HAve grands that are just starting the gift-giving to teachers, these are very helpful. God Bless!
As a working teaching mom I would say a meal. A frozen one, a hot one, salad and a loaf of bread.
As a single teacher I liked a gift card for a cup (not a week) of coffee.
I loved cookies.
Now I like things for my purse, hand lotion, life savers.
It is always special when the CHILD picks it out.
With 2 little ones in school I’m in the middle of finding goodies to give. Being a huge coffee lover I always find out if they like coffee too and often give starbucks gift cards along with book store gift cards, hand-made stationery and thank you card sets too. {we try to spoil them a bit at Christmas and again at the end of the year when we graduate to the next class, it’s such a big job they deserve our best.}
I love all the ideas. My daughter and I were in the store yesterday talking about what she wanted to get her teacher, this will definitely help.
I have given out mini coffee bags, candy, ornaments, and this year I found very inexpensive Travel mugs at Walgreens and filled them with 2 gourmet hot choclate.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I’m in!
We too bake holiday goodies for our teachers. Now that my daughter is in high school, it is especially helpful since there are multiple teachers. I purchased a bakery sized muffin tin to make holiday breads or muffins. They fit well into the fun celophane Christmas gift bags.
I’m in! I make bookmarks with my child’s pic. and we have started doing class gifts!
Blessings,
karen
Coffee gift cards!
I’m in!
I’m in! I love to send a card of encouragement to the people around me who have helped me the most.
I am a former teacher, and it was always so nice to get gift cards. We spend so much out of our own pockets and the gift cards to the teacher store or a website are a great help. I also loved to get ones for a restaurant so the hubby and I could have a date night! My paycheck was small so grocery store cards were awesome too!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Please count me in:)