The anticipation of summer break for students and teachers starts in the month of May, but as June soon comes around so do the end-of-year school party planning! Room parents unite! Themes, games, goodies…nothing is left out during this exciting time of the school year. This event doesn’t have to break the bank either as most things were purchased from the $1.25 store. We’ve got the behind-the-scenes deets on how Kristy and Krista put together their festive and summer fun and circus/carnival end-of-year school parties!

Photo Stations – An easy task with few supplies is all you need no matter your theme! Grab a tri-fold poster board, spray glue a tablecloth to it, then use construction paper to make the arrows and post. If you have a Cricut you can create the beach letters, or purchase sticker lettering – the hanging sun was a dollar store find. Have the students decorate felt frames with stickers or just grab some photo props!

A thick poster board with some decorative items like laminated signs, tinsel foil fringe and photo booth props is how this circus/carnival-themed photo backdrop was created. These photo booths can be used both outdoors and indoors, in case the weather isn’t cooperative.

Activities – Grab canvas tote bags, and again if you have a Cricut you can personalize them with each student’s name, or have the kids decorate them! Students can use fabric pens to sign each other’s bags and bring all of their party stuff home in them – such a creative and fun activity.

Sand art bottles and rock painting are a couple more artistic ways to celebrate the end of another school year. The bottles for the sand art are from the $1.25 store and another parent had some extra sand laying around so they were able to utilize that – look at how cute they turned out! Krista grabbed rocks from her garden and the students painted them, added their initials and year, and could either keep them or hide them around town for their friends to find!

Face painting is ALWAYS a hit no matter what kind of event you’re putting together, so it was an easy decision to add face painter to the lineup for the circus/carnival EOY party! If our readers are located in the South Jersey shore area, Amanda Desouza comes highly recommended! IG: MUABYAD

Games – The F&T fav...the prize punches make more appearances for both of these EOY parties! They are super easy to create and even more fun for the kiddos to play; just fill with fun prizes like temp tattoos, stickers, snap bracelets, and squishy toys and you’re ready to go. Use a disc drop game for some added flair so the kids can punch the cup based on whatever number they landed on!

Think classic games…you can’t have a carnival without ring toss, right, and this large outdoor blow-up ring toss game is the cutest! And who doesn’t love bingo?! Add on a colorful parachute paired with a beach ball, relay races, and water balloon toss using reusable water balloons for some team play, and voila!! These games will never go out of style and are perfect additions to a successful EOY celebration!

Snacks & Treats – Simple and sweet is all that is needed here. Simple is a cute little goody bag with some snacks like sliced fruit, Annie’s GF goldfish {always check for any classroom allergies}, and a juice box or small water. Popcorn is a fan fav, too, especially in those cute little popcorn bags! How sweet are the Ice-Pop filled buckets…all the summer vibes for the kids!

No matter what theme you choose or the size of your class, these EOY parties are always a hit and the kids who have worked hard all school year always have a blast. A big thanks to all of the parents like Kristy and Krista who go above and beyond to create these kinds of memories!

The anticipation of summer break for students and teachers starts in the month of May, but as June soon comes around so do the end-of-year school party planning! Room parents unite! Themes, games, goodies…nothing is left out during this exciting time of the school year. This event doesn’t have to break the bank either as most things were purchased from the $1.25 store. We’ve got the behind-the-scenes deets on how Kristy and Krista put together their festive and summer fun and circus/carnival end-of-year school parties!

Photo Stations – An easy task with few supplies is all you need no matter your theme! Grab a tri-fold poster board, spray glue a tablecloth to it, then use construction paper to make the arrows and post. If you have a Cricut you can create the beach letters, or purchase sticker lettering – the hanging sun was a dollar store find. Have the students decorate felt frames with stickers or just grab some photo props!

A thick poster board with some decorative items like laminated signs, tinsel foil fringe and photo booth props is how this circus/carnival-themed photo backdrop was created. These photo booths can be used both outdoors and indoors, in case the weather isn’t cooperative.

Activities – Grab canvas tote bags, and again if you have a Cricut you can personalize them with each student’s name, or have the kids decorate them! Students can use fabric pens to sign each other’s bags and bring all of their party stuff home in them – such a creative and fun activity.

Sand art bottles and rock painting are a couple more artistic ways to celebrate the end of another school year. The bottles for the sand art are from the $1.25 store and another parent had some extra sand laying around so they were able to utilize that – look at how cute they turned out! Krista grabbed rocks from her garden and the students painted them, added their initials and year, and could either keep them or hide them around town for their friends to find!

Face painting is ALWAYS a hit no matter what kind of event you’re putting together, so it was an easy decision to add face painter to the lineup for the circus/carnival EOY party! If our readers are located in the South Jersey shore area, Amanda Desouza comes highly recommended! IG: MUABYAD

Games – The F&T fav...the prize punches make more appearances for both of these EOY parties! They are super easy to create and even more fun for the kiddos to play; just fill with fun prizes like temp tattoos, stickers, snap bracelets, and squishy toys and you’re ready to go. Use a disc drop game for some added flair so the kids can punch the cup based on whatever number they landed on!

Think classic games…you can’t have a carnival without ring toss, right, and this large outdoor blow-up ring toss game is the cutest! And who doesn’t love bingo?! Add on a colorful parachute paired with a beach ball, relay races, and water balloon toss using reusable water balloons for some team play, and voila!! These games will never go out of style and are perfect additions to a successful EOY celebration!

Snacks & Treats – Simple and sweet is all that is needed here. Simple is a cute little goody bag with some snacks like sliced fruit, Annie’s GF goldfish {always check for any classroom allergies}, and a juice box or small water. Popcorn is a fan fav, too, especially in those cute little popcorn bags! How sweet are the Ice-Pop filled buckets…all the summer vibes for the kids!

No matter what theme you choose or the size of your class, these EOY parties are always a hit and the kids who have worked hard all school year always have a blast. A big thanks to all of the parents like Kristy and Krista who go above and beyond to create these kinds of memories!

Today is our queen bee Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her a day filled with love and happiness! She’s a world-class mom, a dedicated wife, an awesome friend, AND a kickass businesswoman, and we are sending her wishes for a year of success and joy to come. Read on for her birthday wish list and her favorite ways to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

I like to put together a gift wish list for my friends and family who love to gift! This way they don’t have to stress about what to buy, and I can ask for items I really need or want. This year, I’ve got my eyes on these cozy UGG slippers, this gorgeous Brumate Winesulator set, and this sleek cookbook holder! I always tend to gravitate toward items for the home, comfy athleisure, and beauty products!

The Celebration

My husband and I packed up the kids and headed to Hershey Park for a weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday! My husband proposed here, so this place is very special to us, and we like to visit every year and make new memories!

One of our favorite activities was making our own chocolates! It was so much fun to see the process of how these mouthwatering little bites of heaven are made, and getting to create our own was such a unique opportunity.

We also visited a butterfly garden and watching these beautiful creatures flit and flutter around was so cool. We saw a bunch of different beautiful colors and patterns as the butterflies flapped their wings all around us!

The food was delicious and the drinks were to die for! This s’mores martini was the perfect nightcap – a sweet treat for dessert that really hit the spot after an indulgent dinner.

The best part of Hershey Park at this time of year is that it’s decorated for the holidays!! We made sure to check out the light show and see all of the gorgeous Christmas light displays!

Back at home, one of my favorite birthday traditions is making a delicious charcuterie board!! My daughter also looks forward to this every year and it’s become a special treat for us to share. We like to fill it with different Italian meats, all sorts of cheeses, some olives and sweet treats, and of course, crostini and crackers. This personalized wooden charcuterie board is my new favorite and right now you can grab one for 20% off with our exclusive code FNT20!

Birthday Dinner

My husband always treats me to a birthday dinner, and we like to try somewhere new every year. It’s nice to get dressed up (and take off my sweats I normally live in) and spend a little quality time with the man I love! I love this batwing cardigan with a black turtleneck, black leggings, and knee-high boots, finished off with a fun tassel necklace!

I’m so grateful for all of the blessings in my life, and getting to celebrate this special day with the people I love most is the greatest gift of all. Here’s to another great year and many more birthdays to come!

Today is our queen bee Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her a day filled with love and happiness! She’s a world-class mom, a dedicated wife, an awesome friend, AND a kickass businesswoman, and we are sending her wishes for a year of success and joy to come. Read on for her birthday wish list and her favorite ways to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

I like to put together a gift wish list for my friends and family who love to gift! This way they don’t have to stress about what to buy, and I can ask for items I really need or want. This year, I’ve got my eyes on these cozy UGG slippers, this gorgeous Brumate Winesulator set, and this sleek cookbook holder! I always tend to gravitate toward items for the home, comfy athleisure, and beauty products!

The Celebration

My husband and I packed up the kids and headed to Hershey Park for a weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday! My husband proposed here, so this place is very special to us, and we like to visit every year and make new memories!

One of our favorite activities was making our own chocolates! It was so much fun to see the process of how these mouthwatering little bites of heaven are made, and getting to create our own was such a unique opportunity.

We also visited a butterfly garden and watching these beautiful creatures flit and flutter around was so cool. We saw a bunch of different beautiful colors and patterns as the butterflies flapped their wings all around us!

The food was delicious and the drinks were to die for! This s’mores martini was the perfect nightcap – a sweet treat for dessert that really hit the spot after an indulgent dinner.

The best part of Hershey Park at this time of year is that it’s decorated for the holidays!! We made sure to check out the light show and see all of the gorgeous Christmas light displays!

Back at home, one of my favorite birthday traditions is making a delicious charcuterie board!! My daughter also looks forward to this every year and it’s become a special treat for us to share. We like to fill it with different Italian meats, all sorts of cheeses, some olives and sweet treats, and of course, crostini and crackers. This personalized wooden charcuterie board is my new favorite and right now you can grab one for 20% off with our exclusive code FNT20!

Birthday Dinner

My husband always treats me to a birthday dinner, and we like to try somewhere new every year. It’s nice to get dressed up (and take off my sweats I normally live in) and spend a little quality time with the man I love! I love this batwing cardigan with a black turtleneck, black leggings, and knee-high boots, finished off with a fun tassel necklace!

I’m so grateful for all of the blessings in my life, and getting to celebrate this special day with the people I love most is the greatest gift of all. Here’s to another great year and many more birthdays to come!

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a very, very special day. It is our queen Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her the happiest of days and lots of love, success, and wishes granted in the year to come. I am beyond thankful to know and love this amazing mom, devoted wife, loyal friend, badass businesswoman, and all-around awesome lady and to be able to call her my mentor, boss, AND best friend. How did I get so lucky?! She’s turning 36 this year and we’re getting a glimpse of how she is spending her special day. Read on for her birthday wishlist, her favorite ways to celebrate, and what is yet to come. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

MoroccanOil Dry Texture Spray | Kate Spade Stud Earrings | Taco vs Burrito Card Game | Large Tumbler Candle | “Firefly Lane” Book | Michael Kors Crossbody Bag | Dish Towel Set | Olive Leaf Plant | Wood and Cork Coasters | Picnic Gift Basket

This year my birthday wishlist has lots of items for the home, plus some fashion and beauty products I’ve had my eye on for a while! What’s at the top of my wishlist? This picnic basket from Harry & David (look at all those delicious snacks!!), this Michael Kors crossbody bag (cute + convenient is my favorite fashion category), and this texture spray by MoroccanOil (it gives my hair SO much volume!). I always like to put together a list of suggestions so my family and friends don’t stress over gifts, but I love surprises, too. And my favorite birthday gift is getting to spend quality time with the people I love!! See how I like to celebrate my special day below.

The Celebration

The best way to start your birthday? With a glass of chilled bubbly, of course! Moët & Chandon is one of my favorite champagnes and definitely holds a special place in my heart. Fun fact: I adopted my first dog eight years ago after enjoying a bottle of Moët, and he is aptly named after it…he’s my little angel! These days, I like to reminisce and celebrate another year of life by enjoying a nice cold flute of this champagne.

Another celebration favorite: a meat and cheese spread!! My daughter and I love to create and share these together. A few different Italian meats, a couple of gourmet cheeses, some olives, and a little crostini and you’ve got your very own restaurant-quality charcuterie! My sister gifted me this gorgeous marble and brass cheeseboard this year, and of course I couldn’t wait to use it.

Who doesn’t love a spa day?! My husband surprised me with a couple’s massage this year and let me tell you, this spa was absolutely amazing! I felt like a new woman after my massage…relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready for a delicious dinner.

This coastal chic winery is such a hidden little gem and has quickly become one of my favorite places to go for dinner and drinks. They have the best food, the finest wines, and the most beautiful vineyard and gardens. Being able to enjoy a romantic evening here with my husband was definitely a great way to celebrate!

If you know me at all then you know I LOVE a sweet treat! These caramel apples from Mrs. Prindable’s are crisp and crunchy, yet creamy and decadent, and seriously scrumptious. Between my kids, my husband, and me, these apples did NOT last long.

And my favorite way to close out the day is snuggled up on the couch with the kiddos, the pups, the hubby, and lots of blankets, obviously. We love to make popcorn, put on a holiday movie, and enjoy the fire…this living room renovation was completed recently and we can’t get enough of hanging out in here!!

The New Additon

This year was certainly a special one as we added a new member to the family!! Meet Cody – our adorable husky pup. He loves to run around in the yard, play with his doggie brother Moët, and give lots of cuddles to the kids!! This little fluff ball has brought so much joy to our family and we are so blessed to have him!

And there you have it! A little peek into how I like to celebrate my special day. I’m so grateful for everything the last year has brought me, and I’m looking forward to what 36 has in store!! I’ll also be taking a trip with my girlfriends this weekend to a resort in the Poconos for some much-needed quality time with the ladies. Stay tuned for our post on our girls’ weekend…it’s going to be a good one! – xo, Kristy

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a very, very special day. It is our queen Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her the happiest of days and lots of love, success, and wishes granted in the year to come. I am beyond thankful to know and love this amazing mom, devoted wife, loyal friend, badass businesswoman, and all-around awesome lady and to be able to call her my mentor, boss, AND best friend. How did I get so lucky?! She’s turning 36 this year and we’re getting a glimpse of how she is spending her special day. Read on for her birthday wishlist, her favorite ways to celebrate, and what is yet to come. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

MoroccanOil Dry Texture Spray | Kate Spade Stud Earrings | Taco vs Burrito Card Game | Large Tumbler Candle | “Firefly Lane” Book | Michael Kors Crossbody Bag | Dish Towel Set | Olive Leaf Plant | Wood and Cork Coasters | Picnic Gift Basket

This year my birthday wishlist has lots of items for the home, plus some fashion and beauty products I’ve had my eye on for a while! What’s at the top of my wishlist? This picnic basket from Harry & David (look at all those delicious snacks!!), this Michael Kors crossbody bag (cute + convenient is my favorite fashion category), and this texture spray by MoroccanOil (it gives my hair SO much volume!). I always like to put together a list of suggestions so my family and friends don’t stress over gifts, but I love surprises, too. And my favorite birthday gift is getting to spend quality time with the people I love!! See how I like to celebrate my special day below.

The Celebration

The best way to start your birthday? With a glass of chilled bubbly, of course! Moët & Chandon is one of my favorite champagnes and definitely holds a special place in my heart. Fun fact: I adopted my first dog eight years ago after enjoying a bottle of Moët, and he is aptly named after it…he’s my little angel! These days, I like to reminisce and celebrate another year of life by enjoying a nice cold flute of this champagne.

Another celebration favorite: a meat and cheese spread!! My daughter and I love to create and share these together. A few different Italian meats, a couple of gourmet cheeses, some olives, and a little crostini and you’ve got your very own restaurant-quality charcuterie! My sister gifted me this gorgeous marble and brass cheeseboard this year, and of course I couldn’t wait to use it.

Who doesn’t love a spa day?! My husband surprised me with a couple’s massage this year and let me tell you, this spa was absolutely amazing! I felt like a new woman after my massage…relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready for a delicious dinner.

This coastal chic winery is such a hidden little gem and has quickly become one of my favorite places to go for dinner and drinks. They have the best food, the finest wines, and the most beautiful vineyard and gardens. Being able to enjoy a romantic evening here with my husband was definitely a great way to celebrate!

If you know me at all then you know I LOVE a sweet treat! These caramel apples from Mrs. Prindable’s are crisp and crunchy, yet creamy and decadent, and seriously scrumptious. Between my kids, my husband, and me, these apples did NOT last long.

And my favorite way to close out the day is snuggled up on the couch with the kiddos, the pups, the hubby, and lots of blankets, obviously. We love to make popcorn, put on a holiday movie, and enjoy the fire…this living room renovation was completed recently and we can’t get enough of hanging out in here!!

The New Additon

This year was certainly a special one as we added a new member to the family!! Meet Cody – our adorable husky pup. He loves to run around in the yard, play with his doggie brother Moët, and give lots of cuddles to the kids!! This little fluff ball has brought so much joy to our family and we are so blessed to have him!

And there you have it! A little peek into how I like to celebrate my special day. I’m so grateful for everything the last year has brought me, and I’m looking forward to what 36 has in store!! I’ll also be taking a trip with my girlfriends this weekend to a resort in the Poconos for some much-needed quality time with the ladies. Stay tuned for our post on our girls’ weekend…it’s going to be a good one! – xo, Kristy