Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6th-10th and if you want to show your school spirit and gratitude for our educators and school professionals, a thoughtful gift is a great way to do so. See our Teacher Appreciation Week gift inspiration below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

If you want to make a whole week of it, doing a color a day for your teacher with each color having some kind of “theme” is a fun idea. Kristy did this for her daughter’s teacher! For red, the first day, it’s all about the teacher….the things she likes and things to spoil her with for the days she’s not teaching. Items include a Bogg bag, apple candle, Sol de Janeiro kit, and a self-care book.

Tag: “ Roses are RED & Apples are too! You’re the best teacher ever, we’re so thankful for you.”

Orange, day two, is focused on recognizing the growth she’s given the students. She also loves to garden, so this is perfect! Orange items include drinking glasses, a succulent, a personalized planter, a mister, and a seed kit.

Tags: “ ORANGE you just such a SUN-sational teacher!“ and “Thank you for helping us grow!“

Day three is yellow, a bright and shining color, so these items show her that she’s the star to the kids. Yellow gifts include a tote, lip balm, hand sanitizer, paper weights, a t-shirt, an essential oil pen, a pillow for the reading corner, and a coffee mug, of course!

Tags: “Thank you for being the STAR that taught them to SHINE“ and “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”

Green, day four, is a day for the classroom! These gifts are things she can use in and around like classroom, like a utility cart, Sharpies, a label maker, a pencil sharpener, a journal, essential oils, and modular seats for the kids.

Tags: “Thank you for your Commit•Mint Involve•mint Encourage•mint Invest•mint” and “Green with envy are those who wish they had you for a teacher!“ 

Blue, the final day, is for all things lunch!! Items include a lunch carrier, a mini to-go Crockpot, a Bentgo container, a snacks bag, a sand art light that’s great for lunchtime relaxation or meditation, and a Stanley tumbler.

Tags: “Just something out of the blue to say we appreciate you!“ and “We appreciate you a whole bunch, so please enjoy some lunch!“ 

And if you’d rather do one gift on Teacher Appreciation Day (May 7th), a gift bag stuffed with self-care goodies is always a hit! Grab a tote and fill it with Sharpies, this cute acrylic desk sign, a canvas pouch with keychains, body scrub, body wash, lip balm, a lip mask, face masks, and a facial scrub!

blue green orange and red rainbow design decoration

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6th-10th and if you want to show your school spirit and gratitude for our educators and school professionals, a thoughtful gift is a great way to do so. See our Teacher Appreciation Week gift inspiration below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

If you want to make a whole week of it, doing a color a day for your teacher with each color having some kind of “theme” is a fun idea. Kristy did this for her daughter’s teacher! For red, the first day, it’s all about the teacher….the things she likes and things to spoil her with for the days she’s not teaching. Items include a Bogg bag, apple candle, Sol de Janeiro kit, and a self-care book.

Tag: “ Roses are RED & Apples are too! You’re the best teacher ever, we’re so thankful for you.”

Orange, day two, is focused on recognizing the growth she’s given the students. She also loves to garden, so this is perfect! Orange items include drinking glasses, a succulent, a personalized planter, a mister, and a seed kit.

Tags: “ ORANGE you just such a SUN-sational teacher!“ and “Thank you for helping us grow!“

Day three is yellow, a bright and shining color, so these items show her that she’s the star to the kids. Yellow gifts include a tote, lip balm, hand sanitizer, paper weights, a t-shirt, an essential oil pen, a pillow for the reading corner, and a coffee mug, of course!

Tags: “Thank you for being the STAR that taught them to SHINE“ and “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”

Green, day four, is a day for the classroom! These gifts are things she can use in and around like classroom, like a utility cart, Sharpies, a label maker, a pencil sharpener, a journal, essential oils, and modular seats for the kids.

Tags: “Thank you for your Commit•Mint Involve•mint Encourage•mint Invest•mint” and “Green with envy are those who wish they had you for a teacher!“ 

Blue, the final day, is for all things lunch!! Items include a lunch carrier, a mini to-go Crockpot, a Bentgo container, a snacks bag, a sand art light that’s great for lunchtime relaxation or meditation, and a Stanley tumbler.

Tags: “Just something out of the blue to say we appreciate you!“ and “We appreciate you a whole bunch, so please enjoy some lunch!“ 

And if you’d rather do one gift on Teacher Appreciation Day (May 7th), a gift bag stuffed with self-care goodies is always a hit! Grab a tote and fill it with Sharpies, this cute acrylic desk sign, a canvas pouch with keychains, body scrub, body wash, lip balm, a lip mask, face masks, and a facial scrub!

Summer will be here before we know it and we’re already dreaming of all the ways we can update our wardrobes with the best styles of the season. From social festivities to days at the desk, and vacations by the water to early morning runs, Walmart has everything you need to make this a summer of fashion-forward moments. See our Walmart summer fashion inspiration below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Summer = party time! Grad parties, pool parties, backyard BBQs, and holiday soirées…summer is the season of celebrations. Make sure you’re party ready with one of these gorgeous getups.

Maybe you’re all work and no play. Which is okay, but don’t ignore the benefits of a healthy work-life balance! These dresses will have you looking chic in the office, and they can definitely be worn to date night after, too!

Pool days, beach trips, and lake vacations. Whatever your preferred form of water-centric recreation, get yourself a swimsuit to rock that will steal the show.

Don’t forget your coverup! These will come in handy when you’re trying to enjoy your liquid lunch at one of those “no shirt, no shoes, no service” places.

And if you’re team #summerbod, grab a few workout pieces that will make you excited to get your sweat on.

rear view of woman sitting on a rock

Soups are an easy, delicious, and (usually) healthy meal option, and they can really hit the spot on a cold winter day! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite soup recipes to share with you so next time you’re stumped about what to make for dinner, you can whip one of these up and make the whole family happy! See our soup recipes below.

Stracciatella Soup

A heartwarming, delicious and nutritious soup. Made in the beloved Always Pan!!

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 4 eggs (whipped)
  • Spinach
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Shaved Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes to garnish

DIRECTIONS:

  • Simmer chicken (or vegetable) stock on medium heat and slowly add whipped eggs.
  • Let cook for about two minutes and then add uncooked spinach. Continue to cook until wilted. Add grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

A creamy, filling soup perfect for family dinner on a chilly night!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 celery chopped 
  • 2 carrots peeled and chopped 
  • 1/2 onion 
  • Olive oil
  • Chopped garlic (about three cloves)
  • 3 TBS flour 
  • 4 cups chicken broth 
  • 1 cup uncooked rice 
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pound uncooked chicken cut into bite size pieces 

DIRECTIONS:

  • Chop all veggies 
  • With 1 TBS oil, sauté celery, onion and carrots in soup pot for 5 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds
  • Add in flour and cook for about a minute (coating veggies)
  • Slowly add in chicken broth (scraping the bottom of the pot)
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Stir in rice and heavy whipping cream
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer
  • Cover the pot with lid to cook rice for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally
  • Add in chicken and cook for another 10-12 minutes (while stirring occasionally so rice doesn’t stick)
  • Serve hot with your favorite bread or crackers

    *Krista’s pro tip: I personally cook the rice separate and instead of adding when you add the cream, let the soup broth cook for a bit then add the chicken and let cook. If you’re planning on saving leftovers, it’s best to keep rice separate since it soaks up the broth! 

Mushroom Soup

This mushroom soup has a kick of spice! It’s delicious by itself or with rice and/or chicken!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 TBS plant-based butter
  • 10oz mushrooms
  • 1 TBS Hungarian paprika
  • 1 TBS coconut aminos
  • 2 cups no salt added chicken broth
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3 TBS tapioca flour
  • Ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • Parsley for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place butter in sauce pan and melt
  • Add sliced mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, until tender
  • Mix in paprika, aminos, and broth – simmer on low for about 15 minutes
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together almond milk and flour – then add to sauce pan
  • Stir well and let simmer (don’t boil) covered, for about 15 minutes
  • Stir in pepper, lemon juice, and sour cream and allow to heat for about 5 minutes
  • Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Dupe

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound spicy sausage (or mild if preferred)
  • Diced pancetta (1-pack sized) or bacon
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • 2 TBS flour 
  • 4 cups chicken stock 
  • 4 large potatoes (russet)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Kale

DIRECTIONS:

  • Chop onion, garlic and potatoes
  • In pot, heat a drizzle of oil – crumble up sausage and brown it, drain well and move to a plate
  • In same pot cook the pancetta (or bacon) using the grease from the sausage. Cool till crisp. Once done move to plate, clear all but 1 TBS of oil from pot
  • Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for an additional minute
  • Add flour to onion and garlic and stir to combine. Cook for about a minute.
  • Pour in chicken stock and gently stir as you pour, add potatoes and bring to a boil
  • Cook until potatoes can be pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes)
  • Add in cooked sausage, pancetta/bacon (leaving some for topping), heavy cream, and kale
  • Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Top with pancetta/bacon pieces and serve!

Soups are an easy, delicious, and (usually) healthy meal option, and they can really hit the spot on a cold winter day! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite soup recipes to share with you so next time you’re stumped about what to make for dinner, you can whip one of these up and make the whole family happy! See our soup recipes below.

Stracciatella Soup

A heartwarming, delicious and nutritious soup. Made in the beloved Always Pan!!

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 4 eggs (whipped)
  • Spinach
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Shaved Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes to garnish

DIRECTIONS:

  • Simmer chicken (or vegetable) stock on medium heat and slowly add whipped eggs.
  • Let cook for about two minutes and then add uncooked spinach. Continue to cook until wilted. Add grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

A creamy, filling soup perfect for family dinner on a chilly night!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 celery chopped 
  • 2 carrots peeled and chopped 
  • 1/2 onion 
  • Olive oil
  • Chopped garlic (about three cloves)
  • 3 TBS flour 
  • 4 cups chicken broth 
  • 1 cup uncooked rice 
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pound uncooked chicken cut into bite size pieces 

DIRECTIONS:

  • Chop all veggies 
  • With 1 TBS oil, sauté celery, onion and carrots in soup pot for 5 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds
  • Add in flour and cook for about a minute (coating veggies)
  • Slowly add in chicken broth (scraping the bottom of the pot)
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Stir in rice and heavy whipping cream
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer
  • Cover the pot with lid to cook rice for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally
  • Add in chicken and cook for another 10-12 minutes (while stirring occasionally so rice doesn’t stick)
  • Serve hot with your favorite bread or crackers

    *Krista’s pro tip: I personally cook the rice separate and instead of adding when you add the cream, let the soup broth cook for a bit then add the chicken and let cook. If you’re planning on saving leftovers, it’s best to keep rice separate since it soaks up the broth! 

Mushroom Soup

This mushroom soup has a kick of spice! It’s delicious by itself or with rice and/or chicken!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 TBS plant-based butter
  • 10oz mushrooms
  • 1 TBS Hungarian paprika
  • 1 TBS coconut aminos
  • 2 cups no salt added chicken broth
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3 TBS tapioca flour
  • Ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • Parsley for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place butter in sauce pan and melt
  • Add sliced mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, until tender
  • Mix in paprika, aminos, and broth – simmer on low for about 15 minutes
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together almond milk and flour – then add to sauce pan
  • Stir well and let simmer (don’t boil) covered, for about 15 minutes
  • Stir in pepper, lemon juice, and sour cream and allow to heat for about 5 minutes
  • Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Dupe

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound spicy sausage (or mild if preferred)
  • Diced pancetta (1-pack sized) or bacon
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • 2 TBS flour 
  • 4 cups chicken stock 
  • 4 large potatoes (russet)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Kale

DIRECTIONS:

  • Chop onion, garlic and potatoes
  • In pot, heat a drizzle of oil – crumble up sausage and brown it, drain well and move to a plate
  • In same pot cook the pancetta (or bacon) using the grease from the sausage. Cool till crisp. Once done move to plate, clear all but 1 TBS of oil from pot
  • Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for an additional minute
  • Add flour to onion and garlic and stir to combine. Cook for about a minute.
  • Pour in chicken stock and gently stir as you pour, add potatoes and bring to a boil
  • Cook until potatoes can be pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes)
  • Add in cooked sausage, pancetta/bacon (leaving some for topping), heavy cream, and kale
  • Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Top with pancetta/bacon pieces and serve!

Soups are an easy, delicious, and (usually) healthy meal option, and they can really hit the spot on a cold winter day! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite soup recipes to share with you so next time you’re stumped about what to make for dinner, you can whip one of these up and make the whole family happy! See our soup recipes below.

Stracciatella Soup

A heartwarming, delicious and nutritious soup. Made in the beloved Always Pan!!

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 4 eggs (whipped)
  • Spinach
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Shaved Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes to garnish

DIRECTIONS:

  • Simmer chicken (or vegetable) stock on medium heat and slowly add whipped eggs.
  • Let cook for about two minutes and then add uncooked spinach. Continue to cook until wilted. Add grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

A creamy, filling soup perfect for family dinner on a chilly night!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 celery chopped 
  • 2 carrots peeled and chopped 
  • 1/2 onion 
  • Olive oil
  • Chopped garlic (about three cloves)
  • 3 TBS flour 
  • 4 cups chicken broth 
  • 1 cup uncooked rice 
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pound uncooked chicken cut into bite size pieces 

DIRECTIONS:

  • Chop all veggies 
  • With 1 TBS oil, sauté celery, onion and carrots in soup pot for 5 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds
  • Add in flour and cook for about a minute (coating veggies)
  • Slowly add in chicken broth (scraping the bottom of the pot)
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Stir in rice and heavy whipping cream
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer
  • Cover the pot with lid to cook rice for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally
  • Add in chicken and cook for another 10-12 minutes (while stirring occasionally so rice doesn’t stick)
  • Serve hot with your favorite bread or crackers

    *Krista’s pro tip: I personally cook the rice separate and instead of adding when you add the cream, let the soup broth cook for a bit then add the chicken and let cook. If you’re planning on saving leftovers, it’s best to keep rice separate since it soaks up the broth! 

Mushroom Soup

This mushroom soup has a kick of spice! It’s delicious by itself or with rice and/or chicken!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 TBS plant-based butter
  • 10oz mushrooms
  • 1 TBS Hungarian paprika
  • 1 TBS coconut aminos
  • 2 cups no salt added chicken broth
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3 TBS tapioca flour
  • Ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • Parsley for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place butter in sauce pan and melt
  • Add sliced mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, until tender
  • Mix in paprika, aminos, and broth – simmer on low for about 15 minutes
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together almond milk and flour – then add to sauce pan
  • Stir well and let simmer (don’t boil) covered, for about 15 minutes
  • Stir in pepper, lemon juice, and sour cream and allow to heat for about 5 minutes
  • Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Dupe

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound spicy sausage (or mild if preferred)
  • Diced pancetta (1-pack sized) or bacon
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • 2 TBS flour 
  • 4 cups chicken stock 
  • 4 large potatoes (russet)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Kale

DIRECTIONS:

  • Chop onion, garlic and potatoes
  • In pot, heat a drizzle of oil – crumble up sausage and brown it, drain well and move to a plate
  • In same pot cook the pancetta (or bacon) using the grease from the sausage. Cool till crisp. Once done move to plate, clear all but 1 TBS of oil from pot
  • Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for an additional minute
  • Add flour to onion and garlic and stir to combine. Cook for about a minute.
  • Pour in chicken stock and gently stir as you pour, add potatoes and bring to a boil
  • Cook until potatoes can be pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes)
  • Add in cooked sausage, pancetta/bacon (leaving some for topping), heavy cream, and kale
  • Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Top with pancetta/bacon pieces and serve!