Oh, the end of the school year. For BUSY BODIES and MULTI-TASKING moms & dads, the calendars are FULL and that classroom teacher gift or coach gift (or both) are hovering on the mind.
We have a solution! Simply create an INLU and blast it to your classroom list REQUESTING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A TEACHER OR COACH GIFT. Let other parents know you’ll get the gift on behalf of the class. Parents simply pitch-in and it’s a done deal. Oh, and they get to leave a lovely note for the teacher or coach!
MONICA SUGGESTS…
1. Because Teacher & Coach gifts are time sensitive, it is best to think of Inlu as being your “Reimbursement System.” Remember that funds collected for a gift are issued by check and sent to the person you direct via first class mail.
If you’re a room or team mom like me, you already have a gift idea in mind – and will want to have it at the game or closing circle. You might want to select a gift/price point that you are willing to pre-purchase on your own, then whatever funds you get from others, great.
2. IF you collect more cash funds than you needed, you could always put the rest into a gift certificate to a local coffee house or something else at the last minute.
3. You may know from other such class collections, that most people pitch in, but some don’t. Budget accordingly and modestly.
4. PRINTING your Inlu to send home with kids might also be helpful– it’s EASY:
- Log in, go to your Dashboard, go to ACTIONS, select PRINT. The printed version of your Inlu directs people to www.inlu.com, and provides a “Registry Number” for them to easily find your collection. This works really well!!
As fabulous as we are, we will never have a ten million dollar wardrobe budget to work with. However, we do (most likely) all have great friends we’d love go see SATC2 with. For our INLU SATC2 Campaign, we suggest people use their “soiree” as an excellent opportunity to get together AND do good as a group. Once it’s decided, the fun really starts with the question:
“what will I wear?”
(and how can I keep the planet happy while looking fantastic?)
1. Let’s start with the hands, shall we? Try eco-friendly nail polish.
May we suggest PritiNYC? Nobody will know it’s eco-friendly— it’s super sexy!
Another, cool yet kid-friendlier option you can hand off to the offspring? HOPSCOTCH KIDS NONTOXIC water-based nail polish.
2. Costume Rings- Hit EBAYor ETSY for fabulous finds.
VIBRANT . Flower Statement Ring (Only $11)
3. Cuffs. GET GLAMMED with glorious vintage restoration pieces from Camille K.
Camille K - Vintage Design
Or possibly a FABULOUS bracelet…via TWINKLE STUDIOS?
Twinkle Studios...Stellar!
4. Clutch…don’ forget the CLUTCH!
Again, hit etsy. Search around for recycled fabric, fun or WILD clutches. Better yet, make your own! For $5, you can get a pattern and head to YOUR closet and make a clutch out of an old dress or costume.
Etsy Bonus? Search by zipcode to keep the shipping quick & close.
5. Necklaces.
For this, we say go fro a run through your LOCAL consignment shop, thrift store or even craigslist ad. Online options ABOUND. Check out Vintage Costume JewelsUpcycled Jewelry or Twinkle Studios for some FABULOUS inspiration.
We also suggest you send an email around and SWAP dresses, skirts & other clothing with the gals. Who knows, maybe that skirt that you can’t wear anymore will find new life on your cute tiny little yoga mom nieghbor. (OR not…)
OR, if you’re GOING FOR IT, rent and return designer clothing. Swing by WEARTODAYGONETOMORROW.
If that doesn’t suit yer fancy, swing by the DAILY GREEN for eco-savvy-smarter than synthetic style fashion direction.
7. SHOES, GLORIOUS SHOES!
It doesn’t look like an upscale boutique BUT if you step your sweet feet into a PLATOS CLOSET, you will surely find a ONE OF A KIND cute, trendy pair of shoes. Pre-owned does not mean WORN OUT. No busted straps or broken heels– just a TON of hardly-worn heels. Fabulous, without buyer’s remorse.
Martini Glasses- thrift store galore. rummage in the back of your favorite, local antique or thrift store. Find mismatched, full-of-character martini glasses, champage flutes and cocktail glasses. Make it interesting with a variety of heights, weights, colors and etchings. S
9. Clean Makeup…that benefits a cause!
“Peacekeeper Cause-Metics is the first cosmetics line to give all of its after-tax, distributable profits to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues”
We LOVE THIS IDEA! How cool…put on your face and make the world a better place. Check it out HERE.
10. Carpool!
There’s nothing really sexy about car pooling BUT in this case, if you can get all the gals together in ONE or TWO vehicles, it saves gas. Does it do much to counter the GULF OIL disaster? No but ever little effort can help. Oh, and did you know there are now clean limo / cars etc? Say whattt? Check out OZOCAR and ECOLIMO.
Whatever you do, have a blast! If you’d like to do an INLU and collect from all the ladies & gents for a CAUSE (or ANYTHING ELSE) please CLICK HERE.
Use Inlu to collect funds and heartfelt notes from all the siblings. Then, use the funds for ANY awesome gift, ANY charity donation (in her name) or both!
It’s SO EASY, just think of something fabulous and local OR choose a big ticket item to split up amongst the brood or find a huge bouquet & splice the price several ways!! What a lovely (and easy) way to say Happy Mother’s Day.
Check out our Mother’s Day Video! Ready to go? GET STARTED!
Inlu is the EASY way to collect money from siblings and spend it locally on MOM.
Skip the skimpy wimpy individual gifts and go in a s a gang for something SERIOUSLY FABULOUS. Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking about what Mom might REALLY want from her local scene.
Tasty Treats that will make mom feel nostalgic for the good old days? Cookie Love, baby.
MOTHER of all Bouquets. With more people to pitch in, the most jaw-dropping bouquets become a very viable option. Check out local florists like Chappell‘s, Kathy & Company or Straycat Flowers. Also, swing by Floral Artistry Vermont for a gallery of beautiful bouquets.
Tattoo Shop Credit- Oh yeah….that’s right! Try Yankee Tattoo or Blue Buddha, now known as Gold For Blood.
Massage or Spa Treatment- Go for the FULL 90 Minutes @ Rewind or set aside a super session@ Cynthea’s Spa in Burlington, VT.
10. Funky Jewelry -The Buy Local options are endless! Instead of cruising to the mall, hit a crafty, etsy artist like Kacey Boone from Subsix Studios or support a local jeweler like our own Wendy Faulkner of Sweet Flower Designs!
11. Oh yes, Mom would LOVE LOVE LOVE a brand new laptop! And you know it…why not pool up and go shopping at SMALLDOG Electronics?
12. Something Classic & Classy for MOM? Try your luck on antiques at Anjou, clothing at April Cornell or a fine item at ARABESQUE gifts in Shelburne.
13. Lucky 13! Why not pool up and get MOM a weekend GETAWAY at a lovely locations such as The Woodstock Inn & Resort, Stoweflake or Top Notch Resort. Ahhhh….for a mom, sleeping in on a fluffy bed is like the best gift EVER!
15 MOMMY MAKEOVER. Stop by Mirror Mirror for a goody bag of gloss and glam or splurge all the way up to a Make-Mommy-New-Again Weekend at Dr. Metzner in Manchester, Vermont. What the heck, is she wants it, she should get it (well, get ‘em…er…nevermind!).
NOTE: Substitute these ideas for your neighborhood favorites. Use INLU to collect funds and coordinate a gift from all the kids.
Inlu allows the organizer to host a graduation party and skip paper invitations.
Inlu allows the graduate to send a thank you from the dashboard. No paper notes!
Inlu allows you to easily collect from everyone and buy locally or purchase something special.
For the seriously eco-minded, Inlu allows graduates to say, in lieu of checks, please pitch in for this eco-friendly cause! Get some cool ideas from the INLU CHARITY SEEKER!
Inlu sends $ to plant trees as a “gift” back to its users. The more users, the more cumulative “planet points.”
For more info or to get started, please feel free to click on our INLU graduation page!
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MONICA SUGGESTS…
It doesn’t look like an upscale boutique BUT if you step your sweet feet into a 
Check it out 
