Three Tips to Help Your Kids Stay Organized for School

We all want to be more organized. A simple search on Pinterest, brings up tons of ideas, tips and tricks for keeping ourselves more organized. I have a PinBoard devoted to Organization, and truth be told it's one of my favorites.

But how do we help our kids get and stay organized for the upcoming school year? I have found 3 tips that really help my kids stay on track.

1. Color Code for multiple subject students. My oldest is in Middle School, and when we are purchasing supplies, we set up a color for each subject, and purchase binders, folders and composition books in the appropriate colors (Blue for Math, Red for Social Studies, etc.) This cuts down on the "grabbing the wrong notebook" issue.

2. Student Planners. We are very fortunate in our district, and the school provides each student with a planner. I take time each Sunday to sit down with them for 5 minutes and help them note anything they may need to know: Gym? Bring shoes. Band? Bring Instrument. At the same time, I update my own calendar so I know what they need me to do, as far as pick ups and drop offs.

3. Lunch Menus. My kids do a combination of buying school lunch and bringing lunch from home. I print the monthly lunch menus and post on our refrigerator. On the weekend, we scan ahead to see what days they are bringing lunch. This helps with our grocery shopping as well.

Teaching my kids to be responsible and accountable for their school work, sets a good example and practice field for when they go off to college and the work world.

How do you help your kids stay organized?

catch you soon -

Menu Plan Monday - 2013 Week 35

This is it. . .our last week of summer vacation. And I must confess to you loyal menu plan readers . . . this week is "the little plan that can". It seems as if I have been playing it loose all summer, but thinking up a plan, writing it down and shopping for it, saves me time, money and aggravation. So it's worth it.

This week, it's short, sweet and up for revisions.

Monday - Tortellini with garlic bread and salad
Tuesday - Hittin the beach
Wednesday - Out with the kiddos
Thursday - Mini Meatloaves, broccoli
Friday - Homemade Pizza
Saturday & Sunday -TBD

Next week starts with a Holiday and then back to school for us. I intend to spend some time sketching out a plan for September, and firming up a plan for next week. I am pinning lots of potential recipes to my Pinterest Board, including crockpot and one-pot meals. What's your favorite busy-night meal?

As always, I'm linked up over at I'm An Organizing Junkie - for even more ideas and inspiration!

catch you soon -

What To Do With School Papers

If your kids have already started school, then you probably have a stack of papers cluttering up your desk or counter already. If they haven't started yet, be prepared. It never ceases to amaze me, even after all this time, just how much paper comes home from school, especially in those first few days.

What's a parent to DO with all that paper? Some of it you KNOW you'll need again, and some of it you MAY need to look at again. How do you organize it all?

I face all that paper with a 2-prong attack:

1. Individual Kid School Binders
2. School of Memories File System

I've been using these two systems since Ryan was in kindergarten, and they are still working wonderfully. Check out this video to see how to set up your own system, and what I include in mine.



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Don't Let Back to School Give You a Headache {Sponsored} {Giveaway}

Are your kids are already back to school? Mine don't start school until after Labor Day, so we have a little summer left.

But if you have any type-A tendencies as I do, you are starting to stress over all the things that have to "get done" before the first day: (or if you've had your first day - what you are already "behind" on)

• School Supplies
• New Clothes
• New Shoes
• Lunchbags and Backpacks
• Bedtime Routines
• Summer Packets

I take all that to a whole new level and add my own school year binders, calendars, homework cart and more that I want to get organized before we start.

All of that is enough to give anyone a headache! In fact, according to a recent survey by the makers of Excedrin®, more than one-third of parents * cite getting themselves (41%) and their children (43%) back on schedule at the top of the list of things that might cause their headaches during the back to school season.

And while we are all preparing ourselves and our kids on the home-front, schools and teachers around the country are preparing too. With extensive school supply lists coming home each summer, it's no wonder that according to a recent survey by the makers of Excedrin®, a large majority of parents (85%) think their schools are in need of new or upgraded supplies, such as pencils and paper and computers or software and even gym/sporting equipment.  In response, the makers of Excedrin launched the "Help Your School Excel with Excedrin" sweepsteaks, which is a fun and headache-free way for 5 individuals to win $10,000 for their child's school. How awesome would that be?

To enter the "Help Your School Excel with Excedrin" sweepsteaks and have the chance to be one of 5 lucky winners, simply visit Facebook.com/Excedrin

Back-to-School Giveaway for Readers of my scraps

Here is a special giveaway just for my scraps readers! The makers of Excedrin® are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a back-to-school pack that will help you stay organized, hydrated and headache-free. Just leave a comment, telling me one thing that might cause a headache during the back-to-school season.

fine print -Giveaway open to Continental US Residents only. Be sure to include a valid email address so I can contact you. Comments close on September 10th at midnight Eastern Daylight Time. Winner will be selected using random.org from all valid entries. Winner must reply within 48 hours of notification or another winner will be selected using the same methods.

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*Parents that can name at least one thing that might cause a headache during the back to school season.

Disclosure - I am an Excedrin® Extra Strength Ambassador, and I was compensated for my time in preparing this post. I truly do suffer from headaches and Excedrin is my "go-to" remedy. All opinions are, as always, my very own.

Menu Plan Monday - 2013 Week 34

Summer camp is all done, and we are trying to fill up our last two weeks of summer vacation with as many fun things and things we need to finish as possible. Hopefully we get in a good mix of fun things and must-dos.

With so much going on, dinners are getting very easy and on-the-fly, but I still like to have a plan in place.

Monday - Chicken Cutlets
Tuesday - Taco Tuesday
Wednesday - Pasta with meatballs
Thursday - Spinach Bacon Salad with Hard Cooked Eggs
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday & Sunday - TBD

What's on your plan this week? My plan is linked up over at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

catch you soon -

5 Tips to the Perfect Pitch

Do you have an elevator pitch? Do you need one? Everyone needs a "pitch" - a way to introduce yourself at a party, or look for a new opportunity, or encourage someone to support your latest cause. But talking about ourselves is not always easy, so how do you make sure your pitch is the best it can be? Here are 5 tips to get you started:

• What do you want people to know about you? What are you hoping to get from them? A job? A connection - that can determine what content you put into your pitch.

• Write it down. This isn't an "off the cuff"situation. Write down everything you want someone to know and then edit it. Whittle it down to the 3-4 key points you can deliver in 30-60 seconds.

• Answer these three questions: Who are you? What do you do? What are you looking for?

• Be authentic. A pitch is typically about them, not you and the focus is on what you can do for them. 

• Consider preparing some variations, depending on the situation. For instance, if you are introducing yourself, you would have a slightly different approach than if you were looking for a job or opportunity.

• You should be comfortable enough to give your elevator pitch in an interview or at a cocktail party, whenever the occasion calls. So practice, practice, practice.

So there you have it. . .seems pretty simple, right? Maybe not. . .but you can do it!

Let me share mine with you:



Leave me a comment with a link to your own elevator pitch, or if you don't have one yet - what you want it to say about you.

catch you soon -

Menu Plan Monday - 2013 Week 33

Summer is quickly coming to a close. This is the kids' last week of camp and the last week of a "regular" schedule until school starts. Here's what I have planned for dinner this week:

Monday - Flank Steak, Baked Potatoes, Caprese Salad
Tuesday - Pasta Carbonara - the Pioneer Woman's Recipe, Salad
Wednesday - Salmon - maybe kabobs with a veggie on the grill, and Couscous
Thursday - Chicken Cutlets, not sure what we are having with them
Friday - Boys Night at the Monster Trucks
Saturday & Sunday - TBD

In the next few weeks, I'm going to try and plan out September's menu. Do you find it easier to plan a month or a week at a time? Real Simple magazine typically has a Family themed issue in time for back-to-school, and it is usually filled with great meal planning ideas.

I've started a Meal Prep and Planning Pinterest Board, and would love your suggestions for planning resources. Leave me a comment and be sure to check out my link up over at I'm An Organized Junkie, for more ideas and inspiration - or to link up your own meal plan!

catch you soon -

6 Crafty Ideas Using Tape From Scotch Expressions

Decorative tape, in particular Washi Tape, has been pretty popular in papercrafting and scrapbooking for a while now. I have a little basket of it that sits right on my Raskog cart for when I work on Project Life. But I must confess, I've found other fun uses for it, and I jumped when Office Depot offered to send me a selection of Scotch Expressions tape to review and try out on some projects.

Tape is such a versatile medium to use in crafting. It's less permanent than paint, in fact some of it you can peel off within 14 days. Besides versatility, a wide assortment of colors and patterns allows for  endless creativity and project ideas.

In fact, at one point, I found myself walking around my house "finding" stuff that needed a touch of tape. The selection of Scotch Expressions Tape at Office Depot is so big, you are sure to find the right tape that coordinates with your decor for any crafting, organizational or personalizing idea you can come up with.

Office Depot sent me five different types of tape: Duct Tape, Masking Take, Packing Tape, Decorative Tape and Washi Tape. Here are some ideas for you to try at home, using each type of tape. You can check my Crafty Goodness Pinterest Board for even more ideas and links.

Masking Tape

I used the masking tape to cover an empty coffee canister. I've been saving some of these canisters from my Trader Joe's coffee, with plans to "make" them into something else. It was simple to use strips of masking tape vertically around the canister. I finished it off with a printed strip around the top and bottom. I plan to add a chalkboard label to the canister and store markers, colored pencils and other art supplies in them.

Decorative Tape

This was my favorite project and made the biggest impact on my home. This tape is like a patterned scotch tape. The green stripes matched my new bathroom rugs perfectly and the tape size was perfect for this cabinet. I'm not sure I would do this on a more precious piece of furniture, but this cabinet has been around for a while. I just pulled the tape off in strips, laid it on the cabinet and pressed down. Such an easy and fun touch.

Washi Tape

My favorite of all tape, you can use this on absolutely anything. I took a simple Dollar Store vase and votive candle holders, attached some washi, and kicked them up a notch. Perfect for a hostess gift or to spruce up your decor for a party or event.

Packing Tape

The packing tape is shiny and has some "give" to it. I covered this plain white "H" I've had sitting around with this gorgeous hot pink tape. I used a craft knife to cut the tape to fit around the edges. I thought embellishing a picture frame to coordinate with this would make an awesome gift.

Duct Tape

I used some twine with my Duct Tape and made this cute little banner. I ripped off 4 inch strips of tape, laid them sticky-side up, ran the twine over each piece, folder them over and cut a notch. You can make this sized to fit and custom it for a kids party, luau, 4th of July, whatever.

Just to show how versatile the tape truly is, we went to an outdoor concert and I had a stack of plastic cups. To help my kids tell them apart, I stuck a different piece of tape on each one. Easy.

Hopefully my project ideas have inspired you to go off and create something beautiful with Scotch Expressions Tape. To encourage you to get as crafty as you can, Office Depot and 3M are offering my scraps readers the opportunity to save $1 on any roll of tape, so click here to redeem online or here to redeem in store. 

Go get your tape and be sure to come back and show me what you made!

catch you soon - 

disclosure: I received 3M Expressions Tape to help facilitate this review and was compensated by Office Depot for my time. As always, all opinions are my own. For more information, about Scotch Expressions Tape at Office Depot, visit them at: http://bit.ly/Hillary3M

Are You a Spender or a Saver?

Money. Some say it's the root of all evil, some say it makes the world go 'round. Either way, money matters. It's something that we need to help us make our way in the world. Money allows us to have a roof over our heads, food on our table and clothes on our back.

This week's #vlogmom prompt from Amiyrah asks us: "Are you a spender or a saver? How about your spouse?"

Here's my thoughts on saving money and spending money:



Leave me a comment and let me know if you consider yourself a spender or a saver. And if you're a saver - leave a tip! =)

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Recipe: Foil Fish Packets

I have always been hesitant to cook fish, but grilling fish in foil packets, seemed pretty easy, so I figured I would give it a try.

This recipe will work with a variety of combinations of white fish, herbs and moisture depending on your preferences.

Ingredients

• White Fish filets - I used  Dover Sole
• Herbs - I used a combination of rosemary and sage from my garden
• Moisture - You  can use lemon, wine, butter, olive oil or any combination
• Salt and Pepper

Assembly

• Divide your fish into serving sizes.
• Tear off aluminum sheets (large enough to fully seal around your fish) for each portion.
• Lay your filets on the foil.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Top with a pat of butter.
• Lay a sprig of herbs on top and stick in a lemon slice.
• Now fold up the foil so that it forms a sealed envelope around the fish.

Cooking
Fire up your grill - this will work on gas or charcoal. (If it rains, you can also put these in the oven) and cook until your fish is done. Depending on your choice of fish and size of your filet, you may want to search cooking times.

For an easy side dish, I sliced up some zucchini, tossed it with olive oil, salt and pepper, and sealed that up in a packet as well.

That's all there is too it - be careful opening your packets, as they let off steam. Have you tried cooking in foil or parchment packets?

catch you soon -

Menu Plan Monday - 2013 Week 32

Last week's menu plan was a hit. The Chicken Mandarin Pasta Salad and the Salmon Kabobs were new to us recipes and they were delicious! Flank Steak and Grilled Shrimp rounded us out for a healthy and easy meal week.

This week, I have one busy night and one child request for Taco Tuesday, so here's our plan:

Monday - Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Broccoli Foil Packets
Tuesday - Tacos with Guacamole and Corn
Wednesday - Pasta with meatballs, Salad and Garlic Bread
Thursday - Chicken Nuggets and Mac-n-Cheese
Friday - Pizzas on the grill
Saturday & Sunday - Clean out the fridge

Back-to-School is almost upon us, so I'm starting to think about how I need to adjust my meal planning for our "school day" schedule. I am planning to keep using the grill as much as possible - the clean up is so much easier! What adjustments do you make for back-to-school?

I'm linked up at I'm an Organizing Junkie. Check it out for additional ideas and inspiration, or to link up your own Meal Plan.

catch you soon -

Rainbow Loom - It's Not Just For Girls

 

Do you have a Rainbow Loom Bracelet Kit? Fun Loom? Rubber Band Bracelet maker? It's going by a few different names, but the end result is the same: a plastic pegged loom, millions of colored rubber bands and a hook. Fashionable rubber jewelry for boys and girls of all ages.

Kids are showing up at camp (parents and counselors too) with arms full of brightly colored rubber band bracelets. And I'm here to tell you, that my boys are no exception. Now I am no craze-follower, so when I asked them if they wanted one, they were surprised, but readily agreed.

We came home with our shiny new Rainbow Loom Kits, and both kids immediately set up shop to make bracelets.

The kits are recommended for kids 8 and up. Owen (who will be 7 this fall) can do them with help. The steps are pretty simple. You pick some colors for your bracelet. You pick a pattern, which determines how you put the bands on your loom. Then you follow instructions for "looping" the bands to form a bracelet.

 
The kit comes with all you need to get started. If you want to, and your kids are really into it, you can purchase additional rubber bands. Since I am a bit obsessed with organization, I needed to find a way to store our extra rubber bands. I had some old plastic baby food containers that were my perfect storage solution.

After about six of the single chain style bracelets, the kids discovered YouTube videos with instructions on how to make different style bracelets. The YouTube videos really take this craft to a whole other level. We (yes, I admit to making them too) learned how to make charms, and could even incorporate our glow-in-the-dark bands.

Ryan's favorite is the fishtail pattern. He has plans to make one for all his favorite sports team, using their colors.

What is your go-to craft this summer? If it's a Rainbow Loom Bracelet Kit, leave a comment with your favorite style so we can try it out.

For more Rainbow Loom how-to and ideas, check out Sherry's post over at SuperExhausted.

catch you soon -

Book Review: Monument to the Dead by Sheila Connolly

Book Review: Monument to the Dead, by Sheila Connolly. I'm currently reading this book, it's the fourth one in the museum mystery book series. The series  is based in Philadelphia, and centers around Nell Pratt, President of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society.

This is definitely not a thriller, but rather falls into the "cozy" genre of mystery books. If you have perused the mystery section lately, you may find as I did, that there is a series fit for almost every hobby or interest out there.

I love to read and I read a couple books a month. I enjoy fiction books, especially ones that are Philadelphia based. This latest one centers around the arts and philanthropy in Philadelphia, and fits my female sleuth requirement as well. For some reason, I just don't care for books with a male lead character.

For more details about the story, I hope you'll watch this video review (don't worry I won't give away the ending!) :



So tell me, what are you reading this summer? Fiction books? Non-Fiction books? Both? Do you read any series or books relevant to where you live?  Some of my favorite authors that write Philadelphia based books are: Lisa Scottoline, Sheila Connolly, Gillian Roberts and Nancy Martin.

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