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2012: First Day of School Eve

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2012: First day of school Eve

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Our house is a stir with excitement and preparations for the first day of school. On the first day of school eve, I start with a plan.

With some nervous energy from my daughter entering kindergarten to my calm son ready to see his friends, our big day is on the horizon.

My goal is to end the summer with fun while minimizing distractions for tomorrow morning.

To reach that goal, we started our day with breakfast and a shopping trip to Staples for the last two items that never went on sale during the back-to-school season.

On our way back home, we snagged 50¢ ice cream cones from Burger King while chatting about predictions for the new school year. At home, we ate lunch, and my toddler took a nap.

In between the loads of laundry, we finished labeling and packing my son and daughter’s school supplies.

2nd grader with supplies Kindergartener with school supplies

Aligned their backpacks down the hallway in their designated spaces. (The third backpack, used by my son last year, has been passed down to the toddler for her items. ;-))

Backpacks all in a row

Chose their first day of school outfits complete with shoes and accessories.

School clothes laid out

Set out their lunch bags and drink containers.

Lunch boxes and drink containers

Printed the signs for pictures and the lunch box notes.

Signs and lunch box notes

Loaded up their school supplies and headed out to our annual Back-to-School family dinner. This year we ate at Stevi B’s with a Groupon.

First day of school eve

My mom is staying for a little longer to spend time with her grandchildren and see them off to school. We are wearing her out and enjoying our time together. 😉

After dinner, we attended Back-to-School night at school where we dropped off our supplies, received information about the school year, reunited with our friends, and made a few new relationships.

With a busy evening and early start to tomorrow, we came home, ran through our evening routine, answered questions, calmed fears, and put our children to bed.

Packing in precious time with my family on our last day of summer vacation proved enjoyable and profitable. Keeping our tradition of a family dinner completed our summer activities and spurred us into our next adventure. In using time wisely, our first day of school eve activities closed one chapter and will start another in the morning. Keeping it together . . . barely!

Question: How did/are you planning your First Day of School Eve? 

Packing for Summer Camp

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Packing for Summer Camp

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Though my little ones are too young for summer camp, many are getting ready for a week of fun away from home. In preparing to travel to a land with fresh air, running water, and plenty of activities, Good Housing offers 15 Thing to Pack for Camp.

Though I would bypass the first aid kit, if a camp nurse is on-call, I agree with this list of necessities for a comfortable camp week. In using time wisely, I would add the following to the list:

Free Samples

In requesting freebies and samples, camp is a wonderful opportunity to use those toothpaste, shampoo, soap, body wash, deodorant, makeup, hand sanitizer, and sunscreens samples.

Plastic Bags

Having been a camp counselor, I remember weeks where it rained every day. Keeping clothing dry was impossible. To prepare for wet clothes and towels coming home, pack a large plastic garbage bag or a number of plastic grocery bags. This way, the plastic bag prevents mildew from growing inside your child’s suitcase.

Notes of Love

From the time I was a junior camper through high school camp, my mom hid little notes throughout my luggage to remind me that she loved me. I still remember the little note I got wet because she hid it in my soap container that I opened in the shower. I was really disappointed that I could not read it, but I will never forget those tokens of love.

When I got homesick, those little notes reminded me of home and encouraged my heart. One day, when my own children head to camp, I plan to pass down these little notes of encouragement as my tokens of love for them.

Packing for summer camp is exciting. By adding free samples, plastic bags, and notes of love along with the other essential items, your camper will arrive ready for fun. Happy packing!

Question: What would you add to or drop from the list?

2012 Quick Tip Week: Keep your Brainstorming Notes

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Jeremy Mikkola)

Following quick tip #1 from the document category and quick tip #2 from the household category, we move to the category of event planning in our week of quick tips.

Whether you find yourself planning a birthday party, dinner with friends, or a fall festival, this next tip comes in handy throughout the planning process.

When choosing or accepting the role of party planner, I always begin with event notes. These brainstorming notes contain the possible as well as the near-impossible for carrying out the details for the event. Though most of these ideas never get acted upon, use this next tip for future reference while using time wisely.

Quick Tip #3: Keep your Brainstorming Notes

Through my brainstorming sessions, I jot down all sorts of ideas from schedules to themes to contacts for ideas. As the event takes on a form of its own, I have learned to file away my brainstorming notes.

During the execution phase, I have hit snags in the plan. Referring back to my brainstorming notes has offered suggestions and solutions during these need-a-fix-now situations. Keeping my brainstorming notes has saved me time and energy throughout the event planning process.

As you plan your events, remember to keep your brainstorming notes. In using time wisely, you can save energy and time coming up with a solution (again) by referring to your former ideas. Sometimes those notes will prompt another idea for an up-coming event, so save your notes. Happy planning!

Question: What tool do you use to spark your creativity when planning an event?

Inspiration: Additional Halloween Party Ideas – Part 3

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Camille Styles)

With our schedule slowing down a tad and all these great Halloween party ideas, I think our family will host another Halloween party this year. My eldest daughter is already talking about last year’s party and who we should invite this year. Thankfully, I have most of the items needed from previous years, and these great party ideas just add to the flavor of the event.

To keep the inspiration coming, here are 6 additional party ideas for your Halloween gathering:

Non-spooky Decorations

1. Pumpkin Carving Tips

2. Jack-O-Lanterns from baby food jars

3. Bats and Mice made with black construction paper

Yummy Seasonal Menu Items

4. Pumpkin Butter

5. Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats

6. Free E-book: 23 Unforgettable Halloween Party Recipes

NOTE: You do not need to sign up for the newsletter. Just click the “close” button to download your free copy. Remember, you can place this e-book in your free Kindle for PC application.

With all these great party ideas, will you change your mind and host a ghostly event? If so, please be sure to post pictures for us to enjoy. Happy planning!

Question: What is your favorite Halloween decoration or food item? Keep the inspiration moving by adding your answer to the comments.

Inspiration: More Halloween Party Ideas – Part 2

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Kimberly Cadena)

Pumpkins are purchased, our fall festival is complete (more details coming in later posts), and life is returning to normal busyness. As I look at the calendar, the Halloween events for our family begin this weekend. If you are planning a Halloween celebration and need some more inspiration, try these great party menu ideas:

Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Pie Dip, Popcorn Witches, Ghost Pretzels, Cheese Fingers, and Ghost Poop (My kids will love this last one.)

Halloween dinner with spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, and green peppers for spiders

Spook-tacular Yogurt Cups

Beverage service from a pumpkin – love this idea!

Are your creative juices flowing? Lots of great ideas for making your next Halloween party a great success. If you need tags for your menu or decorating, check out these free printable labels. My kids will love to cut and decorate with these labels with or without a party.

I think I might be making the Halloween dinner with spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, and green peppers before Trick-or-Treating. In fact, I could see this dinner becoming a new family tradition. However you celebrate, enjoy making your Halloween adventure special!

Question: What are your Halloween traditions? If you feel comfortable doing so, leave your answer in the comments.