8/10/18

Routines, Socks, and Pencils - Back to School!

My kids started school this week. And as with every summer's end, it was bittersweet.



But this year feels a little different. Unlike years past when school was a total mayhem-inducing shock to our system, I feel like I'm in the driver's seat. I'm confronting the school year adult style - with a plan, with our pain points analyzed, and with expectations laid out clearly for my children.

Don't come to breakfast before you're fully dressed.
Don't tell me your life story as you're getting in the car in the carpool line. Save it for the drive home!
Hang up your back pack. 
Tidy your room before bed.

It's my 4th year being the parent of elementary age children, and I finally feel like I know how to run the ship instead of it running me. Sure we will get off course, and that's okay. We'll just get right back on...eventually.

Here's a few ways I've set us up for success this year.

Routines- 
In collaboration with my kids, we wrote down what we thought was a fair and reasonable routine for the morning, afternoon, and evening. This way we are not aimlessly wandering. We have a routine! I can already tell this will be a game changer.


routines posted on fridge

Socks-
I declared sock bankruptcy, threw away all the old, mismatched socks and bought 4 fresh new packs. That should do it. Finding clean matching socks was such a pain point at the end of last year. It doesn't have to be that way.


Pencils-
Pencils are cheap and I plan to keep an ample supply. Also, I set up a homework table near the backpacks to keep the school stuff off the kitchen table.


Lunches-
My younger two kiddos do not go to school every day, but I'm planning to go ahead and make their lunches anyway. We will have a picnic ready to go and can freely run errands without  getting tripped up by lunch. Also, this keeps me from getting out all the lunch stuff multiple times a day.


So let's do this! Bring it on school year 2018-2019!

What are your tips for living your best school life, for not going crazy with all the coming and going? What are your pain points?
And school lunches?

Jesus, take the wheel.

8/3/18

5 Favorites on Friday

Happy weekend!

My house is oddly quiet at the moment. 3/4 of my kids are with a cousin, out of town, and with their daddy. The 2 year old is asleep.

I'm taking a moment to check in and share 5 of my favorites on the interweb.


School starts next week, and I have a feeling that the peaches are about done for the season. It's that time of year. Bittersweet.

........


Have a look at Gretchen Rubin's New York apartment. I love it.

How to Cook a Moist & Tender Chicken Breast Every Time
I've now tried this method many times. It totally works.

9 Hard Truths About Clutter You Need to Hear 
Compelling.

Pretty cloth napkins - I have yet to switch to cloth napkins, but these temp me to convert.

Boundaries, Family Rules, & Strong Willed Children...Oh My!
I found this helpful.

Have a good one.

Some links are Amazon Associate links.

8/1/18

Buying Second Hand - Thredup Finds

I'm a long time fan of Thredup. After Caroline was born I bought an entire post-baby wardrobe from there. Then I went through a phase when I sort of forgot about it.

....until early this summer when my girls needed a few things. I was so impressed with what Thredup had to offer!

Here's what I love about Thredup up besides the prices, of course!

 Laurie's dress - Thredup Lands' End

I love having fewer choices! When when one of us needs new clothes, I tend to get lost in all the options, fall down the internet rabbit hole, and still not make a decision and buy the thing that we need. But while shopping Thredup almost exclusively to buy mine and my kids' clothes, I've grown to appreciate how it narrows down the options and helps me get on with it!

The best example of this is when Laurie needed a rashgaurd. I searched "girls size 7-8 rashgaurds" and 30 seconds later the deal was done. There were only 2 that I liked. Narrowed my choices. Zero angst.

 Romper - Thredup (Old Navy)

Also, because of limited options, I feel like I'm really sticking to my style. I'm not bombarded by all the new that we see on online retailers' sites.

The second hand items I really love tend to jump out at me more definitively, and I've notice a more consistent "look" coming together in my closet. It makes for much easier purchasing decisions.

A few tips....

One of the best ways to use Thredup is to take advantage and earn free shipping.

Always do a search for a promo code.

Don't hesitate to send stuff back. The return process is so easy! They will give you credit or charge a return shipping cost (your choice).

This is totally not a sponsored post, but I will gladly share my my referral link. Use it and you can get $10 off your first order and it gives $10 credit to me! Win win.

Thredup (Lands End)

How about you? Have you used Thredup? Do you shop second hand?
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