Getting Organized and Ready for Back to School: A Practical Guide

It’s about this time in July that moms suddenly realize that the end of the lazy summer days will be here before we know it and it’s time to get prepared for what’s ahead. As the summer winds down and the new school year approaches, many moms (like us) find themselves balancing a mix of excitement and relief that a more normal routine is coming.  As well, sometimes there are feelings of stress. It’s not just stress with buying supplies and new outfits—the return of school floods us with numerous to-dos.  From fall sports tryouts and physicals, to Parents Association meetings and planning back to school class activities, the list is long. 

We’ve developed a practical guide to help moms get everything in order and start the school year on the right foot.  Getting organized and prepared doesn’t have to be very overwhelming. With a little planning and some routines in place, we hope you’ll be ready to face the back-to-school season confidently without a lot of stress—making it a positive experience for your entire family! Wishing you good luck this school year ahead. 

 

1. Create a Family Calendar

Start by setting up a family calendar—digital or paper—that includes school schedules, extracurricular activities, appointments, and other important dates. This helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces last-minute surprises. Consider using apps like Google Calendar or Cozi for real-time updates and shared access.  If you are “old school” (like us), consider investing in a family desktop planner like these below. 

 

These notepads by Kelly Hughes Designs are great to keep your day-to-day organized and get clear on your own schedule and what’s a priority.

 

This pad helps organize family members busy weeks ahead with a dedicated row per person. Quickly and easily scan what is going on with this notepad! 

 

2. Organize Supplies and Back-to-School Shopping

Thankfully, school supply shopping has gotten easier over the years with some schools making their lists available at Target or Walmart, or an innovative company like “First Day School Supplies” where you can order an entire kit with the click of a button.  If your school doesn’t have these easy options, make a list of school supplies based on your child’s grade and teacher’s requirements communicated through the school. Shop early (July) to avoid the last-minute rush and to find the best deals. Don’t forget essentials like backpacks, lunchboxes, and clothing. Organize supplies into designated bins, drawers at home, or even right into the backpack so they’re ready when needed.  We love these storage bins found at More Than Paper that are great for extra paper, school supplies, and office items. 

 

This natural canvas storage bin has sturdy handles and construction making it a great way to store just about anything with style. You can monogram or personalize how you see fit, too! 

 

Want a personalized cooler for lunches that can grow with your child, these are super popular:

 

 

3. Establish Morning and Evening Routines

Consistency is key to a smooth transition. Start adjusting bedtimes at last two weeks before school begins to ensure your kids get enough rest. Don’t wait until the last week or night before to return to a normal bedtime routine! If you can, plan and practice morning routines—showering, dressing, brushing your teeth, breakfast—so everyone knows what to expect. Evening routines like homework time, reading, and preparing school bags can also help set a peaceful tone for bedtime. Make sure your kids are getting off screens at least 1 hour before bedtime to foster deep sleep and less stress – this is what the experts say is best! 

 

4. Meal Planning and Prep

For moms, we cannot emphasize the impact that meal planning can have on simplifying your life. Meal planning can save time and reduce morning (and evening) chaos when there are practices, games, recitals, rehearsals…and life!  Prepare breakfasts and lunches in advance or assemble ingredients the night before. Involve kids in packing their lunchboxes—it teaches responsibility and makes them more excited about their meals. We have a few grocery pads and meal planning notepads that can help you get excited about all this planning. Check out our favorites below! 

 

They key to meal planning is getting organized at the grocery store.  Get organized with these personalized grocery pads that organize your shopping list into categories, making your shopping trip a breeze.  Keep these pads within easy reach, and you’ll have plenty of organized shopping trips in your future. 

 

 

5. Set Up a Homework Station

Another great idea is to set up a specific spot in your home for homework and study. Keep supplies like pencils, paper, and calculators nearby. Having a dedicated workspace helps children focus and makes it easier for you to monitor assignments. We recommend a good wireless printer, stocked and ready to go with ink and paper, so that children can print out assignments or papers and reports.  Another great thing to have on hand? Poster board. How many times have you had to run to CVS or Walmart last minute because your child suddenly has a project due tomorrow that requires poster board?  We also recommend stocking up on pencils (you can never have enough), highlighters, annotating tabs for the older ones, and index cards. Index cards are ideal for making your own flashcards (though now, Quizzlet and other online digital platforms have replaced much of that!) 

 

Another cute addition to the homework station, a cute desktop calendar so that today’s date is always known:

 

 

6. Review and Organize Paperwork

School forms, permission slips, report cards, and newsletters can pile up quickly. Create a filing system for your home, either a physical folder or digital storage—to keep everything organized. Regularly review and discard outdated papers. There’s a great meme that circulates at the beginning of every school year about needing to quit your job to keep up with all the school communication. If this sounds familiar (and overwhelming), consider checking your email only once a day (in the evenings) and give yourself dedicated time to deal with school-related emails. 

 

7. Plan for Extra Activities and Transportation

Do you know that phrase work smarter, not harder?  What about “it takes a village to raise a child”? Get smart about your transportation and use the support of other families when you can. Coordinate carpool schedules with other parents – chances are there are opportunities for you to reduce your driving time. Confirm extracurricular activity schedules with coaches and mentors and check to see who is on your team. Being proactive and planning early can help avoid last-minute scrambling and will create a system that you can work with.  For example, if you know another family that is on the same baseball team, you could agree that you will always drive them to practice, if the other family doesn’t mind picking them up. 

 

Family calendars like these will help you plan for extra-curricular activities and make it easy to spot when you have conflicts and need to coordinate carpools. This one is a great price, too! You’ll get 60 sheets for $25!  

 

8. Prioritize Self-Care

Don’t forget about YOU!  Remember to schedule time for yourself whether it’s a walk in the morning, a quick workout, reading, or a relaxing bath. Taking care of your well-being will give you the energy and patience needed to support your family through the busy school year. We know that it can be a lot! 

 

One final tip?  Try to embrace some flexibility and go with the flow. Even with the best planning, things will not go perfectly. Stay flexible and keep a positive attitude, as best as you can.  Always remember that this period in life won’t last forever… When you start thinking about it that way, we’re willing to bet you may just have some perspective and get a little misty-eyed. 

 

 

School Lunches

 For the last few years, we’ve been buying school lunch, but the price kept rising ($8 per lunch x 4 kids, we were spending $500-$600 per month on school lunch!)  Plus, the quality of offerings had really gone downhill. (Most irritating were the days we paid $8 per lunch for “cereal bar.” Of course, it was their favorite day!) 

A few months ago, we started packing lunch but we’re in a terrible rut.  In an effort to save even more money, we’re also working on packing adult lunches since the cost of going out to eat every day for lunch was REALLY adding up. 

 

The team at More Than Paper set off to turn it around with school lunches and adult lunches and solve the problem. Let’s start with the kids – we know packing a healthy and appealing lunch feels like an incredibly daunting task but with these tips, maybe we all can provide our kids with nutritious meals that they will enjoy! (Though our money is on that they will always love the cereal bar.) 

 

SCHOOL LUNCH 

Creator: VeselovaElena | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

• Bento Box Fun. Bento boxes are a fun and versatile way to pack a variety of foods in one container. You can include a mix of fruits, veggies, proteins, and grains to ensure your child gets a well-rounded meal. Think of colorful options like cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, cheese cubes, whole grain crackers, and berries. 

 

• Wrap It Up. Wrap sandwiches are a great alternative to traditional bread sandwiches and can be filled with a variety of ingredients. Use whole grain, tomato, or spinach wraps and fill them with lean proteins like turkey or grilled chicken, along with lettuce, tomato, and a spread like hummus or avocado. 

 

• DIY Lunchables. The store-bought Launchable are full of sodium and sugar and you can create your own version of the popular by assembling whole grain crackers, cheese slices, lean deli meats, and some fruit or veggie sticks. Not much different than a Bento Box here, but kids really like whatever dessert option is packed. 

 

• Protein-Packed Salads. Salads don't have to be boring! Create protein-packed salads by adding grilled chicken strips, hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, or tofu to a mix of greens and veggies. Include a tasty dressing in a separate container for your child to drizzle on top. 

 

• Leftover Remix. If they liked last night’s dinner, won’t they like it for lunch?  If they are temperature sensitive, find out if your school cafeteria has a microwave and if it feasible for your children to use it. If this is something your children might enjoy regularly, consider making extra for lunch when you make dinner. This sounds like the simplest of all the options to us! 

 

When it comes to what to put all of these good ideas into to transport lunch to school, More Than Paper has a variety of lunch bag options.  This one here is perfect for your daughter who’s a bit older and has outgrown one with a lot of designs. 

 

The sturdy canvas bag is insulated and has a zippered closure, so your lunch doesn’t fall out.  Conveniently, the bag has an outside pocket that you can store a phone or small wallet in.  The bag is personalized with embroidery using initial(s), monogram, or name. You select the font and thread colors to be used – there are endless combinations to make it yours. 

 

We’ve carried these lunch sacks for years and they are also a great option for kids. 

 

 

ADULT LUNCH 

Photo used from Denise via: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/taco-salad-recipe/

Going out to lunch every day at work also adds up in a big way, so it’s cost effective to pack your lunch at the office a few days a week.  My husband and I aren’t interested in Bento boxes or Lunchables, so we went on a search for adult lunch options, too. Here’s what we found for some ideas: 

 

• Grain bowl: Combine quinoa, brown rice, or farro with a variety of toppings such as roasted vegetables, grilled chicken or tofu, avocado slices, and a drizzle of tahini or vinaigrette.

 

• Salad Niçoise:  Try a French-inspired salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, boiled potatoes, green beans, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and seared tuna or canned tuna in olive oil, drizzled with vinaigrette.

 

• Stuffed Peppers: Fill halved bell peppers with a mixture of cooked quinoa or rice, ground turkey or beef, black beans, corn, salsa, and cheese. Bake until the peppers are soft and the filling is heated through. 

 

• Mediterranean Platter:  Assemble hummus, tabbouleh, falafel, pita bread, olives, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese for a refreshing and satisfying lunch with a variety of flavors.

 

• Taco Salad: Build a taco salad with a base of mixed greens or shredded lettuce topped with seasoned ground beef or turkey, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, shredded cheese, and a dollop of Greek yogurt or salsa for a Tex-Mex twist.

 

• Asian Noodle Bowl: Prepare an Asian noodle bowl with cooked soba or rice noodles, stir-fried vegetables, tofu or shrimp, and a savory soy-ginger sauce garnished with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime for a satisfying and flavorful meal.

 

• Caprese Sandwich:  Enjoy a classic Caprese sandwich with sliced fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze or pesto on crusty ciabatta bread for a simple yet delicious lunch option.  Even better? We recommend putting this sandwich in the panini press (or grill) to make the version hot and melty. 

 

When it comes time to the lunch bag itself, we love this lunch sack available at More Than Paper made by CB Station. 

 

Made of waxed canvas, this has a rustic and masculine appearance so it’s perfect for your husband or high school son.  The lunch sack has plenty of space for food, snacks, or a soda can and can be rolled up for easy transportation when finished. (Here’s to hoping your son doesn’t lose it!)  

 

The sack features a water-resistant, reinforced bottom, a buckle top closure, and is USDA approved insulation for hot and cold temperatures.  Choose from personalization options such as single initials, a line of text, two initials, or a monogram, along with selecting the typestyle and thread color for the personalization to make it yours. 

 

We hope that your lunch time gets a little less expensive, more creative, and more exciting and that your days of paying $8 for cereal bar are gone with these tips and inspiration.  Share your comments about what successes (and failures) you have had packing school lunch here, or on our Facebook page! 

 

Happy Lunching!  

Tips for Going Back to School in 2020

 It’s that time of year again! The summer is nearly behind us, and school aged children are getting ready to go back to school. (If you are in the south, there’s a good chance your schools already have!)  But like much of 2020, things look different than they have in years past.  Millions of children and their families are shifting gears and attending school virtually due to the pandemic.  Those that are attending in person face unforeseen challenges and a new way of learning.  We’re here today to explore tips and tricks to make the transition easier, in whichever way your school is going back.

Tips for Virtual School in 2020

1.      Set up a workspace/desk.  Ensure a consistent workspace and positive learning environment by setting up a workspace that your little one can use every single day for virtual school. You will want to make sure that the desk is sturdy, you have a comfortable chair, it is well-lit, and it is free from noises and distractions. (And far from the X-Box!) We recommend letting your kids decorate it so they feel ownership over their environment and have them take part in making it a special, happy place.

2.      Shop for supplies.  Just as you would for in-person school shopping, take your little one shopping or shop online together for necessary school supplies including binders, loose leaf paper, notebooks, a calculator, colored pencils, highlighters, pencils, pens, erasers & more.  Your school will likely provide a list!  We also think letting your children pick out a fun pencil box is an easy way to get the kids excited about supply shopping, without breaking the bank.  Try our embroidered cosmetic pouches, which double as a pencil/pen case! 

3.      Boost your internet.  No one likes a frozen screen with an ugly face captured during a zoom call. Consider calling your internet provider to upgrade your internet service or looking into a boosting device for your internet. These devices don’t tend to cost an arm and a leg and allow you to feel confident your internet connection isn’t going to drop spontaneously when you need it most.

4.      Dress for success.  Have your children wear their uniforms to school or get dressed as if they were going to school.  Dressing the part helps them psychologically prepare for the day and gets them into the mindset of interacting with people, just as they would at school. Avoid jammies and sweats!

5.      Keep routine and structure. Your school may have a set time that requires you to log in, or it might be more flexible.  If it’s flexible, we recommend setting a start time and end time daily and staying consistent whenever possible. This will help your children feel the routine that school normally provides.

6.      Pack a lunch.  For working parents especially, it’s difficult to stop your day in the middle and make lunch.  A cute idea would be to pack your child’s lunch for them, just as you would if they were headed off to school.  For older children, they can do this themselves!  Consider packing it in a cute new lunch bag for added excitement.  Hey, it’s the little things!  Isn’t it? 

 

Tips for In-Person Learning in 2020

1.      Keep health and safety top of mind.   Paramount to in-person learning and its success are healthy children and classrooms.  Continue to teach your kids to wash hands and to use sanitizer. Avoid touching, hugging, and even little things like sharing pencils/erasers.  Safety is #1.

2.      Wear a mask.  Whether it’s mandatory or not, we’re in the camp of wearing a mask! There are plenty of “cute” masks out there and child-sized ones available. Unfortunately, it does seem you have to try several options until you have found one that is sustainable for hours on end. But it’s worth it once you do. We’ve found that the disposable surgical masks are great for kids. They are light and breathable unlike some hand-made options which although they are cute, can be very stuffy and hot. Also, we suggest practicing wearing a mask for long periods of time before you go back to school. You may want to take a Saturday/Sunday before school starts and have them wear it for the day.  You want their teachers focused on their education, not reminding them to keep their masks on.

3.      Pack a lunch & snacks!  Many schools are doing away with the cafeteria to avoid large crowds of students, so packing a lunch is mandatory.  We think packing a lunch is more fun with cute water bottles, bags, and accessories.  Try some of these ideas to spruce things up! 

In whatever way you and your kids are going back to school this year, we think it also helps to splurge on some items to dress your desk.  Whether at home or at school, a stylish new personalized clipboard, or preppy personalized mousepad, will help get the job done but also lift spirits.  Little luxuries like these can make a big difference in your mood and your approach to getting work done.   We all need whatever we can get right now! So, choose things that bring you joy.   

We wish you luck as this unprecedented school year begins! Share your ideas, tips and tricks with us on our Facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

College Advice Tips

How do you prepare your college bound son or daughter? Once you have packed the bags and car, given thoughtful advice on studying hard, eating right and getting enough sleep, check out these tips from More Than Paper.  Even if they've already headed off to college, you can still share this great advice!  We hope it will make the transition a bit easier. 

Get to know your roommate.

Get off to a good start. Sure, you're used to your own friends and groups. But don't make snap judgments about your roommate's (or anyone's) background, appearance, or clothes. Think of this as an introduction to real life. People are different; they have their own good and bad characteristics. You do, too. Communicate well and work out your living arrangements together. Even if you don't end up being best friends, work together to make your 'home' environment pleasant for both of you.

Be friendly.

Smile at and say hello to people. Even if you're nervous or shy. This may seem simple, but it's important to appear open to conversations and friendships. Share a little about yourself, and listen a lot. Yes, you miss your old friends from home, but this is your home now. Make room for new people. And if your high school years were less than ideal, here's a chance for a fresh start.

Join something.

There are a lot of activities to choose from; it all might seem overwhelming. But the worse thing you can do is hide in your room. Share your interests with others or find a new one, whether it's a hobby, academic area, charity, organization for change, or a sport. Get involved in something right away, and you'll meet people and feel more a part of the school. Take advantage of parties, meetings, and study groups. Connect.

Explore.

Get to know your new city or town. Check out everything from the restaurants and shops to the sports facilities, theaters, architecture, and history of where you live. Root for the home teams and get involved! 

Don't despair.

It's normal to be homesick, and it's okay to call home or your old friends when you feel blue. Just like real life, there are bound to be some disappointment in people, programs, and places. Seek other people to talk with or help you through this time: other students, teachers, or a counselor or doctor. Remember that you're new at this, and every endeavor requires practice!

Enjoy and keep in touch.

Keep a positive attitude and find joy in your new life. These will be some of the best years of your life! Really. And communicate often with your parents. Remember that they're adjusting to a new life too, one without you.  

Writing home? More Than Paper has a wide selection of personalized stationery from which to choose.  (Though we are guessing you'll get a lot more emails, texts and calls -- a handwritten note can't be beat!) 

Image credit 

More Back to School Tips

Though many schools in the South have already gone back in session, most of us in the North are getting ready to start after Labor Day. Are your little (or big) ones ready?  Whether it's the first day of school ever, the first day at a new school, or just the beginning of a new school year, More Than Paper has some tips to help you and your child ease back to school!  From preparing your child (both mentally and with provisions), behavior advice, homework and even bullying -- check out these tips! 

Preparing your child:

·         Emphasize the good things about school with your child. Remind her of how she'll make new friends, learn new things, and have good times.

·         Attend any orientations. Get to know the teacher(s).  If there are other kids in the neighborhood who already attend, ask if they'd give your child some info or help.

·         If this is a new school, check out the route and transportation.

·         Teach your child basic safety tips for walking, biking, or taking the bus.

Behavior advice for your child:

·         Start right by making a good first impression with your new teacher – pay attention, follow directions, offer to help pass out papers.

·         Don’t try to be the center of attention by acting in out in class. Get attention by doing the right thing.

·         When making new friends – be yourself, listen, and share a little about your interests.

·         If there are new students in your class, make an effort to get to know them and make them feel welcome.

Bullying:

These helpful tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (used with their approval):

• Teach your child how to: Look the bully in the eye; stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation; walk away.
• Teach your child how to say in a firm voice, "I don't like what you are doing."
  "Please do NOT talk to me like that." "Why would you say that?" (most bullies aren't used to being questioned).
• Teach your child when and how to ask a trusted adult for help.
• Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
• If your child is the bully, make sure they know that it's never ok, and set limits on aggressive behavior. Use non-physical discipline, like loss of privileges. Be a good role model. 
• If your child is a bystander, encourage her to support other children -- by telling bullies to stop or tell a trusted adult.

Homework:

Start the school year off right by creating a good environment and study habits with your child.

·         Create a standard place for her to work, and make sure it's comfortable and well-lit.

·         Set aside a consistent time for homework. If it turns out to not be enough, modify the schedule accordingly.

·         Set restrictions on TV and non-school computer use.

·         Help your child if she needs it, but never do her homework for her.

·         Seek outside help from the teacher or counselors if your child is struggling.

Have you seen our other post on Back to School? Be sure to check out our organization tips, too! And if you haven't started your shopping, visit More Than Paper's online store of thousands of personalized and handy products for the school year ahead. 

Back to School Organization Tips

It's back to school time! This year, try sharing the planning and tasks with the kids. You'll instill and nurture organization skills in them, and they'll appreciate having a voice in the decisions. Why not include Dad, too? 

Planning 101

Together, create a chart listing the average day's activities with times, from waking, eating, and departing to after-school activities, homework, and bedtimes. Make it fun; include artwork, color, and stickers. Assign any individual responsibilities such as helping with lunches, assisting younger kids, and be specific as possible.  If they take lunches, plan a week or two of menus with their input.  You may even choose to use an organizational calendar, like these ones found at More Than Paper! 

Determine and identify your functional areas in your home.  You'll need an information center, an area for take-to-school items, and homework space. Organize these areas with space for each person. Plan to use personalized labels and storage boxes or bins, message boards, and envelopes. Here are some helpful recommended products found at More Than Paper! 

Provisioning

With the kids, create two lists of clothing and supplies, what's necessary and what's desired. It's a good idea to delay buying clothes for late-fall and winter; popular trends will emerge in school and the kids can grow a lot in a few months.  

Most schools supply a list, but here are some basics:

·        Pencils (24 pack)

·        Pens (12 pack)

·        Notebook paper (2-3 packs with reinforced holes)

·        1 or 2 3-ring binders

·        2 composition notebooks

·        12-pack of Crayons or markers

·        Pencil box (to hold pens, pencils, crayons/markers)

·        Backpack

·        Lunchbox

·        Hand sanitizer

·        Tissues

Then, before you make your final shopping list:

1. Take inventory of what you have.

2. Determine a budget.

3. Compare the cost of "need it" items with the budget, and decide what "want it" items to include.

Putting the plan into action

Go shopping and involve the kids in decisions based on need and budget.

In the Information Center, hang the activity chart, the message board with sections for each person, and a calendar for the month's activities and responsibilities color coded by individual.

In a closet, hallway bench, or entryway, place personalized boxes to hold backpacks, lunches, envelopes with money or permission slips, etc. Designate hangers or hooks for each person in the closet for outerwear.

Make the homework area comfortable and conducive to productivity. Check the lighting, the chair and table heights, and remove any distractions. Create computer-use schedules. 

Then , hold a dress rehearsal. Run through the morning activities, from wake-up to departure, as if they were really going to school. Review and fix any snags. Then reward everyone for all the hard work. Do something special and fun for the kids and yourselves before summer is over!

Happy Back to School season from More Than Paper, start shopping all of our great organizational and personalized products! 

Preparing for College

Are you preparing your son or daughter for freshman year of college? Coeds head off to school mid-August and if you haven't already started thinking about packing, it's time to at least start preparing them mentally. After an entire life of being supervised with rules and expectations set for bed time, appropriate phone usage, what time to be home for curfew, how much TV to watch and how much junk food is allowed -- how will your seventeen or eighteen year old handle all this freedom in college?

Mentally preparing your student for college and talking openly and honestly are the best ways to ensure that they have a successful year. Once that dialogue has been opened, More Than Paper suggests you communicate these 5 points.

1. School work comes first. Be careful to sound overbearing or like you are preaching, but gently remind your son or daughter that education is the reason he/she is attending college. We recommend explaining to your young adult that he/she will never again be surrounded by so many smart people pursuing an education, and be able to devote so much to learning. College, in fact, is such an incredible opportunity (one we wish we could do all over again!) 
2. Eat healthy. Not because you fear they'll gain the "freshman 15" but because eating right fuels the body and brain. When your children eat the rainbow and eat quality, wholesome foods, they have more energy and brain power to master what they are learning. They'll feel better, too. 
3. Live within a budget.  Have clear expectations of who pays for what, and how much your student should be spending each week or month and where that money should go. We like giving a lump sum with some guidelines, but letting students learn how to manage their money all on their own. 
4. Get some sleep. Without sounding too motherly (which may be hard here!), remind your student that getting enough sleep is essential for brain function and staying healthy. 
5. Have some fun.  (As if you really needed to tell them this!) This is the time in their life to really make lasting friendships, explore their interests and passions, and enjoy! What other time in his or her life will they ever have this much time to pursue what interests them? 

It's likely that you have raised your son or daughter to value or have learned all of these points anyway, but a discussion over dinner one night might help reinforce what you've already instilled over the years. We hope these are simple tips that will help making college prep easier. 

For a great packing list, see our post from last year with a helpful checklist.  More Than Paper has lots of school pride items in our store. Choose from pillows, artwork and other school pride items at More Than Paper in our College Corner! 

On a side note, we must make mention that this is our 125th blog post! Thank you to all the loyal readers and followers who've made our blog a success. Share your favorite posts with us or let us know what you'd like to read about in our comments section!

School Lunches

A new school year brings such promise, such excitement!  As a parent, going back to school means getting organized for the year ahead and gathering some ideas to make life easier during the school year.  This week we are tackling school lunches.  For a parent of a picky eater or someone who’s tired of throwing away a full lunch box at the end of the school day, we’ve got some ideas on how to make school lunches more fun. Our goal is a healthy lunch that actually gets eaten!

What’s that they say in marketing?  Packaging is everything!   So start with a really cool personalized lunch sack or lunch box.   We like these ones by Pen at Hand.  They are insulated and leak proof with a zipper closure and zippered front pocket and rear mesh pocket for storage.  They have a reinforced adjustable shoulder strap and are available in red, black or blue.  You choose your character and sketch that matches your child and their interest.  See them all here. 

If you prefer old school style lunch boxes, More Than Paper has a bunch to choose from!   

Inside the lunch box, get creative with the food.  See this via Pinterest, it's an adorable ham and cheese sandwich on white bread, just cut out the “face” of the lamb and add some pine nuts for eyes.  Cut the ham in long strips and assemble in curly cues and cut veggies in various shapes of hearts and flowers and you have an adorable “farm” for lunch. 

Image via Pinmarket

Try this adorable bear sandwich by Susan Yeun that sure to bring a smile to your son or daughter's face when they open up the lunch box.

Image by Susan Yeun

We also like this slightly less healthy option of mac and cheese and hotdogs.  Cut the hotdogs into little octopuses from Green Mommy Diapers.

Image via Green Mommy Diapers

It’s also important to keep your little one hydrated so be sure to pack some water, which is much better than a juice box (says your child’s dentist!)  A personalized water bottle may encourage water drinking so here are some to try.  Little girls who love horses will adore this stainless steel lined water bottle that holds 20 ounces of a cold beverage.   It also has a sports lid and screw-off top! 

We also love this personalized water bottle for a musically-inclined boy!  

We just love the idea of writing notes to your child in their lunch box to let them know you are thinking of them.  Even if your son or daughter can’t read, you can still add a note! Draw an eye, a heart, and the letter “u” for “I love you!”  We love this imprintable letterhead stationery, perfect for school!  

We also found these awesome free lunch box printables on Skip to My Lou.  Just download, print and add into your child’s lunch box. 

Free printables available on Skip to My Lou 

We hope you have some ideas on how to make school lunches more fun this year!  If we have missed any good ones, be sure to leave us a comment and let us know your ideas!  And don’t forget to share this with your friends on Facebook!  

College Packing Checklist

We went to college so this is based on experience.  Real life experience.  We’re here to tell you that there are things you need for college and there are things you really need for college.   Sure you need text books and a computer, but did you know that shower shoes are absolutely essential?  We found an amazing checklist to help you get organized for college and shopped More Than Paper for 8 things that just may make heading off to college even cooler.  If that's even possible. 

First the essentials and complete packing list. We found this on Pinterest via Bed, Bath & Beyond.  Share this with your friends! Pin it now. 

Now for those things that might make heading off to college even cooler, More Than Paper has you covered with 8 great college finds. 

#1:  A shower caddy.   Carting soap, shampoo, conditioner, a razor, shaving cream, and other shower products -- you’ll need a place to store everything.  This personalized shower caddy will let everyone know it’s yours and keep everything organized in one place. 

#2:  A computer case.   Your computer will go with you everywhere (minus the frat parties) so make sure you protect it – and in style.   The sleeves are made from neoprene rubber cushion for maximum protection and are available in dozens of styles, patterns and colors.   See them all here. 

#3:  A laundry bag.   Dorm rooms are small. Keep them organized as best as possible and messes to a minimum.   Put dirty laundry in a fashionable, personalized laundry bag like these ones. Who knows, it may make laundry time a bit more fun!  Or they may help strike up a conversation in the laundry room to meet a new friend.   

#4:  A bath wrap.   We remember getting ready for a Friday night with dorm friends.   All the girls packed in the bathroom, doing their hair and make-up and prepping for a fun night out, there was such excitement in the air!  Just about everyone was in a personalized bath wrap.  Available in several colors and font styles, choose the one that’s right for you! 

#5:  Cosmetic bag and toiletries case.   You’ll also need a place to stash make-up and toiletries that don’t go with you to the shower.  We love the quality of these waffle cases which are vinyl lined for easy clean up in case of spills.  

#7:  Dry Erase Board. As on the Bed, Bath & Beyond essentials packing list, you'll need a dry erase board. Put it on your dorm room so friends can leave messages if they stop by and you aren't there.  Or keep tasks organized at your desk!    We've added dozens of new ones, come check them out.




#8:  Desk Organizer.  Get your schedule organized with this desk blotter. Show your school spirit - most designs can be customized with your school colors, such as this "Collegiate" one below!



So what do you think?  We hope we covered the basics for college plus a few more things you may want to pick up.  College move in day will be here before we know it, soak up the last few weeks of the summer!