FREE Lunchbox Printables

I love putting little notes into lunchboxes for someone to find halfway through their day. I think it really helps to brighten an afternoon to know that you are being thought of and that someone has your back. I have taken the time to make up a handful of printable lunch notes that you can use. Just print them up, cut them out and put them in everyone's lunchboxes. You will put a smile on their faces and make them feel loved.

5 Tips to Creating Healthy Homework Habits

Homework. It's such an ugly word. I hated homework as a kid, and as an adult helping my kids, it wasn't much better. I finally got my kids graduated, and what did I do? Go back to school! So, I finally finished helping my kids with their homework and had to move into doing my own. Nothing can make homework fun and exciting, but there are a few tips that definitely make it easier. Here are my top five tips I have learned work well,  with helping my kids to doing my own.

Banana Note

I'm a big one for leaving little notes for people to find. I hide them in bedrooms, backpacks and lunches on occasion to let them know I am thinking of them, and hopefully brighten their days a little. When I saw this idea I thought it was genius. I just used fork tong to write a little message onto a banana and by lunch time it had browned enough to read plainly - but it doesn't damage the banana in the slightest.  What an awesome way to slip a note into the lunchbox!

Make The First Week of School a Success

The first week of school is a stressful time for kids of all ages. Wondering if your going to fit in, who is going to be in your classes, what classes you are going to have, and new routines all make this week a hard time to go through. There are things that we as parents can do though, to help ease our kids into this transition once again. Here are 8 great ways to help get your kids back into the school routine and make the first week a huge success.

FREE First Day of School Printouts (2014-15)

With Labor Day quickly approaching, the first day of school is about here. I love the idea of taking a picture of the kids on the fist day of school with the grade and year posted on a paper...... Man, I wish I would have thought of this idea back when my kids started Kindergarten! I have made up some free printables for  you to use for this special occasion. And, if you are one of those schools that starts before Labor Day - well, just pretend that it's the first day of school.

11 Rules Your Kids Will NOT Learn In School

We have somehow, in our quest to raise confident children, created a world in where all kids are wrapped in bubble wrap: instead of confidence we have given them a warped sense of reality. "Everyone wins", "I'll drive you, it's not safe to walk or ride your bike anywhere", "If you go to college you will make $100K plus in life"..... this certainly wasn't how I was raised. I rode my bike EVERYWHERE, my parents couldn't be bothered with taking me places. I NEVER got a trophy or an award unless I earned it and I certainly didn't think I was going to be making that kind of money unless I worked my ass off and worked my way up in the world.

5 Creative Book Covers

It's that time of year again. Text books have been handed out, damage reports have been filled out, and now it's time to cover those babies to keep them from receiving any new damage that you will be responsible for. You could go out and buy some book covers, but why  not take a few bonding moments with your kids to create something fun and personal. I founds some great ideas on the interweb for you.

Get out the paper sacks and glue and have some creative fun!

Create A Brag Center

Kids thrive on recognition: heck, we ALL thrive on recognition. Create an area in your home, that is in a highly visible location, for a brag center: a place where you will display good grades received and awards earned. Your kids need to be rewarded for all of their hard work and accomplishments. When they can see how far they have come it will motivate them to continue to do well.

5 Stategys To Cope With Test Anxiety

We've all been there to one degree or another.... you study all night long for a test in school, you get there the next day knowing your stuff, as test time approaches the anxiety starts to mount: finally the time comes, the test is placed in front of you and poof - all gone.

10 Homework Strategies

It's that time of year again. Some of us are excited to have the kids back in school and are ready to get back into a routine, while others of us are silently mourning the loss of another summer. Whether we are ready for it or not however, school is back in session. Here are 10 great homework strategies to help your kids get back into the swing of things.