School Year Tips To Shine With Success

This post, School Year Tips To Shine With Success, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MomentsShineWithWindex #CollectiveBias

Shine with success this school year with great tips: first day of school photo ideas, organization charts, homework station ideas, and free printables.

School Year Tips To Shine With Success

Make Moments Sparkle

Can you believe it? Back-to-school is here! This is always a special and hectic time for families with school-age kids, even when they are heading off to college (Ha! Maybe more so). But, through the years I have learned a thing or two, and now I am going to share them with you.

These ideas for a successful school year are easy to implement and change up to meet your needs. Be creative! I even created a few FREE PRINTABLES that you can download. My hope is that you will find these ideas helpful and fun.

First Day of School Photo Ideas:

The first day of school means PICTURES! So, be prepared, grab your Windex® Original Glass Cleaner and make moments shine. You definitely don’t want grubby fingerprints on windows in the background.

Give these creative and easy ideas a try.

Use Chalk Markers to write and draw on glass or chalkboard.

I did this with Rory this year — college bound. We have pictures from every school year of the kids in front of our car or truck. It is a nice way to look back and remember what life was like at that moment in time, including our ride.

A couple of really nice things about using chalk markers on the windows — they are easy to write with and very easy to clean with Windex® products, check it out…

Clean your windows first. Windex® Original Glass Wipes work great for this.

Draw and Write on your windows to make your moments shine. Then, it is easy to clean up with the Windex® Original Glass Cleaner spray. The spray helps loosen up the dried chalk. Watch how easy…

https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Moments-Shine-With-Windex.mp4?_=1

Use Sidewalk Chalk and draw a large number for the grade your child is entering on the driveway. Decorate the number with style and personal flair. Then, have your child sit in the number or next to it for the photo.

Make a small pennant banner that your child can hold for the picture. Write or glue the words: First Day of School, 1st Grade, 2017, or whatever you want to say to create a special memory.

Frame a printable and have your child hold it for the picture. You can download and personalize the FREE PRINTABLE I created just for you.

Click to Download the First Day of School Printable

Remember, be camera-ready with Windex® Original Glass Cleaner or Windex® Original Glass Wipes.

Then, take advantage of this fabulous OFFER: Buy 2 Windex® products and get $20 to shop at Shutterfly®. This is a limited time offer. Disclaimer: Offer valid 7/15/17 – 12/1/17. Visit here for terms and conditions. Notice those dates, you can buy more Windex® products and use the offer for Halloween and Thanksgiving photos too!

Get Organized for the New School Year:

Start the school year with a plan. Children do very well with a schedule, it gives them a sense of purpose and a semblance of security. If they know what to expect next, you will have an easier time getting them to accomplish it. Schedules help set your child up for success!

Set Schedules

Morning: Wake up time, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, leave for school, etc.

After School: Have a snack, do homework, play outside, eat dinner, quiet reading time or studying, take a bath, pack your backpack for the next day, set out your shoes and clothes for school, etc.

Bed Time: Have a set time your child is supposed to go to bed. Making sure your child gets enough sleep each night and is well-rested will help to ensure they have a good learning day a school.

Have a specified place for backpacks and other items to be placed. If you are not searching all over the house for things your morning will go much smoother. Less stress, less fighting, and arguing is better for everyone’s day.

I have created a couple Organization Charts that will help your child stay on task between getting home from school and going to bed. You can download these FREE PRINTABLES. You have a choice of two different color schemes.

Click to Download I’m Ready For School Organization Chart – yellow

Click to Download I’m Ready For School Organization Chart – pink

Put this chart on your refrigerator and use magnets to mark the accomplishments daily.

Homework Station Ideas:

Homework stations were a big part of a successful school year for us. We had one set up in our kitchen, where the kids could sit at the table to do their work, and I could be getting dinner ready for the family. The nice thing was that I was there and available for any questions that may arise. We had a cabinet where all of our homework necessities were stored.

We also had homework supplies in the car/truck. Why not take advantage of the time while one child is sitting around waiting for the other sibling for sports practice or ballet lessons? The more you get finished early, the more free time you have at home at night as a family.

Set up a place in your home where your child(ren) will do homework every day.

Find somewhere to store all our homework supplies: notebook paper; graph paper; pencils; erasers; glue; paper clips; stapler and staples, colored pencils; crayons; markers; etc. Be sure supplies are easily accessible to your child.

Use a Lazy Susan or turntable to place your supplies on the table. That way your kids can just spin the supplies to reach what they need.

Supplies on the go.

Keep a smaller amount of the same school supplies in your vehicle. Colored pencils work better than crayons and markers as they do not melt.

Have chairs for your kids, so they have a place to sit.

A lap desk or board helps to give stability for writing.

Whatever you are doing, however you celebrate and organize for the new school year, remember to get things clean and make your moments sparkle with Windex® products, America’s #1 glass cleaner — famous for streak-free shine!* For more information and ideas for use follow Windex® on Facebook and Twitter.

And do make use of the Shutterfly® offer, generations of your family will thank you.

School year tips: photo ideas, organization, charts, and free printables. AD #MomentsShineWithWindex

Click To Tweet

Want another fun idea for school? Check out this fun video tutorial, Cool For School or Anytime… Shoelacing!

Here’s to a happy and organized school year! Go get ’em kids and parents alike.

...

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

Carpet Cleaner – BISSELL vs. Rug Doctor

Hat’s were thrown in the ring! It was announced that the BISSELL Big Green Rental machine would take on the Rug Doctor Rental in a bout to see who will win the heavyweight carpet cleaner rental championship. The ring is a room of wall-to-wall carpet that will provide an immense challenge to both fighters. Which competitor will have the design, the strength, the power, and the stamina to walk away as the champ?

Carpet Cleaner Main Event

BISSELL Big Green vs. Rug Doctor

Are you entertaining this summer and want to spruce up the house? Trying to make that budget stretch and not replace your carpet? Need to get that cleaning deposit back on your apartment or rental home, but don’t want to pay the high cost of a professional? Rent a carpet cleaner and do-it-yourself. It really is not hard to do, and the results will make you smile. Now, you have to choose your rental machine — let me help.

Who wins BISSELL vs. Rug Doctor? $10 OFF Coupon + GIVEAWAY! #BISSELLclean #CarpetCleaner AD

Click To Tweet

Let’s size up the carpet cleaning boxers:

Rug Doctor

Is over 40-years-old.
It’s heavy, stocky design is hard to move having only the two wheels at the back making the machine unbalanced and more difficult to bob-and-weave.
Handle height is shorter than its competitor, and has a few locked-in adjustable positions.
Cleaner trigger distance is far from handle.
Needs help filling up for the fight (bucket and measuring cup required).
Clean water tank in the base of the machine.
One removable tank for dirty water.

BISSELL Big Green

Is in its 30’s, but hales from an impressive carpet cleaning lineage of 140 years.
Has a sleek, lower-slung design with front and rear wheels giving the machine better balance and quick and easy footwork.
Taller handle height and fully pivoting handle positions – no adjustments needed.
Rotating DirtLifter® PowerBrushes that clean in both the forward and backward pass.
Cleaner trigger is located on the handle.
Removable clean water tank with attached measuring cup / lid make filling easy and requires no extras (such as bucket or measuring cup).
Two removable tanks — one for clean water, one for dirty water.

It’s almost time for the main event, so let’s check out the ring.

We’ve found the toughest high traffic, heavy wear-and-tear, carpet that’s had years of hard use for this fierce battle. Even with regular vacuuming, this carpet has deep ground-in dirt and many hard to get out stains (including grease).

All right guys, let’s have a good clean fight…

Time to go Toe-to-Toe

First up — BISSELL Big Green:

The removable tanks and attached measuring cup / lid make the Bissell Big Green easy to set up for use. Snap on the dirty water tank and the vacuum cap, and you are ready to roll.

See how easily it handles that gross heavy traffic area? The Bissell Big Green cleans the carpet as it moves in both directions (backwards and forwards) to clean carpets faster and use less energy. The vacuum does a great job of pulling the water back out of the carpet leaving it a little damp, but not wet.

The long pivoting handle is an amazing feature. Not only is it taller making leverage and use easier, but the pivoting handle extends the reach of the machine, so you don’t have to take as many steps over your freshly cleaned carpeting.

The Bissell Big Green and the Bissell Multi-Purpose Professional Strength Formula with Oxy Stain Fighting Power easily handled the stains without pre-treating.

Rug Doctor takes a Jab:

Grab your bucket and measuring cup — you will need them to ready the Rug Doctor for use. Your clean water pours directly into the base of the machine. Snap on the dirty water tank and the vacuum cap, and you are ready to get cleaning.

Rug Doctor cleans only in ONE direction, when being pulled backward. You have to expend a lot more physical labor to tip the heavy machine and push it forward, just so you can drag it backwards to clean again. Even with extra vacuuming, the carpet was left very wet. The Rug Doctor and the Rug Doctor Oxy-Steam Carpet Cleaner with Oxygen Cleaning Boosters did not handle the traffic areas or stains.

Let’s Clean the Machines:

BISSELL Big Green

Rug Doctor

WOW! Each machine cleaned its own area of the room, each with equal heavy traffic and stains. There is no doubt which machine pulls out more dirt and grime from your carpet — the Bissell Big Green. And of course, that is exactly what you are looking for when doing carpet cleaning.

The Bissell Big Green is also easier to clean. Notice the rectangular boxy shape of the dirty water tank and the very large opening. These features make it easy to get your hand inside and gives no difficult angles or spaces for cleaning.

The Rug Doctor on the other hand, has a small opening and an irregular shaped dirty water tank — not easy for cleaning.

Readying the Carpet Cleaner Rental for Return:

Before you pack the carpet cleaning machine in your car or truck, you need to be sure all the excess fluids are drained. You certainly don’t want spillage in your vehicle. So, here’s how that works for these two machines.

BISSELL Big Green

The removable clean water tank makes it super easy to drain. You can even use a funnel and store the remaining cleaning solution for later use.

Rug Doctor:

The Rug Doctor does not make it easy. You have to lift the entire heavy machine to empty the clean water tank. Remember, it is part of the base of the machine. Not fun.

Recap the Boxing Match:

Here is the up-close and ugly truth! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it is so true.

We finished the room with the BISSELL Big Green, and just look at how nice that carpet looks now. We have a very clear winner…

Introducing the Heavyweight Carpet Cleaning Champion:

The Bissell Big Green wins the bout in every category. It’s superior design makes this machine easy to use from start to finish. It’s excellent cleaning power not only cleans your carpet better, but does not leave it soaking wet. The BISSELL cleaning formula has a fresh scent and leaves no residue behind. Congratulations, Champ!

Now, you’ve seen how awesome the Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaner Rental is. Want to get a FREE RENTAL? It’s easy, just ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is leave me a comment, and tell me:

Why would you choose the BISSELL Big Green Rental?

The GIVEAWAY will close Sunday, June 12, 2016. All who leave a comment answering the above question will be automatically entered.

Enter GIVEAWAY for FREE BISSELL Rental. #BISSELLclean #CarpetCleaner #Cleaning AD

Click To Tweet

Even if you don’t win the giveaway, you can still get a screaming deal on your next BISSELL Big Green Rental and Machine Formula with this $10 OFF COUPON!

CLICK here for COUPON

I can’t wait to hear how much you love your experience with the
BISSELL Big Green Carpet Cleaner Rental.
Get #BISSELclean

...

Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

...

~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

...

Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com