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

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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.

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Beach Survival Kit For Summer Fun

This shop, Beach Survival Kit For Summer Fun, has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #BestSummerMemories #CollectiveBias

Find out the must haves for a beach survival kit perfect for great summer fun and sharing an ice cold Coca-Cola™ with friends!

Beach Survival Kit for Summer Fun

Share an Ice Cold Coke at CVS

Summer is here, and that means it’s time for some fun! We all have awesome memories of summertime adventures with family and friends. This year will be no different, so as the summer season gets underway, let’s share an ice cold Coca-Cola and make some memories.

Living in Huntington Beach, California, we love to hit the beach when the weather gets warm. Whether it is an all-day party or a spur of the moment trip with friends, we know exactly what to take, and CVS helps us put together the perfect Beach Survival Kit.

Making Memories

Over the years, we have enjoyed many events at the beach from family gatherings to birthday parties, to end of the season awards parties for baseball, soccer, and cross country. Sometimes, going to the beach is well planned and other times we go on the fly.

Some mornings, you wake up and the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the weather is gorgeous, and you know it’s time to hit the beach. You call your friends, or they call you. Walking along the beach with your girlfriend’s is a great way to knock off some of those 10,000 steps we are supposed to get daily. Listening to the waves crashing on the sand, smelling the salty air, and feeling the warmth of the sunshine–delightful. But sometimes, we like to turn it into a family event and bring the kids along for some summer fun.

Regardless, if the beach outing is well planned or spur of the moment, we always stop at CVS to pick up some snacks and ice cold Coca-Cola. CVS is not just a pharmacy, you can find almost anything there for almost any occasion. Grab hot dog buns and condiments for roasting wieners over the fire pit. Or how about deli meats and bread, fruit snacks, trail mix, crackers, and more. You can even stock up or replenish the items for your beach survival kit. Forgot your beach towel, T-shirt, flip flops? No problem, you can find these and many other beachy items on the shelves now (boogie boards, beach chairs, water shoes, swimming goggles, the list goes on).

Let’s make a Beach Survival Kit:

Here is a list of things we need in our kit, but feel free to add additional items to yours.

Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Sunglasses
Hand Sanitizer
Wet Wipes
Hair Bands
Flip Flops
Beach Towel
Hat
Zippered Bag
Coca-Cola

Share a Coke is back! This year, you can get the 20-ounce bottles featuring 1000+ first and LAST names on multiple Coca-Cola brands/packages such as Coca-Cola Classic, Coke Zero™, and Diet Coke®. It is the perfect ice cold refreshment for sharing the summer’s hottest moments. Save with your friends when you use your CVS ExtraCare card to receive the special pricing of 2 for $3. Don’t have an ExtraCare card? No sweat, it’s super easy to get one — sign-up online or in the store.

Beach Survival Kit – summer fun and sharing an ice cold Coke with friends! #AD #BestSummerMemories

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Go to CVS and pick up a quick couple of bottles of Ice Cold Coke to share with your friends, right away. Enjoy!

Check this out for more Summer Inspiration with Coca-Cola.

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Make Your Furniture a Reflection of You

This shop, Make Your Furniture A Reflection Of You, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PledgeReflectionOfYou #CollectiveBias

Make Your Furniture A Reflection Of You

Memories, Sentiment, and a Hutch

I am sure you all have something that reminds you of a special time, a special place, or a special someone. Whether it is a trinket, something handed down through the generations, or maybe even a piece of furniture, these items are a reflection of you.

When I was a kid, I loved our trips to my grandparents’ farm in Mississippi. It was so different from Southern California. Everything enthralled me, from the airplane ride to the long drive from Jackson to Carthage. We traveled through the beautiful Natchez Trace, an Indian reservation, and dirt roads to get to the farm. I would always think of that old song, “Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go…” (You sang those words in your head, didn’t you?) These sights and sounds were just the beginnings of a wonderful time of family, joy, and memory making.

My grandmother was a hard-working woman, and I liked following her around the farm helping with the chores. I’m not sure I helped all that much, but we had fun together just the same. When dinner time came around, grandma always asked us kids to set the table. Now, grandma was a woman of the Depression Era; she did not have a lot of fancy stuff, but what she had, she kept in a narrow hutch in her kitchen dining area. That was the one piece of furniture I wish I could have been blessed with, but my cousin was the lucky recipient.

Loving Reflection

One day, I found a hutch that was very similar and I fell in love. I had to have that piece of furniture, and I have cherished it ever since. Even though it is not my grandmother’s hutch, it reminds me of her and all the wonderful things we did and shared. Like my grandmother, I entrust the care of my prized hutch and the things I display on and in it to Pledge® Lemon Clean Furniture Spray. It keeps my hutch clean, while it conditions and protects the wood. The Allergens Trappers® remove dust and up to 90% of allergens found in dust. My hutch has a rustic rough-wood finish. This means that from time to time it needs a little extra care. The wood can dry out from sun and dry air easier than fully finished furniture.

How-to Clean Rustic Rough-Wood Furniture:

Use a soft paintbrush (dedicated to dusting) to brush away dust that gets trapped in the rough texture.
Do not spray furniture polish directly on the wood.
Use a liberal amount of Pledge® Lemon Clean Furniture Spray on a soft cloth.
Wipe the prepared cloth against the wood, massaging the spray into the wood.

This will leave a beautiful glow and a lemony fresh scent.
If your furniture is getting dry and needs a little extra T.L.C., use the Pledge® Extra Moisturizing Furniture Spray.
Remember to care for your furniture and your home on a regular basis.

The lemon fresh scent takes me right back to grandma’s kitchen, when I’d pull open the silverware drawer in her hutch. Grandma would even polish her laminate kitchen table to a brilliant shine after dinner with the Pledge® Lemon Clean Furniture Spray. Like Grandma, I keep silverware in the drawer of my hutch. I have confidence in serving my family and friends at gatherings and holiday celebrations from my hutch, and I love the sentimentality and treasured memories it brings.

Here’s a couple helpful hints:

In need of a quick clean? Grab the Pledge® Lemon Wipes. They are fantastic for touch-ups! And the Pledge® Multi Surface Everyday Cleaner with Glade® Rainshower® is a winner for stainless steel and chrome, and many other surfaces.

It is easy to pick up Pledge® products at your local Kroger family of stores. Rory and I snag our furniture polish, cleaner, and wipes from the cleaning aisle at Ralphs. Follow Pledge® on Facebook for more helpful hints and tips.

What pieces of furniture do you have that bring back special memories and reflections of you? Are you giving them the care they deserve with Pledge®? Celebrate the beauty of your home! #PledgeReflectionOfYou

Celebrate your home as a reflection of you with Pledge®. #PledgeReflectionOfYou #home #clean AD

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Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, A Treasure Find Fer Me

Livin’ in th’ ship I grew up in be a blessin’ ‘n a curse. Sure, I be surrounded by all th’ wonderful memories ‘o me childhood, but I mean, literally, I be surrounded! When th’ indoor plumbin’ on the upper deck flooded 5-days before Christmas, causin’ massive waterfalls in me livin’ room ‘n dinin’ room, it too was a blessin’ ‘n a curse.

Th’ jolly news be that th’ middle core ‘o me ship (upstairs ‘n below) be now beautiful, up-to-date, spit shine, ‘n un-cluttered! However, that leaves a lot ‘o th’ rest ‘o th’ ship stuffed to th’ gills wit’ 42-years ‘n 4-generations ‘o barnacle-covered crud. So, I systematically tackle a small section at th’ hour tryin’ to re-claim th’ ship from th’ ghosts ‘o clutter past ‘n present.

One day last week, I decided to spit shine out me salty sea-dog ‘o a father’s medicine cabinet in th’ master cabin. (me salty sea-monster ‘o a dad has be livin’ in Mississippi now since th’ new millenium. Aye, it be a long time, but he has not allowed me to change anythin’…arrgh! Since he gunna be 85-years ’tis comin’ SeptembARrrrr, I figure I would change away—he may never travel the seas home again to be knowin’). I put on some latex gloves ‘n pulled out cologne bottles smellin’ o’ seaweed and salt, expired remedies from th’ alchemist, razors, tweezers, toothpicks, a timepiece, some silver dollars, a crusty wallet stuffed wit’ ancient photos, ‘n th’ like. On th’ top shelf, below th’ wrapper from a used up potions box, I found me treasure.

Now, I be sure ye thought tha’ th’ wallet ‘o barnacle-covered photos was a right fair find ‘n it was, but I had seen all ‘o them photos before. Th’ treasure I found was a fine photograph ‘o me mother tha’ must have be taken in th’ late 50’s to extra early 60’s.

I had never laid eyes on ’tis photograph before. It was excitin’! I called fer Rory to come have a look, ‘n I cannot wait to spy wit’ me eye me uncle (me mom’s brother) again to show him th’ photo ‘n maybe find out whar it was taken ‘n when.

So e’en when thin’s look glum and ye be swabbin’ th’ deck, blessin’s can be found in th’ most obscure places ‘n durin’ th’ most menial ‘o tasks. Aye mateys, a find well treasured.

Leave me a COMMENT ye scabrous dog!

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Eighteen Years Ago… Shooby Dooby Down To Ruby’s!

After a long, stressful pregnancy of bed-rest, multiple long-term hospitalizations, and constant contractions, I was finally told by my OB/GYN to go home and try to relax, and come back into the hospital early the next morning to induce labor. (What he did not tell me, was that the amniotic fluids were very low and the baby’s heart rate was running about 240 bpm).

My mother drove me to my appointment, and since this was one of my only outings, we stopped at Ruby’s Diner for lunch on the way home. We had eaten at Ruby’s the day before my son was born–it seemed like a good tradition.

I ordered the same lunch, an Aloha Burger (The delicious teriyaki glaze and a grilled pineapple ring will have you dancing the hula! Takes you straight to Maui!), Onion Rings, and a Chocolate Orange Malt (with extra malt). YUM! I’m hungry just thinking about it.

It was a tasty treat and a nice lunch with my mom before I had to return home to bed. Laying on your left side for months-on-end gets really old and really painful. Not to mention the boredom factor. I think I watched every episode of Murder She Wrote, Father Dowling, Saved By The Bell, and heaven forbid…the entire OJ Trial!!!

It was off to sleep early for me as I had to wake up at 4:30 am to go to the hospital the next morning… waiting anxiously for my little lovebug to come into this world…

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No Pits Here… Peach Cobbler!

No pits here! Luke’s neighbors just left for a three-week vacation to Europe…lucky dogs. But that’s okay, no jealousy here. We received access to their peach tree, full of sweet smelling, fuzzy, ripe peaches. YUM!

On schedule for today is baking my grandmother’s Peach Cobbler. This quick and easy recipe is warm and full of gooey deliciousness. It brings back memories of being on the farm in Mississippi with grandma sitting in her rocking chair peeling and slicing peaches. The aromas of fresh cobbler baking in the oven. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

My favorite aunt shared this recipe with me. It was her “Moma’s” recipe.

Moma’s Peach Cobbler

1- stick Butter
1-cup Sugar
1-cup Self-Rising Flour
1-cup Milk
1- 29-oz. can Sliced Peaches

Preheat oven to 375°

Melt Butter in a 9×13 Pyrex dish. In a separate bowl, mix Sugar, Self-Rising Flour, and Milk, combine well. Pour mixture in pan with butter, no need to mix. Pour the Peaches over the top (Juices and all). Do not mix.

Bake in preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes. Dough will rise to the top and brown. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

A very good, very quick dessert.

**NOTE – I have never made this with fresh peaches, so we will see how this goes. I know grandma did, but I don’t know if she needed to add some peach juice or other liquid to the recipe when she did it. I’ll keep you posted!

**NEWS: Update: Peach Cobbler

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Embarrassing Moments of a Naïve Child Grown…

I live in the house in which I grew up. So, when we had the flood at Christmastime it forced me to empty my mother’s hutch in the dining room. My mother used every possible nook and cranny of that hutch for not only china, but also little bits of memorabilia—including some papers that we found shoved behind the drawers. We were in such a rush trying get things moved out of the area for repairs that we just placed everything into boxes and did not look at stuff too closely (that project would come later).

Fast forward to months later as I was cleaning and refilling the hutch. I found a treasure that immediately made me blush, laugh so hard I had tears streaming down my face, and wonder just how on earth I survived and managed to raise a family—my Pre-Test For Sex Education!

I am sure my mother was watching from heaven and getting a good laugh herself. She knew she had saved that test for a good reason. Rory and Luke completely enjoyed my naïveté, and I decided it would share it with you.

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Believe me, I did finally figure it out! Obviously, I had a one-time spur of dyslexia and switched my answers for male and female…Oh, Lordy…

It just goes to show you how very different life was then. Children were allowed to be children. They did not have sex and violence stuffed down their throats at every turn of the TV dial (and yes, I do mean turn, we did not have a remote for the TV yet), flip of a magazine page, and graphic video gaming was not an option. Times were simpler and in some ways maybe better, but finding this treasure brought back a piece of that time, and we are all thankful for it.

Have you had something from your childhood crop up and make you laugh? Write a post and link it to this one, or tell me about it in a comment.

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