Guys, I have happened upon the coolest fundraising system ever. Every year my kids' school does this Fall fundraiser where they sell frozen cookie dough and overpriced jewellery and knickknacks. The first few years I felt pressured to take part. Every purchase was a disappointment I felt guilty for having let my kids hand these catalogues over to their gullible … [Read more...]
Settling the Back to School Jitters with the Goodness of Goldfish
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Goldfish Crackers. All opinions are 100% mine. My kids were nervous about going back to school this year. Up until this point back to school season has always been a time of excitement in our household, but this year both of my kids were far more anxious and scared than they were excited. It caught me off guard. I was … [Read more...]
How I’m Saving Money by Using Thermos Funtainers…
The school my girls go to offers a milk program. For $2 a day you can get a serving of milk to go with your lunch, in one of those wee personal-sized cardboard cartons. They offer both chocolate and white milk, though my eldest daughter confided in me that no one ever takes the white milk. I've been sending my daughter to school with milk in a bottle since kindergarten, and … [Read more...]
Back to School with Dell (and my surprising favourite use for my new Dell 2-in-1)…
September means back to school. For me this year, for the first time ever, this means both kids in school all day. Leaving me with six glorious hours to myself to work and clean house. At least in theory. The reality is our school has a delayed start for Kindergarten. Which means my S.K. kid started a week after her big sister. And then once she started, she was there for all … [Read more...]
Helping Your Kids to Find Their Back to School Look
For older kids back to school can be a bit stressful, as they worry about their outfits and their hair and makeup. September can be a time of "the great shake down" while girls are trying out new styles and trying to find an everyday look they are comfortable with. My girls aren't there yet. My daughter's biggest concern is whether or not mom's going to let her wear the cool … [Read more...]
The One Where I Remember All of the Things I SHOULD Have Said to Her Kindergarten Teacher….
Dear Kindergarten Teacher, When we met last week you asked me to describe my daughter in a few words and my mind went blank. What I should have said is "She's like Tigger, but with hugs." Instead I told you she's "very touchy", which you took to mean tactile orientated. I tried in stumbling words to explain how she wants to touch, and hug, every person she sees. I think you … [Read more...]
Curing the Back to School Jitters
I have a little one who is nervous about heading to school. She's going into Kindergarten next month. Our countdown tells me it's 16 days away. Some days, when I'm ready to trade her to the neighbours for a decent cup of coffee, it feels like it can never come soon enough. Other days, I feel almost as nervous as she does at the idea of relinquishing my baby into someone else's … [Read more...]
We Splurged, Saved and Snacked; Back to School Shopping with CAA Rewards
Ok, please don't lynch me, but I had to buy practically nothing for my kid for back to school. Her old backpack, which lasted two years, was pretty beat up so she needed a new school bag. And she was due for a new pair of runners because her feet spurted up a size and a half over the summer, but that was pretty much it. A backpack and a pair of sneakers. I watched as other … [Read more...]
What is with that Obligatory Back to School Photo?
Back to school sort of sucks. I mean school is great and all. And my 7 year old is certainly excited to be heading into grade 2. But that whole waking up and getting out the door at a certain time in clothes that match thing, I could do without it. And it was raining this morning. Pouring sheets of rain. And we still had to go to the bus. I couldn't just say, meh, let's stay … [Read more...]
Back to School Recap
I hope September has been treating you and yours well? Aside from the inevitable nasty cold making it's way through our household and a little bit of separation anxiety on the part of my littlest girl, things have been going pretty smoothly over here. To help mark our third week of back to school, here's a quick recap of Maple Leaf Mommy's back to school giveaways and … [Read more...]
High Quality Comfort & Long Lasting Fit with pediped Flex Kids Shoes
I may buy 90% of my kids' clothing used, but I never skimp on shoes. When it comes time for a new pair we always head to the kids' shoe speciality shop, get their feet measured and have them properly fitted for shoes. You may think I'm crazy but I will willingly dish out $40-$60 for a pair of sneakers (ok, maybe a little less as I often wait for a sale). I think having … [Read more...]
Back to School with Rubbermaid LunchBlox
Rubbermaid LunchBlox are lunch container sets made up of small containers plus an icepack that all stack together, like blocks. Reasons we love the Rubbermaid Kid's LunchBlox: * dishwasher safe. * easy for little hands to open and shut. * leak proof. * they stack and snap together. * ice pack to keep things cool. * perfect kid portion sizes. I'm pretty enamored … [Read more...]
These Are The Shoes We CHOOZE ~ Back to School with Funky Comfy CHOOZE Shoes
I remember last year when she was in Senior Kindergarten G-Girl had a thing for wearing two mismatched socks. She loves to pick out her own funky clothing combinations. I reserve the right to veto, but for the most part I let her run with it. I love giving my kid ways to embrace her independence. And if that means she's wearing two different coloured socks, so be it. Each … [Read more...]
Perfectly Packed Lunches, Back to School with Rubbermaid LunchBlox
As I've mentioned previously, I'm certainly no dietitian. What and how to pack my daughter's school lunch is something I've struggled with for two years now. My daughter's school follows a "balanced school day", which means her "meal" for the school day is broken down into two snack periods and a lunch period. For two years now I have struggled with this. Struggled with just … [Read more...]
The Back to School Computer: Samsung Chromebook
Staples sent me a Samsung Chromebook to check out. I've been playing around with it for two weeks now and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed. In fact, I'm going to skip right to the chase and say if you have an older kid who needs a computer for back to school I think the Samsung Chromebook is the way to go. My husband refers to it as the Google Internet Box, and it sort … [Read more...]