However different this year’s holidays were for each of us, they are beginning to wind down. You may have put your decorations up earlier than ever before because we all needed that extra cheer (and I hope you enjoyed a very merry season). Now it’s time to wrap things up and prepare for the new year. Here are five tips for storing and protecting your holiday items.
Read MoreIf you think about it, COVID has been like the Grinch who stole Christmas, except COVID stole the whole year. No summer beach parties, no back-to-school celebrations, no football tailgating, no weddings or graduations. But, now that the holidays are in full swing, I take comfort in knowing COVID will not steal my Christmas joy. My favorite holiday traditions are still on track. I hope yours are, too.
Read MoreI recently discovered how incredibly useful the Alarms feature on my iPhone can be. I used to use it for setting a timer for an afternoon nap. Now I use it to keep my entire day on schedule. So how does it work?
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Even though kids are back to school in August, there is still one last big weekend of summer. Labor Day! Take advantage of the last 3 day weekend of summer with a family trip. Don't have anyone to stay with the family pet? No problem! I do pet sitting!! Your pooch stays home, and I take care of the rest. And, I can even set up that command center for you while you are away :)
What do you do with all that sports gear?! Along with back to school comes back to sports. An organized sports gear station like this one by elfa from @thecontainerstore is a great way to keep everything handy and in one place.
Help your week go more smoothly by laying out clothes for the week on Sunday evening. Have you kids choose the outfits they would like to wear for the coming week. If there is a special day, like pajama day, it also helps to plan for that. You can also go with a free flowing system, rather than assigning an outfit to a day of the week. Letting kids choose which outfit to wear from the weekly selection still gives them a few choices without being too rigid. But, of course, choose which system works best for your youngsters.
Back to school lunch organization can be a hassle, but if you get your kids involved, it can be a breeze. Create bins filled with lunch items. Swipe right to see how to set up your bins. Crackers in one bin, juice boxes in another, fruit in yet another...you get the picture. The night before, have your kids choose 1 item from each bin to put in their lunches. Having your kids choose their own lunches also insures that they are more likely to eat what has been packed.
Here's the big question about back to school? What the heck do you do with all that paperwork? You love everything your child brings home, but no one can keep all that!! Choose what you love most and take a photo. Use the photos to create an album. You can print the albums through services such as @chatbooks. Now you have all of your favorite art and schoolwork pieces in one tidy book!
Even though kids are back to school in August, there is still one last big weekend of summer. Labor Day! Take advantage of the last 3 day weekend of summer with a family trip. Don't have anyone to stay with the family pet? No problem! I do pet sitting!! Your pooch stays home, and I take care of the rest. And, I can even set up that command center for you while you are away :)
Take charge of screens! My friend doesn't allow screens in the kids rooms when it's time for bed. Create a new rule: Instead of allowing devices that can distract from getting ready for bed and getting to sleep, have the kids dock their electronics in a communal caddy. (It's a pretty good rule for adults, too.)
