backtoschool
Back to School Haircut Supporting the Underprivledged
It’s on every mom’s to-do list, a back to school haircut. We start the year with polished shoes, fresh uniforms, white socks and of course, a haircut. This year we returned to Hair Cuttery. We wanted great cuts and to be part of a great cause – the Share-a-Haircut program. What is the Back to School Share-A-Haircut […]
How to Polish Penny Loafers
Problem: How do I polish penny loafers? Smart Mama Solution: Read my experience and follow the steps I’ve shared. We saved money this back to school season by polishing last year’s penny loafers. Yes, her foot grew over the summer, and yes, her loafers were pretty beat up after last school year. But this family […]
Share a Haircut at Back to School
It’s time to Share a Haircut at back to school! We’ve got paper, pencils, backpacks, and now haircuts! As part of the back to school routine of kids across the country, boys & girls are lining up at hair salons to get their hair trimmed for the new school year. We are partnering with Hair […]
Supporting School with Fuel Your School in Miami-Dade
I was a public school teacher for nearly 10 years. It was my life. It was before I was married, before I had kids. My students were my life. There was (nearly) nothing that I wouldn’t purchase for my classroom if it meant providing a better learning opportunity for my students. I spent 100s and […]
Back to School for Moms, Too!
It isn’t just time for the kids. Moms and Dads enjoy back to school time for a variety of reasons. Back to school for moms may mean more time for mom to have mom-time. The kids are occupied all day, I mean yes, they’re learning, and mom is running around doing stuff! We’re all on […]
It Takes a Village, Donating School Supplies
It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a village to get him/her back to school, too. Donating School Supplies to the Village As parents we rely on one another to raise our children. We rely on friends to help with carpool, babysitting, keeping up with what’s due when, cheering on the soccer […]
Using Graphic T-Shirts in a Kids’ Wardrobe
Thankful for my Back to School Children’s Place shopping. Just before the start of the school year, I headed to our local Children’s Place. They hosted a media event for local bloggers. I spent just under $100 on items (Thank you Children’s Place for the generous gift card) for both girls. A month post-shopping I […]
10 DVDs for Kids Under $6
Are we there yet? Mom, I’m bored. We decide to drive to save money, not deal with security…and countless other reasons. The advent of the portable DVD player or in-car entertainment systems has given parents like you and me a little peace during those trips. I like to keep a stock of DVDs in the […]
FREE Rewards Program for Teachers at Office Depot
Teachers: Don’t buy another school supply item until you’ve signed up for the FREE Rewards program for teachers: the Office Depot Star Teacher Rewards program! You’ll earn points that will earn you FREE supplies! School time means school supply time! We all stock up on paper, pencils and crayons to put in the backpacks and keep […]
Creative Ways to Use Tape with Kids
Enter your local Office Depot store and you’re bound to find a tremendous display of the 3M Expressions Tape. I entered our local store recently with my girls and they were instantly drawn to this display. The colors and patterns were so captivating. They wanted every roll. There are so many ways to use tape with […]
5 Reasons to Love Office Depot Rewards
I am participating in the #ODRewards campaign sponsored by Office Depot. For more information, about Office Depot Rewards, visit their website. There are loads of reward programs out there. Some are certainly better than others. I have recently fallen in love with the Office Depot Rewards Program! This back to school season I have been loading […]
5 Back to School Items for Kids in Uniforms
Yes, many of our children are dressing in a plaid skort, collared shirt and school issued socks. But, back to school shopping isn’t just uniforms. Children wearing uniforms to school still need to stock up on many clothing items for before, during and after school. I was recently invited to go back to school shopping […]
Planning Weekly Family Dinner Menu
Plan a weekly family dinner menu. It’s a smart mama move! Menu planning is a great way to maximize time and keep nutrition inline. I can be very type-A. I love organization. I love to have a plan, for everything! Back to school time gives me an opportunity to reorganize many aspects of my family’s […]
Back to School Fashion on a Budget at The Children’s Place
The Back to School fashions at The Children’s Place are affordable, practical and stylish. Moms can depend on The Children’s Place for clothing for newborns to tweens, from summer to winter and everything in between. Remember how impressed I was with the savings on the fedora hat this past spring? Well, the savings are just as […]
Springtime Fashion Trends for the Kids
The Garden Party is ready to start here! The thought of spring is refreshing! The birds return from their time down south, the crocuses peep up in the garden and there is an overall happy feeling. We also need to be ready for the springtime fashion trends for kids! Shopping for Fashion In the fall, […]
When School Ends, the Day Just Begins, Guest Post by Alexis, The Exhausted Mom
Today I welcome Alexis Prieto, the infamous Exhausted Mom, to share how she manages her exhausting life! She’s a mom we can all relate to, and her posts always make me feel less stressed when I see how she manages with kids, work and a traveling spouse! If Alexis can do it, so can I! […]
Rock ‘N Learn Videos are Excellent Tools for Back to School Learning
Reading, writing and arithmetic. That’s the focus. Homeschooling, back to school or even just entertainment in the car DVD player – moms are searching for fun ways to educate their children. What can YOU do to support your pre-school or elementary aged children as they embark on a new school year? It’s important to keep it […]
Back to School Time – 5 Ways to Make Your Morning Run Smoothly
On your mark. Get set. GO! Back to school time is here! Some of us have started. Some are anxiously waiting. Regardless, we all spend these weeks transitioning into the new school time schedule. It’s nerve-racking, but being a Smart Mama can increase your chances of a successful morning! Here are 5 ways you can […]
Smart Food: Pot Roast, a Back to School Favorite
As we get ready for the crazy back to school schedule, we need to stack our decks. We need to have plans in place to increase our chance of success. The slow cooker is a busy Smart Mama’s friend! It can be the sous chef that we have always longed for. Dedicating often less than […]
Bed Time for Kids Getting Ready for School
How & when do you establish bed time for kids getting ready for school? We start at minimum a full week before the 1st day of school. Tomorrow is the big day. The day I’ve been waiting for. I can’t believe it’s actually here. Am I ready? Are they ready? What is the big day […]
Smart Home: Morning Routine, Searching for Tips to Establish School Day Mornings
A morning routine. I love it. I get very type-A at times and like to have things scheduled out to the last minute. Enter 2 children into that dream and it essentially flies out the window. With my near 5 year old, Isabella, a routine is necessary, it’s just not as precisely followed as I […]
Smart Homa: Cozi, Your Family Organizer!
[ad#Google in Content] I recently read a great article about Cozi.com, an online calendar and more. I had never heard of it. Have you? Cozi’s co-founder and CEO Robbie Cape, described in a guest post on TechSavvyMama.com, how his product was essential for dads wanting to stay in the loop and organized with family affairs. […]
Smart Deal: More Back to School Items at Land of Nod Clearance Page!
As I was filling my shopping cart on The Land of Nod, I kept mumbling that I needed to share these ridiculous deals with you! Some are too good to pass up! Think back to school, future birthday parties, future children, future you name it, I am certain you will find someone deserving of these […]
Smart Home: Back to School Etiquette
[ad#Google in Content] This week I welcome Lovely Payoute, president of Etiquette Miami, who offers a wide range of programs and services from group etiquette classes for children and teens, individual/corporate training, and cotillion programs. Children Manners classes for children and teens are enrolling now in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton Nordstrom Stores. You […]
Smart Home: School Time
[ad#Google in Content] A Notebook and a Pencil Dedicate time (it can even be just 5 minutes) to review academic skills with your child every day. This “school time” will encourage you to be on top of your child’s learning successes and areas of need. With just a notebook, a pencil and a few other […]
Want to be a School Volunteer this Year? 20% Increase!
Did you know that the desire to volunteer in a child’s classroom has increased by 20%? According to a groundbreaking new study titled “The Economy’s Impact on Back to School,” GreatSchools and Harris Interactive have discovered this tremendous gain in desire to volunteer. (To see report: http://www.greatschools.net/news/back-to-school-poll-results.page ) With the challenges of today’s economy parents […]