As of yesterday…school is officially in session in my neck of the woods.

To celebrate…or in my case to get my mind off of the fact that Summer is officially over and my baby is in Kindergarten...

I'm sharing some adorable FREE Back-to-School printables that should knock your school-uniform socks off. *wink*

The Blog Hop this month has everything from calendars to cool lunch box notes, hipster bookplates and first day of school photo signs. 

Be sure to HOP over to each of these fabulous blogs to check out the full details of each of these cute printables and of course…to download them for FREE.

Bulldog Bookplates - Hostess with the Mostess

Lunchbox Notes - Catch My Party

Good Morning Sunshine Routine Checklist - Kori Clark

Grade School Photo Signs - Skip to My Lou

Weekly School Calendar - Living Locurto

Lunchbox Back-to-School Stickers - Nest of Posies

Weekly School Planner - No Biggie

I Love You Because Art Prints - Pen N' Paper Flowers

FROM TOP - LEFT TO RIGHT

Weekly School Planner - No Biggie

Bulldog Bookplates - Hostess with the Mostess

Good Morning Sunshine Morning Routine Checklist - Kori Clark

Eat Up Lunchbox Back-to-School Stickers - Nest of Posies

Lunchbox Notes - Catch My Party

I Love You Because Art Prints - Pen N' Paper Flowers

Grade School Photo Signs - Skip to My Lou

Weekly School Calendar - Living Locurto

Now go on and get your "Blog Hop" on…

and tell your mom-friends and teacher friends too!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Ella is LOViNG Kindergarten.

Ema is indifferent to being a Sophomore.

Clara doesn't start college until next week.

So far so good. *wink*

LIFE | Kindergarten here she comes

She started Kindergarten today…
that is all.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
This mama is at a loss for words today.
Kindergarten is a really big deal…
especially when it's your baby.

LIFE | Where My Heart Is

This is where my heart is today!
Ella started Pre-K.
Ema started High School.
Clara is a Senior.

What a milestone year for each of my beautiful girls!

I'm proud of all of them.
They are SO very different from each other.
And they are also in very different places in their lives.

It's really easy to bundle my two older girls up together...
The three year age gap between them doesn't seem to be such a gap as they get older.
I have to remind myself that Clara has had THREE more years of growing up...
and that my sweet Ema has some catching up to do.
THREE years is a lot of stuff in the middle of this "growing up" business.

Now with Ella...
it's a completely different story.
I find I have to remind myself that even though I've done all of the "firsts" two times before...
with a ten year age gap between her and Ema - 13 years between her and Clara
Ella's "firsts" are just as important.
I really need to be intentional with taking my time to document and photograph her first moments too.

I love them all SO very much.
I'm grateful and blessed - despite the many frustrating moments as a mom.
I really am truly, truly blessed.

If you've sent your kids off to school this year...
I know you get this post...
and I know you get ME.

Thanks for listening today!!

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Aside from the typical back-to-school photos we all take at the beginning of each school year, I also encourage you to photograph the fun things (school supplies, accessories, pens, pencils, glasses, etc.) that are playing a part in keeping your kids excited about the start of a new school year. I think it will be fun for them to look back on these things!  I know I wish I had a photo of some of my favorite metal lunch boxes from back in the day! I guess they'd be considered vintage or even collectibles today. Ha!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Although I REALLY had a lot of work to get done today...
including getting this post finished earlier than I did...
Making "Back-to-School" breakfasts...
and baking "Back-to-School" cookies for their return home this afternoon seemed so much more important than anything else today. *wink*

CRAFT | Back-to-School DiY Posters

Last week marked the first week back to school for my older girls.
That means I was able to get crafty and create their annual "Candy Posters"...
celebrating having made it through their first week back.

I did change things up a tiny bit this year from last year's poster...
First of all, I did separate posters for each girl instead of one poster.
Second, I added in a couple of "good-for-you" items into the mix...
Take a peek...

Ema's Poster

Clara's Poster

This is a super simple idea...

and it's something you can create for teacher gifts...

a fun birthday gift for a co-worker...

or even an out-of-the-box birthday card for a family member/friend.

TiPS:

• If you have multiple posters to make, split up the candy/snacks into small ziploc bags to save money.

• Use a smaller poster board so you don't have to purchase as many snacks to fill it. 

   although the big poster board makes quite an impact...*wink*

• Don't worry about your handwriting being perfect...it's the candy/treats that are the main focus.

• Sharpie Markers are my favorite thing to use

• Keep it simple. I just used packing tape to stick the items to the board.

• Make this a "Group Gift" for someone in the office or your child's teacher by enlisting candy/snack donations

   from co-workers or parents.

Although I've got one daughter who is a  "Junior" this year *gasp*
and another one in 8th grade...*sigh*

They both REALLY love this idea.
(and neither of them claim to be too old to continue receiving these).

Are we ever too old for some treats?

Especially when they are presented in such a personalized manner?  *wink*

Have a great day everyone...
xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Ella had an upset stomach on Friday...

but recovered quickly.

I ended up feeling crappy the whole weekend...

BUT still mustered up the energy to completely purge my closet.

I don't know what I was thinking but I'm glad I did it.

If you follow me on Instagram then you got a sneak peek.

I'll have to share my results with you...

You will think I'm absolutely insane...but that's okay. *wink*

But get this...

Ella woke up about midnight this morning with a fever and the "v" word.

Poor thing.

I don't know if this is something different or a continuation of things from Friday.

She was acting completely fine though the entire weekend??

Didn't sleep much to say the least...

life | Happy 1st week back-to-school

Earlier last week...
I saw Rhonna's post about her annual tradition of creating a candy-filled poster for her kids' 1st day back-to-school.
I was completely inspired...
but it was already the 2nd day of school here. *frown*

So...
I adapted the idea to celebrate  my two older daughters completing their first WEEK back to school!

I started with a piece of poster board, some tape, a sharpie and a bucket of assorted candy...

and with a little bit of creativity, I ended up with this CANDY POSTER...

It was a complete surprise when they came home Friday afternoon...

(especially since I'm usually always saying no to candy). *wink*

They LOVED it!!
And I LOVED making it.

If you don't feel like you are creative enough to come up with wording on your own...
Here's what I came up with...just to help inspire you...*wink*

"Summer seemed like such a FAST BREAK and now here you are...
your first week of school already under your belts. Just wanted to say I 
love you two little FIREBALLS to PIECES!  You both are SMARTIES
so probably what I have to say...you already know.  Take your education 
seriously and work EXTRA hard to keep your grades up! It's not cool to 
act like AIRHEADS or BLOW an exam. Make time to really study. I know
at times you'll need to TAKE 5 from the pressure of MOUNDS of homework.
But if you stay on top of your assignments instead of chillin' to your favorite
M&M song, you won't get yourself in a CRUNCH and SKOR a big, fat, ugly ZERO.


More than all of that though...
I want you to be yourself!!
(despite the SNICKERS you think you might get).
Be confident in who you are,  otherwise you are just TWIX-ing yourself.
Choose your friends wisely and be a true friend.
And remember, sisters can be LIFESAVERS.
Be very wary of the WHATCHAMACALIT(S)! (defined as boys)
You'll thank me NOW & LATER.
Make it a fantastic 2011-2012 school year!
Come to me for anything and everything...
I'm here to listen always.
And I promise to make a few trips to Donnelly and 5TH AVENUE
for some ice cream and treats.


Claracakes and Emalove...
I love you both tremendously and 
wish you nothing but happiness.
Hugs & KISSES...Mom!"
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••


This idea could also be used for:
• birthdays
• teacher gifts
• school office staff
• father's day, etc.

You can even make a much smaller poster and not have to use so much candy! *wink*

Thanks for the inspiration Rhonna!
I hope you all are inspired as well!

Have a fantastic Monday!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Ella, (my very sweet, almost three year old),
was here to help me while I was creating the poster.
I tried putting her in charge of putting the tape on the candy
and then putting it on the posterboard.
Unfortunately, she was only interested in the two Blow Pops and
insisted that she "borrow" them while I completed the project.
Lucky for me, (and Clara & Ema), she actually listened and did not
unwrap them and try to steal a few licks. (which is what I know
in her heart of hearts she REALLY wanted to do). *wink*