Back to School Tips to Make the School Year Less Stressful

All 3 of my girls are away from home full time for school this year. We've homeschooled the past 6 years so this year we had to do different things to get them ready to go. One is a freshman in high school and the other two are classified as homeschool high school seniors as well as 2nd year college students. So everyone had different back to school needs. Here are tips on making the school year less stressful no matter what grade they are in this year! 

Out of all three, the freshman needed the most little things for back to school. Year after year she would reuse folders, never needed a lunch box or backpack or even brand new supplies and clothes. With homeschooling, you reuse it until it can't be used anymore and buy all year instead the week before school starts! To go along with her new school, she got all new supplies, shoes and clothes. We are fortunate enough to be able to provide the tools needed for back to school. That isn't the case for every student in America.

Did you know that the Boys and Girls Club of America wants to help you, too? No, maybe you don't need help getting clothes and supplies for your kids but you might need easy to find, helpful homework tips, fitness and bully information as well as college and reading tips. Click here to get more tips as well as access all the other resource pages from BGCA. 

Are you all set for back to school? Do you buy last minute or do you spread out your buying? Do you have any good tips or resources to share related to school? Feel free to leave them in the comments! I would love to read them or check out your blog post.

More Back to School Tips

Back to School Security Issues for Kids
Free Common Core Standards eBooks
Get Back To School Organized
Make the school year less stressful this year
10 Teen Budget Saving Tips
Tips for Teen Back To Shopping Deals
Top 5 Ways to Save Big for Back to School...while teaching the kids a lesson
Top 10 Ways to Save $ for Back to School
Wake Up Shake up the Morning Routine

Subscribe to our mailing list

Honey, I don't have a headache tonight!

The author, Sheila Wray Gregoire, is having a book giveaway on her blog, To Love, Honor and Vacuum. The book is Honey, I Don't Have a Headache Tonight: Help for women who want to feel more in the mood. Sheila is from Belleville, Ontario, Canada.

Taken from her blog she is "a Christian author of a bunch of books, and a frequent speaker to women's groups and marriage conferences. She loves to homeschool her daughters, Rebecca and Katie. She loves to knit and homeschool simultaneously!" She is a down to earth and very humorous!

This is the contest running on her blog. I would love to win this book or any of her "bunch of books" that she has written. I LOVE her view on love and marriage. I love the link to FREE STUFF!

Father's Day is coming up, and this year, why not get something that YOU read (or listen to), and HE reaps the rewards from? If you want to stop your marriage from fizzling and start it sizzling, I've got the answer for you!

He says, "you’re never in the mood." She says, "That's all you ever think about!" It’s a conflict as old as time. We’re told "opposites attract", but given time and circumstance, what once lured you in, can quickly lure you out.

But you don't have to be stuck in this trap! Sheila's book, Honey, I Don't Have a Headache Tonight: Help for women who want to feel more in the mood, can help you solve this impasse! It's fun, real, and extremely practical. I love this book, and I know it can help your marriage.

I know, because Sheila, the author, didn't always have a great marriage. She's not "talking down" to you. She wrote it as a research project to help herself. And her husband says he definitely liked the research!

So often we find intimacy difficult because men and women ARE different. Women wonder why men were created with the switch always turned on, and men wonder why women were created with so many different switches and no instruction manual.

Honey, I Don't Have a Headache Tonight helps us bridge this gap by helping us to understand our husbands better, get more energy, heal past hurts, and increase romance & respect in our marriages! You'll also learn why understanding God's view of sexuality can actually make you more in the mood--even if that sounds strange! Filled with practical advice, Honey I Don't Have a Headache Tonight tackles these issues:

• How change in the sexual relationship requires change elsewhere.
• Why sex for women is often a "head thing."
• How television is the biggest enemy to intimacy.
• Why forgiveness and letting go of the need to be right is so important.
• How self-image issues and past hurts can throw intimacy into a tailspin.
• The repercussions of everyday energy zappers.
• The threats to Godly sexuality.
• The roadblocks of respect.
• The cultural attacks on gender.

And more! And best of all, it's fun to read!

It's Sheila's Father's Day special this month, along with a 45-minute hilarious and practical talk Sheila's given on the subject.

If you would like a chance to win this book head over to To Love, Honor and Vacuum. She has three ways for you to enter.

(OVER) Sheila will be drawing a winner on Wifey Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. EST June 10. So enter now to win! (this is a republished post from a few years back on my blog)

Back To School Menu & Lunch Box fun

(Recipe below. Photo by Winnie at Something Sweet-2nd most clicked link last week)

Welcome back to a new week of menu planning! This will officially be our first week back-to-school for all 3 girls. Last week was not a full week for anyone. It allows for easy transition back to school but honestly (it is my blog so I can speak honestly :) I would have preferred them to all start back full time all at once. It is actually more difficult and disruptive to have everyone starting at different times, etc. Can you tell that I use to homeschool? This is the first year that all are alway and I'm trying to adjust. 

I've included top clicked links from the past menu linky as promised. So don't forget to link up any recipe or your menu plan and you might get featured! Don't forget to check the printable coupons before you go shopping! 

Click here to get information on the  Scott Shared Values Consumer Rewards program which will give you an instant $1.25 coupon. It is a free rewards program. 

Monday- we didn't get to eat this last week so we are today. I forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer last week. It is out now and ready to go in the crock pot soon! Crock Pot Chicken(make extra for left overs and lunch meat), Baked Beans, Salad and Smore Brownies

Tuesday-No-bake Vanilla-Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake and Chicken Tostadas to use the leftover chicken from Monday.

Wednesday-Steak Stroganoff (always a hit and I need to add a photo to this post. I have one in the archives.) Side note- I very seldom eat beef but my family loves it. So when I make meals like this, I also cook chicken. I can cook it right with the beef and it won't bother me. I've been cooking this recipe for years and it is found in the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook. It is a great one to have on hand! We will also have salad with this meal and noodles to go with the Stroganoff. Sometimes I make mashed potatoes. I'll conduct a family poll and then decide which to cook!

Thursday- Ok you might think I'm cheating on this one but for Thursday I am going to pick something from Crystal's menu plan.(I'm thinking #3 or #4 this week) So many things to choose from and she is even featuring some of my recipes. What do you think? You must check it out and tell me what you are going to try. I'm going to poll my kids.  Click= 35+ EASY RECIPES THAT ARE PERFECT FOR BACK TO SCHOOL TIME menu! 

Friday-I'm going on date night with hubby. But the kids can MYOP- Make Your Own Pizza! Yippee! It is one of their favorites that they can make when I'm not around. Easy and they love being creative with their pizza. I do make sure that I have all their favorite toppings on hand. This is a great meal that works when they have friends over WHICH happens on the weekends.

WEEKEND- Sorry no plans for me. We usually eat leftovers and people are always coming and going. Check out my list of personal recipes and pick something to make!

Back-To-School Menu Plans

*Meals & lunch ideas-lunch sushi recipe can be found at this link
*3 Boards of Back-To-School meals & easy lunch ideas

*Back To School Lunches & Printable-Most clicked link from my last week Menu link up! Please go visit my new friend, Domesblissity from "Down Under" in Australia

Lunch Box Snacks
* New York Style Bagel Crisps
*Fruit, fruit and more fruit
*Back To School Push Pop Snacks- control the snacks in these containers
*veggies and ranch dip (ranch powder mixed with plain greek yogurt)

I link up at orgjunkie.com and always check out 3 Boys and a Dog menu!

Link up your recipes & menu plans! Top clicked will get featured next week. Grab the code and add the linky to your blog post! It is a great way to get extra traffic to your blog AND you can have all of the recipes linked up right on your blog.

Aunt Salad isn't just for Ants!

Here is an easy, summer meal to make for your family. We love summer salad recipes. If you have one, share below.
What a corny name for a Salad! When I was a new bride (almost 19 years ago) I made this salad for my hubby! It was a salad my Aunt Shirley would make and one of the many recipes she gave me for our wedding. When my hubby saw the salad he said something like "oh wow! This is the salad my Aunt Candy makes!" Hence the name-AUNT SALAD- my merger of two Aunt's recipe and my twist of Seven Layer Salad.

AUNT SALAD AKA SEVEN LAYER SALAD

1 head of iceberg lettuce, torn
5-6 green onions, chopped including tops (1/2 c red onion works great too and I love the color)
1/2-3/4 bag frozen peas (thawed and uncooked)
1 lb fresh bacon bits (this was my twist ... yummy fresh bacon)
1/4 c. Bac~Os
6 hard boiled eggs, sliced
2 cups mayonnaise
1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
Layer in bowl and let sit over night.

First thing is to fry the bacon. I like to make it into bits before cooking. I use to cut the bacon using my trusty Wusthof serrated bread knife. These German knives are wonderful and I own many of them. Over the past few years I have found a quicker way to cut my bacon bits. I now use CUTCO Cutlery Super Shears. They cut the bacon quickly!!

*On to the fun part of the salad! Start layering!!! Layer chopped lettuce, onions, peas, fresh bacon bits, Bac~Os (or I use fresh cooked bacon) and boiled eggs!

 

*Finally spread on the mayonnaise and shredded cheddar cheese. For best taste make the night before serving. I typically will make it in the morning and serve that night for dinner. If you have leftovers they are great for the next day! This is one salad that you do not toss! Just serve it like you would lasagna!!!

I'm sure you know this tip but if not here you go! When I'm using a head of iceberg lettuce I wack the brown core on the counter top. By doing this you then pull out the core! Quick and easy!

Fresh and yummy Focaccia bread recipe

Have you ever made Focaccia (foe-CAH-cha)? If no, have you ever eaten it and wished that you could make it? Here is an easy recipe! 
Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread. It is simply baked dough topped with olive oil and a simple herb like rosemary or sage, salted with coarse salt. It is very popular as a snack in Italy and school children will often purchase a slice from a baker on the way to school, to enjoy at break time.

My family loves this bread. We love to dip it in a small mixture of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, cracked pepper and sometimes parmesan cheese. It is great to eat with a pasta dish too! 

First step is to make the Dough
 

2 c. lukewarm water (85-95 F)

1 pkg Active Dry Yeast or 2 tsp.

4 c. Bread flour

2 tsp. Salt

Measure water into a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the water and stir until dissolved. Stir in flour and salt. Stir with wooden spoon for 2-4 min. until dough just pulls away from the bowl and the flour is incorporated. You can do this entire step in your Kitchen Aid as well.
The dough will be fairly wet and tacky (sticky) but is done if it pulls away from sides of the bowl into a loose ball. If it seems too sticky stir in an additional 1/4-1/2 c. flour. I did have to do that. Once the dough is mixed, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume. For this dough that would be about 30-40 min.

Once you make the dough you can wrap it and just put it in the fridge until the next day. It will rise in the refrigerator and acquire a different flavor with a slower rising yeast. Remove the dough, keep covered and let rise 2 hours before time to bake.

BAKING

3-5 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, red onion sliced very thin, kosher or sea salt

Pre Heat oven 500 F and lightly oil (with olive oil) two nonstick 13X18 baking sheets (or whatever you have on hand). Pour dough out on the sheets evenly. You can leave bread to bake as you have put it on the baking sheet or spread it out to about 1-inch thick which is what I did.

Next step is to brush with olive oil and use your fingers to make indentations all over the dough. This is to relieve bubbling on the surface of the bread during baking. You then brush on more olive oil. This is what gives the bread a yummy Italian flavor and keeps it moist. You at sprinkle on rosemary, sage, red onions, onion powder or garlic powder at this time. I then drizzle on more olive oil.After shaping and putting on toppings lower oven to 450 F and put the breads in the oven. Bake 15-20 min until it has a light golden color mixed with a little darker brown around the edges and on top. Cool on a wire rack. 

Cut or break into rectangles and triangles. Yummy!This bread can also be used as sandwich bread or buns. Form into the shape or thickness you want before cooking. It can also be used as a pizza crust. Have fun with it! So easy and yummy. When I have leftover after 2 days I turn the leftovers into bread crumbs!

Click over and check out my Spinach Artichoke Focaccia! It is DELISH!

A Crafter's Dream Giveaway Celebration #ACraftersDream

Want to get crafty? Want to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card to buy supplies on Amazon? How about a Scrapbook/Paper crafting $25 value giveaway? Or would you rather win a $25 value jewelry crafting project giveaway? All three of these are going to be up for grabs starting midnight on Aug. 24 right here on my blog. 
It gets even better! Find out more-Welcome to A Crafter's Dream Group Giveaway, hosted by My Merry Messy Life, Little Becky Homecky, and Earning My Cape. Each blogger is offering her/his own giveaway worth $25 or more and after you enter this giveaway, scroll to the bottom of this post and enter more!
So no scrolling today but come back Aug. 24th to enter my 3 giveaways and then get the list of other bloggers who are giving away their own crafty giveaways! 
Are you in? Oh and if you want to host a crafty giveaway, too, click here for more info: My Merry Messy Life.

Lunch Box and Back to School recipes and ideas

Back-To-School

Ding Dong It's Dinner Time

                                                         Kids in the Kitchen

Time for school! Are you ready? Have your kids started? All of my girls started this past week. Even though they are teens, I still make sure that they have a lunch when they leave the house. I was cracking up last week as they were going through Pinterest to find lunch ideas! Feel free to visit my boards to get new ideas. Back-To-School and Kids in the Kitchen are contributor boards. IF you would like to be added to the board just leave me your Pinterest ID. I just opened them up for contributors so join the fun!

HOW TO JOIN THE LINKY below- (do any of the following)

1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Please! Why? To let others know about the party. It advertises the party so more people see it which in turn more people will see what you pin and give you traffic.

2) Add your Pinterest name to the linky. If you aren't on Pinterest and want an invite, leave a comment and emailaddy.

3) Link up anything you want to be pinned! No limit. We just ask that you make sure your post has a decent picture.

4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.

5) If you want to host the party on your blog, scroll down and take the code. Make your own Pinterest Saturday page. That way you will get more attention to your blog.

Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Scraps of Life and cohost  Crystal and Company and  3 Boys and a Dog. We do follow back.