Hi Friends! Patty and I are so glad you stopped by!
We hope you will join in on the fun and talk about "Back To School" with us...no matter the stage of life you are in! We are answering these questions
Here goes nothing!
1. Where do you typically shop for Back To School? Any Tips?
For supplies, we like Target and my tip is to GO EARLY. I made sure we got there before our Italy trip and it paid off. We were able to get everything on the girls' lists. Now, in late August, everything is picked over and it becomes stressful and expensive when you have to order things on Amazon last minute.
For clothes, I try to find sales. We typically do Old Navy, Target and some Abercrombie for Eva. For Diana, she just keeps building on her wardrobe so we didn't do a school shopping for her this year.
2. How Do You Organize for Back To School?
We populate the family calendar with the new schedules. We clean out the closets and get them organized. We get the supplies loaded in the backpacks and I meal plan. This year I even prepped some meals!
3. Do You Meal Prep? Any Fall Recipes to Share?
Yes Yes Yes- all year actually. I usually bring my A game in the fall though :) Here are a few faves around here
Chicken, Broccoli and Ziti HERE
Taco Bowls HERE
Crockpot Chicken Tortellini Soup HERE
Berry Croissant Breakfast Bake HERE
4. Any Back To School Traditions?
I try to make a favorite meal of my girls for dinner on the first night.
We also do our obligatory photos with the chalkboard. That is my favorite :)
5. How Long Does It Take You To Get Into A New Fall Routine?
Oh it is exhausting isn't it? It typically takes me two weeks to get used to the new schedule and get into a groove
6. Best Lunchbox Packing Tip?
I got nothing. We do this in the mornings and it doesn't take long at all. We either make sandwiches or salads or heat up a pasta dish and put it in a thermos and then add snacks. Boom.
7. Best Tips For Getting Out The Door In The Morning?
Get up plenty early so you are not rushed and stressed. Have time to eat breakfast and wake up and then get ready and get out the door early!
8. Slow Cooker? Instant Pot? Both? Neither?
Slow Cooker for me. Rob occasionally breaks out the Instapot but I never took to it.
Crockpot Chicken Lemon Soup with Spinach and Orzo HERE
9. School Bus? Carpool? Walk To School?
So the kids in our town do not walk. The roads are long and country-like and not safe. Anyway, Eva typically rides the bus and Diana sometimes does BUT we have been taking her more and more as she goes to school an hour early most days for either Student Council Meetings or Choir Rehearsals.
10. Start School Before Or After Labor Day?
We start before here. Growing up, we always started after- wish it was still like that!
Can't wait to read all about YOUR traditions!
That soup looks good! I make a lemon orzo soup but not in the crockpot. I will have to try yours since it looks just the way I like it... hands off for the most part, lol. Love the throw back pics! Have a great Thursday!
ReplyDeleteAll your recipes look yummy! I kind of can't wait for soup/ crock pot season because I just love having dinner done before dinner time. That way everyone can eat whenever they need to and I can already tell it's going to be a weird fall with all 3 boys having lots of things on their schedule (I know that's how every other family always is but this is new for us! LOL).
ReplyDeleteI always love the recites you post. Thanks for being the Best blogging partner ever!
ReplyDeletePatty
Holly, I enjoyed reading this post. Good luck with your girls going back to school. I hope you have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat soup looks delish!! And I love that you decorate and make a big celebration out of the first day!
ReplyDeleteYou were not kidding - our answers are so similar! I guess brilliant minds think alike. Ha! You can't beat front porch pictures on the first day of school! Isn't it funny how we are all organized and meal planned and ready to crush it but by the spring the wheels are falling off?? Every single year. Have a great school year friend!!
ReplyDeleteI get that starting after Labour Day seems ideal but honestly, I think my kids were ready for back to school last week and we still have another few days to wait. I'd rather they start a little earlier and be out earlier in June (I think). My goal this weekend is to figure out some easy suppers to make adjusting to our fall schedule a little easier. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteI love your back to school dinner decorations...so fun. Happy Everything plate is perfect. We start off so organized and it goes downhill from there. lol
ReplyDelete