Showing posts with label SCHOOL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SCHOOL. Show all posts
Aug 14, 2015
As the days start getting shorter and the air picks up a bit
of a chill, it’s clear that summer is beginning to end – and with the change in
seasons comes the start of the school year. For the past few weeks we’ve been
sharing lots of tips and advice to help make this transition easier on you and
your family. We’ve talked dorm decor for college freshmen and healthy lunches everyone will love, but now it’s on to the real back to school challenge: getting
organized.
Getting your home set up to tackle the busyness that comes
with the start of the school year, (we’re talking homework, extracurricular
activities, PTA meetings, science fairs, etc. on top of all your year-round
bills and chores), can be difficult. Don’t start feeling overwhelmed just yet;
we’ve got a great list of tools to help you keep track of the influx of forms,
dates, bills, and more. These resources will not only help you to manage your
family’s day-to-day, they’re also super cute, and you can make them yourself!
Read on to see some of the best DIY projects to help get you and your family
ready for the school year.
Creative Calendar
– Didn’t know dry erase paint existed? Boy, you’re in for a treat! This awesome
product has lots of applications, one of which is a large calendar to help keep
you and yours organized. It’s totally customizable, environmentally friendly,
and would look great in your kitchen or office!
Memorable Memo Board
– Tools to help your family stay organized don’t have to be dull or ugly; or
didn’t you get the memo? Keep track of notes and messages in style with these
super cute memo boards! Some cookie sheets and a little spray paint can go a
long way!
Image via Brit + Co
Study Kit – We
are loving this study kit; it’s like first aid for homework. Your little one
can bring the box to the table or a friend’s house, get their work done, and
then pack it up and put it away. They’re less likely to lose something or leave
their supplies lying around. Keep them and your space organized.
Image via Things That Are Pretty
Big & Beautiful –
This command center is pretty epic. Not only does it have multiple clocks (each
representing a different time zone), a calendar, pens, sticky notes, and
schedules, each family member also has their own folder. Never lose a
permission slip or birthday party invitation again!
Image via Achieving Creative Order
Magnificent Magnetic Board
– Spruce up your or your child’s workspace with this cute magnetic board. You can pin inspirational
images, important reminders, sweet shots, or whatever you’d like. It’s a great
tool to keep you organized, and it can add to your decor.
Image via Sugar and Cloth
Terrific Tins –
Make your own magnetic tins to put on your new magnetic board! These beauties
are a snap to make and can hold lots of office supplies, like tacks,
paperclips, or candy (we won’t judge).
Image via Homemade By Carmona
Darling Desk Organizer
– Here’s another ultra cute tool to help keep your office or desk organized.
Reclaim some old cans to create this sweet piece.
Image via Petit Elefant
Slouchy Storage Splendor – Organize work, play, and everything in your home with these
incredibly adorable slouchy storage bins. Use old fabric you’ve saved to create
custom totes that totally go with your space. Organization and style no longer
have to be mutually exclusive.
Image via Brit + Co
We hope these fun and funky DIYs help you and your family
get, and stay, organized. Share your favorite organization tactics with us on
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook – we’re always looking for new ways to keep
our projects and schedules on track.
Speaking of organized – make sure you get your Marketplace
Event Home Show tickets early! Right now you can get 2-for-1 on Facebook. Treat
a friend or family member to the show. We can’t wait to see you there!
Aug 11, 2015
There’s only a bit of August left, which means the first day
of school is right around the corner. Can’t believe it’s happening so soon?
Don’t worry, our back to school series is chalk full of tips and tricks to help
you and your little ones hit the playground in style. We’ve already talked dorm room decor, since most post secondary frosh or orientation programs start the
week before classes. Now it’s time for another integral part of back to school
prep: lunch!
Sending your kids out the door with healthy and nutritious
goodies that will keep them energized and learning all day is a task that
everyone recognizes as important. But that doesn’t mean it warrants hours in
the kitchen. Check out our list of wholesome,
simple, delicious lunches. They require minimal effort to make and are just
what your child needs to fuel their day.
Bits & Bites –
There’s so much for you and your little one to enjoy when it comes to this lunch.
Protein, grains, fruits, and veggies come together to create a yummy meal that
can be whipped up in minutes.
Hearty Humus – This
is another wholesome smorgasbord! Humus
is a delicious source of protein that goes well with a variety of veggies and
crackers, and the fruit will serve as a sweet dessert. Yum!
Image via The Huffington Post
Sneaky Egg Salad –
Add some egg-stra goodness into your egg salad with avocado! Not only will
everyone’s favorite vegetable turn your sandwich green, (which we can all agree
is awesome), avocados are a great source of antioxidants, protein, nutrients,
and fiber.
Image via Two Peas & Their Pod
BLT Roll – Why
toast bread when you can roll? We love the east meets west of these BLT spring
rolls and we’re sure your little ones will too. We already know BLTs are
delicious, but subbing bread for rice paper and rolling is a genius idea. They’re
easier to prepare ahead of time, store, and eat. That’s a win, win, win folks.
Image via White on Rice Couple
Supreme Salami Sandwich
– Sandwiches are delicious. Soggy sandwiches are far from it! Making your
own garlicy dill cream cheese and using it to top this salami sandwich is
awesome. Not only is it totally tasty, this is one spread that will not get
soggy over time. We are loving this recipe and we’re sure your little ones will
too.
Image via Natasha's Kitchen
Personal Tortilla Pizza
– Who doesn’t like pizza? Pack this up for lunch and your little ones
definitely won’t be trading it away! You can top with prosciutto and arugula
like they’ve suggested, or try more kid-friendly options (like pepperoni and
green peppers).
Image via The Clever Carrot
Skip The Swiss – Ham
and Swiss? Try ham and avocado! That’s right, here’s another opportunity to
load your little ones up with the ultimate goodness of avocados.
Image via Country Living
We hope these easy recipes help you as your little ones get
back to school. Does your family have a simple lunchtime staple? Share it with
@HomeShows on Twitter and Instagram – we’re always looking for new recipes!
Aug 7, 2015
It might feel as though summer will never end, but it’ll be
time to head back to school before you know it. To help you and your brood with
this potentially difficult transition, we’ll be sharing our best tips for
hitting the schoolyard in style. First up: dormitory decor.
Post secondary digs are a big deal. Moving from high school
to university or college is a huge change, with some seriously new waters to
navigate – more challenging academic requirements, social responsibilities, and
independence – so making your new space as comfortable and relaxing as possible
should be a priority.
Before you start shopping, it’s important to first consider
the look you’d like to try out in your room. It’s easy to get overwhelmed
during this time; there’s bound to be a lot on your mind as you start preparing
for school, so make sure you have a good understanding of what you want before
you hit the stores. And not just, we need to get pillows and a duvet, but what
style you’d like. You’ll be more pleased with your purchases and it will be a
less stressful experience overall.
Unless you are exceptionally
lucky your room will be cramped, dated, and drab. Expect to see some
combination of cinder blocks, single beds, and small windows. Since you’ll be a
little limited when it comes to what you can do with your room, (not many
residences will let you drill holes in your walls or paint), focus your decor
ideas on the two main areas of your space: your bed and desk. These are the two
blank canvases that will help to shape the look of your room. They’re easily
customized and will have a big impact on the rest of your space.
To help give you some ideas you can take back to your room
we’ve found some beautiful dorms you can try and emulate. We hope these cute
spaces inspire you as much as they have us.
BED
Playfully Preppy –
There are a few reasons why we love this style. The color combination is
excellent. It’s cute and fun without being overpowering. Remember, you’ll most
likely have a roommate who’ll be bringing their own sheets and decor ideas.
Deciding on a versatile palette is a good idea; you don’t want
your sides of the room to clash. The headboard is fantastic. It really softens
the space and makes it feel more homey. The prints are fabulous. They help hide
the cinder blocks and go well with the bedding. Plus, who doesn’t love an oar?!
It’s original and ad-oar-able, a win win.
Image via Prep Avenue
Cute & Cohesive
– While it’s unlikely you’ll have a room like this (sorry!) you can take some cues from what they’ve done here. Subtle
hues of pink, heightened by the bright pink pillows, create a sweet, cohesive
vibe throughout the entire side of the room. Also, having lots of pillows is a
great idea. Little throws make everything more comfortable, and having several
large pillows means you’ll have spares for when friends come to visit!
Image via Cosmopolitan UK
DESK
Gorgeous Gold –
Your desk won’t be large, but you’ll have room for a computer and a few
accessories. We love the use of gold here, it adds a fun touch of class (and
goes with almost anything!). It’s also a really nice idea to have a cute plant
or some fresh cut flowers on your desk. They’ll help brighten up your room.
Image via M Pression
Aren't interested in buying flowers regularly or have the green thumb needed for most house plants? Try succulents!
Aren't interested in buying flowers regularly or have the green thumb needed for most house plants? Try succulents!
Motivational Mantras & Sweet Snaps - Again, you won't have a lot of space for anything other than a computer on your desk. But you aren't limited to just using your desk when it comes to decorating. We love the motivational posters and pictures that surround
this desk. These will help keep you on track as you’re working and add a little
more flare to your room.
Image via A Merry Mishap
We hope these dream dorms help as you start your back to
school shopping. Check back with us for more back to school tips – we’ll be
sharing several as August comes to an end.
The start of fall means the start of school and home show
season (guess which one we’re more excited about!). To help celebrate the
beginning of this fabulous time of year we’re offering 2-for-1 tickets to the
Marketplace Events Home Show of your choice! Visit us on Facebook to learn moreand get your discounted tickets.
Aug 21, 2013
Hey parents, it's that special time of year again, the kids are heading back to school! But with all the excitement of a new school year comes the stress of preparing your little ones for another successful year. Of course, the'll need the usual supplies, but what could make this transition a touch simpler on you? Well...check out our quick list below!
1. The Organization Board
If you don't have one already, get one! Whether it's a cork board, white board, chalk, etc., this organized command center will help out the whole family. Dinner plans, chore lists, important phone numbers, put 'em all there and you'll be forever grateful.
2. The Homework Station
Whether it's in their rooms, at the dining room table, or in your home office, the kids need a designated homework station. This space will become part of their routine, and will include all homework essentials (laptop, pencils, dictionary, etc.). If you don't have one already, talk to the kids about where they would like to do their work, this way they can be a part of putting their workspace together.
3. The Snacks
Of course, we don't expect you to spend hours in the kitchen preparing snacks for school, but it's always nice to explore a few new recipes. Take some time and dig through fun cooking websites like www.snapguide.com or www.foodgawker.com. This little web crawl could be a fun activity to do with the whole family. Get everyone excited about cooking and eating healthy!
Here's one of our favorite recipes...
4. The Kids' Closets
Before you do your back to school shopping STOP and go through the closets with your kids, do a little organizing and purging. You'll be sure to find some long lost treasures!
5. The Labeling
This task is very simple. Before your kids step foot in the school, LABEL EVERYTHING! Label with a permanent marker, stickers, tape, or iron on labels...whatever medium works best for the item.
6. The 'Goodbye Summer' Party
After you've completed all of the above, have a little fun. Throw a 'Goodbye Summer' party in your yard. This doesn't have to be too fussy, a little salad bar, some chips and salsa, and maybe some homemade popsicles! Invite friends and family, play some music, and have a hula hoop contest. While it may not seem like much, the kids will truly appreciate this final summer jam.
A Parent's Back-to-School Checklist
If you don't have one already, get one! Whether it's a cork board, white board, chalk, etc., this organized command center will help out the whole family. Dinner plans, chore lists, important phone numbers, put 'em all there and you'll be forever grateful.
 |
| Image via House & Home |
Whether it's in their rooms, at the dining room table, or in your home office, the kids need a designated homework station. This space will become part of their routine, and will include all homework essentials (laptop, pencils, dictionary, etc.). If you don't have one already, talk to the kids about where they would like to do their work, this way they can be a part of putting their workspace together.
3. The Snacks
Of course, we don't expect you to spend hours in the kitchen preparing snacks for school, but it's always nice to explore a few new recipes. Take some time and dig through fun cooking websites like www.snapguide.com or www.foodgawker.com. This little web crawl could be a fun activity to do with the whole family. Get everyone excited about cooking and eating healthy!
Here's one of our favorite recipes...
4. The Kids' Closets
Before you do your back to school shopping STOP and go through the closets with your kids, do a little organizing and purging. You'll be sure to find some long lost treasures!
 |
| Image via Lonny |
This task is very simple. Before your kids step foot in the school, LABEL EVERYTHING! Label with a permanent marker, stickers, tape, or iron on labels...whatever medium works best for the item.
 |
| Image & Labels via Bird's Party |
After you've completed all of the above, have a little fun. Throw a 'Goodbye Summer' party in your yard. This doesn't have to be too fussy, a little salad bar, some chips and salsa, and maybe some homemade popsicles! Invite friends and family, play some music, and have a hula hoop contest. While it may not seem like much, the kids will truly appreciate this final summer jam.
 |
| Image via House to Home |
We hope you found our little list helpful...
Wishing you all a great school year!
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