Organization Tip for Back to School - School Binders

The first day of school is quickly approaching . . . are you ready? To help get you ready,  I am sharing one of my all-time BEST organization tips (I've been using it for 9 years!). Creating a School Year Binder for each child. Keeping school papers organized should not be a difficult or time-consuming task! This is life-changing - are you ready??

While you're out buying school supplies, get a binder to represent each of your kids, for yourself. You may also want to pick up dividers or Post-it Tabs to separate the sections. Each member of our family has long been assigned a calendar color. This calendar color translates into other areas of household and schedule organization, such as the School Year Binder colors.

5 Ways To Make Life Easier Every Day

Life is hard. I am a firm believer that there is absolutely no reason to make it any more difficult than it needs to be. In this post for the Working Mom Hustle series, I'm going to share my top 5 strategies for making my own life easier. All the plans and processes and strategies in the world won't help you, if you aren't using them. The true key to efficiency is finding what works for YOU.

What To Do With School Papers

If your kids have already started school, then you probably have a stack of papers cluttering up your desk or counter already. If they haven't started yet, be prepared. It never ceases to amaze me, even after all this time, just how much paper comes home from school, especially in those first few days.

What's a parent to DO with all that paper? Some of it you KNOW you'll need again, and some of it you MAY need to look at again. How do you organize it all?

I face all that paper with a 2-prong attack:

1. Individual Kid School Binders
2. School of Memories File System

I've been using these two systems since Ryan was in kindergarten, and they are still working wonderfully. Check out this video to see how to set up your own system, and what I include in mine.



catch you soon -

Top Travel Bloggers to Follow on Instagram

This post is a guest post by Katja Presnal, the author of "Instagram as your Guide to the World". I am thrilled to have her share her insights with my scraps readers.

In the past year, I have traveled in 15 different countries using different methods of Instagram search to discover new places to visit. The past few months, I did more research and wrote a book about the topic. Using Instagram as a travel guide changed the way I plan my travels, and I hope it can do the same for you.

Want to hear my biggest secret? It's not about Instagram, or fancy tools, it's about the people. It's all about finding people who like to travel like you, and connecting with them on a more personal level. It is absolutely impossible to create a "top travel experts on Instagram" list that would satisfy every kind of traveler, that's why I highly recommend doing your own research, and starting with some of my favorites listed below.

Therichlifeonabudget - Adrienne Shubin of The Rich Life (on a budget) lives in Sonoma Valley, the heart of California's wine country. This year, Adrienne will be exploring many of the best California wineries, hotels and restaurants. She can answer any questions you may have about wine travel to Sonoma.

LuxuryTravelMom - Kim-Marie Evans of LuxuryTravelMom.com has traveled the world with her four small children to places as glamorous as the south of France and as challenging as Rwanda. This year, Kim-Marie will be returning to Haiti several times as she adopted a school in the village of St. Marc near the Artibonite river together with her church mission committee. Expect to also see a lot of photos from her new home in South Carolina and exploring the southeastern seaboard.

HinesSightBlog - Leigh Powell Hines, of the Hines Sight Blog lives in Raliegh, North Carolina, and she shares the best on North Carolina in her Instagram feed. This year you will see her traveling throughout North Carolina from the mountains to the coast, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and maybe even Florida.

DisneyFoodBlog - AJ Wolfe has been visiting Disney parks all her life and today she runs a populat blog called the Disney Food Blog. Her Instagram account is a treat for Disney Parks fans, especially for those who like culinary travel.

Chamorro_chica - Katy Peterson is an American expat living in Singapore. Before moving to Singapore, she lived in Sydney, Australia with her Australian husband. You can read about Katy's travels on her travel and lifestyle blog, ChamorroChica.

Bushbirdie - Frankie Thompson, aka Bird, is a freelance writer and blogger currently enjoying a life of travel as a digital nomad. From Montreal to Marrakech, Lapland to London, Sydney to Singapore, Frankie is a self-proclaimed Flashpacker who uses Instagram to share the little things that make our many corners of the globe beautiful while also capturing daily memories.

AndiPerullo - Andi Perullo de Ledesma is a Chinese Medicine Doctor/Travel Photojournalist who is exploring life and the world one adventure at a time. She is the creator of My Beautiful Adventures website. Andi has a decade of travel experience all over the world and provides constant travel inspiration, advice and information. I especially love how Andi shares her souvenirs and travel treasures with #TravelTreasures hashtag and how traveling is part of her everyday life even when home!

This is just a very short start for how to use Instagram as your travel guide, I hope you get my book "Instagram as Your Guide to the World - How, What and Who to Search and Follow on Instagram to Help You Travel the World", which is now available for the introductory price of $4.99 on Amazon.com. And above all - I hope you join me at Instagram and share YOUR travels, I'm Skimbaco at Instagram.

Guest post by Katja Presnal. Katja Presnal is the owner of the SkimbacoLifestyle.com online magazine with a mission to inspire you to live life to the fullest. She has partnered with TV networks in the past, been featured in the New Your Times, Forbes, Glamour, Woman's Day and other national and international media and won Addy Awards for her work as a social media strategist. Her first ebook "Instagram as your Guide to the World - How, What and Who to Search and Follow on Instagram to Help You Travel the World" was published in May 2013. Currently she holds a temporary residence in Sweden with her husband and three children.

A very big thank you to Katja, I can't wait to get her book, check out all these great new blogs and update my Instagram following list. Do you use Instagram for traveling? You can follow me there as well.

catch you soon -

Back to Basics | What I Wore - #ootd

I can't help myself. When all the Back to School ads start coming, I find myself wanting to go back to school shopping. . .for myself! I have very fond memories of going clothes shopping for new fall fashions with my mom. We'd head out early and hit the mall, making a day of it, with a stop for a "ladies lunch" complete with iced tea. To this day I love to shop with my mom - she has a great eye for quality and style.

It's still pretty warm, but there's been a chill in the air that makes my toes tingle with the anticipation of a great pair of boots. But for now, my feet are firmly still in sandals but I am starting to transition, grabbing cardis to take with me and choosing jeans more than shorts.

The kids are off for two weeks before school starts, so there's lots of lazy days, enjoying the last bits of summer. Dress is casual and comfortable for all us, and for me that means basics like this white t-shirt and jean combination.

Jeans - Lee Jeans

T-Shirt - Lands End

Sandals - Born (old and well-loved)

Necklace - Stella and Dot

Earrings - Kate Spade

Bracelets - AnnikaLane, Alex and Ani, Stella and Dot and Tiffany

 Do you have a favorite white t-shirt? They can be so hard to find - too thin, too short, too boxy . . .this one, from Lands End is my current favorite, with just a bit of stretch. The wedge sandals and statement necklace, give it a little kick of style.

What are you wearing right now? Is the air getting cooler where you live?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On

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Snow Days . . .An Evolution in Parenting

The promise of a snow day. . .Will it? Won't it? How much? As a kid, I can remember how exciting it was to have school closed for snow. Spending the day with my mom (my dad always had to work), getting bundled up into snow clothes and just playing all day long. I am sure if I asked my former-teacher mother about those snow days, she would have different memories.

With my own kids there was a time, when they were babies and I worked for large companies outside of the home, that I would be panicked by a snow day. What if day care was closed? How was I going to get to work? Let's be honest, in the United States, we talk a good game about family values, bu very few companies (if any) truly support them. It was enough t o cause a sleepless night, a frantic white-knuckle drive and sometimes, a faked sick-day. A mother has to do what she has to do.

Then there was the looming day ahead . . . a day full of trying to entertain a toddler or pre-schooler. It's not easy, you will never hear me say that. In hindsight, I probably didn't take as much joy in those days as I should have. They were precious in my busy office-job life. 

These days, I work from home, so my commute is very short. I don't have to shovel out. If the kids are off from school, I can let them sleep in and plan a day of french toast (provided I went to the store for milk, bread and eggs), video games, puzzles and jaunts into the snow. Because my kids are older, there isn't even the hassle of helping them into and out of snow clothes - only the occasional snow pant tucking, or glove pulling.

Maybe it has more to do with me and my attitude . . .with age comes wisdom, right? And as we work at this parenting thing through the years, I like to think we get better at it. We learn to not sweat the small stuff - like a snow day - but save it for the big stuff, like learning to drive and first dates.

So today, I'm pouring another cup of coffee, comfy in my pajamas and re-evaluating my to-do list. I am sure there are several things that are really not mandatory for today and I can put off until tomorrow, when everyone is back at school, and order returns to my routine. For today, it's a snow day, and I many need to get out and play.

catch you soon -

Canon Is A Great Family Gift From Best Buy {#HintingSeason}

Remember a few weeks ago, I shared I was teaming up with Best Buy to share some great Family Gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season? Well, today, I'm back to share another great Family Gift Idea!

How about a fancy, yet easy-to-use Canon EOS Rebel T5i? 

It's confession time . . .big cameras intimidate me. I know I should be using one for my blog, but I'm so comfortable with my current Cannon SX170 IS! But I'm toying with dragging John's DSLR out of the closet for the new year. How fun would it be to have this amazing piece of equipment under the tree?!

I'm pretty sure we have purchased ALL of our cameras from Best Buy over the years, and believe it or not, they are all Canons. (When something works, I say stick with it!) Best Buy is the ultimate destination for the latest cameras to capture your holiday memories. I love that ALL the choices are in one convienent location, and you can try them all out right in the store!

The Canon EOS Rebel T5i is one of the best-selling DSLRs. This camera makes advanced photography easy and fun, and gives you exceptional image quality, along with a host of features to enhance your creative expression. Sounds like the perfect family gift for the family of a blogger, doesn't it?

Some of the cool features of the Canon EOS Rebel T5i are:

• Hollywood caliber full HD video capture capability
• Continuous autofocus while taking HD video
• An 18.0-megapixel CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 5 image processor to ensure vivid, crystal-clear images
• A 3" vari-angle touch screen to simplify navigation

Sounds perfect, doesn't it? Just think about all the school plays, concerts and programs you can capture? the possibilities are endless!

FYI - You can save $150 on the Canon EOS Rebel T5i at Best Buy from 12/7 through 12/20 (so act fast!). Visit Best Buy to learn more.

What memories would you capture with a new Canon Camera from Best Buy?

catch you soon -
This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card for my time spent preparing this post, however, as always all opinions are my very own.

49 Things I Am Grateful For on My 49th Birthday

Birthdays roll around once a year. Like it or not, every 365 days we add another number to our age. For years, when we are kids, we can't wait to get older. As we move into early adulthood, that eagerness begins to wane. Sometime around 30 the groans begin. Before you know it, you're 40, and then 40something . . .

I've always considered age nothing but a number, it truly is about how you feel. With 50 as my next approaching number in a short 365 days, I'd be lying if I told you I haven't considered what getting "older" means to me and how it makes me feel. Want to know a secret? I feel pretty good about heading into the second half of my life.

Do You Love Gadgets? What You Need to Know About Drones

I am surrounded by gadget lovers around here. We spend hours fooling around in our local Best Buy with all the latest technology. In fact, my kids had a 3-D printer on their Christmas list last year (Santa did NOT deliver). The latest and greatest topic of our gadget discussions is Drones.

I have mixed feelings about Drone technology, it's simply fascinating to me, that a normal person can posses one of these and fly it around! So when Best Buy offered me a gift card in exchange for sharing some information with you, I agreed!

What is a Drone anyway? Well, a Drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (a UAV). Essentially, a Drone is a flying robot. . .for real, just like The Jetsons! How cool would it be to able to use one to drop off your kid's forgotten lunch at school? Ok, we may not be at that point quite yet, but the technology and capabilities are pretty cool.

Let's say you were in the market for a Drone of your own . . .where can a person get a Drone for themselves? Best Buy is the destination for drones, including the new Solo™ by 3DR. Solo, the Smart Drone, arrived in over 400 Best Buy stores on June 8th. It’s the first-ever drone powered by two integrated Linux computers, making capturing the perfect shot easy for anyone. Solo can define its own flight, freeing users to focus on getting the shot. This intelligent drone is also the first to support full control of GoPro® cameras and deliver live HD video either wirelessly to your mobile device or through the controller’s HDMI port for live broadcasts.

I got a glimpse of a Drone in use last summer, during our local neighborhood fireworks. I had no idea, until John mentioned it and pointed it out - hovering in the distance. He is truly a gadget lover and early tech adopter. The Solo is a smart drone that's designed for easy flying (perfect for beginners), and built to capture stunning video and photography with your GoPro camera. With features like push-button flight, Solo makes it simple for anyone to get off the ground quickly. And with computer-assisted Smart Shots and the GoPro frame, you'll be able to capture professional-style aerial photos and video in Full HD quality.

The technology available still fascinates and amazes me, I grew up in the 110 film era.  We certainly have come a long way in capturing our lives and memories. How can this technology be used for the typical family? Getting the best view of athletic skills and techniques, taking your family vacation even further or even letting you get a birds' eye view for future home improvement and landscape design.

The 3D Robotics Solo Drone retails for $999 at your local Best Buy. But right now, Best Buy is offering a limited time deal on the Solo. Get a FREE Solo Smart Battery (Reg. Price: $149.99) when you purchase the 3DR Solo Drone (Sku: 5354101). Valid 6/7-7/11 at Best Buy. (Disclaimer: Offer valid with purchase of the 3DR Solo Drone SKU: 5351035)

What would you do with a Drone of your own?

catch you soon - 
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card, however all opinions are my very own.

Magic at the Jersey Shore

Disclosure: Caesars Entertainment is a generous sponsor of the #JerseyLove Social Media For Social Good Trip.

If you ask me, I have always been a beach person. . .however, my mom will tell you that when I was little, she had to bring a giant sheet and a whisk brush to keep the sand off me.

I can recall trips with my grandparents to the boardwalk to ride the rides when I was little, family outings to the beach and a family vacation to Fortesque so my dad could fish and my brother and I could play on the beach.

The beach has always been a part of my life - Senior Skip day in high school and countless weekends in Ocean City and Sea Isle when I was a young adult. And several years ago, I shared that love with my kids. We went down for the day in mid-September (my favorite time to go) and spent the morning on the beach then the late afternoon and evening on the boardwalk. They were hooked.

There is some magic to the Jersey Shore - the boardwalks, ice cream, salt water taffy, the Ferris Wheel, sea gulls, horseshoe crabs, sandcastles and seashells.

The following year, I gave Ryan a choice for his birthday - a party or long weekend at the beach. He chose the beach. We found a great beachfront hotel and made it an overnight. The next year and ever since, we head down on a Friday morning, and stay two nights. My parents come down and stay as well. It's a great time full of fun and family memories.

This weekend I am heading to the Jersey Shore with a different group and for a different purpose.
I am incredibly proud and honored to be a part of the first Social Media for Social Good Retreat, a group of 40 women from across the country traveling to New Jersey to raise awareness for and promote the re-opening of the Jersey Shore for the 2013 season. The four-day #JerseyLove Retreat is hosted by Ceasar's Entertainment and D6 Sports, and is designed to encourage consumers to visit the Jersey Shore post Superstorm Sandy.

In case you haven't heard - the shore is back, open and ready for summer!

catch you soon -

holiday card collage. . .

since 2005, and once again inspired by Ali Edwards. . .I have been taking a small square from each Holiday card we receive.  I use each of those squares to make a mosaic - a 12x12 layout commemorating our friends and family.

for years before I discovered this idea - I would hold onto cards, unable to throw away a picture of my high school friend's children. . .this way, I get to keep them, but they don't take up space.  They are preserved with the rest of our memories.

what do you do with your holiday cards?

you can see more here and here.

catch you soon -

kindergarten registration. . .

. . .yes, today we went and got ryan registered for kindergarten.

kindergarten

he's almost a grown up.

i cannot believe how overcome with memories i was this morning.

the school is so great, it reminds me of my old elementary school - the cafeteria, the classroom (except for the four shiny apple computers sitting there), the smell, the water fountains.

ryan seemed really excited - me, the jury is still out.

catch you soon -

time goes on. . .

. . .these were my guys - back in 2002, when Ryan graduated from the baby-room at Childcare. Tomorrow he starts his last year, in the Pre-K Room.

a friend asked "where does the time go?". . .that question always makes me think of my grandparents, but it seems true these days. . .it's already September. . .I didn't get done most of the things I was going to do this summer. . .

i'm 37, graduated high school in 1986, college in 1990, got married in 1995, had my son in 2000. . .all that time I've been gathering memories and building a full life, filled with wonderful family and friends. I watch the tradegy unfold in the Gulf states, and I thank my lucky stars for all that I have. . .

as soon as my hubby gets home, i need to give him a big smooch. . .i'm off to tiptoe into Ryan's room right now and give him one. . .

catch you soon -