Tips For Getting Your Kids to School Ontime

With daylight savings behind us, my family has been feeling the pain when it comes to waking up in the morning. Needless to say, we have had a few groggy, rushed mornings.

Any parent knows that school mornings are usually filled with constant rushing and the occasional meltdown (by parent or child). Even on the smoothest mornings there is the inevitable road block that derails the entire rest of the morning.

There is hope!! I promise you. Here are some things you can do the night before to prepare you for the morning ahead.

Pack Lunches and Snacks

Doing this ahead of time also lets you plan what type of lunch your child will eat the next day. No more rushed, unplanned lunches. You can even use this as a time to experiment with different tastes and texture to see what your little one likes.

simplebites.net

Pick Out Clothes

No more wrinkled clothes or mix and matched socks for your little one (unless, of course, that was the plan). Picking out clothes the night before takes away the wardrobe anxiety and stress for your early mornings. 

Remember to be mindful of what classes your child has the next day and prepare accordingly.

Check to see what classes your child has the following day

And speaking of preparing for special classes, it helps to know their schedule so that you can plan accordingly. For example, is tomorrow a gym day? It would be helpful to take all jewelry off the night before.

Write out any notes to teachers

A rushed note in the morning could mean that you left out important information that you want to relay to your child's teacher.

Set Out Backpacks by the Door

This doesn't need much of an explanation. We as parents know the importance of having your stuff ready and waiting at the door. 

themombot.com

 Set Table for Breakfast the Night Before

apartmenttherapy.com

No need for anything too elaborate.Use the time that you would spend on setting the table towards something else in the morning.

With these tips, your mornings are sure to go much smoother! What are your morning time saving tips? Comment below.

My Favorite Items -November

Happy November! I thought it would be nice to start a "My Favorite Items" blog post. To let you all know what me and my family are currently loving. (I love to start a new tradition)

Here are my November Favorite Items.

Honest Kids Super Fruit Punch

Ava, 7, and Ayden, 6, are big on drinking water. But when it comes to juice they love Honest Kids. I've been buying this for them for the last 3-4 years.  I love it because its organic and low on sugar. So it's a win-win for us.

O Ball Flexi Loops Teething Toy

Little Mason loves, loves, loves this toy! Its perfect for his little hands when it comes to gripping. Now that he is smack in the middle of teething, this toy has been his best friend.

Its also easy to clean, I usually hand wash it with warm soapy water. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher also, top rack of course.

Sassy Build and Discover Block Set

The vibrant colors and textures keeps Mason intrigued. He also gets to work in his fine motor skills by gripping the blocks in his hands. 

Sassy Build and Discover Block Set, Babies R Us

Another great thing about these blocks - they wipe down easily. Which is why I opted for these rather than the traditional wood blocks.

Olly The Essential Postnatal Multi-Vitamin

I wish I knew about this brand while I was pregnant. These vitamins taste great and don't leave me with an upset stomach. Even better, the citrus flavor it perfect in the mornings!

Olly The Essential Postnatal Multi, Target, $14

The Honest Company Body Wash and Body Lotion

This made my favorites list because I love that this soap is not harsh on Mason's delicate skin and there are no harsh chemicals added to it. Another plus for me is the sweet, non overbearing scent.

Honest Baby 2 - in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash, Honest Baby Face and Body Lotion, Target, $10 each

Covered Goods Multi-Use Nursing Covers

I'm proud to say that I've been exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months and still going strong! One thing that has helped tremendously was my Covered Goods Nursing Cover. I use the cover while were out and about and its time to nurse Mason.

Covered Goods Multi-Use Nursing Cover, www.coveredgoods.com, $35

The material is super soft and breathable. The cover can also be used as a carseat cover for infant car seats as well as a scarf for mama!

Classic Grey & Ivory Stripe Covered Goods muli-use nursing cover

www.coveredgoods.com

JJ Cole Pacifier Pod

This little pacifier holder it large enough to hold two of Mason's pacifiers. This comes in handy now that he has taken to throwing objects. 

JJ Cole Pacifier Pod, $8, Amazon.com

You can snap the strap onto the inside of the diaper bag so its easy to locate. Its a lifesaver being able to carry around two back-up pacifiers in a clean easy to locate holder. 

So these are my November favorite items for the kids. What are some of your can't live without items? Comment below.

Target Dollar Spot Haul October 2015

Hello again! On another (fairly normal) trip to Target, I passed by the dollar spot section to "see" what I could find. I was "just looking" and stumbled upon some really cool finds.

I thought to myself, I'm overdue for another Dollar Spot Haul. So...in the name of business purposes (wink wink) I thought I'd share my fabulous finds with you loveys. Here are my completely random, absolutely adorable and crazy cheap finds!!

Seriously Adorable Stationary

You can't go wrong with stationary this cute. Plus, now I have an excuse to send notes to friends through snail mail. 

"Hello" Notecards, $1

"Hello" and "Thank You" Notecards, $1

"To Do" Notepad, $1

Oh, So Sweet Office Supplies

Add some sugar sweetness to your office with these cute finds.

Pack of 2 Pens, $2

3 Pack of Folders, $1

Perfect for the Holidays

These seasonal items are perfect for the upcoming entertaining/holiday season. 

Seasonal Candles, $3 each

Pack of 2 Ramekins, $3 each

 ...And Everything Else

While I don't have a specific use for these last items, I'm sure I will find one for them soon.

Chalkboard Tags, $4

These ceramic vases would work well as a pen holder in the home office.

Ceramic Decor Vases, $3 each

Lastly, I would like to give a special thanks to my "photography assistant". Its hard to find good help out there ;-)

The best "photography assistant" ever!

 I love the items that I picked up at the Target Dollar Spot. I definitely held back on purchasing a lot more. What are some of your favorite dollar spot finds? Let me know! Comment below.