Just Heather
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Back to School = Back on Track
Aug 25, 2009 | Filed Under: Calendar Girl, Living Montessori
And then there was one (who still requires a backpack and insists on being in the picture)

And then there was one (who still requires a backpack and insists on being in the picture)

I don’t make traditional New Year’s resolutions because they just aren’t fun. Plus, Back to School time is the real reset in our household. Brand new backpacks, sparkling lunchboxes, newly sharpened pencils and clean, white notebooks—it all just feels so fresh to me. I use an academic year calendar so I can start August with clean, white pages.

It won’t last long—Brenia’s first Brownie meeting was earlier this afternoon. Stacia’s Girl Scout meetings begin next week and my dance class starts the week after that. The calendar hasn’t even arrived yet (of course, it would help if I ordered it!) and already we’re filling it up. School events, Scout meetings, dance class and whatever else the girls will decide to do this season are quickly filling our days.

It’s time to get back on track after slacking off all summer. The first thing I need to do is get back to planning a menu. Chaos has reined for the last several months. I do better with a menu plan and I’m making an official School Year’s Eve Resolution to restart the process. Step 1: Go grocery shopping! Yeah, I’ve been slacking off a lot there too. On the upside, our expenses have been greatly reduced but it will be nice to start having some food around here.

While the girls are at school tomorrow, Lorelai and I are setting out for a series of errands, with a trip to the grocery store at the top of our list. I think I’m going to take a cue from a few of the great gals in the new Inexpensively network and jump on board with Menu Plan Monday. That should provide both a productive use of my blog and proper motivation. Besides, everyone else is doing it!

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1
Slacker Summer
Aug 07, 2009 | Filed Under: Family Fun, Growing Kids

When the girls created their summer fun list, I knew they were overly ambitious. I was clear that we wouldn’t get to some of it, but I had high hopes that they would have a fun summer anyway. Over the last 2 months, I launched my business nationwide, took a (somewhat) spur of the moment business trip to Chicago and was diagnosed with diverticulitis (don’t look it up—it’s gross). Because I am lazy very busy, we have pretty much neglected the summer fun list in favor of staying home where I can work as well as recuperate. On an up note, my 3-year-old is learning many wizard spells courtesy of our Disney Channel marathons. That has to count for something. (Shutup.)

With less than 3 weeks until school begins, it’s time to dust off the list and have some fun. In true slacker staycation-style, we’re kicking off with PJ Day. I like this because I pretty much stay in pajamas all day anyway it allows for crossing off multiple items with out getting dress minimal effort leaving the house oh, screw it, it’s because I’m lazy. The girls very carefully selected their pajamas tonight since they’ll be wearing them for 24 hours. I grabbed the first only clean set I could find. They’re already planning breakfast—pancakes a la Stacia. Which is fine with me because it teaches her valuable responsibility (it totally does!) and it’s one less meal for me to cook.

We’re throwing in crafts (#31), a movie marathon (#36) and possibly even board games (#39), but I don’t think my idea of calling it our “big sleepover” (#6) is going to fly. I’ve also decided to shoot for crossing off a back-to-school item since I did promise the girls baking. I have blueberries and bananas for muffins, which we’ll freeze (mostly) for breakfasts. Having fast, easy breakfast on hand is pretty much the only way my kids get to eat in the mornings when we’re rushing off to school. I don’t really do mornings. However, I do clean up nice (cue gratuitous photo of me looking fabulous at the Mommy Needs a Cocktail party):

At least I know I’m not alone. Ever.

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