First Day of School

You guys. First day of School. My heart is melting. Chicago Public School starts tomorrow. It always makes me think of that You've Got Mail quote- "Don't you just love New York in the fall? Makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils." Ugh, the best.

I've know for many days, weeks, and even months that today is the first day of school. So how come, I waited until this morning to print the First Day of School sign and wrap the First Day of School presents? I'm kicking myself.  As I write this, I've already had two cups of coffee, three swipes of deodorant, and a change of clothes. I've also added some new items to my calendar so next time it's the first day of school, I'm sitting stress-free.

Here's what is new to the calendar as of this morning:

-A week before the First Day of School: Print Sign 
You guys, you never know what's going to happen with your printer. You might have to delete the drivers, reset the WIFI, and change an ink cartridge. Not that I did any of that this morning.

- A couple of days before: Take the stinkin' picture. 
When your kid is 45 years old, the only thing that matters is that you have the picture. Not that picture was taken on a different day. Guess what- today it's POURING in Chicago. Our picture outside of school is going to have to happen another day.

-The Night Before: Lay Out Clothes
This is usually something that we usually do. Didn't do it last night? Ran around looking for shorts and shoes this AM. Also added, check the Weather Report so you can have the raincoat and boots ready.

-During Lunch:  Send Your Mom Friends a Text
First days are exciting and hard for everyone. Send your Momma Friends a quick text telling them that you were thinking of them and you are sure the first day went great for their kid.  Bonus points if you sent them a hilarious First Day of School meme or First Day of School prayer/wish.

Happy First Day of School, Friends. Hope your kids have a great first day of school today!

You've Got This!

Back to School Teacher Gifts

I've had a lot of people ask me and worry about Back to School Gifts. But before I even start this post, I need to share a disclaimer and I'm writing it in caps so that my message is heard loud and clear. TEACHER GIFTS ARE UNNECESSARY. Additionally, I'm going to give you some insight into the Teacher Secret World.

1. Teachers DO NOT keep track of who got them gifts and who did not.

2. Teachers DO NOT love or give your kids more attention because you gave them a present.

Now that we've gotten that settled, if you are inclined to get your kiddos' new teacher a gift, but don't know where to start, here are some ideas. I've also created cute tags for you to include with them. Excuse the puns, but teachers love them.

 Idea #1: Teachers are always running out of dry erase markers. They are putting them in their pockets and accidentally taking them home or drying out because the lid wasn't put on them correctly. This gift will not go unused. Also, this is a great middle of the year present. Buy an extra pack now while they are on sale!






Idea #2: Pencils. Teachers love pencils. You can never have enough pencils. I'm convinced kids eat them. No joke, I bought 3,000 pencils the year I taught 5th grade. And who can resist these cute ones from the Target Dollar Spot?

Idea #3: Pens. These are gold to teachers. They are perfect for filling out all of the millions of forms at the beginning of the school year. There are so many bright colors that make teachers ridiculously happy. It's crazy that 5 pens can do so much. Maybe you should get some for yourself while you are at it.

 Idea #4: Stickers. I think you know by now that kids love stickers. Teachers also love stickers because of that. I've gotten great deals of exceptionally cute stickers lately at the Target Dollar Spot and the checkout line of JoAnn Fabrics.

Idea #5: Chocolate. I don't think that there is a lot that I need to say  about this or why teachers could like it. Here are a couple of Pro-Tips: Resealable bag or individually wrapped snacks are a must.

Idea #6: A little self-care. Who doesn't love a face mask or a bath balm after a long day of work? While you're at it, buy one for yourself!

Idea #7: Who doesn't love a pack of fresh markers? Here's the best news. I spent under $2 on these at Target yesterday. Teachers love markers, especially some that they can hide away for when their pack is dried up and worn down.









So to recap, teacher gifts are not mandatory and teachers do not expect them at all. When I started thinking about ideas for teacher gifts, I almost took a group picture of all these ideas. But then, I didn't want there to be an idea that you should get all of these gifts. Remember, your kiddo is one of 15, 20, or maybe even 30 kids. You don't need to spend a ton of money to let your new teacher know that you care. Also, here is the ultimate Back to School teacher gift: a Thank You Note. Teachers love thoughtful notes more than anything.

To help you out even more, I'm going to send these 7 ideas to the first 7 Mommas that share their favorite School Supply below. The more specific the better. Mine- Black Flair Pens. 

Here are Gift Tags if you want them (I also gave you a gift tag for Hand Sanitizer. Also, an excellent gift!). You could also search the internet and find a million others. 

What other good ideas do you have for B2S Teacher Gifts?

You've Got This.