Lets talk back to school and summer ending. (With a sigh) This Saturday morning I woke up feeling overwhelmed. Last night as I lay in bed, my mind was going 100 miles an hour. I was thinking back to school shopping, packets of back to school information and needing to fill out paperwork with deadlines. (I have been putting off for weeks, telling myself we are still enjoying summer) Also on my mind was what after school program we would go with this year and back to packing lunches and needing ideas. I don't know why but all this makes me anxious. I tend to overthink things and leave for last minute. So today with two weeks left of summer. Well back to school, because summer doesn't actually end till October these days in California. I decided to just take care of it all. Fill out the paperwork and online deadlines. Make a list of back to school shopping, including anything needed for afterschool programs and extra curricular activities and get organized so I don't have to think about it and just be excited! I will give you some ideas to start with and hopefully it helps you like it did me for a better and organized back to school start. 

First lets make coffee, tea, sit with a glass of wine or a cocktail. Whatever it is that will help you breathe and make it a little more fun by putting music in the background to take care of the school paperwork! Using your favorite pen and lighting up a candle. 

    Now I have been there before where I didn't leave time to set up my station the way I wanted it and I took all the paperwork to work and on my lunch breaks I would fill out little by little. I would put all the paperwork, notes, emails, in a nice colorful binder and that way I kept it organize. However if you can set up your station like I mentioned before, This way is more fun but as a busy working mom I can tell you the planning doesn't always work and you have to multitask last minute and it may come down to squeezing little by little time in your lunch breaks as an example. 

Get a calendar to help you organize dates, times. If your old school like me I like to write everything down. I use planners and wall calendars. My husband likes everything on his phone. Either way make time to write stuff down. (I still use post it notes for daily tasks.) I keep a list of projects or things to do for the week as well. Remember in school when the teacher used to say if you write it down you will probably remember it better? that is so me. I write down early dismissals, school meetings, events, dance practices or anything that comes up that is not on our regular schedule. I tend to forget about something if I didn't write it down and its a crazy week. 

Make a list of things needed to go shopping for. Before you shop online or at an actual store. Do you still go to stores for back to school shopping? Or do you shop all online? I have some stuff we can reuse again and then we don't end up with more stuff. I know some times we want new back to school stuff and for the most part yes but in my case there's pencil boxes, Crayon boxes, markers, new folders, we also have a craft cabinet that has plenty of stuff that still works so we can minimize the long list. 

    I like to shop for things I know we will need, I used to be into buying stuff for just in case she wants to try or just in case this and that. Now I shop for items needed. I shopped for my daughters back to school clothes online and specifically for the reason being that I know stores have their fall collections out and I wont find a lot of summer clothes. I used Fab kids, Target and Old navy always seem to have great kids clothes. When my daughter was a baby and toddler Walmart was my go to. I shop everywhere and if I think its cute I buy it but these stores seem to be my go to. Ross, Marshalls, TJ Max and sometimes ill splurge and buy a few items at Nordstrom's and Macys. I now include my daughters opinion when shopping because she's at that age where she wont wear it if she's not into it. I also learned that as she gets older the kind of clothes matters. Just like us adults I splurge in cuter long lasting clothes and brands but for some things she will grow out of in 6 months I just cant justify spending a ton!

For the first almost three months, it will be hot where we live and summer clothes is ideal, you can also find clothes online on clearance this time of year. 

    We usually buy classroom back to school stuff at either Walmart and Target. Amazon is great too if shopping online. Sometimes ill buy little things here and there at local shops to try and support local businesses and they usually have the cutest things. 

The next big thing I like to do is organize your kids room and closets. I like to do this before Christmas, birthday and back to school. I use to be the kind of mom that didn't want to give or get rid of anything. Almost like hoarding and recently and through the years I've been organizing and keeping only what we use now. I recently got rid of a bunch of toys and clothes. I went through my daughters clothes and got rid of clothes that don't fit her. As I shopped for new clothes for back to school, I realized I have to do another run of clothes she doesn't wear. 

Next, I think labeling, organizing backpacks, snacks and shopping for pantry items for back to school is a big help. My biggest frustration is when my daughter gets picked up from school and needs a snack because she is hangry and cant find a good snack. I have been better about keeping items in pantry and fridge stocked that will be filling before dinner. Two or three days a week she needs a snack after school and before dance. She comes home sometimes close to 5 or 6. That is a long day for a 6 year old. I try to take snacks with me if I know we are going to go somewhere after school. 

    Keeping an entryway organized is vital for me. We keep  backpacks, purses, hats and sweaters hung. We each have a cubby for keys, wallets, sunglasses ect. 

I also try and write my daughters name on everything she will use at school in case it gets lost. If you want to be extra, (nothing wrong with that) you can buy label makers and stamps with their name on it and you can literally use it on anything. 

Having communication with teachers, the school and keeping up with emails is a must but for now....

I think you are ready for the new school year. I hope the above helps but just know that you are doing great ! Check back for a morning routine guide for busy moms. 

Thanks for reading, 

Until next time, 

LatelywithLeslieJacqueline.