Third Grade - The Beginning.

We're done with the rock star party updates... finally. For now.  I have some crafts and recipes I'll share further down the line but I'm actually excited to share some new life updates...

As you saw last week, school has started and, man, was my kid ready!

I love her first day outfit and, although it broke our tradition of wearing navy and pink (remember I talked about it last year here), it was still a very cute mix of classic black-and-white with a pop of electric blue.

I was excited to get this dress for, as you can see above, $14.95!  I also got her heart sneakers from H & M for $12.95.  They aren't available on the site but they're still in the store.

I love H & M for their fashion-forward affordability!  So many moms are stuck in the Target, Children's Place, Walmart rush that they miss the originality found in H & M!  I had this vision of a long blazer for her to wear and I searched for the perfect pop of color for the blazer to be...  I never found it and I was bummed.  Man, was I bummed.

We finished school shopping weeks before the first day of school.  Then, for Munch's birthday, several people read my post about her desire to wear sweat pants to school and got her gift cards to Justice, the store that sells their version of the 'Britney Spears' sweat pants.

The day before school started, the kid and I went.  She was excited to find the perfect pair of sweats:

That's what compromise looks like, people.  After seeing how excited she was to wear the pair of sweats from Grandma Lisa and Pop-Pop on the road trip to GA:

... Hubbs and I decided to let her wear whatever she'd like on Fridays.  We're sure as it gets cooler SWEATS will be her outfit of choice.  No doubts about it.

Anyhoo, while in Justice, we found the perfect pair of electric blue tights and a matching headband... on MAJOR sale (that place is VERY expensive for my budget).  Munch used her gift cards for the sweatsuit and I got the blue stuff :)

She wanted the piggy buns (as she calls her hair style).  I met the request but also added a little rock star element with the front piece:

That's just three rubber bands that I criss-crossed down the small ponytail.  I pulled at the hair between each 'criss-cross' to create a zig-zag look.

For our trip to Georgia, Munch picked out my nail design (she even suggested purple instead of pink in the inspiration photo):

I watched how the nail tech did the accent nail - it's gold polish on the base and she started with a thin white polish and made an X then filled the four 'triangle' areas with the letter -V to create a really cool look.  I knew the kid would be really excited to have her nails the same way so I tried my best to duplicate on her tiny hands:

It's a V instead of an X but her hands are still really tiny, lol.

If you've been on the island for awhile, you know we have a family tradition that Munch does something for Hubbs and I every year.  This year, we woke to a thank you poster she made us:

It never ceases to amaze me how these little traditions have stuck with my kid.  Speaking of traditions, since Kindergarten, we've had a first day sign:

Well, I mentioned the recent trip to GA, right?  Did I also mention it was the weekend before school started?  How about the fact that we left on a Thursday... as in, I had to wrap-up projects at work and pack.  Yea, pack.  That's it. I had to PACK. So, well... I didn't have a sign.

I was devastated but I promised myself that I was the only one who even noticed we do that every year. I could just add the text when I edit the image and the kid wouldn't know.

Yea, right.

Before we headed out to our porch to take the annual back-to-school photo, the kid hollered, "Mommy, I'm ready!  O, wait. Where's my first day sign?"

I reached for the garage door and replied, "I don't have it."

"WHAT?!" the kid and man yelled in unison.

"I said. I. Don't. Have. It.  Now, come on.  Let's take this pic."

Both of them were silent... almost as if they were as devastated as I was about the stupid little piece of paper.  Part of me was SO mad at myself for not having it... the other part was kinda happy.

I mean, I am normally that person who DOES the most for no reason.  The one who researches for the best quality book bags and over thinks the first day outfit... the one who writes notes on napkins for her kid's lunches:

Hubbs wrote this note and I just HAD to add that comma.  Doin' the most. Told ya.

Some days - as a real mom and wife and friend and, well, person - I feel like nobody even cares about the labor of love I put into this so-called life of mine.  The missing sign, and my family's reaction to it, was a subtle reminder for me the selfish people I live with DO appreciate me.

Anyhoo, to compensate for the missing sign, we had a mini interview and I used that as our 'sign' on the back-to-school photo this year:

Yep.  So, maybe I'll do both - a sign and interview - every year from now on... or maybe not.  Would that be doing the most?

Ahh well.

Lunch - The Bento Box.

Back when Munchface started Kindergarten,  I was totally that mom.  

I mean, it was Kindergarten so I was on my best mommy behavior.  I'm talkin' packing lunch and healthy snacks WITH an inspirational note or picture. I was the bomb.  At first.

Let's just say life happened.  Lunch was packed most of the time and notes were in the lunch some of the time but, shoot, she was eating, right?!

Whatever.  Don't even give me that look.

In first grade, I made sure I didn't start anything I couldn't keep up.  We didn't have snack and, get this, we were lunch buyers.  Sure, we packed every now and then but I my kid no longer wanted to pack, so we thankfully did not pack as often.  I felt like I saved time during a crazy year full of life happenings (loads of travel, vacations, weddings, events, packing, moving, unpacking, etc.).  It was worth it and, with as often as I had to reload her lunch card with money, I KNOW she better have been eating healthy, right?!

This year, I'm ready.

Healthy food options here we come!

To prepare, I did some research and pretty-much-basically became obsessed with Bento box lunches like this one:

Equal parts cute and OCD-approved (the food *like* never touches and I love that), these lunches would be perfect for my Munch.  She's not a huge fan of sandwiches and using a creative means to get even more veggies in her diet is always great!

Next Steps? To find a bento box that would fit inside our lunch bag.  I started online and found several options ranging in price from $9 - $30.  Unfortunately, there was no way I would get one in-hand before school started.

For the first day of school, I used the plastic sandwich container filled with cupcake liners and small tupperware as "dividers" to create my own version of a bento box and it worked.  Later that same day, while strolling through Walmart's lunch box aisle, I found a bento box that was perfect:

It was only $3!!!

I also purchased silicone cupcake wrappers, cheetah print napkins and a fork-n-spoon set; we were set!

That day, I packed elephant-shaped sandwiches, strawberries and marshmallow cream, carrots, pretzels, and an orange.  O and a note on her napkin:

We wrap her cutlery in the note and she reads it everyday during lunch/snack.

I was SO excited!!!

Here are a few tips to help you simplify the lunch routine.

Lunch Tips

- Keeps drinks frozen.  Place a frozen drink in the lunch box.  It will be cold (but melted) and will keep the other food cold until lunchtime.

- Pack in advance.  I pack the night before and place appropriate items in the fridge.  I have, however, decided Munch will pack those items that can last a week on Sunday (i.e. - 5 bags of carrots, 5 bags of chips, etc.).

- Buy a pack of 20 party napkins (they're at the dollar store).  Write a note on each one in advance and keep them aside for days your child packs lunch.

I like to get Hubbs involved.  He can't handle this whole bento thing I've got going on BUT he can make a delish turkey sandwich AND he really likes to write her notes.  

When I think about it, Munch spends so much of her day at school that it is nice to be able to send a piece of home with her.  With the Hubbs' active involvement, I think we'll keep it up this year.  

Wish us luck!

Do you make lunch special?  

If so, how? 

3 Tears for Second Grade!

Hey, Islanders!

 

You may recall, in one of the back-to-school fashion posts, that I fell head-over-heels for the classic pink and navy color combo.  Remember my inspiration boards? 

 

 

Feel free to check them out here and here!

 

Well, during our tax-free weekend shopping, we hit up Crazy8 to purchase the outfit:

 

I snagged the top for full price and the shoes were on sale for $14.  The cropped pants, however, were a minor issue for us.  I purchased them for full price ($25??!!!) and thought we were done.  See, Hubbs had to work so Munch and I hit the streets for deals.  Don't worry, we followed my rules for back-to-school shopping (here); we were SO ready.  Later that evening, it was time to present our purchases to Hubbs.  I was surprised that he was less-than impressed... with the prices, that is.  He packed up what he thought we could find for a better deal, cropped pants included, and we headed to TJMaxx.  Would you believe we found  the perfect skinny jeans in the exact same coral color for $9.99?!  Even with the tax-free discount, that is a MUCH better deal.

 

The man was right.

...and, Islanders, THAT doesn't happen often.

 

If you're interested, Crazy8 is having a sale - everything is $12.99!!!  Check out their website for some cute clothes :)

 

Now, I'm sure you saw most of the pics in the Wordless Wednesday post but I am just SO pleased with how adorable and comfortable Munch was in her outfit that I must share one more shot:

 

We also got the zebra book and lunch bags she chose from Pottery Barn:

 

 

Munchface started second grade confident in her brain power, ready to face new challenges and excited to meet new friends.  I know what you're thinking and, yes, I did shed three itty-bitty tears. 

 

O, stop!!

 

Not because I was that sad but because she's so small... and watching her get on the big ol' bus headed to another new school where she didn't know anyone for the third year in a row and-- UGH.

 

In her own little way, she's just so brave and I-- I.  I called the man and I let my three itty-bitty tears fall.

 

CUT ME SOME SLACK!

 

Three itty-bitty tears are better than the Kindergarten whirlwind cry-your-eyeballs-out teary hot-messness, right?!

 

You can read more about that here.

RIGHT!

 

Munch had a successful first day of second grade and we are excited to experience our new school in our new neighborhood.  What the heck, new clothes just sweetened the deal :)