The Benefits of Homeschooling

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Last year when COVID shut down most schools, many kids had their first experience of being educated at home. While the situation that prompted this was by no means normal, it did open many parents' minds to the possibility of homeschooling. Statistics show in 2019 2.5 million children were being homeschooled in the United States, but during 2020, interest in home education has risen significantly, and this number is expected to increase.

While online learning via your child’s school is not the same as homeschooling your child yourself, it did demonstrate that it was perfectly possible to educate kids at home. If you like the concept of teaching your child at home but would prefer to do it in your own way, then homeschooling could be ideal for you. When you homeschool, you need to comply with local home-learning requirements for your state, but you will still enjoy a greater level of flexibility and freedom. This flexibility can enable you to put greater emphasis on learning outside the classroom and to spend more time enjoying the other benefits with your child.

There are many positive aspects to homeschooling. I recently had a discussion with a friend about her experience with home schooling her children and what a few of the benefits to it are.

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3 Ways To Prepare Your Child For A New School Year

Thank you JCPenney Optical for sponsoring this post. Visit your local JCPenney Optical to find your perfect frames!

The new school year brings with it both excitement and trepidation. It can be an overwhelming time for both kids and parents. Minimizing the stressors and maximizing preparation are the key to starting the year off on the right foot as this time of year can present many challenges.

Getting organized now for a successful year ahead. Use these tips and ideas to get the family prepared for the best school year ever.

1. Do a thorough BTS cleaning
Over the next few weeks, you will have an influx of papers and forms infiltrating your home. All these papers can easily get lost in the shuffle if you don't have some sort of organization system to handle them.

• Assign each child a paper tray for papers and forms that need to be completed and returned to school.
• Get rid of any extraneous papers from the summer and the previous school year.
• Clean out your child's closet and dressers. Donate clothes that no longer fit and make room for new clothes for the school year.
• Clean out your pantry and refrigerator. Organize the contents of both so that it's easy for your children to put together their own lunches and snacks for school.

2. Have your child's eyes examined
If there is one thing that can contribute to poor performance in the classroom, it's poor vision. Start the year off right with a proper eye exam. JCPenney Optical offers both exams and a wide variety of eyeglasses. Shop JCPenney Optical for $39.99 Back to School Glasses for Kids. The sale includes a large selection of frames, impact-resistant lenses, and eyewear protection plan.

JCPenney not only has great brands for kids, but for mom and dad also. Choose from Ray Ban, DKNY, Armani Exchange, OP (kids-specific) and Converse (kids-specific).

Want to win eye-catching prizes? Enter the JCPenney Optical Back to School Photo Contest for a chance to win just in time for a new school year. Click HERE for official rules and to enter.

Share a favorite back to school photo of yourself and family members for a chance to win from JCPenney Optical and JCPenney Portraits.  Photos with glasses will receive EXTRA CREDIT!

From funny and awkward to absolutely adorable, JCPenney Optical wants to see a wide variety of photo submissions. Photos can be from any time period, but entrants must be 18 to enter (or have a parent/legal guardian enter on your behalf if younger).  Photos must only show one person and entries are limited to one submission per email address. Click HERE for official rules and to enter.

3. Do a first day test run
Doing a practice run through of the events that will take place on the first day is a great way to alleviate anxieties. Have your child pack lunch the night before. Wake early the following day and go through a typical day from waking to breakfast to getting to school (whether it's by bus, car, bike, or on foot). If your child will take the bus, practice your route to the bus stop, making sure to get there on time. Doing these activities in advance will make the first day seem less like a first day and more like a routine day weeks into the school year.
  

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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3 Tips For Combating Back-To-School Craziness

With a little more than half of July wrapped up and in the bag, dare I say that it's time to start chatting about back to school? I know. I know. You're thinking it's way too early to be thinking about back to school right now, but hear me out.

Every year families face challenges when the new school year rolls around. With schedules and priorities shifting, school bells and alarm clocks ringing, and papers piling up, it's time to get serious about preparing (and organizing!) for back to school and squeezing in some smile-worthy moments as well.

Here are 3 tips to help take the chaos out of and bring the smile back to back-to-school season.

1. Plan and Prepare Snacks and Meals
I don't know about yours, but my kids' taste buds seem to be forever changing. The snack I buy this week will be yesterday's news next week. But one snack is tried and true. My girls love Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® crackers. The back to school season can be stressful and intimidating. So, whenever I can give my girls something familiar and comforting, I do. Goldfish® crackers are the comfort in the back to school season that they crave. Whether it's in their lunch box or for an after school snack, Goldfish® crackers ease their anxiety.

2. Schedule Downtime
The back-to-school season can be chaotic. Families tend to become overwhelmed easily. To combat the anxiety and chaos, be sure to schedule downtime. We love family game nights and movie nights, but you can do whatever works for your family. It might be a stroll through your neighborhood or a family dinner out.

In addition to our favorite games and movies, snacks are a must! We pull out our favorite games and pour a big bowl of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® crackers for everyone to munch on while we get down and dirty with the card games. I mean, who doesn't love a good competitive game of Old Maid?

Our favorite games are card games. We've got a few card sharks in the family, and playing cards always means a lot of competitive fun.

Leaving the chaos of a new school year behind for a few hours to unwind with family helps to alleviate a lot of the anxiety that accompanies this time of year. Sometimes children are under pressure that parents are oblivious to. It helps to put those pressures out of mind for a bit and have fun with friends and family. A favorite game and a favorite snack such as Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® crackers are sure to put a smile on everyone's face.

3. Keep It Simple
Your kids have enough to worry about during the hectic back to school season. Keeping everything from routines to snacks easy will help them make a quick adjustment. We love the Goldfish® crackers that are baked with whole grain and are available in a resealable bag. The bag makes accessing the snack super easy and a lot less messy. I don't have to worry about the bag opening up if it falls in the pantry. It can also be easily stowed in a tote bag for easy on-the-go road trips. Goldfish® crackers belong in mouths not all over the floor of my pantry and my car.

The back-to-school season doesn't have to be stressful when balanced with plenty of fun activities and smile worthy moments. Let Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® help you make it happen. Whether you make them part of the school experience or you save them for special moments at home, Goldfish® crackers will bring smiles to the faces of your children.

How will you make Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® part of your back-to-school arsenal?

Check out this video to see how we love to unwind during the hectic back-to-school season.

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Friday Fresh Picks: Back To School Favorites

If you haven't yet started thinking about what your kids will need to head back to school, it's time to get on the ball. For most of us, the first day has already come and gone or is looming in the very near future. For my girls, the first day is still over 2 weeks away, but we've started shopping and have made a list of a few wants and must-haves.

We're sharing them in today's Friday Fresh Picks.

LOCKER ACCESSORIES
Let's talk locker accessories for a moment. They are HUGE! Emma was never really into them during her middle school years, but Harper already has a list going for next year when she'll go to the middle school. One of our favorite is this dry-erase pocket from Pottery Barn Teen. What a great way to corral essentials and give yourself daily reminders.

If you are going to deck out your locker, a chandelier is the best way to add glitz to it. I love this metallic chandelier from Target.

BACKPACKS
There are tons of backpacks on the market, but I've found that the older my girls are, the more difficult it is to find a backpack that is age appropriate. Now that Emma is moving on to high school, she wants a backpack that is a bit more grown up and less decorated. This backpack from Victoria's Secret is perfect for high schoolers.

For younger girls, Pottery Barn or Pottery Barn Teen have some super cute and affordable choices for backpacks. I just adore this French bulldog puppies backpack. Ahhh! It's just too cute!!

LUNCH BOXES
Back in my elementary school days, the metal lunch boxes with a matching Thermos were the big deal. (Yes, that's how old I am!!). Today, the options are so much cuter and most can be thrown into the washing machine for quick and easy cleanup. I don't know about your kids, but my youngest does a number on her lunch box every year.

This printed lunch box fromVineyard Vines is a bit pricey ($40), but seriously, how cute is it? I love the anchor print.

If you want to stick with a nautical theme, this whale print lunch bag available at Target is super cute. In fact, we bought this one for Harper for this year. I thought it looked very Vineyard Vines-ish but without the hefty price tag.

I've always been a fan of PackIt lunch boxes too. They have the ice packs built right into the lunch bag, and they are super easy to keep clean. They are also available in different sizes and a wide variety of colors and prints.

PENCIL CASES
A pencil case is the one item you can count on to be on the supplies list from the teacher. There are soft ones, hard shell ones, and ones of varying sizes. This paisley-print one from L.L. Bean is a favorite.

 This Chevron print case is functional, colorful, and eye catching!

Thanks for checking out this week's Friday Fresh Picks. Swing by the rest of the FFP gals to see what they are loving this week.

Friday Fresh Picks are hand-picked favorite items, reviews and highlights from the amazing women you see above.

Visit their websites to learn about other amazing picks from this week!

Sarah from Finnegan & The Hughes

Corine from Complicated Mama

Hilary from A Fancy Girl Must

Tina from Life Without Pink

To view all of my Friday Fresh Picks posts, click here.

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Back To School Shopping at The Mills At Jersey Gardens

There's no denying it now. Back to school season is in full swing, and it's time to shop. There's no better place to get all your back to school essentials than at The Mills at Jersey Gardens. After all these years, I finally have it figured out. One stop shopping is the BEST! The Mills at Jersey Gardens is one stop for EVERYTHING!

I was recently invited to attend a back to school blogger event at The Mills at Jersey Gardens hosted by Corine from Complicated Mama. In addition to getting the latest scoop on back to school trends, we had a chance to browse the mall in search of the all the incredible deals and back to school specials. We didn't have to look too far. The bargains are everywhere!

With Corine and Carly

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Peace of Mind With PURELL®

This post is sponsored by GOJO Industries, the makers of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience using the products.

Last month, my family and I embarked on a 30-day PURELL® challenge. The challenge involved using PURELL® products at least 3 times per day to eliminate common germs in which we come in contact on a daily basis.

As part of our challenge, we became hyper aware of the many ways we come into contact with germs each day without being conscious of it.

A simple trip to the park is filled fun...and plenty of opportunities to come in contact with a variety of surfaces that contain germs. The chains on the swings, the sliding board, and the water fountain (bring your own water when possible) are filled with germs. We took our supply of PURELL® hand sanitizing gel with us whenever we went to the park. After we were finished playing, we liberally applied it before heading home.

Harper loves to help in the kitchen, and I always welcome her help. But it scares me to think how easily she can become sick from contaminated food such as raw eggs and raw meats. She loves to help bake (specifically breaking eggs) and she loves to help prepare chicken cutlets (most notably dredging the raw chicken in egg wash and coating it with bread crumbs).

Coming in contact with the raw eggs and chicken leaves much room for contamination. As part of our 30-day PURELL® challenge, we placed a large bottle of PURELL® hand sanitizer gel next to the sink and we kept a tub of PURELL® wipes under the sink for easy and effective clean up of our food prep areas.

We were lucky enough to welcome a new family member during our 30-day PURELL® challenge. My great-niece Paige was born, and as you can expect, PURELL® came in very handy for our visits with her. Since newborns are susceptible to germs, we were sure to apply PURELL® each time we held her to prevent spreading illness-causing germs.

And then back to school season happened. This is the time of year that fills me with dread. The germs that circulate in the schools and on the buses create anxiety for me. Add to that the fact that our youngest has type 1 diabetes which means a compromised immunes system, and I'm in all out panic mode.

Before I sent her off on her first day, I (annoyingly so, I'm sure) sat her down for a few basic hand sanitizing instructions. I outfitted both her backpack and her lunchbox with PURELL® hand sanitizers and asked her to be sure she used the hand sanitizer before she begins eating her lunch and as soon as she gets off the bus in the morning and the afternoon.

Most germs are passed from person to person via hand contact. The more frequently you apply PURELL®Advanced Hand Sanitizer, the better your chances are of staving off illnesses. After a day or two, we were fully into a habit of applying PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer three times per day. Now that I am in a habit, I find myself reaching for it frequently throughout the day. When I hop into my car after leaving a store, I put on PURELL®. It has become a good habit for the whole family, and we are looking forward to an illness-free winter thanks to PURELL®!

This post is sponsored by GOJO Industries, the makers of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience using the products.

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Back To School With Apparel from Pink Princess

Thank you to Pink Princess for sponsoring today's discussion.

The official back-to-school countdown has begun. My girls love shopping for supplies, lunchboxes, and backpacks. But's let's admit it. Girls are all about shopping for back-to-school clothes. They want the cutest outfit for the first day and the best dress for the first dance. And of course, any outfit they wear in between has to be totally "on fleek".

This year we are turning to Pink Princess to outfit the girls in the most stylish dresses for school and active wear for gymnastics lessons. Pink Princess specializes in formal wear, active wear, costume and dress up and every day apparel for both boys and girls. From play wear to formal wear to everything in between, Pink Princess' offerings include:

• princess dresses
• super hero costumes
• dance wear
• gymnastics leotards
• ice skating apparel
• swimwear
• wedding attire, whether you are a guest or a member of the bridal party
• Communion and formal wear for boys and girls, including Baptism and Christening outfits
• sleepwear
• footwear

What are we loving this back to school season? Here are a few of our favorites from Pink Princess.

Rare Editions Orange Aztec Blouson Chiffon Dress

Mimi & Maggie Indigo Bohemian Monterey Stripe Dress

K-Bee Leotards Hot Pink Pixel

Tractr Jeans Floral Printed Skinny

My girls have already celebrated their First Holy Communion, but if your daughter's Communion is upcoming, Pink Princess has an unbeatable selection of dresses, most under $100.

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Pink Princess offers head-to-toe outfits including shoes and accessories. From casual to dress shoes, Pink Princess has your children's feet covered. With an array of styles and colors for boys and girls and for casual or dressy occasions.

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Just as there are milestone occasions, there are also fun occasions. Those occasions call for dress up costumes. What kid doesn't love playing dress up after a long day in school? Most of the Pink Princess costumes can double as Halloween costumes. Now is a great time to get a jump on ordering the kiddos' Halloween costumes.

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Send your children off to bed for a good night's sleep in comfy sleepwear. Pink Princess has fun, themed sleep sets for boys and girls.

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Not only does Pink Princess offer the most exquisite dresses, formal wear, and accessories, but it also offers an exceptional customer experience. From the ease of browsing the web site to the swiftness of completing your transaction, Pink Princess emphasizes fun and function all at incredibly low prices, making loyal customers keep coming back for more time and time again.

You can find Pink Princess online: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+.

Thank you to Pink Princess for sponsoring today's discussion.

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Combat Germs This Back-To-School Season With PURELL®

This post is sponsored by GOJO Industries, the makers of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience using the products.

I love the routine and fresh start that a new school year brings. What I don't love are the germs. It doesn't take long for the girls to start sniffling and sneezing. Before long those sniffles and sneezes turn into full-blown coughs and colds. Before long, I am making chicken soup, and we are waiting at the pharmacy for a prescription for an antibiotic to be filled.

This school year I have vowed that things will be different. We are putting some new procedures in place to guard against the infestation of germs, and we are starting with some help from PURELL®. This back to school season we are taking the 30-day PURELL® challenge. Each day, we will use PURELL® at least three times per day for 30 days.

To kick off the challenge, we visited our local Target store to stock up on the necessary PURELL® products. From gels to hand sanitizing wipes to PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer, Target has everything you'll need to take the challenge as well.

We've stocked the car with small package of PURELL® hand sanitizing wipes. These are great for on-the-go, a quick wipe down for spills, after pumping gas and for school pick up.

Germs are lurking everywhere there's a school. My girls ride the bus, so a mini gel with a holder is a must for our back packs.

To eliminate cross-contamination in the kitchen, we are keeping a bottle of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer next to the kitchen sink.

Germs can linger in lunchboxes. I've equipped each of my girls' lunchboxes with PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer and each afternoon when they come home from school, I wipe the interior of the lunchbox with PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes. Just a quick wipe down is all it needs, and I know that 99.99% of illness causing germs are gone!

My youngest daughter is a type 1 diabetic. We keep a large bottle of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer in her diabetic supplies box. This way, she can use it when she checks her blood glucose levels or when I administer her insulin injections.

I touch my laptop keyboard all day long after touching a million other things. I keep a convenient squirt bottle of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer on my desk to keep pesky office germs at bay.

Our 30-day PURELL® challenge starts NOW, and we are ready to roll. From the car to the kitchen to school to my home office, we have all the essentials to keep germs away as we head back to school happy and healthy.

This post is sponsored by GOJO Industries, the makers of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience using the products.

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Let's Chat: I Want To Be In 7th Grade Again

I attended Emma's back to school night last week. I always find BTS nights informative especially at the middle school level. The night started out in her homeroom where parents receive copies of the children's schedules and then they make their way, in much the way the kids do, from class to class starting at period 1 and ending at period 10.

I like how we experienced a typical day (although on a time constrained schedule) of our child. We spent 10 minutes in each elective class, and 20 minutes for double period classes. Anyway....

Her classes this year sound so interesting. I want to be in 7th grade again! She's taking Italian. It's an introductory class, but there's nothing like learning a new language to give you a little freedom and insight into the world.

In Science, they'll be exploring genetics and doing several dissections. In Social Studies, they will be learning all about ancient cultures and how we've evolved into the society we are today.

In Language Arts, they will read 4 novels, and they'll be doing lots of different types of writing. I've already looked into the 4 novels, and they sound wonderful. I can't wait to read along with her.

And in Math, well, math is math. I'm not a math person. So, excuse me for not getting all excited over number crunching. But Emma loves math. All those fractions, integers, whole numbers, and word problems truly excite her. I can't even.

I wish I had the thirst for knowledge when I was in 7th grade that I now have. I wish I had looked forward to reading the novels as much as I do now. I dreaded science class and was always wondering why I needed to know how to dissect an earthworm. Today, I find it intriguing and interesting.  If only I could go back to 7th grade.

Well, I plan to. I am going to follow along with Emma this year. I'll read her science materials and history book. I've already downloaded her 4 assigned novels to the Kindle. As for math, well, she's on her own there. I'm up for a challenge, but that's not one I can muster the strength to deal with.

I've got to go. I have some science reading to do.

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5 Tips For Establishing Good Homework Habits

This week is the first full week of school, and that means homework. Homework is an integral part of the school year. Homework, in most cases, reinforces the materials covered in class that day. Not only is it one of the first ways children learn responsibility, but it also teaches children how to follow directions and how to effectively manage their time.

Homework can be challenging for children. In order to make it go smoothly and be less stressful for children, it's important for us as parents to lay some groundwork for our children. I'm sharing a few homework tips that have worked for us year after year.

1. Designate a "homework zone"
This should be a quiet and low-traffic area of your home where your child can go to complete his homework. It should be free of distractions such as talking, the television, and children playing.

2. Set a consistent time each day that children will do their homework
Some children need a break once they arrive home from school. Others prefer to tackle their homework immediately while they are still in "school mode". No matter which your child prefers, it's important to keep homework time the same from day to day. In doing so, children know what to expect, and they know what is expected of them.

3. Set homework rules and guidelines
For those who are easily distracted and tend to make homework a long and drawn-out practice, set rules as incentives for them to complete the work. Something as simple as "No TV or electronics until homework is completed" goes a long way to incenting a child to work smarter and more efficiently.

4. Do not do your child's homework
I know how tempting this can be. Just about every time my girls sit down to do their Language Arts assignments, I want to swoop in and offer my expertise, which often leads to my taking over. Step away. Your child will never learn the subject matter if you are always completing the assignments. Let them think through the problems first, and if help is needed be readily available and willing to assist.

5. Be supportive
If your child is struggling with a particular problem or concept, lend a hand. If they solve a problem incorrectly, don't criticize. Help them understand what they did wrong and encourage them to try solving it again. And always give praise and positive feedback for a job well done.

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Back To School :: First Day Jitters and Pictures

Yesterday was the first day of school for my girls. I don't know about them, but I welcome the structure that the school year brings. This summer was definitely one where our routine went to the wayside. We had late nights that were anything but conducive to early risings.

As a work at home parent, I spent afternoons at the pool and late nights by my laptop. All those crazy hours were worth it if it meant that my girls had a fantastic summer, but now, I'm ready to get back to my normal working hours.

The first day went off without a hitch, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that today is more of the same.

And of course, you know I have to share a few pictures from the first day.

Here's to great a school year filled with great experiences in 7th and 3rd grades.

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The Obligatory First Day of School Pictures {and Cupcakes!}

Oh, come on. You knew they were coming. As long as I am blogging, I'll be posting the first day of school pictures.

It was a big day for Emma. She started middle school. As we walked to the bus stop, I kept subtly glancing at her face looking for signs of nervousness. But she was giving nothing away. So, finally, I just had to ask her. She said she was more excited for something new than she was nervous.

It was a bittersweet moment for me. These are the moments you both wait for and hope never happen. The moments when you know that your children are growing up, becoming more independent, and that can make you both happy and sad. But at the end of the day, it's a good thing. She knows she's got to do this on her own, and she's taking control of her situation.

She woke up bright and early at 6 am. Her bus comes at 7:05, and we were at the bus stop with plenty of time to spare. There was no whining, no complaining that summer vacation was over. She readied herself quickly and efficiently.

I could only stand there and wonder how long this will last. I am hoping all year, but I'll take the first couple of weeks of school if that's all I get.

The middle schooler

The second grader

The girls are in different schools now, and that means 2 different schedules. Harper woke up at 6 am to have her picture taken with her big sister and to see her off to middle school.

I still can't believe that I am the parent of a middle schooler.

Sending my baby off...

As a special treat, I stopped by Little Sweet Cakes in Point Pleasant Beach to pick up some treats for my sweets. The cupcakes were the perfect way to top off a great first day for all of us!

How was the kids' first day for you? Did you have any milestones this year, a kindergartner, high schooler, or even sending one off to college?

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