Count Me in for School to Begin: Using Your Local Library

***Check out the bottom of this post for some other back to school tips from my favorite bloggers!***

I can't believe it… it is that time of year again!  Back to school my friends!  And whether your kiddos go to public school, private school or are homeschooled… the local library is there to help :)

It is no secret, I LOVE the library… and for the beginning of this school year, I am going to share some of my tips for using the library to help with your child's education! :)

one

Get a Library Card and Set Up an Online Account

Simple as that.  Go to the library, get an account, and you can even get registered to vote while you are at it! And if your state is anything like Georgia… they have an awesome online system for your account!  Go home and set that up too!

two

Find Out About or Plan Out Your Curriculum

What is your child going to study and when?  This way you can check out books that will give your child prior knowledge for a study, support their study and help them explore beyond their study! 

three 

Make a Pinterest Board

People have already made 1,001 good book lists… use your resources and cut down on work! My board includes book lists that we will use for different subjects all year!  So email your teacher or set up your curriculum so you know the plan.                Follow Stasia's board School Books on Pinterest.    

four

Make Book Lists and Use Your Libraries Hold System

Using your Pinterest book lists create your own book lists for each subject.  I don't know how every state works, but I make my book list straight on the library website (they have a My Lists section) and I can use it and adjust it year after year!  For example, last year I made a list of beach books around this time.  I was able to easily add more books this year and check out the ones I wanted because I had already done the work!

five 

Come Up with a System to Keep Track of the Books 

And this is key, and the main reason people stop using the library.  You have to, have to, HAVE TO keep up with when your books are due and where they are in your house.  When you are paying major fines and for books you can't find it makes the library no longer a good deal!   For the due dates… put it on your calendar, in your phone AND sign up for email notices.  You can NEVER have enough reminders. Keeping up with books?  Designate a spot in the house, a box or a bag, just for library books!

six… and the whole point of all of this….

Read Read Read

The more you read to your kids, the more they want to read, the better readers they become! Now for my other friends and their back to school posts!!!!  Take a few minutes and check these out!!! /3+ Ways to Show Love to Your Kids in School from Garay Treasures / / Count Me In Giveaway from Abiding In Grace / / Free Homeschool Pre-school Printables from All Kinds of Things / / Back to School Tips for Moms from Our Pretty Little Girls / / Back to School Boy Style from BYBMG / / Tips for Using Your Local Library from Our Life on a Budget / / Discovery Puzzles from Polka-Dotty Place / / 10 Bible Verses to Encourage the Student Athlete from While I'm Waiting / / First Day of School Printable from Morning Motivated Mom / / Preparing an Anxious Child from Almond Place / /  Tips to Stay Organized With School from Living In This Season // BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BLOGLOVIN'

Top Ten Tips for Doing Disney with a Toddler...

I recently posted my tips about doing Disney while pregnant… and here are a few more about doing Disney with a toddler.  You may notice some are the same… but there are definitely some new ones!!! :)

One- Know your child…

This may sound silly, but it is true and probably the most important to planning your trip. Is your child go with the flow?  Or do they have to have their regular routine?   How do they do in crowds? With characters? Take these things into account and plan accordingly. On that note…

Two- Come with a Plan…

It does not have to be exact, just a general just of where you will go each day and what order you will do things in.  This way you can plan around naps, wake times and bedtimes.  

We came early and with a plan. Yep, we are those people. You know the ones. Lined up outside the gate before the park even opens! But I am telling you friends it is so worth it. You can get through the major attractions while the lines are short, have your fast passes scheduled for some of those rides that you know you want to do but don't want to way the crazy 65 minutes later in the day (aka Peter Pan at Magic Kingdom). Then the hot, busy part of the day you can chill in some shows, grab some food, catch a parade and not worry about waiting in crazy lines. Seriously I don't think we EVER waited more than 20-30 minutes! We used the The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2015 to loosely plan our day.

Three- Let them catch sleep (and just rest) when they can…

One of my favorite things about walking around Disney… see all the kids sleeping in their strollers!  They are in the funniest positions and just beat from all the fun.  Also just have them rest while waiting in line or eating. It will be necessary!!! As I mentioned on my last post we would sit and take pictures in line:) 

Four- Water and Snacks…

Water and snacks… lots of water and snacks. There are actually lots of water fountains so we just brought a couple camelbacks and refilled them. We also brought a lunch box with an ice pack in it. Just FYI…our food strategy is always one meal and one snack in the park each day… and bring our own stuff for the rest. This let's you enjoy the experience without letting cost get out of hand. So for example we would eat breakfast at the hotel/on the way to the park with stuff we brought, buy a a couple Mickey ice cream bars, eat packed lunch, buy dinner and eat our snacks in between. Snacks/foods I recommend? Granola bars, nuts, pb and j, fruit, cheese sticks, goldfish, animal crackers and anything else that is semi healthy that will give you energy!

Five- Rest Days…

If you are going for an extended period of time (for me this was more than three days) plan a rest day. You hear this again and again from blogs and books on Disney, but we thought we were super heroes. We did not take any rest time and we regretted it!

Six- Height Requirements…

Know the rides your child can and can't go on.  I used the height list in the The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2015 or you can check the Disney website.

Seven- Characters…

Know which characters are must see and which you can pass.  For example… Elsa and Ana… the lines are RIDICULOUS, if they are not a must see, skip, if they are a must see then early or use fast passes! Or maybe your child does not like characters at all and you can just sneak up on a few and grab pics :)!  For us BD is still at the age where she does not care.  We just grabbed a few here and there for the pictures!

Eight- Scare factor…

Know the scare factor on different rides and how sensitive your child is to scary.  Again we used the descriptions in  The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2015, but you could definitely do your research on the Internet.  Our little does not get too phased *right now* by scary things.. she went on Pirates of the Carribian at MAguc Kingdom with us no problem.  However she did not want to wear 3-D glasses again for a while after we saw its tough to be a bug at Animal Kingdom.  We would skip that one if we went back again!

BD actually rode her first dollar coster… she said she had fun… but did not want to do it again...

Nine- Fast passes…

Schedule your fast passes early! They do fill up and then you can only get them for times or attractions that you don't need them. We found that afternoon time was the most busy and we tried to schedule then if we could. Also, Disney has just started offering fast passes for the fireworks at MK, Fantasmic at DHS and the fireworks at Epcot. I have really mixed feelings about this because they have taken some of the best spots and said you can only sit there if you have reserved a fast pass… womp womp. Fantasmic is a zoo but probably my favorite evening show. You have to get there early no matter what, and trust me when you have been on your feet all day you DO NOT want to end up in the standing room only crowd!

Ten- Have Fun…

Just enjoy yourself!  You don't want to be that crazy stressed family at Disney… just like anything it is what you make it.  Say let's have fun and roll with things :) Is there anything that I missed? What advise would you give????
And if you have not check it out already here is my post with doing Disney while pregnant! :)

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Universal on a Budget...

We went to Universal with some students… all the way back in the beginning of May.  And I have been meaning to write this post since then, better late than never I guess.

As I said when I talk about going to Disney on a Budget… we are more into experiences these days than things.  We love to make the memories and we already have enough stuff.  

So anyways… on to the tips :)

Tickets/Where to go...

*Unlike Disney, there are deals to be had when it comes to Universal.  Mousesavers has some good deals.  Sometimes you can do tours of time shares and such as well to get a deal.   *Like Disney the more days you get the better the deal. *Also unlike Disney, I think hopper passes are worth it when it comes to Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventures.  The parks are much closer together than those at Disney so moving back and forth is much quicker (also I believe the attraction that moves between the parks is now open).  I would even venture to say if the crowd level is not too high you can do most of the attractions in both parks in one day. *Universal also has a downtown area that you have to walk through to get to the parks.  It is something to do but not necessary, especially if you are trying not to spend too much money.

Food…

*Universal's food policy is a little stricter than Disney, but you can definitely bring food in the park.  There food policy allows bottled water and "small snacks that do not require heating" (because I was planning on bringing something that needed to be heated up???).  Anyways, we brought sandwiches, apples, granola bars and the like.   *We tried to eat breakfast, one meal from one we brought with us and one meal in the park.   *In my opinion the food at Universal and Islands of Adventure leaves much to be desired.  The only exception to this is is the Three Broomsticks in Harry Potter world in the Islands of Adventures (this might be because I am a Harry Potter Fan).  The fish and chips is $12.99.  It is good and enough for a meal.  The grand feast is also a great option at $49.99, it says it feeds 4, but we fed five and a baby and there was enough.  This a good option because of price and because you actually get a pretty balanced meal with Garden Salad, Rotisserie smoked chicken and spareribs, corn on the cob, and roast potatoes. *And I did have to get a frozen butter beer to complete the experience at $4.99.  Not exactly a deal, but so good :)

What to bring…

*Stroller AND baby wearer- BD napped/ slept in both.   I love my Ergo :)  *Snacks/meals as mentioned above. *Diaper supplies were packed into a book bag with the rest of our snacks and things.  We did use Honest Company disposables instead of cloth for the day and I survived :). *A change of clothes and a bathing suite for the little, they have great water ride/attractions in both parks. *Water bottle. *Snacks- sandwiches, granola bars, apples and the like. *Camera/phone… pictures are a must!

Attractions…

*My first comment here is child swap at Universal is much better than switching off at Disney.   At Disney one person (or part of the group) has to wait in line by themselves,  while the other person (or part of the group) has to sit and wait outside of the ride's entrance.  You get a little ticket that allows you  that allows the other part of your group to go to the front of the line later.  This is especially unfortunate if you only have two people with a baby- you are separated for the wait time and the ride.  Universal's works differently depending on the ride.  Most of the rides with carried BD through the line with us.  This was great because for one our group got to stay together and two BD got to experience the line which can be very detailed and fun part of the ride! When we got to the front, one person (or part of the group) stayed with the baby and all of our stuff in an air conditioned child swap room.  Not only was the room air-conditioned, but it often had a changing table and a water fountain!  And when the first group has gone one the ride, only one person has to switch so some in your party may actually get to ride twice!  There are a couple of places that the baby is not allowed through the line, like The Incredible Hulk.  But you still get to sit in the air conditioned room! : *Most people deem these parks more grown up, especially compared to Magic Kingdom.  But there are still a few kids rides and play areas.  Our favorites were the Curious George Goes to Town and Fievel's   Playland.  To be honest though, we did not plan our day around the kids rides.   We knew at Bd's age she would just enjoy seeing the sights. *At Universal there is not a free fast pass program like at Disney.  They have Universal Express Passes which are just too steep in my opinion.  Extra $40 on a regular ticket, each day… no thank you!  If you plan out your rides right you should not have to wait too long, at least not until later in the day! *Universal Studios order: 1. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit  2. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (This may seem silly to start with, but I promise the line gets so long!) 3. Mummy the Ride 4. Transformers the Ride 5.  And so on… we did not plan this trip as thoroughly as we did in the past because we went when the parks were pretty empty.  If you are going during a busy time and you want thorough pointers about attraction order I recommend signing up for touring plans!  They have fanatics touring plans that work especially well to minimize wait time on busy days! *Island's of Adventure order: 1. Everything Harry Potter world.  Seriously the lines get so long there.  But only go there first if you get there when the park first open! 2. The Incredible Hulk 3.  Then work your way back  We like saving water rides for the afternoon.  They have great water rides!

Souvenirs and stuff…

*As usual, most rides dump you in some sort of gift shop... just avoid buying things. They are just overpriced and not necessary.

Accommodations…

*While it would be nice to stay on the property, we always recommend Priceline.  We always find great deals. *Just be prepared to pay $17 to park each day.

And some pictures :)

Y'all have any other tips?  

**Post may contain affiliate links… thanks for supporting :).**

Ways to Make It When You Are In-Between

As many of you know Andrew and I have just come out of a so called "in-between" time.  Andrew's internship ended in May and we did not start our new jobs until this month.  By the world's standards not ideal right? But really, God's timing is so much better than ours, because we ended up with a lot of sweet family time.  It was a wonderful season despite the lack of money! But how do you make it with out months of pay?   That is a good question.    I don't claim that we did these all perfectly, because we didn't... but I do have a few tips. 

First and most important-

Trust God to provide.   There were a number of checks we did not expect to get and things that we thought we would have to pay for and didn't.  And even when things did not seem ideal, God made a way.

Strategies Before the "Inbetween"

Establish Good Spending Habits. If you learn to budget on a regular basis, it will be easier when you "have to."  Plus it is being a good steward when you choose to budget. Establish an Emergency Fund Most people recommend having 3-6 months worth of living expenses saved up for such a time as this.   Go Reusable When You Can We did not have to buy a diaper, paper towel, paper napkin or zip lock baggie during the in-between.  We had reusable versions of all of these things saving us a lot of spending (especially those cloth diapers)!

Strategies During the "In-between"

Spend the Minimum You may not follow your normal budget.  You cut things like eating out and clothing.   Forge an Income… Even if it is Small Look around your house.  Is there anything you could sell on Facebook garage sale pages or eBay? Could you have a garage sale?  Most of us have way more stuff than we think and need.  You would be surprised what you can make selling your own unused stuff!   Accept Help This is big.  I think sometimes we think we have to be an island.  Especially with in our families and the  Christian community, we were meant to help each other.  Don't be too prideful to accept help. Make Sacrifices and Smart Decisions Most times there are ways to make sacrifices and save money.  When we moved we could have gone straight to an apartment.  But we knew the smartest decision was to live with Andrew's parents for a little bit.  

Strategies After the "In-between"

 Continue to Budget and Spend Wisely There is the temptation to go a little crazy with spending again once you have an income.  Try to continue to budget and be good steward of what God has given you! Rebuild Your Emergency Fund Chances are you will have depleted this quite a bit. Take the time to bring it back, you never know when another "in-between" will come. Give to Others in Need Become more observant.  Are there people around you family, friends, that are in need?  Give:).

What about you?  Have you ever been in an in-between? What suggestions do you have?

Moving Tips...

Maybe you are lucky… and when you move you can hire someone to come box and move all your stuff.  Or maybe your new job is sending movers.  Well, we just have not been that lucky!  The truth of the matter is, if you have just graduated or you are going to school… you probably don't have the money for movers!  We have had the privilege of moving ourselves 1) To Augusta when we first got married 2) Into Andrew's Parents house until we could move to New Orleans for Seminary 3)To New Orleans for Seminary 4)To a second apartment in New Orleans  5) To Statesboro for an internship 6) Back into Andrew's Parents house (we will move again soon after we let everyone know what we are doing this next year :)) That's 6+ times… I would say we have a lot of experience!

All that being said… moving yourself???  Don't fret… 5 Moving Tips that will de-stress your move.

{one}

Why Pack things that are already packed?  Keep Things in Drawers

Don't you dare pack up your clothes.  Why would you pull them out of your dresser just to put them back again? Simply carry the drawers out separately, then when the dresser is in the moving truck, but the drawers back in the dresser! Do the same when you are unloading.  Easy peasy, everything stays organized!

{two}

Moving Plastic Wrap, Moving Plastic Wrap, Moving Plastic Wrap

Those that have talked to me about this move know I swear by this stuff… it is  a w e s o m e!  Really a game changer that we did not discover until our 4th move!  Use it to wrap baskets or crates that way you don't have to box it all.  Use it to wrap towels or blankets around pictures and breakables, without leaving a sticky residue… if you wrap the plastic all the way around, you blanket or towel won't get damaged or dirty! We even used it to wrap our spice rack and BD's puzzles!

{three}

Sticker Labels

Instead of labeling absolutely every box… have stickers printed in ready- bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, etc.  I also recommend having stickers that say fragile as well!  The less you have to write the quicker, the quicker the better :)!

{four}

Have a moving box

While you are packing put all your supplies in one box, and always put them back in that box.  This eliminate the lost tape or sharpie and saves a lot of time!  Something I recommend to keep in this box… packing tape, masking tape, sticker label, sharpies, pens, moving plastic wrap, trash bags and zip lock bags.

{five}

Get Help

Seriously. Every time we have moved we have had SO   MUCH   HELP!  From friends donating boxes, to watching BD, to boxing, to loading, to unloading.  It is a long process and help is almost a necessity! *This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting :)

Happy Packing… What are your tips???
*This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting :)

Guest Post: Do it Yourself Refinished Chairs!

My blogging friend Lauren is stopping by today from Sincerely, Lo… her blog inspires me in my marriage and home!  She did an awesome DIY project to share here with my readers today!  

Hello! I'm Lauren, the lady behind Sincerely, Lo

I am a follower of Christ, a wife to the man of my dreams, a fur mama of four and a lover of sweet tea, interior décor and some DIY projects!
Stasia has been so sweet and generous by letting me stop by and share one of my DIY projects on her blog today!

I love home decor. I mean I LOVE home decor. I constantly move furniture around to make our home look fresh, I constantly think of new décor ideas for our home and I love taking junk-y furniture and making it beautiful. I love decorating and making a cold space into a warm, cozy place that I like to call my home. 

If you think you may like the idea of remodeling furniture, GO FOR IT! Seriously, I just started remodeling an old china cabinet one day for the heck of it...and now I cant stop. I am constantly paining or coming up with new ideas for every single piece of furniture I have.
Also, if you are wanting to start remodeling furniture, go to some yard sales! Don't worry about quality. Most of the time when I buy pieces from yard sales, they need some tender loving care with some sandpaper. But, yard sales are a great place to find all types of furniture and it is always so important to stay in a small budget!

These two chairs I purchased at a yard sale about a year or so ago.  I paid only $ 7 for both which I thought was a steal!

What you will need
- chairs that need to be refurbished, painted and made beautiful
- sandpaper to make the chairs smooth
- any color paint that you would like (just go for the quart size, you will have plenty!)
- any fabric that you choose
- a screwdriver to take the seat off of the chair
- a staple gun to attach the fabric to the seat cushion
- your favorite tunes to listen to
- oh, and a glass of sweet tea. because you can never do a project without it :)

Starting out, they were old looking with horrible seat fabric. Just blah and boring. But, they only needed a good cleaning and I was able to get to work pretty quickly :)

PS- Please forgive me for my lighting. I have no idea what was going on with my camera. 

First, I removed the seats from the chair. If you have a chair you have been wanting to fix up, this is very simple. Just take a screwdriver, flip the chair over and unscrew the bottom screws. 

 I am pretty sure it took me thirty minutes to pick out a paint color. 

I am one of those people who will take ten minutes to order at a fast food place because I think it has to be the perfect choice. 

Yes, horrible.

For this, I just chose a small 32 oz can of a very, very baby blue. To some it may look white unless you really take a hard look at it. 

I then took a trip to Hobby Lobby for some fabric. It took me what seemed like 40 minutes to pick out fabric. But they have SO MANY CHOICES. So I had an excuse this time :)

After the painting, I let it dry and then took a staple gun and surrounded the existing fabric with the new fabric. Sometimes, people completely throw out the seat and start fresh with a new seat but the seats on this chair were in great shape so I felt no need to completely start over with a new seat.  

I LOVE the way the chairs turned out!

 They now have a new home in our very front room. 

.....and then my OCD self had to do something with that small table in the middle.
Plus, who doesn't love some pale pink?

PSS- Also, please excuse that light outlet back there. Currently searching for new ones
PSSS- For some reason my lighting made the chairs look splotchy and unfinished on the bottoms. Please ignore :)

There you have it sweet ladies! Super simple and a wonderful first project to start on!
Thank you so much to Stasia for allowing me to share my DIY today!
I would love for you to head on over to my lifestyle blog and travel along with my husband and I as we take on this huge adventure that we all call life :)

XOXO
Lauren