LilSugar

Organize Your Life: 10 Tips For Making School Mornings Run Smoothly

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:02:00 PST

From the moment the alarm goes off each morning (if you're lucky enough to wake up to an alarm rather than an early riser!), the rush is on! Getting everyone washed, dressed, fed, and packed can seem like a sprint as you race against the clock to make it to school on time. Add to that some school permission forms that must be signed, a note for the teacher, and that sinking suspicion that there's nothing in the fridge for dinner that night, and the morning can be lost in a black hole.

Never fear, organized moms are here! We've scoured the web to find mamas who've got it under control, and they're sharing their tips (and products) to make your mornings run more smoothly. Keep reading for the best of what they've got to offer!

Decorating With Vintage Globes

Elka Karl — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:04:06 PDT

You may be too cool for school, but that's no excuse for avoiding decorating with great vintage school supplies. You can't go wrong with globes, and there are many ways to add them to your home. Whether in a large grouping or a single accent piece, there are plenty of corners where this cool educational prop would give your home a bit of old-school style.

Photo by Martyn Thompson

Vision Quest: The Facts About Kids' Eyes

LilSugar — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:35:47 PDT

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then it's important to keep those windows in the best possible condition. Kids who aren't seeing clearly often have academic and behavioral issues that can impact their school experience, leaving tots, teachers, and parents frustrated and confused. Luckily, most vision problems are easily rectified with regular vision screenings and eye care. Are you up to date on your facts about kids' vision? Take our quiz to find out.

Take the Quiz

10 Picture-Perfect Potluck Dishes

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:51:30 PDT

With book clubs reuniting and back-to-school nights on the way, potluck season is in full bloom. My perfect recipe for a potluck dish? One that's fairly easy to make, simple to transport, packed full of flavor everyone will enjoy, with little to no cleanup necessary! Instead of scrambling to figure out what you should create before the big night, take a tip from these 10 picture-perfect dishes that everyone will enjoy.

4 Ways to Make Your Master's Education Worth Its Money

Emily Co — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:00:15 PDT

Going back to school is looking more attractive with a growing number of employers requiring a master's degree. Apparently, an undergraduate degree just isn't enough these days.

But it's dangerous to assume that an advanced degree is a guaranteed ticket to cushy jobs. Not so much. The tale of the Starbucks barista with a JD is unfortunately all too common. If you decide to take the plunge and enroll in higher education, follow these four tips to make your grad school education worth its while:

Build ties with faculty. It's important to get to know your professors, because some of them may have job leads and can play a central role in your professional development. "Students need to talk to faculty. I hear about jobs all the time that I wouldn't put on the listserv, because I want to make sure that I connect my source with an appropriate talent." says Marcel Pacatte, professor at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. "I don't want either party coming back to me later complaining."
Try new things. Take advantage of your time in grad school to explore new things; it may even result in a new career path. "While you're in grad school, I think it's important to sample everything it offers. One student came here and had never held a video camera - never even entered his consciousness - and because of his Medill experience, he's now a documentarian," Pacatte says. Picking up a broad array of skills and experiences will make your resume look less cookie cutter, which is to your advantage.

Read on for more tips.

Stay Safe on Campus With These 5 Things

SavvySugar — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:00:55 PDT

Now that you're well into Fall semester, you're also well aware of the lighter and darker components of campus life. There are plenty of strangers you can trust but some folks are unfortunately, unworthy. Going out of your way to protect your valuables and yourself might seem a little paranoid, but can you really afford to expose you and your most prized possessions to potential danger? If Mom is wondering what to get you for the holidays, she'd be happy to hook you up with one or more of these five things to keep you safe.

Fitting It In: Real Life Advice on Finding Time to Exercise at College

Leta Shy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:07:35 PDT

By now, most new college students have had a few weeks to adjust to life on campus, but that doesn't mean they aren't wishing there were more than 24 hours in the day. Between newfound friends, hectic class schedules, and constant studying, it can be hard to remember to make fitness a priority - or just find the time to exercise!

To help us all with the logistic of finding time for fitness, we turned to the authorities on college life: we asked five CollegeCandy writers to share how they keep fit on campus. Read on for their advice on making time for exercise as well as products recommended by them or inspired by their workouts!

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These: Tips to Avoid Nap Time Meltdowns in the Classroom

LilSugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:32:49 PDT

Snuggle up! Most children require some daytime ZZZs at least through preschool - even if they fight it with all of their lil might. Here are some tips to help lil ones settle down for a snooze - or at least some quiet time - even in the classroom.

Maintain a consistent nap time. If your tot's classroom has scheduled nap time for 1 p.m., stick to the same schedule at home - and that includes weekends.
Send your lil one to school with her lovey - but with clear directions for the teachers that it's only to be taken out at nap time.
Preschoolers love to feel like they are making their own decisions. Let them feel like they're part of the process by choosing a special nap mat for the new school year.
It's important for a toddler to fall asleep on his own at night. If they can't figure out how to self soothe in their own environment, there's no chance they'll just drift off in a classroom, on the floor, surrounded by other kids and distractions.
Nap time can be anxiety producing for restless tots. Talk to your tots about what will be expected, and reassure them that it's OK if they can't sleep; but, they will have to find a quiet activity to do, like reading or coloring, so as not to disturb the other students.

10 Back-to-School Favorites That Make a Happy Kitchen

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:15:31 PDT

I may love Zen-ing out and enjoying my time over the stove, but there's one thing I can't have happen on a weeknight: a messy kitchen full of dishes staring me down at 10 p.m. I've pulled a few of the delicious and comforting recipes I crave during the week. The best part is that there are only one or two pots or pans that get used in the process. As we're getting back into the swing of things with school, there's no better time to share these tried-and-true favorites. Breathe and enjoy the bliss of cooking, without the hassle of heavy cleaning.

OnSugar Blog: First Day of School!

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:06:40 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud and nubienatty is one of them. With back to school in full swing, she shares her lil one's first day of school picture and more on her Kandid Koilz blog. Here's an excerpt from her post.

So last week was the first day of school for me and Mason! Time is justa flyin by...my baby's in pre-k4 already. I remember the first time I dropped him off at that school two yrs ago **sniff** as you can see he no longer wears his bookbag on both shoulders, just one strap for him because that's what the big boys do **rolling eyes** We're going to make sure we're off to a good start and there's no clowning around because I don't want to have another conference where his teacher calls him a "class clown"!

Of course I was extra ready for my first day of school, eek! I decided to keep my English online and math on campus. Remember, I haven't been to school in 10 yrs. I clearly feel like I'm the oldest one in class at 30 and I feel like I'm on another planet.

Because the first day of school can cause such a flutter and coming out of the groove of Summer, I decided to start a new tradition for the first day just to get motivated into looking forward for what the school year will bring. Mason loves gifts but we call them "surprises"

To keep the new found tradition going . . . I figure hey, I'm in school too, so I deserve a "surprise"!

Want to see more? Start following Kandid Koilz or start your own OnSugar Blog. It's easy, it's free and we just may feature your content on our site!