Looking To Make ‘Back To School’ Life A Little Easier? Check Out These Tips And Tricks!
While it’s nice to have a few months out of the year to take a break from a full schedule and relax with the family for a bit, it can also be good to have a routine in place for the busiest months of the year. From the time school starts, until the new year begins, it seems as though everything happens in a blur, picking up speed and keeping us super busy. As the end of August draws near, the school supplies have been bought, the daily routines have begun to be established, and life is returning to “normal”. There is always, however, the issue of our daily meals that is something we can never stray from dealing with, always keeping us busy. From shopping for groceries, to planning the recipes, and carving out time to make each meal, followed by the cleanup that comes along with them all... the whole process requires a large chunk of our day, concentrating on our meals. In addition to food, there’s the kids’ study routine and just some general, ‘down-time’ that’s always a welcomed idea during long and hectic days. It’s important for us to remember to take care of ourselves as things get crazy with all of the things that make up our daily lives. Even the kids should find time in their days for some down time as they relax and distress, stopping to take some deep breaths and clearing out their minds for a bit.
We’ve complied a list of a few helpful tips and ideas for making ‘Back To School’ life, as easy as possible. There are plenty of things in life to worry about, and making dinners, packing lunches, and other simplistic, daily things shouldn’t be one of them. Enjoy these recipes, study helping tips, relaxation techniques, and artistic ideas as you work them into your life, making everything as low-stress and smoothly-flowing as it can be!
Cheers!
—COOKING—
Take a break from the hard-to-make, time-consuming task of planning and making meals (and that huge pile of dishes, after) and try some of these quick meals that will leave you more time for the important things in life, like family!
((SHEET PAN MEALS)):
Great for:
-Feeding the whole family with just one kitchen tool
-Meal prep for the week by cooking once and dividing it up into 5 meals
-Making for a large crowd
(Here are our favorite recipes for each meal):
***Breakfast
(1)Sheet Pan Breakfast Bake.
Eggs, bacon and cheesy crisp hash browns come together to make one amazingly delicious meal!
https://damn...eakfast-bake/
***Lunch
(1)Healthy Italian Sausage and Veggie Bake
Cook once and serve over rice for lunches for you, all week-long!
https://www....sage-veggies/
***Dinner
(1)Spicy Pork With Parsnips and Sweet Potatoes
If you have a meat-and-potatoes kind of family, give the classic combination a sweet and spicy kick by combining pork with sweet potatoes, parsnips, ginger, and cayenne pepper—you’ll never call pork tenderloins boring again.
https://www....weet-potatoes
***Dessert
(1)Layered Chocolate Marshmallow Peanut Butter Brownies
https://www....ter-brownies/
More:
35 sheet pan recipes that will change your life
https://meal...-change-life/
38 Sheet pan desserts
https://www....owd/view-all/
((MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZE MEALS)):
Great for grab-and-go meals in a hurry! You can use these recipe to pre-make all of your dinners, just one night a week, and then simply pop them in the oven at dinnertime...
OR Keep them on hand (in portions) to grab and take to work, heat in the microwave at lunchtime, and you’re all set!
***Breakfast
Grab and Go Breakfast Sandwiches
https://www....t-sandwiches/
***Lunch
Black Bean and Chicken Enchiladas
https://pick...freezer-meal/
***Dinner
Freezer-To-Oven Chicken Alfredo Casserole
https://www....serole-236376
45 Make-Ahead Freezer Meals:
https://www....als/view-all/
((SLOW COOKER MEALS)):
Great for set it and forget it meals that can cook while you’re at work or doing other things!
Georgia Pulled Pork
https://www....ecipe-2078315
Ropa Vieja
Beef and veggies, burning with flavor and best, poured over some steamed rice! Yum Yum!
https://www....ecipe-2042285
Sausage, Bean, and Pasta Stew
Perfect for when the weather starts to cool off, this meal is comforting and delicious.
https://www....-stew-3362283
Gooey Brownie Cake
This easy-to-make cake has the best parts of a soft, warm brownie: gooey on the inside and slightly crisp around the edges. It takes almost no time to prep and gives you the excuse to use your slow cooker for something sweet
https://www....-cake-3361731
—SCHEDULES AND ROUTINES—
It’s important to make a practical schedule and stick to it, every day. The structure that a routine provides will help the kids and you to stress-less and make your days, way less hectic!
*Power down electronics at meals and an hour before bedtime (for you and the kids)
This will help with getting to sleep more quickly and having a good night's rest. Taking away technology for a little while at the end of each day, gives you time for other things like reading or relaxing/meditating, etc
How technology impacts sleep quality: https://slee...ffects-sleep/
*Get plenty of sleep
Getting enough sleep is critical for a child to be successful in school. Children who do not get enough sleep have difficulty concentrating and learning as well as they can.
-Set a consistent bedtime for your child and stick with it every night. Having a bedtime routine that is consistent will help your child settle down and fall asleep. Components of a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, and tucking them in and saying good-night to them.
Prove tips for getting a good night's sleep: https://www....-sleep-better
*Make sure the kids have a quiet place to study and do homework.
Playing classical music helps for concentration and relaxation
Some children need extra help organizing their homework. Checklists, timers, and parental supervision can help overcome homework problems.
-Some children may need help remembering their assignments. Work with your child and their teacher to develop an appropriate way to keep track of their assignments – such as an assignment notebook.
Successful study tips: http://www.s...-school-year/
—DECORATING (and other crafty things)—
Taking some time to get crafty is always a great way to relieve stress and escape from life’s daily routine. Try your hand at anything from cooking or journaling, to painting, scrapbooking, knitting, and more. See what a little use of your right side of the brain can do!
*Make your home ‘Back To School’ ready with this super cute wreath. Everyone who knocks at your door will get a pleasant surprise in the form of thus colorful, fun, and unique decoration.
This wreath is a snap to make with easy-to-find supplies, and can be customized to fit your style and preferences.
Make one for your door and even one for your child to give to their teacher for the classroom door! The kids can help find the supplies, choose the ribbon colors and patterns, and even write a message on the chalkboard.
Get the full tutorial: http://missl...l-wreath.html
*Join us for a painting class and bring the whole family!
Be on the lookout for our ‘Family Day’ specials where you can bring everyone in to spend time together and make some artwork! In addition to the family day paintings, we offer some open studio classes where everyone can come in and paint what the want! Unlike our traditional, step-by-step classes where an artist was you through the painting, we have classes where there’s a little less guidance and a lot more freedom!
Sign up for our next Family Day painting on Aug 25, titled, ‘Hanging Out With Hippo’. This is a special, $30 class where we’ll paint an adorable hippo and his feathered friend who will make you smile and leave the class so happy with your sweet painting! Bring everyone out to spend time together over the weekend when it’s time to wind down from school days!
*Sign up here:
https://www..../event/256763
We hope to see you soon for a class at our studio whether you’re attending a wedding-related event or just one of our standard public classes. If you’re looking for something fun to do in or around the Naperville area, we make a great spot to visit for everything from a fun and unique date night, an awesome girls’ night out experience, and we even offer private events! When you view our classes on our website, you’ll be viewing our schedule for our public classes, but you can also book a painting party with the guest list of your choice! Come in to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, reunion, retirement, and more with friends and family, sharing their artistic sides, together. Make memories that will last a lifetime with a souvenir to treasure forever with one our classes.
*Learn more about our private parties, here:
https://www....ivate-parties
We also play host to tons of corporate events, too! Why not book your next work party or team building event with us? We offer several styles of paintings that incorporate team building strategies, encouraging the whole office to work together, creating a stunning world of art!
*Read more about corporate events, here:
https://www....porate-events
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