happy back-to-school!

I love back-2-school time. That means fall is just around the corner! 

These are some simple first day of school treats I made for my YW. 

Back-2-School

I have to admit. I'm a little jealous of all the people going back to school. This time of year brings back so many memories of back-2-school shopping, fashion shows, the smell of new socks (yes, I love that!), finding out which friends are in the same classes, getting school supplies ready, and creating schedules (although they only lasted for about a week.).

The closest thing to going back-2-school for me this year was starting a new job a few weeks ago. The night before I started I got those same butterflies as I would the night before school started. I kind of really like that feeling. Anyways, sorry for the lack of posts. But fall is coming and that means there will be lots of festive things to share.

I have this little decoration on my mantle just so I don't feel completely out of the loop. I can't wait until I have kids of my own to take school shopping and walk them up to their first day of class.

Happy Back-2-School everyone!!

If you want some ideas, check out some of my favorites here

Back-2-School cookies

I came across these cute cookies on Whimsy. Again, I really need to throw a back-2-school party so I can use these cute ideas.

{Photos from Poca Cosas}

Edible crayons

I love back-2-school time. Oh how I wish I had an excuse to throw a back-2-school party. Someday, right? If I was throwing a party, I would make these:

EDIBLE CRAYONS



Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go made these simple edible crayons. I think kids would get a big kick out of them and the best part is all you need is pretzel rods, white chocolate, food coloring, and crayon labels.

Check out the directions here.
Aren't those just so fun? I think sure think so!

Back-2-School Fashion Show

I'll be honest. I actually liked when Fall came around. That meant BACK-2-SCHOOL! Even though my family didn't have a ton of money, we always got to pick out new school outfits and shoes. My mom would make sure she had a one-on-one date with each of us to help us find new clothes.

I loved shopping, except when I couldn't find just the right outfits. But when I finally did, I got really excited.

With all 7 of us the weekend before school started, we would put on a

Back-2-School Fashion Show!

{photo from here}

It was very simple. (Although each year I had grand visions of extending it to our neighborhood friends. I was weird sort of a child you could say. I did have fun. I was just all about planning events even at a young age.)

Anyways, the girls would go in one room for a dressing room and the boys in the other. Then one at a time, my patient parents would sit on the couch in the family room and watch us come out modeling our new outfits in every possible combination we could think of. It was a lot of fun and it helped us get very excited for school to start.

Schultute: A Back-2-School Tradition

If you have been a reader since the beginning, you already know that I picked up a few traditions while living in Europe. Today's post is another one of those traditions. It is one I am definitely going to do when I have kids.

So the German tradition is called a Schultute (pronounced shool-toota). The direct translation is school cone. Basically, its a cone filled with school supplies and goodies given to a child on his/her first day of school, however, some people give them to all their children at each start of the new year. The cones can be large or small and you can fill them with anything your children might need. Hey, you're going to have to buy school supplies anyway, so why not make a cute tradition out of it?

I made a simple one and it was...well, simple.

Just get a piece of heavy paper and wrap it into a cone-shape.

Then fill it with school supplies and goodies. I put erasers, pencils, pens, and glue in there.
A small notepad and a treat would be fun too. Just remember, you could make it as big as you wanted.

You can wrap it up with tissue paper and tie off the top. You could leave it on your kids' beds the night before school starts or have it at the breakfast table on their first day.

For some other fun examples, check out these cute and simple ones here and here. It's fun to see others carrying on this tradition. And right now, it seems like many stores are having good deals on school supplies so stock up now!