10 Ways To Transform Your Bedroom For Spring

As I sit at my table writing this article, I can see the crabapple tree in the front yard- in full bloom. We have enjoyed the windows being open, hearing the rain, and watching the cool breeze gently blowing the fresh buds of the trees out here in the country. As you can tell, I love spring and cannot wait for summer.

We have been doing some super spring cleaning. We have pretty much emptied, sorted, and completely redone the kids' room. We have also purged (and continue to purge) every thing in the house. Spring makes me crave fresh and new- what better time to sort and bring out the lighter fabrics. I want to share with you some ways to bring your bedroom new life with spring.

1. Change your comforter. Switch to a lighter fabric, a simple blanket, or a brighter color. This is something I have done since I was a kid. At one point, I had two different gold comforters I would switch between. At one point, I even used a flat sheet over a blanket because I didn't have and couldn't find a light comforter I liked. 

2. Switch out your curtains. I like switching to sheers in the sprint time. I usually leave sheers up under my heavier curtains and in the sprint, I will draw the drapes and tie them up really pretty with a wide ribbon and leave the sheers available. I open those sheers every morning and close them at night. There is just something about letting that sunshine in. 

3. Wash the fabrics. Starting fresh in the spring can change a lot. Wash what you can, Lysol or Odo-ban what you cannot. This includes pillows, blankets, cushions, curtains- all of it. If you can, it helps to hang everything out (even rugs) on a line for a day. You would be amazed at what a difference that will make.

4.  Wash your walls. The year can leave all kinds of grime on your walls. Mix you up a bucket of pine-sol, spic-and-span, and water. Simply wash those walls with a rag and you will be good to go for another year.

5. Clean under everything. Whether you have carpets, tile, or hardwood, the grime can get under your furniture. This is the perfect time to move everything and clean the floors under the furniture.

6. Bring the outside in. Cut some fresh flowers, bring in a green plant, or even decorate with garden decor- simple things can make a big difference.

7. Wash the Windows! I always love washing the windows at the beginning of spring- there is something magical about it!

8. Pack up Winter. Of course, you need to keep out some sweaters, pants, and a jacket all year. However packing away those bulky coats, scarves, and winter clothes can make a difference. Your closet will look better too.

9. Declutter- there is nothing like how a spring house feels after the junk and weight is gone. It is amazing how much we accumulate in a year.

10. Open your windows. Especially on those warm breezy days, it is so nice to get fresh air and natural light in the house. After a Winter of being closed up, open the doors and windows and let the light and air in.

Leesa wants to help you revamp your room for spring with an amazing mattress. Be sure to check out The Sweet Home’s review on why Leesa is the best foam mattress around! Plus, their 10-inch feel-good foam mattresses are 100% American made!

Ringling Bros Circus: The End of an Era

By Brad Deutser (originally featured in NYdailynews.com)

From ring to ring, you have entertained. From generation to generation, you have brought families together. You have invited us in to witness and be a part of the Greatest Show on Earth.

But, you have also become one of America’s great tragedies. After nearly a century and a half in business, doing what you do best, you will vacate your place in the entertainment space. There will be other circuses. But, there will never be another Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. You have never wavered from your roots – your history, your way of working and promoting, and your way of entertaining. Until, recently. Pressures to change practices. Pressures to change acts. Pressures to conform to current ways.

Most people are unaware of the extent you cared for animals. Most are unaware of the brilliant business model to get people in the door to experience the circus and buy memorabilia and merchandise. Most are unaware that Ringling Bros. was the entry point for so many to begin their careers in show business. It was a gateway for many around the world to explore, to share culture, and to provide smiles. It was so much to so many.

In many ways, it was part of the American way. I remember the excitement when the train stopped in a city. I remember the authentic joy the clowns brought as the elephants paraded down the streets to the arena. I remember the genuine love of the circus by its performers behind the scenes and in the rings. I remember the sweat on the brow before each show and the smiles that filled the stands.

So it begs the question: Why did Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey fail? Or did we fail it?

I have struggled to explain how we allow our American icons to disappear. For what? Better, more wholesome family entertainment? Why did the business environment change so rapidly? Or did it? Was it lack of strategic foresight? Was it changing societal norms? Were there simply better options? Or did we take it for granted that what was once here will always be here?

This was an icon that navigated the generations. It circumvented challenges over nearly 15 decades. Somehow it remained relevant year after year, until now. But why? To some, Ringling gave up its core values and become something different when it removed elephants from its show. To others, no matter the advances or new innovations, it was still the circus that you only needed to see once. To others, it was a lumbering icon that couldn’t change quickly enough to keep up with the pace of technology and today’s entertainment. And, to others, it was simply taken for granted that it would always be there for us, like it had been for the previous 146 years.

Perhaps, this is less Ringling Bros. giving up or giving in and more a statement of the America we live in today. We gravitate to sexy headlines. We are intrigued more by the glitz and less by the substance. We place stereotypes on things that we are reluctant to ever modify. We expose our youth more to what is ahead and much less to what is now. Reality works best when there is controversy or big names. But, that has never been the circus’ way.  Theirs was a way of basic, good old-fashioned American values.

This ending of an era sends a message to all of us.  It reminds us that relevance is fleeting.  It reminds us, as parents and grandparents, that we must find new forms of entertainment to bring our families together. It reminds us to hold on to what is important to each of us – whether it is the circus or something else. At its core, this is about family values – and working fiercely to protect them – in whatever way is most appropriate to today’s family.

The circus that convened families, generations and communities is soon to be no longer here. For many it has been replaced by the bright lights of the computer screen and video games as well as the solitude it brings. We may not be able to recreate the greatest show on earth, but we can recreate the environment and the magic that it was to families who came together to celebrate the goodness and wholesomeness it represented.

There will be many questions. What really happened to end this era? What will become of the animals for whom Ringling provided such genuine and remarkable care? What will happen to the children who no longer have the greatest show on earth?

There will be answers. But, unfortunately, not the same answers our parents had for us.

Ringling Bros., RIP.

Brad Deutser is president of Deutser LLC (www.deutser.com), a consulting firm that advises leaders and organizations about achieving clarity, especially in times of transition, growth or crisis. He previously worked for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Fabulous Easter Baskets With #ThirtyOneGifts

I love creating Easter Baskets. Even before I had kids, I'd find someone every year to make an Easter basket for. I just love them. They are like stockings! I love finding cute/ whimsical little trinkets and mixing them in with things that are super useful. This year, my kids are getting fun things, along with school supplies, Bible Study helpers, and even travel items! I'm sure you can imagine how much fun I'm having with this. Seriously, I start thinking about them right after Christmas!

One of my favorite things is to find an item that is very useful to use as the actual basket. In the past, I have used purses, Thirty-One bins, diaper bags, coffee cups, coolers, and more. In fact, my son's first Easter, I used a shopping cart cover for his basket! I still haven't decided on this years, but it is between a new backpack, a wagon, a sand bucket, or maybe even new baskets for the tricycles. See, I have too much fun with this.

Looking through the Spring Thirty-One Catalog got me thinking about Easter Baskets, so I wanted so share some things you could grab and customize from Thirty-One. (The big thing lately is custom Easter baskets- why not get them something they are going to use all year and longer and get it customized?!)

1. Spring Chick Mini Storage Bin 

2. Fold Over Weekender For The Traveler In your Life.

3. Lil' Go Backpack - great for kids on the go!

4. Hanging Traveler Case

5. Swap-It Pocket

6. Catch All Bin

7. Your Way Rectangle Basket/ Liner

8. Clear As Day Duo

9. Creative Caddy

10. All-In Organizer

11. Double Duty Caddy

12. Lunch Break Thermal

While I'm at it, here are some basket stuffer ideas!

1. Hang It Up Key Fob

2. Keepsake Tray

3. Style Sleeve

4. Manicure Nail File

5. Stationery

6. Jewelry

7. Cool Clip Thermal Pouch

Crafting With #ThirtyOneGifts

Disclaimer: I received a product to review. However, all opinions are my own.

After close to 20 years of searching, I finally found the perfect crafting bag. I needed something to hold all of my crafting supplies, my current project, be organized, and allow me to carry it and craft anywhere (even away from home). Finally, The True Beauty bag from Thirty-One Gifts made its way to me. This bag is perfect and comes with the perfect companion. This bag comes with a smaller bag that is perfect for findings, markers, needles, fasteners, ribbon, and more. I totally love this set. It holds my random craft findings, small sewing machine, glue gun, scissors, velcro, tape, glitter, and just about everything else I can find to put inside. It has plenty of pockets to keep it all organized and is very sturdy.

The True Beauty Bag was a hostess exclusive. However, there are other items from Thirty-One Gifts that will allow you to be organized with your crafting as well.

Here are just a few items that will organize your crafts:

• New Day Tote
• All In Organizer
• Creative Caddy
• Double Duty Caddy
• Tall Organizing Tote
• Zip-Top Organizing Utility Tote
• Clear As Day Duo
• Catch All Bin (Perfect for knitting) 
• Hanging Traveler Case
• Jewelry Keeper

Book Review: Once Upon A Time Storybook Bible

Disclaimer: I received a book to review. All opinions are my own.

The Bible is not a fairy tale, but every great story happened “once upon a time.” The Once Upon a Time Storybook Bible highlights powerful and inspiring stories from the Bible, beautifully illustrated with fantastical artwork by Omar Aranda. Stories include Ruth, Abigail, Esther, The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Prodigal Son, Mary Magdalene, and many more. Each captivating story is told in a way that will get children excited about reading the tales of real heroes of the Bible.

I love these storybook bibles for when we are studying a certain concept or a certain person/ story of the bible. The kids seem to follow along better, especially when we are first starting- it is a great introduction. These storybook bibles are also great for bedtime. I especially love this one because the illustrations are beautiful and there are stories not commonly included in many storybooks. I also love that it focuses on these being the greatest stories ever told. Each story is accompanied by a prayer and two scriptures as well. The pictures are captivating and the stories are told much like a fairy tale, pulling the kids in.

Book Review: 5 Minutes With Jesus: Quiet Time For Your Soul

Disclaimer: I received a book to review. However, all opinions are my own. 

Description: 

Step away from the noise and into the arms of your loving Savior.

Bright screens, beeping notifications, a never-ending list of activities and to-dos . . . when do we ever stop? Is it any wonder we are deeply weary?

Jesus longs to give you the gift of rest—to lead you beside quiet waters and refresh your soul. He stands with open arms, saying, “Come as you are!”

With her signature honesty, vulnerability, and humor, bestselling author Sheila Walsh helps you seek Jesus in the quiet. Every entry features an encouraging devotion and takeaway along with powerful scriptures that guide you in drawing near to your life-giving God.

The 5 Minutes with Jesus series is the perfect way to start your day with a replenished heart.

Expand your five minutes by sharing inspiration, viewing exclusive videos, and previewing new books at 5MinutesWithJesus.com. Facebook.com/5MinWithJesus twitter.com/5MinWithJesus instagram.com/5MinWithJesus

Other titles in this series:

• 5 Minutes with Jesus: Making Today Matter
• 5 Minutes with Jesus: Peace for Today
• 5 Minutes with Jesus: A Fresh Infusion of Joy

_________________

I have always loved devotional books and for each phase of my life, I've been given a new devotional book. To me, there is something about sitting down with my morning coffee, a devotional book, and my bible to get my day started just right. The same thing with bedtime, but that is usually when I do my Bible study, so I like to have devotions in the morning and separate. My days seem to flow more smoothly as well. 

What I love so much about this particular devotional, 5 Minutes With Jesus: Quiet Time For Your Soul ($9.99), is that it encourages that quiet and calm that we all so deeply crave. With such a hectic life and so many things on my to-do list, having quiet time with just me and my savior is deeply satisfying. What better way to start your day than a cup of coffee and Jesus before the world wakes up? After all, All I need is "Coffee and a Whole Lotta Jesus". 

Homeschool Command Center with #ThirtyOneGifts

Disclaimer: I received products to facilitate a review and complete this project. However, all opinions are my own. 

Although we do homeschool any and everywhere with our portable homeschool, we still have to have a "command center." This command center can be as simple or extensive as you want. This is the place that will house books, supplies, records, and more. Ours is along one wall of the kids' room. It makes things much easier, especially while I'm planning and gathering for the week. I had a lot of fun putting it together as well.

Between some things I had around the house and a few things from Thirty-One gifts, I was able to create an amazing homeschool command center. This allows our supplies to be handy. I can just walk in and easily grab what I need for a lesson or project. It also gives me a place to display special school work, put reminders, and those other random things we are never sure what to do with.

1. The Wall Together Pin Board and Pocket Boards are perfect for reminders, to display school work, tickets, notes, invitations, mail, and more. I like to stick our weekly Bible craft, reminders to return library books, party invitations, and notes sent to the kids. 
2. The Oh-Snap Bins can be put on a rod, hung from a hook, or set on a shelf. They can hold so many different things and can find a home in any room of your house. One holds math "toys"- like puzzles, place value cups, dice, sorting cups, and more things that can be used during many different lessons and for visual aids. The other holds MY things- notepads, a divider folder for flash cards, morning board items, and my other supplies. 
3. The Littles Carry-All Caddy is another item that can be used anywhere, but I love it for homeschool stuff. I keep flash cards in it- I can put flash cards of any size in it. Many of ours are dry-erase, so the mesh pocket is perfect for a few dry erase markers. I have used it for math supplies, art supplies, rewards, and crafts in the past, but I think it has finally found its ultimate purpose in our homeschool. 

Thirty-One can help you organize any element of your life. Organizing our homeschool has always been a challenge, even for me. However, Thirty-One Gifts has made it much easier! 

Do We Wear The Same Colors? Math Activity For Kids

Jennifer Chalupnik, from Education.com, loves creating and sharing educational activities for kids. She was happy to share an amazing data analyzing activity perfect for 3rd to 5th graders with The Palmetto Queen. For more more information on this and more activities be sure to visit Education.com.

Do We Wear the Same Colors?

Data analyzation may seem like an intimidating subject at first, but it's all in the approach; choosing the topic to analyze can make all the difference. What's more, getting family and friends involved in an activity is a surefire way to ramp up the fun, as the data gathering will seem like less like work and more like a game. Have your child create a chart to keep track of the different colors that everyone wears. This activity is a fun way to hone your kid's observational skills and introduce math skills like data interpretation.

What You Need:

• Poster board
• Markers
• Ruler

What You Do:

• Have your child draw a graph using the markers and rulers. The chart should be for two weeks and have friends or family members names on it.  
• Explain to him that for two weeks he will be keeping track of the colors everyone wears. Each day he must write down on the chart what color everyone is wearing. To make it easier, have him focus on the color of peoples' tops. It doesn’t matter if they're wearing shirts, sweaters or tanks. Make sure he's recording the color of their tops.
• At the end of the two weeks, he should examine the chart and analyze the data he has gathered. He can look for information such as who wore a specific color more often or who wore the same color. 
• Gather up his subjects so he can share his findings with everyone.

Get Your Homeschool Organized with #ThirtyOneGifts

Disclaimer: I received products to review and to give away. All opinions are my own.

If you are anything like me, your homeschool supplies, organization, and area are constantly changing. We haven't had an area to set up as a permanent classroom, so we have a portable classroom. Even with this setup, I am constantly changing it and reorganizing it. However, I think I finally found the perfect set up with Thirty-One gifts.

I'm bringing you a series on how to organize your portable homeschool, but most of my tips can be used in any homeschool situation. The key is keeping what you need handy, being able to find everything, and finding what works best for you. Making it pretty is always a plus. (Psst... there is a giveaway at the end!)

Today, we are going to start with the backbone of your portable homeschool. Getting this set up just right will allow you to teach anywhere in the house, outside, or even on the go (field trips, parks, vacations). For me, if this gets unorganized, I am completely lost. My portable homeschool consists of two main items.

Our morning basket with bible study, social skills, and sign language is using the Double Duty Caddy. My supplies are in one side and bibles are in the other. I can also keep my timer and ABC scripture cards handy. This is the best solution for our morning basket, and I can carry it around.

The winner is right here- here is my portable homeschool bag. I usually keep my binder laying on top, but if we are moving around, it can easily be slipped inside, along with my laptop or netbook and any extra books and supplies we may have. Becuase the kids use zipper binders for their daily work, I keep a folder for each of them in here- it has paper and a slot for the days' assignments, worksheets, or questions for a field trip. Since they are young, they do not have to carry those binders everywhere. Other than that, everything goes along. I use an Organizing Utility Tote for this, although they have zippers now, mine does not (this one was actually my diaper bag with both kids!)

Inside my OUT (Organizing Utility Tote) is everything we need for daily homeschool lessons, including our supplies. I use a Fold N' File to corral all of our workbooks, reading assignments, worksheets, and reference books. then, my binder and computer can go on either side of it. I love all the pockets for holding supplies like the boogie board, dry erase DVD cases, McGuffey's Primer, and our daily read-out-loud book (we're on the Paddington series). One pocket even holds my Shine-On Jewelry Case. This case is perfect for my supplies that the kids do not use like my dry erase markers, pens, sticky notes, chalk, scissors, stapler, and more. Seriously, we have everything we need in here. 

I have a second one in the morning basket with the same basic supplies in it so that when we start our morning meeting I do not have to stop to gather supplies. It works perfectly! 

Giveaway!

One lucky person will win an organizing set from Thirty-One Gifts. It will consist of a Your-Way Rectangle Bin with Lid, as well as a Double Duty Caddy. The prints will be decided by the winner. To enter, simply comment on this post and you will be randomly entered to win! Be sure to visit Thirty-One Gifts and tell me what you like the most about their products. (remember to leave your email address for contact!) A Winner will be chosen Sunday, March 26. Good Luck. 

Book Review: NIV Investigator's Holy bible, Hardcover

Disclaimer: I received a book to review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever used a magnifying glass? It makes everything bigger and easier to see, right? Detectives and scientists magnify things to understand them better. Well that’s just what this Bible does—it’s a magnifying glass to help children understand the Word of God better.

The Bible is a gift from God, but many of the things written in the Bible are hard for kids to understand. In fact, sometimes they’re downright mysterious to kids. Using kid-friendly language and a detective theme, the two color NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible explains the Bible text for kids ages 6–10. Two central mystery-solving characters invite children to investigate the Bible using the following features:

Evidence—Bible book introductions answer what kind of book it is, who wrote it, what happens, and the “best part” Breakthrough—answers questions kids might ask, such as “Who were the Philistines?” and “What is The Spirit of God?” Scene—includes descriptions highlighting geographical information pertinent to a verse Witness—explains the meaning and history behind Biblical names Detective—quizzes students on what they have learned Case Closed—explores how the events of a particular book of the Bible relate to children as individuals

Tbomb and I truly enjoyed reviewing the NIV Investigator's Holy Bible ($18.10 Hardcover). This is a very special bible. My son absolutely loves it. Tbomb loves history, science, and asking questions about everything, especially the bible. This is the perfect bible for him, as it caters to his personality. We enjoy reading bible stories together and then reading the "side notes" and discussing it. He loves taking those discussions to church and talking to the youth leaders about them. If you have a child who is curious, loves science, history, and asks a lot of questions, this is the perfect bible for them.

Book Review: Angels In The Bible For Little Ones

Disclaimer: I received a book to review. All opinions are my own. 

Angels in the Bible for Little Ones gives children a fascinating look into how powerful behind-the-scenes helpers interacted with Bible greats such as Abraham, Daniel, and Mary, acting as messengers, protectors, warriors, and more. This padded cover board book, written by bestselling author Allia Zobel Nolan and illustrated by Alisa Massari, brings eight stories from the Bible to life for little ones.

Angels In The Bible For Little Ones, by Allia Zobel Nolan, ($7.99 ) is perfect for Snapper, as she has just really started understanding the bible. When we read books like this together, it is much easier for her to understand the concepts, than when we read a "real bible." Another reason I love it so much is that the language is really simple. Snapper is currently going through speech therapy, so we need all the practice we can get. She loves to sit with me at night before we sing songs and read this book together. I have to say that it is one of my favorite parts of the day. This book is definitely a winner.

Organizing Your Homeschool Kids with #ThirtyOneGifts

Disclaimer: I received products to review. However, all opinions are my own.

Getting my kids organized is one of my main goals in life. Life will be so much easier for them and those around them if they pick up being organized. The key is to start small and make it normal. Don't make a big deal out of it, but let them see you organizing and being organized. At least that is my theory. I guess we will see when they become teenagers.

One of the ways I have started teaching them this is with school. They are responsible for getting their supplies and zipper binders each morning and putting them away at the end of each day. I started out by making this easy for them and setting parameters. Their supplies have to go in their pencil pouches, which go into their binders. All work must also be in the binder at the end of the day. Then, it must be put into the homeschool bin, which is in a corner of the living room, in a stationary location. One reason it stays put is to help them learn consistency, but also because it is not carried with us, so leaving it there makes sense.

I use the Your Way Rectangle bin with lid for this because it holds their binders and our pocket chart/ dry erase board, along with maps perfectly. Plus, it looks great sitting in the corner. I love that with the chalk panel, I can write little notes to them or even vocabulary words!

Be sure to check out yesterday's post for an amazing giveaway!

Looking for a Puppy? Find Your Match!

In case you haven't figured it out yet, we love puppies! We have Boston Terrier/ Pit Bull mixes, Boston Terriers, and Jack Russel Terriers. Unfortunately, all of our Pit Bulls have passed and we miss them terribly. Our dogs get along great- these particular breeds are great in the same yard. Unfortunately, some breeds do not get along so great.

When you are looking for a new puppy, it is imperative that you find a breed that gets along well with the other dogs you have and give the particular dogs a test run, when possible. This graphic shows just what you need to know.

Good luck finding your next pup! If you would like more information, be sure to visit puppyspot.com

PuppySpot is a service committed to helping responsible breeders place their puppies with caring individuals and families. But, more than just a service, PuppySpot is a community of dog lovers whose mission is to make lives better by placing healthy puppies into happy homes. The PuppySpot brand, with puppies at the center, is rooted in the belief that dogs should be celebrated, and owners deserve to experience trust, confidence and transparency when searching for their new companions. If you’re looking to add a new puppy to your family, check out their adorable puppies for sale!

Embrace Grace: These Two Words Make a Huge Difference

Disclaimer: I  received this product from Embrace Grace in exchange for reviewing the item and that this post is part of the FrontGate Blogger Network.

One thing that really bothers me about our society is the thought that if a girl/ woman is young and/ or unmarried, her only pregnancy option is abortion. Since when? Instead of shaming them into aborting, shouldn't we teach them to embrace this wonderful gift God has given them, and help them to embrace grace?

Embrace Grace/ Love in a Box is a pro-love initiative launched to help save babies and help moms get plugged into local churches for spiritual, emotional and physical support through an Embrace Grace group. These boxes are distributed to pregnancy centers all over the country. The boxes are intended to help young girls who are facing a life or death decision feel empowered, brave, and to embrace grace. This pro-love movement is aimed to help young girls make a decision and understand that they can do it and they can do it with love. We want to help brave moms choose life and get plugged into a spiritual family so they can be saved, discipled, mentored and be a part of a community that loves them the way Jesus loves. 

The Embrace Grace Ministry would like for more women to get involved in this pro-love movement. They have come up with 3 ways all women can help and get more involved. 

1. Start an Embrace Grace at their local church so young women with unplanned pregnancies have a support group. 
2. Partner with the national organization through prayer and support at www.EmbraceGrace.com
3. Download and print our brave girl letter (http://egrace.co/brave) and mail to address below for us to place inside a Love in a Box. 

You can mail your Brave Girl letter to:

Embrace Grace, Inc.

Attn: Love in a Box

700 W. Bedford Euless Rd., Ste. G

Hurst, TX 76053

The items in the boxes are absolutely beautiful and great quality. They are items that these girls will be honored to have and will always cherish.

Boxes are distributed to pregnancy centers nation-wide and given to young, single women with positive pregnancy tests. The box is full of gifts that will inspire hope and impart love to a mom that may be scared for her future. Each box consists of a Fearless Journal and pen, a Bump in Life book, a baby onesie, testimonial letters of girls that chose adoption and chose to parent, an invitation to join an Embrace Grace group and a Brave Girl letter that can be written by YOU!

You have the opportunity to speak into the life of a mom that could possibly be contemplating a life or death decision. You can encourage, uplift and inspire her to choose life and to get plugged into an Embrace Grace support group at a local church. 

However, the greatest gift is the Embrace Grace ministry. Not only does Embrace Grace help give scared, young, pregnant girls who feel alone a breath of fresh air, but also the support they need to accept live's challenges. In addition to this, Embrace Grace gives women the chance to reach out and give advice, support, and encouragement to those who need it most. Embrace Grace ministries help both sides in a ministry that I hope will last for many decades to come, it is something that is needed in this scary world we live in.

5 people will win a "You Are Strong, You Are Brave, You Are Loved" journal and a "Pro-Love" necklace from Embrace Grace a Pro-Love cause! Enter Here

Survive The Rest Of The School Year: Get It Done With #OrientalTrading

Disclaimer: I received products to create a project with. However, all opinions are my own.

Once spring starts hitting the air and that warm weather and sunshine hits our faces, we start craving summertime. We crave outside, the beach, the rivers, and finishing up a school year. It isn't always easy to stay focused those last few months of school, but I have some tips to help keep the kids on track, the classroom organized, and help prepare for next year. Guess what?! Oriental Trading can help you get it done!

Here are 5 Ways To Survive the Rest of The School Year

1. Stay Organized.

This is a biggie. It is so easy to just give up and let things go. However, when this time of year hits, it is even more important to stay organized. Why? When you are organized, you are focused. When you are focused, the students are more likely to be focused.

• Supply boxes

• Bulletin Board Storage 

• Hanging Storage Bags 

• Chart Storage Bar 

• Accordian Folders

2. Prepare For Next Year

Go ahead and get your lesson plan book for next year and start making notes. Get you some great sticky notes. As you think of things you want to change about next year or include, stick those notes in. Think about how you want to organize your classroom next year and make notes of it. Another thing to include in this section is preparing for the end of the year- make it special for your students. 

• Dr Seuss Lesson Plan Book 

• Owl Pring Mortarboard Cap- let your kids graduate and take photos. 

• Graduation Gifts For Your Students

• Sticky Notes

3. Label

Make sure everything is labeled. If you label now, next year will be more simple. Another bonus to labeling now is that you have adjusted to your classroom and students, so you know more of what works than you did at the beginning of the school year! Labeling can be fun too! 

• Washi Tape 

• Owl  Name Tags 

• Sharpies 

• Masking Tape

4. Have Extra Crafts/ Projects On Hand

Have you ever started a day and knew that your plan was not going to work? Yeah, it happens, especially when the weather starts warming up. If you keep some crafts and projects on hand, you can take a break from the plan, let your students have some fun, and then get back on track. Giving everyone a little break is good! 

• Highest Power Foam Shapes 

• Highest Power Passport Sticker book 

• Highest Power Wheel 

• Highest Power Foam Magnet Craft Kit 

• Panda Foam Magnet Craft Kit

5. Have Fun and Start New Crafts

Do you plan on doing projects during the summer, then find yourself rushing to get things done before the school year starts because you spent the summer having fun? Well, we all do. However projects for your classroom and be fun. Remind yourself of that and get started now- then you will be more likely to continue a little at a time over the summer.  

• Elmer's Extra Strength Craft Stick 

• Dry Erase Material Roll 

• Adhesive Magnetic Tape 

• Chalk Board Paint 

• Elmer's Repositionable Mounting Spray

I personally love getting organized this time of year and start thinking about the projects I want to tackle for next year. In fact, I just completely redid our "classroom" for spring break and I couldn't be happier. It has given me, even more, ideas for next year's projects.