504 Main by Holly Lefevre: back to school

Showing posts with label back to school. Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2015

Salad Bar On The Go

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Rubbermaid. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

For my kids, back to school means early mornings and homework. For me, it means early mornings and packing lunches! Well, let me be honest, I will not be bragging about my ability to pack lunches. However, that is changing. At the high school, my son can spend between $8-$10 on lunch...every day (ouch)! On the other hand, my daughters lunch is less expensive, but she likes her food "a certain way." So this year, I am sending them off with a healthy Salad Bar On The Go packed up in a Rubbermaid Lunch Blox.

Need a nutritious lunch on the go? Rubbermaid Lunch Blox has you covered. #BloxOff #IC

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Back to School Party!

Disclosure: Post sponsored by OshKosh B’gosh, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

School is in full swing for us here in Central California!
I will never get used to starting school in early August!
But to ease the pain of that early start time,
I had a little shopping spree at OshKosh B'gosh and

THREW A BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY
featuring OshKosh B'gosh and "Cookies and Milk-Shakes!"

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

"We LOVE School" Banner Tutorial

I am a little banner obsessed.

If I can make a banner for an occasion...I do.

Last week I had a small Back to School party

and made this super cute "We {heart} School" banner for decoration.

It is pretty simple and has a rustic, vintage feel.

And I kind of love it!

Painted burlap and a sweet red heart show our love of school.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Back to School with OshKosh B'gosh & $100 GiftCard Giveaway

Disclosure: Post and giveaway sponsored by OshKosh B’gosh,

but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

I am a denim fanatic.
I truly believe denim goes with just about anything!
(I would wear my denim jacket with a formal gown to the Academy Awards...for real!)
I believe great denim pieces make your wardrobe versatile and stylish year-round!!
Well, now my daughter is becoming a denim fanatic too! She is discovering the love of denim and having fun mixing and matching the pieces to create new outfits.

Can I tell ya how happy I am that Jules has discovered denim and that I have rediscovered Osh Kosh B'gosh! They have an amazing selection of stylish clothing and denim essentials for Back to School! My daughter was in need of a wardrobe update - she grew so much this summer and her style is one-of-a-kind (she is a mini fashionista!). As we sat down to shop online for her back to school wardrobe, we started with the Osh Kosh B'gosh denim - a great base for any wardrobe! OshKosh B’gosh is the place for the Back to School staple - Denim!

I remember wearing OshKosh B'gosh (heck my mom probably has my favorite overalls at her house somewhere!)...but now as a mom myself I truly appreciate the durable, high quality product that OshKosh B'gosh produces. 100% cotton, reinforced seams and adjustable waists (and extended sizes ranges too), B’gosh Blue Jeans put a smile on my face! And right now OshKosh B'gosh denim is available at amazing prices with $10/$12 Doorbuster saving online or at stores!

If you are looking for girls jeans, select your look from old and new school washes...of course with adjustable waists for comfort. Your girl will look classic and cute, as well as feel comfortable in the Bootcut denim (available in plus & slim sizes) or the go-to girly style with stretch, the B’gosh Skinny jean (size 6m-5t, 4-12).

I shopped for my daughter because (sadly) my big boy is too big for OshKosh (but I wish he wasn't - it is hard to find 100% cotton tees and quality denim at reasonable prices for an adult-sized 12 year old). But if you have a sweet (or tough) boy of your own, the boys jeans offer a selection of straight, classic & carpenter denim styles, available in sizes 6m-5t, 4-12 husky & slim. And of course let's not forget about the cool graphic tees and selection of jackets and tops...and school uniforms!

We ultimately selected a denim jacket that Jules can wear with EVERYTHING, some skinny jeans in a dark wash, and a denim skort from the denim shop. Then, we clicked over to look at OshKosh's other selections. The original tees, priced at $7 and $8 are so cute - it is hard to choose one (so we chose a few)! Did you know the designs are handdrawn by OshKosh deisgners? How cool is that? Wearable art! Best yet, the designs are cute and cool enough for my daughter to love them, but designed with age appropriateness in mind, so that this mom loves them too!

To round out our shopping adventure, we also purchased a TLC Tunic in Balloon Print to paired with TLC Sparkle Leggings, a cheerleader inspired Embellished Tee and a Floral Skort
I have way too much fun shopping for this sweet girl and am so happy she loves her OshKosh Back to School clothes and already has a list of the other styles and colors she wants!

Here is your chance to discover or rediscover OshKosh B'gosh “Like” OshKosh B’gosh on Facebook, mention @OshKoshBgosh on Twitter and follow them on Pinterest for outfitting ideas, vintage ads, deals and special events! You can shop online at OshKosh B'gosh or use the Store Locator to find a shop near you!

You can also see my OshKosh B'gosh Back to School Pinterest Board for inspiration!

She brings her denim jacket EVERYWHERE!

Now for the GIVEAWAY
OshKosh B'gosh $100 Giftcard Giveaway
open 8/9/13 to 8/15/13 at midnight PST
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre OshKosh B’gosh partnered with bloggers such as me to help promote Back to School Denim. As part of the program, I received product or gift cards. OshKosh B’gosh believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words, and therefore did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products I used. OshKosh B’gosh policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. The winner of any giveaway in this program will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Back to School Lunch Purse featuring Scotch Colors & Patterns Duct Tape

When Back to School time rolls around,
we are always on the hunt for a new lunch box or bag.
Unfortunately we almost always end up needing a different one soon after the school year starts. The quality of the lunch box either does not hold up…or more often, the lunch box is too small. My kids pack a large water bottle every day, and we rarely use plastic bags in the lunch. Instead we use reusable containers…and they take up extra space.

(P.S. with a few adjustments on the dimensions, a change of Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape, and a flap, this easily can become a great Lunch Bag for a Boy)

With some thought and Inspiration from the

Scotch® Colors & Patterns Duct Tape Facebook page

and
Scotch® Colors & Patterns Duct Tape Pinterest page,

I have created a fun and stylish lunch “purse” for my daughter (everyone girl loves a new purse, right?)…that fits all of her items…looks great…and with the strength and quality of duct tape will last a long time!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Oven Baked Taquitos: Lunch Time, Anytime Good!

My kids apparently think I make the LAMEST LUNCHES IN TOWN.

They never want me to make them lunch -

they always want to eat in the cafeteria...

but this year I was determined to put a semi-stop to this.

(semi because I don't want to set my expectations too high!)

OK, I will fess up, part of this may be my own issue...

I never made my kids sandwiches...

they always had hot lunches,

and they grew to expect more than a sandwich

(What have I done?!).

Last year I started making mini tamales (I of course never posted that recipe...maybe soon!). This year taquitos were the request of both kiddos.

I thought..."No way...all that oil, all that frying...what a time consuming mess." I searched around the web and pinned this taquito recipe from Big Bold Beautiful Food. By the way here recipe sounds yummy...I altered mine to my kids specifications.

So, with any further adieu here are my baked taquitos...

Ingredients

1 package whole wheat tortillas. NOTE: You can use corn tortillas, but the whole wheat flour tortillas rolled easier. If you use corn, be sure to read Big Bold Beautiful Food's method to make them more pliable.
1 pound preferred meat. I have made chicken, beef, and ground turkey versions. I really want to perfect a vegetarian version!
2-3 cups grated cheese. I use the Mexican blend...you can use your favorite
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil and brush
9 x 13 baking dish
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Optional: Corn or veggies. I am definitely going to experiment with veggie crumbles and some grilled veggies...just have not found that time yet!

COOK IT!

Preheat oven to 425F
place about 1 T olive oil in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan and brush all over the bottom and up the sides

Cook your filling accordingly. I roasted my chicken and cooked my meat and turkey on the stove top. COOK ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
Lay tortilla flat.
Place 1-2 T cheese about 1/3 in from one side.

Place 2 T filling on top of cheese
Roll over the close end and tuck the filling in and roll.

Place seam side down in the pan.
Continue until the pan is full.

Brush the tops of the tortillas lightly with olive oil
Bake at 425F for about 8 minutes.
Pull out and sprinkle with grated cheese...pop them back in the oven for about 2 minutes...and all done!

So, these are a HIT!

The kids request them over and over and they hold up in the lunch box...

and are even good "not so hot."

What do you make your kids for lunch?

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Be Prepared for School: Back to School Organizer

We are wrapping up our second week of school already.
I grew up not starting school until after Labor Day,
so I can barely wrap my head around this concept of school in early August.

Last years organizer

Every year I make a
Back to School Organizer
(I shared it last year on Meremade)

I do not make my binder pretty and cute -
for me this project is about function,
but I can imagine them all dressed up.
In fact, I may just make a fancy one with Duct Tape this year

I am perpetually disorganized, so I am just getting around to putting together our School Organizers. These very EASY organizers are actually more than just for school they are for life.

Joe's original Preschool binder (2005)

When I had one kiddo, I could keep it all straight in my head...but with 2 in school...not a chance! So, while I have been doing this since my son started preschool, back then it was for memory keeping...now it is necessity.

Again, let me reiterate that you can jazz these guys up as much as you want. I chose to keep mine simple. It is all personal preference!

It does not seem like it was that long ago Joe started preschool!

Here is how I keep my kids school/activity/sports schedules on track

(and more importantly me on track) !

Supplies (per binder):

3 ring binder. I like a minimum of 2" 1-2 packages (I can always find these at Goodwill for like $2.00)
Clear sheet protectors
Tabbed dividers

DIY

1. I like the clear view binders, so that on the cover, I can insert the school year schedule (info at a glance!)

2. I also include a sheet in the front with a copy of the emergency info and all necessary school numbers/email...just in case my hubby needs to be updated or I am out of town, etc.

3. Label each binder with the kiddos name - I just simply used stickers to put their names on the spine.

4. Determine your categories.

My son's categories:

School Year Calendar
School Policy/Rules/Info
Class Information/Rules/Info (we need a section for EACH class in Middle School), Activities
Sports (also subdivided as different sports begin)
Mementos/Memories
Boy Scouts

My daughter's needs are simpler, it is Kindergarten after all!

School Year Calendar
School Policy/Rules/Info
Class Information/Rules/Info
Activities
Sports (also subdivided as different sports begin)
Art/Mementos/Memories (I save anything with hand or feet prints!)

5. Slide the pertinent information into sheet protectors and insert in the correct section.

I like to keep about 5 extra empty sheet protectors in each section to make it easy to slip new info in.