Friday Favorites {Back to School Edition}

Happy Friday!

Today I'm linking up with Friday Favorites!

Hosted by: Andrea, Erika & Narci

I am SO happy it is Friday.

We are just finishing our 3rd week of school and I finally feel like I am getting my groove back. 

The first few weeks of school always kick my butt.

All summer long we sleep in, stay in pj's until noon, pretty much just wear swim suits, and have lots of family hang out time. There is a reason they call them the lazy dog days of summer and they are glorious.

But then once school starts we are thrust back into routine (which I love) but it takes all of us a few weeks to get back into our groove. I am tired from teaching & being "on" all day. My kids are tired from spending all day at school, learning new routines with their new teachers, etc. 

Soccer for both girls also started back up, so they are tired from 2 practices a week, I am driving them all around town and I am coaching Claire's team, so that is fun, but also tiring. 

Plus, I had a sinus infection a few days before school started, so I started off the school year exhausted, run down and on antibotics. 

Needless to say, its been a bumpy start to the school year because we have exhausted kids and an exhausted Mama! Everyone loves their teachers and classes, but a new school year is just TIRING! 

This was the first week since school started that I felt like I can finally catch my breath & not feel like I am running around with my head cut off! Phew! 

{ONE}

One of my favorite things to give my kids teachers the first week of school is my Back to School Printable which is a list of their FAVORITE things!

 You can download it HERE for free!
It's a great way to know what your kids teachers love and it i makes giving them treats/gifts so much easier!

{TWO}

Speaking of favorite things for teachers, we have a cute shop in our town that sells the best caramel apples! My favorite one is the Salted Caramel Apple covered in Milk Chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt. 

 This apple is AMAZING.

 I got one for each of the kids teachers and then downloaded THIS cute tag.

The saying is perfect. It is supposed to be a bigger tag, but I just cut it down.

It was a cute & easy first week of school present for them. 

Trust me, as teacher getting a yummy treat the first week of school is so fun!

{THREE}

Once school starts, I am all about making healthy after school snacks.

Here are some of my favorites:

 Acai Berry Bowl Smoothie Bowl:

Peach Pineapple Green Smoothie

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Avocado Smoothie

No Bake Protein Balls

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

 Cinnamon Sugar Applesauce Muffins 

{FOUR}

Half Moon Bay is one of my favorite places.

Kevin and I snuck away for a last weekend for a quick weekend to celebrate 15 years of marriage.

 It was over 100 degrees at home, so the cool beachy weather was perfect!
We rode cruisers for a late lunch. 

 Riding cruisers is one of my favorite things!

We had a lovely walk to dinner & saw a whale breaching on our walk!
Drinks & Dinner at Sam's Chowder House.

This is one of our favorite spots to eat in Half Moon Bay.

 

Crab Cakes & Lobster Rolls....FAVORITE!
 
 We got a free dessert in honor of our anniversary :)
 
 Twinkle lights on the patio of the restaurant...twinkle light are another favorite!

So pretty & overlooking the ocean.

 Cheers to 15 years!

{FIVE}

The Eclipse that occurred last week was one of my favorite things!
I bought glasses for my students and we had a great time learning about and watching the eclipse.
I put the glasses over my camera & got this cool photo!

 It was super cloudy that day, but we could still see the partial eclipse.

 {SIX}

Every year we have our annual Back to School Feast for our kids.
Some people have this the night before school starts or the first night of school.
We have found that having it the first or second week of school works best for our kiddos.
They look forward to it so much & can't wait to find out what our theme for the year is going to be!

 Ever since Kate started preschool, we have done a Back to School Feast to kick off the school year.
This is one of my favorite traditions!
Back to School Feast {2010}
Back to School Feast {2011}
Back to School Feast {2012}

Back to School Feast {2013}

Back to School Feast {2014}
Back to School Feast {2015}

Back to School Feast {2016}
 

  Each year we pick a theme for the year for the kids to focus on.

This year, our 2017 Theme is:

SHINE LIKE A STAR

 We based our theme off this verse:
 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky"
Philippians 2:14-15

 I decorated the table with stars:

 Each person had a star name tag on their plate.

 Like every Back to School Feast, we had breakfast for dinner. This year it was French Toast. We made the French Toast with Brioche Bread, just like we had on our Chicago trip. It was so good!

During dinner we talk about our theme and how we can apply it.
Even though the theme was Shine like a Star, it doesn't mean we want them to shine academically.  In fact, we didn't even bring up academics. It is to have your character Shine like a Star. We talked about ways they could Shine like a Star in their classroom, with their friends & at home. We especially focused on the part of the verse where it says to do everything without complaining or arguing....helping out with chores, doing homework, getting along with their siblings, etc.
This is one of my favorite traditions!

{SEVEN}

My Rodan + Fields Back to School Special is still going on!
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You can pair this special with some of our other Rodan + Fields bundle deals.
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 Lash boost is my favorite! The photos speak for themselves!




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If you buy a Regimen & our Hydration Serum, you get a FREE travel size regimen! (and a FREE eye cream!!)

 The results are incredible. Unblemish is one of my top sellers!

  We have regimens for all skin types.
 What is your biggest skin concern? I'm here to help!
Take THIS quick 5 question survey to find out what is best for your skin! 

Email me to place an order or if you have questions!
melissa_larson17@yahoo.com

{EIGHT}

I re-did one of my bulletin boards in my classroom.
How cute are these Hashtag Rules?

I found them on Teachers Pay Teachers. LOVE that website!

{NINE}

Harry Potter is one of our favorite books.
Kevin and I read them when they first came out many years ago.
Kate read the 1st one last year & loved it, but didn't want to read the others because she was nervous Harry was going to die. Before our Hawaii trip, we convinced her to bring book 2 with her & she did. She loved it so much and in the past 6 weeks has finished books 2 through 7!!!!!!!

 She is a book worm like me & I busted her reading late several times over the past 6 weeks.
I did that as a kid also :)
At night, Kevin has been reading them outl oud to Claire & Luke. They are on book 3 now and they are hooked. My kids are now obsessed with Harry Potter....guess what they are all being for Halloween this year?!?!

{TEN}

It's the most wonderful time of the year....College Football starts today!
The Buffs play Colorado State tonight.

 Last year was such a fun season....hoping this year is even better!
Never Stop Rising!
GO BUFFS!


Hope you all have a great 3 day weekend!