Posts tagged with "back to school"

Five Back to School Recipes with Healthy Family Project!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

For many parts of the country, school is back in session! Healthy lunches and dinners can sometimes be challenging as we are learning to balance schedules, extra-curricular activities and more. I am here to help make your life easier! While this post is sponsored by Healthy Family Project, all opinions and the recipes are my own.

Is school back in session yet for your kiddos? We went back around 2 weeks ago, and I can’t believe how quickly that time is already flying by. My oldest son Drew is a junior in high school, and Brady, our 10-year-old is in fifth grade. Since I have 2 very active boys, you can imagine that they are always hungry!

 

I teach part-time at Brady’s school, so meal planning and preparation are very important to me! The last thing that I want to think about each night is what to make for dinner, or what to pack in the boy’s school lunches for the next day. The meals and snacks that I prepare for my family, must not only be quick and easy, but they must also be healthy. I love to add lots of fresh fruits and veggies to every meal or snack to ensure that our family is getting the nutrients that we need.

With the kids heading back to school, life is about to get a lot busier for all of us! Whether you are taking the kids back and forth to school, or all the extra-curricular activities that they have, here are 4 easy and healthy dinner and lunch recipes to help your school year get off on the right track. I am also including an extra bonus dessert recipe because some days you need dessert!

Sausage and Avocado Cream Cheese Zucchini Boats

Quick and easy dinner ideas are a must for our busy family! These Sausage and Avocado Cream Cheese Zucchini Boats are sure to be a new fave that your family will ask for again and again!

Ingredients:

4-6 zucchini washed and halved

1 tub of ¡Yo Quiero! Brands Avocado Cream Cheese (you can use any variety, but I used the Spinach Bacon)

16oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

1lb. Italian roll sausage

salt/pepper for taste

1 small RealSweet Onion, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Scoop out the center of each of the halved zucchinis to make a “boat”.

Place in a greased baking pan.

In the meantime, cook the Italian roll sausage on medium heat and add the RealSweet Onions. Cook until done. Add salt/pepper to taste.

Combine cooked sausage and onions with the tub of ¡Yo Quiero! Brands Avocado Cream Cheese

Spread sausage mixture into each zucchini boat and top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until zucchini are tender and the cheese is bubbly.

Serve and enjoy!

 

 

Guacamole and Caramelized Onion Patty Melts

Some evenings call for a quick, yet comforting meal! These Guacamole and Caramelized Onion Patty Melts are sure to give you the comfort factor that you crave yet are very easy to prepare and oh-so delicious! Add other veggies or toppings as your family prefers. The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients:

16 oz. Ground Turkey or Ground Beef (I used half of each to cut down on the fat content)

Slices of Monterrey Jack Cheese

3-4 RealSweet Vidalia Onions sliced

salt/pepper to taste

8-10 slices of your favorite bread

Butter spread

¡Yo Quiero! Brands Guacamole

Instructions:

Place sliced RealSweet Vidalia Onions in a skillet to caramelize. Cook until golden brown.

While onions are cooking, form the Ground Beef/Turkey mixture into patties.

Place Hamburger/Turkey Patties on a griddle or in a skillet to cook. Cook each patty through.

Place caramelized onions in a bowl to cool down.

In the meantime, butter one side of each bread slice then place the buttered side down of the bread on the skillet to get golden brown.

Add cooked hamburger patties to bread slices and top with caramelized onions, cheese and ¡Yo Quiero! Brands Guacamole. Turn sandwich over to continue cooking and to become golden brown.

Serve with your favorite veggies and enjoy!

 

Chicken Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles

One of my favorite time-savers for getting dinner on the table during a busy week is by utilizing my slow cooker. I can throw something in before I leave for school in the morning, and we will have delicious and easy dinner later that evening! I particularly love the pre-cooked chicken meatballs from Costco. I throw them in the slow cooker with a jar of our favorite marinara sauce, and voila dinner is almost ready! I serve them over Pero Family Zucchini Noodles that you cook in the microwave for just a few minutes. This meal is a family favorite and filled with veggies and protein!

Ingredients:

1 package of pre-cooked chicken meatballs (I buy the Amylu brand from Costco, but you can use whatever meatballs that you prefer or have on hand)

1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce

2 containers of Pero Family Zucchini Noodles

 

Instructions:

Place the package of chicken meatballs in the slow cooker.

Pour the jar of marinara sauce over the meatballs,

Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Before you are ready to serve cook the zucchini noodles in the microwave until done.

Serve the chicken meatballs over the zucchini noodles and add extra sauce and grated parmesan cheese.

This meal couldn’t be easier to prepare and is so delicious! I can almost guarantee that there will be no leftovers!

Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

I don’t know about you, but Chicken Salad is one of our family’s favorite go-to lunches. There are so many different varieties of fruits or veggies that can be added to make it your own. This Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad is sweet yet savory, and every bite is a pop in your mouth that keeps you coming back for more. This is the perfect lunch idea for every member of your family!

Ingredients:

3-4 cups of cooked chicken breast (I used a rotisserie chicken for the convenience factor)

3 celery stalks, diced

5-6 Bee Sweet Citrus Mandarins, peeled and segmented

3-4 green onions, diced

Celery salt for taste

Pepper for taste

1/3 cup stone ground Dijon mustard

½ cup avocado oil mayonnaise

Instructions:

Combine chicken breast, diced celery, green onions, mayonnaise, and mustard in a large bowl.

Add celery salt and pepper for taste.

Gently fold in the mandarin oranges.

Serve with your favorite bread as a sandwich or topped high on your favorite crackers! This is such a refreshing and healthy lunch for yourself or the kiddos!

Caramel Apple Galette

Had a rough week? Sometimes a special dessert for the family is in order! This Caramel Apple Galette couldn’t be easier to prepare, and every bite is packed full of delicious Jazz Apples! The sweet apples with the caramel drizzle are the perfect pairing. Add some vanilla ice cream for an even more decadent dessert!

Ingredients:

1 premade pie crust (the roll out variety)

3-4 Jazz Apples, peeled and sliced into ¼ inch pieces

Jar of your favorite caramel sauce

1-2 Tbsp. of sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Dash of salt

Egg Wash: 1 large egg

Dusting Sugar for crust

Optional: Vanilla Ice Cream

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out the pie crust into a pie pan or glass baking dish

In a bowl, mix the apples, cinnamon, and salt

Place apples into the rolled-out pie crust.

Gently fold the edge of the dough over the apples.

Brush the crust with the egg wash.

Sprinkle dusting sugar on the crust to give it a nice sheen as it bakes.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

Drizzle with your favorite caramel sauce

Serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

 

 

Are you familiar with the Power Your Lunchbox program? If not, I highly suggest that you check it out! I am honored to be a part of a campaign that helps empower families as they get ready for the back-to-school season. The Power Your Lunchbox program, in partnership with Healthy Family Project has so many tips and recipes to offer as they help to support accessibility to fresh produce in schools through the Foundation for Fresh Produce. The back-to-school campaign has raised over $180,000 for charitable organizations that promote health over the years. Isn’t that amazing?

A big THANK YOU to the sponsors who have helped to make this campaign a huge success! Jazz Apple, Bee Sweet Citrus, Pero Family Farms, Nature Fresh Farms, RealSweet Onions, Crispy Green, ¡Yo Quiero!

 

 

Nominate a Deserving Teacher for the #GreatTeacherGiveback

This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own.

Can you believe that it is once again time for school to start? Is it just me or does it seem like the summer gets shorter every year?

As we are busily preparing to send our kids back to school this year, it’s important that we not forget about the teachers that will be teaching our children. Not only do they sacrifice their time, but most teachers also give of their own money to ensure that their classroooms are ready for their students.

Teachers often have to provide their own supplies, decorations, and even books. In a recent study it was estimated that they average teacher spends over $500 out of their own pocket for these items. That is a lot of extra cash that many teachers may not have. Even as a part-time paraprofessional educator at my school, there are supplies and items that I purchase with my own money. Items like rewards, school supplies, and even extra-curricular work can really add up.

In addition, many students will come to school with only a fraction of the items that are listed on their school supply list. A majority of schools do not provide their teachers with funds for school supplies, so this means that the teacher will have to provide those items for the students. An extra $500 a year can be overwhelming for many teachers, so any extra funds are definitely helpful.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to give back to a deserving teacher? How would you like to nominate a teacher that you know to help them get funds for their classroom? Thanks to the generous folks at Savings.com and the #GreatTeacherGiveback, FOUR deserving teachers will each win $500 for their classroom! Teachers, you can also nominate yourself for this giveback! Simply head on OVER HERE to the nomination page and fill out the requested information. Nominations will remain open until August 19. 

Good luck teachers, and thank you for all that you do!

 

 

Back to School Looks for Less with The Children’s Place! #BTSwithTCP

This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own.

Is it me or does it seem like summer vacation goes faster and faster each year? I can hardly believe that the summer will soon be over and we will be in school mode once again. The end of summer vacation means that back to school shopping will soon be in full swing! We will be looking for the best deals to get our kids ready for the new year. When it comes to finding the best deals for back to school looks, I always turn to The Children’s Place. Whether your child wears a school uniform or they need a new school wardrobe, The Children’s Place has you covered. Not only do they have the best prices around, but I love that they offer Free Shipping on every purchase! You can also buy online and pick your order up in in the store. Both are great options, especially since many of us are so busy these days.

Through July 31, The Children’s Place is offering huge savings on clothing to help get the kids back to school ready! Graphic tees are priced starting at just $3.99 and basic jeans start at $7.99. If your kiddos wear a school uniform, I love that The Children’s Place offers multipacks that include multiples of each item so that you can get the most bang for your buck. For example, you can get a double pack of polo shirts for $10 or a two pack of shorts of pants for $20. I also noticed that you can get multipacks of three and five clothing items. This makes it super easy and affordable while planning that back to school wardrobe!

Here are several budget-friendly looks that I put together!

Girls Super Skinny Jeans, $11.99

Girls Two Pack Graphic Tees, $8.99

 

Boys Two Pack Basketball Shorts, $14.99

Boys Two Pack Muscle Tanks, $12.99

 

Girls Uniform Ruffle Pique Polo, $5.99

Girls Uniform Active French Terry Skort, Two pack, $14.99

Boys Uniform Pique Polo Two Pack, $9.99

Boys Uniform Stretch Chino Shorts Two Pack, $20

Girls Print Skater Dress Two Pack, $19.98

Boys Stretch Super Skinny Jeans, $14

Boys Colorblock Hoodie Top, $11.97

 

If a new backpack is on the agenda for this coming school year, The Children’s Place is offering up to 40% off through July 21! They have backpacks for everyone on your list! I love that many of the backpack options come in sets so you get the backpack and lunch box all in one! This saves time and money on your back to school shopping! My youngest son Brady is into Minecraft, so this 2 two piece Minecraft set is what he chose. At $23.99 that is a great deal for both pieces!

Back to School with the New Crayola Colors of the World Crayons!

Disclosure: I was provided with product to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Please see my disclosure policy)

School is in full swing for our family! Whether your kids are attending a brick and mortar building for school, or you choose to teach them at home virtually, you will more than likely need school supplies. One of my favorite products to shop for every year is crayons. Of course, only the best will do, and hands down, Crayola  wins every year!

This year, Crayola is excited to announce their new Crayola Colors of the World Crayons. With Colors of the World Crayons, children can fully and accurately represent themselves and the world around them through creativity, imagination and self-expression! The 24 newly formulated colors reflect more than 40 global skin tone shades encompassing three undertones – Rose, Almond & Golden – and range in skin tone colors from Extra Light to Deepest. Colors of the World packaging features color panels and authentic color names to help kids find the shade that best represents themselves. Each crayon is wrapped in a gradient skin tone label, with the color name in English, Spanish and French.

Colors of the World Crayons (32 count): In addition to featuring the 24 new skin tone colors, the Colors of the World 32 count crayon pack features four hair and four eye color crayons – perfect for creating a complete self-portrait.

The 24 count is available on Crayola.com for $2.49, and the 32 count is available exclusively at Walmart for $1.77.

In addition to the Crayola Colors of the World Crayons, you can find other Crayola favorites at retailers nationwide. My son Brady loves the Crayola Sketchpads to create his own unique creations!

Tips for Back to School Shopping & School Supply Price Point List!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Back to school shopping is in full swing! Whether you are sending your kids to a brick and mortar school or plan on homeschooling them this year, you will more than likely need to purchase some new school supplies and other items. I have several tips and a price point list that will be helpful during this time. Many families are already stressed out enough these days over our current situation, so the last thing that we need to be thinking about is back to school shopping.

Here are a few tips and ideas to help you put together a Back to School Shopping plan:

Tax Free Shopping Days-

Check your local state to see when/if they are participating. Here in the state of Florida, we can take advantage August 7-9. Participating items include:

  • Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
  • Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
  • Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories selling for $1,000 or less per item, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

Take advantage of student discounts-

Best Buy offers exclusive student deals. Just go their website and sign up under the Student Deals page. As an example, you can get a set of Jabra Wireless Earbuds for $20 with the purchase of a chrome book of $299 or more.

Apple is offering a free pair of AirPods with the purchase of a MacBook or iPad.

Amazon offers a Free 6 month trial of Amazon Prime to College Students. After the 6 month trial you will receive 50% off the regular monthly price. You will also receive student-only discounts and offers.

Technology Deals-

This year with more families homeschooling, the cost of back to school shopping is supposed to be at the highest it has been in years. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family will spend over $789 per child this year! This is due to many people having to buy new computers and accessories to go with them. Best Buy currently has an ASUS – 11.6″ Chromebook for $189. That is a super deal considering most stores are already sold out of the better deals on chromebooks and laptops. All of the stores will be competing for the best prices so be sure to shop around. Some stores may even offer a price match so be sure to ask!

Drive Up/Pick Up or Free Shipping with No Minimum- One of my biggest tips for Back to School Shopping 2020 is to utilize Free Drive-Up pick up options and Free Shipping when possible. Stores like Target and Walmart both offer Free Order Online and Drive Up Pick up. You never even have to step foot in the the store. Some stores will even offer an extra discount if you use this service. Staples is currently offering Free Shipping with no minimum purchase. Between these options and the sales, I got both of my boys school supplies for around $50! The best part? I never stepped inside a store!

Get the most bang for your buck- Even if you are shopping from the convenience of your home this year, I still suggest shopping around at different stores to find the best deals. Be aware though, that some stores do have product limits on how many items that you can purchase at one time. In this case, you may need to do several transactions.

 Coupons are still alive and well- I have noticed several coupons both online and in the Sunday newspaper for school supply items. Don’t be afraid to utilize those to help you maximize your budget even more.

School clothes closet sales- Check to see if your kid’s school has a closet sale of uniforms and other items that have been left behind. I just bought my boys’ uniform shirts and jackets (their school has a required logo shirt) that were in like-new condition for only $5 each! My oldest son’s school did a virtual closet sale so we didn’t even have to leave the house.

Stack the savings! This is probably one of my biggest tips for ways that you can save on school supplies. When you stack store promotional offers, coupons and money-saving apps with discounts and rewards you can save BIG! And, don’t forget at places like Target you will save an extra 5% off when you use your Target REDcard! If you don’t have a Target REDcard, consider shopping with a credit card that will earn you cash back or points. Apps like Fetch Rewards allow you to scan your receipt (even online purchases) and to get points for your purchases. Those points can then be redeemed for gift cards and cash.

Masks/Hand Sanitizer/Essentials- This year looks a lot differently in more ways than one. If you are sending your child back to school, masks are more than likely to be required, and the other essentials like Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Wipes will be vital. I would suggest that you shop around for the best prices for these items. I would say that the Hand Sanitizer, Medical Masks, and Wipes can be hard-to-come by so when you see a deal on Amazon or the store, buy then. For the best deal on masks, I would suggest Target. They have a 2-count pack for kids and adults for just $4. Our family has these masks and we like them the best of all the ones that we have tried.

Know the price points of school supplies- and what you should be paying for those items. I have put together a list below of my price points for school supplies. You may be able to find these items even cheaper than I have posted. If you do, stock up!

Below is my list of price points for school supplies. You can view it here and download to print.

 I hope that these tips were helpful as you navigate your Back to School Shopping for 2020!

 

Back to School with Staples!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

I know that Back to School shopping this year is definitely not going to be normal. With that being said, even if you decide to keep your kids at home and homeschool them, they will still need school supplies! I have found some of the best deals around at Staples, and I love that you don’t even have to step foot inside the store! For a limited time, they are offering FREE Shipping with no minimum, so this is a great time to take advantage!

Be sure to check out all of the Back to School deals at Staples, but here are some of my favorites:

TRU RED™ 3″ x 5″ Index Cards, Legal Ruled, White, 100/Pack $0.50

Staples Permanent Glue Sticks, .28 oz., 4/Pack $0.50

Staples 1 Subject Notebook, 8.5″ x 11″, College Ruled, 100 Sheets, Assorted, 3/Pack $0.75

Sharpie® Accent® Pocket Style Highlighters, Narrow Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 5/pk $1.88

TRU RED™ Composition Notebook, 7.5″ x 9.75″, College  or Wide Ruled, 80 Sheets, Assorted Colors $0.50

HP 27yh 3UA74AA#ABA 27″ LED Monitor $119.99

Staples Standard 1″ 3-Ring View Binder Assorted Colors $1.88

TRU RED™ 5″ Kids Pointed Tip Stainless Steel Scissors, Straight Handle, Right & Left Handed, 2/Pack $1.75

Ticonderoga The World’s Best Pencil Wooden Pencils, No. 2 Soft Lead, Dozen $1.49

Expo Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Point, Black, 4/Pack $2.97

Staples Mechanical Pencils, No. 2 Medium Lead, Dozen $1.49 

TRU RED™ Wide Ruled or College Ruled Filler Paper, 8″ x 10.5″, White, 120 Sheets/Pack $0.75

Crayola® Crayons, 24/Box $0.50

 

 

 

15% Target Purchase Store Coupon!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Here’s a great Target offer for you!

This Saturday and Sunday 8/24/19 to Sunday 8/25/19, you will receive a coupon for 15% off a Future Shopping trip (in stores only) between September 3-14 when you spend $10 on school supplies! How awesome is that? If the kiddos still need some school supplies or if you want to stock up on a few items to get you through the year, this is a great time to do so! GO HERE to see more details of the offer. 

Welcome ABC Action News Viewers!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

**If you missed the segment, feel free to watch it HERE.

A warm welcome to ABC Action News viewers! This weekend is a huge back to school shopping holiday for us here in Florida!

If you have not already started your back to school shopping for the kiddos, now is the time to do so! With the tax free weekend, many stores will be offering great sales and promotional offers, so this may be a great time to finish up your shopping while taking advantage of the sales. You can see my previous post HERE on the guidelines for Tax Free Shopping this weekend and the items that will be included.

While it may be more challenging these days to find good deals on school supplies, there are still ways that it can be done.

Here are a few tips to help as you plan your back to school shopping:

  • Start your shopping early and have a plan of action. Have the kid’s back to school list handy and know exactly what items that you are looking for. You don’t want to be shopping for items the week for school starts. Shopping early not only alleviates stress, but it allows you to score the best deals!
  • Shop at several stores to get the most bang for your buck. I often find that if you spend your entire budget at one store, you will end up spending more than you had originally planned. This does require some time and effort, but it is worth it! Purchase the newspaper on Sunday and see what stores have the best deals for the items on your kids’ school supply list and make a plan of action from there.
  • Be aware of limits on products. Many stores will limit the amount of products that you can purchase if there a special discount on that item. For example, you may only be able to purchase 5 notebooks for $0.10 each per person. Plan to take several people with you if you need more than the required limit.
  • Coupons are still alive and well! I have noticed several coupons both online and paper for school supply items. Don’t be afraid to utilize those to help you maximize your budget even more! For example, there was coupon in the newspaper this past Sunday for $1.50 off 2 BIC Stationery products. BIC Pens are priced around $1 at most stores so this coupon will get you 2 packs of pens for just $0.50! And, $0.25 per package of pens is definitely a stock up price and under my price point per package! (please keep in mind that most coupons now have a limit on them)
  • Have a product swap with friends. You may be surprised of the items that you have laying around the house that are brand new school supplies. Get your friends together and see what they have. You could save a few dollars and have a fun time doing it!
  • Thrift Stores– You can find some great hidden gems at your local thrift store! I have seen items with the tags still attached for a fraction of the price that you would pay at your local store.
  • School clothes closet sales. Check to see if your kid’s school has a closet sale of uniforms and other items that have been left behind. I just bought my boys’ uniform shirts and jackets (their school has a required logo shirt) that were in like-new condition for only $5 each!
  • Stack the savings! This is probably one of my biggest tips for ways that you can save on school supplies. When you stack store promotional offers and coupons with discounts and rewards you can save BIG! And, don’t forget at places like Target you will save an extra 5% off when you use your Target REDcard! If you don’t have a Target REDcard, consider shopping with a credit card that will earn you cash back or points.
  •  Know the price points of school supplies and what you should be paying for those items. I have put together a list below of my price points for school supplies. You may be able to find these items even cheaper than I have posted. If you do, stock up! You can click on the image below or print the list HERE and keep it with you for when you are shopping!

Please feel free to follow me on all of my social media outlets! I love to offer savings advice for the smart and savvy lifestyle, and hope that you will learn to save in every area of your family’s budget so that you can splurge on those fun luxuries from time-to-time!

My Sweet Savings on Facebook:

My Sweet Savings on Instagram:

My Sweet Savings on Twitter:

Florida Back to School Tax Free Weekend 2019 August 2-6

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Florida Back to School Tax Free Weekend 2019 is almost here! This year we have 5 days (August 2-6) to take advantage of the holiday! During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax including: certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; and clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and computers and certain accessories selling for $1,000 or less per item, when purchased for noncommercial or personal use.

Clothing and Accessories $60 and under

Diapers (this is a great time to stock up for the little ones!)

Fitness Clothing

Handbags, Purses, Wallets

Backpacks, Book Bags and Lunch Boxes

Shoes (including athletic)

Bicycle Helmets

Swimsuits and Swim Trunks

 

School Supplies $15 and under

Notebooks, Paper, Folders, Notebook Filler Paper, Graph Paper

Calculators

Compasses, Rulers, Protractors, Scissors, Staplers and Staples 

Pens, Pencils, Colored Pencils, Crayons, Markers, Highlighters

Poster Board, Constructions Paper

Glue, Paste and Tape

For all of the details and to see everything included, you can GO HERE to the Florida Revenue site.

Stock up Price on Elmer’s Glue Sticks!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Hop on over to Amazon where they seem to have one of the best prices around right now on Elmer’s Glue Sticks! Pick up this Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue, Washable, 30 Pack for only $6.63! That makes each stick just $0.22! 

*Amazon pricing and promotions can change at any time so act now if interested! These prices are current at the time of this posting.