Studio 40 Live | Back to School Tips

Today I was on Studio 40 Live Sharing Back to School Tips!  You can view the segment here: http://bit.ly/2tSRC9l.

It's that time of year again, Back to School!  I have a 5th, 3rd and 1st grader, here are some tips that have been helpful for our family to gear up for Back to School.

Start bedtime and wake up routine 2 weeks before school starts.  It is important to practice your school bedtime and wake up routine before the first day of school, not only for the kids to get back in the habit but also for you the parent getting them ready.  This will make the transition back to school smoother for everyone. 

Clean out and prepare your pantry for lunch and snack packing.  Prepare for packing lunches and snacks by stocking your cupboards and make sure you have the necessary supplies, Ziploc bags, or reusable containers.  If you have a kindergartner, practice with them opening their lunch containers and back packs, especially if they have never taken lunch before. Start searching for lunch box ideas, I find it helpful to make a list and keep it on the refrigerator of lunch food items and then I have a rotating variety to go through.  

Get in the mindset of school.  Spend some time writing and reading, practicing those math facts. Even spending some quiet time at the table coloring helps the kids get back in school mode.  

Have a spot where you set out school clothes the night before.  Having a specific spot, helps both you and the kids stay organized and prepared.  Also have a designated area where backpacks will go, so they don’t have to search in the morning for their backpack. 

Prepare a homework station.  If you have all the tools in a central location it makes homework easier so you do not have to search for a pencil, glue, scissors or any other items.  You can find colorful containers at the dollar store and many times right in the back to school section of your local retailer.  

Get a head start on back to school shopping, don’t wait until the last minute.  Shop as soon as you see those back to school sales hit the stores.  Not only will you get first pick of the supplies, I find this is especially important when it comes to backpacks and lunch boxes. You can also cash in on all the Back to School SALES and avoid the crowds!

Print out or order those “First Day of” Signs for first day pictures.  If you like to take those memorable first day of school pictures, prepare ahead of time, even the day before, make sure you have your camera ready, batteries charged, and if you want a sign that says the grade and date have it printed out ahead of time, or you can order signs on Etsy Shops and many blog sites, Pinterest is a great place to search for ideas. Here are some FREE Printables I made http://bit.ly/2udEivH and http://bit.ly/2wf79RD.

Do something fun the weekend before as a family.  With going back to school and getting back to earlier bed times and homework, plan some fun family things the week before or at least the weekend before back to school.  Visit your local swimming pool, go out for pizza, camp out in the backyard or in the front living room.  Enjoy the extra non-structured time you have now with your children.  I know once school starts, the evenings seem shorter and a little more hectic with homework, and after school activities, so enjoy and savor the moments where you have extra time to spend together without feeling rushed by schedules and to do lists.

Save Money!  Back to School shopping can be expensive, shop those weekly sales at stores like Office Depot and Staples where they offer penny deals, and low priced items.  If you go each week and get the deals you can save a lot of money, it all adds up.  Sign up for their store rewards, many times they have special rebate offers, where you can get printer paper and other items for FREE after rebate.

Use coupons!  You can find coupons on-line and in the local newspaper.  Let the coupon websites do the work for you, my favorite coupon sites to help save money on Back to School are PantryOverflow.com and TheKrazyCouponLady.com.

Download my favorite money saving App IBOTTA.  Right now you can get a $10 sign up bonus by using my link: https://ibotta.com/r/qygfhq.  You will love this app, you shop buying items listed in the App, take a picture of your receipt sometimes you can scan the QR code on Walmart receipts and hit submit.  You receive money back within 48 hours.  It is easy to use and there are everyday items you can get money back for, like produce, milk, and back to school supplies!

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Here is the Studio 40 Live Segment:

Community Back to School Bash

You are invited for a fun FREE family event!  Not only is it way to have fun with the family but also a way to GIVE BACK!  

There will be bounce houses, carnival games, a Batman Show, Studio T Dancers Performing, FREE hair cuts for kids and so much more!  All we ask is that you bring school supplies to donate for a local community school in need.

Our main goal for this event is to collect School Supply Donations which will be distributed to a local community school that has 90% free lunch attendees.

If you are a business, you can be a sponsor!  What you receive as a sponsor: Your business promoted on our Social Media Channels as a Community Leader, Logo on Banner, Logo on our website and a Table/Booth at our Back to School Bash Event! Hospitality tent with drinks and snacks provided for all sponsors.  Get Involved, contact us (916) 348-3200.

All School Supplies will be donated to FC Joyce Elementary School of North Highlands, CA!  These students and teachers need our help!

Where: Family Community Church Parking Lot | 6331 Watt Avenue, North Highlands, CA 95660

When: Saturday, August 12 

Time:  9 AM to Noon

For more information and to donate visit: www.SacHelpingHands.org

The Batman Show will be at 11:30 AM.
The Paul Mitchell team will be providing FREE haircuts to kids from 9 AM to Noon.

Elevate Your Sacramento Date Night

In this busy day and age, it's easy to put romance on the back burner. There are a ton of distractions, whether it is family, work, or any other number of prior commitments that come with day to day life. However, this doesn't diminish the importance of putting time aside to spend time with your loved one. One of the great things about being in Sacramento is the fact that there are a ton of destinations and opportunities to have a romantic getaway without leaving the city! Here are some great options for a date night that are sure to make you look forward to the night, as well as more information on how to make it completely unforgettable.

Couple's Classes

There's no better way to get closer as a couple than to learn something new together. Not only will you gain a new skill, but you'll also get to enjoy it. We highly recommend checking out the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, as they center their craft around local produce and the farmers who are behind it all.

Double Date

Dinner with just you and your spouse is very important and necessary if you ask me, but date night for four or more are just as important.  According to a study at Wayne State University bonding with other couples actually strengthens your own relationship.  Taking a ride together can be an affordable way to have a night out when the cost is split between couples!

Enjoy Nightlife

There are unlimited options for enjoying dinner at a new restaurant and ambiance in the city. One of the best ways to do so is to head over to Sacramento Comedy Spot over in Midtown where there is no shortage of laughs or take part in the Suspect Murder Mystery Comedy Theater experience.

Let Someone Else do the Driving

Be sure to consider renting a limo for your date! With this form of transportation, your entire night is transformed into a magical experience. You aren't going to have to worry about finding directions or dealing with traffic on your special night, instead a professional chauffeur will whisk you away to the spots that you've chosen. You can enjoy amazing features while you're on the road such as ambient lighting, television screens, spacious interiors, and cup holders. Reserving with a Sacramento Limousine Company is the perfect way to make your date night in Sacramento unforgettable.

Got a question? Want to make a reservation? You can contact us 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We are available to you when you have the time.

Sacramento Party Buses

Phone: (916) 672-8218

E-mail: info@sacramentopartybuses.com

Website: http://www.sacramentopartybuses.com/

California State Fair | July 14-30, 2017

I love going to the fair!  Growing up I used to beg my family to go to the fair and now that I have a family of my own I love sharing the love of the fair with them.  I love everything about it, the rides, the shows, cutest farm animals, people watching and let’s not forget the FOOD!!!  If you visit on Wednesday or Thursday you can participate in ‘Taste of the Fair’ and enjoy certain foods for only $2 from 11 AM to 4 PM.  This is a great way to try everything!

The California State Fair is here in Sacramento at the Cal Expo Fair Grounds through Sunday, July 30th so there is still time to visit the California State Fair!  I LOVE the commercial they have this year, if you have not seen it you can check it out here.

We have Raging Waters Season Passes which gives us free entry into the CA State Fair so we have gone to the fair a few times already.  My boys love watching the Jack in the Box Freestyle Motocross Show.  You can catch this action packed show every day of the fair at 3 PM, 5 PM and 7 PM in the lagoon area.  If you arrive early you can sign up to participate in a tricycle race where you could win a Jack in the Box gift card.

We love to visit ‘The Farm’ area, you can pick up a card at the information table and as you go around the farm you find stamps for certain fruits/vegetables, when you return you receive an apple and gift bag.  It is so nice to explore the farm and see the fruits and veggies growing.  In ‘The Farm’ area you can also touch fish (Sturgeon) and see the Insect Pavilion. 

One of my boys other favorite things this year was the Dinosaur Exhibit in Expo Buildings 4 and 5.  There are HUGE moving dinosaurs in two buildings, along with some fun facts and hands on activities.

In Expo Building 2 you can find the Whale Tale Exhibit.  Here you will find rescued animals; we saw the cutest sea otters, a raccoon, ‘Spirit’ a Bald Eagle, and a Pelican.  You will also find a Mother’s Lounge in this building. 

In Expo Building 3 you can view art by local students.  It is quite amazing what these kids have created, from sculptures to paintings there are a lot of neat creations in there.  I loved seeing all the home designs with floor plan layouts and all.  With the Sacramento heat it’s nice to spend some time in these air conditioned buildings. 

There is a reading program for kids in 8th grade and under.  With The Read to Ride Program For every two books you read, you receive two rides free.  The Read to Ride program is open to students kindergarten through eighth grade. Students must read two books, write a summary, then bring the completed form to the California State Fair Guest Services office (located inside the Main Gate) to receive two free rides.   You can download the form here: http://www.castatefair.org/read-ride-program/

Be sure to download the State Fair App, it’s easy to use and you will have a schedule of events right in your hands.  You can also participate in a scavenger hunt through the app and take it to any guest services to receive a SMUD goody bag while supplies last.

Parking at Cal Expo this year is $15 and cash only so don’t forget your cash!

If you ride the Monorail you may recognize the voice of our local Good Day Sacramento Anchor Marianne McClary!

The Lost Kids area is up front near the main gates.  Unfortunately I had to use this service this year.  It is very scary to misplace a kid, I am thankful for the family who helped my six year old go to the Lost Kids Station and I am grateful he was safe.  If your kids are older it is good to have a meeting place and also be sure they know your phone number or have it on them.

I hope you are able to go out and enjoy the California State Fair. 

Location: 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815

Cal Expo Parking: $15

Ticket Prices:

Adult Daily Admission (Ages 13-61) - $12

Senior Daily Admission (Ages 62 & better) - $10

Youth Daily Admission (Ages 5-12)-$8

Child Daily Admission (Ages 4 & under)-Free

For Tickets: http://www.castatefair.org/tickets17/

Here is the link for Special Events: http://www.castatefair.org/special-events/

For more information and the daily schedule of events visit the CA State Fair Website at:  http://www.castatefair.org/.

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Tips for Preparing for Back to School

Have you seen the back to school supplies at all the local retailers?  When I first see the school supplies going up, I usually do not feel ready for back to school; yet as I look at the calendar and each day passes I know it will be here before I know it, so it is easier if I just embrace the change and get in the back to school mode.  

I hope you all have had a fun summer vacation!  Here are some tips to help you prepare and plan for back to school, I hope you find them helpful.  Feel free to share any other things that your family does to prepare for back to school in the comment section.

Start bedtime and wake up routine 2 weeks before school starts.  I know with summer break it is fun to let the kids stay up a little later than normal and sleep in.  It is important to practice your school bedtime and wake up routine before the first day of school, not only for the kids to get back in the habit but also for you the parent getting them ready.  This will make the transition back to school smoother for everyone.  It helps them prepare mentally for going back to school.

Pray for your child’s teacher and classmates.  We have always prayed for the right teacher for our children and it has amazed me each year, there has been two specific times where, we were certain of the teacher they were going to have, it was already set, we had met the teacher but even with that, we prayed during summer break and a change took place weeks before school started and it ended up being some of the most memorable teachers that my boys have had and I know it is a result of praying and trusting God to have the right teacher for that specific child.  It does not have to be a lengthy prayer, we simply say “Thank you God for the right teacher for (insert child’s name), thank you for all the right class mates, thank you for godly influence upon their life and for a fun, educational and blessed school year.”  You can make this part of your bedtime routine or even incorporate into the blessing you speak over your meals.  

Clean out and prepare your pantry for lunch and snack packing.  Prepare for packing lunches and snacks by stocking your cupboards and make sure you have the necessary supplies, Ziploc bags, or reusable containers for packing those school lunches.  Have your sticky notes handy for those lunch notes to send with your children.  My favorite thing to use for school lunches are those plastic containers that have compartments, it cuts back on the use of Ziploc bags and my kids love them.  If you have a kindergartner starting, practice with them opening their lunch containers and back packs, especially if they have never taken lunch before.  Start searching for lunch box ideas, I find it helpful to make a list and keep it on the refrigerator of lunch food items and then I have a rotating variety to go through.  

Have a spot where you set out school clothes the night before.  My kids wear school uniforms which makes getting ready in the morning much easier than picking out an outfit but even with school uniforms, setting it out the night before and having socks and shoes ready to go, makes the mornings smoother.  If you have a specific spot, on top of their dresser, maybe on a hanger on a hook, or on a night stand, it helps both you and the kids stay organized and prepared.  Also have a designated area where backpacks will go, so they don’t have to search in the morning for their backpack and so they know where they go after school and you don’t have them laying around the house.   

Get a head start on back to school shopping, don’t wait until the last minute.  Shop as soon as you see those back to school sales hit the stores.  Not only will you get first pick of the supplies, I find this is especially important when it comes to backpacks and lunch boxes.  You also won’t be rushed the week before back to school trying to get everything.  I have done back to school shopping a few different ways, find what works best for you.  Sometimes going to one store and getting all the supplies at once, makes it easy and less time consuming.  Sometimes, if you can shop a little each week, most stores will have “special” deals on a few items each week where those items will be at the lowest cost.  Remember to pick up extra supplies while they are on sale, this comes in handy to replenish throughout the year as well as if you do not end up using them during the year you will have a head start for the following school year.  

Print out or order those “First Day of” Signs for first day pictures.  If you like to take those memorable first day of school pictures, prepare ahead of time, even the day before, make sure you have your camera ready, batteries charged, and if you want a sign that says the grade and date have it printed out ahead of time, or you can order signs on Etsy Shops and many blog sites, Pinterest is a great place to search for ideas.  Don’t wait till the night before to get ready, have as much done as you can ahead of time.

Prepare a homework station.  If you have all the tools in a central location it makes homework easier so you do not have to search for glue or scissors or any other items.  You can purchase a small bin or container to hold all the necessary supplies for homework such as: crayons, markers, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, ruler, scissors, glue and anything else your child may need.  You can find colorful containers at the dollar store and many times right in the back to school section of your local retailer.  Also designate a spot for backpacks.

Do something fun the weekend before as a family.  With going back to school and getting back to earlier bed times and homework, plan some fun family things the week before or at least the weekend before back to school.  Visit your local swimming pool, go out for pizza, camp out in the backyard or in the front living room.  Enjoy the extra non-structured time you have now with your children.  I know once school starts, the evenings seem shorter and a little more hectic with homework, and after school activities, so enjoy and savor the moments where you have extra time to spend together without feeling rushed by schedules and to do lists.  Read a book together about the grade they are going in.  I know we have read a kindergarten and "Going into First Grade Book" this year.

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Tips From our Trip to Sea World, San Diego

San Diego is absolutely beautiful and there is so much to do there.  Our family recently went on vacation to San Diego, we have been many times before and every time I visit, I am reminded of what a great place it is for families to vacation.  There are a ton of beaches, amusement parks and so many things to do. 

While in San Diego we visited Sea World, this was our second time taking our kids to Sea World and I loved it.  Exploring Sea World is a top thing to do in San Diego, with thrilling rides, amazing animals and special events. The thing I love most about Sea World is there are a variety of things to do for all ages.  You can enjoy the shows, which are very educational; there are hands on experiences, the rides of course and Sesame Street Bay of Play for the little ones.

When you first enter Sea World you will see Explorer’s Reef, small pond areas where you can touch and feel different types of fish.  My boys loved this and so did I.

The thrill rides my boys loved were Manta, Journey to Atlantis and Shipwreck Rapids.  We were surprised on Journey to Atlantis when you make the first big drop you think the ride is over, but it’s not, you get to go back up again for some more coaster fun. 

Sky Tower is a neat attraction that the entire family can enjoy, you go very high up so you get to enjoy some 360 degree views of San Diego, the ride moves in a slow circular motion, it is kind of like a vertical monorail. 

Ocean Explorer opened this summer in 2017.  Featuring five new children's rides and three new animal encounters to help unlock the ocean's deepest mysteries.  The new rides are Submarine Quest, Tentacle Twirl, Octarock, Aqua Scout, and Sea Dragon Drop.

With a toddler I am always grateful for smaller play areas and rides that they can enjoy, but my older boys enjoyed the Sesame Street Bay of Play area as well.  They would have stayed there longer if I would have let them.  They have a rope climbing playground area, they have two bounce play areas, one is for toddlers only and the other for the older kids.  This is a great shady place for the adults to rest while the kids run off more of that energy.  The Bay of Play also has three rides, Elmo’s Flying Fish which is similar to the Dumbo ride at Disneyland, Abby’s Sea Star Span which is like spinning tea cups, and Oscar’s Rocking Eel which is a boat ride that rocks back and forth and also spins around.  As long as your little one can walk they can ride these rides with you, to ride alone they must be between 42-48 inches.

Sea World has quite a few exhibits to explore.  Our favorite and probably their most popular is the Shark Encounter.  You enter into an amazing underwater viewing tunnel and watch as sharks of all shapes, colors, and sizes pass by you.  They also have Turtle Reef; view loggerhead, hawksbill and Green Sea turtles—some more than 50 years old—plus thousands of tropical fish.  Penguin Encounter, and Wild Artic. 

We ate breakfast before we entered the park and then enjoyed a big lunch at Mama Stella’s Pizza Kitchen.  The pizza was great and they also had other options, pasta, chicken, they had fresh fruit and salads available as well.  They have a dining pass available which is great if you live near by and go often.  

Shortly after visiting we saw a Sea World Sea Rescue on TV, we loved learning about Sea World's involvement in rescuing and rehabilitating animals while we were at the park, but it was nice to come home and see the behind the scenes view of how they rescued a sea lion, and watching the release of the sea lion back into the ocean, so neat.

Our family loved our visit to Sea World and hope you can enjoy the park soon.  Here are some tips we hope will help you.

Tips when visiting Sea World:

• Sea World is located at: 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA
• Always check Sea World’s website for current park hours and show schedules. 
• https://seaworld.com/san-diego/
• Check for deals on Tickets!  Many times they have offers on their website, check out the San Diego Go City Pass Card if you are visiting multiple tourist spots. 
• Arrive early.
• Take a picture of where you park, so you remember at the end of the day.
• Purchase the Souvenir Refill cup.
• Bring Sun Screen – even though San Diego weather can be cooler and overcast at times, you still need sunscreen and reapply it or you will get sunburnt.
• If it is during the summer bring swim clothes, you will get drenched on Shipwreck Rapids, Journey to Atlantis and many of the shows as well as the splash play areas in Sesame Street Bay.  They do have drying stations for $5; our family fit in one of them after we got soaked on Shipwreck Rapids.
• Stay Hydrated!  You can bring in water bottles.  
• Use their map and app and know the show times of the shows you want to see.  Arrive early to the show’s to get good seating, at least 20 minutes or more before the show starts.
• Plan your day around the shows.  Sea World has great shows with the new Orca Encounter, Dolphin Days, Sea Lion’s Live and Pet’s Rule.  You will get SOAKED in the Splash Zone seating at the shows.  If you are skipping a show, that would be a great time to ride the more popular rides like Journey to Atlantis and Manta.
• Have a plan with your kids in case someone gets lost.  A meeting spot is great with older children; make sure they know to ask a staff member for help or where guest-relations is.

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