back to school shopping

I don't know about you but I LOVE buying school supplies! There's something about those unopened packs of crayons, pencils, glue sticks...loose-leaf paper that make me giddy thinking about the possibilities a new year brings. If you were in elementary school in the 80s, do you remember the all important Trapper Keeper? HA HA HA I lived for picking mine out every year.

So this weekend we hit the sales at Target and WalMart and scored 25¢ packs of 24ct. Crayola crayons, 20¢ twin packs of glue sticks, 25¢ Elmer's glue, and 50¢ packs of colored pencils. The big splurge? A $1.99 pair of PINK safety scissors the little pumpkin just HAD to have because "you know, mama - pink scissors cut SO much better than red scissors" How could I forget?! ;)

And then there's the quintessential backpack. I must say I'm not into the character ones that seem to be displayed bright and center in almost every store this time of the year. I did find this cute one by Skip Hop that I almost got for the little pumpkin and then had her name embroidered in pink like this: But the cute little owl will have to find another home. The little pumpkin quickly declared him too blue "it's for boys, mama". Luckily a chance search on etsy led me to Stitches from the South and yielded this fun treasure that I know will be received with a smile. Hers will be monogrammed, but just so I could picture it, I photoshop'd her name on the one below: The little pumpkin is very much into mariposas right now. Pink mariposas = Back to School Perfection.

And speaking of back to school, Noonie promised the little pumpkin a Pink Party a long time ago when Grace was potty training. Things were so busy we never could pinpoint a date, but we're finally delivering on that promise with a Pink PreK Party, just a small family party at the end of August, right before school starts. I'm thinking of adding a little yellow since the color combo is so pretty but we'll have to see about that...Grace waivers between "yellow is pretty" and "I don't like yellow anymore".

No matter what, I'm making Pink Lemonade Cake from HERE - yum! And while you're there, check out the amazing Lemonade & Sunshine birthday party Jessica from Pen & Paper Flowers styled for her two oldest daughters - WOW!

After all the sleepless nights worrying about what preschool to enroll Grace in, we finally settled on a small gifted preschool program that is just perfect for her. Grace is so excited about going to "big girl school" ;) One of the things I love most about this program is that they do a lot of creative learning. While searching on etsy for a backpack I came across this fun party favor that I think will make the perfect little token for Grace to take to her new school friends this Fall: Sidewalk Paint Powder from Sidewalk Sensations. Isn't this a fun idea?! Love it!

And one last thing, if you had placed an order with me for either birthday hats or oilcloth chalkmats, know that all orders shipped out this morning! Yay! Now go buy some school supplies! ;)