Once the calendar rolls into August, you start to see it. Pencils, notebooks, and book bags pop up on store shelves, school supply lists get mailed out, and emails promising savings on the latest middle school fashion trends slip past your spam filter. There’s no denying it – back-to-school season is here again! The thrill of summer gives way and turns into the optimistic buzz and anticipation of a new school year. Transitioning from the easy-going days of summer into the more fixed routines of the school year can be stressful. To make that transition as easy as possible, Mrs. T’s put together some simple tips to help you ace this back-to-school season!
Shopping is an essential part of the season! With all the new school supplies, outfits, and after-school sports equipment, you’ll want to lay down some good organizational habits to stay ahead of the clutter! Little portable cubbies are a great and inexpensive way to keep things tidy. Fabric storage bins are a simple solution for managing all the homework, projects, and school materials that your students bring home throughout the year, and it’ll even save you some time when they need help searching for a misplaced assignment. The best part? They come in all kinds of colors! You can get pink, green, yellow, and even that beautiful Mrs. T’s Blue 😉.
Once your favorite students are home from school, they are going to be hungry!! Meal (and SNACK) planning is essential to keep those “hangries” away. Using a monthly calendar allows you to plan meals/snacks for weeks or a month at a time.
HINT: When making that calendar purchase, be sure there is plenty of room to include work schedules and after-school activities. Place it in a commonly shared room to keep everyone on the same page. All this upfront planning will help keep weeknight stress levels to a minimum so you can enjoy those little moments between homework, dinner prep, and car rides.
Once you’ve mastered the art of planning, you’ll still want to keep things simple! Mrs. T’s has tons of tasty recipe ideas that can be cooked up in 30 minutes or less and make great snack options your teenager can conquer on their own!
Sheet pan dinners are perfect for those hectic weeknights. They’re easy, delicious meals the whole family will love, and the clean-up is a breeze!
Our Loaded Baked Potato Pierogy Sheet Pan recipe is the perfect quick weeknight meal. The prep is only 10 minutes with a total time of 25 minutes. Mrs. T’s Loaded Baked Potato pierogies paired with bacon and Colby Jack cheese is a savory dinnertime dream! Bake at 400° for 9 minutes, flip the pierogies, and bake for 8 more. Sprinkle with chives and ground black pepper, add a few dollops of sour cream and dig in!
When those appetites can’t wait for dinner, your teens can grab a box of Mrs. T’s Minis, toss in olive oil and place in air fryer for 12 –14 minutes. They can top ‘em or dip ‘em with anything from Old Bay seasoning to salsa & guac, whatever they are in the “mood” for (we all know teenagers have lots of different moods 😉).
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