"Anything But a Backpack" Day Ideas

Having worked at a middle/high school for a few years now I’ve experienced a few “Anything But a Backpack” Days for Spirit Week and they can be pretty hilarious. …What does that mean? you might wonder - well, it pretty much means what it says - leave your backpack at home that day and come up with a creative way to carry your things around school for the day. I thought I’d share a list of some of the favorites I’ve seen or have heard about form others - some are quite creative and ridiculous. | This post contains affiliate links |
Disclaimer: always make sure you check with your school for any parameters or rules for this event as every school will have different expectations as to what’s acceptable or not.

“Anything But a Backpack” Day Ideas

• laundry basket
• hamper
• stroller
• car seat
• remote control car
• PowerWheels
• wagon
• toy shopping cart
• real shopping cart
• Easter basket
• pizza box
• toolbox
• bucket
• a really ugly/tacky purse or bag (can be found cheap at a local thrift shop!)
• tool chest
• mini fridge
• microwave (that has to be heavy!)
• a car bumper (very tricky to put your stuff in - and yes, I have seen this one myself!)
• a kayak
• Cozy Coupe
• a canoe (very awkward to get up the stairs)
• golfbag
• milk crate
• horse saddle bag
• office chair
• cooking pot
• cat carrier
• birdcage
• wheelbarrow
• guitar case
• suitcase (the ones with the wheels are handy!)
• fishing net
• traffic cone
• stuffed animal that has a zippered pocket
• trick-or-treat bag or container
• trash bag or trash can (just make sure your stuff doesn’t get thrown out by accident!)
• a younger sibling (I have seen this at another school - the student and their family got permission and everyone was okay with it. The younger sibling had fun carrying their older sibling's Chromebook and tagging along for the day. This is one where you DEFINITELY would need to check with school administration beforehand)

I will add to this list as I see more ideas every year. What have you done for “Anything But a Backpack” Day?

Check out our Spirit Week Theme Day Ideas blog post for other theme day ideas!

Disclaimer: Always make sure you check with your school for any parameters or rules for this event as every school will have different expectations as to what’s acceptable or not. This list is for ideas/entertainment purposes only.

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Are Stanley Tumblers Worth It? My Honest Opinion

I finally did it… I jumped on the Stanley Tumbler bandwagon. The 40oz Stanley Tumbler cups are the “it” accessory at the moment and seen everywhere. But the big question is, are they worth it? In my opinion, yes… and no. Let me explain. | This post is not sponsored but contains affiliate links and an honest opinion of products |

| 40oz Stanley Tumbler in "Flint" |

First, I’ll share the reasons why I think you should *not* get one:

• You already have a straw tumbler. So many of us already have another brand tumbler and we really don’t need another one just because this style is popular at the moment. If your current tumbler is doing it’s job just fine then don’t bother jumping on this bandwagon and save your money.

• It’s HEAVY. Really heavy. At 40oz when this tumbler is full it is super heavy - it’s really not practical to carry around all day like you see those influencers on Instagram doing.

Now why I think you *should* get one:

• You're in need of a straw tumbler. I actually was in need to upgrade my old tumbler. My old straw tumbler was 10(!) years old and not insulated... I was tired of it leaving condensation marks on our coffee table and it never kept my water cold for long.
• You like your beverages cold (or hot). While I haven't tried my new Stanley Tumbler with hot beverages yet, I'm very impressed how it keeps things cold super long. I'll take a sip of water the next morning and it's still nice and cold from the day before!
• You keep your beverage at your desk or in your car. The large size isn't an issue if you tend to leave your cup in the same place for long periods of time. I typically leave my tumbler on the kitchen counter or on the coffee table and constantly sip it throughout the day so the large size wasn't a problem for me. This cup also fits nicely in our car's cupholders.
• You're trying to increase your water consumption. If you're looking drink more water, this large cup definitely helps get it done.

Overall - I am happy I jumped on the Stanley Tumbler bandwagon. I don't condone buying the "it" thing everytime if you don't need it, but if you are actually in need of a straw tumbler I have been very happy with my Stanley one.

Preparing Your Daughter For Her First Period

At our last well-child visit, our pediatrician gave us the heads up to start preparing our daughter for her first period. “Already?! She’s only in elementary school!”, I thought. But he warned that elementary school is the time to get ready so they’re prepared, as girls are starting earlier than ever on average - and some girls start as early as 3rd or 4th grade. In order to help prepare her, we picked up a few items to start getting ready. | This post contains personal opinion as well as affiliate links |

Disclaimer: This post contains personal opinion based on our experiences - please discuss with your child’s pediatrician for the best advice as it pertains to them.

This will not be an in-depth post about how and when to get into details of all of this with your kids - that is up to you. Also, if your daughter is in public school Health Class is a great resource that covers a lot and explains it well in an age-appropriate manner. But if you’re looking for tips on how to introduce the topic at home and start to prepare your daughter, here are two things I would suggest:

The Care and Keeping of YOU, Volume 1 -this book is a great, age-appropriate way to start to introduce some of the topics of puberty and periods. It covers a lot of matters including personal hygiene, body growth, friends, nutrition, periods, etc. It’s a great way for your daughter to get some basic knowledge on the subjects and start a conversation with her. (Once she’s a little older, there is also The Care and Keeping of YOU, Volume 2 which goes a little more in-depth.)

Period Kit - Pick up a cute pouch with some tween-sized pads and stash in their backpack for school, just in case. We really like this Pinkie First Period Prep Pouch in particular because it has all-natural pads (this is important to avoid exposure to synthetic chemicals and reduce skin irritation) in a variety of sizes. Knowing they have this on hand helps them feel a little more in-control and prepared.

And finally, make sure they know that there’s nothing to be embarrassed about and have a game plan of who they can ask for help when the time comes. Letting them know that they can come to you for help if they’re home, or to the nurse if they’re at school is a good idea. This is something that every woman goes through, and as scary as it can seem in the beginning we are all capable of handling it.