School started over a month ago and we're still adjusting to the homework, new schedules, routines, and early hours of the morning. The start of a new school year can be really stressful on parents and children, alike, so I was beyond excited when Nestle asked me to host a Happy New School Year Bash to celebrate, not only the 2010-2011 school year with families, but to, also, promote literacy in my community. Nestle is a big supporter of education. More specifically, it promotes literacy through the Reading Is Fundamental organization and I was thrilled to be asked to raise awareness and help support local markets.

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This morning as I filled, yet another water bottle for my son, I realized This boy is drinking WAY more water at school than he is at home.. What gives? His teachers asked us to pack one water bottle a day to keep him hydrated during class. His room is located in a portable building OUTSIDE the regular school building and there are no water fountains to drink from. Plus, water fountains are downright gross and germ infested if you ask me.

One thing I've found interesting is that my children will drink water MORE if it's in a fun bottle. Not only that, but they'll drink the hooey out of it if it has their NAME on it. *Gasp* I know. It's the little things that make their hearts flutter. A few weeks ago, I introduced you guys to the SIGG bottles and today, I bring you Lifefactory Kids Bottles. Safe, BPA free, and probably the most unique bottle you'll find at the lunch table.

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Monday we celebrated my Mom's birthday with a family dinner, cooked by your one and only. That's one thing I love about living back in my hometown, after so long..... family dinners.

My Sister, Mom, and Me

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Last week, I let you guys in on the chaos that transpires in our house. I'm on a mission to calm the storm each day by finding meal-time solutions for not only myself, but you guys as well. I've been working with both Tyson and Libby's to inspire me at providing an environment that creates a meaningful family time during meals. In order to do that, however, I've got to utilize, both my time in the kitchen and flavors I set on the table.

Tyson Chicken Nuggets are a staple in our freezer. When I can't think of something to cook, I know that the kids will love nuggets paired with either a salad or vegetables for dipping. Some days I even break that "Healthy Momma Rule" and make fries. You'll soon learn that french fries are my FAVORITE food on earth. No Joke. So, What do you do when your kids are tired of the same ole', same ole'? Well, I went out on a limb and tried an Asian Inspired, yet Kid-Friendly, meal. Do you think they liked it?

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During my Parent Partnership with American Girl's Shine On Now initiative my daughter and I fell, completely, in love with their line of dolls. We rented Kit Kittredge: Am American Girl, discovered Innerstar U, and quickly decided we wanted to read every American Girl book together.

My daughter wasted no time creating a Birthday and Holiday wish list of the items she'd like to have. On that list is the hair kit for dolls, but second to that are the Felicity Books. Felicity’s love for animals and for her country shine through during a revolutionary time. With the doll and through books, movies, and accessories, I find it's a great way to introduce colonial times to girls today, however, we need to act fast because American Girl has announced plans to archive Felicity's complete product collection, including her best friend Elizabeth Cole.

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As I settled into bed, laid my head onto my soft pillow, and the day started melting away. My husband gently turns to me and says, "What do you think she should do about it?" My heart sank deeper into that pillow and my words were muffled in between thoughts. The "she" is one of my best friends. The "it" is her marriage.

Just three years ago, my husband and I were in that exact situation. Our marriage was broken and divorce was, merely, a stones throw away. Our life would be vulgarly stripped of all the goodness we shared in the last 7 years and our children would end up being a statistic, a product of a fragile marriage that couldn't hold the weight of what the world expected. I learned Beauty Will Rise, especially when you hold on to Hope.

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I feel very blessed to have this certain friend. She's been my friend since 1st grade. Now that we have families, we can lean on each other for parenting advice, marital matters, or to rescue the day with a simple chat over coffee. Sundays, it's always a hit or miss for us to be at church according to my husband's work schedule. We're floatin' by with only one vehicle, at the moment, since his truck broke down. On the days he works, my friend gingerly offers to take the kids and I to church. Without her, I would have to miss. Without her, my week usually ends up "off balance" and my encouragement is gone. It's her helping hands that show me Christs love through a simple carpool to church.

As Christians, we, often, overlook the span of our outreach. The little things we do in life DO matter, no matter how big or small. Last week, I introduced you to a book that teaches us just that called The Boy Who Changed the World. Today, however, I want to let you know about a sweet Max Lucado book called One Hand, Two Hands. In it, children learn how our hands can help others through kindness, love, and prayer.

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My husband works shift work, so it's really difficult for us to have dinner together frequently. We do, however, eat together at the table when he is not at work. Yes, it's hard to round everyone up. Yes, it's exhausting to spend hours cooking only for my picky 3-yr-old to refuse to eat, but I do it. I do it because, for me, family time is important. I want family dinner time to be a time of rejoice, relaxation, and become a comfort my children look forward to at the end of the day.

This week, I was looking forward to uniting with Houston Bloggers and Hannah Keeley to gain insight on ways families can get back to the table for meaningful meals. Circumstances kept me from attending the event, however, it has not discouraged me from helping in this charitable initiative. Do you find it hard to get back to the table? Well, Libby’s has teamed up with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to help families, just like yours, get back to the table while helping America's hungry. I'm also joining in by participating in Libby's Virtual Canned Food Drive.

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My children usually buy their lunch at school, however, this year they decided they'd take lunch once a week. Every Monday I get the joy of packing all kinds of goodies, like one of their favorites, Uncrustables PB&J sandwiches. Although, I try to pack healthy lunches, you can't be a fun Momma without throwing in a treat to enjoy afterwards. Am I wrong?I also wouldn't be fulfilling my Momma duties if I didn't throw in a love note. My husband likes to tell the story of his Dad writing notes and putting them INTO the sandwich. C'mon! It's funny!

Well, hold on to your Sharpie markers, Mommas, because packing a little love in those lunchboxes just got easier with the NEW Rice Krispies Treats writable packaging. Those marshmallow treats can greet your children with sweet notes of encouragement and love. This saves me from finding a sticky note and resisting the urge to put it INTO the sandwich. Although I can't promise I won't try at least ONCE this year. Just creating memories folks.

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I was, recently, at a Blogger Event for Naturalizer Shoes (more to come on that REALLY soon! So, stay tuned!) and made SURE to bring my camera. My head has, literally, been off balance lately, and I didn't realize I needed room on my SD card until I arrived. The wonderful Photographer there offered to send me pictures he took of me and my blogging friends, so I was ecstatic. Until he said, "Do you have a business card with your email?"

Gah! Of course I have business cards. Every serious blogger carries business cards. They are usually stocked perfectly in my purse, but I was a little embarrassed because these business cards were made back in 2009. They have this really cheesy design (why did I think it was cool back then?) and boasts both Momma Findngs information AND my OLD blog url. They're simply outdated. I decided, right then and there, that I needed to order new blogger cards, business cards I can be proud of and UPrinting was my first stop.

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Oh, how I love me some coffee! I mentioned earlier this week, that I'd bring you all kinds of cool meal solutions for busy parents, right? Well, coffee is not to be left out when talking about solutions for Moms. I drink coffee every morning and if I don't have it, well.... let's just say I'm not on anyone's favorite list in the wee hours before school.

Thanks to Collective Bias and Truvia, I had the opportunity to shop for some of my favorite coffee ingredients and create the ultimate coffee drink at home. This will save me time and money without having to drive to a Coffee Shop to spruce up my morning routine. All it takes is a few flavored creamers, Truvia sweetener, your favorite coffee brewed, and little touch of love. Okay, I'm cheesy. What did I make and how did it turn out?

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Gazing out my window I watched my youngest brother, Andrew, mow my front lawn and, all of a sudden, became teary eyed and filled with emotions at the sight of him doing, what we think, is just a regular daily activity. Growing up with a mentally challenged brother wasn't easy. Effort and patience was expected from both myself and older siblings. My Mother spent, what seemed like, 24 hours a day caring for my brother, even to the point of making a bedroom attached to hers, for him. This was the only way because he needed around the clock care on most days.

As a child, I cried a lot at night wondering why God would allow him to be so different and, often times, praying and asking Him to just "fix it". It wasn't fair that my brother had to go through his whole entire life this way. Would he ever live a "normal" life? And could he find a circle of friends to encourage and inspire him along the way? Now, 20 years later, I'm still consumed with emotions because he HAS found friends and HAS thrived through life, graduating High School and, diligently, competing in Special Olympics. Thanks to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he's had this opportunity and on September 25th 2010, we honor and celebrate her life with EKS Day.

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Our favorite pass time, these days, is hanging around the Baytown Skate Park at Jenkins. My 3-yr-old is becoming fearless and he loves watching the guys fly through the air. All I have to say is.... Watch out Tony Hawk. Once he grows from Scooter to Skateboard, there will be no stopping this child.


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Meal-time is the most chaotic time in our household, especially during "Witching Hour". All of you parents know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. For my household, it's between 5:00-6:30pm. This is when I'm trying to cook dinner, only to hear fussing, fighting, and crying in every single room of the house. This is when homework is trying to be done, friends are knocking on the door, and every child wants to play on the ONE laptop we own. It's exhausting.

So, how can you turn a chaotic time into family meal time? Yesterday I brought you one of my favorite things to pack for school lunches to save time. All this week, I'll be bringing you tips on how to do just that, with recipes and ideas for busy Moms during mealtime. How can you best utilize, both, your time in the kitchen AND your time with your children? Well, my 3-yr-old son and I like to turn lunchtime, into play time with Tyson Fun Nuggets.

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What would you do if you met a real LIVE fairy? I'd totally ask her to make me fly. Totally. Then we'd talk Pixie Dust and fashion. In MY opinion, those Fairies are fashionistas in the making. Then we'd have a tea party and become ultimate BFFs.

Before Wendy and the Lost Boys, humans had never actually seen a fairy, until the day Tinker Bell met Lizzy. Disney's newest movie Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue hit stores today, September 21st! We were invited to an exclusive advance screening of the movie last month and my children can't get enough of Tinker Bell and her new best friend. I've been going on and on about how awesome the movie is and now I get to share it with you guys. So, what did we think? Is it worth the buy?

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School is in full swing and I know this because JUST this morning my head twisted right off during the chaos of the morning rush. Okay, Okay, a bit of exaggeration, but I was seriously overwhelmed trying to pack lunches and get the kids off to school. If you're a loyal reader here at Momma Findings you MIGHT have read, in my Music Monday post,  that I was in "break-down" mode when the bus decided NOT to show up.

I decided no more, no more going crazy, searching for shoes, or backpacks, or library books, or hurriedly packing lunches. The chaos needs to stop before it gets out of control. So, all this week, I'm creating fun lunch time solutions for busy Parents including tips, recipes, and product ideas to make it fun and less stressful. Today, I start with the infamous packing of the lunch box and how Smucker's Uncrustables MIGHT just be the answer.

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Can I just say how lost I would be if I didn't have Him? I mean, my days can be SO chaotic with three young children. In fact, this morning was a zoo as we packed lunches, hurried to get dressed, all to be outside in time for the bus.

The bus never came.

Talk about a wrench thrown into your day, huh? This only leads me to a scurried panic, to get MYSELF dressed, find keys, find purse, find a notepad for an excused tardy. It's enough to make a Momma angry, defeated, downright tired. I know what you're thinking. You're probably thinking It's just a drive to the school. Get over it. You would be right, however, it tells me something completely different. When things don't go as planned, I'm left thinking How dumb am I to think it's MY plan? This Music Monday gives me the reminder that I just can't do it without God. I can't.

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Last night we celebrated the importance of literacy with our friends by hosting a Happy New School Year Party. Next week you'll hear about all the fun we had gathering books to donate to a very lucky school in our community, so stay tuned for that. Before the party, however, I asked my two oldest children to go through their bookshelves and pick out three books they no longer read to put into the donation. Once they made their selections, we placed them in the basket and talked about some of the books we decided to keep. One particular book struck up a memory in my 8-yr-old son as he says, "Mom, I thought that book we read a few days ago, about the boy who changed the world, was really cool."

I was asked to review this particular book, but wanted to choose the perfect time to read it to my children. The day I heard my son helping my daughter study for her spelling test was the day I thought I'd introduce Andy Andrews' newest book The Boy Who Changed The World. This day was perfect, because this was the day I found my son doing something good for someone else without anyone asking him to. Everything we do matters, even if it's as small as calling out spelling words.

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There's a few things I battle every day in my house, the kids and the smells they create. I'm not talking baby powder and peanut butter. I'm talking about all those scents that my Momma didn't warn me about. I grow frustrated, because I want to spend more time with my family and less time battling all the lingering smells throughout the house.

Well to help us Mommas combat those crazy smells, Febreze has introduced a NEW Air Freshener called Set & Refresh. This revolutionary sytem, comes in six long-lasting fragrances: Meadows & Rain, Spring & Renewal, Linen & Sky, Hawaiian Aloha, Thai Dragon Fruit, and a limited edition Apple Spice & Delight. There are no plugs or batteries, just beautiful scents giving me the freedom to "Set" and "Refresh" with ease.

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I love hanging out with my 6-yr-old daughter. She's turning 7 next month and she's hitting a stage in development that I'm quite familiar with and excited about. She has come to realize the importance of personal hygiene and the differences between how a girl takes care of herself versus how a boy does. Her room is full of lotions (that she actually needs due to her eczema), hair care, and the wonderful world of lip gloss.

When I discovered Scientific Explorer Spa Kits, thanks to Team Mom, I knew this would be an "experiment" made to order. Literally. These kits mix science and fun by introducing children to the science behind products such as Body Mist, Soap, and Lip Balm. All things my daughter has quickly fallen in love with the last few months. So, yesterday we entered our "Science Lab", learned about odor molecules, diffusion, wafting, and what our favorite sense says about our own personality. I pegged her right on target: lighthearted, playful, and carefree.

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"Wake Up! Wake Up! It's time to go see Tinker Bell, Momma!" My daughter woke me up early on a Saturday because she knew we had advanced screen tickets to the New Tinker Bell Movie. Heck, she couldn't sleep all night because of it. On the drive across Houston, I turned to my husband and said, "Why isn't Tinker Bell a Princess? She should be! She's my favorite of them all." Of course we go into everything it takes to be a Princess and in the end? Tink did not make the cut, however, she is the most magical of them all because she can fly, she can fix all KINDS of things, and pixie dust is never too far away when meeting new friends. Oh, and did I mention fashionable?

On September 21st, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releases Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue on Blu-ray & DVD! Before Tink ever met Wendy, Michael, and John, she met Lizzy! Which brings me to the question. What would YOU do if you met a real LIVE Fairy like Tinker Bell?

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My daughter brought home a Progress Report yesterday. You know what that means, right? That means we're rounding out 3 weeks of school! Wow. It seems like we just started yesterday, but this also means Teachers are getting all the "details down" for the school day. There are no more worries of getting the kids on the right bus or memorizing their names. Now they want structure to move forward for the rest of the year.

Along with a progress report, I also received notes stating my children should bring water bottles to keep at their desk. My son's classroom is a building OUTSIDE the main school building so there are no water fountains in case anyone is thirsty. Yeah, I could send in plain recyclable bottles, but why would I when SIGG makes some of the coolest, eye-catching kids water bottles out there? Oh, and did I mention you can personalize them too?

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As I ran through puddles of water and felt the rain hit my face, my husband reminded me, "Honey, need I say how out of character this is for you?" He was right. I don't usually do "out of the norm" type things such as encouraging my kids to play in the rain, but sometimes? You just got to.


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So, I love my little niche here in the Blogosphere. MommaFindings has helped me introduce all kinds of fun stuff to all of you including: Reviews, Giveaways, Important Parenting Information, Musical Inspiration, and Local Findings around the Houston Area. I. Love. My. Blog.

But.

I need more. First let me say, Momma Findings is not going anywhere. This is my baby and I'd never give up my baby, however, the need is there. When I wrote at My Sippy Cup Runneth Over it was a chronicle of my life as a Mom to three kids under the age of 6. I started it when Rudy was only 6 months old (Ummm.. he's 3 1/2 now) and I lived 900 miles away in Charlotte, NC. There have been so many changes in my life since then.

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I've played, at least, 20 games of Tic-Tac-Toe with my children, just in the last week. This is a classic game, which I seem to lose frequently, that families will never get tired of. We play it on paper, on my Palm Pre, and even on my iPod Touch thanks to those nifty Apps everyone loves. What better way to kill time while waiting at restaurants or in the Pediatrician's office?

Last month, I was introduced to a new way to play this classic game. It's called Tic-ATTACK-Toe. Fun name, isn't it?! This game uses cards and a plastic game board that doubles as a storage case. Cards are labeled as either X or O, just like Tic-Tack-Toe, but they also have numeric value for a whole new twist and fast paced game unlike it's classic predecessor.

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True To My Love Paddle Brush

When I was in school, I remember my Mother buying us one thing every year, the Back-To-School Beauty packs at our local pharmacy store. It had everything a girl could need for the start of the school year: Deodorant, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Mist, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Lotion, Brushes, and I'm SURE Kotex was in there, although, during those young years, I wanted to think of everything other than the obvious and inevitable.

This was my favorite thing about Back-To-School because it freshened my look and gave me all the tools to keep up with my personal hygiene. Being an athlete in school, I usually needed a set at home AND at school. Girls will be girls and we like to show off our stuff, right? Well, Ed Hardy thought that too when they introduced the Vintage Collage Hair Accessory Line. It SCREAMS stylish and it's bound to strike up conversation among girls young and old.

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Earlier in the Summer, I was honored to be a Parent Partner with Shine On Now, a charitable initiative by American Girl. Girls across the globe united online to contribute and help give clothes, books, dolls, and money to charitable organizations all by simply giving stars on ShineOnNow.com.

Through my partnership, I was able to bless both my daughter and a deserving girl with a My American Girl Doll. A few weeks ago she got it. Can I just say this very important point? We've NEVER had an American Girl Doll. Ever. When she opened the box her eyes were big, her smile shining, as she hugged that doll to pieces. As a Momma, I was over the moon at seeing her delight. The really cool thing about the My American Girl Dolls, is that each comes with a unique code, where you unlock a virtual online world called Innerstar University.

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You're probably going to shoot me if I even MENTION Christmas, but it's never too early to start planning. I mean, those Christmas Cards aren't going to send themselves, right? Through the years I've learned that once School starts, it's a whirlwind of chaos at my home. We're adjusting to the routine, tackling homework, new schedules, and preparing for all the upcoming Holidays. Every year, I blink my eyes and Christmas is staring at me in the face. Does this happen to you too?

I've discovered a great way to get those Holiday Cards out of the way, making it that much easier to enjoy your family and the Holidays BEFORE Christmas. You know, those little days we like to call Halloween and Thanksgiving? CardsDirect.com offers all kinds of options for busy families such as Photo Cards, Baby Announcements, Birthday Cards, and SO much more! They are personalized, printed, and delivered right to your doorstep. Easy Peasy!

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School is in session and we're getting to know our teachers a little bit better during Open House for my daughter. I've gotta say, "I've got the best sister for going with me when Daddy couldn't."

Checking out Abby's new classroom

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I have this game I like to play, mainly in my head, with one of my closest friends Kevin. He likes the same kinda music I do, so when I find a really good and NEW song I like to text him and see if he's heard it. One, so he can discover awesome music and share with the Youth Ministry (Yeah, he's a Youth Minister), but two, because he's ALWAYS the one who finds the "Latest and Greatest" and I keep coming in second place on that front. Not that it's a competition or anything, but I should be more "in the know" being I work with a few PR agencies who represent these music artists that I love. Nevertheless, he wins.

Every. Single. Time.

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I have a very "Rough and Tumble" kinda son. He likes to wrestle, run outside, and, often, pretends he's a wild animal and I'm the wild animal's Mother. When he expects me to swing from tree to tree to simply give him a banana, well I think Forget About It! I've gotta draw the line somewhere, don't I? But for some reason I end up making Monkey Sounds and joining him for a "Jungle Picnic" on the living room floor. The things a Mother does.

Well, his favorite pretend play activity, lately, is playing Dinosaurs Under the Sea. I know. Sounds insane, I know, but it's really not. He's simply reenacting one of his favorite shows Dinosaur Train. On August 20th PBS Kids aired a one-hour special from the the Dinosaur Train hit series called Under the Sea. Children of all ages joined Buddy and the entire Pteranodon family aboard the Dinosaur Train as they embarked on their first underwater adventure exploring the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic oceans to learn about new aquatic creatures.

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Fall is right around the corner and, very soon, we'll be reaching for sweaters and jackets to keep us warm on those crisp cool nights. I'm in Texas. South East Texas to be more exact. So, I really don't have to say this, but I will It's HOT here in South East Texas! In fact, there really is no such thing as Winter here. It's Fall-like weather from October-March.

I'm sure it's not like that in most of the country, so I made my way to one of our favorite family stores, Old Navy, to scope out Fall looks for the entire family. In fact, I'll be bringing you family looks the rest of the year thanks to my partnership with Old Navy through an exclusive Blogger Subscription Program. So, what's on the docket this month? Back-To-School looks, NFL Pride, and the perfect outfit for my 3rd grader's job interview. Momma-Finding-Lots-Of-Cool-Stuff-Say-What?!

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For the last six weeks, I've been bringing you guys Meal Ideas and Solutions for Back-To-School. This was all made possible by HEB and ConAgra Foods through their partnership with Momma Findings and 9 other amazing Texas Bloggers. The Meal Maker Challenge ends this week and I'm a bit sad. I mean, I knew it was a six week long project, but when you schedule, plan, and work hard to make it your own.. Well, you just don't want to let it go.

So, today, I say good-bye to the Meal Maker Challenge, but I bring you my Prize Pack Winners, Highlight the lovely bloggers who participated, and let you in on a few things I learned as we went Back-To-School this year.

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My 8-yr-old son had his very first Job Interview on Monday. He's applying for Soap Manager and worked hard, over the weekend, at filling out his application, creating a resume, and perfecting his interview skills. He even picked out one sharp looking outfit. As one friend reminded me on Facebook, job opportunities and school projects have vastly grown since we were kids.


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