I have coffee and scotch... Time to start the school year!

I figured since August is up and running, it was high time I make a check list for this year's school supplies.  The Monkey is heading into 7th grade, which, let's be honest, is a little scary.  I mean, his math book has the word "Algebra" in it.  Sure it's Pre-Algebra, but still.

 Then we have the Monster.  I'm doing a hybrid curriculum for her this year.  She's still struggling pretty hard core with reading and writing, but her math skills are right on par or better.  So we're looking into new resources for subjects she struggles with, while diving straight into second grade math.  Her science and social studies felt a little lacking last year, because despite her comprehension being on par, it was difficult for her to complete the work without the appropriate reading and writing skills.  So we're switching to new books and repeating the first grade level.  If I'm not a total slack ass I think we might be able to make up some time and pull her back up to grade level.  

I definitely splurged on myself a little this year too.  I always buy a cheap planner and just make it work.  Not the best method.  After some well thought out researching (or googling) I decided on the Plum Paper planner for homeschool.  I mean, it looked pretty awesome, it was easy to customize, and it didn't totally break the bank.   I justified it by using a 10% off code from the review that sold me on it so it's all good.  I'm desperately hoping certain that having such a great organizational tool will keep me on top of things this year.  

Since that won't arrive in time to help me organize myself for back to school shopping, I've made a couple old school (see what I did there) lists. 

NECESSITIES

 1. Coffee - I like to make a dash to target (where I will, of course only buy what is on my list) and stock up when they have KCups on sale.  Big boxes, buy two get one free.  Sometimes they have them on special where if you buy two you get a $5.00 gift card.  I'm flexible.  If I get desperate, I order them online and have them 2 Day shipped to my door.                          

 2. Fun Pens -  The clicky kind, (although by the end of the year I'm desperately searching for one, usually finding it under the couch cushions) usually snagged from an event or advertiser.  I love the ones I get at romance book conventions.  Bonus, they're free!

                                                  
3. Alcohol - I have several preferences for this.  Cold beer in the fridge, a good bottle of wine, or a bottle of Scotch for those really exhausting days.  You know the kind, where I work all day then come home to deal with school work I graduated from ages ago and need to forget how messy my house is.   

4. A New Planner - Seriously, I am the most chaotic, haphazard person I know.  I need something so that I can at least feel put together on paper. 

 
5. School Books - Holy Shit  these can be expensive.  And very religious, which we decidedly are not.  Not to mention the numerous places to order them from.  See my take on those in a future post. 

6. Bubble Bath - Because I will need some decompressing alone time with a book.  Besides, that was the perfect thing to use that Target gift card on.

7. Inexpensive Goodies for the Reward Basket - You guys, my kids can be bribed oh so easily with a cheap goodie.  I also make sure to throw in some of those fancy school supplies I refuse to buy for them, and a couple $5 gift cards since the Monkey is outgrowing so many things.  See some I couldn't resist here, they're perfect add-ons to meet my free shipping total.  The dollar section of Target always has amazing finds for this too!  It's not cheating, it's winning easier!
 

8. Awesome Notebooks - Writing in plain notebooks is obviously no fun.  Even though there's nobody to show off too, having that adorable kitten on the cover inspires my daughter to new heights.

9. Pocket Folders - since my kids go to my aunt's house to spend the day when the Husbeast and I are at work, I like to organize the work they take with them in folders labeled for each day of the week.  This saves me a bit of time in the evening and pawns some of the work off gives my aunt the chance to be involved in their lives.  

10. New Trapper Keepers - Yeah, that's the old fashioned name but you get the idea.  This let's me pack up some work for on the go.  It holds the folders, the expensive fun notebooks, and all the pens, pencils, crayons they could ever lose need.  

11. New Bookbags - I don't really know why we need these. Mostly we use them to store books and the trapper keepers in the beginning then they get resigned to holding toys and clothes for sleepovers.  We had to get new ones this year because my son lost his outgrew the design and my daughter left hers on the back porch and the cat pissed on it is now into some new and still as annoying character.  

12. Five Million Pencils - Ok, maybe not quite that many.  But trust me, they'll get lost, chewed on (by the kids and the dogs) broken, used as impromptu light sabers, lost in the couch cushions, and sharpened into 2 inch stubs.  

THINGS I DON'T NEED

1. New School Clothes - I have no idea what the latest trends are because my kids are wearing hand me downs and knock offs.  They don't need a unique outfit every day because some days we don't even get out of our jammies.  

2. Lunch Bags - because the only place we take our lunch is on  field trips and then it all fits nicely into my large cooler bag. 

3. Crayons and Markers - because those bulk packages are still going strong.  Who cares if instead of blue they have to use cerulean, and that the green is broken, or the pink has been worn to a nub.  Use forest or fuschia instead!  If they want the nice new ones, they can choose them from the rewards basket. 

4. Gym Shoes - My idea of physical education is dropping them off at karate twice a week.  Bonus- they work out barefoot! 

Hopefully this helps you get your own homeschool life in order.  What are your must haves?