I have seen the paint you can use to create a custom chalkboard in your house, but when I saw these peel ‘n stick whiteboard panels from Wall Candy Arts I knew I had to find somewhere in my house that they would work. They are just so cool!

Imagine all the uses! I could put some in my office for my perpetual to-do lists of writing, client work, projects coming up and such. The whiteboard panels would be perfect for the kitchen – for grocery lists, chore lists, menu planning and more. And I know they would be perfect in the mudroom too! I could use them to leave notes for the kids, use them for a weekly calendar and checklists. Wow!

Not only do they have the must have whiteboard panels, but they also have peel ‘n stick chalkboard decals, glow in the dark nightlight decals, fairies wall stickers and so many more adorable, removable stickers for every wall in your house.

Wall Candy Arts is having a Back to School sale right now with 10% off all of their peel and stick Chalkboards, WhiteBoards, Polaroid Frames, Glow in the Dark Nightlights. These items are great for Dorm Rooms, Classrooms, any room.. Back to School 10% Sale – use code DEAL10
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How it works. Once you have created a login, you get to pick from a host of charities to have the books donated to after you read with your child online. They have books for children up to 10 years old and may add young adult books, too. The books are beautiful! Not only do the children have a free way to learn about charity and the act of giving, it also gives them a larger selection of books to read without having to go to the bookstore or library. It is truly a win-win program.

My 8 year has fallen in love with the site. Not only has she found some new books to read (like Ladybug Girl), but she is so proud of herself for being able to donate books to kids who need them. She was so excited about the program, she shared it with the principal of her school, who will in turn share it with the rest of the students and teachers in the next school newsletter.

Additionally, we had the opportunity to meet rockstar authors Dave Barry and Amy Tan. How cool is that? We also had a chance to discuss and give feedback to the website’s developers – and I had quite a few items for their wish list, too.

Sign up for We Give Books today – it is the perfect opportunity to get your kids thinking about giving to others while they get to discover new books!

Disclosure – I was an invited guest and I wrote this review as part of a campaign by Mom Central on behalf of We Give Books and received breakfast, tickets to the Rock Bottom Remainders concert, and a gift certificate.

While I don’t think the holidays are the right time to introduce a new pet into your family, many people do get pets for their loved ones at the holidays. If you are considering a new pet at the holidays or any other time of the year, check with your local shelter first. Animals who come from the shelter are good animals who have found themselves in a shelter situation due to events that they do not control.

The Shelter Pet Project has just launched a campaign to help dispel myths about shelter animals and increase the awareness of the benefits of adopting shelter pets. Check out this cute and funny video that was released as part of the project:

Our black lab, Raven, was a shelter pet. Her former owner supposedly ditched her because she chased cats. Are you serious? She just wanted to play. Now Raven has a family with three children who play ball with her, take her for walks and love her.

I encourage you to check out the site – even if it is to see the adorable spokespets and listen to what they have to say. And if you are considering a furry addition to your family, take the quiz, find a good match and really get all the details you need to give your new pet the best home you can. We also have a list of kid friendly dogs that might be helpful, too.

The SnackPicks site is a mini site from the Kellogg’s team and it features articles from some really great ladies (like Elizabeth, Jane, Vanessa and Renee). In addition, the site is a great resource for healthy, fun and creative snack ideas, coupons and promotions from the Kellogg’s brand of products.

Sacramento & Co., co-hosts Melissa Crowley and Guy Farris spent some time with Joe talking about helping families make a successful transition back to school. Watch the video below:

Joe stresses the importance of keeping communication lines open, building kids’ confidence and having a plan as your kids navigate this next stage of their lives.

35.Find new parks in your area and explore them

36.Leave a message on your driveway for a special visitor with chalk-even for dad coming home!

37.Take a day hike on local trails

38.Go watch a baseball game

39.Attend local art festivals

40.Attend local farmers markets

41.Go to the local  water/ sprinkler park

42.Visit your local parks – take along a picnic

43.Visit your local school playgrounds

Get the complete list of 100 Free or Almost Free Activities for your Kids to do this Summer! This is definitely worth printing and hanging on the fridge!

Enter my favorite Mom, Nina from MomAgenda! She has already got a FREE printable Back to School Checklist ready for us so we can approach the back to school frenzy with calm, calculated actions and avoid the craziness!  Examples:

• 2 months before school starts – schedule physicals, sign up for fall activities and sports, go over summer reading lists
• 1 month before school starts – watch for sales and purchase backpacks, lunchboxes and basic wardrobe essentials
• 1 week before school starts – schedule haircuts, do bulk shopping for basics like sandwich bags, pens, pencils, paper, etc.

Those are just a FEW of the great details she has listed in the checklist. Get your free checklist at the MomAgenda site – and don’t forget to check out their other tools for keeping Moms of busy families on track and organized!

While you are thinking about back to school, start watching the local stores for sales and pick up the basics you know you will need as you go – it will be easier on your wallet and your nerves!  Better yet, take advantage of online resources for affordable school supplies:

• Discount School Supplies – Save 10% off everything! Use key code STOCKUP at checkout.
• Paper.com
• Crayola Store – Receive a 10% Off discount code when you sign up for email updates at CrayolaStore.com!
• TheGreenOffice.com – Green Products, Great Prices!
• Amazon School Supplies

A few weeks ago I was scheduled to go to a very cool conference in Chicago. As fate would have it (as it does every time I try to do something exciting), I get a phone call at 2 p.m. the day before I was scheduled to leave that my 10 year old daughter – let’s call her Miss M – was in the clinic at school with a sore throat.

I took her into the doctor and as suspected, she had strep throat. Talk about throwing a wrench in my plans! She couldn’t go to school the next day. We had carefully planned everything out so the 3 kids would go to a friend’s house before school and that same friend would pick them up from school then take them to another friend’s house who would then have them until the next day when they would go to my parents’ house for the remainder of our trip. With Miss M unable to go to school I had to take her to my parents’ house before we left and she would be there until her siblings caught up with her the next day.

So here is where the fun starts. First thing Friday morning I get a text from Miss M as to our whereabouts. Are we on the plane yet? How is the airport? Etc, etc. The string of texts continued throughout the day. Everything from what she was doing to questions about our hotel, what we ate, what we were going to bring back for them, to a simple Goodnight.

At the time I really didn’t think much of it. I was really happy to know what she was up to, give her a sense of connection to us, and some of her texts were pretty amusing (like the one where she told me she was swinging on the swing at my parent’s house and it broke and she fell in dog poo!). But on the ride home I decided to count the number of messages I got from her in one weekend and I was shocked to find out that it was 106!

After I had been home a few days I decided to use it as an opportunity to discuss responsible cell phone use. We are a very technology comfortable family and we all use texts to communicate with each other – its convenient and doesn’t have to be disruptive at all. For that reason we chose to get a family plan with unlimited texting. But there are guidelines.

My kids know that I can and will pick up their phones and review their calls and texts – its not really a matter of privacy as far as I am concerned. The same rules go for computer and email use too. We have discussed at length the dangers related to technology (phone, text, web, email and even real life) and we have set very clear guidelines and expectations. We talked about the reasons they don’t need to take their phones to their rooms at night (they need sleep and so do their friends), along with how it is a waste of a text when they just text a friend “hi” or jibberish. And we talked about how it was great to be able to stay in touch with parents while they were away, but that a text every few minutes was a little extreme.

So far just my two older kids – 12 and 10 – have cell phones and so far, they have been pretty responsible (ok, 106 text messages in 3 days is a bit much – but they served their purpose in many ways). I’m not sure when our youngest will get a phone of her own – as she is always with me or one of her siblings.

What are your thoughts on kids and cell phones or texting? What are your family guidelines or rules for cell phone use?

Here are a few more resources on kids and cell phones that you might find interesting:

• How young is too young for a cell phone?
• What to know before buying a cell phone for your child
• Goodhousekeeping’s best cell phones for kids
• 10 things you didn’t know you could do with SMS text
• Cell Phones is also a great resource for comparing cell phones and plans for the entire family

Discount School Supplies is the best resource for all of your art/school supplies, however, if you have a child with allergies or special needs, they are the first place you should look. They have the largest selection of Common-Allergen-Free Products and make it easy to shop by allergy-free product you need. From gluten-free playdough to dairy/casein free glue, latex free craft supplies and kits, and soy free paints Discount School Supplies will help you select products you can be sure are safe for your child.

Additionally if you have a special needs child, shop Special Needs at Discount School Supply to find over 500 products specifically selected to enhance and develop learning and independence.

Looking for printables and crafts your kids will LOVE? We recommend:

• Printables4Kids.com
• CraftJr.com
• FreeStuff4Kids.com
• Kaboose.com
• Find Free Activities at Discount School Supply, too.

Right now you can take 10% Off In-Stock Orders – Use Code SHOPDSS. It is a perfect opportunity to stock up for summer activities, summer camps, bible school, homeschooling and vacations.

The following are skills/concepts (in no particular order) I am trying to teach my kids now – while they are teens/pre-teens – so that by the time  they go off to college, these are not totally new!

1. How to Cook – Now I don’t expect the kids to be able to cook a gourmet meal, but basic cooking skills are important. By allowing them to bake cookies and brownies now, I am teaching them that the kitchen is not a place to be feared. Additionally, the kids help with menu planning and are often involved with our regular dinner preparation. Hopefully these experiences will enable them to have a better appreciation for food as young adults, help them eat healthy in college,  and not make them so dependent on fast food.

2. How to Shop – From reading labels to watching for sales, kids need to know how to go shopping for their own basics. I have friends who never take their kids grocery shopping because it is too much of a hassle. My kids have been grocery shopping with me since they were little. They often have the job of keeping track of the list, making choices about the best brands and deals, and helping put the groceries away at home.  We talk about the store’s marketing tactics and why generic brands are perfectly acceptable for certain items.

3. The 80/20 Rule – If 80% of your food choices during the week are good, then indulging in the occasional treat or meal out is fine – everything in moderation is the key. The same goes for alcohol consumption. The fact of the matter is that most kids are going to drink in college, but teaching (and practicing) moderation at home from an early age is going to make it much easier for them once they are in the college environment. I think that kids who have been in overly strict and overly protective environments as kids are the ones who really go to extremes once they are independent.

4. Be Active – Just Because - You don’t have to be training as a world class athlete in order to stay fit. One of the lessons I am trying to teach my children is that being active is a way of life and you don’t need an excuse to exercise. Go for a walk – and take the kids. Schedule family bike rides. Get involved in sports at a recreational level. Club sports in college are a great way to further the active lifestyle and will help stave off the Freshman 15!

5. Keeping Track of Your Finances – Starting with knowing where your money is at all times, teaching kids how to manage money is one of the most important tools we can give our kids. Kids need to understand budgeting, saving, how to think through a purchase, how to deal with buyers remorse and how to make their own purchases. We recently opened up a savings account for our son and it came with a debit card. The debit card allows him to have the ability to spend his own money in stores and online, but it also allows us to really monitor his spending and help him make good choices.

6. Time Management - one of the things I worry most about (especially with my oldest) when my kids go to college is their time management skills. Will they play video games and surf the web all day or will they have the sense of maturity to get to class, get their studies done and then goof off. By giving kids guidelines now and holding them accountable for their own success in school as teens will make them more prepared to make the right choices as independent young adults.

7. How to do Laundry - Doing laundry is not rocket science but college and bringing laundry home for Mom to do seem to go hand in hand. Its not that hard, but unless you teach your kids to do their own laundry now, you will be doing it by the basket loads when they come home to visit you on weekends. Even little kids can get involved – from sorting dirty laundry by colors to folding socks. By the time your kids are tweens they should be able to help load the washer, understand why you don’t wash whites with reds and, the basics of folding.

8. And probably the most important thing I want my kids to know it that you have to take ownership of your own success, happiness and actions!

Two more great resources are The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens and The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens.

Did I miss anything? What skills do you think are essential for preparing kids for young adulthood and independence?

Images (StockXchange)