Last fall I attended the last Parent Teacher meeting of the year. I wanted to congratulate the people who had done a fabulous job, and I was willing to throw my hat in for a nice simple job. Teacher Appreciation? Back to School Night? Read-A-Thon? Perfect for me.

Instead.

I had to go home and whisper to my husband:

‘Um, I’m the new PTO Vice-President’.

He didn’t seem surprised. After all we’ve been in our neighborhood for 2 years and yes, I’ve helped in my kids’ classrooms during parties and math time and reading time but managed to stay away from any leadership roles.

I guess it’s time. Only, I was imagining a ‘helping’ role… not an IN CHARGE role!

In a few weeks, my kiddos will return to school. This is the second year they will all three officially be IN school more than they’re home. And I’ll be joining them in my own way as I figure out my new job. What needs to be done exactly? How much time do I need to spend? How has it been done in the past? Who do I report to?

There are a few things I’m super passionate about and other things I’d kick out completely if it were up to me. (Good thing it’s not, eh?!)

• First on my list are fundraisers. Hate ‘em. Door to door is seriously not for me. We’re looking into a NON-fundraiser fundraiser. Where we simply ask families to donate a minimum amount per child and if we raise over a certain point, no wrapping paper/cookie dough sales will be needed. One idea we came across was the idea of a “Social,” basically a fundraising party, which is great for building community as well as raising funds.

• Next is getting my school to end the deluge of papers sent home daily. Each of my kids in elementary school receive the same set of fliers/papers/reminders EVERY day? What a waste! Both financially to the school’s paper budget and in green-think to the planet! There has to be a way to send home one set per family. And then wouldn’t it be great if we could get more families to accept a paperless/internet option for newsletters, lunch calendars, and half-day closing reminders?

• Another problem I noticed is the kids have no playground supplies for recess. I asked my 3rd grader last year why she doesn’t play kickball, or jump rope during outdoor time? Her answer: “We don’t have any ropes or big red balls.” How sad is that!? I have big plans to work on a specific funding project just for recess and PE supplies.

• One more biggie for me, is that our school’s drop-off/pick-up scene is a nightmare. It’s chaotic, it’s crowded and it’s NOT safe. There has to be a better way, and I’m sure parents have plenty of ideas.

Here’s to a back to school experience where more parents are involved and the educators are more willing to listen to their suggestions! At next year’s final meeting, I look forward to going home and whispering to my husband: “It was a great year, I loved going back to school with my kids.”

Plus! I’m excited to share this great contest… for YOUR kids’ Teacher!

Register at VolunteerSpot.com before October 1st, 2010 using promotion code “TeachersSave” for a chance to win $100 in free classroom supplies for the teacher of your choice from ClassWish!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.

See the cute little Counter on my sidebar? It’s counting down to August 10th.WHY?

Because starting in August I will begin running my own little GoodNCrazy Store Front! How dang cool is that? In fact I REALLY need some help here… what shall I call it?

• GoodNCrazy Store (sheesh… boring)
• GoodNCrazy Shop (ditto)
• Ye Olde GoodNCrazye Shoppe (Juste kiddinge)
• GoodNCrazy Bazaar (Or should I call it Bizarre??)
• Chez GoodNCrazy(while I wear paisley)

Crap I’m in a hurry here. What do I call it??

OpenSky is an online ecommerce site perfect for bloggers to incorporate directly on their own sites. When I find a fabulous product (and I have several items I’m totally in love with and dying to share with you) I’ll simply beg OpenSky to create a relationship with the new product/brand. If they do, I get to list it in my shop. Making it easy for you to locate the same item.What better way to shop than to get a recommendation from a friend right?

Think fun and funky items that maybe don’t sell at giant retail outlets. Small companies making great products. I’m talking THE perfect gift ideas for your picky mother-in-law!

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not doing all of this for free. OpenSky is creating a business partnership with me. Here’s how it works: Pretty much they do all the work and I get to have all the fun! When an item is purchased from my shop directly, they split the difference with me. So yes, when I’m suggesting an item I’ve listed in my shop, I will receive compensation if the item is purchased.

Um. Isn’t that how a store works?? Yeah I know, just making sure you understand…

Here’s what I like the best.

First. OpenSky has been awesome to work with.
Second. They are serious about authenticity.
Third. This is in their Mission Statement, and I totally agree.

WE WILL

• Create goodness for everyone that interacts with us.
• Introduce only products that we love and believe are the best.
• Work only with passionate people who share our vision.
• Do well by doing good.

Amen huh?

Wait there’s a fourth reason… Their RETURN policy. Feel free to read all the details directly on their website. But the bottom line is a 365 day return policy. Think about that for a minute? A WHOLE year? And they will even pay for the shipping. Srsly. Can’t beat that with a stick.

Would you like to get involved? You can! Tweet with the #opensky community. Follow them on Facebook: The OpenSky Project. Or even sign up to become a shop owner yourself! OpenSkyProject.com.

(And don’t forget to help me with my shop name… I promise I’ll help you someday!)

Photo credit: laffy4k

Yay for chocolate! And Green witches, and Green-with-envy white witches, and not so yay for car sickness… WHAT??

30 second video to say hi to my weekend warrior companions!

This was easily my favorite photo of the whole trip. We had more fun than really should be allowed for  6 small town girls in the big city!

The Golden Gate bridge was shrouded in fog the whole time, but oh well we had Ghirardeli chocolate to eat (!) and now we simply have to go back another time to see it (oh darn!). The Oakland LDS Temple was amazing. I have never seen such a large temple! The views of San Francisco from the temple hill were breathtaking!

It was getting  dark so the photo isn’t great but wow aren’t these gorgeous women?!

As for the car sickness? I have never been car sick in my whole life. There was once an airplane ride that was full of turbulence that once made me sick. But not SICK sick.

There were  6 of us in a momvan, meaning two poor souls had to be in the far back. And it was my turn to sit on the back wheels with no view of the front window. No big deal I thought. WRONG. About 45 minutes into the ride I was green. And we hadn’t even seen Wicked yet! I moved up to the middle seats… and still about 15 minutes later I have to apologize to the Trader Joes South of San Francisco…. You should change your outer garbage can. I’m so sorry.

Are you car sick now when you never were as a kid or young adult??

I’ll be hosting a mom playdate this Thursday… there will be tea -of course and yummy snacks! (I’ll make sure the kiddos have pirate booty | no worries mate…)

And if you don’t live in Southern Oregon… that’s okay. Feel free to join in the national party over on Ustream. The event is hosted by Susan of @Eggmarketing and Becca of @InspiredGifts.

The party has been timed perfectly to share ideas for Father’s Day! Please join me for tea and conversation and INSPIRATION!

Ten bloggers across the country will be hosting mini Girls’ Night In parties and making Inspired Gifts. We will be tuning in live via video and Twitter throughout the event. It’s easy, first RSVP on the event page.

The Video feed will be on UStream and the URL is:

( http://www.ustream.tv/channel/girls-night-in1 )

Everyone else joining in is invited to create unique photo gifts too! We’ll be announcing a 20% off coupon code exclusively for participants the day of the event. Check out some of the great gift ideas in the  facebook photo album.

Here are some fabulous examples from Inspired Gifts. What a great Fathers (or Grandfather’s) Day Gift!

Look for some amazing giveaways all night long! Inspired Gifts has photo books, banners, playing cards and other cool gifts you can customize for Father’s Day or any other special event. Other sponsors include:

• Montagne Jeunesse
  
• YogaPulse
  
• Village Naturals
  
• GreenField Paper
  
• eyes lips face

Read more about these products.

Note: event is 5-8pm PACIFIC time!

ON Twitter, use the hashtag: #GNI10
Please tell your friends on Twitter about this!

The Fabulous Bloggers involved

Guessing All The Way
Everyday Baby Steps
MommyPR.com
NewYorkCity Moms Like Me
GiveDaddy.com
Thanks Mail Carrier
Angie Marion
Todays Giveaway.net
The Penny Pinching Mama.com

Wear mismatched shoes for example?

OR you think…

“Why did I go to that meeting? Someone please remind me?”

I went to the Parent/Teacher meeting last night thinking… It’s time. A couple years ago I sort of overspent myself helping during the opening years of a charter school back in Utah.

When we moved here I told my husband and myself, I needed a year off. And that’s what I did. I helped at class parties and went on the requisite 2 or 3 field trips. Plus driving the youngest to and from pre-school on top of car-pooling the big kids to school.

And this past year. I stepped it up a bit. But not much. My youngest was in all day kindergarten so honestly it was a selfish year. A year for ME. Again I helped at a few events, showed up for the handful of ‘extra’ things my kids were involved in. (Oh Yeah AND we bought a house and MOVED!)

But the real reason I went to that meeting last night is that I realized I barely know any of the parents of my kids’ classmates. (After TWO years!) I figured, maybe I’ll look into helping chair the teacher appreciation group. Or at least put my two cents in about FRIGGIN’ door to door fundraising, right?? (Don’t get me started.)

I came home last night, reminded that I really should never attend any meetings ever again. I came home last night the Vice President of the PTO organization. I came home last night tired already. Crap. How did that happen!?

I think I’m in for more mismatched shoe days ahead.

Tell me. Have you ever been on your school’s PTA/PTO board?

Photo Credit: charlottel

NOTE: NONE of these photos are mine.

How could they be?

I’m stuck in perpetual Winter/Spring.
I asked my online world to share their spring with me in photos and a bunch did! THANK YOU!!
These images are all from  Flickr.com,  searching for SPRING in creative commons.
HOW I Love Flickr today.

Over HERE….

I mean… over on BlissfullyDomestic.com…
In the Parenting section…
I’ve written a couple Super Tween posts…

One on Time Management and the Second one on Decision Making… Please let me know what you think??

We’ll let you know when this site is all ready for you!

From my husband.
Does he KNOW me or what?
VivaciousTulips… And a Mountain Dew….
True Love. Right there.

I’m excited to introduce Katie from Good Life {Eats}!
She is quite the foodie extraordinaire, and once upon a time was the winner of a little BuildABear! I routinely drool over her recipes and her photos!

But today… She is sharing a special treat… A fabulous Kid Friendly Craft!

Please meet Logan. Logan is home from school for the summer. Logan is bored. Logan is Katie’s little boy…

Since my 4 year old, Logan, doesn’t nap anymore, many afternoons find us in the kitchen working on some food related project. I love this special time together. Fun memories are made. Skills are learned. Conversations are shared. The kitchen is a great place to bond with your child and an inexpensive way to ease that afternoon boredom (which too often results in cranky kiddos!). He is particularly a fan of helping me bake. This time it is something a little different than our usual because it isn’t an edible project, but it most definitely involves food and the kitchen.

Click on over to Katie’s amazing website to see more of this project and all the What’s and How-To’s! My kids can’t wait to try out this project.

A little tip: You’ll need to stock up on a bunch of rubbing alcohol! But wow, look at those amazing colors?!