August already? Where has the summer flown? Although it may still be hot outside, the calendar says it is time to return to school. Check out our tips on making back to school time fun this year for the kids. This time of year when the kids head to school, the party invitations seem to pile up as well.  Everyone is back to the routine, and that means party invitations. Keep a few of our tips in mind as you think about a present budget for all of those parties. There were some big summer movie hits this year, including Land of the Lost and Harry Potter. They are both fun movies to build a party theme around, and may even serve as Halloween party inspiration too. Finally, look at our quick tips to keep your party this month cool!  Enjoy these waning summer days! 

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Parents often tell me that the costs of all of the birthday parties their children attend throughout any given school year can really add up-and that doesn't include the expense of throwing their own children's birthday parties. How can this all be so expensive? Gifts!

If your child attends a birthday party for each classmate, even spending a small amount on each present can result in a big expense. Kids often feel pressure to give a good gift as well, and parents can feel this way too. Parents may think that if they give an expensive gift, their kids will receive nice gifts as well. At school, birthday kids may also tell their friends what they want as their cool gift. The guests may put pressure on their parents to buy this cool gift so that they can be the person who gave it to the birthday child. 

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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince comes to theaters this summer in what is sure to be a summer blockbuster full of magic, adventure, and suspense as Harry and his friends continue to prepare to battle Voldemort.  As always, this is going to be a very popular movie and a great movie to build a party theme around.   I will have to check this movie out on opening night to find some fresh party ideas to add to the Harry Potter party ideas we have showcased.  

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Land of the Lost was an absolute favorite TV show of mine growing up in the 1970s. After school the adventures the cast of characters faced in the Land of the Lost always kept me tuning in.  How fun is it that this summer a new movie based on this popular TV show comes to life for parents and children alike? Starring Will Ferrell, the Land of the Lost movie is full of bugs, dinosaurs, cavemen, and more fun that kids love!

This would be an excellent family party for both kids and adults this summer. What's the inspiration for ideas? Take a look at Bug Party ideas and Dinosaur Party ideas too. You can also find some more Land of the Lost party ideas here too:

 1. Will Ferrell finds himself running away from the T-Rex in serpentine moves. It doesn't work out too well for him, but have the kids enjoy a series of relay races with similar moves.

 

Well, it's the dog days of summer. I imagine most people are off at the beach or enjoying some respite before the autumn madness kicks in. And with good cause: It's hot out there. If you have a party planned and it is over-the-top hot where you live, here are some ideas to keep it cool:

 

Heading back to school doesn't have to mean heading back to the same old school grind. If images of hectic mornings getting the kids out the door and busy evenings with sports practices, homework, and dinner on the run make you want to hide in the hammock, maybe it's time to develop some strategies to make heading back to school more manageable, even enjoyable.
 
Get all your dates on the calendar
Add school and sports activities to your family calendar so that you don't miss back to school night or the first soccer practice. If you use an online family calendar, such as Cozi's family organizer (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ol7tj6cab.0.0.ajfwrecab.0&ts=S0408&p=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.cozi.com%2FCobrand-Cozi-Signup.htm%3Futm_source%3DPeppers%252Band%2520Pollywogs%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DPP%252BAugust%2520News&id=preview), syncing all your sports and school calendars is easy. Knowing that your family calendar is up to date will help you feel confident and organized as you head into this busy season.
 
Make a chore chart
With the kids heading back to school, it's easy for everything to fall apart around the house. By delegating a list of chores to each family member, the back to school routine will get off to a much smoother start. You can add a chores list directly to your family organizer so things don't fall through the cracks.
 
Stock up on supplies
The first few weeks of school can be crazy. Plan ahead by stocking up in advance with all the supplies you'll need for fast breakfasts, packed lunches, and quick dinners sandwiched between football practice and back to school night. Creating some shopping lists to work from on a regular basis throughout the fall will streamline the process and simplify your life.
 
Life will still be busy in September, but by creating some simple strategies to help you manage the routine, your family will get off to the school year with a strong start.
 
 
*Cozi is a FREE web service that helps busy families manage crazy schedules, track shopping and to-do lists, organize household chores, share information and stay in communication.