5 Easy Back-to-School #StraightAStyle Hairstyles for Girls

Thank you to Goody Hair for sending us their line of back-to-school hair accessories plus a gift card to complete our daughter's back-to-school wardrobe.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our only daughter will be starting 3rd grade this week!  Where did the time go?  She has changed so much in just a few short years.  She's always loved to feel pretty, but something I've noticed recently is her growing patience to take care of herself.  She's doing a better job washing her hair thoroughly and combs or brushes it without being reminded (most of the time).  She used to ask to have her hair cut short so she wouldn't need to sit through pulling her hair back for school or those dreaded detangling sessions.  This summer, she asked me not to cut her hair before school starts.  She's even brushing her own hair out before letting me know that she's ready to have her hair done. Goody Ouchless brushes make that easy!

If you're like us, sometimes you're in a super-rush in the mornings.  There's not always time to do anything special with our daughter's hair, so I always have a few go-to hairstyles that have proven to be cute, but practical, and more importantly quick to complete.  You can see them below along with one or two others we had experimented with during the summer.

5 Easy Back-to-School Hairstyles for Long Hair . . . 

1.  Headwrap with Skinny Braids - This pretty hairstyle looks great on long, straight hair.  We started off with a crocheted Goody headwrap.  I pulled flower Goody Glam mini elastics through the holes in the crocheted headwrap for some added fun (totally optional).  Then I pulled the hair out of the headwrap at her temples, created one skinny braid on each side, and secured them with Good Girls Ouchless mini elastics.  The last step is to wrap the two braids around towards the back and secure them together with a flower Goody Glam mini elastic.

2.  Long Braid Side Pony - For this easy hairstyle, start by parting the hair on the opposite side from where you plan to tie the ponytail.  Starting as close to the part as possible, create a medium size braid all the way down to at least 3 or 4 inches from the end of the hair and secure it with an Ouchless mini elastic.  Then gather all the hair, including the braid, in a low ponytail on the side opposite of the part and secure with a colorful Goody Girls Ouchless ribbon elastic.

3.  Crown of Mini Bows - If your daughter is tired of simply pulling the top and sides of her hair back with an elastic or hair clip, this is a fun way to change up that look.  All you need to do is to tie 4 to 6 mini bunches of hair back at the top of the head with Goody Girls mini elastics with bows.  These elastics are super-cute with a crystal at the center of each bow!  Be sure to space the bunches of hair evenly around the top of the head above the forehead.  Then pull the top of the hair back, as usual, using a Goody ribbon elastic.

4.  Front to Side Twist - This is one of my favorite hairstyles for my daughter.  It's pretty and can be done in 20 seconds or less.  Start with parting the hair on the side.  Then take a small piece of hair, starting at the part, and twist it twice away from the forehead.  Next, add another small piece of hair and give the hair a couple more twists.  Continue to do this until you reach the temple.  Then twist the hair several times and secure it with a Goody Straight A Style contour snap clip on the side.

5.  Half French Side Braid - I think this hairstyle is my daughter's favorite.  No more plain ponytails on P.E. days!  For this one, you'll need to start with a side part.  Begin braiding hair at the part and add pieces of hair from along the forehead as you braid (just like a French braid, but only adding hair from one side).  Continue this until you've incorporated the hair above the ear.  Then switch to a standard braid and secure with an elastic.  We used the Goody ponytailer elastics with beads for a little extra sparkle, but any color Goody Girls Ouchless elastics that match her outfit would work.

Like these easy back-to-school hairstyles? Pin This for later . . . 

Which easy hairstyle is your favorite?  If you have a favorite easy back-to-school hairstyle, please share it with us below!  Also find more easy hairstyle how-to's by visiting Goody Hair on YouTube.

You can find Goody Straight A Style hair accessories at Meijers and Walgreens for approximately $3.99 to $4.99.  Be sure to pick up these and other Goody Hair accessories to complete your daughter's back-to-school wardrobe!

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Silly Monkey Stories: Where Is Your Off Button?

You parents will know that kids can often be....rambunctious (to say the very least!) and this Father's Day was no exception.

In the morning we went out for breakfast and as always when we prepare to leave the house mayhem ensues. As I am herding the children into the proper seats my oldest Jake says:

“Don’t you wish we had an off button like the t-shirt you have says?” 

This in itself wasn't so odd, but the fact that I did not own such a shirt was.

My youngest son Luke was first to yell at Jake for outing one of my Fathers Day gifts, which turned out to be this Where is Your Off Button? t-shirt.

What the kids do not know is this:  I was thinking the exact same thing about power buttons on children the very moments before all this transpired . . .

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!

My Photos: Our Two Sons Warming Up for Next Weekend's Taekwondo Belt Tests

Both our boys have their belt tests coming up for taekwondo this Friday and Saturday.  They had their pre-test the week before last.  Our youngest, who is 6, was a little nervous.  Although he had tested and earned a belt promotion once before, he is needlessly unsure of himself at times.  Still, he impressed me by knowing a form that I can't even remember even though I've watched all 3 of my children practice it numerous times.

We'll be sneaking in some extra practice this week to see if we can't raise his confidence level just a bit.  I know he'll do just fine on his test this Friday.  Now, I just need to make sure he knows that.

Our 9 year old son did exceptionally well on his pre-test.  I was so impressed by his focus and that he was able to keep that focus from beginning to end.  One of his instructors, whom our son respects greatly, took the time to tell him how well he did that morning.  This meant so much to our son and really gave him an extra boost of confidence.  I know he'll do well on his test this Saturday.

Click here to view all my past favorite photos.

Silly Monkey Stories: The Post-Photo Shoot Sillies

Last week, I had done a mini photo shoot with our 3 children for a children's clothing review.  As you may have guessed, this was not their first of such shoots.  I actually do these photo shoots the same way I do their Holiday photos.  I usually take photos of each child alone and then I photograph them all together.  Usually they do a pretty good job for me and they actually have fun with these sessions.  Their favorite part comes at the end though.  That's when I'm all done getting the shots that I need and I tell them that it's time to get silly.

They have different ways of getting silly.  Sometimes they make silly poses, funny faces, or interact with each other in goofy ways.  It is always so much fun to watch them and doing this really ends this sometimes frustrating activity on a positive note.

Which photo is your favorite?

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!

My Photos: Mother's Day Memories

I know Mother's Day was nearly a full week ago, but I am just getting around to sharing my photos now.  The one below was taken with my Nokia Lumia 920 Windows phone and the rest with my D-SLR.  Sometimes I am amazed at the quality of the photos taken with my phone.  When the light is just right, the photos really do come out wonderfully.  I only wish it had a macro setting.

It seems like every year on Mother's Day, I subject the children to a mini photo shoot.  It's a great way for us to see how much they have changed over the coarse of one year.  As always, I am floored at how much each child has grown and blossomed, but more so this year with our daughter.  She is only 6 years old, but seems like she's heading full speed ahead towards becoming a tween.  She needs to slow down.  I don't think I'm ready for it and I know my husband is not.

This is our 6 year old son.  Thankfully, he enjoys being a child and is in no hurry to grow up.  He is quite the charmer though.  Somehow he's learned to turn on that sweet smile along with a little twinkle in his eyes especially for the ladies.  He's definitely going to be a heartbreaker.

Here is our 9 year old son who is the cool big brother.  He is at that special age where he can go back and forth between being a little kid and young man.  On Mother's Day, I could not believe I had been a mom for almost a decade.  Where did the time go?

One more photo of our princess . . .

This year on Mother's Day, I was really overwhelmed with the lengths the children went through with handmade gifts and cards.  The one below was made by our 6 year old son in his art class.  It's a mama bird watching over her eggs in a nest.

The necklace below was made for me by our 6 year old daughter.  I actually have a similar one made by her big brother when he was in kindergarten.  I wore it to Mother's Day dinner at my sister's house Sunday evening.

Along with an elegant ring containing 3 Garnets (my children's birthstones), I also received poems, handmade books, cards, and drawings.  These are all going in my keepsake box and I will cherish them forever!

What was your favorite memory about Mother's Day this year?

Click here to view all my past favorite photos.

My Photos: Artwork Produced By Our 9 Year Old Son

This week, our children's elementary school will be hosting their annual Student Art Show.  Our 9 year old son brought home his art portfolio filled with the works of art that was not included in this year's show.  He has always been very talented and has even had one of his pieces included in a student art show at the Worcester Museum of Art when he was just 7 years old.

I know I may be biased, but I was truly impressed with the body of work he brought home.  If these are the ones that were not included in the show, I can't wait to see what will be displayed at the show this week.  The pieces below are my personal favorites among all the artwork he has brought home this year so far . . .

Our son said that this first piece was inspired by the work of Eric Carle.

Of course, I cannot wait to see the artwork proudly displayed by all 3 of our talented children.  Each one has their own unique style.  I'll most certainly share the photos next week.

Click here to view all my past favorite photos.

Silly Monkey Stories: The Case of the Mysteriously Clogged Toilet

I am no super-sleuth, but given enough evidence I can solve just about any caper.

After arriving home from work today, I needed to head to the potty to take care of some business. After prepping to go I see that the toilet has been very impressively clogged. I immediately wanted to know who left this “gift” for me to deal with, but I didn't need to wonder too long.

The "perp" left a trail of gym socks on the floor for me to trace. Fortunately only one individual in my household wears that size.... Crime solved.

Moral of the story? . . .

. . . Pick up your damn socks!

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!

Silly Monkey Stories: Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

Approximately 6 months ago, our now 9 year old son added cleaning the bathrooms to his list of chores to do.  He actually likes doing it because he loves the way the clean bathroom smells.  (Who am I to deny him the joy of that, right?)

Anyhow, he was cleaning the upstairs bathroom the other night and it was taking him quite awhile.  When he finally came down, he started to tell us proudly how he cleaned everything.  I remember thinking how great it was that he did more than what was asked of him.  Well, that is until he got to the part about cleaning his brother and sister's toothbrushes . . . with Clorox wipes.

It was an honest mistake, so he did not get in trouble for going that extra mile.  Thank goodness we had extra toothbrushes on hand though.

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!