BACK-TO-SCHOOL DINNER 2024

One of my very favorite times of year is when school starts again. The fresh school supplies, tidied backpacks, and structure speak to my soul (as does more time for myself). New Year’s always feels a bit abrupt and out of place to me. My New Year’s is Back-to-School…which is probably why we celebrate it as a family.

Each year on the Sunday before school starts, I set a fun table and cook a family favorite for us to share one last summer meal and talk about what the year will bring. This year’s theme was “practice not perfection.” I made up some sweet little menus and had them printed on cardstock at Staples. I think printed menus are one of the simplest ways to make a meal feel fancy for low effort and expense! I printed mine in a 5x7” size, but you could do any size you like.

You can grab my eraser graphic below in two sizes. Print it as back-to-school art or print it on the flip-side of your menu! It’s yours for the taking.

Each setting included a paper placemat, a menu, a freshly sharpened pencil & a Pink Pearl eraser. I found the darling acrylic milk cartons in the Target Bullseye section months ago and knew they were made for our annual dinner. Keep your eye out for those throughout the year at Target, or there are these glass ones on Amazon. Blue gingham napkins my Grandma made me when I got married tied it all together.

For the centerpiece, I kept it simple. A white gauze table cloth is a great staple to have in your linen cabinet, because you can use it for any celebration you can think of. I gathered mine to be a runner, raided the fruit drawer for apples and used alphabet cookies as confetti (which, as it happens, is all my 2-year-old ate anyway). Some extra ribbon from teacher gifts looped down the middle added a little more dimension.

For food, I served my oldest’s favorite: grilled cheese & tomato soup. This soup recipe never fails me, and if you aren’t cooking your grilled cheese in the oven yet—repent. I used some parental license and added peas. For dessert? Warm chocolate chip cookies & ice-cold milk.

While we ate, we showed our kids the erasers and gave each member of the family a word that would be tricky for them to spell. When each person spelled the word wrong, we practiced erasing and trying again with help. We talked about perseverance & apologies and all the lovely things erasers can mean. Each year we try to have a conversation that will strengthen our kids for the challenges ahead. Then, each kid in school gets a pin for their backpack. For now, that’s just our Kindergartner, so he got a cute enamel tiger this year.

After dinner we have a special prayer as a family and call it a night. It’s a simple tradition that I’ve come to look forward to as much as any major holiday. I hope it’ll inspire you to add simple traditions that work for your family.

xo, Emma

CLASSY HALLOWEEN STYLING

Halloween is a favorite of mine. It was never a gory or garish affair growing up. It was popcorn balls & elaborate pumpkins. It was homemade costumes & glittery cheeks. When I think of October, I think of, well, FUN! The wholesome, good-old-fashioned kind.

Part of the fun is the decorations! Living in the holiday makes a difference for me and my family. Would Christmas feel nearly as magical without the trimmings? No. Other holidays are no different.

MY FALL DECOR CATEGORIES

When decorating my home for the fall, I like to stick to two categories of decor:

1. General fall decor: These are the items that are going to be up through Thanksgiving. Pumpkins, earthy tones, etc.

2. Just Halloween items: Unlike the general fall items, these will only be up through Halloween

By sticking to these separate categories, I can easily take down category #2 after Halloween and be done decorating for Thanksgiving. Voila!

Because who needs one more thing to do in November? Nobody. That’s who.

ANYWAYS! Halloween. We’re thinking simple. We’re thinking classy (read: NO CLOWNS). So here are some of my tried-and-trues…

SPIDERWEBS

Stretch these out more than you’re naturally inclined to. It takes cheap spiderweb filler from “Party Store” to “Classy Mansion” in two minutes.

BATS & CROWS

Target & Amazon both sell stick-on bats and crows. One package is not enough. Trust me. Sometimes, the difference between blah and BAM is quantity when it comes to simple decor. I used around 40 crows on my display this year. It set my back $4 and a few minutes.

SILLY TOUCHES

Sometimes it’s good to think small. Tack a little paper ghost to an existing art print. Make a paper mask for that sculpture bust or family photo. Kids are suckers for tiny details. You’ll be a hit.

KID SPACES

Speaking of kids…don’t forget their stomping grounds. The playroom, their bedrooms, even their bathrooms! Of all the people who will love your decorating effort, it’s them. And if you’re like me and struggle with control issues including kids in the styling process, their spaces are the perfect place to give them free reign an ounce or two of design freedom.

Happy decorating! May you have the most magical of Halloweens.

xo, Emma