ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY: Back-To-School Photo Ideas

With school starting just around the corner, I thought I'd take today's ANYTHING GOES THURSDAY post to share some fun ways to photograph your kids on their first day.

I've posted this cute collage from Living Locurto in the past but I had to share it one more time.

I love the little chalkboards, the details of their first-day-of-school outfits and the sweet shot of both kiddos together.

I found another fun way to use chalkboards over on Make and Takes, where you can get all the detes on how to make this thought bubble.

Or you can keep things simple and just scrawl your kid's class year on a wall.

I think the simplicity of these pictures from Mommy Minded is stunning!

If chalk isn't your thing, why not use an apple as your prop, like in this photo from Club CK?

Or go with one of my all-time favorite ideas from Blonde Designs.

This picture always pus a smile on my face.  It's so darling!  And if you can't coax a smile out of your child, it's no big deal.  That's my kind of photo op.

Here are a few more ways to photograph your kiddo, sans signage.  Documenting your little one with their best friend?  Adorable!

This shot from Angie at I Heart Faces of the walk to the bus says so much!

An anticipatory smile at the bus is priceless.

And this series of shots from Lisa Bearnson is fabulous.  Outside the building:

Keeping everything balanced:

And saying goodbye to mom.

I'm tearing up just looking at that photo!

I'll be taking my first set of first-day-of-school photos of Gabrielle and Alaina this year and I think I'm going to attempt a combination of some of the shots above.  What are you planning for your kid's back-to-school pictures?  I'd love to hear!  And for more photo and other school days ideas, check out my Back-To-School Board on Pinterest.

Images: Living Locurto, Make & Takes, Mommy Minded, Club CK, Blonde Designs, Ohdeedoh, I Heart Faces, Walgreens & Lisa Bearnson

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY

Ready for a look some spectacular parties?  Good, because have I got some great ones for you this week!

Up first is William's Wild West Showdown from My Life My Loves.  The details from this birthday bash are totally amazing!  Just check out the innovative invite from Invite With Style:

Aren't those balloons fab?  I think I may have to steal, ahem, borrow that idea for Gabrielle and Alaina's party.

Guests were greeted by a full-on saloon.

Even the food got the cowboy treatment.  Love the bandanas on the milk!

And the activities were just right.  A hay bale treasure hunt for sheriff's badges:

A sharp-shooter game:

And potato sack races.

There's so much more to see so mosey on over and take a look at My Life My Loves.

Who says someone has to be having a birthday to throw a big bash?  I love this end-of-school/beginning-of-summer Surf's Up party Holly from Paisley Petal Events threw for her son and his friends.

Doesn't that look fun?

From shark fin cupcakes:

And flip-flop cookies:

To M and M shots:

And Jello push pops:

Jackson and his pals were treated to tons of themed treats, perfect for filling up before hitting the slip-n-slide and tossing a bunch of these!

Totally rad!

And last but SO not least is this divine vintage "Sew Seven" sewing party Christine at Pure Joy Events planned for her daughter.

Is that darling or what?  And it just gets better!  The sweet spool invitations from FLIPAWOO were hand-delivered.

All of the treats were sewing themed.  I love the button pops in the spools.

The embroidered cookies.

And the spool of thread cake pops.

Each guest got to embroider their initial to take home:

Along with a fun little pouch of sewing-themed favors.

So there you have this week's picks.  If you have a party you'd like to share, e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com and you just might see it in next week's PARTY PEEKS!

Images: My Life My Loves, Paisley Petal Events & Pure Joy Events

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

Here's my round up of a few of my favorite things at this moment.

Party Trend I'm Loving:  Rice Krispie Treats being used in all sorts of fun ways - even as cake!

Book I'm Loving:  Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi is such a frank memoir, I can't put it down.

Toy I'm (Actually the Girls Are) Loving:  Mickey's Guitar Book.  They love rocking out with the mini guitar.

Website I'm Loving:   The Beauty Department, where Lauren Conrad and cohorts share amazing beauty, makeup and hair tips and tricks with step-by-step photo tutorials and videos.  See what I mean?

Cute Activity for the Kiddos I'm Loving:  Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin from Things to Share and Remember.  Such a fun idea and so much less mess than a water table.

Easy Appetizer I'm Loving:  Caprese on a Stick from Flip Cookbook.  Simple to make and yummy to eat!

Party Theme I'm Loving:  I want to throw this party ASAP!  

Haircut I'm Loving:  Oh, Reese, I'm so going to be stealing this style for my next cut!

Summer Accessory I'm Loving:  Why, oh why must you be sold out?

Chandelier I'm Loving:  I've been searching high and low for a new light fixture for our entryway and I think this may just be the one.

Funny I'm Loving:  Sadly, I think this may be true!

I would love to hear about the things you're loving right now!  Share the app, movie, book, craft idea, TV show, whatever that's got you giddy in the comments and your picks might be included in next week's TEN ON TUESDAY feature.

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy.  These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

AND THE WINNER IS....

Congratulations SOL!  You've won a stroller umbrella from My Blue Bumbershoot!  Trust me when I tell you this little baby will change your life.  

Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Thursday, August 4th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

FUNDAY MONDAY: Bag Tags from Invitation Consultants {GIVEAWAY}

Bye bye July, hello August!  You know what that means, right?  It's time to start thinking back-to-school!

Gabrielle and Alaina are going to start a 3's program this fall and I'm so excited about shopping for all of the fun supplies and goodies they'll need.  I got them these adorable Flower Power backpacks from Dabbawalla.

But I know I'll need a way to distinguish Gabrielle's from Alaina's, so I'll be ordering some of the super cute bag tags from Invitation Consultants.  This owl version coordinates perfectly!

The tags are all made from durable plastic and the text and colors can be customized to fit your needs.  From sports enthusiasts:

And music lovers:

To silly monkeys:

And peace lovers:

There's a style for every kiddo around!

Such a fun way to keep your kid's backpacks from getting misplaced!

Invitation Consultants has generously offered to giveaway two bag tags to not one but two lucky AFOMFT readers!  That's right - two tags for two different winners.   To enter, visit Invitation Consultants and post a comment here telling me which bag tags you'll choose if you win (this is mandatory).  For additional entries:

• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
• "Like" Invitation Consultants on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Follow AFOMFT and Invitation Consultants on Twitter (@fabulousinvites and @AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: It's back-to-school time! #Win two great bag tags for your kiddo's backpack from @fabulousinvites at @AFOMFT http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT (may be done once a day - post a comment for each Tweet)
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends August 8th at 11:59 pm EST. The winners will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on August 9th. If the winners do not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Images: Invitation Consultants

FREEBIE FRIDAY: Printable Chore Charts

Today's fun freebie comes Gen at Brought to You By the Letter B.  I love these cool DIY Chore Charts she designed!

Gen made personalized ones for her family:

And you could easily spiff some up for yours in Photoshop too.  Almost makes doing chores, well, less of a chore.  Almost. ;)

Hope you enjoyed today's pick and for more fab freebies, check out my Freebies and Printables Board on Pinterest!