DIY Life

With back to school fast approaching you may find yourself on the look out for inexpensive ways to get a few of the many things you will need to get for your young student. While price is a major deciding factor for parents, the coolness factor is what makes a kid like it.

I think I may have found something that both parent and kids can agree on in the book cover department. These have a very high coolness to cost ratio and if I went to school still I would so use these.
At the official Star Wars web site I found these awesome printable book covers in the kids section. All you need is a printer, a good supply of printer ink and a few other basic supplies that you probably already bought for back to school.

There are two different collections of designs done by two different artists. As a result they look a little different than the characters your kids may be used to. They are much more "cartoony". One collection may be more girl fan friendly and the other more what a boy would like. There are also some retro book plates that were originally published in 1983.

Check them out and have fun assembling. And remember, do or do not, there is no try. May the force be with you.

Are you about to jump out of the nest and head to college for the first time? When your mother starts boo-hooing into her hankie (she will -- I know, I'm a mom), tell her you'll be fine and that you won't starve to death because you learned a few basic cooking tips at DIY Life.

• Even if you can't have a hot plate in your dorm room, you can still eat well. Most large grocery stores have pre-made meals in the deli and meat departments. All you need to do is heat and eat. The selections you'll find aren't like gas station food that's been sitting under a heat lamp since yesterday. Meals are typically meat, poultry, and side dishes that just need a bit of time in a microwave or toaster oven, which is easy enough to find in the student kitchen or cafeteria.

Hungry yet? Read on.

The school bell is about to ring in a new year, but there is a group of adults who need just as much attention for Back-To-School preparation as the students: the teachers. Most people don't realize, but a summer break for a teacher is not a break at all, but an opportunity to lesson plan for the upcoming year, get those state required classes completed, fight in line at the local state board of education for re-licensure, and catch up on the required reading for next year.

Regardless, going back to school is just as exciting and demanding on teachers as it is on students. Unlike students, however, most teachers have the added stress of family and household demands. So, here's a survival guide for the teacher on easing back into the school year without fainting from exhaustion.

By the time August rolls around I am usually so frazzled from June and July that shopping for school supplies seems like a welcome, bright light at the end of a very long tunnel. As we load up the basket with binders and mechanical pencils, I envision mornings of dropping off the kids and returning home to a silent house where I will sit in blissful peace and drink a cup of coffee without the stomping sounds of my children's feet ringing through the air. As a result of my end of summer stupor, I often ignore the prices and willingly pay almost anything for supplies.

This need not be the case. If you have a straight head on your shoulders as you shop for markers and pens, the tab needn't be a bank breaker. A few ideas to keep in mind as your roll your basket through the aisles will help:

• Shop around. Just because one store offers great deals on some items, they will often have higher on other items you need as well. With a bit of planning and research you can see if other stores offer other needed stuff at better prices.
• Recycle! The chances are pretty good that when you son cleaned out his desk at the end of last year, there were odds and ends that can be reused. Not only does this help your pocketbook, but it sends a great message of recycling to your kids.
• Coupons. Sometimes a coupon can be combined with an in store special and the result is a low price and a pleased parent.

With all the money you save shopping for school supplies, you can either treat yourself to something special or just enjoy the silence after the school bus has rolled away from the curb. Happy shopping!

Is it August already? If you have school-aged children, you are probably starting to think about getting ready to head back to school.

This means a more structured routine, purchasing school supplies and acting as a cheerleader.

What? C'mon, you know what I mean. Your kids aren't exactly psyched to get up and out the door early every weekday morning, only to do work for six hours straight. Did I mention the hours of homework that would be coming too?

Part of your job as parent is to help remind your kids about the fun parts of school: the amazing books they'll read, the new mathematical concepts they can use to wow their grandparents and of course the useless facts or knowledge they will need for Trivial Pursuit games. And recess.

With the start of school fast approaching you may be thinking of things such as folders, pencils and book covers. Sure you can buy those ugly stretchy nylon things or make some out of paper grocery bags but how boring is that?

To be truly creative you could make your own out of fabric scraps. Here is a picture tutorial for making your very own book covers. This way you can protect your books and make a statement about who you are as a DIY'er.

These would also be fun for covering a photo album or for adding another touch to you scrap-booking projects. How about a new Bible cover or protect your favorite book or journal. I am sure you could come up with many uses for these that I haven't thought of so leave a comment and let us know what you come up with.