Now that the kids are back in school – Glenview actually started yesterday – I have had a few minutes to think about what exactly I am going to do with my freed-up daytime hours. Truth be told, it’s not as much free time as it sounds. Once the kids are all on the bus, I’ve cleaned up breakfast and sat down to work, it seems like the kids are back off the bus again.

I am, however, looking forward to this new chapter. As much as I have begged Chloe to let me homeschool her, she insists on going to first grade. So. Here’s what I want to get done:

1. Go to Hot Mama and find myself a hot look.
2. Go through the boys’ room to retrieve and then trash the summer’s collection of McDonald’s toys.
3. Check out The Silken Tent, just down the street. Boutique? Food? I’m there.
4. Sort through fall clothes, see what needs to be tossed. Not mine - the kids’. I get a new wardrobe once every few….well, just once.
5. Hit Central Street in Evanston.
6. Comfy up with a few back issues of Cooking Light. Find new recipe, go to Oil and Vinegar at Old Orchard to get some tasty ingredients.
7. Clean. Really. I want to tear the house apart from top to bottom.

And that’s just the list for today! OK - so I’m a bit overly optimistic. But like any mom whose been released from the kid shackles that can make shopping - or even just going to the grocery store - an “I need a stiff drink” experience, you can get heady just thinking about all the stuff you want to do.

Have fun at school, kids!

Technorati Tags: Oil&Vinegar, Old Orchard, Evanston shopping, The Silken Tent, Hot Mama, North Shore shops

If you’ve read my blogs before, you know I’m a North Shore transplant, coming from mid-Michigan just over two years ago. I’m still a transplant - I didn’t grow up here - but a weekend visit to my home of 18 years - the Lansing area - proved to me that I’m no longer the “new girl” in these parts, and that for most of the stuff I enjoyed so much about Michigan, I’ve found things I love just as much, if not more, here on the North Shore.

I caught myself, for the first time, really talking up where we live now, as opposed to grieving with old friends about how much I miss the old neighborhood. I still miss my posse of girlfriends – a lot – but this time, I was surprised at how much I talked up my kids’ school district here, and how much I love fRedhots and Fries and The Yardhouse, and how great the Chicago Botanical Garden is, and how beautiful Northwestern’s campus is. (This? It’s really difficult to say when you bleed the Green and White of MSU like I do.)

And as much as there is to do around the old haunt, I actually found my mind wandering back to the North Shore, wondering what was up and what I was missing around here.

It’s interesting when you take that trip back and even though there’s a small part of me that is sad to recognize I’m really letting go, there’s such great relief and even excitement at the true acceptance of a new home. It’s like I can finally let it in.

Hello, North Shore. Glad to be here.

I remember when I was a kid, shopping for school supplies was fun. OK - so maybe I was a little weird, but seriously - it was a little like Christmas. Everything shiny and new, a symbolic representation of hope springing eternal - a fresh start, new teachers, new friends.

Now that I’m on the flip side, I do relish watching my kids get ready for the new year. But shopping for school supplies? Blech. What starts out as deceivingly inexpensive (”50 cents for a pink pencil box? Sure, honey, you can have one!”) turns into outrageously expensive (”My total is $159.95? I didn’t even get everything!”)

Our trip this year began at Staples, where yes - I spent $159. Of course, Josh picking out the $12 pack of sticky notes didn’t help. Then, I headed to Target, where the aisles were trashed and everything was picked over. And then picked over more.

I did, however, find book covers that were 2 for $1. Yay! This meant I could return the ones I spent $4 each on at Staples. Though, I will give Staples props for much better organization, and glue for 5 cents!

I’m curious - what are some of the weirder items on your child’s list this year? I have to admit I’m occasionally baffled by the request for Dry-Erase board markers, baby wipes, and VHS tapes. E-mail me at kelly@northshoreinsider.com with some of the craziest stuff you have to buy, and I’ll post them here!

This year? I’m not making the same mistake I did last August, which was to Sharpie everyone’s name on everything, only to find out they didn’t need two-thirds of what was on the supply list and purchased. This time, I’m keeping the supplies together, and stapling the receipt to the bag.

Staples, we’ll meet again. Soon. Very soon.

Technorati Tags: school supply shopping, Staples, Target