Back-to-school time! I'm actually looking forward to it. Vacations are a lot harder with two kids that have such a big age difference (sorry, man, but I'm freakin' tired). My little second grader only got about a month and a half off, and soon we will have to start our early morning routines again. He's not excited at all, but I'm like this. 

School prep means we get to go shopping! I love going on the hunt for school supplies. Last year, I took the list quite literally, getting the exact brands that were specified. Well, this year, the Brodster and I will be having a bit of fun.

With back-to-school quickly approaching, I am in major money-saving mode. One way that I have found as a great investment of my time is earning points with Bing Rewards.

By signing up with the program, Bing makes it super easy to earn great rewards, like gift cards and sweepstakes entries. Personally, I usually choose Amazon and Starbucks cards. However, with school supply shopping coming soon, I have added Toys R Us and Macys to my list. Intrigued? Let me tell you how easy it really is! All you have to do is search the web using Bing!  Here's the breakdown:

1. Sign up.
2. For every two searches on Bing, you earn one point (up to 15 points a day).
3. If you use their mobile app, you can earn up to an additional 10 points a day. That brings you to a total of 25 points a day!
4. Most $5 gift cards cost 525 points. So it would only take you 21 days to earn a gift card!
5. Once you reach the gold level, your gift card cost will drop to 475 points, making it even easier to earn cards!

Another bonus is if you refer a friend. Once your buddies reach silver status (meaning redeeming their first reward), you earn 150 points! A win for your bud is a win for you!

Want even more goodness? Sometimes, Bing will send me codes for FREE rewards, like an 8x8 hard cover Shutterfly photobook! This was ideal when I wanted to document Brody's year of first grade and will do the same with 2nd.

So how  exactly does this help save for school? Here are the list of rewards I can use for during the year:

1. School Supplies: Amazon gift card
2. Backpack/School supplies: Toys R Us gift card
3. School Shoes/Clothes: Macys gift card
4. School Memories: Shutterfly photo deal
5. Good Grade Rewards: Gamestop gift card
6. Charity: $1 to Kids in Need, $1 to Teach for America
7. Gifts for teachers: Gilt, Macys, Sephora, Starbucks gift card
8. For my sanity during the school year: Groupon, Starbucks gift card

Check out the full list of rewards here

Ready to earn free rewards? Join here! 
And be sure to let me know what you get with your first reward!

I'm excited to shop! No boring, yellow pencils in this pencil pouch!  I'm probably going to be shopping for my office too (you'll see my own personal wish list tomorrow). Oh, and I think I may have become a little obsessed with erasers. What is it about the perfect eraser that makes me giddy?

Still, I'm going to miss my little rascal. Yes, I've got an 9-month old to keep me busy, but life was so much easier with his big brother around. I'm sure Lou will be missing the Brodster too. We'll just weep together while we get used to the routine again. :)

My mom has taught me so much, and I'm sure she has many more lessons in the years to come.  It's funny how I never appreciated it until my late 20s.  That is around the time when you start seeing your parents as real humans beings, not just the people that clean up after you or pay your bills (probably because they don't clean after you or pay your bills anymore).  My parents are pretty cute actually.  High school sweethearts from El Salvador, adorable abuelos to my kid, and 100% family-oriented.  Everything they did and still do is for their loved-ones.   

Today, for Mother's Day, I would like the highlight the wonderful advice my mom has given me. 

Never settle: Sometimes I get lazy, but when I do, I feel totally guilty about it.  Strive for what you want, and try, try again.  When I feel like I can't figure it out, she's there to help in any way she can.
Push your creativity: She's so much talented than me.  You should see how she decorates her classrooms!  Sometimes I bounce ideas off her, just to see how she'll make them better.
Be A Positive Influence: My mom is a natural leader.  She has always been a strong matriarch, but she could easily take charge of the conversation at any dinner party.  She loves to laugh, and I love when she does.  It's loud and happy and contagious!
Don't Be Dumb:  I know this sounds silly, but she definitely teaches this almost daily.  If I ever get overly excited about an opportunity, she would bring me back to earth.  Yes, it great to be hopeful, but keep it real.  Take the time to really think about decisions, especially big, life-changing ones.  She would never make the choice for me, but her guidance is always there. 
Love Yourself: This is something that every parent should teach their kid.  The only way you can love anyone else is appreciating who you are first.  Knowing who you are will help you understand when others appreciate you too.

Happy Mother's Day, Mami!  Thank you for everything - I love you tons! 
Hopefully, you still read my blog and actually saw this post.