Fall means back to school – but this year that looks a whole lot different for most families.  I think that as a whole, families with young children are either prepping their homes for homeschool or need to have put some thought into it in-case that is where we all end up again come the end of the year!  I have put together some tips and things to think about when you are prepping your home for homeschool this fall that might not be the obvious so you can have a great, successful year – even if that looks different!

This post was graciously sponsored by Hoffmann Brothers but all opinions are my own. 

Prepping your Home For Homeschool 

I would say at this time everyone with school aged children reading this have had some disruption in their back to school routine for the year. For us, we are going back to school with some modifications, but we are also prepping things at home knowing things could change at any moment.

Last spring we didn’t have the luxury of the forewarning of what was to come with kids not going back to school, so now that we do it is important that no matter who we are we do some things to make life with homeschool happier and healthier for all!

In this post I am going to share some products that you can buy for organizing your item and keeping your home functioning better as well as some tips for some things you maybe hadn’t thought of that would be great to get done this fall.

Is your House Ready?

Homeschooling means that after 6 months straight of being home as a family that is only going to continue.  That means a lot of people inside one house all the time.  A couple of things we have thought of doing in our new house are:  Getting our ducts cleaned, and specifically adding an air scrubber so we are breathing cleaner, healthier air – especially as cold and flu season creep up on us.

Air Scrubbers suck the air into that system first then shoot out purified air for a cleaner healthier home.  For us here in the St. Louis area we are going to use Hoffmann Brothers to add that air scrubber and have our ducts cleaned for that cleaner home! 

Another thing to think about is if your home is prepped with the right placement of electrical outlets, and if your panel can handle the surge in devices that will likely be used at once.

If you know your kids are going to be doing e-learning in one place all the time it might be worth it to get some outlets installed by Hoffmann Brothers in the right spot, and have them come out and check out your electrical panel to make sure you are set and ready to go.

We have 4 kids, and thank goodness they aren’t all learning age, but I can only imagine if we had 6 computers working all day.  Hoffmann Brothers is so knowledgeable and is a great resource in the St. Louis  OR Nashville area for that!

Is your Internet Ready?

 Another thing to do now instead of later is look into your current internet.  If you can get faster and better internet this is the time to invest in that.  You will likely have zooms for both parents and kids and the last thing you want is to be kicked off those calls.

For us this was an easy call to our internet provider to see what they could do, and we found out that a new program was available in our current area.  We got twice the bandwidth for 10 dollars more a month and things have been working much smoother.

Items to Organize and Keep You Sane

 For me one of the hardest parts of homeschool was we suddenly had ALL SORTS of extra stuff everywhere and were trying to find ways to make our home a school on the fly.

I suggest either buying desks, or some sort of table for your kids, or setting them up in one area that is not going to be overly distracting.

For our family that was our formal dining room.  There was plenty of room for the kids to learn and spread out and it wasn’t an area that couldn’t be left covered with school supplies.

That said  – there are items I wish I had gotten last spring that would have kept our tables nicer, our items more organized, and myself more sane in return.  Below is a round up of some of those items.

Shop items below for Prepping your home for homeschool

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1. Desk – There are so many great options for desks, but if you are looking for a stylish option that is super functional – this one comes in several colors and is amazing!
2. Storage Caddy – I will give a few options for this, but I think pending your learning space having a caddy for the supplies you need is key!
3. Wall hooks – I think having some command hooks on hand to hang whatever your heart desires is a great idea!
4. Clear bin – These are great for storing your papers, work books, and all sorts of things. 
5. Collapsible caddy – these are so dang cute!
6. Wall Calendar
7. Storage container for markers and crayons and such
8. Acrylic board – I love that this is super sleek and a great place to do notes because it is just blank
9. Storage bin – We use these all over our house, but I have been using them for homeschool since the spring.  I filled one for each kid with all their school supplies and for my first grader at the time the top had all the daily needs as far as other supplies.  So there was change, glue, a little clock and so on. (see more on those bins here!)
10. Mat to protect your tables – this is KEY!
11. Wall storage bins – we have these and love them.  Last fall we put all finished school work in these bins to keep it stored and out of the way. 
12. A rolling cart – these are so crazy functional!

Hopefully some of these tips will help you to get your home ready to go for a new kind of back to school experience.  I know it isn’t ideal for nearly any family, but I know for myself planning and keeping my home safe, and organized helps to make it feel more planned and less like something I had no control over.

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If you need any help with some of those larger home changes be sure to reach out to Hoffman Brothers, and if you have questions on any of the other items I found to help in prepping your home for homeschool leave me a comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram (@arinsolange). 

Who else is investing in all the things to use while were at home this year?  I rounded up my favorite toddler bike and kid bike options that are stylish and well rated in one post.  In my 8 years of mom life I have learned that not all bikes are created equal – you want something that is light weight and works well.  

In this post I touch on price, style, and features of each bike so you can find what is best for you!

This post may contain affiliate links

Toddler Bike & Kid Bike Options

I am the mom that does ALL THE RESEARCH on ALL THE THINGS I buy my kids – which is probably why doing gift guides is one of my favorite things in this job. This summer all three of my older kids needed new bikes, so I have been doing so much research it isn’t even funny.

I am in a unique position because although I was only looking for a toddler bike for my youngest, my older two still use training wheels, so I needed some toddler bike features on the kid bike options I found too. 

For the sake of this post I looked at a few balance bikes, and up to size 20.  Many of the bikes come larger than that, but that was my main focus. 

I very much so care about how my kids bikes look – especially for my girls, but I also know that when it comes to a bike it really needs to work well.  My oldest sons first bike was SO HEAVY that he honestly couldn’t ever really ride it.  I didn’t realize it was such a big deal until getting my 3 year old a new bike recently and seeing how much easier that is to ride.

Things to Consider

A couple of things to consider – Do you care about  a hand break?  In the United States bike manufacturers HAVE to use a back pedal break option.  Some bikes also offer hand breaks as a learning option along with the back pedal break (and from what I have read some also sell after stock options to get rid of the back pedal break option too). 

Back pedal breaks are on the bikes because they take very little coordination for kids to master so they are deemed safer – that said just decide if that matters to you before you buy. 

Another consideration – do you want to do the balance bike route?  We have only done one balance bike but have for the most part just gone traditional with things and done the training wheels bikes, but many parents find that the balance bike option is the best for their kids, then they go straight to a pedal bike with no training wheels. 

Below are my picks for stylish, great toddler bikes and kids bikes.

Shop Toddler Bikes & Kids Bikes Below

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1. Blue Helmet – this one comes in several colors and they are all matte which I love!
2. Cupcake Helmet – I love this so much! My daughter would love it. 
3. Orange Helmet 
4. Green Helmet – I included this in 2 colors – this helmet is awesome because you can use it as a ski/snow helmet or a bike helmet either one by removing the insert.  If you live somewhere where you do winter sports this would be a great one helmet fits all sports situation. 
5. Rainbow Helmet
6. Pink Helmet – this is the same situation as the green one from #4 – a all season all sport option
7. Pink Helmet – I am a sucker for the matte look
8. Streamers for Handle bars 
9. Strawberry Bell
10. Black Bell
11. Pink Bell
12. Old School horn – this is so cute – I remember having one on my bike growing up
13. Green Bike basket
14. Pink Bike Basket
15. Brown wicker bike basket
16. Basket that can be used as a backpack, a bike basket, or a purse! Such a good option for a little girl
17. Black Bike – comes in several plain colors and has a hand break option which I love. This is such a good option!
18. This bike is deemed the safest on the market – This one comes in girls and boys options and when you read about it I am sure you will love it too. 
19. A great budget option that looks so much like the Banwood bikes
20. Colorful bike
21. This ivory and orange bike is SO CUTE 
22. White and black bike with basket
23. Banwood balance bike – this is DARLING
24. Dark green bike – I LOVE dark green for boys and this one is so cute
25. Coral bike – this is such a fun colorful bike option
26. Pink Bike with leather accents
27. Coral pink little balance bike 
28. White bike with leather accents – this is a great option if you have multiple kids and both genders – you could pass it down to all of your kids. 
29. Strider Bike – These are a great option for kids learning because you can add pedals down the road 
30. White balance bike with basket 
31. Light pink bike with basket – This is a super great budget friendly version of some of the high end bikes at $130.

This was such a wide variety of options when it comes to toddler bikes and kids bikes, but also should give you a great option no matter your budget and taste.  I got sucked into the rabbit hole of looking at bikes during all of this and honestly now can’t decide which beauty I will land on for Avé, and what to get Jack.

Based on their ages we have very different needs and wants from their bikes – as well as my taste is slightly different for my boys and my girls.  Both will be bikes that are passed down, which leaves me inclined to pay a bit more if needed – where I maybe wouldn’t if we didn’t have SO MANY KIDS haha. 

Other posts you may love  – 

Check out all the gift guides I have for each age on this page if you are looking for other great ideas to get kids!

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Hopefully this helped you find some great toddler bikes and kids bikes both that you will love for years to come.  Keep a look out on Instagram (@arinsolange) to see what I end up with, and comment with any questions. 

With 4 babies I am pretty sure I have tried it all, and figured out the best of the best, (and the biggest waste items) for babies. I am doing a full review of the Dock a Tot Grand and Deluxe in this post to help you decide if it is worth the buy.

This post was written originally on 1/18 and was updated on 6/20. The post may contain affiliates. 

Dock a Tot Review

When we had our 3rd child (FOUR YEARS AGO….where does the time go??) I knew I had to try the Dock a Tot. It was a newer on the item and slightly unabtainable purchase with our second baby so I was itching to see what all the hype was about.

We loved the deluxe which I reviewed here, and although he didn’t sleep in it every night, it made travel and naps so much easier on us.  That ended up bringing us to looking at the Dock a Tot Grand and deciding if that was worth the purchase.

In this blog post I will share the differences in the sizes and my thoughts on owning both sizes 4 years later.

What is the Point of the Dock a Tot?

Per the Dock a Tot Website – it is a dedicated napping and lounging spot for babies and toddlers. It is to be used supervised.

Per what I would say – most moms buy it as a place for baby to sleep for naps or bedtime, although as with anything else that goes inside of a crib or bassinet that is not recommended by safe sleep experts.

Is the Dock A Tot Safe?

I think this, as parents is our number one concern. When we got the Dock a Tot Deluxe with our son, Walker, I was SO NERVOUS about using anything new. We had used something called the Nap Nanny with my older two that was later recalled, and that had me crazy nervous.

I did lots of research on the safety, and felt very confident in the design and fabric choices that Dock a Tot made when designing their product, however still treaded lightly on infant use.

For us we used the Dock a tot as a portable napping space around the house, as well as a place for the baby to sleep for the first week or 2 in our bed. This is not recommended, but for me I found that doing so allowed for my anxiety of the baby being outside me to subside, while allowing each baby to have a dedicated place and not fully co sleep.

** This is not recommended by the company or the American Academy of Pediatrics – it was simply a choice I made for my family.

In my opinion – it is one of the earlier hard choices you have to make to decide what is right for you and your family.

Dock a Tot Deluxe vs Dock a Tot Grand

I have mentioned the Grand and the Deluxe already in this post, and some of you are probably thinking – what the heck? Those are names for different sizes.

If you are pregnant and registering for a baby don’t even think about the Grand yet. You are only focusing on the Deluxe as that will get you through the first 8+ months of your babies life. Then you can make an assessment on if you want/need the Grand down the road.

Dock a Tot Deluxe – The smaller ‘Baby’ Size

Dock a Tot Grand – The larger ‘Toddler’ Size.

Do You Really Need the Dock a Tot? An Honest Review from a Mom of 4

Alright So now you know what the Dock a Tot is – but lets talk about if you really need it. I will start this off with stating – I both LOVED the Dock a Tot, but also don’t think it is a need.

I have had 4 kids – all of which were pretty good sleepers, and I wouldn’t say I saw any better or worse sleep because of the Dock a Tot. It is a big investment – and many moms will swear by it – but don’t think that if you can’t afford it or don’t want to budget that in that your baby won’t sleep well.

I loved the Dock a Tot Deluxe for couch naps and such with my younger two, and did find it to be helpful because of how portable it was. I also did let both babies sleep in it for a few weeks when newborns which I felt maybe made them less ‘restless’ in their sleep – but honestly that only effected me not them.

Babies are super noisy and move a lot at night, so I think the combination of the extra padding and the cocoon feeling helped them to be more still – but in no way do I think it meant they woke up less.

I also would say as far as for day time help it is the most help during the first 6 or so weeks. After that I found that other pieces of gear were better for the movement.

You can actually see what months I used what in this series of posts I did with my 4th baby.

All in all – Do I think it is a worth while investment? I am a realist on what I tell moms to register for and I do always recommend this one. So yes – I do think so.

When to Move to the DockaTot Grand

So now to talk about the DockaTot Grand – I have both. The photos of the green leaves in this post are all the Grand – and I will be honest – for the first 3 years owning it didnt think it was worth it. Our babies didn’t sleep in the Dock a Tot Deluxe long term so it just wasnt a needed purchase.

That said – we were moving when Goldie (my 4th) was 1 and Goldie slept in the Dock a Tot Grand in the pack n play and is now a full on addict haha. So it has now been a very worth while while item for us.

All in all – I would say you should wait until your baby is old enough to get one. Moving to the DockaTot Grand normally happens somewhere around 9/10 months – the Deluxe is meant to seam snug before they move, and honestly moving them too soon can make you think they don’t like their new one. 

If your baby is sleeping in the Dock a Tot nightly then I would say they will love the Grand just as much and it will be worth the investment – I have friends who’s kids used it daily for years making their bed seem more comfortable, so it is definitely worth looking into it.

Considerations and Final Thoughts

Because this is a true and honest review from a mom of 4, I would say one thing to think about with using the Grand is if you fly very often or will have room to take this when you travel.  We are now getting ready to fly with our daughter who is almost 2 and I am dreading taking the Grand with us…but also..I love sleep.

The Dock a Tot Grand is a pretty big piece of baby gear, and if your baby is dependent on it, it could make travel tricky.  I would just put some thought into your lifestyle before you decide if moving them to the next size up is a good idea, or if that is the time to break the habit. 

Differences in Grand vs Deluxe

Aside from the size – the DockaTot Grand is nearly identical to the Deluxe – but one thing that is different is when in use you never use the Grand buckled at the bottom.  You are to always leave it open just like you would on the Deluxe as your baby starts to get bigger.  

This is done for safety and something may people don’t know about. The Grand comes in the plastic zip up case just like the Deluxe so it does make it easy for storage and for travel, so keep that in mind if travel is something on the radar. 

Overall – DockaTot has been a brand that I have loved with my younger two kids.  They are cutting edge as far as coming out with fun, on trend prints and colors (which for me does matter – because if you are paying that price you want something you like to look at).  They take safety very seriously, and they are a product that in my opinion really helped my youngest two sleep well from night 1!  

Other Favorite Products!

With my 4th baby I have been tracking the products I used month by month – be sure to check out this tab with the monthly tracking.  This can be helpful to see how long certain items remained heavily used in our home!

I am also linking to some other posts that you will love!

Monthly Baby Favorites | Rainbow Nursery | Beddys Bedding Review | Jenny Lind Bed Review

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Hopefully you found this review of the Dock a Tot helpful and are more prepared to make the choice on getting one. If you have any questions leave them below or reach out to me via Instagram (@arinsolange).

This post was graciously sponsored by Shark VACMOP however all opinions are my own. 

We are on a mission with all 6 of us home all day every day to find better ways at keeping a tidy home. Cleaning your house is one thing, but the more kids we have had, the more I have realized that having certain items on hand for just day to day cleaning and tidying is ESSENTIAL.  I am really excited to share with you all the Shark VACMOP, and how much that has helped in our day to day cleaning.

Keeping a Tidy Home with Shark VACMOP

We have been long time LOVERS of our Shark cordless vacuum, so knew how great Shark was as a brand, so when I was approached to try out the new Shark VACMOP I was really excited to have something just as convent on hand for daily cleaning of our floors. 

With four little ones our house is basically in need of mopping DAILY, so I loved that this was a convenient, cordless option I could grab and go when needed on the daily. 

Cutting Down Steps and Fuss

So by the name you have probably gathered that this is both a mop and vacuum.  There is powerful Shark Vacuum suction that captures both small and large debris between the chamber and the disposable pad.  For me this has been super helpful for quicker clean up!

The disposable pad traps and locks away debris (like dirt and pet hair), but is 4 layers thick so can actually handle a mess.  And HELLO – with 4 kids that is a much.  I swear I need to keep a tally of how often milk is spilled at the dinner table.  Once you’re done with the clean up you can toss the disposable pad with one click – you never have to touch the dirty pad!

So basically – click on the pad, clean your floors with the mop and vacuum in one, then click and toss the dirty pad away!

Finding Set Times to Tidy Up

One thing we have been doing during this crazy time is setting times to do things like mop, do dishes, and clean up toys.  There is a fine line when life is hectic between keeping things clean and tidy, and constantly feeling as tho you are working against a moving target.  

For us, we do dishes after breakfast, and after dinner.  Dishes during the day sit in the sink (unless I bake or something).   I like to clean the floors after every meal and because the VACMOP is a vacuum and mop in one I save time cleaning while also getting a complete clean on my floors. 

The kids toys are all cleaned up before lunch on the main floor, then before bed on the main floor as well, but we have learned that 2/3 days for the basement is fair.  They are spending so much time down there that we don’t want the kids feeling as tho that’s all they are doing too.

Finding the right products, and items to make keeping your house clean daily will make your life SO MUCH EASIER, so if you are looking for a way to streamline cleaning your floors, check out the Shark VACMOP floor cleaner, and make keeping your floors clean easier.