I had to get cre8tiv!

I know I mentioned Mushroom Festival pictures BUT...I am very busy today. I have two new levels of swimmers to instruct this evening and I need to work on those lesson plans...yes, I'm still working on lesson plans. Honestly, I just want to get all 8 weeks planned so that it's done and over with until the next session starts. I think it's pretty responsible of me, don't you?

So, I decided to move the mushrooms to tomorrow and post a few pictures of my new mantel decoration for today. I know most people are happily pulling out Halloween/Fall decorations at this time of year but I'm sorry, in my opinion, if it's still in the mid to high 80s, it's too hot for that yet. I like to do an interim "back to school" display and then move into Halloween for October and switch it to all Fall/Thanksgiving for November. The problem with that is, what to put up for "back to school?"

Originally I wanted some apple-y decorations but, I couldn't find any I liked at reasonable (cheap) prices. Then,  I had a brainstorm in the grocery store the other day and I must say I'm really happy with the results. Like many of you out there in blogland, I have the beloved apothecary jars on my mantel. I swear you could put dog crap in those (and I'd have plenty to choose from) and somehow the dog crap would look good. Don't worry...I didn't do that. I decided to go with some basic back to school items. Crayons, pencils, books and an apple or two. I did use a few fall items just to start the transition from summer to autumn. Here's how it turned out:

 

The gumballs were just because I liked the bright colors and thought they were cute to tie in the colors of the crayons on the other side. 

I put some more real apples around the house as decorations and I'm really pleased with the way it all turned out. I didn't have to buy much, just the crayons and pencils which The Son will happily use when we're finished and of course the apples. I think they'll stay fresh looking for a week or two more and then it will be time for Halloween. Halloween is my favorite holiday so I'm getting REALLY excited for that. Incidentally, I'll be making The Son's costume again this year and it's going to be a good one, I can just feel it. Just how exactly I'll put together a "Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class" has yet to be determined. (Do you know what that is? I bet most of you Mommies do...) 

Mushroom Festival tomorrow...I swear!