Back to School

When I was a kid, school always started the first week of September or somewhere pretty close. In the Virgin Islands, school starts August 13 this year for public school. I used to try to get all the school supplies by ordering early online because I didn't want to pay $7 for a box of colored pencils. But this year is different. I have seen great deals at local stores lately and for very reasonable prices. 

The local OfficeMax has all the essentials priced for a few dollars in the back of the store (there are no signs, just keep walking until you can go no more). Cost-U-Less also has some good deals and if we didn't already have a backpack, I know my daughter would want the Hello Kitty backpack I saw featured online in the circular. I actually may go there next weekend to check out a few more items. Both stores also have the primary journals that every public school requires on island and that I used to spend a fortune on in the past. They are all priced at a few dollars a piece and I purchased the basic primary journals for .50 at OfficeMax. 

Other items that we always need throughout the school year are school snacks, especially for after school care time. We're trying to go healthier this year and avoiding the chips and cookies (ask me in a month how long this lasted). So far we have settled on assorted nuts like cashews, peanuts and almonds and crackers. We are also planning on sending loose fruit in a container. I found a great nut assortment pack and they were individually packed at Plaza East. I know it's more waste than just putting it into bags ourselves but if we're using our own plastic bags anyway, it does seem like a bit of a time saver and less of a chance that the nuts will go stale. 

I am still going strong on my quest not to order online so last week my husband and I drove the whole island while he entertained me with is jokes and went into every feed and grocery store in our search for a dog food feeder and dog vitamins. We did finally find a dog food feeder and glucosamine as well as other dog vitamins at Gallows Bay Hardware. They were very reasonably priced and the dog is very happy with both. She has an extra pep in her step since she started taking the vitamins. The utensils in the photo were my husband's idea but I have to agree that the Downton Abbey of it all is very fitting for her and she seemed to enjoy it. 

So it's August and that also means we're about to hit hurricane season pretty hard. On the calendar, the season goes from June to November but everyone who lives here knows that it's not really serious until end of August and through September. Then we hold our breaths for a few weeks and hope for the best. So here we are. Our propane tanks are filled for the generator and we have some canned food ready. Everything else is really up to the weather

I will try to make this blog a regular thing again and I will try to post every Sunday. See you next week!