​September is just around the corner, and it is time to check your birthday calendar for birthdays and prepare your cards. I've found that filling out all my cards for the month has been so helpful in actually sending cards out for birthdays.

So, maybe you don't have a ton of birthdays in your calendar, but they show up in Facebook the morning of the person's birthday and you have no time to send a card! Ugh, don't you hate that? I know I do! 

Well, today you are in luck! I'm going to show you how to find the full list of your friend's birthdays so that you can add them to your birthday wall calendar, that way, month after month, year after year, you will know in advance when it's someone's birthday! 

Now that you have all your birthdays at your fingertips, you can add them to your perpetual birthday and anniversary calendar. I display mine on the wall behind my desk with readily available cards and stamps to give me a higher probability of sending out a card! Lately I've been writing cards at the beginning of the month, which has also been really helpful! See the post I wrote about Setting Yourself Up for Card Sending Success here.

Now, on to the next order of September business, a new calendar filled with all the fun holidays I'll be featuring this month! I hope you'll join me on social media to get updates and reminders of each of these fun days.

Ahhh, the smell of fresh school supplies is in the air! Before every single summer, I have a panic attack worrying that there is just not enough time to spend with my kids to do "all the things," and then by August I am counting the days, ready to regain some organization to our days. So I don't know about you, but I am ready for school to start, ready to get back on routine, and ready to take those adorable First Day of School photos! 

​I am such a sentimental mom, and that's probably why I love taking these photos. Each first day, my kids pose by our front door in their favorite new outfits, with their backpacks and excited smiles. I love comparing the current photo to last year's to see how much they've grown and changed, and how much they've stayed the same. Each year I swear they no longer look like little boys, but then after a year passes, it's easy to see that little boy from the photo the year before. 

I spend a very unproductive first day of school looking at all the photos my friends share of their kids and smile at all of the well wishes and comments on how much each of them have grown up, and I love every minute of it.

Because I know that even though we prepare for it, the first day of school sneaks up on us, I made these prints an Instant Download in my Etsy shop. That's right last minute Momma's, you can grab your printable tonight, and have it ready by morning for your first day photo shoot! 

And for a limited time, I have a special treat for teachers too! I know how hard your work and how much of your own money you put into making the first day of school truly special. I have a free downloadable print for you - and all you have to do is ask for it! Send an email to hello (at) polkadotpapercompany.com to request your print. Please use your school or .edu email address and specify your grade level (so you get the right file!). One PDF printable per person, valid through August 31, 2016 only. Not to be shared, or sold, but enjoyed by you and your students on the first day of school! By requesting a file, you will also be added to the Polkadot Paper Company newsletter list, but don't worry, we only send out good stuff! 

Happy First Day of School to all of you out there! I hope your year is wonderful!