Author: shalisha.galloway

Posted on

From Paper Chaos to Keepsake Bliss: The Stress-Free Way to Organize School Memories

If you’ve ever found a crumpled, three-month-old finger painting at the bottom of a backpack or realized your “memory box” is actually just a kitchen drawer overflowing with report cards, this is for you.

We all want to save the magic of our kids’ school years, but the sheer volume of paper can feel like an avalanche. The secret? The “One-Bin-Per-Child” System. It turns a yearly headache into a five-minute task.

The Setup: Your Organization Toolkit

You don’t need a fancy scanner or a professional archivist. You just need a few basics:

Why This Works

The beauty of this system is its physical limit. By giving yourself one folder per year, you’re forced to curate the best of the best. Instead of keeping every single math worksheet, you save the “All About Me” posters, the creative writing pieces, and that one specific drawing of a cat that looks suspiciously like a potato.

The Magic of the “Yearly File”

Imagine it’s the last day of school. Normally, you’d be staring at a pile of projects wondering where to hide them. With this system, the process is incredibly simple:

  1. The Purge: Lay out the year’s work. 
  2. The Selection: Pick the top 5–10 items that truly show your child’s personality or growth.
  3. The Drop: Open the bin, find the grade level tab, and slide the school pictures and papers inside.

Done. No taping, no gluing, no scrapbooking guilt. You’ve just preserved a whole year of life in the time it took to make a cup of coffee.

Pro-Tips for Success

  • Front and Center: Place the official school photo in the very front of each folder. It’s like a “cover page” for that age.
  • The “Special” Bin: If they bring home a 3D volcano or a giant poster board, take a photo of them holding it, print it out, and file the photo. (Your closet space will thank you!)
  • Start Now: It doesn’t matter if your kid is in Kindergarten or 10th Grade. Start with the current year and work backward when you have a rainy afternoon.

The Goal: When your kids graduate, you won’t hand them a mountain of loose papers. You’ll hand them a single, organized box that tells the story of who they became. Happy organizing!

Posted on

Christmas Card Girly

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I’ve said year after year that I want to get my Christmas cards organized. We were gifted with a day off from practice this week due to rain, so I thought, “Why not today?” Let me tell you, I am obsessed with how this idea came out. I plan to put them in a basket to display at Christmas each year. If you want the templates for the cover pages that I created, click here. I used a laminator, laminating pouches, a single hole punch, and binder rings to organize the cards in a simple way. Thank me later. Happy holidays.

Posted on

Going Beyond “How was Your Day?”

When we ask our children, “How was your day,” we’re often met with a one-word answer like “fine” or “good.” To get a more meaningful response and to truly connect, try using open-ended questions. Instead of them giving you a simple yes or no, these questions encourage your child to provide details and reflect on their experiences. This approach transforms a routine check-in into an opportunity to understand their world, build stronger communication, and show them that their thoughts and feelings are important. By moving beyond simple questions, you create a space for real conversation and a deeper bond. So instead of “How was your day,” try one of these:

  1. What was the best/worst thing that happened at school today?
  2. What was the most interesting/funny thing you heard today?
  3. What challenged you most today?
  4. How did you help somebody today? How did someone help you?
  5. What made you smile today?
  6. Tell me about something you read today.
  7. What are you looking forward to at school tomorrow?
  8. What new vocabulary word did you learn today?
  9. Rate your day on a scale of 1-10. Why did you give it that rating?
  10. Tell me/show me something new you learned today.

These types of questions invite your child to share the full spectrum of their day—the triumphs, the challenges, and everything in between. By asking questions that require more than a one-word answer, you’re not just getting information; you’re building a bridge of communication. This practice shows your child that you value their thoughts and feelings, which creates a safe space for them to open up. Over time, this consistent effort to connect will strengthen your bond, transforming a simple check-in into a meaningful daily ritual that nurtures your relationship and helps your child feel truly seen and heard.

Posted on

Back to School- just get the supplies!

At the start of every school year, I see posts on many mom groups that I am a part of questioning the school supply lists. “Why do I have to send in two packs of dry erase markers or ten glue sticks? Why do I have to buy Clorox wipes, sanitizer and tissues for the classroom?” And what makes these mamas most irritated is that they’ve been informed not to write their child’s name on any of the supplies they send in.  

Welcome to communal school supplies, my friends! Whether you realize it or not, this concept isn’t new. I know it can be a little overwhelming to look at your kid’s school supply list and see 28 additional supplies you need to buy when really all you wanted to buy was a new backpack. 

But.schools.need.your.support. 

I know I don’t have to tell you that educators aren’t paid enough, so if you have the funds and means to help them out, why wouldn’t you? Teachers spend quite a bit of their own money on their classrooms (supplies, decor, etc.) If your problem with communal supplies stems solely from you disliking that your child won’t have the supplies you bought and nothing at all to do with you being able to afford them, then please get over yourself.

If you’re really so gung ho about Johnny having his own supplies, then fine. Let his teacher know. But when Johnny runs out of his 12 pencils in the first month of school, which you intended to last all school year, what would you like Mrs. Smith to do? Let him sit there without a pencil? Give him a zero because he isn’t prepared for her class? Or would you prefer him to be able to grab a pre-sharpened pencil from the classroom stash that the rest of the parents have sent in? Even if you think your kid will be fine without a set of communal school supplies in the classroom, they will absolutely benefit from these supplies, too. Why? Because their paper is going to run out, they will use all of their glue sticks, and their crayons will break. This is where you should realize that community matters. 

There are parents who drop their students off with an empty backpack- no supplies in tow. Be the parent who goes above and beyond to buy extra supplies for the class- just because. Community matters. 

Wouldn’t it be satisfying to know that any child who’s suffering at home or having a hard time getting what they need doesn’t have to worry about not having a pencil when they sit down at their desk? Community matters.

Some of you will still be upset about the idea of sending in school supplies for the classroom; you’ll be mad that the teacher asked for a red, yellow, and green folder when Johnny only wanted sports ones. And you’ll really blow a fuse at the thought of being responsible for taking care of “somebody else’s child.”

But it takes a village, and you yourself need a village-  a community. And that community is built by sending in an extra pack of tissues, a spare box of pencils, or ten extra glue sticks.

Community starts with you; community matters.

Posted on

For the Curly Girls

Whew! Y’all really responded in numbers to my LTK post about the new products I found for Demi’s hair. Many of you asked me to make a video of how I use the products to style her hair. You asked, and I delivered. See the video here. If you want the products, you can visit the direct LTK link here to get them from Target. If you’re an Amazon girly, get the gel, mousse, leave in condish and detangling spray by clicking the individual product links and adding to your cart. Some of them are cheaper on Amazon. Can’t wait to see all the happy girls with happy curls!

Posted on

Using Dominoes for Math

Summer is coming! I am sure you’ve enrolled your kids in summer camps, booked a few vacations, and planned some play dates, but have you thought about how you’ll stay on top of your kiddos’ academics while they’re home? I’ve already started thinking about how to spiral in what they’ve learned this past year to make sure they don’t lose it. I plan to find creative ways to keep them engaged by using everyday things that we have around the house. If you don’t have these things, there’s nothing a quick Amazon order won’t fix. Let’s take the use of dominoes for instance. Quinn is finishing up 5th grade, and one of their math focuses this year was converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. A big focus in third grade for Demi was learning her multiplication facts.  In Kindergarten, Max worked on addition and subtraction up to 10. What better way to work on all of these than with dominoes? If you don’t have dominoes at home already, you can snag these on Amazon for cheap. Watch the video below to see how we used them as manipulatives. Have fun! 

Posted on

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!

Life has been lifing this last month of school. I am an AP at my kids’ school, and y’all, I still waited until the last minute to get their teachers’ appreciation gifts together. I didn’t have much time, but I did the best I could with the materials I had at home, a grocery store run for gift cards and their favorite snacks, and some help from Amazon Prime (same day delivery). I’ve contemplated letting that monthly Prime membership go, but honey, it’s honestly worth every penny. Look at how cute my last minute gifts were for the teachers! I bought these boxes and crinkle cut paper shred from Amazon and used some ribbon I found at home. I would have much rather had used this ribbon, but it wouldn’t have gotten to me in time, and all of you on-time people bought out the school themed ribbon from my local Michaels and Hobby Lobby (insert eye roll). I used my Cricut machine and permanent vinyl to add a nice touch to their names, and voila! It took about 45 minutes to assemble the gifts. Maybe it’s too late for you to do this for Teacher Appreciation Week, but the end of the school year is coming, and they deserve a gift at that time too; teachers actually deserve the world. Thank me later.

Posted on

Kids and Chores- To Pay or Not to Pay?

We’ve finally got a good groove of chores around the Smith camp, and I couldn’t be happier, ‘cause Honey, I was this close (put your index finger and thumb finger as close as you possibly can without touching) to throwing up baskets of laundry in the middle of the floor and screaming, “Someone help me, dammit!” It’s been rough y’all. With me back working full time, I’ve really not been able to keep all my eggs in one basket. 

In the wee hours of the morning a few weeks ago, I asked myself, ‘What can I do to make these kids more accountable for helping around the house?’ I searched apps and came across “Chore Hero.” Y’all, it’s been my best friend, and the kids love it,  too. They can come home, grab their device and see the chores that have been assigned to them for the day. They can click them when they’re done. I have the option to reward them however I like, and they can redeem their points for their rewards. It’s pure genius! And it’s free. I didn’t come here to promote Chore Hero, but I came here to say that I almost lost my eggs again when Quinn asked me why I don’t pay them to do chores. Y’all, I went real black mama on him. “You stay in this house for free don’t you? You eat up my groceries for free don’t you? Period Pooh!” 

I honestly don’t think I’ll ever pay my kids to do chores. Nah. Not me. Why?

-Because they need to know that we are a team. Mama isn’t the only one around here who messes up the house. We all need to do our part to make life easier for everyone. 

-Because they need to know that you shouldn’t always expect a reward when you do things that you’re supposed to do. Do it because it’s an expectation, not because you’re seeking a reward. I won’t pay for good behavior and obedience. 

-Because they’ll grow to have families of their own, and their spouses will not talk about the mother-in-law from hell who didn’t teach her kids how to clean up and take care of a house. 

-Because Ben and I reward them in other ways. Typically, whatever our kids want, our kids get, and we remind them that their wants and needs are not even in the closest way an even exchange for them doing their chores. 

-Because I don’t want them to feel entitled. Cleaning up after yourself and knowing how to clean up a mess are both basic skills. They won’t walk away from any table expecting that someone will clean behind them. We even clean up the table at restaurants before we leave. It’s common courtesy. 

-Because I want them to have a sense of pride and be intrinsically motivated to do things and expect Nathaniel in return. (Nathaniel is a black mama’s way of saying nothing).

-Because they can earn money by doing extraordinary things- giving their old clothes and toys to charity, helping an elderly neighbor by watering her grass, etc.  

I get it that some families really want to teach their children the values of work that’s tied to money or the concept that if you work, you earn money. However, the most important thing for me to teach my kids is that being a part of the family and helping each other is the most important thing. 

So, yeah. That’s it. In a nutshell, this mama is not paying her kids to clean up a house that they live in and are the sole culprits of messing up. Well, them and the dog that they begged for, but that’s another post for another day.

Posted on

Marriage Works

It’s been a minute (8 months exactly) since I’ve made a post. Life has been so busy for the Smith clan. We had the winter storm in February. We dealt with some flooding from burst pipes.  We’ve been juggling sports, a move, and a new dog. It’s been a lot, but we are here and making it! 

Since I last wrote, Ben and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary. So many people congratulated us on making our love last through the decade, so many people commented that they admired our love, so many people said that we make this marriage thing look easy. It hasn’t been easy, but, together we make life good. I sat down and really thought about why I think we have an incredible marriage. Why? Read on….

  1. We still make time to date each other. Ya’ll better get yourself a good babysitter, and go on regular dates with your spouse. Shout out to my mama and the Smith clan for always holding it down! 
  1. We talk- often. Through the good and the bad, we talk. You have to communicate with your spouse. Talk about what’s bothering you. One thing I love about Ben is that he sets me straight in the most respectful way ever. I know how to handle him, and he knows how to handle me.
  1. We know what each other likes/dislikes. We know what pushes each others’ buttons, and we try our very best to avoid those things. If we are ever in a disagreement while talking on the phone, I know that the ultimate way to piss Ben off is to hang up in his face. I learned that early on. I think I’ve only done it maybe four times in the 16 years that we’ve been together. Sometimes I’m immature, and I need the last word, ya’ll. 
  1. We get along with each others’ families. Whew, chile. This is a big one. I know for most, this is easier said than done, but your marriage gon’ more than likely be in turmoil 60% of the time if you can’t get along with each others’ families. We are truly blessed in this department. 
  1. We don’t sleep separately. If we are mad at each other, we gon’ ‘both be in the bed mad, and I’m gon’ still put my cold feet on him. And that’s that. Ain’t no sleeping in the guest room or on the couch. We gon’ be mad right in this bed together. 
  1. We keep things fresh. Things can get stale quick, so make sure you’re keeping it spicy.
  1. We make sacrifices, and OFTEN. There’s no “I” in “TEAM.” We do what’s best for us. We don’t move as individuals. I mean, we do when it comes to hanging out with friends and such, but not when it comes to things that may make or break our family. 
  1. We are not jealous. Like not at all. We can literally sit at the bar together and a handsome guy can walk in, and I can turn to my husband and say, “Okay, grey shirt!” He’d look at the handsome guy I’m referencing and laugh. And the same goes for him. He can tell me how beautiful he thinks someone else is. Most of the time, I agree, but I always have to end it with, “But she ain’t no Shalesha!” I’m so full of myself. But seriously, y’all. We are happily married and secure enough to not be jealous when we compliment the opposite sex. We are married, but we ain’t blind! And I’ve come to the realization that if anyone can “TAKE” my husband from me, then he wasn’t mine to begin with.  
  1. We still text and talk to one another as though we’ve just started dating. We like to flirt with each other. 
  1. We show appreciation for each other. Sometimes that appreciation is so small, but it matters. Just yesterday I thanked Ben for doing the dishes. That man didn’t have to be so good to me like that. 
  1. We talk often about what needs to be improved, and we act on it.
  2. We have a shared vision of what success looks like for us. We don’t worry about what anyone else has going on. We are working for us, and that works just fine for us.

There’s so much more that I can add, but these are the top reasons why our marriage works and will continue to do so. In a world where everything is so fast, slow down and take time to know your spouse. Take time to date each other. Take time to listen. Take time to work things out. Take time to sacrifice. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. 

Posted on

Mean Mom

Today is the day that I will admit to the world that I’m a mean mom. There, I said it. Does that shock you? Eh, maybe. Sometimes I sit and reflect about how crappy of a mom I was that day, that week, or hell, just five minutes ago. Sometimes I’m in tears talking to my husband about how shitty I’ve made the kids feel after scolding them about something. He always assures me that it’s okay and that the kids love me just the same- if not more. On days when I am feeling like the world’s worst mom, I comfort myself with subtle reassurances that tomorrow is a new day; I’ll get a fresh start. Sometimes, I nail the day, but unfortunately, sometimes the day nails me. 

I know that I need to exercise more patience, stop the excessive yelling, and just simply let my kids be kids- even if it entails putting each other in a chokehold, jumping from the top bunk bed, or having a real life WWE match right in the middle of the living room. But I just can’t, y’all. There are things that I’m just flat out mean about, and I won’t break or bend on these things. 

1. They have to clean up. It’s just that simple. I didn’t make the mess, so I WILL NOT be cleaning it up. I’m sorry that you can’t go outside or move on to the next activity if you haven’t cleaned up. I’m sorry if you’re in the middle of playing Roblox, but please come get these shoes and clothes that you left in the middle of the floor and place them where they need to go. Everything in my house has its place, and my kids know that everything must be in its place. Oh, and I’m not paying you to clean up. That’s your job. Period.

2. If I say you have one more chance to mess up, that’s it. You have one more chance. I’ve been so guilty of saying that the kids will have consequences if they do this or that, but I actually won’t follow through with the consequence. Case in point- don’t we always tell our kids that we are going to take their TV privileges or devices away if they do such and such one more time? How long does that last? I typically give in about day 2, ‘cause honestly, I just need some peace when I’m cooking, so hell, here’s the iPad. Not anymore. When I say you have one more chance, that’s it. You will get the consequence that’s promised to you. If you do the crime, you do the time. It’s simple. Following through is important for kids. They need to know what the boundaries are and that there are consequences for overstepping them. 

3. My kitchen is not a restaurant, so you will eat what I cook. If you don’t like broccoli, then pick it out or eat around it. If you don’t want to eat the bell peppers that I used to help season what’s on the menu, then don’t. If the meal is really just not to your liking, I’ll make you a sandwich or you can have a lunchable. I enjoy cooking but not enough to make everyone’s meals made to order. You’ve heard it before. This ain’t Burger King, Boo. 

4. I like playing with my kids, but I am not always going to play with them when they want me to. That sounds pretty mean, huh? Don’t get me wrong, we love doing fun activities, being crafty, filming crazy videos, etc. but sometimes I just don’t want to play, so I say no. And that’s okay. I want my kids to understand that while most of my life revolves around them, I am not catering to them 100% of the time. I still need time to AND for myself. Everyone, even them, is allowed to have boundaries. They need to know that I sometimes need a break, and they should respect that- just as anyone should respect them when they’re not feeling up for playing.  

5. They have to take responsibility for their actions. Playing in the house after I told you not to, and now something is broken? That’s okay. You will use your money to replace it (or have some type of consequence if said item is too expensive for them to replace).  If you forget your homework once, fine. I’ll bring it. But good luck next time; you’ll just have to get those points deducted. True story, y’all- Quinn forgot his lunch kit in the car for the second time in one week; he literally cried because he knew I wasn’t going to bring it to him. He even had the receptionist call me to ask. Nope. Sorry, Buddy. He didn’t die, but he probably thought he was going to since he had to eat school lunch. Oh well. 

So, there you have it, World. All of my mean-mom tendencies have been laid out. I understand why my mom was the way she was, and I hope my kids will one day understand that my meanness and discipline is all love. I’m training them up to be responsible and decent humans. This mean-mom badge is worn happily with a smile, ‘cause these kids gon’ learn today. Actually- they gon’ learn for life.