This is a sponsored post in partnership with Chobani. All opinions are my own.

If you are a parent who has trouble knowing where to start, when it comes to packing school lunches, then you are in the right place! One of the top questions I get is, "how can I pack healthy lunches when I am short on time and patience." I want to give you some superhero lunch inspiration and then pass on three tips that you can easily you to implement during the hectic back to school time.

Let's start with this Batman lunch! For the sandwich I used two slices of whole wheat bread cut in an oval shape. I "glued" the raisins on with honey to make the Batman logo! When it is lunchtime, your child can put the other slice of bread on top to form the sandwich. I included the Batman themed Chobani Greek Yogurt tube on the side to really complete the Batman feel of the lunch!

Next, up is the Man of Steel Superman lunch. This sandwich is cut in the shape of the Superman

People Have Stopped us on the Street Asking About These Shoes

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Stride Rite, but all opinions are my own.

You know that piece of clothing that your kid wants to wear everyday? It might be those animal pajama pants, that sparkly tutu, or the worn out superhero shirt. In our house the newest wearable addiction are these Phibian shoes from Stride Rite. My two sons each received a pair and they are now their go-to shoes for just about every occasion. I think they love them because they stand out and look fun. I kid you not, we literally have had strangers stop us on the street and ask us what kind of shoes these are.

It's funny what parents get excited about. You would assume anything made for kids should be machine washable. We can put a man on the moon but we can't make an entire car seat that you can just throw into a washing machine? Ok, enough ranting because these shoes are machine washable! The Phibians are hard to explain unless you have them right in front of you, but they are made of a breathable material that works as well inside a school gym as it does jumping in puddles in front of your house.

So these shoes stand out in a crowd, feel great, and can be thrown in the washing machine, but how do they hold up to actually doing the things that kids and families do? We spent an entire day testing these out in real family scenarios. Here is what happened.

A Storks Movie Lunch For School

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Warner Bros Pictures. All opinions are my own.

My daughter is so excited for the new movie Storks to come out in theatres! Is it the animation, the silliness, or the plot of the movie? Well, yes, all of that is exciting for her. However, the big reason she can barely contain herself is she is having her birthday party at the theatre on opening weekend. Storks opens on September 23rd (and comes from the same studio that delivered The Lego Movie), but she is inviting all of her friends to see it with her on the 24th. So to celebrate I made her a Storks lunch to take to school with her. I was able to time it so that she is giving out invitations to the party the same day that she gets her lunch.

A Baby Rhino Animal School Lunch

This is sponsored post with Stauffer's. All opinions are my own.

Chances are that you are waist-deep into back-to-school busyness. Don't worry, I have you covered with another fun and easy lunch recipe! This time it's animal themed. More specifically it's a Baby Rhino lunch, because what kid doesn't love baby animals? Just look at all the videos that go viral on the internet; they're generally either kids or animals. So, if you are making an animal lunch for kids, it's pretty much pure gold. There's no way around this logic, so just go with it. You'll be their hero. Your kids will hoist you on their shoulders and cheer for your lunch-making prowess. Or maybe they will just come home with an empty lunchbox for once. Either way, it will be worth it.

High School Coaches Make All the Difference: Here's My Most Valuable Coach Nomination!

I have partnered with Life of Dad  and U.S. Cellular for this promotion.

High School years are hard. Strong family, friends, and mentors help kids get through. But there's one person that sometimes fills all of these roles during the adventure of high school -- a coach. A high school coach can be the person who helps keep a kid in school, puts them in a position to excel with their talents, or points a student towards their purpose in life. This is why I love being able to nominate a local high school football coach for U.S. Cellular's Most Valuable Coach award, which just launched today.

This award is a four month long selection and voting process culminating in the two winners earning a trip to Orlando, Florida for the Under Armour All America High School Football Game and full prize package. Both coaches will be recognized on the field and presented them with a $5,000 check for their school, courtesy of U.S. Cellular. Besides the prizes, this program highlights important people in communities all around the United States--coaches. U.S. Cellular wants to recognize these coaches who are helping shape the future members of our communities. The thing is that these coaches do not just make a difference on the field, much of what happens is developing leaders off the field.
Eight months ago I moved to the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma metro area. I can honestly say that I have never seen a community as passionate about their high school and college football as here. I moved from the San Francisco bay area and it was nothing like this. So when I was approached to nominate a coach in my area, I took it very seriously.

I started by talking to trusted people who are very involved in the local community. One name kept coming up. So I am nominating the head coach of the Edmond Santa Fe Wolves, Kyle White. Even though Coach White has only been the head coach of the Wolves for a little over a year, he has deep local roots in our area. From being an offensive coordinator for many years, volunteering with non-profits, and investing in young lives, he has made a huge impact in our community and his players.

Some great news is that you can nominate a high school football head coach in your own area! Just go to www.TheMostValuableCoach.com from September 9-October 3 and tell U.S. Cellular how this coach has helped inspire you, your family, or your community. On October

A Fall Football Apple Sauce Lunch

I partnered with Tree Top for this sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

Fall is here again which means a few things are certain. There is school busyness, pumpkin spice everything has arrived, and football season has started. I can't help with your pumpkin spice problem right now, but what I can do is help take away your lunch stress and mix it with some football fun. With this lunch I love all the Fall colors on the tree sandwich, and the great thing is I know that my kids will devour the Tree Top Apple Sauce. The football is a no bake oatmeal energy snack so it will help your children get through their school day! Find out how to make this lunch using the recipe below.

Make a Rockstar School Lunch in 4 Minutes

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Dave's Killer Bread. I was compensated but all opinions are solely my own.

The number one complaint I hear from parents is that they don't have time to make fun lunches for their kids. Well guess what? I guarantee you can make this lunch in four minutes flat, about the time it takes you to listen to your favorite song in the morning! Trust me, I know. I made this Rockstar lunch in the time it took me to listen to one of my favorite songs of all time, Free Fallin' by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. That all-time great song is not only fantastic live in concert, but it is four minutes and fifteen seconds long. So if you have four minutes, and some Dave's Killer Bread, you can make this fun lunch for your kids.

You can find out how to make the lunch below, but first I want to know what your morning playlist is. What songs get you through pulling your kids out of bed, making sure they are in semi-matching clothes, getting their lunch made, and somehow driving up to the school in time before class starts? What songs are are must listen to on the morning of a school day? Let me know in the comments below!