This summer is just flying by! I know some of you have probably already started back at school, but here in DC we have two weeks of summer vacation to go. And while I love slow summer days and the break from our normal routine, it definitely requires a bit more effort to stay organized and on top of my to do list during this time of year. Today I’m partnering with Pilot Pen and their amazing G2 pens to share how I’m staying organized this summer – as a mom and creative entrepreneur – as part of their G2 Overachievers program! You’ll also want to read below for some exciting info about two Pilot G2 initiatives, including a chance to win a Target shopping spree and year supply of G2 pens and the G2 Overachievers Grant with Shonda Rhimes!
For most of this summer, Sophie has been going to a summer camp with some of her friends from school, while Alice continued at the daycare she has attended full-time since just after her first birthday. But I wanted to get a bit of mama time with my girls before school starts back up – especially since Alice will be starting her first year of preschool. So for the next two weeks we’ll be doing Mama Camp! It’s a total departure from my normal routine, and it will mean a lot of late nights to keep up with work, but it’s worth it to get a couple weeks of quality time with my girls.
The general idea for Mama Camp is that we’ll go on a different adventure every day. We’ll be outside as much as the weather permits, visiting some of our favorite local farms, playgrounds, and splash pads. For rainy days, we’ll either visit a museum or indoor playground – or hang out at home for an arts and crafts day. I’m treating this like a real summer camp, so I’m packing a lunch for the girls the night before and planning all of our activities in advance so they know what we’re doing each day.
I wanted to make sure I had a plan for each day of Mama Camp, so I put together a quick schedule with all the things I want to do that week on one of my weekly planner notepads. I’m planning one major activity for each day and will pack a lunch so we can eat on the road or have a little picnic when we arrive at our destination. Depending on our adventure for the day, we’ll end the afternoon at one of our favorite local play grounds to get some wiggles out before heading back home. It’s going to be really exhausting, but also so much fun!
Meanwhile, there is still the to-do list to keep up with! Back-to-school shopping, appointments to make, and a business to run. DC public schools mostly require uniforms, which makes back to school shopping a bit easier, but I need to make sure I have uniforms for Alice and check to see if Sophie has already outgrown her uniforms from last year. She’s getting so big! I also need to pick up the necessary school health and dental forms, plan the party for their upcoming birthdays, make some travel arrangements for an upcoming wedding, and manage my other projects. Mom life!
Anyone else out there a classic overachiever? I’ve been an overachiever as long as I can remember. I’m goal-oriented, I love a good challenge, and I’m always thinking about my next project. I’m constantly making lists for everything – from grocery shopping to a shot list for photographs I want to get when taking pictures for a blog post. And there’s absolutely nothing more satisfying than crossing steps off a list while working towards a bigger goal! A good pen is an absolute necessity for all that list making, which is where the Pilot G2 comes in. The G2 is the #1 selling pen in America, with super smooth writing and longest writing gel ink. The G2 comes in 4 point sizes: ultra fine (0.38mm), extra fine (0.5mm), fine (0.7mm), and bold (1.0mm), and is retractable and refillable. I’m most excited by all the fantastic colors that the G2 comes in: 15 vibrant core colors plus metallics and pastels!
You can find the Pilot G2 at Target, Walmart, and other major retailers, and stock up for all of your list making and bullet journaling needs! You can even sign up for the G2 Overachievers Club with Target, where you can enter to win a $5,000 Target shopping spree and a year’s supply of G2 pens (3 winners), $100 Target gift card and a year’s supply of G2 pens (10 winners), and exclusive coupons.
Pilot Pen is also partnering with Shonda Rhimes to invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know for a $50,000 G2 Overachievers Grant. This grant will go to someone who goes above and beyond their everyday duties to help improve the lives of others. Last year’s recipient was Dr. Rebecca Constantino, founder of Access Books in Los Angeles. And this year they’ve expanded the program to include a $15,000 G2 Overachievers Student Grant for applicants age 13-19.
Wish me luck for the next two weeks of Mama Camp! To all my fellow mamas out there: how are you staying organized this summer and getting ready for back-to-school season? Share your to-do lists or organization tricks in the comments below or via social media using the #d0youG2 hashtag!
Also, don’t forget to sign up for the G2 Overachievers Club with Target here and nominate someone for the G2 Overachievers grant right here!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pilot Corporation of America (Pilot Pen). The content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!
