Back-to-School Hacks and DIY Projects You Need To See

Aug 15, 2018

It’s that time of the year again — back to school means days filled with packing lunches, helping with homework, and keeping track of chores. Yesterday, I went on Good Morning America to share some of our favorite hacks and DIY projects that are guaranteed to make your life easier. Check it out!

Make Your Own Lunchbox Ice Packs

This DIY is perfect for keeping snacks, sandwiches, and drinks cold in your kiddos’ lunch boxes. It’s a great alternative to ice packs that may have harmful ingredients in them.

Materials + Tools:

Sponges
Sandwich bags
Water
Bowl

Instructions:

Soak the sponges in water.
Place wet sponges in a sandwich bag.
Place in freezer overnight.

Find the full tutorial over at My Kitchen Escapades. (Photo via My Kitchen Escapades)

DIY Duct Tape Lunch Bag

This no-sew lunch bag is made entirely out of fabric, duct tape, and staples. It’s also a fun project that you can do with your kids.

Materials:

Fabric
Duct tape
Scissors
Stapler and staples
Pen

Instructions:

Cut your fabric into two 10” circles.
Layer tape on the inside of the fabric and trim the excess tape.
Mark and cut a 4” x 2” opening near the top of each piece of fabric.
Fold and tape in the cut fabric to finish the edges of the handles.
Staple together along the right and and left sides.
Flip inside out and voilà, a custom lunch box.

For a full tutorial of what inspired the circular lunch bag we made on air, check out Instructables. (Photo via Instructables)

No-Sew Snack Bag

These snack bags are an eco-friendly alternative to one-use sandwich bags that are essential for packing a well-rounded lunch. You can easily wash them out with warm water and soap to keep them nice and clean.

Materials:

Cotton fabric
Vinyl fabric
Ruler
Fabric glue
Scissors
Velcro
Book, or something heavy to place on top of while drying

Instructions:

Cut cotton fabric into a rectangle, about 12” x 7”. The exact size can definitely be played around with to fit your snack needs.
Cut a vinyl piece of fabric slightly smaller than the cotton piece of fabric.
Using the scissors, round the tops of the snack bags.
Place the vinyl piece of fabric centered on top of the cotton fabric. Fold and glue the cotton edges of the vinyl fabric, sealing it in place.
After that dries, fold the fabric almost in half ~4” and glue together.
Place something heavy on top and let dry for about an hour.
Once it has dried, glue the velcro closure on.

For a full tutorial, check out Made With Happy. (Photo via Made With Happy)

Ceramic Tile Photo Display

If you’re looking for a fun way to show your summer family vacation memories or your little one’s new school portraits, look no further. This is a great way to display family photos, and they also make great gifts for friends.

Materials:

Photos printed on photo paper
Mod podge
Spray shellac
X-ACTO knife
Ceramic tiles
Cutting mat
Paint brush

Instructions:

Cut your photo so it’s half an inch larger than your tile on all four sides.
Brush a thin layer of mod podge on your tile.
Press your photo firmly onto the tile.
Smooth out air bubbles, and let dry 5-10 minutes.
Trim excess photo with X-ACTO knife.
Seal with a coat of spray shellac.

Full DIY is here.

DIY Hula Hoop Photo Display

This project is perfect for decorating a dorm space where minimal to no holes are allowed on the walls.

Materials:

Hula hoop
Ribbon
Spray paint (optional)
Colorful paper
Hot glue gun
Washi tape
Scissors

Instructions:

We spray painted our hula hoop a color we liked more than the original one. This step is not necessary if you like the current color of your hula hoop.
Cut ribbons to match the size of the hula hoop.
Evenly space and hot glue ribbons vertically, from the top to the bottom of the hula hoop.
Trim or glue the excess ribbon to the back of the ribbon.
Mount photos to paper with washi tape.
Hot-glue the mounted photos to the ribbon.

Watch a full tutorial here.

3 Ways to Upgrade a Notebook

Take your plain notebooks to the next level with these three easy DIYs that will totally customize your notebooks in minutes.

Paint-Stamped Notebook

Materials:

Notebook
Paint
Stamps
Paintbrush

Instructions:

Pour paint onto a bowl or a plate and brush the stamp with the paintbrush.
Stamp away!

Marble Contact Paper Notebook

Materials:

Marble contact paper
Cutting mat
X-ACTO knife
Notebook
Washi tape

Instructions:

Cut the contact paper to be slightly larger than notebook.
Peel and stick paper to notebook.
Make slit at binding and fold excess paper to the inside the covers.
Add washi tape for a pop of color at the binding.

For a full tutorial, check out The Lovely Drawer. (Photo via The Lovely Drawer)

Mod Podge Confetti Notebook

Materials:

Notebook
Mod Podge
Paint brush
Confetti

Instructions:

Using a paintbrush, cover the notebook cover in a coat of mod podge.
Place pieces of confetti on top of the Mod Podge.
Let dry, and cover in another coat of Mod Podge to seal it all in place.

For a full tutorial, check out Rosyscritption. (Photo via Rosyscription)

Dry-Erase Chore Chart

Getting in the groove of back-to-school life is painless when you find an effective way to keep things organized. Keep track of your kids’ chores and incentivize them at the same time with this dry-erase chore chart.

Materials:

Instructions:

Grid dry-erase board with washi tape with the weeks on top and chores to the left.
Place magnets on the chore that your kids do.

For a full tutorial, check out Craving Some Creativity. (Photo via Craving Some Creativity)

What are your favorite back-to-school DIYs and hacks? I want to hear ‘em! Share with us on Twitter or Instagram!

Good Morning America's Book Club Just Announced Its Fun Rom-Com Pick For April

If someone were to tell me reading is overrated, I'd laugh and keep looking over my latest finds from the Good Morning America book club. It's like I can't get enough of coming across new romance and horror books to cozy up with. I've even started paying attention to #BookTok to see what everyone else is reading.

Although I'm no stranger to book club picks, I didn't know Good Morning America was in on the fun, too. Honestly, I love that their list is full of awe-inspiring titles...all of which hint I'll need a bigger bookshelf soon — sorry to my S.O.! Should you find yourself loving the idea of curling up with something new to read, scroll down for 22 Good Morning America book club picks!

April 2024 Book Club Pick:

Just For the Summerby Abby Jimenez

Justin's bad luck in life seems to follow him no matter how many times he starts over and eventually makes him the topic of discussion on a popular Reddit thread. It's embarrassing, but then Emma reaches out to him with a proposition that could possible put an end to his failed love affairs. She's just as familiar with not finding "the one" as he is so it makes sense that two people with bad romances can connect.

They're just supposed to enjoy a brief summer romance before going their separate ways, but life and emotions are hard to trick. Soon they find themselves thrust into situations that cause them to begin developing a bond that's anything but surface level.

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education

Picking up after the events of her first book Maid, Stephanie Land's Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education takes readers on her continued journey of beating the odds. However, Land also tackles the intersection of motherhood, personal goals and the biases found in higher education. This pick for November 2023 is a thought-provoking read that requires the reader to confront their own perspectives about these things.

Happiness Falls

Happiness Falls is a novel that demands that a biracial family confronts their hidden truths after the patriarch doesn't come back home. Will the family be able to piece together clues that point to his whereabouts or is all hope lost?

Save What's Left

Not to be confused with a romance novel, Save What's Left is still poetic in its own right. It follows Kathleen Deane as she embarks on a soul-searching journey in the town of Whitbey. Inspired by her best friend's beautiful letters, she believes she's going to come face to face with paradise. But she's in for a rude awakening that might be her undoing while serving as a necessary wake-up call.

Pineapple Street

Take a peek into one high-society family as they come to terms with what they thought they wanted only to learn what they actually need. Alternating between the tales of three women in the family — Darley, Sasha and Georgiana — Pineapple Street is a delicious read that covers wealth, love and identity.

Age of Vice

Age of Vice is another book that focuses on the consequences of one family's greed and more. The Wadia family is well-known so it's not shocking that scandals follow them. But what happens when the lives of three people play a significant role in what happens to the family's fortune and reputation? Only time will tell.

Mad Honey

When the worlds of Olivia McAfee and the mother of Lily Campanello collide, all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately, this kind of hell involves the murder of young Lily with Olivia's son being named as the primary suspect. Will she be able to understand what happened or will she have to face a dark truth she's not ready to?

The Fortunes of Jaded Women

The Fortunes of Jaded Women is another family drama that involves a curse that prevents good fortune — romance and joy — from entering the lives of the Duong sisters. Although Mai hasn't spoken to her younger sisters in a long time, her Aunt Hua predicts that will change due to pivotal events no one was expecting.

More Than You'll Ever Know

If you're looking for a juicy read that has a shocking plot twist, you'll love More Than You'll Ever Know. It involves a woman who lives as a bigamist and all the chaos that ensues once it's discovered.

The Love of My Life

What would you do if you discovered your significant other isn't who they say they are? The Love of My Life answers this when Leo finds out shocking information about his wife after she gets sick.

The Violin Conspiracy

Ray McMillian must fight against dream crushers, racism and a ransom that threatens his chance to show how much of a talented musician he is. Will he be successful, or will he lose sight of himself in The Violin Conspiracy?

The Maid

When peculiar Molly Gray is suspected to have murdered a famous guest at the Regency Grand Hotel, she doesn't know how she got herself in such a mess. However, she soon finds that she's not as alone as she thought she was following her grandmother's death.

We Are Not Like Them

A diverse friendship is tested when the husband of Jen finds himself at the center of an unarmed black teen's death. When her best friend Riley is assigned to cover the case in the news, tensions run high and the two friends must decide where they stand as a result.

The Husbands

The Husbands is a novel that was ahead of its time. It paints a dramatic version of how things would look if housework and parenting children weren't imbalanced within a marriage.

The Personal Librarian

The Personal Librarian is a true tale about Belle Marion Greener and the courage she has to become the best in her field. Despite her success, no one knows she's a Black woman and she works hard to hide the truth from her colleagues for fear that everything she's worked hard for will be taken away.

The Other Black Girl

The Other Black Girl is a novel that peels back layers of racism and bias in the workplace. When Hazel is first hired at Wagner Books, Nella believes she's finally found a kindred sole in another Black employee. However, she quickly realizes that something isn't quite right about Hazel and she works desperately to figure out what that is.

Of Women and Salt

Of Women and Salt is a powerful tale about how one's knowledge of their family's history can help them make peace with the past so they can move forward towards a better future.

How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House

Despite her grandmother's warnings in the form of a riveting story, Lala finds her world in disarray when her husband's actions set off a chain of events that will change the course of different lives.

The Midnight Library

Nora Seed discovers she can live in alternate realities when she reads different books in The Midnight Library but at what cost?

Sex and Vanity

Lucie Churchill is in over her head when it comes to denying how she really feels about George Zao. It's the very thing that causes her to spin a messy web of lies in order to protect her feelings while simultaneously giving in to them.

Oona Out of Order

When young Oona awakens to find that she's time-traveled to a different portion of her life, she quickly realizes her days — and life — are out of order. Will she be able to find out who she is with each passing day?

The Family Upstairs

Libby Jones life is forever changed when she finds her life-long question about who she is answered in the form of an inheritance. What she couldn't have known is that the past is filled with murky secrets that have been waiting to be discovered.

Which books will you add to your reading list this month?

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Featured images via Barnes & Noble.

“Protective” Peter Gallagher Is “So Grateful” Mischa Barton Survived “Toxic Fame”

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”

What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!

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6 DIYs for an Adorable and Affordable Holiday Party

Between gift-giving, travel, and holiday parties, *so* much money goes into the holiday season. But wanting to host a holiday party for your loved ones doesn’t have to be an added stress on your bank account. I hung out with my favorite TV hosts on Good Morning America to share my go-to DIYs for hosting a holiday party on the cheap. Watch the clip below, then scroll on for details about each project!

Learn more about each DIY below.

1. Play Jingle Bell Toss. No matter the age of my guests, I find that some friendly competition *always* guarantees a memorable party. In the spirit of the season, try Jingle Bell Toss for this year’s holiday bash. Arrange six buckets into a triangle, label each with points (I recommend 10 points for the front, 20 for the middle two, and 50 points for the back three buckets), then take turns tossing jingle bells into them from five or six feet away. That’s it!

2. Make a reindeer six-pack. Looking to add some holiday flair on the cheap? Dress up your bottled beverages in these charming reindeer getups! Simply glue googly eyes and a pom-pom nose to your bottle, then twist a pipe cleaner into antlers and wrap it around the top of each bottleneck. Adorable, right?

3. Decorate with dessert. Introducing one of my favorite party desserts we’ve ever made: snow-capped cake cones! These quick and tasty treats double as decor. Fill an ice cream cone about halfway with cake batter, place it into a microwave-safe mug, then nuke it for about 30 seconds. Trim the excess cake, let cool, then add royal icing to the tip of the cone. I like to arrange these on a long serving platter in the center of my buffet table, then surprise my guests with their true identity at dessert ;) Check out our full snow-capped cake cones tutorial for more info.

4. Make Candy Cane Card Stands. Whether displaying place cards or labeling the buffet, these darling candy cane stands will no doubt add a touch of fun to the party table. I simply glued two candy canes together, let them dry, then dropped my paper cards into the hook of the cane. How easy is that?

5. Proudly display your holiday card haul on these tree stands. Looking for a modern alternative to displaying all of those holiday cards on a fireplace mantel or on a fridge? Made with scrap wood, push-pins, and string, these tree-shaped card displays are my new go-to holiday decor. Before my annual holiday party, I always add my latest holiday cards and gussy it up with ornaments. Check out our tree card display tutorial for the nitty-gritty details.

6. Gift these reindeer hot cocoa kits as party favors. All reindeer everything! Add these to your bash’s goodie bags so each guest can leave with a sweet treat. Place dry hot chocolate ingredients — cocoa mix, chocolate chips, and marshmallows — into a piping bag. And similar to the bottles above, top it off with antlers made of pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and a pom-pom nose. Easy peasy.

There you go — six sweet and easy DIYs for a holiday party that’s easy on your wallet. Happy holidays!

Are you making any of these DIYs for your holiday party? If so, we want to see how they turned out! Share a photo with us on Instagram by tagging @BritandCo.

Production + Styling: Alexa Land

Photography: Brittany Griffin

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See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

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A post shared by Barbara Palvin (@realbarbarapalvin)

For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

www.instagram.com

On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

www.instagram.com

Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

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Elle & Dakota Fanning Will Collab On Apple's 'Margo's Got Money Troubles'

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

Amy Sussman/Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

Ron Lach/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

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