School is back in session

I hope everyone had a fabuLyss summer making lots of memories to last a lifetime. My boys had the best summer at sleep-away camp, and the last few weeks before school we were beach bound.

Make the first day back to school special for your little one. I love shopping for back-to-school clothes and backpacks with my children. Get new notebooks, sticker books, agendas, pens, and much more.

Check out the brand ban.do for the cutest products ever. The sticky note set, “You’re Straight Up Magic,” is adorable and useful with a to-do list section, and seven others for their daily notes.

Want to make their notes even prettier? Consider the “Gel Yeah” pen set with five neon gel pens, one metallic gold gel pen, and one black with silver glitter gel pen. Their notes will look so good!

Also, if your students need to organize their day the old-fashioned way — on paper — look at the “I am Very Busy” agenda. All of ban.do’s products are so cute and affordable!

Visit www.bando.com.

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Looking for a fabuLyssly fun new Broadway show?

Take the kids to see “Cats” now that it has returned to Broadway, and let the memory live again with your children.

“Cats” at Neil Simon Theatre (250 W. 52nd St. between Broadway and Eighth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, www.catsthemusical.com).

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Diva Mom’s Book Club is back in September with another fabuLyss book. Jill Kargman, creator and star of Bravo’s “Odd Mom Out,” will be launching her new book, “Sprinkle Glitter on my Grave,” with us! On Monday, Sept. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Kargman will be signing books at the beautiful Armitron Showroom.

Jill Kargman at Armitron Showroom (411 Fifth Ave. between 37th and 38th streets in Korea Town) Monday, Sept. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. RSVP @ Divamoms.com. Space is extremely limited.

Lyss Stern is the founder of DivaLysscious Moms (www.divamoms.com).

Back-to-school deLysscious cookie recipe

My kids LOVE going back to school with personalized notes in their lunchbox and these sugar cookies from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe. (I confess that I only make the cookies for the first day of school. And then again for special occasions. Most of the other times they are store bought.)

INGREDIENTS:

Cookies:

1 (16.5-ounce) tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough (recommended: Pillsbury)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

Frosting:

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 pound powdered sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup water, plus extra, as needed

Assorted food coloring (see Cook’s Note)

Special Equipment: assorted animal-shaped cookie cutters, about 4- to 5-inches long.

Decorating suggestion: multi-colored sprinkles, colored decorating sugar, mini chocolate chips, small candies, mini marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:

For the cookies: Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the cookie dough and flour until smooth. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick. Using animal-shaped cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the dough and arrange, about two-inches apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Form the scraps of dough into a ball, roll out to 1/4-inch thick, and continue to cut out animal shapes. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden brown. Cool for two minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 15 minutes.

For the frosting: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup water. Beat on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is smooth, adding more water, as needed, one teaspoon at a time, until the frosting is spreadable.

Divide the frosting between three small bowls. Color the frosting by mixing in one drop of food coloring at a time, until the desired color is reached. Spread the frosting over the cooled cookies and decorate.

Cook’s note: I suggest watching how to make this recipe online. Also, if using natural food coloring (such as Seelect brand), be sure to shake the bottle before adding the coloring to the frosting.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/animal-sugar-cookies-recipe.html

Speyer School

Speyer is the only K&ndash;8 independent school for accelerated learners in NYC. At Speyer, students are empowered to pursue their intellectual passions, guided by faculty who help them develop the habits of mind and strength of character to realize their extraordinary potential. We cultivate a deep understanding of who each child really is &mdash; not just as a learner, but as a whole person.

The Long Island School For The Gifted

A smart start of an educational journey.&nbsp; For over 40 years, The Long Island School For The Gifted has provided an accelerated experience for gifted children in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, in a nurturing environment where they will be both intellectually challenged and comfortable socially. LISG helps gifted students develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed for life. Emotional, and social needs of the gifted child are addressed whilst building strong character as part of the commitment to developing the whole gifted child. The beauty of an independent gifted school like LISG is that students can learn and grow with others who are like them.&nbsp; We have found that LISG&rsquo;s whole-school approach to gifted education has benefitted our students both more broadly and more deeply than alternative approaches&mdash;like isolated &ldquo;enrichment&rdquo; activities, single accelerated classes, or simply placing exceptionally intelligent children with older students in higher-grade classes.&nbsp; With gifted peers, students learn in a cooperative environment that provides for their social and emotional development and in which giftedness is valued and nurtured by every teacher and staff member in the school. &nbsp;LISG has rolling admissions. Availability is limited based on the grade.&nbsp; Contact them today.

The French American Academy

We believe that learning a second language at an early age is a life-long advantage which will benefit our children both academically and cognitively. Our goal is to create a safe, supportive, nurturing, international learning environment where students can develop fully in both French and English.