Roo and Jasper start school on Wednesday, so the past week or so has been abuzz with getting all their gear together and making sure we have everything they need ready. With all the hubbub of the back to school season, it's easy to forget that a lot of kids will be starting the year empty-handed.
The Office Depot Foundation wanted to make sure that kids have the basics they need to feel confident in the classroom, so they established The National Backpack Program in 2001. In the 14 years since it began, the NBP has distributed more than 3.3 million backpacks and sackpacks to kids in need.
The specially designed sackpacks include a zippered pouch containing a pen, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, six-inch ruler and crayons. I think it's really great that the sackpacks do not have any Office Depot Foundation or Office Depot logos or markings – just kid-friendly graphics.
The kids have been back to school for a couple of weeks now. They're both old pros at leaving me at this point (sniff!) but I still like to let them know I'm thinking about them while they're off being studious. The easiest way, aside from being a creepy stalker or room parent, is by slipping notes into their lunchboxes.
Since I usually make their lunches under morning duress, I learned to rely on the convenience of Hallmark's Lunchbox Notes which come in a tear-off pad and feature confidence-boosting slogans that will make your kid laugh and have warm fuzzies all day. They also offer a wide selection of Kids' Collection greeting cards with encouraging messages, musical Justin Bieber cards and cute signature items like Bug'Em, a stuffed ladybug you can fill with tchotkes and leave beside their homework or tuck into their backpack.
I love tucking cards in unexpected places for Roo to find. Would your kid like to find these stashed in their lunches or around the house? Enter to win your own set using the form below.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the items pictured to facilitate this review. No compensation has been provided. As usual, all opinions are my own.
Roo goes back to school on Wednesday. I'll be the first to admit that I am totally not prepared for the new school year, although I've been wanting the kids to go back for months already… it's been so hot that they don't want to go outside and I can't really blame them. Being a summer shut-in has lost its charm so I'm looking forward to school starting even though I don't have everything crossed off my to-do lists yet.
One thing I feel ready to get back into the hang of is packing lunches. Summertime has felt a bit like being a short-order cook with both kids shouting out requests all day long. I'm pretty excited to get the old sandwich train a-rolling!
Rubbermaid recently sent me a Sandwich Kit to try from their nifty new modular LunchBlox collection. All of the pieces in the line stack together in multiple configurations, including different sized containers and Blue Ice. You can fill them with whatever you can think of and each food group will remain chaste in their own snugly sealed receptacles without the dreaded lunchtime mixing/melting effect. Grapes don't squish, nuts and crackers stay crispy, sandwiches don't get soggy.
The Sandwich Kit features four containers and Blue Ice, any of which can be used together or separately in a LunchBlox insulated LunchBag or whatever you like to tote your lunch in. Even that old rusty metal Star Wars lunchbox…The containers are all microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe and BPA-free, too. Even if you aren't packing lunch for kids, these would be handy for weight watchers to practice portion control when taking lunch to work.
The LunchBlox Sandwich Kit is currently available for purchase at Rubbermaid.com, Target, Kmart, Kroger, Safeway, Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie, HEB, other grocery stores and select Wal-Mart stores.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the LunchBlox Sandwich Kit shown to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.
Hallmark has been the, uh, hallmark of quality in the world of greeting cards since I can remember. Getting the mail and seeing the familiar gold crown seal was usually the precursor to something awesome, like a birthday or holiday, and it amplified the excitement.
Hallmark's kid encouragement products at the beginning of the school year but, to me, they're even more meaningful now that classes are in full swing. I love their motto: Life is a Special Occasion It's easy to get caught up in the grind of everyday life and everyone, even kids, can use a little pick-me-up. Roo has really loved finding a special note in her lunchbox every day. Sometimes I'll add a handwritten post script or silly doodle but it's ridiculously simple to tear one off of the pad on days we're running late. Several even have check-off boxes to personalize, which Roo finds hilarious. The current in-store version, If You Love 'Em, Bug 'Em - Fun Notes for Kids, features cute bugs and sweet sentiments to brighten up the lunchbox.
I'm also crazy about Hallmark's huge selection of recordable books and keepsakes, which take personalization to a whole new level. These are so sentimental without being syrupy sweet and are perfect for holidays when you can't be with far-away loved ones. I especially like the idea of new readers recording themselves reading the book as a keepsake for posterity. Wouldn't it be cool to hear yourself or your spouse, as a child, reading a favorite story?!
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received the lunchbox notes pictured in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.
Thank you to Crocs for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Crocs’ new Back to School line. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I was a little worried when I got the classroom rules for Jasper's class. It strongly recommended you not send your kids to school in Crocs, flip flops or sandals, due to the gravel on the playground. I guess the teachers don't want to spend the entire day emptying tiny toddler shoes of pebbles, which I can definitely sympathize with. Well, they must have heard the collective anguished cries of preschooler parents everywhere, because there is a whole new collection of Back-to-School Crocs that are just as slip-on comfy as the tried and true classics but feature school-approved styling including closed toes and heels. They look like old school sneakers but feel like Crocs… genius! There are 13 new styles to satisfy most kids from K-8. I am particularly fond of these:
Shopping for back to school wasn't much of an issue for us until recently. Roo grew really slowly as a toddler, it seemed like she was wearing a lot of the same stuff from when she was two basically through kindergarten. Jasper is now four and starting all day preschool. He is still wearing a few things from his 2T days but, overall, he is growing faster. Especially his feet. He's 3 1/2 years younger than his sister but only two shoe sizes behind at this point. Quel horreur! I used to pick up cute clothes and shoes for Roo whenever they were on sale because I could reasonably guess the size she would be in any given season. Not so her little brother!
It may be surprising to hear but Jasper is way pickier about what he wears than his big sis. Whereas Roo likes things that fall within certain predictable style parameters (say, "goth" or "sparkly"), Jasper has his own unique fashion rules. For example, even though our temperatures have been above 100ยบ for most of the late summer, he insists on wearing long sleeves or long pants to school every day so he can be "awesome." Similarly, he wanted to wear his Crocs all last winter in the snow and ice. The ones with the holes and no lining. Or socks. Weird kid. He'll probably ask for the purple glitter sneakers, which are both goth and sparkly, by the way.
The "They've Got Summer Inside" video above is interactive-
Click on the shoes you like in the video to learn more about them on Crocs.com!
Be sure to see if you can find this hidden "easter egg" in the video…
…it will be worth it for you frugal back to school shoppers!
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that this is a sponsored post and I will receive monetary compensation. Rest assured, however, that all opinions are– as usual– entirely my own.
Stardoll.com started out as a virtual paper doll dress up site intended to be a girly alternative to gaming websites that are often competitive and violent. It still has weekly featured paper dolls but the site has evolved into one of the largest online communities for teen and tween fashionistas, with over 50 million members worldwide. Back to School 2011 is the launch of the exclusive JC Penney Stardoll Collection for girls 7-16.
Roo was excited about her new "teenager-y" clothes and I was happy to see that they're good quality and not too skimpy. They also seem to wash well so far.
I call this one "tiny pink bank teller."
Cute details like this knot on the back of the "superstar" tee and grommets on the shorts pockets. The shorts come with the black leggings for multi-season wear!
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that no monetary compensation was provided but we received the clothing items pictured in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.
As summer comes to a close, it’s time to trade in flip-flops and beach bags for lunch boxes and backpacks. Eight O’Clock Coffee has prepared a few tips to help get you and your kids through the craziness of back-to-school season. Scroll down for a chance to win a Back-to-School Parent Survival Pack including a drawstring bag, travel mug and 2 bags of Eight O’Clock Coffee to help start your mornings off right!
TIP 1:Become Your Own Brewista – Save time, money and gas this back-to-school season by brewing your morning coffee at home. You can even set your coffee maker’s timer the night before to wake up to great-smelling Eight O’Clock Coffee.
TIP 2:Preplan Lunch – A few days before school starts, sit down with your kids and create a grocery list of healthy snacks and lunches they would like for school. Rotate each of their selections throughout the week. Make Tuesday “Turkey Tuesday” or Wednesday “Wrap Wednesday” – adding variety to keep lunch exciting. When possible, pack their lunch the night before to reduce stress in the morning.
TIP 3:Assemble Weekly Wardrobes – Every Sunday, check the upcoming weekly weather forecast with your kids. Then, have them pick out five outfits for the upcoming school week. Hang them in daily order in their closet to avoid the inevitable, “Mom, I can’t find my favorite blue shirt!”
TIP 4:Be Prepared for School Projects – Avoid late night rushing around to complete school projects by having art supplies on hand. Create an arts and craft bin that includes more than just crayons and colored paper. Collect items like pipe cleaners, stickers, figurines, beads – even coffee beans – and other creative finds, and put the fun back in school projects.
To enter and win a Back-to-School Parent Survival Pack including a drawstring bag, travel mug and 2 bags of Eight O’Clock Coffee, please comment on this post with your favorite back to school tradition.
Entries will be accepted through Sept 7th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that no monetary compensation was provided but I will receive a similar gift from the sponsor for hosting this giveaway. If you click on the line marked "affiliate link" it will take you to the product on Amazon and if you buy something I might get a couple of shekels. Just so you know.
Last year, I was an ambassador for the inaugural Bag It Forward campaign sponsored by Elmer's. The project asked bloggers to "bag it forward" while shopping for their kids' school supplies, filling up an extra bag for needy kids or underserved classrooms. This time, I was tasked with making a surprise "boo!" bag for a special teacher.
I love my kids' school. All the teachers are fantastic and take such good care of the students but I must admit Bob and I have a particular favorite. Mrs. Nur is based in the primary (pre-K) but also teaches foreign languages and art to the older grades. Last year, she did an after-school Spanish program that included projects based on famous artists, tortilla making, and the Aztec culture. She's very crafty and makes funky jewelry as a hobby, plus she has a sense of humor that just cracks me up. For example, inserting Dune jokes in the newsletter that only dorks like us would get and using pictures of Phil Spector's wacky hair as her Facebook avatar. Obviously, she is awesome and needs to be feted with supplies to allow her to impart her keen artistic sensibilities in all the young minds she touches… with that goal in mind, I headed to Walmart to shop for goodies. (See a slideshow of my shopping trip below.)
The end result: A Boo! Box for Mrs. Nur! I hope she loves it.
Elmer's is hoping to make another big impact this back to school season. Alongside their sponsorship of Bag It Forward, with bloggers gathering supplies for charity and encouraging their readers to join the movement, they are already donating one product for every “Like” on the Elmer’s Facebook page to the Kids In Need Foundation, and they will donate an additional item for each view of the video on the Kids In Need tab on their FB page. They are committed to donating up to 200,000 products to KINF, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing school supplies to those in need… imagine how many children will benefit from this partnership!
And don't forget– Elmer's is a Upromise partner, so every time you purchase an Elmer's or Krazy Glue product with your registered drug or grocery card, a percentage of your purchase will be put into your Upromise account.
I've been a fan of Mabel's Label's since Roo first started going to preschool. I signed up to be one of their Buzzmamas and spread the word because I really truly love their labels and use them every day, for the kids AND for myself:
Jasper is about to start full-day preschool on Monday, so I've been labelling his stuff in preparation for the big event. It's a lot easier than old-fashioned sew-in labels and looks way better than the traditional scrawled permanent marker, at least with my crummy handwriting! If you're looking for a place to start, I'd highly recommend the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo from Mabel’s Labels since it's only available for a limited time. It includes everything you need to label your kiddo's school gear: 50 Tag Mates (I prefer these to iron-ons, they just stick on the washing instruction tags and stay on for years) , 40 Skinny-Minis (I use these for everything from toothbrush handles to flash drives), 16 Shoe Labels (Jasper's just went right over Roo's in her old size 11 K-Swiss sneakers…) and 2 Teeny Tags (super cute as zipper pulls on backpacks), all personalized with name, colors and cute icons.
Parents of kids with food or medication allergies should check out the Allergy Alerts, bright red labels that list all your child's pertinent information. They're waterproof and durable, perfect on food containers or first aid kits.
Now through September 6th, you can earn $25 in Mabel Moolah for every $85 purchased* online at Mabel’s Labels.
*before taxes and shipping, after discounts
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I have received complimentary products in the past as a Mabel’s Labels Buzzmama, which is an unpaid gig. I was not asked to write this post and I did not receive any monetary compensation. I may receive payment from them should you click on any of the links I've posted and make a purchase, as I am a member of their affiliate program, however all opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.
(affiliate link)
