Meet Lindsey Hughes at @Macys Southpark #BacktoSchool Party!

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 

I can't get enough of back to school shopping this year!

This weekend I'll be heading to Macy's for a Back to School Shopping Party!

Back to School with @BlumGear Kits + Enter to Win!

Products were given to facilitate this review and sweepstakes. 

Opinions are my own. Affiliate links are present.

Back to school shopping is a chore. Sure, it may be exciting at first which is great to get the kids excited about going to school but it's still a chore. Even more so for parents of left-handed kids who struggle to find scissors that their kids can use.

Blüm, a leading manufacturer of premium arts, crafts, and school supplies, understands this and has done the shopping for us. They have done extensive research into what most schools have on their supply list and created a kit.

Rugged and Colorful Poly Fabric Cases, Pre-Loaded with 80% of the items found on most back to school Lists. Total number of pieces. 41. All of the core essentials for grades K-4. Helps students keep their supplies organized in these decorative and durable cases.

There isn't a whole lot this kit is missing!

4 Back-to-School Finds Your Kids Didn't Know They Wanted

I have received products to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. Includes affiliate links. 

I can't believe we are shopping for school already! Tuesday, I shared my soon-to-be kindergartner's shopping spree with Gordmans and now for the what's in the bag and the bag!

I'm so excited to be sharing some really cool back to school finds that you might not know about from some really fantastic companies. Starting with breakfast and what to carry your books and supplies in and ending with some ideas for what to put in the lunch box.

Back to School in Style with Gordmans + a Coupon for You!

I was given a gift card to facilitate this post. Opinions are my own. 

When it comes to clothes, my little girl absolutely takes after her dad. My style was stunted by years of Catholic school uniforms and trying to hide my figure under loose clothes. My baby girl, RD, was born with style and an insane love of pink.

When I mentioned that we would have to go shopping for school, my soon-to-be kindergartner took soon to be now and would not stop asking me when we were going to Gordmans. Yes, she asked for it by name and we finally went. She was in heaven running through the racks of clothes. 

Gordmans has been a favorite of ours since it open stores in Ohio this year. I went for the first time at the start of summer and kept the cost to under $100. I knew that when it came time for school shopping, Gordmans would be our first stop.

Top 5 Tips for Parents at Back 2 School Time (plus a @Staples Giveaway!) #sponsored

This is a sponsored post from Staples.  The opinions are 100% my own.

Where has this summer gone? I mean, really, where has it gone! It seems like just yesterday we were starting the summer and today we are school shopping! Ugh!

I hate back to school time! Having to work full time, the summer allows for relaxing, low key fun with the kids; quality time to just be. Back to school means, strict schedules and homework. Ugh, I didn’t like homework when I had to do it and now I have to help someone do theirs?

Google “back to school” and you will find a ton of how to get your kid ready for the first day of school but very few on how to get mom and dad ready. Mom and dad need to prepare too, we are paying for their education after all and although I am not paying tuition, I do have to pay for all the other supplies and miscellaneous expenses.

Top 5 Tips for Parents at Back to School Time

1. Start going to bed early.

Sure the kids should be going to bed earlier to prepare for the school year but I am the one getting up even earlier to make the lunches that I did not make the night before.

2. Meet the teacher(s)!

Thankfully our school year starts with a meet and greet and bring your supplies to school day which does ease the fears of the kid going back but it also allows us to meet the teacher and really suck up, er, make a good impression.

I also learned the hard way that there is no “permanent record” and all those clever things that the teacher the year before figured out was not shared with the next teacher.

3. Have a special day

I am seriously sad about the summer ending so I made sure that we have a special outing the day before school starts to end the season right.

4. Give yourself permission not to buy the name brand items on the teacher’s supply list. They will not send your child home.

There, I said it.  I am sorry to the teachers reading this but sometimes it is not in the budget to get it and all the other things.  

5. Stock up on everything 

(including coffee and wine) 

Staples gave us a $25 gift card to spend for back to school shopping and we got almost all of his supplies and only went over by $.57!  This included deodorant for mom and dad - Staples really does have it all!

The only things we could not get at Staples are things specifically for lefties. I knew they wouldn't have scissors, rulers, notebooks or  pencil sharpeners made for left handed kids so I ordered them online. I think if any store had a section, even a small section, geared towards lefties I would fall down.  They did have everything else and at great prices.

Back2School with @Staples! What does your #StaplesHaul look like? #sponsored http://t.co/CUqEVWcVkT pic.twitter.com/ksDCH2JFVF
— MryJhnsn (@mryjhnsn) August 22, 2013

I was asked to go out to the Elyria store because they have an expanded assortment of educational supplies, from top educational brands like Crayola, Leap Frog, and Melissa & Doug, but I was actually not all that impressed with this store's expanded selection.

It was clean, bright and big but I had to ask the sales associates to help me find things (they are fantastic and friendly!).  Maybe I was expecting to see a giant sign over this expanded selection with neon arrows showing the way, alas I had to search all over the store. (okay, maybe not neon arrows)

They did have this really cool Crayola wall where you can pick the crayons you wanted instead of getting a boring box.  That will be worth the trip back!

I also did not find Leap Frog or Melissa & Doug products but I was also not really looking for them since we were very focused on the supply list.  All in all it was an excellent trip to Staples and we saved money!

Now, I did forget something and decided to stop at the Staples a few blocks from my house and it was what I had in mind - still no Leap Frog or Melissa & Doug to be found but everything educational was in the middle of the store and super easy to find. The sales associates were also crazy nice and helpful which makes me so happy. Back to school is stressful, shopping for it should not be.

The third grader's favorites

Staples is giving away to one lucky mom or dad a $25 gift card via Rafflecopter!  

What are your tips to parents this back to school year?

My Top 5 Back to School Tips

I am not looking forward to second grade.  The work will be harder.  The pressure will increase and did I mention there is First Communion?  So much to do but first, getting through the first week.  My first born starts school on Wednesday and emotionally, I am not ready.  To be honest, I know he is not either but at least we will be prepared.

Top 5 Back to School Tips

my iPod is MIA so I write my posts down now and I must say I am loving my new Pilot G2 pens

Don't let them see you sweat.

Sure, I am freaked out but I don't think he knows.  We are having a last farewell to summer at the beach and then school supply shopping.  Regardless of my sadness that summer is ending and my son is growing up, he doesn't have to know.

Go to the orientation

You know the one.  The PTA or PTO puts it on and you get to meet the teachers early, then everyone eats Popsicles; pretending to be nice to everyone else.  Or maybe that is just in my area?  Either way - sure it seems like a drag but you get to see his classroom, so, bring the kid's supplies in so he won't have to lug in the next day.

Invest in good gym shoes

Call them what you will.  Shoes, tennis shoes, sneakers, kicks...  get a good pair.  Personally, I love sketchers.  Why you ask?  Because, they are well made and no I am not getting anything for saying that, I really buy them, faithfully, every year.

Buy extra of everything

At some point in the school year there will be a not that says, your child may need more of something.  Be prepared.  The Frugalette has a great guide that is worth checking out: Back to School Supplies Printable Stock Up Prices.  Basically, she tells you what is worth stocking up on like when crayons are $.25 a pack and when you should just get one or two.

A few weeks ago I got to visit a BJs and, boy, do they know how to save some money!  Buying in bulk is certainly the way to go.  One of the best things about buying at BJs is that they do not cater to businesses but to homes.  You will not get one gigantic tub o' peanut butter but two reasonably sized jars packaged together for a great deal!

Wait to buy school clothes

I know, this goes against everything you were brought up to believe but, who actually wears their new clothes the first week?  Here in Ohio, C-man will be wearing shorts and a t-shirt since it will be 79 degrees on Wednesday.  I prefer to wait and then hit up the sales.  As it happens, I will be going to Lodi Station Outlets to do school clothes shopping the weekend after school starts.  I was not a fan of outlets until I was introduced to Lodi Station.

What tips do you have for the back to school crowd?

Don't forget to enter one (or all) of the Back to School Spree Giveaways here and be sure to hop around.

My Top 5 Back to School Tips ow.ly/1m4mjB
— MryJhnsn (@mryjhnsn) August 21, 2012

@BJsWholesale and Back to School

A few weeks ago, the family and I got to go on a tour of BJ's Wholesale Club.  All thought, I have been before and was even a member of their competitor, I am not a fan of these types of establishments.  It bugs me to pay a membership to shop.  That said, I get why you would want to pay a membership fee for BJs.  There is a lot of savings to be had and they don't cater to businesses.

Why is not catering to businesses important to a family, especially one shopping for back to school?  It is the difference of getting one gigantic jar of peanut-butter and two normally sized jars at a bargain price.  I am not looking to stock my shelves with pencils but to fill a pencil box and have extras left over for when we run out through out the year.  I can get behind that difference.

Besides, great prices on the essentials for the school year, such as wine and cookies made with vegetables, they have all of the items on my son's list.  Being a lazy time-saving mom, stocking up early will allow me to be prepared when I get that note saying my son needs more of {insert supply here}.

Part of our tour involved lunch, as in "make your own lunch and see how easy it is to come up with fresh ideas for your kid's lunch box."

The recipes are great and easy, but this was certainly an adventure as I was there with my toddler, second grader (trying out how that sounds) and the Husband.  Making sandwiches to meet the finickiness of all of them is always trying, but at least they tried.  There are more recipes are here but here is what we had for lunch.

Baby had the BANANA NUT and the Second Grader had a variation of that (bread and peanut butter)

What You Need
• Chiquita Banana slices
• Smucker’s All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
• Berkley & Jensen Clover Honey
• Berkley & Jensen Raisin Medley
• Wellsley Farms Sunflower Seeds
• Earth’s Pride Organics Oatmeal Bread

I had the MEDITERRANEAN Wrap

What You Need
• Mediterranean Wrap Sabra Hummus
• Athenos Feta Cheese
• Berkley & Jensen Roasted Red Peppers
• Berkley & Jensen Petite Peperoncini
• Berkley & Jensen Manzanilla Olives
• Fresh Parsley
• Joseph’s Middle East Bakery Lavash Bread

And, the Husband had the SMOKIN’ TURKEY

What You Need
• Applegate Farms Smoked Turkey
• Great Lakes Mild Cheddar Cheese
• French’s Mustard
• Wellsley Farms White Bread

I always forget that BJs is not just TVs and bulk supplies but has a full fledged grocery with tons of fresh and organic items. Did I mention they have wine?

New Post!@bjswholesale and Back to School goo.gl/fb/JDmm8 #b2s #backtoschool #bjs #review
— MryJhnsn (@mryjhnsn) August 20, 2012

What is the top item on your back to school list?

Fine Print
I was invited for a tour a lunch at BJ’s.  I was not compensated for this post but I did receive a gift card and a one day pass to shop on my own.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Looking Back on a Boy and His Frog

The First Day of First Grade is When?!? #BacktoSchool

Can you believe that summer is coming to an end?  It seems like just yesterday I was lamenting over sending my soon-to-be-first-grader to summer camp and here we are at the start of the new school season.

Where has this summer gone!?!

sigh.

School starts officially tomorrow for us and not only is it First Grade but for my sweet boy - it is a new school.  A new school you ask?  Yes, it is a new school.. It seems that our move this summer put us just shy for the cut off for the school he went to for kindergarten.  Like, a dozen or less houses shy of the border.  I'm upset; he is excited.  I love that about him. 

How are we getting ready?  Besides the normal trip to the store for school supplies and new underwear we are taking field-trips to the new school.  Checking out the school before going there for the first day has him even more excited.  Since, I found out a week ago  that he would be attending this other school I took advantage of a weekday off (which I took to be with him on his actual birthday) and took him to the new school to play at the playground.

Yes, this seems like such a simple thing but it was nice to be there to get a feel of the new grounds.  They happen to have a day camp there so while he got to play for a little while without other kids and it was just us it was an added bonus to see the playground filled with kids.  All of the kids where older and none wanted to play with him because they had their cliques it was not long for him to team up with another boy who was not part of this group.  Turns out... he will be a first grader at this school, too.

The best part, so far about this new school?  The swing set.  His "old" school did not have one.  Odd seeing as the school itself is new but...  The school he will be going to I use to walk by every single day on my way to school and I wanted more then anything to swing on those swings.  Our school did not have a playground.  We had a parking lot and two basketball hoops, minus the nets, of course.  I went to Catholic school and playground equipment was never in the budget.  I swung on the swings with him while we were there that day.

We then made a trip to Target and our local market for lunch box snacks as well and fruits and vegetables to take to school.  Letting him pick what he wants for lunch, especially that first week, takes a lot of pressure off myself to try and figure out what he wants and gives him some say in his lunch - the whole let them think they have power thing.  For my soon-to-be-first-grader, it is watermelon, grapes, baby carrots and tootsie rolls.  Not all on the same day except, of course, the obligatory PB&J but all the same he gets a great variety as well as a sweet treat.  Luckily, our school is not nut free because that boy only eats PB&J and only on round thin bread. Every.  Single. Day.

A great tip that I learned...  pack an extra sweet treat to share with a new friend.  Oddly enough, he won't eat that little extra treat if he does not give it away and I only do this the first week back to school and the first day back from winter break.  Something to break the ice and never anything with nuts.

Another tip that I will share that I had to do was to soak my dried looking baby carrots in water for a few hours.  I noticed that the carrots that I just bought where looking dry (white and shriveled could be another way to say it) and I knew they where good.  Well, baby carrots are just carrots that are shaved to shape them into bite size goodness and they just need a little re-hydration to make them looking tasty again.

Lunch box notes seem to be a given so I make a few up a head of time and can't help but chuckle every so often at the preschool teacher that told me that my boy got made fun of because I use to draw on his baggies that I used to pack his carrots and sandwich.  Yes, you read that right.  Prior to using reusable containers I packed his lunch using baggies - oh and my son's preschool teacher said that the other kids teased him because I doodled on the baggies.  I think she was just jealous that she did not think to write a note telling her children that she loved them but I digress... 

I still can't get over that it is all ready school time but it is and all though I am a little sad that it is a new school... this is also a fresh start for me and another chance to more involved.  All though I was pretty active in my son's room and I am pretty proud of my little "Volunteer Parent" award now I will try to broaden my reach.  I will get out of my comfort zone, do more for the school as a whole and maybe, just maybe actually attend a PTA meeting and not just pay my dues.

How do you or did you get ready for school?