It’s nearly time to send the kids back to school. We have found some of the newest and most helpful products out there to help you and your student head back prepared.
Many of the items shown below were sent to me by PR Firms for inclusion in this guide. However, we only post about items, we ourselves use and enjoy.
Gear
Fenrici Backpack
Peyton loves this Fenrici Backpack. With several pockets to help keep her organized she’ll find handing in her completed homework a breeze. There are 2 sizes – Medium and Large. Peyton is wearing the medium backpack in gratitude.
All backpacks have 3 large pockets with smaller interior pockets. There is also a mesh water bottle holder on the side with elastic openings to hold the water bottle in place. Well-padded back panel, wide mesh shoulder straps, and adjustable sternum strap to help reduce strain and keep your kid comfortable.
The medium backpack measures 18’H x 12.5″W x 7.5″D and the large measures 18″H X 13″W x 9″D. They come in a variety of patterns and colors.
But my favorite thing about Fenrici is that they donate 5% of their proceeds towards the research and education of childhood rare diseases.
Bentgo Lunch Boxes (Ages 3-7)
Peyton has been using this lunchbox for several years. Since she was in kindergarten! It’s recommended for ages 3-7 and is the perfect lunch box for that age. Each compartment is leak proof! Trust me, I’ve tried over the years sending applesauce, puddings, yogurt, fruit in juice and nothing has ever leaked into another compartment.
Bentgo has 2 options to choose from this year. The standard one solid color in blue, green or purple. Or their new funky 2 toned boxes in orange/green, pink/purple or blue/yellow.
There are 5 separate compartments that are perfect for little appetites. Drop-proof, rubber-coated edges and sturdy design are ideal for active kids on the go, all made with BPA-free and FDA food-grade materials.
Another thing I like is this is another company that gives back! Bentgo is a proud supporter of Feed the Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gives hope and resources for hungry children and families. They have committed to donating a minimum of $100,000 through 2018 to help put an end to hunger.
Bentgo Fresh Lunch Boxes (8+)
Now that Peyton is a little bigger we are going to try using the Bentgo Fresh Lunch Boxes. These are a smidge bigger than the Bentgo lunch boxes for the 3-7-year-olds and you only have 4 compartments versus the 5. But I think it will work nicely for the old children with bigger appetites.
Another neat feature of the Bentgo Fresh is that there is an option to make it into 3 compartments! So if you have a large sandwich or bigger main dish that you want to send with, simply take out the divider and you have a large compartment. It’s also available in 6 colors – blue, red, gray, purple, green and aqua. Aqua is my favorite color.
The one difference in this box is there are 3 leak-proof compartments. The one large compartment that can be made into 2 smaller compartments could have some liquid transfer under or over the removable insert.
And just like with the smaller Bentgo lunch box a portion of the proceeds will go to help Feed the Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gives hope and resources for hungry children and families.
Rubbermaid Brilliance Containers
I have to send a healthy snack with Peyton every day. Last year I used the small Rubbermaid Brilliance containers to send them in. They never leak! Peyton has a hard time opening fruit cups so I opened them up and placed them in the Brilliance containers. It never leaked! And she had no messes.
There are several sizes to choose from in the Brilliance line. We are featuring the salad and snack set which is perfect for back to school. This kit includes (1) 4.7 cup container with lid, (1) 3.2 cup container with lid, (1) dressing container with lid, (1) toppings tray, and (2) half trays.
Contigo Couture Collection
Everyone needs a water bottle for back to school. This 20 oz Contigo Couture Collection reusable water bottle is perfect for the fashionista in your life. The thermalock technology keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours. It’s also leak proof so it won’t make a mess in your child backpack or gym bag.
Don’t forget about mom while shopping for back to school too. Us moms could use one of these as well. And it fits in most cup holders so it’s perfect for when we are hauling the kids around all day in the car.
The Contigo reusable water bottle is leak proof, 100% BPA-free, has a stainless steel body and is hand-wash-only. Sorry, no dishwasher for this one!
Crock-Pot Lunch Crock
This one is for our college students or high school students. The Crock-Pot Lunch Crock is perfect for taking with you to the dorms or to your job. It does require to be plugged in to heat up food so it’s not going to work for our children eating lunch at school. But it will work perfectly for college students looking to re-heat moms pot roast or homemade soup. It also works great for keeping dips warm on movie night!
The Deluxe Crock-Pot Lunch Crock comes in 3 color choices – red, purple and blue. It has a 24-ounce capacity making it perfect for leftovers or dips. There is an easy to hold handle and detachable heating base making it easy to transport from home to work/school.
Supplies
Sharpie
Sharpies are more than the black felt tip permanent marker that your parents grew up with. Now they are so much more! Sharpie still comes in the basic black but they also come in a wide assortment of colors. Pretty much every color imaginable is made by Sharpie now in their permanent marker. I love using them to label Peyton’s new school supplies, I usually use her favorite color.
Beyond the classic permanent marker Sharpie also has highlighters. I am loving the new Clear View highlighters! First, they look like so much fun. But they also glide very nicely on the page when highlighting. The unique see-through tip eliminates blind spots so you can see what you’re highlighting as you mark for straighter lines and more precise highlighting. The bright colors make it easy to see what you’ve highlighted at a glance and the chiseled edge makes it easy to underline or highlight information.
If you have a student that likes to color to relieve stress then you’ll want to check out the new Sharpie Art Pens. They are perfect for coloring, they are bleed free so they won’t bleed through the paper and ruin the other side. The fine point creates precise, nuanced lines for dazzling drawings and coloring pages. And the water-resistant ink means it won’t smear or smudge if it gets a little wet.
Crayola
Crayola is on nearly every grade school child’s list. But now they have a few items to make going back to school a little more fun! I may have bought Peyton everything that has a scent from Crayola. It’s the little things that matter when you are little and she really, really wanted the Silly Scents Markers and crayons. And I just found out that there are sketch pads available online that are scented! I may have to order a few of those as a surprise back to school gift for my little artist.
Crayola has been around for decades. They are high quality, affordable art supplies that are requested by teachers around the country. Peyton will be heading back to school with a backpack full of Crayola, mostly the Silly Scents line but still Crayola.
Paper Mate
Texas Instruments TI-84 CE
The TI-84 Plus CE has SIX times the memory of the TI-84 Plus so students can store vivid, full-color graphs, images, and data. The lightweight yet durable design also makes the graphing calculator easier to carry to and from school and activities for today’s on-the-go students. Also has a rechargeable wireless battery and is 30% Lighter than the previous TI-84 Plus models. Moms, did you read that? RECHARGEABLE battery!! Now more keeping a stockpile around the house for the calculator, they just have to remember to plug it in and charge it!
Graphing calculators sure have changed since I used them in school. The TI-84 CE comes in a variety of colors. I think we only had black or navy to choose from. Now, the kids can choose from rose gold, coral, white, denim, and red, just to name a few. PLUS, they have cool carrying cases you can also purchase to protect your investment and keep the kids organized.
Scribble Stuff Gel Pens
Who doesn’t love gel pens? What makes these gel pens by Scribble Stuff different than the rest is they are scented! That’s right, you can add a little fragrance to your notes or artwork.
The Scribble Stuff scented gel pens we were sent has three different fragrances – blooming florals, citrus harvest and sea breeze. But how do you know which color goes with which scent? It’s color coded! The reds/pinks/purples are blooming floras. The yellows/oranges/green are citrus harvest. And the blues/grays/blacks are sea breeze.
Scribble Stuff scented gel pens comes in bold colors that glide on smoothly. They work great for writing notes or coloring artwork. You can use them for so many things!
There are several choices of Scribble Stuff Gel Pens for you to choose from to bring home. From neon colors to classic colors they have it all. You can find Scribble Stuff Scented Gel Pens at your local Wal-Mart.
U.S.A. Gold Pencils
Every student needs to go back to school with quality #2 pencils. U.S.A. Gold pencils are proudly made in Tennessee for over 50 years. And this pack has 48 pencils! You’ll only need to make your teacher happy.
And teachers love quality pencils. Do you know what sets a premium pencil apart from others? They sharpen easily. Some pencils have a plastic coating making them hard to sharpen. Remember, your kids are going to have to sharpen these by hand, at least in our school they do, so you don’t want them struggling to sharpen a pencil. A quality pencil, like U.S.A. Gold has one solid piece of lead, some lesser quality brands are not one piece. U.S.A. Gold pencils also come with a smudge-resistant eraser so you won’t see those big black smudges when you need to erase something.
When you are out looking for your children’s school supplies be sure to grab a pack or two of U.S.A. Gold Pencils, they are the #1 choice of teachers for their quality, smooth writing, even sharpening and sustainable products.
Health
Miss Spa
This one is for everyone! We could all use a little TLC for our skin. Even though Peyton is only 8 years old, she and I do hydrating masks together in the winter. Sometimes we even do a mud mask! Miss Spa has taken the spa experience and captured it in individual packets so you can take them to the dorms or keep them in a drawer. Perfect for those that want to have a little spa-like experience at home. There are several masks to choose from.
Exfoliating Oatmeal Facial Scrub – Scrub away dirt and oil with this brilliant mix of tough, yet soothing ingredients. Walnut shell powder removes the build-up of dead skin cells while oatmeal and honey hydrate and moisturize
Detoxifying Self-Heating Creme Mask – Your stubborn pores have finally met their match. This unique crème mask heats on contact to loosen up dirt and oil while the powerful ingredients go to work. Citric Acid, derived from citrus fruits, gently exfoliates the buildup of dead skin cells, while Vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant) soothes and helps protect your skin.
Clear Blemish Patches – These blemish patches are your overnight answer to problematic skin! It helps reduce the look of distressed skin with one of our favorite acne-fighting ingredients: Salicylic Acid. The solution penetrates deep within the pores to help combat acne at the source, while naturally absorbent volcanic ash helps reduce oil and dirt and tea tree oil helps soothe and reduce the appearance of inflammation. These powerful yet gentle blemish patches will leave skin in the free and clear! Now that’s the stuff sweet dreams are made of!
With two different sizes of patches, you can choose which one best covers your bases.
Rescue Facial Sheet Mask -The Rescue mask is here to save your skin! It’s full of natural botanicals, like aloe leaf extract and skullcap root. They have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that provide immediate relief for dry or irritated skin. The sheet mask snugly fits the contours of your face, ensuring optimal delivery of vital nutrients to the skin.
Convenient sheet mask format takes the mess out of masking. Simply apply to clean skin for 20 minutes, remove, and pat excess serum into skin. No need to rinse!
Hydrate Facial Sheet Mask – Would you go a day without drinking water? Then you shouldn’t go a day without hydrating your skin! Full of skin-replenishing ingredients, like aloe vera and sodium hyaluronate, the serum delivers a dose of hydration while the sheet mask stops all the good stuff from evaporating before it gets absorbed into your skin.
Convenient sheet mask format takes the mess out of masking. Simply apply to clean skin for 20 minutes, remove, and pat excess serum into skin. No need to rinse!
24K Gold Facial Sheet Mask – Treat yourself with real gold without breaking the bank! Packed with antioxidants, 24k gold helps reduce redness and leaves skin looking younger and brighter. Plus, this mask gives your skin a glow like no other – just see for yourself!
Convenient sheet mask format takes the mess out of masking. Simply apply to clean skin for 20 minutes, remove, and pat excess serum into skin. No need to rinse!
You can find Miss Spa at your local retailer or online.
Kamedis Dermatology Acne Kit
If you have a tween or teen you’re going to want to look into the Kamedis Dermatology Acne Kit. Kamedis skin formulations are derived from natural botanicals used in traditional Chinese medicine, botanicals that have been renowned for their therapeutic properties for hundreds if not thousands of years. Kamedis botanicals are conscientiously sourced and meticulously purified. Our manufacturing process employs the highest quality standards, including assessment of physical and chemical properties and microbiological testing.
The Kamedis Dermatology Acne Kit is combing three of Kamedis’s top acne products and teaching your child to use them in combination to achieve the best results possible. You’ll start with the acne face cleanser which will create a powerful foaming gel that gently cleanses acne-prone skin without drying, using an oil-free formula. Then you will follow up with the Acne Face Moisturizer which will balance sebum production, clear up oily skin and acne while preventing their recurrence. Then on an as needed basis, you will use the Acne Spot Treatment which has a powerful gel treatment that is clinically proven to deliver clearer skin and reduce pimples in just 12 hours. These three products, when used together can help your teen/tween achieve clearer skin without the use of harsh chemicals.
The Kamedis Dermatology Acne line is free of steroids, benzoyl peroxide, SLS, paraben, and dyes. You can purchase the kit online and have it delivered to your home.
Crest Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste
I am a firm believer in taking care of your mouth. It has such an impact on your overall health! Crest just released a new toothpaste aimed at helping with your gum and enamel issues. Gum problems are the root of some key oral health issues. It goes deeper than bad breath! You can use Crest Gum & Enamel Repair toothpaste to prevent gingivitis while receiving the benefits of Crest. Clinically proven to help reverse gingivitis! It targets the gum line to neutralize plaque bacteria and penetrates the tooth’s surface to repair weakened enamel. In my opinion, this is perfect for the whole family.
Crest makes several other lines as well. If this one is not right for your family, consider using a different Crest line instead. Back to School is also a great time to get the whole house new toothbrushes and stock up on your oral care needs.
Culturelle
This one is for the whole family. Gut health contributes to overall health. Culturelle can help keep your family’s gut health in check year round making for a happier and healthier family.
Culturelle Digestive Health Women’s Healthy Balance – This one is for all the moms. Culturelle Digestive Health Women’s Healthy Balance helps naturally protect feminine health by promoting the natural balance of good bacteria and yeast. It’s a probiotic for feminine and digestive health that’s safe for everyday, long-term use. Plus, unlike some products which measure the number of probiotic cultures at the time of manufacture, Culturelle guarantees the stated number of naturally sourced Lactobacilli cultures through the expiration date on the package.
Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic Packets – Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG®) – the ingredient in Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic Packets – is clinically proven to help reduce occasional tummy troubles (like diarrhea and occasional digestive upset) by helping to restore the balance of good and not-so-good bacteria in children’s digestive systems. From the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Probiotic Brand, Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic Packets actually help your child’s digestive tract to work better and supports a healthy immune system when taken regularly.
Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic Chewables – Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG®) – the ingredient in Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic Chewables – is clinically proven to help reduce occasional tummy troubles (like diarrhea and occasional digestive upset) by helping to restore the balance of good and not-so-good bacteria in children’s digestive systems. And it’s in a chewable form that kids like to take.
Culturelle Pro-Well Health & Wellness – Culturelle Pro-Well Health & Wellness safely and naturally restores the balance of good bacteria and non-beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract, where 70% of the body’s immune system resides. Balancing the bacteria in the intestines not only helps optimize your immune system and supports your natural defenses, but also helps your digestive system work better. With 15 billion live active cultures of 100% Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG®), the most clinically studied probiotic strain, each capsule contains a clinical strength serving of probiotics.
All of these Culturelle products plus their other lines can be found at your local retailer or online.
Organization
Thirty-One
We are huge fans of Thirty-One products. I discovered them shortly after Peyton was born and have been using them ever since. I literally always have at least one Thirty-One item on me at all times. Here are two of my favorite Thirty-One products to help keep your tween/teen/college student or yourself organized this school year.
The Fold N File is perfect for organizing homework or your bills. I have three of them in my office that I use to organize our travel writing section of the site. I keep dividers in them for each state and then the travel brochures in there. Then when I want to research a trip or write about someplace we’ve been they are all there in one place. I also use another one to keep track of my business receipts. These are great for keeping papers organized without investing in a file cabinet.
The Stand Tall Bin is perfect for any room of your home. If you have a child heading off to college it makes the perfect hamper while also being decorative. When it’s full, you can use the handles to help carry it down to the laundry room. It could also be used in a younger child’s room to keep their toys or in a craft room to organize rolls of papper. There are so many uses for this one! One thing I would really like to point out is that there are 4 little rods inside the Stand Tall Bin that help keep it upright. It won’t fold up or collapse during use.
Thirty-One can only be bought from a Thirty-One sales rep. If you do not have a personal sales representative you can log on to the website and they will connect you with someone close by.
Joy Mangano Organization
Joy Mangano has taken her love of design and beauty and created innovative products that not only help make your life a little simpler but also a little more beautiful too.
The huggable hangers are perfect for keeping your shirts and sweaters on them and not on the floor. I’ve been using these hangers in my own closet for a little over a year and not once have I had to pick clothes up off the floor since I switched. My clothes stay on the hangers, they never slip off.
Under the bed storage is the best idea anyone ever came up with! I love using the space under the store items that are seasonal or we may not need on a daily basis. Using Joy Mangano’s under the bed storage helps keep it organized and protected from dirt and dust. The see-through top makes it easy to slide out and see exactly what you have stored. The boxes come in several colors so you can color code them for easy access as well.
Both of these along with other Joy Mangano products can be purchased online.
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