This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PilotPen4School #CollectiveBias #PowerToThePen

School is starting for us in less than a week! I can't believe how fast the summer went by. I'm sure it was because we were so busy. With school starting back, it's back to the daily schedule of making lunches, getting kids to school, and extra curricular activities. I enjoy making my kid's lunches in the morning because I like to know what they are eating and so they can know how much I care while they are there through handwritten lunch box notes.

I have fun thinking of creative sayings or little love notes of inspiration so they can get a little pick me up during the day. It's also great for them because they get to enjoy organic reading that they'll love. Seeing your handwriting with a Pilot Pen on a little note card can bring an unexpected to joy to their day letting them know you are thinking about them. My daughter says she tells her friends too when I add in jokes.

My daughter loves school and learning. I know that this isn't the case for all. My son just turned five and when he starts kindergarten next year, I know we will have our hands full especially when it comes to homework. But if you're child is like my son and school aged 2nd to 5th grade, I thought I would share our experience with a wonderful supplement to homeschool or at home tutoring program focusing on math.

They reached out to me before Christmas, but I was so slammed packed with Holiday Gift Guide stuff that I never got around to it. I wish I had sooner though because my daughter has absolutely LOVED this program! My daughter was in her class with another girl. The teacher was very nice and engaging. Here is our honest review of the program:

This sponsored post is brought to you by The Ucan Group and coordinated by Wendy’s Bloggers.

Ever wondered why we wait until first grade to get our children reading? Before age six, children have enormous capacities for learning. Yet, some struggle to learn and others take to it easily.

With step-by-step, guided instruction from Ucan Courses, you can give your child the advantage of a lifetime. This proven method for teaching your child to read by first grade is getting attention. It gives kids a running start, boosts confidence, and eliminates that overwhelming feeling so many have on the first day of school. Importantly, it puts the parent in the driver’s seat: All you need is 10 minutes a day for 15 days! 

I am one of those people that has to write everything down in order to stay organized.


This product was featured in my Back to School Shopping Guide.

Pipsticks+Workman sticker gift line: A new line of 17-month planners with coordinating sticker books and notekeepers that are perfect for mom and tweens/teens who want to keep track of their school work. This is the first planner line where each planner’s interiors (monthly art and stickers) are unique to the theme.

This post is sponsored by Crayola in the form of complimentary products. All opinions are my own. These products were featured in our Back to School Guide.

My mom was a teacher when we were growing up. I remember watching her go back to school after she and my dad divorced. She worked so hard to become a teacher, a lot of late nights studying and creating lesson plans. She loved being a teacher so much. Educating our children is such an important and, often times, underappreciated profession.

Crayola has been our brand of choice for so many years. My mom and I would create lesson plans and activities using Crayola because they make high quality products with beautiful vibrant colors in every box. And they are the one and only crayon and marker brand I trust to actually be washable when the package says it is. This summer Crayola has started an amazing initiative. They have started the next phase of the “Thank a Teacher” campaign. They want kids around the country to show their appreciation for teachers and help reach one million thank-yous to teachers across the country!

Back-to-School season is in full swing and that means I have already packed 13 lunch for my daughter. This year our back-to-school list included a new lunch bag. I didn't want to get her anything with too kiddie of a print on it, but I wanted something for her that was something she would like.


I was so excited to find all the different varieties that Fit & Fresh had. This was actually my first time hearing of this brand, but their styles are so cute to choose from.

The school shopping lists are covered. We have bought everything for both of my kiddos school supply lists thanks to Office Depot. Office Depot and OfficeMax have a ton of fun, fashionable school supplies, plus amazing accessories to make your kiddos' supplies truly personal.

Now that summer is in full-swing, it’s time to start thinking about back-to-school. From clothes and shoes to backpack and lunchboxes to snacks and accessories, this list has something for everyone (including the moms) for all your back to school shopping list needs.


Both of my kiddos are starting school this year. My daughter is headed to 1st grade while my baby is starting his first year of pre-school. People ask me, "what are you going to do with yourself all day?" My son is only going three days a week for three hours a day. And it will fly fast, so I will try to get a little work done and grocery shop by myself for sure! But since they both are headed off to school this year, I thought what better time to put together a back to school guide when I have never really done one before.

My daughter just graduated Kindergarten and I have been stressing this summer making sure she doesn't forget anything she learns last year. The thing is, I don't want her to stress about it. I still want her to have fun and enjoy her summer break. I was recently sent this fun game from PlaSmart called Catch and Learn. It's "the educational game where you fish for answers".

My daughter is at this amazing age where she wants to learn as she plays. I think it has a lot to do with the amazing teachers that she had last year. They focused on a lot of hands-on learning and she learned so much in the past year. Now that summer is in full force, I have been wanting to make sure she doesn't get "Summer Brain Drain" and lose all that information.

I received complimentary products to provide this review. All opinions are my own.

So when I was asked to review the GeoSafari Jr. My First Telescope from Educational Insights, I took it as an opportunity to help my daughter learn about the moon and other lunar facts with a hands-on experience.

Thank you to I See Me! for the products to provide this review. All opinions are my own.

 

We recently had the opportunity to review a new personalized children's book from ISeeMe called "My Very Own Fairy Tale". It is a beautifully illustrated personalized fairy tale book that will make a special gift for the fairy lover in your life.


This enchanting storybook is a powerful way to show a child how absolutely unique and special she is. "My Very Own Fairy Tale" is a hardcover, professionally bound book that transports little girls into a magical garden where flower and berry fairies crown her as their fairy princess. Flower fairies bring letters one by one to spell out the child's name, while describing character traits that make the recipient alone the perfect princess.