Sunday, August 22, 2010

Staples Makes Back To School Shopping Easy

I was not thrilled to receive my daughter's school supply list last week. It was long and very specific and immediately gave me a headache. I mean, for goodness sakes, she's only going into kindergarten! Does she really need two spiral bound notebooks, folders with brackets inside them, glue sticks and headphones for the computer, along with crayons, markers, glue sticks, scissors, erasers, hand sanitizer and tissues? Whatever happened to bringing a blanket, a pillow and some crayons to kindergarten?

However, I know I can always turn to Staples to have everything I need for back-to-school. I love how they have everything on my list, organized in such a way to make shopping quick and easy, with the variety to keep my picky five year old happy. (Everything must be blue this year. Ugh.)

Mom Select and Staples teamed up to send me a small sampling of the great school supplies Staples is offering this year. Some of my favorites:

Do Something.org notebooks, folders, and planners - These products are exclusive to Staples and help students stay organized while learning about important issues impacting their communities. Each product features cool designs including background on social issues and tips on how students can make a difference. I'm using the planner to keep track of my daughter's school assignments and school functions, while she was thrilled to find a blue notebook and folder included in the box, and crossed those items off of her school supply list right away.

Westcott KleenEarth products - These products are eco-conscious and include environmental features such as handles made from recycled content. Bonus: they also have Microban antibacterial protection, perfect for using around kids who prefer the back of their hand to a tissue. We received a pair of scissors (checking off the supply list!), a sharpener for pencils and crayons, and a ruler. Cordy already loves the scissors with the bright orange handles!

Staples Soccer Buddy Calculator - Cordy doesn't use a calculator yet, but she wants to learn now that she's found this new blue friend! It's bendy and features a fun mini-soccer ball to help achieve all her math "goals" - OK, bad pun, but she's already named it "Blue number guy" so I think it's here to stay.

Omnitech 2GB Swivel Flash Drive - Another Staples exclusive, this flash drive will make sure you never lose the cap again. Just swivel to click it into place and it's ready to travel in your backpack or purse. This thing is genius - I can't tell you how many flash drive caps I've lost and how many flash drives I've ruined from bending the metal connectors. I wish all flash drives were made like this!

Many of these items are already in my daughter's backpack, waiting for her first day of school on Wednesday. The items we didn't need are being donated to the school to help provide supplies for other kids who can't afford them.

Want to win some back-to-school goodies for yourself?

I've got one $25 Staples gift card to give to a lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment below telling me your favorite school supply to buy when you were a kid. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you are selected! One entry per person/household, please - if I find you cheating, your entries will be deleted.

US residents only. Entries will be accepted until Friday, August 27 at 11:59pm Eastern time. One winner will be selected at random from available entries using Random.org. Winner has three days to respond or another winner will be selected.

Good luck and happy back-to-school shopping!

Full disclosure: I received a box of the supplies listed above from Staples to facilitate my review. No further compensation was received. All opinions of these products are my own - no guarantee of a positive review was promised nor expected.

136 comments:

Mami2jcn said...

I liked getting a new lunchbox.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

April said...

I loved the new trapper keepers!

divrchk said...

April beat me to it! I loved my Trapper Keepers! LOL

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM

I ALWAYS LIKED GETTING A NEW PENCIL BOX

Amber said...

I loved buying pencils because I loved sharpening them!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

For me, it was always the backpack that that took top priority on my back to school needs.

guandi(at)hotmail.com

Suburban prep said...

I loved new pens and notebooks (that had not been written in at the time).
msgb245 at gmail dot com

Laura C said...

My favorite was colors.
pcollins@viscom.net

James said...

Believe it or not the "Eraser".
I would pull it out everyday and place it in the upper right hand corner of my desk. I loved the smell of them and hoped I would never have to use it. Diffently was a wish! lol :o)

Anonymous said...

My favorite schhol supply when I was a kid was a new backpack

slb3334 said...

crayons

Anonymous said...

My mom always bought me pencils with my name engraved on them and they were my favorite thing.
waitressdani (at) hotmail (dot) com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

fresh brand new crayons

bayctygrl said...

I loved getting a new Trapper keeper!! I still remember my fave one with a sandy beach on it.

hippopurplemonkey at yahoo dot com

Blogworm said...

I loved my new box of crayons (64 count I think) that had the built in sharpener. I also loved my black and white checkered Trapper Keeper.

sweepworm@gmail.com

Davina said...

Felt tip markers in the 50 pack were my favorite thing to buy.

agordon10 said...

I liked Trapper Keepers.

Anonymous said...

I love love love Crayons and the markers that smell like different things! :)
moore8809@hotmail.com

Stephanie said...

backpack, lunchbox, and book covers
tvollowitz at aol dot com

McKim said...

When I was a kid we didn't have to take much to school other than pencils, paper and a box of kleenex. I always wanted to get the fanciest kleenex box!

Anonymous said...

I liked buying a pencil box.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

nape said...

I loved having a brand new Big Chief tablet.

Thanks for a fun giveaway!

jlafount said...

I liked wood pencils. Always entertaining when you were bored

jlafount at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I loved getting a backpack with a tv theme on it every year
Diane baum
esldiane@gmail.com

ky2here said...

Jars of paste because I'd eat it - I know, I'm weird (and also very old).

ky2here at msn dot com

souldolphindream said...

I loved getting notebooks! I loved being able to pick mine out from all the designs

souldolphindream@aol.com

mverno said...

the lunch box is the best mverno@roadrunner.com

dawns41 said...

I always loved getting a lunch box and crayons.

dawns_horizen@yahoo.com

Kimberly said...

I always loved picking out a pencil case and lunch box. They were the closest things to a purse. :)
kirbycolby at gmail dot com

Tonya Dean said...

Glue. I loved making fingerprints in it. I usually got it taken away cause I wouldn't put it away.

tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com

Kiara said...

I loved getting new pencils.
austma7@aol.com

Katharina said...

My favorite back to school item was always my lunchbox. It seemed to be the one thing with which I could be as cool as everyone else. :)

It was also one of the few things that paid to be the oldest sibling... my sister had to use my lunchboxes from the past year and I could usually choose a new one. Oooh, that was cruel, wasn't it?!

angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

BowieTip said...

Lots of pens and pencils.

Anonymous said...

My favorite thing was the ink pen that you could click and choose your own color (red, blue or black). I actually had it took away in 3rd grade because I was always wanting to grade my neighbors paper using red, lol! Jenny kymom36@yahoo.com

Shelley Johnson said...

I'd love to buy pens in different colors and cool notebooks like the trapper keeper!

Bloggytime20 at yahoo dot com

cstironkat said...

I liked mechanical pencils and the case to hold them.

BethW7372 said...

My favorite school supply to buy when I was a kid was cool binders or folders, I loved to look for cool images like animals (horses running, or dogs...)

Beth_W(at)ix.netcom.com

dlhaley said...

A book bag. Thanks

dlhaley(AT)hotmail.com

Wes said...

I loved the little pencil sharpeners....great way to kill time! -Wes wmarner at gmail dot com

sarah h said...

I loved buying the coolest notebooks and folders with the cool and pretty designs.

sarahlynn06@hotmail.com

ms-texas said...

i always liked finding the "best" lunchbox and really cute spiral notebooks

Mamushi Love said...

I liked getting folders with my favorite characters. I still do, actually. LoL.

Mike R. said...

I'm another lunchbox person. I loved picking out a new one each year.

Anonymous said...

My Favorite school supply to buy as a kid was my notebooks, I always wanted to get the coolest ones!

bakergurl02 at yahoo dot com

Debbie C said...

My favorite was the new box of Crayola Crayons I always got at the first of every elementary school year. I love opening the box and inhaling their "new smell" and running my fingers over the perfect rows of unused crayons.

sweepmom said...

I have to agree with a few of the others in that Trapper Keepers were super cool to buy.

Sharon Harmon said...

My favorite school supply was book covers! I wanted the coolest ones!
Clownscrytoo@gmail.com

Pets and their people said...

I loved buying those big three ring binders, always white so I could decorate them with markers and make them my own

buzzd said...

I liked getting a lunchbox

toughturtles said...

a cool binder

toughturtles said...

a cool binder

Jen lleras said...

I loved trapper keepers, every year i got a new binder but the best was when trapper keepers came out, they were so much fun with all their pockets and organization, :)

jennifer.lleras@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I used to LOVE my Trapper Keeper. That was the best.

katfam95 at aim dot com

Lim said...

My favorite was a few new mechanical pencils. I loved not having to get up in front of everyone and grind down a bit of wood, only to have it snap in the sharpener and have to start again!

shelley said...

I have to agree the Trapper Keepers were the best!

Linda said...

I always liked picking out my new backpack!
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

Nicole C. said...

My favorite was getting new crayons.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

sammi1 said...

I loved to pick up my new lunchbox for the year!
lori37712@gmail.com

fortune said...

I loved to pick up new pens and pencils

marthajane said...

I always loved a fresh new notebook -- all those clean pages and sharp edges!

LittleEagle said...

Colored pencils were my favorite.

sharonaquilino at hotmail dot com

Erica C. said...

I always liked trying to find fun binders.

Anonymous said...

I love to look for binders. Then start sticking photos/paintings on its front...

alorsquoi at yahoo dot com

llinda29 said...

I liked to buy fancy notebooks

sksweeps said...

My favorite was brand new, sharp pencils with whole, clean erasers!

sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net

Unknown said...

I loved buying calculators!

terri142 said...

I loved getting new binders.

tderosa142 at gmail dot com

Jillian V said...

I was always excited about the bookbag

JillianVeit@gmail.com

valleyohgirl said...

I always loved shopping for my lunch box and thermos.

marcia goss said...

I always liked getting a brand new lunch box each year.
marcia.goss@gmail.com

Julieh said...

I always loved getting a brand new trapper keeper! honeypie411 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

What I liked most was the pencil cases. colekat2000@yahoo.com

Shannon a said...

Mine would be a trapper keeper

liquidkite(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I couldn't wait to get new crayons every year!

Anonymous said...

My favorite school supply was picking out a cool folder with my favorite musical artist or tv character (I was in love with the Fonz)

Thanks for sponsoring the contest !

reallycool3108 at yahoo dot com

Daniel M said...

liked getting more notebooks to doodle in - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

mogrill said...

I loved my new box of crayons and my pencil box.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

Doubtful Dawn said...

Crayons i love new crayons.
dawn1966@gmail.com

Angela C said...

I loved getting a new box of crayons

Anonymous said...

I have no recollection of my childhood before mid-teenage years. So, I guess I'll say paste. I probably ate it like a snack.
kanderspina~at~yahoo~dot~com

katybaby said...

My favorite thing to buy was colored construction paper!
katyjv1988(@)yahoo(dot)com

hale2005 said...

I always like to buy good paper.

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

taxchyk said...

I loved getting exotic pens. It was years before my folks found out I was only allowed to use pencils ;)

Jenn S. said...

I liked getting binders and a new lunch box.

jennem said...

New pink erasers!
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm obsessed with pens - always have been!

parentville AT gmail.com

tallcapp said...

I loved buying paper for my three ring binders. I have always had an abiding love for paper.

tallcapp said...

I loved buying paper for my three ring binders. I have always had an abiding love for paper.

Unknown said...

I loved getting crayons, markers and pens! Now I have a bit of an index card obsession. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com

Tom said...

I always like finding a great mechanical pencil - I like fine lines.

Leona P said...

my backpack

Valeen said...

Okay, I admit it! I was a total crayon junkie! I loved to get a new box of crayons. Yes, I still do!

sweepyhead at gmail dot com

allysona said...

colored pencils would be my pick

DarcyO said...

I loved buying different colored pens.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

AEKZ2 said...

I love buying crayons.

Claire said...

I love shopping for pens. Still do!

kaleidoscopequeen at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

big box of crayons...



pamatmayo at hotmail dot com

Hotsnotty2 said...

I loved those scented markers, thanks for the chance!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Alicia said...

New pencils

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

Jamie Lee said...

Loved buying pencil cases!

theluffi at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

This sounds really dorky, but I loved to have all kinds of different erasers when I was a kid!
digicat {AT} sbcglobal {DOT} net

Jennai said...

I liked getting the folders with cute puppy and kitten pictures on them
HobartsMama {AT} AOL.COM

Louis H said...

I loved shopping for brand new binders

Kimberley said...

I always loved shopping for those pocket folders that came in all sorts of designs, photos, cartoon characters, etc. (and of course, good ol' PeeChee folders!).

Many thanks!

smilekisses said...

I loved the metal lunch boxes with the thermas and the cartoon characters or TV shows on them.
dolniaks[at]consolidated[dot]net

Amy delong said...

when i was little my favorite was picking my book bag
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

guettel78 said...

I always loved getting a new Trapper Keeper each year - I remember forcing my mom to take me to store after store until I found the perfect one for the school year. Thanks!

gkaufmanss@yahoo.com

tlannan30 said...

I guess the folders with cool pictures on them were my favorite. Though, we didn't have to buy too many school supplies if I remember correctly.

tlannan30[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

Crayons- there is nothing like the smell of a new box of Crayola lol

My3Sons33 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
My3Sons33 said...

I always loved picking out new pens. lisacarr7 at aoldotcom

Crystal F said...

I use to love buying my backpack. I know love buying cute ones for my girls. Thank you!

loni broesch said...

I loved getting new notebooks....

trippyjanet at hotmail dot com

Terri said...

I was a crayon junkie. I liked the colors.
whitbrit AT gmail DOT com

Becky said...

I always loved getting new notebooks and folders. When I was a kid, Lisa Frank products were all the rage and I wanted it all! : )

beckyspoolstra at gmail.com

Barbarawr said...

I used to love buying a new binder every year

Email address is in blogger profile

kimo said...

I loved getting new notebooks and turning one into my journal.

kimojax9 at gmail dot com

mail4rosey said...

When I was young it was crayons, I loved the big box of 64 w/a pencil sharpener. When I was in middle school it was the Trapper Keeper, and now that I'm grown and in college, it's a good quality pen that makes me smile.

msurosey@Yahoo.com

Hoa said...

My favorite school supply to buy when I was a kid would have to be markers/crayons!

alittlepieceofheaven777(at)yahoo(dot)com

Laurah said...

As a kid I loved getting a new box of sharp crayons for school

susan1215 said...

I loved picking out a new lunchbox

s2s2 at comcast dot net

Deb said...

I loved getting a new binder - and it had to have brand new dividers....I was always trying to be so organized!

Valancia said...

Definitely notebooks!

annemarie562000 said...

I used to love picking out folders because I could choose the design I wanted!

annemarie562000(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jill Myrick (jsc123) said...

My favorite school supply as a child was always my new backpack.

jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

Charity S said...

I loved getting binders.


charisscharity at yahoo dot com

Lisa Garner said...

I loved getting my folders. Lisa Frank designs with their bright colors were my favorite!
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

js22 said...

I always liked buying pens - lots of different colors and styles!
Thanks for the giveaway!
email in blogger profile.

jzagarjr said...

I always liked picking out a new Trapper Keepers

Breanne said...

I liked getting folders because there were always soo many different prints to choose from!

Sarah Z said...

New lunchbox!
Thanks - Sarah Z
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com

tattwo said...

My favorite was always the spiral notebooks. I could get my favorite colors. Thanks.

slehan said...

I liked the multi tabbed notebooks. Thanks for the contest.

Anonymous said...

I always got so excited about getting a new calculater
ardy22 at earthlink dot net

cman said...

Colored pencils... those really big packs!

Storm Safety Blog said...

I always wanted a pencil case. Didn't use them much, but I always wanted a new one.