Welcome to another #TwoBlogsFunGuide! We are presenting the 2015 Back To School Guide to help you plan for all of your kids’ back to school needs.
Whether they are going to Elementary, Middle School, High School or you are considering sending your kid to private school (click here for more information), we have something for all of your babies! Each item on this guide was personally tested and approved by one or the both bloggers (and their families): Women and Their Pretties or Mama Smiths. Please enjoy and remember to keep coming back because new items are added daily!
#TwoBlogsFunGuides
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Hot Pink Casio Graphing Calculator
The Casio fx-9750GIIPK Graphing Calculator is a PERFECT gift ideas for high school or college kids. As they are learning more, you can inspire them to keep going with something new and fun!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: The Hot Pink Casio Graphing Calculator
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Snack Pets Lunch Box
Snack Pets are great Lunch Boxes because they freeze easily and also give you a clean surface to eat off of during picnics or other outside events. Kids love them because they come in several different animal shapes such as ladybugs and cows.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Snack Pets – Lunch Boxes You Can Freeze!
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Live Original
DaySpring’s fabulous new Sadie Robertson school supply line is an inspiring blend of fashion, function, faith, and positive messages from Sadie. A star of A&E’s Duck Dynasty and finalist on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Sadie represents the modern girl next door by expressing her love of polka dots, stripes, vintage, and Americana in this high-energy collection of notebooks, binders, locker accessories and more. Featuring bright colors and positive messaging such as “you are beautiful,” “let your smile change the world,” “just be yourself,” and more, it’s a fresh new way for teens and tweens to live out their faith in a way that inspires others.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Live Original by Sadie Robertson & DaySpring
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Just Solutions
By the time we hit the month before school, stores are wiped clean from all the good stuff. If you have a tween/teen that you are shopping for, Just Solutions has some great items that will make back to school easier on them – and you too!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Back to School with Just Solutions
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LEUCHTTURM1917 Journals
LEUCHTTURM1917 journals offer user’s cool unique features, such as numbered pages, a table of contents and adhesive labels – all of the essential details that a quality notebook should have. You can customize your journal’s paper with lined, squared, dotted or plain ruling and choose the perfect size for you. Its sleek yet efficient design helps you stay organized in your multi-faceted, over-scheduled day-to-day life. But the most important attribute is that LEUCHTTURM1917 notebooks are available in over 20 different colors including neon yellow, orange, green and pink!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: A Writer’s Journal and Pencils For Summer
Palomino Blackwing Pencils
The Palomino Blackwing 602 pencil, favored by artists such as Stephen Sondheim and Chuck Jones, is ideal for illustrators and musicians who prefer a soft, dark line. The pencil was designed with a sophisticated matte black finish and pearl white erasers to give users a classic luxurious look and feel accessory.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: A Writer’s Journal and Pencils For Summer
Caillou DVD + Book
This bundle features two items – the DVD “Caillou Goes Back to School,” which includes 12 stories, and an illustrated bonus book about riding the school bus. “CAILLOU GOES BACK TO SCHOOL DVD + BOOK” offers two fun-filled ways to interact with Caillou and get kids into the back-to-school mindset.
Purchase Here on July 28th
Read Our Reviews: Caillou Heads Back to School in this New DVD + Book Set
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Daniel Tiger DVD
Young fans can join Daniel Tiger and his friends as they head to school, where they discover that learning and using your imagination is grr-ific fun! “DANIEL GOES TO SCHOOL” includes fun-filled tales that will get kids excited about school and learning. In select stories featured on the DVD, Daniel receives a new classroom job, O the Owl tries to use all the blocks at school to build the TALLEST tower in the world, Daniel and his classmates choose a new class pet, and the children learn about traffic signs from Prince Tuesday.
Purchase Here on August 18
Read Our Reviews: Daniel Tiger Goes to School on DVD 8/18 #DanielTiger
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Acer Tablet
The job of a mother never ends. These school-free months can be the toughest for busy moms! Intelrecognizes how challenging it is to be a busy mother and they have a few tips on how moms can combat typical challenges with the help of technology. This tablet is the perfect device for all of your back to school planning!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: A Busy Mom’s Secret – Her Acer Iconia A1 Tablet
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Blum Gear Back to School Kits
“Blum School Gear” kits, which include the most common supplies specified by teachers K-4 and make shopping for school supplies easier and less expensive. Made of durable Poly Fabric with Nylon trim, the kits are available in four designs and include 40 items most commonly required by teachers (based on a nationwide survey of required school supplies).
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Make #BackToSchool Easier with Blum Gear / Blum School Gear Kits for K-4 Back to School
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Astute Hoot
Astute Hoot is a new teacher-developed supplemental program that uses a line of fun characters, like Hazel Hoot the green screech owl, to keep kids engaged and make learning fun. Astute Hoot has a wide variety of tools available to help students that may need a little extra assistance with reading and mathematics.
Purchase Here
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Mary Square
Mary Square offers cute agendas and journals to help stay organized in style. Desk calendars and notepads are also available, ready to catch important dates and notes for school. With a wide range of designs, all four are a great addition to any school supply list.
Purchase Here
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Firefly Toothbrushes & More
If you’re looking for a better way to get your kids excited about their hygiene, then Firefly has the right idea! Pick these up for Back To School, Christmas, Easter, and birthdays! With new themes added frequently, you are bound to find something that your kids will love!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Firefly – Good. Clean. Fun / #FanGirlFriday: May the Force Be with You, Firefly
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Debbie Lynn, Inc.
Debbie Lynn, Inc. is a renowned brand with a versatile line that includes long-lasting pens, colorful markers, trendy stationery, and sleek office supplies. The brand also carries arts and crafts supplies as well as novelties, so it can fit any need for any class.
Purchase at Five Below Stores
Read Our Reviews: Head Back to School with Debbie Lynn | #off2school #Giveaway Hop
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Epson Expression Home XP-420
The newest addition to the Epson Small-in-One lineup, this printer is extremely useful for a variety of scholastic needs – from printing homework assignments, to scanning notes onto a computer and copying end-of-the-year or graduation pictures for Mom to give out to family and friends, the compact XP-420 is a great fit for any family home office or college dorm room.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Epson – Exceed Your Vision for Back to School
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Table-Time Look & Learn Tablecloth
The Table-Time Look & Learn Mostly Math Tablecloth features a wide variety of math-related lessons that cover the educational State Standards children must learn to progress from pre-K/K level to first grade. All of the lessons feature wonderfully-detailed, quirky animal characters and imagery from Rob Oliver, a Simpsons illustrator and Emmy-nominated artist. Made from PEVA, which has the feel of vinyl but contains zero harmful PVCs, the Mostly Math Tablecloth is a trustworthy alternative to traditional materials. PEVA cleans up easily with a damp cloth, and children can even write on/wipe off with Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Markers for more interactive fun.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Get Ready for #BackToSchool with the Mostly Math Teaching Tablecloth
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Sneaky Chef
Sneaky Chef No-Nut Butter is a delicious peanut-butter alternative made from naturally sweet and “nutty” tasting yellow peas, but without a trace of peanuts, tree nuts, seeds, or soy. Sneaky Chef No-Nut Butters are produced in a nut-free facility and are all natural, soy free, gluten-free and contain no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils and no artificial colors or flavors. Sneaky Chef No-Nut Butter is available in two varieties, Sneaky Chef Smooth No-Nut Butter and Sneaky Chef Chocolate No-Nut Butter, both available in 18 ounce jars as well as 6 ounce grab-and-go cups and is an indulgent peanut butter alternative that is so good, everyone will love it, allergies or not!
Find where to Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 4 Must Have Snacks for Back to School | #BackToSchool
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YummySnacks
YummySnack Bars are the “better-than-candy” bars. They’re made of wholesome, real-food ingredients like flaxseed, almond butter, coconut, natural peanut butter and cocoa—yet still taste like favorite candy bars! All YummySnack Bars are gluten-free and contain only 8 grams of sugar (and no starch), are high in fiber, and contain 100 mg of Omega 3s. They do not contain hydrogenated oils, trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial flavors or preservatives of any kind. YummySnack Bars are available in six delicious flavors: Peppermint, Brownie, Coconut, Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 4 Must Have Snacks for Back to School | #BackToSchool
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SunRidge Farms
SunRidge Farms sources the best possible non-GMO ingredients from suppliers who share a desire to promote sustainability, improve living conditions and reduce environmental impact. Almond Cranberry Power Chews – new! – Roasted almond butter energy bars with crispy brown rice and dried cranberries, sweetened with real honey and brown rice syrup. Peanut Butter Power Chews – new! – Roasted peanut butter, crispy brown rice and a touch of honey and brown rice syrup. Vanilla Coconut Power Chews – new! – Roasted peanut butter, crispy brown rice and shredded toasted coconut, sweetened with honey and brown rice syrup.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 4 Must Have Snacks for Back to School | #BackToSchool
Connect on Social Media: Facebook
Juicy Juice
Juicy Juice has embarked upon a broad visual makeover, including an all-new logo. A freshly designed new website features rich content including a parent’s corner, activities and recipes for families to enjoy together. Along with the new website content, Juicy Juice is adding four new flavors to its line of kid-favorite 100% juices: Strawberry Watermelon, Passionfruit Dragonfruit, Peach Apple and Cranberry Apple. All four flavors are available in economical 64 oz. bottles, with Strawberry Watermelon and Peach Apple also packed in convenient 6.75 oz. juice boxes.
Find where to Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Snack Time & Craft Time with Juicy Juice | #JuicyJuice / Juicy Juice Splashers – A Healthy #BackToSchool Beverage
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Rubbermaid’s LunchBlox
Rubbermaid’s LunchBlox is a must-have this fall because it makes things a little easier on parents when it comes to getting school lunches packed. Keeping food perfectly portioned with handy measurements on the sides of each container, LunchBlox encourages a healthier nutritional lifestyle for parents and kids alike. The containers snap and stack so lunches fit neatly into any lunchbox or bag and stay chilled with a snap-in Blue Ice® tray. Additionally, LunchBlox is dishwasher safe and 100 percent BPA free.
Purchase at Walmart, Target, & other grocery stores
Read Our Reviews: #BackToSchool with #LunchBlox
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CLIF Kids Zbars
An organic baked whole grain snack made with a nutritious blend of carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and fat to maintain kids’ energy…so kids can keep zipping and zooming along. Zbar and Zbar Protein offer kids a little chocolaty, organic whole grain goodness.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 4 Must Have Snacks for Back to School | #BackToSchool
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Reduce WaterWeek
WaterWeek™ offers the ONLY true solution to end the costly and wasteful purchasing of bulk bottled water without giving up convenience. Just fill, chill & go! WaterWeek makes it easy and economical for consumers to reduce the millions of bottles that end up in the landfill everyday. Ditch the Disposables!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 6 Dorm Room Essentials | #BackToSchool / Reduce WaterWeek Villa Review
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Reduce Food Jars
Great for keeping soup or other hot foods warm for up to 6 hours. BPA free, 100 percent recyclable stainless steel. 10 ounce capacity. Perfect for taking to work or school.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 6 Dorm Room Essentials | #BackToSchool
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Kuhn Rikon Pocket Makers
Creating pocket meals is easy and fun with Pocket Makers! Perfect for mini pies, pizza pockets, filled dumplings and more. The set comes with 3 fun shapes so let your imagination and creativity shine. 3 fun shapes. Recipe guide included. Press cutter into dough to cut-out shape. Press down lever to crimp pocket edges together. Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. BPA free.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 6 Dorm Room Essentials | #BackToSchool
Connect on Social Media: Facebook
Zoku Mini Pop Molds
Create up to nine different mini pops at a time with the Zoku Mini Pop Molds. Forget fighting with the tray to get your pop, when your pops are frozen, simply pull out your mini pop and enjoy! These pops are the perfect size for children, which makes them an excellent addition to any family, party, or other Zoku Slow Pop™ shapes!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 6 Dorm Room Essentials | #BackToSchool
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Capresso Water Kettle
Faster, safer and more precise than any stove top kettle, the H2O Steel PLUS features a striking stainless steel pitcher and variable temperature settings for versatility when preparing different types of teas. The Capresso H2O Steel PLUS kettle is constructed of stunning stainless steel and features four specific settings to steep different types of teas, at the perfect temperature. For lighter teas, such as white or green varieties, a lower temperature is recommended, while darker teas will extract better flavor using higher temperatures. The automatic keep warm setting keeps the remaining water at the selected temperature until you are ready for your next cup. The H2O Steel PLUS will even self-adjust if additional water is added to the kettle during the keep warm cycle. The pause and pour feature allows the user to interrupt the heating process, without resetting the cycle. In addition to heating water for tea, the H2O Steel PLUS is handy for brewing French press coffee or heating water for reconstituting dried vegetables and fruits, or with instant oatmeal, and soup mixes.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 6 Dorm Room Essentials | #BackToSchool
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Capresso On-the-Go Coffee Maker
The On-the-Go Personal Coffee Maker keeps up with your busy lifestyle by quickly brewing coffee directly into the stainless steel insulated thermal travel mug so you never have to leave your brew behind. Large permanent filter can hold up to 6 tablespoons of medium ground coffee for maximum strength, adjust strength by adding less ground coffee. The On-the-Go also works with pre-packaged soft coffee pods for an even quicker brew and faster clean up. As an added convenience and safety feature, the unit automatically shuts off after the brew cycle is complete. It also includes an On/Off button to save energy when not in use. Use the mug to measure out the water before filling the water tank to ensure no coffee will overflow.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: 6 Dorm Room Essentials | #BackToSchool
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Five Star Backpacks & Binders
Five Star has just released two new products that are convenient, durable, and stylish. Five Star is a brand that I am very familiar with because they always seem to keep up with the latest trends in back-to-school products. I think that most people have come across Five Star a time or two and many of us have owned countless Five Star products, from notebooks to backpacks. I want to recommend a couple of highly rated products for your back to school shopping.
Purchase HereRead Our Reviews: New Five Star Products for #BackToSchool
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V.Alt Personal Emergency Device
The V.ALRT is an ergonomically designed wearable help button that can be carried discreetly in a pocket or a bag, worn on the wrist with the included band or around the neck as a pendant. The personal emergency alert devices uses Bluetooth® SMART (Bluetooth 4.0 LE) technology in association with a software application from VSN Mobil, the V.ALRT initiates calls and text messages from a smartphone. With the push of the V.ALRT help button, the V.ALRT pings the smartphone to send personalized text messages to three pre-selected contacts with your GPS location reported from your smartphone!
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: V.ALRT – The Perfect Back To School Safety Device
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Day Designer by Blue Sky Planners
These planners come in different sizes and styles. I want to tell you about 3 that I adore. First is the purse planner (that’s what I call it at least), which is 3×6 and can fit right into your handbag or your school binder. I love this one because it has a nice clear cover pocket that you can customize with your favorite photos. This planner has the basic monthly calendar sections (which are lined) and the daily notes sections. Additional features are the “Top Three” sections which allow you to jot down your most important tasks of the day and the To-Do check box sections next to the daily notes. There are monthly tabs for easy navigation.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Pretty Planners Make the Best #BackToSchool Companion
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I See Me! Personalized Books & Gifts
ISeeMe offers fun personalized lunch boxes that come in a variety of designs for kids. The adorable name stickers are perfect too keep track of belongings too. I See Me is also the leader in personalized books, allowing children to star in unique, inspiring, and playful reads!
Read Our Reviews: ISeeMe! Personalized Books & More / I Wish You More… from I See Me!
Connect on Social Media: Facebook
Tony Roma’s Pre-cooked Pulled Pork
You can’t think of BTS without thinking of four other letters B-U-S-Y. Whether it’s soccer practice or a ballet recital, there’s always something making it difficult for busy parents to get food on the dinner table or packed in lunch boxes. Tony Roma’s makes it easy with their pre-cooked pulled pork. This sweet slider recipe will keep the whole family satisfied – throw it together for dinner after karate class and pack the leftovers in your kiddos’ lunchboxes the next day. You’ll definitely get some saucy smiles from them!
Find where to purchase here
Read Our Reviews: Enjoy A Backyard BBQ Recipe with Tony Roma’s Ribs & More / #Recipe: Sweet Hickory Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers #GlutenFree
Connect on Social Media: Facebook / Twitter / Pi
VW Lunch Boxes & Pencil Cases
The Monster Factory has some of the coolest and cutest VW items! They have everything from VW Camper tents to lunch bags. This is one of the funnest and most unique gift companies. Whether you’re a VW collector or you want to pick up a unique gift for your kids or loved one then you need to visit The Monster Factory.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: The Monster Factory VW Lunch Bag & Pencil Case / Show off Your VW Love with The Monster Factory
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Capri Sun Messenger Bag
I have to specifically mention the TerraCycle messenger bags that are made out of Capri Sun pouches! First of all, all kids love Capri Sun so it’s already a WIN in that aspect. Secondly, these messenger bags are really well made. You’d think that you couldn’t do much with those pouches, but Terracycle has managed to make good quality messenger bags and pencil cases with them.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Upcycle with Terracycle for #BackToSchool
THINaddictives
Averaging 100-calories or less, it’s easy for kids and parents to love these delicious treats made with real ingredients, including fruit and California almonds. They are low-fat, low-carb and contain 3 grams of protein per serving, which makes them also ideal as an after school snack – helping keep hunger away between meals.
Find Where to Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Nonni’s THINaddictives #Giveaway | #BackToSchool Snack
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LeapFrog Platinum & Imagicards
The LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum and Imagicards are the perfect pair to help your little ones learn. They will have fun while they build skills in math, fractions, and more. The Platinum is the most durable LeapPad yet with a shatter proof screen and wrap around bumper. Kids will scan the Imagicards and watch their favorite characters from Paw Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more come to life on their screen. These are must have learning tools for any child.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: LeapFrog Platinum & Imagicards | #LeapFrogMom
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LeapFrog Word Whammer
Get ready for kindergarten in a fun and active way. With 3 action packed games and 5 learning levels that adapt as children play, the Word Whammer toy gets kids jamming on phonics skills as they spin, push, and twist the handles to identify letters and build words.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Learning Letters & Words with LeapFrog’s Word Whammer
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Space Racers Toolkit
From popular children’s television show Space Racers comes the Parents & Educator’s Toolkit. Developed in cooperation with WNET Education, the toolkit includes a DVD with 13 animated episodes, 4 live-action segments, and a CD-ROM filled with corresponding STEM Lesson Plans and Family Activities. These resources are ideal for kids in grades Pre-K through 3rd grade.
Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Space Racers Parent & Educator Tool Kit
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Go Organically Fruit Snacks
Unlike other fruits snacks on the market, Go Organically is made with multiple real fruit purees that taste delicious. This new product is GMO free, gluten free, contains 100% DV vitamin C, is an excellent source of Vitamins A&E, and has a delicious taste and texture. At Go Organically, their mission is simple. They believe fruit snacks should be made with real fruit, and as such, source their ingredients from USDA certified organic fruit to offer you the best, most authentic, and delicious fruit snacks. Our motto says it all – “Go Organically®…You’ll like what’s in it. You’ll love what’s not!”
Find Where to Purchase Here
Read Our Reviews: Must Have Snacks for Back to School | #BackToSchool
Connect on Social Media: Facebook
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.