Saturday, August 14, 2010

Staples Back-to-School review and giveaway - ended


***And the winner is Leslie, who says she hasn't bought a single thing yet.***

I have mixed feelings about school starting back up. On one hand it will be nice for Noah to get back to a more structured environment, and not have to worry every day that I'm going to get a phone call about his behavior. On the other hand it means homework starts again, and that is a struggle I am not looking forward to. (I think we might be on a path to make that a bit easier, with glasses and some vision therapy, so if you read my main blog I'll update you all on the latest very soon.)

One thing I do love however, is shopping for school supplies. I love colored pens and pencils, fresh notebooks, and all the little do-dads that make organizing my office at work a little easier. I frequently use colored ink to help me organize data and notes for reports at work, and I get a little thrill every time I open a new set of pens! 

With school shopping for Noah I get to buy all the fun things I don't get to use at work (like crayons!). 

When MomSelect and Staples contacted me and offered me a chance to participate in a back-to-school review and giveaway, I of course said yes!




staples logo

For many Moms, back-to-school  season can be chaotic as we scramble to run errands and pick up supplies. Our friends at Staples want to make sure we spend our time soaking up the end of summer with our families, not combing store aisles for the lowest prices and hard-to-find items. That's why they're committed to making back to school shopping easy, by providing the best deals on everything your family needs for a successful school year. And because they know that Moms love to be prepared, they're offering you and me a chance to experience their fantastic back to school offerings! 

 

They sent me a back-to-school goodie bag full of cool stuff including DoSomething.org-inspired note books and a date book. These feature cool designs and help students stay organized while learning about important issues impacting their communities.



 
The gift pack also included a Glam Rock stapler, pen and calculator. Noah of course was all over these glittery objects! We were sent the clear crystal set, which is very sparkly! (I think I have Noah convinced that keeping these at home is a good idea. His class is all boys and I think some of them may think they are a little girly. I hate to set him up to get teased. What do you guys think? Am I teaching him gender stereotypes or just protecting him?)
 



We also received an Omnitech 2GB Swivel Flash Drive ($12.99), which is designed to keep the cap in place and are available in some cool designs including black and white, multi-colored dots, and peace-sign patterns.We received the peace sign pattern, and I'm going to use it to transport reports back and forth from work, when I need to work from home.



 
And how cute is this? The Zip-it pencil case. It's a pencil case made out of a really long zipper. Just pull it and watch it zip into shape! It is the brainchild of an Israeli student whose class project called for turning an everyday item into something new. The Zip It-Unzip Your Mind pencil pouch ($5.99) is available in black, purple and pink with exclusive rainbow-zipper design for Staples. Ours came in my favorite color - purple.




And finally, we received the Omnitech Portable Speaker ($9.99), which is a mini pod that plays music from any device equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack; including MP3 players, notebooks, mobile phones, and gaming devices. This might just inspire me to actually put music on my iPod. I know, I'm pathetic and way behind the times.






I'll be finishing up our school shopping this week at Staples, and I'll probably buy myself some new colored pens for work. I deserve it, right?


 

Now, I promised you a giveaway, and here you go. Staples and MomSelect have provided me with a $25 Staples gift card to give to one of my readers to help make your school supply shopping a little easier.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you still need for your back to school list.  One comment per person please! You have until  Friday, August  20, 2010 at midnight (EDT) to enter.

Discloser; MomSelect and Staples provided me with a gift bag including the items I have shown above. All opinions are my own.

153 comments:

peg42 said...

I still need to get 2 backpacks for my sons, a mini stapler, a special calculator for my oldest son and 8 pocket vinyl folder.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

Giant Sis said...

We still need 3-pocket, 2-prong folders because you can NEVER have enough! And this is when they are on massive sales!

Shelley Johnson said...

I still need to get notebook paper, pens, pencils, pretty much everything!

Bloggytime20 at yahoo dot com

Leslie said...

I'm something of a procrastinator- I haven't bought a single thing yet! Yes, I also go shopping on Christmas Eve...

abfantom said...

I forget to buy the glue sticks.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

We need to buy notebook paper!
jedoggett@embarqmail.com

jakiesmom said...

i need to get a backpack
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

Amber said...

I need a get a Kodak zi8 video camera for journalism class.
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Stephanie said...

peace sign backpack with wheels
tvollowitz at aol dot com

Story of our Life said...

Hmm...we have most of everything I do believe.

However, I think we are still in need of a lunch bag that is not "baby-ish" for my 2nd grader. He wants one that is PLAIN and only has a few colors on it.

I'm sure on Wednesday when my middle schooler goes for her orientation we will find out more things she is in need of!!

gardiner 94 @ gmail (dot) com

Mamushi Love said...

Of all things, we can't find any plain, yellow pronged folders for my God-daughter. It doesn't help that it's specifically on almost all elementary school lists.

lfhpueblo said...

Always more notebook paper and pencils and little pencil sharpeners that seem to get lost.
lfhpueblo at msn dot com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

egal papers and sci calculators

Anonymous said...

Still need a few small things to tie up some loose ends.

Jennie A
abookishmom at yahoo dot com

katybaby said...

I need paper, pens, and a few binders!
katyjv1988(@)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I still need to buy a calculator.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

jappleseed said...

pens Pilot g-2's

nel said...

I need paper, pens, and a few binders! for my three great nieces


acouponaddict@charter.net

Carol W. said...

I still need spare ink cartridges.
wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

bluedragon51 said...

Still need to get some printer ink.

Anonymous said...

We have all the supplies, except my son is having trouble deciding on a backpack!

Sheila Hickmon said...

I still need to get some Ear Buds! We have everything else!

Thanks!
fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

Sharon Harmon said...

I'm a subscriber of your blog.
Clownscrytoo@gmail.com

Sharon Harmon said...

I still need a binder, loose-leaf paper and pens.
Clownscrytoo@gmail.com

Unknown said...

We still need dry erase markers and I could always use more construction paper

Nicole C. said...

All I still need is a sketch pad for my 16 year old son's art class.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

ky2here said...

I'm going to brag and say that I've got it all but we all know they come home that first day with add-ons. So this will be very helpful.

ky2here at msn dot com

sue14625 said...

i need ink for the printer and paper

Aimee said...

I still need notebooks & paper. The rest has to waiyt until we get the specific lists from each teacher. Sometimes they can be so picky!

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Lim said...

Printer paper, flash drive and some folders. It's for my back to school.

lmurley2000 said...

we need paper, binders, markers, glue and notebooks

lmurley2000@yahoo.com

Linda said...

We still need to get paper,pencils and ruler.
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

marcia goss said...

I still need to get a backpack for my granddaughter.
marcia.goss@gmail.com

sphinx63 said...

We still need a bookbag and a ruler and tissues.

sphinxcw at aol dot com

Unknown said...

we still need to buy kleenex and disinefecting wipes (they're on the school list)

Kristen said...

We need notebooks and lots of pens!

couponboss at gmail dot com

hale2005 said...

I still need some clothes.

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

Pat said...

Pencils, notebooks and folders.
pkildow at gmail dot com

kdkdkd said...

Still need pens, a few notebooks, and some printer ink

Mari said...

I need printer ink, for the computer.

runningmatey at hotmail dot com

dlhaley said...

I need ink and paper for my printer.

dlhaley(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

ohstac said...

I still need to pick up some binders.

Belinda M said...

I need everything for my son for back to school. We have not even started. He goes back to school on Sept 8 though so we still have a bit of time left




bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

llinda29 said...

I still need notebooks

dawns41 said...

We need Binders, Paper, Staples Folders, and Pens.

dawns_horizen@yahoo.com

Tracy R said...

I need pens and an ink cartridge.

McKim said...

We still need glue sticks, kleenex and a backpack.

sksweeps said...

Oh OUCH! We still need EVERYTHING for back to school! DD comes home from time with her Dad over the summer and we have ONE activity packed week to squeeze in all the shopping. Sigh!!!

sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net

Bacallsmom said...

I need printer ink tanks. Staples sells the type I need.

bbentry [at] aol [dot] com

Min K said...

paper for printing

Shannon a said...

Not sure yet, waiting for oopenhouse

liquidkite(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

paint shirt for my son

autumn398 @ yahoo.com

Mami2jcn said...

I need printer paper.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Ink for our hungry printer.

Unknown said...

We still need to get a flash drive
bepoia(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hope staples carries flash drives

Chip said...

We have backpacks from last year, otherwise we haven't even started shopping. We need to head to Staples for their awesome deals.
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Barbarawr said...

My son needs headphones for his laptop because he studies over Skype with people.

Crystal F said...

We've got everything but I could really use a nicer backpack for my older daughter. She's in the 5th grade and I just don't know if her $10 bag will hold all of her books. Thank you!

mogrill said...

I need printer ink!!
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

smdrm said...

I still need easy-writing blue pens.

kg4rmt at arrl dot net

Missybeez said...

I still need to get notebooks.


honeybeez80@yahoo.com

jlafount said...

Updated iPod Touch

magic5905 said...

Pens, notebooks and a calculator.
magic5905@embarqmail.com

andrea d said...

pens and pencils and notebooks

drea8685@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

We still need backpacks!

kport207 at gmail dot com

Katharina said...

We still need pens, a binder or two, and printer paper. A better calculator would be nice, too, but not essential.

Denise S. said...

We still need backpacks and more crayons.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com

smilekisses said...

My daughter still needs shoes and jeans.
dolniaks[at]consolidated[dot]net

Alicia said...

Notebooks & folders.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I still need a lot of practice writing paper and some math manipulatives for my first grader.

jennem said...

Just classroom stuff--paper towels, tissues, etc.
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I still need to get dry erase markers. The teacher want a particular kind that is sold out everywhere!

katfam95 at aim dot com

Anonymous said...

I still need a new mouse because the one I have is malfunctioning.

Thanks for sponsoring the contest.

reallycool3108 at yahoo dot com

Jenn S. said...

I just need hand sanitizer, baby wipes and Expo dry erase markers.

Ames said...

Some good mechanical pencils

mandala said...

I still need to get printer ink and some sharpies

mandalarctic at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I still need notebooks, a good pair of scissors, and a backpack. Thanks!

bakergurl02 at yahoo dot com

Sherri@FoodBasics101.com said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sherri@FoodBasics101.com said...

We still need paper and ink toner.

Allison said...

I need some more pens.

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Debbie C said...

I still need extra bottles of antibacterial hand gel.

wcc said...

We need all of the essentials - from markers to paper. Thanks for the chance! :)
whitechocolatecherries at gmail.com

Daniel M said...

the usual notebooks and pens plus printer ink! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Forget Shyness Reviews said...

I still need binders.

my email is littleheathen9109 @ Yah00 d0t c0m

janetfaye said...

We still need pens, pencils, and a backpack.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Crystal said...

We still need to buy a backback

cyclona66(at) aol dot com

sweepmom said...

I still need some permanent markers, tissues, folders and printer ink.

tallcapp said...

The only thing left on our list is a backback.

Brenda said...

Pencils, markers and zip-lock bags



covertpeace[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

We needs notebook paper, pens and crayons. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com

Jennifer Neal said...

Notebooks and pencils!

Laurah said...

We still need notebooks and folders

Natalie said...

I still need notebooks and pens for school. This would help!

natstager at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

How ironic, I ran out of staples this morning... does this staples gift card work anywhere or is it for a specific store? Can I use it on something other than staples since I don't think I need $25 worth of them. Ok, I kid I kid... I haven't actually started school shopping yet, so we still need basically everything (which includes a new laptop this year and I'm not looking forward to swiping the CC for that one.) Thanks for the giveaway to Staples though, love freebies!
kanderspina~at~yahoo~dot~com

Amanda said...

We still need ziploc bags, pencil erasers, hand sanitizer, paper, and colored pencils!
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Kerry said...

I still need to get book covers for my son.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Unknown said...

All I've bought is a backpack, paper and pens. I always wait until I get the list from the teacher because it NEVER matches the list that the school district publishes.
Thanks for the chance to win!
proudyaya04 {at} yahoo {dot} com

carmen @ life blessons said...

I still in need of folders and notebooks!

junkforcarmen at gmail dot com

Leona P said...

pens pencils and everything

Julieh said...

I still need a calculator and notebook paper. honeypie411 at yahoo dot com

Jill Myrick (jsc123) said...

I still have to purchase Ziploc Bags, Kleenex and a scientific Calculator.
Then I will be finished.

jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

K Spencer said...

we need printer ink and paper
kaspencer50@yahoo.com

Claire said...

Pens - I'm picky!

kaleidoscopequeen at gmail dot com

Lisa said...

I still need binders and notebooks!!

Peachesncream887(at)hotmail(dot)com

JD said...

printer paper and markers


jdmimi at gmail dot com

Pamcakes said...

I still need a backpack and printer paper!

Unknown said...

I need pens and folders!
Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!

Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
jannajanna@hotmail.com
www.FeedYourPigBlog.com

Louis H said...

my daughter still needs some art supplies

Tonya Dean said...

scientific calculator and some folders.

tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

I need ink cartridges! Boy, they are expensive!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

I need large envelopes, some pens and cardstock paper
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Kimberley said...

Unfortunately, absolutely everything is still on our list! Our crazy summer schedules have left us no choice but to hold our school shopping until an all-out last-minute run!

Many thanks!!

Beverly said...

Still need to get some computer paper.

Anonymous said...

A ream of multipurpose computer paper and some new pencils.

Anonymous said...

We still need 8 count crayons, baby wipes, and cups.

taylorbagels said...

Dont need anything glad to say, yay me!

shelley said...

I still need binders, folders, paper and pencils. This would be great!

barb said...

Thanks for the great contest!
bahjeep@aol.com

Nancy said...

I need some ink printer cartridges!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Julie said...

My daughter still needs binders and folders-thank for the giveaway :0
aunteegem@yahoo.com

tlannan30 said...

We still have to tackle the whole doggone list!

tlannan30[at]yahoo[dot]com

Amy delong said...

we need to get my son a book bag
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah G. said...

I still need to get everything - bags, binders, folders, paper, pencils...

Jamie said...

I need binders and pencils.

Unknown said...

We need pens and pencils.

ridlee09@gmail.com

Nicole Larsen said...

I need ink for the printer, notebooks, and pens :)

pittsy82@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I still need 5 by 7 unlined index cards
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

Hoa said...

I still need to get binders, folders, markers/highlighters, and planner.

alittlepieceofheaven777(at)yahoo(dot)com

Eryn said...

I need these special notebooks that have an area for drawing on top & writing on the bottom for my son. I'm having a horrible time finding them! Time to go to Staples!

(leig hbra at gmail .com)

Erica C. said...

We need to get backpacks and folders still.

melanie said...

We still need the whole list. A few things off the list are a backback, #2 pencils, ruler, paper, crayons, colored pencils, sharpener and so much more. I did not relized how much is needed for kindergarden.
melaniecalcut@gmail.com

Hotsnotty2 said...

We need notebooks, folders, pencils, pens and printer ink, thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Janet and Maya said...

My daughter goes back to school the day after labor day and we haven't bought a thing. (I think I'm in denial). So what do we need? Everything!

Thanks for such a useful prize!

mayacarpenter at verizon dot net

susan1215 said...

I still need to get some notebooks, paper and pens

s2s2 at comcast dot net

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

We need paper, pens, binders, notebooks.

Rachel said...

Binders and printer paper!

susansmoaks said...

i still need to get more notebook paper
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

tina reynolds said...

we still need to get a backpack thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

annemarie562000 said...

I would to get some more ink toner!

annemarie562000(at)yahoo(dot)com

April Yedinak said...

I still need a backpack and dry erase markers.

Pamela S said...

I still need pocket folders, spiral notebooks, composition books, mechanical pencils, and some 3 ring binders. Thanks so much! pamelashockley(AT)aol(DOT)com

Lesley said...

I need to pick up a few ring binders and an electric pencil sharpener. Somehow every sharpened pencil in our house disappears whenever it's time for my 8 year old to work on his homework!! :)

Breanne said...

I need binders, notebooks, and folders.

bmweida at yahoo dot com

Charity S said...

We still need everything, and were going shopping this weekend. I've gotten really behind on my school shopping.


charisscharity at yahoo dot com

Hbomb said...

We still need paper and printer ink for printing projects!
xbeautifulcoma at yahoo dot com

Brian E. said...

Thanks for the giveaway...we still need to make a trip to Staples for toner & a graphing calculator.

senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

guettel78 said...

I still need to pick up a flash drive, filler paper, graph paper, and a new laptop bag to complete my back-to-school shopping list, so a Staples card would help a ton. Thanks for the giveaway!

gkaufmanss@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I still need to get the kids new backpacks.

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

Storm Safety Blog said...

I need to get a spiral bound notebook.

slehan said...

I need a backpack to put all the stuff in. Thanks for the contest.

AEKZ2 said...

My son started school on Aug. 9, so I've already bought everything. However, it looks like his lunch bag might need replacing soon.

barblong said...

I still need a printer cartridge.

longbarb1@aol.com

Jinxy and Me said...

Glue sticks and notebooks