Jul 30, 2012

Back-To-School Supply List For First Graders (Is It Really That Time Again???)

By ·

My boy started kindergarten last year and boy was that hard for us both! I missed him so much and that first day, heck that first month, was horrible!!! I cried almost everyday I brought him, because when I came home, he was not here and his little toys were :( I just plain missed my boy..


Photo credit: mconnors from morguefile.com


So, me and my little girl got into a routine together and my thoughts slowly shifted away from my little boy being gone all day to me and my daughter playing and having fun AND looking forward to picking brother up from school! The time could not come quick enough for us all, as my daughter ADORES her older brother!!!! They are best friends :)

Now, preparing my son for kindergarten was super hard. Heck, I had no clue what I was doing and did not know exactly what he needed. Thank God the school provided me a list of all the kindergarten essentials that my son needed for his school year. So, we went and purchased everything, top-notch stuff of course, LOL and labeled EVERYTHING.


Photo credit: ppdigital from morguefile.com

On his first day of school the whole family went, (me, hubby and sissy) to see brother off. Man that was HARD, I will not lie… sigh.. But we got through it and eventually got through that whole dang school year! Yay! Now, this Fall, I face my son going into FIRST GRADE. Umm, how on EARTH does this happen?! Now I am in tears because he is growing up too fast! I want to hold onto his youth and innocence forever!!! But KNOW I have to let him be his own little person too. I just wish there was an even middle, ya know?

So this year, I was sent a list too, of what my boy will need for first grade. The list, believe it or not, is SHORTER than it was for kindergarten, go figure!!

Here is what they say he will need for First Grade:

1 Spiral notebook

Crayola Crayons, 1 box of 24 or more

Scissors (child size by Fiskar works well)

1 School Box (to hold supplies)

Pencils #2 – (6 pencils)

Erasers
NO PENCIL SHARPENERS ( I can see why, LOL)

With the new school year can come fun stuff too, like the AT&T Back to School Sweeps going on!! Each week from now until September 16th, AT&T is giving away a “must-have” back to school device to FIVE lucky winners!!! All you do is visit the above link and enter your email address for a chance to win!!! Easy? You betcha, so get going and enter today!!!

Check out the rules and all the details here!

Disclosure:

I was sent product for this post, all opinions and story above, my very own.

 

 

 

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Aug 17, 2011

Post-it Back-To-School Products

By ·

Back-to-school, those terrible, dreaded words that I so did not like, when I was school aged. Summer was officially over and hitting the books was the only freedom I would see for a while. Man am I glad I am no longer going to school, LOL. Not that school is/was bad, just did not prefer it!

But, it did always interest me to go back-to-school looking GREAT. Having the best clothes, shoes and of course school supplies, made going back to school a bit easier..

Show off your back-to-school smarts and style with post-it tabs, pockets, label pads and MORE. I had the opportunity to receive a wonderful, large assortment of Post-it brands most sought after back-to-school stuff! Man it was a doozy! I was so excited to open up this package, even if it was just school supply stuff ;)

What Did I Receive?? Well, lots of stuff, but some of my all time favorites were the Apple-Shaped Post-it Pop-Up Note Dispenser (which my son will be giving to his teacher on his first day of  school!!!!), Post-it pockets that are not only great for organizing homework, but my home office area too! We also got some other wonderful products and just love them all.

With Post-its 2011 design collection, everyone can go back-to-school in style!

Connect with Post-it Brand on Twitter and Facebook

And be sure to check out Post-it Brands Promotions page for coupons, deals and more!

 Buy

You can purchase Post-it for back to school, by visiting their site at http://www.post-it.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Post_It/Global/

Disclosure:

I was sent product to review. These are my own honest opinions, thanks!

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Mar 5, 2011

Upromise: Earn Money For Your Child’s College Education, It’s Free To Join!

By ·


Join Upromise!

 

A bloggy friend of mine just told me about a great program! Upromise is a FREE service that rewards with college savings just for doing what you normally do, shopping, eating out, filling the gas tank, taking trips, buying groceries and more!

So far Upromise has helped over 8 million save for college! How? By partnering with contributing retailers, grocery chains and restaurants who share your desire to help make your children’s (or your) college affordable!

How it Works:

Earning is easier then you think. Things that you do EVERYDAY can all lead to college savings. This is sooooo important, especially with the way the economy is. Every little cent will make a difference. You can shop online, eat out or buy groceries and it will result in college savings! See the Upromise site for more details.


Buy Groceries Today, Pay For College Tomorrow

Join!

It is absolutely FREE to join, won’t cost you anything. Once you do join, you can register your credit cards, IF you choose to do so, so that every time you use those credit cards on qualifying stores, purchases, whatever, you will be rewarded in a percentage that will go directly to your college fund. You can’t go wrong with free. I just signed up. Also, if you tell your parents/kids grandparents, aunts, uncles, and they register and spend, then you can earn MORE for your child! What grandparent can say no to that???

Click on link below to join for free today!

Upromise.com is the smart way to save for your child’s college education


Upromise 125x125

Nope, this is not a sponsored post, I just think it is VERY important to save for college and this seemed like a very good way to do it or to start! Yes, the links are my own personal affiliate links.

Kim

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Sep 16, 2010

The OrganWise Guys Back-To-School Kit Review and Giveaway!

By ·

CONTEST IS OVER! CONGRATS TO Jennifer Short #4!!!

 

The OrganWise Guys want you to Sharpen Up and Get ready, It’s Back to School!

Well, back-to-school is here, has been for a few weeks, and so I thought I would tell you about a really cute kit for the kids! It is called the OrganWise Guys back-to-school kit. My kids received this a few days ago, and have been exploring this kit ever since.

The kit is really fun. It includes the following:

-   Monthly Healthy Behavior Tracking Calendar: With the start of a new school year, take on a new healthy behavior each month!

-   Sir Rebrum Plush Toy: The brainy but cute professor is also the leading caricature in the Breakfast Skippin Blues Video

-   School Days Here We Come! Book: It?s the first day of school and time to meet all The OrganWise Guys classmates and see where they live!

-   Breakfast Skippin Blues Video: Sir Rebrum is having a hard time remembering his lines in a school play. Can you guess what he forgot to do that morning?

OrganWise Guys Back to School Kit Review

My son will be going to school next Fall, and so he is the one that is most interested in this kind of stuff. He loves the book. It is so neat. It explains where your muscles are, bones, brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and more go and what they do. It also has really cute pictures that show all of this. At the end of the book (it is more like an activity book), your child can draw himself with the OrganWise Guys friends. My son drew himself next to them, so cute! This is a definite keepsake too :) because of that.

The movie is very informative and has cute animation and is very educational for both of my kids. My son now says things like “the kidney brothers help make my potty” and so I know he is learning! So cute! He also knows where all his inside body parts go, thanks to OrganWise Guys.

So, if you are looking for a really good, educational kit for your child, I would recommend this kit to you.

About OrganWise Guys and this Kit (taken from their press release):

Imagine if your body could speak to you. Really. Imagine if it could really speak to you. For children, learning has to be imaginative and fun. So, as the childhood obesity crisis persists, teaching children about health and wellness is imperative but it has to be imaginative and fun. See for yourself by visiting http://www.organwiseguys.com/kids.html and listening to The Buddy Song.

The cast of The OrganWise Guys — Hardy Heart, Peri Stolic (the large intestine), Sir Rebrum, Pepto the Stomach and Sid and Kid Kidney(The Kidney Brothers) along with buddies Calci M. Bone, Windy the Lungs and Madame Muscle, is a collection of friendly, delightfully eccentric characters that are cleverly personified body parts. They invite parents and their children to join them on child-friendly experiences as they learn to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their daily lives.

The OrganWise Guys take their motto very personally: We love who we live in, so please take care of us!

Buy It!

You can purchase the OrganWise Guys Back-To-School Kit (or other educational kits) by visiting their website at http://www.organwiseguys.com/

Win It!

One lucky person is going to win their very own OrganWise Guys Back-To-School Kit of their own!

How?

Easy! Just visit the OrganWise Guys site, browse around for a few days, then come back here and let me know what you love best about them, in a comment below! MANDATORY ENTRY!

Extra Entries!

“Like” OrganWise Guys on Facebook

Follow OrganWise Guys On Twitter

“Like” Shop with Me Mama on Facebook

follow Shop with Me Mama on Twitter

Interact on Shop with Me Mama’s Facebook page and let me know you did!

Comment on one of my NON giveaway posts and let me know you did! (2 entries!)

Tweet about this giveaway, can be done 3 times a day, come back with tweet links

Blog about this giveaway and come back with blog link

Grab my site button, found in my side bar and proudly display it on your site. Come back with link where I can find it!

*Lots of ways to enter, so use them all! Open to US and Canada and will end on October 3, 10pm, PST. One person will be chosen using random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm their win or a new person will be chosen. Good luck!*

Disclosure:

I was sent the OrganWise Guys Kit to review and keep. These are my own honest opinions of this product, thanks!

 

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Aug 18, 2010

Rock ‘N Learn: Phonics Volume 1 and 2 DVDs Review & Giveaway!

By ·

GIVEAWAY IS OVER! CONGRATS TO Cassie M #127!!!

“Cool Music And Videos For Fun Learning”

Rock ’N Learn programs help students learn math, phonics, reading, early childhood, social studies, Spanish, test-taking strategies, writing, and science. So, it is no wonder parents everywhere are scrambling to get these learning DVD’s.

Rock N' Learn Phonics Volume 1

I was sent the Rock N’ Learn Phonics Volume 1 and 2 DVD’s for my son to watch. I really really like these DVD’s. Anything that is good for my children and helps them learn is such a wonderful thing! I love how these DVD’s show a man’s mouth saying all of the words that are on the screen. That way your child knows how the mouth should move in order to say that certain word. It also incorporates music into learning these words and their sounds. All in all these are very educational DVD’s and they are being watched by my children at least three times a week. I don’t feel guilty when my children are watching the Rock N’ Learn DVD’s, only because I know they are learning! The characters are really fun and silly too. They keep my children engaged in the show. I know these are for children ages 6 and up, but it is never too early to get your children interested in learning. My son is almost 5 and he enjoys these DVD’s, so it might surprise you when your little one starts becoming more interested in learning at an earlier age! It did me :)

Rock ’N Learn programs have received numerous awards such as Dr. Toy, Parents’ Choice, iParenting, National Parenting Publications, Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice, Early Childhood News, National Parenting Center, and Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media. Their programs lead in the areas of quality and customer satisfaction based on surveys of school supply stores.

 

 

Buy Them!

You can purchase the Rock N’ Learn DVD’s by visiting their site and locating a store nearest you that carries them! Some are available on iTunes.Or you can rent our videos on youtube: www.youtube.com/rocknlearn

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Win Them!

One person is going to win their very own Rock N’ Learn Phonics Volume 1 and 2 DVD’s!!

How?

Just let me know who you would give this to if you won!! (MANDATORY entry. If you don’t do this entry, then all other entries will be DELETED).

Extra Entries!

“Like” Rock N’ Learn On Facebook

“Like” Shop with Me Mama on Facebook

Follow Shop with Me Mama on Twitter

Comment on one of my NON giveaway posts. Let me know which one!

Blog about this giveaway and come back with blog link!

Tweet this giveaway, can be done 3 times a day. Come back with tweet links!

Subscribe to my blog and confirm. Let me know you are!

Interact on Shop with Me Mama’s Facebook page! Reply to a comment or leave me a comment!!

Grab my site button, found in my sidebar, and proudly display it on your site! Leave me a link where I can find it!

*Lots of fabulous ways to enter, so use them all! Contest is open to US and Canada and will end on September 4th, 10pm, PST. I will use random.org to choose my winner. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm their win, after I email them, or a new person will be chosen, good luck!*

Disclosure:

I was sent the Rock N’ Learn Phonics Volume 1 and 2 DVD’s to review and keep. These are my own honest opinions of these DVD’s. The above Amazon.com link is my own personal affiliate link, thanks!

 

 

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Aug 13, 2010

Cyber-bulling Has Taken Off, See How You Can Help Prevent It

By ·

With school season almost here, for some, it is already here, bullying and even cyber-bullying could be around your child’s corner. How do we as parents prevent this from happening? You hear horrible stories of kids being bullied to the point of suicide, what can we do to prevent this?

The Department of Education is hosting a bullying conference in Washington DC this week.  Cyber-bulling has taken off in schools and many parents feel helpless. There is now a new technology that will help parents protect their children. If you can’t attend the conference, don’t worry, I can’t attend it either, but you can still learn!

MouseMail.com creates a safe environment for children by placing moms and dads in control; provides peace of mind. MouseMail.com is a safe digital environment for children, protecting them from vulgar, sexual or bullying emails or text messages.  If any incoming or outgoing emails or text messages have questionable content, they are automatically forwarded to the parent to clear before going  to the child or stopped from going through.  MouseMail.com is  the only known text messaging platform that flags and blocks messages containing offensive, bullying or sexually suggestive language before the child receives them, allowing moms and dads to stay one step ahead of those who would do harm to their children.  With the new technology, texting can be accessed through the MouseMail.com website and adapted to smart phones.

“This is about preventing objectionable messages before they reach your child, not reacting to them after the damage has been done,”

“We can never do enough to keep our children safe.  The tragedy is when we do too little.  No parent should ever have to say, ‘If only I had done more.’”

“MouseMail.com puts moms and dads in control, provides peace of mind and puts predators out of business,” said John P. Venners, president of Safe Communications, Inc.  “Kids today are going to live a digital life.  MouseMail.com keeps them safe.” Venners stated that the Beta Test launch would allow parents the opportunity to visit the web site, obtain an overview of the platform and its capabilities and provide early subscription sign up from home computers.

Unless the text or email sender/message has been approved by the parent, the communication will not be delivered to the child’s device.  Text messages containing inappropriate or suggestive words, phrases or threats are automatically blocked.  Common misspellings and texting shortcuts are also blocked. Parents can set times when texting is allowed, with different rules for different approved contacts, while ensuring the parents can always contact their children, but disallowing messages during school hours or late at night.  For example, parents can turn off the texting capability during school hours, only allowing persons designated by the parent to get through.

MouseMail.com works with computers or any web-enabled phones and comes in two versions.  MouseMail.com is intended for children.  CoolYou.com is the version for teenagers.

Some other informative sites that are worth looking at:

Teens, Cell Phones and Texting

Lifetime Cyberbullying Victimization Rates

Teens And Sexting

Sex And Tech (pdf version)

Safe Communications

So, if you have school aged children, no matter how young, please read up on this information. It is never too early to prevent anything bad from happening to your child/ren.

Disclosure:

I received nothing for this post. I felt the need to get this very important information out to all of my viewers. Please read it and pass it on to your friends. I received the information above, from a press release that was sent to me from a pr person at MouseMail.com. The above words are not my own. Just a few sentences I wrote, so the rest are not my own words, thanks!

 

 

Filed Under: Archives · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Aug 13, 2010

American Public University

By ·

 

The thought of having to go back to school, scares me. At my age, I want to be done with school, and so I should be. Well, with American Public University, you can do the whole “school” thing in the comfort of your own home! Right from your computer, you can take courses. Whether it is for a full time employee completing an MBA to a “mompreneur” with a kitchen table business looking to sharpen her business acumen, to a part-time student embarking on a new career, American Public University has it all for you!

Unlike traditional universities, American Public University offers classes on a monthly basis, with accelerated programs and flexible courses that enable you to earn degrees while balancing your family and work demands! Plus, the courses are 100% online and APU offers more than 100 online degrees and certificates in subjects ranging from homeland security to management and liberal arts!

Affordable!

APU’s tuition is among the lowest in the country for accredited onine universities. APU simplified tuition and fee structures that makes it easy for students to estimate and cover their expenses:

*Undergraduate is $750 for a 3 credit course

*Graduate is $900 for a 3 credit course

Plus, their credibility is good!  APU is a member institution of regionally- and nationally-accredited American Public University System (APUS), recognized as a leading education provider by numerous military, federal, private and public sector employers.

Live Chats AND Support!

APU’s live chats, which will allow you to speak with other Moms about your experience going back to school at APU, is an awesome idea!!! The first chat is scheduled for Tuesday, August 17 at 8PM EST!!

Other live chats:

·        Rebecca Roch: Master of Public Administration

o       Thursday, August 19 at 2 p.m. ET

·        Helenjene Curtis: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

o       Tuesday, August 24 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Jenn Deater: Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management

o       Thursday, August 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET

Join the conversation at www.studyatapu.com/moms

 

I think that with being able to study online and earn a degree or just further your education online is a fabulous way for busy mom’s or anyone to go back to school! Do something for yourself.

For more information please visit: www.studyatapu.com/moms

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Public University. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

 

Filed Under: Archives · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Aug 8, 2010

Back-to-School Supply Checklist

By ·


Back-to-School Supply Check List. Do you have everything your child will need?

 

So, Summer, whether we like it or not, is coming to an end and back-to-school thoughts are becoming a reality! School will be here soon, much sooner for some of us! So, do you have all the essentials that your child/children will need? I have put together a great list to help get you started, or to help with those last minute items you forgot. This list is for all ages of kids. And, don’t forget to read about some great back-to-school tips from Peter Walsh while you are at it!

*Lunch Boxes (Freckle Box has some cute ones that you can personalize!)

*Backpack
*No. 2 pencils
*Colored pencils
*Pencil case
*erasers
*pencil sharpener
*crayons (for little kids)
*Pens
*ruler
*hand sanitizer
*Felt Pens
*scissors
*college ruled paper
*notebook (Carolina Pad has some REALLY cute ones!)
*folders
*Highlighters
*A calendar (to mark when assignments are due. A pocket calendar is great for this)
*A calculator
*A protractor
*Glue sticks (for kids)
*A four-ounce bottle of white glue (Kids)

Have I forgotten anything? Let me know in a comment below!

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Aug 4, 2010

Krogers "Add Up the Savings" & A Giveaway!!

By ·

CONTEST IS OVER! CONGRATS TO Janice COMMENT #94!!

 

 

From August 8 through August 21, when you buy 8 participating items from any Kroger store, you´ll receive $4 off of your purchase. Some of the great participating brands include: Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury Cookies & Biscuits, Kleenex, Huggies, Betty Crocker Brownies, Cottonelle, and Lucky Charms.

In addition to the awesome savings, be sure to take advantage of the special Bonus Box Tops Offers and get a jumpstart on helping the participating school of your choice this year.

To do this, all you have to do is register at www.RewardYourSchool.com Once you register, you will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up! You will also receive custom offers for Bonus Box Tops for purchasing participating products.

These great offers are:

  • Buy any 4 Box Tops products and get 10 Bonus Box Tops
  • Buy any 8 Box Tops products and get 25 Bonus Box Tops

The offers you select will then load onto your Kroger Shopper Card to be redeemed once you purchase the items. It´s extra easy because there´s no clipping! Just remember to scan your Kroger Shopper Card and the Bonus Box Tops will automatically go straight the participating school of your choice.

Win A Gift Card!

One person will win a $25 Kroger Gift Card that can be used at these participating stores: Kroger, Ralph´s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets, Fred Meyers and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy!

How?

Just share which eight participating items you plan to purchase to receive $4 off during the `Add up the Savings Event´ at the Kroger Family of Stores, in a comment below!

Extra Entries!

“Like” Shop with Me Mama on Facebook and let me know your FB name in a comment below!

Comment on one of my NON giveaway posts and let me know which one!

Subscribe to my blog and confirm (see above feedburner box)

Tweet this givewaway, can be done 3 times a day. Come back with tweet links!

Blog about this giveaway (MUST link back to this to this post) leave blog link in comments below!

Grab my button found in my side bar, and display it on your site!

*Lots of fabulous ways to enter, so use them all if you have time to! Contest is open to US and will end on August 22nd, 10PM, PST. I will choose one person by using random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm their win, after I email them, or a new person will be chosen. Good luck!*

Disclosure:

I was sent a $25 Gift Card to Krogers. The gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by The Kroger Family of Stores, General Mills, and Kimberly Clark through MyBlogSpark, thanks!

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May 11, 2010

Daniel Goes to Preschool book Review & Giveaway!

By ·

CONTEST IS OVER! CONGRATS TO Tara, COMMENT #25!

Daniel goes to preschool

My little boy is now 4 years old, though I will not be sending him to preschool, but to Kindergarten only, I am teaching him about school and what you do at school. The book “Daniel Goes To Preschool” is a wonderful book to read to my son. It not only touches on subjects such as how Daniel feels about going to school and that is is OK to feel such emotions!

This book has great bold colored pictures that are fun for kids to look at as you read to them. It also has a little bit of Spanish thrown in there and the words meanings! My kids loved to repeat the words after me and then I told them what they meant. The only thing I would change about that part is maybe show us how to pronounce those Spanish words! I am not quite sure I said one of the right. Other than that, this is a great book and my kids enjoyed it, I did too!

About the book (taken from their site):

Daniel Goes to Preschool is a book designed to help preschoolers, parents and teachers adjust to the first day of pre-k. Author Gayle Hardgrave has seen the toll “the first day of school” can take on children and she wanted a way to let parents and teachers help these children through these anxieties.

Ms. Hardgrave has incorporated Spanish vocabulary words in the book to help children with bi-lingual backgrounds feel good about being in class with others. Gayle has written an insightful way for teachers/parents to open a line of communication with their preschooler and make them aware of the similarities they have felt as they entered the classroom for the first time.

Daniel Goes to Preschool is a must read for those who have children about to begin pre-k and for the teacher about to inherit a new classroom of preschoolers.

But It!

You can purchase “Daniel Goes To Preschool” online at Amazon.com for a very good price right now!

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Daniel Goes to Preschool
Gayle Hardgrave
32 Pages
6×9 Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4389-7090-5
May 2009

Ordering Information: www.authorhouse.com
or (888) 280-7715

Win It!

One lucky person is going to win this neat book for their little one!

How?

Easy! Just tell me who you would give this to if you won it!

Extra Entries!

Comment on one of my non giveaway posts for an extra 2 entries!

Grab my site button, found in my side bar, and display it on your site for an extra 2 entries!

Tweet this giveaway, can be done 3 times a day, come back with tweet links!

Blog this giveaway and come back with blog link for an extra 3 entries!

Make up a song about this book for an extra 2 entries!

Enter one of my other giveaways and let me know which ones in a comment below!

*Lots of ways to enter, so be sure to use them all! Contest is open to US and will end on June 3rd, 10pm, PST. I use random.org to choose my winner’s. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm their win or a new person will be chosen. Good luck!*

Disclosure:

I was sent the above book to review and keep. These are my own honest opinions about this book, thanks!

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