WIN a Staples $25 Giftcard AND Back to School Kit #StaplesHasIt #giveaway #ad #BackToSchool

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama's Back to School Giveaways:

Locker Chandeliers and rugs... adorable furry raccoon pencil cases with zipper pull TAILS?!   Need we say more...   Staples has it.  

Disclosure:   Thanks to Staples for partnering up with us and providing school supplies/gift cards for our giveaway and review purposes. 



My 10 year old daughter, Sagezilla, freaked OUT about her new pencil case.

Never too old to give these sweet pencil cases a snuggle!

Your kids will be going back to school with CLASS and STYLE to spare, whether they're embarking on kindergarten or college adventures.   Don't have kids?   We won't tell.   Why should kids have all the fun?   I'm totally guilty of buying myself "school supplies" for my home office and just for fun, too.

Do you still remember the smell of a box of brand new crayons and how all the pointy, multicolored tip looked lined up in the box before any broke or got worn down by time?  I still love back to school time, and so do my tweens (at least the shopping aspect).   Kids can express their individuality and style now more than ever, and Staples has got you covered for the basics and the fun stuff!



ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and WIN a $25 Staples Gift Card AND the following treasure trove of Back to School Goodies:

Staples Better Binder

Staples Fashion Folder

Staples Flexible Calculator

Studio C® Neon Zip-It Notebook

Martha Stewart  Home Office with Avery Message Board

Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery No-Iron Clothing Labels

Click the Rafflecopter Link below to enter.   Entries accepted through midnight on September 6th.

**a Rafflecopter giveaway** 

A few weeks back, I was invited to Staples in Chicago for a Back to School Lunch with other bloggers & members of the press.   It was not only fun but informative and philanthropic too.   We're always down for helping out our teachers & kids in need.   Here's what we learned:

Hot for 2013 

Staples stocks everything from light-up pencil pouches to customized composition books.

“School supplies need to reflect students’ individual styles, and we are excited by this year’s amazing selection, all at great values,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president, stores and online marketing at Staples. “Staples makes it easy to find everything on your list for less this back-to-school season.”

To make it easy for families to save this year, Staples announced the return of the popular Back-to-School Savings Pass, which provides a 15 percent discount on supplies. Available for purchase for $10 through Aug. 31, the savings pass is valid through Sept. 21 & can be used once a day, to accommodate the multiple trips often required to prepare for the new school year. For all of the latest deals and promotions for back to school, shoppers can follow #StaplesHasIt on Twitter and Facebook.

In addition to great savings, Staples will feature the hottest supplies including:

Back to Neon

From the runway to the classroom, neon is the hottest fashion trend of the season. Both Jansport and Puma offer neon backpacks to carry supplies in style ($45.99-$59.99). Bold pink, orange, blue and lime green hues are featured in the Quilted Collection of zipper binders, pencil pouches, tablet cases and clipboards ($4.99-$14.99). Take notes in style with the vibrant Studio C® Neon Zip-It 1 Subject Notebook ($4.99) and collection of Neon Sharpies ($8.99).

Exclusive Patterns and Designs

Staples offers unique designs on products like the exclusive Staples BETTER® binders, sticky notes and index card holders, making it easy for students to show their style and while keeping up with the latest trends. Themes include Color Splash with an explosion of pastels and bright colors to the open, moving patterns of Geo Graphic, to Urban Spirit, which mixes street art and life, to the whimsical Memory Lane echoing vintage themes.

Twinkle, Twinkle

School supplies are lighting up with cool fiber-optic treatments. The Glo-Lite collection featuring staplers, rulers and dry-erase boards ($6.00-$8.99), lights up when pushed. Exclusive to Staples, Fiber Optic Pencil Pouches twinkle in cool designs including shoe, piano and paisley ($6.99). Bring some shine into the cafeteria with an assortment of light up lunch bags that come in assorted designs ($12.99).

Tech You Can Touch

This year students will be using tech they can touch to do their homework, like the Acer® Aspire 11.6" Touch Laptop, very portable at only 11.6”, at a very affordable price ($479.99). With new tablets including the HP Slate 7 with Beats ($169.99), Samsung Galaxy II 7" ($195.99) and Samsung Note 8.0 ($399.99), and new, lower prices on the Google Nexus 7 16GB ($199) and Kindle Fire Kindle Fire HD 8.9” 16GB ($269), kids can stay connected online in and out of the class-room.

Keep all that touch tech intact and in style with sleek cases for laptops and tablets. Jansport sleeves combine fashion and function with a wide assortment of tablet sleeves from animal prints to plaids to neon accents. The Jansport Superbreak Sleeve is a durable and fashionable way to carry a 15-inch laptop like a backpack ($29.99). Students can show off their inner wild side with the durable Jansport 1.0 Tablet Sleeve and Jansport 1.0 Laptop Sleeve, available in zebra and safari prints ($19.99-$24.99).

Nothing Basic About It

Kids will be running back to the classroom with these cute twists on the basics. Students can “flex” their math muscles – literally – with the new, bendable Staples® Flexible Calculator ($4.00). Also new, from Scotch Magic, the Chameleon tape dispenser ($9.99) actually changes color when touched! Students can earn a black belt in organization with the Post-It Pop-up Note Karate Dispenser ($9.99) that puts post-it notes at your fingertips. And kids can carry their favorite furry friend – and supplies – in a Woodland Animal Pencil Pouch ($5.99) available in a variety of fuzzy critters.

Let’s Do Lunch

These cool, new lunch accessories allow parents and students to plan for organized meals all year. The Fit & Fresh 14 Piece Healthy Lunch Set features perfectly proportioned containers with ice packs that snap into the lids ($14.99). Or get Cool It! Ice packs ($10.99) to keep the chill in any lunch bag or box. And the LEGO Lunch box ($14.99) is the ultimate in an updated classic – providing a sturdy iconic lunch container.

Customize with Copy & Print and Arc

Add flair to traditional black and white composition notebooks with Custom Composition Notebook Covers, available to order in-store or on Staples.com and pick-up at Staples Copy & Print locations. Students can choose from six unique patterns, and add their name and favorite photo. The fashionable Arc Customizable Cover Notebook from M by Staples™ offers eight stylish covers on four reversible inserts protected by a clear poly cover. Each insert can be easily swapped or removed so that a picture, schedule or other notes can be displayed for easy customization ($8.99-$10.99).

Visit http://www.staples.com/backtoschool for more information.

Locker Sweet Locker

My son, Du-Jay, begins 7th grade on Monday at a new school and he'll have a locker for the first time ever.   As we helped him get it set up last Wednesday, many of his classmates (especially the girls) were moving right in.   They had mirrors, lights, funky magnets, little rugs, and magnetic supply holding containers of all shapes & sizes.  Almost made me nostalgic for Jr. High.

Best news?   At Lane Tech they get key locks.   I've been locker free for 25+ years and I still have occasional nightmares about forgetting my combination, and standing in the hall endlessly trying to unlock my locker!  Never really happened, but I'd get that crazy dream before performing plays where I had to remember lines and before big exams.   Wonder if my son will have nightmares into adulthood of hunting for lost keys instead....

With Staples' fun locker decor, your locker will be a DREAM, not a nightmare! 

A student’s locker is their most personal space aside from their bedroom. Make it feel like home with these innovative accessories. From the Magnetic Motion Sensor Locker Chandelier ($19.99) with seven LED lights, to the exclusive Glo-Lite Magnetic Pencil Bin ($8.99), to unique glitter rugs ($9.99) and magnetic wallpaper ($5.99), students’ private space will stand out in style.

Glo-Light Magnetic Dry Erase Board

Locker Chandeliers

Help Out

New Reward-A-Classroom Program

“Staples has it all for the back-to-school season, with tremendous savings and a huge selection of products that ranges from essential supplies to the latest technology,” said Demos Parneros, president, North American stores and online, Staples. “Staples supports teachers and with our new Reward-A-Classroom program, we make it easy and affordable for parents and educators to work together to keep the classroom stocked all year long.”

Teachers spend an average of $356 a year of their own money on supplies and instructional materials, according to the National School Supply and Equipment Association. To help educators throughout the school year, Staples is introducing the Reward-A-Classroom program. In addition to the five percent in Staples Rewards® all members earn, parents can now earn extra Rewards for a teacher of their choice when they link their Rewards account. Here’s what teachers get when parents participate in Reward-A-Classroom and shop:

• Five percent back in Rewards on every Copy & Print purchase
• Two percent back in Rewards on everything else

Additionally, for their own purchases educators can earn five percent back in Rewards on everything, including technology and services, plus an additional five percent back in Rewards on teaching and art supplies through the Teacher Rewards program. All Rewards members receive free shipping on Staples.com orders, with next day delivery to 98 percent of the U.S.

“Staples knows how much teachers go above and beyond everyday to educate their students, often devoting not only their time and energy, but personal resources,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president marketing, North American stores and online, Staples.  “We’re dedicated to helping teachers save money year round, rewarding them on their everyday purchases, and providing a convenient one-stop shopping experience.”

In addition to teachers, parents have many reasons to shop at Staples this back-to-school season, from a wide selection of all the top brands to great ways to save, including:

• Five percent back in Rewards on everything in the store.

Extreme deals featuring items as low as a penny can be viewed through the weekly circular at www.staples.com/weeklyad.  

Staples also has great deals on categories like technology, as students receive Microsoft Office 365 University for free ($79.99 value) with the purchase of select touch screen laptops from Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba. For all the hottest trends and top brands for back to school, along with the latest deals and promotions, shoppers can visit the Staples Back to School Center and follow #StaplesHasIt on Twitter and Facebook. The Back to School Center also has an expanded assortment of supplies, including a broader selection of backpacks, dorm room décor, and even school uniforms through a partnership with French Toast Official School Wear.

Staples is making it easy for its customers to give back this season with the Staples for Students national school supply drive.  This summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Staples are teaming up with teen actor Jake T. Austin, star of ABC Family’s “The Fosters,” to help kids get the tools they need to build great futures.  From now through Sept. 28, Staples customers can donate $1 or more at their local Staples store with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting local students in need.

Disclosure:   Thanks again to Staples for sponsoring this post and providing school supplies/gift cards for our giveaway and review purposes. 

About Staples, Inc.

Staples is the world’s largest office products company and second largest internet retailer. For 27 years, Staples has served the needs of business customers and its vision is to provide every product businesses need to succeed. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples offers office supplies, technology products and services, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, copy and print services and a wide range of other product categories. With thousands of associates worldwide dedicated to making it easy for businesses of all sizes, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com/media.