JCPenney Optical Back To School Sale Review & $25 Gift Card Giveaway #sponsored

I received a JCPenney Gift Card in return for this post. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Most moms probably dread going shopping for back to school gear, but I still get excited, just like I did as a kid. We go out for the day and search for great deals on everything we need, from book bags and clothes to new shoes and lunch boxes. One of my most favorite places to shop is JCPenney and we have saved so much money over the years by shopping there.

There are many things we must do before school begins and I always make a list so we don't forget anything. We always go for check-ups at the doctor, go to the dentist and get eye exams during summertime. This way I know they are healthy and completely ready for the new school year.

This is why I was so excited to see yet another amazing deal this back to school season at JCPenney Optical. They have a special promotion from now until August 31st, which includes a complete pair of kids' designer eyeglasses for only $25!! This offer includes any kids' frame up to $120, FREE impact and scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses (a must for all kids), FREE UV protection and FREE eyeglass protection plan for any school-aged child 16 & under. This is such a great deal and we just had to take advantage of it and share with our readers.

A few years ago, we noticed that Michael was having some problems with seeing the chalkboard in his class. His teacher contacted us and suggested getting his eyes checked again. Surely enough, his vision was definitely impaired and he needed glasses. I had no idea how much this would effect his classroom performance and grades. We just assumed he wasn't paying attention in class and his grades suffered because of it, but now we know vision played an important role in his classroom performance and participation. He is now a straight A student and has been placed in advanced classes. We are so proud of him and make sure to get his vision tested at least once or twice a year.

We went to our local JCPenney Optical to look for new frames and Michael was so excited. Last year, he picked out some fashionable black frames at JCPenney, but Liam managed to get his hands on them and snapped the side like a twig.

Michael's old glasses!

This time he wanted "cool" glasses  and I wanted to find glasses that would last longer and withstand active play of a child. JCPenney had many different pairs from which to choose, so it was hard for Michael to decide, but he finally found his favorite pair and we were set to order. 

Michael's new metal frames!

He loves his new frames and can't wait to show them off when school starts in a few weeks! He says they are comfortable and he sometimes even forgets they are on. Plus, I know he will be able to see well and perform well in school and on the field during his soccer games. Does your child need new glasses? You can find a JCPenney Optical near you and get them for only $25 during the back to school promotion.

Ready For A Giveaway?

Thanks to JCPenney Optical we have an awesome giveaway for our readers. 

One Lucky Reader Will Win A $25 JCPenney Gift Card for you to use on any purchases in-store or online! 

Kohl's Has All Your Back To School Needs That Kids Will Love #sponsored

I am participating in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s.   I received a promotional item to facilitate my review.

A few weeks ago, we met Josiah's 1st grade teachers for the during open house and were ready to get into school mode. This means many things for our family, including buying new clothes for the school year. Since we are on a budget, I shop for great deals, but I also want quality clothes that will stand the test of time. That's why I love shopping at Kohl's! They have everything we need not only for Josiah, but for my younger son as well as my husband and myself. After buying Josiah some new clothes, we can head right over to the shoe department for new socks and shoes. They have all the popular brands, so Josiah is always excited to check them out.

What excites me the most is using Kohl's Cash coupons! Yes, I said the magic word: COUPONS! When you purchase $50 worth of items at Kohl's (in-store or online), you automatically receive $10 in Kohl's Cash to use on your next purchase. Plus, if you have a Kohl's charge card like we do, you can save even more. They often send some great coupons for percentages off your purchase. These can be used during specific dates and you can still get Kohl's Cash.

Josiah on his first day of school with his new backpack and shirt from Kohl's!

Whenever we go, I always have my Kohl's Cash and coupon in hand. Once I even had a 30% off coupon and couldn't wait to see how much I would save. This year Josiah knew he would need a backpack for school and when he saw a Skylanders backpack at Kohl's, he had to have it! I purchased all of Josiah's back to school clothes and his backpack for a little over $100 and saved close to $100. Saving so much money is an incredible feeling! Not to mention, my husband can't complain about me shopping in the future since I have more Kohl's Cash to save even more money. There are always clearance racks around the store, so I always check those out first and have even bought off-season clothes before for less than $2 a piece. I just buy one size up for the kids and hang them in the closet until the next year. When clothes are priced so low, I have to buy them!

The weather was cooler today, so Josiah wore his new fall attire from Kohl's!

Not only can you find great deals and receive Kohl's Cash for your purchases in-store! You can also get both online at Kohls.com, too! I've found some great deals there as well and they often have items that aren't available in my local store. I love being able to see other outfit selections!

I am participating in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s.   I received a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Back To School With Master Lock #sponsored

Disclosure: This post was written for Master Lock in conjunction with Resourceful Mommy Media. Compensation was provided for the post, though all written opinions are my own. 

School just started in our county this week and it has been quite an adjustment! A parents worries are never over, especially while children are at school. Looking back to when I was in school, I remember struggling with our lock combinations so much that we would just leave our lockers open. Bad idea, I know, because this lead to items being stolen. We didn't have as many expensive electronics back then, but now kids have iPods, laptops, tablets, phones and more. In fact, the average college student spends about $281 on their back to school electronics! I even had my $400 bicycle stolen when I was in college. I always used Master Lock when I was in school and throughout college, too, so I never thought of using any other brand when my son started going to school. Did you know Master Lock has been around since 1921?

I certainly don't want my son's items stolen, so I have been looking at the Master Lock products that are perfect for back to school. In particular, the Master Lock 1500eDBX dialSpeed caught my eye, It's different from other locks in that it is actually electronic and, with so many amazing electronics out there, this lock is perfect for students and something they would love!

Yes, it looks cool and it is pretty awesome, too. Unlike other locks, you can encode several different personalized combinations for multiple users (4 in all), which is something I love about its features. It does take batteries, but comes installed with one that will last 5 years. The Boron carbide shackle is also very strong, making it more resistant to being cut. This lock is for indoor use and would be perfect for back to school! Now I can rest assured that my son's belongings will remain safe inside his locker, so I have one less thing to worry about each day.

In addition to the Master Lock dialSpeed lock we wrote about, there are many other great Back To School products they offer to keep items safe for students, including the SafeSpace Portable Safe (pictured below), which would be perfect in a dorm room so they can stash money and other important items, and the SafeSpace Laptop Computer Lock, keeping computers safely locked when students are not around. Be sure to check out the Master Lock website for all the other great back to school products!

Win With The Master Lock Master Campus Challenge

From July 15th until September 8th Master Lock is hosting a fun interactive online game, which can be accessed on the Master Lock Facebook page or on MasterCampusChallenge.com where you will have the change to win many gift cards, video games, electronics and Master Lock products. How? Each week brings a new game challenge, which features a different animated lock on a unique campus locations. Players are given hints during the game and can use hints given on the Master Lock Facebook page to help crack the code! There will be daily prizes AND for each week you play the game, you can be entered to win the weekly sweepstakes and earn more points for the grand prize, a digital SLR camera! There are many ways to earn points, including taking a creative picture or video of a Master Lock product, uploading it to Instagram or Twitter to show Master Lock how they can master any security challenge. Be sure to use the #MasterCampusChallenge hashtag when doing this.

Twitter Party Alert

Please join us for the Master Lock Twitter Party on August 6th at 8pm EST! Hosted by @ResourcefulMom, this will be such a fun party and we hope to see you there. Be sure to RSVP before the event to qualify for prizes!

Disclosure: This post was written for Master Lock in conjunction with Resourceful Mommy Media. Compensation was provided for the post, though all written opinions are my own. 

Boys and Girls Clubs of America Help With Back To School Needs

"Back To School" is obviously the theme for this month. Every time I talk to friends and family, that's the first thing they mention. Even before school began, we started planning. It takes a while to shift the focus and summer mindset, so we try to do so ahead of time.

There are many ways you can prepare children for back to school and I feel like we do them all!

Here are 5 ways we prepared for getting the kids back to school:

1. Get a good amount of sleep. Sleep is a must for health and to be ready for a new day. I can always tell when my kids haven't slept well because it greatly effects their overall attitude and ability to concentrate.
2. Take our daily vitamins. The kids take their gummy vitamins that also have an echinacea supplement to help fight off colds and other germs that are sure to be lurking around at school.
3. Eat well-balanced meals. It's important to get a good variety of meats, fruits and vegetables.

Josiah back at school!

4. Prepare throughout the summer. I know we should enjoy the summer, but do you know how much kids can forget over the summer if not prepped for the coming school year? I don't want my children forgetting important info, so we finds ways to incorporate education into summer fun!
5. Have all your back to school materials ready before school begins! Many schools have lists at participating stores, so you can pick up what you need. If not, talk to your child's teach to see what you should purchase. This way your child will start out ready to go!
Be sure to check out the BGCA website for more great back to school tips, including time management, setting goals and even tips for parents!

How do you prepare your kids for back to school?

Speaking of school supplies, some children just cannot afford the growing list of items needed to start the school year. That's why the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is partnering with Disney to launch the Tools For Back To School Initiative. This amazing program can be found online from August 1st until September 30th. You just go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America website to participate in the pop-quiz game for a great cause. For ever 5 correct answers, a donation of supplies will be made to a Boys & Girls Club member. It's such an easy way to do something great for kids across America, so click on the link and do it. We did and it took all of a minute for us to answer some questions and help a child get the school supplies they need. Up to 30,500 supplies (15,500 minimum) will be donated, so let's help them get the maximum amount of supplies possible!When I took the quick, they were at 20,830, so there are still quite a lot of school supplies to be donated!

Purchasing for a great cause!

In addition, Boys & Girls Clubs of America have partnered with jcpenney. In August, you can join jcp cares and round up your purchase at the register to help benefit BGCA! We actually went shopping there a few weeks ago and were asked to 'round up' the remaining $.30 left on the dollar of our purchase. It's such a small amount to donate, so it's not like we miss it, though it adds up when so many people also participate. You will not believe how much has been donate so far this month: $1,196,801!! So, go shop at jcpenney this month and be sure to round up.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Boys and Girls Club. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Back To School With Tiny Prints & $50 Gift Code Giveaway

School is back in session for us and, for the first time, I am really feeling it. Josiah is officially a kindergarten student, 5 years old and turning into a big boy so quickly! We've already gotten all of his back-to-school items, from pencils and crayons to scissors and notebooks. I love buying all the new items and now I can buy even more awesome items at Tiny Prints. That's right- it's Back To School with Tiny Prints, one of my favorite online stores with all types of cards and stationary.

Even though my little boy is growing up, I, of course, still worry about it. That's a Mama's job, right? Tiny Prints actually has the cutest allergy alert cards I can hand out to his teachers so they don't forget he is allergic to penicillin!

Also, I've always heard about mom contact cards, but didn't really see a need for them. Now that Josiah is in school, I think these will be so helpful. I can hand them out not only to his teachers, but also to other parents. He loves interacting with other kids and this gives me a creative way to exchange phone numbers so we can schedule play dates and spend the night parties!

When I was in school, my mom always packed me a nice lunch and sometimes she would sneak in a nice little note telling me she loved me or to have a great day. It was always such a sweet surprise and made me so happy. That's why I was so excited to see lunch box notes on Tiny Prints. They have a huge variety of notes to stick into lunch boxes for both boys and girls. I found one that is perfect for Josiah:

He loves monsters and would really get a kick out of this one! 

I think we are pretty much set for school and I'm really excited to see how his first day goes. He seems a little nervous, which reminds me of my first day of school each year. Anything seems possible! Are your kids ready to go back to school?

It's Giveaway Time! 

Thanks to Tiny Prints, One Lucky CTM Reader Will Receive a $50 Tiny Prints Gift Code! 

Keep Kids Germ-Free & Healthy This School Year With Wet Ones

Just recently we made that yearly trip to buy school supplies. The schools around here always send out a list of items to buy before school starts, including pencils, crayons, scissors, papers, etc. Of course, we end up leaving the store with all of those things and much, much more. There are always some new items each year that the kids just have to get, but there are also some things that I make them get, too, including Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes.

Liam using Wet Ones after playing w/ our pets!

Once school starts back it doesn't take long for the germs to start spreading once again. Just thinking about those sneezing kids and snotty noses gives me the chills. Eck! Last year, Josiah got sick last year within 2 weeks of starting school. It really is amazing how quickly children can spread sickness around. That's why I do my part to keep my kids healthy and germ-free. We take our daily vitamins, we get a good amount of sleep, we wash our hands often and use Wet Ones to wipe our hands. I even use them to wipe off toys while on the go. 

My mom used Wet Ones when I was a child and, when I was recently watching an old show from the 80s, I noticed a container of Wet Ones on the counter. It's a trusted product and one that I've also purchased for years. Plus, the Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes Kill 99.9% of germs and are hypoallergenic, which is great for my son who has allergies.

The box says they even clean better than a hand sanitizer, which just makes me feel safe and like I've made the right decision for my children's health. This time last year I actually bought the Wet Ones in a container that fits in a car cup holder and it was awesome because we could keep it right where we needed it and it didn't get lost under the seat. It also fit on the cup holder of our stroller, so we could take it to the park and out walking just in case. With the Wet Ones Singles we received recently for this review, they are so small that I can easily take them along in my purse or diaper bag. To encourage the kids to keep clean, especially before eating, I put Wet Ones in their lunchbox. I've also started packing them in a reusable snack bag and stuffing them in the side-pockets on their book bags just in case the need arises. Then I check every week or so to see if they need more. 

How do you keep your kids healthy and germ-free during the school year? Do you use Wet Ones?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Wet Ones. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Back To School Relaxation with EdenFantasys

 

School is back in session for many of us already and other schools begin in the very near future. It can be a stressful time, especially for college students, Moms and especially for Moms who are college students. That's why it is nice to sit back, relax and occasionally do something for yourself. Maybe you drive the kids around all day, from school to all the extracurricular activities or maybe you sit in class half of the day and study the other part. Either way, it can be very frustrating and EdenFantasys really has the key to making life a bit more pleasurable and satisfying.

EdenFantasys has such a wide variety of fun products that I easily spend an hour looking around the site every time. During the holidays I was searching for some fun gifts and found my now favorite bubble bath, Not Soap Radio. There are 6 delicious scents, all glistening in beautiful almost metallic-looking colors and they each have unique names, such as Liquid Freud (when you need to turn up the volume on your inner voice of reason). These are perfect for a night of relaxation and will leave you feeling and smelling great. I made little gift baskets for my sister-in-laws with the bubble bath and they were an absolute hit. I kept The Stuff That Cupid Dips His Arrows In for myself and cannot wait to buy more now that I am all out.

After your nice, hot bubble bath, continue your evening of relaxation with a massage. I love getting massages and, honestly, would be happy if my husband would oblige every night! The Lelo flickering massage oil is my favorite and with scents like Spicy Clove & Amber, you can delight all senses. Plus, it leaves your skin sparkling, which I just think is really cool and a plus to the whole experience.

Back to school time definitely doesn't have to be as stressful anymore. Just take a look at EdenFantasys and see what they have to offer. Also, use the code PLAY20 to save 20% off of your entire order! I know it is easy to forget about yourself and your own needs when things get busy, so just remind yourself to take time out, relax and just enjoy life!

Bag It Forward with Walmart & Elmer's #BagItForward

 Just the other day we went on our weekly shopping trip to Walmart here in Ellijay. School will be starting up again very soon, so it is time to purchase school supplies! I always loved going to Walmart as a child and looking at all the cool new items I could get for the new school year. Every time there was something else fun to buy.

We are actually participating in an amazing opportunity to Bag It Forward. What does that mean? It means that I find the Elmer's school supply list stand in our local Walmart, purchase the items on the list and give it to someone else who can use the school supplies for the new school year. I think everyone should do this, especially because you can get school supplies for such great prices at Walmart. It doesn't cost much and is an easy way to really make someone's day and help them out. You can give the bag of supplies to a student, a teacher or an organization, #BagItForward. On the supply list stand you will also see info about the Elmer's 1st Day App. I'll talk about that more later on.

The boys eating in the cart while I'm busy shopping!

We decided to purchase school supplies for my son's school, Pleasant Hills Montessori, a small school here in Ellijay. They often ask parents for help with supplies throughout the year, so I thought this would be a great way to help them get a great start! Josiah's teacher, Mrs. Kara, often does arts and crafts with them, takes them on field trips and does much more than she has to, so why not give something back to her? She deserves it!

An amazing wall of $.88 school supplies!

Crayola crayons and markers needed for school supplies!

 We found the school's supply list and bought all of the items on it: scissors, markers, paper, pencils, erasers, wipes and hand sanitizer. I also called the school to see what other items they would like, so picked up several items for them! I found a cute reusable tote to stuff all the items into and, believe me, it is packed full! We actually haven't dropped it off yet, but we are going to meet the teacher next week when she gets home from vacation! I know she will be so surprised and excited.

The Ellijay area school list.

It feels good to do something nice for others. This is such an easy way to give back to those who give so much to others and/or to those who could really use the supplies. I believe, in total, we paid about $20 for all the school supplies, which is such an affordable price to make someone's day!

All the items we purchased!

Everything neatly packed into a tote.

 Want to see more pictures from our shopping trip? Check out our Google+ album!

Elmer's 1st Day App For A Good Cause
When we found out school list on the stand, there was also an area talking about the new Elmer's 1st Day App. With the QR code, you can easily download the app onto your smartphone straight from there. We did it with out iPad and love this app. It's a great way to organize all your photos from this school year and to commemorate the 1st day of school. Plus, you can easily share them with friends and family. Take a look and try out this app! Another reason to get this app? For every photo you upload onto the app, Elmer's will donate one item to The Kids In Need Foundation (KINF).

Enter To Win
Yet another reason to check out the 1st Day App... The X-Acto Designer Series and Walmart are offering a chance to win a trip for four to Disney World!!! You can find the entry form on the 1st Day App website.

Be sure to keep up with all the news via social media:
Elmer's Facebook Page
Elmer's on Twitter
Bag It Forward on Pinterest

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Elmer’s.  #BagItForward #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions expressed are my own.

Back To School Party For Kids

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to Long Island Real Estate, Hamptons Beach Rentals, home improvement and the latest architecture, design and fashion.  Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign.

When kids have to go back to school, they might not be all that excited about it. They may think that summer has been a fun time of relaxation without any responsibility, and they may not want to let that go. This is understandable, but you need to do all that you can to get them excited for the coming year. One way to do this is by throwing a party to celebrate the school year that has almost arrived. They will enjoy the party and they will associate this with going to class. The following are a few back to school party ideas that you can try. 

Have A Pool Party
There is really nothing like a pool party, at least as long as the weather is still warm enough to warrant it. Swimming in the sun is one of the things that children and adults tend to think of when they think of summer. As such, you can have a huge party to give all of your children and their friends the chance to do this once more before it is too cold and they are too busy. This will help them celebrate how great the summer has been rather than reminding them that it is over. 

Kick Off The Fall With A Last Cookout 
Another thing that is often connected with summer is a cookout on the grill. You can have one more of these to celebrate the end of the season. You may even want to do it in conjunction with a pool party, though you should make sure that the swimming happens before you eat. If you want to tie the party closer to the fall as well, you can cook corn and other harvest foods on the grill. This is a subtle way to signal that the summer may be over but that the rest of the seasons still have a lot to offer. 

Have A Costume Party
Who says that costumes have to be used exclusively on Halloween? You can have a party like this in August or September to give the children a very fun activity that they can enjoy. They will love having all of their school friends over at the house, and they will also love seeing what people have decided to dress up as. You can use a school-realted theme if you want, or you can just let them all choose their own costumes and have a good time with it. 

Advice For Any Party
No matter what type of a party you decide to throw, you need to remember that the ultimate goal is for the children to have fun. They must have a good time and they must enjoy themselves. You want to make sure that all of their friends are invited. You also want to make sure that they have plenty of games to play and a lot of good food to eat. If you do these things, any type of back to school party will be a success.