July 31st, 2012 
StylishStepmom Have your kids started to say, “I’m bored”, “There is nothing to do”…
Well, tell them, it’s time to go back-to-school!
And, before they do, make sure they are set up and stylish with cool school supplies:
The Perfect Touch - Vera Bradley
For all of the Vera Bradley followers, three new patterns have been debuted for back-to-school: paisley meets plaid, indigo pop, and va-va-bloom. And, I have to say, THIS trapper keeper is MUCH BETTER than the plastic one I used to carry to school. As well as, who doesn’t need a set of designer markers for their art class? Loving the new prints! May need to head to The Perfect Touch Gift Store and get one for myself…or all three!
The Perfect Touch - Locker Lookz
Ok, I would totally go back to school just for this trend. I LOVE it! The wall paper, the chandelier, and the shag rug alone turns the locker into a designer showroom. What girl wouldn’t love that? So many color and styles to choose from…this trend is ON FIRE. Locker Lookz emerged with a bang last year, but, this year, store’s are still struggling to keep up with the ‘supply and demand’. So, if you are interested in this line, don’t delay head to The Perfect Touch Gift Store today.
For the ‘tried and true’ school supplies, I head to Target and Staples. But, you can find a few twists on the basics at those stores too!
School Supplies - Staples
My favorite finds from Staples were the pencil cases. Who wants a boring pencil box when you get one that looks like the good ol’ converse tennis shoe or a stuffed animal? The little doggie may just have to come home with me too. And, the mechanical pencils, I had to look twice, because they look like the ‘real deal’. Pencil grips are great for the young child starting school as they continue to practice holding the pencil. I’m also loving the USB drives. Ah, hello…or should I say, ‘Hello Kitty’ would be a perfect way for me to go to the computer and get my homework done. And, what boy wouldn’t love the Lamborghini?
School Supplies - Target
And, I’m not going to lie, I love Target. I spend way too much time and money in Target. But, again, I managed to come up with a few ‘twists’ to the basic school supplies. First, the lunch boxes. The owl and the doggie are more than lunch boxes – they are works of art. Super cute, flexible and fun for the younger child as they head to school. The reusable lunch sacks for sandwiches and snacks are a fun way for the kids and you to ‘go green’. Erasers seem to be a big deal for the younger student. We have a 7YO who is obsessed with erasers, specifically, the newest craze of puzzle erasers. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and characters they can take apart and put together and all pieces are erasers. And, one final thing, speaking of ‘new twists’, our house is in love with the twistable crayons and colored pencils. Our 7YO loves these too – they are great for school, travel, or any other place your child needs to sit quietly and draw. The best part is no peeling of the crayon wrapper or color residue falling all over as you sharpen. Just twist and color!
As you shop for school supplies, remember a few things:
1. Keep to your budget. Kids can get carried away and insist they need everything. Their ‘needs’ can easily be ‘wants’.
2. Follow the school supply list. Typically, there are very specific requests for elementary and middle school ages. As they head into junior and senior high, there is more flexibility for personalization.
3. Make sure you are aware of school policies, rules, etc – some may have requests to avoid super heroes or anything that promotes violence in any way.
4. Don’t get overwhelmed by the aisles and aisles of supplies. Stick to your list.
5. Even if the school supply list is very specific, let the kids help you with this task. It will help start the ball rolling to get them BACK in TO the SCHOOl mindset.
Happy Shopping!
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