Over The Top Mommy
Home » Posts tagged 'Back-to-School'

Back-to-School

The Back to School Collection from Disney Store and shopDisney

/ Lifestyle

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.. 

Raise your hand if you’re already getting ready for back-to-school! I know I am! It seems like the school year starts earlier and earlier each year and practically feels like it’s barely summer when you start your shopping. Luckily you can always count on Disney Store to have the cutest items that make going back a stylish life event. I mean, what better way to send your kid back to school than with their favorite Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel characters?shopDisney and Disney store have everything you’ll need to send your kid(s) off to school in style with a little help from their favorite superhero, princess, and more. From apparel, to backpacks, to lunch totes, to school supplies, to must have accessories, there is something for every super fan:
Here are just a few of my favorite items for back to school:

  • Minnie Mouse Denim Hooded Jacket for Girls ($34.95) – Show your Minnie Mouse fashion sense in this fun, colorful denim jacket with sweatshirt-style sleeves and hood. The hood even features Minnie ears and a pink bow so you’ll look the part of everyone’s favorite sweetheart. 
  • Star Wars Backpack for Kids – Personalizable ($24.95) – Fleets of spacecraft from the Star Wars universe battle it out on this backpack inspired by one of the original video games. ”May the Force be with you,” as you head back to school with this bag that can hold as much as a black hole.
  • Spider-Man Stationery Kit ($16.95) – Unmask their creative talents with this Spider-Man Stationery Kit. The PVC cover features Spidey’s iconic mask with his eyes providing a window to the inside where they’ll find over 30 pieces including colored markers, pencils, and a notebook.

How cute are all of those items? You can check out the rest of the Back to School collection at your local Disney Store and online at shopDisney!

Images are property of shopDisney and Disney Store and used with permission.

b4 Hand Sanitizers Are a Teacher’s Best Friend!

/ Lifestyle, The Teacher in Me, Uncategorized

Disclosure: I received b4 products to write a review about. No other compensation was received. All opinion are my own. 

Back to school time is very exciting for me as a teacher! I get to decorate my classroom and plan another exciting school year of learning activities, but the best part is meeting my new students on the first day of class!

keep calm After teaching for so many years and having my share of illnesses, I’ve learned the importance of making extra efforts to sanitize my classroom and my own hands, especially while I’m around the kids. I love each and every one of them and give out lots of hugs on a daily basis, I just don’t love what different germs get brought to school with them.

photo-328The playground is so much fun but such a breeding ground for germs! 

When the people over at b4 asked if I’d like to try some of their hand sanitizer products, I was quick to respond with a “yes!“.  After having an awful flu last year, I’m taking back-to-school seriously this year, including being more pro-active about sanitizing! This year, I actually wrote b4 products into my lesson plans! Ok, that was a joke, but seriously, my b4 packets sit right on top of my desk!

photo-325b4 is a hand sanitizer that refreshes and cleans all while giving back to the community. b4’s purpose is to change lives through charitable giving. Yes, that’s right — b4 gives back, which is what I love most about them! b4 gives 50 percent of all profits from sales to children-focused causes. The profits are donated through The Midway Foundation and more than $1.3 million has already been donated to 150 organizations.

I received an envelope filled with several packets of  individual hand sanitizer packets, as well as some big boxes of  them. The fact that the individual packets came in several different colors was just an added bonus. Everyone loves a rainbow!

photo-327Here are some highlights about b4 Products:

  • The b4 hand sanitizer is specially formulated to kill 99.9% of germs and bacteria
  • Each single-use gel hand sanitizer is packaged in eye-popping, bold colors
  • Hand sanitizer packets can be co-branded – b4 works with companies to customize colors, logos, etc.
  • b4 hand sanitizer moisturizes hands with Vitamin E and aloe
  • All b4 products are made in the USA
  • b4 is a triclosan-free hand sanitizer

Not only did I use several of these during my first week back teaching, but I also packed a box of b4 in Emi’s backpack on her first day of school.  I’m sure she’ll be excited to share with all of her friends!

photo-326Check out all of the b4 products on their site. They are so convenient and can just be thrown into your purse or a backpack. Right now you can receive 15% off your order when you place your order online, using. the code “b4health” Orders over $35 receive free shipping.  Also, starting September 20, you’ll be able to purchase b4 products at Staples.

B4 Sanitizer 07

I love supporting companies like b4 that give back to others!

I’ve now added b4 to my teacher necessities  list!

Everyone Loves a Carousel!

/ Lifestyle, Motherhood

My favorite kind of day is one where I can stop and enjoy the moment without being in a hurry.

Emi and I had one last “Mommy & Me day” before she went back to school. She usually has a vision in her head of how most occasions will play out so first off, she needed to get appropriately dressed up.

Our first stop, was the nail salon. With the start of 3rd grade being SUCH a big deal, she wanted to make sure to have just the right design on her nails (and toes).

I LOVE little nails and toes and wish I could get away with having something this adorable on mine!
Our next stop was lunch. Nordstrom Cafe is one of our favs, especially the tomato soup and kids grilled cheese! I can’t say that a cookie wasn’t also snuck onto our tray.
After lunch, we walked around the mall for a long while, getting back to school necessities. Although my little girl is growing up too quickly, I love that she still asks to ride the carousel!
Everyone loves a carousel!

Getting Ready for Back to School

/ Celebrations, Crafts & DIY, Printables

I feel like summer has just flown by and little by little I’ve been getting ready to go back to school.
For me, there are 2 kinds of “going back to school”. First, I have to go back to my own first grade classroom. A couple of weeks after that, I have to get ready for Emi’s first day of school!

The first day of school for Emi is kind of a big deal around here. (I’m sure no one is surprised, right?)
I start “hoarding” things for her 1st day of school breakfast, as early as June! I stick them in cupboards, closets, and in the back of my car! I don’t think I even sleep the night before her first day because I’m so busy setting everything up just perfectly, like I’m throwing some big party or something! I’m pretty sure Emi is just excited to see donuts sitting at the table each year.

Earlier today, I was looking back through my pictures from what I did last year and I just can’t believe it’s been almost a year since Emi started 2nd grade!

Whenever there’s a special occasion or a holiday, I love to decorate with printables by Lauren McKinsey! She always has the most adorable collections, some of which you can even personalize before you print! Last year, I was able to use this particular collection for both this table AND in my own classroom!
Check out her collections here: http://www.LaurenMcKinsey.com
This was some of the back to school swag from last year.
I was in LOVE with this lunchbox by Timree, which actually has a chalkboard inside to write a note in.
The personalized folder is also part of Timree’s school supply collection.
You can check out more of her stuff at: http://www.timree.com
These were little pretzel bags filled with Hershey’s Nuggets that were each wrapped with a printable, also from that collection. The best part about assembling these the night before, was that there was no one else around to count how many I’d eaten!
 
Always remember to send something for your child’s teacher on the first day.
Emi likes to bring something for her new teacher and something for all of the former ones.
(Teachers appreciate that kind of gesture, even if it’s just something small.)
I feel like I’m going to have a hard time outdoing myself this year
after looking over what I did last year!
 Guess we’ll find out in a couple of weeks!