back to school

Back to School Tips: Organizing the Entryway

August 25, 2021 By Lena 18 Comments

With the new school year just around the corner, I decided it was time to reorganize our home’s entryway. I know it’s not typically associated with back to school preparations, but the foyer actually sees the most traffic and chaos: masks are thrown, shoes are kicked off and lunch bags stay nestled in backpacks (often with leftover food inside – my biggest pet peeve)!

To set up my kids for success, I stopped by Kitchen Stuff Plus and grabbed stylish, affordable accessories to help organize the space. I can’t believe such small changes made such a big impact! Here are my top tips and product recos:

1. Start with large, high quality indoor mat. Especially over the winter months when slush finds its way in the home, you’ll want to ensure that kids know to keep their shoes and boots planted firmly on the doormat. I found this sleek, Harman Textaline ‘Trace’ Vinyl Indoor-Outdoor Mat. Available in an array of designs and sizes, its non-slip backing prevents shifting and skidding, and the mat cleans easily by simply wiping with a damp cloth.
2. Keep it simple: use a coat rack. We have a gorgeous, spacious, mirrored closet adjacent to our foyer… but somehow, my kids haven’t mastered the trick of opening the closet and hanging their coats. (Okay, they’re just lazy. We know this.) After years of nagging I finally decided to simply their lives (and mine) by purchasing this gorgeous, sleek KSP Spoke Metal Coat Rack. A simple and modern design helps tidy up outerwear, and I love that it suits any décor! A wide metal base keeps the coat rack secure. …

Back-to-School Shopping: Old School Edition!

August 15, 2019 By Lena 1 Comment

Tell me back-to-school isn’t the most wonderful time of year. Change my mind! I dare you.

Just like every summer, it seems the time has flown by and we’re already starting to prep for the new school year. Admittedly, I’ve eschewed the mall in years past, preferring to complete my shopping online (often, without input from my boys). I mean, it’s all the same to kids, right?

Except, this year, I don’t have kids. I have young men: Ryder is entering grade 6 and Reid is entering grade 4. They’ve both reached the age where they care about their clothing, shoes (excuse me, “kicks”) and absolutely every accessory that I’ll be sticking a label on (they may be young men, but they still lose stuff all the time). For the first time, they’ve asked to actively participate in back-to-school shopping! Because I have wonderful memories of shopping for all my “must haves” with my mom, I decided to forgo online shopping and take the kids to the mall. The experience? Priceless.
This year, I’m sharing my best tips for back-to-school shopping – the old school way! …

New School Year, New Kicks and a NEW Way to Shop for SKECHERS!

September 18, 2017 By Lena 29 Comments

If you’re a long-time follower of my blog, and you happen to pay more attention to detail than most, you’ll have picked up on one, indisputable, impossible-to-ignore truth –

My boys ALWAYS wear SKECHERS shoes.
They love the fresh designs and wide array of colours and styles; I love the durability and affordable prices. From S Lights to Skech-Train, SKECHERS GOrun to Nitrate, my boys have worn them all. …

Reward Yourself: Offset the Cost of Back to School Shopping

August 28, 2017 By Lena 36 Comments

Years ago, if you told me that I’d have to budget for back to school shopping, I’d think you were crazy. I mean, really, how expensive can pencils and paper be?

Oh, right – that was before I considered clothing, shoes, laptops, lunchboxes, fidget-spinners-cubes-whatever and about a hundred other things that all add up. There’s no doubt about it: back to school shopping is expensive.

However, this year, I’m doing things a little bit differently: I’m still crossing everything off my list – while paying less money out of pocket than ever! – with the help of RBC Rewards. Do you collect RBC Rewards points? Now’s a great time to redeem them, especially since there are so many ways they can help offset the cost of back to school shopping.

1. Stay ahead of the rush. The mall is probably my least favourite place to venture just before summer holidays end. In addition to the crowds, I’m also more likely to overspend at the mall when confronted with multiple sales and promotions, beckoning me to make that impulse purchase. This is why I love the RBC Rewards App. With products available from Best Buy, Apple, Herschel and more, I can redeem points for so many of my back to school essentials right from the palm of my hand. As a busy mom I like the convenience of being able to shop and track my points on the go.

2. Comparison shop ‘til you drop. With a wide variety of retailers available on one easy-to-navigate website, I can ensure I’m receiving the best value for my hard-earned rewards. RBC Rewards features more than 400 brands to shop from and gives me the opportunity to opt-in to earn bonus points from retailers like HBC and Apple on purchases I’d already be making for back to school! Because I’ve opted in to receive deals and promos, I always know when it’s the best time to shop. …

Back to School #ParentWins with Walmart Canada!

August 15, 2017 By Lena 31 Comments

It’s crunch time, moms.

With just a couple of weeks to go before the BIG DAY, chances are, you have places to go and people to outfit. (In many, many outfits….) So where can you find stylish, affordable clothing that can keep up with your kids and their fashion personas? Walmart Canada, of course!
Pictured Above: George Boys’ Graphic Shirts ($12.97), George Boys’ Skinny Fit Jeans ($11.97), Athletic Works Boys’ Smith Athletic Shoe (on Ryder, $24.97) and AND1 Boys’ Fantasy Basketball Shoes (on Reid, $29.97). …

How to Minimize the Stress of the Morning Rush

August 30, 2016 By Lena 34 Comments

I think we’ve all reached the point where we’re done talking about back to school and now we’re forced to do something about it. This may include, but is not limited to:

Shopping. I adore back to school shopping! Crisp notebooks, stylish clothes, the latest in technology and two very opinionated boys who want it all. Our back to school shopping begins in August and is a month-long celebration, loosely known as “pawning off the kids to someone else for 10 months.” DSC_1146a Strength Conditioning. For your hands. Because come September, there WILL be forms to sign. Mountains and mountains of forms to sign. Last year, I briefly considered ordering a personalized stamp with my name and phone number, so I wouldn’t have to fill out my information 1,734 times.

Lunches. For moms of young ones, get ready to make lunches. And with two boys in elementary school, I’ll make 388 lunches before June 2017. Normally this wouldn’t faze me, but then I consider that I’ll actually have made almost 4,000 lunches by the time the kids go to high school. Hold me. …

Designer Deals. Back to School Delights. This is Dixie Outlet Mall.

August 26, 2016 By Lena 23 Comments

If you’ve yet to read my previous post, “Back to School: Deals and Delights at Dixie Outlet Mall,” go ahead. Take a peek. Because you’ll want to know how I came about the following fabulous fashion finds at Winners, and how my shopping experience was actually entertaining, thanks to the VR Adventure Lounge (limited time only – ends September 4th).

All done? Great. Now for the big reveal.

Winners has always been one of my go-to places for exceptional deals on kids’ clothing. The store at Dixie Outlet Mall is large, well-stocked and jam-packed with back to school items – everything from popular themed backpacks to the trendiest denim styles. And for just $100 before taxes, I was able to grab three outfits for the boys – two for Reid and one for Ryder!

(Why did Reid get two outfits? It’s repayment on my part for years of making him wear Ryder’s hand-me-downs. Plus, out of the two, he’s the fashion lover!)
I purchased this adorable – er, masculine and sporty – Adidas track suit for just $29.99. It’s lightweight and perfect for fall school days. Reid is big on layering as he tends to go from hot to cold and hot again very quickly, and I can’t deny the quality and styling that make Adidas track suits high on the list of “must-haves” for little boys. …

Back to School: Deals and Delights at Dixie Outlet Mall

August 26, 2016 By Lena 15 Comments

When it comes to back to school shopping, I want to know all the things.

Tell me where the deals are. Tell me about the hottest fashions. Tell me how I can outfit my boys in clothes they love, at prices I can afford. Tell me how I can make back to school shopping fun for them and (relatively) painless for me.

Oh, you want to know too? You’re in luck – today, I’ll tell YOU how to make it happen.
20160824_185513 For my readers in the Greater Toronto Area, when was the last time you checked out Dixie Outlet Mall? As one of Canada’s largest enclosed outlet shopping centres, it’s a virtual mecca of your favourite stores at heavily discounted prices. And, especially when it comes to back to school, who can resist a deal? …

School Looks for Less? Yes!

August 12, 2016 By Lena 33 Comments

My boys are at an age where they’re starting to develop self-awareness. This means that their hair must be styled a certain way (“More pomade, Mom!”), there are taboo clothing choices (cords?) and of course, they have their preferences when it comes to back to school style.
bys Thank goodness for Walmart. They have everything I need for back to school, including a wide selection of quality fashion for boys at affordable prices. From preppy shirts to hoodies for layering; popular graphic tees to on-trend stylish denim, back to school shopping for outfits is such a breeze. …

Back to School: Your Surprise is Waiting.

August 9, 2016 By Lena 23 Comments

One more month. One more month to spend time with my little guys this summer; to watch them smile, hear them laugh and run around footloose and fancy free. One more month to listen to their sweet voices…. arguing and yelling. One month of watching them push, punch and fight…

Okay, so perhaps this month can’t go by fast enough.

Et voila! Back to school time is upon us. The happiest time of the year just got happier for me, because I’ve had a chance to indulge in some back to school shopping, scoring fabulous name brands at out of this world prices. In fact, here’s how I grabbed “First Day of School” outfits for BOTH my boys – for under $100!

Surprise! I found everything at Marshalls. They even have a back to school checklist published online that you could quickly glance through prior to your shopping.
Marshalls is always top of mind for me for back to school, because they have everything I need to make sure my boys start the year in style. Plus, where else can I deck them out in brand names such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Levis 501 and more – for less? …

A Homier Place for Homework with Grand & Toy

September 15, 2015 By Lena

“I have homework,” Ryder announced, bending to undo the velcro on his running shoe.
“It’s the second day of school!” my husband exclaimed, looking at me in confusion.
“Welcome to grade two,” I countered, already clearing off the dining table.

The dining table. The place where I completed my homework as a child, and the one place I’ve been trying to keep sacred now that the kids have resumed school. But, it’s a losing battle. Because my boys like to be near me; in the kitchen, in the heart of the home. Even though I’ve previously set up a “study area” in our second floor loft, I’m embarrassed to admit that the boys have never completed their homework there, opting instead to crash at the dining table as I fix dinner.

And just when I thought I was doomed to another generation of “dining table” students, I found the *perfect* solution at Grand & Toy!

Get ready to save on school and office must-haves. They’ve got a wide selection from the most popular brands, including everything I needed to create a homework nook in my dining room. I’m fortunate to have an open concept home, which means that I can have a separate table for the boys’ homework and a separate table to eat! Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

Grand & Toy offers stress-free and convenient online shopping for school essentials, especially those items that may have missed your back-to-school list. You can save on hundreds of supplies, large and small, with savings of up to 70% off select items. And, ordering is a breeze!

Here’s what I selected for my homework nook:
grandandtoy 1. Star Quality Alnair Bench Desk. A durable work surface for the boys with a solid metal base, plus it has a scratch and dent-resistant finish (necessary for school-aged kids). It’s just the right size for two little students, and just the right sale price at $169.99! …

Last Minute Back-to-School Shopping? Make the Most It.

September 5, 2015 By Lena

If you’re ready to brave the crowds this Labour Day weekend, congrats! You’re just as crazy as I am.

After some unscheduled time off, I haven’t had the time to do all those last-minute errands for the boys. And so, here it is, the last weekend before school begins, and I’m set to hit the mall, the grocery store, and most likely, the bottle.

A girl’s gotta unwind, yes?

There is a silver lining to this 11th-hour chaos: the AIR MILES Better Bonus Event, which gives Collectors like me the opportunity to support children’s causes across Canada. Check it out: for every Bonus Mile I receive using my Better Bonus Event coupons, AIR MILES will match that Mile – up to 10 million Miles! – to donate to children’s causes nationwide.
main-wk4 Here are my picks for this weekend!

Sobeys: Shop for all your school lunch necessities and support their partners such as Free The Children and the Home Cook Heroes program.

Shell: Driving to the dorm? Fuel up with Shell, and receive 7x the AIR MILES Reward Miles with a $10 in-store purchase. Minimum 25 L fuel purchase required per transaction. …

A New Way to Pay it Forward with #AIRMILES4Change

September 1, 2015 By Lena

It’s the week before the new school year begins. Also known as, one of the most chaotic weeks of my life! If I’m not taking a mental inventory of the boys’ wardrobe and rummaging through the closet for shoes that fit, I’m making grocery lists on the fly while trying to figure out back-to-school lunches and snacks. And then, of course, there’s that little matter of school supplies – paper, pencils and everything in between.

It’s exhausting! Of course, what keeps me going is the knowledge that at this time next week, they’ll be settled behind their desks instead of shadowing my every action. Seven more days, Lena!

And while I’m running around purchasing clothing, food and supplies, I’m also helping to make a difference in the lives of children around the world. Here’s how you can too.

Just in time for back-to-school, the AIR MILES Reward Program is teaming up with its Partners – some of Canada’s most trusted and beloved brands – to launch a new initiative that celebrates and gives back to children’s causes.
On August 6, 2015, AIR MILES launched the Better Bonus Event, which gives Collectors like me the opportunity to support children’s causes across Canada, just by doing my everyday shopping – including my back-to-school shopping. For every Bonus Mile I receive using my Better Bonus Event coupons, AIR MILES will match that Mile – up to 10 million Miles! – to donate to children’s causes nationwide.

Rewarding Yourself + Giving Back = Perfect Promotion. Way to go, AIR MILES!

And there’s more – not only can I collect a substantial number of Bonus Miles, but I’ll also have the opportunity to win one of four prizes, including 50,000 Miles plus an additional 50,000 Miles that goes towards the charity of my choice! …

Dig In! It’s the Appehtite Back-to-School Recipe Challenge!

August 28, 2015 By Lena

Ah, school lunches. Experts predict that by the time a mom sees her kids through high school, she will have prepared, on average, 10,350 school lunches. Let’s just take a moment to absorb that number (and perhaps have a little cry). Okay, so we can’t get out of making lunches, but we can make it more fun! Ladies and Gentlemen: It’s the contest that keeps giving back. Introducing the Appehtite Back-to-School Recipe Challenge!

Why it’s Awesome: You could win $5,000 in groceries for a year!
25117_Banner4_eng The Ask: Your appehtask is to create a delicious back to school dish every kid will want to dig into. All recipes must include a participating product from Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Schneiders, Hygrade, Sunrise, and/or Larsen. To be entered into the contest, you must:

– Create a fully developed recipe, complete with ingredients and directions
– Provide a brief description of your recipe
– Include a quality recipe photo with your post
– The recipe must be an original creation, made by the Entrant
– The photograph submitted must be an original photograph taken by the Entrant
– No third party logos, trade-marks or other material

How to Enter: All the details right here.

Why it keeps giving back: In addition to having a chance to win a cool $5K in groceries, you’ll also find a ton of inspiring back-to-school food ideas! Like An Apple a Day Ham Sandwich Lunch or Soup and Turkey Grilled Cheese Lunch. In fact, you could build an entire week’s meal plan on some of the recipes featured in this fun challenge. And if your little one is in JK this year, that means you’ve only got 10,343 lunches left to worry about. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Enter the challenge today! Good luck all, and have a happy back-to-school!

Back to School with Grand & Toy!

August 21, 2015 By Lena

Back. to. School. If you’re a parent, those three words rule your world right now! And with the kiddos set to enter the classroom for another year, the crunch is on to get ready, get prepped, and go!

This year, there are three things you absolutely need to know:

1) Camo is *always* in style. This year, rock the trend in a subtle way with a camo hat, cell phone case or book bag. For the girls, pair it with metallic solids for street-style perfection.

2) Put an end to bullying. Make it part of your back-to-school “to do” list to talk to your children about behavioural expectations throughout the school year. Remember, no one likes a bully.

3) Grand & Toy has an online shop, where you can find some of the hottest back-to-school products and prices. YES, Grand & Toy!

Grand & Toy offers Canadians a complete selection of office supplies, furniture, the latest tech and of course, back-to-school products for kids, teens and the college crowd! It’s all available through their online shop, where you can take advantage of fabulous sales, discounts and promos you won’t find anywhere else (like this Starbucks gift card offer or this bonus China Glaze nail polish set).

Want to learn more? We thought so! Join the #grandandtoyB2S Twitter Party on Tuesday, August 25th at 8pm EDT! We’ll have all the scoop on the hottest back-to-school products that you can order online in time for the first day of school.
To thank you for joining, we’ll have some AMAZING prizes up for grabs – you won’t want to miss it! RSVP below for a chance to win (Canadians only), and we’ll see you on Tuesday night. …

Get Ready for Back-to-School with #HeritageB2S

August 15, 2015 By Lena

Sitting here, gathering my thoughts to write this post, I have only one question: Where did summer go? It’s like I snapped my fingers and poof! It’s gone!

Which means September is around the corner. And the kids will be going back to school. And I’ll have my sanity back.

Hello! Summer is sooo overrated, isn’t it?

Back-to-school season is upon us; shopping for school supplies, setting new routines and more. Heritage Education Funds wants to help start the school year off right, so they’re hosting the second annual #HeritageB2S Twitter Party on Wednesday!
To thank you for joining us, they’ve teamed up with Save.ca and DK Canada to offer over $1300 in prizes that you – and your kids – will love! Up for grabs:

3 x $100 Visa gift cards
2 x Book Prize Packs (valued at over $100 each)
2 x HP Chromebooks (valued at $399 each)

RSVP below to be eligible for prizes (Canadians only). Good luck, and see you on Wednesday! …

Back to School: Set Me Up Best Buy!

August 26, 2014 By Lena

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

You’ll likely be partaking in a little shopping – and, you’ll have a choice on where to spend your hard-earned money. So, what should you look for in a retailer? Let me make a case for Best Buy – they’ve got everything to set your kids up for success this back to school, making it easy for you to shop for what you want, where you want and how you want all at the lowest possible price.

i. Lowest Price Guarantee: Best Buy’s Lowest Price Guarantee to customers is the best in Canada. They guarantee it both in-store and online.

ii. Reserve and Pick-up: Customers can reserve their product online without entering any credit card information and pick up their item at the store of their choice in as quickly as 20 minutes.

iii. Assortment: Nobody in Canada can offer a better selection of products.

iv. In-store Pick-up and Web kiosks: If they don’t have something in-store, their Blue Shirts will assist customers to purchase the product online at one of the in-store web kiosks and have the product shipped to their home or the store for easy pick-up.

Okay, so maybe you’ve considered Best Buy for your electronic needs. But not only does Best Buy have all of the latest and greatest in technology for back to school, they also carry a wide assortment of backpacks, lunch bags, school supplies, musical instruments, educational toys and more. It’s true!

FACT: Best Buy carries more than 300 backpacks online from top brands including JanSport, Swiss Gear, Roots, TUMI, OGIO, High Sierra and many more in a number of different styles, sizes and colours to suit every student going back to school.

BTS_Backpack_Campaign_ElementarySchool FACT: Best Buy carries over 3,500 school and office supplies online so while you are shopping for your new laptop or tablet, you can also get your pens, notebooks and pencil crayons all at the same place. …

Back to School with #airmilesshops!

August 19, 2014 By Lena

I have fond memories of back to school shopping with my parents. Shuffling from store to store; checking the flyers, prices and sales, wading through crowds of kids and frazzled parents.

My boys won’t have the same memories – because I’ll be completing ALL their back to school shopping online! And with www.airmilesshops.ca, it’s easier than ever to reward yourself – from August 25th until September 1st, Collectors earn 5x reward miles just for shopping at their favourite online stores through #airmilesshops!

Earning AIR MILES reward miles while shopping online through airmilesshops.ca is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

Step One: Sign In – Sign in with your AIR MILES Collector Number and click “Shop Now”
Step Two: Shop – You will be taken to the retailer’s online site and shop as you normally would
Step Three: Earn – You will earn 1 AIR MILES reward miles for every $20 you spend!

All you have to do is remember to sign in through the portal and you’ll automatically earn rewards. And since your privacy and security is of the utmost importance, each and every retailer that is under the “virtual roof” of airmilesshops.ca uses a secure SSL checkout. Hence, you’ll always have peace of mind when shopping online – especially during the hectic back to school season.

So beat those crowds, grab the best deals, and get ready to WIN – join us for an @AIRMILES #airmilesshops Twitter Party on Monday, August 25th at 8pm ET. We’ll share tips and tricks for finding the hottest back to school gear and showcase the latest and greatest from top fashion retailers like Old Navy, The Gap, TOMS, Hudson’s Bay and more! Plus, we’ll be giving away some pretty sweet prizes, guaranteed to receive an A+ for awesomeness.

RSVP for a chance to win, and see you on Monday night!

*Please be sure to enter your Twitter Handle “@yourTwitterhandle” in the Link/Blog Title field, and your Twitter URL “www.twitter.com/yourtwitterhandle” in the Link Field*…

Brain Training 101: A Clever Way to Entertain Kiddos

September 24, 2013 By Lena

‘Tis the season for back to school, and thus, ’tis the season for gadget reviews! Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of testing out some brand new electronic toys; specifically, a phone, an ultrabook and a brand new Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC. (Yes, I’m feeling très geek chic.) The truth is, even though I’m not a tech writer, I have a pretty good handle on what works well for my family, and hence, am enthused to share some of our favourite gadgets for the new school year. Let’s begin with the All-in-One.

Courtesy of HP, we received the new HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC. Touted as “the desktop with a built-in battery that leaves the desk behind”, your family can enjoy an all-in-one that moves with you. Stand the touchscreen upright to watch movies, then move it to the living room and lay it flat for group games and creative projects. Think of it as the king of tablets. And when I say king, I mean King Kong, because the 20-inch HD display is downright massive.

So, Ryder has been at school for just over 3 weeks now. And even though I feared he may have an awkward, fearful transition – he had been just fine. More than fine, actually; while he still shows signs of anxiety, he also shows excitement for going to class because he loves to learn. Reading, writing, math and art – you name it – he is utterly obsessed with gaining knowledge. And so we try to tailor the activities at home to keep the Brain Training alive; you’ll often find Ryder’s head buried in a primary reader, assembling 100-piece puzzles on the floor and always, always colouring. (And shouting at little Reid to colour between the lines.)

Last month, HP issued a Brain Training Challenge aimed at helping parents and teachers give young learners the creative edge in a competitive world. I was asked to perform a series of challenges with my boys in the first few weeks of school – a “kick start” of sorts to get their creative and analytic juices flowing from the beginning. Of course, I had the perfect tester!

Before I chat about the visually-striking, family friendly educational apps we tried, I really should point something out. See the HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC on my coffee table? Did you notice anything that’s missing? Oh, just the EXTENSION CORD – that’s right, with a built-in battery, my entire “home office” is now completely mobile! So when I’m not pounding away on the keyboard drumming up blog posts, the kiddos are watching movies online, playing games and ~~fighting over~~ taking turns with the apps I’ve downloaded from the Windows store….

Staples “First Day of School” Winners Announced!

September 21, 2013 By Lena

We all have our back to school stories… good and bad. And, if you were brave enough to share… you may be a winner in Staples’ First Day of School Contest! From over 600 entries, Staples has crowned three ‘First Day of School’ story champions. The competition was even stiffer than last year and entries ranged from side-splitting to heart-wrenching with plenty in between.

It was truly a difficult task to choose just three winners; while judging the contest, I found myself laughing, cringing, and even getting emotional over the various entries. (Of course, cringe-worthy stories are the BEST stories, aren’t they?) Kudos to everyone who took the time to write about missed school buses, intimidating older students, strange and new situations, and of course, bathroom blunders.

Pop on over to the Staples Blog to view the top entries, and congratulations to all of the winners who will be taking home a Canon T3i Prize pack! And, if you didn’t have a chance to share your story (and are just dying to), email it to facebook@staples.ca and it could be featured in an upcoming blog post!