LEGO Fans Mark Your Calendar! #Chicago

CALENDAR ALERT

LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center Chicago Celebrates Buddy’s Birthday!

You’re Invited to the Brick-tastic Birthday Bash on Aug. 11

WHAT: LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is celebrating Buddy’s Birthday on Aug. 11, and everyone’s invited to join the brick-tastic celebration! We’ll be partying it up with goody bags, games and plenty of cake. But that’s not all! Kids who bring Buddy a homemade, LEGO-themed birthday card will receive free admission and be entered for a chance to win a birthday party package (value $395). The grand prize includes:

• Admission to LEGOLAND Discovery Center including all rides and attractions
• Exclusive party room for 90 minutes with party host
• Each child receives an Activity Lanyard
• Private Model Builder Workshop and each child gets to take home the LEGO model they build
• Free Annual Pass for Birthday Child
• 3 Cheese Pizzas
• Unlimited Pop
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center Birthday Cake
• 1 LEGO Framed Birthday Party Photo
• Birthday Party Crowns
• Gift for the Birthday Child
• 10% off in the LEGO Retail Shop for all guests
• Each child receives a free ticket to return to LEGOLAND Discovery Center

WHEN:             Saturday, August 11

                        10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

WHERE:           LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

Streets of Woodfield

601 N. Martingale Rd.

Schaumburg, Ill.

About LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center Chicago

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is an indoor family entertainment destination with over 3 million LEGO bricks and nine attractions including: Model Builder Workshop; Jungle Expedition; Kingdom Quest Laser Ride; LEGO City Construction Site Play Zone; Technicycle Ride; LEGO 4D Cinema; Build and Test; LEGO Factory Tour; and MINILAND featuring iconic Chicago landmarks.

Located at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd. in Schaumburg, LEGOLAND Discovery Center is 30 minutes from downtown Chicago by car. Adult Admission is $19. Child Admission is $15. Special annual pass and ticket discounts are available at www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com. Last guest admission is two hours before closing. Extended hours are available on school vacation days and national holidays. Visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com for updated daily opening times. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is a part of the Merlin Entertainments Group.

Go for Skin Health Gold { Awesome #Giveaway } @EucerinUS

When it comes to shopping for food, most of us have a good idea of what we like to eat. But finding the right skin care regimen isn’t that easy. A good skin care routine is vital to helping hydrate your skin and maintain soft skin. So if your skin regimen is in need of a boost, Eucerin’s Skin First Dermatologists Members Dr. Ingleton and Dr. Sarnoff have shared their best skin secrets to help guide you on your summer mission to healthy looking, fresh, and radiant skin. 

Dr. Ingleton’s daily skin care regimen consists of:

Mornings

1. Cleanse with soap-free cleanser

2. Apply a cream to protect your skin from environmental damage

3. Apply an eye cream that hydrates and fades darkness

4. Finish with an oil-free SPF moisturizer

Evenings

1. Cleanse with soap-free cleanser to remove make-up and dirt

2. Apply an eye cream

3. Finish with a serum that hydrates

Dr. Sarnoff’s secrets to healthy skin: 

·         Every morning and evening wash your face with a mild cleanser and avoid bar soap

·         Use eye makeup that is washable

·         The best time to apply moisturizer is to put on immediately after you shower when the skin is damp.   

You can get FREE samples of Eucerin’s Daily Replenishing Lotion on their Facebook page. All you have to do is Like the Facebook Page and click on the app that says "Unlock Free Samples".

Be sure to visit the Skindicator App for a personalized skin care regimen recommendation from Eucerin’s Skin First Dermatologists. 

GIVEAWAY

You can win a “Go for Skin Health Gold” kit on behalf of Eucerin. This package includes:

- $100 Visa Gift Card

- Summer Tote to carry your sun protective gear and your Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion

-  Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion (13.5 oz) – This light, everyday formula with nourishing sunflower oil absorbs quickly and provides 24 hour moisturization for healthier-looking, softer skin. It keeps skin moisturized all day with a lotion specifically formulated to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

All you have to do to enter is follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget below (US ONLY)

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway


**I received a Eucerin Prize Pack identical to the one the winner will receive, any opinions are my own

Smart Back to School Shopping with Cookie's Kids #CBias #CookiesKids

Its almost time for the kids to head back to school but the temps are still in the 90's, so I had to update their summer wardrobes.  I headed over to Cookie's Kids to check out what they have to offer and see how their prices match up to other places I shop.

If you are new to Cookie's Kids, here is a little about their company:

In 1972, a young man named Cookie and his brother Marvin went into business together. They rented a 1600 square foot store in Jamaica, Queens, fixed it up, bought inventory and Summer and Fall, and opened a day after Thanksgiving with a full stock of holiday toys. The toys were a success and they put the extra money toward buying children's clothing for the next season. When that did well, they bought more clothing. The business was on it's way.

As the brothers Cookie, Marvin and Sonny, who had come in as a third partner in the business, began to open new stores in new locations, inventory expanded. Besides the latest fashions, our customers wanted shoes, toys, backpacks and accessories and we were prepared to deliver.

By the late 1990's there were six superstores throughout the NYC area, and though they previously had different names, by that time they were all named Cookie's Kids. Also in the late '90s came an important addition to Cookie's Kids' inventory: school uniforms. It was the steady success in uniform sales that paved the way for founding CookiesKids.com in 2007, which originally sold uniforms and soon after the entire Cookie's Kids Inventory.

The first thing I noticed when I went to the site was the huge Clearance signs, up to 90% off.  What mom doesn't love sales?  Before I hit the clearance section, which is where I like to start, I just browsed around to check out everything there was to pick from.

I found this amazing little party dress, I love the color and the style but I had to find more practical looks for school.  My daughter never has enough shorts plus she has outgrown most of the ones she fit into at the end of last shool year, so I headed to the girl's clearance section to see what I could find.  I like how Cookie's Kids is set up, the site is easy to navigate and the categories are all right there so you can go right to the items that you are looking for.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw these prices in the clearance section....yes, shorts for only $3.99.  There was really a lot to choose from on Cookie's Kids, in all price ranges.  I found many brand names and clothes that you would pay double or triple for at other stores.

I bought my son this really vintage looking Spider-Man shirt.  The colors are nice and bright and he loves super heros.  I also got him some great sports shorts.  I like to put him in shorts that are easy to take off and pull back up because he usually waits til the last second to go potty and sometimes has a hard time with the buttons on shorts.  I didn't want him to have and embarassing moments in Kindergarten.

I do, however, love plaid cargo shorts on little boys, and these ones are so cute.  I didn't end up buying them because my son already had many plaid pairs but something tells me I will be going back for them. 

The shipping only cost me $5.00 for the five items I purchased from Cookies Kids, and my order came quickly.  The kids loved their new clothes.  One thing I did notice was that most of the clothes I got, the sizes did run a bit small.  If you are not sure what size to order for your kids, I suggest sizing up.  Here they are in their new outfits.

Super cute and ready for school!

I also made a Polyvore collage of some of my favorite girl clothes on Cookie's Kids.

Cookies Kids Shop by agnesrhodes2 featuring bracelets

If you want to see my entire shop, you can check out my Google+ album by clicking HERE.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ andCookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric

Spectacular Dinner and Show at Medieval Times {Giveaway}

We are always looking for something fun with the kids, something different and memorable and I think we have found one of our new favorites.  We were invited to visit Medieval Times in Schaumburg, IL last weekend to take part in their 20th anniversary celebration.  If you live in the area I'm sure you have driven past the castle at least once, we had driven past it many, many times and always had it on our to do list.  The castle itself was really neat, with flags and medieval decor.  All the employees wear medieval style clothing and if you opt for the souvenir photo before your dinner, you have a chance to put on some royal clothing and step back in time.  We got there early so that we could participate in the Knight training which is something new that Medieval Times offers.  The castle is offering  Princess & Knight Training for children ages 5-12, on weekends before the matinee performance now through September 30^th.  The training is free with paid admission and takes place an hour before show time, Princess training is on Saturdays and Knight training is on Sundays.  If you plan on participating in the special training make sure you get there on time because it is limited to the first 100 kids, also make sure your kids are wearing closed toe shoes or they won't be able to participate.  Little man was so excited to go down to the arena with the knights and participate in the training. 

After the training we had some time to walk around the castle, enjoy a drink from the bar and check out the horse stables.  There are some really nice souvenirs that you can buy too, anything from a wooden sword and princess crown, to a beautiful chess set or decorative metal sword.  The king walked through the castle with his royal attendants and they announced some special guests for the evening.  After that, it was time to get seated.  The seats are in sections and each section is a certain color.  The colors coordinate with the different knights and you cheer on your knight throughout the show.  We sat in the green section in the front row.  Once seated, your "wench" comes out and serves you drinks and then the show begins!

The show is exciting, fast paced and FUN!  There really is not a dull moment the entire time and we loved every moment of it.  The food was really good, we got tomato soup with a side of hot, tasty bread, followed by half a chicken, rib and potato wedges and for desert we got an apple pastry.  It was really a feast!  In true medieval manner, you do not get silverware but everything was easy to eat with your hands, even for someone with braces.  I can't speak for all the sections, but our section had bathrooms conveniently located in the section so we didn't have to go far to use the restrooms which is a huge bonus when you have small children. 

Our overall experience was very positive, the staff was super friendly, food was great and show was amazing.  Medieval Times is a must for every family!

GIVEAWAY

I am giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Medieval Times!  The tickets are for the Schaumburg castle ONLY and must be used within 60 days. 

To enter, leave me a comment below with your email address....yep just that easy!  Giveaway will end at midnight on August 12th, winner will be chosen at random and notified through email.

Good Luck

**We were invited by Medieval Times to attend a dinner and show, all opinions are my own**

The First Ever GUND “Top Dog” Contest: Will Your Dog Win?

Inspired by the wildly-popular "World's Cutest Dog" Boo stuffed dog from GUND, the Top Dog Contest invites pup parents from around the country to submit photos of their own four-footed friends on the GUND Facebook page in one or all of the following four categories:

·        Most Beautiful Dog
·        Ugliest Dog
·        “Doganista”/Best Dressed Dog
·        Dog that Most Resembles its Owner

The Grand Prize will have tails wagging; GUND will create a limited edition model of the winner’s dog.  The dog will be available in gift and toy stores in 2013. That’s right!  Your pup could become a GUND plush just like Boo!

Your can submit your dog photos via the contest tab on GUND’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GottaGettaGUND). The contest will run July 16 - August 15, 2012 and winners will be chosen the week of August 20^th and announced the week of August 27^th.

·         Entries: July 16 – August 5
·         Voting: August 6 – August 15

Simultaneously with the Top Dog Contest on Facebook, GUND will run the Most Pinteresting Dog Contest on Pinterest.  Just post your entry on your own page, tag @GUNDMostPinterestingDog and submit the link to GUND at MostPinterestingDog@diaryofasahm.com. The Most Pinteresting Dog Contest winner will be selected based on the number of times the entry is “liked” on the GUND Pinterest board and the winner will receive a selection of GUND products valued at $250 retail.

For complete rules, see Top Dog Contest and Most Pinteresting Dog Contest rules at www.GUND.com.

eShakti Custom Designed Fashions {Special Discount for My Readers}

When I shop, I have a hard time finding clothes that have that perfect fit.  I'm fairly short so I run into things being too long on me, or too wide, or too low, and it really makes shopping a frustrating experience.  I especially have a hart time with jeans and dresses.  I don't wear dresses too often but when I have a special occasion or event, I like to look nice and I don't want to spend a fortune, and then spend more on getting it tailored to fit.  I was really excited to find out that eShakti lets you customize the size of your clothing when you are ordering it so that it fits perfect when you put it on.  They offer so many feminine choices in everything from tops, to dresses, to accessories, and since I usually have a hard time with dresses, I decided I would order a customized dress.

You will really have a hard time choosing, eShakti has so many beautiful styles in every color and pattern under the sun.

The dress I ordered is no longer available on their site, but its a beautiful, red dress that I got to order to exactly my size.  After you choose a dress, you choose your size based on bust, waist and hip measurements, and then you put in your height, select the length that you want your dress to be (from short-to mid calf) and then your neckline.  This makes your dress uniquely yours and just the way you like.  Now you don't have to settle for dresses that only half-way meet your needs because every dress can be adjusted just the way you like.  My dress fits perfectly and I can't wait to wear it.

As an added incentive I have a special promo code created just for my readers to get 10% off when they shop eShakti.  The promo code is  AG24NES and is valid only until July 31st.  This code can be used in addition to the existing 'up to 40% OFF Sale' so hurry over there and take advantage of this added bonus!

Disclosure:  I received a dress from eShakti for review purposes, all opinions are my own 

Sesame Street Live at BMO Harris Bank {Giveaway}

Every kid loves Elmo!  Well Elmo and all his Sesame Street friends are coming to Rockford, IL for a spectacular live performance that you don't want to miss.  Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music will be at the BMO Harris Bank Center September 7-9.


Mark your calendar for this once-in-a-lifetime event: monsters becoming musicians! Elmo, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie and all their funny and furry friends are taking to the stage to share the magical world of music with children. When Jenny, the new Sesame Street music teacher, moves into town, her instruments get lost. Jenny’s new Sesame Street friends quickly come to her rescue, and they all discover "instruments" that they never knew existed…rubber duckies, trash can lids and even their own laps! The characters teach children, and themselves, that everyone has the ability to make beautiful music, whether they realize it or not. Don’t miss this opportunity to count along with The Count, visit Elmo’s World and do the Crumb-A-Rumba with Rosita and Cookie Monster at Sesame Street Live "Elmo Makes Music."


TICKET PRICES: $10-$60
Dates:
Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets available at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office, online at www.thebmoharrisbankcenter.com, or charge by phone at (815) 968-5222.  Additional fees may apply.

GIVEAWAY
One of my readers will win a family 4 pack of tickets to the show!  (Will be available at will call the night of the performance)  All you need to do to enter is leave me a comment below with the name of your favorite Sesame Street character and your email address so I can contact you if you win.  This giveaway is for a local event so please do not enter if you are not within driving distance to the show :)  Giveaway will end at midnight on  August 15th and a winner will be chosen at random.  Good Luck!

Last Chance to #Win $100 Amazon Gift Card

Week Four and the last week of the Amazon.com blast is here!  Another chance for you to win.  Again, this giveaway is brought to you by Makobi Scribe and is open world wide.  This giveaway ends at midnight on July 30th, Good Luck!

Javascript must be enabled to enter this giveaway. Learn how to activate Javascript by clicking here.

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I Need You to Join my Team!!! {AND Giveaway}

Let me start this off by saying I am NOT a runner, nor have I ever done a marathon....5K or anything of the sort, BUT, I am participating in a really awesome run/walk/obstacle course called Pretty Muddy Women's Mud Run. No this is not Tough Mudder, its not for testing your endurance nor is it timed, its for fun with your friends and other women....and for getting dirty.

Why am I doing this?  Because its a brand new experience, its something that looks like a blast, its a way I can make some new friends and bond with the old....and because I was promised its not an endurance test lol.  The run is on September 15th so there is plenty of time to plan and get ready, and its in Orland Park and if you take advantage of the Early Bird registration, you will receive a free tshirt.  So just click HERE and join my team.  This run is for Women ONLY so tell your husbands, brothers, boyfriends of whoever, to come and cheer you on.

Need another reason to come and get muddy with me?  I'm pretty sure I will make a fool of myself and fall a lot so if for no other reason then to just come and meet in person and laugh at me, join my team, step out of your comfort zone for one day and do something that you will be talking about for a long time!

Join me, get your ticket to the Pretty Muddy Women's Run HERE  ....PLEASE!

GIVEAWAY!!


Want a chance to WIN a free ticket and t-shirt to the Pretty Muddy Women's Run?  Leave me a comment below with your email address and you will be entered to win a ticket to the run!  You can be on my team or start one of your own.  Giveaway is open to LADIES only.  This giveaway will end at midnight on August 6th and I will choose a winner at random and notify via email.  Good Luck!

What Can You do With a Cucumber?

My garden did not do so well this year.   I'm pretty sure I got too late of a start and with the super dry summer we have been having, I'm not seeing too many veggies.  My parents garden, however, is doing great.  My dad brought over some (or should I say many) cucumbers last night so I could make some pickles.  This got me thinking, what other ways can I use up these cukes?  One of my favorite summer salads/side dishes is a cucumber and sour cream salad.  I'm sure you can add your own spin on it but here is the basic one I make:

Peel and slice cucumbers, add sour cream, chives or some green onion, a little fresh dill and salt to taste.  Refrigerate before serving so that its cool.  Its an amazing side to add to barbecue or anything spicy since it has a cool, mild flavor, but what else are cucumbers good for?  Here is what I found while doing some research.

1. Shed Water Weight
Cucumbers have a high water content and are high in sulfur which makes them a great food to eat if you are bloated due to PMS.  The sulfur stimulates your kidneys which then help remove uric acid.  One of the sources I read mentioned that you should not peel them if you are trying to shed water weight because the skin adds to the cucumber's natural diuretic abilities.

2.  Make a Beauty Mask
Cucumbers are a natural astringent and you can make yourself a beauty mask by mixing a pureed cucumber with a tablespoon of lemon juice and an egg white.  Leave it on your face for 15 minutes then rinse off.

3.  Make Tzatziki Sauce
This is a Greek sauce, commonly used on Gyros, which includes cucumbers and yogurt as well as some other ingredients such as onion.  You can find many recipes for the sauce by searching Tzatziki sauce on the Internet.

4.  Cool Puffy Tired Eyes
Every one has either tried this or seen someone on TV try this.  While laying down, put cool cucumber slices over your eyes and relax.  The cool temp and high water content will relieve some stress from tired eyes and even reduce puffiness.

5.  Fry Them
I have not tried this, but it sounds pretty good.  Dip cucumber slices in milk and flour or cornmeal and fry them up.  If you want to skip the oil and make them healthier, put the slices on a greased cookie sheet and bake them at 350 for 10 minutes on each side....if you make these, let me know how they turned out....better yet, I will make them tomorrow and tell you guys how they are.

6. Put Them on Burns
If you have a minor burn, rash or sunburn, you can puree a cucumber and put it on the affected area to help soothe and cool it.

Well there you have it, and if all else fails then there are about a million pickle recipes out there!

Need Help Cooking for Someone with Food Allergies? (Giveaway)

Finding out that someone in your family has a food allergy or sensitivity is always tough, you pretty much have to change your lifestyle over night.  Grocery shopping becomes long and tedious while you read every food label to see what you can and can't buy.  What about cooking?  Meals have to be changed and prepared to fit your family's new needs and sometimes its tough to find good recipes.  The editors of KIWI magazine have come out with this great new recipe book called Allergy-Friendly Food for Families.  If you are not familiar with KIWI magazine, it is a bimonthly magazine about raising families the natural organic way and is full of great green ideas for your life.

This great new recipe book is really easy to navigate and features color coded tabs on the pages that clearly label the five most common food allergens that recipe is free from.  The five  allergens that this book focuses on are gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs and soy.  Some recipes offer a substitute for the allergen too which gives you more options.  Once you figure out which tab color fits your allergy needs, all you have to do is thumb through right to the color section you want.

The book is then sectioned into meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner and of course dessert :) because even dessert can be healthy!  I really love all the tips in the book on how to get your child involved in the cooking or preparing process.  When your kids help prepare a meal, they are more excited about trying it.

This image really caught my eye and the attention of my sweet tooth.  Its one of the images on the cover, so of course I quickly searched through the book to find it.  These yummy looking cupcakes are gluten-free and there is also a recipe for the fudgy Chocolate Frosting.  But do you see those tasty little candy pops at the top of this tower of sweetness?  They are called Sunny Candy Pops and I want to share the recipe with you:

Sunny Candy Pops

Ingredients


Canola oil, for coating the pan
1/2 cup sunflower seed butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free chocolate chips
3 tablespoons all-natural yellow sprinkles
15 lollipop sticks

Directions


1.  Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with canola oil.

2.  In a medium bowl, mix the sunflower seed butter and the powdered sugar until well-combined. Drop generous teaspoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and roll each one into a ball. Place a lollipop stick in the center of each ball.

3.  Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring once or twice, for 60 to 90 seconds, until melted.

4.  Dip each ball into the melted chocolate, then coat with sprinkles and return to the baking sheet. Chill for at least 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days

And guess what, THIS RECIPE IS: Dairy-free, Egg-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free, Soy-free
 
 
Yes, dealing with food allergies is not fun but the food you prepare definitely can be.  If you would like to purchase a copy of the Allergy-Friendly Food for Families, you can head on over to Amazon.com or click HERE.
 
GIVEAWAY
 
One of my lucky readers will win a copy of this wonderful book.  I'm going to make this super easy, all you have to do to enter is leave me a comment below telling me what food allergy you are dealing with at home, and don't forget to include your email address so I can let you know if you won.  If you are not dealing with a food allergy but you still would like to be entered in the giveaway, just let me know what kinds of recipes you hope to find inside.  This giveaway is open to US only and will end at midnight on August 2nd.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.  Good Luck!
 
I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review

Another Free Blogger Event! #bloggeropp

The BOUNCIEST GIVEAWAY EVER hosted by Mom Powered Media

Prize: BounceLand Castle Bounce N' Slide

The event dates: 8/13 - 8/27

Sign-Up Here - Bloggers Wanted

Free Blogger Giveaway Event!

Calling all bloggers!

Join in this FREE Giveaway event hosted by Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog and Diva Fabulosa.  This even will run   Aug.10 through Sep. 10 and is open  worldwide.

Get all the details and get signed up by visiting  here

Also make sure you let them know that Diary of a Stay at Home Mom sent you

Buy Two Give One and #BagitForward #CBias #SocialFabric

Back to school time is my most favorite time in the whole wide world.  Why?  Because it means that soon I will stop hearing my children bickering all day long, and because school supplies are super duper CHEAP.  Even though supplies are marked down, there are families who still struggle to provide their kids with all the necessary items that they need to have for the school year.  This year we are inspired by Elmer's Bag it Forward and the new 1st Day App giving program to buy some extra supplies and donate them to the kids' teachers.  Its so easy and with the prices as low as they are, its a great time to do something for someone else.

We went shopping the other day at a Wal-Mart in a neighboring town.  The Wal-Mart in our town was still setting up their school supplies so we thought we would have better luck somewhere else.

They are ready to get their shop on!

We actually had a funny experience while on our shopping trip.  When we walked into the store we were not sure where the back to school section was.  Usually they put it in the seasonal section but there was still gardening stuff there, so we headed towards an aisle that had backpacks and a school bus display.  We thought we were heading the right way but once we got there, we saw that there was nothing else there....Hmmm.  I saw an associate and asked her if she could point us toward the school supplies, with a confused look she told us she had no idea where they were.... Ok, so we just kep on walking, and as we rounded a corner, there they were....aisles and aisles of school supplies, spilling into the toy section and in the middle of the center aisle.... How this associate did not know where they were blows my mind, you could not miss them.

Didn't know where to start!

 Here was a good place, only $.15 for pocket folders, both kids needed these and we also got some to donate.  I love the bright colors.  You also can't really go wrong with $.17 notebooks.  My kids use them at school and at home, they draw in them and write stories, good time to grab a stack.  There were literally bins and bins of stuff everywhere.

Gotta love when Elmer's Glue is only $.50.  We use a lot of it at our  house for all sorts of arts and crafts, I also buy a bunch for our Girl Scout meetings.

I got the kids the bigger bottles for school this year, to make sure they don't run out.

While we were shopping we were also looking around for the display that holds all the supply lists for all the schools, so that we could double check that we were getting everything we needed.  We didn't see it earlier in the backpack aisle and we couldn't find it anywhere in this sea of supplies either.  The kids were getting hungry and cranky so we went to the deli and got some popcorn chicken to munch on.

Here is the cart full of school stuff, and see all those Elmer's Glue Sticks...yep $.10 each, now that's a price I can live with.  We got extra of just about everything!

Once we got all our shopping done, we headed to the registers and as we passed by the other entrance guess what we finally found....

Yep, we finally ran into the supply list display which was conveniently located near the produce and nowhere near the school supplies.  Sometimes I wonder who sets up these stores lol.  On the display you can scan the QR code and download the Elmer's 1st Day App, for free!

This app was created to help celebrate the first day of school by helping you capture pictures and memories from that big day.  My little guy is starting Kindergarten this year so I'm sure there will be a million pictures taken on his first day (and many tears shed, I'm sure).  Not only that, but this app allows a way for teachers to share classroom photos, school project and more with you and your family.  Need another reason to use this app?  For every photo you upload, Elmer's will donate one product to The Kids in Need Foundation, up to 200,000 products!  All you need to download it is scan the QR code on an Elmer's display in the school supply section (or fresh produce in our case) or directly from iTunes or Google Play, or by visiting www.the1stday.com

After we double checked our list with the one in the display, paid and headed home to do my other favorite thing....label all the stuff (I'm really not crazy, I swear).

All bagged up and ready to go!  We won't see the kids teachers for a few more weeks but we are going to the chool at the beginning of August for registrations so we will take this with us.  I like to donate playground equipment each year as well, nothing big but a couple of Four Square balls, a football and such, so I ordered some of those plastic beaded jump ropes online to add to our donation.  The kids are excited to take this stuff in!

If you want to see how others were inspired to Bag it Forward, you can check out the Pinterest board by clicking HERE.

If you want to see our entire shop, check out my Google+ album HERE
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and and Elmer’s. #BagItForward #CBias #SocialFabric