Ricoh Monitors 

Since the pandemic, the local middle schools and high schools have become a lot more tech savvy. Kids utilize computers at school far more than they did just a few years ago. If your child (or college ‘kid’) uses a computer, tablet or phone for a lot of their schooling, consider a Ricoh Portable Monitor. These are an awesome way to increase productivity while working from a computer by giving you way more that you can see on screen at once. The Ricoh Portable Monitor 150BW is the world’s lightest 15.6″ portable touchscreen monitor making it perfect for taking to or from school or other locations. It offers wired and wireless connection and works with Windows MacOS, iOS and Android devices. Plus, it’s a touch screen so using it with a non-touch screen laptop or similar device will add a lot of extra functionality. 

Buy it: Ricoh. 

Heat Holders

As my daughters prepare to return to school, I’ve been watching the upcoming winter weather conditions. Experts are forecasting a prolonged and cold winter with heavier snowfall than usual for our area. In anticipation of this forecast, I have taken proactive steps to ensure my daughters are well-prepared for their daily travels. In addition to their regular back-to-school supplies, I got them Heat Holders hats and gloves to keep them warm and cozy. Heat Holders is a reputable brand known for its high-quality cold-weather clothing and accessories. Their products are expertly crafted using unique insulating yarn and advanced knitting technology, providing exceptional warmth and comfort. You can trust Heat Holders to keep your kids warm and give you peace of mind throughout the winter.

• Buy it: Amazon.com

dōTERRA Healthy Start Kit

Back to school unfortunately usually also means ‘back to sick’.  Once schools are back in session, viruses tend to run rampant.  I love to be proactive during the fall and winter ‘germy’ seasons and one way I do that is with dōTERRA essential oils!  The Healthy Start Kit is the PERFECT set to get anyone started on the journey to a healthier lifestyle.  With 10 pure essential oils and blends, as well as the Pebble Diffuser; this kit will help transform your mind, body, and home.  We run our diffusers almost constantly once the weather starts to shift and I can absolutely feel and smell a difference.  The air is so much fresher and our family tends to also stay healthier!  Along with the always popular Pebble Diffuser, the oils included in this set are: Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Oregano, Frankincense, Deep Blue, dōTERRA Breathe, dōTERRA OnGuard, and DigestZen. 

• Buy It:  dōTERRA.com

Wide Open Socks

For older kids (girls/womens shoe size 4.5+ or boys/mens shoe size 2.5+) Wide Open Socks are a great back to school staple to pick up. The vast majority of socks on the market are not made for people with bigger ankles or legs. If you have a kid who takes their socks off and has indents from the elastic of their socks, they would benefit from socks made for wider ankles or legs…yet they’re so hard to find! Wide Open is a company that is working to provide an option for that gap in the market. Plus, their socks are just extremely well made. They’re made in Vermont, and they’re an off-branch of the Darn Tough brand of socks that has been round for 45 years. I’ve been really happy with the comfort and durability of the socks from Wide Open that I own! They’re available in no-show, quarter, micro-crew and crew lengths. 

Buy it:  WideOpenSocks.com.

Snailax

As we prepare to go back to school, let’s not forget the importance of our mental well-being. Snailax offers a solution to help you unwind and feel your best. The Snailax Electric Handheld Cordless Head Scalp Massager is crafted to deliver a soothing and calming massage experience. It comes with four massage heads and a total of 56 massage nodes that closely mimic the sensation of a professional massage, effectively easing tension, stress, and headaches. With adjustable dual-speed settings, you can easily tailor the intensity to suit your needs and achieve the ideal level of relaxation. This versatile head massager can also be used to massage other parts of your body, such as the neck, shoulders, lower back, and legs. Its portability and ease of use make it a convenient tool for relaxation, whether at home or on the go.

• Buy it: Amazon.com
• Win it: Enter to win a Snailax Electric Handheld Cordless Head Scalp Massager

TBH Kids

Have you ever looked at the ingredients in most of kids’ hair and body care items on the typical store shelf?  The list is long and the contents can be scary!  So if you’re looking for a better, healthier skin and hair care choice for kids and teens; check out TBH Kids!   The natural, effective ingredients are perfect with helping teach kids about personal care as they grow.  And this kit has everything you need to get started including: TBH Kids Shampoo, TBH Kids Conditioner, TBH Kids Body Wash, TBH Kids Gentle Face Cleanser, TBH Kids Gentle Face Wipes, TBH Kids Body Lotion, and TBH Kids Deodorant + Pimple Patches.  It’s the fresh start kid that’s perfect for boys and girls.

• Buy It:  Amazon.com

Mabel’s Labels

My kids bring their water bottles and cups everywhere, which is great because they drink so much more water that way.  But with everyone doing the same, sometimes bottles double up.  Having a label to clearly mark which ones are ours has been so great, especially when we’ve forgotten one behind too as we had it returned swiftly!  These water bottle bands from Mabel’s Labels makes it easy help us keep track of our gear.  They are made from silicone and customers can design and choose 2, 3 or 4 bands per package.  These water bottle name bands are designed to stretch and fit snugly over most sized water bottles and are endlessly reusable.  I have only great things to report on them!

• Buy It:  MabelsLabels.com

Fairy Tales Hair Care

Back to school can be scary when you start thinking about the germs and lice that seem to run rampant in many public schools.  So this year, be proactive with Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel lineup!  Our curly haired foster son needs gel, spray, and conditioner to keep his locks luscious and these products are 100% amazing while also helping protect him.  Clinically proven to be 96% effective in the prevention of head lice and a mom-go-to with over 13,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, their proprietary blend of natural herbs and plant extracts help to aid the prevention of lice while aloe, vitamin B5, and other proteins hydrate and strengthen strands while soothing the scalp. 

• Buy It:  Styling Gel On Amazon, Hair Spray On Amazon, & Conditioning Spray On Amazon

For even more added protection, check out Fairy Tales Hair Care Rosemary Repel Shampoo and Conditioner.  Gentle enough for every day use, ingredients like jojoba, chamomile, and lavender extracts hydrate, moisturize, and soothe the scalp.  Sulfate free, paraben free, phthalate free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free and nut-free; you will never find any harsh chemicals or toxins in these amazing products!

• Buy It:  Amazon.com

ActivatedYou

As a homeschool mom, the morning sluggish is real.  Finding something to help perk me up and get me through the day is a must.  And that’s where ActivatedYou comes in!  Just one scoop of the ActivatedYou Morning Complete- Mixed Berry is jam packed with green superfoods.  It provides the amazing nutrients your body needs to get through the busy days without energy crashes.  And if Mixed Berry isn’t what you’re craving, check out Citrus Medley or Apple Cinnamon.  No matter which you choose, each is a powerful daily wellness drink featuring a custom-selected blend of nutrients designed to support regular digestive function, daily energy levels, and overall wellness. 

• Buy It:  Amazon.com or ActivatedYou.com 

Handzies

As a mom to six and foster mama to an extra toddler, I couldn’t live without our Handzies wipes.  They make it so we can get a ‘soap and water clean’ anytime, anywhere!  I keep them in the van, the diaper bag, and even in my purse.  Once school starts, I highly suggest you toss them in your kid’s backpack too.  Individually packaged and perfect for busy days, Handzies Soap + Water Wipes give your child fresh, clean hands using only natural castile soap, water and essential oils. Say goodbye to harsh hand sanitizers, Handzies do not contain alcohol, BZK, triclosan, artificial perfumes or dyes. Ideal for keeping in your child’s backpack or tucking in lunchboxes.

• Buy It:  Amazon.com

Mabel’s Labels

If you’ve got backpacks, lunch pails, overnight bags, or whatever else you need labeled, these personalized bag tags are the way to go.  They can be personalized with your child’s name or other important information to make identifying their bag easy.  And if they do happen to lose or forget it somewhere; whoever finds the item will know who it belongs to!  These plastic name tags are durable, thick, and waterproof so you don’t ever have to worry about them breaking or scuffing and they affix with sturdy loops, so they won’t fall off either.

• Buy It:  MabelsLabels.com

Sky Castle Toys

Ready for this season’s MUST HAVE back to school accessory?  The secret is out and the answer is Sticki Rolls!  Sky Castle Toys is launching this innovative new line of DIY collectible, sticker friendship bracelets, perfectly timed amid these converging trends. Stickers are E-X-P-L-O-D-I-N-G at retail. And of course, DIY bracelets are massive for teens and ‘tweens.  STICKI ROLLS Sticki Bands are not only a bead bracelet, but they also transform fashionable jewelry into the fun of sticker sharing; each bracelet has 5 Sticki Roll beads, each with 10 peel-able stickers!  And then, there’s STICKI ROLLS The Sticki Book, which is a bracelet kit with a notebook of 50 laminated pages to keep track of your sticker activities and swap with friends to collect all of the stickers!

• Buy It:  SkyCastleToys.com

Bamboozle

When the kids get home from school each day, they are HANGRY!  This gorgeous bowl set from Bamboozle Home offers the perfect pop of color to snack time!  Whether you’re whipping up a snack mix of your own or just popping open a bag of popcorn, these sturdy, yet lightweight bowls are a great choice.  The variety of sizes also makes them extremely versatile!  Plus, all pieces are made of biodegradable bamboo fiber and are dishwasher safe.  This 7-piece set is fabulous for everyday use and will quickly become a family favorite.

• Buy It:  BamboozleHome.com or Amazon.com

Yipes! 

Yipes! are here to help foster a culture of hygiene. Just as children are taught the importance of putting nutritious food into their bodies, the makers of Yipes! hope to put a similar focus on cleanliness on the outside, inspiring kids to take the initiative and learn the habit of hygiene, while making it fun and approachable.  Yipes! are 94% biodegradable and made with 99% plant-derived ingredients. They are formulated without parabens, phthalates, or petrolatum.  Instead, they are enriched with aloe vera.  And these easy to use, individual packets are easy to tuck into the backpack or pocket.

• Buy It:  Amazon.com

FuelRod

In our district, students in the upper grades of middle and high schools are assigned Chromebooks as an alternative to traditional textbooks. One of the biggest challenges with these Chromebooks is ensuring they are charged each night. I am placing FuelRods in my daughters’ backpacks this year as a backup power source to tackle this issue. FuelRods are a versatile portable charging system. They come fully charged and include cables and adapters for charging various devices, allowing students to stay connected and productive. The NEW FuelRod has a high-capacity 3,200 mAh battery, a user-friendly power button, and four distinct LED battery light indicators. This allows users to easily monitor and manage their charging experience, ensuring they have the power they need when they need it. When FuelRods run low on energy, students can exchange them for a fully charged device at a convenient kiosk location or charge the device themselves. This control over their device’s battery life empowers students to effectively manage their learning, ensuring they can remain connected and productive in any situation.

• Buy it: Amazon.com