Staples Archives - MomStart

The Fashion of Going Back TO School with @Staples #StaplesforStudents #110Ready #AD

July 29, 2015 by Momstart 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post.

I can’t believe it but it’s already time to start getting school supplies as you can see in stores around you. But school supplies are much more than just your box of pencils, folders and papers. Now school supplies are even functional, and fashionable. When kids are young the fashion of Back TO School is more about which super hero or princess is on their school supplies. As kids get older though their supplies need to make a statement. Here are a few back to school fashion trends that you can find at Staples.

“This back-to-school season at Staples is all about bold style that turns function into fashion with products that students need and want,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president, stores and online marketing, Staples. “We’re committed to getting parents, students and teachers 110% ready for the new school year with the best trends and our lowest price guarantee.”

I spent about two hours going through different back to school products with my two kids to find what they like and what I think older kids will like too. I’ll start with the products you see in the photo above which happens to also be in Staples’ list of top back to school trends as well, The Staples Designed by Students Collection. The Staples® Designed by Students Collection includes tools designed by students that help to address common classroom needs.

Available in a variety of color combinations, products include The Big Pen ($8.99), a writing instrument and pencil case all-in-one, the Big Props Pencil Case ($7.99) that doubles as a tablet stand and the Super Folder ($12.99) that includes storage areas, a zipper pouch, clear pockets for class schedules, a pencil sharpener, sticky notes and a writing pad, among other products in the collection.

Next up are the licensed products that my son was crazy about. The Boys Licensed juvenile backpacks at Staples ($14.99) feature their favorite characters in assorted prints such as The Avengers and Nickelodeon™ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™. Kids can also choose from a selection of MOJO backpacks ($29.99) with lifelike images of donuts, cheeseburgers, sharks and X-Rays. Or they can pick Elsa, Anna and Olaf to help carry school gear to the classroom with a Disney Frozen backpack ($14.99) and keep lunch fresh in an adorable Disney Frozen square lunch bag ($9.74).

When I told my son that they had camouflage he was ready to move on from the licensed characters so I agree with Staples’ Back to School trend list. Camouflage is going to be a popular choice this year. A full “army” of backpacks and accessories in the coolest camouflage patterns are featured in an assortment of products. The OGIO Evader and Stellar backpacks ($49.99/$44.99) feature a large main compartment, padded laptop sleeve and ergonomic shoulder straps for comfort. These backpacks coordinate with Staples® Camouflage Composition Books ($2.00) and Staples® Maze Calculators ($4.99).

One of my favorites was the animal prints. The laptop back pack needs to be my new backpack and not my daughter’s, although she wants to fight me for it. From trendy animal prints on holographic backgrounds to eye-catching 3D and psychedelic screen-saver designs, Staples carries Continental Into the Wild and Continental Vibrance notebooks and composition books that add fun to jotting notes in class. Tie-dye, inspirational sayings and fun graphics with glasses and mustaches from Gartner Studios ($3.00) let students show off their personal style with notebooks and composition books.

One of the fun and trendy collections you will find at Staples from the 2015 back to school trends is the Me to We Collection. Staples and Me to We, a social enterprise that provides people with better choices for a better world, are making socially conscious shopping easy with a new line of eco-friendly school supplies. Each product provides a life-changing impact in a developing community where Me to We’s partner, Free the Children, works. The exclusive Me to We Collection includes notebooks, composition books, binders, portfolios, backpacks, pencil pouches, and more that will help make a difference. ($1.99 – $29.99).

The above image doesn’t correlate to any of the trends she spoke about. Instead of mentioning bright and metallic trends below, she should mention pastels and graphic patterns to reflect the image above.

Our final favorite was the metallic colors that we found on different items. Bright and metallic fashion-forward school supplies let students shine. Continental notebooks and composition books ($3.00) add glitter, starlight, diamonds and sassy sayings in combinations of pink, silver, purple and other bold, sparkly hues. Friends will be a-MAZEd by the Staples® Maze calculator ($4.99) that features a maze game on the back and the Glitter and Flow iPhone cases ($12.99) available in an array of sparkly colors that make school days shiny.

Staples is in stock all-season-long at the lowest prices with the Staples back-to-school 110% Lowest Price Guarantee and up to 5% back in Staples Rewards on every purchase.

Get Involved with Students and Teachers #ThinkItUp #StaplesForStudents #AD #110Ready

July 23, 2015 by Momstart 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post.

I have been a longtime supporter of our teachers. I have a strong passion and belief that our kids are our world’s future. Everything depends on them and education is a foundation for everyone. Therefore that makes our teachers so valuable and important. I don’t believe that teachers are valued enough and when I found out that currently on average teachers spend $400 out of pocket every year on their classrooms I was distraught. There has to be a way to make a difference for these teachers and their students.

Beginning this fall through Think It Up, students will be able to work with their teachers to identify passion projects for their classrooms. Through this collaborative learning process, student-powered, teacher-led projects will be crowdfunded on Thinkitup.org, which is fueled by DonorsChoose.org. In support of teachers Staples has made a $10 million pledge to support Think It Up™. Think It Up, a program launched by The Entertainment Industry Foundation, is a new movement created to inspire students to pursue their passions through student-powered, teacher-led learning projects with support from Staples for Students.

In addition to the support from Staples, Nick Jonas has become an ambassador for ThinkItUp to help raise awareness. “I’m excited to serve as the Think It Up Ambassador and team up with Staples to empower students and teachers across the country,” said Nick Jonas. “Through Think It Up, we can all help students play a more active role in their education. We should all follow our passions to create our futures.”

The goal is to raise awareness for Think It Up and to help students become innovators. We all need to have an active role in the direction of education. Think It Up is a first-of-its-kind platform where you can make donations to fund student-powered, teacher-led learning projects. Since 2000, individuals have been able to contribute toward the purchase of materials needed for classroom projects that teachers post on DonorsChoose.org. Beginning this fall, Think It Up will invite public middle and high school students to work with their teachers, to develop projects that draw on their passions and help pursue their educational goals, which the public can crowdfund through thinkitup.org. Think It Up hopes to generate a renewed sense of optimism about education in America.

I would also love to see a renewed sense of optimism in America about education. We need to be challenging our students, taking responsibility for education and supporting our educators. Please check out ThinkItUp.org. You can also help support Think It Up by donating at your local Staples Store. You can even enter the Sweepstakes for a $50,000 scholarship. (enter at staples.com/scholarship).

Staples Has Fun, Function & #110Ready Savings #StaplesForStudents #BackToSchool #AD @Staples

July 9, 2015 by Momstart 13 Comments

This is a sponsored post

I have fond memories of the back-to-school season growing up and want to share those memories with my children. As a Staples Back to School Council Member I have access to what’s going to be popular this year and get to share that information with you guys while also making great shopping memories with my own kids. Staples conducted an online survey among parents of children between the ages of 8-18 and found that price is the most important factor when it comes to shopping for school supplies. 78% of parents do their shopping in stores, and I love that because that’s how you let the kids make memories with you like I did with my mom. They also found that shoppers are looking for a mix of fun and function in those products.

“We’ve seen many new back-to-school shopping trends over the past 30 years, but we know savings has always been top-of-mind for our customers,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president, North American stores and online, Staples. “We’re thrilled to offer customers ways to save all season long with our Back to School 110% Lowest Price Guarantee, Staples Less List of essential products and Extreme Deals. We’re also offering exciting product trends, including new products designed by students for students.”

You guys know that I love to save money, that’s what I wrote about when I first started blogging so I feel that working with Staples is perfect. They have the 110% lowest Price Guarantee that gives you guys the lowest prices on your back to school shopping. The Staples Less List offers the lowest prices on key back-to-school essential products all season long. And the selection is a very large mix of fun and function which is what 62% of shoppers are asking for. I saw the lineup and it’s amazing.

The exclusive Designed by Students school supplies are available in select stores nationwide and at Staples.com/designedbystudents. The products range from multi-function pencil cases, backpacks with removable compartments, multi-purpose folders and portable desks to floating locker shelves and a dishwasher safe lunch bag.

The majority of parents say children request new backpacks, and Staples carries one of the broadest selections of backpacks combining technology, fashion and fun – all at a 25% discount for the back-to-school season:

· M Edge Power Backpack that combines a battery interface on the exterior of the backpack for mobile phone and tablet charging and use on-the-go

· Jansport functional backpacks in trendy patterns including donuts, hamburgers or space kittens to name a few

· Studio C backpacks combine the latest fashion trends and patterns with removable purse and available notebooks, paper and accessories to coordinate

· Exclusive to Staples, Paperchase backpacks feature large white dots with a trendy mint background that coordinate with available matching lunch bag and supplies

· Available both in stores and online at www.staples.com/backtoschool

You really are going to be able to find all your needs at Staples for the best price.

Staples Cyber Monday and The Nexus 7 Tablet & Giveaway

November 30, 2013 by Momstart 264 Comments

Staples makes it easy for holiday shoppers to save on technology with a two-day Cyber Monday savings event both in-store and online. Shoppers will find incredible deals on technology and more starting Sun. Dec. 1, 2013 through Mon. Dec. 2, 2013.

Cyber Monday deals are available in store and on staples.com while supplies last include:

· Dell 15” Touch Screen Laptop for $379.99 (save $120)

o Plus Free $25 Windows Store Gift Card (with purchase of any Windows Touch PC or Tablet)

· Gateway 20” All-in-One Desktop PC for $299.99 (save $130)

· Google Nexus 7 16GB for $199 (save $30)

Starting this holiday season, free shipping on Staples.com for orders of $19.99 or more (previously $45). As always, Staples rewards members enjoy free shipping on any purchase on Staples.com.

Staples stores (visit www.staples.com for a store locator) and Staples.com

My kids are saving their money for a tablet. They went in together and said they were going to pull their resources to get a tablet. I think the Nexus 7 is perfect for them. The only thing that is a negative in my opinion is that it isn’t as easy to lock down for safety reasons as the Surface is. However, the size, weight and apps available sing quite loudly to me. The screen is so bright and beautiful and I love the stylus.

Best of Google

Nexus 7 comes loaded with your favorite Google apps – like Chrome, Gmail, YouTube, Hangouts and Google Now – so you can browse, watch, share and stay connected wherever you go. And because Google apps are designed for the cloud, everything is simple and works seamlessly across your phone, tablet and computer. Now you have all the stuff you need, when you need it.

Nexus 7 is the first tablet to ship with Android 4.3, the latest version of the world’s most popular mobile operating system so it’s fast, fun and easy to make your own. Share your tablet with friends and family – each person has a separate customizable space, including personal home screen, wallpaper, apps, storage, and more. You can also manage access to apps and content to create an experience that’s appropriate for each member of the family.

Ready to Play

Nexus 7 is great for gaming and with favorites like Prince of Persia, Asphalt 8, and Riptide GP 2, you can tilt, tap, and touch your way to the top. The brand new Play Games app also lets you track your achievements, play with (or against) friends and gamers around the world, and discover new exciting games. And with an ever-expanding number of tablet-optimized apps like Flipboard, Expedia, or The Fancy, you’ll find all the apps you love, and love the many new apps you’ll find.

Kick back with the world’s largest collection of eBooks, listen to millions of music tracks with All Access, and immerse yourself in thousands of movies and TV shows on Google Play.

The sharpest 7" tablet screen ever

The world’s highest-resolution 7" tablet puts over 2.3 million pixels in the palm of your hand. With 323 pixels packed into every inch, you can read text that’s sharper than the printed page, see images more vivid than the highest quality photo magazine, and watch videos come to life in vibrant 1080p HD.

Enter to Win:

Nexus 7 Tablet

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite app is

Extra Entries

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please Use the rafflecopter and leave a way for us to verify

Back To School With Staples & Arc Customizable Notebook Kit

August 31, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Staples has come out with a brand new customizable notebook that essentially turns into your very own individual, organizing system, making it easier (and prettier!) than ever to get, and stay, organized. They also have a an entire line dedicated to eco-friendly products and fun, colorful office accessories. And you can get back to school supplies for as low as .01 cents. I picked up a few things for Zoe and Miles and even a few things for me the other day when I was in there. I mean picking up pens and pencils for 1.00 is a GREAT deal to me.

Staples sent me one of their new Arc Customizable Notebooks and a few of the notebook accessories. I made a quick video to show you how easy it is to switch things out inside the notebook.

The Clear Poly Arc Notebook from M by Staples offers eight fashionable ways in one package to customize the cover design with four reversible inserts protected by a clear poly cover. Each cover slip, complete with one fashion print and one solid color, can be easily swapped or removed so that a picture, schedule or other notes can be displayed. The Clear Poly Arc Notebook offers the long-lasting quality of other Arc notebooks with new prints to easily and stylishly customize.

• Customize with eight different prints and solids (one package)
• Easily add, remove and rearrange pages
• 60 repositionable narrow-ruled sheets
• High quality, lasting product
• Perfect for school, office, or travel
• Two sizes: Letter and Junior
• Available in Staples retail stores and staples.com starting 7/5
• Retail price: Letter $10.99, Junior $8.99

I like the notebook because I can change the cover depending on the mood I’m in. Plus the sickies and the folders are great for keeping receipts and just keeping my life organized. I’m always finding receipts just falling out of my purse.

Staples “Shed, Shred and Get Ahead” Organized in 2013 & Save

March 1, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

The world’s largest office supply company and second largest internet retailer, announced a new industry-leading U.S. Staples Rewards program that gives members five percent back on everything, including technology and services, and provides free shipping on Staples.com. Starting March 15 and free to all customers you can sign up for free Staples Rewards membership or find more information about the Staples Rewards program, at StaplesRewardsCenter.com.

The only exclusions to the Staples Rewards program are taxes, postage stamps, gift cards, delivery charges, coupons, pre-paid phone cards and purchases made on third-party Web sites. Free shipping is available on all Staples.com orders. Currently, orders on any third party Web sites, purchases on staplescopycenter.com, print.staples.com, and staplespromotionalproducts.com do not apply.

And of Course Staples is your one stop shop for office organization. You can increase efficiency and organize your office with an expanded assortment of products in a few easy steps.

Shed – purge unwanted files or papers and organize the documents in binders. The Internal Revenue Service recommends keeping important business records from three to seven years, depending on the documents.
Staples recently launched its Binder Recycling Program, which gives customers $2 off the purchase of a new binder for each binder they bring in to a Staples store to recycle.

Shred – protect your business and identity against fraud by shredding unneeded paperwork with sensitive information. For larger jobs, consider Staples Copy & Print, which offers confidential shredding at great prices.

Get Ahead – The New Year is also a good time to make sure electronic files are secure and protected. It’s critical for any small business owner to have the right organizational tools such as network storage devices to back up files especially as tax season gets started.

Staples’ expanded assortment features top organizational products for staying organized all year, such as:

Staples New BETTER^®Binderwith removable FileRings™ – the first of its kind binder features file rings that detach from the shell for easy filing in any standard filing cabinet. Now available in black, white, red, green and blue covers exclusively on Staples.com (Staples 1-inch BETTER Binder: $12.99 and removable FileRings: $4.99).

Staples One-Touch™ Aero Stapler – Perfect for the consumer who has an eye for design and likes to personalize their desk supplies. The 20-sheet capacity Aero offers contemporary designs with a raised handle that makes stapling effortless. Available in black, silver or blue. ($14.99)

M by Staples™ Arc Customizable Notebook System –Available in durable poly or leather covers with premium, heavyweight paper, this customizable notebook has repositionable sheets that can moved from one section to another making organization a breeze. (Starting at $7.99)

Relay Flash Drives – The easy and smart way to transfer files from one computer to another. (64GB-$69.99; 32GB-$49.99; 16GB-$27.99; 8GB-$17.99)

We received samples.

Replenish Your Supply & Have a Successful School Year with Duracell

September 24, 2011 by Momstart 407 Comments

With back to school now in full swing, I was wondering if you were needing to replace batteries for anything yet. Or perhaps with the purchase of your school supplies you needed to by some batteries. Remember when back to school shopping meant paper notebooks, #2 pencils and calculators the size of text books? That was my school list once upon a time. Times have certainly changed! Both parents and teachers agree that electronic devices are now an essential part of back to school purchases.

Did you find that you needed more batteries this year?

Duracell, the #1 trusted battery brand voted by teachers, recently conducted a survey that reveals how electronic devices can positively shape the success of a student’s educational experience both inside and outside of the classroom. The survey found that a majority of parents (52 percent) say that batteries are part of their back to school purchases. The survey results also revealed that:

85 percent of teachers agree that their students enjoy using electronic devices to learn as opposed to more traditional learning devices like text books.
74 percent of teachers agree that technology increases their students’ motivation and self-esteem.
66 percent of teachers believe that the use of technology allows their school to be more green and 53% say that because of advances of technology at their school, their students are becoming more eco-friendly.
59 percent of parents agree that preparing their kids for going back to school can be stressful.

Duracell wants to make your school year even better with a little back to school year giveaway. We know you all are already back in school but you will always need to replenish your supplies. So we’re going to stock you up on batteries and a Staples Gift Card

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Debbie Jackson.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules. We received samples.

Cleaning with Staples, “That was [eco] EASY!”

May 11, 2011 by Momstart 2 Comments

It’s about time more companies became Earth Day friendly year round. Staples is making their mark with their Sustainable Earth line.

I have used other brands of multi-purpose and glass cleansing products and compared to the Staples Sustainable Earth, I’d say in a blind test I won’t be able to tell the difference between my typical cleaner and the Staples Sustainable Earth cleansers. My house is shiny, steak-free, and without film residues. Staples Sustainable Earth cleaning products also leaves a very fresh, clean smell not a chemical sterile smell, which is important to me because I want to live in my home not a hospital! The reason is Sustainable Earth has no harsh chemicals but offer powerful ways to clean greener … BRILLIANT!

The Staples Sustainable Earth Glass Cleaner is alcohol-free, ammonia-free, and phosphate-free. The Staples Sustainable Earth Multi-Purpose Cleaner offers a natural pH, and is also ammonia-free and phosphate-free. It is an eco-conscious cleaner that was formulated in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exclusively for Staples and meets the Green Seal environmental standard for household cleaners.

Sustainable Earth by Staples is eco easy! Not only are they stepping up with eco cleaners, but their Sustainable Earth line offers toner, paper products, school and office supplies, and cutlery and flatware. The coolest of these Sustainable Earth products including a Bamboo USB Flash Drive (made from recycled bamboo) and notebooks made from recycled sugarcane instead of paper from trees!

So keep Earth Day in your everyday, and with the help of Staples you’ll be saying, “That was easy!”

You can keep up with Staples on their website, via Staples on Facebook and by tracking them on Twitter @StaplesTweets.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Upgrade to a New Windows 7 PC and Get Free PC Setup

March 7, 2011 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’ve been using Windows 7 for, I dunno, forever! Windows 7 PC has been the most stable of Windows yet, I haven’t had to format my computer and it’s been WONDERFUL. Plus, all of the great features that come with Windows 7 PC make my blogging life a whole lot easier. Microsoft also has all of the free downloads, like Movie Maker, and Live Writer. Both I use daily with my blog. If you haven’t upgraded yet, now is the time!

You know with all the Spring Cleaning going on it’s time to spring clean your office and that includes your computer. It’s the perfect time to ditch the old and bring on the new…especially when it comes to your technology! I had a newsflash sent to me, did you know that Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system in history?????. But the newsflash also said that some people are still holding on to those Windows XP machines (which is a technology over 10 years old by the way!). WHAT???

Why don’t they upgrade? Well, with loads of files, music and photos living on your hard drive, it seems like transferring all the data isn’t always as easy as cleaning out your closet. Which I have to agree with, backing up everything on your computer can be a nightmare! Did I get everything? I always worry we missed something

Newsflash: It IS that easy thanks to Windows and Staples this spring!

Windows and Staples are helping customers by bringing you the “Windows Easy Tech Offer.” For a limited time, when you buy any new Windows 7 PC online or in stores at Staples a PC technician will transfer all your data and setup your PC with the new Windows Live Essentials (including tools such as Photo Gallery and Movie Maker)—all for free! You even get a free Microsoft online training valued at $300 as part of the deal!

Staples will make sure all of your special photos, files, music, e-mail browser settings and favorites go with you to your new PC. Take all your data with you and get a new PC that will bring you into the modern age. And with so many great PCs available for less than $600, it would be silly not to. Now wasn’t that easy?

For more information on the offer, visit windowsstreamblog.com or staples.com/windows

I received this information and felt it was worth sharing. I’m part of a Windows PC blogger test program and I can choose to write about things they send me or not.

One of those weeks, One of those Days

July 22, 2010 by Momstart 13 Comments

As a mother, sometimes I just wish I could reach for that EASY button that Staples has, or how about just the reset button for the day or even for the week. This week has been one of those weeks. Everything with the kids has been a battle all week long and I’m ready for a new week.

The worst day was Tuesday.

Tuesday started out like a great day. We went to see of any of our friends were home and no one was answering their doors. One of our neighbors was leaving as we were heading home with our heads down low and she said her and her daughter would play with is that afternoon. The kids were excited just by this news, and I told them I would take them to the park in the meantime.

We went to Wilmont Gateway park in Woodinville to ride our bikes on the Sammamish River Trail. I know that lots of bikers use this trail and I know that the bikers think they own the trail. So I’m trying to teach my children that they need to stay on one side and when they see a biker coming to move out of the way. Miles made a lot of progress and moved out of the way on cue. We were ending out walk because Zoe was just not in the mood to walk in the first place. So I was arguing with a 3 year old and corralling a 2 year old the entire time. As we were nearing the entrance to the trail, there was a train and car overpass. A train came by and blew its’ whistle, being almost right underneath it it was terribly loud and completely terrified my children. Miles started screaming and shaking with fear. Zoe was crying too but she calmed down much faster. So we had to stop while I was consoling them. I pulled us in tightly but we were still on the trail. So a biker had the nerve to tell us that we should move off of the trail.

I was so mad. Bikers do not own the public trail. She actually stopped at the entrance of the tail and waited for us to leave, so that she could tell me, I’m just concerned about you and your kids. Now, perhaps her intentions were good, but she proceeded to tell me that I should have gone just a little further forward and moved my family out of the way. I wanted to bite her head off. It took everything in me to keep my cool. In the heat of the moment, and even afterwards I didn’t see a space large enough for all three of us and our bikes. I would have liked to see her handle the situation better if she had been there with one child trembling with fear.

We get home and I put the kids down for a nap. I needed to make changes to my vacation so I had to call the airlines to ask if they could exchange the tickets for a different day. First time I called they said it was going to cost me 130.00 per person traveling. I was appalled again because they are going to resell the tickets that I am not using, plus they are making even more money. I told them I would think about it and call them back. I looked on-line and saw that I could apply for a refund. Since the ticket prices went down since I purchased them I though, perhaps I should just apply for a refund and re-purchase the tickets, I called them again. The next person I talked to said there is a fee of 150.00 to make changes to travel plans then she said it will be…and I didn’t even let her finish her statement. All of my anger from everything that had gone wrong that week went into this lady. Poor thing!

She stayed calm, which was SHOCKING, and she told me I need to let her finish what she was going to say. She said, “Mrs Bishop, ticket prices have gone down 184.00 since you purchased them, because of this, you are actually going to receive vouchers for all three flights and I will change the day you are traveling.

OH.

The guilt I felt for going off on her. She told me not to worry about it that she is used to it. That made me feel even worse. What an awful job she must have dealing with people upset over flights, and prices. YIKES!

I thought this might be the turn around point for my day, but Zoe got up from her nap and was a grump. Everything was an argument with her and Miles. We played with our friend but when she had to go in for dinner we were all grumps again. Then, my husband calls and said he missed the bus. Oh no! of all days to miss his bus, this meant I had another hour to go all by myself with two very disagreeable kids. I had no patience left so I went to my husband’s work to pick him up. The kids are quiet in the van, well I gave them food and turned on a movie so they would be sure to be quite.

For the rest of the week the grumps have been off and on. Oh where are you reset button, I’d like to start off next week with no grumps.

Anyone Else?