back to school 2015 range from Brantano

For The Garden, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Toy Reviews

Back to School 2015.

I have had a brilliant summer despite never actually experiencing 2 days in a row where the sun shone! I feel rested and revived but am still skeptical when I think of the beginning of September and the routine which will ensue. My eldest daughter is moving to secondary school so I have an extra trip each morning. Needless to say, I am trying my best to prepare all we need well before September.

My local shoe shop is crammed full for the entire month of August. I am left thinking do I buy school shoes early or do I wait and prepare for huge queue? This year I have explored another option – Brantano!

I have told many of my friends about this website and the fab bargains I have got with little or no effort. Brantano stock a vast quantity of shoes to suit everyone, not just children. They stock Clarks, Hush Puppies, Chipmunks to name but a few. The list is endless!

I have some photos below of my son in his new Clarks trainers all set for back to school!

These were only £24 and they are fantastic. The high opening means they are literally waterproof and the velcro – well the velcro – need I say more!? Velcro was certainly invented my mums as it is a must for all school shoes and trainers in my book! These trainers are super handy as Adam can pull them on and off easily and without help from me! Don’t they look great?

Brantano have several offers on now, for example, if you buy school shoes you get 20% off additional shoes. They also have a clearly printed customer care number on site which I think is great – there is nothing as fantastic as picking up the phone and speaking to an actual person if you have a problem or question about an order!

For further information on the back to school 2015 range from Brantano or to make a purchase visit :

www.brantano.co.uk/clarks

Disney Cars Lunch Bag and Princess Stationary Set.

‘Disney have always got the best lunchboxes mum’ – the words of my son this morning when they were heading out to school.

My son has a Disney cars lunch bag and looking at it, I would have to agree with him!

This snazzy lunch bag is perfect – its bright and cheerful so he is the envy of the other boys and it holds just the right amount of food. The bag is insulated but even better, its well padded so yogurt cartons can be transported safely from my fridge to the classroom without getting bust! His spoon and fork can be safely stored in the interior mesh pocket until ready for use and the insulation ensures sandwiches are kept cool and fresh until lunchtime.

No-one in my sons class has this lunchbag, but I always label everything the kids take to school. In this case, there is a name patch inside the lunch bag so the name stays put.

I have no hesitation in recommending this lunchbag and I am certain it will look just as good come the end of term.

RPP £10 from the Disney Store

If you are on the lookout for stationary for your little princess look no further that Disney Princess Stationary Set. This is one of the most beautiful stationary sets I have ever had the pleasure of featuring on Pampered Presents.

This will be the envy of all the little girls at school. With lots of coordinating pieces, this set has all your little Princess needs to get her through a tough school day in style! From a tiara eraser to a folding double ruler, I was very impressed with the contents of this set. The pencils have eraser tops and my kids love the various Princesses featured on the different items – Princess Jasmine appears on the pencils.

Despite the quality and ample contents, this set is only £10.95 – perfect for back to school or as a birthday gift. Buy from your Disney Store or online from Disney.

Brita Fill&Go Water Bottle.

However, no matter how large the water bottle, the kids always come home with it empty and tell me I should have given them 2 water bottles! Problem solved, once again, with Brita Fill&Go.

Have you checked out the new Brita Fill&Go water bottles? If not, do so – these are PERFECT for children heading out to school in the morning and need water on the go. They come in a variety of colours as well.

My daughter is going to secondary school next week and she will be away for quite a long day. She will have a Brita Fill&Go water bottle packed in her bag.

When she has this empty all she has to do is fill it again at a tap and this clever system filters the water in the bottle! Jenny prefers to drink from an upright water bottle and Brita have cleverly added a straw so she can do this. The straw can also be removed so you can tip the bottle back to drink either.

The Brita Fill&Go retails at £9.99 and comes with 4 filter discs. Britta recommend changing these weekly. They can easily be bought from local supermarkets or on Amazon.

Kallo Kids Milk Chocolate Rice Cake Minis.

Last year I struggled with various ‘healthy’ snacks for the kids break time and thought I was onto a winner with fruit sticks until my daughter told me that she swapped these at school for sugary cereal bars! I was horrified.

This term my kids will have Kallo Kids Milk Chocolate Rice Cake Minis in their lunchbox’s. These have been well and truly tested by the kids and myself and I have full confidence that these will not be exchanged for any other bar – my kids simply love them!

I have always enjoyed a rice cake as a healthy alternative and these chocolate minis are fab. The individual packets also help as I can quickly add them to a lunchbox without having to bag separately – this reduces waste and cost.

I have also tried the Belgium Milk Chocolate with Caramel Rice Cake Thins and they make the perfect companion to an afternoon cup of tea. There are quite a few varieties so pop over to www.kallo.com

The selection can easily be picked up from tesco and other leading supermarkets. Packs retail from £1.15.

Born Gifted Football Crazy Kit Bag.

I never look forward to all the labeling I have to do come the first of September. However, its very necessary as my kids tend to be a little absent minded and misplace quite a lot of belongings over the school term – I am sure I am not the only mum who has this complaint!

This year I am sending my son off to school with his new ‘Born Gifted Band on the Door Football Crazy Kit Bag’.

Born Gifted have a fab range of bags, stationary and other school items which can be personalised for a very low cost. Adam’s ‘Born Gifted Band on the Door Football Crazy Kit Bag’ retails for only £12.99 and it was delivered in a matter of days since it was ordered.

I was very impressed with this bag as I was not expecting it to be as ‘strong’. The outside is made from canvas cotton with a PEVA lining thus making this bag perfect for damp football kits and also swimming it. It is definitely large enough to hold trainers, a towel and a complete set of clothes. The drawstring closure is perfect so when it is picked up and carried the contents are safely inside.

Adam is delighted with his new kit bag and mum is pretty impressed as well! I also love the personalised stationary sets – don’t these look fab?

For further information or to make a purchase please visit:

www.borngifted.co.uk

Sketch & Sniff Pencils and Doodle Pencil Case from The Royal Academy of Arts Shop.

I have to admit that I was really excited waiting on these products to arrive – more so than any other! The Sketch & Sniff Pencils were the highlight of my morning – imagine using a pencil that emits a delicious smell of chocolate while you are writing – Yummy!!

Beautifully presented in a tin with the various scents outlined, these would make a delightful gift for all ages – adult or child. The scents range from vanilla, pineapple and coconut, the tin including 12 different scented pencils.

My daughter has been using these for over one week now and she has no complaints. They are easily sharpened and a joy to use – so she says! A brilliant buy for only £9.

To compliment these pencils why not try this fab Doodle Pencil Case? I thought my 6 year old son would have gave this a rather good ‘test’ but my 12 year old daughter snapped it up immediately – she loves it!

The pens are completely washable so Jenny can draw a new design each week and this comes out in the wash leaving a new blank ‘canvas’ for her to style again. She has even written her homework memos on it!

The pencil case is much larger than I thought it would be – more than enough room to hold all the pens along with all her other school items. Excellent value for money for only £10.

The Doodle Pencil Case and Sketch & Sniff Pencils are both available from shop.royalacademy.org.uk

Check out the website for other fab items pictured below.

5 Hole Sharpener £7

Notebook Boquet £15

MadPax Bubble Bags.

What are MadPax?
Well if you are HERE, then you know life is too short to wear a bland backpack. (MadPax)

Why have I only discovered MadPax now?? These have got to be the coolest backpacks on the internet. I simply cannot explain how fab these really are in words – you will have to order one and see for yourself!

My daughter has the MadPax Pink Gumball. The first day she went to school she set off with a (I shan’t say the brand!) bag that ripped that very day. She was gutted and I was delighted that my MadPax bag had arrived that day as well. So, Jenny set off to school with her Pink Gumball with a huge smile on her face convinced no-one in the entire school would have as cool a bag – she was right!

When I picked her up she was stuttering with excitement – ‘Oh mummy – I made so many friends today. Everyone wanted to feel my bag, even the teachers!’ Have a look below:

She said her friends kept squeezing the bubbles and calling her bag a ‘stress ball’!! The bag is really well made and will definitely stand the test of time.

The zips are strong and the bag holds its shape which is also great for books and other belongings as they don’t get damaged or flattened in the bag. The straps are really well padded so no matter whether it is full to the top or empty, it is easily carried.

A variety of colours are available. I love the Teal and this will be my next purchase – for myself of course!

I adore all the MadPax bags – there are a fab selection to choose from and once you look online you will be delighted with the uniqueness and originality of the designs.

For further information or to make a purchase visit:

www.roomtogrow.co.uk

Bubble: Gumball (Fullpack) RRP £60

BooLunch Tin

What a fab little lunch tin – ot a tin for bits’n bobs this is! I adore it and my kids think its the cutest lunch tin ever.

Boo is the ‘famous’ cutest dog ever and I have to agree. his little face on this tin would make anyone ohhh and ahhh.

The tin itself is pretty strong and would suit for 101 uses – as well as a simple bunch tin.

The price is an amazing low £9 thus making this a rather good ‘value for money’ purchase.

For further information and to buy visit:

www.joythestore.com

Hedrin Protect & Go.

Now for something we must talk about but do not really want to! I bet I am not the only mum who has had unwanted visitors come home with the kids from school – head lice!

I still remember how I frantically tried to remove them with a fine comb without much luck before using product. I am pretty impressed with this new product from Hedrin – Hedrin Protect & Go.

This conditioning spray is suitable for regular use and works to inhibit these little crawlers from settling on your childs head.

Disrupts the life cycle of head lice, preventing an infestation
Water-based conditioner which is easy to use and can be applied to wet or dry hair after shampooing
Apply after every hair wash or at least twice a week (Hedrin)

Hedrin Protect & Go smells really nice which makes a change from a few other products I won’t mention! It contains orange and mango fragrance and it can be used frequently or when you child is going on a sleepover, birthday party etc.

Another huge plus is that is can be used on wet and dry hair thus making this a firm favourite in our house. I am always in a rush and this is perfect to spray on at the last minute as the kids go out the door.

You can purchase Hedrin Protect & Go at several good pharmacies including LloydsPharmacy

www.lloydspharmacy.com

www.amazon.co.uk