Sanity Saving Back to School Solutions with BabbleBoxx

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

Back to School season is in full swing here. There’s composition notebooks and boxes of crayons at every turn, and as much as I know these kids need to go back to school because no one should have this much free time to talk about Minecraft and Snapchat, I’m also dreading some of less fun parts of back to school – the early mornings, frustration over packed lunches, supply shopping, germs… all the wonderful things that come along with a quieter house and regular routine. Thankfully Babbleboxx and Single Media Edition are swooping in to save the day with a Back to School 2017 Babbleboxx, full of products to help keep us sane as we face the new school year. Read on to see how we’re solving some of our biggest back to school dilemma’s this year, plus grab some exclusive codes for back to school savings on these family-perfect products!

Problem: You missed the bus and barely made it to drop off before the late bell. Now you’re late for work and you can’t remember if you left the coffee maker on, or if the kids shut off the TV before leaving the house. 

Solution: Wemo Mini WiFi Smart Plug. My husband always dreamed of owning a Smart Home, but we never realized how practical home automation is until we had kids. Lights, fans and electronics are left on all hours of the day by both the kids and us. I thought upgrading to automatic lighting would be expensive and difficult, but we wound up using WeMo Mini WiFi Smart Plugs and were able to automate every room in our home easily and inexpensively. Just plug the Wemo Smart Plug into an existing wall outlet and download the app. Follow the simple on screen prompts to connect the WeMo plug to your wifi you can plug any lights, devices or electronics into the smart plug and control them right from your phone. Installation is so simple you can even use the WeMo Mini WiFi Smart Plug to automate a dorm room or school year rental! I never realized how many benefits there would be to home automation as a parent. We use WeMo Smart Plugs to:

• Make sure nothing’s been left on when we’re out.
• Peace of mind being able to double check that items like coffee makers, irons and toasters are off after we’ve left for the day.
• Limit Screen Time by turning off the outlets that TV’s and computers are plugged into during homework or bed times.
• Turn lights on and off when we’re away so that the house doesn’t look empty.
• Ease night time fears by allowing the kids to turn on bathroom and hallway lights using the Amazon Echo, so that they don’t have to navigate a dark house. 

The WeMo Mini Wifi Smart Plug is compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Home, so if you’re using one of those already the WeMo plugs will work seamlessly to automate even more of your home! And, because we love WeMo so much, we were able to snag an awesome Back to School discount for readers of The Shady Lane! Use code WEMOshadylane for 20% off the purchase of your own WeMo Mini Wifi Smart Plug now through September 30, 2017 and see how easy home automation can be!

Problem: Cold and Flu season sneaks up faster than the deadline for that science fair project your kid swears they told you about two months ago. Germs are everywhere, and you know your kids aren’t taking the time to wash their hands properly throughout the day.

Solution: Zoono GermFree24 Hand Sanitizer: Back to School and Germs go hand in hand, which is why we stock up on Zoono GermFree24 Hand Sanitizer before the school year even starts. I’ve volunteered at school enough to know that no one washes their hands, which is a parent’s nightmare once cold and flu season rolls around. Thankfully Zoono makes this amazing 24 hour hand sanitizer. We use it in the morning and it creates an antimicrobial barrier on the skin that won’t wash or sweat off, giving me peace of mind throughout the day. Zoono Germfree24 comes in a foam and spray and is water based, making it perfect for sensitive skin. 

Problem: Packing lunch is a constant battle. You want to pack that hummus and pita snack you saw on Pinterest last night, but the kids are trying to sneak a family size bag of Doritos into their lunch bag. If they think that hummus looks bad now, just imagine what it will look like when you find the container crammed into the bottom of their backpacks in a week.

Solution: Pure Growth Organics kids snacks: This is the scariest part of the whole back to school ordeal if you have picky eaters like I do. My kids are total snackers, so I try to include a few tasty but healthy treats to get them through the day. Pure Growth Organics has us covered with snacks that are delicious enough to entice my healthy eaters, and healthy enough to make me feel good about packing them for lunch! The Micky Mouse shaped Organic Chocolate Animal Crackers are a favorite in our house. My kids love finding them in their lunchbox or having them as an after school snack. Another favorite are the Organic Crispy Rice Squares. They’re Vegan and gluten free, perfect for extra sweet lunchbox treat. They’re also pretty allergy friendly, making them our go-to snack for classroom parties! My oldest son also adores the Organic White Cheddar Popcorn. It’s delicious, and since it’s packed in 70 calorie bags I know he’s getting a healthy serving size in his lunchbox. Now the kids get foods they enjoy and I can be confident that they’re eating healthy, balanced meals at school. We keep our favorite snacks in a single large container in the pantry so that we can easily assemble lunches! If you’re looking to stock your pantry with delicious, healthy snacks  make sure to use code 2020BABBLE for 20% off your Pure Growth Organic order on Amazon!

Problem: No one wants to go back to school shopping because there’s nothing fun or exciting about binders and notebooks.

Solution: Ooly School Supplies: If we want the kids to be excited about back to school schopping we have to include some fun supplies for them too. Getting special supplies really gets the kids excited for the new school year and we rely on Ooly for some really great products that are both useful and fun! This year one of our favorites has been the OOLY Mighty Zipper Pouch. This zippered pouch is giant, with two large compartments for stashing pencils, erasers, notebooks, art supplies and more. The Mighty Zipper pouch comes in plenty of fun colors so kids can choose one that compliments their style! My kids love to express themselves in fun ways, so OOLY Yummy Yummy Scented Glitter Gel Pens and Neon Chunky Barrel Colored Pencils are also must-haves for us. They’re perfect for doodling or decorating notebooks and they even love them for writing notes and letters to friends and family. The OOLY 2-in-1 Flip Side Notebook is in all of their backpacks this year. With pages that are lined on one side and blank on the other they have tons of space for writing, doodling and unleashing their creative sides! We always make sure the kids have a few fun supplies that will bring a smile to their face when they pull them out in class, it just seems to make the idea of a new school year more exciting for everyone. If you want to snag some fun supplies Ooly has supplied me with an awesome offer for you! Click here to shop, then enter code “ready” to recieve 15% off of orders $35 or more PLUS free shipping to anywhere in the US and a free Ooly eraser (these are giant erasers, perfect for homework and artwork!)! I told you Ooly made shopping fun!

Problem: We don’t want our kids to show up to school looking like they’ve just rolled out of bed – even if they literally have. 

Solution: Snip-Its Hair Care products are specifically formulated for kids, making morning hair care simple and stress free. We start our day with Snip-Its professional kids hair care products like their Tangy Apple 3 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo – perfect because it cleans and conditions all at once, meaning less steps in the shower – and the refreshing apple scent is a great, energizing way to start the day. Snip-Its Morning Miracle Mousse is my go-to morning product. It can tame the wildest bed head and create soft, manageable locks, plus it protects hair and scalp from harmful UV rays which is a huge plus for us, because I know my kids don’t bother to put on a hat before going out to recess. For days when we need a little more style we turn to Snip Its Silly Slicker Ultimate Sculpting Gel. This kid friendly gel doesn’t turn hair hard or sticky and my favorite part is that you can reactivate the gel with just a little water, so it only takes a minute to fix a squashed faux hawk or hair-do mishap. It  also comes clean with just a bit of shampoo and water, so there’s no need for any extra scrubbing in the shower. Of course, Snip Its Salons specialize in kid’s haircuts, so if you’re looking for a back to school makeover you can locate a salon near you for a perfect new school ‘do!

Problem: Notebooks and folders are not exciting at all.

Solution: Duck Tape! Duck® Brand recently added a new section to their site, The Duck Tape® Makers™. This area highlights amazing Duck Tape creations, artwork and project ideas. My son loves creating with Duck Tape. He uses it to cover his notebooks and folders, he’s made wallets with it, he even gives himself mini room makeovers by using it on his desk lamp and chair. I love that he can be creative and give his space its own personal style in a semi-permanent way! My favorite new suggestion is using Duck Tape on canvas or cardboard to create artwork. I’m planning on doing this with my kids to create some things to hang in their rooms. If you have a budding artist who wants to personalize their school gear, check out the site and find some amazing project ideas!

I am definitely feeling more confident about sending the kids back to school with these products in my arsenal. Which of these products will help you solve a back to school dilemma? 

Check out more Back to School fun from The Shady Lane!