Back to School – Textbook Time

Did you know that you can rent textbooks? Renting textbooks allows you save that trip to the bookstore to sell them back or the shelf space from storing them  just because you are too lazy to sell them back!

Some perks from renting from Campus Book Rentals are:
- save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
- free shipping both ways
- can highlight in the textbooks
- flexible renting periods
- they donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

Renting textbooks is great for classes that don’t build on each other as they are probably textbooks that you won’t keep for reference. For me, Electives and non-core classes often fell in this category. I know for my undgraduate degree, I would have gladly rented my science books, sociology books, English books, and probably even those math books. This probably wouldn’t have been ideal for programming and engineering books as I often used them in later semesters as a reference.

I had to buy Instructional Technology and Media for Learning by Smaldino, Sharon E. and Lowther, Deborah L. for my Masters in Instructional Technology. I could have saved a half the cost of buying this book if I had rented the book instead of buying it off Amazon a few semesters ago!

Have you ever rented a textbook? Would you rent a textbook? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Rock ‘N Learn – Ready for School

About …

Your preschooler will love learning the skills important for school. Includes counting, colors, tying shoes (bunny ear method), being neat and tidy, following directions, holding a pencil, printing letters, listening, and more. The fun, animated characters make it easy for your child to get involved and practice right along with the video. This home edition features highlights from Rock N Learn Getting Ready for Kindergarten.

Our Thoughts …

This year Sophie is going into a transitional kindergarten class at a preschool near us. She misses the birthday cut-off to go to kindergarten this year but is so far ahead thank to her big sister that we felt this would help challenge her! When she say this DVD, she was really excited because anything school related is a lot of fun for her.

I came home from work and she was so excited she watch this DVD that day. She told me all about everything she learned from the DVD. My favorite comment was “I set the table just like the school TV showed!” We love for the kids to learn through observation and have found the Rock ‘N Learn videos to fit with that approach!

Plus … Rock ‘N Learn is offering a series of value-priced preschool DVDs at Sam’s Club locations nationwide. These $7.98 (Retail $14.99) DVDs are available for a limited time through September while supplies last.

You can also find this DVD on Amazon.

We are excited to giveaway a copy of Ready for School to one our readers! Good Luck in the giveaway!

 

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Del Monte Back To School #SmartSnack

It is back to school time here which means that when Grace gets off the bus, she is hungry. We try to make sure we have healthy snacks on hand instead of her eating whatever she can find when she gets home! We love snacks that have little to no prep since our days are so busy! Del Monte Fruit Cups are a great no-prep snack for us. #SmartSnack

On other days, there is a little down time before the bus comes and the kitchen is calling so it is fun to make a warm treat for Grace to enjoy when she gets off the bus. This is where we dreamed up a Peach Upside Down Mini-cake that you will want to make even if you aren’t getting kids off the bus!

The kids and I headed out Walmart trying to miss a rain storm but ended up right in the middle of the rain storm. I didn’t have the happiest shoppers with me but we made it work! The varieties of Del Monte Fruit Cups during our shopping trip were hard to find in the messed up display but the As Advertised sign did draw me into the Del Monte products!

As a result of the rain pouring on the roof of Walmart, I ended up shopping longer than we planned which means I bought more than I planned too.  My purchases show that Brian has been having problems with his ankle lately. And yes, those are Hello Kitty shoes. Don’t you want a pair too?

I was excited to see the No Sugar Added varieties of Del Monte Fruit Cups during our shopping trip. We try to limit the extra sugar the kids get and finding No Sugar Added products is a super easy way I do this. Del Monte Fruit Cups No Sugar Added are a great back to school snack for us because they make snack time so easy!  Plus the price of $2.00 for a 4 pack at our Walmart fits our budget when looking for healthy snack ideas for the kids!

 

As I said we like to make Grace special treats some days after school. We do but we also like easy special treats so to make this treat super easy, we used a yellow cake mix!

We decided the peach juice was too good to just toss. The kids drink the juice after they finish the fruit so we decided to see how much juice was in the four little fruit cups. There was about 3/4 of a cup of juice in the four fruit cups. The separated juice was used to replace part of the water in the cake mix recipe.

Peach Upside Down Mini-cakes

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 – 4 pack of Del Monte Diced Peaches with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Fruit Cups (separate the juice from the fruit)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Brown Sugar
  • Baking Spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the muffin tin or ramekins with baking spray. Place a small spoonful of brown sugar in the bottom of each muffin cup or ramekin. Place 4-6 pieces of diced peaches on top of the brown sugar. Add water to the separated peach juice to make 1 cup of liquid. Make the cake batter as instructed on the box. Pour the cake batter in each muffin cup or ramekin over the peaches and brown sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow sit for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Run a knife around the edges to release the cake from the baking vessel. Flip onto a cooking rack or plate to serve warm!

Ta-da! The Peach Upside Down Mini-cake in the heart ramekin was a success!

Check out our G+ album for pictures of our full shopping trip, step-by-step recipe pictures, and the kids (mostly!) enjoying these little cakes!

Are you a fan of Del Monte? Be sure to Follow Del Monte on Twitter and Like Del Monte on Facebook!

Would you make a treat such as the Peach Upside Down Mini-cakes using Del Monte Fruit Cups or would you be too eager for a snack and just eat the fruit from the fruit cup? Leave us a comment and let us know!

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 Del Monte #CBias #SocialFabric

1st Day of School – 1st Grade

Today is Grace’s 1st day of 1st Grade. You might remember she turned 5 on her 1st Day of Kindergarten last year. This year her birthday is the third day of school. It took some convincing on our part that she was actually allowed to start 1st grade even though she isn’t 6 yet.

Here is our big 1st Grader …

Grace with her little sister and little brother …

The bus is here …

Good luck on your 1st day of 1st Grade, Grace!

Tiny Prints – Back to School

Are you ready to head back to school? Back to School with Tiny Prints can help you with that to-do list that is every growing with things to do!

The back to school collection includes …

Allergy Alert Cards:

Lunch Box Notes (my favorite!):

Personalized Notebooks:

and Mommy Contact Cards:

plus so much more! You can find the full back to school collection here.

We are excited to offer a giveaway to our readers! One lucky reader will win $50 promo code + free standard or USPS shipping to be used on the Tiny Prints site! Good luck!

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Plus there is a Twitter party along with our host @ResourcefulMom on Tuesday the 21st from 1-2pm PT/4-5pm ET based around the Back to School theme with awesome prizes to giveaway! You can RSVP to the Twitter Party HERE.

Tea Collection #back2school

This another great Back to School giveaway … time to get dressed in style!

The prize for this giveaway is a $200 Tea Collection gift card!!

If you have a little girl in your life you will love the outfits like these …

But if you have a little boy, don’t fret you will find great outfits like these …

 

Good luck!!

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Thank you to MySillyMonkeys for organizing this giveaway.

ETY Kids #back2school

This another great Back to School giveaway …

Prize: ETY•Kids5 Earphones – TWO Winners!

Are your kids always asking for your earphones? It is time for them to get their own!!

 

Look at this great product …

 

Good luck!!

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Thank you to MySillyMonkeys for organizing this giveaway.

Bundles & Buzz #back2school

This another great Back to School giveaway … who doesn’t want a big Bundles and Buzz surprise?!

the prize is: a surprise Back To…School Bundle ($70 value) and a $20 in store credit link to Bundles & Buzz. PLEASE NOTE ALL BUNDLES ARE DIFFERENT AND ARE MEANT TO BE A SURPRISE.
This is an actual back to school pack …

This is an actual new mother bundle …

 

Good luck as in this giveaway!!

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Hocus Focus #back2school

This another great  Back to School giveaway … time to get studying and learning. Plus more great giveaways will come in the next few days!!

Prize: a Hocus Focus Education In Home Kit ($129.95 value) that includes …

Parent’s Manual

Introduction for Parents

Guidelines for the Program
Lesson Plans and Illustrations for each magic trick.
Instructional DVDIntroduction for the Parents
Introduction for the Child
Performance and Step-by-step instructions for each trick
Supplemental CDLetter to the Parents
Student Illustrations for each trick
The Magician’s Code of Ethics
Hocus Focus™ Diploma
Magic Supplies

 

Doesn’t that just make you want to learn? Good luck!

 

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Thank you to MySillyMonkeys for organizing this giveaway.
NOTE: We did not receive payment for this post.

MadDogGear Backpacks #back2school

This another great  Back to School giveaway … guess what? There are even more to come after this but be sure to enter this one now before you forget!!

In this giveaway, 4 winners will receive a back pack of choice (based on availability)!! Head over to MadDogGear to check out the great backpack styles they offer! These styles are great. I am really loving this purple style for girls …

 

but this grey one would be great for any boy I know. (Plus it will show less dirt!!)

 

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Thank you to MySillyMonkeys  for organizing this giveaway.

NOTE: We did not receive payment for this post.