Back to School Countdown: 7 days, 7 ways to make the most of the final week

7 Days, 7 Ways to Get Set for the New School Year
By: Kati Chevaux, organizational expert and editor at Cozi.com

Day 1 – Refresh the calendar

The school year is chock-full of calendar events: school functions, athletic events, classroom parties, library due dates, gym days, music lessons and parent-teacher conferences. Get a calendar to record everything so you aren’t tracking down flyers, paper schedules, emails and notes from school for your day-to-day planning. Cozi makes it easy with an online calendar that the whole family can access either online or via their mobile phone (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) so families have their to-do lists at their fingertips no matter where they are. Even better, you can sync your Cozi calendar with school district event calendars and your home calendars.Cozi lets you send reminders and agendas to keep everyone on the same page.

Day 2 – Inventory the kids’ closets

You don’t have to go on a huge shopping spree, but make sure each child has enough clothes for the first few weeks of school. Go through the kids’ closets, dressers and storage bins of clothes. Then make it fun by having a “fashion show” to find out which clothes fit which kids and who needs to buy what. This saves money and time since you aren’t heading out to buy new outfits for a child who can now wear an older sibling’s jeans that are still in good condition.

Day 3 – Create a morning checklist for the kids

Ever get frustrated that you have to remind the kids of seemingly basic tasks (brush your teeth, get dressed, get your backpack together) every single morning? Thought so! Put it all on a list and hand it over to the kids to use each morning. You can stop nagging because the responsibility of completing the list becomes the child’s. Just don't allow play time or TV time until the tasks are done. (Here's our morning checklist on Cozi: http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/school-morning-checklist)

Day 4 – Set up the time-to-go area

This is for backpacks, homework projects, shoes, coats, lunch sacks and anything else besides the clothes on their back needed to get out the door. Have the kids ALWAYS store these items in the time-to-go area and make sure it’s all there before they go to bed. It might take some time to get everyone in the habit, but getting out the door without a last-minute scramble for the hat your son can't leave without is well worth it.

Day 5 – Set up the homework routine

Will there be a dedicated homework area? When will homework get done – right after school, anytime before bed or in the morning before school for early birds? Letting the kids know what you expect for where, when and how homework gets done means fewer daily struggles over the task.

Day 6 – Make a list of favorite family meals

With summer’s end comes more structure to the evening schedule. One of the best things you can do to make the daily dinner decision easier is to keep a list of go-to meals that are easy to make and the whole family loves. Go a step further and plan out two weeks of family dinners so you don’t have to decide each day what’s for dinner during those busy first weeks of school. And you’ll end up with a treasure chest of ideas for the future when 5 o’clock rolls around and you haven’t a clue what to make.

Day 7 – Decide what you’ll do with schoolwork and art

Otherwise, you might end up with huge bins of papers and art projects that you couldn’t bring yourself to throw out the day they came home. Some ideas: keep one piece of art or school item for each child each week, use one container for the year and limit what you save to what fits in the container, display new art as it comes home in easy-to-use frames or with clips.

About CoziCozi is a free Web and mobile service that simplifies busy family life. With Cozi, families have the tools to manage schedules and activities with an online calendar, track grocery lists,shopping lists and to do lists, organize household chores, and share family moments with relatives and friends—all with one solution. Families can access Cozi from any computer at home or at work, and can get their grocery list, shopping list, to do list, schedule andmessages on any mobile phone. Located in Seattle, Wash., Cozi was founded by veterans of Microsoft, Expedia and Amazon with a vision for creating technology tuned to the family. Cozi has over 3 million registered family members, and is available for free at www.cozi.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

HP Moves Students to Head of the Class

HP offers a variety of high-performance technology at a great value to enhance the scholastic experience and give students the freedom to learn and study from virtually anywhere.

To help students stay in step with the latest trends in education and learning while on the go, HP is offering several special promotions. Plus, the HP Academy program offers eligible students and teachers savings of up to 15 percent on the latest consumer products.

HP ePrint⁽¹⁾, notebook PCs ideal for the multitasking student

HP has two powerful notebook PCs and a printing solution to help students tackle any task the school year has in store ­– from the hardest mathematical equations to creative class projects.

The HP Pavilion dv6 is an entertainment powerhouse with the right amount of screen real estate at a great value. Movies look crisp on the notebook’s vivid 15.6-inch diagonal high-definition (HD)⁽²⁾ Bright View LED display, and music sounds the way the artist intended with Beats Audio™ technology and optimized on-board quad speakers. The HP Pavilion dv6 is available now at www.hpdirect.com and starts at $699.99.⁽³⁾

The HP Pavilion dm4 features etched metal finishes, the power of second-generation Intel® Core™ processors and HP CoolSense technology in an ultrathin design. It’s the ideal balance of design, portability and performance. The HP Pavilion dm4 is available now at www.hpdirect.com and starts at $749.99.⁽³⁾

HP understands the lives of students are hectic and that sometimes homework doesn’t just get done at home. With HP ePrint,⁽¹⁾ students can work from a friend’s dorm room, the library or even from their smartphone and print directly to their HP ePrint-enabled printer. With ePrint, an HP printer has its own email address that can be customized and shared with family, friends and classmates. HP ePrint is available on any HP printer starting at $79.^(1,3)

HP solutions for every student, family and budget

From busy scholars on a budget to the family that plays and learns together, HP has a computing solution to satisfy the needs of every student – available now at www.hpdirect.com. 

The Savvy Spender 

Students most often have to couple a busy school and social life with a tight budget. The following HP products are ideal for those who demand all the essentials at a great value.

• HP Pavilion g6 offers reliable performance in a variety of stylish colors. Featuring a 15.6-inch HD⁽²⁾ BrightView LED display with Altec Lansing speakers and SRS Premium Audio, the Pavilion g6 is ideal for enjoying movies and music. It starts at $529.99.⁽³⁾

• HP Photosmart e-All-in-One Printer handles all print jobs from lab-quality photos and documents to web content with ease. Choose original HP 60XL cartridges for consistent, high-quality results. The Photosmart e-All-in-One starts at $99.99.⁽³⁾

• HP USB Flash drives are a portable, affordable storage solution. The HP v165w, available in red or blue, and the diamond-studded gold HP c335w allow students to carry their content in style. HP USB Flash drives start at $14.99.(3)

The Trendy Techie

For the student who is always on the go, but demands the latest and greatest in design and functionality, the following HP products make productivity look better than ever.

• HP Pavilion dm1 delivers notebook performance in a compact, stylish design. Measuring less than 1-inch thin, it features an 11.6-inch diagonal HD⁽²⁾ BrightView LED display, an AMD dual-core processor and offers up to 10.75 hours of battery life.⁽⁴⁾ HP CoolSense technology combines hardware and intelligent cooling software for a notebook that feels noticeably cooler. The Pavilion dm1 starts at $499.99.⁽³⁾

• HP Envy100 e-All-in-One Printer is a sleek, web-connected⁽⁵⁾ device that is whisper-quiet and features a touchscreen display that retracts after printing to maintain a streamlined appearance when not in use. It is also the world’s first PVC-free printer and comes with a reusable tote bag and cartridges made from up to 70 percent recycled plastic to help students reduce their environmental impact.^(6,7) The HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One is $249.99.⁽³⁾

• HP Wi-Fi Mobile Mouse is the first mouse to connect quickly and easily via a PC’s built-in Wi-Fi receiver,⁽⁵⁾ ideal for the student who can’t spare a USB port. It offers up to nine months of battery life and five customizable buttons so students can create shortcuts for common actions such as cut, paste, undo and redo. The HP Wi-Fi Mobile Mouse is $49.99.⁽³⁾

The Family Fun and Learning Center

Education begins at home, and HP has the solutions to fuel a child’s desire to learn.

• HP TouchSmart 610 is a touchscreen, all-in-one PC that offers an intuitive computing experience and endless opportunities for discovery and learning. Kids of all ages can engage with touch-optimized applications and games from Marvel Comics, Cartoon Network and more.⁽⁵⁾ Additionally, the display reclines from upright to almost flat for increased comfort and a more natural interaction with the touchscreen. The TouchSmart 610 PC starts at $899.99.⁽³⁾
  

• HP Photosmart eStation is the ideal printer for the digitally connected family. It combines HP ePrint⁽¹⁾ with high-performance printing, scanning and copying. The printer’s 7-inch detachable touchscreen runs on Android OS, letting users shop online, access web applications, e-books and email right from the device.⁽⁵⁾ The print experience can be customized by visiting the HP ePrintCenter, where students can explore new services, track print jobs and check out new print apps. The Photosmart eStation starts at $329.99.⁽³⁾
  
• HP Portable Hard Drive is an ideal back-up solution for families that want quick, reliable back-up with virtually no hassle. Available with up to 1 terabyte (TB)(8) of storage, the HP Portable Hard Drive features HP SimpleSave software and USB 3.0 technology for the fastest transfer speeds available. Simply plug the drive into a PC and it backs up all family photos, videos and other cherished memories instantly. It starts at $99.99.(3)
  
  
  Smart student packs now available at HP Academy
  
  The only thing better than getting the perfect PC for school is getting a great deal on essentials like Microsoft® Home Office or entertainment fun like the Microsoft Xbox just for purchasing an HP PC. HP Academy is offering special deals for students and teachers this back-to-school season, including:
  
  
• The Essential Student Pack: Students who purchase an HP notebook priced higher than $599 can add an HP Photosmart e-All-in-One printer, three-year limited warranty and 4 gigabyte (GB)⁽⁸⁾ HP USB Flash drive for only $199.⁽³⁾
  
  
• The Ultimate Student Deal: The lightweight, high-powered HP Pavilion dm4, Microsoft Office Home and Student, and the Essential Student Pack can be purchased for less than $900 with the HP Academy student discount and coupon code NB6666.⁽³⁾
  
  
• Microsoft Xbox 360 offer: Students get a 4 GB⁽⁸⁾ Xbox 360 for free with the purchase of an HP PC with the new Intel Core processor family and Windows® 7 priced higher than $690. Additional details are available at www.hpdirect.com/go/xbox.
  
  
  Additional information on HP’s student packs and offers is available at www.hpdirect.com/go/classofnow.

(1)    Requires an internet connection to the printer. Feature works with any connected internet- and email-capable device. Print times may vary. Some HP LaserJet printers may require a firmware upgrade. A list of supported documents and image types is available at www.hp.com/go/eprintcenter. Additional solutions are available at www.hp.com/go/mobile-printing-solutions.

(2)    HD content is required to view HD images.

(3)    Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

(4)    Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. Additional details are available at MobileMark07 battery benchmark www.bapco.com/products/mobilemark2007.

(5)    Wireless access point and internet service required and not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited.

(6)    HP ENVY 100 e-All-in-One is polyvinyl chloride-free (PVC-free), meeting the evolving definition of PVC-free as set forth in the “iNEMI Position Statement on the ‘Definition of Low-Halogen Electronics (BFR-/CFR-/PVC-free).” Plastic parts contain less than 1,000 ppm (0.1 percent) of chlorine (if the Cl source is from CFRs or PVC or PVC copolymers). Printers sold in Korea are not PVC-free. USB cable, required in limited geographic areas, is not PVC-free.

(7)    Many of HP’s ink cartridges with recycled content include at least 50 percent recycled plastic by weight. Exact percentage of recycled plastic varies by model and over time, based on the availability of material.

(8)    Actual formatted capacity is less. A portion of the hard drive is reserved for system recovery software — for notebooks up to: 20 GB (Windows 7), 8 GB (XP and XP Pro), 12 GB (Vista®, 12 GB (MCE); for desktops up to: 14 GB (Windows 7), 10 GB (Vista, XP, XP Pro), 12 GB (MCE). For hard drives, 1 GB = 1 billion bytes and 1 TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 20 GB of hard drive is reserved for system recovery software.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Walmart Saves Families Time and Money for Back-to-School Shopping

With moms on a tight budget this back-to-school season, Walmart  announced today it will offer low prices all season long on a broadened assortment of back-to-school and back-to-college essentials including everyday supplies, sporty backpacks and the latest electronics.

According to recent research*, more than half of moms will spend about the same on back-to-school shopping this year with a third of moms spending less. To ensure moms stay within their back-to-school budgets, Walmart’s every day low prices are backed by an ad match policy. With ad match, Walmart will match any local competitor’s advertised price for the same product, right at the register.

“We know our customers need to stretch their dollars as far as they can,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising officer. “We’re making it even easier and more affordable for them this back-to-school season with low prices on more items along with our ad match policy and a better shopping experience.”

This year, Walmart is making back-to-school shopping even easier with new store improvements. Back-to-school items are now organized, both in stores and online, in one place and categorized by school age group, so families can quickly and easily shop supplies appropriate for their child’s grade. Many of the most common school supply list items are located down the center of the back-to-school aisle allowing families to quickly check these items off their list.

For those who prefer to shop online, Walmart.com offers free shipping to home on a broad assortment of back-to-school essentials such as school supply bundles, calculators, pens, notebooks, crayons and more.

A sampling of back-to-school items available online at Walmart.com include:

·         School supply value bundles starting at $10 on Walmart.com only; free shipping to home
·         Toddler size school uniform bundles starting at $6.47 – (bundle available only on Walmart.com, individual school uniform items available in select Walmart stores); free shipping to home
·         Toy Story and Cars licensed backpack/lunch bag combo sets – $13 (available only on Walmart.com)

The List for Less

Walmart has everything moms need to find on their child’s school supply list – whether the kids are starting kindergarten or heading off to college, including:

·         70-Sheet, 1-Subject Notebook (wide or college ruled) – 20 cents

·         100-Sheet Composition Books – 40 cents

·         150 Sheets of Filler Paper (wide or college ruled) – 75 cents

·         1-Inch Economy Binder – 92 cents

·         24-Ct. Dixon No. 2 Pencils – 94 cents

·         12-Ct. Crayola Colored Pencils or 10-ct. Crayola Markers (fine or broad) – 97 cents

·         10-Pack of Bic Cristal Pens (Black, Blue or Red) – 97 cents

·         4-Pack of Sharpie Pocket or Tank-Style Highlighters – $1.47

·         6-Pack of Elmer’s Glue Sticks – $1.97

Back to Style

For kids who want to add a little pizzazz to their supplies, Walmart has lots of fun patterns and popular licensed products including Hello Kitty, Super Mario Bros. and a new exclusive line of more than 250 themed products from Nickelodeon’s hit showVictorious. Specific items available in most stores include:

·         Exclusive “Everything Day Bag” including all-in-one backpack, lunch bag and stationery kit –  $13.88

·         Assorted Victorious products including notebooks, binder clips, pencil pouch, a three-ring binder and more  – $1.97 - $2.97

·         “Sassy Slang” and Hello Kitty assorted composition books and notebooks – $1.97 each

·         Hello Kitty graphic tees for $7 and dresses ranging from $12 - $14

·         Super Mario Bros. notebooks at $1.97 and folders at $0.97

Seeing is Learning

Walmart Vision Centers offer free vision screenings in-store and a free 12-month guarantee on all frames. Fun frames include vintage and retro-styles and top brands like Hard Candy and “ECO Kids,” the first optical collection made of entirely recycled materials with a tree planted for every pair sold at Walmart. With Vision Centers located in over 2,500 Walmart stores nationwide, it’s easy to get the convenient, affordable vision care you need. Find your local, in-store Walmart Vision Center.

Tech Savvy for College

College-bound gadget gurus can head to Walmart’s electronics department for tablets, laptops and more all available at low prices every day.

·         HP 15.6” Dandelion Breeze Laptop – $548 (exclusive to Walmart)

o    Add a matching sleeve and wireless mouse for bundle price of $578 (bundle available only on Walmart.com)

·         Apple iPad 2 starting at $499

o    Color protective pad – $39

·         Dell 15.6” Laptop – $398

o    Wireless Onn Mouse – $14

·         RCA 24” LED Ultra Slim 1080p HDTV – $199

o    Wall mount – $24 (available only on Walmart.com)

·         Madden NFL 12 Pre-order online at Walmart.com plus $20 eGift card – $59.96 (guaranteed street date delivery; offer valid on pre-orders only)

For additional back-to-school information including sample shopping lists, back-to-school bundles, tips on hassle-free mornings as well as study tips for new students,please visit http://www.walmart.com/school.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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