Because moms need back-to-school supplies, too!

One of the things I dread most about sending my kids back to school is shopping for their school supplies. With four kids, I’m always juggling multiple lists, trying to find all of the items requested by their teachers for the school supply stash. There’s always that ONE thing that can’t be found in any stores and ends up taking longer to track down than the rest of the school supplies put together.
However, once the kids are back in school, I love to leisurely browse the school supply bins for a few items just for me. The stores usually keep their back-to-school discounts for at least a week after school has started, but I get to avoid the rush of moms and kids all frantically trying to find the WASHABLE markers or the ALREADY SHARPENED No. 2 pencils.
I’m a complete addict when it comes to office supplies, so I have to work hard to keep myself under control when I’m looking at pens, notebooks and other supplies. I love making my to-do lists in cute notebooks, and taking notes in meetings with brightly colored pens. This year, I picked up just a few things that are adding so much joy to my day.
My biggest obsession is pens, so I had to make a hard and fast rule this year that I wasn’t allowed to buy Sharpies. My Sharpie collection is out of control, but what can you do when you see deep discounts on a pack of brightly colored ultra fine tip markers? Ack! I did *slightly* break this rule for a 5-pack of plain black Sharpies for only $1 at Office Max. ONE dollar?! How do you NOT buy that?
I love trying new pens, and I’ve been wanting to try the Papermate Flair pens for a long time. I remember when I was a kid, my dad often had a few of these in red. I loved the thickness of this pen that was almost a marker, but not quite. I couldn’t resist grabbing a 12-pack for only $8 at Office Max.
I rarely write anything with a normal ball point pen. I love having an assortment of colored pens, and these are a nice medium tips. Not too thin and not too thick.

Notebooks are next on my list of office supply favorites. I go through a ton of notebooks in a year. I love to have one in the kitchen for my daily to-do list or any random thought that I need to jot down. I keep one in my work bag to take notes in meetings, and let’s face it, to doodle. I prefer unlined notebooks, but they are surprisingly difficult to find. I couldn’t resist picking up a few of these super cute composition notebooks for only $3 at Office Max.
 

It was also time for me to find a better way to store all of my pens on the go. I found a super cute little pencil bag, complete with lots of bling to store my pens in style.
 

Finally, I feel like I’m always in need of a sticky note to label something, jot down a quick reminder or leave a note for the kids. I wanted to try these tiny sticky notes to help me organize my notebooks and for whatever else comes up. We’ll see how much I use them.
That’s what my back-to-school supplies look like this year. Now, if I can just keep them hidden from my kids so they don’t steal them!
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So, tell me… Do you love school supplies as much as I do? What are your favorites?