Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Celebrate, Encourage and Cherish Going Back To School with Hallmark {Review & Gift Pack Giveaway}

Hallmark logo
While there is no perfect way to prepare for the start of a school year, it is truly important to take the time to pause and capture the special moments before they are swept away in the whirlwind of new teachers, old friends, packing backpacks and more.

After all, with how quickly time seems to be flying by lately, I have no doubt that I'm going to blink and both of my girls will be graduating and heading off to college. Where did my babies go?

Although I have attempted to do my own record-keeping and photographing to document the start and end of each school year, I haven't been very happy with the results... not to mention that I usually falter when it comes to the follow-through aspect. Is there any wonder that Big Sister E's baby book stops when she was around one year and Little Sister B's doesn't have a single thing in it except for her newborn footprints?

Fortunately, this year Hallmark, one of my favorite companies, has made it extremely easy and stylish to celebrate kids as they head back to class with new gift and greetings designed to create lasting memories and share an extra boost of encouragement throughout the school year.

Hallmark back-to-school

After having spent the last 100 years helping people stay connected and best express their feelings, it isn't hard to see that there is so much more available than just classic greeting cards that are most commonly associated with Hallmark (although those are always amazing).

Whether you're shopping in a Hallmark Gold Crown Store or searching their easy-to-browse website, finding the next gift, wrapping paper, ornament, album, card and more couldn't be easier and you'll always love the new products as well as the old.

As I have always been in awe of all of the new and innovative items that Hallmark debuts, I had no doubt that their new gifts and lines of cards for heading back to school would be just the thing to brighten the day of kids everywhere.

Hallmark back-to-school products

Sure enough, these items brought a smile to my face that hasn't left and have made me even more excited for school to begin!

Hallmark's three new lines of greetings all focus on encouragement, positivity, acceptance, love, inspiration and more — all attributes that are great for kiddos to hear but are especially important during the school year.
  • SO SO Happy Greetings: These greetings help moms connect with their kids in a way they understand and appreciate. From Taco to Tribe, a variety of quirky characters embrace individuality, build self-confidence and feature upbeat back-to-school messages. As a fun bonus, these cards even include fun surprises for kids like shoelaces, key chains and more!
  • Kids Encouragement Greetings: Whether it's a new social situation, a test, first game of the year or any day of the week, sometimes kids need a confidence boost. These cards are perfect for dealing with apprehension and excitement when you stick one inside your child's backpack or textbook so that they can find it later and hold onto your words (and remember that they are awesome).
  • Back-to-School Greetings: The newest back-to-school greetings this fall feature furry friends and adorable photos to help you send a written "Go get 'em!" or "I love you!" to your kids as they head out the door. Even the youngest of recipients will surely get a kick out of these cute critters!
Hallmark kids cards

No matter if you typically reach for cards that are sentimental and moving or ones that are lighthearted and funny, Hallmark always manages to find just the right touch to make the results special. I love the small details that they always include, from the bright colors to the touches of glitter...

glitter cards

...and what kids wouldn't be impressed with a card that includes a cheery necklace, cute button or sparkly shoelaces? So darn cute!

creative greeting cards

As much as I love the Back-to-School greetings that Hallmark offers for kids of all ages, I completely adore their new Pics 'n' Props School Days Activity Kit for me!

back to school signs

Coming complete with all of the tools that parents need to document and remember first-day-of-school memories in a quick, easy, creative and utterly adorable way, the only things missing from this kit are the camera and your child!

Right inside the box you'll find predesigned signs for kids to hold (preschool through 12th grade), chalk for kids to decorate or create their own sign, journaling cards with questions for each school year, and an album to store each year's photo and journaling card.

I am head-over-heels with the way that the signs are so artistically done yet are so easy to slide right into the chic frame...

Hallmark school signs

...and the simple and sweet design of the "My First Day!" photo album.

For someone like me who always has aspirations to come up with crafty projects but never tends to get around to actually doing it, Hallmark has made it a snap for me to have lasting memories stylishly bound that can be admired throughout the years.

Hallmark school year book

With the first day of school just around the corner, we're all excited to embark on another year of learning, laughing and fun!

first day of school
Making my own 4K sign only took a few minutes and I think it turned out pretty professional!

Whether you are shopping for cards and gifts that are simple and classic or elaborate and modern, Hallmark's huge variety of designs, styles and colors are sure to supply you with just the right words to convey to your recipient how much they are loved... and they'll surely want to hang onto your kindness for years to come.

This school year, give your kids something new and different that shows how much you care by heading to your nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store to pick up a gift or card that is nearly guaranteed to surprise and delight.

Or, thanks to their generosity, one person will have just the right presents delivered right to their door, because...

One lucky person will win a "Making Memories & Encouraging Kids" Gift Pack* from Hallmark!

Hallmark giveaway
*Gift Pack includes a Pics 'n' Props School Days Activity Kit and a selection of Hallmark's Back-to-School greeting cards. Total ARV $70.


A big thank you to Hallmark for providing a Gift Pack of these items for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

110 comments:

Suburban prep said...

We got a special treat in our lunch.

rlbouch said...

Picking out a special outfit.

Helga said...

I would get a new lunchbox.

Unknown said...

We would get a new outfit and get our pictures taken before we left for school

Unknown said...

When I was a kid my mom helped me pick out the "perfect" back to school outfit and we took a picture at the door before going to the bus stop.

Missie Faye said...

Heather Freeman said: my parents always took a photograph of us on the morning of the first day of school.

wigget said...

i didn't and we don't celebrate the beginning of the school year

Mary said...

Special outfits and the annual picture in front of the front door.

Anonymous said...

as a child we did the new outfits- picture the morning of school and dinner at a restaurant the night before...
tcogbill at live dot com

Kim said...

New supplies and lots of pictures!!

Jessica Cox said...

I always let the girls pick out their favorite outfit to wear and me and my husband always drive them the first day
Jessica Cox

Unknown said...

I would get a new outfit for the first day. :)

Seyma Bennett Shabbir said...

Would get a new outfit and a new haircut! We do the same for our boys!
seyma_bennett@hotmail.com

ReviewsSheRote said...

Pose for pix with new outfit and back pack =)

apple blossom said...

new shoes, clothes and school supplies

Tiffany Schmidt said...

Picking out a special first day outfit!

ken ohl said...

new shoes and clothes. thankyou, ken pohl19@comcast.net

SueZH said...

I loved getting matching notebooks and pencil cases etc

SueZH said...

I loved getting matching notebooks and pencil cases etc

Colleen Maurina said...

We always celebrated going back to school by getting to pick out a new backpack for the school year.

Debra said...

we would have a bbq the weekend before

Unknown said...

Cinnamon rolls for breakfast our first day with a big glass of OJ

Bethany C. said...

I remember always having my picture taken with my lunchbox and backpack in front of the house on my first day of school.

Denise S. said...

I got new clothes and shoes and my kids to also. They might get a trip to McDonalds after the first day.

Tamar said...

We do a picture on the first day!

Unknown said...

We would get special outfits.

Kayla said...

My mom took a photo of me calling my late grandmother before school on my first day of pre-k, and I will be doing the same with my mom and my daughter on her first day of pre-k this year :).

Sweetpea said...

I would always get a new outfit for the first day of school.

sdavis said...

i would get new clothes and would pick out my backpack and lunch box that i wanted.

Brooke T said...

new clothes and backpack!!!

presleyalison said...

wE TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX FREE SHOPPING AND WE TRY TO TAKE A PICTURE OF OUR OLDEST DAUGHTER ON HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN GET IT WITH THE TEACHER AND WE WILL TRY TO DO THAT WITH OUR YOUNGEST. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP MY PARENTS WOULD TRY TO DO THE SAME, BUT HARD WHEN EVERYONE IS WORKING!

kellyr78 said...

We celebrate by buying new supplies and shoes.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

Elizabeth said...

My dad would always take me back to school shopping..for clothes and supplies! We had lots of fun.

adamsfamily said...

New school clothes and supplies were my celebration as a kid. With my own daughters, we are going to have a last day of summer/back to school fun day with a trip to the local water park and a special lunch. Thank you. Laurie Adams, AdamsFmReviews at comcast.net

Betty Roberts said...

We have a fun filled day before school and i make a big breakfast the day of to celebrate angelgenius27(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

We always celebrated by going to the pool one last time!

Unknown said...

I always would love getting new clothes and backpack

Kellie said...

Back to school shopping!

Unknown said...

Getting new clothes was always my favorite.

Unknown said...

Clothes shopping was always a hit with my girls and back to school is as good a reason as ever - actually - we made it special - before school started - they would get 1 or 2 outfits and then after they saw what was being worn - they would get the rest

Robert said...

WE always took a photo on the first day by the front door, I now do it with my daughter.

sweepmom said...

When my son started school we had a bunch of friends over just before school began. Each kid brought a $10 school related gift and they swapped them. We had school related games and snacks.

Melissa Storms said...

When I was a kid, I got to choose a special dinner and dessert the night before school started. I now do the same with my son.
upstatemissy@gmail.com

Unknown said...

We had a small back to school party w/ friends!

Christine Carpenter said...

I finally got to wear my brand new outfit and my new pair of shoes :)

HydeKayla said...

I was always excited to wear my new clothes for school!

lastingpurple@hotmail.com

squiresj said...

When I was a child, my Mom and Dad would have to save all summer. All 5 of us kids were given a certain amount of money and allowed to walk 2 miles to town to shop for our supplies. It was always a special time and we tried to save enough for peanuts, cashews, or lemon drops to eat on way home.
jrs362 at Hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

We would always have breakfast as a family

Growl Tiger said...

We got new outfits and something yummy for our lunches

BCallahan said...

We do first day pictures. We send stuff in to teachers and the class. I also take them on the 1st day, after school, to get shakes or drinks at Sonic usually.

ALC Unlimited said...

When I was in elementary school, we would go through everything in my bag the day before and make sure my name was on everything, even the pencils!

Unknown said...

A bright shiny Apple for the teacher on first day.

mogrill said...

We have an end of the summer date. My daughter and I have mani/pedi's, lunch and go shopping.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com

Kristin said...

Definitely going back to school shopping!

Unknown said...

Wow this would be awesome for back to school. thank you!!

bunnyswagg said...

We celebrate going back to school by having a fun family reading night and playing games.

Unknown said...

shopping on labor day! school started shortly after

RachelV24 said...

We got to pick whatever we wanted for breakfast and my mom would make it

LaurKnotter said...

My mom never did anything special but I plan to go all out with my kids. We will take fun pics and have fun breakfasts!

Kathy Davis said...

I grew up in the 50s. One way we celebrated going back to school was getting new shoes.
Kathy Davis
kdavis1@centurytel.net

noreen said...

We go out to dinner after the first day of school and of course pictures at school

captainliss40 said...

I would decorate my new backpack every year!

ide2678 said...

My kids are starting Kindergarten and PreK this year. They both picked out new backpacks and lunch boxes. They also got new outfits picked by them for the first day.

walk9 said...

I take a picture of everyone at the bus stop every year.

Unknown said...

I would have all my friends I missed during the holidays come to my house that night so we could catch up

Unknown said...

I let her pick out her own backpack and clothes that she wants to get her excited about going back.

tina reynolds said...

we get them new clothes, shoes and backpacks we also go out to a nice dinner the first day back

Christina said...

My mom always baked cookies on the first day of school.

nicolesender said...

We all had a new outfit & a new pair of shoes!
nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

~ Noelle said...

we do new clothes and a 1st day of school photo :)

Discovering the Me in Mommy said...

nothing too special, just new school supplies!

kdrae said...

I loved going shopping for new school supplies every year!

Unknown said...

We do pictures!

Unknown said...

I would go shopping with my mom and my sister. We always did a special lunch.

polly said...

Our grandson went to preschool last year and they had him hold a sign and they took a picture.

jcwega27 said...

new outfit and pictures
jessicawedwards@gmail.com

Rita M said...

Most definitely picking out my outfit for the 1st day!

Unknown said...

We always had a special dinner on the first day of school.

-Brooke Adametz

Anonymous said...

We would have a big cook-out down at the lake.

Erika Marie said...

My mom always took a picture of me with our collie Annie every year on my first day of school :) She was our special family dog! No pics without her that I can remember.

An Apel a Day said...

I get a new sewing patch to put on their backpacks every year. This year it was Spider-Man and Superman.

Treesa said...

We have a big family breakfast the first day of school!

cc_girly(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kathy Davis said...

We always got to pick out a pair of new shoes. A big deal 50 years ago!
Kathy Davis
kdavis1@centurytel.net

amanda whitley said...

we didnt celebrate it.

Michelle said...

We celebrate by choosing a new outfit for the first day of school, taking photos and by getting ice cream after open house. Thanks for the chance to win!
mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

It was exciting just to get new clothes when we got a chance

fancygrlnancy said...

I loved going shopping for back to school supplies as a kid. This is my son's first year in school and we went back to school shopping together.

Unknown said...

We go out and take pictures of the kids before they get on the bus the first day of school.

Unknown said...

i really didn't celebrate to much, enjoyed the summer off! I did like the back to school shopping with my mother though.

MELINA said...

We go out to eat for dinner the first day of school to celebrate, we talk about how the day went

Unknown said...

We take a picture each year and put it in the photo album.

Bo said...

There was no formal ritual but my sister and I would spend at least a week figuring out what we would wear and would lay out our outfits the night before!

Stephanie122 said...

My parents would take my siblings and I to Splish Splash a local water park every year the week before school started so we had something to be excited about at the end of summer. Thank you for the opportunity ! =)

Anonymous said...

I like to let my kids pick out their school supplies, backpack and clothes. It makes them excited for the school year.

Unknown said...

cool prizes my kids will love them

tavernie said...

By picking out new outfits and shoes!

kolpin said...

we got notes in our lunchboxes.

Tylerpants said...

My mom always gave me a special treat when I came home from school on the first day. tylerpants(at)gmail.com

trixx said...

I always bake a cake to celebrate the first day of school!

DC said...

We took a photo on the first day of school.

Erica C. said...

We would have a special dinner to talk about our day.
ericacarnes(at)gmail(dot)com

Shea =) said...

Dad would fix breakfast or take me out for breakfast =)

Teresa Thompson said...

A big breakfast and lots of pictures.

susansmoaks said...

when i was a child we celebrated going back to school by having dinner at applebees after the first day of school

susansmoaks at gmail dot com

TXSweetheart12345 said...

clothes shopping and bbq the weekend before

blew415 said...

we used to plan the outfit the night before

Vikki Billings said...

When my kids were in school, we went to the bus stop with them on their first day of school and took pictures of them and their friends. We now do that with my grandson.
vikki.billings@yahoo.com

michedt said...

We always got to go out to dinner after the first and last day of school.
Michelle Tucker

Donna said...

getting a new backpack

lilyk said...

getting new clothes