Stay Organized and 'Totally Taken Care Of' This Summer with LISTERINE {#LISTERINEMom}

Although summer can mean fun and enjoyment in the form of backyard BBQs, outdoor activity classes, and spending days boating on the lake, it often also means that the whole family is running in a million different directions over the course of the season. Lessons, sports, appointments, work, chores... is it any wonder that organization seems harder to come by?

Therefore, even though summer may equate to endless months of vacation for kids, adults everywhere might need a little extra help staying on top of things and keeping up with all of the responsibilities for the family. This Memorial Day through Labor Day, take advantage of these easy tips to help make your summer stay as chaos-free and 'Totally Taken Care Of' as possible.

Use a (Physical) Calendar

While many of us have come to depend on the convenience of a digital calendar that is accessible on our computer and phone, having a paper or whiteboard calendar for the summer has the added benefit of allowing the whole family to see it at a glance. No endless questions about when so-and-so's birthday party is or what day swim lessons begin, as the calendar can field all of the questions.

Take things even further by color coding each family member's items and it will help make it even easier to find exactly who, what, where and when that you're looking for each day.

Stick to a Routine

With no school and so many hours of daylight late into the evening, it can often be easy to let kids slide into later and later bedtimes. However, if your children are anything like mine, going to sleep later doesn't automatically equate to sleeping in later. Instead, they are still up at the same time (bright and early) and the following day ends up being stressful and exhausting for everyone.

Instead, sticking to a consistent schedule (at least for the majority of the summer) and a regular daily and weekly routine can lead to a smoother, happier time for the entire family.

Take it from me, you don't want to deal with these two when they're crabby.

Take Things a Little Bit at a Time

With the kids home all summer, it can suddenly double or triple the amount of chores that need to be done. Doing laundry once a week is replaced with doing it every other day and whereas it used to be possible to keep up with the dishes, now the sink seems to forever be overflowing.

Looking at the big picture (or, more accurately, the never-ending toys strewn about and crumbs on the floor) can feel overwhelming. Instead, focusing on simply maintaining each room and doing a quick tidy whenever you have a spare few minutes can provide the benefits of being organized without making it seem like a time-consuming effort.

Which leads to...

Get the Kids Involved

Unless your children are far too young, it can easily be a part of their daily routine to help clean throughout the house. Put their dishes into the dishwasher at the end of meals, help sort laundry, sweep, vacuum, put toys or activities away before transitioning to new ones, etc.

Kids are used to having responsibilities at school, so encourage those habits to continue on with just as much importance at home!

Big playroom = Big mess

Stock Up on the Essentials

Sunscreen, insect repellent, Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages and Neosporin, allergy medications, toothpaste, mouthwash, and more — all items that we need and use... and never really think about running out of until it's too late. Another way to help stay organized and 'Totally Taken Care Of' this summer is to stock up so you'll never have to worry!

As I mentioned last month, we were thrilled when a selection of great Johnson & Johnson products arrived and it put us ahead of the game for being prepared for the arrival of spring and summer. While a few items went into the bathroom closet for safe keeping for when we need them, there has been no doubt that the LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE ZERO, and LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® were put immediately to use.

My husband and I have been using LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE ever since and I'm still just as much in love with the way that it combines six benefits in one for improved oral health. Plus, it allows for up to 7x greater fluoride uptake when compared to other mouthwash brands and makes teeth 50% stronger than brushing with a fluoride toothpaste alone.

As for my kids, the girls had no problem integrating the LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® —a post-brush mouthwash specifically designed for children ages 6-12— into their oral care routine! And I couldn't be happier with the way that it provides 12-hour cavity protection due to the added benefit of fluoride while helping clean the mouth beyond brushing alone.

The result is happy Mom, happy kids and happy mouths!

The end result is that LISTERINE is providing healthy mouth benefits (e.g. strengthening teeth, freshening breath, restoring enamel, and more) for all of us with their simple solutions and I can continue to rest easy that my entire family's mouths will stay clean, happy and healthy.

Even better, as we are now starting to run low, it's no problem to head to our local Walgreens to restock up on their wide range of wellness products that includes LISTERINE TOTAL CARE rinses. This summer we're staying organized, relaxed and 'Totally Taken Care Of!'

I received LISTERINE® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® Brand Totally Taken Care Of program. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Mabel's Labels Limited Edition Camp Label Pack {Review & Coupon Code!}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Mabel’s Labels. I received a voucher to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

With only one week of school left and an already-filled summer schedule, both of my girls are excitedly anticipating getting to do one activity after another all summer long.

Yes, they want to do swimming lessons and soccer camp and yes, they want to do arts & crafts classes and yes, Little Sister B has her toe shoes ready for another season of ballet classes while Big Sister E can't wait to do a week of camp on a farm... the list just seems to keep growing and growing.

So what does that mean for me? As well as having to keep track of where and when each girl needs to be somewhere, I'm going to need to stay well-organized so that they show up with their soccer balls at one location, their swimsuit at another, and the right tennis shoes at a third.

For me, one of the best ways to keep away the stress and anxiety of not only packing but of my obsession with not losing things, is to have each and every item well-labeled. I want their name on every single thing so that the chances of swim goggles, a hat or a lunch box getting returned to its rightful place are increased tremendously.

That's where Mabel's Labels steps in and takes over, making the entire process quick, easy, and fun!

Created by four moms who were frustrated by all of their children's belongings that never returned home, Mabel's Labels was started in 2003 and has been committed to excellence ever since.

As millions of clothes, shoes, bags and more wind up in lost-and-founds every year across the nation, knowing that Mabel's Labels and their high quality products and renowned customer service are there helps me look forward to summer activities just as much as my kids. 

And what better way to prepare for summer than with the Limited Edition Camp Label Pack?

Designed to help avoid mix-ups and lost items on anything and everything that goes to summer camp, the Limited Edition Camp Label Pack contains 10 Personalized Name Stickers, 24 Mini Custom Name Stickers, 8 Custom Shoe Stickers, 50 Tag Mates Stick On Clothing Labels, 2 Personalized Bag Tags and a bonus set of 5 colorful postcards.

The result is that this combo pack provides the perfect assortment of sizes and shapes to make identifying the rightful owner of nearly anything a quick and easy process! Whether you are packing clothes, swim gear, backpacks, shoes, toiletries or more, these UV resistant, dishwasher-, microwave- and laundry-safe labels are 100% guaranteed.

Mabel's Labels offers so many colors, designs, fonts and icons to choose from when customizing your labels (there are even five new limited edition motifs available this summer) that I had no doubt that Big Sister E would have fun picking her favorites... and that the result would be perfectly suited to her preferences and just as unique as she is!

As we went over many of the different styles and debated whether they should be in the solid or multi-color color palettes, I really appreciated that Mabel's Labels shows a clear preview as to what your choices look like on their products. No guessing as to which font better suits the letters in a child's name or if one motif might look better in another color, as you can see right there on the screen just how it will look!

After Big Sister E narrowed down the options to her top pick, it only took another few clicks before her Limited Edition Camp Label Pack had been ordered.

Only a short few days later, they were here!

There really isn't anything that we would change about these personalized labels and Big Sister E has commented multiple times about how much she loves the way that they turned out. Considering that this Camp Label Pack has so many different sizes and shapes, it was a snap for me to go right to work labeling items that will be used over and over this summer (and I already feel better that her belongings and wardrobe are prepared for all of her camps and activities).

Whether simply to make it easier for my daughter to recognize her own items or for a teacher or coach to quickly be able to reunite lost items later on, I know that these labels will end up being nearly indispensable for my daughter all this summer and for years to come!

Ready to find out more about how the Mabel's Labels Limited Edition Camp Label Pack can help ensure that you and your child are ready for everything that the summer months will entail? This great combo pack comes with everything you need to be prepared at a retail price of $39.95 — but it is only available until July 31st, 2015, so get yours today!

But, wait! Right now Mabel's Labels is offering a fun way to receive a discount on their award-winning products by giving consumers a chance to win a one-time use coupon code. Just sign up for the Mabel's Labels newsletter (a fun and reliable source for all things mom-related!) and complete one additional social share below and you'll receive a coupon for 15-50% off this Camp collection... or maybe even get it for FREE!

Go ahead and enter right here:

Mabels Labels Camp Combo

Find out much more about all things Mabel's Labels and place your order by visiting MabelsLabels.com. You'll also want to join the Mabelhood community by connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

The Perfect Springtime Gift: Fellowes' Powershred M-12C Cross-Cut Shredder {#GiftFellowes}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Fellowes Brands. I received a product sample to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Although the single digit temperatures and endless snow makes it difficult to believe, spring is actually right around the corner.

Along with the obvious perks that I'm looking forward to enjoying (e.g. warmth, sunshine and flowers), I'm also anticipating my psychological urge to do some spring cleaning. I'm not the only one that sees everything fresh and new outside and feels compelled to clear out and declutter inside too, right?

That's why this season is the perfect time to not only help myself but friends and family as well by gifting the power, versatility, durability and safety of the Powershred M-12C Cross-Cut Shredder from Fellowes.

As a global manufacturer and marketer of business machines, records storage solutions and technology accessories, Fellowes' goal is to enable people to work with greater security, organization and productivity. And with spring such a popular time of year for people to get married or move into a new home, now is definitely the time for a paper shredder from Fellowes to step in and help.

With everything from credit receipts, old bills, paycheck stubs, bank and investment statements, prescriptions, outdated medical records, and government documents sitting around taking up space, it is tempting to just dump it all in the trash when starting your new life as a married couple or instead of having to pack and transport it to move.

But we all know better, right? We've all heard the horror stories about identity theft and that taking the time to dispose of documents that contain information about our finances and other private details properly can make the difference in protecting ourselves from a huge hassle down the road.

Which is why a Fellowes M-12C shredder is the perfect wedding or housewarming gift!

There really isn't much that Fellowes could have done to make this paper shredder better, as it has features galore to give users the ability to confidently discard all of their sensitive and confidential paperwork with ease.

My favorites include:

• Arrives fully assembled.

• Slim, compact design fits in just about any room, office or small space.

• Cross-Cut blades shred up to 12 sheets of paper — including junk mail, paper clips, staples or even credit cards — quickly.

• Large, 4-gallon capacity paper bin.

• SafeSense Technology: an electronic sensor near the paper opening ensures that the machine automatically stops and disables itself if anything, including little hands, come too close.

With its ease of use and the ability to keep pretty much any and all information from falling into the wrong hands, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to gift the Fellowes Powershred M-12C Cross-Cut Shredder to a friend of mine in celebration of her family's new home.

Being the helpful friend that I am, I was involved in various aspects of the moving process and this paper shredder was the perfect accessory from start to finish...

• During the initial decluttering and packing stages, it tore up all kinds of old records, credit cards and papers that had been stored for years.

• During the in-depth packing, it made it easy to decide what needed to stay and what could go. There were stacks of old papers that we unearthed that were quickly turned into tiny shreds!

• During the unpacking and organization/set up of the new house, we still came across items that were deemed unnecessary. With the Powershred M-12C, there were no worries about whether or not it was okay to throw anything out, as the tiny particles that it turns papers into are extremely tiny.

In the end, after all of the work of packing, lifting, moving and unpacking, their house looks amazing and their identities stayed protected with ease. As a big plus, the SafeSense Technology ensured that we were able to leave this shredder sitting out throughout the entire process and there was never any sort of concern that their young children might possibly get hurt!

Overall, I have been extremely impressed with the Fellowes Powershred M-12C Cross-Cut Shredder. It does a wonderful job of getting rid of documents of any kind quickly and efficiently and, combined with the way that Fellowes has made safety a priority makes this a must-have for homes everywhere.

Throughout this spring's wedding and moving season, why not surprise your friends and family with an innovative and affordable gift that will help them be productive, organized and secure? The M-12C comes equipped with all of the features necessary to make the newlyweds or new homeowners in your life safe and happy!

The M-12C is available at Target Stores nationwide and Target.com with a suggested retail price of $99.99. Find out more about this and all of Fellowes' quality products by visiting Fellowes.com and by connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Give the Gift of Organization with the Fellowes M-12C Paper Shredder {#GiftFellowes}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Fellowes Brands. I received a product sample to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

As with many busy moms these days, an ideal holiday gift for me would be something intangible like relaxation. Rest. Sleep. Stress reduction. Organization. Not exactly things that can be wrapped up with a bow, right?

For the former, yes. But for the latter, that's actually not entirely accurate. Sure, I'm not going to find a robot under the tree that is going to magically organize and declutter my entire home (boy, wouldn't that be nice, though?), but it is possible to unwrap a present that is practical, useful and dependable. One that is designed to help clear households of unnecessary clutter in a safe, innovative and effective manner, maybe?

That is exactly what you can gift a friend or family member in your life this season (along with the ability to confidently discard all of their sensitive and confidential paperwork) thanks to the Powershred M-12C Cross-Cut Shredder from Fellowes.

As a global manufacturer and marketer of business machines, records storage solutions and technology accessories, Fellowes' goal is to enable people to work with greater security, organization and productivity. And with the holidays such a busy time of year for so many people, now is definitely the time for a paper shredder from Fellowes to step in and help.

With everything from credit receipts, old bills, paycheck stubs, bank and investment statements, prescriptions, outdated medical records, and government documents sitting around "to be filed" from the past 12 months, it is tempting to just dump it all in the trash in order to clear up counter space and make our home presentable for holiday guests.

But we all know better, right? We've all heard the horror stories about identity theft and that taking the time to dispose of documents that contain information about our finances and other private details properly can make the difference in protecting ourselves from a huge hassle down the road.

Which is why the Fellowes M-12C shredder is the perfect option!

Right away I was impressed with the quality and durability of the M-12C and the fact that it was fully assembled and ready to use right out of the box was a big plus. The slim, compact design (16" x 8.75" x 17") is just right for fitting neatly under your desk, alongside your work area or even in a cabinet in the kitchen.

After plugging it in, there isn't much more involved other than sliding the power switch to on (you can also slide it in the other direction for reverse in case of a paper jam). Then just stick up to 12 sheets of paper — including junk mail, paper clips, staples or even credit cards — right in.

Not only can this shredder easily handle larger amounts at once (12 sheets of paper at a time makes it so much faster and easier to purge an entire file!) but it shreds all of your confidential paper documents into approximately 302 particles per sheet with its Cross-Cut technology. There is definitely no way anyone could piece something that small back together!

I also really appreciate the 4 gallon bin that comes with the M-12C, as the large capacity means that you won't have to stop and empty it often. It simply pulls right open and is easily accessible for dumping out.

As well as the high quality, speed and durability that Fellowes' Powershred M-12C provides, it has one more feature that I really love, their patented SafeSense Technology.

The electronic sensor near the paper opening ensures that the machine automatically stops and disables itself if anything, including little hands, come too close.

Overall, I have been extremely impressed with the Fellowes Powershred M-12C Cross-Cut Shredder. The combination of the excellent job that it does taking care of keeping my information from falling into the wrong hands and the ease of use makes it just right... and the way that Fellowes has made safety a priority makes this a must-have for homes everywhere.

With the holiday season underway, now is the perfect time to look for innovative and affordable gifts that will help prepare your loved ones to head into the new year in a productive, organized way. The M-12C comes equipped with all of the features necessary to declutter with ease and the technology to dispose of your important documents efficiently.

The M-12C is available at Target Stores nationwide and Target.com with a suggested retail price of $99.99. Find out more about this and all of Fellowes' quality products by visiting Fellowes.com and by connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

As Seen on TV: Turn a Cluttered Mess into an Organized Masterpiece with Spicy Shelf! {Review, Giveaway & Coupon Code}

 

While just about everyone is familiar with the mysterious black hole in dryers that continually causes socks to end up without their mates, I'm not convinced that the one in our house hasn't spread to just about every other room as well.

How else is it possible that I'll have placed papers on the table one day and they're gone the next? Or that I'm positive that the item I'm looking for was in this spot the last time I saw it...?

Therefore, in an effort to lower my stress levels every time I'm on the hunt for things that are misplaced around our house, I'm always on the lookout for organizational products like bins, label makers and sorting systems. Most recently, I've been happy to add a new item to that list, the versatile, convenient Spicy Shelf.

A stackable organizer that nearly doubles useable storage space, the Spicy Shelf can be used in the kitchen, for beauty supplies, cosmetics, paints, craft supplies and much more. This unique curved shelf expands to fit wider cabinets or contracts to fit narrower ones and is therefore guaranteed to fit any size cupboard or pantry to make every spice (or other item) easily visible.

Even better, there is no complicated installation involved with the Spicy Shelf, as it utilizes the included freestanding legs or can be set on existing shelf pins in your cupboard. The overall design is a very simple U-shape, yet the brilliance of it nearly doubles your usable storage space — genius!

Considering just about every single cupboard in my home could use a little help with organization, I couldn't wait to see the Spicy Shelf in person and put it to use!

Right out of the packing box, I looked over the variety of pieces (shelves, legs of varying heights, extenders for adding width, etc)...

...and knew that my main decision would be figuring out where to place my set of two Spicy Shelves and how to configure them. One on top of the other? Tall legs? Short legs? Side by side in an extra wide space? The clutter-busting opportunities are endless!

While my spices could very well have used a little (a lot) of organizing, I instead opted to put the Spicy Shelf to work tackling the piles upon piles of clutter in my master bathroom. Where did all of these hair products, cosmetics, lotions, creams and more even come from?

Yes, we have a bit of a nail polish collection going on around here. And we can pretend that I didn't have to pull out and throw away a ton of expired cosmetics, dried up face creams and nearly-gone hair products so that I wasn't too embarrassed by the photo, right? Good.

Fortunately, it only took a few minutes to remove all of the bottles, grab my Spicy Shelves and do some connecting and adjusting, and they were set and ready to go. These really are extremely easy to snap together and slide back and forth to get them exactly right for your space!

Then, once I had decided which shelf in the cabinet was going to now hold the nail polish products, I set up my Spicy Shelves and hello, ideal solution! I love how easy it is to see all of the different colors of nail polish now and there is no need to dig around looking for any of them (and worry that my kids might accidentally break any of the glass bottles in the process). How did I not have these shelves before?

Whether you're an at-home chef that wants easier access to all of your spices (this holds up to 64 spice bottles!), an avid sewer that doesn't want to hunt down every spool of thread, or are trying to make it easier for a family member to have better visibility to all of their medications, the Spicy Shelf stackable organizer is a versatile solution for just about anyone.

I love that this requires NO tools to install, is adjustable to nearly any size, is made of high quality, durable, easy-to-clean material, and can hold containers in a variety of shapes and sizes. Spicy Shelf can really fit practically anywhere to make anyone's life more organized and easy to manage!

To find out more about Spicy Shelf, visit SpicyShelf.com where these stackable organizers are sold in a set of two for $19.95 plus $7.95 processing and handling... but how about a discount? Enter the promo code SPICE5 at checkout and save $5 (these are also available on Amazon).

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be able to see how easy organization can be, because...

One lucky person will win a Spicy Shelf (set of TWO shelves)!

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A big thank you to Spicy Shelf for providing a set of two shelves 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.

Epson LabelWorks LW-600P App-Enabled Portable Label Printer {Review}

As I suspected, with the return of the back-to-school season, my anxiety of losing things has increased tenfold. What is it about the idea of a missing shoe or hat that causes my blood pressure to spike so dramatically?

Fortunately, just in time for fall, Epson has designed an innovative and easy solution to ensure that all of my kids' items don't end up mysteriously missing: the LabelWorks LW-600P Portable Label Printer.

The first app-enabled label printer on the market, the LabelWorks LW-600P offers unmatched capabilities in the world of label creation while still being extremely user-friendly and easy to manipulate.

Whether using the Label Editor software right on your computer or a few taps to the iLabel app on your iOS or Android devices, this is one label printer that provides wireless printing anytime and anywhere. No more lost markers, disorganized folders or jumbled cords when you can edit and print a label exactly as you wish in seconds... plus, with Epson's iron-on labels, backpacks and sweatshirts are sure to make it home as well!

Right out of the box this compact printer includes everything needed to start labeling right away — I always appreciate when companies make it a snap to get started!

While I had originally assumed that the LW-600P would be fairly easy to use, I hadn't anticipated it being quite this simple. It took all of a minute or two to plug in the AC adapter or pop in six AAA batteries (not included) and drop the tape cartridge right into place and then it was time to label!

In another minute, I had the Epson iLabel app downloaded (available free from iTunes or Google Play) and had my phone paired to the LW-600P with Bluetooth.

Using the iLabel app couldn't be much more intuitive and I love that Epson thought of just about everything to make printing labels quick and easy.

From simple to elaborate, it only takes a few swipes and taps to create labels that are exactly as you wish or to select from the 100+ label design templates and 400 symbols. Or, if you still don't find what you're looking for, it doesn't take long to import your own custom graphics such as symbols, logos and photographs to place right onto your labels for a more professional look or to add a personalized touch.

Epson even allows you to take things further by including speech-to-text voice transcription and printing, a handwriting mode using your device's touchscreen, the ability to create things like QR codes and barcodes, and in-app storage of created labels so that they'll be easily accessible for future use.

The options are seemingly endless and the LW-600P makes it just so quick and fun to create, edit and print all sorts of labels in a matter of seconds!

As well as the included sticker tape cartridge that comes with the Epson LabelWorks LW-600P, this printer is compatible with a variety of other tapes, including glow-in-the-dark, metallic reflective, ribbons and iron-on.

I love the party or decorative possibilities of printing on colorful tape or ribbon, while the iron-on labels are just right for printing names, initials and symbols to add to children's clothing, backpacks and other fabric items. Both durable and machine-washable, the labels ensure items make their way home while adding a unique and personal identifier to children's belongings!

Whether you look around your home or office and feel defeated by the disarray or you just want an easy way to simplify, identify and organize your child's belongings, the LW-600P is a convenient, nearly-foolproof tool to tackle projects both big and small. The combination of this printer and the iLabel app truly takes advantage of the capabilities that our smartphones and tablets feature like never before!

With an MSRP of $99.99, this innovative, lightweight gadget is available directly from Epson or on Amazon. Don't just take my word for it though, head over to Epson.com to find out more about how the Epson LW-600P Portable Label Printer can help you wirelessly create, edit and print labels for your household and belongings.

Other than the LW-600P I was provided by Epson in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this product.

Balance is in the Bag with Balance Bar {Back to School Survival Kit Giveaway!}

It always seems like no matter how much I prepare or think that I'm ready, the back-to-school season still manages to make my life feel like I've been turned upside down. Goodbye water balloons and popsicles, hello notebooks, backpacks and pencils!

Fortunately, even though this season can feel crazy, there are a multitude of ways that we can be prepared to best handle hectic mornings and busy after-school activities. For me, one name that I know that I can always turn to for help keeping "Balance in the Bag" is none other than Balance Bar.

Balance Bar was one of the originators of energy bars and the nutrition bar category and I have long been a fan of the way that their products are crafted with the perfect balance of great taste, quality nutrition and lasting energy.

Add to that the many different flavors, styles and formats of energy bars that Balance Bar offers and there is no reason that nutrition can't be easy and delicious for everyone. These convenient bars can be eaten at home, work or on-the-go, so no matter if your day has you attending meetings, running errands, picking up the kids, squeezing in a workout or more, you can stay balanced and ready to keep up with it all.

So, with back-to-school underway, Balance Bar has enlisted blogger extraordinaire Jenny Ingram of Jenny On the Spot to come up with a Back to School Survival kit and great tips for surviving the season:

Keep smart snacks within reach. Back to school isn't only exhausting for kids. Moms and dads get worn down too so smart snacking is important. Pack a supply of nutritious snacks to have in your purse for when you’re running errands or going from school to practice.

ItzyRitzy’s reusable snack bags are perfect for keeping your on-the-go snacks organized and always handy. Fill them with grapes, almonds, carrot sticks and Balance bare bars for a healthy snack sure to satisfy both busy moms and kids until dinner!

The (digital) calendar is key. To make sure no one misses an activity, homework deadline or playdate, color code each kid in your calendar so you know exactly who is doing what and where and when. I love the Cozi app – it's free and great for organizing your upcoming activities and goes everywhere you do since it's on your phone.

Pack bags within your bag. If you're like me, you have a huge bag. It's great for storing lots of things, but it can be a wasteland and hard to find anything if you’re not organized. I keep a mini bag that holds my chapstick, hand sanitizer and other items I regularly reach for in a brightly colored small bag that stands out. An Itzy Ritzy snack bag can even double as an organizational bag that’s stylish too!

Miniature First Aid Kits. It's helpful to have some first-aid basics in your bag for everyday incidents that are bound to happen. My homemade first aid kit includes Band-aids, Neosporin, Kleenex and wipes. Trust me on the wipes – they’re much more effective than napkins at cleaning up whatever messes my kids have.

Be prepared for homework. With after-school activities, keep homework supplies in your car and bag so your children can do their work while you’re waiting for soccer practice. Keep rulers, pencils, pencil sharpeners, scissors, calculators and a clip board in the car to make sure you’re prepped for any homework assignments.

Label everything. With 3 kids, and all the supplies and gear that come with them, I've learned to love labels. Before schools starts, I put Mabels Labels on their lunchboxes, backpacks, jackets, shoes, sporting equipment and anything else I can get my hands on. You'll never have to hear "she's wearing my sneakers" again and it also helps avoid lost items in the school coat closet.

Pack healthy school lunches efficiently. Trying to accommodate everyone's lunch needs is hard. Make their sandwiches and then let them choose three snacks for themselves. In your pantry, have mom-approved snacks (like Mixed Berry Balance bar bars) in three drawers and every kid is allowed to choose one item from each drawer to add to their lunch.

Transitioning summer bedtimes. Yes, I'm probably guilty of letting the kids stay up a little too late during the summer. But that's what summers are for! However, those late nights are not going to work once school starts, so I like to gradually transition their sleep schedules. Four to five days before school starts, I'll move their bedtimes up 10-30 minutes. It's a slow process but really helps to ensure they're rested and ready for the first day.

I love Jenny's tips and, combined with these awesome Balance Bars, I feel more organized every time we're running from activity to activity or just need sustained energy to outlast our never ending to-do list. Bring it on, school craziness!

Ready to celebrate back-to-school with Balance Bar? Then be sure to join their Pinterest contest at BalancePinToWin.com on now until September 12th! 

One pin or repin of how you keep a balanced bag with all of your back-to-school must-haves just might win you a Lululemon tote filled to the brim with goodies or a Balance Bar Prize Pack!

Be sure to visit Balance.com (and connect with Balance Bar on Facebook) to find out more about the huge variety of flavors of these power-packed bars and see how they can help keep you balanced and organized this fall. As well as at your local grocery store and health food store, you can also find Balance Bars at ShopBalance.com and on Amazon.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be on their way to creating their own organized, healthy journey this fall, because...

One lucky person will win a Back to School Survival Kit from Balance Bar!

*Kit includes 15 Balance bare bars, an Itzy Ritzy reusable bag, a Casabella Microfiber i-pouch and a Balance Bar pen and notepad (total ARV ~$45).

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A big thank you to Balance Bar for providing a Back to School Survival Kit 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.

Move Over Summer, It's Back To School Time with Bright Star Kids Labels {Review & Coupon Code}

With only one month of summer left and a rapidly-filling fall schedule, Big Sister E and Little Sister B are both thrilled that the school year is getting increasingly near.

Although they've both enjoyed the past few months of playing with friends, visiting with family, and all of the various activities and events that we have done, I think they're ready. Ready for backpacks, ready for notebooks, heck, they might even be ready for snow pants, that's just how ready they are to get to go to school.

So what does that mean for me? As well as having to keep track of when and where each child needs to be somewhere, I'm going to need to stay well-organized so that she shows up with the right supplies. Certain days they need particular shoes, other days they get to bring in an item to share, and of course there are the days that I send a pair of mittens off in hopes that they will both return home eventually.

For me, the best way to keep away the stress and anxiety of remembering everything and getting it packed up (while also trying not obsess over losing them) is to have each and every item well-labeled. I feel better knowing that if my daughters' names are on each item that they take or wear, that the chances of them getting lost are decreased tremendously.

Which is why right now is the perfect time to turn to Bright Star Kids for a huge selection of colorful, durable, high quality labels that every kid is sure to love!

Established in 2005, Bright Star Kids offers their adorable and colorful name labels, wall art, clothing, accessories and more to customers across the globe — and consistently receive rave responses in return!

We absolutely loved checking out their personalized clothing in person and, with the arrival of their School Labels Value Kit, I knew that they would be just as high quality (and that Little Sister B would be completely prepared to start kindergarten off on the right foot)!

Containing 10 Large Labels, 30 Small Labels, 10 Subject Labels, 80 Tiny Pencil Labels, 16 Large Round Labels, 16 Clear Covers and 30 Iron On Labels (that's more than 175 Labels in all!), this value pack is the perfect assortment of sizes and shapes to make identifying the rightful owner of nearly anything a quick and easy process.

Just as important as having enough labels, I'm thrilled that Little Sister B absolutely loves how they turned out! Of course that really shouldn't be a surprise, considering that she was able to customize each detail of them precisely how she wanted. With nine different color options, three fonts and approximately a zillion icons to pick from, the hardest part is narrowing them all down to one single favorite!

It was a no-brainer that Little Sister B wanted the bright magenta coloring and, after browsing through many of the adorable animals, flowers, foods, letters and more, it actually didn't take long before she pointed directly at the unicorn icon and declared it the one.

I adore that Bright Star Kids allows their customers to see a complete preview of their labels before ordering, so there is no worry that the color, text, font or icon won't be exactly right. There are just so many great options!

As for use, Bright Star Kids Labels are just the thing for everything from markers to notebooks to backpacks to gear to clothes. The long-lasting, high quality adheres to almost any surface imaginable (this value kit has a combination of Iron-On Labels and Stick-On Labels) and will endure all weather conditions and whatever your child might put them through.

As the School Labels Value Kit offers just the right variety so that you are fully prepared for the first day of school (as well as having plenty of extras on hand for well into the rest of the academic year), I feel so much better knowing that Little Sister B's belongings and wardrobe are ready to go!

Don't have a child heading to school this fall? Bright Star Kids has a ton of different options in personalized labels so that all sorts of things around your home, garage or office can be labeled, organized and ready to make life easier.

We were able to see the Speech Bubble Chalkboard Labels and the Heart Chalkboard Labels and oh my, these are adorable and fun!

I love the idea of using these in the kitchen, to label craft supplies, for gift tags and so much more... and I'm definitely going to be using Bright Star Kids' idea of including these in my kids' lunches for changeable messages this fall!

No matter what needs labeling in your life, head over to Bright Star Kids to see their full collection of affordable Name Labels and just how many uses they will have for you!

Plus, the next time you are shopping for a birthday, holiday, baby shower, back to school gift, housewarming present or more, visit their website to find the unique, stylish option that you're sure to love (they even offer a 100% money back guarantee to remove any doubt).

Even better, now is the perfect time to shop as Bright Star Kids are having a storewide sale where all orders in the U.S. are 15% off and are shipped free!

Find out much more about all of the great options available by visiting Bright Star Kids online as well as connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Other than the labels I was provided by Bright Star Kids in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products.