Back-to-School Picks & Giveaway 2008: Day 4

[Edited to Add:  This giveaway has ended and WE HAVE A WINNER - Congratulations, Donna C.!!!]

Welcome to Day 4 of our Back-to-School Picks & Giveaway sponsored by some awesomely generous people who have graciously agreed to provide some really cool stuff for you (yes, YOU!) and your...I mean, mine...okay, isn't it time we ALL kicked our kids...back-to-school!?!?

Seriously, I've got lots of great stuff to share with you.

Our kick-off giveaway drew 400 responses - Holy Craps! - what a great way to celebrate the last week of summer!

Having 4 kids, attending 4 different schools this year, we've got something for everyone and giving cool stuff away, everyday:

Day 1:  Coloring Fun - for my 2nd grader, Mini-me.

Day 2:  Sports and More - for my 4th grader, The Boy.

Day 3:  Street Smart Supplies - for my 7th grader, Thing Two.

Day 4:  A New Backpack - for my...GULP...9th grader, Thing One.

Day 5:  TGIF:  It's movie night.

Day 6:  Lunch Box Fun and Healthy Snacks.

Day 7:  Best Tressed for School.

Day 8:  Study Guides for Kids and Parents, too!

These picks, as always, are advertorial free.  No one is paying me, to talk about their product.  It's just some really nice stuff that I thought you guys would like, too.

Phew, here we go AGAIN!

School starts in less than a week and -- though, I'm not even close to being done shopping and should probably be wigging out right by now -- I can't even get my head wrapped around the fact that I've got a kid in high school, this year!

Yep, my oldest baby girl (she's 14) is heading into the 9th grade and I pray that we get through it in one piece - by we, of course, I mean her!

The girl is seriously lacking in organizational skills and...YES!...okay, she get's that from her mother.

Thank goodness for blogging friends like Vanessa Van Petten, author of "You're Grounded!" and Webmistress of On Teens Today - it's where I often turn for inspiration on today's parenting issues, from a teen's perspective.

Because, you know, getting my teenager to talk is sort of like pulling teeth and often times a brain-numbing experience.

Here are two of my favorite articles, to date:

Ultimate School Supply Checklist: Middle, High School College Students: There are so many things people forget.  You have to equip your kids with the perfect study central area.  Here is the list Vanessa uses with clients.

Back to School Tips for Teens and Tweens:  Some good websites and questions you should ask your kids to get their goals straight before the school year begins.

Aaaand, you'll never believe what my 14-year-old admitted to me, yesterday:

"My teachers were right, I need to get organized!"

Seriously, teens do NOT listen to their parents.

"Using a backpack would be good, for starters."

She hasn't used one since the 6th grade.

Lands' End Multi-Tasking Backpack meets with my teen's keen sense of style and my insisting that back-to-school gear be functional, as well:

• Stash panel for a jacket, sports gear or bike helmet
• Separate bottom chamber to stow a set of shoes
• 360° reflective trim to keep kids visible
• Mesh side pockets to hold water bottles
• D-ring to clip on extras, like a lunch box
• MP3/CD player pouch for tunes

Want one?

The wonderful folks at Lands' End are sponsoring Day 4 of our Back-to-School Event and have generously offered to ship their popular Multi-Tasking Backpack to one of you (yes, YOU) very lucky readers!

(Retail Value:  $39.50)

FIND IT HERE:  Lands' End

WIN IT:  Just leave a comment on this post by 10:00 a.m. on September 3rd (Wednesday) and you ARE automatically entered to WIN IT!   One winner will be picked (via random.org) and announced on September 4th (Thursday) via email and post on PRIZEYWinners!

HEY, you (yes, YOU!) are you a blogger? Excellent! Blog about this contest and get THREE chances (for a total of 4) to win! Check out the instructions to see how.

Remember, join us here August 25th - September 1st to celebrate our week long Back-to-School Event and get a chance to win something really cool each day!

Good luck and, you know, wake me when September ends!

© 2008 This Full House and This Full House Reviews - All Rights Reserved.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed or - if you really, really like me - then subscribe to my Mom Blog and I'll love you forever!]

[Oh, and did you know that we host a Review Bloggers Carnival, too?!?]

Comments

[Melanie]

1.

I love there backpacks.

www.melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
www.melaniescrafts.etsy.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

[Nicole (SAHM Ramblings)]

2.

They have the nicest backpacks. Probably not as 'cute' as my girls would like, but it would work for me! hehe

[bunny]

3.

cool pack!

[Cori Westphal]

4.

I saw this backpack on another site and it is awesome. There should be no excuses about misplacing homework with this organizational gem! Thanks for the great contest!

[Cathy]

5.

You'll survive it. The worst part is that you will feel like you are fighting with yourself.

[Michelle]

6.

My son is heading off to 10th Grade and has been homeschooled up to this point, so he has never had a backpack. He could definitely use this for the upcoming school year.

[Audrey B]

7.

What a great bag, I like the room for the shoes, so important. Thanks to you and Lands End for a great contest

[Michelle J]

8.

I have a nephew who can really us this for the school year. Great prizes.

[rockle]

9.

love -- LOVE! -- lands' end things. would love -- LOVE! -- to win this bag.

[Sky]

10.

I love this backpack. Really, I do. I want this backpack....or should I say my son wants this backpack!!

Thanks for yet another great giveaway! You rock!

seeryusfam@msn.com

[Anne]

11.

What a great backpack, love the bottom where you can store shoes! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Angela K]

12.

Great backpack. I'd love to win!

[Annette]

13.

Thanks for entering me! I blogged about you here:
http://natural-childhood.blogspot.com/2008/08/something-for-nothing.html

[Stephanie V]

14.

very useful. fingers crossed!

[SANDY]

15.

love the fact they are sturdy and durable and good looking

[Tuesday]

16.

Is it wrong to want this backpack for myself?

[Nadia]

17.

I love love LOVE Lands End! Their backpacks are sturdy and functional. Thanks for the chance!

[Peter]

18.

Thanks for the opportunity to win. Land's End puts out some great quality products and stands behind them.

[Carolsue]

19.

These backpacks are awesome! My kids sure do need one!

[Jo]

20.

This would be an awesome backpack. Red is my fave.
jceko77@yahoo.com

[Shilo Beedy]

21.

I would love this backpack!

[Crystal]

22.

Sweet! My kids would love this!

[Tamara Bennington]

23.

I know a certain young man who love for me to win that back pack. Thank-you so much.

[Michelle T]

24.

Yes, my son could use a new backpack! Thanks

[Millicent]

25.

LandsEnd has the best quality items! Shoot if my kids dont want it I will so take for when I travel (and I travel alot because I am a flight attendant) Thanks alot for the chance to win!
cadewill[at]yahoo[dot]com

[Patti]

26.

These look like such great backpacks! Thanks for the chance!!

[Stacy]

27.

This is one of those backpacks that will last forever.

[Katie]

28.

Looks like a great backpack!

[MaryBeth I (3)]

29.

My Thing 1 (13) DESTROYS her backpacks! I would like to keep this one in stock when it is time to replace the current one :)

http://misaacmom.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-back-to-school-extravaganza.html

blogged about the event here and added your button to my site

[Kristie]

30.

I would love this for my kids!

[Xenia]

31.

Who couldn't use a new backpack? I love Lands' End and it would be great to win this bag for me or for my daughter! Thanks for the giveaway!

[Myssie]

32.

I love their backpacks! Thanks for the chance to win!
myssie95[at]hotmail[dot]com

[meghan w.]

33.

I'm a fan of land's end backpacks.

[Kimberly V.]

34.

AWESOME!!! We could really use one of these backpacks. The ones we normally buy from Walmart (inexpensive ones) tend to fall apart by about the begining of the year so we have to hunt down more backpacks. I'd love for my kids to have a quality one that will actually last until the end of the school year.

Thanks!

[Kari A.]

35.

How do kids go through backpacks so fast??!! I love Lands End and hope their backpacks last longer than Jansport! If so, they will have a lifelong customer in me.

[Lo]

36.

I love Land's End, and this looks like a great pack! Thanks for the opportunity

[Linda]

37.

Wow - what a great give-away. I love Land's End!

[Cheryl F. (The Lucky Ladybug)]

38.

I love the features of this backpack :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

[DebMomOf3]

39.

I love, love Lands' End! This looks like a really useful backpack and would be perfect for my kids! :)

[Jo]

40.

Found a backpack my son actually wants, lovely prize hope he is lucky enough that I win it,

[Chrysa]

41.

This looks like a great backpack and Lands End items always seem to wear so well.

[Sharla]

42.

There is no possible way that this won't be used, and used and overused with four boys! Great giveaway!

[Cindi]

43.

Land's End rocks! Please enter me in your fabulous giveaway drawing. Many thanks, Cindi

[Jennifer Barr]

44.

Looks like a really nice and durable pack. I'd love to have it! :)

[shelleyb]

45.

i love the shade of blue

[Lauren P]

46.

Who doesn't love a new bookbag?!

[Heather]

47.

Sweet packpack! Great timing for the give away too ;)

[Kara]

48.

Lands End has been my savior for winter coats, lunch boxes and backpacks. I'd love to have this.

[LauraJ]

49.

My 2 1/2 year old just asked for a backpack the other day!

[chris]

50.

love the backback!! we need to get one!! Land's End products really seem to hold up to boys!!

[michele]

51.

Don't know who this would be best for, my third grader or my FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE!!

[margie gilbert]

52.

it's lands in hands down

[Donna C.]

53.

Love Land's End. Can't beat the quality of their merchandise.

[Vickie Couturier]

54.

I have a teen too an we need a new backpack,havent gotten a new one for this year yet,so please add me,thanks

[Rita Sams]

55.

I love Lands End----Great products!

[Elisa]

56.

Good quality stuff. Nice backpack!

[Amanda]

57.

ooooh, back to school is my favourite time of the year. This year, I'm starting my Master's... :S

I would love a new backpack!

[Nyssa]

58.

The nicest thing about the Lands End backpacks is there are no "trendy" designs or catchphrases on them that are cool this year, but would be ultra uncool next year. In other words, they can be used year after year and are constructed strongly enough to do just that.

[Sundi]

59.

I would love to win this for my nephew!

[lace]

60.

My niece is just starting preschool this year and has been wanting a backpack. She'd love this one.

[Kam A]

61.

What a great backpack!

[Lori Cerullo]

62.

great backpack, looks sturdy enough for my boys!!

[Andrea R.]

63.

I really like the quality of their backpacks. Sometimes the "cheapy" ones from other company's don't even last the whole school year.

[Rachel]

64.

Our family could definitely put good use to that backpack!

[Patricia Hill]

65.

I love these backpacks. My granddaughter really needs it.

[Renee]

66.

Very cool backpack. Syle and function what more do you need.
chefskate @ aol.com

[Heather Devlin]

67.

Another great Lands End item, thanks for the opportunity!

[Reiza]

68.

I've been dying for one (or two) of those backpacks. They look so neat. I love all the storage. That would be perfect for my twins.

[Hillary Vande Kieft]

69.

LOVE IT! Lands End makes great quality products. If this pack stands up like the diaper bag did, I'm all for it!

[Betty Shoemaker]

70.

Lands End is the best. Very good quality. I buy from them often.

[Linda2000]

71.

My son could use a new backpack. Thanks

[Eloise Carlson]

72.

Land's End has such great backpacks as well as many other things. Thanks so much for the great giveaway, this would definitely come in handy!

[Alyce (3)]

73.

I would love to win this backpack. We got a generic one for my son and he already tore a hole in it. I repaired it, but knowing how tough boys are on things, we could always use another one. :)

[carolyn]

74.

Perfect for school!

[kathy carpenter]

75.

This is a great backpack. Lots of room for everything. Land's End has really quality merchandise. I would like this for me!

[steph C]

76.

with three girls and one back pack alwasys needing to be replaced, this one from lands end would be perfect and sturdy. Nice offer..thanks.

[Kristinia-Loving Heart Mommy (3)]

77.

I keep hearing how great lands ends backpacks are! Would love to win this for my son!

phillipsonlygirl at gmail dot com

[Donna]

78.

I love Land End products. They last forever.

[Catherine]

79.

I love Land's End--this would be great to help me keep the kids' stuff together when we're out and about. (I haven't found a diaper bag yet that I truly like.)

[Sarah]

80.

Yet another great giveaway! I love LandsEnd! Count me in please!
sharvey(AT)connections-etc(DOT)net

[bonggamom]

81.

Ahhh Lands End, gotta love the quality. Their stuff lasts so much longer than the Targer/Walmart cheapies. Count me in on any Lands End giveaways, thanks so much!

[Kim]

82.

This is a great back pack! My son saw the picture and loved it! Would be great to hold everything they need for school and sports! Nice and sturdy!

[Noreen]

83.

I did not realize backbacks had such cool items now!!

[judy brittle]

84.

My grandson is just starting school and I would love this for him. Thank you so much!

[edward l]

85.

multi-tasking bag is gth eoperative word in our household...please let us win this!

[Rachel C]

86.

Great backpack - I think I'd use it for myself (I'm a teacher" for hauling all MY stuff to and from school. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

[Terra Heck]

87.

I'd like to win this backpack for my son.t

[keith james]

88.

thank you

[Amy Parsons]

89.

Love the backpacks.

amyparsons1@yahoo.com

[Christine]

90.

Long time no see!! (Sorry about that - you know how life is!) I just bought my kids backpacks from Land's End, and they are AWESOME!! I think these may last a few years!! (If I can't train them not to drag them on the ground!)

[Diana Corlett]

91.

These are the greatest backpacks. I love the color choices, especially the cobalt blue and the berry.

Would love to win!

dlcwin[at]gmail[dot]com

[Gloria Dornin]

92.

My nephew needs this bad

[Alice]

93.

I loved your teens/tweens advice! I nanny for 3 kids that hit those age groups!
Hopefully this backpack can go to the tween..he needs it!

[stacey moore]

94.

lane's end is the best!
thanks!
moore.g@Insideconnect.net

[Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland (3)]

95.

Great giveaway, thanks so much!

[Rebecca C (3)]

96.

My daughter really needs a new backpack!

legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

[Lisa Primm]

97.

I have 3 kids who all want new backpacks! HELP!

[Heather C]

98.

We've been trying to figure out the best option: buy a cheap backpack every year or buy a high quality backpack once every few years. I'm liking the looks of this one...and it's easy to jazz it up. Thanks for hosting this!

[Kathy Conley]

99.

As a high school teacher, I am glad to know that at least some 9th graders realize they do need to get organized!

[Brian Williams]

100.

I need this.