I can’t believe it’s that time of year again….back to school!  I think this might have been the fastest summer ever.  To save you some time so you can just enjoy the rest of your summer and you won’t have to go searching everywhere for the best items to put in your cart for the new school year, I am sharing some of our favorite must-haves*.

With kids going into high school, it’s so important to get the right equipment for learning.  The must have on every high schooler’s back to school list is the dreaded graphing calculator.  It’s actually an investment to pick one of these babies up, so you want to make sure that you have a good quality one, one that will last all four years, as they will be using them for everything, including SATs.  We love the new calculator from Texas Instruments, the TI-84 CE. This is a high-tech, high-style calculator.  Why high-style?  They come in lots of bright colors, one to fit every personality.  Easy to set your calculator apart from the rest and make it your own.  It even comes in a Golden Ratio (it’s metallic!) and bright white.  No longer just black, it’s fun to add some personality to the must-have classroom essential.  Not only does it come in really cool colors on the outside, but the screen is now full color, too! One of my very favorite features? It also is rechargeable.  Yup, that’s right!  Such a great feature, we love it!

They say the brain is made up of 75% water.  It’s so important to keep hydrated to keep it functioning to the best of its ability.  We love the Contigo Autoseal Chill.  Fill it up with some cold H2O and it stays chilled all day long (actually even longer than that–28 hours, to be precise).  These babies are spill proof, which makes all the difference.  You can’t be worried that your water is going to leak all over your new gear and homework!   I love the look of the bottle, as it is very clean and sleek.  Stainless steel body with a colorful top–lots of colors to choose from.  I love the Autoseal feature, as you just push a button and you can drink.  Release it and it closes the top of the spout, keeping out dirt and germs.  These are our favorite water bottles!

Of course, when sending the kids to school, you have to have a great, sturdy backpack. One that fits all the binders, notebooks, lunches, and gear.  Those needs vary from elementary school all the way to high school, but L.L. Bean has great options for all ages and work loads. L.L. Bean’s are my favorite, as they last. This year, I picked the Green Mountain Day Pack, perfect for older students.  This bag has a more sophisticated silhouette, for those that want something a little more versatile than in years past.  This is more of a grown up taste.  You can take this bag to school, use it for hikes, or take it with you as you travel.  Wherever you go, it’s sure to be a great companion, easing your burden along the way.  Lots of great zippers and compartments make for a user-friendly experience.  I love that you can either put a laptop in there or exchange it for a water bladder.  I also love the cooling vents in the back, keeping you cool, wherever you may be.

For my younger students, I love the durability and classic style of the Quad Pack.  These backpacks are the perfect size for both middle and high school.  Room and padding for a laptop, lots of space for binders, lunches, gym clothes in the main compartment of the bag, smaller zippered areas for pens and pencils for easy access, pockets for water bottles–really what more could you ask for?  Comfort?  Well, that’s covered, too!  It is a great bag for any age!

Even if there is a problem, they are guaranteed, so you can exchange it for one of equal value.  I’ve tried other backpacks in the past, and I keep going back to these, as they have proven to be the most durable, all while looking great.

To pair with their great backpacks, I alway love to get the L.L. Bean insulated lunch boxes.  Tons of room for the essentials, these bags are a classic choice that can grow from kindergarten to 12th grade.  A wide variety of colors are available for every taste and they can even be monogrammed with your child’s initials for easy identification.

When it comes to studying new subjects in a new school year, it’s important to keep a good established space for homework.  Stocking it with lots of supplies is important and so is keeping it comfortable.  I love this Otto fan from Stadler Form to keep our workspace comfortable and cool. It looks quite stylish, too, made of African bamboo, which you would never expect from a fan.  The breeze it produces is soothing, effective, and calming.  Very little noise is emitted, so it does not interrupt anyone from their studies.  The fan features three settings, so you are sure to get just the right cool down, when needed.

*products were received to facilitate a feature, all opinions are my own.