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September Essential: Teacher Back to School Survival Kit and a Target GiftCard® Giveaway

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Back to School Teacher Survival Kit | 11 Magnolia Lane

 

While this is a post about the awesome back to school survival kit that I put together for my daughter’s teacher, I’m going to begin with a guilty confession about Target, just so you know where things stand.

 

Full disclosure is that Target is probably my favorite store, ever, period.  We’re fortunate enough to live five minutes from one here in Savannah (although my husband considers this to be rather unfortunate), and I am in there almost every day, whether it’s to pick up a gallon of milk or a piece of poster board for the kid who waited until the last moment to tell me that he had a project due tomorrow.  Frequently, amazing things even leap into my cart (like a gold stapler!  or an awesome bracelet!  or a boxwood wreath!) without my knowledge OR consent.  There must be something magnetic in those red carts.

 

I have a RedCard in my wallet, the Cartwheel app on my phone, and the cashiers at Store #1910 (hi, everyone!) know me.  I’ve been asking for my own parking space out front, but so far they’re dragging their feet on that one.  Maybe writing this post will get me some movement on that request…

 

There.  Now you know.  So while this is a sponsored post for Target, you can be pretty sure that it would have been a love fest anyway.

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Back to School Teacher Survival Kit | 11 Magnolia Lane

 

Have you tried their up & up store brand yet?  I am a big fan of store brands in general, and this one in particular.  Why pay more for the exact same things?  That’s crazy!  And with what you save, you can take home those cute shorts that jumped into your cart.
 
I grabbed all the up & up items in the above picture (plus a few more) to create a back-to-school survival kit for my daughter’s sixth grade teacher.  Every single item was less (sometimes significantly less) than its brand-name counterpart sitting next to it on the Target shelf, but they all work just as effectively. Then I made this cute little photo card to attach to the basket:

 

Back to School Teacher Survival Kit | 11 Magnolia Lane

 

There were tons of fun back-to-school items in the One Spot to fill up her basket (including the basket itself!):

 

Back to School Teacher Survival Kit | 11 Magnolia Lane

 
I’m sure you noticed that I included a variety of items to help germ-proof the classroom, and the students.  While my kids aren’t quite the carriers of disease that they were in their younger years, I still would like to stop germs before they make it out of the classroom and into our house.  The disinfectant spray (similar to Lysol) is the first step in stopping germs–it kills 99.9% of fungi, viruses, and bacteria (i.e. the cold and flu viruses), and prevents mold and mildew growth.  It also eliminates odors and makes the classroom smell “clean.”

 

Back to School Teacher Survival Kit | 11 Magnolia Lane
I also included the fresh and lemon scent disinfecting wipes in her basket, so she can have the students quickly and conveniently wipe down doorknobs, pencil sharpeners, desktops, and all those other surfaces that dozens of hands touch every day.  Even though they’re bleach free, they still kill up to 99.9% of bacteria in 15 seconds (and they cost much less than Clorox wipes).
Back to School Teacher Survival Kit | 11 Magnolia Lane

 

I’ve jotted a monthly note on my calendar to check the wipes, tissues, and hand sanitizer in the classroom; that way the other parents and I can restock her supply as needed and hopefully everyone will stay healthy throughout the school year.  I’ll be back to Target (yep–every day), so you know she’ll be getting up & up products from me! 🙂   Oh, and even though it’s not in the photo, I threw in a bag of dark chocolate–I consider that to be a back-to-school essential, too.

 

Would you like to enter for your chance to win a $100 Target GiftCard®?  (Giveaway now closed)  OF COURSE  you would!  Just leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Target “score” is, and good luck!   To check out more up&up cleaning products, check out Target.com or visit your local Target store.
 
Thanks for stopping by–
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Sweepstakes Rules:  No duplicate comments.  You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

    1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

 

  • Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#OnlyAtTarget” and “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

 

 

  • Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

 

 

  • For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

 

 

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher.com email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.  The Official Rules are available here.  This sweepstakes runs from 9/8-10/22.  Be sure to visit the Target up & up brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. I love their lamps and home accessories! I bought a cute lamp that sits on my piano at an awesome price. I also score on kids clothes in the clearance racks ALL the time!

    Reply

  9. It’s funny how, not only did a gold stapler jump into my cart, a gold dog tape dispenser did too 🙂 I also adore the Up & Up wipes, they are the only thing I use on my daughter.

    Reply

  10. My favorite score were the Carson 5 shelf bookcases we got on clearance for $48 bucks! We bought one & went back the next morning because we decided we needed two more for that price!

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  12. I love Target as well! My best “scores” were school uniform clothing marked down to $2.22 each which I donated to a Kansas City inner city school. On my way to the checkout line, an assistant manager gave me a $5.00 off coupon to also use. I was delighted!!

    If I were to win the $100 Target gift card in this contest, I would donate it to the principal of this same school so she could buy items to use as prizes for perfect attendance.

    Reply

  13. I love Target, where a trip is not complete until you check out every clearance endcap. The cartwheel app is great and my best scores were probably 2 Britax carseats on clearance several years ago when my kids were little!

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  14. Target is 5 minutes from my house, also! I have the same problem of random things jumping in my basket. We love the flexible band aids and the tissues!

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  17. I offered to buy some back to school clothes for a friend’s child that was in need of some financial help this season. I knew Target would have some good prices and when I arrived I was surprised to see 30% off all kids clothing that week! Yay! I got some cute bargains!

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  18. my favorite target score is anything elf cosmetics related; love the brand and love to buy that makeup at target.

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  22. My daughter and I score cute clothes & awesome shoes all the time! Headed there in a few for some new nail polish colors. 😉

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  25. I like getting groceries there because they have brands I don’t often see in other stores. And I like their clothing for my daughter!

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  27. This summer we overhauled our side yard. Then a month or so later I was in Target where they had cute little solar lights on clearance for $1.50 each! I returned the $80 lights, that I wasn’t in love with, and saved over $60. I wish I had families that sent in necessities such as the sanitizer and tissues, you have no idea how much they add up to every year and how quickly they go! I hope your readers follow your lead and gift their teachers some “handy” products.

    Reply

  30. I love Target, but I live in Vermont and we don’t have even one in our state! The closest one to us is in New York, less than an hour away if we take the ferry. My sister and I do a Target road trip once in a while.

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  34. My favorite target score was an end table that I got on clearance for my son’s room. It has a wood top and silver drawer/legs, very industrial I love it!

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  35. Shopping the end-caps at TARGET is a favorite activity! Just got fab new bowls on clearance! Woo Hoo! Thanks! 🙂
    (Their back-to-school commercials are always VERY clever too!)

    Reply

  37. While buying some savvy school notebooks, journals and pens with pretty prints at Target for my kids, I couldn’t help but buy a back to school present for myself–the CUTEST new outdoor choir mat for outside our front door; what a score!

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  38. My last score was a pair of kids black jegging pants/leggings that I paid less than 13 dollars! These pants actually fit!

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  46. I LOVE Target! I’ve used several of their UP&UP brand products and they work just as well as the name brand items. My husband knows we can’t go to Target without checking out all of the clearance end-caps.

    Reply

  47. We live about 50 miles a target but we do find good deals on some of the toys that are marked down. I also love the girls clothing for my daughter.

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  49. I love target for almost everything and for all the family ! I can find cute things, at the right price. I use cartwheel, and I also order on line specific products they do not have in store.

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  54. I bought a Merona leopard and rose gold watch last summer on sale for less than $15 (after coupon and Cartwheel) and got sooooo many compliments that I bought a second one several months later to have a back-up!

    Reply

  55. We recently found some huge baskets with chalkboard labels that hold tons of toys. We were able to stop having a bunch of old gym bags int he family room holding all those toys. It looks so much better when you walk in the room and it’s easier to find the toys in the baskets without dumping everything out. We liked the first one we went back and bought a second one a few days later.

    Reply

  62. Omg! I ♡ Target. It is my favorite store. Everytime I go I scored. Usually I go by the clearance areas of all the store before checking the stuff that I really need. Best score I got was a purse for $5 original price $40, a dress from $45 to $7.98, some grden lights from $20 to $4.50 and the list is enless. My husband always complains I buy a lot of items at target but when he finds out how much I paid for it or the good quality of the product he doesn’t complain as much.

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  65. I love the Up&Up Disinfecting spray. I use it in the bathroom on my tile, toilet, sink and bathtub. Haven’t had any mold or mildew.

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  66. I really enjoyed this post because Target is my favorite store too! One of my most recent favorite finds is a big glass candle urn, with a rope handle. I filled the bottom of it with sand, and placed several starfish in it up to the top. It makes me happy every time I see it on the coffee table! Thanks for a great giveaway.

    Reply

  71. I love finding neat things for my classroom in their dollar spot! Target has been great for so many teachers like myself!

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  73. My favorite Target score is their Morningstar Farms products. For example, I can get an 8pk of Morningstar Farm sausage patties for $5.99 and normally they are much higher at other name brand stores.

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  77. I love the clearance section especially when they have online only items very cheap! We use a variety of Up&Up items in our home but my favorite are their freezer bags, trash bags and toilet bowl cleaner!

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  81. My fave Target score is just about 2 weeks after school starts when ALL the school supplies go on sale. I can stock up for my kids, grab a few items for their teachers and make a few donations to local charities. Win! Win!!

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  82. I’d say my favorite Target score is the great stuff I find in the dollar spot. I have 2 girls and stocked up on boy gift sacks because I never have any around when I need them. Plus, I always find great stocking stuffers, rewards, etc. there!

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  83. My favorite Target score is when I can get stuff for FREE of course by matching sales with target coupons and regular coupons for amazing deals!

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  90. Some time ago, my sister (a couponing wizard) and I got a cart full of shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, and shaving cream for a negative balance. Thanks to Target and their coupon regulations and low prices, this was the craziest, best shopping trip I’ve ever been on. Thanks Target ^^

    Reply

  94. Target is just too much fun. Great things at great prices. My students love the Treasure Box goodies I find there. Think I will make mini survival kits for our church’s preschool staff. Thanks for the ideas.

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  99. I don’t have a Target nearby, but I shop online, and periodically in the store, but I got some great baskets for my Ikea shelves! Love them.

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  105. If I won the gift certificate I would give it to my daughter, she is a special education teacher and the supplies are endless from pencils to baby wipes and diapers.

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  109. I love Target’s clearance endcaps!! I cannot stay away from them when I go to grocery shop. I usually end up with goodies other than just groceries!!

    Reply

  121. Target’s clearance sales are fabulous! At the after-Christmas sale this year, I scored a couple of sets of garden tools for 75% off, and they made perfect birthday gifts for a gardening friend in the spring.

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  124. I always check the HABA aisles for unadvertised deals on Up & Up products. Sometimes I can get some steals that way, or stock up on things we use regularly.

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  127. Oh my gosh once I scored this really cool pot for like less than 5 dollars and it has been awesome!

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  129. My favorite recent score was free greeting cards with their $2/2 cards coupon!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  132. My latest Target score was a king size bedspread and sheet set for 30% off retail. I thought it was a great deal. Thank you for the opportunity to enter.

    Reply

  134. My favorite Target score is anything from the clearance end caps – especially January and July when toy clearance happens!

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  145. My favorite Target “score” is the hardsided, spinner luggage I purchased for both my daughter and myself for a phenomanal price that any other stores has yet to beat.

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  147. i can’t think of any particular good “score” but i always enjoy shopping at target and they always have the best school supplies!

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  149. My best scores are usually from an offer on the cartwheel app. Best deal lately was the Bear Naked granola bars for a steal!

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  157. I don’t have a Target at a convenient location so when I do get to shop there I check out every corner. I’ve found awesome toddler clothing for my great granddaughter and I found wonderful bar towels at a great price.

    Reply

  175. My favorite Target scores are when I get a gift card with a purchase of something I was going to get anyway. I love when that happens!

    Reply

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