Back To School With Redbubble

Growing up, back to school shopping was one of the few times my parents gave me the green light to shop ’till I dropped’. Now I’m paying it forward.

To my parents, education was priority number one and no expense needed to be spared in preparation. I piled up the folders, protractors, hair scrunchies, new purple tops (my favorite color), and new shoes into the cart with little regard for the price tag. The day before the first day of school, I would iron and plan a week’s worth of outfits, knowing full well from previous experience that would be the only week I would actually go through the trouble. The excitement and anticipation of a new school year starting never waned for me, year after year, even in Jr. High when I cared more about touching up my makeup and decoding messages on my pager than studying.

Since I’ve been out of school for a few years now, I’m living my back-to-school fantasies vicariously through Adam. He’s getting so independent and opinionated about what he wears though, I have had to start including him in the shopping decision making process. So when the opportunity to partner with Redbubble came about, I thought it would be a fun way to do just that.

Redbubble is an online marketplace which crowdsources designs from over 400k independent artists around the world. The selection is both unique and vast, priced perfectly for a student budget. With items ranging from vintage cool to quirky, it is amazing the cultural niche you might find represented. For example I found an artist called @thepakistanimarthastewart – she creates hilarious pop-art memes with a South Asian twist – I didn’t even realize that was a thing until now, and I am officially obsessed.

The difference between Redbubble and other independent artist platforms is the delivery. They don’t carry inventory, nor do the artists ship directly to you, so when you order something it is regionally printed, making it a smooth and consistent shipping process. By printing after the order is place It is also reducing waste and therefore making for a much smaller carbon footprint.

Adam and I went through the website and picked a few new tees for his back to school wardrobe for first grade. We had a lot of fun reading some of the funny designs and choosing our favorites, and I even let him add his items to our virtual ‘cart’. I’m hoping one day maybe he will even look back on our back to school shopping experience fondly like I do now. Or is that just wishful thinking on my part? *sigh* Oh well…

If you love supporting independent artists designers and also finding one of a kind things, you need to visit Redbubble. Get 15% off your order with my code: zahra_sandberg15

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Last week we took a quick trip to escape the snow for some sunshine in Key Largo, Florida☀️ We spent every moment possible outside, Tom and Adam got their Scuba Diver PADI certification (yay!) while Sophia and I spent our days either swimming or drawing marine life and landscapes. This was my first trip after my sister passed last November, and even though I look so happy here, there were so many moments I felt the grief and sadness, as if it happened just yesterday. I am still figuring out how I want to show up in this space, as I have changed so much as a person since the loss. I just don’t feel called to post some of the things I shared before. Maybe that will change someday, or maybe it will just naturally evolve into something new. I think I will take this year to just process it all. (Even the idea of taking an entire year to think through something is a huge shift for my usually hyperactive type A personality) My focus at the moment is just living in the moment with my family and friends, spending time doing things that make me happy and healthy. I hope to share some of that journey here with you ~ thanks for following along ❤️
I had planned to shoot this outfit in collaboration with @lenacoutureofficial right before my dear sister passed away. Saba, the designer, was more than understanding if I didn’t want to anymore - but after thinking on it for a while I decided I wanted to - in my sister’s honor 💗 She was always my biggest hype woman. When i would feel like I’m not good enough or that I should quit (which was often) she would tell me I was unique and great and to keep it up. When I think of my sister, beauty and love is all that she embodied in her being. She expressed that on the outside also - as she loved to wear everything glam, bright & colorful, and full of bling. Hair done, nails done, everything did - that was Nusrat. For this shoot I took the time to get glam after a long hiatus - and makeup and hair took so long because I think I forgot how to do it, but afterwards I was surprised how I felt transformed. When I wore this gorgeous outfit that I know was designed with such love and incredible attention to detail by @lenacoutureofficial, I felt all of that beauty - like a walking piece of art, and very much at peace. Thank you so much to @divmophoto for capturing the feeling so well 💕
Ski weekend with my favorites ❄️❄️ So proud of Sophia for skiing on her own for the first time!
There are some trees with seeds that only grow after a fire. Their seeds are completely sealed with a resin that have to be physically melted off by a great fire in order to propagate. So to do we as humans, gain wisdom only after great pain and suffering.*
A month ago (and one day) I lost my sister and best friend to cancer. I am still completely gutted and broken. But, I’m also so so grateful to have had felt the love that now brings me so much heartbreak. ❤️ I am so inspired by her - and I will forever live my life to honor her memory. Miss you sis ❤️
Classic outfit combo: oversized blazer + denim 🖤fendi mules @shoeslutz
Just a mom who loves mums 🌸 🪴
Cozy for a coffee date ☕️
French. Toast. Egg. Bake. Save this recipe for a weekend or holiday brunch - it’s SO good and fool-proof! I’m not even a sweet person and I love it. The pecans are a non-negotiable IMO - I get honey bourbon vanilla pecans for this and it is just heavenly. Enjoy!