Back To School Shopping With Staples (and Brian Urlacher!)

Summer is coming to an end and that means it is time to go back to school! I’ve always loved this time of year, the Fall season begins, my birthday is in September, and a new school year for this social butterfly meant meeting new friends and having a lot of fun. Also one of the only occasions where my frugal parents would let me splurge and buy anything I wanted was going back to school shopping. Did I need the pink sparkly mechanical pencils to do my best handwriting? Of course I did. They believed, as do I, that education is priceless.

Which is why I am so excited to announce my partnership with Staples. Staples has everything you could possibly need for back to school shopping in one place, as well as in-store experts to help you shop stress-free. Now, I get to relive my childhood love of back to school shopping through Adam. I absolutely love a fresh pack of sharpened pencils, the smell of a new box of crayons, and new untouched notebooks full of possibilities. I want Adam to feel the same excitement I had when I was a kid, shopping for everything he needs to be prepared for a new school year. He loves having the responsibility of choosing his favorite lunch box, pencils, and everything else on his supply list.

It is so meaningful to work with Staples because they have a long history of giving back to teachers and families in need, so I feel good that my purchase is helping others who aren’t able to afford the supplies they need to get the best education possible.

For the fifth year in a row, Staples is partnering with DonorsChoose.org, the leading platform for giving to public schools, started by a teacher from the Bronx back in 2000. Teachers across America use the site to create projects requesting resources their students need, and donors give to the projects that inspire them. Anyone can donate in-store and online to schools in your community – it’s so easy!

On Wednesday, August 15th, let’s go back-to-school shopping together at Staples located at 111 N Wabash Ave! I will certainly be there and Hall of Famer, Brian Urlacher will be there as well! It’ll be a special event where local schoolteachers from DonorsChoose.org will receive flash-funding for their classroom projects, as well as a meet and greet with Brian Urlacher! See you there – don’t forget your little one’s back to school shopping list.

Note: This is a sponsored post – all thoughts expressed are my own.  

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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!