5 Things Thursday: Back-to-School Cute-ssentials

I know some of you have been back in school for at least a week now, but we’ve been whooping it up over here in East Texas, wringing the last few drops of fun out of summer (more on that tomorrow). The boys start back on Tuesday at the little 3-day-a-week, teensy-tinesy private school they went to last year, and I’ll still be homeschooling them on Mondays and Fridays.

I was never the girl who bothered much with making her back-to-school supplies cute as well as functional. But, then again, I didn’t have Pinterest (find me here) to convince me that I couldn’t possibly learn as well without a chevron-patterned pencil-sharpener or a patchwork floral backpack.

Probably a good thing when I think about it.

Still, in honor of that fresh-new-endless-possibilities feeling that the prospect of a new year full of “bouquets of sharpened pencils” brings, here are 5 things I’d make sure to have in my schoolgirl repertoire if I had it all to do over again.

1.

Pretty Pencils

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These are great, with the clever quotes and the pastel stripes. I am sure my handwriting, dismal though it is, would be greatly improved if I wrote with these.

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And it’s hard to imagine anything much cuter than black and white polka dots. I think I might have to dot all my “i’s” with hearts if I wrote with these.

2.

Posh Pencil Holders

…because what’s the use of having great pencils if you have nothing comparably fantastic to put them in?

These soup cans turned pencil holders (tutorial from the Wicker House) would do the trick.

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Love the simplicity and motivational attitude of this little pencil bag…from a no longer available Etsy shop :(.

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This red and white, “love birds” case is seriously cute too.

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As is this aqua floral option (which is big enough to work as a makeup bag too!)

3.

Beautiful Backpacks

…to hold my fancy pencils tucked inside their cute cases.

Love this Fossil one (which is, sadly, sold out).

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Big fat love the coral trim on this one!

4.

Capricious {E-Reader} Cases

Not that I had anything like a Kindle or iPad when I was in school, but nowadays, textbooks are practically passé. So, of course, I’d need something cute to hold my electronic reader of choice.

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I’m just dreaming here, since this Jonathan Adler version is way more than I would ever pay. But it’s still fun.

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Or how about making your reader look like a real book? This one would definitely be at the top of my list. (Although, again, it’s waaaaay too expensive for my spending habits).

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I can take or leave chevron (although I tend to take it more than leave it), but ikat? Oh, I’ll take it pretty much every every time. Especially in crisp white, orange, and fuchsia. (My neutral-loving husband is shaking his head in disbelief and confusion at the moment).

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This explosion of blooms is just so stinkin’ happy.

5. 

Darling Day Planners

This one is ultra-girly. Perfect for making the most mundane grocery lists glamorous. (And to everyone out there who just thought, “Impossible”…a girl can dream).

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Love the graphic punch and fun fonts on this pocket planner.

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Whimsical birds, gorgeous colors, pocket-sized portability, and CHEAP! I’m a fan!

So, what are your back-to-school “cute-ssentials” (even if you’re not still in school)?