Grown-Up School Supplies

School’s back in session! Students across the country returned the classroom this week — well, except in Omaha, where they went back to school in mid-August. Can you imagine starting school that early?

As a kid, the beginning of a new school year always seemed to bring with it more possibilities than the beginning of a new calendar year. And shopping for school supplies–from Trapper Keepers and crayons to college-ruled notebooks and erasable pens–only fueled my excitement for what lay ahead: meeting teachers, making friends, and joining after-school activities.

Our classroom days might be long behind us, but that doesn’t mean you and I still can’t enjoy back-to-school shopping. Now’s the perfect time to spruce up the office with some grown-up school supplies. After all, why should school-age children get all the goodies?

1. Does this sentence look blurry? Schedule an eye exam and then order yourself a pair of nerdy chic glasses from Warby Parker.
2. Read more best sellers (and some classics, too) with the lightweight Kindle Paperweight from Amazon.
3. Extracurricular reading material like Anthology magazine that speak to your interests will keep your mind sharp.
4. Backpacks are the new black — unless they’re purple like this sophisticated MZ Wallace version.
5. A fresh pencil, of sorts, from Sephora will have you coloring within the (lip) lines.
6. Your busy schedule doesn’t allow time for journaling? Simply note the highlight of each day in this five-year memory book from Urban Outfitters.
7. Keep track of your to-do list on a lined notepad from Anthropologie reminiscent of composition paper.
8. Colorful desk accessories from Poppin create a cohesive office space while brightening your day.
9. Access your calendar, email, and camera with the sleek and shiny Apple 5S.
10. Stay clutter-free with a wireless scanner from Amazon that sends paper, receipts, and photos to your computer or favorite cloud apps.

 
What’s on your (real or imaginary back-to-school shopping list?