Brilliant Back-to-School Supplies, DIYs and Organizing Hacks


Brilliant Back-to-School Supplies, DIYs, and Organizing Hacks

As much as we love (and we mean, LOVE) summer, there’s something about all the nostalgic feels we get from fall and back-to-school time — not to mention the joy of easing back into regular schedules with our kids. To make the transition easy peasy, we teamed up with Staples to bring you everything you need to get kids ready for their first day through their last.

We rounded up the best Staples supplies for the new school year, from statement-making backpacks and accessories to planners, notebooks, binders, the works. Breeze through the store with our printable checklists and personalize everything with our creative DIYs. Plus, we’ve got helpful hacks for staying organized and productive throughout the year so you can focus on more important things, like spending time with your kids before (tissues please) time slips away.

School Supply Saviors

School Supply Saviors

Essentials for Any Grade

Shopping for back-to-school supplies can feel overwhelming without a handy checklist. We thought through everything — down to the paper clips — that you need for every stage, from kinder (shark backpack, anyone?) to college (laptop backpack for sure) and anywhere in between.

Teacher's supply lists are also available at the in-store kiosk inside every Staples store. You can print them out or access them easily via mobile. (Staples stores also have lists from surrounding schools printed out for you.) No more standing in the aisles wondering why you’re there!


Teachers also score rewards every time YOU shop. With Staples Classroom Rewards program, teachers can earn 5 percent back in rewards on every purchase you make at Staples from May 19 and September 15 (that’s a pretty sweet deal and we LOVE anything that gives back to teachers). Bonus: Teachers get $5 in rewards just for enrolling.


It’s super-easy for parents to give back to their child’s classroom: Once your child's teacher has enrolled (hint: spread the word!), you can visit the Classroom Rewards website, select your teacher’s name or school, and enter your receipt number and how much you spent so your teacher earns more rewards, up to $250. Pretty cool, right?

We were stoked to find that Staples has a variety of fun backpacks, pencil pouches, water bottles and lunch boxes, all in matching sets. Good thing because pretty much all of the Brit + Co kids are going through a shark phase.

And check out the super-cute koala print!

We're eyeing a lot of these supplies for the Brit + Co office too (you can never have enough Post-Its!). And with Staples back-to-school in-stock guarantee at all of its stores you'll find everything you see right here right there!

The Art of Personalization

The Art of Personalization

DIY Back-to-School Style

Getting creative with basic school supplies is one of those trends that keeps on keeping on from generation to generation. Kids can turn notebooks, binders, their desks and more into their personal canvas with our back-to-school DIYs. Find pom poms, printables and patches, oh my!

Stay Organized + Productive

Stay Organized + Productive

Time Savers and Helpful Hacks

Moms have way more to manage (we know from experience) so we looked at making weekday mornings go a little smoother as you get everyone out the door. Clock in a productive day every day (or every other day, let's be real) with our desk, closet and pantry organizing hacks.

You're all set for a stellar school year! There's still plenty of time to hang with your kid before the first bell rings. Bring them along to shop for supplies (super-fun bonding time), create DIYs together (patches everywhere!) and share some of your newly minted organizing hacks. A+.

B+C Studios in partnership with Staples

Author: Theresa Gonzalez

Creative Direction: Anjelika Temple

Photographer: Kurt Andre

Prop Styling: Kayla Haykin



December always has a way of sneaking up on us with a frenzy of cute holiday decorating, festive gatherings, and dreaming up the best gifts for our besties. If this month has you feeling more frazzled than festive, don’t worry—we’ve got you (and them) covered.

Charles Chocolates

Charles Chocolates Winter Fleur de Sel Collection

We partnered with Charles Chocolates, the award-winning artisanal chocolate brand, to create a gift guide filled with unique and just-a-little-bit bougie finds, because everyone deserves to treat themselves once in a while, holiday season or not! From a plushy robe and scented candles to a box of the most creative handmade chocolates, including a chocolate box you can actually eat, these picks are perfect for everyone on your list — and maybe even a little treat for yourself.

Score a FREE Charles Chocolates Bar when you spend $25 or more!

The Coffee Lover

Brit + Co

Charles Chocolates Winter Collection Edible Chocolate Box

These coffee-lover gifts, including a colorful French Press and adorbs mug, are sure to perk up your day — and theirs! Pair your morning cup with a delicious piece of handmade chocolate for the ultimate sensory experience. You can literally eat the box in this Winter Collection from Charles Chocolates filled with Fleur de Sel Caramels, Peanut Butterflies and Milk Chocolate Caramels. SO good!

Featured:

The Cozy Homebody

Brit + Co

Charles Chocolates Holiday Collection

For the pal who loves to stay in and get cozy, here’s a cute kettle for steeping her favorite tea, some cozy wears, and Charles Chocolates Holiday Collection with flavors like Pecan Fleur de Sel Caramel, Cinnamon Spice Truffle, Orange Zest Truffle, and Maple Truffle. Charles Chocolates are all natural so it’s real chocolate vs. a sugary (read: cheap) substitute. The flavors are so unique and fun to taste-test. It’s the perfect gift for when you’re feeling indoorsy!

Featured:

Your Holiday Crush

Brit + Co

Charles Chocolates Peppermint Bark

Sneak a fancy chocolate bar, like Charles Chocolates Peppermint Bark Bar, made with homemade peppermint candy, in your S.O.’s stocking, plus some essentials for the camper, music lover, and beanie wearer!

Featured:

The Sweet Tooth

Brit + Co

Charles Chocolates Bittersweet Chocolate Santa

Sweet tooth be gone with Charles Chocolates Bittersweet Chocolate Santa Clause. This thing is not small, weighing in at 3 lbs. of deliciously rich chocolate. Adults will actually enjoy this vintage-style Santa as much as kids! Pair with a bottle of wine dressed in an adorable bow, a cake stand candle (so cute!), darling dessert plates, and/or a baking lover’s cookbook! Toss some mint chocolate almonds in stockings too!

Featured:

Your Jewish Bestie

Brit + Co

Charles Chocolates Hanukkah Collection Edible Chocolate Box

There’s a lot of talk about Christmas this time of year, but not all of our friends celebrate. And this year, Hanukkah starts on Christmas day so we can celebrate together! Gift your bestie who celebrates the Festival of Lights with this Hanukkah Collection Edible Chocolate Box filled with flavors like Fleur de Sel Caramel, Passion Fruit Heart, Espresso Caramel, and Meyer Lemon Yankee. They might also enjoy a new cookbook celebrating their heritage, cozy slippers, jewelry, and an artful wine decanter for the holidays. Candle-lighting matches are a perfect stocking stuffer or White Elephant gift too!

Featured:

Score a FREE Charles Chocolates Bar when you spend $25 or more!

Ever since Daphne Bridgerton became Duchess of Hastings (and actress Phoebe Dynevor exited the show after season 2), fans have been taking every opportunity they can to see her onscreen. And in addition to a new thriller with Zac Efron and a shark movie that sounds downright terrifying, Phoebe stars in Inheritance — a new January movie that was entirely shot on an iPhone...and that Phoebe committed a real crime for.

Here's everything you need to know about Phoebe Dynevor's new movie Inheritance.

What is the Inheritance film about?

Inheritance follows Maya, whose world gets turned upside down when she learns her dad is actually an ex-spy. But things get even crazier when she gets sucked into the middle of an international conspiracy herself. Armed with tons of questions (and a killer pair of sunglasses) Maya has to stay alive long enough to find answers.

The movie filmed all over the world, which director Neil Burger calls a "true adventure."

"Shooting around the world and taking risks to achieve the ‘you are there’ feel," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Phoebe delivers a phenomenal performance in the movie, and I’m looking forward to audiences seeing her as they’ve never seen her before.”

Now, those aforementioned sunglasses (which Maya steals in the movie) might only be the focus for a moment, but they were a pretty big deal IRL because Phoebe Dynevor actually stole them. “I remember feeling really nervous and afraid that they would think I was actually stealing, but at the time, we wanted real reactions from the staff. It was very scary,” she says in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Director Neil Burger explains the team's "contingency plans, excuses, and explanations" in case Phoebe got caught (including buying the same pair of sunglasses so they'd have a receipt). And after Phoebe knocked it out of the park, the glasses were returned, of course!

“There was a safety net that came with the camera being there because it felt like this isn’t real. We’re shooting something,” she continues. “We only had one take to get it right. I’d have to be very cognizant of whether the camera was getting it. You don’t want to have to do that twice.”

IFC Films

And not only did Phoebe Dynevor nab an accessory, but she also almost got arrested for a totally different reason after she played drunk in the middle of New York City. "It was an experience I’ve never had before, and this mother pulled them away understandably," she says. “It was just very, very strange knowing that it wasn’t real, but our director wanted it to feel as real as possible, so sometimes we would keep going and see what we could get out of the exchange with people on the street.

But when the police showed up, and she was worried she'd actually get arrested, she tells EW she immediately switched into her English accent: “I would then come out of [Maya’s] accent and turn on my poshest British actor and be like, ‘I’m an actor.’”

When is Inheritance coming out?

You can see Inheritance in theaters starting January 24, 2025.

Who's in the cast?

The Inheritance cast includes Phoebe Dynevor, Rhys Ifans, Ciara Baxendale, and Majd Eid.

A movie set wouldn't be complete without a crew. And Inheritance's crew was only made up of 10 people!

Stay tuned for the latest news on Inheritance and read up on The 12 Most-Anticipated January TV Shows Coming In 2025.

'Tis the season to look your glowiest. We’re diving into our favorite beauty picks for the season to moisturize and refresh. It’s the perfect time to embrace self-care with the impending festive hustle and winter chill. Friday night facials, anyone? From hydrating cleansers to rich body butters and everything in between, here are 18 beauty essentials bringing us a boost of joy this holiday season. They make great BFF gifts and stocking stuffers too!

City Lips Plumping Lip Gloss

This festive Holly-colored lip gloss gives you an instant plumping look while it also moisturizes, and it comes in a slew of gorgeous colors. Plus, the lip gloss keeps plumping over time! City Beauty products are Leaping Bunny-certified (AKA cruelty-free), and made without irritants or harsh chemicals. Win-win.

Steve Madden Goldie Fragrance

Feminine and sweet, this fragrance is a mix of fruit and floral scents like pear, jasmine, gardenia, and sandalwood. It's a lovely reminder of summer mid-winter and perfect way to feel officially dressed up.

Dieux’s Baptism Gel Cleanser

Reset your winter skincare routine with this gentle cleanser that moisturizes, protects, and deep cleans. It has a rich, creamy foam that actually removes makeup and sunscreen so you feel so very refreshed!

Sweet Relief Overnight Barrier Balm

Your bedtime routine just got better with this moisturizing mask and balm. It features nutrient-dense seed butters and antioxidant-rich apricot kernel oil to protect your skin barrier so you wake up all glowy and pretty.

City Lips Night Oil

City Beauty's City Lips Night Oil is another essential for your bedtime routine. You can feel the deep hydration that helps your lips look naturally radiant and it works to add volume while you sleep. Sweet!

LOOPS Clean Slate Detoxifying Mask

Spend your Friday night in with this 10-minute detox mask that feels so refreshing and really soothes your skin. It has a mix of mineral-rich volcanic ash to help remove dirt, while aloe vera and bamboo water add all the vitamins, electrolytes, and nutrients your skin craves. Try it a few times a week for fresh-looking skin!

Glossier You Fragrance Discovery Kit

Traveling for the holidays? Pick up this limited edition travel spray trio of Glossier You (our fave), a creamy, clean scent; Doux, a woody blend; and Rêve, a lush, dreamy fragrance. Bon voyage!

Wild Refillable Deodorant

These planet-friendly refillable deodorants come in fun seasonal cases and scents, like this Fresh Cotton & Sea Salt, inspired by freshly washed linen drying by the seaside. And they actually work!

Davines OI Hair Oil

Before you head out to the holiday party, run this multipurpose hair oil through your 'do. It detangles, reduces frizz, and leaves all hair types so soft and shiny.

City Beauty Lid Lifting Treatment

This lid-lifting cream makes you look awake even when you've been tossing and turning all night. It lifts and firms the appearance of saggy eyelids and feels like an instant lift!

Liquid Panacea Centella & Kombucha Firming Recovery Booster

Skin looking a bit dull and tired, or red and dehydrated? Try this firming serum with anti-inflammatory kombucha. If you suffer from really dry winter skin, THE MOST Hyaluronic Super Nutrient Hydration Serum is your winter superpower with hyaluronic acid, kombucha and organic safflower oil to relieve stressed and dehydrated skin.

Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Balm

Upgrade your mani and give dry, cracked cuticles a little love this season with this lemony butter made with beeswax, shea butter, avocado oil and lemon! You can also use it on feet, elbows or knees.

Rinna Beauty The Perfect Party Eye Kit

Party season has begun so you can go all out on the eyes with this shimmering eye shadow and complementary mascara and lip makeup.

Ogee Complexion Perfecting Tinted Serum

This tinted moisturizer is organic and cruelty-free and glides on smooth. It's the perfect blend of plumping gooseberry fruit, refining daisy flower, and brightening vitamin C Concentrate to give your winter complexion a healthy boost!

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil

This seaweed-infused body oil is a staff favorite (I keep it on my desk) because it never feels greasy but instantly makes your skin look soft and nourished. It also smells amazing.

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

This award-winning concealer is super light and gives you that no-makeup makeup look. It helps soften dark circles and keeps your skin hydrated and glowy. It's also vegan and cruelty free.

Yaman Medi Lift 3D Microfiller Micro-Tip Patches

Need a little skin boost for the holidays? Fit in a micro-beauty-moment with an at-home facial using these beauty patches that hydrate and help firm up skin with collagen.

Mutha Body Butter

This whipped butter made with shea, cocoa, and mango butters smells citrusy and hydrates skin for up to 48 hours. It's great for after the shower and helps improve the look of stretch marks. Indulge and treat yourself!

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

We're headed back into the world of Panem with Suzanne Collins' fifth Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping. The new 2025 novel comes out March 18 (along with a new movie that's already scheduled for November 2026!) and it follows the one Hunger Games everyone's been dying to hear about since Catching Fire was published: the 50th Games, AKA the games Haymitch won.

We already know that the novel takes place 24 years before Katniss' first games and that as a Quarter Quell, there's a twist: Haymitch is up against twice as many tributes as normal. People was given an exclusive excerpt from the new book, and it makes me even more excited than I already was.

Here's what happens in the first excerpt from Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

'Hunger Games' fans will love the first 'Sunrise on the Reaping' excerpt from chapter 1.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

The Sunrise on the Reaping excerpt opens the morning of reaping day — which is also Haymitch's 16th birthday. (Which could explain his behavior during the day Prim's reaped and Katniss volunteers. What a horrible birthday!). Haymitch hopes to spend the free parts of his day lounging around with his girlfriend Lenore Dove, if his mother and the Gamemakers don't get in his way.

The excerpt continues with a really beautiful depiction of District 12's Seam, which is modern day Appalachia. It's a tight-knit (albeit struggling) community covered in a "protective" mist as the sun rises. Haymitch knows that this reaping will take twice as many children and fights to stay calm.

"No way to control the outcome of the reaping or what follows it," he thinks. "So don’t feed the nightmares. Don’t let yourself panic. Don’t give the Capitol that. They’ve taken enough already."

And 'Sunrise on the Reaping' proves Haymitch and Katniss' similarities.

We also learn more about Haymitch's family. All we know from the original trilogy is that President Snow killed them after he won, but this prequel actually introduces us to them. Haymitch's mother was widowed after a coal mine killed his father. He also has a 10-year-old brother named Sid who I can already tell is very energetic and very loud.

This really proves that Haymitch and Katniss are two sides of the same coin, and that they're able to understand each other more than any of the other characters. Not only are they both from the Seam, but they also lost their fathers by the age of 16.

And the most important detail to me is the fact they both have younger siblings they'd do anything for — they were simply destined to be a father-daughter duo. Sacrificial love is the beating heart of the Hunger Games series, and I can't wait to see all the complexity and nuance Sunrise on the Reaping brings to the franchise.

Stay tuned for more Sunrise on the Reaping news, and check out the 10 Most-Anticipated Book-To-Film Adaptations We Can't Wait To See In 2025 for more movie updates.

After a two-year wait, 1923 season 2 is finally just over a month away from being on our screens. While we have a lot of questions about what will happen to the Duttons, Teonna, and the Yellowstone ranch, there's one thing we know for certain: this show wouldn't be the same without its cast.

Here's the full list of 1923 season 2 characters, from Harrison Ford's Jacob Dutton to Brandon Sklenar's Spencer Dutton.

1. Harrison Ford As Jacob Dutton

Christopher Saunders/Paramount+

Icon Harrison Ford plays patriarch Jacob Dutton, brother to 1883's James Dutton (meaning he's Spencer's uncle) and Cara's husband.

2. Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Helen Mirren stars as Jacob's wife Cara Dutton, who's totally capable of holding down the fort at the Yellowstone ranch — and writes to tell Spencer at the end of season 1 they need him to come home.

3. Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

It Ends With Us' Brandon Sklenar returns in 1923 season 2 as Spencer Dutton, the younger brother of Elsa and John from 1883. He's a soldier-turned-hunter in Africa who meets Alexandra on a job before learning the ranch is in jeopardy.

4. Julia Schlaepfer as Alex Dutton

Lo Smith/Paramount+

Julia Schlaepfer's Alex Dutton quickly falls for Spencer after their first meeting (ditching her fiancé Arthur in the process), and joins him on his adventure. After they're called back to Montana, Alex and Spencer get separated when they cross paths with Arthur, and a duel with Spencer leads to Arthur's death.

5. Darren Mann as Jack Dutton

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Darren Man plays Jack Dutton, Jacob's great-nephew (and Spencer's nephew) who lives on the ranch with Jacob, Cara, and his new wife Elizabeth.

6. Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth Dutton

Christopher Saunders/Paramount+

Elizabeth Dutton is Jack's wife and is played by Michelle Randolph (who you'll recognize from Landman!). They're madly in love and conceive their first child during the first season, but Elizabeth miscarries in the season finale.

7. Aminah Nieves as Teonna Rainwater

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Aminah Nieves returns in 1923 season 2 as Teonna Rainwater, who's just escaped the abusive Catholic boarding school that took her from her family. Finally reunited with her father and her friend Pete, it looks like Teonna is finally safe.

8. ​Brian Geraghty as Zane Davis

Trae Patton/Paramount+

1923 season 2 also includes Brian Geraghty as Zane Davis, foreman for the Yellowstone ranch who gets jumped by the police at the end of season 1 after Whitfield and Banner go after the Duttons.

9. Jerome Flynn as Banner Creighton

Christopher Saunders/Paramount+

Jerome Flynn's Banner Creighton is set on bringing the Duttons down, and now that he's out of prison, he's ready for round 2.

10. Sebastian Roché as Father Renaud

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

1923 season 2 (unfortunately) stars Sebastian Roché as Father Renaud (I'm sure Sebastian is great, but I literally hate this character), who's hunting Teonna.

11. Isabel May as Elsa Dutton

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

1883's Elsa Dutton (played by Isabel May) returns for 1923 season 2 as the narrator looking over the story — and her family.

12. Andy Dispensa as Luca

5&2 Productions

Our new 1923 season 2 character is Luca (played by The Chosen's Andy Dispensa), who's “a young man working in the engine room of a merchant ship," so he's sure to cross paths with Spencer.

Which 1923 season 2 characters are you most excited to see again? Read up on the The 1923 Season 1 Ending, Deaths, & Betrayals before the new episodes drop. And don't forget to check out 14 New TV Shows To Watch In February.