Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Review: BIC Pens and Pencils for Back-to-School (Giveaway)


BIC sent me some of the new stationery products they've released for the back-to-school rush to supplies.  Ball pens in a variety of colors and styles, mechanical pencils with colorful barrels and chrome accents, and erasers with contoured grips (which are also PVC-free--great!). I couldn't help but smile when I opened the box. I always loved shopping for back-to-school.


I loved picking out the pens and pencils, selecting a notebook, wondering if I could persuade my mother to pay more for the style I really loved. Granted there weren't as many options then. I distinctly remember buying a Big Chief tablet to go to grade school. Do you remember those? I think they faded away sometime in the 1990s...but I remember them so fondly. And I believe I went to grade school with a cardboard pencil box. Pretty different from all the plastic ones filling bins in the seasonal aisles. (I found a fun tin one for Audrey.)


There are so many options now. It must be hard to pick for those of you shopping for serious supplies. My girls' list is pretty short and simple so we aren't there yet. There weren't any pens on the list for instance, and mechanical pencils (such as the colorful ones pictured above) are a bit too advanced (strange for a generation using iPads, but anyway...).


But my girls loved coloring with this bright assortment! I am going to drop them in a zippered pouch for when they need a quiet distraction. And I personally am partial to a very smooth writing instrument, so I love the BIC Velocity, which claims to be the "smoothest pen in the universe." Wow. I can't vouch for that, but it was fun to write with, especially in lime green.


I think if my girls were in the higher grades it would be great to think about different colored inks to go with different subjects. Anything to make it more interesting and help them feel better prepared. Or perhaps there could be a rainbow of these pens stashed in a Trapper Keeper notebook so they could pick a color according to mood. Do they still make Trapper Keepers? They were very cool back in my school days.


What were your favorite school supplies? What do you love to purchase for your school-going children today? Leave me a comment and let me know and you'll be entered to win a a set of colorful BIC supplies for your school goers--or you! (U.S. residents only) BIC will be sending one reader:

  • BIC Velocity® Bold Fashion Ball Pen, 8-Pack
  • BIC Cristal® Bold Fashion Ball Pen, 10-pack
  • BU3 Grip Fashion Ball Pen, 8-pack
  • BIC Erasers, 4-pack
  • BIC Atlantis® Fashion Mechanical Pencil, 4-pack
  • BIC Clic Matic® Mechanical Pencil in Fashion Colors, 4-pack

To enter please leave me a comment below (multiple entries possible):

  1. Tell me which school supplies make you feel sentimental. Which do you remember being excited about? What do you enjoy purchasing for your children?
  2. Which of these fun new BIC colors would you choose to write with?
  3. Follow/Subscribe to Aesthetic Nest and let me know.
  4. Like Aesthetic Nest on Facebook (here) and let me know.
This giveaway is open for entries until midnight, Tuesday, August 28th and then I'll pick a random winner. Good luck!

133 comments:

katie said...

There's nothing like a fresh box of crayons to take me back to elementary school. No matter how many crayons I had, nothing compared to the new box with unused tips.

mathstamp said...

I love a new box of crayons as well as new pencils and notebooks. Fun stuff!

katie said...

Oh, and I'm always a sucker for anything aqua. So the aqua Bic is right up my alley

Amy said...

Oh wow....another crayon junkie here too. Don't you just love how they smell?! Personally, I think I'd also pick that lime green pen.....green is my favorite! Already following your blog & also on FB too. ;-)

Now Am Found! said...

I loved the new notebooks, anything could be possible with a new year and a blank note book. Its why I keep a journal. Love the smell of crayons!

Nancy said...

I don't know what the proper name for it is but I always loved the pen that had red, black, green and blue all in one you just had to choose the color at the top of the pen, thanks for the chance to win. nlczerw(at)gmail(dot)com

knitterlydesigns said...

I also loved my trapper keeper, but I really loved purple loose leaf paper and hot pink pens. My teachers hated that. I would still use it if it were available.

knitterlydesigns on Ravelry

RaeLyn said...

I think that sky blue Bic would be my #1 go-to pen...followed by purple :)

RaeLyn said...

When you mentioned the cardboard pencil box, that took me back. I also loved the colored pens when I got to Jr. High. For my kids now, I like to buy them mechanical pencils, because I always thought they were way cooler than the ones you had to sharpen.

RaeLyn said...

I follow :)

Federica said...

il mio ricordo più tenero della scuola è una borsa per i libri di Holly Hobby con i manici rossi...e dei pastelli nuovi, che ancora profumavano di legno e avevano delle belle punte...
Di queste nuove penne bic mi piacciono molto quella celeste e quella verde acido.
Ciao
Federica

Federica said...

Ti seguo anch'io!!!
Federica

Reb Thack said...

New crayons were the best... And a backpack!

Reb Thack said...

I'd use that buley-violet color in a sec!

Reb Thack said...

I like you on facebook!

stephanie said...

Crayons! I love the smell of crayons! And nothing beats the sharp tip of a NEW crayon!

stephanie said...

I follow!

stephanie said...

I like on fb

stephanie said...

As to what color pen I would write with...all of them!

Bradysmom17 said...

I had a Lisa Frank trapper keeper. I remember it had unicorns on it! This is the first time I get to buy school supplies for my son - the last 3 years we just had to write a check to the school so I'm so excited to buy it all!

Bradysmom17 said...

I think I would pick the pink and turquoise color pens... I'm kind of on that color combination kick right now

Bradysmom17 said...

I subscribe to your blog

Bradysmom17 said...

I like you on fb

Randee said...

My favortie thing to buy is new notebooks

Randee said...

I love teh turquoise blue color and purple! Reminds me to being in school in the 80s/90s.

Randee said...

I like you on FB.

Randee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
arnts1ta said...

I like Aesthetic Nest on Facebook.

arnts1ta said...

I always loved getting Lisa Frank folders, stickers, pencils and pens for back to school when I was in elementary school. Those always bring back great memories for me!

arnts1ta said...

I would choose the bright pink pen to write with, it's my favorite color!

arnts1ta said...

I follow/subscribe to Aesthetic Nest.

Debbie said...

I haven't been to school in 25 years, but I still so Love to buy school supplies for both my family and me.

I'm with you - a smooth writing pen is the most important thing for me!

Thanks for this fab giveaway! :)

annemarie said...

I loved opening up a new box of crayons and taking a big wiff of the smell!

annemarie said...

Love the pink pen color.

annemarie said...

I am an email subscriber/follower.

annemarie said...

I like you on FB.

Little Ella Lu said...

I've always loved new school supplies, especially a new box of crayons and watercolors.

Little Ella Lu said...

The light blue looks like the one for me.

Little Ella Lu said...

I follow your blog.

Little Ella Lu said...

I like your facebook page.

Mary Jo said...

I'm a subscriber! Love your blog! :)

Mary Jo said...

A sentimental "supply" for me is...getting new shoes. Every fall we got a new pair of shoes as kids. My kids are there yet, but someday, it'll be a continued tradition.

Mary Jo said...

The green color would be great for dinosaur drawings (which my son is working on right now).

The Taylor Family said...

I love a newly sharpened ticonderoga pencil and a never used notebook. I don't know if it's the memory of the first day of school and starting out "fresh" as one of my teachers put it, but it's nice. :)

The Taylor Family said...

I love to write in green!

The Taylor Family said...

I subscribe to your blog via email :)

The Taylor Family said...

I like you on Facebook!

Jennyfer said...

My favorite school supply for the new school year was always my pencil pouch/box. That and a new box of crayons can't be beat.

Jennyfer said...

Love the green (and the aqua is pretty too)

Jennyfer said...

I am a follower! Thanks for the fun back to school giveaway.

Anne said...

I loved getting new pens! My girls love picking out a special notebook with a cute cover. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

Cathy said...

I am a sucker for school supplies. When I went for the kids I can't help but to pick myself up some new products for the office. I remember how fun it was to get a new Trapper Keeper! I loved it! It was so cool! I love to purchase cool notebooks for my kids and help them to find the neatest ones! I love writing with pink and purple. But any new pen would work!! Love me some school supplies!!!

Leigh Anne said...

My fave was always the huge box of crayons. I took such good care of them :) I also had a grey Trapper Keeper that I loved...lol! Not much school supply shopping w/ my kids yet, but someday soon!

Leigh Anne said...

I subscribe via Google Reader :)

Leigh Anne said...

I love the green color...one of my faves...and I do love a smooth writing pen so I'm gonna have to give one of these a try!

house full of jays said...

I love back to school shopping! We homeschool so we don't have a list to follow but we buy lots while they are on sale to fill our Samaritan's Purse boxes at Christmastime.

house full of jays said...

I follow in my reader!

house full of jays said...

I like you on facebook!

house full of jays said...

The turquoise looks fun!

Anonymous said...

Box of crayons, I remember the 1st time my mom bought me the BIG box of 64 crayons:)I enjoy buying my girls their favorite colored pens, post its and tablets with fun patterned covers!

Anonymous said...

Oops...missed including my email address...I am anonymous who is sentimental about a box of crayons, most excited about receiving my 1st BIG box of 64 crayons........dwhitford(at)tds(dot)net

Bekah said...

I remember my first Trapper Keeper! It had a kitten on it. With six of my eight kids in school, back-to-school is hectic around here, but I love seeing them excited about picking new backpacks and tennis shoes.

Bekah said...

And I subscribe to your blog feed!

Kathryn said...

I love, love, love a new pack of Crayola markers. Even now, as a teacher, I get excited to open a few new boxes at the beginning of the year. :)

Kathryn said...

I would definitely use the aqua pen. And the purple one. And the rest! I color code lots of things for my students (and myself).

Kathryn said...

I'm a follower. :)

Kathryn said...

I "like" you, too!

Margaret said...

New crayons. They were always the best. I love the smell of new crayons.

Margaret said...

The green. I love to write with a green pen.

Margaret said...

I am a very loyal follower.

Margaret said...

I like you on facebook.

Homemaker said...

Oooo, I LOVE a smooth writing pen so I'd love to try the Velocity pens! And bright colors to boot!! Thanks for the giveaway! angelaevenson (at) gmail (dot) com .

Homemaker said...

School supplies that were my favorites were definitely new crayons and notebooks. Buying school supplies made me excited for school to start (I was a nerd like that!).
Thanks for the giveaway. angelaevenson (at) gmail (dot) com

Emily said...

Oh trapper keepers were so cool! As were my first mechanical crayons.

Seaweed and Raine said...

I live in Australia, so I can't enter, but I used to love the BIC Rad Writers and these pens that had coloured fruit scented ink (Green = Mint, Yellow = lemon, etc.)

Lynn said...

i'm a follower-thanks!

Lynn said...

i loved a fresh box of crayons and those multi sectional colored pencils and pens where you could choose which color to use and push it down-oh, the joy!

Pattij said...

Love the pink pen color. So much fun! Evin5 at aol dot com

Pattij said...

I subscribe to your blog!
Evin5 at aol dot com

Pattij said...

I love a new box of crayons and unsharpened pencils!
Evin5 at aol dot com

rads said...

i subscribe to your blog!

radiyas at gmail dot com

rads said...

i love new notebooks

rads said...

i like the velocity pens!

radiyas at gmail dot com

Gail Lloyd said...

I love the smell of crayons. I always buy myself a box. One of my favorite supplies are the composition notebooks. I always buy one of them too. And new colored pens. My children love to put all of their supplies in their new backpack. I love the lime green pen.

Olivia said...

I love marble composition books. Cheap, sturdy and just plain awesome! Back when I was in school, we only had black ones so I would color in the white marble with colorful pens and markers.

Olivia said...

I subscribe to your blog!

Olivia said...

I also "LIKE" Aesthetic Nest on FB. <3

Olivia said...

I would probably choose the green pen ( my fave color ) to write cute little notes to my girls for their back-to-school lunchboxes.

Marchelle said...

I LOVE school/office supplies. I adore sticky notes, especially the fun shaped ones, I collect them.

Marchelle said...

I would write with the purple, because it's fun but not too crazy for work. Otherwise pink and green.

Marchelle said...

I follow you on google reader!

Marchelle said...

and I like you on facebook too!

Hope I win! Free pens! woooo!

Lisa A said...

Buying new crayons and a cute lunchbox are my favorite things to purchase each year! I still remember my metal Holly Hobbie lunchbox!

Christa said...

Crayons, I still love to color and the bigger the crayon box the more I love it:) I also love colored pencils, nice lead wood pencils & those wonderful yellow art erasers. Oh and sketch pads:)

GrayColors said...

I loved colored pens in college and now my one year old loves pens! These would be great for his daily assignments since he gets tired of crayons. Also, the mechanical pencils would be great for teaching to hold a writing utensil correctly!

Lisa P. said...

I loved the pens with the four colors that you chould choose to click on. Also loved picking out a new notebook with a pretty design on the front.

lisacarlene0@yahoo.com

ronaldensandra@snelnet.net said...

Hi Anneliese, i don't know if I can enter your giveaway because I'm from the netherlands, but I follow you a long time but not through email or sucha thing..Now i offically joined you and liked you on fb. To be continued....have a nice weekend, Greetings Sandra

OhioLori said...

OH!!! Always loved new crayons...and fresh paper! Get things for Grandgirlie's now....and even the High School Girlie's get crayons! LOL ALWAYS colored pens too.... Glitter pens, when they were the rage! (Still my fave & get when I find em!)Sparkley Notebooks!

Thanks for chance to win! :)

OhioLori said...

Oh my...I would pick the Turquoise pen colors to write with....know Grangirlie would run of with Pink pens & pencils! LOL Daughter would snitch the Purple!

Thanks for chance to win! YAY! :)

OhioLori said...

Subscribed thru Google Reader, and also your Email Newsletter too! (Don't want to miss anything! LOL)

Thanks for another chance to win! :)

Anonymous said...

Sadly, I didn't get to buy school supplies this year for my kids. Their school requested a check for supplies instead but I loved picking a generic pencil box for my little girl last year and then letting her decorate it with stickers. Thanks!
Kim
kschm720 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would love to get new pens and notebook every year. Funny still love all the back to school supplies every year. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Love the green pen!!

Unknown said...

I already follow you!

123sam said...

love the colors!

Leslie said...

Love to shop for notebooks....love the pink ink....

Jessica said...

I loved buying binders and notebooks

jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

Jessica said...

They all look so cool! I would love to use the erasers with the grip fashion ball pens

jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

Jessica said...

I Follow Aesthetic Nest via rss feed


jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

Jessica said...

I Like Aesthetic Nest on Facebook

jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

Eleanor said...

I love shopping for school supplies, both with my kids and for my own preschool classroom. Old fashioned pencil cases make me sentimental, but what I love to buy now is Sharpies in every color. :)

practicalpeacesatyahoodotcom

Alice said...

I used to love buying new folders. The kind with pictures on them. It always made me feel so special. This was our 1st year to buy for our daughter. And she just loved that the folders and notebooks had such fun pictures on them. Like dancing fruit. :)

Alice said...

Goodness! That aqua color is just gorgeous. If I don't win, I'll have to go buy a pack. Just for that color! :)

Alice said...

I follow your beautiful blog!

Rachel said...

1. I loved shopping for back to school. There are 4 kids in my family and each of us got a day to go shopping with my mom. So far I've enjoyed buying a backpack the most. There are so many adorable choices out there!
2. Pink! Its so bright and cheerful
3. Long time follower!
4. Liked!

Cynthia Rayne said...

I love pencils. Something about being in math class. Oh, or Trapper Keepers, remember those?!

Cynthia Rayne said...

I love that bold pink!

Anonymous said...

Fresh crayons were always awesome. I still love getting them.

Anonymous said...

I would try the pink one.

Anonymous said...

I'm a blog subscriber.

Anonymous said...

I'm a facebook fan.

♥Lola said...

I just loved buying new crayons and markers. There was just something fun, about all those colors. And all the possibilities of creating fun stuff!

♥Lola said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
♥Lola said...

I'd love that fun purple color. It would make life a little more interesting. So would the pink!

♥Lola said...

I'm a follower of your blog, via Google.

♥Lola said...

And I like you on FB. :)

Drew said...

I was always excited about getting notebooks, because my mom used to help me decorate them!

Drew said...

I would choose to write with the purple BIC pen, because it's my favorite color!

Drew said...

I follow your blog! (I have it saved to my favorite websites)

Mookie's mom said...

I liked you on Facebook!

Mookie's mom said...

I love purple!! I write all of my notes with it!
lisadpope (at) yahoo (dot) com

Mookie's mom said...

This year we didnt get to buy any school supplies, the school ordered them all and I was sad...so were my kids! The love picking out all of the pencils and erasers and stuff. When I was a kid I of course had the trapper keeper-man I wish I still had one of those! New markers were always my favorite!

arnts1ta said...

Yay! Can't believe I won! Can't wait to try the new items out in my home office!

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