Review & Giveaway: Carolina Pad

Does sunshine come in a box? I think in my case it did, because when I opened my box of school and office supplies from Carolina Pad I was greeted with a bright dash of yellow and I actually squealed with delight!

Have I got a great company to tell you about today and just in time for getting ready for school. Send your kids back to the classroom with the hippest school supplies around! Check out all the goodies I got in the next two pictures.
The collection my 13 pocket folder is from is called Simply Chic and it shows in an instant that these are not you run of the mill utilitarian office supplies. These are hip, fashionable, and functional with all sorts of thoughtful details ! For instance, the elastic cord enclosure on my pocket folder is yellow and matches the shiny button it loops around, combining to give it an extra punch of color. The coordinating 12 decorative file folders have a high gloss finish and pattern on the outside and have colorful and fun polka dot pattern inside.
Carolina Pad's designs are vibrant and they look elegant on my desk and dress up my admittedly cluttered desk. There's a collection to fit anyone's design aesthetic and are perfect for a sophisticated scholar or for keeping track of projects, lists, and the endless handouts your kids bring home from school. What I really like is that many of their collections are complete with everything you need to have a coordinated look, including in some cases writing implements, index card holders, and laptop totes. I wish I'd been able to carry Carolina Pad around the halls in junior and senior high school and especially on campus in college!
Besides the Simply Chic line, I received products from a number of other ones too. My Whimsical Flower Ideal Pad featuring the big red flower design actually makes me feel more productive, and it gives me a little smile every time I look at it. Not only is the design pretty look at it's very functional, with a little plastic pocket in the front and plastic dividers so I can organize my thoughts and projects. The pages are perforated so when I'm done with a task I can tear it out cleanly and move on the the next.

I also got composition notebook, with the pink flower pattern shown to above to the left, which I love! I've been using regular run of the mill ones with the classic black cover but as you know I must cuten everything up. So I've been decoupaging on scrapbook paper to get the look I want, a time consuming step I won't have to take with Carolina Pad's products. Cause who'd want to cover up such a pretty and ultra fem notebook like this? It's as if I picked out the cover design myself.
That's what I love about Carolina Pad, if your not into flowery designs, check out their Hot Chocolate line. Still very feminine with bright colors but more graphic and funky. I got the Hot Chocolate Personal Notebook, which is smaller than the Ideal Notebook but still loaded with features. There is a pocket inside the front cover and a handy elastic that closes it up and holds loose papers from getting loose. It would be a great place to jot a few things down that you need from the grocery store and store a couple of coupons. It's a good size for throwing your handbag or glove compartment.

Also from the Hot Chocolate line, are these great decorative Tab Dividers. Carolina Pad has taken what would seem to me, a very basic and utilitarian product and managed infuse with with some personality. You get four thick and glossy dividers each with a different pattern from the line on it. The back has lines on it for you to jot down notes. The last divider is a two sided pocket and a good way to add a little bit more organization to your binder without adding more bulk.Pattern Play is similar to Hot Chocolate in that it also uses bold graphic designs, but this time in a pastel color palette and more classic feel to it. I like the delicate feeling of the collection and it's soothing tones. I received a Pattern Play notebook and really like the thick and durable plastic cover with the diamond pattern printed right onto the plastic. I spilled a little juice on it while making breakfast and unlike paper covers, it wiped right off and the entire notebook wasn't ruined.
Chit Chat is a fun and trendy line that I think a lot of teenagers would really like. Covered in text messaging abbreviations, I am not hip enough to even know what half of them mean! I really liked how the text pattern is on the outside of the binder and striped pattern decorates the inside. My favorite feature was that the inside pockets are clear plastic so you can see your loose papers inside at a glance. Out of all the lines I got to preview, this is also the only one I think would be suitable for a male or female student. The last one I'd like to share with you, the Kendall Kollection, was inspired by a special little girl:

The notebooks and office supplies in this collection are not only eye-catching and beautiful, but they are also a small way for a designer and a company to give back to a little girl who was stricken with leukemia. We thought you would like to know Kendall’s story.

When Jacqueline Savage McFee (www.jackiemcfee.com), signature designer for Carolina Pad (www.carolinapad.com) – the industry leader in trendy school, office and organizational fashion products, got the devastating news that her two-year-old cousin, Kendall Sierens, was diagnosed with leukemia, it brought things into perspective for her. It also created a spark. The Kendall Kollection – a collection of colorful high-end school supplies inspired by the artist’s young cousin – was born in 2008 and has been raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The partnership between Jackie McFee, Carolina Pad and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society continues for 2009 with fresh new designs. This wildly successful collection is available at major national retailers including Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Office Max, as well as grocery and drug store chains.

Kendall is now almost six-years old and in remission, but the battle continues for thousands of other children just like her. We look forward to another year of helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its effort to find cures and better therapies for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Mothers and their daughters adore the look of the collection, but really love knowing that purchasing these products helps those in need.

To Purchase:
Find a retailer near you or make a purchase from their online store. Save 15% using the following coupon code: BTS2009 now through August 31st. All orders $30 and over ship for free! Send your kids to school with great supplies like the ones seen on CW's new "90210", ABC Family's "Greek", and in the arms of teen sensation Miley Cyrus and country superstar Carrie Underwood.

Giveaway:
How would you like to WIN the Kendall Collection? Would you like $35 worth of supplies to start the school year off or cuten up your office? You may actually WANT to do some work with this fun collection to use☺

To Enter:
Go over to Carolina Pad and look at all of their collections; leave me a comment on which one is your favorite.

Extra Entries: Leave an extra comment for each method!

Become a Carolina Pad fan on Facebook

Follow Carolina Pad on Twitter, @carolinapad

Visit their web site at http://www.carolinapad.com/ and sign up for their Consumer Insights Panel.

Tell me where you'd shop to pick up Carolina Pad's products.

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Follow me on twitter @KTnestingspot

Tweet about this giveaway, once a day until the giveaway closes! Leave me a link to your tweet!

Good luck! Giveaway open until Thursday August 20th at midnight EST.