Barnes & Noble Therapy!

Are you back to your normal routine yet now that school is back in session? We go back in early August and am NOW just starting to get my footing. I don't know about you but I feel like I am spinning my wheels when trying to get back into the new routine. I try and prepare as much in advance as possible but... A for effort, right?

This post is sponsored by the Barnes & Noble MasterCard, powered by Barclaycard. All opinions are my own. #BNschoolsavings

I have been working on find more "me" time and trying to get a better grasp on balancing work/life/parenting/blogging/college now that we are starting to settle in to our new year rhythm.

One of my happy places is Barnes & Noble.

Glorious!

Okay. Who doesn't LOVE Barnes? Right? I can literally stand in there and inhale the smell of new books all day. I also love all the cool planners, gifts and music options available for purchase.

B&N is also one of my go-to sources for books on writing and publishing. I plan to restart college to finish my degree in January so now is the time to get a better grasp on organizing and re-prioritizing everything in life.

I haven't been able to read as much as I would like to and it's kind of bummed me out. I have decided to set aside two hours a week just for leisure reading. No computer. No phone. No TV. Just curled up with a book. I read Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel awhile back and picked up Bringing Up The Bodies to finish the story at Barnes & Noble. Reading time shall commence Labor Day Weekend! Whoot!

I also feel like I have lost some of my creativity. I feel blank. I feel like flat when I try to think of something new and exciting and fun.

So... I picked up some creative supplies from Barnes. Just some fun things for Emma and I to just sit and quietly enjoy... like a coloring book, coloring pencils, brush markers and great idea books.

As I start planning for the spring semester, the costs of books and supplies are at the forefront of my thoughts. The average cost for books and supplies last year was $1,225 at public colleges and $1,244 at private colleges (source). I actually carry a Barnes & Noble Mastercard. One of the sweet perks is getting 5% back on textbooks and supplies at any Barnes & Noble Store or at BN.com. This really can add up fast. It's ridiculous how expensive textbooks are.

Card benefits exclusive to the Barnes & Noble MasterCard

Get 5% back at Barnes & Noble when you use your card at any Barnes & Noble store or online at BN.com
Earn a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card after your first purchase
Automatically receive a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card every time you reach 2,500 points
Earn 1 reward point for every $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Barnes and & Noble purchases), even for everyday purchases like gas and groceries
No annual fee
Complimentary FICO® Credit Score

Use your Barnes & Noble MasterCard to purchase any of the following