So to get into the Back to School spirit, Catherine and I decided to sit down and look through our high-school yearbooks. After laughing and reminiscing at what it was like to know each other as teenagers, we found a few very special photos. What I quickly realized about myself was that I was always that student that got excited about going back to school. A new year meant a fresh start, new clothes and most importantly new gadgets! To celebrate the #BackToSchool 2016 season, I’ve partnered with Best Buy Canada to bring you my top 5 must have items. Come and see some pretty hilarious photos of us and what students this year, our opinion, must have to have the best year possible!
I wasn’t kidding when I said that Catherine and I have known each other for a very long time. From awkward teenagers with questionable fashion choices to business partners and best friends, here are a few photos I had completely forgotten existed!
So after that walk down memory lane, I got to thinking about what it means to be a student today. 2016 is VERY different from when we went to school and students today have a lot more pressure on their shoulders. Whether in high-school or entering into the exciting years of University and College, every student needs a few must have items to ensure they can keep up with a busy schedule and social life. Best Buy Canada is THE go-to place for Back to School shopping, and here are my top 5 #BestYearBestBuy items for the students in your life!
For as long as I can remember, I have had an HP Canada laptop. All through my years in university, it helped me to write those papers and get the research I need done. With its thinnest and, in my opinion, sexiest laptop yet, the HP Spectre is the best laptop that you can find. “Designed to boost your productivity, this HP laptop features an Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB M.2 solid state drive that combine to let you work and multitask with ease. Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi provides a strong, reliable wireless connection and 3 USB 3.0 ports give you a myriad of options for connecting must-have peripherals.”
The best part is that if you need help getting the laptop ready for that first day of school, Best Buy’s Geek Squad is ready to help. When I picked up my last HP laptop, I was able to leave it with the team for a few hours to get the programs I use most installed. They even recommended I install some anti-virus software like Zonealarm to protect my laptop from online threats. The team are VERY helpful if (like me) you aren’t super tech savvy, and are always there to help. If you are getting off to university, having a look at small gaming laptops might be good as it could be a way to unwind when things get hectic at school.
Hands down, my favourite laptop of 2016 and my #1 item for students this year!
You’ll remember that I introduced you to the #GearFit2 on my path to personal discovery with Samsung Canada earlier this year. Wearable tech has become not only an extension of a connected life, but also can help to keep that freshmen 15 away! The newest technology helps to not only ensure that students will make it to class on time, but that they are also getting up to stretch their legs and add personalized fitness to their lives. Health is a huge part of being a student, and I can assure you that my #GearFit2 has helped to keep me on track.
“Get more out of your daily workout. The Samsung Gear Fit2 is an advanced fitness tracker that sports a standalone GPS, heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyro, and barometer. It knows when you’re running, cycling, or hard at work on the rowing machine. Sync it with your Android smartphone to receive and respond to notifications at a glance.”
Of all the wearable tech we’ve had the pleasure of trying out, this is my personal favourite and I use it every single day paired with my favourite Samsung Canada mobile device.
3. Nintendo Wii U 32GB Mario Kart 8 Bundle
Okay, so I know what you’re thinking. A Nintendo gaming system Daniel? Yes. And the reason I included it is because down time is just as important for the mental health of students during a stressful school year. Julio reintroduced me to my love of Nintendo when we started dating, and now I turn on Mario Kart or my favourite game when I need to disconnect, laugh and unwind for a few minutes after a busy day. Plus, at the end of the day, students are still young at heart and deserve to have some fun too!
“Experience next generation gaming in a revolutionary way with the Nintendo Wii U 32GB Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle. Enjoy games in Full HD resolution on your television while using the secondary screen on the Wii U GamePad for extra game info. This bundle comes with Mario Kart 8 preinstalled on the console, so you can start playing right away.”
Who doesn’t love Mario Kart? I mean. C’mon.
4. Dyson DC34 Animal Handheld Vacuum
I laughed when I realized that I was including a vacuum on my #BackToSchool list of must-haves, but it’s actually something that every student can use! Especially for those students moving into res or moving away for school, chances are they need some help staying tidy and the Dyson DC34 Animal Handheld is a compact way to make sure they are cleaning up after themselves!
“The Dyson DC34 Animal handheld vacuum is designed for homes with pets. It features powerful Root Cyclone technology that will grab and pull at the pet hair that’s embedded deep in your carpet and on your furniture. It’s also lightweight and has a clear bin that holds dust, dirt and hair so there are no bags or filters to fuss with.”
Plus, students are kind of like animals after all and this vacuum can help to take care of the mess after a wild night!
5. HP DeskJet 3755 Wireless Colour All-in-One Inkjet Printer
Space is sometimes an issue, especially for students headed off to University and College. This printer is compact and the addition of the HP Instant Ink program that orders Ink for you when you’re running low, and you’ll never have to worry about not having ink for that midnight paper writing session. Just another way that Best Buy Canada is helping students be prepared with the best products for their best year yet.
“Don’t be fooled by the size of this HP DeskJet 3755 wireless colour all-in-one inkjet printer; it still packs a mean punch. It saves you space on your desktop while offering the power you need to stay productive. Built-in Wi-Fi makes for effortless printing via your wireless network, while HP’s mobile app allows for handy remote printing via your mobile device.”
Alternatively, you could look at one of these portable printers. These are so convenient for college students as they are small and compact and could be taken to lessons. They would also take up even less space in your room. Whichever one you decide, you’re on your way to being one well-equipped student ready to take on an exciting year of academia! If you are interested, you can check out Ink World Magazine to learn more about the latest printers available. Trust me when I say there is a whole world of printers out there.
SO. Because Best Buy Canada is amazing they offered me the chance to give one lucky Canadian a $100 GC just in time for the school year. Want to enter?
Step 1:
Follow @DoTheDaniel & @BestBuyCanada on Twitter
Step 2:
Click the following link to tweet your entry!
There are NO restriction to the amount of times you can enter to WIN so keep sharing your excitement with those entries!
** Winner must be following all twitter accounts as listed to be deemed valid. Contest odds depend on how many valid entries are received. ONE winner will be chosen at random and announced on @DoTheDaniel’s Twitter account upon conclusion of the contest Wednesday, August 31st 2016 at 5:00pm EST. Contest winner will be contacted via Twitter and subsequently emailed instructions on how to have prizes sent to them. Contest is open to Canadian residents only. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash value.*
A photo posted by Daniel Reyes (@dothedaniel) on
After all this talk of #BackToSchool, I am tempted to sign up for a class or two. Maybe I should pass along this must have list to Julio when I do so that he knows what I would need to be the best student I can be…
To join in on the excitement and to keep up with some amazing deals, make sure to follow @BestBuyCanada on Twitter & Instagram. Use the #BestYearBestBuy hashtag to see what other students are falling in love with and which items you’ll have to get for this school year. Tag us to show which items you pick up and why you love them – we can’t wait to see what you think about the best Back to School shopping available only at Best Buy Canada!
For more behind the scenes of this and other amazing brands we are working with around the world, make sure to follow along with the #DoTheDaniel Instagram account. We would love to have you join on our adventures! AND yes. we’re on Snapchat too! – click here to follow us!
Photos: Best Buy Canada, HP Canada & Daniel Reyes
Cheers!
*Please note that this is a sponsored post – our disclosure can be found at all times by clicking here.