Summer is Ending, But We'll Never Forget It (WeMontage)

The following post was sponsored by WeMontage. Thanks for helping us tell our stories. 

Even though I am still happily immersed in full-on summertime activities and sunshine, I sense the tide is about to change.  The back-to-school commercials are starting. There are a few updates from the elementary school in my inbox and middle school registration papers in the the mail. The stores have taken it even further, they've put out Halloween merch already.  

Summer will be ending soon and we all have to deal with it.

I'm not the most organized back-to-school mom and I struggle from a seasonal transitional disorder. I don't really know if there is such a thing, I just don't love change.  But I must admit there is a feeling of excitement around this time of year, even for people like me.

I remember all the back-to-school shopping when I was a kid--new Buster Browns, first-day-of-school outfits, number 2 pencils, Trapper Keepers with kittens or horses on the cover. And all of the supply gathering and shopping when I was in college--milk crates full of toiletries, towels, new sheets, CD organizers and a million packets of Ramen noodles.  

Every year, no matter if I was in third grade or my junior year of college, I also started the new school year loaded with a zillion memories and stories from summer break.  I shared the good, the bad, the ugly and the funny.  Some years I showed everyone a scrap book I made (like the really killer scrapbook detailing every highlight of the 1984 summer Olympics which I think thrilled my fifth grade classmates). In college I taped pictures of my summer escapades all over my dorm room walls.  

Maybe that's where my seasonal transitional disorder can be traced back to, all those back-to-school Septembers when I just couldn't let go of summer and didn't want to forget all the fun I'd had.  Or maybe that was where part of my love of storytelling and pictures began.  

Now that I have my own kids, I take pictures and put up pictures and make videos and write a blog full of their stories, our stories.  I  don't want to forget all the fun we've had and all the memories we've made.  

Last week I found out about an awesome company called WeMontage that I so wish had been around when I was younger but am so glad it's around now.  It's the world's only website that allows people to turn pictures of their good times and loved ones into "high-quality customized wallpaper." Yup. So cool.  

My inner 17-year-old self can't wait to get started making my WeMontage wallpaper.  I want to make one of all my favorite summertime memories--our trip to Graceland, the lake house, nature walks with the dogs and more. 

My new picture wallpaper with my summer of 2015 memories might look something like this,
only way bigger.

Then I want to let Lucy make one for her room of all her camp memories. And the boys can make one for their room with pictures from all of their baseball tournaments and games. WeMontage's peel and stick feature works on textured and flat surfaces. If my kids want to take it down before Christmas, they can. If they want to wait until next summer, they can do that too.  

WeMontage is a company that believes in helping people remember happy memories and tell their stories and feel connected.  "WeMontage's beautiful and unique format evokes a deep, emotional response," according to CEO James Oliver, Jr.  

Prices start at $59.99 for a 3 ft. x 2 ft montage. Creating the montage is simple and you can even do it from your phone.

For this very special back-to-school season, WeMontage is sponsoring an awesome initiviave called "WeMontage College Homesickness Giveaway," in which 100 lucky freshmen, nationwide, will win their own removable photo wallpaper montage. 

Here's an example of a college-y WeMontage.

According to Academia.edu, up to 95% of first year college students will experience feelings of homesickness when placed in a new environment and some of those students will drop out of school altogether.  

Entering the contest is easy on Facebook or Instagram. Students simply upload their favorite high school moments--football games, senior trip, prom and more--to the WeMontage Facebook page, or to Instagram using the #WeMontageCollege, as often as they want until August 23, 2015. Parents can get involved too, they can upload their high school grad's favorite moments too.  The WeMontage team will announce randomly selected winners beginning August 24th.

The peel and stick feature works on all kinds of surfaces. Students can install a WeMontage without violating dorm or apartment rules and it won't damage walls. 

(Click here to watch the video.)

Whether you are entering the contest, or if you are like me and have a few years before your kids go to college but you can't wait to order a WeMontage for everyone's room, here's a 30% discount code- "wemontage." 

Tell your story, remember the good times forever, never forget, stay connected and long live summer and happy back to school.

For more information on WeMontage, visit www.wemontage.com.