Back to school sure does creep up fast a furious after the summer break. Within in just a couple of days, families go from slow beach or lake days to setting alarms and rushing back into morning routines and school drop offs and pick ups. Then parents are bombarded with paperwork and communications from the school of all the things young and old students need and forms that need to be filled out and returned ASAP.
Additionally, the temperatures changes and all of a sudden, you realize none of the warm clothes from last year fit your kids, so you have to shop and stock up. You find that the lunch kit your son had used is now extremely sticky from summer camps and he needs a new one. Your youngest starting school needs a bigger backpack because now she requires a change of clothes, a lunch bag and library books to fit into her backpack so her preschool one will not suffice. And of course, everything needs to be labelled. If anyone has a son like mine, the brand new water bottle bought for $30 will be lost by the third day of school if it doesn’t have his name on it.
Anyways, we all know back to school shopping is a heck of a lot easier from the comfort of your home versus fighting the crowds and taking your kids into any store when all they will want is to buy is a new expensive toy or a shirt that is 2 times too small but has a video game character they love on it. So this year, I have curated a collection of goods I have bought from the comfort of my home, all better than the next. Happy shopping mamas and papas! We got this!
MABELS LABELS
For over 15 years, this mama born Canadian company has been keeping kids and parents alike organized. And they have thought of everything! From labels for shoes, lunch bags and backpacks labels, and washable labels for jackets and tshirts, the designs of Mabel Labels are so adorable and useful. And for a mom that needs to be efficient, their online ordering system is seemless and easy to use. I had inputted my order for two kids and my own teacher labels within 15 minutes from start to finish. A must for this upcoming school year!
The website to order is www.mabelslabels.ca.
PARKLAND
Last year was the first time I came across the Parkland brand, which also happens to be Canadian, at our local bookstore Chapters. Right away, I was drawn to the stylish prints and the great design of their backpacks, lunch bags and totes. So it came as no surprise, when it was time to outfit my kids and myself for back to school, I visited their site and stocked up. The backpacks are the perfect size for school aged kids that require their lunch bags and books inside one bag. The Parkland lunch kits have space for both lunch in a main pocket and snack in a front pocket, while being easy to clean. If you are also in search of reusable snack bags, Parkland has you covered with a stylish set of 2.
And what is beyond neat, is that each product Parkland creates is made from recycled water bottles. For example, 12 recycled plastic bottles are used to create one backpack. This brand has a new fan in me. I love their clean, simple products! I even bought a tote for myself to take each and every day when I go to work as a teacher. The tote is perfect as it is durable and has a spot for my work laptop as well as my personal items.
The website is www.parklandmfg.ca.
LITTLE WAGON CO.
I love supporting local, as well as, other momprenuers. One of my favorite finds from the last year has been Little Wagon Co. The designs and styles offered are all about comfort and style. And my daughter and I love nothing but twinning. This year, we both happen to be starting Kindergarten. Her as a student and me as a full time I teacher. You know I had to have these matching “I’ve got this” t-shirts.
My other favorite items from Little Wagon Co. include their wonderful rompers. Talk about the perfect addition to the wardrobe of the active but stylish kid. And stay tuned! Little Wagon and Co. new fall collection is about to drop soon, so keep an eye on their social channels. I will be definitely be putting in an order for the new “Radiate Good Vibes” shirts.
The website to order is www.littlewagonco.ca.
THE CIRCLE KIDS
Each time I go to the local resort town of Whistler, a visit to The Circle Kids store is a must. Run by an Australian mother of two who now calls Whistler home, this store is filled with so many great goodies for kids and families. What I love is that many of the brands are ones I have never seen before, because the owner bring them in from her native country or has hand selected goods that are stylish, durable and useful. Don’t tell my husband, but I have yet to leave the store without at least $250 worth of goods each time.
This year was no different. I stocked up on lunch box essentials from Sunnylife and kid’s rain gear from Gosoaky to tackle our Pacific Northwest Climate. During my visit, I learned from the amazing staff that now they ship direct from the website. Ok danger! Make sure to check out all the fun goodies they have and support this amazing mama who works so hard.
The website is www.thecirclewhistler.com/kids/.
