My Favorite Masks for Kids

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I will make a small amount of money if you purchase through these links but it won't cost you any more. Thanks for your support. 

Today is a big day in our house, with Mathilde returning to in person learning at school!

I was starting to think that this day would never come, but it's finally here almost seven months after schools abruptly closed. For now, it's just Mathilde attending school in person as our school district has decided to start with the youngest learners (Kindergarten through second grade) returning first. Ava and Lola will likely return in person some time in October or November. The schedule is still in the planning stages so we'll have to wait and see.

As with our home learning, Mathilde's in person learning will run from Tuesday through to Friday. Mondays have been set aside as a teacher planning day with the kids working independently at home. This is great as it gives us a little more flexibility on Mondays. The kids still have work to do, but as there's no set time so we can get out and explore on nice days. Yesterday we went for a short hike in Boulder Mountain Park and it was so nice to be out without the weekend crowds. 

Anyway, with school partly returning in person, the main focus has been on keeping the kids, staff and families safe. This means lots of handwashing and hand sanitzer, daily health checks, social distancing, and, of course, wearing masks. I'm sure by now you've seen lots of pics of my kids out and about in masks as we've been wearing them every time we step out of the house since April. In the six months that we've been wearing masks we've accrued quite the collection and have had plenty of time to work out what works best for each member of our family. 

So, today I'm sharing my favorite masks for the kids! You'll find a few different styles here as different situations (or hair styles!) call for different masks. Plus sometimes we just like to mix things up!

For the most part we wear Mochi Kids and Joah Love masks on a daily basis. 

The Mochi Kids masks are Lola and Mathilde's favorites as they are super comfy and come in cute kawaii designs. They're made of a super soft cotton a little thicker than t-shirt fabric.  Lola and Mathilde wear the kids' size while Ava and I wear the adult size. Lola can also wear the adult size if needed but it's a tiny bit big for her for now. I have a simple hack for making mask straps shorter below, so make sure to keep reading!

Ava mostly prefers to wear a plain black mask so Joah Love masks are her go to. We have lots of them in black! Joah Love masks have a really clever way of adjusting the ear straps which makes them one of my favorites. Like the Mochi Kids masks they're made of t-shirt soft cotton so they're really comfy to wear. I've just bought their new infinity strap masks which we can hang around our necks when we take them off. Super handy for when we're out hiking and only come across people every now and then.

Kim wears both the Joah Love masks and Hedley & Bennett masks. I have both of these too. The Hedley & Bennett masks are made of a stiffer, yet still soft, cotton and are a little more structured. In both brands I wear the small/medium and Kim wears the large. We're yet to try out the kid sizes, but as they're made just the same as the adult sizes I know they're great quality and will be very comfy.

Another brand that we've been wearing is Lilla Barn. These masks have long stretchy straps that tie around the back of the head rather than ear loops. This makes them great for wearing with glasses as there's less bulk behind the ears. They're also super adjustable and can be pulled down to hang around your neck when not is use. They can be a little fiddly to tie though.

You can see the masks mentioned above plus a few other favorites below. As always, click the bold and underlined links below to shop.

😊 Joah Love Infinity Mask with Filter Pocket

😊 Hanna Andersson Kids Mask 2 Pack

😊 Mochi Kids Mustard Happy Mask

😊 Primary 3 Pack Rainbow Navy Masks

😊 Lilla Barn Mask

😊 Hedley & Bennett The Kids Mask 3 Pack 

😊 Mochi Kids Kawaii Halloween Mask

😊 Joah Love Black White Stripes Mask

Along with our masks there are a few accessories that make our mask wearing days easier. I like to keep our clean masks by the front door so they're always ready to grab on our way out. I found this  faux leather hanging folio at Target a little while back and it's prefect for storing masks by the front door. If we have masks that have been worn very briefly and will be worn again later that day they hang on the hooks, otherwise they go straight into the wash. When we're out and about I keep spare masks in snack size Stasher bags or ziplock bags. They're a handy way to keep masks clean before use. 

There are a few accessories that make mask wearing a little easier. If your mask pulls uncomfortably on your ears mask extender straps (also known as "ear savers" will help with comfort. If your mask straps are too long (which is the case for a couple of Mathilde's) my simple hack to shorten them is to tie small clear elastic bands about a centimetre in from the end - or how ever long you need to shorten them. I keep a handful of these in my handbag both for Mathilde's hair (she's growing out her fringe and wears it in a tiny ponytail at the moment) and also incase I need to shorten mask straps on the go. Mask lanyards are handy for when you need to take your mask on and off regularly. I like the lanyard below with the breakaway safety snap. This will come apart should the strap get caught on something that could cause strangulation. My last "hack" is for those of us with glasses (ie. three out of five in our family). If you've worn a mask with glasses you'll know that they tend to fog up easily. Using an anti fog wipe, drops or spray will make a difference. Make sure to purchase a product that's suitable for any coatings your glasses might have.

  

😊 Entryway Faux Leather Hanging Folio

😊 Anti Fog Cloth

😊 Stasher Bag Snack Size

😊 Breakaway Safety Lanyard

😊 Velcro Mask Extender Straps

😊 Goody Clear Ouchless Rubber Bands

😊 Optix 55 Anti Fog Treatment

Do you have any favorite masks you'd like to share? Or maybe accessories that make mask wearing a little easier? 

Staying Healthy for Back to School with Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies

Disclaimer: I was provided with free product from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) in exchange for my honest review. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

It's back to school season!

While back to school may be looking a little different this year (ok, a lot different) there are still plenty of things that will stay the same. There may not be backpacks, school buses, and classrooms for those learning at home but those first day jitters and the early starts will still be there. For kids returning in person things will look different too with masks, hand sanitzer, and social distancing.

No matter how back to school looks for your family this year, there's one thing that we all strive for, and that's keeping our kids (and ourselves) healthy. Keeping active, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep is imperative, not just for our bodies but also for our minds. Our little learners can only take in so much at school if they're not feeling well.

Our school district has returned to home learning for the beginning of the school year. This means that while the kids are less likely to pick up germs from classmates, their health may be affected in other ways due to extended screen time and less chances to get active.

So, what am I doing to keep the kids healthy and happy while they learn at home? Read on as I share what works for us...

Start off the day fresh with a good night's sleep
Ok, this can be a tough one, especially after the long Summer break when regular schedules went out the window. Well, for our family at least! Setting a bedtime schedule makes a huge difference, especially for younger kids. Make bath time a part of your bedtime schedule. It's a great way to calm little bodies down, especially if you add a little lavender to their bathwater or use bath products containing lavender. Avoid screen time before bed and opt for story time and snuggles instead.

Drink lots of water
Learning can be thirsty work, so make sure that your little one stays hydrated throughout the school day. My kids are much more likely to drink more water if it's handy, so I make sure they fill their water bottles with cold water before starting their day and keep them on their desk. I need to take this advice myself!

Make time to get active
Sitting still at a desk all day isn't good for anyone, so make sure to get active during scheduled breaks. Even if it's just jumping on the trampoline for 5 minutes, playing on a swing or climbing structure, riding a scooter in the backyard, playing fetch with a pup or tag with a sibling, getting active makes such a difference. If you have access to outdoor space at home the change in location, the fresh air and the sunshine help a lot too.

Plan outdoor activities for after school
Once the kids are done with school for the day I like to get them outside and moving. We're lucky enough to have a backyard now that we live in Colorado, but we still got outside plenty when we lived in our apartment in California. Heading to a local park to run around or play on the playground (if it's open) is a great option. A family walk after dinner is another great option. After school activities including gymnastics, dance and swimming have just reopened here so we're making use of these too.

Take screen free breaks
Not all breaks from the computer need to involve exercising your body. Give your eyes a break from bright screens and exercise your mind by reading a book or drawing a picture. Creative play with Lego, Magnatiles, building blocks, playdoh etc is a great option too. Even if it's only a 5 or 10 minute break from class work switching things up with activities like these gives kids a rest while still keeping their mind active.

Provide healthy snacks
Have healthy snacks and meals on hand for recess and lunch. Make sure to include a mix of fruits, veggies, proteins and healthy grains. As younger kids tend to be grazers, I find that serving food up in a muffin tray (with a different food in each spot) is a great way to get fussy eaters eating a variety of food. School recess and lunch breaks don't tend to be very long, so make sure to check your kids' schedules and prepare ahead. That way they'll have plenty of time to eat without having to rush.

Give your immune system a boost with Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies
On top of providing my kids with healthy meals I like to give their immune system a boost with Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies. My kids and I have one or two Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies each morning with breakfast.

These little gummies are packed full of antioxidants along with vitamin C and zinc and offer natural immune support for adults and children ages 4 and up. They suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and are free from gluten, nuts, soy, dairy, eggs,  artificial color and artificial flavor. 

Have you tried Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies? 

You can purchase Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies from Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Ralphs, Vons, Safeway, and Kroger. You can find a retailer near you at www.sambucolusa.com/pages/store-locator 

Back to School Sleep with Natrol

Dislcaimer: This post is sponsored by Natrol but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

Yesterday I shared everything we've been up to over the past few months, including our busy Summer break with our trip to Australia, moving to Colorado and our big road trip. Now that that's all come to an end there's one thing on my mind - and no doubt on the kids' minds. The new school year! 

Ah, the start of a new school year. It's always a time of year that's part exciting, part terrifying and a whole lot of tiring - for everyone involved! This year the emotions are extra big with all three kids starting at new schools in a new city and state, as well as Mathilde moving up from preschool to "big kid" school. All three kids go back to school this week (on different days!) and in the lead up we've had all sorts of school events, appointments and lots of back to school shopping. 

Among the pencils, markers, binders, crayons, new shoes and backpacks on my back to school list, I had another must have for the kids - and myself - this year. Sleep! Ok, so I can't actually buy sleep, but I can help my kids out with natural ways to promote a good night's sleep, which is so essential at this busy time of year.

After our recent trip to Australia the kids were hit with pretty bad jet lag. They were pretty good on the way to Australia (the time difference meant they were going to bed earlier and waking at a decent time) but when we got home their sleep was all over the place. Mathilde was up wide awake until 2am two nights in a row! Eek! Luckily help came in the form Natrol Kids Melatonin gummies. 

I'd taken melatonin myself in the past to help combat jet lag so I was excited to find that my favorite brand had released this gently formulated product made specifically for kids. Along with adjusting their schedules, the melatonin worked a treat and I soon found the kids not only falling asleep more easily, but waking so much more rested too. After a few days they were over their jet lag and back to their usual selves. 

But then I let their night time schedules slide! It has been Summer break after all, and I've been so busy with the move and settling into out new house that I haven't been as strict with bed times as I should be. The kids have been up late, they've been Facetiming friends in California way past bedtime, and they've had more than a little too much YouTube in the evenings. Not the best at any time, but especially not so in the lead up to starting school.

With the kids needing to adjust their sleeping patterns again in anticipation of the new school year (and their much earlier start times) I was reminded of their jet lagged days last month and how helpful Natrol Melatonin had been. Along with simple techniques Natrol Kids Melatonin has become a temporary part of our night time routine in the lead up to school going back this week.

Each night we've been creeping bed time slightly earlier, we've been limiting screen time, we've been reading together in their snuggly new beds, and the kids have been taking one Natrol Kids Melatonin gummy right before brushing teeth and jumping into bed. These changes combined have helped the kids get the much needed rest they need for the busy days ahead. And with school starting an hour earlier than what they've been used to in the past, trust me, they need all the rest they can get!

Are your kids struggling with getting enough sleep after the long Summer break? Along with taking a safe and effective melatonin supplement there are plenty of things you can do to help them get the rest they need. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Get active outside! Playing outside and staying active is not just great for keeping little bodies fit and healthy, it helps with their sleep too. Playing outside in the afternoon or maybe an after dinner family walk is a great way to tire kids out. With our new backyard the kids have been spending a lot of time outside, but even when were living in an apartment we made sure to get outside to play everyday and we went for lots of walks.

Create a cosy sleep environment. In our old apartment the kids shared one room which also doubled as their place and homework space. It wasn't the most most ideal sleep environment, but we made the best of the limited space. In our new house I've been able to give the girls their own spaces and have had them help set up their rooms with their favorite blankets, books and snuggly toys. My girls all sleep rather hot, so airflow from windows and ceiling fans has made a huge difference. Creating an environment where they feel comfortable is great for helping kids to enjoy bed time.

Limit screen time. I'll admit it, this is where I struggle the most. All three of my kids love playing games like Minecraft, and with all their friends either interstate or overseas, their electronic devices are how they keep in touch. This has been especially hard with our recent move as they're yet to make new friends here. Limiting screen time makes a huge difference at bed time though, so I'm working on being stricter with this one. 

Create a night time routine. Most parents understand the importance of a night time routine for their children when they're young babies, but maintaining a routine throughout the school years is just as important. Whether it be books at bed time, an evening walk before bed or a warm bath, find what works for your kids and stick with it. My kids love baths before bedtime, but they often get a little excited playing in the tub. A few drops of a calming lavender oil or a lavender body wash helps. I also spritz their pillows with a lavender spray and use an essential oil roller on their chests when they get into bed.

Don't forget that parents need restful sleep too! The adjustment to the new school year can be tough on kids, but don't forget to look after yourself too. Those early morning starts are just as hard for me as they are for the kids. Actually, given that I'm waking up before everyone else to get everything ready for the day, I think I'll go as far as to say that they're harder on me! It's not just the early morning starts either. Laying in bed at night thinking about all the things I need to be doing prevents me from falling asleep. I've been taking Natrol Melatonin at night myself too and it has really helped me fall asleep, stay asleep and wake rested. Oh, and they come in gummy form for grown ups too! 

Don't forget to add Natrol Kids Melatonin to your back to school shopping list! It comes in both gummies and fast dissolve tablets, is recommended for children ages four and up, and is 100% drug free and non-habit forming.  It's also vegetarian friendly, non-GMO and free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

For more information and to download a coupon to save visit natrol.com

Mathilde's First Day of Preschool

Last week I shared Ava and Lola's first day of school for the year. Yesterday we celebrated another back to school milestone with Mathilde's first ever day of preschool.

As of this week Mathilde is a big preschool girl and is attending the same preschool that Ava and Lola also went to when they were younger. She's only going two days a week for now, but if yesterday is anything to go by we just might have to increase it to three or more days because she absolutely loved it!

First Day of School 2017-18

Yesterday was the first day back at school for Ava and Lola.

The Summer flew by so quickly. I swear we only just finished up school for last year, but here we are at the end of August and the start of a new school year already.

Back to School Shopping

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Thanks for supporting Little Hiccups by shopping with our sponsors.

Summer! Where did you go?

I swear I blinked and the Summer vacation was almost at its end.

We've got two more weeks left of Summer break here in Berkeley and then all three of my girls will be back at school. Or in Mathilde's case, starting pre-school.

While the girls are pretty excited about going back to school to see their friends, I'm finding myself frantically trying to squeeze in as many outings and fun activities as possible. Oh, and shopping for back to school. That too. Luckily, all of our back to school shopping has been done online. Hooray for the internet!

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite back to school items with you. Here's a look at what has been on my shopping list.

First, the big girls...

Elementary School

Click the links to shop:
Scotland Garden Backpack * Camelbak Edy Kids * Tea Collection Pocket Play Dress
Tea Collection Japan Panda Tee * Argyle Socks * Somersault Shorts
Tea Collection Belladrum Pleated Skirt * Tea Collection Heather Leggings
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Sneakers * Elaphantito Booties * So Young Lunch Box

While the weather stays relatively warm for the start of Fall here in the Bay Area it gets pretty cool in the girls' classrooms so light long sleeved tops are always a good idea. Ava is obsessed with this sweet panda tee from Tea Collection. Isn't it cute? My girls are all about dresses and skirts, but because they love to play on the monkey bars at recess, bike pants or leggings are always a must underneath. Leggings are such a simple way to layer when the weather starts to get a little cooler, and because it never gets overly cold here they allow my girls to wear the same dresses pretty much all year round. I love these little ankle boots from Elephantito. Isn't the color sweet? Ava likes to look a little edgier than Lola, so the classic Converse Chuck Taylor high tops add a touch of cool to her look. Backpacks, lunchboxes and water bottles are, of course, a must for back to school. I love the sweet pattern on this Tea Collection backpack. It's a great sized backpack for elementary school kids with enough space for for lunch and books, but without overwhelming small backs. The Camelbak Kids Edy water bottle is one of the best ones I've found as it just doesn't leak. The So Young lunchbox has been a great addition to my girls' backpacks. Ava has had one of these for a few years and it still looks as good as new. It's also big enough to fit big kid lunches.

Preschool

Click the links to shop:
Tea Collection Little Citizen Tee * Tea Collection Overalls * Mitz Accessories Rainbow Dress
Tea Collection Plaid Skirted Dress * Hello Shiso Pencil Hair Clips * Striped Socks
Veja Sneakers * Fjallraven Kanken Mini Backpack * Wild Side Lunch Box
Boo Anti Lice Shampoo * Boo Anti Lice Spray

Mathilde is all about bright rainbow colors so while I went with a more muted color pallet for Ava and Lola I've gone for bright colors for her. Mathilde will spend a lot more time outside playing than her big sisters so sturdy clothes are a must. I love these sweet overalls from Tea Collection. They're perfect for outdoor play but the little details make them a little more dressed up than regular overalls. Ava actually has a pair too, so they're not just for little kids. Colorful dresses with skirts that go out when you spin are Mathilde's favorites so these two dresses from Tea Collection and Mitz Accessories are sure to be favorites. Plus they'll look super cute when paired with stripey socks and the cute Veja sneakers. The Fjallraven Kanken Mini backpack is just the perfect size for pre-schoolers. It can be hard to find nicely styled backpacks small enough for the little ones. This Fjallraven backpack is sure to stand the test of time. I chose bright yellow not just because I knew Mathilde would love it, but also because it's so vibrant that it will make her more visible when she's wearing it. This is super important as we'll be walking or bike riding every day. The colorful lunch box will be the perfect accessory to go with Mathilde's new backpack. How cute is that little bear on it? Speaking of cute, check out those pencils hair clips! Perfect for school. One last thing, and it's an essential, is the Boo anti-lice shampoo and spray. Let's face it, head lice can be an every day part of school life. An icky part of school life. Ava and Lola have been washing their hair with Boo shampoo and conditioner once or twice a week and using the spray daily for the past few years, and so far they've been lice free. Even when there has been an outbreak in their classrooms those little creepy crawlies have stayed away.

What does back to school shopping look like for your family?
Do you buy a new backpack and lunch box most years?
Do you need to buy stationery items? Our school provides pencils, notebooks, crayons etc so we don't need to buy them (although I do buy classroom items like these and cleaning supplies in bulk for the class so they don't have to come out of the teacher's pocket).

Ok, back to having fun with the kids and not counting the days until Summer ends!

Smile Worthy Back to School Moments with Goldfish

Can you believe it? We're about half way through the long Summer break now. How did that happen?

While the kids are blissfully unaware that their laid back Summer adventures will be done in just over a month, I, like many parents, am thinking about back to school. There's so much to prepare before the kids go back to school, but for me the most important thing is making sure that it's a smile worthy time for the kids. 

After such a long break from the structure of the school year, I find it important to ease the kids back into their schedules. So rather than having the Summer fun come to an abrupt halt once school starts back up again, I'm thinking ahead and planning small after school adventures to take together. Hikes in local parks, swims at the lake, visiting fun playgrounds... We're lucky here in the Bay Area that there are so many great places to visit. The weather here in early Fall is usually our warmest which is perfect for afternoon adventures.

Back to School 2016

Yesterday was the first day back at school here in Berkeley and you know what that means...

Lots of photos of cute kids with backpacks! Ha!

I know, I know... Facebook and Instagram are filled with back to school photos right now, but I just have to share ours too.

Ready for Fall with Burt's Bees Baby

   

Summer vacation is almost over here. Ava and Lola have just two weeks of freedom left before the new school year starts. I can't believe how quickly this Summer has just flown by. I swear it only just started!

With the start of the new school year imminent, so to is the arrival of Fall and the cooler weather. Ok, well, technically Fall is actually our warmest season here in the Bay Area (we like to be different!) but as it doesn't get all that hot here, it's still pretty cool compared to other parts of the country.  

So with Fall and back to school on my mind, I've been thinking about what's in the girls' closet. Seriously, I need to go through and take out half of their clothes because there are dresses and tops in there that they're been wearing for at least two years. Well, not Mathilde, of course. That would be especially weird given that she's only two years old, but Ava and Lola both have some majorly outgrown outfits hanging in the closet. I spotted a size 3 dress on Lola's size of the closet. Size 3! She turns six in just a few months! Ok, Mathilde's part of the closet isn't much better with plenty of size 1 clothes still hanging around.

First Day of School 2015

Yesterday was the first day of school for the new year - and the first day of school ever for Lola!

I can't believe I have two school kids. Ava is now in third grade and Lola is in Transitional Kindergarten.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a relatively new class created for kids whose birthdays fall just after the cut off for Kindergarten. In the past kids were allowed to start Kindergarten if they turned five by the end of December. Over the past few years the cut off date has crept forward, and as of this year kids now need to turn five by the first day of school. Lola misses out by just over a month, which really sucks! I would have much preferred for her to go straight into Kindergarten but at least we had the option for her to attend TK.

The girls were pretty excited as they got ready for school in the morning. Ava was obviously eager to get back to school as she woke up around 6am, made herself breakfast, and was dressed and ready to go by 7am! School doesn't start until 9:10am so that gave her plenty of time to play Minecraft. Lola slept in a little longer, as usual, but was excited about her big day none the less.

Back to School: Shoes

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

For our family, the start of a new school year usually means new shoes for the kids. I swear their feet grow faster over Summer than at any other time of year.

For school my girls tend to wear the same shoes they wear for play. We also tend to stick to the same styles and brands of shoes all year round as the weather doesn't change much in the Bay Area. As the weather is pretty mild here we don't really need "Summer" shoes and "Winter" shoes. The shoes that the girls wear for Summer usually work for Winter too, sometimes even sandals.

My girls like shoes that they can slip on and off easily. Lola isn't a fan of wearing socks so we stick with shoes that can be worn without. In general, I try to avoid shoes with laces for my kids. They haven't yet mastered the art of tying their laces effectively (something I really need to work on, especially with Ava) and I find that when their laces inevitably come undone during the day, the girls' attempt at retying them always result in loose shoes. And loose shoes (especially during PE) often result in twisted ankles. Ouch. So for now, until the girls can tie laces properly we're sticking with slip-ons and velcro.

Here's a look at some of my favorite shoes for my kids. Some of these are shoes that they have now, or have had in the past, while others are new shoes that I'm eager to try out. Click the links below the image for more details including sizing, colors and pricing.

1. Native Kids Shoes - Jefferson
2. Freshly Picked The Next Step Shoe
3. Puma Kids Whirlwind Mesh V
4. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Slip On
5. Toms Canvas Youth Paseos
6. Salt Water Sandals
7. Toms Canvas Youth Classics
8. Vans Classic Slip-On

The Native Jefferson shoes are a staple in my girls' closet. The style goes well with both dresses and pants, and they can be comfortably worn with or without socks. My girls have had these in a few different colors but we usually stick to navy blue as it goes with everything. The rubbery material makes them perfect for wearing in/near water. They're kind of like Crocs, but without the ugly Crocs styling!

Saltwater Sandals are our other main shoe staple. They're dressy enough for special events but still casual and comfortable. I even have several pairs myself. They're waterproof which makes them perfect for walks on the beach or in creeks. The soles are really long wearing too which is great as Ava is really hard on her shoes.

The Puma sneakers are Ava's current favorite for when she needs to wear something a little sportier, like for PE at school. They're comfortable, breathable and the velcro is so much easier than laces. A lot of sneakers with velcro tend to look a little toddler-ish, but these just look like regular sneakers which is great for older kids.

My girls have had quite a few different styles of Converse All Stars over the years and while I love the high tops the most, the slip on style is definitely the easiest for them. Like all styles of All Stars, the soles are so hard wearing that even Ava and her shoe destroying feet can't trash them!

The Toms Classics are a simple comfy option and are almost like part of a uniform here in Berkeley. Everyone wears them! The simple styling goes well with many outfits and they come in a huge range of colors in sizes ranging from toddler and youth, to men and women. Perfect for a little "Mummy and Me" styling! We haven't tried the Toms Paseos yet, but I really like the simple styling, and I'm sure they're just as comfortable as the Classics.

I really like the simple styling of the Vans slip-ons. Lola really likes that they're covered in tiny hearts! Like the Converse, these shoes have really hard wearing, sturdy soles perfect for kids like mine who ride their scooters everywhere.

I'm really excited to try out the new Freshly Picked Next Step Shoes. Mathilde has been wearing Freshly Picked moccasins since she was about five months old and they are just the best baby shoes. They're so well made and they never fall off. I love that there are now matching hard sole shoes for Lola too. Ava's feet are a little big for these as they only go up to a size 13, but they're a great choice for younger school kids.

We've got one more week before school goes back. Just enough time to squeeze in a little shoe shopping!

Back to School: Backpacks

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

Summer is almost over.

We have just over a week of Summer vacation left before the kids go back to school. This year I'll have two big school kids. Ava will be going into third grade and Lola will be starting Transitional Kindergarten (she just misses the cut off for Kindergarten). Having them both at the same school, with the same drop off time is going to make mornings much easier.

To celebrate going back to school I've purchased new backpacks for the girls. There are so many fun backpacks out there, and lots of great back to school deals at the moment, so I thought I'd share some of my favorites for elementary school kids with you (many of which are on sale right now). All of these backpacks come in different colors and designs. Just follow the links below.

1. Hanna Andersson There & Backpack Junior 
2. Land of Nod Teacher's Pet Backpack
3. Fjallraven - Kanken Backpack
4. Hanna Andersson There & Backpack
5. Herschel Kids Backpack
6. American Apparel Cordura School Bag
7. The North Face - Mini Berkeley
8. So Young Grade School Backpack
9. Toms Stand Up Backpack

Back to Preschool

Last week it was back to school for Ava. This week it's Lola's turn.

Lola is back at her preschool for another year - maybe two seeing as she won't turn five until just after the school cut off next year. But that's a whole different story...