back-to-school Archives - Globetrotting Mommy

Back-to-School Favorites for …

August 12, 2019 By admin

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com. As always, all opinions are my own.

Back-to-School Favorites for Trendy Tweens

September is almost here and before I head off on one last vacation, I’m wrapping up all our back-to-school shopping. Today I’m sharing some favorite back-to-school favorites for trendy tweens with the help of Babblebox.

Stylish Back-to-School Backpack

Now that my daughter is entering fifth grade, she has very specific likes and dislikes when it comes to a backpack. Luckily, this shimmery pink Mermaid Flip Sequin Backpack from Justice has everything she needs to be comfortable and on-trend. Flipping sequins are super popular with the tween set but the sturdy construction (the top loop can hold 100 pounds!), roomy interior, and padded back straps won me over. The key chain loop is a must so kids can accessorize and the fuzzy pompom charm is super cute.

Start The School Year With a New Book

A new book always inspires my tween to curl up and get reading so I love to start off the school year with some new tales. She enjoyed reading Merci Suarez Changes Gears, a story about a Hispanic sixth-grade girl who deals with friendship drama, family relationships and the changes that come with Middle School. Since my daughter is close with her grandmas, she related Merci’s close-knit multigenerational family and their changing family dynamics. As an added bonus, my daughter picked up some Espanol as the book features Spanish words throughout.

Use the promotion code CANDLEWICK at checkout on www.candlewick.com for 25% off your book order (only valid to US purchases).

Safety First – First Aid Necessities From Me4Kidz

Medibuddy First Aid Kit: The adorable Medibuddy First Aid Kit is great for home and away. With 50 items (latex-free bandages, gauze, ointment, stickers and more) you will always be able to fix cuts, scrapes and blisters. I always travel with a first aid kit and you should too.

Little Buddy Antibacterial Wipes: Because life is messy, wipes should always be within reach. Little Buddy Antibacterial Wipes are perfect for cleaning dirty hands and faces as well as scrapped knees. They kill 99% of germs without stinging which is a win-win and this 32-count package is perfect for traveling.

Cool it buddy – Instant ice packs: Ice packs always seem to help most injuries so I always keep a few handy. Cool it Buddy – Instant ice packs are non-toxic and the convenient 2-pack is great for on-the-go travels as well as the playground.

Use code Babble2019 for 25% off Me4Kidz products now through 12/31/19.

Freezable Lunch Bags & Bento Container from PackIt

Keeping lunch items and snacks cool is a must and these freezable lunch boxes and snack bags from PackIt are game-changers.

Freezable Lunch Bag-Unicorn Sky – The original, bestselling lunch bag is roomier in all the right places. Just keep it folded in the freezer and you’ll always be ready to go.

Freezable Snack Bag-Spaceman – Designed for snacks, medicine and cosmetics, this small, collapsible bag is perfect for school, traveling and road trips. The tiny bag is so handy, you’ll be using it every day.

Mod Lunch Box-Mint – PackIt’s new customizable bento containers feature a modular system so you can keep your foods separate and fresh. Great for on-the-go tweens, the Mod Lunch Box has a leak-resistant lid and dividers and fits perfectly in the PackIt freezable bag.

Comfortable Scissors Make The Cut

My daughter’s school sends a list of classroom supplies but luckily she can choose her own scissors. These Kids Jellies Pointed Scissors from Westcott have squishy gel handles that makes cutting a breeze without getting tired fingers. They are designed for comfort and control (for lefties or righties) and easily cut through paper, photos, ribbon and yarn. Westcott is dedicated to supporting education and inspiring creative activities in the classroom and at home and these comfy scissors will get a lot of use this year.

Maglite® Solitaire LED and Mini Maglite® Pro LED – A Must for Every Backpack

Maglite® Solitare LED – Tweens love personalizing their backpacks with key chains, etc. and the adorable Solitaire® LED Flashlight by Maglite® is the must-have keychain flashlight for every girl’s bag (see backpack photo above). This tiny flashlight packs a punch with a beam throw of 50 yards. Plus, it will run nonstop for almost two hours on just one AAA battery (included). Best of all, it comes in an assortment of colors so tweens can pick their fave.

Mini Maglite® Pro LED Flashlight – The perfect compact flashlight for tweens and adults, this iconic flashlight has a powerful beam that can travel almost two football fields. Featuring spot to flood focusing, this flashlight is a perfect companion at home, on camping trips and at sporting events.

Discount Offer: Use code MAGBB15 (15% off online orders – Some restrictions apply. Outlet, seasonal shop and discounted items excluded. Cannot be combined with another offer or discounted item. U. S. Shipping addresses only. Promotion available for a limited time through September 15, 2019.)

Lunch Notes from MyWish4U

Tweens might be too old for mushy lunchbox notes but they will love finding these witty MyWish4U Notes in their lunchboxes. Each note contains witty jokes, fun riddles, wacky facts and other messages sure to get kids smiling. Each pack of tear-off lunch notes features 101 colorful, single-sided notes with blank backs for personalized messages or doodles. Affordable at just $4.99, the MyWish4U Notes are available in three versions at Target stores nationwide:

Facts & Funnies 2 – Featuring popular facts and funnies.

Riddles & Giggles 2 – Includes clever and funny riddles and jokes.

Wacky Facts & Laughs – Showcases wild and fascinating (and educational) facts to learn about our world.

Available nationwide now through September at all Target stores in the back-to-school section. Since you probably have a dozen Target runs planned before school starts, remember to throw some of these in your cart.

Hope you enjoyed reading about these must-have Back-to-School favorites for trendy tweens. Good luck to everyone on their first-day of school.

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All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Must Have Back To School …

August 6, 2018 By admin

September is fast approaching and that means shopping for back to school supplies. Today I’m sharing my favorite back to school supplies, clothes, snack picks and more ideas for September and beyond.

Must Have Back To School Supplies, Clothes, Snacks and More…

Back to School Supplies

My daughter’s school sends a list of class supplies but luckily she can choose her own binders and folders. Since she’s into rainbows, she is super excited about the new Avery® and Amy Tangerine® Collection. Kids can choose from file folders and binders in rainbow patterns, black and white designs and other fun options.

Labeling school items is a must for kids of all ages and Mabel’s Labels are our go-to for fashionable and durable labels. Their latest designs include some of my daughter’s favorites like Hello Kitty, unicorns, rainbows, mermaids and emojis. I recommend the Ultimate Back to School Pack for every kid in your family (10% with the coupon code MOMTRENDS10).

If you are always printing out homework, travel itineraries and photos like me, you’ll be excited to hear about the new Epson ET-2750 wireless printer. This cartridge-free printer comes with a two-year supply of ink so kids can print away while saving money and the environment. Win-win!

In the “hope you’ll never need this” school supply category, pesticide-free lice ridding products are a mom’s best friend. Vamousse’s 15-minute mousse treatment and shampoos will rid you and your family of any unwanted houseguests.

Back to School Clothes

Must Have Back To School Supplies, Clothes, Snacks and More…

New clothes are a must for the new school year and Tea Collection has launched a line inspired by the good old United States. The colorful clothes feature unique designs and high-quality fabrics that are comfortable and easy to wash. New this year, tween sizing goes up to 16. My daughter is excited to wear this cute chambray jumper, ruffled top and leggings inspired by New England.

For kids who like to share their creativity and inspirational messages with the world, this Chalk of the Town t-shirt (chalk markers included) will be a hit for back to school. My daughter loves to design different shirts to match her outfits. Moms will love how easily the chalkboard erases with water.

My daughter and her friends love to design their own T-shirts and I love to see their creative juices flowing. Buy some plain t-shirts, fabric markers and fabric paint and you have an easy after-school craft play date.

Check out my favorite summer and fall shoes for kids.

Back to School Snacks

School snacks are getting easier than ever with individually packed offerings in a variety of healthy treats.

Stonyfield Organic yogurt and smoothies come in a variety of packages making them easy options for lunch boxes and after-school snacks. Their new Snack Packs, Yogurt and Graham Crackers and Yogurt and Pretzels are a healthy option in convenient travel packs.

GoGo Squeez has been in my pantry since my daughter was a toddler. The portable, non-messy and deliciously flavored applesauce squeezies are perfect for school lunch, snacks and travel. Their newest offering, GoGo Squeez Blastz, is geared toward older kids with more “sophisticated” palates and comes in bold, mixed fruit flavors and larger serving sizes.

Larabars are a good all natural snack for the whole family and these mini versions are perfect for a sweet lunchbox treat. I also love that they don’t get crushed when they’ve been in my bag for a day or two.

Back to School Backpacks

A new backpack is a great way to get kids excited about back to school. Now that my daughter is entering fourth grade, she has very specific likes and dislikes. Here are some of my favorite picks for 2018.

For girls who like to change their looks around, these reversible Chooze backpacks featuring fun patterns and designs are sure to please.

Justice is always a hit with girls and their back-to-school backpacks have something for everyone. From flipping sequins, personalized styles, unicorns and ombre styles, girls will have a tough time picking just one.I also love this lightweight backpack covered in cactus and succulents.

Don’t forget to stock up on hanging squishies, keychains, toys and hand sanitizers. The more, the merrier!

News You Can Use For Parents

As we all know, today’s technology can feel a bit unsafe for kids and parents too. I attended a Back To School event hosted by Facebook and learned about their newly launched Digital Literacy Library and new Messenger Kids features and parental controls. While my daughter isn’t using Messenger Kids or Facebook yet, the Digital Literacy Library is full of information about online safety, privacy, sharing tips and other topics that I can start talking about now. Kids need to learn how to safely navigate with today’s tech and this is a great starting point for tweens and teens.

In addition, parents need to set good digital examples for children. This fall, several new tools that track time on various apps will certainly help everyone track their online time.

Are you ready for back to school?

We were gifted some of these items from for review purposes. I attended the #MomTrendsSchool event and received a goody bag. As always, all opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Back-To-School Must Haves for …

June 26, 2018 By admin

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx on behalf of Justice

It’s crazy hard to believe but my not-so-little globetrotter is headed to fourth grade this fall. With every back-to-school season, we’ve faced decisions about clothing, school supplies and accessories and each year, her opinions become more and more important.

While I sometimes have to veto her decisions (think poor quality, obscene pricing, and plain ugliness), this year I’m thrilled with her back-to-school picks from Justice.

Back to school, backpacks for girls, tween clothing, girls clothing, flip sequin backpack, flip sequin lunchbox, cool lunchbox

Back-to-School Must Haves for Tweens

Justice has all the fashionable girls clothing that tweens want and affordable pricing and positive messaging that moms’ love. Shopping for clothing for girls can lead to meltdowns but Justice really understands their mini-customers, with so many options for girls to piece together outfits that reflect their individuality and fit their busy lifestyles, all with an extra dose of fun.

Backpacks for Girls

The most important back-to-school item is a great backpack and my daughter is super excited to start using this shimmery pink flip sequin initial backpack for fourth grade.

Flipping sequins are her current love, the large G makes her feel like it was made especially for her and the pink, aqua, purple (flipping to pink and silver) shades will easily match her entire wardrobe. Since we walk to school, I’m always concerned about her backpack being heavy so I was happy to see the padded back straps.

The elasticized side pocket for water bottles is a must-have as well as the spacious interior for books and lunch box. There are also roomy pockets for school supplies and random items like slime and hair clips. She brings a backpack on our travels too so it needs to be sturdy and this one passes the test with solid zippers and strong seams. Oh, and according to my daughter, the pink pompom keychain is awesome.

Stylish Accessories to Keep Girls Organized

My daughter starts the year organized but by winter, her room, backpack and school folders are a mess. We’ve talked about a plan to stay better organized this year since fourth grade is the real deal and these three accessories will be a big help.

A matching lunchbox is a chic pick for tweens and this flipping sequin number is sure to please girls and parents alike. My daughter loves the flip sequins and initial design while I love that the interior is easy to wash. Win-win.

Pens, pencils, highlighters, rulers and protractors need to stay safe and this clear pencil case with floating sequins offers these items a pretty home. Gotta love the FEARLESS messaging on this too.

This matching sequin initial wristlet is perfect for bake-sale money and other small items.

Back-To-School-Fashion

Girls can never have enough cute tops and nothing is more comfy for kids and easy to wash for moms as a t-shirt. This colorful girls top features metallic accents, cute summer graphics and funny captions. She styled it with comfy pink shorts trimmed with pom poms and pink heart shades. I love that the sizing is true with a little extra length which is nice because my daughter and her classmates are often sitting on the floor.

How fun do these items look together?

Just head to Justice for all your back-to-school shopping, throw everything in your backpack and you’re off to fourth grade…

Which is your favorite item? Tell me below in the comments.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Justice through BabbleBoxx. All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Cool for School – …

August 25, 2017 By admin

September is almost here and back-to-school mania is in full swing. If you’re shopping for the elementary school set, check out my Cool for Back-to-School must haves for September and beyond.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves for September and Beyond

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MUST HAVES – STUDENT NECESSITIES:

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves for September and beyond. A sturdy backpack is a must.

Backpacks:

One of the most essential back-to-school items is a backpack so be sure to help your kids choose one that will be a good fit. I specifically look for a roomy interior, adjustable shoulder straps (plus for chest-straps), dual zippers, exterior compartments and side pouches for water bottles. My daughter uses a backpack when we travel so styles that wear well are a plus.

For third grade, my daughter chose this fun World of Disney Emoji backpack because her favorite vacation destination is Disney World (surprise, surprise). Some other backpack picks I like this year include JanSport Superbreak Backpack in Prism Pink Sparkle, J. Crew’s Glow-in-The-Dark Snaggletooth Monster Backpack, and Pottery Barn’s Mackenzie Navy Solar System Backpack. Don’t forget to grab some fun backpack charms like Whiffer Sniffer’s awesome scented foodie clips.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves for September and beyond. Lunchtime won’t be boring with these colorful lunch boxes.

Lunch boxes:

We’ve got a collection of lunch boxes and my favorites are the ones that don’t leak and clean up easily (think spilled yogurt). This year we’ll have these four on rotation. The coordinating World of Disney Emoji Lunch Tote, All Change London Tube Stations Bag we got in London, a rugged Bentology Kitty Lunch Tote which includes a bento box and a cute Bixbee Owl lunch box.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves: Cool School Supplies

Supplies:

Depending on the ages of your kids, you’ll need to stock up on pens, pencils, markers, desk supplies and other fun items. My daughter’s teacher sends a wish list for class items but I love to have some fun supplies at home. This year, I choose some fun pencils from FlyingTiger, Crayola Silly Scents washable markers, indestructible Mabel’s Labels Back to School Combos with emoji designs, and a Bright Pink Poppin Stapler.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves: Fashion Picks

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MUST HAVES – FASHION AND ACCESSORIES:

Shopping for Back-to-School fashions is either fun or torturous depending on your child’s preferences. I choose to do a lot of my daughter’s shopping online so I can easily return items she doesn’t like.

This year’s styles are full of bright colors, shiny sequins and lots of emojis sure to please every girl in class. For sneakers, my daughter chose these bright emoji Stride Rite Phibians which are light weight and double as a water shoe making them great for travel. Customized denim is all the rage and my daughter had a great time decorating a vest with colorful sequin patches. So cute, right? My daughter hates when other kids have the same things so one-of-a-kind upcycled dresses from Courtney Courtney and hand crafted tanks, t’s and hoodies from Playdate NYC are great options for kids like her. And, don’t forget to stock up on accessories like kitty-cat headbands and giant “Jo Jo” hair bows.

Extra credit items for back-to-school season.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MUST HAVES – FOR EXTRA CREDIT:

A good night’s sleep is a must for students (and parents) so snag new pillows like the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Kool-Flow® bamboo shredded memory foam pillow that can be customized for the perfect fit. I can’t talk about school without mentioning lice prevention so now is the time to stock up on these yummy scented Rosemary Repel products from Fairy Tales Hair Care. If you are having trouble getting young kids to listen (or do homework, or get to school on time, etc.) get rid of the sticker reward chart and try the new Kudo Banz which rewards kids with bracelet charms they can proudly wear. And last but not least, another awesome item to buy now is Hero Clean Odor Eliminator because even tiny shoes get stinky.

What’s your favorite back-to-school item? Tell me below in the comments.

I received some of these items for review but all opinions are mine. This post contains affiliate links. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

My Favorite Back-to-School …

August 2, 2016 By admin

Tis the season for back-to-school shopping so I’m here to share some of my favorite picks. These items are perfect for back-to-school supplies but can also be used on while vacationing (win, win) so be sure to stock up.

My Favorite Back-to-School Supplies for Globetrotting Kids

DIY Patch Designs – Kids love to personalize their items and when I saw these colorful stick-on-patches from Easy Peasy Patches, I knew my daughter would love them. Kids can use them on clothes, hats, backpacks, school supplies, water bottles, lockers and really anything they want to customize since they are dishwasher and washing machine safe. They come in various shapes and designs and you can even go old school and use them to cover ripped knees.

Keep Valuables Safe at School – As kids start to bring more valuable items to school like phones and tablets, its always a good idea to keep them safe while unattended. Master Lock has some easy-to-use and affordable options for kids of all ages. Younger kids will love these colorful combination locks for backpacks while older kids can use a portable laptop safe on travels or in their dorms. These items are also handy when traveling or visiting water parks.

My Favorite Back-to-School Supplies for Globetrotting Kids – Back-to-School Snack Ideas

Tasty Snacks – For weekday lunch boxes or a road trip snack stash, tasty snacks are a must-have. I hate sticky fingers so I try to serve snacks that are as mess-free as possible like pretzels, snack bars, nuts, fruit (dried or whole), etc. Individually wrapped snacks and pouches are especially great for travel and classroom snacks – try brands like Ella’s Kitchen, GoGo Squeez and Earth’s Best (their new frozen fruit cups thaw in lunch boxes!) for young kids. Some of my go-to ideas for healthy options include Good Health Snacks (think veggie straws, pretzels and chips), fruit-kebabs (made with straws not skewers), yogurt and most anything from Trader Joe’s snack aisle (especially seaweed, tortilla chips, crackers, nuts and dried fruit). For more substantial snacks (think after school or traveling), protein bars like Cliff, Luna or Luckybars (especially created for picky eaters) and New Zealand Jerky are all easy-to-pack options.

Personalized labels are great for back-to-school and traveling. Globetrotting Mommy

Personalized labels are great for back-to-school supplies and traveling.

Must Have Labels – Between classes, pick-ups, after-school activities, field trips and vacations, kids have a lot of opportunities to lose their belongings. If you don’t have any more camp labels left, now is the time to stock up for fall. I love Mabel’s Labels because they are indestructible, stylish and super easy to use. This year they’ve got some new designs like zombies and emojis plus a customizable keepsake school memory book.

Bento style lunch boxes are great for school and travel.

Bento Style Lunch Boxes – Kids are very particular about their meals and if you’ve got a picky eater, a Bento Box lunch with separated compartments is sure to please. I love the adorable Bentology Bento Lunch Kit that come with an insulated bag, large outer container, five bento box containers and a fork and spoon set. The slim exterior bag has pockets and a secret side bottle holder. Since my daughter complained last year because her water was inside her lunch box (making it hard to get out for snack time…) this will be a sure winner. A nice option for traveling or larger lunches is the Lunchbox Buddy from Nalgene featuring a soft Neoprene sleeve that folds around the hard case lunch box. An ice pack can be used to create separate sized compartments for food items and drinks making it very versatile. Best of all, the box top doubles as a plate so kids have a clean place to eat. I like that both of these options feature plastic outer containers which are easy to clean and quick to dry for every day use.

Leak Proof Water Bottles – School kids need water all the time (think school, activities, field trips, etc.) and one big requirement for me is a leak-proof bottle because there is nothing worse than cleaning out a soggy backpack or purse. Some of my favorites include Contigo’s Addison, Nalgene’s On The Fly, and the rectangular Drink in the Box.

Yoobi’s colorful back-to-school supplies are perfect for home, school and travels.

Fun School Supplies – My daughter’s school sends around a list of back-to-school supplies every student needs to bring in on the first day for the class to share throughout the year. When they don’t specify a brand, I love sending in colorful supplies like Yoobi. With every purchase, Yoobi donates school supplies to a local U.S. classroom in need, which is really a win. The playful designs and awesome accessories are so fun and I especially love Yoobi x i am OTHER journals (presented by Pharrell Williams) which are the perfect size for school or vacation.

WallPops Maps are a favporite for Back-to-School shopping.

Removable Wall Decor – Since kids love maps, I recently added this dry erase Wallpops! Kids USA Map to my daughter’s room. She loves to point out the fun places she’s visited like Charleston, Disney World, Boston, etc. and its a great way for her to learn the states (and Capitals). I also love these dry erase calendar message boards and this cute notepad calendar which are great for students of all ages, especially teens heading off to college.

Have you done your back-to-school shopping yet? I’m starting mine this week…

I received some of these items as samples from Blogger Bash, Momtrends and KidzVuz events. This post contains a few affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Back-to-School Must Haves for …

August 19, 2015 By admin

Depending on where you live, kids go back-to-school sometime between now and early September. I love stocking up on back-to-school supplies and I especially love when my daughter can use these items on our travels.

Here are my favorite Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away…

Back to school, kids, labels, Mabel's Labels, travel, must haves

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Mabel’s Labels

Personalized Labels – If you didn’t already order these for summer camp, now is the time to stock up. I pretty much label everything my daughter takes to school (and on trips) like food and drink containers, school supplies, shoes, coats, hats, etc. Mabel’s Labels are the only ones that survive my super hot dishwasher so they’re my top pick. The Stylish Scholars Combo in the quatrefoil pattern was my opportunity to update some of our old kiddie styles with a more sophisticated look for first grade.

Back to school, snacks, must haves, Earth's Best, Gogo Squeez, Travel, kids

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Portable Snacks

Easy to Serve Snacks – For lunch boxes and road trips, easy to serve snacks are a must have. Depending on the ages and taste preferences of your kids, I recommend squeezy fruit pouches like GoGo Squeez, individually wrapped multi-grain snacks from Ella’s Kitchen and dried fruit like Crispy Fruit from Crispy Green for exotic palates and Earth’s Best freeze dried fruit snacks for toddlers. I also keep snack bars, fruit leathers and nuts on hand at home and away.

Colored Pencils, eeBoo, Travel, Kids, Coloring, Activities, Back to School

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Colored Pencils

Non-Messy School Supplies – I love stocking up on school supplies knowing that the non-messy items will be great to also use on car or plane trips. This year my daughter is really into writing and coloring and I found the most gorgeous colored pencil sets from eeBoo featuring metallic, watercolor and fluorescent pencils. These are so nicely packaged (and affordable) you’ll want to get a set for everyone you know. Just add the Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book for older kids (and adults!) and you’ve got a great gift idea.

Back to school, Activity books, kids, travel, lonely planet, adventures

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Activity Books

Educational Activity Books – As an after school surprise, I like to leave an activity book out with scissors, markers and glue. When we travel, I like to just bring along activity books that include stickers like the new Lonely Planet Kids series that includes Adventures in Famous Places, Adventures in Noisy Places, Adventures in Smelly Places and other fun titles. These are a great way to teach elementary age school kids about history and geography while holding their interest with funny facts.

back to school, backpacks, must haves, kids, travel, school supplies

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – backpack

Sturdy and Stylish Backpack – Backpacks are a must for school and traveling. Last year my daughter got a Backpack Jr. from Garnet Hill Kids and this year she has a more fashion forward Kayla backpack from Matilda Jane Clothing. I’ve previously written about the coolest backpacks for back to school if you need more inspiration. Be sure kids can open and close buckles and zippers on their own before school starts.

back to school, tablets, leap pad, fire hd6 kids edition, kids, travel, accessories

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – tablets

Kid Friendly Tablets – Older kids bring their tablets to school but kids of all ages use them when traveling. My daughter loves the LeapPad3 when we travel by car and I love that she can use it without needing help so I can focus on driving. For plane rides and long trips, I’ll bring out our latest addition, the Amazon Fire HD 6 kids edition which comes in its own kid-proof case and is great for watching movies and shows, taking photos and videos and playing apps.

What are your favorite back-to-school must haves?

I received some of these items for review but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Personalized Kids Picks for …

August 28, 2014 By admin

Does anyone else have a kid starting Kindergarden next week (OMG!)? I want to make sure that my daughter has an easy time keeping track of all her things in elementary school so I’ve rounded up some of my favorite personalized kids picks for back-to school.

Personalized Picks, Back-to-school, Backpack, Pencils, Notebooks, Back-to-school, Mabel's Labels, Garnet Hill, Paperwink, Frecklebox, family travel, great gifts

Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step one…label anything and everything with personalized Mabel’s Labels! These are essential for back-to-school and traveling. When we accidentally left my daughter’s jacket on a tram in Stuart, Florida, I was able to track it down because it was labeled. True story. We’ve been using these sturdy and stylish Mabel’s Labels for the past three years and they really are indestructible. For Pre-K we had girly pink and purple cupcakes from the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo but for K we’re excited to test drive the new Stylish Scholars Combo pack in confetti dreamin’ polka dots. The Skinny-Minis are perfect for lunch containers, water bottles and gadgets, the Tag Mates work nicely on clothes and the waterproof Round Labels are great for shoes and towels. The set also includes two Teeny Tags that can attach to zippers. Thanks Mabel’s Labels for keeping our goods safe!

Mabel's Labels, Personalized kids labels, back-to-school, school supplies for kids, family travel

Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step two…get a personalized backpack and lunchbox. Since there will be a lot more students and fewer teachers in my daughter’s class this year, I thought a personalized backpack and lunchbox would make things a little easier for everyone. Since she’s just turning five, many of the regular sized backpacks were just too big and many of the small backpacks were too small. After some trials and tribulations, we agreed that a 15″ backpack would be just right and I was very happy when I found the rugged yet cute backpacks from Garnet Hill Kids. Their Backpack Jr. is the perfect size with two large compartments, a built in organizer, padded straps, loops for a lunch box and more. Best of all, it came with a free matching lunch pack (through September 9). Win win! I had both monogrammed and got a matching pencil case too since the lunch pack was free.

Kid's backpack, personalized backpack, personalized lunch bag, garnethill

Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step three…add in some personalized school supplies like notebooks and pencils. Frecklebox has some fun personalized notebooks with glossy laminated covers. These work great for travel journals too. Paperwink has the most adorable collection of personalized pencils I’ve ever seen. Traditionalists can choose their child’s name on their favorite color pencil (in 11 color options) but I love the cute “It’s a great day to be (your name here),” “Hooray for (your name here),” and “See (your name here ) write” options. Or create your own personalization up to 32 characters and spaces. They make personalized teacher pencils too which are great for holiday gifts. Save 20% off Paperwink through the end of August with the discount code “SCHOOLED.”

Personalized notebook, back-to-school, traveling, personalized gifts for kids

Globetrotting Mommy: Personalized Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Personalized pencils, back-to-school, kids travel, personalized gifts for kids

Globetrotting Mommy: Personalized Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step four…add in a personalized smock for art class. At my daughter’s pre-K, smocks were provided but for her Kindergarden class its BYO. At home she’s fine in an apron or old T-shirt because I control the paint pouring but for school I wanted a waterproof smock with long sleeves that would also be long enough to protect her dresses. I didn’t realize what a tall order that was but once again, Etsy saved the day. I ordered this adorable Extra Long Kids Art Smock with long sleeves in primary chevron from Ladybuglayne with monograming. There are so many cute styles and patterns for babies and children (up to age 9) and best of all, the cotton laminate will be a breeze to clean.

Personalized kids Picks, Waterproof smock, Waterproof apron, Back-to-school, arts and crafts, smocks for kids, great gifts

Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Personalized items make great presents for kids of all ages. What are your favorite personalized items for back-to-school?

I was not compensated for this post but I did receive Mabel’s Labels for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Back-To-School Giveaway …

August 7, 2014 By admin

I’m super excited to join some of my favorite bloggers for a Back-to-School Giveaway! If you’ve got kids you’re definitely going to want to enter.

It’s time to get ready to head back to school and a group of us got together to share some of our favorite products that make that first day a little easier for both parents and students.

Read on and enter below to win everything on the list…

Now to introduce you to the awesome bloggers hosting this giveaway! Stop by and visit them to say thanks! Destiny of Suburban Wife, City Life, Courtney & Julie of The Chirping Moms, Lyla of Globetrotting Mommy, Kris of My Strange Family, Elizabeth of MommieDe, Esti of Primetime Parenting, Lynda of Main Street Mama and Jessica of Peekababy.

Here’s a breakdown and brief description of the amazing giveaway items…

$50 Stride Rite Gift Card

“A century of quality crafted footwear, designed specifically for kids.” Nothing says Back to School like a new pair of shoes and Stride Rite knows what little feet need.

$100 RUUM Gift Card

American’s Kids Ware ranging from birth to size 14Y this company will have you wishing picture day was everyday. The clothes are casual and stylish with quality at it’s finest.

Mabel’s Labels – choice of Stylish Scholars Combo or Ultimate Back to School Combo

A waterproof, dishwasher safe and microwave safe set of labels to put on anything you don’t want to risk losing. Their slogan is “Labels for the stuff kids lose.” To read a full review please visit Suburban Wife, City Life.

Vamousse – bottle of Lice Prevention and Lice Treatment

No one likes to talk about these unwanted visitors, but it’s best to be prepared and Vamousse helps to take care of both. These products are non-toxic and pesticide free. Killing the lice in as little at 15 minutes. A great secret weapon to have on hand.

BubbleBum – an inflatable car booster seat

This booster seat is the perfect item to have on hand when your child is going to someone else’s house after school or you’re picking up another child for a play-date after school. It meets all US safety testing standards and is appropriate for ages 4-11. To read a full review please visit Globetrotting Mommy.

Spbang – three reusable snack bags

This mom invented, made in the USA, lead free, phthalate free, bpa free and food safe bags are going to make packing lunches so easy. To read a full review please visit MommieDE.

Little MissMatched – backpack of your choice

A new backpack is much more than a place to hold your school supplies, but an expression of your child. These super fun bubble backpacks are not only stylish, but also so roomy!

Peppercorn Kids – $25 Gift Card

Whether you wear a uniform or everyday clothes allowing your child to accessorize shows their personality and fashion sense. Adorable hats, ties and bow ties for the little man of the house or a fun hair accessory or necklace for the little lady.

Skip-Hop – choice of zoo backpack and insulated lunch bag

Skip-Hop has been creating these adorable animal backpacks for years, and they have some new animals they’ve added to the family. Watching as your little one walks into the classroom is a little easier when they are wearing something so cute and functional. The insulated lunch bag is easy to wipe clean and perfect for on the go.

Sneakz Organic – case (12) of Chocolate Milkshake

If you have a picky eater, who loves to drink chocolate milk then you are set! Sneakz Organic combines 4 veggies into a delicious chocolate milkshake making you feel like a sneaky parent!

HABA USA – choice of Wildlife Mini Backpack

Perfect backpack for both school and exploring. A roomy inside with adjustable straps and chest strap there’s no worry for your little one sliding this off before getting to class.

Wall Pops – Learn to Write Chalkboard

You always say don’t write on the wall, but with this we encourage your child to! Wall Pops are easily repositionable and removable.

Raffi – Love Bug CD

Raffi has long been a passionate advocate for children and a sustainable world for today’s youth. ‘Love Bug’ resounds with Child Honouring principles and affirms Raffi’s place as the legendary children’s artist we all know him to be.

We are so grateful to all of the sponsors who are helping to support this giveaway with over $450 worth of products. This giveaway will run till Friday, August 15th at 11:59pm.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest …

July 28, 2014 By admin

It’s time for back-to-school shopping and today I’m sharing my picks for the coolest backpacks. I was at a Momtrends Back-to-School event last week and learned that the hot fall colors are…..cobalt, orange and berry. Read on if your tots are starting Kindergarden like mine, college kids backpacking through Europe or anywhere in between…

Blue has always been my favorite color so I’m loving these cobalt backpacks for boys.