v 3 issue 2: Back to School

This issue is full of products for the kiddos headed back-to-school soon. From fashion to adorable bags and more.


Cover by Julie Cruz








1 A messenger bag which doubles as a backpack! Comes with water bottle compartments, a pencil organizer, zippered mesh pocket, and a matching insulated lunch bag. Functional & fabulous. - stylishkidsrooms.com. Enter code: TTWMAG for 10% off total purchase over $99.

2 The perfect back to school shoe.... Treat you little girl as well as yourself to these fantastic shoes from Cape Clogs. The soles are made of alder wood for longevity and wearability. Uppers made of high quality leathers in a multitude of patters and styles. Beware you will struggle to choose your favorites when purchasing these fantastic Swedish made clogs.

3 Dittany Baby tights have the ability to jazz up any outfit. Floral prints, wild colors, & animals take part in the 23 design choices. So fun, it's hard to pick just one. Enter code: TTWBTS09 for 15% off your purchases thru 8/20.

4 EM Tanner Designs is stacked with back to school accessories. The Me2aTEE backpacks and vertical funk water bottles are only two of the spunky designs to choose from. Both the backpack & the aluminum water bottle can be personalized with a name, so kiddos can easily keep track of their stuff! Enter code: TOTTRENDS for 20% off your total purchase.

5 Colored artist pencils are sure to stimulate the imagination of any child when they have creative names like banana yellow, mushroom green, & galaxy blue. Encased in a decorative tin for safe keeping, each set contains 24 rainbow colored pencils. - grasshopperstore.com.

6 The Busy Body Book is a necessity for organizing the activities of a new school year. Those in charge of the family business get a week-by-week view of schedules for the entire family. Vertical lines represent individual schedules and horizontal lines give a glance of the whole family's daily plan. Enter code: BBBtot for 10% off your purchases thru 8/16.

7 Smooth lines and cool colors lend a modern feel to this lunch tote from milkdot. Moms & kids can proudly store snacks and lunches in one of the snazziest lunch bags with an easy to carry handle and personal i.d. tag. Great deal at $25.

8 The lines of these Pylarn O. Pyret items may be straight & narrow, but the clothes are all fun. Shirts, ants, and even toys can be found dressed in stripes. 100% organic. Enter code: Autumn for FREE shipping for orders of $50 or more.


Bathroom DIY Projects for Mom:
If you're a mom without much help around the house, you might feel intimidated by the prospect of doing your own home repair. There's no reason you can't do minor bathroom projects on your own. Here are a few small jobs you can do in the bathroom to improve things immensely.


Stripping and Replacing Caulk
This one isn't a lot of fun for most people, but it's not hard at all. To strip and replace caulk, you'll need a scraping tool of some kind, such as a razor blade (wear gloves to protect your hands), water or caulk remover (start with water) and new caulk, plus a caulk gun. Silicone caulks are the most popular and versatile, but you can also choose acrylics and other options.

There are even attractively colored caulks available - just make sure you get one that's mildew proof. Scraping the old caulk out mostly involves physical work, plus soaking the area with wet rags for a few days or using rubbing alcohol or commercial caulk remover to get rid of the residue. Once that's done, let the area dry, then apply your new caulk in an even bead with the caulk gun. Work with a steady, smooth motion and don't be afraid to wipe it up and try again.

Replacing Faucets
Changing out nonfunctional faucets on the sink or tub, or simply installing a new washer to stop a drip in its tracks, are relatively easy. Sure, you'll have to turn the water off under the sink or at the source (depending on the design of the sink), but it's hard to mess this job up. Just make sure you understand which type of faucet you have if you'll be disassembling it, and the package instructions if you'll be installing a new one, and don't do the job in a rush.

Changing Light Fixtures
This is a relatively simple procedure as well. Be sure that the current to the fixture is off, then follow the instructions on the package. Always be careful when dealing with electricity, and make sure any ladders you use are stable. However, putting in a new light fixture is really quite easy.

New Paint or Wallpaper
If you've painted or wallpapered before, this will be a relatively easy job (though painting and wallpapering behind radiators and toilets can be tricky). If you haven't taken on a task of this type before, be sure to talk to someone who has, and take it a little at a time. Read up extensively on the job. If you're working behind fixtures, old wallpaper can be removed with a long scraper, and new paper can be carefully worked in using both hands, then smoothed with a roller.

Installing a Spa Shower Head
This is a super simple job, especially if you have an easily removed shower head. Some can simply be screwed right onto the protruding pipe, with no adhesives required. Older heads may require you to use solvents and a wrench to remove the old head, and glues to attach the new one. Remember to use pipe tape to prevent any leaking!


Back to School Preparation
To avoid the chaos that comes with the start of a new school year start now by introducing your children to their new routines.

-Adjust bed time for back to school, transition slowly a few weeks before school starts. This way you won't have a grumpy child when it’s time to wake them up for their first day.

- Get their brains in gear. Purchase some work books and games that are geared to your child’s grade. Use them to refresh ideas that they learned last year so they are fresh in their minds when it comes time to reapply them in school.

- Arrange for before/after school care if needed. Let your child know where they will be going before/after school so that they know what to expect and who they are going to stay with.

- Have you gone through your child's wardrobe? Take them back to school shopping. Do this a little at a time. Shopping marathons are too stressful!

- Make a calendar. Get some poster board and make a giant calendar. Not only is it a great art project but your kids can get a visual idea of what their days and weeks will be like.

Whether your kids are heading to preschool or setting foot into their first years of grade school, the back to school season can be a trigger for tantrums and anxiety.

Initiate good behavior by offering them a reward for getting through the morning stress-free and sticking with their routine. Rewards can be a simple way for them to get into some positive back to school habits.

Prepare for school the night before. Avoid the anxiety of running late and not having their bag packed by preparing the night before. Make this your evening routine so they can count on having a nutritious lunch ready to go, or having the supplies and accessories they need. Even organizing their clothes for the next day can free up your time in the morning and ensure they won't go through a 'wardrobe episode' at the final hour.

When it comes to going back to school it doesn't hurt to be as prepared as possible.