The 2012 Back to School Shopping Guide

Kids always look forward to lunchtime, but maybe more so when they’ve got a special school lunchbox that feels different from the rest. Forget brown-bagging it; these reusable options are not only fun, they’ll protect those snacks and save you lots of money in the long run.

ice cream cone lunchbox $34 at beatrix ny	stars and stripes lunch bag $30 at dabbawalla	ruby soft lunchbox $32 at my cocolime
goodbyn lunch pack $19.95 CDN at style kid	personalized star wars lunchbox $29.99 at sassy alice	argyle lunchbox with monogram $22.50 at pb teen
bento lunchbox with custom photo $42.90 at yubo	insulated shinzi katoh tote $29.50 at my sweet muffin	snake skin insulated lunch box $14.95 at lunchboxes.com
hello kitty 3-D lunchbox $12.95 at lunchboxes.com	kid-designed madbox lunch box with cold pack $26.25 on sale at lands end	dog lunch bag $19.99 at built ny

There’s something so sweet about buying our toddlers their very first backpacks for preschool and daycare. Make sure you get that first day of school picture of your kid wearing it. It’s priceless.

vespa toddler backpack + matching lunch pouch $65 at soyoung mother	reversible child’s satchel $29.95 at apple and bee	dinosaur toddler backpack $19.99 at kangarooboo
monogrammed small messenger bag $29.25 on sale at lands end	dog backpack/comes with superhero mask $29.99 from little packrats	retro robot backpack $25 at cattiwampus
blue stars school bag $38 at my sweet muffin	personalized bird backpack $29.50 at pottery barn kids	agatha ruiz de la prada backpack $40.99 at amazon

When your kid’s backpack starts to need room for more than loveys and a half-sandwich, it's time for a big kid bag. These are some of our favorite options this year. They’re roomy, they’re sturdy, and of course they’re cool. (We hear such things matter when you’re a big grade-schooler.)

madpax bubble backpack $59.99 at magic beans	backpack with 50% profits going to children in need $75 preorder at esperos	shaun white laptop pocket backpack $34.99 on sale at target
overton backpack $39.99 at ful	pink peony canvas backpack + matching lunch pouch $75 at soyoung mother	converse backpack $32 at ebags

If we get a little tired making the same sandwich every day, our kids just might be feeling the same way. We love finding resources and ideas to make things a little more fun, and are so happy to share eco-friendly, reusable products that save you money all year long.

special day snack printables free at beth proudfoot	transportation lunch punch set $14.50/4 at amazon	mr men water bottles $15.99 at ecomom
just bento cookbook $12.86 at amazon	shinzi katoh 4 piece bento set $23 at my sweet muffin	happikins cloth napkins $17.99/3 at laptop lunches
ice pack with purified water $4.95 at goodbyn	hello kitty funtainer $14.69 at target	heart shaped hardboiled egg tutorial at anna the red
happy forest water bottle $19.99 at sigg	spork with knife $2.95 at lunchboxes.com	lunchskins reusable snack + sandwich bags $7.85+ at lunchskins / lunchskins2 $10.00/3 at most target stores
hard-boiled egg molds $2/ea at amazon	food storage containers $14.99 at lunchbots	silicone baking cups to hold fruit/veggies $7.11 at amazon
mini lunch notes $9.95 at amazon	takenaka bento $29.50 at harabu house	lunchbox awesome tumblr for people with lots of free time

Sometimes the fun of preparing for the school year isn’t braving the lines at the stores--it’s spending some QT with the kiddos and helping them make something they can be proud of all year. We love these back-to-school craft ideas from some of our favorite bloggers, including plenty that turn the new Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape line into something wonderful. You’ve got 11 colors and 14 patterns to choose from - go forth and be crafty!

DIY scotch duct tape pouches tutorial at brit.co	washi paper pencil craft tutorial at omiyage blogs	DIY composition book cover tutorial at cut out and keep
DIY scotch duct tape pretty pencil case tube tutorial on scotch	DIY painted sneakers tutorial on etsy	color blocked scotch duct tape silhouette art tutorial at vintage revivals
DIY colored pencil necklace tutorial at design mom	scotch duct tape bracelets for party+playdate activities tutorial at make and takes	DIY lunch bag with photo fabric tutorial on etsy
DIY chore jar tutorial at whatever deedee wants	scotch duct tape gift and storage envelopes tutorial on scotch	DIY felt pencil cases tutorial on martha stewart

While of course you’ll hit the discount stores for reams of paper, discount packs of Scotch tape, and multipacks of pencils, it’s always nice to have a few items in the mix that get kids excited for the year ahead. These are just a few of the totally fun school supplies that make us smile every time we look at them.

shark pencil case $35 at minnebites	vintage personalized book labels $19.95/set at tinyme	jellybean coin purse $6 at psychobaby
tween pack of labels $21 at mabel’s labels	kokeshi doll erasers $1/ea at stubby pencil studio	splat labels $26.95/set at stuck on you
portable lap desk $24 at all for color	guitar paper clips $3.95/20 at international arrivals	custom binders and folders $4.95-26.95 at frecklebox
zombie backpack zipper pull $5 at kelly’s magnets	personalized kids pencil cases $24.95 at apple and bee	bandages against bullies $5/20 at ouchies
eco highlighters $6.95/4 at stubby pencil studio	awesome bike bell $6.50 CDN at style kid	bulldog mini eco-journal $4.95 at ecojot

Sending our kids off to preschool for the first time is the most wonderful, scary, bittersweet thing. Here are just a few items that might help make the transition a little more fun. And a little more practical. (Sorry, we have nothing that will guarantee they actually sleep at naptime.)

craft apron $19.95 at stubby pencil studio	handmade organic napmat $109 at sewn natural	printable lunchbox cards free at meet the dubiens
personalized fleece blanket $45 at admiral road	personalized small todd parr lunchbox $29.95 at frecklebox	designer series shoe labels $24.95/18 at stuck on you
all natural buckwheat toddler pillow $49 from honey dumplings	drawer stickers to encourage self-dressing $5 at crafterhours	wonder box monthly subscription $19.99/mo from education.com

Holy 1985 redux, neon is back and our kids think they’ve discovered it! Eh, let them. If you don’t still have an old Frankie Says Relax shirt you can dig out, these lime, fuchsia, orange and citron picks might be the next best way to brighten up your kids’ back-to-school wardrobes.

saucony kids sneakers $60 at piperlime	candy striped iphone case $35 at kate spade	ruffled tutu $8 at old navy
collapsible nylon daypack $24 at baggu	quilted vest $35.90 at zara	colorful clipboards $34 at minnie and emma
rivington puffy jacket $92 at appaman	orange storage trunk $99 at container store	lime sunglasses $16 at lands end
girls citrus cords $52.50 at jcrew	velour jacket $25.90 at zara	cambridge satchel $155 at bloomingdales
neon tipped made-to-order girls shoes $85 at schier	footless leggings $36 at luna leggings	scotch colors + patterns duct tape 11 colors, 14 patterns at retailers everywhere

In the very likely event that your kids have ambitions besides becoming a “diva” or a “future pimp” and that your daughters (gasp) actually don’t think math is haaaaaaard, here are a few tees to highlight some interests we think are super cool.

remember pluto tee $22 at geekie	elements of the body tee $34 at peek kids	poet tee $34 at peek kids
artist tee $24 at red 21 boys	i’ve been thinking tee $28 at lately lily	the sky is the limit tee $23 from cantaloupe corner

The only thing hotter than neon this fall might be things that glow-in-the-light. Without sending your kids off to school dripping in sequins and bling, here are a few modestly metallic accessories to add just a little punch to any cool kid’s wardrobe.

superga gold sneakers $55 at zappos	glam smartphone case $40 at case-mate	terry star tee $52 at shirin nyc
sequined bow tie headband $4 on sale at old navy	ballet flat boots $75 at umi	rose art glitter glue pens $2.88 at amazon
gold athletic shorts $10 on sale at old navy	glitter notebook binder $8.99 at staples	morie moccasins $60 at umi
girls glitter sneakers $10 on sale at old navy	roller derby queen barrettes $8/pair at natty bratty	TOMS glitter mary janes $36 at TOMS

We’re big fans of baby carrots, crisp apples, and broccoli florets in the lunchbox as any parent. But sometimes you just need something you can reach for quick in the pantry. Here, a few treats for kids that you can still feel pretty good about.

kashi pita crisps	sunmaid vanilla yogurt raisins	late july organic chips
gogosqueez applesauce	lesser evil veggie sticks	fruitabu organic fruit rolls
kashi blackberry graham cereal bars	organic happy tot pouches	lesser evil all-natural kettlecorn

Back to school time isn’t just for the kids, right? Here are just a few of our favorite items to help keep you sane through the school year. Unless you volunteer to chair every single fundraiser--in which case we can only help you a little.

self laminating write-on labels $12/pack at mabels labels	cloud cork board $20 at see jane work	sports years memory book $32 at momagenda
free printable chore charts free at brought to you by the letter b	non-toxic stain remover $5.95 at the honest co	art box storage $18 at see jane work
dry erase calendar wall decals $20.99/set at wall pops!	natural antibacterial hand soap $24.99/4 at cleanwell	school year file $19.95 at buttoned up
burt’s bees aloe/witch hazel hand sanitizer $4.79 at drugstore.com	six o'clock scramble cookbook $12.66 at amazon	theBalm stainiac dual lip-cheek stain $17 at birchbox doing your makeup in 10 seconds, priceless