We know most of our readers still have kids a few years away from making demands as to the brand of sneaker on their feet or backpack on their shoulders. Until then, the choice is all yours, mamas. So we've uncovered some fabulous goodies for the beginning of school, most from indie shops and smaller designers.
Plus some awesome discount codes. Of course, discount codes.
The picks here are entirely, as always, advertorial free. Just the stuff we love from sites we trust. But we adore our sponsors too! Click over and score yourself some great deals.
Help us spread the word by posting a Cool Mom Picks BTS button on your website or blog sidebar, and you'll be entered to win an extraordinary back-to-school prize package valued at more than $700!
You could win:
*A $200 gift certificate towards clothes, gifts and gear from the fabulous boutique The Silly Wagon
*A $200 gift certificate towards CMP's favorite labeling essentials from Mabel's Labels.
*The celebrity fave Whipstitch Leather Diaper Bag from Nest in trendy metallic bronze so that mama gets a little something-something for her efforts too.
Congrats to lucky winner Jill D, winner of these amazing prizes just for putting our button up!
The Coolest Backpacks and Bags
We've found enough fun, funky schoolbag options that your kids will hardly need any convincing to forgo yet another made-in-China licensed character in their possession.
*The It Bag for boys this year has to be Room Seven's Spaceship Dog bag which is selling out before it even gets into stock. Fabulous, but not cheap. ($119.95 at The Silly Wagon)
*Little kids love the modern Little Kids Backpacks from Dante Beatrix, if only they can get past the hurdle of choosing their favorite animal. Also available at Itty Bitty Ladybug. ($36, shown)
*Any kid will be delighted to zoom to school with a shiny Zid Zid Airplane bag at the ready. ($37.95, shown)
*Your little easy rider will look too cool toting the black nylon Biker Bag ($35) and matching insulated lunch pack. ($18 at Chocolate Cake Club)
*As an alternative to backpacks, the mini messenger bags from Ellie Bellie Kids are beautifully handmade out of canvas. No polyester here, thanks. ($32, shown)
Little Dudes and Divas: 10% off with code COOLMOMPICKS thorugh 8/31/08. Free shipping with $50 purchase, and free bib with any diaper bag purchase over $100
Itty Bitty Ladybug: *10% off everything and free shipping on orders over $99 at Itty Bitty Ladybug with code COOLMOM10 through 9/15/2008
Little Jet Set: 10% off any order with code COOLMOM through 9/30/2008
Ellie Bellie Kids: 20% off regular-price items with code CMP through 10/1/2008
The Coolest Kicks to Go From Blackboard to Blacktop
We love the shoe shopping perhaps best of all each fall. Here are a few of our favorite new styles to take kids from the schoolroom to the school yard looking comfortably chic.
*Fair trade, fashionable, and sustainable kids sneakers from Veja now come in sizes up to 10 in easy but chic color combos.($60 at Nonchalant Mom, shown)
*See Kai Run has launched their new eleven line for kids 3+ with plenty of sweet options for fall. (most $54)
*Vincent is one of our first stops for stylish, sturdy kids shoes that don't break the bank. Our picks for fall: Sporty, soccer-inspired Hampus ($39.95) and the more polished Frederik. ($44.95, shown)
*Looking for sneaker alternative? West Village Kids is trendy boot central. Check out the Pom D'api flower boots in a shimmery mauve at a mere $156 (shown). The quilted black boot for boys (or rocker chicks) is equally drool-worthy for $138.
*Preppies-in-training can sport the handmade soft leather Emilio loafers from Livie & Luca in yacht-club approved forest green and taupe.($37.50)
*If foul weather kicks are on your list, check out the rainboots from Small Paul at Modernseed. We thought we were over skulls...until we saw these. (Reduced to $28, shown)
*Aigle's Bison Wellies are olde London chic. ($64 at Tiny McSmall)
*Let-It-Rain offers up classic Wellies in traditional neutral colors. Oh, and pink. ($32)
West Village Kids: 15% off sitewide with code CMPSept through 9/21/2008
Tiny McSmall: 10% off with code BACKTOSCHOOL through 9/30/2008
*Send your future spelling bee winner off in a Sapient shirt from SATees. If she can spell it, all the better.($20.99)
*Artist Sarah Utter's Future Librarian tee is awesome, but we wish it came for boys too. ($14.95 at Buy Olympia)
*Okay, so you can get a wee bit smart-alecky, even with an alphabet tee, if you're procuring yours from the series of child-unfriendly alphabet shirts for up to 3 years. R is for Roadkill is one of the tamer options.(about $30 US at Twisted Twee, shown)
Girl Mogul: 15% off your order with code GMCMP1001 through 9/30/2008
The Coolest Peanut Butter Carriers, Hold the PVC
Why oh why do people continue making lunchboxes lined with a known carcinogen? No idea, but we've got some way cool alternatives.
*The one thing cooler to your kid than Diego's name on his lunchbox? His own name. We love the personalized flame lunchbox from em tanner. ($35.95 at the Silly Wagon, shown)
*Cute and CEH-recommended Lunchbug lunch bags now come in a colorful Matisse-y flower print. Ooh la la. ($19.50 at Nubius Organics)
*Munchlers from Built NYC are funky animals that unzip to placemats. Awesome. ($9.99 at Nubius Organics, shown)
*Just want the basics, grab a couple ACME Bags made from recycled cotton. ($6.95) You can even let your kid dress his up with stickers or collectible Pak Nak charms. ($3.99 ea)
*We just adore Fleurville's Lunch Pak with space-age silver trim that can be worn as a backpack. ($32, shown)
*If you can trust your kid to bring home all the pieces--and that's a big if--the bento boxes from Laptop Lunches are not only safer, they cut down on a ton of waste. Moms swear by them! ($20.99 and up)
Pak Nak: 15% off with code CMP15 through 9/30/2008
Laptop Lunches: 10% off with code coolmom through 12/31/2008
The Coolest Lunchbox Treats
Yes, we know you always pack healthy, low-fat, well-balanced lunches. But once in a while, a special treat is called for. Or maybe mama just needs an extra hug at the end of the day.
*Have a box of the Wicked Whoopies whoopie pies shipped from Maine then stick them in the freezer until lunch packing time. The flavors are outrageous. ($24, shown)
*If you've got a kid with a peanut, egg or dairy allergy, there's no better resource than Divvies, a lovely family-run company which rocks the cookies, candy, flavored popcorns and much lauded cupcakes. You can even get the cookies automatically sent every month. (Snacks $5 and up, shown)
You already know where to stock up on the basics. But splurge a little on some special green supplies, and give the kids a valuable lesson before school even starts.
*Stubby Pencil Studio has the motherlode of green colored pencils including Smencils, the scented colored pencils made from recycled newspapers that kids go nuts for. ($14, shown)
*Instead of juice boxes, send your kids off with a cool resusable water bottle. There's a nice selection at Nubius Organics including the new colored Kleen Kanteens ($15.95+) and the affordable New Wave Enviro bottles ($9.50+).
*We've seen staple-free staplers before, but never ones as charming as the doggie and kittie staplers at Think Geek. ($7.99, shown)
*Plan Toys Happy Shape Pencils: So cute! And made from recycled rubberwood with no chemicals. Get lots. (.95 for four at Kangarooboo.)
*A totally non-toxic glue stick? Absolutely, if it's this one from Coccoina which smells like marzipan. Don't eat it. ($4.50 at See Jane Work)
*Family-run EcoJot makes a "Kids Rule" line of sweet-looking 100% recycled notebooks. The Apples Sketchbook and Birdbrain Jumbo Notebook are our faves. ($7.50+ at Journals & Notebooks, shown)
*The new Eco backpacks from Dante Beatrix are made of nylon fashioned entirely from
recycled plastic bottles. Also? They look incredibly cool. ($50, shown)
Stubby Pencil Studio: Free thank-you variety pack of Color 'n Kids cards with any purchase. Use code CMPfall08 through 12/31/2008
The Coolest Uncoats
One way to avoid the PUT YOUR COAT ON NOW! argument: Skip the coats and opt for layers, like these cool hoodies and sweaters that kids won't want to take off.
*Your little angel will look more Hell's Angel in a Don Ed Hardy hoodie. Well, a Hell's Angel with a trust fund.($105+, shown)
*MomAgenda's new 17-month wall calendar has planning space for you plus up to 4 kids.($19.95)
*Let's face it, we're all working moms, and Mommytrack'd has us covered with their handy Mom Essentials Organizer. ($14.95)
*Here's one that's absolutey free: The Cozi online family calendar which is so smart, you can even get your grocery list sent to your cell phone. (Freeeeee)
*Studio JK does some cool things with vinyl labels" to help keep all those toys and craft supplies organized. ($18, shown)
*Lunch Lessons is a thoughtful, helpful manual to better, faster lunch-packing. No spending six hours pureeing spinach to hide in brownies either. ($15.61, shown)
*Make sure someone else is doing the cooking once in a while! Someone with a big white hat and a culinary degree. For those ocassions, get a hold of the Baby Daze Sitter Slips. ($6.95 at Chocolate Cake Club)
*Tequila. 28 bucks.
Mom Agenda: Free shipping on purchases of $75 or more with code COOLMOM through 9/30/2008
