Back-to-school season is finally here! Our favorite time of year when the kids have something to do all day and not complain about being bored and mom has time to get those summer pedicures she’s been waiting for. But that’s not the only reason to love BTS. These days, mom and kid products go hand-in-hand, and these handy new items are great for both home organization, moms on the go, and kids at school.
1. Grid-It or Lose It
Grid-It products have been a favorite of mine since I purchased my first backpack from them a year ago. This purchase isn’t only prime for kids—I get more use out of it than any youngster! The stretchy Grid-It board and the elastic organization bands neatly store your charging cords, and it’s perfect for school supplies or for storing small toys for fussy toddlers. These Grid-It boards save my life every day and everywhere, even on the go— keeping my beauty products from spilling all over my bag or holding keys on the key hook by the door. Another great option? Grid-It for your car visor. You’ll never be looking for that piece of gum or your sunglasses again —and it holds your EZ-Pass!
Get it here: Amazon; $10-$20
2. Backpacking in the City
*P.S. If you love this organization and want it on the go, check out Cocoon’s Backpacks–they come with a Grid It sheet installed in the front pocket! The roomy pack can fit almost any size lunch box, and I can pack my Macbook and iPad for days when I need to work on the go.
Get it here: Amazon; $57
3. Stay Hydrated
My mom always told me how important it was to stay hydrated, especially when I was younger and running around outside. “You can go weeks without food but only a day or two without water!” Although now I’m quite certain her claims were slightly inaccurate (I can’t last a few hours without food!), staying hydrated is necessary for all ages—especially kids when they’re trying to stay focused in school. The best way to ensure hydration at both work and school is to carry it with you, and that means having a fun, insulated water bottle like Hydroflask.
Even better? This awesome and reliable brand gives 5% of every purchase made and donates it to multiple charities and non-profits if you fill out their donation form, including Habitat for Humanity, World Wildlife Fund, and Adopt-A-Classroom. These bottles are my favorite because the outside never sweats (so many electronics of mine have been ruined this way) and when I fill it up with cold water or hot tea in the morning, it’s still at the temperature I want it at 2pm in the afternoon, thanks to the TempShield double wall vacuum insulated technology. It’s also BPA free!
Get it here:
Water Bottle–Amazon; $30 & up
Food Flask–Amazon; $29
4. Lunch on the go for all ages
I hate to admit it, but I was always one of those people who spent 20 bucks on lunch at work just because I was too embarrassed to be seen walking around with a kiddie lunch box that smelled like old peanut butter and barely kept my food chilled. Once I came across PackIt, I saved tons of money and was actually excited to pack my lunch every day. In terms for back-to-school (as if lunch wasn’t already the best time of the day) PackIt lunch boxes are perfect for making sure your kid’s food is still edible and appetizing. These lunchboxes have a patented freezable gel built into the sides of the bag, which means no ice pack is necessary for up to 10 hours. It’s like keeping your grub in an on-the-go fridge all day. Not having the ice pack take up half the bag is perfect for people who like to pack salads or a wide array of snacks! The PackIt site also has tons of patterns and colors, so whether you’re going for fun or professional, a person of any age can find something they like (even picky ones like me).
Get it here:
Camo Pack–Amazon; $19
Black Pack–Amazon; $23
5. All of the good stuff, none of the bad
The New Primal has released a line of jerky’s that both Mom and kid will love so much, making better snacking choices will be a breeze. Gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and full of flavor, these will fill you up and make you forget about the box of donuts in the break room. The kid friendly versions of these jerky sticks are perfect lunch box size, and give your child 6-7 grams of protein without overloading the calories–so much better than the empty calorie/carbohydrate snacks that are highly processed and filled with hormones. The best part about these paleo-friendly snacks is that I can actually pronounce all of the ingredients used to make the product. Whether you like the Classic Turkey Jerky or the Spicy Beef, all of the animals used to make these tasty snacks are pasture raised, grass fed, and free range. New Primal’s turkey farms actually have 4x the roaming space that the average commercial turkey farms have. That’s 4x more delicious!
