We just completed Week 6 of Distance Learning and our daily schedule is starting to become the new norm around here. Last week finished with its fair share of challenges, but I digress. Just a few short weeks before the end of the year and still so many changes are among us. This lockdown is taking its toll, but we’re making it work.
Mother’s Day
Happy Belated Mother’s Day to all of the mommies out there. I’m constantly reminded that I am absolutely blessed to be the mother of such fun-loving and interesting littles. This Mother’s Day was especially important because the last few weeks have had me second-guessing myself a lot! While the boys are struggling with learning from home, I’m definitely having a hard time balancing work, teaching school, and managing the house.
Regardless of my struggles – I am so thankful for all that I have and all that I’ve been blessed with. I just wanted to share that, in case there is ever any doubt in anyone’s mind. Mother’s Day was celebrated with great food and even greater company.
Is Hawaii ready to reopen again?
In today’s Podcast Episode I discuss my thoughts on reopening Hawaii and getting back to normal without lockdown. I have a reason for chatting about it since I experienced something interesting this past weekend. You can listen to the Podcast Episode below. Honestly, I think that it’s way too soon to do so and not a good idea. But, if you want to really get my thoughts on the subject, tune in to the segment.
Our Adventures for last week
The twins and Kevin Ka’eo had quite a fruitful schedule last week. Their days were filled with Zoom meetings and there was quite a bit to do. We were so busy we didn’t get a chance to go on more than one walk for the week. I spent a few days out of the week working on jewelry pieces and working through a content schedule. My goal is to get on a better plan for the blog and posting. I’m pretty proud that I’ve been able to keep consistent lately.
On our walk last week we found a gorgeous array of florals lining a neighbors yard. I have seen flowers like these before, but never in a yard. We photographed it to do a little research. It’s called the Moss Rose or Portulaca Grandiflora. It is a succulent flowering plant in the family Portulacaceae, which is native to Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. It is often cultivated in gardens, though I do not recall seeing it in a household garden before. This gorgeous flower has many common names which include: rose moss, ten o’clock, Mexican rose, moss rose and Vietnam rose. Some also call it sun rose, rock rose and moss-rose purslane.
In that one yard, we saw at least 5 different colors. To say that this is a beautiful flower is an understatement. I immediately fell in love with it when I saw it. I hope I can pick up some seeds and plant some in my garden.
Teacher Appreciation Week (last week)
While it seems like the time is dragging when it comes to school, we are all excited that the school year is ending. But, it also makes us a bit sad. Last week Friday we went to the boys’ school to pick up their belongings from their desks. It was such a sweet thing for the boys to experience because staff and teachers were lining the parking lot with signs that said: “We Miss You, We’re Proud of You, We Love You!” I cried because it filled me with so much emotion. I’m incredibly thankful for all that the teachers and staff of the boys’ schools have done for my sons. We all agree that this is not the way we wanted to end the school year. But I’m so grateful for all the teachers and their hard work and support through this uncertain time. I definitely could have not been able to teach the kids without guidance for the last 2 months.
We certainly have a lot to get done this week and a fruitful schedule. But, we are so excited to share our adventures with all of you. What have you been up to lately? Anything new in your World? Wishing you all a wonderful week!
I can’t believe we are midway through week 4 since distance learning has become the new norm. The boys are feeling the pressure as the sanctuary they call…
We are almost done with Week 3 of this Stay-at-home order in Hawaii, due to the Covid-19 Global pandemic outbreak. Schools have been closed and homeschooling has become…
I know that staying home and having a binge session of Netflix shows sounds appealing to many as they begin the Lockdown or self-quarantine due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), but “Netflix & Chill” may not be so exciting when you can’t figure out what to watch. There are so many movies and television shows, Netflix Originals and so much more available to stream, but I figured I would make it a bit easy. I’ve listed a bunch of movies and shows I have watched in the past and plan to rewatch (or already rewatched) again while stuck at home for the next 3 weeks or more. While some of these movies & shows may not be your cup of tea, I figured I would include anything that would allow us to relax, grab a coffee or a glass and wine and ride out this storm (literally).
Criminal Minds
Did you just watch final series episode of Criminal Minds a few weeks ago like I did? Well, while it seems like an end of an Era (yes, I went there), we can relive the feeling of catching an Unsub from the beginning, with Gideon, Hotch and the rest of the original gang. Netflix has Seasons 1 – 12 ready and waiting for your binge-watching pleasure. I watched Criminal Minds when it was first released in 2005 and have seen every episode since its debut, but I am rewatching it all again. I’m reminded that the characters like JJ, Morgan, Garcia and Dr. Reid have grown so much over the years, 15 years to be exact. While I’m not sure I’m ready for the emotional rollercoaster that I know I’m about to re-experience, I’m excited to see the BAU do it all over again. How about you?
MindHunter
Come on, did you think I would list Criminal Minds and not Mindhunter? Based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. This series takes us on a wild ride following FBI Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) who operate the FBI’s BSU (Behavioral Science Unit), within the FBI in Quantico, Virginia. They interview serial killers to understand how they think in hopes that what they learn will help them solve ongoing cases. The original season is set in the early days of criminal psychology and profiling at the FBI. The character of Holden Ford is loosely based on FBI agent John E. Douglas, the author of the book. The character of Bill Tench is based on the FBI agent Robert Ressler who helped start the BAU. Unfortunately, in January of this year, Netflix announced that the series was on indefinite hold, but that just means it will give us time to watch the series. If you are a fan of criminal movies or series like Criminal Minds, I think you’ll enjoy the mind-twisting series that is MindHunter.
Mad Money
If you’re going stir crazy in the house, why not watch Mad Money? Let’s be real, most people who know me, know I’m a huge fan of Queen Latifah, but besides that, this movie from 2008 has all the comedy and crime you could use to keep you laughing and excited. Starring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and the Queen herself, this movie is sure to get you plotting your next job heist, if you weren’t on lockdown, of course. All jokes aside though, this movie is fun to watch and will surely keep you entertained for a little while. Who wouldn’t want a little Mad Money to spend while self-quarantined in a house with an endless supply of online websites to shop from?
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Yup – I’m taking you back, way back! I remember when I watched To Wong Foo for the first time, back in good ol’ 1995. Who doesn’t love a great Patrick Swayze movie? Boy, I’m not gonna lie, he was lost too soon and we were cheated out of great movies. If you are a child of the 80s and 90s, then I highly suggest you watching this movie on Netflix while it’s still available. Starring Wesley Snipes as Noxeema, Patrick Swayze as Ms. Vida and John Leguizamo as Chi-Chi, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll have all the great feels. I remember when I first watched this show, I was so excited to see Jason London in it, lol. These gorgeous beauties take us on a wild ride on a beautiful Cadillac convertible as they drive cross country from New York City to Hollywood. Their journey takes them through parts of the country where alternative lifestyles are not easily accepted and where they make great friends. Definitely an old-school favorite, but worth the watch again or if you haven’t watched it yet, a good one to check out.
Otherhood
Based on the novel by William Sutcliffe, named Whatever Makes You Happy, Otherhood follows three suburban mothers who show up to their sons’ homes unannounced. Starring Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette, and Felicity Huffman, Otherhood is about moms who are basically going through a midlife crisis. Yes, it’s kind of a cliche, but the message is basically about a bunch of moms who are going through empty nest syndrome. I found the simplicity of it to be a bit predictable, but as a mom of 3 boys, it also reminded me that this can always be a reality. It’s got some funny scenes, the kind that makes you giggle and remind you of parts of your own life, but also a few moments that make you think about the future. A good Mama Bear movie to watch on a Sunday when you want to stay cuddled up in your PJs in bed, with a warm cup of joe topped with whip cream.
Wine Country
Having just celebrated my 40th birthday, I truly enjoyed watching this movie a few months ago when it was released and have it on my binge-watch list for lock-down. Wine Country celebrates womanhood and comedy in a movie where a bunch of longtime friends plan a getaway for Rebecca’s (Rachel Dratch) 50th birthday. You have every type of personality in this movie, from the workaholic, the homebody, the weary mom and more. This movie is funny and kept me laughing through most of it, but it also has a little bit of crude sexual humor and some content not meant for little ones. I will say though, this is one for moms of all ages and even a great chick-flick for a day-in. Starring Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer and Paula Pell.
Nappily Ever After
Yup – I’m a huge fan of Rom Coms, but truly – who isn’t? Based on the novel by Trisha R. Thomas, Nappily Ever After stars the beautiful Sanaa Lathan as Violet Jones. Like any “discovering yourself” type of movie, it starts out where Violet (a successful businesswoman who seems to have a perfect life) is waiting on her longtime boyfriend to propose to her. When he doesn’t, she breaks up with him and it all goes downhill from there. Violet’s once fairytale life seems to unravel while she has to learn to love herself on the inside as well as the outside to be happy. I fell in love with this movie because as women, we often forget that we live lives full of pressure that instills in us that we must be perfect at all times. This movie is funny and romantic but also reminds us that women of all colors, but especially black women, are often judged for more than just the color of their skin. Sometimes we have no choice but to guard our feelings and we don’t even realize that we do it until things start to fall apart. This is a great movie to watch if you haven’t already and watch it again if you loved it as much as I did.
Falling Inn Love
I have always been a Christina Milian fan and I knew I had to watch Falling Inn Love when it released last year. This movie is a simple rom-com that features a San Francisco city girl (Milian) who has a landslide of problems happen all in the same week and while drinking her sorrows away, enters a contest and wins an Inn in New Zealand’s countryside. After traveling to the location of a place that is basically falling apart, she partners with Jake Taylor (Adam Demos) and works to not only rebuild the Inn but herself in the process. Yes, this is probably your standard chick-flick, but it’s definitely a cute film to watch and if you’re looking to kill some time, I highly suggest it.
Juanita
I happened upon this movie while searching Netflix for a movie from Tyler Perry. Starring Alfre Woodard, Juanita is fed up with her life and leaves her three grown kids behind as she hits the road in search of a fresh new start. It’s a movie based on the novel Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Sheila Williams. Juanita is on the search for hope and healing as she takes an impromptu trip to Paper Moon, Montana. This movie explores the complexity of life, relationships and friendships. I think that Alfre definitely made this movie a hit in my book. Grab a glass of wine and watch Juanita take her life back while exploring the possibilities along the way.
P.S. I Love You
Yes, I am getting a bit sappy on ya. P.S. I Love You is one of those movies I will always have in a “must-watch” list. In fact, it’s been on my “Watch list” for Netflix for a while now, even if I’ve seen it many times over. Starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler, this movie will always have “all the feels”. A widow discovers that her late husband has planned ahead and before he died, left her letters to help her cope with the loss as well as send her on adventures to help her “celebrate herself.” P.S. I Love You is one of those movies that makes you sad, happy and emotional all in one. “Sometimes there’s only one thing left to say.” Before jumping into this movie, make sure you grab a box of tissues… don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Series
I’m sure if you’re my age, you may remember the original television series Sabrina, The Teenage Witch starring Melissa Joan Hart. This show lasted 7 seasons on ABC and The WB and I remember watching it when I was in High School. Fast forward to 2018 and I give you the new, very dark and sinister – Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, starring Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman and Ross Lynch (if you have children, you may remember him from Austin & Ally) as Harvey Kinkle. Netflix released Season 3 a few months ago and with true “Honey Fashion”, I binged watched the entire season in 2 days. This remake (or reimagine) takes us on the adventures of Sabrina, a teenage witch that is learning how to maneuver her life as a half-witch, half-mortal while protecting her family and friends from the evil she is born into. This particular series is much darker than the original, but it’s difficult to stop watching it. I’m looking forward to season 4, but in the meantime, I will rewatch from season 1 all over again. There are references in this series that are sinister, so mommies beware – watch on your own time (especially if you have little ones). I think teens may enjoy the series if they like that kind of stuff.
Now that I’ve held you attention and hopefully have given you enough movies and series to get you through the next week, I hope your quarantine allows you to get caught up on all the things we sometimes miss doing in life. I know, it sucks to be cooped up and locked up in the house for hours or days on end, but I think this is so important for the safety of everyone around us. I also know that some of these movies and series may not be your cup of tea, hey, I’m not most people’s cup of tea… but at least it will give you something to check out while you’re stuck indoors. My goal is to release a bunch of other movies for different streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu and many others. I’ll also do some updates on different genres that you can check out too. I wish all of you health and an uneventful but fun time during this time when we all need to think of the health and safety of everyone. I’m excited that I get to get caught up on blog posts (I know, I’ve been slacking) and even videos and podcasts. This time will also allow me to do more things with my boys and we really have to get creative here, so I’m enjoying that too.
Here in Hawaii, most of us are on day 5 or more of the self-quarantine, social distancing, and lockdown during this coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Our Mayor just released…
No matter how old my boys get, I find myself still utilizing many of the items that I had for them when they were babies. Since I’m a work from home and stay at home mom, the number one thing I find I still use is a diaper bag. Now, hold on – obviously I’m not going to be using this particular bag to hold diapers, the boys don’t use those, ha ha! But, I don’t use my old diaper bags in the traditional sense. I turn my diaper bags into work and planner bags so I can take my work on the go. About 5 months ago I was sent this very cool bag from CiPU and today I’m going to share my thoughts on this accessory as well as how I utilize it for my personal use. It may not be traditional, but it’s functional and we all know I love anything that offers function to my life.
Now, it’s no secret that I’m a laid back simpleton, basically – I’m a casual gal. So when I can find something that works for me… I’m excited. I was contacted by CiPU and asked to try out this “diaper bag” and if I enjoyed it, if I could kindly provide a review. Here’s the deal – since I was using my Coach Diaper Bag from the twins as my work bag, I thought to myself… “hmm, this will be interesting to see how it would work for me.” And, so I accepted.
CiPU is pronounced – ‘Shee’ (translated to “happiness” in Chinese) and ‘Pu’ (translated to “store” in Chinese) like “shee” in sheet and “PU” in put.
CiPU was founded in 2009 by a group of mothers and brand owner Jarrah, all of whom had one shared inspiration – an idea to gift mothers love, happiness and affection. CiPUs focus is on style by exploring colors and patterns to suit every occasion, however – each bag is full of functionality (you see that word there, it’s golden to me) and created to meet a mother’s everyday needs.
“The Bowknot in their logo represents the ribbon on a gift, meanwhile it also looks like an “infinity” symbol. Since children are such a precious gift and a parent’s devotion to their children are testimonies of “infinitive love” the bowknot symbolizes infinite love and the power of gifts in a single wish, a wish that every mother can enjoy blissful, long-lasting memories with their children – the greatest gift in life.”
Each CiPU bag is hand-crafted with lots of love and many of the bags are limited in quantity since they only make a few of each design. They are each made from environmentally friendly materials and I love that CiPU offers Free US Delivery. All CiPU bags were created with different styles and patterns to focus on women because mother’s are still women and looks matter. Perfect for function while providing lightweight carryalls to take the load off your shoulders.
Check out my video review and come chit chat about this bag with me. My video can be found here or embedded below.
Lightweight | Stylish | Easy Cleaning | Organizable | Large Compartments | Water repellent
CiPU offers a variety of bags to fit the mothers’, fathers’ and even babies’ style. From Large tote bags like the one I have here to diaper backpacks in every type of color and design. I have my eyes set on a camouflage one, a plain black bag and the Leopard next. Let’s talk a little about this awesome diaper bag shall we?
I have the CiPU Tote Diaper Bag in Heather Gray (Large). This bag retails for $158.80 and comes with 13 large compartments to hold all of my necessities. Now, as I mentioned before, I’m not using this bag as a diaper bag, but as my work bag so this is perfect to host all of my planner supplies, planners and even my laptop and tablet all fit inside perfectly.
This bag features 1 hidden compartment (which I love to put the boys wipes in or even store their dirty clothes while out and about so it doesn’t mess up any of my papers. You also get the following accessories to go with your bag:
Personal belongings pouch – this pouch comes with detachable straps and you can use this to store your diapers, wipes and changing mat. I use this particular pouch to store my tablet for safe keeping and a few notebooks.
Foldable Changing Mat – this soft and easy to clean mat is perfect for changing baby, but again – I use this bag for work – so this changing mat is used as a little sitting mat for me when at the park or in case I want to put my bag down without sitting it directly on the floor. It’s machine washable which makes it perfect for on the go.
Retractable Key Hold – probably my favorite thing now to keep my eyes on hand at any given time.
Chest Strap – this helps to keep my strap in place to prevent slip-downs
Slip Proof Should Straps – these soft on the shoulder straps are great and comfy. It made long hours at the airport easy because my arms were not sore from carrying my bag too long.
Stroller Clips – These are great to clip to a wagon or stroller to keep your bag with you. I use it to attach to my sports cart so I am not taking up real estate of the wagon with my bag.
The material is very soft and easy to spot clean or wash should I need it. I love that this bag is water repellent (inside & out), especially since I always take it with me, that way I don’t have to worry about spills. This bag comes with a gorgeous hot pink and bright lining which makes it so easy to be able to see inside and grab everything that I need at any time. And, since this bag is made of quick dry material – it helps to prevent mold (so you don’t have to worry much about spills from milk bottles or juice causing mold if you don’t get it dried up quickly.) This bag is perfect for outdoors – whether rain or shine and I love that it’s so easy to take with you.
The CiPU Large Tote is very lightweight at just 1.2 lbs. – one of the lightest on the market. And, remember how I said CiPU offers different bags for different personalities and sizes, your littles can have their own little backpacks too.
So, now that you have a bunch of information to make an informed decision on whether or not this bag is for you… let me keep it real for you all. This bag is costly, but I am a handbag lover and most of my bags cost well over this amount already so I would spend this money in a heartbeat – especially after my great experience with this one over the last 5 months or so. When it comes to how I spend my money, I tend to look at things as an investment. These bags are an investment in not only your style and longevity of having them, but your comfort. They are easy to carry and hold, giving you various options and so easy to clean. As a busy mom, I know that the last thing we want to be doing is scrubbing a bag of strains or water spills. While I don’t currently use it strictly as a diaper bag, I know the quality of the bag will hold up in that if and when I should have another child – I’ll be able to use this. I also love that this is functional for me and allows me to use this as a “mommy bag” no matter the age of my children. I can carry all my work stuff inside while still have a ton of room for mommy stuff too – whether it be wipes, extra clothes, toys, books for reading on the go or games – whatever tickles your fancy.
We all know I am brutally honest here and I have to say – Yes, this bag is worth the cost and definitely high quality. Like I mentioned before – I have my eyes on a few others and I plan to get them.
Check out my video review:
You can check out the full range of products available at: https://www.cipu.us/
So what about you, have you heard of CiPU before and do you think you could utilize something like this? Are you a mommy looking for a little more help in the organizing and diaper bag compartment? Comment below and share your thoughts with me.
Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. I was not paid to provide my thoughts or to feature this product. Affiliate links are posted through out.
With the boys back in school and in the middle of this year’s football season, we are busy trying to keep ourselves on task and focused while still finding time to enjoy those “life” moments. Our daily schedules keep us on our toes and we are constantly looking for ways to not only unwind but help assist us in our productivity and our daily tasks. It doesn’t matter if your a student, teacher or parent… the day to day can get the best of us so any help… counts! With everything we have available at our finger tips, I knew that there just had to be a way to find something that would not only keep us on task, but also help us relax, focus and unwind some. Thankfully, there is a solution and a little assistance to help us out. Whether it be on an android smart phone or tablet, free apps (actually free) from Amazon Underground are to the rescue.
When you’re looking for something to keep your kiddos busy or to help with learning their alphabets or reading, there are apps that can help. Interested in getting a bit more organized or need something to unwind and relax your brain for the day – hey, Amazon Underground Always Free apps got you covered. You never have to worry about your kids downloading apps and games that will cost you money and you can get access to over 3,000 apps and games that are 100% FREE. Simply download them from Amazon Underground to your Amazon Fire tablet or Android smartphone and you are good to go.
There are so many apps available in the Amazon Underground catalog that there is something there for anyone – my whole family is enjoying the selection. 100% free apps & games are a part of the Amazon Appstore with access to great content that you would normally have to pay for in “other” App and Playstores, but they are at zero cost through Amazon Underground. I am loving that some of my favorite games are available through access to premium apps and my family and I get to take advantage of the fun and convenience while we take a break from our busy day.
As a mother the Amazon Underground apps allow me to take my coloring on the go – letting me take a few minutes to focus on me while coloring – utilizing an easy app I love called Adult Coloring or Zen: Adult Coloring Book. When my family and I like to work our brains and have some fun together, we enjoy playing Brain It On! or some of our favorite games called Cut the Rope, Sonic Dash and Zootopia also make for some family enjoyment. For drawing, sketching and note taking, the app Notepad+ is also a great selection for fun as well as productivity.
On night that I need to unwind and relax and fall asleep soundly and easily, I love using the White Noise Sleep Aid – the Forest Noise is ideal for falling right asleep and feeling rested the next morning when I awake. You see, the options are endless and the Amazon Underground app store offers you a variety of selections for the busy mom and dad, student and school performance and studying and even the college bound teen that needs a little help making the transition.
If you are looking for something fun to do, get productive or organized or just have a little “me” time, I highly suggest checking out Amazon Underground. It’s easy to use and many apps and games are available at your fingertips.
A video posted by Honey 🌺Honeygirlsworld.com (@honeygirlk) on
If you’re interested in checking out the Amazon Appstore and learn more about what it has to offer, click here and check out the Amazon Underground catalog of 100% free apps and games. You can also access the Amazon Underground on your Android smartphone by visiting here.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
With all the kiddos heading back to school for the 2016-2017 school year, Target has you covered. The “Made to Matter – Handpicked by Target” product collection…
As the season starts to change and the weather gets a tad bit chillier, the kiddos make their way back to school for the 2016-2017 year. I remember as a kid, going back to school was my favorite time of year because it meant that I would have the opportunity to impress a new set of teachers and meet new friends. My boys returned back to school at the beginning of August and while it has been a busy month so far, we are so excited and they have been absolutely loving school. Today I share with you a few of their favorite finds for Back to School from affordable selections that we love and a few Celebrity faves. Since back to school can be a fun time for kids or some may feel a bit uneasy, it’s the perfect time to pick up some new goods that will surely put a smile on your littles’ faces.
Going back to school after a fun summer break isn’t always easy for littles. But, finding cool Back to School gear and supplies always make for a great start. This year I wanted the boys to be able to develop their own sense of style (see the twins with their mohawks and sunglasses in the photo above? lol), but I also wanted them to select basics that would make their year fun and functional.
A quality made backpack is always an important part of back to school. My eldest Kevin has a full schedule of classes and a heavy workload and homework sometimes. It’s important that he has a backpack that can take him to and from school while still offering him the option to use for extra curricular activities and sports. His choice of gear for this year was the Mountainsmith Approach 25 backpack (retail: $89.95).
This multi-pocket backpack is perfect for on the go for work and office, school or sports, or for a hike to climb the highest summit. It features a dual-anel loader system which is idea for travel and trail), a front panel stretch-mesh pocket with daisy chain attachment loops, Anvil Airway ridged EVA back panel padding which make it comfortable on the back no matter what you carry in it, tool / trekking pole carry, side compression straps, dual side-panel mesh pockets, an internal hydration sleeve to hold 3 liters and an eleastic sternum strap and bit valve catch with a safety whistle.
This backpack is sturdy and unisex. He has it in burgundy with brick red trim and it looks stunning and manly. It’s comfortable on and Kevin can stuff this backpack with his school supplies and homework without worrying about it falling apart. It’s a great backpack to have for anyone of any age and is not only for school but anything. I plan to pick one up for myself as well since it will be great for my forest treks.
Luke opted for a fun and stylish backpack from Chooze. Chooze is a brand selected and loved by celebrities alike. Matthew McConaughey’s little girl is a huge fan of the versatile and affordable clothing and accessories Chooze offers. Luke wanted the reversible ChoozePack in Quest(retail $43.95).
These ingenious packs feature a reversible design that has two functional sides to give your kiddos the power to choose which print to display. It offers padded convertible straps (which Luke says are BOMB because they are so comfortable) and you can flip each strap from side-to-side to provide a different look.
Of course, no back to school list and gear would be complete without a way to carry your lunch and snack to and from school. Kevin opted for something he could use for school and sports and went with the Mountainsmith Takeout insulated lunch pack (retailing $17.95). It is the perfect sized carry-all for school, office and tailgating and has a look that any teen would enjoy.
To help carry his favorite mom’s delicious soups to school for lunch, he also selected the Hydro Flask Food Flasks. He has them in the 12 oz. (retails for $29.99) and the 18 oz. (retails for $34.99). These flasks are perfect to carry his favorite soups or a hot cocoa on those chilly mornings. They fit perfectly into any lunchbox and are the perfect way to give kids a balanced healthy meal. They offer improved temperature control technology and can keep hot food items made in the morning steamy until lunchtime. He also enjoys holding his milk in these and pours a small box of cereal inside for breakfast on the go.
Luke & Isaiah decided that getting a traditional lunchbox was the way they wanted to go this year. Each of them selected a Personalized Lunchbox from I See Me! (retailing for $29.99 each, currently on sale for $17.99. Isaiah chose the Kick, Score, Run Lunchbox and Luke chose the Outerspace Lunchbox. I See Me! is a brand and leader in personalized storyboks and gifts for kids, offering over 30 customizable book titles. They also offer lunch boxes, stickers, growth charts, puzzles and so much more. This fun company is a favorite of celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba and Brooke Shields.
Did I ever mention how much I enjoy Quinoa? Well, I couldn’t resist putting some of these yummy snacks in the boys lunch boxes. I Heart Keenwah snacks are perfect for any kiddo on the go or to pack with their lunch. These Grab n Go (1.5 oz) snacks are great afterschool or lunch treats that taste great and are fun and nutritious. I Heart Keenwah quinoa Clusters and Puffs are a healthy alternative to chips, crackers or sweets. They are made of organic, Non-GMO ingredients. They are a protein-rich superfood snack and gluten-free with the perfect crunch to fill and fuel your little ones bodies. I love them myself and the boys think they taste great. We find them at our local Safeway and Wholefoods at a reasonable cost.
Setton Farms International Premium Quality Snacks are also a great buy. Our favorite are the Creme Brulee Blend that has cashews and toffee peanuts. The Creme Brulee Blend incorporates all the creamy sweetness and crunch of the traditional Creme Brulee without the spoon. It combines freshly roasted cashews and toffee peanuts with creamy butterscotch and white chips for an irresistible treat. They are available in 5 oz resealable bags and available in major grocery store chains across the country – Price Chopper, Market Basket, King Kullen and more. Setton Farms sent us a variety of treats to try but the Creme Brulee Blend is our favorite. I hope we can find more of these in our local stores, so far I’ve only found them at http://www.puritan.com/ and I’ll need to be purchasing more soon.
When it comes to back to school, the boys are simple shoppers which makes my job easiest. I remember as a child wanting to have all the pretty notebooks and pens for back to school supplies. This year, when I did the boys school supply shopping, I also took advantage of some discounts for myself too. Whether it’s Crayons or Pens, Notebooks and Planners or a tablet, the options are endless and come in a variety of price points. Some of our favorites included:
Crayola Crayons 24 Pack – these are perfect on the go or to keep in the desk or at home. When shopping during the sales you can get these for about $0.25 each.
Calendar or Planners – some of my favorites are the Blue Sky Planners from Target. Of course, you can’t go wrong with an Erin Condren Life Planner, Happy Planner or your traditional binder planners like Kikki K, Filofax or Dokibook.
Pencils – Oh, how I love me some pencils. Currently my favorites at the moment are any type of Mechanical Pencil with 0.5mm lead, BIC Pencil 0.7mm (the metallic ones have won me over), Dixon Ticonderoga #2 Pencils (have you seen the beautiful metallic ones?) The Ticonderoga pencils are perfect for sketching as well as writing and erase cleanly.
Notebooks – Spiral, composition tablet… you name them and they are available in all kinds of paper style and cover design.
Folder / Filler Paper – ah, hand me a ream of college ruled please! The twins use Wide Ruled, Kevin uses College Ruled. I love that they are available from a variety of brands and price points.
Amazon Fire Tablet – for less than $50, you can get your hands on a Tablet that acts as a Reader or Internet hub. The Amazon Fire Tablet is affordable but gives your student (or you) the option to get online, use amazing apps or just play games. It’s definitely a great tool to have for the student or the mentor.
Now – you don’t need to pick up these particular items. Honestly, I just wanted to include some of my favorite school supplies (or mommy supplies) because I was feeling a bit left out. lol
Last but certainly not least in our Back to School finds are some great threads. Each child is an individual and I really love seeing them shop and select their own clothing, accessories and shoes – even their own hair cuts. All three of my boys are simple guys but they do enjoy fun pops of color to their outfits and clothing selections. Whether it be plaid shorts with a solid color shirt or fun hats and accessories, the boys take pride in finding something to wear that is not only comfortable and functional – but reveals their style. Isaiah is absolutely enjoying his Rocket in Listen modern sneaker boot style shoes from Chooze ($54.95) and he wanted to show them to our readers today.
This modern sneaker boot style shoe comes with a side elastic gore added for comfort. It has a signature dual design with easy access side zipper entry making the shoe easy to take off and put on. It has padded throat for extra comfort and soft canvas uppers. The flexible support offers comfort while the removable, padded, anti-stink insoles make these the perfect footwear for an active little guy. They wipe clean easily with a damp cloth or can be washed in cold water and air dried. Chooze offers a variety of footwear designs for both girls and boys and they are stylish and fun to allow your child to make a statement all their own.
Luke likes a shoe that can allow him to run and play with a little swagger and Kevin, well – if he’s not in his Nike Basketball shoes most of the time, you can find him in a pair of flip flops (rubbah slippahs as we call them here in Hawaii) and a cool pair of shades to finish off his look. The boys were quite ecstatic to return back to school because the new school year meant that they were all beginning their football season for Pop Warner but most importantly, they got to go back to school and learn… I mean, hang out with their friends, just kidding lol. The boys love school and love learning new things so shopping for new gear for back to school is always a huge highlight.
No matter what you decide to get for your child (or yourself) this Back to School season, make it fun and colorful and let it represent your own individual style. Have your kiddos gone back to school yet? If so, do they sport a relaxed and casual style or do they really like to dress up and have some fun? Wishing all the students a wonderful 2016-2017 school year filled with lots of fun, friendships and learning. From our house to yours… Aloha!
Disclaimer: Some of the products mentioned in this post were sent for review and feature consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to feature these products. Some products were also purchased with my own money. Affiliate links are posted through out.
