This month I made a long overdue trip up to New York for the MomTrends Back-to-School Bash at the Hotel Indigo in Chelsea. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to decline an invite to a MomTrends event due to my crazy work and life schedule, but since this event’s save-the-date went out a few months in advance, I etched it into my calendar and made sure I wouldn’t miss it.
These events are not just about the products and brand engagement (though that’s important!), but they’re a chance to meet some of my blogger friends for the first time IRL (like my fellow FFPer Tina of Life Without Pink pictured below) or reunite with some friends I’ve made along my blogger journey (like one of my most creative people I know, Val of Inner Child Fun (I went to college with her hubby!) also pictured below). This was also the jumpstart I needed to get back to blogging regularly. But before I get to my fresh picks from the party, let’s take a look at the venue: The Hotel Indigo New York Chelsea. Coincidentally, my sister’s recent wedding in May was at a Hotel Indigo in Basking Ridge. I’m a big details person, which means that the first few pictures I took at the event were of the bar area.
And now, my fresh picks:
BTS Must #1: Matilda Jane
The party kicked-off with a Matilda Jane Clothing fashion show, featuring cutie-patootie kids of some of the bloggers in attendance. The Matilda Jane clothes are known for mixed prints and colors that reflect the creative and free-spirited nature of kids who wear the clothes. The piece-de-resistance was the floral backpack (which each of us got to take home carrying the rest of the swag). From a distance it looked like a cotton fabric, but it’s actually a water-resistant nylon, and it had my middle daughter’s name all over it. In fact, she used it for her Kindergarten Readiness camp that started the following week. I wasn’t planning on getting her a new backpack for the big K (since they don’t get homework), but I’m totally sending her to school with this one, especially since it’s durable, washable, and so cute! It’s from the Fall collection which will be available starting August 3rd. To shop Matilda Jane, you find a “trunk keeper” who will act as your personal style consultant. Get started at www.matildajaneclothing.com.
BTS Must #2: Stride Rite
This one is a no-brainer for me. We shop Stride Rite every August to get sneakers and a pair of versatile “good” shoes. Stride Rite always has classic styles with fun and trendy colors. The Made2Play shoes and sneakers are made with both kids and parents in mind: the memory foam adapts to make play more comfortable for kids; the machine washable fabric and “anti-stink” antimicrobial mesh linings will prolong the wear of the shoes through multiple seasons and/or kids. Shop at http://www.striderite.com.
BTS Must #3: Wall Pops
The one thing I like about getting ready for school is the opportunity to (try) and get organized for the year ahead with calendars, labels, bins, folders, you name it. While I’ve become much more of an iCal scheduler, my girls love writing things. We each received the large dry-erase wall calendar in our swag bags, and it went straight into my eldest daughter’s closet. We talked about the benefits of using a calendar for school, extracurricular and personal things, and she couldn’t wait to fill in the little boxes. WallPops also has an eclectic collection of wall decals as well as peel-and-stick wallpaper! If your kids use the beginning of school to try out a new style, peel-and-stick decor is your friend. Check them out at http://www.wallpops.com.
BTS Must #4: Mabel’s Labels
Should you even attempt going back to school without Mabel’s Labels? Well, I guess you can, but do you want to? We’re all used to using a Sharpie to write our kids’ names on their stuff, but after a few weeks (if that), the writing starts to rub off or fade. With Mabel’s Labels, you can use a permanent marker on a fun sticker that is waterproof, microwave safe and dishwasher safe. They now have iron-on labels as well. Don’t be surprised if you start to see everything around the house labeled. It’s just so fun! Order now at https://www.mabelslabels.com.
BTS Must #5: ThredUp
One of the more exciting parts of back-to-school shopping is getting that First Day outfit (or 2 or 3). It can also be really, really expensive– especially if your kids a) grew over the summer and/or b) have a totally different style. First of all, you need to set parameters when it comes to shopping. Check out my tips for surviving the back-to-school shopping experience. Another option is to get more clothes for the same budget with ThredUp. Shop like-new clothes from your kids’ favorite brands for a fraction of the price (how does a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans at 69% off for $18.99 sound?). You can get everything from t-shirts and jeans to special occasion dresses (that she’ll only wear once). Brands include: 7 for All Mankind, H&M, Justice, Ella Moss, Gap Kids and Old Navy. Start shopping now at https://www.thredup.com.
What are some of your back-to-school musts? Do you have a favorite brand?
Need help styling your Fancy Girl for the first day? Send me a Reader Request, and I’ll do all the work for you! Check out some of our previous requests. Email info [at] afancygirlmust.com with your budget, style/color, and size, and I’ll pull an outfit together.
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