droolicious : Back to School Drool

Big Deal: Hanna Anderson Backpack Sale

Karen — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:03:00 GMT

Hanna Anderson has two different backpack styles on sale right now.

The BeRight Backpack come in 6 fantastic patterns (Thousand Flowers shown here). Save $10 now and pay only $18.

The other model is the Rugged Rolling Backpack (regularly $48, now $28)

Back to School Drool: Traditional German School Cone

chrisjordan — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:03:00 GMT

On the first day of school in Germany, children are given one of these traditional school cones, filled with school supplies, candies and other surprises. I think I feel a new tradition coming on.

The school cone ($7.95), available at Magic Cabin, measures 19 3/4" long and comes unfilled.

Back to School Drool: Packing the Lunchbox with the Banana Guard

chrisjordan — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:03:00 GMT

Get your mind out of the gutter.

One of the fruits that my children always eat, without fail, is a banana. But packing a banana is a nightmare.

Enter the Banana Guard ($7) To protect your banana from being bruised and squashed in the lunchbox or diaper bag. Awesome!

Back to School Drool: Baby Goes Retro

chrisjordan — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:05:00 GMT

What a fun hand made dress! Squiggle front button closure aline style in a fab floral. Can be worn with or without a shirt underneath, making it a year round outfit.

Available at Baby Go Retro for $36

Back to School Drool: Custom Hand Embroidered Outfit

chrisjordan — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:07:00 GMT

A hoodie knit T-shirt made out of 100% cotton interlock. The 2 layer skirt is made out of 100% coduroy.

Both the T-shirt and the skirt are embroidered with Swedish inspired embroideries. There are hours of hand embroideries in this stunning set.

Custom made in sizes 12 months up to 10 years. This outfit is available at Lama Solet for $235.

Hand Made: Why Send Her Back to Preschool Dressed Like Everyone Else

chrisjordan — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:02:00 GMT

When you can have an outfit that is completely unique.

Handmade 4-piece patchwork dress set includes a short-sleeved dress, a long-sleeved t-shirt for layering, a leather and glass bead necklace, and a pair of matching customized Children's Place jeans.

So cute. Available in sizes 2T, 3T, or 4T for $59.

Spit Up: Fabkins Cloth Napkins for Kids

Karen — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:03:00 GMT

As eco-conscious parents, most of us are constantly looking for ways to treat our tiny planet more kindly, and packing a waste-free lunch is definitely high on the list.

Fabkins ($22.95 for 5) has the right idea, and I really wanted to love this product. The thing is, most parents don't pack napkins in our kids lunches. Also, just like the whole cloth vs. disposable diaper debate, one could argue that washing these napkins uses water, electricity and soap. I'm already washing my kids' sleeves with the rest of their shirt,and if anyone knows how good her kids are at using their sleeves, it's me.

They are adorable, but looks aren't everything. Just ask Miss Teen South Carolina.

Back-To-School-Drool: Munchlers Lunches Are Wild

Kelly Mills — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Too much to love about these clever and well-designed Munchlers. If we do count the ways: the animals are cute as hell; they unzip to become a placemat or just get flat for storage; insulation keeps stuff hot or cold; smaller handles fit kid hands; and they are 100 percent recyclable. Oh yeah, and they are $9.95. From Built NY, so go ahead and pre-order one. Via Babygadget.

Back to School Drool: Built NY Gourmet Getaway Lunch Bag

Karen — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:08:00 GMT

This neoprene lunch bag gets all stretchy when you pack a larger lunch, and is machine washable. They claim it's durable enough to last the whole school year. Personally I'd strap it to my kid's head - for $25 (at Juvie Shop), the little spawn had better not lose it!

Back to School Drool: Charlie Rocket Windbreaker

chrisjordan — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:03:00 GMT

Break the wind but not the budget with this jacket from Charlie Rocket.

Simple design doesn't have to be boring. This lightweight jacket has a gray jersey lining, white topstitching, front zipper, hood, and a large front kangaroo front pocket.

Sure to be a wardrobe staple throughout the fall.

Available at Juvie Shop for $46.25

Back to School Drool: Bohemian Rhapsody Crochet Dress

chrisjordan — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:05:00 GMT

Multicolored crochet jumper style dress. Layer it over a long sleeve shirt and some jeans for Fall. It'll be like sending your daughter off to school wrapped in your grandmother's afghan. I mean that it a good way.

Custom made and available in sizes from 6 mos up to 6 years.

Available at Pink Willow Designs for $160

Back to School Drool: Sweet Coral Cream Twist Coat by Corky and Co

chrisjordan — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:02:00 GMT

Say the name of this coat three times fast, I dare ya.

This coat feels so soft it is like wrapping your child in a chenille baby blanket. The a-line style is the seasons hottest trend in outerwear. It is the sort of coat that can easily go from the playground to a night out on the town. (Did I really just write that? Slap me , please.)

Available at Maddie's Closet for $102

Back to School Drool: Roxy Goes Daytripping

Karen — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:07:00 GMT

Puffy sleeves and adorable smocking are just the beginning with this stunning Daytripping dress by Roxy. I love the ribbon detail at the bottom and it could be paired (as shown) with tights to make it play-friendly, or left on it's own for special occasions. $32 at IslandSurf.com.

Back to School Drool: Basura Turns Juice Pouches Into Lunch Bags

Mir — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:05:00 GMT

If you aren't intrigued by these, then you are dead inside: Basura's small insulated lunch bags are lead-free and fashioned from recycled juice pouches by a women's co-op in the Philippines. If it were any greener, it would just be a pile of grass clippings.

Each one is unique and perfect for your little activist. At just $15.95 apiece ($14.95 if you buy two or more) from ReusableBags, it's an extremely affordable way to do good, too.

Back to School Drool: Small Paul Skull Lunch "Pale"

Karen — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:03:00 GMT

I'm not sure if the company purposely mis-spelled "pale," using a play on words regarding the stunned-looking skull on this Small Paul by Paul Frank Lunch Box, but no matter. Course, I didn't think they even made lunch boxes like this anymore, but alas, here one is with a skull resembling Paris Hilton's. Duh.

$19.95 at Eurokid. Well pick my jaw up too - 20 bucks for a lunch box?

Also, when is the whole skull trend going to DIE, already?

Back to School Drool: Start Them on Multi-tasking Early

Karen — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:03:00 GMT

Crayola's new "Write-Color" pencils allow kids to write with one end and colour with the other. The grips can be moved to sharpen the pencil. $4.99 at the Crayola Online Store. Also, if you spend $15 or more at Crayola, receive a free Silly Putty egg. Enter code TOOLS07 at checkout.

Back to School Drool: Reversible Pinafore Adds a Splash of Color to Fall

chrisjordan — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:02:00 GMT

This reversible pinafore style dress is a great transitional piece to get you from late summer into winter. It can be worn with just a pair of shorts, or layer a long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans underneath it.

And because it is reversible, you get two different looks.

Available at the etsy shop Lassie Girl for $22.

Back to School Drool: Maybe It's Time

Karen — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:06:00 GMT

Maybe It's Time's school supplies are completely girly and available at Office Depot. There are plenty of snazzy items on their home page and I did find the "Paper Jam" construction paper at Walgreens online ($3.99).

The company itself is owned by women and very environmentally conscious. I would advise they add a page to their website to list where we can buy their goodies though - my search had me in a web jam!

Back to School Drool: Pottery Barn Kids Animal Lunch Bags

Mir — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:01:00 GMT

Don't eat like a cow, eat with a cow; in a sea of licensed character gear, the simplicity (yet utter adorable-ness, and that's totally a word because I say so) of these animal lunch bags is refreshing. These are meant for preschoolers -- so a bit smaller than conventional lunch bags, please keep in mind -- but my nine-year-old saw the picture and asked for the elephant.

The best news is that they're currently on sale at Pottery Barn Kids for $12.99 (with free shipping, if you order by today).

Back to School Drool: Lock It Up, Buttercup

Karen — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:03:00 GMT

These brightly coloured locks are easy to read and allow kids to create an alphanumeric password. You know how kids would lose their heads if they weren't attached? Well at least they'll find their locker! On sale now for $9.

Back to School Drool: Bulletproof Backpacks

Karen — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:09:00 GMT

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. These "Ballistic Backpacks" by MJ Safety Solutions come in two styles and retail at $175. The MJ Solutions Web site says that there have been 328 school shootings since 1999 with 229 dead and 422 injured.

Those numbers are sad and frightening, even given the ratio of instances to the actual number of school-aged kids in America, but is paranoia devouring our ability to be practical? Are companies like this capitalizing on our fears?

An aside: One definition of Ballistic is: (Informal) to become overwrought or irrational: went ballistic over the idea of a school shooting.

Ahem.

Back to School Drool: Plan Her Year With Confidence

Karen — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:02:00 GMT

This isn't just any planner. This American Girl planner has intelligent tips, crafts and fun activities that will build confidence while keeping her organized. She can also personalize the planner by making a mini magazine using her gal pal's photos and the enclosed stickers. Plus, the planner includes an alphabet stencil ruler, address pages, tear-out notes and posters, and a "Get it Right Guide" with punctuation rules, fun vocabulary words, a multiplication table, and much more.

$9.95 at Amazon.

Back to School Drool: Don't Let Your Kids See This Post

Karen — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:02:00 GMT

They are the hottest thing to hit school supplies this year: Sound Gear by Mead. Your kids can plug their mp3 player into their binder (shown here) or pencil case, add 4 AA batteries and be distracted from learning. Personally I think the product is a bad idea, but I'm sure teachers will hate them even more. Kids however? Well what do you think?

$29.99 at Mead Online.

Back to School Drool: Let the Moose Keep Him Dry with Hatley

Karen — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:06:00 GMT

Hatley is having a sale on all kinds of back to school rain wear that gets kids back to nature too. I love this Moose Woods raincoat for $28.79. You can add the matching boots for $27.20 to delight your little puddle jumper.

Hand Made: Identify Their Goods

Karen — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:11:00 GMT

With school starting, these little personalized tags look like a good solution for backpacks, daycare bags, and the like. I love the adorable designs and they look like they would last a while seeing as they are the same materials as luggage tags. $4.25 at Etsy. Take note of the extra information you can include for bookbags and backpacks.