Now that Labor Day has come and gone, it’s officially back-to-school season – which also means back to crazy work and carpool schedules, early mornings and less time (and energy) to make and eat meals. That’s why I am dedicating a good portion of September’s Newsletters to ways to make these transitions easier. In particular, easy and tasty foods and products to help reduce stress and save time – because who doesn’t need help in these two departments?!
I also want to touch on Baby #3, and her appearance… or lack there of! I’m officially half way through my 38th week of pregnancy, and have still yet to meet my precious baby girl. And while I generally have a great deal of patience, these past couple weeks have been filled with false hope and long nights – although I (along with my entire family and friends) are now more anxious than ever to meet this sweet baby girl! And don’t worry, I’ll keep you all updated on her arrival (via Instagram) as well – which is hopefully any day now!
But back to school stuff… I’m starting off with last week’s reviews (because I was extremely exhausted and honestly didn’t have the energy to put together a full-on Newsletter). Plus, I was expecting baby to be here… which obviously didn’t happen. Haha
Last week I did a review for R.e.d.d. Bars – a delicious vegan line of bars that mesh a Protein Bar + Energy Shot + Multi-Vitamin into one tasty snack! This makes those early morning drop-offs way easier and less stressful, because you are still getting your punch of caffeine while also nourishing your body. [And don’t forget to use the code ~ jessica15 ~ for 15% OFF your order!]
I also reviewed Undercover Mama (which was at the tail-end of Breastfeeding Awareness Month), so I thought it a good fit :). From Nursing Shirts and Tanks to Fringe Dresses and those that are Longer and can be worn around the house, these clothes are not only cute and comfortable, but are also easy to wear when nursing a young one – or even when you’re pregnant for that matter! This makes it much more convenient for those who are going from home to carpool to after school activities so you can still be stylish, yet ready to feed baby at a moments notice (without having to hassle with incompatible clothing).
Another food related review for you: FreeYumm. These allergen-friendly bars and cookies, which are free from all of the most common allergens, are perfect for school lunches and after-school treats + everything in between! Not only do these treats help make your allergen intolerant child feel less different and left out, they are also safe to eat at school – since many bars and cookies contain peanut and tree nut based ingredients, which are a big no-no at schools these days!
Finally, I reviewed Daiya. With an extensive line of dairy-alternative products, you can truly find a product for every taste and every meal – all of which are super convenient + super tasty, and help make weekday meals less of a hassle and way more enjoyable! With numerous flavors of cheese-alternative Shreds, Wedges, Slices and Cream Cheese, as well as multiple types of Pizza (which are also gluten-free), Burritos and even Desserts, among other things, you and your kids will not be disappointed with these products!
Oh, and then there were several Instagram posts and reviews I did too: one was for FabKids and the other was for Resources4Learning.
FabKids helps make back-to-school shopping easier than ever with their lines of boys and girls outfits that are great for both toddlers and big kids! From the same creators as Fabletics, first time purchasers BOGO when they sign up to be a VIP! (And just so you know: no, you don’t have to actually order something every month – you can always skip and won’t get charged a cent!) Check out all of their cute finds, here: fabkids.com/backtoschool
And to round it out: Resources4Learning is a new line of Busy Bags (sold on Etsy) – developed by a Mom of 5 who wanted a way to keep her kids entertained while still encouraging them to learn! With each activity focusing on a variety of skills, including such things as color matching, numbers, counting, alphabet, math and fine motor skills, each activity comes in a colored plastic envelope with a snap button closure for easy storage. Each envelope also has an activity card that provides all the necessary info and instructions, including ways to extend the lesson beyond the initial activity. My kids are surprisingly obsessed with them, which is a true testament to how great they really are – because my kids aren’t known to just “sit and chill”! Hahaha
For more info, check out Resources4Learning’s full product line on Etsy: www.resources4learning.etsy.com
As always, thanks so much for following along with me on my Motherhood journey, and please, if you have friends and/or colleagues who you think would love this info as much as you do, SHARE this Blog and Newsletter with them. LIKE us on Facebook and FOLLOW us on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to stay connected as well!
