We’re (Finally) Heading Back to School with Lands’ End!

We’re a little late to the back to school game around here – my kids just started school today. They had a fantastic summer, but both of them were excited to start a new year. We’ve had a blast getting everything ready – Kate and I seriously love shopping for school supplies and clothes!

One of the most important things we were on the lookout for was the perfect outfit for the first day of school. I’m not sure why, or how the tradition got started, but the first-day outfit is a big deal. Lands’ End realizes that too, and they have an entire Back-to-School Collection filled with stylish, durable, comfortable clothes that kids can wear all year. We had the opportunity to check some of them out, and we all loved them!

Take a look…

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Kate’s wearing the Girls’ Solid Curved Hem V-Neck T-Shirt in Tidewater. This is part of the Knit Kit collection – tops, bottoms, dresses, leggings, etc. that are made from comfortable fabrics, have a no-itch construction, and come in all sorts of colors. This shirt is perfect for my comfort-loving girl! She really liked the v-neck and curved hem. Over that is the Girls’ Color Border Heart V-neck Cardigan. It’s 100 percent cotton and has the cutest heart-shaped patch on the elbows, as you can see in the picture below. The Girls’ 5-pocket Bootcut Denim Jeans fit her really well, and I love how well made they are – I know they’ll be in great shape when we pass them down to Sophie in a couple of years!

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This is Kate in the Girls’ Solid Curved Hem V-Neck T-Shirt once again – this time in Dried Papaya. She’s wearing black Girls’ Flare Yoga Pants, which are super soft and comfortable but have enough Lycra to make sure they maintain their shape. They also have a wider waistband that doesn’t pinch her around the middle!

Kate’s very favorite part of both these outfits? The boots! The Girls’ Lacey Bow Back Tall Boots, to be more specific. She absolutely loves them – they look adorable, and the sherpa lining inside makes the comfortable. I love that they’ve got a durable rubber outsole. Kate picked the Dark Fawn color, but they also come in Chocolate, Magenta, Bright Aubergine, and Soft Silver Metallic. At $59, I think they’re a heck of a deal, too.

Of course, school shopping isn’t complete without a backpack, and Lands’ End is the place to find the perfect one. Their 2013 backpack collection features:
— Four distinct lines including ClassMate®, FeatherLight™, Dash and My First.
— More solid colors that are easy to personalize with embroidery options.
— Innovative design and superior durability at an incredible value.
— Small, Medium and Large size options to ensure proper fit.
— Colors and prints designed with the tastes of boys and girls in mind.

Kate picked the FeatherLight Backpack in Cabbage Purple Scatter Print.

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The first thing I noticed about this backpack (other than the fact that is it super cute) was the shoulder straps – they have foam padding that makes them extremely comfortable. That’s important, because we all know how heavy kids’ backpacks can get! The back panels are mesh and make it breathable. There are two inside pockets and one is even padded for a laptop! (No one tell Kate what that one’s for, k?) The bungee strap on the front and the clipping loop on the side gives space for extra things like a jacket or lunchbox.

There’s pretty much room for everything.

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How cool is that?

And now for Sam.

My little baby is a kindergartner! I don’t know how that happened. He’s not so little anymore, but dang is he not cute in his new Lands’ End clothes??

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I know everyone thinks buying girl clothes is a zillion times more fun than boy clothes, but not me – I love boys’ clothes! Seriously, could this outfit be any more adorable? He’s wearing the Boys’ Super Hoodie in Vibrant Cobalt. It’s made of soft, breathable cotton, and I want one for me. For real. He’s also wearing the Boys’ Classic Fit Iron Knee Jeans. Everyone knows the knees are the first place on a kids’ pants to go, so Lands’ End not only doubly reinforces the knees, but they do it in a way that’s invisible. You’d never know they were Iron Knee pants – except for, you know, the lack of holes in the knees! Good Housekeeping magazine even gave Lands’ End’s Iron Knee Pants with a 2013 VIP (Very Innovative Product) award. Brilliant! I became a big fan of the Iron Knee Pants about 20 seconds after we were done taking pictures, when Sam managed to fall and scuff up his knees. He must have wanted to really make sure they worked as promised! Sam’s also wearing the Boys’ Landon Low Sneakers, otherwise known as the cutest shoes I have ever seen in my life.

And then there’s this.

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I die.

Lands’ End’s collection of boys Graphic Ts and Poplin shirts combine to make the most adorable layers, as you can see. The 5-Pocket Corduroy Pants complete the look.

Sam is in full-day kindergarten, so for the first time, we’ll be packing his lunch this year. We’ve had great luck with Kate’s Lands’ End lunchboxes in the past, and I’m glad to have one for Sam this year too. He picked the ClassMate EZ Wipe Lunch Box in Rich Red. It’s insulated and will keep food cold for up to 5 hours, and the interior wipes clean easily. It’s leak resistant and PVC free. I love the monogram – my Sammy!

It also makes a great shield, as you can see from the pictures!

So there you have it – my kids are all ready to head back to school thanks to Lands’ End.

What’s your back to school must-have?

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See Jenny Shop: The Magic Coupon Machine Loves ME

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Piad $2.34, got back $7 Extra Care Bucks and a $3 Ibotta deposit!

My planned CVS trip yesterday did not have me ALL that excited. BUT, I had a 25% off shopping pass that would expire if I didn’t use it that day, so I put a deal together. And then, when I got to CVS and scanned my Extra Care card, the Magic Coupon Machine spit me out a WHOLE LOT OF AWESOME! And then I was officially excited!

You see, there was a Colgate deal, buy $10 worth, get back $5 ECB. I wasn’t going to do it because the products aren’t on a good sale price, and all I had was a 75-cent off coupon. But, they were also part of an Ibotta offer (if you bought the correct Colgate toothpaste, toothbrush, and a box of Kleenex you got $3 back from Ibotta). And THEN the magic coupon machine printed me off a coupon for $3 off a $10 shave or oral care purchase and I was like, OK I’LL DO IT! The magic coupon machine also printed me off $1 off select P&G items, including CoverGirl, and  $4 off a $12 cosmetics purchase. Since I was just a few dollars away from my next $5 CVS beauty club award, I decided to go for a CoverGirl deal too. So here’s how it shook out:

Kleenex 99 cents

2 CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara BOGO 50% off, $13.18

2 Edge shave gel $3.49 each, $7.98

Colgate toothbrush $5.49 (who would ever pay that for a TOOTHBRUSH!?!??!?)

Colgate toothpaste $4.99 (it’s a large tube but still, seriously?)

Total = $32.63

Coupon I used:

25% off CVS e-mail coupon (only valid on certain items) -$3.52

-$3/$10 oral care or shave purchase CVS coupon from machine

-$4/$12 cosmetics purchase CVS coupon from machine

-$4 two $2 CoverGirl blast mascara from coupons.com

-$1 off select P&G products CVS coupon from machine

– 75 cents Colgate toothpaste coupon from coupons.com

-$3.49 BOGO Free Edge shave gel coupon from coupons.com

total = $12.87

I paid with 11 ECB and my total with tax was $2.32 :). I got back 7 ECB, 2 for the Edge and 5 for the Colgate. Plus I will get back $3 from Ibotta for buying the Colgate + Kleenex. So that worked out pretty great!

I’ll be stopping by Rite Aid later this week for some great deals on Maybelline – the only mascara I have yet to try, I think! What are you planning to get at the drugstore this week?

 

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Inferior Parent Alert

Last night Bobby went to a Cincinnati Bengals game. So instead of this:

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He saw this:

Bengals game

Not nearly as charming, but everyone needs a night out once in awhile, right?

Anyway, my kids were very disappointed when they learned that they would not see Daddy that evening. Joshua actually teared up a little.

Because apparently, the thought of spending one night with just me is terrible.

At one point, Sophie asked me a question and accidentally called me “Dad”.  She quickly corrected herself, and Joshua followed up with”I wish it was Dad.”

NICE.

“I didn’t mean I don’t like you, that’s crazy!” he said defensively when I suggested that MAYBE that wasn’t the NICEST thing he’s ever said. “I just mean I miss Daddy.”

Mm-hmm.

Bobby puts Jonah to bed, and every night before bed they play on our bed, read books, sing songs, and other bedtime shenanigans. Tonight, when I suggested to Jonah that we go “play on Mommy’s bed” he simply fussed at me and ran away. When Bobby asks him this question, Jonah can’t get up the stairs fast enough.

“I guess he really misses Daddy.” Joshua observed.

“I’m sorry I’m so terrible.” I replied.

“It’s not that, Mom. It’s just that we’re really used to you. We hardly ever see Daddy.”

(Hardly ever?? Umm…he did drive you to school this morning, kid.)

The moral of this story: I clearly need to spend less time with my kids. The novelty of having someone who meets your every little need has apparently worn off.

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