the mommy avenger

Back to School shopping is always one of my favorite things. Whether it is your child’s first year or they are in college, it’s always great to refresh supplies and gear and put your best foot forward for new goals and classes. Here are some of our favorites for the new school year

To begin a new school year, you need a great backpack. I am so impressed with Cotopaxi’s bags that I find a reason to use them for everything–day trips, hiking, travel, you name it. It’s an obvious choice for school, of course, too. I am loving their Tapa 22L Cada Dia backpack. Available in an assortment of bright colors, it will always be easy to find your backpack out of the crowd. It’s fun to have such a cheery way to carry your school supplies. It is loaded with great features to make your school day flow with ease. I love the zippered pockets at the top for essentials that need easy access throughout the day. There is also a roomy padded laptop sleeve, 2 exterior water bottle pockets, ergonomic straps to provide ultimate comfort and a breathable mesh back panel to keep you cool. I also love their low profile lightweight crossbody Cada Dia bag that you can take with you everywhere. You can pack the essentials and take it with you on all sorts of adventures. It is the perfect weight and not at all bulky.

In addition to the best backpacks, Cotopaxi has wonderful clothing that is very comfortable and stylish available for both men and women. For those cool Autumn mornings, that may, or may not, turn into warmer afternoons, the Teca Calido hooded jacket is the perfect solution. Its lightweight, low-profile design keeps you warm when you are chilly and can easily be put away into a small carrying bag when you no longer need it. It’s a wonderful addition to any wardrobe. Some great basics for your back to school wardrobe include Cotopaxi Vibe T-shirts, Abrazo Fleece Joggers, and their Capa Insulated Vest for when the weather turns cooler. Grabbing some of these essentials will keep you comfortable and ready to learn all school year.

We are absolutely loving Smartwool’s great products for fall, as well. Their Anchor Line Blanket is a must have for fall sports. Grab one to take with you to watch all those upcoming football games on cool game nights. One side is 100% recycled nylon, great for keeping the wind out or as a barrier. The other side is made of warm Merino wool. It even rolls up and has a handle for ease of taking with you on the go. If you’d rather spend your Friday nights binge watching all the latest shows, this blanket works equally well to snuggle up with and decompress from the school week! Picking up outerwear like their Active Ultralite Vest is great for those athletes in training and on the go to games and competitions. Warmth without bulk is wonderful for anyone who likes to exercise in the cold air. Too much bulk makes you too sweaty and then you get chilled, cycling over and over. This is the perfect (shockingly light) weight and fabric to layer with their base layers for optimum temperature and comfort. One of our favorite pieces from Smartwool!

We adore Rothy’s for both men and women and are really excited to put on a new pair of their men’s high top sneakers for the first day of school. These shoes are super supportive and stylish and you can wear them everywhere. They are the perfect solution for everyday wear, as if they get dirty, you can throw them in the washing machine. They come out looking brand new. They look sharp and feel fantastic and I recommend them for everyone! You’d never know that the fabric of these sustainable shoes are made up of 25 plastic bottles!

Another great option is the completely 100% waterproof shoes from Vessi. I love their Boardwalk Slip-Ons! These shoes are like walking on air. They are a perfect solution for school. Available in men’s and women’s and several different colors, this is a wardrobe staple! I have put these shoes to the test straight out of the box and can tell you, without breaking them in, my feet felt amazing after walking, standing, and traveling in them for 14+ hours straight. These shoes are also great at wicking away sweat from your feet so you don’t get overheated. You can also hand wash these to keep them in tip top shape always.

Public Rec has some of my most favorite clothing for everyday wear. Looking for great pants for the school year that are super comfortable, but can be dressed up or down? Look no further! Their All Day Pant is seriously my favorite. They wear like yoga pants but look way better. You can wear them casually or dress them up. You can size to create longer or shorter lengths, perfect for your body type. They never wrinkle and wash up so well. You will want some in every color! They have a similar style for guys, too!

A good night’s sleep is absolutely key in achieving success in the new school year. Being well rested changes everything! If you get solid sleep, you can start the day focused, refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes your way. We love Yogasleep products to help achieve this. Make your bed with their luxurious Yogabed Essential Sleep Bundle, which includes a cooling memory foam pillow(s), a moisture-wicking sheet set, and a lightweight, waterproof mattress protector. They are designed to give you the best night’s sleep possible. The memory foam pillow is the perfect combination of softness and support, conforming to the contours of your head and neck for optimal comfort. High-quality, ultra-soft microfiber sheets provide a luxurious feel against your skin. A waterproof and hypoallergenic mattress protector keeps your mattress clean and protected while allowing airflow for a cool and comfortable rest. With this classic bundle, you can say goodbye to restless nights and wake up feeling refreshed. You honestly can’t go wrong with these products–whether you are wanting them for your student that lives at home, setting up a new dorm room, or ensuring that you, as a parent, get exactly what you need to tackle the world each day. Pair these bedding items with the ultimate sound machine to lull you into blissful sleep each night and you’ll really be good to go. We love the Dohm Nova Sound Machine and Night Light for kids and great ambiance, but if you want a totally dark room at night, you could pick any of their white noise sound machines and be extremely happy. Be sure to use code Hello25 now through Labor Day to take off 25% on sound machines and 20% on mattresses.

To kick start your school day, a good, nutritional breakfast is essential. We love Our Place for their smart cookware and haven fallen in love with their colorful ovenware, too. Their Ovenware Set is the perfect set that includes an Oven pan, Main Bake, Side Bake, Loaf Pan, and Oven Mat. These multipurpose essentials make cooking for a family a breeze. Use them to make breakfast casseroles, family dinners, sides, bread, desserts, create treats for class parties, the possibilities are endless with this set that neatly stores inside each other. You can use the oven mat as a non-stick layer for baking, a pot holder, and a surface for hot pans. My favorite is the Oven Pan that you can use to roast veggies, bake cookies, or place it on the stovetop as a griddle. Great meals are in store for my kids this school year! I even love that this is a consolidated set that can be sent to college to make delicious meals there, too. Act quick and enjoy great savings at their Goodbye Summer Sale!

Back to School Beauty

Putting your best look on display everyday is a must! We love these products for looking and feeling incredible each school day!

FragranceNet.com is the best place to look for beauty, fragrance and haircare products at astonishing (in all the best ways) prices. Snag designer scents like Chanel, Versace, Gucci and Polo at a fraction of the price you would find otherwise. It’s a wonderful place to explore new, fresh scents for the school year without the huge investment. There are literally hundreds of choices for both men and women, so you can select something that will suit you best and create a signature smell. I love new fragrances to make you feel your best. Pick up soaps and shower gels to kick start your day feeling like a million bucks. I love that you find great hair products like Moraccanoil intense hydrating masks to keep your hair looking healthy each day. You will find a great selection of Sexy Hair hair styling products, as well, to create just the right look you are wanting. I also adore FragranceNet.com for aromatherapy and candles to use at the end of a busy day and enjoy while relaxing or studying. They have a great selection of great brands and scents to choose from. Be sure to check them out!

I am a child of the 1980’s and it’s been so fun to see the resurgence of products I used when I was in school (I’m looking at you Trapper Keeper!). You can imagine my utter delight when I discovered that Tinte Cosmetics has brought back vintage favorites like Lip Licking Lip Balms, Kissing Potion, Kissing Sticks and Rollerballs! Oh such great memories! But I was pleasantly surprised to try them all these years later and enjoy quality lip care. The smells are so yummy and will send you on nostalgic trip back in time if you are my age. If you are just being introduced to them for the first time, enjoy them, they are the best! They are perfect to keep in your backpack and you will want to collect all the scents/flavors.

Looking for great makeup that is low maintenance for everyday? I’m all about that. Especially when you are crunched for time. You don’t want to spend an hour on your makeup when you could spend that time obtaining extra sleep. DIBS Beauty has simplified morning routines and made it possible to look amazing with minimal effort. Check out these great vegan and cruelty free products and tutorials for inspiration for a fresh new look. I can’t get over how amazing their blush and bronzer duos are!

Celestial Silk has to be on this list, too! Their silk hair ties are a must to prevent breakage and damage when putting your hair up. I love that they don’t crease your hair, either. I adore their Mulberry silk pillowcases and appreciate they don’t create creases on your face from sleeping. A much needed benefit if you’ve hit the snooze button a few too many times and have about 5 minutes to get out the door!

Speaking of hair, I am absolutely loving this Ella Bella 1 inch curling iron to create beautiful soft waves in a matter of minutes. It feels like a luxurious tool to use with it’s sleek look, digital temperature control, and innovative ceramic technology that protects your hair from heat damage. It even comes with a styling glove, heat resistant carrying case and mat. This is my favorite curling iron I have used and I get the results I want ever time effortlessly.

^{*products were received to facilitate a feature, all opinions are my own*}