Today is a hot and sunny day, and I spent it in the pool with my children. We are enjoying these last few days of summer together, doing typical 'summer' activities; camp, swimming, visits to the park and visiting the local festivals and fairs.
With school and fall just around the corner, the last thing on my mind (and yours, too, I'm sure) is winter - and winter gear. However, I was just in Kiddie Kobbler the other day (a children's shoe store here in Ottawa) and it was (you guessed it) packed with parents stocking up on shoes for their children since school is about to start.
What was all the talk about in the store? Bogs. What are Bogs, you ask? Bogs are boots that will keep your feet - and your children's feet - warm and dry all winter long.
"Since 2002, Bogs have been making warm, waterproof and comfortable all-weather boots for people who work or play in the most uncomfortable conditions. With more than 40 years of experience in the show industry, Bogs offers durable footwear made with high quality materials for men's, women's and kids' outdoor, casual, industrial, hunting and agricultural industries."
Even though it is only August, children were trying on winter boots. Since I was there to buy my children their back-to-school shoes, I figured, why not kill two birds with one stone?
I bought my boys their winter boots in August. And now, I don't have to worry about not finding the perfect pair of winter boots when the weather turns ugly. Bogs are meant to keep feet toasty warm and dry even in minus 30 degrees Celsius temperature. It gets VERY cold during the winter months here in Canada. And knowing my children will have warm and comfortable - not to mention super easy to put on - boots this year? Makes me hate winter a little less!
My favourite season has always been summer. But I have to admit, I sort of love Fall, too. I love seeing the leaves on the trees change colour, crisp after-dinner walks with my family, and pumpkin pie. Of course, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I absolutely love shopping for the Fall - from sweaters to boots to back-to-school supplies, I literally skip with glee into stores in August and September. (Actually, I'm always skipping into stores, no matter the season - it's always a great time to go shopping, no?)
I'll be in Toronto for my birthday weekend, and I'll be hitting the newly opened J.Crew. Crewcuts - J.Crew's line for children - is amazing, and my children have tons of clothes from Crewcuts in their closets already, clothes we stock up on when we're in the United States. Now, we don't have to cross the border to do our shopping! Thank you, J. Crew Canada!
I'll be picking up a few pairs of the boys' lightweight utility chino pants - I love the drawstring on these pants, and it's perfect for my children since they have little belly's! These pants are very comfortable, and I like to know that my children are in clothes that they can run around easily in, and feel good in, too.
I will also be buying a few pairs of the jersey sweat pants - perfect pants for the weekends!
My boys live in cotton sweaters in the fall and winter - I like that the fabric is light enough so they won't overheat in school, and I love how it's not itchy, like wool can sometimes be. I also love stripes and will be buying my boys this sweater in every colour!
What I love the most about crewcuts is the comfortable, seam-less long sleeved shirts. These long-sleeved t's are an essential part of my children's wardrobe.
Of course, my children always need new fall coats and this year, I'm picking up the K-Way jacket from crewcuts for both of them. I love the colour choices!
And how awesome is this winter coat in bright blue? Doesn't it just look toasty warm?
If you're a mom to girls, then you must already know how fabulous the selection of girls clothes is at crewcuts. It's the one store that has me craving a baby girl - just so I can buy all the adorable dresses, jackets and shirts.
Just look at the cute!
I also love Gap for back-to-school shopping, for myself, and for my boys - the polo shirts, both short-sleeved and long-sleeved, are awesome, and make dressing the kids in the morning effortless!
Gap is the place to go for all your children's jeans! A couple of stores, and your children are practically 100% ready to hit the hallways of their school again, looking cool and stylish. (Who said back-to-school shopping was hard?)
I'll also be doing some online shopping this year for my children. Lands' End has incredible clothes for kids - affordable, comfortable, and classic pieces they're sure to love.
You know who makes back-to-school shopping really, really fun? Pottery Barn Kids. I could spend hours - HOURS - in Pottery Barn Kids. In fact, I conceived my first child simply by walking INTO Pottery Barn Kids, six years ago. True story - the day after my first Pottery Barn Kids experience, I found out I was pregnant. Must have been the store right?
Anyway, I love PBK. My son has used the same backpack and lunch box for two years now, for junior and senior kindergarten, and I must say, they both still look brand-new. Of course, since he is starting grade 1, I was thinking of getting him a new backpack. I also love PBK's food storage containers. I'll be stocking up!
Another store I'm going to be skipping into? Staples. Yes, I know, I'm most certainly in the minority here, but I actually love buying books, paper, pen and pencils for back-to-school. Of course, if you're thinking I'm insane, you can always check out the amazing Best Tools For Schools, where they take care of all your children's back-to-school supply shopping, allowing you more time to shop for... yourself!
Happy back-to-school shopping, everyone!
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