This post is brought to you by a Healthy Slice sponsor.
My news feed is full of adorable back to school pictures and it finally sunk in enough for me to start preparing for the upcoming school year. Of course I use that term loosely, as our ‘school’ doesn’t start back until after Labor Day and is only a couple of mornings a week. Still, with both Hailey and Kaitlyn in some sort of ‘school’ this fall, it’s going to feel a little bizarre to have two mornings to myself each week. Honestly, I still have mixed feelings on it, but figure having time to make a dentist appointment to get my teeth cleaned is probably a good thing (see Al, I’m finally going to make it happen!).
Like I start every fall season, I promised myself that this year I’ll stay on top of all the activities, like marking all the parent events in my calendar (check!), and vowing to start the year of organized. This includes making sure the girls have everything they need for back to school, so I decided I needed to comb through the closets, toss, hand down and create a giveaway pile for the items that needed to move on. Then the tough part, taking two girls back to school shopping.
Well, yesterday that is just what we did.
We were just pulling into the new Charlotte Premium Outlets armed with everything I thought I needed- stroller, half caff coffee, diapers, Ergo, waters x3… then I slapped myself on the forehead. SNACKS! Rookie mistake.
Usually I would have combed the vending machines or hit up the Starbucks (located in the middle of the mall), but I’m partnering with CVS this fall so am familiar with their new CVS Gold Emblem Abound snack line and there just so happens to be one about 3 minutes from the outlets so we popped in!
When I think of CVS, I picture myself, 16 years old, dropping off rolls of film to be developed and hanging around for the hour hoping they could develop it sooner. Now that I’m a mom, I see CVS as so much more- a one stop ‘oops I forgot ____’ kind of haven. Really, though, they have anything you may forget- diapers, wipes, healthy snacks, pacifiers, sippy cups, bandaids, etc.
We snagged a few snacks and were off, ready to use the coupons I’d been saving and stuffing into my wallet for the past month.
The outlet mall was pretty sweet. I was able to hit up the Old Navy Outlet, Gymboree outlet, Carters and OshKosh outlet and even J. Crew’s kid line outlet for the girls. I snagged some great deals on leggings, school tops, pajamas, socks, dresses and spent plenty of time gawking at Janie and Jack, which FYI gets everything the regular store gets (same quality), just two weeks later and marked down 25%.
I didn’t do much shopping for me except for a pair of these shorts (my favorite, flattering style and that is an affiliate link, FYI!) for $19 because trying to manage trying on clothes with kids in tow (one who has molars halfway popping through her gums) is just as much fun as you’d imagine.
We ended up being there longer than I anticipated, isn’t that always the case? I’m glad we brought snacks because the food court at this time is pretty slim pickens: two Japanese food spots and a Philly Cheesesteak stand.
And just because I know y’all love labels as much as I do, LOOK! Simple ingredients.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit what the most exciting part of the trip was for Hailey.
I’m even more embarrassed that I snapped a picture.
Apologies ahead of time, but….
the family bathroom had a little potty next to the big one! And, AND, both were SUPER clean.
This is reason enough to make the drive back down these for future shopping needs.
After snacks and a potty break, I knew I was pushing it so we pulled out the big guns- my kindle, loaded with a Dora movie, and the Ergo.
These tools allowed me to squeeze in another hour before waving my white flag and heading for the car.
Once home I mustered the energy to bring the task full circle, de-tagging, washing and putting away the girls’ new clothes.
I’m sure the organized closets will be chaos again once school actually starts, but for now, this to-do earned one big, satisfying check mark.
Disclosure: Iām proud to partner with CVS/pharmacy for the Back to School Healthy Essentials campaign. I am being sponsored by CVS/pharmacy for my posts and activities, but all opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.
Have you done any back to school shopping yet?
Do you miss the days of shopping for the perfect Lisa Frank notebook as much as I do?
I know I still get the urge to stock up on new sparkly jelly pens this time of year…
naturalred says
Funny how you comment on public bathrooms…..I do the same when you find a clean one (not very often). Mine may not be in a mall setting as yours was, but I did chuckle when i read todays post.
Mine was found on the Ice Age Trail….take a look it was also VERY clean and amazing:)
https://naturalred.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/weekend-snapshots-farmers-market-ice-age-trail-hikepier-walk/
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
You are a brave, brave woman. But it looks like you girls had a great time!! I love CVS, especially the coupon machine!
Brittany Dixon says
Not so much brave as needing a shake up in routine! It was fun to get out of the house for the morning š
Brynn says
That Bathroom is awesome! And Lisa Frank was everything. Right now I don’t have children is school, but I’m excited to go pick out all of their gear and supplies!
sherry says
You are inspiring me (work in progress) to clean out my closets. What a great idea with the little person potty. I love our CVS and they actually still put prescriptions in smaller bottle which Publix will not (ten pills in a bottle big enough to put 1000!). Will have to make a trip to that outlet mall!
Brittany Dixon says
Find a date and come up here! Maybe the outlets but I also need a friend to go to Nordstrom with me… I’ll buy coffees š
Lynn says
You should feel accomplished!!! Great job!!!
Kate says
Back to school shopping was something I looked forward to all summer when in grade school. We’ve been to those outlets a few times and it is a great place to walk around! I especially love the old navy and the Lindor shop.
danielle says
Generally, I loathe sponsored posts. They feel disingenuous and forced and, as a reader, I feel taken advantage of to read through what feels like a heart felt post only to find..surprise!!…a disclaimer at the bottom. I understand that it is the nature of the beast, and am always really impressed by how you manage providing quality content without making your readers feel shanghaied by skeezy sponsored posts. Thank you!!!!!
Also–yes, with two littles who are fairly new to the potty training scene, public toilets become all too memorable š
Brittany Dixon says
Wow, Danielle, thank you so much for that compliment! I only partner with companies that can naturally fit into my content (AKA, I already use) and though I know I sometimes miss the mark, I do try hard and this means a lot to me. Thank you for taking the time to write this!
Laura says
I completely agree! You do a beautiful job of making sponsored posts feel like a recommendation from a friend. They are thoughtfully written and fit in much more seamlessly than so many of the sponsored posts that end up in my inbox every week. Thank you for respecting your readers! You’re doing great, mom of two littles!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Those are my favorite shorts, too! I have 4 pairs. haha.
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, they are the best aren’t they?! I now own them in blue, black and khaki, so I’m catching up with you š
Heather says
I absolutely love school supplies and wish I needed them. Ha ha. There is nothing more satisfying than buying new pens/pencils/notepads/etc. Too bad my kids don’t need all that stuff yet, though. š
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
I do miss the days of Lisa Frank notebooks! Those were great!!
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl says
Oh my gosh…I used to LOVE Lisa Frank! It really was a couple years “before my time” but in early elementary school trying to find the unicorn notebook was like a life goal. I didn’t want the kittens and those were all the local stores had!
Char @ Nutritiously Fit says
That’s so awesome that CVS has great snacks like that – especially in a pinch! Ok, so when we were driving back to Canada, we stopped at a rest stop in Pennsylvania (I think?) and I went into the larger/wheel-char bathroom and they actually had a mini potty in there. I was both shocked and stoked for Nia. And thereafter, she assumed every rest station we stopped at had a “baby potty.” haha
Nicole says
My 6-year-old and I went shopping this past weekend for back-to-school. I left my littlest one (she’s just a couple months younger than Kaitlyn) at home with my husband, so it was nice to have some alone time with my oldest! It was fun to watch her go in the dressing room and try things on like a big girl! *sniff*
I definitely have picked up a few things for myself though, lol. New pens, some organizers for our craft supplies, etc. I love school supplies!
Do you mind sharing what kind of “school” Kaitlyn will be going to?
Katie D. says
I was curious about that too!
Hilary says
This post makes me miss school shopping, since I don’t have any kids yet and I graduated college there is no need or even a thought about back to school except how crazy the stores are right now haha. Can’t wait for the day I can participate again!
And yea about outlet malls is it just me or do they seem to be really cutting back in the food department! Our local outlet only has a Chinese place and sub place, it’s so sad!
Willie Cirigliano says
Or time to play on her own. I’m spending the weekend getting a brilliant organisation system going so I can stay on top of the school stuff.