I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, crafter, and blogger living in rural New England. As seen in Martha Stewart Living, Food Network Magazine, and more! | Tutorials, DIY, crafts, parenting tips, recipes, money saving tips, product reviews, local product features, New England living, intentional living, and more! |
We’re getting ready to send our oldest back to school in person for the first time in about 18 months and I don’t know who’s more nervous - me or her. Nevertheless, we’re trying hard to be positive and prepare her as best we can for the return to school. I thought I would share some of the things we’re packing in the event it helps other parents think of things to pack too. | This post contains affiliate links |
Disclaimer: I am not giving medical advice… please consult the CDC, your doctor, etc for what supplies your child should need for themselves and their school situation.
Some Ideas for Back to School Supplies 2021
Sturdy Backpack - We're huge fans of L.L. Bean backpacks. They're built to last so we buy a size bigger than our kids need in order to last them many years to come. Since our school does a lot with computers we made sure to pick a backpack that also has a built-in laptop sleeve. (Side note: We always add some added visibility to our kids' gear with Gear Aid Reflective Patches.)
Hand Sanitizer - We got some small "key chain" hand sanitizer dispensers to attach to both her backpack and her lunch box so cleaning her hands whenever she needs to will be easy, especially important before adjusting or taking off masks and before eating/drinking.
Covered Water Bottle - This was a small upgrade we thought might be useful this year. In the past our daughter always used reusable water bottles with an exposed spout, however we thought it might be a better idea to have one that keeps the spout covered when not in use to help keep it cleaner.
Good Masks - We did our best to try to find better masks for this year that are supposed to have better filtration. We have some child-sized "M95" ones as well as some cloth masks that have special filters that go inside of them.
Mask Cases/System - I have no idea if this system will be practical, but we're going to give it a try! I ordered these clear mask cases from Amazon and cut labels for them on my Cricut. We'll be packing one with extra clean masks, and the other will be empty for dirty masks to come home in. Since we invested in some better quality masks I wanted to make sure they stay in cases when not in use to keep them in good shape.
Breakaway Mask Lanyard - These can be handy during times when masks come down (lunch/snack, mask breaks outside, etc).
Label Everything - Pandemic or not, it's important to label all the things when kids go to school. We love this label maker for making quick and easy labels for water bottles, cases, sports gear, etc.
I hope that gave you some ideas of things you may want to pack for your children too, I hope you all have a safe, happy, and healthy school year!
Because someday the kids will go back to school… (Right..? Right! fingers crossed) I ordered our youngest her own pink monogrammed L.L. Bean Boat and Tote to match Mama and big sis for when she hopefully starts school in the Fall. I love that each will have her own tote for school to stay organized and carry snow gear and sports things, and that these bags are something that will grow with them and be used for many years to come.
A bag for each of us and each of us has our own color to keep us organized. Our oldest’s bag has been through the wash many times and is a bit softer and more broken in :) These bags get better with use!
L.L. Bean Fashion
| This particular post is not sponsored by L.L. Bean but contains affiliate links and my personal opinions |
Warmer weather is coming and it’s time for a wardrobe and gear refresh! Here I’m sharing some of my favorite warmer weather and outdoor picks from L.L. Bean for Spring and Summer. | This post contains affiliate links |
Sharing some of my favorite Fall/Winter picks from L.L. Bean! You really can’t go wrong with Bean Boots, a scarf, and a Fisherman Sweater… here’s all those great items and more fun finds. | This post contains affiliate links |
Those iconic L.L. Bean Boots - everybody's wearing them and everybody wants them, but sometimes they can be hard to find! They often go through periods of being backordered so I’d recommend buying early in the season so you don't risk having to wait. But before you order, be sure to read our review because there's some things you should definitely know first! | This post contains affiliate links |
Sizing
The sizing for
L.L. Bean's "Bean Boots" is definitely kind of tricky and I'd highly recommend trying them on in-store before purchasing, even if you're going to order them online (though, L.L. Bean does have a great return/exchange policy if you do end up ordering the wrong size online). Bean Boots only come in whole sizes and run BIG. For example, I typically wear a size 8-8.5 shoe but in Bean Boots I'm a size 7 and they still feel quite roomy. Keep in mind too if you typically wear a very small women's size shoe, you may need to check out the kid's sizes if you're unable to size down anymore in women's. When trying on the boots make sure to wear what kind of socks you're planning on using them with (whether it's regular thin socks or
thick ragg socks ), to get a better idea of the fit.
Women's Bean Boots come in two different rises too - 6" rise or 8" rise. Try both on to see what's more comfortable and what style you like better. I personally prefer the 8" rise - here in New England it's a bit more practical with the deeper snow in the winter and I also feel like it's the more classic style.
During Fall and Winter when there's a big rush on Bean Boots and it may be very difficult to find the exact style and size you want in-store or even online. You may need to shop around a bit to find what you're looking for.. or wait for your backordered item to come in. L.L. Bean Outlet stores can be a great resource too! Boots and other items that were ordered online and returned often end up at the outlets - and at a discount to boot! (Ha, couldn't pass up a boot pun.) In fact, I got my Bean Boots for 40% off at the outlets - now that's a great deal!
One thing to keep in mind about outlet shopping is that they will likely have a large selection of bigger sizes of Bean Boots, and less of the smaller sizes... this is because so many people mistakenly order their normal size without realizing how big they run. When I bought my Bean Boots at the Outlets, they had tons of sizes 8, 9, and 10 - and the ones I bought were literally the very last pair of size 7's.
If you decide to purchase your Bean Boots online, keep in mind that coupons or regular L.L. Bean sales may not apply to them because they're such a popular item - you may have better luck earning some rebate money back on your purchase with a program like
Rakuten (formerly called Ebates). L.L. Bean also has a great return and exchange policy, so if you buy online and it doesn't fit quite right, you should have no trouble exchanging for another size (just make sure to keep your reciept/packing slip for proof of purchase).
Styling
What doesn't go with Bean Boots? Seriously - just about anything goes with them (I've even seen people wear them to their wedding!). But really you can't go wrong with some fitted jeans, ragg socks, and a cozy pullover. I've linked to some of my favorite L.L. Bean looks below and all would look great paired with Bean Boots.
I think this makes the third Nor'easter in two weeks for us here in New England. As pretty as the snow is, I'm sure ready for warmer weather and gardening! At least Harley is loving the snow :) Now, if you'll excuse me - we have about two feet of snow to snowblow and shovel.
Whew, this post was a long time coming! The end of our pregnancy really knocked me for a loop as did the reality check of having a newborn again (how you forget these things!). So the past couple of weeks really has been a whirlwind. Thankfully L.L. Bean had been kind enough to send me their new diaper tote insert to try along with their large boat tote bag and it's been so helpful to carry around our gear as a new family of four. | This post contains affiliate links as well as an honest review of products provided by L.L. Bean |
Since we got home from the hospital after the birth of our little one, we've kept our outings pretty minimal - grocery store, doctor appointments, school, that sort of thing. But now that momma is feeling better and baby has been doing well it's high time we get back outside and enjoy this beautiful weather before the snow flies.
So much room and so easily organized!
Packing a diaper bag is always a little tricky - and even more-so when you have both a newborn and a toddler! After all, you don't want to be caught without a necessity, but you don't want to overpack either. Thankfully using the Diaper Tote Insert has made packing so much easier. In the insert I am able to pack all the necessities like a changing mat (which is included!), diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for the newborn, small first aid kit, nursing cover, bottles, etc - all in handy pockets and zippered compartments.
After the Insert is packed it's easily interchangeable between a Medium or Large Boat Tote Bag, depending on what fits your needs best. We've found that putting the insert in the Medium Tote works perfectly for grocery trips, school drop-offs, errands etc. The insert fits snuggly inside with all your necessities.
For longer outings we've really loved putting the insert in the Large Tote (with long handles), which allows for extra room along each side of the insert as well as at the bottom of the bag. This additional room gives plenty of space for extra changes of clothes, blankets, toys, etc and the long handles make it a breeze to carry, even if you're juggling two kids.
By using the Boat Tote Bags as diaper bags, they really pull double duty! Their classic looks never go out of style and by going with a simple last initial monogram for the large bag, it becomes something that will grow with us and can be repurposed by anyone in our family. By picking something classic like this you won't be stuck with a diaper-specific bag that you'll never use again, and that's so important.
This past weekend we finally got out of the house as a family of four and headed to do something fun - and what better way to take advantage of this beautiful day than spending time down by the lake and hitting up the playground before visiting family.
Since we were going to be out for the full day, I made sure to pack the insert in the Large Boat Tote so I could pack extra supplies for everyone - and it's a good thing I did! Right before we left our toddler got her pants all dirty playing in the wet sand at the edge of the water so it was great to have clean clothes packed for her for the rest of the day.
We had a lot of fun exploring around this brick boathouse from the 1900's!
Diaper Bag Must-Haves
changing pad
diapers
wipes
baggies for dirty diapers and soiled clothes
nursing cover
change of clothes for baby
small first aid kit
hand sanitizer
wrap carrier
pacifier (and a backup one!)
snacks and water for mom and older siblings
bottles
formula
a small receiving blanket or swaddle blanket
small toy or book
Overall, having the versatility of this diaper tote organizer has been so helpful! And I especially love that I can easily switch it between bags on the way out the door to best fit our needs for the day.
- I received the Large Boat Tote and Diaper Tote Insert from L.L. Bean but all opinions expressed are my own. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you to L.L. Bean for providing these items to me for review. -
