Happy Friday! It’s been a bit since I’ve blogged and I’m hoping that changes soon when we get on a school routine over here. Speaking of school, I’m linking up with  Andrea  and sharing some favorite “staples” that we love for school time.

** I don’t have real in use photos of these, because we’ve been in summer mode, but we used all of these all school year last year and will be using the same again this year. Also, these are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase from a link I’ve shared, I get a small commission on those items. We use all of these, and love them or I wouldn’t share! Thanks for supporting our family through this platform. 

Our girls carry a water bottle  every year to school (because an immune compromised household, doesn’t need the extra germs;) and last year when I was tired of crappy water bottles, we invested in new ones that are made to last! The girls sticker them up and we have “boots” on the bottom of theirs because no teacher wants to hear 25 water bottles hitting desks all day I’m positive. These are great and we will get many more years out of them.

For said water bottles, they needed a way to carry them. We went with these handles and they’ve held up for a year and counting. Sometimes I run them through the washing machine, and other times I soak them in dish soap. They are great and we highly recommend.

We have had our fair share of awful cheap lunch boxes. Zippers break, handles fray etc. and I was fed up by October one school year;) These were an investment, BUT have held up for a year now and I wash them pretty often. I can spend the money on ones that last forever, or spend the same amount buying 2-3 cheaper lunchboxes per kid a year is the way I see it. They aren’t insulated, but an ice pack keeps the food cold.

I’ve talked before about how the girls like a “sampler” lunch. Many small things appose to a sandwich and chips. We were looking for a bento style box that we could put dips or sauce in, and someone recommended yumboxes to us. They are dishwasher safe (we only dishwash the insert trays) and they have not leaked once. Also another investment, but again my girls both take one almost everyday and they’ve held up. I’ve also taken them to work before. Plenty of space for an adult to pack, depending on which yumbox size you order.

Our girls have also been known to take leftovers to lunch. They take everything! Grilled hot dogs or sausages from the night before dinner, most pasta dishes, mac and cheese. You name it. If it’s a hot dog, I’ll heat it and put in a yum box (no ice pack), but if its pasta they prefer these thermoses. I put boiling water in the thermos and close it while they get ready and then dump the water out and put the hot food in the thermos right before we leave. Heating up the metal makes a difference. Still not super hot by lunch, but I’m not sure they care. Ha.

Labels! Ellies old enough now that I don’t label for her. But Avery gets all the labels! These do not come off and they are just a really heavy duty sticker. Write a name with a sharpie and slap it on the backpack, jacket whatever. They are great especially for younger kiddos.

Ok getting real boring over here, I know. We don’t “back to school shop” really. We do buy a light jacket, new shoes if needed, socks and starter type things. It’s still so hot here in August so the girls are wearing their summer clothes for another month or 2 when school starts. We do offer to buy a first day outfit every year but that’s about it. I grabbed these on prime day for Avery.

And the next is for moms;) I needed a new set of flair pens to get my calendars color coded and pulled together. These flair pens are great and half the price of the paper mate ones.

And that’s our back to school essentials.

Do you guys have any back to school must haves? I’d love to know!