Back to School Brands with Sassy Moms in the City!

Back. To. School.

For some, these three words are terrifying. For others (me included), it means a little breathing room from an overwhelmingly active 3 year old.

There are so many factors that come into play when you ship the kiddo out the door (ahem, I mean accompany them, whispering words of encouragement and love). Did they sleep well the night before? Are they hydrated? Do their shoes even fit? Can they see the board? Are they the smelly kid in class? 😉

Thankfully the gorgeous and super sassy Alison Ray threw a Sassy Moms Back to School Event at the Chopping Block! (Side note- adore the Chopping Block. When I got engaged yeeeeeaaaarrrsss ago, I brought my mom and sister there for a BYOB cooking class to celebrate. They taught me how to chop an onion, and I still do it that way to this day). They also have kid’s classes, but I’ll bet the BYOB feature isn’t included.

Check out all of the brands we were able to speak to, and how they can help you make the school year a little more bearable.

Let’s start with sleep. I have a million pillows at home and rotate through them on a regular basis trying to find one that doesn’t flatten and isn’t heavy as a brick. Have you ever slept at a hotel with a horrible pillow? Ya, probably weren’t in the best mood in the AM. I was able to test out some pillows that include Dacron fiber technology. It offers the support of memory foam without the weight. They also have mattress toppers with this same fiber. I will do ANYTHING for a good night’s sleep and can’t wait to test their stuff at home!

Moving on to hydration. My son goes to preschool in a gorgeous building that is part of a church. They have this amazingly intricate water fountain that looks like it was made in Italy. Umm….but the water doesn’t taste so great that comes out of it. I put a RefresH2Go water bottle to the test and success! They come with a low-profile filter that reduces chlorine taste and odor from drinking water. The replaceable filter lasts for up to 40 gallons of water, or about 2 months of regular use and saves up to 300 disposable plastic water bottles. They have 3 sizes available, and start at $5.99. Also- they have a straw with a filter that fits in most of your fave tumblers with lid/straw combos!

Moving on to shoes…I remember going shopping for shoes with my mom when I was little. The thing about shoes is you wear them on a regular basis- they aren’t like those super trendy overalls that you wear once in a while (oh yeah, I sported the one strap overalls like a BOSS when I was in middle school). This is something you wear every day. pediped® was created to be “the next best thing to bare feet.” SJP’s twins sport them. Not that I need a celeb to tell me what to wear, unless it is SJP. Then I just go along with everything she does because I like to pretend we are best friends. Wouldn’t my little gal Charlotte look adorable in the little flats with bows?? (and no, I didn’t name her Charlotte because that is a Sex and the City character. That would be ridiculous…or would it?)

photo via pediped

Next- your eyes. I have heard many parents talk about how their child wasn’t paying attention in school because they couldn’t see the board. I took some of the Iristocracy frames for a spin and am in LOVE. They are focused on eyewear fashion, stocking some of the most inspired frames I have ever seen. Again, this is something you wear every day, so splurge on your statement specs! They also have an amazing virtual try-on that allows you to see your new glasses from every angle. Try it- you will be amazed! You can also order a retail try-on kit and grab 4 pairs to test drive for free.

And last but not least, smell. Although my son isn’t into sports yet, I have friends whose kids’ sports equipment should probably be hauled off to a toxic waste disposal site. Fresh Wave is a natural odor eliminator that comes in all different shapes and sizes- sprays, gel, pearl packs, laundry additive, even carpet shake and pet shampoo! I took the Fresh Wave Odor Takedown Challenge- literally couldn’t smell the nastiness that was in the box on the right when Fresh Wave was in there. Let me geek out for a minute to explain how it works: Fresh Wave products work to break apart the chemical bonds between odor molecules. Awesome.

A huge thanks to KH Photography for snapping pics throughout the evening! When my little one is old enough, I am totally taking her to one of your Frozen parties.

Also, stay tuned for more info on additional sponsor’s products: Jelt Belt, Knot Genie, Thrive Probiotic, Crispy Green, Logic Product Group, Microsoft 365, Go Picnic, Mam, Rootstix, Pacapod, and Sili Kids.

Disclaimer: I was provided with products for review purposes. All opinions are honest and my own, as always!