In a recent national survey, 8 out 10 elementary school students agree…after recess, their “mostest favorite” time of the school day is lunch.

Discovered something wonderful not listed below, by all means, please share your findings in a post comment!

Heart Cards & Envelopes
Perfect for little lunch box notes encouraging Junior to share, play nice and eat those carrot sticks.

The Vegan Lunch Box
An inspired blog and resulting cook book - a wealth of healthy lunch ideas.

Melamine Bento Boxes
I secretly want one of these for myself!

PB Kids Travel Containers

Cooking for Monkeys
A mom-authored blog featuring some of the most fantastic themed bento box lunches.

Do It Yourself Oilcloth Lunch Bags

I can think of many other painful tasks that might be preferable to taking a 1st-grader clothes shopping. It’s a necessary evil, but one that you may find slightly less excruciating when you realize that the following collection of simply rad apparel can be purchased online. May I introduce the hand tailored children’s clothing of the Dandy Social Club

Now, I realize that the idea of ‘hand tailored children’s clothing’ may conjure thoughts of costly intimidation and excess, but designer and mother Denise Love is out to disprove those notions. Her clothing line is at once friendly, practical and accessible. Catering to both boys and girls, Denise has done a remarkable job of creating clothes that reference familiar vintage classics while catching you off guard with unexpected fabric combinations and design details (like her fantastic embroidered illustrations). Honestly, there isn’t a piece in the collection that I don’t love.

You can view Dandy Social Club’s entire fall 2008 line, the ‘Playdate Collection’, here and swatches of the new fabric selection here. And then shop online at the Dandy Social Club on Etsy, where you can contact Denise to custom order Junior’s back to school wardrobe.

The almighty backpack - an ultimate symbol of your 6 year old’s ‘big kid’ status. Here are a few options that may cause Junior to reconsider his pleas for Dora and Elmo.

As a reminder, this Back to School series counts towards your Education Merit Badge and will hopefully inspire your elementary school preparations. Also make note of the great do-it-yourself (DIY) option at the bottom of the post.

Discovered something wonderful not listed below, by all means, please share your findings in a post comment!

Marimekko Back Packs

Dante Beatrix Little Kid Backpacks
Hands down, these get my vote for the cutest of the season.

Small Paul Backpacks

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Skelanimals Backpacks
If you think these might be a little ‘dark’ for your kindergartner, your teenager is bound to love them.

Four Peas Backpacks
There are also corresponding handled lunch bags for each design.

Do-It-Yourself Kids Backpacks
The same pattern can make any number of characters. Shown are a bumblebee, turtle and ladybug.

Back to school means the return of early (early!) morning rituals. Contrary to popular belief, many children are not morning people and attempting to wake them is often akin to raising the dead. Help them look forward to 6:00 a.m. with the aid of a clever alarm clock! Also note the fun DIY option at the bottom of the post.

Discovered something wonderful not listed below? By all means, please share your findings in a post comment!

Talking Animal Alarm Clocks
Pictured are the frog and cat, but many other options are available.

Clocky
This alarm clock allows one chance to get up, but if Junior stays in bed it will jump off his nightstand, alarm sounding and wheel around the room looking for a place to hide.

Sunrise Clock
Not the cutest kid on the block, but this alarm clock “gently” wakes your child with a globe light that simulates the sunrise.

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Your Voice Alarm Clock
Save yourself the trouble of screaming up the steps in the morning, record your greeting and this alarm clock will do it for you.

MP3 Alarm Clock & Docking Station

Retro 1970s Alarm Clock
Simple, basic, standard clock face.

Do-It-Yourself Clock Creature

Many thanks to all who entered the Bumkins giveaway!

…and the winner is…

Claudia!: “Awesome, awesome, awesome! I am going green with cloth diapers with my 2nd baby coming in March 09 and this will be the icing on the cake if I win.”

Claudia, please send me a quick email with your mailing address and I’ll get your goodies shipped out. grandpoobah@juniorsociety.com

And a warm thank you again to the folks at Bumkins for the giveaway goodies!

Parents rejoice! It’s back to school time once again which means the return of a few hours in the day for frivolous self-indulgent activities like breathing, paying bills, catching up on laundry and grocery shopping without the joy of having Junior underfoot.

This Back to School series will count towards your Education Merit Badge and hopefully inspire your elementary school preparations. I’ve had a great time doing a little of the research and footwork for you to find fun and unexpected school supplies. Each post in the series will also be accompanied by a do-it-yourself (DIY) option for the craftily and perhaps frugally inclined.

Discovered something wonderful not listed below? By all means, please share your findings in a post comment!

Where to keep those pesky pencils, pens, crayons and markers? A practical question with some very cute answers. Below please find a small selection of options for home and school.

The Corsario Pencil Case

Felt Pencil Roll

Fred & Francis Pencil Cups

The Shuttle Pencil Case

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Hannari Tofu Pencil Cases

Kitty Cat Pencil Holder

Make Your Own Pencil Cases

Make Your Own Roll Up Pencil Kit

The weasel may go ‘pop’ but squirrels, I’ve just learned, go ‘click’. Boys and girls, I give you the American Camera Organized Rodent Network (A.C.O.R.N.) Under the tutelage of professional photographer Scott Alan Johnson, Buddy (the squirrel) and his pals have begun to see the world through an impressive array of vintage cameras. Scott’s site, PhotographingSquirrels.com, provides a dizzying amount of information and photographs, including squirrel links and Buddy’s own blog.

1. Barley Squirrel loads the film, 2. Pops and his argus 75, 3. Kodak 35 camera, 4. With a SLR camera Squirrels can take 36 prints on one roll of film, 5. And they come in Black and White too .., 6. Buddy and his Argus 75

Well it’s sobering to realize we’ve already reached August, summer’s last call. So before they start pulling down the gates and posting “See you in the Spring!” signs, let’s take advantage season’s remainder with a family picnic. Here are a couple of inexpensive ways to mark the occasion with color and fun.

Soda flavors you thought left town with the typewriter and the rotary dial phone. Prettily packaged pops with gorgeous artificial colors and loads of sugar are available for purchase online - BevMo!’s Soda Shop.

Keep your drinks cool in handy, utilitarian TubTrugs: standard issue and recycled. More than a dozen color options for $12.-$18. at Plastica.

And finally disguise that nasty picnic table with brilliant Mexican oilcloth. Just $5.95/yard at Denver Fabrics. The beauty of oilcloth is that you can just cut and use - no hemming or finishing necessary. Wipes clean.

When I was a kid and during my baby-sitting years cotton diapers were standard issue. (Yes, I’m just that old.) I’ve also drawn enough blood from my thumbs courtesy of baby pins and laundered enough soiled specimens to fully appreciate the appeal of disposable diapers. However with the advent of Velcro and the plight of our landfills, I know many parents are reconsidering the idea of cloth diapering. Not sure? Here’s another consideration to place in the ‘Pros’ column - they’re now making fitted, Velcro closing, incredibly soft, eco-friendly diapers out of bamboo.

I just got used to the idea that milk could be made from soy and now some genius has figured out how to make fabric out of bamboo. Go figure. But why diapers? Bamboo is 60% more absorbent than cotton and naturally antibacterial and anti-allergic. It’s also incredibly silky soft - a trait that only improves with repeated washings. Bamboo is also easily cultivated and thrives without the use of fertilizers or pesticides.

One of the companies making these wonders is Bumkins. And the kind folks who work there have sent a beautiful bamboo care package to the clubhouse - and you know what that means - giveaway! Leave a comment on this post by midnight this Thursday, August 7th and one randomly selected member will win the following:

• A bamboo fitted diaper with removable booster insert, size large for babies 22-35 pounds
• A three pack of bamboo booster inserts
• A very cute cloth diaper cover

The sun is shining over at one of my favorite indie online quarterlies Small. Unfortunately, I’m a few weeks late in spreading the news about their most recent issue, decked out in it’s summer finest.  I look forward to each new edition as editors Christine Visneau and Olivia Pintos-Lopez curate stunning independent children’s design with beautifully photographed fashion spreads, book reviews, commissioned artwork and smart selections of clothing, toys and decor in an aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly (paper-free) way. And subscriptions are free! Sign up here.