7 FUN Back-to-School Traditions & $50 Giveaway!!

Back-to-School time is here! I am super excited to team up with Osh Kosh B'gosh today to bring you seven of our favorite back-to-school Traditions!

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B'gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I will be honest: I love back-to-school time! My kids, however, could live in a perpetual summer for the rest of their lives. These traditions make the entire start-of-school season a little more exciting for everyone...and we all love an excuse to celebrate!

Fun traditions at the start of the school year also help our kiddos be a little less anxious about the changes that come at this time of year. Knowing they have a few fun traditions to look forward to makes it an upbeat time for everyone to look forward to!

Also, many of these traditions work for both homeschool and public school classrooms, can be done before or during the first week, and are exciting for any age group!

So... here are seven FUN traditions to celebrate the back-to-school season! 

#1: Style-Up For School with Osh Kosh B'gosh!

Picking out a new outfit is fun and exciting, and OshKosh has a solution for every need! I seriously love how OshKosh clothes are super adorable, sturdy, and have lots of bright colors that match each of my kids' personalities! In fact, the OshKosh B'gosh has a line of Mix and Match clothes that make it easy for your kiddos to create stylish outfits that show off their budding sense of fashion!

Take these little cuties for example:

They actually love wearing "twin" outfits! In these pictures they're showing off the coral colored Mix Kit Ruffle Sleeve Top, Mix Kit Floral Print Leggings, Eyelet Jumpers (made with genuine OshKosh denim and eyelet lace...I want this in my size!!) and shoes.

Since this photo shoot they have worn the ruffle sleeve top and leggings together (without the dress), the dress without the leggings, and the leggings with other adorable OshKosh tops, like this MixKit Embellished Yoke Tunic!

I have really active kids, so one my favorite things about OshKosh outfits is that they are both high quality and stylish. They work great for photos AND active exploration and playground play!

This outfit includes Osh Kosh Originals Graphic Tee and orange B'gosh Mesh Shorts. This kid could live in shorts, so we got a couple pairs...the back-to-school price was too good to resist! ;)  

Finally, I really appreciate OshKosh's reasonable prices and amazing back-to-school sales. It is so fun to involve kids in back-to-school shopping and know that there are loads of options for all pocketbook sizes! Ever since we went my older preschooler has been telling everyone, "OshKosh is my *favorite* store!" Completely serious!

You can learn more on the Osh Kosh B'gosh Homepage and find the store nearest you with the Store Locator!

And make sure you scroll to the end to get a 20% off coupon code AND enter a drawing for a $50 gift card!!

#2: Back-to-School Picnic!

There is something magical about eating lunch, or even just a snack outside. Do it "in honor" of a new school year, and everbody is still happy!

We had peanut butter and jelly "quesadillas," grapes, and cookies. Some of my other favorite picnic foods include cheese, crackers, cucumber slices, apple slices, ham and cheese sandwiches, watermelon chunks, blueberries, energy balls, and dried bananas!

We've had our Back-to-School picnic in our backyard, at a local park, and at several other random locations!

#3: Back-to-School Hike! 

A back-to-school hike, bike ride, or any other nature outing is good for kids' bodies and spirits! Honestly, the more time you spend outside, the better! They will continue to do better school work if you fill their days with outdoor adventures! Some of our most memorable outdoor adventures this summer included an 8+ mile mountain hike, a 12-mile bike ride, a shorter hike inside an "extinct" volcano, showing out-of-town family our favorite park, and our back-to-school hike & turtle hunt after our picnic. We might have brought bubbles on our hike too...

PIC: My oldest is wearing Osh Kosh Originals Graphic Tee, Osh Kosh Jeggings Cornwall Wash, and Osh Kosh Braided Boots.

Remember to take plenty of water and stop to rest if your kids get hot...August is still super hot in Houston!

One of my all-time favorite pictures during our hike came just after my youngest slipped and fell. Her big sister (both preschoolers) jumped over to give her a hug! It happened so fast I almost didn't get a photo! I seriously want to save this one forever:

Don't they just look like little angels?!!

Finally, here we are hunting for turtles at the end of our hike:

#4: School Supplies Treasure Hunt!

I love wrapping some fun notebooks, gel pens, and other "school" treats in a gift bag with the kids' other traditional school supplies. My favorite thing to do with it is to hide it with "treasure hunt" clues like a scavenger hunt. Other years I've been more pressed for time, and just set the fun gifts out on the kitchen table before breakfast.

#5: Personalized booklets!

Every year the kids have new favorite foods, things to do, and habits. I love recording them in a personalized booklet like this one. You can even add a real picture if you want!

#6: Back-to-School Pictures!

Indoor portraits are always adorable, but I love, love, love to start the year out with our own back-to-school pictures taken outdoors. They just look so fresh and alive, and I love to see how the kids grow every year. Of course, I always follow a photo shoot with a treat too.  ;)

#7: New Books!

My final favorite tradition is one more shopping trip. This time, I take the kids to a book store, and let them each choose one new book. Sometimes I can predict what they will get, but sometimes they surprise me! It's just one more way to get everyone excited about learning!

So what are you favorite ways to "Style-Up" and get excited for school? 

Do they include shopping? If so, I have some great news for you! OshKosh B'gosh has a 20% OFF COUPON!! Just use the Coupon Code OKBG3352!!

AND... OshKosh is providing a $50 gift card for one of you!! You can enter the giveaway HERE!! To enter, just use the Rafflecopter form below!  You must be 18 to enter, live in the continental United States, and respond to my email within 24 hours. If you do not respond within 24 hours another winner will be chosen. Entries will only be accepted until Monday, September 11th at 12:00  am CST (that's also midnight on Sept. 10th). I will use Rafflecopter to choose a random winner. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You should also know that I just learned that OshKosh B'gosh has been partnering with Donors Choose to donate more than a million dollars in clothes and school supplies since 2014 through their The B’gosh Jeanius Campaign! I LOVE when a big brand contributes to local communities!! You can join us and donate either online at oshkosh.com/bgoshjeanius or in a local OshKosh store!

Be sure to let me know what you're most excited for as we enter a brand new school year...I can't wait to hear from you!!

Happy Educating,

Carla

I may share at any of these parties!

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